Happy Trails: GCW Presents The Last Resort
Live from Oak Canyon Park in Silverado, CA
October 17, 2020
Available on FITE.tv
by Tiffany R. Merryhill
People from California are different from the rest of us. That’s not to say there’s a legitimately vast cultural divide between the West Coast or the central or East Coast states. No, people have a tendency to remain similar in most cases despite whatever state they’re in. It’s not even a negative observation on the state itself. But the statement still stands strong...people from California are different from the rest of us.
For one thing, they’ve been kept inside longer during the pandemic. My energy for The Last Resort was slightly different from most other people who made their way to the gorgeous Orange County canyons that Saturday afternoon. I’d spent the whole summer traveling from Indianapolis to Atlantic City and back and forth to catch every GCW show live. The California fans hadn’t had any GCW event since January, and no live events whatsoever since March. It’s a safe assumption to make that these people were damn ready to get out of the house. In fact, that was the sentiment largely spoken out loud among everyone who interacted (safely) within the park before the show.
“It feels good to get out and see people again.”
“I missed this. It’s nice having everybody here and just getting a chance to hang out.”
I’d taken my travels for granted. At no place in time did I ever feel like my summertime adventures were down to the point of basic ‘show-hopping’. I got more out of each trip than just the event itself. What I’d done, though, was forget how damned fortunate I am to be able to do what I’ve done over the past four months while entire cities and states have made it nearly impossible for anyone to get out of town. I might have made my own luck in this shit situation, but I do count myself lucky. It was a magical feeling to be around fans who were just grateful to see a show happen and be among friends.
On Commentary: Kevin Gill and ‘Hot Tub Guy’ Shawn 2 Cents
I’m probably the most biased writer in the world when it comes to wrestling commentary, and it’s only because I have so many favorite pairings and commentating teams that I enjoy. When GCW’s on the West Coast you’ll hear Hot Tub Guy at the table with KG. Whether you think it’s great or you don’t get the appeal, you have to admit there’s never a dull moment when these two dudes interact. I believe I fully understand the appeal of fresh blood commentators like HTG. He sounds nothing like what you as a wrestling fan are used to, especially if you cut your teeth on JBL and Michael Cole. It may take multiple viewings of shows before you understand what’s going on here - one of our own, a fan, is given a chance to shine.
You will not see such a thing in many other promotions. GCW’s willing to let the kids on the sidelines have their star moment on the field. I respect and support that, and this is a commentary team I want to see with each West Coast show.
Match 1: Joey Janela vs. AJ Gray
I wondered at first why they picked a match of this caliber to open the show, and then I realized the reasoning when I saw the entrances. I couldn’t start a show better than having Joey Janela strutting across the hillside with the Orange County canyons as his backdrop. Fuck yeah, that view. I did expect this match to go at least five minutes longer considering the caliber of both competitors involved, but I also understand the need to keep the show within strict time limits. The nearly eleven minutes we did get of Janela/Gray was high quality, though, and I’m plenty pleased with the result of AJ going over one of the top names of the promotion. One more point proven for Rich Homie Juice and one more step toward his rightful spot as GCW champion.
Match 2: Danny Limelight vs. Adrian Quest vs. Chris Dickinson
As much as The Last Resort’s card got changed around right up to the very beginning of the show, I gotta say I was not disappointed that we ended up with this triple threat match to introduce Danny Limelight to GCW. The guy is a legitimate star, and to put him in the ring with proven talent like Adrian Quest and the promotion’s backbone Chris Dickinson is enough evidence for me to know that this man Limelight deserves his time to shine. This one was over far too fast, though, and although I’m good with Dickinson taking the victory in the end it’d be a damn shame if we didn’t see a singles match in the near future with any of these men involved.
Match 3: Matthew Justice vs. Sabu
Are you an old head like me and did you live and die for ECW back in the day? You had to be there on the hillside looking over the canyons that Saturday afternoon to really appreciate the chills of hearing Huka Blues playing and seeing Sabu make his entrance. That was one atmospheric moment...not even surreal, though, because Justice and Sabu got pretty fucking real very quickly. Shoutout to Justice’s attempt to chair-surf down the side of the hill in his entrance too, I wish I’d thought of that. Now, anyone who’s out there thinking Sabu might move as good as he did in 1995 was clearly born after 1995. Sabu was hurting like hell 25 years ago even though he still busted out crazy shit, so I’m not expecting the guy to bring that same 2 Cold Scorpio Collective/For The Culture energy to this match.
What we did get, however, was no bullshit from Sabu. The guy put his time in and wasn’t here in the canyons just to collect money, and I appreciated that. I was so grateful to see the legit ring work from Sabu that it didn’t even bother me to see him go over Justice in the end. Sure, I was expecting the usual passing of the torch type of ending where the younger guy defeats the old master. I ain’t even mad, though - Sabu earned that win and Justice had nothing taken away from the work he put in either.
