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Reel Rumble V took place last night at the legendary Mahoning Drive-In in Leheighton, PA There were 5 bouts in the ring presented by the LVAC, under the large Mahoning screen, and later, once the sun goes down, John Carpenter’s classic, They Live starring Rowdy Roddy Piper, presented on 35mm film! Last year’s event saw the wrestling portion canceled due to weather for the first time, and the digital presentation of a movie starring luchador Santo drew a very small crowd as a result.
This year was quite the comeback with attendance around 450, and Mahoning GM Mark Nelson told me it was the most for any Reel Rumble ever! The crowd was especially impressive since the better attended Reel Rumbles in the past took place on Fridays and Saturdays, which are typically much busier than a Sunday, where Reel Rumble V took place!
I hit traffic on the way, so my 3 ½ hour drive turned into a 4 ½ hour drive, and, while I made it in time for the matches, I didn’t get to soak up the atmosphere of the event or take pics of the costumed attendees as I would normally like to. On to the matches!
Up first, Athan Promise vs Ultimo Ant - Some comedy spots as you might expect with a bout involving the Ants, but quite a bit of actual wrestling too! Athan Promise wins via tapout
Lost Boys- Miles Penn and Ryan Rise vs Club Soda - Jeff Cannonball and Puf with Simon Sutherland
Jeff Cannonball and Puf are veterans of Reel Rumble, with Jeff having worked hard hitting hardcore matches with plenty of comedy spots. Puf has mostly done multi person matchups with some comedy spots. This matchup was all about the comedy, and the crowd loved it! Club Soda is all about drinking soda, even while wrestling, and trying to get their opponents to enjoy a cold beverage as well, of course The Lost Boys aren’t fans of soda. Some funny spots saw Jeff and Puf each hit moves while keeping a soda in their other hand and sipping it between moves. Eventually the action headed to the Mahoning trailer and Jeff Cannonball got locked in. Puf was stuck without a tag partner when someone in an ALF costume came for the tag – yes, ALF, the 1980s sitcom – ALF turned on Puf and put the boots to him! Lost Boys win, pinning Puf after a moonsault. ALF unmasked but I didn’t recognize him, though a lot of the crowd did.
Vita Von Starr vs Erica Leigh
Good back and forth bout with a mix of athletic moves, submissions and a few high spots. Erica gets the win after an elbow drop off the top rope
“Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams vs Drew Gulak
The most wrestling based match of the night by far, lots of chain wrestling, including a knuckle lock that was held while taking the match outside the ring! The crowd was a bit slower to get into this one, and chanted “Honey Mustard” at Drew Gulak as a counterpoint to Tracy Williams “Hot Sauce”. Back and forth action that saw Drew slightly busted open, but win via tapout with the Gulock. After the match Drew was announced as “Honey Mustard” Drew Gulak! When shaking hands after the match, Tracy Williams planted a kiss on Gulak.
Hallowicked, Kodama & Lucky vs Big Dan Champion, Cheeseburger and La Chica
This match was a spectacle of comedy spots, athletic moves and a few high spots. Big Dan has worked every Reel Rumble, and now has a Bruce Springsteen gimmick, making a very energetic entrance running around celebrating with the crowd to start things off. Big Dan getting in power spots while Cheeseburger and La Chica played cleanup with highspots was how most of the match played out. Hallowicked, Kodama and Lucky couldn’t get on the same page, with one holding an opponent for the other to hit, only to have the opponent break free just in time to make them hit their teammate. This was done a few times, and the crowd loved it. Big Dan had been dominating the match when a loud voice came to tell him he wouldn’t make it to the next LVAC show in October, since his career would end tonight! It was Ultramantis Black, and he was on top of the ring truck! Big Dan came over and got jumped and flung into the truck with a thud. However, in the ring, Cheeseburger scored the pin on Hallowicked via rollup! The heels went to attack after, but Big Dan makes the save with a chair!
Such a fun time! Wrestlers took pictures and signed autographs after at their booths. The crowd loved the show and the large attendance and Mahoning staff’s love of doing Reel Rumble make Reel Rumble 6 happening next year a sure thing!
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