Indie Wrestling Wire: Paradigm Pro Wrestling's Fighting Spirit Heavyweight Grand Prix 2020 Recap

 


Paradigm Pro Wrestling: Fighting Spirit Heavyweight Grand Prix 2020 Recap

by @olskoololfool

A night of big fights (15 matches under UWFi rules), went down in Sellersburg, Indiana as new faces emerged, stories continued and a new Grand Prix and Heavy Hitters champion were crowned.  Here's how the night unfolded:



1st Round of GP Tournament: Cole Radrick defeated Derek Neal

It looked like Cole was going to have trouble with Neal's size, especially after a big roaring elbow put him down for a 7-count.  As always, the Wildheart never quits, responding with a giant jumping knee that put Derek out and scored the victory.

1st Round of GP Tournament: Dominic Garrini defeated Dustin Leonard

With grapplers as accomplished as these two, class was indeed in session.  Garrini was the aggressor early but Leonard was able to counter to avoid getting caught often.  After a fair amount of mat work that looked very even, Dustin got rid of his gi and business picked up.  A big strike exchange ensued and once it got back to the mat, Dom caught Leonard in a crucifix and started raining elbows.  It was too much for Dustin and the “Bone Collector” advanced.

1st Round of GP Tournament: Lee Moriarty defeated Max the Impaler

A freshly renewed and reborn Max threw strikes and landed a throw in the early going with Lee actually using a rope break to avoid further strikes.  Many suplexes from Max followed and while I wasn't keeping track, Moriarty had to be getting close to points troubles.  After enduring quite an assault from the Impaler, Lee turned it around quickly with a leaping forearm and caught Max with repeated elbows, gaining the win.  An impressive debut by Max, no question there.

1st Round of GP Tournament: Thomas Shire defeated Josh Crane

Crane was able to catch Shire here and there with some heavy blows.  Shire seemed to struggle a bit at the outset but then exploded with a huge suplex and got a KO of Josh after repeated stiff European uppercuts.

Tournament Alternates Match: Alex Kane defeated Levi Everett

Some solid grappling from Kane early led to Levi responding with what he's known for: a headbutt that scored a knockdown on Alex.  Soon after though, Kane caught Everett in what I can only describe as a ultra capture suplex (has to be seen!) that put Levi square on his dome for a TKO.  I'm definitely going to seek out more of Alex Kane's matches, very impressed.

Quarterfinal Round of GP Tournament: Bobby Beverly defeated Cole Radrick to advance and successfully defend the PPW Heavy Hitters title.

A furious slugfest started this bout with Cole getting the first knockdown on Beverly.  Once back up, Bobby's response was a low blow without a care about the points deduction.  Yet another below the belt strike with the old “trick leg” from Beverly leads to a big back suplex followed by a knee trembler for the win.  An excellent example of Forgotten Fight Team dickery, even with Ben being removed from ringside at the start.

Quarterfinal Round of GP Tournament: Dominic Garrini defeated Calvin Tankman

This one began with a very wary Tankman doing a good job of not getting caught in a submission hold from Dom.  Garrini was in no mood to exchange strikes with “Heavyweight Hustle” and wanted it on the mat.  Eventually it did come to some stand-up and Calvin rocked Garrini with a back elbow for a knockdown.  Instead of backing off and getting a count, Tankman pursued, finally got caught by the “Bone Collector” and tapped.

Quarterfinal Round of GP Tournament: Mike Braddock defeated Thomas Shire

“Iron” Mike kept with Shire's grappling attack early but after a stand up got a knockdown on Thomas with his quick hands.  The end saw Braddock reverse Shire's rear-naked choke attempt into a strong head and arm choke for the victory.  The crowd was solidly on Mike's side.

Quarterfinal Round of GP Tournament: “Hoodfoot” Maurice Atlas defeated Lee Moriarty

Mo was able to go hold-for-hold early with Lee and he sent him flying with a throw.  Lee responded soon after with a flash jumping knee which scored a knockdown.  Moriarty caught an armbar and Atlas was quick to get a rope break.  Lee back with strikes, Mo dodges, lands a big German suplex and snags Moriarty in a vicious facelock/neck crank to secure the win.

Non-Tournament Match for the MidwestTerritory.com Championship Chain:  Chase Holliday retains over Lord Crewe

Nothing but heavy artillery in this contest.  Both start with a flurry of strikes with perhaps quite a few fists not being called by the official.  Big German Suplexes from Chase and then a Trouble In Paradise style kick from Crew were highlights of this fast, furious affair.  In the end, a thundering backfist from Holliday looked to catch Crewe on or right behind the ear and the bare knuckle brawler crumpled.  The chain stays with Chase.

Non-Tournament Match- Middleweight Showcase:  Flash Thompson defeats Lexus Montez

Lexus' strike game was solid, using his Muay-Thai style to land many solid shots.  It wasn't enough, as the story was Thompson's grappling: he caught Montez in his devasting kneebar for a submission win, the same hold that put away big Justin Kyle earlier this year.

Semifinal Round of GP Tournament: “Hoodfoot” Maurice Atlas defeated Mike Braddock

Way more evenly-matched than one would guess on appearance alone, they started with a balanced strike exchange, neither with a big advantage.  A solid suplex landed for MO but again, Mike's quick boxing got him a knockdown on Atlas.  Hoodfoot's heavy blows gained him a knockdown and he went in for the kill, brutally stomping Mike out to where the official called it.  

Quarterfinal Round of GP Tournament: Dominic Garrini defeated Bobby Beverly to advance and become the new PPW Heavy Hitters Champion.

Dom ended the Forgotten Fight Team member's title reign in roughly 10 seconds, catching Beverly quickly in a deep armbar.  The sheer joy of the crowd after this speedy win was amazing.  In after match comments, Garrini hands off the belt to J-Rose:  Dom doesn't want it until he repeats as Grand Prix Champion. 

Non-Tournament Superfight:  Dan Severn defeated Matthew Justice

They jockeyed for position early with the Beast holding a slight advantage.  Severn, while looking for an armbar instead gets a choke and Justice finds the ropes quick.  I was mystified by why Justice chose to keep wrestling the mat master. Justice did eventually land a big spear but wasn't able to keep momentum for long.  Severn caught Matthew in a sleeper hold and both spilled out of the ring, the Beast still holding on.  Justice went night-night out on the floor and Severn wins.  Given this was under UWFi rules, seemed really bizarre that the official declared a winner after they were out of the ring for so long.

Fighting Spirit Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament 2020 Final: “Hoodfoot” Maurice Atlas defeats Dominic Garrini to become the Grand Prix champion and PPW Heavy Hitters Champion.

Hoodfoot was able to hang with the grappling of Dom, sneaking in occasional big shots especially to the body/ribs.  When he was caught, Mo was never afraid to use a rope break and was very liberal with them.  Atlas did get caught, like many before him, in one of Garrini's armbars.  The difference?  Hoodfoot dug for everything he had left in the tank, lifted Dom up off the mat and planted him with a powerbomb that was enough to score a KO!  Atlas now has an big accolade and a championship belt to accent his already amazing style.








Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post