Swervity Swerve Swerve Swerve!!
Almost 2 months ago Demand Lucha presented SWERVE at Lee’s Palace. The event is finally available on the LuchaNetwork.com, but it was well worth the wait.
Before we run down why we waited… let’s take a look at some of the action that took place. Starting off hot with Tag Team Action, the new team of Travis Huckabee and Chip Punk, dubbed “Nuckin’ Futs”, took on a suspected member of Ophidian’s ORDER, the “Man in Wolves Clothing” Holden Albright. Albright’s partner was a member of the Chikara roster from the Proteus Wheel, Professor Nicodemus’ Frantik. A sickening start to the salacious serving of styles that was Swerve.
The next match saw the returning Vaughan Vertigo find his opponent Smiley unable to compete. Vertigo treated the fans to Demand Lucha’s first-ever Vaughn Vertigo Invitational, a match concept the “Visionary” has been taking all over Ontario. To his dismay, his former tag team partner Gabriel Fuerza took up the challenge. Vertigo had betrayed Fuerza almost 18 months earlier and the match, filled with emotion, was something everyone else on the card had to live up to.
The action continued as Demand fan favourite, Freddie Mercurio took on the debuting Bjorn Beauman from Lucha Britannia, in what was dubbed the Battle for Britain.
This is my favourite #technicalwrestling escape from a wristlock plus a serious show of athleticism to follow 😜#Wrestling #LuchaLibre #BritWres #BritishWrestling #BritsAbroad #AceVentura #Owww@DemandLucha @TripleL_Lucha @JimCarrey#dontstopmenow pic.twitter.com/A6NHJK7v7I
— 🇬🇧Freddie Mercurio (@LuchaFreddie) September 4, 2018
Buck Gunderson defended the Openweight Championship against the Mysterious Movado. Gunderson 
complained backstage that Director Joel Gertner was not at the event and that he was taking on a Luchador. Buck’s deal with Gertner was catch-as-catch-can rules ONLY and it is strongly suggested that opponents should be traditional wrestlers, not luchadors. Gunderson eventually entered the ring; taking it to Movado and ended up ripping his mask off before rolling him up for the pin. Taking off an opponent’s mask is an automatic disqualification at Demand Lucha, but Gunderson’s specific contract allowed him to get away with this nefarious act.
As punishment though, The Nickelback of Pro Wrestling was suspended from the next event, A Merry Lucha Christmas X-Mas Show taking place at the Opera House, where he was supposed to take on Rory Gulak. The two had words in the past and I’m sure Gunderson would have been happy facing an expert ground grappler and catch as catch can aficionado like Gulak. Instead, Gulak will compete in a traditional Trios Match on the card.
Following the championship match, Clayton Sincade returned to the ring after an insane 10-year absence to take on Demand’s #Exclusivo Hardcore Luchador, WARHED! Barbed Wire, Thumbtacks and more…you definitely have to check out this match.
Throughout the evening Jessie Mack was coming out to the ring and giving out prizes, t-shirts and free access to the Lucha Network. Eventually, when giving out meat taco coupons, she arose the ire of The Virtuous Vegan Ashton Waganda, which led to a matchup. But Jesse was not the only one hanging around for the evening. Seeing as Joel Gertner was unable to attend the event, he appointed the injured Carter Mason as Commissioner and Enforcer for the evening. Mason made his presence felt as the main event took centre stage. Shane “Swerve” Strickland, the namesake of the event, took on Premier Champion Ophidian in what I can safely say is the greatest match the Demand Brand has ever put on. You need to go out of your way to see this 40-minute classic.
Many people are wondering what took so long for the event to get edited and released, being almost 2 months since it took place. As you’ll see, many of the happenings at the event itself, as well as continuing litigations and internal problems, among other things, led to the delay of the event being released.
Stay tuned, more details may come to light as Demand Lucha will release more on this in the next week. But for now, enjoy what could quite possibly be the best event of the entire year in Ontario… Demand Lucha’s Swerve
