From Larry Goodman: The Ugly Ducklings live on in Augusta. Coach Mikey defeated White Mike in the cataclysmic finale of Mike's war with...
The Ugly Ducklings live on in Augusta.
Coach Mikey defeated White Mike in the cataclysmic finale of Mike's war with the Ducklings, thus securing the Ducklings' future in IWE.
Matches this compelling, this rich with emotion come around once in a blue moon. Rarely have a seen a wrestling crowd stay as loud for as long as the IWE fans did for this match.
But that wasn't all folks. IWE has new tag team champions. A new Mayhem Champion was crowned. The changes that had to be made to the card actually improved it.
Depending on your tastes, Intensity was possibly better than King of Controversy, which received a GWH show of the year nomination.
IWE has incredibly deep roster that draws upon talent from multiple states. Promoter/booker Tim Blackmon has a core of talent but keeps things fresh by bringing in new people and filtering wrestlers in and out from show-to-show.
Intensity drew the largest crowd in the history of the company, standing room only, 321 paid at American Legion Post 63.
Almost 10,000 unique viewers checked out the livestream of the show on IWE's Tik Tok page.
Promoter Tim Blackmon announced Krule would be unable to wrestle due to injury (hence, his cage match with Joe Black was off). Blackmon announced the Mayhem title match would take place in the cage with a 6th competitor added --- Suge D.
(1) Skrilla the Great defeated Mayhem Champion AC Mack and Suge D and Rob Killjoy and Owen Knight and Matt Odom to win the IWE Mayhem title in 12:03. Suge attacked Mack as he entered the cage and it was everybody out of the pool battling at ringside for the first third of the match. Killjoy shrugged before diving onto the pack below him on the floor. The craziness continued inside the cage. They did a five-way double draping DDT-neckbreaker-dropkick deal. Suge and Killjoy applied dueling sharpshooters. Suge accused Killjoy of stealing his stuff. Odom somehow brought all five tangled up opponents off the ropes with a powerbomb. Killjoy took Odom out with a super swinging neckbreaker. Mack gave Knight, Skrilla and Killjoy Mack 10s. Mack tried to follow suit with Suge, but Suge flung Mack into the cage and gave him an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall, then an ankle lock. Knight (I think) broke it up and got tossed into the cage. In the midst of the mayhem, Skrilla pinned Knight.
They made something great out of a sticky situation by putting the mayhem title in the cage. It truly felt like it was anybody's game to win. Mack lost the title without being pinned. His battle with former champion Suge was spotlighted, so probably more to come there.
(2) Sal Rinauro defeated Jordan Kingsley in 13:20. This was a different version of Sal, still crazy but definitely not lovable. It didn't take the crowd long to start hating on him. The story was Sal keeping air Kingsley grounded as much as possible and using joint manipulation to disable his arm. Kingsley finally got rolling with a springboard lariat, a flying burrito and half nelson slam (using his good arm). As they were jockeying for position on the ropes, Rinauro pumphandled Kingsley's injured arm across the top rope, then pinned him with a snap flatliner.
In his second IWE appearance, Kingsley got to show more character and had a match with a story. I found myself enjoying evil Sal more than the cutesy babyface Sal I'm used to seeing.
The GWH Awards & Gala video was shown on the big screens. Blackmon plans to be there.
(3) Charlie Anarchy defeated Tyreke and Kiki Roberts in 4:47. Anarchy, who had been a heel in previous appearances, came out in face paint as a full on babyface and got a big reaction. He lives in Augusta. Tyreke got heat being his usual loudmouth asshole self. Roberts was fine but an unknown quantity. Anarchy's stuff was rock solid. He pinned Tyreke with a brainbuster.
The right guy went over in the right amount of time.
(4) All Star Special (Hold My Beer Hanson & Jay 2 Strong) defeated Exotic Youth (Zach Mosley & Cornelius Pepperbottom) to win the IWE Tag Team Championship in 12:45. Hanson came out alone. Mosley said his injuries would kill most men and he was never supposed to walk again but vowed that he would be good as knew BUT he was not wrestling tonight.
Best heat of the night so far.
Blackmon said EY would defend or be stripped. Mosley said Hanson didn't even have a partner. Out came Jay 2 Strong.
The Freebird rules cut both ways.
Mosley was pumping Pep up that he could do this alone. The All Stars manhandled Pep with crowd chanting "tag him in". The tag happened. Hanson didn't want to hurt Mosley. Mosley's injuries had no effect on his mouth and he was running it. Mosley slugged Hanson and went down in agony. Pep capitalized on the distraction by clipping Hanson's knee and worked him over. Hot tag made. 2 Strong was on fire. 2 Strong's regular partner, Proc Johnston came to ringside wanting to know what Jay was doing. Mosley hit Hanson with his cane while the ref was busy with Proc. Looked like the match was over but Hanson kicked out for a great false finish. Mosley tried to use the cane again. Jay kicked it away and the All Stars pinned Pep with a double team maneuver.
Afterward...Proc was super pissed. Jay and Hanson were overjoyed. Mosley threated to sue Blackmon.
Blackmon came out, said no apologies necessary..and laid Pepperbottom out with a stunner.
