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| Photos by Rockstar Sports Photography |
From Jeremy York:
Deep South Wrestling—“Monster’s Ball” (Monday Night Garage—Atlanta)
Ring Announcer—“The Voice of Deep South Wrestling” Michael Longino
Commentary—“The Voice of Violence” Nathan Hamilton & Drew “Drewski” Dickinson
Officials—Paul Santa & Darryl Hall
Match 1: (Quarterfinal #1) Austin Towers Vs. Big Andy—They lock into a stare down first, each trying to find the weakness early in the other. They lock up, neither gaining much of the advantage so they shake free of it. They trade turns throwing massive running shoulder tackles until finally Andy hits the mat. Back on his feet, he starts the trade off once more. However, THIS time it’s Towers that is taken off his feet. Andy hits a flying body block then whips Austin into the corner. He rushes in for a huge splash! As he returns to the other side to do it once more, Towers meets him with his own huge splash! They trade splashes a few more times before Towers moves away from a Big Andy splash. As Andy turns to find Austin, he’s met with the crushing KOBIYAH KICK from the slightly bigger monster! Towers covers for the 1-2-3 as a stunned crowd watches on!
Takeaway: Wow, what a way to open the show and tournament. While the 404 (Atlanta) may not quite be as familiar with the “605” (Big Andy), they still locked on quickly to him as they were definitely against Towers. That kick from Austin was wicked on point too.
Winner: (Advancing to the Semi-Finals) Austin Towers via pinfall.
Match 2: (Quarterfinal #2) Jabari Jaku (w/ Raheem) Vs. Eddie Honcho—Before this one can get under way, Jabari attacks Honcho, but we hear music hit over the speakers. Out walks C-Rex! She stomps over to Nick Patrick and points to the ring (her way of “asking/telling” her desire to join the fracas). He seems to like the idea and tells her “be my guest” as he gestures towards the squared-circle. (UPDATE) Match 2: (Quarterfinal #2) Jabari Jaku (w/ Raheem) Vs. Eddie Honcho Vs. C-Rex—Jaku snatches up Honcho for a big suplex. He turns to C-Rex who splashes him in the corner, then hits a running clothesline on Jaku then another on Honcho. She hits a jarring headbutt on Jabari as Raheem barks at her to watch who she attacks. Eddie hits a big forearm to the chin of C-Rex who turns towards Jaku. Honcho rushes at them both, sending C-Rex crashing onto Jaku, then splashes them both before going for the pin. He gets a two count then C-Rex springs to her feet to headbutt Eddie now before powerslamming him hard into the canvas. As Honcho recovers, he and Jabari send C-Rex flying via a double flying shoulder tackle! Eddie hits a Samoan Drop for a two count. He sees that Jabari is seated in the corner, causing Eddie to give his signature grin and strut. He sprints towards the corner, dropping his singlet to deliver the stink face to his foe! The crowd goes crazy and he jumps up to hit a hip attack, yet Jaku moves at the last minute causing him to crash into the turnbuckles. Jabari sees his opportunity to end this and goes for the chokeslam on C- Rex. She reverses, splashes both competitors then pins Honcho for the victory!
Takeaway: Great wrinkle in not only adding a third superstar to the match, but it being a female giant in C-Rex really took the match in a new direction. Honcho is one of the more entertaining superstars I’ve seen in a while and never disappoints. I was not familiar with Jaku (or Raheem) much until now, yet I like what they have going. C-Rex made a statement with the win and will now look forward to the next round to further her path of destruction.
Winner: (Advancing to Semi-Finals) C-Rex via pinfall.
Match 3: (Quarterfinal #3) Lamar Diggs (w/ Wallabee) Vs. Elijah Drago—Diggs springs out first for a chokeslam, Drago counters and attempts an F5 yet neither are successful. Drago tries a roll up, gets an early two count. He locks on a headlock, then pulls Diggs onto the mat then rolls to the apron. Drago flies from the apron to back inside the ring, smashing Diggs with a shoulder tackle. As Drago goes for crossbody Diggs catches him and uses the momentum to slam his foe, then sends him hard into the turnbuckles followed by a thunderous headbutt. Diggs with the splash into the corner, however the second splash is blocked by Drago. He rushes at Diggs from the corner, but is met with a hard clothesline. Diggs with an impressive delayed suplex where he held Drago up for at least a fifteen count before crashing him into the canvas. Diggs misses the reverse splash off the second turnbuckle then Drago battles back with a pair of clotheslines and a huge spine buster. He goes back to the apron where he soars over the ropes for a big splash on Diggs. Drago get a two count as Diggs kicks out. Drago goes for an F5 again and is again blocked by Diggs who executes a Samoan Drop on Drago in return. Diggs climbs to the top rope for Air Force Diggs, but Drago moves at the last second! As Wallabee tries to distract Drago and the official, Skrilla the Great runs out to deliver a running Skrillride to a stunned Diggs! He quickly rolls out of the ring as Drago picks up Diggs for an F5 and the win!
Takeaway: These two almost went move for move in the longest match in the first round. Diggs showed his strength and ability to keep up with a swifter opponent while Drago exhibited his high athleticism and unique arsenal.
