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Post by Chad Olson on Sept 28, 2020 14:22:37 GMT -5
I would have to classify Street over Blassie as a big upset. Congrats to Street and Cornette.
Sullivan with the huge win on the World Champion. Can't wait to see what's next!
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 17, 2020 22:48:23 GMT -5
Thanks to Troy, Crue Fan, and my brother Chad for the comments!
Highlights from the last two episodes of USWA Championship Wrestling:
April 1: • Commissioner Bob Armstrong had some updated line-ups for upcoming USWA cards. First, he announced some matches for the April 17 return to the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville: o “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and “The Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido will tangle again. As a result of their three matches ending in disqualifications or countouts, the match on the 17th will be a No-Disqualification Match, meaning that a winner must occur via pinfall or submission! o Two rivals will tangle again, as Tommy Gilbert faces “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan! These two have battled in one-on-one bouts twice, with Gilbert winning the first via disqualification at New Year’s Knockout XIII in Louisville and Sullivan winning the rematch by countout last month in Knoxville after an ambush by the Dark Patriot. While Gilbert has his sights set on the Dark Patriot’s mask, Sullivan wants to put Gilbert out of action before Gilbert can get the mask! o “Classy” Freddie Blassie has had a rough start to 2017. He is hoping to get some momentum and avenge his loss to Red Bastien from two weeks ago at the Louisville Gardens. He will get his chance in “Music City, USA.”
• “Bullet” Bob also announced two matches for the April 24 card at the Earl Belle Community Center in Jonesboro! o The main event will be for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. “Exotic” Adrian Street will put the title on the line in a return bout against “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson! Street has been an impressive champion, ending Freddie Blassie’s historic reign in January. His only loss so far in the USWA was to Danielson in February in Evansville. This non-title win earned “Dragon” his first ever shot at the Southern title at the 500th USWA card in March at the Mid-South Coliseum. Danielson won that title bout via countout and is ready to get his rematch for the gold. With Danielson facing another Jim Cornette charge, Chris Candido, one week earlier in a No-Disqualification Match in Nashville, you can bet that Cornette’s camp will be looking to put out Danielson in the month of April! o Speaking of Candido, he will be in action as well, as he and Cornette’s bodyguard Dan “The Beast” Severn will face Brad and Brian Armstrong! The Armstrongs defeated The Heavenly Bodies by disqualification in February in Tupelo. When Tom Prichard was injured in the Stretcher Elimination Match at the 500th card, Severn took his place in a rematch in March in the Louisville Gardens and he and Candido got a countout victory. Who will be the next winners in these tag team battles?
April 8: • Commissioner Armstrong announced more matches for the month of April, first for the April 17 at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville: o Harley Race has been impressive so far since his return at the USWA’s 500th card last month as a member of the First Family of Wrestling. He will have perhaps his toughest opponent so far when he faces Billy Gunn. Gunn has scored some big wins in singles over the last year, including Mr. Saito, Larry Zbyszko, and Bobby Shane. Can Race stop the big Texan? o A first-time match-up between two Midwesterners will take place, as Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana faces Tyler Black! Black has been focused on his feud with Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and the Mid-America title reign of his bodyguard Luke Harper. These distractions could lead to the Chicago native Cabana scoring a win on the Iowan!
• The commissioner announced two singles matches for the April 24 card in Jonesboro: o The World Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant will take on Mad Dog Vachon in a non-title grudge match. Valiant’s appearance at the last card in Jackson during Vachon’s match with “Superstar” Bill Dundee lead to a countout win for the Australian “Superstar.” Vachon would love to get revenge and get a win over the World champion! o Speaking of Dundee, he will be in action against Vachon’s ally Billy Black Lyons! You can bet Lyons will be out to defeat and hurt Dundee on behalf of Vachon!
• It was announced that former Mid-America champions David Taylor and “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay have decided to leave the USWA and return to the United Kingdom to compete in World of Sport.
The USWA comes back to the Rupp Arena in Lexington on April 10 with a huge card of action! • In tag team action, Brad and Brian Armstrong will take on Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons! The Armstrongs have compiled a good win-loss record since reuniting this past summer. They will have a tough challenge ahead of them against the two-time former World Tag Team champions. Can the Georgian brothers score a big win? • “Sweet” Stan Lane will return to action from a concussion sustained in the Stretcher Elimination Match. He will take on the man who gave him the concussion—“The Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido! Lane is hoping to get a big singles win over the New Jerseyan as this feud between the Midnight Express and the Heavenly Bodies continues. Can “The Gangster of Love” score a big win over the former Texas champion? • In a huge battle, King Kong Bundy will take on one-half of the World Tag Team champions Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy! Gordy almost eliminated Bundy in the 25-man Battle Royal at New Year’s Knockout XIII but Bundy was saved by Big John Studd and went on to win the match. Gordy is a former Southern champion and would love to get a win over the New Jersey giant. Can Gordy put down Bundy or will Bundy put Gordy down for a three- or five-count? • In the first of two title bouts, Luke Harper will defend the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship against Ray “The Crippler” Stevens! Stevens won the Triangle Match for the title against Harper and Tyler Black at the 500th card in Memphis but because Harper was disqualified, he did not win the title. Stevens is coming off a win over Black in Jackson in a ***** 30+-minute match due to Jimmy Hart’s interference. “The Crippler” is a great wrestler and brawler and with Hart’s tactics behind him could become a three-time champion. Will he make history or will Harper hold on to the gold? • The main event will be for the USWA World Heavyweight title. As a result of his impressive non-title pinfall win on the last card at the Oman Arena, “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan will receive another shot at the USWA World Heavyweight championship when he battles “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Sullivan gave Valiant a brutal beating at the 500th card last month in Memphis and caused a trachea injury. Valiant, known for his entertaining interviews, has not been able to say much. Perhaps this psychological and physical advantage could lead to the diabolical Sullivan becoming the next World champion. Can Sullivan win the gold or will “Boogie Woogie” triumph?
