[TV Report] ON THE MAT IX

[TV REPORT] ON THE MAT IX

14 September 2024

Regal Theatre, Poole, Dorset

Attendance: 1,001

[1] Bulldog Spirit (205, Manchester, England) beat William Payable (248, Los Angeles, USA) in a Catchweight Contest (Bulldog Bite in 7:19, full match shown)

The match began with Payable using his size to dominate Bulldog Spirit, delivering a scoop slam before taunting the crowd. However, Bulldog's quickness came through as he dodged an elbow drop and landed a sharp European Uppercut, sending Payable stumbling. Payable slowed the pace with a spinebuster, but Bulldog kicked out, frustrating the Taxman.

Payable continued his dirty tactics with headlocks and cheap shots, even tossing Bulldog over the ropes, but Bulldog rebounded with a snap DDT. When Payable attempted the Taxman Driver, Bulldog escaped and countered with a rolling elbow and a Leg Trap German Suplex for a near fall. Bulldog then locked in the Bulldog Bite, forcing Payable to tap out in the center of the ring.

Edwin Luntley Gives His Thoughts

Dougie Wright is joined by KING GEORGE VI WRESTLING CLUB Matchmaker Edwin Luntley. Wright commends Luntley on two fantastic championship contests that we are lucky enough to see tonight. Luntley gives credit to Secretary Captain Arthur Sandbrook and Sir Solomon Simpson KC, Chair of the Admiral-Lord Mountevans Committee for their work with Européenne et Conseil de Boxe et de Lutte to secure the rights to host the European Lightweight Championship. In the British Heavyweight contest, Luntley believes Owens deserves his shot at Hammill after beating him in a non-championship outing.

[2] George Thompson (220, London, England) beat Quick Kick Nakano (215, Yokohama, Japan) in an International Heavyweight Match (Gentleman’s Honor, 6:30 shown).

We joined the action as Thompson asserted his dominance, cutting off Nakano’s initial flurry with a well-placed European uppercut, knocking the high-flyer back into the corner. The Dapper Duke kept Nakano grounded with a series of methodical holds, showing off his technical prowess. Nakano struggled to find his rhythm but soon reversed a snap suplex into an arm drag, creating some distance and hitting a lightning-fast dropkick that sent Thompson to the outside for a breather.

Back in the ring, Nakano used his speed to land several strikes, but Thompson's experience shone through. He caught Nakano mid-air and locked him in a single-leg Boston Crab, wearing down the Japanese star. Nakano fought back with his signature quick kicks and went for the Tsunami Kick, but Thompson dodged, trapping Nakano in the Gentleman’s Honor (grounded top wrist-lock). Nakano tapped out, handing Thompson the victory in just under seven minutes.

[3] Bert Eagle (169, Bolton, England) beat Tiger Kidd (185, Yamaguchi, Japan) in a Lightweight Ranking Match (Eagles’ Flight in 4:30, full match shown)

A loud cheer greeted Bert Eagle as he stepped between the ropes. The two briefly circled with Tiger Kidd attempted in a single leg takedown only for Eagle to lock in an arm bar. Tiger Kidd attempted to escape by using the ropes for assistance only for Eagle to strike Tiger Kidd with his palm to take him off his feet and lock in a reverse chin lock. Tiger Kidd fought to his feet and escaped with a brutal kick to Bert’s lower leg. Kidd hit another big kick and was close with a two count.

The Japanese sensation was not quick enough to his feet though and Bert doubled him over with a knee to the stomach. He continued his assault with a knee drop and snap suplex for his own two count. Bert Eagle went for a reverse waist lock but Tiger Kidd countered it and knocked Bert out of the ring with a dropkick which he followed up with a daredevil tope Tope con Hilo. In the ring Tiger Kidd executed a picture perfect magistral cradle for a close fall but was quickly hit with a standing enziguri, he then climbed the ropes to hit his ‘Eagles’ Flight’ 450 splash for the three count. A quick, all action match up.

[4] Metallica Panther II & Barry Moran beat Eamon Keane & William Miller Harris in a Super Slam Tag Match (Panther-Plex in 17:45, full match shown)

Before the bell had even rang it was not hard to spot the tension already simmering between the villainous duo of Keane and Harris, but they put their differences aside long enough to dominate the opening minutes. Keane’s raw power was on display as he battered Moran with heavy slams and strikes, keeping the young Irishman grounded. Harris tagged in, delivering a punishing knee drop and shoulder block to further wear down Moran, who struggled to gain any momentum. Despite some miscommunication between the villains, they maintained control until Moran managed to counter a Harris suplex into a snap suplex of his own, desperately tagging in Metallica Panther II.

