Pro Wrestling Guerilla 2011 Battle of Los Angeles

[Harthan]

Once again, PWG is holding it's annual tournament, featuring some of the greatest talent in wrestling today battling it out for the honor that is winning the Battle of Los Angeles. This is annually one of PWG's biggest events, usually drawing in some big outside names to bolster the line up and draw a big show. Unfortunately, times seem to have fallen a bit harder on PWG lately. There have been rumors abounding that the financial situation wasn't great, and taking a look at their schedule, you can tell they've been downsizing their schedule over the last few years. As we approach this year's Battle of Los Angeles, we find that it's going to be the smallest ever - only eight men, compared to the usual 16 of the last few years. It's also limited on its use of outside talent.

The field consists of Chris Hero, Willie Mack, Claudio Castagnoli, El Generico, Eddie Edwards, Roderick Strong, Dave Finlay, and Kevin Steen. Hero, Mack, Castagnoli, Generico, and Steen can all be considered 2011 regulars (none have missed more than one show). Edwards and Strong have been on at least half the 2011 shows. Finlay is the only new, outside name to be brought into the tourney (this is the same Finlay of WWE fame, for those of you who might be wondering). While the field is smaller, one could argue that they're trimming unnecessary fat - the first round was often filled with not particularly interesting match ups. Instead, we get a one night tournament that starts with four huge match ups to start off with.

The initial bracket is as follows:

Hero vs Mack
Castagnoli vs Generico
Edwards vs Strong
Finlay vs Steen

Hero vs Mack is kind of the odd duck in the lineup, featuring the only local PWG guy. Mack's been having a nice 2011, however, and this is his chance to breakout into a bona fide star for PWG, who really need to build up on the local talent for their future outlook. I could see Hero taking a loss, too, as rumors abound that he's on his way out. Castagnoli vs Generico should be great, the two have met one on one before for the title and it's always good. Edwards vs Strong is a damn good match that's main evented ROH several times. Finlay vs Steen is kind of a crazy match up, but so much potential for awesome. Finlay wrestled a hell of a match in Evolve, so the reports say, so I have no doubt he can deliver here against one of the best guys in the indies, Kevin Steen. All in all a heck of a first round and really any match up you can make out of the rest of them should be awesome.

So, let's get to the meaty question, shall we? Who's going to take this thing home. One thing you note off the bat is the potential for a Steen vs Generico main event. I have to think that's the way PWG is going to set this up. It was the hottest feud of 2010 and ended in maybe the best indy match of the year. Maybe the best match of the year, period. You have to imagine that PWG wants a bit of that action. Starting off with the Battle of Los Angeles main event could lead to bigger things down the road - some hardcore, title matches are definitely possible. Here's my thoughts on the breakdown of the brackets:

Mack over Hero (Mack can use the rub, Hero might be on his way out, so this makes sense)
Generico over Claudio (to set up the finals)
Edwards over Strong (for no better reason than I think it makes a better second round match up)
Steen over Finlay (for the final)
Generico over Mack
Steen over Edwards (what an interesting match up this makes)
And finally...

Generico over Steen, to set up a future title match.

So, what do you guys think? Look like a good show? What match ups interest you? Who will win?

 

[ctln4rko]

I really want to see Hero/Castagnoli in the finals. Shocked that Finlay will participate. Any winner will please me though. Steen, Roderick Strong, Generivo, Hero, Castagnoli, Eddie Edwards. Castagnoli/Generico will be an awesome first round match.Can't wait to get this on DVD.

 

[Harthan]

In case anyone is interested, here are results. (Credit to PWTorch)

Spoiler

(1) Willie Mack beat Chris Hero with a backslide in a First Round BOLA tournament match. Great opener and hard-hitting match.

(2) PWG champion Kevin Steen beat Finlay via submission with the Sharpshooter in a First Round BOLA tournament match. Shorter match than expected in Finlay's PWG debut.

(3) El Generico beat Claudio Castagnoli in a First Round BOLA tournament match. Generico countered a top-rope Ricola Bomb with a huracanrana into a jackknife pin. Good match.

(4) Eddie Edwards beat Roderick Strong in a First Round BOLA tournament match. It was a battle of recent ROH World champions with Edwards winning via roll-up. Another good match.

(5) Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky beat RockNES Monsters in a #1 contender match to the PWG Tag Titles. Joey cut a pre-match promo about the Young Bucks not shaking hands and Mark Henry scaring him at Summerslam.

After the match, the Bucks ran out and talked about not shaking hands, leading to the Kings of Wrestling challenging them to a match later in the show.

(6) El Generico beat Willie Mack in a Semi-Final BOLA tournament match.

(7) PWG champion Kevin Steen beat Eddie Edwards via submission in a Semi-Final BOLA tournament match. So, the finals was set up as Generico vs. Steen, resuming their 2010 ROH feud.

(8) PWG tag champions Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) beat Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli) to retain the PWG Tag Titles. The Bucks retained via roll-up. Over-kill on the roll-up finishes and eye-pokes on this show.

(9) El Generico beat PWG champion Kevin Steen in the Finals of the BOLA tournament to win the Battle of Los Angeles tournament. Generico won with a brainbuster on the ring apron.

So, that's that. Sounds like it was a good show, though it doesn't seem like anything really blew anyone away. I find it very odd that they brought in Finlay just to have him work one short-ish match. You might have expected maybe another, longer match later in the show. I can only assume (or at least hope) that his asking price isn't very high and thus justified his limited time at the show.

Kevin Steen vs El Generico in the finals is something many saw coming. I haven't heard much on its quality, though one assumes it was pretty good. I have mixed feelings about the result, mostly because I feel like either way they played this one they would run into trouble. The positives of Generico's win, of course, are the beginnings of a title feud with Steen that will probably be the major program for PWG going forward. However, winning cleanly over the champion and your now rival stunts the feud a tiny bit, since you're after the dramatic chase where the face finally pulls it off. Imagine Punk beating Cena at Capitol Punishment totally clean before going into their feud. It'd change things, a bit. At the same time, having Steen win poses two problems. If he'd done it clean, it would have equally stunted the program, but a tainted win would feel a little off in the finals of the BOLA where you really would like a clean victory. Furthermore it would have been a little overkill for Steen, who's absolutely run roughshod over PWG in 2011, dominating left and right.

Overall, though, I think we're about to see a great revival of a great feud and there's nothing wrong with that. I hope they add some drama before the title match by letting Steen beat Generico (tag match, perhaps) so that the eventual title match has a bigger air of uncertainty.

What do you think of the results? Plan to check this out on DVD?