GCW returns to Harpo’s in Detroit, the scene of the scaffolding crime only a few months ago. We’re fresh off the most recent Showboat shows, in-which Nick Gage defeated Jon Moxley for the GCW Championship, so things are moving here in the company. Especially with the rumors flying about potential Peacock/Streaming deals, WON’s Dave Meltzer potentially being trapped by Joey Janela’s WWE pushing tweets, it’s very fun.
Jordan Oliver vs. Shiho Hong
Opening the show, we’ve got GCW star Jordan Oliver going one-on-one with South Korean pro Shiho Hong. The duo start quick, if you’ve been lucky to have seen Shiho before, you would know this would be a quick-fire match, but Hong is also in there with one of GCW’s pillars, a harsh debut.
It’s an impressive debut from Hong, taking the fight to Oliver with speed, and high-risk. You’d think that it takes a second to acclimate to a culture like GCW’s, but with Hong calling Oliver a “motherfucker” throughout, he’s already feeling at home. Hong had a series of near-falls, a great showing for a debuting talent, however Oliver landing the Cloud Cutter got the win.
Don’t forget to also seek out Pro Wrestling Society, the home of Shiho Hong.
Cole Radrick vs. Blake Christian
The former GCW Extreme Champion Cole Radrick continues to smash his way through the year, and now steps in the ring with a man with a constant mixed reception in GCW, Blake Christian. Being away from the Showboat in Atlantic City allows Christian to not be showered with boos, but it’s still pretty mixed. Radrick’s previous A-canon GCW matches were stellar, while Christian is well protected, very rarely losing in singles matches.
These two are fast, with how much Radrick excels at deathmatches, it’s often understated how good of an in-ring wrestler he really is. His strange and eccentric style, which features lots of springboards and even a one-inch punch is always refreshing. Meanwhile, Blake Christian, especially here, shows that his quick paced style is so well designed to make others also look good.
It does that here, the two travel to all four corners with their moves. Christian shines with his faint springboard, into a 450-splash, that is quickly followed by the two going back-and-forth, before they travel to the top for the Spanish Fly, courtesy of Christian, and the 450 for the finish.
As said, Blake Christian is quite well protected in GCW and for good reason, he holds a back catalog of solid performances, and continues to insert new matches into said collection.
Kommander vs. Gringo Loco vs. ASF vs. Nick Wayne
A slapped together four-way contest featuring some of GCW’s finest. They open with speed, each getting a few licks in, including a nice series of spots between ASF and Wayne, there’s no doubt that this foursome would be a lucha libre infused speedfest.
ASF is often underrated, in my books anyway, his ability to just use an opponent as an opportunity to blow minds is often thrown away, especially his ability to just change direction in mid-air. Kommander has been getting his spots in across America and Mexico more-and-more recently, attempting to quickly note himself as a much see luchador in a scene of must see luchadors. He especially knows how to utilize his ability to walk the ropes, the balancing act that will never not be cool, especially his running from one turnbuckle to the other in-order to dive.
Nick Wayne, the young pillar, somewhat seemed less involved than the others, but when he was, his usual sparks flew. Wayne nabbed the win in the end, a series ending with the Poison Rana and the Cloud Cutter to pin the match “MVP” himself ASF. Understandably, both Oliver and Wayne grabbed victories ahead of their tag title match tomorrow.
Jonathan Gresham vs. YAMATO
YAMATO’s current excursion of the United States has been a pleasure to watch, with his GCW record currently at .500 after a loss to Tony Deppen, and a win over Mike Bailey at the Fight Club shows just two weeks ago. The first time that Gresham and YAMATO have shared a ring, which does make the mind wander to the thought that Gresham would be a great addition to Dragon Gate, but that’s for another time.
Gresham’s run in GCW has been fabulous, from challenging young pillars such as Nick Wayne, and getting the best out of vets like Too Cold Scorpio.
The duo open with chain wrestling, rolling through arm holds, one attempting to out show the other, Gresham’s wristlock not even breaking for a near-fall early. Gresham’s technical ability is well-known, however if you don’t watch Dragon Gate or have seen YAMATO previously, you’ll be treated to his own ability, something of a treat. Following the flying four way, the technical bout seems well fitted.
