Joey Janela will not be wrestling on this weekend’s GCW shows.
The 33-year-old posted to Twitter on Thursday saying a burn suffered at a DDT show this weekend “is only getting worse” and limiting mobility in his arm.
Janela wrestled in a six-man tag team deathmatch against a team led by Atsushi Onita on Sunday at DDT Dramatic Explosion In Niigata.
Hey guys unfortunately I’m not gonna be able to Wrestle at @GCWrestling_ this weekend. The burn on my arm is only getting worse, since it’s on a joint the flexibility on my left arm is severely limited. I will be going to a hospital later. I will still be in ATL & Orlando please…
— “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) April 20, 2023
Janela was scheduled to face Bryan Keith at GCW Into The Light on Friday in Atlanta. He was then set to defend his GCW Extreme Championship against Kommander at Scene Of The Crime in Orlando on Saturday.
GCW Into the Light 4/21 lineup:
Mike Jackson vs. Blake Christian
Cole Radrick vs. Shigehiro Irie
Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander vs. Ciclope & Miedo Extremo
Arez, Jack Cartwheel & Gringo Loco vs. Allie Katch, Dark Sheik, & Effy
Anthony Henry & JD Drake vs. Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne
Mike Bailey vs. Alex Zayne
Billie Starkz vs. Allison Danger
Komander vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo
GCW Scene of the Crime 4/22 lineup:
Ciclope & Miedo Extremo vs. El Knight & Malik Bosede
Tony Deppen vs. Robert Martyr
Allie Katch, Effy, & Dark Sheik vs. Billie Starkz, Brogan Finlay & Cole Radrick
Blake Christian vs. Alex Zayne
Arez vs. Rich Swann
JCW Champion Jordan Oliver defends against Shigehiro Irie
GCW Champion Masha Slamovich defends against Sawyer Wreck
It’s WrestleMania weekend which means GCW’s Collective series of events which means another edition of Joey Janela’s Spring Break.
The seventh edition in the series is live from Los Angeles, California, and features several high-profile, first-time-ever matches.
After he wrestled his first match since October 2021 Thursday at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, former NJPW star Kota Ibushi will return to traditional action as he takes on Janela himself.
Budding superstar and AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo will go one-on-one with “Speedball” Mike Bailey for the first time.
The GCW Tag Team titles will be on the line as the Motor City Machine Guns will defend against Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver.
The unusual combo of Maki Itoh & Nick Gage (aka Maki Death Kill) will team up against former GCW Tag Team Champions BUSSY (Allie Katch & EFFY)
The PPV will also feature a Grab the Brass Ring DLC (doors, ladders and chairs) match.
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Show Report —
The show started 20 minutes late.
Grab the Brass Ring Ladder match: Blake Christian defeated Gringo Loco, Komander, Jack Cartwheel, Billie Starkz, Shane Mercer, Tony Deppen, Alec Price, & Cole Radrick
I’m sorry, but the name of this match is so funny. A “Grab the Brass Ring” ladder match in a venue where you literally can’t hang anything from the ceiling, so it’s just pinfall or submission? Anyway, the winner earns a title shot. Blake Christian was an unannounced addition.
Gringo and Komander had an early exchange. Mercer pressed Price over his head and tossed him onto a pile of opponents before Gringo whacked him with chairs and hit a jumping destroyer. Christian smashed Radrick with a ladder-assisted senton.
Price used two attempts to stomp Starkz through a door for two. Gringo was the base on a Cartwheel-Deppen Tower of Doom suplex spot. Cartwheel then put Radrick through a door on the floor. Mercer hit Moonsault & Battery off the ladder. Gringo smashed him over the head with unprotected chair shots.
Gringo set Mercer up on a door bridge, but the door broke before he could do anything with it. A second attempt led to Price jumping off a ladder bridge to the floor, Komander doing his rope-walk dive, and Gringo putting Mercer through the door with a senton bomb. Starkz planted Radrick for two.
Starkz hit the Sugoi Driver on Radrick, but Christian came in and stomped her face-first into the mat for the win.
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GCW Tag Team Championships: The East-West Express (Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) (c) to win the titles
The East-West Express gained the upper hand early on, landing simultaneous dives. Back in the ring, they kept it up with tandem offense until the Guns hit Oliver with a Magic Killer to take control. Shelley and Sabin isolated Oliver in the ring as Wayne was busted open.
Oliver fought back with a running clothesline and tagged in Wayne, who ran wild on Sabin. Shelley cut Wayne off with a facebuster into the turnbuckle pad. Oliver backflipped out of a sunset bomb attempt, but Sabin returned fire with a Death Valley bomb for two.
Shelley and Wayne exchanged finisher attempts until Shelley hit Shell Shocked for two. He immediately transitioned into the Border City Stretch as Sabin put Oliver in a cloverleaf. Wayne cradled Shelley to break the submission, but the Guns maintained control.
Bad timing led to Shelley booting Sabin. Wayne took Shelley out with a dive and Oliver hit Shelley with the Clout Cutter for a good near fall. Both of the East West Express hit Clout Cutters for another near fall. They finally hit a double team Clout Cutter for the win.
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DDT’s Yoshihiko, a human-sized doll (and current Ironman Heavymetalweight champion), came out for a promo. Interviewed by Emil Jay, she said nothing but gestured a lot. She nodded “yes” when asked whether she’d stick around in GCW.
Charles Mason and Parrow interrupted. Mason took Yoshihiko out with a cheap shot and called her “not real.” He took out a knife and was about to cut Yoshihiko open, but Yoshihiko’s handler got in the way. Parrow crushed the handler, and Mason unmasked him as Jimmy Lloyd. Mason made Lloyd look as Parrow was about to spike Yoshihiko, but she fought back and hit Parrow with a German.
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Hijo del Vikingo defeated Mike Bailey
They both had each other scouted at the start. Bailey got a brief advantage after some kicks, but Vikingo returned fire with a rope-rebound kick of his own. He stumbled on a double springboard but recovered to land a tope suicida. Back in the ring, Bailey took out Vikingo’s legs and began to dismantle the left. He twisted over into a modified deathlock.
Vikingo fired back with overhand chops. They had a long multiple-minute chop exchange until Bailey surprised Vikingo with a kick combination. A running shooting star press got two. Vikingo came back with a black hole slam and running knees through the ropes before concluding the run with a shooting star press off the apron.
Back inside the ring, Vikingo hit a springboard Phoenix Splash for two. Bailey avoided a dive and hit a top-rope Asai moonsault. He landed moonsault double knees and a buzzsaw kick for two. Bailey kept up the relentless assault with kicks, but Vikingo avoided the Ultimate Weapon. They botched Vikingo’s imploding dragonrana, but Vikingo hit a stalling German for two.
They traded strikes on the apron. Vikingo avoided moonsault knees and landed a crazy diving destroyer on the ring frame. Bailey countered a top-rope shooting star press and hit Meteor Rain, a top-rope fisherman’s buster, for a near fall. Vikingo fought out of the Flamingo Driver.
After jockeying for position on the top rope, Vikingo hit an avalanche spinning side slam followed by the 630 splash for the win.
Allie and Itoh had a cute-off at the start. Gage and Effy tagged in, with Gage taking control after a running elbow drop. BUSSY cut Gage off and isolated him with double teams. Gage fought off both opponents, and a stalling vertical suplex allowed him to tag in Itoh.
