The Rap Sheet - from the Mad Conservative
New Midwest Wrestling's Broken Promises
1/20/2K6 Springfield, IL

SOMETHING is definately broken, is someone going to fix it?

Well this is the second show under the Midwest Family Broadcasting era, and looking at the head count in the building, it's a very low 65.  Yeah, this may be a Friday night show but still, only 65?  The prior show only attracted just over 100.  Not good.  I haven't seen any flyers for the show either.  Sure they've got the Sunday Night Slam show, but not everyone listens to WQLZ.

Live from the Warehouse, your ring announcer is Jimmy "The Bruiser" Osbourne.

Man vs. Woman
Steven Bishop vs. Rian Cruz - Bishop overpowers her, so Rian hits a clothesline and tries to work him over, whip reverse and Bishop splashes her in the corner, suplex gets two.  Rian gets a headscissors and hits a weak splash in the corner for two.  Rian goes up, Bishop intercepts, side suplex off the top is reversed as Rian lands on top of Bishop for two.  Bishop with a flapjack, and Guy Smith's music hits.  Bishop looks down the aisle, but no one's coming, Rian recovers and decides to play dead.  So Bishop goes for the 7th day, but Rian grabs the head and hits the Diamond Cutter for the pin.

WINNER:  Rian Cruz pin -> *½

Blake Shelton vs. Smooth GQ Suavey - Hmmm...really odd to see GQ in this ring.  Blake has yet to win a match.  GQ hits a LOW BLOW, but Blake recovers for the clothesline, butterfly suplex, kneedrop gets two.  GQ puts Blake on the top rope, and dropkicks him off to the floor.  Quick beatdown, toss in, elbow two.  Flapjack GQ gets two.  Blake tries a number of pin combos, but GQ hits a dropkick, rake, DDT, moonsault misses!  Blake tries to pin him there for two, but GQ hits him with an inverted death valley driver for the pin.

WINNER:  Smooth GQ Suavey pin -> 7 mins. **

GQ is slow to get up and out of the ring.  Michael Shard comes out and says he can defend either title any time he wants and it's GQ's lucky night, he's got a central Illinois title shot right now.  Shard attacks him!

Central Illinois Championship
(c)Michael Shard vs. Smooth GQ Suavey - People wonder why Shard is in the ring and how it makes him more of a bad guy.  I say you're taking this outta context, but they don't agree.  Dropkick to the face Shard!  Shard is ranting and raving on GQ, whip to the corner, GQ avoid a charge rollup two.  CLOTHESLINE Shard!  Shard hasn't taken his shirt off, and hits another clothesline off a whip for two, but he pulls him up!  Shard dumps GQ out, toss into the rail!  Shard puts him in, chops the heck outta him, GQ turns him and chops away, monkey flip, tries a headscissors and barely gets him over.  Back body drop over the top and Shard hits the floor!  GQ suicide dive to the floor gets two!  GQ goes up, jumps but gets nothing, and Shard locks in the cutting edge for the tapout.

WINNER and STILL CHAMP:  Michael Shard submission -> 4 mins. *¾

Shard has the mike again, he asks if we believe him now that he's that good.  He runs his mouth about his ability and states Shane Matthews will go down like everyone else. 

Eric Ruffington comes out and states that will be the last time we ever hear "save a horse, ride a cowboy" played when he comes out.  Course we hear it the next night at a GAW show.  That Ruffington, such a kidder.  Someone holds a sign that says go back to Brokeback Mountain.  Ruff says do we know who he is?  Ruff says he's tired of being a puppet, and support from the fans got him nothing.  He asks again do we know who he is?  I say he's LOST.  He says the next soon to be superstar.  Stealing gimmicks from J-Mac?  Ruff got himself a partner, who's 16-1 in MMA, Nathan Ironside.  Oh boy, look at these guys. 

