Monty Brown vs Mikey Batts and Jerrelle Clark TNA Impact 10-15-2005
I don't know if I ever loved a basketball player like I loved Isaiah Thomas in 2017
I've had players I've liked more, I've had players I liked longer, but I don't know if I ever felt such intense affection for an NBA player like I did for Isaiah. Billed at 5'9, but probably smaller, Isaiah came to the Celtics in a trade deadline deal. He instantly won over the fanbase, because his ability more than outpaced his size. In the 2016-2017 season especially, Isaiah became a force. He became known as The King in the Forth for his penchant for late game heroics. That whole team was an absolute blast. It was an Island of Misfit Toys. A bunch of weird parts that made no sense individually but combined to form a great team. Their Seven Game Series against The Wizards is my favorite basketball series I ever watched featuring The Kelly Olynyk game. A game dominated by a 7 foot White Canadian who looked like Shaun White meeting Rocky Dennis. It was amazing. With the series win they were heading to the Eastern Conference Finals and Isaiah was going to lead them to the finals. All they had to do to get there was beat Lebron James and The Cleveland Cavaliers. Sure it was daunting, but Isaiah had heart damnit. This was our sports movie moment and we were going to shock the world. Lebron was around forever, eventually someone was going to take him down. Isaiah was going to do it.
They lost in 5 games.
So what do The Celtics have to do with Monty Brown and a 2005 TNA Impact squash match? Because how I felt that Isaiah was destined to take down Lebron James, I thought TNA had a shot against WWE. I was a really big fan of TNA in the mid 2000s. I was a big ROH fan , but I couldn't afford to buy every single DVD and so TNA was great for me. I want to do a full blog about the Friday afternoon Fox Sports Show, but I will quickly note that I never missed an episode. It was so exciting to have an actual alternative to WWE programming, and I was buying into the hope. I really thought the world would see all the in-ring talent of TNA and they would become a legitimate TNA competitor. I'm not sure if it was either naïve or stupid. I wasn't a Kool-Aid drinker (IT WAS FLAVOR AID), I never let Vince Russo's view of pro wrestling revolutionary suicide into my brain. I thought there was enough there.
There wasn't
You know the story now. The various dramas of TNA that went from a potential competitor to WWE to the joke it became later on. But in 2005, there was still something special about TNA. They had gotten on Spike TV which was a really big deal because it was an actual timeslot. They had a solid mix of veterans and young guys ready to break out. Most importantly they had Monty Brown
From the moment I saw Monty Brown I was hooked. Not just because he was a former Patriot, but because he was cool. The Alpha Male carried himself like an absolute star and the highlights of the TNA on Fox Sports show was his squash matches. I incorrectly assumed in the 2000s that I knew of every wrestler worth a damn, and so when someone like Monty Brown showed up I was more than excited to be caught unaware. Unfortunately much like TNA, Monty Brown didn't end up where I thought he would. Much like I thought TNA would compete with WWE, I thought Monty Brown would be their ace. I was wrong on both accounts, but hey we'll always have his squashes
Monty's got not just one, but two opponents from the episode of TNA Impact. His opponents are Jerelle Clark and Mikey Batts. These two were recurring Wimpys in TNA. They very rarely won matches, but every now and then they'd take someone off guard and have a banger. Jerelle was known as Mr.630 for his 630 splash which was a thing of beauty. I'm very surprised he never rose anywhere past the level of TNA enhancement talent. Mikey was the cousin of pro wrestler Billy Kidman, and due to his smaller stature was always down to get murdered.
Before the match even starts, Batts dives off Clark to try and catch Monty Brown off-guard but Brown catches him with ease. When Clark tries to help, Brown swings around and clocks Clark with his own partner. Inside the ring, Clark throws some strikes but it's no good. He gets a running start into Monty who DOES A HUGE BELLY TO BELLY. Clark absolutely flew there. I hope he's got frequent flier miles, because Monty whips him into the ropes and hits him with THE POOOOUNNNNCEEEEEE Period. God I love the Pounce. I remember the first time I ever saw that move I jumped out of my chair. It's so unique and brutal and Clark sells like death. Batts tries to dive on Monty Brown, but those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it as Monty Brown catches Batts again . He lifts him up into a big powerbomb than drags Clark open and pins them both for the victory. If you have a handicap squash match and you don't pin both guys, you're doing it wrong.
Monty Brown rules. I mean it's that simple. I don't have an analogy or metaphor or comparison, just that he was an absolutely fantastic wrestler. This is a great squash, not ready to put it in the Hall of Fame yet ( just because Monty will be showing up more and more) but definitely check it out.
TLDR Review
Monty Brown was awesome. TNA couldn't do no right. Kelly Olynyk can do no wrong.
If you're interested in more condensed version of my thoughts, You can check out my Twitter where I talk about wrestling or stress out during Boston Celtics games. Hell, I'll even take suggestions for matches you want to see reviewed. You can also check out my Youtube where I make weird videos where I put on wigs in front of a camera to mask my true identity.