Pro Wrestling Magic: Card Subject To Change Recap
First aired 12/18/2020 on Fite.tv
Buy Replay: https://bit.ly/2Wx1ndm
A perfect primer for those getting familiar with the “Magic Kingdom” and long-time fans alike, “Card Subject To Change” was a mix of recently taped matches and some goodies from the Pro Wrestling Magic vault. With 7 matches packed into just over 2 hours, it was a very easy watch with an absolutely killer Main Event. The segments and color commentary pieces during the show gave enough background to understand the context, while making me curious to learn more about the athletes and stories being told.
KC Navarro Open Challenge, answered by Steve Pena
Navarro was supposed to get a shot against current PWM champion Smiley, but alas, as the show was suitably titled...there was a change. Nevertheless, KC was ready for a fight and issued an open challenge. The much taller and bigger Steve Pena answered the call.
With his huge height and reach advantage, Pena was able to keep the speedy KC at bay in the early going. Navarro would land an occasional flurry only to get stopped by a big boot or a hard forearm. Pena's strength came into play and he rag-dolled KC with a couple suplexes. Trying to put Navarro away, Steve attempted a powerbomb that was countered by a Code Red from KC that scored a 2 count. Shortly after, Pena landed a jacknife powerbomb and transitioned into a seated sleeper. Navarro fought out and hit a quick running Sliced Bread for the win. KC's momentum rolls on!
Dark Arts Rules: Jay “the Key” Evans versus “Meadowlands Monster” Lou Bruno
Evans was game, but the Monster in an extraordinarily bad mood ran right through him. A big pounce started things off and the fight was on the floor with Bruno laying in shots. Lou brought a door into the ring, but missed a charge to put Evans through it. This was Jay's one beam of hope in the match which was quickly snuffed by a big spinebuster. Bruno hit the Fester Bomb (pump-handle powerslam) twice and leaves Jay sprawled out. The Monster grabs another door and throws it into the ring. Quick thinking ref Nick Shin luckily deflected it so it didn't land awkwardly on Evans on entry. Bruno sets that door across the 2nd rope and nails Jay with Fester Bomb #3 for the win, putting a period on the brutal statement made.
Triple Threat Tag Match for the PWM Tag Titles: American Murder Society – Steve Off & Alex Reiman (c) versus Ugly Ducklings – Lance Lude & Rob Kiljoy versus Psycho Drivers – Smiley & Everett Cross
The match started with a few different face-offs between the teams: some were team exchanges, others one-on-one. Then, the true team highlights starting rolling along: the Ducks hit stereo dives on AMS, Smiley hits an Asai moonsault onto the pile. The first near fall comes off an Everett Cross “classic” piledriver and then the close calls come fast and furious. Everyone gets their signature offense it seems and a plethora of near falls commence. In the end, Alex Reiman of AMS grabs a quick pin with his feet on the ropes and they eek out a defense of the straps. A fun, fast-paced affair.
PWM Women's Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) versus Sonya Strong
I don't usually look at one of Grace's opponents and think “They'll definitely be able to match up in the power department”. On this occasion, I did. Sonya looked every bit Jordynne's equal and wrestled like it too. Many stalemates early on in this contest with both going hold-for-hold, lock-for-lock and neither gaining an advantage. Soon after a stalemate too many, things started breaking down with big forearms thrown by both. Sonya had the advantage and methodically worked over Grace in the corners ... often pushing the ref's counts to 4. Strong had troubles putting Jordynne away and momentum flipped once Grace landed a Michinoku Driver. Sonya feigned injury and tried some foolishness with the belt. Once ref Nick Shin was busy trying to clean up that mess, Strong did slip in a kick that was quite low and a quick cover but Grace kicked out again. Now to her breaking point, Jordynne slaps on an abdominal stretch and starts repeated clubbing at Sonya's ribs. Shin call for the gong and Grace retains.
