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| July 22, 2006
NWA Anarchy’s summer spectacular produced a War Games destined to go down as a hardcore classic. Hostile Environment was the show of the year in Georgia for 2006 and the most compelling event the company has produced since its inception. The annual War Games match is always a highlight on the wrestling calendar in Cornelia, but this year’s edition was one for the ages. It’s a rare thing indeed, to see a pro wrestling match with violence of this magnitude and a storyline that justified every blood-drenched, stomach-churning moment of it. With a crowd in the neighborhood of 225, Hostile Environment wasn’t a complete sellout, but it was close enough to produce an insane level of heat, the likes of which I rarely experienced 20 years ago, much less in 2006. It’s been over 5 years, back to the days when Wildside was a WCW development territory and A. J. Styles and Suicidal Tendencies were on top, since wrestling in Cornelia has consistently drawn crowds at this level. Bill Behrens opened the show by honoring retiring cameraman Joe Roland. The crowd gave Roland a standing ovation. The crowd popped like mad for the appearance of Team Anarchy. They made a rowdy color guard for the serviceman carrying the America flag into the ring for the anthem. Anarchy owner Jerry Palmer said, “It’s all we can do to wait.” Palmer said this War Games was serious bidness. (1) Hayden Young defeated Jason Blackman in 6:45 Young was the Anarchy TV champion when he pulled the rug out from under his title reign by moving to California in May. At the time, Young was one of the hottest babyfaces in the company. He appears to be picking up right where he left off. Blackman attacked at the opening bell. The crowd immediately chanted for Young, who responded with a springboard forearm smash and a springboard Thesz press. Blackman brought Young’s aerial exploits to abrupt halt by cutting off his modified Silver King dive. Blackman went to work on Young’s back. The crowd busted out dueling chants: the guys for Blackman and the girls and kids for Young. Blackman spoiled Young’s comebacks with power moves. Blackman managed to crotch himself on the top rope, and Young hit a springboard huracanrana. Moments later, Young hit a Flying Squirrel splash to score the pinfall. Spectacular finish. This crowd is on fire. Postmatch, Jeremy V nailed Young with a wheelbarrow suplex. The former NWA Anarchy tag team champions hit their finisher to leave Young laying. The ref brigade came out to help Young, but he was able to leave under his own power. (2) Seth Delay & Patrick Bently beat Alabama Attitude (Adam Roberts & T. C. Carnage) in a Country Whipping Match (11:37) This was do or die for Delay and Bentley. With the way this feud with booked, if they didn’t get revenge here, even the ultra-loyal Anarchy fans were likely to lose faith in them. Attitude attacked Guys before they could enter the ring, and got bigtime heat on Bently right off the bat. Delay lost it when Robert spit on him. Attitude capitalized with a double team. Bently rallied with a satellite headscissors into an armdrag that was Lucha heaven. Attitude cut off Bently’s comebacks until the Alabamians got their signals crossed and collided. Delay nailed them with a double top rope lariat. The hot tag. Delay clotheslined Carnage over the top and skinned the cat. Delay tagged Bently, which seemed like questionable strategy. Guys hit their wheelbarrow/ribcracker combo on Roberts and Carnage saved. Bently hit this cool flip forward cradle on Carnage, but Roberts posted Bently’s shoulder. The Alabamians went for the Attitude Adjustment. Bently escaped. Carnage got crotched on the top and Bentley pinned Roberts with a reverse roll up. It was time for the Alabamians to take their licks, but Carnage clocked ref Speedy Nelson and it was Bently that was tasting leather. Bently hulked up. Delay pulled Carnage out. Bently picked up the strap and Roberts ran away. Security blocked Carnage’s exit. Carnage chose to expose his back and take it like a man, five blasts with the strap, each one branding Carnage with another ugly red welt. Number four literally exploded on impact. Carnage’s back was destroyed. The way he hung in there has the makings of a possible babyface turn. (3) Sal Rinauro beat Onyx (with Jeff G. Bailey) in 10 seconds flat Leading up to the show, Onyx had destroyed everyone in his path with a full nelson, including two submission wins over Rinauro. Bailey got Rinauro’s attention Onyx to pull Rinauro into the ring with the Masterlock already cinched in. Rinauro countered with a victory roll from a standing position to score the flash pin. The crowd loved it. Onyx put Rinauro out with the full nelson in the postmatch. Bailey slapped Sal’s face. Kory Chavis made an unadvertised appearance at ringside. Chavis told Onyx he had lost his share of matches at the NWA Arena but not a one of them in under 20 seconds. “You ain’t broke a sweat, homeboy,” said Chavis. That lead to… (4) Kory Chavis beat Onyx (with Bailey) in 13:26 The show had been hell-on-wheels up until this point. They changed it up and worked a more deliberate style. Onyx ordered Chavis to hit the ropes. Garden variety shoulder blocks didn’t make a dent in the Genetic Specimen, but Chavis popped the crowd with a flying version that put Onyx on