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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 13, 2019 21:41:37 GMT -5
August 22, 2016 Card #480: Louisville Gardens1) Billy Gunn was victorious in the opener over George South. Gunn largely dominated South, showcasing his strength by press slamming South to the mat twice. Gunn hit the Famouser shortly thereafter and scored the pinfall in about three minutes. The Louisville fans gave the two-time former World Tag Team champion a big ovation for his singles win! DUD 2) The host of The Art of Wrestling Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana had a successful USWA debut with a submission victory over “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. The Louisville fans gave Cabana a big ovation as he entered the Gardens to his theme music. Cabana had the early advantage. He missed a moonsault and Sharpe briefly took over. Cabana reversed a whip into the buckles and blasted Sharpe with a lariat. A few moments later Cabana locked on a reverse Boston Crab (which he calls the Chicago Crab) and forced Sharpe to tap. Cabana was impressive tonight! ¼* 3) Brad and Brian Armstrong finally got a win over “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill. The Armstrongs were ready tonight as they trapped Doring in the ring for several minutes. Brad busted Doring open with a knee lift and the blood flowed quickly. Tom Branch kept checking on the “Dastardly One” to see if he should call for a blood stoppage, as happened in last week’s main event for the World Tag Team titles. Doring capitalized on a mistake by “The Road Dogg” and tagged to “The Angry Amish Warrior.” The 302-pounder hit a Barn Burner on Brian for a two-count. He tagged back to Doring, perhaps before Doring was fully recovered. The duo hit the Buggy Bang but Brian again kicked out. Brian reversed a whip into the ropes and caught Doring with an Armstrong specialty—the sleeper. Branch checked Doring’s arm. It dropped twice and looked like it might have dropped for a third time but RoadKill interrupted the submission attempt with a dive off the ropes. Brad came in and all four men were briefly in the ring brawling but Branch restored order. Doring managed to tag to RoadKill but Brad came back in as well. Brad outwrestled his larger opponent and surprised him with a dropkick. Brad made a cover and scored the pinfall before a bloodied and weakened Doring could make a save. The fans went wild for the Armstrongs’ win! *** 4) “Exotic” Adrian Street scored an impressive win over former Mid-America champion David Taylor. Taylor was aggressive at the start, wanting to show Street what a “true British wrestler” looks like. Taylor missed a falling double sledge and Street stomped away on him and then delivered an elbow drop. He covered Taylor, hooked the leg, and scored the pinfall in just a few minutes. Jim Cornette was very pleased with his man’s win! neg* 5) “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan looked like he was going to suffer his first loss in the USWA but he came back to defeat Jim Powers. Powers came out a house of fire. He hit the power slam a few minutes into the bout but Sullivan kicked out. Powers went up to the top rope but Sullivan got to his feet, came to the corner, and shoved the ropes, causing Powers to get crotched on the top rope. Sullivan pummeled Powers and then tossed him out of the ring. Powers climbed back up on the apron by the count of six. Sullivan came to grab him but Powers surprised him with some punches which busted him open. Powers then went from the apron up to the top and came off with a flying body press. He covered “The Gamesmaster” but Sir Oliver Humperdink put Sullivan’s foot on the bottom rope. Sam Platania saw the foot but didn’t see Humperdink’s interference. The fans saw it and let Humperdink know it! Powers maintained control and hit a second power slam but again Sullivan kicked out. Sullivan cut Powers off and again tossed him out of the ring. He smashed Powers’ head into the ring post and then tossed him back in. The Boston native came off the second rope with a knee drop to the stomach and then followed up with the double foot stomp to put Powers down for the count. Sullivan remains undefeated and remains an evil man! **¾ 6) “Superstar” Bill Dundee scored another impressive victory over Superstar Bundy. Bundy was ultra-aggressive at the start, hoping to get his first singles win over the Aussie. He hit a backbreaker and scored a two-count. Bundy did his own booty wiggle before going for the pin! Bundy whipped the “Superstar” into the corner. Dundee leapt up to the second rope and came back at the New Jersey giant with a flying body press. He made a cover and hooked the leg but Bundy kicked out. Bundy maintained control and hit the Superstar Bomb. Tom Branch dropped down to count but noticed “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart entering the ring. Branch stopped the count to get the manager out of the ring. Dundee turned around and decked Hart, taking him out of the match! Dundee dropped knees to Bundy’s back. He then grabbed Bundy’s legs and was able to turn the big man over with a Boston Crab. The big Superstar was trapped in the center of the ring and forced to tap out. It was another impressive win for the original “Superstar”! ** 7) Mad Dog Vachon scored an impressive win over “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Vachon came out fighting, hitting a stiff running knee lift in the first few seconds of the bout and going for a cover. “Hacksaw” kicked out but the Algerian stayed in control. He used the Mad Dog Pounce and tossed Duggan out of the ring. Vachon went to grab Duggan but “Hacksaw” snapped his neck on the top rope. Duggan got back in the ring and hit Vachon’s own finisher—the piledriver. He made a cover but Vachon kicked out. Vachon took control, dropping Duggan across the middle rope and hitting two more Pounces. He pounded on Duggan’s face on the ropes as well, busting him open. He pulled Duggan off the ropes, hit his own piledriver, and scored the pinfall. **½ 8) The Heavenly Bodies took a pounding but came back to defeat Brian Kendrick and Paul London to avenge their countout loss in May. The high-flying fan favorites double teamed “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard for the first few minutes. Kendrick even hit the Sliced Bread #2 in the first few minutes but “The Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido broke up the pin attempt. The Bodies took over and hit a Flapjack on London. Kendrick tagged in but was double teamed as well. Kendrick took over on Candido and hit a tornado DDT for a two-count. He made the hot tag to London. London caught Candido in an Oklahoma side roll but Candido kicked out. London hit the assisted Shooting Star Press off Kendrick’s back but Jim Cornette jumped up on the apron to distract Cornette. The fan favorites executed their combination reverse STO and enzuigiri. Candido’s face hit the mat and he was busted open but he manager to kick out of the pin attempt. London went up to the top rope. Cornette’s bodyguard Dan “The Beast” Severn got up on the ring apron and distracted London briefly. The former USWA World champion got off the apron. London went for a Shooting Star Press but Severn’s distraction allowed Candido time to recuperate and roll out of the way. London’s face hit the mat hard. Candido tagged to Dr. Tom and the Bodies hit the Prima Donna Plunge. Kendrick broke up the pin attempt but Candido tossed him out of the ring. Candido took Kendrick up the aisle and pounded on him. With Platania focused on the legal men inside the ring, Severn grabbed Kendrick in a choke sleeper and put him out. Back inside the ring, Prichard nailed London with the enzuigiri and scored the pinfall. As they got their hands raised, the Bodies tossed London out of the ring. They then followed him and hit a Flapjack on the Gardens floor! Severn came over and tossed London overhead with a released suplex, dropping him right on his face. Each Body then grabbed a steel chair and smashed London right across his face, while Cornette directed traffic! London was busted open and knocked out. Kendrick came to from Severn’s choke and charged back to the ring. He nailed Candido and Prichard with a dropkick. Severn was ready to strike but Cornette held him off and the four headed back to the locker room. Kendrick checked on London, as did Platania and several USWA officials. Platania called for paramedics. A stretched was brought into the Louisville Gardens and London was taken out on it. **** 9) After the post-match carnage of the previous match, a rematch of the Independence Day Bash 2016 main event took place. “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas scored a huge and impressive win over former World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude. The Louisville fans berated Rude and Jimmy Hart for losing the title two weeks ago in Toledo and ending his historic reign. He was especially irate when Gary Michael Cappetta introduced him as a “two-time former USWA World Heavyweight champion”! In doing his pre-match routine, Rude removed his robe and his tights had the USWA World title belt airbrushed on his tights! Rude was aggressive against Atlas pummeling him at the start. Rude got cocky and started swiveling his hips too soon. Atlas popped up to his feet and blasted Rude with a clothesline! He picked up Rude for the press slam but instead of dropping him on the mat tossed him over the top rope and to the floor which rocked the Louisvillians! Rude was hurting but with Hart’s encouragement rolled back into the ring by the count of 10. “Mr. USA” maintained control and hit the press slam inside the ring. He went to bounce off the ropes for the splash but noticed “The Mouth of The South” and stopped short, not wanting an ambush, as took place at Chilhowee Park. Atlas stared down Hart, which allowed the “Ravishing One” to get to his feet. He nailed Atlas with a forearm from behind. He hit a piledriver on the powerhouse. Once again, Rude swiveled his hips and posed for the crowd. Rude went to attack Atlas but he had recovered and he cut off Rude. He followed up with a second press slam a few moments later. He then followed up with the splash making sure to avoid Hart. He covered Rude and scored the pinfall after about eight minutes of action. The Louisville fans erupted at seeing Rude pinned and seeing Atlas’ big payback win! ** During the pre-main event intermission, Gary Michael Cappetta introduced six-time former USWA World Heavyweight champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis to his hometown crowd! Lewis, to no surprise, received a huge ovation from his fellow Louisvillians. Lewis announced on behalf of Commissioner Bob Armstrong and the USWA Committee that this year’s New Year’s Knockout would come from the Louisville Gardens! The fans erupted at this announcement! This will be the fourth time the year-end supercard has emanated from the Gardens! ( New Year’s Knockout X in 2013 came from three different arenas, with the Gardens being one of the host sites.) 10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current and two-time champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie put the title on the line in a first-time match-up against former champion Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. Gordy was not only going for the title but also for revenge against Blassie who defended against Gordy’s tag team partner Steve “Dr. Death” Williams last month at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Blassie attacked Williams’ injured knee before the bell rang. An irate Williams hit Blassie with a steel chair and was disqualified in less than a minute. The two superstars had a physical battle. Blassie used his brawling tactics to wear down his larger and more powerful opponent. But with the fans on his side and fighting for “Doc,” Gordy kept coming back. Gordy scored a near fall with a lariat. Blassie rolled out of the ring for a breather, knowing he was in trouble. Gordy followed him and the two exchanged punches. Gordy’s punches were harder and Blassie went down. The Southern champ pushed Gary Michael Cappetta out of his chair and grabbed the chair. He went to hit “Bamm Bamm” with it but Gordy blocked it and pushed it back into Blassie’s head. Blassie went down and Tommy Marlin called for the bell. He disqualified Gordy. Gordy tried to protest that he was defending Blassie’s illegal attempt and the fans were not happy about this! Blassie got his hand raised, grabbed the Southern title belt, and retreated to the locker room, holding his head from the chair shot! (With the win, Blassie is now at five defenses for this reign and is in a four-way tie with Giant Baba’s first reign, Gorgeous George’s third reign, and the Masked Superstar’s reign for the third longest Southern title reign!) ½*
