PWX Presents Holiday Havoc
12-9-2011
Charlotte, NC
Pro Wrestling Xperience presented it’s final shows of 2011 as a two night event on December 9 & 10, The first night was Holiday Havoc in Charlotte, NC with the final night, It’s Good To Be King in York, SC. I was in attendance for night 1 of action and it was a tremendous card featuring Rhett Titus, Colt Cabana, Cedric Alexander, Mickie James and a great roster of talent in some very good matches. I strongly urge you to check out PWX as they not only have a great roster of independent talents from the Southeast but continually bring in stars from around Pro Wrestling to entertain their fans. Night 2 I watched on DVD, featuring WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler, Jake Manning, Ben Tyler & Trevor, and Caleb Konley, this too was a second straight night of great action. Again I strongly urge you if you’re not in PWX’s area to pick up their dvds which are great quality, with an entertaining announce team of Chris Shore and Lowell Lackey with high quality in both in ring work and production value.
Holiday Havoc
PWX Champion Rhett Titus comes to the ring accompanied by Corey Havoc & Joey Janela. Titus informs us all that Jerry Lawler can’t make it and “boo hoos” then says more importantly he’s injured but is there however there won’t be a title match tonight and he’s taking the PWX title back to New Jersey. The PWX Promoter Tyshaun Williams steps in and says there will be a title match tonight, Cedric Alexander deserves his shot and it will be tonight as Corey Havoc will defend the title for Titus in our main event. Titus says he has no problem with that, in fact “Jumpin” Joey Janela is looking for a match tonight too and he’s issuing an open challenge, one that is promptly answered by Caleb Konley who will put his PWI International Ultra J Championship on the line.
PWI International Ultra J Championship Match
“The Midnight Son” Caleb Konley vs “Jumpin” Joey Janela
Conley starts the match off with a big suicide dive over the top sending Janela over the rail into the first row of seats and controls the first few minutes of the match, with Havoc & Titus at ringside Janela regains the advantage. The two men get into an exchange of chops ending with Janela raking the eyes and taking the advantage back. Conley regains the advantage with an athletic running overhead throw off the middle rope. The two continue to go back and forth with Janela hitting a nice blockbuster from the top for a near fall on the champ. A series of quick kicks and Conley is back in control as he earns himself the submission victory with his standing variation of a bow & arrow he calls the”OH! face”. Very good opener here. ** 1/2
Post match, Corey Havoc jumps Conley but in a foreshadowing of what is to come, Konley’s 7OH!4 partner and Havoc’s opponent later in the night, Cedric Alexander makes the save.
Alex Averignos vs Chivas Kid
I’ve written quite a bit about Chivas who is very popular on the NC indy scene complete with his lucha inspired goat mask and futbol jersey. Averginos is a guy I’ve seen a handful of times and he is a talented young guy with tremendous technical skill and upside. Both of these men known to be high flyers had an extended feeling out process to start the match going back and forth on the ground with headlock takovers, and reversals. Averginos gained control and focused on Chivas neck after a powerbomb to the turnbuckle. A small comeback by Chivas is turned back by a brutal codebreaker from Averginos, yet he’s still unable to get the pin which allows Chivas to regain the advantage and hit his 620 press from the top for the victory. * 1/2
Footage is shown of November’s show when The Great Outdoorsmen faced 7OH!4 and were interrupted by Them Damn Texans, Zane Riley & Jimmy Jack Funk Jr. These are the actions that set up tonight’s big tag team match which takes place next.
