The weekend of the 2018 Scenic City Invitational was a big one for A.J. Gray. On the first night of SCI, Rich Homie Juice took on a man who he called an idol in 2 Cold Scorpio. As the two men shook hands, you just knew this was a special match for Gray. It was in the air, but the in-ring action itself delivered on top of that atmosphere. It was a ton of fun, and had the crowd engaged from the moment both guys came out. Gray won, and so advanced in the tournament to face Fred Yehi on the second night of SCI.
That match was exceptional as each man’s unique style made it hard to determine who had an advantage from one moment to the next. It provided a nice change of pace and was entirely unpredictable. Ultimately, Yehi got the win and advanced to the SCI Finals, but Gray came away from the tournament boasting one of its greatest performances.
Then, Gray was set to take on Curt Stallion in an “I Quit” Match at Southern Underground Pro’s Not Problematic on the following Sunday. This one was intense and deeply personal. In fact, it was the culmination of a rivalry that had boiled over months prior to the “I Quit” Match. Gray stood up to Stallion and held him accountable for his sordid treatment of Doug Markham, among other individuals. Stallion certainly didn’t respond well to that, took things too far, and that’s what led us to that first weekend in August.
It was high drama and SUP fans were no doubt in for a war.
But, what happened in that match was controversial….and that’s putting it lightly. Stallion and Gray wrecked each other from pillar to post all over The Basement East that Sunday afternoon in East Nashville. But, when Gray got wrapped up in the ropes, SUP official Dylan Hales stepped into the ring and threw in the towel on Gray’s behalf, neither man having said, “I quit.”
I’ll be the first to say it – that wasn’t satisfying from a pure sport standpoint. Nobody likes a tie – Bear Bryant once said, “tying is like kissing your sister.” After months of going at it, we still don’t clearly know who the better man was. Considering that Gray was 3-0 heading into the match and that Stallion walked into 2018 with the Bonestorm Championship, the match likely had championship implications.
But, as frustrating as that contest was, it was nowhere near as unsettling as what happened next.
Stallion continued to beat down Gray until Kerry Awful and Nick Iggy came out to break things up. Brett Ison and O’Shay Edwards followed suit, aligned with Stallion, and proceeded to beat the living daylights out of The Carnies and Gray. The show ended with Edwards, Ison, and an arrogant Stallion standing tall.
Now, Gray finds himself alongside Awful and Tripp Cassidy, teaming up to avenge the event dubbed “The Music City Murders” in a six man tag team match this Sunday.
Gray is known as a bit of a “war dog.” He’s a scrappy, feisty guy that isn’t afraid to escalate matters, and certainly won’t shy away from conflict. He’s proven that. So, it’ll be interesting to see what happens when the odds are even. Gray isn’t going to start the match tied up in the ropes on Sunday, and will be bent on revenge.
So, don’t expect a technical display of wrestling prowess, folks – this six man tag is going to be a melee.
I reached out to Gray to talk about SCI weekend and this Sunday’s SUP show, scheduled to kick off at 2PM (Doors at 1:30) at The Basement East in East Nashville (buy tickets here). He was generous enough to lend me some quotes on the matter and where his head’s at going into the big show.
A.J. Gray Interview
SK: You had two strong showings at this year’s Scenic City Invitational against 2 Cold Scorpio and Fred Yehi – which of those matches was your personal favorite and why?
AG: Ah, I don’t honestly have an answer to that. Me and Scorpio was real emotional because he is an idol to me. But me and Fred was such a contrast of styles, yet I felt it blended so good.
SK: Okay, the elephant in the room – how did you feel about Dylan Hales throwing in the towel on your behalf at SUP’s Not Problematic?
AG: He made the decision as a man to intervene. He felt it was right.
SK: You’re having a hell of a year in SUP. You were 3-0 before that match with Curt Stallion. A win there, and you’re definitely in line for a shot at the Bonestorm Championship. We’re well aware of the physical toll you incurred in that match, but what did it do to your confidence moving forward?
AG: I’m still 3-0… the only way to win the match was to make the opponent say “I Quit.” I didn’t say it, he didn’t say it…. the correct terms of the decision would be a no contest. And, I’m a 245-pound grown man who’s asking for death matches on Twitter….. I did a 10-day tour in Mexico the next week… what physical toll did I really incur?
SK: Stallion told me in an interview last month that you made this rivalry personal by sticking your nose where it didn’t belong. What’s your assessment of why things got so heated and personal between you two?
AG: Well he got butt hurt about losing matches and was blaming it on Doug…. he got in his feelings cause someone told him to cut that shit out, and here we are.
SK: You already defeated O’Shay Edwards in SUP earlier this year. How has his development since that match effected your preparation for Sunday’s match? Or, is history a non-factor in six-man tag matches like this one?
AG: It doesn’t. He couldn’t beat me solo, so why would I worry about him extra hard now?
SK: On the opposite side of the ring on Sunday, you’ll have a guy who is 3-0 against The Carnies this year in Brett Ison. How do you prepare for a guy who has shown a penchant for explicit violence and has no regard for anyone’s well-being? Do you have to mentally take things to another level facing guys like that?
AG: No offense to Nick, Tripp, or Kerry…. but I’m not The Carnies. I don’t care if he’s violent or silent. I’m still the same wild ass dog as once before. Only being who I fear is God.
SK: It seems like, because of the people involved, this has become an affront to the entire state of Tennessee. Is it fair to say that you’ll be fighting with a special sense of pride to defend your home state?
AG: Yeah. But I find it ironic….. without cutting their teeth in this state, all three of the “traitors” (if you want to call them that. Or whatever the fuck they are) are just a bunch of normal dudes who no one would pay attention to. So instead of a “battle for home turf,” I’d call it a “lesson in respect.”
SK: What’s next for A.J. Gray? Where will you be wrestling and where can people buy your merch?
AG: I’ll be at AIW on the 14th, SUP on the 23rd and Paradigm Pro in Jeffersonville on the 28th…. I felt like being lazy cause 2k came out. And you can buy my merch at the table of a show or at What A Maneuver.
Thoughts
It’s interesting. Gray has had nearly two months to sit and listen to sites like us talk and write about how unbelievable the “Music City Murders” were. But, for us, life moves on. There’s a new story to cover and something else to write about the next day. For Gray and The Carnies, it’s a test of patience. Two months is a long time to wait to exact revenge on Edwards, Ison, and Stallion.
At first, I wondered if Gray and company would be able to control their emotions. So, Gray’s focus is impressive. There’s an apparent attitude of, “what happened happened, and now it’s time to collect.” He doesn’t come across as overly emotional, just confident, and certainly willing to teach “a lesson in respect.”
For Gray, this is a fight…one that he’ll do whatever it takes to win.
Editor’s Note: Big thanks to A.J. for talking this match out with me last week! Give the guy a follow on Twitter, and check out all of his previous SUP wins on Powerbomb.tv!
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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