Appalachian Mountain Wrestling Showdown – May 20, 2025: They Did A Lot Of Things Right
Showdown
Date: May 20, 2005
Location: Hazard High School, Hazard, Kentucky
Commentators: Chad Dregs, JR
Of course this is from Appalachian Mountain Wrestling from eastern Kentucky, because what else could it be? I have absolutely no idea what to expect here but it popped up on YouTube and that means we can have some fun with a small independent promotion. That can go in a variety of ways so let’s get to it.
The General Manager, who doesn’t actually say his name, announces a gauntlet match for the Tag Team Titles at Summer Bash in Lexington, Kentucky (Hey!) on June 15.
Opening sequence.
Adrian Alexander vs. Marcus Johnson
Johnson has the Go For The Gold briefcase, because everyone has to have a briefcase. Commentary (whose names were really hard to understand) reveal that the General Manager is former Smokey Mountain wrestler Bobby Blaze. Good to know. The fans like Johnson as Alexander armdrags him down to start. It works so well that Alexander does it again so Johnson comes back with some elbows and a dropkick.
Commentary recaps various issues in the company as of late as Johnson gets two off a rollup. Alexander goes to the throat and chokes on the ropes before getting two to set in the frustration. Another rollup gets another two but Johnson is back with some running shoulders. A spinwheel kick drops Alexander but he’s right back with a neckbreaker for two. Alexander grabs the briefcase, only to get caught with a Codebreaker for the pin at 5:38.
Rating: C. The action was fine, but I’m not entirely sure who I was supposed to cheer for here. Johnson seemed to be the standard heel to start but the fans liked him so maybe I was missing something. At the same time, any match involving someone carrying a guaranteed title shot briefcase is not the best way to get my interest up.
Company president Tony Presley holds a drawing for the tag team gauntlet, with one of them drawing #1 and the other drawing nothing. Well that was unnecessary.
Southeastern Champion Lord Murphy Costigan is asked about injuring Chase Emory last week but Costigan says he gave Emory a fair warning. Now he’s ready to step up and face any challenger for the title. Apparently he is defending against Michael Xodiak (pronounced Zodiac, the Mad Tailor), with Costigan saying Xodiak chases people around with a sewing needle. Costigan says that isn’t going to happen and he’ll be talking to his legal team.
We hear from some sponsors.
Michael Xodiak vs. Zee Collins
Collins has the Voodoo King in his corner, with commentary saying the King is 7’6. We start with some suggestive dancing from Collins, earning himself a whip to the floor. Xodiak uses his measuring tape to trip Collins down (and measure his shoulders) but Xodiak hits him in the back with the voodoo stick. Back in and Collins strikes away, setting up a running bulldog out of the corner for two. More dancing sets up a missed legdrop and Xodiak is back with a middle rope fist drop for two. A spike to the throat knocks Collins out for the win at 5:20.
Rating: C+. Well that was a different kind of thing gimmick from Xodiak and I actually liked it. He is certainly memorable in a good way, with the Mad Tailor deal being rather unique. I’m not sure how far it would go, but for someone who is in the middle of a title chase, I’ve seen far worse, both in concept and in the ring.
Xodiak is ready for his title shot and stabs at the contract with his needle.
Two wrestlers come up to Tony Presley and draw their number for the gauntlet, which they seem to like.
Kyle Maggard calls out Stan Sierra (apparently his former friend). Maggard isn’t happy with Tony Presley from the city of Lexington coming to explain how things go here in the mountains. He suggests that they get back together to defend the promotion. Sierra asks the fans what they think and then asks if Maggard wants to be his friend again.
Sierra wants an apology from Maggard, who apparently cost him a title. Maggard swallows his pride, says he’s sorry, and extends his hand. They shake and the team seems to be back together. I have no idea who these people are or what their history is together but I got the point of that segment. That’s a good sign.
Misery vs. Marty Clay
Misery’s Kentucky Title and Clay’s AMW Title are not on the line and Misery has Tony Presley with him. Presley joins commentary as Clay dropkicks Misery, who looks like a cosplay Abyss. They go out to the floor where Misery drops Clay onto the apron for two. Clay strikes away and hits a dropkick but a sunset flip is cut off with ease. Clay’s RKO attempt is cut off with a simple toss but Misery misses a charge into the corner. Clay strikes away and hits a dropkick to the knee, followed by something like a Phenomenal Forearm. They brawl to the floor and it’s a double countout at 8:12.
Rating: C. Clay seems to be the top champion around here and I’m not sure I get the appeal. Maybe Misery is that big of a guy but he was making Clay look tiny here. That doesn’t make me interested in a clash between two champions but rather wondering why Misery is bothering with someone Clay’s size. Clay was far from bad here, but Misery stood out more, even if Abyss should be getting a cut of his check for how much he is ripping off.
Post match the commentators get in a fight and Presley argues with commentator JR. Presley rams JR into the apron but Kyle Maggard and another wrestler run in with a chair for the save. Commentary actually gives us a very quick summary of the big story (from what I can gather): Presley is from New South Wrestling but has power here too. The problem is he’s an outsider and a lot of people don’t like him coming in and telling AMW what to do. That’s more of an explanation than we’ve gotten so far and I’ll take that over nothing.
Overall Rating: C+. I came into this show knowing absolutely nothing and I came away with a decent idea of what they’re doing. The wrestling itself was just ok, with Xodiak’s gimmick standing out more than anything else (which may be more due to it being so unique). The best thing I can say here is I got the idea of what they were doing in what feels like a big company wide story with no background so they’re doing something right. Throw in a pretty impressive looking crowd for a small town at a TV taping and I was pretty impressed. I’ve seen FAR worse local promotions and this was not bad at all.
Results
Marcus Johnson b. Adrian Alexander – Codebreaker
Michael Xodiak b. Zee Collins – Spike to the throat
Marty Clay vs. Misery went to a double countout
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