Pop Break Live: WrestlePro ‘Going Out with a Bang’ at the Rahway Rec Center in Rahway, NJ
Words by Rob Crowther IV & Photos by Matthew Widdis & Ken Ortiz
Pat Buck and Kevin Matthews’ labor of love, WrestlePro made its return to Rahway, NJ on Saturday November 16 for a night full of meet and greets, excitement, high-flying, and an abundance of emotion. The show billed as, “Going out with a Bang!” was a three plus hour love letter and goodbye to WrestlePro fixture and now ROH talent, Dan Maff.
The aforementioned WrestlePro founder himself (and now WWE Producer) Pat Buck was even in the house as his fingerprints were all over the show. As Maff would say at the end of the night, “Pat is a man of few words, but always speaks through his actions. I love you Pat.” Before we break out the tissues, here’s a look at some of last night’s card.
The show kicks off with ring announcer Dave Sturchio, welcoming WWE Hall of Famer and unquestionably one of the greatest (and most decorated) tag team wrestlers of all time, Road Warrior Animal to the ring. Animal welcomes the Rahway crowd and gives Wrestle{ro his seal of approval before quoting his partner’s infamous, “Ohhh, What a Rush!” line. Later in the night Animal would take in ring photos with fans and even let them wear his shoulder pads AND Hall of Fame Rings. Great job by one of the best to ever do it and check back with The Pop Break later this week for a brief interview with the legend himself.
Our opening contest sees Impact Wrestling’s Fallah Bahh take on LSG for the WrestlePro Silver Championship in a classic power versus speed matchup. I’ll say this. Fallah Bahh is an impressive human in not only size but agility. He reminds me a lot of War (Viking) Raider Hanson. I’m a fan. The ref almost had to get the spatula because LSG was nearly flattened a few times. Somehow LSG is able to pick up the win with a 450 splash out of the corner to retain the title. Post-match a show of respect is shown as Fallah Bahh raises the champ’s arm.
Next up The Collection — Nikos Rikos and The Graysons took on Job Security and CAQ in a very quick elimination match. This match was nearly all finishers and eliminations until two men were left standing. The remaining competitors, CAQ and Nikos traded blows until finally CAQ got the 1,2,3, after a powerful clothesline from behind.
Post match Wrecking Ball Legurksy came in and cleaned house. It would be a missed opportunity if I didn’t mention that…HE CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL!! Sorry….
Our first women’s match of the evening saw NWA Womens Champion Sienna take on Corinne Mink. Lots of back and forth in this one until Sienna injures her hand on a missed chop to the ring post. Mink wisely works the hand, but out of nowhere Sienna hits a discus clothesline for the quick victory!
It is now time for Tag Team action as the WrestlePro Tag Team Championships are on the line in a triple threat with Bear Country, Team Espana, and Champs Craig Steele & Danny Doring (of ECW fame). I have to say that I was VERY impressed with Bear Country as these guys wanted it. They had a great old school type gimmick and a strong power game. One member of the tag lifted both members of team Espana ( of course named Jos-A & Jos-B) into what I could best describe as a combo fallaway slam/ power slam. It was incredible. However Steele and Doring are able to retain after a top rope splash by Steele for the win.
Next up Buster Jackson took on Alex Reynolds in a very back and forth matchup. BJ hit a devastating canadian destroyer at one point, but ultimately Reynolds took the W after a Codebreaker/Recoil type manuever.
Impact star Michael Elgin made his way to the ring next to take on the hardcore Masada. We saw Masada just the night before in a very bloody match and he was bandaged up tonight. We even asked him how he was feeling pre-match and he said, “Fine” like it was just another day at the office. Regardless, this was a match of pure power as I didn’t even realize how big Masada is until he stood next to “Big Mike” I even thought the ring was going to break after a beautiful superplex. Both men held their own until Masada eventually brought out the skewers and tried to ram them into Elgin’s head. Now we had seen the Skewer spot just the night before, and let me tell you it is very cringeworthy. Luckily Elgin’s manager/lackey came to the ring to make the save but ended up becoming a human shish kabob. Elgin takes advantage with a buckle bomb into a set out power-bomb for the pinfall victory.
