Eddie Kingston vs. Tracy Williams (GCW 4/5/18)
When this match got announced my mind went a million miles per hour to figure out how Eddie Kingston of all people fit into an event like Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport. The good brother is a tape junkie but more AJPW than UWFi. Granted, Kingston and Williams have had multiple CHIKARA matches, admittedly a few years ago, with shoot influences.
Watching the European tournaments AMBITION and TETSUJIN give a slanted perspective on what shoot style is. Where Europe has developed a distinct cultural twist on the style, this match feels like a raw first step in the Americanization of the style. More striking, more struggle, less finesse. Williams is an original Catch Point member, so grappling is built into his wrestling DNA. So it is fun watching Kingston get eaten up on the mat before he baits Williams into a strike exchange. Two seconds later he’s turtled up because he lost control on the mat and is getting pelted with kicks. Bless up. Once Williams is in real control he goes ham with rolling leglocks, like what? The match comes down to whether Williams can grind Kingston into position for the submission and frankly it becomes clear after he can’t get the win off a mostly full extended armbar that he probably doesn’t have it in him. The longer the match goes, the more chances Kingston has. Kingston hits a sleeper suplex that lands poor Hot Sauce on his twig neck. It isn’t sustainable since he doesn’t lock up the submission right away. Commentary sells it as a Kingston hesitating because of the inability to pin his opponent. Thus I’m stealing it. Even if Kingston is firmly getting owned on the mat, Bloodsport ain’t that point wrestling garbage, you gotta finish. Williams can’t finish. Out of nowhere, Kingston explodes with a striking barrage that looks ugly effective. Yeah, UGLY EFFECTIVE.
Really good match, first really good match of WrestleMania weekend. Gives me hope for the style in the States. Give us this lord. GIVE US THE YEAR ROUND KUMITE!
Spandex Are Still Cool 