Photo credit: Jon Washer
On Friday, March 8th, 2024, Beyond Wrestling held the biggest show in its history, “Shamrock Slam.” The show aired on IWTV on Sunday, March 31st, despite taking place earlier in the month.
The show saw a ton of huge matches and was headlined by Matt Cardona and Alec Price. However, we also saw Joey Janela square off with Megan Bayne in what many are calling one of the best intergender matches. Also, Kris Statlander faced off with Aaron Rourke, Willow Nightingale teamed up with Rex Lawless to face Gabby Forza and Bronson, and MxM faced off with Miracle Generation in a dream match for the Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championships. Check out the full recap and review below.
Dan Barry vs. Ray Jaz
Winner: Dan Barry
We kick things off with Dan Barry squaring off with Ray Jaz. Barry proudly sported his Irish heritage down to the ring. However, Ray Jaz also did the same but instead brought out an Italian flag to go with his Italian flag trunk design. After some jawing back and forth with each other, Jaz tries to take a cheap shot, but Barry ducks and takes the fight to Jaz and we get underway.
Just as it looked like the match was majorly in Barry’s favor, he attempts a moonsault. Jaz moves out of the way and sends Barry crashing and burning down to the mat. However, it doesn’t last as Jaz attempts his big move, and Barry counters. Barry responds by lifting his kilt and landing a huge stunner for the three-count.
This was a very fun match to kick things off with. Barry is one of the biggest fan-favorites on the independent wrestling scene today, and that translated over very well at the St. Patrick’s Day festival. On the flip side, Jaz is the perfect heel to have been the one to square off with Barry in this bout. It got the fans in attendance involved, and whether they were there for beer and a fun time, or a wrestling show, the pop they gave Barry was truly remarkable.
Shamrock Slam “Evan Zalios” 20-man Battle Royal: Ichiban vs. BRG vs. Brother Greatness vs. Pedro Dones vs. Sammy Diaz vs. GAL vs. Jermaine Marbury vs. Gabe Skye vs. Dezmond Cole vs. Matt Quay vs. LSG vs. Steven Stetson vs. Danny Miles vs. Hammer Tunis vs. CPA vs. Ricky Smokes vs. Lucas Chase vs. Vinny Talotta vs. Mike Walker
Winner: Ichiban
The winner of this match earns a shot at the IWTV Independent Wrestling World Championship later in the evening against Krule. This match was full of 20 of the top stars today on the independent wrestling scene, including Gal Barkay, Matt Quay, Jermaine Marbury, Danny Miles, Steven Stetson, Brother Greatness, Hammer Tunis, BRG, Ichiban, Dezmond Cole, LSG, Lucas Chase, Ricky Smokes, Gabriel Skye, CPA, Richard Holliday, some others.
The match got underway and was chaotic from the very beginning in the best way possible. The final four of this massive match came down to Stetson Ranch (Danny Miles and Steven Stetson), Ichiban, and Dezmond Cole. However, Stetson would go on to eliminate Cole with a huge boot knocking Cole off the apron.
Ichiban eliminated Miles and Stetson back-to-back to win the battle royal and go on to face Krule later in the evening. However, after the match, the Stetson Ranch came back into the ring and attacked Ichiban from behind. Cole came back to make the save and Ichiban and Cole stood tall. This match was a ton of fun and set the tone for a big showdown later in the night between Ichiban and Krule.
Shook Crew & Mane Event vs. Big Business
Winner: Big Business
The following contest was a massive eight-man tag team match. Big Business (TJ Crawford, Brad Hollister, JCruz, and Victor Chase) looked to make a statement against two of the most popular and all-around best teams on the independent wrestling scene today, Mane Event (Midas Black and Jay Lyon) and Shook Crew (Bryce Donovan and Bobby Orlando).