Itoh let us know that she’s the cutest in the world before hitting a swinging DDT on Effy for two. Gage produced a pizza cutter, but Allie cut him off and wrapped a chair around his head. Effy and Allie both used the pizza cutter on Itoh until Gage ran in for the save. Itoh got her payback with the pizza cutter as Gage carved up Effy.
Gage and Allie both took out an opponent, leading to them exchanging forearms in the ring. Gage then hit the Chokebreaker, but Effy broke up the pin. Itoh whacked Effy with a chair, but Effy gained control of the chair and smashed it over Gage’s head. Itoh chokeslammed Effy over some propped-up chairs, but Allie broke up the pin attempt.
Allie made Itoh cry, then mocked her. Effy rolled Itoh up for two. Gage made it back in as Itoh hit a diving DDT and Gage hit almost like a One Winged Angel for the simultaneous pinfall victory.
– Gage was about to cut a promo post-match, but Matt Cardona showed up with Steph De Lander and attacked Gage with a chair. He complained about not being booked on WrestleMania. GCW World Champion Masha Slamovich then showed up and faced off with De Lander, leading to an impromptu GCW World Championship match.
GCW World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) defeated Steph De Lander
De Lander somehow maintained control throughout pretty much the entire match despite not being in wrestling gear and wrestling the promotion’s world champion. She eventually chokeslammed Slamovich through chairs for two. Slamovich came back with an air raid crash through a door. She went for the White Knight Driver, but Cardona ran in and broke it up.
Cardona was about to hit Slamovich with a chair, but Gage and Itoh ran out for the save. Slamovich locked on the sleeper for the win.
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Kota Ibushi defeated Joey Janela
Neither man took control for a few minutes. Janela tried to play some mind games to get into Ibushi’s head. He surprised Ibushi with a rolling elbow and laid in chops in the corner, but Ibushi returned fire with a mid kick. Janela cut him off and beat him down until Ibushi popped up with a hurricnrana. Ibushi then landed an Orihara moonsault to the floor.
Ibushi kept up the attack with an arm-trap German, He climbed the ropes again, but Janela popped up and brought Ibushi crashing down with a superplex. They fought on the apron, where Janela charged at Ibushi — but Ibushi moved out of the way, sending Janela face-first into the ring post. Janela was busted open.
Janela caught a running attack from Ibushi and turned it into an apron DDT. He set up a structure of doors and chairs on the outside. They fought each other around the turnbuckles, leading to Ibushi hitting a crazy German suplex from the ring to the floor through the door structure. It wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely insane.
Back inside the ring, Janela hit two Death Valley drivers, but Ibushi kicked out at one. They traded forearms until Ibushi finally stopped the exchange with a suplex. Janela returned fire with a German, but Ibushi hit one of his own. Simultaneous clothesline attempts led to the double down.
Ibushi laid in a flurry of strikes, his classic strike combination. Janela countered a standing moonsault and landed a lariat followed by a package piledriver for two. He laid in repeated thrust kicks, but Ibushi cut him off with a running knee before hitting the Kamigoye for the win.
– After the match, Janela talked about his career and what led to this point. He thanked Tony Khan before welcoming Ibushi back to the business of pro wrestling. They shook hands and posed before signing off.
Joey Janela’s opponent for his Spring Break event is now set.
Janela announced on Twitter Wednesday night that he will face Kota Ibushi. This year’s Spring Break event will take place on March 31 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center.
“My whole career has been dedicated to being selfless, young guys & gals or older that are giving it or gave it all to this business & getting them the respect they deserve!, Janela wrote. “But it’s my TIME! I will put on the best performance of career! For those that support me, Thank you.”
Other matches set for Joey Janela’s Spring Break include Speedball Mike Bailey vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo and The Motor City Machine Guns vs. East West Express (Jordan Oliver and Nick Wayne) for the GCW Tag Team titles. Maki Itoh and Nick Gage will also team together on the show, though their opponents have not been named.
Ibushi is also set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport on March 30, where he is scheduled to face Bailey. It will be his first match since October of 2021, when he injured his shoulder in that year’s G1 Climax finals against Kazuchika Okada. His contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling expired earlier this year.
Wrestling Observer Live with Mike Sempervive is back, and as always there’s a lot to get into, including a look at tonight’s WWE Smackdown and AEW Rampage, Himeka’s retirement, Bronson Reed’s decision to return to WWE, JD McDonagh, Impact, New Japan and more.
Plus The Bad Boy himself Joey Janela joins the show to talk about Saturday’s Jersey J-Cup tournament, which is streaming on Fite+, and more. If you’re not the host or video producer, it’s a fun show as always, so check it out~!
AEW has revealed the bracket for the World title eliminator tournament set to conclude at Full Gear on November 19.
Eight participants have been announced for the tournament, with one first round match set for the November 9 Dynamite, and three set for the November 11 Rampage.
The tournament semifinals will take place the following week, with the finals set for Full Gear. The winner will receive a title shot at Winter is Coming on December 14.
The first round matches:
Eddie Kingston vs. Ethan Page — November 9 Dynamite
Bandido vs. Rush — November 11 Rampage
Ricky Starks vs. Lance Archer — November 11 Rampage
Brian Cage vs. Dante Martin — November 11 Rampage
Bryan Danielson won the 2021 AEW World title eliminator tournament, defeating Miro in the finals at Full Gear. Danielson went on to face Hangman Page for the title at Winter is Coming in December in a match that went to a time limit draw.
Joey Janela believes his comments about how AEW communicates with members of its roster upset Tony Khan but led to positive changes in the company.
Janela was a guest on Insight with Chris Van Vliet and spoke about his final two months in AEW. He referenced an interview he gave to Denise Salcedo in March where he was critical of how the company communicated with him and Marko Stunt regarding the expiring of their contracts. According to Janela, his comments helped spur a change in how AEW handles such situations.
“Chances are that I was going to be renewed, whether it be with Ring of Honor, but I just ran my mouth in an interview saying, “I haven’t heard from anyone, what is going on? I guess I’m not getting renewed.'”
“Then I heard that Tony was hot about it. It made him look bad, made their talent relations look bad but at the same time it made them improve their communications with talent. Within that two week period that I did that the communications were a lot better.”
Janela continued to say that while he heard some in AEW were upset at his comments, he also heard that talent were pleased he spoke up.
“I heard people were upset, but I also heard talent was hitting me up from the company saying, ‘You’re 100% correct, you spoke up, you’re correct and that was cool for you to take that risk.'”
He would continue to say that he has not spoken with Khan since leaving the company and believes the AEW President might still be upset about his comments.
“I haven’t talked to Tony since, which is something that kind of irked me because we were so cool and we always after the AEW shows, when AEW first started, I would go out with him because he knew I’d be the one to stay up with him to seven in the morning drinking shots of tequila. I assume he’s still irked by it, but there’s no hard feelings on either side.”
“There’s no bridges burned between me and AEW. I’m friends with all the talent there, I’m in contact with all the talent there.”
Joey Janela needed immediate assistance after setting his right foot on fire for a flaming superkick spot Saturday at GCW Maniac.
Janela was wrestling Drew Parker in the night’s main event and doused his boot with lighter fluid, setting it on fire. However, after the spot, the fire wouldn’t go out. Several water bottles were thrown into the ring to help out as Janela worked feverishly to get the boot off as the flame kept going.
Eventually, the water and a towel put out the flame with Janela limping around the ring and continuing shortly thereafter. Parker later won after hitting a swanton bomb off a ladder as Janela was covered by a door adorned with barbed wire.
Janela joked about the spot on Twitter afterward and appears to be fine.
