Date: April 29, 2023
Venue: The Watering Hole
2107 Velp Avenue
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54303
Tickets: Front Row $35.00
Second Row $20.00
Third Row $15.00
General Admission $15.00
Parking: Adjacent parking lot
Promoter: Rich Buchholtz
Merch: RPW Shirt - FREE (I WON A DRAWING!)
Ring Announcer: Devon Ashmann
Referees: Joe Coley
El Vato
Ragin' Rich
Jimmy Diamond
Social: rpwprowrestling.com/
facebook.com/RaginProWrestling
twitter.com/Raginpro
instagram.com/raginprowrestling/
youtube.com/@raginprowrestling
Stream: youtube.com/@raginprowrestling
(event matches to be uploaded soon)
_______________________________________________________________
Ragin’ Pro Wrestling is a Wisconsin promotion started in 2021 by Rich Buchholtz. Mr. Buchholtz has spent over twenty years working in the business, performing mostly as a referee in the ring, and assisting other promotions behind the scenes. In an interview with the Root for Wisconsin podcast, Buchholtz explained that he grew up in the business, and was trained formally as a referee in 2003 by his friend Mike Mercury.
Buchholtz stated that, at first, he had to reach out to bigger name talent to get them to work for his promotion. At the time of the interview with Root for Wisconsin, he stated that his goal was to get to the point that bigger name talent starts reaching out to him instead. When I met with him at the venue before this show, Buchholtz told me that now, a year later, he is starting to get those calls as RPW’s reputation continues to grow.
The Watering Hole is a sports bar and entertainment venue with beach volleyball courts that offers league play for volleyball, horseshoes, darts and billiards. The Watering Hole can also accommodate luncheons, buffets, weddings, rehearsal dinners, and fundraisers. According to their website, fundraising events held at The Watering Hole raised over one million dollars in the past five years. In 2015, they held a Polar Bear Plunge outside of the facility to raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin.
The venue has a main entrance and two side entrances. A fan attending a wrestling event at The Watering Hole will enter through the side door furthest from the road. As I found out that day, it is not hard to figure out because a line of fans starts to form outside that entrance almost two hours before the doors even open for the event. Once inside that entrance, there is a bar on your immediate left before the room opens up in a huge open area which is perfect for staging a wrestling show.
Once the fans started to pour in, the promotion set up four tables around the perimeter of the room for performers to sell their merch. There was no intermission during this show, but fans were encouraged to stay after to buy merchandise, meet and greet performers, and get autographs and photos with their favorite stars.
Ring announcer, Devon Ashmann, got the crowd warmed up before the show with the promise of not one, but two surprise announcements later in the show. The first surprise announcement was the Kiera Hogan will be appearing at RPW Destiny 3 on November 4, 2023. The second was that Hogan’s opponent at Destiny 3 will be Tessa Blanchard.
MATCH #1
PRESTON PALMER (c) vs. DAMIEN CHAMBERS vs. KYLE PRO vs. MARMAN
RPW CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE FOUR WAY SCRAMBLE MATCH
The night started off with a fifteen minute scramble for the RPW Cruiserweight Championship. The winner would be the competitor who got the most pinfalls in fifteen minutes. As soon as the bell rang, there was a flurry of quick pinfall attempts by all four competitors in various combinations for over a minute until a reset.
At one point, Palmer and Marman double teamed Damien Chambers before starting to try to one up each other with alternating moves on Chambers as the other would watch from the corner. When Palmer tried finger manipulation on Chambers, Marman took the opportunity to turn on Palmer with a reverse neck breaker. Kyle Pro snuck behind Marman and hit him with a bulldog followed by a tope suicida when Marman powdered. At the same time, Chambers tried to come off the ropes to mount some offense on Palmer, but got caught in a sneaky roll-up, giving Palmer the first pinfall of the match.
As soon as that happened, Marman returned, snuck up behind Chambers and hit a low blow. Unfortunately, it was in full view of the referee who called for a disqualification and notified Marman that his score was -1. Marman was incensed. He furiously argued with the referee about the call until Kyle Pro returned to the ring and was hit with another illegal shot from Marman. The referee’s response? -2.
