New Dawn January 2019

New Dawn, the first big event of 2019 for Warrior Pro Wrestling, was a massive success. The card proved to be strong from top to bottom, and for the first time- two championships were put on the line, as well as a match to determine the next contender for the Heavyweight crown.

Per usual, scroll down for all the matches, recaps, and post-match promos…


Preshow: Markus “Young Gun” Winter vs Maverick Reed


Recap:
The impressive rookie (formerly Luke Casey) put up a hellova fight against one half of the Reed Brothers, and even had his more veteran opponent reeling in the end. But the Young Gun is still learning how to put matches away, and a costly mistake left him open to a thunderous knee from Maverick Reed that put the opener away.

Winner: Maverick Reed
Match Rating: ***



Tag Team Tourney Semifinal: Los Ninos Perdidos vs Gears of War


Recap:
The main show kickoff match was a good one, with the Blackrose rudo’s trying to continue their winning streak and advance to the finals. Standing in their way though, were the powerhouses Gears of War. The match proved to be the contrast in styles that was expected, with Los Ninos trying to use their speed advantage to gas out their larger slower opponents. But in the end the advantage of Riot as a thundering hammer proved too much to overcome, as he nailed the Dark Alley bomb right on a chair for the pin fall.

Winner: Gears of War
Match Rating: ***



Tag Team Tourney Semifinal: Roland Chang Trio vs Roy Carter & Brick (The Jackson Hole Outlaws)


Recap:
Roy and Brick came out sporting a new name and a new manager, as Virgil Wyatt attempted to zero out the advantage of the eldest Roland Chang. Simply put, this was a bar room brawl. A good ol fashion brawl that saw everyone take a heap of damage and no one holding back. Eventually, RC3 seemed content to isolate the big man Brick and wear him out. While they did manage to tire the giant, Brick also managed to rain down damage in the process. The highlight of the match may have been watching the youngest Chang and Brick slug it out in the middle of the ring, exchanging big boy moves that seemed to have the ring on the brink of breaking. Eventually, Brick would make it back to his corner for a hot tag to Roy Carter, who caught the youngest Chang with a danger kick for a very close near fall. After more back and forth the Jackson Hole Gang would hit a double team powerbomb and Carter would sink a deeeeeep armbar…. But Chang Sr would distract the ref long enough for Junior to make the save. All four men in the ring throwing haymakers now, but it would be Roy Carter who would catch the youngest Chang, and a follow up Danger Kick would snag the pin fall. A hellova match here…

Winner: Jackson Hole Outlaws
Match Rating: ****



Austin Baron (w Tank McDaniel) vs Colossus Rhodes (w Doc Wyatt)


Recap:
You could feel the tension in the air as this one got started, the crowd and seemingly everyone in the building worried that Colossus Rhodes was going to put Austin Baron into the hospital, or maybe worse. And the first five minutes of the match confirmed those fears. Rhodes jumped all over Baron from the beginning, rag dolling him around the ring and flooring him with vicious strikes. But the tough as nails veteran wouldn’t give up, and after 3 failed attempts at suplexing the massive man, a fourth attempt actually proved successful. The move seemed to shake Colossus, and Austin found a second wind, running wild on the big man. The match stayed relatively even the rest of the way, and with each passing minute, the big man looked a little more tired. Eventually Austin would hit consecutive back drops, then a spinebuster, then pick him up for a dramatic stunner….. for the closest near fall you’ve ever seen. It seemed that Austin put everything into that last sequence, because afterwards Rhodes would recover, slam Baron to the mat and put his entire 400 plus pound weight on his chest for the pin fall….

Winner: Colossus Rhodes
Match Rating: ****

After the match, Doc would get into the ring and whisper something into Rhodes ear, which was then followed up by Rhodes picking up Austin and giving him a massive chokeslam. Tanks would run into the ring and go nose to nose with Colossus before Doc, laughing, called for Rhodes to exit the ring as Tank checked on his unconscious friend.



“Lanky” Lefty McDaniel vs Pantero Negro Jr. (Lucha POWER)


Recap:
If this is what we’re getting from an entire Lucha POWER show, we are in for a treat. This match was fast paced and back and forth for the entire time, with neither man able to secure a clear advantage. At around the ten minute mark, Lanky seemed to turn the tides, nailing a rainmaker closeline followed by an axe bomber lariat for a close nearfall. Lefty appeared to have all the momentum, hitting lariats and spinebusters- pouring on the offense until Pantero would counter into a desperation Destiiiiiiiino… for a clooose near fall. Lefty fighting back with repeated closelines, but Pantero countered with a toss to the outside and then a huuuuuge dive. Back inside Pantero nails a frankenstiener, then goes for a rebound dropkick and misses. More back and forth, with Pantero getting the better of Lefty, reigning foot stomps that bust him wide open. Pantero looks to go for another Destiiiiino to put it away but Lefty counters into a rainmaker, followed by a vicious axe bomber for the pin.