Here’s the full results from the show:
Blake Christian defeated Kevin Blackwood
Tony Deppen defeated Titus Alexander
“Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated Masha Slamovich
GCW Extreme Champion AJ Gray defeated Starboy Charlie, Jack Cartwheel, Cole Radrick, Ninja Mack and Jimmy Lloyd in a six-way scramble title match
Jordan Oliver defeated Biff Busick
Dark Sheik defeated LuFisto
Bandido defeated Nick Wayne
GCW Tag Team Champions Bussy (Effy & Allie Katch) defeated Journey Fatu & Juicy Finau to retain
Joey Janela will be departing AEW when his contract expires this May.
In an interview with Denise Salcedo that was released on Wednesday, Janela detailed why he isn’t interested in re-signing with AEW. His contract is set to expire on May 1 of this year.
Janela has been part of the AEW roster since the company launched in 2019 but recently has only appeared on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation.
Janela responded when asked if he’d like to re-sign with AEW:
I said in a couple interviews with Sean [Ross Sapp] in September, that was All Out weekend I believe, I said ‘yes.’ As recent as an interview with Barstool Sports I said ‘yes.’ My contract’s up on May 1. And I am gonna have to say no now. I am not interested in signing with AEW. Re-signing with them.
I was a little scared getting back into the independent wrestling world and making money. You take those things for granted, you’re getting a paycheck every two weeks. A pretty good paycheck. In your head you’re like ‘sh*t, when this is over, this is gonna disappear.’ But I was born a hustler in this business. I was scared to get back into that world but now I am no longer scared. Back in the day before AEW, I was going out to wrestle for basically nothing. I was just doing it because I love it, I would do 3-4 shows a week. I would rack up small paydays from the promoters, plus my merchandise and I’d be satisfied and I’d be making a lot of money. But now my price has gone significantly up so I didn’t know if the promoters were gonna welcome me back with open arms. But recently I’ve realized that the promoters know the situation, they realize what the situation is gonna be and they’ve been hitting me up big time. They say ‘we want you to come back here. We want you to wrestle some of the newer guys we have. We want you to wrestle some of the older guys. We want that Joey Janela back.’
Janela said he’s happy and satisfied with the time he spent in AEW, but he wishes there was less radio silence from the company in their communication with wrestlers whose contracts are expiring. Janela said he isn’t interested in a per-appearance deal with AEW.
And I am happy and I am satisfied with what I did in those three years in AEW. It was a learning experience, and I am gonna say this in the most positive way possible without looking negative. AEW, those three years, was developmental for the rest of my career. I am so much sharper now, not only in-ring but business wise, I’ve learned so much in those three years. Now not only am I sharper myself, in all facets of the wrestling business, but also I can go to a young guy, I could go to a Nick Wayne and teach him some of the stuff I’ve learned in those three years. Or I can go to GCW or I can go to another promotion and teach them what I’ve learned on the other side of the curtain.
I am not sad at all. I did everything I wanted to do there. Within the six months I started there, my goal was to wrestle Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, main event TV, main event pay-per-view. Did it all. The only thing I didn’t get was an action figure. So be it. It’s over now and we’re just moving forward. I have no complaints, I thank Tony [Khan]. I just wish they were more… they’ve been doing this to people, they’ve been radio silent on the people they are letting the contracts expire, that’s why you have talent relations to talk to your talent and tell them what the situation is. If they are gonna have a paycheck coming in or if they are gonna be signed to a per-appearance deal, which some of the guys have agreed to. I would never agree on a per-appearance deal anywhere. My per-appearance deal is gonna be when I am booking myself all over the world, I am booked in six different countries coming up. Per appearance on the independent scene, I wanna be my own boss. That’s how I got my name out there, I was my own boss, and I had the most buzz outside of The Elite and that’s why I had this opportunity at AEW, that’s why I had this opportunity at All In. People say to me on the internet, ‘the only reason why you worked at AEW is because you were friends with the Young Bucks.’ I met the Young Bucks twice before AEW. I was one of the most successful self-promoting wrestlers in the world at that point.
I am not sad about anything, I thank everyone there, I learned so much. I had ups and downs. COVID really killed me wrestling in front of no crowd, I really lost motivation, my back was shot out. The doctors told me my back is shaped like an ‘S’ because of all the wild stuff I have done in my career, that’s something that is scary to hear and ‘that’s why you’re not moving the way you should at 31 years old. It’s because your spine is shaped like an ‘S.” But that’s been fixed, I feel great I am back in shape. I just wish there was less radio silence on their end with me. I consider Tony a friend, I hung out with Tony a lot in the beginning days of AEW, I just wish they would talk to me. I know it’s come to an end. But I appreciate them, I appreciate the experience I had and I am gonna take everything I learned there and bring it with me for the rest of my career.
Janela said he thinks the straw that broke the camel’s back for him in AEW may have been an incident where he accidentally injured Eddie Kingston, but he doesn’t know because they don’t communicate with him. But Janela said he isn’t mad at anyone, and he had a wonderful experience in AEW.
Well it was weird because we were doing this whole angle with Sonny Kiss, that I basically booked the whole thing top to bottom and it was hitting on all cylinders for their internet TV show, it wasn’t on TV, people were bombarding us to put it on TV. Because it was so good and the emotion was there. People were into it and people started to hate me because I turned on Sonny Kiss. I said listen Sonny, ‘You’re over now to a degree, but I wanna get you to the next level with this storyline.’ If I knew otherwise I would have had Sonny Kiss go over in our final street fight in Universal Studios, which was a great received match, I would have had Sonny go over me and I would have walked into the sunset.
But I think they had plans for me, Tony kept on saying ‘after this we’re bring you back to TV’ but unfortunately I think a lot of it has to do with a situation where I worked with Eddie Kingston in Charlotte, and I superkicked him in the face a little bit too hard, came in a little bit too hot, I had been squatting probably 50 more pounds than I am used to be squatting, and doing a hundred pounds more on the leg press and I don’t know, I didn’t realize I had that type of power in my legs and I gave him a superkick and I broke his orbital bone. He was going into a feud with Chris Jericho, and I feel that may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
A lot of guys, maybe some older heads that believed my hype and believed that I was some kind of dangerous professional wrestler. I’ve had times where I’ve injured people of course, everyone has. But once you get that reputation, it’s hard to break that. I’ve had a string of bad luck throughout my AEW career and that may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back but I don’t know because they don’t communicate with me. They did the same thing to Marko Stunt. They just stopped talking to him. But I appreciate them. If you have talent relations, I know Christopher Daniels would love nothing more than to tell me I am no longer with the company. But it is what it is. I am not sad, I am not mad, I am not mad at anyone, I had a wonderful experience. I am happy for Penelope Ford, who came up with me, she was my girlfriend at one point, we made this thing happen from CZW, to Dojo Wars which was in a storage unit somewhere in South Jersey, all the way to these bigger shows to us getting a full blown deal for three years with All Elite Wrestling and she’s doing wonderful right now and I did everything I ever wanted there and to me I am gonna make basically the same money this year doing independents, but working twice as hard this year.
It’s no big deal to me and I appreciate everyone there and I appreciate everything that I got to do. I am just happy right now, I am more focused, more motivated than I’ve ever been in my career. You could see it in my work. There’s been nothing but good Joey Janela matches over the last eight months. Whether it be my matches that I did at AEW Dark, or my GCW matches, or my match with Nick Wayne which is arguably the best independent wrestling match of last year. I am back to where I wanted to be and I feel 10 years younger. I am not gonna change a thing, it was great. Great times and I am having a great time right now.
