Pro Wrestling Guerrilla - Introduction and General Discussion

[Jim]

This thread is still a work in progress, I'm hoping to add far more information to the original post in addition to keeping it updated as more shows take place. There's two main objections to the thread 1) A thread to give a poster unfamiliar with PWG a general idea of what the company is like including must see shows/matches, what were the important storylines and who the players are. 2) The second objective is to provide WC a place to talk about PWG when it doesn't concern just the latest show. As much interest as there is when it comes to a new show, maybe someone wants to talk about something that happened years ago.

Just as Gabe Sapolsky used to do for the ROH DVD catalog, I've tried to break the company down into various eras. Some are lengthy pieces of time that more than justifies it's own era, while others are more of a transitional period. Below each chapter is a list of key feuds and developments in the era. I'll probably add a short line or two to sum them all up in the future. Below that is a list of notable matches during the era. They're a combination of both quality matches and important matches. In the case of Frankie Kazarian vs Adam Pearce from Reason for the Season, it's a really important match despite not being anything special in the star rating department. I will be adding more matches to each era either by thinking of ones myself or listing solid recommendations for any of you.

Below the era talk will be an information section where I will provide a brief summery of all of the major players throughout the years, describing the major shows and making my own "Must own" DVD list. Once again, recommendations are welcomed.

Eras

Chapter 1 (Debut Show - Reason for the Season)
- Frankie Kazarian vs Adam Pearce feud over PWG World Title
- Rise and fall of the X-Foundation
- Introduction for many wrestlers
- The SBS domination
- Super Dragon vs Joey Ryan
- PWG Six vs RevPro

Notable Matches:
Joey Ryan vs Super Dragon - Guerrilla Warfare Match - An Inch Longer than Average
Guerrilla Games - 88 Miles Per Hour
Scorpio Sky vs Super Dragon - Kee_ the _ee out of the _ool!
Samoa Joe vs Bryan Danielson - The Musical
Super Dragon and Excalibur vs Scott Lost and Joey Ryan - Rocktoberfest
Adam Pearce vs Frankie Kazarian - Steel Cage Loser Leaves PWG Match - Reason for the Season


Chapter 2 (The Secret of the Ooze - All Star Weekend 1 Night 2)
- Super Dragon focuses on World title while SBS struggles
- Arrogance reigns supreme as tag champions
- Introduction/Push of Kevin Steen, El Generico, Tony stradlin
- Joe vs Super Dragon
- The First Family
- Joey Ryan's heel turn
- Joey Ryan vs Super Dragon feud ending
- Frankie Kazarian as a heel
- Frankie Kazarian leaves

Notable Matches:
Super Dragon vs Samoa Joe - The Secret of the Ooze
Joey Ryan vs Scott Lost - The Next Show
Samoa Joe vs Bryan Danielson - Uncanny X-Mas
Super Dragon vs Samoa Joe - All Nude Revue
Super Dragon vs Kevin Steen - Ernest P. Worrell Memorial
Super Dragon vs AJ Styles - All Star Weekend 1 Night 2


Chapter 3 (Jason Takes PWG - Astonishing X-Mas)
- Super Dragon vs Kevin Steen
- Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles Feud
- Christopher Daniels X-Division title defenses
- The Evolution of Scorpio Sky
- Start of 2 Skinny Black Guys
- Rise of Davey Richards
- Joey Ryan, technical wizard
- Frankie Kazarian returns
- First BOLA

Notable Matches:
Super Dragon vs Excalibur - Guerrilla Warfare Match - Jason Takes PWG
Super Dragon and Disco Machine vs Kevin Steen and Excalibur - Guitarmangeddon
Arrogance vs Aerial Xpress - 2nd Anniversary Show Night 1
Scorpio Sky vs Scott Lost - Chanukah Chaos (The C's Are Silent)
Super Dragon vs Kevin Steen - Guerrilla Warfare Match - Astonishing X-Mas


Chapter 4 (Cruisin' For A Bruisin' - ((Please Don't Call It) The O.C.)
- Joey Ryan, World Champion
- SDDR
- Scorpio Sky/Jade Chung heel turn
- Chris Bosh, number 1 contender

Notable Matches:
Super Dragon and Davey Richards vs Jack Evans and Roderick Strong - Hollywood Globetrotters
Joey Ryan and Scorpio Sky vs Frankie Kazarian and B-Boy - (Please Don't Call It) The O.C.


