From Larry Goodman: Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment ran their first event at the Quad Complex on Spring Street Thursday night. ...
From Larry Goodman:
Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment ran their first event at the Quad Complex on Spring Street Thursday night.
It was an interesting if sparsely attended show (approximate attendance of 50) from a promotion that has a history of putting on interesting, sparsely attended shows. AWE continues to be a wrestling product in search of an audience. That despite having some top notch talent and at least one outstanding match on every show.
To the shock of no one in the know, Jimmy Rave and Chip Day tore it up in the main event. If I had to pick Georgia wrestler of year right now, Rave would be that guy.
Due to circumstance beyond the control of AWE promoter Josh Wheeler, two of the feature matches involved substitute opponents, as Moose and Iceberg both canceled. On the bright side, AWE accomplished some of their most compelling storytelling to date with Suge D. Owen Knight, Dementia D’Rose and Kiera Hogan. The show held the crowd’s interest and the running time of the main show to wisely held to two hours.
The notable exception to the AWE’s limited box office appeal was their first Thursday night event in Hell at the Masquerade. It was also their best overall show. Hopefully, lighting will strike again when AWE returns to Hell at the Masquerade on June 18 to crown to first AWE Champion.
The pre-show match got underway late due to issues with the lighting.
Tommy Penirelli defeated Trevor Aeon by submission at 7:15 with a stump puller. Aeon was a sore loser and planted Penireilli with a DDT after the match.
Wheeler announced that ROH had paid Moose big bucks not to be there tonight and he was on his way to Mexico instead. Moose’s scheduled opponent, Murder One accosted Wheeler and leveled two security guys with Blazing Lariats .The artist formerly known as Curry Kid attacked Murder leading to…
(1) Murder One defeated Montez aka Curry Kid in 2:20. All Montez until Murder stunned him with a stiff right hand and quickly ended his night with the Ether. Afterward, Murder got pissed at fan throwing a streamer at him and took it out on Curry. Edgy, ruthless aggression from Murder is never a bad way to kick off a show.
Wheeler banned Murder from ringside for the Jimmy Rave vs. Chip Day match, adding that Priscilla Kelly was also banned.
(2) Adrian Armour & Heckt & Harry Heffron defeated Simon Sermon & Jake Hughes & Ashton Starr in 8:25. Rainbow streamers greeted the gay trio, who were the heels even in Midtown Atlanta. They beat on fatboy Heffron with entertaining ref diversion by Simon. Armour tagged in for the only time in match and pinned Starr with a discus lariat. Better than I thought it would be. Having Sermon to direct traffic with so many green guys in the match was really good idea.
Postmatch – Sermon and Hughes affectionately consoled Starr.
Wheeler briefly interviewed Owen Knight and Kiera Hogan. Knight called Sugar an old man. Kiera proclaimed that she was the savior of women’s wrestling. Simple and effective -- fans that didn’t know what went down between Suge D and Knight at AWE’s last show “Homegrown” were given all the cause they needed to hate these repulsive characters.
During the pause between matches, ring announcer Desiree Kendrick sat down in the ring. First time I’ve ever seen that done.
(3) Sylar Cross defeated Jagged Edge in 9:44. Jagged replaced Iceberg who canceled due to car trouble. Cross and Berg fought to a no contest at Homegrown, so this match was robbed of its raison d’etre. Not much heat. Not much chemistry. Jagged gave the people reason to hate him but they didn’t care about Cross one way or the other. Maybe it’s just me. I have a hard time seeing him as a babyface. Jagged hit a Pedigree. Cross kicked out with authority and fired up. Cross used a back suplex with extra mustard on it to get the win. Cross connected better with the fans after the match than he did during.
(4) Owen Knight (with Kiera Hogan) defeated Suge D in 9:03. This match had heat. Knight’s physical presence is indy level all the way, but he’s a complete dick and his facial expressions are major league. Suge D attacked Knight in the aisle and drug his sorry ass into the ring to give him a beating. No comedy from Suge. He was all business. Suge got into a vociferous argument with Kiera and Knight took full advantage of it. When Suge hit a german suplex, Kiera jumped up to get in the ref’s face. That chick is a ball of fire. Suge grabbed Kiera and she slapped him. Suge moved and Knight slammed on the brakes to avoid colliding with Kiera. Suge hit Knight with a bicycle kick. Knight rolled to the apron. Suge suplexed Knight back in, but Kiera swept Suge’s leg and Knight landed on top for the 1-2-3.
(5) Raphael King defeated Kyle Matthews in 12:55. A highly competitive match with both men having their work shoes on. Good stuff for their first encounter. King came into the match saying he had something to prove. Matthews was giving away a lot of size and strength and frustrated King with his resiliency. After a series of close calls in both directions, King nailed Matthews with brass knucks as he sprung off the ropes. King had his ring position just right for the finish. The fans could see the gimmick but he had it completely shielded from the ref’s view.
(6) Marvelous Marko vs. Luscious Leron was a one minute double DQ. Lonnie told Marko to stop being him and started throwing punches that glanced off of Marko’s shoulder. They brawled. The ref got thrown down a few times and called for the bell. A muscular redheaded woman got into the ring, tossed Lonnie through the ropes by his beard and dragged them both to the back by their ears. It wasn’t good but it was very strange.
(7) Dementia D’Rose defeated Devyn Nicole by DQ in 6:38 when she was attacked by Kiera Hogan. As expected with D’Rose involved, there was plenty of impact and nothing pretty about it. Nicole was up for the brutality. D’Rose almost dropped Nicole on her head with a double underhook suplex. Nicole blocked a second butterfly suplex and hit Eat Defeat. D’Rose came back with an airplane spin into a Samoan Drop for a close near fall. Nicole speared D’Rose for a close near fall. Hogan entered with great vengeance and furious anger.
Hogan screamed at D’Rose for ruining her debut (at Homegrown). D’Rose got the upper hand. Knight came in and kicked D’Rose in the head. Suge jumped Knight. A chaotic pull-apart brawl ensued. D’Rose started wielding the chef knife she brings to the ring, and everyone got the hell out except Suge. He was telling her “No!” like he was scolding a bad dog. “Do not stab nobody on a Thursday!” The segment ended with Suge telling her to be gentle, and D’Rose picking Suge up off his feet for a hug. What a great way to set up a mixed tag. The energy was terrific. Suge D’s comedic instincts never cease to entertain me.
(8) Jimmy Rave defeated Chip Day (with Priscilla Kelly) via submission in 11:29. Wheeler ordered Kelly to the back before the bell. Early on it was stalling and mind games from Rave. Rave spit on Day. Day bitch slapped Rave and they lit each other up with chops. Rave with a dropdown, clothesline and stomp to the head. Rave started taking it to Day. Shining Wizard for a two count. Day fired up after Rave spit in his mouth. Who wouldn’t? Referee Mason got bumped. Rave put Day down with an STO and started whipping him with the ref’s belt. Kelly ran out and grabbed the belt away. Murder chased Kelly to the back. A second ref hit the ring and was accidentally taken out by Day’s tornado kick. Day escaped From Dusk Till Dawn and connected with the tornado kick but Rave kicked out. Rave caught Day with a heel hook and Day tapped. An excellent match. It was the right length to tell the story. The multiple ref bumps was fine because it was new twist for AWE, and the finish played off of Day’s injury.
Murder came out to relish Day’s agony, pointing out that Day came up short again even though his little hoe tried to help him. Murder said Rave had been on a win streak since AWE came into existence, and if it came down to he and Rave for the title on June 18, Rav wouldn’t have to fight him for what was rightfully his. We shall see about that.