Now stunned and furious, Marman paid no attention to Chambers who snuck up behind him with a schoolboy for his first pinfall of the match. Not content with just one pinfall, Chambers went right back on offense against Marman. Chambers lifted Marman up onto the top turnbuckle and climbed up with him for a superplex. Quickly, Preston Palmer joined the two men up top to assist with the superplex as Kyle Pro followed behind from below, power bombed them all to the mat, and pinned Marman for his first pinfall.
With a three way tie at the top of the standings, Chambers tried to sneak in for a quick pin, but garnered just a two count, then power bombed Marman and made another cover. Preston Palmer returned and broke up the pin attempt with a big boot, then hit a splash on Marman for another near fall. Kyle Pro followed with a spinning urunage to Marman for another near fall as the announcer alerted everyone that there was just two minutes remaining.
Palmer tried to earn a submission on Kyle Pro with an ankle lock. Somehow Kyle escaped and threw Palmer into the corner. Palmer recovered quickly and hit Pro with a power bomb, but Chambers broke up the pinfall attempt. Chambers lifted Palmer into a torture rack, but got distracted by Palmers assistant, Jimothy. Chambers power bombed Jimothy, then locked Palmer back in the torture rack and hit a modified F5 for the final pinfall, the victory, and the RPW Cruiserweight Championship.
WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION: DAMIEN CHAMBERS
MATCH #2
SHANE HILLS vs. JOHNNY C.K.
Johnny C.K. entered the ring with what, to an old guy like me, looked like may be a Pokemon-style stuffed animal. Shane Hills was unimpressed and stole the toy from Johnny as the bell rang. Johnny C.K. was furious and responded with a dropkick that sent Hills to the outside, followed by a tope suicida that got the fans excited.
Back inside the ring, Hills turned the tide with a spinning urunage before unloading several loud, hard chops and overhand strikes to Johnny C.K. Hills hit a splash in the corner for a near fall, then used his boot to choke Johnny C.K. in front of the referee. When the referee foreced a break, Hills used the ring rope to choke Johnny even more.
Johnny C.K. regrouped after a discus punch created some space and used a shoulder tackle in the corner to send Hills out onto the apron. It looked as though Hill was going to springboard back into the ring, but Johnny C.K. stopped him and reversed into a really cool neck breaker. When both men made it to their feet, Hills regained the advantage with multiple hair pulls and an eye poke.
Hills climbed to the second rope, but took too long arguing with fans. Johnny C.K. got a boot up in Hills’ face as he flew from up high, then hit a superkick, savate kick, and a basement reverse STO and climbed to the top rope for a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Hills fell into one corner and C.K. charged but missed. Hills countered with a German suplex from the corner, set Johnny C.K. on the top rope and hit a Muscle Buster for the win.
WINNER: SHANE HILLS
PROMO
JORDAN KROSS & SALEM CRANE
When the previous match ended, it was clear Shane Hills was not finished with Johnny C.K. and Shane continued to pummel him inside and outside the ring. Hills tossed C.K. through fans seats at ringside, threw him back in the ring, and grabbed a chair. Before Hills could do any more damage, Salem Crane ran-in to make the save and chased Shane Hills away.
At the same time, Jordan Kross, one half of the RPW Tag Team Champions, Punx of Future Past, came out to the ring and joined Crane. Sitting in two chairs across from one another, Kross grabbed the microphone and explained that his father and tag partner, Ryan Kross, was not able to make it to the event.
Kross reminded everyone that he still had to defend the tag titles somehow. Kross said that if his father can’t be there, it only made sense to replace him with family, and asked his cousin Salem Crane to fill in for Ryan Kross to help defend the tag team championships later in the evening against the Heroes of Our Time. Crane quickly accepted.
MATCH #3
NDS vs. COUNTRY AIR
These two evenly matched teams put on quite an offensive display for the fans in attendance. The action moved so quickly, I only hope I took notes quickly enough to do it justice. Neither team could gain a substantial advantage early and there was a long feeling out process. Riley Jackson and Zack Hendrix traded moves until Jackson locked Hendrix in an old-school abdominal stretch and slapped Hendrix’s side for emphasis. Hendrix escaped fairly quickly, hit a suplex and tagged in Doc Simmons.as Jackson tagged Levy Cruise.
