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| Photos by Gina Jones |
From Larry Goodman:
The Young Lions tournament is more than a showcase of promising talent. In the hands of ProSouth creative, it is an instument for telling compelling stories that tug at the heart strings.
2023 had the story of childhood friends, Saul Wright and Bobcat, battling it out in the finals. In 2024, it was Chris Kamikaze's return from injury to fulfill his promise to win the ProSouth Championship before the year ended...and to surprise his fiancee with a marriage proposal in the ring.
DRP is your 2025 Young Lion's Cup winner. He's been a fixture at ProSouth since his first appearance in July. Talents like DRP do not grow on trees, especially in small out-the-way destinations like Piedmont, AL.
His story arc took him from being the low man on the totem pole in the Karmegeddon heel group, an abused lackey subject to Scott Adams' whims, to a babyface turn during the course of the tournament that had the people on their feet chanting three letters "D-R-P" as he overcame adversity to emerge victorious.
But there was more to the tournament story. KJ Valentine turned to the darkside and has evidently secured a regular spot on the roster as part of a faction led by Steven Calozzi. Valentine's character development in recent weeks as been eye opening.
Coming off a disappointing match on Night One, Andreus showed his true stuff in the best match of the night with Asher Andrews.
"The Tex Mex Terminator" Julian Balderas is a talent ot keep on eye on.
IN a member only exclusive taped af the show, New ProSouth Champion Joe Black appeared with Commissioner Amy Haven at his side.
The ProSouth crowd rose to the occasion as they did at Annivesary Supershow. Their enthusiasm permeated the livestream and made for a better show.
Announcers, referees and videographer were the same as Night One except for a change in the referee crew. Adam Hunter was replaced by rookie Zach Vines.
Quarterfinals:
(1) KJ Valentine pinned Ryan Wyndell with the Blackout at 7:10. Wyndell reintroduced himself as loyal to true professional wrestling from across the pond, not this flippy clown show stuff. Valentine entered tas the hand slapping, pandering babyface with the crowd chanting his name at the opening bell.
Valentine outwrestled The Loyalist. Wyndell thumbed Valentine in the eye. Wyndell tried to pin Valentine with feet on the ropes (same way he won his opening round match). Didn't work this time and Valentine won with his finisher.
Not good wrestling by any stretch but totally effective for the story being told. Crowd was loving KJ. I couldn't help but be perversely entertained by Wyndell's act.
(2) DRP pinned Julian Balderas with an Oklahoma Roll at 6:50. No way DRP could match the power and stength of Balderas. The Tex Mex Terminator took DRP to high impact city with a sitout powerbomb, one-arms sidewalk slam, running power slam and black hole slam. DRP rolled away from the triple jump Vader bomb Balderas used to win his opening round match and pinned him with a sweet old school babyface move.
Balderas is force of nature. His strength, explosive power, surprising agility and Rhyno-like body build make him unrepeatable.
Scott Adams confronted DRP. Said he needed to know where he stood with Karmegeddon before the night was over. Adams was especially peeved about DRP frollicking with AJ Black and Justin McKenzie and missing his birthday. DRP was defiant.
Three magic letters were taking hold with the crowd: D-R-P.
(3) Asher Andrews pinned Andreus with a pump kick in 9:23. Andreus methodically shredded the knee of Andrews. Working on a bum leg, Andrews employed a stunner and a series of kicks to the sternum with his good leg. To make matters worse, Andrews missed a drive by and jammed his knee on the ring post. Andreus capitalized with a figure four around the ring post. Andreus wasn't finished. He used a kneebreaker, a dragon screw and a leg DDT to set up a leg lock/heel hook combo. In desperation, Andrews threw Andreus out of the ring. Back inside, Andrews targeted Andreus' back and busted out a suplex assortment pack. Andreus took a face bump into the turnbuckle charging in. Andrews used a cradle back suplex to set up his finisher.
This was the fierce Andreus match that did not happen on Night One. He was on from the moment he hit the spinning heel kick in the opening minute. His destruction of Andrews' knee was the some truly sadistic technical wrestling. Andrews' recuperative powers were a unrealistically amazing after the damage Andreus inflicted.
(4) Travis Mason defeated Murdo Brown with a spear in 6:22. Brown attacked the wrist. The commentary got over how debilitating a wrist injory could be. Mason fought up from the bottom. He had Brown's burning hammer scouted and beat him with the spear he used to win on night one.
Passable but a tough watch after the last match. Mason's howl gave me a spine-chilling flashback to Big Bad Wolf during last year's cup tournament.
Semifinals:
(5) KJ Valentine defeated Travis Mason with an assist from Trey Jordan (5:08). Valentine dodged the spear and hit the Blackout but Mason kicked out. While Valentine kept referee Void occupied, Jordan hit the with Air Jordan on Mason. Void amazingly neither heard or saw any evil and counted the pin for Valentine.
Jordan raised the hand of Valentine, who was laughing maniacally. Valentine gave Mason another Blackout and left with Jordan as the third member of Steven Calozzi's Money, Power and Respect.
Valentine's heel turn was a nice piece of business nobody saw coming. He was just starting to get over as a babyface.
Andrews was kept strong. He had the knee injury and became the first in ProSouth to kick out DRP's finisher.
Fine as a side quest about the rivalry among the heels and to further strengthen the position of Money, Power and Respect. Also a nice way to get more TV time for the competitors that lost in the opening round.
Scott Adams and Christian Garrett delivered the ultimatum to DRP. Adams put on his "business attire" wig for the occasion: "Are you a born again Christian or are you still a Derp?"
DRP and the ProSouth faithful spelled it out for them in unison "D-R-P".
Garrett clubbed DRP from behind. Adams beat on DRP with punches and chops. Garret gave DRP a pair of belt shots. Adams choked DRP until his body went limp. DRP was in no condtion to wrestle match as the Clown Prince of Kaos made his entrance.
(8) DRP defeated KJ Valentine (with Trey Jordan) to win the Young Lions Cup Tournament in 7:02. Valentine covered DRP and slapped the mat in frustration waiting for a referee. Joseph Void finally slid in and DRP kicked out just before the three count. Valentine kept hitting moves and going for pins. DRP kicked out each time as alternating chants of "DRP" and "Valentine sucks" grew louder. Valentine tried to choke DRP out but his arm did not drop the third time. DRP started to fight back. Valentine gave DRP a flatliner hotshot (Whatley said he was stealing that) and a double stomp to the back. Again, DRP kicked out. DRP fired up -- two lariats and a pair of slingblades. Valentine was reeling. DRP hit the Panama Ciy Plunge (northern lights suplex). Valentine rolled a shoulder at 2 and 1/2. Valentine raked the eyes to escape the Waverider and kicked DRP in the face to tee him up for the Blackout (aka the House Call ala Swerve Strickland). It connected but DRP got a foot on the ropes. Valentine pulled DRP away from the ropes. DRP kicked out. Valentine looked ready to cry. Valentine kicked Void in the balls and knocked him out with the Blackout. Jordan jumped in with a low blow for DRP. Jordan mounted DRP on his shoulder for the F5. DRP reversed it with a DDT. DRP hit the Waverider on Valentine and Matthew Gibson slid in to make the three count.
I don't know how the deck could have been stacked any higher against DRP or how this match could possibly have played any better than it did. Valentine turned in the performance of his brief ProSouth career. DRP left with the Lions Cup and as the most over babyface in Piedmont.
AJ Black and Justin McKenzie (the other 2/3 of the hot prospects triple threat at Anniversary Supershow) presented DRP with The Cup. The three men embraced as the livesteam came to a close.
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