GCW Homecoming Day 1- August 24, 2024
by Doc Allen
Live from the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Cagematch estimates attendance at 600. Dave Prazak and Emil Jay are on commentary.
Matthew Justice vs.Zilla Fatu
Both guys get good ovations. It's a straight brawl from the bell. Justice gains the upper hand by targeting Fatu's bandaged limbs. Fatu answers with a power slam for 2. Justice recovers with a seated senton to the floor. Justice toys with Zilla around ringside. Fatu escapes from a door bridge and counters a flying crossbody for 2. He hits a belly to belly suplex onto a chair for another 2. Justice hits a spear and pauses to sell a knee injury. Zilla capitalizes by shoving Justice outside and through a door bridge. Fatu can't hit a big splash, Justice spears him through a door. Zilla blocks a Coast to Coast dropkick with a Superman Punch and wins at 9:24. Cool finish. Match itself was an average brawl, **½.Winner: Zilla Fatu
Earlier today, Blake Christian arrived in Polaris Slingshot. Those things are neat.
GCW General Manager Matt Cardona (with Deathmatch Royalty) comes to the ring for a TV-style talking segment. Broski Jimmy demands some respect, but the fans chant "F*** you!” He covers Steph De Lander's ears to protect her from the vulgarity. Cardona has to talk over the fans to declare himself "Mr. GCW.” The fans are delighted when Matt's mic stops working. He has no shame admitting that he's going to make sure that Mance Warner leaves tonight as World Champion.
Sidney Akeem vs. Tony Deppen
Fans are happy to sing along with Deppen's music before chanting "F*** you, Deppen.” Akeem dodges Deppen by flipping around. Akeem lands a dropkick to the mouth for 2. Deppen answers with a roundhouse kick and flying senton. Deppen goes on offense, wipes snot on Akeem's hand, and chokes him with his t-shirt. Akeem comes back with a twisting crossbody. Akeem can't hit a moonsault, Deppen nails a superkick and brainbuster. He can't hit a double stomp, Akeem hits a confusing twisting attack (commentary calls it a meteora, I disagree). He hits a series of forearms, Deppen counters with a backstabber into a Rings of Saturn. Akeem survives and hits a slick dive, Deppen sprints up for a tope. Akeem flips around until hitting a cutter at 9:50. This was decent, Akeem is oozing with athleticism but is still working out some kinks. Deppen's offense looked brutal (in a good way), **½.Winner: Sidney Akeem
Deathmatch:
Los Macizos (Miedo Extremo and Ciclope) vs. Brandon Kirk and Kasey Catal
Kirk and Catal are a married couple, they vowed to support each other until death (match) do they part. Catal uses her speed to give Miedo a rana. Kirk and Ciclope duke it out. Kirk plants Miedo and throws Catal at him for a nearfall. Kirk gently tosses Ciclope into a wired door, Miedo dropkicks them both through it. Kirk and Catal suffer a collision, Miedo splashes Ciclope onto Kirk. The love birds suffer stereo dragon screws. Kirk saves his wife from a double press slam, she then saves him from taking a door bump. Kirk piledrives Miedo through a door platform! Miedo responds with a backbreaker. Catal rescues her husband again, this time she pays with a Doomsday Device through a door bridge! Kirk breaks the cover. Kirk and Ciclope mix it up, Miedo powerbombs Catal onto a wired web! Kirk throws Miedo onto the wire and gives Ciclope the Psycho Driver through a chair platform to win at 9:33! Los Macizos continue their slow breakup with another bad loss. Not sure why this had to be a deathmatch, **½.Winners: Brandon Kirk and Kasey Catal
Deathmatch:
Big F'n Joe vs. John Wayne Murdoch
Joe brings a tree branch to the ring. I don't get it. Wayne brings a weedwacker, should make easy work of that branch. Joe attacks with the flimsy branch, JWM actually sells the assault! Joe immediately shifts to light tube assaults. JWM responds by dropkicking a giant bundle of tubes into Joe's chest. Murdoch decides to stick a tube up Joe's candy a$$. I might have forgotten to mention that Joe is wrestling in his underwear. Joe answers with a DDT. Both guys are bleeding heavily and rip off each other's shirts for more tube attacks. Joe nails a sidewalk slam onto a full box of tubes. Low blow by JWD, then a dropkick through a glass pane. Joe grabs a testicular claw and smashes Murdoch through the other glass pane. Joe turns on the weedwacker and sticks it into Murdoch's gut. Attitude Adjustment by Joe gets the pinfall at 6:21. This was a total bell to bell bloodbath. This was okay, if you like this kind of thing, **¼.Winner: Big F'n Joe
