A SWEET N SOUR SUPER INDY WIN!

Complete results by IWC Webmaster Jesse Forney
Live event photos from IWC Ringside Photographer Rich Shook
Video recap from Digital Horizons' Tony Fiore

Friday night May 11th was indeed a historical evening. One night after the 38th anniversary of WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino vs. Killer Kowalski in the legendary McKeesport Palisades. It was the first time all IWC titles changed hands in one night. It was the first night where a man won the IWC Super Indy Title on the same night he was forced to give up the title. It was the first time a team joined forces and shocked the world to win the IWC Tag Team Titles. It was the first time the IWC World Heavyweight Champion was presented with the brand new title belt, despite however much controversy surrounded his win. And it was the first time "Sweet N Sour" Larry Sweeney won an IWC title.

Super Indy Tournament Quarterfinals

HENTAI returned to the Super Indy tournament as he took on Brother Runt in the opening round. HENTAI was able to quickly dispose of Runt and rolled up the former Cruiserweight champion for the decisive win. HENTAI seemed to be well on his way to his second Super Indy win.

Next up was Shiima Xion taking on the debuting Ruckus. Both men were obviously out to impress, as their athletic contest wowed both crowd and critics alike. Xion was able to pick up the win with the Filipino Destroyer and move on to the semi-finals, but Ruckus' high-flying ability was enough to earn the very appreciative and rarely heard "Please Come Back" chant from the IWC faithful.

With Jay Lethal unable to make IWC Super Indy VI, "Sweet N Sour" Larry Sweeney needed a suitable opponent to take him on in the opening round. Enter "Black Machismo"! Lethal's alter-ego took Sweeney to the proverbial "nitty gritty", both in the ring and in the pre-match Strut-Off. But the Sweet N Sour one was able to counter Machismo's attempt at a victory roll and keep him down for the three count.

In the final opening round match, Azrieal faced off with the returning "Original Playa from the Himalaya", Sonjay Dutt. This was a great back-and-forth contest, showcasing exactly what Super Indy is all about. Azrieal was able to come off the top with the same double stomp he used to qualify for the tournament, and get the victory.

Super Indy Tournament Semifinals

It was teacher versus student as Shiima Xion took on one of his trainers from the Coalition of Competition, HENTAI. Their first-ever meeting in IWC proved to be a great in-ring contest. As HENTAI went for a baseball slide, Shiima was able to grab his arm and roll him up for a surprising la majistral cradle. In what can surely be considered an upset, the student was able to defeat the teacher and move on to the finals of Super Indy VI.

In the other semi-final match, "Sweet N Sour" Larry Sweeney took on Azrieal. The high-flying offense of Azrieal took over on the mat-based old school offense of Sweeney. But, Sweeney was able to come back and nail the 12 Large Elbow and score the win. And for the first time, Sweeney was gladly soaking in the cheers of the crowd!

Super Indy Tournament Finals

There have been many memorable Super Indy Tournament Finals. Hentai vs. Daniels. Cabana vs. Stryker. Sabin vs. Shelley. McChesney vs. Ki. Delirious vs. Lords. And now, you can add Sweeney vs. Xion to that illustrious list. "The Future of Fashion" was on a roll on this night, as he not only pinned the debuting sensational Ruckus, but also the first Super Indy Tournament winner and Super Indy Champion HENTAI. Sweeney was also on a similar run, pinning TNA X-Division star "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal and Jersey stand-out Azrieal. It came down to a battle of guts, determination, and that certain something from inside that comes with wrestling in three hard-fought matches in one night. With the crowd clearly torn, both men were on top of the match at certain points. When it came down to the limit, Sweeney reversed a sunset flip attempt by Xion, and pinned him to win Super Indy VI and become the new IWC Super Indy Champion! But, as the last Super Indy Champion Jason Gory placed the title around Sweeney's waist, "Fabulous" John McChesney made his presence felt, pointing to the brand new gold around Sweeney's waist!

Non-tournament matches:

IWC World Heavyweight Champion Ricky Reyes was originally scheduled to take on Dennis Gregory in his 8th defense of the title. However, as you may have read earlier in the week, "The Shooter" Brent Albright was able to insert himself into the match, citing his ability to defeat Sterling James Keenan and end his road to the title. IWC promoter Norm Connors allowed it, and we had a three-way dance on our hands. It started off with Reyes and Albright being able to lock in their finishing submission maneuvers, the Dragon Sleeper and Crowbar respectively, but with it being broken up by the one not in the hold. The match quickly escalated to an all-out brawl around the building. Albright took Gregory and destroyed the merchandise tables, dragging him across them, through the piles of shirts, DVDs, and more. Gregory took to the top rope and attempted to dive onto the other participants, but crashed and burned into a pile of steel chairs. A nasty cut opened near Albright's eye, and blood was soon dripping from his face. But back in the ring, Albright was able to take advantage of both men and grabbed a steel chair from the crowd. He wound up and swung at Gregory, but changed direction mid-swing and took out Reyes! He offered up the pin to Gregory, and 3 seconds later, Dennis Gregory became the only FOUR time IWC Champion in the company's history! He grabbed the microphone as Norm Connors demanded answers. He revealed that he manipulated Norm into firing Shirley Doe and Sebastian Dark while he was in Afghanistan. He revealed that he manipulated Norm into firing Sterling James Keenan, thinking he was restarting the Unholy Alliance. Connors said he was sorry for two things: He was sorry he fired SJK, and he was sorry he ever trusted Dennis Gregory. As Ricky Reyes came to following the chair shot, he lunged at the duo in the ring, but Albright and Gregory quickly put the boots to him. But, a familiar music played, and out came the returning JON BOLEN! Bolen ran off Albright and Gregory as the crowd welcomed him back and thanked Reyes for his incredible 8-month title reign.

