wXw 16 Carat Gold 2017, Day One

This tournament received a lot of buzz on social media and I thought I would check it out. wXw is a promotion based out of Germany and this tournament features talent from all over the world.

March 10, 2017

From Turbinehalle in Oberhausen, Germany

Alan Counihan is your host. He is also joined on commentary by someone named Rico.

The show, which is a 16-man Tournament, starts off with the parade of participants which includes: ACH, Cody Rhodes, Da Mack, David Starr, Donovan Dijak, Ilja Dragunov, John Klinger, JT Dunn, Koji Kanemoto, Marius Al-Ani, Matt Riddle, Mike Bailey, Paul London, Robert Dreissker, Timothy Thatcher, and WALTER

First Round Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Da Mack

The crowd is jacked for this show. Da Mack was part of the Cruiserweight Classic this past Summer on the WWE Network. They end in a stalemate after a back-and-forth sequence then Cody does the “too sweet” gesture with Da Mack before locking up. This crowd loves Cody by the way. Cody takes Da Mack off of the apron with a kick then hits a double jump plancha that looked more like a chop. The ring being level to the ring has something to do with that. Back inside, Mack hits a springboard forearm then a hurricarana but Cody dodges the next move and puts him in the tree-of-woe. Cody busts out a cartwheel then quiets the crowd. He gets two with a clothesline then stretches Da Mack out on the mat. Cody then switches to the Gory Special but Mack escapes and heads up top where Cody cuts him off and hits a delayed vertical superplex for a nearfall. Mack finally makes a comeback and runs wild. He gets two with a tumbleweed. Cody comes back with a powerslam but Mack counters an Alabama Slam attempt with a sunset flip. Cody fires away then they collide attempting crossbodies as both men are down. Da Mack ducks a Disaster Kick but his stunner is blocked and Cody puts him away with the Cross Rhodes (10:49) *3/4.

Thoughts: The crowd was really into Cody here but the match was nothing special at all. Da Mack just is not that good in the ring though. Anyway, Cody came off like a star and was treated as such. I also do not think the outcome was a shock to anyone.

First Round Match:Marius Al-Ani vs. JT Dunn

Counihan calls this a “dark horse, show-stealer match.” Al-Ani is from Germany and just 26 years of age. Dunn goes for the quick pinfall after an elbow smash as that gets two. Al-Ani fights back after a bit and hits a dropkick. Dunn avoids a dive then boots Al-Ani from the apron and flies off with a moonsault block. Back inside, Dunn gets two with an Ace Crusher. Al-Ani comes back with a pair of clotheslines and a dropkick but messes up a top rope move. He is able to send Dunn into the corner with a belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall though. Al-Ani is limping a bit as they go back-and-forth until he hits Dunn with a Death Valley Driver for two. Dunn cuts Al-Ani offof the top rope and hits a superplex as both men are down. Dunn gets two with a clothesline as the crowd is behind him but Al-Ani fights back. They are trading elbow strikes now and that ends with Al-Ani hitting a spinning wheel kick. Al-Ani heads up and hits a frogsplash for the win (7:16) **1/2.

Thoughts: Good action while it lasted. Dunn is a fixture in the U.S. Independent scene where he is based out of the Northeast. I’ve seen him have good matches and struggle at times while in PWG. I like him better as a singles wrestler though. Al-Ani had a good look and a sweet dropkick. These two could put on something really good if given more time.

First Round Match: Timothy Thatcher vs. Koji Kanemoto

Kanemoto gets a great response from the crowd. Even at age 50 he looks in great shape. He kicks Thatcher in the leg after a break while Counihan runs down his career. Thatcher scoots in the corner, pissed off over getting leg sweeped. Kanemoto works the leg on the mat then lays in some elbow smashes but Thatcher escapes and hits a deadlift gutwrench for two. Thatcher works a chinlock then stomps on Kanemoto’s wrist as he works the arm. He gets two with a suplex but Kanemoto catches him with a hip toss after that. He facewashes Thatcher in the corner as Thatcher gets a bloody nose. Kanemoto grapevines the leg then pulls Thatcher back to the middle of the ring. The crowd chants for Kanemoto as he goes back to the leg until Thatcher counters with a Fujiwara armbar then uses a cradle for the win (8:25) **. After the match, Bobby Gunns comes out and smokes a cigarette on the end of the stage and disrespects Kanemoto.

