The crowd was quite a bit larger than expected, even given the capacity of the west half of the Faurot Field bleachers. The ring was set up in the center of the field, with about a thousand chairs around, and the Columbia fans filled those, and about nine thousand more seats, easily comprising the largest crowd in iPRO’s short history.
Announced Crowd: 10,932
Match Results:
Erik Evans def. Michael Stevens via bridging German suplex
Ethan Smith def. Senshui via Phoenix Splash
Blue Thunder def. Catalyst via Rolling Hurricanrana
BASH Yamada def. Jacob White via Brainbuster Suplex
Papes def. Rob Powers and Barry Tulowitzki to retain the Central States Legacy Championship
FLAME Akihiro def. Rudiger Probst to retain the FWD Heavyweight Championship and the S-PRO Iron Crown Championship
Match Notes:
Evans and Stevens was a better-than-expected leadoff, both men showing a lot of fluidity before Evans planted Stevens for the win.
Senshui was completely off his game, making him easy pickings for Smith. Smith did not meet much resistance during the match. leading some to wonder about Senshui’s passion for the sport.
Blue Thunder looked awfully good in his debut, keeping Catalyst off-balance with lightning-quick strikes and a plethora of high-flying moves. Catalyst rallied like the champion he is, taking back control from the masked Mexican, but Thunder caught him in a hurricanrana, rolling through and holding Catalyst down for the three-count.
BASH Yamada and Jacob White may have been the hardest hitting match of the night. The S-PRO star and the up-and-comer hit each other with everything they could throw, and neither man yielded. Suplexes, powerbombs, powerslams….forearms, uppercuts, and stomps. Neither man gave no quarter nor expected any, but Yamada’s experience advantage, though somewhat slight, shined through, as he finally put a very game White away with the Brainbuster Suplex. After the match, Yamada help White to his feet and shook his hand in a show of respect.
The first main event was hot, hot, hot. Papes and Powers weren’t friends, exactly, and when you throw Witz and all his Witz-Fitz into the fray, it got hairy quick. Papes used his speed advantage to dubious effect, as he pinned Tulowitzki first….after Powers had plastered him with a running powerslam. Powers ran to the ropes, looking for another big running blow, but Papes dropped the top rope, sending Powers flying to Mizzou’s FieldTurf, then covering Barry for the first elimination. After rejoining the action, Powers was easily in control until a thumb-to-the-eyes by Papes. After a few quick hit-and-move shots, Powers ducked a flying clothesline. He went to scoop Papes up near the ropes, but Papes rolled him up and, using the ropes for leverage, got the dupe.
Powers was, understandably, incensed after the result, and chased Papes from the ring. The champ collected his belt from the bell-ringer, and retreated to the tunnel, smiling and posing along the way.
The double-title match was next. First, S-PRO President Saitoshi Saito entered the ring with Ryan Corey, reading the traditional match proclamation, impressively done in English. Then FWD Commisioner Vonn Albrecht joined them, declaring the match an FWD Heavyweight championship challenge as well.
Probst was introduced first, and came out to a sizeable ovation, a bit surprising given the tone and general mission of the day. Akihiro, as the champion, was introduced second, and Memorial Stadium sounded like a Mizzou football game, as the hugely popular Japanese sensation came to the ring, a belt draped on each shoulder.
Probst, Akihiro, Saito, and Albrecht all shook hands, along with Ryan Corey. The referee took one belt from Akihiro, and Corey the second, each holding a belt high and circling the ring, letting all in attendance know that both of Akihiro’s championships were at stake in this international matchup.
Ryan Corey took the second title, and exited the ring. Akihiro and Probst came to center-ring, shaking hands, and the referee called for the bell.
Probst went quickly on the offensive, keeping the Japanese Fire Plug grounded with arm and leg locks, looking to slow him down. Akihiro eventually regained his feet, and began to show everyone why he is one of the world’s best high-risk fighters, his lucharesu background and daredevil attitude helping him to pepper Probst with strikes, kicks, and chops. Akihiro caught Rudiger against the ropes, and a rolling leg block sent him to the FieldTurf. Not stopping, Akihiro bounded off the opposite ropes, jumping over the top rope and down onto Probst with a Senton Splash, bring the crowd to its feet.
FLAME rolled ‘Das Ripper’ back into the ring, taking a headlock. Probst quickly reversed, and began to try and ground Akihiro again. After some extremely stiff European uppercuts, Akihiro was staggered against the ropes, and sent tumbling over with a huge clothesline. Probst stepped out onto the apron, waited for FLAME to rise, and as he did, scored with a running, tumbling body attack, again bringing a huge ovation from Columbia.
Back and forth the match went for nearly forty minutes, a beautifully executed display of clashing styles. The match was ended on a good piece of aerial artistry, as Probst slung Akihiro across, and caught him in a back drop attempt. FLAME adjusted himself, using Probst as a springboard to flip himself over and land on his feet. Both men spun towards each other, and after Akihiro swung a big front kick into Probst midsection, gathered him up and drove him into the mat with the FLAMEthrower, rolling over Probst over and pinning him at the forty-four minute mark.
After the matchup, both men staggered to their feet, looking like they should look after this kind of a battle….exhausted. Probst walked forward first, offering his hand to the victor. Akihiro accepted, and the two men shared a quick embrace before Ryan Corey entered, returning the FWD Heavyweight Championship and the Iron Crown Championship to Akihiro. Corey stood between the two men as the iPRO locker room came out of the tunnel, clapping at the performances of both men, and raised their arms high as Faurot Field stood, raucously expressing their appreciation for the high quality of the matchup.
Show Notes:
iPRO could not have been happier with the turnout for the show. The day was overcast and chilly, with rain threatening, but that didn’t keep people away from the gates.
After two monster shows inside of seven days, iPRO will be taking a week off, and will return to action in the middle of July. Organizers have not said when or where the next card will happen, but have guaranteed that it will happen soon.
Some questioned about the whereabouts of Dusty Griffith for this huge show. Griffith was priorly committed to working with the LARIAT promotion in Texas prior to the booking of this card, and was in Texas competing. Rest assured, Griffith has not forgotten the way in which he feels he was screwed out of the Central States Legacy title, and will begin working soon on his upcoming title rematch at the end of July.
