Date: June 18, 2022
Venue: River City Sports & Social Club Annex
7505 Ranco Road
Richmond, Virginia 23228
Tickets: Front Row $30.00
Second Row $25.00
Third Row $20.00
General Admission $15.00
Parking: Business complex lot (restrictions)
Street parking
Snacks: Hot Dog $ 3.00
w/cheese $ 3.50
Hamburger $ 4.00
w/cheese $ 4.50
w/bacon & cheese $ 5.00
UEW Monster Burger $ 7.00
BBQ Sandwich $ 5.00
Nachos $ 3.00
w/BBQ $ 5.00
Chips $ 1.50
Water $ 1.00
Soda $ 2.00
Cotton Candy $ 3.50
Promoter: Kris Keith
Merch: Double K Shirt $20.00
Ring Announcer: Gabriel Kai
Referees: Bryan Simmons
Jason Richardson
Social: facebook.com/UNITETHEELITE
twitter.com/UnitedEliteRVA
instagram.com/unitedeliterva
youtube.com/channel/UCgHgMuGyi5Y5h5GMGZH9yVQ
Stream: highspotswrestlingnetwork.com
($9.99 per month)
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In 2019, Kris Keith, who wrestles as “Double K,” launched United Elite Wrestling, which held its first show, “Got Your Six,” in November 2019. UEW followed that successful event with “Boiling Point” in February 2020. A lifelong wrestling fan, Keith told Style Weekly that, ““If wrestling is done correctly, then you’re actually telling a story with each and every match that’s out there.” This philosophy was on display thoughout the event.
The River City Sports and Social Club bills themselves as a place to meet people who like to play sports and love to socialize. They offer all adult co-ed sports leagues in bowling, kickball, axe throwing, skeeball and more. Players of all skill levels are welcome. Participants must be 21 years or older.
The complex where the venue is located contains numerous businesses. Several of them have large “No Parking” signs which threaten towing if you park in their area of the lot. If you attend an event at this location, give yourself a little extra time and make sure you park in an authorized zone. Otherwise, there is plenty of space in the cul-de-sac and out on the street.
Inside the arena, along the left side, was a general merchandise booth, next to a table where Matt Cross and Thom Lattimer had their merch displayed. Directly across the room from these tables was the concession stand which offered, among other things, the UEW Monster Burger, a Bacon Cheeseburger with barbecue and Cheez Whiz. I wasn’t brave enough to try it this time, but I definitely will next time.
MATCH #1
LEO KIRBY vs. LOGAN EASTON LAROUX
VACANT UEW CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ring announcer Gabriel Kai alerted the crowd that Timmy Danger had recently contracted COVID. As such, Danger was not able to defend the Continental Championship. In his place, Richmond’s own Leo Kirby would compete against Logan Easton Laroux for the now-vacated UEW Continental Championship.
A flurry of offense from Leo Kirby caught Laroux off guard, at first. After a reset, Laroux gained the upper hand by choking Kirby on the ropes, using the ropes for leverage on an arm bar, and laying Kirby out with a double underhook suplex. Laroux taunted the crowd as he dropped a knee on Kirby’s arm, then hit him with little arrogant kicks as Kirby crawled around the ring.
With the crowd eager for a comeback, Kirby countered a charging Laroux with a reverse atomic drop and ensiguri, before setting up shop on the second rope and landing punch after punch as the crowd counted along. When a moonsault garnered just a two count, Kirby lifted Laroux up into a fireman’s carry. Laroux escaped and stunned Kirby with a superkick. Kirby returned fire with a superkick of his own, but when he tried another move from the top rope, Laroux caught him in an impressive cutter.
WINNER: LOGAN EASTON LAROUX
MATCH #2
JOHN WASHINGTON vs. BEAU CROCKETT
OPEN CHALLENGE
The charismatic John Washington strode to the ring with what turned out to be misplaced confidence. As expected, Washington made his open challenge. When no one appeared, Washington instructed the referee to count out his opponent. The count reached seven, familiar music hit, and from the outside arena door appeared Beau Crockett.
