CYN Sells Out the Odeon in Cleveland with Hard Hitting Outing

Tonight, I attended my first CYN show live at the Odeon in Cleveland.  It was an interesting night with many learning experiences teaching me about what this revolutionary new promotion is all about.

I’m not going to sit here and give away full results as I want fans to buy tickets to the Detroit show Saturday and the Cedarburg show Sunday and be surprised with what they see.  However, I am going to tell you about the things that jumped out the most to me tonight.

They have the Names You Know

CYN has the names you know to go along with Braun Strowman and EC3.  This is not a startup promotion revolving around one ex WWE Superstar and a bunch of guys trying to make it.  The roster is loaded with talent and does have some recent and current “big names” the fans will notice right away. Some of which tonight were Sara Rowe ( Logan), Austin Aries, Jake Logan, Westin Blake, Killian Dane (Big Damo) and several others.

They take chances

Much has been made of them barring certain moves, such as the Superkick, which is easily the most overused and watered down move in the sport.  However, they took other chances tonight that stood out as well.  I’m not sure if these are things that will stick around much longer, but they are willing to try things, take chances and see what works.

Here are just a few

Jake Logan came out to cut a promo about not having a match.  Suddenly a man in a mask comes out and it is apparent pretty quickly, he is there to try and become an MMA style performer on the show.  He is shoeless and wearing MMA style gear while doing the MMA style moves as well.  During this, the music never stopped and the lights were extremely dark with just a small spotlight in the ring. This is something that could become a major thing, or something that we never see again based on the response.  There is a fine line between confusion and intrigue, we shall see how that concept plays out.

Also,, the competitors are not announced as entering the ring, but rather, entering the narrative.  This fits in perfectly when they win and they are announced to have “Controlled their Narrative”.

Their matches tell a story

The long lost art of storytelling has returned to the rings of Control Your Narrative.  Case in point, the second match tonight featured Dontae Smiley getting destroyed by Weston Blake.  One big move after another until the heat on Blake became so strong, and the shine on Smiley got so big, that the place erupted when the impossible happened and Smiley won.

The thing that jumped out about this match, is that the first four minutes were dominated by headlocks and I was starting to get really irritated.  Then, a light switch was flipped and it was one big move after another as both men let it fly.

Blake has a move where he just punches you in the back of the head.  It is violent, it is quick, it is memorable. I went from hating this match to loving it in matter of moments.  They pulled me in and I was hooked, that’s good storytelling folks. Then I popped again when they shook hands afterwards

Intensity is on the menu

There were no lighthearted moments tonight.  No moments were a fan could check their phone or lose intensity.  They grabbed you by the throat with the opening bell and never let go.

EC3 gave a young man named DDT / Bobby a chance for a CYN contract.  But in a way so unique, ,you have to see it to believe it.  It was intense and sudden, and that is all I will say as I do not want to give away too much.

They have characters

The name of this company is Control Your Narrative.  What does that mean?  It means FREEDOM!  Performers have their chance to control their persona’s and find out what works for them.  Several of them have done just that and created characters that stood out tonight.  Some of which were Putter, Vinny Pacifico, Manbun Jesus and Rex Brody. They were memorable, and got over with the crowd.

They have factions

One that jumped out tonight was “The Project Pit”.  A group of five men, all of incredible size. It will be interesting to see where they go and how they do.

They are Patriotic

A member of the “Project Pit” started the show coming out with the American Flag.  He explained how his grandfather fought in Vietnam, and then he fought in Irag.  He went on to hold the flag and explain how it was in both of their backpacks in battle, and dedicated the night to his grandfather as he donated the flag to CYN. How do you boo that guy?  You don’t!

The bottom line from tonight without giving away too much, it was well worth a ticket!  Some things they should keep and some they need to show the exit.  But, that is where every new promotion begins, with trial and error.  Quite frankly, I’d go back and see it again.