Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to LWOPW’s first All-Star Pro event review. For those of you who don’t know, let’s talk about this upstart promotion.
All-Star Pro is an Oklahoma-based independent wrestling promotion, typically emanating out of Venue 23 in Bethany, Oklahoma (a small subsection of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.) ASP is considered to be the biggest wrestling promotion based out of central Oklahoma and is one of the home promotions for AEW Dark sensation, Fuego del Sol. Hosting its first show in 2017, ASP has been steadily growing ever since. Without further ado, let’s dive into tonight’s wrestling action!
All-Star Pro Tag Team Championship Match:
Malik Mayfield and Maui Mike (c.) vs. DNR (Drake Gallows and Revan)
Starting off tonight, we have All-Star Pro Tag Team Championship action. Our champions, Malik Mayfield and Maui Mike are set to defend the titles against DNR. This contest comes after Maui Mike was stripped of the ASP Livestream Championship following him no-showing an event. However, his partner, Malik Mayfield, would win the championship in the finals of the King of the Stream tournament. Will this lead to any bad blood between the tag team champions? Let’s find out.
Gallows and Revan start off this match by attacking Mayfield from behind. After multiple double-team maneuvers, Gallows and Revan seem to have isolated the double champion in the middle of the ring. We see frequent tags back and forth between Gallows and Revan, but Mayfield can’t manage to get the tag. Gallows locks in a headlock on Mayfield, but Mayfield manages to get back to his feet. Mayfield attempts a clothesline, but Gallows counters with an attempted powerbomb. Instead of dropping Mayfield with a powerbomb, Mayfield would escape and tag in his partner, Maui Mike. The referee would not recognize the tag, however, as Revan was distracting the referee in the corner. Gallows and Revan would drag Mayfield back into the ring, and continue to beat down on his opponent.
Later in the match, Mike would officially get the hot tag and clear the ring of Revan and Gallows. Gallows would drop Mayfield with a powerbomb (despite Mayfield not being the legal competitor.) Mike would drop DNR with a double clothesline off of the middle rope, later dropping Gallows with a swinging neckbreaker leading to the three-count. Malik Mayfield and Maui Mike retain the ASP Tag Team Championships.
Match Result: Malik Mayfield and Maui Mike (c.) defeated DNR (Drake Gallows and Revan) to retain the ASP Tag Team Championships via Pinfall.
Walker’s Words: This match was an exciting opener. Malik Mayfield is very over with the ASP faithful, and it is exciting to see this rising star get time in the ring. This victory and the embrace following it should prove that there is no bad blood between the current and the former ASP Livestream Champions!
Calling Out Dean Lambert
The two ‘Legendary’ members make their way down to ringside. C.M Burnham is wearing a pair of shorts and sandals, which is different from his typical well-dressed demeanor. Burnham calls out Dean Lambert, however, Lambert would not make an appearance at tonight’s show. Father Padge begins to preach to the fans, and Burnham announces that the two men have the night off because Dean Lambert wasn’t at the show for Padge to wrestle. Suddenly, Father Padge is interrupted by wrestler PHoX (a bodysuited perform in a Guy Faux mask) who challenges Padge to a match tonight. We get a referee in the ring, and this match is set for one fall.
Father Padge vs. PHoX
Padge and PHoX lock up in the middle of the ring, and Padge shoves him in the corner, attempting a failed corner avalanche splash. PHoX avoids and attempts a clothesline, but he whiffs it. Padge hits a spinning kick dubbed ‘Black Mass’ (Hey, I’ve heard of that before!). Padge pins PHoX and picks up the victory.
Match Result: Father Padge defeated PHoX via Pinfall.
Walker’s Words: This match lasted less than a minute, but it made Father Padge look strong. I wanted to see PHoX pick up a much-needed victory tonight, but alas, we didn’t get that.
Marce Lewis vs. Jermaine Johnson (w/ Gideon Vane)
Two weeks ago, Jermaine Johnson and Gideon Vane would defeat Marce Lewis and Gemini in tag team action. This would lead us to this week’s singles contest between Marce Lewis and Jermaine Johnson.
Starting off this match, Marce would tear Johnson’s jack it off of his shoulders, trapping his arms in a straight jacket position with the sleeves. This would allow Marce to get some good shots in on his opponent. Marce would attempt a springboard crossbody to the outside but would connect with Vane rather than Johnson. Afterward, Johnson would get some good shots in on Marce, but Marce would take advantage with a springboard x-factor on his opponent. Lewis would head to the top rope, but Gideon Vane would thwart any attempt at a top rope maneuver. Johnson would toss Marce to the outside leading to Vane attacking Marce. On commentary, we have Father Padge (who had joined the commentary team for this match) arguing with the rest of the table about personal issues that had no bearing on this match.
