By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
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GCW “Ransom”
Replay available via Fite.TV
March 5, 2023 in Atlantic City, New Jersey at The Showboat
The crowd is perhaps 300; definitely smaller than the Saturday night show. Dave Prazak and Veda Scott provided commentary.
1. Alec Price defeated Gringo Loco, Jimmy Lloyd, Gabriel Skye, Carlos Romo and Yoya in a six-way scramble at 7:27. This is almost the identical scramble from Saturday, just substituting Skye and Yoya for Shane Mercer and Grim Reefer. Everyone took turns missing a finisher move. Loco hit a gorilla press. Yoya was thrown to the floor, where he hit a headscissors takedown. Romo hit a dive to the floor at 2:30. Skye hit a moonsault to the floor. Loco hit a Vader Bomb.
Yoya hit a Frankensteiner on Loco. Lloyd hit a superkick on Skye, then a tombstone piledriver. Price hit a neckbreaker over his knee on Yoya at 5:30. Loco hit a one-man top-rope Spanish Fly on Price. Lloyd hit another piledriver. Romo hit a second-rope Poison Rana on Loco. Price hit a Clout Cutter on Romo, then his step-up mule kick to the back of Skye’s head for the pin. I truly did presume Price was winning this one, being as Loco one Saturday’s scramble.
2. Mike Bailey defeated Shane Mercer at 14:40. Mercer is the Brian Cage of this roster; he’s incredibly strong and ripped but can keep up with the faster guys, and he is replacing Drew Parker, who got injured in his extreme match on Saturday. (It may be an unpopular opinion, but this will be a better match.) Mercer made hand gestures indicating he’s throwing Bailey out of the ring; Veda on commentary hated that idea for her husband, Bailey. Funny. They opened with mat reversals, surprising Prazak. Mercer worked the left arm.
They fought on the floor and Mercer did a military press, then dropped Bailey face-first on the ring apron at 5:00. In the ring, Bailey hit a dropkick on the left knee, then a second one, and Mercer was hobbled. Bailey applied a modified Trailer Hitch on the mat, but Mercer reached the ropes. Prazak pointed out that Mercer has a cut on his left shoulder and is bleeding. Mercer hit an overhead release belly-to-belly suplex at 8:00. Bailey missed a corkscrew senton. Mercer hit a release suplex and they were both down.
Mercer went to hit another military press, but Bailey escaped. Bailey hit a top-rope moonsault to the foor on Mercer at 11:30. Bailey hit a moonsault kneedrop on the ring apron. Bailey hit a top-rope kneedrop to Mercer’s chest, then a mid-ring moonsault kneedrop to the chest. Mercer hit his twisting powerslam for a nearfall, then a decapitating clothesline at 13:30, then his second-rope fallaway moonsault slam for a nearfall. Bailey nailed his tornado kick into the corner, then the Ultima Weapon second-rope moonsault kneedrop for the pin. Really good match, particularly being as this came together just an hour ago.
* Emil Jay replaced Veda Scott on commentary for the next match.
3. “Motor City Machine Guns” Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley defeated “Los Macizos” Ciclope and Extremo Miedo to win the GCW Tag Team Titles at 8:47. The Guns came out first to a nice pop. All four brawled at the bell and went to the floor, with Shelley pairing off with Ciclope, as they brawled near a wall far from the ring. Prazak said the Macizos have gotten the Guns into their style of a match. They got back in the ring, with Miedo picking up Ciclope and slamming him on Sabin at 3:00. =
Shelley hit a dragon screw leg whip on Ciclope. Miedo tied Shelley in a surfboard. All four brawled and traded forearm shots. The Guns hit simultaneous superkicks at 6:30. Miedo dove through the ropes to the floor on everyone. In the ring, Miedo placed a door in a corner. Sabin hit a running stunner on Ciclope. Ciclope charged at Sabin but Chris moved, and Ciclope crashed through the door at 8:30. The Guns hit a Washing Machine spinning slam, and Sabin pinned Ciclope! New champs! The crowd exploded in genuine surprise at the title change. They all shook hands, but Ciclope indicated they will want a rematch.
4. Masha Slamovich defeated John Wayne Murdoch in an intergender death match at 6:30. I hate these violent matches, and I really hate when they are intergender. Glass panes were set up at ringside. He jabbed light tube glass in her forehead. They took turn beating each other over the head with rolls of light tubes. In the ring, she slammed him through a glass pane at 3:30. She put him on her shoulders and dropped him on several chairs for the pin; a glass pane didn’t shatter, as she dropped him awkwardly and a bit early.
5. Veny, Maki Itoh, and Rina Yamashita defeated Billie Starkz, Janai Kai, and Sawyer Wreck at 18:54. Billie and Rina started, as Veda noted these teams aren’t usually affiliated with each other. Veny and Janai entered at 2:00, with them avoiding each other’s big kicks. Maki entered to face the 6’1″ Sawyer, and Maki showed no fear; she asked for a knucklelock. Maki climbed onto Veny’s shoulders so they could compete in a test of strength. So, Sawyer got on Billie’s shoulders and they did some ‘chicken fighting.’ Veny hit a Lionsault, and suddenly, all six brawled to the floor at 5:00.
