1UP Wrestling presents Bonus Level
Date: 5/18/2024
From: Fulton, NY
Opening Contest: Adam Stone vs. Elijah St. James: James arm drags Stone to the mat to kickoff the match and taunts the crowd. James arm drags Stone a second time and continues to taunt the crowd. James scoop slams Stone and continues to taunt the crowd. Stone hip tosses James and follows up with an arm drag and scoop slam. Stone plays to the crowd as James bails to the floor to regroup for a moment. James rolls into the ring and kicks the middle rope to low blow Stone. James taunts Stone and delivers an elbow drop. James keeps control on the mat and flexes before hitting another elbow drop for a two count. James chokes Stone over the middle rope. James counters a sunset flip and sits down to deliver a right hand. Stone avoids a leg sweep and takes James to the mat. Stone shoulder blocks James several times. Stone atomic drops James and delivers a DDT. Stone covers for a two count. Stone has James on his shoulders and spins around in the ring. Stone misses a clothesline and is met with a knee strike by James for a two count. James drags Stone to the corner and lowers his knee pad. James misses a running knee strike. Stone dragon screw leg whips James and puts a figure four leg lock on James in the middle of the ring to force a submission. (*1/2. Well, there wasn’t much to the match, but Stone appears to be quite over with the 1UP crowd.)
Second Contest: David Coles vs. Hayden Backlund: Coles avoids a takedown attempt and tries to put a choke on Backlund, but Backlund reaches the ropes to avoid the hold. Coles takes Backlund down to the mat and plays to the crowd. Coles gets a rollup on Backlund to avoid a kick. Coles puts a choke on Backlund, but Backlund reaches the ropes and manages to catapult Coles throat first into the top rope to break free. Backlund hits a German suplex on Coles and manages a two count. Backlund takes Coles over with a snap suplex. Backlund stomps Coles on the mat several times. Backlund keeps a sleeper on Coles and delivers a strike to the back to prevent Coles from breaking free. Coles hits a Thez Press on Backlund to deliver several strikes. Coles jabs Backlund several times and decks Backlund to the mat. Coles is fired up and the crowd is behind Coles quite a bit. Coles hits a clothesline in the corner followed by a bulldog for a two count. Coles puts an ankle lock on Backlund, but Backlund counters with an inside cradle for a two count. Backlund nails Coles with a superkick. Backlund hits an Olympic Slam for a near fall. Backlund tries for a DDT, but Coles counters with an ankle lock in the middle of the ring. Coles pulls Backlund away from the ropes, but Backlund kicks Coles away. The referee stops Coles in the corner and Backlund low blows Coles. Backlund plants Coles with a double under hook DDT for the win. (**1/2. Another short match, but the action was good. I like Backlund picking up a win, because it will allow another match between the two. They both looked good in there and the crowd seems to be heavily behind Coles. The win for Backlund can help establish him in a heel capacity for 1UP.)
Third Contest: Steve McKenzie vs. Ryan Wrekkless: Wrekkless attacks before the bell for the cheap advantage and chokes McKenzie over the middle rope. Wrekkless stomps on McKenzie in the corner. McKenzie tries to fight back, but Wrekkless is able to keep control. McKenzie comes off the ropes with a leaping elbow strike and a dropkick to send Wrekkless to the floor. Wrekkless pummels McKenzie on the mat with left hand punches. Wrekkless chokes McKenzie in the corner and taunts the referee. Wrekkless uppercuts Mckenzie in the corner and delivers a side slam for a near fall. McKenzie shoulder rams Wrekkless followed by strikes to send Wrekkless into the corner. Wrekkless eye rakes McKenzie and chokes McKenzie on the mat. Wrekkless uppercuts McKenzie in the corner a couple of times followed by a release suplex for a two count. McKenzie nails Wrekkless with a running big boot. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. McKenzie gets the advantage with a clothesline and knee strike. McKenzie backdrops Wrekkless and hits a running boot in the corner. McKenzie nails Wrekkless with a big boot and covers for the win. (*. It’s a rare win for McKenzie, but it’s refreshing to see McKenzie on the winning side of things. Typically, McKenzie seems to be used as an enhancement worker. McKenzie is a likable worker and I’m glad he picked up a win here.)
