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Post by Cory Olson on Apr 8, 2021 22:16:50 GMT -5
Thanks to Crue Fan, Joe Breakdown, Troy, and Victory Roll for the comments!
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on June 17, with more announcements for Independence Day Bash 2017 from Beach Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green! • Two singles matches were made, coming off of last week’s six-man tag team match. The first will see two former tag team partners turned big rivals collide again, as Red Bastien faces Billy Black Lyons. Bastien has offered Lyons the chance to reform the Flying Redheads for nearly 15 months, after unmasking Double X as Lyons. Lyons has stayed allied with Doctor X and Mad Dog Vachon and has seen success over the past year. Who will win the latest chapter in this feud? • The other bout from this feud will see “Superstar” Bill Dundee out for revenge, as he goes one-on-one with Doctor X! Dundee has his knee injured by X, Lyons, and Vachon at Derby City Stampede. They targeted the knee in last week’s six-man tag team match. Is Dundee truly at 100%? • Jim Cornette is irate about Dan Severn’s loss to Colt Cabana last week in Memphis. He has booked the Southern Heavyweight champion “Exotic” Adrian Street to tangle with Cabana on July 4 in a non-title match! As has been documented before, Cabana is familiar with the British style. But Street combines British grappling style with his eccentric personality. • Cornette’s World Tag Team champions will also be in action on this supercard, as The Heavenly Bodies will take on the undefeated Uptown Boys in a non-title match. Tommy Rogers and Marty Jannetty have proven to be a great team in their 2½ months as a team. They are definitely hoping to knock off the Bodies and earn a World Tag Team title shot! • Speaking of the Bodies, Commissioner Armstrong announced that their next defense of the World Tag Team titles will be after Independence Day Bash, on July 15 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, when they face two-time former champions Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy! Williams and Gordy were cheated out of the belts back in April when Chris Candido, Dan “The Beast” Severn, and Jim Cornette got involved in their bout with the Midnight Express, causing Williams and Gordy to lose the titles and leading to the Bodies getting a title match with the Midnights. Williams and Gordy are set on becoming three-time champions! • And speaking of tag teams, Jake “The Milkman” Milliman and “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay were interviewed in-studio. The two popular grapplers announced that while they still plan to compete regularly in singles competition, they have agreed to team up as well. They will have their first match together next week!
It’s the last stop before Independence Day Bash 2017, as the USWA comes back to Johnson City, TN and Freedom Hall on June 19! • Harley Race continues his winning ways. He will have a tough opponent ahead of him in “Superstar” Bill Dundee. Give Race and Jimmy Hart credit for agreeing to a match with Dundee before Race faces “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Can Race continue his winning ways or will the Aussie pull off an upset? • Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy have their sights set on the World Tag Team titles. They cannot overlook their opponents this week—two-time former champions Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons! These two teams know each other very well and traded the titles three times over a three-month period. Can Williams and Gordy beat their rivals before their title rematch on July 17? • The quest for The Dark Patriot’s mask continues, as the Dark Patriot will take on Tommy Gilbert! With “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert back in the picture, two Gilberts, as well as the Patriot, want to prove who this masked man is. What will happen in the latest chapter of this feud? • The World Tag Team champions The Heavenly Bodies will be in non-title action, as they face Brad and Brian Armstrong! The Armstrongs gave Tom Prichard and Chris Candido a tough challenge for their belts last month in Knoxville until Brad and Prichard collided heads, knocking Brad out of the ring and leading to a countout. The Georgia brothers are hoping for a decisive win on the Bodies to earn another title match. Can they do it or will Jim Cornette and the Bodies have a plan up their sleeve? • The next two challengers for the USWA World Heavyweight title will battle each other for the first time ever, when The Patriot takes on Mad Dog Vachon! Both of these men pinned the USWA champion at the time in the last two months. The Patriot will challenge “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan in the main event at Independence Day Bash, while the winner of that match will defend the World title against Vachon the next month. Vachon wants to prove a point and defeat the Patriot to show that he should have gotten the title shot first. The Patriot has a lot of momentum on his side and with “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in his corner, could pull out a big win. Which challenger will emerge victorious? • In the first of two title matches on this card, Ray “The Crippler” Stevens will defend the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title against Tyler Black! These two have been battling over this title since December. Stevens has done all he can to try to cause a rift between Black and his bodyguard Luke Harper, who won the title from “The Crippler” in February before losing it back in April, by making the Mid-America title a point of contention between the two. Black scored his first win on Stevens in a non-title match at Derby City Stampede last month to get this title match. The winner won’t have long to rest, as he will defend the title against the Dark Patriot at Independence Day Bash in Bowling Green. Can Black finally capture the gold or will “The Crippler” retain again? • The main event will be for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current champion “Exotic” Adrian Street will defend the title against Red Bastien in a rematch from last month in Evansville! Bastien bloodied up Street in their last match and got a countout win. Bastien has never held the Southern title in his combined 10 years in the USWA. With the momentum from last month’s match, you can bet Bastien will be fired up to try for the win. But when his men’s titles and his money is at stake, Jim Cornette often pulls out a big plan. Can Street hold on to the gold or will Bastien capture his first Southern championship?
