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| Mike Dell will enter as Champion, but will too much metal cause him to leave without it Sunday? Photo Credit: Kelly Kyle/Texas Anarchy |
GOLD - Inspire Pro Wrestling's No Room to Die
The new gold standard in Central Texas professional wrestling is back at the Marchesa Theater in Austin on Sunday for yet another huge event. The doors for this huge show will open at 5:30 PM local time, and that building has been filling up to the gills. Get there early! Not only will the regular stars of the company be there, but the folks running the show have brought in talent from New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and Osaka Pro Wrestling. Inspire has gone to the international well before, but this show may have the heaviest outside flavor.
The main event, however, will remain very much a Texas affair, as "One Man" Mike Dell, who survived the challenge from his former friend Franco D'Angelo at Light the Fuse (which you can watch right here), defends his Inspire Pro Championship against a man who used to be made of too much metal, but is now simply known as "Unholy" Greg James. Also, the mysterious figure known only as The Red Scare appeared at Light the Fuse and put the fear of God into the Great Depression. Now, they will team together to face off against Frankie Fisher and Jiggle-O James Johnson. I don't like the latter two's odds.
But the aforementioned international talent lined up for this show is impressive. First, from the hottest company in the world, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Takaaki Watanabe makes his return to Inspire Pro, as he battles "Dirty" Andy Dalton. From Osaka Pro, the buzzsaw and former Chikara Young Lions Cup Champion Tadasuke will team with the Heaviest Sumo in the Land, Jojo Bravo, to take on yet another NJPW talent Lance Hoyt and his partner Matthew Palmer. And from NOAH comes another gaijin, Jake Dirden (whom regular viewers of Metro Pro Wrestling may affectionately know as "Homeless Brody"). He will descend upon Texas to battle the Cowboy, James Claxton. Most wrestling promotions would kill to have one of those imports walking into its doors, and Inspire has four regulars from Japan heading into the Marchesa.
Not to sell the rest of the card short though, other standouts from around the state will be in action. Paige Turner, Scot Summers, and Carson will also be wrestling at this show. If you're in Austin, San Antonio, or some other locale in the middle of the great state of Texas, you had better get your ass to the Marchesa. Don't say I didn't tell you so.
SILVER - Beyond Wrestling Secret Show/Combat Zone To Infinity
Similarly, anyone in New England who has a free afternoon Sunday and isn't making the trek to Fete Music (or to the RWA Chop Shop, the secret locale where the Beyond Wrestling secret show is taking place) is fucking up royally. Beyond Wrestling has already proven that whenever it takes over the hip music joint in Providence, RI, the show is must-see. In addition to retaking its residence at the hall, it will be sharing a double bill with the folks from Combat Zone Wrestling. At 1 PM at the aforementioned Chop Shop in Providence, the world-famous Beyond Secret Show will take place. If you want to go, let Denver Colorado (the man, not the place!) know on Facebook. Once you get your ticket squared away, be there at 12:30 PM local time. The matches have not been announced because, duh, it's a secret show. But trust me, it will be good.
Then, moving over to Fete Music at 3:30 PM will be CZW's Rhode Island debut, To Infinity. Drew Gulak will enter as CZW World Heavyweight Champion, but will he exit the same? Biff Busick, the man who has seemingly wrestled Gulak everywhere across the country in 2012 and '13, will get his shot at the title. No wrestler on this planet knows Gulak the way Busick does. Even if the title doesn't change hands, you are guaranteed a rock solid main event with these two in the ring. The Tag Team Championships will also be on the line, as the Juicy Product of David Starr and JT Dunn will defend against the Beaver Boys of Alex Reynolds and John Silver in what should be a rollicking affair. Masada and Chris Dickinson will engage in battle that may turn Rhode Island into a literal piece of land surrounded on all sides by water, while DJ Hyde and Kevin Steen will turn their Twitter war of words into a real, physical match.
BRONZE - Omega Championship Wrestling Chaos in Cameron
The Hardy Bros. reboot of OMEGA as a modern indie promotion has been unique to say the least, but the company's most anticipated show ever may be happening on Saturday with the Chaos in Cameron (NC). The bell time at Union Pines High School will be 7:30 PM local, and proceeds from the show will benefit said school. The roster of talent reads as an all-star lineup of North Carolina indie wrestlers, but the main event is one of the few tag team dream matches left to book in this day and age.
In one corner stand the brothers Briscoe. Jay and Mark have done everything in every promotion known to man without going corporate. They even wrestled the Rock 'n Roll Express! However, one team has eluded them, and now, maybe the most legendary mainstream tag team of the last 15 years will get back together to face Dem Boys. Matt and Jeff Hardy come home to do battle with the Briscoes in what should be a goddamn spectacle to say the least. I know some of y'all are sick to death of the Briscoes, and others were tired of the Hardys in 2001, but I think the fact this match is happening is so freakin' cool.
In addition to that legendary tag match, Hurricane Helms will team with the Bravado Bros. in trios action against Caleb Konley, CW Anderson, and Gambino. Reby Sky takes on the statuesque D'Arcy Dixon. In addition to those matches, Caprice Coleman, Cedric Alexander, Trevor Lee, and Adam Page will all be in action as well.
If you can't make it to any one of the shows listed above this weekend, fret not. A billion shows are happening around this great country, continent, and world. For example, if you're in Cleveland, OH on Friday, you can hit up AIW. Supreme Pro Wrestling in Northern California has your hookup Sunday (which will feature Drake Younger's farewell to indie wrestling). And hell, Tennessee All-Pro Wrestling will be at the goddamn Old Cheese Factory. I still want someone to go there and give me a live report, because that sounds like the most awesome venue ever. Either way, good wrestling is happening everywhere. It's up to you to head out and enjoy it. Besides, you never know. Your favorite wrestler or promotion may be lurking out there. You just don't know it yet.