Date: November 12, 2021
Location: MCW Arena
Joppa Market Place
1000 Joppa Farm Road
Joppatowne, Maryland 21085
Tickets: Front Row $50
Rows 2-3 $40
Reserved Rows 4+ $30
General Admission $25
Parking Shopping center parking lot
Merch: KC Navarro Shirt $25
Snacks: Pizza $3
Hot Dogs $3
Drinks $2
Candy $2
Chips $1
Promotors: Dan McDevitt
Dennis Wipprecht
Ring Announcers: Danny Mays
Larry Legend
Referees: Beckie Phillips
Mike Kehner
Stephon Smith
Social Media: www.mcwprowrestling.com
www.facebook.com/MCWProWrestling
www.instagram.com/mcwprowrestling
www.twitter.com/MCWWrestling
www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHMctj7gnb5zA5iuzUshAA
Streaming: www.mcwragetv.com
$5.99 per month
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MCW Pro Wrestling (formerly Maryland Championship Wrestling) bills itself as one of the premier independent professional wrestling promotions in the United States. It was founded in 1998 by Dan McDevitt and Mark Shrader as an extension of the Bone Breakers Training School. Through the years, MCW Pro Wrestling has featured many of the industry’s big names including: Matt Hardy, Lio Rush, Tommy Dreamer, Adam Cole, and Mickie James.
Shane Shamrock was the first and only Maryland Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight Champion. He won the title on July 19, 1998 in Dundalk, Maryland by defeating Christian York, Mark Shrader, Joey Matthews, Quinn Nash, and Earl the Pearl in a six way match. Shamrock was tragically killed in a confrontation with police at his home in Glen Burnie a month later on August 18, 1998. In response, Maryland Championship Wrestling named Shane Shamrock Lifetime Champion and established the annual Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup in his honor.
This event took place at the MCW Arena which is in the Joppa Market Place building in Joppa, Maryland. The JMP is a large multi-vendor shopping area that contains an Amish market where one can find locally grown fruits, vegetables, lunch meats and cheeses. It also has an outdoor flea market with one-of-a-kind collectibles, sports memorabilia, video games, unique artwork, handmade crafts and more.
The entrance to the venue leads into a large main lobby area. There, one could find wrestlers such as Ninja Mack, KC Navarro, Ray Lyn, Megan Bayne, and Shannon Moore greeting fans, selling merchandise and signing autographs. Directly ahead to the right, feature performer Diamond Dallas Page had a booth set up for meet and greets, as well. There was a huge general merchandise table located closer to the door that sold wrestling figures, signed 8x10s, shirts, belts and more.
In this lobby area was a concession stand that sold chips, soda, and hot dogs. If you walk out of the main lobby area through the roped-off flea market, there is a food court vendor that also stays open during the wrestling events. This vendor has an incredibly expansive menu during the day, only some of which is available during the events. The boardwalk-style fries are fantastic.
Prior to the start of the event, host Larry Legend announced a change to the evening’s card. Due to illness, G-Fed was unable to appear for the scheduled triple threat tag team championship match. As a result, his tag team partner Rayo was added to the Shamrock Cup Qualifying match with Myles Hawkins and P.J. Hawx. The team of Ken Dixon and Boom Hayden was added to the tag team match. Rayo came out and told the fans that he is not the biggest or the strongest, but he lives in the present and the time is now. He added, “I am Rayo. I am the lightning, Expand your consciousness. Can I get a YAY SON?”
MATCH #1
JAKE CRIST vs. ACTION ANDRETTI
SHAMROCK CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
Many fans know the name Jake Crist from his well-known tag team with brother Dave in TNA/Impact, Ring of Honor, and CZW. Maybe familiarity really does breed contempt because the MCW fans hated Crist and let him know it. Perhaps it was because his opponent is one of the most popular, fastest-rising stars in MCW, Action Andretti. Before the match even started, chants of “Action’s gonna kill you!” and “Action, Action, Action” filled the arena.
Andretti quickly caught Crist in a leg scissors which rattled him enough to roll out of the ring to reset. Upon his return, the competitors locked up until they backed into the ropes and broke cleanly. Crist offered a handshake as a show of sportsmanship, but the fans were against the idea. As Andretti reached his hand out, Crist went to poke him in the eye. However, Andretti saw it coming. He dodged the eye poke and threw Crist to the mat with an arm drag.