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 18, 2019 21:48:45 GMT -5
Highlights from the last two episodes of USWA Championship Wrestling:8-27:• Footage aired that was recorded at the Louisville Gardens last week. Paul London was loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher with Brian Kendrick jumping into the ambulance with him after the beating he took from the Heavenly Bodies and Dan “The Beast” Severn. • Back in the studio, it was announced that London had suffered severe facial injuries, as well as a concussion and will be out of action three months. Kendrick was interviewed and said he couldn’t believe the paranoia of the Bodies and Jim Cornette; that even though they won the match they know that Kendrick and London can beat them and have beaten them. So, they had to go to the extremes of trying to end London’s career. Kendrick said that London will be back and will be out for revenge. Kendrick said that he is going to look for a partner to sub for London while he’s recovering. But in the meantime, he has been in contact with a tag team that has competed in the USWA in the past, found out what happened to London, and is willing to fight the Bodies. Kendrick challenged Cornette and the Bodies to a match against this team. • Cornette and the Bodies, flanked by Severn, were interviewed later in the show. Cornette said they did the wrestling world a favor by “fixing London’s ugly face”! He said that if London has any common sense, he will stay home and not enter a wrestling ring ever again. Lance Russell asked the group what they thought of Kendrick’s challenge for a match with his mystery team. Prichard said that he doesn’t believe that any wrestlers other than London would help Kendrick! Candido interjected that the Bodies would be happy to get another win. Cornette accepted the challenge and the match was made for September 12 at the Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville! • Commissioner Bob Armstrong verified the previously-mentioned tag team match would take place in Evansville. He also announced more matches for this card! o Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will return from injury on this card. The eight-time former Southern Heavyweight champion will take on Mad Dog Vachon! Vachon has been competing more in singles matches, especially with the injury to his brother Butcher, caused by Williams, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan at Independence Day Bash. Vachon’s allies Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons got a win over Williams and Gordy two weeks later in Lexington and injured Williams’ knee with X’s figure-four leglock. Williams will be fired up for revenge on one of X’s allies! o A feud involving the Mid-America title will reignite here, as “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay will battle Ray “The Crippler” Stevens in a non-title grudge match. In his first reign as champion, Finlay twice defended against former champion Stevens earlier this year. Stevens came out the victor both times, once via disqualification and once via countout, but did not leave with the title. Finlay lost the title to Tommy Rogers in May in Cookeville. He and Stevens battled one more time in July at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, with “The Crippler” gaining the win after two piledrivers. Finlay went on to get a rematch for the Mid-America title with Rogers the next month in Memphis and regained the gold. Stevens would love to gain another win over the Irish brawler and get back in line for another championship bout! • A video aired that was sent in by Doug Gilbert! Gilbert has not been seen in the USWA since departing the area last November. In this video, the younger Gilbert confirmed wrestling rumors that his departure from the House of Humperdink and the area was due to Sir Oliver Humperdink’s decision and had nothing to do with his brother “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Gilbert said that what “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan and the other House of Humperdink members did to his brother was sickening. He called Humperdink an “ungrateful son of a…” (bleeped by WMC-TV) for taking over Eddie’s former Hot Stuff, International stable and then betraying Eddie like that. Doug said that he wants to face Sullivan, one-on-one inside the ring and gain some revenge for the Gilberts! • The latest music video from “Exotic” Adrian Street was “Merchant of Menace.” The music video featured Street beating on various opponents from matches over the years! 9-3:• Commissioner “Bullet” Bob Armstrong was back with more big match-ups for the month of September. The first one was added to the September 12 card in Evansville. Before Tyler Black challenges for the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship on September 19 in Springfield, TN, he will face a former Mid-America champion in the popular Tommy Rogers! This will be Rogers’ first USWA bout since losing the belt to “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay last month in Memphis. Rogers is hoping to get back on track and get a win over Black before Black’s title bout. But a win over Rogers, who has only one decisive loss, will give Black a lot of momentum before challenging for the Mid-America title! • Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will continue his “revenge tour,” as he and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will do battle with Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons. This match will take place on the September 19 card at the Springfield Civic Center. Depending on the outcome of the previous week’s main event in Evansville, X and Lyons could enter this match as the USWA World Tag Team titles! • “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink were interviewed in the WMC-TV Studios. Humperdink said that it is true that he got rid of Doug Gilbert from the House of Humperdink last November. He said that the only reason he was still in the USWA was that he was Eddie’s brother! Sullivan said that he admires Doug’s bravery in wanting to defend his family’s honor. He said that he would accept Doug’s challenge for a match but that Doug is going to be a sacrifice for the Gilbert family and that he will end up in worse shape than his brother! The bout will take place on the September 19 card in Springfield! • This week’s song from “Exotic” Adrian Street was “Mighty Big Girl.” After the video aired, Street was interviewed in studio, flanked by Jim Cornette and Dan “The Beast” Severn. Lance Russell seemed very awkward and confused and asked if the song had any history behind it. Street laughed and said that the song was inspired by lady wrestler Matilda the Hun, whom he encountered in England while wrestling for World of Sport. Russell asked if the lyrics were true and Street said that he doesn’t kiss and tell! Cornette interjected and said that Russell is “getting too nosey, which is easy for him with that nose”! He said that the interview was over and that fans can tune in to the next episode of Championship Wrestling for Street’s “next chart-topper”! The summer is wrapping up and school is starting again but the action in the USWA continues to be hot, hot, hot! The USWA will hold a huge card on Labor Day—September 5 at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville!• Two powerhouses will do battle when “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan takes on the One Man Gang of the House of Humperdink. The giant from Halsted Street in Chicago has been impressive since debuting at Derby City Stampede in May. He has suffered one loss, thanks to Jim Powers using Sir Oliver Humperdink’s cane in a bout in Memphis in May. But avenged that loss at Independence Day Bash in decisive fashion. He will have a tough challenge in “Hacksaw”! • One-half of the World Tag Team champions will be in singles action, as Japanese Olympian Mr. Saito will face Billy Gunn! Gunn is looking to make an impact in singles action. He defeated Saito’s tag team partner Larry Zbyszko in a big win at Independence Day Bash and is hoping to do the same against Saito. Can he have similar success or will Saito use his wrestling skills and nefarious ways to win? • After the controversial finish to the main event of the last card at the Louisville Gardens, Commissioner Bob Armstrong put together a non-title rematch for this week between Southern Heavyweight champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy! Blassie was interviewed in-studio on the 8-27 edition of Championship Wrestling after the bout was announced. He said that this match was outrageous and that he planned to spend Labor Day weekend on the beaches of California or at least some place nicer than “among the pencil-necked geeks” of Knoxville! He said that he could have beaten Gordy inside the ring but that he enjoys playing mind games with him, just like he did to Steve “Dr. Death” Williams at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Can Gordy defeat the arrogant Blassie or will “The King of Men” triumph again? • A tag team feud will continue, as the Heavenly Bodies take on the Midnight Express! Jim Cornette, the Bodies, and Dan “The Beast” Severn all made their return to the USWA in this same arena back in March in a huge surprise. Dr. Tom Prichard and “The Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido have proven to be an effective tag team, having not suffered a decisive loss and winning all bouts with “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane so far. Can the Midnights finally get a win over the Bodies or will Cornette’s team cause them more headaches? • The main event will be a huge rematch for the top prize of the South—the USWA World Heavyweight championship. The new champion—“The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant will make his first defense of the title against the two-time former and longest-reigning champion and the man he beat—“Ravishing” Rick Rude. Valiant shocked the wrestling world by putting Rude out with the sleeper and won his first World Heavyweight title last month at the Toledo Sports Arena. Rude lost a bout to “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas two weeks later at the Louisville Gardens, which could give the champion some momentum, as perhaps the “Ravishing One” is getting into his own head. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart claimed on the 9-3 edition of Championship Wrestling that this idea is “bogus” and Rude has beaten Valiant more times than Valiant has beaten him. He called the win in Toledo “something that should be erased from USWA history,” as a title match should not have taken place outside of the USWA arenas. Valiant was interviewed later in the same episode, holding the belt. He said that it doesn’t matter if it was in Toledo, Memphis, Knoxville, Jonesboro, New York City, or Timbuktu—that it was his time and that he knew he could beat Rude. He said that he will do all that he can to hold the title as he long as he can for the “Street People”! Can lightning strike twice for Valiant or will Rude become a three-time champion? All these huge bouts, plus the team of Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons, the Armstrongs, “Exotic” Adrian Street, Tyler Black, and Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana!
