From Jeff Richards: TSW Returns in New Venue, Looks for Fans UNION (SC) -- Trans-South Wrestling (TSW) had been away for far t...
From Jeff Richards:
TSW Returns in New Venue, Looks for Fans
UNION (SC) -- Trans-South Wrestling (TSW) had been away for far too long. Whether it was the result of being too busy or cost, Derik Vanderford brought TSW out of mothballs last Saturday (6/11). It was the group's first show since a poorly attended event in Charlotte, NC on December 17, 2015. That evening there were more wrestlers in the dressing room than ringside chairs. This was not the case on June 11th in TSW's home base of Union.
Approximately 95 persons were in attendance. With all tickets less than 10 bucks, there were no excuses for veteran followers of TSW to not show up and support their hometown product. Yes, the new venue was a little off the beaten path (Lovers Lane in fact). However, it was close to Union's city limits and the building itself was so much nicer than Union County's Fairgrounds.
The Pacolet River Baptist Association building was air-conditioned and serves as a multi-purpose facility. There was a concrete basketball gym floor and cushy chairs stacked nearby. Bob Keller's (Playboy Buddy Rose Jr.) setup was quite impressive. Guard rails, black everything ring but gray mat, well-fitting/snug cage, lighted entrance way and audible speakers....wow! Chairs were set up on two sides, and one set of bleachers accommodated late-arriving spectators. Love that classic rock played before bell time.
Another interesting story was the number of wrestlers who attended but did not work. Zane Riley was advertised but not in attendance. Kameron "Fifty Shades of" Kade signed autographs primarily. Two young men from Keller's camp could have competed. "Cauliflower" Brown was scheduled for the main event but keep reading to see what happened there. This show could have been so much better if everyone had obtained their licenses. I mean, it is June. Six months is plenty of time to be prepared when the Vanderfords come calling.
The show was a fund-raiser for the St. Paul Baptist Church Brotherhood Group (which made some money) and co-sponsored by Brown's Roofing of Union. Show time was scheduled for 7:30 pm.
1) Four foot four inches tall Buzzsaw pinned Boris Baronov in 1:32. Ray Boring was the referee for all of this show's matches. The masked micro superstar conducted a fall away slam before "worm"ing his way to victory. RATING: 1/2 of a star (way too short)
Chase Brown, who had not appeared as TSW Champion in months, vacated his heavyweight belt. Brown said he could not step into the ring because of a missing license. He explained that the S.C. Wrestling Commission would not medically clear him to wrestle. Therefore, Brown decided to vacate the title. "Hardcore" Hunter Thompson and the Black Angel suddenly appeared. In disgust, Brown slammed his gimmick table. "That table's done nothing to you," Thompson barked. After verbally bashing Brown, the heels escorted Ray "Bit" Barber to ringside. Thompson declared that Barber had been Deon Johnson's best friend since elementary school. Maybe they couldn't find anyone else to play the part? Thompson then requested Johnson's presence in the ring. He stated that the bad guys were taking over TSW. Thompson offered Johnson, who heeled last time TSW ran Union, a chance to join The Club (oops, stable). HHT revealed his "Straight Outta Chambertown" t-shirt. Johnson said everything sounded good because he legitimately has a child in college and a 7-year-old for which to pay. Then Thompson attacked Barber and yelled repeatedly for Johnson to "do it" too. However, Johnson fired up against Angel & Thompson. The Vanderfords, Freddie & Derik, were called to ringside. Johnson wanted Thompson in the cage "tonight." Freddie V. announced it would be for the newly vacant heavyweight strap. The angle ended at 8 pm. We had witnessed one match in 27 minutes.
2) Buddy Calhoun pinned Kim Chee (no, not Steve Lombardi or Tony Hunter) in a mere 44 seconds. Calhoun, who came with Keller, was a larger, more animated version of Stumpy Grimmett. Calhoun started out throwing some karate chops. He splashed Chee the first time Calhoun knocked Kim (not Knockout Gail) off his feet. RATING: 1/4 of a star Post-match: Calhoun dosey doed with ring announcer Brett Wolverton.
