From Jeff Richards: "CONFRONTATION' EQUALS SUCCESS at GATE HICKORY (NC) -- What happens when two non-competing compan...
From Jeff Richards:
"CONFRONTATION' EQUALS SUCCESS at GATE
HICKORY (NC) -- What happens when two non-competing companies go into business with each other on a spring Sunday afternoon? If we are talking America's Most Liked (AML) Wrestling and Global Force Wrestling (GFW), a sold-out convention center exhibit hall would apply. Sold out in that every chair which could be located was brought in (albeit a hot tub expo next door used some).
The building was Hickory's Metro Convention Center, a dinosaur with extra parking now that citizens have paid for a deck. No one has run well in this facility except when two marketing minds like Tracy Myers' and Jeff Jarrett's come together. WrestleCade Entertainment brought a boatload of stars to Hickory (on 5/15), which suddenly has gained media attention for loss of middle-class income. Still, promoters come here with little to a lot of success in running Catawba County. What makes AML such a success (in excess of 300 paid the last 4-5 shows consecutively) is its social media, signage, word of mouth, collectively.
"Confrontation" still may have been a loss leader, but the good will established by running a GOOD show in this town speaks volumes. Gone were the booking nightmares which have plagued recent shows. No fan had to be escorted out of the building that gained unwanted attention on AML. There were no 73-year-olds beat on mid-ring in trying to get heat for an unsympathetic villain. With Jarrett, Matt Hardy and other great thinkers in attendance, everything worked well and smoothly.
Rows 1-3 were considered VIP, yet not all seats were filled. Everyone was out signing autographs before bell time just like this was WrestleCade Saturday. Even the referees were mingling with fans. There was a three camera shoot for TV and YouTube purposes. Each ringpost read "GlobalForceWrestling.com," and AML Wrestling banners were attached to the aprons. The turnbuckle pads were red, white and blue. Confrontation's pre-show event began at 4:30 pm.
(A) In what was essentially a 30 man try-out match, Phil Brown conquered all participants of the 16:24 battle royal. Tony Hunter, who had promoted Big Time Wrestling on Saturday night in Lincolnton, NC, was one of four referees used. Competitors included Beau Crockett, White Mike, Reggie Reason, Labron Kozone, David Tita, the Geordie Bulldogs and Sahara Se7en. It only took 2:47 for the first person to be eliminated. Asaafi, the Barbarian's nephew, tossed both Victor Andrews & James Anthony. Mark Denny entered at 9:47 (sadly, there was no referee institutional control). Sean Denny climbed in at 10:21 (did they have a bye or what?). The biggest surprise entrant was Gunner Miller, Georgia's hottest new prospect for NXT. He exited at 11:21. The Dennys were left with Brown. The Bulldogs went "Snapmare City" on Bulldog, executing five revolutions. After he eliminated Marky, Brown accepted a Daniel Bryan running knee attack from Sean. Denny II was eliminated at 16:24, and Brown should be receiving a big push forthcoming. No Rating
(1) "Mr. Excellence" Brandon Scott (AML) pinned Pat Buck (GFW) in 11:02. All building lights were extinguished except for the four halogen stands. Buck (who was young) had "Never Stop" on his trunks. Scott's early strategy was to outsmart his heelish opponent. Performing a plancha over the top rope to down below, Scott was a good opening match contestant. Buck kicked out of a springboard "Ace Crusher." Scott locked in the "Crippler Crossface" with ten minutes gone, but Buck found some ringropes with which to snuggle. Climbing to the top turnbuckle, Scott soared with a "Buff Blockbuster" to knock off Buck. RATING: 1 1/2 stars SCORE: AML 1 GFW 0
2) Brian Myers (AML) & The Washington Bullets defeated Kevin Matthews (GFW) & AML Tag Champs The Heatseekers (Elliott Russell & Sigmon) in 13:05. Myers babyfaced but debuted as a heel in Hickory last year for Premiere Wrestling Xperience (PWX). Hilariously, Russell was addressed as the "Southern Savior." John Skyler fans revolted. Myers rocked Russell with a baseball slide and gained the dreaded two count. Matthews looks like a WWE talent waiting to happen (again). The heels tripleteamed Trey Williams in their corner. Matthews delivered a high vertical suplex into a front guillotine on Trey; Williams escaped. Russell connected on a powerslam, but Sigmon missed his diving headbutt. The hot tag went to Myers. Set for an exploder suplex, Myers used a DDT variation instead and earned a two count. Matthews responded with a pumphandle slam into a "Falcon Arrow" for the obligatory two count. All six men were in the ring. The Bullets criss-crossed for a double tope, taking out Heatseekers everywhere. A gore on Matthews won it for Myers (and the Bullets). RATING: 1 3/4 stars SCORE: AML 2 GFW 0
