Photos Courtesy of Rob Brodhecker From Larry Goodman: Hostile Environment marked the end of era. After 10 years and 500 television ...
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| Photos Courtesy of Rob Brodhecker |
From Larry Goodman:
Hostile Environment marked the end of era. After 10 years and 500 television episodes, Anarchy wrestling is no more.
And Anarchy went out with a bang. Hostile Environment was a grand, dramatic event, easily the company's best show of the year.
Attendance was a hot, hot 200. The Anarchy Arena is wonderful place to see pro wrestling when it's filled to the brim like it was last night.
As uninspiring as the telling of the PCW invasion story had been up to this point, the Anarchy creative team came through with a spectacular ending in the War Games. They had the crowd right where the wanted them - pulling for Team Anarchy and Jeff G. Bailey with everything they had.
That wasn't the only great ending. Several other matches delivered big time on their stories as well.
The quality of the wrestling at Anarchy has rarely been an issue and that most assuredly was not the case at Hostile Environment. Mikael Judas and Todd Sexton knocked it out of the park. Buck and Jagged Edge weren't far behind.
Ironically, the high stakes stipulation of the War Games was that if Team PCW won, Stephen Platinum would gain control of the promotion and shut it down. And while Anarchy is in fact done, this won't be the end of wrestling in Cornelia at the building known as the Church of Southern Wrestling.
Wrestling returns to The Church on October 10 under a new name, with new leadership and with a reconstituted talent roster. Many of the key people are leaning towards continuing. One pivotal figure that is not staying on is Bill Behrens, a loss that comes as a huge blow. Play-by-play announcer Bret Wolverton also finished up. More will be revealed in the weeks to come.
(1) The Get Along Gang (P Dog & CB Suave with Devyn Nicole & Raphael King & Nina Monet & Marko Polo & Merica) defeated Slim J & Fred Yehi (with Aja Perera) to retain the Anarchy Tag Team Championship in 11:15. Crowd was white hot right out of the gate. J and Suave did a rolling cradle that left them dizzy. Yehi’s wicked chops got a “one more time” chant. Referee Triston Michaels ejected King for outside interference, and GAG used the turmoil to get the advantage on J. Suave popped the crowd with a Gori bomb. J and Yehi hit a perfectly timed suplex/top rope splash combo on Suave but P Dog broke up the pin. Yehi brought Suave’s swivel hips dance to a sudden, agonizing conclusion with a testicular claw J got inverted STF on Suave. P Dog tried to break it up, so Yehi locked him in the Koji Clutch. With both GAG members on the verge of tapping , Monet and Nicole got into it with Perera, drawing the attention of the ref. Merica got in the ring and clubbed J, who turned to deal with her and got rolled up by Suave. The bodybuilder physique give Merica the uniqueness factor, but the woman is so green that the sequence with J was painful to watch. Crowd loved the match. Aside from the finish, it was loaded well-executed spots and entertaining choices. It will be a crime if J and Yehi aren’t in next year’s Scenic City Invitational.
Hostile Environment marked the end of era. After 10 years and 500 television episodes, Anarchy wrestling is no more.
And Anarchy went out with a bang. Hostile Environment was a grand, dramatic event, easily the company's best show of the year.
Attendance was a hot, hot 200. The Anarchy Arena is wonderful place to see pro wrestling when it's filled to the brim like it was last night.
As uninspiring as the telling of the PCW invasion story had been up to this point, the Anarchy creative team came through with a spectacular ending in the War Games. They had the crowd right where the wanted them - pulling for Team Anarchy and Jeff G. Bailey with everything they had.
That wasn't the only great ending. Several other matches delivered big time on their stories as well.
The quality of the wrestling at Anarchy has rarely been an issue and that most assuredly was not the case at Hostile Environment. Mikael Judas and Todd Sexton knocked it out of the park. Buck and Jagged Edge weren't far behind.
