World Domination Wrestling Alliance, Voltage Wrestling, and Pay Your Dues Pro Wrestling joined forces to present, “Tri-State Wrestival” from the Ranson Civic Center in Ranson, West Virginia on May 18, 2024. Here’s what happened:
TEN BELL SALUTE FOR
BRANDON HOLMAN (DICK DYNAMO)
Before the show began, all three promoters came out to the ring and addressed the crowd. After welcoming everyone and previewing the show, the promoters called for a ten-bell salute in honor of Brandon Holman, better known to wrestling fans as Dick Dynamo. Holman was a mainstay in many local promotions, including MCW Pro Wrestling. He died tragically on May 6, 2024, sending shockwaves through the wrestling community.
MATCH #1
THE HYPE vs. G-FED & RONNIE ZUKKO (c)
PAY YOUR DUES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Hype were not going to waste this rematch against G-Fed and Ronnie Zukko for the Pay Your Dues Tag Team Championships. Myron Malone and Khaz Lee attacked the champs before the bell. With all four men in the ring, G-Fed and Zukko attempted to whip Malone and Lee into each other, but got reversed with a Do-Si-Do and a pair of forearm strikes that sent the champs outside the ring to regroup.
The challengers followed and a brawl ensued that ended up going down the ramp almost to back to the dressing room. When the action finally returned to the ring, it was Khaz Lee with the momentum against Ronnie Zukko until G-Fed ran in to assist his partner. Lee saw G-Fed coming and tossed him out to the floor, then tagged Malone.
Malone entered with a slingshot splash from the apron for a near fall. Zukko slumped into one corner and Malone connected with a standing splash, and then another. Malone attempted a third splash, but Zukko moved. However, Malone responded with a cross body to Ronnie and tagged Lee back into the match.
Lee lifted his partner up into a suplex, then dropped him onto Zukko for an assisted splash. As Malone cleared the ring, though, Zukko nailed Lee with a knee to the mid-section and tagged out. Determined to keep the challengers at bay, G-Fed immediately began choking Lee on the middle rope. When the referee confronted G-Fed about it, Ronnie Zukko used the distraction to choke Lee on the middle rope some more.
G-Fed and Zukko continued to cut off the ring and control the match with double teams and quick tags, until Zukko missed on an elbow drop, which allowed Khaz Lee to make the much-needed tag. Myron Malone hit the ring like a ball of fire, quickly hitting a spinebuster to Zukko, followed by a dropkick that sent Ronnie to the outside.
Khaz Lee ran in and hit a basement drop kick on both Zukko on G-Fed as they stood near the apron, then hung on the top rope as Malone flew over with a suicide dive onto both men. Lee and Zukko returned to the ring first, with Lee hitting a Swanton Bomb on Zukko.
G-Fed tried to run in with the tag belts to strike Lee, but missed as Lee ducked. From there, The Hype hit a neck breaker/back drop combo move to set up their finisher. From opposite corners, Lee and Malone exclaimed, “The Hype is real!” They charged forward with simultaneous knee strike and boot to the face, made the cover, and took home the titles.
WINNERS AND NEW CHAMPIONS: THE HYPE
MATCH #2
“CAKE BOSS” VICTOR JONES vs. AUSTIN KINGSLEY V
After an exciting opening contest, the crowd was ready for the first singles match of the evening. Austin Kingsley V entered, flanked by his Supremacy stablemates, Steven Fuerte and Zakar Shah. Fuerte brought a birthday cake to the ring, and announced that it was in celebration of Kingsley’s birthday.
Victor Jones was all alone during his entrance, and may have felt that was a mistake when, before the bell, Fuerte, Shah and Kingsley all stood on the apron, seemingly ready to jump the “Cake Boss.” It turned out to be a distraction to allow Kingsley to ambush Jones and it worked. Kingsley immediately choked Jones on the ropes, then distracted the referee so Shah and Fuerte could do the same from the outside.
Jones fought back briefly, but got hit with a boot to the face from Kingsley for a near fall. In the corner, Kingsley continued with the boots until the referee forced a break. With Jones down, Kingsley strolled over to Fuerte and scooped some icing off of the cake with his pinky.
Jones used that brief interlude to regroup and attacked with a series of shots to Kingsley, followed by a spinning side slam that left both men down. Kingsley slumped into one corner and Jones charged from the opposite corner with a hip attack.
At that moment, Shah distracted the referee while Fuerte distracted Jones. Kingsley waited for the right moment to pounce and charged at Jones. Jones moved and Kingsley barely put on the brakes in time to avoid hitting Fuerte. However, Jones snuck up from behind, rolled Kingsley up, and took home the win.
