By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
Alpha-1 Wrestling “King of Hearts Tournament”
September 13, 2026, in Hamilton, Ontario, at the Columbus Club
Streamed live via YouTube.com
This is their usual venue with a low ceiling. From the hard camera, it appears that chandeliers hang over the ring, but it’s just an optical illusion. They always pack this tiny room with 150 to 200 fans. The lighting is okay. Reed Duthie provided commentary. Both Rich Swann and Jake Crist were advertised but were unable to attend.
* The King of Hearts is an eight-man tournament, consisting of four first-round singles matches and a four-way finale.
* The show opened with a tribute to Andy “The Butcher” Williams. The eight participants in the King of Hearts Tournament came to the ring for a group picture with the trophy. Jimmy Townsend is a last-minute replacement. Tyler Thomas attacked Townsend during the ceremony! Security had to separate them. Thomas tied Townsend in the Tree of Woe and struck his knees!
1. Jessie V. vs. Alessandro Del Bruno for the Alpha 1 Zero Gravity Title. I’ll reiterate that Jessie V. is a BIG man; he’s only listed at 6’3″, but I thought he was even taller. Bruno tried to stall on the apron, but the massive Jessie suplexed him into the ring. He hit a hip toss to send Bruno across the ring. Bruno tried a dive, but Jessie caught him and slammed him face-first on the apron at 2:00. In the ring, Del Bruno hit a Sliced Bread out of the corner for a nearfall.
Bruno hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. He hit a stunner for a nearfall at 4:00. Jessie hit a hard clothesline, then a reverse fallaway slam, with Bruno landing stomach-first. Jessie V hit a Gorilla Press, then a Finlay Roll, but he missed a frog splash. Del Bruno missed a penalty kick. He hit a DDT for a nearfall at 7:00, then a Helluva Kick. Jessie caught him and hit a Flatliner, then a pumphandle release slam! Nice! Jessie nailed the frog splash for the decisive win! “Who is going to be able to overcome this?” Duthie shouted. “Otherworldly athleticism.”
Jessie V. defeated Alessandro Del Bruno to retain the Alpha 1 Zero Gravity Title at 8:22.
* The ring announcer read a statement about Andy Williams.
* In a backstage segment, Kody Lane complained about having to sit at home for the past three months.
2. Anthony Greene vs. Bobby Casale vs. Thomas Heim vs. Jay Blast vs. Jon Jon Tavious vs. Bryce Hansen vs. Luke Kaiden vs. Tyler Jordan vs. Love, Doug in an elimination match for the Outer Limits Title. This might be Casale’s debut here; he’s become a regular in the New England scene. I’ve seen Heim in Chicago-based AAW; this also might be his debut here. I recall seeing Blast here at least once before, and he had a good showing. I’ve seen Luke here too; he looks like he’s still a teen. Jordan is a talented guy from Cleveland’s AIW. Greene, the champion, came out last. (He was just on the MLW episode that aired Saturday, too.)
All nine brawled at the bell. Casale hit a powerbomb on Doug for a nearfall. Casale and the young Kaiden traded blows. Greene rolled up Casale with a handful of tights for a pin at 1:36. Kaiden was knocked over the top rope to the floor, too. Jon Jon hit a fallaway slam. Heim hit an F5 on Jon Jon. Doug threw rose petals at Heim to distract him. He threw petals at Jon Jon, who fell to the floor at 3:39! Doug hit a mid-ring Sliced Bread and pinned Heim at 3:52.
Jordan hit a spin kick to Doug’s jaw, then a spinning Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall, but Bryce made the save. (WHY? It’s an elimination match!) Hansen slammed Jordan and pinned him at 4:56. Hansen hit a hard clothesline to pin Doug at 5:17. Hansen hit a powerbomb on Blast, but Greene rolled up Hansen for a believable nearfall. Greene hit a superkick on Hansen. Bryce hit a DVD, then he tossed Greene to the floor! We’re going to have a new champion! An irate Greene hopped back into the ring and tossed Hansen to the floor. By default… we have a new champion!
Jay Blast defeated Anthony Greene, Bobby Casale, Thomas Heim, Jon Jon Tavious, Bryce Hansen, Luke Kaiden, Tyler Jordan, and Love, Doug in an elimination match to win the Outer Limits Title at 6:44.
3. Kody Lane vs. TJ Crawford in a King of Hearts first-round match. They charged at each other at the bell. Kody hit a chop, and TJ rolled to the floor to regroup. Back in the ring, Kody hit more chops. He nailed a Lionsault Press and a senton for a nearfall at 1:30. TJ stomped on Kody and hit some chops. Crawford hit a sliding dropkick, then a bodyslam for a nearfall at 3:30.