Janela spoke about his goals going forward and wanting to be his own boss:
One of my goals is to really have a run in Japan, which is something I’ve wanted since I was a child, I’ve done shows in Japan, but I’ve never had a steady run there. That will be in the works very soon. I wanna continue doing what I am doing. No matter what the crowd is, no matter if it’s 100 people, 600 people, 3,000 people, I wanna give the same effort every time. I wanna wrestle new talent, I wanna find new talent, I am gonna bring new talent to GCW, to wrestle better guys and get themselves recognized and ready for a contract somewhere whether it be the WWE or AEW or maybe New Japan.
I want to wrestle two, three, four times a week. No matter how my body feels. There’s nothing more rewarding than doing an indie show and after your match saying ‘damn I am beat up, how am I gonna wrestle tomorrow? How am I gonna wrestle the next day?’ And then wrestling those three days, and giving it your all and giving matches that people are talking about all over the place. And when you get home that Monday and you lay in your bed at 9 o’clock in the morning because you haven’t slept for three days and you’re beat up and you sleep till 8 at night, there’s nothing more rewarding than that.
Who knows what’s going to happen? I don’t think I’ll sign another contract in my career quite personally but who knows, strange things have happened and I can see right now on the string of matches I’ve had in the last eight months and the run I’ve had in the last eight months. I see people that turned on me when I started to get lazy in AEW and started to get more out of shape, and I see those people coming back. I see a lot of those fans coming back to me… that’s rewarding to me, for all the fans that believed me and stopped believing in me and now they are coming back to witness another chapter in my life.
It’s gonna be great to see where 2022 leads me. Because I know nothing but positive is coming my way. As long as I keep focused and I stay healthy, that’s all. I wish everyone luck. I wish everyone in AEW, all my friends, that I don’t get to see anymore, I wish them luck. I know they feel the same way about me, they know how much I love professional wrestling and how I love nothing more than helping people. I put everyone in front of myself, I always put everyone in front of myself, and I will continue. I just hate politics, I hate the political aspects of this business, but that’s every business and that’s why I am gonna be my own boss and no one is gonna tell me nothing because I know I am right and I know that I am one of the best wrestlers in the world. I need to be me, a hundred percent, I can’t have anyone tell me what to do. I don’t want anyone to tell me how to wrestle, how to live my life, how to portray myself on social media. I don’t want that. I am Joey Janela, this is how I got my name out there and I am gonna be Joey Janela and this is the year that I am gonna be the platform that proves that I am one of the best. 100 percent.
GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6 parts one and two are taking place in Dallas on Thursday, March 31 and Saturday, April 2. Janela vs. Sean “X-Pac” Waltman is set for part one.
Sean “X-Pac” Waltman and Joey Janela will face off as part of The Collective during WrestleMania week.
After a challenge that was issued by Waltman last weekend, it’s been confirmed that Waltman vs. Janela will take place at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6 part one on Thursday, March 31. The show is being held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas and will air live on Fite TV.
Janela and Waltman teamed together last Friday night at GCW Welcome to Heartbreak. Following their victory over Matt Cardona & Brian Myers, Waltman told the fans that it had been his final match. As Waltman continued to address the crowd, Janela turned against Waltman by superkicking him.
Waltman then issued the challenge for Spring Break at GCW The Coldest Winter on Saturday.
Welcome to Heartbreak was the first time Waltman has wrestled since 2019.
The updated lineup for Spring Break 6 part one is as follows:
GCW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against AJ Gray
X-Pac vs. Joey Janela
GCW Ultraviolent Champion Alex Colon defends against John Wayne Murdoch
Sean “X-Pac” Waltman has challenged Joey Janela to a match at GCW’s Spring Break 6 event during WrestleMania weekend.
Waltman issued the challenge on tonight’s GCW The Coldest Winter from Los Angeles. Janela kicked off tonight’s show with an in-ring promo explaining his actions, saying that he doesn’t get enough credit for being unselfish in GCW. Waltman then confronted him and challenged him to the match for the first night of Spring Break.
One night earlier, Janela and Waltman teamed together and defeated Brian Myers and Matt Cardona. Waltman spoke to the crowd after and said that it had been his final match. As Waltman was still speaking, Janela superkicked him, turning against his partner in a show-closing angle.
The first night of the two-part event is scheduled for March 31st from Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. The following night, Spring Break 6 Part 2, will take place from the same venue.
Also on tonight’s show, Mance Warner issued a challenge to GCW Tag Team Champions Nick Gage and Matt Tremont on behalf of himself and Matthew Justice. Warner hasn’t wrestled since undergoing surgery to repair a broken tibia and a broken fibula last November. Warner said he doesn’t want the match to take place at Spring Break, however, but rather at GCW Astronaut on March 12th from Atlanta.
They also announced a show from the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles on March 24th.
Results from GCW The Coldest Winter are below:
Ninja Mack defeated Jack Cartwheel
Jordan Oliver defeated Dark Sheik
Thunder Rosa defeated Tony Deppen
Jimmy Lloyd defeated Alex Zayn in a Do or Die Deathmatch
Bussy (Effy & Allie Katch) & The Second Gear Crew (AJ Gray & Matthew Justice) defeated Team LA Fights
GCW’s Welcome to Heartbreak on Saturday night featured multiple angles setting up matches for The Collective events during WrestleMania weekend.
AJ Gray called out Jon Moxley for Spring Break, while the show closing angle saw Joey Janela turn on tag team partner Sean “X-Pac” Waltman.
Gray called for a match with Jon Moxley at Joey Janela’s Spring Break after he defeated ACH on tonight’s show. Gray won the Grab the Brass Ring ladder match at the WRLD on GCW last month which allows him to choose any match he wants at any time.
The show also featured the in-ring return of Waltman, wrestling his first match since April 2019. Following he and Janela’s victory over Matt Cardona and Brian Myers, X-Pac announced it had would be his last match. As he continued to address the crowd, however, Janela superkicked him, turning on his partner.
Cardona also interrupted a Chris Dickinson promo that took place on the show. Dickinson got in Cardona’s face and challenged him to a match at Spring Break.
Elsewhere on the show, The Briscoes called for a rematch with Nick Gage and Matt Tremont. It was noted on commentary that the match will happen at some point during The Collective. Gage and Tremont defeated the Briscoes for the GCW Tag Team Championships at the WRLD on GCW that went less than six minutes due to time constraints.
GCW returns Saturday with Believe Me, the first of two weekend pay-per-views on FITE.tv from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
One of the featured matches is GCW regular Joey Janela vs. Mascara Dorada, the former Gran Metalik in WWE. Dorada had his first match since being released earlier this month in GCW as part of a four-way with Gringo Loco, ASF and Blake Christian. This will be his first singles match since March 2021 on WWE Main Event against Angel Garza.
The Briscoes will return to GCW for the first time since losing their titles to Nick Gage and Matt Tremont at The Wrld on GCW as they face longtime tag team favorites The S.A.T. This will be the Maximos brothers’ first match since last December and only their second in the last 12 years.
Gage has also been advertised for the card as he will address his future. Tremont will be in singles action against Hoodfoot.
Other matches include Nick Wayne vs. Jordan Oliver, Blake Christian vs. Jimmy Lloyd, Ultraviolent Champion Alex Colon vs. Reed Bentley, and more.
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The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) defeated SAT (Joel & Jose Maximo)
Mutual respect was shown before the match and during the early moments. Mark and Jose started things out by exchanging some grappling and a few arm drags before both tagged out. Jay and Joel then had a similar exchange.
