All that having been said, I went somewhere in January that I'd never been before, that being Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The occasion? The final event of what was a trio of shows over the course of as many days for Premiere Wrestling Xperience, this one having been dubbed "Phenomenal Debut" by virtue of the fact that it would be PWX's first show of 2014 in Winston-Salem and the debut for the promotion of "The Phenomenal One" himself, AJ Styles, who would be facing off against Cedric Alexander, one of the best professional wrestlers on the independent scene today. Theirs was but one match on the card, though, as PWX clearly spared no expense in gathering talent from far & wide in order to put together an evening of action that included the likes of Kevin Steen, Davey Richards, Michael Elgin, "Hurricane" Shane Helms, and many more.
I set out on the morning of January 19, 2014, the same day the show was to be held. I wouldn't have been able to attend the event if not for the fact hat I had the next day off from work; Martin Luther King Day, one of quite a few holidays I appreciatively get as part of my schedule as an employee of county government in the state of South Carolina. Generally speaking, my wife would've joined me for a trip like this but she did me a favor by agreeing to stay home with the children - those being "children" of the furry, 4-legged kind as we were watching her parent's dog for the weekend. She's a trooper, that wife of mine, but I figure she owes me some time to myself for all the nights she goes off for a meeting with her covens (otherwise known as one of the local civics groups in which she participates).
When I plotted my route I'd planned to take a scenic tour by way of back roads, mostly avoiding the interstate. I tend to prefer this kind of travel for leisurely trips like this one as highways just don't provide the same kind of experience that a good, old two-lane road through rural America can give you. I wound up sticking to my original course about as far as the town of Kershaw, SC, at which point I diverted (somewhat by mistake; I thought I knew where I was going and kept driving even though my GPS was telling me otherwise) onto a different path that would eventually put me onto I-77 then I-40. This wasn't a bad move, though, as it took my through my hometown of Lancaster, SC.
I grew up in Lancaster. In actuality, I did more than that as I spent my first 20 years of life there before moving to Florence, SC for college after which I moved back to Lancaster and stayed there for the better part of another 7 years until such time that I relocated to Orangeburg, SC for work and what would eventually become the life I now have in Saint Matthews, SC. I highlight the length of time I was in Lancaster because a lot has changed about it since the time I lived there, and by "a lot" I mean "A LOT". There are a plethora of new buildings along the stretch of highway 9 bypass, some commercial and some governmental, but the biggest changes exist in the northernmost tip of the county. This part of Lancaster appears to have become a bedroom community for people who work in nearby Charlotte, North Carolina but who enjoy the lower cost of living that exists across the state line. While it's great to see economic growth in what is apparently a prosperous part of town, I can't help but say that it looks absolutely awful. Almost every piece of land along highway 521 seems to be taken up by a strip mall, shopping center, or housing development. Urban sprawl has come to Lancaster, something I never thought would happen. It's great for the tax-base but it's all one big, gaudy eye-sore at this point.
Be that as it may, as I drove through one town after another I was pleasantly reminded of memories from pro wrestling events I've attended in the past which took place in those same locales. Kershaw, SC: It boggles my mind that I saw Jake Manning and Steve Corino wrestle to a 60-minute time limit draw in front of a crowd of probably less than 20 people. Lancaster, SC: I will never forget watching Mr. BBB (which stood for Big Buddy Bigham) and Manslaughter (who's also known as Manchild, Cracker, and about half a dozen other names) break a ring that was made partially from wood, on a hip toss of all things, then finish the match in an environment that was incredibly unsafe. Indian Land, SC: Jeff Hardy, fresh out of the World Wrestling Federation and wrestling as Willow the Wisp character to avoid non-compete issues, had a match against Kirby Mack (in another scary ring, this one being a metal frame but with garden hoses for ropes). Charlotte, NC: Taking my then-girlfriend, now-wife to our first independent wrestling event together as a couple, getting to meet Ric Flair, and watching Hulk Hogan order a hot dog alongside fans at the concession stand. It goes without saying that I've seen a lot in my days of traveling around in the name of being a fan of pro wrestling, and quite frankly I hope to add many more stories to my catalog before I'm done.
Bell time for the show was set at 5 PM and I conceivably could have driven to & from the event without spending the night in Winston-Salem, however because I don't quite like the idea of being a liability to myself or other motorists I felt it best to seek shelter for the evening. Even though I'd never stayed at one of their hotels before I chose an area La Quinta Inn as it wasn't too expensive, wasn't too far from the venue, and was easy to find as it's located right off I-40. I was pleased with the hotel overall as it was everything I needed and then some although what I remember most about the room was the fact that (I kid you not) one of the soaps smelled exactly like an Orange Julius. That's how you know you're too in tune with food, by the way, when you begin associating the scent of non-food items with food items.
