Prestige Wrestling Roseland 7 took place on January 5, 2024 at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon. The event can be watched on-demand at IWTV.
Big time card tonight, including a Fatal 4-way main event for the Prestige World Championship. Although Kevin Blackwood is out of that match so we’ll see how that’s worked out. Crowd is super jacked at the start.
The announcers are Jordan Castle and Brian Zane.
Opening Contest: Prestige Wrestling Tag Team Championships – C4 (Cody Chhun, Guillermo Rosas) (c) vs. Sinner and Saint (Judas Icarus and Travis Williams)
Alan Angels joins the commentary team. Travis Williams and Chhun start. They trade wristlocks and headlock takeovers to a standoff. Rosas tags in and shoulderblocks Williams down as Icarus gets a blind tag, hitting an assisted Russian leg sweep by the challengers for two. Rosas fights back with a pair of hiptosses and tags Chhun. He avoids a double team and gets a dropkick to Williams and tags Rosas back in. Big back body drop to Icarus and a suplex/dropkick combo for two. S&S double team Rosas to take over and Williams gets the Professional Lariat for two. More double-team moves by S&S with Icarus in hammering away on Rosas. Icarus stops to celebrate which allows Rosas to tag Chhun back in. Single leg dropkick to Icarus and a corner splash by Chhun. Big DDT gets two for Chhun. Another corner splash is countered by Icarus with a boot, and Williams gets the tag. Rollup by Chhun gets two and a headbutt but Williams falls on top as both men collapse and gets two. Rosas tags in with German suplexes for S&S. Corner clotheslines and a bulldog/clothesline combo take out the challengers. Sitout powerbomb on Williams gets two. Chhun tags in, still weary from the earlier beating. Assisted sitout powerbomb gets another two count for C4. Icarus takes out Rosas on the floor and guiliotines Chhun on the top rope. Assisted German suplex by S&S get a close two on Chhun. Icarus clotheslines Chhun to the outside and hit a pair of impressive dives to the floor. Chhun knocks the challengers together and manages a springboard Cody Cutter on S&S. Chhun dives to the outside to take out Icarus and Rosas takes down Williams in the ring. Hi/Lo hits for C4 but Icarus breaks up the pin. Angels leaves the commentary booth and slides a tag belt in the ring allowed Icarus to use it and Sinner and Saint get Just Like Heaven to win the tag titles! Good match, with good heat and a newsworthy title change. No complaints here. ***½
Match Two: Liiza Hall vs. Skye Blue
Despite getting blue streamers from the crowed, Blue is the heel here in her Prestige debut. They exchange snapmare/back kick combos which Hall gets the better of. Blue quickly takes over however with some aggression, but Hall counters and gets a Cloverleaf. Blue kicks out of that and chokes away in the corner with a boot. Snap suplex by Blue gets two. Skye Blue charges and misses receiving a high kick and low DDT from Hall for a two count. Rain City Stretch applied by Hall but Blue fights to the ropes. To the top, but Blue slides out and superkicks Hall in the head, followed by a powerbomb for two. Blue to the top but dives into a cutter from Hall and both ladies are down. They slug it out ending with Hall getting a superkick. On the apron now where Hall gets a nice looking DVD. Back in that gets two. Blue reverses a piledriver and gets a superkick, but the Code Blue cannot connect. German suplex by Hall with a bridge gets two. Blue catches a kick and they kind of exchange kick attempts which ends with Blue getting a rollup for the win. **
Match Three: Jordan Cruz vs. Jaiden
This is a rematch from the Alive! Show in November where Jaiden got the upset win and Cruz destroyed him after the match. Cruz wearing green tights tonight is giving off Billy Jack Haynes vibes. Jaiden fires away and uses his speed to avoid any big blows from Cruz. Low dropkick by Jaiden seems to just make Cruz angrier. Corner stunner by Jaiden, but Cruz goes for a Burning Hammer which Jaiden flips out of and goes up. Cruz with a jumping knee strike there sending Jaiden to the apron. Cruz grabs Jaiden by the throat and tosses him into a metal pole outside the ring. Release German suplex by Cruz followed by a knee strike and No More Sorrow, but Cruz pulls up Jaiden after a two count. Burning Hammer hits this time for the dominant win. I liked the story here with Cruz changing his attitude after the upset loss in November, coming back with a hard-hitting dominant win. Suerly more to come between these two. **½
Match Four: Lio Rush vs. Samuray del Sol
