Previewing PWE Collateral Damage Saturday May 21 Zembo Shrine, Harrisburg, Pa

The UWE used to be one of the hottest wrestling tickets in town, until politics and money issues shattered it, leaving many of us still wondering exactly how it happened. However, before fans could get too frustrated, Pro Wrestling Empire rose to take its place, and so far, each show has been better than the last. The Empire seems determined to build its Kingdom on the backs of the best wrestlers they can find, while still allowing local wrestlers an opportunity to showcase what they have to offer alongside guys like AR Fox, Eddie Smooth, Shane Strikland, Sean Carr, and Façade.
 
Collateral Damage brings in top names like Fox, and Strickland, once again while also providing local favorites like Stan Styles an opportunity against former WCW and WWE superstar Buff “The Stuff” Bagwell. Let’s take a look at the entire announced card.
 
The special attraction match is “Sizzling” Stan Styles taking on former WCW/WWF star Marcus “Buff” Bagwell. Bagwell, still not an old man, will be a very tough challenge for Styles, who is trying to use Bagwell to prove that he is the real deal, and should be booked just as much as any of his contemporaries. Styles is never without his valet, Destiny, so Bagwell will have to have eyes in the back of his head here. I’m very anxious to see how this match unfolds, and what Styles has to show.
 
Central Pennsylvania’s favorite man in pink, Richie Nightmare takes on the very experienced and better traveled Blackwater. While Nightmare has faced stiff competition in the Harrisburg region, Blackwater has trained at the CZW Dojo, and has performed much more regularly. Nightmare has a large following, and will have his “Nightmare Nation” behind him here, as always, and it’s going to take every ounce of energy that they can instill in the former UWE Champion to overcome Blackwater.
 
Another local favorite, The Mercenary, has been literally begging for more attention and he will get his shot against a mystery opponent. Ever a thorn in the side of Hollywood’s Finest leader, Kevin Murphy, just who does PWE have in store for Mercenary? Will it be someone sympathetic to Hollywood’s Finest? Will it be someone Murphy has hired to come in and take out Mercenary? Will Mercenary be able to step up and prove that he’s got what it takes to step outside the PWE region and go toe to toe with anyone? WDR will be watching this match with notepad in hand, making sure to fairly review the efforts of both men in this match.
 
The Untouchable Kevin Murphy has been promising all kinds of announcements, and surprises for Collateral Damage, but he first has to take on a longtime nemesis, and the original leader of Hollywood’s Finest, Ryan Kolby. Kolby, one half of Heroes for Hire, will be seconded by his partner Zack Rayne, in an effort to thwart any involvement from Murphy’s stable mates, Eddie Smooth, and Laszlo Arpad. If this can be kept in order it should be a very solid match up with a solid story behind it, going back years. My fear is that it turns into a giant brawl.
 
In a women’s match we will see Roxanne Steele vs. Tess Valentine, vs Mandy Leon vs Vanity. These four women want to be the first women’s champion, they want to be the woman that is the face of the women’s division of PWE. They want to kill each other! Roxanne Steele has felt disrespected for some time now, as the area keeps bring women in to feature, while she’s been faithful for years now. Tess Valentine also feels overlooked, and doesn’t like Roxanne’s attitude. Mandy Leon is a Ring of Honor star, and major favorite of fans everywhere, and Vanity just wants to kick someone’s ass. The winner of this bout will stake their claim as being THE woman of the PWE, and possibly all of Central Pennsylvania.
 
In a tag team tournament six teams will battle it out to stake their claim as being legit, and deserving of an eventual shot at the PWE tag team titles. American Adrenaline, The Regulators, The Starlords, Swift Slyde, Horror Core, and The Party Nerds better have the best matches of their careers as many eyes will be on this card and this is the chance of each of their lifetimes to impress? Can they do it? Sure they can, will they? I will let you know with my post show write up.
 
We now get into the meat of this card, and what better way to introduce that, than with BJ Walker’s “The Icon Hour!” Walker, one of if not the best talker in this region, finally gets his moment with his very own “Pipers Pit” style segment. While we have no idea what Walker is going to do here, I for one don’t care, as I trust it’s going to be great. Have a seat at table three and shut up!
 
Lance Anoa’I of the infamous Anoa’I family, arrives at PWE along with his opponent Jason Gory. Anoa’I, a high flying, tough as nails, Samoan fighter will have his work cut out for him with Gory, a man that is very difficult to take off his feet and seems to almost enjoy pain! The styles clash here should make for a great match.
 
Finally, there will be two match ups where the winners will advance to a match that will decide the first ever PWE Champion! Laszlo Arpad, the wild Hungarian and resident beast of Hollywood’s Finest, takes on Kai Katana in a submission match! While Arpad is great at inflicting pain and beating down his opponents, I’ve never seen him concentrate on submissions. Katana on the other hand is very agile, and smooth. He will rely on speed and possibly the use of oriental nerve holds to try and wear down the Hungarian Hero. This match could go either way, but if Katana gets caught in the dreaded “Sword of Attila” he will submit to whatever it is that comes next.
 
In what is a completely insane bout, four of the best wrestlers in the world today throw their wrestling abilities out the window as they face off in a tables, ladders, and chairs match. AR Fox, Sean Carr, Eddie Smooth, and Shane Strickland will have to try and kill each other if they want to make it to the championship match. My only issue here is, won’t the winner be completely wiped out, and beat up, in the championship match? Won’t either Arpad or Katana have an easier time facing a man that just went through a destructive TLC match with three guys that could main event anywhere on Earth? My other concern is what if the championship match is between Hollywood’s Finest members Laszlo Arpad and Eddie Smooth? Will we get a legitimate match? Or some kind of WCW finger poke of doom scenario? One thing is for sure, if you want to get the PWE championship, you’ve got to go through hell to do so! That’s “wrestling done right!” 

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