In a flurry, Action jumped to the top rope, over to the middle of the ropes, flipped off and pulled Crist along into an arm drag which sent Crist out of the ring. An Andretti kip up and consecutive tope suicidas brought the crowd to its feet. On Andretti’s third tope attempt, though, Jake Crist was ready with a kick to Andretti’s head. On the outside, Crist told the fans in my section to move out of the way as if he was going to throw Andretti over the guardrail. Crist laughed at his fake-out of the fans as he changed direction and threw Andretti into the ring instead.
The fans offered support for Andretti with chants of “Ohio sucks!” aimed at Crist who climbed to the top rope. Andretti caught Crist, however, and superplexed him to the mat. Andretti amazed the crowd with a standing moonsault, followed by a running shooting star press. Andretti flew off the ropes to attempt a flying body press, but was caught in a Death Valley Driver by Crist. Crist thought he was in control as he picked up Andretti for a power bomb. However, Andretti flipped over the back of Crist and pulled him into a sunset flip to advance to the finals.
WINNER: ACTION ANDRETTI
MATCH #2
P.J. HAWX vs. MYLES HAWKINS vs. RAYO
SHAMROCK CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
Many fans know of the tag team Hawx Aerie featuring, P.J. and his father Luke Hawx. I first heard about P.J. Hawx after the amazing second story mall spot. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend you check it out here. This match with Myles Hawkins and Rayo, two very exciting performers, was sure to be fast-paced.
Hawx and Rayo stunned Myles Hawkins with two drop kicks that sent Hawkins to the outside. P.J. and Rayo turned their attention to one another, exchanging various holds while Myles Hawkins crept back in. Rayo had it under control, though. He hit some loud chops to the chest of Hawkins and a hurricanrana to P.J. Hawx.
Later, Hawx attempted a move off the second rope, but was met with a boot to the face from Myles Hawkins. A pin attempt was broken up at the count of two by Rayo, who continued with a series of forearms and chops before missing on a tornado DDT to Hawkins. Myles held Rayo up in the air for several seconds in suplex position before crashing him into the mat. A spinout powerbomb from Myles to P.J. Hawx maintained control for Hawkins as the match started to wind down.
In the end, Myles Hawkins got caught in a fireman’s carry by Rayo. Hawkins escaped and landed a superkick to the face of Rayo as P.J. Hawx tried to re-enter. Hawkins stomped on Hawx and forced him out of the ring and climbed to the top rope. With a Randy Savage-style elbow from the top rope, Hawkins appeared to have the match won. As Hawkins went for the pin, P.J. Hawx snuck in, pulled Hawkins off of Rayo, and locked Myles in a cloverleaf submission maneuver for the win.
WINNER: P.J. HAWX
MATCH #3
SAM ADONIS vs. NINJA MACK
SHAMROCK CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
Sam Adonis was led to the ring by Andy Vineberg and King Ryan McBride for this third Shamrock Cup Qualifying Match. Vineberg took the microphone and disparaged the fans in Joppa, Maryland and the Baltimore Ravens (after their recent loss to my Miami Dolphins). Adonis got some real heat with the crowd when he told the fans to “sit down right now because I’m not afraid to punch a child in the face!”
As the fans chants grew louder, Adonis continued his attempts to quiet them down. Adonis extended offered a handshake, but the crowd was firmly against the idea. As the fans chanted, “No, No, No!” Adonis channeled Bryan Danielson with his chant of “Yes, Yes, Yes!” Finally, Mack extended his hand out. Before Adonis could do anything nefarious, Mack threw Adonis across the ring.
Ninja Mack was on fire at the outset. He criss-crossed the ring five times doing nothing but handsprings back and forth. After this amazing display, Ninja Mack connected with a hurricanrana and a back handspring up onto the shoulders of Adonis. Sam tried to regroup with his entourage outside the ring, but Ninja Mack snuck around the other side of the ring and ambushed Adonis with some massive chops.
From the apron, Ninja Mack tried a back flip onto Adonis but got caught in mid-air and thrown by Sam Adonis. The bad guys celebrated on the outside before Adonis threw Mack back into the ring. Adonis sat Ninja Mack on the top turnbuckle and flipped him onto the mat with a Sliced Bread #2. Adonis climbed to the top rope again, only to be caught by Ninja Mack with a Spanish Fly.
At the end of the match, McBride tried to interfere to help Adonis spray the contents of an aerosol canister into the eyes of Ninja Mack. However, Mack ducked and the spray blinded McBride who rolled out of the ring. In the excitement, Ninja Mack rolled up Sam Adonis for the one, two, three.
