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Attendance was 100, which was a step in the right direction compared to the recent tapings. They had more kids this time as well. It was the first show since the start time was pushed back to 3pm and a free ticket gimmick went into effect --- bring a new fan and get in for half price, bring two fans and get in free – so it appears the ticket gimmick worked. It’s doubtful the time change had a positive effect given the timing of the AFC conference final.
It was the typical RPW show featuring solid wrestling and logical booking, and one will likely play better as episodic TV than the live experience, which was somewhat of an endurance contest, as they taped three hours of television without a break. The main event told a compelling story. Georgia’s Tag Team of the Year, The Washington Bullets made a successful debut. J Rod and Shaun Banks had a hot singles match, and Rave Approved pulled off another fine Rampage Rules match. They also did a good job of setting up key matches for the return date on February 12. On the other hand, the multitude of multi-person matches had a numbing effect and aside from the main event, there weren’t many magical moments. As good as the wrestling is, and it is the best in Georgia, the RPW fans have a seen a lot over the last 3+ years and it’s tougher to get a reaction out of them.
(1) Rob Adonis (with Charlie Cash) defeated Jacob Ashworth in 5:08. A complete dismantling of the former NWA Anarchy Young Lion’s Champion making his RPW debut. Adonis pitched a shutout. He suplexed Ashworth all over the place and pulled him up to prevent the pin. Ashworth got like a five second comeback before Adonis pinned him with spinebuster.
CB Gibson tried an aerial rescue. Adonis caught him in the claw and drilled him with a spinebuster slam. He asked if anybody else wanted some and got no takers. Adonis came across like a real force.
(2) Cru Jones pinned Anthony Henry in 8:56. The crowd popped for Cru and his Sexy Ninja gear. They treated Henry like a non-entity. The RPW regulars will take Jones over a weak babyface every time. Henry’s slingshot suplex came up short. Jones picked Henry up and slammed him on the ring frame. Tried to anyway. Something went awry. Jones grumbled about Henry trying to make him look bad on TV and really planted him the second time around. Jones clowned on offense. A crisp enzuigiri by Henry left both men down. Henry applied a tenacious guillotine choke, converting it into a DDT for a close near fall. Enough of that stuff. Jones stunned Henry with a short right to the jaw and pinned him with a pumphandle suplex. Kind of a clunky match. Henry has been so off his game at RPW. He barely resembles the promising wrestler that made his mark in APW and NWA Anarchy.
(3) “Officer†Chris Jacobs beat The Ninja in 4:47. Jacobs got a strong response from the kids. He throws a nice dropkick. His armdrags looked pretty decent as well. Ninja faked Jacobs out on said armdrag and took over. Jacobs is getting better, but this Ninja was pretty awful. Jacobs used a spinning headscissors to set up the Mr. Wrestling II kneelift for the pin. When Mr. II was back in the area last summer, they taped a segment that aired on RPW TV with Mr. II giving Jacobs pointers.
(4) In a Rampage Rules Match, Rave Approved (Chip Day & Corey Hollis & Patrick Bentley) defeated (Anthony Henry & CB Gibson & Jacob Ashworth in 6:13. Lots of early offense for the babyface jobber team. They looked good and the crowd got behind them. Approved hit a combo alarm clock on Gibson, and Hollis added to the devastation with a reverse suplex. Isolation and decimation ensued with the Rave crew showing their usual blazing speed and stellar teamwork. Henry, who looked tons better here, got blasted with a vicious version of Hollis’ “Eat This!†back elbow. Bently destroyed Gibson wit the Destroyer. Approved then hit the Overkill their top rope dive combo on Ashworth, Bentley pinning him with a frogsplash at the end.
(5) The Washington Bullets (Trey & Jon Williams) defeated BFFs (“Marvelous†Michael Stevens & “Adorable†Anthony Andrews) in 7:37. From the guns to the buns, Stevens said he was 100% man. Andrews came back from the holiday hiatus with a gear change, dyed hair and a new body. I hardly recognized him, and that’s meant as a compliment. The crowd took to the debuting Bullets right off. They opened with comedy spots that took advantage of the BFFs buffoonery and it worked. Stevens pumphandled Jon’s arm across the top rope, and BFFs worked the injured body part. Off the hot tag, Trey hit the Captain Morgan kick for a near fall on Stevens. Bullets destroyed Andrews with a combo moves. There rhythm differs from the norm at RPW, so there were some awkward moments. Jon pinned Stevens after a wheelbarrow/kick to the face combo. So far, so good for the Bullets, who bristle with confidence and get over where ever they go. With that said, following Rave Approved was less than ideal match order for their debut. It’s not like Bullets are going to outclass them when it comes to athleticism and seamless teamwork.
(6) J Rod defeated Shaun Banks in 11:15. These dudes had their works shoes on. It was hard-hitting and fast-paced. J Rod frustrated the hell out of Banks, making him miss on a three consecutive elbow drops. Banks ducked and bailed on a knee strike that would have required plastic surgery if it connected. Banks pulled referee Dustin Robinson in front of him and capitalized when J Rod put on the brakes. Banks hit a flapjack for two. J Rod got an armbreaker but Banks scrambled to the ropes. A top rope elbow drop by Banks was a major crash and burn. Jones ran out but pulled up short, as Banks kicked out of J Rod’s running knee/neckbreaker combo. J Rod was momentarily distracted by Jones’ presence, but Banks couldn’t sustain the advantage. When J Rod hit the Superman Knee. Jones tried to interfere, but J-Rod cut him off and scored the pin. J Rod justified the strong booking with this performance.
