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Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live, ongoing coverage of the debut event from Awesome Championship Wrestling, live from the legendary Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, a venue that hosted the debut of Elizabeth in the WWF, the “Land of 1,000 Dances” Wrestling Album music video shoot, Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn at ECW Hardcore Heaven, the House of Hardcore promotion’s debut and tons more history.
Tonight, ACW looks to make history again with the following lineup:
*20 Man Poughkeepsie Rumble to crown first champion.
*TNA Champion Nic Nemeth vs. Matt Riddle for the first time ever.
*NWA Champion Tom Latimer vs. Tommy Dreamer.
*NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion Alex Taylor vs. GKM vs. REAL1 fka Enzo Amore.
*Kelly Madan vs Tiara James.
*Anthony Greene vs. Crowbar.
*Sent 2 Slaughter vs. The Now - Tables Match.
*Also appearing are Little Guido, Richard Holliday and more.
PRE-SHOW NOTES
ACW had around 1,400 tickets sold in advance and with tonight's walk-up, they sold out the venue for their first-ever event...Former ECW Director and Producer Ron Buffone is visiting, as is AEW's Dutch...There are several surprises scheduled for tonight...The promotion has already secured a May return at the venue....The promotion had a big meet and greet before the show with most of those appearing as well as Tony Atlas and Rita Marie....The opening match will be for the NWA Junior Title....They are playing highlights of past moments in the venue on the big screen on the entrance stage.
The fans chanted ACW when the show began.
They introduced Dave LaGreca as the host of the evening. He got a big pop and even some pyro. He put over what a big night this is for the company and how excited he is for his friend Tommy Dreamer to challenge for the NWA Title.
Matthew James is our ring announcer tonight.
NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion Alex Taylor vs. GKM vs. REAL1 fka Enzo Amore.
Enzo came out to a big pop and did his usual mic work. The crowd liked it. He said he was truly excited to be back in his hometown. He said if anyone steps up to him tonight, there's only word to describe it..SAWFFFT.
GKM and Taylor each got nice responses.
They all battled and then went to the floor. Enzo picked up Taylor in a Razor's Edge position and ran him into the ring post. He nailed a frog splash off the top for a two count on GKM. The crowd chanted for GKM. Taylor pulled Enzo to the floor and the fought. GKM hit a dive through the ropes, wiping them out. GKM got the crowd going and went to the top but was cut off by Taylor, who went for a superplex. It was blocked. Enzo got underneath Taylor and put him in the electric chair. GKM came off the top with a Doomsday Device clothesline. The crowd chanted for GKM. Enzo tried to pick the bones but couldn't get the pin. Enzo hit Eat Defeat on GKM but Taylor tossed him out and covered GKM for the pin. The crowd BOOED that as they had decided GKM was their guy. Good match!
Your winner and still NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion Alex Taylor!
Enzo took the mic and said he had to cut weight to have the title shot tonight and had to diet. He said he was in the mood for pizza. He began naming different pizzas, trying to get the crowd to react. Most booed him at this point because he kept naming national chains. He asked if there was a local place and asked someone deliver him a pizza.
Out came the FBI - Little Guido, Ray Jaz & Zack Clayton, the TNA version of the group. They were a surprise and got a nice pop. Guido brought a pizza. Ray offered him the pizza but Guido had eaten half of it already. Enzo was offended and walked out, without the pizza. Who turns down free pizza?
The FBI - Little Guido, Ray Jaz & Zack Clayton vs. Danny Doring & Landon Hale & Dante Casanova.
Doring came out (another surprise) and said he was a star from yesteryear but he was proud not to be a Poughkeepsie Pork Chop. He said in this building, Guido beat him down and cut his hair. He's here to take out the FBI 25 years later.
Landon and Zack started, going back and forth. Zack nailed several armdrags and a dropkick. The crowd was very much popping for every babyface move. Guido out-wrestled Casanova at one point and they went berserk. Ray Jaz got the crowd clapping and behind him but missed a charge in the corner. Landon splashed him for a two count. They battled back and forth. Casanova used the craw on Jaz. Team Doring worked over Jaz in their corner. The crowd chanted for the FBI. Zack finally got the hot tag and cleaned house. It turned into pandemonium with everyone fighting. The FBI hit triplicate Sicilian Slices off the ropes. The FBI scored the pin. Very much a "make the crowd happy" bout with good vs. evil old school tag team antics.
Your winners, The FBI!
Doring's partners abandoned him after the match, leaving him to soak in the boos after the match.
They aired a backstage vignette with talents getting their Rumble numbers. Wrecking Ball Legursky wanted to know Richard Holliday's number and declared all would fall to The Wrecking Ball.
Anthony Greene vs. Crowbar.
They faced off and went back and forth. Crowbar shoulderblocked him down. The crowd chanted for Crowbar. Green regained momentum, whipping Crowbar hard into the corner. Greene called him and old man and mocked him. He slammed Crowbar and went for an elbow but missed. Crowbar nailed him with some hard chops in the corner. Crowbar took him down and nailed a guillotine legdrop across the bottom rope. They battled on the floor. Crowbar came off the railing, drilling Greene. Crowbar worked him over for a long time, scoring a two count after an elevated slam. Greene made a comeback with a neckbreaker. Crowbar went for a Northern Lights suplex but Greene blocked it and nailed a diamond cutter. The crowd chanted for Crowbar as Greene went to the floor and grabed a steel chair. He argued with the crowd but when he turned towards the ring, Crowbar dropkicked through the ropes, smashing the chair into him.
Crowbar bridged a piece of barricade from the ring and suplexes Greene onto it, then splashed him from the ring across it. The crowd chanted "Holy sh**" and "ACW." Crowbar tossed a chair onto the ring and drilled Greene with it. Greene came back to hit a swinging Tomakaze off the ropes. That was cool. He worked over Crowbar on the mat, then drilled him with a chair. Apparently referee Jim Molineaux thought this WAS ECW!
Greene went to the top but was cut offf by Crowbar. Crowbar hit a top rope rana and the Northern Lights suplex for the pin.
Your winner, Crowbar!
Very good back and forth, hard fought match.
Kelly Madan vs Tiara James.
Vicious Vicky came out as they were about to compete. She said tonight would not be a show without her. She said it wouldn't be a show without a Queen and declared herself the Queen of ACW. She said she was going to sit ringside and watch.
They locked up and grappled around the ring. Madan gained control but James went to the floor. She grabbed a sign from a fan and ripped it up. When she returned to the ring, Madan controlled her with a hside headlock and used several pinfall combinations. Tiara cut her off and worked over Kelly while arguing with the crowd, mocking her opponent. That got the crowd to react. James drilled her with several knees as Kelly came off the ropes. James nailed a knee and scored a two count with a splash. Madan came back with and nailed some nice looking offense. She nailed a double axehandle off the ropes for a two count.
James regained control but Madan went to kick her as she charged. James grabbed her leg but Madan nailed her. Vicky got on the apron and argued with Madan. James charged from behind but Madan moves and Vicky was wiped out off the apron. Madan used a backslide and scored the pin.
Your winner, Kelly Madan!
Solid storytelling that got the crowd into it all.
More on Page 2!
For more on the promotion, visit ThisIsACW.com.
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