Empire State Wrestling presents Tough Luck
Date: 3/18/2023
From: Buffalo, NY
Opening Contest: Jay Freddie vs. Cole Radrick: They trade go behind waist locks to start the match until they trade headlocks. They counter each other and have a standoff. Radrick puts a wrist lock on Freddie, but Freddie arm drags Radrick before keeping arm control. Radrick ducks a few strikes and punches Freddie against the ropes. Radrick shoulder rams Freddie from the apron and delivers a kick. Radrick hits a senton splash from the apron for a near fall. Radrick sends Freddie to the floor and hits a suicide dive. Radrick rolls Freddie back into the ring and ducks a clothesline. Freddie catches Radrick on a springboard moonsault to hit a sit out slam for a near fall. Freddie spikes Radrick with a brainbuster for a near fall. Freddie chops Radrick against the ropes. Freddie chops Radrick in the corner before sending Radrick across the ring. Radrick kicks Freddie followed by a clothesline and hits a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Radrick chops Freddie into the corner several times. Radrick jabs Freddie, but Freddie dumps Radrick to the floor and hits a suicide dive of his own. Freddie heads to the top rope hitting a missile dropkick on Radrick and plays to the crowd. Freddie uppercuts Radrick in the corner and delivers several strikes in the corner several times. Radrick stops Freddie with a kick, but Freddie hits an uppercut and a lifted reverse DDT for a near fall. Freddie plays to the crowd and tries for a double under hook, but Radrick slips free. Radrick nails Freddie with a 619 in the corner and hits a swanton bomb for a near fall. Radrick tries for a springboard, but Freddie hits a back suplex. Radrick nails Freddie with a springboard cutter. Freddie plants Radrick with a under hook powerbomb and a running knee strike for the win. (***. A good opening match to the show. They had a good pace and there were a few entertaining spots throughout the bout. Freddie tends to have good matches in a regular basis and I’m surprised he’s not been snagged up by a company like NWA at the very least.)
Second Contest: Jeremiah Richter vs. Vinnie Moon: Richter tosses Moon away into a corner to start the match. Richter tosses Moon across the ring out of the corner. Moon ducks a clothesline and head scissors Richter into the corner. Richter tries for a chokeslam, but Moon breaks free and dropkicks Richter to the floor. Moon tries for a suicide dive, but Richter catches Moon. Moon sends Richter into the ring post face first. Richter misses a chop and hits the post. Moon blocks a big boot in the ring and chops Richter. Richter nails Moon with a big boot for a one count as Richter placed a foot on Moon. Richter chokes Moon over the middle rope. Richter slams Moon and tries for a cover, but Moon kicks out at two. Moon fights back with strikes to the midsection, but a strike to the midsection stops his momentum. Richter chokes Moon in the corner. Richter splashes Moon in the corner followed by a side slam for a near fall. Moon fights back with forearms, and boots Richter. Moon hits a springboard back elbow to stagger Richter into a corner. Moon forearms Richter in the corner a few times. Moon dumps Richter over the top to the floor and Moon hits a suicide dive. Moon heads to the top rope to hit a crossbody for a near fall. Mattick and Cera Raine are on the apron. Moon’s manager Will gets on the apron with oversized fists to cause a distraction. Richter hits a sit out chokebomb for the win. (*. This probably went on for a bit too long, but the right guy won the match. The Moon/Will gimmick didn’t connect with me at all.)
Third Contest: Frankie Feathers vs. Vince Valor: Valor drives Feathers into the corner to deliver a few shoulder rams and a headbutt. Valor strikes Feathers in the corner several times. Valor continues to shoulder ram Feathers. Valor decks Feathers crew off the apron. Feathers punches Valor in the corner, but Valor forearms Feathers to the mat. Feathers recovers on the floor, bur Valor takes all three men out with a dive. Feathers fights back with strikes around ringside, but Valor fights back by choking Feathers over the railing. The referee ends up calling it a no contest as it’s a double count out. Valor is triple teamed on the floor. Several officials come out to stop the brawling. (NR. The finish didn’t seem to go over well with the crowd. Clearly this is leading to something more between Valor and Feathers.) After the match, Valor cuts a promo about Feathers betraying him recently. Valor calls Feathers a fresh ass bitch. Valor issues a challenge for May 13th. Valor wants a dog collar match with Feathers and the crowd likes that idea. The match is made official.
