Virginia Championship Wrestling

Date:       November 6, 2021

Venue:      Norfolk Masonic Temple
            7001 Granby Street
            Norfolk, Virginia 23505

Tickets:    Ringside            $25
            General Admission   $20

Parking:    Lot behind building
            Overflow in lot next door

Merch:      Lucha Mask          $20

Snack:      Hot Dog             $3
            Chips               $1
            Soda                $1

Promotor:   Jerry Stephanitsis

Referees:   Ron Mills
            Bill Olsen

Announcers: Blake Chadwick
            Brandon Matheny, Esq.

Social:     www.facebook.com/vcwrestling
            www.twitter.com/OfficialVCW
            www.youtube.com/channel/UCRSHP0Acjw4q5_IGNA8rufw
            www.instagram.com/officialvcw

On Demand:  www.titlematchwrestlingnetwork.com
___________________________________________________________

Virginia Championship Wrestling was founded in 1996 by Ronald Nowel. In the early 2000s, promotor Travis Bradshaw took over the company and rebranded it as Vanguard Championship Wrestling. Last year, current owner Jerry Stephanitsis bought the company and changed its name back to Virginia Championship Wrestling. The company bills itself as the leading independent professional wrestling entertainment company in the State of Virginia. Over the years, VCW has featured many stars in the industry including: Austin Aries, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, Jeff Jarrett, Mickie James and “Hangman” Adam Page.

The venue for this event was the Norfolk Masonic Temple in Norfolk, Virginia. The temple itself is a 78,000 square foot building which is the fraternal home for eight Masonic Lodges, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and a number of other Masonic-related organizations. In addition, the Temple makes its space available to rent for groups of 3,000-6,000 people. Recently, the building was transformed into the “Haunted Temple” for Halloween (Check out the photo gallery here).

When I arrived at the location, I noticed two things. First, there was a line that curled around the building even though there was still thirty minutes before the doors were to open. Second, the temple was still decorated from the Haunted Temple event. There were red light filters on the main flood lights and spooky decorations like ghosts hanging from the trees.

The event was held in a theater within the temple. The floor area was round with the ring set up in the middle of the floor. An entrance ramp led from the theater’s stage to the ring. Around the ring, in a circle, were three rows of ringside seats. Around the outer edge of the floor were merchandise tables where performers such as Cabana Man Dan, Timmy Danger, and Solo were set up to sell shirts, 8x10s and more. At one table, feature performer JTG was taking photos and signing autographs for fans.

DARK MATCH
FENIX FURY & J.B. STACHE vs. TAYLOR X & BOOM HAYDEN 

The first match of the evening was an unannounced tag team match that started about fifteen minutes before the main card got underway. The crowd was solidly behind the team of Fenix Fury and the aptly-named J.B. Stache.

 Fenix Fury started the match on fire with a flurry of action that stunned his opponents, culminating in a flying body press off the second rope onto Boom Hayden. Fenix Fury tagged in his partner J.B. Stache just long enough for the fans to go crazy as he taunted his opponents by standing over them and twirling his signature mustache. When Fury tagged back in, Taylor X whipped him into the ropes and then distracted the referee long enough for Hayden to pull Fenix outside the ring.

Back inside the ring, Taylor X drew even more heat with the crowd. After Hayden threw Fury back into the ring, Taylor X climbed to the top rope. From there, Taylor did a 360 flip, landed on his feet directly in front of Fury, and smacked him in the face. Taylor X continued to distract the referee as Boom Hayden choked Fury on the ring ropes.

As the match drew to a close, Taylor X tried a senton off the second rope, but missed. Fury tagged in J.B. Stache who cleaned house with a series of clotheslines to both opponents, an exploder suplex, another mustache twirl, and a cutter to Boom Hayden for the win.

WINNERS: FENIX FURY & J.B. STACHE

The ring announcer for the dark match was Brandon Matheny who would take over on commentary for the main broadcast. Before the show could start, however, Mr. Matheny carried a frame to the ring. Ring Announcer Blake Chadwick inquired as to the contents of the frame and was told that it was Mr. Matheny’s law school diploma. With his new level of education, Mr. Matheny demanded to be known, henceforth, as Brandon T. Matheny, Esquire.

MATCH #1
SOLO, CHUCK LENNOX & DROLIX vs. MYLES HAWKINS, TRAVIS HUCKABEE & DIAMOND VICTOR GRIFF

As soon as all of the competitors were in the ring for this six man tag team match, a brawl broke out. Quickly all six men spilled outside the ring. Solo, Drolix, Huckabee, and Hawkins battled at ringside, while Griff and Lennox battled down the entrance ramp and back to the stage.