A really fun match with juicy story possibilities coming out of this. EY matches never lack for energy. Mosley's injury is no joke and his selling of it was tremendous. For a promoter, Blackmon does a nice stunner.
(5) Lindsay Snow (with Ayla Fox and a young girl from the crowd) defeated Kaci Lennox via submission to retain the IWE Women's Championship in 9:04. They did a long lock up that spilled out of the ring. Lennox snapped Snow's neck across the top rope for the heat spot. The crowd got behind Snow. The girl slid a bottle of water into the ring to Snow. Lennox hit her big move, something akin to reverse blockbuster and Fox put Snow's foot on the ropes. Snow applied leglock/crossface and Lennox tapped.
OK but weak compared to the rest of the card. Godspeed to any promoter in Georgia trying to maintain a women's division. I didn't get the point of Fox at ringside or why the babyface champion would need her to cheat.
(6) Mikal Judas defeated Billy Brash in 8:20. Judas clubbed, stomped and beat Brash half to death. Brash's attempts to fire back yielded little. The IWE fans had never seen Judas' fallaway slam and popped big for the move. At the seven minute mark, Brash escaped a choke slam. Brash mounted a comeback that had Judas reeling and finally put him down with slingshot cutter and pinned him with a running knee.
I loved this and so did the crowd. Judas impressed in his debut. Gee, hat a surprise. Brash got over as a babyface. Judas' selling for Brash's comeback was spot on.
(7) T.I.M. defeated Joe Black (with Tyreke) and Anthony Henry in 7:20. Advertised as T.I.M vs. Henry in singles match. Tyreke cut a blistering promo, as Henry tried in vain to clue Tyreke in that his ass was facing the hard camera. Point being he and Black didn't drive to Augusta for nothing and he wanted Joe inserted into the match.
Balls to the wall from the opening bell. It was one great move after another from all three building to all three down. T.I.M.'s double underhook Canadian backbreaker rack dropped into a backbreaker on Joe was visceral as hell and got a big reaction. T.I.M. hit a 450 on Black. Henry broke up the pin with a double stomp off the top and brainbustered Black. T.I.M. pinned Joe as neither Henry or Tyreke were able to get there in time to break it up.
Postmatch, Black said "about time" to T.I.M., gave him the beads and they bowed to each other in mutual respect. Tyreke wasn't happy about it but Black told him to get lost.
Fantastic while it lasted. Match definitely left me wanting more. By keeping it short they took nothing away from the main event.
(8) Coach Mikey defeated White Mike in a no DQ match (20:17). The Ugly Ducklings stay in IWE. Mike came out with his Money in the Stank briefcase and he was a dick. Mike di a stream of consciousness promo, insulting everything and everybody including Mikey, his job making shitty grills and Papa Joe. The hate from the crowd was palpable.
Early on, the power of Coach Mikey ruled. Mike was bumping like a madman. The bump Mike took for a simple head shot into the turnbuckle pad was ridiculous. The good times were rolling. At the six minute mark, Mike connected with a clubbing lariat. Mike was down. Silence. Mike grabbed the weight belt out of Mikey's corner and whipped him with it -- his back, his chest, his ass -- sick stuff. The first belt shot to his back sounded like a clap of thunder. Mike got on the mic while the whipping continued. The fans were quacking furiously for Mikey to come to life.
Mike missed a corner splash. Mikey bodyslammed Mike and ripped his shirt off to proudly expose his giant belly. Mikey Pounced White Mike into South Carolina, then did a classic Hulk Hogan comeback complete with the big boot and leg drop. White Mike kicked out at 2 and 7/8. Mikey went for a second leg drop. White Mike caught Mikey's leg and applied an ankle lock. Mike went up top to finish Coach Mikey with a splash. Mikey kicked out at the last split second. The ref got bumped. White Mike gave Mikey a low blow. Mikey's sister, Rebecca climbed onto the top rope and knocked White Mike down with a crossbody. White Mike slugged her and picked up the Money in the Stank briefcase. Lance Lude ran down to the ring, snatched the briefcase out of White Mike's hand and bonked him with it. Mikey gave White Mike a jackhammer for the 1-2-3 and the building went up for grabs.
A wild scene ensued as Lude and Killjoy piled into the ring to celebrate with Mikey and his sister.
As incredible as the atmosphere was for the Duckhouse Brawl in November, it didn't hold a candle to this. This crowd was out of their minds for the entire 20 minutes. Epic storytelling. The weight belt shots Mike put on Mikey were vicious. Incorporating Duckling and cancer survivor Lance Lude and Coach Mikey's sister into the finish was a brilliant, wonderful touch. Emotions were flowing from the ring and all corners of the building during that postmatch scene.
White Mike got on the mic again. The lights went out as ominous music played. Mike cowered in fear. Lights on and Krule's mask was perched on one of the ring posts.
NOTES: IWE returns to American Legion Post 63 on March 11 with Controlle Chaos...Gale Haselden (Katrina Krize) subbed for Diana Michel as the ring announcer and did a fine job...IWE Champion Krule was backstage...The referees were Mike Mays (aka Mike Fullilove depending on the promotion), Yoyo (Yolanda Wright) and Brandon Danger...Danny Meade. Roger Gleaton and Justin Hancock handled production with Brad Wilson on the rover camera...Former VPW booker James Caleb Kitchens was in the audience.
