From Larry Goodman: This was the go home show for Christmas Chaos with the highly anticipated appearance by former WWN World Champio...
From Larry Goodman:
This was the go home show for Christmas Chaos with the highly anticipated appearance by former WWN World Champion Matt Riddle challenging FIP Champion Austin Theory for the NCW Heavyweight Championship. NCW lost a week of lead in due to the snowstorm but it felt like the company was in pretty good shape for Chaos. The Theory/Riddle match has been in place for weeks. This show sealed the deal on a number one contender’s match and a junior title match arguably featuring the top four singles wrestlers in the company behind Theory.
Ring announcer Lorenzo Quintana was thrust into the unenviable position of doing solo commentary as neither Triston Michaels nor Steve Martin were vavailable. Talk about trial by fire. Lorenzo did Ok. It could have been so much worse.
Opening with a Theory promo. He listed Riddle’s credential but said he’s not beating the NCW Champion. Not a fan of Jeff G. Bailey, never met him and clearly he’s never met Theory, but Bailey will know him after Friday night. Open challenge issued to warm him up for Christmas Chaos. Well done. Confidence oozing from every pore. A video from Riddle would have made a great companion.
(1) Cody McCulley defeated Kurt Kyle in 4:47. Local hero Mculley over with a flying body press after being totally dominated. Kyle was arrogance personified. Loved the insulting kick to the face into a running senton. Kyle is the type of unselfish role player that every roster needs.
(2) Alan Angels defeated Bobby Flaco via submission with a DDT into a guillotine choke at 6:53. Angels is nuts as ever but now has the fans behind him. You have to give the devil his due and appreciate his technical skills. Plus which Flaco was not being a likeable person. Match reminded me of AWE with tons of strikes and a frantic pace that works so much better when there is only one match of that type on the card.
(3) AC Mack pinned Will Kaution (with Keith Gage) with the Mack 10 in 7:26. This was no cake walk for Mack. After eating an unhealthy portion of Kaution’s offense, Mack took the wind out of his sails with a kick to the arm and dissected the body part. Kaution did a fine job selling the agony . Mack missed double flying knees. The comeback was on. Mack kicked out of two suplex powerslam variations. Kaution went for a corner spear and got nothing but post and that was all she wrote.
Mack challenged NCW Junior Champion and PWA No Limits Champion David Ali to a rematch with both of titles the line as only he can do it.
(4) NCW Heavyweight Champion Austin Theory defeated Ashton Starr in a non-title match in 7:24. Good match. Theory got more than he bargained for in a highly motivated Ashton Starr. Theory gave Starr a lot offense and sold big. It felt like too much vulnerability for a champion heading into the most high profile match in NCW history.
Hoax and Michael Manson welcomed back Mr. Skins and wanted to know what was up with his mysterious disappearance? Cut to a video of Skins in the trunk of a car with his hands tied. We see the hands of the person toying with a helpless Skins. The trunk shuts and the person walks away. Cut back to the ring and Stilskins shrugs it off and celebrates just the same.
(5) Cyrus the Destroyer defeated Austin Towers in 5:19. Billed as the 7 footer Towers vs. the 350 pound Cyrus and there was nothing pretty about it. Towers is tall alright and impressively agile. Physique is lacking and parts of offense look suspect Towers grabbed the ropes to save being pinned by the sick kick and succumbed to a swinging side slam. Cyrus was positioned as a major player and performed accordingly.
(6) NCW Junior Champion and PWA No Limits Champion David Ali defeated Johnny Nix in a non-title match in 7:43. Put a smile on this old man's face. Really well executed in a traditional style. It was fast paced with energy generated by precision spots running the ropes. The commentary added a lot. Mack did color and clicked with Quintana. Ali picks up the win with a small package on a second brainbuster attempt by Nixx. A win-win as it added to Ali’s credibility and made Nixx shine.
Mack wanted his answer pronto. Ali thanked Nixx and readily agreed to put both titles on the line at Christmas Chaos.
(7) Ike Cross defeated Andrew Duckworth in 9:05 to become the number one contender for the NCW Heavyweight Title. A match between two 2017 Rookie of the Year candidates. Cross’ early offense included an Oklahoma roll and a stellar standing dropkick that spilled Duckworth off the turnbuckles. His transitions are awkward but that aspect of his game will improve with experience. The wily Duckwoth cut off a suicide dive to take over. Cross took a major league bump on a high back drop. Duckworth was dismayed by Ike’s resiliency. Cross used a springboard cutter to set up his finisher but Duckworth ahd it scouted. Cross got the pin with a roll up counter but Duckworth clearly had both hands on the ropes.
Good match but some sketchy ring positioning on the finish. No way referee Darryl Hall could see if Duckworth’s shoulders were on the mat when he made the count.
Duckworth challenged Cross to a rematch for the number one contendership at Christmas Chaos. Cross wasn’t sweating it and said sure. It’s a match I surely don’t mind seeing again.
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