United Pro Raising Stakes live report -- Kingsland, GA 10/25/26

Photos by Ross Blair By Ross Blair:  United Pro sold out (130 chairs plus some standing room only) Axes & Eights sports bar this past Su...

Photos by Ross Blair

By Ross Blair: 

United Pro sold out (130 chairs plus some standing room only) Axes & Eights sports bar this past Sunday for "Raising Stakes". Another stellar show for the Kingsland promotion. The fight club/bloodsport vibe has become a staple for United Pro & was particularly evident this night for six heated singles grudge matches. Champion Bryce Cannon tightened his grip on the UP heavyweight title by enlisting fellow heel Haydon Seal into his growing faction that also includes United Pro's ace Bryce Maddox. Maddox's scheduled match with Jon Davis had to be postponed, as Maddox missed this show due to a death in the family. 

1. "Hollywood" Hunter James defeated Hadar Horvitz in an outstanding opening match. 

This was the first time I saw Horvitz (of Better Together fame) in a singles match...and I kinda have a new respect for him after this impressive encounter. Hunter was, as always in Kingsland, the most popular performer on the show. It started with a handshake & played out as a friendly scientific match of reversals & aerial maneuvers for the first 5 minutes or so. Horvitz then decided to change the tempo to heel versus babyface with a cheap shot as well as continuously working Hunter's left arm. Hunter rebounded & gained a near fall after a standing twisting senton. He followed with an attempted Brainbusta, but Horvitz blocked it by grabbing hold of the top rope. Hadar came back with a codebreaker from the top rope but only got a 2 count. Hunter went for a unique 3 Amigos by starting with a snap German suplex...then a deadlift German...but Hadar blocked the third suplex attempt. Horvitz rebounded off the ropes for a flying forearm followed by a superkick & pin attempt...but Hunter kicked out at 2. Hunter nailed Horvitz with a Tajiri-style handspring elbow...followed by the Brainbusta...followed by a pinfall victory for Mr. Popularity. Horvitz reluctantly reciprocated Hunter's handshake request. Hunter grabbed the mic & said this was one of the most painful matches of his life. He also challenged Bryce Cannon for the heavyweight title. 

2. "The Wall" Tyler Stevens pinned Daniel Starling in about 30 seconds. Starling claimed to have injured his ankle during his ring entrance & said he wanted his partner Tyler Uriah to replace him in the match. United Pro commissioner Kevin Kantrell quickly shut down Starling's request. The Wall nailed Starling with a big boot, followed by a black hole slam for an easy victory. 

Karson Kase came out for an in-ring interview with Starling & Uriah. Kase grilled Starling about his recent losses, which resulted in the heel duo attacking Kase. Uriah delivered a piledriver on the commentator & then held Kase while Starling came off the top with a brutal leg drop. Kantrell stormed the ring & Starling pushed Kantrell. Kantrell, in a very cool moment, slowly removed his glasses before German suplexing Starling. Kase had to be assisted to the back. This entire segment was very well done & the crowd loved it. 

3. Preston Vance defeated Haydon Seal in a really good match. 

The crowd loved Vance, who made his United Pro debut here. Vance dominated the beginning stages of the match, including a lengthy delayed suplex. Seal came back with 2 reverse neck breakers & a dropkick for a near fall. Vance leveled the playing field with a spear. Referee Clark then got to 5 with both men laid out until Vance exploded with a pump kick...then a spinebuster. Seal ducked a lariat, but Vance hit a cutter for a 2 count. Seal rebounded with a Claymore Kick to get a near fall himself. In the end, it was Vance with his discus lariat clothesline finisher (which is an homage to his AEW Dark Order teammate Brodie Lee) for the pin. 

4. Jon Davis pinned "The Wall" Tyler Stevens in an excellent battle of big men. With Maddox absent, this started as an open challenge from Davis. The crowd popped when The Wall came out to fill that role. Wall dropped Davis's midsection across the top rope & covered for a 2 count. Wall proceeded with a flying leg lariat for another near fall. Wall followed with a DDT, but Davis aggressively kicked out at 1. Davis took over and rocked Tyler with a spinebuster...followed by an Oklahoma Stampede powerslam...but Tyler kicked out at 2. Side note: I think The Wall may have the best wrestling facials in the state when his opponent gains the upper hand on him. Just saying. Davis nailed a stiff lariat...pulled down both straps on his singlet...and then nailed an F5 for the pin. 

5. Popular local boy/Kingsland resident Jon Boy Ink defeated Randy Reno in a Bar Room Brawl Match. This was Ink's singles debut for United Pro. Both wrestlers impressed in this extreme rules match. Reno, who ran Ink into the ground during an interview segment last month, was on defense for the first part of the match with Ink beating him from pillar to post. Ink went for a pin attempt after brutalizing Reno but pulled him up after just a 1 count...deciding instead to shift to a ground & pound, perhaps to make Reno eat his words. Ink then went for his chokeslam finisher, but heel Reno popped him in the nuts to shift the advantage. Reno punished Ink with a chair & trash can lid, but Ink kicked out of a pin attempt at 1. Three more chairs & a door entered the fray. Reno hoisted Ink up to suplex him onto the chairs, but Ink reversed it. Reno retreated out of the ring, but Jon Boy's wife Debra (who is currently running for Mayor of Kingsland) placed a metal trash can atop Reno & beat him with a bat until he retreated back into the ring. Jon Boy missed a spear & instead went through a door that was propped up in the corner of the ring. The door exploded upon impact! Reno followed with a famouser atop chairs, but threw a temper tantrum when Ink kicked out at 2. Ink proceeded to hit his chokeslam finisher...but hesitated before a pin attempt. Instead, he grabbed Reno's arm for a rope walk into a blockbuster. Jon Boy then pinned Reno as the place went nuts. 

6. Main event: United Pro heavyweight champ Bryce Cannon successfully defended his title against Buckshot Brian Brock. 

Buckshot got this title shot by defeating Aaron Berry last month in a number one contenders match. This was Buckshot's second main event slot in a row, and his work rate & talent have proven that he indeed deserves to be at this level. After Buckshot finally got his hands on the elusive champ, he got a near fall after a belly to belly suplex. Cannon retaliated with an enzuigiri for a near fall of his own. A frustrated Cannon grabbed his fraternity paddle, but Buckshot blocked the paddle & nailed Cannon with a running powerslam. While the ref was distracted, Haydon Seal did a run-in & cracked Brock in the head with the title belt. Cannon quickly capitalized & covered Buckshot for the 1-2-3. 

Cannon & his new crony proceeded to double team Buckshot, including nailing him in the head with a chair. Hollywood made the save as Cannon & Seal retreated. Hollywood suggested a tag match between the four combatants for next month, and Commissioner Kantrell made it official. 

So Cannon has now apparently added Seal to his blooming United Pro faction of he & Bryce Maddox. Personally, I like it. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here. 

Clark DeBenedetto wore the stripes for the evening, while Chianne Michaels handled ring announcing duties. Karson Kase & Michael Walker were on commentary for the company's Unite2Wrestle YouTube program. 

Next up for United Pro is "Usurpers" on November 29th at Axes & Eights. Already signed is the anticipated grudge match between Jon Davis and Bryce Maddox, as well as a tag team match with Hunter James & Buckshot Brock versus Bryce Cannon & Haydon Seal. Aaron Berry and Pat Roach also appear on the poster for the next event.