From Jeff Richards: T-Mart Promotions' one-night tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion dragged into the night. When the dust fi...
From Jeff Richards:
T-Mart Promotions' one-night tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion dragged into the night. When the dust finally settled, Court Montgomery outlasted 15 other competitors to become T-Mart's third champion of note.
In other news, Samantha Starr won a fatal four-way (elimination) bout to become the first ever Women's Champion. Starr has gotten herself into great shape and returned to Charlotte victorious. Father Sam Houston and mother Baby Doll were on hand to witness their daughter's success.
Montgomery pulled off some dubious upsets.
In terms of quality match-ups, this year's card produced some dream bouts. But (and you knew there was a "but" coming) some matches were incredibly short. All afternoon long, there were rumors of a 16-match card. Groans could be heard from fellow promoters bemoaning the tournament format. The crowd settled in quickly. Two hundred folks were seated by 7:20 p.m., and another 35 made their way into the University Hilton's ballroom eventually.
Ken Resnick made a few comments concerning Hulk Hogan's recent passing. "He will never ever be forgotten," Resnick intoned. A ten bell salute with all wrestlers and officials surrounding the ring commenced. Every match in the tournament (no draws) were officiated under one fall 15 minute time limits.
1) Brock Anderson (managed by Arn Anderson) was counted out of the ring versus Kerry Morton after 6:08. Father Ricky Morton was noticeably absent from the first "Gathering" that I can recall. Kerry carried his NWA U.S. Tag-team title belt to the ring w/ him. Both wrestlers took it outside the ring at the 4 minute mark. Brock was still on the outside when referee Spanky said "ten." Fans hated that finish. Rating: 1 star
2) Psycho Boy Fodder (w/ "Sinister Minister" James Mitchell) pinned Lodi in 4:19. Mitchell got involved early. While on the apron, Mitchell distracted Lodi, who was schoolboyed and had his trunks pulled. Rating: 1 1/2 stars
Second-generation superstar Colby Corino was announced as "injured"; therefore, Caleb Konley received a bye into the second round.
3) "Action" Mike Jackson surprised George South with a pinfall in 6:12. To some unattractive women in the audience, South shouted, "Put some make-up on"! Jackson informed us that he has known South Sr. for "42 years," and it was time to shut him up. Of course, Jackson was up for his tightrope walking spot. South, though, responded with a Blackjack Mulligan claw. However, South went for the claw one too many times, and Jackson small-packaged "No. 1" for the win. rating: 1 3/4 stars
4) CW Anderson (w/ Brittany Marie) knocked off "Southern Savior" John Skyler in 3:33. Skyler has put on great mass and is enjoying his work in TNA Wrestling as part of "The Order 4." Poor Brittany was used as a shield for Skyler to hide behind. CW kicked out of Skyler's springboard spear. Anderson beat his opponent to the punch with a superkick and hit the spinebuster for the 1-2-3. Rating: 2 1/4 stars
5) "Total Protection" Mr. Hughes was disqualified versus Court Montgomery for using a chain in a paltry 2:31. Rating: DUD
6) Bam Bam Bundy (w/ Lucky P. Larson) squashed Aubrey Wright in 4:27. Wright came to the ring Junkyard Dog-style with "Another One Bites the Dust." Well, he did. Larson accidentally tripped his own man at one point. It was a sign of things to come. A Bundy powerslam followed by a giant splash spelled the end for Wright. Rating: 1 1/2 stars
7) Bozworth pinned "The Reinforcer" Andrew Anderson (w/ his goddess Karen) in 2:38. Anderson committed the first sneak attack of the night. His over-accessorized wife @ ringside interfered, of course. She hit her hubby with a loaded purse (by accident?), and Boz scored the pinfall. Rating: 1/2 of a star
8) In second round action, Morton put away Fodder (w/ Mitchell) in 4:51. This was the best match so far with no intermission in sight (or at all). Fodder jumped his foe @ the bell. Now we have a pattern. Mitchell choked Morton on the ring apron. The most impressive move so far was Fodder's standing superplex (of Morton) off the top turnbuckle. Morton retaliated with a whirligig maneuver. Then the third-generation grappler connected with his "Kiss It Goodbye" knee, and Fodder was toast. Rating: 2 3/4 stars (would have been higher if not for how short it was)
9) JCW's Konley cheated past "Action" Jackson in 8:32. With Jackson, every year you get your money's worth. We got the top rope walk spot again, Heck, Jackson even pulled off a tope! A Russian leg sweep put MJ down briefly. Konley missed a sweet swanton, and Jackson's strap came down a la Jerry Lawler. Not trying to provoke an enraged Jackson, Konley settled for a kiwi roll and pinned Mike using the ropes for leverage. Rating: 3 1/4 stars
10) Montgomery stunned "The Rottweiler" CW Anderson (w/ Britt Marie) in 5:14. These second rout bouts had 15:00 time limits too. Anderson played the cagey veteran; Montgomery portrayed a game youngster. The finish was well concocted: Montgomery blocked a superkick; Anderson blocked an ace crusher. Montgomery countered CW's spinebuster attempt with a roll-up. Spanky administered a fast count for the upset win. Rating: 1 3/4 stars