3) Caprice Coleman, a former AML Champion, outclassed "The Crown Jewel" Chase Owens in 15:15. This was very good, and the audience appreciated both workers. The two men were wearing black tights. Hecklers were out in force for a Caprice appearance, but Coleman took it in stride. Fan: "Hit him harder"! Coleman: "Why"? A hurancanrana from the apron to the floor stunned Owens. Fans were still coming in 50 minutes after the actual show started. Owens went on offense with a "Black Hole" backbreaker. The former NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion told one unlucky soul to "suck it." Owens performed his homage to Randy Savage with a top rope double sledge. Coleman crumpled Owens with enzuigiris. At 11:59, Owens avoided the leaping hurancanrana and flattened Coleman with his own blockbuster. Coleman pulled off a trio of exploder suplexes. Not finished, Coleman also nailed a superkick and gutbuster. Owens had enough, fired up, and went for a pinfall from which Coleman escaped. Owens backdropped out of a piledriver attempt. Coleman finally hit his leaping (to the top rope) hurancanrana and then a leg lariat to gain the pin. RATING: 2 1/4 stars SCORE: AML 3 GFW 0
4) Former NWA Champion Colt Cabana prevailed over Jason "da Gift" Kincaid in 12:21. This was NOT for Kincaid's NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title. Cabana carried a 42 lb. weight advantage. Kincaid's weirdness offset Cabana's offense early. Cabana kept pulling Kincaid's beard to put "da Gift" back into a mat headscissors. No surprise, this was our evening's comedy match. Cabana put on Kincaid's vest and pranced around like Gorgeous George would have. Kincaid grabbed Cabana by the ear and applied a chancery. Referee Hunter barely missed being splashed when Kincaid clobbered Cabana with a water bottle. Kincaid choked Cabana on a front row fan's lap. Coleman was fresh from challenging Jay Lethal for ROH's World Title seven days earlier. Colt kept rolling out of Kincaid's pinfall tries, telling some fans "I'm trying." A butt bump in the corner and a big splash gained the former World Heavyweight Champ a two count. Kincaid went up top for a flying maneuver, but Cabana simply walked out of harm's way. Cabana caught Kincaid on the top rope and dropped hom body first on a turnbuckle to score the pinfall. RATING: 1 3/4 stars SCORE: AML 3 GFW 1
5) "The Original Playa from the Himalaya" Sonjay Dutt successfully retained the NEX*GEN Championship versus Cedric Alexander in 14:04. Alexander was accompanied by The Tommy Thomas. Dutt carried his huge GFW belt to the ring with him. Cedric's wife Aerial Hull was taping this match-up. Lots of lucha spots early on got this crowd popping. Dutt attacked Alexander with a different water bottle. Referee Jeff Burton was letting the two grapplers brawl around the various gimmick tables. Alexander posted Dutt (no blood). "Kick to Kill" then ran around the ring and into a Dutt superkick. After a PK from Alexander, Cedric cried, "Field goal"! Thomas tagged in for some body shots. Alexander stepped out for a respite. Thomas returned two minutes later to hold Dutt but had not taken off his glasses (Spoiler Alert). Dutt struck with a DDT on Cedric and a flatliner on TTT. How Thomas did not suffer a serious eye injury from that bump is beyond me! Dutt's standing moonsault garnered a two count. This was a good scouting report on how Alexander will fare with seasoned NXT veterans. Alexander was miffed that his "Michinoku Driver" was not the winning move. He then connected on a dropkick to Dutt in the corner and a brainbuster for a near fall. Burton pushed an arguing Alexander into a schoolboy (another two count). Alexander again had the referee in his sights. However, Burton ducked and hit Alexander with some Flair chops. Dutt assaulted Alexander with a tornado DDT and then pinned his challenger after the diving headbutt press from up top. RATING: 2 stars SCORE: AML 3 GFW 2