All these bouts, plus the team of Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito. Also, the first time teaming of Jake “The Milkman” Milliman and “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay. And the USWA debut of “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce!
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Post by victoryroll84 on Apr 13, 2021 19:28:01 GMT -5
Looking forward to Superstar Dundee tangling with Doctor X! Bastien never holding the Southern title in your fed is crazy! lol Street vs. Bastien will be a good bout! Well done as always Cory
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Post by Ken West on Apr 14, 2021 11:03:05 GMT -5
Looks like a lot of great action coming up for you!
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Post by Cory Olson on May 10, 2021 20:55:05 GMT -5
Thanks to Victory Roll and Ace for the comments!
June 19, 2017 Card #511: Freedom Hall in Johnson City
1) The new tag team of Jake “The Milkman” Milliman and “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay got a win in their first time teaming, defeating Pat and Bill Rose in the opener. The Roses from Georgia double teamed Jay for the first two minutes. Jay battled back against Bill with punches and tagged to Milliman. The fan favorites then tagged in-and-out, wearing down Bill and trapping him in the ring for the remainder of the match. Jay got a near fall after a body slam. Milliman knocked Bill down with a double ax-handle, then pulled Bill toward his and Jay’s corner. Milliman climbed up the ropes and hit the second rope head butt to score the pin after six minutes. The Johnson City fans went wild for the new duo’s win ½*
2) Jim Cornette’s newest charge, “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce made a successful debut with a hard-fought win over Jim Powers in about six minutes. Pearce started off aggressively against the New Yorker. Powers reversed a whip into the corner and followed up with a monkey flip on Pearce. Powers followed up with a dropkick and made a cover for a two-count. Powers whipped “Scrap Iron” into the ropes and caught him on the rebound with the power slam. He covered Pearce but Cornette distracted Sam Platania. Powers stayed on offense until he missed a clothesline and Pearce bounced back with a flying shoulder tackle. Pearce executed a swinging neckbreaker, then picked up Powers again to deliver his specialty—the jumping piledriver. He drove Powers’ head into the mat and covered him to score the pinfall. Pearce showed his resiliency and skills tonight and Cornette seems very proud of himself to have brought in Colt Cabana’s rival! *½
3) Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito kept up their winning ways with a dominant win over “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. These teams met last month in Evansville and Sharpe and Rodz put up a good fight before the House of Humperdink team got a countout win. Perhaps Koloff and Saito underestimated Sharpe and Rodz last time, as this time they were focused and kept Rodz in the ring for the entire bout. Koloff hit a falling face slam on the New Yorker for a near fall. “The Russian Bear” tagged the Japanese Olympian into the about. Saito punished Rodz. He hit the Saito suplex and made a cover but Sharpe broke up the pin. Koloff came in and attacked the New Jerseyan, taking him out of the ring. While Saito and Rodz continued inside the ring, Koloff slammed Sharpe on the Freedom Hall floor before returning to the House of Humperdink’s corner. Saito hit a middle rope knee drop and then tagged in Koloff again. Saito whipped Rodz into the ropes and Koloff nailed him with the Russian Sickle. He covered Rodz and scored the pinfall in about four minutes. This team remains undefeated but they will have a big challenge ahead of them on the 4th of July when they face Tommy and Eddie Gilbert! DUD
4) Harley Race earned a hard-fought victory over “Superstar” Bill Dundee. Race had the early advantage and tried to make this a quick match by hitting the piledriver a few minutes into the match. Dundee managed to kick out. Race went for a second piledriver about a minute later. This time, the “Superstar” got a foot on the ropes for a break. Race worked on the Aussie’s shoulder and hit a shoulder break. He went for another cover but again Dundee kicked out. Race tried for another shoulder breaker but Dundee rolled out of Race’s grip and shoved him into the turnbuckles. As Race bounced back, Dundee knocked him to the mat with a series of punches. Dundee went up top and hit the Superstar Bomb but Race kicked out at 2¾. The two exchanged offense and fought in-and-out of the ring, almost getting double disqualified or counted out. In one brawl, Jimmy Hart momentarily distracted Dundee, which allowed Race to attack. He threw Dundee shoulder-first into the ring post and then tossed him back into the ring. Race hit a second shoulder breaker and scored the pinfall after 12 minutes of intense action. Race continued his winning ways and will face perhaps his toughest challenge to date at Independence Day Bash when he faces Dundee’s tag team partner and two-time former USWA champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant! ***¼
5) Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy rallied back to score an impressive win over their rivals Doctor X and Billy Black Lyons after 16 minutes of action! X and Lyons double teamed “Doc” for the first few minutes of the match until Williams made the hot tag to “Bamm Bamm.” The fan favorites worked over Lyons for a few minutes when Williams hit an impressive standing dropkick on Lyons. He went for a cover but Lyons kicked out. A few minutes later, Williams and X were the legal man when Williams tagged to Gordy and they blasted the masked man with a double football tackle, which knocked him out of the ring. X recovered with Lyons’ help and returned to the ring. X took over and Gordy and tagged to Lyons. The rulebreakers blasted Gordy with a double dropkick. X tagged back in soon thereafter and went for a submission with the X-cellent sleeperhold. Gordy started to drop but with Williams and the Johnson City fans behind him, “Bamm Bamm” rallied back to his feet and got to the ropes for a break. X got Gordy into his and Lyons’ corner and tagged to Lyons. Lyons went almost immediately for an X-cellent sleeperhold of his own. Gordy again went down to the hold. Sam Platania checked Gordy’s arm. It dropped twice but right before the third, it popped back up and Gordy got to his feet. He elbowed out of the sleeper and tried to make the tag but Lyons blasted him in the back of the head with dropkick. Lyons took Gordy to the rulebreakers’ corner. X grabbed Gordy from the apron and held him arms, while Lyons delivered another big dropkick, right to Gordy’s nose and busting him open. X tagged in and went for a cover but Gordy kicked out. X locked on a full nelson and tried again to put Gordy out. Even with the blood flowing, Gordy had the wherewithal to go to a corner and kick off the buckles knocking X backward onto his shoulders. X still had on the full nelson but his shoulders were down as Platania counted. X rolled off his shoulders, releasing the full nelson. Gordy tried to get to the corner but X stopped him and hit a back suplex. The masked man tried again for a pin but “Bamm Bamm” kicked out. X took Gordy to his and Lyons’ corner and the Doctor stomped away at Gordy’s face. Gordy’s cut flowed more and more and Platania asked if Gordy was able to continue. Naturally, the big man wasn’t going to stop at this point. Lyons tagged back in and took Gordy to another corner. He climbed up the buckles and punched away at Gordy’s cut. Lyons got cocky, thinking he and the Doctor had the match wrapped up, and he gloated to the crowd. Gordy took advantage of that one moment to get underneath Lyons’ legs and lift him into the air into the power bomb! He drove Lyons into the mat in the center of the ring. He covered Lyons. X jumped in for a save but Williams cut him off with a double leg takedown and Gordy scored the pinfall out of nowhere! The fans erupted at the fan favorites’ big comeback win. They looked very impressive as they look forward to getting another shot at the World Tag Team titles, when they face the Heavenly Bodies in the main event on July 17 in Lexington! ***¾
6) Tommy Gilbert also scored a comeback win over The Dark Patriot. Dark Patriot, of course, was accompanied by manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, while Tommy was joined by his son Eddie! This was a wild brawl from the start, as is to be expected between these two. Gilbert hit a body slam in the opening minute and got a near fall. Dark Patriot took control outside the ring. As Eddie was checking on his father, Dark Patriot went to the other side of the ring and grabbed an object from Humperdink. He slipped the object into his mask and blasted Tommy with a loaded head butt as soon as he returned to the ring. Dark Patriot came off the second rope with a loaded diving head butt and made a cover but Gilbert kicked out. Dark Patriot went up the ropes again a few minutes later and hit the Scud Missile. He made a cover but again