Cory's USWA

[Pariah]

There is no denying that Mr Race is one of the toughest men in the industry and definitely worthy of wearing the gold... But, he better not take his next challenger lightly... The Patriot has the skill and determination to make that title his own... An overzealous effort cost him dearly the last time he had this kind of opportunity... Can't see him making that mistake again.

Very excited to see who Dundee is bringing to the USWA to assist him and the Boogie Woogie Man in their ongoing feud with Blassie and the Tolos brothers -- I've gotta couple of thoughts on who this new ally might be and I'm certain the individual will be a crowd pleaser... The Armstrongs have some great momentum heading into their title shot against the Heavenly Bodies... And I'm also interested to see if Hugh Morrus can keep this undefeated streak alive when he faces Tommy Gilbert.

The USWA continues to bring it... Fun times!

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Pariah for the comments!

February 19, 2018
Card #535: Tupelo Sports Arena

1) “The Monday Night Messiah” Tyler Black was victorious in the opener over “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. The PBR drinker Cannon had some offense against Black but Black rallied back and controlled much of the bout. He hit an impressive power bomb into the turnbuckles. As Cannon crawled out of the corner after receiving this move, Black bounced off the ropes and came back with a stomp to the back of Cannon’s head, driving him face-first into the mat. The stomp was enough to put Cannon down for the three-count after six minutes. Black stood proud, along with bodyguard Luke Harper, over his victory! **

2) “Superstar” Bill Dundee picked up a pinfall in about two minutes on Nacho Barrera. Barrera controlled most of the action in the bout, hoping for a big singles win. He sent Dundee into the ropes and telegraphed a back body drop. Dundee surprised him with a sunset flip to score the pinfall out of nowhere. Moves like that could bring Dundee his first USWA championship next week in Louisville when he challenges “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson for the Southern Heavyweight title! DUD

3) Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine defeated Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke in a competitive match. The hillbillies put up a fight against the First Family’s team. Stevens and Valentine showed that they have good chemistry as a team, frequently tagging in and out of the match and using a variety of double team tactics on their opponents. They kept Luke in the ring for several minutes at the start of the match and even busted him open, as “The Hammer” delivered a stiff elbow smash to Luke’s head, while Stevens was holding him up. Luke surprised Stevens with a head butt, knocking him down, and then made the hot tag to Jim. The Mud Lick, KY native immediately dropped an elbow on Stevens and made a cover for a near fall. Stevens tagged to Valentine but Jim ran wild on him, slamming him to the mat and hitting a leg drop for a two-count. Valentine took control of the big Jim a few minutes later and went for the figure-four leglock but Jim kicked him off before he could apply the hold. Jim managed to tag a bloodied Luke back into the bout. He had some offense against “The Crippler” but the former Mid-America champ regained control and hit a sledge off the top rope. He picked up Luke and delivered the piledriver in the center of the ring. He covered Luke and scored the pinfall, while Valentine stopped an intervening Jim from a save. Jimmy Hart has put together a very impressive duo in Stevens and Valentine! ***¼

4) Hugh Morrus picked up a big win over Tommy Gilbert in about eight minutes. Gilbert had the early advantage and hit a standing dropkick to knock down Morrus and to allow Gilbert to make a cover for a two-count. He stayed in control and hit two running knee lifts to knock Morrus down again. Gilbert made a cover but Morrus got a foot on the bottom rope for a break. Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Gilbert long enough for Morrus to recover and take control. He wore down Tommy and hit the No Laughing Matter. For good measure and to show what a twisted individual he is, Morrus pulled Gilbert’s shoulder up before the three-count and hit a second No Laughing Matter to score the pinfall. Morrus has now pinned two Gilberts and remains undefeated! ***