NMW Tag Team Championship
Weapons of Mass Destruction - Danger Doug Fraze & Tank Roberts vs. Eric Ruffington & "The Natural" Nathan Ironside w/ Mark Storm - Well we get more talent here from SCW.  Storm really likes to jaw with people.  Tank & Ruff start and Tank overpowers him.  Clothesline attempts have no effect from Ruff so he tags Nathan in.  Tank shoves him, Nathan slaps back, Tank slugs him down and tags Ruff back in.  Knee, slam Tank, tag Danger.  Danger clothesline, legdrop gets two.  Suplex Fraze, Ruff with a facebreaker, tag Nathan.  Second rope stomp on the shoulder, choke, Fraze tries to punch his way out, but gets clotheslined.  Slap on Tank, ref goes to him, Ruff gets some shots in.  Ruff tagged, double knees to the jaw get two.  Ruff goes up, top rope splash missed, both tag.  Tank clotheslines and full nelson slam on Nathan, he bails tagging Ruff and deserts.  I rightfully yell at him that he's wussing out, and that really sets him off, screaming at me to shut up, so I do the nah nah nah nah, hey hey goodbye song as he heads for the back.  Ruff can't believe it, Fraze side slams him, Tank lifts him up, Fraze clothesline off the top and it's over.

WINNERS and STILL CHAMPS: WMDs pin -> 10 mins. **¾

The Xtreme Dream Team, Joker and Reid Reign come out.  I've gotten into a bit of a spat over Joker's last match in NMW but hey, I'm a fan and I review things.  Joker talks about looking for the WMDs but a cowboy and a midget get it instead of them.  So Joker turns his focus toward singles gold.  I can't really understand much about what they're saying, but Jewels Vega(?) comes out here to interrupt.  What's he doing here?  Vega says he talks too much and actions speak louder than words so shut up.  I guess a match is on between them

Joker vs. Jewels Vega - Joker throws Vega around, Reid runs distractions, Vega is shoved, but pulls off a cartwheel headscissors.  Joker clothesline, superkick, legdrop gets two.  Joker puts Vega on the top, superplex gets two, but he pulls him up!  Errrr...that was stupid.  Joker goes to chat with Reid and Vega jumps on him, running dropkick gets two.  Standing moonsault gets two, but Reid yanks the ref outside.  WHERES THE DQ???  XDT jump in, side suplex/neckbreaker combo, ref put back in and Joker gets the pin.  They keep using that finish, and I scoff at the refs every time for not calling it.  This match wasn't great at all, unfortunately Joker has wrecked his shoulder, and pretty much has the same problem Danger Doug had a year ago that put him outta action.

WINNER:  Joker pin -> 7 mins. *

Joker for good measure gives Vega a running dropkick and tosses him out.  XDT remain in the ring waiting for something as Bruiser hypes Sunday Night Slam and introduces the next match.

"Overachiever" Billy Morgan vs. UWA Greater St. Louis Champ Reid Reign - Stan Sallinger and Matt Boston attack Morgan in the aisle, being bitter sore losers over the sinister six two weeks ago, and as hired guns for PHD against the Dean's List.  They throw him in, and Reid gets only two.  Suplex Reid, backbreaker gets two.  Morgan misses a dropkick and Reid latches on the Boston Crab.  Joker gets a slap in, Reid pickup, Morgan slips away and hits a Russian leg sweep.  Morgan slugs away, clothesline, slam gets two.  Suplex Reid for two, and it appears he just messed up his arm.  Reid eats an elbow, Morgan monkey flip in the corner, dropkick, German suplex.  And the Joker jumps on the apron, Morgan knocks him off, slingshot crossbody on Joker, necksnaps Reign on the top rope.  Morgan goes up, but misses the flying elbow.  Clothesline Reid, whip...and the referee gets run over...who was NOT paying attention.  ARRGH.  Joker jumps in the ring and attacks Morgan, the XDTs hit the same side suplex/neckbreaker combo and Reid steals another match.  Barf.  Crowd was not real noisy and these referees are inept.

WINNER:  Reid Reign pin -> 8 mins. **

Main event time, and the show thus far has been really lackluster. 

