Battle Club Pro Unfinished Business Coverage: Bowens Wins Franchise Championship

Battle Club’s first outdoor event in Brooklyn was a success thanks to a variety of intriguing matches that absolutely bred new life into the indie promotion. With the crowing of a new Icons Champion in Harlow O’Hara, as well as a #1 contend rain Dan Maff and the crowning of Anthony Bowens as the inaugural Battle Club Pro Franchise Champion, the show definitely ended with a bang.

Matches:

Leyla Hirsh w/Gino Gotz vs. Christina Marie: Interference from Gotz helped Hirsch get the win via Arm-Bar Submission, in a match that Marie dominated most of.

Fatal Four Way for Title Shot at Franchise Championship: Mike Orlando w/Elliot Martinez and Allie Reks vs. Yahya vs. Mr. Grimm vs. Dan Maff: This was a stiff one, but there were also a ton of spots. After Orlando took out Grim on the outside with a Suicide Dive, Maff beat Yahya with the Burning Hammer.

The Ugly Ducklings: Lance Rude and Rob Killjoy w/Coach Mikie vs. The Sea Stars: Ashley Vox and Delmi Exo vs. The Diamond Dogs: Luke Langley and Graham Bell: Another frenetic match that saw all three teams hit a ton of offense. Vox and Killjoy were the standouts, however, as they hit the majority of the sexy maneuvers. The double team maneuvers and finisher were on full display towards the end, but the Stars capitalized and hit Stereo Splashes for the win.

Harlow O’Hara vs. Battle Club Pro Icons Champion Tasha Steelz: An evenly match, strike-fest with plenty of near-falls. Both Steelz and O’Hara played minds games and used rest holds to keep the crowd in it and prepared for the next big move. At the same time, O’Hara managed to take control towards the end of the match with strikes. Although Steelz fought back with a Running Super Kick and more strikes, O’Hara stuck it out, hit the Last Rites and eventually got the victory via the Rollup with some help from the ropes.

JT Dunn vs. Joe Gacy: Dunn wasn’t above the heel tactics in this one, but it was a strike-heavy encounter that played to both of their strengths. There was also a sense of speed in the encounter as well as Dunn managed to German Suppler the much-larger Gacy. Gacy was no slouch either in the suplex department as he nailed Dunn with a Fireman Carry Arrow. The two then traded pitfalls before Dunn prepared himself for the Elbow and got countered into a Superkick and a Lethal Injection that gave Gacy the win.

Winner Gets Icons Title Shot: Diamante vs. Davienne vs. Allie Kat vs. Savannah Evans: Another fun strike fest, with some cool spots, including a Meower of Doom from Allie Kat. After a flurry of near-falls and finishers, Diamante hit the Double Sliced Bread on the outside and then beat Evans with the Code Red.

Joey Ace vs. Trever Aeon: Ace nearly won with an STF, but Aeon got to the ropes. Ace then tried to DDT Aeon on the apron, but Aeon countered with a series of Elbows, and a High Knee. Ace then hit a Blockbuster, but Aeon countered the DDT into an Electric Chair Rollup and took the victory. 

Battle Club Pro Franchise Championship: Matt Macintosh vs. Tripp Cassidy vs. Shane Mercer vs. Anthony Bowens vs. Darius Carter: All five competitors hit their share of offense and the action spilled to the outside where things got hairy as Mercer took out Bowens with a Suplex from about ten feet up, from on top of a cement pillar. After a slew of finishers, it appeared Mcintosh was doing to win, in spite of a Carter Cobra Clutch Driver, but Bowens swooped in and won with a Rollup.