Things picked up when the SAT introduced a door into things and put Mark through it. Jay then went to give Joel a Jay Driller through the door but Joel fought out of it. Mark then got in some redneck kung fu on Joel and then Jay hit Joel with a neckbreaker for a 2 count.
The Briscoes double teamed Jose after Mark put Joel through a table on the outside. Shortly after this, the SAT gained the advantage after pulling what the commentary team referred to as “SAT Twin Magic.” One would roll out and another brother would roll in from the outside with the referee not being aware of who was legal. This allowed them to go on offense and work on Mark for a period.
The Briscoes fought back and Jay hit a big dive to the floor onto both members of the SAT. Jay then discovered the 3rd Maximo brother, Will Maximo had been hiding under the ring and likely was part of the SAT Magic from earlier. Will was put through a door pretty quickly.
One SAT brother clotheslined Mark Briscoe off the top rope, then two brothers gave him a Doomsday Device but instead of a clothesline off the top it was a DDT. Shortly after this, the SAT hit their double top rope Spanish Fly on Mark but Jay popped in and grabbed one brother, gave him a Jay Driller and got the pin.
Mark and Jay then showed the SAT respect after the match and all 4 wrestlers hugged.
Blake Christian defeated Jimmy Lloyd
A very technical start as the commentary teamed played up that Lloyd does have the fundamentals. They also mentioned he is a little banged up heading into this one and it became clear his leg was bothering him early in the match.
Christian started working on Lloyd’s injured leg pretty early on. Lloyd fought back with a back drop and a suplex but Christian went back to focussing on the leg shortly after. He’d hit a springboard 450 onto the leg during this period as well.
Lloyd started to make a comeback after hitting an enziguri. He hit a big clothesline followed by a fireman’s carry into a driver for a 2 count. Christian fought back and power bombed his opponent out of the corner and then locked him in a cloverleaf.
Lloyd then hit a flatliner followed by a package piledriver for a 2 count. Christian fought back with a meteora and then went right back to working on the leg. A few scattered boos could be heard as Christian continued to focus on his opponent’s injured limb.
Lloyd’s injured leg was a factor in the end of the match, as his leg buckled while looking to slam Christian. Shortly after, Christian hit a DDT and got the pin.
Both competitors showed respect for one another after the match.
Nick Wayne defeated Jordan Oliver
The commentary team played up that these two are friends. It’s been a very respectful show thus far.
They exchanged pinning combinations early. Wayne got the early advantage with a drop kick and head scissors that took Oliver to the outside. He then hit a tope. Oliver then hit a big super kick which led to him going on a sustained period of offense.
Oliver started to focus on Wayne’s ribs during this period. He’d wear him down with an abdominal stretch but Wayne fought out of it with a hip toss before starting to make a comeback. He then hit a penalty kick and standing moonsault combo for a 2 count.
Both men hit clotheslines at the same time, taking each other out. When they got to their feet, Oliver hit a Clout Cutter that took Wayne to the floor. After a back and forth exchange outside the ring, Wayne hit a big dive to the floor on top of Oliver. Back in the ring, Wayne hit a Code Red for a 2 count. He then looked to go for a package piledriver but Oliver fought out of it and then hit an exploder suplex followed by a brainbuster for a 2 count.
Wayne hit a backbreaker into a dragon suplex followed by a fisherman suplex for a 2 count. He then went for a top rope senton but Oliver kicked him in the midsection on his way down.
They exchanged exhausted strikes in the middle of the ring. They went back and forth with headbutts, slaps, forearm strikes, and more. They then exchanged super kicks before Oliver hit a release German suplex. Wayne then hit a poisonrana but Oliver hit a Spanish fly moments after. Oliver then hit the Acid Kick and got a close near fall. Oliver locked Wayne in a Boston Crab but Wayne countered into a pinning combination for a 2 count, Oliver then went for the Boston Crab again but Wayne countered it into a pinning combination again but this time got the 3 count.
This was fantastic.
Wayne offered a handshake after the match, Oliver originally looked like he was going to attack Wayne but eventually relented and congratulated him.
The Second Gear Crew (1 Called Manders, AJ Gray, Effy, & Matthew Justice) defeated ASF, Gringo Loco, Jack Cartwheel & Kamikaze
ASF and Jack Cartwheel attacked with moonsaults before the bell. Loco and Kamikaze then hit dives to the floor. Shortly after, Kamikaze, Cartwheel, Gringo, and ASF all hit top rope diving moves onto AJ Gray and Effy.
The Second Gear Crew finally got some offense in after Manders caught Kamikaze off a dive, Justice then hit Kamikaze with a chair and Manders put him through a door. This led to the Second Gear Crew going on offense for a period.
Later on, Effy hit a bit TKO on Gringo before he was super kicked by a returning Kamikaze. Then Ninja Black appeared (AJ Gray in a mask) and confronted Kamikaze. This got a ‘holy sh*t” chant. We then had a ninja battle between the two. Gray got the advantage and a 2 count off a power bomb.
Shortly after this, Cartwheel did a cartwheel off the ring post and dove onto Justice and Gray on the outside. Justice then destroyed him with a chair before Kamikaze hit him with a tope. ASF then stood on Gringo’s shoulders and springboarded off the ropes and onto his opponents. Effy would hit a double Sack Rider on Kamikaze and Gringo shortly after.
Gringo hit a sit down power bomb from the top rope on Effy for a 2 count. Manders and Gray then gave Cartwheel a spiked tombstone piledriver shortly after. They then held Cartwheel as Justice came off the top rope with a splash and got the pin.
– Emil Jay pointed out a guy who is celebrating his bachelor’s party there and the crowd chanted “You f**ked up” at him. Jay then brought out Nick Gage.
Nick Gage promo
Gage told the fans he’d never lie to them. He talked about having lost brothers over the last year and his body is starting to give up on him. He heard people were saying that he doesn’t have it anymore, that he’s getting older and breaking down. He said he’s got no wife, no kids, but he’s got his gang. Gage said he’s either going to die in this ring or someone’s going to put a bullet in his brain but he’ll always give 110% every time he wrestles.
John Wayne Murdoch and Reed Bentley then came out to confront Gage. It was brought up that Alex Colon is out with injury and wouldn’t be able to face Bentley tonight as scheduled. Murdoch said he didn’t want to wait for tomorrow to face Gage and it looked like the Rejects were going to fight Gage 2-on-1. G-Raver and Orin Veidt then attacked Murdoch and Bentley from behind with light tubes and we had an impromptu match kick off.
The Rejects (John Wayne Murdoch & Reed Bentley) defeated G-Raver & Orin Veidt
All 4 brawled around ringside and hit each other with light tubes. Nick Gage joined the commentary team as Bentley chucked Raver into the 3rd row. Everyone then continued to fight with light tubes as panes of glass were set up in the ring.
The match officially started when all 4 men finally got in the ring. The Rejects isolated Veidt at this point and tossed him through some glass before turning their attention to G-Raver. Raver fought back, however, and hit both of them with light tubes. He then slammed Murdoch through some glass. The heels fought back and broke a pane of glass over Raver’s head. Murdoch then hit him with some more light tubes as the Rejects took firm control over the match.
Veidt tried to fight back and gave Bentley a side slam onto some tubes. Murdoch gave Veidt a flatliner and Canadian destroyer as Bentley hit Raver with more light tubes and suplexed him on his head. Veidt fought back again and and managed to Bentley through a door.
