Classic City Wrestling at the Capitol Theater is a match made in heaven.
Opened in 1916 as a movie theater, the Capitol Theater is now primarily a rock music venue, like CCW's home base at that 40 Watt Club in Athens. Lighting and sound to die for. More pro wrestling events needs to be run in this space. The balcony is accessed by wooden stairs and has seats overlooking the ring. The sight-lines are the closest thing to the boxes at the Opera Night Club where AWE used to run.
I cannot say enough great things about Martha & the Sleaze. What a kick ass, genuine rock and roll band those women are. Their style meshed beautifully with the wrestling and they clearly enjoyed the show.
Crowd was 188 paid, an interesting mix -- CCW diehards, local fans checking out the scene, people close to the wrestlers and random onloookers. All night long, there was no wishy-washiness about who this crowd favored except Skrilla the Great vs. Najasism. The match between Georgia's Wrestler of the Year and Technician of the Year lived up to the hype.
CCW continues to book some of the most interesting shows around. Justin Burnham has a knack for matching up talents that make every show a different experience.
Things got under rolling at 8:15 and ended at 11. It felt long. The crowd stayed really hot but had thinned out some by the end of the night. I doubt the things that bothered me mattered much to the crowd CCW draws. They go with the flow so long as they are being entertained, and this show provided a phenomenal amount of entertainment.
NOT taped for IWTV release. You had to be there.
Cole Taylor was back at the helm as the emcee for the evening after suffering a torn ACL, torn meniscus and broken knee jumping off the stage last month in Athens. He stayed seated this time.
Burnham & Taylor and the entire CCW crew viewed the event as a success. CCW will be meeting with the venue about a return date.
(1) Garuda defeated Bobby Flaco in 10:02. The crowd took to Garuda. They didn't care for Flaco one bit and they were let him know it. Flaco totally went with it and was heeling it up as large as possible. Garuda kicked out of Flaco's vaunted springboard cutter and pinned him after a cradle back suplex and a swinging Fairy Tale Ending.
Well played. Garuda's work was cleaner than the times I've seen him in the past.
CCW Champion Owen Knight addressed the crowd. Said he called out hometown hero Bryce Cannon last month but a little birdie told him Bryce actually didn't like Macon and had said he couldn't wait to get out this hell hole.
Cannon appeared onstage looking like a star accompanied by Zach Mosley. Cannon said he was giving the fans a chance to see what a real man looks like. He needed to wear a bullet proof vest in crime ridden Macon and was taking the CCW title back to Atlanta with him. Mosley piped up to say he was going to break the Guinness record with the largest pig roast in history (Cody Fluffman) and had secured a manager's license to be at ringside with Cannon.
Knight made fun of Cannon's shiny shirt and Mosley's fanny pack and had no problem getting the crowd's endoresment on putting the beats to Bryce.
A nice of piece of business. Simple by the number stuff and a damn near perfect segment for building up anticipation of the main event.
(2) CCW Commissioner Matt Sells defeated Sal Rinauro in 15:11. Sandman Sells came to the ring with his trusty pair of Miller Lite tallboys and the Sleaze playing in the background. Sells guzzled one beer and smashed the can against his forehead. Rinauro came out to "Diamonds Are Forever". The prematch shenanigans got so extensive the crowd was pleading with the ref to ring the bell.
Sells gave Sal a 10 rep Rat Trap and called for the ref to hand him his beer for fortification before doing 20 more reps. Sal spit water in Sells' face. Sells spit beer and hit the springboard cutter but Sal kicked out. A titanic suplex struggle ensued. Sells fought of Rinauro's second superkick, gave him the stunner and the palm strike. Spit flew.
Pure house show hijinx early, then good wrestling leading into the finish. It was in synch with the spirit of the evening.
Sells was spent and took a seat at ringside to polish off his Miller Lite.
Dominic Stuckey received his requested mic time. Stuckey entered the ring with the other No Good Bastards (Duncan Mitchell Avecilla & Desmond Chastain) and cut a long promo on the crowd. They were whating him and wanting it to be over. They gave Dom the approval he asked for to get him to stop.
This was rough. Stuckey was getting go away heat. but it may have added to heat for NGB's match with Left Hand Path later in the show because of how annoyed the crowd was with him. In fairness to Dom, it was also an impromptu adlib promo to fill time while Najasism was making his way from Monroe to Macon for his third match of the day.