An added and unexpected benefit to this particular hotel was the fact that there happened to be a Moe's Southwest Grill literally next door. I am a huge fan of Moe's as I love their steak burritos and all the fresh ingredients you can add to them. Their guacamole and the fact that I can get a cherry Sprite from the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine are just icing on top of an already delicious cake. I would eat there more frequently than I do if not for the fact that I have to drive at least a half hour in any direction to get to one. The convenience of this location made it ripe pickings for a late lunch/early supper.
While I was gathering napkins and other supplies for my meal, a young man (I would say in his late teens or early twenties) approached me with a Bible tract. I realized what he was giving me as soon as I saw his hand; rather than try to explain to him that he & I are already on the same team, I simply accepted the pamphlet, thanked him for the gesture and went about my business. I couldn't help but wonder after the fact about whether or not I look like a Christian because I have been handed more than just a few tracts during my adult life. Is there something about me that gives off the impression I'm not a believer? This weighed on me for a while as I agree with the old adage that we, as Christians, are the only Bible that some people will ever read.
The show would be taking place at a venue called Ziggy's, which is typically a concert venue but is large enough inside to accommodate for a wrestling ring and still have plenty of space for fan seating. Like I said, I'd never been to Winston-Salem before so of course I'd never been to Ziggy's but I had heard of it as it seems to be a regular tour stop for a number of bands that I follow. When I arrived at the building I was immediately impressed with its size and that there appeared to be plenty of parking available nearby. It was clear to me before I ever set foot inside this was a well-maintained venue and one that is professionally operated - as a fan who's grown somewhat sick of going to indie pro wrestling events held in musty VFW halls and ratty bars, it was a welcome change to be able to come to a joint like Ziggy's (which, admittedly, has a bar but at least it's a nice bar). It really reminded me of one of my favorite, albeit now defunct, concert venues, that being Headliners in Columbia, SC as the two clubs share many similar features (balcony seating being prime among them).
Standing in line with your fellow fans prior to an event like this is always fun, or at least it is to me. You wind up inevitably meeting interesting people who are, if nothing else, good for conversation. I got in line about 30-45 minutes prior to the doors opening as the queue had already begun to grow to a decent length by that time. I'd say that it was within 20 minutes of doors opening that the line was split into sections with fans being directed to one lane or another depending on what sort of ticket they'd purchased, that being either general admission or VIP. I had a VIP second row floor seat; VIP in this instance granted access to a pre-show meet & greet with the talent, but in all honesty I was only interested in getting inside early so as to hopefully get a better seat than I would have otherwise. I overheard one man who arrived fairly late expressing some displeasure over the fact that the VIP line was as long as it was. I think his interpretation of "VIP" was that it is something which offers a level of exclusivity limited to only a handful of patrons, and rightfully so. I can only assume he wasn't aware of the fact that VIP, in wrestling terms, is a money grab of a gimmick because people (like myself) will pay extra if it means their experience will be that much more idealistic.
I wound up being deep enough in the VIP line that I didn't get as great of a seat as I'd hoped. I tend to try and get a seat on the end of a row as I have fairly long legs and any amount of extra knee space I can get is awesome. I did get a seat on the end of a row, but it was a chair that was butted up directly against a gigantic sub-woofer. I was hesitant to take the seat at first because I didn't want to risk losing my hearing by sitting there but it had several tactical advantages that made it the best option out of what few seats were left by that point. I was able to spread out comfortably and use part of the concert stage as a shelf for stowing my gear (i.e., my camera bag and coat). The sub-woofer wound up not being an issue as I gather Ziggy's realized they shouldn't be used what with people sitting so close to them.
The show was broken down into three 3-match segments. Here's a recap of the matches featured on "Phenomenal Debut" and a brief commentary on each.
Match #1 - Andrew Everett vs. Lodi
Opening matches can be a blessing or a curse for those involved as you wind up being responsible for setting a tone for the remainder of an event. In the case of this bout, you had the grizzled veteran Lodi (yes, that Lodi - as in the one from World Championship Wrestling, best known for his involvement in Raven's Flock) taking on Andrew Everett, one of the hottest high flyers going right now. There was an obvious contrast of styles and it wasn't the smoothest of matches but it got the crowd going which is about as much as you can ask for. Lodi won with a spike DDT after Everett missed a maneuver off the top rope.
Match #2 - Kyle O'Reilly vs. Michael Elgin
Two Ring of Honor regulars doing battle here, and that's exactly the kind of match they had - a pure, physical, and protracted battle with Kyle O'Reilly relying on his speed & agility to try and overcome the power & aggressiveness of Michael Elgin. These two exchanged many near falls and they did a great job of never allowing the match to be at a point where Kyle's chances of winning were ever in doubt, which is always tricky when putting together a contest where one athlete has such a size advantage over another. Elgin ultimately prevailed with a powerbomb.