The match kicks off with Orlando taking the fight to TJ Crawford. Hollister and Donovan had a fun staredown in the middle of the match and the two exchanged rights with Donovan gaining the upper hand. Black tagged in and landed a huge crossbody on Hollister, but Hollister tags out and JCruz makes his way in. All hell breaks loose and all four men go at it in the ring. The match was firmly in favor of Shook Crew and Mane Event until Crawford used a hoop to force Lyon and Black to collide together.
Big Business rains down a vicious attack on Lyon and is now in firm control of the match. However, Lyon fights back into it, landing a huge spear through a hula hoop on Crawford and a big high-flying move taking out both JCruz and Victor Chase. Ultimately, Hollister pins Black after Big Business lands its finishing move on Black. This was a huge statement win for Big Business and a very fun eight-man tag.
Kennedi Hardcastle, Notorious Mimi, & Allie Katch vs. Ava Everett and The BRATZ (Paris Van Dale & Shannon LeVangie)
Winners: Kennedi Hardcastle, Notorious Mimi, & Allie Katch
In the next match of the night, we see a very fun six-women tag team match. Kennedi Hardcastle, Notorious Mimi, and Allie Katch face off with Ava Everett, Shannon LeVangie, and Paris Van Dale. The fans are firmly behind the team of Hardcastle, Mimi, and Katch. Everett and The BRATZ didn’t make any friends early on in the match, as Everett fought with some fans.
LeVangie and Hardcastle kick off the match for their respective teams. The crowd chants “F**K YOU, SHANNON” as the match starts. Hardcastle takes the fight to LeVangie and throws her off her game in the early going. Hardcastle quickly tags in Mimi and the two continue to go to work on LeVangie. Mimi lands a super cool triple tiger face kick on Everett and The Bratz.
Katch calls for the tag and gets involved now, as well. Everett tags in and tries to talk some sense into Katch. Everett tries to get a sucker punch in, but Katch catches her hand and calls for a big slam. However, thanks to a distraction, Katch is now on the receiving end of a beatdown from The BRATZ. Mimi gets the hot tag and takes out everyone. LeVangie, however, stops her in her tracks with a huge cutter.
Just as it looks like the match is in favor of Everett and The BRATZ, Mimi fights back and lands a hot tag on Katch. Katch comes in and takes out everybody again. After a very fun match, eventually, a huge knee shot to the chin of Everett would be enough to give Hardcastle the win for her team. This was a fantastic showing by all six women, and very fun to watch.
Teddy Goodz & Sidney Bakabella vs. Love Doug
Winner(s): Teddy Goodz & Sidney Bakabella
The following contest is a handicap match that sees Love Doug look to get a measure of revenge against Teddy Goodz and Sidney Bakabella. Bakabella has been making Love Doug’s life a living hell for the better part of a year now. Bakabella tries to cut a promo but gets booed out of the building. Love Doug finally makes his way out to the ring and saves the fans from continuing to hear Bakabella talk. Love Doug kicks things off quickly with a big crossbody on Goodz sending him to the outside.
Then, it looked like Love Doug was finally going to get his hands on Bakabella, but he instead just removed his hair. Goodz proceeds to make the save and the two men square off. Love Doug looks to get his hands on Bakabella again, but Goodz attacks him from behind to change the tides of this match. Goodz tags in Bakabella, and Doug almost gets his chance to do something, but Bakabella quickly tags out. Goodz once again tags in Bakabella and the two beat up on Doug. Once again, just as it looked like Doug was going to get his hands on Bakabella, he runs away and tags in Goodz.
Eventually, Love Doug finally gets to square off with Bakabella. Bakabella’s trunks fall and Doug lands a huge clothesline, followed by a big scoop slam on Bakabella. Doug got his fair share in on Bakabella before Goodz once again interrupted. Bakabella throws flour into the face of Doug and rolls him up for the three-count. This was a very fun handicap match that left me wanting more. This rivalry seems far from over and I’m excited to see where it goes next.
