Durden Takes Back Our Drip
JUNE 26, 2021 - DRAKE DURDEN is golden again in Lions Pride Sports, scoring a dramatic and chaotic title win over RYAN DAVIDSON at the Cruel Summer event.
It was a main event match-up delayed a month. At May’s Into the Fire 2 show, Davidson took his Lions Pride Sports Championship belt to the seven-footer’s knee, forcing Durden to the proverbial bench. The title tilt was cleared to take place at Cruel Summer, and as expected, the big men battled back and forth with ferocity and power.
Unsurprisingly, Davidson’s cohort from the Reality of Wrestling promotion, JAY ALEXANDER, came out to help Davidson with the match official accidentally knocked out. SHIMBASHI would neutralize “The Purveyor of Punishment,” only for “The Canadian Dragon” to be taken down by ROW Heavyweight Champion CAM COLE. MATHAYUS would remove Cole from the equation, but with the referee still down, Davidson struck Durden with a piece of the champ’s drip.
Unlike Ryan’s opponents before, Drake kicked out. As the official continued to try and recover, Davidson attempted a second shot, only to have the title kicked from his hands by Durden, who landed a shot of his own, then a choke slam. A three-count later, The Pride had a new champ and the crowd at The Lions Den erupted.
It’s the second reign for the giant, but the first by himself. Recall that CADE CARSON helped bring Durden to The Pride and the duo finagled and fought their way to a co-championship win in 2020.
Durden’s first defense will come Friday, July 9 against “OUTLAW” J. AUSTIN, who won Cruel Summer’s Lions Den Gauntlet Match. Entering fifth out of six competitors, the cowboy defeated KOOL DADDI DENZELL, then used his cowbell out of the referee’s view to topple THE MOUNTAIN.
In other action at the June spectacular:
Cole retained his ROW Heavyweight Championship with a little help from his friends. It was a match worthy of the great Houston-based promotion run by BOOKER T, and Mathayus may have been on the brink of victory following a spear, but we will never know. Alexander broke up the pin, causing a disqualification. Davidson and CHARITY KANE would join in a beat down of “The Headline” and declare this would be a night ROW would celebrate at the end. Of course, Davidson’s loss later crushed those dreams.
Kane’s power offense was too much for MIA FRIDAY, as “The Young Vet” handed the 15-year-old sensation just her second loss in The Pride.
Shimbashi earned one of the biggest wins of his young career, defeating Alexander. “The Canadian Dragon” didn’t get a chance to celebrate because an angry Alexander assaulted him. Jay declared he was stepping away from The Pride for a bit, but that Shimbashi would be in his sights upon his return.
The Trifecta continued its winning ways, as Carson and CHAVY CHULO emerged victorious from their tag team match against “THE BUZZARD” TOMMY BOLTON and BLAKE CORTEZ.