Eventually, Solo and Travis Huckabee made it back into the ring and the match reset. Before he would re-engage with Solo, Huckabee demanded time out from the referee and did some push-ups in the corner. Afterward, Huckabee attempted to trip Solo, but failed. Solo simply looked down at Huckabee and stomped on him.

Drolix and Hawkins tagged in and exchanged chops and punches in one corner of the ring. Myles whipped Drolix in and connected with a back body drop and an arm drag that sent Drolix to the outside. After taking a moment in his corner with his teammates, Drolix re-entered and immediately tagged Chuck Lennox. Hawkins continued his assault with two quick hip tosses to Lennox and a tag to Diamond Victor Griff.

Hawkins, Griff and Huckabee worked well for a while using quick tags to keep Chuck Lennox away from his partners and cut the ring in half. Griff hit an elbow drop for a near fall. Huckabee landed some running upper cuts on Lennox. Hawkins returned to a surprising head butt from Chuck Lennox followed by a hard chop to the chest. Hawkins threw Lennox in the corner and attempted a drop kick but missed his target and connected with his partner instead.

A furious Huckabee began arguing with Myles Hawkins in the ring, forcing Victor Griff to break it up. Fed up, Huckabee left the ring and made his way back up the entrance ramp. Griff followed Travis up the ramp and tried to talk some sense into him to no avail. Griff’s attention turned back to the match as Huckabee continued into the locker room. Solo hit two belly-to-belly suplexes on Hawkins followed by two elbow drops. Solo turned to taunt Hawkins’ one remaining partner. Victor tried to get back in the ring, but was stopped by the referee who turned his back just long enough for Hawkins to be triple teamed in the corner.

The three men continued to pound on Hawkins before Myles was able to make the tag to Diamond Victor Griff. Diamond Victor cleared the ring of Drolix and Chuck Lennox then called out Solo. Once Solo tagged in, Myles Hawkins returned for a double dropkick to Solo before being pulled outside the ring. Solo Hit a hard slam on Diamond Victor Griff before Drolix, Lennox and Hawkins made their way back in the ring. Drolix and Lennox hit a modified 3D on Hawkins and Black Wallstreet prevailed.

After the match, the winners triple teamed Hawkins before Diamond Victor Griff came in to make the save. As Griff sat in a chair in the middle of the ring, Black Wallstreet made their way to the entrance ramp. Drolix grabbed a microphone and said that it would not be fair to attack Griff with his partner, Benjamin Banks, not in the building. Instead, Black Wallstreet laid down a challenge to The Golden Pinky Society for a VCW Tag Team Championship match at VCW Tidings of Destruction on December 4.

WINNERS: SOLO, DROLIX & CHUCK LENNOX

MATCH #2
ISAIAH FRAZIER vs. “RELENTLESS” DEZMON KING

This was my second week in a row seeing Isaiah Frazier. I was impressed the first time, so I was excited to see him as the replacement in this match for Matt Makowski against Dezmon King. The match started with some chain wrestling as the performers exchanged and countered various headlocks, wrist locks, and hammer locks. Finally King gained an advantage with a hip toss and a body slam to Frazier.

Frazier rolled outside the ring for a moment, but re-entered with a sling shot elbow from the apron. Isaiah followed with a belly-to-back suplex and a two count. Back on his feet, Frazier motioned for the crowd to be silent, then landed multiple loud chops to the chest of Dezmon King.

Dezmon King regained his momentum with a reverse whip and two shoulder tackles that leveled Frazier. In response, Frazier removed his knee pad. Isaiah never had the chance to take utilized the exposed knee, however. Frazier attempted running flying body press, but was caught mid-air by Dezmon King. Isaiah fought his way out of the hold and made his way onto the second rope. Frazier attempted another flying body press from the middle turnbuckle, but was again caught in mid-air by King. From this position, King maneuvered Isaiah Frazier into a side slam finisher.

WINNER: DEZMON KING

MATCH #3
JOE KEYS vs. CABANA MAN DAN

This match also started with some chain wrestling with Joe Keys firmly in control on the mat. Cabana Man Dan tried to counter with a shoulder tackle, but the momentum pushed Keys backward into the ropes. Keys bounced off the ropes and returned with an even more forceful shoulder tackle which knocked the Cabana Man down. Keys stood over Dan using each of his hands to drive Dan’s shoulders into the mat.