Cruise missed a springboard move entering the ring and Simmons whipped him into the ropes. Cruise tried to reverse with a hip toss, but Simmons blocked and forced a reset. Simmons went for a suplex, but Jackson ran in and caught his partner in the air. Jackson tried to suplex Simmons, but Doc escaped and all four men entered the ring. NDS initiated a show of good sportsmanship and offered fist bumps to Hendrix and Simmons before Jackson turned back around with a superkick to Hendrix and evacuated the ring as quickly as possible to avoid retribution.
Cruise used a Jackson distraction to hit an ensiguri from the apron on Hendrix, but Hendrix fought back from NDS’ corner and managed to tag Doc Simmons. Simmons hit a Death Valley Driver to Levy Cruise for a two count and Cruise powdered. Simmons followed and chased Cruise around the ring until Levy slid back in. As Simmons tried to follow, Jackson pulled him off the apron. Cruise hopped over onto the apron for a running kick to Simmons as Jackson side slammed Simmons onto the apron.
When the action returned to the ring, Riley Jackson was standing on Doc Simmons’ head and Hendrix begged the referee to step in. Levy Cruise re-entered and Jackson picked him up and dropped his partner on top of Simmons. At that point, Hendrix tried to run in to save his partner, but the referee prevented him. NDS used the distraction to double team Simmons in their corner. Cruise hit a stomp to Simmons, then tagged in officially and hit a knee drop from the second rope.
Simmons managed to make the hot tag after a sudden ensiguri to Jackson. Zack Hendrix came in hot and immediately cleaned house. Simmons returned for a 619, Hendrix hit a German suplex, and Simmons used a jackknife pin for a near fall in an incredible sequence. Cruise evaded a body slam from Hendrix and pushed Zack into the ropes, knocking Simmons down as he climbed to the top turnbuckle. Jackson tagged in and hit a neck breaker. Jackson and Cruise both piled on top of Hendrix for the pin, but still could not seal the deal because Simmons had recovered and flew from the top rope to break up the pin.
With all four men in the ring, a brawl started in the center. After a flurry of alternativing offense, Hendrix hit a Northern Lights suplex to Levy Cruise as Doc Simmons drove Riley Jackson from the top rope down to the mat with a Spanish Fly. Hendrix body slammed Cruise and Simmons climbed back up to the top for a Coup de Gras-style stomp to finally put away NDS.
WINNERS: COUNTRY AIR
MATCH #4
JAYDEN MERCER vs. JOEY AVALON
“The Spectre” Jayden Mercer entered wearing a very cool, dark looking mask and presenting with a very dark mystique. However, when he took off the mask, he began holding a conversation with it as his opponent, Joey Jet Avalon, fresh off of appearances on AEW Dark and Ring of Honor TV, entered the ring. Avalon seemed as confused as the rest of us and told Mercer that the mask told him Mercer was weak, which popped me and many others.
There was a long feeling out process as the match began that lasted until Avalon came off the ropes on an Irish Whip and leveled the much smaller Mercer with a shoulder block. Avalon hit three consecutive arm drags and held an arm bar on the mat briefly. Mercer fought back to a standing position and used a throat punch out of the view of the referee to neutralize Avalon momentarily.
Mercer whipped Avalon into the ropes, but Avalon countered by dropping to his knees to stun Mercer with a punch, and followed with a reverse atomic drop and a boot to Jayden Mercer’s face. Avalon whipped Mercer into the ropes, but Mercer held on and lowered the top rope as Avalon charged, sending him to the floor. Mercer leapt up and tried to capitalize with a tope suicida, but Avalon recovered and hit Mercer with an upper cut as he tried to come through the ropes.
Avalon tried to springboard into the ring from the apron, but Mercer caught him in mid-air and reversed into a cutter. Mercer stayed on Avalon, choking him in the corner, then using a stomp to set up a reverse chin lock on the mat. Avalon tried to fight out of the hold, but Mercer used an eye rake to maintain the advantage. Mercer hit a knee drop but allowed Avalon to roll to the apron again. From there, Avalon tried for another springboard cutter from the apron and, this time, hit it. Unfortunately, Avalon took too long making the cover and Mercer kicked out at two.