5) Mr. Hughes and “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce picked up an impressive in a wild bout against Southern Heavyweight champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and the returning Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana. Cabana started off the bout for his team, wanting revenge on Jim Cornette’s men. Pearce seemed to be avoiding his rival in the first few minutes, as Hughes wrestled first. Cabana and Danielson tagged in and out on the bodyguard. Cabana attempted the Colt .45 but couldn’t quite get the big man up. He took Hughes down and went for a submission with the Chicago Crab but Hughes made the ropes. Hughes took over on Danielson and tagged to Pearce. Pearce worked over the Southern champ. He clamped on a figure-four leglock but with Cabana and the fans behind him, Danielson made the ropes. Pearce hit the jumping piledriver but “Dragon” got a foot under the bottom rope. Pearce went up top and went for a frog splash but Danielson rolled out of the way. The Southern champ made the tag to Cabana, who ran wild on his rival. He wore down Pearce and tagged Danielson back in. Danielson got Pearce down on his knees and then blasted him with roundhouse kicks, as the crowd chanted “yes” with each kick. Pearce looked out, as Danielson went for a cover. Jim Cornette handed Hughes the tennis racquet on the apron and then went to the other side of the ring to distract Scott Bowden. Hughes entered the ring and smashed Danielson in the face with the racquet, busting him open! Cabana came in and brawled with the bodyguard, knocking him out of the ring with a clothesline. Pearce rolled on top of Danielson for a cover but Cabana broke it up. Danielson had enough strength to go for a pin on Pearce immediately. As Bowden ordered “Boom Boom” back to his team’s corner, Hughes recovered and stomped on Danielson, then put Pearce back on top! Bowden turned around to count but the Southern champ kicked out at 2¾! Pearce recovered and tagged to Hughes, who quickly executed the spike slam on Danielson. The champ again managed to kick out at the last possible moment! Hughes continued his onslaught. Suddenly, Pearce left the ring apron and pulled Cabana off. Pearce took off up the aisleway and Cabana caught him and started pounding on him! Pearce responded with a kick and then retreated again, with Cabana in pursuit! Back in the ring, Hughes continued his onslaught, hitting a released gut wrench. He covered Danielson and scored a pinfall on the Southern champ after 18 minutes of wild action! While it was a tag team victory, Hughes got his hand raised in the center of the ring, while Cornette cackled in delight! ****

6) The Patriot picked up an impressive victory over King Kong Bundy! The New Jersey giant started off strong and body slammed the masked American, then followed up with a knee drop for a near fall. Bundy went for a clothesline but Patriot ducked and rebounded with a flying shoulder tackle, almost a version of the Patriot Missile. Bundy was dazed but not down. Patriot showed his strength by picking up the 446-pound Bundy and delivering an atomic drop! He covered Bundy and scored the pin in six minutes. As the Patriot got his hand raised, he stared down Jimmy Hart at ringside and indicated that his other charge Harley Race better be ready for their World title bout on March 12 in Lexington! **

7) The Flying Redheads earned a shot at the World Tag Team titles on March 19 in Nashville, as they defeated the House of Humperdink team of Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito! The rulebreakers had some offense against Billy Red Lyons in the first few minutes and it looked like Saito might get a submission win with a sleeper, one of Lyons’ own finishers, but the Canadian grappler made the ropes. Lyons made the tag to Red Bastien, who ran wild on “The Russian Bear.” Bastien got Koloff up in the airplane spin and delivered the atomic drop. He made a cover but the former USWA World champion kicked out. The match was back-and-forth for the next few minutes, until the Redheads trapped the Japanese Olympian in the ring. They blasted him with a double dropkick. Bastien hit the airplane spin into the atomic drop on him, sending Saito head-first into the turnbuckle and busting him open. Bastien went for a cover but Koloff made a save. Lyons tagged back in and slapped on the figure-four leglock in the center of the ring. Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Joe Wheeler, just as Saito taped out! Koloff came in and dropped a knee to Lyons’ face, breaking the leglock. Saito managed to crawl to the corner and tag Koloff back in, as Wheeler’s attention returned to the match. Bastien tagged back in as well, but “The Russian Bear” took over and appeared to have him in trouble. He blasted Bastien with a forearm, which knocked him into the Redheads’ corner. Bastien managed to tag Lyons, which Koloff did not notice but Wheeler did. Koloff pulled Bastien out of the corner to administer more punishment. As he did, Lyons leapt over the top rope and surprised Koloff from behind with a rolling reverse cradle. The move happened so fast and with Saito bloodied and hurt from the figure-four, he couldn’t make a save in time, so Lyons scored the pinfall after 22 minutes! The Tupelo fans went wild, as the Redheads celebrated earning the title shot! This was only Koloff and Saito’s second decisive loss as a team. (Whom will the Redheads challenge next month? Read on to find out!) ***¾

