As Gary Lamb would say, "the only wrestling show that matters" makes its COVID-19 debut, and the first show since March 3rd, for a huge set-up show. There may only be four scheduled matches, but with one of them being the RumbleJack, that's pretty much all you need. AC Mack and Chip Day will face each other to see who will be entrant #1 and who will be entrant#30. The Lynch Mob will defend against Lethal Poison for the SHW Tag Championships. Corey Hollis will defend the SHW Championship against the former champ, Ashton Starr.
The crowd is, for the most part, spaced out with groups sitting together. Some are wearing masks, others are not, about 50/50, I'll say. Several Georgia wrestling notables are in attendance tonight, including Jeff G. Bailey and David Manders of Southern Fried Championship Wrestling. The official attendance is 363.
Diana Michele will be handling ring announcing duties, with Brandon Benefield and Gerard Bonner will be providing play by play on the video production, with the usual gang of misfit toys working the production. David Weakley, Jeremie Prater, and Recon, formerly of AWE, will be your referees.
AC Mack vs. Chip Day to determine who will enter #1 and #10 in the RumbleJack
Mack's sporting some new threads, they look good. Mack does his entrance promo, he's up to 225 lbs now, Day's weight is announced at 220. One of these things is not like the other. Day gets a good pop from the crowd, gets a "Chip F'n Day" chant. Day goes for submission early, but Mack's near the ropes and bails out of the ring. Day lands a missile dropkick and a tornado DDT for a near fall. Day goes up top again, but Mack springs up for a jumping enzuguri(sp). And we have a couple of groups of interactive fans, joy. Day misses a second missile dropkick, Mack goes on the offense. Day wants Mack to do the Daniel Bryan kicks, and Mack obliges. Day wants more, Mack lands a running dropkick off the ropes for a near fall. Day tries for a leg submission, but Mack almost schoolboys him. Day misses another missile, and Mack almost gets the pin. Mack looks to be frustrated. He goes for the Mack 10, but Day reverses and locks in the leg submission, Mack taps at 10:05. AC Mack will be entrant #1, and Chip Day will be entrant #30 in the RumbleJack. A damn good B+ match.
Ashton Starr (with Suzie) video promo.
"Bullet" Bob Armstrong tribute video plays.
Gary Lamb promo leads to the tag match. Go watch the video. I won't do it justice typing it out.
Southern Honor Tag Team Championship: Lethal Poison (Mikal Judas and Corey Hollis) vs. The Lynch Mob (c) (Matt and Joey Lynch)
LP attacks as soon as Diana finishes the intros, isolating Matt in the ring. LP section off the ring, laying a beating onto Matt. Hot tag to Joey, and he is cleaning house and gets a near fall on Hollis. Judas gets double teamed out of the ring, and Matt plunges on top of him. Hollis tries to attack Joey from behind, but Joey slaps on a submission. Hollis taps quickly, very wisely, to save himself from injury before his title defense in the next match. Short and to the point with a nice workaround with the absent Brady Peirce.
Judas and Hollis have words and almost come to blows.
A video plays highlighting the history between Ashton Starr and Corey Hollis.
Southern Honor Championship Match: Ashton Starr vs. Corey Hollis (c) (with Mikal Judas)
Hollis gets a second of offense in, and then Starr goes off on Hollis. Hollis gets tossed into the barricade several times. Someone shouted, "That's Child abuse!" Funny. Back in the ring, Hollis goes on the attack. Hollis tosses Starr at the feet of Judas. While Hollis distracts Weakley, Judas chokeslams Starr onto the ring apron, Hollis gets a near fall. Snap suplex by Hollis, and he's talking smack to Starr. Hollis is slowing the pace down, but Starr flapjacks him. Hollis gets a couple of near falls. As Hollis jaw jacks with ref Weakley, Ashton lands a tilt a whirl backbreaker, and both men are down. Starr on the attack. Judas gets up on the apron, but Weakley gets him down. Near fall on Hollis. Hollis eats a superkick for a near fall. Starr gets Hollis in the sharpshooter, Hollis makes the ropes. Hollis lands a move for a near fall, I don't think I've seen that one before. Hollis goes up top. Ashton catches and plants him with a compact DDT for a two count. Trading blows lead to Aston landing a delayed snap suplex for a VERY close two count, the crowd gets on Weakley. They fight in the ropes, and Judas gets on the ring apron. Hollis throws Ashton onto Judas and then lands a missile knee onto Starr for the three count at 14:02.
