[2000-09-23-ECWA] Low Ki vs Scoot Andrews (Match #2)

[soup23]

Not to be denied, Ki comes back out limping and all and the match is restarted. I assume this leg injury is legit as Ki is really hobbling but Reckless Youth comes out and says some words prematch that I can’t distinguish which makes me more suspicious. Scoot works over the leg and is the heel on top almost exclusively. Ki only gets brief moments of success including an armbar. The finish they go for is odd and didn’t work in execution as Scoot hits a German suplex with both shoulders down and Ki got a shoulder up. The crowd was deflated from that and the announcer didn’t get the memo as he still announces Scoot as the winner. Youth has some words for Scoot after the match. Scoot takes it out on Ki and goes nuts after him locking in a figure four on the bad wheel. Youth challenges Scoot next month and raises Ki hand at the end. Sort of a weird match overall given the “injury” to Ki derailing things. **

[AstroBoy]

Treating these two "matches" as one, Low Ki is crazy for diving to the floor like that and the injury angle seems pretty legit. I loved Scoot's attack on the leg and Low Ki looks a little silly trying to still prepare for a kickboxing battle on one leg. The guy's intensity can border on the cartoonish. Scoot has hurtful looking ways of working over the leg and nails the portrayal of a guy in control but vicious at the same time. Sort of a more dynamic Randy Orton in control of a match. I didn't think this match really needed a fluke pin by Ki and it felt shoehorned in against the grain of the story they told, but whatever.

 

**

[GSR]

Prior to the recommencement of the match we’re privy to a backstage interview where Ki is seen telling someone that they started this tonight and are going to finish it tonight.  Reckless Youth and Kevin Kelly also show up and it seems like Reckless was trying to interject himself into the match, although Kelly wouldn’t let him because of his WWF contract.  I think that was the basic gist of things but like so much of the Indy stuff we have seen, audio isn’t the clearest.

After the two wrestlers make their entrance, Reckless Youth walks out to a decent reception.  He explains that Kevin Kelly wouldn’t let him be in this match due to his WWF contract, but that’s not going to stop him from sitting out here and watching from ringside.  Scoot is a bit hesitant at first on seeing Ki hobble around and gestures to the official that he doesn’t think he should be wrestling.  It’s only when Ki kicks him in the head with his good leg does his demeanour and attitude change.  The opening minutes are all Scoot who kicks, twists and wrenches at that knee.  As he climbs the ropes to say something to Reckless, Ki with a schoolboy, but all the does is refocus him.  Figure four attempt is countered with a small package for a two.  Ki manages to lock on a cross armbar from the ground, however Scoot gets to his feet and rakes a boot across his face.  He grabs a waistlock, belly to back suplex and the ref counts the three.  Scoot celebrates the win, but it turns out Ki rolled his shoulder on the pin and Scoot lost, effectively pinning himself.  Reckless rubs the loss in, although it’s Ki who he takes his anger out on, hitting the pumphandle driver and then applying the figure four.  Unable to do anything because of being tied by his WWF contract Reckless is left to watch on helpless.  When Scoot finally does let go, Reckless challenges him to a match next month, explaining that as of tomorrow he’ll be a free agent.

A flat finish, even getting some “you fucked up!” chants as the fans thought someone had messed up.  With Ki going over, I would have preferred him to get the win via a cradle or roll up while Scoot’s concentration had slipped as opposed to what they did.  Finish aside I enjoyed Scoot’s work, Ki’s selling and the hope in that cross arm bar.  I’m still unsure as to whether the injury was a shoot or a work, although I would always hunch on the latter.