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| Photos by Peter Sigmund |
By RobBrod (with comments from LG):
Well, it's been a while since I've done a SHW report, 2 years at least. Long story short, I had my vacation scheduled for this week and by happy circumstance, several of my old promotional haunts were running shows at the same time, so here I am, 670 something miles and over 13 hours on the road.
Just in case you haven't read one of my reports before, things can get strange quickly. Multiple reasons for this, but for the most part, I'm just weird.
I was at the first SHW show, so I'm more than honored that I can contribute for this. Hell, writing this I only know about a couple of matches for this and the two other shows that I'm going to this weekend. I guess "wrestling journalists" really don't know anything about wrestling. Plus, this nortorious lightweight has already had one alcoholic beverage and is feeling pleasently numb. Weee!
LG: Great to see Rob again. We met up at him at Blood & Honey a few months ago but it had been a long time before that. We're making a weekend of it: SWH tonight with Nick McDaniel from the Tapped Out Podcast. Multiple GWH staff members will be at AWE tomorrow.
Brandon Benefield and Don Miguel are on commentary. The ever lovely Diana Michel will ring announce. DJ Ton Nek is spinning tunes. Peter Sigmund is running around taking pictures, and a bunch of people that I haven't seen in years are in attendance.
Diana brings out the Dudley boyz aka Brandon and Don Miguel to prime the crowd. Video package plays on the nearest big screen TV with highlights from the past 8 years.
LG: Hot crowd all night, definitely louder and more lively than the September show. Official attendance per Kay Vroyles was 287. I expected more given this was the anniversary show headlined by a highly anticipated SHW title match set up at Rumblejack. By the way, Alexander Lev vs. Carlie Bravo is a match of the year candidate. Read on.
Dylan Frymyer's booking instincts have been spot on all year long. Nothing about this show changed my opinion on that topic.
Referees are Clark aka "Hot Twink" DeBenedetto, Paul Santa, and THE! Darryl Hall.
1: Contract on a pole match. Winner receives a SHW title shot: Il Cartello Grillo representatives (KayJay Impala and Hayden Seal) vs. Grayson Pierce with Corrine Joy vs. Sal Rinauro vs. Herculon Rage vs. Krule.
Another kid kidnapped by Sal, nice theme music for him, haven't heard that before. nice pop for Rage. Huge pop for Krule when the music hit, Sal was happy about that until Krule kicked him in the face. Wow, almost got to take KayJay home. Christian Taylor runs out and attacks Krule and they fight on the other side of the ring and back into the bar area. Grayson tried to go get the contract, but Rage knocked him off. Sal and Rage tee off on the Grillos. Sal and Rage fight, Grayson takes advantage of that, but Rage was right behind him. The Grillos double team Rage, Grayson agains tries but gets cut down again. No one likes him, well except for Joy. Sal pins everyone but that won't win him him the match unfortunately. More Grillos double teams on Rage and Sal. Almost got to take both KayJay and Seal home. Rage powerbombs Sal onto everyone ringside. Crowd really wants Rage to win this.
Everyone down, just realized Rage is zip tied to the bottom rope, he breaks out. Sal and Pierce fight by the contract. Sal Super kicks Pierce and grabs the contract which was trying to flee in the windy conditions. Rage gets a measure of revenge against Grayson after the match. Sal celebrates in the crowd.
LG: I forgot the 7:30 start time and missed this. Sal winning made total sense after the main event.
2: Christian Taylor vs. Krule.
Taylor and Krule come out fighting from the back, the refs try to break it up along with security. Krule chokeslams Clark. Krule and Taylor fight to the back. No contest, duh.
(LG: An out-of-control brawl was a much better way to go than these beasts doing a "normal" match when there's nothing normal about either of them.)
Video package plays showing Joe Black and Trey'von Ali's history.
3: Trey'Von Ali vs Joe Black. Ref Santa.
BTW, this is my first time seeing Ali in action, am impressed. If you've been reading the previous SHW show reports, you'll know about the feud. If you haven't, stop being lazy and read them.
