Jazz and Rodney Mack
“We just moved on, that’s what we do – we are wrestlers.” Jazz
----The “ReBirth” or more like the “re-tooling” of wrestling in Jonesboro, AR started on Saturday night with the debut of Down South Championship Wrestling. This was pretty much the same crew as the night RWA closed its door minus Frank Martin and his sound system. The building has changed with no bleachers and over 200 chairs on the floor. The dressing room area is HUGE with even an office area. They are still working on it, but the changes seem to be good and the crew seems to be happy to be back together.
----The comments back stage ranged about the Frank Martin situation. From “I am just here to wrestle, I am not into the wrestling politics” To “I never really had a problem with Frank” to “Frank was an asshole – he thought he was better than everyone else.” I think this first show will be the only time that Martin even matters. And as Jazz said, the wrestlers just move on with life. They all have to have a place to work and behind the leadership of Rodney Mack [no different than when working for Frank], this group will survive.
----Before I post the actually results and the happenings of the show, let me preface this by saying that none of the matches were designed to be GREAT matches. They were booked to put over the new storylines and to make the 175+ that attended to want to come back next week and the next. For those that strive to have four or five star matches, I salute you and I do enjoy them. But, it is also important sometime to spend time to get over new storylines and have the groundwork down for the future. That is what this show was all about.
Down South Championship Wrestling 9.05.09
----The show started when Rodney Mack’s music hit. I have said this here before, but no one in this area is over like Mack as a babyface. Mack is ginormously over!! The barking and cheering is almost so loud that it is “thick” in the air. Mack, with Rick Ruby [Mack trainee], went around the ring and into the crowd. He got on the mic and thanked everyone for coming out and welcomed them back to wrestling and to DCW. Mack left the ring.
----DCW champion Ron McClarity came out for an interview with his bodyguard The Boss [big young kid – Mack trainee]. McClarity did a good interview talking about being the champ. They both ended up jumping Rick Ruby. Mack made the save with two big spears!! Main event was made for later in the show.
----Ron “by God” Rage with Raven beat Lavert. Not much of a match. Lavert was not that good, but did have a pretty side kick. Rage dominated most of the match trying to establish himself as a heel again. The crowd actually cheered him though and I heard, “kick his ass Rage” a couple of times. LOL Finish had Rage hit him with a flying loaded forearm pad. [*]
----“Soultrain” Jones beat Logan Fury. Jones came out to “PYT” by Michael Jackson and got a big pop. I love Fury’s music! What is it?? Solid bout from these two guys. Both guys still a little green. Jones has some just pure raw athletic ability that will one day be tunneled to make a real good worker. Logan is small but moves around with confidence. Fury started the heat with an eye rake. Jones made his comeback with a gorilla slam into a powerslam for the pin and win. [*1/2]
----Jazz came out for an interview and got a big pop also. The microphone was really bad. A lot of times in the night, you could not tell what the people were saying. Jazz introduced Brittany Star and Patricia to the crowd. They were out there to put over the start of an all girls show starting on 10.02.09 in the building. Jazz left them to put themselves over, when the heel ladies came out – Lady V [Ms Vicki], Rave, Angel-Lena and Dominique. Dominique did the mic work [couldn’t understand a lot, but fans hate her]. The heel girls ended up jumping the faces with Jazz making the save with a big pop. Segment seemed to drag a bit, but it might have been because you could not understand what Dominique was saying.
