CEW Rewind Live Report -- Savannah on September 26

By Ross Blair: Coastal Empire Wrestling paid tribute to the past while pointing to the future for "Rewind", which featured matchup...

By Ross Blair:

Coastal Empire Wrestling paid tribute to the past while pointing to the future for "Rewind", which featured matchups with CEW originals as well as spotlighting some very promising newcomers (Najasism, Xanti Li, & Chase Emery). It was a packed & rowdy house once again at the VFW. The stage was also set for CEW's first ever steel cage match next month, between Bryce Cannon & Cornelius Pepperbottom. Your referees for the evening were Clark DeBenedetto & Jesse B. Brandon Benefield & Maestro Awesome were at the commentary table, and Jackson Locke (from Lariato Pro) handled ring announcing duties. 

1.) Bryce Cannon & "Marvelous" Michael Stevens defeated Cornelius Pepperbottom & Dax Anthony. This began as an open challenge for Bryce's Coastal Chaos title but turned into a tag match. Marv answered the challenge, but Dax attacked him as soon as he entered the ring. Meanwhile, Peps stopped Bryce from leaving during the scuffle. A 4-way brawl ensued & ref Clark called for the bell after surveying the situation. Dax basement dropkicked Marv but missed with a followup handspring elbow. Marv hit a Russian leg sweep for a 2 count on Dax. Peps got the hot tag & nailed Bryce with a famouser. After Bryce tagged, Peps got a 2 count on Marv with a DDT/reverse STO combo. Later, Dax got a 2 count on his rival Marv after a nice powerslam. It concluded with Bryce rolling up former rival Dax & pulling his tights for the pin. 

A frustrated Peps stayed in the ring & grabbed the mic to give a message to his partner-turned-arch enemy, Bryce Cannon. Peps is underrated as a promo guy by the way. He talked about how Exotic Youth was born 6 years ago at the first CEW show & got real with "This isn't Cornelius Pepperbottom talking to Bryce Cannon. This is Brady Hogan talking to Evan Powers...you suck, bitch! I hate you!" Peps then insinuated that Bryce also turned his back on Exotic Youth member Zach Mosley, causing Mosley's departure from CEW. "You took my title. You took my family. You took everything from me!" Peps then said that if "Evan" puts up his title one more time, he'll put up his career & "since it's on Halloween night, let's up the ante...let's make it a steel cage match!" CEW figurehead Simon Sermon came out & made it official. After this segment concluded, Brandon Benefield passed an envelope to Sermon containing legal papers & a message from a mystery person, stating that Sermon's era of being the lone person in charge is coming to an end. The message also said that Sermon has to immediately wrestle Karl Hager, which led to the next match... 

2.) CEW original Karl Hager pinned Simon Sermon. Sermon, dressed in a suit, was caught off guard but Hager beating him from pillar to post didn't give him a chance to protest the matchup, which lasted just a minute or two. Hager held Simon & enabled multiple fans to chop Sermon. Sermon whacked Hager with his diamond ring but, upon making the cover, Hager hooked Sermon's arms & pulled him over for the 1-2-3. 

3.) Xanti Li beat the returning fan favorite Kelsey Raegan in an excellent women's match. This was Li's inaugural CEW match. Li did the splits atop Raegan while choking her on the middle rope, which led to a 2 count. Li superkicked & butterfly suplexed Raegan for another 2 count. Raegan got to 2 herself after a savat kick & package suplex. Raegan went for a tope but was met with a steel chair instead. Li quickly threw Raegan back into the ring for this upset pinfall victory. Upon recovering, an irate Raegan challenged Li to a fans bring the weapons match on Halloween. 

4.) Christian Taylor pinned the debuting Chase Emery. This was my first time seeing Emery, who thoroughly impressed me. He reminds me of a young Tracy Smothers or Tommy Rogers of the Fantastics & is technically sound. Emery got a 2 count early on with a crisp snap suplex. Taylor, while outside the ring, slowed him down by crotching him on the post...TWICE! Emery recovered & got to 2 with a superplex. He then returned the favor by crotching Taylor on the ring post...TWICE while complying to a "one more time" chant from the crowd. Emery got another 2 count with a flying crossbody. In the end, Taylor got the pin with his Personality Disorder finisher. Not satisfied, Taylor repeatedly rammed Emery's head into the mat & struck referee Jesse B. Taylor was about to suffocate Emery with saran wrap, but Randy Reno saved the day. 

