Cory's USWA

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Troy and Victory Roll for the comments!

Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on November 10, including the announcements of the first two matches for New Year’s Knockout XV!
• Commissioner Teddy Long announced the first two matches for this annual supercard, which will emanate this year from the Rupp Arena in Lexington!
o The main event will feature a first-time match-up. Current and three-time USWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race will put the title on the line against the undefeated “Wildfire” Tommy Rich! As of this writing, Rich is 13-0 in singles competition and has not suffered a pinfall or submission loss even in tag team bouts. He has become one of the most popular stars in the area. Race has been an impressive champion, losing the title twice to the Patriot this year but not having suffered losses to any other USWA wrestlers. This bout will end 2018 and it will be interesting to see which wrestler goes into 2019 as the USWA champion!
o Commissioner Long verified that Pepper Gomez will challenge the winner of this main event for the first World Heavyweight title match of 2019 on January 14 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum in Evansville. Before that, Gomez will take on one-half of the World Tag Team champions Greg “The Hammer” Valentine on New Year’s Eve in a rematch from their bout last week in Memphis!

• The commissioner also added bouts to the November 19 card at the Sportscenter in Owensboro!
o In a rematch from September in Jonesboro, Marty Jannetty will battle Mr. Hughes! Jannetty put a bloody beating on Jim Cornette’s bodyguard and scored a big pinfall win on the former Southern champion. Hughes wants to avenge that loss!
o A tag team rivalry that has seen some exciting matches will resume, as The Flying Redheads will face the House of Humperdink team of Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito!

• Matches were also made for the December 3 card at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, which will be the last USWA card in the “Music City” for 2018!
o Before they battle for the USWA World Heavyweight championship on New Year’s Eve, champion Harley Race and Nashville native “Wildfire” Tommy Rich will have the opportunity to clash, when Race and fellow First Family of Wrestling member King Kong Bundy will face Rich and “Superstar” Bill Dundee! Not only will fans possibly a preview of the New Year’s Knockout main event but they could also see the renewal of a feud from 2016, as Dundee and Bundy battled throughout the year, including Bundy donning a jumpsuit and becoming Superstar Bundy, as an insult to the Aussie!
o Another huge tag team match will occur, when the World Tag Team champions Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine face Tommy and Eddie Gilbert in a non-title bout. Each team has a win over the other. Commissioner Long has made this a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match!

• USWA Committee Chairman Jerry Jarrett made an appearance in the WMC-TV Studios. Lance Russell asked about Jarrett’s trip to the Midwest that was mentioned by Eddie Marlin on last week’s show. Jarrett said that he was meeting about a big wrestling venture. He said that the deal should be finalized in the coming weeks and he’s excited to share the news with wrestling fans very soon!

The USWA comes back to the Louisville Gardens for the last time in 2018, with a huge card on November 12!
• Ric McCord wants payback, as he will have a big challenge against Mr. Hughes! Hughes delivered a gut wrench on the floor when the Uptown Boys battled the Heavenly Bodies two months ago in Nashville, leading to a countout win for Tom Prichard and Chris Candido. This will actually be McCord’s first singles match in the USWA. Give McCord credit for taking on such a tough opponent in the former Southern champion. Can McCord gain revenge on Jim Cornette’s bodyguard?
• In a rematch from last month in Knoxville, “The Fabulous” Jackie Fargo will collide with Hugh Morrus! Morrus got the win last time via disqualification when he took Sir Oliver Humperdink’s cane and used it on the laughing man. Can Fargo get the win this week?
• Two duos will collide for the first time in a standard tag team bout when The Fantastics take on the former World Tag Team champions John and Chris Tolos! The Toloses put Tommy Rogers out of action for nearly seven months with an arm injury. Rogers returned with Bobby Fulton as his new partner. The duo has been impressive. Can they score a big win on the Toloses or will the dastardly, Canadian brothers stop the popular tandem?
• “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant will do battle once again with “Exotic” Adrian Street! These two charismatic combatants have had some wild bouts. Who will win the latest encounter?
• In the main event, two rulebreaking tag teams will duke it out for the USWA World Tag Team championship. The new champions the First Family of Wrestling’s Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine will make their first defense of the belts when they face the House of Humperdink’s Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito! Stevens and Valentine started off 2018 as a new duo and they have proven to be an effective one, as they have only suffered one decisive loss and captured the gold from the Tolos Brothers last month in Knoxville. “The Russian Bear” and the Japanese Olympian have been a strong duo as well. They have only challenged for the belts once and are hungry to grab the gold. But you can bet that “The Crippler” and “The Hammer” won’t make their reign a short one. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart and Sir Oliver Humperdink stated on Championship Wrestling that they would let their duos compete for the belts fairly but few fans believe either manager! Can the First Family hold on to the gold or will the House of Humperdink make their reign brief?

All these bouts, plus Doctor X faces Doug Gilbert! Plus, Mad Dog Vachon, The Masked Superstar, “The Clawmaster” Baron Von Raschke, and more stars in action!

[victoryroll84]

Just the visual of King Kong Bundy in a jumpsuit would have been hilarious. Looking forward to Dundee vs. Bundy

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Victory Roll for the comments!

