The first show of a doubleheader that Action is presenting and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Scott Hensley and Matt Griffin start the show with mentions of the loss of Bullet Bob Armstrong and Norko Kipte. Scott starts listing the show's rules, but AC Mack's music plays, and the double champ (Action an d Bonestorm) comes out. Mack makes Hensley raise both of the belts above Scott's head, and Mack launches into a promo about how Scott could start the show with the only champ Action wrestling has ever had. Brett Ison comes out, and Mack vacates the ring. Mack says that Ison has to chase him, and there will be no marketing stare down, and MAck leaves via the front door. Ison storms out the back door. Hensley is finally able to finish what he stated. Darryl Hall and Aaron Noyes are your referees.
Kevin Ryan vs. Nolan Edward
Ryan is becoming a staple at several promotions across several states. I don't know much about Edward's background. Ryan is playing the bailing game early. Edward starts with a one-armed test of strength and takes Ryan down. Edward is outwrestling Ryan in the early going, gaining a couple of near falls. Ryan shoves Edward off the apron onto the floor, and Ryan follows after. Ryan pummels Nolan for a minute and shoves Edward back into the ring. Edward is selling his leg, but he stages a comeback with some major strikes, and Ryan is out of the ring. Edward wants to do a tope, but Ryan kicks him in the face and then lands a top rope stomp onto Edward, who was draped on the second rope. A near fall for Ryan. Edward starts firing back, still favoring the hip. Ryan sets Edward on the top, and he wants a brainbuster, Edward fights him off, and Ryan settles for a springboard Spanish fly for a near fall. Edward is set up for a tombstone, but he reverses it, and he launches Ryan into the turnbuckle for a snake-eyes and picks up the pinfall at 8:55. A decent opener, C+.
BK "Starboy" Westbrook vs. Bobby Flaco
BK is new to the area, Flaco has a large following here at Action. Based on the builds of the two men, this should be a fast-paced match. Flaco is wrestling with a tie on. BK is doing heelish things, but Bobby almost pins him with a monkey flip. BK pokes the eyes and is back on the attack. Never underestimate the power of a good eye poke. BK misses a knee drop, and Flaco starts his offense. Flaco lands a cutter for a near fall. Flaco teases climbing the turnbuckle but changes his mind, and that allows BK to go back on the attack. BK locks in a submission, but Flaco rolls over, and that breaks up the submission. They fight out on the apron, and Bobby flies from the top turnbuckle and splashes onto BK. Flaco stuns BK on the ring apron and pins BK after a whirling dervish DDT at 6:50, C.
Jaden Newman vs. Donnie Janela
Janela is coming off an appearance at AEW Dark. Newman is playing up being the A-hole, holding up the index finger and saying #1. Donnie mocks him. Newman runs a lap around the ring. A massive chop by Janela. The crowd begs for another, and he obliges. Newman tries for another submission, but Janela rolls out of it again. Double knees by Newman on Janela, who was on the bottom turnbuckle. Janela misses a corner splash. Newman names drop new MLW signee Kevin Ku while setting up Janela in the top rope, Janela fires back and gets a near fall on Newman. Janella wants to set up Newman, but Newman squirms out and takes out the knee of Janella. Newman then runs his knee into the back of Janela's head to pick up the win at 7:27. Felt like something was missing, C.
Graham Bell vs. One Called Manders
The crowd loves them some Manders. Bell fires at Manders midsection, but Manders fires back. Manders wants to press slam, but Bell wiggles out. Manders catches him on the rebound for a slam for a near fall. Bell counters with a nice looking belly to back. Both men are on the floor, and Bell flips onto Manders. Back in the ring, Bell lands a wicked kick to the back on Manders and follows it with a standing missile dropkick. Bell is landing some big blows on Manders. Bulldog by Bell for a near fall. More kicks by Bell but Manders is hulking up a bit. Manders fires back with a suplex to create some separation.
A 3 point splash, lariat, then a corner splash into a running powers slam for Manders' near fall. Manders is setting up for a move, but Bell catches him for an F5 for a near fall. Bell quickly to the top rope for an elbow, but still only a 2 count. Both men trading blows now with Bell getting the better of the exchange, but Manders rolls out of the ring. Bell is climbing up, but Manders catches him for a press slam onto the ring apron. Manders quickly gets Bell into the ring and into a powerbomb for a near fall, and the crowd can't believe that it was a three count. A slap fest begins that goes into a kick and chop fest and then into a suplex fest. One lariat = 1 count, another lariat= 2 count by Manders. Both men are spent. Manders sets Bell up in the top turnbuckle and is looking for a move, but Bell lands some elbows and sets up for huricanrana. Manders blocks and goes for a powerbomb from the top, but Bell avoids it. Bell gets a near fall off of that. Bell goes back up top, Manders follows. Manders gets Bell over into a power slam from the top rope and gets the hard-fought win at 11:20 and earns a round of applause from Larry Goodman, B+.
