Cory's USWA

[hollywoodlyn]

Nice action going on in the USWA

[Cory Olson]

Nov 23, 2008 16:45:53 GMT -5 hollywoodlyn said:

Nice action going on in the USWA

Thanks, Lyn! Here's some more!

November 21, 2008
Card #188: Freedom Hall in Johnson City, TN

1) Former USWA World Tag Team champions “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring rebounded from their recent losses to get a win in the opener over George South and Larry Sharpe. South scored a singles upset over Rose earlier this year, and it looked like he and Sharpe would get a tag team upset this year. Doring missed his Danaconda off the top, not once, but twice! Rose managed to land the Bombs Away on South, but Sharpe stopped the pin attempt. Rose and Sharpe went at it, before the “Playboy” hit a gut wrench backbreaker to get the pin. “Sensational” Sherri Martel was definitely happy with her boys’ win. **½

2) Bobo Brazil defeated Brutus Beefcake by submission. Brazil, hot off his win over Southern champ The Sheik last week, was on a roll here. Beefcake had control early on, but Bobo took over and never looked back. He used the Coco Butt several times, busting the San Francisco native open, and threatened to nail Capt. Lou Albano with one, when the manager was up on the apron. But it was a bear hug which would bring Bobo victory. *¾

3) Larry Zbyszko pinned Cousin Luke. Zbyszko used a piledriver twice and went for a cover, but the hillbilly got his foot on the bottom rope. Zbyszko attempted to rip the turnbuckle pad off several times, as he did against Luke’s partner S.D. Jones last week, but Tommy Marlin was on the ball and stopped his attempts. (Marlin returned to refereeing duty on this card, after having recently served on the USWA Committee. He replaces the recently fired Kevin Christian.) Zbyszko busted Luke open after a falling sledge off the top turnbuckle. He came off the second rope with a knee drop to Luke’s bloody head and got the pin, to the delight of Bobby Heenan. *¼

4) For the second week in a row, The Crusher got disqualified against one of Capt. Lou Albano’s charges—this time, Buff Bagwell. “Buff Daddy” jumped Crusher at the bell and tried with all his might to get the big man down. He raked the eyes and choked Crusher on the ropes. Crusher rolled to the floor, where Capt. Lou Albano attempted to smash him with a chair. Crusher stopped him and grabbed the chair. Bagwell came over, but got clocked with the chair as he leaned through the ropes, in a scene similar to Magnificent Muraco last week. The fans were irate at this one, knowing that Albano attempted to use the chair first! DUD

5) “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey scored a tainted win via countout over Brad Armstrong. The biggest factor in this match was Jim Cornette’s constant interference behind Tom Branch’s back. Armstrong’s tag team partner Koko B. Ware came down to counteract Cornette. Armstrong started to rally back and nailed Condrey with a nice missile dropkick. He went up the ropes again, but Cornette jumped up on the apron. ‘The Birdman” came up on the other side of the apron, but Branch cut him off first. With Armstrong still on the top, Cornette cracked him in the back with the tennis racket. Armstrong went down and rolled to the floor, holding his back. Branch put the count on him and despite encouragement and help from Ware, Armstrong couldn’t get back in the ring in time. *¼

6) Greg “The Hammer” Valentine defeated World Tag Team champion Jimmy Valiant by submission. Valentine worked over “The Boogie Woogie Man’s” leg from the opening bell. He got the win after just a few minutes with the figure-four leglock, although he was aided by leverage from Capt. Lou Albano, which was unseen by Sam Platania. After the bell, Valentine kept the leglock on as Albano yelled for him to break the leg. Valiant’s Tag Team championship partner Jimmy Snuka came down and broke up the melee before serious damage could be done. Valiant needed help to the back, but suffered no serious injuries. ½*

7) Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge scored a submission victory over The Killer Bees. B. Brian Blair and “Jumping” Jim Brunzell put Hutton out of action in 2005 with a back injury, and ironically Hutton and Hodge would focus their attack on Brunzell’s back in this one. Hodge applied the Boston Crab to Brunzell on several occasions, cinching in the hold with his great grip strength. Hutton went for a pin at one point on Blair after a side salto, but Brunzell leapt over the ropes and stomped Hutton to break up the pin attempt. Blair recovered, tagged out to Brunzell, and The Bees hit the Bee Sting on Hutton, but Brunzell could only get a two-count. Hodge and Hutton double teamed Brunzell more, again, going after the back. Hodge applied his partner’s finisher, the abdominal stretch, focusing on the lower back, as well as the abdominals. “Jumping” Jim fought desperately for the ropes, but with Hodge’s great grip, he was trapped and ultimately had to surrender. ***½

8) Magnificent Muraco scored a win over his rival, World Tag Team champion “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Muraco hit the devastating Asiatic Spike early on, and Snuka was shook up for the rest of the bout. He had the fans behind him, but couldn’t sustain offense on the Hawaiian surfer. At one point, Muraco had Snuka up in an over-the-shoulder backbreaker. Snuka got his foot over the rope and also was able to pull both himself and Muraco over the rope to the floor. The “Superfly” landed on top of the pile and got back in the ring first. Muraco recovered and just made it back in by the count of nine. Despite the fall, Muraco was able to take over. He smashed Snuka with another Asiatic Spike. He went for an immediate cover and got the three. Snuka came up coughing up blood after the bell. He tried to fight back against Muraco, but was weakened. Muraco went for another Spike, but suddenly “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant limped down the aisle. Muraco saw him and went to attack Valiant at ringside, with Capt. Lou Albano cheering on. Snuka suddenly came out and smashed Muraco from behind with his Tag Team championship belt, then head butted Albano. The champs threw Muraco back in the ring. The two stomped on Muraco’s taped thumb that he uses for the Asiatic Spike. Snuka then held Muraco down, while “The Boogie Woogie Man” climbed up the ropes. Despite a bad leg, Valiant came off with a top rope elbow drop, the same move he and brother “Luscious” Johnny used to use. Greg Valentine and The Killer B’s finally made their way to ringside. Muraco needed help to the back. No word on any injuries as of this time. **½

9) Giant Baba and Rikidozan scored a hard fought victory over USWA World Heavyweight champion The Destroyer and Nick Bockwinkel in an amazing match. Baba looked strong in this bout. At one point, he prevented a double suplex by Bockwinkel and Destroyer and gave both men a head butt in return. While Destroyer attacked the giant’s legs throughout the bout, he couldn’t get him down long enough to apply the figure-four. Baba hit the dreaded neckbreaker drop on the champ midway through the bout, but the champ got his shoulder up at 2¾. Rikidozan caused blood to pour out of the Destroyer’s mask, after a stiff forearm shot off the second turnbuckle. Bockwinkel came in, but was slammed by Baba, who followed up with a big leg drop for a near fall. Tommy Marlin had a good “welcome back” to officiating, when he got smashed by Bockwinkel in the corner off a whip by Baba. With Marlin down in the corner, all four men got involved. During the melee, Rikidozan busted Bockwinkel open as well after a series of chops. Rikidozan hit a scoop slam and went for a cover, as Marlin came to. Marlin counted, but Bockwinkel raised his shoulder in the knick of time. Rikidozan immediately followed up with a hiplock, but again Bockwinkel kicked out. The bloody Destroyer came back in, but also felt the wrath of Rikidozan’s thunderous chops. Rikidozan went for a cover, but the champ kicked out. Rikidozan tagged out to Baba. Baba hit a piledriver on Destroyer and went for a cover. Bockwinkel, knowing that the end was perhaps near, saved the “Intelligent, Sensational One” from defeat. In return, he was met by a Rikidozan chop, which knocked him out of the ring, right in front of Bobby Heenan. The champ and his challenger at New Year’s Knockout V were left one-on-one. Baba whipped the champ into the ropes and smashed him with a big boot to the face. He went for the cover and got the three-count on the World Heavyweight champion after over 30 minutes of action! The Freedom Hall crowd popped big time at the Japanese duo’s win. ***** (NOTE: Destroyer had eight fatigue tokens on him, while Bockwinkel had seven! The rulebreakers had a lot of offense on the Japanese, but couldn’t keep them down for a pin too often. Awesome match!)

