Thanks to Crue Fan for the comments! Hope everyone had a safe 4th of July! I also have to mention that I love the pairing of Dan Severn and Chris Candido.
The Candido-Severn team was meant to just fill in for the Heavenly Bodies due to Prichard's injury. But I like how they have worked together as well and I could see them being a good team long-term!January 30, 2017
Card #496: Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga1) S.D. Jones and Jim Powers spoiled the first match together of “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz in the opener. Jones was fighting on behalf of his new ally S.T. Jones and was a house of fire on Sharpe. He hit a suplex about two minutes into the match and went for a cover. Rodz attempted to save his new partner but was cut off by a dropkick from Powers. “Special Delivery” scored the pinfall before Powers or Rodz could legally wrestle. The Chattanooga fans went wild for Jones and Powers’ win. While it appears that the Joneses will team up more, you can bet that “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” and the New Yorker will team up at some point in the future! DUD
2) Luke Harper defeated “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Harper started off strong against Cannon, hitting a swinging side slam in the first minutes of the match for a near fall. Cannon fought back and got Harper down. He hit the Glimmering Warlock but Harper powered out of the pin attempt. Harper fought back and took the match to the floor, sending the PBR drinker into the ring steps. He tossed Cannon back into the ring, sent him into the ropes, and blasted him with the big boot to score the pinfall. Tyler Black’s bodyguard looked impressive as he looks forward to challenging Ray “The Crippler” Stevens for the Mid-America Heavyweight title in a few weeks in Tupelo! **
3) Virgil, now known as S.T. or “Soul Train” Jones scored an impressive and quick win over the masked Terror. The Terror was introduced first. Suddenly, over the Memorial Auditorium speakers blared
James Brown’s “Living in America.” S.T. entered the arena, accompanied by his new allies S.D. Jones and Jim Powers, fresh off their victory in the opener. S.T. wore red, white, and blue trunks and a patriotic vest and top hat to the ring! He delighted the Chattanooga fans with his new entrance and gear. Jones made quick work of the Terror, dazzling him with some quick punches. Jones went up to the top rope and came off with an impressive missile dropkick. He covered the Terror and scored the pinfall in about 90 seconds! The fans went wild as “Living in America” came on the speakers again! DUD (
NOTE: For those who haven’t seen Virgil as Soul Train Jones in the original Memphis territory/CWA, check out this video!)
4) The Patriot and Tommy Gilbert were victorious in the opener over the House of Humperdink’s team of the Dark Patriot and the One Man Gang. Typically, “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan has joined Sir Oliver Humperdink at ringside in accompanying the Dark Patriot for his matches but the diabolic wrestler was nowhere to be seen tonight, probably wanting to avoid both the Patriot and Gilbert! The Patriot and Gang started off the bout for their teams. Gang got control and tagged to the Dark Patriot. The Dark Patriot hit a clothesline for a two-count. The Patriot rolled out of the ring for a breather but was ambushed by the Gang. The Halsted St. giant drove the Patriot back-first into the ring post. The masked American was almost counted out but with Gilbert’s help, returned to the ring by the count of seven. Dark Patriot remained in control and hit the Scud Missile. He went for a cocky cover and the Patriot kicked out. Gang tagged back in and missed a charge into the corner. Gilbert tagged in and was not intimidated by the giant. He blasted Gang with several punches and forearms but got cut off with a clothesline. Gilbert went to a corner for a breather. Humperdink tried to distract Tom Branch while Dark Patriot got the Patriot’s attention. Gang went to his team’s corner and grabbed his chain. He wrapped it around his large fist and then punched Gilbert with it. Unfortunately for the House of Humperdink team, Branch turned around in time to see this and called for the bell. Patriot nailed Dark Patriot and then nailed Gang with some big punches of his own. Humperdink and his men retreated before more damage could be done. Patriot checked on Gilbert, who was dazed but also irate by what had transpired! **
