XWA Wrestling Recap: Do or Die

I’m back for another edition of XWA Wrestling (recapped). For those who love independent wrestling, this may be the place for you. If you’re only into WWE and/or bigger promotions like TNA, ROH and Dragon’s Gate USA (and don’t have an appreciation for all of the action seen on the independent circuits), this may not appeal to you. If you do, however, enjoy all things that are wrestling, then read on.

This is the last show before Quest For Gold (XWA’s version of Wrestlemania). The guys out back have been busting their humps for a full year in order to entertain the fans—and to secure a top spot within the company. Every single XWA wrestler has been trying to find an opportunity to establish themselves as a “major player” in the company. This isn’t always easy given that virtually every wrestler has the same objective.

This show will go a long way toward helping the talent find their respective spots on next month’s card. Everyone wants to be the main event. Not only does it make you the envy of the locker room, one can only assume there’s a nice little payoff for headlining the biggest show of the year.

The main event this evening is going to see Chip Chambers going one on one with Dale Dangles in a falls count anywhere match. The only way to secure a victory is via pinfall or submission. Whenever you have a situation whereby the fight may make its way out of the ring, you can be sure it’s going to.

In addition, we’re going to see perennial fan favourite Julius Fantana taking on the recently shredded Josh Kotsabasakis. The FRAT leader has been on a personal mission to get into tip top shape and his updated physique is a testament to the hard work and dedication to his training.

In tag team action we will see the Homegrown Heroes taking on the RnR Express. The Homegrown Heroes are doing their best to fill out a thinning tag team division while the oft dominant RnR Express are hoping to quell any surge from these up and coming team.

Wrestling starts, right now.

Julius Fantana vs. Joshua Kotsabasakis

In the first contest, we have Julius Fantana taking on Joshua Kotsabasakis. Worth nothing is that making his return to the squared circle after a brief absence is referee Steve “No Nonsense” Doussaud.

Kotsabasakis has been a lot more focused on his training and diet and it shows. He has clearly dropped some weight and looks to be morphing into a lean mean fighting machine.

This match is a pretty classic tale of the “little wrestler that could” as Julius Fantana spends most of the match on defense but still keeps fighting. Earlier on in the match Fantana actually controls some of the action as he hits back to back arm drags which sends Kotsabasakis to the mat with ease.

In a blatant show of disrespect, Kotsabasakis takes Fantana to the mat, leaves him lying on his stomach, and proceeds to stand on Fantana’s back as he smirks to the fans (while Fantana howls in pain).

Kotsabasakis delivers two side suplexes which slow Fantana considerably. Kotsabasakis keeps going back to the same limb and it seems to be paying off as Fantana has a pronounced limp with his left leg now. Kotsabasakis cinches in an ankle lock however Fantana is able to roll through and leave Kotsabasakis in position for a follow up 506.

Fantana hits the move (styled after Rey Mysterio’s 619) but in the process, Fantana tweaks the already injured knee. After a short series of moves and counters, Fantana hits the ropes and nails Kotsabasakis with a spinning heel kick and wastes no time after this devastating move in rolling him up for the pinfall.

Winner: Julius Fantana

At this time, Ryan Heath (performer/promoter) provides us with an update on Jonny Versace. At the July show, Jonny Versace and Ryan Heath were competing in a match. During the contest, Heath delivered one of his patented German suplexes. Versace landed hard, and did not get up. The match took place in Fredericton and there had been conflicting reports coming from various resources as to the current status of Versace.

Heath apologizes to family and friends and dedicates the night to Versace (he’s sporting a nice little black “JV” armband). Just as Heath appears to be finishing up his update, general manager Jeff Graves comes out. Graves highlights that what happened last month is no one’s fault, that there are risks, and Versace knew the risks.

Graves asks the fans to provide for applause for JV. As the crowd acquiesces (less to appease Graves and more out of respect for Versace), music hits, and out comes the reigning defending XWA Heavyweight Champion Wesley Pipes.

Pipes says he is mad at Graves and says that Graves is only worried about his main event next month. Heath, clearly appalled by the lack of sensitivity being shown by Pipes, attacks him from behind. A brief melee ensues before Pipes eventually gets the upper hand and sends Heath out of the ring. Pipes tells Graves he wants Heath, and that Graves should make it happen.

At this point, a Pat Perswayze infomercial plays on the screen highlighting Pat Perswayze’s Protein Power. Get yours today.

Pat Perswayze vs. James Steele (c)

The second match of the evening would feature the protein packing Perswayze as he challenged current XWA Elite Division Champion James Steele.

This one heats up immediately as a test of strength kicks off the match. Steele actually was able to gain the upper hand and subsequently took Perswayze to the mat with a clean arm drag. The match continues and is perhaps the most technical bout of the evening.  Perswayze is making the most of his opportunity for the strap and looks to control the tempo throughout.

Steele is taking a substantial amount of punishment as we near the end of the contest, After digging deep, Steele comes to life with a spinebuster on Perswayze followed by an Irish whip and a diving clothesline.

Shortly thereafter, both combatants find themselves on the outside. Perswayze sends Steele flying into the ring steps. Steele hits them extremely hard, and ultimately is unable to get back into the ring resulting in a count out victory for Perswayze.

Winner: Pat Perswayze

Chip Chambers vs. Dale Dangles

The third match of the evening was the co-main event of the night. Former FRAT brothers Chip Chambers and Dale Dangles are set to square off in a falls count anywhere match. The only way to secure victory is via pinfall or submission.

