Cory's USWA

[Pariah]

Seven Levels of Hate with some serious stakes attached... Win or lose, Cabana and Pearce might never be the same after this is over... Awesome stuff, as always!

[neilybob]

Another great card sir well done.

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Troy, Pariah, and Neily Bob for the comments!

March 12, 2018
Card #537: Rupp Arena in Lexington

1) Doctor X scored a submission win in the opener over “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. The PBR drinker Cannon had some early offense and looked like he might score a huge win over the former Southern champion, as he hit the Glimmering Warlock for a near fall. Cannon missed a running knee smash into the corner and X capitalized by working the leg. He got Cannon in the center of the ring and slapped on the figure-four leglock. Cannon fought long and hard but couldn’t get to the ropes and had to tap. X was victorious in four minutes. *¾

2) Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine continued their winning ways with a victory over “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe in three minutes. For the third match in a row for their team, Rodz was unable to tag Sharpe, as the First Family team cut the ring in half. Valentine forced Rodz to submit with the figure-four leglock before Sharpe could make a save. DUD

3) Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana was victorious over Nacho Barrera. The Mexican superstar gave Cabana a challenge but the Chicago native prevailed. Cabana hit a folding Thesz Press for a near fall. He stayed in control and picked up Barrera into an airplane spin. He spun him about a dozen times before dropping. Cabana, himself dazed, fell on top of Barrera but had the wherewithal to make a cover and score the pin in eight minutes. The host of The Art of Wrestling looks ready for his Seven Levels of Hate series with “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce! **

4) Mr. Hughes defeated Hillbilly Jim by countout after eight minutes. Jim Cornette’s bodyguard controlled much of the action in this one. Jim had some flurries of offense but Hughes cut him off. He hit an impressive spike slam on the Mud Lick, KY native. Jim rolled out of the ring before Hughes could go for a cover to try to get a breather. Hughes followed him and continued the onslaught, hitting a released gut wrench suplex on the 305-pounder on the Rupp Arena floor! Hughes returned the ring but Jim was unable to by Jerry Calhoun’s 10-count, so Hughes was declared the winner. *¾

5) King Kong Bundy picked up a win over Billy Gunn via disqualification. This was a battle of power between the athletic Gunn and the bulbous Bundy. While he didn’t get the full extension and lift, Gunn was able to get the 446-pounder up for a Cobra Clutch slam. He covered Bundy but only got a two-count. Bundy regained the control a few minutes later and had Gunn in trouble. He hit a backbreaker and then a body slam. Gunn was hurting but got to his feet, only to get his with a clothesline from the New Jersey giant, sending him over the ropes and to the floor. Jimmy Hart got up on the apron to distract Frank Morrell, while Bundy grabbed a steel chair from the ringside area. He went to smash Gunn with it but Gunn recovered and caught him with a punch to the stomach. Bundy dropped the chair and Gunn quickly retrieved it. He smashed Bundy with the chair across his giant back. Unfortunately for Gunn, Morrell turned around just in time to see his use of the chair. The official called for the bell and disqualified Gunn after eight minutes. The Lexington fans were not happy about this one! Bundy and Hart retreated before Gunn could retaliate! **½

6) Tommy and Eddie Gilbert picked up a win via disqualification over their rivals “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan and Hugh Morrus after 24 minutes of wild action. This action was back-and-forth between these rival teams. About midway through the match, Eddie hit a neckbreaker clothesline on Sullivan for a near fall. Tommy tagged back in a few moments later but the House of Humperdink team worked him over. Morrus scored near falls after a power bomb and later a spinebuster. The former World champion Sullivan came back in and took Tommy to the floor. He choked Tommy with Gary Michael Cappetta’s microphone cord, while Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Paul Neighbors. Eddie left the Gilberts’ corner to rescue Tommy. Back inside the ring, Sullivan and Morrus continued their attack. A few moments later, Sullivan took Tommy out of the ring again and again grabbed the microphone cord. This time, Neighbors caught “The Gamesmaster” in the act and gave him a warning, putting a five-count on him. Sullivan wouldn’t release and Neighbors called for the bell, disqualifying Sullivan and Morrus. After the bell, Eddie ran in and knocked down Morrus with a clothesline. He then ran over and attacked Sullivan, getting him to release his choke. He tossed Sullivan back inside the ring and pounded away on him. Tommy recovered and joined Eddie in the attack. Eddie held up Sullivan, allowing Tommy to hit the running knee lift. Tommy hit two more knee lifts before the Gilberts left the ring. Humperdink and a recovered Morrus helped “The Gamesmaster” back to the locker room. Sullivan was looking very dazed as he returned. ***¼

