Elijah Blum finally got his hands on Peter Tihanyi as the pair faced off in Frankfurt in the main event of FAN.
Quick Results
Anil Marik pinned Ryan Clancy in 7:55 (**¾)
Ahura pinned Marius al-Ani in 13:36 (***¼)
Nick Schreier pinned Rob Drake in 7:03 (**¾)
Baby Allison submitted Jane Nero in 5:24 (**)
Joseph Fenech Jr. pinned Sean Legacy in 10:33 (***)
Laurance Roman, OSKAR & Yuto Nakashima pinned Robert Dreissker, Axel Tischer & Fast Time Moodo in 14:43 (***½)
Alex Duke pinned Aaron Insane in 7:22 (**¼)
Anita Vaughan pinned Levaniel to retain the wXw Shotgun Championship in 10:09 (***)
Peter Tihanyi pinned Elijah Blum to retain the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship in 17:33 (***¼)
It’s the first big show since World Tag Team Festival – and it’s the Fan Appreciation Night in Frankfurt… the first time that show’s been held in the city. English commentary comes from Mett Dimassi.
Anil Marik vs. Ryan Clancy
This was Clancy’s first match in wXw since Carat weekend – and a rematch of his wXw debut, where he went down to Marik back at Inner Circle.
A spinning arm wringer surprises Marik early on, as did a standing crossbody, before a monkey flip nearly took Marik from corner-to-corner. Marik hit back, taking Clancy into the ropes throat-first after some standing switches, before a grounded armbar looked to wear down the American.
Marik’s Slingblade cuts off an attempted comeback from Clancy, leading to a bulldog out of the corner for a near-fall. Almost a grounded Cobra Twist keeps Clancy on the deck briefly, before a missed splash in the corner opened up Anil for a big back body drop out of the corner. Building up to a Thesz Press, Clancy has Marik in some trouble, before a dropkick took Marik to the outside for respite.
Clancy follows Marik outside, just to roll him back in… where a missed splash eventually led to a snap double-underhook DDT from Marik… and that’s the win. This almost got a little too clever for its own good at the end, but this was a solid win for Marik to keep him ticking along. **¾
Ahura vs. Marius al-Ani
Marius al-Ani was subbing for an injured Aigle Blanc here – with Marius making his first wXw appearance since 2022’s 16 Carat Gold (ironically then, al-Ani was a late replacement then before he dropped out with injury before night two of the tournament.)
Anyway, Ahura’s on a crest of a wave having beaten Timothy Thatcher in Oberhausen last month, and has a big chance to knock off another former Unified World Wrestling champion. The early part of the match has Mett running through Marius’ history in wXw, and it was clear there were plenty in town that remembered Marius, given that at parts of this match chants for him were drowning out those for the hometown hero Ahura.
al-Ani kept Ahura at close quarters in the early going, before an overhead suplex chucked Ahura into the corner ahead of a wild kick to the back of the leg as the former champion’s explosive offence had Ahura dazed. Heading outside, Ahura clubs away on Marius before a big clothesline back inside undid all of that.
Ahura escaped a Diamond Driver attempt, slipping into the apron before a springboard dropkick to the back took down Marius, before an ankle lock from al-Ani was quickly fought out of. An attempted powerbomb’s blocked, as Ahura instead landed a piledriver for a near-fall, before another al-Ani comeback led to a springboard hooking clothesline out of the corner for a near-fall of his own.
Returning, a spinebuster and a sit-out powerbomb from Ahura put him back in control, only for him to get too cute as he tried an ankle lock a la al-Ani. Breaking free, Marius lands a Superman punch, then a Diamond Driver, but it’s not enough for the win as he then added the ankle lock… Ahura broke via the ropes as he bade his time, looking for almost an Everest German suplex.
A diving front kick sees Ahura crotch himself in the ropes before Marius rolled him back in for an ankle lock… but Ahura eventually rolled him through to get the pinfall win. That was perhaps a little clunkier that you’d have wanted, but that’ll get some payback for that loss from 2020’s Catch Grand Prix, back when Ahura was a Prince… ***¼
Backstage, Dan Mallmann’s with Levaniel, who looks thrilled with the state of things. Namely, him having lost his Shotgun title to Anita Vaughan last month. He’s all about regaining that belt tonight…
Rob Drake vs. Nick Schreier
It’s a wXw debut for Drake, who wasn’t a name that many would have expected to have made it to these parts.