Veidt and Raver then put Murdoch through a pane of glass that had been set up on top of Bentley. The Rejects then regained the offense shortly after, however, and set up a pane of glass onto some chairs in the ring. Murdoch then gave Veidt a Canadian destroyer through the glass and got the pin.
After the match, Murdoch invited Kevin Gill into the ring, seemingly for an interview. When Bentley went to say something on the mic, Murdoch hit Gill from behind with some light tubes. That got a big reaction. Murdoch then called out Alex Colon, who had to be pulled from the card because he was injured. He said something along the lines of “What would Markus Crane think (about him not wrestling)?” and this got a real negative reaction from the crowd.
Colon came out but was held back from hitting the ring. He then cut a promo and said he’s already proven he’s better than Murdoch. Colon then challenged Murdoch to a match at Spring Break.
– A 15-minute intermission took place to clean up the ring.
Billie Starkz defeated Cole Radrick
This was originally scheduled to be Atticus Cogar vs Starkz. There was no mention of why Cogar wasn’t there.
They started off with some back-and-forth grappling. Starz got the first big move with a release German suplex. She then followed that up with a trio of topes. Starkz then missed a senton and Radrick hit her with a forearm to the back of the head. This led to him going on offense for a period. Radrick hit a float over suplex for a 2 count during this period as well.
Starkz looked to be fighting back with a series of forearms but Radrick cut off her momentum with a backbreaker. He then badly missed a springboard moonsault. Starkz tried to fight back with strikes again but then sold her back when she tried to suplex her opponent but couldn’t. She finally was able to give him a German suplex and got a 2 count moments later.
Radrick got back in control and hit a butterfly suplex for a 2 count. He’d then hit a springboard cutter for another near fall. They exchanged strikes back-and-forth shortly after. Eventually, Starkz looked like she was going to hit a Gory bomb but Radrick fought out of it. Starkz then hit him with a suplex in the corner and then a swanton from the top and got the 3 count.
After the match, Starkz wanted a handshake but at first, Radrick walked off like he didn’t want to. Then he came back, gave her a hug and raised her arm.
Mascara Dorada defeated Joey Janela
The King of the Ropes is back! This is his second match with GCW following his departure from WWE.
Janela got the early advantage and hit a tope that caused Dorada to land in the second row. It was noted on commentary that Janela is one of many wrestlers on the card who competed earlier in the day at the JCW show.
Janela got a door from under the ring and set it up on a couple of chairs. It wouldn’t factor into things until later, however. Dorada fought back and hit a springboard dropkick that took Janela to the outside. After hitting a dive to the outside, Dorada then hit a springboard moonsault once the match got back in the ring. Janela then caught Dorada going for a dive and gave him a Death Valley Driver. Moments later, Dorada hit a hurricanrana on Janela who was draped on the top rope.
Dorada hit a springboard arm drag, Janela hit a clothesline, and eventually they were both down. Dorado then went to the top but Janela caught him and gave him an inverted Spanish Fly, a deadlift German suplex followed by a piledriver for a near fall.
The next big move saw Dorada give Janela a hurricanrana from the ring apron through the door that had been set up on the outside. Dorada then went to the top and hit a big elbow drop for a near fall. Janela got the boots up on a moonsault attempt and looked to get back into things but the finish would come moments later. Dorado hit a poisonrana and followed it up with the Dorada Screwdriver for the win.
The two shook hands after the match.
Mascara Dorada is really good and it’s fun to see him in an environment where he can show that again.
– Emil Jay announced shows in in Atlantic City again for April 30th and May 1st.
Hoodfoot defeated Matt Tremont
Tremont got a nice hometown pop. Hoodfoot got some chants from the crowd early as well. Nick Gage then came out and joined the commentary team.
Hoodfoot pulled out a barbed wire baseball bat but Tremont ducked and hit him with some spike shots to the forehead. Tremont then gave him a few shots with the baseball bat.
Hoodfoot came off the ropes with a shoulder tackle but Tremont hit him with the bat shortly after. He then raked the barbed wire over Hoodfoot’s forehead. The match then spilled to the floor where they brawled around ringside. Hoodfoot eventually got the better of a striking exchange but Tremont pulled out the spike and started to rake it over Hoodfoot’s forehead again. He then chucked him across about 4 rows of chairs.
They broke out the light tubes after this and started head butting them into each other. Both guys were really bloodied up at this point. A long period of light tubes being smashed over heads followed after they finally got back in the ring. Hoodfoot got a 2 count after a Saito suplex. He hit another suplex and got another 2 count shortly after.
At this point, Tremont is really bleeding badly. His head and arms are basically covered in blood. He fought back with a light tube shot and a Russian Leg Sweep, though. Hoodfoot then caught him going to the top and gave him a Saito off the second rope.
With his opponent down, Hoodfoot called to the back and two guys brought out a board covered in barbed wire. Hoodfoot went to superplex Tremont onto the board but Tremont fought back. Tremont head butted him multiple times, causing Hoodfoot to fall back and onto the barbed wire board. Tremont followed this up with a splash from the top and got a 2 count. They duelled with light tubes again until Hoodfoot hit another Saito suplex but only got a 1 count. Then Hoodfoot hit another Saito and finally got the pin.
Wow, that’s a big win for Hoodfoot! It seems like GCW likes what they’ve seen in him thus far. This was a bloody, and violent match but also really fun.
After the match, Tremont led the fans in a Hoodfoot chant. Everyone has been so respectful to each other on this show. There’s a lot of sportsmanship in GCW. Tremont put over Hoodfoot in a promo after as well. Hoodfoot thanked Tremont and the fans. He then held the ropes for Tremont to exit the ring as the show came to a close.
Final Thoughts: The Nick Wayne vs Jordan Oliver match was really exciting. It’s easy to see why people are so high on Wayne. Oliver has turned into a fun performer to watch too. Seeing Mascara Dorada as Mascara Dorada again makes you wonder about all the matches he’s going have and places he’s going to wrestle now that he’s back. Hoodfoot got made to seem like a big deal after beating Matt Tremont in his hometown in a bloody main event. He’s not on the show tomorrow but I’m looking forward to seeing what all Hoodfoot does in GCW moving forward.
GCW returns for their second event of a two-show weekend with If I Die First from Dallas, Texas.
The pay-per-view will feature the usual mix of interesting matchups and returns including one between Joey Janela and the debuting 56-year-old Mexican wrestling legend Dr. Wagner Jr.
Fellow Mexican wrestler star Psycho Clown will make his return to GCW as he faces Gringo Loco.
Blake Christian will look to win his fifth straight as a singles wrestler as he takes on Laredo Kid while “Speedball” Mike Bailey will look to pick up his first GCW win as he takes on Jimmy Lloyd.
In the only title match on the show, GCW Extreme Champion AJ Gray will face Allie Katch in an intergender affair.
The rest of the card has Matthew Justice vs. John Wayne Murdoch; Ninja Mack & Dante Leon vs Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne; and a scramble match featuring Deranged vs. Atticus Cogar vs. ASF vs. Alex Zayne vs. Dark Sheik vs. Grim Reefer.
Our live coverage begins at 9 PM Eastern.
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Dante Leon & Ninja Mack defeated Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne
It was noted on commentary that Leon and Mack are both from Texas, and they were supported by the Dallas crowd throughout the match.
Oliver and Wayne began working on Leon’s arm early in the match, tagging in and out and putting him in arm-bars and similar moves. They got a near fall from Yakuza kick and lung-blower combination during this period.