All these bouts, plus Billy Gunn battles Bobby Shane of the First Family of Wrestling in a rematch from the January card at the Rupp Arena! Plus, Harley Race, S.D. &. S.T. Jones, The Uptown Boys, and the debut of “The Sodbuster” Kenny Jay!
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Post by Chad Olson on Oct 18, 2020 10:27:19 GMT -5
Kenny Jay will take the USWA by storm! Or not...
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 23, 2020 9:15:05 GMT -5
Thanks to my brother Chad for the comment! Read on to see how "The Sodbuster" did! April 10, 2017 Card #503: Rupp Arena in Lexington1) “The Sodbuster” Kenny Jay made a successful debut with a win in the opener over George South. Jay got a good ovation from the Lexington fans. South had the initial control but the Cleveland native Jay rallied back. He used the Sodbuster Spike, his version of the Oriental Spike, three separate times, before covering South for the pin. The fans gave “The Sodbuster” a big pop for his win! ½* 2) S.D. & S.T. Jones continued their winning ways with a win over Kenny Shane and Johnny Dotson. Shane, a native of Black Oak, AR, got trapped in the ring for the entire match against the Joneses. He had some initial offense against “Special Delivery” but telegraphed a back body drop and S.D. hit a sunset flip for a near fall. “Soul Train” tagged in and hit a running tackle. He went for a cover but Dotson broke up the pin. The Joneses double teamed Shane for a few minutes. S.T. got Shane on the mat, went up to the second rope, and came off with a fist drop. He covered Shane and scored the pin, while “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” stopped Dotson from another save with a big fist of his own. The Joneses are now at 5-0 since forming their team! ½* 3) Bobby Shane picked up a sneaky win over Billy Gunn after about 10 minutes of action. Gunn had gotten the win the last time these two wrestled in this same arena in January and looked like he might do the same again as hit the Famouser early in the bout but Shane got a foot on the ropes for a break. Shane took control, loaded up his kneepad with an object from Jimmy Hart, and smashed Gunn in the head several times with a loaded knee. Gunn was woozy and Shane slapped on the Japanese sleeper. He held the sleeper on for nearly a minute. Gunn dropped to the mat and Frank Morrell checked his arm. It dropped twice but on the third attempt, Gunn popped back up, fought to his feet, and broke out of the hold with elbows to the midsection. Shane cut him off with a hair pull but Gunn took control a moment later. He had Shane in trouble and sent him into the buckle. He went for a running corner splash but Shane moved out of the way and Gunn’s head hit the metal rod connecting the turnbuckle to the ring post. Gunn was shaken up more after having taken loaded knee smashes. Shane scooped a woozy Gunn’s legs into a pin and placed his feet on the ropes in the same corner. Morrell counted Gunn’s shoulders down, not seeing the leverage, and Shane scored the pin. The Rupp Arena fans booed Shane and Hart as they retreated to the locker room the victors! **¾ 4) The Uptown Boys picked up another win over “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. Although they were only teaming for the second time, the Uptown Boys showed that they are starting to gel as a team already. They hit a double hip toss on Sharpe and Marty Jannetty scored a two-count. Jannetty hit a DDT and went for a cover but Rodz made a pin save with a falling head butt, sacrificing Sharpe’s safety too. It paid off as Sharpe recovered first and hit the piledriver for a near fall. Sharpe tagged Rodz who hit an Unpredictable Slam and worked over the Georgian. With the fans and Tommy Rogers rooting him on, Jannetty battled back after Sharpe was again the legal man. He tagged to Rogers, who worked over the New Jerseyan with his fast-paced offense, including several dropkicks. Rogers tagged back to Jannetty, who executed the Rocker Dropper and scored the pinfall, while Rogers stopped Rodz with a dropkick. The Lexington fans gave the Uptown Boys a big ovation for the win! *** 5) Harley Race scored one of the quickest wins in USWA history in about 10 seconds with a pinfall on Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. Race and Milliman tied up at the bell. Race pulled Milliman down in a front facelock and hit a swinging neckbreaker. Race made a cover and scored the pinfall. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart was happy with his man’s win and didn’t mind a short match, since he had two more First Family of Wrestling matches coming up later on the card! DUD ( NOTE: This match was one move!) 6) Brad and Brian Armstrong scored a huge win over two-time former World Tag Team champions Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons. This was a competitive match between these two teams. The former champs had the early advantage, hitting a double dropkick on Brian. Lyons went for the figure-four leglock early but “The Road Dogg” kicked him off. Brian stumbled to his feet and tried to tag his brother but Lyons stopped him by jumping on his back and applying an X-cellent sleeper. Brian fought to the ropes before the sleeper could take full effect. Brian surprised Doctor X with a drop toehold, sending him onto the middle rope. Brian hit a rope straddle and went for a cover but X kicked out. Brian tagged to Brad, who blasted X immediately with a knee lift. He went for a cover but again the former Southern champ kicked out. Brad hit the Russian leg sweep a few moments later but again X kicked out. X took advantage of a mistake and tagged to Lyons. The Canadian hit an atomic drop on Brad and then leapt over into the figure-four right away. Brad was in trouble but managed to get the ropes for a break. A few moments later, X and Brian were the legal men again when the masked man had control. Brian sidestepped a clothesline and X crashed into Lyons in their corner, sending him flying off the ring apron! X landed on the middle rope and Brian immediately followed up with a second rope straddle. He pulled X off the rope, covered him, and scored the pinfall. The fans erupted at the Armstrongs’ big win! ***½ 7) One-half of the World Tag Team champions Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy scored a huge win in singles over King Kong Bundy. Gordy had the initial advantage, knocking down the New Jersey giant with a lariat about two minutes into the bout. Gordy went for a pin but Bundy kicked out. Gordy attempted a top rope maneuver but before he could launch, Bundy caught him in the corner and slammed him hard off the top to the mat. Bundy took control for several minutes, focusing his attack on Gordy’s back. He hit a backbreaker for a near fall. Bundy hit a big splash but “Bamm Bamm” kicked out at 2¾. With the fans behind him, Gordy rallied back and knocked Bundy down again. He stomped away at Bundy near the ropes. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart got up on the ring apron and in Gordy’s face, but Gordy sent him flying off with a big shove! Bundy got to his feet in the middle of this melee and tried to ambush Gordy but the former Southern champion was ready for him and nailed Bundy with a boot to the midsection. Bundy was bent over and Gordy grabbed him for the power bomb. Gordy got the 446-pound Bundy up and while he didn’t get as much as he does on smaller opponents, managed to drive Bundy into the mat, which drew a big pop from the crowd! Gordy immediately went for the pin and got the three-count! Hart was in shock by Gordy’s quick turnaround win! ***¼ 8) Chris Candido of the Heavenly Bodies scored a tainted pinfall on “Sweet” Stan Lane of the Midnight Express. The action in this bout was fast and furious between these hated rivals. Lane got the advantage and hit the Russian leg sweep a few minutes into the bout for a near fall. Lane knocked Candido out of the ring with a series of karate kicks. Dan “The Beast” Severn checked on “The Suicide Blonde.” Lane came out of the ring and delivered a noggin knocker to Candido and Severn! “The Gangster of Love” returned to the ring. With Jim Cornette’s encouragement, Candido rolled back into the ring by the count of nine. Severn was shaken up but returned to his feet and to his position protecting Cornette. Candido surprised Lane a moment later with a small package for a two-count. Candido maintained control. He nailed Lane with a running neckbreaker a few moments later. He made a quick cover, hooking “Sweet” Stan’s trunks at the same time, and scored the pinfall after about 10 minutes of action. Lane kicked out but right after Paul Neighbors’ three-count. Lane quickly got to his feet, realizing the illegal leverage Candido had used, and went after Candido but he quickly retreated with Cornette and Severn! **¾ 9) In the first of two title matches, Ray “The Crippler” Stevens became a three-time USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion with a pinfall on Luke Harper after 10 minutes of action. Stevens attacked the champion aggressively right at the start. Harper battled back and hit a swinging side slam for a two-count. The champion whipped the challenger into the ropes and hit the big boot for another near fall. Stevens took control again. Seeing his bodyguard in trouble, Tyler Black (in street clothes) came out from the back. Stevens hit the piledriver and went for a cover but Black distracted Frank Morrell. “The Crippler” hit Black with a punch and then rammed him into the ring post, sending him to the floor. Stevens hit the Bombs Away immediately but Harper kicked out. Stevens continued to work over the big man and a few minutes later, hit an impressive double underhook suplex to score the pinfall. Black had recovered by this point and checked on Harper after the bell, while Stevens and “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart celebrated the title win! They were joined by fellow First Family of Wrestling members Harley Race, King Kong Bundy, and Bobby Shane, all recovered from their earlier bouts. (With the win, Stevens is now tied for the most Mid-America title reigns at three, along with Nigel McGuinness and “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!) *** 10) The main event was a huge return grudge match for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Current and two-time champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant put the title on the line against “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan of the House of Humperdink. These two met for the title last month in Memphis at the 500th USWA card. Sullivan ambushed Valiant right away and got disqualified quickly, hanging Valiant over the top rope and choking him with his black robe. Valiant suffered an injured trachea and hasn’t been able to talk much since then. The two met two weeks later in a non-title match in Jackson and Sullivan scored an impressive quick pinfall on the champion. While both wrestlers started in their respective corners waiting for Gary Michael Cappetta’s pre-main event ring introductions. As soon as Cappetta announced the champion, Sullivan removed his robe and charged the champion, ambushing him again. Jerry Calhoun called for the bell. Sullivan blasted Valiant with chops to the throat, targeting the injured trachea. The challenger hit the double foot stomp and went for an early pin but Valiant kicked out at two. Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Calhoun, while Sullivan took Valiant to the side of the ring, grabbed the microphone from Cappetta, hit Valiant in the head with it, and then wrapped the cord around his neck. He choked “Boogie Woogie” with it for several seconds before releasing him. Calhoun turned his attention back to the match. Despite the pain from the choke, the World champion battled back, fired up against “The Gamesmaster.” Valiant knocked Sullivan down to the mat and hit the Boogie Woogie elbow. He went for a cover but Sullivan kicked out. Sullivan fought back and slammed Valiant upside down into the corner. He hit the Tree of Woe, pulled the champion off the buckles, and went for a cover but only got a two-count. The brawler Sullivan showed that he can wrestle by surprising Valiant with a small package for a two-count. Valiant took over in a brawl outside the ring, after slamming Sullivan’s head into the guard railing. He tossed Sullivan back in and hit a body slam. He then delivered another Boogie Woogie elbow. Instead of trying for a pin, an irate Valiant, got up and hit another Boogie Woogie elbow. The World champion was out to hurt Sullivan after what “The Gamesmaster” had done to him and delivered a third elbow drop. He finally went for a pin. Valiant had his face toward the ropes, while Calhoun had his back to the ropes and was focused on Sullivan’s shoulders. Humperdink reached in and smashed the World champion in the face with his cane, breaking up the pin attempt. Calhoun was confused by what had happened, while the Lexington fans were irate at what had transpired. Valiant rolled