Galeno Del Mar vs. JCW World Champion Masha Slamovich
They lock up, Galeno gives a patronizing clean break, and Masha turns up the intensity. Galeno blocks a flying headscissors, Masha counters into a sunset flip for 2. Galeno delivers a mean shoulder tackle. Galeno catches Masha in a dive and slams her onto the ring frame. Galeno dissects Masha with calculated offense. Masha double stomps the gut, but Galeno cuts her down with a dropkick. Masha comes back with a string of quick attacks. Masha kicks the chest, Galeno asks for more. They summon their FIGHTING SPIRIT for a slugfest. Galeno takes over with a snug headbutt, Masha kicks out. Reverse suplex by Masha, then a Shining Wizard for only 2. Broski Jimmy runs in to distract Masha, Galeno dropkicks him down. Spin heel kick by Masha, Galeno misses a cannonball. Masha grabs a rear naked choke to win at 10:12! This was a lot of fun. I like it when two fresh opponents can develop hatred midway through the match, ***.Winner: Masha Slamovich
Jimmy attacks Masha with her JCW title belt. He's challenging her at JCW's midnight show in just a few hours.
The Maharaja Raj Dhesi and The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv and Harv Sihra) vs. 1 Called Manders and THRUSSY (Effy and Dark Sheik)
An Indian drummer plays the Boyz and Dhesi to the ring. Many fans are wearing face masks to support Effy. They love Effy and give Raj a "f*** you” chant. Bell rings, a wild brawl spills all over the place. Manders hits Dhesi with a headscissors takedown, Dhesi answers with a big boot. Manders delivers some stiff strikes, Dhesi hits another big boot. Sheik attacks and Dhesi hits yet another big boot. He tries something new and press slams Sheik onto her partners. Dhesi and The Boyz pause for some dancing. Sheik saves her friends from a beatdown with a flurry of offense. Raj shoves Sheik outside, but Effy is ready for a double blockbuster on The Boyz. Effy runs wild with running big boots and slams one Boy onto the other. Dhesi interrupts Effy with a DVD for 2. Dhesi chokeslams Effy through a door bridge, Manders breaks the cover. The Boyz get rid of Manders and put Effy and Sheik into stereo Sharpshooters. Manders makes the last second save, Dhesi snaps his neck, and bonks him into the post. Dhesi plays some chair guitar, sets up a table, but Manders nails a power slam through the table! Meanwhile, the Boyz give Sheik the Hart Attack, but she manages a glancing flying clothesline outside. Effy hits a Boy with the Zack Ryder to win at 12:31! This was a lot of fun. Everyone did well playing their parts, and the crowd played along, ***¼.Winners: THRUSSY and 1 Called Manders
Danhausen video promo, in grainy black and white. He's going to annihilate Ultramantis Black.
Ultramantis Black vs. Danhausen
Fans give them a dueling chant at the bell. Black hypnotizes Danhausen with his bells. The friendly demon has to hulk out of it and puts a curse on Black. Fans chant "holy sh!t!” Black manages a string of quick attacks for 2. Danhausen hits a bulldog and double ax handle. Crossbody by Danhausen gets 2, Ultramantis takes a timeout. Danhausen hits a very evil low blow and cocky pin for 2. He gets a bit more serious with a Northern Lights suplex. Black misses a charge, Danhausen nails a German suplex. Black comes back and hits a Full Nelson slam. They block finishers until Danhausen nails another German suplex. He grabs his jar of teeth, spills them into Black's mouth, and hits a big boot for only 2. Black hits a Falcon Arrow for another nearfall, Danhausen counters into a jackknife pin to win at 9:32. Pretty middling match, and a missed opportunity for them to lean into their kooky characters to create something memorable, **.Winner: Danhausen
Danhausen returns Black's skull staff as a sign of respect. All is well in the land of evil. Fans chant "please come back.”
