Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

By Nicholas Jason Lopez

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

(Aired 8/13/16)

Too Many Grapplers 

– We started it off with a passionate backstage promo from the lewd, tattooed Adam Thornstowe who addressed his opponent Matt Striker that their last match was a classic, but this time he’d take him down. He also hit on the interviewer lady, who seemed to dig it.

– Backstage, Eric Right prepared for his shot at the WCWC Legacy Championship against Champion Ethan HD by performing squats as he lifted up a random guy simultaneously. He expressed that he felt brand new and Ethan couldn’t keep a “good horse” down. It all makes sense.

– The Striker-Thornstowe match was an interesting match in terms of the tight chemistry and mat work from the two, yet was a bit mediocre because the crowd was tame for most of it. Last time Striker had a WCWC stint, he rubbed elbows with the Wrecking Crew, so it felt weird that he was suddenly a tweener. Point in example – Striker actually shook Thornstowe’s hand before the bell. How uncharacteristic. That said, Striker’s true colors began to unravel as the match progressed. Commentary was a key asset of telling the proper story. Big ups for them. Striker played possum to sucker Thornstowe in and was able to get momentum as he worked over Thornstowe’s leg. The finish was sudden, but not bad since we saw Thornstowe roll up Striker for the three-count after his Scum Stomp was initially countered. The post-match promo from Striker was designed to repaint him as a “good guy,” as he praised Thornstowe for being the better man and didn’t want to shake his hand, but promised he’d come for him down the road. It was all kind of strange, but not terrible. Certainly been worse starts. See: last week.

– The WCWC Legacy Championship match between Right and Champion Ethan HD was good while it lasted. The main theme of the bout was the loudmouth heels Right/Kate Carney as they taunted Right for his “Gentleman” name, as they suckered him into petty punches and distractions. There was a cool moment where Right clotheslined Ethan on the apron as Ethan flipped over on the impact. Nevertheless, the prominent theme came over again, even as they worked in the silly tonic into the match. Basically, as Right had the sleeper locked in, Carney interfered as she hopped onto Right’s back with her own Sleeper attempt to keep the belt on her man by luck. This was your classic WCWC finish, as the face came close, but the heels broke the rules to keep things the same.

– Finally, a match with no funny business. It was in the form of the WCWC Tag Team Championships between The Midnight Marvels and Champions The Bonus Boyz. Action-heavy from the onset, there was a little feeling that perhaps the masked superheroes could overcome the burly jocks. We liked that the finish allowed the heels to win and it was all clean. MM almost got the upset win, but the pinfall was broken up by BB and they transitioned right into their own finish to secure the victory and the belts. Who can take down BB?

– The JJ Garrett-Ian Sutton match was a better attempt of Sutton’s trailer park barnyard comedy, as Garrett was somebody easier to play off the humor. It tied into last week’s match match with Striker, yet had something all its own. It was clear from the get-go that wrestling wouldn’t be the main goal. The bit where Sutton’s music would hit and Sutton would begin to dance until Garrett would gain offense and it’d turn off was actually pretty funny. It carried through to the end, as Sutton pinned Garrett. Still have a gripe with Sutton’s character as a stereotypical redneck buffoon, but it all seems like innocent so far. On the plus side, Morty Lipschitz’s reaction on commentary to Sutton was gold.

– The backstage promo from Gangrel/The Grappler hyped the big main event where Gangrel finally had a “fair shot” at the WCWC Pacific Northwest Championship as he’d take on Champion Grappler III in a match where Grappler was a Special Guest Enforcer. The babyfaces reinforced the importance of the stipulation as Grappler addressed G3’s integrity and that it was tougher to hold onto a Title than to win it. True words.

– The WCWC Pacific Northwest Championship match between Gangrel and Champion G3 with Grappler as Special Guest Enforcer sucked as an actual match, but was great on a storyline level. It sought to confuse, as The Wrecking Crew’s Kassius Koonz tried to interfere to no avail, before the fake Grappler came in and took down the Original Grappler. It was a little stupid that commentary couldn’t tell that Original Grappler was wearing the black shirt while the fake one was in white. Nevertheless, we got the reveal that Striker was the fake Grappler, as Grappler unmasked him. It all began to make sense. Of course, the match was thrown out as a double countout so all the big hype was for nothing, but now we can see Gangrel seek revenge against the dastardly Striker. Knew he was up to no good.

– The WCWC Pacific Northwest Championship match between Gangrel and Champion G3 with The Grappler as Special Guest Enforcer started as the other Grappler took out Grappler and Kassius Koonz interfered too. The guys couldn’t tell the original Grappler was in the black shirt? He threw powder in the fake Grappler’s eyes and it was revealed to be Matt Striker. The match was thrown out as a no-contest by double count out. Shock value was there. It all ties everything together.

Quick Results

• Adam Thornstowe def. Matt Striker via pinfall 
• WCWC Legacy Championship – Eric Right def. Ethan HD (Champion) (w/Kate Carney) via DQ; Ethan HD retains 
• WCWC Tag Team Championships – The Bonus Boyz (Champions) def. The Midnight Marvels via pinfall to retain 
• Ian Sutton def. JJ Garrett (w/Mr. Tubbs) via pinfall
• The Grappler As Special Guest Enforcer – WCWC Pacific Northwest Championship – Grappler III (Champion) and Gangrel to a double countout; G3 retains