Thoughts: Nothing much to this match but the crowd loved Kanemoto and he seemed to enjoy himself out there. Thatcher going over was the right call and he should be considered one of the favorites to win the entire tournament.

First Round Match: “The Avalanche” Robert Dreissker w/ Adam Polak vs. Ilga Dragunov

Avalanche is a big dude, at about 300 lbs, and Dragunov is intense but a cruiserweight. He is just a 23 years of age and based out of Russia. Dragunov immediately knocks The Avalanche outside and heads out where he hammers away. Dragunov hits a tope but after that Avalanche beats him down then they head inside. Avalanche tosses Dragunov across the ring as Counihan tells us last year Avalanche underwent surgery on his shoulder and missed the 16 Carat show. Dragunov takes Avalanche off the middle rope and holds him up for a back suplex in an impressive feat of strength. Avalanche comes back with a backdrop then hits a pumphandle slam for two. Dragunov fights back but Avalanche runs over him. Dragunov gets up and hits a Saito suplex then heads up top but Polak spits in his face then Avalanche hits a superplex and follows with the cannonball as that gets two. Polak gets back up on the apron to pump up his client but Dragunov escapes from a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt and hits a lariat then gets the win with a Torpedo Moscow (8:08) ***1/4. After the match, Avalanche yells at Polak and ends up taking him down with a clothesline as the crowd cheers then he hits the Avalanche Bomb (Vader Bomb).

Thoughts: Good, hard-hitting match. There was a story here in that Dragunov turned face after leaving the Cerebrus stable lead by Polak. Dragunov is someone to keep an eye on as he really has a lot of talent, both in the ring and in terms of how he carries himself. I liked the Avalanche too and thought he did a fine job.

First Round Match: Donovan Dijak vs. Matt Riddle

Dijak cheap shots Riddle then beats him down in the corner. He cuts off a comeback with a knee to the gut and decides to celebrate and ends up getting hit with a knee smash. Riddle takes over now and gets two with a senton. Dijak hits a hook kick and ends up hitting a chokeslam backbreaker with one hand as that gets a “holy shit” chant. Dijak steps on Riddle and gets two with a knee smash. Riddle comes back with a roundhouse kick then the Bro to Sleep. They land on their feet after getting hit with German suplexes then Riddle gets two with a fisherman’s buster. Dijak blocks a Bro to Sleep attempt and hits the Feast Your Eyes but Riddle is able to get his foot on the ropes. Dijak tries a moonsault but misses and Riddle puts him in the Bromission for the win (7:10) ***1/2.

Thoughts: Excellent match for the time they got here. Dijak shined and Riddle was his fantastic self. RoH really lost something in Dijak, who has shown rapid improvement over the past year. He’ll be with EVOLVE during WrestleMania weekend and a great addition to their roster.

First Round Match: “Bad Bones” John Klinger vs. Paul London

Klinger is a longtime fixture in the European scene. Klinger backs London in the corner but London works a headlock. London hits a double stomp from the top then hangs him in the ropes and to the floor with a baseball slide. Back inside, London slingshots in with an Oklahoma Roll for two. Klinger comes back with a slingshot spear then skies London on a backdrop attempt for two. He chops London down and overpowers him for a bit. He gets a nearfall with a clothesline then backdrops London to the floor as he takes a nasty bump. Klinger takes London into the chairs with a tope and rolls him back inside. Klinger heads up top but London cuts him off with a super kick then hits a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Klinger comes back with a kick then hits a Codebreaker from the middle rope as London sells that with a backflip in a cool spot as that gets two. Klinger hits a buckle bomb but London gets his foot up on a charge then hits a pair of shooting star presses for a nearfall as the fans go nuts. Klinger comes back and drops London on his head with a half nelson suplex and hits the wrecking ball knee smash for the win (9:05) ***1/2. After the match, Klinger helps London up and shows him respect.

Thoughts: Another very good match. London looked the best he has in a long time. His offense was crisp and on point and is selling was fantastic. Klinger is decent and a jacked up dude and I am a bit surprised the WWE never signed him to a Developmental Deal.