--Intermission--
Oct 2nd is the return date.
"The Acegawd" Arik Royal vs. "Pineapple Pete' Suge D
Suge gets the cheers from the crowd that Royal wanted. Suge gets Darryl to climb up, and the crowd goes wild for Darryl. Royal and Suge continue the verbal one-upmanship for another couple of minutes. They lock up, and they trade moves off the hookup. A test of strength leads to both men taking each other down with wrestling moves. Royal on the left arm of Suge. Suge tries to get Royal in a compromising position, but Suge just pushes Royal over. Suge has Royal tied up, but Royal powers out of it and shoves Suge off. Suge tries leveraging the leg of Royal and gets him over, but Royal was in the ropes. Suge slaps Royal; he ain't happy. Suge gets Royal in a unique submission, Royal powers out. Suge is bringing out every trick in the book to get Royal in a pinning predicament. Suge is showing some frustration, and he rushes at Royal, but Royal was waiting. Royal begins landing some heavy blows. Suge has to roll out of the ring, and Royal wants Hall to count Suge out. Royal breaks the count by going after Suge, and they fight out on the floor. Back in the ring, Royal gets a near fall. Royal latches on a nerve hold. Man, this is really old school. Suge punches his way to his feet. Spinning heel kick by Royal for a near fall. Royal is jawing with Hall on how slow his counts are. Suge landing some major body blows, but one punch from Royal sends Suge back out of the ring. Royal is mouthing off to the crowd while Suge barely beats the 10 count. Royal choking Suge, then locks up Suge's arm and lands some blows on Suge's midsection. Royal transitions into body scissors, haven't seen that in ages. Royal gets several near falls out of that. Suge starts slapping the face of Royal, and a head butt breaks up the scissors. Royal with a sleeper on Suge, while singing a lullaby. Suge surging back and drives the shoulder of Royal into the turnbuckle. Suge on the attack, focusing on the arm. I'm pretty sure the arm isn't supposed to bend that way. Multiple pinning attempts by both men. A knee to the back of the head of Royal gets a near fall. Suge slaps away at the head of Royal. Royal drops down, and leg chops Suge. Royal lands the Space Jam at 25:00 for the win. Tremendous match, A-
Royal's on the mic and tells the story of the last time he was in the Action and how he got embarrassed. He promises a path of destruction on anyone who dares get into the ring with him.
Action Championship match: Brett Ison vs. AC Mack(c)
Mack attacks Ison from behind on Ison's entrance to the arena. Mack posts Ison and slams Ison's head in the ring apron a couple of times. Ison gets posted again. Mack demands that Noyes rings the Bell, even though both men are still out of the ring. Mack is pounding away on the head of Ison. Ison gets posted again. Mack rushes in, Ison moves, and the arm of Mack meets the ring post. In the ring, Ison goes for a submission, but Mack was too close to the ropes. Ison is targeting Macks's arm. Mack tries to fire, but a right hand sends the champ reeling out of the ring. Ison follows, and the fight on the floor ending with Ison planting Mack's back on the ring apron. MAck's trying to kick his way up, but Ison's is pumped up, yelling that he's waited 6 months for this match. Ison has the champ reeling. Mack springs out a lariat to gain separation. The crowd is clapping for Mack. Superkick twice, lariat, then a tilt a whirl DDT, Flying kick leads to Ison's near fall.
Mack sets up for the mack 10, but Mack's arm lets him down. Ison locks in an armbar, but Mack's leg reaches the ropes. Ison breaks at the last second of the 5 count. Ison proclaims Mack a paper champion. Another submission by Ison. Ison yells that he doesn't even want the title; he wants Mack's humiliation. Mack reaches the ropes. Ison wants a buckle bomb, but Mack fights out, and he starts his attack on Ison. A knee strike nets a near fall. Mack goes to a double knee to Ison's chest, but Ison catches Mack and plants him; Mack's arm was under the ropes. Ison gets in Noyes's face. Mack gets Ison in the Mack 10, and with Ison grabbing onto the ropes, Noyes makes the three count. Still your Action and Bonestorm Champion, AC Mack. After the match, Ison teases chokeslamming Noyes but just shoves him down. Time 13:20, B.
Final Thoughts:
1. The matches on the show had something for everyone's taste.
2. You know that when Larry Goodman is applauding your match, it was something special.
3. I was already a believer in Suge D, but Royal showed me something in that match.
4. This is Darryl Hall's world, and we're just living in it.
5. I wouldn't say no to a series of matches between Manders and Bell.
6. There's a strange dynamic with what's going on with Mack and Ison. Mack is the hometown guy doing bad guy things, but the crowd loves him. Ison was doing good guy things but is from a promotion out of state, and the crowd despises him.
7. There are worse things in the world than to be AC Mack's bitch, but right now, I'm sure that Aaron Noyes can't think of any.
