If you haven’t watched it already we strongly suggest that you do before reading the review below as its clear that both men put a lot of time and effort into it and both deserve your support; https://youtu.be/pd3oxONjdmY Thank You.
Pre Match Promos
The event began with a series of promos hyping up the night’s main-event, everyone from TJ Stark to Robert Martyr contributed to these hype promos. The last of the promos were from Jerod and Kelly, they both went through their credentials, experience, and the characteristics that set them apart from their opponent.
There were over 26 mins of promos in a 52 minute video, 4 of which we here at Today In CAW would have suggested be removed leaving only the Jerod and Kelly promos with some minor editing changes to prevent the unsightly loops. The other promos would have been better suited for hype packages building up to the event. The promos were by no means bad and it didn’t ruin the watching experience but they also didn’t add to the experience either.
MK1 defeats Jerod Bowden in 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match
The match began with a lock up exchange which Jerod got the better of with a cheap shot after being forced to break the tie up. The technical exchange continued until Kelly began to showcase his size and power advantage with a series of shoulder tackles. Kelly would continue this display of dominance with a barrage of vicious uppercuts and punches in the corner. Jerod after escaping a Double Underhook Crossface would respond with a striking barrage of his own.
As the match progressed with an exchange of power and technical maneuvers between the two competitors, Kelly began to show his experience advantage cutting off the offense of the younger and less experienced Jerod at every turn. The match would spill to the outside after an uncharacteristic but all parts impressive suicide dive by Kelly, followed by a vicious powerbomb by Kelly.
Following a short exchange after re-entering the ring Kelly would score the first fall with a Package Piledriver. Jerod began to exhibit his frustration by repeating attacking various limbs of Kelly with stomps, strikes and submission holds, focusing mainly on the knees particularly his unbraced knee. Kelly retook control with vicious dropkick into the corner very well possibly injuring Jerod’s back in the process. However following a reversal of a corner running attack with double knees Jerod rolled up Kelly to score his first fall of the encounter.
The action once again spilled to the outside as Kelly would viciously powerbomb Jerod through the announce table at ringside. However this would prove detrimental as it would cause him to lose consciousness moments after the maneuver.
The last few minutes of the match was just littered with brutal sequences and punctuated by finishing maneuvers. Both men exchanging brutal strikes and clubbing blows reminiscent of Japanese wrestling, Kelly began to take more and more risk and Jerod began to demonstrate more and more resilience. After failing to put Jerod away with a Swanton Kelly would get a chair from under the ring to deliver a savage unprotected chair shot to the head. Kelly would then open the chair around Jerod’s neck and attempt a springboard Swanton but luckily Jerod would move just in time to avoid possible permanent damage. Jerod would force Kelly to roll out with a pair of knee to the arm, giving him just enough time to recover and head to the top rope for an elbow drop. Kelly would avoid the elbow drop and proceed to hit two consecutive Butterfly Piledrivers to pick up the final fall of the encounter.
We here at TIC graded the match ****(1/4), it was a good match that told a good story of the veteran using his experience to outperform the young hungry challenger. There were noticeable mistakes in the match for instance where timing on maneuvers was off or one competitor was uncertain of what to do following a move or sequence so they would just stand motionless waiting for their opponent to move. The match was still good all this considered, the action was hard hitting and played well into each of their characters. The match was aided by the story on twitter going in which although could have been built for through video packages and more recorded promos leading to the match but the twitter back and forth seemed real and grounded in the reality of each of their characters and careers.
Comments