IZW Fully Legal Independent Wrestling Show
A play by play of a professional wrestling show by a non-wrestling fan.
After driving over an hour to the venue, delayed because I was behind an accident when it occurred, I was eager to get seated and just enjoy my Starbucks and watch the show. I haven’t watched a show in its entirety in about a year because I haven’t had a desire to watch it even though I attend them to support my husband. Tonight, however, in a new venue, I didn’t have a lobby to hide in and just read or whatever. I’m not needed to help out anywhere else, so I took it upon myself to find a way to make it entertaining.
Upon arriving, I waiting for Greg to get me a comfy chair so my butt wouldn’t hurt sitting in it for the next four hours. While I waited for my chair, I helped the wiener guy update his menu board because he said his handwriting sucked. As a result, I’m going to be able to get a free wiener later tonight. I wasn’t really sure where I was going to set up my viewing and typing station, but it was suggested that I set up behind the railing barricade. This made me feel important, but I did say that I didn’t want to sit in a row because I didn’t want to sit with the fans, as I didn’t want my computer or typing to be distracting. Plus, I’m not a big fan of people, especially strangers, and I didn’t want people asking me what I was doing.
The VIP experience started with some basic welcoming information and shout outs to the sponsors before the first match got underway. You know, the boring stuff. First match was a women’s match. The music was too loud to hear who it was, and since I don’t pay attention to professional wrestling I couldn’t tell you her name, but she was a cute, little thing wearing purple. So, I think I’ll route for her. Her opponent was a beast of a thing. Literally, she was dressed like a creature from one of the fantasy books I might read. Thankfully, her mask and drape came off so quickly, I didn’t even get a very good look at her.
During the match, the little purple warrior tried and tried, but just couldn’t move the beast, who I will say had purple hair. That was a point in her favor. Did I mention that purple is my favorite color? Anyways, little purple thing is quite nimble. She bounced off ropes when she was thrown into them and jumped up after being thrown around. I enjoyed her climbing and flipping off ropes. Her shoulder stomp of the beast was pretty funny. This little thing may be my new favorite female wrestler. I never had one before so why not start now.
The grunting noises during matches always amuse me. It’s like if they make the noises, we won’t think it’s fake. Whatever, it’s all clearly fake. On the flip side, when they are not making the noises, it gets really awkward in the silence. However, the wrestling fans are the best in their shouts and after about 8 minutes, Little Purple Thing manages to pin the beast. A little anticlimactic as they both quickly exit the ring. At least little purple thing went around and high fived fans on her way out. I guess she’s a little cheat though since she put her feet up on the rope when she pinned the beast. I think it’s more resourceful since she didn’t get caught.
Almost immediately, they began intros for next match, music starts and looks like it might be a tag team. I LOVE the white fur coat that the one guy is wearing. I mean I know it’s a little cooler right now in Arizona, but it might not be cold enough for a fur coat. The first 3 guys are in the ring and the next guy enters to his music. So, we have the white pants and the black pants. It is fun that this new studio has a stage that the wrestlers get to enter on so they can do their yelling, dancing and catcalls. Still no idea what their names are. Meanwhile, fur coat is now hanging off the ring post like it’s a coat rack. Thankfully someone came and grabbed everything to take to the back. Guess they won’t be getting used as weapons in this match. The fur would have been good, could send someone into a sneezing fit.
Bell rings and match is underway. LOL… I love the smack talking that starts it. Not much initial wrestling but a lot of showboating. Why is the first kick to the crotch. That seems a little obvious, but at least we’re making contact. The active black pants guy, pulls the ref over to use a s a shield. How is that allowed? The white pants guy on the edge gets kicked off, so naturally that leads to extra people in the ring. The black pants guy does a clothesline thing with his leg, but isn’t able to get the pin. White pants guy on the outside is trying to get the crowd involved to no avail. Seems like the crowd is on the side of the black pants team, and honestly, I think I am too. At times the match seems more comical than serious just based on the guys’ reactions to what is happening to them. Black pants team wins in what was about a 7-minute match.
