From Larry Goodman:
You might think booker Todd Sexton would take his foot off the gas after the Classics title match between Hunter James and Dominic Stuckey match that closed out Southern Fried's 2025. I know I did.
This show had the delicious magic of indy wrestling at its best, the kind of show fans go away from on a high. Southern Fried Championship Wrestling is firing on all cylinders. Every angle (and there were a few of them) worked to maximum effect.
In the space of one night, James went from Southern Fried's top heel to a dynamic relationship with Stuckey.
James also happens to the subject of Rough House, Alison Lyn Miller's superbly reseached book about the world of independent wrestling which is being released today.
Billy Buck will get Jacob Ashworth in the ring on February 7 and if he wins, Southern Fried owner David Manders will have an opportunity to get his hands on John Johnson.
The Southern Fried Championship picture was heated to the boiling point. Nick Halen, Sal Rinauro and Disturbed will challenge CT Keys for the title in a fatal four way on February 7.
For the second week consecutive week, Matt Hankins made an unadvertised appearance at a promotion where he formerly plied his trade. This time, it came with an offer to watch the back of Stuckey and his Classics Championship.
Attendance at the Walton County Boys & Girls Club Gym was was up from the December 27 show. 250 range.
"The American Hero" Joey Hyder called out Hunter James to open the show. James had Pat Roach with him just in case. James said he told Hyder not to get involved in the match with Stuckey. Hyder blamed James for not getting the job done. James said Hyder was a nobody until he picked him for the Crusade because he was good. Hyder disengenuosly apologized. Roach revealed his true colors with a belly to belly suplex on James. Hyder ragdolled James with a full nelson. Before it was over, they had the crowd chanting "Hunter".
No matter what heinous, unscupulous acts James committed, a vocal minority of the crowd always popped for his entrance. He was the guy they loved to hate and secretly wanted to cheer. Great performances all around. This segment was everything creative could have hoped for.
(1) The Approved (Nick Halen & Bobby Moore & Adryan Hawkins) & CT Keys defeated Madstreet (Sal Rinauro & "Marvelous" Michael Stevens) & Alexander Lev & Disturbed in an eight man elimination match (32:52). The heels yielded the ring and got a "you scared" chant. None of them wanted in against Halen. The heels got their asses handed to them. An early highlight was Keys and Halen teaming up for a Hart Attack on Marv. The babyface domination built to Keys clotheslining Disturbed out of the ring. Moore inadvently nailed Hawkins with the discus elbow and Stevens pinned Hawkins for the first elimination at 8:35. A clash from Lev ended Moore's nigt. Keys and Halen were fighting for their lives. Halen was being obliterated. Keys to the rescue with an F5 on Lev and a Pounce for Stevens to even the sides.
Disturbed went full blown demented and choked Keys into unconscousness. Refeee Weakley had no choice but to DQ Disturbed. Keys came around just enough to take a short flatiner on the apron from Rinauro and he was pinned. Keys and Disturbed brawled to the back.
The last 10 minutes was a fight to the finish between Rinauro and Halen with both men hitting their signature moves. Halen reversed Sal's heel hook with the sharpshooter. Rinauro smacked Weakley in the face so he didn't see him tap out. Rinauro brought the Phoenix Fury Leg Drop (that is not a leg drop) out of mothballs for a near fall. As Halen was recoving at on the floor, Rinauro laid down in the ring to play possum. Halen went to the top rope like he was going for the Macho Man elbow. Sal put his boot up but Halen landed on his feet and pinned Rinauro with an inside cradle.
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(2) Jay Alpha Miller defeated JT Paradox in 5:56. Clutching at an American flag with eyes bulging out of his head, Miller got a "you suck" chant. Teflon recited The Pledge of Alliance as he beat on JT. On commentary, Adam Vance said Paradox's long distance release german suplexes landed Miller in Loganville and Adam tells no lies. Paradox went for an ankle lock. Miller powered out and the momentum sent Paradox careening into the turnbuckle. Miller capitalized with the 2nd Amendment to pick up the win.
Watching Teflon's act play out in front of the crowd in Monroe is surreal. Donald Trump won 72% of the vote in Walton County in 2024. Miller is a total heel and his Pro-Trump stance is part and parcel to his gimmick and he did get booed. I can hardly wait until he gets mic time. Paradox, a GWH Rookie of the Year nominee, made a strong showing in a losing effort.
(3) Jacob Ashworth (with John Johnson) squashed Ashton Martin in 5:08. JJ got on the mic to air the grievances he has suffered at the hands of David Manders. In one fell swoop he disrespected current ring announcer Chianne Michaels and former ring announcer Rick Richards.
He beat Martin to pulp and talked trash while he was doing it. Martin got nothing until four minutes in. Ashworth bounced around but did not go down until Martin suplexed him. Ashworth turned Martin inside out with a lariat and put him away with a Roll of the Dice.
