Peter Tihanyi looked to make it back-to-back wins against Robert Dreissker – and ensure the night ended with a new Unified World Wrestling Champion.
Quick Results
Aaron Insane pinned Marc Empire in 5:59 (**)
Ahura pinned LSG in 11:00 (**¾)
Stephanie Maze & Bobby Gunns pinned Baby Allison & Anil Marik to qualify for World Tag Team Festival 2024 in 10:00 (**¾)
Elijah Blum pinned Icarus in 9:54 (***¼)
Jeff Cobb pinned Mike D Vecchio in 14:33 (***½)
Iva Kolasky pinned Jane Nero in 5:57 (**¼)
Nick Schreier pinned Alex Duke, Axel Tischer & Dennis Dullnig in 9:37 (**¾)
Levaniel pinned OSKAR to retain the wXw Shotgun Championship in 11:37 (***)
Last Man Standing – Robert Dreissker defeated Peter Tihanyi to retain the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship in 32:58 (**½)
Lumberjack Match – Laurance Roman submitted Robert Dreissker to win the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship in 2:07
— In the next week or so, I’ll be chatting about this show with Mike Kilby on the Auf Die Fresse podcast. Links to stream that episode when it drops, along with our catalogue of back episodes are available at AufDieFresse.co.uk
We’re coming live via stream from the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen. German commentary comes from Mett Dimassi and Robin Christopher Fohrwerk, as usual…
Marc Empire vs. Aaron Insane
We’ve just got the one pre-show match here… and for those wondering, Empire’s Academy title wasn’t on the line here…
A tentative start saw Empire push Insane into the corner, before a side headlock was elbowed out of. Insane tricks Empire as they traded shoulder tackles, ahead of a crossbody for a quick two-count for Insane.
Insane took Empire into the corner, but a crossbody’s caught and turned into a slam, before a back senton from Empire missed. Insane can’t capitalise though as he leapt into a Samoan drop, before a back senton almost won it. Throwing Insane into the corner, Empire followed up with a hip-attack and a pull-out powerbomb out of the corner for a two-count.
The pair trade chops in the corner, leading to a springboard shoulder block out of the corner as Insane looked to finish things… only to get caught with a powerslam instead. Insane’s able to kick out at two though, as he began to mount a comeback with clotheslines, leading to a leaping leg lariat and a splash off the top rope for Insane to pick up the win. **
Earlier today, Mett Dimassi’s shown with Elijah Blum ahead of his match with Icarus later, with main event implications… Blum’s still carrying a neck injury it seems, and that’ll likely be targeted later on.
Onto the main show… we opened with Robert Dreissker recapping his year as champion, with challengers – and an entire division – falling by the wayside as they failed to topple him.
LSG vs. Ahura
This was LSG’s first singles match in wXw since Leipzig last October…
Opening with a lock-up, LSG was able to take down Ahura into a knucklelock on the mat, before things headed into the corner with Ahura faking out a cheapshot. LSG tries something similar in the ropes, before he took Ahura down into the corner with a dropkick.
A shoulder tackle keeps Ahura down, but he’s back with a toe hold, then a cravat, keeping hold as LSG tried to roll free. LSG looked to get back into it, but a dropkick took him into the ropes, before some Dusty punches and a leaping enziguiri took Ahura to the outside.
The crowd scatters as LSG’s dropkick through the ropes took Ahura into the front row. Back inside, Ahura grabbed the trunks to stop LSG going into the ropes, but a roll-up gets LSG a two-count before Ahura’s clotheslines began to bounce LSG around the ring. A bridging German suplex nearly wins it for Ahura, before a springboard dropkick took LSG outside for the Dubai Sandstorm – a springboard tornillo – that almost ended badly for Ahura.
Returning to the ring, Ahura’s tripped up for a two-count, before he booted away a springboard from LSG. A kneeling powerbomb nearly did it for Ahura, while a spin-out butterfly suplex had LSG on top, before the Paradise Waterfalls and the Salamandra put another W in the books for Ahura. **¾
“Earlier today,” Mett Dimassi’s there as Icarus turned up… Mett quizzes Icarus about the way he went after Elijah Blum in Hamburg, with Icarus responding that all he wanted to do was hurt Blum, and then handle the main event “AMBOSS-style,” whatever that is.
wXw World Tag Team Festival Qualifier: High Performer Ltd. (Baby Allison & Anil Marik) vs. Bobby Gunns & Stephanie Maze
Robin Christopher Fohrwerk’s got a knack of giving Baby Allison qualifiers for tournaments…
We start with Gunns and Marik trading wristlocks, before Marik was taken into the corner for a trio of running uppercuts. A missed PK allowed Marik back in… but he’s quickly suplexed away. Stephanie Maze tags in to help double-team Marik for a two-count, before Baby Allison got the tag in to freshen things up.
