Watch Last Man Standing here with Brandon Benefield and Cannon on commentary. Maestro wasn't there this time. Benefield and Cannon have great chemistry and were clearly enjoying themselves. Diana Michel ring announced and got her hair pulled by Sermon. Mike Fullilove and Brian Brock officiated.
It's been almost 40 years since a wrestling company ran shows in Savannah on a monthly basis as Coastal has done. The Savannah Civic Center was a regular stop in the Mid-Atlantic territory up until the mid 80s. Jim Crockett Promotions ran Savannah infrequently as JCP expanded their operations. Onto the video...
Opening with Walker cutting a promo over clips of his history with Hakeem in CEW -- how he he saw the good in Young when nobody else did and earned each other's respect only for Young to turn on him, until he snapped.
Walker cut a great babyface promo. His telling the story was more compelling and effective than a standard video package. The choice of clips was spot on. The segment provided all the context necessary for viewers that didn't see the the sequence of events that lead up to the Last Man Standing.
(1) Chad Skywalker defeated Kevin Cantrell (with Pastor Donald Jaykes) in 10:08. Cantrell was a substitute for CEW Champion Randall Reno III. Skywalker won with the Reboot. Commentators made the point Skywalker might have been the new champion if Reno had been there.
Contrasting styles of technical wrestling: Cantrell the grappler and striker, Skywalker more the prototype of a modern pro wrestler and aerial artist. First half was really good. Got a little out of synch into the finish.
Dax Anthony was interviewed backstage by Omega Camacho. Anthony had zero regrets about annihilating Mighty Joe Young last month and his opponent tonight was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anthony's ominous, disturbing presence was in full effect. He's coming from a dark place with this character.
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(2) Allen Town (& Allen) defeated Probable Cause (Sergeant Scratch & Chief Raines with Donald Jaykes) in 8:39. Probable Cause screwed up as they are wont to do. In the end, they hit a missile dropkick/german suplex combo on Scratch for the win.
Somebody at CEW has an eye for talent. Allentown was instantly over and have future star potential. Raines is an excellent veteran worker.
After the match, Jaykes had an epic meltdown and fired Probable Cause. Called them buffoons.
Jaykes was wonderfully excessive. The Pastor's act get uncomfortable to watch which made it that much better.
"Boss Daddy" Simon Sermon confronted Jaykes about Reno's absence. The Pastor was quivering and sweating bullets as he tried to double talk his way out of hot water. He said Reno was in a airport in Croatia because he sent him on a missionary trip. Sermon advised Jaykes to get his fat ass back to the dressing room. That line popped the commentators.
Sermon said he was going commit the cardinal sin and break kayfabe.
"The thing that really bothers me is that sometimes people listen to snake oil salesmen, and they believe things they shouldn't believe and they allow those things to influence their actions and they do things that are probably not in their best interest."
People in wrestling called the fans marks and rats. Simon didn't see them that way. He saw them as insects, He envisioned them seeing the shadow his foot over their heads so he could come down and crush them into oblivion, not only the adults but the little ones as well.
"If there was ever a God to believe in, when that hurricane swept through here, I hoped all of you would be dead and gone but like cockroaches you survived. At the end of the day, I still own this joint. And I'm here to tell you, I hate the wrestlers, I hate this place but more specifically, I hate each and every one of you."
This was a brilliant piece of work that must be seen to be fully appreciated. It was one of the most sophisticated promos to rile up a crowd I've ever heard. Sermon was the ultimate snake oil salesman. He drew the crowd in close to him, then stuck the knife in and twisted it.
Enter "Hollywood" Hunter James. Sermon said he didn't know who James was but he better get the hell out of there. The crowd chanted "that's my champ". The fans knew who he was and what everybody wanted to know was where was his title shot with Randy Reno? James demanded a match. He said he could only do so much due a knee injury but he could walk and fight his ass off like he did each and every month in Savannah. "When I walk across Hollywood Boulevard, daddy's not going to tell me what to do."
James is hitting all the right note with CEW fans as their babyface hero. He's a rebel with a cause.
Sermon said James let the crowd influence his bad decision-making so how about if "daddy" wrestled James and his bum knee right now.
(3) Hunter James defeated Simon Sermon in 2:33. Sermon worked over James' injured knee. He kissed Hunter of the forehead before punching him in face. As Sermon jawed at the crowd, James kissed Sermon on the lips and rolled him up.
Sermon said everyone on the roster was going to get a shot at the CEW Championship on December 28 (in Reno's Casino Rumble) except James because he was hereby suspended.
James is so over as a babyface he doesn't need the title but I sure hope he gets it.
(4) Dax Anthony defeated "From Up the Damn Street" Cam Jackson in 14:42. Bryce admitted Dax was conducting his last nerve. He's not alone. Anthony got distracted by the appearance of Mighty Joe Young in video form on the big screen. Jackson capitalized with a headlock driver and called for the elbow drop. But Jackson took way too much time. Anthony rolled out of the way, booted Jackson in the face and pinned him with a TKO.
