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Hot off the heels of a chaotic, must-see Thanksgiving special for the OVW faithful, fans filed into the historic HotPoint Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky for what promised to be another high-stakes episode of Rise featuring a contract signing between J-Rod and Freya The Slaya for a Women’s Championship match, and of course, a five-way ladder match to determine a new number one contender for the Rush Division Championship.
And of course, who could forget Revolution as they try and claw their way back to complete dominance with all OVW gold around their waists, spearheaded by Doug Basham and Katie Gannon? So if you didn’t have time to watch the show, sit back, relax, and read everything you need to know about Rise 1321!
At a Glance
Donavan Cecil Vs. Brandon Barretta
AJZ Vs. Jack Vaughn
Anthony Toatele and Erik Surge Vs. Adam Revolver and Jessie Godderz
Tony Evans (W/ Jay DiNero) Vs. Luscious Lawrence (C)
Kal Herro Addresses Tony Gunn and Revolution
Icon Lee Vs. Jota Peso Vs. Maximo Suave Vs. Super-Z Vs. Will Austin (Ladder Match for the Rush Division Championship Number One Contendership)
J-Rod (C) and Freya The Slaya Women’s Championship Match Contract Signing
Kal Herro Vs. Doug Basham
Match 1: Donavan Cecil Vs. Brandon Barretta
Forced to wear various embarrassing outfits until he pulls off a win on OVW TV, Brandon Barretta dressed as a turkey took on The Mammoth, Donavan Cecil. The latter used his size to take Barretta down, but Barretta rebounded with a surprise Kimura Lock to take the fight to the ground. He continued working the arm of Cecil throughout the match, but The Mammoth roared back with a Deadlift Sitout Powerbomb to finish the match.
Result: Donavan Cecil DEFEATS Brandon Barretta
Match 2: Jack Vaughn Vs. AJZ
With the new Country Boy Brewing Media Champion Dustin Jackson looking on with the announce team, AJZ looked to score a big win against The Veteran. The two jockeyed for position for a few minutes, showing off their technical prowess before Vaughn took solid control with his signature Sidewalk Slam. He continued the beating on the outside, eventually throwing AJZ back into the ring and landing a Hip Toss for a two-count.
It wasn’t until AJZ hit a pair of beautiful German Suplexes that he finally got out of the gate. He too, decided to work the arm, also locking in a Kimura of his own, but The Veteran turned to other unorthodox offenses like a mid-air Jawbreaker and Leg Drop to slow the Revolution member down. As Vaughn built momentum, AJZ caught his arm, biting it out of the referee’s view.
The illegal bite allowed AJZ to pick Vaughn up for a Running Powerslam, sealing a huge victory for him and Revolution.
Result: AJZ DEFEATS Jack Vaughn
Match 3: Anthony Toatele and Erik Surge Vs. Adam Revolver and Jessie Godderz
With a cash incentive from Revolution to hurt Revolver and the returning Godderz, the new team of Anthony Toatele and Eric Surge was hopeful to walk away with a win, but ended up lucky to walk away at all. Godderz, who looked better than ever, and Revolver began the match hot with frequent tags and seamless tandem maneuvers, immediately prompting Leo Fox to emerge onto the entrance ramp.
The distraction allowed Toatele to cut off Revolver, with Surge continuing the punishment. A sudden roll-up and near-fall gave Revolver the time he needed to tag in a fresh Godderz who proceeded to beat down both Toatele and Surge. As the fight migrated to the outside, Revolver reached deep into his bag of tricks, hitting a dive that took Surge out of the picture, allowing Godderz to hit a massive Spear for the victory.
Result: Adam Revolver and Jessie Godderz DEFEAT Anthony Toatele and Erik Surge
Match 4: Tony Evans (W/ Jay DiNero) Vs. Luscious Lawrence (C)
Before the match began, Evans reminded the OVW faithful that despite the events of the last few weeks, DiNero was in his corner and the two remained closer than ever. With his mind elsewhere, the match began, giving Lawrence the moment he needed to open the match with a big Back Body Drop. One-half of the Tag Team Champions in Lawrence kept his foot on the gas, hitting a stunning array of offense that threatened to end the match before Evans could even get into it.
Of course, DiNero paid dividends, eventually distracting Lawrence which allowed Evans to gain control of the match for his first time. As the match progressed, DiNero’s actions only proved Evans’ words to be true as he continually got involved, even pushing Lawrence tailbone-first into the ring apron, and choking him on the bottom rope to continue grinding down the champ.
Finally, Luscious caught a second wind and began battling back, hitting a ring-shaking PowerSlam that looked like it would put Evans in position to be put away. Just as he positioned himself to do that, DiNero hopped up on the ring apron. An infuriated Lawrence lunged at DiNero, leaving himself open to a classic Schoolboy roll-up for an Evans and DiNero victory.
