Dezmond Cole reclaims championship moments before Dante Drago steals the show

At VPW Blood Sweat and 16 Years, “Da Big Boofa” Dezmond Cole captured the New York State Championship, his first title in Victory Pro Wrestling. After an epic battle with Eric James, Cole fulfilled a dream of winning the New York State title after watching his heroes as a fan, including James.

That reign would come to an end at VPW Blood Sweat and 17 years when Leo Sparrow would capture the title after a controversial ending that lead to VPW senior official Steven Dumeng stopping the contest after saying Cole was unfit to continue the fight.

The reign of terror from the Son of the Sun as New York State champion allowed Sparrow to face and defeat Bobby Orlando and Brother Greatness before finally meeting Cole at VPW Sanctified in the main event. Cole claimed he never gave up and challenged the champion to an “I Quit” match to where the only way to claim victory is to have your opponent say “I Quit” on the microphone.

The official on hand was Gina Monti, an official for various wrestling promotions including Wrestling Open, Limitless, Testu Pro Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. The champion came into the contest undefeated in Victory Pro Wrestling, and the challenger came in with revenge on his mind.

The contest did not stay in the ring for long as Sparrow started with throwing spinach at the face of Cole. This lead to Cole lighting up with a series of rights after taking down Sparrow. The challenger retreated to the outside and Cole followed with a dive to the outside.

After battling around the ring, Sparrow regained control and brought Cole to the back of the arena, throwing the challenger into the cage wall. Looking to end it quickly, Sparrow went for a piledriver, but Cole reversed it before throwing Sparrow into the cage wall as retaliation.

The titans battled back to the ring as Cole maintained control. The back and forth between the two allowed Sparrow to bring a steel chair to the ring, but Cole dropkicked the chair to Sparrow’s face.

Sparrow then brought in a painting, but Cole would counter and send the painting of flowers through Sparrow’s head.

Monti would be on point, checking both Cole and Sparrow throughout the contest to see if they wanted to continue, with both Cole and Sparrow saying, “No.”

Sparrow would introduce a kendo stick and use it to brutalize Cole, wearing on his back and knee. He would then introduce more chairs and a baking pan, before hanging Cole in a tree of woe in the corner before working on the knee once more with the kendo stick.

Sparrow would set up chairs to try to end the match, setting Cole up for disaster. Going for his moonsault finisher, Cole would move at the last second, leaving Sparrow to connect on all the chairs.

Cole would then grab the kendo stick, winded up, and then brutalized Sparrow. Wailing away on his abdomen and back, Cole would then use the stick to choke Sparrow out. Monti would ask Sparrow, who would say, “No.”

As Sparrow looked to grab the kendo stick, Cole would latch on a crossface that would incapacitate Sparrow. Monti would explain to Cole that the match cannot end without an “I Quit” so Cole would grab water and splash it onto Sparrow. Monti would ask, and Sparrow replied, “What day is it?”

The baking pan Sparrow introduced became his worst enemy as Cole would use it to smash Sparrow in the face. Cole set up a chair and connected with a rolling thunder splash. Sparrow would still not quit.

Sparrow would come back, locking in a reverse Boston crab to punish Cole. He would then bring in the New York State championship, attack Cole, but ended up eating the plate with a kick to the face.

Cole would lock in a crossface again and force more pain to Sparrow but he refused. Cole then grabbed the kendo stick and attacked Sparrow once more before locking in the crossface to finally get Sparrow to say “I Quit” and reclaim the New York State championship.

After almost 17 minutes, the New York State championship was back where it belonged, in the hands of Da Big Boofa. Cole then asked for the microphone to address the crowd.

As Cole was addressing how much the belt meant to him and thanked the fans, the microphone cut out on him. Then the lights went out. Moments later when the lights went back on, Dante Drago stood behind Dezmond Cole.

The fans were shocked and Dezmond Cole turned around to meet a paddle to the head. Drago would stare down at Cole as Monti tried to care for the champion.

Drago then looked at Monti and said, “I’m cashing in.” The fans gasped and started to chant, “Ring the bell! Ring the bell!” as VPW Commissioner Kevin Fulton started to yell at Drago.

Historically speaking, the Gold Rush Rumble Challenge belongs to the winner of that year’s Gold Rush Rumble. They would announce who they are challenging for and at a future event, most recently it has been Disorderly Conduct, the Challenge would take place. But Drago was announcing and cashing in his Challenge for the New York State Championship just moments after Dezmond Cole’s epic battle to reclaim that prize.

Fulton screamed, “That’s not how the Gold Rush Rumble works,” as Dante insisted they start the match.

Referee Gina Monti called for the bell. Drago would connect with a running kick to the knee on Cole, then follow up with shining wizard to cover Cole and claim the New York State Championship in the first ever “cash in” of the Gold Rush Rumble Challenge.

And with that, the second championship of Dezmond Cole ended just as quickly as it began, and the era of the Frat Star as New York State Champion has begun.

What will happen Saturday night October 14 when Victory Pro Wrestling returns to Pro Game Athletics in Bay Shore for Hallowed Ground?

Pro Game Athletics is an air conditioned facility and the home of Victory Pro Wrestling with over 13,000 square feet for batting practice, soccer, and plenty of room to enjoy a night of live wrestling action. Pro Game Athletics is located just minutes away from the heart of Bay Shore and just five minutes away from the South Shore Mall.

Food and beverages will be available for sale.

You don’t want to miss Victory Pro Wrestling when we return to Bay Shore!!