KXS. Young Blood. Shire and Manders. Three teams hit the finals of the World Tag Team Festival, looking to wrap up the festival with the win and the tag team titles.
Quick Results
Alex Duke & Norman Harras pinned Kid Lykos II & Kid Lykos in 6:55 (**¾)
Mike D Vecchio pinned Nick Schreier to retain the wXw European Championship in 9:49 (***¼)
Hektor Invictus pinned Aigle Blanc in 8:54 (***¼)
Anil Marik, Icarus & Joseph Fenech Jr. pinned Axel Fox, Vaughn Vertigo & LSG in 6:15 (**¾)
Peter Tihanyi pinned Not Elijah Blum in 0:15
Timothy Thatcher, Hideki Suzuki & Shigehiro Irie submitted Arez, Latigo & Gringo Loco in 17:52 (***½)
Robert Dreissker pinned Aeron in 1:57
Fuminori Abe pinned Mad Dog Connelly in 9:57 (***¼)
Anita Vaughan pinned Levaniel to win the wXw Shotgun Championship in 12:38 (**½)
World Tag Team Festival 2024 Final: OSKAR & Yuto Nakashima pinned Axel Tischer & Fast Time Moodo and 1 Called Manders & Thomas Shire to win the wXw World Tag Team Championship in 20:33 (***½)
— 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, as well as back episodes are available at AufDieFresse.co.uk
We’re back in the Turbinenhalle for the final show of the weekend – headlined by a three-way elimination match in the World Tag Team Festival finals. Commentary comes from Mett Dimassi and the remnants of Dave Bradshaw’s voice…
Big Bucks (Alex Duke & Norman Harras) vs. Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II)
It’s another outing for the Lykii after their first round exit in the festival…
A jump-start from the Bucks came to nought as planchas from Lykos Gym took them out before we got going with Alex Duke pushing off a brainbuster attempt from Lykos II. Norman Harras opens the ropes to send Lykos II sailing to the outside as the Bucks took charge for a spell.
Lykos II’s isolated in the Bucks’ corner as he was crashed into with kicks ahead of a flapjack from Harras for a two-count. Breaking out of a grounded chinlock, Lykos II’s able to put some space between he and Harras before spinning past Norman to make the tag out to Kid Lykos.
The elder Lykos runs wild on Norman ahead of a diving Meteora off the middle rope for a two-count…but a follow-up senton bomb’s aborted as the Bucks took over once more. Lykos got planted with a double-team powerbomb, but was able to kick out before Kid Lykos II low bridged Harras out of the ring. Fair’s fair.
The Lykii double-team Duke with a senton bomb/neckbreaker combo that gets Lykos II a near-fall… but on the outside, Kid Lykos got chucked into the ring steps, leaving Lykos II alone as a double-team spinebuster led to the win for the Bucks. **¾
After the main-show-opening video package, we’re straight into action as the previously-announced Schreier vs. Mike D match ended up being made into a European title match as Mike D wanted to light a fire under his tag team partner.
wXw European Championship: Nick Schreier vs. Mike D Vecchio (c)
This was more about tough love than friendly fire, with Mike D a little unhappy with how Nick took his foot of the gas this weekend.
Schreier had no luck with a tie up to start with, eventually budging Mike when he got some leverage on the middle rope. Responding, Mike D chopped Nick’s back, only to get knocked into the corner with a dropkick as Schreier… then got stuffed on an armdrag attempt. Slams put Schreier on the back foot before a pop-up dropkick bought Nick some time.
Another Schreier dropkick took Mike D to the outside for a tope to the back, following up with an impressive sunset bomb out of the corner when they made it back in. Despite the painful landing, Mike approved… then waffled Nick with a big ol’ clothesline for good measure. Headscissors help Schreier avoid a gutwrench powerbomb, before Mike D caught a crossbody, kicking out from the pin as he then hauled up Nick for a deadlift Falcon arrow.
Avoiding a 450 splash, Schreier’s able to return with a Destroyer, but after landing a flurry of spears, Nick’s spear got caught and turned into a gutwrench powerbomb for the win. Victory in defeat for Schreier, who even got his tough love kiss afterwards. All’s well that ends well. ***¼
Backstage, Mett Dimassi’s with Levaniel, who begrudgingly agreed to give Anita Vaughan a crack at the Shotgun title after her Femmes Fatales win earlier in the day.
