There was a lot to like on this week's extra meaty edition of ProSouth and not much to complain about. The wrestling was better overall. The match lengths were just right. Stories were advanced.The talent pool was deeper. There were no major production snafus…and ProSouth Champion Tyler Cullprett wields one mean umbrella.
All-Out Champion “Tragic Prince” Cameron Keast opened the show announcing a tournament to determine a proper challenger, in a suit no less. Keast boasted about all he had accomplished in getting and holding the title for eight months and said there would be no more handouts from Commissioner Amy Haven.
Oh boy, a tournament, one of Stephen Platinum's favorite things. Keast cut a good promo after a rough start that exposed his inexperience.
(1) All or Nothing Tournament Opening Round: Brandon Whatley defeated “The Mulatto Monarch” Shane Mako in 6:45. Mako has almost as many nicknames as Chip Day. Keast joined Shane Noles on commentary. Mako pump handled Whatley’s arm across the top rope to take over. That spot was being way overused a while back but not lately. Mako did some creative stuff working on Whatley’s right arm. Whatley couldn’t get Mako up for the rockbottom with his right arm so he beat him with a southpaw version. I enjoyed this match. It told a good short story. Whatley’s selling was solid.
This crowd is either dead or way too low in the sound mix.
Bishop roughed Diggs up after the match, made an example out of him as well he should have. Wicked put Diggs over and said he had no chance against “The Wrestling Hybrid”. Wicked warned Towers to keep his head on a swivel.
The music of the Left Hand Path interrupted Hardy’s introduction of the next match. Former ProSouth Champion Eric Silva said he wasn’t going to complain about the way Cullprett beat him for the title. They have a rematch at Wicked Havoc and Cullprett was going out on a stretcher or in body bag. Silva said the most egregious part was Alister Crowe. He didn’t care about Dorian Crowe (he’s got company) because he was took weak, but Alister was the Left Hand Path’s follower and now he was Cullprett’s servant. Silva said if Alister came anywhere near the title match, his black eyes were leaving in Silva’s bag. When a babyface makes big promises, if the follow through is lacking, he’s damaged goods.
Silva was confronted by the mystery man from his past, who spoke his first words after a month of appearances. The shirtless buff individual (as Noles call him) said Silva wasn’t “The Ghost” anymore. After holding the title for 625 days, he let Cullprett take it from him. The Ghost would have kept his house in order. Silva, on the other hand, was beaten down and betrayed. The Ghost was feared and respected. This Silva needed the mystery man to save him week after week. He called Silva “boy”. That woke the crowd from their slumber. Said The Ghost would have laid him out but Silva wasn’t going to do a damn thing. The crowd chanted for Silva to do something. The mystery man turned his back to give Silva a free shot. Still, Silva did nothing. The mystery man said he wanted The Ghost next week or people would be used as a sacrifice and the blood would be on Silva’s hands.
Another in a series of intriguing developments for Silva. The guy is about as beleaguered as it gets, problems in every direction and no answers for any of them. Was his restraint admirable or pathetic weakness?
(3) Southern Strong Style (Jay 2Strong & Proc “The Croc” Johnston) defeated The Frat Party (Eddie Honcho & Bryce Cannon) in 7:23. Johnston used a gator roll, which makes sense for “Croc” but is a problem at ProSouth since Alister does a better version. Cannon interfered to set up heat on 2Strong took the heat. Frat Party screwed up. Cannon tried to hit Johnston with his fraternity paddle and konked Honcho by mistake. A well executed flapjack/cutter combo by Southern Strong Style led to Johnston pinning Cannon. These teams contain four distinctive character and worked well together, so I suspect we will be seeing this match in other places.
(4) All or Nothing Tournament Opening Round: Roma Miller (with Cameron Keast) pinned Hold My Beer Hanson after distraction by Keast and a low blow in 5:10. I feared the worst with this match up and thankfully it wasn’t completely awful. Roma’s kick and punch offense is light years better than it was a year ago. Hanson gave poor Roma the beer nuts move near the finish.
Cullprett out accompanied by Dorian. Cullprett, accent on the second syllable, ordered Hardy to stand down and said there was no doubt about his threat level after all the guys his group laid out last week. Robbie Vio, one of those laid out guys says big mistake, I want you now. Cullprett offered up his right hand man Damian. Vio and Cullprett were great. The close up shot really helped get it across.
(5) Dorian Crowe (with Tyler Cullprett) vs. Robbie Vio was ruled a no contest at 6:48. Suffice to say the match was not up to the level of the talking. I was thrilled when Roma interfered. Scott Patterson interjected himself into the mix.
Vio got on the mic- said he was sick of all of it and was putting the YouTube title on line at Wicked Havoc, challenger to be determined.
(6) Scott Patterson defeated Alex Kane in 5:12. Kane is learning to make his opponent shine and Patterson is picking up his in-ring. Kane unveiled The Crucible – a running DVD into the turnbuckle. Game over in my book. Patterson kicked out. Kane with a suplex trio, none less than stellar. Ace Haven came to ringside with a baseball bat to pester Kane and Patterson rolled him up.
The postmatch
was payback hell for Kane. Ace set the bait for Dameon Ceretone to surprise Kane
from behind with a DVD followed by brainbuster.Tell me the guy isn't being f'n persecuted.
Next up – bookend videos from Trevor Aeon and Sinn Bodhi for their match at Wicked Havoc on October 30. I didn’t give a shit about this match when it was announced. The videos have completely changed my mind. Check them out at ProSouth #519 around 2:06.
(7) ProSouth Tag Team Title Match: Left Hand Path (Austin Towers & Eric Silva) defeated Black Lariats Matter (Joe Black & William Huckaby) (c) via DQ in 11:38. If there was any build for a match this big, it blew right past me and this was a barnburner. An all out brawl broke out before the bell. Silva took the heat, which included Huck strapping him with a belt. The abuse Silva has taken over the month has been ungodly. Gibson let it go. Towers house cleaning after the hot tag was tremendous. That STO is one to keep in his arsenal. Towers got a super close near fall on Black with a reverse F5. Huck dismantled a Left Hand Path double team with the best short punch in wrestling. BLM gave Towers double lariats followed by Huck’s Muta lock and a kick in the face from Black. Match looked to be over but Towers kicked out. Huck decked Gibson in frustration.
Carnage -- Hardy was announcing the decision when out of nowhere, Cullprett laid him out with the umbrella. Dorian dragged Noles out of the announcer’s booth so Cullprett could do him in on with the umbrella. Cameraman Zac Rinehart was Cullprett's next victim. Dorian commandeered the camera. Gibson saw his life pass before his eyes and begged for mercy. None was forthcoming. At least he got his hand up.
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