Pandavision #6 – Indygurlz Grand Prix

PandaViasion presents IndyGurlz Grand Prix
By Panda

            I will be taking a slightly different approach to this review, as it was a slightly different show.  One-night tournaments frequently have a  unique pacing, a build that would not be properly conveyed with the standard match by match format that  is general used, so bear with me.

            There were a few negatives with this show, most notable was the announcers mic cutting out for an extended period near the end of the tournaments first  round.  The loss of audio was distracting but it is wrestling, the action of the performance is the main course.   Which brings me to another negative: some of the actual workers on the show, namely Veda Scott & Aida Marie.  I am fully aware that this is a matter of personal preference and that everyone has their favorites.  I even fully admit that I am most likely in the minority for saying this was a negative.

            Again, it is a matter of opinion.  Some people like wrestlers who use holds and suplexes and actual moves, some like flippy spinny spots and (people who are not me) enjoy prancing around and acting cute.  Veda & Aida fall cleanly in the latter.  There are many good wrestlers on this card however, and I can nearly justify the inclusion of wanna be divas with a ‘something for everybody’ motif.  Nearly.  Had they lost in the first round. 

            Moving on to the positives, this was, after all, a tournament to crown the IndyGurlz Grand Prix Champion and began with a bit of pomp and circumstance, with all the competitors being introduced to the crowd pre-show.  Very nice touch, adding something I am used to seeing in joshi shows, I found it classy as it added to the magnitude of the event.

            Quite a nice line up to compensate for the aforementioned divas, Kylee Pearce, Jenny Rose, Jessie Brook, Sienna Duval, Shazza and Jana fill out the brackets, while Amber and Angel Orsini faced Mia Yim and Jessie Kaye in a bonus tag match.  As am aside, I did mark out when I saw Mike Keener as a referee during this event.  Can’t say that it happens often, that a ref elicits a response.

            The opening round had some noticeable pacing issues that are to be expected and a bit of foreshadowing which was appreciated.   Aida lost to an injured Kylee, Jenny Rose speared Jessie in a fast paced battle that wore them both out.  Sienna lost to Veda in what I can only describe as an ugly upset and Shazza advance over Jana with her split legged stunner.  It was the first time Jana didn’t have a chance to use her Gator Roll submission on an IndyGurlz review.

            The semifinals began with Jenny Rose, the former Jamilia Craft, going over Kylee, who sold her first round injury like a champ, in a very strong showing from two ladies who worked very well with together.  Shazza and Veda was not.  Veda flopped around like a fish and scored the victory.   Maybe Veda is just a very good rudo that she garners so much of my apathy, regardless, this match shows why Ring of Honor uses her as an interviewer and not as a wrestler.  Shazza was robbed, but it did give me a vested interest in the finals.

            Amber & Angel vs Mia & Kaye was a good, fun match.  The veteran heels played to the crowd and showed the ability to wrestle and entertain, a great blend of suplexes and prancing as the went over Mia and Kaye.  I am going to miss seeing Mia regularly in American promotions as she is going to Japan to do the joshi thing for a while, especially after seeing the glimpses of her potential in this match.

            The Jenny vs Veda final was pretty good, to be honest it was a brawl with trashcans and fighting threw the chairs and crowd.  It was legitimately refreshing to see the talented babyface beat the dastardly heel.  Which reminds me, even in the pre show introductions, Veda played up her disdain for the show with an aloof and childish attitude.  Maybe there can be an international IndyGurlz Grand Prix title match as Jenny is currently in Japan and Veda is rumored to be going.  Maybe she will learn to wrestle there.

            Overall, another good show from Indygurlz.  As I have been reviewing these in a slightly random order, its hard to gauge the development of the promotion or the quality of the production.  Hopefully I will get my hands on War of The Roses 2012 soon and be able to give an educated impression on the growth of IndyGurlz since the last one.

Be Well