10) After the pre-main event intermission, it was time for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Three-time and current titleholder The Sheik put the gold on the line against former champ Dan “The Beast” Severn. The champ used his trusty sharp object early on in the bout. He applied the Camel Clutch, slipping in the spike and busting Severn open. Dick Hutton jumped on the apron to point it out to Tom Branch. Sheik released the Clutch and took a swing at Hutton, who ducked it. Sheik turned around and charged at Severn, who was trying to get to his feet. Severn sidestepped the champ and took him down into the wakigatame. Sheik was close enough to the ropes, to drape one foot over the bottom. Severn maintained the attack, using a fireman’s carry slam and a bow and arrow. The bout spilled to the floor, and Sheik took over again, ramming the bloody “Beast” into the ring post. He tossed Severn back in and locked on the Clutch, again slipping in the object. Sheik kept the object out of Branch’s view. With a bloody face and suffering pain from the spike, Severn tapped out to the hold, giving Sheik the victory and allowing him to retain the Southern crown. ***¼

[hollywoodlyn]

Giant Baba and Rikidozan scored a hard fought victory over USWA World Heavyweight champion The Destroyer and Nick Bockwinkel in an amazing match.

GREAT MATCH!!! Enjoyed this one...

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Hollywood Lyn for the comments!

The November 22 and 29 editions of USWA Championship Wrestling were jam-packed with news, particularly new matches for New Year’s Knockout V!
• USWA Committee Chairman Jerry Jarrett announced on 11-22 that The Sheik will put the Southern Heavyweight title on the line against the first Southern champ and his long-time rival, Bobo Brazil! As an added incentive to this bout, this match will be fought in a Steel Cage Match!
• Jarrett also announced that World Tag Team champions “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant will compete against Magnificent Muraco and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine in a big grudge match. This bout will not be for the titles, since Muraco and Valentine have only teamed up on a few occasions.
• Another big match was made on the 11-29 episode. Former World Heavyweight champion Rikidozan will collide with Team RPW member Frank Gotch. Gotch was interviewed and stated that he feels he should be in the main event, challenging for the World Heavyweight title, as he holds victories over both Giant Baba and The Destroyer. When Lance Russell reminded Gotch that he has never beaten Rikidozan, Gotch seemed slightly offended or irritated by the comment. He stated that he will get the win over the Japanese superstar on New Year’s Eve.
• Nick Bockwinkel made a strange challenge on the 11-22 edition. He challenged Ed “Strangler” Lewis to a bout at New Year’s Knockout. Lance Russell reminded him that two-time World champ Lewis was still out of action with a broken ankle, thanks to Team RPW. Bockwinkel stated that that is the reason he is challenging Lewis now. The four-time champ reminded the audience that he is 3-1 in the history of New Year’s Knockout cards. That one loss came last year at the hands of “Strangler” Lewis. Bobby Heenan interrupted and stated that his man was not 100% that night, due to a series of concussions. Yet, he still showed up for the match and competed, because he is a loyal, dedicated wrestler. Bockwinkel stated that his purpose in challenging Lewis is to see how dedicated he is to professional wrestling. Bill Apter informed USWA fans on 11-29 that he will be traveling to Lewis’ home in Louisville for an interview to get his answer. That interview will air on Championship Wrestling on December 6.
• Other matches made for the month of December in the USWA included a big World Tag Team championship main event on December 12 in Tupelo, MS. Jimmy Snuka and Jimmy Valiant will make their first defense against Team RPW members Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Hutton is a two-time former Tag Team champion, but this will be the Oklahomans’ first opportunity as a team to win the gold.
• The Sheik will have a busy month. Not only will he battle Bobo Brazil in a Steel Cage at NYK V, but he will also have to face him before then in the first ever Falls Count Anywhere Match in the USWA! The rules for this one are just as stated—a pin or submission can occur anywhere in the Tupelo Sports Arena! Brazil and Sheik got into a wild brawl on the last Tupelo card, back in January of this year, ending up in the concession stands! So this type of match will encourage that kind of behavior! Also, 12 days before defending against Brazil, Sheik will defend the Southern title in a rematch against Magnificent Muraco in Dallas. For the first time ever, the USWA will hold a card at the Reunion Arena. Abdullah Farouk claimed the USWA is out to get his man, but The Sheik is ready and willing to inflict punishment in these bouts. Capt. Lou Albano announced that Muraco will be taking time off until his Southern title shot, to heal up from injuries sustained in the attack in Johnson City by the World Tag Team champions. When Lance Russell pointed out how Greg Valentine tried to break Jimmy Valiant’s leg earlier on the same card, Albano stormed out of the WMC-TV studios in a huff!

