By Don Halliwell
Broadcast: IWTV.Live 12/12/20
We open up the show with an amazing package featuring female wrestlers, podcasters and fans stating that they are pro wrestling. This was extremely powerful and literally brought tears to my eyes.
Kasey comes out to a huge ovation and streamers, which is typical for her in Synergy. Solo brings her dog Magnum to the ring, who is a very good boy and has matching ring gear. The match starts off quick and Solo goes for a sharpshooter early but is met with a forearm by Catal. After some reversals, Solo gets an ankle lock, but Catal is able to escape. They exchange surfboard submissions on the mat, then Solo locks in the sharpshooter, but Catal gets to the ropes. Catal blocks a kick from Solo and hits a side suplex. Solo kicks out Catal’s knee then lays in with multiple kicks to the chest and locks in an Indian Death Lock. Catal is able to escape and hits a body slam. They exchange slaps and chops with Solo coming out ahead and hitting 2 tornado DDTs out of the corners and then hits a short pump handle slam for a near fall. Catal is able to recover and puts Solo’s legs on the top rope and hits her with a swinging neck breaker for the win. This was a very hard hitting match. Solo is always phenomenal with her strikes and mat wrestling and Catal really impressed me with her ability to keep up with Solo on the mat.
Gabby Ortiz vs Willow Nightingale
Gabby has the homefield advantage as she is in the arena that she trained in. These may be two of the most likeable wrestlers, they are all smiles to start the match and the crowd is behind them both. They are pretty even to begin the match and exchange early pin attempts as each tries to end the match early. Willow takes the advantage as she hits 3 suplexes, with the last one ending in a bridge and a near fall. Gabby is able to take over and stomps Willow in the corner. She then tries to whip Willow into the other corner, but Willow cartwheels out and hits a spin kick to her face. Willow then hits a Samoan Drop. They exchange strikes in the middle of the ring and Gabby hits a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Willow then hits a spinning kick and a gut wrench slam for the win. Gabby is a rising star and I look forward to seeing more of her. Willow proved that she is more than a great tag team wrestler and showed off some of her athleticism in this match.
Holidead vs Riley Shepard
Holidead tries to use mind games early by liking Riley’s face when they are locked up. Riley misses as she tries to run at Holidead in the corner and is hit with multiple headbutts. Holidead takes it to the mat and works on Riley’s legs. She then crotches Riley on the ringpost and slams her knee into the post. She then spreads Riley’s legs in the corner and hits 2 Shattered Dreams type kicks. Holidead proceeds to hit multiple legs drops on Riley followed by a surfboard lock. Holidead then slaps Riley in the face which fires Riley up and she hits Holidead with multiple strikes and a suplex. Riley then hits a spinning bulldog for a near fall. Holidead comes back with a huge spinebuster and gets a near fall of her own. Riley hits Holidead with a bicycle kick and tries to pick her up, but her knee gives out. Holidead gets Riley up for a Tiger Driver and pins her for the win. This was a hard fought match, but Holidead’s experience and size advantage was too much for Riley.
Erica puts out her hand for Tasha to shake to begin the match but Tasha says that she does not shake hands with basics and kicks Erica in the stomach to start the match. Tasha lays into Erica, but Erica comes back with a spinning heal kick followed by a huge swinging pump handle slam. Tasha is able to catch Erica off of the ropes and hits her with a spinebuster and then lays into her with more strikes, then a forearm and European uppercut in the corner. Erica gets fired up and hits strikes, 2 judo throws, a senton, an elbow in the corner and a running bulldog for a near fall. Tasha is able to recover quickly and hits Erica with a short DDT followed by a STF which forces Erica to tap out. Tasha looked really good in her first round match, as Erica proved that she is not someone to be taken lightly and put up quite the fight.
Jordan Blade vs Trish Adora
This may have been the first round match that most people were looking forward to. They exchange holds to open the match until Trish is able to get the advantage w/ a headscissor lock. Blade escapes and attempts an armbar, but Trish avoids it. Blade takes her down again and locks in an ankle lock on the mat. Trish gets out of the submission and they are back where they started staring at each other in the middle of the ring. This already has a different feel than the other opening matches as they are trading holds and mostly working on the mat. Trish gets Blade in a front face lock, but Blade escapes and pulls Trish’s arm back, into a pin attempt. Trish comes back and gets a crucifix pin attempt for a near fall. Blade kicks Trish and gets her to the ground for some ground and pound. She then hits a European uppercut in the corner followed by a low drop kick for a near fall. Blade then goes after Trish’s legs and tries to attack Trish in the corner again, but Trish moves and starts working on Blade’s arm. Blade then gets the advantage and works on Trish’s leg and knee again. Trish hits a big kick to Blade’s arm. Blade them tries a unique pin attempt but Trish gets out and continues to work on Blade’s arm. Trish hits a brutal back breaker followed by some elbows , a crossbody and a spinning slam for a near fall. Blade goes for a flying arm bar attempt but Trish escapes and hits the Lariat Tubman for the win. I would have to say that this was the best match of the first round. Trish worked on Blade’s arm and Blade worked on Trish’s leg throughout the match. Blade was very impressive in this match and I am sure that we will see a lot of her in the future.
