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ASE Wrestling "ASE4" review 6/22/24: The Dixon/Carter War Continues
Last night I attended the simply titled "ASE 4" event from ASE Wrestling at the Piedmont Open IB Middle School in the former home city of Jim Crockett Promotions, Charlotte.
Award winning journalist Christopher Lea and Pan Afrikan Diaspora champion Suge D on commentary, Gerard Bonner handling the post match interviews. The very impressive Nadia Hunter as ring announcer (the wife loves her).
Very good live hip hop performance from GO79MAN (Goldman). He debuted the ASE theme song "Power" and dropped a song dedicated to New Japan and TNA star "The Jet" Kevin Knight. That was nice.
"The Revolutionary" Darius Lockhart, curator and creator of ASE, makes the announcement that Caprice Coleman will now be the Commissioner of ASE so that he can focus on being an in ring competitor. That makes sense and Coleman is a perfect person to fill that role for a number of reasons. Lockhart also announces several upcoming shows for July, Aug and Sept.
Hot start with "The Gifted One" Yahya winning a 3 Way match over "The Ring Warrior" Labron Kazone and UK star "The Lyrical Dragon" Man-Like Dereiss in fun, fast paced match. All three guys looked good but that Yahya has become a standout with his performances. It's always a big moment when a man that size shows that kind of athleticism. He pins Kazone with a pop up Side Walk Slam. Nasty work. A tight face off after the match with Dereiss and Yahya. Maybe they run it back.
Making her ASE debut, Karen "Bam Bam" Renee defeated "The Little Blue Dragon" Tootie Lynn. Nice match with the striker vs the powerhouse. The powerhouse won with Renee pinning Lynn with a Banzai Drop from the middle rope. Renee moves to the Bonner interview section and calls out Faye Jackson, saying Jackson's been ducking her since promising to face her at the conclusion of the Black Girl Magik event last year in Brooklyn. Jackson comes to the interview set and the match is on for the Aug event. Good face off. They do some good episodic booking for a company with no tv.
"Fast as Hell" Ian Maxwell got a win over New Japan and TNA star "The Jet" Kevin Knight, a match set up at the previous event. A lot of great, impressive athleticism as you would expect from Knight and Maxwell. Knight pulled ahead, taking out Maxwell's left leg and focusing on it. There is a beautiful drop kick Knight hit on Maxwell while Ian was on the floor that has to be seen. Maxwell got the upset win by beating Knight into the ring to beat the ref's count. That boy fast as hell. Biggest win of Maxwell's career. Good wrestler with a great personality. Huge upside.
Charlotte native Jordan Holt made his ASE debut but made it facing "The Original Gothic Gangster" Trevor Aeon. Holt is very promising but Aeon is a veteran and creepy as hell. When he did that fast crawl as Holt to kick off the match, I jumped. Nah bruh. Not a long match but a solid short match. Aeon then takes advantage of the youngster after the match with a post match attack for no reason. Out came "The Creme Pie Papi" Reyhan Inteus, who shares a common trainer with Holt, to make the save, running Aeon off. There will be more to this one.
Another chapter in the red hot cross promotional feud between "The Allfather" Mr. Darius Carter and "The Business" Billy Dixon was written as the two had a wild brawl that had that gymnasium hopping. Had strong old school energy. Dixon is a good babyface but Carter is such a tremendous heat seeking heel so it makes it easy to hate Carter, starting with demanding Hunter hold the ropes for him and then brushing her with his foot to double down on the insult. Carter has the advantage on the floor and goes for a tool box under the ring, showing off the many tools he may use and drawing a hotter reaction with each one. He settles on a screwdriver but by the time he gets back to Dixon, Dixon has a steel chair and cracks him with it, drawing a disqualification. The hostility doesn't end just because the bell rang as they continue fighting with Dixon diving off a TALL A$$ ladder, driving Carter through a table. Then Coleman has a squad of security personnel come out and separate both men and end the whole thing. Big "LET THEM FIGHT" chant. Dixon is taken to the back, Carter taken out a side door outside.
And that's how we went to intermission. Whew.
Lea has a moment with producer Cliff Baumgardner to debut the trailer for their new documentary on the history of wrestling in the legendary Dorton Arena in Raleigh, "When Giants Walked Here". It debuts on PBS on Aug 8. Can't wait.
"The Working Team Captain" Owen Knight got the best of "Catch Flow" Darrian Bengston, making his ASE debut. They had an informal agreement to have a grappling match without striking. Bengston was getting the best of it so Knight caught him off guard with a leaping heel strike to get the win. Clean but shady. Good heel work. Knight goes over to Bonner to brag with Bengston hot on his heels. Coleman comes out, puts over the young Bengston and turns his attention to Knight, who is furious as the insult since he did win the match. Knight insults Coleman a few times, saying it's him--"your babymomma's favorite wrestler"--who should be the person new talent should go through when they come to ASE not the kid he just beat and Coleman apologizes for the disrespect he had shown Knight. He agrees. So for the Sept show, Knight will face a new star making his debut..."The Big Bad Kaiju" O'Shay Edwards (with accompanying frightening video package) Knight is speechless. Bonner wasn't and he spoke for us all, "Damn." Great segment.
Time for the semi main event as the reigning NWA Women's World tag team champions the King Bees (Charity King and Danni Bee) defeated former TNA Knockouts World/World tag champion Tasha Steelz (making her ASE debut) and "The Spark" Jada Stone, substituting for an injured Kiera Hogan, in a non-title match. Steelz and Stone were tough but lacked the experience together and tag team symmetry of the tag champs and King's power advantage was key with Bee pinning Stone after a King's Kiss powerslam. This was good. Steelz was NOT pleased with Stone.
Dream match main event of former Ring of Honor World champion "The Foundation" Jonathan Gresham losing a technical grappling masterpiece against the debuting former WWE Intercontinental champion "The Gold Standard" Shelton Benjamin. I love Gresham matches. There is always something new but logical in each other. He and Benjamin had a strong series of counters and takedowns just trying to get the advantage in a handshake. There seemed to be an issue with the ropes as referee Nick Shin (who is a great ref I see in promotions like House of Glory as well) called for someone to come out and tighten them up. That probably forced Gresham and Benjamin to change up what they wanted to do but they made it work. Gresham was focused on Benjamin's left arm but walked right into a Benjamin Paydirt face buster. Gold Standard with the win. Sincere promo from Benjamin after the match, putting over ASE as a promotion and as a concept. Being a South Carolina guy, we hope he comes back.
All the matches that needed to be short were but still accomplished something and the longer matches were all at least "good". The angles were all very well done to set up future shows (to have shows scheduled into Sept is a good sign). An expertly run show and one I would highly recommend live or ordered through their YT link. All their shows have been enjoyable but this might be the best one to date.
The Real Uncle Dave grade: A (95 out of 100)
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