Life Outside The Big Time: Volume Three

In 2002 or 2003, I finally became familiar with independent wrestling in the Northeast area. For years, I read about various independent stars like Reckless Youth, Ace Darling, Cheetah Master, Colorado Kid and many others in Pro Wrestling Illustrated. In the same magazine, I saw coverage for Ring of Honor and I slowly began to branch out to companies like Jersey All-Pro Wrestling and Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling in the early 2000s.

As I watched more and more of this “new” wrestling to me, at the time, I found myself having many favorites. One of them was Slyck Wagner Brown. I’m not entirely sure what drew me him, it may very well have been the way he carried himself. I was always supportive of him and wanted to see him succeed. I recall him having a tryout on WWE Heat around this time and a few appearances for ROH and TNA, but never latched on anywhere.

I remember a while ago I saw a music video package of a match between Slyck Wagner Brown and Jay Lethal that happened in 2005. I watched the video and afterwards I thought I had to see the match. The following video below is what I’m referencing.

Even as I write this opening to this article, I have not watch the complete match. I’m curious to see if the music video tricked me into this being a great match, or if its a genuinely hidden gem of a match.

The date is September 30th, 2005 with the show taking place in East Haven, CT. Connecticut Championship Wrestling promoted the show and the title of the show is called 2nd Coming. At the time of this writing, there are only 613 views for the match, which was uploaded on August 3rd, 2012. Meanwhile, the music video has nearly 5,000 views and was uploaded on November 25th, 2006.

Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Jay Lethal – CCW 2nd Coming – September 30th, 2005

I literally had no idea this was a best two out of three falls match, which is shown on the screen. There aren’t any titles on the line, but I can tell that the commentators are not going to be the best people to ever listen to for a wrestling match.

First Fall:
Early on, Brown controls with wrist control, but Lethal counters quickly into his own. Brown takes Lethal down to the mat and keeps Lethal on the mat. Brown tries for a surfboard on the mat, but Lethal is able to fight out of the hold. Lethal gets Brown’s arm, but Slyck reaches the ropes quickly to break the hold. Slyck takes Lethal down to the mat with a top wrist lock, but Lethal pops up getting a two count with a rollup. Slyck hammers away on Lethal with a few strikes in the corner and chops. Lethal dropkicks Brown off the top turnbuckle to the floor. Lethal delivers a chop on the floor but Brown returns to the chop. Lethal brings the action back into the ring where he takes Brown over with a snap suplex. Lethal drives Brown to the mat with a backbreaker for a two count. Lethal drives Brown down with a back suplex for a two count. Lethal keeps control with a chin lock and a kick to Brown’s upper back. Lethal gets a school boy on Slyck, but Brown rolls through and gets a Crossface locked in! Lethal is far from the ropes and tries to crawl to the ropes. Brown rolls over and gets a two count followed by a leg lariat for another two count. Brown nearly wins following a quick leg drop.

Brown nails Lethal with a quick clothesline for another two count. Brown keeps Lethal on the mat and taunts the fans. Brown continues to stomp on Lethal and rams him face first into the corner. Brown goes to the top but Lethal stops him with a right hand. Lethal sits Brown on the top rope and continues to deliver right hands. Lethal tries for a hurricanrana and is able to take Brown over after a few right hands. Lethal goes to the top and hits a diving headbutt but isn’t able to get a three count. Lethal comes off the top rope with a heel kick and pins Brown to win the first fall. Lethal: 1 – SWB: 0

 

Second Fall:
Brown counters a rollup attempt with one of his own for a two count. Brown kicks out again after being knocked down. Lethal stretches Brown out while laying on the mat. Brown isn’t giving in to the pain and almost keeps Lethal down on a pin attempt. Lethal works over Brown in the corner with several chops in the corner. Lethal sends Brown hard back first into the corner. Lethal sends Brown hard into the corner back first again for another two count. Brown misses a springboard moonsault, but lands on his feet. Brown plants Lethal with a full nelson backbreaker and covers Lethal to get a three count. Lethal: 1 – SWB: 1

 

Third Fall:
Lethal rolls to the floor to seemingly avoid being pinned. Brown drives Lethal back first into the ring post and Brown takes a plastic bat from a fan to whack Lethal over the back, which the kids in the crowd loved. Brown gets to the apron and Lethal delivers a few strikes to the midsection. Lethal hooks Brown looking for a suplex, but Brown is able to block it. Lethal lands on the apron and they trade right hands. They also trade chops on the apron with neither man backing down. Brown clotheslines Lethal over the top back into the ring. Brown misses a slingshot springboard moonsault and Lethal tries for a springboard crossbody, but is caught by Brown. Brown hits a swinging side slam, but Lethal kicks out at two on the cover. Brown attempts the Appreciation Bomb and plants Lethal in the middle of the ring, but Lethal kicks out at two! Lethal drops Brown over the top rope from the apron and leaps off the top rope to hit a flying DDT!

 

Lethal has the cover but Brown kicks out at two! Brown counters a slam attempt to plant Lethal with a reverse DDT. Lethal plants Brown with a spinebuster and almost wins the match! Lethal heads to the top rope but gets met in midair with a dropkick by Brown! Brown goes to the top rope but Lethal is able to stop him.

Lethal hooks Brown for a superplex, but Brown trades a few punches with Lethal. Lethal gets footing on the top rope, but Brown is able to counter and hits a top rope vertical suplex!

 

They are both laid out and the referee calls for the bell, which the fans didn’t like. I’m assuming the promoter for the event comes running down and talks to the referee. The ring announcer reveals that the match will be given five more minutes.

They struggle to pull themselves up and they begin to trade chops in the middle of the ring. Lethal chops Brown into the corner. Brown gets control in the corner with chops of his own. Lethal sends Brown face first into the turnbuckles and continues with chops. Lethal sits Brown on the top turnbuckle but Brown counters a hurricanrana attempt. Brown has Lethal and hits a middle rope swinging side slam! Brown goes for the cover and pins Lethal to win the match! Brown: 2 – Lethal: 1. After the match, they show respect for each other as Brown celebrates the win.

 

I thought this was actually a really good, quality match. I was nervous that they were going to do the bullshit draw finish, but thankfully there was a conclusive ending. There were several high spots that enhanced the match and it kept my interest throughout. The vertical suplex spot off the top by Slyck was insane and the fans audibly were shocked to see that happen. I thought the pin falls took place at the right point and they didn’t drag out any segment of the match. A lot of times, wrestlers will extend the match further than it needs to go. These guys delivered at the right times and I greatly enjoyed the match. (***1/2)

If you watch the match, tell me what you think about it. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading.