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6/16 ACTION WRESTLING 'GUARDIANS OF THE SOUTHEAST' REPORT FROM TYRONE, GEORGIA

ACTION Wrestling “Guardians of the Southeast”
6/16/23 - Tyrone, GA

We’re opening with Suge D and his crew tonight. The Good Hand comes into the building through the front door. The crowd hates them, as they “should”? Suge D says the Good Hand is all about opportunity….and that’s why they are gonna let a couple of ACTION NextUp kids. Also, let’s pour one out for Matt Sells, who ain’t around no more….but he IS here to join Mose on commentary?!? 

Scott Hensley is your announcer. MOSE is on commentary. Let’s do this!

Match 1: The Good Hand (Suge D & Kevin Ryan w/ The Wall) vs Andres Reyes & Azrael Row

Good Hand murders these kids. This is the very definition of making new guys pay their dues. Row with a sudden stunner and there’s hope. Reyes blasts Suge with a knee. They want a dive but the Wall says NO. Blindside attack, double stomp ace crusher to Reyes. Double crucifix bomb to Row. Sick move, Row is done.  Wall gets a big slam in on Reyes after the bell. Just to make his point.

Winners: The Good Hand

Suge mocks Matt Sells’ injured shoulder before getting to the business at hand. They are sick of waiting. It’s time to take. The Wall is taking some respect. Suge & Kevin? They are taking the tag belts. And Alex Kane? Well, when he finishes burying Damyan Tangra….he’d look real good wearing the Action Championship. 

Match 2: Rico Gonzalez vs Anthony Henry

I worry for Rico’s spine. It’s about to be introduced to Henry’s shins multiple times. AC Mack is on commentary for this one. He wants to see how his partner fares after he got caught for the three last month. I gotta say, I love hearing AC Mack just TALKING on commentary vs the shouting we normally get. Rico strongly behind Rico but Henry offers a hand. Rico tries to snag that pin immediately! This is energy for days as Henry get arm dragged to the floor! Henry takes a timeout to regroup and starts unloading the pain train. It’s short-lived? Rico with a baseball through through the legs and just taking it to Anthony! Chop on the post! Crash and burn into the chairs but Henry is going strong now. Rico weathers the storm, cartwheel to a slap! Dive to the floor, GOOD CATCH. Rico staggers Henry with a knee! Round the world works this time? Henry dodges but eats a driveway dropkick! This is NOT the match I expected….nor Henry, I imagine. Henry with a gut kick and piledriver. Rico kicking out! Rico dodges a headlock, roll up fails but he’s off the second with a kick to the face! Mack abandons commentary to cheer Rico from ringside! Rico is fired up, he wants this! He eats the chops….Rico back with punches. Double stomp drops Henry on the apron! This is awesome. Henry with a catch and hits a face buster, powerbomb and piledriver in sequence. Massive combo and Rico stays down for the three. Excellent match and Rico made Henry WORK for this one. 

Winner: Anthony Henry

AC Mack in the ring to check on Rico. Henry pushes him away so he can pull Rico up and give him a hug of respect. This is a hell of a moment as the crowd chants for Rico. Mack’s on the mic. Give it up for Rico….and Henry. The entire roster surrounds the ring. Mack says he has some bad news. He is going to be stepping away from professional wrestling. He’s not RETIRING, per say. He just doesn’t have the passion for the grind any more. He wants to leave on his terms but he puts over the entire roster as being hungry for this. He apologies for springing this on everyone but it’s time. He has one match left and it will be with Rico again. He says he’ll be AROUND….just not in the ring. The crowd begs for his entrance rant ONE MORE TIME. The crowd rants along, chanting Southeast First. This is just heart ripping. He calls out his well-earned accolades and the crowd chants for him. CEO Matt Griffin hits the ring and gives Mack a hug. There’s a LOT of hugs on this one. Mack leaves his Swat Vest over the top rope. Mack is just walking through the crowd and dishing out all the hugs. There is one kid that is just inconsolable right now and Mack squats down to help. I’m not crying, you’re crying. How….the F***….am I supposed to watch another wrestling match right now? JFC. Scott Hensley is in “the show must go on” mode. The crowd cheers for the action so let’s go! Shake it off, Cardoza!

Match 3: Sir Knight Merrik Donovan vs Bobby Flaco

Donovan has been on the shelf for a while and is making his return! Bobby trips him to the ropes quick…..but Sir Knight quickly scoops him up for a trio of big slams. The last one went into the bottom rope and Bobby’s fun party atmosphere is cut real short. Bobby reverses a suplex to a stunner but Sir Knight transitions him to a snap German. Donovan has always been a powerhouse but there’s a renewed energy and brutality to him right now as he smashes Bobby into the apron. The crowd trying to will Flaco back into the fight. He dodges a crossbody and Merrik wipes out in the buckles….ow. Bobby with a X factor. High angle ddt for two! Sir Knight back up and trying to bully Bobby. Flaco responds with hard slaps and forearms. Donovan is staggered…..but crumbles Bobby with a hard forearm. He tries the off with his head axe handle but Bobby ducks out. Tornado ddt into the apron! Merrik rolls in and Bobby flies off the top with a cutter for the win! Welcome back Merrik Donovan! Great showing out tonight. 