After the match, Shah and Fuerte confronted Jones. Kingsley snuck up behind Jones and it looked like trouble for the “Cake Boss.” However, when Fuerte tried to hit Jones in the face with the birthday cake, Jones ducked and Kingsley got hit instead.
WINNER: “CAKE BOSS” VICTOR JONES
MATCH #3
POKE-MO vs. NICE & SMOOTH
VOLTAGE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Dani Mo and Cowpoke Paul, calling themselves Poke-Mo, were clearly the fan favorites as they challenged Tom Mitchell and Trace Parker for the Voltage Tag Team Championships. Cowpoke Paul and Trace Parker started the match with some impressive chain wrestling, which led to multiple resets.
After yet another lock up, Paul broke free and smacked Parker on the butt. Angered, Parker lifted Paul up for a back drop. Paul landed on his feet and hit a dropkick that sent Parker to the corner to tag in Mitchell. At this point all four competitors were in the ring.
Poke-Mo took charge first, wrapped Mitchell and Parker up like pretzels in the center of the ring, smacked each of their butts at the same time, then rode Mitchell and Parker like horsies around the ring. Infuriated, Mitchell threw Dani Mo out of the ring to set up a double team on Cowpoke Paul.
Nice and Smooth moved Paul over into their corner and made quick tags in and out to cut off the ring. At one point, Parker jumped on Mitchell’s back for what looked like a piggy back ride. Instead, Mitchell turned around backwards and splashed Paul with the weight of both men.
Later, Parker would body slam Paul, then stand tall as Tom Mitchell leap frogged his partner for a leg drop on the Cowpoke. Mitchell lifted Paul onto the top rope and climbed up to join him. However, Paul knocked Mitchell down, then hit a bulldog from the second rope that left both men down.
Moments later, Paul made the hot tag to Dani Mo who unloaded with rapid kicks to Parker, capped off by a cartwheel knee strike to Parker’s face for a near fall. Mo sent Parker to the outside with a running kick. Mitchell returned, only to be hit with a series of chops from Dani Mo.
Cowpoke Paul returned and hit a Tornado DDT with assistance from Dani Mo that nearly ended the match. Dani Mo held Parker for a double team and Cowpoke Paul charged. Cowpoke Paul hit Dani Mo when Parker ducked, then turned back around right into Nice and Smooth’s finisher.
WINNERS: NICE & SMOOTH
MATCH #4
JAMES STORM & FACADE vs. MIS-USED vs. BIG MONEY, INC.
TRIPLE THREAT TAG TEAM MATCH
Instead of facing off for the Voltage Championship, Facade and “Cowboy” James Storm teamed up and joined the already scheduled tag match between Mis-Used and Big Money, Inc., making it a triple threat. Storm and Facade stood on the apron calling Shaun Cannon and Jimmy Starz chickens. Cannon ended up starting the match against Aubrey Wright of Big Money, Inc. and, in the process, proved them right.
After Wright hit an arm drag, a hip toss, and another arm drag in rapid succession, Cannon demanded Wright tag out to James Storm. As soon as Storm entered and went to lock up, Cannon left the ring completely and convinced Jimmy Starz to take a crack at Storm instead. Of course, when Storm went to lock up, Jimmy Starz slid out of the ring, too.
Starz eventually returned, but still did not want to lock up with Storm. Instead, Starz waited for Storm to turn to face the crowd, attacked the cowboy from behind, then asked, “James who?” Naturally, Storm responded. He knocked Shaun Cannon off of the apron, then hit a sling blade to Jimmy Starz.
Storm tagged Facade, who assisted with a double back elbow, then connected with a springboard back kick to the face of Jimmy Starz. After a near fall, Facade tagged Ivan Ali of Big Money, Inc. into the match. Ali hit a leg drop for a near fall, then brought Aubrey Wright in for a nasty headbutt.
Wright turned to knock Shaun Cannon off of the apron again and was attacked from behind by Jimmy Starz. From there, Mis-Used cut off the ring and kept Wright in their corner with quick tags and double teams until Cannon hit a rolling neck breaker for a near fall, then a drop kick to Wright’s back for another.
After another basement drop kick from Cannon, Wright would reverse an Irish Whip with a cross-body that left both men down. Wright was up first and tagged Ivan Ali who cleared the ring of all who would enter. Ali sent Starz to the outside with a clothesline, then hit a sidewalk slam on James Storm. Facade ran in with a drop kick to Ali’s back, but Ali totally no-sold the move and flung the Neon Ninja into the turnbuckle with ease.
Ali charged Facade in the corner, but Facade moved, leapt to the second rope and hit another springboard back kick that sent Ali out to ringside with Cannon, Starz, and Wright. Facade ran from the opposite corner, jumped to the top turnbuckle and leveled the pack with a somersault dive.
