Tournament Announced for New Title
CALDWELL, TX - For the first time since 2018, a new title is being introduced in Lions Pride Sports.
As announced by owner HOUSTON CARSON at Clash at Caldwell 3, anyone who has been trained at The Lions Den Training Facility in Bryan can compete for and win the new Lions Den Championship. The first title holder will be determined in an invitational tournament. First round matches will take place September 11 in Navasota, with the final set for October 30 at The Lions Den.
In all, 12 wrestlers will fight for the new prize. In Caldwell, Carson announced three had earned byes based on their history in the promotion. Despite their sketchy actions and attitudes, CADE CARSON and CHAVY CHULO of The Trifecta were given byes, Cade for being one of the first Den trainees to win a title in The Pride, and Chavy for being the first graduate of The Den. Houston announced MATHAYUS had earned a bye, but “The Headline” declined it, saying he wanted to prove himself as the best by going through the entire tournament.
A battle royal was then held with the remaining wrestlers. Because Mathayus turned down a bye, instead of the lone survivor in the match getting a pass to the quarterfinals, the final two wrestlers would get byes. The final three men in the match were SHIMBASHI, THE MOUNTAIN and ZANE VALERO. Acting on his June vow to exact revenge on “The Canadian Dragon” for defeating him, JAY ALEXANDER hit the ring and assaulted Shimbashi, allowing the winless Valero to get the elimination and secure byes for himself and The Mountain. Zane would stay winless, though, as his celebration was cut short by a chokeslam and a ride over the top rope to the floor from the 600-pounder for the match win.
Later in the night, Shimbashi with damaged ribs would answer Alexander’s challenge for a match. Those injuries were targeted, and despite a strong effort, “The Purveyor of Punishment” would hit his Deal Breaker and score a win.
In other action at Clash at Caldwell 3:
MIKE DELL reinserted himself into the Lions Pride Sports Championship picture. The two-time champ brought The Trifecta to beat down the current title-holder, DRAKE DURDEN. Mathayus would make the save, setting up a three-on-two tag team match for the night’s main event. Despite a strong showing for the majority of the match, missteps and miscommunication continued to hinder The Trifecta, leading to Dell being pinned after a Durden chokeslam. Dell would berate his proteges, blaming them for the defeat. He then challenged Durden to a title match in Navasota September 11 and told his cohorts to stay away from ringside. Durden accepted.
MIA FRIDAY’s first submission match in The Pride was an intense one, as KILLA KATE’S savvy offense came close to earning her a second straight win over The Lions Den product. But a counter-filled contest ultimately ended with Friday locking in her Weak-End hold and forcing Kate to tap.
In his final match before heading to the Performance Center, recent WWE signee BLAKE CORTEZ defeated his friend and fellow BOOKER T trainee TOMMY BOLTON by hitting “The Buzzard” with a Rough Rider. Bolton took to the mic after the match and gave Cortez a heartfelt farewell for now to Texas.
After being attacked by “OUTLAW” J. AUSTIN two weeks earlier in Bryan, HOSTAGE HIRSCH sought revenge in a one-on-one match. The hard-hitting affair came down to the referee being knocked down, allowing Austin to hit Hirsch with a low blow leading to victory.