This was a damn good house show. Some people think that based on the ECW house show reports I have written I don't give enough credit to wrestlers working hard. What separates this show from the last two ECW house shows I've been to isn't the effort, which ARSION only had a small advantage in, but the fact that the hard work translated into them delivering the goods. Everyone on this show looked good with the exception of the two green workers, and the green workers problem certainly wasn't lack of effort.
THE FIRST STARLET: Candy Okutsu (License #7) vs. Fabi Apache (ARSION Mexico, License #11). Candy did everything you could ask for to make this a good match. She didn't just work to Fabi's strengths, she did a match that was almost entirely Fabi's style. The problem was that Fabi was so green she wasn't carryable. She blew spots, partly screwed up spots, and was out of position for spots. She made Esther Moreno look like a healthy Rey Misterio Jr. Candy with a powerbomb. 3:32. 1/4*
THE THIRD STARLET: Candy Okutsu vs. Jessie Bennett (ARSION USA, License #9). Once again, Candy wrestled the opponent's match. Jessie was trained by D-Lo Brown, so this was pro style. It was nothing special, but Jessie is so inexperienced that you have to be happy that Candy was able to carry her to an average match. Jessie's move set is pretty good, but it should get a lot better because she will be adding more big spots as well as the Texas cloverleaf. Her dieting will make some of the moves she used here look better because she will be able to bridge on them. The problems Jessie had were the same as just about every other young wrestler has, and they can all be corrected with experience and effort.
Candy did a very good job here because
she knew her opponent's limitations, so she didn't put her in the position to
look bad. Candy sold a lot because Jessie is mainly an offense wrestler at this
point. She toned her offense down because Jessie can't do complicated spots
like Yagi and Kuzumi. Candy was smart enough to let Jessie immediately counter
her nadare shiki no Northern Lights suplex
because doing that spot to Jessie might send Candy back into retirement. Candy
was able to rolling German suplex Jessie for the win, which was impressive given
the weight difference. Speaking of the weight difference, what this match proves
is that, like in real shoots, it isn't close to the most important thing. ARSION
is kind of like Gracie Jui Jitsu, in that skill, technique, and experience are
much more important than weight and size. Thus, the 75 or so pounds (which actually
is so much that it could make a big difference in a shoot) Jessie had on Candy
at this point didn't really mean a thing. 6:52. **