The referee counted two, and Dan lifted one shoulder up. Keys pushed Dan’s shoulder back down and Dan lifted the other shoulder. This continued until Dan managed to bridge out and stood up on his feet. Joe Keys pushed Cabana Man Dan into the corner and landed a few chops to Dan’s chest. Dan rcversed and hit a few chops of his own. Coming out of the corner, Dan attempted a hurricanrana, but Keys reversed it into a tilt-a-whirl back breaker followed by a Gory Special.

Cabana Man Dan managed to escape and hit a Canadian Destroyer on Keys but managed only a two count. Dan leapt to the top rope where he was met by Joe Keys. Keys attempted a superplex, but Dan managed to avoid disaster by punching his way out of Keys’ grasp and landing a DDT.

Dan’s rally did not last long as Joe Keys slammed Cabana Man Dan into the mat with a flapjack, followed by another Gory Special which turned into a Gory Special Bomb. After being head butted out of the ring and thrown into the guardrail by Dan, Keys regained his composure in time for a hard body slam, followed by a Dynamite Kid-style head butt from the top rope.

WINNER: JOE KEYS

Before the next match, ring announcer Blake Chadwick confirmed what the fans already knew. On December 4, at Tidings of Destruction, the Golden Pinky Society will defend the VCW Tag Team Championships against Black Wallstreet. In addition, Gino Medina will be returning to VCW to take on feature performer Jay Lethal from Ring of Honor.

As the crowd cheered at the match announcements, Chadwick was interrupted by Irvin Legend who said he had been traveling and doing things that legends do. Legend said that the fans were lucky to have someone of his caliber on the roster and that there is nothing good about Norfolk, Virginia. Blake Chadwick delighted the fans when he took back the microphone and informed Legend that he had a match tonight. In fact, that match would start immediately.

MATCH #4
IRVIN LEGEND vs. “THE HOSS OF ALL HOSSES” DEVANTES

Devantes charged the ring amid loud cheers from the fans. Hoss was ambushed by Legend almost immediately. Irvin landed several stomps and punches followed by an elbow drop. Legend picked Devantes up for a neck breaker, then came off the ropes with a scissor kick to the back of Devantes’ head.

As Irvin Legend started arguing with the referee, Devantes recovered and rose to his feet. Charging from the corner, Devantes nailed Legend with a clothesline as the crowd chanted, “Hoss! Hoss! Hoss!” Devantes rode this wave of momentum with a power bomb and a fireman’s carry turned into a cutter to make quick work of Irvin Legend.

WINNER: DEVANTES

MATCH #5
PAPADON vs. “PLATINUM” PHIL BROWN
VCW UNITED STATES LIBERTY CHAMPIONSHIP

As I changed seats to get better lighting for photos (check out my event photos on my Instagram page here), the Greek God Papadon made his way down the ramp and into the ring. The fans clearly hate this guy and Papadon seemed to feel the same way about them. The VCW United States Liberty Champion, “Platinum” Phil Brown entered next…or tried to. As Brown was stepping through the ropes, Devantes ran out from the back and attacked the champion.

Devantes choked Phil Brown while Papadon watched from the other corner. Papadon trapped the referee between himself and the turnbuckles while Devantes pummeled the defenseless champion. Several officials and medical professionals ran to the ring to assist Phil Brown as Papadon exclaimed that while Brown was wearing red tights, he had a yellow streak running down his back. The referee announced that Brown could not continue and Papadon was proclaimed the new champion.

However, Phil Brown refused to go down without a fight. Brown insisted that he was ok to compete. The bell rang and Papadon threw his robe over Phil Brown’s face. Papadon used his knee to press Brown’s neck into the middle rope until the referee counted to 4.5. Papadon held up five fingers to the angry referee and explained that he was allowed five seconds.

The crowd chanted, “You suck!” at the challenger as he hit a neck breaker, a running clothesline, and a snap suplex before he made a pin attempt. When the referee held up two fingers, Papadon told him to do his job correctly and count to three like he was supposed to do. This gave Brown a moment to recover. He countered two chops by Papadon with two of his own and a right hand to Papadon.

Papadon stopped the rally with a rake to Brown’s face while the referee again counted to 4 and a half. When the referee scolded Papadon for the rake, Papadon grabbed a headlock which appeared to be a choke. Papadon made a mistake with a poorly timed elbow drop that missed. A frustrated Papadon charged the corner to spear Brown, but missed once again.

Now on his feet, Brown laid into the Greek God with a punch that sent Papadon backward into the ropes. Papadon came off the ropes to a second, even harder right hand from the champion. When Brown hit a running kick on the challenger, Brown tried to pump up the crowd. Phil Brown landed a superkick to the jaw of Papadon, but managed only a two count before Papadon grabbed the bottom rope.

