From Jeff Richards: HOT CROWD GAINS NEW DEFINITION in COOL MOUNTAINS SUGAR GROVE (NC) -- The Old Cove Creek School Gym in this tiny...
HOT CROWD GAINS NEW DEFINITION in COOL MOUNTAINS
SUGAR GROVE (NC) -- The Old Cove Creek School Gym in this tiny Watagua County municipality is a rare promoter's dream or deathtrap. It may have the lowest rent around and an awesome conference room for changing. There is plenty of backstage area and even a stage for taping/filming. The cons? It is the middle of nowhere, and you should only run there when nearby ASU is in session. From October to April, it can snow anytime Mother Nature wills.
Last Saturday night (June 25th), the gym was hot. North American Wrestling Alliance (NAWA) was running a tournament to determine its new NAWA Light Heavyweight Champion (vacated over 10 years ago). This was a good show but because of the heat & unfamiliarity with NAWA's wrestlers, fans just sat there. We have talked previously about spectators "sitting on their hands." Japanese audiences make more noise than what was heard in Sugar Grove on 6/25. Crickets would have felt right at home.
Ian Payne (Ian P. Brown) was awarded the championship, working three times and finally capturing a title. He previously had challenged for the EWA World Jr. Heavyweight Championship on 12/12/15 in Drexel, NC; the NAWA Heavyweight Title on 1/30/16 in Newland, NC; and the NAWA Tag Team straps on 5/21/16 in Drexel. "King" Shane Williams won the EWA belt; Adam James captured the NAWA Heavyweight Title in a three-way involving James Drake. Jon & Trey Williams kept the tag titles over Payne & Movie Myk. Starting out as Mr. T.O. then going as Ian Brown and now finally as Ian Payne, the Highspots trainee now holds gold in NAWA.
Fifty-seven persons (not all paid) was the turnout. Without college students to back that attendance up, it was not a great gate. Jake Manning & Zane Riley were in from Highspots, sold gimmicks/dvd's, and provided sound/video production. Promoter Jason Freeman indeed shells out some $$ to have his shows on social media outlets.
The ring technically broke before bell time but was patched up, and nobody knew anything had happened. James was working out pre-show with Montana Black when heard a pop. The steel ring has been in existence for over 15 years, and even I used it at Sugar Grove once. Some welding between this and the next show on August 6th in Drexel surely will correct things.
Play by play was handled by the Reverend Slim (Gus Bolick), and I filled in on color commentary. If you ever get to see/hear this footage on the Mean Marc Ash Wrestling Network (Roku), please find it. Slim cracked on referee Greg Robbins and wrestler Myles Long, doing impersonations of Dan Parris among others. It was hard (and unsuccessful) not to break character and just guffaw.
1) Long (James Clontz) & Elijah Walken defeated Riley & Western Carolina Champion Big Time Ya (Yahya Abdur Razzaq) in 11:58. This had been announced as a title defense for Ya vs. Long. When we arrived in Sugar Grove, news broke of a three-way. Four wrestlers came out, and almost everyone on stage was confused. PWX' veteran videographer Joe Capristo handled the hand-held camera at ringside. Mark Foley was one of two referees used (Robbins also assisted). This attraction pitted two veterans with a pair of unseasoned rookies. The heels kept greenhorn Walken (accidentally called "Christopher Walken" by Slim) in their corner. Riley missed his cannonball into the corner, and his mistake allowed Walken to hot-tag Long. The humid gym was helped momentarily by Long's punches which produced a breezy effect. After superkicking Ya, Long secured the pinfall and a title shot somewhere sometime. RATING: 3/4 of a star
2) Quarterfinals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Mason Maddox (Aaron Richie) pinned "ManScout" Manning in 16:22. Both wrestlers had to put their own gear up. There was plenty of technical wrestling back & forth between the two participants. Manning consulted his Boy Scout manual while held in an armbar. After executing a lariat on the ring apron, Manning tied Maddox up like a pretzel until he dropkicked his foe to the wooden floor. "ManScout" used the apron banner to choke Mason. Maddox pulled off a reverse victory roll. Manning put on referee Robbins' glasses to teach him counting. The grapplers fired forearms at each other. Maddox missed an enzuigiri, allowing Manning to combine a backbreaker and flatliner ("Lethal Injection"); however, MM kicked out. The proud Clemson supporter hit two double knees, but Maddox didn't deliver a third. Maddox' backcracker was good for a two count only. However, a tornado DDT did the trick, and Maddox was on to the next round. RATING: 1 star
3) Quarterfinals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Payne pinned Jeff Victory (Freeman) in 9:18. Neither of Payne's first two wins went over 10 minutes. To familiarize, Victory was the stage name of play-by-play announcer/commentator Bolick. In paying homage, Freeman recently asked "The Reverend" if he could use his old ring jacket and name. Nice chain wrestling began this bout. Payne dropkicked Victory's left leg while wrapped up in the ropes. "Da PoWaH" member sat down on Victory while blocking a sunset flip. RATING: negative half star (not a good match-up)
4) Quarterfinals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Tracer X (Trent Weatherman) pinned "The Film Maker" Myk in 8:46. Myk's right hand/arm apparel looked like a classy oven mitt. X connected on a beautiful flip dropkick, but Myk's double knees staved off Tracer's moonsault. Tracer struck next with a back suplex. His exploder type suplex and a dropkick to the corner only netted X a two count. Myk belly-to-belly suplexed Tracer next. X hit an enzuigiri and his 450 splash to advance into the semi-finals. RATING: 3/4 of a star
5) Quarterfinals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Rob Killjoy (Rob Ayscue) pinned "Playboy" Bobby Ballantyne (Randall Evans) in 11:57. Killjoy played with Ballantyne early, even giving the RINGS school trainee a wedgie. Mr. Ugly Duckling missed his dropkick through the ropes, and Ballantyne posted him. A big lariat flipped Killjoy up & over. Shades of Kenta Kobashi, Killjoy threw rapid fire successive chops. Ballantyne kicked out of a "Lionsault." This was not that much of a mismatch, as Ballantyne kept trying for the upset win. Killjoy rocked Ballantyne with a German suplex and went up top for his double foot stomp. However, Ballantyne was allowed to kick out. In the end, there was no escaping Killjoy's "Killshot." RATING: 1 1/4 stars (Evans' best match ever) Intermission began at 8:46 pm.
