Thanks for your comments TTX and Bri, the Lucha MAX debut show was fun to put together. I'm happy to break away from the Lucha Underground format and go in this direction especially with the new Lucha cards available. That couldn't have worked out any better getting an infusion of new talent for this fed, some of whom will debut on the next Lucha MAX show. As you can see Catrina has undergone a transformation to her real name of Karlee Perez as I am trying to distance Lucha MAX from Lucha Underground (plus it's the name on her card ). Of course I made that decision before I knew we would be getting an official Mil Muertes card but that doesn't mean they won't be linked somehow either as friend or foe. Stay tuned. Up next is the latest edition of LOW All-Star Wrestling with a huge change to the Ring Angels division plus some angst from Playboy Buddy Rose, and who doesn't love a wound up Buddy Rose? A minor note but I'm using all yellow highlighting for this show just to change it up, maybe an exclusive change for ASW. I hope you enjoy the action...LOW All-Star Wrestling (Episode 86) - WMC-TV5 Studios - Memphis, TN (Card #1271)Announcers: Lance Russell & Dave Brown
Newswire:
The broadcast opened with a video package from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY (Card #1265) featuring “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles beating “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers for the LOW World Heavyweight title and the Rock n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) winning the LOW World tag team titles back from the Midnight Express (“Loverboy” Dennis Condrey & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton). Russell said that history always seems to be made at MSG and Brown agreed noting that Styles was now a three-time world champion. Russell said it was something of a shock to see Rogers drop the belt so quickly after winning it, but that Styles is indeed “phenomenal”, and he could be on his way to another lengthy run as champion.
Brown mentioned how the Rock n’ Roll Express quickly rebounded to regain the world tag team titles capitalizing on their rematch clause which has left Jim Cornette, the manager of the Midnight Express, up in arms. Russell mentioned that Cornette was supposed to be in studio today but instead he is at home in Louisville, KY, convalescing under the watchful eye of Mama Cornette. That got a chuckle from Brown who said that perhaps the biggest news coming out of MSG was new LOW Commissioner Teddy Long making the big announcement that WrestleCade 13 will take place at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL (Card #1300) and said that fans should stay tuned to ASW and the LOW website in the coming weeks for more information on the big event.
Russell got up from the announce desk and made his way to the interview staging area where he asked the studio audience to give a warm welcome to Kings Road United founder Rikidozan who was accompanied by former Ring Angels champion Mildred Burke and Sumie Sakai, a top star in the Ring Angels division. Russell said that they had a big announcement to make and that honor went to Sakai who co-founded the Ring Angels division along with Rikidozan. She said that with the increasing interest in the division that they wanted to make it even more competitive and also rebrand it in a name befitting the talent. After careful consideration, she said it has been decided that Ring Angels will now be rebranded as Empress Ring. Sakai said that the name Empress Ring symbolizes the quality of talent currently competing in the division along with the new talent arriving in the near future. Burke stepped up next and said that in her new role as the head trainer of Empress Ring, she is determined to make it the premiere division for all women under the LOW banner while at the same time continuing her own in-ring career.
Rikidozan, who was carrying a briefcase, announced that the name of Empress Ring is befitting of a new championship and he asked current Ring Angels champion Jazz to come out. The double tough star from New Orleans, LA, joined them in the interview area where Rikidozan handed her the new Empress Ring championship, a beautiful gold and silver belt encrusted with diamonds. Jazz took the belt and handed over the Ring Angels title, saying that finally she has a belt befitting her stature and not a “hunk of junk” with a “fairy princess” name. She said that she gives no quarter and asks none and that her only goal is to “bust up b******” and retain her championship before turning to look at Burke saying, “that includes you”. Burke clenched her fists but Rikidozan and Sakai stepped in between them preventing anything physical.
Rikidozan spoke again and said that there will be no shortage of challengers for the title, including six of whom would be featured in a trios match on the broadcast. That set off Jazz who said she could “beat all six” of them at the same time. Rikidozan told her to look towards her challengers wisely because there were even more coming on the horizon including record eight-time LOW Women’s and SHIMMER champion Sherri Martel. That led to a brief video of Martel airing where she said that she is returning to the ring full-time and leaving Pacific Coast Wrestling where she was the leader of Sherri Sports Agency, Inc. She said that SSA, Inc. had “failed to live up to my expectations” and that it was an easy decision to give it up and get back to where she belongs – in the ring. Jazz scoffed at the idea of Martel being a threat to her title and said, “is that all you got?”, drawing an incredulous look from Rikidozan.
Burke stepped in and told Jazz to “cool it” and that there was another name coming in that would also like a shot at her championship. Jazz said that she didn’t care who was coming in because no one could beat her for the belt. Burke said she admires the confidence that Jazz has and that even though she doesn’t respect this woman coming out next there is no question that her joining Empress Ring could be a game changer. Jazz demanded to know who it was and entering the studio was none other than the legendary Fabulous Moolah! Jazz was shocked to see Moolah and clutched her title belt close to her chest ordering her to back off. Moolah had no qualms about getting up close to the champion and said that anyone could see that Jazz was only a placeholder for the throne that she will soon occupy. Jazz shoved Moolah and that set off a brief skirmish with the two being pulled apart as the show went to a break.
