ADAM ELLIS vs. TONY GAMBLE
We come back to ringside, where referee Jimmy Turnbull has arrived to officiate our next match before we cut to Nick and Richard at commentary!
Nick Stuart: Welcome back folks, after what we just saw from the Love Convoy we are back to in-ring action as Adam Ellis, a man trying to bounce back from his loss to Jonathan-Christopher Hall, takes on Tony Gamble one on one!
Richard Parker: Listen, Adam knew what he was getting into bringing his wife with him to the ring at ReVival 21…and every time he brings the missus out here is a risk he’s willing to take, and a gamble that Tony is willing to cash in on!
We cut back to the ring where Vince Howard is standing by!
Vince Howard: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first…
Garrett Biggs’ “Mama Didn’t Raise No…” plays over the sound system and on the video screen, a video plays showing a series of wrestling trophies on a dresser next to an old high school football uniform that has ‘Ellis’ on the back.
An acoustic guitar plays and the vocals begin.
“Mama didn’t raise no… quitter- guaranteed to get the job done.”
Adam Ellis and Ginny Van Lear walk out from the back hand in hand and stand on the stage.
“She didn’t raise no SOB who that can’t back himself up – been known to throw a good punch.”
The video screen shows a series of action shots of Ellis from his various matches
“And this ol’ boy gets going when the going gets tough- sundown to sun up.”
Dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and her feet wrapped in tape the former MMA prodigy nods her head causing her bright red hair to flip, and raises her left hand…
“Need a man with a helping hand – he’s always got one to lend.”
…and then brings it down as the chorus and full instrumentation hits- complete with pyro.
Vince Howard: Being accompanied to the ring by Ginny Van Lear, he comes to the ring from Warrensburg, Missouri, weighing in at 226 pounds…ADAAAAM ELLLIIIIISSSS!
“Oh, I might be a little rough around the edges”
Adam’s wearing a pair of plain blue wrestling shorts. He starts forward down the ramp towards the ring followed by Van Lear.
“From the outside lookin’ in it might seem helpless.”
The couple reaches the ring. Adam holds the rope open so Ginny can slide through.
“I’ve been blessed with a strong backbone – I never coulda made it on my own”
Adam joins her in the ring.
“But if there’s one thing that I know – Momma didn’t raise no…”
Adam climbs up the top turnbuckle and holds up his arms.
Nick Stuart: Ellis looking extra focused tonight as he gets set to take on Tony Gamble.
Richard Parker: I sure hope so, Gamble is a veteran of the business and if there’s an opening, he damn sure will take it!
Vince Howard: And his opponent…
“You think I’m funny… Funny how?”
The unmistakable voice of Joe Pesci irritates the eardrums right before Metallica’s ‘Better Than You’ begins to blast through the PA System, the calling card of Tony ‘The Grin’ Gamble. He walks out at the same time the music kicks in, passing a quick arrogant glance toward the crowd before making his way toward the ring once the lyrics of the song kick in.
## I look at you, then you me
Hungry and thirsty are we
Holding the lion’s share
Holding the key
Holding me back ’cause I’m striving to be ##
Footage from Revolution 94 when Gamble locked The Illustrious Face Eater into his ‘Smile For Me’ submission and won the Internet Title plays.
Vince Howard: From Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing in at 187 pounds, he is The Grin…TOOOONYYYY GAAAAAAAMBLEEEEEE!
## Better than you
Better than you
Better than you
Better than you ##
Tony takes his time walking up the ring steps, staring into the ring for a few seconds with his left hand on the top rope, before ducking between the top and middle rope to step into the ring. Footage from Revolution 106 plays, where Gamble slams Kenjiro Ito face first into the mat with his ‘Stop Laughing At Me’ signature move.
## Lock horns, I push and I strive
Some how I feel more alive
Bury the need for it
Bury the seed
Bury me deep when there’s no will to be ##
Another clip shows, this one from the Great American Nightmare; where Tony Gamble became the Five Star Champion by pinning Chandler Tsonda.
## Better than you
Better than you
Better than you
Better than you ##
Nick Stuart: Tony looking awfully smug going into this match, Richard.
Richard Parker: I can’t say I blame him, he’s a confident man and confidence is key!
With that, Turnbull calls for the bell to get this match underway!
DING DING
We start things off with a collar and elbow tie-up, before Gamble goes for a side headlock on the taller Ellis…who shoves Gamble away to slip out of the hold. Gamble goes for a wide right hook, but Ellis dodges it before sending the Grin to the ropes with an Irish whip…only for Gamble to duck a clothesline attempt on the rebound, using the momentum to slide through Adam’s legs and get back to his feet…raking the eyes of Ellis to the chagrin of the crowd! Gamble pays no mind to their hate as he lays into Ellis with some hard lefts and rights.
Ellis doesn’t take this lightly however, fighting back with some forearms of his own as the crowd get behind him…but the Grin catches him with a kick to the gut followed by a DDT, driving the head of Ellis hard into the canvas! Gamble back on his feet, taunting the crowd booing him before going back to work with some stomps to Adam’s midsection to wear him down further…before hitting a leg drop across the neck of Ellis! Gamble goes for a cover here, as Turnbull makes the count!
ONE!
NO!
Ellis manages to kick out!
Adam gets back to his feet, but Gamble goes right back after him with a flurry of punches to send Ellis toward the corner. Tony follows this up with some stomps to the midsection…until Adam manages to fight back again, pulling Tony toward the turnbuckle to turn things around, and now Ellis is in control with some lefts and rights before sending Tony to the opposite corner with an Irish whip. Adam charges toward the Grin, who manages to duck out of the way just in time for Ellis to collide with the turnbuckle!
