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Featuring the debut of Daisho (Kyle Matthews & Vordell Walker), two title matches and an unadvertised gimmick match, this was a stacked card compared to what PCW typically presents in Porterdale.
What a difference a change in scenery can make. It’s safe to say few bookers have faced the challenge of booking two towns in the same territory with audiences as divergent as the Friday night crowd in Avondale Estates and this group in Porterdale. Avondale Estates is all adults 20-35 with lots of hipsters and smart marks. The Porterdale crowd is mostly kids and their parents. This weekend, booker Stephen Platinum was more than up to the task at hand. The crowds pretty much ate this show up from beginning to end. Shane Marx vs. Chip Day was the best match of the weekend.
The countdown is on – three more shows in Porterdale, eight in Avondale Estates, and then it all comes together in Porterdale for Sacred Ground 3. As it stands, that may very well be the final show for PCW/EMPIRE as we know it. Platinum and his family have moved to Florida. Platinum will commute back to Atlanta until the end of September, but the prospects of keeping the company going past that point are slim.
Miss Rachael came out with EMPIRE Champion Shane Marx and Jagged Edge. Marx issued an open challenge that was answered by “Do or Die†Chip Day. Rachael took credit for getting Jagged Edge’s suspension reversed. Rachael said Dany Only challenged Jagged Edge to a special match and then didn’t show up. Wrong. We heard the sound of chains slapping against the entrance way steps. Only emerged wearing a dog collar linked to a 15 foot chain. Stephen Platinum announced a dog collar match for later in the evening – the first in Porterdale for 26 years, and my favorite type of gimmick match going to back to the Omni and the dog collar cage match between Buzz Sawyer and Roddy Piper. At his peak, Sawyer was in another world, every bit as psychotic as Kevin Sullivan or Mark Lewin, plus he was a top flight amateur wrestler. But I digress.
(1) Assisino & Eric Walker & Mr. Eric defeated Najasism & Supernatural & De La Vega in 8 minutes after Najasism turned on De La Vega. Supernatural did a wicked top rope double stomp to Eric’s gut and the hot tag was made. All was well for the babyfaces or so it appeared. Naja laid De La Vega out with an Eat Defeat maneuver and he was pinned by Assisino. The turns makes Najasism a heel in EMPIRE and PCW.
(2) Jacob Ashworth defeated Rick Michaels in 8:02. Ashworth was making his Porterdale debut. He’s heel at the Academy but he was pure babyface here. Ashworth’s impressive size and power got the people behind him. The tide turned when Michaels blocked a bulldog and nailed Ashworth right on the button with a superkick. Michaels used the chain he wear around his neck to choke Ashworth. Michaels also bled from the cut opened up in the brawl with Simon Sermon on Friday night at the Academy. The finish saw Michaels try for a full nelson slam and Ashworth reversed it with one of his own. Good match. Michaels isn’t going to win any awards for athleticism at this stage of his career, but what amazes me is that after even after the long layoff, his moves have precision that most of the young guys lack.
(3) Washington Bullets (Jon & Trey Williams) & Pandora vs. Marko Polo & Johnny Danger & Nina Monet (with Quasi Mandisco) was ruled a no contest at 10:10. Pandora opened a can of whup ass on Monet with a big opening flurry. The Bullets beat up on Polo. Pandora got in a nice spinning headscissors on him. Danger had his ass handed to him as well. Quasi interfered , and Polo connected with his Beauty Mark kick, sending Jon into next week. After some explosive house cleaning by Trey, it was one big move after another until all six were down in the ring – similar to the craziness in the 8 man the night before at the Academy but with better execution. Out-of-control brawling ensued forcing referee Luis Chevere to throw the match out.
The brawling continued after the bell until Platinum issued the cease and desist order. Platinum announced a rematch for August 18 as a Porterdale Street Fight.
(4) Daisho (Kyle Matthews & Vordell Walker) defeated Master Jae & Sylar Cross and God’s Gift To Wrestling (William Huckaby III & Shaun Adams) in an elimination tag match at 11:50. Daisho was on fire early, as they totally outclassed the other teams. Jae & Cross finally managed to isolate Matthews. GGTW picked up where Cross & Jae left off. Walker cleaned house bigtime and pinned Huckaby with a nasty Fire Thunder Driver. Daisho then made fairly quick work of Cross and Jae. They hit the Daisho Device on Jae and made them both tap (horse collar by Walker and Matthews with the Hidaka lock). Quite the showcase for Daisho.
Washington Bullets came out to set up their Tag Team Season playoff match with Daisho at Sacred Ground 3. Jon put Daisho over as two of the most talented wrestlers he had ever seen. He said they were 1-1 going into the playoffs, but Bullets were destined to make go to the finals. “When you face the Bullets, our job is to win and your job is to lose.†As much as the fans liked Daisho, they love their Bullets.
