Though no new Tropics attendance record was set this time, a vocal and enthusiastic crowd of over 100 was on hand for Saturday Nite Slam.
As promised and reported in the NEWS and RUMORS post, the evening's event was dedicated to Sam Steamboat Mokuahi, a truly GREAT wrestler who passed away on May 2, 2006. It was touching to see the HCW wrestlers and staff paying their respects at ringside during the ten bell salute. Anyone who might have missed the Advertiser's obituary can read it here:
www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060504/SPORTS01/605040317/1189/SPORTS1. Rock Star Ricky Thunder vs. Big Daddy Frank (with Mr. Oki)
Referee Kazz was knocked unconscious at the eight minute mark when Big Daddy Frank was setting Ricky Thunder up for the Heartbreaker and nearly took Kazz's head off with Ricky Thunder's feet. While referee Kazz was out, both Big Daddy Frank and Ricky Thunder could have scored pins, but there was no referee to count. Taking advantage of the situation, Nightmare snuck into the ring with a steel chair and caught Ricky Thunder in a vicious DDT onto the chair. Nightmare snuck out and Big Daddy Frank covered Ricky Thunder just as Kazz started to come to. Referee Kazz only saw the cover, counted three, and awarded the pinfall victory to Big Daddy Frank. (time 11:17)
2. (Triple threat, non-title match) Nightmare vs. Kaniala vs. Ativalu
Triple threat matches are always wild, but this one was even more so because of Rock Star Ricky Thunder. Just after the ten minute mark, Kaniala landed an over-the-top-rope flying body press onto Ativalu, who was already on the floor. Referee Scott Stryker left the ring to get Kaniala and Ativalu back into the ring, which left Nightmare standing alone in the middle of the ring. Out of nowhere, Ricky Thunder jumped into the ring and hit a Thunderbolt to get revenge for the first match. Thunder jumped out of the ring just as Kaniala and referee Stryker re-entered the ring. Kaniala quickly finished Nightmare off for the pinfall victory. (time 11:31)
After the match, Rock Star Ricky Thunder challenged Nightmare to a House of Pain match on Friday, May 19.
Before the next match started, Commissioner Muraco called Ahuna to ringside to wish him a happy birthday. Kaniala, Jody Lopez, Ricky Thunder, and Kaimana joined them at ringside with a birthday cake. Unfortunately, as Jody Lopez was giving the cake to Ahuna, Kaimana and Kaniala bumped into J-Lo, which made the cake go into Ahuna's face and then onto the floor. Kaimana quickly said, "Ahuna, I know you're mad, but HE did it," and pointed to Jo-Lo.
3. Ahuna vs. Jody Lopez
Was this really the match that was planned, or was it a result of the dropped cake?
For a while, it looked as though Ahuna would lose his cake and his match. Taking a page from the legendary Anderson textbook, J-Lo picked a limb (Ahuna's left arm and shoulder) and pounded on it mercilessly. Despite the extreme pain from J-Lo's submission holds, shoulder breaker, and devastating knees to his arm, Ahuna refused to submit. It was undoubtedly this determination to win on his birthday gave Ahuna the strength to turn regain an advantage, slam J-Lo from the top rope, and cover him for the pin. Happy Birthday, Ahuna! (time 10:29, ref. Jeremy the Axe)
4. (NWA Hawaiian Heavyweight Title) Kaimana vs. Kapu
On April 29 at the New Products Expo, Kaimana challenged Kapu to "any kind" of match, but he may have regretted his choice of words when a hardcore match was signed.
Kaimana was the first to bring weapons into the match: a steel chair, a golf ball, and a golf club. Kapu responded with a loaf of bread (?), a screwdriver, crutches, a street sign, and a table that would play a devastating role at the end of the match. Kaimana brought in a ladder and Security Chief Drew's flashlight. Kapu also introduced cookie sheets, a garbage can, a bowling ball, and a skateboard into the match.
Kapu's forehead was split open and pouring blood during the match but Kaimana wasn't quite able to cash in on the advantage. When fans called for Kaimana to throw Kapu through the table that Kapu had taken out, Kaimana tried to throw Kapu into the far ropes for some momentum, but Kapu reversed it and suplexed Kaimana over the top rope and onto the table, which split in half from the impact. Kapu dragged Kaimana back into the ring and delivered a reverse DDT. Then to add insult to injury, Kapu used a single finger to cover Kaimana for the pinfall victory and NWA Hawaiian Heavyweight Championship Title. (time 20:50, ref. Jeremy the Axe)
As Kapu was celebrating his victory, Kuulei Adolpho and Tsunami came to the ring to discuss the Malia Hosaka situation with Commissioner Muraco. The tape that Malia sent was played for everyone in attendance. To sum it up, Malia was looking forward to coming to Hawaii but some (unnamed) things came up on the East Coast and in Florida, so she had to cancel. She did promise to come to Hawaii in July or August. Tsunami and Kuulei were upset, but Commissioner Muraco had arranged with Mr. Oki to secure a replacement opponent for Tsunami.
5. Tsunami vs. Lady Dragonsnake
It's bad enough that "Lady Dragonsnake" had to use "her" feet on the second ropes as leverage to secure a pinfall victory over Tsunami, but worse, after the match ended, J. T. Wolfen charged to the ring and revealed to everyone that "Lady Dragonsnake" was actually Bushido-X in womens' clothes! (time 2:30, ref. Scott Stryker)
6. J. T. Wolfen vs. Bushido-X
J. T. Wolfen had to have been fuming these past two weeks since Bushido-X cheated his way to a DQ victory. The HCW Kamehameha Heritage Champion took out all of these frustrations on Bushido-X in this match. Bushido barely had a chance to breathe, let along try to mount an offense against Wolfen. Wolfen his his signature moonsault on a prone Bushido and covered him. Bushido didn't even attempt to kick out and accepted his humiliation and loss in successive matches. (time 4:30, ref. Scott Stryker)
