The SoBros Network had a bird’s eye view for the 2018 Making Towns Classic Saturday night at the historic sports arena at the Nashville Fairgrounds. 16 women competed for the inaugural crown in an epic showcase of independent women’s wrestling.
We sold some obscure action figures, moved a few t-shirts, got to cross paths with several noted #FriendsOfTheBrand, and made plenty of new ones. Su Yung hissed at Poppa Bear in the middle of a match, and we damn near drank the Nashville Fairgrounds out of Goose Island IPA. All in all, a hell of a night. Let’s hit the highlights.
2018 Making Towns Classic Power Rankings
5. Allie Kat – MEOW chants filled the arena as Allie Kat’s footprint (err…paw print) in Nashville was evident from the jump. She’s charismatic, dare I say ‘electric,’ and delivered in three great matches, making it all the way to the final three. Nashville is definitely an Allie Kat town.
4. Faye Jackson – We knew she’d bring the energy, but Saturday night exceeded expectations. Excellent showing in the first round against Nina Monet, and one of the best matches of the night against Jordynne Grace in the second. The crowd was in a frenzy for her all night, and the woman can slay.
3. Samantha Heights – Gotta say…Heights’ run to the final two competitors was one of the better stories of the night. This was my first real look at her, and now I can see why her name’s starting to pop all over the place. Her match with Priscilla Kelly was the best match of the first round, the Aja Perera match was solid, and she stood out in the main event. All around, highly productive night that served as an excellent showcase for her potential.
2. Kylie Rae – So fluid, so crisp, so athletic – everything about Kylie Rae screams superstar. But, specifically on Saturday night, it was the big sparkling crown that sat on top of her head at the end of the show that did it. Excellent contests against Veda Scott, Su Yung, and a strong main event show just why she’s one of the most promising talents on the scene right now. She’s your inaugural Making Towns Classic Champion!
1. Su Yung – How can you not give the MVP of the night to Su Yung? FOUR MATCHES. Four strong matches, mind you, including the match of the night, and Su was over as fuck the entire time. She may not have won the crown, but she didn’t need to for it to be one of the best live performances I’ve seen in a long, long time. Plus, she stayed for at least an hour after the show, taking pictures and signing autographs. Superstar.
Dark Horses
Samantha Heights – I’ve already stated why I think she was one of the standouts of the night, but Heights really is a strong example of how to make the most of an opportunity.
Savanna Stone – My jaw dropped watching Stone work over the course of the night. Papa Hales recently joined me on the Checks and Championships Podcast and told me that she’s still a true rookie. If that’s the work of a true rookie, then the sky’s the limit for Stone.
Christi Jaynes – Gotta be a tough spot filling in and only being announced for the tournament the week of, but Jaynes did an excellent job with the opportunity. She’s athletic, has plenty of energy, and since we sold merch next to her, we can confirm that she is cool as hell. Breaking news.
Superlatives
Best Finisher: Harlow O’Hara – I’m serious. I thought Christi Jaynes was dead after that DDT.
Shocker of the Tournament: Aja Perera def. Laynie Luck, Jordynne Grace eliminated (tie) – We knew there would be some surprises, we just didn’t know where. Mose and I chatted before the show and agreed that Laynie Luck was one of our dark horses to win the whole thing. So, to see her go out in the first round was pretty remarkable. Props to Perera for a fine showing as well.
Also, Grace had to be one of the favorites to win the tournament, so to see the other three women in the main event team up to eliminate her pretty much right out of the gate drew a collective gasp from the crowd.
Best Mascot: Veda Scott – Really gotta give Scott some credit for her GSD attitude (that’s get shit done if you don’t already know). You want a mascot? Just be the fuckin’ mascot!
Best Scream: Hudson Envy, Su Yung (tie) – Was anyone else legitimately terrified when either of these women screamed? Maybe it was all the Goose Island, but my senses were rattled each time. I was definitely #shook.
Best Wings: Penelope Ford – get it? ’cause she can fly?
@thePenelopeFord is a bad, bad girl. @TheMTClassic pic.twitter.com/uaRp8GfIaT
— Steven McCash (@MC_Cash75) May 12, 2018
Best Matches
Honorable Mention: Kylie Rae vs. Veda Scott
5. Jordynne Grace def. Savanna Stone – Any match that wins with a got damn bearhug is A+ wrestling in my book. But, seriously, Grace is as good as any woman on the scene right now, and you can see why so many people are high on Stone. Nice showcase for both of ’em.
4. Allie Kat vs. Su Yung – The opening contest of the night saw battling MEOW and SU chants, a Hudson Envy run-in, and a strong finish that the crowd loved. It really set the tone for the entire night.
3. Samantha Heights vs. Priscilla Kelly – The last match of the first round was also the greatest. Excellent athleticism led to some pretty great counters and exchanges. Both women came out looking good, and we got a surprise win for Heights.
2. Jordynne Grace vs. Faye Jackson – When these two women met in the ring, the fans knew right away that it was going to be a battle. And, boy did it live up to that or what? I’m still sore just from watching this.
1. Kylie Rae vs. Su Yung – Easily the match of the night, if for nothing else than when Su hissed at Poppa Bear….don’t remember why it happened, but it did (thanks, Goose Island IPA). But, seriously – this was a hell of a showing. Swinging chairs, effortless super kicks, and all. The crowd was hot the entire time.
Parting Thoughts
Photo credit: Swerve Video
Big thanks are in order for everyone who stopped by our table to chat with us and purchase something from us. We’re new to the scene still and are really just now getting to know a lot of you guys – nothing means more to us than to connect with people and see them telling their friends that we’re hilarious or that we’re good people. It’s been a long play (five years) to get to where we are, but that has been and always will be objective #1 on our mission to entertain. But, it’s a pretty damn good rule to live by, media company or not – just be there for people. You never know who needs it.
We’re an obnoxious humor/Nashville sports/Nashville lifestyle blog. But, the indy wrestling coverage on our site is a big passion project of ours, and we’re ecstatic to see it so well-received. So, we just appreciate everyone letting us carve our own little spot among y’all. Between SCI last year, the Making Towns Classic, and all the SUP shows in between, it’s been a blast, and we’re happy to have made so many new friends along the way.
Next stop: Southern Underground Pro’s Streets of Hate on 6/10.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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