Schreier’s playing stick and move against Drake from the off, but a cross-chop to the throat neutralised Nick in the opening seconds as things headed outside with Drake pulling him out for an apron powerbomb as commentary brought up Rob’s grizzled young veteran brother James.
Back inside, Drake dominated Schreier with a backbreaker for a two-count, before Nick tried to make a comeback by kicking Drake’s leg out of his leg. It’s stopped as Drake hit a chokeslam while also having the leg captured, but Nick’s got a second (third?) wind as he dropkicked Drake into the corner.
More dropkicks led to a satellite DDT from Schreier, before he took Drake outside for a plancha… it doesn’t go to plan, but Nick was able to shove Drake into the post. Back inside, a crossbody off the top’s countered into a powerslam as Drake then added a Falcon arrow… it doesn’t do the deal as Drake began to get frustrated… and that almost desperation bit him in the arse as some mounted punches in the corner were countered with a sunset bomb, before a Shining Wizard proved to be enough for Nick to get the win. **¾
Baby Allison vs. Jane Nero
For the second time tonight, the music that’s the background to my sleep paralysis hits… and we’re nowhere near done with it. Apparently tonight is High Performer Ltd. Appreciation Night… that’d be like Souled Out, right?
Allison kicks at the back of Nero’s knee early on, but a neckbreaker from Nero proved it had little effect as a sliding clothesline folded Allison back on herself. She’s right back with a kick from the floor, before Nero got caught with a Thesz press back inside.
A hanging headscissors in the ropes follows from Allison keeps things going as Frankfurt was shockingly quiet for Allison. A release Northern Lights gets her a two-count as the crowd finally came to life to try and lift Nero, who did manage to get something going with almost a Final Cut, before a distraction from Robin Christopher Fohrwerk allowed Allison to trip up Nero for a Baby Exorcism for the submission. In-ring was fine, but Frankfurt didn’t seem at all interested in this. That’s what happens when an entire division is binned off, it seems… **
Fohrwerk sends Allison to the back – Joseph Fenech Jr., who was out for the prior match, remains in the ring as we do the Heyman Special between matches, joined by way of a Fohrwerk promo, who tried to say that Fenech had relocated to Frankfurt. Troll job?
Joseph Fenech Jr. vs. Sean Legacy
It’s another wXw here, this time for the recently WWE ID’d Legacy. He’s put the miles in, having done a tour with Pro Wrestling NOAH and a run in the UK prior to this latest European tour.
Legacy nearly chops the braces off of Fenech early on, but Fenech’s able to shrug it off as commentary noted that this was Fenech’s first singles match in wXw since CARAT. Just as I typed that, Legacy burst into life, taking down Fenech with a dropkick… Fenech heads outside, with Legacy giving chase, and of course it’s a ploy to catch the American on the way back in.
More kicks from Legacy help turn it around as a standing moonsault gets a two-count, before a trip up top ends with Fenech dumping him down hard to the floor. Back inside, Fenech returned the favour from those earlier kicks, before he mocked the crowd by slapping on a chinlock.
Legacy breaks free as he caught a springboard cutter and eventually hit a German suplex instead… a springboard 450’s aborted by Legacy, allowing Fenech back in with a handspring cutter and a cannonball, before a second cannonball knocked Legacy to the outside for a dive.
Fenech tries to add a second one, but he’s caught with a standing Spanish Fly for a near-fall, before a second tope, this time from Legacy, just about found its mark. Fenech distracts the referee as Robin Christopher Fohrwerk grabbed onto Legacy on his way back inside, allowing Fenech to hit a draping DDT for the win. ***
We’re backstage with Levan… no we’re not, it’s Anita Vaughan! She’s still on a high having won the Shotgun title…
KXS (Axel Tischer & Fast Time Moodo) & Robert Dreissker vs. Laurance Roman & Young Blood (Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima)
We’ve got two big matches for Hamburg later in the month, so this is the natural preview tag…
Opening with Roman and Dreissker, it was Dreissker who enjoyed the better start, taking Roman into the corner before a missed splash allowed for a response… until a bicycle kick knocked Roman down. Fast Time Moodo tags in to have his go at Roman, only to get stopped with a chop as we continued to switch through tags.