After the bell, Diggs attacked Drago though and hit Air Force Diggs (think Bronson Reed’s “Tsunami”) at least three times, with the last one being egged on by a couple people in the crowd. This left Drago pretty banged up as he was helped slightly to the back.
Winner: (Advancing to the Semifinals) Elijah Drago via pinfall.
Match 4: (Quarterfinal #4) K-Toomer (w/ DJ Klaun Goodlowe) Vs. Corey Dillinger—They trade wrist and hammer locks then running shoulder tackles with K- Toomer winning that battle. Corey rebounds by working over K-Toomer in the corner with strikes. K-Toomer unleashes some big-time martial arts kicks that send Dillinger to the canvas. As he recovers, K-Toomer grabs him up then throws him down in a one- handed chokeslam/spinebuster combo. Corey responds by pushing K-Toomer into the ropes then catching him with a bulldog as he rebounded off them. K-Toomer hit a standing wheel kick, but Dillinger fought it off from being his undoing. He lands a second rope bulldog for a near fall. K-Toomer would not be denied a victory on this day though as he lands a high roundhouse kick to the dome of his opponent then finished him with a running shining wizard for the win!
Takeaway: Corey’s ingenuity and resourcefulness kept him close to victory the entire match. It was the martial arts kicks (“Fatjitsu” as K-Toomer would call it) though that lead to his first round victory. DJ Klaun was quite the leader of cheers on the outside as he kept the crows going and mostly in favor of his champion.
Winner: (Advancing to the Semifinals) K-Toomer (w/ DJ Klaun Goodlowe) via pinfall.
Drewski welcomes Skrilla out to answer some questions. They are interrupted by Wallabee and Lamar Diggs who took quite the offense to Skrilla’s involvement in their match earlier. They go back and forth ultimately determining that they are definitely enemies and Wallabee’s faction will be coming after the “King of Controversy” very, very soon.
Match 5: (Semifinal #1) Austin Towers Vs. C-Rex—C-Rex’s early attempts at shoulder blocks were stopped by Towers. Then she rushed at him, leaping in the air as she landed a Thesz Press then followed up with heavy artillery of strikes to the cranium of Towers. She hits a hip attack while he is gathering himself up against the ropes. She goes for the cover….Austin kicks out at barely one! They battle back and forth for a short bit. Towers big boot just misses C-Rex, straight right hand to the chin from her does not. She pushes him into the corner then retreats to the opposing one. She misses the running hip attack. As C-Rex turns to see where Towers has gone to she catches a massive big boot to the side of the head. Austin covers for the 1-2-3!
Takeaway: C-Rex is very strong. She ran into a wall that was Towers and had to dig into her creativity to finds ways to get the upper hand. Towers had to rethink his initial efforts as well, however he adjusted faster and made sure C-Rex was always a slight step away from taking over. After a longer opening match, he made a more conscious effort to get the job done quicker this round in order to save more energy for the final. Just because C-Rex was in the men’s tournament does not mean that the likes of Audrey Allen, Gemma Jewels or Alexandra Quinn should not be on the look out for her as well.
Winner: (Advancing to the Final) Austin Towers via pinfall.
Match 6: (Semifinal #2) Elijah Drago Vs. K-Toomer (w/ DJ Klaun Goodlowe)—Drago came to the ring sporting wrapping over his ribs courtesy of the multiple Air Force Diggs from the previous round. K-Toomer decided to target the mid- section and ribs out of the gate. K-Toomer’s chops early were followed with a giant splash that garnered a two count. He followed up the Ukranian-born Thriller’s kick out with an inverted abdominal stretch. Drago finds the strength to hip toss the Master of Fatjitsu then hit a running back elbow in the corner. K-Toomer fights back from the attack to knock Drago to the mat. He then applies a standing version of the STF. After fighting it off through many agonizing minutes, Drago taps out!
Takeaway: Clearly a fully healthy Drago makes more a go against K-Toomer, but the damage from Diggs really hindered his ability to get much going here. To K-Toomer’s credit, he took the ultimate strategy of targeting the more injured part of your opponent to get the job done. He did it in a clean way and never took cheap shots or liberties, just straight up attack of the ribs of Drago. Once again, DJ Klaun Goodlowe does a great job of parading around ringside, cheering on his champion and stirring the fans at ringside into chants and cheers the entire time.
Winner: (Advancing to the Final) K-Toomer (w/ DJ Klaun Goodlowe) via submission.
