Gambino got a raucous reception from the crowd, booing the MWA man like crazy. Gambino may not have won a match during his visits to FRONTIER but the crowd know he’s going to be putting on a great match here. Hardaway’s reception was stellar as always, the crowd chanting his name. But the man himself looked a little sombre, like his mind was elsewhere. There’s been all sorts of rumour and speculation about K-Hard’s personal life as of late, but I have a feeling it’s not going to impact his performance all that much.
Code of Respect is adhered to and we’re underway. Both men are respectful of one another’s abilities to start, cautiously exchanging wrist and headlocks. They trade armdrags and hip-tosses, showing off how evenly matched they are. Both men show off their knowledge of one another’s movesets by countering out of everything the other one tries in the early stages. Both men really want this win, and they don’t want to give anything away here.
Eventually Gambino takes Hardaway over the top with a clothesline and then follows to the floor with a dive off the apron. A trio of backdrop suplexes back in the ring from Gambino nets him a two count only. Hardaway sends Gambino to the floor next and wipes him out with the GTFO~! Back in the ring Hardaway tries a Fujiwara armbar to little success. Hardaway hits a nasty snap suplex on Gambino onto the ring apron, nearly losing his footing in the process. He tries to springboard back in but Gambino knocks him off the ropes back to the floor. They trade cradle attempts back in the ring and Gambino rolls through into a deep crossface submission.
Gambino has the move locked in but Hardaway doesn’t want to tap, and neither do the fans! “Please don’t tap, please don’t tap” chants the crowd. Hardaway feeds from the chants and drags himself to the ropes to break the hold.
Back to their feet and both men trade chops and Hardaway nails Gabe with an enziguri. Hardaway slips off the top rope when he was trying for the Lionstomp and Gambino gets a two count off of it. You can tell K-Hard was pissed at missing that opportunity to put Gabe away. He seemed more energetic after that, grabbing Gambino off the top to stop a flying elbow and delivering a huge Tiger Suplex, but Gambino kicks out and applies the Eye of Medusa!
Again Hardaway is struggling in a submission move, again the crowd are chanting his name and encouraging him. Gambino shakes his head and yells out to the crowd, realising that Hardaway is powering his way out of the hold. Hardaway does power out but gets picked up into a vertical suplex, dropping his legs down onto the ropes where, in a very swift motion, Gambino adjusts and nails a snap DDT! He covers but Hardaway kicks out at two! A very interesting move from Gambino there!
Gambino tries a lariat but K-Hard moves and hits his boot to the top of the head, followed by a spinning elbow to the side of the head; the KTFO~! Gambino won’t stay down though and boots Hardaway in the midsection, looking for the Fongul! Hardaway blocks the move and tries it himself, but Gabe too avoids the move.
Gabe nails a DDT. Hardaway blocks a moonsault with his knees, pops up and then hits the ANGELINA’S CROSSING on Gambino, but Gambino kicks out at the last second! Hardaway heads up top. Gambino avoids a Lionstomp and then hits Hardaway with the FONGUL, but it’s Hardaway’s turn to kick out of a finisher this time!! Gambino takes Hardaway to the turnbuckle… AND TRIES FOR THE FONGUL FROM THE TOP ROPE!!! But Hardaway back drops him instead! Hardaway hits the DECAP LARIAT and the WILLIAMS DRIVER to pin Gambino at 20:25!
Your winner, Kevin Hardaway!
Well, what a finish! Except it didn’t really end there…
— VIDEO —
Gambino is arguing with the referee while Kevin Hardaway is celebrating. Gabe claims he got his shoulder up in time, clapping his hands twice and raising a shoulder to emphasise the point to the referee. Hardaway soon notices and confronts Gabe. Someone tosses in a microphone and Gambino picks it up.
GG: I call bullshit. My shoulder was up at two and everyone in this god damn tent saw!
The referee is shaking his head. Hardaway swipes the microphone away from Gabe.
KH: Gabe, face it, I’m better than you! I’m the best wrestler in the solar system! That’s 2-1; mook. But, do you know what? I’m in a giving mood and I think the FRONTIER fans here on this muddy as hell island deserve some cheering up.
The fans cheer loudly.
KH: So, what I’m going to do is… Mr Referee, if you’d be so kind as to re-start this match so I can beat Gambino one… more… time!
The fans go wild, chanting “one more time, one more time” as the referee takes the microphone from Hardaway and asking for the bell to be rung again.
— / VIDEO —
Gambino and Hardaway circle each other for a moment before coming together. They trade blows like a scene from Rocky until Hardaway gets a boot into the gut and lifts Gabe up for the Angelina’s Crossing… but Gabe escapes. Boot to the gut… FONGUL!! Cover… and a three count!
Your winner, Gabriel Gambino!
Gambino slid out of the ring with a massive smile, backing up the ramp laughing to himself as he watched Hardaway’s face; slowly realising what just happened. He shouts out “you’re welcome” to the fans before disappearing.
I have to say, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like that. And what happens to the record books? Who goes down as the winner? I guess time will tell on that one… or maybe someone from the office will explain it all to me. As at time of writing I am none the wiser!