Fourth Contest: Mattick vs. Jimmy Lloyd vs. Marino Tenaglia vs. James Sayga vs. Marcus Mathers vs. Chael Conors: Lloyd and Mathers kickoff the match with Mathers delivering a shoulder block. Lloyd arm drags Mathers and delivers a few kicks before hitting a reverse neckbreaker. Lloyd tries for a suplex, but Mathers counters and nails Lloyd with a kick to the face. Mathers forearms Lloyd in the corner and delivers a kick to the face after rolling through. Mathers manages a two count with a suplex. Marino enters and tries to kick Mathers, but misses. Mathers avoids another kick and tries for a cutter, but Marino connects with a heel kick. Sayga enters the match and heel kicks Marino. Sayga decks Marino with a clothesline and a spinning sit out powerbomb for a two count. Conners enters, but Sayga delivers a kick only for Conners to dropkick Sayga into the corner and hits a leaping elbow strike. Conners hits a handspring cutter to send Sayga to the floor. Mattick avoids a handspring and slams Conners out of the corner. Mattick double stomps Conners from off the middle rope. Mattick is superkicked by Mathers and Marino. Marino fakes teaming with Mathers and superkicks Mathers. Mairno leaps off of Mattick’s back and hits a dive to the floor onto the other competitors. Mathers dives over the ropes, but is caught by everyone.
Conners takes everyone out with a somersault dive to the floor. Mattick takes everyone out with a somersault suicide dive to the floor. Mattick clotheslines Mathers in the corner and blocks a kick by Marino to deliver a knee strike. Sayga enters from behind. Mattick clotheslines Lloyd and Sayga clotheslines Conners. Marino and Mathers leap off opposite corners, but they are both caught and powerbombed by Mattick and Sayga. Cerine gets slapped to the floor by Sayga. Mattick and Sayga trade blows and both attempt crossbody blocks. Mathers and Marino hit double frog splashes. Mathers nails Marino with a cutter. Conners hits a standing Spanish Fly on Mathers. Lloyd spikes Conners with a Package Piledriver. Marino nails Lloyd with a blockbuster. Mattick kicks Marino, but Sayga leg lariats Mattick and spears Lloyd off the apron onto the other wrestlers. Sayga rolls Conners into the ring and hits a twisting over the shoulder slam for the win. (***. A solid match, but kind of your typical six man scramble match that you’d expect at this point. Once you’ve seen one, you’ve likely seen them all, but regardless, they were entertaining.)
Fifth Contest: Starboy Charlie, Colin Delaney & Cheech vs. Matthew Justice, Manders & Mance Warner: Warner and Cheech kickoff the six man tag match. Cheech keeps wrist control, but Warner counters and takes Cheech to the mat while keeping wrist control. Cheech rolls around the ring to break free from a wrist lock. Warner decks Cheech with a right hand to the face and all six men have a standoff in the ring. All six men start brawling in the ring. Charlie and Manders brawl on the floor with Manders getting the better of the exchange. Manders headbutts Charlie against the railing. Delaney drops Justice over the railing chest first. Justice sends Delaney into the railing back first. Warner grabs a steel chair and whacks Delaney over the back. Cheech smashes Warner with a chair and Delaney does the same to Warner. Delaney whacks Justice over the back with a chair shot. Justice hits Cheech over the back with a chair. Warner grabs a replica title from a fan and hits Cheech with it. Justice hits Delaney with the replica title, too. Cheech elbows Marner and delivers a forearm onto the apron. Justice leaps off the entrance stage to take everyone out with a dive.
