Around the ring: Ospreay beats Cage at Warrior; CSW, POWW
(thumbnail photo above courtesy Nick Consalvo/cameraguygimmick)
By Mike Pankow
January 26, 2022
Warrior Wrestling delivered again in its debut outside the Chicago area as the main event of Will Ospreay and Brian Cage received rave reviews.
Brian Cage, left, and Warrior Wrestling Champion Will Ospreay go toe-to-toe in the main event of Warrior Wrestling 18 at Bendix Arena In South Bend, Ind. on Saturday, Jan. 22. (Photo by Nick Consalvo/cameraguygimmick)
Ospreay retained his Warrior Wrestling Champion by defeating Brian Cage after a hard-hitting affair at Warrior 18 at Bendix Arena last Saturday night in South Bend, Ind., approximately 90 minutes from the promotion’s home base of Chicago Heights.
The two titans exchanged some physicality and demonstrated agility to the delight of the mostly-packed venue, bringing some great pro wrestling back to South Bend after the area hadn’t seen a big promotion come through on a regular basis in decades. IMPACT Wrestling ran a show in the area on Bound For Glory weekend in Oct. 2019.
After the match, Ospreay gave props to Cage via the ringside mic before Warrior Wrestling Medallion holder KC Navarro confronted Ospreay to let him know he was watching him. There was no cash-in, however.
The other highlights of the show included the semi-main event of Dante Martin and Skye Blue against Chicago favorites Isaias Velazquez and Kylie Rae and Sam Adonis winning the Warrior Wrestling Lucha Championship in a five-man scramble.
Kylie Rae holds Skye Blue in a headlock during their mixed tag team match at Warrior Wrestling 18. Skye Blue and Dante Martin rallied to win over Kylie and Isaias Velazquez. (Photo by Nick Consalvo/cameraguygimmick)
Martin and Blue, one signed to AEW and the other competing there on a regular basis, came out victorious in an entertaining and athletic contest. Both wrestlers have risen to amazing heights, considering both are just in their early 20s.
It appeared Velazquez and Kylie Rae were on the verge of victory when Kylie hit a senton splash on Skye with a backpack strapped to her back. However, Skye gained the leverage on an unsuspecting Kylie and secured the pin.
Adonis, who has wrestled the most matches in Warrior history, won his first championship with the company after outlasting defending titleholder Aramis, Chicago veteran Gringo Loco, ASF and Drago Kid. In a match that featured some ridiculous high-flying, Adonis hit the 450 Splash on Aramis, who was trying to pin ASF, and recorded a 3-count on Aramis for the title change.
Sam Adonis celebrates his Warrior Wrestling Lucha Championship victory at Warrior Wrestling 18. (Photo by Nick Consalvo/cameraguygimmick)
In other action, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Anthony Henry via TKO when Henry couldn’t answer the 10-count in the ring. Rising Midwest independent star WARHORSE defeated former IMPACT Wrestling X Division Champion and ex-AAW Heritage Champion Rohit Raju (aka Hakim Zane) via submission.
Longtime ROH standout “The Last Real Man” Silas Young defeated Davey Bang in the opening match. Bang, the Freelance Wrestling Academy, was subbing for Brian Pillman Jr., who couldn’t compete due to a concussion. In a hotly-contested match, Navarro squeaked past AAW Pro regular Myron Reed.
In a battle of behemoths, Mil Muertes get the best of Beast Man, who debuted a darker, edgier entrance gear. Beast Man appeared to be in control on numerous occasions, throwing his near 400 pounds around, including taking a ringside security member with a splash outside the ring.
Frank the Clown appeared on the show via a video message, wearing a Rams jacket, restating his right to a future Warrior Wrestling Championship opportunity. He was seen at the Rams-Buccaneers playoff game next day in Tampa, Fla.
Warrior Wrestling returns to the Chicago area for its debut show at Cicero Stadium in Cicero on Saturday, Feb. 12. Announced talent include Cage, Navarro, Warrior Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa, Skye Blue, Dante Martin, Bandido, Blake Christian and the return of Alex Zayne, plus the debuts of The Briscoe Brothers, AEW’s The Acclaimed, Veda Scott and former WWE Superstar Lince Dorado, who will challenge Adonis for the Warrior Lucha Championship.
Joey “Jet” Avalon (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Avalon retains, new tag champs at CSW: In his first title defense, Green Bay native Joey “Jet” Avalon successfully retained the Chicago Style Wrestling Championship with a victory over Blanco Loco of the International Superstars at CSW’s “Season Premiere” last Friday night in Franklin Park.
The only title to change hands at the event was the CSW Tag Team Championship where The Dope Kings (Filth King Nick Brubaker & CJ Esparza) took the gold by winning a four-corner bout that included the defending champions C&C Destruction (Cody James & Chris Miller), Big Mood (Mateo Valentine & Jack Moody) and Shain Boucher & Jay Marston.
