Anatomy Of A Battle Royal
The battle royal is arguably one of the most brutal, vicious and dangerous types of matches in professional wrestling. And when that battle royal involves 18 violent and determined women (14 of whom are G.L.O.R.Y. Girls)...well, there is no doubt that chaos and pain are going to be the order of the day. Such was the case last weekend when those women traveled to Boonton, New Jersey, and stepped into the WSU ring.
When it comes to a battle royal, one thing that you can be virtually certain of is that no one is going to dominate from bell to bell. In fact, it is almost a given that each and every wrestler will absorb as much pain as they dish out. Case in point, Annie Social. Early in the match Annie was in complete control, effectively neutralizing Kacee Carlisle's size and strength advantage with a nasty choke over the middle ring rope. But as we said, things change fast in a battle royal. It wasn't long before Annie found herself on the receiving end of the punishment as she found herself slumped against the ropes taking some hard, stinging, backhand chops to her exposed upper chest from the tough Brooke Carter.
Photo:
Robert Payes/Stiff Shots Photography
Now That Just Isn't Fair! (Except In A Battle Royal)
When battle royal time rolls around, you might as well just throw the wrestling rule book out the window. There just aren't any rules when you get this many vicious ladies into the ring at the same time. And it was no different in Boonton.
Roxie Cotton was on the receiving end of some dirty double-teaming in this match when she found herself caught in a wide leg split at the hands of AmyLee and Nikki Roxx. After stretching out and abusing the Valley Girl's beautiful legs, AmyLee took it to the next level when she drove a nasty head butt directly into...well, you can see for yourself! Roxie's attempt to protect herself is futile. In a second she's going to be one very-hurting G.L.O.R.Y. Girl. Good thing we can't see her face in this shot. It wouldn't be a pretty picture!
And sometimes it goes way beyond double-teaming. Four girls mix it up in a tangle of arms, legs and ropes as they go from being aggressors to victims within a matter of seconds. Haley Hatred was having a good time just a moment before this picture was snapped as she had her hands wrapped tightly around Kacee Carlisle's throat while throttling her against the lower ring rope. But then AmyLee entered the picture! Now it was Ms. Hatred's turn to suffer as the brutal biker chick forced her windpipe over the middle rope. But wait! Now it's AmyLee's turn to feel the pain as Jessicka Havoc jumps on her back and begins to clamp on a dreaded sleeperhold. And who knows which other violent lady might have jumped into this melee on the ropes moments later to attack Havoc?!
Photo:
Robert Payes/Stiff Shots Photography
The Battle Takes Its Toll
Not in good condition? Out of shape? Then don't enter yourself into a battle royal. In tag team matches there is more than enough time to catch your breath and recuperate in your corner while your partner is in the ring carrying on the battle. Even singles competition can offer some relief. Clamping on a leg scissors or arm bar not only keeps your opponent suffering on the mat...it gives you the opportunity to take a little break and take in some much-needed oxygen.
No such luck in battle royal competition. As you can see from these two shots, the action is all out. That's Annie Social sitting against the far ropes in agony after being worked over against those corner turnbuckles. Her moans of pain won't last long though, because in another second or two she's going to be yanked up to her feet with a handful of hair and subjected to more punishment.
Meanwhile, Nikki Roxx leans over the middle ring rope during a brief...make that very brief...respite from the action. We can't help but think that she's asking herself why she ever agreed to compete in this violent ring war! She won't have time to answer that question, of course, because another wrestler is already heading over to poor Nikki's position to begin making her night even more miserable.
Photo:
Robert Payes/Stiff Shots Photography
Settling Old Scores
Sometimes a battle royal becomes a one-on-one affair...especially when two wrestlers carrying a grudge pair off towards the end of the match. Such was the case in this WSU battle royal when Nikki Roxx and Rain found themselves in the ring alone after eliminating all the other competitors. Earlier in the evening it was Rain who viciously abused and battered Roxx during their singles match. We brought you some of that action in a POD from earlier this week. Now it was Nikki's turn to do some damage and get some revenge. And boy, did she ever get her revenge!
It looked more like a boxing match than a wrestling event as the blonde unleashed a flurry of fists into the body of her nemesis. Against the ring ropes, Nikki battered Rain's upper-chest, ribs and midsection with some powerful right hands. It was even more intense on the mat when the out-of-control Roxx grabbed a left handful of brunette hair and pounded fist after fist into the head and face of her hated enemy. If this attack goes on for much longer, Rain is going to have to be taken out of that ring on a stretcher!
Here's the good news: this epic battle royal match has already been made available on DVD by the folks over at WSU. If you weren't in Boonton and you want to see just what went down (or if you were there and you just want to relive the event), you can purchase all the action for a mere $15. Just fifteen bucks? That's gotta be a typo, right? (We don't think so!) Click over to WSU to see the details and the DVD cover then decide for yourself.
Photo:
Robert Payes/Stiff Shots Photography