Why would Gregory trick Connors like that? While he left for Afghanistan, he was stripped of the IWC World Heavyweight Title. You may have seen on IWCwrestling.com that Gregory had an e-mail set up for him to check while he was there. He also kept track of the happenings in IWC. He sent e-mails to Norm Connors suggesting he fire Doe and Dark, a thorn in his side for so long, that way, they would no longer be in his way. Connors did. Since he came back from overseas, he's been suggesting to Connors that SJK would be starting a new Unholy Alliance to take out IWC if he won the IWC World Heavyweight Title. Connors did, leading to the plan that unfolded at Throwdown / Stay Down. Gregory hired Brent Albright to assist in his plan, knowing that Albright is known in some circles as a hired gun. And what was Gregory's plan all along? That by hook or by crook, by any means necessary, he would win back the IWC World Heavyweight Title when he returned from Afghanistan. He contrived what could be compared to a war strategy, using what he knew from his military experience, to ensure that the title ended up back with him when he returned. And, in what seems to be an unfortunate circumstance, it has.

The final defense of the Super Indy Title was in a Four-Way Super Indy Second Chance Scramble. "Balls Hot" Troy Lords used his Champion's Choice stipulation to give three men who lost their Super Indy Qualifying Matches a chance to win the title from him in his last defense: Jason Gory, "Showtime" Eric Young, and his longtime rival, "Fabulous" John McChesney. Young and Lords quickly took advantage of McChesney's growing frustration and the crowd turning against him, driving him crazy with the jeers of the fans in the audience. But McChesney quickly eliminated Young from the match. Young got a bit of revenge, wearing McChesney's long coat on his way to the locker room. McChesney was finally able to succeed where he's been failing since January: he pinned Troy Lords. Lords was eliminated from the match while holding the ropes. It finally came down to McChesney and Jason Gory. McChesney dominated the match until Gory was finally able to counter McChesney's Electric Chair Driver and pin McChesney to win the IWC Super Indy Title! McChesney's continuing frustration at not holding the Super Indy Tile continues. He was finally able to pin the champion, but he did not win the title. Although he had to hand the belt over later in the night to his old rival Larry Sweeney, Gory's short-lived glory adds his name to the legacy of the IWC Super Indy Title lineage.

The IWC Tag Team Titles also changed hands on this evening. There was set to be a six-team gauntlet match, with each team randomly drawing different spots in the gauntlet. Chris Maverick's team, the Heartbreakers, drew number one. Whenever the team who drew number two came out, Michael Facade & the debuting Johnny Gargano, they were stopped in the aisle by Sexual Harassment. Justin Idol & Eric Xtasy explained that they wanted to get their hands on Romeo & Antonio and would do anything, even exchange their spot with the new team. They agreed, and Harassment was able to get their hands on the Heartbreakers! Idol scored the pin, advancing them to the next team: The Cleveland Mafia.

The Mafia came out swinging, with Ray Rowe and Eric Xtasy throwing heavy forearms back and forth. Justin Idol had J-Rocc down and climbed to the top for a big senton, but J-Rocc moved out of the way and J-Rocc rolled him up and pinned Idol, moving the Mafia on to the next team.

The next team were The Hollywood Balds, who were able to attack the Mafia from behind to take the advantage. But, the Mafia ended their chances as Ray Rowe stretched Vendetta with his variation on the STF.

Next up were the IWC Tag Team Champions The Gambino Brothers. The referee let this one go a bit as Rocc & Rowe brawled all around the building with Mickey & Marshall. J-Rocc and Mickey fought around the building while Marshall & Rowe battled it out in the ring. A super t-bone suplex later, Raymond Rowe pinned Marshall Gambino, eliminating the tag team champions.

Finally, it was revealed that Harassment gave Facade & Gargano the final spot in the gauntlet. The new team were obviously worried about going into this match against one of the most popular and destructive duos in IWC today. Rocc & Rowe dominated the match, systematically taking out both Gargano & Facade. But it seemed they took their eye off the ball.  They looked past Gargano and Facade as an easy win and got too cocky. As J-Rocc tagged in to deliver the One Hitter Quitter to a downed Facade to finally end the match, Gargano got a quick blind tag and flew onto the "Big Daddy of Destruction" with a picture perfect crossbody, and both men covered J-Rocc for the shocking win! As the Mafia handed over the tag team belts, J-Rocc showed respect to the new team and shifted their focus to "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe. Rocc called him out on behalf of "The Baddest Man in IWC" Ray Rowe, who will be taking Joe on at Summer Sizzler 4 on July 7th. He promised to personally prepare Rowe for the battle and Joe better watch out, because "Rowe is gonna kill you"!

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