MCW Pro Wrestling held its latest show, “Breakthrough” from the R.J. Meyer Arena in Joppa, Maryland on March 11, 2023. Here’s what happened:
MATCH #1
ADONIS VALERIO vs. RYAN MOONEY
This first match of the evening started fast and looked to be a display of technical wrestling…then Ryan Mooney bit Adonis Valerio on the butt. As the fans cheered, Mooney hit a clothesline that sent Valerio to the outside for a breather. Valerio stayed outside long enough to bait Mooney to follow. As Mooney looked to kick Valerio from the apron, Adonis caught his leg and forced him face first into the hardest part of the ring.
Valerio slowed the match down as he maintained control, successfully thwarting one Mooney comeback attempt by countering a spear into an STO and suplex. Finally, though, Rabid Ryan rolled out of the way of a double stomp, hit a Codebreaker, and flung Valerio into the turnbuckle.
Now with momentum, Mooney removed his knee pad in one corner to the furious approval of the crowd. Valerio saw it coming and ducked the knee strike, hit a Death Valley Driver and a beautiful top rope moonsault. Valerio set Mooney up for a piledriver, but Mooney managed to reverse into a back body drop and connected on his second attempt with a devastating running knee strike.
WINNER: RYAN MOONEY
MATCH #2
AMIR HEATHEN & NIKITA vs. LOR DIAZ & DIEGO CRUZ
MCW mainstays Lor Diaz and Diego Cruz frustrated newcomers Amir Heathen and Nikita in the early stages of the match and quickly isolated Heathen from his partner in their corner. Nikita finally turned the tide with a chinbreaker and a punch that sent Diego to the outside to regroup. When he returned, the roles reversed and Diego found himself being dominated by the newcomers and confined to their corner.
Heathen used a chin lock on the mat to slow things down and forced Cruz back to the mat every time he tried to stand and break the hold. Cruz eventually used a series of elbows to create enough space to allow the hot tag to Lor Diaz. Lor quickly took over, at one point putting Nikita on Amir’s shoulders and kicking out Amir’s leg to send them both crashing to the mat. When Diego Cruz re-engaged, he assisted Lor Diaz in a sling blade variation on the Hart Attack that ended all hope for Heathen and Nikita.
WINNERS: LOR DIAZ & DIEGO CRUZ
MATCH #3
CASSIUS “CASH” CARTER vs. JTS
Newcomer, “The Thriller” JTS, captivated the crowd during his entrance with his slick dance moves and immense energy. Cassius “Cash” Carter, who had just finished berating the fans, challenged JTS to a dance off, which turned out to be a cover for a sneak attack. JTS fought hard, but was caught off guard by an eye poke from Carter with the referee’s back turned.
A confident Carter simultaneously pummeled JTS and taunted the crowd to massive boos, but a double clothesline suddenly left both men down and began to shift the momentum. JTS made it to his feet first and drilled Carter with a spinebuster that would have ended the match had Carter not grabbed the ropes with one hand at the count of two.
JTS tried to drag Carter’s lifeless body to the center of the ring to try again, but the savvy Carter was lying in wait. Carter kicked JTS’ leg out from under him, followed with a full nelson slam and made the cover for the win to the delight of Carter’s stable-mate, Tim Spriggs, at ringside who immediately jumped in the ring to help Carter celebrate.
WINNER: CASSIUS CARTER
MATCH #4
HYENA HEXX vs. JAY CHARRO
Hyena Hexx withstood an early barrage of strikes from fan favorite Jay Charro, but used an illegal throat punch to stun Charro and regain control of the match. Hexx hit a running knee with Charro on the apron, then choked Charro with the middle rope in spite of the referee’s admonitions. Hex, overwrought with confidence, made a lazy pin attempt after a backflip double knee strike and was somehow surprised when Charro kicked out and kept fighting.
As Charro rose to his feet, he took a series of Hyena Hexx elbows, but then came off the ropes with a cross body. Hexx rebounded and charged Jay in one corner, but Charro deflected with a back elbow. Hexx charged again, but Charro moved and rolled up Hexx for a two count. Charro hit a shoulder tackle and a cannonball in the corner and went for another pin, but Hexx got one foot on the ropes to break the count.
As both men made it to their feet, Hexx surprised Jay Charro with a double ear slap and a running double stomp on the mat. Now firmly in control, Hex sprung to the top rope, looked back briefly to gauge his jump, then landed a corkscrew moonsault that even his most ardent detractors in the crowd had to admire.