The USWA will hold its last card in Memphis for 2008 on December 5!
• The Crusher has gotten disqualified twice in a row against Capt. Lou Albano’s men. Can he keep his cool when goes one-on-one with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine?
• Two “Michiganders” will collide, as Bobo Brazil takes on Dan “The Beast” Severn. These two teamed up together earlier in the year to battle common enemies The Sheik and Sabu. Bobo is said to not be too happy with Team RPW’s recent “attitude adjustment”, as he saw first hand in his bout with Frank Gotch a few weeks ago in Lexington. Can Bobo knock down Severn with the Coco Butt, or will Severn score a tap out?
• Texas champion “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton will return to action, as he and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey team up to face Brad Armstrong and Koko B. Ware. This tag team feud has picked up some steam with Jim Cornette interfering freely against Armstrong. Don’t forget—Armstrong’s Russian leg sweep hurt Eaton’s neck. According to Cornette, it cost The Midnight Express the World Tag Team titles. Can the popular underdogs score another upset or will The Express get their revenge?
• The Killer Bees will meet up again with The Killer B’s. This time Capt. Lou Albano will be banned from ringside. Can The B’s survive without their guiding light in their corner?
• Nick Bockwinkel continues his comeback. He’ll face another long-time USWA superstar—one-half of the World Tag Team champions “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Snuka is one of a handful of wrestlers to have a pin or submission win over Bockwinkel, as he defeated him in 2004 in a non-title bout, when Bockwinkel was USWA champ. Can the “Superfly” do it again?
• The main event will be a huge tag team rematch, as Rikidozan and Giant Baba take on Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Baba pinned Hutton the last time the teams met, but Hutton had hit foot on the ropes. This is a big match for both teams, as all four men have big upcoming bouts this month and a victory would bring them momentum. Who will win this war?
All this plus Frank Gotch, “Playboy” Buddy Rose, and the debut of “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz!

[crimsoncross]

I really like Bobby Eaton as your Texas Champion, great stuff as always Cory...

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to CC for the comments! Read on to see how Bobby Eaton did on this card.

December 5, 2008
Card #189: Mid South Coliseum in Memphis

1) S.D. Jones got a win in the opener, defeating newcomer “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. Rodz hails from New York City and is a scrappy competitor, but he had a tough going in his debut. “Special Delivery” put Rodz out with a sleeper. ¼*

2) Heenan Family member Larry Zbyszko continued his winning ways, getting a pinfall on Larry Sharpe. Sharpe had some offense early on, getting a near fall with a piledriver. Zbyszko came back and worked over the New Jersey native. Zbyszko rammed Sharpe into the turnbuckle. Meanwhile Bobby Heenan distracted Frank Morrell, while Zbyszko undid the turnbuckle pad, then smashed Sharpe’s head into the metal. Zbyszko made a cover and Morrell turned around to count the dastardly pin. **