Gilbert kicked out at 2¾. Dark Patriot maintained control for several minutes and even taunted Eddie at ringside. You could tell that “Hot Stuff” was irate by this but didn’t go after the “bogus” Patriot and risk getting Tommy disqualified. Dark Patriot hit a second Scud Missile but Gilbert kicked out again. There were big “Tommy! Tommy” chants throughout Freedom Hall. Dark Patriot head butted him again and finally busted open Tommy. With Eddie and the fans behind him, Tommy rallied back and started nailing Dark Patriot with stiff punches. He got the masked man dazed and bent over, in perfect position for Tommy to hit the running knee lift. He knocked Dark Patriot down, covered him, and scored the pinfall after 10 minutes of action! Eddie quickly jumped in the ring and congratulated his father. The Gilberts looked ready to go for the Dark Patriot’s mask. Humperdink knew what they had in mind and pulled his charge out of the ring. Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito made their way to ringside to assist their manager. They then jawed at the Gilberts from the aisleway. These four men look ready to do battle at Beech Bend Raceway Park on July 4! ***½
7) The World Tag Team champions The Heavenly Bodies won a competitive non-title match, giving Brad and Brian Armstrong their first pinfall loss of 2017 in about 16 minutes. “The Road Dogg” and Dr. Tom Prichard started off the bout for their respective teams. Neither man gained an advantage in the first two minutes but Prichard quickly gained control and trapped Brian in the Bodies’ corner. He tagged to Chris Candido and the champions hit a double Hot Shot. Candido worked over Brian but the former Mid-America champion rallied back. He tagged in his brother and the Armstrongs hit a double Hot Shot of their own on “The Suicide Blonde.” A few moments later, Brian knocked Candido out of the ring. As Brian went to suplex Candido back in, Jim Cornette tripped him up, causing Candido to fall on top. Candido took Brian to the Bodies’ corner again, tagged Prichard, and the Bodies executed the Prima Donna Plunge. Prichard went for a cover but Brad made a save. Prichard went for a clothesline a few minutes later but Brian sidestepped him, hit a drop toehold, sending Prichard throat-first into the middle rope. Brian took advantage and hit a rope straddle. He tagged in Brad, who maintained control of Dr. Tom and scored a near fall after a dropkick. The action was back-and-forth between both teams. Later in the bout, Candido and Brad were the legal men, when Candido hit a snap suplex, which has brought him victories in the past. He made a quick cover but Brad kicked out. Later in the bout, Brad missed an elbow drop on Candido. Candido tagged Prichard and the Bodies hit the Flapjack. Prichard followed up with an elbow drop for good measure and covered Brad to score the pinfall, while Candido stopped Brian from a pin save. Cornette was pleased with his men’s win tonight. How will they fare when they battle the Uptown Boys at Independence Day Bash? ***½
8) The Patriot scored a pinfall on Mad Dog Vachon in a battle of the next two challengers for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. The Patriot again had “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in his corner. Neither man had a constant advantage in the first few minutes. The Patriot gained the upper hand and hit an atomic drop for a two-count. He executed a standing dropkick a few minutes later for another near fall. Patriot hoisted Vachon up to the top turnbuckle. He punched him in the face, which drew blood on Vachon. He executed a superplex on the Algerian and went for a cover but again Vachon kicked out. Vachon fought back, despite the blood loss. He ran wild on the Patriot for a few minutes. He hit back-to-back running knee lifts and made a cover but the Patriot kicked out. He choked Patriot on the middle rope and then hit two Mad Dog Pounces in a row. With Gilbert and the fans behind him, Patriot made a comeback, as Vachon whipped him into the ropes and tried a clothesline. The Patriot ducked the clothesline and rebounded with a flying shoulder tackle, similar to the Patriot Missile. Vachon got to his feet but was met with another dropkick. Patriot made another pin attempt and this time got the 1-2-3, after 16 minutes of action. Gilbert congratulated Patriot on his win. Depending on the outcome of the Independence Day Bash main event, fans could see Patriot and Vachon again in August for the World Heavyweight title! ****