Jones attacked J Rod. Hot Like Lava laid him out with a double team and were intent on doing more damage, but Bullets hit the ring for the save.
(7) Frankie Valentine retained the TV Title over Patrick Bentley via DQ at 10:49. Valentine successfully ran the Rave Approved gauntlet at the last taping, but Bentley was DQed and remained the only Rave Approved guy that Valentine hadn’t pinned. At the 4:30 mark, Bentley turned Valentine’s finisher into a capture suplex. Bentley punished Valentines back. Valentine expended massive energy for a hiptoss escape only to get off by a great dropkick from Bentley. The crowd started a “Frankie†chant. Valentine was awesome fighting up from the bottom and Bentley was dishing out brutal punishment to keep him under his thumb. Out of nowhere, Valentine hit his finisher and Rave Approved piled into the ring for the DQ.
Bullets made the save and referee Stanley Robinson ordered a six man tag.
(8) Frankie Valentine & The Washington Bullets defeated Rave Approved (Chip Day & Corey Hollis & Patrick Bentley) in 14:02. The adrenaline must have been flowing for Trey because it was like he was shot out of a cannon on the opening dive. Bullets dominated with double teams early. Hollis and Valentine got into a wicked chop exchange, and Approved took advantage of Valentine’s worn down condition. Valentine got one of his legendary nosebleeds. He eventually forced a three way pile up of heels. The hot tag led into a round robin of big moves. Hollis ended up strapped to the tree of woe and Jon gave him a top rope double stomp. Trey tried for a coast-to-coast missile dropkick that would have brought the house down if it connected but he didn’t quite get there. Jon pinned Day after the wheelbarrow/running kick in the face. Just a stellar job of booking Bullets as a force to be reckoned with.
Lava came out. Jones played the race card and it was actually quite refreshing, because RPW so badly needs something with an edge to it. He told Lamont to get Fred Sanford out of the ring and made a few other shamelessly racist remarks. He chalked their tag team of the year award up to their momma and four step daddies stuffing the ballot box. Jones said Lava was all about cashing checks, snapping necks, and having what rhymes with check and necks.
RPW owner Doctor Johnny Gayton came to ringside. Jones called him a fisheyed fool. Gayton said Bullets impressed with their desire and had the ability to overcome Lava’s great physiques. He said Rock ‘n Roll Express took care of the Russians, and the Bullets could take care of Lava. The match was made for February 12. Banks said it didn’t take a world class eye surgeon to see that HLL are the best tag team in Georgia.
(9) Drew Adler defeated “Marvelous†Michael Stevens (with Anthony Andrews) via DQ in .4:10. Adler got hung up on a high boot and Stevens hit a Zig Zag type move on him. Andrews interfered to further his partner’s case, but Stevens couldn’t put the resilient Adler away. The crowd was dead for this match, and I don’t fault the wrestlers in the least. Two hours without a break is asking for trouble. Adler hit the Air Raid Crash and Andrews jumped in for the DQ.
Sal made the save. Stanley Robinson then made his second tag match of the night.
(10) BFFs (Stevens & Andrews) beat Sal Rinauro & Drew Adler by DQ in 9:38. Match was built on Sal slapping the BFF’s silly. The crowd was so spent that this spark of inspiration made minimal difference. BFFs eventually got heat on Sal. Adler made a blind tag and hit a missile dropkick. His comeback was huge and the silence was weirdly deafening. He leveled Stevens with a high kick, and Andrews was there to break it up. Rinauro and Adler gave the BFFs a beating. Adler’s killer flip dive barely moved the needle. Andrews clocked Adler with a foreign object, but Stanley DQed Sal for shoving him. The fan response to this outrage was tepid outrage at best.
Cash Vault entered the ring minus Bobby Moore. NWA RPW Heavyweight Champion Jeremy Vain said demeaning things about Kyle Matthews. Vain said Matthews would have to go through Cash Vault to get to him, starting with Bobby Moore on February 12. Cash said Vain could hold the title until he was ready to give it up. Hmmm. He said Moore was away on Cash Vault business, so he had procured the services of an indomitable force --- Mikal Judas. This was a mind boggling shocker since Judas had been feuding with Cash Vault.
(11) Kyle Mathews & The Usual Suspects (Murder One & AJ Steele) defeated RPW Heavyweight Champion Jeremy Vain & Rob Adonis & Mikal Judas (with Charlie Cash) in 12:07. It was the terrific performance by Judas that made this special and gave the match such dramatic impact. The crowd came to life for this turn of events. Judas ignored Vain and Adonis. Vain tried to suck up to him but that went nowhere. Judas started with Steele and tagged out after pounding him with stiff blows. Suspects beat up on Adonis and Vain. Fans chanted “sell out†at Judas. Cash jumped up to block a Matthews tope and Adonis nailed him from behind. Vain and Adonis got heat on Matthews, while Judas paced along the apron with a scowl on his face. Matthews superkicked Vain into next week. Vain sold it like a knockout and Adonis had to a save him from being pinned. Suspects clotheslined Adonis out of the ring and beat his ass, while Judas watched with his hands on his hips. At the perfect moment, Judas leveled the Suspects with a double clothesline and it looked great. Vain was dying to tag Judas in. Judas sprayed him with the red mist. Matthews hit the slurpee kick and pinned the RPW Heavyweight Champion. Judas never tipped his hand until the swerve at the end. The finish got a big pop and sent the fans home happy.
Doc asked Vain if he needed an eye doctor, then proceeded to book Vain vs. triple crown winner J Rod on February 12.
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