3) “Playboy” Buddy Rose got a win over former rival Cousin Luke. The hillbilly Luke seemed to still be somewhat infatuated with “Sensational” Sherri Martel, as Rose was able to take advantage early on and maintained control throughout. A Bombs Away put Luke down for the pin. ¼*

4) The Crusher got a big win over Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Capt. Lou Albano got very involved in this match, hoping another one of his men would get a win over Crusher. The Memphis fans were irate, as Albano frequently got in cheap shots, when Crusher was near the ropes or outside the ring. The Captain would also distract Frank Morrell when Valentine bent the rules. Valentine managed to get the big man in the figure-four leglock, but “The Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous” powered out. Valentine smashed Crusher with a steel chair at ringside, which drew blood. The blood seemed to fire Crusher up more, as he made a huge comeback. It took just one Crusher Bolo to put “The Hammer” down for the three-count. Albano seemed to be in shock by the victory, as all his shenanigans still didn’t pay off! ***¼

5) Frank Gotch defeated George South by submission. The Team RPW member continued his recent dominant performances, locking on the Gotch Toehold after just a few minutes and forcing South to tap out. DUD

6) Texas champion “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton got some revenge, as he and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey just barely got a win over Brad Armstrong and Koko B. Ware. Eaton sported a neck brace on his injured neck. The popular duo of Armstrong and “The Birdman” kept Eaton in the ring for the first part of the match. Condrey saved Eaton on two occasions from being pinned by Ware’s Ghostbuster. Armstrong and Ware busted Eaton open after a double dropkick. Armstrong followed up with a knee lift for a very near fall. Condrey finally tagged in. He whipped Armstrong into the ropes and Jim Cornette grabbed the middle rope, causing Armstrong to hit the floor. Condrey hit a face-first leg sweep back in the ring, but before he could make a cover, Ware jumped in. Eaton came in as well and attacked Ware, then tossed him out. Condrey legally tagged out to Eaton, then The Midnights hit the Rocket Launcher on Armstrong for the pin. ***½

7) Bobo Brazil got a pinfall victory over fellow Michigander Dan “The Beast” Severn. Dick Hutton was not present at ringside with Severn, since he was preparing for his main event tag team match. Brazil started out a house of fire, delivering three big Coco Butts to Severn. Severn made a comeback and tossed Brazil with his fireman’s carry slam, then applied the wakigatame after slamming Brazil’s arm into the turnbuckle. Brazil managed to get a foot on the ropes to break the armbar. Brazil came back and he and Severn exchanged punches. A big hammer punch from Brazil with his good arm knocked Severn down and gave Bobo the win in a physical bout. ***

8) Despite Capt. Lou Albano being banned from ringside, The Killer B’s got a sneaky victory over The Killer Bees. The Bees hit the Bee Sting on Brutus Beefcake in the opening minutes, but Buff Bagwell came in for the save. Bagwell had control of “Jumping” Jim Brunzell. He hit a crossbody block and went for a cover, hooking the tights at the same time. The extra leverage got him a quick pinfall. Brunzell was upset by the tactics and the fans weren’t too happy either. As The B’s returned to the locker room, Albano met them at the entryway to celebrate with them. ½*

9) Nick Bockwinkel took a beating from World Tag Team champion “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, but came back to get a submission victory. In an amazing sight, Snuka hit three Superfly Leaps in the first part of the match, but Bockwinkel managed to kick out each time! (NOTE: The first two Leaps were +5!) Bockwinkel made a comeback and locked on his sleeper, but “Superfly” managed to ram Bockwinkel into the buckle to break the hold. Snuka blasted Bockwinkel with a jumping head butt, which drew blood. He then whipped Bockwinkel into the ropes and hit a big power slam. He went for the cover, but Bobby Heenan jumped on the apron. Snuka chased Heenan down, then went back to work. The momentary distraction allowed Bockwinkel to recover. He rammed Snuka’s leg into the ring post, then applied the figure-four in the middle of the ring. The pain was too much for Snuka, who tapped out to the hold. ****

