Dateline: September 2015. A wrestling show was held at the Jewish Community Center in Fairfax, Virginia. It was main evented by a three-way match featuring local hero Sonjay Dutt, local villain Logan Easton LaRoux, and CZW/CHIKARA alumnus Tim Donst. No one knew what to expect. Only about 100 or so people attended. But those who did loved it.

Fast-forward. Stars such as Chase Owens, Donovan Dijak, Trevor Lee, Abbey Laith, Cedric Alexander, Shane Strickland, Fred Yehi, Mia Yim, Rachel Ellering, Kassius Ohno, and Tracy Williams have given the DC area a chance. What began as a 100-person curiosity attendance has swollen to 400 plus. Sellout crowds have thrilled at seeing their favorites. Donst and Dutt have helped lift the profile, with LaRoux, Arik Royal, Chet Sterling, and more coming into their own. A combination of old-school story-telling and new-school in-ring action has put the promotion on the rise and on the map. Even the Washington Post has sent reporters to find out about the buzz.

Now, this week, their deal with independent wrestling streaming giant Powerbomb.tv is about to pay off. Live on your computer, the men and women of NOVA Pro will look to wow their biggest audience yet. But in a way, getting here is a win in and of itself. After one show, some people thought there wouldn't be another; here we are two years later ready to show the world. Truly, from such humble beginnings, NOVA Pro Wrestling has made it to...

SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS (December 28, 8PM Eastern)

Hi, everyone! It's Duke here, your loyal NOVA Pro reporter, ready to give you the rundown on the highest-profile show in company history and one which you – YES, YOU – can check out. (Editor’s note: And I, Kain, your friendly neighborhood indie guy, will be stepping out of the parentheticals because this is a tag team preview, as it happens!) We'll be running down the matches announced on the show, introducing you to the characters, and providing some analysis.

If you want to check out the show for yourself, what's stopping you? Sign up for Powerbomb right now and this show will be a part of your 10-day free trial! Plus, all of 2016 has already been uploaded, including great matches such as Cedric Alexander vs Shane Strickland and Arik Royal vs Chris “Kassius Ohno” Hero! Also, if you use the promotional code “NOVAPRO” when you sign up, double your free trial to 20 days! Am I shilling? For this promotion, YES. Sue me.

So let's begin the rundown, as this is a loaded card with TWELVE matches on the docket.

Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. Sonjay Dutt (Powerbomb.tv Independent Wrestling Championship)

“The Octopus” Jonathan Gresham: Gresham is a former CZW World Heavyweight Champion, an impressive feat considering he's 5'6 or so and about 170. However, his size is a false confidence: the man is one of the best wrestlers and counter-wrestlers in the US. He's made appearances in Ring of Honor, but under the tutelage of Stokely Hathaway, he's determined to be the “King of the Indies”. His title says he's off to a great start.

“The Original Playa from the Himalaya” Sonjay Dutt: Though billed as being from Mumbai, India, he's raised in Burke, just down the street from NOVA Pro's home base. Considered the godfather of NOVA Pro, he's always willing to give back to his hometown and take on the big names. Dutt is probably the most famous person on this show, having been Impact X-Division Champion and a veteran of the six-sided ring for over a decade.

How we got here: Last month, after Gresham disposed of Fred Yehi, Hathaway informed us that Sonjay Dutt asked for a title match – not by going to Stoke, but by going to the Powerbomb board. Hathaway was upset that he was bypassed, but it being the holiday season, he was willing to negotiate a title match. About a week later, the announcement was official: Gresham would be making a title defense live on the internet against NOVA Pro's hometown boy.

Duke's take: Were this not a title match, I would pick Dutt easily. Sonjay is at his best in Fairfax County, having beaten Donovan Dijak, Trevor Lee, and Curt Stallion among others. However, two things complicate matters. One is the title, which Gresham has shown he will retain by any means necessary, having defended the title twice by countout. The other is the likely presence of Big Stoke, who is one of the best coaches on the East Coast and whose Dream Team is among the best in the world. Style-wise, it'll be interesting to see if the more mat-based Gresham or the faster Dutt wins out.