Match 4: Allie Kat vs. Elayna Black
I enjoyed this match but a few oh-so-different California fans let my out-of-towner ass down here. Understandable that it’s been a while for Cali and live events and all, but there’s no reason for a small number of vocal fans in the crowd to take on the attitude of the worst fans in the Southern states where I’m from. With that said, this match was memorable for having two women booked for one match when GCW fans have been accustomed to intergender matches involving either Allie Kat or Elayna Black. This is a step in the right direction with two women who take large strides on the independent scene. They deserve recognition and I was happy with how this match played out despite a couple of cooped-up-too-long fans making California look bad (how are you gonna be sexist in California and try to live there anyway?).
I don’t think the indies can hold the amount of talent Elayna Black has for too much longer. She’s among many wrestlers who made the best out of the worst year and has proven she’s ready to roll with the big promotions. Enjoy this match as it’s well worth your watch; Allie Kat is at her best here, came through with an impressive win, and has maintained great condition over the past few months. Consider this match as the one that opens the door a little wider for more women’s matches in the promotion.
Match 5: Juicy Finau vs. KTB
EARN. THAT. SHIT. Those are the three words that describe what both Juicy and KTB have been doing in these hard and strange times. Look at where the hustle has got them, too. We’ve got KTB up on AEW Dark this week, which is absolutely huge considering how much he’s improved in the ring over the past couple of months. Then there’s Juicy in his first singles GCW match after showing up with no guarantees at the Collective in Indianapolis and killing it. I enjoyed this match despite not being able to choose between the two as far as a winner. These two guys are busting their ass to show us all that they’re ready for the next level in their career and that gets all my respect. The right guy got the win here as well, KTB is right on the precipice of something huge in his career and Juicy’s just getting started; the Beast getting the win here within days of his AEW Dark match looks pretty damn nice in my estimation.
Match 6: Jimmy Lloyd vs. Eli Everfly
I don’t care if I’m the only damn one in the place cheering for Eli Everfly, that dude is always gonna have me on his side. Even in his first deathmatch against Jimmy Lloyd, of all the people to have as an opponent in your inaugural fuckery fest. This match was my first time seeing Eli live after having been astounded by this guy for over a year. Holy shit, was this a good one to see in person. In retrospect I’d say this one and Janela/Gray were my favorites on the card. I’m used to seeing Eli’s high flying style, but it was a nice surprise to see him get absolutely crazy with the spots in a damn deathmatch. Jimmy was the fuckery master in this one, though. I was solidly behind Eli but I’ll never get tired of watching Jimmy Lloyd bust some shit up in these kind of matches. Nasty nasty stuff and I highly recommend this one to any GCW deathmatch fans; we’ve got a new guy in the fold now named Everfly and he’s pretty fucking reckless. Just how we like ‘em.
Match 7: Atticus Cogar vs. SHLAK
SHLAK is back on the West Coast, ya’ll! Hindsight speaking here but I’m glad we got to have this match directly before the main event, because I would not have been a happy canyon camper if at least one member of 44OH! didn’t get an ass-whooping. Cogar’s been on a roll lately and I don’t mind seeing him hit a SHLAK-sized bump in the road, and that’s what he got here. Good old dirty fun in this match with Cogar taking the loss in the end. Say what you will, but I’m not at all fucked up about seeing SHLAK back in the GCW ring.
Match 8: Blake Christian vs. Rickey Shane Page
I don’t care what coast you’re on, you can never give RSP enough hate. The man lives on the animosity of GCW fans; let him have it. I sure did in this main event, because I damn sure wanted to see Blake Christian beat him fair and square and clean. That may happen somewhere down the road, but it unfortunately wasn’t to be in this match. I am happy, though, to see that Blake Christian has made it into multiple GCW main event matches after just a year of regularly working with the company. Again, he’s one more brilliant example of how putting in the hard work is not lost on the current independent wrestling scene. Solid main event for this show; clocking in at just over fifteen minutes I feel that this is the only match that really got enough time to shine. In the future I’m willing to see less than eight bouts on a card if it means more matches get time added to them. Oh, and fuck RSP. Had to fit that in, too.
Post-Show Thoughts
Happy trails to you!
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you!
Keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you!
‘Til we meet again.
I needed to find a good place to bring my wild summer ride to a close, and I couldn’t have found a better place than the oh-so-different California climate. From June to October I’ve been a restless spirit on an endless flight and I loved every moment of it all. The Last Resort was the show I needed to cap it all off. It wasn’t the most star-stacked card and not quite among the favorites that I’ve attended this year, but it was just right. Nothing too out of left field and yet it’s the entertainment we’ve come to expect from start to finish.
As the winter months roll in I’ll be back where I was this time last year, watching GCW shows live-streamed on FITE.tv and wishing I was there to go absolutely nucking futs. I’m a summer girl, though, and my immune system would never forgive me if I were to try and brave this year’s Nick Gage Invitational in a couple of weeks when the New Jersey weather gets unforgivingly colder (well, unforgiving to someone used to milder temperatures).
In the meantime, my support of GCW will only grow rebelliously stronger. I’ve chased the last outlaws from coast to coast for the better part of a shitty year now and I’ve lived. I’ve lived more in 2020 than I’ve lived in years, and I’m pretty grateful something could inspire me so much and spark so much energy and joy in an otherwise maddeningly normal existence.
And so it goes, farewell to the canyons and farewell to the trail I’ve been traveling for a season. Until we meet again. :)