Lewis would go on to drop Johnson with inverted head scissors, setting up for the shining wizard. However, the shining wizard would not connect, causing Marce to connect with a low-angle enzuigiri to the back of Johnson’s skull instead. Lewis would hit a huge maneuver, leading to a pinfall attempt. However, instead of counting the pin, the referee would be distracted by Gideon Vane. This distraction allowed Johnson to hit a low blow on Marce Lewis and roll him up for the victory.
Match Result: Jermaine Johnson defeated Marce Lewis via Pinfall.
Walker’s Words: Jermaine Johnson’s new flamboyant persona is a direct hit. Following this match, it’ll be interesting to see what direction this partnership between Jermaine Johnson and Gideon Vane goes. This match was my first experience watching a Marce Lewis performance, and it was absolutely stellar. I’m excited to see more from these men!
All-Star Pro All-Time Championship Limbo Match:
Erica (c.) vs. Father Padge vs. C.M Burnham vs. Frankie vs. Malik Mayfield
All-Star Pro CEO, Red, would make his way out to ringside and announce that JD Griffey, the ASP Champion, would not be in attendance tonight. Red would read a text allegedly sent by JD Griffey stating his reason for missing the event. Griffey’s text conveyed that he was appalled at the crowd’s applause for Tino Valentino and Fuego del Sol’s attack on the champion. Griffey says ASP has 30 days to meet his demands in order to be blessed by his presence – however, the demands were not listed.
After announcing Griffey’s absence from the show, CEO Red would ask C.M Burnham to approach ringside for the second time tonight. Burnham would hit the ring (flanked by Father Padge). Burnham said he was backstage with Padge attempting to get to know his estranged son after years of missing his life, and Red said tonight would be the continuation of the All-Star Games.
For those who are not aware, the All-Star Games are a series of challenges Red has put the former ASP Majority Owner, C.M Burnham, through. If Burnham can win one of these games, he will assume majority ownership of the company again.
Red says tonight we would be getting a limbo competition involving ASP All-Time Champion, Erica. (For context, the ASP All-Time Championship is All-Star Pro’s variation of the WWE 24/7 Championship.) Red says he would like to see “any volunteers” for this match, and ASP referee Frankie would hit the ring. ASP Livestream Champion and ASP Tag Team Champion, Malik Mayfield, would also make his way down to ringside.
This match is set for “one fall.” Get it? Falling?
Eventually, Frankie would be eliminated from the contest. He was verbally intimidated by Erica and chose to take the fall and eliminate himself after her “verbal persuasion”. Burnham would go on to utilize his cane to trip the ASP Livestream Champion, leading to Mayfield’s elimination. Padge would fall over and be eliminated due to his lack of limberness. It all comes down to Erica and Burnham. However, as Erica is making her way under the limbo pole, Red would catch Burnham attempting to trip Erica with his cane. Burnham would be disqualified from this event, and Erica retains the ASP All-Time Championship.
Match Result: Erica defeated Father Padge, C.M Burnham, Frankie, and Malik Mayfield via Elimination to retain the ASP All-Time Championship.
Walker’s Words: This ‘match’, if you would call it that, was an interesting segment. I wouldn’t say I was thrilled by this contest, but it did its job and the crowd loved watching Padge get eliminated. I was also happy to see Malik Mayfield back on my screen. This guy has the potential to be a huge star.
A Huge All-Star Pro Announcement
Next up, former ASP Majority Owner (and current minority owner), Barricade, makes his way out to ringside holding a briefcase. Red makes his way out to ringside in a cowboy hat. Oh, what a world we live in. The authoritative tandem announces the ASP Royal Rumble contest for June 20, 2021. The winner of this match would win a briefcase holding a contract; this contract would give the holder an opportunity for a championship contest anywhere, any time. Red and Barricade begin listing people who could potentially be in this match-up – including the ringside announcers, the boy in the front row, and even Red himself! We will be seeing wrestlers from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and more in this Royal Rumble match!
While Barricade and Red are discussing who they think could win the match-up, wrestler Double D would make his way down to ringside (flanked by Erica.) Double D would come out to chastize management for booking a silly limbo match, but forgetting to book the former ASP Champion, Double D. Just to upset Double D, Red showboats in the ring and gets a “Red is awesome!” chant. Double D says that wrestling is a business and that he’s tired of people treating this promotion as a joke. The crowd chants “Leave!” at D, but instead, D sits his “pretty ass” in the middle of the ring until he’s given a match. Double D would eventually get his wish, though, as ASP Mid-American Champion Luke Savage would make his way to the ring. Savage says that he would be glad to fight Double D tonight, and Red makes this decision official.
