Instant Classic was Wrestlemania to NAWA (formerly KLT). From a storyline perspective, it was the company's first supercard since Southern Showcase last September and their most hyped event since they brought pro wrestling back to Dillard's after almost 20 years with the hall of fame show in January.
The groundwork had been laid with long-term stories and amplified by some really well done videos. The show had some good wrestling and graphic violence in abundance.
The show had moments of brilliance but an instant classic it was not. It felt like NAWA allowed the high caliber event they envisioned slip through their hands. The show ran over three hours long, ending at 10:45 for an audience with a lot of older people and kids that is used to being on their way home by 10pm. As white hot as the crowd was early in the evening, they were dying that last 45 minutes and some didn't make it to the finish line.
The ending left a bad aftertaste. If you're perversely entertained by bad death match wrestling, the last match of the night was right up your alley (see photo above).
I made the trek to Rome for the nostalgia of the final show at Dillard's. It's pro wrestling so never say never. Before the night was over, I was told the change in ownership has not necessarily shut the door on future wrestling shows in the venue. We shall see.
Attendance was around 225, below the numbers KLT was doing at Anthony Center or that dump of a building on Shorter Avenue.
Commissioner Brad Barnes opened the show and introduced new ring announcer Rick Richards from Southern Fried.
Rob Adonis was first out to the ring for the opening match. He called Dillard's a cesspool of a facility filled with OSHA violations. He could not keep Bull Buchanan's name out of his mouth. Bull appeared on the aisle and he was pissed. He reminded Adonis of the venue's 40 year history and how Adonis himself built his name at Dillard's early in his career. Bull said he couldn't take Adonis on. He was 56, held together by scotch tape and paper clips but he'd run across this kid...out came Zach Buchanan as the not so mysterious third man in the triple threat match.
(1) Aaron Dallas defeated Rob Adonis and Zach Buchanan to win the NAWA Heritage Championship in 8:38. Zach is a prospect - 6-2, 220 and scary good in the ring for 17 years old and less than a year of experience. He totally held up his end. Dallas was over big. No surprise there. Eventually, the babyfaces came to blows. Adonis gave them both exploder suplexes and threatened to put the dreaded claw hold on Zach, who gave Adonis a full nelson slam. Adonis avoided Zach's spear and ate the Steel Toe from Dallas. Best wrestling match of the night. The show was off to a great start.
(2) Ryan Marx defeated "The Dean of Wrestling" Cody McKale in a Last Man Standing Match (23:59). Marx had been the leader and prize pupil of Mike Golden's Golden Boys. McKale was his best friend and partner. Tensions led to Marx's ouster. McKale became the evil de facto leader of the group bent on Marx's demise.
(3) Lamar Phillips & DJ Black & Big Dog defeated The Golden Boys (Johnny Matthews & Dallas Andrews & Cory James with Mike Golden) in 8:55. My mind was blown by seeing Golden at ringside in 2024. The crowd wasn't overly enthused about this one. Golden Boys made good cannon fodder for the babyfaces. In the end, Phillips kind of shrugged is shoulders and took James' head off with a lariat.
(4) Bobby Moore (with Harley Kae) defeated Tyler Smith in 11:50. Moore and Smith were once partners and best friends as The Regular Guys. Smith recently returned to wrestling and wanted to rekindle their partnership. But Moore resented Smith for leaving him hanging when he left the business 15 years ago and turned against him.
Another match with great heat because of the story. Kae interjected herself in the match to help Moore, who talked trash as beat on Smith, telling Smith to stay down because he had a family to worry about. Smith fended off Moore's finisher and had him pinned but Harley put Smith's foot under the ropes. Harley got on the apron with a can of hairspray. That backfired as Kae sprayed Harley in the eyes. Moore rolled Smith up for false finish number one. Kae gave Moore brass knucks. Smith cut Moore off with Moore's signature STO and picked up the knucks but couldn't bring himself to use them. Moore kicked Smith in the groin and pinned him with the discuss lariat.
They did an outstanding job of incorporating the story into the match. Their facial expressions were tremendous. Harley's involvement, the hairspray and knucks were all callbacks. This storyline has room to run.
(5) Southern Express (Waylon Rhodes & Josh Hate) defeated Rebellion (James Hardy & Shawn Clark) to retain the NAWA National Tag Team Championship in 8:44. Story here was Rebellion had stolen the title belts from Southern Express and were running around claiming to be the champions.
The fans in Rome go bonkers for Southern Express. Consequently, the heat was tremendous. Rhodes is a massive human being. He does not do a lot but he what he does do, Rhodes does extremely well. Rebellion couldn't put a dent in Rhodes until Clark went after the big man's knee. Tags made. Hate turned the tables on Rebellion causing Clark to kick Hardy in the groin. Double bionic elbows, a freight train corner splash from Rhodes and a running bulldog by Hate to pin Clark.
Southern Express had two words for them -- "Cowboys up". This match delivered the payoff, simple, short and sweet.
(6) Chris Kamikaze defeated Tim Possible in a no DQ match to retain the NAWA Championship in 22:12. After a 15 year absence from the ring, Possible returned and set his sights on the champion. Kamikaze did everything in his power to stop Possible from achieving his goal. Kamikaze devised an "Impossible Trilogy" of matches to prevent Possible from getting a title shot. But Possible prevailed to secure a title match at Instant Classic.
This was a solid, hard fought title match. The crowd was tiring by the time they got in the ring. The fans were into Smith and hating on Kamikaze but not vociferous like they were earlier in the evening. One particular family got incensed by Kamikaze chopping Possible right in front of their daughter. Kamikaze zeroed on his favorite target (the back of his opponent) and tried to cut one of the ring pads off. Kamikaze used two different pairs of scissors but the pad would not cooperate. Possible hit a blue thunder bomb and wailed on Kamikaze with a steel chair, like five consecutive shots, payback for what Kamikaze had done to him at an earlier point in the story. Kamikaze catapulted Possible into what was supposed to have been the exposed turnbuckle, which set up a picture perfect burning hammer (move of the night!). Possible kicked out and hit a TKO and a poison rana for near falls. Kamikaze cracked Possible in the head with a chair but Possible kicked out. Possible escaped a second Burning Hammer and backdropped Kamikaze onto a steel coffin of chairs. That landing looked gnarly. The bell rang but referee Gavin Pell signaled that he had not counted three. Kamikaze won the match with an avalanche Olympic slam onto a chair.
NOTES: NAWA Classic will return to the Anthony Center on April 27....Gavin Pell and Marty Duncan were the referees...Rocky Shaw and Andrew Alexander were in the house. Alexander had not been in the building since he wrestled there 20 years ago. He reminded me that he lost his hair to Kamikaze at Dillards.
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