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RICHARD HOLLIDAY VS. MIKE VERNA: NORTHEAST WRESTLING STUDIO WARS EPISODE 8 ON HIGHSPOTS WRESTLING NETWORK REPORT

Northeast Wrestling “NEW Studio Wars: Episode 8”
3/2/21

Available Now at www.HighspotsWrestlingNetwork.com

Last week, Big Bacon Brad Hollister stripped Christian Casanova of the NEW LIVE Championship in an epic 2 out of 3 falls encounter. Paul Crockett & Jon Roy are on commentary.

Match 1: “Club Cam” Cam Zagami vs “Thrillride” Jimmy Preston

Zagami doesn’t think Thrillride has what it takes to cross his literal velvet rope to enter Club Cam. He asks Thrillride for some ID but he calls him “not cool enough”. Thrillride ain’t having it, he slams Zagami through the velvet rope, causing the posts to slam into his ribs. The bell rings. Thrillride hasn’t taken his glasses off as he whips Zagami around the ring and pummels him with clotheslines. Cam jaw jacks on the apron and posts him. Zagami tosses his opponent to the barricade. Back in for stomps. Cam asks the sound guy to hit his music and Cam goes to work on Thrillride to the pulsating thumping bass. Spinning bulldog off the corner for two. Cam gets caught up in dancing, which lets Thrillride recover. Series of punches from Thrillride, a neckbreaker and a pounce. Ref bump while Cam fights out of a fireman’s carry. Zagami with a blatant low blow and rolls up Thrillride when the ref recovers.

Winner: Cam Zagami

This was a great opener for me as a viewer. Thrillride doesn’t need a story, he’s the one man THRILLRIDE. I’ve loved the Club Cam gimmick since Zagami introduced it but really liked the comedy aspect of using his music to deliver a prolonged beatdown and then losing himself to dance. Yeah, I liked this. 

We get a promo with Waves & Curls, saying they are back and ready to dance with somebody...

Match 2: Swilly O’Brien & Moshpit vs Waves & Curls (Traevon Jorden & Jaylen Brandyn)

Waves & Curls are having their first tag match back after Jaylen is recovered from injury. They immediately target Swilly and work over his arm with tandem offense. They are clearly having fun being back in the ring together. Moshpit tags in, it’s looking good for Jaylen but Moshpit distracts the ref, allowing Swilly to jack up the previously injured arm of Brandyn. Jordan tags in and destroys everyone. Jaylen in to hit a sling blade/spinebuster finish on Moshpit for the win.

Winners: Waves & Curls

This was a definitive statement of a win from Waves & Curls, who should have a tag team championship match against Inzanely Rude in their future after the events of the first few Studio Wars episodes. This was a fun watch from a team that clearly loves to be in the ring as a duo. 

We have a promo from Tony Vega (with Nikki), who promises to make his mark in NEW. 

Match 3: “Top Notch” Tony Vega (w/ Nikki Duke) vs Kylon King

Vega made his mark in the NEW Battle Royale two episodes ago. He immediately batters King corner to corner. Kylon with the up and over roll up for two but Vega sends him back on the defensive with a shoulder block and stomps. Scoop slam for two. Kylon King with a dropkick but gets blasted into the buckle trying for a flying back elbow. Vega levels him with a flatliner and that’s that.

Winner: Tony Vega

A good quick work squash here. Vega got a chance to show off in short fashion. His gimmick immediately reminds me of Richard Holliday. Maybe they should be friends....or RIVALS?

Back to the backstage, Inzanely Rude are finally back together and their celebration...is IMMEDIATELY cut off by a cool hat with a pile of human meat attached to it...oh wait, it’s just Jared Silberkleit, wanting to know why the Trust Fund wasn’t invited to the party he just crashed. Silberkleit says his “assets” will get him what he wants when Inzanely Rude finally defends their titles. IR asks where his boys are try to corner Silberkleit...and are ambushed by Channing Thomas and JP Grayson. Jared laughs while the beatdown continues, an action that is Trust Fun Approved™. 

Match 4: “The Air Pod God” Richard Holliday vs “The Man of Steel” Mike Verna

Holliday makes everyone wait while he takes his AirPods out, telling Paul Crockett to shut up until the bell is rung. Collar and Elbow tie up works to a stalemate. Holliday working a headlock takedown and grinds Verna out down on the canvas. Verna slips out, shoulder blocks Holliday down and works his own headlock. Holliday works it to the corner and OF COURSE he doesn’t give a clean break. Verna with a spinning head scissor and a cactus clothesline. Battling on the outside, Verna with a flying crossbody back in the ring but turned over into a two count. Holliday working the shoulder of the man of steel, northern lights suplex for two. Starting to see some of that “odd” editing from last week creeping into this match. Holliday dropping stomps in the corner. Verna up and a series of counters and reversals leads to a powerslam for two. Holliday comes running, Verna rolls through into a knee and ankle lock. Holliday teases the tap but barely makes the bottom rope. Holliday with a big spinebuster for two. Series of pin attempts and reversals. Holliday goes for the boston crab but Verna rolls him up for the three.

Winner: Mike Verna

Holliday is in disbelief at the result. Vern tells him it was three but definitely wants Richard to focus on the two in that gesture. The match itself built slow but I’m not sure it got where it needed to in the end, something didn’t quite click in the energy between these two competitors tonight. Next time. 

We get a couple of NEW 25th Anniversary promos: First up is Jerry “The King” Lawler, who praises NEW for giving him work when he made the choice to leave WWF back in the day. Second is THE NATURE BOYYYYY Ric Flair, who calls Mike at NEW one of the good guys, taking care of his talent and treating them right. 

Main Event: “Red Lion” Chris Battle vs “The American Sumo” Mike Gamble

Lock up goes to the corner, Sumo showing respect as he pushes Battle into the corner. Sumo with shoulder blocks and big palm strikes in the corner staggers the Red Lion. Sumo to the outside, catches Battle’s baseball slide with a palm strike. Sump follows up and cracks the post. Sumo hitting more palm strikes but the post hit clearly hurt him. Battle sees it and focuses on the wrist and arm of Gamble. Sumo makes space with an arm drag, doing further damage to himself with more palm strikes. Sumo with a crossbody for two after a few corner splashes. Gamble gets him up in a fireman’s carry but Battle slips it and hits a flurry of strikes, knees and a sliding forearm for two. Battle coming in with a spear but Gamble palm strikes him down to the mat, hitting a Samoan drop for three. 

Winner: Mike Gamble

This was a good watch. Sumo and Battle are both solid competitors and I enjoyed watching Sumo battle through the pain in this rock ‘em sock ‘em robots fight. 

And that’s it for Episode 8! Some story movement and new faces, with a good main. After last week’s championship war, this episode did a good job of cooling us off and setting the table for some new feuds. Certainly Mike Gamble and Brad Hollister could have a meeting somewhere in an upcoming episode? Next week, we get a rematch of Cam Zagami vs Thrillride, plus The Trust Fund get their shot against Inzanely Rude for the NEW Tag belts. Until then! 

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