Afterward, Judas is in the ring and teases that he might attack Hollis, but instead picks up Starr. Judas teases an attack on Starr but just shoves Starr down. Suzie comes into the ring to check on Starr. Starr gets up and just clocks Suzie. He holds her ala Misery and then shoves her back down and walks away.
Intermission or not.
The RumbleJack -- Rules: Two men start, and then every 90 seconds, a wrestler comes out. Eliminations occur when a wrestler is tossed over the top rope, and both feet touch the floor. When there are only two left, the eliminated wrestlers come back out, surround the ring, and the lumberjack match begins. You can win by pinfall, submission, or being tossed over the top rope.
Writer's Note: I will note the order the wrestlers are announced, eliminations with times where possible, and notable happenings. Go and watch the match.
With Mack in the ring, Diana imitates his intro, good stuff. Dani Jordyn is #2. Dani looks fantastic. The bell rings, and Dani stalls a bit. They shove at each other, and Dani knocks Mack out of the ring. Mack gets suplexed out of the ring. #3 is Tyler Culprett. Tyler slaps Dani, she slaps him back, and they start throwing punches. Tyler has grabbed the umbrella, Dani, the burn book. Dani gets the better of the exchange, but Mack comes in and dumps her over at 4:09. #4 is Owen Knight. He goes right after Mack and Tyler. He stands tall for a moment, but the numbers catch up to him. #5 is Ryan Rembrandt. He attacks everyone. #6 is Terry "The Rocker" Lawler, I love it. He eliminates Ryan at 9:45. Lawler is in fantastic shape. #7 is Honor Society member Jordan Kingsley. Everyone takes turns chopping Jordan's chest. #8 is Kevin Ryan from the Honor Society. #9 is Matt Lynch. A couple of near eliminations. #10 is Honor Society Faculty member, Logan Chase. The HS are targeting everyone, and Chase's walking aid is being used liberally. #11 is Johnny Swinger, that got a pop. Swinger eliminates Tyler at 20:02. Swinger eliminates Chase at 20:25. #12 is Joe Black. Black suplexes HS out of their boots. Ryan and Kingsley are eliminated. Lawler is eliminated. #13 is Austin Towers. Kobiya Kick to Black. A chokeslam to Mack. A sidewalk slam to Matt. Towers no-sells to chops from Black and chops Black down. Towers has Black up and drapes him over the top rope, but Black holds on and drags Towers over. #14 is William Huckaby. He and Black only have eyes for each other and start throwing haymakers. Huck power slams Black. Huck eliminates Matt Lynch at 26:30. #15 is New Era's David Ali, huge pop for him. #16 is Mikal Judas.
#17 is Shane Marx with Matt Hankins, POP! Hankins is on the mic. he puts over Anarchy. #18 is Todd Sexton representing Southern Fried. He and Marx square off for a tic. Todd Sexton is on the mic, puts over SFCW, and calls out Gary Lamb. Gary Lamb comes out. Bidness has picked up. Sexton wants Gary in the ring. Gary runs down Anarchy and SFCW, Sister Sledge, and Barney Fife are mentioned. He teases going to the ring but brings out the 2019 booker of the year, Dylan James, for entrant # 19. He and Todd square up. Hankins attacks Dylan from behind Swinger out at 38:45. Todd and Dylan team up to get rid of Hankins. Judas levels Dylan.