Ashworth is in the zone. He's inhabiting this role for all he's worth. JJ is the perfect added spice. Ashworth's exaggerated selling was gold.
Postmatch -- Ashworth teased a superkick to mock Billy Buck's Buckshot. Buck's music played and Buck came down the aisle walking tall. Ashworth went to intercept Buck except it was Southern Fried owner David Manders dressed in Buck's gear. Buck hit the ring from the other side and grabbed JJ. Ashworth went for Buck and got put down. Buck set up for the Buckshot. Ashworth and JJ skedaddled like scalded dogs. Buck called Ashworth the unstoppable jackass.
Manders made the match for February 7 - Buck vs. Ashworth, if Ashworth wins he gets his coveted title shot but if Buck wins, Manders gets JJ in the ring.
This is a stipulation match that will sell some tickets. The night was young and Sexton and company were already two for two in the angle department.
(4) LADDER MATCH: Jaden Vain & Xavier Cross defeated Seth Delay & Michael Walker to retain the Southern Fried Tag Team Championship in 15:30. Ladder shots galore from the opening bell. They were doing all kinds of injurious things to each other with six foot ladders. Vain paused long enough to do the "yeah, yeah, yeah" "NO! NO! NO!" call and response with the crowd. Competitors suffered repeated crash and burn bumps as they tried to get to the belts, the worst of which was the gnarly landing Vain took being upended by Delay's missile dropkick to the ladder. Vain took a backdrop onto a ladder bridge set up in the ring. Cross picked Delay off the ladder with a spear Walker climbed and was brought down by a Cross' sitout choke slam.
Delay hit the Flying Squirrel on Cross and climbed the ladder trying to get the belt. Vain tried to climb up the other side but one of the steps broke. Cross hoisted Vain onto his shoulders and Vain punched Delay with a loaded glove. The ladder crashed to the mat Delay on it. Vain reached up and unhooked the belt.
Clever finish. Match was more than a little reckless.These guys took some wicked bumps. Everybody said they were fine after the match.. Might have been true at the time, Sunday morning probably not. One of these things (Delay at age 40) was not like the others but you would never have known it from his work in this match. He's found the fountain of youth. Cross is really coming along doing big man stuff. I really like how they stayed focused on the goal of getting the belt and didn't get sidetracked in extraneous BS.
Vain was going to nail Walker with the loaded glove after the match. The Wonderboyz (Aaron & Ethan Dallas) hit the ring to break it up and join Walker for a triple superkick on Cross while Vain skedaddled unharmed.
Dallas brothers move to the front of the line for a shot at Vain and Cross.
Stuckey was greeted as the conquering hero as he entered for the main event. Hankins sauntered the ring rocking a gorgeous Roddy Piper jacket. Hankins said nothng made him prouder than Stuckey (who started under Hankins at PCW). Hankins admitted he had done terrible things and upon reflection, he had one last chance to do good. Stuckey earned the title on his own but he needed someone to watch his back. Hankins urged Stuckey to think about his future and what he could do for that future. "Just remember who looking out for you on day one and maybe one day, I can look out for you again."
Hankins was saying all the right things but his history as a snake preceded him and he still felt slimy. The jury was still out on him as far as the people in Monroe were concerned.
(5) Dominic Stuckey defeated Joey Hyder (with Pat Roach) via DQ to retain the Classics Championship in 9:32. Roach interfered right away and Dom was immediately in dire straits. Stuckey got some daylight with a falcon arrow. But Roach interfered again. Hyder brought out the heavy artillery with a standing spanish fly and a dominator variation. He ragdolled Stuckey with the full nelson. Stuckey made the ropes. Roach jumped in to double team Stuckey for the DQ.
Hyder raised his game to main event level. Loved his use of the full nelson. something old becomes new again.
Roach headbutted the ref and a two on one beatdown was in store for the champion. James attacked Hyder to even the odds. The situation devolved into all-over-the-building chaos with chairs, tables, bleachers and the basketball goal brought into play. Christian Taylor ran in to help Roach and Hyder. Hankins sneaked to ringside with a chair. A chair-swinging Dom cleared the ring.
James and Stuckey squared off with neither man looking happy. James extended his hand. James said he didn't like Stuckey but he respected him. Dom expressed reservations but if James was his best chance to keep the title...With Hankins watching on, Dom accepted the handshake and the crowd popped huge.
The brawl bonded Stuckey and James before the handshake took place. It remains an uneasy alliance at this point and Hankins' role in the scenario is wonderfully ambigous.
NOTES: Adam Vance was solo on commentary...David Weakley, Dee Byers and Bryan Waites were the referees...Jeremy Vain was in the house watching his son perform...Darryl Hall, Nick McDaniel and Kraken ring announcer Kay Casiano were also in the building. Casiano is married to Hyder...Christian Taylor worked a double shot and drove from the GPW show in Jasper to be in the angle after the main.