10) The main event was the big tag team rematch pitting Giant Baba and Rikidozan against Team RPW’s Oklahomans of Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Baba got the pin last time on Hutton, but Hutton’s foot was on the rope, unseen by Tommy Gilbert. Jerry Calhoun was the official this time out. Hutton and Baba started the bout, and Hutton locked the abdominal stretch on early, but Baba managed to reach the ropes. It was back-and-forth between the teams for a few minutes, until the Japanese cut the ring in half on Hodge. Rikidozan used both his thunderous chops and the hiplock, but Hodge fought strong and kicked out both times. Rikidozan delivered a big scoop slam on Hodge and went right into a cover. Hutton tried to save his partner, but got blasted with a big chop from Baba. Calhoun made the count and Baba and Rikidozan got the win, with no controversy involved. **

In the next update, more great matches announced for New Year's Knockout V, as well as Ed "Strangler" Lewis' response to Nick Bockwinkel's challenge!

[Cory Olson]

Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on December 6:
• Bill Apter traveled to Ed “Strangler” Lewis’ home in Louisville to interview the two-time USWA World Heavyweight champion. Apter asked Lewis how his recovery was going. Lewis said that his ankle was healing right on schedule. His doctors had told him to stay out of ring action until 2009. Apter asked if that meant Lewis would have to decline Nick Bockwinkel’s challenge at New Year’s Knockout V. The “Strangler” responded by saying that his original plan was to return to the ring and have his first opponents be Team RPW, and particularly Frank Gotch, since they put him out of action in the first place and he’s sick by the attitude they’ve demonstrated the last few months. Even though he is eager to do battle with RPW, he is not one to turn down a challenge and he will see Bockwinkel in the ring in Nashville on New Year’s Eve! Lewis stated he will probably be wrestling with a walking cast that night, but he is ready to take on Bockwinkel at his best. Therefore it’s signed—Lewis vs. Bockwinkel II!
• Some more matches were made for New Year’s Knockout V. The Killer Bees issued a challenge to The Killer B’s. They stated the two teams have feuded all year, a feud which began at last year’s NYK. They want to end it once and for all. The Bees asked for a match, where the losing team would not be allowed to team up in any wrestling organization for one full year! Capt. Lou Albano accepted the challenge later in the show, stating that his B’s have done better than many first expected and they will give The Killer Bees their final sting!
• In a special attraction, “The Eighth Wonder of the World” Andre the Giant will return to the USWA rings! Andre competed at New Year’s Knockout III in 2006, taking on two men, and he will dot he same this year! The “lucky” opponents this time around will be George South and Larry Sharpe!
• A new wrestler will be coming to the USWA at NYK V, when Diamond Dallas Page makes his debut! Page recently competed in Championship Wrestling from Florida, as well as Georgia Championship Wrestling and is popular among the fans. He is known as a man of the people. His finisher, the Diamond Cutter, is one of the strongest in professional wrestling and can come out of nowhere! USWA rulebreakers should watch out, so that they don’t feel DDP’s “BANG!”
• 12 days before New Year’s Knockout , a big card will take place at the Reunion Arena in Dallas. The main event has already been announced, but some more bouts were made this past week. The Japanese-Team RPW wars will continue, as #1 contender to the World Heavyweight championship, Giant Baba, takes on Dan “The Beast” Severn, while Rikidozan will take on coach Dick Hutton. Also, two former World Heavyweight champions will collide, when Nick Bockwinkel takes on “Playboy” Buddy Rose. Dallas has a lot of history for these two, as Rose captured the World Heavyweight title from Bockwinkel in Dallas in July 2005, but lost it to him in an Alley Fight Match that year at New Year’s Knockout II at Texas Stadium.

