Post by Joe on May 12, 2023 23:42:25 GMT -5
ULTIMATE PRO WRESTLING
"GOLD RUSH"
Friday, May 12th, 2023
Globe Theater, Los Angeles, CA
Recorded and edited for reproduction on FITE TV
Welcome to "UPW: Gold Rush"! We are live from the jam packed Globe Theater in Los Angeles, CA, and this raucous crowd is ready for action!
We head to the announce table where Vic Joseph and Byron Saxton are sitting in, and they are joined by the General Manager of UPW, Bruce Pritchard! Joseph introduces the three men, and Bruce asks what they think about this sold out crowd, and Saxton says he's about to run to the back and lace up some boots, cause he's getting all amped up from the energy in this building! Bruce laughs and tells him to take it easy, and he and Joseph get Saxton to settle down.
From there, the three men go over the tournament matches for tonight. Bruce says that the old saying is true and that styles make fights. He says tonight they paired up guys stylistically they thought would put on a great show, which will create great variety throughout the night. He said you're going to get high flying, you're going to get chain wrestling, hard striking, hard slams, everything you can think of, because UPW is the state of the art of professional wrestling today, period!
Bruce suggests we all strap in and get ready to be blown away, and then Vic sends things over to Mike Rome in the ring, who's ready to introduce our first competitors of the evening. Bruce thanks Vic and Byron and leaves the announcer's table from here.
MATCH ONE
UPW CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Angel Garza vs. Jordan Myles
Referee: Chad Patton
Garza was very confident coming into this contest, but Myles came in with high energy and just seemed to want this more. Garza would try to take short cuts and would distract Chad Patton on multiple occasions, complaining about Myles cheating, but it didn't matter. Myles would continue to pressure Garza and use his speed to take him down, eventually hitting a gravity defying Frog Splash to get the three count. Myles advances to the next round in the Cruiserweight tournament, and Byron points out that these fans certainly liked what they saw here and seem to be behind this young man.
Winner by Pinfall: Jordan Myles
(00:10:22)
MATCH TWO
UPW CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Drew Gulak vs. "The Octopus" Jonathan Gresham
Referee: Dan Engler
We had a very rough and gritty back and forth war on the mat here between two of the best technical wrestlers in the business. This match was a matter of pride, as both men think they are the best grappler, but once Gresham started to get the advantage, Gulak would use a thumb to the eye to gain the upper hand. Engler would warn Gulak about this, but Gulak just seemed to relish in it. Gulak would use his shin to choke Gresham at one point, and would even pull his tights to try to pin him with a roll up, leading Engler to get in his face and threaten to disqualify him! The fans in the Globe Theater were booing Gulak's antics, which distracts Gulak and allows Gresham time to recover and hit a Quebrada to his standing opponent to get a two count! Gresham manages to lock on the Octopus Stretch, but Gulak shows his grit to get to the ropes. After exchanging a series of reversals, Gulak manages to Backslide Gresham and then actually puts his foot on the middle rope out of Engler's sights to get the three count! The fans are booing as Gulak celebrates like he just won the Olympic Gold Medal!
Winner by Pinfall: Drew Gulak
(00:11:14)
Vic Joseph complains about Gulak's lack of integrity and disregard of the rules, but Saxton has a differing point of view. He says he doesn't like the cheating, but he understands it. There is only one chance you will ever get to become the first ever UPW Cruiserweight champion, and Gulak did whatever it took to make sure he gets that chance. Saxton says he wishes he would have did it the right way, but that's the way it is. You've got to be willing to do whatever it takes sometimes to make your dreams a reality in this business.
Tune in to FITE on June 10th to see "UPW: Championship Spectacle" for the conclusion of the championship tournaments! Also, the UWA Universal Heavyweight and Tag Team championships will be defended as we welcome in The O.C. AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows to compete for the titles! You want to miss this action packed night, live from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA!