Result: Tony Evans (W/ Jay DiNero) DEFEATS Luscious Lawrence
Segment: Kal Herro Addresses Tony Gunn and Revolution
The Fanny Pack Kid opened his address strongly, reminding Gunn that he tapped out during round two of their Gentleman’s Agreement match before knocking him out with the FPK in round three, effectively winning the match if it weren’t for the usual Revolution sabotage and attack. With that, he challenged Gunn to an I Quit match inside a Steel Cage at Christmas Chaos.
Gunn, Basham, and Gannon emerged, accepting the challenge for next Saturday, but it was Gannon who revealed arguably the biggest surprise of the night: Kal Herro versus Doug Basham would take place later that night!
Match 5: Icon Lee Vs. Jota Peso Vs. Maximo Suave Vs. Super-Z Vs. Will Austin (Ladder Match for the Rush Division Championship Number One Contendership)
With the current Champ in Star Rider joining the announce team for a front-row seat, the ultra-rare and always exciting ladder match began. This ladder match, however, was different, with competitors winning via Pinfall or Submission, with ladders legal to use.
All five men battled valiantly, with each looking like they may take home the win at any time, but here were the must-see moments from the human car wreck:
Jota Peso was whipped into multiple ladders, with one throw from Austin nearly turning him inside out against a propped-up ladder
Each athlete exchanged finishers in rapid succession, with Austin nearly slamming Suave into a ladder, and Peso hitting Austin with a Canadian Destroyer
Super-Z hits a Crossbody onto Icon Lee from the top of a ladder
As expected this match ruled, and it wasn’t just barbaric violence. There was beautiful wrestling throughout this entire match, and only proves how unbelievably stacked the OVW roster is. Props to all five men.
Result: Super-Z DEFEATS Icon Lee, Will Austin, Jota Peso, and Maximo Suave
Segment: J-Rod (C) and Freya The Slaya Women’s Championship Match Contract Signing
The Queen of the North was eager to sign a contract for a rematch against J-Rod for her Women’s Championship after disqualifying herself last week when she attacked the Champ with her own title. Next Saturday, however, their match would be a “Knockout Match” with Freya promising to knock the Ultimate Athlete out cold.
With no love lost between the two, both women exchanged verbal blows before they grew into physical ones. As soon as the contract was signed by both parties, they began throwing punches, only to be separated by OVW security. Suddenly, Freya began striking the security guards, knocking three of them out with stiff forearms before the situation finally de-escalated.
Match 6: Kal Herro Vs. Doug Basham
Accompanied to the ring by most of Revolution, Basham (with a trick surely up his sleeve) squared off against Kal Herro in the main event of the evening. When the match began, Basham insisted that Herro just lay down for the three count and get the match over with, but anybody who knows Herro knows he doesn’t know what the word “quit” means. The fight was on as soon as Herro took Basham down with an Arm Drag, following it up with a Bodyslam and a Dropkick which fired up Kal and the OVW faithful.
As the referee checked on Basham, Fox and Star Rider struck Herro from behind, beginning the number’s game concerns for Kal. With Revolution outside to make sure things don’t get out of (Basham’s) control, Leather Daddy Doug teed off on a helpless Herro with various strikes and submission holds. All the while, Revolution members inflict cheap shots on the Fanny Pack Kid the second the referee turns his back. Doug even pulled out a Dropkick of his own, reminiscent of his hay day as a wrestler himself.
Somehow, through his never-say-die attitude, Kal found himself back into the fight, hitting a series of jabs before nailing Basham with a huge Bionic Elbow. Before the reality of Herro winning this match even became a possibility, Basham faked an injury to garner the referee’s attention, allowing Gunn to knock out Herro from behind with a wooden cane. Somehow still, Herro kicked out!
As Basham looked to hit Herro with his own move, Herro connected with a Superkick out of nowhere to even the odds. At that moment, Revolution rushed the ring and a six-on-one beatdown ensued. Suddenly, Cash Flo emerged, clearing the ring and saving Kal from what could have been a far worse beat down. As the show ended, Cash Flo promised Revolution that a storm was coming for them.
Result: Kal Herro DEFEATS Doug Basham Via Disqualification
Overall:
This week’s episode of Rise accomplished a lot in terms of helping shape Christmas Chaos, as well as the general future of OVW. Multiple blockbuster matches were made official including Freya The Slaya versus J-Rod for the Women’s Title in a Knockout Match, and Kal Herro versus Tony Gunn in a Steel Cage I Quit Match. But beyond what the show set up for in the future, the in-ring events only confirm that OVW is one of the most talented rosters in the world.
Big wins for Luscious Lawrence, Super-Z, Donavan Cecil and Adam Revolver and the returning Jessie Godderz highlight the struggles that Revolution still faces in regaining complete control of OVW. While Basham and Gannon have complete authority, the momentum surely swings in the favor of Kal Herro and Freya The Slaya, two of the rest of the roster’s biggest strongholds. As we quickly approach Christmas Chaos, one can only appreciate an episode like this- both clarifying in story and thrilling in in-ring action.