Kain's take: Man, everybody keeps going over Stokely Hathaway’s head when he represents champions. It’s unfair, and it’s unsportsmanlike, and it’d be a shame for Jonathan Gresham’s reign as Powerbomb champ end the way Timothy Thatcher’s Evolve World Championship reign did. Anyway, this should be a hoot— Gresham has been super inventive in both of his defenses so far, clearly trying to make this title mean something special, and I don’t see how it’d be any different against Sonjay here.

Logan Easton LaRoux (c) vs. Sage Philips (PWI Ultra J Championship)

“The Champion of the 1%” Logan Easton LaRoux: Straight from the lap of luxury and hailing from “a gated community inside of a gated community surrounded by yet another gated community”, Logan Easton LaRoux is the consummate villain. His belief that his wealth will take him to the top irks fans up and down the Mid-Atlantic, notably in both NOVA Pro and CWF Mid-Atlantic, where he defends the Ultra J (Jr. Heavyweight) championship. [NOTE: PWI is more than just those two promotions; it's a conglomerate of about 15-20 promotions worldwide.]

But he's more than just a pretty face and a hefty bank account. He's a winner, taking the 2017 Commonwealth Cup and making the finals of the 2017 Weaver Cup. Plus, Northern Virginia is good to him, too, as he's beaten Dutt, Joey Janela, Sterling, Chuck Taylor, and Royal on this turf. It helps that his neighbors in the Gated Community form their own cheering section at every show.

“The Proficient” Sage Philips: After making a quiet start to his NOVA Pro career in August 2016, Philips was derailed by a knee injury. He slowly worked his way back in pre-show matches, trying to find his groove, and it wasn't until he won a six-man scramble in August that he began to feel confidence. He followed it up with a big win over Donovan Danhausen in September and hasn't looked back. Not quite the overnight sensation for the Indiana product, but safe to say he's made up for lost time.

How we got here: In October, LaRoux decided to issue an open challenge for the PWI Ultra J Title. Philips, who had already won earlier in the evening, answered. LaRoux was impatient during the match, taking out frustrations on the referee, until Philips caught LaRoux with a Northern Lights suplex... and the ref quick-counted the fall! For 20 minutes or so, it looked like Philips had stunned the world, but LaRoux's protest was upheld and NOVA Pro promoter Mike E King threw the match out.

Last month, the two men were on opposite sides of the Triathlon Survivor Match, and although Philips' team won, it wasn't without controversy: Philips used a desperation low blow to steal one of the falls on LaRoux. LaRoux attempted to repay Philips in the deciding fall with a beltshot, only for it to be dodged and LaRoux to be cradled. Still, LaRoux was pinned (twice in fact), and if the champ is pinned in a tag match, a title shot usually follows.

Duke's take: The buildup to this match would have you thinking a DQ finish one way or another is in the cards, and the men in the match feel the same way: Logan added a clause to the contract that if Philips is disqualified, he can no longer challenge LaRoux for the PWI Ultra J Title. With Logan's Gated Community fan club in attendance, you can be sure any illegal act Philips does will be noticed. The deck would appear stacked against Philips – the smaller man against an opponent with no such scruples – but we've seen crazier results here in NOVA Pro. Hopefully the referee for this match is fully vetted, though; if you saw the Weaver Cup final, you'd know Logan has used that trick before.

Kain's take: As a NOVA Pro newbie this one is interesting for me. I’ve seen enough of Logan to know for sure that he’s the real deal (his match against Arik Royal at NOVA Project 3 is very much exactly what people have hyped it up to be) but Philips is a question mark in comparison. So I’m very interested to see how he shines given a main event level match here, and the shades of grey in the build are very interesting.

Faye Jackson vs. Veda Scott (Street Fight)

Faye “Milkshake” Jackson: Since her debut in April at the Commonwealth Cup, Faye has become a fan favorite. Her charisma is infectious, and her style takes advantage of the one thing she has in abundance over her foes: thickness. (Don't worry; I checked with her. She's okay with being called thick.) She takes much of her style from WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi, and given her size advantage over her opponents, it works like a charm. Plus, her dancing is so popular one NOVA Pro fan threw actual money into the ring as a thank you last month.

Veda Scott: 2017 has been a banner year for wrestling's four-eyed legal eagle. She's been making inroads in England in addition to signing a deal to perform in Japan next year. As for stateside, she remains the hit-and-run expert of NOVA Pro, often trying to score wins while doing the minimum of work. You can see why she's made a few enemies, is what I'm saying.

