Downtown Showdown Raises the Bar to a Whole ‘Nother Level

By Kyle Rex

Last Friday, June 2, 2023, Voltage Wrestling made its long anticipated and eagerly awaited return to Hagerstown, MD at the Downtown University Plaza, where the Downtown Showdown electrified professional wrestling in Hagerstown like never before.

Match after match of high octane, hard hitting action kept the crowd of hundreds jolted up and entertained entirely. And from start to finish, it was a night of action packed fun. 

AK and Isaiah Frazier kicked off the show in the second leg of their grudge feud, with AK attempting to get the upper hand, distracting the ref with a “hurt” ankle before reaching for a mysterious white powder - eerily similar to the stuff Eric Ecton had slipped him earlier this year in their first bout since AK’s betrayal of the Fly Fellas. But Frazier would not be fooled again, turning the mysterious white powder into AK’s face and picking up the victory. Following the match, Frazier called for the stipulation for their third and final match of this blood feud. And so, this Friday at Bad Habits Bar & Grill, it’ll be AK and Frazier in a “Powder on a Pole Match.”

Inaugural Voltage Tag-Team Champions Dawg Nation kept their momentum rolling, picking up a victory of the team of Madd Maxx Morrison and JB Anderson. After pinning Anderson and picking up the victory, Dawg Nation quickly found themselves the subject of Maxx’s continued ire - and potentially unhinged retribution - with both being driven back to the locker room by Maxx’s severed leg. 

The showdown continued on, with Hagerstown native and manager Captain D. Capitate getting on the mic, cursing Voltage management for his perceived slights at their hands. The audience wasn’t having it though, and sent the pirate back to the ship to await the main event. 

Dani Mo, one half of the Neon Blondes with Facade, defeated Brittany Blake in a hard fought match, before extending her hand in solidarity and support of her opponent. Blake was having none of it though, and struck Mo’s hand aside. It seems this feud is only just beginning. 

Shortly thereafter, Facade defeated the Red Prince TJ Sykes in an evenly matched, clash of styles bout that could have seen either man take home the victory. Unlike his partner, Facade had better luck in shaking the hand of his worthy opponent, before grabbing a microphone and reminding the crowd he had unfinished business to attend to in Martinsburg on June 9. The tag team of Myles Millenium and Killian McMurphy had wreaked havoc on Facade and Breaux Keller last year, seemingly costing the latter a title shot last September. So this Friday, Facade and Keller will team up as The Neon Bro’s and go head to head with the Goons.

Coming out to a massive pop from the hometown crowd, the team of Hoss Hagood and LK, known collectively as Country Club, defeated the Sigma Male Steven Fuerte and his debuting protege Tommy Vecs (accompanied to the ring by Mary Elizabeth). Fuerte quickly blamed the loss on the debuting Vecs, while Country Club celebrated the hometown showdown victory. 
In the penultimate match up of the night, Smooth Tom Mitchell faced off against John Washington and Robbie Radke in a quick fought but hard hitting slobber knocker of a triple threat match. Mitchell emerged victorious, picking up yet another win in Voltage Wrestling, adding to an already quick ascension up the standings. 

Finally, in the Main Event of the evening with darkness falling on downtown, ROH and IMPACT! star Delirious emerged from the depths of insanity to take on Voltage Grand Champion Beastman in a one-on-one competition for the championship, having earned a title shot in April at Thursday Night Lightning. Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha Martinez was on hand to ring the bell and begin the match, while Captain D. Capitate goaded the number one contender into a battle of wits and words with the stone age savage, but no translator was on hand to interpret anyone’s ramblings for the audience. So the two men contended in a much more visual fashion, and went to work beating each other down. 

It was a high intensity slugfest, with neither combatant gaining a clear edge, until Beastman was finally able to land a series of slams and pin Delirious for the victory. The celebration was short lived, however, as Beastman soon found himself dumped to the outside of the ring by Delirious, who pumped up the crowd to send them home on a high note. 

One has to assume this rivalry is anything but over. 

Who will challenge Beastman next? Can the Goons remain as wily as ever and keep the Neon Bros chasing a victory, or will Facade and Keller finally get the upper hand on those dastardly no-gooders? Will anyone step up to Dawg Nation’s ongoing call for worthy tag opponents? Can Tom Mitchell continue his ascension in the standings, and what more obstacles await Madd Maxx in the wasteland? And can AK regain the upper hand in his feud with his former partner, or will Frazier make the former Fly Fella pay for his betrayal?

All this and more is coming to you live this Friday, June 9 at Martinsburg, West Virginia at Bad Habits Bar and Grill. Bell time is 8 PM, with doors opening at 730. Tickets are on sale now at voltagewrestling.com. 

And Voltage will return next Thursday, June 15 to Waynesboro, PA at 633 Brewing for another edition of Thursday Night Lightning, bell time 8 PM. 

It’s a grand month of Voltage Wrestling action - get your tickets now!