Buddy's spry spots on the front end of this ruled. Assassin takes over with arm work and Buddy again works some flashy exchanges from that base. Buddy dragging Assassin's face across the mat and trying to unmask him from the headscissors, only for Assassin to snap out was nice stuff. Assassin finally goes to the loaded mask including a crawling headbutt that sends Rose bumping to the floor. Shortly after this Assassin gets DQ'ed for choking Buddy on the ropes.

 

Second fall Buddy starts in control but takes a shot with the loaded match to the gut and teases the big Buddy bump to the floor. Buddy comes back by trying to go for the mask but that gives Assassin the chance to cut him off and toss him to the floor. Assassin goes for a piledriver on the floor but Buddy back drops him on the floor. Back in the ring Buddy goes to an ab stretch mid ring but Buddy gets tossed out. Rose sits up and goes back to the mask. This ends in a slugfest as time expires with Buddy refusing to let up on the mask.

 

I don't think this is even close to a great match, but the work was good and it ought to be watched even if I think it is a marginal pick for the set at best.

I actually liked this a lot better than the tag match that preceded it, because it felt like a fight between guys who despised each other. They did a lot of interesting work around Buddy's obsession with the mask, which undermined him as much as it stoked his passion. I didn't love the fact that the time limit loomed so early in the second fall. But they at least went out with some heated brawling. This won't finish super high, but it's a yes for me.

NEED A DISC