How we got here: In May, during a triple threat match also involving SIS, Veda flipped over a pinfall attempt and piled on top of it, stealing credit for the victory from Faye. They had a mystery partners tag match in June (Veda chose Allie Kat, Faye chose Jordynne Grace; you'll meet those two later), and after Veda bailed out on her partner, Faye picked up an easy win on Allie. In August, it was another tag match as Faye chose Innocent Isaiah while Veda chose Chuck Taylor™. This time, interference from Beau Crockett on Isaiah allowed Veda the win over Faye. November saw them as captain in a Women's Elimination match; again Veda eliminated Faye, and again it was through nothing she did – this time LuFisto lost her temper and KO'd Faye. Veda? Winning on technicalities? Not happening this time.

Duke's take: This is a side of both women we haven't seen before. Faye is always presented as the fun-loving babyface out there to cheer up the crowd; Veda is the cowardly heel who avoids contact. Neither persona seems fit for a street fight, but Faye has brought in her personal backstory of getting in fights as a kid as a way to establish herself as at home in this environment. Don't expect anything too violent – NOVA Pro is a PG company – but we've had street fights before, so the bar is set: chairs, interference, outside brawling, and the occasional more creative weapon (hockey sticks and LEGOs have been used before) will make an appearance. This one will be all about finality, as JR would say.

Kain's take: This is another match where I’m rather more familiar with one competitor than the other but again, NOVA’s attention to storytelling shines through even in the retelling and gives you something to grab onto. I would raise the point not to doubt Veda’s hardcore bonafides— it’s not a muscle she stretches often, but as her well-documented cage match against Gregory Iron shows, she’s quite capable in less genteel settings.

Dominic Garrini vs. John Kermon (No Rope Match)

“The Bone Collector” Dominic Garrini: From Canton, Ohio, and representing East Coast Martial Arts, Garrini is a top-ranked purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He's more than capable of tying an opponent up and getting a submission if he wants to go that way, but in addition to the MMA aspect, he's displayed a more vicious pro-wrestling side, often using a piledriver to gain the final edge. His desire to be the best MMA/wrestling hybrid kicked off this story, and now it'll end it.

“The Kermonator” John Kermon: From Washington, DC, and representing Capitol MMA, John Kermon is the resident MMA/wrestling hybrid. A very clinical wrestler, he goes for submissions early and often. He's not one for fancy moves and often tries to sucker his opponent into them in order to get an advantage. It must work: he's beaten people such as Rory Gulak and Tracy Williams that way. If someone can see through his methodology, though, he can be beaten – Tim Donst tried to get Kermon out of his comfort zone before beating him at his own game of counters.

How we got here: In November of last year, Kermon asked any MMA guys who do wrestling to face him in an open challenge. In March, Garrini answered, and after a duel of grapples, Kermon pulled out the win. There seemed to be some respect between the two, as in May they teamed up to face the Sandwich Squad (CWF Mid-Atlantic's 800-pound duo of Aaron Biggs and Mecha Mercenary, a popular act in NOVA Pro as well); however, a misplaced kick from Kermon caught Garrini, who decided that team wouldn't work and refused any further bookings as a tag team. Kermon did make his return in September, defeating Chip Day, but Kermon's match was after his and the two got in a heated argument. They faced off in a mixed tag match in October, with Garrini choking Kermon out using the legs... and leverage from the ropes. That won't be a problem this time, as Kermon challenged Garrini to a no-ropes match.

Duke's take: Removing the ropes doesn't just remove the leverage Garrini had in October. It means no breaks of holds near the end of the match, which is almost guaranteed to be important (wrestlers reach for the ropes to break out of instinct). In addition, expect fighting around the arena here, too, as no ropes means no “in” or “out of” the ring, which eliminates countouts. Kermon was involved in wild brawls before in 2016 against Logan Easton LaRoux and the rest of the 1%; Garrini is not afraid to do underhanded things to gain an edge. So while we'll get our share of ground game from both men, neither one will be averse to using the environment to their benefit. Expect several sets of skills on display here.