Hektor Invictus vs. Aigle Blanc
Dennis Dullnig’s out with Hektor, and once again he’s made to sit on the lap of a fan in the front row. The spare seat next to me sadly wasn’t chosen…
Aigle Blanc scored with a headlock takedown in the opening moments as he tried to neutralise Hektor’s power advantage. So Hektor changes tactic, landing a springboard forearm before he ducked Aigle’s springboard crossbody… and hit one of his own for good measure.
A quick turnaround saw Aigle chop Hektor off the top rope to the floor, before some headscissors grounded Hektor back inside. Stomping Hektor’s head into the turnbuckles, Aigle pushed on with a twisting brainbuster as the former European champion almost took the win, only to get caught with a powerslam moments later.
Duelling kicks laid out both Hektor and Aigle for a spell, but while Hektor was able to push on, his push-up powerbomb’s countered into a DDT by Aigle, who took it outside for a moonsault on the floor. A Meteora’s next for a near-fall for Aigle, only for a follow-up 450 splash to get nothing but knees.
Another knee, this time a leaping one, cuts off Aigle’s springboard, before the push-up powerbomb and a Hektor-Knie got the big win over the former European champion. ***¼
Backstage, OSKAR has Yuto Nakashima tape up his back in preparation for their final…
High Performer Ltd. (Anil Marik, Icarus & Joseph Fenech Jr.) vs. Axel Fox, LSG & Vaughn Vertigo
Earlier in the day, Robin Christopher Fohrwerk presented his troops with customised golf gloves. I can’t imagine them all on the links…
Icarus slaps Fox with that glove to start, then laid in with a clothesline as the Pole tried to respond. Vaughn Vertigo’s in to try his luck with Icarus, scoring with a backflip/enziguiri, then with a leg lariat and a clothesline to take Icarus to the outside.
Anil Marik tries to get involved, but he’s sent down to the floor as he and Icarus ate a plancha… only for Marik to recover and pull down Vaughn’s springboard moments later. Marik’s taken off his glove as he came in and worked over Vertigo, which is a great way to be reminded through chanting that the German for glove is literally “handschuh”.
Tags bring us to Fenech and LSG, with the latter landing the Launch Code, then a spin-out Saints Flowsion butterfly slam for a near-fall. The High Performer Ltd. trio distract referee Nikkan Lee as they choke on LSG with Fenech’s tie… we’re back to Marik and Fox, but Axel’s springboard back elbow misses as Anil quickly pounced on him with the DDT for the win. **¾
After the match, Robin Christopher Fohrwerk praised his troops’ successful weekend, then called out Baby Allison after yesterday’s events. Giving her a literal award for her performance – in pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes with how they dealt with Maggot – Fohrwerk noted that Allison was never fired from the group to begin with.
Talk then turned to Fohrwerk’s prized star, as he brought out the new Unified World Wrestling champion, Peter Tihanyi… and offered a match to someone who’s wanted a piece of High Performer Ltd as of late. Out comes… that’s not Elijah Blum, but the resemblance fooled a LOT of people until folks noticed the drawn on moustache.
Peter Tihanyi vs. Not Elijah Blum
Fohrwerk secured the ring bell so he could make this “official”, but it’s not much of a match as Tihanyi hit the Parting Gift on not-Blum for the three count.
After the “match” Laurance Roman charged out to stop this charade, but got outnumbered before the real Elijah Blum came through the crowd with a pipe to chase away Fohrwerk and his crew.
Backstage, Thomas Shire and 1 Called Manders gee themselves up for the final…
Los Desperados (Arez, Gringo Loco & Latigo) vs. Hideki Suzuki, Shigehiro Irie & Timothy Thatcher
We’ve another trios match, and this one… was a rather different interpretation of the “Partycatch” that we’ve become accustomed to on these final nights.
Starting with Arez and Thatcher going back-and-forth, Thatcher teased Arez into the ropes to prevent a submission attempt in what was a rather tentative start. A knucklelock led into a backslide for a quick one-count before Thatcher slapped Arez around in a hold.
Tags bring us to Suzuki and Latigo, with the latter making time to flip off Irie, who took it rather personally. We’ve another knuckle lock, this time from Suzuki, before Latigo broke free and took Suzuki outside… then faked out a dive by hooking himself in the ropes. More tags led to Irie and Gringo coming in, but the crowds being pro-Gringo got into Irie’s head before Irie shook it off and landed a tijeras.