9) In the first title match of the evening, Ray “The Crippler” Stevens narrowly defeated Tyler Black to retain the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship after 10 minutes of action. The champion had the early advantage. He hit the piledriver a few minutes into the bout for a near fall. Stevens tried for a suplex but Black blocked it and hit God’s Last Gift for a two-count. Stevens took control and got Black down on the mat. He went up top and came off with the Bombs Away but Black rolled out of the way. He went for a cover, which is how he defeated Stevens in the non-title match at Derby City Stampede. This time, “The Crippler” kicked out. Black got Stevens down on the mat and went up top himself. He hit a picture-perfect Phoenix Splash. He went for a cover but just as Tom Branch appeared ready to make the three-count, “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart was on the ring apron and appeared ready to enter the ring. Branch reprimanded Hart. Luke Harper came around the ring and pulled Hart off the apron. Hart was frightened by Harper and took off up the aisleway. Harper followed him but was met near the entrance by King Kong Bundy (dressed in a large suit). Bundy clotheslined Harper and then executed a big splash on the floor! He returned to the locker room as quickly as he had appeared. Hart returned to the ringside area, as officials came to check on Harper. Black was distracted by this melee, which allowed Stevens to recover and attack him. Stevens hit the piledriver again but again scored a two-count. He went up top one more time and successfully landed the Bombs Away. He covered Black and scored the pinfall. The Johnson City fans berated the champ and “The Mouth of The South” with boos, as Stevens held up the Mid-America title belt! ***
10) The main event was a rematch from last month in Evansville for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Champion “Exotic” Adrian Street put the title on the line against Red Bastien. Bastien bloodied up Street in their bout last month and won the match via countout after taking Street to the floor with a head scissors from the ring apron. It was an impressive outing by Bastien against the champion who has had an impressive reign since dethroning “Classy” Freddie Blassie and ending his 10-month reign in January in Chattanooga.
Street seemed ready for the flying redhead tonight, as he attacked Bastien aggressively at the bell and hit a fireman’s carry throat drop on the top rope in the opening seconds. He took Bastien to the mat with the crucifix about 90 seconds into the bout but only got a two-count. Street stayed on offense for a few minutes until Bastien blocked a strike, caught him in a headlock, ran up the turnbuckles, and then executed a takeover. He took control and executed a flying head scissors on the “Exotic One.” He lifted Street up into the airplane spin and transitioned into the atomic drop. He covered Street but Street kicked out at 2¾. Bastien whipped Street into the ropes about a minute later and bent over for a back body drop but Street surprised him with a sunset flip for a two-count. Street nailed Bastien with some stiff European uppercuts and caused the redhead to “see red,” as blood rolled down his face. He went for a second crucifix but against Bastien kicked out. Street tried for submissions with both the Daffodil and later the London Bridge Leglock but Bastien managed to get the ropes. Street went for another submission—the Cobra Clutch. With the blood streaming down his face, Bastien started to drop to the mat. Tommy Marlin checked the challenger’s arm and it dropped three times. Marlin called for the bell after 14 minutes of action and awarded the bout to Southern champion Street via submission! Jim Cornette was very happy with the champ’s win and Street seems ready for a showdown with Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana at Independence Day Bash! ***½
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Post by Sam Fain on May 10, 2021 21:38:06 GMT -5
Excellent action and wonderful storytelling.
I'm actually a little surprised Street was able to get by Bastien, but only a little. It does, indeed, look like the Exotic One is ready for Cabana.
Speaking of, Cornette bringing in Pearce should be interesting for Boom Boom.
Fans might not be happy with Stevens' win and with good cause but I have a feeling he and Hart don't care. Bundy makes an impact and Hart's Army looks strong.
Patriot and Vachon looked like a barn-burner and I wouldn't mind at all in reading about a rematch!
Some great tag action and the Gilberts and Dark Patriot action gets hotter. Strong undercard and Sodbuster and Milkman get the win.