Crawford slammed him on the ring apron, then hit a snap suplex on the floor at 5:30. Back in the ring, TJ hit a moonsault for a nearfall. He hit some Yes Kicks to the chest. Lane got up, and they traded chops. TJ hit a kick to the head, but Kody hit a Buckle Bomb! He placed TJ over the top rope and hit a senton on him for the pin! Good action; I wish that had gone longer.
Kody Lane defeated TJ Crawford at 7:37 to advance.
* Frankie Kazarian cut a backstage promo ahead of his tournament match.
4. Mark Wheeler vs. Xavier Walker in a first-round match. Again, Xavier is comparable to former NXT/AEW wrestler EJ Nduka; he’s really tall, at around 6’6″. Wheeler tried some chops, but they had no effect. Xavier hit a decapitating clothesline, then he clotheslined Wheeler to the floor. Back in the ring, Wheeler hit a knee lift to the gut, but Walker hit a delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall at 1:30. Mark hit a dropkick for a nearfall. He hit some punches and kept Xavier grounded.
Wheeler hit a superkick, but he missed a top-rope elbow drop. Xavier hit a Mafia Kick at 3:30, then a sit-out powerbomb for a believable nearfall! The crowd chanted, “That was three!” Wheeler hit a mid-ring Sliced Bread for a nearfall. Xavier dropped him snake-eyes and hit a spear at 5:30. Xavier nailed a chokeslam for the pin!
Xavier Walker defeated Mark Wheeler at 6:04 to advance.
* Channing Thomas, TJ Crawford and Sam Holloway were backstage. Channing offered condolences to Crawford for losing. He said no one knows who Sam Holloway will face now in the tournament. Channing then vowed he is going to torture Brett Michael David tonight, and will humiliate him in front of his wife and friends. “I’m at another level, and tonight, you are going to learn that World Class is that much better than you.”
5. Frankie Kazarian vs. Ichiban in a first-round match. Duthie listed off all of Kazarian’s accolades. Ichiban was a replacement in this tournament today. Frankie rejected a handshake, and they tied up and twisted each other’s left arms. They sped it up, traded rollups, and had a standoff at 1:30 and earned applause. Frankie is taller and thicker and backed Ichiban into a corner. Ichiban hit an armdrag and a dropkick. He set up for a 619, but Kazarian rolled to the floor at 3:00.
In the ring, Ichiban hit a springboard crossbody block. He backed Kazarian into a corner and hit his “One!” punches, then a Shotei palm strike. Kazarian again avoided a 619, and he hit an axe kick to the back of the head at 4:30. They traded punches on the floor. Kazarian hit a slingshot guillotine leg drop. He repeatedly stomped on Ichiban, then a Russian leg sweep for a nearfall at 6:30. Kazarian flipped him overhead and into the turnbuckles! Ouch!
Ichiban hit a handspring-back-elbow and a bulldog, then a tornado DDT for a nearfall at 8:30. Kazarian went for the crossface chickenwing, but Ichiban escaped. Kazarian went for his piledriver along his back, but Ichiban avoided that, too. Frankie hit a clothesline for a nearfall. The crowd chanted, “Number one!” for Ichiban. Kazarian hit a bodyslam and a springboard guillotine leg drop for a nearfall at 10:00. Frankie got the crossface chickenwing, but Ichiban ran backwards into the corner to escape.
Ichiban finally hit the 619, then a top-rope frog splash to the back, and he got a nearfall. Kazarian hit a slingshot stunner for a believable nearfall. Duthie said the fans were stunned at how well Ichiban was doing. Ichiban hit an Arabian Press to the floor at 12:00! In the ring, he hit a slingshot Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall! He hit a picture-perfect dropkick to the face, but Kazarian hit his piledriver along his back for the pin! That was really good action. Frankie helped Ichiban to his feet, and now he offered the handshake, which Ichiban accepted. “How about that show of respect?” Duthie said.
Frankie Kazarian defeated Ichiban at 12:42 to advance.
* Someone told Jimmy Townsend he is not cleared to compete tonight after that beatdown he took to open the show! Townsend was irate, and he vowed to get his revenge on Tyler Thomas!
* Well… who is going to face Sam Holloway in the first round? Out of the back came… Trey Miguel! “Where the hell did he come from????” Duthie shouted! A heel on commentary wondered how this was even fair. “Don’t look at me,” Duthie responded.