Prestige debut for Lio Rush. This one may be tough to keep track of. Dueling chants from the crowd and we are indeed off to a fast start as they work through a series of counters. Flying armdrag by del Sol and he fakes a dive to the outside. Back in, more counters leading to Rush hitting a quick enzuigiri for two. Rush with a clubbing forearm and clothesline for two. Corner attack and running lariat get another two for Rush. Rush with a crossface now which del Sol counters with a jawbreaker. Springboard attempt by del Sol is avoided and Rush hits a superkick. Handspring enzuigiri by del Sol gets two. Double bicycle kicks put both men down. Haymakers by del Sol countered by a Stunner and a Falcon Arrow by Rush for a close two count. Lio Rush goes up for the frog splash but del Sol gets the boots up. Salida del Sol hits but Lio gets his foot on the rope for a two count. Another Salida del Sol attempt is blocked, but a superkick lands for del Sol. Springboard is avoided and Rush gets a discus lariat and nails the Final Hour frog splash for the win. *** Good match that probably could have gone even longer.
Match Five: Midnight Heat (Ricky Gibson and Eddie Pearl) vs. The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry)
Midnight Heat baby. Fresh off the Dax Harwood stamp of approval this past week. WorkHorsemen have been seen in AEW, but built a name for themselves in the old Evolve promotion. “Portland’s Number One” Ricky Gibson starts against Henry. Armdrags by Henry and a leg lariat. Drake tags in and continues to work the arm of Gibson. Gibson tries chops on Drake, but you can’t outchop the ChopFather. Pearl in now and immediately feels the chop power of Drake. Gibson grabs the leg of Drake to let the heels take over. Clothesline by Gibson gets two. Irish whip to the corner is reversed, allowing Henry to tag in and get some clotheslines and an overhead belly to belly. Bling tag from Pearl, but that gets nowhere with Drake coming back in and hitting a somersault senton. Big chops from Drake and tag to Henry. Penalty kick by Henry but a blind tag by Gibson allows the Heat to take over. Hard Irish whip to the buckle gets two for Gibson. Hiptoss attempt reversed to a backslide for two by Henry. Pearl comes in to cut off the tag attempt. Backdrop by Henry, but Gibson tags right in to cut off the tag to Drake once more. Henry fights in the corner but the Heat are too much for him to overcome. Corner charge by Gibson is avoided as he tags in Pearl who continues to cut off Henry from making the tag. To the top as the Heat go for a double superplex, but Henry fights off both, nails a crossbody and finally gets the tag to Drake. Pop-up flapjack and shining wizard for Drake. Neckbreaker/DDT combo by Drake on the Heat. Coner splash and belly to belly by Drake. Vader Bomb gets a close two count. Hart Attack from the WorkHorsemen gets two. They set up for a Doomsday Device but the Heat counter that and Eddie Pearl gets a Hangman’s brainbuster for two. Gibson tags in and the Heat set Henry up top for the Powerplex which gets another close two. Quick small package from Henry gets two and an enzuigiri. Running powerslam followed by a diving headbutt on Gibson gets broken up at two by Pearl. Henry clotheslines Pearl out of the ring and Henry and Drake hit an enzuigiri/flatliner combo, but Pearl pulls out the referee at two. Drake gets run into the pole on the outside and the Midnight Ride hits for the win for the Heat. You know what’s awesome? Great tag team wrestling. ***¾
Match Six: Rose City Deathmatch – Drexl vs. Amira
We’ve got several barbed wire weapons in the ring before the match even starts. This match was also set up at Alive! In November when Drexl took out Amira during her match with Rose on that show. The referee wearing gloves and eye goggles is a great call. Amira immediately dropkicks Drexl into doors full of light tubes and barbed wire. They fight on the floor as Drexl takes some bumps into chairs. The trashcan comes next with Amira blocking a tope attempt by using it. She pulls out a staplegun and uses that to her advantage. Next up we have papercuts to the web of the fingers on Drexl. Running knee by Amira and the next weapon of choice is chairs. Oh, and more light tubes. Amira sets up a chair in the corners, but the setup time allows Drexl to get the light tubes, hitting Amira with a series of them. DDT by Drexl. Drexl gets lemon juice and squirts it into the open wounds of Amira. He then pours salt in the wounds, literally. We get the skewers treatment next on Amira, as her beating continues. Drexl rams her head into one of the corner chairs. He breaks more light tubes himself in the center