Leon eventually made a hot tag to Mack who took out both Oliver and Wayne. Leon and Mack then had a sustained period of offense.
Wayne and Oliver fought back and got a near fall on Wayne off a stunner and suplex combination. Wayne then countered a shooting star press by Mack into a cutter, which got a nice reaction. Leon then hit a springboard cutter on Wayne. Mack then tagged in and hit a Phoenix 630 senton on Wayne for the win.
The two teams shook hands and showed respect following the match.
John Wayne Murdoch defeated ASF
Murdoch got on the mic before the match and said that Alex Colon is ducking him. He also noted that his original opponent, Matthew Justice, was not at the show either. Murdoch called out anyone to come fight him and ASF came out to answer the call.
As soon as the bell rang, Murdoch started hitting ASF with chairs. ASF fought back and started hitting diving moves to the outside. Murdoch turned things around and got a near fall early off a flatliner. After this, Murdoch went back to hitting ASF with chairs.
ASF got a near fall after giving Murdoch a Death Valley driver onto a chair. Shortly after this, he got another near fall off a DDT. The next big spot, however, would see Murdoch hit a brainbuster on his opponent through a door and getting the pin.
This was an interesting clash of styles.
GCW Extreme Champion AJ Gray defeated Allie Katch to retain his title.
It was noted on commentary that these two would be putting friendship aside for this match. A “F**k’em up Allie” chant rang out before the match could begin.
This started off as a grappling contest. After some back and forth, Gray got out of a hold by biting Allie’s hand. This then prevented her from throwing chops effectively. Shortly after this, Gray hit a nice leg lariat and went on a sustained period of offense.
Allie made a comeback after hitting a power bomb on her opponent. She then hit her hip attacks in the corner followed by a cannonball in the corner for a two count.
They went back and forth a bit before Allie hit a modified Pussy Piledriver. She tried to go for her finish but Gray countered. Then Allie hit a lariat, which is Gray’s finish. Allie then went for her piledriver again but Gray fought out of it. He then hit a suplex, spinning wheel kick and a brainbuster for a near fall.
Allie looked like she was trying to hit a piledriver from the second rope but Gray fought out of it. Gray then hit a slam off the second rope and got the pin.
This was a fun match.
Mike Bailey defeated Jimmy Lloyd
Bailey got the early advantage after hitting a series of strikes and a plancha to the outside. After the match got back in the ring, Bailey hit a long series of elbows and continued on offense.
Lloyd hit a super kick and got a near fall to get back into it. He got another two count after a dragon suplex. Bailey then evened things back up by hitting a springboard moonsault on the outside that saw them both fall over a couple rows of chairs. They got back in the ring and Bailey hit a kick to the face in the corner followed by his shooting star double-knee drop finish for the win.
Bailey is really fun to watch. He’s been great in GCW now that he’s able to wrestle in the United States again.
Psycho Clown defeated Gringo Loco
Psycho Clown’s entrance got the biggest pop of the night so far. Gringo Loco got on the mic after and said that while Psycho might be a big star in Mexico, tonight he’s in his house. Gringo then led the crowd in a Gringo Loco chant. He also announced that the match would be Falls Count Anywhere. Psycho then cut a promo and led the crowd in a Psycho Loco chant.
After a back and forth start, Psycho hit Gringo with a lady’s purse on the outside and then tossed him over several rows of chairs. Later, he’d hit a tope onto Gringo that again spilled over the first few rows of seats.
Gringo hit Psycho in the head with a chair as he went for a tope, turning the tides of the match. He then continued to use a chair on his opponent. Gringo would then tear away at Psycho’s mask which got some heat from the live crowd. A big chair shot to the head would follow and Psycho Clown has been busted wide open!
Gringo beat him up for awhile before Pscyho hit a frog crossbody for a two count. They spilled to the floor shortly after this. Psycho then hit a twisting press onto his opponent and through a door. Psycho then hit him with the door several times, busting Gringo open in the process.
A bloody back and forth striking contest ensued. Psycho got a two count off a power slam. Gringo then hit a draping DDT for a near fall. Things then spilled back onto the floor.
Gringo placed Psycho on top of a door and climbed up to the balcony. He then walked across a beam to a field goal post that was set up inside The Athletic Zone. Gringo then dove off of that and did a senton onto Psycho and through a door. Shortly after, Psycho dove off the balcony onto Gringo. So, they both got to dive off things.
They got back in the ring and Psycho got a near fall of an air raid crash through a door. Gringo hit Psycho with a low blow soon after. He then brought out some light tubes. Psycho turned the tables, hit Gringo with a light tube, and then hit a Spanish Fly off the ropes and through the table and got the pin. This match was nuts.
Psycho got on the mic after the match and put Gringo over and said he’d like to have another match with him.
These two really went all out here. It was probably a really important match for Gringo. The fans loved it.
15-Minute Intermission
Atticus Cogar defeated Alex Zayne, Grim Reefer, Deranged, Dark Sheik in a scramble match
Everyone super kicked Cogar to start the match since everyone hates him the most.
Reefer lit up a joint but Cogar took it out of his mouth and stomped on it. Zayne then gave him a cutter from the ring apron to the floor, which got a good reaction.
Sheik and Reefer then went to give a double super plex to Cogar and Zayne with Deranged going over the top of the pile. It was something like a Tower of Doom spot. It did not go well. They messed up their timing and everyone landed on top of everyone. In particular, Zayne came down hard on Cogar.
Reefer and Cogar got to their feet and Reefer lit a joint while Cogar brought out the skewers. Reefer then took out everyone after finally getting to light his joint. He then put it out on Cogar’s forehead.
Deranged hit a top rope cutter on Dark Sheik that looked rough.
Zayne hit a driver on Deranged but Cogar stole the pin after tossing Zayne into the post. After the match, Cogar jabbed the skewers into Zayne’s head.
Blake Christian defeated Laredo Kid
Laredo got the early advantage with a springboard dropkick. He followed that up with a springboard moonsault to the outside. Christian then hit a double foot stomp to even things back up.
Christian hit a hand spring kick to the face for a two count. After Laredo Kid missed a charge in the corner, Christian then hit him with a tope and then a somersault plancha.
Laredo fought back and hit a Michinoku Driver and a moonsault off the bottom rope. He tried a moonsault off the second rope but Christian countered and went back on offense.
Laredo hit a springboard cutter for a two count. Christian followed that up with a series of moves that culminated with a frog splash for a near fall. He then went back to the top rope but Laredo cut him off. Laredo hit something of a reverse Spanish Fly that nobody on commentary could figure out what to call. They then went back on top turnbuckle and Christian hit a top rope hurricanrana. He followed that up with his DDT finisher for the win.
Emil Jay promoted all the shows coming up for the Collective in Dallas. He noted that Joey Janela’s Spring Break will be two nights this year.
Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Joey Janela
Wagner entering to “Bad Medicine” got a nice reaction. Fans were super into Wagner. There were some “Joey” chants too though.
They took turns flipping each other off before tying up. They grappled for a period after this. After exchanging chops, Janela raked the eyes and went on offense.
Janela missed a tope and flew into several rows of chairs. This allowed Wagner to go on offense for a period. He hit Janela over the head with a chair, busting him open.
Janela fought back and set up Wagner on a chair at the merch table. Janela then ran across half the building and dove on top of him. Joey’s really busted open and is dripping blood.
Janela hit a Death Valley driver onto a chair for a two count. Wagner got back into things with a suplex but Janela went back on offense after hitting him with a chair.
