Friends No More: Shotzi Blackheart vs Priscilla Kelly

The saying, “When it rains, it pours,” is so simple yet profound. It’s a concise sentence that conveys the idea of multiple terrible things happening simultaneously, as well as the emotions one feels when overwhelmed in such a way. The phrase may be only five words, but it manages to convey two aspects of meaning. Its very existence shows that something doesn’t need to be long and large to be meaningful. Not only does this describe that famous saying, it also describes one of this year's most interesting matches: Shotzi Blackheart vs Priscilla Kelly.

Friends Turned Foes

Before bell time, Shotzi was all smiles that evening, greeting fans, including me. I was just one day removed from meeting the Young Bucks and briefly speaking to Wheeler Yuta and Stokely Hathaway, so I wasn’t too nervous to meet her. She complimented my Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland shirt, but hers was much more intriguing. At that moment and during her match, Shotzi wore a Chemical X, the same one she wore during the faction's short-lived existence in WWE on its NXT brand. 

The faction was composed of three people: Shotzi, Priscilla Kelly, then known as Gigi Dollin, and Tatum Paxley. All three women, aesthetically at least, fit well together. Each of them was known for being unique, different, or, in Tatum’s case, weird. Shotzi was known for dangerous, high-flying maneuvers that no ordinary person would attempt. Gigi Dolin had a sleazy, seductive charm that earned her the nickname Hell’s favorite Harlot. Tatum Paxley, clearly inspired by women’s wrestling pioneer Daffney, wore heavy makeup around the eyes, had a fixation with dolls, and had her own unique moveset. 

The group’s name was a reference to the chemical that led to the creation of the Powerpuff Girls. Except, unlike the Powerpuff Girls, Chemical X was no accident. Priscilla and Shotzi have known each other since they were unsigned wrestlers grinding on the indie scene. On the evening of their showdown, they were once again unsigned wrestlers grinding on the indie scene.

The reason it didn’t last long is that both Shotzi and Priscilla Kelly were released from WWE this past Spring. Shotzi’s release had been teased when she uploaded a vague video hinting at her future. Since then, the two women have returned to the Indies that birthed their careers and, becoming very successful in the process. At a recent House of Glory Wrestling show, Shotzi made a surprise appearance, attacking women’s champion Indi Hartwell, who was also released from WWE in the spring. Hartwell had just wrestled Priscilla, who seemed shocked by Shotzi’s actions. In response, Shotzi attacked her as well, leading to Shotzi Blackheart vs Priscilla Kelly happening at House of Glory Philadelphia.

Pre-show Atmosphere

I arrived at the venue, which was a church,  around 6:00 PM and stood outside in the pouring rain waiting to be let in. While I waited, I spotted Jordan Oliver hanging out in his ring gear, and Bully Ray arrived in a gas-guzzling pickup truck. Close to 7:00 PM, Shotzi and Priscilla Kelly arrived, presumably together, and entered the Trinity Life Center wearing hoods on their jackets to dodge the rain. Once the doors opened at 8:00, I took my seat in the third row and waited until Shotzi’s merch table was set up.

When I met her, she was signing autographs and taking photos. Across the room stood Priscilla Kelly, who was doing the same. To save some money, I unfortunately had to forgo a picture with Priscilla and instead chose to get a signed 8x10 from Shotzi, who took two photos with me for free and even put her arm on my shoulder. As bell time drew near, the two women departed to prepare for their match later in the night.

Shotzi Blackheart vs Priscilla Kelly

Shotzi pleaded with Priscilla for them to have a good, clean match, whatever that means.  She then points out that she’s not only wearing the same matching gear as Priscilla but the Chemical X shirt as well. She then motions for a hug. Big mistake. Shotzi hugs her, then begins to slam her face into a turnbuckle. They brawl for a bit before Priscilla launches herself from the top rope and lands a crossbody on Shotzi before attempting the match’s first pinfall. Priscilla then had Shotzi on the ropes, literally as she hit her with a basement dropkick.

By now, the Ballsy Badass had retreated into the corner, where she received a Bronco Buster and then a hip attack from Priscilla. She then began to shove her rear end in her former friend’s face repeatedly. That proved to be a mistake as Shotzi took advantage and began biting at it. With Prisicilla distracted, Shotzi then snap suplexed her into the corner and hit the woman with an inverted cannonball. 

It was at this point that the match made its way to the outside of the ring, where I managed to get a much closer glimpse. In the section next to the one I sat in, Shotzi threw Priscilla face-first into a chair and proceeded to chop her in the chest as she sat down. They then made their way over to where I sat. Here, Priscilla began sitting on a guy in the front row, where she reversed Shotzi’s attack and then sat her on top of him. She then delivered a vicious chop to Shotzi’s chest (You can see me cheering in the background after this.) 

The two began to brawl near Priscilla’s merch table before returning to the ring, where Shotzi hit an elbow drop to a downed Priscilla Kelly that only received a two count. Frustrated, she began to kick at her former friend, saying, “You’re the reason we got fired.” She also called her a piece of shit. That angered Priscilla, who fired back with a slap and a few right-hand shots. They both then ended up on the ground after trading kicks to the face.

Back on her feet, Shotzi became the victim of a few short-arm clotheslines from Hell’s favorite harlot, who then followed up with a superkick and her own version of the rainmaker. Her dominance doesn’t last long as Shotzi reversed a pin attempt into one of her own before delivering a Saito suplex. This was an interesting move to do, given that Killer Kross tends to use it, and she’s allied with him and Scarlett. Priscilla continues to pay homage to Japanese wrestling by showcasing a little strong style after quickly recovering. She then hits Shotzi with a lethargic sliding German Suplex.

On her knees in front of Priscilla, Shotzi begged for mercy. Having learned her lesson from earlier, Priscilla responds with a kick. With the referee briefly distracted, Priscilla is whacked with Shotzi’s cast, hit with a question mark kick, and then ddt’ed. This sequence is enough to put her away for good and give Shotzi her first win in House of Glory. Post-match, Shotzi parades around the ring calling herself the next HOG women’s champion and plays with a fan’s sign, pointing out her potty mouth. 

Final Thoughts

It never hit me until writing this that Shotzi Blackheart vs Priscilla Kelly was the first and only women’s indie match I’ve seen in person, and honestly? I enjoyed it mostly. I was disappointed with how short it was compared to other HOG matches, especially women’s matches, but given that Shotzi and Priscilla Kelly both had to be in Canada for a show 24 hours later, I completely understood why. That being said, it didn’t take away from the match’s quality. Much like Allison Danger and Cindy Rogers, these women went out there and told a story in the ring. It was a story of anger and frustration with not only each other but the industry as a whole. 

The same anger Shotzi expressed about being fired mirrors how I felt when I saw that she and Priscilla had been fired from WWE. The two of them have been a part of some of my favorite matches and moments from NXT since the pandemic. While I’m disappointed they’re no longer in WWE,  I’m happy that they’re able to make great moments and matches elsewhere, including the one I just rambled about, and for that I’m grateful.