February 20th, 2016 Results
Feb 29, 2016 21:31:24 GMT -7
Post by Dustin Salyers on Feb 29, 2016 21:31:24 GMT -7
February 20th, 2016
Westgate Community Center
Columbus, OH
Matt "Iron" Cross defeats "No Mercy" Tommy Mercer with a sunset flip pin in 11:56. This match followed the classic script of the powerful big man versus the agile little guy with the interesting addition of Cross' gymnastic background creating innovative counters throughout. Mercer seemed to be in control for the majority of the match, helping to create an unexpected moment when Cross countered a spear with a sunset flip to score the surprising three count.
Sans entrance music and ring gear, Johnny Gargano would walk to the ring and ask for a microphone from an obviously confused Joe Dombrowski, who had entered the ring just moments before to announce the participants of the second match. Gargano would apologize for his intrusion and immediately announce a formal challenge to Chase Owens for the World Jr. Heavyweight Championship, listing March 5th as his proposed date for the match. Without warning, entrance music or ring gear, Trevor Lee quickly made his way to the ring and began arguing with Gargano. Dombrowski hastily grabbed another microphone and handed it to Lee, who quickly pointed out that the only thing Gargano has done in 2016 is defeat Andrew Everett, the same man he defeated weeks prior to Gargano to win the Windy City Zero Gravity Tournament. Gargano nods his head as if to agree with Lee and acknowledges that Lee possibly deserves a Championship match with Owens himself based on his tournament win, but also notes "... maybe that's a conversation you should have with someone in Chicago". Gargano then adds that as a former World Jr. Heavyweight Champion he is "... no longer required to list his accomplishments..." when challenging Owens and seems to dismiss Lee as he tosses his microphone to Dombrowski and steps through the ropes. Lee quickly counters by saying that maybe Owens would be more inclined to accept his own challenge if he were to add a win over a former World Jr. Heavyweight Champion to his list of accomplishments, "... maybe someone like... I don't know... Johnny Gargano". Gargano pauses on the apron and stares at Lee for a moment before nodding his head in agreement and mouthing the word "... tonight". The crowd begins to cheer and Lee reiterates that tonight works for him as well as Gargano steps from the apron and begins walking back towards the locker room.
"The Killer Queen" Madison Rayne & Velvet Sky defeat "The Canadian Goddess" Candice LeRae & "The Gem City Queen" Nevaeh when Sky uses a Northern Light suplex hold on Neveah in 14:05. This match was dominated by the heated and often stiff exchanges between Rayne and LeRae, that extended beyond the confines of the ring several times. LeRae would score the highlight of the match when she connected with a suicide dive transitioned into a tornado DDT onto Sky at ringside, but was unable to capitalize when Rayne tossed her over the guardrail and into the front row. LeRae and Rayne were still battling outside the ring when Sky connected with a Northern Lights suplex and used a bridge to gain the victory.
Raymond "Death" Rowe defeats BJ Whitmer with a high-angle belly to back suplex in 12:45. This match told a story of Rowe's power being consistently countered by Whitmer's experience, leading to frustration for the Cleveland native. Rowe would nearly snap after he caught Whitmer with an exploder suplex, only to have the veteran drape his foot across the bottom rope at the count of two. Whitmer would battle back with a handful of shortcuts before being decimated by a high-angle belly to back suplex that obviously affected the surgically repaired neck of Whitmer.
Chris Hero surprises everyone by making his way to the ring in jeans and one of his t-shirts and without his entrance music, grabbing a microphone from Dombrowski along the way. Hero keeps things short and sweet, as he simply yells into the microphone "Ethan... Carter" before announcing that he doesn't want a match as much as he just wants to "... cross paths before throwing my elbow across your jaw...". Carter seemed eager to cross paths though as he made his way to the ring in slacks and a buttoned shirt, without the usual theatrics of his entrance. Carter snatched a microphone from Dombrowski and began walking around the ring as he explained to Hero that he needn't take Carter's actions from a couple weeks ago personally, because "... it was I... Ethan Carter... who was personally slighted..." Carter added that Hero had been given preferential treatment since returning to Ohio and that simply didn't set well with him so he chose to "... act in a manner that would draw sufficient attention to the subject... ". Hero seemed confused by Carter's ramblings, but Ethan continued by pointing out that although his aunt had agreed to "... finance the McMahon's family's latest business venture... and single-handedly keep the NWA afloat... ", it was Hero, and not himself, who was chosen to participate in the tournament to crown the next World Heavyweight Champion. Carter added that he originally thought that he could raise his own profile by embarrassing Josh Prohibition but it became clear that his actions were all but forgotten as he listened to the crowd's reaction to the match between Hero and Anderson, so he figured it was once more "...time to remind...". Hero finally cut Carter off by telling him to "...stop talking... stop walking... and bring you ass in this ring...". Carter stared a hole through Hero before dropping his microphone and slowly unbuttoning his shirt, but before he could climb into the ring he found himself sprawled on the floor at ringside from a lariat from Karl Anderson. Anderson had climbed over the guardrail and attacked Carter from behind before sliding under the bottom rope and immediately trading right hands with Hero. Officials would swarm the ring as Carter made his way under the bottom rope and brawl continued for several minutes before some resemblance of order was restored. All three men began throwing out challenges as they were being held back by officials, only calming down once it seemed all three had agreed to a match later in tonight.
"The Callihan Death Machine" Sami Callihan defeats "The Neon Ninja" Michael Facade with a Koji Clutch in 16:05. Callihan controlled the majority of this match with Facade using his athleticism to remain competitive throughout, including connecting with a corkscrew senton from the top rope as Callihan stood outside of the ring. Callihan would eventually level Facade with a forearm smash before using the Koji Clutch for the submission victory.
"The Whole Shebang" Johnny Gargano defeated "The Carolina Caveman" Trevor Lee by disqualification due to interference by Andrew Everett in 11:18. This match had just enough time to tease the fans with what could be possible between Gargano and Lee before Everett would jump the guardrail and attack Gargano just moments after Gargano had connected with a suicide dive as Lee stood at ringside. The referee called for the disqualification as Everett tossed Gargano into the first row of the crowd and then brawled with Lee until officials were able to pull them apart and escort Everett back to the locker room.
"The Knockout Artist" Chris Hero, "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson and "EC3" Ethan Carter III battle to a time limit draw in 30 minutes. The match was a terrific contest that featured innumerable near falls and plenty of action both in and out of the ring. All three men would have moments that seemed to signal the end of the match but there was either the unbelievable roll of a shoulder or a last second break-up of a pinfall. Hero would catch Carter with the Cravate-O-Clasm and Anderson with the Hero Sandwich, while Carter would use the TK3 on Anderson and a running corkscrew neckbreaker on Hero. Anderson would not be outdone though as he nearly won the match when he flattened Carter with a spinning spinebuster and again when Hero was dropped by a Death Valley bomb. The final bell would signal the end of the match but the fight continued until officials once more had to pull these three apart.