Facade climbed back to the top rope, but Starz climbed onto the apron and knocked him off so he was crotched on the ropes. Starz entered the ring, but Ali and Wright caught him and hit the Magic Killer. This should have ended the match, but Shaun Cannon pulled the referee out of the ring at the count of two. By this time, Facade had recovered. He got back up to the top turnbuckle, walked along the top rope, and hit a shotgun drop kick to Ali to pick up the win.
WINNER: FACADE & JAMES STORM
MATCH #5
ANDINO vs. COOPER HOUSLEY
BRASS KNUCKLES ON A POLE MATCH
After intermission, it was time for the Brass Knuckles on a Pole match. The ring announcer outlined the rules for the match, which state that no pinfalls or submissions would count until one person successfully retrieved the brass knuckles from the pole. Additionally, the brass knuckles were to be the only weapon allowed in the match.
Literally the moment the bell rang, Andino bolted for the pole and Housely stopped him. Moments later, Andino sprinted for the pole once more and was caught. Housely backed Andino into the corner opposite the pole and unloaded with a series of chops and overhand palm strikes. The moment Andino got himself free from the corner, he went for the pole again.
The action returned to the opposite corner where Housely hit a couple more chops, then Andino returned fire with some of his own. Housely tried to come off the ropes with a shoulder tackle, but Andino would not budge. Housely made a second attempt and, this time, knocked Andino down to the mat.
Andino rolled outside the ring to regroup, but Housely followed and continued to pummel Andino with chops and overhand palm strikes. When Housely turned around, though, Andino attacked, hit a basement clothesline on the floor, and threw Cooper back into the ring.
Andino used finger manipulation to keep Housely subdued, then made another dash for the pole. Housely reached Andino, just before Andino reached the brass knuckles, and slammed Andino back to the mat. Andino slumped into one corner and Housely charged. Andino moved and ended up on the apron, then used a slingshot move to leap over Housely and back into the ring. Both men came off the ropes with simultaneous sling blades, leaving them both down on the mat.
This time, Cooper Housely was up first and made a dash for the pole. Andino knocked the referee into the ropes to destabilize Housely, then power bombed him down to the mat and climbed the pole himself. Finally, Andino retrieved the brass knuckles and punched Housely in the stomach with them.
Andino swung the knuckles a second time, but Housely ducked and countered with a boot to the midsection to set up a DDT. Andino dropped the brass knuckles during that exchange. Housely picked up the knucks, knocked Andino out with one punch, and made the cover for the win.
WINNER: COOPER HOUSELY
MATCH #6
“SELF BUILT” MASON WALLS vs. DREW HOOD
PAY YOUR DUES AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Before this match got started, special guest Buff Bagwell came out to address the crowd. He was interrupted and confronted by a confident Drew Hood, who laughed at Bagwell’s twenty-two months of sobriety, and explained that Drew Hood is now the ideal American Male. Mason Walls interrupted that exchange and, before the match started, asked if Bagwell could be trusted. Bagwell promised he was a changed man.
After all of his confidence, Drew Hood did not want to engage with Mason Walls at first. The first flurry of offense saw Walls duck two clotheslines and send Hood outside the ring with an arm drag. On the floor, Hood continued to verbally assault Bagwell. At the same time, Mason Walls flew through the ropes with a tope suicida, then another, and threw Hood back into the ring.
Walls stood over Hood in the corner, landing punches as the fans counted along, until Hood escaped, hit a shoulder tackle and followed with a running boot in the corner for a near fall. Hood choked Walls on the ropes until the referee forced a break, at which point Walls began to fight back with a series of shots and a standing drop kick.
Walls charged Drew in the corner, but Hood moved and countered with a knee to the face and a back suplex. When that garnered just a two count, Hood slowed things down with a rear chin lock on the mat. When Walls tried to fight his way out, Hood yanked him down to the mat by his hair and climbed to the second rope.
Hood’s attempted senton missed when Walls moved. Re-energized, Walls jumped up and hit a back elbow, followed by a reverse atomic drop and a flying neck breaker. Hood responded with a knee to the mid-section, but missed when he charged Walls in the corner. Walls countered with an ensiguri and another neck breaker.
As the referee checked on Hood in the corner, Walls looked to come off the ropes with another attack. However, Buff Bagwell proved he could not be trusted, after all. Bagwell grabbed Walls’ foot to trip him, then Hood hit an Impailer DDT to get the victory and become the inaugural Pay Your Dues Pro Wrestling American Champion. As you can see from the photo at the top of this post, Bagwell and Hood laughed all the way to the back.
WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION: DREW HOOD
MATCH #7
ZAKAR SHAH (c) vs. RAYO
WDWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
This championship match started with a feeling out process as neither side was able to gain any meaningful advantage. Shah connected with a running elbow strike off of a whip for a near fall, then slowed things down to maintain that control. Soon, though, the challenger, Rayo, reversed an Irish Whip with a hurricanrana and followed with a shotgun drop kick.