Mercer regrouped, flipped through an attempted double underhook power bomb by Avalon, and came off the ropes with a spinning neck breaker, followed by two ripcord knee strikes. Mercer missed a boot off the ropes and Avalon quickly lifted Mercer up into an over the shoulder cutter and nearly earned the victory, then lifted Mercer up for a crucifix powerbomb. Mercer managed to wriggle out and countered with a running knee strike and climbed to the top rope.
Avalon made it to his feet in time, and hit the ropes to knock Mercer down, then climbed up there with Mercer. Avalon tried a package pile driver, but Mercer blocked. Mercer tried to counter with a sunset flip over Avalon, but Avalon blocked. Finally Avalon prevailed in the struggle, hitting a superplex that was immediately followed by a Falcon Arrow for a near fall.
Just as I was wondering how much more punishment these two men could stand, Avalon suddenly locked Mercer in a Coquina Clutch-style rear naked choke with body scissors that nearly put Mercer to sleep. Avalon released the hold and tried to come off the ropes with a boot, but missed. Mercer quickly hit a running knee strike and a Pele kick, but Avalon responded with a running dropkick to set up the package piledriver.
WINNER: JOEY AVALON
MATCH #5
JORDAN KROSS & SALEM CRANE (c) vs. HEROES OF OUR TIME
RPW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
With a suitable replacement tag partner in tow, Jordan Kross seemed confident as he and Salem Crane returned to the ring to defend the tag titles against Joey Marx and Mason Conrad, The Heroes of Our Time. Early in the match, after a few moments of chain wrestling and a reset, Marx and Conrad tried to complain to the referee that Jordan Kross was “greased up.”
After some more back and forth, Kross tagged Salem Crane and snap mared Marx as Crane dropped a big elbow. Crane hit several chops, then whipped Marx into the corner for back-to-back splashes and nearly picked up the victory. Kross returned and hit a big boot to Joey Marx in the corner, which prompted Marx to tell the referee he was seriously injured. As Marx slumped in the corner distracting the referee, Mason Conrad ran in and ambushed Jordan Kross.
Marx leapt up and held Kross as Mason Conrad dropped an elbow on Jordan and locked Kross in a rear chin lock. Conrad moved Kross over to the Heroes’ corner and stomped on Kross until Crane tried to run in to help his partner. Marx and Conrad used the distraction to double team Kross behind the referee’s back, then teamed up to block Kross from making a much needed tag.
Marx held a rear chin lock on the mat for a while, and Mason Conrad thwarted a rally with a reverse neck breaker to Kross as he tried to fight his way out of the hold. Finally, Kross created some space with a chin breaker and made it to his corner for the hot tag to Crane. Salem took out both men in a flurry of offense that ended with a spinning slam to Marx for a near fall. However, as the referee counted the pin, Mason Conrad ran in. Crane saw Conrad coming and threw him out of the ring, but Joey Marx snuck up behind Crane, wrapped him up, and put both legs on the middle rope for leverage as new tag team champions were crowned.
WINNERS AND NEW CHAMPIONS: HEROES OF OUR TIME
MATCH #6
SILAS YOUNG vs. ROHIT RAJU
Over the past few years, I have had the good fortune of seeing Silas Young compete live several times, the most recent of which was UEW Cataclysm in Virginia last year. However, I had never seen Rohit Raju. This was a great first time, though, as this match turned out to be a war. Raju was accompanied to the ring by Karam who would face Fulton later in the evening, but not before he made his presence felt in this match.
The Last Real Man got to Rohit Raju early when he ended a flurry with a monkey flip that sent Raju to the outside. With the referee counting, Raju refused to return to the ring until the very last second. After a test of strength, Young hit two nasty chops in the center, then pushed Raju into each of the four corners for a chop in each one. Young used an Oklahoma Roll to get a near fall, then clotheslined Raju over the top rope.
Young immediately thought to go for a tope suicida, but Karam blocked Young’s path. When Young put on the brakes, Raju jumped to his feet and pulled Young outside the ring by his legs. Raju started arguing with the referee as Karam illegally attacked Young behind the referee’s back, slammed him on the apron, and rolled Young back into the ring.
