GCW at Wrestlecade Weekend 2023: Cardona vs. Speedball, Blake Christian vs. Billie Starkz

Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/11/25/gcw-at-wrestlecade-weekend-2023-cardona-vs-speedball-blake-christian-vs-billie-starkz/

GCW at Wrestlecade Weekend 2023

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 

Friday, November 24, 2023

Benton Convention Center

Commentary: Dave Prazak and Veda Scott

Ten-Man Tag Team Match: Manders, Alec Price, Charlie Tiger, Cole Radrick, and Shane Mercer vs. Bobby Flaco, Facade, Fuego Del Sol, Hunter Drake, and Sam Stackhouse

Sam Stackhouse and Shane Mercer kicked off the match for their respective teams. Mercer backed Stackhouse into the corner and delivered a running uppercut, followed by an attempted vertical suplex. However, Stackhouse freed himself and countered with a Black Hole Slam. Radrick and Price then sent Stackhouse to the floor. Fuego jumped into the ring and quickly found himself double-teamed by Radrick and Price. Drake entered the ring, delivering a kick and forearm strike to both Radrick and Price, followed by a running shooting star press. Charlie Tiger broke up the ensuing pin attempt.

Flaco and Tiger squared off, with Tiger spearing Flaco and sending him to the floor. Facade and Manders exchanged strikes, and Mercer, trapped in the corner, powered his way out, taking Facade off the top rope with a Moonsault and Battery. Fuego made the save for his partner. Mercer attempted to military press Fuego into the crowd, but Fuego reversed it with a poisonrana. Stackhouse returned to the ring, becoming the focal point for everyone to run into as he unleashed some offense. Stackhouse executed a ‘dive’ to the floor, I don’t know which was sloppier — Sam or the attempted dive.

Fuego ran wild on everyone with high-flying offense, Facade executed a step-up dive to the floor, and Drake landed a 450 on Mercer, but it only resulted in a two-count. Price and Radrick then took control, displaying their tag team cohesiveness. The collective effort to take out Sam Stackhouse ensued, with Mercer getting Stackhouse on his shoulders and hitting him with a Death Valley Driver for the victory. Mercer is a beast. This was a fun match, I’m a big fan of Radrick and Price as a tag team; I hope in the new year they get a run as tag champs. 

Manders, Alec Price, Charlie Tiger, Cole Radrick, and Shane Mercer Defeated Bobby Flaco, Facade, Fuego Del Sol, Hunter Drake, and Sam Stackhouse

Singles Match: Maki Itoh vs. Kylie Alexa

Alexa slapped Maki in the face. Maki attempted to take Alexa off her feet with a series of running shoulder tackles to no avail. However, Maki eventually tripped Alexa and struck her with Kokeshi. In response, Alexa delivered a running boot and began choking Maki on the ropes.

Undeterred, Maki fired up and landed ten punches in the corner, followed by a facewash that resulted in a two-count. Maki then transitioned Alexa to the ring apron and dropped her with a DDT on the ring frame. Climbing to the top rope, Maki concluded the match by hitting Alexa with a diving DDT for the victory.

Maki Itoh Defeated Kylie Alexa

Singles Match: Matt Cardona with Steph De Lander vs. Mike Bailey 

Cardona threw water in Mittens’ face, drawing heat from the crowd. Mittens had Juggalo face paint on. Cardona teased locking up but quickly bailed to the floor, engaging with the audience. He grabbed the mic from Emil Jay and declared himself not a “pussy.” Cardona gained the advantage in the lock-up, failing to make a clean break as he kneed Bailey in the gut. However, Bailey swiftly responded with speedball quicks, followed by a slap to Cardona’s face.

Cardona retreated to the apron, where he ate a big boot. Speedball attempted a dive, but SDL pulled Cardona out of harm’s way. Cardona, once again seizing the mic from Emil Jay, argued that it’s unfair for Bailey not to wear shoes. He proposed an arm wrestling match, stating that if Bailey won, Cardona would wrestle barefoot. As they locked up on the mat, Bailey was on the verge of victory when SDL entered the ring, hitting Bailey in the feet with a steel chair.