6) Semi-finals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Payne eliminated fan favorite Maddox in 9:50. Reminiscent of trainer Cedric Alexander, Payne claimed a concussion corner kick for just two counts. He took too much time on a top rope splash, therefore missing. Myk interfered behind referee Foley's back, but Maddox disposed of him over the top rope. Then Maddox nailed a plancha, taking out two-fifths of "Da PoWaH." Myk distracted Maddox again, and Payne dropped Mason for the fall. RATING: 3/4 of a star (Maddox loses in NAWA too many times this exact same way)
7) Semi-finals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Killjoy pinned Tracer X in 13:09. This match should be saved for a finals, but the different direction steered two tag team partners into a semi-final. Tracer's strategy was to work over Killjoy's "bum" leg, giving the Robmeister an out two matches later. Killjoy made it to the ropes when Tracer applied a half crab. Killjoy's split-legged moonsault to the floor took its effect on both men. The Ugly Duckling woke up this crowd with a belly-to-back suplex, and his Saito suplex netted a two count. Tracer met the buckles after a Killjoy exploder. Killjoy pursued a double foot stomp on the "bad" leg which X had been working. Tracer made contact on a reverse hurancanrana, but Killjoy popped up for a knee strike. Ref Robbins counted "three" on both but quickly corrected himself. Killjoy's "Killshot" ultimately put X away for good. RATING; 1 1/4 star
8) NAWA Heavyweight Champion James (w/Miss Kassie) retained his title with a disqualification verdict over Black after a total time of 11:15. Black outweighed the champion by 78 pounds. James flew like Road Warrior Hawk used to with a clothesline, finally knocking Black off his feet. After a chokeslam by the big man, James rolled away to safety. Fed up with Robbins' officiating, Black punched the ref and started kicking him. Here came Ballantyne & Ya. Ballantyne grabbed James' belt and presented it to Black. Before the RINGS academy student could use James' belt, Maddox & Long raced/walked out with chairs. When these two are asked to save your top draw, that distinguishes your depleted babyface roster. RATING: DUD (cheap DQ)
9) Finals of Light Heavyweight Title Tournament: Payne upset Killjoy in 12:26 to capture the championship. Killjoy kneed Payne right off the bat and went for a cover less than 15 seconds in! His plancha showed that Killjoy was pulling out all the stops early. Essentially fighting on "one leg," Killjoy tortured Payne with a double foot stomp. Payne finally attacked the injured leg while Killjoy was upside down in the turnbuckles. Gotta love these long distance dropkicks that Payne throws. Payne would slither out after each Killjoy offensive outburst. A double flying knee attack by Payne gained a two count solely. Killjoy propelled into action with a dropkick before Payne could leave the top turnbuckle. The self-proclaimed Ugliest Duckling wanted a superplex, but Payne pushed off. A flying dropkick knocked Killjoy out of the ring. Payne soared with a plancha, but Killjoy caught the agile athlete, and gave him an exploder suplex outside. Killjoy flew off with a frog splash, but Payne was out in time. A hurancanrana off the top did not win this match for Killjoy. However, a snapmare DDT doomed Killjoy and won the title for Payne. RATING: 1 star Post-match: James arrived to make the official presentation and departed quickly. It was a nice touch. Suddenly, Ya, Black & Ballantyne surrounded the ring. Myk slid in to "protect" new champ Payne. It was a swerve, as NAWA's biggest faction, "Da PoWaH," now stands at five members strong.
NEWS: Show time was scheduled for 7:30 pm and began a few minutes early. The event was over after 10:10 pm....Donnie Webb & gang were in Alabama where the Burke County Boys often go for work....Long's sister Carla (former Erotica) worked concessions. Last time she wrestled in Sugar Grove, sister & brother defeated Mikael Yamaha & current NWA Women's World Champion Amber Gallows (4/01)....NAWA returns to Drexel on Saturday, August 6th with James facing the debuting Abel Adams (Tommy Burch). Also, another tournament will be occurring, as the 1st annual Buddy Shane Memorial ensues. Shane (Buddy Porter) created NAWA over three decades ago and left the promotion to Mark Henderson.
ANALYSIS: Going in, everyone suspected with Appalachian State University (ASU) students on summer hiatus that attendance could drop from 80 (April 6th). Sugar Grove is that diamond in the rough. In conversation with former wrestlers from the 90's, no one could remember a crowd of more than 100...ever. The heat from leaving doors open and bugs of all sizes flying in made for an uncomfortable evening. Also when workers are trying their hardest to get ANY kind of fan pop, that is sad. A wrestler's life or career can be snuffed out on any highspot. It was a shame to see these guys go full boar, and only small 3rd & 4th graders were cheering. Maybe it was the unfamiliarity with the NAWA talent depth, but a long evening did not help matters much. Everyone here tried. Maybe it is just time to close the doors on this Sugar Grove establishment and find more profitable venues. If your light heavyweights cannot pop your audience, who can?
