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From Jeremy "The Impact" York:
(1-4-26 @ Monday Night Garage—Atlanta) -- Ring Announcer: Michael Longino Commentary: Drew “Drewski” Dickinson & “The Voice of Violence” Nathan Hamilton
Match 1: Alexandra Quinn V. Gemma Jewels (c—DSW Women’s Championship)—Audrey Allen joined Drew and Nathan for commentary as Jewels (accompanied by Jesse Morales) defended against Quinn. They lock up with Gemma shoving Quinn. Alexandra finds success with some shoulder tackles then a dropkick as Gemma hits the mat. Quinn hits a V-trigger knee for an early two count. Then she misses a splash and Jewels gains control using multiple knees in the corner. She tosses Alexandra across the ring followed by a couple kicks before getting her first two count of the contest. Gemma locks on a chin lock but Alexandra counters into an impressive German suplex for a two and seven eighths count. Jewels recovers to catch Quinn with a fallaway slam then overhears Audrey on commentary. She decides to confront Allen about the facts being discussed. While this distraction is ongoing, Jesse Morales climbs the ropes and attempts a frog splash….that misses as he crashes in a heap on the canvas! Quinn knocks him out of the ring and Gemma rolls back in to roll her up for a near fall. Forced STO from the champ leads to the 1,2,3. After the match, Allen and Gemma confront one another. Audrey goes for a shot on Gemma but hits Quinn instead! They scrap for a minute then realize Gemma is the real person of interest and chase after her and Jesse who scamper to the back.
Winner: (and still DSW Women’s Champion) Gemma Jewels (w/ Jesse Morales) via pinfall.
Match 2: Austin Towers V. “Big Strong” Mims (Quarterfinal of #1 Contender Tournament)—As Mims music hits, we see no movement from the entranceway. Towers asks the ref to start counting, which he does not. Then we hear a commotion and see Mims in a scrap with Lamar Diggs with many things not nailed down getting sent flying in all directions! Before order can be restored, Diggs has worn out the back and arms of Mims with a giant baking sheet, now twisted like a fortune cookie from the onslaught. Eventually they get Diggs to the back and Mims not-so-convincingly suggests he is good to go for his match. The bell ring as Towers relentlessly attacks Mims, targeting the arms of his “Big Strong” opponent. Mims attempts a small comeback, however Austin is not backing down. He utilizes his strong power to send Mims to the outside. They tangle then Austin introduces Mims to a ring post! Back inside as Towers is setting up the potential end for his foe, Mims fires back ultimately with strikes and kicks then a massive lariat that has Towers reeling. A belly to belly suplex on Austin garners a two count. Tower gathers himself to grab Mims by the throat to try a chokeslam…Mims breaks the grip! He goes for a back suplex, however Austin counters. As Mims slowly gets to his feet in the corner, Towers lunges forward for a flying kick straight to the face of Mims! He covers him for the win and advances into the semi-finals!
Winner: Austin Towers via pinfall to advance in the tournament.
Match 3: Jay “Alpha” Miller, “Body Snatcher” Hakeem Young (S.I.N.) V. Aaron & Ethan Dallas (The Wonderboyz)—In a non-title match up pitting the tag team champions versus the up and coming team of the Dallas brothers. This was Ethan’s debut in Deep South, however Aaron had been in singles action a few shows before. As the bell rings, a melee breaks out with each team jockeying for the early advantage. After some back and forth it’s the Wonderboyz delivering picturesque dropkicks in sync to send Hakeem and Jay onto the floor. Miller gets back in the ring first only to receive a double side-Russian leg sweep from the Dallas brothers who then drop Young with a double elbow smash. The champs take the action back outside where they level their competitors to the floor. As Ethan gets to his feet inside the ring he is met with the stunning, running STO from Hakeem that shook even the onlookers. Jay tags in for a splash in the corner and the heels continue to wear down the younger Dallas brother. They get a couple long two counts. Hakeem knocks Aaron off the apron and locks on a front face lock to Ethan while dropping to the mat for a gator roll. Finally Ethan finds his brother Aaron for the hot tag after an incredible enziguri. Aaron leaps from the top rope onto Miller and Young with a crossbody. He follows that with running European uppercuts in the corner to each foe. A flatliner and DDT combo drops the members of S.I.N. Ethan tags back in for a big elbow and a two and a half count. Aaron back in as the referee’s attention is pulled from the action just in time for Young to slam both Dallas brothers with a championship title in the face! But the official catches him in the act and calls for the bell! Winner: The Wonderboyz (Aaron & Ethan Dallas) via disqualification.
