What else did you expect me to use as a picture for Pressure Rising?

They are opening the show in Streetsboro, OH. It’s kind of amusing that PWO tapes in more locations than TNA. The crowd seems louder than normal. Dombrowski runs through the card. Pedro De Lucca takes seemingly forever to announce Shima Xion who will be taking on Michael “The Bomber” Facade in a grudge match since they both injured each other last year by spraying hair spray in each other’s eyes. Facade cost Xion an appearance at Wrestlelution. Dombrowski explained that “M-Dogg 20” Matt Cross had not been heard from by PWO Management so the main event would be a three man match between Johnny Gargano, Marion Fontaine and Jason Bane.

Xion plays chicken shit. Facade gives him a spring board arm drag. Facade rains down 10 punches in the corner.  A spring board moonsault only gets Facade a two count. Maguire keeps pushing Fontaine for next week. OK, stop hyping next week. Xion grounded Facade. Dombrowski said that Xion feels under rated in PWO and wants a shot at the titles.  Facade counters with knees to Xion’s stomach from a moonsault. Facade takes off the gui. Facade super kicks Xion. Xion gives him a hard back elbow that knocks Facade through the ropes. Facade was going to drop kick Xion off the top rope but Xion pulled the referee in front of him. Xion wanted to spray Facade in the face but Facade turned it on Xion. He then gave him a driver that was something Japanese but I’m not even going to pretend to spell it. It was a Curtain Call turned into a driver.

Analysis: It was a good match. Xion is a good guy to keep around the TV Title picture so hopefully he can pick up a cheap win over Ben Fruth or someone to get back on track. Facade is definitely getting the push. I just wish he’d clean up some of his spots more. Score: +1.

Jason Gorey is backstage in front of a black back drop. He is looking forward to taking down Kirst, Krimson and Raven. Krimson pops up from behind him and strangles him with a belt. Krimson says some stuff that is hard to make out because it’s quiet. I was also too busy staring at his bald spots. He was warning them and said there was still time left, to back down I guess. He ended with his tag line.

Analysis: I’ve got to admit, although Gorey’s offense is credible and he moves around the ring well, I have a hard time buying it because he’s so small. His promo is the same problem. He looks really young too. Krimson is doing well with his character but the mumbling definitely hurt this promo. Score: -1.

Brian Bender said it’d been a while. He needed to take a break from wrestling because he needed to change. Bender said talk is cheap but he promises that we’ll like what we see. Analysis: I’ve seen him look good in the ring and he has the size to compete in the main event of this promotion. Let’s see if the people in the back want to push him. Score: +1.

Nicky Valentino comes out with Bobby Shields. Good to know that even Joe Dombrowski couldn’t make out what Krimson was saying. Flip Kendrick is his opponent. Dombrowski talks about his old 70s & 80s style of wrestling he uses. Kendrick seems too high flying to be categorized that way to me. He brings that look and charisma though. Flip gets in a top rope arm drag.  Shields will take on Louis Linden in two weeks.  Standing Shooting Star Press barely gets a two count for Kendrick. Valentino with a spring board splash to turn it around. Underhook suplex, oh, they were talking about Valentino. I’m an idiot. That makes more sense. I do think the “Kung Fu” style Linden & Kendrick bring is 70s Bruce Lee inspired work. Kendrick gives Valentino a Flying Chuck for a two count. Valentino gets reversed out of a pile driver attempt. Reverse suplex gets a two for Kendrick but Valentino grabs the ropes. Shields grabbed Kendrick’s leg as he went for a suplex. Valentino falls on Kendrick and gets the pin.

Analysis: They were mentioning how Sex Appeal needed a win since the Ninja Elite Squad already had Facade win they were off to a good start. Linden can get the win back for the good guys or they could be hyping up the tag match and have Shields cheat to win too. We’ll see. Solid match even if I thought the ending was bad. Shields could have help Kendrick’s leg to make it more believable. Score: +1.

Marion Fontaine says that it’s his chance to put away Gargano and his injured neck. Fontaine said he has a special message for next week. It could be about anyone he warns. They quickly go to Johnny Gargano who said everyone thinks he’s going to break  but he has survived all challenges. He goes through his catch phrases and says they’re definitely not going to be the PWO Champion.

Analysis: Bees Knees, Cat’s Pajamas and the whole Shebang just needs to be done away with. It seems to be gaining traction though. Well delivered promo. Score: +1.

They did a video vault moment from January 2nd of 2011. It was Matthew Justice versus Bobby Beverly. It was the match that made Beverly the number on contender for the TV Title so it makes sense why they showed it but I’ve reviewed and seen it so I buzzed right through it.

Bobby Beverly was introduced first. Aaron Draven came out with the belt. Dombrowski mentioned that Draven is the only two time title holder in PWO history. Pedro De Lucca did formal intros after they entered the ring. Nice touch for a title match. Beverly ducked out of the ring a couple of times. Beverly cuaght Draven coming back in after suckering Draven outside.  Draven hit a suicide dive. They traded big blows. Draven got tossed into the crowd off the guard rail. Beverly kicked Draven once he dragged himself back into the ring. Beverly took control and grounded Draven. Dombrowski reminded us of Draven’s endurance. Draven with a huracanrana  then a rolling senton while Beverly was on the middle rope. Beverly gave Draven a piss poor back suplex. He over rated him and Draven almost landed on his neck. Draven with a snap mare and a kick to the head of Beverly. Side slam y Beverly gets him a two count. Draven counters the thrust kick. Draven with a belly to belly throw. Both men struggled to get up. They slug it out when they get up.  Beverly catches Draven coming off the ropes with a back breaker. Draven kicks out.  Draven with a roll through. Beverly gets his knees up when Draven goes for a moonsault. Beverly hits Draven with a thrust kick while Draven is on one knee. Maguire reacts by going “Oh snap!” which was awesome. The kick did sound awesome and it looked really bad. Bobby Beverly wins clean. The rest of Sex Appeal comes out to celebrate.

Analysis: I love that they gave a heel a clean victory. The main event next week has a lot to live up against. This was an excellent match which results in making Beverly look like a star. Score: +2.

Benjamin Boone introduces himself then makes Ben Fruth introduce himself. They said things are not good enough for N8 Mattson to return yet. Boone says he’s in the best shape of his life. Boone berates Fruth. Boone said they wanted to turn him into somebody but he hasn’t done that. Boone said he won’t be defiant next week. Then the DVR cut out.

Analysis: What a terrible place to put this segment. You just crown a new champ and this comes on? I continue to not know why Boone keeps Fruth around. He stinks. Get a better apprentice. You don’t have to kidnap him like Krimson though. Score: -1.

Final Score: 4/7. Final Analysis: The only excuse I can come with for that train wreck awful ending is that they wanted to roll straight from the video vault to the match. Of course, all one needed to do is put the promo before the video vault. It doesn’t help that the Sons of Michigan really have no use for Ben Fruth. It’s as bad as the WWE having women at all. The three matches were the highlights with the low lights coming from the promos, not just for placement reasons. – Kevin