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| Photos by Gina Jones |
From Larry Goodman:
Cody Windham punched his Golden Ticket to a ProSouth title match. Windham earned the right to the first shot at new ProSouth Champion Ace Haven by winning a triple threat main event. Windham screwed over Karmegeddon stablemate Ayden Andrews in the process. Andrews' status in Karmageddon has to be considered a question mark going forward. Windham is in the midst of his first major push in what has been a start and stop deal over the last six months or so.
The tag team title situation will be resolved one way or another next week. ProSouth is bringing back Draw To Brawl to determine new tag team champions.
A host of new talents were showcased during the first half.
I liked this a lot. Glad they were given some time. This was good matchmaking. DRP definitely has something and working with Pierce helped to bring those intrinsic qualities out. DRP's fundamentals are sound. There's an 80s throwback quality to his. look. I was getting flashbacks of Eddie Gilbert and Continental.
This was interesting. Valentine and DLV are two young guys that have not yet filled out their physiques. Neither has much experience but they enough athletic ability to be dangerous.
(3) X-Alater defeated Trey Jordan (with DLV) via DQ in 3:20. X-Alater gave Jordan a flying kick of some sort and boosted himself onto the top turnbuckle. DLV grabbed X-Alater's leg as went airborne. His landed looked wonky as all get out. DLV started tattooing X-Alater's with punches for the DQ.
Postmatch, Jordan and DLV gave X-Alater their So Be It finisher (Dominator/cutter combo).
Is it me or does X-Alater look borderline emaciated compared to six months ago? Jordan has quite the amalgamation of gestures as part of his entrance. He's a natural in the ring and deceivingly athletic for his size. Question is does he want to be a pro wrestling bad enough to get in shape?
(4) Steven Calozzi & AJ Black & Bubba Cagle (with Scott Adams) defeated All-Out Champion Julius Pryor & Joe Wood & Vougan in 9:43. Wood came to the ring drinking a Dr. Pepper. He exercised good judgement by holding off on the pickle. Wood executed the colon throws. With perfect timing, Black bailed out to avoid Pryor. Vougan caught a receipt from Cagle for an overly stiff kick and took the heat. Pryor and Black fought to the back. Wood gave Bubba the World's Widest Slam. Adams ran a distraction play while Calozzi blasted Wood with brass knucks. Vougan bicycle kicked Calozzi and Cagle pinned Vougan with Fear Street 85.
Smart move to book Calozzi and Vougan in a trio to limit overexposure. Vougan is good as a human punching bag and pin eater The finish was not excellence of execution on display. Upon further review, I like Calozzi wrestling with the sunglasses on. The good news was the Pryor vs. Black was kept special. to a preview with their rematch to come soon. The not so good news was a Wood vs. Calozzi rematch also appears to be in the works.
(5) Caeden Ooten defeated Christian Garrett in 7:43. Garrett turned his back on Ooten to play to the crowd. Ooten jumped him and worked over Garrett's braced knee for the body of the match. The commentary team talked about how the career trajectories of these former stablemates had gone in opposite directions during the last year - Ooten becoming a three-time ProSouth Champion while Garrett was on the shelf with knee surgery. Garrett was limping as he made his comeback. Garrett went for his pumphandle finisher. Ooten escaped but rolled out of the ring clutching his knee. Darkthorne speculated Ooten had suffered a dislocated patella. Garrett refused to accept winning by count out and rolled Ooten back in the ring. Garrett again turned his back on Ooten, who forearmed Garrett's knee and pinned him.
Garrett succumbed to dumb babyface syndrome. The simultaneous selling of knees at the finish was the most interesting thing about an otherwise dull match.
Ooten was pointing at his knee in agonizing pain when Pierce entered the ring in stalking stance. Pierce offered a hand, then pulled it back and laid Ooten out with Once Bitten. Ooten was face down and appeared to be in horrific pain. Pierce relished the condition Ooten was in.
The postmatch ruled. Ooten's selling of the knee was tremendous. Pierce was menacing and vindictive to the nth degree.
Ace said he was still the Willy Wonka of Alabama Wrestling and the winner of the Golden Ticket was guaranteed a candy flavored ass-whipping on July 25.
Keast said he was glad he and Ace could have this moment. He had complained all year about not getting a shot at this or that but now his best friend was the ProSouth Champion and he couldn't be happier. Last time Ace became champion there was this terrible thing that happened and he had felt bad about it for the few years and he was sorry. Keast said it had been an emotional week for him and he would address the Ravanna Xin situation after the main event.
Ace said they each had to handle their business. Cam should keep in mind, he would always have a Haven in his corner. The two men embraced.
Chosen One giving the hard sell that all is once again copacetic between them. With all that's gone down, it seemed too pat and I'm not buying it. Something had to give regarding the tag titles. Hierarchy had not appeared in Piedmont or made a title defense in over two months. The Draw To Brawls are a challenge for creative. The teams are determined in a shoot random draw.
(6) The Golden Ticket: Cody Windham (with Scott Adams) defeated Ayden Andrews (with Scott Adams) and Justin McKenzie to earn a ProSouth Championship match (6:37). Basically a handicap match until the finish with McKenzie going it alone against Windham and Andrews. McKenzie clotheslined Windham over the top rope. Andrews nailed McKenzie with a flying knee and hit Nail In The Coffin. Before Andrews could cover McKenzie, Windham rolled him up from behind with a handful of tights.
The layout and possibly the outcome had to be radically changed due to Buchanan canceling. The finishing sequence was really well done. Andrews' flying knee looked great and his timing with the move is uncanny.
Andrews was pissed at Windham. Adams tried to play peacemaker. Ace hit the ring with an cutter for Windham. Andrews left Windham to his own devices. Ace set up for a piledriver on Windham. Cagle jumped Ace from behind. Cagle and Windham started to double team Ace until Keast cleared the ring. Chosen Ones stood tall while Karmageddon regrouped on the outside. Andrews was nowhere to be found. Keast asked Ace to trust him. He had to handle to this next thing on his own.
Andrews sticking with Karmageddon was a long shot from the start. Andrews' character is better suited for being a lone wolf.
Keast said this (his relationship with Ravana Xin) was a deep, dark secret he had held for forever. For years, he had to listen to unicorn jokes about his other ex (Taylor Rae) and laugh because if they talked about Ravanna, it wouldn't be a joke. Ravanna wanted him to embrace his sins. Cam said anyone who had watched his career knows that's all he does. If this was the really the fight Ravanna wanted to have, he suggested she get to Piedmont on July 25 so they could put this eight year grudge to bed. Ravanna was telling him to embrace his sins and she was going to be shocked that he finds one sin in particular very enticing.
He could feel in his gut that Ravanna was there tonight so if she had some statement to make before July 25, he was there and had been waiting for 8 years.
The lights went out and stayed out for what felt like an eternity. The lights came on to find Ravana Xin in one corner. Keast backed into the opposite corner with blood coming from his mouth. The lights went out again.
Lights on -- Harley Haven was center ring facing Xin with a kendo stick in her hand. Harley attempted to light the stick on fire but it didn't catch. Harley advanced towards Xin, who left the ring. Harley turned towards Keast. He was on one knee looking petrified as the screen went to black.
The creative is not making it easy to hang with this story. Did I miss a Ravana Xin video or something? Xin's motivation needs to be fleshed out for current fans. She's been away from wrestling for a number of years. The best laid plan appeared to go awry when the kendo stick refused to light. Fire spots are Keast's Kryptonite.
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