Washington attacked before the bell, but Crockett’s two splashes and belly-to-belly suplex sent Washington out of the ring for a breather. Crockett followed and nailed Washington with several chops that echoed throughout the arena. Back inside the ring, Washington leveled Crockett with a lariat and shouted, “Put some respect on my name!”
As he slapped Crockett’s face, Washington told him, “you’re nothing!” However, three more slaps enraged The White Wolf and Crockett hit a shotgun dropkick, a belly to back suplex and a running knee. Following a near fall, Washington rose to his feet only to be hit with an exploder suplex and a Randy Savage-esque elbow from the top rope.
WINNER: BEAU CROCKETT
MATCH #3
ALPHA, INC. vs. FACADE & VINNY PACIFICO
This match started with brawl that was quickly broken up by a Facade moonsault from the second rope that sent Alpha, Inc. to the outside to confer with their stable mate, Double K. Before they could, Facade hit a tope suicida and Vinny Pacifico followed with a dive from the apron onto all three men.
Alpha, Inc. used a ref distraction to take control with a double team of Vinny Pacifico in the opposite corner. When the referee actually was looking, J-Sin paid no mind. J-Sin choked Pacifico and then bit his forehead. J-Sin, said “Let me see what he tastes like. <bite> Hmmm, tastes like chicken!”
Eventually, Pacifico managed to make the tag to Facade who cleared Mack Taylor with a spinning roundhouse, then amazed the crowd with a double-springboard dropkick to J-Sin. For some reason, Pacifico got back into the action quickly, and Alpha, Inc. pounced. J-Sin knocked Facade from the apron and they turned their attention to Pacifico. Vinny managed to duck a double clothesline, but could not escape Alpha, Inc.’s double choke slam.
WINNERS: ALPHA, INC.
MATCH #4
RYAN DODSON vs. SHOOT TAYLOR
SHOWCASE MATCH
This showcase match featured two performers I have yet to encounter, but I believe it’s a dark horse candidate for best match of the night. Ryan Dodson and Shoot Taylor began the match with some impressive chain wrestling with various reverses and counters, leading to multiple resets. Taylor would gain the upper hand with a shotgun dropkick and a belly-to-back suplex, then a drop kick to Dodson’s leg that was wrapped around the ropes.
Taylor maintained control through much of the match as Dodson looked for a way to turn the tide. Taylor taunted Dodson as he choked Ryan with the ring ropes, hit axehandles to Dodson’s back as he tried to rise, and then caught Dodson in a chin lock. Finally, Dodson reversed Taylor’s belly-to-back suplex attempt by landing on his feet and hitting an ensiguri which left both men down on the mat.
As he pumped up for the crowd, Dodson hit a flying forearm, top rope reverse cross-body, and went for a backspring cutter. Taylor caught Dodson in a torture rack into an F5. Dodson would try again and, this time, hit the backspring cutter, which sent Taylor to the apron. When Dodson approached, the savvy Taylor snapped Dodson’s neck on the ropes. Sensing an opportunity, Taylor used a springboard European upper cut to set up the submission finisher.
WINNER: SHOOT TAYLOR
MATCH #5
BRIAN JOHNSON vs. WES ROGERS
As always, “The Mecca” Brian Johnson insisted on doing is own ring introduction. He said Gabriel Kai was dressed as terribly as the folks in the crowd. While that was going on, Wes Rogers picked up the t-shirt Johnson threw to ringside, brought it back in the ring, and elbow dropped it.
After a quick start, Johnson rolled outside the ring and Rogers followed. Johnson went for a chop but hit the ring post instead, allowing Rogers to throw him back in and climb to the top. Johnson narrowly avoided a Rogers cross-body and dropped the former Alpha, Inc. member with a short arm lariat and elbow strikes to the back of Rogers’ head.
In control, Johnson used another lariat to set up the Garvin Stomp and a fist drop to Rogers’ face. As Rogers tried to make his way to the corner, Johnson pummeled him with forearms and chops. Finally, Rogers fired up and the two men exchanged forearms in the center of the ring until Rogers surprised Johnson with a Michinoku driver and pounded the mat to signal the comeback.
