On Friday, August 16th, C4 Wrestling held its biggest event of the year, “Fighting Back.” The show premiered live on IWTV on Tuesday, August 20th at 8:00 p.m. est.

The show was headlined by a huge main event which saw Miracle Generation put their IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championships on the line against Fresh Air. We also saw a first-time ever dream match between Donovan Dijak and “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Josh Alexander square off with James Stone, Richard Holliday go one-on-one with Jody Threat, and so much more. Check out the full recap and review below.

Mathieu St. Jacques vs. Trent Seven

Winner: Mathieu St. Jacques

Kicking off the night, we saw TNA star, Trent Seven, in action against Mathieu St. Jacques. Seven came to the ring with a personalized art table of himself. St. Jacques attacks Seven from behind during the introductions to quickly gain the upper hand. However, Seven quickly changes the tides of this match by sending St. Jacques head first into his table set up in the corner.

After more back-and-forth, St. Jacques levels Seven with a lariat, before disposing of the “Trent Seven table,” and getting one of his own. Seven slams this table into the face of St. Jacques and chaos ensues early in the match. St. Jacques and Seven brawl all around the crowd. When the match spills back over into the ring, Seven attempts a twisted senton from up top, but hits the canvas with nobody home, which allows St. Jacques to regain control of this match. St. Jacques makes his way up top with the steel chair, but Seven meets him up there. Seven lands a top rope suplex shaking the entire ring when both men came crashing down.

After some more tremendous action, Seven sets up his table on the outside. Seven hits a Death Valley Driver on St. Jacques from the ring apron through the table on the floor. However, St. Jacques is not out, as he lands a DDT from the middle rope onto a chair inside the ring on Seven. St. Jacques lands a piledriver onto Seven on a steel chair and pins him to win the match. This was a fantastic opening contest for what was sure to be a fantastic event.

Richard Holliday vs. Jody Threat

Winner: Jody Threat

Up next, we see Richard Holliday go one-on-one with the “Wild Child,” Jody Threat. This match marks Holliday’s debut for C4 Wrestling. Threat is the clear cut fan favorite in this matchup, and Holliday has not made many friends in the C4 faithful. Holliday gets a little too cocky, which allows Threat to plow right through him. She charges at a weakened Holliday in the corner, and has all the momentum in her favor. Threat sends Holliday to the outside and hits him with a cannonball off the apron. So far in the early going, this match is all Jody Threat.

Holliday quickly changes the tides of the match when he uses the official as a shield and goes to the eyes of the “Wild Child.” Holliday uses his strength and power advantage to stop her momentum at all costs. Threat fires up and lands a double knees move to the back of Holliday who was hung up on the middle rope. The match continues on with Holliday once again regaining momentum, thanks to his power advantage.

Threat attempts a couple of quick pinfalls for just two-counts. We are back to an even playing field with both competitors down. Holliday lands a huge trifecta move on Threat for just a two-count. The crowd is firmly behind Threat at this point in the match, booing Holliday whenever he gets going. Threat hits a spear, and an F5 on Holliday for the three-count. This was a fantastic match. Threat looked amazing as always, and Holliday killed it in his debut. Hopefully we will see them square off again soon.

Stu Grayson vs. Sheldon Jean

Winner: Stu Grayson

The action continues with Stu Grayson going one-on-one with the “Canadian Gangsta,” Sheldon Jean. This match starts off quick with Grayson charging on Jean. However, Jean takes down Grayson early with a big dropkick. Grayson lands a kick up and we’re back to square one. The high octane offense continues in the early going of this match for both men. Jean attacks the nose of Grayson, and lands a huge lariat to put the match in his favor.

Grayson is no stranger to the “Fighting Back” event, as he has had some historic matches. A win for Jean at “Fighting Back” against someone the caliber of Grayson, would be monumental. Grayson tosses Jean across the ring and just like that, Grayson turns this match around. Jean attempts to roll under the ropes to create distance, but Grayson hits him with a big move, crashing down on Jean right on the apron.

Grayson tries to go high risk, but Jean catches him and hangs him up over the top rope, which sends him crashing to the floor. This put Grayson in a bad way against a very game opponent. However, Grayson battles back with a flurry of strikes. Grayson lands a urinagi, followed by a middle rope moonsault on Jean for a very close two-count. After more great back-and-forth action, ultimately, a big boot to the face of Jean, followed by nightfall puts the match away in favor of Stu Grayson. This was another absolute banger of a match.

