[2000-04-07-JAPW] Billy Reil vs Low Ki vs Sabu

[soup23]

A really fun three way match that sets the template for other indy variations we will see throughout the decade. Reil clowns the Sabu entrance giving him extra heat as he and Ki square off. Sabu has some aura on the indy scene and looked to be motivated here. The three way spots are fine and never got too cute for me. Reil is eliminated and we get 5-6 minutes of Ki vs Sabu which felt like an app to a longer form match down the road. Sabu ends up winning but Ki gets the respect reaction from the boys and the crowd for his efforts. ***1/4

[Loss]

This struck me very much as a match all three guys will feel for a few days. Wow. Maybe the odd-man-out problem crops up later, because thus far in 2000, it hasn't been an issue in three way matches. I thought this was pretty great, and I'd credit that to the violence level and constant fight for scraps when it came to every single piece of offense. The fast pace was less about showing off and more about a constantly escalating sense of urgency. These guys were desperate right away and had to think fast and react fast or they would sink. This was also laid out in a really smart way to leverage Sabu's stardom while still showcasing Low Ki's talents. Billy Reil was there sort of in the Little Guido role, but looked awfully good and I wish he had gone farther. ****

[Migs]

This match is non-stop action, and a great indication of how Sabu was a progenitor for the early 2000s indy style. It's really nice to see him working at a level where he can still keep up with these guys, given what he'd put his body through over the last decade. Other than what looked like a botch on a dive, Ki is just awesome here, too (as is Billy Reil, who works the entire match with an open dress shirt, a surprisingly cool look). Didn't love Sabu kicking out of the Ki Krusher (not that Ki should have gone over, I'd just have not used it).

 

I'm not sure I was quite as high on this as Loss, but it felt right in the vicinity of ****.

[Tim Evans]

At first, this felt like Sabu vs two rookies and was kinda awkward. As the match went on, they started getting comfortable and it got good. Especially when Reil was eliminated. Ki's best match so far in 2000 as he looked on Sabu's level when it was 1 on 1. Sabu wasn't botchy sabu so that was nice. The ref in this match was very distracting though. Always out of place and trying to dodge getting hit.

[Moonsault Marvin]

This turned into a really good match. The action continued throughout, and I liked that they all stayed in the ring together instead having one guy lie outside the ring. Low Ki and Sabu threw really nice punches, and Sabu hit all his spots cleanly.

 

***1/2

[GSR]

Ki is out first and the lights in the arena go down, which you think is the sign for Sabu, however they come back on and Billy Reil is in the ring instead. Rolling Koppo kick by Ki, before lighting up his chest with some chops. Reil counters a handspring elbow with a thrust kick to the head and the two of them start trading blows. Nice high release German from Reil. Ki escapes a Death Valley Driver and a release Dragon suplex. The lights go out for a second time and this time when they come back on it is Sabu making his way out. Reil and Ki team up to immediately put the boots to him, however Sabu ducks the double clothesline and drops them both with a springboard back elbow. He tosses Reil to the arena floor soon followed by Ki and a suicide dive out onto them. Sabu tries to set up a table but he’s too slow and gets jumped by his opponents. Reil and Ki quickly tire of working together and go back to trying to beat the beejeezus out of each other. A piledriver to Ki on the back of a pair of powerbombs and Sabu is there to break up the pin. The match returns to the outside and Ki with a double clothesline. Backbreaker on Reil and he then comes off the top turnbuckle to the hard floor with a somersault senton. Crazy! Falcon Arrow on Sabu and Ki breaks up the pin. Reil this time lands the Death Valley Driver, however gets off Ki at the count of two wanting to dish out more punishment. Bad idea as he misses the somersault senton off the middle. Sabu with a legdrop and Ki again breaks up the pin attempt. Arabian moonsault and you know what Ki does next! Stupid really in an elimination match, but I think he just wanted to get the three himself, which happens as he nails Reil with the Ki Krusher to get him out of there. No rest time as Sabu is right back on him. Somersault legdrop from the apron over the top rope for two. Ki escapes a cross armbar and slaps on an STF that Sabu has to scramble to the ropes to break. Springboard leg lariat by Sabu for another two. As he goes for it a second time Ki ducks out the way and levels him with a superkick. Handspring Koppo kick! Ki Krusher but Sabu kicks out of the pin. Ki places the ladder over Sabu’s face, heads up top, only to miss the powerdrive elbow. Sabu grabs a table from the outside and props it up in the corner. A clothesline staggers Ki, Sabu sets up a chair in the middle of the ring and a jumping ‘fameasser’ off the chair to Kid driving him through the table in the process. Amazingly Ki kicks out though. Chair shot to the back and Sabu with his sloppily applied camel clutch forces the tap. The two shake hands and embrace at the end.

 

All action match with no down time. Second outing for Billy Reil in PWO2K and another good performance from him and nice to see Sabu hit all his spots for a change! I don’t understand the breaking up of pins in an elimination match though? Surely if there is a chance to eliminate someone from the match you would want that to happen? It’s less work for you for starters and then you can get the early advantage on the opponent who is left. Ki’s somersault to the arena floor was madness and add me to those who didn’t like seeing Sabu kick out of the Ki Krusher. Interestingly I had also noted the official when making my notes on this; not the first time seeing him, but he always looks so scruffy, tie your hair back at least! I don’t know if this is my favourite Low Ki match for the year (I really enjoyed the Reil, Mack and Montoya matches), but it’s certainly my favourite Sabu one.

[jasch]

My expectations weren't very high going in, and this blew them away. All 3 guys looked great and didn't get in each others way. *** 1/2

[Robert S]

At first, this felt like Sabu vs two rookies and was kinda awkward. As the match went on, they started getting comfortable and it got good. Especially when Reil was eliminated. Ki's best match so far in 2000 as he looked on Sabu's level when it was 1 on 1. Sabu wasn't botchy sabu so that was nice. The ref in this match was very distracting though. Always out of place and trying to dodge getting hit.

In the 3 way part the experience deficit of Low Ki and Reil was clearly visible. There were several parts where one of them was just staying around for a second or two until really doing something, which you normally don't see from a seasoned pro. The Low Ki did not show such things in the single match part, so maybe it was just the lack of multi-men match experience.

[Edwin]

I was ready to dislike going into it, but this was far better than I expected it to be. Everyone here looked fantastic.

 

The short first segment between Ki and Reil was wild with them working real snug and them potatoeing each other at least once. The reaction to Sabu's entrance was epic. He really had this weird aura around him here and luckily that rub onto Ki as the match progressed.

 

***1/2