Wrestling Open “Episode 243” results (8/27): Vetter’s review of Stetson Ranch and Devin Reno vs. Gabriel Skye, Danny Miles, and Bobby Casale in a six-man tag, Timothy Thatcher vs. Rain Conway

By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)

Wrestling Open “Episode 243”
Streamed on IndependentWrestling.TV
August 27, 2026, in Worcester, Massachusetts, at The White Eagle

The lighting is good, and it’s easy to see. The crowd was maybe 70 as the show got underway; it was exceptionally and unusually small, but it grew to about 125. Referee Scott Robinson, Brother Greatness, and “Handyman” Jake Gray provided commentary.

1. “Brick City” Julio Cruz and Victor Chase vs. “As Above So Below” Buck Sawinn and Killgannon in a spotlight match. Again, AASB look like Briscoe brother-style, Duck Dynasty hillbillies; they’ve had a handful of matches so far. Robinson and Jake Gray provided commentary on this one. Victor got in and hit some clotheslines into the corner. AASB worked over Julio in their corner for a couple of minutes. Cruz finally hit a spinebuster at 5:30. Victor got a hot tag and hit some clotheslines. Brick City hit the “Business is Booming” (team Bulldog Powerslam) for the pin. Merely okay.

“Brick City” Julio Cruz and Victor Chase defeated “As Above So Below” Buck Sawinn and Killgannon at 6:40.

2. Mani Ariez (w/Brother Greatness) vs. Nick Robles. Brother Greatness joined Robinson on commentary. Mani hit a series of clotheslines into the corner. Robles dropped him throat-first on the top rope and hit a German Suplex for a nearfall at 2:30. Robles stomped on Mani and kept him grounded. They traded punches, and Mani nailed a decapitating clothesline. He hit a running knee into the corner and a powerbomb out of the corner for a nearfall at 5:00. Robles grabbed a drumstick, but the ref confiscated it. He swung his cowbell, but Mani blocked it (The live feed has not been good in recent weeks; I missed the finish.) Mani got the pin. (He was going for a rollup when my livestream froze.)

Mani Ariez defeated Nick Robles at 6:32.

3. Sammi Chaos vs. Ruthie Jay. Sammi is 6’0″ and the size of Nyla Rose; she always has the size advantage. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen her. Ruthie high-fived fans to make clear she’s a babyface tonight. Sammi hit a splash into the corner and easily tossed Ruthie across the ring. She did the same combo again. Ruthie tried some chops that had no effect. Sammi hit a running crossbody block for a nearfall at 2:00. She hit a splash to the mat for a nearfall. She hit a World’s Strongest Slam but was slow to make a cover and only got a nearfall.

Ruthie hit two dropkicks, but they only staggered Sammi. She was able to spin Sammi to the mat for a nearfall at 5:00. It feels like the crowd has almost doubled from the beginning of that spotlight match. Ruthie hit an X-Factor faceplant! She hit a top-rope frog splash for the pin! Solid match, and definitely an upset, as Sammi won some big matches in the women’s tournament a couple of months ago.

Ruthie Jay defeated Sammi Chaos at 6:16.

4. Timothy Thatcher vs. Rain Conway. Rain will face Jonathan Gresham on Friday. Rain came out first and was loudly booed. The crowd loves to hate him, but he’s improved nicely. He has that daawwwwg in him! As per usual, Thatcher has the height, size, and ring experience advantage. Thatcher immediately hit a bodyslam and an elbow drop. He tied up the left arm and twisted the wrist and fingers. Robinson marveled at the fact that Rain will fight Thatcher and Gresham on back-to-back nights. Thatcher hit a knee drop on the elbow at 1:30.

Thatcher ‘wish-boned’ Conway’s legs. I don’t stretch like that! Timothy hit a snap suplex, and he had dominated. Rain went for a Rings of Saturn, but Thatcher escaped and applied a half-crab. He switched to a modified STF, and he raked at Rain’s mouth, then tied him in a Surfboard at 4:30. Conway hit some elbow strikes across Thatcher’s left elbow and hit a Divorce Court armbreaker. He tied up the limb as they fought on the mat. Conway went for a Triangle Choke, and he transitioned to working the left leg. Thatcher hit a bodyslam and a knee strike to the spine.

