Rome was the destination for my first live event of the new year and my first KLT Promotions experience. I was in for a wacky and wild night at the KLT Arena.
Rome is a strange brew. On my way to the arena, I took a walk through the downtown historic district because I love the ambience of the area. I saw the GOP headquarters on Broad Street has a sign in the window stating this office does not consent to enforcement of any local mask ordinances. Donald Trump won over 75% of the vote in Floyd County. QANON conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene got an even higher percentage in becoming US representative elect from the 14th district.
I checked out the statue of the Capitoline Wolf outside city hall. The statue was gifted to Rome, GA by the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as a forecast of prosperity and glory and is an exact replica of the original in ancient Rome. The statue depicts the naked twins Romulus and Remus sucking on the she-wolf’s teats. In Roman mythology, the story of the twins explains the founding of the city of Rome. The statue became a source of controversy when it arrived in 1929. The wolf was draped and diapers were put on the twins during important events. But I digress…
The KLT Arena is located in West Rome, across the street from the Love Library (“best adult store within 100 miles”) in a building that formerly housed a used car dealership. The KLT name is in honor of Kristol Lane Tucker, the deceased spouse of owner Ricky Wiggins. KLT didn’t start up until August 2019 but Wiggins has a long history of promoting wrestling in Rome.
KLT recently announced new steps to stop the spread of COVID including temperature check of patrons upon entry recommendations to use face covering and maintain social distancing. and a no contact/social distance policy between fans and wrestlers.
Attendance was close to 400. With tickets at $5 and kids under 8 free (and there were a ton of small children at this show), the gate was around $1500 plus a lot of concession activity. The temperature checks happened and security was vigilant about keeping distance between wrestlers and fans. About 15 people were masked and social distancing was ignored entirely. Similar to the Action Building in Canton, there is enough room to social distance if one so chooses. Having one bathroom for 400 people is a problem. Fans were lined up to use it all night long. Kids were allowed to play in the ring before the show and during the intermissions.
The show ran two hours and 45 minutes including two intermissions, needlessly long for a six match show.
The KLT talent roster has been mired in the past. The company is taking steps to address the situation by bringing in promising new blood, primarily from Robert Gibson’s school. Jordan Kingsley, Zach Mosley, Zero, Travis Recon and Bryce Cannon are providing a desperately needed talent upgrade. A lot of the wrestling on this show was absolutely wretched, some of the worst I’ve ever seen.
KLT is dealing with a challenging transition. The incredible foundation of love and hate built up between the KLT fanbase and the older wrestlers is such that the quality of wrestling is immaterial to fan enjoyment of the show. The one “modern style” match on the show -- Kingsley vs. Recon-- got an OK reaction but nothing great.
The soap opera stories are what make KLT tick. The Peachtree Mafia vs. Commissioner Shawn Ambrose and US Mail (“Gravedigger” Randy Tucker under a mask) feud is about as hot as it gets.
The woman who sang the national anthem said she just recovered from COVID and asked the crowd to wish a speedy recovery to wrestler Major Havoc who was battling COVID presently. We were then treated to an in-ring marriage proposal with the man on one knee.
(1) Zach Mosley (with Candy Canolli) defeated Mike Jackson to retain the KLT Championship in 15:25. Mosley said Jackson embarrassed him by beating him in their first match (before Mosley had the title). This match had big time heat. The KLT fans hate Mosley and his backers, the Peachtree Mafia. Mosley sold his ass off for Jackson, who had the advantage for most of the way, and essentially willed this into being a decent match. The story was repeated distraction and interference by Canolli saving Mosley from another loss. Canolli is good in the traditional valet role. She brings realistic passion to her work. The match was announced as a 30 minute time limit. Mosley won with less than three minutes to go according to ring announcer James Middleton. Shaving that much time is ridiculous. Why not make it a 20 minute time limit?
Jackson said when he came back (date not determined), he wanted a rematch and 5 minutes with Canolli if he won. The title match went on first because Jackson was also booked for Venom in Anniston, AL.
(2) Brad Spurlock defeated John Sims in 10:50. John was known as Sean Sims at APCW. He showed more personality as John. I think Sims tried for a body slam and Spurlock landed on top him for the three count. I didn’t have a good view and wasn’t interested in getting a better one.
