It was a memorable night on Tuesday when Girl Fight made its return to the Jeffersonville Arena. The four year old women’s promotion always brings great action and rising stars when they come to town, but it was the good weather that stole the show early in the night. Fans who visit the Southern Indiana wrestling hot spot know that “Hot” is the key word in the summertime, as the air conditioning is rarely on. A cold front the day before brought mild temps from outside, and the fans set up around the Arena – two of which got involved in the show – made it a pleasant evening for the fans and the wrestlers, even with a packed house.
Charlie Kruel and Khloe kicked off the evening with a Street Fight, and the Girl Fight regulars wasted no time getting into a brawl that raced around the building. In the first “fan” spot of the evening, a sturdy metal oscillating fan no-sold a hard-driving head butt that go the fans’ attention. Kruel dominated much of the action, but the wily “youngest daughter of Tracy Smothers” Khloe had just enough to steal a win.
The second match of the evening was a show stealer, featuring the British born Japanese star Heidi Katrina against Alyx Sky. Katrina had just flown back from Japan on Monday, but if she was feeling jet lag, it was not apparent. She rocked Alyx Sky with her British/Japanese strong style tactics and quickly won the fans over with her hard-hitting form. Both ladies had a great debut for Girl Fight, but it was Katrina who took the convincing victory.
The psycho from Waverly Hills Ella took the ring next against another newcomer to the Arena, Big Mama. They had a tall task, following Katrina and Sky, but Big Mama’s energy and enthusiasm got the crowd into the match early. Big Mama is a powerhouse you can’t help but love, especially when she’s across the ring from a twisted soul like Ella, but it was Ella who stole a victory leading into intermission.
It’s a great night of wrestling when you get to see some of your favorite TV stars. Not only did Girl Fight deliver with TNA’s Knockout powerhouse Jordynne Grace on Tuesday night, fans got an added bonus when Dave Crist came to the ring with Samantha Heights. Dave is one of the best kept secrets on the Impact roster. As good as he is in the ring – and few people sell as well as he does – he’s hilarious when he gets into it with the fans. Folks sitting on my side of the ring were treated to a Dave Crist roast of the front row hecklers including a gem I tweeted during the show: “Sir, you’re bald because God hates you.”
Dave could easily have upstaged the action in the ring with his mouth, but a very game Hawlee Cromwell gave the always game Samantha Heights all she could handle. Samantha is a long time fixture at Girl Fight, and the fans love to hate her more than anyone. The Lost Girl used the ropes and some interference from Dave Crist to steal a win from Cromwell.
Jordynne Grace was next, facing Girl Fight’s teenage sweetheart Billie Starkz, who won a victory over Impact’s Su Yung at the last Jeffersonville Girl Fight show. As always, Starkz showed she belonged in the ring with Impact star, fearlessly attacking Big Momma Pump and taking some of Jordynne’s best shots, but it was not to be her night. Grace was too strong and too dominant, and her power eventually wore down Starkz. Most fans agreed it was the match of the evening, not to mention a fitting co-main event. Girl Fight has always been about giving young stars a shot against more experienced veterans, and it wasn’t too long ago Jordynne Grace was one of the up and comers working for the same promotion!
The final match of the evening was a first for Girl Fight: A steel cage match between Randi West and Savanna Stone. Stone is only 19 herself but a stellar wrestler and dastardly heel. She was more than up to the challenge against the Toughest Broad in the Galaxy, dragging West out of the ring and brawling around the Arena before the bell. It was during this melee that a second oscillating fan got involved when Stone threw West into the fan. Unlike its metal counterpart, the white, plastic and metal fan sold the move like a veteran and disintegrated on impact. It did appear after the match that it will make a full recovery and cool the Arena’s human fans again.
Although the crowd was surprisingly down for the match, Stone and West delivered a great fight inside the cage. Stone is an absolute star on the rise, having already caught the eye of WWE, and she has more than proven she belongs at the top of any card with her recent appearances for Girl Fight. Randi West took the victory by escaping the cage, getting a well-deserved pop from the crowd, but it was Stone who sent everyone out on a high note after she responded to the fans’ cry to “Knock him out!” and decked referee Sean O’Brien. She dropped the formerly man-bunned ref with a Dr. D style open handed slap and then returned to pummel him with her fists before escaping to the back. West came in and feinted a shot at Sean herself but helped him to his feet so he could raise her hand in victory.
Girl Fight continues to deliver show after show. Give Mad Man Pondo credit for having an eye for new talent and a nose for great matches, but give the ladies their due. They love this promotion, they love the Girl Fight fans, and they always leave it all in the ring. They’ve also made a significant impact on the women’s revolution, providing a launching pad for ladies who now call WWE, AEW, Ring of Honor, and Impact home. It’s only a matter of time before some of the new faces at Girl Fight make their way onto TV as well.
Girl Fight will be in Tennessee on June 21 and in Illinois for their second Death Becomes Her deathmatch show on July 13. Visit their Facebook page for information on these and other upcoming shows.