Ironically, the high stakes stipulation of the War Games was that if Team PCW won, Stephen Platinum would gain control of the promotion and shut it down. And while Anarchy is in fact done, this won't be the end of wrestling in Cornelia at the building known as the Church of Southern Wrestling.
Wrestling returns to The Church on October 10 under a new name, with new leadership and with a reconstituted talent roster. Many of the key people are leaning towards continuing. One pivotal figure that is not staying on is Bill Behrens, a loss that comes as a huge blow. Play-by-play announcer Bret Wolverton also finished up. More will be revealed in the weeks to come.
(1) The Get Along Gang (P Dog & CB Suave with Devyn Nicole & Raphael King & Nina Monet & Marko Polo & Merica) defeated Slim J & Fred Yehi (with Aja Perera) to retain the Anarchy Tag Team Championship in 11:15. Crowd was white hot right out of the gate. J and Suave did a rolling cradle that left them dizzy. Yehi’s wicked chops got a “one more time” chant. Referee Triston Michaels ejected King for outside interference, and GAG used the turmoil to get the advantage on J. Suave popped the crowd with a Gori bomb. J and Yehi hit a perfectly timed suplex/top rope splash combo on Suave but P Dog broke up the pin. Yehi brought Suave’s swivel hips dance to a sudden, agonizing conclusion with a testicular claw J got inverted STF on Suave. P Dog tried to break it up, so Yehi locked him in the Koji Clutch. With both GAG members on the verge of tapping , Monet and Nicole got into it with Perera, drawing the attention of the ref. Merica got in the ring and clubbed J, who turned to deal with her and got rolled up by Suave. The bodybuilder physique give Merica the uniqueness factor, but the woman is so green that the sequence with J was painful to watch. Crowd loved the match. Aside from the finish, it was loaded well-executed spots and entertaining choices. It will be a crime if J and Yehi aren’t in next year’s Scenic City Invitational.
(2) Azrael (with Crystal) won a 9 man Hostile Rumble in 9:55. Rule were elimination by going over the top rope but none could occur until all of the combatants were in the ring. Supernatural and Kevin Park started with a new wrestler entering every 30 second as follows: Raphael King, Dylan Cook, Marko Polo, Azrael, Jeff Lewis-Neal, Dany Only and Odinson. GAG members King and Polo worked together as did the SKS team of Azrael and Supernatural. Lewis-Neal cleaned house until he was the only man standing. Only made a statement entering with a trio of package piledrivers. Odinson’s intro got a pop. He’s made an impression on the Anarchy fans. It quickly boiled down to Only, Lewis-Neal, Azrael and Odinson. Lewis-Neal and Azrael joined forces against Odinson. Lewis penalized Only for excessive celebration by giving him the heave ho. Azrael eliminated Lewis with a backdrop over the top. Odinson also took a backdrop over the top but managed to stay on the apron until Azrael’s Superman punch sent him to the floor. It was an OK way to get a lot of guys onto the show, and they didn’t go any longer than necessary. So many battle royal finishes look staged and predictable. Azrael and Odinson pulled off a good one.
(3) Mikael Judas defeated Todd Sexton via submission to retain the title of Anarchy Ironman in 11:11. As much a battle of wits as it was a physical confrontation. Sexton had to figure out what on earth would be effective against the monster. The drama built through a series of foiled finishing maneuvers. Judas had Sexton goozled for the choke slam. Sexton escaped and got the crossface. Judas reversed into a single leg crab. Sexton reversed that into the Sharpshooter. Tough to make that look credible against a much larger man but it worked. Judas powered out. Two superkicks weren’t enough to put Judas on his back. Judas goozled Sexton from his knees. Sexton escaped and hit a third superkick for a near fall. Split crowd here. Judas got his knees up on Sexton’s top rope elbow and finally got the chokeslam, but Sexton was able to kick out of his back cover. Sexton countered El Crucifijo with an inside cradle. Judas crushed Sexton with a corner clothesline and went to the top. Sexton stunned Judas with jumping headbutt (shades of Honma!) allowing him lift Judas off the turnbuckle for the GTS but Judas kicked out. When Sexton tried for the GTS again, referee Antrone Brewer was in the way. Judas hit El Crucifijo (crucifix powerbomb) with Sexton taking a nasty landing on his shoulder. Sexton somehow managed to kick out. Both men down and selling huge with the crowd urging them on. Sexton connected with a flying knee strike and tried to end it with the GTS. Judas reversed into the single leg crab and Sexton tapped. Technically, this match was on another level from the rest of the show. The way it was laid out, the way they dealt with the size differential, the transitions, the selling – all first rate.
