This CHAOS COLUMN is a recap of Wrestling Cares “Race For The Ring Finals” on January 18th at the VFW Post 3261 in Gardena. Big crowd on hand for the 6-match card that was hosted by ROH’s “First Lady”, Maria Kanellis. This night, WCA was able to donate $500 to the San Diego Center for Children. Finally, with Alex Koslov not cleared to compete due to concussion-like symptoms, Joey Ryan teamed up with Rocky Romero for the Golden State Tag Team Tournament Final. All times for matches held under tournament rules are approximate.
1 – Aaron Aguilera (w/ El Jefe) p. Brian Cage with a Big Boot to the face to counter the Discus Lariat, into the Butterfly Suplex.
2 – Ladies “Beat The Champ” Series Final between Katarina Leigh (WWE’s Katie Lea Burchill & TNA’s Winter) & Cheerleader Melissa. 10-min. RFTR Tournament Rules, w/ a 3-min. Sudden Death OT.
* 2:00 – Katarina scored with a rollup pin.
* 2:35 – Melissa scored with the Curb Stomp for the pin.
* 3:45 – Melissa scored with the Samoan Drop for the pin.
* 5:15 – Katarina scoed with the Backslide pin in a cover battle.
* 5:55 – Katarina scored with the Sidewinder Backbreaker to the knee for the pin.
* 7:15 – Melissa scored with a reversal cover for the pin.
* 9:55 – Katarina scored the winning pinfall with a reversal cover after fighting out of the Air Raid Crash.
A very entertaining ladies’ match that saw both ladies really go at it. In the end, Katarina prevailed when she worked her way out of one of Melissa’s signature finishers to eventually get the win.
3 – Triple-Threat Match. B-Boy def. Brandon Gatson & Willie Mack. Gatson & B-Boy were able to Low-Bridge Willie Mack out of the ring, but it was B-Boy who landed his Sole-Butt / Superkick / Shining Wizard combo for the pin to end a great match.
4 – Adam Page p. Adam Pearce with a Top Rope dive into a DDT, overcoming a major beatdown at the start of the match. Page showed plenty of heart and resiliency against the highly prolific veteran, who stayed in the ring after the bell to receive special recognition from Les Thatcher, in addition to the aforementioned donation.
SM – Golden State Tag Team Tournament Final redo, held under RFTR Tournament Rules — Timothy Thatcher & Oliver John vs. Rocky Romero & Joey Ryan (who subbed for Alex Koslov). Each team was given 1 warning from Referee Jay Stone regarding outside interference to make pinfall saves; DQ point for each sub-sequential pinfall save.
* 6:00 – Joey Ryan p. Timothy Thatcher with the Superkick.
* 9:45 – Rocky Romero was caught with a 2nd interference to prevent the pinfall, resulting in a point awarded to Thatcher & John.
* 1:10 into OT – Oliver John p. Joey Ryan with the Scoop Slam for the winner.
A very good semi-main, complete with some great technical wrestling that could only come from the old school veterans of the winning duo.
M – Race For The Ring Tournament Final between ROH & PWG Champion Adam Cole, & DGUSA “Open The Freedom Gate” Champion Johnny Gargano. 20-min. regulation match, 3-min. OT.
* 4:55 – Cole scored with the Florida Keys for the pin.
* 7:10 – Gargano scored with the Roundhouse Kick to the kneeling opponent for the pin.
* 8:45 – Cole scored with the Brainbuster to the knee for the pin.
* 11:15 – Gargano scored with the Package/Cradle Rollup for the pin.
* 13:00 – Cole scored with the Figure-4 Leglock submission.
* 15:30 – Gargano scored with the Reversed Figure-4 Leglock submission after Cole tweaked his right knee.
* 17:55 – Gargano scored with the Full Nelson Spinning Reverse STO for the pin.
* 19:30 – Cole scored with the Ground Brainbuster for the pin.
* OT – Neither men could scored the last pinfall or submission, so Les Thatcher extended the OT period, with no time-limit to ensure a winner.
Both men exchanged big moves and strikes, but Johnny Gargano couldn’t put Adam Cole away with the Garga-No Escape, nor could Adam Cole finish his opponent off with the Panama Sunrise–a move he used to prevail at PWG ASWX Night 2. The two went on to exchange Superkicks, but after the two cancelled each other out with stunning Superkicks, Johnny Gargano ended up landing on Adam Cole after he fell to the mat first, resulting in the final pin.
Shot of the Night 01-18-13
*** WCA’s “Race For The Ring” Tournament Winner: Johnny Gargano
A very entertaining card that saw plenty of people win raffle prizes after the main event, and plenty of champagne were enjoyed by most of the wrestlers and production crew. I’ll give MOTN honors to the RFTR Final, followed by the ladies match.
For more photos, please visit my gallery here…
Updated 2014 schedule:
1/31: The 2014 PWG DDT4
2/1: * QPro *
2/10: WWE Raw at Staples Center
2/11: WWE SmackDown at the Citizens Business Bank Arena
2/15: AWS
3/22: AWS 12th Anniversary Show
4/26: AWS
5/31 Evening: 4th AWS Women’s Tournament