Background: Organized and hosted by Brian Kendrick alongside Highspots.com, the first, and thus far only, King of Flight tournament was held to showcase eight of the most innovative high flyers in independent wrestling. The opening tournament match featured Kendrick’s former tag team partner Paul London and the future Kalisto in Samuray Del Sol.
King of Flight
Huntington Park, CA
March 24, 2013
Paul London vs. Samuray Del Sol
The former WWE Tag Team champion spent a good five minutes handing out kazoos to fans; earning a large chorus of boos when he ran out of musical items. Del Sol, though appreciative of the kazoo, couldn’t utilize the instrument due to his mask. A handspring flip-off occurred before the initial collar & elbow tie up. Both men were looking for flash pins early, with London being the first to attempt a hold. Paul seemed impressed by Del Sol’s countering ability. Slipping through the ropes, Del Sol soared off the top rope with an arm drag that sent London to ringside. Samuray was ready for Paul to avoid his attempt at a dive by spinning off the ropes backwards. London took a quick break by leaving the building, barely making it back in before the ten count. Muscling Del Sol backwards, London caught him with a pair of spinning back kicks to the abdomen topped by the shoulder ram. Del Sol was looking to make a comeback with the cradle, but got double stomped for his trouble. Paul’s focus was working over the midsection of his opposition, putting him on the ropes. London was looking to Irish whip Del Sol into something when the masked man flipped through the ropes to kick Paul backwards. With London staggering, Samuray double stomped his way into executing the code red … for a near fall!
Showing his submission skills, Del Sol almost made London tap with the figure four deathlock. Thankfully for Paul he was able to claw his way toward the ropes before he was forced to submit. Del Sol took too much time setting up a following attack, getting back dropped into a sick hangman’s neck breaker. Once again, London placed Del Sol on the rope for an attack. And again it was Samuray avoiding the maneuver to see Paul sail through the ropes a la Mark Henry. London stumbled around ringside, unable to avoid the tope. London, recovering quickly, countered a turnbuckle face plant, scaling the ropes when the action returned inside. But London wanted to showboat and ended up taking a frankensteiner-like head scissors that put him in prime position for the hurricarana … that only gave Del Sol a two count!
Like London, Del Sol rallied the fans behind him before rushing his rising opponent. London dropkicked Del Sol backwards, double stomping the masked man in preparation for the shooting star press. But the impact of the double stomp hurt Paul’s ankle and forced him to take a few extra seconds to prepare his ascent. This gave Del Sol not only the opportunity to stop London, but also yank him off the top with the Rising Sun victory roll driver. Del Sol held London down for the three count.
Winner: Samuray Del Sol (11:20)
Is It A Classic: What an exhilarating opening contest. This bout really set the bar high while leaving room for everyone else to potentially upstage it. A great match to say the least.