Kain's take: Good lord I am excited for this one! Dom is so good, especially for a man so young in his pro wrestling career (less than two years in!), and perhaps more than anyone else in technical wrestling today, he feels... different. A lot of guys use their legitimate combat sports backgrounds in their wrestling style, but he manages to feel like a Jiu-Jitsu guy who does some wrestling stuff rather than a wrestler who does some Jiu-Jitsu stuff and that makes a huge difference in feel. Plus any time you take the ropes out of the equation it’s like shoot-style catnip for me. Cannot wait!

Arik Royal & Chet Sterling vs. Ugly Ducklings

“The Ace of the Mid-Atlantic” Arik Royal: Yeah-YAYEE! Arik Royal remains the top babyface on the roster here in NOVA Pro, as his open challenge format saw him put on wrestling thrill rides against Chase Owens, Tim Donst, Donovan Dijak, Tracy Williams, David Starr, Kassius Ohno, Fred Yehi, and Rickey Shane Page – not a bad roster of wins no matter how you slice it! However, in the Commonwealth Cup final, Royal suffered his first defeat in the championship round to Logan Easton LaRoux. More focused than ever, he avenged the loss in the main event of September's NOVA Project 3 in the greatest match in NOVA Pro history. (It's on Powerbomb.TV; go watch it! Seriously. We'll still be here.)

Chet “I'm Different” Sterling: Sterling has been slowly moving up in the card from 2016 onward, and the crowd has taken to him. His big breakout moment was NOVA Project 2 in September, when he leaped from the top of a steel cage onto 8 guys on the floor. Since then, he's become the goofy, lovable hero, with his muttonchops/sunglasses/vest/tie combo allowing him to stand out. He's not all flash, either; he boasts a 300-day reign as PWI Ultra J Champion.

The Ugly Ducklings (Lance Lude and Rob Killjoy): From Ponds Unknown and weighing in at the approximate equivalent of 1,523 rubber duckies (the number fluctuates), the Ugly Ducklings are the kid-tested, parent-approved act that NOVA Pro was made for. Ever since their debut in July, they've won the crowd over with fast-moving, high-flying, no-breaks action. Throw in an undeniable team chemistry and a variety of exciting double-team moves, and is it any wonder they're a team on the rise not just here, but in wrestling in general?

How we got here: So Royal vs. LaRoux was known two months in advance to be the main event of NOVA Project 3. With nothing better to do, Royal teamed with Sterling against the Ducklings in August. The match blew away the crowd, with all four men going full-blast for ten minutes straight. In the end, Sterling and Royal won with a nasty Blockbuster/Powerbomb combination. When NOVA Pro returned to Annandale in October, they ran the match again, and it didn't disappoint. This time, though, Sterling and Royal seemed intent on finishing the match the same way, and having those blinders on cost them as Sterling was caught in a cradle and pinned. Sterling was frustrated after the match, but Royal and Killjoy soothed things over by noting it was 1-1 and there had to be a rubber match. Well, here it is.

Duke's take: You're gonna love this match. Arik Royal is basically the best-kept secret in the Mid-Atlantic, and the fact he hasn't gotten more national booking is downright criminal. (Hey, PWG! You want someone for BOLA! This guy!) Chet Sterling is taller and lankier than most cruiserweights, but he'd fit right in on 205 Live without missing a beat. And of course, the Ugly Ducklings are capable of going at 90mph from the opening bell for 10 minutes straight without a breather. So for this match, expect a 10-12 minute race, with everyone hitting everything they've got. If Royal and Sterling have learned to let the finish come to them, they'll win the rubber match; otherwise, the Ducklings could pull off a huge upset.

Kain's take: Quack! Quack! Quack! I may be a little biased here given my Ducks’ prominence in PWX, folks, but as one of the best tag teams in what has proven to be a veritable explosion of great tag teams on the indies of late I’m pulling for ‘em here. Plus there’s a wildcard we’ve left out of the discussion to this point— the Ducklings have Coach Mikey on hand for strategizing, cheerleading, and even the occasional big man dive if the match gets hairy. (Feathery?) Quack!