Charlie is sent into the ring and is with all three guys. Charlie goes after Justice, but is triple teamed in the corner. Warner chops Charlie and Justice delivers a chop, as well. Manders misses a spear in the corner and Charlie rolls through Manders to hit a double DDT on Justice and Warner. Delaney hits a middle rope cutter on Manders and Cheech hits a German suplex for a two count. All six men are in the ring trading blows again. Warner, Manders and Justice are kicked to the floor where Charlie hits a dropkick on all three men. Delaney and Cheech hit suicide dives and Charlie hits a springboard moonsault to the floor. Warner jabs Delaney several times followed by an eye poke and a running lariat. Cheech dropkicks Warner to the ffloor. Justice spears Cheech, but Charlie dropkicks Justice from the top. Manders hits Charlie with a cane from a fan. Manders climbs to the top, but Delaney hits a suplex off the ropes. Warner slides a door into the ring and hits Delaney with it. Cheech and Charlie are hit with teh door knocking them off the apron. Manders grabs Delaney and hits a running powerslam through the door in the corner. Manders holds a piece of the door and Warner knee strikes the door into Delaney’s face. Justice goes coast to coast to kick the door into Delaney for a two count as Cheech and Charlie make the save with another door. Warner eye pokes Charlie and Cheech as Manders has his partners on his shoulders. Manders misses a running slam and puts his own partners through the door. Delaney hits a backpack stunner on Manders after a double stomp off the top by Cheech. There’s a triple cover and they all get a three count to win the match. (***1/2. A good brawl and some fun action throughout. I was a bit surprised to see Delaney, Cheech and Charlie win here, but the crowd ate it up. The hardcore wrestling aspect wasn’t anything unique compared to other matches by any means. Still, it was an entertaining match.)
Sixth Contest: ESW Tag Team Champions Cloudy & Nick Ando vs. Nu Backseatz (JP & Tommy Grayson): Ando and JP kickoff the tag title match. JP kicks Ando in the midsection and delivers a few strikes including an uppercut. JP works over Ando in the corner with shoulder rams. JP sends Ando into the corner, but Ando delivers a few clotheslines to manage a two count. Cloudy tags into the match and the champs shoulder block JP coming off the ropes. The champs atomic drop Tommy after putting a Boston Crab on JP and knock Tommy to the floor. JP strikes Cloudy, but Cloudy delivers a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Cloudy keeps JP on the mat with a sleeper. Tommy nails Cloudy with a top rope missile dropkick and pummels Cloudy with right hands on the mat. Cloudy is rammed into JP’s boot in the corner. Cloudy is rammed into the corner back first by the challengers. JP elbow drops Cloudy for a two count. JP slams Cloudy and Tommy hits a splash for a two count as Ando makes the save. JP tags back into the match and hits a snap suplex for a two count. Cloudy delivers a jawbreaker and tries to tag in Ando, but JP rams Cloudy into the corner. Tommy leaps off the top to deliver a leg drop as JP hit a side slam for a tow count. JP rams into Cloudy in the corner. JP continues with a standing fist drop. The challengers hit the Dream Sequence on Cloudy, but only manage a near fall. JP forearms Cloudy in the corner and delivers a few elbow drops. JP keeps Cloudy on the mat with a front face lock.
Cloudy fights free and kicks JP in the corner. Cloudy plants JP with a tilt a whirl DDT. Tommy decks Ando off the apron and pulls Cloudy back to the corner. Cloudy hits a side Russian leg sweep on Tommy. Ando gets the hot tag and cleans house with right hands. Ando backdrops Tommy and baseball slide dropkicks JP on the floor. Ando works over Tommy with chops in the corner. Ando continues with knee lift strikes followed by a gut wrench sit down powerbomb for a two count. JP sends Cloudy to the floor, but Ando elbows JP. The challengers hit a superkick/side Russian leg sweep combo for a two count. JP has Ando on his shoulders and the challengers hit a middle rope neckbreaker/Samoan Drop combo for a two count on Ando. Cloudy forearms the challengers several times. Ando saves Cloudy from the T-Gimmick and Ando hits a double spear. Ando hits the Ship Wreck on JP as Cloudy hits a suicide dive onto Tommy and Kashmere to allow the three count. (**1/4. There is potential with the Nu Backseatz as they are doing the Backseat Boys gimmick from 20 some years ago. They probably need to get a little more comfortable doing the moves that the Backseat Boys made famous. It’s a standard tag match and effective for its placement.)