8) World Heavyweight champion Harley Race was victorious over “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in a non-title bout in about five minutes. Gilbert had some offense but the champion controlled much of the pace. Gilbert kicked out of the piledriver and the vertical suplex but went down to a second piledriver. ½*

9) In the first of two championship bouts, Pepper Gomez retained the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title over Baron Von Raschke in about 12 minutes. The champion started off strong, hitting a dropkick in the first few minutes for a near fall. The challenger took over and slowed down the pace but “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach” came back fighting. He nailed a wind-up punch to the stomach which knocked down Von Raschke and got the champion a two-count. Gomez landed the Mexican Leap right across “The Clawmaster’s” face and busted him open. Gomez kept up the attack and hit another Leap, immediately followed by the Mexican cradle to score the pinfall. Gomez continues to impress as champion! ***

10) The main event was a big return bout between two teams that know each other well for the top tag team prize in the USWA. The Heavenly Bodies put the USWA World Tag Team titles on the line against Brad and Brian Armstrong. The Bodies were originally scheduled to defend against the Tolos Brothers tonight but Commissioner Teddy Long made the edict that the Toloses and “Classy” Freddie Blassie would not be receiving any title shots until the month of May, due to their attack on “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant a few weeks ago in Knoxville. The Armstrongs earned this shot by defeating the champions in a non-title bout on that same card in Knoxville. The Bodies had earned two countout wins over the challengers in title bouts in the past year. If the champions retained, they would be tied for the most defenses of the World Tag Team titles, along with Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens’ first reign, as well as Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito. The champions, as usual, were accompanied by their manager Jim Cornette and his bodyguard Mr. Hughes (fresh off of his own tag team victory with Adam Pearce earlier on this card). The challengers were accompanied by their father “Bullet” Bob Armstrong, who wanted to keep an eye on Cornette and Hughes.

As most experts predicted, this was a wild bout between these two feuding teams. Midway through the bout, Brad busted Tom Prichard open with an elbow smash and then hit the Russian leg sweep. He went for a cover but Jim Cornette distracted Paul Morton. A few minutes later, Brian Armstrong and Chris Candido were the legal men, when “The Road Dogg” executed the pump handle slam on “The Suicide Blonde” but only got a two-count. Candido quickly tagged to Prichard but Brian surprised him with a small package. Candido came back to distract Morton, while Cornette snuck in and whacked Brian in the back with the tennis racquet, breaking up the pin! Bob jumped in and went after Cornette. Hughes stepped in front of Bob but got nailed with a forearm to the chest from the ”Bullet”! Not wanting to risk a disqualification or getting ejected from the match, Bob returned to the Armstrongs’ corner. A few minutes later, Brad was the legal man, when he missed a charge into the corner on Prichard and his head hit the buckle hard, busting him open as well. The Bodies trapped him in the ring for several minutes, with Prichard scoring a near fall after a slingshot suplex and Candido scoring one after a top rope huracanrana. The champs executed the Prima Donna Plunge but Brian saved his older brother. The Bodies continued their onslaught, as Candido tagged back in and the Bodies hit a double team suplex. Candido then went up top and hit a diving head butt. Rather than go for the pin, he strutted and gloated, mocking the Armstrongs. He pulled Brad up to his feet and looked ready to strike but Brad surprised him from behind with an Armstrong specialty—the sleeper! Candido started to drop so Prichard attempted a save but got cut off by Brian with some big right hands. Bob kept an eye on Cornette and Hughes, as Candido faded more and more. Morton checked Candido’s arm and it dropped three times. Morton called for the bell after 26 minutes and awarded the belts via submission to the Armstrongs! The Tupelo fans went wild, as the Armstrongs captured the gold together for the first time! Suddenly, several fan favorites joined them in the ring in celebration, including Billy Gunn (who made a surprise appearance, since he wasn’t booked to wrestle on this card) and the Flying Redheads, who will be the Armstrongs’ first challengers next month in Nashville! (While this is Brad and Brian’s first time holding the belts together, Brian is now a four-time champion, having had three reigns with Gunn. Brad is a two-time champion and holds the unique distinction of having been champion with both his father and his brother!) ****½

[TTX]

Heavenly Bodies fall. Go Armstrongs.

