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TONY DEPPEN VS. DELIRIOUS, COLBY CORINO, RHETT TITUS & MORE: FIGHTT PRO ON IWTV.LIVE REPORT

FIGHTT PRO - Round 1

6/13/23 - IWTW.live

Jason Heat and Mike Ratic are the announcers.

FIGHTT PRO’s IWTV debut is now! A promotion focused on a more sport-like presentation, with rankings and close adherence to the rules.

Here’s where things currently stand:

We have immediate news that due to contractual conflicts, #5 draft pick Will Ferrera has had to forfeit his spot in the Hybrid division. As a result, Colby Corino has been elevated from the alternate pool and will face Logan Easton Laroux this week, with a spot in the main roster on the line for Corino. In the Grapplers division, #1 seed Gabby Ortiz has opted to forfeit as well. Tiny Tanaily will be getting the first shot as securing a spot in the grapplers division. Rough news to get before we even get going.

Every fight has a cool Tale of the Tape graphic before we cut away to the venue. Jason Heath & Mike Raddick are on commentary for this.

Match 1: “The Suplex Queen” Tiny Tanaily (Alternate) vs Damaris Dawkins (#9 Seed)(Grappler’s Division - 20min time limit)

I like that they do a little “pre-match” interview, a face-off where each combatant gets a word in on their opponent. Both ladies show respect to each other before they get right into the grass. Tanaily gives up some height to Damaris but she clearly seems to have the strength advantage here. Tiny hits her first suplex and tries going for the back. Damaris picks the leg and goes right to the wrist. Tiny with another suplex but she gets backpacked. Damaris with her own suplex! She’s throwing hands and trying to get that KO win! Tiny brought to the ground and Dawkins going for an armbar……Tanaily with a huge German…..but there’s no pins in this division! She puts on a bow and arrow and Damaris has to tap out! Tiny has secured her spot on the FIGHTT PRO roster at the #3 Seed and is technically now the #1 ranked Grappler! Tiny’s suplexes looked brutal, the submission was a surprising end.

Winner: Tiny Tanaily (3pts)

Backstage with LSG, he’s furious that Prince Nana didn’t put him directly into the Hybrid Division. He threatens to be in the division one way or another. 

Match 2: Leo Sparrow & Matt Quay (#10 Seed) vs Dawgnation (Sage Matthews & Alan Clayball) (#7 Seed) (Tag Team Division - 20min time limit)

Sparrow and Quay are an interesting choice for the 2nd highest seed in this division. They’re not an established team and this is their first rodeo as a tandem. Maybe this will be an odd couple of success. Sparrow & Quay barely seem to be able to get on the same page in their face-off and Dawgnation absolutely calls them on this hard fact. Quay and Clayball with an intense early chain wrestling sequence. Sparrow with a blind tag in on the break and this draws the first warning for their team. Sparrow and Sage go at it, Sparrow with a good monkey flip and body splash. Leo almost snags the pin after a sunset flip! Leo and Quay trying hard to get the PROPER tag done, that is, hand to hand. Dawgnation starts to fire up on Quay and show how a real tag team is meant to operate. Unfortunately, Clayball picks up a warning with a blind tag. Quay getting stomped out in the corner. Clayball distracts the ref and Matthews absolutely chokes out Quay in the corner…RULES ARE BEING BROKEN REF USE YOUR EYES! Double bomb to Matt Quay! Body drop escape, crawl for the tag….but Clayball intercepts Sparrow and hits a side Russian on Quay for two. Quit escapes another double bomb….Quay with a DVD neck breaker to Matthews…tag to Sparrow! Running high knee and a high angle bronco buster…moonsault for two! Sparrow tags in Quay and encourages him to take a free shot on Clayball….he misses and wipes out Sparrow. Black hole slam from Clayball and a Swanton from Matthews end Matt Quay’s night!

Winners: Dawgnation (3pts)

Quay and Sparrow facing off in the ring after their loss. Quay offers his hand but Sparrow walks out on him.

Video promo with Moses -> He’s ready to beat up EVERYONE in his path and he makes his debut next week!

Backstage with Tiny Tanaily -> She’s betting on making it to the championship tournament and taking the whole thing.