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Post by TTX on Oct 19, 2019 8:27:28 GMT -5
Only a wrestling referee would disqualify a wrestler for defending themselves after being attacked. Fun action as always and looking forward to seeing if Boogie Woogie can keep the belt away from Rude.
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 16, 2019 15:17:59 GMT -5
Thanks to Troy for the comments!
September 5, 2016 (Labor Day) Card #481: Civic Coliseum in Knoxville
1) Colt Cabana went to 2-0 in the USWA with a quick win over George South. “Boom Boom” largely dominated South and win in about two minutes with the Chicago Crab. The Knoxville fans gave the Chicago native a big ovation for his win! DUD
2) South’s tag team partner “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe faced an equal amount of success, as he was quickly beaten by Tyler Black. Black showed a great feat of strength in hitting a turnbuckle power bomb on his larger opponent. The Iowan followed up with an equally impressive fireman’s carry gutbuster to score the pinfall in about a minute. As Black got his hand raised, with Luke Harper by his side, he looked ready to face “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay for the Mid-America championship in two weeks in Springfield! DUD
3) Brad and Brian Armstrong picked up a dominant win over Virgil and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. The Armstrongs kept Virgil in the ring for the entire bout. “The Road Dogg” hit a DDT a few minutes in the match and scored the pinfall, while Brad stopped Rodz from a save with a dropkick. The Knoxville fans gave the Georgia brothers a big ovation for their win! DUD
4) “Exotic” Adrian Street continued his winning ways with a quick pinfall on Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. The bizarre British grappler dominated Milliman and caught him in the crucifix for the 1-2-3 about 90 seconds into the match. Jim Cornette continues to be pleased with Street’s performances! DUD
5) “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan picked up a hard-earned victory over the One Man Gang. The Chicago giant looked on his way to a win over the American hero in the first few minutes. Duggan rallied back and hit a flying shoulder tackle off the second ropes with knocked down Gang for a two-count. Duggan got in the three-point stance and hit the flying spear. Fans thought Duggan had the match won but Gang kicked out at 2¾. Duggan kept control and set up for a second spear. Sir Oliver Humperdink got up on the ring apron. “Hacksaw” nailed him with a big punch, sending him off the apron and to the floor. Gang briefly took control off of the distraction but Duggan rallied back. He weakened the big man again and hit another spear to pick up the victory. The Knoxville fans gave “Hacksaw” a big ovation for his win! **½
6) Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons got a countout victory over S.D. Jones and Jim Powers. Jones and Powers trapped the masked Doctor X in the ring for a few minutes but the rulebreakers prevailed. Lyons took over on “Special Delivery” and wore him down. X tagged back in and knocked “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” out of the ring with some forearm smashes. He followed Jones and lifted him up for a kneebreaker. Instead of dropping Jones on his own knee, he smashed Jones’s knee into the ring post. X returned to the ring but Jones could not so the rulebreakers got the win via countout. X and Lyons looked impressive as they look ahead to their first shot at the USWA World Tag Team titles in next week’s main event in Evansville. **
7) Speaking of the World Tag Team titles, one-half of the champions Mr. Saito scored a very controversial win in singles competition over Billy Gunn via disqualification. Gunn surprised Saito, manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, and many of the Knoxville fans tonight, as he was aggressive against the Japanese Olympian, hoping to score a huge singles win. He showcased his strength a few minutes into the match, hitting a Jackhammer for a near fall. He surprised Saito with a power slam for another two-count. He executed the Famouser on Saito, driving Saito’s face into the mat and busting him open. He went for a cover but Saito got a foot on the bottom ropes to break up the pin. Saito took control on a mistake by Gunn and went for the Scorpion Leglock. Gunn was in the hold for nearly a minute but managed to pull his way to the ropes for a break. Gunn rolled out of the ring for a breather and was noticeably limping. Humperdink got up on the apron and distracted Jerry Calhoun. While Calhoun was not looking, the manager tossed his cane into the ring behind the official’s back. Saito scooped up the cane, rolled out of the ring and proceeded to smash Gunn’s injured leg three times with it. Saito insulted the fans and then went to smash Gunn again but the three-time former World Tag Team champion blocked the attack. He grabbed the cane from Saito and then struck him with it! Unfortunately for Gunn, Calhoun turned around just in time to see Gunn’s usage of the cane. He called for the bell and disqualified Gunn giving Saito the win. Saito and Humperdink quickly returned to the locker room with the cane and Saito’s World Tag Team title belt still intact. Brad and Brian Armstrong came down to ringside to help Gunn to the back. ***¼
8) Southern Heavyweight champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a pinfall win on Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy in a non-title grudge match. Gordy was hoping to avenge his disqualification loss in their title match at the Louisville Gardens a couple of weeks ago. He was aggressive at the start hitting a back suplex and the power bomb for near falls. He went for a submission with the Oriental Spike but “The King of Men” made the ropes. Blassie cut Gordy off with a punch to the stomach and then bit his head. Gordy fought back a few minutes later with some punches in the corner but Blassie stopped him again with a low blow which Frank Morrell did not see due to the Southern champion’s positioning of his opponent. Blassie hit the Southern neckbreaker but “Bamm Bamm” kicked out. Blassie maintained control and hit a second neckbreaker a few minutes later to score the pinfall. Fans berated the Southern champion with boos as he returned to the locker room! ***
9) The Heavenly Bodies scored a quick disqualification win over the Midnight Express. Tom Prichard and Chris Candido kept “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton in the ring for the entire bout, albeit a short bout. Candido hit a snap suplex on Eaton for a near fall. He tagged back to Prichard and the Bodies hit a Flapjack, one of the Midnights’ specialties. Eaton rolled out of the ring for a breather. Jim Cornette tried to ambush Eaton with the tennis racquet but “Beautiful” Bobby saw his former manager coming. He knocked down Cornette with a stinging right hand. Cornette dropped the racquet. Eaton picked it up and whacked “The Louisville Slugger” with it. As Dan “The Beast” Severn came to Cornette’s aid, Candido came out of the ring but got whacked with the racquet. Paul Neighbors saw this and disqualified the Midnights before “Sweet” Stan Lane could legally tag into the match. Cornette, Severn, and the Bodies quickly retreated, happy about another win over Eaton and Lane, despite it not being a decisive win! ¼*
10) The main event was a rematch for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. The new champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant made his first defense of the title against two-time former champion and the man he defeated for the title last month—“Ravishing” Rick Rude! Valiant shocked the wrestling world and captured the title from Rude last month in Toledo, ending the “Ravishing One’s” 19½-month reign. Rude was going into this match coming off a loss as well to “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas a few weeks ago in Louisville.
While Rude was definitely his arrogant self, fans could see a focused, aggressive side in him as well. He went right at the champion at the bell, hitting a clothesline about two minutes into the bout for a near fall. He focused the attack on Valiant’s neck. He hit a top rope sledge for another two-count. Rude took the bout to the floor and while “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart had Jerry Calhoun distracted, he used his flexing bar to choke “Boogie Woogie” and then even struck him across the back of the neck. He tossed Valiant back in and went for a cover but the champion kicked out. Rude hit another clothesline, sending Valiant’s head and neck bouncing hard off the mat. He went for a cover but Valiant kicked out. Valiant battled back and had the challenger in trouble. He slammed him hard to the mat and then hit the Boogie Woogie elbow but Rude kicked out. Valiant’s neck was hurting him and he took his time in trying to continue his attack on Rude. He went for a second elbow but Rude rolled out of the way. Rude immediately went to work on the neck again. He executed the Rude Awakening and scored the pinfall after 12 minutes of action. Calhoun called for the bell and awarded Rude his third USWA World Heavyweight championship! Hart jumped into the ring and was ecstatic about having the gold back in the First Family of Wrestling! As Rude held up the belt, he swiveled over the downed “Boogie Woogie.” Hart handed Rude his flexing bar and Rude raised it above his hand to smash Valiant with it. Before he could, Valiant nailed him with a kick to the groin! Rude tiptoed around the ring in a lot of pain! Valiant then took the bar and smashed Rude in the chest with it. He knocked the new champion to the mat and dropped the Boogie Woogie elbow across Rude’s chest. He followed up with two more elbows to the chest before delivering a body slam to “The Mouth of The South.” Valiant left the ring to a big cheer from the Knoxville fans! Hart and Rude recovered. They helped each other to the back with Rude holding the World title belt over his shoulder but holding his chest in a lot of pain. (With the win, Rude is now in third place for the greatest number of reigns behind Ed “Strangler” Lewis’ six and Lou Thesz’s and Nick Bockwinkel’s four.) **