Thatcher pulled Rain’s arms behind his back. Conway went for a cross-armbreaker, and he kept Thatcher’s left arm tied up. Thatcher hit a belly-to-belly suplex at 8:30. Rain stood over Thatcher and hit some forearm strikes. Thatcher tied him in an ankle lock. Rain hit a snap suplex and locked in the cross-armbreaker! Thatcher escaped. He yanked the mouthguard out of Rain’s mouth, slapped him hard across the face, and hit a suplex for the pin. Good mat-based action; Rain should be proud of that one.

Timothy Thatcher defeated Rain Conway at 10:49.

* Kylie Alexa sent in a video, laughing about the idea of facing Lauren St. James. She said she’ll gladly give Lauren a title shot!

5. Laynie Luck vs. Nessa Ferrari for the WWE ID Women’s Title. Again, Nessa gets my comparison to Daria Rae or WWE legend Victoria. Some good reversals early on. Nessa hit some armdrags and a dropkick. Laynie hit a snap suplex at 2:30. Nessa got a Crucifix Driver for a nearfall. Laynie hit a sideslam for a nearfall. Nessa hit a huracanrana at 4:30. Laynie hit a kick to the side of the head for a nearfall. Laynie hit some European Uppercuts.

Nessa hit a kick to the chest and some spin kicks, then a clothesline and a second-rope Meteora for a nearfall at 6:30. Nessa hit a bulldog for a nearfall. Laynie hit a hard jumping knee and a spin kick, then a Magic Screw twisting neckbreaker off the ropes for a nearfall. She hit the Death Valley Driver for the pin. Laynie is so smooth in the ring; Nessa had some rough spots but a good overall showing. They shook hands.

Laynie Luck defeated Nessa Ferrari to retain the WWE ID Women’s Title at 7:56.

6. J Bouji vs. Jodi Aura in a Discovery Gauntlet match. J Bouji attacked Aura last week, stole his spot in the Discovery Gauntlet, and won the match! So, Aura is back to get his revenge! Again, Jodi’s whole presence, with that long black jacket and his “Nightwalker” nickname, gives off vibes of Marvel’s Blade. He got on the mic, and he’s excited to finally get to make his Wrestling Open debut. He said this is about winning and getting to come back here, week after week. A really good, fiery promo.

Jodi hit some punches at the bell; they have similar looks, but Jodi is taller. He hit a plancha to the floor. They looped the ring, and Aura hit some loud chops. In the ring, Jodi hit a powerslam for a nearfall at 2:00. Bouji hit a pair of suplexes, and he took control. He hit a Lungblower to the back for a nearfall at 4:30. Jodi hit a clothesline to the back of the neck, and they were both down. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Jodi hit a back-body drop and a series of kicks.

Jodi hit a rolling stunner for a nearfall at 6:30. Nice move. Bouji hit a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall, and they were both down at 8:00. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Jodi hit a Claymore Kick. Bouji hit a Pele Kick. They both came off the ropes, with Jodi kicking Bouji in the back. Aura hit a powerbomb for a nearfall, and they were both down at 10:00. Bouji hit a springboard fadeaway stunner and a powerbomb for the pin. For the second time tonight, my screen froze during the pin.

J Bouji defeated Jodi Aura at 11:33 to advance in the Discovery Gauntlet.

7. 23 Hazard vs. Julezee. The flamboyant Julezee lost his Discovery Gauntlet match last week, but he is back in action this week. Hazard came out first and cut a heel promo and was booed. Julezee tied him in an abdominal stretch. He hit an inverted senton, then a rolling cannonball into the corner for a nearfall at 2:00. Hazard threw him into the ring post and took control. In the ring, he hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 4:00.

Hazard choked Julezee with his scarf. Julezee hit a second-rope Whisper In The Wind at 7:00, and they were both down. Julezee hit a running knee for a nearfall. He hit an Angel’s Wings for a nearfall. He got a backslide for a nearfall. Hazard hit a discus forearm and the Hidden Blade elbow strike to the back of the head for the pin.

