Monday, September 26, 2011

(Retro) ACW Comes To Laurinburg - September 30, 2006

Had a chance to go see some live professional wrestling last night here in the 'Burg. It was a fun night and a great show, so I decided to do a report on it. Here ya go! Enjoy!

Amercian Championship Wresting
September 30, 2006
Laurinburg, NC
National Guard Armory

Last night, American Championship Wrestling came back to Laurinburg, NC and held a fantastic show at the National Guard Armory. There was a rowdy crowd present and the Armory looked to be sold out. Here is a rundown of the event as best as I can remember. I took a few notes, but spent most of the time taking pictures and watching some great action in the ring, so the notes are a bit spotty at best, but I'll do the best I can.

The first match was Kid Sydike (sp) against Nick Foley. Sydike was a young guy with a great look and some great moves. Foley was, as you might guess by the name, a "Cactus Jack" rip-off. But I have to admit, the guy does the role very well and has the mannerisms and moves of the real Mick Foley down pat. A fairly good opening match - it was quick-paced and we got to see Foley work several comedy spots. The Kid held his own as well and worked the crowd pretty well. In the end, it was Foley with his own version of "Mister Socko" and the mandible claw getting the victory, much to the delight of the loud Laurinburg crowd.

Next up was a promo by the challenger for the ACW United States Championshio, Cheif Red Thunder. He came about and spoke for a few minutes about the champion, Ethan Storm. It wasn't long before Storm, along with associate Cham Pain, came to the ring. They took the mic and promised Thunder and the crowd that there was no way that he was taking Storm's U.S. title belt. Cham Pain cut a great promo, just telling the crowd how great he is. That generated quite a reaction. And then Storm did his magic, and despite being the "hometown boy" from here in Laurinburg, quickly turned the crowd against him. Storm repeated his earlier comments that he was keeping his title, period, and then left the ring. Thunder left the ring as well and we moved on to the next match.

Next up was Red Dog, accompanied by his manager, Playboy Buddy, against Zack Salvation. This was a fun match with Red Dog playing the cocky heel. Salvation was an incredible high flyer who seems to have mastered the "Tajiri-style" backspring elbow. Both men worked hard and the match was another fun match to watch. The highlight though had to be the antics of Playboy Buddy at ringside. His interaction with the fans was priceless. And he was the consumate heel manager with some great shots from the outside including the classic use of the shoe, aka J.J. Dillon. Salvation managed to win the match in the end with a great superkick to get the three count.

Next out was Cham Pain, who I have to say, has one of the greatest pre-recorded ring introductions I've ever heard. And the guy can really move in the ring as well. Cham Pain is known to be an associate of the Hardy Boys and has a style that, to me anyhow, is somewhat reminiscent of Matt Hardy's, but I have to give credit where it's due. Cham Pain definitely has more flash to him than the elder Hardy Boy and that's a good thing. He's been around a while and really knows how to work the crowd and get them involved in the match. He was wrestling a young man by the name of Anson Walker. Walker worked hard as well and the two guys put on a great back and forth match that saw several near-falls and fake finishes. A great match that kept the crowd interested and fired up. Cham Pain ended up taking the win with the Sharpshooter. Great match.

Things quieted down for a few minutes, but quickly fired back up as Chris Steele & Scott Powers aka "The Main Attraction" came out to the ring. Steele is a true character and was wearing a big fuzzy blue hat. He's ripped all over the crowd and then proceeded to bash their opponents for the night, the Soul Patrol. The Soul Patrol (Black Angel & Tyrone Knox) came out to answer the challenge. They accused the ACW World Tag Team Champions of being nothing but talk and tucking their tails and running when things get hot. Steele & Powers didn't take too kindly to these accusations and guarenteed The Soul Patrol that they (The Main Attraction) would keep their titles tonight after their match.

Both teams left and we had a brief intermission to allow the crowd to settle down a bit. This was a great crowd and they had been fired up for the entire show thus far.