6. Sam Holloway (w/TJ Crawford) vs. Trey Miguel in a first-round match. Trey wore his Spider-Man-themed gear. Duthie noted that Trey is “Giving up a foot in height and 70 pounds.” The 6’8″ Holloway easily shoved Trey to the mat. Trey hit a dropkick that sent Sam to the floor, then Trey hit a plancha to the floor at 1:30. On the floor, Sam threw Trey back-first into the ring post. He slammed Trey back-first on the apron and celebrated.
In the ring, Sam hit his slingshot elbow drop for a nearfall. “You aren’t going to see Big Sexy doing anything like that,” the heel commentator said. TJ choked Trey in the ropes. Sam planted his foot in Trey’s throat, and TJ choked Trey again! Trey went for a bodyslam, but his legs buckled, and Sam landed on top of him for a nearfall at 4:30. Sam stomped on Trey and kept him grounded. Trey got underneath him in the corner and hit a powerbomb at 6:30, and they were both down.
Trey hit a moonsault, then a kip-up enzuigiri. This time, he hit the bodyslam for a nearfall! Sam hit a double-underhook suplex for a nearfall at 8:30. TJ slid a chair to Sam. Sam swung and missed. Trey hit a superkick. He picked up the chair, but the ref confiscated it. TJ hopped on the apron and hit a spin kick to Trey’s head as the ref was putting the chair away! Holloway immediately hit the Choke Bomb for the tainted pin! “They stole another one!” Duthie shouted.
Sam Holloway defeated Trey Miguel at 9:09 to advance.
* Intermission
* Reed Duthie was interviewing Jody Threat backstage when she was attacked by Kingsley!
* Kingsley sang her way to the ring. (She’s doing B3cca’s “international superstar pop singer” gimmick.) She cut a long heel promo, challenging Threat to a future match. She had her security guards carry her to the back.
7. “The Verdict” Bryce Donovan and Vinny “VSK” Scalice (w/Easy E) vs. Shane Sabre and Mike Forte in a street fight for the Alpha 1 Tag Team Titles. If Forte and Sabre lose, they can never challenge The Verdict for the belts again! All four immediately brawled to the floor. Chairs were pulled out, but The Verdict slid them back under the ring. They pulled them back out and struck the challengers on their backs at 2:30. The challengers hit stereo dropkicks.
Forte hit an exploder suplex on VSK and was fired up. Easy E, the Verdict’s manager, struck Forte with a crutch, and VSK slammed Forte onto an open chair in the ring at 5:00. The Verdict began working over Forte, with Bryce shoving the edge of the chair into Mike’s throat. Bryce hit a sidewalk slam, with VSK getting the nearfall. Sabre finally got back in and hit a stunner. He hit a chairshot across Bryce’s back, then he dropped Donovan face-first on an open chair at 7:30.
Sabre bodyslammed Vinny onto an open chair, then he hit a spear for a nearfall, but Easy E pulled the ref from the ring. Bryce hit two Black Hole Slams on Sabre for a nearfall, but Forte made the save at 9:30. Forte ducked stereo chairshots to the head. Forte dove through the ropes onto Scalice. The challengers hit stereo spears on Bryce, and they were fired up! However, Easy E pulled Sabre to the floor. In the ring, Bryce hit a low blow on Forte. VSK hit a Doomsday Device clothesline on Forte for a believable nearfall at 11:30.
Bryce hit more chairshots to Forte’s back. Vinny struck Mike with a street sign. The challengers flipped Scalice off the top turnbuckle to the mat. Easy E hopped on the apron, but the challengers flipped him into the ring. Forte hit a Mafia Kick on Easy E! Forte hit a leaping DDT onto Scalice, dropping Vinny face-first onto a street sign for the pin! New champions! Good brawl.
Shane Sabre and Mike Forte defeated “The Verdict” Bryce Donovan and Vinny “VSK” Scalice in a street fight to win the Alpha 1 Tag Team Titles at 13:36.
8. Channing Thomas (w/TJ Crawford) vs. Brett Michael David for the Alpha 1 Title. As per usual, BMD wore a flannel shirt and denim pants. He hit a running knee at the bell! He shoved Thomas in a corner and repeatedly stomped on him. BMD hit a back-body drop, then a brainbuster at 1:00, but he missed a Swanton Bomb. Channing hit a Rude Awakening standing neckbreaker. Channing choked Brett in the ropes and celebrated, then hit some knee strikes to BMD’s spine and got a nearfall at 2:30. Channing hit a belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall.
