PWG’s annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament will consist of two shows this weekend. As always, the talent is a mix of the top indy talent from all over the country.
Site members @typicalROHfan, @TomBlackett and @TimWelcomed will give their thoughts and predictions on the weekend’s events.
Michael Elgin vs. Rich Swann:
typicalROHfan:
My favorite thing about the recent (and future) PWG shows are seeing some of the guys I like from the WWNLive Universe facing off with ROH talent. The contrast of Elgin’s power and Rich Swann’s speed are going to make for a great match. I’m rooting for Swann but fully expect Michael Elgin to win.
Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Elgin wins.
TomBlackett:
Will Michael Elgin hold Rich Swann in a delayed vertical suplex… All Night Long? The answer is definitely not, there’s like 9 matches they need to get through, that would be ridiculous.
Anyway, this should be very fun. I feel like I’m going to say that a lot because fucking PWG is always very fun. The story of a guy doing flips to not get caught by a guy who does powerbombs is one of wrestling’s best, so I’m looking forward to this a bunch.
Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Elgin wins.
TimWelcomed:
I am always a sucker for strong guys going against fast guys and these two are some of the best of both. I really don’t care who wins because I like both guys a good bit but I’m going to pick Elgin as the winner here.
Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Elgin wins.
Kevin Steen vs. Chuck Taylor:
typicalROHfan:
The match should comical and highly entertaining. Unlike last year, I can’t see the upset over Steen happening at all. As he tweeted, Chuckie T will do lovely things in the next night’s round one loser multi-person match.
Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Steen wins.
TomBlackett:
Hey, another match that should be very fun! The Kentucky Gentleman has kind of entranced me over the past few shows, and I’m excited for antics galore between PWG’s two best colour commentators. Hopefully Excalibur doesn’t get caught in the middle as they both try to get a commentary headset in between grappling.
Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: Lots of antics, both of them say amazing things, Steen wins.
TimWelcomed:
This match should be one of the most entertaining matches on the card. Steen and Taylor never fail to amuse me and can both back it up with great wrestling. I see Steen taking this one with no doubts in my mind.
Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Steen wins.
Johnny Gargano vs. Willie Mack:
typicalROHfan:
My most anticipated match of the show. Two of my favorite wrestlers today, I am very happy to see Gargano become a regular in PWG and Willie Mack have his first relevant PWG singles match in about a year. My main hope is that Willie gets a chance to shine and the match lives up to my expectations. That being said, I expect Johnny Gargano to go deep in the tourney as you’ll see further on.
Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Gargano wins.
TomBlackett:
HOORAY WILLIE MACK IS BACK ON PWG! It feels like FOREVER since we’ve seen him properly (matches which exist solely for Joey Ryan to molest female wrestlers don’t count), so this should be great. Also exciting to see more Gargano! I’m not quite as entranced by Johnny as the rest of my disgusting Twitter cohorts, but man, I’m ready to fall in love. I’m also ready for a VERY FUN match between the two of them.
Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Gargano wins.
TimWelcomed:
Willie Mack had a run for awhile where he seemed like he was going places and then all of the sudden he started losing my interest in the ring. Hopefully he can start regaining momentum here with a good match against one of the best on the indies, Johnny Gargano. Gargano will win this and hopefully Mack will grab my attention again.
Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: Gargano wins.
Kyle O’Reilly vs. Trent?:
typicalROHfan:
I’m glad to see Trent? back in PWG. I really enjoyed Trent?’s matches at All Star Weekend. I also just like typing Trent?. Kyle O’Reilly has the most momentum going into BoLA and is definitely the favorite. If he wins it all, I will be happy and enjoy the O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole saga live on.
Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: O’Reilly wins and we rejoice Joey Splashwater won’t sing Kyle’s name on commentary.
TomBlackett:
I wasn’t so crazy for Trent?’s previous PWG outings, though this should still be fine. Very fun though? Man, I’m not sure about that. Almost certainly pretty fun though.
Okay, FINE, it’ll be very fun.
Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: O’Reilly wins.
TimWelcomed:
I really like Trent?’s “I’ve been in the WWE system” wrestling style mixing in with other guy’s styles on the indies. O’Reilly is who I want to win BoLA the most, although I wouldn’t mind Gargano being their champion because I he is that great. This should be a decent match with O’Reilly pulling out the win.
Interest Level: 6/10
Prediction: O’Reilly wins.
ACH vs. Tony Nese:
typicalROHfan:
A dream match brought to you by JP Nichols. Well, not really but kind of. Two of the best guys to not be in PWG until recently are finally here and facing each other. I expect ACH to become an instant favorite of Reseda and this match to be the second best singles match on the show.
Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: Nese wins.
TomBlackett:
ACH seems tailor-made for PWG, though Nese is really, really good so this is one of the tougher ones to call, especially since they’re both pretty new to PWG. I’m going for ACH (in a bout I’m sure will be VERY FUN), but you know who the real winners are?
*turns to the camera, looks down for a moment and then back up coyly, smiles broadly and stretches arms out*
Us. The fans.
Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: ACH wins.
