From Larry Goodman: NCW returned from hiatus with “Fan’s Choice” – fans response determined the stipulations for a trio of title m...
From Larry Goodman:
NCW returned from hiatus with “Fan’s Choice” – fans response determined the stipulations for a trio of title matches.
No doubt this was a much better as a live show than it was on tape owing to the lack of a handheld camera. Considerable portions of two of the matches were not visible on the tape. The crowd was hotter than usual with lots of kids in the audience.
None of the titles changed hands. A relatively short but good match for the Heavyweight Championship between AC Mack and Ike Cross was the best of the three.
David Ali’s motto – “from night to night, I come to fight” -- has been put to the test during his short reign as NCW Junior Champion. Ali’s first title defense was a 5 way scramble. This week, Ali put the title on the line in a no DQ match versus a wrestler with few wins to his credit.
The company also embarked on a new schedule of first and third Fridays of the month. The move is intended to mitigate burnout from the number of shows at Landmark.
Triston Michaels and Steven Martin on commentary for NCW home video. Triston doubled as ring announcer following in the footsteps of Dan Wilson and Greg Hunter back in the day.
(1) David Ali defeated Kurt Kyle in a no DQ match to retain the NCW Junior Championship in 8:35. The other choices were no time limit and submissions only. The no time limit option was met with complete silence. Ali put Kyle through a makeshift table consisting of a sheet of plywood bridged between two chairs and the middle rope. Ali wasn't done and decided to fly off the top rope, but Kyle got a boot up, then waffled Ali’s back with a chair shot. Ali gave Kyle a back suplex onto a stack of steel chairs to score the pinfall. Not a bad finish but it seemed unnecessary after the table spot.
(2) Hoax (with Michael Manson & Mr. Skinz) pinned Ryan Stapleton with the Death Party in 4:46. Triston brought up the odor of formaldehyde emanating from Hoax. Do my eyes deceive me or is Hoax starting to look more like a real pro wrestling in the ring? He definitely has pro wrestler size. Hoax almost pinned Stapled early with a choke slam. Hoax also used a Frankenstein leg drop. I don’t recall the ban imposed on Hoax’s finisher being lifted.
SFCW matchmaker Todd Sexton plugged the Southern Fried show the following night.
(3) Michael Manson (with Hoax & Mr. Skinz) defeated Bobby Flaco in 5:07. The announce team talked up Flaco’s winlessness in NCW. It’s back to the drawing board on Manson’s finisher, a straight-jacket Gori drop. His first attempt collapsed in a heap and the repeat was a mighty struggle. Mr. Skinz’ postmatch strut was the best thing about the match.
NCW Heavyweight Champion AC Mack (with O’Shay Edwards) addressed the NCW faithful. Mack showed off the upgrade to “Nancy”, his NCW title belt. Mack claimed a ludicrous ombined weight of 757 pounds. Not absurd in the least once Mack introduced James Bandy, size XL, as a potential new member of their squad.
(4) Ashton Starr & Johnny Nixx defeated O’Shay Edwards & James Bandy (with AC Mack) to retain the NCW Tag Team Championship in a falls count anywhere match at 9:45. Whose bright idea was it to make falls count anywhere one of the options in the absence of a handheld camera? Torturous shots of an empty ring ensued. Starr and Nixx did not look particularly comfortable or in synch as a team. They gave Edwards a nasty suplex on the floor outside of camera range. Edwards spinebustered Nixx. Bandy covered and Edwards got pissed and pulled him off because he was the boss. Mack’s thugs appeared to have Starr but Edwards made a nonchalant cover. Made it look like the titles were not a high priority item for Edwards. The finish was a flying body press by Starr followed with Nixx’s top rope elbow and a double pin on Edwards.
Mack was not pleased with Bandy’s audition and laid him out with the Mack 10.
NCW owner Martin said fans would pick Mack’s challenger for the heavyweight title. All the babyfaces came out on the ramp except THE ONE. The crowd went nuts when Ike Cross was announced as the final choice. It was one of the loudest pops I’ve heard on an NCW show.
(5) Ike Cross defeated NCW Heavyweight Champion AC Mack (with O’Shay Edwards) via DQ in 6:58. Spectacular early spot saw Cross take a face bump off the top on Mack’s climbing enzuigiri. Referee David Weakley caught Edwards fixing to hit Cross with the title and ejected him. Cross speared Mack for a great near fall. Cross went for a second spear and Mack caught him with a sling blade. Cross had Mack in the Walls of Jericho when he was attacked by Bolo.
Mack was pleased as punch until Bolo laid him out as well. Edwards hit the ring and got in Bolo’s face. Bolo backed off. Interesting to see Bolo back in the mix at the top of card. Cross put Edwards and Mack down with a double dropkick to have the final say.
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