(3) "The Mulleted Maniac" Zach Mosley defeated "Body Positive" Cody Fluffman via submission in 11:15. Fluff popped the crowd with a cartwheel escape right out of the gate. A series of rapid fire shoulder blocks sent Mosley to the floor. Fluff gave Mosley the steamroller treatment. Mosley swept Fluff's leg on the apron to gain control. Mosley bit Fluff's hand. Fluff caught Mosley and muscled him up for death valley driver. Mosley stomped the hell out of Fluff for a near fall and worked over Fluff's hand and arm. Fluff hit a pump kick followed by standing splash. Crowd bought it as the finish but Mosley kicked out. Moments later, Mosley submitted Fluffman with an armbar while also manipulation the finger joints. Mosley continued to put it to Fluff after the match.
Really good match here. A touch of comedy and a lot of good wrestling. They worked hard and ratcheted up the intensity leading into the finish. Just what the doctor ordered to cure any ills from the promo segment.
(4) Najasism defeated Skrilla the Great in 18:16. Skrilla's intro got the loudest reaction of any of the babyfaces. These were his people. Naja not so much. Skrilla displayed a streak or arrogance in the early going but Naja wasn't taking any crap. Naja's high elevation dropkick grabbed the crowd's attention. Naja followed up with a rolling thunder knee strike on the apron and went up top. Skrilla shook the ropes to crotch him and pulled out a sweet climbing overhead throw. Skrilla was in full control for several minutes. Naja went for a huracanrana and got powerbombed for a near fall. Skrilla used a draping DDT for another near fall. A whole lot of near falls in this match. Naja caught fire. Tornillo crossbody and a frog splash for two counts. Skrilla broke out an End of Days. Still not enough. Skrilla tried for the Skrillride but came up with thin air. Skrilla fought of LIghts Out and went into the archives for a Lash LeRoux Whiplash. Crowd thought sure the match was over when Skrilla hit the Skrillride. Nope. Naja's LIghts Out still couldn't get the job done but a 450 did the trick.
The construction of the card teed this match up to steal the show and they knocked it out of the park. Naja got over big in his debut. What else is new? Skrilla succeeded in turning the crowd. They went from 100% Skrilla at the start to 80/20 in favor of Naja. All the back and forth worked because this was the only match that had them.
(5) Left Hand Path (Austin Towers & Trever Aeon & Eric Silva) vs. No Good Bastards (Dominic Stuckey & Duncan Mitchell Avecilla & Desmond Chastain) was declared a double count out at 19:04. Towers goozled Stuckey for a choke slam as he came off the rope but NGB momentarily save his ass. Towers chopped the bejezus out of Stuckey. You know the crowd loved that. DMA sneak attacked Silva to start the heat. Nice slice 'n dice top rope elbow by Dom. Crowd started chanting Silva's name. Hellplex on Dom. Hot tag to Towers. A train of finishers left all six men down. They squared off three-against-three and the match broke down into chaos until the bell rang. The crowd booed the no decision like crazy.
The heels stayed at ringside like they wanted more before ultimately chickening out. The boos rained down upon them again.
The stuff between Towers and Stuckey was the highlight. Silva was the right choice to take the make the smallish heels looks as strong as possible. I didn't get the concept of getting the fans invested by going long only to piss them off with an inconclusive finish. It will be interesting to see how things play out should there be a rematch in Macon.
(6) Owen Knight defeated Bryce Cannon (with Zach Mosley) to retain the CCW Championship in 14:42. Love for Knight. Hate for Cannon. Knight wasted no time messing with "The Tip". He dominated until Mosley interfered. The double Polos were off. Cannon hit the corkscrew neckbreaker that opened my eyes the first time I saw him wrestle. Owens was wise to a second neckbreaker and Owen's comeback was on. Bryce went for the frat paddle. The ref grabbed the paddle out of Cannon's hands so he mule kicked Knight in the jewels. Owen kicked out which brought Mosley onto the apron. Knight decked him. Cannon caused Knight to spear the ref. Knight hit the Clock Out without no ref to count. Mosley hit the ring...and got Pounced by Fluffman! Cannon gave Knight the Keg Stand. Crowd chanting "Owen" when he kicked out. The ref got sick of Cannon's shit and shoved him. Superkick...Clock Out...1-2-3.
A fun title match that sent the crowd home on an upbeat note. Good chemistry between Knight and Cannon and solid ensemble work by everyone involved or the finish could have been a mess.
NOTES: Notable personalities in the house included American Picker's Mike Wolfe, perennial GHW ring announcer of the year Diana Michel, 2022 GWH Manager of the Year Tyreke, CCW commentator Josh Deal and PCW wrestler Jay Alpha Miller...The referees were Richard Buznego and Austin Heiberg.
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