Cardona proceeded to work over Bailey’s feet with various moves, even resorting to biting, but it only resulted in a two-count. Bailey retaliated with a missile dropkick, a kick to Cardona’s gut, and an axe kick across his back. Cardona dodged a moonsault but found himself trapped in the ankle lock, managing to reach the ropes. Stomping on Bailey’s feet, Cardona hit a boot scrape, yet Speedball kicked out. SDL tossed a chair into the ring, leading to Bailey performing the Eddie Guerrero spot. Cardona attempted the same, but Bailey countered with a chair-assisted moonsault double knee.

Although Bailey had the match seemingly won, SDL pulled the ref out of the ring. Cardona capitalized with a low blow and attempted a neckbreaker, but Bailey escaped, hitting both of them with a moonsault on the floor. Cardona removed his boot, Bailey stomped on his feet, and they traded pinfall attempts. Bailey executed another moonsault double knee into a superkick. Cardona backed up in the corner, receiving the Tornado kick into the Ultimate Weapon. SDL intervened, moving Cardona out of harm’s way. Cardona then rolled Bailey up, using the ropes as leverage to secure the victory.

Matt Cardona Defeated Mike Bailey 

Non-Title Match: JCW World Champion Jordan Oliver vs. Masha Slamovich 

The two initiated the match with a mat-based offense, and neither gained an advantage. Oliver took Masha off her feet with a shoulder tackle followed by a lariat. Attempting another move, Oliver was met with a drop-toe hold from Masha. Strung up on the ropes, Oliver faced a lariat. Going to the floor, Masha pursued with a tope, followed by a series of head kicks. She isolated him inside the ring with a submission hold to inflict further damage on his shoulder.

Oliver leveraged himself into a pin, causing Masha to break the hold. In the corner, Masha hit him with overhand chops, but Oliver fired up, connecting with a flurry of boots. He tossed her to the floor and took her out with a big crossbody. Oliver toured ringside, smashing Masha into barricades, but it only garnered a one-count. Waiting for Masha to pull herself back up, Oliver took too long, and Masha responded with kicks and a missile dropkick, sending Oliver flying into the corner.

Masha created separation, connecting with a combination running knee spin-kick, resulting in a two-count. Oliver ducked a clothesline, zeroing in on Masha’s knee with a dropkick and a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Masha fought out of a Figure Four attempt, but Oliver kicked her repeatedly in the already damaged knee. They traded kicks, and Masha was sent staggering into the corner, caught with the Kleopatra followed by the Cloutcutter. Despite this, Masha got her shoulder up at 2 1/2.

Oliver locked in Figure Four in the center of the ring, and Masha reversed the hold, leading to a rope break. They traded fists in the center, and in a fish-out-of-water moment, Masha got Oliver up, slamming him in the corner with an Air Raid Crash followed by a shining Wizard. However, Oliver still kicked out. Kicking at Masha’s knee, Oliver dumped her with a German Suplex. Masha caught a running boot attempt and nailed Oliver with a buzzsaw kick for another two count.

Attempting a package piledriver, Oliver blocked it and tossed her with a backdrop, leveling her with a running boot in the corner. Setting her up on the top rope, they fought for position, but Oliver won it, connecting with a Blue Thunder Bomb followed by a boot to the head. He submitted her with the Figure Four Leg Lock.

JCW Champion Jordan Oliver Defeated Masha Slamovich

Singles Match: Mike Jackson vs. Santana Jackson

The Jacksons locked up, and Santana moonwalked out of it. Mike wasn’t impressed as Santana went for a Greco-Roman Knuckle Lock. Santana did his dance, then locked in a wrist lock, and Mike took him over with an arm drag. Santana moonwalked into a roll-up, catching Mike off guard. Santana followed up with a kick to the stomach, a slam on the mat, and an elbow drop.

Santana sent Mike to the floor with a superkick and attempted a dive, but Mike evaded it. Santana then tried a leaping lariat but connected with the post instead. It seemed like Santana was essentially working with himself in this match. He started walking the ropes, but Mike pulled him off and executed a DDT before attempting to walk the ropes himself.

