Next Level Championship Wrestling Episode Two -- Augusta on March 29

Photos by Juan Blas From Larry Goodman: My worst fears were not realized. On the contrary, Episode Two was a  major  improvement over Next L...

Photos by Juan Blas

From Larry Goodman:

My worst fears were not realized. On the contrary, Episode Two was a  major  improvement over Next Level's debut show. 

In his promo posted on social media, Sal Rinauro said Next Level was out to prove the sequel could be better than its predecessor. In this case, it was way better. 

Augusta fans got their first real taste of Ace Haven's booking and it resonated. Some imposter booked their first show. The stories were vividly painted in matches and angles. None of the segments overstayed their welcome. All was said and done in two hours.

Episode Two generated the intrigue around the Six Scrolls Tournament that was sorely lacking in Chapter One when the concept was about as clear as mud. 

The outcome of the Six Scrolls Tournament will determine the inaugural NLCW Champion. For those keeping score at home, Rico Gonzalez has two scolls, Alex Kane, Hakeem Young, Rob Killjoy and GWH Male Performer of the Year Alexander Lev (yes, Lev) each have one.

- Jada Stone got over like rover despite her scheduled opponent (Leah Knight) cancelling with inadequate time to find a replacement. 

-  Lev made a surprise appearance after main event and will be managed by the newly villainous Amy Haven. 

- Next Level needed a monster and now they have one in Austin Towers. Towers was Trever Aeon's mystery partner, as Left Hand Path appear to in the fold to feud with the cleverly-named Concealed Syndicate.

- The show was not without backstage drama. Skrilla The Great was scheduled for the six man main event. He was in the backstage area and left after getting paid and without performing. Skrilla's future at Next Level is no doubt in question. 

Paid attendance was 191, close to double what they drew for  Episode One, and this was a much hotter crowd than they had for their debut. Owner Josh Fields reconfigured the Legion Post 163 setup to get the crowd closer the action. The lighting still needs work and video screens are too small to be useful.

Next Level has their work cut out for them on April 12 when they run head-to-head with the Viral Pro show five miles away. Lev is on the poster for the Viral Pro show. At this point, the respective rosters of the two companies have no other talents in common.

Owner Josh Fields opened the show and he was flexing. Fields said the people talking crap about NLCW could kiss his ass, so I guess Stephen Platinum and I some ass kissing to do. He thanked his wife Jody for her work to make this show a success and said he liked to stir the pot. "Welcome to Next Level f'n Championship Wrestling".

(1) Top Shootas (Maurice Moss & Trey Da'Rula) defeated Wonder Boyz (Aaron & Ethan Dallas) in 5:35 to advance in the NLCW tag team tournament. This match got the show off on the right foot. These teams brought the energy. Shootas are an athletic, aerially-oriented team out of the Carolinas with loads of attitude and they were impressive. They put pressure on Aaron. He went to tag Ethan but he had been knocked off the apron. Ethan's work has gotten crisper. His Buckshot Lariat looked good. Wonder Boyz' big near fall came off a Hart Attack style combo leg drop. Shootas smoked Ethan and pinned Aaron with a powerbomb/top rope lariat. 

Postmatch, Rula  said the fans just got their first glimpse of the tournament winners. Step to us and get put down. He name dropped Nawfside Heroes. Yes please.

Dark City Violence Connection (Murder One & Joe Black)  and All-Star Special (Huckaby & Jay 2Strong) burst through the curtain to brawl at ringside. Top Shootas got the hell out to watch Huck and Murder batter each other from a safe distance.

(2) Rico Gonzalez defeated Hunter Drake in the Six Scrolls Tournament (10:59). Rico who already had one scroll, said he needed another one for more power. Gonzalez understands how to read an audience and get heat. He played this crowd like a violin. Drake was the pandering babyface and the loved him for it

Gonzalez ran his mouth and stalled until he got "chicken" chant. He sarcastically congratulated the crowd for being so innovative. Rico tried to lull Drake into a false sense of security with clean breaks. Drake got on a roll. Gonzalez took a powder. Drake went out after Rico and posted him. Back inside, Gonzalez hit a series of hangman's neckbreakers, the third of which was draping hangman for a two count. Drake had the crowd chanting his name for his comeback. He got a near fall with a running shooting star. Move the match was Drake slingshotting to a standing position on Rico's back and hitting a Code Red from  there. Rico shoved the ref into the ropes to upend Drake. Rico then gave him cutter on the buckle and flattened Hunter on the apron with a double stomp. 1-2-3. Good match.

Gonzalez got his scroll from referee. He didn't see Justin McKenzie coming at him with a tumbleweed. McKenzie absconded with Rico's scroll. 