Chapter 5 (Enchantment Under the Sea - Based on a True Story)
- The Dynasty rules all
- The Dynasty vs PWG roster
- Demise of SDDR
- Scorpio Sky vs Frankie Kazarian
- Human Tornado - World Champion?

Notable Matches:
Arrogance vs Super Dragon and Davey Richards - Enchantment Under the Sea
Joey Ryan vs B-Boy - Steel Cage Match - Threemendous
El Generico vs PAC - All Star Weekend 4 Night 2
Scorpio Sky vs Frankie Kazarian - Based on a True Story
Joey Ryan vs Human Tornado - Guerrilla Warfare Match - Based on a True Story


Chapter 6 (Guitarmageddon 2 - BOLA 2007 Night 1)
- Human Tornado heel turn
- El Generico, World Champion
- Farewell Quicksilver, Chris Bosh and TNA
- Debut of Young Bucks
- Return of Scorpio Sky

Notable Matches:
Kevin Steen vs PAC - Holy Diver Down
Human Tornado vs El Generico - Holy Diver Down
The Briscoes vs Roderick Strong and PAC - DDT4 2007 Night 2
Bryan Danielson vs El Generico - Giant Sized Annual #4


Chapter 7 (BOLA 2007 Night 2 - Life During Wartime)
- Chris Hero vs Human Tornado
- Chris Hero and friends vs Human Tornado and friends
- RIP Super Dragon
- The Dynasty reigns again
- Return of Low-Ki

Notable Matches:
Chris Hero and ? vs Human Tornado and ? - The High Cost of Doing Business
Low-Ki vs Bryan Danielson - All Star Weekend 6 Night 1
Low-Ki vs El Generico - Pearl Habra
Chris Hero vs Human Tornado - Steel Cage Guerrilla Warfare Match - Life During Wartime


Chapter 8 (All Star Weekend 7 Night 1 - Against The Grain)
- Chris Hero, World Champion
- Young Bucks, Tag Champions
- Chris Hero vs Joey Ryan
- Scott Lost's quest to win BOLA
- El Generico vs 2 Men of Low Moral Fiber
- Debut of Cutler Brothers
- Farewell Bryan Danielson

Notable Matches:
Chris Hero vs Human Tornado vs Colt Cabana - Express Written Consent
The Young Bucks vs Roderick Strong and Bryan Danielson - DDT4 2009
Chris Hero vs Joey Ryan - Guerrilla Warfare Match - Threemendous II
Bryan Danielson vs Chris Hero - Guerre Sans Frontières


Chapter 9 (BOLA 2009 Night 1 - DDT4 2010)
- Young Bucks, heel tag champions
- Chris Hero fights for title shot
- Omega reigns supreme; leaves

Notable Matches:
Kenny Omega vs Roderick Strong - BOLA 2009 Night 2
Kenny Omega vs Davey Richards - As the Worm Turns
The Young Bucks vs El Generico/Paul London - DDT4 2010


Chapter 10 (DIO! - BOLA 2010 Night 2)
- Davey Richards vs Chris Hero
- Rise of Akira Tozawa
- Farewell Scott Lost
- Davey gives up title

Notable Matches:
Scott Lost vs Scorpio Sky - Seven
Chris Hero vs Davey Richards - Seven
Chris Hero vs Akira Tozawa - BOLA 2010 Night 2


Chapter 11 (Curse of Guerrilla Island - EIGHT )
- Double C reigns as World Champion
- Low-Ki returns
- Young Bucks regain titles
- Akira Tozawa leaves America

Notable Matches:
Double C vs Chris Hero vs Joey Ryan vs Brandon Gatson - Curse of Guerrilla Island
Davey Richards vs Low-Ki - Kurt Russellreunion II
Double C vs El Generico - Kurt Russellreunion II

Chapter 12 (BOLA 2011 - DDT4 2012)
- Kevin Steen rules the company as World Champion
- Super Dragon returns
- Debuts of Future Shock, Super Smash Bros and young SoCal locals
- PWG copes with loss of Kings of Wrestling

Notable Matches:
Kevin Steen vs El Generico - BOLA 2011
Kevin Steen vs El Generico - Steen Wolf
Kevin Steen and Super Dragon vs Young Bucks - Fear


