Date: 07/13/2024
Location: Wildwood, NJ

Hey, Rapid Fire Wrestling fans! This is Kimberly Kennedy coming to you from the second week of our Rapid Fire Festival, a five week celebration held right here on the beach of Wildwood, New Jersey. We had a lot going on this week, including two championship matches. If you weren’t here in person, don’t worry because I’ve got you covered. Let’s get into it.

RFW Wildheart Championship Match
Mia Mercury vs. Shannon Worth (c)

One year ago, Mia Mercury was standing tall as the first ever RFW Wildheart Champion. Mercury had her sights set on regaining the championship in Shannon Worth’s first defense of the title. 

Mercury came out strong throughout the match with a high flying, yet measured, offense that had Worth on her heels. Mercury found herself in trouble when she went for a cross body block that Worth was prepared for. Worth caught Mercury and slammed her to the mat. The champion was in control though Mercury was determined to stay in the fight. 

Mercury got caught by Worth’s spinning elbow but when Worth went for a pin she was pulled out of the ring by the ankle by Meghan DeWitt. DeWitt hit Worth with a flying knee outside the ring causing a disqualification. DeWitt’s beatdown of Worth was assisted by Claudia Winter and Preston Montgomery until Mercury flew over the top rope to break up The Diamond Peak’s attack. 

A Word With Kami King

I found my way further down the beach to have a word with Kami King who was hanging out with some of RFW’s fans. I congratulated King on her win against Kassidy Fortune last week and asked her what was next for her.

“I have been trying to get to that next level and last week was another example of how determined I am to get there. We’ve got a World Championship that I have been after for years and the RFW Wildheart Championship is hot these days. What’s next for me? I think everyone here with me would agree that some gold around this waist is long overdue.”

-Kami King

The fans standing around us cheered in agreement but quieted down when we were joined by Kassidy Fortune. Fortune wasn’t impressed by King and said she got lucky last week. King said she could prove her wrong right there on the beach. The fans were excited to see a fight but Fortune laughed off the challenge, preferring a rematch in a wrestling ring next week.

Super Spiked

Our video production team was busy putting together a flashy video package of The Door doing something very unusual. They were smiling and having fun? Yes!

The video, with fun 80s synth pop and cascading transitions, showed Malcom and Richter absolutely dominating some volleyball players on the beach, shutting down other times, spiking volleyballs in their opponents’ faces, and emerging from these games as the victors. The Door high fived at the end of this video that showed a surprising side to a team that I did not think was possible. Are we seeing a new Door opening?

Jessie Vega’s Rapid Fire Festival Concert

I joined Jessie Vega and Maria Estrella in the ring where Vega had a big announcement for the audience. Vega, who doubles as both a wrestler and a pop music star, will be bringing her musical talents to the Rapid Fire Festival next week. 

“My band will be here with me next week to perform the must-see show of the summer. This festival could use a little star power to put it on the map, so you’re welcome.”

-Jessie Vega

Maria Estrella was enthusiastic about her girlfriend’s announcement but I can’t say the same for some of the audience. They didn’t appreciate Vega’s tone but you can’t take anything away from Jessie. A live concert from her does make the Rapid Fire Festival even more special. 

RFW Grand Championship Open Challenge

If you missed the news, RFW Grand Champion Mark Blood has pledged to defend his title each and every week! That’s dedication. Blood successfully defended the title last week against Ruslan Panov who attacked The Diamond Peak’s Preston Montgomery to get into that match. 

Who was Blood’s opponent this week? Preston Montgomery, of course! Montgomery came to the ring with Claudia Winter at his side and was understandably nervous looking over his shoulder. Montgomery made it to the ring in one piece setting up this exciting championship match. 

RFW Grand Championship Match
Preston Montgomery w/Claudia Winter vs. Mark Blood (c)

Preston Montgomery may have missed his opportunity last week but made up for it by keeping Mark Blood on his toes in a strong showing for The Diamond Peak member. Montgomery looked impressive early on but resorted to underhanded tactics to try and get an advantage when Blood began to control the action.

Montgomery put up a good fight but Blood showed everyone exactly why he is the RFW Grand Champion by making a strong comeback and securing victory by pinfall following a tombstone piledriver. 

