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| Photos by Peter Sigmund |
From Lawrence Goodman:
You're the man that made Joe Black a killer, right? I need you to tap back into that primoridial thinking.
Georgia made a list of the top 20 wrestlers in the state. You didn't even get an honorable mention, man. They got a dude on their from the Ukraine that don't speak the language. They got a couple of guys that are two cheeseburges shy of being bulemic. They got some guy whose main gimmick is his hair. And the Mid-Atlantic Bully, the Incredible Huck, he's not even mentioned. -- Joe Black
ProSouth gave their viewers a different kind of show for the Independence Day weekend, heavy on the wrestling, lighter on the performance art and with several subplots that played out over the course of the night.
The Power of the People gimmick returned. For the July 17 show, ProSouth Champion Joe Black will defend his title against an opponent chosen by the fans from the winners of three qualifying matches that took place on this week's episode.
The stipulations for the July 10 Three Stages of Hell between Ace Haven and TragiCK were revealed.
William Huckaby received an ultimatum about his losing ways from his former partner and rival Joe Black.
Commissioner Amy Haven was evidently tricked into signing some type of contract with the Alabama Athletic Commission.
This was a strong episode of ProSouth. The ring mic, which has been a problem, was working perfectly this week. The bad news was how lifeless the crowd sounded for most of the night. What is wrong with these people?
Wicked Nemesis and Mathias Darkthorne in the booth, Mathias did the ring announcing, Joseph Void and Young Boy Lou officiated and Jeremy was the ringside videographer.
Prior to the opening montage, Black and Amy approached Huckaby backstage. Amy said she guessed Black Lariats Did Not Matter. Production guy Jeremy entered the scene with something for Amy to sign which she did.
Joe said he brought Huck in to be a destroyer and he was making them look bad by losing. He need Huck to get his head in the game. Huckaby had that hangdog look about him.
Majora's Mask appeared on screen wiith a voice over by Ace Haven referencing the contract Amy signed for both YouTube titles in a Three Stages Of Hell.
The cold open was used to tremendous effect. The viewers were immediately hooked into the show. Jeremy's appearance was not the random occurence it appeared to be as viewers would later learn. My kingdom for a properly miced cold open.
(1) Power To The People Qualifier: Oliver Green defeated recognized YouTube Champion TragiCK in a nont-tttle match (8:21). Green fought TragiCK on even terms until he tried for a springboard rana and got his bony ass powerbombed. TragiCK was grinding away on Green. He had the mask pulled down but the collar was still on. TragiCK did an Eric Silva tribute Hellplex for a near fall and snapped Green's fingers a few times. Green ducked the Vampire Killer and rallied with a satellite DDT and fireman's carry slam for near falls. TragiCK was struggling something awful. Tragick snapped Green's ankle and hit Keast Infection.
Ace Haven, Harley Haven and Scott Adams all came to ringside. As Harley talked to TragiCK, his collar light began to flash. Adams stuck a sock in Greens mouth while Ace snapped Green's ankle back into place (really?). Tragick's collar light was now blue. Green nailed TragiCK/Cameron Keast with a running boot to the face and pinned him clean.
Sloppy match with a fairy tale ending.
TragiCK (now Cam) addressed Ace while he still laying in the ring. Cam feared Amy Haven would turn the collar backat any moment and apologized to Ace. Amy wanted him to reveal the first two stages of the Three Stages of Hell. They would be locked up for 24 hours, no food, water or light The first stage would be flaming tables. The second stage would be a Monster's Ball.
Pathos.
(2) Christian Garrett defeated JT Paradox in 7:03.
Something different for the opening -- As soon as Paradox got in the ring, Garrett charged at him and took a backdrop. Garrett attacked again while Paradox was get his hoodie off -- Lou forgot to call for the bell until well after the fact. Every time Paradox would get some momentum going, Garrett would slow his roll. Wicked snickered when Garrett appeared to kick Paradox right in the mouth. Paradox applied an ankle lock. Garrett got to the ropes. Moments later, Paradox leap frogged Garrett, who then clubbed JTP from behind and hit Glycerine for the 1-2-3.
A hard-hitting, back and forth match. JTP's hellacious work rate is reminiscent of Zach Buchanan's ProSouth stuff. Wicked later claimed Paradox was in concussion protocol. The finish came out of nowhere. Wicked later said Paradox was in concussion protocol. Garrett got his win back so a rubber match perhaps?
(3) Power To The People Qualifier: Justin McKenzie defeated Will Huckaby in 9:34. Huckaby wisely sought to slow the pace and target McKenzie' leg to neutralize his speed.
Postmatch, Joe Black confronted Huck in the ring. He looked and had the stench of Huck but this person damn sure was not William Huckaby. Joe asked Huck the same question he asked him in the ER after Huck's heart attack: Why in the hell are you still here? Why didn't you die? Blacks suggested maybe Huck did die, the dishonorable kind where you walk around a shell of who you used to be. Joe said Huck lost twice to Green and now to McKenzie, who would one day be on TV but now was green as goose shit. Amy at first said no to bringing him in because he punched women in the face but Joe needed that guy and in turn, he got a baby back bitch. He was going to give Huck one more chance next week and if he lost, Joe was going to be the killer Huck created him to be. Joe told Huck to get out his ring. Without a word to say, Huck left the ring and walked to the back like he headed for the gallows.