Survivor Series Match
Steven Xavier, Matt Boston, NGW Heavyweight Champ Chris Hazard, GAW Heavyweight Champ Spotlight Spencer Powers & Stan Sallinger vs. Shane Matthews, Eric Logan, Sage Ramsey, Guy Smith & Rip Mystic - We've had nothing but a bland show all evening waiting for this one.  Well we get the Sigma Omega Beta reunion, along with Prim & Purple.  I was sure Eric Ruffington was gonna be on Xavier's team though.  Over on Shane's team, I had believed Hardcore KC and Billy Morgan would be there instead of Eric Logan and Rip Mystic.  Something is going on with KC, it looks like his match in December was his final one in NMW.  Rip Mystic wrecked his ankle two weeks ago, I'm surprised he's able to go with the sprained ankle.  SSP acts shocked that Smith is on the opposing team, well you shouldn't be cause of what happened with the 4GQ breakup.  SSP is mistreating Cherry, which gets me upset.  Xavier and Shane start, they slug it out, SEX gets a suplex for two.  Did I just type that?  Tag Hazard, shoulderblocks, suplex gets two.  Tag E-Lo, axe from the top, armdrag, monkey flip gets two.  Tag Sage.  Armwringer and legdrop, tag Guy, Hazard hits a clothesline, tags Stan.  Stan says Guy is on the wrong team, so Guy tags Sage.  Sage splash in the corner gets two.  Tag SSP, he pounds away in the corner, snap mare, dropkick, legdrop gets two.  Sage clothesline, tags E-Lo, works the arm, drags SSP around and hits a legdrop.  Stan breaks up a cover, Rip Mystic screams at him.  SSP with a Juvy Driver and tags Boston.  Matt with a clothesline, tries to slam E-Lo but gets slammed himself.  Tag Rip, stomps away, clothesline, press slam drop...and Rip is limping.  Boston knees him in the bad leg for two.  Rip pickup, Boston rolls him for two.  Tag Hazard, makes a wish and works the leg.  Tag Stan, delayed suplex.  The former frat boys attack Rip's leg, Stan goes up, the nearly 300 pound man dives and MISSES.  Rip slugs away, dropkick, rope burn and tags Guy.  Guy and Stan chatter about being on the wrong teams again, so Guy rolls him up for two.  Guy attacks, clothesline gets two, suplex and stomp gets two.  Whip to the corner, charge, Guy eats a boot.  Stan tags Matt, Guy clotheslines him down, Matt stupidly tries to attack all of Guy's teammates and gets clobbered.  Guy with a long standing suplex gets two.  Tag Shane, who hits a second rope punch, ten punch count in the corner, but Matt drops him on the turnbuckle.  Shane misses a dropkick off a whip, tag Xavier. He fires a Saluki hammer for old times sake, shoulderblocks in the corner, Shane hits a one foot dropkick from the second rope.  Tag Stan and everyone piles in the ring!  Shane & SSP paired up, Boston & Rip fight, Smith & Xavier fight.  SSP with the ab stretch on someone, Smith rammed into the rail.  Shane hits angle slam on SSP!  Hazard in and drops Shane face first!  Smith hits Little Inspiration on Hazard!  Boston in, flying headscissors into a DDT!  Rip in, the BITTER END DDT on Boston!  Xavier in, hits the HAZING on Mystic!  Sage in, chokeslam on Xavier!  Stan in, tries for his spinning full nelson, can't get him up so he shoves him down.  Logan on the top rope, slips, hits the blockbuster from the 2nd rope.  SSP in, unprettier on Logan and gets a pin.

Eric Logan, you ARE the weakest link!  Goodbye at 19 mins.

SSP and Mystic go at it.  Hazard tagged in, slam, side slam on Rip for two.  Hazard clothesline in the corner.  Tags Stan, goes UP...you're kidding...flying elbow MISSED!  Crossarm breaker Rip, Xavier rakes him, SSP choke on the rope.  Boston in, whip, wheelbarrow, but Mystic X-Factor!  Mystic handspring backsplash, running dropkick to the face!  Sage Ramsey in, pickup, snake eyes!  Backbreaker Sage.  Matt gets a flying headscissors, but Sage slugs him, chokeslam, bye bye.

Matt Boston, you ARE the weakest link!  Goodbye at 24 mins.