November 12, 2018
Card #563: Louisville Gardens

1) Bill and Randy Mulkey got the crowd rocking right away, as they scored their first win in the USWA by defeating “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz in the opener! The Mulkeys showcased some great teamwork here and kept Sharpe in the ring for the entire bout. They hit a double backdrop in the first few minutes, with Randy scoring a two-count. A few minutes later, they used a back elbow slingshot maneuver on the New Jerseyan. Bill went for a cover but Rodz made a save, stomping Bill and clotheslining Randy, who was still in the ring. As Paul Morton ordered “The Unpredictable One” back to his corner, Sharpe got to his feet and charged at Bill. Bill surprised him with a dropkick, sending Sharpe backwards over Randy, who was still on the mat from the clothesline! Bill pounced on Sharpe, making a cover and hooking the leg. Morton turned around to count the pin after 12 minutes before Rodz could realize what had happened! Sharpe got to his feet after the bell and was outraged as he saw Morton raise the Mulkeys’ hands! The Louisville Gardens exploded, as the Mulkeys were joined by several fan favorites in celebrating their win! **½

2) Baron Von Raschke was victorious via submission over Mike Jackson in seven minutes. Jackson looked on his way to a big win, as he had the German grappler in trouble and got him on the mat with a float-over cradle for a two-count. “The Clawmaster” rallied back and caught Jackson in the brain claw. He drove him to the mat and Jackson surrendered. Can Von Raschke capture his first USWA championship next week in Owensboro, KY, when he challenges Luke Harper for the Mid-America Heavyweight title? **¾

3) The Masked Superstar showed his endurance by coming back to defeat “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon after 35 minutes of action! The PBR drinker Cannon surprised the former Southern Heavyweight champion with his skills. He executed both the Glimmering Warlock and the burning hammer but Superstar kicked out of both moves. Cannon stayed in control and came off the top with an elbow drop for another two-count about five minutes later. Cannon went to the well once too often, as he missed a second elbow off the ropes. The Superstar wore him down and hit the swinging neckbreaker to score the pin. Sir Oliver Humperdink was very pleased by his newest charge’s win and bragged about his ability to outlast his opponent! ***¾

4) Mad Dog Vachon made short work of S.D. Jones. The Algerian brawler was relentless against “Special Delivery.” He pounded on him from the opening bell and stopped any comeback attempt. Vachon used the piledriver to put “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” to score the pin in four minutes. Vachon was impressive here and hopes to repeat his success next week in Owensboro, when he challenges “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson for the Southern Heavyweight title in the main event! DUD

5) Mr. Hughes defeated Ric McCord by disqualification after five minutes. McCord had some good offense against the former Southern champion to start the bout. He bounced off the ropes but got tripped up by Louisville’s own Jim Cornette, as Scott Bowden had his back turned to the action. Hughes took over and hit a series of triple backbreakers for a two-count. McCord’s tag team partner Marty Jannetty came down to ringside to keep an eye on “The Louisville Slugger” and to cheer on McCord. McCord rallied back and knocked Hughes out of the ring with a dropkick. McCord did a slingshot plancha on the bodyguard but Hughes caught him and rammed him back-first into the ring apron. Hughes returned to the ring and distracted Bowden, while Cornette came over and punched away at McCord! Jannetty saw this and went after the manager. Hughes pulled McCord back into the ring, whipped him into the ropes, and caught him on the rebound with the spike slam. The bodyguard went for a cover but an irate Jannetty dove into the ring and attacked him, leading to an automatic DQ. Hughes and Cornette retreated to the locker before the Uptown Boys could unleash a further attack! ¼*

6) Doctor X scored a submission victory over Doug Gilbert in about 12 minutes. X had the early advantage and scored two-count after knocking Gilbert down with a series of forearm smashes. Gilbert fought back and had the masked man in trouble. He went for the piledriver but X blocked the move by sweeping Gilbert’s legs and going into a jackknife cradle for a near fall. X went for a submission with a standing surfboard but Gilbert fought for the ropes. X attacked the legs and clamped on the figure-four leglock in the center of the ring. Gilbert was trapped and forced to tap out. ***

7) In a rematch from last month in Knoxville, Jackie Fargo scored a pinfall on Hugh Morrus. The action was back-and-forth in this one. Morrus got Fargo down on the mat and hit the No Laughing Matter but “The Fabulous” Fargo kicked out. Fargo reversed a whip into the corner and caught Morrus on the rebound with a body slam. As Fargo retained control, Sir Oliver Humperdink tried to get involved with his cane, as he did last month. Morrus grabbed Fargo by the arms as Humperdink from the apron tried to hit Fargo with the cane but Fargo ducked and Morrus got nailed! Fargo knocked Humperdink off the apron and then delivered the atomic drop to Morrus to score the pin in about eight minutes. Fans continue to support “The Fabulous” Fargo and you know he wants another shot at Luke Harper’s Mid-America title! **¾

