EMPIRE Results 05.12.12 – Avondale Estates, GA

Credit: Larry Goodman & PWInsider

EMPIRE (formerly Platinum Championship Wrestling) returned to action at the Academy Theater in Avondale Estates, GA with the next chapter in their life and death struggle for control of the company.

The consistently inconsistent PCW fanbase held true to form. Due to play at the Academy, the wrestling has been relegated to a 10:30 start time for a month. After drawing only 25 last week, the building was standing room only last night (60). Obviously a much better atmosphere for wrestling.

It was also a better show, one that delivered decent action and compelling story all the way through, topped off by an outstanding main event between Washington Bullets and Daisho (Kyle Matthews & Vordell Walker).

(1) Jagged Edge (with Marty Freeman) defeated Vandal in 7:17. Jagged Edge emerged from this highly competitive match with his undefeated record intact. Too competitive to my way of thinking being that Jagged Edge is the #2 heel behind EMPIRE Champion Shane Marx. Vandal, who is a tweener at this point, was giving Jagged Edge fits with his speed and repeated elbow strike to the head. Jagged Edge’s old school move of the night was the taped thumb thrust to the throat. Vandal escaped from Cattle Mutilation, but Jagged Edge used his power to fend off the Vendetta, and ended it with the running powerslam.

(2) Brian Blaze defeated Johnny Danger and Najasism and Marko Polo (with Oscar Worthy & Quasi Mandisco) in a four way scramble at 7:20. Better than you would think. The storytelling was clear. The three black heels beat up hapless white boy babyface Danger until Najasism double crossed Blaze and Polo. Then it was every man for himself. Najasism did a dive that took out Blaze, Polo and O-Dub (Worthy) as well. Danger came close to pinning Naja with an STO. Naja came back with a frogsplash on Danger, but Blaze pulled him out of the ring and stole the pin.

DamNation (minus Casey Kincaid) had some talking to do. Fred Yehi warned Kyle O’Reilly that if he brought anything less than his A+ game on May 25 it would be his ass. Joey Kidman growled a few sentences. Dany Only told Kidman he better get check for throat cancer.

Only is on a roll with his promos and this was another great one. The target was Jagged Edge. The essence was that Only had been carjacked and shot at, and beaten up his entire youth because he wouldn’t fight back. Only said he would be at EMPIRE until the day they buried him, and he had 32+ years of bottled up aggression in store for Jagged Edge.

(3) Fed Yehi defeated Jacob Ashworth via DQ in 5:15. Good match. The big man, Ashworth, dominated with power moves while mean mugging the crowd. Yehi mounted a comeback with rapid fire knee strikes and a ropes-mounted forearm shot for a near fall. Yehi had Ashworth locked in the Koji Clutch when Freeman entered the ring and caned him.

Miss Rachael introduced Ashworth as the newest EMPIRE member and said they intended to keep bringing in the best.

Jonathan Malik came to the ring with a contingent of EMPIRE wrestlers. Malik lectured the crowd about what it was like to be part of a cohesive team, and cut a truly vile promo on PCW’s ardent front row fans, Team All You Can Eat

(4) Dany Only & Mason & The Witness vs. EMPIRE (Mr. Eric & Master Jae & Sylar Cross & Lee Roy with Jonathan Malik) ended as a double count out at 6:29. Only was ready to take EMPIRE on by himself if need be. The suicide mission was aborted when Mason and The Witness joined him, and three faces cleared the ring to jumpstart the match. Chaotic action ensued. Mason went for the Scales of Justice, but Eric broke it up and did an INSANE dive over the top rope and went head first into the guardrail. Mason and Mr. Eric brawled until both were counted out. The double count was an unexpected twist. I never, ever thought I would write this, but it made me want to see Mason and Eric go at it again.

(5) Tommy Daniels defeated Joey Kidman in 8 minutes. Kidman is getting over strong as a babyface since joining DamNation. “The Wild Child” is no more. Kidman had the fans chanting “Joseph” right on cue. Daniels has developed a habit of taking a count out when the going gets rough, but Kidman would have none of that. Daniels swung off on of the support beams to deliver a leg drop. Daniels worked on Kidman’s back and submitted him with New York City (a high angle Boston crab).