As things heat up on the way to New Year’s Knockout, the Tupelo Sports Arena will hold a huge card on December 12!
• Two former World Tag Team championship teams will meet once again when The Midnight Express will do battle with “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring. These teams had some wild battles. Who will get the win in this one?
• Giant Baba and Rikidozan will collide with another Team RPW duo, when they face Frank Gotch and Dan “The Beast” Severn. This will be a preview of sorts for NYK V, as Rikidozan and Gotch will be across the ring from one another prior to their one-on-one match. Can Baba and Rikidozan put down another RPW pair?
• Before they get locked up in the cage, Southern Heavyweight champion The Sheik and Bobo Brazil will be allowed to fight all over the arena, as they’ll collide in non-title Falls Count Anywhere Match! Back in January these two brawled throughout the Tupelo Sports Arena and caused a lot of damage to the concession stands! This time it will all be legal. Can Bobo get another pinfall win on The Sheik, prior to challenging for the Southern gold?
• The main event will be for the World Tag Team titles, as new champs “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant will defend against Team RPW’s Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Hutton is a two-time USWA Tag Team champion and would love to win a third championship, especially with fellow Oklahoman Hodge. While Snuka and Valiant have worked well together, can they beat two technical wrestling experts like Hutton and Hodge?
All this plus, S.D. Jones will have one of his biggest USWA matches ever when he battles four-time World Heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel! Plus B. Brian Blair takes on Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. The Crusher, The Killer B’s, and more in action!

[Spider Kid]

I'm cheering on Buddy Rose and Danny Doring. Mostly Buddy Rose.

[stu]

Really liking the build-up to Lewis-Bock II Cory. Let's hope the ankle heals properly, so the Strangler's at his best!

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Larry and Stu for the comments!

December 12, 2008
Tupelo (MS) Sports Arena

1) In a match-up of fan favorites, Cousin Luke got a quick win in the opener over “Jumping” Jim Brunzell. Although Brunzell is the better technical wrestler, Luke was able to use his unorthodox offense to get the pin after just a few minutes with the Hillbilly Drop. Both men shook hands afterwards in a sign of sportsmanship. DUD

2) The Killer B’s scored a win over George South and Larry Sharpe. South and Sharpe double teamed Brutus Beefcake in the first few minutes, but Buff Bagwell tagged in and “saved the day”. Bagwell hit a Buff Blockbuster on South, but pulled him up before the three-count to gloat and deliver more punishment. “Buff Daddy” hit a second Blockbuster to wrap things up and give The B’s the “W”. ¼*

3) Larry Zbyszko pinned “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware. Zbyszko came off the top with a double sledge, but was cut off with a punch to the midsection. Zbyszko was able to block two attempts at the Ghostbuster, yet the third time was the charm for Koko. When he went for the cover though, Larry Z. got his foot on the bottom rope. After a brawl outside the ring, Zbyszko took over and hit piledriver to get the pinfall and make Bobby Heenan a happy man. *¼

4) The Crusher got a submission victory over Johnny Rodz. Crusher blasted the Brooklyn native with a Bolo, but he locked on a powerful bear hug to force Rodz into submission. DUD

5) Greg Valentine defeated old rival B. Brian Blair in a competitive match. Capt. Lou Albano was sending “The Hammer” after Blair to weaken him prior to The Killer Bees battling The Killer B’s at New Year’s Knockout V in a match where the losing team must split up for one year. Blair looked to repeat his success of 2007, where he captured the Texas title from Valentine. He caught Valentine in a sleeper midway through the bout, but Valentine reached the ropes. Blair later missed a charge in the corner, hit the turnbuckles, and flipped up and over the ropes, crashing on the arena floor, and landing right on his leg. Valentine capitalized, pulling him back in the ring, working over the leg, and eventually slapping on the figure-four, which forced Blair to tap. ***

6) Nick Bockwinkel beat “Special Delivery” Jones by submission. Jones had some early offense on the four-time USWA World Heavyweight champion, but Bockwinkel made a comeback. He locked on the Bockwinkel Sleeper, which put Jones out, and gave Bock the win. ¼*