The Great Outdoorsmen(Grizzly Redwood & “The Manscout” Jake Manning) & Adam Page vs Dem Damn Texans(Jimmy Jack Funk Jr & Zane Riley) & “Mr Elite” Drew Myers
Manning lets us know that he respects Jerry Lawler(who was supposed to team with he and Redwood tonight) however if there are two people he wants watching his back it’s Redwood and the man to his left Adam Page, who will be replacing Lawler tonight. Again, Adam Page is another tremendous young talent on the PWX roster, very exciting to watch so expect big things from him this year and beyond. Dem Damn Texans are mocking Manning’s speech as he gives it and Manning takes exception leading to all six men brawling and The Great Outdoors & Page clearing the ring. Redwood, who is well known for his flowing red beard begins with Riley, who if you’ve yet to see him has a beard that rivals if not surpasses Redwoods, so naturally this match starts with a lockup of the beards. Redwood, Manning, & Page take turns suplexing one another onto Funk Jr, as they take and keep control of this match early. Mr. Elite whose nose was busted in the prematch brawl, is back out and into the ring taking control for his team briefly before two bulldogs from Redwood turn the tides again. The Texans & Mr. Elite who are known to employ any tactics needed to take advantage do just that, and if you haven’t seen Funk Jr, Riley, or Myers they are each individually talented but together they are a unit to be reckoned with. Grizzly Redwood is isolated for the next few minutes of the match as Elite, Riley & JJF take turns dishing out punishment to the lil’ lumberjack. Manning finally gets a hot tag and dishes out clotheslines & backdrops to each of his opponents and this one descends into a six man brawl with the referee losing control quickly. In the end Manning backdrops his partner Adam Page over the top onto Dem Damn Texans, leaving Myers in the ring to suffer the Doomsday Backcracker from Redwood & Manning giving them the victory in an exciting matchup. ** 1/2
Next up former NWA Heavyweight champion Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana takes on current Pro Wrestling Evo Champion Marcellus “The Mid Atlantic” King. This will be aruguably the toughest test of King’s career, another name you may be familiar with through Evo and Pwponderings, King got into excellent shape in 2011, developed his “By Any Means Necessary” persona while being one of the best talkers in wrestling and is making people take notice of him. Cabana will be a more familiar name, known for his Art of Wrestling Podcasts, work in ROH and NWA amonst countless other promotions. As expected the match starts out with Colt playing games with King, draping a towel over his head and the tactics seem to be getting under the skin of Marcellus early. And seconds after the bell rings a “COLT CABANA!” chant breaks out, again disturbing the reigning Evo Heavyweight champion. Once the action starts we get a good armbar/standing switch reversal exchange which King gets the best of, and Cabana goes back to the mindgames attempting to throw Marcellus off his game. King again regains control of the in ring action with a guillotine across the ropes and then a devestating slingshot shoulder block. Marcellus breaks out every move he is known for and gives Cabana everything he expected and maybe more, finally King goes off book and tries a moonsault which gives Colt the only opening he needs to hit a big top rope splash getting the hard earned victory. **
Next up is a match brought to PWX by Arena Chicks featuring well known & traveled womens wrestler Amber O’ Neal taking on former WWE Divas Champ and current TNA Knockout Mickie James. Lei D’ Tapa is the special guest referee, the daughter of former NWA/WCW/WWF wrestler The Barbarian it was Tapa who faced O’ Neal at last months PWX show. O’Neal does a tremendous job of drawing heat from the crowd, announced as “just flying in from Heaven” and this night was no different as the crowd was all over Amber from start to finish. Mickie controlled the match early and O’ Neal stormed off to the locker room and James followed her dragging her back to the ring, however this allowed O’ Neal an opening. Amber attacked the back of Mickie and raked at the eyes as Lei D’ Tapa tried to restore order but the defiant O’ Neal was having none of it. The underlying feud between Lei D’ Tapa and Amber O’ Neal eventually rose to the surface here as O’ Neal shoved Tapa who then shoved her back & Mickie James capitalized with a rollup for the victory. *1/2
We see footage recapping the war of words between PWX Champion Rhett Titus & Cedric Alexander as an intro to the main event of the evening, With Titus injured, would Corey Havoc be the one to have his face kicked in tonight per Alexander’s promise?