6) AML Champion "King" Shane Williams (w/Queen Taylor) won a non-title encounter against GFW kingpin Nick "Magnus" Aldis in 12:00 even. Everyone was wanting Aldis' luscious wife Mickey James to be present. The back of Taylor's shirt read "Bend Down." Williams'' robe looked somewhat like a shower curtain. After an exchange of fisticuffs in the corner, Williams scored with a high flying bodypress. A vertical suplex in the middle with 4:00 gone netted Aldis a two count. Big lariats kept Williams on the mat, until "King" Shane struck from behind with a schoolboy. Aldis' "Scorpion Deathlock" looked like curtains for Williams until he made the ropes. Referee Jeff Melton was distracted by GFW's Champion, who flipped his chain to an unsuspecting Queen Taylor. Melton told Queenie to leave when caught with the chain originally introduced by Aldis. Williams' furious rally included a hangman's neckbreaker and a fist drop, and then Shane yelled for "piledriver time." Aldis though scurried to safety. Melton was out in front when Williams came rushing into Aldis' corner. There was more "chain" wrestling from Aldis, who waffled Williams at least three times with the metallic foreign object. Taylor returned and begged "Magnus" not to hit her hubby any more. Special guest James Storm sped in with a beer. He took a non-alcoholic shot from Aldis too. Taylor took a swig from Storm's beverage of choice and blew like she was Great Muta. Aldis turned around into a Storm superkick and was piledriven by Williams. Alternating referee James Hunter slid in to count the pinfall. RATING: 3/4 of a star SCORE: AML 4 GFW 2
7) Matt Hardy regained the WrestleCade Championship from defending titleholder Jeff Jarrett in a steel cage match involving third participant EC3 in 7:04. Note: It took 18 guys to put up the cage in 23 minutes. The whole intermission lasted 27 minutes. There was no time in this championship contest. Jarrett entered with wife Karen, who was thrown out by referee James, who I guess had "heard" enough. Hardy did not have wife Reby Sky with him for the match (before showtime she was present). However, Hardy had his fans and even though jeered in TNA, this was North Carolina. Compared to the AML company belts, Jarrett's WrestleCade Championship was miniscule. Ethan Carter III won the right to challenge by emerging as the George South Invitational Battle Royal winner last November 28th. At 7:35 pm, the bell sounded. JJ originally wanted EC to help him torture MH, but that simply did not happen. Suddenly, Hardy and Carter started slugging it out. Hardy initiated a "Twist of Fate" early, but a double lariat occurred instead. Jarrett was the first man to fling his challengers into the flimsy cage. The "King of the Mountain" also rubbed Carter's forehead across the cage wall (no blood). The faces fought fire with fire and doubly vertically suplexed Jarrett. EC3 hammered his foes with a double lariat. A side effect by Hardy was good for a two count, not III. Jarrett's schoolboying of Hardy netted two more counts. Double J went for a "Stroke" on Hardy, but ECIII happened to be in the vicinity. Hardy squeezed up to the top rope but got caught with a triple tower of doom spot with Jarrett underneath. Jarrett then wanted to give Carter a "Stroke," but Ethan elbowed out. Hardy took out Carter, who had hit the "One Percenter" on Jarrett. Hardy then covered Jarrett for thed pin, and we had a new champion. Post-match: Hardy dared Jarrett to come get the belt sometime and then DDT'd him on it! It was possibly payback for legitimately busting hHardy open at last November's WrestleCade. RATING: 1 1/4 stars FINAL SCORE: AML 5 GFW 2
NOTES: The show officially ended at 7:45 pm....Bill Mudd, ECCW proprietor a decade ago, was on the convention center's grounds for the hot tub expo, not "Confrontation"....The exhibit hall which was used did not contain any carpet. However, the ring steps were carpeted.....The VIP customers were allowed early entrance, while many others waited out in the lobby....Booker Brian Hawks was one of many men working on stabilizing the cage....Matthews is a former Pro Wrestling Syndicate champion....Cabana also had wrestled in Hickory and at the Convention Center (for PWX) previously. His win over Kincaid was the first for Global Force after falling behind 3 to 0....Savannah Evans (Rachel Freeman) and Little Donnie (Jamie Mayfield) were both in attendance but not wrestling....Burton's strutting after hitting the chops on Alexander was hilarious....Alexander finished up the night before (Saturday, May 14th) for Ring of Honor in New York City.