The two have a shoulder block challenge in the middle, continuing until Gresham is knocked down. It’s mentioned earlier, but the sheer mass and strength that Gresham has added over the last few years is an extraordinary transition from watching him ten years ago. Funnily enough, it makes you think of when YAMATO frequented the US under the Dragon Gate USA banner back in the early 2010s, and to think this Jonathan Gresham could’ve likely been the company’s figurehead stylistically.
Gresham’s joint manipulation on the grounded YAMATO is harsh, but he’s able to fight back, with YAMATO continuing to answer. YAMATO aims for the legs, Gresham lands forearms to the arm of YAMATO as his target, before the duo exchange near-falls with roll-up pins, with YAMATO appearing to grab the three on one of them, but alas we continue.
They return fire at one another, and Gresham is able to land a combo and roll him up with his usual bridged pinfall. YAMATO argues afterwards about his potential three-fall. Fabulous match, perfectly placed and timed. Gresham continues to shine, and YAMATO unfortunately drops his record to a 1-2.
BUSSY (Effy & Allie Katch) vs. Chase Burnett & MM3
Chase Burnett for me, is a character that doesn’t seem to get old, the ol’ timer remains fun.
It seemed quite early in the contest that BUSSY was on the back foot, Burnett & MM3 even taking them to the outside for dives from both of them, although that quickly changed. BUSSY utilize frequent tags, and their tag power to their advantage, holding Burnett inside. Their Atomic Drop/Punch combo is such a fun one.
MM3 looks gold, landing several moves that really catch the eye. BUSSY grab the expected win, with their Super Zack. It’s a messy match, with seemingly a lot of moves going awry, but it’s fun nonetheless.
Unfortunately, BUSSY seems to be drifting, hopefully the possible Charles Mason/Allie Katch feud can take some attention, and we’ll continue to dream about Jarrett/Effy’s return match. Tomorrow they’re in key singles matches.
Shane Mercer vs. Tommy Vendetta
HorrorSlam’s very own Tommy Vendetta steps back into GCW and face-to-face with the beast that is Shane Mercer. Bundles in the corners, and we start quick with Vendetta taking advantage, delivering a piledriver within the first of his moves.
Mercer takes the tubes first, as Vendetta drags him around the ringside to the “Over Here!” crowd chants. Vendetta becomes elevated, and jumps off the upstairs seating, but the beast Mercer catches him like nothing.
Mercer seems to be taking the brunt of the match, the tubes, chairshots and the door in the corner, hopefully ones that aren’t scheduled for later. Vendetta begins to stack doors on the outside, but is caught by Mercer and meets tubes head-on. The duo start to walk onto the stage seating, past the commentary table.
Mercer tries a Razor’s Edge off the stage to the plunder below, blocked, Vendetta tries and is blocked again, and Mercer is able to lift him with the military press and plummet him at least 20 feet below to the tables and tubes. By-time they return to the ring, Vendetta kicks out to a hometown roar. Mercer drops LEGO bricks into the ring, which I’m sure we all would understand how much they suck to fall on.
Vendetta, perched on the top rope, is smashed with four straight light tubes, Mercer climbs up for his Moonsault & Battery onto the tubes and LEGO below. Unfortunately, he misses the lighttube, but doesn’t forget as he just smashes it and finishes with the win.
Shane Mercer should be on every GCW show, an all-rounder that takes carnage with him. Tommy Vendetta had a good showing in his hometown.
Jimmy Lloyd vs. Hoodfoot
It didn’t take long for these two to start, Hoodfoot taking a dropkick and falling into a pane of glass in the corner, followed by tubes to the head and a bit of face reshaping by the Different Boy.
The last GCW show that Hoodfoot was apart of was in Detroit also, in-which he suffered a serious injury in a match with Slade, but he’s back now. They quickly set up a barbed wire glass pane across two chairs, with Lloyd going through it, with a crash. Lloyd lands a death valley driver through glass, using his often underrated strength to carry the large Hoodfoot.
Hoodfoot’s GCW resume is full of great deathmatches already, including wins over Matt Tremont, and Mad Man Pondo, so this would be a great win. Lloyd climbs to the top, another pane across chairs in the center, Hoodfoot decks him with tubes to halt. Hoodfoot brings out lighter fluid, and sets the pane on fire, and press slams Lloyd off onto it for a two count.
Following, Hoodfoot continues, sticking him under a pane across chairs, a repetitive theme. He lands an elbow off the second rope, and the pin, but only two. The ring is covered with carnage, as Hoodfoot lands a Saito Suplex into a pane standing in the corner for the final three.