Chapter 13 (Death to All But Metal - ???)
- The incoming of Sami Callihan, Michael Elgin and Drake Younger
- Super Smash Bros. ruling the tag team scene
- Brian Cage exploding

Notable Matches:

Info

Biggest Shows:
- Kurt RussellReunion (Yearly; January) - The yearly event started in 2010 with PWG working with the Wrestlereunion folks to create a show where legends from wrestling's past along with PWG's biggest stars.
- DDT4 (Yearly; Formerly May now March) - Originally built as a two night tournament to crown the new PWG Tag Champions, it's now an one night show with eight teams either battling for the PWG tag titles or for the number 1 contender's spot. Previous winners: Roderick Strong and PAC (2007), Jack Evans and Roderick Strong (2008), The Young Bucks (2009), El Generico and Paul London (2010) and The Young Bucks (2011)
Anniversary Show (Yearly; July) - Held every year to celebrate the anniversary of PWG. 2011 will mark the 9th anniversary show. Typically, it's built up to be the biggest show of the year. In 2005, the event was expanded into a two night extravaganza.
- Battle of Los Angeles (Yearly; September) - The biggest tournament PWG holds. BOLA is a singles only tournament that lasts over the course of two nights where a man must win four matches to win the tournament. The winner is rewarded with a match of their choice. In 2006 and 2007, the event was expanded to a three night tournament. In 2008 and 2009, the event was moved to November before moving back to September in 2010. In 2009, the tournament's reward was becoming the new PWG World Champion due to the title being vacated due to champion, Bryan Danielson's signing with the WWE. Previous winners: Chris Bosh (2005), Davey Richards (2006), CIMA (2007), Low-Ki (2008), Kenny Omega (2009) and Joey Ryan (2010)
- All Star Weekend (Varies) - A two night super show where PWG tends to fly in the biggest stars of the year. With ASW returning after a couple year absence, it will mark the 8th time PWG has held the weekend shows.
- European Vacation (Varies) - A weekend show where PWG leaves Southern California to hold shows in Europe (England and Germany). In 2007, PWG added an extra night where they went to France. Thus far, there has only been two weekends of European Vacations (2006 and 2007).

[Tennessee Nicky]

You put a lot of effort into this. Nice way to break down the company by eras.

EDIT: Strong/Evans won DDT4 in 2008. Not Steenerico.

[Ed]

Great idea for a thread Jim, much appreciated as I have little knowledge on PWG. I've seen a handful of matches from the multimedia section and they've all been a good watch, so I'd be interested in learning more about the promotion.

[Hodor]

I really trying to follow all the Indy I can get. I love PWG from what I've seen of it as well

Mucho gracias for the post Jim, as said above, a lot of work went in to this.

[Jim]

Check out the latest Art of Wrestling to hear Colt Cabana interview PWG's own, Excalibur!

AOW 43: Excalibur

[Drake]

BTW, next show is July 23rd. =/

[Tennessee Nicky]

Giant Sized Annual #8?

[Drake]

Didn't give a name but I think it'd be safe to assume it'll be the anniversary show.

[Jim]

Moved posts to try and get this general thread off of the ground.
--

I'm curious to see what PWG can do to make this year's anniversary show special. They've already had four special shows thus far and the only "Unspecial" show had a tag title change and Low-Ki vs Tozawa.

Some possible ideas:

Claudio vs Davey - PWG World Title
Low-Ki vs Hero - Hero's chance at redemption
Young Bucks and ? vs Generation Next (Aries, Strong and Shelley)
El Generico vs Ricochet
Kenny King and Rhett Titus vs Ryan Taylor and Brian Cage-Taylor
Willie Mack vs Eddie Edwards
RockNES Monsters and Candice LaRae vs The Cutlers and Peter Avalon (Decked out in workout gear)
Joey Ryan and Scorpio Sky vs Los Luchas - PWG Originals Showcase
---

Yeah, a few of those matches suck.

[Dirty Dutch]

personally I'd rather see ANX vs RockNES than the Taylors. also for Reseda to have MCMG vs American Wolves would be awesome.

I'm bummed that there is no show in June.

[Tennessee Nicky]

Why not have Edwards challenge for the title?

[Jim]

personally I'd rather see ANX vs RockNES than the Taylors. also for Reseda to have MCMG vs American Wolves would be awesome.

I'm bummed that there is no show in June.

