DPW’s Showdown In Cary II took place on November 7th, 2025 from SportHQ in Cary, NC. It can be seen on DPW’s OnDemand Service. New DPW World Champion Jake Something takes on National Champion LaBron Kozone in a special challenge champions match in one of DPW’s final shows. 

The announcers are Rich Bocchini and Caprice Coleman.

Opening Contest: Manny Lo vs. Calvin Tankman

Manny Lo attacks before the bell with a springboard dropkick and attempts a dive but gets caught before shoving Calvin Tankman into the ringpost. He then gets an impressive springboard corkscrew dive as they continue to battle on the floor. Back inside Tankman takes over with some chops but is taken down with a drop toehold as Lo locks in an armbar.

Spinning heel kick to the back of the head and he fires off some kicks. Lo charges right into a clothesline and big splash for two. Stiff chop knocks Manny down but a charge misses leaving Tankman hanging on the middle rope. Middle-rope legdrop by Lo there and he heads up top. Diving headbutt gets two. Lo looks for a powerbomb but winds up with a crucifix bomb for a close two. Tankman fights back with the spinning back elbow and stacked powerbomb. The GF Driver hits to give Tankman the win. Solid affair to start.  **¾

Match Two: Leah Night vs. Amanda Kiss

This is a rubber match between these two. Amanda Kiss with the early wristlock and then shoulderblocks Leah Night down. Side suplex gets a two count. Kiss looks for a moonsault but gets knocked off and hung in the Tree of Woe, then kicked in the face by Night for two. Penalty kick to the back and a DVD attempt is countered with a rollup for two.

German suplex by Kiss and a diving uppercut for two. Night goes to the throat and hits a GTS for two. Charge misses as they slide out to the floor where Kiss hits an apron bomb. Spear by Amanda runs right into a knee followed by Night hitting a crucifix piledriver for the win.  **

We get some comments from Calvin Tankman following his victory earlier.

Match Three: Jada Stone vs. Dani Luna

Dani Luna was scheduled for a title shot against Queen Aminata here, but the champion was unable to compete. Jada Stone is a great replacement however.

Luna shoves Stone away and takes control of a wristlock, then shoulders Stone down. Jada counters an Irish Whip and gets a slingblade followed by a standing moonsault for two. She tries for a headscissor takedown but Luna gets a hard powerbomb for two. Dani drops an elbow as Stone tries to fight back with an elbow only to be cut off with a sharp lariat for two.

Corner clothesline and a Northern Lariat but Stone escapes out of a suplex and gets a legdrop. Split-legged moonsault by Stone gets two. Superkick connects and she tries the headscissors again, only to get hit with a backbreaker and sitout powerbomb for two. Luna Landing is countered with Stone getting a Spark Stunner that only gets two. Jada heads to the top but gets booted down to the apron. Deadlift German from the second rope and the Luna Landing finishes it. Luna continues to look impressive.  **½

Leah Night talks about her win against Amanda Kiss.

Match Four: Anthony Henry vs. Adam Priest

We get a shoving match and Adam Priest attacks from behind. Eyepoke from Priest and he steps on the throat of Anthony Henry. Priest gets several forearms and a knee to the head out on the apron. Suplex from the outside in only gets one as Priest continues to be aggressive.

Abdominal stretch is applied and then they fight over a hiptoss and both land on the floor. Both guys make it back in at a 9 count. Right back on the apron Priest looks for a piledriver but Henry gets an STO instead. Henry with a kneelift and German suplex. Up top Henry looks for a superplex but they both tumble to the floor in a nasty looking spot.

Bodyslam and penalty kick sent Priest looking to bail so Henry drags him back to the ring. Another bodyslam is countered into a single-leg crab by the former World Champion. Priest goes for a dragonscrew, but Henry gets his own and a stacked powerbomb for two. Now Henry gets the single-leg crab. Henry goes up and Piest shoves the ref into the ropes to knock him down to the buckle. Priest then his a piledriver from the middle rope to finish. Great finish, and would have liked to see these two go longer. ***¼

Match Five: DPW National Championship Eliminator – Trevor Lee vs. BK Westbrook

Winner gets a DPW National Championship match contract. Trevor Lee previously turned on BK Westbrook and Andrew Everett and was a trainer for Westbrook.

Quick pin attempts by Westbrook get a series of two counts. Cutter and springboard moonsault get another two for BK. Trevor bails to the floor so Westbrook follows with a tope suicida thrice. Lee then uses security to block another attempt and forearms BK, then “accidentally” hits him with a chair after struggling with security over it. Westbrook is busted open as a result.

Penalty kick on the apron by Lee. Westbrook beats the 10 count and walks right into a Shining Wizard for two. Out to the floor again, Trevor gets a side suplex on the apron and drives the elbow into the cut. BK fights back but is cutoff with a clothesline for only one. Westbrook gets a double-leg takedown and springboard back elbow as he fires up.

BK bounces off the ropes right into a big strike from Lee which gets two as Westbrook squirms out. Release powerbomb with BK landing on his feet and hitting the rebound lariat to put both guys down. They duke it out in the middle and the ref is knocked aside as they fight over a backbreaker.

