Saturday night has come and gone, and our roster will never look or feel the same again. With a maximum capacity crowd, this was a night that will be remembered.
Opening the night with the sombre news that Kai Solomon was injured, and unable to compete, only to be cut short by Blade Lennox, Bejamin Augustus, 3BW. First attempting to have Kai Solomon join 3BW, Blade Lennox and Benjamin Augustus quickly changed their tune, attacking the crutched Kai Solomon, who needed our officials help to get to the back.
Josh Castle and “Night Wolf” David Marshall vs 3BW – Tag Team Match
Benjamin Augustus seemingly turned his back on his former training partners, Castle and Marshall, joining Blade Lennox, listening to, and doing the bidding of Blade Lennox, despite the one-side, abusive relationship between the two members of 3BW.
The experience of Blade Lennox was able to take advantage of the over eager rookie, David Marshall, and pick up the pinfall victory.
3BW’s celebration was cut short, as GM Kristel made it known that in 8 weeks time, at Unified Championship Wrestling: Overload, it will be Blade Lennox one on one vs Kai Solomon, much to the disdain of the leader of 3BW.
#ERA vs GC3 – Tag Team Match
Jay Van Dal and Michael Winner, with their new hype manager, Becky Boost, took on the much more experienced team of Ray Gunn and Freddy Forde, with Superhero Jay Marshall ringside.
Showcasing a highly energetic style, #ERA kept the energy high, the crowd loud, and the good times rolling. Ray Gunn even attempting to create a supergroup between GC3 and #ERA at points.
Unfortunately for #ERA and the crowd, good things must come to an end, especially when the more experienced GC3 utilised a handful of what looked like white sand, blinding JVD, before hitting a perfectly in sync finishing move on JVD for the win.
Grace Lightning vs Cherry Valentine – No Disqualification Match
The second time these two women met in the ring, become history making. The first ever Women’s No Disqualification match in Canterbury, and they did not disappoint. Attacking each other with everything, including the kitchen sink, until only one had the will left to stand tall. With the support of the crowd behind her, Grace Lightning picked up this historic win, much to the delight of the crowd. However, the crowd also let Cherry Valentine know how special this occasion was, applauding her as the made her way from ring afterwards.
Michael Richards and TJ Illes vs House Of War – Tag Team Match
After a 3-year absence, and much success around the country, Michael Richards returned to Unified Championship Wrestling. Teaming with Kai Solomon’s injury replacement, a Unified Championship Wrestling favourite, and NJPW Tamashii Tag Team Champion, TJ Illes.
Taking on very likely the physically strongest team ever seen in our ring, Kawa Kupa and LUKA, House Of War. With Archie Bower joining commentary, supporting his brothers from the closest seat in the house.
A contest of physical, hard hitting, and ring shaking, kept the everyone on their toes. Back and forth, it becomes obvious to all involved that this was going to come down to who took a mis-step first.
LUKA picked up the victory with a Spear, folding TJ Illes in half, as House Of War showed they are going to be a problem for everyone else on the roster.
John Henry vs Stuart – Hair vs Mask
Former friends turned foes; it’s a story as old as time. When the former friends were also one of the most successful tag team champions in Unified Championship Wrestling history, their falling out goes just that much deeper. With nowhere else to go, and nothing else to lose, John Henry put his iconic hair on the line, in an attempt to unmask Stuart for the world to see the creature he had become.
The fun, light hearted and often comedic style of both men was swapped out for a much more serious, determined-to-hurt style, culminating in a top rope slam from John Henry on Stuart, leaving Stuart unable to find his way out of the falling pin.
With the crowd chanting “Take It Off” louder than a Magic Mike show; John Henry obliged, removing the mask of Stuart, uncovering a completely hairless, pink, creature underneath. With jeers from the crowd, the now unmasked Stuart did all he could to hide his face, and leave the venue. We have not heard from him since. John Henry made it clear though; he is ready to move on this period of his life.
Rested Development vs OMEN – Tag Team Title Match
Two men from the darker side of life vs two men with colourful ways of living their lives.
OMEN, Ram and Ravyn Black, took full advantage of the less experienced Jimi Conway, isolating him from his partner, Marc Morales, for most of this match. Trapping Conway in the corner, scratching and clawing at every piece of Conway, until one burst of energy let Conway dive across the ring to Morales.
The freshest man, and vastly more experienced, Morales, took down OMEN, before bringing Conway back in, hitting some teamwork offence, showcasing why they are the Unified Championship Wrestling Tag Team champions.
As OMEN looked to have Conway up high, ready to end his night, and have him leaving on a stretcher, Morales speared Ravyn Black, dropping Conway onto Ram, who got driven head-first into the canvas with a Twisted Sister.
AND STILL Unified Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions: Rested Development.
Matt Attack vs Elliot Samuels vs Archie Bower – Light Heavyweight Title Match
Matt Attack and Elliot Samuels looked to finish what they started at Whiplash in April, going head-to-head, throwing everything in their arsenal at each other. All while Archie Bower did his best to spoil the party. Archie Bower proving his time with his House Of War brothers, Kawa Kupa and LUKA, was not time wasted, pulling out some genuinely surprising levels of wrestling ability and athleticism. That wasn’t enough for Archie Bower, as soon as it looked like Matt Attack and Elliot Samuels were going to make Archie Bower tap out to dual ankle locks, House Of War interfered, taking both men out in the ring.
What happened next may have changed Matt Attacks future entirely. From the ring, LUKA powerbombed Matt Attack through not one, but two tables that Kawa Kupa set up on the floor. Crashing down from high above the ropes, to the hard floor by way of two devastating tables, Matt Attack was left unconscious by House Of War, who clearly were happy with their work. So much so, they didn’t notice Elliot Samuels back on his feet in the ring, spinning an unknowing Archie Bower around, and locking in the Talent Trap, for a lightning-fast submission on Archie Bower.
AND NEW Unified Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight Champion: Elliot Samuels.
Big Gun vs Jacko – Heavyweight Title Match
The main event of the evening. A battle of heavyweights. The hardest hits. The biggest slams. The strangest facial hair. And the first time anyone has survived the champions Full Flex submission. This match had people excited and filled with anticipation since Whiplash in April, if not earlier. And they did not disappoint.
With John Henry joining commentary, it was clear that he had eyes on both men, and the big gold belt on the table in front of him.
As Big Gun held Jacko high above the crowd, from high upon the ropes in the corner, an audible gasp could be heard resonating around the room, as Jacko was slammed form the heavens into the middle of the ring with an unearthly show of strength and power from the champion, Big Gun.
Once again, Big Gun showed that he is indeed “Stacked’n’Jacked” and those muscles are not just for show.
AND STILL Unified Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion: Big Gun.
Getting the win over Jacko was not enough for Big Gun, who had to make his way over to commentary, to stand over John Henry and pose in his face. John Henry wasn’t backing down. Standing up, looking eye to eye into the dominant Heavyweight Champion, tensions high, sparks flying. It looks like we have foreseen the main event for Unified Championship Wrestling: Overload, August 1st, at our home: Kaiapoi Club. Tickets will be on sale soon.
