Last week, John Mosley and I had the pleasure of previewing New South’s anniversary show, and talking to Derek Neal ahead of his big time championship match against Cabana Man Dan, on the latest episode of Checks and Championships. We noted at the time how confident Neal was, and now that Saturday night has come and gone, we can say the reigning H.O.S.S. Tournament champion had good reason to be confident.
He is your new New South Champion, ending Cabana Man Dan’s year-long reign with the biggest gold belt, and adding quite the accomplishment to his resumé. Neal is putting together a body of work in 2020 that could very well be the best in the southeast. Cabana Man Dan has been synonymous with that New South Championship over the course of the last year. He’s become one of the most beloved figures on the southeastern wrestling scene, and has put on some of the best matches we’ve seen.
Saturday night’s big win against such a bona fide star went a long way in solidifying Neal’s legacy. He called his shot on our show! He said he was going to do it, and he went out and did it. It may have raised a few eyebrows, but that’s the kind of thing that earns respect. Talking the talk and backing it up are two different things, but if you can do ’em both, that’s how you prove yourself.
That doesn’t mean that things are over between the two, though. When you have a feud that’s been brewing as long as this one has, between two guys who are at the peak of their game, things aren’t just going to blow over after one contest.
Plus, there’s definitely some unsettled feelings for Cabana Man Dan, who took to Twitter after Saturday’s main event, saying “the better man didn’t win tonight.”
Post Main Event at @NewSouth_PW listen @DerekNeal91 pic.twitter.com/IrLrQDZQRk
— Cabana Man Dan (@cabanamandan) August 9, 2020
While Neal went a long way towards cementing himself as one of the region’s elite, it would appear as though things are far from over.
Cabana Man Dan has invoked his rematch clause, and will get a crack at Derek Neal and the New South Championship at Top Shelf, emanating from The Furniture Factory in Huntsville, Alabama at 7PM. Get your tickets here.
Saturday’s anniversary show drops on IWTV tomorrow. This has developed into one of the great rivalries in the South – check out the first chapter tomorrow night.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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