7) “Classy” Freddie Blassie defeated “Superstar” Bill Dundee with some sneaky tactics in three minutes. Dundee came at Blassie as a house of fire at the opening bell. He sent “The King of Men” into the corner but Blassie caught him coming in with a knee to the jaw. Blassie delivered several more knee drops and went for a cover but only got a two-count. He picked Dundee up and hit the Southern neckbreaker. He covered Dundee and put his own feet on the middle ropes to gain the quick pinfall. Blassie was the winner tonight but you can bet Dundee, “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, and “Wildfire” Tommy Rich will be ready for a fight with Blassie and the Toloses next week in Nashville! DUD

8) Baron Von Raschke scored a controversial win over “Bullet” Bob Armstrong via countout in a 10-minute match. Armstrong scored some near falls in the first few minutes after a vertical suplex and a head butt. Mad Dog Vachon (wearing a suit, since he wasn’t booked to wrestle on this card) and Doctor X appeared at ringside. Perhaps their presence helped, as “The Clawmaster” surprised Armstrong with a backslide for a two-count and then stayed in control for several minutes. It looked like the German grappler had the match wrapped up when Armstrong blocked a body slam and rolled him into a small package. Vachon jumped up on the ring apron to distract Frank Morrell, while Doctor X slipped something into his mask and entered the ring. He pulled Armstrong out of the small package and “Bullet” Bob pursued him out of the ring. He went up the aisle but X turned and delivered a loaded head butt. Armstrong dropped to the Rupp Arena floor. Morrell turned around to see Armstrong down and administered a count. He hit 10 and awarded the match to Von Raschke. The fans were not happy about this outcome! As the rulebreaking trio made their way to the back, the Flying Redheads came out to check on Armstrong. Several USWA officials helped him to the back. (Bob’s sons and World Tag Team champions Brad and Brian were not present tonight since they were not booked to wrestle.) ***

9) The Flying Redheads stayed in the ring after checking on “Bullet” Bob Armstrong. They earned another victory over The Tolos Brothers after 26 minutes of competitive action! The Toloses were aggressive against Red Bastien at the bell. Bastien tagged in Billy Red Lyons, who went to work on John. He caught John in the sleeperhold but John made the ropes for a break. John trapped Lyons in the Toloses’ corner and they tagged in-and-out against him. John tried to score a submission with a corkscrew but Lyons made the ropes. The corkscrew busted open Lyons. Later in the bout, Bastien came off the top with a flying body press onto Chris for a two-count. A few minutes later, Bastien busted John open with a double knee lift before scoring a two-count. Lyons tagged back in and hit a flying body press on John but the momentum caused John to roll through and end up on top in a pinning position. John scored a two-count. He had Lyons down on the mat and went for the flying knee drop. Lyons rolled out of the way and John landed on his knee hard. Lyons took advantage by clamping on the figure-four leglock in the center of the ring. Chris came in to try to save his brother but was met with a dropkick by Bastien! With the blood flowing and his knee hurting, John was left with no choice but to tap out. The fans went wild for the Redheads’ victory and they looked ready to challenge for the World Tag Team titles next week in Nashville! ****½

