[2000-04-08-MPPW-TV] Wolfie D vs Ali

[Loss]

This was a really well put together match -- good studio brawl that spills into the back and keeps up the intensity before landing back in the ring. Wolfie is great at bumping for Ali's big power moves and making him look like a killer. I even liked the ref bumps in this context because Power Pro doesn't do them in every single match (are you listening, OVW?), so they carry weight and actually make the match seem like a bigger deal in this case. Wolfie wins the title, but Ali is ripped off and has reason to come back strong. I enjoyed this quite a bit. ***

[soup23]

Wolfie and Ali have been the two most prominent members of the PPW roster so it was good to see them lock up here. Pretty good garbage brawl that goes backstage and returns back inside the studio. Then the interference starts coming and the lights go out. You can hear the bumps in the ring with the lights out and they return with Ali laid out and Wolfie d wins the title and ending Ali’s winning streak. **1/2

[Tim Evans]

For a guy that was supposedly in a car wreck, Wolfie D sure is moving around good. An alright tv match but the ref bumps and turning off the lights gimmick was a bit OVW like. Not as bad but still a tad much. So begins the era of Wolfie D as champ before he turns into Slash.

[GSR]

PPW title defense for Ali with all the members of The Cartel in Wolfie’s corner. ‘Evil Knieval’ and Perry James (the lawyer for The Cartel) get in the ring and this distracts Ali allowing Wolfie to jump him from behind. His chops have no effect and Ali responds with a huge chokeslam. While this is going on, the official has had enough of The Cartel and orders them all from ringside and to the back. Press slam, Wolfie with an eye rake and a suplex, but that has as much effect as his chops did! Ali clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor and follows him out. He throws Wolfie into the announcing desk and they head to the hallway where he cracks him over the head with a chair before slamming a locker room door shut on his head. They return to the studio with Wolfie backing off seemingly had all he can take. Ali forgets about him and goes after ‘Evil’, however Wolfie picks up his motorcycle helmet, puts it on and headbutts Ali. He doesn’t stay in control for long as Ali ducks a clothesline, boot to the mid-section and a powerbomb. Powerslam for two. Whip to the corner is reversed, and Wolfie whips Ali into the official squashing him in the corner (just like the Lawler/Pain match from MCW last week). Uranage on Wolfie but no referee. Deon Harlem is in and he gets Samoan dropped and a chokeslam on Perry James as Wolfie is now having to deal with all of The Cartel. Wolfie grabs Ali and Seven goes to hit him with a stop sign, only for Ali to move and him hit Wolfie instead. Uranage on Seven. Ali covers Wolfie and a second referee rushes out and slides into the ring but Wolfie is able to get the shoulder up at two for a great near fall. As Ali is arguing about the count, Wolfie with a knee to the back which sends him colliding into the replacement official and now he’s down! ‘Ali Driver’ when Brandon Baxter signals for something, and the lights in the studio go out. You can still hear action in the ring and the lights comes back on to see both men laid out but with Wolfie covering Ali. The original referee counts the pin and we have a new PPW champion as The Cartel celebrate.

 

Good match here with both continuing to look impressive. Ali controlled the majority of the match and he’s great on offense with his power moves, while Wolfie flew around and bumped for him. I really liked the brawl into the hallway as it’s the first time in Memphis that the wrestlers going backstage hasn’t seemed contrived (see Wolfie/Smothers from a couple of months back); here it felt like a natural progression of the match. Finish protected Ali as he was able to handle The Cartel until the odds were just too much and they had to turn off the lights so he couldn’t see what was coming. If this is the end of Ali in PPW it’s been a fun ride.

[Moonsault Marvin]

This show always has good backstage brawling. I like how crowded the backstage area is with the lockers and the stacks of paper boxes. Ali couldn't withstand the onslaught of interference, and Wolfie D took the title. Fun match.

[cheapshot]

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, even with the two referee bumps that worked within the context of the match. Nice to see outside the actual studio where they brawled, as I am a sucker for those type of things. First time seeing Ali, and thought Wolfie D was great bumping for him, especially off the initial Chokeslam. **1/2