Credit to William Patrick Corbin as he likes to call himself now for bringing us innovative wrestling programming via the revitalized NWA. One such show is the Circle Squared, a launching pad for promising Indie talent looking to gain prominence on the National scene.
Quoting that sage MJF, if you have been living under a rock, here is how the Circle Squared. Talent is brought to the Atlanta studio where Powerrr is shot. No word if the location is anywhere close to Bad Street, Atlanta, Ga.
Now that we have tipped our hat to Michael Hayes we can return to serious business. The invited performers are put through a two-step audition process. First, a promo is cut before the live audience. While the first participants climb into that very ring, the second group is brought out for their promo. This is referred to as the circle of promotion.
As for the second step, the contestants hook up in the ring for a match, ergo the square component of the equation. No worries, you are NOT in grade 8 algebra class.
Once the mic work and match are in the books, we at home are invited to vote for the wrestler who impressed us the most.
With almost 200,000 subscribers, no shortage of voices to be heard. Unlike Randy Orton who hears voices in his head, during the broadcast, we actually hear input from folks at home on the corners of our screen. Tonight, two episodes, Happy Hour comes to YouTube as well.
Welcome to #TheCircleSquared… @ColbyCorino
See his full promo and match now – https://t.co/iClIAnZacH@StevenCorino pic.twitter.com/OqrM3sQzkX
— NWA (@nwa) March 10, 2020
Familiar faces on the first installment, George South and Colby Corino. Many of us will remember George South. His very first match was a tag team affair and one of his opponents was none other than Koko B.Ware. My feathered friends tell me that Frankie still chirps about this encounter.
South spent many years as enhancement talent in just about every major fed.
We may remember his trademark look, long hair, fu Manchu and Confederate flag bandana. His heart still in Dixie where he trains wrestlers in the jewel of the South, Charlotte.
Colby Corino has wrestled in Ring of Honor and is the son of Steve Corino. He has similar looks to his dad and is looking for a long term wrestling home. He is the first to be introduced.
Corino mentions that he has been wrestling his entire life and that his raison d etre is to make his 7-month-old son Orion proud. He later mentions that at the age of 19, he almost threw his life away owing to a heroin addiction. Corino has been clean for two years, specifies that George South is like a father figure-mentor to him.
Outcomes George South, firing on all cylinders and looking to draw some real mid-July heat. He spews… I don t like none of you people. He points out that he has participated in over 10,000 matches yet never got to stand at the broadcast area. South tells Corino who is waiting in the ring that even though he is like a son to him if he had the chance, he would punch Corino’s mother in the face.
This is going to be an exciting veteran heel vs underdog youthful babyface with a compelling story dance.
The bell rings and Corino grabs the early advantage, uses a classic side headlock followed by a shoulder tackle. After Colby is put in a side headlock and slowed down by South he rebounds with a back elbow strike and a standing dropkick.
The veteran of many battles, South then chooses to go the claw to keep Corino in neutral. He went to this move no fewer than four times yet the second-generation competitor was able to stay afloat. He even survived an airplane spin albeit one executed in slow motion.
Corino managed to land on his feet, kicked South and headed to the corner to catch his breath. South attempted and missed a flying tackle that sent him to the mat. Corino made hay and rolled up South for an uplifting W. The crowd seriously buying into this Horatio Alger type story.
While it was obvious that South went out of his way to put the kid over, he played his villain role most effectively and contributed to the feel-good story of the night.
Episode 2 wrapped up with a Crockett Cup update from Joe Galli. Trevor Murdoch will take on Aron Stevens for the NWA National title. We are also told that four of the tag teams competing for the coveted Crockett Cup will be: The Rock and Roll Express, Brody King and Flip Gordon, Thom Latimer and Royce Isaacs as well as Rey Horus and Flamita.
Lastly, there will be a wild card entrant, a duo of the last two competitors of a gauntlet type match. Galli reveals the first 3 entrants to the field, Ricky Starks, Zicky Dice as well as Tim Storm.
#TneCircleSquared | Meet the two women competing in Episode 3!
Freya & @DaniJordynEpisodes 2 & 3 | Tomorrow at 6:05pmhttps://t.co/04Nf9wYyDk pic.twitter.com/Viw1AvTlzP
— NWA (@nwa) March 10, 2020
Episode 3:
This edition of Circle Squared commences and we meet the participants. First up is Freya the Slaya from Fairbanks, Alaska. Standing at 6ft 1 and being somewhat Rubenesque, Freya displays similarities to fellow kayfabe Alaskan Vanessa Kraven as well as Havoc, Jessika and not Jimmy btw by the lovely hamlet of Dubious, Ohio.
Freya who teaches grade 8 mentioned that when you come from the last frontier, you get to learn to survive the elements. She may not see Russia from her home but she does see the thermometer at 40 below in January.
Squaring off against the Slaya is Dani Jordyn. A small bundle of energy but with a healthy ego, Jordyn comes to the interview area with her burn book. She makes a few Alaska jokes and of course shows us Feya s photo in her red binder -burn book.
Jordyn refers to herself as the Real Mean Girl. Oh, that huge gap between theory and practice.
As Dave Marquez introduces the participants in the ring we are immediately struck by the huge size differential between the top.We will witness the classic clash of size and power overconfidence and tenacity.
Freya exhibits her talents and attributes from the get-go. Dani Jordyn is tossed around like a volleyball.
A one-handed bodyslam followed by a mezzo mezzo cover leads to a two count. Jordyn is being played with at this point while Stu Bennett ponders if she might be using the time-honored rope-a-dope tactic. She then makes a sound strategic decision to try to cut Freya s legs out from under her. A couple of knees aimed drop kicks later and we have what Vince McMahon called a very competitive matchup, talking like 35 years ago mind you.
A Hogan style leg drop misses its mark. Shortly thereafter, a bodyslam is averted because Freya had her knee give out on her. New hope for the author of the burn book seems imminent.
So much thought for the best-laid plans of mice and women. Gaining a surge of energy, the pedagogue from the 49th State hits Jordyn with a Michinoku Driver to put an end to this tilt.
Two enjoyable editions of the Circle Squared which will, like a good supermarket sample of taramasalata leave you craving for more. Next week though, Powerrr returns to its normal time slot and yours truly will be more than pleased, as usual, to offer you my perspective of Circle Squared.