[2000-08-19-JAPW-Night of the Main Events] Russ & Charlie Haas vs Da Hit Squad

[soup23]

Johnny D has some words for the Haas Brothers valet and Papa Roach fires up. Going to start a drinking game for how many times I hear Last Resort in the next couple of years. I dug the shit out of this match. All four guys just went after it with Da Hit Squad having no regard for throwing their bodies around as well as laying a beating on the Haas Bros. Pretty progressive and funny chant from the JAPW when the Haas are on top of “wheres Kurt Angle”. The assisted front senton onto the outside by the Haas’ is impressive. A cat fight ensues with Johnny D and Montoya trying to break it up. This match moving from the frantic start into a traditional southern tag with a FIP is wonderful. Hot tag by Mafia is well done and the Haas Bros show resilience by coming back culminating in Russ hitting an elbow drop into the balls of Mafia. Mafia is able to get a flash small package for the win. A good match showing that Da Hit Squad had more substance as far as structuring a tag match. ***1/4 (6.7)

 

 

 

[AstroBoy]

Rock solid tag match. Russ and Charlie were so good on offense, a deep array of flashy and technical moves. Never dull when they were working over Mafia as they pull out all kinds of impressive moves both individual and double team.

 

The crowd was pretty insufferable just constantly chanting lewd and unfunny stuff in an attempt to amuse themselves. Hit Squad sell the beating and make a nice comeback that leads to a kind of anti-climactic rollup finish. As solid as Hit Squad are, I thought the Haas Brothers looked like real world-beaters in the making here.

 

***1/2

[Tim Evans]

I'm guessing this is a heel vs heel match? Good stuff between the two teams. Finish was kinda out of no where but It makes sense with the Hasses leaving soon. Maff calling WWF Titan is classic indie wrestling.

[GSR]

Don Montoya welcomes everyone to the ‘Haas of Pain’ as he and Kristy Kiss are seconding the brothers tonight.  When he says how they are the future of tag team wrestling, it gets a “WWF” chant, so everyone is wise to where they’ve been recently.  Charlie has a few words of his own and the crowd’s response to that is “no mic skills” which takes smarkiness to a whole new level.  Da Hit Squad’s manager Johnny D, who sounds like a potty mouthed Vince Russo, has someone he claims is going to break Kristy Kiss’ neck for a second time.  This person is never introduced, identified and I don’t recognise her, but she does come out to ‘Last Resort’ which is fast approaching ‘Bawitdaba’ as the most overused entrance music of the year.  Stereo back drops by DHS before they clothesline the Haas’ over the top rope and to the outside.  Big suicide dive by Mafia, using some wooden steps to leap off to help him clear the ropes.  Double military press slam on Charlie.  Reverse falling headbutt for a two.  Mack with a stiff clothesline, but as he sets himself for another, Russ pulls down the top rope and the brothers dump him over it to the concrete.  Montoya gets in some cheap shots too as the Haas’ go about wearing Mack down.  There’s now a “where’s your angle?” chant going on which means zip to me.  Double shoulder tackle.  Mack is thrown to the floor and Charlie then slugs Mafia on the apron.  It’s all a ploy to distract the official though as Montoya interferes again behind his back before Russ flattens him with a somersault senton.  That unidentified woman comes around and grabs Kiss as we get a super lame ‘catfight’, the one of them even appearing to be laughing as they ‘fight’.  Clearly enjoying herself then!  Combination Boston crab/camel clutch by the brothers.  Mack avoids the Russ flip splash and levels Charlie with a clothesline.  Hot tag to Mafia and these smarks are calling for “tables”.  Stereo diving headbutts from opposite turnbuckles and Charlie with the save in the nick of time.  Mafia kicks out of the Haas’ handspring moonsault/corkscrew leg drop finisher (which it sounds like they’ve called ‘Haastruction’) and they’re complaining to the official about the slowness of his count.  Banana split/flying elbow to the groin and again Mafia kicks out.  First time I ever recall seeing a ‘banana split’ done in wrestling.  As they go for it a second time Mack hooks Russ’ ankle causing him to fall from the top.  Small package by Mafia and DHS retain their Jersey All Pro tag titles.  Mack’s parting shot for the brothers who it seems are on their way out is “have fun in Connecticut bitch!”

The finish did feel as though it came out of nowhere, the crowd were ungodly annoying and I could’ve done without the ‘catfight’ but this was a really good tag match.  Both teams looked great, especially the brothers on offense, and even writing this up now I’m still smiling at that ‘banana split’ they pulled out in the closing moments.  They do need to come up with a better name than ‘Haastruction’ though for their finisher mind!  Recommended.