Bring on the next one, Cory!
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Post by TTX on May 13, 2021 9:22:13 GMT -5
Amusingly (to me) I created a low level wrestler named Bill Rose ages ago...so neat to see one show up in the USWA. Congrats to Milk and Sod for taking a win. Big wins for Street and Patriot and fun all around.
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Post by markyhitch on May 13, 2021 10:29:53 GMT -5
Nice to see a fellow Brit holding a title!
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Post by cruefan68 on May 15, 2021 10:49:21 GMT -5
Great show at Freedom Hall, especially the double title main event. It as exciting to see both Exotic Adrian Street and Ray Stevens retain their respective titles over very tough challengers. The Patriot is looking good, especially after that win over Mad Dog Vachon. With both in line for world title shots it will be interesting to see who winds up as champion at the end. Kevin Sullivan is in for some tough title defenses. I like the addition of Adam Pearce to Jim Cornette's stable.
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Post by victoryroll84 on May 15, 2021 17:02:09 GMT -5
Always fun to read your write ups! Well done
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Post by Cory Olson on May 30, 2021 20:16:24 GMT -5
Thanks to Sam, Troy, Marky Hitch, Crue Fan, and Victory Roll for the comments!Independence Day Bash 2017 comes your way, as always, on July 4! This year the annual supercard comes your way for the first time ever from Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green! From beginning to end, here is the line-up:Jake Milliman & Kenny Jay vs. Larry Sharpe & Johnny Rodz This opening tag team match features two teams formed in 2017. “The Milkman” and “The Sodbuster” will only be in their second match as a team and give them credit for agreeing to a match with the more establish rulebreakers. The “Pretty Boy” and “The Unpredictable One” formed their team in January after Sharpe turned on then-partner George South and Rodz turned on then-partner Virgil (now “Soul Train” Jones). Which team will get the win? Adam Pearce vs. George South “Scrap Iron” was brought into the USWA by Jim Cornette to go after his long-time nemesis Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana. He cannot underestimate South, who has scored singles wins in the past over Cousin Luke and former USWA World Heavyweight champion John Pesek. Can Pearce get past South? Luke Harper vs. King Kong Bundy This clash between behemoths was announced on the 6-24 edition of Championship Wrestling after Bundy interfered in the Mid-America Heavyweight title match on the last card in Johnson City between his First Family of Wrestling ally Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Harper’s employer Tyler Black, attacking Harper to keep him out of the match. Harper is a former Mid-America champion but can he topple the 446-pound New Jersey giant? Bill Dundee vs. Doctor X Dundee’s war with Doctor X’s group continues. The masked man got the win at the last supercard, Derby City Stampede. X, Mad Dog Vachon, and Billy Black Lyons attacked Dundee’s knee after the bout and injured it. Dundee has been back in action the last few weeks but you have to wonder if his knee is at 100%. Can the Aussie “Superstar” gain revenge on the masked Doctor? Mad Dog Vachon vs. Bobby Shane Vachon will be the next challenger for the USWA World Heavyweight title. He cannot look past Shane, who has scored some big singles wins in the past and would love to get another shot at a USWA singles championship. Which rulebreaker will get his hand raised in victory? Red Bastien vs. Billy Black Lyons This long-time feud between former partners will be reignited on the 4th of July. Bastien unmasked Double X as Lyons in February of last year. He offered Lyons the chance to reform the Flying Redheads but Lyons continued his alliance with Doctor X, donning the Billy Black Lyons name. He’s had success in the past year, capturing the USWA World Tag Team titles twice with X and scoring some singles victories. Who will win the latest chapter in this feud? Adrian Street vs. Colt Cabana The host of The Art of Wrestling came to the aid of “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson in April after Street, Chris Candido, and Dan “The Beast” Severn injured Danielson’s back severely. His involvement made him an immediate target of Jim Cornette, who has sent his charges after him and has brought in Cabana’s long-time nemesis “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce. Cabana scored a big win over Severn a few weeks ago in Memphis and hopes to do the same to the Southern Heavyweight champion Street, not only to infuriate “The Louisville Slugger” but also to get a future shot at the Southern title. Street was a surprise debut as Dr. Tom Prichard’s mystery partner at Independence Day Bash 2016 and has made quite the impact since then, winning the Southern Heavyweight title from “Classy” Freddie Blassie and suffering only one decisive loss. Can Cabana pull off another