Janela set Wagner up on a door on the outside. He then climbed to the top rope, looked very unsteady, and then missed a dive and went through the door. When they got back in the ring, he’d fight back with a series of super kicks, however.
Janela gave Wagner a diving elbow through a door for a near fall. He then set up a series of stacked chairs. He put upside down chairs on top of other chairs and chair legs were sticking out everywhere. Janela then took Wagner to the corner but Wagner fought back and tossed Janela onto the series of stacked chairs. He then gave Janela his Wagner Driver for the win.
Wagner draped himself in the Mexican flag and bowed to the crowd as “Bad Medicine” rang out through the venue. He got on the microphone and led the fans in a lucha libre chant.
Psycho Clown then came to the ring. There had been reports on social media that Psycho and Wagner had an altercation during the meet and greet before the show. Psycho is the guy who took Wagner’s mask back in 2017.
Psycho tossed chairs into the ring as Wagner said they should wrestle each other for GCW in a Mask vs Hair match! Wow, that’s a big match. The two then went to brawl but were held back by security. The show closed with a pull apart between the two.
This show was a lot of fun and it built up the Collective and the promotion’s return to Dallas. A return match between Gringo and Psycho Clown would be great and the Dr. Wagner Jr. vs Psycho Clown match built up in the show’s closing angle is a big match for GCW to put on.
This week’s AEW Dark matches were taped at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Anthony Agogo defeated Marcus Kross
Agogo cut a promo before the match citing his success during last summer, saying that he deserves to be facing top talent like Adam Cole and CM Punk.
Kross tried a headscissors early on, but Agogo caught it mid-air and tossed him back toward the ropes. Agogo took his time with Kross, throwing him around the ring in different ways before eventually finishing him off with his pop-up knockout punch and subsequent ref stoppage.
Penelope Ford defeated Angelica Risk
Risk delivered a elbow strike early on which prompted Ford to get nasty and start using underhand tactics. Ford dragged Risk’s face across the top rope and pulled her hair before centering her in the ring with a headlock. After struggling with a few comeback attempts, Ford eventually made Risk tap with a muta lock.
QT Marshall defeated Toa Liona
Marshall almost tasted defeat early on after taking some high powered offense from Liona. Marshall eventually took back control of the match after working Liona to the mat. Marshall began getting cocky which gave Liona the fuel to deliver a running shoulder tackle that resulted in a near fall. When Liona went to hit his next move, Marshall popped up out of nowhere with a diamond cutter for the win.
2point0 (w/ Daniel Garcia) defeated Kidd Bandit & Ish
Parker and Lee isolated Bandit early on with frequent tags and taking turns beating him down. When Ish was able to tag in, 2point0 did the same until he was able to tag back out to Bandit. Parker and Lee hit Two for the Show on Bandit shortly after the tag for the win.
Lance Archer defeated Jordan Costa
Archer quickly lifted up Costa for the Blackout, but Costa reversed it into a sleeper hold that lasted all of three seconds. Archer threw Costa around for a few more seconds before beating him with the EBD Claw for the pin.
Marina Shafir defeated Reka Tehaka
Shafir and Tehaka locked up a few times, but nothing came of it. Tehaka nailed her with a spinning back kick that resulted in a near fall. Shafir transitioned quickly into a few standing headlocks, but Tehaka fought out with a pair of headbutts. When Tehaka went for another spinning back kick, Shafir caught her leg and twisted it up to get the submission win.
The Factory (Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo) defeated Dante Casanova & Cam Stewart
Solo dropped Stewart on his head with a back body drop before tagging out to Comoroto, who bulldozed Stewart with a clothesline. After some slow paced offense, Stewart got a tag but Casanova was met with the same fate, eating a backbreaker from Comoroto. Solo eventually came in and finished Stewart with a double foot stomp from the top rope.
Tony Nese defeated Zack Clayton
Nese targeted Clayton’s leg after wrapping it around the ring post early on. He was kept grounded by Nese’s consistent attacks which inflicted a lot of damage. Clayton did have a slight moment of hope where he delivered a suplex to Nese, but it wasn’t enough as he eventually fell victim to the running knee finisher in the corner.
Kiera Hogan defeated Mazzerati
Mazzerati charged Hogan in the corner with a forearm when the bell rang before transitioning to a chinlock. Hogan escaped the hold rather quickly, went to the second turnbuckle and hit a shotgun dropkick that sent Mazzerati flying across the ring. Hogan finished her with a roundhouse kick shortly after.
Dark Order (Alan Angels & 10) defeated Ariya Daivari & Invictus Khash
Angels and Daivari ran the ropes until Daivari ran into a lariat from Angels. 10 and Khash made their way into the ring shortly after and had a small exchange that resulted in Khash getting the upper hand. Daivari tagged back in and helped Khash isolate 10 using a few double team maneuvers.
Angels received the hot tag eventually, which lit a fire underneath both himself and 10. The Dark Order pair delivered a series of moves to both Daivari and Khash before 10 put Khash away with his signature full nelson submission.
After the match, The Factory beat down Angels & 10 after they refused to join their group.
Dante Martin & Matt Sydal defeated Bear Country
Sydal tried to scout a way to take down Bear Bronson, but was met with a shoulder tackle. Martin got a chance to square off with Bronson, but it didn’t end well for him either as he ate a powerslam. Bear Boulder came in soon after and delivered multiple backbreakers to Martin.
The crowd hyped up Boulder for a middle rope moonsault but he missed. Martin was able to make the tag, leading to Sydal coming in and delivering multiple kicks to the midsection of Bronson. Martin sprung up out of nowhere and hit the Nosedive on Bronson for the win.
Lee Moriarty defeated Joey Janela (w/ Kayla Rossi)
Moriarty slapped on a wristlock early, prompting Janela to break the hold with a rope break. Janela rolled to the outside in an attempt to lure Moriarty out which worked as Moriarty was planted with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the outside.
Janela worked the back of Moriarty which included a fantastic diving uppercut to his back. Janela, being frustrated after not getting the win, told the referee that his knee was hurt. This allowed Rossi to hit the ring and deliver a top rope headscissors to Moriarty.
Moriarty tried to apply a octopus lock on Janela after recovering, but his back gave out. Thinking quickly, Moriarty quickly transitioned to a European clutch pinning maneuver which scored him the win.
Moriarty cut a post-match promo saying that he didn’t have time to be “The Future” of AEW. Rather, he has to be “The Now.” It was also made apparent that Moriarty will have a more focused attitude going forward.
Lee Moriarty will take on Joey Janela as one of the featured matches on Tuesday’s AEW Dark.
This will be Moriarty’s first AEW singles match this year as he has been focusing on tag team wrestling with Matt Sydal and Dante Martin as of late. Janela is coming off a loss to Eddie Kingston which snapped a three-match win streak.
Tuesday’s show also will see the aforementioned Martin and Sydal take on Bear Country as both teams try to pick up a win.
Lance Archer will continue his run of Dark and Dark: Elevation appearances as he faces Jordan Costa with his challenge of AEW World Champion Hangman Page looming in the distance.
Former WWE NXT wrestler Marina Shafir will look to win her second straight in AEW as she faces Dark regular Reka Tehaka.
Here’s the full 12-match card that was taped recently at Universal Studios in Florida:
2point0 vs. Ish & Kidd Bandit
Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo vs. Cameron Stewart & Dante Casanova
Joey Janela vs. Lee Moriarty
Lance Archer vs. Jordan Costa
Dark Order’s Alan “5” Angels & 10 vs. Ariya Daivari & Invictus Khash
