Absolute Pro Wrestling: Gold Rush 4 - Preview

In·ev·i·ta·ble

certain to happen; unavoidable.

Those words best describe the colossal clash upcoming in Absolute Pro Wrestling at Gold Rush 4 this Saturday, November 15th when APW Champion Brandon “The Shank” Eubanks puts his championship on the line against “The Most Hated” Cole Cannon.

It's a main event that APW promoter Jason Prentice - who’s relationship with Shank is like brothers while his rivalry with Cannon has been one of the promotions most personal -  knows just how high the stakes are for Absolute Pro Wrestling. 

“The fate of the company rests in this main event,” Prentice said. “Cole Cannon is a threat to my company, if he wins he will tarnish a legacy forged by many of the best the Midwest has ever seen. Shank is the toughest champion we have ever had, if anyone can thwart off the despicable challenger, it’s Shank.”

The story of the Gold Rush 4 main event between Shank and Cannon is one that has been intertwined within APW from the very beginning. 

It was at the debut APW show in 2022 that these two rivals first crossed paths. 

That night, Shank and his best friend for life, Bryce Jordyn - collectively known as Da Boys - competed in a tag team match against Original Violence. A team consisting of Cole Cannon himself and Damien Saint. 

Da Boys emerged victorious in a clash that stole the show. One that set the tone of what tag team wrestling would look like in APW. 

Cole Cannon (Left) and The Shank (Right) square up during the debut show for Absolute Pro Wrestling.

On the road to Gold Rush 1, the rivals collided in triple threat action against Viktor Payn. At that time, all three men were jockeying for position to contend for the soon to be debuting APW Open Weight Championship. 

At the very first SuperSlam both Cannon and Shank tasted championship glory for the first time in APW. 

That historic night, Cannon became the very first APW Open Weight Champion, defeating rival Viktor Payn. 

Then in the main event, Da Boys became the very first APW Tag Team Champions in a TLC Match featuring Chillileo (Gable Galileo & Max Chill) and The Cowboys From Hell (Aaron Von Baron & Justin Decent). 

Cannon and Shank both won Championships in APW on the same night back at SuperSlam 1.

Flash forward to the spring of 2024 when Cannon was embroiled in an intensely personal feud with APW promoter Jason Prentice. 

At one point, Cannon was fired from APW before he violently forced his way back into a five year contract. 

Hitting a boiling point Cannon and Prentice were set to collide inside a steel cage at Showdown 2023. 

With Shank fully supporting him, Prentice stepped inside the confines of the steel cage to defend the honor of his family and APW. 

It was a chaotic main event that saw interference from a plethora of APW stars. 

The Free World - Matty Star, The Big Picture, Leo Santel and Jaxon King - supporting Cannon in his attempts to destroy APW, collided with the likes of Bryce Jordyn, Ethan Everheart, Jay Wesley and Shank himself defending the honor of APW. 

Shank hitting Cannon with a TKO inside the steel cage serving as one of the match highlights. 

After all the mayhem, Cannon earned arguably the biggest victory of his APW career. 

The loss didn’t sit well with Prentice, who after the match, while still within the cage, announced the main event of Gold Rush 3 was to be a ten-man Waterloo Street Fight. 

In one of, if not the wildest matches in APW history, Cannon, the Free World and the Waterloo Crew fought all over the Cedar Valley Sports Plex. 

Absolute Pro Wrestling: Gold Rush 3 - Ten Man Waterloo Street Fight.

This time around Prentice, Shank and crew had their hands raised in victory after Shank power bombed King through a table for the win. 

At the start of 2025, in APW it was all about the Winter Brawl Classic. Who would be the big winner and earn themselves a future APW Heavyweight Championship opportunity?

APW’s Royal Rumble inspired match saw a variety of competitors looking to start their journey towards the title. 

But ultimately it came down to two, Shank and Cannon. 

The two battled back and forth and at one point Cannon looked to have won, but on that night, Shank would not be denied. 

With both men on the apron, Shank reversed a Canadian Driver attempt with a back body drop that sent Cannon crashing to the floor. 

A new number one contender was crowned. 

The final two of the 2025 Winter Brawl Classic.

During SuperSlam 3, the inevitability of these two staples of APW colliding for the biggest prize in the promotion, was written in the stars. 

First Cannon, earned his own future championship opportunity after winning a six man scramble match featuring Bryce Jordyn, The Death Dealer, Leo Santel and Damon Dillinger. 