out of the ring for a breather. He recovered, realized what had happened, and went after Humperdink. Humperdink tried to flee but the World champion caught him, and clamped him in a sleeper. He seemed to put Humperdink out but unfortunately for the champion during all of this, Calhoun had been counting Valiant out of the ring this whole time. Valiant realized it at the count of nine, released Humperdink, and slid back into the ring but unfortunately for “Boogie Woogie,” it was just after the count of 10. Calhoun called for the bell and awarded the bout to the challenger via countout after about 11 minutes of action. Sullivan got his hand raised and was the winner but was not the World champion. Still, “The Gamemaster” seemed happy with the win, as he cackled at his devious victory over the champion. Sullivan looked out at Valiant, gloating that he had beaten the champion. An irate Valiant grabbed the World Heavyweight title belt from the announcers’ table, rolled into the ring, and started swinging it at Sullivan. Sullivan dodged the attack, rolled out of the ring, and woke up Humperdink on the floor. Valiant tried to go after the two but Calhoun calmed him down. Sullivan and a revived Humperdink returned to the locker room the victors! ***
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Post by TTX on Oct 23, 2020 9:38:41 GMT -5
Nice to see Jay take a win. Cool to see Stevens grab for some gold.
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Post by luke929 on Oct 23, 2020 10:00:48 GMT -5
Great stuff, as always!! The USWA is on fire!
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 31, 2020 9:57:01 GMT -5
Thanks to Troy and Luke for the comments!
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on April 15, including the first announcements of matches for Derby City Stampede! • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that the main event for the huge supercard the night before the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” will be for the USWA World Heavyweight title. As Armstrong was being interviewed by Lance Russell in the WMC-TV Studios, he was interrupted by “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink. Humperdink said that Armstrong better make Sullivan the challenger for Jimmy Valiant’s USWA World Heavyweight title. He said that Sullivan has pinned Valiant and beat him “decisively” by countout in the title match last week in Lexington. Armstrong questioned the decisiveness but he told the manager that he was right and that Sullivan will get another shot at Valiant on May 5 at the Horse Show Pavilion at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds! The commissioner added that to ensure hopefully a decisive winner, while Humperdink will be allowed in the ringside area, he will have a “bird’s eye view” of the match, as he will be suspended above the ring in a cage! Humperdink and Sullivan were outraged! • The commissioner returned later in the show with more announcements. It was announced that an intense tag team feud that has seen some wild battles over the last year will come to an end for now, as The Heavenly Bodies will take on The Midnight Express. The commissioner that Jim Cornette had requested that this match be fought as a Louisville Street Fight and the commissioner (for once) agreed with “The Louisville Slugger”! He also added that this match will be a Losers-Leave-Town Match, where both members of the losing team will have to leave the USWA for one year! Cornette entered the studios, flanked by Dan “The Beast” Severn. He said that this more proof of Armstrong conspiring against him, as he did not request the Losers-Leave-Town stipulation. The commissioner replied that a feud of this nature needs to end and what better way to end than to send someone packing! Cornette said if that’s what needs to happen to end the “myth” of the Midnight Express and prove that they are nothing without him managing them, so be it! He said that in his hometown with “his” fans behind him, the Bodies will put the Midnights out of action once and for all! • “Bullet” Bob also announced that the now three-time Mid-America Heavyweight champion Ray “The Crippler” Stevens will collide once again with Tyler Black! Stevens and “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart were interviewed in-studio. Hart said that if Black wants to get embarrassed again, the champ would be happy to do it! Hart cackled and Stevens added that this will be a non-title match, as Black has “failed’ to win the title in all of his shots and has never defeated Stevens! • Another First Family of Wrestling member has a huge match on this supercard, as Harley Race will face one of his toughest challenges since returning to the USWA when he faces “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas! Race has gotten quick wins so far but Atlas has been impressive since debuting in the USWA in early 2016, challenging for both the World Heavyweight and Southern Heavyweight titles and getting some big and impressive wins! • Two masked men will collide again, when The Patriot faces The Dark Patriot! The Patriot gave his rival his first pinfall loss in February in Tupelo. Since then, he and Tommy Gilbert have given the “bogus” Patriot more losses and lots of headaches, as they have targeted his mask. You can bet that Gilbert will be present in Louisville and the fan favorites will have their sights set on the mask! • Sir Oliver Humperdink was back later in the show and had calmed down a little bit. He said that it doesn’t matter if he’s on the arena floor or above the arena, Kevin Sullivan will fulfill his destiny and become the World champion! He said that in other House of Humperdink news, he had found Mr. Saito’s new tag team partner! He said that USWA fans are very familiar with this man, as he is a former USWA World Heavyweight champion, and in some ways, he is “family” to the House of Humperdink. Lance Russell asked Humperdink to explain himself. Humperdink said that when this man came to the USWA in 2010, he established a stable of international rulebreakers. That stable was eventually taken over by “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in 2011 and became Hot Stuff, International. Gilbert and Ted DiBiase betrayed this man at New Year’s Knockout VIII at that end of that year and he left the USWA. Humperdink came to the USWA in the summer of 2015 and became the manager for Hot Stuff, International, which was then renamed the House of Humperdink. Lance knew whom Humperdink was describing and Humperdink revealed that “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff will be returning and forming a team with Saito! Lance said that this will be an impressive duo and he asked Humperdink when fans can expect to see this team. He said that Koloff will return in singles action on April 24 in Jonesboro and then he and Saito will team up for the first time at Derby City Stampede!