The Japanese trio teased a dive to the floor, but they instead hit the brakes and danced. Lots of silliness. We return to a conventional-looking match, with the U.S. team working over Itoh in their corner. Itoh hit a tornado DDT on Sawyer, then the Kokeshi falling headbutt at 9:30. Veny made the hot tag and hit a missile dropkick on Sawyer. Starkz hit a Gory Bomb on Veny for a nearfall. Veny nailed a spin kick to Billie’s cheek. Veny hit a top-rope moonsault to the floor on two opponents. Rina entered at 12:30 and she hit a running clothesline in the corner on Billie, then a DDT for a nearfall. Billie fired back with three German suplexes for a nearfall.
Janai entered and hit a spin kick to Rina’s head for a nearfall. Rina sat on the mat and invited Janai to kick her in the back, which Kai did. Itoh entered and hit a kneedrop on Kai for a nearfall at 16:00. Suddenly the Japanese trio were huddling together in the center of the ring, and Kai hit a series of kicks on all of them. Billie hit a Swanton Bomb to break up a pin attempt. Sawyer hit a fallaway slam on Itoh. Janai hit a pump kick on Rina for a nearfall. Rina hit a Death Valley Driver on Janai. Rina placed Kai along her back and hit a piledriver for a believable nearfall. Rina hit a Razor’s Edge overhead powerbomb to pin Kai.
6. Jordan Oliver defeated Blake Christian via DQ to retain the JCW Title at 7:57. I noted this the other day, but I had predicted this would be the finals of the J Cup tournament, so I’m glad we get to see this less than a month later. Blake charged Jordan before the bell and took control. Blake hit a twisting springboard crossbody block. The crowd loudly booed and taunted Blake. Blake hit a Lionsault Press, then his Fosbury Flop to the floor at 4:00. Back in the ring, Jordan hit a top-rope belly-to-belly suplex, and they were both down.
Oliver hit a Helluva Kick, then the Acid Bomb faceplant for a nearfall at 7:00. Blake nailed a low blow uppercut with the ref out of position, and the crowd loudly booed. Prazak said this is fought under “JCW rules,” which means there are disqualifications. Right on cue, Blake got a chair and jabbed it in Oliver’s gut, drawing a DQ. He continued the attack on Oliver, until Akira and Masha Slamovich made the save, sending Blake scurrying to the back.
* As soon as Blake vanished, Nick Gage’s music hit, and he got swarmed by fans as he came from the bak. Gage, the champion, will defend his title against No. 1 contender Masha in New York city in two weeks (Friday, March 17). “I’m going to beat the f—ing shit out of you in front of your whole family,” Gage told her. She asked, “Why wait?” They peeled off their jackets and were set to brawl, but a bunch of referees and security separated them. The crowd chanted, “Let them fight!” Gage turned to Akira and said, “Take your bitch to the f—ing back.” He vowed he was going to destroy her.
7. Joey Janela defeated Brandon Kirk to retain the GCW Extreme Title at 13:38. The fans once again chanted, “where’s the belt?” at Janela, who clearly must have left it at home, as he didn’t have it Saturday either. They traded quick reversals, as Emil said they have likely fought each other 50 times. They set up a door in the corner; neither man broke through it. They worked together to send them both through it at 4:00. Funny. Janela hit a chairshot to the back, and they brawled to the floor. Janela slammed Kirk into a shopping cart and he essentially went bowling, shoving the cart across the building as it slammed into rows of empty chairs. This match is just looking cartoonish, as Kirk looked like a three-year-old boy enjoying the ride.
Finally back in the ring, Janela hit a superplex through a door bridge for a nearfall at 11:00. Kirk hit a Burning Hammer onto an open chair for a nearfall. Janela hit a second-rope Razor’s Edge overhead powerbomb onto several open chairs for the pin. A flat match; the crowd really never got fully invested in this one.
8. “Second Gear Crew” Mance Warner & 1 Called Manders vs. “Wasted Youth” Marcus Mathers & Dyln McKay vs. “Young Dumb & Broke” Ellis Taylor & Charlie Tiger vs. “The Bang Bros” August Matthews & Davey Bang in a four-way tag match ended in a draw at 10:30. I don’t think this was advertised. The SGC were in Iowa a night ago for Pro Wrestling Revolver. I hate watching Mance wrestle; before the bell, he threw a chair at Dyln’s unprotected head. All eight brawled to the floor. The SGC set up several doors in the ring, and they slammed Ellis through a door.
Davey Bang speared both SGC through tables. Both Bang Bros hit dives to the floor at 3:30. Dyln hit a corkscrew top-rope splash to the floor on everyone. Tiger hit a splash onto everyone. In the ring, the Bang Bros hit a Washing Machine spinning move on Ellis for a nearfall. McKay hit a Lionsault and a spinning piledriver at 7:00. Matthews and Manders traded mid-ring blows, then they both hit dives to the floor. Davey Bang and Dyln McKay got in the ring and traded blows.
