It’s time for the Collective, which means a lot of wrestling to consume in a wide variety of styles. Bloodsport is an MMA-styled event hosted by Josh Barnett—no ropes, wins
primarily via knockout or tap out. Let’s Go!
The thirteenth event is from the Palms in Las Vegas. Emil Jay is our ring announcer and
Jimmy Smith and the undeniable “Filthy” Tom Lawlor are on commentary.
The event starts out with a video letting you know that this event is brought to you by
the “Last Outlaw” GCW. I am not sure you have outlaw status anymore if you are
promoting WWE matches, but I digress. Emil Jay goes over the rules and introduces
our combatants. WWE’s Karrion Kross gets a mic, putting over his Las Vegas roots and
to let us know we are ready for “fucking Bloodsport!”
Jordan Blade vs. Leyla Hirsch
This is Blade’s Bloodsport debut. Blade held control for most of the match, using her
size to her advantage over the much smaller Hirsch. Blade overpowered Hirsch with
crossfaces and even won a strike battle. However, she made the mistake of charging
her more experienced opponent, eating a powerslam and followed by Hirsch raining
down forearms. The ref had no choice but to call the TKO.
Maika vs. Karmen Petrovic
Petrovic is our first WWE participant of the evening. It’s Maika’s graps vs. Petrovic’s
strikes in this fight. Maika goes for takedowns and submissions with Petrovic escaping
and kicking away at Maika. It was the experience of Maika that caught one of Petrovic’s
kicks and reversed it into a rear naked choke, forcing Petrovic to tap out!
Shinya Aoki vs. Charlie Dempsey
Now we get some graps! Aoki and Dempsey are both looking to force the other into
submission with some catch grappling, complete with extended Greco-Roman Knuckle
Locks while dropping knees onto each other! Dempsey eventually had enough and
started throwing a couple of suplexes and strikes into the mix. More grappling forced
Aoki to start throwing strikes as well. This change in strategy allowed Dempsey to break through and hit a Regal-plex for the TKO.
Karrion Kross vs. JR Kratos
Kross is the crowd favorite and is wearing a Gi. The two traded holds until Kratos began to use the Gi as a weapon, which commentary was worried about. This upset Kross which led to a strike battle. Kross was defiant in getting beat down. We’re entering pro-wrestling territory. Kross powered up and hit a pair of doomsday Saito suplexes before locking in a modified choke, forcing Kratos to tap. Kross and Kratos showed each other respect after the bell.
We get a brief intermission honoring Tank Abbott and Don Frye.
Pete Dunne vs. Timothy Thatcher
Two joint manipulators meet in an anticipated matchup. Dunne barely changed his style for this match—which means small joint manipulation, which is technically illegal.
Dunne broke things up by throwing punches. Thatcher is bleeding by the mouth at this
point. Dunne finished the match by snapping Thatcher’s fingers before transitioning into a wrist lock. The ref did not call the DQ, so Thatcher had no choice but to tap.
Miyu Yamashita vs. Nattie Neidhart
Arguably the most anticipated match of the night, as Nattie has not been outside the
WWE umbrella in over a decade. We have strikes, we have grapples. Yamashita
controlled a bulk of the match until Nattie took a kick to the ear. Yamashita went to
shake Nattie’s hand and Nattie smacked it away. Now everyone’s angry. Over the
course of a scuffle, Yamashita was pushed into the ring post. Practically unconscious,
Yamashita is put in the sharpshooter. The ref calls the fight, giving the victory to Nattie.
Now Nattie wants to offer a hand. Yamashita flips Nattie off and there’s a scuffle. Once
separated, Nattie starts a “GCW” chant and then gets in a scuffle with NWA Champion
Kenzie Paige.
Royce Isaacs vs. Tavion Heights
Second fight featuring the No Quarter Catch Crew. Isaacs is evidently the NQCC
hunter. A long feeling out process with Isaacs peppering strikes in. Things got ugly on
the floor and Isaacs is belly-to-bellied back into the ring. Second large belly-to-belly suplex leads to a barrage of headbutts forcing the ref to stop the fight and award it to
Heights.
Konami vs. Shayna Baszler
Feeling out leads to grappling on the ground. Konami locks in a leg lock with a ring post assist. An upset Baszler starts striking, but again Konami goes to the ring post.
However, enough space is left for Baszler to hit a big knee lift, followed by stomps to get the TKO. Respect is shown by both competitors after the match.
Zack Sabre Jr. Vs. Jonathan Gresham
The fighters are evenly matched—except for crowd approval, which is firmly in Sabre’s
camp. Commentary also points out the flexibility of both fighters, with Lawlor noting he has a copy of the Kama Sutra. Somehow, that’s the least surprising announcement of the night. The two take turns tying each other in knots before Sabre gets tired and hits some strikes and taunts the crowd. Gresham responds with a German suplex and then they’re back at the knots. In one of the more creative spots of the evening, the fighters rolled to the arena floor while in a figure-four leglock. Desperate strikes as time expires. Rules state that there is a five-minute overtime. Sabre’s kicks vs. Gresham’s chops. However, it is a flash penalty kick that gives Sabre the rare KO victory.
Gabe Kidd vs. Josh Barnett
I don’t understand the hype for Kidd, but people like him. Kidd is talking a lot—which is what he does—but is holding his own on the mat against Barnett. Or at least he did until he left the ring to yell at a kid in the crowd. Barnett has enough of the shenanigans and begins to brawl with the upstart. Barnett holds control until eating a couple of suplexes. Kidd then finished Barnett off with a piledriver for the KO. Kidd gets the mic and puts over New Japan Pro Wrestling, before threatening that kid again. Kidd finishes off with putting over Barnett as someone who was there for Kidd and bows. Barnett gets on the mic and puts over Kidd, saying he saw something in him when Kidd didn’t see anything in himself. Barnett puts over the crowd to end the event.
Bloodsport stands out in the insanity of Wrestlemania weekend with its emphasis on
MMA-inspired catch wrestling and knockouts. It has also been a nexus featuring
performers from all the major wrestling companies across the world.
Rob Kamerer is the host of the Con-Fusion Wrestling Podcast, and an active enjoyer of independent wrestling. He can be found on Facebook, BlueSky, and Twitter.
Photo Credit; TicTok
***Are you interested in sports betting? If so, make sure to use our promo code below where you can get your deposit matched (up to $1000). Use promo code Sportz***
***Have you tried Dubby?? Are you looking for a Pre-Workout??
Our promo code : WeLikeSportz for 10% off!***
WE LIKE SPORTZ SHOW 
Leave a comment