Winner: Bobby Fkaco

Match 4: Culture Inc(c) (Eli Knight & Malik Bossed w/ Nick J Holliday) vs Out of This World (BK Westbrook & Arik Royal) (for the ACTION tag team championships)

BK and Royal just taunting the crowd with all these belt motions. The crowd LOVES Culture Inc. The challengers try to get in their head early but Knight waits out the antics and makes BK taste his feet the hard way. BK slingshotted into a ddt. Royal tries to help but meets a similar fate. Stereo dive to the floor! BK finally gets a meaningful shot in and Out of this World takes over on Knight. Keep Malik off the apron and try to steal that pin. Bossed finally tags in and running through BK. But bulldog to the knee. Nick Holliday pulls the rope on Ace and Malik dives out at him. Big dropkick doesn’t secure the three on BK. Malik trying a dive but he gets caught and smashed into the top rope for to. Big basement tackle from Arik. Royal’s had enough and wipes out Holliday. Elbow dropped on Malik for two. Working Bossed over in their corner while Knight watches helplessly. Ref Kim kicks away an illegal pull for leverage. Malik escapes and gets the tag! BK shotgunned as Knight also lands huge shots to Royal on the floor! High angle cross body for two! He goes back to the top but Royal is there to crotch him on the top. Malik cuts off the AceGawd….Bk going for a superplex…Royal with a smash into the apron…Knight misses a double stomp and Royal with an exploder! Malik’s head kicked off! This is their best chance but Knight makes the save. Malik fights off a powerbomb! BK springboard back elbow…..Knight springboard right into a BK bomb! Royal heading up for the finish but Malik intercepts! Holliday has Royal distracts briefly and Malik rolls him up for the three! This was nuts. 

Winners: Culture Inc. 

Match 5: Billie Starks vs Kaia McKenna

Early test of strength, Kaia with a chop to the throat and landing knees on space Jesus. Bulldog for two. Billie stuffs a suplex attempt….big suplex neck breaker for two! Billie sweeps the leg and tries to kick her teeth out. Billie hooks the leg around her neck and starts choking Kaia up on the ropes. Big Billie suplex for two. Kaia tries to reverse a whip but Billie is just outpacing her. Another hard cho[ from Kaia and a side slam for tow. Kaia goes for a pounce but Billie reverses to a gory bomb. Swanton…Starkz hits the knees! Kaia tearing Bilie to the mat by her shoulder over and over. Kaia trying to choke Billie out with her own arm. Kaia falls back into the hold….Billie doesn’t want to tap….she squirms to the ropes. Kaia coming back in for the kill but they meet in the middle and start trading hard. Kaia with a the press and raining shots down! Billie up and kicks her head off again. Swanton finds its mark this time and Starks gets the three. This was always gonna be a showcase match for Billie and it was nice to see Kaia making her debut but I wanted a little more out of this one. ACTION needs to find a reason for Billie to be here, not just because she’s Billie. I’ve love to see some kind of story for these matches going forward. We almost had one teased with Brogan a couple months ago. 

Winner: Billie Starkz

Match 6: Damyan Tangra vs Alex Kane (w/ Suge D, Kevin Ryan & The Wall)

It’s Grudge Match O Clock and Kane has brought all his boys for this one. Tangra is decked out like a true Star Lord. It’s a Guardians show after all. The bell rings and they go RIGHT TO IT. Kane trying to toss his old partner around but Tangra runs him right back and unloads bombs. Good Hand with the distract, Kane start bombing knees into Tangra in the front row. Kane throws him back in but Tangra is ready with a big back elbow. Kane throws him to the outside and Good Hand gets some shots in. Kane with a big apron splash. Every time Tangra looks like he’s coming back, the Good Hand is there to provide a nice distraction for Kane to recover. Back suplex to Tangra. Tangra snatches a guillotine choke…Kane powers through it and hits a X Plex. Kane wheelbarrows Tangra and just smashes his head into the buckles repeatedly. Tangra down and out on the floor.  Tangra fighting back again…he’s ready for the shenanigans and landing shots after shot and kick after kick. Tornado DDT for two! Kane snatches a gut wrench and power bombs Tangra for two! Kane comes running in….to a knee! Yakuza kick! Tangra with a spinning Michanoku driver! Tangra has it but the Good Hand pulls out the ref! The Good Hand is thrown out! Tango with a dive to the goons! Kane is left alone. He cuts Tangra in half with a spear! Mark of Kane connects! 1. 2. Th….Tangra kicks out! Crowd in full This is Awesome mode. Tangra seated on the top..Tangra reverses it….Kane blocks the superplex….Tangra hits a flatliner off the buckles and gets the win!!!

WInner: Damyan Tangra

Main Event: Adam Priest(c) vs Brogan Finlay (for the ACTION World Championship)

Brogan attacks right away! Priest with a hard hip toss to the mat. They fight to the floor….Brogan with a slam to the apron! Finlay runs him in and tries to take the win but it’s waaaaaaayyyyy to early for that. Brogan tries to feign a stomp but Priest picks the leg and punishes the kid for not taking this seriously. Brogan IS ready to play though and Priest gets sent back to the floor. Priest back in but Brogan dropkicks him out……Adam waiting for him and wraps a figure four on. Brogan’s tapping but they’re on the floor! Finlay back in with a huge German and lariat for two! Elbow drop for another two. Brogan is really bringing it. Adam dodges a knee in the corner…..cradle German! Piledriver for two! Priest has the crimson mask on but he hits a pair of his snap dot’s to get the pin and retain! This was a sprint but Brogan really tried to make his mark against ol’ Any Style. 

Winner: Adam Priest

Overall, very much enjoyed this show top to bottom but the story EVERYONE is going to be talking about here is the emotional departure of AC Mack. This was an absolute heart wrecker of a moment but I’m glad he gets to walk away knowing it’s TIME. As far as matches go, Rico and Henry put on a damn show. I also really enjoyed Donovan and Flaco. The BIG STORY clash of Tangra & Kane might be my match of the night. Kane has been on a TEAR outside of ACTION so with all of Suge’s posturing, I think a lot of people expected the numbers game to not be in Tangra’s favor…so seeing him work hard and persevere in an emotional battle was awesome. 

 

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