The 3rd match is a “winner must leave match.” Basically, you lose you’re fired! First wrestler is a Lucha mask wearing guy with a partner that has fringe hanging from his COVID face mask. Hmm, not sure what that’s about. The opponent comes out with who appears to be a blind companion who is carrying a trash can. I’ve seen this braided hair guy wrestle before, but naturally can’t remember his name. Not sure who I’m routing for yet. But, braided hair guy as purple boots on, so I guess I’m on his team. Trying to figure out if this is a tag team. I’m so confused. Fringe guy demands that everyone stays 6 feet apart and put on a match. Not sure how social distance works in a wrestling match. I’m so confused. I mean, really? What is happening?
Trash can carrying guy jumps in a slaps the fringe guy and the match is underway. Oh Lord, fringe guy is doing cartwheels in the ring. I think I actually have the same pink shirt and fishnet top combo he’s wearing. I do like when the matches go to the floor outside the ring and with the small intimate crowd, it definitely gives the fans an up-close and personal experience. As the match goes on, it’s obviously not a tag team, they each just brought out a friend with them who are very vocal. Maybe it is a tag match, because there is definitely some confusion on if a tag happened. What is happening? None of this is making any sense to me. While everyone is running around the ring, the trash can gets thrown into the ring. Oh my. Can goes over the head of the fringed mask guy (who took his mask off at the beginning the match) and the poor guy starts getting beat while in the can. Did I mention how confused I am? I still don’t understand what is happening.
It quickly goes downhill from here and the purple boot guy and his trash can partner end up winning the match after about 10 minutes in the ring. Apparently, Johnny Knox, I guess his name is, is told he has to leave IZW forever. I’m a little sad there wasn’t more of a scene caused. I mean, who gets fired and takes it so calmly?
It’s now the VIP Main Event. Wrestler number one, I believe, is named Jacob. I couldn’t understand the ring announcer. I did get that opponent’s name is the Emperor something or other, but I was helped out by the fact that the clothes he was wearing said EMPEROR in big gold lettering. My viewing of the match was interrupted by this adorable little lady who came up to me saying she had baked cookies for the wrestler and asked me if I could take them back. How cute is that? I should have taken one before taking them back, but alas I didn’t. Now, I really want to bake chocolate chip cookies.
Back to the match. These two are pretty evenly matched. They are what I consider to be typical professional wrestlers. In the ring, they don’t really have any type of side gimmick, they are just trying to wrestle each other and put on a good show. I respect that. Lots of two counts and kick outs. After a few rollups, not of the fruit variety, Jacob is finally able to pin the Emperor. I’m happy with that result. Jacob was really quick to leave to the back, the Emperor was a little more mopey and hung his head on the way out.
That’s it for the VIP event. So, just going to chill for the next 35 minutes. My time was well spent, I ordered my children UberEats so they didn’t go hungry while mom and dad are out on the town.
Here we go, the main show is about to start. I do miss John Wolfgang as the ring announcer. IZW has apparently been around for 21 years, hence the name of the show “Fully Legal”. Congrats to IZW and now with the new venue, they can begin to expand. The show started with a 10-bell salute to honor the Yeti who recently passed away.
It seems like we are about to have a party. The opening match is an 8 man tag match. Still can’t understand the names of the wrestlers as they are announced, but we got white headband guy partnering with the Outlaws and someone else. This group is clearly the ‘bad guys” with the insults to the fans. This Outlaw guy doesn’t even know who the white headband guy is who is on his own team. Now we have “The Love God” entering with his sunglasses and perfectly styled hair. I will give him a shoutout for his hip shakes. Nicely done, but I’m once again really confused. Apparently, he is with the group that already came out. I guess they brought out an extra guy for moral support.
They are up against Pete the Heat – he is one I actually DO know! He’s partnered with a duo whose name I didn’t catch, but they seem pretty cool. The final member of this team is one of the white pants guys from the earlier VIP match, but I now know his name, Enrique.
The ref is a woman, and I totally see her getting hit or thrown of something happening causing the match to be compromised. And it begins. I have decided that I like Enrique and his head flipping. Guy from the bad guy group nearly shoots himself out between the ropes. I’m glad that they know what they are doing. This is a pretty good match. I like the flipping and dropping that they are doing to each other. Sweaty guys picking each other up and throwing and dropping and kicking each other. Nothing else quite like it. I feel bad for white headband guy from the bad guy group, all the others abandon him in the ring by himself to get pinned as they made an early get away to the back stage area. My prediction about the ref didn’t not come to fruition. Ring empties pretty quickly after that.