A Thesz press from Allison is quickly thrown aside as Maze returned fire with a suplex for a two-count. Gunns is back in, but he’s caught with a release Northern Lights suplex, before Anil Marik tagged himself in. All is not well in that group.
A back body drop from Gunns keeps Marik on the back foot as Fohrwerk tried to get into the ring… that prompted Stephanie Maze to tie up the ref as she went after Fohrwerk, before a cane shot and a Codebreaker almost put Gunns away. Baby Allison’s not happy with how things are breaking down, but Marik remained in control, landing a bulldog for a two-count, before he whipped Gunns into a Scorpion kick from Allison in the corner.
Marik’s suplex keeps Gunns down, but Bobby’s able to fight out of the corner and tag in Stephanie Maze, who took down Marik with a diving knee. A Saito suplex follows, before Maze took Marik down into a cross armbreaker, prompting Fohrwerk to distract Maze by banging the mat.
Maze lets go of the old, before Allison tagged in amid the confusion to try and snatch the win with a spear. Gunns broke up the pin there, before he got thrown into the ring post by Marik… Maze and Allison are legal, throwing kicks ahead of another cross armbreaker from Maze. Again Fohrwerk distracts, allowing Marik to stomp it apart before Maggot’s music distracted the distracted. He came through the crowd to hit Marik with a cutter, then chase Fohrwerk away as the referee didn’t call what he didn’t see… Instead, Baby Allison turns around into a Skyfall kick, and that’s the win for Maze and Gunns. **¾
Elijah Blum vs. Icarus
The result of this one will determine an additional stipulation for the main event – a win for Blum means that Icarus will be banned from ringside, whereas a win for Icarus means he’ll be the special guest referee.
Blum looked to win this one early with a backslide, before Icarus tried to throw him neck-first into the ropes… but Blum was wise to it and almost won with a Magistral cradle. A low dropkick cracks Icarus in the head, as did a step-up knee into the corner, before Icarus hit back with a release German suplex that took Blum dangerously close to the buckles.
Icarus worked over Blum’s neck from there, leading to a sleeperhold as he tried to put Blum out. Blum’s able to back up into the corner to break the hold, before a back suplex bought Elijah some time. Heading up top, Blum’s able to fight off Icarus ahead of a twisting splash off the top rope, picking up a two-count as he looked to build from there.
The pair trade forearms from there, leading to Blum’s clotheslines and a crossbody. Another crossbody of the top rope’s aborted, but Blum’s able to land a shotgun dropkick and a cross-legged driver for a near-fall. Icarus charges Blum into the corner to avoid a Parting Gift, and is quickly able to land an Impaler DDT for a near-fall.
From there, Icarus went for a rolling elbow, but ended up missing as Blum returned with a Parting Gift instead, then a sliding D a la Masato Tanaka for the win in a decent match – with the result meaning that Icarus is now banned from ringside. ***¼
Mike D Vecchio vs. Jeff Cobb
Last time Jeff Cobb was in wXw, he was getting pelted with coins after the 2020 16 Carat Gold party catch… this time, he’s here with the NJPW World TV title. Not on the line!
Starting with a handshake, and Jeff Cobb realising the crowd was chanting for the ref, the pair go to ground as Cobb took control of Mike D’s back. Getting back to their feet, Mike D resisted shoulder tackles, until Cobb leapt in with one, before a leapfrog and a big boot had the Belgian briefly ahead… with a dropkick taking Cobb to the outside.
A springboard dropkick knocks Cobb off the apron ahead of a plancha, before the pair traded chops as they fought around ringside. Back inside, a tijeras took Cobb down… as did a springboard crossbody and a powerslam as Mike D regained control, only for Cobb to chop him into the corner.