Eventually, Santana managed to hit the moonwalk DDT and pinned Action Mike.

Santana Jackson Defeated Action Mike Jackson

Singles Match: Caleb Konley vs. Richard Holliday 

The two men exchanged blows in the opening moments of the match, and the fight spilled to the floor, where Konley found himself on the receiving end of a series of right hands. Holliday grabbed a chair, striking Konley in the midsection, and then propped it up in the corner. Holiday connected with a series of boots, attempting to send Konley into the chair. However, Konley ducked out of the way of a charging Holliday, who collided with the chair and was rolled up for a quick near fall.

Holliday went to the floor but was swiftly taken out by Konley, who flew over the top rope with a tope. Holliday recovered and set up a door in the corner. He tried to put Konley through the door, but Konley worked his way out of it and planted Holliday with a significant Blue Thunder Bomb. Despite this, Holliday kicked out, powerbombed Konley through the door, and secured the pin.

Richard Holliday Defeated Caleb Konley 

Six-Man Tag Team Match: George South and The Mortons (Kerry and Ricky) vs. Insane Clown BUSSY (Allie Katch, EFFY, Violent J)

Violent J rapped “Insane Clown BUSSY” to the ring, and Allie Katch was visibly pumped. Ricky Morton and EFFY traded some offense, with EFFY backing Morton up into the corner. Morton feigned EFFY poking him in the eye, leading to EFFY getting admonished by the ref. EFFY started talking trash to Kerry Morton, providing Ricky with the opening to gain an advantage over EFFY and tagged his son. EFFY fired up with a series of arm drags and then tagged in Allie.

BUSSY executed a flurry of tag team maneuvers on Kerry, culminating in a two-count for Katch. Allie attempted to tag in Violent J, but Kerry low-blowed her to no effect. He then poked her in the eyes and knocked EFFY off the apron. Kerry isolated Katch in the corner and continued to beat her down, while Ricky tagged in and continued the assault on Katch. South went to hold Katch’s arms, but she moved out of the way, allowing Ricky to accidentally punch South in the face. George South went to the back, and Kerry continued to beat down Katch in the ring.

The Mortons double-teamed Katch with running knee lifts followed by punches to her midsection. Katch finally made the tag to Violent J, who took Kerry and Ricky out with clotheslines followed by an X Factor on Kerry. George South returned with Juggalo facepaint, and the crowd went wild as he charged the ring to help beat up the Mortons with Violent J. Kerry sent George to the floor, and Kerry and Ricky attempted to hit J with a chair, but Violent moved out of the way and countered with an Atomic Drop/Elbow for the victory.

Insane Clown BUSSY Defeated The Mortons 

GCW World Championship Match: Blake Christian (Champion) vs. Billie Starkz

Billie Starkz is one of the few people who can say they fought Ronda Rousey twice in one week. Billie connected with a flurry of forearm strikes, stunning the champion. Blake took her off her feet with a head kick. Billie ducked another kick attempt and connected with a tope on the floor, sending Blake flying into the guardrail. Billie continued to beat the champ down outside the ring and rolled him back in for a close near fall. The crowd was firmly behind Billie Starkz as she continued to kick Blake’s head in.

Blake blocked the final kick and knocked Billie in the head with a back elbow. She went for an O’Connor roll, but Blake springboarded out of it and connected with a forearm followed by a rolling thunder. Blake started to go to work on Billie’s face and planted her with a deadlift suplex, ragdolling her in the process. Billie went to the apron for a reprieve, but Blake nailed her with a spear, sending her tumbling to the floor. Blake set a door up in front of Billie on the floor, but she was able to use it as a weapon. However, he quickly turned the door against her, sandwiching her between the door and the steel barricade with a tope—a brutal bump for Billie.

Billie fired up with a series of release German Suplexes. She hit a bridging suplex, but Blake was able to kick out at the last second. Blake connected with a head kick followed by an attempted top rope double stomp, but Billie moved out of the way, only to be caught with a 619 into a handspring cutter. Starkz was able to get her shoulder up at the last second as a stunned Blake Christian expressed his frustration.