PWX Heavyweight Title Match
Corey Havoc(defending for Rhett Titus) vs Cedric Alexander
Havoc is flanked by the world champion Rhett Titus & Joey Janela as they continue the war of words on Cedric’s mom & family shouting insults in their direction as Alexander enters the ring with his 7OH!4 partner Caleb Konley. The crowd is hot as ever for the very popular Cedric Alexander, again this is a name most of you should be familiar with by now as Alexander has recently began working with ROH and it is a rarity if possible at all to see a boring Cedric Alexander match, the intensity is just off the charts every night. Alexander takes the action to the arena floor immediately with a running knee from the apron and an exciting vaulting kick over the guard rail utilizing a folding chair. Alexander may have gotten ahead of himself a bit calling for the finish early and the numbers game caught up with him as Titus distracted Cedric just enough for Havoc to get the advantage. Havoc focuses on the neck and back of Alexander attempting to ground the challenger. Havoc continues his assault with an abdominal stretch and a boston crab as each man’s respective corners jaw back and forth with one another. One other aspect to this match that must be mentioned was the crowd, filled with many members of The Alexander family, it got out of hand more than once as the Alexander family members took shots at Havoc & Titus, even throwing water bottles and a FOLDING CHAIR at them! Inside the ring Alexander fed off the crowd mounting a comeback, but Havoc hit a devestating cobra clutch into a slam over the knee, followed by a brutal top rope powerbomb yet he was still unable to put Alexander away. Alexander, again fought his way back into the match & hit a high elevation frogsplash which hurt both men and once Alexander finally got the cover it was Rhett Titus saving his title by pulling the referee out at the count of two and assaulting him forcing a disqualification. 7OH!4 isolated Joey Janela in the ring dishing out a devestating kick to lay him out as Cedric let Rhett Titus know he was a patient man and that title would be coming to him just as soon as Titus is able to compete. ***
Overall: **
Disc 2
It’s Good To Be King
12-10-11
York, SC
The very next night in York, SC PWX presented “It’s Good To Be King” featuring WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler. Also returning for PWX on this night was Colt Cabana, Grizzly Redwood, and the young stars of PWX including Chivas Kid, Trevor Lee as well as Cedric Alexander & Caleb Konley taking on injured PWX Champion Rhett Titus and Corey Havoc in a contiunation of the feud between these four men.
The Fun Athletic Guys(Trevor Lee & Ben Tyler) vs Chivas Kid & Adam Page
If you haven’t seen The Fun Athletic Guys you should go out of your way to see a match of theirs, just pure entertainment mixed with great in ring action each time I see them. On this night they took on two PWX favorites in the young, athletic man with an upside Adam Page, and Chivas Kid, who is reknown all over the Carolina Indy scene and in CHIKARA pro for his high flying style. The match starts with quick tags by Tyler & Lee controlling the match with headlocks, armdrags and all the while displaying their budding bromance. A great spot early on as Chivas & Page took the advantage hanging Tyler in the tree of woe sending Trevor Lee into his partner as they landed head to crotch. Page followed up with a standing shooting star press from the apron onto the Fun Athletic Guys, followed by a springboard moonsault from Chivas and believe me Chivas gets some major air on all his flips & dives. Lee regains advantage for his team reversing a Chivas crossbody in midair for a powerslam, yet opting for a cocky pin and now The Fun Athletic Guys are in control but the crowd is firmly on Chivas & Page’s side. Great exchange next between Lee & Chivas, with a missed ensuguiri from Chivas, who then landed on his feet from a german suplex attempt & spiked Lee with a brutal hurracanrana. So much action in this one, just a fanstastic opening match from all four guys. Page & Chivas get the win with a bridging german suplex from Page on Tyler. ***
Dem Damn Texans & Mr. Elite Drew Myers vs The Great Outdoors & Colt Cabana
Next up Dem Damn Texans & Mr. Elite once again battled The Great Outdoors(Grizzly Redwood & Jake Manning) this time with Colt Cabana as the third man of their team. Redwood & Mr. Elite start things off and he & Funk Jr & Riley show they still have no respect for their opponents as Elite slaps Grizzly in the face, Colt asks to be tagged in immediately & returns the slap to Mr. Elite and which brings all six men into the ring albeit briefly as The Great Outdoors & Cabana clear the ring. Riley is in for Dem Damn Texans now as he is on the receiving end of a 10 count punch & axe handle by Redwood and Manning & Cabana take turns suplexing Redwood onto Riley. Dem Damn Texans & Mr. Elite isolate Redwood cutting off the ring & use a series of tags and any underhanded move in their arsenal to punish Grizzly. Finally after Jimmy Jack Funk Jr misses a charging clothesline on Redwood, he gets a hot tag to Jake Manning who takes out all three of his opponents once more and tags in the former NWA Champion Colt Cabana who takes over. Moments later The Great Outdoors hit the doomsday backcracker to pick up the win for a second straight night on Dem Damn Texans & Mr. Elite. ** 1/2