Beau Crockett vs. Sugar Dunkerton

“The Beau Show” Beau Crockett: One of two men who will have been on all of the first 20 NOVA Pro shows (Logan Easton LaRoux the other), Beau's path has been all over the place. Early on in 2016, he was in a mismatched tag team with Innocent Isaiah, who was his opposite in every way. The two found chemistry as a duo, however, and the re-christened Cutie and the Beast soon became the top team in the company. When the Carnies came calling, though, Beau listened, and in the main event of May's show, he turned on Isaiah and joined the fold. Crockett's new-found viciousness has been on display, as he knocked out Isaiah in a Last Man Standing match, then piledrove him on a pile of chairs that all but retired his former tag partner.

“Special Dark” Sugar Dunkerton: When you see the hands clapping you up through the curtain, it's Sugie Time. The man made his NOVA Pro debut at the tryout show in June and was so impressive he was not just invited back that night, but placed against Arik Royal! He quickly declared NOVA Pro one of the places he wanted to be a regular, and although prior bookings prevented his return until October, he's thrilled the crowd in his returns. He brings the funk and the soul in every match – sometimes literally, having the power to stop the match and demand a dance break! (I feel I might want to mention here that Dunkerton has announced he's giving 20% of his wrestling earnings to charities that aid battered women. He's a good brother.)

How we got here: In October, Crockett and Dunkerton found themselves as part of a four-way match including Chip Day and Isaiah Frazier; the end result was Beau pinning Sugie with a spear to win. In November, the two were on opposite sides of a 4v4 elimination match, as Crockett was with his Carnies teammates against Dunkerton, Lucas Calhoun, and the Ugly Ducklings. This time, Dunkerton reversed the spear attempt by Beau and caught him with a cradle for the opening elimination. Dunkerton then posted a YouTube video saying he wanted to be a part of the Powerbomb.TV stream, and that since he and Beau were always butting heads in multi-man matches, why not go one on one? Crockett eagerly accepted.

Duke's take: One thing about Crockett is that he's a deadly serious power wrestler. He has often shown little patience for nonsense in his match... although he'd be forced to admit he can be suckered into it with the right environment. That's where Suge D comes in; Sugar is all about banter and frivolity, sometimes turning a match into a dance-off just to gain the advantage. This one is going to come down to which wrestler controls the feel of the match: a more serious ending favors Crockett, while a light-hearted affair is Dunkerton's bread and butter.

Kain's take: I have a feeling about this one. I don’t know that it’s going to be the best or most entertaining match on the card, but something tells me it’s going to be important. Beau has a weight about him, coming off the Cutie and the Beast story and joining the Carnies, and everything’s been coming up Suge in the last month or so, with him winning both the New South and Freelance Championships. To be slightly dramatic about it, this match feels like it might be the crucible in which the next great story begins, where two men of import meet and history is made.

Allie Kat vs. Angelus Layne vs. Brittany Blake vs. Jordynne Grace

Allie Kat: Rev's new favorite wrestler. Originally from Texas, she is a full-on Dr. Moreau cat-human hybrid in the ring. She crawls to the ring, she nuzzles the ring announcer, she scratches her opponent, she gets enthralled with streamers being tossed in, she can be distracted by being petted – there is no limit to how far she'll go to live that gimmick. But underneath the kid-friendly silly exterior (and make no mistake, the kids of NOVA Pro's fanbase love her) is a serious up-and-coming wrestler. She tried her luck at the tryout show in June and was invited back to the main show, becoming a semi-regular ever since. With the sole survivor status from the 5v5 women's elimination match in November, her star's on the rise.

“The Bride of Frankenstein” Angelus Layne: In October of 2016, Layne was to make her debut, but injuries and last-minute withdrawals kept that from happening. She hasn't forgotten, and she hasn't forgiven Mike E King or NOVA Pro for snubbing her. Ever since, her mission has been to destroy NOVA Pro, whether by injuring its female stars (as she and Garrini tried to do to Brittany Blake in October) or crippling management (she famously threw a fireball in King's face in July). It's a shame, too, because she's shown her talent in the ring, besting Rachel Ellering and coming within a heartbeat of defeating no less than Keith Lee.

Brittany Blake: No woman has done more with NOVA Pro than Blake, the female resident of the company. She's found herself facing legends such as Rachel Ellering and Mia Yim as well as foes such as Priscilla Kelly and Layne in mixed tag matches. She's not afraid to scrap above her weight, as in those mixed tag bouts she didn't back down from Tripp Cassidy or from Garrini. Her fire and desire have won her fans in NOVA Pro.