Cobb’s pumphandle suplex chucks Mike D across the ring, but a dropkick took Cobb back outside. This time, he’s wise to Mike D, catching him for a powerbomb into the side of the ring for an eventual two-count as he began to wear down the Belgian. A headbutt and a forearm took Mike D down, ahead of a Violence Party in the corner from Cobb.
A springboard cutter begins the turnaround for Mike D, as did a running back suplex and a springboard moonsault out of the corner… which almost put Cobb away. Mike lands, then misses a standing moonsault as the pair were trying to one-up each other, before a uranage and a falling forearm smash almost got Cobb the win. Cobb’s standing moonsault keeps him ahead, before thing spilled outside for a flip senton from Mike D.
Back inside, Mike D rolls through a 450 splash, but stayed on Cobb with a leaping knee… only to nearly get dumped on his head with an overhead suplex. Mike’s up at one from that, before he rolled through a Tour of the Islands for a near-fall. A spinning enziguiri and a superkick looked to have Mike ahead, but he’s on the deck again with a German suplex, then with a lariat, before a Tour of the Islands got Cobb the win. This was a lovely slice of “big lads wrestling” – albeit with some hairy moments towards the end – but this was exactly what you’d have expected. ***½
Post-match, Mike D remained in the ring as the crowd chanted his name as we went to intermission…
Jane Nero vs. Iva Kolasky
This was Kolasky’s first match here since last year’s tag festival weekend – in a match bumped up from the pre-show due to travel issues.
Iva mocked Nero’s boxing stance at the bell, but baited Nero in for a kick before Nero returned with an uppercut and an armdrag. Nero retained the upper hand with a snapmare and a kick for a two-count, before she boxed Kolasky into the corner. Telegraphing what she’d do next, Nero’s thrown into the ropes as Iva looked to take over.
A full nelson got Nero back in it briefly, but Iva broke free and almost took the win with a head kick. Nero’s thrown down to the mat with an arm wringer as a splits legdrop led to another two-count for Iva, as Kolasky continued to dominate through questionable means.
Nero’s able to suplex her way free of the Hungarian, but a floatover suplex has Iva back in control… at least until a Twist of Fate from Nero put her back in it. Iva rolls outside for respite, but Nero gives chase, only to get posted as a moonsault back inside got Kolasky the win in short order. **¼
Alex Duke vs. Nick Schreier vs. Axel Tischer vs. Dennis Dullnig
Duke’s back to being in the singles ranks while Norman Harras is on the shelf with a knee injury…
Tischer and Dullnig was the obvious pairing here, based on the recent tag title feud, but Dullnig watched on as Nick Schreier went for the Axeman in the opening seconds. Nick makes a nuisance of himself as he and Dullnig double-teamed Tischer ahead of a double dropkick, but Alex Duke clotheslines them down as the tables turned, this time with Duke and Tischer going after Dullnig.
Out goes Dullnig, in comes Schreier as Tischer was directing traffic, keeping Dullnig on the outside so they could isolate Schreier in the ring. That pairing broke down as Dennis Dullnig returned to help the crowd egg things on… he’s able to avoid Duke and Tischer as they came to blows, before Dullnig bounced the pair around the ring.
Schreier’s back to leap across the ring for a crossbody to Duke and Tischer, before a satellite DDT just about took down Dullnig. Problem was, that left him exposed as Tischer and Duke threatened to go back after him, but Scherier’s able to hit a tiger feint into an armdrag, which then morphed into an accidental DDT on Duke.
Another trip up top for Schreier sees him leap into Duke’s knee, before a uranage forced Dullnig in to break up the pin. A tiltawhirl gutbuster from Dullnig rocks Duke ahead of a Twist of Fate, but this time it’s Tischer breaking things up as he then went back after Dullnig with a leaping clothesline off the top rope.
From there, a sit-out powerbomb plants Dullnig as Schreier just about made the save in time, only for Tischer to get caught with a ‘rana as Schreier nearly stole a win. Schreier’s able to go for a Destroyer on Tischer, but Duke breaks up the pin on that before his Duke’s Decree was rolled through by Schreier for the win. **¾
We get the fantastic trailer for the OSKAR/Levaniel rematch – complete with the obigatory dodgy old photos. Where was this for the Hamburg match?!
wXw Shotgun Championship: OSKAR vs. Levaniel (c)
After the shenanigans in Hamburg, we’ve got a rematch, with the stipulation that Levaniel can lose the title on a disqualification or count-out.
