10 Times WWE C-Shows Were AMAZING

5. Paul London Vs. Akio - Velocity, Nov. 30, 2004

Daniel Bryan William Regal Superstars 2011
WWE

Paul London never really belonged in WWE; short, slight, with a proto-'Indy' style at drastic odds with the old methodical norm, he never bought into the corporate ethos, either. He gave no f*cks about the required etiquette, but the guy who casually f*cked around backstage did not f*ck around in an unheralded - but unreal - Velocity programme with fellow Cruiserweight struggler Akio.

Left to their own devices on Velocity, they wrestled defiantly un-WWE matches.

Defying also their perception as athletic spot monkeys, they fashioned a purposefully rough collar-and-elbow tie-up in the early going, before intensifying the action with an exchange of full-force shoves. The apparent diet WCW Cruiser division was positively soaked in p*ss and vinegar here, and after a lightning-fast storm of atypical stomp and dive-based offence, that danger element ramped up yet further when London took a disgusting neck-first bump following a botched backflip bump. A question mark hovered over that - London was legit unhinged, and may have endangered himself on purpose - but Akio put an exclamation mark over it when he kicked London so hard in the head that the - yes - velocity sent him tumbling to the outside.

Chests chopped into mince with slaps, backs bruised with stiff kicks, this was a lowkey banger of velocity and animosity.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!