Southern Honor Wrestling -- Canton on January 5

  Photos by Ashley Ingraham and Peter Sigmon From Duke Ingraham: Southern Honor Wrestling kicked off the year on Friday with “Year of Honor”...

 

Photos by Ashley Ingraham and Peter Sigmon

From Duke Ingraham:

Southern Honor Wrestling kicked off the year on Friday with “Year of Honor”. 411 paid fans filled the Action Building and were treated to 4 big title matches and a show that had a little bit of everything to satisfy the appetite of any wrestling fans. The show featured several new faces to the roster and began to give us a peek at the feuds and angles SHW have planned for 2024. As always SHW had the surprises in store for their fans including the big return of a fan favorite. 

MATCH 1: 

JAKE THE SNAKE LEGACY CHAMPIONSHIP CHIP DAY(C) VS. HUNTER JAMES RULED NO CONTEST 

Chip is all business when he makes his entrance never take his eyes off James. Chip jumps James right at the bell and we are off from there. The action immediately pours to the outside and the crowd is all over James, chanting at him to “save his chest hair”. Chip tries for a brain buster but James escapes and pouts on the outside of the ring. Chip follows behind him and throws James into the railing and then pulls out some of this chest hair. The two battle to the entrance ramp, James tries to give Chip a brain buster (call back to the same move and location where James first attacked Chip) but Chip fights back and hurls James off the stage. Back in the ring the two exchange chops and James puts Chip in a sleeper. James follows that up with a big power slam but can only get a 2 count. James is outraged. The match once again finds its way to the entrance ramp, with the same result, Chip countering a brain buster from James and throwing James off the stage. Back in the ring a back and forth of attempted brain busters but both men are able to counter. James puts Chip in a guillotine then climbs to the top but misses a moonsault, Chip makes a cover but can only get 2. The two brawl to the entrance ramp for a 3rd time, James taunts Chip, and tries to hit a brainbuster on him. Chip reverses and delivers a brain buster to James, Chip then jumps on top of James and begins unleashing punches on James’ motionless body. Referee Prater is finally able to pull Chip off and calls for the bell. When it is announced that it’s a no contrast, Chip loses it and goes right back to attacking James. The referees finally make their way out and pull Chip away. 

THOUGHTS: Probably the best match of the night with solid story telling. It should be fun to see where this one goes. Chip was all business in this match and it showed, it appears James right have underestimated Chip but with this inconclusive ending, he will undoubtedly get another shot. 

 

A video plays recapping how Krule captured the IWTV World Championship the previous Sunday at Beyond Wresting. Before it is finished ACTION Wrestling CEO Matt Griffin interrupts and says Krule is a false idol, and to win the title Krule tried to set a wrestler on fire with women and children present in the crowd. Griffin continues by saying Krule is a false champion and berates the crowd for condonding their hero’s actions. The loud chants or Krule were interrupted by the music of Gary Lamb. 

 

Lamb said one of this favorite parts of SHW is when the bottom feeders attend his show. He says this staring right at Griffin, then acknowledges Southern Fried promoter David Manders in the crowd. Lamb continues by commenting that even the “shit heads in Augusta” know what the best show is. Lamb then calls Griffin a “dick with ears”. Gary whispers something to Griffin then Krule’s music hits. Griffin high tails it and runs out of the building. Lamb said he is now a prophet and prediced months ago that Krule is the true IWTV champion. He finished by saying from now he is going to be a thorn in ITWV’s side. Alexander Moss interrupts Lamb and says that since is opponent is here tonight, that he wants to take advantage of the opportunity and wants a match with Krule. Lamb throws his hands up in the air as if to say “whatever” and orders it be a title match. 

 

MATCH 2: 

IWTV WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 

KRULE(C) DEF. ALEXANDER MOSS BY PINFALL 

Moss stares down Krule and Krule toys with Moss throwing him around like a ragdoll. The resilient Moss refuses to quit and fights back with punches and a lariat. Krule ends up on the apron and Moss drop kicks him to the floor. Moss dives to the outside but Krule catches him and slams him on the apron. Back in the ring, Moss uses his quickness to stay a step a head of Krule and begins to mount some offense. Moss takes out Krule’s knees and then hits a moonsault but can only get 2. Moss hits the ropes but Krule catches him by the goozle and chokeslams him to the mat, Krule then hits his finisher to end it. 

THOUGHTS: A nice surprise to see Krule and he got a huge pop. Griffin plays the chicken shit heel well, and as always the crowd loved to hear from Lamb. Moss was much more competitive against Krule than was expected and this was a nice welcome back from him to the roster. 