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Post by Swarm on Nov 16, 2019 15:25:57 GMT -5
Thanks to Troy for the comments!September 5, 2016 (Labor Day) Card #481: Civic Coliseum in Knoxville1) Colt Cabana went to 2-0 in the USWA with a quick win over George South. “Boom Boom” largely dominated South and win in about two minutes with the Chicago Crab. The Knoxville fans gave the Chicago native a big ovation for his win! DUD 2) South’s tag team partner “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe faced an equal amount of success, as he was quickly beaten by Tyler Black. Black showed a great feat of strength in hitting a turnbuckle power bomb on his larger opponent. The Iowan followed up with an equally impressive fireman’s carry gutbuster to score the pinfall in about a minute. As Black got his hand raised, with Luke Harper by his side, he looked ready to face “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay for the Mid-America championship in two weeks in Springfield! DUD 3) Brad and Brian Armstrong picked up a dominant win over Virgil and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. The Armstrongs kept Virgil in the ring for the entire bout. “The Road Dogg” hit a DDT a few minutes in the match and scored the pinfall, while Brad stopped Rodz from a save with a dropkick. The Knoxville fans gave the Georgia brothers a big ovation for their win! DUD 4) “Exotic” Adrian Street continued his winning ways with a quick pinfall on Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. The bizarre British grappler dominated Milliman and caught him in the crucifix for the 1-2-3 about 90 seconds into the match. Jim Cornette continues to be pleased with Street’s performances! DUD 5) “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan picked up a hard-earned victory over the One Man Gang. The Chicago giant looked on his way to a win over the American hero in the first few minutes. Duggan rallied back and hit a flying shoulder tackle off the second ropes with knocked down Gang for a two-count. Duggan got in the three-point stance and hit the flying spear. Fans thought Duggan had the match won but Gang kicked out at 2¾. Duggan kept control and set up for a second spear. Sir Oliver Humperdink got up on the ring apron. “Hacksaw” nailed him with a big punch, sending him off the apron and to the floor. Gang briefly took control off of the distraction but Duggan rallied back. He weakened the big man again and hit another spear to pick up the victory. The Knoxville fans gave “Hacksaw” a big ovation for his win! **½ 6) Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons got a countout victory over S.D. Jones and Jim Powers. Jones and Powers trapped the masked Doctor X in the ring for a few minutes but the rulebreakers prevailed. Lyons took over on “Special Delivery” and wore him down. X tagged back in and knocked “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” out of the ring with some forearm smashes. He followed Jones and lifted him up for a kneebreaker. Instead of dropping Jones on his own knee, he smashed Jones’s knee into the ring post. X returned to the ring but Jones could not so the rulebreakers got the win via countout. X and Lyons looked impressive as they look ahead to their first shot at the USWA World Tag Team titles in next week’s main event in Evansville. ** 7) Speaking of the World Tag Team titles, one-half of the champions Mr. Saito scored a very controversial win in singles competition over Billy Gunn via disqualification. Gunn surprised Saito, manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, and many of the Knoxville fans tonight, as he was aggressive against the Japanese Olympian, hoping to score a huge singles win. He showcased his strength a few minutes into the match, hitting a Jackhammer for a near fall. He surprised Saito with a power slam for another two-count. He executed the Famouser on Saito, driving Saito’s face into the mat and busting him open. He went for a cover but Saito got a foot on the bottom ropes to break up the pin. Saito took control on a mistake by Gunn and went for the Scorpion Leglock. Gunn was in the hold for nearly a minute but managed to pull his way to the ropes for a break. Gunn rolled out of the ring for a breather and was noticeably limping. Humperdink got up on the apron and distracted Jerry Calhoun. While Calhoun was not looking, the manager tossed his cane into the ring behind the official’s back. Saito scooped up the cane, rolled out of the ring and proceeded to smash Gunn’s injured leg three times with it. Saito insulted the fans and then went to smash Gunn again but the three-time former World Tag Team champion blocked the attack. He grabbed the cane from Saito and then struck him with it! Unfortunately for Gunn, Calhoun turned around just in time to see Gunn’s usage of the cane. He called for the bell and disqualified Gunn giving Saito the win. Saito and Humperdink quickly returned to the locker room with the cane and Saito’s World Tag Team title belt still intact. Brad and Brian Armstrong came down to ringside to help Gunn to the back. ***¼ 8) Southern Heavyweight champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a pinfall win on Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy in a non-title grudge match. Gordy was hoping to avenge his disqualification loss in their title match at the Louisville Gardens a couple of weeks ago. He was aggressive at the start hitting a back suplex and the power bomb for near falls. He went for a submission with the Oriental Spike but “The King of Men” made the ropes. Blassie cut Gordy off with a punch to the stomach and then bit his head. Gordy fought back a few minutes later with some punches in the corner but Blassie stopped him again with a low blow which Frank Morrell did not see due to the Southern champion’s positioning of his opponent. Blassie hit the Southern neckbreaker but “Bamm Bamm” kicked out. Blassie maintained control and hit a second neckbreaker a few minutes later to score the pinfall. Fans berated the Southern champion with boos as he returned to the locker room! *** 9) The Heavenly Bodies scored a quick disqualification win over the Midnight Express. Tom Prichard and Chris Candido kept “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton in the ring for the entire bout, albeit a short bout. Candido hit a snap suplex on Eaton for a near fall. He tagged back to Prichard and the Bodies hit a Flapjack, one of the Midnights’ specialties. Eaton rolled out of the ring for a breather. Jim Cornette tried to ambush Eaton with the tennis racquet but “Beautiful” Bobby saw his former manager coming. He knocked down Cornette with a stinging right hand. Cornette dropped the racquet. Eaton picked it up and whacked “The Louisville Slugger” with it. As Dan “The Beast” Severn came to Cornette’s aid, Candido came out of the ring but got whacked with the racquet. Paul Neighbors saw this and disqualified the Midnights before “Sweet” Stan Lane could legally tag into the match. Cornette, Severn, and the Bodies quickly retreated, happy about another win over Eaton and Lane, despite it not being a decisive win! ¼* 10) The main event was a rematch for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. The new champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant made his first defense of the title against two-time former champion and the man he defeated for the title last month—“Ravishing” Rick Rude! Valiant shocked the wrestling world and captured the title from Rude last month in Toledo, ending the “Ravishing One’s” 19½-month reign. Rude was going into this match coming off a loss as well to “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas a few weeks ago in Louisville. While Rude was definitely his arrogant self, fans could see a focused, aggressive side in him as well. He went right at the champion at the bell, hitting a clothesline about two minutes into the bout for a near fall. He focused the attack on Valiant’s neck. He hit a top rope sledge for another two-count. Rude took the bout to the floor and while “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart had Jerry Calhoun distracted, he used his flexing bar to choke “Boogie Woogie” and then even struck him across the back of the neck. He tossed Valiant back in and went for a cover but the champion kicked out. Rude hit another clothesline, sending Valiant’s head and neck bouncing hard off the mat. He went for a cover but Valiant kicked out. Valiant battled back and had the challenger in trouble. He slammed him hard to the mat and then hit the Boogie Woogie elbow but Rude kicked out. Valiant’s neck was hurting him and he took his time in trying to continue his attack on Rude. He went for a second elbow but Rude rolled out of the way. Rude immediately went to work on the neck again. He executed the Rude Awakening and scored the pinfall after 12 minutes of action. Calhoun called for the bell and awarded Rude his third USWA World Heavyweight championship! Hart jumped into the ring and was ecstatic about having the gold back in the First Family of Wrestling! As Rude held up the belt, he swiveled over the downed “Boogie Woogie.” Hart handed Rude his flexing bar and Rude raised it above his hand to smash Valiant with it. Before he could, Valiant nailed him with a kick to the groin! Rude tiptoed around the ring in a lot of pain! Valiant then took the bar and smashed Rude in the chest with it. He knocked the new champion to the mat and dropped the Boogie Woogie elbow across Rude’s chest. He followed up with two more elbows to the chest before delivering a body slam to “The Mouth of The South.” Valiant left the ring to a big cheer from the Knoxville fans! Hart and Rude recovered. They helped each other to the back with Rude holding the World title belt over his shoulder but holding his chest in a lot of pain. (With the win, Rude is now in third place for the greatest number of reigns behind Ed “Strangler” Lewis’ six and Lou Thesz’s and Nick Bockwinkel’s four.) ** Another Fed of the Year worthy post as always. I love how you change your avatar when you get a new champ. Awesome stuff!