Fourth Contest: Polar Ephex (Don Freeze & Isys Ephex) vs. American Strong Style (Matt Lawson & Troy Cooper): Ephex and Lawson kickoff the tag match. Ephex backs Lawson into a corner, but cleanly backs off. Lawson backs Ephex into a corner, but backs off cleanly. Lawson backs Ephex into another corner, but misses a strike. Ephex sends Lawson into the corner and delivers a few jabs to knock Lawson to the mat. Ephex knocks Cooper off the apron to the floor. Ephex tags in Freeze to continue the match. Lawson breaks free and goes to his corner to regroup. Cooper tags into the match, but Freeze gets a headlock briefly. Freeze atomic drops Cooper followed by a forearm strike and decks Lawson. Cooper dropkicks Freeze to regain control of the bout. Lawson hits a side Russian leg sweep as Cooper nails Freeze with a running boot strike for a two count. Freeze sunset flips Cooper, but Cooper reaches the ropes until Ephex slaps Cooper’s hands free leading to a two count. Cooper kicks Freeze and tags in Cooper to keep control of the match with a half Boston Crab. Freeze tags in Ephex, but the referee was distracted by Cooper. Freeze is double teamed, but Freeze sends them into each other. Freeze manages to tag in Ephex. Ephex cleans house with strikes. Ephex drops Cooper on his head and hits a straight jacket suplex on Lawson. Ephex puts the octopus on Lawson, but Cooper makes the save. Ephex sends Cooper to the floor. Lawson is nailed by Total Elimination, but Cooper makes the save on the cover attempt. Cooper kicks Ephex to the apron. Lawson holds Freeze for Cooper to hit a top rope strike for a two count as Ephex made the save. Lawson is sent into the post as Freeze splashes Cooper and Ephex hits a knee strike. Ephex hits a top rope splash and Freeze hits another splash for the win and the crowd went nuts for that. (*. Don Freeze is over with the crowd there is no way to deny it. There were a couple of good spots in the match, but there wasn’t much quality here for the most part.)
Fifth Contest: Nick Sullivan vs. Zeke Rogers: Sullivan quickly takes Rogers down to the mat until Rogers reaches the ropes. Sullivan backs Rogers into a corner, and works over Rogers with chops. Sullivan misses a splash and Rogers delivers an elbow and few strikes. Sullivan blocks being sent across the ring. Sullivan clotheslines Rogers in the corner followed by an overhand strike to the back. Sullivan takes Rogers down to the mat and delivers an elbow drop. Sullivan puts Rogers down on a delayed vertical suplex to deliver a vicious lariat. Sullivan hits a belly to belly suplex, but pulls Rogers up at count of two. Sullivan has Rogers over his shoulders and hits a powerslam for the win. (NR. Sullivan squashes are becoming one of my favorite parts of the show for 1UP. I enjoyed the delayed vertical switch to the vicious lariat. I look forward to Sullivan having more competitive matches in 1UP sooner rather than later.)