Rogers grabbed Johnson’s legs and looked to be going for a figure four or a sharpshooter, but Johnson managed to grab the ropes and force a break. Still holding Johnson’s leg, Rogers yanked and accidentally pulled Johnson’s boot off. As the referee focused on the boot, Johnson poked Rogers in the eye. Johnson grabbed his “Mecca vs. Everybody” towel and threw it at Rogers. The referee grabbed the towel and turned to place it in the corner. Taking advantage of yet another distraction, Johnson grabbed his loose boot from the other corner and knocked Rogers out.
WINNER: BRIAN JOHNSON
MATCH #6
SLEDGE GIBSON vs. DOUBLE K
Double K and Sledge Gibson immediately found themselves nose-to-nose as the bell ran and the action quickly spilled out onto the floor. Double K powdered and then pulled Sledge Gibson out of the ring by his feet. Double K dropped Gibson neck-first onto the guardrail and exclaimed, “He’s got nothing!” Back inside the ring, Double K continued his onslaught in the corner, and shoved the referee who tried to stop him.
Gibson looked for a piledriver, but Double K reversed into a back body drop and went back to pummeling Gibson on the mat. Double K stomped on Gibson’s back, nailed him with cross face punches, and kicked Gibson in his face. With the crowd cheering for a comeback, Gibson created some space with a European upper cut, then hit two running knees and nearly got the fall.
Gibson took to the top rope, but Double K got up in time to knock him off the turnbuckle down to the floor. When Sledge tried to re-enter, Double K knocked him to the floor again. Double K hit a double underhook DDT and looked to grab his sledgehammer from ringside. At that moment, Wes Rogers ran in and hit Double K with a chair and Sledge capitalized with a facebuster for the win.
WINNER: SLEDGE GIBSON
MATCH #7
JOSH WOODS vs. BARON BLACK
Two of the most technically gifted wrestlers on the independent scene, Josh Woods and Baron Black adhered to the Code of Honor before the match and shook hands again when it concluded. As expected, this match was a mat wrestling/grappling showcase with neither competitor gaining or keeping an advantage for long. At one point early in the match, each man alternated escaping body slams, reversing roll up pin attempts, hitting alternating arm drags, and then simultaneously missing an arm drag leading to a reset and applause from the crowd.
Woods would use a knee strike to Black’s arm to set him up for a wristlock in the ropes. Black battled out, but quickly found himself right back in the wristlock. Black tried to hold the ropes with his free hand, but Woods nearly ripped it out of its socket and whipped Black into the ropes. Black came off the ropes with a reverse atomic drop and knee strike to Woods’ bicep, then used a hammer lock to work the arm of Woods.
Still holding the hammer lock, Black grabbed Woods’ other arm into an arm bar. With his foot on the hammerlocked arm, Black fell backwards doing damage to both of Woods’ appendages. Woods tried to escape and pushed Black into one corner. When Woods charged, however, Black moved out of the way and hit Codebreaker knees to Woods arm.
At this point, the damage to each man’s arm is visible to everyone in the arena. Each competitor held one arm as they tried to strike with the other. Neither man could get a firm grasp on the other, but they alternated German suplexes four times and twisting wristlocks eight times before Black converted an Oklahoma Roll into a near fall. Woods kicked out at two and surprised Black with a sunset flip for the quick pin.
WINNER: JOSH WOODS
MATCH #8
SILAS YOUNG (c) vs. ISAIAH FRAZIER
BRITISH COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
British Commonwealth Champion Silas Young said Isaiah Frazier may think he brought his “A” game, but he is average, just like the fans in Richmond. Undaunted, Frazier quickly hit a cross body and a drop kick that sent Silas Young to the outside. Frazier attempted a tope suicida, but the veteran Young saw it coming, punched Frazier on the way out, and rolled back into the ring.