Judas chokeslams Todd. #20 is Ben Buchanan. Todd is gone, and Ben eliminates Judas at 40:30. Shane Marx out at 41:00. #21 is Gunner Miller. People get speared. Gunner and Dylan square up. It looks like Dylan may have injured a leg, and he is helped to the back. #22 is Sean Dean, but he's not here. Gary Lamb video. He is talking to Dean on the phone asking where Dean's at. Gary hangs up and notices someone. He basically says you got your wish. You hear a can being opened and someone hands Gary a can of beer, it's Hold My Beer Hanson! Huge POP from the crowd! Gunner is just glaring at him. Hanson takes a seat on a chair ringside. Ben and Gunner have a great spot. Ben out at 46:20. #23 is Fearless Musa. He shines, but Gunner tosses him at 47 30. Gunner and Dylan have a moment, and it looks like Dylan is hurt.#24 is Logan Creed. Gunner's waiting for him. With Gunner distracted, HMBH rushes into the ring and tosses Gunner out at 49.30. Gunner rushes back in and attacks HMBH and spears him. Mack eliminates HMBH at 49:45. #25 is Landon Hale. He has a moment against Creed. Creed slaps him down in mid-air.
Hale out at 51:50 #26 is Effy. Effy is doing what appears to be a nipple twister to Logan, can't see from my angle. Nathan Mowery is out at #27. He's a cameraman for SH. Nathan drags a table out and sets it up at ringside. He tries attacking Creed. Huck is out at 55:20. Creed chokeslams Mowery from the second turnbuckle onto the table at 55:40. # 28 is a member of the Georgia Avengers who is masked. He's in and then right back out. Everyone landing big moves on each other, and everyone is down. #29 is. Joey Lynch. Great spot for him. moonie on Creed. Moonie on Effy, moonie on Ali. moonie on Black. Mack lands the Mack 10 on Joey, and everyone back down. #30 is Chip Day.
Reset. Day, Creed, Ali, Effy, Mack, Black, Lynch, and Knight left. 1:00:56 Mack's out by Day. Creed double chokeslam,powerbomb combo Ali, Lynch, and Effy, I think. Gunner rushes the ring and tosses Creed out at 1:02:24, Joey Lynch and Ali soon follow. Effy, Day, Black, and Knight are left. Effy and Day have a spot. Black eliminates Day at 4:20. Sunny Daze sounder plays, and he comes out. Dylan was never eliminated. 1:05:25 Effy is out. Black and Knight team up on Sunny and get him out at 1:05:55. The Final two are Black and Knight.
The Lumberjack part of the match begins. Knight has Black pinned, but the ref forgot to get into the ring, oops. Ali's in the ring, and he wants to hit Black with a chair to give Knight the win, but Owen doesn't want that, and orders Ali out, Ali kicks Knight in the family maker. Black sets up for a spear, but Knight dodges. Black lands a move, but a camera guy was in my way, so I couldn't' see what it was, near fall. The way people were reacting, it should have been a three count. Black lands a spear, and that's it for Knight. The total time of the match was 1:09:46.
Several of the lumberjacks come into the ring to congratulate Black. Knight gives his props to Black. The jacks leave, and the masked Georgia Avenger attacks Black. He unmasks, and it's Corey Hollis. He sits on top of Black and tells him that on October 2nd, Black has one shot, and all his dreams come falling down.
Final Thoughts.
1. It has been mentioned by other people, but have to repeat it. This was one of the best-booked rumble matches that you could watch. Lessons were learned from last year and applied this year. Apart from know which ref was to be in the ring at the end, there were no significant flubs by anyone that I could tell.
2. I had predicted that a WWE HOF'er would be a surprise entrant. I didn't get a WWE one, but Terry Lawler is a member of several other HOF's, so I will take that as a win.
3. Ben Buchanan continues to impress people on both sides of the curtain. I've been telling people that he's a blue-chipper for a while now.
4. Hold My Beer Hanson did get the biggest crowd pop of the night. Success has many fathers, and everyone played their part perfectly to introduce HMBH to the SHW fanbase.
5. Congrats to Dani Jordyn on the comeback from injury. Keep it up.
6. Hollis is a king asshole.
7. Ashton is the Prince of Petty Asshole.
8. I wonder what David Manders thinks of Todd Sexton's showing in the RumbleJack.
9. If GWH does do awards this year, it will take a miracle for Dylan to lose Booker of the Year.
10. Just when you thought that Gary couldn't Gary anymore, he out Garys himself.
PS. This was a damn good show. I'm holding my fork for the October 2nd show.
