WSU: Raining Misery

Womens Superstars Uncensored

www.WSUwrestling.com

$14.95

Reviewed by Joe Babinsack

WSU has made its mark on the indy wrestling scene, and continues to produce a product that establishes the promotion as one to watch in the industry.

True to professional wrestling’s roots, WSU offers one more style, one more approach, one more distinction among many. As most dedicated fans understand, professional wrestling is anything but a term that can blanket the world, and generically describe the action, the wrestlers, the atmosphere.

Women’s wrestling in the US these days has several outlets, but WSU is producing one particularly interesting combination: one that offers a more mainstream attitude with the intense and passionate wrestling expected from a roster that can be seen in other promotions.

WSU offers things that aren’t always found in competing promotions: more storylines and promos, more skits and characters, and a product that ranges from comedy to championship levels of competition. But there’s nothing negative in noting those distinctions, and if the mainstream promotions provided the creativity and approach that Women’s Superstars Uncensored always does, then there would be far less complaints about professional wrestling in general from this reviewer in particular.

One thing that WSU provides is a DVD that acts more like a TV show than just one more DVD event.

What I love about this is that with a few fewer matches, and a more focused card, the promotion doesn’t bombard the viewer with too much. Too much is often a bad thing, and while too much of good wrestling can rarely be called bad, three four or five matches too many means that too many wrestlers get lost in the undercard.

Because of this approach, WSU offers a throw-back atmosphere, from the flag-lined upper border of the screen reminiscent of Georgia Championship Wrestling, to the rings and crowds way into the Northeastern styles and presentations. And the sheer attitude of the promotion screams of a sort of wrestling that I grew up with … a dominant champion taking on all contenders, with those contenders moving up the card, and with a mid-card with just enough interesting presentations, and more importantly, a fearlessness in presenting new wrestlers and appealing to the viewer to get behind them.

Now, there are some minor complaints about WSU, beginning with the very TNA-like name of the promotion, but what’s in a name when enjoying the product is the most important thing.

Formatting of the DVD is interesting. WSU has established this graphic reminiscent of the old cable bars fading into white noise to separate matches, skits and the different segments. What I love about this is the feel of a promotion focusing on a show, not just an arena event.

Somewhere along the line, WSU is establishing itself as a promotion that may move beyond modern sensibilities of DVDs. A cheaper price point, a focused approach and a TV show mentality over rolling out match after match seems to be a positive direction.

The show opens with returning veteran Cindy Rogers taking on newcomer Sassy Stephanie. I love Stephanie’s look, talent and potential, but that name’s got to go. Rogers remains one of wrestling’s unheralded and solid workers, and her nickname of “Definition of Technician” works well.

The opener is what WSU is all about, mixing veterans and new talent, displaying their talents in action in a solid match, and establishing the card as one that does allow movement.

Skits and promos intersperse. I like the backstage interviews and the recaps.

Alicia, who was once ‘top dog’ of WSU, is back on the scene, but as a face, and she’s out with Becky Bayless. Bayless is transitioning from in-ring interviewer to in-ring performer, and with Missy Hyatt guiding her, what more can she ask? What’s awesome about this package and her feud with Rick Cataldo is the sense of wrestling not overfocused on the in-ring, and yet telling compelling stories nonetheless.

What I want to say is this: WSU does the things that the mainstream groups pretend to do, but WSU does it all much better.

Rick Cataldo is the only man on the women dominated roster, and I’m sure you can guess how he fits in.

But this isn’t a gimmick that goes too far in any direction, and thus has its merits. Brittney Savage just recently turned heel, which is a weird dynamic because she’s very attractive, very dynamic and a little on the small side.

Which makes for interesting interactions when Alicia and Bayless visually dominate her in the ring. But it all works out with the heel/face presentation.

Speaking of heels, one of my favorites is Amber O’Neal, and she’s riding a win streak in WSU, and that means an eventual run at the belt. Which is well deserved. Here, she’s taking on Malia Hosaka in a battle of top notch veteran talent. I absolutely love the unrepentant heel that O’Neal portrays.

The Spirit Championship is a WSU staple, and rather unique for the sport.

It’s sort of a TV Champion level belt, yet not quite. It’s an interesting belt for newcomers to get some experience, and it’s held by Latasha. She’s got an open challenge, which is answered with some storyline and ongoing feuds with Lea Morrison and Jana.

Morrison is a tall, skinny and pale girl, quite the opposite of the champion and other challenger. As someone who appreciates the effort and the attempts to build up new stars, I don’t have any problem with these ladies in the ring, and I definitely see the potential in building new names, and providing a reason for them to feud over.

The big feud in WSU centers around WSU Champion Mercedes Martinez, as she takes on TNA and Shimmer talent Rain. I love the use of the big heel coming in, throwing money around, establishing a force and faction to disrupt the promotion.

Here, Rain has hired new WSU Tag Team Champions Hailey Hatred and Jessicka Havoc as hired guns, and while there’s opportunity for Martinez and veteran Angel Orsini to grab the gold, it’s more of a backdrop for the feud to persist.

But the match is no throw-away.

Havoc and Hatred are big girls, and they don’t hold back in the ring. Of course, anyone who has watched Martinez knows she’s championship material, and ready to return any fire. Orsini is cut from that same mold, and it’s a blast to watch them going full force in and out of the ring.

This feud spills into the next match, where Rain is given the opportunity to establish herself as the number one contender, by taking on Portia Perez, who had her shot at Martinez recently. It’s the traditional, natural and logical booking that rarely gets used these days.

Yeah, I’m glossing over the way they segue from match to match, throw out run-ins and otherwise spice up the matches, but you’ve got to watch to enjoy it, and why spoil your enjoyment.

What was absolutely awesome was the promo Mercedes Martinez cut after the matches, establishing herself as THE woman and champion, making the match with Rain all the more anticipated, and establishing the WSU title as important, not just the matchups, and not just the next contender (but the successive challengers and the challenge of holding the belt!)

WSU continues to do everything well, and everything right in terms of an old school booking mentality.  As the promotion moves forward, I look forward to seeing how they develop their own unique place in the industry, and perhaps pave the way for other indy promotions to provide a more focused, more entertaining and more mainstream accessible product.

Joe Babinsack can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More reviews, Davey Richards and a look at kayfabe coming up.