WINNER: HYENA HEXX
MATCH #5
BATTLE ROYAL
This unadvertised battle royal included mostly folks from elsewhere on the card including, but not limited to: Jeff Gainz, Chulo Montana, Tony Macko, Mason Walls, Hellfire McGuire, Cash Carter, Myron Malone, Khaz “The Man” Lee, Diego Cruz, Lor Diaz, Nikita, Jadis Quinn, Austin Kingsley V, Steven Fuerte, Mur Mur, Techno, and Amir Heathen.
Early in the contest, it was clear that the pre-existing teams planned to team up to better their odds of making it to the end. Team Spriggs members Carter, Malone, and Lee spent the first few minutes of the match huddled together in one corner and watched as competitors were hurled over the top rope. The Sigma Males and Black Magic also notably joined forces in the ring.
When Carter was shockingly eliminated by Mur Mur, the remaining Team Spriggs members flew into action. Malone and Lee targeted and eliminated Lor Diaz and Diego Cruz, then set their sights on Black Magic. Once Walls and Macko were eliminated, they looked around and saw only Mur Mur and Techno remaining.
Lee lifted a charging Techno up and over to the apron, and Malone followed with a basement dropkick that sent the masked man to the floor. Before they could celebrate, however, Mur Mur brought the crowd to their feet with a double clothesline that eliminated Malone and Lee to seemingly win the match. At that moment, though, Hellfire McGuire, who had apparently hopped out of the ring at some point during the match unnoticed, snuck back into the ring and easily tossed the unsuspecting Mur Mur over the top for the win.
WINNER: HELLFIRE McGUIRE
MATCH #6
ADONIS COLE vs. YKIES & RENO
2-ON-1 HANDICAP MATCH
It seems hard to believe that anyone in the crowd gave Ykies and Reno a chance against Big AC, Adonis Cole. Turns out they had good reason to be doubtful. Cole threw each man around the ring with little effort as they tried to mount some sort of team offense, but were flattened with a huge double clothesline from the big man.
Ykies fell into one corner, Reno fell into another, and Cole ran back and forth with massive splashes to Ykies, then to Reno. Cole picked Reno up next and drove him through the mat with an impressive front slam. Cole turned to a frightened Ykies and front slammed him, as well. Cole grabbed Reno’s arm, dragged his lifeless body over to Ykies’, piled them on top of one another, and put one foot on top of the pile.
WINNER: ADONIS COLE
MATCH #7
BRANDON SCOTT vs. CHULO MONTANA
Veteran Brandon Scott withstood an early challenge from Chulo Montana and took a powder following a hurricanrana, dropkick, and running elbow in one corner. When he returned, Scott used a side Russian leg sweep and a series of elbows to the back of the head to take control of the contest. Scott thwarted several comeback attempts from Montana successfully, but eventually missed a punch from the second rope which gave Montana an opening.
With newfound energy, Chulo hit a series of running forearms, followed by a hip attack and Meteora knees in one corner to set up a near fall. Scott managed to lift Montana up and set him on the second rope for some kicks and a Codebreaker, but made the mistake of climbing to the top rope as Chulo regrouped.
Montana rolled out of the way as Scott came flying off the top rope and immediately countered with a running knee strike. With the crowd behind him, Chulo Montana climbed to the top rope, but missed a frog splash. In an instant, Scott jumped up and hit a springboard cutter to end the night for Chulo Montana.
WINNER: BRANDON SCOTT
MATCH #8
THE HYPE vs. STEVEN FUERTE & AUSTIN KINGSLEY V
Tim Spriggs and Cash Carter entered ahead of their stable mates and went right for the microphone once again. Spriggs called Malone and Lee the best team in MCW, but shocked everyone by telling them that they would be kicked out of Team Spriggs were they to lose to Steven Fuerte and his Sigma in Training, Austin Kingsley V.
After some back and forth, Fuerte hit a hip toss and a drop kick, then gyrated his hips to taunt Malone. Malone fell toward the ropes and tried to pull them down on a charging Fuerte. The Sigma Male skinned the cat to the surprise of Malone. Myron charged as, this time, Fuerte pulled the ropes down and sent Malone crashing to the floor. Fuerte followed with a springboard plancha and threw Malone back into the ring.
When they returned to the ring, Kingsley tagged himself in which drew the ire of his teammate. As they argued, Malone dropkicked the two men into each other and quickly moved Kingsley into The Hype’s corner to isolate him from Fuerte. Malone hit a springboard senton, which garnered just a two count, and went out to try again. This time, Kingsley moved and followed with a spinebuster that left both men down.
Kingsley crawled to his corner first to make the tag to Fuerte who hit a series of elbows on Malone, then knocked Khaz Lee off the apron. Fuerte tagged Kingsley back in for a back breaker as Fuerte climbed to the top rope for what I hoped would be a Demolition Decapitation. Unfortunately, Lee distracted the referee long enough for Tim Spriggs to jump up onto the apron and spit his drink in Fuerte’s face. With Fuerte neutralized, Lee lifted the Sigma in Training up into a spinning torture rack and Malone dropkicked him down to the mat.
