REVIVAL 22 NEWS AND NOTES

• • After defeating Lunchbox Larry on ReVival 22, Coral Avalon was given a relatively clean bill of health regarding his left arm heading into ReVival 23 in New Orleans and will be 100% for his match with Eddie Cross on that same show. While talking with reporters after ReVival 22, Avalon officially announced his entry into the upcoming Culture Shock Battle Royal. He adds that he was *going* to do this in his interview with Matt Mills before it was crashed by the Winds of Change who talked about nonsense for most of the segment.

Reportedly, Avalon still doesn’t know anything about his ReVival 22 opponent, even after wrestling him.

 

• • The Anglo Luchador was fined $500,000 for an unauthorized appearance at HLL Uno’s Midweek Mayhem on February 1. The Luchador, Lindsay Troy, other PRIME officials, ACE Network, and all of the major sponsors of PRIME either had no comment or were unable to be reached.

 

• • Joe Fontaine and Sid Phillips were said to not be surprised by the announcement that the Dangerous Mix would challenge Jared Sykes and Justine Calvin for the PRIME Tag Team Championship at ReVival 23.

Reporters caught up to the pair shortly before ReVival 23’s main event, where Fontaine said, “It’s cool that those two are finally getting a shot. Really. I just hope they know what they’re in for. Both for that match, and *especially* if they were to win.”

When asked about the possibility of the Mix winning the titles, Sid said, “If they win, I will powerbomb them both so hard that they’ll have an out-of-body experience of watching themselves get powerbombed, and then the Grim Reaper will come to powerbomb them into the afterlife.”

He was reminded by reporters and by Joe that it’s illegal by Texas law to powerbomb someone to death, to which Sid replied, “Laws are made to be powerbombed.”

 

• • After an absolutely disastrous evening for the former Universal Champion, Hayes Hanlon was somehow cleared by Dr. Fihlguud and her team after ReVival 22 came to a close in Orlando, Florida.

We asked for comment on losing PRIME gold to Rezin for the second time, the interference of Ivan Stanislav and Alexei Ruslan, Timo Bolamba’s decision to not call the match, and finally, on the Triple Threat Match for the Universal Title already booked for Culture Shock.

His response to all questions was simply this:

“Mustache rides are no longer free.”

 

• • After a stinging defeat and showing a different attitude toward Mushigihara at ReVival 22, the man competitive gaming knows as “n1ghtcraw1er” has been popping up in contender LAN tournaments leading up to the next show, winning several handily and collecting a nice bounty for himself in the process.

To rub salt in the wound, he has been streaming the tournaments and his usual calm demeanor seems to be replaced by one of absolute viciousness. At the end of one stream, after racking up a decisive victory and claiming his opponents were “not on his level,” some followers didn’t think it was very sporting to talk negatively about his competition to which he replied:

“You think this is just a game? That is why you will never be a champion. There is only one goal, and that is to win. Win at everything you do. It is who I am, and that’s why we are different. GG.”

 

• • For the last 24 hours, Kohime Mori has been getting into contact with any business insiders she can about Nate Colton. Her questioning hasn’t been about wrestling ability, history or any nefarious action but rather, about stuffed animals.

“I see that piggy on his shoulder!” Mori ranted. “Everyone can see it! I bet there’s more where that came from! I’m gonna get to the bottom of this! I WILL KNOW THE TRUTH!”

When asked for comment, Nate Colton promptly hung up on us.

 

• • We haven’t heard much from Cecilworth Farthington, Hank, or Phil Atken of the Glue Factory in recent months, though an anonymous sleuth has uncovered multiple chartered flight plans for various members of the squad between Glue Boiz Home Base, London, and Paris in recent weeks.

Details are slow to emerge as to whom the trio may be meeting or to what end, though we do know that Daniel Darby and Henri Lavigne are NOT involved in these apparent discussions and that Hank’s Daily Mix Spotify playlist has really been cranking out some bangers these days.

 

• • The day after ReVival 22, several Russian newspapers printed front page spreads of Ivan Stanislav standing with the Universal Title held over his head. Though none explicitly stated that Stanislav was the new Universal Champion of PRIME, implications through vague headlines such as “Stanislav Defeats All Opposition to Hold Universal Title” were made to such an effect. By the time Stanislav returned to his homeland, a throng of well wishers and jubilant Russians mobbed The Russian Bear.

Alexei Ruslan was with him, though he wore a pair of sunglasses and had his hat low over the front of his face. Eagle-eyed onlookers claimed that Ruslan was sporting a black eye.