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 25, 2019 13:10:48 GMT -5
Thanks to Rob AKA Swarm for the comments! Highlights of a newsworthy USWA Championship Wrestling from 9-10: • It was announced that the new USWA World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude suffered a torn pectoral in the altercation with “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant after winning the title back from Valiant last week in Knoxville. Loyal USWA fans will remember that Rude suffered a similar injury after getting blasted with thunderous chops from two-time former USWA World champion Rikidozan after a bout in Memphis in 2008. • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that a rematch for the World Heavyweight title will take place. He had talked to “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart earlier in the week on Rude’s prognosis. He has decided to schedule the title rematch for the second card in October, rather than the typical rotation of the first card. (USWA bylaws state that champions must defend their titles once every calendar month, not every 30 days like some promotions.) Therefore, the bout will take place in the main event on October 17 at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, after Rude is healed from the pectoral injury! Hart came into the WMC-TV Studios and was outraged that Valiant is getting a rematch after his “show of poor sportsmanship” in losing the title back to Rude! He said that Valiant will be a “loser” once again next month when the “true champion” is at 110%! • Commissioner Armstrong was back later in the show with more matches made for next week’s card at the Springfield Civic Center: o The main event will see the current and two-time USWA Southern Heavyweight champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie put the title on the line against Bobby Shane of the First Family of Wrestling! This will be Shane’s first USWA championship match. He has been impressive since debuting in January, suffering only two decisive losses. Both champion and challenger are known to bend the rules but Blassie is more of a violent brawler and Shane tends to rely on more sneaky tactics or the interference of Jimmy Hart! o Two tag teams who have had exciting battles in 2016 will collide again when the former World champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant and “Superstar” Bill Dundee take on the First Family’s tag team of Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy. The fan favorites got their first win over the giants in tag team competition in July in Lexington. With Valiant’s loss of the World title, you can bet he will want to beat Hart’s men again. But “The Mouth of The South” will have Studd and Bundy focused not only on winning the match but injuring “Boogie Woogie” as payback for him tearing Rick Rude’s pec! o A return bout from last week’s card in Knoxville will see one-half of the World Tag Team champions Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink collide with Billy Gunn! Gunn bloodied up Saito and came close to a big upset win but Gunn got caught with Sir Oliver Humperdink’s cane after Saito used it first and got disqualified. Gunn will look to avenge that tainted loss! • A “Press Conference” with Bill Apter of Pro Wrestling Illustrated aired. The interview was recorded earlier in the week from Nick Bockwinkel’s palatial Beverly Hills home. Apter asked the four-time former USWA champion the state of his neck after the attack by “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan, Larry Zbyszko, and Mr. Saito at Independence Day Bash. Bockwinkel said that he had never felt pain like this and doctors were concerned about his long-term health. But Bockwinkel has trained harder than ever before and does plan to return to USWA rings. He said in his rulebreaking days, he would have admired Sullivan’s plan of making a debut and then attacking one of the top stars. But now he sees “The Gamesmaster’s” actions as cowardly and if he wanted to take out a star, he should have done so in the confines of a sanctioned bout. He said his doctors have cleared him to compete on the October 10 card at the Rupp Arena in Lexington. Bockwinkel said he would love to defeat Sullivan upon his return and he challenged him to a bout! To read the full transcript of the interview, pick up the latest copy of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, available on newsstands everywhere! • Back inside the studios, Sullivan, accompanied by Sir Oliver Humperdink and the One Man Gang, was interviewed with his thoughts on Bockwinkel’s challenge. Sullivan said that perhaps Bockwinkel was right in calling his attack “cowardly.” He said that he wants to beat Bockwinkel at his best and that he’s never trusted doctors and “modern medicine.” He said that if Bockwinkel wants a bout with him, the former champion will need to prove his physical condition. “The Gamesmaster” said that Bockwinkel can face all of the other members of the House of Humperdink before he battles Sullivan and he can start on October 10 with the One Man Gang! There was no confirmation that Bockwinkel had accepted the challenge as Championship Wrestling went off the air but knowing Bockwinkel, he will do anything to get Sullivan inside the ring! • This week’s “chart-topper” from “Exotic” Adrian Street was one of his more mellow songs— “Sweet Transvestite with a Broken Nose.” Street said that this song shows his wide range of musical abilities! The USWA returns to the Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville on September 12!• The One Man Gang will do battle with Red Bastien. While the giant from Halsted St. has been impressive inside the ring, Bastien has scored huge wins over wrestlers of all sizes over the years. Will it be Bastien’s speed and agility or Gang’s power and size that bring victory? • Tyler Black will receive his first shot at a USWA championship next week in Springfield when he challenges “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay for the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship. This week, he will do battle with a former Mid-America champion Tommy Rogers! Rogers is looking for a win as well after losing the title back to the Irish brawler last month in Memphis. Rogers’ only decisive loss in the USWA was the loss to Finlay so Black has quite a challenge in front of him. This could be an exciting match-up between two athletic competitors! • Speaking of Fit Finlay, the Mid-America champion will be in non-title competition when he faces another former Mid-America champion, two-time titleholder Ray “The Crippler” Stevens of the First Family of Wrestling. Stevens has caused Finlay a lot of headaches this year. “The Belfast Bruiser” has yet to defeat Stevens and Stevens would love a non-title victory to earn another title shot for himself. Who will win this battle of the brawlers? • Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will return from a knee injury. He will go after Mad Dog Vachon! Williams was injured by Vachon’s ally Doctor X and his figure-four but Williams, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan put Vachon’s brother Butcher out of action at Independence Day Bash. Can “Doc” stop the Dog or will Vachon’s bite put down the Oklahoma Sooner? • Two powerhouses will collide again when “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas takes on Big John Studd! Atlas got an impressive pinfall on “Ravishing” Rick Rude a few weeks ago at the Louisville Gardens before Rude regained the World Heavyweight title. You can bet the powerhouse will want another shot at the USWA title now that it’s back on the “Ravishing One’s” ravishing waist. But you can also bet that Jimmy Hart will send Studd to try and stop Atlas. Who will emerge victorious? • The Heavenly Bodies will be in action this week. Their opponents will not be known until the match! Brian Kendrick has found a team willing to battle Tom Prichard and Chris Candido because of their attack on Paul London at the Louisville Gardens a few weeks ago and will introduce and accompany that team for this bout. Lance Russell shared some of the gossip going around USWA fans of former rival teams of Jim Cornette and his past teams, including two-time former champions “The Legion of Doom”—the Road Warriors, Hawk and Animal! Former champions Giant Baba and the Destroyer had problems with “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane in 2005 and Baba had a long-running rivalry with Cornette! The hard-working team of Diamond Dallas Page and “Da” Crusher had a brief run as champions defeating Prichard and Lane in 2010. A currently-active tag team of Brad and Brian Armstrong has a long history with Cornette and his men. While they are already booked to compete on this card, who knows what could happen? • Two rivals will collide again, as former World Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant takes on Bobby Shane. Shane will be out for revenge on Valiant for his attack on his fellow First Family of Wrestling ally World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude. These two have battled twice this year and Shane has won both times, although with some questionable tactics. Shane will be looking for his third win over “Handsome” Jimmy, especially as he looks ahead to his shot at the Southern Heavyweight title in the main event next week in Springfield. But Valiant will be looking to get back on track after losing the World title. Which wrestler will triumph in their latest meeting? • The main event will be for the USWA World Tag Team titles, as current and two-time champions Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink put the titles on the line against Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons. The champions are very familiar with X and Lyons’ allies the Vachons. This will be the challengers’ first shot at the titles, both as a team and as individuals. They are a very formidable team with a wide arsenal of technical wrestling skills but also sneaky double team tactics. The same can be said of the champions but they also have Sir Oliver Humperdink at ringside. Zbyszko and Saito regained the titles in this same arena back in June. Can they retain the gold or will another title change occur in Evansville? All these great bouts, plus the Patriot and the Armstrongs in action in Evansville!
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 29, 2019 21:03:37 GMT -5
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!September 12, 2016 Card #482: Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville1) Brad and Brian Armstrong were victorious in the opener over George South and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. This was South and Sharpe’s third time teaming up in 2016 and for the third time in the row South was unable to tag out to Sharpe, as the Armstrongs double teamed him and Brad hit the Russian leg sweep to score the pinfall after just a few minutes, while Brian stopped Sharpe from interfering with some punches. The Evansville fans gave the Armstrongs a big ovation for their win! DUD 2) The Patriot battled back to continue his winning ways and “Dastardly” Danny Doring. The Amish RoadKill accompanied his tag team partner to ringside for this singles bout and got involved a few times, tripping up the Patriot from outside the ring and throwing in some blows. Doring hit the Panty Drop elbow and later the Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am for near falls. About three minutes into the bout, “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink appeared in the aisleway, which was a surprise, especially with Sullivan not scheduled for a match on this card. Doring landed the Danaconda and appeared to bust open Patriot’s nose, as blood came flowing from his mask and down his chest. With big “USA” chants, the Patriot battled back. He went up to the top rope, presumably for the Patriot Missile. Before he could leap, “The Angry Amish Warrior” distracted him again. Patriot got off the ropes and went to wallop RoadKill. Doring recovered and went to ambush Patriot with a knee to the back but the Patriot saw him coming, moved out of the way, and Doring crashed into his own partner! Patriot rolled up Doring with a school-boy and scored the pinfall. The masked man prevailed to go to 4-0 since debuting at Independence Day Bash! As Patriot returned to the locker room, he caught the eye of Sullivan and Humperdink but kept on walking. ** 3) Sir Oliver Humperdink was back in the Coliseum a few minutes later, accompanying the One Man Gang to ringside. The Gang got a controversial win over Red Bastien via disqualification. Bastien had the advantage early in the bout, knocking the Chicago giant down with a double knee lift and scoring a near fall. Gang took control, whipped Bastien into the corner, and went for a running corner splash but Bastien dove out of the way and Gang crashed hard into the buckles. Bastien was able to execute an amazing flying head scissors on the 6’9” Gang. He went for another cover but again the Halsted St. giant kicked out. Bastien dropkicked Gang out of the ring. He followed Gang, as Humperdink distracted Scott Bowden. Bastien went after Gang but Gang had grabbed a steel chair from ringside and smashed Bastien in the ribs with it twice. He tossed the flying redhead back in the ring and worked on Bastien’s ribs. He hit a scoop slam and went for a cover but Bastien kicked out. Gang tossed Bastien out of the ring went to use the chair again while Humperdink again got Bowden’s attention. Gang raised the chair over his head and