APW TV Workrate Report: 3/5/11

Unbreakable Union of Freeborn Republics! Alexis Derevko starts things off!

1. Alexis Derevko vs. Sheik Khan Abadi in WORLD WAR III!!! It appears both guys are working heel, since one is from Soviet Russia and the other takes breaks in the match to bow to Allah. Those usually aren't the things that endear you to Americans. Especially American wrestling fans. Derevko gets kicked to the floor and Abadi does a corkscrew moonsault to the floor (pretty crazy when fans are seated 2 feet from the ring), then hits another back in the ring, then ANOTHER to a laid out Derevko. But Derevko outweighs him by 100 lb. and catches him with the Russian Leg Sweep and a big delayed vertical suplex. Derevko bumps to the floor on a missed clothesline and Abadi hits a somersault dive to the floor. Back in and Abadi hits a rana, but Derevko rolls through it and nails him with a falling clothesline. Derevko mocks Allah for heat, and the fans are supportive of Abadi's religious beliefs! And hates the guy from a socialist state that hasn't existed for 20 years! Derevko hits a pair of spinebusters (normal, and sit-out style). Derevko argues with the ref over the count, and Abadi hits the sliced bread for the win. Didn't really care for the finish, but match was going well up until that point. Abadi basically just took a bunch of moves, then just kinda stood up and finished the match. Abadi has a cool Sabu vibe, using his body recklessly as a weapon, and Derevko needs to go back to wrestling like Buzz Sawyer like he did a few weeks ago. I think I just happened to see Derevko's best match ever the VERY first time I saw him (a few weeks ago) and it's skewed my expectations for him a lot.

2. Billy Blade vs. OUT OF CONTROL Matt Carlos!! Blade used to work a Gangrel kinda gimmick but is now working a bloated Bret Michaels Rock of Love gimmick that he pulls of real well. Carlos hits a nice rana to start and Blade rolls to the floor, Carlos misses a baseball slide dropkick and Blade kicks him from the apron to the floor with Carlos taking a nice Race bump to the floor. Back in and Blade has really nice chops, and makes running kicks look really good (with a really nice running soccer kick to a hands-and-knees Carlos). Blade throws him off after a Sliced Bread attempt, they kinda stumble around a bit with Carlos whiffing a spin kick and time kinda standing still, and Carlos hits sliced bread to win. Match was short and fun, probably going around 5 minutes. Ending kinda sputtered, but it was worthwhile nonetheless. Would have gotten a full Worldwide point.

3. Reno Scum vs. Suburban Commandos Best of 5 Series!

Luster starts with some armwork but T-Rent can't give a shit and boots him in the face, then clotheslines Luster in the mouth. Both the Commandos hit a vertical suplex and then do the cabbage patch. T-Rent hits a nice senton and so far this match rules. Thornstowe tags in and hits a big springboard crossbody. Both Commandos (T-Rent and D-Unit) are two big fat guys who eat offense really well and have some really cool power offense. Both Commandos biel Thornstowe all the way across the ring, then hit a double team wheelbarrow suplex.

D-Unit goes for a tope and Thornstowe stops him dead in his tracks with a boot on the apron. Back in the ring and things start getting crazy with all sorts of double team moves from both teams. T-Rent takes Thornstowe up top with a fallaway slam, but Luster powerbombs him off, which sends Thornstowe flying off the fallaway slam into D-Unit. Awesome spot. Then Luster picked up one of the Commandos in a DVD, with the other still lying prone, and Thornstowe leaps off the top, off of the guy getting held in a DVD, and then sentons onto T-Rent. Then Luster Death Valley Drivers D-Unit onto him! Yes! Commandoes come back and hit some double teams of their own, ending it with a cool backdrop into a powerbomb/cutter combo.

This was insanely fun. Both teams are really great and I'm surprised they don't get any work at all anywhere other than the Bay Area. Maybe they have real jobs and don't like to go anywhere? That's the only reason I can think of why these guys don't get more work and aren't more well known. This match is WELL worth going out of your way to watch.