From the likes of Jamesen Shook’s big event, “Night Zero,” the Scenic City Invitational Tournament, Game Changer Wrestling, and ACTION Wrestling, we saw many amazing matches from this past weekend. These matches include a coffin match, a Scenic City Invitational Tournament match, a Hellevation Deathmatch, arguably one of the best big men matches of the year, and the finals of the first-ever women’s ACTION Futures Showcase tournament. Here are five matches that every fan should go check out on their respective streaming platform.
5. Ravenna Vein vs. Davina Thorne from Jamesen Shook Presents “Night Zero”
Kicking off the list, we saw Ravenna Vein (much, MUCH, more on her later) go one-on-one with Davina Thorne in a coffin match at the big show, presented by Jamesen Shook, “Night Zero.” This is only the first of two matches from the event that will be on this list. This one was special for many reasons. Ravenna Vein is someone who is taking over the southeast and is finally getting her flowers, which she undoubtedly deserves. We will talk much more about her later, but this match just fit her so perfectly. Known to many as the “Vampire Baddie,” Vein has won the hearts of many of the Southeast faithful who grace the TWE Bud Higdon Arena with their presence. She is hands down one of the most fun characters to watch, and side-by-side with Kelsey Raegan, is one half of one of the most fun teams to watch, The Thirst. Vein plays the “spooky” character perfectly, but there’s genuinely so much more to her than meets the eye. Not only is she tremendous in the ring, but she can make fans feel something. They get behind her every single time she steps in that ring and cheer her on. That is the most important part of being a professional wrestler. Her opponent in this one, the “Head Diva” herself, Davina Thorne, much of the same can be said. Thorne is one of the most fun young up-and-comers to watch right now and is a testament to how great the Freelance Wrestling Academy is. In the ring, she is fantastic and, like Vein, is wise beyond her years. She can be an “annoying mean girl,” but that only suits her as the “head diva.” Putting these two together was a recipe for success. Vein had the fans in the palm of her hand at the TWE Bud Higdon Arena, whereas Thorne got the boos that she deserved. So, it was awesome to see the culture clash between the two. The match itself was excellent, and the coffin match stipulation was a very fun caveat to the contest. Both women showed up and showed out. In our exclusive interview, Shook named this one the underrated match of the night to be on the lookout for heading into the show, and he was absolutely right with his take. This show had many great fights, but this was by far one of the best of the night. Go back and check this one out on the “Jamesen Shook Presents” VOD Channel on IWTV.
4. Shimbashi vs. Danny Orion from Scenic City Invitational Tournament “Night 1”
Next on this list, we saw the collision of New Fever. Shimbashi battled Danny Orion in the first round of the Scenic City Invitational Tournament on “Night 1.” Shimbashi and Orion are one of my favorite tag teams around today, New Fever. But, they can, without a doubt, both still go as singles competitors. That was abundantly clear in this one as Shimbashi and Orion each delivered a star-making performance in the TWE Bud Higdon Arena. They are both regulars at New Texas Pro, so it was awesome getting to see them collide in a new area, in a new promotion, and most importantly, in front of new fans. Entering this tournament, there were a lot of names to be on the lookout for, but one can make the argument that Orion may have been the best technical wrestler in the field. Both of these men know each other very well, and that was very well-known as you watched this match unfold. Shimbashi took the fight to Orion, and in return, Orion brought the fight right back. While they may be friends and tag team partners, that certainly didn’t stop them from unloading their best shots on each other. While neither man has the size of Isaiah Broner, Big Dave Weaver, or Tyler Stevens, that didn’t stop them from each being a believable winner of this tournament. Truthfully, they each can wrestle circles around any opponent you put in front of them, regardless of size. While there were a number of excellent matches in the whole tournament, this may have been the best of the best. Personally, I think it’s because the two know each other so well and seemingly have that built-in chemistry. However, even those who didn’t have a ton of chemistry entering the tournament, such as Kenzie Paige vs. Joseph Alexander, Tyler Franks vs. Joseph Alexander, EFFY vs. Kelsey Raegan, or Tyler Stevens vs. Chase Holliday, all delivered incredible bouts. With that said, this match between Shimbashi and Orion trumped all of them. Go back and check this one out on the SCI Vod Channel on IWTV.