OSKAR charges out of the corner at the bell, taking down Levaniel with a shoulder tackle as the challenger had some urgency about him early on. Levaniel’s able to escape a slam, but his cheapshot had little effect in return as OSKAR instead chopped him to the outside… Levaniel tries to walk out, but remember, he’d lose the title on a count-out.
Making it back inside, Levaniel tries to soften up OSKAR, before he avoided a dropkick and instead took down the challenger with a backbreaker. A side suplex followed for a two-count, before OSKAR looked to mount a comeback, only to get met with a DDT instead. Forearms from OSKAR were eventually ducked as Levaniel double-legged him to the mat, following up with a Boston crab that forced OSKAR to the ropes for the break.
Clubbing forearms from Levaniel keep OSKAR on his knees, before he fought back to land a snap bodyslam. Back elbows and a shoulder tackle see OSKAR push ahead, while a suplex nearly led to a title change, only for Levaniel to fight back with a death valley driver and a discus clothesline.
From there, Levaniel goes for a Facecrusher… but OSKAR kicks out at two, and again Levaniel heads outside. This time, he returns with the Shotgun title belt, spitting in OSKAR’s face as he wound up his challenger, dropping the belt at OSKAR’s feet. OSKAR even went to use the belt, but instead threw it aside and hit Levaniel with a Michinoku driver for a near-fall.
OSKAR shoves the referee aside so he could get to Levaniel in the corner, but the champion snuck in a low blow… and almost won from there. Another Facecrusher looks to follow, but OSKAR powers free and hits a clothesline as we crossed the ten-minute mark, before Levaniel raked the eyes to avoid a powerbomb.
More shenanigans with an unsighted ref allowed Levaniel to mule kick OSKAR, before a dropkick took the challenger outside. Levaniel demanded the referee start a count-out, but OSKAR rolls back inside just in time, before he rolled-up Levaniel out of a Facecrusher. It’s good for a near-fall, only for Levaniel to hit the Facecrusher again… and that’s it. They played up the stipulation here, but in the end Levaniel was able to use it to his advantage as OSKAR fell short. ***
Last Man Standing Match for wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship: Peter Tihanyi vs. Robert Dreissker (c)
Tihanyi’s win over Dreissker in Hamburg last month was the champion’s first singles loss in over two years – can Tihanyi make it back-to-back wins and leave here with the title, just weeks before Dreissker celebrates a year as champion? Of course, Icarus is banned from ringside by way of Elijah Blum’s earlier win.
Tihanyi charged at Dreissker at the bell, connecting with an enziguiri before getting lifted onto the apron. The slingshot cutter’s caught as Dreissker instead went for a ripcord clothesline, only for Tihanyi to escape and land a crossbody, prompting the champion to roll outside to compose himself.
Oh, and go fishing under the ring for goodies. Out comes a chair, so Tihanyi goes under the ring as well, but comes up empty handed. Instead, he heads to the back, with Dreissker eventually giving chase… only for Tihanyi to shove a shopping trolley full of plunder into him. A bin lid shot makes the camera – and Dreissker – go blurry, before we go all Jackass with Dreissker having the trolley shoved down the ramp and into him.
Tihanyi continued to wear down Dreissker’s hip with the trolley, before the champion used a chair to quell the attack, sending Tihanyi into the front row. Dreissker pulls some more chairs out from under the ring and takes things inside, wrecking the seat out of another chair as he smashed it on Tihanyi’s back, before he ripped off a turnbuckle pad.
Dreissker’s forced to knock down Tihanyi as he tried to fight back, but another chairshot sees Dreissker eat his own rebound after the Hungarian ducked. Tihanyi doesn’t look for a standing ten count, and instead nails a tornado DDT onto a chair, sparking a ten-count that both men beat. Retaining control, Tihanyi swung a chair at Dreissker’s back, breaking the seat of the chair before he grabbed some more plunder – a ladder.
Tihanyi doesn’t get to use it through as Dreissker cuts him off with a ripcord clothesline. Heading outside, Dreissker had the ladder dropkicked into him, but he’s able to recover and lawndart it into Tihanyi… then again back inside as he looked to score the KO by ladder. Tihanyi gets up and scores a back body drop as Dreissker just BOUNCED off of the propped-up ladder in the corner.