TimWelcomed:
Words can not describe how excited I am about this match. I could just hit the keyboard and leave whatever I hit as my prediction but that wouldn’t be good for anyone. PWG and ACH are meant to be together like bacon and bros except this mixture will be the complete opposite of annoying. Not sure who will win here because both will probably deserve it after the match but I’m going to go with ACH. Hopefully both men will stay in PWG for awhile after this show.
Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: ACH wins
Brian Cage vs. Tomasso Ciampa:
typicalROHfan:
My past dislike of Ciampa and recent love of him has been well documented. I am beyond stoked to see him at PWG. This match is one of the tougher ones to predict but I really hope Ciampa gets the win and faces one of the WWNLive guys in the second round.
Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Ciampa wins.
TomBlackett:
The first wrestling show I went to after moving to the United States from the UK was ROH’s Young Wolves Rising show, which featured Tomasso Ciampa vs. Jay Lethal, and man, after that show I was not a fan of old Tomasso. A year and a half later though, and I thought he was easily one of the stand-outs at Manhattan Mayhem V, and he seems to be having consistently great performances.
I’m not sure how this’ll go, but I’ve got high hopes that it will be fun. Just fun? NO WAY BRO, VERY FUN.
Interest Level: 7/10
Prediction: Ciampa wins.
TimWelcomed:
I’m still not on the Ciampa Bandwagon but maybe this will get me to jump on. I’m not against it. I do like me some Brian Cage, however. I’m going to say that Cage gets the win here.
Interest Level: 5/10
Prediction: Cage wins.
AR Fox vs. Roderick Strong:
typicalROHfan:
PWG once again showing their mastery by getting another fresh Roderick Strong match in the 2013 indy wrestling climate! After the second most recent PWG show, I pull myself fully on the AR Fox bandwagon. I always had a foot on with an enjoyment of the guy’s incredible array of moves but I realized just how special of a talent he was seeing him connect with Reseda getting them to believe in him when facing the Young Bucks. I’ll be disappointed if he isn’t in the final four of BoLA.
Interest Level: 8/10
Prediction: AR Fox wins.
TomBlackett:
It’s tricky to get excited for Roddy in 2013 – as good as his matches always end up being, it does feel like he’s wrestled everyone a good two or three times. But this is fresh! Which is VERY FUN. AR Fox is crazy to watch. Crazy like a Fox, you might say? No, shut up, no-one would say that.
Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: AR Fox wins.
TimWelcomed:
PWG Roderick Strong is a whole other level of Roderick Strong. I have not been let down by a PWG match that he has participated in for quite some time. AR Fox is AR Fox. The man is a highlight reel. A scary one at that. This should be top-notch. I’m giving the edge to AR Fox here.
Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: AR Fox wins.
Drake Younger vs. Joey Ryan:
typicalROHfan:
Interest Level: 2/10
Prediction: Younger wins.
TomBlackett:
The match that I think everybody forgot about until they saw it listed. It’s a Joey Ryan match, y’know? Not really my cup of tea. I enjoy Drake Younger well enough but… it’s a Joey Ryan match. Not expecting an awful lot (though I’ll be delighted if they defy the odds and make this VERY FUN).
Interest Level: 3/10
Prediction: It’s a Joey Ryan match. Younger wins.
TimWelcomed:
Eh.
Interest Level: 1/10
Prediction: Younger wins. Ryan does something with his penis at some point.
Young Bucks and Adam Cole vs. Forever Hooligans and TJ Perkins:
typicalROHfan:
The non tourney match is the best choice possible. The tag team of Adam Cole and the Young Bucks could overshadow anything that happens in the tournament as the highlight of the weekend. I’m very happy TJ Perkins is still allowed to be on PWG shows. Dude has been spectacular (no Spider-Man reference intended) the last year or so. Seeing him work with the Bucks and Cole is going to be awesome.
Interest Level: 10/10 (and I don’t even really like the Hooligans)
Prediction: Adam Cole and the Young Bucks win.
TomBlackett:
THIS IS GONNA RULE (AND BE VERY, VERY FUN). Young Bucks vs. Hooligans at Manhattan Mayhem V was incredible and kinda sold me on the Hooligans as being great, and the addition of Adam ‘Win Win’ and Manik’s alter-ego can only be a good thing.
Interest Level: 10/10
Prediction: Adam Cole and the Bucks do a bunch of amazing things which make me make delighted noises that I’ve never made before. They will also win.
TimWelcomed:
Adam Cole and The Young Bucks together as a team might be one of my favorite things ever after it’s said and done. I don’t know if I can even handle it. Forever Hooligans get on my nerves but they do have some great matches, so add TJP in with them and this should be one of the matches of the night. Young Bucks and Cole win.
Interest Level: 9/10
Prediction: The Young Bucks and Cole win.
BOLA FINALS PREDICTIONS:
typicalROHfan:
Semis: Gargano over Steen and O’Reilly over Fox.
Finals: Johnny Gargano defeats Kyle O’Reilly.
TomBlackett:
Semis: Elgin beats Steen and O’Reilly beats AR Fox.
Finals: Michael Elgin defeats Kyle O’Reilly.
TimWelcomed:
Semis: Gargano beats Steen. O’Reilly defeats Fox.
Finals: Kyle O’Reilly beats Gargano via submission.
