“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post. 

(Aired 3/29/15)

Different Strokes

– The PWS TV Title Tournament Round One match between Brian Myers and Takaaki Watanabe was decent at best, with the action constant, albeit at times awkward. Myers was clearly groomed for a push in the tournament here. While he’s known best to TV viewers for his long feud with Kevin Matthews, not much else has been told to us about where he comes from and why his character’s so ice-cold. We know we turned on his former partner, but what else motivates him? It also didn’t help that fighting Myers here was Watanabe, who not much is apparently known about besides his status as a “young up-and comer.” As for the TV Title tournament itself, the concept of the tourney is a great one for the basis of most matches on the show, but it’s not like the broadcast team keeps us updated on the standings or even who is in the whole tournament. You don’t want the feeling that these matches are seemingly happening for fun, but that’s how it can come off.

– The in-ring segment with Mick Foley and The Untouchables was an interesting way to lead to an impromptu TV Title tourney match, with Mr. Anthony Bowens taking on Mr. Gamble, with Mr. Bobby Wayward on the outside, supposedly neutral. The Untouchables have been portrayed as the “angry young guys,” and it works for them in their efforts to get over – screaming injustice at every opportunity. What Foley did here gave them more “vocal fuel” for their claims of disrespect and also had viewers see a match they otherwise wouldn’t. Also loved that there was constant emphasis on Wayward being the Suicidal Six-Way Champion, looking like the group’s sole leader. The finish played around with the idea of Bowens breaking away from the group – as Wayward grabbed him by the leg shortly before he won the match. We believe the turn will be inevitable and Bowens has the look to go places. The postmatch segment brought exactly what we needed to see – Bowens confronting Wayward, and Wayward trying to convince Bowens he was still rooting for him in he tournament, almost rolling his eyes. Brilliant.

– Cool to see the Monster’s Island vignette back again – but throw some new stuff at us, will you? They’ve got a cool look and the video packages are sleekly edited for scarier images and when they appear, it’s newsworthy, but they could be leading the Tag Team Division.

– The main event match between Dan Maff and Bonesaw was entertaining enough while it lasted, before Bonesaw’s blatant DQ. Bonesaw is a name consistently thrown at the top of the card, but he always seems to be screwed over someway, somehow. This is hurting his image and we’ve yet to see a real true “moment” for him on the TV show. Are you going to suggest to us it was the 15 seconds he was World Heavyweight Champion again, before getting annihilated by Fallah Bahh? The stuff with Foley was a decent way to hype their next hardcore match with Maff’s medallion on the line, but why feel the need to put his earned medallion on the line to begin with? Of course, this will put Maff further over by the end, and Bonesaw doesn’t even get as much as a win in the record books.

– The face-off/confrontation between Matt Macintosh and Mario Bokara was well-done. Macintosh sure likes to talk a lot of smack – and we’re okay with that, because he can bring the fire to cut a great promo. Who better to clash against than with Bokara – who talks just as tough? Macintosh’s comparisons of Bokara to Habib From The Car Wash were also fitting. What also helps this feud is that they are essentially fighting over having World Title shots “stolen” from them – making it about the biggest prize in the company. This was great hype for their match next week.

– Nikos Rikos has a generic look to him and is essentially a pissed-off Greek immigrant who refuses to share tips with busboys. The horror. However – it should be cool to see what he does when he emerges upon the PWS TV scene. We for one can’t wait.

– The “wrap-up” video segments to end the show continue to impress – and just about the greatest thing might’ve happened so far in the TV show’s run with their latest one, where characters the likes of Dave D-Struction, Johnny Howl, Starman, Sandy Mann, Chris Payne and The Untouchables all cut promos with the words of famous TV sitcom themes of the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, all leading to Habib riding on the back of a carriage to the theme of “Perfect Strangers” playing as he held up a sign that read, “America or Bust!” Utter brilliance in every sense. Laugh-out-loud stuff. Payne’s segment portion particularly made this golden.

Quick Results

– TV Title Tournament – Round One Match – Brian Myers def. Takaaki Watanabe via pinfall to advance

– TV Title Tournament – Round One Match – Mr. Bowens def. Mr. Gamble via pinfall to advance

– Dan Maff def. Bonesaw via DQ