Adam falls back-first to the canvas, giving Tony an opening to stomp away at the head of Ellis using the top rope for leverage until Turnbull intervenes. Admonished for his actions by the official, Gamble just laughs and shrugs it off as Adam slowly stands back up. Gamble rushes toward Ellis, who catches the Grin by surprise with a drop toehold!
Adam looks for a modified STF but the Grin slips out quickly, rolling under the bottom rope to take a breather on the outside until Ellis follows suit…only to be blindsided with a right hand by Gamble, who then sends Ellis into the steel steps!
Nick Stuart: Oh boy, that does NOT look good for Ellis!
Richard Parker: Adam’s gonna have a tough time mounting an offense off of that, an early turning point for the Grin!
Ellis looks to be in a bad way after that, but Gamble just stares him down before giving a big smile, as the crowd lets Tony know what they think of him with another chorus of boos. Tony just laughs this off before going back on the attack with some stomps to the head of Adam, keeping a razor-sharp focus on it as he brings Ellis to his feet…only to slam him face-first onto the ring apron! By this point, Turnbull has already started a count!
ONE…
TWO…
But the count is broken up as Gamble rolls into the ring…and right back out, still focused on wearing Adam down as much as possible. Tony grabs Ellis, pulling him away from the ring just long enough to Irish whip him right back, the impact focused on Adam’s ribs now as Turnbull is back at it on the count!
ONE…
TWO…
Gamble keeps at it with some hard elbows to the skull of Ellis, before rearing back for a kick behind Adam’s knee, which causes Ellis to buckle right at the joint as he drops to the floor.
THREE…
FOUR…
FIVE…
Satisfied with the damage done, Gamble rolls back into the ring!
Nick Stuart: Tony heading back into the ring already? Is he really taking an easy way out here?
Richard Parker: Hey man, that’s the veteran smarts kicking in! A win is a win is a win, Nick.
SEVEN…
Ellis has to use the apron to pull himself up, but he finally manages to get to his feet…
EIGHT…
…and is able to slide back into the ring to stop the count! Ellis is favoring his knee as he gets back to his feet once more, using the ropes to prop himself up. Tony, naturally, sees the opening this provides and now has a new target locked in as he lands a hard kick to that left leg to do as much damage as possible, a big grin on his face with every kick as the crowd pours more and more hate upon Gamble for it.
This, of course, is only met with a laugh from Tony as he hits another DDT on Adam, the impact on the head and neck really starting to take its toll on Ellis. This time, however, Gamble decides to go for a Boston crab to take advantage of the hurt knee…but as he goes for the legs, the Grin is shoved away with a kick by Ellis!
The crowd roars in approval as Adam once again uses the ropes to help himself back to a standing position, trying as hard as he can to shake off the pain in his left knee as Tony charges at him once more…only this time, Ellis is prepared and connects with an arm trap neckbreaker that drives Gamble down hard to the canvas! With a sense of urgency behind it, Adam goes for the cover as Turnbull makes the count!
ONE!
TW–NO!
Not quite a two count before Gamble is able to kick out of that, and Ellis slowly builds back up to a vertical position to figure out his next move precisely at the moment the Grin is back to his feet as well…but Adam ducks a clothesline attempt, hitting a snap suplex in the process! The crowd’s willing him on but Ellis is too hurt to go for another cover here!
Adam rolls to his stomach, rebuilding a base from which to stand as he hobbles over to the corner. He climbs up top, launching himself for an elbow drop…but Tony rolls out of the way, forcing Ellis to come crashing down hard upon the canvas as a result!
Nick Stuart: Adam Ellis looking all out of sorts here after that elbow drop misses the mark!
Richard Parker: And it looks like Tony’s having a chat with a certain someone, Nick! I told you her presence out here was a bad idea!
We quickly see what Richard means as Tony rolls out of the ring, getting in the face of Ginny Van Lear who has stayed out of the way of this match up to this point. Something about this strikes a nerve with Adam, using a rush of adrenaline to push through the pain as he rolls out of the ring to confront Gamble…who grabs Van Lear, using her as a human shield! Adam knows better than to play that game, holding back as Gamble lets go of her before sliding back into the ring. Adam follows close behind, only to take a boot to the head by the Grin for his troubles!
Feeling quite good about his chances, Gamble brings Ellis to his feet in preparation for a front Russian leg sweep…but Ellis shoves him away, feigning a kick before connecting with a big Superman Punch on the Grin! Tony quite literally takes the punch on the chin as he drops to the canvas…and with Adam still feeling the effects on his knee, he foregoes trying to lock in the elevated Boston Crab to make a cover instead, the crowd following along as Turnbull makes the count!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING
Ellis struggles to get back to his feet as Ginny slides into the ring, helping him stand as Turnbull raises his arm in victory.
Vince Howard: Here is your winner…ADAAAAAM ELLLIIIIISSSS!
Nick Stuart: He did it! Ellis picks up the win over Tony Gamble!
Richard Parker: Adam managed to stay focused even with his wife nearly being a distraction again, but you gotta believe Tony will be content with the damage he put on Ellis tonight!
Nick Stuart: True, I can’t help but wonder what condition Ellis will be in after tonight, especially as we roll on toward Culture Shock. Don’t go away folks, we’re just moments away from more exciting action as FLAMBERGE takes on Jonathan-Christopher Hall!
Ginny helps Adam out of the ring, but Ellis tries to insist he’ll be okay as the pair leave ringside. This leaves us with Tony Gamble still in the ring, a look of frustration on his face as we go to commercial!