Arik Royal vs Craig Huffman
I’ve written about Royal several times before and alway say the same thing, he’s as fast as he is big and really can move in the ring, this was my first time seeing Huffman. These two men are comparable in size, and Huffman being a York, SC product is apparently not popular in his hometown as a “Huffman Sucks!’ chant beings immediately. Royal wastes no time in displaying his athleticism with a running kick and then a baseball slide kick on the outside as Huffman was trying to get away. Huffman took advantage outside ramming Royal into the post & chipping away with elbow drops & a reversal of a Royal hurracanrana into a powerbomb. Royal again regained control & was looking to hit a running boot into the corner to finish the match but the referee got pulled into the middle of these two big men allowing Huffman to capitalize with a spinning sidewalk slam and the victory. * 1/2
7OH!4(Cedric Alexander & Caleb Konley) w/ Mickie James vs PWX Champion Rhett Titus & Corey Havoc w/ Amber O’ Neal
Titus made his way to the ring with all the flair & charisma we’ve come to known from Titus but without the knee brace he wore in Charlotte the previous night, however thethe left knee was still wrapped. Alexander showed signs of the previous night having his ribs taped as 70H!4 made their entrance to a big ovation from the crowd who were all over Titus & Havoc. Titus & Alexander started off as the bell ring jawing at one another but the PWX Champ tagged in Corey Havoc who preceded to be worked over by 7OH!4 until Titus interjected himself knocking Cedric off the top rope & taking over for his team. The team of Titus & Havoc isolated Alexander and cut the ring off taking advantage of the numbers game & working over the injured ribs. Cedric finally got the tag to Konley who came in and cleaned house on both Titus & Havoc but was tripped up by Amber O’ Neal and a catfight between her & Mickie James broke out in the middle of this wrestling match. Joey Janela hit the ring and one thing worth mentioning here is this match had a special guest referee “The Hitman” Shane Benfield and Benfield hit Janela with possibly the worst phantom punch I’ve seen in 25 years of watching wrestling! This lead to a double superkick from 7OH!4 on Titus as Conley picked up the win for his team. Very good in ring action here despite the distractions of a bad guest referee and unnecessary manager intereference. ** 1/2
A backstage interview with Titus & Havoc is shown and Titus says he wasn’t 100% this weekend but is still leaving with the PWX championship and if Caleb Konley wants a shot when they return he’ll be at full strength and once again take the title back to New Jersey.
We then see Matt Classic rip up a picture of WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler leading to the main event.
Matt Classic vs Jerry “The King Lawler”
If you haven’t seen the Matt Classic character, its quite entertaining & Classic let us know he’s a 55 year veteran of wrestling & he’s too old & mature to watch the show on Monday night that Lawler co-hosts. Classic then mentions that he heard Mark Henry put Lawler through a table and he knows that the back is injured & he will break that back in half and show everyone that Matt Classic is the true legend. Good stuff here on the mic from Classic, really playing up his 50s-60s era character. Very old school match here, yet quite entertaining. Classic took advantage early with headlocks, and back elbows off irish whips. This truly made you feel as if you entered a time machine and went back to the mid 60s era of black & white wrestling. Lawler regained advantage briefly and tried to unmask Classic who then went for a chair but it was taken by the referee. Classic miscalculated on a top rope double axe handle The King caught him with a shot to the gut. Lawler then took the straps down and laid in punch after punch until Classic was on rubber leg street(yet another throwback) Classic didn’t have anything left after that & the King of Memphis picked up the victory in York, SC. **
Overall Show: ** 1/2
For more information on Pro Wrestling Xperience visit www.pwxpeience.com PWX returns to Lancaster, SC February 10, 2012 with ROH star Eddie Edwards! Also on February 24, 2012 in Charlotte, NC PWX will have ROH Tag Team Champions The Briscoes! 2 great shows coming up in February so if you’re in the area please go out & check out Pro Wrestling Xperience.
Quick Note: The DVD advertised a match between Joey Janela & Alex Averginos on disc # 2 in York, SC but the copy I purchased did not have this match on the disc, I’m not sure if there was an editiing issue or what.