I promise that at some point I will write some blog posts on topics other than Wrestling, but this month I’ve been spending a lot of my free writing time working on my NaNoWriMo project. I’ve already written over 8500 words!!
And we are here once again; however, we are at a new location! See ya Sun Studios, hello The Horny Toad. Yeah, I know. I have a lovely little seat in the corner, where I can see everyone enter and don’t have to interact with a lot of people, even though I was super excited to meet a new bookish friend in real life! She’s dating one of the wrestlers, so we got to talk about some fantasy books before the craziness started! I brought my sweatshirt and my blanket as we are outside and it’s going to get cold once the sun goes down. Fun times on a Saturday night in mid-November!
Before I arrived at the show, I got some writing done on my NaNoWriMo project which I’m loving, and I have my go-to Starbucks drink to get me through the next few hours. However, my seat has allowed me to see and meet some of the people that work with the show that I haven’t had the privilege of meeting before (besides my new bookish friend!). Good thing Greg is running around, because his ego would be inflated by all the amazing things people keep telling me about him.
5:27 and I’m already cold enough to put my sweatshirt on. The show isn’t supposed to end until around 9:00, so this isn’t boding well for me. *sigh*
5:40 VIP match is getting ready to start. Dante King and something Steele? It’s also still Halloween as the 3rd guy accompany them to the ring is wearing a devil mask and has a cane. Just in case you wanted to know Dante is ticklish - somehow the crowd knows this! The opponent is the Sin City Scumbag and someone else. Not really sure names. But I LOVE their theme song! “Hero” guy has a cape on! Hero team is my favorite for this match. The first team out is arguing with the ref, but it looks like we can finally get started.
The Hero is just a little guy which makes it easy for his opponent to spin him around. Bad guys keep tagging each other in and out. Eww.. blonde bad guy us spit at blonde good guy. That’s not sanitary. Hero is getting his butt kicked at the moment. Got slammed into the ground but was able to pop out with a 2 count. Now all four are in the ring, now it's two on one - that’s not legal! Back and forth 2 counts. Finally a tag is made and the other two are finally back in the ring. This is the original two. Huge slam, I really thought that was it, but it was another 2 count. Guess what - I can do a handstand too!
Winners are Dante King and the Steel guy. Now the “Diabolic” manger - Devil man - is now addressing the crowd. Oh my. Dante King is unshackled. Dramatic much? And off they go.
5:57 - 2nd VIP match. Introduced first is a pair of brothers. They are going to be the red shirts. This is another tag team match. After they pose for a while in the ring. Their opponents come out. The Regulators! I love these guys! Thug and EJ Sparks. I’m looking for the rompers. Come on EJ! Thug is wearing a nice pastel shirt and short set. Sorry, everyone. Spoiler alert - Thug and EJ are going to win. Red guy strikes first, but it doesn’t take long for EJ to come back.
Temperature check - 66 degrees and chilly. Remember this is Arizona 66 degrees.
I will give red shirts credit for their strength. They are able to throw EJ around like it’s nothing. Red team makes lots of tags, but EJ isn’t able to get to the corner to tag in Thug. Red guy has EJ in some type of submission hold, but it doesn’t lead to anything. Ref is now out of the ring allowing Thug to jump in, ref is back in and Thug is yelling at ref.
Finally Thug is in and taking out his frustrations. He quickly throws one red shirt out of the ring and attempts to pin the other but only gets a 2 count. And back and forth we go. Finally Thug gets the pin! Just wanted to point out that I called it. And trust me, Greg doesn’t share the results of matches with me!
6:11 and we will take a little break before the main show begins to let general admission folks in.
Now that the show is getting ready to officially start, there is a great crowd, and I even got a couple pages read in my book. I have decided that my spot, which I thought would be perfect, is really not that great. It seems to be a meeting place for a group of true IZW fans.
6:34 - Ring announcer is in the ring and ready to go! Let’s start, I’m freezing! I loved the tribute to the Veterans and the playing of the National Anthem.
To the ring comes Derek, the commissioner, carrying a belt. (Thankfully it is no longer in my house sitting on my couch!) He is presenting a brand new belt - The “Fighting Championship.” Whoever holds it holds power, but it isn’t explained what power. Derek calls out anyone from the back who wants it. Naturally someone comes out - Mr. Classic. He is quickly joined by blue bandana guy. He’s the good guy since everyone booed the first guy. He’s got some rhythm in him too.