Megan Bayne vs. Vipress vs. Sawyer Wreck vs. TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace
The bell rings for Bayne vs. Vipress as a singles match, but Sawyer makes a surprise return and gets a star ovation. Grace shows up as another surprise competitor and gets a "holy sh!t” chant. They start with a four-way knuckle lock. Vipress finds herself on the receiving end of a 3 on 1 beatdown. Grace rolls out of a three-way knuckle lock, but suffers a double chokeslam. Wreck and Bayne feel each other out with chops. Wreck looks totally delighted until Bayne unleashes an onslaught. Sawyer answers with a back suplex, Grace returns for an ambush. Grace clotheslines Bayne into giving Wreck a DDT, Vipress returns to prevent any pinfalls. Bayne piles her opponents for a Stinger Splash. Bayne hits an unbelievable fallaway slam on both Grace and Vipress! Fans chant "GCW!” Vipress gives Grace a Destroyer and a Code Red to Bayne. Bayne and Vipress give Grace a Doomsday crossbody, Wreck breaks the pin. Bayne puts Vipress on her shoulders, Grace puts Wreck on her's, and they play chicken. Everyone goes down after a hilarious double clothesline, and the fans give them a nice ovation. They stumble to their feet, Wreck runs wild with head butts. Grace gives Wreck a rolling DVD. Bayne hits Grace with a Liger Bomb. Vipress gives Bayne a cutter. Sawyer hits Grace with her own belt and tries it on. Meanwhile, Vipress hits a German suplex, Bayne pops up for a clothesline. Saito suplex by Vipress, leaping clothesline by Bayne. Tombstone Piledriver by Bayne finishes Vipress at 13:40. Wreck and Grace had disappeared behind the curtain. Super fun and surprising spotfest, ***½.Winner: Megan Bayne
Brett Lauderdale comes out to reveal that Nick Gage is unavailable to wrestle and is out indefinitely. No explanation is given, but Brett assures everyone that Nick will always have a home in GCW.
Deathmatch:
Drew Parker vs. Brandon Kirk
Kirk is pulling double duty and subbing for Gage. This is the third deathmatch of the night, just for funsies. They greet one another by smashing light tubes. Kirk chews on some glass, Parker dropkicks him through some tubes. Kirk pops back up to spear Parker through a glass pane. Kirk fails to break a tube in Parker's mouth, so Parker shows him how it's done. Parker throws darts into Kirk's back. Parker steals a dart and sticks it through Parker's cheek! Kirk kisses Parker and nails a Psycho Driver through tubes and chairs, but Parker pops up at 1! Parker hits a Swanton Bomb through a pile of tubes, Kirk kicks out at 1! Parker overwhelms Kirk with tube shots and pins him at 6:26. These short deathmatches are just about right, **¼.Winner: Drew Parker
Scramble:
Alec Price vs. Jack Cartwheel vs. Mr. Danger vs. Griffin McCoy vs. Dustin Waller vs. Fuego Del Sol
McCoy declares this to be Top Guy Time and cleans house. Mr. Danger surprises him with a springboard dropkick. Danger gives McCoy a springboard headscissors. Waller returns for a Tiger Fade Kick and DDT on Danger. Jack cartwheels over Waller and nails a standing moonsault. Del Sol tries a rana, Jack cartwheels to safety. Del Sol shows off with his own cartwheels and nails a Northern Lights suplex. Price returns for a headscissors takedown on Del Sol., then a springboard crossbody. Griffin pokes his eyes and kicks the chest. Griffin cleans house again, Jack cartwheels around until Griffin karate chops his groin. Del Sol returns to fluster Griffin, but Jack blocks his tornado DDT. Cartwheel slam by Jack, Waller then ambushes with a DDT and standing SSP. Price returns and nails a half n' half suplex on Waller. Everyone gathers around for a doomsday crossbody, then stereo Coast to Coast dropkicks by Griffin and Del Sol! Jack and Del Sol trade potential KO shots. Waller hits a flying somersault senton outside, Mr. Danger follows with a plancha. Del Sol and Jack hit stereo twisting sentons outside. McCoy eats a superkick but kicks the ref into the ropes to stop Jack from flying. This leads to sequence of rapid high flying attacks in the ring, culminating with Price hitting a step up crossbody onto everyone outside. Price gives Waller a spinning DDT to win at 10:35! Unapologetic spotfest, a bit sloppy at times, but overall a barn-burner, ***.Winner: Alec Price
