Central Empire Wrestling – A Legendary Night
When done right, a professional wrestling event can take its fans on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s these events, ones that get fans so emotionally invested in the stories being told, that become legendary in the realm of pro wrestling lore.
Last Saturday, March 5, Central Empire Wrestling put on one of these shows. Aptly titled the Legendary Series, CEW gave their fans a show that will stand the test of time as one of their very best. It plucked at their heartstrings in numerous ways while setting the course for CEW’s biggest event of the year Bridge City Slam IV, in June.
Fear leads to Excitement.
For this inaugural Legendary Series show, CEW brought in two certifiable wrestling legends in Cowboy Bob Orton and Haku.
With safety in mind, the CEW officials alerted everyone in attendance and offered a safe space in the basement of an adjacent building to those seeking shelter. The fear of the storm and concern of the show taking place crept in everyone’s mind.
Fortunately for the fans, promoter Austin Bayliss, and the wrestlers, the storm only delayed the show around 45 minutes. With the bad weather in the rearview, the Excitement began to rise as the show was set to begin. By the time Ript Studwell and the debuting Zay K47 made their entrances, the crowd was at a fever pitch.
Appreciation & Respect
Their story being told at a much more physical and deliberate pace from the match before them was something the CEW crowd greatly appreciated. The vicious Khan, fork in hand, continued attempts to maim Peppercricket raising the ire of the fans, not willing to see one of their heroes taken down.
Peppercricket, the former CEW Champion, would not be denied in front of his CEW supporters. The first-ever CEW Hall of Fame inductee fended off Khan’s assault before finishing him off with a splash from the middle rope.
After the match, Peppercricket got on the mic and told Khan how much he respected him for such a physically demanding match. Something the audience reciprocated with an applause of their own.
Nostalgia Pop #1
The crowd erupted when Haku made his way through the curtain and popped even louder when he won the match with his vaunted Tongan Death Grip. Nostalgia is a big part of wrestling and Haku gave the CEW fans a small piece of it Saturday night.
Sympathy, Sadness, Suspense
The surgery will keep Wilt away from the ring and doing something loves for the indefinite future. It was an emotional moment and one the CEW fans responded to with a rousing applause in support of Wilt.
Following Wilt’s announcement, was a hard-hitting contest between two consummate pros in the Beer City Bruiser and Storm Thomas.
After the match Thomas, who announced long before this show he was retiring from wrestling this year, grabbed the microphone. For the CEW fans, this was a moment they dreaded as this would be Thomas’ final appearance for CEW in Oskaloosa, the place where he began his wrestling career.
Thomas addressed the fans, he talked about his 11-year career in the ring. He mentioned how none of it – the hundreds of matches, the Cauliflower Alley Club honors, the WWE, AEW, and Impact Wrestling opportunities – would have happened if it wasn’t for one man, CEW promoter Austin Bayliss.
The suspense grew as Bayliss made his way to the ring and without saying a word, he accepted the challenge. The two friends embraced and once again the crowd erupted.
Central Empire Wrestling – A Legendary Night
Anger
With the Women’s Championship, now dubbed the Big Bad Championship around his waist, Wallace with the “Manager Supreme” Axel Greece by his side, was anything but an adequate referee.
After the match, Austin Bayliss announced that at Bridge City Slam IV there would be a proper women’s match with former WWE Superstar Victoria serving as special guest referee.
Central Empire Wrestling – A Legendary Night
Shock & Awe
Their tag team tables match for the CEW Tag Team Titles was everything fans could expect. Violence upon violence as both teams were hell bent on destroying each other. In a somewhat poetic moment, Rory Fox and Damien Saint crashed through a ringside table together, leaving Energy and Thumb one on one.
With the crowd fully behind him, Thumb, in an amazing display, broke free from being handcuffed to the ring post before bringing the assault to Energy.
But, after the two men made their way to the top turnbuckle. Energy was able to maneuver his way off of Thumbs shoulders, before sending him crashing through the table.
To say the CEW crowd was stunned would be an understatement.
The Mistery of Darkness had truly arrived and the fans were left in utter dismay.
Nostalgia Pop #2 & Pure Joy
Shortly after the tables match, CEW General Manager Jeff Alexander announced there was going to be a six-man tag match. This was to end the show. It was CEW’s way of rewarding the fans who stuck through the tornado warning to enjoy such a memorable show.
Central Empire Wrestling – A Legendary Night
On one team it would be Ript Studwell, the Candyman, and Big Bad Wallace. Their opponents and here was the real treat would be Storm Thomas and two partners. Thomas entered first and then Cowboy Bob Orton’s music hit and the place erupted.
It was nostalgia taking hold once again. Then, Jeff Alexander announced the sixth man for this match, TJ Wilt. The roof blew off the building as the fans, not knowing when they would see Wilt in the ring again, welcomed him to the ring with a hero’s ovation.
Putting the emotional cap on the night was Wilt getting the win with a massive chokeslam on Ript Studwell. After the match, Thomas, Orton, and Wilt stood in the ring together, arms raised in celebration. A legendary ending to a legendary show in the history of Central Empire Wrestling.