MATCH THREE
UPW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Ron "The Truth" Killings vs. Kassius Ohno
Referee: Chris Sharpe
Killings is always having a good time and these fans were behind the rapping and dancing veteran. Ohno, however, was not impressed and showed "The Truth" no respect, mushing him across the face at the start of the match and then relentlessly beating on him in the opening minute. Killings would manage to reverse a whip and deliver a Flying Forearm to turn the tides back in his favor. The crowd was red hot behind Killings, really trying to will him to victory, but Ohno just kept seeming to find ways to cut him off and take him down. Ohno would deliver a Roaring Elbow and it looked like it was all over, but somehow Killings kicked out! Ohno would call for the end, fuming that Killings wouldn't stay down. Ohno would pick up Killings and clutch his wrist, and then spins him around, attempting a Ripcord Elbow, but "The Truth" ducks it and grabs Ohno, rolling him up with a School Boy! Killings is driving his feet into the mat over and over, running Ohno's shoulders down and getting great leverage, and he gets him! Killings wins! He's moving on to the next round!
Winner by Pinfall: Ron Killings
(00:08:43)
Ohno can't believe it as he sits on the mat, clutching at his hair with a shocked look on his face. Killings is outside running laps around the ring and high fiving every single fan as they all chant for him! Byron says Ron Killings is on fire, and he seems to be willing to give it everything he has to make one last run at championship gold at this stage in his career! Vic Joseph said this is a very tough field, so it's going to be very interesting to see how he does in the next round, and who he will be facing.
Let's get to the next contest!
MATCH FOUR
UPW CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Brian Kendrick vs. Tyson Kidd
Referee: Adrian Butler
This match started at a break neck pace, as these two are both very talented and very technically sound, but are also great athletes. Kendrick is a student of Shawn Michaels, while Tyson Kidd trained at the Hart Dungeon, a factoid not lost on the very astute Vic Joseph. There was a lot of pride here, and once it seemed like the cardio started to fail, Byron would observe that these two were digging down to find the heart. Who wants this more? Who really wants to go on next month to fight another of the best Cruiserweights in the world, and who actually just wants to go home and not feel this level of exhaustion any longer! Slow reversals and strike attempts would follow from both men, as they would each try to land that knock out blow. Kendrick would attempt to deliver the Sliced Bread #2 at one point, but Tyson would use his sweat to his advantage, spinning himself and reversing the move and delivering a Release Northern Lights Suplex into the turnbuckles! Kidd grabs Kendrick's legs and attempts to lock on the Sharpshooter, but Kendrick reaches up and rolls Kidd up into a Small Package, but Kidd kicks out just before Butler can get his hand down for three! The fans are on their feet, stomping and cheering as these two go back and forth, one, two, exchanging open hand shots in the middle of the ring as quickly as they can before Kidd tries for a Leaping Enzuigiri. Kendrick ducks. Kidd lands face first on the mat and Kendrick rolls him up with an Oklahoma Roll, but Kidd rolls through it and wraps his legs around Kendrick's head and arm... Byron yells out that he has him in a Triangle Choke! Kidd pulls on his left foot, hooking it under his right knee, and Kendrick sits back on his butt. Kidd has it in tight! Vic Joseph says there's no daylight on that choke, Kidd has all of it as Adrian Butler checks Kendrick and it's over. Kendrick slaps Kidd's leg three times, and he surrenders. Tyson Kidd is moving on to the next round of the Cruiserweight title tournament, but what a great display of wrestling prowess from both men!
Winner by Submission: Tyson Kidd
(00:14:30)
Kidd grabs a microphone after the match, and he's sucking a lot of wind. Kidd says that Brian Kendrick is one of the best wrestlers on the planet, and he asks everybody stand up and give him a round of applause. He says any time he wants a rematch, he's ready to run it back, but he says he hopes Hideo Itami or Senshi were watching, because their kicks aren't going to save them. He says one of them are getting stretched and he's going to make them squeal on June 10th! The fans give Kidd a nice reaction as he leaves from there, and Byron says Kidd just put everybody on notice tonight!