The familiar music of the Deep South Wrestling Champion Najasism can be heard as he saunters and gyrates to the ring, reminding everybody in attendance who he is (in case anybody forgot). Microphone in hand he says while not defending (or competing) today, at the next two shows there is an open challenge: as long as you have never faced him before AND you are not in the tournament. Then he finds a ringside table to dance some more before heading to the back.
Match 4: “Hollywood” Hunter James V. Cosmos Martinez (Quarterfinal of #1 Contender Tournament)—They open up this highly-anticipated contest with a classic chain exchange where James got the early favor. Back to more chain then Cosmos tries to level his foe with running shoulder tackles that result more as stalemates than a upside for the luchadore. He tries thrice then catches a posing Hunter off guard with two hurricanranas to stand tall early over his opponent as the crowd comes alive! James takes off for the outside, however Cosmos leaps outside in hot pursuit. As James slides back in the ring he attempts an elbow drop but Cosmos slips out of the way. Cosmos gets in a few jabs and a slam for a two count. James finds his footing to drop Cosmos then use strategic stomps to keep the masked superstar grounded. Hunter tries to pull off the mask of Cosmos, but the official makes him discontinue his efforts. Martinez uses this small break to sneak in another hurricanrana off the top rope then a second rope crossbody. He goes for the Fujiwara armbar, but “Hollywood” finds the ropes just before it gets locked on. As Hunter rushes in, Cosmos utilizes a well-times atomic drop then low dropkick for a near fall. Cosmos with the arm breaker then just as James tries to counter the momentum it’s the masked luchadore with a Mexican Destroyer! Cosmos back to the armbar as now it’s LOCKED IN! At the last moment he touches the ropes to get a break. Martinez to the top rope for a high-rick maneuver. James moves so Cosmos rolls through but falls to his knees. This is all Hunter needs as he does a backflip into a German suplex grip then hoists up the masked foe for the suplex! One delayed brain buster later and it’s a “Hollywood” ending for Hunter!
Winner: “Hollywood” Hunter James via pinfall to advance in the tournament.
Marty Buccafusco in the ring to show his appreciation for the Deep South fans who always show up and support them anywhere they are. He also mentions some special events upcoming and how everyone can find out more details. He finishes by reminding everyone of the Kids Wrestling Camp they are offering during the Summer. We see all officials and some security in the ring along with Drewski. Out comes DJ Smoke, then his former partner Stunt “SLAP” Marshall. They trade verbal jabs then try to trade physical ones. Instead, Smoke catches Stunt with a SLAP however before Marshall can return the favor, he catches a security guard with the world famous SLAP! That poor guy hit the mat like a sack of potatoes and needed to be carried by four other people to get to the back as Stunt and DJ separately exit the ring.