8) The Tolos Brothers defeated The Fantastics in a bloody bout after 32 minutes. The action was hard-hitting from the opening bell here. The Toloses swarmed Tommy Rogers right at the bell and double teamed him for a few minutes. Rogers made the tag to Bobby Fulton and the Fantastics hit the Uptown Flip (which they are now calling the Fantastic Flip, as revealed in an interview on last week’s USWA Championship Wrestling) on John. Fulton went for a cover but Chris broke up the pin attempt. John tried to get to his corner but Fulton surprised him with a reverse rolling cradle for a two-count. John reversed a whip into the ropes. Fulton rebounded with a crossbody block but John caught him in midair and slammed him over his knee with a backbreaker. The Toloses cut the ring in half on Fulton for several minutes. Chris slammed his face into the mat, which busted him open. Chris went for a cover but Fulton kicked out. John tagged back in and the Tolos Brothers executed the double team version of the flying knee drop. Fulton managed to kick out at 2¾. A few minutes later, Chris lifted Fulton up for a body slam near the Fantastics’ corner. Rogers reached in for a tag legally (feet on the apron, grabbing the tag rope). A bloodied Fulton had the wherewithal to see Rogers’ hand and tag it, just before Chris slammed him to the mat. Scott Bowden saw the tag and called it legal, so Rogers jumped in and took over on Chris to the Louisville fans’ delight! Despite the blood loss, Fulton wanted back in the match so Rogers tagged him and they hit the Fantastic Flip again! This time, John broke up the pin attempt. The Fantastics double teamed John for several minutes until John blocked a body slam from Rogers and hit a backbreaker. The Toloses executed the double team flying knee drop again but Fulton broke up the pin attempt. Now Rogers was wearing the “crimson mask,” having been busted open by John’s knee drop. Rogers’ cut was flowing more profusely than Fulton’s and the Toloses’ went to work on it, nailing him with fists in their corner. John was the legal man and tried to get a submission with a corkscrew, drilling his knuckles into Rogers’ head for nearly a minute. With support from Fulton and the fans, Rogers fought to his feet and elbowed John in the midsection. Rogers tried to get a tag but was too weakened. John kept Rogers in the Toloses’ corner and hit a thumb to the throat. Rogers dropped to the mat and was easy prey for John to cover him and score the pin, while Chris stopped Fulton from a save. The Louisville fans berated the Tolos Brothers for their arrogance and dastardly tactics as they got their hands raised! ****¾ (NOTE: I probably would have ranked this as a five-star match but the thumb to the throat finish dropped it a quarter-star!)

9) “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant scored a much-needed victory over “Exotic” Adrian Street! The British glam rocker attacked “The Boy from New York City” at the bell and was aggressive. He hit a running big splash early in the bout for a near fall. Street tried for a submission with a Cobra Clutch but “Handsome” Jimmy made the ropes. “Boogie Woogie” took over after a brawl outside the ring a few minutes later and hit the Boogie Woogie elbow drop back inside the ring but the two-time former Southern champ Street kicked out. Valiant tried for a second elbow but Street rolled out of the way and Valiant crashed hard. The “Exotic One” continued to punish Valiant for several minutes. He pounded away on “Handsome” Jimmy’s face, eventually busting him open. Valiant stumbled around dazed from blood in his eyes and Street was able to catch him in the crucifix for a two-count. Valiant surprised Street with a running elbow smash, knocking him down. Valiant went for a cover but Street kicked out at two. Street surprised Valiant with a clothesline coming off the ropes and took control. He tossed Valiant out of the ring. Jim Cornette jumped up on the ring apron to distract fellow Louisvillian Joe Wheeler. Outside the ring, Street smashed Valiant in the head with Cornette’s tennis racquet, while Mr. Hughes held Valiant in place. Valiant was almost counted out once Wheeler saw him on the floor but he managed to roll back in by the count of eight. Suddenly, “Superstar” Bill Dundee made a surprise appearance, since he was not booked to wrestle on this card. He ambushed Hughes from behind and brawled with the bodyguard to the back! Valiant started to make a comeback and tossed “Exotic” Adrian head-first into the ring post, busting him open as well! Cornette was panicked and got up on the apron again. He got “Boogie Woogie’s” attention. Street went to ambush Valiant from behind but Valiant saw him coming and got out of the way. Street nailed his own manager with a jumping knee smash, sending “The Louisville Slugger” to the Louisville Gardens floor! Valiant dropped Street with a neckbreaker, then delivered another elbow to score the pinfall after 38 minutes. Dundee returned to the ring to celebrate with his tag team partner as the Louisville fans went wild! *****

10) The main event was a tag team bout for the USWA World Tag Team champions. Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine of the First Family of Wrestling made their first defense of the titles against the House of Humperdink’s team of Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito. “The Crippler” and “The Russian Bear” started off the bout for their respective teams. Koloff came out aggressively, but Stevens took over and the champions trapped the former USWA World champion in the ring for several minutes. Koloff reversed a whip into the ropes and caught Valentine on the rebound with the Russian Hammer. He made his first tag to the Japanese Olympian. The challengers worked over Valentine for several minutes. Saito hit the Saito suplex on “The Hammer” and went for a pin attempt but Stevens made the save. Saito stayed in control and tagged Koloff once again. Saito lifted up Valentine in a back suplex position as Koloff came off the second rope with the Russian Sickle. Saito went for the cover and Paul Morton started to count. Jimmy Hart jumped up on the ring apron with the megaphone and pointed out that Koloff was the legal man, not Saito. Morton stopped the count and ordered Saito to his corner. Sir Oliver Humperdink came over and got in Hart’s face, reminding him that the managers had agreed on Championship Wrestling not to get involved. In the chaos, a distracted Koloff got clipped from behind by Stevens. Valentine recovered and applied the figure-four leglock, pulling Koloff closer to the First Family’s corner. Koloff managed to get to the ropes. Stevens tagged in and the champs hit a spike piledriver on “The Russian Bear,” with Valentine coming off the second turnbuckle to push Koloff’s feet down. Stevens made a cover and scored the pin after 40 minutes to retain the titles, while valentine stopped Saito from making a save. the Louisville fans gave the champs a good reaction, siding with them tonight over the challengers, perhaps out of American loyalty! ***½

[TTX]

Superstar and Cannon going 35 minutes is crazy. Then 38 minutes in a match involving Jimmy Valiant..crazy.