WINNER: NINJA MACK
MATCH #4
K.C. NAVARRO vs. LUKE HAWX
SHAMROCK CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
Many fans know K.C. Navarro from his time in CZW and Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling. More recently, he has appeared on episodes of MLW Fusion and AEW Dark. I first found out about Luke Hawx from his founding of WildKat Sports & Entertainment, as well as his affiliation with one of my favorite podcasts, Booking the Territory.
Like several of the matches before it, this match started with the offer of a handshake. This time, the combatants actually followed through with a clean show of sportsmanship as the bell rang. With a significant size advantage, Hawx used the initial lock-up to push Navarro into the corner. A clean break reset the match as the competitors took turns garnering support from the crowd who seemed evenly split in their allegiances.
Navarro quickly took control with a hurricanrana, a drop kick, and a one-count pin attempt. Hawx whipped Navarro into the ropes. Instead of bouncing off, KC caught himself in the ropes sideways and posed confidently. Quickly, Navarro came off the ropes, kicked Hawx in the face and followed with a tope suicida on the outside.
Inside the ring, Navarro attempted a flying cross body, but was caught and hit with a running powerslam by Hawx. Luke tried to parlay this momentum with a springboard moonsault off the middle ropes, but Navarro cleverly pulled his knees up to counter the move. Taking control for the last time, Navarro connected with a shotgun dropkick, a tornado DDT, and the spinning finisher for the win.
WINNER: KC NAVARRO
MATCH #5
SHANNON MOORE vs. AARON ROURKE
SHAMROCK CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
As with many of the performers on this show, longtime fans of WWE, WCW, and TNA surely know the name Shannon Moore. From his days with Evan Karagias and Shane Helms in the 3 Count faction, to his time in the WWE cruiserweight division, and his days as the “Prince of Punk” in TNA, Shannon Moore has been entertaining wrestling fans for nearly three decades. His opponent, Aaron Rourke is a well-known veteran of the industry, as well. He has appeared for such promotions as Chaotic Wrestling and Limitless Wrestling, as well appearing on AEW Dark.
Aaron Rourke told the fans he was not afraid of Moore because Moore is just a “little guy.” Yet, after the first lockup, Rourke caught himself in the ropes to force a break in cowardly fashion. The competitors began a series of criss-crosses and direction changes that ended with a shoulder tackle that dropped Rourke to the mat. Upset, Rourke criss-crossed the ring many times by himself as Moore watched. Rourke exclaimed that “I can do it too!” to which Moore responded with a clothesline that again felled Rourke.
Adonis gained an advantage with an eye poke and some rakes to the face of Shannon Moore. After a two count, Adonis told the referee to do his job, then punished Moore with more face rakes, a turnbuckle to the head, and several chops to the chest of Shannon Moore. Moore tried to mount an offense, but was stopped with a big boot to the face. Adonis arrogantly stood one foot on Moore, then rode him like a horsey.
Sam Adonis connected with a series of boots to Moore’s face and a German suplex from the top rope. When the result was a mere two-count, Adonis threw a temper tantrum on the mat. Rourke cornered Moore and connected with front walkover into a forearm. Adonis missed a big boot off the ropes and a pop-up power bomb. This gave Moore the opportunity to hit a Falcon Arrow on Rourke and steal the victory.
WINNER: SHANNON MOORE
MATCH #6
RAY LYN (c) vs. MEGAN BAYNE
MCW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The first time I saw Ray Lyn was at IWC Unbreakable 2021 (check out my review here), teaming with Heather Monroe to take on Ashley D’Amboise and Katie Arquette. As skilled a performed as Ray Lyn is, I was looking forward to her title defense against the Amazonian Megan Bayne as it seemed to be quite a mismatch.
Not surprisingly, The Megasus began the match throwing the much smaller champion around the ring like it was nothing. But after missing a big boot, Ray Lyn hit some quick kicks followed by a drop kick that sent a stunned Bayne into the corner. Before Bayne could regain her composure, Ray Lyn climbed up to the top rope for a hurricanrana.
Bayne used a hard body slam to gain the upper hand. She backed Ray Lyn into the corner and landed punch after punch until the referee nearly counted five. Bayne whipped Ray Lyn into the opposite corner so hard that the champion fell to the mat. Ray Lyn attempted a weak punch, but was met with a knee to the midsection. Bayne picked up Ray Lyn and held her vertical in suplex position for several seconds before throwing the champion to the mat face first instead.
Caught in a bear hug from Bayne, and seemingly losing steam, Ray Lyn managed to escape using some elbows to the head of the challenger and falling into the corner. Bayne charged for a spear but missed. Bayne tried a splash, but Ray Lyn moved. Feeling the tide turn, Ray Lyn called for support from the crowd and floored Bayne with two leg sweeps. From the top rope, Ray Lyn hit a shotgun drop kick and nearly got a three count.