MATCH FIVE
UPW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Justin Gabriel vs. "El Toro Blanco" Rush
Referee: Chris Sharpe
These two have very different personalities. Gabriel had a big smile on his face and tried to play to the crowd, but the crowd started out firmly behind "El Toro Blanco". Rush just has that presence, and there is a large Latin American segment of the audience as Vic Joseph pointed out. Justin Gabriel is a South African stand out, and Byron pointed out that Gabriel didn't just get here by accident. Gabriel proved that much as he used his speed, agility, and kicks to make Rush think twice about trying to push the pace. Gabriel would end up winning over the crowd by the midway point, as it seemed like he might win this thing, flipping over a bent over Rush and delivering a Spin Kick, followed by a Springboard Moonsault for a two count! Gabriel would deliver a HIGH IMPACT Springboard Crossbody for another two count, and then absolutely wowed the Globe Theater with a 450 Plancha to Rush on the outside that saw both men slam into the guardrail and Gabriel crash and burn into the crowd! Byron yells out that Gabriel is putting it all on the line to try to earn his place in the next round of the Heavyweight tournament! There is no tomorrow for this dare devil from Cape Town! Back in the ring, Gabriel attempts the Springboard Crossbody again, but Rush shows his power, catching him in mid-air and powerslamming him to the mat! Sharpe makes the count once Rush hooks the leg, but only a two count! Rush hooks Gabriel's arms and tries for a Double Underhook Piledriver, but Gabriel catches him with a heel kick to the face to reverse it! Gabriel escapes and hits the Discus Punch, taking Rush down! Rush pops up and tries to clothesline Gabriel, but Gabriel ducks it and grabs Rush and delivers the Final Cut! Gabriel hooks the leg, but just a two count! Gabriel picks up Rush and grabs him into a Front Facelock and delivers a Tornado DDT, pushing off the ropes! Gabriel doesn't go for the cover, which Vic Joseph says is a questionable decision. Saxton yells that he's down, make the cover, but Joseph says he wants to put an exclamation point on this. Gabriel goes up top and the room is standing in anticipation. Gabriel flies up... 450 SPLASH! NO! RUSH GETS THE KNEES UP! BIG MISTAKE! Gabriel is sucking air now, holding his ribs in agony and crawls to the turnbuckles.
BULL'S HORNS!
Rush then lifts Gabriel and plows him to the mat with his Rush Driver, cementing the deal and Chris Sharpe makes the three count.
Winner by Pinfall: Rush
(00:12:03)
Rush celebrates on the turnbuckles, obviously feeling like a million bucks having won that match. Byron says that Justin Gabriel may have lost, but he sure gained a lot of fans here tonight. Vic Joseph said Gabriel laid it all on the line but just made one slip up, and now Rush heads to the next round in this tournament, and he looks like a force to be reckoned with!
MATCH SIX
UPW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
"Invincible" Ilja Dragunov vs. Timothy Thatcher
Referee: Dan Engler
This was perhaps the most brutal match of the night, as both men came here to just inflict damage on one another. Timothy Thatcher seems to take great pride and joy from torturing his opponents, and Ilja Dragunov seems to be a complete masochist at times, creating a very volatile mixture for a wrestling exhibition. Thatcher and Dragunov would get big cheers early for having a lock up struggle that lasted well over a minute, both men shoving each other back and forth against the ropes and trying to get the advantage before referee Dan Engler had to break it up with Dragunov pinning Thatcher against the ropes, causing a break. Thatcher was not happy about this, and we had our first open hand slap of the match, with a force seemingly hard enough to send shockwaves down the Coast. Dragunov would answer back with barrage of chops, and from here, we were in an earnest, honest to God war of wills, as we now attempted to see which might break first on either man: their bodies or their wills. After brutal chops, suplexes, leaping kicks, chokes and near falls, things seemed to really be coming to a head at about the 15 minute mark. Dragunov would manage to reverse a Thatcher Sleeper into a Backdrop Driver, followed by a Spinning Backchop to a staggering Thatcher, and then delivered a Senton right to the side of his neck! The Russian would run and Springboard off the middle rope and fly backwards, attempting a Torpedo Moscow, but Thatcher would catch him with a European Uppercut reversal in mid-air, popping the crowd and the announcers! Thatcher would stagger and lift Dragunov up, attempting a Saito Suplex, but Dragunov would break free and run, slinging himself through the ropes and trying for a Discus Lariat, but Thatcher would catch him mid-move with a HUGE SLAP! The Russian would spin, though, and deliver a DISCUS SLAP! Thatcher is knocked for a loop and down to a knee, and Ilja pounces on his back! Ilja locks on a Sleeper and cranks back, scissoring his body as Thatcher's knees are bent! Byron says he's folded like a lawn chair, but he seems to be completely knocked out! Thatcher's eyes are rolling in the back of his head and Engler has seen enough and calls for the bell! It's all over!