Latigo rushes in to double-team Irie with Gringo, but things go awry when Arez came in as he booted Irie… into an “accidental” hip attack on Latigo in the corner. The comedy continued with Irie hitting the ropes for a brief, tentative spot of rope-walking en route to a ‘rana on Gringo, before arm drags for everyone and… we all leap up! Except for Timo.
Thatcher’s annoyed by how this has turned into slapstick, and ends up slapping everyone… which upset Irie, who stormed off in a huff. Suzuki tries to calm him down, but Shiggy wanted an apology from Thatcher… which he got, before the slapstick continued as they paraded their newly-reformed friendship around the ring, only for Irie to get led into the ring post. DOH!
Thing burst back into life with dives from the Desperados – first Latigo, then Gringo, and finally Arez – before we headed back inside for a switch-sault from Gringo Loco for a near-fall as Thatcher broke up the pin. The Desperados pose on Thatcher after that, whose attempts to help Suzuki land a piledriver kept getting thwarted with back body drops.
Leading Suzuki away, Thatcher turns around into some superkicks, before Irie stumbled on his way into the ring. More superkicks down Irie, who goes back to the armdrags for all… except only Thatcher gets tricked into the leap, as everyone else had loose laces. Enraged once more, Thatcher clears house with a series of rebound belly-to-bellies, before he tapped Arez to a Fujiwara armbar. I have no idea how you’d seriously rate this – The Match That Goes Wrong – but this was wild fun, and seeing Timothy Thatcher in a comedy match was just surreal. ***½
Aeron vs. Robert Dreissker
Back from intermission and… boy, I don’t fancy Aeron’s chances here on his main roster debut.
Figuring his best bet was to jump Dreissker before the bell, Aeron barely budged the former champion, only to get waylaid with a lariat. Dropkicks gave him a feint opening, but Dreissker cuts him off with a springboard crossbody out of the corner before an avalanche splash, fallaway slam and a pull-up into a spinebuster got the win. Splat.
Fuminori Abe vs. Mad Dog Connelly
Our random assortment of matches continued with a bit of a clash of styles…
Grappling from Connelly took Abe to the mat for an early two count, before Connelly ripped into ring announcer Thommy Giesen as he tried to remove Connelly’s dog collar and chain from ringside. Recovering, Abe sent Connelly onto the apron, then to the floor as the pair traded barbs around ringside, ending with Abe getting chopped into someone’s lap.
Back inside, Connelly ripped away at Abe’s nose and mouth before he got caught with an enziguiri into the corner. A cyclone kick, then a follow-up PK to the back puts Abe ahead, as did a balled-fist to Connelly’s head…
A headbutt from Connelly knocked Abe into the corner ahead of some wild overhand chops, before a suplex and an Irabu punch caught a meandering Connelly. Back-and-forth forearms followed after the pair got back to their feet, before some misdirection led to a powerslam on Abe for a near-fall.
Connelly stays on Abe with a hesitation dropkick into the corner, before a flash roll-up from Abe saw him snatch the win out of nothing. ***¼
Post-match Abe’s chased to the back by Connelly who had his chain in hand…
Then we’re shown KXS prepping their wrist tape and pony tail for the main event as they talked about how to work down OSKAR’s back. Pretty sure you can guess who did what there.
wXw Shotgun Championship: Anita Vaughan vs. Levaniel (c)
Having won the Femmes Fatales tournament earlier in the day, Vaughan called out Levaniel for a title match… and we’ve a jumpstart as Levaniel attacked Anita before his entrance.
Ranting that he’d pinned Matt Cardona, and by proxy was the best indie wrestler in the world, Levaniel was looking to make light work of Vaughan, but Anita charged Levaniel into the corner… before getting dumped on the top turnbuckle.
A backbreaker from Levaniel, then a spinning heel kick put him in firm control – but rather than stay on Anita, Levaniel took time to mouth off to the crowd… which was time that Vaughan used to recover. Keeping things on the mat, a grounded Cobra twist stretched Vaughan, only for the challenger to fight back into the corner with a series of forearms.
That comeback’s snuffed out as Levaniel hurled Anita chest-first into the corners, but she kept trying to fight back, swinging punches at Levaniel as the champion retained his methodical pace. A bodyslam’s good for a two-count, while suplexes led to another two-count as the crowd were all but taken out of the match.
Taking Vaughan onto the apron for some clubbing blows, things finally change when Anita reversed a throw, posting Levaniel in the process, before she began to mount a comeback, chopping Levaniel into the corner. Clotheslines and uppercuts follow, as an elbow strike barely gets a one-count for the Irishwoman after a flurry of shots.
