OPW MaSterS of the mat tournament!

 As many people in the wrestling business like to say quite frequently “You need variety on your show!” While I understand that, I’ve never been a big proponent of it. You see, I think straight up wrestling, no hijinks, no gimmick matches, no silliness, etc. is the greatest wrestling there is. Don’t get me wrong, I like my wrestlers to have charisma, and character, I even enjoy stories in my wrestling (good ones, realistic ones) but in my opinion, the best wrestling is serious wrestling. Two guys get in the ring and give it all they’ve got to prove that they are an excellent professional wrestler. Two guys face off to show everyone watching that they are a top notch athlete, performer, entertainer, or….Master of the Mat! That’s why I’m excited for On Point Wrestling’s “Mast of the mat” tournament being held tomorrow, this Saturday, in Williamstown, New Jersey. Eight guys will give their all to prove to all in attendance and many others that will buy the DVD, just who the world needs to be keeping an eye on. Take a look at the men, the athletes, the wrestlers, competing tomorrow night!

1st Rd: Quarter Final Matches for "Masters of the Mat" 

AZRIEAL vs DREW BLOOD

Two tried and true performers that have wrestled all over the place, including Combat Zone Wrestling out to show the world that they are not to be over looked, that they need to be taken seriously, and that they are still ready and capable of breaking out in a major way at any time. These two will bring passion and drive in order to not only win the tournament, but to make a major statement to the wrestling world that you don’t take your eyes off of me!

TONY DEPPEN vs UNBREAKABLE ANDY 

Two young guys that those in the know are already buzzing about. This match in and of itself would be a reason to go to this show. Anytime you take two guys that have just started to catch fire and pit them against one another you’ve caught lightening in a bottle. This match however is no ordinary match, this match is part of a tournament that will sky rocket the winner even further into the hearts and minds of indy wrestling fans. This match will take the winner places even if he doesn’t win the entire tournament, but honestly, in my opinion, the winner here will be the odds on favorite to win the whole thing. Do you know how big of a deal this match is? Joe Gacy was replaced by Unbreakable Andy in this tournament, and I don’t even mind. That’s a big deal folks!


BRUTE VAN SLYKE vs "The MACHINE" SAM SHIELDS 

Van Slyke has felt over looked, Shields refuses settle for anything other than being the top dog. Both men are power houses that can go in the ring, and both are more determined than ever. This is going to be like two bulls locking horns, but keep in mind, imagine if a bull could be graceful enough to enter a “Dancing with the Stars” competition, and you might get an idea of the kind of match you’ll see here. Two angry, big, strong, tough guys, looking to destroy the other, but also capable of putting on a wrestling clinic as well. I predict that the first one to calm down, relax, and plot a course of action through planned maneuvers will be the one to come out on top.

GRAN AKUMA vs "TOO HOT" STEVE SCOTT 

Steve Scott, replacing Pinkie Sanchez is out to prove that he should have been the original choice for the show. Trained by ROH World and TV champion Jay Lethal, and taking selfies before Tyler Breeze bought his selfie stick, Scott is not one to be over looked. Gran Akuma, considered the veteran of this tournament is out to prove that he is not rolling over for the young boys, even if he has to hurt someone along the way to being crowned what he already knows he is, the mast of the mat! Akuma is certainly convinced that Scott is not ready for his skills, patience, and abilities that his experience gives him, while Scott is out to show the world that he’s the next big thing. Worlds collide here folks, for sure!


Who will go on to become the official Master of the mat? I can’t wait to find out because it will be without a doubt “Wrestling Done Right!” Yet there is more! Getting a major shot at proving he belongs on big wrestling cards, The Redneck King of the Jungle, Jimmy Lyon gets his shot in a ridiculous “staple gun” match against Jeff Cannonball, the man many call Bam Bam Bigelow with rabies, and Conor Claxton a guy who just may be a little bit insane…legitimately. Cannonball and Claxton spend their days nearly killing themselves on the indy circuit and Lyon is gleeful to be getting in the ring with them...and a staple gun! While hardcore normally isn’t my thing, I am anxious to see this. It’s going to be a car wreck, but a car wreck that you break your neck to see every piece of!
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The OPW Champion then defends his title against the man who he took it from.

OPW Heavyweight Championship Match:
(c) 'Bad Boy' Joey Janela vs Oz Tyler w/ Loudy 

This is always a great match as both men passionately crave that title belt. Loudy wants as much control as possible, and Tyler and a man possessed. Janela is a dare devil willing to take any risk to win the crowd over as well as the match. Janela has been on fire, recently capturing the CZW Wired title as well, but with his friend and former stable mate Xavier Cross making his On Point return, in what looks to be his retirement announcement, expect to see Tyler more determined than ever, and Loudy more willing to cross any line he can to get that title back in dedication to his friend leaving the business. This isn’t just going to be a continuation of a feud, this isn’t just going to be an excellent fight, battle, and match, this is going to be an emotional time bomb with the winner being the guy who gave all he could give, but found just an ounce more to give after that!

Matt Tremont will also be there, and with what we all saw between him and Mark Angel at the last show I can’t help but wonder if there will be a confrontation between those two. If so, where will it lead? Matt isn’t one to take being sucker punched well, but Angel seems driven to make Matt’s life a living hell. I feel confident that we will see something between these two men, will it be a confrontation, a match, or just a down and dirty fight? Knowing these two, it could absolutely be all of that combined!

If you want to see some great wrestling, from a solid company that takes pride in what they do, and seeks to find the best wrestlers in the business, guys who take wrestling seriously and aren’t just weekend warriors playing wrestler, come on out for Masters of the mat and send On Point off with great success in 2015, then join me in supporting them when they return in 2016! 

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