Photos by Steffanie Patterson & Robert Hammonds |
BattleRumble turned out to be one of ProSouth's most satisfying
shows. Though not a great match was to be found, the richness of the storytelling
made this show a gem.
The beauty was in the ensemble work – a roster willing to subsume egos to produce the best show possible.
Austin Towers won the 1tth annual BattleRumble to earn a shot at the ProSouth Championship, a prize that has eluded him. Towers has been booked like the second coming since the pandemic break, and he’s raised his game every step of the way.
However, Towers will not be facing Eric Silva for the title as he had planned. Tyler Cullprett, that Cody Rhodes rip off, absconded with the ProSouth title in dastardly fashion.
Livestreaming every Friday night puts ProSouth in a unique
situation among indy promotions. Ace
Haven and company have an undeniable advantage in being able to unfold stories in a 90 minute (or so) weekly format. Never a dull moment.
Cancellations, no shows and late arrivals are a way of life and their was plenty of that Friday night.
The production quality was a whole lot better this week. ProSouth isn’t going to win any awards in that area but at least it wasn’t a hindrance. The audio was fine. The added lighting was a big improvement.
The forever returning Scott Spade challenged Keast to a match.
(1 )Cameron Keast defeated Scott Spade via submission in
6:23. After a competitive six minutes, Keast ducked Spade’s tornado kick and
choked him out. On commentary, Shane Noles and Wicked Nemesis said no way Keast
was at 100% after the Three Stages of Hell. However, no adverse effects were
evident in Keast’s ringwork. Oh to be young again.
(2) Dameon Ceretone & Brandon Whatley & Hold My Beer Hanson & Jay 2Strong & Proc “The Croc” Johnston defeated Logan Creed & Alex Kane & Brandon Cash & Darrell Shaw & MarvelousMarko in the Rumble Showcase match (9:27).
Creed stepped in to replace Matt Kenway as
the heel team captain when Kenway was forced to cancel due COVID exposure. Match
was better at certain times than it was at others, depending on who was in the
ring. Whatley took a beating. Standing Coffin drop from Creed at left.
Hanson ran
wild with a round of “beer nuts”. Excessive celebration left Hanson wide open for Creed to smoke him with Scorched Earth. Creed then hit the 757 suicide dive
onto a mass of humanity at ringside.
In the aftermath, Ceretone pinned Kane with a brainbuster for the win. Creed locked eyes with Ceretone after the match. Hmm, Ceretone vs. Creed could be interesting…
Shane Mako came to the ring with a trophy and said based on all the great reviews he’s been receiving, he had been named 2020 Rookie of the Year by unanimous decision.
“Goodman eat your heart out,” said Wicked. I believe I would have loved this segment irregardless.
(3) Shane Mako defeated Scott Patterson via DQ in 7:10. Arcane references were flying fast and furious on commentary. Noles mentioned the Patterson/Mako alliance that lasted all of 14 days.
Referee Matthew Gibson got bumped on a Mako dropkick. Mako tried to hit Patterson with a chair. Patterson ended up the chair and threatened to split Mako’s wig before once again taking the high road, which has been his MO in this feud.
Youtube Champion Robbie Vio said Commissioner Amy Haven had found him a title challenger who excelled at his craft. As ring announcer James Hardy removed his suitcoat, a Vio vs. Hardy graphic appeared on the jumbotron. Hardy insisted he was that guy. Amy said no way. Vio told Hardy he deserved to hold the microphone. My sympathy was all with Hardy. Vio said leave the wrestling to the wrestlers and announce his real opponent...
(4) Robbie Vio (with Amy Haven) defeated Roma Miller to retain the YouTube Championship in 6:25. Stephen Platinum has what he calls a Forgone Conclusion match. This is what I call a Perverse Entertainment match. Nevertheless, I must report that Vio strung together four submissions consecutively– a Boston crab into an STF into a crossface into Alex Shelley’s Border City Stretch. Miller’s superkick failed to get the job done. After a superbly awkward transition, Vio pinned Miller with an Attitude Adjustment off the middle rope. I hope they’re building to Vio/Hardy as that match has immense perverse entertainment potential.
Trever Aeon gave an impassioned speech as to why ProSouth Champion Eric Silva should include him in the title match with Tyler Cullprett that was about to get underway. Aeon made a great argument. As good a promo as I’ve ever heard him cut. Silva agreed over Culprett’s enraged objections. 3rd guy interjects self into singles match usually doesn’t thrill me. This worked.
(5) Tyler Cullprett defeated Eric Silva (c) and Trever Aeon to win the ProSouth Championship in 6:42. No commentary at the opening bell but not due to the usual audio problems. Seems Wick and Noles had disappeared from the announcer’s booth. A breathless James Hardy had to take over. Out of nowhere, Hardy was soon joined by former ProSouth announcer Faith Dorn. Cullprett appropriately played opportunist. His drive by knee on Aeon looked great. Silva hit a climbing overhead suplex, sold huge by Cullprett.
The brothers Crowe were about to Pillmanize Silva’s head when a muscular (by Pro South standards) white dude jumped the rail to make the save.
(6) Austin Towers won the 30 man BattleRumble in 35:09. Entertaining as battle royals go. Picked up towards the end. Competitors in order of entrance: Shean Christopher and Ceretone started, Christian Pierce, Alister Crowe, Kalon Jay, Whatley, Mako, Ricky Cagle Dorian Crowe, Noles, Vio, Johnston, Cash, 2Strong, Shaw, Geter, Miller, Red Solocup aka referee James Dewberry, Keast, Patterson, Ace Haven, Gibson, Marko, Kane, Spade, Hanson, Hardy, Towers, Creed and Orion Bishop (with Wicked Nemesis). A new competitor entered every 60 seconds. I liked the goofy music they used to count down each entrance. Wicked’s guy was supposed to start but he said that wasn’t happening. The early portion of the match highlighted partnerships and feuds from ProSouth’s past, stuff I couldn’t appreciate because it predated my viewership. Noles was a surprise as he was in the Southern Fried battle royal last week. 2Strong made a splash with his housecleaning. Geter starred in the monster role. I do believe he’s doing some of the best work of his career. Whatley used nunchucks on Geter and a bunch of guys teamed up to heave him over the top rope. Solocup was a hoot, hitting the ring with stunners on everyone in sight. Leave it to Roma to f*** up a good thing. He botched the bump on a Ceretone/Solocup combo. Keast got heat for tossing Solocup. Gibson's appearance was a zany shocker. He got a short arm clothesline in on Keast and took a running start on his elimination bump. Hardy added to the hilarity. He stripped out his suitcoat and made a beeline for Vio.
Towers, Creed, Ceretone and Ace were the final four. Creed eliminated Ace and Ceretone in one fell swoop, then hit Scorched Earth on Towers. They battled on the apron. Looked like Towers was going to be the one to go but he pulled out a Kobiya Kick to send Creed to the floor.
Wicked brought Bishop to the ring. That guy is an absolute beast. He was able to gutwrench suplex the giant. It took repeated bell claps for Towers to break Bishop’s bear hug.
Bishop resorted to a low blow. Bishop charged and Towers backdropped him over the top to win.