The fans were incensed that the Greek God managed to avoid defeat in this manner and began chanting, “Little Caesar! Little Caesar!” at him. Upset at the derogatory chants, Papadon threw Phil Brown outside the ring. Brown took a second to recover before he climbed onto the apron to attempted a sunset flip from the outside. However, when Brown flipped in, Papadon sat down on Brown, grabbed the ropes for leverage, and took the title.

WINNER AND NEW VCW U.S. LIBERTY CHAMPION: PAPADON

LOULIE’S LOUNGE
w/BRANDON SCOTT, MARK FLEMING & JERRY STEPHANITSIS

Ring announcer Blake Chadwick introduced Tim Loulie for Loulie’s Lounge. Mr. Loulie introduced Brandon Scott who overcame Virginia Commonwealth Heritage Champion Jordan Oliver and VCW Heavyweight Champion Gino Medina at the Liberty Lottery to become the unified, undisputed Virginia Heavyweight Champion.

The new champion and Mark Fleming were welcomed by Mr. Loulie, but not the fans who sarcastically chanted, “Let’s go Brandon!” The new champion heralded his decade of excellence in VCW after being a fan in the stands for so many years. Unlike the fans in the crowd, however, Scott explained that he actually made something of himself.

Tim Loulie turned his attention to Mark Fleming and questioned Mr. Fleming’s actions in the title match of the last VCW live event. Fleming said that Brandon Scott won the title fair and square. All Fleming did was alert the referee to the fact that the other two men in the match were cheating to ensure his man got a fair deal.

At that moment, VCW owner/promoter Jerry Stephanitsis made his way to the ring for a special presentation. The crowd booed loudly for Mr. Stephanitsis, most likely for his recent actions against George Pantas. Mr. Stephanitsis advised the crowd not to hold grudges because they never do any good for anybody.

Getting down to business, Mr. Stephanitsis asked Brandon Matheny to grab the surprise item out of the case by his feet at the commentary table. Matheny brought the black bag to the ring and handed it to Stephanitsis who pulled out a beautiful new championship belt. Stephanitsis explained that it was the new unified Virginia Heavyweight Championship belt and presented it to Brandon Scott.

Before Scott could truly celebrate, the returning Ken Dixon stormed to the ring and challenged him to a match for that shiny new title belt in the main event. Jerry Stephanitsis granted the request and confirmed that the main event of the evening would be Ken Dixon vs. Brandon Scott for the Virginia Heavyweight title.

MATCH #6
TIMMY DANGER vs. ARIK ROYAL

As the fans returned to their seats following the intermission, ring announcer Blake Chadwick introduced the Supreme Truth, Timmy Danger and his opponent for the evening, Arik Royal. Just as soon Royal let out his signature, “YAY YAAAAAY,” the bell rang and Timmy Danger attacked.

The competitors criss-crossed several times before Royal hit Danger with a hip toss that sent Timmy out to the ringside area. Royal followed Danger to the floor and around the ring before Danger climbed back inside the squared circle with Royal right behind him. In the corner, Danger pounded Royal with knees against the ropes and flurry of punches. Danger failed to connect on the final punch, which allowed Royal to roll Danger up for a two count.

Royal charged Timmy Danger in the corner, but Danger saw it coming and lifted up a boot to the face of Arik Royal. Danger clamped a leg scissors on Royal who had fallen to the mat. For several seconds, Danger slowed the pace of the match down with this hold. Soon, the fans started to clap some encouragement for Arik Royal as he rose to his feet with Timmy Danger on his back.

Feeling the energy, Royal hit two suplexes on Danger, an exploder followed by a belly-to-back. Royal charged the corner with an elbow to the head of Timmy Danger. An Arik Royal back breaker and flying clothesline from the top rope were too much for Timmy Danger.

WINNER: ARIK ROYAL

MATCH #7
JTG vs. LOGAN EASTON LAROUX

The co-main event of the evening pitted feature performer JTG and Logan Easton Laroux with a suprising outcome (See JTG’s entrance here). Logan Easton Laroux was announced as being from a gated community surrounded by a gated community and it was obvious that the fans had no love for him. As “Logan sucks” chants filled the venue, a frustrated Laroux told the crowd that he is the 1%.

JTG grabbed a headlock at the outset and would not let go as Laroux rolled around on the mat trying to escape. A quick pin attempt and a zero count caused Logan to ask for timeout. Composed, Logan Easton Laroux came out of the corner with a hard knee, some punches, and a kick to the head of JTG.

