RIPW Unshackled II -- Now That's TV Debut

From Larry Goodman: RIPW debuted on Now That's TV with Unshackled II. The show was a literal work in progress - sound mix way off, uneve...

From Larry Goodman:

RIPW debuted on Now That's TV with Unshackled II.

The show was a literal work in progress - sound mix way off, uneven lighting, commentary was non-existent for the first few matches.  The Now That's TV  crew has great cameras and also lacked clue one about how to shoot pro wrestling. They use some funky camera angles that took getting used to. The shot of the commentators (Don Miguel, Techno 3000 and Mike Fullilove) made them look like suspects in a lineup.

The great news was that production got the thing dialed in the latter part of the show. The final hour contained some of the best wrestling ever in an RIPW ring.

-- Former world champions Jonathan Gresham and Alex Kane went to war and had a tremendous match, a blend of technical mastery and beating hell out of each other.

-- Hakeem Young emerged as the victor of a brutal Unshackled.  

-- Renegade Enforcer turned on his business partner, lawyer Michael Lambros after the main event to become the head of Now That's Wrestling and took a bunch of talent with him.

The move to El Galaxy was an emergency plan after the City of South Fulton shut down the RIPW show at the Now That's TV production facility one week earlier. I hated to see RIPW leave  Kagez Sports Hall. There was something special about the vibe of that space.

The show opened without an intro and the opening match in progress.

(1) Shawn Montana defeated Cole Chrome by submission. Chrome put his dome to good use. Montana took Chrome to the ground and tapped him out with a Texas cloverleaf.

Don Miguel introduced Teddy Long for some "holla holla holla" action that got over well with the crowd.

(2) Grayson Pierce defeated Blak Jak Mak to retain the WWA4 Championship in 6:37. They had a good match ending when Pierce pinned BJM with the Skullpiercer.

(3) William Huckaby vs. Jay Tyler (with unnamed manager) was ruled a double DQ at 10:31. They were bludgeoning each other like crazy and refused to stop so Darry Hall called for the bell.

(4) Spectre defeated Charlie Kills in a hardcore match (9 minutes). They sat down thumb wrestled until Kill bit Spectre's thumb. Kills choke slammed Spectre onto a bed of Legos. For the finish, Spectre placed Kills' head against a chair in the corner and dropkicked a second chair into the back of his head, which was a lot more believable than a conchairto.

(5) Top Team (Jay Lucas & Keelin Cole & Leo Dagr8 & Mr. Danger) defeated Left Hand Path (Austin Towers & Trever Aeon & Eric Silva & Tyreke) in 14:42. LHP gave Dagr8 a fierce beating. Top Team took LHP down with insane dives to the outside. Lucas and Cole teamed up for a combo top rope double stomp/fireman's carry slam to pin Tyreke.

Deity said this show didn't deserve her and walked out.

(6) Rose Gold defeated Saraya Saber in a last woman standing match at 11:13. Saber worked over Gold's leg and almost had her down for the count with a Saber Stunner. Saber stayed down for the 10 count after taking Gold's second Gori Bomb of the match.

Deity attacked both women after the match and left Gold laying.

(7) Shoot Taylor pinned Zicky Dice with a springboard uppercut in 3:54. Shoot needed to over to keep him in the hunt after losing to Kane at the last show.

(8) Jonathan Gresham pinned former MLW World Champion Alex Kane in 17:11. Early on, Kane was in the driver's seat his suplex attack. Gresham's back was killing him. Gresham hit a pair of dropkicks to Kane's knee. Gresham methodically dissected Kane's knee. Gresham applied an old school figure four. Kane grabbed the ropes but Gresham punished him a long time for releasing the hold. Kane went for a german suplex, Gresham landed on his feet and dropkicked the knee. Kane hit a standing splash and immediately clutched his knee. They got into a battle of chops. Kane went wild and came within a heartbeat of pinning Gresham with an release suplex. Kane went for another german. Gresham again landed on his feet and maneuvered into a variation of the figure four. Kane got to the ropes but he was hobbling. He speared Gresham but was not able to muster full force. They furiously pounding each other with forearms, neither man giving ground. They stripped their wrist tape off and chopped each other to pieces. Gresham used strikes to get Kane to the mat and work his way back to the figure four. Gresham was torturing Kane with a standing figure four leglock. The pain became so intense Kane was unable to raise a shoulder off the mat. A unique finish to a tremendous match, great wrestling, striking and they sold big. 

Gresham had been subtle heel and received some boos when he won. Gresham and Kane shook hands after the match.

(9) RIPW Unshackled Match: Hakeem Young defeated Najasism and Zach Mosley and Skrilla The Great and Eddie Hindrixx and Ehren Black in 25:51. Skrilla was the mystery combatant. Mosley and Naja started with the other four competitors handcuffed to their respective corners, Hindrixx was first to be released from the handcuffs.Young was next. Mystery man Skrilla in the fifth position.  Black was #6. Everybody attacked Black to get the big man out but Ehren stood tall. Black eliminated the only white guy first with a Big Ending on Mosley at 16:18. Finishers from the other four on Black and they all piled on to pin him at 17:44. Former Deep South rivals Naja and Skrilla went at it. Hakeem rolled Skrilla up using the tights at 20:41. Hendrixx eliminated Naja with Tour of the Planet, which is an epic Black Hole Slam at 21:03. Down to Hakeem and Eddie. Hakeem gave Hindrixx a low blow and delivered the kill shot to the base of the skull for the win.  

 
Postmatch -- Enforcer called Lambros to the ring and informed him he would be leaving RIPW to take charge of Now That's Wrestling. Lambros said he'd been cut out of Renegade's talks with NTW and saw this coming. He was going to slap an injunction on Renegade. "In legal terms, you're fucked." Renegade said he was taking his people with him. LHP, Huck, Spectre and Skrilla hit the ring to back up Renegade. The forces backing Lambos hit the ring and Renegade's crew bailed. Renegade is clearly the heel in this deal. The crowd had Lambros and company's back.