LAX Invades RCW

River City Wrestling presented a show at Tiffany Billiards Sunday Night May 7th in front of a record crowd of enthusiastic fans, many of whom had never been to a live wrestling show before but will certainly return. NWA-TNA's Latin American Xpress (LAX) - Konnan, Homicide and RCW Heavyweight Champion Hotstuff Hernandez headlined the card in a main event which pitted them against 3 members of the International Power Station (IPS.) The night featured 8 matches including a Tag Title match, a tournament to crown a Ring King and not one, but two matches which meet the criteria for "Match of the Year" consideration.

The early arriving crowd were already set for an exciting night when RCW Ring Announcer Jeff Houston kicked off the show by introducing River City Wrestling President Brandon Oliver. The pair were interrupted by the entire IPS including Commissioner Yebisu. The members of this stable each addressed the crowd promising success in their matches.

When the ring was finally cleared, Referee Alex Marrozos came out to a resounding reception from the fans who seemed to be under the impression that they were in the presence of John Travolta. Marrozos convinced them that they were mistaken by doing a few dance moves.

The preliminaries over with, the combatants for the first match were called to the ring. Erstwhile Natural Athlete Hector Montoya (wrestling fans understand words like erstwhile, right?) faced Chuy Martinez who gave a good show in his first RCW match but was unable to beat the Honduran Hitman Montoya.

The next three matches were part of a tournament to name the RCW "Ring King," a new title along the lines of the original WWE King of The Ring concept. In the first tournament match, Showtime Summers (with his new advisor Ray the Voice) faced former partner One Man Mike Dell. An incredibly even match when back and forth with neither man able to take an advantage until Martin Styles arrived ringside and distracted Summers long enough for Dell to gain control and the pin. The tournament continued with Quinten Allen facing RCW newcomer Wally Darkmon who certainly seemed to be enjoying himself, laughing maniacally for most of the match. Despite the erratic behavior of his opponent, Quinten Allen was able to get the pin and advance in the tournament. The final first round match featured Martin Styles and the return of fan favorite Joey Spector "The Upset Kid." This was a very exciting match which was highlighted by several high risk moves inside and outside the ring, including Styles leaping from the ring, over the barrier gate and onto Spector who was about three rows back into the crowd at the time. When referee Alex Marrozos was finally able to get the pair back into the ring he was quick to count a pinfall despite the fact that both men had their shoulders pinned to the mat at the time. RCW President Brandon Oliver decided that both men would advance into the finals of the Ring King Tournament. Suddenly the Triple Threat Championship match had become a Fatal Four-Way.

Next on the card was the much anticipated Tag Team Title match between champions The Nerdy Boys (Johnny Ender & Kris Kronie) and #1 contenders The Hardbodies (Andrew Dalton & JT LaMotta.) Clearly the challengers were motivated to take the titles as they dispensed with their normal prematch antics and attacked the Nerds quickly getting into the match. The Hardbodies took advantage of many underhanded tricks and isolated Kronie for much of the match. When Kronie finally managed to make the tag, Johnny Ender began cleaning house. In the confusion that ensued, it looked as though the Hardbodies had won the titles when Johnny Ender pinned, but his foot was on the ropes and Brandon Oliver called for the restart of the match. With renewed vigor the Nerdy Boys were able to turn the tables on the Hardbodies and gained the pinfall and retained the titles.

Following the intermission, the show kicked off again with the finals of the Ring King Tournament The Fatal Four-Way match featured Quinten Allen, Joey Spector, Martin Styles and One Man Mike Dell. Each of the men seized the advantage at times throughout the match until One Man Mike Dell was able to gain the first pinfall over Joey Spector. There was no time to celebrate however, as Quinten Allen burst into the ring and attacked Dell, quickly gaining the second fall and eliminating Dell. This left only Styles and Allen who appeared evenly matched until Showtime Summers appeared ringside and repayed Styles for the interference in the earlier match. Quinten Allen took advantage of the stunned styles and grabbed the final pin and the match. Summers continued to taunt Styles all the way to the dressing room as Quinten Allen prepared for his coronation in the ring. In his first act as Ring King, Allen proclaimed that from this point forward he is to be referred to as "Bling King" Quinten Allen.