Match 7: Najasism (C) Open Challenge: D.R.E. The Goat—This one starts exactly how you think it would: a dance off. Just as Naja was finishing up his latest moves, D.R.E. grabs him in a deep head lock. They exchange a flurry of running and chain wrestling holds that showed off the speed of both competitors. The Champ hits a hurricanrana, however The Goat cartwheels through it. D.R.E. grabs a waist lock, shows off a few more dance moves, adds in some funk then leaps to the top and off against hurling Najasism across the ring with an arm drag. Naja gets up quick to deliver a quick roundhouse to the temple of his foe who rolls to the outside. As Naja gives chase he is the recipient of a jumping kick from The Goat, then another and a third from the apron finishing the combo with a moonsault. Najasism’s smashing kick sends D.R.E. to the floor again. As he goes to get back into the ring, The Champ hits a corkscrew plancha to the outside! Back inside it’s The Goat who uses a savate kick to his opponent’s noggin leading to a backstabber out of the corner. Naja responds with stinging chops, D.R.E. slams him with a spinebuster. Najasism kicks The Goat’s leg hard, hits a running cutter on him while The Goat is on his knees! Naja starts really trying to weaken the legs of D.R.E. as he ties his legs up behind him then locks on a front face lock. The Goat finds the ropes forcing Naja to break the hold. The take each other out as each goes for a flying crossbody simultaneously. Naja is up first to land several superkicks, a cutter off the second turnbuckle THEN his patented corkscrew splash off the top rope! The Goat kicks out just at the last second! The Champ with an ankle lock, D.R.E. rolls through it, but Naja hangs on until D.R.E. finds the ropes again. Running powerbomb from Najasism for another near fall. Naja finally succeeds in applying the Sharpshooter, yet The Goat fights out of it twice so he hits a double stomp for another two count. D.R.E. slams The Champ then heads to the top rope. Just as he leaps for the attack, Najasism hits a running corkscrew spear! D.R.E. finds a way to kick out just after two! As Naja runs at him he snatches him up for the blue thunder bomb as he gets a two count. D.R.E. back to the top, but Naja meets him there. Najasism with the cartwheel rolling slam off the top! This sets up him locking on the Sharpest Shooter as the official calls for the bell!
Takeaway: These two have faced off a couple times, each time is incredible. D.R.E. can hold his own with the speed and technical prowess of Najasism. The ever-growing, innovative arsenal of Naja is unreal. It’s not just the new maneuvers he brings to a match, it’s also the transitions he uses to get to them.
After the match Naja grabs the mic to say most champ’s are “hunted”, but as The Champ he is the “hunter”. He also adds that whoever wins the tournament does not have to go looking for him, he’ll be right in HIS ring.
Winner: (and STILL Deep South Heavyweight Champion) Najasism via submission.
Match 8: MAIN EVENT—(Monster’s Ball Tournament Final) Austin Towers Vs. K- Toomer (w/ DJ Klaun Goodlowe)—
It’s a melee early as the two slowly tire and separate only to rush back in throwing hands like it’s the Stanley Cup Finals. Towers smashes K-Toomer who returns fire with an enziguri, sending Austin to the outside. Once there, they trade big punches and forearms before slamming each other into table and parts of the ring. Towers hits a big boot that drops K-Toomer on the floor briefly. Back inside K-Toomer utilizes a running clothesline and splash in the corner to set up a Shining Wizard. Austin moves just in time to avoid the latter landing. He dropkicks the back of K-Toomer before he can get up for the first two count of the contest. Big elbow from K-Toomer gets him a two count from the official. He locks on a rear chin lock, yet Towers battles out of it. They trade strikes again with K-Toomer hitting a lumbering back suplex, earning two slaps of the mat from the official. He adds a double chop to the pectorals of his opponent and a spinning roundhouse kick for two more slaps of the mat. K-Toomer tries to apply a Boston Crab, however Austin powers out of it. He gains his feet quickly to hit the Kobiyah Kick for another near fall. He lands a standing spinebuster for another two count. K-Toomer tries another Crab to ankle lock to crossface, but Austin would not give up! House Call kick from Towers leads to a choke slam countered by K-Toomer into a Shining Wizard. Towers kicks out just before the third slap of the mat from the official! Spear from K-Toomer, yet Austin locks on the Triangle Lock as they land. Official checks K-Toomer multiple times then calls for the bell! Austin Towers wins! Takeaway: What a way to culminate this great tournament. Both competitors really emptied the tanks for the Final. K-Toomer is impressive to be as big as he is, yet pull off all of the “Fatjitsu” kicks and martial arts maneuvers he does. He really is fun to watch. On the other hand, Towers showing HE is the dominant big man of Deep South Wrestling and that any effort to say otherwise will have to go through HIM first.
Winner: (Monster’s Ball Tournament) Austin Towers via submission.
After the match, Deep South Heavyweight Champion Najasism comes out to stare down his newest challenger, Austin Towers. After some time, they turn away from one another. As Naja turns back around though he catches the KOBIYAH KICK from Towers right to the jaw! Austin adds a towering chokeslam then grabs the Championship to hold up while he puts his foot on the chest of Najasism. As Towers exits, medical and security flock to the ring to check on The Champ who was carried to the back by a handful of security. Unofficially he was taken to the back to get evaluated and no further update has been given at this time.
Takeaway: Firstly, tournaments are typically clunky at least partially. This one was not. It was fast, easy to follow (even with so many new talents featured), fluid throughout. Definitely a great showcase for Towers who really built up his stock even more and reminded many of what he is really capable of. The stare down was intense enough, but when you add in that KICK plus the chokeslam…it really sent a message not only as a threat to Naja’s title reign but also to everybody in the locker room OR anybody wanting to make their mark in Deep South Wrestling.
Next show at Monday Night Garage is November 8 th at 2pm.
