| 1 | 23.11.2018 | Paul Allain | 4.0 | The show has a few gems, but many glaring structural problems. The prre and post show matches were all very mundane and aimlessly unremarkable. Giddins/Davis had potential, as Rhett Giddins has been churning out solid performances for months and Jon Davis seemed like an ideal next stepping stone, but instead Davis dominated and it is questionable if he will return the favor. Adam/Jason seemed to showcase the newcomer, at the expense Jason Cade, who cannot get the push he deserves. Deimos/Earl had a long build, but the end result was a mediocre brawl, with a weird tacked on angle that negates makes the whole thing. Odinson further proved to be a flash in the pan, as he looked horribly weak while being crushed by Michael Tarver, whose long squashes are now beyond stale and incomprehensible, stuck in permanent limbo before FIP cuts their loss and drop him entirely. Jody/Sammy overachieved, as Jody Kristofferson looked credible fending off the challenge of a promising upstart and continues his streak of premium midcard performances. Teddy/Vandal was a lethargic match only serving to set up an obviously staged finish, for the sole purpose of promising a rematch and prolonging the uninspired heatless program. The vacant FIP Heritage match was very dynamic, with Martin Stone looking like an absolute beast, which makes Danhausen's surprise victory even more startling, but Stone's beatdown confirms his contendership. Hooligans/Bravados was a spirited fight with lots of glorious aggressivity, so much that they got DQ'd, but instead of setting up a hot rematch, they instantly pulled a bogus bait-and-switch and The Bravados disappeared forever, for shame. The main event finally puts an end to Konley's boring placeholder reign, as Fred Yehi's puts on a magistral performance and cements himself as the most skilled wrestler on the roster and the top man in FIP. The booking was very weak, but the show felt important and had good matches, making it a decent part of the calendar. |
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