I hoped for more but wondered if Huck's ProSouth appearances were just a dalliance. It appears they are going deep with the reference to Huck's heart attack and the suggestion of match against Black. Joe humiliated Huck beyond belief. Huck remaining silent was the secret sauce that made this segment stand out.
(4) True Grit (Christian Pierce & Julian Balderas) defeated Damon Thomas & Xander Seabolt to retain the ProSouth Tag Team Championship in 8:07. Thomas had both tag team title belts with him. Lou called for the bell with all four still in. Thomas tagged Seabolt in rather than face True Grit so he and Seabolt had issues right off the bat. Seabolt took his lumps and slid out. Thomas took abuse but was able to counter a Balderas power slam and the heels isolated Pierce. Thomas made an unwanted tag and got his ass kicked. He collided with Seabolt and took a T-bone suplex from Balderas. Seabolt had things going his way after the neckbreaker below.
Thomas made anonther unsolicited tag so he could hog the spotlight and got hit with the champions flapjack/Once Bitten combo.
Afterward, Balderas speared Thomas on the floor, Pierce gave him Once Bitten on one of the title belts and True Grit left Thomas laying with their R &P double team. Needless to say, True Grit left with their tag team title belts.
They'd gone about as far they could go with this angle. This match was a fine way to wrap it up. Everyone looked good. Thomas has proven himself to be an A-1 douchebag and received the evisceration he had coming to him.
(5) Power to the People Qualifier: Caeden Ooten (with Harley Haven) defeated All-Out Champion KJ Valentine in a non-title match (6:14). Fast paced action right from the opening bell. Ooten got a two count the Vampire Killer and went for the kill with the LGC but Valentine escaped and got a two count with his cannonball to the back. Ooten cut Valentine off and got another near fall with a slingshot suplex. Valentine took advantage of C's aggressiveness with a drop toe hold counter to the harpoon. Valentines fisherman suplex was not enough. Valentine was perched on the top rope when Harley got on the apron to object and Ooten hit a cross between a superplex and an avalanche brainbuster.
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With both me down, Vougan appeared on the video screen to say they had been doing their make up and patiently waiting for their rematch but Valentine was still ducking because he was scared of the Beauty Standard, so on July 17, Valentine would give him his rematch. Valentined turned around and got harpooned by Ooten for three count.
That was one epic length distraction spot. How dumb could Valentine be? Both men got in some nice offense. Ooten has been working really hard in his recent matches. His offense is power-packed but he tends to rush and not hit things cleanly.
Commissioner Amy Haven gave Caeden two options: A) a title match with Valentine, somebody C already beat for a championship he never had or B) he could march into his own funeral and be one of the Power of People choices for the title match with Joe. Amy advised Ooten to choose wisely.
Ooten made it clear he wanted the match with Joe. He admitted it bugged him that he had never held the All-Out title but he was not taking that path now. Joe had never beaten him without the help of someone else. Joe had beaten him in a wrestling contest but never in a fight. Joe was not the grim reaper He was a bitter, old man in a young man's game. In the ring that Joe called home, the real gim reaper would unveil his cloak and send him to hell..
(6) Ayden Andrews defeated lineal YouTube Champion Ace Haven in a non-title match (9:06). Ace hit an STO in the first 30 seconds. Andrews went for a buckle bomb and Ace took an insane bump over the top rope. Not to be outdone, Andrew uncharacterisically hit a tope suicida that took Ace and Adams down.
Andrews followed up with a pedigree on the floor. Ace was already in a very bad way. Back inside, Andrews was dishing out an ass kicking. As Andrews set up for a second pedigree, Adams got up on the apron to object. Andrews switched to a buckle bomb, which Ace reversed out to launched a full-fledged comeback. Ace went for the End Game (pedigree). Andrews tried to counter but Ace countered his counter and hit the End Game and Andrews kicked out. Ace kicked out of cuter from Andrews. Dueling STO attempts left both men down. Ace evaded Nail In the Coffin. Andrews fought off a choke slam. The lights went out...
Amy and Joe and TragiCK came onstage. TragiCK was armed with with a barbed wire bat and had Oliver Green held hostage. Andrews pinned Ace with the STO.
Quite the tune up match for Ace going into the Three Stages of Hell. These guy had ther work shoes on and had the best match of the night. It was a miracle Ace did not end up with a broken neck on that buckle bomb bump. Bullding the match around moves both men use (the pedigree and the STO) added flavor.
Andrews nabbed Adams and stepped on his neck. Amy informed Ace he had to choose between Adams and Oliver. Ace dove over the top rope onto Andrews. TragiCK sliced Green's head open with the barbed wire bat. Green collapsed with blood streaming down his face. Amy announced the third fall of the Three Stages of Hell would be barbed wire massacre. TragiCK bludgeoned Green with the barbed wire bat as the screen went to black...
The show closing rolled...and a post-closing scene was revealed: TragiCK had his mask in his mouth. The collar was still on glowing green. Joe told rover cameraman Jeremy to hand his camera to Amy so they could have a little chat. Joe sald Jeremy had presented Amy with a contract from the commission and wanted to know who gave it to him. Jeremy said Scott Adams. Joe dropped Jeremy with a kick in the gut and KOed him with a forearm to back of his brain.
Hell of a hook and drag to the next episode. The sudden eruption of cruel violence was both chilling and shocking. Green is no shape for Power of the People and what are viewers to make of this mysterious contract with the AAC?
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