Megan Bayne vs. Joey Janela
Winner: Megan Bayne
The next match of the night sees a dream intergender match for many, myself included. The “Bad Boy,” Joey Janela squares off with “Megasus,” Megan Bayne. This was a match that Janela has gone on record to state could be one of the matches of the year when all is said and done. Bayne is returning from an extended tour in Japan where she seems to only have gotten better and better. She could truly be more dangerous than ever before.
The match starts with chants of “WE’RE NOT WORTHY!” directed at Bayne. When the action kicks off, we see the two lock up in a collar-elbow tie-up that immediately ends with Bayne picking up and dropping Janela. Janela bows down to Bayne as a sign of respect and the fans are very into this match. Janela attempts a shoulder block but is unable to take down Bayne, but Bayne lands a shoulder block of her own knocking down Janela. After trading shots, Bayne once again gets the upper hand. However, when she Irish whips Janela into the corner, he responds with an uppercut taking down the “Megasus.”
Bayne tries to fight back and lands a huge overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Janela. However, Janela lands a spike DDT on Bayne to stop her in her tracks. Janela lands a snap Death Valley driver for just two counts. After some more fantastic back-and-forth, Bayne lands a huge flying clothesline that knocks both competitors down. Janela lands a huge package piledriver for just a two-count in one of the more shocking moments of the match. Bayne takes a piledriver from Janela that does not affect her. Bayne lands a tombstone piledriver on Janela for the three-count and the crowd erupts. This was the match of the night and very well could have been the match of the year when all is said and done. This is a must-watch match.
I have to say Megan Bayne vs
Joey Janela was THE match of the night for Beyond Wrestling’s Shamrock Slam. Absolutely incredible, what a banger. @beyondwrestling @meganbayne @JANELABABY pic.twitter.com/XKEPL8EOJD— ⚡️Jae Morgan Moné⚡️ (@Jae_TheFlash) April 1, 2024
IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championship match: Miracle Generation (c) vs. MxM
Winners: AND STILL IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Champions, Miracle Generation
In the next match of the evening, we see MxM (Madden and Mansoor) look to win some gold against Miracle Generation (Kylon King and Dustin Waller). Miracle Generation has remained on top of the tag team wrestling mountain on the independent scene for over a year. When the match finally gets underway, Waller and Mansoor kick things off for their respective teams. Mansoor uses his power advantage in the early going of the match. However, Waller uses his speed and agility to get right back into it.
Waller tags in King and the two continue to remain in control of Mansoor. Just as it looked like the match was firmly going in the way of Miracle Generation, Madden makes the blind tag, and the two land a huge double team move on Waller to change the tides of this match. MxM is in firm control of this match by now and uses this power advantage to ground Dustin “Flash” Waller. Finally, Waller lands the hot tag on King. King takes both members of MxM out, but Madden hits him from behind with a headbutt.
Miracle Generation lands a huge double-team move on Mansoor for just a two-count. Waller accidentally catches King with a massive cutter, and Madden keeps things going in MxM’s favor. After some more fantastic back-and-forth wrestling, all four men’s bodies are spent and they are all down in the ring. Mansoor fakes an injury, which leads to Madden landing a huge low blow on both members of Miracle Generation. Madden pins King after using the belt.
After the match, officials come out and tell Rich Palladino that they saw everything that happened. This leads to the match getting restarted. Both MxM try to use the belt, but this time Miracle Generation ducks. King lands a superplex from the top rope on Mansoor, and Waller hits his alley-oop finisher on Mansoor to win the match and retain the titles for Miracle Generation. This was a fantastic and very fun tag team match. It looks to be far from over though as MxM and Miracle Generation are destined to meet again.
Kris Statlander vs. Aaron Rourke
Winner: Kris Statlander
In the next match of the night, we see two of the best to come out of Create A Pro do battle. Aaron Rourke makes his way down to the ring first and gets a ton of cheers from the Beyond Wrestling crowd. Kris Statlander gets greeted with a similar reaction and gets a huge welcome back. This is a dream match for many Create A Pro fans, myself included. These two have truly done it all together, but for some reason have not shared the ring many times, if any.