WINNERS: THE HYPE
MATCH #9
GIA SCOTT (c) vs. PORTIA
MCW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Portia seized this rare opportunity at the MCW Women’s Championship and attacked Gia Scott before the bell rang. Scott rebounded with shoulder tackles, two clotheslines and a dropkick that sent Portia to the outside. Scott followed, but Portia escaped a fireman’s carry and kicked Scott into the ring post.
Back inside the ring, Portia choked Scott on the second rope, then stood the champion upright for a standing boot choke in the corner. Portia tried to slow things down with a chin lock on the mat, but Scott managed to rally with an incredible spear that set up a dropkick and another, more devastating, spear.
Somehow, Portia managed to stay alive. She escaped another fireman’s carry, raked Scott’s back and dropped the champion with a DDT. When that garnered just a two count, a frustrated Portia shrieked loudly. As the challenger screamed to the heavens, though, the savvy champion, Gia Scott, rolled her up for the quick pin…which resulted in more screaming.
WINNER: GIA SCOTT
MATCH #10
ZAKAR SHAH & TOMMY SETO vs. BLACK MAGIC
Learning from the success of teams that came before them in the evening, Black Magic were determined to cut off the ring to control the match. Mason Walls hit a monkey flip, then tagged in Tony Macko who hit a reverse neckbreaker as Black Magic moved Zakar Shah into their corner to keep him from tagging Tommy Seto. Walls even knocked Seto off the apron before whipping Shah into the ropes. However, Walls got reversed by Shah and Seto got his revenge by holding Walls’ feet long enough for Shah to hit a basement dropkick as Walls tried to rebound off the ropes.
At this point, Shah and Seto took their turn making quick tags in their corner to keep Walls from tagging Tony Macko. Seto slowed things down with an arm bar on the mat, and managed to hold on tightly as Walls desparately reached out for the extended hand of Tony Macko. Shah tagged in and locked Walls in a nerve hold until Walls hit an elbow to the midsection and dove for his corner. Unfortunately, Seto saw it coming, raced around the outside of the ring and pulled Macko off the apron at the last second.
Soon after, Walls managed a series of punches and a back body drop, then crawled over and made the hot tag, or so it seemed. The referee apparently did not see the tag and escorted Macko back to his corner as the Trade double teamed Walls in theirs. Eventually, Walls made the tag, in plain view of the referee, and Macko cleared house with a clothesline to Seto and a corkscrew cross body to both Trade members. With all four men in the ring, though, Shah used a referee distraction to hit a low blow on Tony Macko and covered him for the easy pin just as the referee turned back around.
WINNERS: ZAKAR SHAH & TOMMY SETO
MATCH #11
JADIS QUINN vs. JEFF GAINZ
Jadis Quinn, who claims to be “your boyfriend’s favorite wrestler,” employed mind games on Jeff Gainz as this match got under way. At one point, Gainz complained to the referee that, “He’s not wrestling!” Unphased, Quinn hit a superkick followed by a running kick in the corner which sent Gainz outside the ring to confer with Simone Valentina. When Quinn followed Gainz outside, Valentina tried to block Quinn’s path but got hit with a Jadis Quinn palm strike for her trouble.
This, however, allowed Gainz to recover enough to evade Jadis Quinn whose running kick connected with ring post instead. With Quinn’s leg weakened, Gainz threw them back into the ring and used a leg lock to weaken Quinn’s limb even more. Gainz choked Quinn on the ropes until the referee forced a break, then distracted the referee long enough for Simone Valentina to do the same.
Gainz withstood a short rally from Quinn, but targeted the leg once more to to stop Quinn’s momentum. Quinn somehow broke up a figure four leg lock with a small package, but got distracted when Valentina climbed onto the apron. Quinn’s attention turned to Simone. Quinn went over and kissed Simone on the lips, but that gave Gainz the chance to sneak up and hit a lariat to break up yet another rally.
Eventually, Quinn hit a springboard spinning codebreaker, two Lou Thesz presses, and a series of kicks and knees to set up a Gory Special. Unfortunately for Quinn, all of Gainz’ work on their legs paid off. Jadis collapsed under Gainz’ weight which left him helpless to avoid a Jeff Gainz spinebuster. As Gainz climbed to the top rope, Valentina got back up on the apron to argue with the referee. This idea backfired, however, as Quinn leapt up to the top with Gainz, hit drove him hard back down to the mat, and covered Gainz for the pin.
