From Rob Brodhecker: . It's been a couple of months since I was last at a PWA show, the previous one being held at the Villa Ric...
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It's been a couple of months since I was last at a PWA show, the previous one being held at the Villa Rica Civic Center (with blessed a/c!). PWA returns to the sweltering, uncomfortably hot Fairgrounds after running other venues over the summer.
There are six matches advertised for tonight: Ben Buchanan vs. Marko Wicker, Clyde Braddock vs. Brian Blaze (with Matt Hankins and Shane Marx), Tyson Dean vs. Bill the Butcher( with Oscar Worthy), Romeo vs. Andy Anderson, Donnie Primetime vs. "Tricky" Ricky Cagle, and Ace Haven and Shane Noles vs. The Southern Mafia in a Street Fight where pinfalls count anywhere.
There are over 190 ringside seats set up, plus several bleachers set up. I counted between the second and third match and got 150+/- total crowd
Jason Boyd is your ring announcer, and Darryl Hall is your referee.
Bill the Butcher (with Oscar Worthy) vs. Tyson Dean
Worthy makes his PWA debut seconding his long-time client, Bill the Butcher. Tyson is a former 2x PWA Heritage Champion. Tyson and Bill are no strangers to each other, having had matches in several promotions across the state over the years, most notably for NWA Atlanta. Oscar pulls Hall out of the ring while Tyson had Bill covered and Hall disqualified Bill. Time 5:05. Bill and Tyson continue to fight ringside and then to the back. A safe match, but one that would have consequences later in the night, B-.
Romeo vs. Andy Anderson
Andy Anderson was Romeo's scheduled opponent but didn't show up. Romeo's on the mic, and the crowd is doing it's best to drown him out. Romeo asks Hall to start the count and to declare him the winner. Romeo wins by referee's count. Romeo celebrates in the ring, while the crowd jeers him.
"Tricky" Ricky Cagle vs. Donnie Primetime
Cagle grabs the mic from Boyd and cuts a promo introducing himself to the audience. They weren't impressed. They did make some noise when Donnie made his entrance. Cagle is wrestling with a fanny pack on. They take turns standing on the turnbuckles trying to entice the crowd for cheers. Cagle is working the crowd by delaying the hookup. Donnie sends Cagle ringside where Cagle delays some more. Donnie blindfolds himself and draws Cagle in. Both men are on the outside fighting. Cagle cheats his way to the advantage. Cagle is whipping Donnie with the fanny pack. Hall finally gets the pack away from Cagle. Donnie is on the comeback. Cagle gets Donnie in a wheelbarrow and swings him around a few times. Donnie comes back and pins Cagle at 10:53. Unfortunately for Donnie, it was not the best match of the night. The crowd was into Donnie, but Cagle only got a Meh, C-.
Brian Blaze (with Matt Hankins and PWA Heritage Champion Shane Marx) vs. Clyde Braddock
Brian bails out of the ring before the first tie-up. Brian, Shane, and Matt huddle up. Clyde is targeting Brian's arm to the delight of the crowd. Brian bails, and Clyde follows. Shane slows Clyde up enough for Brian to attack. Brian is targeting Clyde's midsection. Hope spot for Clyde. A huge belly to belly from Cylde. Hankins up on the ring to cause a distraction, but Brian can only get a two count from off the distraction. Clyde sets up for an attack, but Shane comes into the ring and attacks Clyde. Hall calls for the DQ at 11:52. Brian and Shane start attacking Clyde, but Tyson runs out to make the save. Hankins is on the mic and tells everyone that the only reason that Tyson is back in PWA is for the PWA title. Hankins wants a match between his two guys and Tyson and Clyde. Bill the Butcher and Oscar Worthy run out, and they join in the beatdown. Hankins adds Bill to the match for Oct 5th where If Cylde or Tyson scores the pinfall they get a shot at Shane Marx's PWA heritage championship. If Brian, Shane, or Bill score the pin, Hankins will decide who will face Shane Marx. Time of the match: 11:52. It seems a bit convoluted but will see how it plays out. Hankins kept using the words reconstruction and reconstructed in his PWA promos, so I will be calling this group The Reconstructed. I will give the match grade a B.
Intermission. God, it's hot in here.
Marko Wicker vs. Ben Buchanan
Things have been building between Marco and Ben for several shows. Ben is showing off his strength advantage by shoving Marko down a couple of times and then hip tossing and body slamming him, and Marko bails. Ben goes for an arm submission but Marko's too close to the ropes. Marko chop blocks Ben to gain the advantage. Marko is wrenching Ben's arm all over the lace. Ben no-sells a chop and goes to town on Marko, using just one arm. Marko still going after the arm. The teeny boppers are going gaga for Ben. Ben uses his strength to get some separation from Marko. Ben picks up Marko with one arm for a slam. Ben is really selling the arm. Marko rolls down his knee pad and drives his exposed knee into Ben's head, and Ben is knocked out. Marko could have covered Ben for the pin but locks in an arm submission just to rub it in, and Hall calls the match at 10:34. Marko cuts a promo and says that he's going to make sure that Ben will never get into a ring again. He tosses a chair into the ring, aiming to do some serious damage to Ben. Tommy TooMuch comes out and prevents Marko from causing any further injury to Ben. Marko and Tommy are exchanging words. Marko shoves Tommy. Tommy tells Marko if Marko touches him again, Marko is fired. Marko finally leaves the ringside area. So far, this is the most engaged the crowd has been tonight. Ben is a huge hit with the ladies, and he sold the arm and the knee strike very well. The best match of the night for me, B+/A-.
Streetfight Falls Count Anywhere: The Southern Mafia (Johnny Rage and Greg Dotson) vs. Ace Haven and Shane Noles (with Amy Haven)
The Mafia come out and cut a promo that Ace and Shane couldn't beat them in a wrestling match, so they want to try to beat the Mafia in a streetfight. Ace and Shane attack from behind after a promo from the mafia. The action is in the concession area. Trash cans are now being used. Cans of soda are being used. Ace goes coast to coast with a chair being propped up on Rage, I believe. Ace takes a chair shot to the head — a pin attempt on Shane. Ace tries a dive through the ropes, but the SM wisely moves out of the way, and Ace crashes to the floor. Shane brings out a table and sets it up ringside. SM flapjack Shane in the ring. Shane and the SM are on the ring apron next to the table and Ace flies into them, and SM and Shane crash down onto the table. Ace gets a near fall on Dotson. Shane eats an RKO. Ace sets the chair up but Rage slams Ace into the chair causing Ace's back and the chair to be mangled. Dotson brings out a nightstick, but Amy grabs his leg, and the SM turn their attention to her. Amy glitter bombs the Mafia in the face.
Ace and Shane are back on the attack. They are fighting back towards the restroom area, where there is a 20-foot ladder. Ace is up on the restroom wall partition and Rage joins him. Rage falls off and lands on the bleachers but bounces the rest of the way down. Two masked men run out and attack Shane and Ace. They are covered head to toe, and I can not make out details on who they are. They destroy Ace and Shane, and the Mafia score the pinfall. I give the match a B-. Tommy comes out, and he goes off on the Mafia, accusing them on planning the extra guys coming in and interfering with the match. He suspends the Mafia and threatens to fire them if they talk back.
Not sure of the direction PWA is looking to move towards, but I hope it includes some A/C. I like the atmosphere of the Fairgrounds, but during the summer months, it's horrible.
