On Friday, February 9th, Freelance Wrestling held its big event, “From Freelance With Love.” The event streamed live on IWTV.
The show saw many fantastic moments and matches, including an incredible main event for the Freelance World Championship between Storm Grayson (c) and Lio Rush. We also saw Darin Corbin defend his Legacy Championship against Davey Bang, a leather strap ass whooping match, and so much more. Check out the full recap and review below.
ATM vs. AJZ vs. Alfredo Melies vs. Shaq Jordan vs. Sean Galway vs. August Matthews
Winner: August Matthews
Freelance Wrestling kicked off “From Freelance With Love” as they do at every show, with a big six-person scramble match. Not only are these great for getting more talent booked, but they’re also always a fun showcase style of match. It’s always a blast seeing these scrambles kick off the shows, and it truly does an excellent job of setting the tone for the rest of the night at every show, and this show was no different.
This match featured a lot of up-and-coming talents that the independent wrestling scene should start to get to know. The match also saw one of the biggest stars of Freelance Wrestling, August Matthews, in this match. Matthews usually teams up with Davey Bang and the two have one of the most successful teams on the independent wrestling scene today, “Bang and Matthews.”
The match started hot and the action picked up quickly. Each of the six competitors got to hit their best moves, and not only show up, but show out too. Ultimately, August Matthews pins Sean Galway to win the scramble. This was a very fun opening contest and truly set the tone for the rest of the night. AJZ and Shaq Jordan truly looked like a million bucks themselves, as well.
Trevor Outlaw vs. Chico Suave
Winner: Chico Suave via DQ
Trevor Outlaw is arguably the top heel in Freelance Wrestling. The heat this guy gets from the Freelance faithful is truly a sight to see. In this match, Outlaw found himself up against arguably one of the biggest fan-favorites in Freelance, Chico Suave. When these two wrestled last May, Suave defeated Outlaw in just one minute. Outlaw was out for vengeance tonight and to right the wrongs of his past 12 months.
The match starts with Outlaw slapping Suave in the face. Suave, however, responds with one of his own and we get off to a hot start. The two brawl at ringside with Suave remaining in control. However, as they go back into the ring, Outlaw hangs Suave over the top rope and sends him crashing and burning to the guardrail. The fans let Outlaw know what they think of him with plenty of “F*** YOU, TREVOR!” chants followed by chants of “CHICO!”
Just as it looked like Suave had the match won, the lights go out and a masked man hits Suave over the head with a chair causing him to win the match by disqualification. The masked man is revealed to be Frank The Clown, and he has aligned himself with Outlaw. The two men take out Suave and leave him lying. As Frank The Clown is about to talk, he gets interrupted by a returning Danhausen.
Danhausen has a faceoff with Frank The Clown before attempting a GTS on Outlaw. However, Frank The Clown saves Outlaw and the two make a break for it. Danhausen challenges them to a match on March 7th, and the fans go crazy. This is going to be a very fun tag team match, and Danhausen back in Freelance is awesome to see.
Alfonso Gonzalez vs. Shazza McKenzie vs. Koda Hernandez
Winner: Koda Hernandez
Alfonso Gonzalez makes his way to the ring first to the cheers of the Freelance faithful. Shazza McKenzie is the next to make her way down to the ring, once again getting a lot of cheers from the Freelance fans. Koda Hernandez is the third and final competitor in this match. Hernandez is arguably one of the biggest breakout stars of Freelance Wrestling, and rightfully so. This match truly has the word banger written all over it.
The match starts with Alfonso talking to both his opponents. The fans chant “SHUT THE F*** UP!” and McKenzie and Hernandez take him out and square off on their own. After a series of pin attempts, Hernandez lands two suplexes on McKenzie, followed by two on Gonzalez. Hernandez then calls for a double suplex, but McKenzie and Gonzalez double-suplex him instead.
When Gonzalez and McKenzie face-off, Shazza gets the best of him. Both McKenzie and Hernandez beat up the abdomen of Gonzalez. After some more great back-and-forth action, McKenzie takes out both Hernandez and Gonzalez with a cross body and gets fired up taking out both of her opponents. This match continued to be an incredible triple threat right up to the very end.
Ultimately, Hernandez lands his finishing move on Gonzalez to win the match. This was truly an incredible match. If it isn’t obvious already, Hernandez should truly be next in line for the Freelance Legacy Championship, a title that Koda has made sure people know he has his eyes on. McKenzie and Gonzalez truly looked incredible as well.