the deck. The crowd popped for it, aChavis popped the crowd with flying version that did the trick. Onyx took a TO for a consult with Bailey. Chavis stomped Bailey’s fingers. Chavis used a monkey flip to outmaneuver Onyx on the test of strength. Chavis applied a hammerlock. Onyx backed Chavis into the corner and elbowed him in the mush on the break. Onyx attacked with a mix of high impact moves and nefarious heel tactics. Onyx hit a rude Angry Man Slam for a near fall. Onyx dumped Chavis so Bailey could do his dirty work. The crowd broke into staccato clapping, as Onyx went to a ground attack. At 11:30, Chavis hit the Spinesplitta. Both men down for a seven count. They traded. Onyx tried to apply the full nelson while sitting on the turnbuckle, but Chavis blocked it. Onyx got the full nelson squarely in the middle of the ring. Chavis kicked off the ropes and landed on top of Onyx, pinning his shoulders to the mat. Onyx refused to relinquish the hold. Chavis was lapsing into unconsciousness. Rinauro hit the ring with a steel chair to make the save. The crowd chanted “Bailey sucks” and then in moment Rinauro will cherish forever, they chanted “Saved by the Sal.” Rinauro raised Chavis hand for one last pop heading into the break. Intermission. (5) Brandon Phoenix defeated Adrian Hawkins to retain the NWA Anarchy Television Title in 11:32 This wasn’t as heated as the rest of the show. Fans were settling in and saving up for the fireworks that lie ahead. Phoenix’s entrance video had a close up of the title belt with the inscription “ACW Television Title” clearly visible. Oops. Following Young’s hasty exit from the promotion, Hawkins got the TV belt with a fluke win in a Mega Rumble match, but he immediately lost it to the masked Phoenix at the next taping (Phoenix had been barred from the building). Hawkins had been making a pest of himself ever since. Phoenix pie-faced Hawkins. Hawkins bowed up and stormed back. Phoenix got pissed. Hawkins rained down the 10 punches, but Phoenix used the tights to drive Hawkins’ face into the turnbuckles. Phoenix got near falls with a head-and-arm Tazzplex and an atomic facebuster. Phoenix uttered the words “Phoenix has risen.” and fans booed the hell out of him. Hawkins sparked a comeback with a spinning headscissors. Phoenix cut him off with a donkey kick to the nutsack. Phoenix hit a fireman’s carry drop for a near fall. Hawkins countered it the second time around and hit a bulldog off the top, but P was in the ropes. P then caught Hawkins with a wicked hotshot for the 1-2-3. (6) Jeff Lewis (with Jeff G. Bailey) defeated Chad Parham via DQ at 15:28 Parham retained the NWA Anarchy Heavyweight Title.</B> Parham was sporting a buzz cut. Lewis was wearing Dallas Cowboys tribute gear. His entrance has achieved a new heights of putrid arrogance. Lewis had screwed people right and left on his way to the title match. Special referee Todd Sexton made it clear in the prematch instructions that he wasn’t taking crap from anybody. Parham bitch slapped the #### out of Lewis. Parham owned Lewis on the mat. He took Lewis down with a side headlock, got his back, and scored a pair of quick two counts. Parham hit a charging lariat and they both tumbled over the top. They traded blows on the outside. Lewis deposited Parham on the ringsteps. Ouch. Back inside the ring, Lewis tried to hook hands with Bailey for a pin attempt, but Sexton caught them in the act. Parham tried to slingshot in from the apron and Lewis pasted him with a stiff forearm. Lewis dove from apron and Parham sent him into the rail. Lewis teased a german suplex off the apron that would have been instant death. Parham hit an Arabian press to the outside. Back inside, Parham foiled the Final Curtain and tried for the Texas Cloverleaf, but he never got it locked in. Lewis planted Parham with a spinning uranage for a near fall. Unexpected power from Lewis and Parham really went up for it. Parham hit a back suplex off the middle rope that left both men’s shoulders on the mat. They each rolled a shoulder for a whimsical near fall that the crowd appreciated. Parham climbed to the top. Lewis nipped up and ran up the ropes for an overhead suplex. Bailey distracted Sexton. Lewis went for a belt shot but Parham blocked it. Parham used the belt on Lewis. Sexton saw it and reluctantly called for the bell. Parham was really hot at Sexton after the match. It was the most animated facial expressions I’ve ever seen out of the usually stoic Parham. This is going to get interesting. Footage from the Q & A held earlier in the day played on the Wrestlevision while they set up the cage. The footage depicted the members of Team Anarchy cutting an unending stream of promos to build up the War Games. (7) Team Anarchy (Ace Rockwell & Slim J & Shadow Jackson & Nemesis) beat Devil’s Rejects (Tank & Iceberg & Azrael & Slim J with Dan Wilson & Dominous) in the War Games (23:12) This match ruled. It rocked. It tore the m##### f###### house down. They bled buckets. The level of violence was sick. The injury toll included at least two concussions (Azrael and J) and a serious back injury (Iceberg). The crazy part was that it all made sense because the fans totally bought into what was at stake. Rejects had run roughshod over the Anarchy guys, inflicting massive injuries and threatening to destroy the company. Emotions hadn’t run this high