Axe from Xavier, choke, slam, but Rip Mystic gets a small package for two.  Clothesline Xavier, tag SSP.  Slam, goes to the second rope, but gets atomic dropped, clothesline.  Rip sets him up for shattered dreams, but SSP avoids it, Rip kicks the turnbuckle with the bad leg and hurts himself again.  SSP gets in Cherry's face, Mystic takes exception and the fight goes up the aisle as they both get counted out.

Rip Mystic and Spotlight Spencer Powers counted out at 27 mins. each.

Smith and Stan in, clothesline Smith.  Hip toss by Stan, choke, Hazard in.  Shoulderblocks, whip side slam gets two.  Belly to belly slam Hazard.  Dropkick Smith, tag Sage.  Headbutt Sage, clothesline, pickup and slam, elbow gets two. Hazard has a rear chinlock, LOW BLOW, clothesline, Hazard to the top, hits a flying elbow and gets the pin.

Sage Ramsey, you ARE the weakest link!  Goodbye at 31 mins.

Cheap shot taken on Sage, Marvel in shoulderblocking Hazard, suplex gets two.  Smith in, armtrap bodyslam, hammerlock, works the arm, Hazard with a rake, Smith tags Shane.  Double team hip toss gets two.  Shane backbreaker gets two.  Hazard powerslam, goes up, waits, Shane jumps up and angle slams Hazard off the top rope for the pin!

Chris Hazard, you ARE the weakest link!  Goodbye at 35 mins.

Two on two.  Smith and Stan in, backdrop all the way to the floor!  Stan sideslams Shane for two.  Fallaway slam Stan, choke gets two.  Tag Xavier, fisherman's suplex gets two.  Shane charges and hits a splash in the corner, ten punch count, dropkick, and Xavier hits the mat.  Shane elbow gets two.  Smith in, double suplex gets two.  Smith catches Xavier in a powerbomb for two.  Stan in without a tag, ref almost run over, clothesline Smith gets two.  Shane in, Stan with a LOW BLOW, whip clothesline misses, Shane gets an angle slam!  Shane goes up, flying elbow, tag Smith, Smith's Wings...MOONSAULT gets the pin!

Stan Sallinger, you ARE the weakest link!  Goodbye at 39 mins.

Oh it's just PHD's boy by himself.  Belly to belly suplex on Smith by Xavier gets two!  Smith hops up and tags out.  Shane slam, flip legdrop gets two.  Xavier with ANOTHER LOW BLOW, goes for a superplex, shovedown.  Xavier shoves the ref down, Xavier goes up and ANGLE SLAMS SHANE OFF for two!  Xavier clotheslines Shane out.  Xavier hits a German suplex, and triples them up for two.  Xavier chokes Shane with his own tassles.  Ref is still inept.  Xavier gets kneed, tag Smith, belly to belly slam gets two.  Smith piledriver on Xavier...he's gotta bad neck...gets two!  Smith whip reverse, tags Shane, kick rollover pin and done!

WINNERS and SOLE SURVIVORS:  Shane Matthews & Guy Smith pin -> 46 mins. ****

Steven Bishop comes out to get Guy Smith's attention and they start brawling!  Michael Shard comes in and attacks Shane!  Whip dropkick on Shard!  Gut wrench suplex and locks on the Cutting Edge!  Shard talks trash until Shane taps and Shard lets it go.  Like THAT was an official match.  Shane struggles to get up and goes after Shard but gets tossed into the rail and the post!  Shane tries to attack again, but Shard hits the flatliner!  Shard takes his leave. 

The Verdict:  It seems the whole show was focused on the survivor series match and the rest of the show was just filler.  The crowd acted that way as well, sitting on their hands most of the show until the finale came about.  They used an awful lot of outsiders this event, and I'm wondering why so many people on the NMW roster weren't here tonight.  It just didn't seem like I was watching NMW tonight, I was watching some other fed's show.  They are gonna HAVE to do something about attendance though, but ticket sales aren't in the hands of the wrestlers anymore, it's in the hands of the radio station.  The radio station is advertizing, but they aren't selling anywhere close to the number of tickets that were sold for November Reign.  Have to wonder if this is gonna be a trend.

Thumbs in the middle.