Blake invited Billie to take a free shot, and Billie obliged as they traded forearm strikes in the center of the ring. Billie connected with a flurry of strikes, but Blake hit her with one headbutt that took her out. The two tried to shake off the last impact; Blake was able to get to his feet first and dragged Billie into position for the curb stomp. Billie was able to avoid it momentarily, only to be kicked in the head. Blake went for another handspring back elbow, but Starkz caught him in mid-air and planted him with a German Suplex.

They battled on the top rope, and Blake dragged her onto the apron. They traded more forearms and kicks, and Blake was able to muscle her up and planted her with a tombstone on the apron. Blake hit a springboard 450, but Starkz was able to kick out at the last second. Billie avoided the curb stomp and got a quick near fall followed by a superkick into a Gory Bomb. Billie climbed to the top rope and hit Blake with a Swanton, but Blake was able to get his shoulder up at the last second.

Blake hit Billie with a low blow, which didn’t faze her. Billie reciprocated and dropped Blake on his neck with a dead eye. Billie went to the top rope but was stopped with a slap to her face and dumped her with a suplex from the second rope, followed by the curb stomp for the victory.

Blake Christian Retained the GCW World Championship 

Post Match: Blake went to put Billie through another door, Nick Gage made the save and took Blake out with a DDT followed by a spear through the door in the corner. Blake avoided the choke breaker and slithered out of the ring. Gage called Blake a weakass champion and asked Wrestlecade where his fucking Gang’s at. Gage put over Billie Starkz and gave Billie Starkz the honor of sending it out like he always does. 

Hardcore Match: Joey Janela vs. Mance Warner 

This was a first-time match-up between these two staples of Game Changer Wrestling. The two stood face to face in the center of the ring before they started unloading on each other with a flurry of chops and forearm strikes. The match spilled to the floor where Mance Warner set up a table and threw a chair at Janela’s head in a Sabu-esque fashion. Janela retaliated by Sabu-ing Mance and was then sent into the barricade for his efforts. Mance unloaded on Janela’s back with a steel chair and hurled another one into the ring. Mance Warner is known for delivering some of the hardest chair shots in the business, and they are cringe-inducing in person, Barry Bonds-type time. 

Mance brought Joey back into the ring, only to get Sabu-ed, which caused Mance to be busted wide open. Joey hit Mance Warner with a lariat, causing Mance to bleed even more. Joey then grabbed another door from underneath the ring and set it up in the corner. Despite the punishment, Mance fought off Joey, hitting him with an eye poke followed by a spear through the door in the corner for a close near fall.

Mance brought another door into the ring and Sabu-ed Joey to give himself some time to recover and set up a door bridge. Mance set up Joey on the top, but Joey reversed it and hit Mance with a sunset bomb through the door for a near fall of his own. Joey went to the floor, brought a barricade into the ring, and set it up in the corner. Joey sent Mance crashing into the barricade twice, and attempted another one, but Mance back body dropped Joey onto it and then chokeslammed him for good measure. Joey managed to kick out at 2 as he tried to recover from the tough landings on the barricade.

Mance set up a bunch of chairs in the center of the ring and attempted to put Joey through them. However, Joey fired up and hit Mance with a Death Valley Driver through the chairs for a close near fall. Joey set up a table on the floor and placed Mance on top as he came off the top rope with a Swanton, but the table didn’t break. Joey went up to the apron and dropped an elbow on Mance Warner. The table still didn’t break, so he propped it up on the barricade and sent Mance flying into it. Joey brought Mance back into the ring and set up another door in the corner, but Mance reversed the whip and sent Joey crashing through the door. Despite the intense battle, Joey was still able to kick out at the last second.

Mance hit Joey over the head with a broken piece of the door and grabbed another table, bringing it into the ring. They set up the table in the center of the ring and fought on top of it. Janela was hit with a piledriver on the unbreakable table but still managed to get his shoulders up. Mance set up a door bridge in the corner and hit Joey with a couple of chops before climbing to the top rope behind Joey. However, Joey fought back and hit Mance with a leaping second rope Tombstone through the door for the victory.

Joey Janela Defeated Mance Warner