Bayne appeared to take control at the end of the match. After the champion reversed a fireman’s carry into a DDT, Bayne pushed Ray Lyn into the corner but was met with a boot from the champion as she charged. An angered Bayne slammed Ray Lyn to the mat and began slamming the champion’s face into the mat repeatedly. Bayne picked Ray Lyn up onto her back, but the champion reversed into a crucifix to pin the stunned Megan Bayne.
A furious Bayne viciously attacked Ray Lyn after the bell. When the Megasus grabbed a chair to pummel the victorious champion, referee Beckie Phillips tried to take it out of Bayne’s hands. Bayne retaliated with a hard right hand which leveled Ref Beckie and prompted a run in by multiple members of the security team. Bayne went on the offense and obliterated each of the security guys that had the nerve to confront her in the ring.
WINNER: RAY LYN
MATCH #7
BLACK WALLSTREET vs. KEN DIXON & BOOM HAYDEN vs.
SEDUCE & DESTROY (c)
MCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Aside from Breaux Keller, I had seen each of the performers put on incredible matches the week prior at VCW’s live event at the Norfolk Masonic Temple (check out my review here). The champs, Joe Keys and Breaux Keller, known as Seduce & Destroy, won the MCW tag team titles from Rush Hour (Deion Epps & Tommy Seto) on Episode 2 of MCW Breakthrough this past June. Ken Dixon and Boom Hayden were brought into the match to replace Rayo and G-Fed. The final team was Black Wallstreet, long-time MCW mainstays, looking for their first MCW tag team championship with the configuration of Chuck Lennox and Drolix.
At the beginning, several pairs of wrestlers tagged in and out of the match. First, it was Drolix and Keller. A belly-to-back suplex led Keller to tag in Keys. Two Joe Keys chops had little effect, but Drolix’s return chop dropped Keys to the mat. Boom Hayden tagged in and was immediately the victim of a double suplex from Black Wallstreet. Hayden and Dixon managed to gain an advantage and used quick tags to cut the ring off. Lennox finally escaped and hit some more chops to Hayden which turned his chest bright red.
Joe Keys entered the match and took control for Seduce and Destroy. Keys pounded Hayden with right hands, then body slammed him into the corner. Keller and Keys double teamed Boom with a whip into the ropes and a backstabber by Keller. Joe Keys re-entered with more chops that sent Hayden to the mat. Keys ran coast to coast several times, then stopped on a dime, sat down and grabbed a headlock on Hayden. Hayden tried to make the tag to Dixon, but was cut off when Black Wallstreet pulled Dixon off the apron. Later, Hayden tried to tag in Black Wallstreet, but Keys and Keller pulled them off the apron too.
When Boom finally managed to roll out and make the tag, Ken Dixon entered the ring like a ball of fire. Dixon connected with exploder suplexes to both Keys and Keller, followed by a spinebuster to Keys and a two count. As Dixon passed by, Drolix tagged himself into the match. Dixon covered Keys, but the referee had seen the tag and refused to count the Dixon pin attempt.
As the match wound down, Lennox hit a superkick to Breaux Keller, but was immediately leveled by Boom Hayden. Boom began arguing with the referee after just a two count which gave Black Wallstreet the opportunity they needed. With Hayden’s back turned, Drolix joined Lennox in the ring and hit their modified 3D finisher for the win and the tag team titles.
WINNERS: BLACK WALLSTREET
MATCH #8
BRIAN JOHNSON (c) vs. MOSES
MCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Even fans from outside the local Mid-Atlantic region should recognize the names of the two performers in this MCW Heavyweight championship match. Brian Johnson and Moses are stars of Ring of Honor, with Moses comprising one-third of the popular Shane Taylor Promotions faction with Shane Taylor and Kaun. In MCW, most fans know Moses and Kaun as former MCW Tag Team Champions, Sons of Savagery.
The introductions were not even finished when the two teams started brawling. Moses landed a nasty chop to the chest of the champion, then held up one finger to inform the crowd that one more was on the way. Moses continued to control the much-smaller Johnson until a low blow from the champion evened the score. A clothesline sent Moses outside the ring, but Johnson followed. Brian Johnson landed another clothesline off the apron, and a third one after running all the way around the outside of the ring. This prompted Johnson to exclaim that, “This is Mecca Championship Wrestling!”