Seventh Contest: Joshua Bishop vs. Bill Collier: Bishop shoves Collier into the corner and taunts Collier. Bishop elbow strikes Collier, but Collier responds with strikes. Bishop chops Collier in the corner. Collier boots Bishop in the corner and delivers a few strikes. Collier shoulder rams Bishop and hits a standing head scissors. Bishop drops Collier over the top rope throat first and taunts the crowd. Bishop chokes Collier and taunts the referee. Collier runs into a clothesline and Bishop keeps control of the match. Bishop sends Collier into the corner back first. Collier is sent into the corner and flips over the ropes to the floor. Bishop hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Collier sends Bishop into the railing and continues by slamming Bishop over the railing into the crowd. Collier hooks Bishop for a suplex, but Bishop blocks it and they trade chops. Collier hooks Bishop for a suplex and drives Bishop down to the floor. They both roll back into the ring to break the count. Collier forearms Bishop and they trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Bishop headbutts Collier, but Collier decks Bishop with a clothesline and hits a suplex. Collier kips up and hits a splash in the corner. Collier nails Bishop with a big boot for a two count. Collier tries to get Bishop on his shoulders, but Bishop elbows free. Bishop hits a reverse scoop slam and an overhead choke throw. Bishop avoids a clothesline and plants Collier with a DDT for a two count. Bishop heads to the top rope, but is stopped by Collier with a big boot. Collier grabs Bishop, but Bishop sunset flips free and tries for a powerbomb, but Collier counters to hit a Death Valley Driver for a near fall.
Collier waits in the corner, but is met with a knee strike. Collier tries for a slam, but Bishop elbows free and tries for a chokeslam, but Collier hits a cutter. Collier waits in the corner again, but Bishop hits a swinging side slam for a near fall. Bishop hits a jackhammer for a near fall. Bishop taunts the crowd and grabs Collier for a powerbomb, but Collier breaks free and superkicks Bishop followed by a spear. Collier decks Bishop with a forearm to the face and manages to get the pin for the win. (**1/2. A solid enough big man match. I enjoy Collier quite a bit, and I’ve wanted to see more of Bishop as he has a great look. They got a little sloppy in moments, but it didn’t impact the match all that much. Collier tends to work better with smaller opponents, though.)
Eighth Contest: Veda Scott vs. Christina Marie: Scott cheap shots Marie to kickoff the match and rams Marie into the corner a few times. Scott sends Marie into the corner and delivers a few boots. Marie counters a hip toss with one of her own and slams Scott. Marie dropkicks Scott into a corner and charges the corner, but Scott bails to the floor to regroup. Marie baseball slides Scott on the floor. Scott trips Marie over the middle rope and delivers a splash. Scott chokes Marie over the middle rope. Scott pulls Marie over the apron and delivers a kick to the face. Scott casually drops Marie onto the floor from the apron. Scott chops Marie against the railing a few times. Scott puts a Crossface on Marie on the floor. Scott hooks Marie for a suplex, but loses her footing. Scott still hits a suplex on the floor. Scott rolls Marie back into the ring. Scott overhand strikes Marie and delivers a forearm against the ropes. Scott kicks Marie over the back leading to a near fall. Scott overhand strikes Marie on the mat. Scott hits a snap suplex a couple of times. Marie blocks a suplex and takes Scott over with a suplex. Marie clotheslines Scott followed by a back elbow. Scott dumps Marie to the apron, but Marie delivers a shoulder ram. Marie hits a springboard back elbow for a near fall. Marie shoves Scott into the corner, but Scott nails Marie with a kick to the head. Scott leaps off the middle rope to deliver a clothesline. Scott plants Marie with a cutter for a two count. Scott puts another Crossface on Marie in the middle of the ring. Marie reaches the ropes to break the hold.
Marie tries for a slam, but Scott elbows free. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Marie forearms Scott, but Scott hits a release German suplex. Scott kicks Marie in the face for a near fall. Scott locks in the Crossface for a third time, but Marie rolls over and nearly wins with a rollup. Marie spears Scott coming off the ropes for a two count. Marie has Scott on her shoulders to hit a Samoan Drop, but Scott counters with a rollup for a near fall. Scott locks in another Crossface, but Marie gets to her feet. Marie rams Scott into the corner back first. Scott kicks Marie away, but Marie hits a twisting slam for the win. (*. Not good. Scott came across slow and uninspired in everything she was doing. It felt like it just dragged along until the finish of the match. It’s essentially a cooldown match leading into the main event.)
