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Power Play was a fun Sunday show in the same vein as the DWA shows and in fact, using a lot of the same crew.
The crowd at Kagez Sports Hall was 50 at best and filled with wrestling people. I don't know what it is about this space but it always has good energy.
The talent works hard and all of the matches are given plenty of time. Their are always a few gems in the ring. Strange things happen.
Trever Aeon won the vacant Shout Out Social Media Championship. RIPW Champion Alex Kane and Southeastern Openweight Champion Keelin Cole successfully defended their championships.
"Who's a cowgirl now?"
(1) Prince Moulay defeated DJ Bruner (with Jay Tyler) in 11:00. Moulay was switched from the Social Media title match to a singles with Bruner in place of the advertised Shoot Taylor. They gave the ringposts a work out. Moulay inadvertently posted himself, setting up a jumbo-sized comeback by Bruner. Moulay kicked out of Bruner's senton off the top and reversed Bruner's pin attempt for the win.
Being from "Morrocan Royalty" gives Moulay a distinctive look and character and he has the athletic ability and physique to go with it. Just needs to keep getting reps with higher level talent.
Autistic by birth, Pro wrestler by the grace of God"
(2) Dre the GOAT (with Florida Man) defeated Dante Darko in 11:42. Darko the clear crowd favorite. Dre not well liked. The fans got involved in a front row chopfest for the GOAT. Florida Man is a small white guy under a mask who is part of Dre's 3 Dope crew along with new member Justin McKenzie. Florida Man egregiously ignored Darryl Hall's warning about interference and got himself kicked out. I dug Darko's strait jacket suplex. Dre acted like he hurt his knee on a long distance missed splash. Florida Man ran out and slid Darko's RIPW tag team belt into the ring. While Hall was getting rid of the belt, Dre gave Darko a low blow and pinned him.
It was interesting to see Dre as a heel after seeing him as a babyface elsewhere. I appreciated the body scissors. His cobra clutch looked like shit.
"I ain't telling you to be afraid, I'm telling you to be aware."
(3) Trever Aeon defeated Chris Chrome and Atrix to win the vacant Shout Out Social Media Championship in 10:04. Chrome used his dome, Atrix was all about speed, Aeon had a clear advantage in power and technique. Crowd took a rude bump to the floor courtesy of Aeon. Atrix frogsplashed Chrome. Aeon planted Atrix on top of Chrome with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and pinned the poor guy.
Of the three, Aeon was the only choice to carry the championship.
(4) "Queen of RIPW" Shalonce Royal pinned Nikki Heat in an impromptu match at 6:10. Royal cut a promo on her no show opponent without mentioning her by name (Auntie Jo). Royal spied Rose Gold, Nikki Heat and Riley Judah in the audience and made them her verbal target. Heat bowed up. Royal challenged Heat to get in the ring. Heat was down for it, crowd was chanting her name so Renegade sanctioned the match.
Dana Goodman came out to ref. That we share the same last name is very weird.
Nikki was in street clothes. Royal beat her down. Kicked Heat right in the face. Nikki hauled off and punched Royal in the face. Looked like a receipt to me. They fought outside the ring. Heat got posted. Back inside, it was all Heat with a trio of clotheslines. Royal saved herself by putting her foot on the ropes and pinned Heat with a pump kick. Royal tweaked her knee on the kick and crawled to cover Heat.
In the midst of the pain, Royal expressed her disappointment in Alexandra Quinn for not showing her face after being the loser of a match that was burned in her memory.
Madness. A match worth seeing on multiple levels. Royal is a drama queen. An air of danger and unpredictability surrounds her. Heat brought the authenticity. In the good news department, Royal's knee is doing OK.
(5) Nawfside Heroes (Jose Manuel & Shoota Gabe) defeated Air B&B (Rico Bravo & BK Bennet) in 9:33. Solid teamwork by Air B& B dominated early on. Manuel mauled Bravo and Nawfside got heat on him with stellar teamwork of their own. Poison rana by Bravo to make the tag to Bennet. Air B & B put Gabe down and donned their aviator glasses to fly from the top rope. Manuel crotched Bravo on the ropes. Gabe speared Bennett, Manuel landed a frog splash and Gabe swooped in to make the pin.
Pretty good tag match. Air B& B are a real tag team in the old school sense. Nawfside killed it twice in one day. They've got the timing on their tandem moves down to a fine science.
(6) Keelin Cole defeated Jay Tyler to retain the RIPW Southeastern Openweight Championship in 11:34. They straight up wrestled to open. Cole moonsaulted off the middle rope out of Tyler's catapult. Nice. Cole took a rough bump to the floor. Tyler did his triangle plancha ala the great Silver King. Tyler got the worst of the seated chops. Back inside, Tyler tore into Cole with crossface forearms. Tyler's slingshot senton came up empty. Cole got on a roll with a blockbuster. Tyler pounced the heel out of Cole for a near fall. Cole answered with a death valley driver. Things were not looking good for Tyler when Cole kicked out of Break The Bank. Cole unloaded the clip. A trio of superkicks and a Keelin Cutter later, Cole had retained.
Good title match with a lot of big moves and near falls. Crowd loves both of them. They just love Keelin a little more.
(7) Alex Kane defeated Rey Fury to retain the RIPW Championship in 11:20. Crowd showed respect for Fury but Kane was their guy.
Right from the opening lock up, it was clear this match would be contested on a higher plane. Fury did a misdirect into a springboard crossbody. Kane broke out an overhead and a belly-to-belly from his suplex arsenal. He speared Fury and softened up his left leg for ankle lock. A strike battle ensued. Fury's wraparound cutter was something different but Kane made him miss with the frog splash. Kane used a superman punch to set up a falcon arrow for a two count. Kane pulled the straps down for his signature apron splash. Fury had it scouted. Fury scored a close near fall with a slingshot spear and headed to the top. They battled for position on the ropes. Kane rung Fury up with bell claps and pinned him with a superplex.
Kane and Fury displayed sportsmanship after the match.
This was a treat. Technically a cut above. I'm a mark for Kane, ha, ha. Fury is a pro's pro. I wish we saw more of him in Georgia. Can't recall the last time I saw a match won with a garden-variety superplex.
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| Super Destroyers with Skandar Akbar |
NOTES: Commentary by Drew Dickinson and Shawn Montana...Production by Dee Munny...Chayn Maie on sound...In the house: Najasism, Blak Jak Mak, Rodney Rocket, Salem Alexander, Hakeem Young, Deon Summerz, Don Cameron and the aforementioned Rose Gold and Riley Judah