Joe is taking a beating that I haven't seen him take in a long time. The other members of the Patheon get some shots in as well. Ali plays into the crowd too much and Joe lays him out with a massive lariat. Ali in trouble, but Joe's leg gives out as he coming off the ropes. Rope-a dope, Joe plants Ali with a stunner. Still nursing the leg, Joe chops away at the massive chest of Ali to the delight of the crowd. Ali chops back but Joe chops away. Ali pulls Santa in front of him as Joe charges and Santa gets squashed. visual 10 count on Ali. Shook comes in and attacks Joe. Shook show boats a bit and Joe lays him out. Jenkins III hits Joe in the back with a chair. Amy Haven (hi girllll!) makes an appearance and hits Jenkins III with a chair. Amy assists Joe in getting Ali back into the ring. Amy revives Santa just in time to see Ali plant Joe with a massive choke slam. 2 and 15/16ths count on Joe. Ali rushes in, Joe catches and old schools Ali into a what looked like a DDT. An awkward landing, both men down.
Both men with big moves, Joe locks in the submission and makes Ali tap at 15:16. Joe tosses the prayer beads at Ali who gets a you tapped out chant directed at him.
LG: This match could have main avented on another night -- all the bells and whistles, electric atmosphere. Agree 100% with Rob -- color me impressed by Ali. Joe's sneak in from behind Pantheon was stealth. His knee problem appeared to be legit. He was walking gingerly when he came out with Lev for the main event. I am happy to report that the SHW crowd chanted the name of Amy Haven.
4) SHW Tag Team championships: Gods of Honor (Adrian Alainis and Matt Griffin) (c) vs. Better Together (Ori Gold and Hadar Horvitz). Ref Hall.
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"Mr. 499" Griffin with a heel promo. I've seen Better Together at a couple of promotions that are local to me in Florida, they are very good. The crowd don't know them tho, but hate Griffin and Alanis so much that they might cheer for me if I was in the ring. Griffin is such a good chicken shit heel. Griffin eats a double drop kick and so does Alanis. Another double team on Alanis and he's in a world of hurt. Griffin provides heel shenanigans to allow the heat on Gold. Gold tries for and makes the hot tag. Horvitz runs over Alanis and Griffin to the delight of the crowd. Blind tag allows Griffin to land a brain buster for a near fall. Alanis gets dumped out for the ring. Griffin eats a double team and falls out of the ring, Alanis grabs the leg of Hadar and 7/10 splits him the in post. Griffin with a jackknife powerslam on Gold, Alanis follows it up for the win at 9:44.
The crowd hates these guys.
LG: Match quality was better than OK. Better Together is an excellent tag team. The crowd was not familiar and did not get behind them all that much. It was all about hate for the heel champions. I am beyond sick of hearing from Griffin about being #499 in the PWI 500.
Don and BB back in the ring for the costume contest. K-Pop Demon Hunter Ruby wins, Hot Dog comes in second.
Video plays showing the history between Cannon, Matthews, and Young.
5: Jake The Snake Legacy championship triple threat match. Hakeem Young vs. Kyle Matthews vs. Bryce Cannon (c). Ref Hall.
Matthews is a previous title holder wanting it back. Young is hungry for the glory, and Cannon wants to cement his status as one of the top talent not only in the state but the country.
Young attacks Bryce as Diana was introing him. This will be chaos.
Young wants an alliance with Matthews, Bryce turns it into a double blockbuster. Young is all gas, no brakes here. It takes multiple hits by Bryce and Kyle just to knock him down so they can then attack each other. Cannon turns into a spear from Young for a very close fall. Young goes out into the crowd and grabs the title. Sets up in the ring to hit someone with it. Bryce eventually eats it and Kyle locks in a crossface on Young in the middle of the ring. Young powers out and stomps Kyle in the gut.
