Pruett's 2/11 NWA Hollywood TV review: Hollywood Invitational battle royal to earn a shot at the NWA Title, Austin Aries, Colt Cabana, Rasche Brown, Joey Ryan, and more

NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood
Taped in Los Angeles, CA on January 8, 2011
Broadcast on KDOC TV on February 11, 2011
Report by Dot Net contributor Will Pruett

The show opened with a promo for the NWA Hollywood taping on February 12 at the Showcase Theater in Hollywood. The NWA Hollywood opening sequence, which includes classic NWA clips of Flair, Patterson and others aired.

1. Famous B defeated "Mr. Megastar" Tommy Wilson via pin at 9:30. Wilson cut a promo about hating Hollywood and being nothing but a megastar prior to the match. Famous B came to the ring and was stomped as he slid in. Wilson has a major size advantage over B. B took control and sent Wilson to the outside. Both men back in the ring and B went for the sleeper hold on Wilson's back. Wilson backed B into the corner and gave the boots to him. Famous B went again for the sleeper hold.

Wilson gained control and gave a few suplexes to B. Famous B once again went for the sleeper and this is getting repetitive. Butterfly suplex from Tommy Wilson got a two count. The fans began getting behind getting behind Famous B as he attempted a comeback, which was stopped short by Wilson. Famous B went for sleeper number four. B lands a head-scissors takedown and Wilson is groggy. Wilson lands a hard clothesline that sends Famous B into a flip. Wilson goes for the powerbomb, Famous B gets a sunset flip and pins Wilson for the three.

After the match, Wilson attacked B and their tag team partners (who’s names I missed) ran in to make it a brawl. Famous B’s partner challenged the others to a tag match, but the challenge was declined. [C]

Pruett's Pause: Decent match. The crowd itself sounds very small and possibly very tired. I believe this was towards the end of the taping. Famous B looks ridiculous next to a giant like Wilson.

A video package aired with participants in tonight's Battle Royal talking about what it would mean for them to get a NWA World Title shot by winning the Battle Royal.

Interview with Mr. A-Double Austin Aries who is coming off of a win against Scorpio Sky last week. Aries described the Figure 8 as "unescapable" and said that Sky could not beat him with two legs and won't do it now that he has one. When asked about the Battle Royal, he said he would just be a buffer to keep other wrestlers away from Adam Pearce.

Interview with "The Rock Superstar" Joey Kaos where he said that he is class A and that Willie Mack could not handle him.

Pruett's Pause: Aries is great on the mic and his promo was decent. Kaos comes off a little minor league (as does the name "Rock Superstar") in his interview, but seems like an exciting personality.

2. Willie Mack defeated "Rock Superstar" Joey Kaos via disqualification at 13:00. Willie Mack made his way to the ring first in a "milk chocolate" T-shirt. "Rock Superstar" Joey Kaos made his way to the ring to The Standard's theme music. The commentators put this over as a great one on one match up that we are privileged to see. Face-off between Mack and Kaos with Kaos slapping Mack and Mack returning the favor.

The circle each other and go into a collar and elbow tie-up. Kaos forces Mack into the corner and Mack explodes out of the corner and attacks Kaos. Kaos slides out of the ring to catch his breath. Mack chases him out and and Kaos slides back in. Mack lands Dusty Rhodes style punches and elbows on Kaos. Kaos regains control with a thumb to the eye then uses his fist tape to choke Mack. Joey Kaos hit the sleeper (a theme for this show) on Willie Mack. Mack gets fired up and gets distance from Kaos. As Mack begins to get a comeback, Ryan tricks him into going over the ropes to the outside. [C]

The show retuned and Kaos launched himself over the top and missed Willie Mack. Mack rammed Kaos man-parts first into the ring post. Both men struggled to get up and Mack tossed Kaos into the ring. Willie Mack hit a flying clothesline into the corner, then went for a splash that he missed. Kaos tried to pin Mack and was thrown in the referee. Pretty Peter Avalon and A-Double ran down and attacked Willie Mack. Joey Ryan and Scorpio Sky tried to save Mack, but failed. Colt Cabana ran in and cleared the ring, making his big return to NWA Hollywood as the crowd chanted his name.

Colt grabbed a mic and said that he has not been able to work in weeks because of a piledriver from Adam Pearce through a table. Cabana entered himself into the Battle Royal for tonight for a shot at the NWA World Championship. Colt said let’s do this Battle Royal right now.[C]

Pruett’s Pause: Wow. Nice serious babyface work from Cabana, who I’m used to seeing only comedy from. The match was not anything special, despite what the commentators said. Two matches having run ins at the end is not appealing, but the Cabana return was a great touch. I’m not too impressed with Willie Mack who seems to be a major babyface. Maybe he'll grow on me.

3. Colt Cabana won the Hollywood Invitational Battle Royal last eliminating "A-Double" Austin Aries in 20:45. The ring filled up with about 20 to 30 people and we got a big rumble with men going over the top from the start. Adam Pearce joined in on commentary and was livid about Colt Cabana’s return. A ton of punching, kicking and choking in the ring. Famous B was almost eliminated, but managed to skin the cat for the save. Pearce cheered on his stable-mates Austin Aries and Peter Avalon. Mikey O’Shea, a large wrestler, was eliminated.

James Morgan, the commentator entered the match and began choking Willie Mack with his coat. Adam Pearce begged Avalon to "poke somebody in the eye" on commentary and shouted get rid of Cabana. Willie Mack worked over Peter Avalon with Joey Ryan. Peter Avalon was eliminated and Adam Pearce cried on commentary. Famous B was eliminated and Austin Aries rumbled with Colt Cabana. We’re down to about 13 people. [C]

Pruett’s Pause: Please bear with me here as this is my first week with this promotion and I’m still learning.

We returned from commercial with Adam Pearce once again yelling for A-Double to get Cabana. Rasche Brown was eliminated. Joey Ryan superkicked one of the tag champs and eliminated him. Down to seven people, including A-Double, Kaos and Cabana. The Navajo Warrior went after Cabana. Joey Ryan was eliminated. Aries goes after big Jason Watts and begs off. Willie Brown eliminated Watts.

A-Double accidentally hits Navajo Warrior and was almost eliminated in the process. Cabana eliminated Navajo Warrior. It’s Mack and Cabana against The Standard's A-Double and Kaos. Joey Kaos was eliminated and it’s Aries vs. Cabana and Willie Mack. Mack and Cabana worked over Aries in the corner and tried to eliminate him. Aries fights them off and holds on to the bottom rope to avoid elimination. Aries hit a brainbuster on Cabana, then ate a powerbomb from Willie Mack. Joey Kaos ran into the ring and eliminated Willie Mack.

It’s down to Aries and Cabana. Cabana hits big punches on Aries and the bionic elbow. Cabana hits the Flying Apple and hypes up the crowd. Cabana tried to send Aries over the rope. Aries holds on, but then is knocked off.

Pearce lost it at the announce booth as Cabana celebrated. Cabana got ahold of a microphone and said he would break Adam Pearce in half. Colt Cabana promised everyone in Hollywood that when he became NWA Champion, the first drink would be on him. The crowd chanted "We want beer" and "Colt" as the show came to a close.

Pruett’s Pause: Battle Royals are always such a mixed bag. There is a lot of spectacle, but not much action. This one had some intriguing stories with The Standard’s involvement. Quality main event and a big return for Colt Cabana.

Overall, a decent but not completely amazing show. It did a lot to get me excited for the future Colt Cabana vs. Adam Pearce matchup, which was the ultimate goal. Nice week of TV and I plan to be back for more next week.