Chicago veteran Marshe Rockett, who has recently competed in the NWA, defeated Solomon Tupu. Acid Jaz showed up to do commentary on the match and made his presence known and that his rivalry with Rockett will continue.
The trio of CSW Metra Division Champion Hades XIX, CSW Women’s Champion Heather Reckless and Cypher defeated Superstar Steve Boz, Sabin Gauge and AJ Flyer. The fallout from this match seems to be spinning off into a Boz-Hades rivalry.
Sierra defeated Dream Girl Ellie, which is leading to an Avalon-Sierra vs. International Superstars grudge tag team match at CSW’s event on Feb. 18. The winning team will determine the stipulations for their singles rematches on the March show.
In other matches, Axel Rico won a five-man scramble match over Garrisaon Creed, Jax Johnson, Mario Pardua and Joey Mayberry, who won the futures battle royal earlier in the evening. Ryan Matthews defeated the menacing Conan Lycan. In a battle of veterans, TJ Steel defeated “Ice Pick” Vic Capri and Adam Stallion beat Casey Nova in a dark match.
Mateo Valentine (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Broken heart for Valentine at POWW Entertainment: The rivalry between POWW Champion Scott Spade and “Fat Fem Asian Sensation” Mateo Valentine continued at “Saturday Night Lights” last weekend at T’Wood Bar & Grill in Wood Dale.
Valentine appeared to win the POWW Championship by getting a pin on Spade following his finish, but the referee ruled that Spade’s corner man, Tiny, put Spade’s foot on the ropes, and restarted the match. Moments later, Spade rolled up Valentine for the 3-count.
Commissioner Chris Headford granted Valentine another rematch for the title at POWW’s show on Feb. 26 in Bridgeview.
In other matches, Masked Marauder defeated Jimmy Blaze with help from a distraction from Kyzyle. Stylin’ Shane Eaton beat Kyzyle after Blaze interfered. Former POWW Midwest Champion and ex-POWW Tag Team Champion Meathooks O’Bannon of IPA defeated Trainwrecker. Nikki Vendetta picked up a victory over Moondog Murray. Kyzyle won a battle royal after some rapid-fire eliminations at the end.
Backwoods Brown (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Backwoods Brown extends title reign: Chicago native Backwoods Brown continued his domination as the champion of Great Lakes Championship Wrestling with a victory over OVW star Luscious Lawrence at “Golden Days” last Saturday night in Cedarburg, Wis.
Brown won the championship on Jan. 18, 2020, and has fended off every challenger for two years – a slew of contenders that has included Val Venis, Rhino, Jake Something, Joey Avalon and Drew Hernandez.
The Fanny Pack (Kal Herro & Dustin Jackson) won the GLCW Tag Team Championships, ending the lengthy reign of The Express (Ryan Kross & Dr. Jeff Luxon). Also, former WWE and WCW star Terri Runnels was the special guest.
In other matches, OVW National Heavyweight Champion Mr. PEC-Tacular Jessie Godderz retained the title over Avalon via disqualification. “The Mayan Mauler” Drew Hernandez defeated JT Funk. Tony Gunn beat Jordan Kross with some unintentional help from a ceiling tile.
The next GLCW show in Cedarburg will be on Saturday, Feb. 26 with special guest Adam Scherr (the former Braun Strowman, replacing Scotty 2 Hotty).
Ringside chatter: DeJay The Disaster became the first woman to win the PRW Championship in a show in Chicago last Saturday night. … POWW Entertainment’s Jimmy Blaze will make an appearance at Southland Championship Wrestling’s “Arctic Takeover” on Saturday night, Jan. 29 at the Chebanse Civic Center in Chebanse. The featured match is SCW Genesis Champion “Sharpshooter” James Creed taking on POWW Champion Scott Spade to crown the new SCW Champion. … Upcoming guests on Windy City Slam Podcast have been booked for the next four weeks, including the “Voice of Violence” Phil Myers Sr. (aka No Chill With Phil) of All Heel Wrestling and former WWE.com writer Jordan Garretson on our Royal Rumble recap show (airdate Feb. 1), Kota Holliday and Jax Johnson promote NLS Is for Everyone on Feb. 8, Zelo Pro’s Big Jon Crowley makes his return on Feb. 15 and POWW enforcer, 6-foot-12 Tiny joins us for the first time on Feb. 22.
Special thanks to Nick Consalvo (@cameraguygimmick), Steve Ahrendt and Jordan Kross to their contributions to the article.
Selected photos courtesy of Nick Consalvo. Check out Nick’s work at http://www.cameraguygimmick.com and follow him on social media @cameraguygimmick.
Catch Windy City Slam editor Mike Pankow talking local and national pro wrestling every week with Chicago-area wrestling guests on Windy City Slam Podcast, part of the Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network. Episodes drop early Tuesday morning wherever you download podcasts or at https://windycityslam.podbean.com/.
We are looking for guests to appear on future episodes of the Windy City Slam Podcast! Please contact Mike at mikepankow@windycityslam.com, message him on Facebook or DM him on Twitter.
