New Champs Crowned at Fight to Unite
BRYAN, TX - The biggest event in Lions Pride Sports history concluded with two new champions, remarkable matches from top to bottom, a legendary wrestler and global icon having encouraged and inspired, and tens of thousands of people in need helped.
Fight to Unite opened at Edible Field, the home of the Brazos Valley Bombers, with the biggest prize in The Pride changing hands. ZANE VALERO overcame the overwhelming offense of “OUTLAW” J. AUSTIN to obtain the Lions Pride Sports Championship. The challenger’s fuel was clear: perseverance like that which got him past a 14-month losing streak and into title contention, combined with a desire to get Austin back for “Outlaw’s” shocking verbal swipe at Zane’s family at our previous event. A frog splash from Valero to a downed champ sealed the title change. All Elite Wrestling Commentator and WWE Hall of Famer “The World’s Strongest Man” MARK HENRY gave his seal of approval, celebrating with Zane in the ring post-match.
Henry, our special guest for the event, extended that same show of support to CHAVY CHULO, who defeated the seemingly unstoppable MATHAYUS to become just the second Lions Den Champion. A vicious DDT and a bulldog from Chavy spiked “The God of Fire’s” skull twice, leading to the 1-2-3. The first graduate of The Lions Den achieved the title exclusive to those who have trained at our facility in Bryan.
The reigns of Austin and Mathayus each came to an end after 134 days, with both having obtained their respective titles at Here to Stay in November.
The biggest winner at Fight to Unite was United Way of the Brazos Valley, with proceeds from the event benefiting the non-profit fighting for the health, education and financial stability of everyone in the community.
In other action:
Fight to Unite had a high-octane conclusion with five of Texas’s all-stars going up against each other. There were moments when MIKE DELL, RYAN DAVIDSON, EDGE STONE and JAY ALEXANDER each looked as though they would score the win, but NOBE BRYANT had the final flurry of offense in a furious, non-stop contest and earned the pin fall. (WATCH THE MATCH)
MIA FRIDAY overcame a sneak attack and early pin scored by MJ SANTANA and earned back-to-back falls to get a 2-1 win in their two-out-of-three falls match. A shocking Friday piledriver out of a Santana submission hold concluded the second fall, with an M.I.A. ending the intense encounter. (WATCH THE MATCH)
KBTX personalities joined in on Fight to Unite, with KARLA CASTILLO, RUSTY SURETTE and DONNIE TUGGLE from the evening shift managing DRAKE DURDEN, and MAX CRAWFORD, CONNER BEANE and ABIGAIL METSCH joining SHIMBASHI at ringside. “The Canadian Dragon” addressed his attack on Durden at our previous event before the match, telling Drake he wanted to represent his team well in a clean fight. That went out the window when the referee was inadvertently knocked down and Shimbashi hit a low blow. KBTX’s morning crew abandoned their wrestler for going back on his word, and a dismayed Shimbashi would be pinned after a chokeslam. Durden and all of the KBTX crew celebrated in the ring post-match. (WATCH THE MATCH)
HASTUR continued his dominant ways. While TRENT MERCER put up the biggest fight and the greatest challenge to the disturbed powerhouse, “Watchdog” ultimately fell to the relentless rookie. (WATCH THE MATCH)
THE MOUNTAIN returned to The Pride to give out free swag to the crowd, but The Bad Boys of Wrestling decided to make an impact of their own. While KOOL DADDI DENZELL and RODZILLA were able to knock the big man down, they didn’t knock him out, and The Mountain overwhelmed the duo to stand tall.