Before the next contest, ladders are brought out all around the ring much to the delight of the hundreds in attendance. The Competitors were: Iceberg, Bobby Wayward, VSK, Vargas (reminiscent of Umaga), Max Caster, CPA, and Gigolo Justin.
This match was a Seven Man on the Spot Title Shot opportunity to climb the ladder and obtain the Wrestlepro Medal that would guarantee you a title shot. (Think Money in the Bank) This match was an absolute show stealer and had more spots than 101 Dalmations.
Spots included a Man Tower of Doom Suplex out of the corner, an elbow of the top of the ladder, and a rock bottom onto a ladder.
The match was crazy, but one spot still has my jaw dropped. Iceberg (Deon Rusman) hits a flying spear across the ring onto his opponent that is halfway up the ladder. The spot was absolutely amazing and in my opinion should break the internet.
@Rusman907 @justinCorino @WrestlePro pic.twitter.com/8ugILxv3TU
— Al Scorcho (@AScorcho) November 17, 2019
It was unquestionably reminiscent of the Edge spear to a suspended Jeff Hardy many years ago. Needless to say Iceberg won the match and looked good doing it. Keep an eye on this guy.
After a brief intermission The Wrestlepro Gold Champion Matt MacIntosh took on Brian Pillman Jr. This match was all mind games, fakeouts and fun. Both men looked great in the ring and the champ had one heck of a missile dropkick off the top. Macintosh would ultimately win with a double arm pin.
Post-match Iceberg doesn’t hesitate in immediately challenging the champ for a title show when Wrestlepro returns to Rahway February 8th. Macintosh accepts. This should be a heck of a match. Hopefully Iceberg doesn’t give him the cold shoulder.
The action keeps coming fast and fierce as we are treated to a match featuring JT Dunn, Matt Cross (I’m still salty about his Tough Enough elimination), TJ Crawford and Anthony Bowens. This match was fast paced and fun. It also featured more cutters (the Indy Finisher) than a kitchenware store. The standout in this match however was Bowens who was quick and crisp. Bowen appropriately takes the W with a fireman’s carry into a reversal Angle Slam of sorts. This is another guy to keep an eye on.
Our sub main event features Impact’s Tenille Dashwood vs. “The Alien” Kristen Stadtlander. Stadtlander impressed me and even came out to Katy Perry’s “ET” which I loved. The match was essentially mirrored moves until Strandtlander frustrated Tenille with mindgames, cartwheels, phoning home and more. Tenille hit her signature spots with a tarantula, a “taste of Tenille” corner splash and more. After trading moves the whole match, Stadtlander gets the W with an S.O.S type maneuver! Love the win for the spacey superstar!
Before a main event a touching video tribute to the man of the hour, Dan Maff is played throughout the venue. Many of the WrestlePro Stars and crew talk about how Maff helped them in their career in personal lives. After a lot of laughs, smiles, and even some tears, it’s time for our main event.
Tonight Maff takes on his partner Shawn Donovan in a match full of emotion. Donovan cut a promo earlier in the week saying how he needs to beat Maff and become the guy. Donovan wastes no time in making the match a no DQ, no countout. Naturally the match was hard-hitting and hardcore. Trash Cans, Doors, and even a barbed wire chair came into play. Fans went bonkers for a table frogplash spot by Maff and a corner spear through a door by Donovan. Ultimately Donovan would get the win with a running knee and the proverbial torch from his partner.
Post-match the Locker Room empties out and the chants of “Thank you Maff” begin. An emotional Maff continues to give the proverbial rub to Donovan, as Donovan becomes overwhelmed with emotion. The tears are already flowing around the ring. Maff thanks everyone. He brings his family into the ring. He said when people told him he was “too fat” or “too old” he kept going to show his daughters to never give up. He talks about all the highs and lows in his life and all the people that got him to where he is. The Roster joins him in the ring for a toast and the beer starts flowing. The ring empties out and Maff asks to walk up the ramp so he can look back at the Rahway crowd and the ring one last time. He kisses the mat and takes his final bow to a standing ovation.
Thank you WrestlePro for another fantastic evening. And Thank you Danny Maff.