Yuto Nakashima’s in as he and Moodo trade kicks for a spell, only for Moodo to kick Yuto’s leg out from under him. Tischer gets the tag in, but gets charged down as OSKAR came in to hit a boot-assisted bodyslam on the Axeman. Some brief double-teaming from KXS is neutralised, but Dreissker’s in to hit a back suplex on Yuto behind everyone’s backs…
That incensed OSKAR and Roman, whose arguments distracted the referee from even more chicanery. Dreissker gets the tag in to work over a weakened Nakashima, taking him into the corner… only to miss another splash as Yuto hits a back suplex as payment for earlier. Tischer can’t prevent Nakashima from tagging out as Laurance Roman came in a house afire, charging through Tischer with a discus lariat out of the corner.
Robert Dreissker distracts the referee – and Roman – as Moodo crotches Roman on the top rope as things turned around. A manjigatame on Roman’s powered out of as he hiptossed Moodo away, only for Dreissker to charge back in as he splashed Roman for another two-count. KXS’ sandwich kicks keep Roman on the defensive as the recently-deposed champion just couldn’t get out of the wrong corner.
A stomp-assisted gutbuster on Roman looked to have KXS on course… but a flash roll-up on Moodo needed a late save from Tischer to save the day. When things looked doomed for Roman, OSKAR’s back on the apron as tags brought us back to the past between OSKAR and Dreissker… the two big lads trade forearms, but it’s mostly OSKAR here as a dropkick took down Dreissker. That’s for the old Academy trophy!
Nakashima’s in to help on a kick-assisted slam, but Moodo’s double stomp off the top broke up the questionable pile-on pin… that sparks a good ol’ Parade of Moves, ending with a frankly impressive attempt at the Blood Rush… but Dreissker slips out before he caught both of Young Blood with the rebound crossbody. Roman snuck in a blind tag there, but was instantly hurled with a fallaway slam, before an attempt at a superplex was stopped when OSKAR dumped Dreissker with an Electric Chair Drop, allowing Roman to put away his former AMBOSS buddy with a frog splash. To point, this was the best thing on the card so far, as you rarely ever have a bad trios match in wrestling. ***½
On the live feed, you got Cara Noir vs. Bobby Gunns from 2021’s Catch Grand Prix – one I rated pretty highly at the time…
Alex Duke vs. Aaron Insane
We’ve got another student vs. teacher outing for Insane, brought on by Duke feeling fed up with being humiliated during the Extreme Wrestling Party by Insane (and Der Gute Keel…)
Insane caught a kick from the get go and bounced Duke around with an atomic drop, then a Manhattan drop, before ramming Duke’s head into the buckles. Duke powders to the outside as he looked to take the sting out of things, only to back into Insane as Duke was being outsmarted at almost every turn.
A flying double sledge off the top from Duke helps him back in, as did a another double sledge off the top… but Insane’s able to kick out at two. Wild strikes from Insane got him some breathing room, but a uranage out of nowhere almost put the veteran away, before a third crack at the double sledge was cut-off in mid-air.
Duke’s battered with a big ol’ clothesline as Insane pushed on, including with a springboard shoulder tackle out of the corner. Insane took too long up top and got the ol’ Ric Flair press slam treatment, before Duke hits the Duke’s Decree… and that’s enough to get the win in a match that to me didn’t quite land. That one fan really didn’t like the finish, although he was particularly animated all night… **¼
wXw Shotgun Championship: Levaniel vs. Anita Vaughan (c)
It’s a near-instant rematch for Levaniel, and this time he’s not able to jump Anita!
Levaniel did go for his Galactic Facecrusher early on though, but Vaughan’s able to escape before charging into Levaniel in the corner with uppercuts. A shoulder tackle bounces Levaniel to the mat, ahead of a fallaway slam, sending Levaniel into the corner where he loosened a turnbuckle pad.
Anita avoids sending herself into the exposed corner, but she’s knocked into there anyway by Levaniel, which created the obvious opening for the challenger. A trip and a roll-up from Vaughan nearly ends things, before a hair pull stopped Vaughan as she tried to lift up Levaniel into a Fireman’s carry.