Winner by TKO: Ilja Dragunov
(00:18:05)
Medical staff hits the ring, and everybody needs to take a breath after that one. What a display of pure grit and determination. Vic Joseph puts over Ilja Dragunov saying he is on another level here. Byron says he had some success in the AWA before making his way here, and now seems primed to just keep ascending. All props to him, according to Saxton, as Thatcher is a very scary guy and a great professional wrestler, but he just couldn't break "The Invincible" Ilja Dragunov tonight!
MATCH SEVEN
UPW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Cameron Grimes vs. "Switchblade" Jay White
Referee: Adrian Butler
It was going to be hard to follow that last match, but these guys did their best to entertain the fans. Grimes has a electric personality, while Jay White has an imposing aura about him. Jay White showed a killer instinct throughout, continually trying to go for the win over and over and attempted to really punish Grimes for the sin of continuing to fight. Grimes had the fans behind him, though, as he was defiant, shaking his head and yelling "NO!" as Butler would ask him if he would give up and not wanting to to give White the satisfaction of staying down any longer than he had to with each progressive attempt to end the contest. White would smash Grimes at about the 11 minute mark with a Running European Uppercut in the corner, followed by a Running Lariat, but would only get a two count. White would smoothly, with a look of pure hate on his face, yank up Grimes and attempt to deliver with Blade Runner (Swinging Reverse STO), but Grimes would reverse it and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count! Grimes would get back up with a run off the ropes...
CAVE IN!
Grimes hooks the leg and the fans are chanting along with Adrian Butler's count: ONE! TWO! THRE-OH! Jay White kicks out! Grimes is beside himself with disbelief for half a second, but quickly gets his game face back on and yanks White back up by his hair. The North Carolina native then hooks "Switchblade" in and attempts something out of the Vertical Suplex position, but Jay White flips over it and grabs Grimes into a Sleeper... SLEEPER SUPLEX! White rolls through it and lifts Grimes up... he's got him!
BLADE RUNNER!
White floats over into the cover, and it's academic from here. "Switchblade" gets the three count, and he's moving on to the next round of the tournament!
Winner by Pinfall: Jay White
(00:13:47)
Jay White is then joined in the ring by two men Vic Joseph describe as his partners in crime, Juice Robinson and David Finlay, who get heat for kicking Cameron Grimes out of the ring! They then proceed to celebrate. Jay White gets on the microphone and says fuck what you know and who you know, because the guard is changing and they are going to be at the top of the food chain of professional wrestling. Juice gets on the microphone and says he heard Chris Jericho's gonna be here next month! Ha! The fans cheer for Jericho. White says their old pals in The O.C. are coming to give Jericho AND FTR a rude awakening, and they are going to make sure the message is sent loud and clear about who runs things in the UWA from here on out!
Byron and Vic debate what all of this means as we head into the main event of the evening.
MATCH EIGHT
UPW CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
SINGLES RULES
One Fall, 20 Minute Time Limit
Hideo Itami vs. Senshi
Referee: Chad Patton
For anybody who was wondering why a Cruiserweight match would be the headliner of the show, their question was answered pretty quickly out of the gate. The feeling out process for these two men consisted of about 110 miles per hour of shoot kick and strike attempts, flips and reversals ending in an epic stand off to get the crowd sucked in. "HOLY KUNG FU, VIC!" yells Byron in excitement, as VJ points out that we've seen a lot of things tonight, but we haven't seen anything quite like this.
