{"id":97923,"date":"2021-08-10T10:00:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T14:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=97923"},"modified":"2022-04-10T14:33:16","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T18:33:16","slug":"gcw-no-signal-in-the-hills-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/08\/10\/gcw-no-signal-in-the-hills-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Full Reception: An On-Site Account of GCW No Signal in the Hills"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been exactly 1,471 days since I\u2019ve attended a pro wrestling show. This past weekend, I had the distinct honor of attending GCW<\/strong>\u2019s No Signal in the Hills<\/em><\/strong> in Los Angeles, California, at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Not only was this my first show since 2017, but I got to experience this with a friend who\u2019d be attending his first-ever independent show. For some years now, I had felt some kind of disconnect with professional wrestling, almost to the point where it not only felt like a chore to watch but found myself even hating it.<\/p>\n

After talking to a friend, commentator Hot Tub Shawn<\/strong>, we decided that this would be the perfect show to re-introduce me to wrestling and fall back in love with something I once cherished. To prepare me for what I could expect, I watched some past shows such as GCW To Live and DIE in LA<\/em><\/strong> as well as Joey Janela\u2019s Spring Break<\/em><\/strong>, which you can find on-demand on FITE. No matter how many shows I watched, I knew that there\u2019s no substitute for just going to an event in person and just feeling the raw emotion of the crowd and talent, leaving it out in the squared circle.<\/p>\n

\"GCW<\/p>\n

No Signal in the Hills<\/em> – First Impressions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Upon arriving at GCW for No Signal in the Hills<\/em>, I already got the feel of being at a modern-day ECW<\/strong>. Fan-favorite Nick Gage<\/strong><\/a>, greeting fans and giving out hugs before heading inside. Fans pregaming with alcohol and weed, I knew things would be lit, figuratively and literally, and we weren\u2019t even inside yet. As I waited in line, a cameraman happened to walk by, to where a fellow behind me would exclaim, \u201cDie Cardona die.\u201d For those unfamiliar, Matt Cardona<\/strong> had just defeated Nick Gage at Homecoming<\/em><\/strong> a few shows prior.<\/p>\n

Immediately, this caught the cameraman\u2019s attention, giving him a quick interview, even asking myself and my friend a few questions as well, since it was our first GCW event. After an hour in line, we were finally inside the Ukrainian Cultural Center. My first impressions were that it was a cozy venue, well lit, a nice-sized stage upfront, and big enough to host this sold-out crowd. As fans gathered in, some familiar faces were setting up shop around the ring, such as Jack Cartwheel<\/strong>, Ninja Mack<\/strong>, Rickey Shane Page<\/strong>, and darling Dark Sheik<\/strong><\/a>, who received a massive ovation before walking behind the curtain. She\u2019d be facing Nick Gage later in the night, a match that I looked forward to watching.<\/p>\n

If there were a singular word for me to describe the GCW faithful, it would be infectious. Here I was, perched into a spot against a wall, with a birds-eye view of the ring, and I could not help but be drawn into everything they were doing. It is captivating, just watching along, as they sang along to everyone\u2019s intro music; it was a concert. Though that could be said about most wrestling shows in general, this was more intimate, personal. It speaks even more volumes if your opponent is singing along to your theme as well, which BUSSY<\/strong> could not help but do so when Second Gear Crew<\/strong> burst through the curtain; granted, it is mighty hard not to sing along to Walk<\/em> by Pantera.<\/p>\n

AJ Gray vs. Lee Moriarty<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No Signal in the Hills<\/em> kicked off hot, with AJ Gray<\/strong> accompanied by \u201cThe New Age Punisher,\u201d B-Boy<\/strong>, going up against Lee Moriarty<\/strong><\/a>. This was my first time seeing either of them in the ring, and I have to say, I was impressed. This was a hard-hitting bout, with Gray picking up a well-deserved win and the perfect way to kick off the show. If you like technical wrestling, this is a match that you would enjoy.<\/p>\n

Antonio San Francisco vs. Jimmy Lloyd<\/h3>\n

Next up at No Signal in the Hills<\/em> was a fun match between Antonio San Francisco<\/strong> (ASF), who had made his GCW debut back in a show in Houston, Texas, going up against the gatekeeper of GCW, Jimmy Lloyd<\/strong>, who was initially scheduled to be in the scramble. ASF quickly turned heads, with his high-flying ability, even catching Lloyd off guard in several instances. While I do enjoy high-flyers, the sheer brutality of Lloyd caught my attention the most, at one point, reversing a sliced bread #2 attempt by ASF into a tombstone piledriver on the apron. This was an innovative match, to say the least, with both men busting out moves that I had never seen before, and that is something that does not happen often, so this was quite the treat, with Lloyd picking up the win and a sign of sportsmanship in the end.<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Starboy Charlie vs. Chris Dickinson<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The third match of the evening would be a rematch, as Starboy Charlie<\/strong> would look to get a win over the \u201cDirty Daddy\u201d himself, Chris Dickinson<\/strong>. The two fought at GCW Zombie Walk this past June with the veteran, Dickinson, being too much for Charlie. The young Charlie was looking for some kind of retribution, and he brought his A-game, to say the least. Right off the bat, he was taking the fight to Dickinson. While Dickinson is the crafty veteran, the pure heart of Starboy Charlie could not be denied in this bout. Dickinson had thrown everything at young Charlie, but his will to continue was on full display, kicking out of everything.<\/p>\n

Just when it seemed that Dickinson was going to finally put Charlie away, with a flurry of combinations, in a last-ditch effort, Charlie would catch him in an inverted octopus stretch, eventually transitioned into a modified armbar, making the \u201cDirty Daddy\u201d submit. The crowd went absolutely bonkers. Not only did Charlie pick up a huge win and continued to turn some heads, but he had also earned the respect of Dickinson. What makes Charlie stand out the most is the simple fact that he had just turned eighteen years old, and he is already this good. Starboy Charlie is someone we all should be keeping tabs on for years to come.<\/p>\n

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Wanna Make A Bet??? Another pic, @GCWrestling_<\/a> @FiteTV<\/a>, Bet That!!! pic.twitter.com\/b7HpeKsTtC<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ninja Mack (@NinjaMack1) August 9, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n