Semi final match 1 – Willow vs Holidead
Holidead takes Willow down early and starts pounding her on the ground. She tries to whip Willow into the ropes, but Willow cartwheels out and kicks Holidead with a side kick to the head. Holidead catches Willow on the ropes as she is coming back into the ring and takes advantage. She then hits Willow with a huge headbutt followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Willow kicks Holidead and follows it up with a senton for a near fall of her own. This is a quick moving, hard hitting match between 2 strong women with neither able to get the advantage for a very long period of time. They exchange Samoan drops and each gets a 2 count off of them. Willow hits a burning hammer and goes for multiple pin attempts to no avail. She gets frustrated and goes to the top but is brought down hard to the mat with a power slam by Holidead for the win.
Semi final match 2- Tasha Steelz vs Trish Adora
As soon as the match starts, Tasha goes straight for the leg that Jordan Blade was working on in the 1st round. She slams Trish’s knee to the mat, then she stretches it on the ropes. Trish keeps trying to get up, but you can see that she is in pain. Trish tries to pick up Tasha but she is not able to due to the damage that has been done to her legs. Trish kicks Tasha in the face but there is not much force behind it. Tasha takes Trish back down and works on the leg again. Trish is able to get up and finally gets a flurry of offense in, hitting 2 elbows and a splash in the corner, but she again can’t pick Tasha up and is hit with a DDT from Tasha. They exchange strikes on their knees, and once they are on their feet Trish takes Tasha down with a chop and then a running kick to the face, but she still cannot pick Tasha up. Tasha is able to take advantage of the situation and hits a huge cutter for the win. This match was all about Trish’s injured leg and the relentless veteran Tasha Steelz taking advantage of the situation and going after that leg at every opportunity.
Faye Jackson and Corrine Mink vs Terra Calaway and Nikki Addams
Mink and Addams start the match. Mink has the strength advantage, as Addams is the smallest competitor in the match. Mink hits Addams with a gut buster and powerful gut wrench suplex. Addams is able to slip out of Mink’s grasp and slam her, kick her in the face, and tag in Terra. Terra and Nikki double team Mink. Tara then hits a grounded Mink with a low cross body splash. Mink is finally able to make the tag. Once Faye is in the ring she lets it known that she wants Terra and throws Nikki to her corner. Nikki tags in Tara and Tara and Faye exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Terra and Nikki double team Faye but Faye clotheslines them both. All 4 are in the ring and Fay and Corinne take the advantage, they have a little fun, but are then thrown into each other. At one point, Faye says that she booked this, so the match is under her rules, so I guess that means anything goes. Faye takes out Nikki in the corner and Tara does the same to Corrine. Tara and Faye each hit their opponents with cannonballs in the corners, as they do a little one upmanship. They both miss the 2nd attempts in the corners and Corrine and Nikki hit simultaneous running bulldogs and clotheslines to Faye and Terra. Nikki then gets hit by Faye with a Samoan drop. Tara hits swinging neckbreaker on Faye but Corrine flies off the top and hits Tara. Tara and Nicki try to get their opponents up but cannot and Faye and Corrine hit shoulder blocks and pin their opponents for the win. This was a fun match. Faye and Terra got to be the be the veterans and have some fun of the show that they put together. Corrine Mink continues to look like a star, and I anticipate big thinks from her in the future, as she has the power, the look and the personality that grabs your attention.
Finals—Tasha v Holidead
Holidead tries to intimidate Tasha, but Tasha is never one to be intimated and Holidead receives a middle finger in her face. Holidead lays in some strikes and she tries to intimidate Tasha again, but it only fires her up. Tasha brings down the larger Holidead with a drop kick to the knee. Holidead retaliates with kick to the gut followed by a backbreaker and a stretch. Tasha gets to the ropes but is squashed in the corner. Tasha makes a comeback with a running uppercut in the corner followed by a kick to the back of the head. She then hits Holidead with a cross body from the top for a near fall. Holidead uses her strength to pick up Tasha and squash her into 2 corners before putting her into a swinging pendulum and hits her head into the corner while she is in it. Holidead then hits a powerful stalling pump handle slam and proceeds to work on Tasha’s back. Tasha gets fired up and hits Holidead with strikes and stomps her in the corner. Holidead takes over after a headbutt and works on Tasha’s legs. Tasha tries to hit a cross body and Holidead catches her in midair, but Tasha uses her momentum to take down Holidead and chokes her. Holidead catches Tasha again and goes for a piledriver but Tasha is able to reverse it and hits a head scissor take down. Holidead gets to the ropes and they meet again in the middle of the ring and exchange strikes. Tasha misses a bicycle kick and Holidead hits a huge swinging sidewalk slam for a near fall. Tasha tries to hit Holidead from the 2nd rope but is caught again and Holidead hits a spinebuster for another near fall. Holidead gets Tasha up, but Tasha slips out and quickly hits a powerful crucifix bomb for the win. Tasha was obviously giving up size and power in this match, but showed her grit and determination to take everything the Holidead threw at her and come out on top. After Tasha is handed her trophy she grabs the mic and says that she will be back to Synergy and wants to face the winner of the Best of the Light Heavyweights, KC Navaro.
This show was great from top to bottom. It showed off the future and present stars of women’s wrestling. Tasha Steelz was the star of the show, as she proved that she is not just a great trash talker and tag team wrestler, but she is tough as nails and can beat anyone. We also saw some new stars in the making. Jordan Blade is the one that really caught my eye, as I believe that she had a match of the night with Trish Adora and is definitely on the rise. They said that this will be a yearly event, so I am looking forward to seeing more women in Synergy and am intrigued by who Kasey Catal’s next opponent will be for her cruiserweight crown.