----Pokerface beat John Allen. This was the best pure wrestling bout on the show. Poker works more of a strong style with just stiff looking moves. Heat started when Poker went for 10-punch count and Allen hit him with a reverse spinebuster. Allen did a springboard leg stomp that looked pretty. Allen is still green. Allen used the figure-4 on Poker. Perfect psychology. Allen missed a springboard stomp. Poker finished him off with a “ghetto blaster” for the win. [**1/2]
----JD Kerry vs “Mexican Assassin” Tejano Kid with Dominique was declared no contest. Match did start out like it was going to be good. Kerry put Kid in a Fujiwara armbar and then they were interrupted by Pokerface walking out. As Poker had their attention, Sid Vicious walked in thru the front door. [POB style] As he got closer to the ring, the crowd recognized him and he got a pop. Vicious powerbombed Kid for a big pop. Then he went after Kerry. Crowd started to turn against him a little here. He powerbombed Kerry – very high in the air and then Poker turned by putting the boots to Kerry. Poker tells everyone that Vicious is the “Rule of the World!!!” The announcer Biscuit comes down to talk to Poker and Vicious about the 19th when Vicious and Poker will face Lord Humongous and Scott Hall. Biscuit did a great job here putting over Hall. He then called out Lord Humongous. Humongous stood face to face with Vicious – same height, but not as wide. Huey ends up pushing both Vicious/Poker down at the same time in a test of strength sending them out of the ring. Vicious puts over the fact that Poker and him will destroy Hall/Huey on the 19th and that it is just a stop on his goal to be at Wrestlemania. A real good angle.
----Blalok the Blazer and Mike Anthony, collectively known as “Dynasty”, came out for an interview. You could barely understand Blazer. [because of the mic] “Natural Born Playas” [Pimptacular/Southside Brawler] came out to accept their challenge for next week. “Playas” got a pop. “Playas” sent Blalok/Anthony into the ropes, but they held on and left. I am assuming they are feuding over the tag straps, because doesn’t “Playas” have the belts??
----DCW Title Match: Ron McClarity with The Boss and Angel-Lena beat “Redd Dawg” Rodney Mack. Mack in shorts with no knee pads or boots – shooter style. Just basic stuff to get the match going. Crowd was into it – it was Mack. Solid work – perfect psychology. A quick pin by using the ropes before Mack made his comeback. Heels try to beat up Mack, but Ruby makes save. Ruby/Mack beat up the ref – crowd goes home happy. [**]
NOTES
----Almost the whole crew got pops coming out – even the heels. The crowd was happy to have wrestling back…A small guy like Logan Fury against Jones – just the eye rake does not always sell it for me. It is ok for Jones to miss a move or Fury to take out a leg to start the heat. Jones also needs to come out of heat with more fire…This group is in Truman, AR on 18th…Monday nights at Electric Cowboy in Jonesboro, AR with start time of 10:00 PM. You have to be over 18 years old for that show…First intermission was around 7:35 PM with a 7:00 PM start time. Next match was not until 8:05 PM. Long intermission, but there was a lot going on backstage with Vicious arriving…Angel-Lena has improved with her look. She looks like a lady wrestler now and had a lot of confidence when she was out. Her move to working with Jazz has helped her a lot…Announcer’s desk is behind the ring high in the air ala ECW’s crow’s nest…Poker is easily the best overall worker on this roster, but all the veteran guys like McClarity and Rage round out a good crew. .. Kerry is easily the top pick for 2009 Rookie of the Year. His mannerisms and facial expressions are real good. Some veterans don’t have that down yet. He gets it that it is not all about the moves, but the whole package…I hate it when guys call themselves “Kid” and they over 30. Why can’t he be the Tejano MAN?? Lol…I had the chance to talk with Jazz about the All Girl show and she seems to be excited about it. It will give the girls a place to work and she is hoping it will draw. They will have three shows in the Jonesboro area when it gets started, so it will be interesting to see if there will be fan support. ..Humongous is Sid’s 16 year old son Gunner Eudy. Gunner, as mentioned, is huge!! He took his mask off backstage and he has a face that will make him money as a babyface down the road….Got to give a pat on the back to both Ron Rage and Mack here. It would have been perfect to put Rage with Vicious, since they are POB. Mack could have easily tagged with Hall. Why didn’t they?? Both guys are over and don’t need a rub from anyone. Poker will get a rub in a major main event on the 19th and if done right can set him up as Mack’s next big opponent. ..Arkansas State University’s Red Wolves football had their season opener on Saturday night. I was told around 20,000 people attended that game. Good news for DCW - #1: they still drew more than anyone in the area and #2: If there are 20,000 people that are willing to pay to see something, then the potential of having 500-1000 people to see wrestling every week is not out of the range. ..I really don’t like seeing faces beat up refs. That fact and the sound needs some work is my only major criticism of this group….They had some professional made posters and already had posters of the 19th posted.