Also nice to see Gomez and Patriot take wins.

[cruefan68]

Nothing makes me giddier than the Armstrong's giving Jim Cornette and his men fits. Very cool to see Brad & Brian Armstrong win the USWA tag titles from the Heavenly Bodies in Tupelo and as a big "Bullet" Bob fan I really enjoyed that victory over Mr. Hughes in Memphis.

Speaking of the Mid-South Coliseum, I'm going to assume you are running there on Monday nights and what better place for the "Monday Night Messiah" Tyler Black to debut! I'm hoping for big things from Black in the USWA. I also really love that new pairing of Ray Stevens & Greg Valentine. I could see them making a big impact in the tag division.

[Pariah]

Congrats to the Armstrong brothers, Brad & Brian, on claiming the gold in a marathon match against the Heavenly Bodies... It's additionally cool that Brad now has the distinction of holding those belts with both his father and his brother... Superb accomplishment!

Enjoyed Race's victory over Gilbert... The dominant fashion in which he finished the former champion does a fine job of showing everyone that he means business... Not that anyone would have ever taken him lightly regardless, but this serves as an effective reminder... Harley Race will not be an easy king to dethrone.

Also wanted to mention that even though I'm a big fan of Anarchist, I'm happy that Black was able to secure a big win to open this event... With the introduction of his new 'Monday Night Messiah' persona, I felt it was imperative that he kick things off in triumphant fashion... Entertaining, as always!

[Deleted]

Cory Olson delivers again!

What a spectacular card. I love the way the action flows in your write-ups. I tried doing that In the CWA and I just couldn’t maintain a good, steady patter like you do.

Looks like you had some real barn-burners on this card, and to be honest, the Hughes/Pearce victory made me the happiest. I lurve me some Colt Cabana and Bryan Danielson, but Adam Pearce said something nice to me on Facebook once, so he is a sentimental favorite. Plus Colt Cabana hates me.

I have never paired the Armstrong brothers. To be honest, Brad has never performed well for me, and yet he is a two-time tag team champion, with two different partners, in the USWA. It’s funny how the dice work.

I don’t often comment on peoples’ feds because there are just so many quality promotions out there, but this card felt really special, and I had to give you a tip of my hat. Well done!

[victoryroll84]

Awesome to see the Armstrongs best Corny's Crew what a match that was

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Troy, Crue Fan, Pariah, Christian, and Victory Roll for the comments!

Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 2-24:
• Video aired of the celebration in the locker room of the Tupelo Sports Arena, where the Armstrongs and many other fan favorites celebrated Brad and Brian’s capture of the World Tag Team titles! The Flying Redheads were present and congratulated the brothers on their win but said they look forward to trying to win the belts from them next month in “Music City”!
• Jim Cornette, flanked by Mr. Hughes, was interviewed in studio but for once, didn’t have much to say, as he mainly screamed and pouted about the title loss! He said that he was going to his mama’s lawyer Stephen P. New to overturn this decision because “Bullet” Bob Armstrong had no business at ringside! Lance Russell said that Cornette interfered in the bout but Bob never did! Cornette was in hysterics and had to be restrained by Hughes. He did say that whether it’s the Armstrongs, the Flying Redheads, or any other tag team in the USWA, the Heavenly Bodies will be the champions again!
• More video aired from the Tupelo Sports Arena. This one featured what happened to Colt Cabana and Adam Pearce when they brawled to the back during their tag team match with Cabana and Bryan Danielson against Pearce and Mr. Hughes. Pearce tried to escape the Tupelo Sports Arena but Cabana found him and they brawled to the concession stand! Cabana threw a glass jar of mustard at “Scrap Iron” and there was mustard everywhere! Cornette and Hughes, after the tag match was officially over, made it to the scene and got Pearce out of there before more damage could be done! Tupelo has a history of wild brawls such as these, as Bobo Brazil and the Sheik also tore down the concession stand back in 2008! Back in the studio, Commissioner Long announced that both wrestlers will need to pay for the repairs to the concession stand and that he apologized on behalf of the USWA for their actions
• “Classy” Freddie Blassie, flanked by the Tolos Brothers, was interviewed in the studio and was irate about not knowing who the third member of Jimmy Valiant and Bill Dundee’s team would be on March 19 in Nashville! Blassie accused Lance of knowing the truth and not telling him. Lance said that he didn’t know but that he had received a message earlier that day that on next week’s Championship Wrestling, “Superstar” Bill Dundee would be in the WMC-TV Studios and would announce who the partner will be!
• One week before that huge six-man tag team bout, Dundee and Blassie will do battle one-on-one at the Rupp Arena in Lexington!
• Commissioner Long announced two huge title bouts for the March 26 card at the Oman Arena in Jackson, TN.
o As a result of his pinfall on the champion in the tag team bout last week in Tupelo, Jim Cornette’s bodyguard Mr. Hughes will challenge for the USWA Southern Heavyweight title in the main event! He will challenge either current champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson or “Superstar” Bill Dundee, depending on the outcome of their title match next week at the Louisville Gardens. Hughes has pinfall victories over both wrestlers, so the odds seem to be in his favor either way!
o “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach” Pepper Gomez will defend the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship against Hugh Morrus of the House of Humperdink! Morrus is undefeated and has been an impressive competitor in the ring, despite his erratic behavior. He could pull off a huge win and bring the Mid-America title to the House of Humperdink!