5) David Taylor scored a countout victory over Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana. Taylor went for the leg drop early in the bout, which is how he pinned Cabana last month in Knoxville. Cabana scouted the move and rolled out of the way. Cabana had a lot of offense but could not keep the former Mid-America champion down for the count. Taylor hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. He tried for a submission with a sleeper. Cabana started to drop but right before the third arm drop fought his way to his feet and broke out of the hold. Taylor reversed a whip into the buckles and Cabana almost crashed into Sam Platania but stopped short. In the confusion, Taylor executed a school-boy roll-up and hooked the tights but Cabana kicked out! Taylor battered Cabana with European uppercuts, which drew blood on the Chicago native. Taylor hit the British suplex and floated over into a cover but Cabana got his shoulder up. He hit a second British suplex and it looked like things were over but Cabana got his shoulder up at the last possible moment! The Chattanooga fans were going wild for Cabana’s resilience! Taylor was frustrated and tossed Cabana out of the ring. He hit the British suplex on the arena floor, with Cabana hitting with a sickening thud. Taylor returned to the ring while Platania continued to count. Cabana was down so Platania called for the bell and awarded Taylor the bout via countout. While Taylor looked pleased with himself, the fans blasted him with boos! Several USWA officials came out to check on Cabana. He was able to walk to the back with some assistance. The Chattanooga fans gave him a big ovation for his tenacity in this match. ***¼
6) The new World Tag Team champions got a non-title win, as Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy defeated their rivals the Vachons. Chattanooga native Gordy got a huge reaction from his hometown fans! The bout started off in typical Vachon fashion with some wild brawling, as the Algerians charged the champions as they entered the ring. All four men started brawling. As things settled down, Mad Dog and “Dr. Death” became the legal men. Mad Dog choked Williams on the ropes near the champions’ corner. He hit the Mad Dog Pounce but then got clocked by Gordy near the ropes! Williams recovered first and worked over Mad Dog until he was able to tag Butcher. Butcher gained control of Williams and busted him open with a big boot to the face. He tagged back to Mad Dog and the Vachons hit the quadruple foot stomp. Mad Dog went for the pin but Williams kicked out. Williams surprised Mad Dog by lifting him up into a press slam. Mad Dog kicked out of a pin attempt and rolled to the corner for a tag. Butcher and “Bamm Bamm” were the legal men a few moments later when Butcher got Gordy up in the hangman. The fans were going wild for Gordy and with the support of them and Williams, Gordy managed to break out of the hold. Mad Dog tagged back in but Gordy battled back. He hit the power bomb a moment later and scored the pinfall, while Williams knocked down Butcher with a lariat. The fans went wild as the World Tag Team champions celebrated their big victory! ***
7) Billy Gunn got a hard-fought victory over Tyler Black. This was a back-and-forth match between these two great athletes and it showcased how well each man is getting to know the other in the ring as they seemed to have counter after counter for the other’s attack. Gunn hit a knee lift a few minutes into the bout, which is how he pinned Bobby Shane last week in Lexington. He went for a cover again but Black kicked out. A few minutes later Gunn hit the Famouser and went for a cover. Gunn was near the ropes and Luke Harper was able to reach in and clock Gunn in the face. Tom Branch did not see this but the fans did and they were not happy! Black recovered and hit a picture-perfect Phoenix Splash. He gloated after hitting the move. So, when he finally attempted the pin, Gunn kicked out. Black hit a superkick but again would not go for the cover. Gunn slowly got to his feet and Black went for a second superkick. Gunn ducked the second kick and when Black turned around, he hit a second Famouser! Gunn made a cover but Black kicked out at 2¾. A few minutes later, Black ducked a Gunn clothesline and surprised him with an enzuigiri for another near fall. It was either wrestler’s match at this point. Gunn reversed a whip into the ropes and caught Black on the rebound with a power slam. He covered the Iowan and scored the pinfall. The fans erupted for Gunn’s win in this physical bout! ***¾
8) The Midnight Express ruined Dr. Tom Prichard’s return by defeating him and Chris Candido. Candido started off the bout for the Heavenly Bodies, perhaps taking orders from Jim Cornette to protect Prichard on his return and not risk reinjuring the neck. “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane worked furiously against Candido in the first few minutes. They hit the Rocket Launcher early but Cornette distracted Sam Platania which allowed Candido time to recover. Candido tagged to “The Doctor of Desire” and Prichard hit a slingshot suplex on his former partner Lane for a near fall. “The Suicide Blonde” tagged back in and worked over Lane but Lane capitalized on a mistake and tagged to Eaton. The Midnights hit a Double Goozle and Eaton covered Candido to score the pinfall, while Lane stopped Prichard with a spin kick. It was an impressive win for the Midnights but their former manager Cornette was not happy! ***
