Summertime and the livin' ain't easy inside the Landmark Arena. It wasn't the hottest conditions I've experience inside that building. But it was hot enough to hold the crowd down (105) and to some extent, sap their energy.
My sense is Anarchy will be doing well to hold serve during the summer months as they build for shows of greater magnitude in the fall.
Not that there was anything wrong with last night's show. I was entertained. Scott Mayson's birthday bash was hilarious, thanks in no small part to Matt Hankins and Undeniable.
More importantly, Xavier Reyes slayed the monster Krule in the main event with the help of fellow Program members Mayson, Proc Johnston and Hunter James. The Program now finds itself on a collision course with Undeniable.
(1) Nick Halen defeated Heritage Champion Joe Black in 8:05 to go up 1-0 in their best of three series for the title. They wrestled with several nods to Jimmy Rave. Halen said he wasn't afraid of trading strikes with Black. He proved his point. Halen hit a flatliner off the rope for a near fall and had the crowd behind him. Black got a near fall with a falcon arrow for a near fall and went for the kill with the lariat. Halen ducked and pinned Black with an inside cradle.
Black refused to accept Halen's handshake after the match.
A solid, well put together match. I expect more fireworks in match number two.
(2) Jay 2 Strong & Hunter Knott defeated Beauty & The Beast (Nate Wilde & Ethan Cage) in 6:24. Fans chanted "wuss" at 2 Strong, who wrestled in a red suit and dress shoes. B & B got a chance to shine early. Their Vader elbow drop/split legged moonsault combo was a nice piece of business. 2 Strong interfered to start heat on Wilde as referee Dee Byers turned a blind eye. Cage cleaned house on Knott and 2 Strong had to save him from being pinned. Knott gave B & B low blows in stereo. 2 Strong gave Wilde a double underhook DDT to pick up the win.
Smooth teamwork from Wilde & Cage. 2 Strong spiked Wilde right on his head with that DDT.
2 Strong called out Commissioner Michael O'Rourke to give him a letter accusing Anarchy management of negligence. O'Rourke read the letter aloud. It was like something a 3rd grader might write. O'Rourke tore the letter up. 2 Strong said O'Rourke would have to deal with his HR. Warden entered the ring. O'Rourke looked a bit unnerved by his presence. 2 Strong announced the Era of the 2 Strong Fellowship.
2 Strong gets heat. His interaction with O'Rourke was good stuff. I really enjoyed 2 Strong's chemistry with STF at Hardcore Hell. I hope that's still the plan. Warden as 2 Strong's muscle did nothing for me.
(3) Duncan Mitchell defeated Skrilla The Great in 6:09. Skrilla attacked Mitchell before the bell. Mitchell answered with a babyface flurry but Skrilla used underhanded tactics to take control. Mitchell broke out the Big Duncan Energy and was hot on the comeback trail when Skrilla pulled referee David Weakley in front of him. Mitchell hesitated and Skrilla capitalized with a ripcord slingblade for a near fall. Skrilla called for the Skrillride. He wished. Mitchell with a flying knee strike for the win.
Good action, clear heel/babyface dynamic. Mitchell's finisher left something to be desired.
The lights went out...and when the light came back on
Cult of Hanson (Hanson & Azrael & Crystal Rose & Jazar) Appear -- They were on the apron surrounding Mitchell. Hanson congratulated Mitchell on the great strides he had been making but there were trials and tribulations he would have to go through. The Cult was going to help him grow up and be loved by the people like they were. Mitchell would be the next lamb led to the slaughter.
Lights out...lights on...The Cult was gone.
One of Anarchy's most popular babyfaces hooking up with the Cult? This should be interesting.
(4) Five Star MVP Champion Proc Johnston (with Hunter James) defeated Parker Li in 5:40. James interfered liberally. Li ducked Proc's lariat and hit a hangman neckbreaker for the double down. Nicely done. Li fired up. Multiple impacts were needed to drop the big man to one knee. Rolling thunder double knees by Li took Johnston down for a near fall. Li cut off interference by James but the diversion caused him to crash and burn on a Lionsault. Johnston turned Li inside out with lariat for the 1-2-3.
Good little match. The finish looked stellar. I'd like to see a rematch where they were given more time.
Scott Mayson's Birthday Celebration -- They had the all the trappings - the party hats, the balloons, the piñata and a huge birthday cake. A Mayson highlight video was shown on the big screen. James introduced Mayson as not just the longest reigning champion in the building's history but the greatest man alive. Johnson called Mayson the best thing for the wrestling business and Habersham County. Mayson was fighting back tears. They had a list of 33 reasons to wish Mayson a happy 33rd birthday. The list was an excuse to rip on Todd Sexton. Thank God, they only read a few of them. Johnston was on one knee like he was about to propose to Mayson when Undeniable made their way to ringside.
