IWA 4/25/15 Lancaster Review

It is a little after 1:00 am, as I sit down to jot down the Highlights of the IWA's first show of 2015. Lancaster, Ohio has always been a great town for the IWA, and tonight was no different. The fans turned out to capacity for tonight's show highlighted by a title changing hands.

We start off with IWA's resident Crybaby; Chris Pain, trying to hijack the show until he would be given a Cruiserweight Title Match. His plans were quickly put to a stop by IWA's Executive Director Miss Ava Rea, who informed Pain that he hadn't won a Match since Bull Miller had hair, and that he wasn't entitled to a Title Match tonight. Instead Shane Christian would get a shot at winning the Championship back from Sid Angel in the Main Event, but that she did have an opponent lined up for him. Miss Ava dropped the bombshell that none other than Doink the Clown would be Pain's opponent. Pain threw a fit in classic Crybaby style. He agreed to take a match against the Clown Prince of Wrestling, but only if he could have a Cruiserweight Title Match at anytime in the future at his choosing. Miss Ava Rea could have refused, but with Pain looking on the verge of a tantrum she agreed to Pain's demands and the match was made for later in the night between the One Trust Superstar Chris Pain and the legendary Doink the Clown.

The first match of the evening was a United States Championship Match between Champion "The Southern Knight" Bryan Blade, and the American Hero, Jim Daily. Daily and Blade clashed at our last show of 2014 in Columbus in what was a great match from bell to bell. Tonight's match turned out to be no different, as both Blade and Daily have served in the Military and have nothing but respect for each other. Blade and Daily came out to huge ovations from the fans and put on a wrestling clinic with one another. Daily tried everything in his arsenal to get the title away from Blade, but The Southern Knight continued to battle back. In the end these true Red, White, and Blue competitors wrestled to a time limit draw, slugging it out with all they had to the very last second. After the match with the fans giving Daily and Blade a huge round of applause, the Champion Blade got on the microphone and vowed that Daily would get another title shot. Will the third time be the charm for Daily, or is The Southern Knight just to tough for everyone's American Hero?

From a wrestling clinic between Blade and Daily, we went to a pure brawl next on the show. Jerry the Gator is a legend in the business, and "Precious" Phil Honda is --- well he kind of looks like a mountain man and General Custer had a love child. Phil had been throwing down the challenge to The Gator for weeks now, and these once partners were now competitors tonight. Gator won the match with his Swamp Toss, but never got a chance to do much celebrating with his legions of fans. The Riot Squad's Chris Cruit, Derek Flynt, and Bull Miller attacked Honda and Gator after the match leaving them laying. Cruit has maybe one fan in Lancaster, and even that guy was booing the Riot Squad. But with Miss Ava letting these men do whatever they want lately, they announced tonight that since the Scufflin' Hillbillies wanted a shot at the Riot Squad they were going to get it. But it wasn't going to be a Tag Team Championship Match, instead it was going to be a Three on Two Handicap Match where you know the Riot Squad were already planning to inflict some pain and perhaps prevent anyone from challenging for their gold any time soon. With the big Handicap Match now set the show rolled on.

Next up was Red Viper taking on the "Irish Hitman" Tyler Lafferty. Lafferty seemed to have been throwing back a few of those Irish libations before coming out to the ring as he insisted on patting down the referee for weapons after being patted down himself...needless to say neither had a weapon. What The Hitman did have was a desire to beat on Viper like he stole something. Lafferty seemed to be sending his own message tonight...perhaps to U.S. Champion Bryan Blade, that Jim Daily isn't the only one that wants a shot at the gold in the future. Whatever The Hitman's motivation was tonight, he put a beating on Viper from nearly the opening bell and culminating with two vicious spears that sent Viper's ribs to the front row and The Irish Hitman to the winner's column in the record book.

Up next was the match that was made to open the show, "The One True Superstar" Chris Pain taking on Doink the Clown...Pain brought Red Viper back out to ringside with him. Seemingly with the idea of Viper being in his corner would swing the odds to his favor. But what Pain didn't seem to bank on is the Viper is not the swiftest snake in the jungle and caused him more trouble than he did Doink. Pain didn't seem to know how to combat Doink's antics that included tickling, buckets of confetti, and channeling the likes of The Undertaker, John Cena and Hulk Hogan. Each time Pain tried to use Viper to gain the upper hand, they seemed to hurt each other more than they did Doink. The fans were laughing, and cheering for the Clown Prince who kept Pain reeling and combatted everything The One True Superstar tried. In the end, not only did Doink pin Chris Pain but he pinned Viper for good measure, leaving Pain's Win/Loss record at zero for four million...or at least somewhere in that win-less neighborhood. Things did not get any better for Pain after the final bell though, as Doink hit him with a bucket of water proving what so many have always said...Chris Pain could really use a bath.