Match #3 - Davey Richards vs. Rich Swann
Davey Richards has been involved in a ton of online chatter as of late stemming from his split with Ring of Honor, spending a brief length of time with World Wrestling Entertainment's NXT developmental program, then signing a deal with TNA Wrestling (along with Eddie Edwards, his tag team partner in the American Wolves). He's clearly on the rise but he's still taking bookings like this one against Rich Swann, a wrestler I'd never seen compete in person but of whom I had knowledge. Their match was a good come-down from the brutality displayed by Elgin & O'Reilly as it featured a lot of entertaining moments; these two don't hate each other, they just wanted to put on a good show and that's exactly what they did. Richards won via a reversal when Swann attempted a splash.
Match #4 - Jake Manning & Hurricane Helms vs. John Skyler & Kevin Steen
This was an oddball combination of players but the result of it was a fantastic match. Manning & Skyler have gone back and forth with one another for some time now after having won the PWX tag team championship (which they've since lost) as a result of a fluke pairing a while back. This most recent development in their feud had them set to pick their own partners, with Manning opting for North Carolina's own "Hurricane" Shane Helms and Skyler selecting another ROH regular in the form of Kevin Steen. Manning, Steen & Helms are on a different level than Skyler; the charisma of those three simply overshadowed the former "Box Boy", and perhaps it was fitting then that Steen turned on him (not that they were ever on the same page) after they'd lost, delivering not one but two package piledrivers to Skyler.
Match #5 - Amanda Rodriguez vs. Amber O'Neal
The dynamic of this match has to have some explanation. Rodriguez is an up & coming women's wrestler and O'Neal is one of the most talented female competitors in all of North America. The two of them have been at odds forever, and things are getting worse now that their real-life significant others - Caleb Konley for Rodriquez; Luke "DOC" Gallows for O'Neal - are being brought into the mix. O'Neal won the match as a result of interference from Gallows who nailed Amanda with a big boot while Amber distracted the referee. Caleb Konley was in late to gather up what was left of Rodriguez, carrying her to the back afterwards.
Match #6 - PWX Tag Team Championship Match: Worst Case Scenario (Ethan Case & Elijah Evans w/manager The Tommy Thomas) (C) vs. Los Ben Dejos (Rios & Cruz)
Two things I'll say I loved about this match right off the top: 1) The Tommy Thomas (yes, there's a "The" in front of his name) is an annoying, conceited, boisterous manager and he's brilliant at it, and 2) PWX made the match have a big-fight feel immediately with how the combatants were introduced. Little touches like that go a long way in adding to presentation and PWX gets it right here. The match itself was a bit of a spot-fest with both teams relying on high impact/high risk maneuvers from bell to bell. That's not a bad thing, though, because it hadn't been done yet on this card. (That's another tribute to PWX's skillful booking, plenty of variety and something for every kind of wrestling fan.) Worst Case Scenario retained the championship after hitting a double-team jackhammer on Rios.
Match #7 - PWX Championship Match: Luke Gallows vs. Caleb Konley (C)
I talked about how Ziggy's is a music venue earlier in this piece but there's also a number of bars there. Fittingly enough, with this match Gallows and Konley had what could best be described as a knockdown, drag-out bar fight. The two of them brawled into the crowd, making their way through a majority of the fan seating, and at one point Gallows began to mercilessly pummel Konley with folding chairs. Caleb mounted a comeback, though, and got an ounce of revenge for his love interest by outsmarting Gallows when he got the "Suntan Biker Man" into a roll-up out of a reversal on a chokeslam.
Match #8 - 4-Way Tag Team Match: Country Jacked (Corey Hollis & Adam Page) vs. "Mr. Elite Drew Myers & Shaun Tempers vs. Lance Lude & Zane Riley vs. Chase Brown & Kyle Matthews
A match like this will typically go one of two ways - either it will be an entertaining mess or a horrifically sloppy mess. It's like an overly complicated piece of machinery, with all the moving parts it can't really help itself but be anything other than one of those. Fortunately it was more of the former than the latter! Country Jacked outlasted their opponents and after the match they issued a challenge to Roderick Strong & Eddie Edwards for PWX's February events, saying that they're time as a team is over if can't take out Strong & Edwards.