The match starts with a sign of respect between the two competitors. There is a fun feeling-out process to start the match between Statlander and Rourke. Statlander gets the upper hand by using some of her unique offense to best Rourke. However, this doesn’t last long as Rourke uses his agility and speed to land a huge dropkick on Statlander sending her crashing into the corner. Rourke lands a huge chop on Statlander in the corner and continues to keep things in his favor.
Then, Rourke calls for a big chop, but Statlander moves and lands some strikes. Rourke lands a huge spinning heel kick and follows that up with a double chop to keep things going his way. Rourke bites the hand of Statlander and shows why he’s called the “Evil Gay.” Statlander lands a huge German suplex and a big blue thunder bomb to change things in this match. After some more tremendous back-and-forth, Statlander counters Rourke’s split-legged moonsault and lands a huge spinning lariat and her finishing move for the three-count. This was a very fun match between two of Create A Pro’s best.
https://twitter.com/GIFSkullX/status/1774609552849142022
Willow Nightingale & Rex Lawless vs. Dirty Bulk Bronson & Gabby Forza
Winners: Willow Nightingale & Rex Lawless
In the next contest on the night, we see Willow Nightingale team up with Rex Lawless to face Gabby Forza and Dirty Bulk Bronson. Forza and Bronson make their way down to the ring first and get a lot of cheers from the Beyond Wrestling crowd. However, the same can be said when Nightingale and Lawless make their way down to the ring as they get a lot of love from the Beyond faithful. When the match finally gets underway, Lawless and Bronson kick things off for their respective teams.
The two begin with a collar-elbow tie-up. However, that quickly breaks up and Lawless gets Bronson in a side headlock. Bronson gives Lawless a motorboat, but Lawless counters with a huge hurricanrana. Then, Bronson slams Lawless, leading to Lawless tagging in Willow. Bronson gives a kiss to Forza and to tag her in. This was a fun face-off that saw Bronson and Lawless both help their ladies in a test of strength. Nightingale hits a double knee move to both Bronson and Forza and tags in Lawless.
Lawless hits Bronson with a huge running boot for just a two-count. Lawless tags in Willow and she takes the fight to Bronson. However, this doesn’t seem to last as Lawless tags back in and continues to beat down Bronson. Bronson finally got the opening to land the hot tag on Forza thanks to Lawless and Willow sharing a kiss. After some great back-and-forth action, Forza lifts Lawless and Willow lifts Bronson and they each land an attitude adjustment. This was an awesome spot.
https://twitter.com/GIFSkullX/status/1774613101146423549
In the end, Nightingale lands a huge pounce followed by her finishing move on Forza for the three-count to win the match for her team. After the match, all four competitors celebrate and show a sign of respect for each other. Lawless even less Bronson motorboat him in a very funny spot. This was just a very fun, and competitive match. All four competitors looked fantastic, but I loved how strong they made Forza and Willow look. This was just an all-around blast of a match.
IWTV Independent Wrestling Championship match: Krule (c) vs. Ichiban
Winner: AND STILL IWTV Independent Wrestling Champion, Krule
Next up, we saw Krule put his IWTV Independent Championship on the line against Ichiban. This looks like a huge mismatch on paper, but if we know one thing, it’s never to count out Ichiban. Earlier in the night, Ichiban won the 20-man battle royal match to earn this spot. Ichiban makes his way down to the ring first and has the crowd firmly behind him. He looks fresh and ready to go, and he’s going to need to because he has a monster standing in front of him. Krule makes his way out next as the fans in attendance show their love (and scaredness) for him as well.
The two have a staredown, and the height difference is very big. The match kicks off with Ichiban trying to get the better of Krule with strikes, but they seem to not affect the much bigger opponent. Krule calls for a chokeslam, but Ichiban flips and tries to gain some momentum, but Krule stops him in his tracks with a shoulder block. Ichiban gets Krule to the outside and lands a huge flip to get the big man off his feet for the first time.