The USWA returns to the Louisville Gardens on February 26!
• In an international bout, the masked American The Patriot will do battle with the German “Clawmaster” Baron Von Raschke! The Patriot has been on a roll and hopes to get another win on his record before he challenges Harley Race for the World Heavyweight title in a few weeks in Lexington. Von Raschke put up a good fight in challenging Pepper Gomez for the Mid-America title last week in Tupelo and would love to put the claw on the masked man. Who will triumph in this global affair?
• After their wild brawl in the concession stand, two rivals will collide in the ring again when Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana battles “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce! This feud continues to intensify. What will happen in the latest chapter?
• “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan will take on Doug Gilbert in a heated bout! Sullivan and the House of Humperdink transformed Gilbert into the Dark Patriot! Once he was unmasked, Gilbert was welcomed back by his family and made to realize that Sullivan was using him. Gilbert will have a tough challenge in the two-time former World champion but he has revenge on his mind! Can he pull off the big upset or will Sullivan put him down?
• In a first-time match-up, “Bullet” Bob Armstrong will do battle with two-time former Southern Heavyweight champion “Exotic” Adrian Street! Armstrong gave Jim Cornette’s bodyguard Mr. Hughes his first loss two weeks ago in Memphis and hopes to gain a big win over Street this week. You can bet that Cornette will be sending Street to defeat and injure the “Bullet,” both for defeating Hughes, as well as for the Heavenly Bodies losing the World Tag Team titles to his sons Brad and Brian last week in Tupelo! Will it be the former commissioner or the British glam rocker getting the win?
• The main event will be between two of the most popular wrestlers in the USWA today and for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson will defend the title against “Superstar” Bill Dundee! Dundee came very close to winning the title from “Exotic” Adrian Street back in November in Gore Springs, MS but Mr. Hughes’s interference led to a countout loss for the Aussie. Danielson ended up winning the title for a second time from Street at New Year’s Knockout XIV in Nashville the next month. While Danielson has a wide arsenal of offense at his disposal, Dundee can pull off a win out of nowhere. If he wins, this would be Dundee’s first championship in the USWA. You can bet Mr. Hughes and Jim Cornette will be watching this match carefully as Hughes will challenge the winner next month in the “Music City.” Will “Dragon” hold on to the gold or will the “Superstar” take it home?

All these bouts, plus Tommy Gilbert battles Mad Dog Vachon! As well as The Uptown Boys, the team of Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Hugh Morrus, Doctor X, and more stars in action at the Louisville Gardens!

[victoryroll84]

The Patriot vs the Baron sounds interesting

Cornette a loss for words is scary, I'm sure he's plotting something!

Keep those write-ups coming Cory

[neilybob]

Awesome and  action packed sir.