10) The main event was for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. The current champion and the undefeated Harley Race put the title on the line against The Patriot. While the champion was accompanied, as usual, by his manager Jimmy Hart, the challenger had “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in his corner to keep an eye on “The Mouth of The South.” Race started off on the offensive but the masked man quickly took control after the action spilled to the floor. He started an offensive flurry, hitting both the Patriot Missile and the Uncle Slam to score near falls. He nailed Race with some powerful punches, which busted open the champ, then whipped him into the ropes, and caught him with a power slam on the rebound. As the Patriot went for a cover, Hart jumped up on the ring apron to distract Jerry Calhoun. Gilbert ran over quickly to ensure Hart didn’t interfere. The Patriot stayed in control, hitting an atomic drop for another two-count. Race capitalized on a mistake and had the masked American in trouble. He came off the second ropes with the diving head butt and went for a cover but the challenger kicked out. Race followed up with a back suplex in the center of the ring and went for a pin attempt but again the Patriot kicked out. Race tossed Patriot out of the ring on the same side as Hart. Gilbert came over to get after Hart but Calhoun saw “Hot Stuff” and warned him about getting involved. In doing so, Calhoun didn’t see Race grab Patriot by the arms and Hart attempt to hit the challenger with the megaphone. The Patriot ducked the attack and the champ got hit! Patriot knocked down Hart and tossed Race back into the ring. He hit a standing dropkick and covered Race. Calhoun counted the pinfall and called for the bell after 10 minutes, awarding the Patriot the USWA World Heavyweight title! The Rupp Arena exploded, as Gilbert entered the ring to join the Patriot in celebrating. The two were quickly joined by Tommy Gilbert and several other fan favorites, who carried the new champion around the ring! (The Patriot is only the second masked wrestler to be USWA World champion, after the “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer.) ***½

[derekvb]

Wow! Congratulations to the Patriot. A well deserved, but surprising win.

[bookerbill]

A shocker in the main event but great card overall

[Pariah]

HOLY SNAP! Did not see that coming! And I probably should have because you changed your avatar. HA!

What a triumph for The Patriot -- Not only taking the gold, but snapping Race's big undefeated streak in the process... A brilliant way to kick off a new title reign... Can he keep this momentum going?

[neilybob]

congrats to the new champ. long may he reign.

[TTX]

Awesome win for Patriot, a guy I always enjoyed even when he was teaming with Bagwell.

Enjoying the Stevens/Valentine tag team as well.

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Derek, Pariah, Booker Bill, Neily Bob, and Troy for the comments!

Highlights from a very newsworthy edition of USWA Championship Wrestling on St. Patrick’s Day!
• Video aired from the Rupp Arena last Monday night and a huge celebration in the locker room after the Patriot’s win of the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Lance Russell caught up with the masked American in the middle of the celebration and congratulated him. The Patriot thanked Lance and the fans for their support and said he plans to defend the title with honor, just like any “good American” would do!
• Commissioner Teddy Long appeared in-studio and congratulated the Patriot as well. He announced that a rematch for the World Heavyweight title will main event the April 9 card at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, when the Patriot defends against former champion Harley Race!
• It was announced that “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan suffered a concussion in the post-match brawl with Tommy Gilbert and will be out of action for a few weeks. This impacts next week’s originally scheduled bout between Sullivan and Harley Race in Nashville. But the commissioner had a plan! (See Card #538 preview below.)
• Commissioner Long announced more matches for the March 26 card at the Oman Arena in Jackson!
o Two long-time rivals will go one-on-one when “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant takes on “Classy” Freddie Blassie! Valiant will get his chance for revenge in the big six-man tag team match next week but he is looking forward to a singles bout with “The King of Men” in Jackson!
o In a tag team rematch, The Uptown Boys will take on The Tolos Brothers! Marty Jannetty and Ric McCord scored a huge win over the Toloses a few weeks ago in Memphis, not even giving John Tolos the chance to tag into the bout. They are hoping for another impressive win but the Canadian brothers will be ready for them!
o “Bullet” Bob Armstrong will be ready to fight when takes on Doctor X! X got involved in Armstrong’s bout with Baron Von Raschke last week, using a loaded head butt and getting a countout win for the Baron. Armstrong will definitely be ready to unload on the masked man!
o Another return bout from Memphis will see “Superstar” Bill Dundee battle “Exotic” Adrian Street! Street got the win last time over the Aussie when Jim Cornette scooped Dundee’s leg on a body slam attempt, causing Street to fall on top and get the pinfall. Dundee has had problems with Cornette’s men as of late and is gunning for a big win over the former Southern champion!
o In a rematch from last week’s card in Lexington, Billy Gunn will battle First Family of Wrestling member King Kong Bundy! Gunn lost his cool and got disqualified last week but hopes to maintain his composure and get a big win over the New Jersey giant.