went to smash Bastien but Bastien got to his feet and dropkicked the chair into Gang’s face. He then grabbed the chair and smashed Gang across the back with it. Unfortunately for Bastien, Bowden turned around and saw Bastien use the chair. He was left with no choice but to call for the bell and disqualify Bastien. Gang and Humperdink quickly fled as the Evansville fans berated them with boos! **¼ 4) Tyler Black scored an impressive pinfall on former Mid-America Heavyweight champion Tommy Rogers. The action was fast-paced between these two great athletes. Rogers attempted a crucifix roll-up but Black slammed Rogers hard on his back to stop the move. Rogers got to his feet but got blasted by an enzuigiri by Black. Black then positioned Rogers in the middle of the ring, went up to the top, and then hit the Phoenix Splash. He covered Rogers and scored the pinfall after about six minutes of action. Black scored an impressive win over the former champ but can he win the gold from the current Mid-America champion next week in Springfield? ¼* 5) Speaking of the Mid-America title, former champion Ray “The Crippler” Stevens scored a big non-title pinfall over current champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay. Stevens was aggressive against the Irish brawler at the bell. He hit a jumping knee smash for a near fall. He hit the Bombs Away a few moments later but didn’t go for the cover, instead deciding to issue more punishment. Stevens went for the piledriver but Finlay backdropped him out of the attempt. Finlay took over and hit his own tombstone piledriver. He made a cover but “The Crippler” was near the ropes and had the wherewithal to get a foot on the bottom rope for a break. (“The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart was also screaming instructions for him to get a foot on the rope as well through his megaphone!) Finlay pummeled Stevens and blasted him with a stiff head butt, knocking him down and scoring another two-count. Stevens got knocked out of the ring but surprised Finlay by snapping his neck on the top rope from the outside. Stevens jumped back in the ring and hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. He continued the attack on Finlay and hit the piledriver a few moments later to score the pinfall on the Mid-America champion. You can bet that this win will get Stevens in line for another shot at the Mid-America Heavyweight title! *** 6) Mad Dog Vachon scored a huge singles win over the returning Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Williams was aggressive at the bell, hitting a powerful double leg takedown, which brought a “2!” shout from the Evansville fans, knowing both wrestlers’ amateur background. Williams did some mat wrestling but showed fire by throwing in forearms and punches from the referee’s position. He went for a quick pin in the first 90 seconds with an amateur tilt but Vachon got a shoulder up. The action picked up and Williams hit a Doctor Bomb for a near fall. Vachon took control and attacked Williams’ neck. He hit the piledriver on two separate occasions but Williams kicked out. Williams battled back and blasted Vachon with a lariat. He then picked up Vachon and tossed him to the floor with a press slam, which rocked the crowd! Vachon was hurting but managed to get back up on the apron by the count of eight. Williams went to grab him which interrupted Scott Bowden’s count. Vachon kicked at Williams’ previously-injured knee form the apron. As Williams stumbled around, Vachon entered the ring and nailed him with a running knee lift. He then attacked Williams’ neck and hit a third piledriver to score the pinfall after seven minutes of action. It was an impressive win for the Algerian! ***¼ 7) Big John Studd scored a controversial pinfall on “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas. Studd seemed slightly more prepared for Atlas than their first meeting at Derby City Stampede in May. He got Atlas up in the backbreaker a few minutes into the bout but Atlas powered out of the submission attempt and took control. Atlas knocked the giant down with a dropkick and went for a cover but Studd powered out of the pin attempt. Atlas tried to get a submission with a full nelson but Studd made the ropes. Atlas busted the giant open with a head butt. He then attempted the press slam, which he didn’t execute on Studd in their Stampede match. Atlas got Studd up over his head and started to press him but Jimmy Hart reached in and grabbed Atlas’ leg, tripping him. Studd landed on top and Hart held on to Atlas’ leg from outside. Paul Morton was focused on Atlas’ shoulders and did not see “The Mouth of The South’s” interference. He counted Atlas’ shoulders down and Studd got a huge pinfall win! The fans were outraged by this ending! ***¾ 8) Next up was a huge tag team match. The Heavenly Bodies came to the ring, accompanied by their manager Jim Cornette and his bodyguard Dan “The Beast” Severn. Their opponents were not known by anyone by Brian Kendrick. Kendrick was introduced first by Gary Michael Cappetta. As his and London’s music played, he did not come sprinting to the ring, as he and London typically do. But rather he came out in street clothes and stood in the aisleway, probably wary of an attack by the Bodies, Cornette, and Severn. He stood there as his own music stopped and “MMMBop” came on the speakers. The fans erupted as Matt and Nick Jackson—the Young Bucks made their return to the USWA after more than four years! The Bucks have been competing around the world, including in Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW), Midwest All-star Wrestling (MAW), and Steel Domain Wrestling (SDW) in the Midwest. The fans gave them a great welcome back. Matt, who debuted in the USWA in 2010 one year ahead of Nick, started off strongly against “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard. Prichard took over and hit a slingshot suplex on Matt for a near fall. Matt battled back and hit an X-Factor (a jumping facebuster) on Chris Candido. He then tagged to Nick, who immediately hit a springboard version of the same move for a near fall. Candido took over on Nick a few minutes later and the Bodies cut the ring in half on him and did their best to brutalize and ground the high-flyer. Prichard hit the enzuigiri but Nick kicked out of the pin attempt. Candido tagged back in and the Bodies dropped him face-first with a Flapjack, which busted open Nick. Nick made the hot tag to his brothers and he hit the moonsault on Prichard for a two-count. Nick tagged back in a few moments later and the Bucks went for their More Bang for Your Buck on Dr. Tom. As Nick went for a pin, Cornette distracted Joe Wheeler. Matt went after Cornette and chased him around the ring until Severn stepped in front of Cornette to protect him. Order was restored, as Candido and Nick were the legal men a few moments later. Candido continued to pummel Nick’s bloodied face and then tossed him out of the ring. While Cornette distracted Wheeler again, both Bodies went after Nick and dropped him face-first on the guard railing. Both Matt and Kendrick tried to save Nick but “The Beast” blocked them. Cornette got off the apron, as Candido returned to the ring and Prichard to the Bodies’ corner. Wheeler turned his attention to Nick and despite attempted help from Matt and Kendrick could not return to the ring by the count of 10, giving the Bodies a countout win! After the bell, Matt and Kendrick went after the Bodies. Severn stepped in and tossed Matt high above his head with a released belly-to-belly suplex. Kendrick went after the former USWA World and Southern Heavyweight champion with a jumping spin kick. The kick dazed Severn who responded with a double leg takedown and then grounded and pounded Kendrick. Meanwhile, the Bodies went back to the already bloodied and beaten Nick and in a scene similar to last month in Louisville, delivered steel chair shots to Nick’s face, while Cornette directed traffic. Matt and Kendrick recovered from Severn’s onslaught, grabbed chairs of their own, and chased off the foursome. Paramedics came into the arena with a stretcher for Nick. Nick was stretchered out of the Coliseum with Kendrick and his brother Matt by his side. ***½ 9) In an outcome that was similar to the ending of their match at Derby City Stampede, Bobby Shane scored a tainted victory over former World Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in a double-juice match, thanks in large part to “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. Shane had the early advantage. He went for the Japanese sleeper twice early in the bout but Valiant battled out of the submission hold with punches and elbows before Shane could fully lock on the hold. Shane hit a bulldog a few minutes into the bout for a near fall. Valiant fought back with the Evansville fans behind him. He nailed Shane with a running elbow smash and scored a near fall. He landed the Boogie Woogie elbow but Hart distracted Scott Bowden. Valiant remained in control and hit a second elbow a few minutes later with Shane lying near the ropes. Hart put Shane’s foot on the bottom rope. Bowden did not see Hart’s interference but did see the foot to break up the pin attempt. Valiant saw “The Mouth of The South’s” involvement and went after him outside the ring. The melee allowed Shane to recover and ambush Valiant outside the ring. He tossed “Handsome” Jimmy back in and fully applied the Japanese sleeper. Valiant dropped to the mat and Bowden checked his arm. It dropped twice but right before the third check, Valiant’s arm popped back up and his finger wagged as if to say “No, no, no!” He rallied back to his feet and fought out of the sleeper but Shane stopped him short with a hair pull on Valiant’s long locks. Shane worked over his foe and then climbed up to the top rope. Valiant stumbled to his feet as Shane came off with a double ax-handle. Valiant sidestepped Shane’s attack and popped him in the face with a big right hand, which busted Shane open. Valiant was dazed but signaled for another Boogie Woogie elbow. He backed into the ropes but got nailed in the back of the head by Hart with the megaphone. Bowden was checking on Shane and did not see this. The Evansville fans were outraged! Valiant ended up bleeding from the back of the head from the megaphone shot. Bowden started to put a 10-count on both wrestlers. Shane recovered first and caught Valiant in his sleeper once again, in the center of the ring. Valiant fought hard for the ropes the blood loss and exhaustion were too much. Bowden checked “Boogie Woogie’s” arm and it dropped three times, so he called for the bell, giving Shane his third win over Valiant. As Shane got his arm raised, he and Hart were about to leave the ring when Bowden reminded him he needed to revive Valiant. He did so by smashing him in the head with Hart’s megaphone, which drew a high-pitched cackle from “The Mouth of The South” but more boos from the fans! ****½ 10) The main event was for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Current and two-time champions Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink put the titles on the line against Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons. Zbyszko and Saito have had vicious battles with X and Lyons’ allies the Vachons this year. These two teams met once in a sanctioned match, in June in Jonesboro in between the champions’ two title reigns, with Zbyszko and Saito getting the win. That was X and Lyons’ only loss as a team so far in 2016. The challengers have had impressive outings as a team, with wins over Brian Kendrick and Paul London and two wins over Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy, including putting Williams out of action with a knee injury with X’s figure-four leglock. This was X’s and Lyons’ first shot at the World Tag Team titles, both as a team and individually. The challengers were aggressive against Zbyszko in the opening minutes, double teaming him, including hitting a double dropkick. Zbyszko surprised Lyons with a swinging neckbreaker as Lyons attempted a back body drop. Zbyszko went for a cover but Lyons kicked out. Saito tagged in and went for the Scorpion Leglock. Lyons made his way to the ropes for the break. Lyons tagged to the Doctor who took over on the Japanese Olympian. X hit a back suplex for a near fall. The challengers then trapped Saito in the ring for several minutes. Lyons went for the X-cellent sleeperhold. Saito started to drop but Sir Oliver Humperdink got up on the ring apron to distract Paul Morton. Zbyszko slipped in with one of the Tag Team title belts and cracked Lyons in the head with it. X came in as well and brawled with Zbyszko, taking him outside the ring. X got Zbyszko down on the arena floor and then smashed his leg into the ring post several times. The masked man returned to his corner. A dazed Lyons was able to tag him in. X worked on Saito’s leg and then clamped on the figure-four leglock in the center of the ring. Saito fought hard for the ropes. Zbyszko was still in pain on the floor. He tried to slide back into the ring but was too late, as Saito tapped out to the figure-four about nine minutes into the match. Morton called for the bell and awarded X and Lyons the World Tag Team titles! The Evansville fans had sided with the challengers tonight and got to see history made for the second card in a row. Mad Dog Vachon came down to the ring to celebrate with his allies! ***¾
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Post by TTX on Nov 29, 2019 21:46:33 GMT -5
Big win by Dr. X and Billy Black Lyons. Fun show as always.
