GPW: MELTDOWN Recap
- Aug 1, 2023
- 3 min read
GPW World Title Match: Castro Retains Title, Kavan Suffers Disappointing Loss
Season 1's cliffhanger at Gods of the Arena appears to be only the beginning of a quickly heated rivalry. What was supposed to be a joyous moment for Kavan became a nightmare. After a grueling triple threat match for the GPW World Championship, Kavan did the impossible and defeated both Niphiro & SIN to become the new GPW Champion. However, minutes after he captured the title, Cody "King" Castro spoiled the party by cashing in his Golden Briefcase, allowing him to challenge for a title match immediately after Kavan's brutal Main Event. This resulted in Castro capitalizing on the moment and winning the GPW World Title from Kavan.
Season 2 began with Castro in the center of the ring, ready to address the GPW Universe about Castro's reign, proclaiming he would rule GPW with an "Iron Fist." Kavan promptly interrupts Castro's speech by charging the ring and demanding a re-match. Castro says Kavan won't get his rematch unless he can beat him in a 1v1 exhibition match. This, however, proved to be just another ploy by Castro to get the upper hand. Before the match would conclude, a mercenary group we now know to be named "The Iron Fist," interfered, taking out Kavan after the match.
After surviving a 3 on 1 gauntlet match, Kavan finally earned the title rematch he's been wanting for weeks. The stipulation was set to be a No Holds Barred match for the Main Event of GPW: MELTDOWN. This stipulation proved to put Kavan at an even greater disadvantage. Between the multiple uses of weapons and interference from the Iron Fist, Castro slithered his way back into the top of the card, winning by using a pair of brass knuckles as the final blow to keep Kavan down for the 3 count. Something tells me this is only just the beginning of an intense rivalry...
First Ever GPW Women's Champion Crowned!
Season 2 began with an inaugural 8-woman tournament to determine the first champion within the newly formed Women's division. After a hard fought tournament, 2 superstars remained, Starlett & Empress Payne. These two clashed at the Free-For-View in what was an instant classic! But only one could be declared champion. After not one, not two, but THREE Stargazer Splashes, Starlett ended up being victorious, becoming the fist ever Women's Champion.
INFERNO Title: Emperor Payne (c) vs Shannon Styles
The reigning INFERNO Television Champion, Emperor Payne, fist captured gold at the end of Season 1 at GODS OF THE ARENA. His opponent, Shannon Styles, was heading into the Free-For-View looking to regain that title for the 4th time. Unfortunately for him, the numbers game proved to be too much to overcome. The interference at ringside by the Empire of Payne (Hecatomb & Havik) was ultimately the difference maker during the match, allowing Emperor Payne to retain his title.
GPW Hardcore Title: Great Hosoqai (c) vs Dan Slater
Dangerous Dan Slater is synonymous with the word 'Hardcore." Since the Hardcore title's inception, Slater has held the title, refusing to let it go. After countless months of deadly matches, Slater proved to be human after all at last Season's finale, GODS OF THE ARENA. His body utterly gave up on him and suffered a huge loss to The Great Hosoqai, losing his Hardcore title in the process. At MELTDOWN, Slater sought to get that championship back but fate had other plans. After a brutal match, Hosoqai pulled out another big victory or the Dangerous one.
GPW Tag Team Title Match: Senshi vsThe Dynamite Kids (c)
Two of the top tag teams in the world collided at MELTDOWN and put on a 5-star classic of a match full of breathtaking aerial maneuvers, vicious strikes and numerous near falls. The Kids proved to be too much for Senshi by the end of the match and were able to retain their tag team titles.
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