The USWA returns to “Music City”—Nashville and the Municipal Auditorium on March 19!
• The Uptown Boys will face, perhaps, their biggest challenge so far, when they take on the House of Humperdink’s team of Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito! “The Russian Bear” and the Japanese Olympian have a strong win-loss record, due to their combination of power, wrestling skill, and brutality. Marty Jannetty and Ric McCord are presently undefeated and have won most of their bouts in short order, not letting the other opponent tag into the bout. Their quickness could offset the rulebreakers’ power and size. Can the Uptown Boys remain undefeated?
• While the USWA never intentionally false advertises, they always list “Card subject to change.” With the injury to “The Gamesmaster” Kevin Sullivan, Harley Race will now take on the man that injured Sullivan—Tommy Gilbert! Commissioner Long announced that this is not a punishment for Gilbert but rather a match that he wanted, as prior to the Patriot’s win last week, Gilbert had come the closest to scoring a win on Race in the last year. Race will be extra focused after losing the World title last week and may want to take things out on Gilbert, an ally of the new champion. Who will leave Nashville the victor?
• “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome“ Jimmy Valiant will return and he’s got quite the team with him, as he will team up with “Superstar” Bill Dundee and “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, to battle “Classy” Freddie Blassie and The Tolos Brothers! Rich is one of the most popular wrestlers in the United States and will be making his debut in his home territory of the USWA. Blassie and the Toloses put Valiant out of action after John Tolos defeated the former World champion at the end of January in Knoxville, giving him a concussion. Can the mega-team of Valiant, Dundee, and Rich triumph over the nefarious Blassie and Toloses?
• In the first match of a historic best-of-seven series entitled Seven Levels of Hate, Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana will battle “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce vs. Cabana in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match! Pearce has had some long, competitive matches in his USWA tenure and the rules of this one could favor him. Whoever wins this first bout will have momentum going forward in the series. Dave Brown reviewed the format of a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match on Championship Wrestling:
I. A wrestler can win a fall by any standard means: pinfall, submission, countout, or disqualification.
II. After each completed fall, there will be a 60-second rest period. The next fall will start with each wrestler coming out of his respective corner.
III. The first wrestler to win two falls wins the match.
IV. In the case of a tie in falls, due to a double disqualification or double countout in one of the falls, the match will be declared a draw.
Who will take home the first victory in this series?

• The main event will be for the USWA World Tag Team titles. The new champions, Brad and Brian Armstrong, will defend against The Flying Redheads! The Armstrongs finally captured the gold from the Heavenly Bodies last month in Tupelo. The Redheads earned this shot earlier on the same card by defeating Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito. Red Bastien and Billy Red Lyons have not suffered a decisive loss since reforming their team this past summer. While the Redheads competed in the USWA in 2007 and ’08, this will actually be their first time challenging for the belts together! Both Bastien and Lyons are former champions but would love to hold the belts one more time as a team. But you can bet the Armstrongs won’t back off after fighting so long to win these belts. This should be a great scientific bout between two popular teams. Who will leave “Music City” the champions?

All these huge bouts, plus Mr. Hughes, “Exotic” Adrian Street, Hugh Morrus, “The Monday Night Messiah” Tyler Black, the team of Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and more USWA stars in action in the “Music City”!

[victoryroll84]

Tommy better look out, Harley could be seeing red after losing the world title!

Fantastic as always Cory