Old City residents heard a brawl. It was ex-WWE wrestlers in a street fight, masks and all

When Matt Cross' mask was tangled in an awkward knot mid-match, the wrestler stepped outside of Jackson Terminal in downtown Knoxville to buy some time.

He didn't expect the fight – and the fans – to follow him out onto the Old City street.

What unfolded Oct. 8 at Next Generation Wrestling's "Nightmare in the Old City" was improvisation at its finest, as the 24-year veteran battled on the patio and in the street alongside one of AEW's top stars and a former WWE tag-team.

Those watching from the apartments above heard the action before they eventually saw it.

Knox News was in attendance and caught up with Cross and the owner of the independent company, which for a decade has brought rising stars and seasoned pros to East Tennessee fans craving a modern taste of Knoxville's deep professional wrestling history.

"The crowd is a part of it. Depending on what they want and how they react, things happen," Cross told Knox News. "We don't come in and say we're going to paint a mountain and then paint that mountain. ... It is real-time art unfolding right before your eyes."

NGW wants to make modern Knoxville wrestling history

NGW Owner Cody Ford tries to book a wrestling event every other month. While the company has hosted "no ring, no rules" events at Brickyard Bar & Grill, he said, the Old City wedding and event venue Jackson Terminal has become like an unofficial home.

For weeks, the appearance of AEW star Penta el Zero Miedo was used in the promotion of "Nightmare in the Old City." It was later announced he would team with Cross to face Dirty Breeze, comprised of former WWE wrestlers Tyler Breeze and Fandango (now changed to Breeze and Dirty Dango, respectively).

Cody Rhodes, Ultimo Dragon, Johnny Gargano, Tajiri − all these well-known wrestlers have been part of NGW shows over the years.

Bringing in the big names makes for a good fan experience, but providing opportunities to up-and-coming talent is also important to Ford.

"Any capacity that we can give them a platform to elevate themselves, that's always a goal, as well as to kind of scratch each others' back and catapult (each other forward)," he told Knox News.

Knoxville is known for doing just that. Smoky Mountain Wrestling, based in Knoxville during the early '90s, was one of the last true stepping stones for wrestlers before making it to WWE.

Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, Al Snow and the Rock 'n' Roll Express all passed through town as they climbed the ranks. So did Tom Prichard and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs who, together, opened a Hardin Valley wrestling school training the stars of tomorrow.

"When you look back at all the things that we have done in the last decade, sometimes it doesn't even hit you that you are actively making history," Ford said. "And that's a big goal for us to be able to put a product together that is looked back on and really appreciated by everybody here locally."

Wrestlers take fight to the Old City streets in Knoxville

The main event at "Nightmare in the Old City" started out as expected. Each team made their way to the ring, with Cross wearing a mask made popular during his shared time with Penta in Lucha Underground.

Here's the thing: Wrestling in a mask is hard, and Cross had plans to remove it early in the match. But it wouldn't untie.

Cross also planned to fix the mask in a matter of moments, but a small swarm of fans followed the performers outside.

"It's something about it being night. There's something about it being in that old downtown area that made it kind of cool," Cross said. "The architecture of that outside is interesting because there's different levels. ... All of a sudden, (the other wrestlers) are crossing the street."

That's where the improv comes in. Going outside was something the wrestlers talked about, but it wasn't part of the plan. Then again, neither was the mask malfunction.

Patio railing became a weapon. For a moment, a gate beneath the Jackson Avenue ramps became an unlikely escape.

Jack Townsend, the executive chef of Diamondjack in Maryville, watched the action from his downtown apartment. Any downtown resident can attest there's a lot that happens just outside your window.

"I would say this is probably the least-expected thing," Townsend told Knox News. "We're used to hearing wedding noise (from Jackson Terminal), and what we thought had happened was a fight broke out at a wedding. ... We didn't expect it to come with a crowd and luchador masks."

The match would finish in the ring, with Dirty Breeze winning after taking out a referee. But the talk of the night was the spontaneous outdoor brawl.

Want to see a NGW show for yourself?

Independent wrestling shows come in all shapes and sizes.

"I just remember when I was a kid going to watch WCW and, from the moment I would step into the corridor and see the ring, you just felt like you were part of something big," Ford said. "And we want everybody that goes to an NGW show to feel that before the show even starts."

That means a video board and stage for entrances, a full bar with snacks and opportunities to purchase merchandise directly from the wrestlers, including those who you may have seen on TV.

"We're just trying to continue to improve and build on the base of what we already have," Ford said. "The people that live in downtown Knoxville and the surrounding areas, they're looking for fun things to do. And I just think (NGW) meshes well with that area, and it gives the people something to really look forward to."

For more information about NGW, including details about upcoming events, visit nextgentn.net. You also can follow @NextGenTN on social media.

General admission tickets for the most recent event were $25 (and $20 for kids). NGW events, including "Nightmare in the Old City," also are available to watch via Highspots TV.

Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff. 

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Penta el Zero Miedo teams with Matt Cross in downtown Knoxville street