Attempting to re-enter the ring, Johnson went for a suplex on Moses, but the challenger sand bagged him. Johnson pummeled Moses with body shots and tried the suplex again. This time, Moses reversed into a suplex of his own. Johnson climbed the top rope, but got caught in a fireman’s carry into a Samoan Drop by Moses. Johnson was the recipient of several punches and elbows before Moses landed a huge splash in the corner. A buckle bomb and a clothesline sent the champion the outside. Moses followed with a rolling senton off the apron and threw Johnson back in the ring for a Vader Bomb.
Johnson tried to gain and advantage with low blow kick after a whip-in nearly resulted in a ref bump. Moses was ready, though, and grabbed Johnson’s foot. Johnson tried grab the championship belt to hit Moses, but the referee took it away. Johnson grabbed his Mecca vs. Everybody banner to choke the challenger. The referee confiscated the banner, as well. Moses managed to connect with a cutter to the champion. However, the referee was still clearing the champion’s banner from the ring and only turned around in time for a two count.
Johnson managed to grab the championship belt a second time. In this instance, the champion had thoughts of quitting the match altogether and leaving the arena. Moses managed to catch Johnson at the ramp and threw him into the guardrail. The fighters made it back into the ring long enough to exchange blows to each other while positioned on their knees. Moses grabbed Johnson by the beard and threw him back outside the ring. After more blows on the apron, Johnson and Moses climbed to the top rope together. In dramatic fashion, the two men fell through a table at ringside and lay motionless. The referee had no choice but to stop the match.
WINNER: NO CONTEST
MATCH #9
P.J. HAWX vs. K.C. NAVARRO vs. NINJA MACK vs. BRANDON SCOTT vs. SHANNON MOORE vs. ACTION ANDRETTI
SHANE SHAMROCK MEMORIAL CUP FINALS
Joining the winners of the five qualifying matches from earlier in the evening was 2019 winner, and former MCW Rage TV Champion Brandon Scott, who is a very popular with the MCW fans, especially the kids. This night, however, would belong to the other local fan favorite, Action Andretti.
This was a six man elimination match, rather than a six pack challenge, so only Ninja Mack and Action Andretti started the match in the ring. Before the two men could even shake hands, P.J. Hawx and K.C. Navarro ran in and threw Mack and Andretti out of the ring. Soon after, Brandon Scott tagged in and took control of Navarro for a moment before Shannon Moore tagged in.
Moore pulled down the top rope and sent the charging Ninja Mack to the outside onto a crowd of other competitors gathered on the floor at ringside. Just then, K.C. Navarro charged. Moore threw Navarro out and onto the others. Finally, Action Andretti charged and met the same fate.
With Hawx, Scott and Moore on the top rope battling later in the match, Action Andretti re-entered the ring and powerbombed all three men to the mat. With Scott and Moore on the mat stunned, K.C. Navarro and Ninja Mack connected on simultaneous 450 splashes from the top rope on Moore and Scott. Moore finished off Brandon Scott with a spinout power bomb for the first elimination.
Soon after, P.J. Hawx eliminated K.C. Navarro with the same submission finisher he used to eliminate Myles Hawkins earlier in the evening. Shannon Moore attempted to slam P.J. Hawx. to the mat, but P.J. escaped and rolled up Moore for the third elimination. Just then, Ninja Mack re-entered the ring and rolled up Hawx and we were down to two competitors.
Ninja Mack and Action Andretti wowed the crowd with a sequence of high-flying moves before a quick stop to reset. A kick to the face from Andretti sent Mack to the outside. Andretti appeared to attempt a flip to the outside, but landed on the apron and simply kicked Ninja Mack in the face.
Back inside the ring, the two combatants exchanged chops to the chest. The strikes got harder and harder until the fired up wrestlers found themselves face to face, nose to nose. After even more chops, this time from a running position, both men fell to the mat exhausted. In the end, Ninja Mack climbed to the middle rope for corkscrew flip finisher, but Action Andretti managed to kip up as Ninja Mack jumped from the ropes. Andretti amazingly caught Mack in a cutter as Mack fell to the mat. Andretti leapt to the tope rope, and hit a version of Starship Pain on Ninja Mack for the win and Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup.
Following the match, an emotional Action Andretti addressed the crowd. Andretti thanked the fans, all of his fellow competitors in the Shamrock Cup, and the late “Bruiser” R.J. Meyer. Andretti fought back tears and said he knew that The Bruiser was looking down on him at that moment and was so very proud. The fans could not have agreed more. Following the trophy presentation, Shane Shamrock’s family members were brought to the ring to be recognized. They thanked the fans for their continued support and for keeping the memory of Shane Shamrock alive.
WINNER OF THE SHAMROCK CUP: ACTION ANDRETTI
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