Out next was the Riot Squad for their three on two Handicap Match against Bo and Enos, the Scufflin' Hillbillies. The Hillbillies had an idea of their own though. It seems that their little Cousin was in attendance and he loves to scuffle as much as the next fellar. The Riot Squad agreed to let the "Little Cousin" step in to make it a Six Man Match. Unfortunately for the Riot Squad, I am sure they were expecting to face a pimple face kid, barely out puberty...instead they were introduced to a six foot five and a half powerhouse good ole boy. The Riot Squad tried to back out on the match but it was to no avail. Their "Little Cousin" tossed the Riot Squad around like ragdolls with the help of Bo and Enos. But true to Riot Squad tactics, when the referee was distracted by the melee going on around him, Bull Miller grabbed their cousin's spit bucket and used it to knock the big man for a loop helping Cruit gain the victory for his team. The Hillbillies were livid with the outcome of the match, but continue to be some down home good ole boys that just love to have a good time. With the fans cheering and joining in, The Hillbillies started dancing showing that The Riot Squad will not put a damper on their hoedown.

From The Hillbillies having a good ole time, we went to the heart of Deepest, Darkest Africa for a fight between "The African Savage" Tanu, and Papa Dingo. The last time these two men came face to face in Columbus, Ohio last year, Tanu helped cost Dingo the Tag Team Championship, and then had a wild brawl with the Dingo that went throughout the crowd. Tonight's fight was no different with the ring barely able to contain the sheer girth of Dingo and Tanu. Dingo is usually the biggest man in the ring, but not tonight against Tanu. Dingo went to the top ropes with Tanu climbing up the ropes after him. Papa shoved Tanu off and hit the huge top rope splash that picked up the win for Dingo and perhaps has finally sent the message to Tanu that the IWA only has room for one monster and Dingo is his name.

From Dingo and Tanu's powerhouse brawl, we went to the Main Event with the high octane Cruiserweights. Sid Angel won the title in Columbus after a one night tournament was held to crown a new Champion when the old Champion was suspended indefinitely for ticking off the Boss, Miss Ava Rea. Angel is an eccentric young man, but the minute that bell rings his is all about business. Christian and Angel took it to each other with a fast pace match that had the fans chanting "This is Awesome" for nearly the entire match. Christian and Angel fought through the crowd and all over the ringside area before Angel went for his Double Foot Stomp finisher. Angel jumped off the top ropes, but Christian moved and hit the Sleeper-Slam to get the One, Two, Three and become the Cruiserweight Champion once again to the delight of the fans.

With the fans heading for the door, it looked like Shane Christian's night was over and he would be heading out on the town in Lancaster to celebrate once again holding the gold. But The One True Superstar Chris Pain had other ideas. He attacked Christian after the match reminding everyone of the deal he made with Miss Ava Rea to have a Cruiserweight Championship Match any time, anywhere of his choosing. Pain looked to become the new Cruiserweight Champion with a cheap post-Main Event attack. Unfortunately for Pain, he didn't bargain on Christian being one tough s.o.b. Pain tried everything to pin the new Champion and steal the gold. But instead Christian battled back and sent the fans home happy by not only retaining his newly won Championship but leaving Chris Pain to have another crying fit over his plans to steal the title backfiring in his face.

Fans, there has been much talk lately of those out there, who would like to attempt to stop the IWA. But trying to stop the IWA is like trying to fly by flapping your arms...it just isn't going to happen.

The IWA has been going strong since its inception in 1988, and if floods, famine, and heavy broads singing could not stop the IWA. Then no hater out there stands a chance of pulling this bullet train off the tracks. The IWA's 2015 Tour has kicked off with a bang, and you can expect more excitement with each passing month and huge event. Be sure to check back soon for news on our next event, and be sure to check out the IWA School of Professional Wrestling if sitting in the crowd simply isn't enough for you anymore. Until next time remember...If it isn't the IWA...It isn't worth watching.

#Lancaster #LancasterOhio #FairfieldCountyFairgrounds #IWAWrestling