By Wynter@WynterStorm24
12th December 2018
With the announcement of recent independent wrestlers signing contracts with WWE and the subsequent uproar that it’s caused in the wrestling community, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for me to check in with my local independent wrestling promotion. Vanguard Championship Wrestling has been running in the area for a little over two decades and is a great way to get your pro wrestling fix in a place where bigger promotions don’t often visit. Their December show, Tidings of Destruction, was the last for the year so here’s what happened!
The Legend vs “Pretty Trashy” Colby Corino
This was definitely a great way to start off the night; a fast-paced match befitting of two wrestlers on the smaller side including all that flippy stuff that we know and love. Legend and Corino had very clearly defined roles as Legend played a cocky up-and-coming heel while Corino sauntered out to a raucous fanfare. Corino got a chance to show off some of his infectious charisma as well, only adding to the match. Corino came away with the win after a diving cutter that he made from across the ring.
Highlights: a sick-looking dive onto the outside barricade, a superkick on the apron, and a particularly vicious small package driver
Chris Silvio vs Chatch the Homeless Luchador
Silvio came out and did a promo where he cut down his two previously slated opponents Brian Pillman Jr. and Kyler Khan, both of whom had to be pulled due to knee injuries. He went on to say how much of a coincidence it was that both men came down with knee injuries, suggesting that they were actually just afraid to face him. He issued an open challenge to the back which was answered by Chatch. Silvio dominated most of this match, choosing to target and destroy the luchador’s knee. The wrestling in this match wasn’t the greatest and instead seemed like it was just supposed to add heat to Silvio’s character. Silvio eventually won with a kneebar in about six or seven minutes.
Highlights: a figure-four leglock on the ring post, a running high knee with the exposed knee, a gnarly post-match beatdown, and Silvio jumping the barricade and arguing with a drunk fan
Simply Safe-ish vs Noise Pollution
This was a pretty standard, albeit comedic, non-title tag match. Simply Safe-ish were both entertaining and on point. Despite their name, they were not very safe and did lots of high risk moves including a poetry in motion over the top rope (hey, that’s why there’s an –ish). Noise Pollution never really got going in this match and eventually succumbed to an alligator clutch pin
Highlights: Noise Pollution getting called “Discount Ascension”, a very nice handstand into a senton, and a titty twister into a bulldog
“The Latin Heartthrob” Gino vs Sean Studd
A bit of a David and Goliath match, this one was. Gino was jumped from behind as he was making his entrance by the much taller, much bigger Sean Studd. Even though Gino, who is ranked #499 in this year’s PWI 500, managed to gain some traction and got in a little bit of offense, he was still basically thrown about like a ragdoll. Gino won the match via disqualification when Studd attacked the referee. This match was very slow but met its true purpose of building up a feud for a title.
Highlights: sitout powerbomb on the floor, cannonball into the exposed turnbuckle, and a spear into the crowd barricade
Intermission: A heel manager came out and began to cut down the crowd, telling us we should be honored by his presence and that he’s way too good for us and how he’s performed stand-up comedy all over the world. Carlito came out to shut him up and spat apple into his face before tossing candy to the crowd.
Diamond Victor Griff vs Sanctuary Gauntlet Match
Two words to describe this: pure chaos. The start was hazing because it mostly just involved the two managers yelling at each other. Griff eliminated the first two members of Sanctuary in about five minutes. Then he took on Timmy Danger, who did a very good job portraying a twisted cult leader. He even gave a sermon in the middle of the match. Griff did lock Danger in the anaconda vice for the win, standing tall with the rest of the Golden Pinky Society.
Highlights: Danger’s sermon in the middle of the match, double diving elbows, German suplex into a scoop slam
The Bite Club vs The Hellcats
Oh goodness was this a hot mess of a tag team title match. First of all, I forgot that Gangrel and Kevin Thorn still wrestled. The match started off with Thorn and one of the Hellcats tousling over a Christmas hat before it was unceremoniously thrown into the crowd. And then it just devolved into a mess. I don’t even think the referee could keep count of who was the legal man in the match; it was basically a tornado tag match at some points. The Hellcats eventually won with a roll-up pin, claiming the tag team gold for themselves but at that point, the crowd was dead and probably just wanted the match to end.
Highlights: Thorn singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Bite Club whooping the Hellcats with wrapping paper tubes, Gangrel spitting the mysterious liquid into the Hellcats’ faces
Carlito vs Phil Brown
This was the main event and was for the United States Liberty Championship. Let me be a huge fangirl for a moment and just say that Carlito is still awesome. Brown is also very athletically gifted. This was by no means a wrestling clinic but it was a very entertaining match; two wrestlers with loads of charisma and great in-ring chemistry. We even got another apple spot where Carlito spit in the referee’s face. Distracted by his argument with the referee, Carlito ate a superkick before being pinned.
Highlight: Carlito’s warm reception and “he’s not cool” chants, a Spanish fly off the top rope, and getting a signed (fake) apple from Carlito
Overall, this was a fun show and a pretty good end of the year for Vanguard. Some of the matches did drag on a bit but the show also did well in setting up the next two events, both of which will be anchored by a title match. Show grade: B.
For more information on Vanguard Championship Wrestling check them out @ Twitter https://twitter.com/officialvcw & FB @ https://www.facebook.com/vcwrestling/
