[2011-11-27-IPW:UK-7th Anniversary Show] Sha Samuels vs The Lion Kid

[TonyPulis'Cap]

For anyone that has signed up to Rev Pro's on demand service, there are about 15 shows on it from the period 2009 - 2012 before the company as it is now split off from IPW:UK. Going through these shows there are some decent to very good cards and lots of hidden gems. It's a period when a lot of the current guys that have reinvigorated the UK scene over the last few years were coming up, crossed over with the generation before them that didn't quite get the recognition that looking back they probably deserved. Hoping to post a few more matches that fit that hidden gem criteria, starting with this one.

 

This really came as a surprise to me. The Lion Kid is not a guy that historically I have held in particularly high regard, seeing him as very spotty and also often very sloppy, Too many he'd look like your ultimate scrawny indy guy, however on a number of these IPW:UK cards I've seen he performs as a really good underdog, eliciting a lot of sympathy in his performances. Sha Samuels is a guy still on the BritWres scene, but one that seems to get a lot of criticism. Personally I've always quite liked him, but appreciate that to many, there's a bit too much 'shtick'. In storyline, he had recently turned heel at this stage and had just won the British Title from Dave Mastiff - this is his first defence. This match had come from him being upset in a tag match the event before and being pinned by the Lion Kid.

 

The start of the match is perfect, and Lion Kid is just 'on', as he flies out with a tope onto Samuels before the bell starts and absolutely wipes him out. It's one of the best topes I've seen in terms of coming out of nowhere and the impact. For the opening stages he constantly keeps Samuels off his game by hitting and moving with moves like a headscissors on the outside, As an opening its reminiscent of a match that Rey Mysterio has with Brock Lesnar on a Halloween Smackdown in 2002 that for a 3 or 4 minute match is also worth seeking out. It all leads to a great nearfall where Lion Kid hits a 450, which is is the move that he used to pin him at the event previously.

 

The match then settles down to Samuels on top, and if there is a criticism it's that his offence is not quite as aggressive as you would like, but the match is helped along by the Lion Kid timing his hope spots pretty well. It's a match that time wise doesn't outstay it's welcome and keeps things tight. Right before the finish, Samuels absolutely kills Lion Kid with a brainbuster type move from the top where I was almost afraid to watch, which probably shouldn't have been kicked out of but the finish does come almost immediately after.

 

If you were ranking things with stars, I would say in the *** 1/2 range for me, but in terms of the enjoyment factor, I was very much swept along with the story.