(5) Jagged Edge (with Miss Rachael & Antioch) defeated Dany Only in a loser leaves town dog collar match in 15:02. Only absorbed everything Jagged Edge could dish out, then ripped Jagged’s shirt off and chopped the shit out of him. Jagged removed the collar and went for a walk, but Only put the collar back on him. A grueling war of attrition followed. Jagged whipped Only with the chain. Only punched Jagged with the chain wrapped around his fist and wrapped the chain around his arm to deliver a back elbow. When Jagged commenced with the chain whipping again, the crowd chanted for Only. Jagged punched Only with the chain, and he bled the hard way from a small cut on his forehead. Only hit a stunner out of nowhere that left both men down. Only's comeback built to the lariat. Jagged rolled out to the floor in desperation, but Jagged used the chain to jerk Only’s neck into the rope. Only kicked out of a piledriver..and a pedigree…and fired up with a furious last ditch flurry. Jagged hit two more piledrivers and it was over. It wasn’t the most creative chain match I’ve seen. That takes a true sadist like Ronnie Garvin. But a sick match nevertheless, and Only put Jagged over in grand style on his way out.
The babyfaces came out the help Only to the back with the fans chanting his name.
(6) Shane Marx (with Miss Rachael & Antioch) defeated Chip Day to retain the EMPIRE Championship in 19:12. Marx tried to use his size advantage to wear Day down. He didn’t want to mess with Day’s kicks. Day gave him no choice. Day tried for a submission and Marx went to the eyes to break it. Marx hit a hotshot move that was sheer perfection. As good as any hotshot I’ve ever seen. If nothing else worthwhile happened on this show, seeing that move was worth the trip. Marx absolutely leveled Day with a lariat. Rachael physically interjected herself into the match. When Day kicked out a killer uranage, Marx was PISSED. Day unleashed the big kicks, and the momentum swung in his favor. Day with a missile dropkick, but then dropped in his tracks by a double knee jawcracker. Marx with a classic spinebuster for a near fall. They battled on the ropes. Rachael grabbed Day’s leg. Day fought her off but it bought Marx enough time to hit the superplex. Day kicked out yet again. Day came from left field with a tornado kick for a near fall. Marx played possum and tried for the DVD, but Day escaped. They started an exchange of stiff kicks. After Day missed a spinning roundhouse, Marx landed two superkicks and ended it with the Death Valley Driver. Hell of a finish. Hell of a match. These two always have good match and both were really on tonight.
(7) Mason defeated Brian Blaze to retain the PCW Championship via submission in 9:45. Blaze had no answers in the opening minutes. Mason had the challenger reeling. The match took a 180 degree turn after Blaze hit a big powerslam. Blaze hauled out the heavy artillery, but the champion showed great resilience. Mason hit a hangman neckbreaker and went for the diving headbutt, but no water in the pool. Blaze applied his reverse cloverleaf, but Mason made the ropes. Each guy blocked the other guy’s finisher. Blaze came up empty on mad dash into the corner, and Mason locked in Occam’s Razor. This developed into a decent match. Blaze has personality. He's at his best doing short spurts in tag matches because he tends to get sloppy. With that said, they weren’t going to be able to follow Marx and Day under any circumstances. The two champions will meet for all the marbles at Sacred Ground, and on this evening, the heel champion came out the stronger of the two.
Rachael came back with Jagged Edge. She said Jagged deserved to be number one contender, and to get the PCW champion in the match of his choice, a dog collar match. Platinum said OK…on the condition that Rachael would face him in an I Quit match. Rachael said you’re on, so there’s your double main event for August 18.
The company held their second annual roast after the show. It was R rated hilarity from beginning to end. Nothing was sacred. Nobody on the roster was spared. The roasters were Only, Washington Bullets, announcers Shane Mackey and Chuck Porterfield the return of Timmy McClendon and a few choice jokes from master of ceremonies Platinum. A special surprise appearance by PCW alumni Goth (as portrayed by Oscar Worthy aka Ricky Nugent aka improve veteran Matt Myers) tore the house down…Platinum made some serious comments that included complimentary words for Bill Behrens…Dany Only is waiting to start a one year contract job in the Middle East. He’s already finished up at NWA Anarchy and the Porterdale show was his swan song for PCW…Condolences to Aisha Sunshine who lost her father last week...Platinum concluded the roast by making it public that Sacred Ground will likely be the promotion's final show. Platinum and his family have already moved into their new home in Orlando. Platinum will be commuting back to Atlanta for the two show weekends leading into Sacred Ground. The Porterdale shows have a better shot at continuing than the shows at the Academy...Pandora challenges Tasha Simone for the NWA Women's World Championship in a no-hold-barred match at NWA Top Rope in Lebanon, TN on September 8...Former WCW wrestler Fred Avery was at the Porterdale show as was Dan Masters, who is currently the live event host for NWA Ring Warriors...The Porterdale show drew around 80. It was said to be their best gate even though they've had bigger crowds. Go figure.
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