War of the New Age would be Glory Pro Wrestling fourth event and taking place at the Belleville Expo Center in Belleville, Illinois.
Martin Stone and Curt Stallion had the important task of opening the show. The commentary team mentioned that Stallion was heading into the match with a 3 match losing streak all via submission. Martin Stone puts out his hand for a handshake but Stallion denies. The two men start the match with back and forth chain wrestling but the match quickly turned from technical to a stiff standoff. The two trade European uppercuts and chops. At one point Stallion goes for his signature Buck Off but it’s reversed into a pin with a close nearfall. The match seemed to be over when Stone locked in the crossface but Stallion reversed it into a pin for a very close 2 count. Stallion hits a headbutt and lays on top of Stone for the victory. This match was hard hitting and the crowd was invested, which made for the perfect opening contest. Stallion has a bright future in the business and Glory Pro management seem to be high on him, putting him in the ring with big names such as Sami Callihan, Kyle O’Reilly, and the 15 year veteran Martin Stone.
Sean Orleans makes his entrance to the Clash’s “Rock the Casbah” and is clearly the fan favorite going into the next contest against Brandon Espinosa. The bell rings and Espinosa charges at Orleans in the corner but Orleans dodges and trips him into a pin. Orleans gets in W in a match lasting less than 5 seconds.
Everett Conners is already in the ring as DJZ enters. DJZ grabs a mic and says that he has some good news and bad news. He started by saying he was injured and unable to make his Glory Pro debut. Good news was, he spoke to Glory Pro management and he would become a regular at Glory Pro Wrestling. He found a replacement, a man he’s trained in Chicago, Stephen Wolfe. Wolfe showed his athleticism early with a rana out of the corner, a satellite arm drag, and a headstand on the top turnbuckle into a dropkick in the corner. At one point Wolfe deadlifted Conners in a German suplex position but transitioned it into a blue thunder bomb. Wolfe looked to get the win as he gave Conners a frankensteiner off the top rope, and went for a shooting star press immediately after but Conners moved out of the way. Conners delivered a destroyer DDT and followed up by putting Wolfe in a burning hammer position into a cutter for the win. DJZ entered the ring and put out his hand to Conners as a sign of respect. Conners grabs a mic and states that him and a partner of his choosing get a shot at the United Glory Tag Team Championships, and his partner is Michael Elgin. Good fast paced match from these two young prospects.
Louis Lydon and Hakim Zane stood in the ring to start the next contest which is a 6 way match. I’m not even going to try to mention all the action that took place in this match. From the moment Kevin Lee Davidson took the ring he was very impressive, showing amazing athleticism for a 350 pound man. At one point all 6 men were doing dives onto the outside and KLD dove over the top rope. Alex Daniels was spiked with a DDT onto the ring apron. Daniels then walks out of the match to the back. KLD hits a rolling spear on Hakim Zane and a pop up spinebuster on Jake Parnell for the win. Very fun 6 way match where all 6 men were able to shine.
Jake Something (yes that’s really his name), squared off with Gary Jay. Jake Something controlled majority of the match after a brainbuster onto the ring apron. Jay then turned the tables as Something went for a powerbomb on the apron but it was reversed into a rana. Something went face first into the apron as his body never rotated. Jay continued the momentum with a double stomp from the top rope onto the back of Something’s head and Something hits his head on the hardest part of the ring for the second time. Jay then hits a flatliner off the second rope, followed by a pop up knee, only to get hit with a devastating sidewalk slam. Jay gets planted with a flapjack and Something follows up with a running lariat to the back of the head to end the match. Hard fought battle between the two with Jake Something coming out on top.
Michael Elgin enters the ring with a shirt that says “CODY SUCKS EGGS.” Cody makes his entrance too sweeting the fans on his way to the ring. The announcers continue to call him Cody Rhodes throughout the match. Do they not know he doesn’t have a last name? Cody grabs the mic and turns the match into a Ring of Honor Championship match. Both men exchange their signature offense as Cody reverses the Elgin bomb into the Cross Rhodes for a two count. Elgin showed his strength with a backdrop suplex off the top rope. The match ends when Cody reverses Elgin’s second attempt at the Elgin bomb into a pin for the 1-2-3. The match was decent but Cody has yet to have standout matches since his departure from WWE.
