Gabriel Gambino was out first, making his entrance to Slash’s Godfather theme solo. The self proclaimed Best Wrestler on the Planet had MWA Hall of Famer Kacy Knight with him as he confidently strode to the ring.
Hardaway was out next wearing a newly designed T-Shirt with “#BestWrestlerInTheSolarSystem” emblazoned on it. Gambino didn’t look impressed with the shirt but Hardaway was grinning from ear to ear as he took it off and tossed it at Gabe prior to the match starting. When things were ready to get underway the two shook hands, sticking to the code of respect. And then the bell sounded.
Round one started with Gambino charging in for Hardaway several times, only for Hardaway to dodge or roll out of the way. Gambino was getting frustrated but to be honest I think it could be a wise tactic from Hardaway, get your opponent to exert more energy early on. He’s been in this position before, he knows how long this match could potentially turn out to be and he’s saving his energy.
When the two finally locked up Gambino got K-Hard into a waist lock before taking him to the mat and locking in front facelock. Maybe he cottoned on to the game plan of Hardaway and has followed suit, starting the match at a slow pace. Hardaway wriggled his way free and then got Gabe into a side headlock. Gabe pushed Hardaway into the ropes but was taken down by a shoulder barge on the rebound from the former GFC Champion.
Collar end elbow lock up again, Gambino getting Hardaway into a wrist lock which Hardaway rolls his way out of before reversing the hold. Gambino spins out to reverse before taking his opponent down with an arm drag.
The two stand off. A slow, technical opening to the match, the fans seem to be enjoying this, they know that a slow start usually equals an amazing finish and with the best wrestler in the solar system against the best wrestler on the planet? Who knows where this will lead.
Round one ended after a few more tentative exchanges and both men returned to their corners. Kacy Knight offering words of support to Gambino while Hardaway exchanged words with some fans in the front row. Then after their minutes rest we began round two!
Round two started in the same vein as the first, until Gambino catches Hardaway off guard with a left jab, right forearm and then spinning left arm lariat that takes Hardaway down. Gambino stomps away on Hardaway’s leg before going for a Texas Cloverleaf submission move, but Hardaway’s ring position is good and he’s able to reach the ropes. Gambino instantly releases the hold and steps away, allowing Hardaway to get back to his feet.
The two lock up once more, Hardaway getting into a waist lock and then taking Gabe down with a gutbuster. Hardaway now stomps away on the right arm of his opponent, trying to take away some of his strength. He follows up with an arm bar but Gabe grasps his hands together to stop the full effects of the hold and manages to get a foot on the ropes too.
Stalemate at this point in the match and the crowd are warming more to Gambino, seeing that he actually does have some talent to back up his words. But does he have enough to win the match?
Round two continued in the same basic alternating pattern of hold, stomp, submission until right before the bell went when Hardaway escaped from a Russian Legsweep attempt and connected with a diving chop to the back of Gabe’s left knee. Gabe went down hard, clutching his knee as the bell sounded to end the round. Gambino’s knee problems are well documented and Hardaway is making use of that here.
Round three started with Gambino hobbling out of his corner, trying to shake off his knee pain. Hardaway grabbed him and nailed a knee breaker which had Gambino stumble back into the ropes. Hardaway went to grab him again but Gambino got his other leg up and kicked him in the gut. He went for a kick again but Hardaway caught it and dragon whipped Gambino to the canvas before applying a Figure Four submission with Gambino punching the mat in pain, but not submitting.
Gambino managed to turn over, reversing the leverage and causing pain to Hardaway now. But Hardaway made the ropes and the hold is released. Both men back up and Hardaway goes to grab Gabe, who catches him with the Pele kick! Hardaway stumbles back and gets hung up on the top rope. Gambino up and connects with a running lariat that sends K-Hard over the top rope and to the arena floor.
Kacy Knight is stood on the outside and backs away from Hardaway with her arms in the air, showing the ref that she’s not getting involved. Gambino is charging across the ring as Hardaway gets back up. Gambino leaps over the top rope and connects with a big suicide dive!
The referee starts counting as both men are down on the outside. Gambino tries to whip Hardaway into the ring apron but K-Hard puts the brakes on and nails Gambino with a big right hand. Gambino fires back with one of his own. The ref shouts out at both men, warning them against closed fists. But both men ignore the ref and continue to trade massive blows out on the floor. The referee warns them a second time, which is one more than the rules usually allow for, but still they ignore him and continue to brawl.
The crowd are loving this exchange, although it is against the rules for this type of match. The referee looks set to call for the bell and end the match but Kacy Knight jumps up onto the ring apron and persuades him not to disqualify both men. Kacy gets between both men, pushing them away from each other and motions for them to get back in the ring and settle this properly.
They do get back into the ring just as the bell sounds to end round three. Both men take a moment to calm down before we continue the match. The fans are really getting into this contest now, which seems like it’s hitting its peak. Round four could see either man take this match!
The bell sounds and both men come out again, hooking up once more. Gambino powers Hardaway up and over with a snap suplex and covers for a two count only. Hardaway gets whipped into the ropes but as Gambino looks for a spinebuster K-Hard manages to get a boot up to the head of his opponent, following up with a spinning elbow… the KTFO~! Hardaway makes a cover but Gambino kicks out at two. Both men lay out on the canvas for a while as the fans cheer them both on.
Gambino eventually gets back up and gets Hardaway into a waist lock, taking him over with a German Suplex. But Hardaway rolls backwards and up to his feet, dazed a little but with it enough to surprise Gambino with a massive decapitation lariat! He makes the cover but again Gambino kicks out at two!
Again both men are flat out on the canvas, the energy expelled in the past two rounds catching up with them now. They eventually get back up to a vertical base and Gambino gets a boot into the midsection of K-Hard before nailing The Fongul! He takes a moment before turning Hardaway over and making a cover… and the bell sounds to end round four!
Gambino can’t believe it, the round is over when he had Hardaway prone for the three count. He slaps the mat and argues with the referee briefly before realising it’s futile. He heads back to his corner to talk to Kacy Knight as Hardaway gets back up to his feet, leaning on the turnbuckle in his corner.
The penultimate round starts and Gambino charges for Hardaway right away, connecting with a big knee lift while he’s still in the corner. He takes K-Hard out of the corner with a fireman’s carry before leaping onto the ropes for a springboard moonsault. But in the brief moment before he leaped up to the top rope Hardaway had started to stand up and, with Gambino flying though the air, Hardaway manages to catch him on his shoulders. From seemingly nowhere Hardaway nails the Angelina’s Crossing!
“HOLY SHIT!” chants emanating from around Burgess Hall. Myself included. That was amazing, catching Gambino in mid air and having the speed of thought to turn it into his finisher so quickly, quite a sight. Kacy Knight couldn’t believe it either and starts pounding the ring apron and calling out support to Gambino.
Hardaway is still out of it so takes a moment before making the cover, hooking the leg. Three seconds later it’s all over and Kevin Hardaway picks up the win!
Your winner, Kevin Hardaway!
A fantastic match and a great effort from both men. Gambino could have had it in round four but for the time expiring but in the end it was K-Hard, who remained in the ring long after the match was over, who triumphed.
Hardaway looked to the skies after the win, pointing upwards and then slapping his chest with pride. It was two years ago this month that saw the passing of his wife, Angelina. How fitting that now, with his career rejuvenated, he used the move named after her to win this match tonight.