I know this reference will date me, but Karam sounded like Ed McMahon on the outside, as he laughed maniacally and exclaimed “YES!” with each move executed by Rohit Raju. Raju hit a suplex, choked Young with the ropes, and distracted the referee yet again as Karam choked Young some more.
Raju slowed things down with a rear chin lock, then whipped Young into the corner as he rose to his feet. Young leapt to the second rope instead and Raju jumped up with him. After a struggle, Young prevailed with a superplex that left both men down on the mat. Young was first up with two clottheslines, a running punch, and a power slam off the ropes for a near fall.
Both men rose slowly and began an exchange of forearms that turned into an exchange of chops and then an exchange of punches until it was basically a brawl. Raju broke first and tried to come off the ropes, but Young caught him with a back breaker and a clothesline. Raju managed to escape a fireman’s carry, but not the second rope boot from Young.
Rohit powdered, but Young followed with a tope and threw Raju back inside the ring. Young lifted Raju into another fireman’s carry and, again, Raju escaped. Raju shoved Young in the direction of the referee. Young managed to stop himself before making contact, but he was still distracted enough for Raju to sneak up behind and roll up Young for the victory.
WINNER: ROHIT RAJU
MATCH #7
VIC CAPRI & ETHAN MATTHEWS vs. MISSA KATE & JOE ALONZO
My referral for this event went to Missa Kate who I had been eager to see perform live since I saw her do an amazing Canadian Destroyer off the ramp to some guy at a Freelance show last year. This was scheduled to be a mixed tag match, but Vic Capri’s original partner, Sierra, ended up appearing on an NWA Powerrr taping the same night. In her place, Ethan Matthews stepped in to be Vic Capri’s partner.
Early on, Missa Kate smugly begged Ethan Matthews to hit her and, as Matthews understandably paused with uncertainty, punched Matthews in the face instead. Matthews recovered and tossed Missa Kate outside the ring, as he and Capri double teamed Joe Alonzo with a double hip toss and successive slams from Capri and Matthews.
Alonzo crawled to the corner for help and Missa Kate confidently assured Alonzo that she could handle Capri and Matthews. Kate ran in and Matthews lifted her up into a slam. Missa Kate escaped and chided Matthews for even attempting slam her, then turned around and found that Vic Capri had no qualms about slamming her. This sent Missa Kate furiously crawling back to her corner for Alonzo’s assistance.
As Matthews and Capri conferred, Alonzo tried to surprise them with a move off the top rope. However, they caught Alonzo before he could. Matthews grabbed an arm bar on the mat and tagged in Vic Capri. Alonzo tried to reach for the tag to Missa Kate, but she jumped off the apron and told Alonzo the situation was his problem to deal with alone.
It was all a ruse, though, because as Ethan Matthews tried to come off the ropes, Missa Kate grabbed his foot from the floor. Alonzo distracted the referee as Missa Kate pulled Matthews outside and attacked him. Alonzo slapped Matthews across the face as Missa Kate climbed back up to the apron. Alonzo whipped Matthews into their corner and into the knee of Missa Kate. Alonzo baited Vic Capri and, when he tried to enter, helped Missa Kate double team Ethan Matthews. Missa Kate unleashed a barrage of stomps to Ethan Matthews and tagged Alonzo who did the same.
Alonza and Missa Kate hit a double suplex and Alonzo climbed to the top rope. Instead of some devastating maneuver, Alonzo jumped from the top rope, landed on his feet, and softly slapped Matthews in the face. Once again, Alonzo baited Vic Capri to allow for yet another double team. When Matthews tried to fight back, Joe Alonzo yanked him back to the mat by his hair.
Missa Kate tagged back in and, once again, begged Matthews to hit her. When he paused, Kate tried a sneaky boot to the midsection, but, this time, Matthews caught the boot, wound up, and clocked her which brought the fans to their feet. Soon after, all four competitors were in the ring. Capri missed a Sliced Bread, but recovered, tried again and hit it as Eddie Matthews kept Missa Kate tied up in a Tarantula at the opposite end of the ring.
