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Last week on SAW…Matt Bentley pinned Ryan Mitchell with a superkick…New A-Team owner Rudy Charles (victimized by Paul Adams’ scam) was in Egypt scouting talent…SAW Women’s Champion Tracy Taylor KOed Abriella with Hawaii 5-0…Jesse Emerson pinned Derek Neal with the Alabama Slam…Micah Taylor advanced to the final four in the SAW International Title Tournament with a shocking five second win over Jeremiah Plunkett…For the second time in a row, Derrick King pinned former employee “Teen Excitement†Drew Haskins with his feet on the ropes…Jeff Daniels warned King not get in the way of The Brotherhood.
Michael Graham announced that the semifinals of the SAW International Title Tournament would take place on tonight’s show with Haskins subbing for Ryan Genesis vs. Chase Stevens. Genesis was said to have suffered an injury while wrestling in Japan.
1 – JEREMIAH PLUNKETT vs. ERIC WAYNE
Plunkett shook Wayne’s hand. That got a “wow†out of Graham. They were settling into a clean, feeling out process, when out of nowhere, Plunkett landed a lightning quick punch to the jaw. Wayne was knocked silly. Plunkett proceeded to show the method to his madness. Plunkett snuffed out a budding comeback with a discus forearm. Wayne fought up from the bottom, knocking Plunkett off his feet with high knee, but then took a hellacious full speed face-first bump into the turnbuckle, leaving him in a crumpled heap. Wayne rallied yet again, but crashed & burned on a flying bodypress. Plunkett tried another discus forearm, and Wayne countered with a flapjack. Wayne double-legged Plunkett for a two count. Wayne was looking for something big. Plunkett escaped and tried for an armbar, but Wayne reversed into a jackknife pin.
WINNER: Wayne in 6:15
Plunkett immediately slapped Wayne into a Rings of Saturn, and wouldn’t let up until referee Joe Williams forced the issue.
CAPTURED! --- Most Wanted Bail Jumper Elizabeth Diane Stinson. “Bond Girl†Leah thanked the SAW fans for all their tips. The male viewers thanked Leah for her wardrobe choice.
SAW Summary – Micah Taylor vs. Vordell Walker – Following successive victories in the “Win & Get In†Tournament, Taylor enters the semifinals at less than 100% due to a leg injury, while Walker comes into the match with the most momentum of his three year run in SAW after ridding the company of Paul Adams and David Young.
2 – SAW International Title Tournament Semifinal – MICAH TAYLOR vs. VORDELL WALKER
Micah was clearly nursing a knee injury. That didn’t stop the crowd from being pro Walker. Micah employed a cautious style, protecting the knee as much as possible. Micah went to the ropes to prevent being taken down. Right off a break, Walker shot for a single leg takedown and started working for a submission. Micah jolted Walker with a strike and grabbed a snug side headlock. A big shoulder block sent Micah out the ring. Micah limped around ringside. Walker showed good sportsmanship by giving Micah room to reenter the ring. They traded strikes and it morphed into an intense hockey fight. Senior Official Kurt Herron stepped in, and Walker walked into a big right hand. Micah pounded Walker from the mount. Walker kicked out at one. Micah clotheslined Walker over the top rope, and pointed at his brain. Walker was worse for wear. Micah kept Walker grounded. Walker fired back. Micah tried to attack but the knee was giving him trouble. Walker went up top, but had trouble getting his footing for the flying bodypress, and Micah rolled through for a near fall. A back elbow knocked Walker though the ropes. Micah delivered a big chop at ringside and rolled Walker back under the ropes. Walker ducked a lariat and put Micah in a kneebar. Micah was forced to tap.
WINNER: Walker via submission at 8:10 to advance to the championship match.
Micah reluctantly accepted Walker’s handshake after the match.
Leah “The Bond Girl†Hulan was back with this week’s featured bail jumper – Joshua Covell (also nicknamed as “Pooâ€, make of that what you will) and a different camera angle on the boobs. Leah busted Covell’s balls with a therapeutic touch. “Being a good parent starts yesterday. How you handle your problems greatly affects the type of man you are, and type of father you are to your child.â€
Pre-match interviews with Haskins and Stevens.
Haskins said he embarrassed himself by falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book against King. He was about to call SAW owner Reno Riggins to request a chance to redeem himself, when Reno called to offer him the spot replacing Genesis. Haskins said he had to get focused because in Stevens he was facing the odds on favorite (and former champion).
Stevens gave Haskins his due before adding that he was not yet heavyweight championship material. Stevens said he was going to get in, get out and move on. Stevens said he didn’t know who would win when they faced off, but Walker better be at 100%.
3 – SAW International Title Tournament Semifinal – CHASE STEVENS vs. DREW HASKINS
Haskins out wearing a ridiculous, floor length pink sash. As per usual, Steven entrance got the strongest pop of the hour. He’s got that respect thing going. Haskins made a big production out of accepting Stevens’ handshake. Stevens roughed him up on the break, and Haskins looked none too pleased. Stevens took Haskins down and maneuvered him into a pinning combination like there was nothing to it. Haskins scrambled to his feet and initiated another “Teen Excitement†handshake. They went tit for tat to a stand off. A third handshake ended with the competitors nose to nose. Stevens headbutted Haskins. Haskins reeled off a series of gutshots. Stevens answered with forearms. A big uppercut forearm decked Haskins, and Stevens was back in control. They traded knife edge chops. Stevens said, “Is that all you got? He leveled Haskins with a high boot for a near fall. Just when Haskins looked to be out on his feet, he stunned Stevens with a kick and followed with a high kneelift for a near fall. Stevens was slow to rise. Haskins tried for Katy Perry’s Favorite Finisher (snapmare driver). Stevens shrugged it off and hit the DFA for the pin.
WINNER: Stevens via pinfall at 5:40 to advance to the championship match.
Afterthoughts: This was an interesting episode if for no other reason than it was so different from run-of-the-mill stuff SAW was presenting at the end of 2011. The atmosphere was a lot more serious, almost Japan like. This may very well have been a one off for the title tournament, but it was a refreshing change to see SAW present athletic, competitive wrestling matches with none of the usual nonsense and outside interference. The final four was babyface vs. babyface and it worked. There were points where the crowd reacted to little things like they were a big deal, and that has to be a positive sign…I wouldn’t mind seeing Plunkett and Wayne matched up again. I loved the way one well-timed punch by Plunkett changed the complexion of the match. Wayne sells with authenticity, and he’s good with transitions. Too bad the finish wasn’t smoother…Micah vs. Walker was the match that made this hour worth watching. The psychology was close to flawless. Micah Taylor’s did a textbook job of selling a knee injury. There were no holes. Walker can be unfocused at times, but that appears to be a thing of the past. He came across like a wrestler worthy of carrying the SAW title in this match…There wasn’t much substance to Stevens vs. Walker. Stevens did exactly what he said he would do – limit risk and get it over with ASAP. It was realistic, but it made for a lackluster main event. The purpose of putting Haskins in the tournament and portraying him as not being in Stevens’ league was lost on me…I don’t think there’s any danger of SAW becoming Tennessee’s version of ROH, but this episode was a bold step in an unexpected direction from a company that had zero momentum coming into the 2012.
SAW has opened a video-on-demand service [url=www.twnworldwide.com/twnsaw.html]here[/url]. Episodes 181-194 are currently available for 99 cents per episode. SAW streams via America One at wvvh.com - 9pm Fridays.
Feedback welcomed – larry@georgiawrestlinghistory.com
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