• The commissioner was a busy man, as he had announcements of more matches for the April 24 card at the Earl Belle Community Center in Jonesboro! o A huge first-time match will take place, as The Patriot battles “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan! While this is the first time these two are battling in a sanctioned match, these two are no strangers to each other, as Sullivan brought in the Dark Patriot on Halloween night in Tupelo, having claimed to have signed the original Patriot to the House of Humperdink. The American masked man would love to give Sullivan a beating before he faces the Dark Patriot at Derby City Stampede and before Sullivan gets another shot at the World title! o King Kong Bundy will be in action. The New Jersey giant will face Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana! This will be a huge challenge for the host of The Art of Wrestling. Cabana was one of the final four wrestlers in the 25-man Battle Royal that Bundy won at New Year’s Knockout XIII in Louisville. Cabana almost eliminated Bundy but Bundy’s then-tag team partner Big John Studd saved him. Bundy has been on a quest to defeat all the wrestlers that almost eliminated him. He did not succeed against World Tag Team champion Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy so you can bet he will be fired up to do against “Boom Boom”!
• The commissioner announced a match for after Derby City Stampede. Ray “The Crippler” Stevens will make the first defense of his third USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship when he faces former champion Luke Harper! Harper is hoping to make Stevens’ third reign a short one and win back the title!
The USWA comes back to “Music City USA”—Nashville and the Municipal Auditorium on April 17! • Two Midwesterners will tangle for the first time, as Tyler Black will take on Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana! Black is still focused on the Mid-America title but he cannot look past Cabana, who studies many styles of pro wrestling and could upset Black. Who will leave Nashville the victor? • Harley Race has scored impressive wins since returning to the USWA at the 500th card in March. His level of competition will increase starting this week, as he faces Billy Gunn! Gunn is a three-time former World Tag Team champion and has gained some big wins in the last year in singles competition. A win over Race would definitely get Gunn noticed and in consideration for a singles championship match. Race hopes to put down Gunn as he continues in his and Jimmy Hart’s quest for USWA gold. Can Race stop the big Texan or will Gunn score a huge upset? • Speaking of huge wins, Red Bastien scored a big one over two-time former Southern champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie last month at the Louisville Gardens. He hopes to go two-for-two this week. Will lightning strike twice for the flying redhead or will “The King of Men” avenge that loss? • Two long-time rivals will collide in a No-Disqualification Match, when “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson faces Chris Candido! Danielson ended Candido’s Texas title reign back in 2010 and was the last USWA Texas champ before the Texas State Athletic Commission banned the USWA from promoting in the Lone Star State in 2011. Danielson returned to the USWA in October in this same arena as a mystery partner for Brian Kendrick to battle Candido and his mystery partner Dan “The Beast” Severn, after the Heavenly Bodies and Severn gave Paul London a concussion. (Dr. Tom Prichard was injured the week before that match by the Midnight Express, which is why Severn took his place.) Danielson and Kendrick won the match that night. Since then, Danielson and Candido have wrestled in singles matches three times. Candido won the first match by disqualification and Danielson won the next two by countouts. With no disqualifications and no countouts under these rules, there should be a decisive winner! In addition to triumphing over his rival, you can bet that Candido will be under instructions from Jim Cornette to injure Danielson before “Dragon” gets another shot at the Southern Heavyweight title against “Exotic” Adrian Street next week in Jonesboro. Who will win the latest chapter of this storied feud? • A recent feud that has also become the talk of the South will meet again, as Tommy Gilbert seeks to defeat “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan! Gilbert and the Patriot have their goal to unmask the Dark Patriot but Sullivan will try to stop that. Sullivan has proven in attacks against World Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, Nick Bockwinkel, and Tommy’s sons Eddie and Doug Gilbert that he is capable of heinous actions. What will happen in Nashville? • The main event will be a rematch for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Current and two-time champions Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will put the titles on the line against six-time former champions The Midnight Express! The last time these teams met in February in Tupelo the match barely got started when the Heavenly Bodies and Dan “The Beast” Severn got involved and disqualified the Midnights. “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard is still out with the neck injury from the Stretcher Elimination Match at the 500th USWA card in Memphis in March but Candido, Severn, and Jim Cornette are scheduled on this card for Candido’s No-Disqualification Match with Bryan Danielson. Knowing the importance of getting title shots, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane agreed to this match at this date, despite the fact that Eaton’s back is not at 100% after Candido gave him the Blonde Bomb through a table to win the Stretcher Elimination Match. Williams and Gordy have been impressive in this second title reign. Depending on the outcome of the Louisville Street Fight/Losers-Leave-Town Match at Derby City Stampede, this could be Eaton and Lane’s last shot at the titles for a year. Can the Midnights become seven-time champions or will Williams and Gordy reign supreme?
