1/20/01: Saturday Night Explosion - Chicago, IL

Barry Horowitz pinned Mike Sharpe after a kneedrop in 0:07:15.
Rating: -** 1/2

Interview:
Barry Horowitz issues a challenge for Sebastian P. Sterling.
Click here to see highlights.

The Perfect Creation pinned Air Paris with the Spinning Northern Lights Bomb in
0:11:44.
Rating: * 1/2

The Armstrong Family (Scott Armstrong and Steve Armstrong) defeated
The New Powers of Pain when Steve Armstrong pinned Pain with the Flying Dropkick
 in 0:16:07.
Rating: -** 1/2

Indiana Kidd Jr. pinned Rhino after a small package in 0:09:21.
Rating: **
(Indiana Kidd Jr. retained the GLW Television Title.)

Ken Shamrock pinned Brian Adias after a legsweep in 0:09:57.
Rating: 3/4*

The Extremists (Ace Darling and Devon Storm) defeated The Movement when Storm
 pinned Bart Gunn with the Thunderclap Brainbuster in 0:14:09.
Rating: **

Gran Hamada pinned K.C. McCulloch with the Swinging DDT in 0:06:55.
Rating: * 1/2

Lance Storm pinned Mark Schrader with the Piledriver in 0:07:38.
Rating: * 1/4

Interview:
The Extremists have some words for the Armstrong Family.
Click here to see highlights.

Brad Armstrong defeated Doc Dean by disqualification in 0:07:28.
Rating: **
(Doc Dean retained the GLW Midwestern Title.)



Match observations: 

We are just 6 days away from Deadly Draw 2001, and things are already heating up!  The Chicago, Illinois crowd was fired up for the action, so let's get right to it!

The night of action began with Barry Horowitz taking on "Iron" Mike Sharpe.  Not a very technically sound match, but a solid victory for Barry Horowitz with a kneedrop.  Horowitz wasn't done yet though, as he grabbed the mic and issued a
challenge to Sebastian P. Sterling for a Strap Match at Deadly Draw 2001, which has been signed and will take place this Saturday!

The following match pitted Air Paris against "Greatness Himself" The Perfect Creation.  This was a very sound matchup with both wrestlers doing what they do best.  Air Paris kept TPC on his toes with his high-flying offense.  Eventually
Air Paris would go to the well one too many times and "Greatness Himself" would catch Paris off guard and hit the Spinning Northern Lights Bomb to pick up the win.

Not a whole lot to say about our next tag team match between the Armstrong Family and the debuting New Powers of Pain.  The NPOP looked all right, but the Armstrongs didn't have too many problems picking up the victory in this one.  Just a
note, the Extremists came down to ringside and watched part of this match but did not get involved.

We would see Indiana Kidd Jr.'s first Television Title defense next as he put the belt up against the massive strongman, Rhino.  Juventud Guerrera was down at ringside doing commentary during this one, but he refrained from getting
involved in the action.  Rhino dominated much of this match with his distinct strength advantage, nearly breaking the champ in half on several occasions.  Indiana Kidd Jr. managed to survive though, and reversed a power bomb attempt with a
small package and got the 3 count.  Rhino wrestled well, but fell just short.

Ken Shamrock continues to impress everyone in the GLW.  This former UFC star continues to impress the wrestling world with his in-ring ability.  Brian Adias was his next victim this week.  Adias did what he could, but he just couldn't keep
up with Shamrock, who picks up the big victory here going into Deadly Draw.  Shamrock has to be considered a favorite to walk away the first World champion after this Friday.

We saw another debuting tag team here this week with the Movement, Mike Burton and Johnny Ace, big stars overseas, taking on Ace Darling & Devon Storm of the Extremists.  Burton & Ace certainly made a splash tonight as they gave the
Extremists a lot more than they wanted.  However, Dawn Marie's distractions equated to a victory for the Extremists.  The Movement made a fantastic showing though and will definitely be contenders here in the GLW.

Gran Hamada made his first GLW showing last week in the battle royal for the Midwestern Title and looked good, but tonight he would get to showcase his abilities as a singles wrestler as he took on K.C. McCulloch.  This was a good match,
but McCulloch could never seem to figure out Hamada's style as Hamada picked up the win with his Swinging DDT.

We got to see in our next match the singles debut of the leader of the Extremists, Lance Storm.  Storm has caused a lot of problems already with the Armstrong Family, namely Brad Armstrong.  Tonight, however, he was going to have his hands
full with Mark "the Shark" Schrader.  Storm is a very cocky individual, no bones about it, but he is also a very skilled wrestler in the ring.  Schrader tried several moves to put Storm out, but Storm continued to fight back and finally
found an answer to Schrader and put him away with his Piledriver.  A great win for Storm.

Lance Storm wasn't finished yet though as he and his Extremists had some words for the Armstrong Family regarding their match this Friday.  This was basically just some more fuel on the fire for the Armstrongs, who look to get some
redemption on the Extremists at Deadly Draw.

That brought us to our main event, and it was going to be a doosy!  Doc Dean would put his Midwestern Title on the line for the first time as he put it up against the man who probably should be the Midwestern champion if it wasm't for
Lance Storm, Brad Armstrong!  Doc Dean really showed us something tonight.  Last week he looked as if he was tentative to lock up with anyone and that maybe he was "afraid," but he went with Brad Armstrong stride for stride.  Dean is a
helluva athlete, that's for sure.  After a good match, Armstrong had Dean reeling and was looking to capture himself some gold.  Armstrong was just about to put this one away when the Extremists ran in and caused the disqualification.
Brad Armstrong gets the win, but Doc Dean retains the title.  The Extremists all began to put the boots to Brad before his brothers Steve & Scott came in and evened the score.  The show came to an end with the two factions duking it out.

After the show, we learned that one more match has been signed for Deadly Draw 2001, and that will be a GLW original, the Wildcard Match.  In these matches, two wrestlers are selected at random from the back and must fight each other.
This could get interesting as friend could face friend, partner against partner, and if you're a champion and you get selected, your belt is on the line!  Don't miss this event, fans!