Then in this marathon show...there's the tag craziness. Fun show all around.

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Troy for the comments!

Hope everyone's having a great Memorial Day!

Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on November 17, with more announcements for New Year’s Knockout XV!
• Jim Cornette was interviewed in studio, flanked by his bodyguard Mr. Hughes and former Southern Heavyweight champion “Exotic” Adrian Street. Cornette was holding a pair of scissors and Lance Russell asked the manager what in the world he was doing. Cornette said that he cannot stand ungroomed hair and that “The Boogie Woogie Man” needs to shave his beard. He claimed he had spoken to Jimmy’s brother “Luscious” Johnny Valiant and Johnny V. has been embarrassed for the Valiant family for years by “Handsome” Jimmy’s beard! Cornette said that Street and Hughes want another match with Valiant and “Superstar” Bill Dundee on New Year’s Eve in a Lexington Street Fight! And he said that “when” his men win, Valiant needs to shave off that “ugly beard”! There was no response from Valiant and Dundee on this week’s episode.
• Commissioner Teddy Long announced that a rematch will take place between Jackie Fargo and Dutch Savage! Due to the wild nature of their bouts in 2018, this match will be fought under special stipulations. However, the stipulations will be chosen by one of the wrestlers, depending on the outcome of a tag team match that will take place on December 10 at North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY! Fargo and Savage will each choose a partner and whoever’s team wins will get to the pick type of match for their clash on New Year’s Eve!
• After their bloody battle last week in Louisville, it was announced that The Fantastics and The Tolos Brothers will do battle once again, this time, on New Year’s Eve! While Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton have yet to get a tag team win over the former World Tag Team champions, they do hold some singles victories. They would love to end 2018 by triumphing over the Toloses!
• Commissioner Long announced that for the first time in USWA history, a Gauntlet Match will be held! This is similar to a Battle Royal, in that there are multiple competitors. But a Gauntlet varies in that it is a series of one-on-one matches between the combatants until one wrestler remains! (The format is similar to a Battlezone Match that has been held three times in USWA history.) The winner of this Gauntlet Match will challenge the USWA Southern Heavyweight champion in the main event on January 28, 2019 at the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga! The participants for this match will be announced in the coming weeks on Championship Wrestling.


• Commissioner Long also announced more matches for the December 3 card at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville!
o The Patriot will go one-on-one with Chris Tolos! The former World Heavyweight champion will be out for revenge against Chris, who interfered in his brother John’s match against the masked American on last month in Cookeville, leading to a big win for John!
o Speaking of John, he will have a singles bout as well, when he takes on Bobby Fulton!
o “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach” Pepper Gomez will take on former Southern Heavyweight champion Doctor X! This will be a good challenge for the Mexican superstar as he looks ahead to his rematch for the World Heavyweight title in 2019.
o A tag team rivalry will continue, as The Uptown Boys will face The Heavenly Bodies!

• The next challengers for Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine’s USWA World Tag Team titles were announced, as it will be former champions John and Chris Tolos in the main event on December 10 at North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY! The First Family team won the belts from the Tolos Brothers last month in Knoxville in an amazing ***** match.
• USWA Committee Chairman Jerry Jarrett was back in the WMC-TV Studios. Jarrett said that a new promotion will be starting up in 2019 and the USWA is proud to support this operation. He said that the promotion will be based in Iowa, with their main offices in the town of Collins, and will be known as Impact Pro Wrestling or IPW! Jarrett said that next week he will introduce the owner of IPW and give some details on this working relationship!

The USWA returns to the Sportscenter in Owensboro, KY for the first time in three years with a great card of action on November 19!
• Two tag teams that know each other well will tangle once again, as The Flying Redheads will battle the House of Humperdink team of Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito! Coming off last week’s main event in Louisville, “The Russian Bear” and the Japanese Olympian are looking to get back on track after losing in their challenge for the World Tag Team titles. The former champions the Redheads would love to get another shot at the gold and a win here could put them into consideration. Which team will leave Owensboro the winners?
• In a rematch from September in West Memphis, Jim Cornette’s bodyguard Mr. Hughes will do battle with Marty Jannetty! Jannetty bloodied up the former Southern champion and scored a surprise pin on him with a Rocker Dropper after 22 minutes. Hughes is irate and looking to defeat and hurt Jannetty, even more after Jannetty interfered in Hughes’s match with Jannetty’s tag team partner Ric McCord at the Louisville Gardens last week. Can Hughes avenge that loss or will lightning strike twice for the Uptown Boy?
• Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana will return to action and will be out for vengance when he faces “The Monday Night Messiah” Tyler Black! Black put Cabana out of action after tossing Cabana with a power bomb into the guard railing two months ago in Lexington. Cabana suffered a back injury and has been out of action since but you can bet that he will be looking to defeat Black. Can the host of The Art of Wrestling get the win?
• In a return bout from last month in Evansville, “Superstar” Bill Dundee and “Wildfire” Tommy Rich will take on the Tolos Brothers! The Toloses got a quick disqualification win last time in a bout that started off in a wild manner! Can Rich and Dundee avenge that loss or will the Canadian brothers use their dastardly skills to achieve victory?
• Luke Harper will put the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship on the line against Baron Von Raschke! “The Clawmaster” was instrumental in his team winning the eight-man tag team Elimination Match last month at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum, scoring the last elimination against Brad Armstrong and sending the three Armstrongs out of the USWA for a year. His brain claw has proven effective against a variety of opponents. It will be interesting to see if he can put down the big Nebraskan Harper with the move. Will Von Raschke win his first USWA championship or will Harper continue to dominate?
• One of Von Raschke’s allies will be in the main event when Mad Dog Vachon challenges “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship! Vachon has been on a roll in the last few months, most notably scoring a quick pinfall on former World Heavyweight champion Kevin Sullivan on Labor Day in Nashville. Danielson is no slouch either, currently standing at six successful defenses during his third reign. Both athletes can wrestle but the Algerian challenger tends to rely on breaking the rules rather than following them! Can Vachon win his first USWA singles championship or will “Dragon” stop his plan?