Double D (w/ Erica) vs. Luke Savage (c.)
Before the match, Double D gets on the top rope and plays to the crowd (who are not happy to see the former ASP Champion here tonight.) Savage would get on the middle rope to play to the crowd, and the crowd goes wild. Starting off, Savage and Double D circle each other and go for the test of strength. Double D doesn’t fare too well in the test of strength and heads outside the ring to jaw jack with the crowd. Savage and D commence a collar-and-elbow tie-up, leading to a break in the corner.
Double D drops Savage with a bodyslam and exits the ring to celebrate. The crowd erupts in a “Double Dork” chant (that was pretty funny!) This crowd is getting into this match – they are huge on Luke Savage tonight. Double D hits a gutwrench suplex leading to a two-count, hitting a massive Michinoku driver afterward.
Suddenly, Erica tosses a chair into the ring and begins to distract the referee, Double D attempted to use the chair on Savage but would run right into the referee (who collapses to the ground.) Savage would hit a massive spinning powerslam for a two-count afterward. Taking it to the finish, Erica would strike Savage with the chair for a DQ. Double D beats down Savage with the chair, landing the Abtastic Voyage on the chair to end his attack.
Match Result: Luke Savage defeated Erica via Disqualification.
Walker’s Words: Luke Savage is another name that the All-Star Pro crowd is very sweet on. Double D is a monstrous heel that I hope gets another run with the ASP Championship one day. I enjoyed this match, but I wish we could have gotten a conclusive finish to this one. Surely, this will not be the last interaction between these two performers in All-Star Pro.
All-Star Pro Five-Star Championship Match:
Johnny Kove (c.) vs. Tino Valentino
Tino Valentino, fresh off of his ASP Championship loss to JD Griffey, makes his way down to ringside. This man is adored by fans, and it is easily apparent why. This kid is a star. ASP Five-Star Champion, Johnny Kove, makes his entrance next. Kove is a bombastic and energetic Californian who has held his title for over 140 days.
As the referee is about to ring the bell, Thorne The Hunter’s music would hit and he would make his way out to ringside. He would start talk trash on his former rival, Tino Valentino, and former tag team partner, Johnny Kove. Thorne then turns his attention to the referee, whom he attacks at the sight of. The Hunter claims: “You can’t have a main event without a ref”, until going on to take off his shirt and unveil a referee shirt. CEO Red would come on out and allow Thorne to ref the match – and it’s on.
Valentino and Kove are two fan favorites, so this is going to be interesting to see. As Kove and Valentino lock up, Thorne immediately makes his presence known by grabbing Valentino’s hair, claiming that Kove was doing it. Valentino puts Kove in a headlock, attempting to wear him down. Valentino and Kove go back and forth; almost as if their reversals have reversals. Kove would roll up Valentino for a two-count, but Thorne would not count the pin. Thorne would upset Kove and Valentino so much, that the opponents would double team the referee.
Thorne is now refereeing the match from the outside. Valentino Irish whips Kove and would go off the ropes himself. They’d both attempt a crossbody attack at the same time, whereas Thorne would find himself jaw-jacking with the ringside crew on the outside. Kove and Valentino would be perched on their knees striking each other back and forth. Valentino would pick Kove in a fireman’s carry, but Kove would fight out of it. Kove attempts a crane kick, which Valentino would reverse. However, Thorne would strike Valentino with the belt (in an attempt to strike Kove). Kove turns his back and Thorne low-blows the ASP Five-Star Champion. Thorne stacks Kove on top of Valentino and counts the pinfall. Johnny Kove retains the ASP Five-Star Championship, however, Thorne is the only one celebrating.
Match Result: Johnny Kove defeated Tino Valentino via Pinfall to retain the ASP Five-Star Championship.
Walker’s Words: This match was very entertaining, and, at times, was so fast-paced that I couldn’t keep up with it. I loved Thorne’s involvement in this match, as he is one of the biggest stars in the promotion. I believe that Thorne is a future ASP Five-Star Champion, and this is just building toward that. I’m so excited to see where this goes!
All-Star Pro ‘Live Stream 14’
Another month and another All-Star pro event are in the books. This show was absolutely enjoyable. While it may have had its lulls, the parts that were great were great. As for the match of the night, I would consider the ASP Five-Star Championship main event between Tino Valentino and Johnny Kove to meet the criteria. It was a blast from start to finish and had a great ending that leaves you wanting more. You can watch ASP’s next event on June 20, 2021, where the ASP Royal Rumble match will take place live. Stay tuned to LWOPW to cover that contest!
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on All-Star Pro, and other independent promotions around the world. 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. Don’t forget to check out All-Star Pro on Facebook and Twitch to connect with one of the rising promotions in the Oklahoma scene.
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