since the War Games of 2003 (Team Wildside defeated Team Elite. Rick Michaels got five minutes with Bailey). From this point on, this show was as close to perfection as pro wrestling gets. Television announcer Greg Hunter reviewed the stipulations: If Rejects won, Palmer would turn the keys to Anarchy over to the devil incarnate, Dan Wilson. If Team Anarchy prevailed, Palmer would get five minutes with Wilson. Rejects had won the coin flip by virtue of Tank defeating Nemesis last week, so Rejects would have the man advantage after 5 minutes. Azrael came out (meat cleaver in one hand, sword in the other) with Wilson to start for Rejects. Awesome heat. Rejects had their faces painted for the occasion. The crowd exploded when Rockwell appeared with Palmer. They were basically on their feet at a fever pitch for the remainder of the evening. Azrael slammed the door in Rockwell’s face and hit the Fall from Grace. Rockwell fired back with the crowd chanting his name. Rockwell ran Azrael’s head into the cage. Azrael was busted open. Rockwell grated Azrael’s forehead on the cage. Tempers entered for Rejects and nailed Rockwell with a powerslam. Azrael and Tempers rocket-launched Rockwell into the cage. Rockwell was bleeding. J entered with a leap off the top of the cage into a reverse DDT. The building came unglued. J and Rockwell took over and bloodied up Tempers. Tank came out with a bat filled with tacks. Rejects tossed Rockwell into the cage crucifix-style. Tank gave J KENTA’s Go 2 Sleep. And did he ever. I think that’s where J sustained the concussion. Azrael used the cleaver on J, who bled from a nasty gash on the cheek. Tank jabbed Rockwell with a taped stick. Rockwell went after Tank with the tack bat. Tank had about 15 tacks sticking out of his arm and a crown of tacks stuck in the top of his head. This was some twisted ####. Nemesis also used the bat and he was swinging for the fences. I don’t know what the bat was made out of, but thank God it wasn’t wood. Iceberg entered and powerbombed J into the cage. At this point, the blood was flowing out of Tempers head like a river, a total crimson mask. Jackson was the last to enter and he was carrying a noose. It was time for THE MATCH BEYOND. Jackson ran wild. He hit a powerslam on Iceberg that brought the house down. Team Anarchy got the advantage. Nemesis gave Azrael a sick noose bump. Concussion city. Rejects turned the tide. Iceberg hit the Thigh Drop of Doom on J. Tank forked some people up. Everyone was bleeding. A table was set up. UAS put Tank through the table with a double Russian legsweep off the top rope. Incredible pop. J and Rockwell brought Iceberg off the top with an amazing double superplex. Fans chanted “this is awesome.” J rode Azrael camel-clutch style while grinding a weapon into his mouth (teasing the same finish as the War Games ’04). Azrael refused to submit. Tempers had his trusty hammer. Rockwell hit the Aces High on Tempers for another gigantic pop. Rockwell stuck the claw of the hammer into Tempers mouth and yanked away until Tempers tapped. Unbelievable. (8) Dan Wilson versus Jerry Palmer never got started Palmer had Wilson cornered. But Dominous entered the cage to save him. Soon, Dominous was joined in the cage by the other Rejects. All the babyface wrestlers ran out to ringside, but Rejects held the door shut and gave Palmer a beating. A wild scene ensued, as wrestlers kept trying to scale the cage, and Rejects kept sending them to their downfall. Wilson handed Iceberg the Implement of Destruction, his beloved veggie peeler. He stabbed Palmer in the head. The blood flowed. Fans pelted the ring with garbage. Lots of garbage. Cans, cups, bottles, anything that wasn’t nailed down. Iceberg gave Palmer a Ground Zero splash off the middle rope. With Palmer lying in a pool of his own blood, Wilson made a one foot cover. Sexton issued the order to call for an ambulance. The members of Team Anarchy looked grief stricken. A full team of paramedics arrived on the scene. They examined Palmer’s back and put him in a cervical collar before loading him up on the stretcher. Some fans at ringside were sobbing. A hushed crowd looked on as Palmer was stretchered out of the building and into the waiting ambulance. Nemesis started going off when he saw Palmer being put in the ambulance. In a scene from pro wrestling in the 70s, fans were waiting at Habersham Medical Center when Palmer arrived in the ambulance. More tears were shed. I understand that footage of Palmer’s arrival at the hospital will air on Anarchy television. NOTES: Mike Paige, who made several trips to Cornelia as the manager of the Overboyz won a tournament to earn a spot in the World Series of Poker, which is being held in Las Vegas this week…Al Getz was in the house. Getz was the original booker for NWA Anarchy and a former manager/television commentator/commissioner with NWA Wildside…The DVD of “Hostile Environment ‘06” will be available at www.nwa-wildside.com in 2-3 weeks. I don’t usually plug merchandise, but if you want to add some classic southern indie wrestling to your collection, this is one to get…At the Q & A, Jackson mentioned that as a kid, he attended the first War Games at the Omni in 1987...NWA Anarchy television is now available on the internet at http://colepromedia.com/nwaanarchy.html. |
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