All these great matches, plus Mr. Saito takes on “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon! As well as The Uptown Boys, “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay, and Nashville’s own Jake “The Milkman” Milliman!
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 14, 2020 22:54:36 GMT -5
April 17, 2017 Card #504: Municipal Auditorium in Nashville1) “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz got his first win in singles in nearly six years to (almost exactly, as his last win was April 18, 2011) with a pinfall on newcomer “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay. Rodz was aggressive at the bell but Jay surprised him with a front facelock roll-up for a two-count. Jay maintained control but Rodz cut him off with a clothesline and scored a near fall. Rodz stayed in control, got Jay down on the mat, and went up to the second rope. He hit a splash off the ropes, covered Jay, and scored the pinfall after about 12 minutes of action. In addition to this being Rodz’s first singles win in six years, this was also his second ever pinfall win and his first in almost seven years! **¼ 2) “Dastardly” Danny Doring scored a pinfall on Nashville’s own Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. Milliman got a big ovation from his hometown crowd and had a lot of offense against the “Dastardly One.” Doring rallied and used just about every move in his arsenal. He got “The Milkman” down on the mat and hit the Panty Drop elbow. Instead of going for the pin, he climbed up the ropes again, this time to the top, and came off with the Danaconda. He covered Milliman and scored the pin in about six minutes. ¼* 3) Mr. Saito scored a submission win on “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon in about four minutes. The Japanese Olympian largely dominated the PBR drinker, using his pure wrestling and submission skills. He used the Prison Deathlock to wear down Cannon’s leg before applying the Scorpion Leglock. Cannon fought hard for the ropes but Saito pulled him toward the center and forced him to tap. Sir Oliver Humperdink was very happy with his man’s win. Saito looked impressive in singles. How will he fare in tag team action with his new partner Ivan Koloff, who returns next week in Jonesboro? ½* 4) Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana scored a big pinfall win over Tyler Black. Black had the advantage in the first few minutes and looked like he could have won the match on several occasions but wouldn’t go for the pin. He knocked Cabana out of the ring and then distracted Paul Morton, while Luke Harper clotheslined Cabana on the arena floor. He tossed Cabana back into the ring and Black immediately executed God’s Last Gift. He tried for his first pin but Cabana kicked out at two. Black sent Cabana into the buckles but “Boom Boom” reversed it and sent Black hard into the buckles, sending him flying over the top rope and to the arena floor. Black was hurting but with Harper’s help returned to the ring. Cabana maintained control. He whipped Black into the ropes and blasted him with a flying hip attack. He covered Black but the Iowan kicked out. Black reversed a whip into the ropes but Cabana bounced back and blasted him with a folding Thesz Press for a two-count. As both men got to their feet, Cabana struck first and executed the Colt .45. He covered Black and scored the pin, getting a big pop from the “Music City” fans! *** 5) The Uptown Boys picked up another win, this time over the masked Demons. The Demons had some early offense against Tommy Rogers but the former Mid-America champion battled back and tagged to Marty Jannetty. The Uptown Boys seem to gel together as a team more with each match, as they tagged frequently and showcased some double team maneuvers. They trapped Demon II in the ring for several minutes and picked up the pinfall after about seven-and-a-half minutes with Rogers’ Tomikaze, while Jannetty stopped Demon I with a dropkick. The Nashville fans gave the Uptown Boys a big ovation for their win. ¼* 6) Harley Race picked up a win over Billy Gunn. Gunn was hoping for a huge singles win and looked like he was about to achieve it at any minute. He started off quickly against Race trying to score a quick pin, hitting a jackhammer about a minute into the match but only getting a two-count. Race took over and hit the vertical suplex but Gunn managed to kick out. Gunn fought his way out of an attempted shoulder breaker and regained control. He whipped Race into the buckles and followed up with a running corner splash. Race dropped to the mat and immediately rolled out of the ring for a breather. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart distracted Scott Bowden, while Gunn followed Race to the floor. Gunn attempted to attack but Race cut him off and then rammed his head into the announcers’ table. Gunn was woozy, as Race tossed him back in and hit the piledriver. He covered Gunn, as Bowden turned around to count the pinfall after about seven minutes of action. Hart was very happy with Race’s win! **¾ 7) “Classy” Freddie Blassie bounced back from his loss to Red Bastien last month in Louisville with a pinfall win of his own against the former Texas champion. Bastien used his fast-paced offense to try and score his second win on the two-time former Southern champion. He caught Blassie in a sleeper about two minutes into the bout and looked like he might put “The King of Men” out but Blassie made the ropes. Bastien followed up with the airplane spin into the atomic drop and went for a cover but Blassie kicked out. Bastien hit a second atomic drop but Blassie again kicked out. Bastien hit a third atomic drop but this