Main Event: ESW Heavyweight Champion Kevin Bennett vs. Mike Bailey: Bailey controls Bennett on the mat with an arm bar. Bailey breaks free from Bennett and they trade basic holds. Bennett misses a wild strike and bails to the floor to regroup. Bennett taunts the fans on the floor. Bailey waits in the ring as Bennett returns to the ring. Bennett offers to shake hands, but Bailey doesn’t seem to trust Bennett. Bailey accepts the handshake and blocks a kick to leg sweep Bennett. Bennett runs the ropes and is met with an arm drag and kick to the chest by Bailey. Bailey dropkicks Bennett to the floor and kicks Bennett off the apron to the floor. Bailey takes Bennett out with a springboard moonsault to the floor. Bailey chops Bennett on the floor several times followed by a kick against the railing. Bailey nails Bennett with a running foot strike. Bailey delivers a double knee strike off the middle rope for a two count. Bailey dumps Bennett to the apron and Bennett kicks the middle rope on Bailey’s groin before hitting a neckbreaker on the apron. Bennett rolls Bailey into the ring and chokes Bailey over the middle rope. Frankie Feathers chokes Bailey over the middle rope. Bennett trips Bailey and hits a slingshot stomp from the apron. Bennett hits a 619 splash for a near fall. Bennett tosses Bailey through the ropes to the floor where Bailey is held and nearly attacked, but the referee sees it and ejects Bennett’s posse to the backstage area.
Bailey kicks Bennett off the middle rope and hits a missile dropkick. Bailey kicks Bennett several times and hits a corkscrew splash for a two count on Bennett. Bennett ducks a kick and kicks Bailey in the corner followed by a swanton to the back. Bailey connects with an elbow drop off the middle rope and hits a cradle spinning suplex for a near fall. Bennett mounts Bailey to deliver right hands on the mat. Bennett stands on the middle rope and Bailey meets Bennett on the ropes to trade strikes. Bennett sunset flips Bailey, but Bailey delivers a kick and a moonsault double knee strike. Bailey delivers a kick and nearly pins Bennett. Bailey leg sweeps Bennett on the apron and misses a moonsault double knee attempt. Bennett nails Bailey with a knee strike off the middle rope over the ropes for a near fall. They begin to trade forearm strikes in the middle of the ring. Bennett big boots Bailey, but Bailey nails Bennett with a flurry of kicks to send the champ into the corner. Bailey tries for a spinning kick, but Bennett avoids it. Bennett cheap shots Bailey and tries for a springboard cutter, but Bailey put the referee in the way and Bennett hits the cutter on the referee! Bennett low blows Bailey and calls for his guys to come out. Bailey is triple teamed. Bailey fights back and sends the heels to the floor. Bailey clotheslines Bennett to the floor. Bailey hits a corkscrew dive off the top to take everyone out on the floor. Bailey goes to the top, but misses a move and Bennett delivers a big boot. Bailey nails Bennett with a couple of kicks followed by a spinning kick in the corner. Bailey hits a shooting star double knee strike and covers, but Bennett is pulled out by his pals. Bennett hits a swinging neckbreaker over the middle rope and hits a springboard cutter to pin Bailey and retain the title. (***1/4. A fine main event, but the interference was a bit of a bummer as it was expected. I’m assuming because Bailey is a “TNA guy” they had to protect him. Bailey is a ton of fun and Bennett did a good job in his role. Bailey’s offense is a lot of fun and different from the rest of the guys on the show. I’m glad there wasn’t a DQ or some other lackluster result and there was a pin, at least.)
Final Thoughts:
A good show by ESW with a ton of quality wrestling. The GCW guys being on the show added some star power and I’m glad ESW put over their talent. Runtime for show was less than 2.5 hours, and it’s the ideal amount of time for an indie show. Recommend to checkout on IWTV.
Thanks for reading.