Tower of Doom spot. Young in a tree of woe, Bryce wants to superplex Kyle, but Young reaches up and throws both men across the ring. Everyone up at 9 and trading punches and strikes. Kyle up and splashes down on Bryce for a near fall. Young spears both men, then lands a blow to the back of Kyle's head for a near fall. Piledriver on Kyle by Young, Bryce Pearl Harbors Young and pins Kyle at 11:22 to retain. A young man dressed up as Bryce (with tip) gets invited into the ring to help celebrate.
LG: Really well done. Smooth without feeling choreographed. This is a three way that has room to run -- two babyfaces and one heel but the babyface have serious issues. The spider suplex tower of doom spot was something different.
Video package plays.
6: First Blood match: Corrine Joy vs. Ravenna Vein. Ref Clark, who is already wearing gloves.
Joy was looking for something under the ring during Vein's entrance. They start throwing hands on the bell. Vein kicking away at Joy. Joy grabs a pizza pan from under the ring. Vein wants to post Joy, Joy reverses. They continue to fight around the ring and out into the crowd, headed toward the merch tables. To far away for me to see what's going on, but it looks like someone got slammed into a drink cart.
Vein grabs Joy's head and slams it into the pan, no blood yet. Joy trying to stab Vein's head with Christmas lights. Vein fights it off. Joy has a staple gun, goes to use it, Vein fights it off. Vein using the lights to choke Joy. Looks like Joy is tying to use the staple gun again and staples Veins's toungue, no blood. Then the buttocks, then chest area. Joy leaves the ring looking for something, she found Donald's trash can. Vein dodges the first attempt but Joy places the trash can over the head and shoulders of Vein and Joy drop kicks it, still no blood.
Joy getting frustrated and leaves the ring again. Joy forces BB to bring a large screen tv to the ring area. This will not end well for someone. Joy wants to piledive but Vein turns it into a DVD onto the TV, no blood. Joy rolls out of the ring, Vien follows. Back into the ring. Vein sets up but Grayson Pierce runs out for a distraction. Joy spits red mist into the face of Vein, but Ref Clack doesn't bite on it. Grayson puts a door into the ring, Joy sets it up in the corner. Vein spears her into it, Clark checks but no blood.
Taylor and Krule continue their fight from the back out and into the ring and then back out of the ring, Pierce was almost a casualty of that.
Joy and Vein are out on the floor. Pierce brings a table to the ring. Sunny Daze's music plays and he makes his way to the ring, Pierce attack but Daze plants him with a black hole slam. Joy attacks but nothing doing. Spits red mist in Vein's face. They set up the table and want to plant Daze into it but Pierce gets crotched. Daze climbs up for a superplex, but Joy goes under them and both Daze and Pierce go through the table. Vein with a chair, smacks Joy in the head. Table set up, Joy sets Vein's head into it and knees Vein in the face. no blood. Joy slams Vein's face onto the chair multiple times, no blood. Joy looking for more plunder, grabs the pie pan again and uses it on the back.
Joy grabs more chairs from under the ring for a total for 4 chairs in the ring now. Iron Maiden? Yup. Joy has bad intentions and sets Vein on the chairs. Vein sits up and bites into Joy's neck. Implant buster on Joy into the chairs. Joy rolls out of the ring to prevent Clark from checking Joy. Joy and Vein are both under the ring. Joy is dragged out and she's bleeding. Vein wins at 23:16. Vein and Daze celebrate in the entrance way.
LG: Loved this as a fitting hardcore blowoff to their feud. Joy ordering Benefield to haul the flatscreen into the ring was hilarious. Krule and Taylor, Pierce and Daze adding to the chaos was perfect. Would have loved it more five minutes shorter. They missed the window to end it with the most impact.
It's gonna take a few minutes to clean up the ring. and the broom breaks. Where's Jak Myles when you need him?
Video package plays for the main event.
Main Event: Southern Honor Championship match: Carlie Bravo with his mini-me vs. Alexander Lev accompanied by Joe Black(c). Ref is Paul Santa. 30 minute time limit announced.