Undisputed GCW World Championship (Ladder Match):
Mance Warner © vs. Blake Christian © vs. Joey Janela
Blake drives his Slingshot to the ring, I want one now. Blake superkicks Joey and dives onto Mance. Joey throws a ladder at Blake, and might have concussed him. Mance stops Joey's climb and throws Blake through a production cart. He takes his screwdriver to Blake's knee and Joey's head. Janela retaliates with a ladder shot and tries to climb, but Blake dropkicks him off. Blake hits Mance with a 450 splash onto a draped ladder. Joey stops Blake's climb with a powerbomb and DVD through a door. Joey misses a charge at Mance and puts himself through a table. Warner swings a ladder around his neck to take Blake out, then takes a seat instead of climbing. Joey throws a ladder at Mance but then eats a chokeslam through a chair. Warner chokeslams Blake onto Joey. They all make a climb and crash down for an ovation. Janela climbs a supersized ladder, Broski Jimmy runs in for chair shots. Masha Slamovich rushes out to neutralize Jimmy. Instead of grabbing the belts, Joey opts to hit an unbelievable flying elbow off the supersized ladder to put Mance through a table. Steph De Lander drives Blake into a door so Mance can climb, but Megan Bayne runs in. She ducks so Mance stabs Steph, then takes the screwdriver to Warner's forehead. Shane Mercer runs in and carries Bayne up the ladder for a devastating moonsault power slam! Bayne just took the sickest bump of this entire match. Joey stops Blake from winning and nails a superplex! After a struggle, Mance gives Joey a DDT against a table. Blake powerbombs Mance through a door bridge. Joey wakes up and puts Blake through a ladder bridge with a package piledriver! Instead of climbing, Joey builds a door bridge on top of a ladder bridge. Blake throws a chair at Joey and builds another door bridge. Blake gets his fingers on the belts, Joey slams him through the door bridge! Matt Cardona arrives to throw a ladder at Joey and sends him crashing through the double stack bridge. Cardona officially inserts himself into the match and makes the climb. Luckily, 1 Called Manders runs in to stop Cardona from winning. Mance climbs, but now Effy is here to stop him. Cole Radrick's music plays, but JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD shows up instead! JBL takes down Effy with Clotheslines From Hell! What the HELL am I watching? Mance is allowed the easy victory at 31:59. Well, I can't say I saw that finish coming. This was a mishmash of stunt bumps and bells and whistles. It certainly wasn't boring, not sure I can say it was "good.” Let's call it *** and call it a night.Winner and Undisputed GCW World Champion: Mance Warner
Final Thoughts: Pretty bizarre show filled with some entertaining spotfests, random deathmatches, and a super silly sports entertainment main event. Can't believe I'm watching an indie promotion with Zack Ryder, Jinder Mahal, and JBL getting big angles and matches. Considering that Homecoming is supposed to be one of GCW's biggest shows of the year, I'd call this a mild disappointment. Still, I'm definitely going to remember this one, and that counts for something.
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