Review of New South Pro's Action Clash: Episode 1

byThatRoseTattoo •
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New South Pro Wrestling presents Action Clash Episode 1

Event Air Date: September 29, 2020

Event Venue: JC Arena in Hanceville, AL

Available on demand via IWTV.live

by Tiffany R. Merryhill


Well, it’s about damn time.


I discovered New South Pro, a true diamond in the rough, at a very good moment. The promotion was on its way into its fifth year, there was a good number of up and coming talent in the region, and everything looked like it was finally coming up roses for the Southern wrestling scene. Then the pandemic happened and scattered everything to the four winds. Shortly before everything went on hold, however, New South put on its annual HOSS Tournament with the biggest names on the indie scene in March and left us all wanting more, much more from this promotion. Now, at last, we have it - and we’ll have New South on a weekly basis thanks to IWTV.


New South debuted its new series Action Clash this week on IWTV, and the show will have a home on the streaming network each Tuesday night at 7pm CST/ 8pm EST. All year this is what I’ve been hoping would happen for this dedicated Alabama crew. Names that you need to know going into 2021? They’ll be on this show. There will be some amazing matches I’ll highly recommend in the weeks to come. Believe me when I say that this is one of the promotions you really want to keep your eye on in the months ahead. As for the premiere, I think it’s a solid production that should hook plenty of new viewers. From the sleek opening sequence (all credit to the fantastic people at Erratic Aperture studio) to the fast pace of the hour-long show, you’ll feel like New South packed just enough show in the timeframe to keep you satisfied until the next episode.


On Commentary: John ‘Mose’ Mosley 


I’ve always admired commentators who go solo, and for the first half of the premiere Mose handled the job with class. His regular New South commentary partner Mr. Brickster wasn’t at the table for the first few episodes of Action Clash, but Mose (who was later joined by equally entertaining New South tag team co-champion 2-Fly Ty) called each match with energy and didn’t let up all the way through the first three episodes that premiered on IWTV.


The first episode of Action Clash opened with Brandon Williams, one-half of the New South Express, looking for his tag partner Dump Sanders as their match against reigning champs 2-Fly Ty and Dy-Lan was on first. Dump, however, was nowhere to be found and Brandon was left to wonder exactly what was going on…? We'd find out...


Match 1: Dy-Lan and 2 Fly Ty vs The New South Express (New South Tag Team Championship match)


Before the bell we learned that Dump’s been attacked backstage. The match began with Brandon Williams in the ring and ready to take on both Ty and Dy-Lan at once; Ty got a cheap shot in to start things off. The New South Express was down an engine but not completely derailed, because damn if Brandon didn’t hold his own for a good portion of the match against both of the tag team champions. Dy-Lan didn’t hold back in this one either despite Ty trying to steal all of the in-ring glory for his own, which was par for the course. Glad to see my boy with the goggles getting more aggressive. Impressive work here from Mr. Hook-and-Stretch against two dudes going at full championship caliber, but whatever happened to Dump?


We get an answer to this well into the match. It looked at that point as if Brandon may have turned the match in his favor once more and maybe even had a chance of singularly capturing the tag team championship on his own. We’ll never know, because Kevin Ryan and Shean Christopher (or his ghost) hit the ring and attacked Brandon...and that’s how we found out who attacked Dump. Of course the tag team champs took that opportunity to capitalize for the win. Kevin and Shean continued their attack on Brandon post-match. Damn those kids.


Match 2: Wasted Generation (Kevin Ryan and Shean Christopher) vs Brett Ison


Feeling pretty great about themselves after having beat up a guy who just had a hard-ass match, Wasted Generation call out Brett Ison for the next match, even having the audacity to refer to the Pitbull as a puppy. In hindsight I guess I should have known why the boys were talking so big, but I was ready to see Ison do some damage nonetheless. The two-on-one fight strategy used here was pretty effective. What was it? Brett would pick one guy up and throw him across the ring into the other, it was great.


It was, once again, a two-on-one match, so that meant Kevin and Shean wouldn’t let up on their death defying (and if it’s against the Pitbull it really is death defying) shit. Nope, they were just as destructive as I’d expect them to be. They couldn’t take Ison out completely though, even with all of their finesse. I’d go so far as to say Ison would have won this two-on-one match but once again it’ll remain a mystery because…


Chris Crunk is back. Yep, anyone who believed for one moment that he was long gone from New South was laughably mistaken. Not only is he back, but he welcomed himself back to the ring by attacking Ison at the climax of the action from behind with a chair, reuniting himself with the rest of the Akuto Death Society in a three-on-one beatdown and causing a no-contest finish to conclude the match. Definitely no ‘welcome back’ chants here.


Before the main event of the premiere episode, we were ever so graciously treated(?) to an appearance from New South upstart and general big mouth known as I Am Sam. For those not acquainted with Sam, he’s a kid who thinks he’s got what it takes to hang in the ring with the New South roster on a full-time basis. He’s got an entourage, he’s got connections, and on this occasion he had a New South contract in his hand. Of course he was there to brag about it.


If Sam thinks he’s ready to go full time and full speed ahead with the folks in New South, he may have some regrouping to do. In fact, there are a lot of people looking to make regular appearances in the New South ring, and that includes long timer Kris McInnis, who made it known in his own words that he’s back, and he’s definitely got what it takes to hang with the New South roster.


Main Event: ‘Kung Fu’ Donnie Janela vs. ‘Kings Road Slayer’ Derek Neal (New South Heavyweight Championship match)


I have to start this review out by saying both these guys have epic theme songs that must be fully appreciated before you can start this match. Janela comes out to a power rock version of ‘Kiss from a Rose’ and it just makes for a magical entrance. Neal, the reigning champ, has the perfect theme for a King’s Road-style guy; you can’t go wrong with Johnny Cash’s ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’. Just had to take that moment of acknowledgement for damn good selections of entrance music.


This main event though? Screen door banger! I enjoyed the hell out of this match because Janela and Neal were given plenty of time to go wild and they didn’t waste a precious moment. Everything these guys did here left a solid impression in the ring. Donnie was ready to make this moment the crowning point of what’s been a good summer - after his Bloodsport and Buried Alive matches, we were all ready to see Donnie go for the gold. Derek Neal, however, used every tactic to prevent this from happening. This led to a power struggle and a classic match where the balance of the power went back and forth repeatedly. Strong stuff went down here, friends.


Never underestimate the ruthlessness of Derek Neal when it comes to keeping hold of Humongold, however. The reigning New South champ has aligned himself with an insurance policy, of sorts, to ensure that the championship remains his own. Those policy enforcers made themselves known in the main event, too - Adam Priest and Steven Michaels ran interference in the conclusion of the match, allowing Derek Neal to escape this classic match with an ever-relentless Donnie Janela and end the show by keeping the New South championship in his possession for now.


Post-Show Thoughts


That was a lot going on for just the first episode, but it’s a substantial indicator that the weeks ahead are going to be GREAT for getting fans turned on to New South. If you’re just now finding out about this awesome little promotion out of ‘Bama, you can check out their whole catalog of shows from months past on IWTV. 


The first three episodes of Action Clash are available now via IWTV’s Video On Demand service and live shows will air every Tuesday night. Join me each week and let’s have fun live tweeting Action Clash; there’s a pretty good chance you’ll see me in the crowd for a few episodes, too!

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