Stanislav gave an impassioned speech later that day in Red Square to the throng of raucous Russians, in which he denounced PRIME’s attempt to prevent his retribution against Hayes Hanlon, who he said, “Had the audacity to try to defeat me at UltraViolence.”

Despite the, at times, comical level of adoration thrown towards Stanislav at the gathering, he was briefly interrupted by three young Russians on the outskirts of the gathering. Holding a megaphone, they lifted a billboard with an image of Stanislav being pinned by Hanlon, and screamed that Stanislav was “The Russian Murderer” rather than “The Russian Bear.”

A visibly irate Stanislav yelled for the protesters to be removed from the gathering and they were quickly apprehended, beaten, and dragged into nearby paddy wagons.

Retractions of any insinuation that Stanislav was now PRIME Universal Champion were printed in all publications the following day. On the last page. In size 4 font.

Stanislav refused to comment on any of the day’s events.

 

• • As ReVival 23 will be taking place in New Orleans, we are pleased to announce that former PRIME Intense Champion Jonathan Rhine will be making his first in-person appearance since suffering a career-ending injury at the hands of his tag team partner Paxton Ray. Jon is expected to address the crowd with a speech. More information as it comes.

 

• • Newly crowned Universal Champion Rezin refused to talk to reporters or members of the press after ReVival 22 went off the air. Instead, the Escape Artist, living up to his name, collected the title belt shortly before quitting the building.

His current whereabouts are unknown, much to the chagrin of PRIME management and officials at the ACE Network.

 

• • After the success of PWA-01, as well as PRIME’s success at the event, it’s no wonder that more PRIME talent are considering signing PWA contracts. One of those stars is Five Star Champion Nate Colton, whose stock has risen sharply since winning the title.

“He’d be an absolute boon to PWA,” stated Alexa Van Horne, ACE Network’s Vice Director of Marketing & Public Relations. “Colton has been one of our hottest properties, and putting him on the card will be sure to increase sales.”

Colton’s own reason was slightly different. “I just think it’d be really fun to work with my family on a bigger stage,” he said. Three other members of his family signed with PWA affiliates earlier this year, and have already turned heads: Benjamin and Dennis Colton won their SHOOT Project debut against the Unholy Cyber Army in a match that went nearly an hour, and Jennifer Colton is in line for a shot at Missouri Valley Wrestling’s Heartland Title. “I’m so proud of all of them, and I’d love the chance to fight alongside them someday.”

Van Horne followed up on this later in her statement. “Some of them are a bit…rough around the edges, but they all stand a chance to become breakout stars. We may have to update the billboard.” This was in reference to a billboard put up by the ACE Network on I-70 outside Terre Haute last fall, proclaiming the state to be the “Proud Home of Wrestling Star Nate Colton.”

“I think a Colton team at PWA-02 could easily be the highest rated match of the show,” Van Horne added.

 

• • Additionally, it’s being reported that Ms. Van Horne has found herself in a position of scrutiny within the ACE Network, as there were major negative reactions from executive higher-ups, sponsors, and investors following the events that concluded ReVival 22.

It’s currently unknown how the network will manage having an individual as controversial and unpredictable as Rezin as the face of PRIME or if he’ll even follow through on his contractual obligations as Universal Champion, though there is speculation that the beleaguered Vice Director of Marketing and Public Relations will be making swift and desperate moves in the coming days to avoid what could be a veritable PR disaster for ACE.

 

• • A major shakeup has occurred in the Belmont Foundation, as president Carter Laughlin has resigned under mounting pressure. Under his stewardship, the Belmont Classic grew in prestige and profitability, but at the expense of increased risk to the participants. More than a dozen wrestling schools and top-level trainers had threatened to boycott future events unless changes were made.

The final straw was a statement from the House of Noble in Melbourne, Australia, stating that the promising young star Justin Wheelwright had retired from wrestling. Wheelwright was brutally beaten by Paxton Ray in the first round of the 2022 Belmont Classic and suffered severe physical and psychological trauma from the event.

Laughlin issued a brief statement after his resignation. “I am proud of the work I have done for the Belmont Foundation, but it has become clear that I have lost sight of the original mission. When my old friend founded the organization, he hoped it would be used to foster, encourage, and protect young talents in order that they may blossom into the superstars of the future. I hope that whoever replaces me is able to restore the balance between what is best for the participants, the fans, and the foundation itself.”

No word yet on who the board is considering to be the new president.