Winner: “Lanky” Lefty McDaniel
Match Rating: ****

After the match as Lefty is being attended to by medical personnel, Yoshi Tayaki brutally attacked the already injured wrestler. As he was being pried off, he could be heard screaming “DO YOU NOTICE ME NOW??? DO YOU?!?” Lefty was taken to a nearby hospital for examination…



Tag Team Tourney Finals: Jackson Hole Outlaws vs Gears of War


Recap:
A massive, hard hitting affair from the last two groups standing. Virgil Wyatt stayed in the back for this one, with news that Brick and Carter wanted this win on their own. However both men seemed a bit more worse for wear from their first bout in the opening stages of this match, and GoW pounced on the opportunity, establishing the early advantage. But the advantage proved to be short lived, and eventually we were blessed with another big man clash, as Brick and Riot squared off in the middle of the ring and proceeded to try and punch holes into one another. Inevitably the match devolved into chaos with all four men brawling to the outside, before getting back into the ring and Riot suffering a brutal double powerbomb from the Jackson Hole Gang. Riot never looked the same again, and though he battled back and was able to make the tag, a thunderous chokeslam from Brick to Bobby Clash right near the GoW corner still proved too far away as Brick made the cover as Riot couldn’t get through the ropes for the save.

Winner: Jackson Hole Outlaws
Match Rating: ***



Warrior Pro Heavyweight Championship: Rampage Hunter vs John Logan


Recap:
An early favorite for MotY, and easily the best match of the young promotion’s existence. Simply put, this was a war with both men leaving everything in the ring. Rampage looked strong early in the match, using his size advantage to corner Logan and reign those big fists down. But the savy veteran kept managing to counter his way out to gain a quick advantage. And so that’s how the match would swing, big power moves from Rampage- quick counters opening small windows of opportunity for the challenger. The strategy played against Logan when Rampage turned a backbreaker into a running closeline, into a spear….for a near fall. Rampage wasn’t done, picking up Logan for a triple German into the ropes. Logan, sensing the match getting away from him, was able to hit a piledriver right in the middle of the ring, but when he tried to follow that up with his patent falling lariat the ref got in the way, sending them both to the mat. Rampage would use the opportunity to retake control of the match, hitting German after German. Logan though would counter out of a third attempt and go up top to hit the big man senton, but again miss an opportunity for the follow up lariat, as Rampage would side step it. Logan would hit the piledriver again, and again Rampage would side step the lariat. Back and forth now, before Logan would, again, hit the big man senton and FINALLY hit the falling lariat… for a near fall. Rampage, sensing the match getting away from him, turns up the offense and hits another triple German for a near fall of his own. Then after a back and forth puts Logan in the torturerack for what seems like an eternity before Logan is able to sneak out. Neither man holding back now, and action spills outside the ring, with Logan nailing a LOGANS RUN on the outside. Both men look exhausted, but both get back into the ring to avoid the count out. Back inside, suplex from rampage, and he goes up top and hits A SHOOTING STAR PRESS- a move we’ve never seen from him- for a cloooooose near fall. Logan looks hurt after that one, hes fighting back but Rampage has control and goes up and HITS ANOTHER SHOOTING STAR for a near fall. Logan, desperately, hits a piledriver into another falling lariat but Rampage fires back up and hits ANOTHER triple German- AGAIN Logan kicks out. Rampage doesn’t take any chances, and this time picks Logan up and immediately hits the LIGHTS OUT powerbomb for the dramatic win.

Winner: Rampage Hunter
Match Rating: *****

After the match both men, on their knees and exhausted, exchange words. Finally, Rampage gets up and offers a hand of help to Logan, who accepts. Both men shake hands, and Logan raises Hunter’s hand as the crowd cheers both. On the ramp, the entire Jackson Hole Gang comes out led by Doc Wyatt. Wyatt smiles and claps with the crowd before pointing at the title and then to his chest as the show goes off the air…



After the event, the press got words from both men from the main event…

Rampage Hunter


John Logan


Warrior Pro made public a few injuries from the night: Austin suffered a mild concussion from the post-match antics, and is expected to miss at least a month of action. Lefty McDaniel fortunately only suffered bruised ribs and a mild concussion. He is also expected out for at least a month.