11) In the final 2nd round bout, Bozworth slipped past Bundy in 1:27. Wow, don't blink! Boz got the fast start, even kicking out of Bundy's earth-shattering legdrop. Larson, out again w/ Bundy, pushed in his dented briefcase, but Bundy took the brunt, not the hint. Bozworth left with his new manager, Larson. Rating: 1/4 of a star
12) "Perfect Knockout" Starr outlasted Ella Envy, Rachael Ellering and Savannah Evans to win her ninth championship. Total time of the fall was 7:28. Envy, who shows more & more charisma every time I see her, wanted to align with NWA stablemate Starr, So, we had some interesting alliances at first, but Envy was afraid of everyone. A triple sleeper was broken up by Envy's stunner. Envy eliminated Evans, whose shoulder was clearly up, with a schoolgirl in 4:49. Ellering eliminated Ella 45 seconds later. It was now down to Ellering vs. Starr... ROH vs. NWA. A minute and 56 seconds later, Starr channeled her uncle Jake Roberts' DDT to pin Ellering and win the inaugural belt. SC superfan Ronnie Nunn presented Miss Starr the gold. Rating: 2 stars
13) Montgomery pinned Bozworth (w/ new manager Larson) in the first semi-final match lasting 2:13. Boz attacked at the bell this time. This was too short to get any heat. Montgomery won with a schoolboy. it was all about the post-match. Boz laid out Montgomery, leaving fans wondering if Court would be able to return for the finale. Rating: 1/4 of a star
14) Konley advanced to the finals by defeating former T-Mart champion Morton in 13:02. This one came close to the 15 minute time limit, but there were no time calls. Out came Larson & Bozworth again, acting like nothing had happened previously. Larson had been promising all night that one of his men was walking out with the vacant title belt. This time, he introduced Konley, who was apparently under his tutelage (or girth). It was the third match for Morton but only the second for Konley. "The Obsession" even took a bump from AML referee Tre. Morton's plancha floored the pin-balling Konley, who was bumping like crazy. Konley kicked out of KM's "Kiss It Goodbye" knee. Following a ref bump in the corner, Konley got a leg up Morton's nether region and scored with a La Magistral cradle. A fresher Konley advanced to the finals to meet Montgomery. Rating: 2 1/2 stars
"Bring out the next and last victim," Larson bellowed.
15) Montgomery captured T-Mart's annual title in 7:06. Ironically, Konley was the victim, and Spanky's fast-counting didn't help. Other referees tried to talk Montgomery, still selling the effects of Boz' post-match attack, out of participating. Not happening! Bozworth took a seat at ringside temporarily. Uh oh, another ref bump! That's two if you're still counting. Montgomery hit a stunner, but there was no referee. Boz, now perched on the apron, took a spill. In came the dented briefcase. Before it could be properly utilized, Bundy in rare babyface form rushed to the ring (!) and attacked Larson. Now bleeding, Montgomery took a Konley double stomp off the middle rope. Spanky (substitute referee) rumbled in, but Montgomery bailed out in time. Guess Konley should stomp like Seth "Celebratin' " Rollins does. Anyhow, Montgomery stunned Konley to pick up his well-deserved belt victory. Rating: 1 3/4 stars
Notes and Observations: "The Gathering VI" was expanded to an extra day this year. According to regular patrons, this might have been the best yet. What is surprising is that for at least two years in a row, "The Gathering"'s Rumble has run against WWE's "Summerslam." Occasionally you will see a fan streaming the WWE PLE while the Hilton's "Rumble" is ongoing... Saturday's convention guests included Indi Hartwell, Van Hammer, Ken Patera, Ernest Miller, Manny Fernandez, Glacier, Madusa, etc.... Hartwell had flown up to NYC, wrestled for House of Glory Friday evening, and flew back to Charlotte by noon on Saturday. She posed for pics with former AEW librarian Leva Bates and SHIMMER's Allison Danger... Rocky Kernodle (aka Keith Larson) drove in from middle NC and still misses his brother Don "every day."... CW Anderson is proud of Brandon Bailey's promotion Mid-Atlantic Territory Wrestling (MATW) and has appeared there often. Anderson has been making suggestions for AML Wrestling but has not been offered the book. He needs to be offered... Angelina Love was present in a booth but did not accompany Fodder to the ring... Orion X was a no-show or scratch from the tournament.... In speaking with former T-Mart Heavyweight Champion Nate the Great, I was shocked to learn about a medical condition last year. Two weeks prior to his capturing the gold belt, Nate had suffered a concussion. Against his doctor's wishes, he flew to Charlotte and competed in a multi-man cage match. With his family in tow, Nate vacated the belt upon winning it. Retired for a year now, Nate misses the ring but still assists in promoting the "Gathering" event... TN promoter Scott Campbell, NC promoter John Collins and manager extraordinaire Dave Wills were all in attendance... Rockin Robin, a former WWF Women's Champion, broke her leg two weeks ago and was unable to appear. She will be making her final convention appearance at "The Gathering 2026."
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