All these bouts, plus Dutch Savage battles Ric McCord, Tommy Gilbert collides with Doctor X, The Heavenly Bodies take on The Mulkeys, and The Masked Superstar in action!

[Cory Olson]

November 19, 2018
Card #564: Sportscenter in Owensboro, KY

1) The Masked Superstar was victorious in the opener over S.T. Jones. The former Southern Heavyweight champion had the early advantage. He went for a submission with a sleeper but “Soul Train” got to the ropes. Jones rallied back and tried to use Superstar’s own finisher—the Cobra Clutch (for Jones, formerly the Million Dollar Dream) to defeat him but Superstar made the ropes. Jones hit the Russian leg sweep a few moments later for a near fall. Superstar took over a few minutes later with a head butt as Jones tried to trap him in the corner. Superstar went back to the sleeper and had it on for two minutes. Jones was getting woozy but managed to grab the ropes right before his arm might have dropped for the third time. Superstar grabbed Jones, whipped him into the ropes, and nailed him with an impressive flying cross chop. He covered “Soul Train” and scored the pin in about 20 minutes, making Sir Oliver Humperdink a happy man. ***¼

2) The Heavenly Bodies defeated Bill and Randy Mulkey in six minutes. Coming off their big win over “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz last week at the Louisville Gardens, the Mulkeys got a huge ovation from the Owensboro fans! While they put up a good fight against the former World Tag Team champions, they wouldn’t repeat their success, as Dr. Tom Prichard and Chris Candido are tag team masters. Prichard scored the pinfall on Bill after a slingshot suplex. The Bodies should have a tougher challenger in a few weeks when they meet the Uptown Boys in Nashville! **

3) Doctor X scored a submission victory over Tommy Gilbert. Gilbert came out strong at the start, nailing the masked man with forearm smashes. Later, X ducked a forearm and surprised Gilbert with a full nelson. Gilbert started to drop but made the ropes. The masked man wore down Gilbert with forearms of his own, knocking him down in the center of the ring. X clamped on the figure-four leglock and forced Gilbert to tap. X looked impressive, as he looks forward to facing Pepper Gomez on December 3 in Nashville! **½

4) Dutch Savage scored a pinfall on Ric McCord in eight minutes. With McCord being more of a tag team wrestler, Savage underestimated his skills and paid for it, as McCord worked him over in the opening minutes, hitting a side saddle suplex for a near fall. McCord stayed in control for most of the match but missed a forearm smash, allowing Savage to duck behind him and catch him with a belly-to-back suplex. Savage made a cover and scored the pinfall. **½

5) Ivan Koloff and Mr. Saito scored a tainted win over The Flying Redheads in 25 minutes. Red Bastien and Billy Red Lyons controlled the Japanese Olympian for the first few minutes of the bout, hitting some rapid-fire dropkicks on Saito. Saito surprised Bastien with a judo throw, then tagged to “The Russian Bear.” The rulebreakers double teamed Bastien but he was able to escape and tag Lyons. Koloff cut off Lyons and got him down on the mat, then came off the top with a knee drop. He covered the Canadian but only got a two-count. Koloff set up Lyons in the corner, went up the ropes, and then executed a falling face slam. He covered Lyons but again Lyons kicked out. Saito tagged back in and had Lyons hurting. He went for the Saito suplex but Lyons blocked the attempt and sent Saito into the turnbuckle. He went for a cover near the House of Humperdink team’s corner. Koloff came in but so did Bastien. Sam Platania saw Bastien first and ordered him back to the Redheads’ corner. Meanwhile, Sir Oliver Humperdink handed Koloff his chain, which he wrapped around his fist and then nailed Lyons in the face. He then placed Saito on top and returned to his corner, while Platania turned around to count the pinfall before Bastien realized what had transpired. It was a big win for Koloff and Saito but a dastardly one! ***¼