Match 3: Anthony Bennett (#4 Seed) vs “The Professional” Rhett Titus (#1 Seed) (Hybrid Division - 20min time limit)

They talk a little more about the championship format of the Hybrid Division. At the end of the season, the #1 ranked Hybrid wrestler will compete against the current winner of the Premier Contenders gauntlet. In the face-off, Titus offers a handshake and a promise that this will be a straight up wrestling match…Bennett suggests he might not follow those rules. At least he’s honest! Lol. True to his word, Titus trying to pick the arms and legs. Bennet shoving him off but Titus bowls him over. Rhett with a gator roll and gutwrenches Bennet over his head. Bennett scouted the dropkick and trying to go after the arm. Titus trying to roll free but Bennet just won’t let go. Tornado suplex from Bennett and he’s just staying on the Professional. Titus tries a rollup….nd loses his arm again. Bennett is really surprising Rhett with his mature unrelenting ground game. Titus pops out and monkey flips Anthony across the ring! Fireman’s carry takedown and Rhett starts blasting that lower back. Huge big boots, Bennett is on shaky legs. Titus with a crazy looking double undertook spinout slam….Titus winds up and hits the dropkick! Bennett eats it and goes flat out! The ref calls off the match as a KO as Bennett is motionless and eyes wide open on the apron. Wow.

Winner: Rhett Titus (4pts)

Backstage with Dawgnation. They feel great, they won! It’s time to go celebrate! Did Logan Easton Laroux just swing in to recruit them?!?

Quick Video Promo with Matt Hayter….who is coming “soon”!

Match 4: Eli Isom (#6 Seed) vs World Famous Cheeseburger (#2 Seed) (Hybrid Division - 20 min time limit)

It’s face-off time….Eli Isom is a student of CB and is ready to prove the teacher can’t hang with him. Code of Honor is respected but Isom tries a rollup the moment CB looks away. This is very much a feeling out process as both these guys know each other well….but this is definitely a TEST for Isom. CB and Iso going hold for hold but CB is finding his way out of danger over and over. CB gets the head and takes Isom over….crucifix pin for two. At 5 1/2 minutes, we have no warnings as CB squirms free of another hold. CB using a lot of misdirection, quick flips and speed to stay ahead of his student. Isom with a fake out arm drag and finally keeps CB in place….for a moment. CB climbs up on Isom’s shoulder and just snaps at the arm….he tries a rana but Isom hits a big overhead toss. This has been a really good chess match so far as we get to the halfway point. CB wraps up Isom’s arm in the ropes….he holds on past five and picks up his first warning….CB just stays on him tho, and Eli’s arm is just toast. He’s swinging as best he can but he’s a one-armed man in this fight. Side slam for two. CB getting cut down over and over but kicking out. CB reverses a suplex and he’s starting to make his comeback! Huge chops and arm shots….cartwheel out of danger….superkick…half and half suplex! Isom’s head kicked off as we hit the five minute mark…..CB tries to get the pin but Isom blasts him with an air raid crash! We might hit a time limit finish (which would count as a win for Isom, who is sitting with fewer violations). CB with another kick straight to the arm…Isom tries a German but picks up a warning for manipulating ring gear! CB with a hard shot to the face….he picks up his first violation for that! CB stomping at the arm in frustration as they scramble into multiple pin attempt and sequences. CB with a cross body….transition to a backbreaker and lariats him in half. We have one minute left! Isom slapping at CB as they battle to the top. Isom hits the superplex! Isom crawls to the pin but can’t make it in time. This was really good.

Winner: Eli Isom (2pts) [Note: CB gets 1pt for going the distance]

Isom is beaten up but over the moon for getting this hard fought victory. CB makes sure to shake the hand of his protege before he heads to the back.

Backstage with Anthony Bennett, who is awake after his earlier KO loss. He swears he didn’t get KO’d and he WILL be on top of FIGHTT Pro. 

Video promo with Colby Corino - He’s looking to get out from under the shadow of his father, Steve Corino, who was with the earlier incarnation of FIGHTT back in 2012. 

