Southern Fried Wild Card -- Monroe on September 2

Photos by Bob McAteer From Larry Goodman: I do believe Wild Card was the most Southern Wrasslin' style show of any show Todd Sexton has...

Photos by Bob McAteer

From Larry Goodman:

I do believe Wild Card was the most Southern Wrasslin' style show of any show Todd Sexton has booked for SFCW.

Attendance was 175. The one-two punch of running against the Georgia Bulldogs football and the holiday weekend killed the box office. The downtown area of Monroe was deserted. 

The situation surrounding the Southern Fried Championship is getting really interesting. Champion Hunter James wasn't in the building and the scheduled match between number one contender CT Keys and former champion Judais never happened. But a lot happened related to the title as new contenders thrust themselves into the championship conversation. 

A fan was taken out of the building on stretcher due to the controversial afteramatch of the Wild Card match. Billy Buck and Will Kaution were both suspended as a result of the incident. 

Sal Rinauro made a surprise return as Todd Sexton partner in the Tag Team Championship match and looked 100% recovered from the hamstring tear that sidelined him for most of the summer.

Drew Blood returned to SFCW for the first time in four years for the tag title match, which meant comedy reigned supreme (see photo at the top).

Adryan Hawkins, Tyler Stevens and Kenway each won qualifying matches for the four-way Classics Championship match at Crossroads on October 9 but the fun was in how they got there, which was all about The Approved. 

The show opened with a tribute to Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt followed by a 10 bell. The babyface side of the locker room was at ringside as Todd Sexton spoke about both men. Todd said he was dedicating his match to Funk. He spoke of Bray's creativity. Funk's music played as they came to the ring. Bray's music played as they returned to the dressing room.

Thank you.

Xavier Reyes was pissed about many things. He didn't have a match. He was not happy with JBE and he was demanding answers. Triston Michaels came to the ring and told Reyes this was family business and not for the public. Reyes collared him. Joseph Bock mollified Reyes and assured him everything would get worked out. 

Well played by all to leave the distinct impression problems in the JBE camp were far from over.

(1) Kenway defeated Bobby Moore (with Adryan Hawkins & Rob Adonis) to qualify for the Classics Championship title match at Crossroads (7:56). Hawkins was the epitome of the pandering babyface. Moore was furious. Hawkins told Moore and Adonis  since "Papa" Nick Halen wasn't there, he was in charge of Approved for the night. He wished them good luck because they were in for a struggle. 

Kenway was in control until Adonis shook the ropes to crotch him. Hawkins was rooting for a Kenway comeback and he got one. Moore collided with Adonis as Keway moved out of the way. Hawkins pulled off Moore's loaded elbow pad and Kenway pinned Moore with a  pedigree. Hawkins announced Kenway as the winner.

Kenway's second appearance and he's over. Quality ringwork matters in Monroe, probably more now than it ever has. Moore should seriously consider anger management treatment. Hawkins was having fun out there. 

(2) Tyler Stevens defeated Rob Adonis (with Adryan Hawkins & Bobby Moore) to  qualify for the Classics Championship match at Crossroads (4:59). They went back and forth with high impact moves for near falls until both were after a double clothesline. Hawkins distracted Adonis allowing Stevens to level him with a big boot to the mush. 

Two big men bombing away. Adonis and Stevens both looked good in the match. 

(3) Adryan Hawkins (with Rob Adonis & Bobby Moore) defeated Tetchi Makuji (with Triston Michaels) via count out to qualify for the Classics Championship match at Crossroads (7:45). Hawkins employed mind games to keep Tetchi off balance. Moore distracted Hawkins and Makuji went to work. Hawkins  was abil toe fight off Makuji's Shiranagi (Tongan death grip). The action spilled outside the ring  Makuji dropped Adonis and Moore and he pursued Hawkins, who scrambled back i the ring to beat the 10 count.

This trio of matches played out beautifully as the next chapter in the Approved story -- Hawkins outwitted everybody including his dimwitted partners. 

(4) Wild Card Match: Najasism & Alexander Lev & Grappler #1 (with Zander Seabolt) & Jacob Ashworth defeated Dany Only & Billy Buck & Will Kaution & Grappler #2 in 16:10. Seabolt came to the ring with Grappler #! then ran to the back to accompany Grappler #2 to the ring as well. Lev had his "addict" sign with him. At no time in the match, did he want any part of Only. Any wrestler within arm's reach of  a Grappler got poked in eyes. Grapplers pride themselves on avoiding bumps so I was shocked to see Grappler #1 take a backdrop. Kaution heeled and Naja took heat. Only finally got to slap Lev's ultra slappable face. Lev ran and Only chased him to the dressing room. Grapplers tried to confuse Naja about who was who. That didn't work out too well and Naja dove onto the both of them. 

Kaution gave Ashworth an RKO and implored Buck to finish the job. It looked like Buck was going to oblige. Buck did what he had to do and superkicked Kaution instead. Ashworth covered as Buck watched one of his "partners" get pinned.

Match ran a little long for my tastes (nothing new there). The stuff with Grapplers was entertaining and the payoff at the end was a nice piece of business. The Kaution/Buck feud has taken on a life of its own. Kaution continues to shine as a heel.

