A Passing Review of Blizzard Brawl 5

I'm not trying to do a blow-by-blow review of last night's show. I just want to cover the highlights, the memories as I have them before they disappear and get muddled. It was a busy and fun time.

Normally I meet and get a picture with a wrestler or two. I bumped into some friends I haven't seen in way too long and chose to catch up with them rather than get a picture with Bobby Heenan. Tough decision, honestly.

Pre-show: Ten bell salute for Eddie 'Umaga' Fata who passed away on Friday at far too young an age.

First Match: Dakota Darsow vs Tony Scarpone (?)

Dakota we've seen once before, put on a good show, and was really nice. He's the son of Barry Darsow aka Demolition Smash (amongst other ring names). Dakota was billed as being from Minnesota and Tony as from Chicago, causing me to lean over to my buddy Brian and ponder 'I had this problem while watching football last week. When Chicago plays Minnesota, who do you cheer for?' Dakota had a cockiness to him that was new. Tony played the big tough guy. Dakota got the win.

Second Match: Headbanger Mosh vs Ryan Rogue

Late 90s WWF wrestler vs local boy. Nice match, both guys worked hard, some high flying, some bumping to the outside, but something weird happened with the finish and the match ended on what appeared to be a blown spot. Everyone seemed okay though.

Third Match: The 'Gun Show' Retirement Gauntlet.

Local tv reporter Lance Allen is 3-0 at Blizzard Brawl and announced he intended to retire after tonight undefeated. His manager, wrestling legend King Kong Bundy, would insure success. GLCW commissioner Armando Estrada announced he had searched high and low in Wisconsin to find three opponents, one of which had to defeat Lance. Opponent one, Bobby V, wore black briefs barely covered by a weird fuzzy pink singlet that appeared to be for a female. (Bundy's comment to Bobby V was 'I've taken dumps bigger than you and they were better looking!') Bobby V was quickly defeated. Opponent two, 'El Vato' Jose Guerrero, was more of a challenge but Lance managed a victory. Opponent three was Eric Freedom and the dirty hippie caused the tired Lance problems. King Kong Bundy assisted and Lance got the victory, able to retire undefeated.

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan tribute. Bobby was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the local wrestling talk show as well as the proclamation that December 5th, 2009 was Bobby 'the Brain' Heenan Day in Milwaukee. Bobby wondered if there was a cash reward as well. King Kong Bundy did an introduction for his former manager. The crowd chanted 'Bobby', 'Thank you Bobby', and, briefly, 'Weasel'. Bobby is a throat cancer survivor and the crowd went totally silent when the man grabbed the microphone. 'Thank you. Very much.' This was a wonderfully sweet moment.

Footage of such:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYxhyo2uFt4&feature=player_embedded

Intermission. More talking with my buddies that I haven't seen in ages. Entertainment value increased as I said hello to the passing Jose Guerrero, he came to politely shake hands, and then realized that I was with the Milkman and started chatting about old times to him. Very nice.

Match Four: GLCW Tag Team Championship Defense - Demolition vs Matt 'Love Machine' Longtime and Ryan (?) McCoy

It was supposed to be a team of McCoys so one must be hurt. Another solid tag match. Demolition move good in the ring for being such big fellows. After the Demos get the win to retain their belts, some long haired blond fella and Dakota Darsow hit the ring and attack Demolition with Longtime and McCoy. Road Warrior Animal flies from the back to defend Demolition, setting up a handicap tag match at the next show. Demolition teaming with a Road Warrior? Wow!

Match Five: Women's Title Defense - Sparky (w/Eric Freedom) vs ODB

Womens matches in GLCW tend to be comedy matches and this was no different. Sparky is a thin guy and doesn't pretend to be a female. He insisted that ODB was a man and had Eric Freedom face 'him'. Haystacks Ross came to be defense. In the end, ODB won by DQ, winning the match but not the belt. Fun for the brief time it ran. More fun because it was brief.

Match Six: Armando Estrada vs Mr. Ken Anderson (formerly Ken Kennedy in WWE)

Anderson is the local boy that made good but couldn't stay healthy enough up in the 'big leagues'. Being from Green Bay, he got cheered. He and Estrada did some funny back-and-forth stuff before the match. The match started hot. A few minutes in, Commissioner Estrada made the match no count-out, no DQ. Anderson immediately slugged him with a chair. They fought through the crowd like we were in Memphis, passing by our seats to return to the ring. After a high energy, high impact match, Anderson hit his 'kenton bomb' to win.

After the match, the opponents got together to salute their friend Umaga (Estrada was Umaga's manager in WWE). Anderson brought Estrada an Umaga shirt, Estrada did his Umaga introduction one more time, and had a few sad words to say to a (mostly) silent and respectful audience. It was another very nice moment.

Match Seven: Al Snow vs Billy Gunn vs Road Dogg Jesse James with Mick Foley as special referee.

Foley warned them to behave before the match or he'd have to get involved. As Gunn and Dogg are a tag team, they turned the match into a handicap match rather than an actual three-way type match. After Gunn put his hands on Foley, Mick threw some fists around. Having had enough, Mick stopped the match and turned it into a tag match: Snow and Foley (reuniting the 'Best Friends') vs the New Age Outlaws. A ref slid in the ring and it was on! Al Snow wrestled most of the match. Once he tagged in Foley, punches were thrown, Mr Socko arrived, the Mandible Claw was applied to both members of the NAOs at once, and Snow hit Billy Gunn with Head for the pin.

Fun show. Lots of guests to celebrate the anniversary show. I got some old AWA footage and have been soaking in classic Bobby Heenan interviews today.