Young would hold a rear choke for a while to slow the match down. Frazier managed to escape and climb to the top rope, but Young got to the corner and pushed Frazier down to the floor. Young rolled Frazier back in the ring and sprung in from the apron with a huge stomp to the midsection of Isaiah Frazier. After four more stomps and a senton by Young, the Last Real Man yelled, “He’s too much of a moron to stay down!”
The crowd rallied behind Frazier as he fought out of the chin lock with a chin breaker, hit successive running strikes, did a baseball slide across the ring, and dropped Young with a reverse STO and a Blue Thunderbomb. When that failed to secure the pin, Frazier tried a sunset flip and a springboard STO from the apron, but still could not keep Young down.
Frazier would hit a tope suicida as Young rolled back to the outside, but lost focus briefly as he re-entered the ring, allowing Young to kick the ropes for a low blow. Young attempted a handstand type move from the top, but Frazier moved out of the way, slapped the mat and charged at Young. The crafty veteran evaded Frazier’s charge, rolled up Isaiah and used his feet on the ropes for leverage.
WINNER: SILAS YOUNG
MATCH #9
DANI MO vs. GIA SCOTT (c)
UEW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Another candidate for match of the night came at the beginning of the fourth hour as UEW Women’s Champion Gia Scott looked for a successful title defense against the ever-popular Dani Mo. Dani Mo’s early flurry of offense sent the champ out onto the floor. Scott seemed wary about getting back in the ring, so Dani Mo went out and chased her until she got back inside herself.
Dani Mo whipped Gia into one corner and Scott looked to leap up and over the charging Mo. However Scott appeared to land funny and injure herself. Just as Dani Mo and the referee began to buy Scott’s act, the champ blindsided Dani Mo with a kick to the face and went on the offensive. In the corner, Scott pressed her boot into Mo’s throat in blatant disregard for the referee’s admonitions.
Dani Mo managed to wriggle out of one spinebuster, but Scott nailed her the second time and nearly got the fall. After a belly-to-back suplex from Scott, Dani Mo would avoid a charging Scott, hit a shoulder block from the apron, a stunner and a bulldog, but still could not secure the victory.
A Dani Mo ensiguri would leave both women down on the mat. They exchanged forearms as they rose to their knees. They continued to exchange forearms as they rose to their feet. Dani Mo got another near fall after a spin kick and a Michinoku Driver and picked Gia Scott up into a fireman’s carry. Somehow, the champion escaped, grabbed Dani Mo by one arm, and hit Eat Defeat for the victory.
WINNER: GIA SCOTT
MATCH #10
SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS vs. ELI ISOM & JORDAN KINGSLEY
After an early reset, Isom climbed on the back of Shane Taylor for an old school sleeper hold. Taylor loosened Isom’s grip by backing Isom into one corner, but missed on the charged and got smacked with a dropkick from Isom. Taylor tagged in O’Shay Edwards who immediately charged at Isom, but telegraphed the move. Isom pulled down the ring ropes sending Edwards to the floor and went for a tope suicidia.
On the apron, Shane Taylor kicked Isom as he attempted to come through the ropes. Jordan Kingsley ran in and kicked Taylor off of the apron down to the floor. Edwards pushed Taylor out of the way and took the full brunt as Kingsley flew over the top rope with a diving plancha. Isom followed with a back flip over the ropes onto everybody.
Kinglsey would maintain control inside the ring until he got caught coming off the ropes with a cross body. O-Shay Edwards caught the much-smaller Kingsley and lifted him up into suplex position. Edwards held Kingsley there and tagged in Shane Taylor who, amazingly, took over the suplex from Edwards while O’Shay came off the ropes and dropkicked the still-vertical Kingsley to the mat.
Shane Taylor Promotions continued to use quick tags and efficient teamwork to maintain the advantage on Kingsley. At one point, it looked as though Kingsley had some momentum after a series of kicks and a huge roundhouse, but he got caught in a spinebuster by O’Shay Edwards coming off the ropes. As Eli Isom was prevented from entering the ring by the referee, Edwards and Taylor stomped and choked Kingsley in the opposite corner.