Understandably, it was a repetitive bout with the chair spots, and it should have ended with the fire spot, but a fun one. It’s great to see Hoodfoot back.
DLC Match for the GCW Tag Team Titles: Los Macizos vs. Second Gear Crew vs. The Mega Bastards (c)
We’re back after a break for the main event, the Doors, Ladders & Chairs match for the GCW Tag Team Titles, as the Mega Bastards of John Wayne Murdoch and Alex Colon defend against Los Macizos (Ciclope y Meido Extremo) and the Second Gear Crew (represented by Matt Justice & Mance Warner).
Quickly the action spills outside, with the Macizos flying to the outside after. The action sprawls around the outside. Understandably, a difficult match to keep an eye on but GCW’s split cam works hard. We knew this would be a wonderful car crash. Barbed wire, doors, chairs all come into play fairly quickly. Colon, wearing his Mega Bastards wifebeater, takes a beating from Macizos, while on the other side, Mance Warner was given a barbed wire vasectomy as it seemed.
The last time Harpo’s was invaded, the Second Gear Crew were in the High Incident scaffold match, so the Detroit audience knows the wild battles that can come here. In the middle, all the teams are on the stage above plunder below, Colon takes a death valley driver high off the ladder to tables below.
Macizos seemed to be in control, the calculated team, building contraptions while Second Gear Crew did their usual CTE-bidding-war routine with chairs and doors. A double decker doors on chairs build is set in the ring, Mance pulls off a Superplex on Murdoch, followed by the flying splash by Justice for the two, but broken up by Extremo. Murdoch decides to bring two boxes of light tubes to the ring, and decides to battle Macizos in the ring.
Ciclope is driven off the apron with a destroyer from Murdoch, crashing through doors. Extremo returns to slam Colon with a Code Purple, but is quickly stopped by SGC. The crew set-up chairs for a seated bar fight, two on one Colon. It’s a fun breather spot, followed by a double chokeslam and pin, that’s broken by Extremo.
All three teams get their cuts in, before they come to a light tube war in the center, with all of them taking a brunt. The crew are sat in the corners, tubes placed in front of a stereo facewash from Macizos, and pin, but it’s broken by Murdoch. Los Macizos are proving within this match that they’re very likely the best team in GCW, the duo know where one another is at all times, their combos, ability, they’re just so wonderful to watch.
SGC destroy Murdoch with tubes, and go for a fall but are stopped by Macizos, the two teams go for a battle. SGC and Macizos just destroy each other with tubes in the ring, it’s very fun to watch. Macizos drop Justice on his head with a piledriver into the glass, and block off Murdoch to claim the titles.
It’s a rare moment where the best team in the match get what they deserve, the GCW Tag Team Titles.
Results
- Jordan Oliver def. Shiho Hong
- Blake Christian def. Cole Radrick
- Four Way Match: Nick Wayne def. Gringo Loco, ASF and Komander.
- Jonathan Gresham def. YAMATO
- BUSSY (Allie Katch & Effy) def. Chase Burnett & MM3
- Shane Mercer def. Tommy Vendetta
- Hoodfoot def. Jimmy Lloyd
- DLC Match for the GCW Tag Team Championships: Los Mazisos (Ciclope & Miedo Extremo) def. Mega Bastards (Alex Colon & John Wayne Murdoch) (c) and Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner & Matthew Justice) to become the new GCW Tag Team Champions
The show ends with a Collective 2023 announcement, pumped up throughout the show, which turns out to be a DDT vs. GCW show at the Collective in Los Angeles next year.
*BREAKING*
As announced by @JANELABABY…@ddtpro is coming back to the USA for 2 big shows during the 2023 Edition of The Collective in LA!
3/30 – DDT Goes Hollywood
3/31 – GCW vs DDTAdditional info coming soon!
For more updates, follow @collective2022 on Social Media! pic.twitter.com/bz5PGNljEV
— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) October 23, 2022
It’s a fun outing back at Harpo’s, with the usual mixture of styles, with the main event essentially being all that it seemed, a mayhem induced car crash. If there’s anything to single out, it’s the Oliver/Hong, YAMATO/Gresham match, and the main event DLC match, the latter two will likely appear on my Best of GCW 2022 list come December.
GCW returns today with Moment of Clarity on FiteTV.