Postmatch – Display of mutual respect with the crowd showing their appreciation for both men. All appeared to be well when Judas suddenly collapsed as he was exiting the ringside area. A squad of Anarchy officials rushed to Judas’ aid. He was down for a long time before being helped the back. The way this was executed, there was no problem suspending disbelief.
Ring announcer Jonathan Feltner informed the crowd that Judas may have suffered a concussion and his status for the War Games was up in the air.
(4) Jacob Ashworth defeated TV Champion Kevin Blue and Young Lions Champion Jeremy Foster and Trevor Aeon in an elimination match to win the TV Championship and the Young Lions Championship in 14:21. Early on, the heels (Blue and Aeon) were outdoing the babyfaces (Ashworth and Foster) in the teamwork department. Ashworth did a fallaway slam/Samoan drop on Blue and Aeon, then ate a flying knee from Foster. Blue kicked Foster and Aeon pinned him with DDT at 7:33. The heels were having their way with Ashworth until Blue outfoxed the unsuspecting Aeon at 9:08. Ashworth countered the Kryptonite Krunch with brutal full nelson face plant for a near fall. When Ashworth kicked out of the Krunch, the crowd sensed this was his moment and got behind him huge. Blue kicked out of roll of the dice. Blue blocked a rolling reverse and sent Ashworth hard into the turnbuckles. Blue charged In for the kill with the Yakuza kick and got hung up in the ropes when Ashworth stepped aside. Ashworth then hit a hanging roll of the dice to score the pinfall. The wrestling was fine. I really liked the story. It came down to the right two guys at the end, and this was the right time for the pay off on Ashworth’s title quest. The crowd wanted it and Ashworth had earned it.
Postmatch – terrific pop for Ashworth and big hug from Jerry Palmer.
(5) Billy Buck defeated Jagged Edge (with Miss Rachael) in a Texas Bullrope Match to regain the Anarchy Heavyweight Championship in 13:37. Buck opened up a can of whoop ass on the champion. A cowbell to the head had Jagged down and bleeding. Buck pounded the cut and yanked the rope to crotch Jagged on the post. Jagged yanked the rope to post Buck. The crowd chanted for Billy, who came back with a cowbell to the head for a two count. Jagged begged for mercy. Out of nowhere, Jagged hit a belly to belly suplex and both were down. Jagged gouged Buck’s face with the bell. Jagged applied a sleeper. Buck showed tremendous fire fighting up from the bottom. Double clothesline and both down again. Buck on the comeback. Buck connected with the superkick. Rachael hit the ring for the save and choked Buck with the rope. Buck KOed Rachael with the bell for a monster pop. Hancock came out to carry her to the back. Buck took Jagged’s head off with a superkick but couldn’t follow up. Jagged countered Buck’s superkick with the Pedigree but Buck kicked out. The “Billy” chant built to a crescendo. Buck ducked a cowbell shot. Jagged hit his own head on the bell and Buck superkicked him half to Gainesville for the 1-2-3. This was what a bull rope match was meant to be. They did everything under the sun with the rope and bell. They both sold their asses off, Jagged especially.
Much to Buck’s surprise, Jagged handed him the title belt and hugged him.