Smack talking ensues, but it’s a party, mask guy comes running out to join the ring., and here comes #4 - Green Speedo guy. Don’t worry, here comes #5 - black shorts guy. And it looks like we have a #6 - one of my faves - GINO! LaLaLaLa!
Six man match - call for the bell. Bell Rings… nope, it doesn’t ring, then it rings, sorta, but the wrestlers need to be introduced
#1- Mr. Classic
#2 - Mike G
#3 - Mask Guy
#4 - Green Speedo
#5 - Black Shorts guy
#6 - GINO!!!
Fighting chaos mode engaged, bell rings and the match is on. I love matches where everyone plays in the sandbox together
Poor Gino… Mr. Classic wins. Ring clears quickly as the commissioner gets in and hands Mr. Classic his new belt. Crowd boos.. Always fun to have a bad guy with a belt. Commissioner tells him that the belt will be defended at every IZW show. He can pick the opponent, and the commissioner gets to make the match. For the next show, Mr. Classic calls out Mike G. The best was EJ’s mom when Mr. Classic was engaging with the crowd. She’s spicy, and I loved it.
7:01 next matched - Big Money. I missed the intro of his opponent because my teenagers apparently wanted dinner, so I had to Uber Eats them some food because I’m the bomb-dot-com Mom!
Match is underway. Big Money vs Black Tank Top guy. They are running around the outside of the ring. Big Money smacking Tank Top Guy around. Back in the ring once again. Big Money definitely seems to have the upper hand in the match. I took a second to check Instagram… nothing new there. Back to the match. Have to say that there haven’t been a lot of pin fall attempts in this one. Just a lot of slapping, kicking, shouldering, but we finally get a winner in Big Money!!! That was a nice 10 minute match.
And now we are on to match #3. After some crowd insulting, the ring announcer says we are going to have a triple threat match for the women’s title. Pins count anywhere. First to come out is the current champion, Bryn. Next out is Gin (ring announcer’s wife!) 3rd challenger is Gypsy. I’m not sure who these other two women are, so I’m 100% confident that Bryn is going to retain her belt. I do remember seeing Gin wrestle in Coolidge.
Granted I’m liking the trio. After some typical girl smack talk, Bryn delivers the first hit. Gypsy is laying on the cold concrete ground while Bryn and Gin fight it out. Now everyone is out in the crowd. Can’t see anything as they are fighting by the entrance. Pins count anywhere. I’d probably give up if I was getting pinned. It’s cold out here and the ground has to be miserable.
Looks like they are making their way back to the ring. Not sure where Bryn is, but no one seems to realize that I’m right here as people literally want to stand less than a foot in front of me. Personal Space folks! Ok, Bryn came back with a jump off the top rope on Gypsy who in turn flipped Bryn and slammed her into the ground. Now the crowd is chanting for the Ref, Scott. He must be a fan favorite. And, they are back out on the opposite side of the ring.
Temperature check - 61 degrees. I have yet to use my blanket. I’m trying to hold out as long as possible.
Bryn uses her belt to hit gypsy and gets the pin. Just wanted to say I told you so.
Her 3 boy toys come and join her in the ring to celebrate, and they are all backstage just as quickly.
7:30 and it is intermission. 15 minute break! 7:50 2 minute warning. This is a long 15 minute intermission. I am beginning to get hungry. 7:52 - 1 minute warning. Ring announcer is now in the ring.
7:53 ref joins the ring. I love this ring announcer. “You guys are ugly.” LOL. He has an affinity for California. Next match. Maestro being accompanied by Pete the Heat. And the opponent is black and blue guy. I feel like I should know his name by now, but alas, I don’t.
Seems like this is just going to be a basic wrestling match. If you remember, I’m not a huge fan of wrestling, so I don’t know how much I’ll have to say about this match. Still wrestling…and now they are not. Winner is Maestro.
Pete the Heat yelling at Dallas King to get out of the ring, that was apparently the guy that I should have known his name. Maestro just won and yet Pete is saying he himself is the best wrestler in Arizona. If he’s good at anything it is insulting the crowd. Calling out wrestlers from the back to take him on. Out comes a Viking? Ramrod is Sir Viking’s name. My money is on Viking, just saying.