Capri hit a ripcord knee, but Joe Alonzo responded with a rolling cutter for a near fall. Missa Kate tried to pass her championship belt to Alonzo for use on Vic Capri. Just as Alonzo started to attack, Ethan Matthews came up from behind and snatched the strap away from Alonzo momentarily, but Missa Kate picked up the discarded belt, waited until Alonzo sent Vic Capri into the ropes, and clocked him in the head with it.
WINNER: MISSA KATE & JOE ALONZO
MATCH #8
FULTON vs. KARAM
After an early lockup and reset, Fulton offered a handshake in the interests of sportsmanship. Karam poked Fulton in the eye, instead, and hit a bunch of stomps and chops in one corner. Fulton countered with a shoulder tackle off the ropes followed by so many chops that Karam fell face forward to the mat like he was Ric Flair.
After a long-held suplex from Fulton, Karam headed outside the ring to regroup and confer with Rohit Raju. However, Fulton followed and a brawl started that spread into the seats. When the action finally returned to the ring, Karam used a hair pull to facilitate some chops to Fulton’s chest, then threw him back outside and rammed him into the ring post.
Karam threw Fulton back into the ring, draped his neck over the middle rope and stood on Fulton’s back, choking him until the referee forced a break. Fulton tried to fight back and climbed to the top rope, but Karam caught him, slammed him down to the mat, and locked Fulton in a rear chin lock for a long time. Eventually, the referee lifted Fulton’s arm three times to see if he was still conscious. Fulton barely escaped a loss when his arm stopped halfway the third time.
With renewed energy, Fulton followed with a knee to the face and a Codebreaker, then climbed to the top rope. Fulton missed from the top rope and both men clotheslined the other at the same time leaving both men down again, this time for nearly a full ten count. It was Fulton in charge when each man made it back to their feet. He hit a belly-to-belly from the corner, a splash, a foreward fireman’s carry driver, and a top rope elbow for a near fall.
Fulton continued the onslaught with a tombstone piledriver, which brought Rohit Raju up to the apron. As Fulton tried to pull Rohit into the ring, Karam rolled him up for a near fall. Fulton responded with a big boot to Karam, then chased Raju back outside and around the ring. When Fulton ended the chase, he slid back into the ring and right into the path of a Karam lariat. When that failed to earn Karam the victory, Rohit Raju threw a chair into the ring for Karam. The referee took the chair away before Karam could use it. So, Karam approached Fulton without the chair and suddenly found himself being driven to the mat with a choke slam.
WINNERS: FULTON
MATCH #9
HEATHER RECKLESS (c) vs. BROOKE TANNER
RPW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
The RPW Women’s Champion, Heather Reckless faced a tough challenge from Brooke Tanner and went on the offensive early. She hit a shoulder tackle and a stomp off the ropes to set up a near fall. Not to be outdone, Tanner kicked out, hit successive arm drags, a splash and an ensiguri in the corner and a shotgun dropkick for a near fall of her own.
Reckless fell into one corner and lifted Tanner up and over onto the apron when she charged. Soon, both women climbed up to the top rope and took turns pushing each other down. Reckless ended up tossing Tanner outside the ring and followed her into the crowd. Reckless set Tanner on a chair and unleashed a series of punches, then dragged Tanner around ringside before throwing her back into the ring.
When Heather returned to the ring, Brooke came off the ropes and right into a hip toss. Tanner fell back into the corner where Reckless followed with a running boot, a front handspring before another boot, then slowed things down with a rear choke on the mat. Eventually, Reckless released the hold and charged Tanner in one corner. Brooke reversed into a hip toss, a roundhouse kick, and a facebuster for a near fall.
When the champion returned to her feet, Tanner tried a spin kick but missed. Heather Reckless attacked the leg of the challenger, at one point slamming her knee into the mat, to weaken Tanner for the ankle lock. Once Reckless locked it in, there was no escape for Brooke Tanner.
WINNER: HEATHER RECKLESS
MATCH #10
XAVIER WALKER (c) vs. JAKE SOMETHING
RPW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
After three hours of non-stop action, it was finally time for the main event match for the RPW Heavyweight Championship. The incumbent champion, Xavier Walker entered the venue exuding confidence, but that quickly dissipated after two hard shoulder blocks from challenger Jake Something. Walker powdered briefly and took his time getting back into the ring. Once he did, Jake hit another shoulder block, a hip toss and a body slam for a near fall.