A criss-cross by the competitors led to a dropkick and a sling blade from JTG which left Laroux punch drunk. Logan punched the air instead of JTG who waited for the opportunity to hit a neck breaker to bring Laroux back down to the mat. JTG trapped his opponent in the corner and lept up to the second rope, but Laroux was ready. He pulled JTG down, jumped over the ropes, and yanked JTG’s arm down on the ropes. Laroux choked JTG on the ropes until the referee counted to four. Logan looked at the fans and arrogantly asked, “Who sucks now?”

Logan Laroux slowed down the pace for a moment with a headlock on the mat. The crowd began clapping their support for JTG who tried to escape with an elbow. After taking two more punches from Laroux, JTG waited for Laroux to charge the corner and lifted his elbow up at the last second, stunning Laroux. Logan charged a second time only to be met with a big boot to the face from JTG.

Two clotheslines, a neck breaker and a side slam from JTG got the crowd excited. Following a near fall for JTG, Logan Easton Laroux ccountered with a drop kick and an ensiguri resulting in both men laying flat on the mat exhausted. The referee began his ten count, but only made it to five before the fighters arose from the mat. With the referee distracted, Laroux took one of the turnbuckle pads off and waited. When JTG charged, Laroux moved which caused JTG to collide with the exposed metal turnbuckle and allowed him be rolled up by Laroux.

WINNER: LOGAN EASTON LAROUX

MATCH #8
BRANDON SCOTT (c) vs. KEN DIXON
VIRGINIA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

During the introductions, manager Mark Fleming came out of the locker room alone holding the brand new Virginia Heavyweight Championship belt. With everyone’s attention diverted, Brandon Scott snuck in through the crowd and attacked Ken Dixon. The action spilled outside the ring where Dixon quieted the crowd for three loud chops to the champion against the guardrail. Brandon tried to escape with a poke to Dixon’s eye. This just angered the challenger who picked Brandon Scott up and dropped him onto the guardrail crotch first.

Surprisingly, the competitors were not counted out. Eventually, Scott re-entered the ring as Mark Fleming distracted Dixon. Scott seized the opportunity and pulled Dixon’s neck down on the ropes and went back outside the ring. The champion rammed Dixon’s head into the ringside barrier and connected with several chops to Dixon’s chest. Scott rolled in and back out of the ring quickly to reset the referee’s count a second time.

Brandon Scott and Mark Fleming continued the illegal double team inside the ring. With Dixon lying flat on the mat with his neck under the bottom rope, Scott grabbed his feet and slung Dixon’s neck into the ropes. Brandon argued with the referee as a distraction while Mark Fleming reached in and choked Dixon some more. Scott leapt to the middle rope, kissed his fist, and came off with a hard flying punch to Dixon.

Later, Brandon Scott headed back up to the top rope only to be met by Dixon. The competitors landed flat on the mat and stayed there for almost a count of ten after a Dixon superplex from the top rope. Again rising to their feet just before the count of ten, the competitors exchanged chops, then punches. Brandon Scott landed a knee to Dixon before Dixon whipped him into the ropes. Dixon connected with a Lou Thesz Press and a series of punches to the face of Brandon Scott followed by an exploder suplex that brought the crowd to its feet.

Following a snap powerslam from Dixon and a pin attempt on the champion, the referee could only count to two before Mark Fleming pulled him outside the ring to prevent the fall. Fleming and the referee began verbally sparring on the floor before the referee ejected Fleming from the match. While the referee looked to ensure Fleming left the ringside area, Brandon Scott whipped Ken Dixon into the referee, knocking him unconscious.

With the referee knocked out, The Reason ran out to the ring to assist the champion. After knocking out Ken Dixon, The Reason placed Brandon Scott’s arm across the chest of Dixon to no avail. Soon after Dixon cleared The Reason from the ring, but stopped paying attention to Scott. The champion came up from behind Dixon with a low blow. Brandon attempted a move from the top rope but missed and rolled through. However, Dixon was waiting for Scott and picked him up for the tombstone piledriver, the victory, and the title.

WINNER AND NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: KEN DIXON

This was an exciting event with a very energetic crowd. You could tell that, even though this was not the first VCW event since 2020, the fans were starved for live wrestling during the pandemic. They brought their love for their favorites and plenty of venom for the bad guys. The card was filled with exciting matches and the event was laid out in way that allowed for stories to unfold as the night went on. It was not just wrestling, but a complete wrestling show presentation from a veteran promotion that knows how to entertain their fanbase.

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