Awe, my hubby comes onto the stage! It’s fun to see him in his element. He introduces the first of two inductees into the hall of fame – XXX (Lawrence Tyler). Greg hands the mic over to Hawaiian Lion (one of my favorites and long-time friend of the family!) It was a nice change to hear from these guys as real people and not the characters they portray.
Second match is woman’s match between some “unhinged girl”. I couldn’t catch her name, but she likes to head bang. The opponent is the Bone Collector, aka The Beast from the VIP match. I’m routing for the unhinged girl, but I’ll have to wait as the Beast is calling someone out. Aww, she called out Cute Purple Thing from the VIP match. Cute Purple Thing sits on stage to watch the match. I guess the Beast isn’t happy that Cute Purple Thing cheated earlier.
Unhinged Girl has quite a nice high kick. Throw in some classic hairpulling, and you’ve got yourself a match. Sadly, the Beast won after a pretty short match. At some point Cute Purple Thing disappeared from the stage, but nothing was mentioned about it. She was actually the last one to go back stage. She must have moved into the crowd at some point, and I missed it.
Music starts with no ring announcer and out comes the commissioner to announce a change the special guest ref for the main event. Poor Mr. Classic. I guess my hubby did something because he got called out for lying to her about hiring someone behind her back. And, she quits. Greg has no choice but makes Derrick the new commissioner allowing Mr. Classic to remain the special ref. Oh, the drama!!
Moving on to the next match. I love Gino. He’s hilarious! He has Puerto Rican flag shorts and carries the flag with him. He’s up against the Green Beret, Roman. He really was a Green Beret and comes out in fatigues. As soon as the match starts music starts, everyone stops, thinking someone is coming out. No one does, so the match continues! I think Roman is going to win, but I’m really wanting Gino to win. He’s a flippy guy, and I love flippy guys!
I feel bad for Gino as Roman stomps on his hands while his down. Gino frog jumps off the post and sadly misses his target. Roman is clearly controlling the match. Come on Gino! But Roman is down and Gino tries his frog jump off the rope again and SUCCESS! He almost gets the three count…almost. All of a sudden, the random music starts again while Gino is back on top of the ropes. Music cuts out, Gino jumps, but with the delay from the music, Roman was able to roll away. Sadly, as a result, Gino gets pinned. (Insert sad face).
As Roman is leaving the ring, Gino invites him back in. Gino says that Roman was the better man tonight. Roman is leaving as Watson comes out. It was Watson’s music that was interrupting the match. Did I mention I love Gino’s character, “The Puerto Rican Pitbull.” Watson delivers his monologue, and all of a sudden there is a swarm of people in the ring attacking Gino. Pretty sure at least one of them is from the black pants group from the earlier match. The best part is at the end when the one guy pulls out his phone and takes a selfie with his buddies and the “knocked out” Gino. Poor Gino
Gino is helped from the ring with applause from the fans.
Sadly, I had to use the little girl’s room right as they were announcing the Fully Legal, anything goes match with the Navajo Warrior and the Hawaiian Lion, and I’m not sure who the other guys are. I’m obviously cheering for our pals Nav and Lion. I guess since it’s an anything goes match, it is all four of them going at once vs what you would typically see in a tag team match. Let’s see. We have two of them fighting by the stage using the railings and chairs to attack each other and the other two on the other side of the crowd. I feel for the ref trying to watch what is happening all over the place. It’s like a kindergarten teacher trying to manage every corner of a classroom run by 25 five-year-olds – impossible.
Everyone eventually gets back in the ring with a guard railing. BOOOOOOOOO. Nav and Lion lose. It’s ok, I still love them. I did learn that the winning team is called Final Destination. Nav and Lion are left in the ring and walk to the back defeated.
The guys that take the barricade out of the ring get an applause from the crowd. Shows don’t happen with the stage hands, just saying. It is the little things. A few special guests are introduced including the 2017 strongest man. The Outlaw and his 3 followers come out to the ring to confront and threaten them. They all rush the ring only to have their asses handed to them. White headband guy comes back out. He was the one who lost to that group earlier. Quick little action scene before intermission.
Intermission is over, and the second half starts with the induction of the second wrestler of the night into the hall of fame, Gabriel Gallo. His tag team partner, Dom, recognizes him.