Rayo charged the corner, but Shah got a boot up in Rayo’s face. Shah leapt to the second rope, but missed Rayo on his way down. Shah appeared to land funny and injure his knee, prompting the referee and Shah’s Supremacy stablemate, Austin Kingsley V, to check on Shah.
When Kingsley started to assist Shah back to the locker room, Rayo followed them for an ambush. However, Shah had been planning this all along. He waited for Rayo to approach and slammed his head into the ring post. Shah threw Rayo back into the ring and hit a running boot, but could not get the pinfall.
Shah choked Rayo on the middle rope, then distracted the referee so Austin Kingsley could do the same. Shah went for a double underhook, but Rayo escaped and went for the same thing. Shah drove Rayo backward into the corner, then followed with a basement clothesline.
Shah locked Rayo in a camel clutch in the center of the ring for a while, but Rayo eventually wriggled out. The challenger looked for the cazadora, but Shah reversed and threw Rayo neck-first into the ropes. Shah lifted Rayo up for a suplex, but Rayo escaped and hit a double underhook slam that left both men down on the mat.
At that point, Kingsley tried to pass Shah the WDWA title belt to use as a weapon, but the referee caught them and sent Kingsley back to the dressing room. In the chaos, Rayo snuck up for a crucifix pin attempt, then hit a second rope shotgun dropkick that left both men down once more.
Rayo was up first with a flurry of offense that ended with a cazadora converted into a modified bulldog. Rayo climbed to the top rope and hit a flying cross-body that, again, left both men down. Rayo and Shah exchanged shots on their knees, then their feet, until Rayo connected with a running knee to the face and climbed back to the top rope.
Just then, Shah’s other stablemate, Steven Fuerte, came down to ringside and distracted the referee. Rayo, who had rolled up Shah for a pinfall, approached the distracted referee to find out what was going on. Shah used the distraction to attack from behind, but Rayo moved and Shah knocked Fuerte off of the apron.
Rayo rolled Shah up for a near fall and went for another cross-body. Shah rolled through and reversed into a front slam, then climbed to the top rope. Shah went for the splash, but missed. Rayo hit a discus knee strike, made the cover, and got the three count to become new champion…or so it seemed.
After some discussion, the referee announced that Rayo, who laid on top of Shah on his back, had let his shoulders get under Shah’s, resulting in Rayo being pinned, not Shah. As the bad guys celebrated, Rayo hit the returning Austin Kingsley in the back with a shotgun drop kick to get his pound of flesh.
WINNER: ZAKAR SHAH
MATCH #8
HOSS HAGOOD (c) vs. BIG A.C.
PAY YOUR DUES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP RANSON STREET FIGHT
Former Pay Your Dues Champion, Big A.C. entered the venue looking for revenge. As he made his way to the ring, flanked by Big Rog, A.C. took the microphone and sent a message to current champion, Hoss Hagood, that he planned to break his back and leave him with brain damage.
A.C. turned to Commissioner Tano and said that he had defeated five men already when Tano allowed Hagood to sneak in and steal his title. Tano responded that there would be no excuses this time, as the match would a Ranson Street Fight with no disqualifications and no count-outs.
Before the match could really get going, Hoss Hagood clocked Big Rob with the cowbell as Big A.C. escaped the ring altogether. When Hagood approached the edge of the ring, A.C. pulled him outside and a brawl ensued. The fighting extended through the crowd, with both men knocking over chairs and sending fans fleeing from their seats.
Hagood managed to tie A.C. in the ropes and hit some hard chops, but A.C. responded with chin breaker on the floor and a short-arm clothesline. A.C. looked to bodyslam big Hoss, but Hoss blocked it and the action sprawled through the crowd once more. A.C. whipped Hagood into a section of empty chairs, then grabbed one and nailed Hagood in the back with it repeatedly.
When the action finally returned to the ring, Big A.C. used a low blow to set up a front slam that nearly ended the match. A.C. climbed to the second rope for a modified Bonzai Drop, but Hagood had enough presence of mind to move at the last second.
The champion had new momentum as he rose to his feet and hit several shots to A.C.’s head. Hagood did a little dance and hit the Dusty Elbow on the challenger, followed by a stunner, which brought the crowd to their feet.
Big Rog jumped up on the apron and grabbed Hagood. A.C. charged, Hagood moved, and A.C. knocked his partner off of the apron instead. Hagood came up from behind, hit a low blow, and followed with another Dusty Elbow. From there, Hagood lifted A.C. up and slammed the giant down to the mat to get the hard-fought victory and send the fans home happy.
WINNER: HOSS HAGOOD
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