Post by Staff on Dec 31, 2023 21:06:15 GMT
5 Nights in the 5 Boroughs
LIVE! From Queens
Friday 12th January
The show kicked off with a recap of last time out and a run down of the night ahead. A highlight reel of tonight's competitors was played, including Andrew Raynes' Television Title victory at LIVE! From Staten Island. There was further hype around tonight's match ups thereafter, including a few online quotes from the featured wrestlers..
@bigpapirivera: You got me fucked up if you even think I’m gonna let you walk outta my home state with the win.
@thisdragonrises: Main Event in Queens? Seems like the perfect place to prove I belong. I'm looking forward to this @bigpapirivera. Time to show you how this Dragon burns.
The show kicked off with a recap of last time out and a run down of the night ahead. A highlight reel of tonight's competitors was played, including Andrew Raynes' Television Title victory at LIVE! From Staten Island. There was further hype around tonight's match ups thereafter, including a few online quotes from the featured wrestlers..
@bigpapirivera: You got me fucked up if you even think I’m gonna let you walk outta my home state with the win.
@thisdragonrises: Main Event in Queens? Seems like the perfect place to prove I belong. I'm looking forward to this @bigpapirivera. Time to show you how this Dragon burns.
SINGLES SHOWCASE
Kimberley Williams v Iida Matsuda
The action got straight underway with the first match of the night. The debuting Williams got a fairly positive reception, and was firmly focused on getting off to a winning start in her 5LW career. She still made some time for the fans though, some of whom had brought along replica Wasleys. Matsuda lost last time out to another debuting star in Vilaro, but was always upbeat about the next challenge ahead.
Once the bell went Williams didn’t hold back, putting Matsuda on the back foot early on in attempt to knock her confidence. Matsuda came back at her but any reprieves were short lived as the self proclaimed 'Queen of the Death Match' overturned things back in her favour.
The match was over inside the five minute mark following a running knee strike Williams dubbed the Shadowblade, rounding off an impressive debut.
Winner: Kimberley Williams
TELEVISION TITLE MATCH
Andrew Raynes (c) v Chris Styles
Pre-match Journeyman Phillips came out to sit at the commentary booth and get a closer view of his opponent on Monday night. Never one to mix his words, he was particularly dismissive of Styles who he described as 'all show and no go'. Asked why, he said "everyone thinks they’re the shit but this guy is trying to make a name off his family. And his family aren’t anything special anyway." He didn’t have much praise for Raynes either but conceded he should have enough to beat Styles tonight as a backhanded compliment. The commentators reminded him that Raynes had won in their last encounter but Phillips downplayed it, as the match was fought under hardcore rules. Any dog can have his day in that world, he said. Next week 'if they meet it’ll be a different story.'
This was a maiden defence for Raynes after picking up the vacant belt against Sally Lambert last time out, and a good opportunity to prove himself against the popular, rising star that was Chris Styles. 'Wrestling's Juggernaught' as he's known, has been rightfully rewarded with a shot at this belt after almost earning a crack at the Openweight Title in Toronto.
Styles came flying out the blocks, intent to give this everything he has and take the match to his opponent. Raynes was thrown off early on but soon switched things up and put himself on top. Styles hit a huge clothesline later in the match that near took Raynes head off, but it would need more to keep him permanently down. Styles tried another but this time Raynes reversed and hit a Code of the Sith (Running Single Leg High Knee). With both men down it was a case of who could recover first, as they both steadily rose to their feet. But with his back turned Styles had no time to think about it before he was locked in a Caught in the Rayne (Tazzmission). There was no way back for him after that and he finally tapped after a long period of endurance. Phillips was smug at his prediction, and picked up the belt from ringside before climbing into the ring for a stare down with Raynes, before handing him his belt.
Winner: Andrew Raynes (Still Television Champion)
Chelsea LeClair was backstage with Emma Harrington. She had a lot to get off her chest, unsurprisingly following her last outing when she was unceremoniously denied an opportunity to win the North American Title. While she had nothing against Callie Renton, of course, she wasn’t happy that someone was already in line for a shot at the belt after she was screwed out of winning it. With that Kimberley Williams and Andrew Raynes came into shot. The Television Champion was fresh off the back of his first title defence, and the belt was slung proudly over his shoulder. He said it was typical of LeClair to be whining after another defeat. Williams jumped in to say Raynes too had lost in Toronto, but he put it right behind him and focused on the next challenge. That’s why he was a champion, and she wasn't. LeClair said she didn’t know who Williams was or care for her opinion, adding that she knew another opportunity would come her way soon, and pointed at Raynes to say he better hope it’s not against him.