of the ring to get more glass and tries a piledriver, but Amira counters that with a Samoan drop into the glass. Clotheslines and a bodyslam, followed by a senton for two. Amira drops thumbtacks onto Drexl and they trade German suplexes onto the tacks with Amira getting a two count. Drexl gets a roll of the dice into the glass/thumbtacks for two. There’s a kiddie pool filled with barbed wire in the ring, which Amira gets a World’s Strongest Slam into for only two. Piledriver into the kiddie pool gets two for Drexl. Drexl sets up a barbed wire door onto chairs, puts light tubes on top and goes for a superplex, but Amira manages to slip out. She can’t get a powerbomb however and instead, Drexl piledrives her into the door for the win. I’m not a deathmatch person, but this seemed to work well enough in terms of getting more respect for Amira and showing her toughness. **½ Post-match, Drexl shows respect to Amira and puts her over. He then announces this is his last full year of wrestling after a 20-year career.
Match Seven: Sonico vs. Sami Callihan
Callihan attacks during Sonico’s entrance and talks trash on Roseland. Sonico recovers and gets a tope con hilo from the stage area. The fans hold Callihan while Sonico chops him, but Sami tosses Sonico into some chairs. More brawling on the outside and into the merch area. They continue through the crowd and up a set of steps into the balcony. Callihan with a DVD into some chairs on the stage. Finally onto the ring apron Callihan gets a piledriver. Hey, we’re in the ring now as the bell rings to officially start the match. Annnd Sonico immediately rolls him up for the pin. Callihan then steals the mask of Sonico and puts it on post-match. * Sonico has to cover his face on the way out. This one may have had more impact if it didn’t go on right after the deathmatch.
Match Eight: Josh Alexander vs. Timothy Thatcher
Alexander shoots the leg for the takedown and gets the advantage early, sending Thatcher retreating to the floor. Thatcher able to get control with some tormenting of the wrist. Alexander reverses out of that with an armbar takedown. Mat grappling ensues with Thatcher getting a keylock, but Alexander stacks him up for a quick pin attempt and break. Thatcher gets a slick looking bow and arrow into a cradle for a one count. Armbar and stump-puller from Thatcher, followed by a knee to the ribs of Alexander. Euro uppercut, but Alexander gets a low kick to the ankle and tries for an anklelock. Thatcher makes the ropes but Josh continues to go after the ankle now. Single-leg crab from Alexander, but Thatcher works his way out of that, rips Alexander down by the arm and goes to work on the left arm. Kneestrike from Thatcher gets two. To the corner, where Alexander blocks and goes back to the ankle of Thatcher. They smack each other and standoff with a strike exchange ending with a big boot from Alexander for two. Josh goes for an ankle hold but Thatcher switches into a crossface. Belly to belly suplex by Thatcher and then a back suplex gets two. Thatcher back to the arm of Alexander. Josh rolls through and elbows Thatcher in the head. Thatcher gets control with clubbing forearms and suplexes Alexander down. Alexander regains control and gets his own back suplex and a series of rolling Germans for two. Thatcher grabs an armbar on the kickout, but Alexander gets him up in a fireman’s carry and rolls through with a senton. Anklelock by Alexander but Thatcher rolls through and catches the Fujiwara armbar and Alexander taps out. Well-worked, crisp mat-based wrestling match where all the arm work factored into the finish. ***½
Match Nine: Sandra Moone vs. Willow Nightingale
We get a smile-off that I would say ends in a draw according to the crowd response. Moone grabs a headlock but Willow shoulderblocks her down. They struggle for a gutwrench suplex which neither can get, and Moone gets a sunset flip for two. Moone charges with a splash in the corner and hits ten clubbing forearms from the top. Moone can’t get a back suplex and Willow hits the Pounce to a big reaction. Corner hip attack from Willow and she boots Moone down for two. Snap suplex by Willow gets two. Side Russian legsweep from Willow. Willow charges the corner, but Moone pushes her away and gets a basement clothesline. More forearms from Moone follow and heads to the top for a missile dropkick for two. They exchange strikes and Willow cartwheels aside and gets a big lariat for two. Gutwrench powerbomb by Willow gets the win. Match was good post smile-off. **½
Main Event: Prestige World Championship – Alex Shelley (c) vs. Alan Angels vs. Chris Sabin vs. ???