Sixth Contest: The Kowalski Guys (Jay Freddie & Slyck Wagner Brown) vs. Hot Stuff Enterprises (Sebastian Braun & Shayne Stetson): Freddie and Brown gain the advantage with clotheslines to send the action to the floor. Freddie sends Stetson over the railing into the crowd for a moment. Brown works over Braun on the floor. Freddie sends Stetson into the railing and Stetson falls into the crowd again. Brown rams Braun into the ring steps a few times. Brown chops Braun agains the railing a few times. Brown and Freddie deliver chops on the floor against the railing. Freddie hits a top rope crossbody onto Stetson for a two count. Freddie shoulder blocks Stetson and runs the ropes before hitting a hip toss. Freddie catches Stetson in the corner to hit a running powerslam for a two count. Brown tags into the contest and they hit a double team flapjack on Stetson for a two count. Freddie comes off the middle rope to deliver a strike to Stetson’s ribs. Freddie spikes Stetson with a snap suplex for a two count. Freddie rams Stetson into Brown’s boot in the corner. Brown monkey flips Stetson out of the corner. Braun decks Brown from the apron and Stetson gains the cheap advantage with strikes. Stetson runs the ropes to hit a seated lariat on Brown for a two count. Brown sends Stetson into Braun’s boot and Brown knocks Braun off the apron to the floor. Stetson kicks Brown and hits a discus lariat for a two count. Braun tags into the match and Brown is double teamed briefly. Braun punches Brown a few times on the mat followed by an uppercut.
Braun chokes Brown over the middle rope. Stetson chokes Brown over the middle rope from the floor and Braun splashes Brown over the middle rope. Braun covers for a two count. Braun misses a senton splash off the ropes as Brown rolled out of the way. Brown crawls to the corner, but Stetson pulls Freddie off the apron. Braun splashes Brown in the corner as Brown had his back to the ring. Braun taunts the crowd before delivering an elbow drop for a two count. Brown tries to reach the tag to Freddie, but Braun forearms Freddie on the apron. Brown forearms Braun several times. Brown tries for a slam, but Braun lands on top for a two count. Braun heads to the middle rope, but Brown avoids a splash attempt. Brown crawls towards the corner, and kicks Braun away. Freddie tags in and cleans house on Stetson hitting a clothesline and backdrop. Freddie scoop slams Stetson followed by an elbow drop. Stetson runs into a boot in the corner and Freddie hits a tornado DDT out of the corner. Brown tags into the match and Stetson is driven down with a double team flapjack for a two count as Braun made the save. Braun forearms Brown against the ropes, but Brown responds with chops to send Braun to the floor. Freddie monkey flips Stetson into a powerbomb by Brown, but Braun makes the save on the cover attempt. Brown takes Braun over the top to the floor with a crossbody. Stetson has Freddie for a TKO, but the referee is knocked down by Freddie’s feet. Stetson grabs a chain from the floor and misses Freddie with it. Freddie hits a double under hook powerbomb to pin Stetson for the win. After the match, the referee sees Freddie with the chain and proceeds to reverse the decision and gives the match to Stetson and Braun by disqualification. (***. The finish is a little silly, but I guess its effective for the heels to get some extra heat. The action was good and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. Freddie came across well here and both Stetson and Braun held their own. Stetson seems to be getting better each outing and should continue to work with veterans as much as he can.)
Main Event: Black & Yellow (Corey Jackson & Ting Shi) & Mike Skyros vs. Hired Gun Inc. (Garrett Holiday, Thomas Kennedy & Brute Van Slyke) in a street fight: They waste no time with everyone brawling in the ring before the bell sounds. Brute works over Shi in the corner as the other four men are on the floor. Brute sends Shi to the floor meaning everyone is on the floor brawling. Holiday sends Jackson into the railing. Brute sends Shi into the bleachers, but the camera didn’t catch it. There is brawling by the announcers table, but the camera isn’t catching it. Jackson and Justice trade strikes on the floor. Skyros works over Holiday in the corner with an elbow strike. Skyros kicks Holiday away in the corner followed by a pump kick. Skyros and Justice trade strikes. Skyros chops Justice a few times, but Justice backs Skyros into a corner and delivers a few chops. Brute brings Shi back from the backstage area. Jackson saves Skyros from Justice choking Skyros. Jackson nails Justice with a Codebreaker. Brute sends Shi into the bleachers by the announcers table. Holiday nails Jackson with a street sign. Skyros hits Holiday with a cooking tray. Brute whacks Shi over the back with a chair shot. Brute slams Shi on the floor. Holiday hits Jackson with another cooking sheet. Skyros drives Justice down to the mat with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Justice strikes Skyros a few times while Holiday whacks Shi over the back with a sign. Justice back splashes Skyros in the corner. Brute hits Skyros over the head with a sign in the corner.