6) Lightning did strike twice, as Marty Jannetty picked up another big win over Mr. Hughes in 32 minutes! This was a competitive match with Jannetty using his speed to try to wear down the bodyguard, while Hughes tried to use his size and power to do the same to the Uptown Boy. Jannetty came off the top rope a few minutes into the bout with a flying body press and scored a two-count. Later, he knocked Hughes out of the ring with a dropkick and then followed up with a slingshot plancha! Jannetty returned to the ring, while Hughes was almost counted out but with Jim Cornette’s prodding, got back in the ring by the count of eight. Hughes took over and punished Jannetty, blasting him with a big boot to the face. Rather than go for a cover, Hughes delivered more punishment, picking Jannetty up off the canvas, and then whipping him into the ropes again. Hughes telegraphed a back body drop and Jannetty took him over with a sunset flip for a two-count. Hughes got to his feet but Jannetty cut him off with a boot to the midsection and then hit a DDT for another two-count. Jannetty went up the ropes again and hit a fist drop, which busted open Hughes. He went for a cover but again the former Southern champ kicked out. Jannetty grabbed Hughes and appeared ready to deliver the Rocker Dropper but Jim Cornette jumped up on the ring apron. Jannetty grabbed “The Louisville Slugger” by the lapels and looked ready to strike but Hughes did his job as Cornette’s bodyguard and came to his rescue, clotheslining Jannetty from behind. Hughes had control for several minutes and looked on his way to victory. He hit a released gut wrench for a near fall. Hughes probably could have gone for a pin sooner but wanted to injure Jannetty. He hit another gut wrench, then picked up Jannetty and sent him into the ropes. He went for a clothesline but Jannetty ducked, spun around, and blasted Hughes with a superkick out of nowhere! He fell on top of Hughes and scored the pinfall. The Owensboro fans exploded at Jannetty’s win, as Cornette was in shock! Ric McCord came out to celebrate with his Uptown Boys partner! ***¾

7) Colt Cabana returned to action but lost to Tyler Black via disqualification after 10 minutes. “Boom Boom” came out fighting against “The Monday Night Messiah,” wanting to avenge his back injury. This was a back-and-forth bout. Cabana was in control, hitting a power bomb on Black, as sort of a poetic justice moment for Black injuring him with a variation of that move. Cabana bounced off the ropes but got tripped by Black’s bodyguard and the Mid-America Heavyweight champion Luke Harper. Cabana recovered, reached through the ropes, and grabbed Harper by the beard, trying to attack him! The distraction allowed Black to recover and nail Cabana from behind with a knee smash. Black got Cabana down on the mat and hit the curb stomp. As he went to cover the Chicago native, out of nowhere, Southern Heavyweight champion Bryan Danielson hit the ring and stomped away on Black’s head, right in front of Tommy Marlin. Marlin was left with no choice but to call for the bell and disqualify Cabana for outside interference. Black and Harper quickly retreated to the back after getting Black’s hand raised to avoid more problems from Danielson and Cabana! *¾

8) John and Chris Tolos picked up an impressive win over “Superstar” Bill Dundee and “Wildfire” Tommy Rich. The action, as expected, was wild from the opening bell. The fan favorite team had control of John, as Rich hit a piledriver for a two-count. John managed to tag his brother but Rich nailed Chris with a big uppercut and scored a near fall. Dundee came back in but got caught in the Toloses’ half of the ring. John took him to the floor and slammed his head into the announcers’ table. He then took the hammer for the ring bell and then nailed Dundee in between the eyes with it, while Chris was distracting Sam Platania and “Wildfire” inside the ring. John tossed the Aussie back inside and delivered the flying knee drop. He made a cover and scored the pinfall, while Chris stopped Rich from a save after 10 minutes. The Owensboro fans let the Toloses know that they weren’t happy about the outcome! **½

9) Luke Harper was back out to the ring and he retained the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship against Baron Von Raschke. The German challenger had some good offense against the champion from Nebraska but couldn’t keep him down for a pin and was unable to lock in the claw. Harper fought back and used the big boot twice on Von Raschke for near falls. He even hit a package piledriver but only got a two there as well. “The Clawmaster” regained control and sent Harper into the ropes. He tried to catch him on the rebound with the claw but Harper ducked, bounced off the opposite ropes, and came back at Von Raschke with another big boot. This third boot was enough to put the Baron down for the pin after 16 minutes of action. While fans definitely aren’t supportive of Harper and Tyler Black together, the Owensboro fans favored Harper in this one, as he continues to impress as Mid-America champion! ***

10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current and three-time champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson put the title on the line against Mad Dog Vachon. The challenger charged Danielson right at the bell and went to work. He choked Danielson on the ropes and then hit the Mad Dog Pounce. He took Danielson to the floor but “Dragon” surprised him with a roundhouse kick. Danielson tossed him back into the ring and went for the guillotine choke but Vachon got to the ropes before Danielson could synch it in fully. Danielson later did get Vachon in the choke. The Algerian looked in trouble but pushed Danielson’s shoulders to the mat for a pin attempt. Danielson quickly released the choke and went to his stomach to avoid a pinfall. Vachon took over for a few minutes but missed a knee drop. With Vachon down on his knees, Danielson delivered his “Yes!” kicks with the crowd chanting “Yes!” at each kick. Danielson went for a cover but Vachon kicked out. Danielson locked on the LeBell Lock in the center of the ring. Mad Dog tried to bite Danielson’s fingers but the Southern champ was able to block him, strike, and then keep the hold on. Vachon was trapped and tapped out after 14 minutes, giving Danielson the win and his seventh defense of the Southern Heavyweight title. (With the win, Danielson is now tied for third place in the history of most defenses of the Southern title, sharing the spot with his old rival “Exotic” Adrian Street and his first reign.) ***

[TTX]

Nice to see Marty pick up a big win. Also fun seeing the Tolos boys winning.