I would like to point out two individuals involved in the contest because they're worth highlighting but for very different reasons. "Mr. Elite" Drew Myers has arguably the biggest up-side of any pro wrestler in the region, and that includes a whole bunch of well-known talent. His size and physique put him into a class of athlete that's above the rest and the fact that he can actually wrestle makes him even more of a hot commodity. "The Party Man-imal"/"I AM WRESTLING"/"50 Shades of Wrestling" Zane Riley is one of my absolute favorite wrestlers right now and it's because he is one of very few wrestlers out there (at least in our part of the world) who truly gets what it is to do comedy in wrestling. If you watch a Zane Riley match and don't laugh, you're probably a jerk and a tight-wad who doesn't know how to have a good time. I would pay money to watch either of these guys, so it's great that they're usually on PWX cards.
Match #9 - PWX Dream Match Series: AJ Styles vs. Cedric Alexander
Plenty of folks have weighed in on this match with commentary of their own and at this late of a juncture I don't know that I could add anything unique to its discussion other than to state that this was all it was hyped up to be and then some. Every once in a while you see two guys create magic inside a wrestling ring and that's what happened here.
Cedric Alexander is one of the most consistent and talented wrestlers to not have gotten a bigger opportunity than he has as of yet (hard to say a Ring of Honor contract isn't a "big" opportunity but it's the truth). AJ Styles is a one-of-a-kind athlete who unfortunately got lost in a mix of bad ideas towards the end of his run with TNA Wrestling and he was terribly disrespected by them in their not doing more to keep him around. The two of them created a marvelous main event that would've been fit to headline any show in the world. I can't say that I've seen many 5-star matches in my life but this definitely was one. Styles delivered all of his signature moves but Alexander hit him with what had to be the sickest looking back-breaker I've ever seen. AJ came out on top by catching Cedric with a Styles clash, and after the match he showed tremendous respect to his opponent as well as his own legacy in the sport by taking the high road in avoiding the opportunity to run down TNA as a whole and its owner Dixie Carter in front of a live audience. Cedric left the ring quietly, allowing the fans to do the talking by chanting "NEXT WORLD CHAMP!" as he made his exit.
The show was over just shy of 9 PM, making it a nearly 4-hour event. Needless to say, by the time it was over I was worn out and in need of sustenance. Few things that time of night sound better than a greasy cheeseburger and fries which is why I did my best to locate a Wendy's only to discover that there apparently is no Wendy's in Winston-Salem. If there is, I couldn't find it. I begrudgingly settled for Taco Bell as it was either that or McDonald's - believe me when I tell you that when you've already had Moe's eating at Taco Bell is like going to Western Sizzler after having been to Ruth's Chris. Sure, it's food and you can eat it, but you don't really want to. All I'll say about the quality of that particular meal is that whatever Taco Bell is attempting to pass off as guacamole is far from legitimate, which I guess isn't surprising since they don't use 100% beef in their dishes anyway.
I would like to say that the decision to eat food from Taco Bell was the last culinary mistake I made on this trip. Sadly, it wasn't. The next morning I went down to the lobby of the La Quinta for what I anticipated as being a lovely continental breakfast, and it appeared that I would get as much seeing as how the spread looked to be top notch - cereal, fruits, bagels, coffee. The whole 9 yards, as it were. Also there were a couple waffle irons and a batter dispenser.
I'm always a little weary of these waffle irons because they're never secure, and by that I mean there's nothing in the way of a little hand finding its way onto their blazing-hot surface than the air that separates one from the other - they seem like a liability more than anything, but what do I know? I've never had to pay for a skin graft operation as part of a personal injury lawsuit stemming from burns incurred as a result of a hotel not doing their due diligence to protect its patrons.
I obtained a disposable cup to get some batter, going by the graphical instructions on the dispenser. I don't know exactly what went wrong but the extruding nozzle on the batter dispenser popped off in my hand. I stood there in horror for a few moments as chilled, gooey waffle batter began to dump out of the thing, seemingly by the gallon, going everywhere and anywhere. I tried to alert a member of their staff but no one was within earshot of my calls, and to make matters worse I apparently decided to have breakfast when most everyone else staying in the hotel did as I found myself struggling in front of an audience of what seemed to be 10-15 people (none of whom made any attempt to assist me, I might add). I finally did get the attention of someone who worked at the hotel and she did what she could to help but by then the damage was done, both to the breakfast nook and to my ego. Suffice to say I didn't hang around that scene long - I went back to my room, cleaned off my hands, grabbed my stuff and exited out one of the side doors as I wasn't going to show my face in the lobby again after that fiasco. I wound up having breakfast at a nearby Golden Corral.
The drive home was uneventful; I opted for the interstate coming back through South Carolina as I was ready to get to my sleepy little adopted hometown of Saint Matthews, our dog, and my wife. I'm often caught off guard by how good it feels to come home. I look forward to trips like this, sometimes for weeks or months, and yet it always winds up that coming home is one of the most welcome parts of the whole experience. (With the exception of Walt Disney World, that is - I think my wife & I both would stay there forever if we could.) I guess this proves that no matter where you may go, there's just no place like home.
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