[TV REPORT] ON THE MAT VIII

31 August 2024

Stockton Globe, Stockton-On-Tees, County Durham

Attendances - 1,262

Welcome

Dougie Wright was shown in a taped introduction, he walked down the aisle to the ring in an empty venue.

'They say that a true friend is someone who you may not see in a long time but once you are reunited, you pick up where you left off. Tonight On The Mat returns, and I know everyone joining me in your lounge rooms at home are my familiar friends, one family brought together by the love of our great sport. Tonight some of the best men at at Heavy-Middleweight from across the world will meet for us to decide a new...World...Champion. So as Shakespeare says in A Comedy of Errors 'lets go hand in hand, not one before another...'

[1] Metallica Panther II (209, Mexico City, Mexico) beat William Miller Harris (209lbs, Oklahoma, USA) in the Worlds Heavy-Middleweight Tournament Match (Panther-Plex in 6:48, full match shown)

Metallica Panther rocked Harris with a number of forearms to start the match before Harris cleared house following a hiptoss and clothesline. Once back in the ring, Harris landed another right hand and Metallica Panther II was back on the outside considering his options. Once back in the ring, it was another barrage of punches before Metallica Panther was able to cut his adversary off with a knee to the stomach and sleeper hold. Harris did briefly escape before Panther went to the middle row only to miss a big dropkick. Ten punches in the corner followed by Harris and it looked like the match was all but won after a big slam.

[2] Barry Moran (190lbs, Cork, Ireland) beat Quick Kick Nakano (214lbs, Yokohama, Japan) in the Worlds Heavy-Middleweight Tournament Match (Clover Leaf, 5:14 shown)

We joined the match with Barry Moran face down on the mat being assaulted with kicks and strikes by Nakano. It looked like the match was going to be over when Quick Kick Nakano hit a big dropkick that sent Barry Moran out of the ring and he was only able to reenter the ring at the count of nine. Moran was able to use some quick thinking to avoid a Quick Kick Nagano's Tsunami Kick, Spinning Back Kick and stage a comeback which included a snap suplex and elbow from the middle rope. Moran attempted to lock on his Clover Leaf submission but Nakano kicked him off and once again went and missed his Tsunami Kick, this time though Barry Moran was able to lock on his hold and it didn't take long for Nakano to submit.

[3] Tiger Kid (185lbs, Yamaguchi, Japan) beat Mr Rumble (235lbs, Georgia, USA) in a Catchweight Contest (Disqualification, 7:31 full match shown)

Mr. Rumble started strong, using his technical expertise to keep Tiger Kid grounded with arm drags and a sleeper hold. Tiger Kid initially struggled to counter Rumble's methodical approach but soon found his momentum. A quick reversal into a flying head scissors followed by rapid dropkicks began to wear down the veteran.

Tiger Kid wowed the crowd with his agility, landing a Tiger Feint Kick and setting up for a diving headbutt. However, Mr. Rumble wasn't out yet. He countered with his signature Knee Lift, nearly securing the win. But Tiger Kid fought back, hitting a rolling wheel kick and a attempting the Tiger Driver '97 only for it to be blocked.

Sensing his chance, Tiger Kid delivered a perfectly executed Brainbuster to seal the victory but Mr Rumble rolled out of the ring where he grabbed the ring bell and entered the ring bell, he swung it at Tiger Kid who ducked and the referee immediately called for the bell. Tiger Kid had the last lough though as he swept the legs of Mr Rumble forcing him to roll out of the ring as a loser.

[4] "The London Thrower" Gavin Owens (220lbs, London, England) beat Geoff Hammill (237lbs, Leeds, England) in a Non-Title Heavyweight contest (15:23, full match shown)

The match began with British Heavyweight Champion Hammill using his brawler instincts to take control early on, delivering punishing European Uppercuts and a thunderous Spinebuster that left Owens reeling. Hammill's aggression was evident as he taunted both Owens and the crowd, asserting his dominance with each calculated strike.

Owens, however, showed resilience, countering Hammill’s brute force with his technical expertise. After absorbing a series of suplexes, Owens managed to reverse a German Suplex attempt into a swift Seoi Nage, sending Hammill crashing to the mat. The crowd erupted as Owens followed up with a series of well-timed kickboxing strikes, targeting Hammill’s midsection and legs to weaken the powerful Brit.