big upset or will the “Exotic One” make him look like a fool? Tommy & Eddie Gilbert vs. Ivan Koloff & Mr. Saito “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert was put out of action last August with a broken leg by “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan, Larry Zbyszko, Mr. Saito, and the One Man Gang, his former House of Humperdink allies. His brother Doug returned to the USWA the next month to battle Sullivan but was carved up by Sullivan’s golden spike and then disappeared. This brought their father Tommy into the USWA in December and he has waged wars with the House of Humperdink since then. Humperdink brought in former USWA World Heavyweight champion Koloff two months ago as Saito’s new tag team partner. Koloff has a history with Eddie, as Gilbert double crossed “The Russian Bear” and kicked him out of his Hot Stuff, International stable in 2011. Eddie made his surprise return from the leg injury this past month at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga. He and Tommy wanted the World champion Sullivan and the Dark Patriot in the ring but both men had title matches on this supercard. Many wrestling experts feel that Humperdink is trying to keep Sullivan and the Dark Patriot away from the Gilberts. This will be Eddie’s return to in-ring action since last summer. Can the Gilberts defeat this powerhouse undefeated House of Humperdink tag team? Jimmy Valiant vs. Harley Race “The Boogie Woogie Man” is hoping to get back on track after losing the World Heavyweight title and suffering a trachea injury from “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan. Race returned to the USWA after a 10-year absence as a member of Jimmy Hart’s First Family of Wrestling. He has been undefeated since his return in March and has USWA singles gold on his mind. A win over two-time former World champion “Handsome” Jimmy would definitely put him into consideration. Likewise, a win by Valiant over former Southern champion Race, would definitely get him back into contention. Can “The Boy from New York City” triumph over the Missourian? The Heavenly Bodies vs. The Uptown Boys Jim Cornette’s duo of “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard and “The Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido have made big headlines in the last year, winning the World Tag Team titles and driving Cornette’s former team the Midnight Express out of the USWA. Former Mid-America champion Tommy Rogers announced the formation of his new team with Marty Jannetty earlier this year and the Uptown Boys have quickly gelled as a team, remaining undefeated. Can they continue their winning ways and score a huge non-title win over the champions or will the Bodies stop their momentum? Ray Stevens vs. The Dark Patriot (USWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship) Stevens is now a three-time Mid-America champion and has been an impressive champion over the last nine months. The Dark Patriot made his debut last Halloween in Tupelo, when Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink claimed that they had signed the original Patriot to the House of Humperdink. Using tactics like a loaded mask and help from Humperdink, he has compiled an impressive win-loss record, including several wins over his natural enemy the Patriot. Can he capture the Mid-America title or will “The Crippler’s” reign continue? And how will rulebreaking managers Humperdink and “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart factor into this title match? Kevin Sullivan vs. The Patriot (Main Event—USWA World Heavyweight Championship) Sullivan debuted in June 2016 as a member of the House of Humperdink and he made a quick impact, injuring Nick Bockwinkel at last year’s Independence Day Bash, and going on to pin him and put him out of action by stomping his neck in a steel chair four months later in Memphis. In addition, he injured Eddie and Doug Gilbert, before injuring Jimmy Valiant’s trachea in March and then winning the World Heavyweight title at Derby City Stampede. The Patriot debuted at last year’s Bash and has compiled an impressive win-loss record of his own. He got embroiled in a feud with the House of Humperdink after turning down their offer to join and having Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink make their “own” Dark Patriot. He scored a non-title pinfall on “The Gamesmaster” six weeks ago in Evansville to earn this shot. He also added the returning Eddie Gilbert to his allies. Gilbert has announced he will accompany the American hero for this title bout. He stated on the 7-1 edition of Championship Wrestling that he will do all he can to hold back and not “beat the hell out of” Sullivan, so that the Patriot can beat him in the ring and win the World title! Will the Patriot become the champion on America’s birthday or will the evil Sullivan have another devious plan up his black cloak sleeves?
All these great bouts, plus the annual fireworks show after! That’s Independence Day Bash 2017 at Beech Bend Raceway Park!
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