James’ Ring Warriors Results & Review (9/16/18)

Rolling out of bed at 6:45 on a Saturday morning for no reason is far from my idea of a good time. But this morning is different, today is the first episode of Howard Brody’s Ring Warriors TV show on WGN America. Words cannot begin to describe how happy I am when I see a new promotion getting a national TV deal. So that being said the good folks right here at The Chairshot and myself will be bringing you a weekly review.

Austin Aries is the first face we see as he tells us the belt collector and a taping with some names I immediately recognize including Kahagas, Desi Derata, Jeff Cobb, Kahagas, even stars from the original Ring Warrior show such as Alex Chamberlain and Chance Prophets. Blake Chadwick and Larry Brannon welcome us but are quickly interrupted by the title collecting, banana eating, Austin Aries.

Austin Aries seemingly cut his usual babyface promo before leaning heel the goes beyond this saying he was pulling out of the Ring Warriors Grand Championship tournament and he was part owner of Ring Warrior. My favorite part was the scrolling breaking news update across the bottom of the screen confirming that he, in fact, had become a partner of Ring Warriors. He then makes his first executive decision and joins the commentary team at the Sam’s Town Casino tapings.

Damian Drake vs Martin Casus

Our first match sees a guy I’m a huge fan of and think highly of Martin Casaus, Lucha Underground’s Marty the Moth, taking on a guy I’d never heard of. Austin Aries compares Martin to a “jacked Jack Black” in typical fashion. It was a classic big man little man story with Martin Casaus throwing Damian Drake around. Drake reminds me of Will Ospreay not just in appearance but in what little offense we saw. It didn’t take long for Casaus to hit Lights Out and pick up the win.

Winner: Martin Casaus

Desi Derata vs Santana Garrett

We get a promo from Santana Garrett mentioning that her first match was with Ring Warriors and she won the Ring Warriors Ladies Championship. Desi Derata I’ve had the pleasure of working with many times with the Imperial Wrestling Revolution, now the World Class Revolution. Desi has a solid 5-6 inch height advantage so she gets the majority of the middle offense before being cut off by Santana Garrett. Garrett lands a beautiful side Russian leg sweep and floats over into a pin attempt. Santana Garrett attempts a handspring only to have her hair pulled allowing Desi to hit the North Wind. Oddly the referee stopped counting the pinfall. Austin Aries refers to the referee as Mr. Lahey, which being a Trailer Park Boys fan popped me.

Winner: Desi Derata

We now get a promo from Wes Brisco, son of WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco. Wes says he is here to prove to people that the black cloud that followed him is gone and he is here to win the Ring Warriors Grand Championship. He says he’s never going to quit, he is going to remember the bad times to make sure he solidifies his name in the history books.

Luke Hawx vs Chris Bey

Luke Hawx looks as jacked as ever and the “Southern Stomper” looks ready to go. Luke Hawx interrupts Chris Bey’s entrance and demands to be announced first. The 19-year veteran of the business is quickly taken down by the high flying, fast paced offense of Chris Bey. Hawx turned it around and slowed it down landing a series of chops, the first of which almost sent Bey over the ropes. Chris Bey jumps on Luke Hawk’s back before jumping up and stomping the back of his head. Luke Hawx catches Bey in mid-air and puts him away after a series of backbreakers. Luke then proceeds to help Bey up after the match raises his hand and even does the head rub like you would give a kid who just lost.

Winner: Luke Hawx

Kahagas vs Alex Chamberlain

Ken Resnick gets us some comments from The Tokyo Monster and his manager Dante Brown. Alex Chamberlain has definitely put on some muscle and looks older which makes him look more like a wrestler and less like a kid. Austin Aries teases an Impact Wrestling title match in Ring Warriors next week. Kahagas and Chamberlain go back and forth trading blows and brawling in and out of the ring. After a few meetings with the barricade, Chamberlain is seemingly out of this match. A Stan Hansen like lariat out of the corner almost ended Kahagas’ reign of punches on Chamberlain. After a series of sneaky pinfall attempts an inside cradle puts The Tokyo Monster away.

Winner: Alex Chamberlain

Words cannot begin to describe how impressed I was with this show they’re truly blending old and new school wrestling. Having homegrown talent that’s had time to mature and hone their craft as well as some of the up and coming names on the independent scene vs trying to us former major company names to draw in fans is a smart move in my opinion. Seeing Ken Resnick made me smile as I remembered ever post Mean Gene AWA show I had watched. The staging was simple but effective. The video production including David Marquez of the United Wrestling Network and his own promotion Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, was phenomenal. The in-ring action can only really be shot one way but the cinematic shots of the commentators, the matches themselves during the pre-break segments, and the drone shots of Las Vegas were gorgeous. I must say Howard Brody and the Ring Warriors crew might have just made me a morning person.

• Wrestling with the Revolution from the Desk of James Southard