Alvarez Wins On Late Takedown As NYC Response Go 2-0 At CWA Showcase V

It was a late takedown with :20 seconds left that gave Sammy Alvarez (New York City Response) at 3-1 victory of Reece Humphrey (New Jersey Mob) at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River, New Jersey on Saturday night.

To start the night, Matt Weinberg came out on top 8-4 against Brock Biddle in a Mercenary undercard match at 195lbs. Weinberg snagged an early takedown, but Biddle escaped just nine seconds later to make the score 2-1 at the end of the first. In the second period, Biddle chose bottom, but Weinberg was able to ride him for 1:30 before cutting him loose on a restart to make the score 2-2. Weinberg then got a late period takedown and cashed in on the 2nd period riding time point to make the score 5-2 after six minutes of wrestling.

In the third, Weinberg chose neutral and gave up a takedown to Biddle as he scooted the corner. Weinberg earned an escape and eventually finished on a single leg after a nice counter to Biddle’s initial attack with :30 to go in the final frame. Weinberg then rode out the final 15 seconds to end the match with a 8-4 win.

To open the Main Card, Brian Courtney (Central PA Whitetails) came out guns blazing against Guesseppe Rea (New Jersey Mob) getting to Rea’s ankles early and often before finally scoring the first points of the bout 1:30 into the first period. After an optional shot on the restart, Courtney got back to Rea’s ankle on a low single and finished the period with a ride to make the score 5-1 by securing the riding time point.

In the second period, the Whitetail chose bottom and was able to get out 10 seconds into the period after a pair of successful lift and returns by Rea. The newest Mob member got right to Courtney’s ankle after releasing him, but Courtney was able to sit the corner and come out on top after a roll through scramble position to make the score 7-1. Courtney cut Rea immediately and got back on the low single again. Rea countered with a crotch lock and had Courtney stuck in a precarious position on his back for a moment, but Courtney was able to split the legs and come out on top.

Courtney cut Rea again and got to a deep double leg to finish and from there caught the Mobster relaxing and locked up a nearside cradle for the pin at 4:30.

“Just trying to look to score points the whole match,” said Courtney of his performance. “Last time (CWA Showcase IV) was the first time I competed in a long time, so it was good to know I could still do it.” When asked how it felt to be competing at 130 Courtney stated, “It’s my first time weighing 130 in about seven years so that’s pretty crazy, but I felt pretty good.”

At 195lbs., CJ Brucki (New Jersey Mob) and Scott Joll (Pittsburgh Skywalkers) put up 19 points with a number of high flying scrambles and big move attempts. Brucki got to Joll’s legs early and often scoring a takedown 19 seconds into the first period. It was the Skywalkers’ scrambling capabilities that allowed him to keep the match close as Joll answered back with a takedown of his own to end the first period with a score of 3-3.

The second proved to have a ton of mat wrestling with both guys securing reversals on one another. That, added in with a pair of escapes for Joll and a takedown for Brucki had the match tied at 7-7 with 10 seconds to go in the period. Upon Joll’s second escape he immediately turned to face Brucki and tried to hit a head pinch from their feet, but Brucki was wise to the attempt and controlled the chin hand during the attempt which forced the Skywalker to bail midway through the move and give up a late two point takedown to make the score 9-7 at the end of six minutes.

In the third period, Brucki chose bottom to start and found himself in a tough position as Joll had a tight power half and boot in on top. Eventually, the Mobster was able to fight free and Joll gave up the one point escape to avoid being reversed to make the score 10-7 Brucki. The Pittsburgh Skywalker picked up his pace and attacks in the final two minutes of the third period going for cement finishers, elevators, and out the back door finishes, but was unable to break through Brucki’s defense. With 30 seconds left, Joll attempted one last elevator, but Brucki sagged his hips and got behind the Skywalker to seal the final score at 12-7.

“There were a lot of really cool positions we ended up in. There were positions I don’t think I’ve ever ended up in. That’s what you get from a funky opponent,” said Brucki of Joll after his win. “That’s what was developed from Reece’s (Humphrey) hand fighting system,” Brucki said of scoring on his feet. “It’s something I preach to my guys in college. That’s why being a coach helps make you a better athlete.”

In the co-main event, Jesse Dellavecchia (NYC Response) took out Quincy Monday (New Jersey Mob) by a score 3-2 at 170 lbs. The difference in the match came from a takedown in the late stages of the first period where Monday picked the ankle of Dellavecchia while the Response team member was on a sweep single. Dellavecchia was able to get his legs away and cover Monday’s hips with 14 seconds left in the period.

With no scoring happening in the second period, Dellavecchia chose bottom to start the 3rd. Quincy cut Jesse to start the third and Monday was in on a number of shots, but could not finish. Dellavecchia was hit with stalling three times in final two minutes of the third period, but survived the match, 3-2.

“I’m just a little stubborn. I think people think I’m only good on top and I don’t know how to wrestle on my feet,” said Dellavecchia of the match. “I wanted to prove to people that I’m good there.”

The main event at 160 lbs. between Reece Humphrey (New Jersey Mob) and Sammy Alvarez (NYC Response) was a clash of styles and was nip and tuck the entire way. Humphrey, a former Ohio Buckeye and NCAA Finalist, came out aggressive early in the match pulling on Alvarez’s head trying to open up the offense. Alvarez, however, never strayed from his game plan; always keeping his head and hands in front, and making it extremely difficult for Humphrey to clear the ties and get to a clean shot.

Humphrey was finally able to get to the leg of Alvarez with 30 seconds to go in the 2nd period, but Alvarez sat the corner and forced a stalemate. After both guys exchanged early period escapes in the second and third periods, the match came down to a final sequence. Reece shot a deep lefty hi crotch attempt with 35 seconds left in the match, but Alvarez kicked his leg high and away. As Humphrey came to his feet, Sammy snagged his ankle and ran to the far hip to finish. A 28 second rideout ended the match with Alvarez getting the win, 3-1.

Next up for the Championship Wrestling Association, we head West to Detroit for CWA Showcase 6 on Thursday, September 25th.