This Saturday (April 24), Pittsburgh native MV Young held a remarkable indie show in his hometown. It was the third edition of his Polyam Cult Party. Each edition of the show tops the last, with this one being no exception. There’s too much to discuss (the show ran for over 4 hours), but here’s a rundown of some highlights.
J Rose served as the ring announcer and host of the show, and he did an amazing job. You can tell by watching him that he has a great love for independent wrestling. His presence and his humor were greatly appreciated in between matches.
The Opener
The show opened with Darius Carter vs Pinkie Sanchez. Carter, dignified and irritable as ever, had an impressive showing. His opponent, Pinkie, was a ball of chaos.
On a personal note, I watched this show with two friends who are very unfamiliar with wrestling. They were immediately drawn in by Darius and Pinkie’s dynamic, and greatly enjoyed Pinkie’s antics. The end of this match, wherein Darius stood behind Pinkie and broke his neck, elicited equal amounts of shock and confusion. It made us laugh even when brought up hours later.
Overall, the opening match was a great way to set the tone for the rest of the show.
The Exhibit of Intrigue
A real standout match for me was Eel O’Neal vs Edith Surreal. This was one of the best matches technically speaking. Edith in particular has a lot of star power and is an indie star to keep your eye on. She brings a lot of poise and artfulness to the ring, which is something unique and beautiful in pro wrestling.
Another especially notable part of the show was the Scrumble, the Polyam Cult’s take on a battle royal. This was everything a Battle Royal should be. There was a wide array of personalities, including Sandra Moone, Eddy McQueen, and the victor Aspyn Rose.
Probably the high point of the Scrumble, Shawn Phoenix set a large board of wood on fire and drove the unfortunate Max Burnside through it. I don’t know if the pun in Burnside getting thrown into fire was intentional, but it was appreciated nonetheless.
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grim
Every good show needs a hoss fight, and PCP3 was no exception. Chase Holliday and Mr. Grim delivered on this front. The match featured impressive athleticism, particularly from Mr. Grim who performed a (missed) 450. An incredible feat, especially for someone of Grim’s stature! Holliday is very talented as well. His lariat is especially strong and was one of the standout moves of the night for me.
Another solid match on the card was the four-way between Josh Fuller, Facade, Jaiden, and Miles. There was a lot of acrobatic talent and innovative spots, which is exactly what should be in a four-way match. Josh Fuller came out with the victory, which was nice to see after Fuller’s time away due to injury.
The Only Downside
While my opinion of the show is very, very positive, some moments left me worried. I don’t want to single anyone on the show out so I’ll leave out the names, but there were a couple of messy botches on the show. Botches are inevitable in wrestling, but to me, some spots were indicative of a greater problem I see in the indies, where guys do very reckless spots without the proper training. I know we live in a time where wrestlers get bookings from cool gifs on Twitter, but I wish wrestlers had more regard for their well-being.
The Party Never Ends
The most compelling story of the show was undoubtedly Jody vs MV Young for the Wrestler’s Lab Championship. MV is a powerhouse of a champion (commentary noted that he’s been called “Pansexual Taz,” which is pretty apt I think). He’s also a great friend of Jody, who’s known for his laidback attitude and his love of partying. This match, though, was not all smiles.
Jody came out to prove himself today, and he delivered. While he was unsuccessful in his attempt to become Wrestlers’ Lab champion, he showed everyone in attendance that he can step up to any challenge when he wants to.
MV did a fantastic job playing the heel in this match and putting Jody over. From what I can tell, that was exactly his goal, and he absolutely nailed it.
There was a short pause for a drag performance from queen Washington Heights. During her musical showing, the rain in Pittsburgh rapidly picked up. MV came out after she was finished to assure the audience that all performers were set to go forward.
The Finale
The next match was Lee Moriarty vs Charles Mason. This was, in my opinion, the most technically sound match. Mason is one of the most interesting characters in the indies and he has the skill to back it up. Moriarty is making a name for himself with his technical wrestling, and for good reason. I can only see good things coming for both of these guys.
The rain passed, and the show ended with Ziggy Haim capturing the Ryse Championship against David Lawless. It was a feel-good moment showcasing a rising star, and the perfect note to end the show.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the show was a joy to watch, and I can’t wait for the PCP4, provided that MV Young has that in mind. It was a great moment for LGBTQ fans and athletes in pro wrestling. As a member of the LGBTQ community myself, the show was especially awesome in how it blended the cultures of pro wrestling with those of LGBTQ spaces, particularly Drag Shows. They’re two worlds that seem incompatible on paper, but can be merged to create something very special and endlessly entertaining.
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