 MATCH 3: 

LEV DEF. CODY FLUFFMAN BY PINFALL 

Lev comes out and says that he is our messiah and that he is faithful. Fluffman gets a HUGE ovation as he makes his SHW debut. As soon as the bell rings Lev powders to the outside and Fluffman calls him a chicken then struts around the ring like a yard bird. Fluff lands a big shoulder tackle on Lev and then attempts a “steam roller”. Fluffman throws himself to the mat and slowly rolls in the direction of Lev, Lev steps over Fluffman thinking he has outsmarted him, but Fluffman reverses direction and rolls over Lev. Fluffman tries a pin but only gets a 1. Lev responds with some vicious looking kicks to Fluff. While Lev distracts the ref, The Warden runs in through the crowd and knocks out Fluffman with a motorcycle helmet. Lev makes the pinfall. 

THOUGHTS: Watching the development of Lev on the SHW stage has been fun to watch. Fluffman got a huge reaction in his first match, something that doesn’t usually happen at SHW, and is absolutely entertaining in the ring. Solid match between the two and leaves us wondering that the connection between Lev and Warden might be. 

 

Brandon Benafield comes to the ring and says he has just received a text from matchmaker Jake Roberts and says that Sunny Daze is missing but the SHW tag team titles must be defended so Sal Rinauro must find a partner before the start of the match. 

 

MATCH 4: 

AKUTO DEATH SOCIETY (KEVIN RYAN & CHRIS CRUNK) VS. JONATHAN GRESHAM & MICHAEL SOLAR RULED NO CONTEST 

 

A mutual handshake to start. Solar and Crunk take turns trying to slam each other but the fun stops with both of their backs go out. Kevin Ryan pulls his usual antics on Grisham until he has had enough. The faces make quick tags and work over Ryan. Ryan ultimately escapes and makes the tag to Crunk. The heels cut off the ring and go to work on Solar, double teaming him every chance they get. ADS get multiple near falls but can’t put Solar away. Chaos breaks out as all 4 men are in the ring, Ryan kicks Grisham off the top rope then does a nice backflip to the outside onto him. In the ring Solar tries to roll up Crunk, but Crunk reveres the pin, the two roll around the ring attempting to make pins on each other until both mens shoulders are on the mat and referee Prater calls for the bell ruling the match a no contest by double pinfall. The crowd is outraged and Prater takes ALL the heat. 

 MATCH 5: ROB KILLJOY DEF. DAMYAN TANGRA BY PINFALL 

The match opens with a quick back and forth followed by a chop exchange. Killjoy goes to the outside, Tangra dives through the rope but misses. Killjoy climbs to the apron and jumps and stomps on Tangra’s back on the way down. Back in the ring Killjoy lands a dropkick off the top, but can’t put Tangra away. Tangra uses a big lariat to take brief control but Killjoy goes back on the offensive and hits a piledriver on Tangra followed by the pinfall. 

 THOUGHTS: It is great to see that Killjoy has become an SHW regular. The Canton crowd has really taken to him, and this was a solid win for him to boost his stock. 

 A video plays showing a new face to SHW, “Chosen” has arrived and makes his way to the ring, he drops Killjoy then kicks Tangra, he then follows that up with a double chokeslam to both. He finishes by getting on the mic saying he said all that all the other greats have been made, but he is “Chosen” 

THOUGHTS: From Wall, to Warden, and now Chosen, they just keep getting bigger and bigger and SHW. There was an audible gasp from the crowd when Chosen came through the curtain, his size alone is beyond impressive. 

 MATCH 6: 

CT KEYS (WITH TODD SEXTON) DEF. NAJASISM BY PINFALL 

CT tries a Pearl Harbor but fails, and the fight immediately goes to the outside. Naja kicks CT’s head into the railing. It is all Naja to open as his speed and athleticism is on full display. CT finally gets one step ahead of Naja and slams him to the mat. The crowd tries to will on Naja but CT unleashes some brutal punches and Naja falls out of the ring. CT slams Naja onto the apron and gets a 2 count. CT makes a mistake and Naja capitalizes with a big running knee and then hits an elbow off the top rope. Sexton throws CT’s big chain into the ring, CT capitalizes on the distraction and puts Naja away by pinfall. 

As CT and Sexton celebrate they are interrupted by The Hierarchy (Murder One and Joe Black) Murder calls Sexton a High School counselor and tells Todd that he should be a man of honor and put Judias’ title on the line against Kenway tonight. Murder tells Todd to stop being a bitch and a ho and accept the title match. Todd responds by saying that he is not a bitch, and he’s not a ho, and that he accepts making it a title match, and says that Kenway’s blood and broken bones will be on the hands of The Hierarchy. Sexton closes by saying that last show Murder swerved him with Kenway, but tonight he has his own swerve, that Nick Halen is Sal’s partner. Right on cue Halen and Sal attack The Hierarchy with chairs from behind. 