Mark Blood’s open challenge series continues but Preston Montgomery’s big showing was a notable moment in his career. 

One More Chance

MoW Commissioner Tiger Johnson had no intention of meeting with Lost Cause about rehiring the trio but his assistant Delilah had scheduled a meeting without his knowledge. Johnson was backstage with Paisley Alden, Cool Spencer, and Rus Samson who looked uncharacteristically professional. Alden was in a tasteful but worn summer dress, Spencer wore slacks and a wrinkled polo, and Samson was wearing a sleeveless vest and wearing a tie. Despite Lost Cause’s best attempt at cleaning up, Johnson looked unimpressed.

The group did their best to apologize for being unreliable and promised to live up to their potential though Johnson was not swayed. Alden then offered a deal with Johnson.

“Give us until the end of the Rapid Fire Festival to impress you! We can come up with a way to prove that we are not screw ups but good employee people who will make Rapid Masters of Wrestling better with us in it and not out of it like we are now. Mr. Johnson, we won’t even smoke and drink as much. We’ll live backstage so we are never late. We’ll do chores for you. We’ll –”

-Paisley Alden

Johnson threw up his hands and agreed that if Alden stopped talking and they did something to truly impress him he would rehire Lost Cause.

Bumped

Delilah left the Lost Cause meeting and immediately ran into former Lost Cause member Alexandra Morgan. Morgan missed last week’s show thanks to a mistake with travel arrangements. Morgan was still upset about last week but was more concerned with her lack of a match on this week’s show. 

“I’m sorry, Alexandra. It’s been a busy show and we had to cut your match. There will be another opportunity, I’m sure. I gotta run. Again, really sorry!”

-Delilah

Delilah ran off to whatever task was next on her busy list leaving Morgan seething. 

Ruslan Panov Lays It All Out

I wasn’t behind the scenes during all of that but I was in the ring to meet with Ruslan Panov and understand his recent change in attitude, particularly concerning Killer Malone. 

Panov was calm as he explained to me and the beachside audience that he attacked Malone after their match at Mayday in Memphis to send a message to everyone that he was done playing nice. 

“I have been at this for nearly fifteen years and I want to be the champion. I can’t wait forever so it’s time to get more assertive and clear my path. Consider this my warning to the rest of the locker room. And as for Killer Malone, he attacked me last week and I say we are now even. We still have unresolved differences and next week, right here in this ring, we meet once again.”

-Ruslan Panov

A determined and confident Ruslan Panov made it clear that he’s looking for gold. I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to next week’s rematch with Killer Malone!

Yurei vs. Tracy Blood

Our main event was highly anticipated by the crowd, and quite a few backstage, as Tracy Blood returned to action against Yurei, the woman who injured her at RFW #098 in March. The stakes for this match were even higher because the winner would go on to challenge Cate Stiles for the RFW World Championship. 

Yurei wasted no time charging at Blood but Blood was ready for her and struck Yurei with a swift kick to the side. Blood released months of pent up frustration with several strong blows to Yurei’s body and legs until Yurei blocked a kick and took down Blood.

Yurei went to work on Blood’s neck and back as she looked to reinjure her. The fans were not liking this but it only made Yurei work harder. Yurei tried for a spear but Blood threw a knee, hitting Yurei in the face to block the attempt. Blood began a strong comeback before the action spilled out of the ring and then into the crowd! The woman brawled in the sand and between the energetic crowd before the referee restored order and brought them back into the ring. 

Yurei hit Blood with a spear and went for a pin but Blood was close enough to the ropes to grab a rope and break the pin. Yurei became more vicious and attempted to use a piledriver on Blood but Blood blocked the attempt and sent Yurei flying with a back body drop. Blood made another comeback and hit Yurei with a head kick, covering her for the win and picking up a hard-fought victory.

Tracy Blood celebrated a victory that included a measure of payback against Yurei as well as the number one contender spot. Speaking of our champion, RFW World Champion Cate Stiles appeared at ringside to size up her new challenger. Longtime RFW fans know these two have a long history together and both looked ready for their latest encounter. 

That’s going to do it for us. Be sure to check back here next week as the Rapid Fire Festival continues!