“Heartless” Alfred Valentine captured the hearts of New Zealand professional wrestling fans and the Grand Championship in front of a sell out crowd of 450 at the first ever NZPWI Invitational which took place this past Saturday, August 12.
Valentine defeated three men in one night to take the Championship, although it was far from plain sailing for the Impact Pro Wrestling star.
Valentine met Juice in the first round of the tournament, the self proclaimed “King of Cool” from Kiwi Pro Wrestling.
HAV and Juice wowed the crowd, but the man from Wellington looked to have victory in hand when Valentine missed his patented 450. Juice went for his “Simply Squeezed” finisher, but Valentine reversed it into an inside cradle to pick up the three count and the victory.
Other Quarter Final action saw MIW’s Sweet Ass defeat IPW’s Davey Deluxeo via the Mamma Jamma Slamma; KPW’s H-Flame defeated IPW’s Joey Kinkade with The Nuke and IPW Champion Jon E. King defeated MIW’s Cruz, who wowed the crowd with his fast-paced offense, after King hit his Superkick for the victory.
The first semi-final saw Sweet Ass take on H-Flame, who was sporting a leg injury from his quarter final match with Kinkade. It was at this point, that Sweet Ass’ Executive Advisor, Gary O. Davis, began interjecting in matches. Sweet Ass worked H-Flame’s leg, but H-Flame rallied and had the MIW star on the ropes. However, Davis interfered once too often in the match, and H-Flame left the ring to deal to him.
H-Flame was unaware that the referee counted to 10 in the meantime, and the KPW Heavyweight Champion was then out of the tournament via countout.
Valentine met Jon E. King in the semi-final in what was their first match since Valentine lost the IPW Championship to King. Mid way through the match, Gary O. Davis and Sweet Ass came to the ring to scope out their competition in the final. It soon became obvious that King had a deal with the two, and Davis began interjecting again.
Late in the match, Sweet Ass distracted the ref as Jon E. King held Valentine. Davis grabbed the chair that HAV used on King on TV1’s Breakfast, and was ready to nail Heartless. HAV ducked out of the way, and Davis hit King! Valentine sent Davis from the ring and put the Vordermann Crab on King who had no choice but to tap out as the crowd went crazy!
After the match, King chased Davis to the back, as Sweet Ass and HAV went face to face in the ring. The two men soon erupted into a brawl, as Davey Deluxeo and H-Flame ran in to hold HAV back. Security held Sweet Ass back, but Valentine broke free to continue the brawl.
The two men met later in the night in the final, and Sweet Ass’ plan appeared to have backfired. The man from Australia tried to take HAV out of his game plan, but Valentine through high impact shots at Sweet Ass early.
Davis once again tried to interfere, but this time, referee Leighton Cox sent him from ringside.
It was the opening that Sweet Ass needed, though, and he soon took control.
Sweet Ass hit a Mamma Jamma Slamma on HAV and gloated to the fans before making the cover, but HAV kicked out at two! Sweet Ass then hit a second Mamma Jamma Slamma and made the cover immediately, but HAV was just able to kick out!
Valentine rallied with the crowd behind him, and managed to get Sweet Ass down to the mat. He then scaled the ropes and hit the 450 before scoring the three count and the NZPWI Invitational Grand Championship!
The live crowd lifted the roof off the Lynfield YMCA, as New Zealand pro-wrestling legend John Da Silva presented Valentine with the NZPWI Invitational Grand Championship trophies!
Earlier in the evening, “Silencer” Jean Miracle won the First Invite Eliminator match, in controversial fashion.
20 men were entered in the match, but it was Dal Knox, who entered at #2, who was the standout.
Knox survived 18 other men to reach the Final Two, and hit his long-time friend “Silencer” Jean Miracle with a Knox Out, looking likely to take the match.
Miracle immediately clutched at his knee, and it appeared that the New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling star had suffered a serious injury. While Knox called for help, SJM stood up, and rolled Knox up for the three count and the win!
“Heartless” Alfred Valentine and “Silencer” Jean Miracle are officially entered in the NZPWI Invitational 2007 Tournament.
NZPWI Invitational 2006 Results
NZPWI Invitational Quarter Final 1
Sweet Ass (with Gary O. Davis) def. “Double D” Davey Deluxeo
NZPWI Invitational Quarter Final 2
H-Flame def. Joey Kinkade
NZPWI Invitational Quarter Final 3
“Heartless” Alfred Valentine def. Juice
NZPWI Invitational Quarter Final 4
Jon E. King def. Cruz
NZPWI Invitational Semi Final 1
Sweet Ass (with Gary O. Davis) def. H-Flame via Countout
NZPWI Invitational Semi Final 2
“Heartless” Alfred Valentine def. Jon E. King via Submission
NZPWI Invitational First Invite Eliminator
“Silencer” Jean Miracle won the 20-man First Invite Eliminator
NZPWI Invitational Grand Championship Final
“Heartless” Alfred Valentine def. Sweet Ass