Kicks in the corner wear down the champion as Tihanyi ended up throwing Dreissker into a chair that’d been wedged in the corner… Dreissker rolls to his feet on the outside to break the count, but Tihanyi again stays on him, placing Dreissker in the corner before using a chair to drive the ladder into Dreissker’s nether-regions.
Mounted punches follow in the corner, before Dreissker threw a tool box at Tihanyi to stop a dive. Out comes more plunder as a Kendo stick shot from the floor caught Tihanyi in the corner, before Tihanyi got dragged outside for more of the same. Back inside, one of the few remaining chairs with a seat gets opened up… with Tihanyi taking a drop toe hold onto it, before it’s time to go back to the Kendo stick.
The shopping trolley came back into play as Dreissker ran over Tihanyi, who then ducked a Kendo stick shot as Dreissker ended up smashing it over the ring steps. Cue a fight-back as Tihanyi cleared out the crowd and bowled Dreissker into the fourth row. Dreissker barely beats the count, so it’s time for more plunder as Tihanyi threw the contents of the trolley into the ring.
A slingshot cutter back inside did damage to both men as Tihanyi landed on the side of a bin… Dreissker again rolls to the outside to land on his feet and break the count, where he’s again met by Tihanyi, as the pair then brawled into the merch area, where Dreissker ended up getting knocked onto a table, with Tihanyi then heading up the Turbinenhalle steps for a big splash to put the champion through the merch table.
Both men make it back to their feet, clearing merch tables as they headed back to the ring, where Tihanyi put Dreissker onto a pile of chairs… only to get caught on the top rope as Dreissker instead hit a superplex onto the remnants of the chairs. Refusing to stay down, Tihanyi throws anything he could at Dreissker – literally – before bringing a couple of Kendo sticks into the ring. Dreissker’s worn out with them as he tried to beg off, only for Tihanyi reach back into the trolley for… a baseball bat.
Batter up! Except Dreissker hits a low blow to save his skin as Tihanyi needed the ropes to save the match. An avalanche splash followed from Dreissker, who pounced with a Dreissker bomb to start another standing ten-count. Wash, rinse, repeat. Except this time Dreissker added a pair of Dreissker bombs, before he threw another chair at Tihanyi, who looked like he’d not have beaten the count.
From there, Dreissker crotches Tihanyi into the ring post, then grabbed some tape from under the ring, looking to tape the challenger’s legs around the ring post to prevent him from getting to his feet. Tassilo Jung starts counting as Tihanyi struggled to break the tape… and unfortunately for Tihanyi, time ran out as Dreissker took home the cheap win. Yeah, this finish didn’t sit well with me – after half an hour of plunder, a deflating finish perhaps wasn’t the way to go, as Robert Dreissker looked to pass the year mark as champion with this victory. **½
Post-match, Dreissker took the mic and demanded respect from the crowd. Of course, it wasn’t forthcoming, as Dreissker called himself the best champion in wXw’s history. He got interrupted by his own music though, as Laurance Roman came out to berate Dreissker. Of course, Roman’s still got that title shot from winning Carat… and the contract Dreissker gave him for a title match back on one of the vlogs.
“Anytime, any place, with any stipulation…” except Roman wasn’t medically cleared. OR WAS HE? He’d been cleared as of today, so Roman wants his title shot NOW. Dreissker wasn’t in the mood for that and backed out of his deal. Only for all of the good guys from the locker room to cut off Dreissker on the stage and send him back to the ring,
Lumberjack Match for wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship: Robert Dreissker (c) vs. Laurance Roman
Dreissker attacks Roman before the bell, leading to a ripcord lariat and a death valley driver.
Snake Eyes follows into the corner, then a piledriver as Dreissker targeted the neck… but Roman’s able to kick-out. Enziguiris from Roman have Dreissker rocked, before a desperation springboard crossbody out of the corner was ducked as Roman’s discus lariat and a front slam led to a crossface… forcing Dreissker to tap out. AND NEW WORLD CHAMPION!
Laurance Roman celebrated with the title – paraded on Mike D’s shoulders – as the show went off the air, with Robert Dreissker’s title reign ending the way it began. Via the hubris of an “anytime, anyplace” challenge…
Laurance Roman’s cash-in win is what’s going to take the headlines – and while we’ve now got seven weeks for the dust to settle ahead of the next show, there’s going to be plenty to ponder over, not least what the fall-out is going to be with a new grand-slam champion atop the company.