Ambrose entered to a crazed “KLT” chant and talked about the Superstars of Wrestling fanfest coming to the KLT Arena on April 24. Amrbrose introduced his boss from the Southern Wrestling Alliance, Dr. Anthony Phillips III.
Attorney Brick Stein and the Peachtree Mafia (Todd Zane, Mr. Atlanta, SUV and Wardaddy) interrupted. Peachtree Mafia is up there in years for a lead heel group. Mr. Atlanta threatened to go to court about US Mail. Atlanta knew it was Tucker and had put out a 10K bounty to anyone that could unmask him. Wardaddy said he would get the mask. Peachtree Mafia attacked owner Wiggins, who was just standing there minding his own business. Bad to the Bone hit on the PA and US Mail tried to rescue his father-in-law. US Mail is no spring chicken either. Peachtree Mafia beat him down. Horrible looking stuff. Reality Check (Zero & Rude Boy) sent Peachtree Mafia packing. Philips and Ambrose had words and were clearly not seeing eye to eye. They started teasing Ambrose returning as an active wrestler.
(3) John Bivins defeated Joey Idol by DQ in 4:40 when Idol put Bivins in a figure four around the ringpost and refused to break the hold. Bivins was like a redneck Shaun Simpson (how’s that for a dated reference?) minus the ability. Terrible match. Bivins was helped to the back. I didn’t get the sense fans cared all that much about this.
(4) Alister Crowe & Zack Stevens defeated Plowboy & Big Dog Bowser via DQ in 8:45. Damn this was ugly. It had heat because the KLT fans have an attachment to Plowboy and Big Dog, no matter how bad they are in the ring. Bowser started beating on Crowe with a chair to prompt the DQ. Crowe was wasted here.
The Misfits attacked Plowboy & Big Dog after the match, beating them with the chair and a chain.
(5) Jordan Kingsley defeated Travis Recon in 14:45. This was a rematch. Recon planned to jump Kingsley as he entered, but Kingsley sneaked into the ring and surprised Recon with a suicide dive. Kingsley is so athletically gifted and Recon can go. They worked really hard and did a lot of stuff. Fans reacted to Kingsley’s spectacular moves. I think the match would have gotten over better if they had done less and sold more to build the drama. Kingsley used a Muta lock and did a slingshot reverse splash that looked fantastic. Recon countered Kingsley’s finisher with a TKO. Recon went back to the well with the TKO. Kingsley did a ripcord flatliner transitioned to a Koji Clutch. Recon won a battle of strikes. Said “this is it!” after hitting a DDT so everyone would know it wasn’t. Recon tried for a chokeslam. Kingsley reversed into a cazadora bomb for the win.
(6) Reality Check (Zero & Rude Boy) defeated Exotic Youth (Bryce Cannon & Cornelius Pepperbottom) in 11:05. Cannon and Zero did a good job of carrying the match, which had great heat. A fan got so pissed at Cannon that he stood up out of his wheelchair. Something about Pepperbottom reminded me of Leonardo Dicaprio, though I suspect Dicaprio is a better wrestler. Reality Check attacked and the bell ran with all four in the ring. Exotic Youth wanted out. Reality Check wasn’t having it. Nice tope by Zero. Reality Check isolated Cannon. He shoved the ref to crotch Zero. The heels got heat on Zero. Hot sunset flip hope spot by Zero with the ref distracted. Awkward moment where the hot tag could have been made and wasn't. In the end, Rude Boy got revenge for the paddle being broken over his head last time. Cannon gave Rude Boy a low blow and went for the paddle. He missed and Rude Boy connected with the paddle for the 1-2-3.
Peachtree Mafia marched to the ring looking absolutely decrepit to attack Reality Check. Ambrose tried to make his way to the ring with Phillips telling him no. US Mail rode the rescue, clearing the Mafia out of the ring including champion Mosley as the fans chanted “KLT”. Mafia tried to unmask Mail but he fended them off with assistance from Reality Check and got away. Peachtree Mafia retreated.
The show closed with Ambrose begging Phillips to fire him because he couldn’t do what needed to be done as commissioner. Phillips kept going right to the edge of uttering the magic words then said “meet me in the back”.
KLT returns to the KLT Arena for a two-night benefit event on January 8 and 9 entitled "Stop the Leak, Save the Tatas: Benefit for Fantasy" with proceeds going to help with her medical bills. Kenzie Paige and Tracy Taylor are advertised.