Prior to the next match, Commissioner Yebisu made the announcement that he had selected a special referee to officiate over the bout between Ikaika and IPS member Don Juan. Things certainly seemed stacked against Ikaika when old rival Aguila Negro appeared from the back. Brandon Oliver was able to even things up a bit however when he warned that Aguila Negro had better call the match evenly or he would be fired. Despite clearly being upset by this, Negro did manage to call the match relatively fairly. As the match progressed however, Negro found himself more and more out of position to see any rule breaking by Don Juan and his manager Commissioner Yebisu. In an outstanding match, both men exchanged chops and moves which thrilled the crowd. Neither man was able to gain the pinfall as Aguila Negro was forced to keep an even count or face unemployment. Finally Aguila Negro found his opportunity as Commissioner Yebisu came into the ring and, in a failed attempt to smack Ikaika, missed, hitting Don Juan instead. Referee Aguila Negro saw this as his chance and declared Don Juan the winner due to outside interference. At this decision, an outraged Ikaika seemed to snap, attacking the trio of Yebisu, Don Juan and Aguila Negro. Negro took the worst of Ikaika's rampage as the Hawaiian Smashing Machine worked him over with a chair, severely damaging Negro's knee in the process. Brandon Oliver and a member of the Security Team were both hit with the chair as Ikaika raged on. No one seemed able to stop the big Hawaiian until The Nerdy Boys and One Man Mike Dell came to the ring and were able to snap Ikaika back to his senses. Ikaika demanded a rematch with Don Juan with no special referees or outside interference. This was an outstanding match which would have been a main event on almost any show other than this one. Both fighters showed great skill and heart in the battle and Aguila Negro and Commissioner Yebisu each added to the match in their own way. The post match action was over the top and set up future events in what promises to be tremendous feud.

The action did not let up here as the Main Event was next. The IPS team of Fast Eddie Vegas, Chris Marval & Spiro came out first. Next came the team of TNA's LAX - Konnan, Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez. The crowd was ready for action as Hotstuff and Eddie started the match, and action they got. All six men spent considerable time in the ring with Homicide (who had last fought in San Antonio at RCW's Texas Explosion 2003) taking much of the action for his team. But the ring could not hold all the action in this match, which spilled out into the crowd and culminated with an incredible moment that can hardly be described. Fast Eddie Vegas, in an effort to escape from the fury of Hotstuff Hernandez, climbed to the top of a large boat (yes, a boat) that was ringside. When Hernandez caught up to Vegas, the men were on the top deck, over 10 feet above the crowd. Hotstuff lifted Eddie and Megabombed him over the side of the boat 15 feet into the rest of the IPS below. This was an amazing move and Fast Eddie might never be the same again. As Eddie and Commissioner Yebisu lay on the asphalt, Homicide and Konnan dragged the stunned Spiro and Marval back to the ring and placed each in submission holds. It did not take long for the two to tap out, giving the LAX the victory. Following the match, Konnan addressed the fans of San Antonio. Evoking the memory of Eddie Guerrero and referencing Rey Mysterio Jr, Konnan implored the crowd to continue to support wrestling and wrestlers of Hispanic tradition. He called Homicide and Hotstuff Hernandez the future of this tradition. If tonight was any indication, the tradition is in good shape.

In all, the night was a resounding success. Everything the River City Wrestling team does seems to work. Continued success will help assure RCW of it place on top of San Antonio wrestling for a long time. The next announced RCW shows are in 3 weeks with a Saturday show May 27 at the Arts of The Scholar Warrior Gym at 1126 W. Hildebrand and a Sunday show May 28 at the Annual Memorial Day Auto & DJ Expo at the Airport Convention Center 8505 Broadway. The Saturday show has a 6:30 pm start with $5 advanced tickets (available from the rcw website) and $7 tickets at the door. The Sunday Car Show begins at 11 am with a 4 pm bell time. Tickets are $12 for all ladies & males 21 and up. $15 for all minor males. Receive $2 off with Car show Flyer. Children under 12 free w/ adult. Ladies & Military free until 1 p.m. For more information on either of these or any RCW event call (210) 842-8398 or visit rcw-wrestling.com

Full Results
River City Wrestling
May 7th
Tiffany Billiards

Match 1 - Hector Montoya (win) vs. Chuy Martinez
Match 2 - Ring King Tournament Match
Showtime Summers w/ Ray the Voice vs. One Man Mike Dell (win and advance to finals)
Match 3 - Ring King Tournament Match
Quinten Allen (win and advance to finals) vs. Wally Darkmon
Match 4 - Ring King Tournament Match
Martin Styles vs. Joey Spector (draw - both men advance to finals)
Match 5 - Tag Team Title Match
Challengers The Hardbodies - Andrew Dalton & J.T. LaMotta vs. Champions The Nerdy Boys - Johnny Ender & Kris Kronie (win & retain title)
Match 6 - Ring King Tournament Final - Fatal Four-Way Match
(in order eliminated) Joey Spector vs. One Man Mike Dell vs. Martin Styles vs. Quinten Allen (win & named "Ring King")
Match 7 - Don Juan with Commissioner Yebisu (win by DQ) vs. Ikaika
Match 8 - Main Event - Six Man Tag Match
The International Power Station (IPS) - Fast Eddie Vegas, Chris Marval & Spiro with Commissioner Yebisu vs. The Latin American Xchange (LAX) - Konnan, Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez (win)