WINNER: JADIS QUINN
MATCH #12
MIAMI MIKE WALKER & HELLFIRE McGUIRE vs. TECHNO & MUR MUR
Facing the Rage TV champion and the battle royal winner from earlier in the night was a daunting challenge for Mur Mur and Techno, one would think. They decided to get an early jump on the action by ambushing Miami Mike and Hellfire McGuire before the bell rang. Quickly, Mike and McGuire found themselves on the floor as Techno flew over the top rope with a suicide dive that flattened them both.
When the action returned to the ring, the bad guys had Mur Mur in their corner cutting off the ring. Following a whip and a double back elbow, it was McGuire who settled in with a long-held arm bar on Mur Mur. Back in their corner, Miami Mike and Hellfire McGuire kept the referee distracted so they could choke Mur Mur without repercussions.
Mur Mur tried desperately to make the tag to his partner and came close several times. Once Miami Mike got in between Mur Mur and Techno at the last second to prevent the tag. Mike charged at Mur Mur in the corner, but Mur Mur moved and dove to make the tag. Later, McGuire held on to Mur Mur’s leg to slow him just long enough for Miami Mike to run around and pull Techno off the apron to prevent the tag.
However, holding a chin lock on the mat, McGuire began to verbally spar with fans. That brief distraction allowed Mur Mur to stunned Hellfire with a back body drop and finally made the tag. Techno hit the ring with rapid offense against Mike and McGuire. He missed on a handspring cutter, but, as McGuire came in to help Mike, Techno used a hurricanrana to propel Miami Mike into Hellfire McGuire.
At this point, all four men were in the ring. Mur Mur hit an urunage to McGuire, but was thrown out by Miami Mike. Techno tried a quick roll up for the pin, but it was unsuccessful. Techno followed with an Oklahoma Roll which was also unsuccessful. However, when Miami Mike tried a back drop, Techno suddenly countered with another roll up for the three count.
WINNERS: TECHNO & MUR MUR
MATCH #13
ROBERT LOCKE (c) vs. RYAN ZUKKO (w/RONNIE ZUKKO)
MCW CHAMPIONSHIP
After MCW Champion, Robert Locke, trashed Ryan Zukko and the fans, Zukko came out to the ring and challenged Locke to make this non-title match a no disqualification match. Locke begrudgingly agreed and the fans were thankful that he did. Within seconds, Locke powdered, after a series of Zukko takedowns, and targeted Zukko’s father Ronnie at ringside.
Locke hurled Ronnie Zukko into the post, which brought Ryan out to avenge his father. Ryan crotched Locke on the guardrail and threw him back into the ring, but not before Locke accidentally struck Portia, who had to be carried to the back. Ryan was the first to grab a weapon, using three chair shots, and a Raven-style drop toe hold onto the chair, to overwhelm Locke who powdered again.
Ryan grabbed the ring bell from the timekeeper’s table and chased Locke around the ring. Zukko set up a chair outside the ring, forced Locke into it, put the ring bell on his lap and comedically rang it repeatedly as Locke screamed in pain. Zukko threw Locke back into the ring and set up a structure composed of five chairs, strategically stacked, in the center of the ring. Of course, when a wrestler sets up a contraption like that, you know that wrestler will be the one who ends up going through it.
Locke back body dropped Zukko through the chairs, then retrieved a kendo stick and a trash can. Locke broke the kendo stick almost immediately on Zukko’s back and ended up being the one throw into the trash can by Zukko moments later. Soon, both competitors were back outside and brawling up the ramp.
Just outside the curtain, Locke and Zukko battled furiously with the broken kendo stick before a fan handed Zukko another chair which he used to choke Locke. Locke managed to counter with a cutter on the platform. Zukko returned fire with a spear and grabbed a stop sign as Robert Locke headed back toward the ring.
The stop sign never really came into play as Locke reversed a Zukko Killswitch attempt into a full nelson slam. Locke set Zukko on the top rope and climbed up after him. The combatants tusseled there until Locke knocked Ryan to the mat and, at the same time, was somehow propelled from the top turnbuckle all the way to the floor.
Zukko’s father rushed over to Locke and threw the champion back in the ring to a roar of fan cheers. Ryan, who was still down from his fall to the mat, crawled slowly over to pin the champion, but managed only a two count. Zukko helped Locke to his feet to set up another Killswitch, but Locke reversed it once again into a full nelson slam, then slammed an exhausted Zukko into the turnbuckle to finally prevail. After a match like this, though, it is hard to imagine that the MCW Champion has seen the last of Ryan Zukko.
WINNER: ROBERT LOCKE
MCW Pro Wrestling’s next event takes place on April 8, 2023 at 5th Company Brewing in Perryville, Maryland. Keep an eye on the MCW Facebook page for ticket information. Also, stay tuned to MCW’s Youtube channel for these matches to appear on future episodes of their web series, Breakthrough in the very near future.
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