[Cory Olson]

Thanks to Troy for the comments!

Highlights from the last two episodes of USWA Championship Wrestling, featuring more news for New Year’s Knockout XV from the Rupp Arena in Lexington!

November 24:
• Commissioner Teddy Long revealed the first five of 20 participants for the first-ever Gauntlet Match, where the winner will challenge for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship in 2019!
o World Tag Team champion Ray “The Crippler” Stevens
o King Kong Bundy
o Tommy Gilbert
o “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert
o Doug Gilbert
If the Gilberts cross paths with either First Family of Wrestling member, those could be some exciting matchups!

• “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant and “Superstar” Bill Dundee were in studio to answer Jim Cornette’s challenge from last week for a Lexington Street Fight against “Exotic” Adrian Street and Mr. Hughes with “Boogie’s” beard at stake. Valiant said he was insulted by Cornette calling his beard names and asked why “The Louisville Slugger” just can’t love everyone as “Boogie” does. Dundee accepted the challenge but with the added stipulation that if he and Valiant win, they get to have Cornette in the ring, in a two-on-one Handicap Street Fight, for five minutes, immediately following the tag team Street Fight!
• Cornette, flanked by Mr. Hughes, came into the WMC-TV Studios. The manager seemed shocked and horrified by the possibility of stepping back into the ring as a competitor. After some uncharacteristic stammering, he finally agreed to the stipulation, saying that with two former Southern Heavyweight champions representing him in Hughes and Street, he won’t have to wrestle and “Boogie’s” beard will be a memory! The Lexington Street Fight was made!
• The commissioner also announced that a tag team match will take place that has been a hot feud in 2018 centered more around two singles championships! Southern Heavyweight champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson will team up with Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana to battle “The Monday Night Messiah” Tyler Black and his bodyguard and the Mid-America Heavyweight champion Luke Harper! Because so many of their bouts have ended in disqualifications, Commissioner Long has made this a No-Disqualification Match!

• The commissioner also announced that Bryan Danielson’s next defense of the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship will main event the USWA’s debut in a new city and arena! On December 17, Gallatin, TN (about 40 minutes northeast of Nashville) will host the USWA at the National Guard Armory, as fans will see “American Dragon” defend the title against two-time former World Heavyweight and Southern Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant!
• The Gallatin card will also host another title match, as Luke Harper will defend the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title in a rematch against Jackie Fargo! Fargo looked on his way to winning the title last month in Cookeville but had to settle for a countout win. This time, “The Fabulous” Fargo is hoping to win the match and the championship!
• The commissioner also announced that the challenger for the World Heavyweight championship in the New Year’s Knockout XV “Wildfire” Tommy Rich will have a tough challenge against a former World champion in “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff! These two will collide on December 10 at North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY!
• USWA Committee Chairman Jerry Jarrett was back in the studio with an update on Impact Pro Wrestling! Jarrett introduced the primary owner of IPW Troy Peterson! Peterson has been around Midwest wrestling for a few years, having been in charge of Midwest Pro Wrestling (MPW) that ran cards in Iowa and surrounding states for the last years. Unfortunately, due to financial issues caused by an embezzlement scheme that is still being investigated, MPW had to close its doors this past June. Peterson and Jarrett met at a convention in Las Vegas for wrestling promoters in September. When Peterson told Jarrett what had happened, Jarrett agreed to fly out to Peterson’s home in Altoona, IA for a meeting about what the USWA could do to support wrestling in Iowa. Jarrett said that he could see Peterson’s passion for wrestling and it reminded him of his own passion! He explained that IPW will be an affiliated promotion to the USWA. While IPW will have its own titles, the USWA World Heavyweight and World Tag Team champions will be recognized as the official World championships for IPW. The USWA World champions are welcome to defend their titles on IPW cards. IPW wrestlers are welcome to travel to USWA cards and challenge for the Southern Heavyweight or Mid-America Heavyweight titles. Peterson said that IPW will crown an IPW Heavyweight champion and IPW Tag Team champions! IPW’s first card will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2019 from the Forte Conference and Convention Center in downtow Des Moines! Peterson will serve as the primary decision maker for matches and rulings, in a similar capacity to Teddy Long as USWA Commissioner. In some situations, Peterson and Long may collaborate on decisions that involve both promotions! Peterson added that he and Jarrett are working on a deal for an IPW TV show and hope to have details to announce soon!

December 1:
• Commissioner Theodore R. Long added five more participants to the 20-man Gauntlet Match!
o Red Bastien
o Billy Red Lyons
o Mad Dog Vachon
o Baron Von Raschke
o The Barbarian
It will be interesting to see what impact Doctor X’s allies have in this match! While the Flying Redheads have had a great year in tag team competition, both are very capable singles competitors!