Hankins said whoa! He hated to interrupt young love during pride month but there was a fee to be paid to propose in this building before they could ride off bareback into the sunset.
Meanwhile, Najasism had sneaked into the ring. He laid out Johnston. Marx and Blaze took care of Proc. The fans chanted "party" as Mayson was begged for mercy. Marx put Mayson through the cake and table it was sitting on ass first for a huge pop. Hankins said it was unicorn feeding time. That could mean only one thing. The pop for Dynamic Dexter was off the chain. He hit the ring and started gobbling the cake that laying in the ring. Totally disgusting. Commissioner O'Rourke joined the party. Proc got konked with the piñata. The segment concluded with "Happy Birthday" being sung and the playing of "It's My Party (and I'll cry if I want to).
Everyone knew where this segment had to go once there was a cake out there. It was so much fun and all so juvenile getting there. Business picked up as soon as Undeniable appeared. When it's time for the heels to show ass, Mayson is there for it. He looked ridiculous with that cake all over him. The pop Dexter gets at Landmark never ceases to amaze me.
(5) Billy Buck defeated ERC via DQ in 4:27 due to outside interference by Skrilla the Great. Buck was coiled for the Buckshot when Skrilla jumped on the apron and clubbed him from behind.
Buck was working the third match of a triple shot night. Never would have known it as he had plenty of zip in his game. ERC hit a nice corkscrew suplex along with the eye pokes.
Skrilla said it was their yard now. Skrill and ERC put the boots to Buck. Ashworth made the save and said he and Buck knew how to take care of troublemakers. If Skrilla and ERC wanted to come out like men, they would be waiting.
Ashworth didn't need a lot of words to make his point. He's a man of these people and speaks with his actions. ERC is the epitome of a troublemaker. I don't see how he and Skrilla can be taken as much of a threat though. ERC is an unknown quantity at Landmark and Skrilla has only one win in this building.
(6) The Undeniable (Shane Marx & Brian Blaze with Matt Hankins) defeated Exotic Youth (Zach Mosley & Bryce Cannon) in 9:02. Marx started messing with Mosley's Million Dollar mullet. Mosley was freaking out as the crowd chanted "Joe Exotic" at him. Cannon got upset about Blaze "touching the tip" (of his pointy hairdo) a "crybaby" chant. One fan went so far as to call him Scott Mayson 2.0. EY got heat on Blaze with offense that was straight out of the gutter. Yes, Cannon's polo shirt was used to choke Blaze. Hot tag. Marx with a sick kick on Mosley. Cannon made the save. EY did a springboard kick/german suplex combo on Marx and Blaze saved. The finish was stereo atomic drops causing an EY head on collision followed by stereo roll ups.
This match had a zest for life. EY quickly adapted to and engaged the Landmark Arena crowd and what better team to work with than top babyfaces like Undeniable? EY is nothing if not versatile. In the last 7 days, they've produced three great matches of completely different styles.
EY attacked Undeniable after the match and were quickly joined by the Program. Mayson clocked Hankins with a chain. A six on three beatdown was in process when Krule advanced toward the ring. EY ran out the front door.
This was some serious heat.
(7) Xavier Reyes (with Scott Mayson & Proc Johnston & Hunter James) defeated Krule (with Brooklyn Creed) in 7:12. Krule was handing Reyes his ass. Reyes offense gradually began to have an impact on the monster. Referee Darryl Hall got squashed in the corner. The Program sprung into action with massive interference. That did not work out so well but Reyes was eventually able to give Krule a brutal Tucaida (rockbottom) onto a chair. Reyes covered and Brooklyn yanked referee Hall out of the ring at the count of two. With fire in her eyes, Brooklyn got in the ring, slapped James and gave him a choke slam, headbutted Johnston, then slugged Mayson. Reyes confronted Brooklyn. Big mistake. Krule laid Reyes out with Scorched Earth. Krule covered and Johnston pulled replacement referee Weakley out of the ring. As Brooklyn was chasing Johnston down, Mayson interfered AGAIN and Reyes gave Krule another Tucaida to score the pinfall.
All the gaga you could ever ask for and it worked. Reyes showed he could hang with the monster. Krule did a tremendous job of helping Reyes get over as a top level heel. Brooklyn was stiff with the Program, which she needed to be for that stuff to be believable. James went up for her chokeslam like a pro.
The Program celebrated over Krule's body.
O'Rourke said he had a remedy for the shenanigans -- Undeniable & Najasism vs. The Program (Mayson & Johnston & James) when Anarchy returns to action on July 23.
NOTES: Commentary for the video release was handled by John Johnson and Michael Gentry...Buck had worked the Southern Fried show in Jefferson and the lucha show in Winder before coming to Cornelia...Mikal Judas and Alex Kytel were backstage...Anarchy Champion Geter was in Athens wrestling Ehren Black in SVW's main event.