TKO from Westbook and a superkick for two. To the top where Lee gets the advantage with a superplex, but BK gets a small package for two. On the apron, another penalty kick from Lee is blocked and Westbrook flips him on his head. BK hits the Vibe Check (running Sliced Bread) but misses a Northern Lariat. The second one lands for two. PK by BK misses so Lee rolls him up for two. Superkick by Westbrook but Lee hits the Cave In for the win to finish.

I enjoyed this, as the backstory and dynamic of Westbrook trying to beat his trainer with stakes on the line made the match feel super important. Lee continues the beatdown after the match but Andrew Everett saves. ***¾

Adam Priest cuts an angry promo backstage.

Match Six: Erick Stevens vs. Bryan Keith 

Erick Stevens lost a close contest to Roderick Strong at Super Battle, and was confronted by Bryan Keith post-match to set this up. After some trash talk they trade forearms and Stevens tries a running lope suicida but gets caught with a forearm there.

They brawl on the floor with Stevens getting a clothesline on the apron. Chop misses as Stevens’ hand hits the ringpost Keith gets a headbutt back inside and hits an Exploder suplex for one. Stevens blocks a kick and gets a Stunner (complete with middle finger salute) and then hits the lope suicida this time. He slams Keith into the buckles but runs into a boot and Bryan gets an Emerald Tiger Driver for two.

Stevens battles back in the corner with a series of strikes and looks for a superplex but can’t get it. Air Raid Crash gets two for Stevens. He stomps away and tries a triangle choke, then transitions to an STF. Clothesline is ducked with Keith getting two Exploder suplexes and a jumping headbutt.

Stevens is trickling blood from the ear as they both charge with Stevens getting the Emerald Tiger Driver this time. Big clothesline and Northern Lights Bomb gives Stevens the win! Was not expecting that result, but good for Erick Stevens.  ***½

Match Seven: DPW Tag Team Championship – Miracle Generation (c) vs. Bo-Dash

Dustin Waller and Morgan Dash begin with a quick exchange and a stalemate. Tags are made with Bojack on the offensive. Kylon King tries for a German but that doesn’t work and he gets splashed in the corner. Double-team neckbreaker as Das hcomes in gets two.

The champs try a double suplex on Dash, but Bojack catches him and they get an assisted dropkick. Supex and a running shooting star on Waller get two. King attacks Dash from behind while Waller takes out Bojack on the floor to give the champs control.

Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by King and he locks in a single-leg crab. Waller in with a legdrop for two. Slingshot splash by King gets another two. King goes for the Three Amigos suplexes, but can’t get the third and Dash avoids a number of attacks, dives for the tag and gets it. Bojack backdrops Waller to the floor and then King inside. Pounce by Bojack sends Waller to the floor again.

Michinoku Driver on King gets two. Waller interrupts with a superkick and Miracle Generation hit stereo kneestrikes. Frogsplash and moonsault by the champs gets two as Dash breaks it up. Waller with a Sky High to Dash and sends him outside. MG lift Bojack to the top buckle but King gets buckle bombed instead.

Assisted Destroyer from Dash to Waller. Dash moonsaults off Bojack onto MG on the floor. Bojack Driver on Waller and Dash hits a Shooting Star Press for a close two. I was buying in on that fall. King jumps in to get a superplex on Dash and a double superkick on Bojack. Assisted German on Bojack and King gets a big plancha on the floor. Lethal Injection from Waller to Dash.

King tosses Dash to Waller for a powerbomb, but Morgan blocks it with a snap rana and pins Waller to win the titles! The action never stopped and the finish was jump out of your seat worthy.  ****½

Main Event: Champion vs. Champion Special Challenge Match – Jake Something vs. LaBron Kozone

Winner gets a contract for the other guy’s championship. Jake Something is the new World Champ, and LaBron Kozone is the National Champion. 15 minute time limit.

They break even on some mat wrestling and Something runs through Kozone with a bodyblock. Bodyslam gets two. Corner splash and chinlock applied by Jake. Another charge misses and Kozone gets a T-bone suplex. Kozone sweeps the leg and lands a senton for just one.

Something comes back with a Northern Lariat, but Kozone avoids a second one and gets a Michinoku Driver for two. Jake no-sells some strikes and knocks LaBron down, but Kozone gets a rotisserie backbreaker for two. Cartwheel kick and enzuigiri, but Something pops up with another bodyblock to put both men down.

Kozone avoids a powerbomb and gets a spin kick, then places Something on the top rope and goes for Ballgame. Something catches him and chokeslams for a close two. Torture Rack slam gets another two. Both guys head up top where Kozone gets a super gutwrench suplex for two. Hurricanrana for two and Ballgame lands to get the pin as Something kicks out just after the three count. Good hard-hitting match as you’d expect, and Kozone now gets a World Title shot. ***½   

Final Thoughts: Everything from Priest/Henry on is worth a look in my opinion. The tag title match especially stole the show, with nonstop action and a noteworthy title change.