• Another match ended to the annual December 31 supercard will see a rematch of one of the biggest wins in USWA history, when The Mulkeys battle “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz! Bill and Randy Mulkey got their first win in the USWA about three weeks ago at the Louisville Gardens, defeating the East Coast rulebreakers, pinning Sharpe before he could tag to Rodz! Sharpe and Rodz want to avenge that loss and end 2018 on a good note!
• Dutch Savage was interviewed and announced his tag team partner for the match with Jackie Fargo and a partner of his choosing on December 10 in Radcliff, where the winners will get to choose the stipulations for the Fargo-Savage match at New Year’s Knockout. Into the WMC-TV Studios, startling Lance Russell came Hugh Morrus of the House of Humperdink, with Sir Oliver Humperdink behind him. Savage said that he thinks Morrus is “off his rocker” but he knows that Fargo had some trouble with him in recent bouts. Savage was wearing something on his right hand, which he put up into camera view. He told Lance Russell that is was a cole miner’s glove and “when” he and Morrus defeat Fargo and his team in Radcliff, his match with Fargo will be a match he made famous in Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW)--the Cole Miner’s Glove Match—where this heavy glove is suspended on a pole and the first wrestler to get it can legally use it!
• Give “Wildfire” Tommy Rich credit, as he is not holding back on his match schedule prior to challenging for the World Heavyweight championship! The popular Rich will face one-half of the World Tag Team champions Ray “The Crippler” Stevens on December 17 at the USWA’s debut in Gallatin, TN at the National Guard Armory! You can bet that World champion Harley Race and “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart will want Stevens to try to cripple Rich prior to the main event in Lexington on New Year’s Eve!

The USWA kicks off the month of December with a huge card on December 3 from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville!
• USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion Luke Harper will be in action in a non-title grudge match against Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana! Cabana’s return from injury was ruined by Harper two weeks ago in Owensboro, KY, when Harper tripped up the Chicago native in his match against Harper’s employer “The Monday Night Messiah” Tyler Black. The host of The Art of Wrestling would love to defeat Harper for revenge and to earn another shot at the Mid-America title in the near future. Can he do it or will the big Nebraskan frustrate him again?
• A tag team war will continue with a singles bout as Bobby Fulton tangles with John Tolos! The winner of this could gain some momentum for his team going into the big tag team grudge match at New Year’s Knockout XV!
• Two former Southern Heavyweight champions will collide when “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach” Pepper Gomez takes on the masked Doctor X! Gomez is looking forward to a rematch for the World title in January 2019, as well as a return bout with World Tag Team champion Greg “The Hammer” Valentine on New Year’s Eve but he cannot look past the ever-capable X. X has been a roll since return from a concussion in October in Evansville, sending all three Armstrongs out of the area for a year and even eliminating his long-time rival Lou Thesz from the Elimination Match. X would love to get a victory over the upcoming challenger for the World title and get himself in consideration for a shot in the New Year. Will the Mexican superstar or the masked technician leave the “Music City” the winner?
• Another tag team feud will continue, when The Uptown Boys take on the former World Tag Team champions The Heavenly Bodies! Marty Jannetty and Ric McCord have been causing Jim Cornette some frustrations, more so against his bodyguard Mr. Hughes! Can Tom Prichard and Chris Candido avenge “The Louisville Slugger’s” frustrations or will the Uptown Boys get the victory?
• Another man out for revenge is former World champion The Patriot. He will have his opportunity when he faces Chris Tolos! Chris came to his brother John’s aid in October in Cookeville, interfering in his match with the masked American, leading to a big singles win for John. Can the Patriot put down the younger Tolos?
• The World Tag Team champions Ray “The Crippler” Stevens and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine will be in non-title action against a team that has given them headaches the last few months in Tommy and Eddie Gilbert! The Gilberts gave the champions their only decisive loss to-date when they beat them in Evansville in October, one week prior to the First Family of Wrestling team winning the belts from the Tolos Brothers. One week after winning the gold, Stevens and Valentine avenged that loss in Cookeville. Commissioner Teddy Long has made this a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match in the hope that a decisive outcome occurs. Falls can occur by pinfall, submission, countout, disqualification, or blood stoppage. Since this is a tag team match, after a fall has occurred, the two legal men involved in the fall must start off the match against each other for the next fall. Which duo will triumph in this classic tag team battle?
• The main event will be a huge tag team match of its own and will feature the two participants for the main event at New Year’s Knockout XV. World Heavyweight champion Harley Race will team up with his fellow First Family of Wrestling member King Kong Bundy to battle Race’s challenger “Wildfire” Tommy Rich and “Superstar” Bill Dundee! Assuming they tag in against each other, this will be the first time that Rich and Race have wrestled each other in a USWA ring. Another interesting story in this bout is their tag team partners, as Dundee and Bundy had a wild feud in 2016, with Bundy even donning a bodysuit and changing his name to Superstar Bundy, as a mockery to the Aussie “Superstar.” You can bet that in Rich’s hometown of Nashville, they will be fired up for this one! Can the fan favorites get a big win before Rich challenges for the World title on New Year’s Eve or will the First Family’s team ruin their goal?

All these bouts, plus a tag team rematch from last month at the Mid-South Coliseum, as The Flying Redheads battle Baron Von Raschke and The Barbarian! As well as The Masked Superstar and “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff in singles competition!

[~KB~]

Uncle Ivan needs to bring in his nephew NIKITA and send the USWA into a RUSSIAN NIGHTMARE!

[victoryroll84]

All caught up and lots going on in USWA

Keep up the fine work Cory