(6) In the War Games, Team Anarchy (Shadow Jackson & Bobby Moore & Stryknyn & Logan Creed with Jeff G. Bailey and Jerry Palmer) defeated Team PCW (BJ Hancock & Jon Williams & Lars Manderson & Brian Blaze & Geter with Stephen Platinum) in 23:29. Jackson and Hancock started and a new wrestler was added every two minutes. Team had PCW earned the man advantage at the previous show so Williams was the first in. It was the typical War Games pattern – Team PCW dominated when they had the numerical advantage. Team Anarchy dominated when the sides were even. Moore and Stryknyn were busted open. It wouldn’t be War Games if somebody didn’t bleed like a stuck pig. Creed was that guy. He was a bloody freaking mess.
The refs had their work cut out them keeping Platinum and Palmer separated at ringside. Stryknyn entered by spitting a massive fireball that came within inches of Hancock, then gave Hancock the FFD into the cage.
The “Anarchy” chants kicked into gear after Creed gave Hancock a full nelson slam off the top. Geter entered last for Team PCW and obliterated Team Anarchy one by one. Judas’ music played. Behrens announced he was not medically cleared to wrestle. No Judas and down a man, Team Anarchy was being annihilated. The situation looked grim for the home team until Hancock made the crucial mistake of hitting Geter. Geter was onn the fence going into the match, and this was the last straw. Geter destroyed his teammates (except for partner Brian Blaze) and stormed out of the cage. Team Anarchy rallied back. The most spectacular spot was Stryk hitting a Doomsday Device off the top of the cage on Manderson. Hancock went for the Bomb Away knee. Stryk had it scouted and locked Hancock in the Tourniquet (Anaconda Vise). The building exploded when Hancock tapped. Not the most violent of Anarchy War Games but enough violence to satisfy most of the sickos. The story was the thing. In the end, the fans totally bought in. The “Anarchy” chants blew my mind.
The stipulation was Bailey would get Platinum in the cage for five minutes. Platinum made a beeline for the front door. A wild scene ensued. Security was on his tail and some fans were taking shots at him as well. Se7en was waiting for Platinum and carried him back to the ring where he gave him two lawn dart shots into the cage for good measure.
(7) Jeff G. Bailey defeated Stephen Platinum via submission in 7:20. Platinum said he was going to make Bailey quit. They slapped the shit out of each other. Both bled after taking shots into the cage. Bailey hiptossed Platinum into orbit. Bailey used the Double Shot (a tribute to his Wildside match against Rick Michaels). Platinum threw powder but Bailey was ready for it and blinded Platinum with his own powder. Hancock tried to interfere but Palmer cut him off. Rachael got into the cage with two bats for Platinum and was ready to brain Bailey with the ax handle when the lights went out….Lights on and there was Judas to once again choke slam Rachael into oblivion. It turned into a sword fight of sorts- Platinum with the bats and Bailey with the ax handle. Bailey clocked Platinum with the ax handle, applied the figure four leglock and Platinum tapped. Bailey then stacked Rachael on top of Platinum and pinned them with one foot. This exceeded far beyond my wildest expectations. The bells and whistles worked to perfection. The crowd was on their feet the entire time.
The crowd chanted Bailey’s name. Bailey said don't chant for me, chant for Anarchy, and announced the end of Anarchy, but not the end of wrestling at the Church of Southern Wrestling. He thanked the people for getting behind him in the fight against PCW. “Despite all I said, you are the greatest people, and I love you all.” If someone had told me 10 years ago that Anarchy would end with Bailey making a pandering babyface speech, I would have told that someone they were delusional.
Bailey introed Behrens as one of the reasons Anarchy was so great. Bailey said BB was stepping away for a while, his presence would always be felt, and the new owner could always reach out to him. The fans chanted “thank you, Bill.” The babyface wrestlers came into the ring en mass. Behrens said the company had always been special to him as were all the people in the ring, defining it as a place people could learn, and a place fans got to see the stars on TV before they became stars. The show closed with a photo op over the carcasses of Platinum and Rachael, still lying motionless in the ring.
