by Craig Hermit.
Show one of Target Wrestling’s second anniversary sell out show began at The Venue in Carlisle. A celebration that only two years ago the company itself had performed it’s first show in that same venue before a crowd that consisted of less that thirty-five people. On this night before hundreds of there fans in attendance and many more on television, they would see exactly why Target Wrestling is a promotion that fans should certainly take an interest in watching.
Medallion, Damon Havok & Kris Karnage vs XL, Ryan Kross & Wild Bill
From the start as the six men began there battle, the fan favourites were solidly in control, succeeding to outmanoeuvre there opponents at every turn, from high flying moves when Kross leaped from the top turnbuckle to the outside, technical wrestling when XL stretched Havok and to brawling when Bill showed exactly why they call him Wild.Medallion, who has proved to Target Wrestling fans that he will use any method or weapon to gain the advantage and this match showed just that, as behind the referees back, his team bent the rules to braking point.
In the finale of the match, all six men engaged in a brawl that saw Bill handcuffed to the ring post and XL beaten down, allowing Medallion’s team to launch a three on one assault on Kross that would see him suffer the pinfall defeat. But, they were not finished with the punishment on Kross as they connected with a destructive piledriver onto a steel chair before XL and Bill could return to the ring to help there tag team partner.
Winners: Medallion, Damon Havok & Kris Karnage defeated XL, Ryan Kross & Wild Bill.
High Octane Division Championship Semi-Final: Mark Coffey vs Chris Sabin
The first Semi Final match to crown the High Octane Division Champion presented two of wrestling’s best, former TNA Triple Crown Champion, Chris Sabin against multiple ICW Tag Team Champion and former Zero-G Champion, Mark Coffey.
Both men were intent on demonstrating why they should advance to the final, beginning the bout matching each other move for move with wristlocks and armbars. Fans were enthralled by the two as Coffey used his raw strength to overpower Sabin who in-turn used his speed to unsettle his opponent allowing him to hit a flurry of offensive moves.Coffey wasn’t beaten as the match progressed, both taking the fight to the outside of the ring with Coffey gaining momentum and pressing for the win, but it would be Sabin who gained a hard fought victory to advance to the final. Afterwards in a true moment of class, Sabin raised the hand of his opponent as the fans stood and clapped in appreciation of the match they just witnessed.
Winner: Chris Sabin pinned Mark Coffey.
Alexander Hendry vs Joe E. Legend
Hendry along with Johnny Khaos swaggered to the ring, exuding arrogance as they almost appeared to underestimate there experienced opponent. Legend arrived to the ring and after an altercation with Khaos became more focused on Hendry.
Legend launched his attacks on Hendry by striking with hard punches on the ropes and battering Hendry’s head into the turnbuckle to the count of 10, the fans encouraged Legend as he tried to the get the win However, Hendry survived the onslaught and fought back hard, occasionally with the assistance of his Red Nation stablemate, Khaos.
The bout came to an end as Legend managed to get the victory over the younger Hendry but the aftermath belonged to Red Nation who left a battered Legend struggling to stand after withstanding a devastating Curb Stomp and an assault with the steel chair. Despite Wild Bill and XL rushing to help the fan favourite, the message was clear, Red Nation has made everyone in Target Wrestling there target.
Winner: Joe E. Legend pinned Alexander Hendry.
Al Snow vs Shady Nattrass
The reception given for Al Snow from the crowd would have had people watching via TV thinking that they had gone back in time as chants for, “We want Head!” & “Head Cheese” rang out across The Venue. Clearly spurned on by the crowd, Snow was energised to produce a great display against Nattrass.
A focused Nattrass battered his opponent over and over again with clubbing blows and continued to work over the back as Snow remained desperate grab a hold of ‘Head’ who remained in the corner.
As the battle raged on, Snow grabbed ‘Head’ and attempted to attack until the referee seized the mannequin head but this allowed Nattrass to strike and gain a near-fall. Reclaiming the advantage again Snow brought a chair into the ring as the referee at the time was injured, ready to use the weapon, the referee stirred and he quickly threw it to Nattrass who dropped it as well, both acting as if they had been struck by there opponent the referee looked for help and to get rid of the chair. Hoever, Snow called on his experience and struck Nattrass using ‘Head’ to get the pin in an entertaining and well worked match.
Winner: Al Snow defeated Shady Nattrass by pinfall.
High Octane Division Championship Semi Final: Carbon vs Soldier Ant
The other Semi-Final match also shown why the High Octane Championship is held in high regard as the amazing Chikara star, Soldier Ant arrived to clash with the high flying Carbon.
It was Soldier Ant showing the talents that made him a name across the world using the ‘Chikara Special’ – Kneeling step-over head-hold wrist lock followed by hooking the opponent’s far leg to dazzling the crowd with wrenching arm-bars and leg-locks leaving his opponent punished.
Carbon may have been tortured in various submission moves but he was able to fight back showing the resourcefulness and endurance he has demonstrated throughout his career, to get the pinfall in advancing to the final and a valuable victory over a world class opponent.
Winner: Carbon defeated Solider Ant by pinfall.
Target Wrestling Heavyweight Championship: Joe Coffey vs T-Bone (c)
Fans anticipating this match knew it was going to be good, but talking with them afterwards they never expected just how fantastic and exciting this bout was.
As Coffey in trademark Iron Man attire awaited the Champion, fans could sense the main event atmosphere begin to build. Then the Heavyweight Champion T-Bone arrived, slow and methodical, he walked to the ring surveying the crowd, sizing up his challenger and then fans began to chant in chorus for their hero, Coffey.
Both attempted to gain an edge in the bout, pressing the issue Coffey was determined to make a statement early on to the Champion but T-Bone countered and showed why he is the Champion with stiff punches and hard moves to the challenger.
The ring couldn’t contain the two as both men fought there way to ringside, throwing each other into the steel-railing and then fighting there way into the crowd. Taking full advantage of the environment, T-Bone hit a suplex on the floor and pushing Coffey back into the ring for a near fall.
From there, the two men continued to produce some amazing stiff power moves and near falls, from T-Bone continuing to attempt to use his tombstone piledriver and Coffey relentless in using his dead-weight back suplexes, the crowd were engrossed in the main event.
The ending occurred when after T-Bone gained a near fall after using his tombstone piledriver but a relentless Coffey managed to strike with a furious discus forearm to gain the pinfall victory becoming the New Target Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and the Iron Man reign within Target Wrestling begins now.
New champion: Joe Coffey pinned T-Bone.
SCOTTISH WRESTLING NETWORK | SWN 