(3) Grudge Match: Left Hand Path (Trever Aeon & Austin Towers with Mathias Darkthorne) defeated Concealed Syndicate (Caeden Ooten & Cameron Keast with Harley Haven) via DQ in 9:38. Keast got his ass whipped by Towers. Guy  looked like he was dying. Harley's interference put Concealed Syndicate in the driver's seat. Aeon and Ooten slugged it out on their knees. Aeon's corkscrew body block got him out of hot water.  Towers ran wild. Aeon with a Gothplex for Keast. Harley stole Darkthorne's cane and wacked Towers with it for the DQ.

The cane got Towers' attention. Concealed Syndicate (clever name) kneecapped him to put the monster down. Aeon got the green mist from Harley and a fireball from Keast. I missed the fireball spot but I guess I really didn't because it fizzled. Keast is 0 for 2 in Next Level fireballs.

Towers said Ooten ran the most so he wanted him one-on-one on April 12.  

While McKenzie was at the merch tables during intermission, Gonzalez attacked him and took his scroll back. McKenzie was left in a heap on the floor. Gonzalez went to the ring and challenged McKenzie to a match on April 12 with two scrolls at stake. How dare he get in Rico's business. This segment had the building buzzing. 

(4) Alex Kane defeated Sal Rinauro in the Six Scrolls Tournament (15:27).  Both competitors had appeared in this building for IWE but were not well known in Augusta. As expected, this was a more technically-oriented match, not exactly this crowd's cup of tea. Sal's eccentric behavior caught their attention. Kane had to win them over, except a hot girl in the second row who seemed to be enamored with him from the jump. 

They opened on the mat amateur style. Sal sat down and clapped like a little kid. He seemed to be getting in Kane's head. Kane got under Sal's skin by mocking his antics. Kane hit a belly-to-belly suplex, a jumping splash and gave Rinauro a titty twister?? Kane countered Sal's tornado DDT with a release suplex and they both got up holding their aching backs. Rinauro zeroed in on Kane's back. Kane broke out a sweet slingshot falcon arrow and a gutwrench powerbomb for near falls. Rinauro went back to the body part with a sidewalk slam on the ring apron. Kane beat the 10 count. Sal superkicked him and tried for the Tiger Driver but couldn't get it. Kane gave Rinauro five consecutive german suplexes. Looked like Sal landed on his head on the last one but he was OK. As Rinauro dove off the ropes, Kane made the catch and hoisted him into position for a Jackhammer.  

There were but two singles matches on the show (not counting match #5), Gonzalez vs. Drake was more spot-oriented. These guys wrestled. Both matches entertained. I predict Kane will grow on the Next Level fans.

(5) Jada Stone defeated Sal Rinauro in 32 seconds. Stone entered in dynamic, athletic fashion. Rinauro tried to get the drop on her as they shook hands. Stone superkicked Sal in the mush and pinned him with a moonsault. Crowd ate it up. Rinauro is a compliment to the wrestling business, a true professional. Stone came out of the deal as one of most over performers on the show. She will be booked for a return engagement.

(6) All-Star Special (William Huckaby & Jay 2 Strong) defeated The Hierarchy (Murder One & Joe Black & Kenway) in 7:13. Simple, gut level stuff. It was rebooked as handicap match after Skrilla went AWOL. Hierarchy took full advantage of the numbers. Huckaby got laid out on the floor and was no help to 2Strong who got completely dismantled by Hierarchy. 2Strong was almost a walking corpse by the time he hit a desperation cutter. Black tried to pull Huck off the apron to prevent the hot tag but Huck foiled him, a nice touch instead of the usual cliche. Huck cleaned house and pinned Murder, who falsely claimed his tights had been pulled. 

Amy Haven made her way to the ring. Amy congratulated All-Star Special. She was sorry that had fight without their partner but they did it and she wanted to give a scroll to someone deserving. Lev came to the ring. The crowd seemed not to know him. Amy gave Huckaby a nut shot. Lev gave 2Strong the Lev Clash, then pulled out a screwdriver and jabbed it into the foreheads of All-Star Special. Amy handed Lev the scroll (the one she picked up during the chaos at the end of Episode One). All-Star Special were left laying to close the show. 

The angle got heat and I like Amy as a heel paired with Lev. The lack of blood made it difficult to suspend disbelief when a screwdriver was being jabbed into foreheads. I have a hunch the screwdriver was not the original idea.

NOTES: Darryl Hall and Lewis Santiago were the referees...Salem Alexander, the possessor of a booming voice, was the ring announcer... The video production was by Kevin Pierce and Superjaw Productions...Bob Keller ran sound and provided the ring...PWE owner James Hunter was in the house as was AC Mack, D'Angelo, Karl Hager, PWE owner  and GWH contributor Charles Felder.