Next match had a few awkward moments as Paco Gonzalez took on Danny Adams. The match was a good effort but both men have a ways to go. The match ended when Gonzalez delivered 3 superkicks, a Gory special into a knee, and a cradle shock. KLD then came out and delivered his signature pop up spinebuster to the victor, Paco Gonzalez.
The following match was the first of two Glory Pro title matches as the Besties In The World (Davey Vega and Mat Fitchett) defended their United Glory Tag Team Championships against the Boys From Jollyville (T-Money and Russ Myers). Vega and Fitchett controlled the beginning of the match until T-Money entered the ring and used his power to change the momentum. The Boys From Jollyville work on Vega until the hot tag was made. T-Money had a lot of great offense including a pounce which sent Vega through the ropes onto the outside. The match ended when Fitchett hit a step up frankensteiner on Myers then hit their tag team maneuver Brain Damage. Fitchett ended with a tope suicida to the outside on T-Money to ensure the victory.
A big match followed as Donovan Dijak took on the Japanese superstar Naomichi Marufuji in a rare appearance in the United States, Marufuji made his entrance to a big show of respect from the fans. Everyone was loud and on their feet as he made his way to the ring. Dijak controlled the match using his strength to his advantage. At 6 1/2 feet tall, Dijak has the athleticism and agility similar to the late Mike Awesome. Every time Marufuji tried to comeback with some nasty chops, Dijak would put a quick stop to it. Marufuji attempted the Shiranui but Dijak turned it into a sitdown powerbomb. Dijak couldn’t seem to keep Marufuji down, as he kicked out of a chokebreaker from the second rope and his finishing move feast your eyes. Marufuji got back into the match when Dijak went for a spiral tap from the top but Marufuji moved out of the way. Marufuji ended up hitting a side kick and a knee to the face for a 2 count before hitting Shiranui for the win. Big show of respect from both competitors with Marufuji making his exit to “Please come back” chants. Great hard hitting match leading to the main event.
Jason Saint stood in the ring with Barackus stating that Michael Elgin is protecting his investment and doesn’t want Myron Reed to face Barackus. Reed came out and low bridged a charging Barackus. Reed hits a tope con hilo on both men. A.R. Fox runs into the ring and hits a springboard swanton taking out everyone. Both men then waste no time with fast paced offense, with a lot of reversals and both wrestlers matching eachother’s moves. No one was really able to get the upper hand. The match had a bunch of crazy spots including Fox delivering a package piledriver on the ring apron. Reed delivers a poison-rana and Fox immediately counters back with a Canadian destroyer. Neither man would stay down for a three count as Reed hit the Spanish fly twice. Fox hit all his signature moves such as the Swanton Bomb, Lo Mein Pain, a 450 splash from the top rope and was close to submitting Reed with the Koji clutch. The match concluded when Fox was on the top rope and was hit with an enzuigiri, falling back first onto the ring apron and Reed followed up with a Spanish fly from the top rope shortly after.
Overall: I enjoyed the whole show from top to bottom with the exception of one match. It was great to see a bunch of talent I’ve never seen or heard of before mixed with independent wrestling stars such as A.R. Fox and Cody. Marufuji vs. Dijak delivered the most and would my pick for match of the night. It was my first time viewing a Glory Pro Wrestling show and now I look forward to what Michael Elgin has in store for the future.
Quick Results/Star Ratings
Curt Stallion def. Martin Stone ***1/4
Sean Orleans def. Brandon Espinosa N/A
Everett Connors def. Stephen Wolf (w/ DJZ) ***1/2
Kevin Lee Davidson def. Alex Daniels, Louis Lyndon, Hakim Zane, Gringo Loko, and Jake Parnell in a 6 way match ***1/4
Jake Something def. Gary Jay ***
Ring Of Honor World Heavyweight Champion Cody Rhodes def. Michael Elgin ***1/4
Paco Gonzalez defeated Danny Adams **
United Glory Tag Team Champions The Besties In The World (Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett) def. The Boys From Jollyville (T-Money & Russ Myers) ***3/4
Naomichi Marufuji def. Donovan Dijak ****
Crown Of Glory Champion Myron Reed def. A.R. Fox. ***3/4