After returning from commercial, Russell said that the rebranding to Empress Ring and the addition of Martel and Moolah is going to create a whole lot more interest in what is already a very talented women’s division. He attempted to turn things over to Brown to rundown the television broadcast, but he was interrupted by Playboy Buddy Rose who stormed on to the set. Rose was irate over hearing the announcement by Sherri, his seemingly estranged girlfriend, that she was disbanding SSA, Inc. and leaving PCW. He said that he had no idea what she was up to and that he shouldn’t have had to find out this way. Russell said that he could sympathize with his plight but doubted that anyone in the studio audience or watching at home would feel the same way. Rose was beside himself with anger and said that “no woman” will ever get away with doing that to him, least of all a “washed up” former champion like Martel. Russell asked Rose to collect himself and come back out later on for his scheduled interview. Rose stormed off as a beleaguered Russell asked Brown to take over.
DB: “Ok, Lance, and yes Playboy Buddy Rose will be back out later so we will see what he has to say about all of this once he can compose himself. As for the rest of today’s broadcast we also have The Hobo of ECW in for an interview along with the highly touted free agent tag team of Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas, Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team. The in-ring action will feature the aforementioned ladies trios main event featuring the stars of Empress Ring and you will also see Rowdy Roddy Piper & Cowboy Bob Orton in tag team action, Hacksaw Jim Duggan returning from injury to compete and we have been advised that Sir Oliver Humperdink will be presenting a new star he has signed. To kick things off it will be championship action as The Patriot puts the LOW Tex-Arkana Television title on the line against ASW’s own Bruiser Costa. We now throw it on over to our ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta to get the action underway…”
Quick Results:
1) LOW Tex-Arkana Television title: The Patriot© (with Marcus Alexander Bagwell) defeated Bruiser Costa to retain the title
(Pinfall – Clothesline)
2) One Man Gang (with Sir Oliver Humperdink) defeated Kenny Jay by Count Out
3) Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Wild Bill White
(Pinfall – Diving Clothesline)
4) Roddy Piper & Cowboy Bob Orton defeated Danny Doring & Amish Roadkill
(Roddy Piper over Danny Doring by submission – Sleeper)
5) Bobo Brazil defeated Rusty Brooks
(Pinfall – Coco Butt)
6) Leilani Kai, Britt Baker & Kiera Hogan defeated Tina Moretti, Nora Greenwald & Rockin Robin
(Kiera Hogan pinned Nora Greenwald – Face The Music, a fisherman neckbreaker)
Talking Points:
* Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas:
Lance Russell welcomed Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team, Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas, into the studio noting that they are two of the most highly sought after free agents in LOW. Benjamin said that Russell is very astute and commended him for recognizing greatness when he sees it. Russell said there is no question that WGTT have the credentials having been former IWA tag team champions and three-time Ring of Honor tag team champions. Benjamin again commended Russell for having done his “homework” and said that as the “hottest free agents” in wrestling they have every promotion and every manager clamoring for their services.
Benjamin said that WGTT recently completed an undefeated tour of Japan for Kings Road United and came back to the U.S. with many contract offers. Instead of just choosing one blindly, they decided to really look things over and realized that in all of their time competing in LOW they are missing one thing – the LOW World tag team titles. He called out the Rock n’ Roll Express and said that they had better start worrying because they have a target on their backs and gold that WGTT wants. Russell called that a lofty ambition prompting Benjamin to take back his earlier compliments. Benjamin concluded by saying that he and Haas will be back on the next edition of ASW to compete and announce their destination beginning stage one of their assault on the LOW World tag team titles.
* The Hobo:
Extreme CHIKARA Wrestling star The Hobo was in studio to discuss the recent events that took place at the nearby Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, TN (Card #1267) where he duped ECW owner “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. The studio audience laughed as The Hobo recounted pulling a fast one on Gilbert by having the T-D Machines unmask as “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and the “Southern Psycho” Mance Warner. He said that Gilbert made a big mistake by letting him into his “inner circle” and “how easy it was” to outsmart Gilbert’s assistant Larry Dallas and sign himself to an ironclad contract. He then said that his favorite thing was revealing Tommy & Doug Gilbert as the T-D Machines who he booked elsewhere that night in order to have Lawlor and Warner appear under the masks.
Lance Russell said it was a shocking moment for sure and that the Gilbert family must be “steaming mad” over that turn of events. The Hobo laughed and said that the Gilbert’s day on top was over when suddenly Eddie, Tommy and Doug burst into the studio jumping him. The three-on-one attack, which saw The Hobo busted open courtesy of a chair shot, ended with “Hot Stuff” tying a noose around his neck threatening to hang him when Lawlor and Warner ran out and chased them off. They helped the bloody Hobo up before Lawlor grabbed the mic saying that the Gilbert’s may have gotten one back over on them but that coming up in Biloxi, MS (Card #1277) it will be a trios match and the “cowards” will have no place to run.