Bravo with some disrepect towards Joe. Split crowd, tilted more towards Lev, IMO. Feeling out process, Bravo with some one upmanship. Trading arem wringingers, then moving to strickes and chops. Bravo gets dumped out of the ring, Lev follows and they fight out into the crowd where Lev delivers the 10 punches of Doom while Bravo is on a chair. Lev with a drop kick trough the ropes and Bravo almost takes out my seat mates.
Lev not backing down on the offense but can't keep Bravo's shoulders on the mat. Tree of Woe for Bravo, Lev with a sliding drop kick to Bravo's face for a two count. Lev goes up top, Bravoknocks him down to the floor in from of me. Bravo on the attack, landing chops and a running kick to Lev's face. More punishment for Lev with chops and kicks. In the ring a neck breaker on Lev for a one count. The crowd has really gotten behind Lev now. More kicks to Lev's face. Dueling Bravo/Faithful chants.
Bravo showboats a bit too much and Lev locks in an arm lock. Bravo's foot just makes the ropes. Bravo thinks his shoulder is dislocated and pops it back in. Snap suplex on Lev, lazy cover and Lev almost reverses it, Lev firing back but Bravo goes for the neck again. Bravo with a head lock and is really wrenching back on it. Lev gets a boot up and starts throwing some lariats around. Lev upt top, missile drop kick lands. Lev on fire but can only get a two count. Dueling chants again. Lev with what looks to me like a package brain buster for a near fall. The crowd wanted that one. Lev gets shove back into the corner, Falcon's arrow by at Bravo for a near count. Submission on Lev in the middle of the ring, Lev just makes the ropes with his foot.
At the 20 minute mark, both men still have gas in the tank. Bravo setting up for a punt. Backslide by Lev. Trading submission attempts. Sister Abgrigail by Bravo gets a one count. Fighting up in the corner, Lev looking for a move, Bravo fights him off, Lev back up and lands a true superplex that leaves both men down and out of the ring. Santa counting, Lev in at 7, Bravo in at 8. Wobbly legs, but they landing hands on each other. 5 minutes to go and trading blows and licks. Lev with the curb stomp and Bravo kicks out at one. A fight forever chant happens but they only have about 3 minutes left.
Bravo's dead weight and Lev can't pick him up. 2:30, Bravo almost schoolboys Lev. fast moving pin attempts. Styles Clash by Lev, Bravo kicks out! Lev can't believe it. Lev goes up top, Bravo rolls out of the way. 1 minute. Bravo firing up but the bell rings. Time limit draw.
A 5 more minutes chant occurs. Bravo with the mic, he wants the match to continue, Lev agrees, and we have sudden death. Sudden death just got the ref when Lev ducks and Bravo takes out Santa. Lev takes out Bravo and and then hits Bravo with the title. Lev hits Bravo again with the title. Santa recovers enough to count to 3 and Lev retains at 1:43 of overtime as he flips the bird to the camera. Lev leaves the ring area, Sal and Sunny Daze come out to check on Bravo as Hall helps Santa to the back.
LG: Peak performance from both men, I've never seen either one of them any better than they were in the match, an instant match of the year contender. The incredible atmosphere took it to a whole 'nother level: crowd passionately split, seeing sawing back and forth between Bravo and Lev for the full thirty minutes. Then the turn and the tremendous reaction to it: Carlie leaning heel going into the match, SHW's hero takes the shortcut and the faithful followers who have supported him through thick and thin over the last year turned against him.
Next show is Nov 13th, back at Reformation Brewing.
Final thoughts.
Holy Moley, what a match! It wasn't a classic double turn as Bravo had a bunch of vocal supporters, but Lev done pissed a bunch of his off.
All the matches really clicked for me. Sure a couple things could have been shaved off for time, but everything all around was really well done. Kudos for everyone!
Taylor and Krule will def need a steel cage to attempt to contain the carnage.
I finally got a bottle of seasonings after several years of trying. Go me!
It was great so see so many people again. I missed you all, well except for Griffin. But hopefully my aim continues to improve.
