On July 20, Game Changer Wrestling, in association with indie superstar The Invisible Man, presents a one-night “reunion” for WOMBAT (Warriors Of Mat Battle And Trouble), featuring several GCW regulars plus some of the best rising stars from the Southern indies (plus quite a few legends). It airs live on Fite.tv this Saturday. From GCW’s press release of the event (at the time, it was feared Invisible Man had passed away, but it turned out to be false):
“Invisible was a pioneer in the wrestling world. In 1991, he founded W.O.M.B.A.T. Wrestling, a southern regional promotion which toured the gulf coast before folding in 1995 amidst the complete collapse of wrestling’s territory system.
Invisible’s success was derailed in the late ’90s amidst a difficult battle with addiction to Asian massage and huffing aerosol cans.
Invisible spent years in and out of jails and rehab before finding the Church of Scientology in 2007, which he credited with turning his life around.
In recent years, Invisible Man returned to prominence after connecting with low-level independent wrestler Joey Janela and partaking in several events during wrestling’s famed “Mania Week”.
In 2016, Man returned to Tuscaloosa where he opened the W.O.M.B.A.T. Training Center in an effort to “give back” to the next generation of aspiring wrestlers.
Man was a passionate vegan, a devoted listener of radio personality Art Bell, and a huge fan of Australian rock supergroup “Men at Work”. His infectious smile lit up every locker room he entered and he was both well-liked and respected by his peers.”
Preview: GCW – Invisible Man Presents WOMBAT
GQ vs. Grease Lightning
A couple of old school hardcore veterans in this one. GQ is an 18-year veteran of some brutal wars from his 10 years run with Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), where he also teamed with Chris Cash in The New School. His opponent is a hardcore indie legend from the likes of Southern Wrestling Federation (SWF) in Grease Lightning. This won’t be pretty, but it will be bloody.
The Rejects (John Wayne Murdoch & Reed Bentley) vs. EFFY & Juicy Jimmy
Speaking of IWA Mid South, The Rejects are IWA Mid South royalty. John Wayne Murdoch is a former 5x IWA Mid South Heavyweight Champion, while his partner Reed Bentley is a 3x champion. Together they’ve also held tag team gold in both IWA Mid South and GCW. These two like to hurt people and they’re terribly good at it. They’re opponents are known more for their charisma that their wrestling skills, so it will be an interesting dynamic as indie star EFFY teams up with a Midwest and Mid Atlantic veteran in 15-year pro Juicy Jimmy, who has worked for the likes of IWA Mid South, Indiana’s Destination One Wrestling, and more.
The Carnies (Nick Iggy & Kerry Awful) vs. Smokin’ Budz (Dave & Cody Morton)
The Carnies continue to be one of the best tag teams in the US indies, albeit incredibly underrated and appreciated. Kerry Awful & Nick Iggy have won multiple tag team titles and continue to spread fear in such promotions as Bar Wrestling, Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, CHIKARA, Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), Pro Wrestling Freedoms (PWF) and much more. The veteran duo is facing off against a young brother combo of Dave & Cody Morton, collectively known as Smokin’ Budz.
WOMBAT Television Championship: Tony Deppen vs. “Mr. Walk It Out” John Poe
Hot off the announcement that he’s heading to this year’s Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) Battle of Los Angeles, GCW gatekeeper Tony Deppen is heading into battle for the WOMBAT Television Championship. While a skilled technician in regular GCW shows, in this “indiest of indie” shows, he can also excel – just watch his classic match against Alex Zayne at GCW’s Backyard Wrestling on the 4th of July. He’s facing another old hardcore veteran in New England’s John Poe. “The Butcher” was a mainstay in New England promotions like Chaotic Wrestling, Premier Wrestling Federation (PWF) Northeast, and House of Bricks Wrestling in the early 2010s.
The Stunt Bros (Marko & Logan Stunt) vs. Psycho Medic & AJ Gray
Last time these two were on a GCW card, they were in a hellacious hardcore match against each other. Now the brothers Stunt – viral sensation Marko Stunt and his younger brother Logan – are teaming up. The two may lack in size and power, but they more than make up for it with athleticism and acrobatics. Marko is also coming off making his debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) at Fight For The Fallen, where he appeared alongside Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus. They’re going to need their speed because their opponents are short on power. AJ Gray is a Southern grappler who has been excelling in the Midwest region of late, as well as becoming a regular with GCW this year. He’s teaming up with another old indie veteran making a ring return in fellow Tennessean. A former NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, Psycho Medic wreaked havoc in the likes of his home state’s NWA Main Event and Nashville’s United States Wrestling Organization (USWO).
Bob Wire Match: Nick Gage vs. Uncle Byf
GCW World Champion Nick Gage is entering into a “bob wire” match, so you know things are going to get crimson in this one. The King of American Hardcore is facing a rising indie wrestler from the South in Uncle Byf, who works for the likes All-Star Wrestling (ASW) in Tennessee and Alabama’s Rocket City Wrestling (RCW).
Tullahoma Two-Step Street Fight: Doug Gilbert vs. Mance Warner
In the first of two intergenerational dream matches, former CZW World Champion and current Major League Wrestling (MLW) star Mance Warner is returning to GCW to face a legend from the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) and WCW in Doug Gilbert. Brother of the late “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and son of Tommy Gilbert, Doug has been wrestling for 33 years, including stints in IWA Mid South and many other indies. The former 5x USWA Heavyweight Champion, 6x USWA Tag Team Champion (usually alongside Tommy Rich), and IWA Mid South Heavyweight Champion still has some gas left in his tank at the age of 50 and will put his metal to the test against one of today’s hottest new stars in Ol’ Mancer. Oddly enough, Warner is set to face one of Gilbert’s old USWA rivals in August at an upcoming GCW and Black Label Pro event, in Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Joey Janela vs. “Superstar” Bill Dundee
The second intergenerational dream match of WOMBAT sees AEW and GCW superstar “Bad Boy” Joey Janela face off against another USWA legend in “Superstar” Bill Dundee. A longtime wrestler with Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) and USWA, Dundee is still wrestling after making his debut in 1971. The 75-year old is entering his sixth decade of wrestling and is a former 13x Southern Heavyweight Champion in CWA and long-time tag partner of Jerry Lawler.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch WOMBAT live on Fite.tv.