Channing hit some more punches and kept BMD grounded. He applied a Camel Clutch at 4:30. BMD executed a backslide for a nearfall. Channing popped up and hit a hard clothesline, and they were both down. They got on their knees and traded forearm strikes. BMD bit Channing’s forehead! He hit several clotheslines, then a gutbuster over his knee at 7:30, then a backbreaker over his knee for a nearfall. BMD hit a neckbreaker over his knee, then he nailed the Swanton Bomb for a believable nearfall at 9:00.
Channing hit an Iconoclasm, flipping BMD off the turnbuckles to the mat. He missed a top-rope 450 Splash at 11:00, and BMD immediately applied a crossface on the mat, but Thomas eventually got a foot on the ropes. Channing hit a leg lariat. BMD pushed Channing into the corner, but it flattened the referee, who was behind Thomas! TJ jumped on the apron and struck BMD with a belt. BMD fell next to Channing, and they both had an arm over the other’s chest. The ref made a count, and we had a double pin!
Channing Thomas vs. Brett Michael David went to a draw via a double-pin at 12:59; Thomas retains the Alpha 1 Title.
* We again heard from Kody Lane backstage, who vowed to win the main event. Xavier Walker approached him, and it appears they are willing to work together.
* Donovan Dijak appeared in a video from his car. He is coming back to Alpha 1 to win titles! Duthie said Dijak has not been here for ten years!
9. Kody Lane vs. Xavier Walker vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Sam Holloway in a four-way elimination match in the King of Hearts tournament finals. Lane threatened Holloway, so Sam rolled to the floor. Kody dove onto him, and we’re underway! Xavier hit a delayed vertical suplex on Kazarian. The big men, Holloway and Walker, traded blows. Sam grabbed Xavier by his throat, but Kody made the save. Walker and Lane argued; Kazarian attacked them both. Lane hit some chops on Walker. Sam hit a hard clothesline on Kody at 2:30. Those two traded forearm strikes.
Xavier hit a sit-out powerbomb on Kazarian for a nearfall at 4:00. Kody and Frankie fought on the top rope. Xavier joined in. Sam got underneath them and powerbombed all three to the mat at 5:30! Everyone was down. Lane hit a slingshot senton on Kazarian. Walker hit a double clothesline at 7:00. Holloway hit a Choke Bomb and pinned Walker at 7:15. Kazarian hit a Northern Lights Suplex. He hit a springboard guillotine leg drop on Holloway for a nearfall. Kaz got up and traded chops with Lane. Kody missed a senton, and Kazarian rolled him up for a nearfall.
Lane rolled up Kazarian and pinned him at 9:22! Frankie was shocked! Holloway immediately hit a Mafia Kick on Lane. Holloway hit a twisting chokeslam for a nearfall. They got up and traded chops. Lane dove through the ropes. He stomped on Sam’s chest, then hit a running senton off the apron and onto Sam’s back at 12:00. They both collapsed to the floor. In the ring, Holloway hit a Choke Bomb for a believable nearfall. They fought on the ring apron. Lane draped Sam gut-first over the ropes, then he hit a top-rope senton splash to Sam’s back for the pin!
Kody Lane defeated Sam Holloway, Xavier Walker, and Frankie Kazarian in a four-way elimination match to win the King of Hearts Tournament at 14:41.
Final Thoughts: One of the better shows here in a while. Unsurprisingly, Kazarian vs. Ichiban was really sharp and stole the show. I wrote this a day ago, but Ichiban could come across as a cartoonish character with all his “One!” chants, but he’s so talented. Kazarian definitely brought his work boots, and they turned in the best match. A good four-way main event earned second place. The tag title match takes third. Holloway vs. Trey Miguel earns honorable mention. It’s too bad that Jake Crist and Rich Swann couldn’t make it, but this was still a really good show without them.
I really hate those Outer Limits title matches. I don’t mind if someone is flipped over the ropes to the floor, but it’s incredibly damaging to a talented wrestler like Bobby Casale to be pinned in under two minutes. How are the fans here — who haven’t seen New England-based Casale before — going to take Bobby seriously when he loses that quickly? If I could change just one thing about this show, it would be for that six-minute match to go closer to 17 minutes, giving everyone a chance to show off what they can do. A Bobby Casale vs. Tyler Jordan match (two guys in that match) would be far better than this nine-way.
Knowing a bit about where some of these guys live, it’s pretty impressive how many American wrestlers made this trek for the show. As I said, this was a really good roster tonight.
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