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11/13 ACTION WRESTLING 'FRIDAY THE 13th' LIVE REPORT FROM TYRONE, GA

ACTION Wrestling presented the third in their series of COVID-restricted doubleheader events at the  Roger Spencer Community Center in Tyrone, entitled Friday the 13th and Friday Night Fights. 

The latter was superior to the former. Friday the 13th was fine but not on the level of ACTION's best shows. Two things stood out -- the technical brilliance of Kyle Matthews vs. Anthony Henry (no surprise there) and Suge D vs. Cabana Man Dan -- like nothing I would expected. 

It was heavily hinted that Henry has or will be signing somewhere.  

This "season" of ACTION Wrestling is a virtual restart in terms of storylines. The impact of Friday the 13th was muted by being a series of cold matches. Promising talent was showcased and there were several intriguing developments as events unfolded. 

Attendance was all it could be under the restrictions imposed by the venue, sold out at the limit of 35 and about as lively and engaged as any crowd that size could be. 

Friday the 13th will have its IWTV premier on Thursday, November 19 at 8 pm. 

Friday the 13th:  

(1) Lutha X defeated Bobby Flaco in 8:19. Flaco is over big with the ACTION crowd. Lutha is a serviceable comedic heel with a "for indies only" body. Does a good job working the crowd. Flaco was fighting up from the bottom for most of the match. After a spirited comeback by Flaco, Lutha escaped Flaco's finisher and fled to ringside where he pulled out a chain. Flaco planted Lutha's face on the ring frame with a cutter. The chain went flying. As referee Darryl Hall was getting rid of the chain, Lutha resorted to a low blow, then pinned Flaco with a brainbuster. 

(2) Unadvertised bonus match: Graham Bell defeated Brazy Lee and Kevin Ryan and Shean Christopher in 6:13. This was spotfest of a sprint and worked well in that regard. Lee is out of Indiana -a body guy but also quite acrobatic. Based on what I've seen of him recently, Christopher's work has improved a good bit. This match was the first half of  a double shot for Ryan (also vs. Chip Day at SHW). Highlights: Christopher did a double jump, double cutter. Ryan speared Bell off the apron onto Christopher. Lee hit a shooting star press off the turnbuckle onto all three guys. Lee and Ryan teamed up for a double team Spanish Fly that got the loudest reaction of the match. Lee powerbombed Ryan for a 2 and 9/10 near fall. Bell finished strong. Lee went for a shooting star press. Bell speared him mid-air, then destroyed Christopher with a lungblower, a sternum caver kick and a double knee gutbuster. 

(3) Bret Ison defeated Cole Radrick in 5:27. Radrick was giving a way a lot size but nothing whatsoever in heart and guts. Radrick's aggressive attack at the opening bell had Ison reeling. After Radrick came up empty on a moonsault, Ison took his head off with a lariat and started to impose his will. Radrick went aerial, garnering netting near falls with a springboard cutter (this show was cutter mania) and a quebrada. Ison finished Radrick with a pair of vicious backfists. A hard-hitting match for sure. 

Postmatch was Ison showing respect for Radrick, telling him you wanted this, walk out like you walked in. 

(4) Anthony Henry defeated Kyle Matthews via submission in 15:55. Handshake at the bell, delightful grappling in the opening minutes, highlighted by an exchange of knuckle lock Northern Lights suplexes. Henry went for the leg but Matthews slipped away. They traded stiff strikes. Henry damaged Matthews' arm with a spinning arm wringer. Henry was like a dog with a bone on the arm. Matthews was protecting the arm like a wounded animal. Matthews roared back with a Kobashi chops. He rocked Henry with a dropkick, then sent him into the first row with a tope. Back inside, Matthews stayed on the attack with a shotgun dropkick, backcracker and tornado DDT. Henry answered with a brainbuster, leaving both men on the canvas for a nine count. Matthews got the Hidaka Lock. Henry reversed into an ankle lock. A rapid fire series of close near falls ensued. Henry plead with Matthews to stay down. Fast and furious slaps on their knees and hockey fight punches. Henry applied his killer double arm submission and Matthews tapped. Match was what I hoped it would be. No ring rust here. I marvel at Henry's versatility and his conditioning. Loved the psychology -- Henry's systematic attack on the arm eventually led to Matthew's demise. 

Class was the name of the game in the postmatch. Henry said it was an honor to be in the ring with Matthews and that Kyle was the man when he was coming up in Georgia wrestling. Henry said he wouldn't be doing any more indy dates after January. Matthews said he hoped Henry would make millions. Henry departed leaving centerstage to Matthews as the crowd started a "Kyle" chant. 

(5) "The Suplex Assassin" Alex Kane pinned "The Mat Scientist" Damyan Tangra with Mark of Kane in 2:20. Kane debuted with a quickie tour of his suplexing skills. The Mark of Kane is his version of the Southern Lights Suplex. 

(6) Cabana Man Dan defeated Suge D via DQ in 14 minutes. Suge wasn't down with being called Pineapple Pete. He was clearly in a sour, dour mood and told Dan, "don't say I didn't warn you". Dan wasn't backing down. A late arriving Aaron Noyes called for the bell. Suge slugged Dan the face and started pounding away, then dropped him on his head with a suplex. Dan made a fiery comeback. This was not the happy-go-luck, flip-flop chopping CMD. Suge stomped Dan's bare feet and did joint manipulation with his toes. CMD thumbed Suge in the eye. Suge thwarted CMD's Sliced Bread #2. CMD switched to an STO for a near fall. Suge blocked CMD's second attempt at Sliced Bread and hit a tiger driver, then switched to a single leg crab when CMD kicked out. Dan made the ropes. Dan did a slingshot Yoshi Tonic and again tried for Sliced Bread. Suge reversed into a rear naked choke. Dan was in the ropes. Suge refused to break the hold forcing Noyes to call for the bell. Kudos to both for compelling, believable storytelling. When Suge turns heel, Suge turns heel.   

The postmatch was tense in the extreme. Dead silence as Suge refused to let go of a now unconscious CMD saying "was it worth it?" Promoter Matt Griffin and announcer Dylan Hales came to ringside. Suge asked Hales if this was one of his dream matches and said back the hell up or you'll get choked out too. Suge dared security to try to help Dan. It reminded me of our cat guarding the prey she drags into the house. Suge finally said "I'm not the crazy one" and left out the front door. CMD was carried to the back. 

(7) AC Mack defeated Tre Lamar to retain the ACTION Wrestling Championship in 11:34. Lutha was on commentary. Mack now claims to weight 223 and to be the most decorated champion in the Southeast. The second half of that sentence is no exaggeration. Lamar dominated the early going with crisply executed combinations, spiced up with a bow and arrow. Mack used a hotshot to turn the tide. Mack attacked Lamar's windpipe and got downright sadistic about Lamar's inability to breathe. Lamar back with more combos and a slingshot flatliner for a close near fall. Lamar escaped Mack's first shot at the Mack 10. The sense of urgency picked up. Lamar hit a spectacular running flip dive to the outside. Back inside, Lamar applied a Liontamer but Mack made the ropes. A missed frogsplash elbow spelled doom for Lamar, as Mack used a Meteora to set up the Mack 10. Lamar was impressive. A good match lacking in suspense. No way, no how was Lamar taking the title off Mack.   

Lutha applauded Mack and started shamelessly sucking up to him. Mack didn't appear to be feeling it. We shall see. 

Friday Night Fights report to follow.  

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