23 Hazard defeated Julezee at 10:39.

8. Brad Hollister vs. Love, Doug. These two will meet again on Friday in a three-way, with TJ Crawford as the third man. Hollister came out, wearing a T-Shirt and blue jeans. They shoved each other a few times. Brad turned and left and got counted out!

Love, Doug defeated Brad Hollister via count-out at 1:19.

* Brick City jumped in the ring and beat up Doug! They hit a team chokeslam on Doug! They hit the Business is Booming team Bulldog Slam on Doug.

9. Devin Reno and “The Stetson Ranch” Steven Stetson and Brian Morris vs. Gabriel Skye and Bobby Casale, and Danny Miles. Loud “Bald!” chants for the muscular Reno. Casale and Morris opened; Brian ducked to the floor to avoid tying up. Reno got in and traded punches with Casale. Skye entered and hit some European Uppercuts on Reno at 2:00, then a huracanrana. Gabriel hit a springboard flying forearm, and the babyfaces took turns working over Devin in their corner.

Casale hit a backbreaker over his knee on Morris. Skye dove through the ropes onto the heels. Miles hopped on Bobby’s back, and they hit a team senton on Morris for a nearfall at 4:30. The heels pushed Miles into their corner and started working him over. Stetson repeatedly stomped on Miles. Reno hit some European Uppercuts. Skye finally got a hot tag at 8:30, and he hit a top-rope missile dropkick on Reno. Skye hit a Northern Lights Suplex, then a Falcon Arrow, for a nearfall.

Skye hit a moonsault press onto two opponents. He went for a Sliced Bread, but Reno blocked it. The heels began stomping on Skye. Reno hit some knee strikes to Skye’s back and got a nearfall at 11:30. Reno hit a bodyslam and some crossface blows. Gabriel finally hit a tornado DDT at 15:00 on Reno, and they were both down. Casale got a hot tag and hit some roundhouse kicks to the chests of all the heels. He hit some German Suplexes on Stetson, then some on Reno! Casale hit a Bulldog Powerslam.

Morris went for a crossbody block, but Casale caught him and hit a powerbomb at 17:00. Miles hit a frog splash. Skye hit a top-rope double stomp to the chest for a nearfall. All six brawled. Skye clotheslined Stetson to the floor. He hit a Dragon Suplex on Reno, then a running knee to the jaw for a nearfall. He hit the Sliced Bread out of the corner, but Morris made a blind tag! Skye hit a Sliced Bread on Morris. Stetson hit a brainbuster. Casale hit an Angle Slam. Casale rolled up Morris for the flash pin! A really hot final few minutes.

Gabriel Skye, Bobby Casale, and Danny Miles defeated Devin Reno and “The Stetson Ranch” Steven Stetson and Brian Morris at 19:39.

Final Thoughts: A solid night of wrestling and much better than last Thursday’s show. I really liked J Bouji vs. Jodi Aura, and that earned best match of the show. I’ve seen plenty of them elsewhere (Aura in HOG, Bouji primarily in Expect the Unexpected), and both are really talented. Let’s get them back here soon. Thatcher vs. Conway was really good and takes second. I’ll go with the main event for third, even though some of the stretches of three-on-one beatdowns went on a bit long.

Nessa is really good for how few matches she’s had. They had a few exchanges where they weren’t quite on the same page, but I’d love to see a rematch. I didn’t mind the ‘non-match’ between Love, Doug, and Brad Hollister, as they have the full match on Friday. While I’m glad to see the well-traveled Ruthie Jay get a win, it was a bit surprising, considering how dominating Sammi Chaos had been here. I still haven’t warmed up to the cartoonish antics of Julezee, but the crowd likes him.

The last few weeks, it has not been uncommon for the live feed to repeat a two-second clip. Tonight, I had a few times when the livestream simply froze. I refuse to believe the problem is on my end, either. It was definitely frustrating to miss the pin of two matches tonight due to streaming issues. Hopefully this won’t be a problem during Friday’s big Americanrana show. I watched this live; it should be available on IWTV by Friday morning.