Dark Arts Rules: Adam Payne (c) versus Steve Gibki
The crowd absolutely despises Gibki and he's not helping matters, rudely engaging with fans. Steve tries to get by on agility against the bigger Payne in the early going and is not winning any strike battles with Adam. After Payne misses a big boot in the corner, Gibki goes to work on the legs, trying to chop the big fella down. Steve sticks to his current plan with many leg kicks and Payne's knees are wobbly. Adam is able to hit a belly-to-belly, sidewalk slam and a choke slam even on his messed up base. A foot on the ropes gets Gibki out of a pin predicament. Shortly after, the ref gets squished after Steve pulls him into the path of a charging Payne. Adam hits Derailment (black hole slam) and covers but the ref is still down. The ref finally crawls over for a count but Gibki barely escapes. Steve makes a grab for the belt to use it as a weapon and music comes over the PA, distracting him. Payne hits Derailment once more and snags the win.
PWM Jr. Heavyweight Title Triple Threat: Sebastian Cage (c) versus Alex Reiman versus TJ Crawford
Everyone comes hot out after the opening gong, a wonderful cluster of frenetic action that was very tough to keep up with (in the best way). Highlights include a Crawford brainbuster of Cage onto Reiman's knee, a beautiful springboard cutter from Sebastian that spiked TJ and a tight early tornillo from Cage onto both opponents. Cage retained after a walk-up-the-ropes Destroyer and a neat flying body scissors takedown for the pin on TJ. Quality action from three very different personalities.
MAIN EVENT: Darius Carter versus Erica Leigh
The war of words between these two continued, spilling from social media into the ring. The gong sounded for the start and Darius grabbed a quick double-leg takedown starting an evenly matched sequence of mat wrestling. Erica had a an ankle lock for a moment, but Carter slipped out. Again, a bit of a stalemate after exchanging holds. Back to the mat once more, Leigh got a couple of Gator rolls in but once Carter was free , classic “All Father” kicked in. Darius answered with slaps, chops, slight grazing kicks and heaps of disrespect. Erica answered this with a deep leg lock and Carter worked on the fingers, then an ankle to get free of it. Throughout the opening minutes, Leigh occasionally tries a quick cover, making Darius expend that energy to kick out.
Darius starts spreading out strikes all over: legs, arms, torso. On the apron, Erica sends Carter to the floor with a rana. Once both are back in the ring, Darius gets Leigh in a corner and delivers a series of rough back kicks which wear her down quickly. The verbal and physical onslaught continues as Carter stomps her elbow claws at her face, puts her in a Paradise lock and stomps her head as she's stuck, badmouth on blast at all times. Leigh tries to defended herself, throwing leg kicks while on her back yet Darius is relentless. After a prolonged deep chinlock, Erica works on getting back in the match with a flurry of kicks and gets a near fall. A corner kick/running bulldog from Leigh gets another close count and Carter rolls outside for a respite. After catching her breath, Erica readies for a dive but is cut off by a big boot from Darius who quickly re-entered the ring. Leigh's mouth is busted, blood flowing as it looks like a literally split lip but horizontal? Eek.
Carter goes in for the kill, looking for submissions starting off with a vicious Stockade-style armbar then transitioning into a deep STF. He tries everything he can think of on the fly, yet somehow Erica makes the ropes for the break. Once back vertical, Darius misses a big boot and Leigh lands 2 Germans, a shining knee and a third German for a 2.9 count. Erica looks for the Seatbelt Suplex but Carter counters with a sleeper. Leigh kicks off the corner buckles to get out. She hits a bicycle kick and lands the Seatbelt Suplex but again gets a roughly 2.9 count. Erica goes for the spear but is stopped by a gigantic knee strike. Darius hits a Seatbelt Suplex variation, but Leigh kicks at 2. Quick counters from both, Carter and Leigh both looking for a final shot...but Erica wins with a sunset flip rollup!
A roughly half an hour war that told a great story was a fitting end to a fine show and Pro Wrestling Magic's first offering on FITE. I highly recommend the main event and the show in general. It was a great introduction to what the “Magic Kingdom” can offer to all pro wrestling fans.