As the match wore on, Hammill attempted to end things with his "Lights Out" finisher, but Owens skillfully evaded the move, countering with a quick DDT. Sensing victory, Owens then displayed his judo-inspired moves, including the London Throw, which left Hammill dazed.

With Hammill on the defensive, Owens locked in the Rolling Armbar, forcing Hammill to tap out in the centre of the ring.

After the ring, Gavin Owens confronted Geoff Hammill and demanded that he put his British Heavyweight Championship and Belt on the line in a rematch to which Hammill agreed.

[5] Bert Eagle, Johnny Fresno and George Grouse beat Kenji Nakamura, Akira Tanaka and Hiroshi Suzuki (Kashiwazaki BLOOD) in a Non-Title Six Man Tag Match (Fresno Double Underhook Backbreaker, 12:14, full match shown)

The match featured a clash of styles, despite Nakamura's early advantage, Eagle responded with a top-rope Dropkick, shifting the momentum only for Suzuki to rescue his teammate and take back control.

Hiroshi "The Titan" Suzuki used his power to with a belly to back duplex n George Grouse for a near fall, but Grouse’s technical skills allowed him to escape a Big Boot and apply a Half Nelson, slowing Suzuki down and the crowd started to get behind the Scotsmen, desperate for him to make a tag to Johnny Fresno.

But as soon as Grouse went for the tag he was attacked by the entire Kashiwazaki BlOOD team and it took the referee a few moments to regain control with Fresno and Tanaka squaring off, with the other four men fighting at ringside.

Akira "Dark Wolf" Tanaka's brutal strikes nearly ended the match, but Fresno countered with a Russian Leg Sweep. As chaos ensued, Fresno delivered his Double Underhook Backbreaker on Tanaka, securing the pin and the win for his team.

[6] Metallica Panther II (209, Mexico City, Mexico) beat Barry Moran (190lbs, Cork, Ireland) to become the Worlds Heavy-Middleweight Champion (Panther-Plex, 13:01 full match shown)

Presentations were made before the match with Sir Solomon Simpson KC, Chair of the Admiral-Lord Mountevans Committee, Edwin Luntley, Matchmaker and Captain Arthur Sandbrook, Secretary of KING GEORGE VI WRESTLING CLUB in the ring with the Championship Belt.

The match started with a slow pace, exchanging holds and reversals, with neither man able to gain the upper hand. Metallica Panther II hit a big knife edge chop that rocked Barry Moran before the Irishman showed his boxing pedigree with a big right and that sent Metallica Panther II through the ropes to the outside. Barry Moran didn't waste any time in hitting a baseball dropkick.

Outside the ring, the competitors tested the referee's patience with their brawling before both entered the ring. Moran looked to be in control until his flying clothesline was cut off in mid-air and Metallica Panther nearly scored the pin after a powerslam.

"Numero Uno" Metallica Panther II shouted at the crowd before a big knee drop to the back of Moran's head. The Mexican then hit a huge hiptoss out of the corner but again Moran was not going to be pinned. Panther then locked on an abdominal stretch and the referee looked like he was going to call for the bell until Moran, with the help of the crowd's chanting was able to get to the ropes. Panther wasn't done though and a big lariat took the Irishman down.

Panther looked to go for another big Lariat but this time Moran ducked and went for a schoolboy roll up only for Panther to kick out. Moran then dug deep and we saw a great display of manoeuvres including a shoulder breaker and atomic drop.

Moran looked for his patterned submission move - The Clover Leaf, but Panther countered with a running knee and then put Barry Moran on the top rope before hitting his middle rope Belly to Back Suplex - The Panther-Plex for the win.

The dignitaries of Sir Solomon Simpson KC, Edwin Luntley and Captain Arthur Sandbrook congratulated both men before Sir Solomon presented Metallica Panther II with the Championship Belt.

Enter The Muscle

With Metallica Panther III still in the ring, Eamon 'The Muscle' Keane entered the ring and commandeered the microphone. He called Panther a phoney and said he wasn't a worthy champion and that no real champion could say they're the best without beating him first. Eamon Keane pushed Panther who then lunged for the man from Belfast only for the referee and seconds to stop the melee.