Kevin Blackwood was unable to work this show, but instead of a triple threat we get a replacement in the form of Nick Wayne! That’s quite the welcome surprise, and I’m glad Christian Cage gave Nick the permission to work this show. Everyone immediately gangs up on Angels (the lone heel in the match) with the Guns hitting some of their trademark double-team moves. Angels eats a triple superkick and a hesitation dropkick from Wayne. Shelley catches Wayne with a dragonscrew and goes to work on the left leg. Wayne gets a stomp and arm wringer on the champion. Low dropkick from Shelley and another dragonscrew. Inverted figure-four but Angels is back to break it up, but Shelley catches him and drives him into the middle-turnbuckle. On the floor now Shelley lays in some chops but eventually misses one and hits the post. Angels takes out both of the MCMG with a somersault plancha. Back inside, Wayne hits Angels with a superkick but can’t hit Wayne’s World, allowing Angels to get a discus lariat for two. Sabin comes in with a missile dropkick on Wayne, and the MCMG double-team Angels once more. Wayne manages to evade the double-team moves but still gets a tornado DDT from Sabin for a two count. Wayne gets a Tiger kick on Sabin and a double-stomp to the arm. Angels and Shelley join the party and we’ve got a series of submissions which eventually breaks up. More double-teaming by the Guns takes out Angels. Wayne however gets a double cutter on the MCMG. Stunner by Wayne on Angels and a broken-heart buster. To the top, and Sabin runs in with a powerbomb, as Wayne superplexes Angels. Driver by Sabin on Wayne for a close two count. Sabin runs to the corner but gets caught by Angels and powerbombed followed by a spinning kick for two. Shelley breaks up the pin and goes face to face with Angels as they slug it out. DDT by Angels but an Angel’s Wings attempt is blocked by Wayne hitting a superkick. Shellshocked on Wayne gets two, and Shelley immediately goes to the Border City Stretch. Wayne rolls up the champion for two, and Angels runs in and gets some more double-teaming from the MCMG. Neckbreaker/splash combo is interrupted by Sinner and Saint running interference, and Angels gets a rollup for two. Sabin lifts Angels for Cradleshock but the official is knocked down. S&S jump at the opportunity to take out the Guns and Wayne. They hold Shelley allowing Angels to hit him with the World title belt. S&S look to do the same to Sabin but C4 runs in to even the odds. Wayne hits a huge somersault plancha from the top rope to the floor. Sabin with a running enzuigiri but Angels counters Cradleshock into the Angel’s Wings. Shelley comes in with a crucifix to sneak the pin and retain. ***¾ Thought maybe they’d use the 4-way to change the title but Shelley keeps it in a fast-paced match that had no slow spots.
Final Thoughts: This was advertised as a big show for Prestige, with some big names coming in for it, and I would say it delivered. Both tag team matches were excellent, and the main event hit on all cylinders. If deathmatches are your thing, I would say Drexl vs. Amira provided an entertaining one. Throw in solid matches from Alexander/Thatcher and Lio Rush/Samuray del Sol and this card was a winner.
Upcoming Prestige Shows:
2/25/2024 – A Moment of Violence