Apparently his name is Ram Rock, but I like Ramrod, so I’m sticking with that.
8:10 and this match should be starting but we still have Pete showboating, but we are finally underway.
Temperature check - 59 degrees, I have added my heavy coat, but still resisting the blanket.
Pete likes to escape the ring to get away from Ramrod. Maestro is able to distract Viking man so Pete is able to get a kick in. Pete climbs back into the ring while Viking man slowly makes his way back. Pete goes to do a move off the top rope, but Viking guy grabs him and throws him off. And the winner is miraculously Pete the Heat.
8:20 - Greg is introduced. He didn’t tell me he was going to be going out. What a jerk. Thanking the crowd for coming out, he then explains that Navajo Warrior is not here tonight because he is competing in the Strongman competition in Florida. He has finished day one in 9th place meaning Nav qualifies for day 2! YAY Nav!
Greg also shares that the ring announcer, Chris, broke his wrist and had to have surgery and there are some fundraisers to help with medical costs. Great announcements Greg!
8:23 introducing the next match. Jacob Austin Young… I met his bookish girlfriend, Kylie before the show! Kylie and I are new Instagram besties!! 🙂 I feel like I’ve mentioned this several times now. Apparently, I find this very important!
He is up against Graves. You know him. The one who always yells “war.” Bell rings, and we are underway again. Graves and J-A-Y shake hands and hug the ref. How cute. But now they are wrestling like friends. Nothing too over the top or dramatic.
I’m not the only one feeling that way since the crowd is chanting “This is wrestling.” Graves slams J-A-Y in the ropes again and again. It seems like a great match, but I know that the next one is the last one, and it’s a steel cage match. I’m ready for that one. My hands are getting numb from the cold, so…
If you like wrestling, I can see why you would like this match. It may have started slow, but it has definitely led to some high engagement from the crowd and great stamina from Graves and Jacob Austin Young. And at 8:45, we have a winner - Graves!
Thirty minutes later and we have the steel cage put together, and I think we are ready for the main event. During the hiatus, I was able to order and eat my dinner of French fries. Healthy, I know! But, I’m back in my seat with my blanket and a full little belly.
It has been 45 minutes since the last match ended. Ring announcer is now getting to announce the main event. Cage match is starting! YAY!!!
First to be announced is Final Destination. These are the three boys that came out to celebrate with Bryn when she won her match earlier tonight. But my favorites are about to come out!! The Regulators!!!! Shade, EJ and Thug… no rompers. (Sad face!) Another sad face is that I’m not going to see anything from my seat.
Bell rings at 9:36 and it becomes an immediate free for all! Half of them are already out of the cage, leaving Shade to work his magic as he takes on two of Final Destination. EJ Sparks sets himself up to do a surprise attack off the top rope.
This match is already worth the 45 minute wait! Thug finally gets back into the ring. Crowd seems to be split between the two groups making for an even more energized atmosphere. However, the cage doesn’t seem to be super strong, but it is strong enough!
They try to flip Thug off the top rope, he counters and instead is able to stand and jump off it and then does a little spinny thing. Not sure if that was intended but it looked cool. Everyone is trying to double team the others. Lots of flipping and flopping. Final Destination seems to have the upper hand at the moment, and it seems like Thug is trapped outside. So naturally, the only way back in is up.
Thug starts to climb up the outside of the cage. OMG!!!!!! Thug did a flip off the top of the cage!!! That’s right, fans. “Holy S$@&*!!!”
Now they are chanting “This is awesome!” Yes, my friends. This IS awesome. I’m not a wrestling fan, but I know entertainment and these six guys are AMAZING!!!!!! They are so talented and athletic. I want these guys to wrestle EVERY SHOW!!
And the winners are Final Destination. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Did you not see Thug’s freaking flip off the top of the cage? I call shenanigans.
Kudos to Greg and IZW on such an amazing show tonight. Everyone is able to walk away, so thankfully no one got hurt in that 20+ minute match. Greg had asked for no blood, and no one bled.
Did I mention that Thug FLIPPED OFF THE CAGE!?!? I did? Ok, well I wanted to tell you again.
Show is over at 9:50. Final Temperature check is 55 degrees.
I’ll be back with the next IZW Commentary in February. Next show is Feb. 25, back here at the Horny Toad. Buy your tickets now!! Until then friends.
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