We cross the ten minute mark with Vaughan teasing a fallaway slam, finally landing it after she’d booted Levaniel into the ropes. A second fallaway slam followed, only for Levaniel to return with a discus lariat… but he hesitated in going for a pin, choosing to run down the clock as he stomped a mudhole into Vaughan in the corner.
Mounted punches in the corner end with Levaniel almost getting powerbombed away, but he countered out into a Galactic Facecrusher… only for his arrogant cover to be countered into a roll-up as Vaughan snatched the pin to win the Shotgun title! On paper, you could see what they were going for… but Levaniel perhaps took things too lightly, and it ended up taking the crowd out of it for big stretches of the match. A new champion in Anita Vaughan offers something fresh to the Shotgun title picture too – and was a fine end to a successful weekend for the Irishwoman. **½
World Tag Team Festival 2024 Final for wXw World Tag Team Championship: Young Blood (Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima) vs. 1 Called Manders & Thomas Shire vs. KXS (Axel Tischer & Fast Time Moodo) (c)
We’re under elimination rules here, as we start with the big lads – OSKAR and Shire.
Things quickly broke down to strikes between the two, before OSKAR’s attempt as a slam led to his back giving out. Nakashima and Manders tag in to try their luck, trading kicks and chops before shoulder tackle took Yuto down. OSKAR’s back as he and Manders laid into each other with clotheslines, before Axel Tischer kicked OSKAR in the ropes… then snuck in a tag as Moodo dragged the big man outside.
Manders’ three-point stance and charge is kicked away as Moodo came in to put the boots in, while Tischer just about pulled off a brainbuster to Manders. KXS isolate Manders for a spell… until a snap DDT from Manders took down the Axeman. Moodo and Shire come in to trade shots, leading to a quick attempt at the UFO that Tischer broke up… a spinning roundhouse from Moodo took out Shire to spark a Parade of Stuff as all six men got involved, ending with that UFO to Moodo.
KXS looked to fall on their sword as the two challenging teams went at them, but then the sights changed as Young Blood traded blows with Manders and Shire, with the latter dropping OSKAR with another backbreaker to keep that whole theme going. An Iron claw from Shire stopped Tischer, but KXS were able to outmanoeuvre the cowboys as the Dragon Murder ended up putting away Shire at the 8:25 mark.
That leaves us with KXS and Young Blood, and of course OSKAR’s back was the big focal point as Moodo stretched OSKAR with an Arabian clutch. Tischer’s back to rip off the tape from OSKAR’s back ahead of some more hooking and stretching, while a camel clutch from Moodo kept the pressure up.
Powering out, OSKAR’s able to back Moodo into the corner, but couldn’t do much more before he finally found enough in him to hit a bodyslam. Tischer’s tagged in, but takes a back body drop before OSKAR made the tag to Yuto Nakashima, who laid into Tischer with kicks in the corner.
A death valley driver from Yuto forced Moodo in to break up the pin – and a quick-fire exchange from KXS quickly puts them on top as a stomp-assisted gutbuster, then a Made in Japan forced OSKAR in to break up the pin at the 15-minute mark. Yuto kicks away a Dragon Murder attempt, then made the tag out to OSKAR as clotheslines cleared the way.
OSKAR’s forced to fight off of the top rope, only to get taken down with a superplex from Tischer… then a diving elbow from Moodo as a powerbomb from Nakashima broke up the count in the nick of time. Tischer tries to deal with Yuto, only to run into a Blue Thunder bomb as Young Blood looked to focus on Moodo…
The two-on-one assault on Moodo ended with him taking a clothesline after an atomic drop… before a Blood Rush was wriggled out of. A head kick from Moodo took care of Yuto, before OSKAR managed to get hold of Moodo for a powerbomb. Tischer attacks OSKAR before a pin could even be attempted, but in the end a big lariat from OSKAR took out Moodo ahead of a Last Ride powerbomb to seal the win! Young Blood win the World Tag Team Festival – and leave Oberhausen with the wXw World Tag Team Championships after a long weekend of struggle. ***½
After a somewhat rocky start to the World Tag Team Festival, we finally got something amounting to rice pudding to end the weekend – and with wXw painting this as the arrival of the new generation, all eyes will be on the follow-up. Given how much of this weekend relied on imports of some sort, there’s going to be a lot of heavy lifting for the new generation to do in the weeks and months ahead!