Next up was one of the two main events as ACW U.S Champion Ethan Storm (accompanied by Cham Pain) came out to defend his treasured U.S. Championship against the challenge of Chief Red Thunder. What can I say about this match? It was off the charts. Storm focused most of his attack on the leg of the crowd favorite, Thunder. Thunder made the come-back with some massive chops that had the entire crowd echoing "wooooo" several times. The match went outside the ring at one point and Storm took a hard slam into a closed door that made me grimace in pain. These guys were wide open and put on a match worthy of any TNA or WWE PPV. Several two-counts for both men as the match progressed and they really looked ready to kill each other at times. Cham Pain got involved several times as well and ended up on the recieving end of a big chop to the head for his troubles. Storm finally managed to get the tainted victory with a little aid from his partner outside the ring as he pinned Thunder.

It looked as if things were over for Storm and Thunder for the night, but in reality, things were fixing to pick up. Storm & Cham Pain decided to go after Thunder some more and really worked over the leg of the fallen Indian Warrior. It looked to be curtains for Thunder when a big massive monster of a man came out from the crowd and cleared Storm & Pain from the ring. This mystery man helped Thunder to his feet and raised his arm in victory, much to the delight of the roaring crowd. Then, with a smirk, the big monster leveled Thunder with a clothesline that nearly took the guys head off. The mystery guy, Ethan Storm & Cham Pain beat down Thunder some more and continued to work on the leg. Zack Salvation came to the ring to attempt to help Red Thunder out, but he was quickly dispatched by the group of heels.

Storm got on the mic and talked some trash to Thunder on the house-mic. Storm told Thunder again that he would never take Storm's U.S. title away because Storm has too many friends. A challenge was made and accepted for a six-man tag match when ACW returns to Laurinburg on October 28th. Everyone started brawling again and this time, Storm, Cham Pain & the mystery man decided that discretion was the better part of valor and fled into the dressing rooms.

Red Thunder & Salvation got chairs and decided to follow the heels into the dressing rooms and seconds later, we saw Storm, Cham Pain & the mystery man fleeing the dressing rooms, brawling with Red Thunder and Salvation around the ring and out the door of the Armory. They booked it out of there like hell was on their heels and in a sense, I guess it was. A few moments later, Red Thunder & Salvation came back into the Armory, to the cheers of the fans. Storm and company were nowhere to be found.

After allowing a few minutes for the dust to settle, it was time for the Main Event as the ACW World Tag Team Champions, The Main Attraction faced off against the challenge of The Soul Patrol. Both teams had their A-game ready and really put on a tremendous effort to please the rapid fans in attendence. If I had to pick just one name, then Chris Steele of the Main Attraction was the MVP of this match. This guy really belongs on a TNA or WWE stage. Incredible match that saw the Soul Patrol come within inches of capturing the gold several times. But in the end, while Scott Powers & Black Angel were battling on the outside, a mysterious figure dressed in dark glasses and a silver shirt slid into the ring and cold-cocked Knox with one of the ACW World Tag Team Title belts. Steele covered the limp body of Knox for the pin to retain the titles.

As quietly as he came out, the mysterious figure in dark glasses slid back out of the ring and went to the back, never making a sound. As Steele & Powers celebrated on the outside, Black Angel got the mic and said that the Main Attraction knows they can't win without cheating. They always need help from their friends. Angel says that he and his partner want a rematch - inside a steel cage. At first, Powers & Steele are reluctant to agree, but the egos finally take over and they agree. So when ACW returns to Laurinburg on the 28th of October, we have a steel cage match scheduled between the Main Attraction and The Soul Patrol for the ACW World Tag Team Championships. That's in addition to the six-man tag between Ethan Storm, Cham Pain & their mysterious monster of a partner taking on Cheif Red Thunder and two partners who haven't been revealed yet. But if tonight was any indication, October 28th will be one helluva show as well.

Anyhow, after the match was made for october 28th, the ring announcer thanked the fans for coming out and everyone started to leave.

Fast Match Results:

Mick Foley beat Kid Sydike
Zack Salvation defeated Red Dog (with Playboy Buddy)
Cham Pain defeated Anson Walker
Ethan Storm (with Cham Pain) beat Cheif Red Thunder to retain the ACW U.S. Championship.
ACW World Tag Team Champions The Main Attraction defeated The Soul Patrol to retain their titles.

it was a fantastic show. ACW really pulled out all the stops to entertain their fans and it was truly a fun night for us in the audience. They'll be back in Laurinburg on October 28th and I'd strongly encourage everyone in the Scotland / Robeson / Richmond / Marlboro County areas to come on out and see the show. These folks are that damn good - it's true, it's true!

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