These two men have shared the ring on multiple occasions, so not only do they have styles that match well, but their chemistry really shined through tonight. Senshi would manage to catch Itami into a Hanging Dragon Sleeper while he was standing on the apron to send him to the outside, leading to Senshi delivering a cartwheel Front Flip Suicida to the outside to wow the audience! Itami would take control on the outside with a suplex on the floor, followed by a Helluva Kick to Senshi as he stood against the guardrail, sending the Brooklyn native into the front row. From there, Itami would pull the guardrail towards the ring and then head up to the apron. Itami would then Springboard off the top rope and hit a variation of an Asai Moonsault, soaring high through the air and into the crowd, causing both men to be laid out on the floor as the fans chanted "THIS IS AWESOME!"
Chad Patton was pretty lenient with the rules, as both men would actually pick up chairs and toss them at each other before Itami would use one of Senshi's back to send him back over the guardrail and back ringside. Itami would leap off the guardrail and deliver a Double Stomp from there! Itami would send Senshi back into the ring and head to the top rope, but as he got up there, Senshi would manage to get back to his feet and then tumble once again...
TIDAL CRUSH!
Hideo Itami is sent flying back to the outside! Itami is laying on the floor and Senshi heads to the top turnbuckle... the fans are standing in wonderment... FLYING DOUBLE STOMP TO THE OUTSIDE, CRUSHING ITAMI ON THE FLOOR! Senshi crashes into the railing, but it doesn't matter! There is no tomorrow! It's all or nothing here tonight at "Gold Rush"! Senshi sends Itami back into the ring and heads up top himself, but now it's Itami who is back up and he meets Senshi on the top. They struggle back and forth, fighting for position, but Hideo gets the better of it and pulls Senshi over...
AVALANCHE FALCON ARROW!
Hideo goes for the cover, hooking the leg as he practically sits on Senshi, but Senshi manages to kick out at two! Hideo gets up and begins laying in the kicks, holding Senshi's head down and pummeling him with multiple kicks. Hideo then runs off the ropes, but Senshi pops up and delivers a Front Dropkick reversal. Senshi then revs himself up and begins landing kick after kick into Hideo's chest. Hideo manages to catch one and gets up. Senshi attempts to reverse with an Enzuigiri, but Hideo ducks it; Senshi lands on his foot and then whips it around, cracking Hideo in the face! Senshi then grabs Itami by the hair and begins kicking him to the side of the head over and over again!
Hideo shakes it off, and then fires back with a knife edged chop to Senshi. Senshi is feeling that, but answers back with his own! Hideo with another, and then Senshi! They stand face to face, with Senshi huffing and grunting and Hideo yelling in Japanese for him to bring everything he's got! They fire back and forth with overhand chops before they then trade low kicks back and forth. Senshi delivers a low spin kick and then spins, grabbing his own foot and blasting Hideo to the back of the head with a downward kick! Senshi then grabs Hideo and tries to hook him into a Fisherman's lock, but Hideo breaks out and runs off the ropes; Hideo attempts his jumping knee, but Senshi side steps it and runs, springboarding off the middle rope, but Hideo dashes forward. Itami catches Senshi in mid-air. Senshi is caught and Itami throws him up quickly...
GO 2 SLEEP!
Itami caught it flush and Senshi sells the knock out. Itami collapses on top of him and the whole room counts as Chad Patton makes it official: ONE, TWO, THREE, THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!
Winner by Pinfall: Hideo Itami
(00:17:22)
Hideo Itami is moving on to the next round of the Cruiserweight tournament, but he doesn't look much like a winner right now. Senshi is still being revived as Vic Joseph signs off and we put this one to bed. So long, and thanks for joining us! We'll see you next time!
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