5.) The Redacted (Hakeem Young & Chad Skywalker) successfully defended the CEW Tag Team Turmoil titles against Savior Scratch & Voodoo. You can't get any more "CEW original" than Scratch & Voodoo, who are the 2 founders of Coastal Empire Wrestling. Voodoo hasn't been seen in Savannah for years, as he departed the company when he moved to St. Louis, where he continues to perform. However, this was Voodoo's first match in nearly a year, as he was sidelined with an injury last November. Scratch & Voodoo have feuded against each other in CEW, as well as being a successful tag team as The Menagerie. It was super cool to see these guys going for the gold here & all 4 competitors shined here. Turmoil Rules (aka Freebird Rule) entail that any 2 members of an established faction can defend their given titles. This rule was previously utilized by Exotic Youth and Probable Cause (Sgt Scratch, Lt Lampley, & Chief Raines). The Menagerie started out hot with tandem maneuvers like a double suplex & an assisted splash. They maintained the advantage until Hakeem raked Voodoo's eyes. Hakeem followed up with a double footstomp from the top (aka Finn Balor's Coup de Grace) for a 2 count. Scratch hit a spinebuster on Hakeem & Voodoo got a 2 count on him after a splash off the top rope. While the referee was distracted, the Redacted's pesky masked mystery man hit the ring, and he & Hakeem hit their finisher on Scratch for the 3 count. 

6.) DJ Smoke defeated Najasism in what ring announcer Jackson Locke accurately called an "instant classic". This was the best match I have seen in CEW to date and, based on the crowd reaction, I do not believe I'm alone in that assessment. It received the first "This is awesome!" chant since I've been attending CEW. Najasism, with his martial arts & aerial prowess, showed the VFW some moves that they've never seen here before...and capable DJ was right there with him. After some back & forth, DJ got a 2 count with a frogsplash. Najasism walked the ropes into a cutter for a 2 count himself. Najasism hit twisting tornillos both from the top rope & to the outside of the ring, which raised the crowd volume. Najasism hit a backbreaker into a sharp shooter, but DJ reached the ropes for a break. The popular DJ concluded the match with a roll up pin. The crowd showed their appreciation with a standing ovation. 

7.) Main event: "Hollywood" Hunter James successfully defended his CEW heavyweight title against former champion & CEW original "Pretty Boy" Matt Odam. As a fan of early CEW, this was a dream match of sorts for me & it delivered in every way. Odam had to relinquish the strap when he broke his back in 2023 & this past versus the present match was his redemption. Odam came out hot with a 2-count after a running powerslam...and again after a spear. Hollywood slowed him down by moving out of the way of an Odam moonsault. Hunter slapped on a crossface, but Odam got to the ropes to avoid a submission. Odam delivered an F5 for a 2 1/2 count. Hunter hit 3 consecutive topes but got caught on the third, with Odam countering with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Once back in the ring, Hunter was back in control & finished off Odam with his brainbusta finisher. Hunter shook Odam's hand & complimented his work. Hunter then called out all the OG's (Scratch, Voodoo, Hager, & Peps**) out, which evoked a loud "C-E-dub!" chant from the crowd. Hunter thanked the "OG's that paved the way for Hollywood Boulevard". 

Bryce Cannon, calling himself "the original OG" broke up the party & got into into a pull-apart brawl with Pepperbottom. 

The next show is "Hell on Hallow's Eve" on Halloween night at the Savannah VFW. Signed thus far is the title versus career steel cage match between Bryce Cannon & Cornelius Pepperbottom, Kelsey Raegan vs Xanti Li in a fans bring the weapons match, and Christian Taylor vs Randy Reno in a costume match.