“The Last Pure Athlete” Jordynne Grace: One of the great young stars in wrestling – hard to believe she's only 21 – Jordynne takes a power attack to her opponents. It's worked well in NOVA Pro, as she used it to qualify for the Making Towns Classic in May with a win over Allie, while in November she eliminated Deonna Purazzo with a huge Vaderbomb. Her strength is her calling card; in October, she even threw Fred Yehi around the ring in a match she specifically requested.

How we got here: Two parallel stories collide in this one. On the one hand, after Blake defeated Allie in August, Layne entered the ring and bullied her around, muscling her out to make a statement. In September, Layne had a chance to beat Yim when Blake's music played, distracting her enough to lose the match. In October, Layne and Garrini beat Kermon and Blake, with the wicked duo trying to cripple Brittany with a piledriver post-match (an act that earned both a suspension from the November show).

Meanwhile, in September at NOVA Project 3, Grace and Allie faced off for a spot in the Making Towns Classic, a 16-woman weekend tournament in May. Grace won, but Allie showed skills she never had before. Fast-forward to November, and they were the last women on either side in the elimination match. This time, Allie finished the deal and became the sole survivor. Grace has shown respect for Allie; is it mutual?

Duke's take: Four-way matches are always difficult to advance stories in (more so than starting or ending them); as such, it'll be interesting to see if the women pair off for most of the match. If they do, expect Allie and Layne to work together, while Grace and Blake informally team up. But Allie's nascent popularity may lead this into a massive beating on the bullying Layne, which would put the emphasis on whether Layne can overcome. Whomever wins this match will have an edge heading into 2018; the result is wide open.

Kain's take: Meow, I love these kind of matches on a fundamental level. Indie multi-person matches are already great because they give everyone maximum chance to shine in a format that almost always maximizes strengths and minimizes weaknesses, and then when you drop the lit match that is a couple of colliding storylines into that fuel tank, boy howdy. You watch this one cold and I’ll bet you walk away with a new favorite and at least a modicum of curiosity over what’s next.

Okay, the remaining matches don't have a long, multi-show story behind them. That doesn't mean you won't enjoy them, though! Let's see what else is happening at Such Great Heights...

AJ Gray vs. Gunner Miller (c) (Anarchy Triple Crown Championship)

“Mr. Scenic City” Gunner Miller: One of the breakout stars of 2017, Miller made his NOVA Pro debut in October, successfully defending the title against Tim Donst. He made quite an impression, not just on Donst but on Logan Easton LaRoux and the Gated Community, who quickly signed Miller to be part of the 1%. He had his first match with them as part of the Triathlon Survivor Match, absolutely destroying Cabana Man Dan and nearly winning the trios portion single-handedly. With an injury to Bobby Shields, he'll be the 1%'s muscle for the near future; this match will show how far he can go.

AJ Gray: He's making his NOVA Pro debut, so I don't have much on him. Rev, you got this?

Sure thing! AJ Gray is a high-flying phenomenon out of Tennessee perhaps best identified with Ohio’s AIW right now, but I don’t think that’ll necessarily be the case much longer because this dude is gonna blow up and blow up big assuming all goes well. A well-built sparkplug of a man who breaks the laws of physics early and often, a lot of folks are going to begin this show not knowing who he is and walk away as fans.

Duke's take: People have been asking AJ to come to NOVA Pro for some time, but what a way to make his first-ever appearance. Miller has been a force of nature the last two months, and I don't see that changing here. I hope Gray gets a return match to prove his worth, because when going against Gunner, there's only so much you can do. Miller is the heavy favorite here.

Kain's take: In a wrestling world with more good Pounces per capita than maybe ever before, Gunner’s CTE might be the best. Anyway, this is not the first time these men have wrestled, and Miller owns a victory over Grey in Anarchy Wrestling from this August. I’m not going to bet on a title change and a need for a rubber match, but for shock changes, you could do a lot less plausible.

Jimmy Jacobs vs. Tim Donst

“The Zombie Princess” Jimmy Jacobs: As with Gray, this is a NOVA Pro debut, so Rev, hit us with that knowledge!