Open Challenge match: Isaias Velazquez vs. Kylie Rae
Winner: Kylie Rae
Announced earlier today, Isaias Velazquez wanted to issue a challenge to “someone from the Freelance Academy.” The self-proclaimed “Ace of Freelance,” Isaias Velazquez had one goal in mind, to make himself look good. The Pokemon theme song plays, and out comes Kylie Rae. The fans truly mark out, as it’s been about a year since she was last seen in Freelance.
The fans let Rae know how much they missed her with “WELCOME BACK!” and “WELCOME HOME!” chants. The two start with some chain wrestling and a feeling-out process of sorts. When Velazquez offers a handshake for the third time, Rae goes to accept, however, Velazquez uses this opportunity to spit water in her face and send her shoulder first into the ring post. Therefore, Velazquez is now in firm control of this match-up.
Rae attempts to fight back and lands a superkick for just a two-count. After some more terrific back-and-forth action, Rae counters Velazquez’s finisher with a roll-up for a three-count. This was such an awesome match and moment. Seeing the return of Kylie Rae was so special, and all in all, Velazquez was a great first opponent back. Afterward, Sabin Gauge attacks Rae from behind and leaves her lying as Velazquez heads to the back clapping.
Leather Strap Ass Whooping Match: Craig Mitchell (w/ James Russo) vs. Dan The Dad
Winner: Craig Mitchell (w/ James Russo)
This match is exactly what it sounds like. The only way to win is by pinfall or submission, and there are no disqualifications. Craig Mitchell, accompanied by James Russo, makes his way down to the ring first, getting a lot of boos from the Freelance faithful. Dan The Dad makes his way to the ring next, and he’s the clear-cut favorite.
Dan The Dad laid out the challenge for this match last month, and the two quickly started things off. Before the bell, Dan The Dad takes the fight to Mitchell on the outside. However, the bell rings finally once the two men are bound by a strap. The two continue to go to war on the outside of the ring with Dan The Dad remaining in control.
Once the match spills back over into the ring, Russo gets involved which leads to Mitchell quickly changing the momentum of this match. Dan The Dad tries to fight back, to no avail. However, Dan The Dad lands a massive spinebuster on the big man to change the tides of this match. Dan The Dad attempts a big flatliner on the chair, but Mitchell reverses with an exploding suplex into the corner.
Mitchell comes undone from the strap and calls for a moonsault on Dan The Dad. However, Dan The Dad moves out of the way and lands a big helluva kick on Mitchell. He follows this up with a baby on board and pins Mitchell. Russo makes the save, and just as Dan goes to attack Russo, Mitchell lands a low blow and follows it up with his finishing move on the chair for the three-count. This was a fantastic strap match, and this rivalry is going to continue to heat up.
Freelance Legacy Championship match: Darin Corbin (c) vs. Davey Bang
Winner: AND STILL Freelance Legacy Champion, Darin Corbin
Davey Bang makes his way down to the ring first, with the crowd firmly behind him. Bang is one-half of arguably the most successful tag teams in Freelance history, Bang and Matthews. The only triple crown champion in Freelance Wrestling history, Darin Corbin, makes his way down to the ring next to the massive boos from the crowd.
Once the match starts, we get some chain wrestling between the two men with technical wrestling front and centerstage. Bang hits some dance moves to evade Corbin’s hold, and this just annoys Corbin. Bang challenges Corbin to a dance contest, and Corbin accepts. He tries to use this to gain the upper hand on Bang with a kick to the gut, but it doesn’t work. Corbin rolls to the outside, and Bang follows. This leads to Corbin quickly ripping the leg of Bang on the guardrail and turning the tides of the match in his favor.
Corbin remains in control of this matchup, soaking in all of the boos. He also does an excellent job at targeting the ribs and back of Bang to remain in control. Bang moves out of the way of an incoming moonsault from Corbin to try and get back into this match. Bang uses his speed and unique offense to get right back into this match. Davey Bang goes high risk and lands a huge leaping lariat for only a two-count.
Bang attempts a 450-splash, but Corbin moves out of the way and lands a huge spear on Bang for just a two-count. however, Bang attempts a unique pin reversal, but Corbin catches him in a rear-naked choke. Bang gets out of it and lands a superkick, followed by a Death Valley driver for just a two-count. Davey Bang makes his way to the top rope and attempts a big move, but Corbin catches him with the ginger snap for the three-count to retain his title.
