This was PWG's final event of 2012. Going into the show, the whole card was a mystery, hence the title "Mystery Vortex". The only match announced prior to the show was the main event which pitted current PWG World Champion Kevin Steen against Adam Cole.
1) Eddie Edwards & Roderick Strong vs. The Young Bucks
What a choice for an opener! As Steen and Excalibur mentioned on commentary, this easily could have been the main event of a show. It could qualify as a main event not only because of the names involved, but also the quality of the match. This bout was easily one of the best opener's ever. Just an awesome tag team match that blew me away. Some people might say it was too much for an opening match, but it's a great match so I have nothing to complain about. Some insane moves as one would expect from both teams including a tornado DDT on the apron and a superkick party. All around great stuff. Steen described it best on commentary, "This is fucking amazing! This is just the first match on the show and I have to be last!"
Match rating - ****
2) Sami Callihan vs. Drake Younger - First Match in a Best of 3 Series
After an opening match that awesome, Drake and Sami were two of the only people who could follow it. These match was balls to the wall from the start as Sami immediately put Drake in the corner and delivered multiple kicks, but Drake fought out and hit a huge clothesline on him. The battle was taken to the outside soon after where the fight truly began. Drake hit a dive off the apron planting a chair into Sami's face. Sami fought back however and hit a brutal belly to belly suplex on Drake onto a pile of chairs! The action spilled back into the ring where
the two literally beat the shit out of each other. They hit some vicious headbutts which ended up busting Drake open. This was a hard hitting bout that kept the show going in awesome fashion.
Match rating - ***3/4
Out next was Adam Cole who was carrying Kevin Steen's PWG World Title belt which he stole at the previous show. Cole said that anyone who didn't think he was the best wrestler today could "hashtag suck my dick". Cole challenged anyone who to come out and shut him up. This brings Kevin Steen to the ring from the announcer's booth. Steen stomps through the crowd and acts if he's going to go into the ring, but instead starts heading to the back. Cole then calls him a chicken shit which brings Steen back. Steen gets a mic and says he's sparing Cole because tonight their match is "Guerilla Warfare motherfucker!" WOAH! That's gonna be awesome!
3) Super Smash Bros vs. RockNES Monsters - PWG World Tag Team Title Match
Going into this match, I expected it to be good, but not great. Needless to say, both teams proved me wrong and produced a quality tag team bout. The RockNES Monster put in a solid performance and nearly knocked off the reigning champions. In the end, the Super Smash Bros picked up the victory to retain their titles. Great match with alot of action.
Match rating - ***1/2
4) Joey Ryan vs. Scorpio Sky - Joey's Farewell Match
This was the final match in PWG for founder and veteran Joey Ryan. He was headed to TNA and they wouldn't allow him to compete if the matches were going to be put on DVD so in Excalibur's words "This is Joey's final match in PWG until he gets fired from TNA." The commentary for this match was very good as always. It was quite informative as well. Exaclibur discussed how he, Super Dragon, Joey Ryan, and Top Gun Talwar founded PWG and how big of a part that Joey has been in the company over the years. The match itself was really good. The two former partners worked very well together. These guys aren't known for being spot monkeys so I didn't expect any spots, but Joey delivered an unbelievable one where he hit the mustache ride (neckbreaker) on Sky off the apron onto some chairs and to the floor. Good match and great sendoff for Joey.
Match rating - ***1/4
After the match, Joey Ryan gave a great farewell speech on how his position in PWG has always been to do whatever they needed him to do. He clarified why he couldn't still wrestle in PWG since signing to TNA and said that PWG was the best show to go to get your money's worth. Before he left, Excalibur came down from commentary and told him to go to Orlando, take all their fucking money and then come back haha. Joey and Exaclibur hug and Joey goes around ringside to greet the fans. As I said above - great sendoff for Joey Ryan.
5) B-Boy vs. Brian Cage vs. Willie Mack vs. TJ Perkins
The show had slowed down a bit at this point, but it picked right back up with this action-packed four way. The agility of Brian Cage and Willie Mack always impress. TJP and B-Boy are much smaller than Cage and Mack, but you would've never known based on the moves Cage and Mack hit. Cage dove over the top rope onto Willie which was just insane. Willie Mack hit his always impressive standing moonsault. It's always fun seeing those two compete. So many great combinations and innovative multi-man manuevers and submissions here. Just a super fun match. I don't see how anyone can't enjoy this one.
Match rating - ***1/2
6) El Generico vs. Rich Swann
Generico started off the match wrestling differently than he normally does. Instead of flying around the ring, he took a more mat based approach and tried to ground Swann. The match was rather slow until the final ten minutes in which they turned up the heat and put together a great ending sequence. If it wasn't for that final stretch, this match would be getting a lower rating. Thankfully they turned this match around. Swann was so impressive here.
Match rating - ***1/4
7) Eddie Edwards & Roderick Strong vs. Super Smash Bros
This was the second match of the night for both teams, but you would've never known it. Both the Dojo Bros and Super Smash Bros had produced two quality tag team matches earlier in the evening, but apparently they were just getting warmed up because this match was just plain awesome. Words won't do it justice. There were so many insane spots and sequences in this match that I can't even remember them all. An awesome match that once again proves why PWG's tag team division is off the charts. So damn good.
Match rating - ****1/4
8) Kevin Steen (c) vs. Adam Cole - Guerilla Warfare Match for the PWG World Championship Match
Steen and Cole are easily the two best names on the Indies right now so I was excited for this match. The Guerilla Warfare stipulation intrigued me even more. These guys went out and beat the shit out of each other with chairs and ladders. The most amazing spot was seeing Steen slame Cole through a pyramid of chairs. So insane. Somehow Cole managed to kick out of Steen's pin attempt afterwards so Steen resorted to grabbing thumbtacks from up near the announce table. Steen poured them on the mat and put several in his mouth and spat them at Cole. Fucking crazy. This was one hell of a match and a great main event to an overall awesome show.
Match rating - ****1/2
Overall thoughts: This was an awesome show. That's normal for PWG, but it's the truth. All of the tag team matches were outstanding, Callihan & Drake's first battle was epic, the fourway was super fun, Generico/Swann was good, Joey Ryan's sendoff was great, and the main event was insane! Everything on this show ranged from good to over the top awesome. I enjoyed every single match from top to bottom. After the show, the crowd chanted "Show of the Year". While I can't vouch for that statement as I haven't seen any of the other PWG shows from 2012, I can say that this is an incredible show that I recommend picking up if you haven't seen it.
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