Match 5: Jacob Johnson V. “Agent 003” Chad Skywalker (Quarterfinal of #1 Contender Tournament)—They start with a tie up that breaks clean. Lots of respect between these two. Skywalker finds the upper hand in the corner, Johnson slips out. Big shoulder block from Jacob. Chad with a middle rope leg scissors that grounds the bigger competitor as Chad rolls onto the apron. Next it’s the textbook over the rope swanton, crushing Jacob with the roll-through. Dropkick from Skywalker, Johnson unleashes a powerful lariat then works over his opponent in the corner. Chad slips out then mounts Jacob for punches, but gets stopped after five then pulled off the ropes. Johnson with the powerslam for a two count. Suplex from Jacob as Najasism appears at ringside to take in the action. Skywalker sends Johnson to the outside, then dives through the ropes for a crazy tope’ suicida! Back in the ring Chad rushes at Jacob twice, stopped each time by the former Deep South champion, so Skywalker finds a back breaker to slow down Johnson. Skywalker with the Sliced Break #2 out of the corner, then it’s Jacob with the big boot in response. They exchange strikes. Chad goes for a kick but gets flipped instead. Another big boot from Jacob for a two and five sixteenths count. Before he can recover for another attack, Skywalker rolls him up crucifix style for victory.
Winner: “Agent 003” Chad Skywalker via pinfall to advance in the tournament.
Match 6—Main Event: Lamar Diggs V. Alex Kane (Quarterfinal of #1 Contender Tournament)—Power battle early in the corner, then action spills to the ringside area. Kane hits the Tope’ suicida followed up by sending Diggs into the ring post after a reversal. He also splashes Diggs on the apron before rolling him back into the ring. Diggs gets to his feet to deliver a devastating Samoan drop. Lamar stands on Alex until the official makes him step off. Lamar with a fallaway slam where Kane hits so hard he bounces through the ropes and onto the arena floor! After a bit they are both back inside. Diggs suplex attempt is blocked, then Kane hops on the back of Diggs for a chin lock until he is squashed into the corner causing a break of the hold. Lamar flings Alex across the ring and splashes him in the corner once he rises. A second try of a splash is countered by Alex who follows with some quick strikes that take the big man off his feet. Kane with not one but TWO German suplexes of Diggs! He goes for a third, but Lamar splashes him in the corner followed by a belly-to-belly suplex. Diggs with a running thrust kick for a two and seven eights count. Standing splash from Lamar who climbs to the top rope. He gets distracted by Mims who has made his way to ringside with the busted baking sheet used on him by Diggs earlier. Diggs puts his attention back to Kane, however he misses the splash! German suplex from Kane into a short arm Olympic slam for the 1-2-3! After the match, Mims and Diggs continue the monster battle from earlier in the afternoon. Each trying to mutilate their foe. After a long back and forth, Lamar catches Mims with a Samoan drop then heads to the top rope. As officials are telling him to get down he ignores them all to drop a destructive TSUNAMI on Mims! He quickly glances around….then heads up top again for another TSUNAMI! Another quick glance, another TSUNAMI! Finally, as some order is being restored and Mims is getting checked by personnel in the ring, Diggs rushes back up to the top for a fourth TSUNAMI! He looks up and grins, then heads to the back after the carnage he caused in the ring. Mims eventually is helped to the back quite busted up.
Winner: Alex Kane via pinfall to advance in the tournament.
Takeaways:
-This #1 Contender’s Tournament is loaded. Could have made a case for any of the eight to win. Each match up features two incredible top talents from the state of Georgia.
-Alexandra Quinn really brings an energy that kept the fans into every movement of the Women’s title match. At some point the shenanigans of Gemma will be neutralized so one has to wonder when it does, who may be that person to pull the title from her grasp?
-Mims and Diggs are just starting this feud and it only gets more destructive from here. A must watch to see that kind of power on BOTH sides of the ring. -Cosmos continues to show he can compete with the best Deep South has to offer and is always a threat to win.
-Chad had Jacob on the ropes a few times before outwitting him with the roll up victory. He continues to build quite the resume as “Agent 003”.
-Alex Kane, Austin Towers, “Hollywood” Hunter James, “Agent 003” Chad Skywalker. No matter how they match up for the semi-finals this is TWO Main Event quality matches.
-Nice debut for The Wonderboyz. They were holding their own with Miller and Young, plus they were getting the fans behind them for most of the match. Always good to see them at any show and I look forward to what they can do next.
Next show at Monday Night Garage is February 15th with a Special Throwback show at a different location February 21st .
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