26 Man Fighting Back Invitational Rumble: Myung-Jae Lee vs. Cecil Nyx vs. Clay Wilson vs. Alexander Kable vs. Katrina Creed vs. Hayden Backlund vs. Kristara vs. Alex Maze vs. KJ Swayde vs. Alvin Turner vs. Jonny DeLuca vs. London Lightning vs. Anthony Musso vs. Mathis Myre vs. “Pretty” Ricky Willdy vs. Vanna Black vs. PUF vs. Thomas LeDuc vs. Haddy vs. Dexter Doom vs. Harry Wolfman vs. Sway Archer vs. Jeff Fury vs. Evil Uno vs. Megabyte Ronnie vs. Vanessa Kraven

Winner: Evil Uno

Up next, we see the Fighting Back Invitational Rumble. This match is filled with 26 participants with one joining every 90 seconds. Eliminations occur when both feet touch the ground when being thrown over the top rope. Myung-Jae Lee and Cecil Nyx start off the match. The crowd was firmly behind Nyx in the early going of this match. Nyx has some fun at Lee’s expense. Clay Wilson enters the fray at number three, followed by Alexander Kable and Katrina Creed at four and five.

The match continues with many more wrestlers joining the fray, including the likes of Hayden Backlund, Kristara, London Lightning, “Pretty” Ricky Willdy, PUF, Harry Wolfman, Jeff Fury, Evil Uno, and many others. The final four consisted of London Lightning, Myung-Jae Lee, Vanna Black, and Evil Uno. The match was won by Evil Uno who last eliminated Myung-Jae Lee. This means Uno now has a future C4 Wrestling Championship match in his near future. This was a fun rumble match which got to showcase a lot of the young, fantastic talent in C4.

James Stone vs. Josh Alexander

Winner: Josh Alexander

Following the 26 Man Fighting Back Invitational, we see a singles match between the “Walking Weapon,” and former TNA World Champion, Josh Alexander, and James Stone. This was one of the more anticipated matches on the show, and it was sure to not disappoint. This also marks the first-time ever that Alexander and Stone have met in a one-on-one matchup. The match kicks off with a feeling-out process between the two men, which features some great chain wrestling action.

Stone and Alexander engage in a strike battle, with Stone fairing pretty well against the “Walking Weapon.” Alexander hangs up Stone’s arms over the top rope and lands his low-dive on Stone who’s seated on the apron to pick up momentum in this match. Alexander proceeds to send Stone shoulder first into the post, making it clear that he’s targeting the big man’s shoulder. Alexander does a great job at grounding Stone and continuing to bring the fight to his shoulder.

Stone fights back into the match, with a flurry of clotheslines. Stone, then, catches Alexander with a snap powerslam. After some more great back-and-forth action from two of the best around today, Stone attempts a cradle slam on Alexander, but Alexander counters, locking in an ankle lock. Alexander hits a big knee to the back of the head of Stone from the top rope for a very close two-count. Ultimately, Alexander hits the C4 Spike on Stone to win the match. This match was absolutely insane, and very well could have been match of the night.

Gabriel Fuerza & Sinner & Saint (Judas Icarus & Travis Williams) vs. Vaughn Vertigo, Jessie V, & Kevin Blackwood

Winners: Vaughn Vertigo, Jessie V, & Kevin Blackwood

Next up, we see a huge six-man tag team match. Gabriel Fuerza teams up with Sinner & Saint (Judas Icarus & Travis Williams) to take on the team of Vaughn Vertigo, Jessie V, & Kevin Blackwood. Jessie V is filling in for Jake Something who wasn’t able to get to the show. Fuerza and Vertigo start the match, but Vertigo quickly tags out to toy with Fuerza. Blackwood tags in and squares off with Fuerza to kick off the action for the match. Fuerza, Williams, and Icarus stand tall in the early going of this match, after clearing the ring of Vertigo, Jessie V, and Blackwood.

The tides of the match change when Jessie V wipes out Icarus with a big block sending him crashing to the mat. Jessie V toys with Icarus, before exchanging a tag with Vertigo. Icarus lands a huge enziguri on Vertigo and lands the hot tag on Fuerza. Fuerza takes out Blackwood, before turning his attention to his blood brother, Vaughn Vertigo. Fuerza takes out Jessie V, and Vertigo on the outside, and sends Blackwood in to Travis Williams who hits him with a brainbuster. Sinner & Saint work great with Gabriel Fuerza for most of this match.