3) The Black Angel (1/2 of TSW's Tag Team Champions) pinned Dean Richards in 6:50. Angel was announced by Wolverton as emanating "From the Other Side of Heaven." Eric Adamz, awaiting SC commission authorization, replaced me on color commentary. Richards had a couple of missteps coming to the ring but once there competed capably. He has a MMA background which unfortunately was not seen here. Angel's dangerous back suplex was so effective that even Adamz cringed at ringside. Angel missed a fist drop which gave Richards his opportunity. However, Angel cut Richards off very quickly and hit a neckbreaker for the finish. RATING: 1/2 of a star
4) Rob Killjoy ("Ugly Ducklings") pinned Jett Black ("The E.N.D.") in this show's best match. Black showed tremendous speed running through the ringside fans. Killjoy monkey-flipped out of early armbar trouble. Their lucha spots ended with Black's spinning headscissors. Black dropkicked Killjoy to the floor. He had no difficulty in getting fans to clap along with him. Killjoy's T-bone suplex into the ropes crumpled Black. He also connected on a springboard double foot stomp for a two count. Before Black could start rallying, Killjoy struck with a Yakuza kick. A Tornado DDT spiked Killjoy, who barely got a shoulder up in time. Killjoy missed on a "Shining Wizard," as Black nailed his cutter just inches off the mat. The self-proclaimed Ugliest Duckling was lucky to escape. Black missed a double foot stomp off the top. Killjoy went for a timed-release German suplex, but Black kicked out of Rob's next "Shining Wizard" attempt. A snot-missile fazed fans more than the intended target, Black. Killjoy missed a top turnbuckle dive. Every time Killjoy would rush into Black's corner, he was met by (a) "Eat Defeat", (b) an enzuigiri, and (c) a superkick. Both were teetering on the top rope, and bad news: they fell off. At the referee's count of nine, both jumped back in! Killjoy upset fans with his double underhook piledriver which he calls "Killshot" for the victory. RATING: 2 1/2 stars
5) Los Hermanos Voladeros (Baja & Vinnie Valentine) w/Buzzsaw defeated Chaz Valor & Zuka King in 11:51. We will call Valentine Baja #1, as he started the match officially. After a long wait (10 minutes) in which Baja #2 received NO hope spots, Too Skinny Vinnie re-tagged. He messed up some type of DDT maneuver, slingshotted Valor into the buckles, and schoolboyed him. RATING: 1/4 of a star (early nominee for worst tag match of the century) The pre-announced 30 minute intermission did not even last 25. Keller's crew put the cage up essentially in just 15 minutes (!) and spent five more tying the straps down. It should have been my lead story.
6) Johnson (w/Barber) re-captured the vacant TSW Heavyweight Championship in a 12:29 cage match over Thompson (w/Angel). There was not much Angel could do on the gym floor, but he did distract Johnson immediately. This was not the first time that Johnson and Thompson had fought each other in Union inside a steel cage. Johnson blocked Thompson's initial attempts to ram him into the cage. Thompson emulated the "Garvin Stomp." Eight minutes in, Johnson had met the cage walls three different times. Angel handed Thompson an object through the cage, but Johnson's schoolboy took out "Hardcore" Hunter to win TSW's singles championship. RATING: 1 1/4 stars Post-match: Los Hermanos tried to save Johnson from a beat-down afterward. Baja Vinnie made it over the cage top but was demolished by Angel/Thompson. Angel had locked the cage door, or so he thought when Barber abruptly swung the door wide open. Baja #1 felt Angel's rage in the cage. Meanwhile, Thompson held Johnson in the dreaded "rear naked chinlock." The carnage continued for several more minutes. F. Vanderford grabbed a chair, took it backstage, and watched as Black "attempted" to enter the cage. To say Black had difficulty getting into that cage would be today's greatest understatement. Thompson cut Black off before Jett could take one swing with the chair. However, Black served his purpose by getting this chair into the cage, so Thompson could waylay Johnson with it. At 9:45, Johnson got some heat back by running after Thompson and his never-ending post-match promo.
NOTES: TSW is welcome back at the Union County Fairgrounds any time. However, there is some back rental money due ($300)....Kade reported that the first Pro Wrestling Bushido (5/7/16) event in Grovetown, GA was comparable workrate-wise to some Wrestleforce & PWX shows. More paid attendance is needed prior to putting on another event. Cedric Alexander worked Jon Davis, a former NWA World Tag Team Title co-holder, in the main event and tore it up. Davis even helped out earlier in the day with Alexander's training seminar...."Big Business" James McHone was advertised but not there....The show started three minutes late and finally ended at 9:53 pm (2 hrs 20 mins)....D. Vanderford has been traveling to NAWA's Drexel (NC) shows in recent months, managing and selling souvenirs.
ANALYSIS: The Vanderfords have made a commitment to produce an entertaining alternative which should satisfy wrestling fans in this economically-stricken section of SC. Unfortunately, many "regulars" from the Fairground days did not make their way to "Lovers Lane." However, there were new fans who received the royal treatment when it came to back-dating stories, introducing new characters, etc. TSW needs to pounce on these new customers and hopefully discover where the old ones went during its multi-month hiatus. Getting back on local TV would be a step forward to announcing "Hey, we're running again." Financially, that might not be possible, but more posters, YouTube, and word of mouth from Pacolet Baptists cannot hurt. Then TSW can return here, and no one will have to ask, "Are they still running at the Fairgrounds"?
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