Report From Episode 7
SPOILER
The top two seeds, Tolly Thompson of the California Claw and Pat Cummins of the Pennsylvania Hammer, both advanced to the Real Pro Wrestling finals in the 264-pound weight class on Sunday’s episode of Real Pro Wrestling shown on PAX TV.
Thompson, the top-seed, breezed through to the finals with dominating performances in both the quarterfinals and semifinals.
In the quarterfinals, the 31-year-old Thompson wasted little time in his match against eighth-seeded Khoren Papoyan of the Minnesota Freeze. He scored immediately with a powerful double leg and earned exposure in the process to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead. Thompson then scored with a pair of ankle laces on the overmatched Papoyan to make it 8-0 less than in a minute into the match. Thompson then ended the match when he locked up another lace and horsed the former Armenian national champion over for the fall.
In the semifinals, Thompson picked up right where he left off in the previous match, as he completely outclassed and out pointed fifth-seeded Kellan Fluckiger of the Texas Shooters. Thompson scored with a pair of snap downs for go easy behinds to take a 4-0 lead. He then secured a gut wrench and turned Fluckiger, while holding him for the five count to earn an extra point. Once again, Thompson went back to the gut wrench and turned the former Arizona State star again to make it 9-0. He then scored with a takedown and exposure to make it 13-0. Thompson put the match away with one last gut wrench for good measure to earn the 15-0 technical fall just over two minutes into the match.
Thompson, who hardly broke a sweat in his first two matches, said that he has been working with 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and RPW commentator Rulon Gardner on his gut wrench.
“I feel that my gut wrench is solid,” said Thompson. “If it’s not there, my lace is there. I’m at the point in my game where I need to use that stuff to my advantage.”
Cummins, the second seed, had a slightly tougher road to the finals.
In the quarterfinals, the former Penn State star took out the veteran Angelo Borzio of the New York Outrage. Borzio, who currently serves as the head coach for East Stroudsburg University, scored the first points of the match with a beautiful high crotch to take a 2-0 lead. But after Borzio tried to roll through with a front headlock, Cummins countered out and earned a reversal with exposure to go on up 3-2 after the first period. Cummins, took control of the match in the second period with two more takedowns, a gut wrench, and an escape to cruise to a 10-4 victory.
“Angelo is a big guy,” said Cummins after the match. “I have to use my quickness to my advantage, stay away from his big stuff, and score when I can.”
In a dramatic, back-and-forth semifinal match, Cummins defeated sixth-seeded Wes Hand of the Iowa Stalkers to reach the finals.
Just over 30 seconds into the match, Cummins secured double over hooks and executed a beautiful four point throw, stunning the former Iowa standout. Cummins then scored with a push-out to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Just when it looked like Hand might be in serious trouble, he took advantage of a bonus situation and threw Cummins to his back for four points to quickly cut the deficit to 5-4. Hand then immediately secured a body lock and scored another four point throw, making it eight straight unanswered points, to put him on top 8-5. Cummins scored a late takedown and trailed 8-7 after the first period. In the second period, after two minutes and thirty seconds of scoreless action, Cummins scored the winning takedown with a double leg for the hard fought 9-8 victory.
Cummins, who trains with two-time Olympian Kerry McCoy, had high praise for his fellow Penn State alum after the match.
“Kerry is a big influence in my wrestling,” said Cummins. “It’s great to have him in my corner. I’m glad that he’s a Pennsylvania Hammer coach.”
Heading into the RPW finals next Sunday, The Iowa Stalkers have a firm grip on the team race with 87 points, followed by the New York Outrage with 56 points, and the Oklahoma Slam with 53 points. The Stalkers, Outrage, and Slam all have three wrestlers competing in the finals.
Sunday’s Results (264 Pounds):
Quarterfinals:
#1 Tolly Thompson (California Claw) fall over #8 Khoren Papoyan (Minnesota Freeze)
#5 Kellan Fluckiger (Texas Shooters) decision over #4 Kevin Hoy (Chicago Groove), 6-4
#6 Wes Hand (Iowa Shooters) technical fall over #3 Brian Keck (Oklahoma Slam), Forfeit
#2 Pat Cummins (Pennsylvania Hammer) decision over #7 Angelo Borzio (New York Outrage), 10-4
Semifinals:
Thompson technical fall over Fluckiger, 15-0
Cummins decision over Hand, 9-8
Finals (May 15 on PAX TV):
Thompson vs. Cummins
Teams Standings (heading into finals):
1. Iowa Stalkers 87
2. New York Outrage 56
3. Oklahoma Slam 53
4. Pennsylvania Hammer 50
5. California Claw 47
6. Chicago Groove 33
7. Texas Shooters 13
8. Minnesota Freeze 1
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