A little bit later, Ichiban attempts another high-risk move, but Krule catches him with a chokeslam down to the apron. Ichiban tries to fight back with chops, to little effect. Ichiban attempts a high-risk spinning DDT but Krule catches him and sends him down. However, Ichiban catches Krule with a Code Red for just a two-count. He lands some strikes on the big man in the corner lands a huge missile dropkick and is now getting some of his momentum back. Ichiban hits his big move but doesn’t have the strength to go get the cover. Krule lands a brutal chokeslam on Ichiban for just a two-count.
Ultimately, Krule hits his finishing move for the three-count. After, Krule lands a huge chokeslam on Ichiban before leaving. This was a very fun match that went the way just about everyone thought it would. However, there’s something to be said about Ichiban’s heart after watching this match. He almost overcame the odds and he never gave up in a “David vs. Goliath” match-up.
Alec Price vs. Matt Cardona (w/ VSK, JGeorge, & “Smart” Mark Sterling)
Winner: Alec Price
In the main event of the evening, we see a first-time-ever dream match between “The Prize City OG” Alec Price, and “The Indy God” Matt Cardona. Price is very over with the crowd in his home state. Cardona makes his way down to the ring second, flanked by VSK and “Smart” Mark Sterling. When the match finally gets underway, Cardona runs to the outside trying to escape Price. When the two finally meet in the middle of the ring, Cardona quickly gains the upper hand.
Price takes out VSK with a huge running knee and attempts another big running knee on Cardona who moves. Cardona lands a huge clothesline turning Price inside out. It’s practically a three-on-one situation for Price. Cardona remains in control thanks to help from VSK. However, the referee finally sees all the interference and throws out both “Smart” Mark Sterling and VSK. While Cardona looked on, Price attempted a roll-up pin for just a two-count.
Price lands a huge dropkick on Cardona to try and change the tides of this match. Price lands a huge knee to the corner on Cardona and follows it up two more times. Then, Price lands a spinning DDT for just a two-count. As Price makes his way to the top, Cardona sends the referee into the ropes and causes Price to fall. However, Price lands a double stomp on Cardona twice who’s in a tree of woe type of position. He attempts a pinfall for just a two-count.
Price measures Cardona for his big kick, but Cardona pulls the referee in front of him. Cardona lands an attitude adjustment on Price for just a two-count. Cardona lands a big forearm in the face of the referee on accident. Price follows this up by landing his finishing move, but no referee is there to count. VSK and “Smart” Mark Sterling make their way back out and beat down Price. Price tries to fight back, landing double stomps on both of them.
Unfortunately for Price, he was blindsided by a shot to the face by the Internet Championship of Cardona’s. Cardona tries to get the win here but instead just gets a two-count. Cardona lands a big broskie boot and follows that up with his finisher for just a two-count. Price sends Cardona crashing and burning to the floor, taking out VSK and Sterling in the process. Price follows this up by taking out all three men, and sending Cardona back into the ring.
Then, Price lands a big springboard clothesline which would have been a three-count had the referee not been pulled out of the ring. VSK and Sterling re-enter the ring and try to hold up Price for another one of Cardona’s finishers. Price moves and Cardona takes out VSK. Sterling lifts Price to eat another belt shot, but Price once again moves on Cardona knocks Sterling out with the Internet Championship. Price lands a big kick and follows that up with a blockbuster move from the top rope.
Ultimately, Price puts Cardona away with his finishing move after a fantastic, and slightly chaotic main event. After the match, Cardona and Price shared a sign of respect before Cardona left the ring. From top-to-bottom, this show could very well have been the show of the year for 2024. This was the biggest Beyond show in history for a reason, and honestly, it’s going to be hard to top. This card was full of so many tremendous wrestlers, and it translated incredibly well over to the ring. This is a must-watch show for anyone who’s a fan of independent wrestling.