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Post by Cory Olson on Dec 19, 2019 22:41:39 GMT -5
Thanks to Troy for the comments!
Hope everyone is enjoying the new cards! Still waiting for my copies to arrive in Minnesota! Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 9-17:• Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced three huge matches for the October 10 card at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, including two big title matches! o The main event of this card will be a rematch of last week’s main event. The new USWA World Tag Team champions Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons will put the titles on the line against the former champions and the team they beat for the belts—Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink! X and Lyons scored a huge win in Evansville and want to prove their win was not a fluke. They were willing to grant the two-time former champions an immediate rematch. o Former USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion Ray “The Crippler” Stevens will get an opportunity to become a two-time champion when he challenges for the title, against either current champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay or his challenger next week in Springfield Tyler Black. Commissioner Armstrong granted Stevens this shot after his non-title pinfall win over Finlay last week in Evansville. o After the challenges from last week’s Championship Wrestling, it was verified that Nick Bockwinkel’s return from injury will be against the One Man Gang of the House of Humperdink! • The commissioner also announced that “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas will get a rematch with Big John Studd after the controversial ending to their match last week in Evansville. This huge rematch will take place on October 17 at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. • Another feud will continue, when the Heavenly Bodies take on the Midnight Express on October 10 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington! • It was announced that Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks suffered severe facial injuries from the Heavenly Bodies’ attack last week in Evansville. Nick will be out of action indefinitely. The Bodies, along with Jim Cornette and Dan “The Beast” Severn, were interviewed in studio. Chris Candido mocked Brian Kendrick for the pick of his mystery team and said that Young Bucks still need to “grow up.” Tom Prichard said that they “MMMbopped” the heck out of Nick’s face and did him a favor! Cornette said that a similar fate would await “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane in Lexington and Kendrick can bring in any friends he wants but the Bodies would knock them all down! • “The Louisville Slugger” and “The Beast” were back later in the show, as “Exotic” Adrian Street introduced his song “Violence Is Golden,” which was set to clips of some of Street’s wildest brawls from over the years. Street again bragged about his wide range of musical talents and stated that he has a wide range of talents inside the ring as well! The USWA returns to Springfield, TN and the Civic Center on September 19! • In a rematch match from two weeks ago in Knoxville, Billy Gunn will battle the now-former two-time World Tag Team champion Mr. Saito! Gunn appeared to be on the way to a huge one-on-one win over Saito, until he got caught using Sir Oliver Humperdink’s cane, which Saito had used on Gunn first. Saito’s leg or knee may be in rough shape after losing to Doctor X’s figure-four in the main event for the World Tag Team titles last week in Evansville. Can Gunn avenge the controversial loss? • Brian Kendrick continues to target the Heavenly Bodies after their attacks on Paul London and now the Young Bucks. This week, he will go one-on-one with “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard. Can Kendrick get a win over Prichard? • Mad Dog Vachon will battle once again with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. These two have had some wild brawls. What will happen in Springfield? • Another feud will continue, as former World Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant and “Superstar” Bill Dundee will face Big John Studd and Superstar Bundy of the First Family of Wrestling. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart turned in the tide in Valiant’s bout with Bobby Shane last week in Evansville and you can bet the manager will be active this week, especially with Valiant’s rematch with “Ravishing” Rick Rude for the World title coming up in a few weeks ago in Nashville. Which team will be the victors? • Doug Gilbert will return to the USWA after a 10-month absence. He will be out for revenge for the attack on his brother “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert last month in August when he faces the undefeated “Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan. Sullivan has proven to be a very dangerous and devious grappler and Doug has to be careful not to let his emotions distract him. Can he give Sullivan his first loss and defend the Gilberts? • Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will do battle with the new World Tag Team champions Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons in a non-title match. This match was signed before X and Lyons won the belts, with Williams looking for revenge on X, who put him out of action with a knee injury. The match has gotten more interesting for Williams and Gordy as a win over the champions would definitely earn them a title match for titles they have never challenged for as a team. Can the fan favorites topple the new champions? • Speaking of championships, the Springfield fans will see two title matches. The first will see “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay put the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship on the line against Tyler Black. Black has been on a tear since the break-up of the Age of the Fall at Derby City Stampede. While he has Luke Harper at ringside as his bodyguard, Harper has not had to interfere as much as other managers or bodyguards, as Black’s high-intensity offense has brought him wins. Finlay’s brawling and physical style has allowed him to be a two-time champion. Can the Irish brawler win again or will Black capture his first USWA title? • The main event will see another USWA superstar challenge for his first USWA championship, as Bobby Shane of the First Family of Wrestling challenges the current and two-time USWA Southern Heavyweight champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie! Shane has been impressive since debuting in the USWA in January, suffering only two decisive losses, which is very impressive in the ultra-competitive USWA. But Blassie has an equally impressive record, suffering only one loss since debuting in June 2015. Both men are notorious rulebreakers. Shane’s key could be having “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart at ringside. Blassie on Championship Wrestling stated that Shane may have a strong win-loss record but he’s stepping up against the next level of competition in “The King of Men”! Can Blassie retain once again or will Shane capture his first title? All these huge matches, as well as the Patriot taking on David Taylor! And the Armstrongs in tag team action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Dec 21, 2019 15:08:33 GMT -5
September 19, 2016 Card #483: Springfield (TN) Civic Center
1) Brad and Brian Armstrong were victorious in the opener over “Dastardly" Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill. While the Armstrongs had some troubles with the bizarre rulebreakers in their initial meetings, they have figured out how to counter the duo. Doring surprised Brad with a Bareback for a near fall. RoadKill tagged in and the duo hit the Lancaster Lariat of Lust. Brad managed to tag to Brian who ambushed “The Angry Amish Warrior.” Brian hit an impressive pump handle slam on his larger opponent and scored the pinfall, while Brad stopped an intervening Doring with a dropkick. The Springfield fans gave the Armstrongs a big ovation for their win! ½*
2) The popular Patriot went to 5-0 in the USWA with an impressive pinfall over former Mid-America champion David Taylor. For the second week in a row, “The Gamemaster” Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink appeared in the aisleway after introductions for the Patriot’s match. The two wrestlers exchanged moves in the opening minutes. Taylor took control and knocked down the masked man with a European uppercut. He went for a cover but the Patriot kicked out. With big “USA” chants, the masked man battled back. He hit the Uncle Slam and scored the three-count on Taylor. As Patriot made his way to the back, he again caught the eye of Sullivan and Humperdink. ¾*
3) Billy Gunn scored a huge singles victory with a pinfall on Japanese Olympian Mr. Saito. Saito did not seem to be suffering much pain to his knee or leg after losing the World Tag Team titles to Doctor X’s figure-four leglock in last week’s main event in Evansville. But Gunn was definitely more focused here in avenging his controversial loss to Saito two weeks ago in Knoxville. Gunn executed a jackhammer in the first few minutes for a near fall. Saito battled back and hit an Oriental leg sweep for a two-count of his own. Saito whipped Gunn into the buckle but Gunn reversed the whip and hit a running corner splash. He then rolled up Saito with a school-boy for a near fall. Gunn showcased his power again by press slamming Saito to the mat. He followed up with a Famouser a few moments later, busting open Saito’s nose. He covered the former World Tag Team champion but Saito kicked out. Gunn nailed Saito with a big clothesline that sent Saito up-and-over the top rope and to the arena floor. Saito was almost counted out but with Sir Oliver Humperdink’s help he climbed back into the ring by the count of nine. Saito charged at Gunn but Gunn caught him with a power slam. He followed up with a second Famouser and scored the pinfall. The Springfield fans popped big for Gunn’s impressive win! **¾
4) “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard defeated rival Brian Kendrick. Kendrick was a house of fire at the bell, wanting to avenge the injury to Paul London and now Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks last week in Evansville. He hit the Sliced Bread #2 twice but Prichard kicked out the first time and then got a foot on the ropes on the second attempt. Prichard took control and punished Kendrick, wanting to hurt him more than defeat. He finally did score the pin after a Dr. Tom Bomb. Jim Cornette was very pleased with his charge’s win! **½