Oh man, where do you even start? Jacobs is an absolute legend of indie wrestling, from his days in furry boots shouting HUSS! through to his reinvention as an emo death machine (hence the Zombie Princess billing) and when he signed on the dotted line for a job in WWE creative the indies lost something precious. Not just the brilliant mind that brought us a ten-year arc with Lacey or the Age of the Fall or even the diminishing returns of stables like SCUM and the Decade, because that muscle was still getting plenty of work in the big leagues, but Jimmy was and is one of those dudes that would work everywhere.

No show too small, no replacement too late, if you had the ability to book Jimmy Jacobs on your wrestling show and he had the ability to get there, by god, he’d do it, kind of a wrestling Christopher Walken almost. And so his NOVA debut sees him where he would have been all along, had he been able to, weaving his spike into their tapestry one overhand stab at a time.

“Safety First” Tim Donst: The Mat Wrestling Machine, the Scumbag for Hire, the Two-Second Man, Tim Donst has undergone another change, this one brought about by fans. In a June match against Anthony Henry, Donst stopped the match when he saw his shoelace was untied. Later, he decided against leaping off the top to the outside, instead jumping from the apron. The crowd chanted “Safety First”, and to the surprise of no one who remembers he's a CHIKARA alumnus, he ran with it. Now coming to the ring in construction worker gear, the NOVA Pro lifer (inasmuch as there is such a thing) and perennial fan favorite maintains his tough-as-nails, never-say-die attitude – just under a new outfit.

Duke's take: What's not to love about this match? Two creative minds like Jacobs and Donst should have a chance to steal the show here. Donst has beaten outsiders before – the aforementioned Henry for one, but also people like Donovan Dijak and Fred Yehi. But not every first-timer he's faced has walked away defeated: Gunner Miller came in and made an immediate impact in a win. It's all going to depend on how much scouting Jacobs has done. If he's up to Donst's tricks, no amount of wrestling will save Donst. But the first time facing a wily opponent is always the hardest.

Kain's take: Yeah, this is really interesting from a wrestling perspective because it’s basically completely wide open. You got two vets, well-seasoned, capable in a multitude of styles, no real storyline concerns— it’s like an elementary school writing prompt, they can twist it around to do whatever they’d like, really. Intriguing for sure.

Alexander James vs. Fred Yehi

“The Young Lion” Alexander James: A long-time member of the 1%, James is starting to break out in Germany as well as in the US. He's held his own as a leader of a ten-man tag match before in NOVA Pro, but his main role has been as LaRoux's sidekick. Nevertheless, with the benefit of facing Germany's toughest foes, James has certainly leveled up in talent; this will be his toughest test yet.

“Big Trouble” Fred Yehi: Yehi has made a name for himself in EVOLVE as part of Catch Point, but in NOVA Pro he's struggled a little. It's obvious the skills are there, though: a vicious wrestler who loves to destroy people's wrists and ankles, setting them up for the kill and the tapout. But his signature move in NOVA Pro has been his bicycle kick barrage. He holds his foe's wrists and gets on his back, kicking his opponent in the face so much they're practically out on their feet. Yehi has ridden that move to two TKO wins thus far in 2017 in NOVA Pro.

Duke's take: This will be a tough test for James on both the in-universe and meta level. He's never faced anyone of this caliber in NOVA Pro – the closest he's come is a one-on-one match with Chet Sterling in March. But on top of that, he hasn't had many chances to show he's a rising star, with most of his matches remaining at a basic level you'd expect from a Young Lion. Against someone as skilled as Yehi, he'll have to up the ante if he wants to show he belongs in the category of stars of tomorrow. Fortunately, his outings in wXw have impressed viewers there. Now, he needs to bring the fire home. Yehi is a known factor; this match is James' measuring stick.

Kain's take: Those Liu Kang bicycle kicks are wicked for sure. Yehi, I think, will be wanting to end this one quickly, for all the normal reasons a wrestler wants to end a match quickly, yes, but also because those kicks seem to be most effective the first time he uses them in a given match. Speaking just from my experience watching Evolve and FIP, he’s found far more success late in matches with the Koji Clutch, and if he’s leaning on the kicks, timing will be very important.

