This weekend, Ryse returns to the Uniontown Mall for the first-ever Ryse Rumble, a 30-wrestler battle royal with the winner getting a shot at the Grand Championship. I'm scheduled to be on commentary for the event with the esteemed Ty Cross for our friends at indywrestling.us for the broadcast. In the 14 years I've spent in the wrestling business, I've called battle royals before and it goes without say, the action is wild. The back and fourth battles of multiple wrestlers in the ring at the same time, and some of the personal rivalries that spill over into the contest certainly make for an often rowdy scene.
That being said, I really think that the concept of the Ryse Rumble has a special atmosphere around it, not only because of this being the first-ever Ryse Rumble, but also what's at stake in this bout. The winner of this contest will get a chance to challenge for the Grand Championship, whoever that might be after the final bell this Saturday night, and there's no telling who might emerge from the locker room to add their name to the rumble for that opportunity. All things considered, the direction of Ryse could change in the span of just one night, especially if a debuting talent wins the Rumble to challenge for the championship. Furthermore, it opens the door for those already on the Ryse roster that might be more than qualified to get a shot at the title to put themselves in line for the belt.
That's why this event is so intriguing because you just don't know what's going to happen.
Christian Noir is going to square off against Ashton Day, and while Day is a capable athlete, I'd wager a few dollars on Noir to get the win here. Despite the recent defeat against Tony Johnson, I'd still say that Noir is one of the most dangerous competitors anywhere in Pittsburgh and we have yet to see his best work in the organization.
Speaking of Tony Johnson, "The Iceman" has a major chance in front of him when he steps into the ring of independent wrestling legend, Delirious. I've said it before and I will say it again, Tony Johnson is as good as anyone in Ryse, and it's very disappointing that the pandemic, not a lack of talent, took away his chance to shine as the Grand Champion. Keep in mind, The Iceman didn't get a one-on-one title shot for that championship until two years until after he was forced to vacate it when the majority of the world shutdown. The bottom line is, Tony Johnson deserves this opportunity and win, lose, or draw, he's going to shine on this platform.
For me, getting the chance to call this match has some sentimental value, as things will full circle in some ways. When I started as a photographer on the local scene in 2008 and then as a commentator the following year, I didn't really have any expectations. I was just happy to be involved in pro wrestling on some level, as I never thought I'd get the chance to have a role in the sport. Since that time, I've met some great friends, contributed to the industry that I've followed almost my entire life, and I've even had the chance to call matches for some major names. Su Yung, Chris Hamrick, Paul London, Corey Graves, Sam Adonis, and others are just a few of those names. I knew the name Delirious before I saw him live in July of 2005, but seeing the Matt Sydal/Delirious bout, a match that was very notable among the independent circuit at the time, in-person made me an immediate fan of his ability. Almost 17 years to the day that I saw that Sydal vs. Delirious match at a Norm Connors event at the Monroeville Sports Center, I'm going to get the chance to call Delirious' Ryse debut in Uniontown.
The tag team four corners match is going to be another wild contest on the card. The question is, how will BC Steele juggle this situation when two of his teams are in the same match? Will there be some type of agreement? That also leads to the question, what are Steele Corp's plans for the Ryse Rumble? Statistically, the group will have the numbers advantage and BC Steele always seems to have a plan.
PB Smooth will defend his title against "Pure Trash" Ron Mathis, someone that we saw in the tag division before the pandemic. In many ways, Ron Mathis has nothing to lose in this bout. He answered the open challenge the champion made so he created an opportunity for himself. However, PB Smooth is arguably in the prime of his career right now and has all the momentum behind him. If Mathis is defeated, there's no shame in a loss to such a dominate champion. On the other hand, Ron Mathis has made a career of being willing to take risks. Mathis has been involved in matches with light tubes, barbed wire, and other dangerous objects. The combination that Mathis has nothing to lose and that he's obviously willing to risk his body is what makes him a threat to the championship. Mathis is a nearly 15-year pro because he found success in the industry, albeit in an unconventional fashion, and he has the chance to completely chance the direction of Ryse if he wins the championship.
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