 

MATCH 7: SHW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 

THE HIERARCHY(C) DEF. SAL RINUARO & NICK HALEN BY PINFALL 

The brawl quickly spreads around the outside of the ring. Black lands a big chop on Halen to the crowd's delight. Murder whips Sal into the railing. Murder goes after Halen, Sal tries to hit Murder with a chair but Black takes the chair away. Once in the ring Sal stays on Joe in the corner and he and Halen makes several quick tags. Black fights back and lands a big German suplex on Halen, Murder tags himself but referee Prater doesn’t see it. Joe and Sal fight to the outside and Murder makes a pin attempt on Halen. The ref refuses to count that pin not knowing Murder is legal. Murder confronts the ref, Sal tries to superkick Murder, but Murder moves at the final moment and Sal kicks the referee. A video plays showing that Sunny Daze has been locked in a building with a chain and padlock around the door handles. The ear piercing scream of Rev. Dan can only mean one thing…The Coven of the Goat has arrived. Nathan Mowery enters from the crowd and throws a fireball in the face of sal. The smell of burnt hair fills the air as Sal falls to the ground. Murder covers Sal and the referee struggles but makes the 3 count for Hierarchy to regain their titles. 

THOUGHTS: A Lot of shenanigans here, but a very fun match to watch. Happy Madness’ attention will now turn to Coven of the Goat and that should be highly entertaining. The Hierarchy continue their impressive run as SHW tag team champions and seem to have defeated every tag team on the roster and then some. Is there a tag team in Georgia that's able to end Hierarchy run as SHW champs? 

 

MATCH 8: SHW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 

JUDIAS(C) W/ SEXTON DEF. THE KENWAY BY SUBMISSION 

Kenway gets a pep talk from Joe Black on his way to the ring, this match has a big fight feel. Before the match can start Judias attacks Kenway with a chain and then chokes him with it as Sexton punches Kenway in the face. Blood pours from Kenways face as he crawls on his hands and knees to escape Judias and Sexton. Judias throws Kenway into the railing multiple times and then tosses him into the ring and the match begins. Judias delivers some big body punches on Kenway in the corner. The blood pours down Kenway’s as he stares Judias down and spits in his face. Kenway fights back with some punches then hits 3 consecutive running forearms. Kenway, feeling the momentum, lifts the giant Judias up and gives him a nice looking German suplex. Kenway follows that up with a running boot. Kenway tries to set up Judias from something, but Judias counters and puts Kenway in a one legged Boston crab. Murder One and Joe Black rush to the ring to cheer on Kenway. Kenway tries to hold on but passes out from the pain in a pool of his own blood. 

Judias retains his title. CT Keys and Nick Halen rush to the ring attacking The Hierarchy from behind. Todd shouts out the orders and Judias chokeslams Black. Halen and CT go after Murder, setting him up so that Judias can choke him with the chain. 

 

*THIS IS NOT A TEST……THIS…IS…REALITY* 

The music of Gunner Miller hits and and he slowly approaches the ring, he takes his time to put on his gloves and take off his jacket to reveal an Elev8 fight league shirt. Gunner then charges towards the ring and takes out Halen. Gunner and CT exchange some blows until Gunner hits a big spear. Todd pulls CT out of the ring and Gunner Miller and Judias stare each other down in the middle of the ring. The Endgame slowly retreats to the back, Gunner and Black both pick up Judias’ belt at the same time and look each other in the eyes. Kenway flips off Judias as Judias laughs back pointing out that he has Kenway’s blood all over his hands. 

This was a non stop show that kept the action and surprises coming. The show threw a lot at the fans as January is typically the month when SHW begins to ramp up their stories for year. SHW seems to have a lot of surprises in store for the next year and the fans are biting on everything. Chip and Hunter has already taken an unexpected turn, The Matt Griffin/Krule sage, The development of Lev, the arrival of Fluffman, the return on The Coven, the dominance of the Hierarchy, the shadiness of the Endgame, and the path to Judias’ championship are all GREAT things keeping that are keeping momentum moving for SHW. 

The team of GB/BB as always were on commentary. Diana Michele was the ring announcer. Jermie Prater, Paul Santa, and David Weakly were the referees. SHW returns on action on Feb 2nd with SHW59 at 8:00 from the Action Building in Canton. Tickets start at just $15 and more information can be found on the Southern Honor Facebook page.