Lucas Calhoun's Karate Kumite Challenge

“Juke Joint” Lucas Calhoun: Since his debut in November of last year, Calhoun has been a favorite of many of the NOVA Pro faithful. A pure comedy wrestler, his entire gimmick is fighting the way you'd imagine Elvis would. This means lots of showy karate, including his signature move, the One Inch Latent Energy Punch, which can take as much as 10 seconds to reach full potency in the victim. “That's karate, baby!” he'll say when asked. He's also been known to confuse opponents by catching them in 50s dance moves. The unorthodox nature has led to some success, though mostly when teaming with his buddies in the Sandwich Squad.

Who's his opponent?: Good question. Bobby Shields is the most notable name not on the card, but unfortunately, he underwent knee surgery and is ruled out for this show. Several people could easily fill the bill from the Mid-Atlantic area and get a chance to show how good they are with the lights on bright – names like Chip Day, Isaiah Frazier, Ken Dixon, and DeJuan O'Neal come to mind. Which one will take it? I have my guess, but I'll leave it out for now. Oh, and it will be just one; despite the Kumite name, this is not a gauntlet match. Not even Calhoun is that crazy.

Duke's take: Obviously this all comes down to who accepts the challenge. Calhoun is always worth an opening match position, though, as he knows how to get the crowd into his matches. My guess is this match will open the show, and Calhoun will be able to get the fans fired up. As for whether he wins, it all comes down to the opposition. An old hand will struggle against Calhoun, who definitely studies his foes; an up-and-comer will have an advantage.

Kain's take: This is just fantastic, is what it is. And it might be my favorite wacky wrestling idea on the card, if it weren’t for what’s next on our list...

Brandon Green vs. Santa Claus

Brandon “Money” Green: Green was part of the first-ever match in NOVA Pro history, coming out on the winning end – something he hasn't done much since. His banter skills are what's kept him a favorite among NOVA Pro villains, and he makes no bones about doing whatever it takes to win – his motto is “Cheat to Eat”. He's an easy foe to work off of, as his basic Southern style in the ring is easy to adapt to... but with a mouth like his, he makes for one of the best managers in the business when he gets the chance. Over the course of NOVA Pro, he's elevated the profile of wrestlers like Rayo and Ethan Alexander Sharpe. (Full disclosure: I am currently training to become a wrestler, and he runs the dojo I train in. But I would praise his managerial/banter skills one way or another and have since I first saw him.)

Santa Claus: Well, he's also making his NOVA Pro debut, so I'll do Rev a solid and let him write up this man. Go for it, Rev!

Okay folks. I know you’re thinking to yourself “Santa? The jolly ol’ fat man? He can’t wrestle!”, but you’re wrong. Lemme take you back to the Council of Nicaea, 325 AD. Bishops from all around the Christian world convened to agree on exactly what that means, and among them was St. Nicholas of Myra. Santa Claus himself, a few lifetimes ago! Also in attendance was Arius, and while I’m not going to go in-depth on their theological dispute (this is a pro wrestling blog after all!), suffice it to say they had a disagreement and Nicholas slapped the taste out of his mouth.

Notable pro wrestling palm strikers? Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Dan “the Beast” Severn. Matt “Bro” Riddle. I could go on, but I’d say St. Nick is in good company and any roster on the planet should be well-pleased to have such a seasoned striker on board.

Duke's take: I mean, it's a wrestling show around the holidays; if the WWE can get away with making Santa Claus a legitimate character for Alberto Del Rio to run over, why not us? As I said, Green is an easy villain – the Monopoly man mustache, dollar sign tights, rampant cheating, trash talking, and so on give it away – so anyone can have a fun match with him. His most recent match in NOVA Pro was to introduce us to the “Progressive Liberal” Daniel Richards, and it was banter-tastic. Expect more of the same here.

Kain's take: Look, if you’re not down with Santa Claus working a pro wrestling match, I’ve got two words for you— Happy Holidays.

There you have it, folks

Thursday, December 28, at 8PM Eastern NOVA Pro Wrestling makes its livestream debut on Powerbomb.tv with 12 exciting matches! Be sure to sign up today to see it all during your 10-day trial! Use the code “NOVAPRO” to make that trial 20 days!

I'll be live in attendance if you want to come up and see me (look for a dude with a mustache and a red tote bag), while Rev will be doing his own live results blog and recap right here on Cageside Seats! We both agree... this is gonna be good!

So what do you all think, Cagesiders? Which match are you most excited for? Will you watch?