First Round Match: Mike Bailey vs. ACH

We are treated to a dance off before the match. ACH grabs a headlock to start then they go back-and-forth and end in a stalemate. Bailey hits the rapid fire kicks then ACH slides into the corner off of an Irish whip and comes back with an upkick. They trade chops until Bailey kicks ACH down. ACH comes back with a low blow then chops Bailey down for two. He does some backflips but gets kicked in the face then Bailey flies out with a springboard moonsault to the floor. Back inside, Bailey hits some kicks then gets a Shiranui for two. ACH turns Bailey inside out with a clothesline and takes him off the apron with a kick. Back inside, Bailey tries to fight back but misses a standing shooting star knee drop and gets kicked in the face. ACH hits a brainbuster for two and is pissed then he hits a discus clothesline. Bailey comes back with a crucifix and a spin kick then rolls through a shooting star knee drop but shortly after that kicks ACH then hits the shooting star knee drop to the back of the head and gets the win (12:08) ***1/4.

Thoughts: Fairly entertaining match at the beginning that got better as it went along. Bailey was really starting to gain steam in the U.S. at the end of 2015 but that ended when he got busted coming to work for EVOLVE without a work visa in early 2016, thus being banned from the U.S. for five years.

First Round Match: WALTER vs. David Starr

WALTER has a noticeable size advantage here. The story here is that WALTER defeated Starr several months ago and Starr dropkicks him outside after a reversal sequence but WALTER catches a tope attempt and rams him into the ring apron. Back inside, Starr trips up WALTER and hits a few cltotheslines but ends up getting caught in a sleeper. Starr lands on his feet during a suplex and uses his speed but gets drilled. WALTER hits a sitdown splash for two then uses a wristlock. WALTER stays in control and chops Starr, who flips him off. WALTER then beats the shit out of Starr. WALTER cuts off a fiery comeback with a shotgun dropkick but Starr counters a powerbomb in midair with a DDT then hits a brainbuster across the knee for a nearfall as both men are down. Starr refuses to back down as WALTER lays into him then hits a DDT from the apron. Starr clotheslines WALTER down then flies out with a tope then does it again. Back inside, WALTER counters a piledriver and puts Starr in an ankle lock. He gets two with a German suplex then heads up top. Starr cuts him off with an uppercut but WALTER drops him down. However, Starr gets up and takes him down with a super belly-to-belly then hits a Code Red for two. Starr knocks WALTER down after three rolling elbows to the back of the head then pumps himself up. WALTER comes back and hits a lariat for two then Starr gets up and acts crazed. WALTER boots Starr in the face and slaps him around while mocking him then Starr blocks a kick and fires away. WALTER locks on a sleeper then hits a suplex and a clothesline before putting on a Coquina Clutch as Starr passes out and WALTER gets the win (16:21) ****1/4.

Thoughts: Excellent match. Starr showed tremendous fire and resilience here. He did everything you wanted from an underdog babyface but at the end, he could not overcome the odds. I think he is in for a breakout 2017. WALTER is billed as 6’4 and 310lbs and just a fantastic worker. He is agile and hard-hitting. I would love to see him get some U.S. bookings in the future. Definitely seek this match out.

After the match, the rest of Ringkampf (Christian Jakobi, Axel Dieter Jr, and Thatcher) comes out. Jakobi speaks in German for a while then Jurn Simmons comes out and gets in Dieter’s face. Ringkampf leaves then Simmons calls out Dieter for being a “little bitch” who runs and promises to take back the title to build up their match tomorrow night.

Final Thoughts: I was really impressed with this show. The match quality improved as the show went along and featured a tremendous main event. The commentary did a great job at explaining things going in within the promotion too. They have a lot of talent here and I cannot wait to see what the other two nights have to offer. I highly recommend this, which you can view on FloSlam or on the Highspots Network

Thursday: Back to the Territories: Florida with Kevin Sullivan

Friday: WWF Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens 10/8/89

Saturday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling in London, England 10/10/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 7/29/82

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 10/14/89

Monday: WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 10/14/89

Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 10/15/89

Wednesday: wXw 2017 16 Carat Gold, Night Two