However, Blackwood, Vertigo, and Jessie V regroup and take out all three members of the other team. Blackwood attempts a pin on Icarus who was hit by a big shining wizard from Vertigo for just a two-count. Jessie V lands a Samoan drop on all three men at the same time, which was an amazing display of strength. After some more very fun back-and-forth action, ultimately, Blackwood lands a double stomp from the top rope on Fuerza and pins him to win the match. While this match started as a regular six-man tag match, it didn’t last long. All six men went at it for a good portion of this match and the C4 faithful ate it all up. This was a fantastic six-man tag team match and everyone in it showed up, and showed out.

“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Donovan Dijak

Winner: “Speedball” Mike Bailey

Up next, we see “Speedball” Mike Bailey square off with Donovan Dijak. This was arguably the most anticipated match of the night heading into the show, and it delivered on every front. Many thought this would be the main event, but instead it looks like we’ll be getting a tag team championship match in the main event. Bailey is no stranger to the “Fighting Back” event, and has had some absolutely incredible matches. This one is shaping up to be no different. This was a first-time ever match for both Dijak and Bailey, and also marked Dijak’s return to Ottawa in quite some time.

After a feeling out process, Dijak runs over Bailey and pins him for just a one-count. Bailey fights back, sending Dijak to the outside and landing a huge high-risk move, not letting up on the much taller opponent. Bailey sends Dijak back in the ring and attempts to go high again, but Dijak uses the referee and lands a huge clothesline turning Bailey inside out for just a two-count. The momentum of this match completely changed here, with Dijak now firmly in the drivers seat.

Bailey gets back in this match with a huge missile dropkick to the big man. He uses his lethal feet on Dijak, and gets the big man off his feet. Bailey lands a shooting star press for just a two-count. After more tremendous singles action, ultimately, when Dijak calls for his finishing move, Bailey is able to counter it and rolls up Dijak with a small package pinfall to win the match. This was an amazing match from top-to-bottom. This was probably the match of the night, and hopefully we see these two go at it again soon.

IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championship Match: Miracle Generation (c) vs. Fresh Air

Winners: AND NEW IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Champions, Fresh Air

In the main event of C4 Wrestling “Fighting Back 13,” we see Miracle Generation (Dustin Waller & Kylon King) put their IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championships on the line against Fresh Air (Macrae Martin & Junior Benito). Miracle Generation has held the belts for 1 year, 5 months, and 21 days and this match marks their 50th defense. Miracle Generation has also defended the IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championships a record breaking 49 times.

Kylon King and Junior Benito start the match for their respective teams. King trash talks Benito in the early going, but this just angers Benito and fires him up. Dustin Waller and Macrae Martin tag in. Waller and King double team Martin behind the referee’s back to keep momentum in favor of the champs. Martin quickly turns things around and he and Benito return the favor to Waller. King tags in, behind Benito’s back and attacks Benito from behind. Miracle Generation work together to take out Benito and Martin who’s standing on the apron. This puts the match firmly in favor of Miracle Generation.

Benito tries to fight back on King, but King drops him gut first on his knee to put a stop to that. Miracle Generation mocks Benito and has some fun at his expense. Benito finally makes the tag, but the referee doesn’t see it, and kick Martin back out to the apron. This allows Miracle Generation to continue to cut off the ring for Benito. However, finally after some more punishment, Benito does make the tag and Martin comes in as the legal man. Martin hits a huge spear on Waller for just a two-count. Miracle Generation turns it around and lands a double running knee to Martin who’s in the center of the ring, but King just gets a two-count.

Miracle Generation attempt a double kick on Martin again, but this time he ducks, and causes King and Waller to collide shin-to-shin. Benito tags in and Fresh Air hits a double team move on Waller for just a two-count. Waller sends Martin into Benito with a spear, but Martin lands a big kick on Waller. After more great back-and-forth tag team action, Miracle Generation land an assisted spike tombstone to Benito out on the floor. Miracle Generation has Martin right where they want him, in a two-on-one situation.

Martin holds his own against the champions, but takes a lot of punishment. Waller grabs the title belts and the two attempt to use them against Martin, but Benito makes the save, sending Waller shoulder first into the ring post. Fresh Air hit their finisher on King, but Waller hits a frog splash on the referee to stop the count. Miracle Generation hit their finisher on Benito, but he kicks out at two. After more tremendous action, ultimately, Fresh Air hit their finishing move on Waller from the top rope to win the match and the titles.

This could have been the best tag team match of the year, on what could have been the best show of the year. Amazing main event, and an even more amazing show form top-to-bottom.