The SGC got in and beat up the scrawny kids. Mance no-sold a few superkicks, so Tiger and Taylor hit several of them until he looked loopy. August hit a 450 Splash. Mathers hit a 450. Bang hit a 450. McKay hit a Shooting Star Press. Mance hit a Canadian Destroyer. Manders nailed a running Bulldog Powerslam, sending a kid through a table set up in the corner, and it appeared they were about to win. However, a half-dozen wrestlers I’ve never seen before hit the ring! The female ref watched them attack Mance and Manders, and she called for the bell. Prazak said these unfamiliar guys are from the Montreal-based IWS, who GCW will be fighting next week.
Mike Bailey ran to the ring… and he joined the IWS crew in attacking the GCW roster. Nick Gage led the whole GCW locker room to the ring, sending the IWS roster running. That was quite a segment. Gage got on the mic and said “F— Canada!” He vowed to bring his gang to Montreal to fight the IWS crew. Oliver got on the mic and said “before today, it was a friendly competition. After today, we’re coming there and taking over your f—ing territory.”
* Intermission to set up the cage. They showed a video montage recapping their feud. This is an extremely long break, and it shows why indy shows should have cage matches first, so it is erected before fans enter the arena.
9. Allie Katch (w/Effy) defeated Charles Mason (w/Parrow) in a steel cage match at 25:29. He charged at her at the bell, but she sprayed liquid in his eyes. She stomped on him repeatedly in the corner. He powerbombed her onto the wall of the cage at 2:00! He then rammed her head-first into the cage. I don’t care for this man-on-woman violence; the crowd loudly booed Mason. He hit her in the head and she was bleeding from along her hairline; he licked the blood off his hands. Gross. He rubbed her head against the cage for the “cheese grater” affect. Her blonde hair was quickly turning red. He hit a back suplex and got a nearfall at 5:00.
Prazak said the blood loss is starting to affect her. Mason swung her head-first into the cage a couple of times. He hit his rolling Death Valley Driver and was in complete control. Allie fired back with a Canadian Destroyer, and they were both down at 8:30. She hit her rolling cannonball in the corner, then a Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall. She slammed him head-first on the cage several times. Veda said Allie could have escaped; I wasn’t aware you could win the watch that way. Allie hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall at 11:30. Mason now is bleeding from the forehead, too.
Mason bit her leg, and he hit another Rolling Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Parrow tossed handcuffs into the ring, but Allie hit a low blow punch on Mason before he could use them. Allie handcuffed Mason to the top rope at 14:00! She pulled out a knife! As she approached, Mason kicked it out of her hands. Parrow reached between the cage and cut the handcuffs, freeing Mason. Parrow went to climb the cage, but Effy hit him with a chair, and they brawled to the locker room. Allie hit a piledriver for a believable nearfall at 16:30.
They both climbed the cage and fought while standing on the top rope. She fell to the mat; he hit a top-rope elbow drop to her chest for a believable nearfall. They again climbed the cage, and she superplexed them both back to the mat at 20:00. Billy Dixon appeared at ringside and he got the key and unlocked the cage door. She crawled to the open door. However, he said, “I’m sorry,” and he closed the door and walked away. Meanwhile, Mason removed his shirt, and he and Allie traded more forearm shots.
Mason placed her along his back and hit a piledriver for a nearfall, and he switched to a chokehold on the mat. She teased passing out but her arm didn’t hit the mat a third time. Mason hit a tombstone piledriver, but he pulled her up before the three-count at 24:30. He found the knife laying on the mat in the corner. She avoided it and jumped on his back and applied a sleeperhold. The ref checked him and called for the bell!
Final Thoughts: While I admittedly never got into the Allie-Mason feud, they sure delivered in the blow-off to this feud. The cage match was well laid out, and of course, the babyface Allie had to go over. I wasn’t thrilled they had an “escape the cage” stipulation, and I’m glad we didn’t have that work into the finish.
Wow I did not see that MCMG tag title change coming. Los Macizos have defended it all winter at every GCW show against one team after another. I guess you should never bet against the MCMG, but it was a shocker.
The IWS invasion was well played out, too. I didn’t see Bailey joining forces with them, either, but he has been stagnant of late — he delivers great matches but there isn’t a storyline for him, so maybe a heel turn will create one moving forward.
Janela-Kirk just never held my interest, and once a hardcore match veers into cartoonish territory, it’s hard for them to recover, and they didn’t here. I was really looking forward to Oliver-Blake, and while it played out more as an angle than a full-length match, I was fine with how it played out; they’ll be able to have a longer epic match down the line.
I just want to point out that I came away impressed with Gabriel Skye on Saturday afternoon’s JCW show, and I don’t think I was alone, as he earned a coveted spot in show-opening scramble.
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