Panther entered with fire, taking down both Keane and Harris with a flurry of clotheslines and power slams. The crowd erupted as Panther leveled Keane with a running knee lift before setting his sights on Harris. After several minutes of back-and-forth action, Harris attempted his signature Harris Slam, but Panther countered, delivering a devastating Panther-Plex from the middle rope to score the pinfall.

After the match, the tension between Keane and Harris boiled over, with Keane viciously attacking his own partner. The chaos didn’t end there as Keane turned his aggression toward Metallica Panther II, blindsiding him with a brutal assault before storming out of the ring, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

[5] Johnny Fresno beat George Grouse in a match for the vacant European Lightweight Championship (Double Underhook Backbreaker, 9 minutes shown)

Sir Solomon Simpson KC, Chair of the Admiral-Lord Mountevans Committee and Francois Louis Jean, Commissaire of the Européenne et Conseil de Boxe et de Lutte were at ringside for this match.

The match kicked off with an intense technical exchange between the former World Lightweight King, Johnny Fresno, and the Scottish Houdini of the Mat, George Grouse. Both men displayed their exceptional grappling skills, countering each other's holds with ease. Grouse’s agility was on full display as he reversed a Russian Leg Sweep into a flying headscissors, sending Fresno tumbling across the mat. Fresno, however, quickly regained control with a sharp overhead belly-to-belly suplex that took Grouse by surprise.

As we returned from a commercial break, we rejoined the action with Grouse had Fresno locked in an abdominal stretch, expertly working on his opponent's midsection. Fresno fought through the pain, managing to escape with a hip toss. Grouse attempted to capitalize with a series of quick dropkicks, but Fresno ducked the final one and hit a powerful Bulldog. With momentum on his side, Fresno began to target Grouse's back, hitting several punishing backbreakers.

We rejoined the action again in the final moments of the match saw Fresno avoiding Grouse’s Surfboard attempt and countering with his signature Double Underhook Backbreaker, securing the pinfall victory and the European Lightweight Championship. Despite the loss, Grouse earned a standing ovation for his technical prowess and resilience in a thrilling contest.

Sir Solomon and Francois Louis Jean presented Johnny Frenso with the Championship Belt.

Barry Bridges at Ringside

Sat in the front row watching the action is ‘Battling’ Barry Bridges. He’s dressed in a classic navy suit with large lapels. Dougie Wright tells us that the Barry never surrendered his Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship and Belt and is set to return to the ring this week in the Pacific when he defends his crown against Australian Half-Nelson McGrath. Dougie says he, along with all the fans at home hope to see Mr Bridges back in a ring in the UK soon.

[6] Gavin Owens beat Geoff Hammill for the British Heavyweight Championship (Pinfall in 16:00, full match shown)

Sir Solomon Simpson KC, Chair of the Admiral-Lord Mountevans Committee and Edwin Luntley, Matchmaker of KING GEORGE VI WRESTLING CLUB are at ringside.

The match kicked off with chaos as Owens and Hammill erupted into a wild brawl before the bell even rang. Both men threw furious punches, with neither gaining a clear advantage. Owens drove Hammill into the corner, delivering heavy forearms, while Hammill retaliated with stiff uppercuts and clubbing blows. The referee struggled to maintain order, warning both men as they nearly got themselves disqualified within the first two minutes.

With tempers flaring, Hammill gained the upper hand by throwing Owens into the steel steps on the outside, but Owens beat the count and reentered the ring just in time. Hammill continued his assault with a series of suplexes, showing his technical prowess. Owens, however, countered with a series of judo throws, stunning the crowd with his Seoi Nage, which planted Hammill hard on the mat.

Hammill attempted to grind down Owens with a body scissors, sleeper and a spinebuster for a nearfall. Owens, showing real courage, fought back with precision strikes and a dropkick that rocked Hammill, followed by his signature Gunners' Sweep to keep the pressure on.

As the match entered the final stretch, Hammill's desperation began to show. After the referee was temporarily distracted by a scuffle in the corner, Hammill pulled out a concealed brass knuckle from his tights. He aimed for Owens’ head with a devastating punch, but Owens ducked just in time. Seizing the moment, Owens quickly rolled Hammill up in a small package, securing the three-count and the British Heavyweight Championship.

The crowd erupted as Owens celebrated his shocking victory, while Hammill sat in disbelief, having been outsmarted at the last second.

Sir Solomon Simpson and Edwin Luntley congratulate Owens on his win and present him with the belt.