Next match is a 5-man elimination match. Basically, it’s a last man standing matching. #1 – Mike G; #2 – Michael Benjamin (we’re going to call him MB); #3 – Dallas; #4 – Derek (we’re going to call him Rambo) and #5 – Graves. I’m liking Rambo to win this one, but Graves is clearly the fan favorite.
The majority of the match was between Graves and Rambo, which I predicted. Mike G was out first followed by Dallas and MB leaving just the Big Two. I will say that I didn’t realize to be eliminated that they had to be pinned. I was thinking more Royal Rumble type of setup. The last two are a pretty good matchup. Winner by submission is Graves. I feel this one was predictable, but I still wanted Rambo to win. Three extra refs come out to ‘protect’ Rambo and help him out of the ring. Then Graves walks around the ring barking. I guess it’s no surprise that the crowd barks along with him.
Up next, a strap match. It’s also a woman’s match. Woman number one comes out in Stone Cold Steve Austin fashion. I believe her name is Bryne. She’s up against Crazy Hot Morgan. Let’s go Morgan. Side note, she’s married to the Navajo Warrior. I’m obviously expecting my friend to win this. Don’t let me down Morgan! Each woman gets an end of the strap tied around a wrist so they are attached. First time I’ve seen one of these matches.
This was a pretty good match. I liked the strap and how they used it to wrap around each other and flip each other. There were a few 2 counts, but the match went on for a while. What I’ve always thought is funny is how they help each other complete the moves. Like jumping when their opponent is trying to flip them to give extra support. Once again, I’m disappointed that Morgan lost the match. (Insert another sad face).
I’ll take this moment to remind everyone that I don’t particularly care for professional wrestling. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed my evening commentating this event. It’s clearly choreographed and fake, but that doesn’t mean that these moves and hits are any less difficult or painless.
Main event time! That means we are finally at the last match. And here is Mr. Classic as the special ref. You may not know this, but he has beef with the wrestlers in this match, so it’s obviously going to go down hill quickly. The wrestlers are EJ Sparks (one of my favs). He has fun beads in his hair and is energetic and full of attitude. Love him!!! I don’t love him as much as his opponent though. THUGNIFICENT!!!!! He currently holds the championship belt. Thug has been my favorite since I started coming back to these shows. He is very much like EJ Sparks.
This is a match is for the championship. When IZW ups their budget, they need to get fireworks for EJ Sparks. I feeling like he needs fire. I think Thug just needs a manager. I’ll volunteer for that job!
The thing is that these guys are friends, but EJ Sparks is the #1 contender, so it’s weird to have a match between two good guys. I guess that’s why Mr. Classic is there. A bad guy is needed. It’s like any other show, book, play or movie, there has to be an antagonist. These guys are really good at what they do. Mr. Classic is clearly being a jerk at reffing. I giggled a little when Sparks and Thug double slapped him and when Thug grabbed the mic and went off about calling it down the middle saying Classic will get a title match.
Like magic, Classic is all of a sudden a better ref. I cringed at the last move. It was fierce, but it allowed Thug to win and keep his belt. I guess he’ll be facing Mr. Classic at some point soon. LOL… as soon as Classic raises Thug’s arm in victory, he attacks him. Once again, going for a kick to the balls. There is a mad dash of wrestlers from the back and a brawl breaks out. It’s like no one wants to be left out of the party. In the end Navajo ends up in the ring to raise Thug’s hand. That’s sweet.
I love Thug. “This company will go on for 21 more years.” Navajo takes the mic and brings Greg into the ring as Thug leaves. He typically doesn’t get this much action in front of the crowd like he did tonight. Made me glad I came and stayed for the entire show. Sometimes it’s just is too much for me, and I leave early. Neither Greg nor Navajo drink alcohol, so Greg brought in Diet Coke for himself and what looked like regular Coke for Nav, and they had this manly moment in the ring to honor the 21st year of the company. Let’s just say Greg will be required to take a shower before he comes to bed tonight!
Overall, it was a good show. I think I enjoyed it a million times more because I spent the entire evening writing about what was going on. I didn’t have to talk to anyone or feel stupid for being here. As ridiculous as I think wrestling is, I can admit that tons of people enjoy it as it is just another type of entertainment. I was finally able to get a picture with Thug, so that made me happy. (Insert happy face!)
Check out IZW Wrestling on Facebook and Instagram. Tickets are now on sale for “MONSTER,” at the Scottsdale Studios on February 26, 2022. Until then……………….
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