Freelance Wrestling Tag Team Championship match: GPA and Laynie Luck (c) vs. Joey Avalon and Sierra
Winners: AND STILL Freelance Wrestling Tag Team Championships, GPA and Laynie Luck
Sierra and Joey Avalon make their way down to the ring first, and they are followed by the Freelance Wrestling Tag Team Champions, GPA, and Laynie Luck. The “power couple” of Freelance Wrestling, GPA, and Laynie Luck, are not fan favorites and have the boos rain down on them. Avalon and GPA start the match for their respective teams.
Luck attempts to distract Avalon, and GPA tries to capitalize on this. But, GPA’s strikes are not having any effect on Avalon. Avalon tags in Sierra, and the two go to work on GPA. Sierra attempts a big running knee move on GPA in the corner, but Luck lands a big kick and tags herself in. Now, it’s the Freelance Tag Team Champions’ turn to control things.
GPA and Laynie Luck do a great job at keeping Sierra separated from her tag team partner. They cut the ring off, and keep Sierra in their corner for the most part. GPA and Laynie Luck attempt a big double suplex from the top rope on Sierra, but Sierra counters with a double powerbomb of her own. This leads to Sierra finally tagging in Avalon and Avalon comes in hot, taking out both of the tag team champions.
Avalon and Sierra attempt a double-team move on GPA, but Luck makes the save. However, this leads to GPA attacking Avalon from behind. However, Avalon sends them both into the corner and attempts a massive diving elbow on GPA for only a two-count thanks to Luck for making the save. Avalon and Sierra send Luck to the outside and attempt their finishing move on GPA.
Luck once again makes the save, and hits a destroyer on Avalon. There was a cool moment where Avalon lands a crucifix powerbomb on Luck off the entrance stage and onto GPA in a crowd. After some more terrific back-and-forth action, just as it looked as Avalon and Sierra had the match one, Luck stops the count. Ultimately, thanks to a shovel to the groin followed by a roll-up, GPA pins Avalon to retain the tag team championships for his team.
After the match, Avalon lays down the challenge for CSW next Friday. It will be GPA and Laynie Luck versus Joey Avalon and Sierra for Avalon and Sierra’s CSW Tag Team Championships. This rivalry has been very fun, and it’s been very fun to watch, and it seems like we are just getting started.
Freelance World Championship match: Storm Grayson (c) vs. Lio Rush
Winner: AND STILL Freelance World Champion, Storm Grayson
The main event of the show saw Storm Grayson defend the Freelance World Championship against one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, Lio Rush. Rush makes his way down to the ring first, followed by the Freelance World Champion, Storm Grayson. The crowd is firmly behind Rush as they chant “NEW CHAMP!” at the ring, and boo Grayson during his introduction as the Freelance World Champion.
Rush starts the match quickly, jumping Grayson from behind. Rush uses his quickness and unique offense to send Grayson to the outside. He follows it up with a trio of low-pe suicidas. Rush beats up on Grayson at ringside and sends the champ back into the ring. Grayson uses his size to his favor and follows it up with an eye-rake on Rush. Grayson lands a huge Irish whip on Rush into the corner, sending Rush crashing to the outside.
Rush tries to fight back, but Grayson sends him face-first into the middle turnbuckle and once again Irish whips Rush to the turnbuckle, sending him crashing to the outside. Grayson continues to beat Rush down inside the ring, maintaining his control over this match-up and tightening his grip on the Freelance World Championship.
Rush lands a small package pinfall on Grayson for just a two-count. He follows this up with a kick to the leg of Grayson and a kick to the head for just a two-count. Rush uses his speed to try and get back into this match, but Grayson lands a big lariat and follows it up with a powerbomb and piledriver for just a two-count of his own.
Ultimately, after a tremendous back-and-forth main event, Grayson would land two knee-triggers on Rush for the three-count and retain his Freelance Wrestling Championship. Grayson cut a beautiful heel promo after the match and ended it by welcoming back Kylie Rae but making sure to tell her to stay out of his way. This was an insane main event. Truly a great ending to a terrific Freelance show. Love him or hate him, Grayson is one of the best in the mid-west independent wrestling scene today.