We’ve already looked at one match from NEW’s debut (evening) show – now we dive into the main event…
We’re still at Vancouver’s Gaming Stadium – a nice, airy room that stands out from the sea of poorly-lit dark venues that pervade wrestling in general. This one’s available for free on YouTube – with the main event kicking off around two hours and four minutes in…
Mike Bailey vs. Artemis Spencer
Fans in Europe will probably remember Spencer from his run in Europe in May 2019 where he was a part of PROGRESS’ last (at time of writing) Super Strong Style 16, and also had a few appearances for Rev Pro too. Back in his native Canada (and Pacific North West area), Spencer’s a former champion in ECCW and DEFY, having been around since 2002.
If you need any introduction to “Speedball” Mike Bailey at this point, not to be condescending, but you must be new around here. I have a feeling you’ll like what you’ll see, right from the Beastie Boys music, since we’re not dealing in overdubs or replacement themes here…
After an early exchange, Spencer runs into a mid kick and rolls outside looking to take the sting out of things. When we get back to the ring, they do the yay/boo stuff to the crowd, but Spencer gets a hotter response since he’s more local and this Vancouver crowd seems loyal. When we get going, Bailey rolls with Spencer on the mat, taking his back before rolling into the guard, but he’s unable to throw any strikes as Spencer got back to his feet. Bailey tries to catch Spencer with kicks, but instead gets caught with an over-the-top-rope 619 by Spencer, who then caught himself ahead of springboard lucha armdrags and a dropkick in the corner that took Speedball down for a two-count. Spencer tees up for a dive, but Bailey slides back in to catch him with a mid kick and a double knee drop, turning things around in a hurry.
A snapmare and a kick to the back keeps Spencer down, but they move into strikes, with Spencer and Bailey trading chops. Bailey fakes out a chop to kick Spencer in the gut, but Arty’s back with a knee strike before he booted Speedball into the corner, leading to the rope-walk back senton as Bailey was draped across that top strand. It’s good for a two-count though, as Bailey came right back with an axe kick en route to a running corkscrew press for a near-fall of his own. Spencer blocks a kick, but couldn’t avoid a second as Bailey began to dictate the pace again. Arty returns the favour, kicking Bailey’s leg out of his leg, before a dropkick took both men through the ropes to the outside, ahead of topes from Spencer. A Golden Triangle moonsault gives Bailey a way back in, as the pair got back up to the ring apron to trade yet more kicks, with Spencer’s chest getting particularly marked up. Problem was, Spencer played into Bailey’s game as he gets tripped up for some moonsault knees on the edge of the ring, before Bailey took things back inside looking for a Flamingo Driver.
Spencer rolls out at the pair trade some flash pinning attempts, which leads to a standing moonsault double knees from Bailey, who manages his Flamingo Driver at the second attempt for a near-fall. Shooting star knees off the top nearly had Spencer done, but he grabbed the ropes at the last moment to keep the match alive, before he grabbed Bailey on the top rope and brought him down with a Spanish fly. Bailey rolls to the floor as Spencer tried something else off the top… and headed deep into the crowd to get the hell away from Arty. Unfortunately, Spencer joins him there, cracking Speedball with a headbutt before the pair headed towards the merch table as Spencer caught him with some more kicks, juist out of sight of the hard camera. A run-up from Spencer ends badly as a back body drop sees Arty wipe out one of the merch tables, as Bailey looked to take a count-out victory.
Of course, Spencer breaks the count, despite Bailey’s attempt to keep him on the outside… and they head back up to the top rope. Bailey knocks Spencer down to the floor, only for Spencer to get up and get hung up in the ropes… Spencer recovers and blocked a superplex that led to a nasty landing in the ring for Bailey, who then had Spencer leap on him with a double stomp to the kidneys. OOF.
A Psycho Driver’s next from Spencer, who goes right back up tip for a Spiral Tap… and that’s all folks! Bailey looked to be working more aggressively here – dare I say, “heelish” – and it gave Spencer the chance to shine in front of his home crowd. A lot’s been (rightfully) said of how Bailey “deserves a contract” somewhere, but on showings like this you’d have to say that Spencer shouldn’t be too far from those discussions either…
Result: Artemis Spencer pinned Mike Bailey in 21:04 (***¾)