Victory Championship Wrestling kicked off its September TV taping in Munford, Alabama, with a promo from former VCW champion Johnny Slaughter announcing that he will be taking an undetermined amount of time away from in-ring action due to shoot injuries to his back and neck.
Slaughter was interrupted by VCW TV champion Joshua O’Hagan and his manager, The Wicked Nemesis. Slaughter and O’Hagan had been advertised as the main event of the show, so O’Hagan demanded his match. After a short back-and-forth on the microphone, Slaughter left the ring. O’Hagan and Wicked Nemesis then signaled to referee Alonzo Garcia to “start the match.” Garcia then started the 10-count, and counted Slaughter out for a ‘victory’ while O’Hagan and Wicked Nemesis celebrated.
Slaughter then consulted with VCW commissioner Classie McDiva on a suitable replacement, with Damon Taz being announced as Slaughter’s replacement in the main event.
Christian Pierce and local product Jacob Danger went 10 minutes with Danger picking up the victory via a stunner (called the Munford Mouthbreaker) in a fast-paced contest. Danger has picked up his game over the last several months and is visibly in better shape, with much more crispness on his moveset. Julie Dilbert was the referee.
Rookie Christian Valor picked up the victory over ‘Cash Money’ Brandon Cash. Cash dominated the contest, throwing the much smaller Valor around like a rag doll for nearly six minutes before Cash’s tag partner, ‘Big D’ Darryl Shaw held Valor against the ropes for Cash to strike. Instead, Valor moved out of the way and Cash knocked Shaw off the ring apron. Valor rolled Cash up with a schoolboy, and referee Matthew Gibson counted the pin.
Alex Kane (representing the Upper Echelon and accompanied by The Wicked Nemesis) defeated Justin Fleaux by whatever the heck he wanted. The obvious size and power difference between Kane and Fleaux came into play early and often, as the two went around 10 minutes with Fleaux getting a few hope spots in but never rating a full-fledged comeback. The finish was blown when Fleaux was unable to kick out in time after an impressive fall-away vertical suplex by Kane. Referee Julie was in position immediately and counted through to the three. Another impressive performance from Kane.
In a Belladonnas tournament match to crown VCW’s first Belladonnas (women’s) champion, The WOAD defeated Jessie Bell Smothers in about 15 minutes. Smothers was a good babyface here, with WOAD playing the part of the monster heel. Smothers worked from underneath, but never seemed to get out of second gear for much of the match. Woad took the victory, and referee Julie counted the pin.
The angle after the match was a highlight of the night for much of the older crowd. 1970s-80s star Joyce Grable was in attendance to back up Veronica Fairchild in her burgeoning war against VCW Belladonnas commissioner, Kaci Dillon. After Kaci Dillon “suspended” Veronica for failing to agree to the terms of a kayfabe restraining order, Grable approached Dillon from behind and decked her, much to the delight of the crowd.
Aiden Miles, Darrell Shaw, and Kavron Kanyon hit the ring for a three-way dance. Shaw, who is in his rookie year, showed some inexperience in the way that he moved around the ring, but those flaws were mostly hidden by his more experienced opponents. Aiden Miles remains one of the most underrated performers in the Southeast, both with his promos and ability to deliver in the ring. Kanyon hit a double springboard elbowdrop on Shaw, but Miles tossed him out of the ring and capitalized on the pin, which was counted by Matthew Gibson.
Shane Mako (accompanied by Wicked Nemesis and representing the Upper Echelon) and Legatto Von then engaged in the match of the night, with a hard-hitting 12-minute affair that had the crowd engaged from start-to finish. Mako is an old-school heel with new-school athleticism, while Von is reinventing himself from the ground up as a babyface after a nearly year-long run as a midcard heel. The two went after each other with tight holds and stiff strikes, and the crowd ate it up. Mako hit his finisher for the win, and Alonzo Garcia counted the pin.
The advertised main event again turned into an angle as Damon Taz approached the ring. He was jumped from behind by Scott Patterson, who had apparently been paid to take out Taz. Patterson attacked Taz’s knee, and as Taz lay on the floor sellin the injury, O’Hagan and his entourage entered the ring, along with referee Matthew Gibson. O’Hagan made Gibson call for the bell, and Gibson again counted O’Hagan’s opponent out, to bring the show full circle.
Bobby Mathews and ‘The Funeral Director’ Scott Reznor handled TV commentary duties, with Joe Crowe as ring announcer. Referees for the event were Julie Dilbert, Matthew Gibson, and WWA4 student Alonzo Garcia.
VCW’s next TV taping is Oct. 3 at the community center in Munford.