Walker managed to turn the tide with a knee to the stomach off of an Irish Whip, then punished Jake Something by snapping his neck in the ropes. Jake Something managed to knock Xavier out of the ring and tried to capitalize with a tope suicida, but Walker caught him and snapped his neck on the ropes again.
Back inside the ring, Walker held a rear chin lock for a while and used a low kick and an axe handle to thwart a Jake Something rally. Jake made it to his feet eventually and the two men each tried to lift each other up into a suplex as their opponent did their best to block it. Jake Something ultimately won the contest, but the suplex left both men down.
When the two men returned to their feet, Jake Something went for a body slam, but the champion escaped the hold and pushed the challenger in the direction of the referee. As Jake Something tried to avoid hitting the official, Walker clipped him from behind, rammed his knee into the mat and trapped him in a figure four leg lock. Jake Something rolled over to break the hold and reached the ropes at the same time. Walker quickly released and continued to attack the knee with kicks as Jake Something tried to stand up.
The challenger withstood the attack on his knee and mustered enough strength to flip through a back drop and hit a clothesline that, again, left both men down. This time, however, Jake Something rose first and mounted a rally with a punches and palm strikes in one corner, followed by a splash, short arm clothesline, and a shoulder tackle in the corner for a near fall.
The challenger lifted Walker up for a power bomb, but the champion escaped. Walker charged, but Jake Something lifted him up into a crucifix power bomb. When that garnered just a two count, Jake Something went for another crucifix power bomb. This time, Walker wriggled out and countered with an attempted choke slam. Jake Something punched his way out of that hold, but Walker hit him with the DDT instead.
Somehow, that still did not end the match. so Walker tried another choke slam and connected. This had to be it, right? Nope. Jake Something kicked out yet again. Frustrated, Walker went outside and grabbed a chair. The referee took the chair away before Walker could use it. However, when the referee turned to place the chair outside the ring, Walker grabbed the title belt and clocked the challenger with it. Again, Jake Something kicked out at two.
Walker grabbed some type of foreign object from outside the ring, but the referee caught him before he could use it. Furious, Walker pushed the referee and took his eye off of the challenger. Jake Something who charged with a shoulder block in one corner. Walker withstood that and managed to connect with a low blow kick. Walker must not have gotten all of it, though. I looked down for a moment, then looked back up and saw Jake Something roll up Xavier Walker for the three count to win the RPW Championship.
RPW allowed me the honor of presenting the new champion with the RPW Heavyweight Championship after the much. This turned out to be more difficult than I expected, as the former champion, Xavier Walker, tried to grab the belt from my hands as he continued to protest Jake Something’s victory to the referee. Finally, order was restored, I was able to present the belt to the new champion and raised his hand in victory. Congratulations to the new RPW Heavyweight Champion, Jake Something.
WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION: JAKE SOMETHING
This event went three and a half hours with no intermission. It was non-stop action and excitement for 210 consecutive minutes and I could have gone another 210 when this show ended. The cool thing about this, and from what I have seen all, RPW shows, is that the promotion gives each and every match the time it needs. All ten contests had enough time to tell a story and get the fans involved. No match was cut short, from what I could tell, and nearly every match could have been a main event for other promotions.
Not to mention the fact that RPW brought in a lot of bigger name talent and will continue to do so in the future, creating a perfect mix of local, up and coming performers with more established superstars that the fans know by name already. I mean, come on. Tessa Blanchard vs. Kiera Hogan in November? I might have to come back out for that match alone.
Finally, I love traveling for shows, but this trip was special. It took several attempts to get out to Wisconsin for an RPW show over the past year, but I am thrilled to have been able to make it happen and attend this show, in particular. I want to take this opportunity to thank Rich Buchholtz and everyone I met at RPW over the weekend for their courtesy, hospitality, and willingness to let some blogger from the east coast come get a glimpse into how they make the magic happen. Thank you, RPW.
The Indy Wrestling Experience 