9) In a huge battle of former tag team partners, Big John Studd defeated King Kong Bundy by countout. Studd had the fans on his side tonight, as they knew what the First Family of Wrestling had done to him two weeks ago in the locker rooms of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Studd was aggressive in this one. He clotheslined Bundy over the top rope in the first few minutes and almost got a countout win quickly but with Jimmy Hart screaming encouragement to Bundy, the New Jersey giant got back in the ring. Studd tried to lift up Bundy for the backbreaker but Bundy blocked the attempt. Bundy battled back and hit the Atlantic City Avalanche. He went for a cover but Studd kicked out, which drew a big pop from the Chattanooga fans! Studd briefly recovered and sent Bundy into the buckles but Bundy rebounded back and blasted him with a clothesline, taking Studd off his feet. Bundy went for another pin but again Studd kicked out. Studd recovered again and busted open Bundy after a series of giant right hands. He then bounced off the ropes and took down Bundy with a running clothesline. He went for another cover. Tommy Marlin went to count but as he did, “The Mouth of The South” had entered the ring. Since Hart had not touched Studd and knowing the importance of the match, Marlin immediately ejected from the match! The fans went wild at Marlin’s call! The action continued, despite Hart’s protests. Bundy stumbled back to his feet and Studd took him over the ropes again with a clothesline. Bundy decided to go join Hart back in the locker room and live to fight another day, taking a countout loss. Studd was happy to get his hand raised but you can bet it was not the type of victory he wanted and these two partners will collide again! ***
10) The main event was a rematch for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. The current and two-time champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie put the title on the line against “Exotic” Adrian Street. Blassie was going into this bout with only two pinfall losses since debuting in the USWA in June 2015 and was hoping to tie the record for the greatest number of title defenses for the Southern title at 10 (with the Sheik’s third reign). Street debuted at
Independence Day Bash 2016 as part of Jim Cornette’s stable and had yet to lose a match via pinfall or submission. When Street challenged Blassie for the title in December in Knoxville, Street was very aggressive and looked like he might capture the title. But ultimately, he lost his cool and was disqualified.
As the Knoxville fans did in December, the Chattanooga fans supported the champion tonight. Street tried to get into Blassie’s head at the opening bell, jumping into Blassie’s arms and then kissing him! “The Hollywood Fashion Plate” would not be tricked and he chucked Street across the ring, then laid in a beating on him! He pounded on Street for several minutes until Street hit a neckbreaker out of nowhere for a near fall. The “Exotic One” worked over “Classy” Freddie for several minutes. He tried for a vertical suplex but “The Vampire” blocked the attempt, broke free with a punch to the ribs, and then bit Street on his painted face! The fans went wild for this as Jim Cornette looked concerned! Street wasn’t too shaken up and rallied back, getting the champion down on the mat and hitting an elbow drop, landing right across Blassie’s nose and busting open the champion. Street tried for a pin but only got a two. Street caught Blassie in the crucifix a couple minutes later but Blassie was able to raise a shoulder. Blassie got fired up and rallied back. He tried to put Street down with a stomach claw, either for a submission or a pinfall but the British punk rocker made it to the ropes for a break. Blassie got ultra-aggressive, using a blatant choke hold on Street. He broke the hold each time before Tom Branch was about to hit five on his count. Blassie bit Street again and drew blood on the “Exotic One.” Cornette got up on the apron but Blassie grabbed him and started to chomp on his forehead! Dan “The Beast” Severn ran over and pulled his employer out of the Southern champ’s grasp. The distraction allowed Street to surprise Blassie with another crucifix but Blassie got his shoulder up at 2¾. Both combatants were beaten and bloodied and trying anything to get the upper hand on their opponent. Blassie attempted a nerve hold but Street battled out of it, ducked behind Blassie, and surprised him with a second neckbreaker. A battered Street managed to lay an arm across Blassie. Branch dropped down to count three. He called for the bell after 14 minutes of action and a
warded “Exotic” Adrian Street the Southern Heavyweight championship! The Chattanooga fans were in shock seeing Blassie’s historic reign come to an end. Cornette was ecstatic, having his first champion since his return to the USWA last March. Cornette and Severn joined Street in the ring for the celebration and they were joined by the Heavenly Bodies as well, while
“Breakin’ Bones” blared throughout the Memorial Auditorium! ****½