Match 5: “The Champion of the 1%” Logan Easton Laroux (#8 Seed) vs “The Last Bastion” Colby Corino (Alternate) (Hybrid Division - 20min time limit)

Like Tiny’s match early, Corino is fighting to solidify his spot on the roster. He doesn’t believe Logan actually believes his own hype. Logan says he doesn’t need a million memories….cause he has a million dollars and a million ways to beat Colby. Corino quickly takes over and frustrates Logan. Laroux trying to get the arm but Colby has an answer for everything. Logan is just getting mad as he tries to bowl Colby over unsuccessfully. Colby with hip toss after hip toss…standing flip senton! Hard chops! Logan with a reversal and flip Colby into the buckles. Logan getting his, as he chops up Colby, hits a big suplex and tries to twist his head off. Colby with sleeper…Logan running him through the buckles. Colby with a back stabber reversal. Flying bulldog for two. Air raid crash for two! Logan quickly rakes the eyes and picks up a warning. Logan tosses Colby out and picks up a violation for jumping out of the ring. He posts Colby and picks up another violation. One more violation and he forfeits….but Colby is barely alive. Logan starts landing knee strikes to the head repeatedly until Colby crumbles. The ref has to stop this immeditately.

Winner: Logan Easton Laroux (4pts)

Logan attacking Colby after the bell. Cheeseburger makes the save! Logan feigns leaving but slides back in to put the boots to CB. Eli Isom hits the ring to run him off and save his mentor. Prince Nana is out here to restore order as Isom challenges Logan. Isom dares Logan to try this with him next week. Nana agrees and makes the match!

Video promo with Mecca…..and he is versus everybody.

Backstage promo is Eli Isom. He’s furious that Logan put the boots to Cheeseburger and made it so he won’t make the next show. Next week, Isom is bringing some back up…in the form of the Rabid Honey Badger Ryan Mooney!

Main Event: Tony Deppen vs Delirious (Premier Contenders Gauntlet - 30 min time limit)

As they’ve said earlier, you gotta win it to stay in it. Will Deppen or Delirious go to next week’s main event? Delirious is just diving for the foot of Deppen repeatedly. He’s intense as hell and fired up. He gives Deppen a little condescending pat on the head and Tony does NOT like that. He tries to stretch Delirious but the man is just too wild to stay in the submission. Deppen jawing with him and suckers him with a boot to the gut…Delirious just rages and blasts him face first into all the buckles. Huge back elbow from Deppen but he’s suddenly on the backpedal again. Deppen needs to stay a break and draws a warning for exiting the ring. An indignant Deppen tries to walk off in disgust but Nana is there to send Tony back to the ring. Deppen says there’s no rule against punching Prince Nana….and Nana immediately makes that rule a rule. Reinvigorated, Deppen back in and taking aim at Delirious’ knee. As Tony lays in the beatdown, Heath and Raddick observe LSG watching this match from the door. Huge slam but Tony is starting to get distracted by the crowd….and he hits a senton into some knees. Ow. Delirious off the ropes every which was and hits a flying lariat. Running leg drops over and over but his knee starts to cave. I think he hit 10 of these?!? That’s a lot of leg drops. Atomic drop and a headbutt to the gut. Deppen spiked into the mat for two. Delirious seems to pick up a violation for dropping Deppen on his neck…but it’s not on the scoreboard so maybe it’s called off? They struggle back and forth over a suplex..Delirious finally hits it. He wants to slam Deppen but his knee gives out. Delirious hits a discus lariat but there isn’t as much behind it. Deppen with some stuff kicks to the mouth but he’s hurting. Delirious rips off his pads and they swing for the fences. Deppen with a flying knee for two. Deppen tries a double stomp but no one’s home. Deppen with an eye poke and he picks up another violation. Brain buster for two! Delirious’ knee is still a factor but he’s able to drop Tony and blast him with a knee in the corner. Top rope splash! Depends downed for the three! This was a lot of fun. Love both these guys so this was a hell of a main event clash.

Winner: Delirious

Prince Nana hits the ring to announce Delirious’ victory. And Next week? Delirious defends his status as the Premier Fighter against…….The Savage Gentleman Victor Benjamin! Let’s gooooo!

Overall, a good starting point for this season. We got highlights from all three (well, sort of four?) divisions and an example of the many different ways a match can end under this rule set. Also, it was clear everyone involved UNDERSTOOD the rules at play and any time there was confusion, it felt like a good part of the story (see Quay/Sparrow not getting how to do a legal tag) .One might say it was premature to have someone bend the rules as far as they go so early in the season but they are clearly establishing Logan Easton Laroux as their top heel while Rhett Titus is the all-clean whitemeat babyface of the division (with a KO shot dropkick). Cheeseburger/Isom was definitely MOTN on this one but Deppen/Delirious absolutely gave me what I wanted. Looking forward to the next episode on IWTV.live!

 

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