United Pro Battle Tested -- Kingsland on July 26

Photo by Distracted  By Wrestling From Ross Blair: United Pro returned to their home base at the Axes & Eights sports bar in Kingsland f...

Photo by Distracted  By Wrestling

From Ross Blair:

United Pro returned to their home base at the Axes & Eights sports bar in Kingsland for a fantastic show this past Sunday. The place was packed (attendance around 125) & boisterous, as United Pro is becoming a force to be reckoned with on the Georgia indy scene, with dream matches that include some of the biggest names in the state. It doesn’t hurt that their venue is a perfect fit…and it's an easy night out with a 5pm start, a 2-hour show, and with the venue serving food & beverages. The focus this night was a one-night/four-man tournament to decide the number one contender to Bryce Cannon's United Pro Heavyweight Championship. The participants were decided via the last four men remaining in the Championship Rumble at the last show, where Bryce won the title. The ring announcer for the evening was Chianne Michaels, while Clark DeBenedetto and Jesse B were the referees.

Photos by Ross Blair

1.) FIrst round tournament match: Jon Davis beat Aaron Berry (subbing for the injured Dominic Stuckey) to advance. Both men are huge & this was a really good hoss fight to start the night off hot. Co-promoter Clark DeBenedetto is super high on Berry, who recently came to Georgia from Texas. This was just the second time I've seen Berry wrestle, but I clearly see why. I could see Berry making quite the impact on the Georgia scene in the very near future. There were more than power moves in this battle of the big men, as both Berry & Davis showed impressive aerial skills as well. Davis first gained the upper hand, which included delivering an enziguri, a penalty kick, and a flying senton from the top rope...but the tide turned when Davis missed an avalanche & hit the turnbuckles at full speed. It went back & forth again until Davis missed on a best moonsault ever attempt. Berry picked him up & whipped Davis into the ropes for a brutal spinebuster & a 2-count. Davis recovered and retaliated with an enziguri, a German suplex, a face scrape, and suplex...but he too only got a 2-count. But a lariat from Davis finally secured the 1-2-3. 

2.) FIrst round tournament match: "Hollywood" Hunter James beat "The Wall"
Tyler Stevens to advance. This was the match that I most looked forward to this night, and it delivered. After some showboating & a test of strength, Hunter nailed Wall with a double axe handle from the top. The Wall rolled outside, as the two fought at ringside for a bit. The Wall hit a series of power moves, but Hunter came back with a superkick...and gained the advantage after a second superkick. Hunter went for his patented brainbuster, but Wall overpowered & dropped Hunter's midsection across the top rope. Wall followed with a boot to the face & a sit-out powerbomb for a 2-count. Hunter soon recovered for a good looking moonsault & a 2-count. Wall continued to work Hunter's midsection & was seemingly prepared to hit his finisher, when Wall hollered & pointed to the fans (who were feverishly chanting "Ho-lly-wood!) "Everything that's about to happen is your fault!". Hunter then briskly came from behind & rolled up Wall, hooking both his arms for a surprise pin…as the crowd went nuts! Davis entered the ring in street clothes & sized up Hunter as the two men had words. 

3.) "Buckshot" Brian Brock pinned British wrestler Joey Ozbourne after a stiff lariat in a solid match. Buckshot has become one the roster's top babyfaces, as the crowd once again backed him up. Commentator Karson Kase interviewed Buckshot after the match, who said he is aiming for a United Pro title shot. 

Next up was a pretty cool sponsor commercial turned wrestling angle. Enter the lumberjack-looking "Axe Man" Christian Taylor (VERY different from the mental patient that ripped up my granddaughter's DJ Smoke sign just one night prior) dancing with a guy in a frog outfit while spouting superlatives about local flooring contractor/sponsor Frog Splash Coatings. This turned into an actual angle when heel Randy Reno came out & started running his mouth to the Axe Man. Behind Reno's back, the frog unmasked to reveal Johnboy Ink. Ink clocked Reno and Christian hoisted him up for many rotations in a giant swing. Ink followed up with a body slam. After retreating out of the ring, a dizzy Reno agreed to a challenge from Christian & Ink to find a partner for a tag match at the next show. 

 4.) "Pretty" Parker Li pinned Tyler Uriah. This was Li’s UP debut & both men impressed here. Li wooed the crowd with his comedic stripper routine & aerial tactics. Uriah was a replacement for a legit-injured Daniel Starling, who seconded heel Uriah while sporting crutches. Starling threatened to hit a group of kids with a crutch, who were shouting support for Li. Uriah hit two subsequent black hole slams, which amounted to a mere 2-count. While Uriah was venting to referee Jesse B, Li climbed to the top turnbuckle. When Uriah turned around, Li nailed him for a crossbody & the 1-2-3. Li offered a handshake, but got slugged by Uriah after a distraction from Starling & his pesky crutches. 

5.) Bryce Maddox pinned CT Keys in the dark horse match of the night. This marked CT's United Pro debut. Both men brought their working shoes for this babyface versus babyface (each had their vocal fans) technical masterpiece. CT started off with forearm smashes & a lariat. Maddox recovered & hit an even stronger lariat for an early 2-count. The two men battled outside the ring, which included CT sitting in the seat right next to mine while being slugged by Maddox. After getting back in the ring, CT got a 2-count with a chokeslam. Maddox countered with a jumping knee into a flapjack, followed by a frogsplash off the top for the pinfall victory. 

Next up was a celebration segment for heel United Pro champ Bryce Cannon, who ordered co-promoter & UP authority figure Kevin Kantrell place the title belt around his waist. Cannon talked about how he eliminated both Davis & Hunter in the Championship Rumble. Cannon also announced that United Pro will now be running monthly versus the previous bi-montlhy formula. He concluded with the following quote: "I'm gonna witness two men beat each other to death & I'm gonna enjoy myself a succulent, juicy steak dinner!" 

6.) Tournament Final: Jon Davis pinned Hunter James to become the number one contender to Bryce's United Pro heavyweight title. Hunter came out holding his midsection in obvious pain from his earlier war with The Wall. Davis was the fourth monster Hunter had faced this weekend...he faced The Wall earlier this night, Krule the night prior in Savannah, and Mother Frost Friday in Royston — a string of monster heels akin to Hogan's title run in the late 80s. Hunter, who grimaced & held his ribs throughout the match, got a 2-count on Davis after an airplane spin slam, but he couldn't muster a deadlift German...which seemed to injure him further. Davis, sensing his weakened prey, pulled off a powerbomb into a suplex into a hard-hitting lariat for the pin. 

Bryce Cannon was eating his meal near the curtain. Davis, on his way back to the dressing room, confiscated Bryce's succulent, juicy steak dinner…much to the dismay of the Frat Daddy! This was hilarious. The two are now slated for a title match at the next United Pro show, called "Entitlement", on August 30th at Axes & Eights in Kingsland. In the meantime, you can now catch United Pro's weekly 30-minute streaming show (search Unite 2 Wrestle) every Saturday evening on YouTube. Episode 3 just dropped, which features the very first Hunter James versus Bryce Cannon match, filmed in Kingsland a few months ago.