5) “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan took a bloody beating but made a comeback out of nowhere to defeat Mad Dog Vachon. Vachon was his usual aggressive self at the bell. He blasted “Hacksaw” with a double foot stomp for a near fall. He hit the piledriver early in the bout but Duggan got a foot on the bottom rope for a break. Vachon hit a jumping knee drop which busted open the American hero. Duggan went to the ropes to try and get a breather but Vachon was relentless, choking him on the ropes and then hitting two Mad Dog Pounces in a row. The Algerian went for a cover but again Duggan kicked out. Duggan battled back with huge “USA” chants erupting from the Springfield fans. He knocked Vachon out of the ring with some big right hands. Duggan was so wound up, he accidentally bumped into Tom Branch. Branch went down and “Hacksaw” apologized. Branch perhaps realized that it was inadvertent and knowing the importance of the rivalry allowed the match to continue. Duggan went over to the ropes to go after Vachon but got blasted in the face with Vachon’s chain! Branch was still recovering and with the large Duggan blocking his view did not see the infraction. Duggan’s blood flowed more vigorously and Branch almost called for the bell for a blood stoppage. Duggan rallied back to show he still had life in him. Vachon looked to have victory in his hands when he knocked Duggan out of the ring with a knee lift. The Algerian went after “Hacksaw” on the floor. He set up him for the piledriver on the Civic Center floor but Duggan backdropped Vachon out of the move. The fans erupted! Duggan then picked up Vachon and hit a piledriver of his own on the floor! The fans were going berserk at this! A bloodied Duggan tossed Vachon back into the ring and immediately for a cover. Branch got down and counted the three! As Duggan, hardly able to stand, got his hand raised and returned to the back, the new World Tag Team champions Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons came to ringside. Duggan swung his 2X4 wildly at them to keep them away. His allies Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy, who would meet the champions later in a non-title bout, came to ringside as well to ensure safety. The three fan favorites returned to the locker room, celebrating “Hacksaw’s” amazing comeback! X and Lyons checked on Vachon and helped their ally to the back. Vachon was able to walk but was favoring his neck. ***
6) Big John Studd and Superstar Bundy got a disqualification win over former World champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant and “Superstar” Bill Dundee. Valiant and Dundee double teamed Studd in the opening minutes, trying to wear down the giant. Dundee even hit a flying body press off the top rope and was able to knock Studd down for a two-count. Valiant hit the Boogie Woogie elbow later in the bout but Studd kicked out at 2¾. Valiant jumped on Studd’s back and almost put him out with the sleeper. Studd was down on his knees. Sam Platania checked his arm and it dropped twice. On the third attempt, Bundy rushed in at the last second and broke up the submission attempt. It appeared as if Studd’s arm may have dropped but the match continued. Studd eventually tagged back to Bundy. Bundy sent Dundee into the corner, did his own booty wiggle, and the delivered the Atlantic City Avalanche. He covered Dundee and got the three but naturally demanded a five-count. Platania counted four and it appeared he was going to hit five until “Boogie Woogie” broke up the pin attempt at the last possible moment, as a small measure of payback for Bundy’s early save on Valiant’s sleeper! Dundee battled back and got the New Jersey Superstar down on the mat. He hit the Superstar Bomb but Bundy barely got a shoulder up before the pinfall. Valiant tagged back in and knocked Bundy out of the ring with some roundhouse punches. “Handsome” Jimmy followed. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart got up on the ring apron to distract Platania, while Bundy grabbed a steel chair. Bundy went to smash Valiant but “Boogie Woogie” blocked the shot. The two battled over the chair until Valiant shoved the chair toward Bundy’s head. The chair hit Bundy and he landed backwards. Platania saw this and disqualified Valiant, giving Studd and Bundy the win. Valiant and Dundee tried to protest that the chair shot was not intentional and that Bundy had the chair first but to no avail! The Springfield fans were not happy about this ending! ***½
7) Doug Gilbert made his return to the USWA after 10 months to avenge his brother “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. While the younger Gilbert did defeat “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan, it was by disqualification and he did not look the winner afterward. Gilbert was fired up going into this bout and he attacked Sullivan right at the bell. While Gilbert was not a fan favorite during his first tenure in the USWA, he was definitely cheered by the Springfield fans tonight as he beat on “The Gamesmaster.” Gilbert hit the top rope shoulder ram just a few minutes into the bout but Sullivan kicked out. Sir Oliver Humperdink briefly got up on the ring apron and Gilbert went after his former manager. He did not connect, as Humperdink got out of the way. While all this was going on, Sullivan had gone into his black robe and pulled out a golden spike! He drove the spike into Gilbert’s forehead. Sullivan was able to shield the spike initially from Tommy Marlin’s view but as blood squirted out and as Sullivan kept the spike in for about a minute, he finally caught Sullivan’s weapon. He immediately called for the bell and disqualified Sullivan. Sullivan kept spiking Gilbert, as more USWA officials and referees made their way into the ring. Sullivan finally released the spike and he and Humperdink immediately returned to the locker room, as the fans berated them for “The Gamesmaster’s” actions! Gilbert lost a lot of blood as the officials helped him to the back. ¼*
8) In a comeback like their ally “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan’s earlier on the card, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy scored a non-title win over their rivals and the new World Tag Team champions Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons. The fan favorites had the initial advantage. Gordy tried to put out Lyons with the Oriental Spike but Lyons scrambled for the ropes. Lyons took over, tagged to X, and the champions hit a double dropkick on Gordy. X went for a cover but Gordy kicked out. Gordy reversed a whip into the corner and sent X into the buckles crashing hard. Before Gordy could tag “Doc,” X tagged Lyons, who jumped on Gordy. He went for the X-cellent sleeperhold. Gordy started to weaken but got a last burst of energy and rammed Lyons’ back into the buckles. Gordy got the tag to Williams and he had some control on Lyons. As Williams bounced off the ropes on the champions’ side of the ring, X kicked his injured knee, causing him to collapse. The masked man had been avoiding the Oklahoma Sooner up to this point in the match but with Williams down, he gladly accepted a tag from Lyons. He went right to work on the injured knee. He clamped on the figure-four in the center of the ring. Williams was in a lot of pain but with Gordy and the fans on his side, he rolled through reversing the pressure on the Doctor! The masked man, knowing the mechanics of his finisher, was able to roll through again and rolled to the ropes to stop Williams from another reversal. The champions pummeled Williams in the corner, busting him open. X came off the second turnbuckle twice with knee drops and went for a cover but “Dr. Death” kicked out. Williams battled back against X. He nailed him with some punches and a lariat. Lyons jumped in but Williams knocked him over the top rope with a lariat. He then tagged to “Bamm Bamm” and the fan favorites immediately blasted the masked man with a double football tackle. Gordy covered X immediately and scored the pin. The fans went wild at the fan favorites’ comeback win! Lyons recovered and as Williams and Gordy got their hands raised, tried to ambush them with a steel chair. Gordy saw him coming and nailed him with a boot to the midsection. He then took the chair and smashed Lyons with it! X had recovered and tried to take out Williams’ knee but Gordy cut him off with elbow smashes. Williams then laid the chair on the mat and executed an Oklahoma Stampede on top of it on the man who injured him! Williams and Gordy then returned to the locker room, as Lyons recovered and helped his partner to the back. The champions grabbed their World Tag Team championship belts and returned to the back, with X holding his back in a lot of pain. ****
9) In the first of two championship matches, Tyler Black defeated USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay by DQ, so Finlay retained the title after about seven minutes of action. This was a back-and-forth bout with the fast-paced offense of the challenger against the hard-hitting and brawling style of the champion. A few minutes into the match, Finlay hit a fireman’s carry Hot Shot on the guard railing outside the ring. Black was in a lot of pain but with his bodyguard Luke Harper at ringside managed to get back in by the count of eight. Finlay hit the tombstone piledriver and went for a cover but Black kicked out at 2¾. Black surprised Finlay with a small package as Finlay attempted a slam for a near fall. Black took over and got the Irish brawler down on the mat. He went up top and hit the Phoenix Splash but didn’t get the full impact. Black was slow in making the cover, so when he did Finlay was able to kick out at two. Black hit an enzuigiri and Finlay rolled out of the ring for a breather. Black went to attack him with a baseball slide. Finlay saw the move coming and blocked it by pulling the ring curtain that surrounds the ring and apron away from the ring so that Black slid in between the curtain and the ring. He then slammed Black’s back into the ring and pummeled him. Sam Platania did not count either man out but warned Finlay about his actions. The champion did not listen to Platania’s warning. He continued pummeling Black, then went over to the announcers’ table, grabbed the Mid-America Heavyweight title belt, and smashed Black over the head with it, right in front of Platania. Platania called for the bell and disqualified the champion, giving the challenger the win but not the title. Finlay continued beating on Black after the bell until Harper came around and booted “The Belfast Bruiser” in the face. Finlay went down but grabbed his Mid-America belt and returned to the locker room. *** 10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship between two rulebreakers. Current and two-time champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie put the title on the line against Bobby Shane of the First Family of Wrestling. Fans were split between these two hated wrestlers, many of them just wanting to see both grapplers beat up each other into oblivion. The champion was very aggressive at the bell. He hit the Southern neckbreaker a few minutes into the match. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart jumped up on the ring apron and tossed in an object into the ring out of sight of Tommy Marlin and Blassie. While Blassie went after Hart, Shane recovered, slipped the object into his kneepad and nailed “The King of Men” in the back with a knee smash. Blassie went down and Shane used the loaded knee pad several times more. Shane hit a bulldog and went for a cover but the champion kicked out. Blassie fought back and brutalized Shane, busting him open with stomps to the face. Blassie hit another neckbreaker but again Hart got involved, this time tossing in the megaphone behind Blassie’s and Marlin’s backs. Shane grabbed the megaphone and nailed Blassie from behind before he could get his hands on Hart. Shane tossed the megaphone out and went for a cover. Marlin turned around and counted. It appeared we were going to see a new Southern champion but Blassie kicked out at the last moment. Shane went up to the top rope and came off with a loaded knee drop but Blassie moved out of the way. Both wrestlers were hurting, as Marlin put a count on both. Both men got to their feet by the count of seven and Shane attacked first. He worked over Blassie, then tossed him into the ropes and went for a back body drop. He telegraphed the move and Blassie kicked him in the chest. Blassie then hit a third Southern neckbreaker and scored the pinfall in about eight minutes to retain the Southern title. As Blassie got his hand raised and his title belt handed to him, he then gloated and insulted the fans, assuring them he did not want their cheers! (With the win, Blassie now has six defenses and is tied for second place for most defenses. He is tied with Frank Gotch’s first reign from September 2006 to April 2007 and Ted DiBiase’s second reign from May to December 2013.) ***¼
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