3. Nino Extremo vs. Jamesen Shook from Jamesen Shook Presents “Night Zero”
Coming in at number three on this list, we return to Jamesen Shook’s big event, “Night Zero,” for the second and final mention on this list. The main event saw one of the most exciting young guns on the deathmatch wrestling scene, Nino Extremo, battle the man who is responsible for this show, the “Deathmatch Diva,” Jamesen Shook. This match not only marked the main event of the night, but was the first-ever Hellevation deathmatch. Extremo is a name I’m not super familiar with, but since he came to GCW, I’ve loved everything he’s been doing there. I’m not the biggest deathmatch wrestling fan by any means, but when you can tell the right story and look good doing it, I’m all in on any type of wrestling, deathmatch wrestling included. Like technical wrestling, high-flying wrestling, or many others, deathmatch wrestling is an art form and deserves to be respected as such. When I think of great wrestlers on the deathmatch wrestling scene, I think of a hot, exciting, young up-and-comer, Nino Extremo, and a veteran who can hold his own against anyone, Jamesen Shook. I was very, very happy with this match. Not only did Extremo and Shook leave it all in the ring, but they looked incredible doing it. This may have been one of Extremo’s toughest tests since bursting onto the scene. This match was bloody, brutal, hard-hitting, and just a fantastic deathmatch between two men who complemented each other very well. This whole show was incredible, but I urge everyone to go back and check out the coffin match (from above), and the main event, this very exciting Hellevation deathmatch. Go back and check this show out on the “Jamesen Shook Presents” VOD Channel on IWTV.
2. Bear Bronson vs. Brick Savage from GCW’s “The Tussle In Tulsa”
At number two on this list, we saw one of the best big-man matches on the independent wrestling scene of the whole year, as Bear Bronson took on Brick Savage at GCW’s big event, “The Tussle In Tulsa.” This show had a bit of everything on it, including a fun trios match featuring Bustah & The Brain and Leedz Lewis, a violent trios match between Gabby Forza & The Cowboy Way against VNDL48, and much more. However, above all else, the Bronson and Savage match delivered on just about every front and was hands down the best match of the night. This one was perhaps the one I was most excited about entering this weekend. Two big men, who can arguably go better than anyone their size, are squaring off. What could go wrong? The answer: nothing. Another interesting, yet fun, caveat was that this was a TNA vs. MLW match, with Bronson representing TNA, and Savage being one of the newest wrestlers to sign with MLW. Both men are truly beasts in the ring. This was as hard-hitting as it comes, and was one of the fun meat matches in recent memory. We got a “BEEF!” chant early on in the match. Fans and everyone in attendance knew that this was about to be a MEAT SLAPPING MEAT match. Spoiler alert, they were not disappointed. While both wrestlers did get a bit violent in this one, it was far from a deathmatch, which brings together the best of both worlds. If you like violence, you’ll love this one, but if you don’t love the deathmatch wrestling scene, you’ll still really like this one. Truthfully, there was nothing to not like. Bronson and Savage are two of my personal favorite big men, and this match is just a testament as to why that is. GCW had two shows this weekend, and this was by far the best GCW match between the two. Go back and check this one out on TrillerTV+.
1. Ravenna Vein vs. Corinne Joy vs. Clara Carter from ACTION Wrestling & SCI “ACTION Futures Showcase”
Coming in at number one on the list, we saw Ravenna Vein, Corinne Joy, & Clara Carter meet in the finals of the very first Women’s ACTION Wrestling Futures Showcase Tournament. This show was presented by ACTION Wrestling, in partnership with the Scenic City Invitational. It was a great tone setter for the second and final night of the Scenic City Invitational Tournament. The likes of Ravenna Vein, Corinne Joy, Clara Carter, Gwen Neodonna, Davina Thorne, Riley Judah, SIGRID, Alexandra Quinn, and Vivian Cross competed in this tournament, with only one being able to etch their name in the history books. That one would turn out to be the “Vampire Baddie” herself, Ravenna Vein. Vein took home the inaugural Sherrie Barnes Medal. She bested Thorne & Neodonna in the first round match, before going on to the finals and squaring off with Joy & Carter. With her two wins, Vein went a perfect 3-0 this weekend, defeating Thorne in a Coffin Match at Jamesen Shook’s big event on Thursday evening, “Night Zero” to kick it all off. Vein has one of the brightest futures on the independent wrestling scene. She, along with the names mentioned above, did their part to bring back women’s wrestling to the southeast and gave ACTION a real women’s division to be able to even hold this tournament. I cannot say enough how much Vein deserved this win. She’s beginning to show that she is the pillar of the women’s division in the southeast and has an incredibly bright future in this world. Despite coming up just short, Corinne Joy is also a pillar of the southeast independent wrestling scene. Joy is someone who burst onto the scene extremely quickly and has such a bright future. Even with the loss, Joy looked like a million dollars, and has all the potential in the world to do great things. The third and final competitor in this one, Clara Carter, is someone I’m a bit more unfamiliar with, but I’m a newfound fan after this weekend. She is brash and just so fun to watch. She plays the heel role perfectly, fighting with the fans as she enters the ring and looking good when the bell rings. This was a perfect final, which culminated with Kelsey Raegan, somebody else who is SEVERELY underrated, coming out and presenting her tag partner and best friend, Vein, with the medal. This was so important for many reasons, perhaps the most important reason being that women’s wrestling is alive and well in the southeast. I’m ecstatic for all the women who were involved in the tournament to begin with. We are a long way removed from the early 2000’s. Women’s f**king wrestling. That is all. Go back and check this one out on the ACTION Wrestling and SCI VOD channel on IWTV.