Vaughan bridges up out of a grounded Cobra Twist, but Levaniel’s able to go for the Galactic Facecrusher again… this time it’s countered with a roll-up, before a rolling elbow from Vaughan left the pair laying, ahead of another fallaway slam. A desperation discus clothesline got enough on Anita to take her down, but not get the win.
A fireman’s carry slam got a similar result for Levaniel, who then went back to another turnbuckle, removing yet another pad. It’s just a ploy to distract the ref though as Levaniel raced outside to snatch the Shotgun title belt, but he misses a belt shot as Anita used the hair to take him down… before sending him into the not-yet-fixed buckle ahead of a DDT onto the belt for the win. A solidifying win for Vaughan, and I guess we’ll see if Levaniel goes elsewhere… or whether this is going to remain a feud for the title. ***
Video package time now ahead of the main event, as Elijah Blum’s still looking for answers as to why Peter Tihanyi did what he did. The interactions between these two since Shortcut to the Top have been really good, highlighting Blum’s inability to control his temper, such was the effects of Tihanyi’s betrayal.
wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship: Elijah Blum vs. Peter Tihanyi (c)
There’s something wonderfully deliberate about how some of the High Performer Ltd. guys have their old music and entrance, just with the Fohrwerk-sleep-paralysis intro stapled to the front of it.
Anyways, this was Blum’s first shot at the big title, and Tihanyi’s first defence of it. No, we’re not counting the “fake Elijah” match. Things exploded pretty early on as a slap from Tihanyi earned him a more venomous response before things spilled outside, at least until Fohrwerk got in Blum’s way and created an opening for a sneak attack from Tihanyi.
Tihanyi pulls the ring apron back into the ring as he was thrown in… which created a distraction as referee Tassilo Jung was fixing things. It meant a hair pull went unseen as Tihanyi tried to pull forward… but a crossbody from Blum stops that, as did some clotheslines in the corner.
A neckbreaker and a dropkick keeps Tihanyi on the back foot, before Fohrwerk again got involved, popping up on the apron to protest Blum’s roughness. Again it’s capitalised on as Tihanyi went for the eyes, then threw Blum through the corner into the ring post as he looked to steal a count-out win… but we’re not ending in under five minutes!
Back inside, Tihanyi chokes away on Blum, before a straitjacket choke was bridged out of by Blum… only for his reversal to be reversed instantaneously. Another crack at the neckbreaker from Blum’s blocked as Tihanyi just clobbered him in the back of the head, only to get caught seconds later with a shotgun dropkick.
Clotheslines from Blum lead to a side Russian legsweep on the champion as he began to chain offence together, as a froggy crossbody almost led to the upset. A missed charge from Tihanyi sets him up for a roll-up from Blum, only for Peter to return with a superkick as he almost seemed desperate here.
A shove off from Blum just opened him up for a Meteora… but he’s able to dropkick Tihanyi down to the floor mid-springboard for the cutter. Back inside, Tihanyi escapes a sliding D, but not a cross-legged driver… he’s able to kick out though as both men were beginning to look for their kill shots. To no avail though initially, as Blum would then slip climbing the ropes… recovering before aborting a Spiral Tap-like dive.
Blum jarred his knee on the landing, and right on cue Tihanyi rolled him in for a half crab… the ropes save Blum, but Tihanyi just switches it up into an ankle lock. That’s rolled out of too, before Fohrwerk again got involved as he pulled out the referee after failing to stop a Parting Gift from Blum. That was enough to get a despairing cry out of Mett on commentary, and also get Fohrwerk thrown out from ringside… but in among it all Tihanyi hits a low blow as the referee was otherwise occupied, and that’s enough to get the win. A far from clear-cut finish, but a win’s a win for Tihanyi as I’m sure the issue between he and Blum will rumble well into the new year, especially since the show ended with another pullapart between the two… ***¼
Unofficially High Performer Ltd. Appreciation Night with the overdose-of-Fohrwerk here, FAN was a pretty solid show when it came to the in-play storylines – but keep an eye on Ahura’s medium-to-long term stuff, because there’s a guy building up big wins away from the spotlight on these shows…