* Playboy Buddy Rose:
A calmer, more relaxed Playboy Buddy Rose came out for his interview time and apologized to Lance Russell and everyone watching ASW for his earlier outburst. He said that he just got off the phone with Dr. Tom Prichard and that with SSA, Inc. disbanding they managed to get The Mountie released from PCW through a contract loophole and will no longer associate with the Texas Hangmen (Killer & Psycho). He said that he and Dr. Tom will look out for number one, themselves, and that they are challenging the Hangmen to face them on the next PCW card in Yakima, WA (Card #1275) to prove who the truly dominant team in PCW are.
As for The Mountie, he called the former two-time LOW Tex-Arkana Television champion a “stooge” who caused relationship trouble between him and Sherri Martel, blaming him for her leaving. He said that Martel leaving left their contracts exposed and Prichard took care of it by getting the Canadian lawman released from PCW. He told The Mountie to “enjoy life on the unemployment line” while the “real stars” of the former SSA, Inc., the Playboy and Dr. Tom, show how to get the job done.
Show Highlights:
The Patriot, accompanied by his Stars n’ Stripes tag team partner Marcus Alexander Bagwell, looked very impressive in his version two defense of the LOW Tex-Arkana Television title against Bruiser Costa. The confident Costa, who boasts a past count out victory over Rob Van Dam, vowed to take the title but he was overmatched here. To his credit Costa did kick out of a pin after being hit with the Patriot Missile, but moments later The Patriot scored the three count after delivering a Clothesline. Next up for The Patriot will be a key title defense as he faces Don Leo Jonathan on a Golden Age Wrestling card at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, MO (Card #1273).
Manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, who had a disastrous first night of results managing Andre the Giant & Big John Studd at MSG after trading talent contracts with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, introduced his monstrous new charge – the 495-pound One Man Gang from Halstead St. in Chicago, IL. Having recently had a memorable run in World of Sport where he notably feuded with King Kong Bundy, OMG took on the “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay. What appeared to be a mismatch was anything but as Jay gave OMG fits on a few occasions. OMG would eventually take over, though, and score a decisive count out win after splashing Jay on the floor. Humperdink paid a visit to the announce desk and said that OMG was going obliterate his competition in the CWA. Russell asked what about Studd and Humperdink said that Studd went AWOL “like a coward” and that OMG will take care of “that turncoat” Andre the Giant who will never know what hit him.
Popular CWA star Hacksaw Jim Duggan made a successful return from injury beating Wild Bill White in decisive fashion. Duggan actually won it deathjump style as he blasted White with a Diving Clothesline from the top rope for the pin. Duggan stopped by the announce desk afterward and said he spoke with Rikidozan backstage and that the two made a pact to team up against the men who injured him, Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody, on an upcoming tour of Japan for Kings Road United.
The outspoken “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and his bodyguard “The Ace” Cowboy Bob Orton of the CWA impressed in their tag team victory over Danny Doring & Amish Roadkill. The two showed great teamwork and ring smarts by isolating Doring from his partner. Doring took a great beating before Piper put him out with the Sleeper winning it by submission. Piper afterward vowed to win the PWI Invitational Cup Tournament and said that he and Orton also have their sights set on “Macho Man” Randy Savage after he ran in on them during the Apter’s Corner segment at MSG.
Bobo Brazil, soon to make his official debut with Golden Age Wrestling, took on the 342-pound Rusty Brooks in a feature attraction. Brooks went in an underdog but showed a good ability to hang in there with the former three-time LOW World Heavyweight champion. Brazil used his veteran experience to persevere and score the pin after blasting Brooks with his trademark Coco Butt.
The main event was the first official match under the new Empress Ring banner, and it was trios action as Tina Moretti, Nora Greenwald & Rockin Robin took on Leilani Kai, Britt Baker & Kiera Hogan. This was a great match with both sides having a chance to win. In the end it was Hogan, who along with Baker were making their debuts with LOW, scoring a big win for her team when she pinned Greenwald after hitting Face The Music.
Breaking News:
At the conclusion of the show, based on the events that transpired, LOW Commissioner Teddy Long announced that Jazz will defend her Empress Ring title on the next edition of LOW All-Star Wrestling (Card #1281) against the winner of an upcoming match between Sherri Martel and the Fabulous Moolah. That top contenders match will take place on the next CWA card at the Philadelphia Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA (Card #1274).
LOW All-Star Wrestling Top 10 Rankings:
1) S.D. Jones
2) Timber
3) Jim Powers
4) Battle Kat
5) Lanny Poffo
6) Ron Hutchison
7) Larry Sharpe
8) Frank Dalton
9) George South
10) Pete Doherty
* current champions not included in rankings
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