SINGLES SHOWCASE
Chelsea LeClair v Andrew Garrison
LeClair’s made no bones about how she feels following her, quite frankly, scandalous defeat to Tiffany Lynn Page last month. She should be out here today as North American Champion and has let just about everyone know that by this point. Garrison pulled off an impressive victory against his former rival TATER on the same card and will be looking to get himself into one of the many title pictures in 2024.
Unsurprisingly the powerful Garrison dominated the early stages, not letting LeClair get close. But with the crowd willing her on and the pent up aggression still inside her she fought her way back into this. A Jersey Drop (Diamond Cutter) from nowhere was followed up by a "CANCELLED!" (Corkscrew Moonsault) for a great comeback.
Winner: Chelsea LeClair
BRASS KNUCKLES TITLE TOURNAMENT
MATCH THREE - ROUND ONE
Monty Margolis v Duke Andrews
Experience in abundance here as the cultured ‘Uncle Monty’ takes on the loathsome Andrews. It didn’t go unnoticed by the commentators that a win here for Margolis sets up a potential clash with his daughter’s boyfriend, AJ Rivera, but Andrews would have other ideas.
Before even laying a glove on one another they both leapt out of the ring in search of weapons but Duke soon snuck up on an unsuspecting Monty and floored him with a chair shot. Wasting no time he reached for an actual set of brass knuckles but Monty was able to counter before they were put to use.
As the match wore on there was blood shed on both sides as they dropped one another onto the chairs, tacks and tables they had assembled at the beginning. The turning point came though when Gabriel Landry appeared at ringside with a baseball bat in hand. He tossed it to Duke as he was climbing to his feet and he didn’t hesitate to whack it across the back of Margolis. Wounded but not beaten, Duke eventually put this one to bed with The Andrews Effect (One Winged Angel).
Before even laying a glove on one another they both leapt out of the ring in search of weapons but Duke soon snuck up on an unsuspecting Monty and floored him with a chair shot. Wasting no time he reached for an actual set of brass knuckles but Monty was able to counter before they were put to use.
As the match wore on there was blood shed on both sides as they dropped one another onto the chairs, tacks and tables they had assembled at the beginning. The turning point came though when Gabriel Landry appeared at ringside with a baseball bat in hand. He tossed it to Duke as he was climbing to his feet and he didn’t hesitate to whack it across the back of Margolis. Wounded but not beaten, Duke eventually put this one to bed with The Andrews Effect (One Winged Angel).
Winner: Duke Andrews (Advances to Semi Finals)
MAIN EVENT
BRASS KNUCKLES TITLE TOURNAMENT
MATCH FOUR - ROUND ONE
Alejandro Rivera v Travis Levitt
Rivera might have one eye on regaining the Openweight Championship down the line, but was no doubt relishing the opportunity to go toe to toe with Levitt, or anyone for that matter, under these barbaric stipulations. The Dragon though is an experienced grappler, who himself thrives under these conditions.
It was bedlam from the off as Rivera threw everything he had at Levitt, unleashing all frustration from his recent string of defeats. Every time Levitt seemed down though he came roaring back with offence of his own, finding all manner of foreign objects in, under, and around the ring. A canny operator in any event, he made use of what he could find he and seized the opportunity throughout to put Rivera on the back foot.
Big Papi doesn’t like to lose though, and unleashed the dragon within himself after taking some serious punishment. It took a Capital Punishment (Wrist Clutch Burning Hammer) into thumb tacks to finish this one, as the divided crowd jeered and cheered the usually unpopular Rivera inside his hometown.
Arguably the most brutal match of the tournament so far, Levitt would consider himself unlucky, while who knows how much this will have taken out of Rivera ahead of his next challenge in 7 days time. Nevertheless he mustered enough energy to enjoy the moment, standing aloft the turnbuckle as his music played out the end of another dramatic evening.
It was bedlam from the off as Rivera threw everything he had at Levitt, unleashing all frustration from his recent string of defeats. Every time Levitt seemed down though he came roaring back with offence of his own, finding all manner of foreign objects in, under, and around the ring. A canny operator in any event, he made use of what he could find he and seized the opportunity throughout to put Rivera on the back foot.
Big Papi doesn’t like to lose though, and unleashed the dragon within himself after taking some serious punishment. It took a Capital Punishment (Wrist Clutch Burning Hammer) into thumb tacks to finish this one, as the divided crowd jeered and cheered the usually unpopular Rivera inside his hometown.
Arguably the most brutal match of the tournament so far, Levitt would consider himself unlucky, while who knows how much this will have taken out of Rivera ahead of his next challenge in 7 days time. Nevertheless he mustered enough energy to enjoy the moment, standing aloft the turnbuckle as his music played out the end of another dramatic evening.
Winner: Alejandro Rivera (Advances to Semi Finals)