From Heath Mullikin: This was my first IWE show and also the first show I have attended at the American Legion building in Augusta, Georgia...
From Heath Mullikin:
This was my first IWE show and also the first show I have attended at the American Legion building in Augusta, Georgia.
IWE had announced the following Covid
protocols: Temperature checks at the door, Facemasks are required, Sanitizer
stations, social distancing family seating, and 35% capacity.font-size: 11.5pt;">
Temperatures were checked, but mask wearing was not mentioned or enforced as at times half of the crowd were without masks including much of the staff. Attendance was right around 200, but I am not sure where that falls in the capacity.
Match 1 -- AC Mack vs. Tyler Cullprett
AC Mack got the win after a pretty even matchup. I’m curious to see both of their roles on IWE’s roster moving forward.
Promoter Tim Blackmon came out to address the crowd. He said that it was time for Augusta Wrestling to stop being overlooked for the awards and that some had said to “just have fun in 21.” So that’s what IWE was going to do. As he began to address the tag team title situation involving the Metro Brothers having possession of the championship belts he was interrupted by Skinny Vinnie and the Metro Brothers. After some insults back and forth and the Metro Brothers claiming they would not relinquish possession of the titles a match was made on the spot between the Metro Brothers and the Bash Brothers of Charlie Anarchy and Brandon Parker.
After being on the defensive for much of the
match, the Bash Brothers mounted a comeback that was stopped cold when the
Metro Brothers used one of the title belts to get disqualified. Blackmon returned to the ring area to try and
get possession of the belts only to be met with a hart attack and punt to the
head by the Metro’s. Fortunately, he was
able to leave the ring under his own power, but the Metro Brothers maintained
possession of the titles.
Match 2 -- Georgia Female Performer of the Year Dani
Jordyn defending against Carolina’s Professional Wrestling Awards Female
Wrestler of the Year and IWE Mayhem Champion, Savannah Evans
This match had a lot riding on it, and it did
not disappoint. Jordyn was able to use
her mean streak to take control at times, but the size and strength of Evans
was too much in the end. Following the
match, former Mayhem Champion James Houston came out to challenge Evans only to
be confronted by the debuting O’shay Edwards.
Houston wanted no part of Edwards and was given a pile driver for his
troubles. Edwards showed Evans respect
as they left the ring together. With
Savannah Evans now holding 2 titles in IWE and having defeated the multi-time
Female of the year in Georgia, is she now the current front runner for that
award in 2021? After competing in PWX’s
X-16 Tournament the previous weekend in Rock Hill, SC, it’s clear that Evans is
looking to increase her territory and dominance in 2021.
Match 4 -- IWE New Age Title Match: Hunter Young defending against David Ali
At various times throughout the match Ali
offered to let Young attack him with the ever-present baseball bat. As Hunter Young went for a frog splash for
the win, Ali pulled Georgia Referee of the year David Weakley, Jr on top of him
crushing Weakley in the process. While
Weakley tried to recover on the outside, Young took control and had Ali down for
what have been the deciding pinfall.
Young pleaded with IWE staff at the sound booth and towards the curtain
for a new referee to come out and make the count. David Meade finally came to the ring
following a long delay. It was a delay
that allowed Ali to once again gain control and offer the bat to Young. After Young refused, Ali finished him off
with a punt to the head and won the New Age Title following the fastest three
count I’ve ever seen. Is Meade in cahoots
with Ali or was this a case of adrenaline taking over? It didn’t matter because he could have counted
to 50 slowly because Young was out. With
Wrestler of the Year Joe Black out for a few months recovering from his
Achilles injury it is clear that Ali is making his case to move out of the
runner up spot and into the winner’s circle in 2021.
Match 5 -- Bad Blood Grudge Match: Josh Magnum vs. Sean Legacy
This match was made after Magnum cost Legacy
his shot at the IWE Championship against Billy Brash at the last show and
brutally attacked him following the bell.
Legacy wasted no time in sprinting to the ring and catching Magnum off
guard. This was a brawl that never took
a breath. There was a scary moment as
Legacy threw Magnum over the railing near one of the light stands causing it to
spark (and be rendered out of commission for the rest of the evening and maybe
forever) and almost fall on nearby fans.
The 2 then brawled into the concession area where Legacy had complete
control slamming Magnum into a trash can and suplexing him onto the floor. After several minutes, referee Danny Meade
completed the 10 count just before Legacy made it back to the ring. This double count out was ruled a no
contest.
On his way to the back Magnum
vowed revenge after he “took his Geritol”, but that may have to wait as Legacy
vs. Alex Hammerstone was made for IWE’s next show in March.
Match 6 -- IWE Heavyweight Championship: Champion Billy Brash vs. Logan Creed
This was Brash’s first title defense and an
intriguing match-up between 2018’s wrestlers of the year for the Carolina’s (Brash)
and Georgia (Creed). Brash has shown a
new attitude in IWE and he carried that aggression into this match. This match has a little bit of everything and
was back and forth the entire time with Creed showing amazing agility for a man
his size and Brash showing the elusive ability to avoid the big man’s most
effective power moves. In the end, Brash
went to use the new Championship Belt to strike Creed but was stopped by the
referee. Brash then used his trusty
flask to hit Creed while the referee was securing the belt and a knee strike
later, Brash got the 3 count although there was some confusion. The referee’s hand did not hit 3 on the first
attempt, but the bell was called for after a faint 3 (or 4?).
Following the match, O’Shay Edwards came to
the ring to face off with Brash. Brash
knew O’Shay’s intentions and offered him a title shot since he was a fighting
champion. This match was made official
later for March 20.
Match 7 --IWE Tag Team Titles: The Ugly Ducklings with Coach Mikey defending
The Koloff Dynasty with Nikita Koloff
The titles were on the line even though they
were not physically present. Many in the
crowd were surprised to see Lance Lude as part of this match because of his
recent announcement of a mass in his neck.
The Koloffs used their size and aggression to control most of this
match with the Ducks displaying much of their patented offense. At one point with all 4 men down, Coach Mikey
came face to face in the ring with Nikita Koloff. While Mikey proclaimed himself a big fan of
the Russian Nightmare and offered his hand, he got a Russian Sickle
instead. As the 2 teams recovered and
pandemonium ensued the Metro Brothers appeared at ringside with the
championship belts. This distraction
allowed Rob Killjoy to get the roll up victory and allow the Ducks to retain
the titles. The Metro Brothers
immediately attacked the Ducks and offered the Koloffs the opportunity to join
in. Instead, the Koloff's joined the
Ducks in clearing the ring of the Metros allowing the Ducks to finally gain
physical possession of the tag team titles.
The night ended with both teams showing respect to each other.
While there wasn’t a bad match on the show,
things never seemed to find a good rhythm or flow. Whether it was a focus on the GWH awards and
Gary Lamb in the opening promo or the controversy over the original name of the
show, this felt like a distracted show.
While much of the crowd was hot and entertained, it felt like this show
didn’t quite hit the mark despite strong efforts from all of the talent. IWE will be taking February off and returning
to the American Legion on March 20 with their second anniversary show.
Danny Paris was filming and doing commentary
while Keith Andrews and the Outsiders were filming for upcoming highlight
videos. Chris Hamrick was in attendance
along with Joseph Brown and Nate Prichard of Suplexes and Microphones and other
Georgia wrestling personalities. For
more in-depth coverage of this event and others in the region including behind
the scenes news and notes go to www.patreon.com/doubledropkick
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