Based on the raw footage, Anarchy Alive was a solid show, nothing earth shattering or ground breaking.
All of the tried and true Anarchy acts -- G-Rated, Jacob Ashworth, Geter, Scott Mayson, Azriel and Nick Halen -- met or exceeded expectations.
No title changes occurred. The big news was the ouster of Anarchy Commissioner Michael O'Rourke in the aftermath of the main event. Alexander Lev and Chip Day had the best wrestling match on the show. The main event (Halen retaining the Anarchy Championship in the rematch with Geter) was loaded with booking bells and whistles. The show also highlighted two of Southern Fried's storylines.
My best guess on attendance from the look and sounds of things was 300 at 405 Community Court in Monroe.
(1) Jacob Ashworth defeated Caleb Crocker in to retain the Landmark Heritage Championship in 7:26. Crocker kicked the ropes into Ashworth's crotch and proceeded to dominate the early portion of the match. Ashworh came back to win with Ashes to Ashes.
A forgone conclusion match. How Crocker received a title shot or why an Anarchy champion and top Southern Fried babyface sold extensively for an enhancement talent I have no idea. A rather weak opener that got a mild crowd reaction.
(2) Alexander Lev (with Joey Hyder & "The Warden" Adrian Ward) defeated Chip Day to retain the Anarchy Five Star Championship 14:40. Day popped the crowd with his wrestling. Lev stalled and got heat. Lev with a nice reversal on the armbar. Lev clotheslined Day and excessively celebrated. Day punished Lev with punches and chops. Lev bumped like crazy for the chops. Lev stepped out of the path of Day's missile dropkick and capitalized on the mistake with joint manipulation. Lev jammed Day's finger inside the turnbuckle and continued to target Day's left hand. Day rocked Lev's world with a short arm clothesline. The crowd got behind Day. He hit Ghanarhea for a near fall. But Lev evaded Days' diving knee drop and speared him for a near fall. Both men struggled to their feet. Day broke out a Pele kick. As Lev distracted referee Byers, Warden and Hyder tried to interfere. Day fought them off but Lev brought Day off the ropes with a springboard sunset powerbomb for a great false finish. Lev was looking for a slingshot spear. Day was ready for it and tried for the brainbuster but Lev bit the hand he'd been working over during the match. Day fish-hooked Lev and clubbed him in the base of his neck, followed by a tornado kick, followed by the brainbuster. Warden pulled Byers out of the ring at the count of two and Hyder clocked Day with his boot. Day was out on his feet as Lev hit the Double Shot.
Lev keeps getting better. This was probably the best match of his career and a more stellar opponent he could have asked for than Chip Day with his work shoes on. Being relatively equal size was a plus.
(3) "Georgia Grown" Scott Mayson defeated Marcus Adams in 6:33. Mayson over clean with his finishing move.
This was another forgone conclusion match. Nothing wrong with it but nothing really interesting about it either. Mayson was reasonably over as babyface but I think his heel character is his stronger suit.
Anarchy owner Adrian Locklear, SFCW owner David Manders and Anarchy Commissioner Michael O'Rourke met in the ring to iron a few things out about the Anarchy Championship match. Locklear respectfully requested that Manders not interfere in the main event. Manders agreed and also whispered something in Locklear's ear. Locklear told O'Rourke he was out for the title match.
(4) G-Rated (Sal Rinauro & Seth Delay) defeated Rico Gonzalez & Cb Suave to retain the Anarchy Tag Team Championship in 17:29. G-Rated did a 2024 rendition of the Sexy Party. Gonzalez and Suave tried to use the title belts. Referee Byers took them away. Suave clocked Rinauro wth brass knucks and Gonzalez pinned him. Suave and Gonzalez were announced as the new champions. Detective Byers found the knucks in Suave's tights and restarted the match. Double superkicks for Suave, double stunners for Gonzalez and Delay got the 1-2-3.
A vibrant, fun match and the crowd was all in for it. Delay has resumed his career in tip top shape and the revival of G-Rated with Rinauro 18+ years after they became the first Anarchy tag champs has been one of the high points of both Anarchy shows in Monroe.
(5) Knockout of Submission: "The Warden" Adrian Ward defeated Azrael and Jerry Nelms in 10:06. Azrael received a special effects entrance suitable fo for the "Angel of Death". This was a hardcore match with a crutch, Warden's motorcycle helmet, a pipe and a baseball bat being brought into play. Azrael did the majority of the weapon use. No blood. Nelms blocked Azrael's attempt to throw a fireball. For the finish, Nelms took Azrael out with a superkick and Warden submitted Nelms.
This match didn't set my world on fire any more than it did Jerry Nelms' face. That said, it's always a treat to see Azrael perform.
Nick Halen and Adrian Hawkins came to the ring for the main event. Halen called Manders out to see how he was feeling after the beating Halen put on him at the last Southern Fried show. Manders and Locklear came into the aisle and glared at Halen.
The Halen/Manders plot continues to thicken. They just might keep this going all the way to Shindig.
(6) Nick Halen (with Adrian Hawkins) defeated Geter to retain the Anarchy Championship in 15:42. Halen feverishly worked on Geter's leg with help from Hawkins. Geter stormed back. Referee Dee Byers got knocked down and of the ring. Hawkins and Halen both hit Geter with codebreakers. Second ref David Weakley came in to make the count but Geter kicked out. Geter inadvertently squashed Weakley in the corner as Halen got the hell out of the way. Geter had Halen pinned after a massive overhead suplex with no referee. O'Rourke arrived on the scene wearing a referee shirt. Geter brought Hawkins into the ring the hard way. While O'Rourke turned his attention to Hawkins Halen clocked Geter with the belt. O'Rourke wheeled around and make and lightning fast three count.
Good match. Halen is ensconced as Anarchy Champion after beating Geter to win the title and winning the rematch, albeit by nefarious means.
Locklear and Manders marched into the ring to confront an extremely jittery O'Rourke. Locklear told O'Rourke he was a hoax and fired him. Manders confirmed that O'Rourke no longer for Anarchy, then decked him with a short right hand. Locklear raised Manders' hand. O'Rourke was left in the ring to throw a fit.
This was a tremendous pay off that built the tension beautifully to the punch line. I popped for Locklear calling O'Rourke a hoax (O'Rourke's former wrestling name). O'Rourke threw one of the all time great, screaming, kicking hissy fits.
Anarchy and Southern Fried are united going forward which is the best thing for business. If there's going to be an invasion by an outside group, that will come in the form of uber heel Matt Griffin and ACTION Wrestling.
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