Finally, a spinning roundhouse by Jordan Kingsley allowed him to make the hot tag to Isom. Eli hit a hurricanrana, a running forearm, a basement clothesline, and a modified Celtic Cross to Taylor. Isom tagged in Kinglsey for a shooting star press and both men piled on Taylor, but Shane still kicked out. O’Shay Edwards came back into the ring and hit a spinebuster to Isom and a belly-to-back suplex to Kingsley. When Isom stood up, Taylor caught him in the package piledriver.
WINNERS: SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS
MATCH #11
PHIL BROWN vs. MATT CROSS
The much larger Phil Brown charged Matt Cross as soon as the bell rang. Cross pulled the ropes down, sent Brown crashing to the outside, and got the crowd on their feet with a tope suicida. Cross threw Brown back in the ring, climbed to the top rope, cartwheeled down to the mat and looked to come off the ropes with a cross body. Phil Brown caught Cross mid-air and flattened him with a power slam.
Brown took control with a series of chops, a head butt, and a knee to the midsection, then slowed things down with a rear choke to Cross. Cross would use a back spring elbow and a kick from the second rope to get a near fall. Brown would counter with two splashes and a spinning kick that left both men down on the mat exhausted.
Soon, Brown and Cross both worked their way to the top rope. Cross managed to push Brown down to the mat long enough to leap from the top with a stomp onto Phil Brown’s back. Cross tried to parlay that success off the ropes, but Brown leveled him with a lariat. After Cross kicked out of the pin attempt, Brown lifted Cross into a fireman’s carry. Cross escaped and hit another back spring elbow, then climbed to the top rope, but missed the shooting star press. This gave Brown time to stun Cross with a punch and finish him off with a super kick.
WINNER: PHIL BROWN
MATCH #12
RHETT TITUS (c) vs. THOM LATIMER
UEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (TWO-OUT-OF-THREE FALLS MATCH)
In the first fall, these two evenly matched competitors engaged in a bit of mat wrestling which saw Titus using a leg scissors to take the wind out of Latimer early. Soon, Titus reversed a Latimer arm bar into one of his own after a fireman’s carry takeover. Frustrated, Latimer poked Titus in the eye and grabbed a leg scissors of his own. Suddenly, Titus used a headlock takeover for the suprise pinfall and the champ was up one fall to none.
Angered, Lattimer immediately charged at Titus, but Rhett moved. Titus hit Latimer with a snap mare, kick, knee to the back, and an elbow drop. After another near fall, Titus went back to the leg scissors before locking Latimer in a Camel Clutch. Titus almost picked Latimer up into a Cesaro-style swing, but could not lift the big man. Instead, Titus rolled Latimer over into a Boston Crab. Thom caused the break when he reached the ropes, then rolled outside the ring to regroup.
Titus chased Latimer outside the ring, but was stopped when Latimer snapped his neck on the ring ropes. From there, Latimer used a headbutt to the stomach, a body slam and an abdominal stretch while holding the ropes to keep control. Titus would avoid a pin attempt and nail Latimer with two running kicks followed by a back breaker and fisherman’s suplex. Luckily, Latimer was able to avoid a Titus drop kick and come off the ropes with a spear to get the pinfall and even things up at one a piece.
With both men so beaten down they could hardly stand up, Titus attacked first with a series of forearms to Latimer’s back as they moved around the ring. Latimer countered with a European upper cut and a headbutt to Titus’ stomach. But Titus came off the ropes with a beautiful drop kick that stunned Latimer long enough for the one, two, three and a successful title defense for Rhett Titus. As the show closed, an infuriated Thom Latimer attacked the referee for the match and several more referees that came out from the back to assist.
WINNER: RHETT TITUS
Without question, United Elite Wrestling knows how to put on a show that appeals to families, casual fans, and hardcore fans alike. The show ran over four hours and contained twelve matches, yet, somehow, not one match was filler. Each match was given time, told a story, and made sense. The actual wrestling was fantastic, as well. After four hours, I was exhausted, but I was not tired. Outstanding show.
The Indy Wrestling Experience 
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