time the move sent Blassie flying up and over the top rope and to the Municipal Auditorium floor. Bastien came out after Blassie. He charged him but Blassie sidestepped the attack and Bastien’s throat hit the guard railing. “Classy” Freddie seized the opportunity, grabbed Bastien, and threw him back into the ring. He hit the Southern neckbreaker and went for a cover but Bastien kicked out! Blassie seemed shocked by this, so he followed up with a second neckbreaker. This time, the move was enough as Blassie scored the pin after about five minutes of high-intensity action. **¼ 8) In a No-Disqualification Match, “The Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido scored a controversial pinfall on “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson. This was a physical battle between these two. Candido especially took advantage of the no-disqualification rule, choking Danielson frequently and making sure Jim Cornette and Dan “The Beast” Severn got some cheap shots in from outside the ring. A few minutes in the match, Danielson caught Candido in the guillotine choke. Candido broke up the choke with a low blow. Both men were on their feet when Candido took “Dragon” down to the mat with an armbar takedown and applied a waki gatame, out of Severn’s playbook. He held the move on for nearly a minute and it looked like Danielson might tap but the two-time former World champion pushed through and rolled Candido on to his back, attempting to score a pinfall. Candido released the armbar to avoid pinning himself. Candido stayed in control, took Danielson to the corner, climbed up the buckles with him, and executed the Blonde Bomb. After hitting the move, “The Suicide Blonde,” rather than going for a cover, gloated about the move and then strutted. He finally made a cocky cover but Danielson kicked out at two! Candido was shocked but maintained control. He went for the waki gatame again but Danielson grabbed the ropes. Joe Wheeler couldn’t force Candido to break because of the no-disqualification rule but also couldn’t call for a submission since Danielson was “out of bounds.” Danielson rolled out of the ring for a breather. Candido followed him but Danielson blasted him with a boot to the face. He nailed him with some stiff roundhouse kicks and then rammed Candido’s head into the ring post. He rolled Candido back into the ring. Candido stumbled around dazed. He swung at Danielson but Danielson dodged the punch, caught Candido’s arm, and took him down to the mat, transitioning into the LeBell Lock in the center of the ring. The fans went wild thinking Candido was about to tap. Cornette was concerned as well and entered the ring trying to break up the submission. Wheeler saw him and stopped “The Louisville Slugger.” Even though he could not disqualify Candido, he didn’t want Cornette to play a part in the outcome. While trying to get Cornette out, Cornette pointed to “The Beast” telling Wheeler not to put his hands on him! Meanwhile, Candido had tapped out but Wheeler was continuing to berate Cornette. Suddenly, the Southern Heavyweight champion “Exotic” Adrian Street (dressed in extravagant street clothes) made a surprise appearance. He had grabbed Cornette’s tennis racquet and smacked Danielson in the back of the head with it! The fans were irate at Wheeler for missing the tap out. Street rolled out of the ring and stood with Cornette and Severn. Candido recovered and tossed Danielson out of the ring right in front of his allies. Street grabbed a steel chair from ringside and smashed Danielson across the back with it. He then tossed Danielson back into the ring and slid the chair to Candido. Candido hit Danielson with it, then laid the chair on the mat. He grabbed “Dragon” and hit a snap suplex right onto the chair. He covered Danielson and scored the pinfall after 22 minutes of wild action. The fans berated Candido, Cornette, Street, and Severn with boos as Wheeler raised Candido’s hand! After the bout, Candido and Street continued their onslaught on Danielson. They executed a double suplex again on the chair. Street then put the chair under Danielson’s back while Candido came off the top with a diving head butt. Street then went up top and hit a top rope splash with the chair still under Danielson. Street then grabbed the chair and started climbing the ropes again, while Candido and Severn each grabbed an arm. Before the Southern champion could attack, Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana, coming of his earlier win on the card, ran down to ringside. He grabbed a chair of his own, rolled into the ring and hit Candido and Severn. He then went for Street but the “Exotic One” evaded him. Cornette and his men ran to the back. Cabana checked on Danielson and helped him to his feet. Danielson’s back was obviously in a lot of pain, as Cabana helped him to the back. *** 9) “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan took a beating but pulled off a pinfall win over his rival Tommy Gilbert. Sullivan charged Gilbert at the bell but Gilbert saw him coming and cut him off with a punch to the midsection. He worked on Sullivan for several minutes until Sullivan cut him off with a karate thrust to the throat. Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Scott Bowden, while Sullivan pulled out his golden spike from his robe. He jabbed Gilbert twice with it, only drawing a small cut before Bowden turned his attention back to the action and Sullivan disposed of the spike before getting caught. Sullivan hit Gilbert with the double foot stomp and went for a cover but Gilbert kicked out at 2¾. Sullivan tossed Gilbert out of the ring. Gilbert got back to his feet and as Sullivan went to reach for him, he blasted “The Gamesmaster” with a punch. Gilbert had control for a few minutes. He knocked Sullivan out of the ring. As Sullivan climbed back in after the count of five, Gilbert hit the running knee lift. He went for the pin but Sullivan got a foot on the bottom rope. Gilbert continued to beat on the Boston brawler. He hit a second running knee lift and went for a cover but Humperdink put Sullivan’s foot on the bottom rope. Gilbert saw this and went after the manager briefly. He returned to the ring and executed a body slam. He went for an elbow drop but Sullivan rolled out of the way. Sullivan snap mared Gilbert to the mat and hit a second double foot stomp. He covered Gilbert and scored the pinfall after 12 minutes. This was Gilbert’s first pinfall loss in the USWA. Sullivan and Humperdink pulled out a win again, which is impressive before Sullivan faces the Patriot for the first time next week in Jonesboro and then challenges “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant again for the World title on May 5 at Derby City Stampede! **** 10) The main event was a rematch from two months ago in Tupelo for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Current and two-time champions Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy defended the belts against six-time former champions The Midnight Express. When these teams met at the Tupelo Sports Arena, the match barely got started when the Heavenly Bodies and Dan “The Beast” Severn attacked Williams to get the Midnights intentionally disqualified. The Midnights agreed to a rematch on this date, despite “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton not being at 100% from the Stretcher Elimination Match with the Bodies at the 500th USWA card in March at the Mid-South Coliseum. Eaton wore a back brace to the ring. Typically, Eaton starts the matches for the Midnights but tonight “Sweet” Stan Lane was the first legal man, trying to keep “Beautiful” Bobby from further injury. The champions double teamed Lane for the first couple minutes but “The Gangster of Love” cut Gordy off with some big punches. Eaton asked for the tag and Lane obliged. Lane whipped Gordy into the ropes and took him down on the rebound with a drop toehold and Eaton followed up with an elbow drop. Eaton covered “Bamm Bamm” but Gordy kicked out. Eaton kept control of Gordy for a couple of minutes and then tagged back to Lane. The challengers managed to execute the Flapjack. Lane went for a cover but Gordy again kicked out. Gordy fought back and tagged to “Doc.” The champions blasted Lane with a double football tackle. They worked over Lane for a few minutes but Lane tagged Eaton again. The former Southern, Texas, and Mid-America champion worked over Williams. He tagged back to Lane and the challengers managed to hit the Veg-o-Matic. The Alabama Jam hurt Eaton’s back but Lane went for the cover. Williams managed to kick out. Williams surprised “Sweet” Stan with a lariat a few moments later. Williams tagged Gordy who hit the power bomb and went for a pin but Lane managed to kick out. Gordy tried for a submission with an STF. He held Lane in it for 90 seconds but Lane finally managed to pull himself to the ropes for a break. Suddenly, Jim Cornette, Chris Candido, and Dan “The Beast” Severn appeared in the aisleway and watched the match. Lane recovered a few minutes later and tagged to Eaton. Eaton nailed Gordy with an elbow smash to the head and busted him open. The Midnights then hit a double back suplex. Lane returned to the corner but Eaton’s back was hurting from the double team maneuver. As Paul Morton counted both men. Williams tried to reach out for a legal tag. Suddenly, Candido ran down to the ringside area and nailed “Doc” with a double sledge to the back and then took off back up the aisleway. Williams ran after Candido but got cut off by Severn, his former collegiate opponent and a man he battled many times in 2009. Severn grabbed him and nailed him with knee strikes and then delivered a fireman’s carry slam on the arena floor. This all took place far from the ring and Morton couldn’t see the attack. Eaton recovered first and pulled Gordy to the challengers’ corner. He tagged Lane and the Midnights executed a second Veg-o-Matic. Lane rolled into a cover and scored the pinfall after 18 minutes of action. Morton called for the bell and awarded the Midnights their seventh and record-breaking (breaking their own record) World Tag Team titles! As the fans popped at the quick ending, the Midnights were handed the belts. As their music began to play, they spotted Cornette, Severn, and Candido in the aisleway standing over Williams and just now realizing their involvement! Cornette had a smirk on his face as he and his men returned to the locker room. (In addition to breaking their own record as a team for the most reigns, Lane has now held the titles 12 times, while Eaton is an 11-time champion!) ***¾
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Post by cruefan68 on Nov 15, 2020 21:29:14 GMT -5
Johnny Rodz goes to the pay window! Cue a celebration from joebreakdown who is the champion of the enhancement stars. I'm with Joe as I too love when those guys get a chance to shine. Congrats to the Midnight Express on winning a record seventh USWA World tag title. What a match between them and Doc & Gordy. Great show overall in Nashville.
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Post by TTX on Nov 16, 2020 9:19:26 GMT -5
Midnight Express pull out the unlikely win even if Cornette was involved. Nice to see Unpredictable pick up an unpredictable win. Also fun wins by the Uptown Boys and Harley Race.
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