“Overlord of the EMPIRE” Jeff G. Bailey addressed the crowd. Ring announcer Robert Drake also introduced him as the mayor of Avondale Estates. The crowd tried to shout him down but that never works with Bailey. Bailey said Stephen Platinum (the deposed owner and his counterbalance on the championship committee) and Pandora were in the penalty box for their actions last week, and it was a better show without Platinum around. Bailey said if the Washington Bullets (the two time defending champions) had one more loss, they would be mathematically eliminated from the Tag Team Season. That gave Bailey an idea. He was making their match against Daisho a two out of three fall match and each fall would count as one match.

Intermission.

The newly unmasked Curry Kid did a talk segment dubbed TMZ (The Montez Zone). Kid/Montez said he wore the mask to protect his identity and everyone had something to hide. Kid singled out Team All You Can Eat member Corey and ripped him to shreds. Corey said the true story of Corey’s broken collarbone was he tripped and fell down when his diabetic grandma caught him watching AR Fox porn. Montez said that deep down in his clogged up heart, Corey was jealous, and he was also an emotional, physical and sexual retard.

(6) Washington Bullets (Jon & Trey Williams) defeated Daisho (Vordell Walker & Kyle Matthews) in two straight falls (23:26). The EMPIRE management team were throwing streamers as they accompanied Daisho to the ring. Daisho was not happy about this.

Before the match got underway, the Contras (Battlezone & Tempest) came to ringside and cut an uproariously funny promo. This gimmick is a Stephen Platinum special – two guys dressed in camouflage bodysuits and masks with no eye holes. They go back and forth talking in a Road Warrior Hawk growl and finish each speech saying “tell ‘em big man!” I can’t do it justice. Trust me. It was really entertaining. The jist of it is that Contras are undefeated in The Tag Team Season and would be happy to take on the winners of the match.

After a lengthy feeling out process, the Bullets were able to wear Matthews down by working on his knee. They had Matthews in serious trouble with submissions. At one point, Matthews reversed Trey with a figure four, and Trey was able to turn it over, forcing Matthews to the ropes. Did that sequence ever get the crowd. Matthews finally made the tag. Just as Walker was about to powerbomb the hell out of Jon, Trey superkicked him the ear for the pin. The second fall got underway. Walker showed a streak of arrogance as he decimated Trey with power moves. Trey came back with a huracanrana, and Freeman jumped up on the apron to provide unwelcomed distraction. When Matthews tagged in, he simply applied a bodyscissors, due to the damage he sustained in the first fall. Walker carried the load and was really doing a number on Trey. Trey went back to the well with a huracanrana, and Walker countered with a buckle bomb. But Trey moved, causing Walker to spear the post. Matthews tagged in, but his knee was still in bad shape. A series of huge moves left all four down and destroyed. Trey and Matthews started trading huge shots. Matthews got Trey in the Hidaka Lock. It took more than one blow, but Jon was able to break it up. The ref got knocked won on Walker’s uranage slam. Daisho had both Bullets in submissions. Jon tapped but there was no ref to see it. Freeman whacked Walker with his cane, and the Bullets hit the Marion Barry on Matthews.

This was way, way better than their first match at the Masquerade. That match was about spots. This match had more realistic psychology, and a lot better execution by everyone involved. The Bullets are learning that less can be more. Matthews’ subtle selling was tremendous. Walker was the standout. Clearly, Walker could more than hold his own with the talent at EVOLVE/DG USA. ]Walker vs. Ricochet from Showtime All-Star Wrestling episode 216 is a must see).He’s always had the raw ability. Now, Walker has his personal house in order, and he’s at the top of his game in the ring.

Just one more thing….Jon pulled Freeman into the ring and all four wrestlers nailed him with stiff kicks. The coup de grace was a Slurpee Kick from Matthews. All four raised their hands together in a show on unity. Jagged Edge carried Freeman to the back like he was cradling a sleeping baby.

NOTES: In addition to the weekly Friday night shows at the Academy, PCW/EMPIRE is now running Porterdale, GA on the first and third Saturdays of the month. The next show is May 19….Matthews is scheduled for the EVOLVE iPPV tonight in Concord, NC…Only, Stryknyn and The Bullets are making the 16 hour drive to Bridgewater, MA to work the Beyond Wrestling event…The date of EMPIRE/PCW’s big event of the year, Sacred Ground 3, has been set for September 29. Location TBA…SAW promoter/booker Paul Adams was in attendance was the ubiquitous Dan Masters, currently the ring announcer for NWA Ring Warriors.