7) The Midnight Express scored an impressive win over “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring. Jim Cornette’s men kept Doring in the ring for the first portion of the bout. Texas champ Bobby Eaton hit a Divorce Court on Doring, but Rose jumped in to save him from a pin. Doring tagged out, but Rose got double teamed as well, getting hit with the Midnight Massacre. As “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey went for the cover, “Sensational” Sherri Martel jumped on the apron to distract Scott Bowden. It broke up the pin attempt, but infuriated Cornette, who ran around the ring and cracked Sherri on the backside with the tennis racket! The Midnights continued their onslaught, even busting Rose open, when Eaton landed a top rope elbow smash right across Rose’s nose. Condrey got the pinfall on the “Playboy” after a second Massacre. **¼

8) Giant Baba and Rikidozan made short work of Frank Gotch and Dan Severn. The bout started off with a New Year’s Knockout V preview, as Rikidozan and Gotch collided. Rikidozan scored a two-count after some overhead chops, then tagged out to Baba. Baba hit a piledriver, a big dropkick, then delivered his dreaded neckbreaker drop to get the pin on Gotch, before Gotch could even tag out to “The Beast”. Team RPW seemed shocked by the quick win. neg*

9) Bobo Brazil defeated Southern Heavyweight champion The Sheik in a wild non-title Falls Count Anywhere Match. The two rivals actually stayed in the ring for the first few minutes, but once they hit the arena floor, it was on! The Tupelo Sports Arena concession stand stood safe on this night, but many other parts of the arena would see action. Sheik strangled Brazil with the chord from Gary Michael Cappetta’s microphone for several minutes. He attempted a pin on the floor, but Brazil kicked out. The two brawled back in to the fan favorites’ locker room, and from there the action spilled into a restroom, where Bobo delivered a big Coco Butt and went for a pinfall, but Sheik kicked out. Bobo picked Sheik up into a body slam, but instead smashed his head into a wall outside the restroom. Sheik got busted open, but kicked out when Brazil made a cover. Sheik battled back and applied the Camel Clutch in the ring. Brazil grabbed the ropes, but Scott Bowden couldn’t force a break in this type of a match. Brazil instead rolled towards the ropes and he and Sheik both hit the floor, with Brazil coming out the better of the two. Brazil grabbed the steel chair that Cappetta was sitting on and cracked him over the head with it. Sheik’s cut opened up even more, but he still fought strong. Brazil rammed Sheik into the security railing up the aisleway. With his man in trouble, Abdullah Farouk jumped on Brazil’s back. The move was futile, as Brazil tossed him off his back, then delivered a big hammer punch to the manager. Sheik crawled back to the ring, trying to find some escape. Brazil caught up to him and delivered another big Coco Butt. He pounced on Sheik, made a cover in the center of the ring, and got the 1-2-3. The Tupelo Sports Arena popped big time at Bobo’s win! ****

10) The main event was for the USWA World Tag Team championship, as “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant made their first defense against Team RPW’s Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. This was a “styles clash”, as you had the wild, unorthodox offense of the champs battling the technical wrestling skills of the challengers. The champs started off strong, but Hodge capitalized on a mistake by the “Superfly” and hit an Oklahoma side roll for a two-count. Hutton and Valiant were the legal men, when Hutton gained the advantage and tagged out. Hodge worked over “The Boogie Woogie Man’s” legs, applying an Indian Deathlock for a near submission. Valiant recovered and tagged out to Snuka, who hit a Superfly Leap on Hutton. He made a cover, but Hodge jumped and delivered a forearm smash to Snuka to break up the pin. Once Hutton recovered, he tagged back out to Hodge, who applied a Boston Crab on Snuka. The Oklahomans attempted a double team suplex, but Snuka broke free and delivered a noggin knocker, then individual head butts to both men. Hodge fell out of the ring, while Snuka tagged out to Valiant. The “Boy from New York City” whipped a groggy Hutton into the ropes and caught him in a sleeper. Paul Morton checked Hutton’s arm and it dropped three times. The champs retained in their first defense and celebrated among the Tupelo fans at ringside. ****