“This is it, this is what I’ve been working towards for the last 3 years. I’ve been embarrassed, I’ve been screwed, hell I’ve even been fired. But I had a goal. Be the Heavyweight Champion at all costs. Now I’m here. It’s my time, I told everyone I would burn APW to the ground, and it starts with putting shank down and taking the APW title.” - Cole Cannon

Then to close the night, Shank became the fourth man to call himself APW Champion after ending the dominant reign of Aaron Von Baron. 

Through the summer both Shank and Cannon faced a variety of competition but all roads have led to this Saturday and Gold Rush 4. 

During Showdown, APW’s most recent show on the road to Gold Rush 4, the two rivals selected who the other would compete against. 

Cannon chose former APW Open Weight Champion Viktor Payn for Shank, while the champ selected Iowa legend James Jeffries to be the number one contender’s opponent. 

Both men emerged victorious, Shank finishing off Payn with a claymore kick while Cannon won through a timely low blow to earn his very first ever victory over Jeffries. 

After Shank’s victory, Cannon once again tried to assault his future opponent but this time Shank was able to fend off his challenger. 

“I finally get to put my hands on the man that's been annoying me for the past few months, Cole Cannon. Jumping me from behind when I'm not looking. Time to see what happens when I'm staring you down and throwing punches. On November 15th I will put an end to Cole Cannon.” - Brandon The Shank Eubanks

Saturday night at the Cedar Valley Sports Plex, the inevitable finally comes to fruition.

The Absolute Pro Wrestling Champion proudly carries the promotions banner ready to defend the honor of APW against the most hated man in APW. 

Something has to give at Gold Rush 4.

Absolute Pro Wrestling: Gold Rush 4

Grudge Match

Lars Metzger vs Jay Wesley

Since returning to Absolute Pro Wrestling, Lars Metzger has been an absolute menace. Case in point were his actions after he lost his singles match with Bryce Jordyn at APW Showdown.

Upset things didn't go his way, the "Midwest Monster" attacked Jordyn after the bell. The vicious beating he gave the former tag team champion not only left the Waterloo fans in shock, but put Jordyn on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

Making things worse, was the fact that Metzger also physically assaulted APW referee Christian Hansen, commentator Tom Chillstrom and even put his hands on APW promoter Jason Prentice.

Not one to just stand by, Jay Wesley, who was on guest commentary confronted Metzger.

After Showdown, APW management suspended Metzger much to the chagrin of Wesley who has continuously challenged the monster for a match.

Saturday night these two finally step inside the squared circle in what will be an intense showdown.

Absolute Pro Wrestling: Gold Rush 4

AJ Smooth vs Jaxon King

Talk about a feature bout!

AJ Smooth and Jaxon King know each other very well. They've crossed paths across multiple promotions but this marks their first singles encounter since 2021.

Both men are looking to position themselves for title opportunities in APW and this is a prime chance for both of them to impressive the decision makers within the promotion.

One thing is for certain, with both of them being as talented as they are, this has show stealer written all over it.

Absolute Pro Wrestling: Gold Rush 4

Sage Hale vs Briar Hale

The Midwest's greatest sibling rivalry comes to Absolute Pro Wrestling this Saturday when Sage and. Briar Hale collide.

When they aren't terrorizing the competition together, these two have battled all across the midwest.

Neither has been able to claim dominance over the other as the two have traded victories over the years.

Saturday night is the next chapter in this long standing rivalry and both will come into it more determined than ever to get that next W.

Absolute Pro Wrestling: Gold Rush 4

Harbingers of Hate vs Justin Decent & Ricky Bronson

The Harbingers of Hate - Viktor Payn and Damon Dillinger - have been claiming to be the best tag team in APW for months.

They have been calling for an opportunity at the current APW Tag Champions the 319 any chance they get and Saturday they can make a statement that their opportunity is warranted.

Standing in their way is the eccentric pairing of Justin Decent and Ricky Bronson.

Bronson, known for his singles ventures in APW, gets the benefit of teaming with Decent, a man well known for his tag team success across various promotions.

Their like minded, outlaw attitude should mesh well for their first every team up.

If fans expect anything from this match, its that this one is going to get wild.

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It all goes down this Saturday at the Cedar Valley Sports Plex in Waterloo. Doors open at 6:30 pm and show starts at 7 p.m.

General admission seats are free to Veterans who have served our country. There is also a food drive taking place and any donation of a non-perishable item given to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank gets fans $2 off their general admission ticket.