This match appears to be just the opposite Perswayze/Steele’s match in terms of technical merit and skill. It’s a knock-down, drag-out fight to the death (or close to it)! Both wrestlers have periods during which they have sustained offense. Bodies go flying into the penalty box, some random steel chairs, and various objects as provided by the fans.

Chambers was initially the aggressor but Dangles is able to reverse his fortunes. In one spot, Chambers heads to the outside via suicide dive but rather than taking out Dangles, Chambers accidentally takes out Steve (the referee) instead! While our friend in zebra stripes has a nap, the wild action in and around the fans continues.

No stone is left unturned as the action eventually takes out the announcers table. The only thing left unscathed was my personal press box, and I won’t kid you, I was worried for a while that the action may come my way! Lucky for me Chambers and Dangles made it back over the safety rail and returned to the ring.

As we near the end of the match, Chambers looks to inflict some serious damage. After reversing his fortunes and getting back on the offense, Chambers places Dangles into a Tree of Woe. Chambers sets a table a few feet back from the corner, and proceeds to run and jump off of the table delivering a devastating dropkick to the face of Dangles. This in turn knocks him loose from his precarious position in the corner.

Just when it looked like Chambers was going to maintain momentum and clinch the victory, Dangles was able to reverse the tide and roll up Chambers for the three count!

Winner: Dale Dangles

Intermission

RnR Express vs. the Homegrown Heroes

The show would return from intermission with RnR Express taking on the Homegrown Heroes kicking off the second half of the evening. RnR Express have made some waves lately having been invited to Philadelphia for a tryout with Ring Of Honour (ROH). Notables such as CM Punk, Brian Danielson, and many others have come up through ROH so the invitation alone was certainly an accomplishment in itself.

RnR bring a high tempo offense that connects with the crowds. While they’re still young in their careers and always learning, the future appears bright for Rick and Rodney.

But they’ll have to go through the Homegrown Heroes comprised of Hyde-Row and Budd Marley. Row and Marley have cracked the main roster in the XWA as of late and have been paired up and added to the tag team division. RnR Express have already been tag team champions and would like to get back in that picture.

Rick and Marley are in the ring to kick things off. It doesn’t take long before Marley finds himself on the receiving end of some double team action. Hyde-Row tries to get in the action but as he dives off the ropes, he’s caught in midair by Rick and tossed to the mat like a sack of potatoes.

Not unexpectedly, the RnR Express dominated much of this matchup as they proved that experience is definitely an asset here in the XWA. That being said, Homegrown Heroes certainly put up a great fight. In no way did they rollover. They simply were never able to develop any sustained momentum which translated into any quality pin opportunities.

The match ends when Marley runs into a spinebuster by Rick. Subsequently Hyde-Row has his offensive attempt reversed by Rick who works with Rodney to nail a stunner and transition directly into a pinfall.

Winner: RnR Express

Dick Durning comes to the ring and given his tone, he’s evidently unhappy about the recent treatment he has been receiving at the hands of one Shaheer Rasool. Rasool has attacked Durning from behind more than once as of late. Durning suggests he is not going anywhere until Rasool shows his face.

First Graves comes out, followed by Wesley Pipes. Pipes suggests that he was tired of listening to Durning and came out (championship title belt in tow) to shut Durning up right here right now in Saint John New Brunswick. Graves makes the match, Durning vs, Pipes, next.

Wesley Pipes (c) vs Dick Durning

As a side note, I mentioned that the RnR Express were headed to Ring Of Honour tryouts. Not to be outdone, Wesley Pipes has caught the attention of WWE officials and has been invited to their tour through Ontario for a tryout in September. Best of luck to Pipes.

Early on the two combatants actually shake hands to the surprise of many fans. No lost love between these two over the years but sportsmanship lives. Durning looks to be spending a little too much time watching Graves on the outside when he should be focused on Pipes in the ring.

Pipes looks like a man on a mission as he is locked on offense from the onset. Durning is being manhandled early on. Every time he’s about to turn the tides, Pipes delivers a devastating counter that ends the comeback.

When Pipes tries for standing leg drop and misses, Durning seizes the opportunity to inflict damage. First he issues chops. Durning follows this with an Irish whip into the corner followed by a running elbow. Durning is about to administer more offense when he walks right into a Eurpoean uppercut by Pipes which stops him in his tracks. Pipes gets a near fall.

Pipes shows his versatility as he nails a spinning neckbreaker off the second rope on Durning. The move would cripple many wrestlers but not Durning. As Pipes climbs to the corner, Durning springs to his feet (evidently he was playing possum) and plants Pipes on his shoulders as he delivers the Baby Killer Piledriver! Durning makes a crucial mistake however, in that he delayed the pin attempt. As a result, Pipes kicks out at the nick of time.

Durning calls for the running knee in the corner and nails it. Durning follows up with a kick to the face and another knee. Just when you thought Pipes was in serious trouble, he catches Durning and nails him with a sitout powerbomb.

And that’s when all heck breaks loose. Out of nowhere, Heath hits the ring and tries to grab Pipes. Heath and Pipes begin fighting on the outside while Durning stays inside. Heath ends up sliding into the ring and Durning decides to hit Heath. At this point the referee calls the match. The outcome no longer matters as the focus is primarily on Heath and Pipes who are still fighting on the outside. Durning issues a threat to general manager Jeff Graves and this causes the locker room to empty.

As Heath and Pipes are kept at bay, Graves makes a match. Quest for Gold in September will see Heath vs Pipes in a steel cage!

The next Saint John show is Quest For Gold, and will come to you on Sept. 6, 2013, from the Lord Beaverbrook Rink. Doors will open at 7 p.m.; first bell is 7:30 p.m. See you next time!