Postmatch -- Buck and Kaution got into it outside the ring. As they were being pulled apart, Buck took a swing at Kaution. I was on the other side of the building and saw there was a big commotion going on so went over there. The fans was face down on the floor being tended to by Buck's girlfriend, Georgeanne Hardin who is an ER nurse. The crowd was hushed. EMTs were called. People spontaneously applauded as they fans was carried out of the building on a stretcher. There was a palpable sense of relief in the crowd.

My understanding is that the fan has been medically cleared. Make of that what you will.  If this incident was a work it was realistic to a T.  

SFCW owner David Manders said the video showed Kaution pulling the fan in front of him. However, a member of his roster putting his hands on a fan would not be tolerated, Manders said Buck and Kaution were both indefinitely suspended, then threw the mic down in disgust.

--Intermission -- 

Keys said scheduled opponent Judais was not medically cleared and issued an open challenge to anyone who thought they could take The King.

(5) Open Challenge: CT Keys defeated Jaden Vain when Ashworth threw in the towel at 6:06. Keys took a nonchalant approach to the match. Vain was having his ass handed to him. Ashworth came to ringside, slapped Vain and gave him a pep talk. Vain briefly gave the crowd a glimmer of hope before Keys crushed him. Keys twice had Vain pinned and pulled him to prevent the three count, then put him in the torture rack and Ashworth threw in the towel. 

Keys is a star. Thr kind of explosive power the man possesses does not grow on trees. The match was precisely what it had to be. It looked like he was absolutely killing Vain. 

Keys said he was just getting started and asked Ashworth if he wanted to be a hero. Ashworth asked the people in Monroe if they wanted to see it. They answered with a pop.

(6) Jacob Ashworth pinned CT Keys at 6:42. Ashworth was on fire. Key had his hands full as this match quickly turned into a war. Keys hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall and went for a suplex but Ashworth reversed it for a near fall of his own. Unbeknownst to referee Weakley, Reyes came to ringside, posted Keys and rolled him back into the ring. Ashworth immediately hit his elevated full nelson finisher to pin Keys.

Really good action. Keys and Ashworth have chemistry. I wouldn't be mad about a rematch down the line. Reyes is forcing his way into the title picture. 

John Johnson announced James vs. Judais  title rematch for September 16 along with the return of Jazzy Yang to face Brooklyn for the Southern Fried Women's Championship. Kat Spencer came into the ring and intimidated the hell out of JJ. Took his glasses off and broke them. The refs had to come out to save him.

Kat's actions spoke much louder than any words could have. JJ's reaction was priceless. 

(7) Todd Sexton & Sal Rinauro (with Kelly Sexton) defeated Fabulous Finishers (Drew Blood & David Raines with Dr. Joseph Brock) to retain the Southern Fried Tag Team Championship in 19:56.  Finishers were rolled to the ring  perched on ladder on top of a luggage cart. Blood tried to skin the cat into the ring like he used to do, former JB member 

Blood tried to skin the cat into the ring like he used to do and needed assistance  Watching from the audience former JBE member Brian Kane was entertained. 

Blood said he'd been a political prisoner, banished for years but had found a loophole to come back to get even with Todd and take the tag team championship.

Todd said partner Sunny Daze couldn't be there so he called upon an old friend...

Sal's appearance got the pop of the night. This happened...

Blood said it was unfair and unkind. They did Funk's rope-a-dope spot. Brock got on the apron and Kelly relished on pulling his pants down.

Todd brought Blood into the ring the hardway by his ears. Blood whipped Todd into the post. Fab Finishers cut the ring in half against Sexton. Hot tag to Sal. He ran Raines in circles. Blood used Brock's shoe. Todd made the save like the old days and pulled Sal to their corner for the tag as did Blood. Todd made a Funkin' comeback. Todd did a super sunset flip (a call back to Terry's first retirement match in 1983 vs. Terry Gordy) to pin Blood. 

Bunches of fun, A must-see for any red-blooded Southern Fried fan who experienced the Sextpn/Blood feud live in Monroe. Todd's tribute to Terry Funk added another layer of icing to the cake. Exquisite to seeing Rinauro fully healed and thoroughly enjoying himself in the ring.The circle of kids clapping was magic.  I guess you could say I liked this match a little. 

Chaos erupted. JBE attacked Todd and Sal. The Grapplers hit the ring as Reyes and Keys battled outside the ring. 

The babyfaces stood tall at the end.

The conundrum for Todd and Sal was what to do about the tag team championship? Answer: The winner of Sexton vs. Rinauro (conveniently scheduled for Hardcore Hell XXV in Canton next Saturday night) will determine will become one half of the tag team champions along with Sunny Daze AND Daze will be the special referee for the match. 

NOTES: David Weakley, Dee Byers and Brandon Todd were the referees...Adam Vance was joined by John Johnson on commentary for the video...Rick Richards was the ring announcer...Judais is not expected to be out of action for any significant amount of time...Former JBE member Brian Kane was in the audience as were the Tapped Out Podcast team of Nick McDaniel and Myron Fancher.