Brute and Justice double team Skyros as Jackson brawls with Holiday in the crowd spitting a drink into Holiday’s face. Skyros is met with a double shoulder block. Justice gets a two count on Skyros. Justice forearms Skyros to the mat as Shi hits Justice with a chair over the back. Holiday and Jackson continue to brawl in the crowd. Skyros whacks Brute over the back with a cooking sheet. Skyros hits Brute over the head with a sheet three times to knock Brute to the mat. Skyros elbow drops Brute with a sign for a two count. Jackson dropkicks Holiday over the apron to maintain the advantage. Brute whacks Jackson with a cooking sheet in the ring. Brute is given a chair by Father Derek. Brute wedges the chair in the corner, and kicks Jackson. Brute chops Jackson in the corner several times. Brute misses a spear and hits the chair in the corner. Jackson delivers a chair shot to Holiday at ringside. Jackson stalks Father Derek at ringside. Brute nails Jackson with a strike and delivers a chair shot to Jackson’s back. All six men are brawling around ringside, but the ringside camera isn’t being used to catch the action.
Brute jams a broom into Jackson’s throat. Brute sweeps Jackson on the back with the broom, but Skyros gets onto Brute’s back to put a sleeper on Brute. Skyros takes Brute down to the mat with the choke. Brute avoids having his arm drop three times. Holiday nails Jackson over the back with a broom shot. Holiday saves Brute from Skyros grip. Shi superkicks Holiday. Skyros plays to the crowd and holds the ropes down to allow Jackson and Shi to hit stereo dives over the ropes to the floor onto Hired Gun Inc.! Father Derek gets in the ring with a hockey stick and hits all three men. However, they recover quickly and Derek tries to hit Skyros again, but it’s blocked. Skyros hits Derek in the midsection and over the back. Derek is clotheslined with the hockey stick. Holiday makes the save with chair shots. Holiday nails Shi with a flatliner onto the steel chair. Holiday misses a spear in the corner and hits the chair. Jackson spears Holiday. Justice gets in the ring and forearms Jackson several times. Jackson kicks Justice in the head. Justice splashes down onto Jackson’s back. Justice nails Jackson with a heart punch. Justice headbutts Skyros into the corner to block a chair shot. Skyros kicks Justice out of the corner and smashes Justice with a chair shot. Brute nails Skyros with a discus lariat. Brute plants Shi with a chokeslam. Jackson tries to hit Brute, but is met with a knee strike. Brute sends Shi into the ropes and drop toe holds Shi face first onto a steel chair. Brute is nailed by Jackson with a spinning kick. Shi nails Brute with a 619. Skyros leaps off the middle rope to plant Brute with a DDT to pickup the win! (***1/2. That was a fun wild brawl. Black & Yellow are one of the most over acts in 1UP. When they eventually have tag titles they need to go on the chase for them. They are a money babyface tag team. Anyway, it’s not a garbage wrestling match. It felt like a wild fight with six guys trying to beat each other up. A very enjoyable main event.)
Mike Skyros reveals that at the June 22nd show in Watertown he’ll be wrestling Eddie Edwards in the main event.
Final Thoughts:
A good show for 1UP this time around. There was plenty of quality action throughout. This could be a true sample size of what 1UP can provide on a regular basis and that is something to get excited about. I’ve said it before, but 1UP has a fantastic young foundation to grow with. Black & Yellow, Skyros, Sullivan, Stetson, Stone, Freddie, and Freeze were standouts on the show. I’m looking forward to Wrestle City as it’s the first time they’ve brought in a mainstream name with Eddie Edwards fighting Skyros in the main event.
Thanks for reading.