Good match. I was surprised how much time it was given. I don't entirely get what Jackson up to half the time. Not saying that's a bad thing.
Cut to video footage of Mighty Joe in full on caveman mode interspersed with footage Anthony's heinous attack on Joe at last month's show. The final shot was a drawing on Anthony with dog collar around his neck. "Dax is Dead 12/24" was scrawled on the drawing.
Anthony and Joe will indeed square off in a Dog Collar match Saturday night at VFW Post 660.
Cut to a camera spying on 3MP conversating with Blue Chips. 3MP told Blue Chips that if they stuck to the plan, they would send Exotic Youth packing just like he and Impala di in Atlanta. Impala told 3MP this was the last time. They had Li now and they had to win tonight.
Loved the added believability factor of the camera catching this private conversation on the sly.
(5) Alex Kane defeated Pat Roach (with Pastor Jaykes) via submission in 7:55. Kane surprised Roach with a tope before the bell. Bomaye chants abound and Kane rules early with signature suplexes and splashes. Roach got Kane onto the ground and kept him there by any means necessary. Roach applied a crossface. Kane able to hook the bottom rope with his foot. Spear and a german suplex by Kane but Roach answered with a ripcord lariat for long two count. Kane reversed a sleeper and Roach tapped fast.
An interesting match up that added variety to the show. CEW couldn't go wrong with an appearance by the forever MLW World Champion. Pastor Jaykes went 0 for 3 on the night. That can't make the Boss Daddy happy.
(6) Exotic Youth (Zach Mosley & Cornelius Pepperbottom) defeated Blue Chips (KJ Impala & Parker Li with 3MP) to retain the Tag Team Turmoil Championship in 11:45. A big lariat by Impala brought the shine to crashing halt. Li and 3MP double teamed Pepps on the outside. Seamless teamwork by Blue Chips. Li applied a sweet grounded full nelson. Impala cut off Pepp's rally with a spinning Deep Six. Mosley cleaned house. He flapjacked Impala onto Li and squashed them both with a senton. 3MP interfered to foil EY's finisher. Pepps saved Mosley on the Chips' finisher. Ashining wizard to the back of skull and a stomp by Mosley and Li was toast.
Afterward, Impala shoved 3MP down and Blue Chips walked out on him.
I liked this a lot. It had the energy and flow of a high caliber tag match. I really like Blue Chip. Li looks like a million bucks. Unfortunately, it would appear their act has been written out of CEW, at least for the time being. EY will have their hands full with Good Hand (Suge D & Tyler Stevens) Saturday night.
(7) Hakeem Young defeated Michael Walker in a Last Man Standing Match to win the Chaos Championship in 27:47. A war from the opening bell. Dueling chairs did not end well for Hakeem. Walker walloped Young with a baking pan. Young was bleeding after Walker propelled him head first into the post. Walker pounded the cut and bumped fists with fans in the front row. Walker crowned Hakeem with a kendo stick. Hakeem went low and staggered his way back into the ring. Walker was busted open after taking a flatliner into a wedged chair. Walker fell through the ropes and slumped to the floor. Hakeem made creative use of the baking pan. Walker was writhing in agony, his face covered in blood. Young blasted Walker's back with a chair. Walker tied Young up in the ropes and took target practice on his gut with a kendo stick. Walker propped a table up in the corner. Hakeem set a steel coffin up on the floor. Benefield said this was getting hard to watch. Both men down after a Young superplex with the fans chanting for Fro. They pounded each other silly with strikes until both men collapsed. Walker speared Hakeem into the steel coffin. Sold like they were dead. Benefield said the blood thirsty crowd was loving it. A scramble for control of a chair ended with Hakeem punching the chair into Walker's head. Both men down face first. Walker barely beating the ten count. Hakeem in disbelief. Walker with a one finger salute but too weak to stay upright.
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Hakeem duct-taped Walker to the table and gave him a chance to quit. Walker spit in Hakeem's face. Young sadistically destroyed a defenseless Walker with a kendo stick. Young ascended to the top rope and splashed Walker through the table. Hakeem used the ropes to get to his feet at nine. Walker never moved a muscle.
The crowd was left in stunned silence. With the belt over his shoulder, Hakeem derisively shook Walker's limp hand and basked in the glory of victory.
Topping off everything that had already gone down in this feud was a tall order. This was a sick match andas gritty as it gets. They relentlessly ramped up the violence while allowing each excruciatingly brutal step to sink in. The implement were used with skill. Their selling was a vital ingredient to making the match work as well as it did. If there was ever a time for blood this was it and Walker outdid himself. The commentary added to the drama. Benefield was absolutely outstanding on play-by-play.
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