ANX vs Taylors would actually have some build to it. Kenny King is 1-1 against the Taylors. However, due to being outnumbered, he needs an ally to help him win the rubber match. Babyface team vs Heel team that will be a part of a much needed feud for PWG. ANX vs RockNES would have just been another random match without any build to it.

Not having a June show isn't a big deal for me. Typically, the June show tends to be one of the least important shows of the year.

Why not have Edwards challenge for the title?

Seems a bit random, doesn't it? For Davey, you have someone who had never lost the World Title in the first place. With it being a big show, I think it'd make more sense to have a match that means more. If Claudio can retain the title against El Generico, Joey Ryan, Chris Hero, Low-Ki and Davey Richards, the guy would have had the most impressive title reign in a long time. (At least in terms of how important all of those opponents are for PWG at the moment). Giving Eddie the win over Mack would help build him up a little more for a title shot at some show down the road.

[Drake]

ANX vs Taylors would actually have some build to it. Kenny King is 1-1 against the Taylors. However, due to being outnumbered, he needs an ally to help him win the rubber match. Babyface team vs Heel team that will be a part of a much needed feud for PWG. ANX vs RockNES would have just been another random match without any build to it.

Heels? Babyfaces? Build? Non-random matches? In my PWG?

Not having a June show isn't a big deal for me. Typically, the June show tends to be one of the least important shows of the year.

Dio! and The Secret of Guerrilla Island weren't really hugely important, but I thought they were pretty solid shows. Plus the more PWG I can get the better, haha.

Seems a bit random, doesn't it? For Davey, you have someone who had never lost the World Title in the first place. With it being a big show, I think it'd make more sense to have a match that means more. If Claudio can retain the title against El Generico, Joey Ryan, Chris Hero, Low-Ki and Davey Richards, the guy would have had the most impressive title reign in a long time. (At least in terms of how important all of those opponents are for PWG at the moment). Giving Eddie the win over Mack would help build him up a little more for a title shot at some show down the road.

Yeah this. I'm a huge Edwards fan but I don't think he should get a title shot at the anniversary show. Claudio/Eddie sounds like it'd be quite swell but it doesn't really have that huge feel for an anniversary show, like Davey/Hero did, for example. And Eddie has only had 2 singles matches in PWG so it's kinda early for a world title match. /contradictingthefirstpartofthispost

Davey would be the best way to go imo, if they can get him.

[Jim]

DIO was pretty good even if it was a filler show. Unless you're a Steen/Generico completest, there isn't a reason to buy the show though. Secret of Guerrilla Island was pretty rough though. The only reason to fork over money to see the show is for Davey Richards' commentary during Omega/Strong.

Other June shows like From Parts Well Known has the exact same reason to buy it as DIO and Roger Dorn Night was just worth it to pick up if you want a little more background for Giant Sized Annual #4.

The only June show that I'd say had quality matches and was important was Guitarmageddon. It had AJ Styles' best PWG title defense, a few enjoyable undercard matches and that insane tag match between Super Dragon/Disco Machine vs Kevin Steen/Excalibur. That may even be my pick for PWG show of the year for 2005.

[Dirty Dutch]

anybody else missing Gatson at the last couple of shows. I thought he was a good mid card talent. Also I'm curious if Shaun Rickers will ever get call to go to PWG, he's pretty decent on NWA and it's not like PWG has a lot of muscle heads

[Jim]

I can't wait to own Card Subject to Change 3 and ASW 8 to live the paradise that is a Brandon Gatson-free PWG. I may even shed a tear for being so happy.

I haven't seen Rickers, but PWG has slowly been adding more NWA Hollywood stars to their roster. However, with limited shows, PWG can only debut new guys when a spot opens up. Who knows, if Gatson stays gone, it may make room for a guy like Rickers.

[Drake]

A lot of people have been clamoring for Natural Selection (Ricker and Brian Cage) in PWG, so I'd imagine we'll see him brought in at some point. Probably won't be for a while though, after the Fightin Taylor Boys are done with.

[Jim]

They wouldn't have to bring Rickers in to be Cage's partner though.

[Capone]

My goodness.....Roderick vs. Willie Mack is a sloppy, on the fly, manly match. Roderick's body language after Willie Mack chopped him was out standing. "No this bitch didn't."

[Tennessee Nicky]

Willie Mack is my hero.