So begins my favorite tournament of the 2000 indies, the TPI or the Sweet Science 16 as it is known here and in 2001. This match showed that these two were still green but had some great potential. There are multiple moments where they are not on the same page and you can see them reconnecting with a quick headlock or irish whip to claim the next spot. Beyond that though, you get a good match with some innovative moves to pop the crowd and a heel/face structure. Hero has become somewhat of a homegrown guy with the IWA faithful in a relative short amount of time. The matches has some shifts that were surprising and the finish of the Hero’s Welcome was pretty definitive for Hero. An 8 minute match that was entertaining to watch but not an all timer for either guy by any means. **1/4

I always love how IWA typifies the indy story. "We did this amazing match for 20 people" is usually a cliche, but there's really 20 f'n people there a lot of the time for IWA shows.

 

Cabana's stretching and jaw jacking at the start is great. Solid first round tournament match here (which would become a type on the indies in short order).

solid if unspectacular stuff iv never rated cabana highly and this match among other will never change my view

Shorter than I expected them to go and pretty sloppy in some places. Cabana is really a natural scummy heel and I thought he held this together pretty well through the rough parts, though Hero acquitted the tough moments like a pro too. A lot of energy and action packed into the short run time and Hero does a good job connecting as a face for this crowd. The Hero's Welcome was a great emphatic finish.

 

**

Decent opening tourney match. I don't think it's more possible to look more indie than Hero looks here. I popped for Prazak mentioning Gold bond. Was the Gold Bond Mafia even a thing at this time? 

And so begins what would go on to become the biggest independent tournament of the year.  Ian must’ve been expecting a large crowd for this judging by how many chairs have been put out, although there’s literally no more than two dozen there.  I like how the wrestlers are seeded for the tournament too.  Colt wants a handshake and when Hero accepts, he pulls him in and slaps on a side headlock.  They get a bit caught up and lose their momentum but Hero is smart enough to step through the ropes and take a powder on the floor to organically get things back on track.  Flying forearm, however Colt takes a step backwards to avoid the dropkick which leads to Hero being on the receiving end of some heckling from Dave Prazak.  Spinning heel kick by Hero and now its Cabana taking a breather on the outside.  Oh great, audible homophobic slurs aimed at Cabana.  Hero slingshots him back inside but Colt ducks the clothesline and drills him with a back elbow.  Russian leg sweep that he floats over on for a two count.  Hero gets tied up in the ropes and Prazak throws Colt something that he empties down his pants.  Itching powder maybe?  A nice looking powerslam followed by a Lionsault, but again Hero kicks out of the cover at two.  Top rope frankensteiner is blocked and Hero comes off the middle catching Colt with a spinning neckbreaker.  A couple more near falls until the ‘Hero’s Welcome’ sees the man it’s named after advance to the second round.

As a first round tournament match I thought this served its purpose fine.