Cory's USWA History: Title Histories & 2004-Early 2008

[Cory Olson]

Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on February 22:
• After crowning the first USWA Southern Heavyweight champion the night before, Bobo Brazil found out his first challenger. The Michigan native will defend the title against “The Toast of The Coast,” “The Human Orchid” Gorgeous George in the main event on March 20 in the USWA’s debut at the Sports Arena in Tupelo, MS! Brazil was interviewed in-studio and thanked the USWA fans for their support! He said that he was very willing to face George, as he knows he can beat him, as he bloodied him up on the first USWA card on January 10 at the Mid-South Coliseum. But he is willing to face him again to fight on behalf of The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer!
• The Road Warriors’ next challengers for the USWA World Tag Team titles were announced, as they will put the gold on the line against George’s allies “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers and “Playboy” Buddy Rose! That tag team bout will main event the USWA’s return to the Louisville Gardens on March 13! Rogers and Rose have worked well together for their short time together. Could they score a huge upset and win the belts?
• Also on the Louisville Gardens card, Nick Bockwinkel will collide with Nikolai Volkoff! Bockwinkel continues in his wars with Volkoff and the Iron Sheik for Sheik costing him the World title in the tournament for the first champion. He and Harley Race put the Sheik out with a neck injury a few weeks ago in Lexington. Depending on next week’s main event, Bockwinkel could be bringing the World Heavyweight title belt to the Louisville Gardens!

The USWA returns to the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis on March 6!
• One-half of the World Tag Team champions will be in singles competition, as Animal of the Road Warriors faces “The Human Orchid,” “The Toast of The Coast” Gorgeous George! George is looking to defeat and wear down the Chicago powerhouse before his allies Buddy Rogers and “Playboy” Buddy Rose challenge the Road Warriors for the World Tag Team titles in Louisville. Can George stop the big Animal?
• Two rulebreaking tag teams will collide in a rematch from the World Tag Team title tournament, when The Valiant Brothers face Ox Baker and The Sandman! “Handsome” Jimmy and “Luscious” Johnny got a win via disqualification on the first USWA in this same arena when Sandman used his Singapore cane on Jimmy. The brothers from New York City are looking to get a decisive win here. Can they do it or will the new duo of “The Fabulous” Ox and the Philly brawler score a big upset?
• The new Southern Heavyweight champion Bobo Brazil will be in action. The fan favorite will take on a fellow Michigander Killer Kowalski in a non-title bout! Kowalski would love to get a win over Brazil and earn a shot at the new championship. Can he do it or will the champ get the victory?
• Another tag team match will see “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers and “Playboy” Buddy Rose take on “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and his bodyguard Virgil! Rogers and Rose will challenge for the World Tag Team title next week at the Louisville Gardens. DiBiase and Virgil challenged for the belts last month in Lexington and would love to earn another shot. Which team will leave Memphis the winners?
• Two of the most popular wrestlers in the USWA and two of the biggest stars in wrestling will wrestle for the first time, when Frank Gotch takes on Giant Baba! This will be an interesting match-up as Baba has the weight and power advantage but Gotch has his pure wrestling style and submission knowledge. Both men are looking for a victory to move on toward a shot at a USWA singles championship. Who will get the win and whom will the Memphis fans support?
• The main event will be the first defense of the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Johnny Valentine will put the title on the line against Nick Bockwinkel! Bockwinkel was the only wrestler eliminated from the eight-man tournament to crown the first champion not to lose by pinfall or submission and his loss was a controversial disqualification to the Iron Sheik where Bockwinkel was falsely accused of using a steel chair. Bockwinkel is a focused man and feels that he is truly the best wrestler in the USWA. Valentine can wrestle and brawl and wants to rule the USWA. Who will be the USWA champion?

All these bouts, as well as Greg “The Hammer” Valentine taking on Red Bastien, and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka takes on Nikolai Volkoff!

[Cory Olson]

March 6, 2004
Card #7: Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis

1) “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka picked up a win in the opener over Nikolai Volkoff via disqualification. This was a competitive match. The Fijian warrior gained the upper hand and frustrated the Russian powerhouse. Nikita Breznikov tried to distract Jerry Calhoun, while Volkoff grabbed his Russian flag from his corner. He rolled the flag up and nailed Snuka in the ribs with the flagpole. Calhoun turned around in time to see this and called for the bell, disqualifying Volkoff. Volkoff used the flagpole one more time and then went for a third shot but an incensed Snuka blocked him and head butted Volkoff. Volkoff and Breznikov retreated before the “Superfly” could unleash more fury! **½

2) Red Bastien picked up a big win over Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. The flying redhead surprised Valentine with his fast-paced offense. He went up to the top rope, came off with a flying body press, covered Valentine, hooked the leg, and scored the pin in just a few minutes. It was an impressive win for Bastien! DUD

3) One-half of the World Tag Team champions Animal got a disqualification win over Gorgeous George. George showcased his wrestling skills and wore down his larger foe, coupled with his dirty tactics. At one point, George grabbed one of his bobby pins, which he calls Georgie pins, and raked Animal’s eyes with them! Animal rallied back and scored a near fall on George. “The Human Orchid” took over and worked on Animal some more. He got Animal in the corner and worked over him. Referee Frank Morrell put a count on “The Toast of The Coast” and warned him to let up on Animal. Morrell put his hands on George, which the particular George did not appreciate. He responded by shoving Morrell down to the mat. Morrell was hurt but had enough strength to call for the bell and disqualify George. After the bell, George choked Animal on the middle rope. He then signaled to Cherie Dupré for something. Cherie handed George his atomizer and George looked ready to spray Animal with it, as he did to “The Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer last month in Knoxville after their Southern title tournament first-round match. Suddenly, Animal’s tag team partner Hawk (dressed in street clothes and without the Road Warriors’ face paint) ran to the ring. George saw Hawk coming and retreated along with Cherie before Hawk could get his “filthy hands” on him! Hawk helped Animal to his feet and to the locker room. **¾

4) Ox Baker and The Sandman picked up a huge win in tag team competition over The Valiants. “Handsome” Jimmy and “Luscious” Johnny worked over “The Fabulous” Ox for the first few minutes. Baker tagged the Sandman and the brawler was aggressive against Johnny. He hit the Hardcore DDT. He picked up Johnny and hit a second DDT for good measure. He covered “Luscious” Johnny and scored the pinfall, while Baker stopped Jimmy from a pin save. It was an impressive win for the brawlers! **½

5) The new Southern Heavyweight champion Bobo Brazil defeated Killer Kowalski by disqualification. This was a competitive bout between these Michiganders. Kowalski took the bout to the floor and grabbed a steel chair from ringside. He smashed Brazil in the back with it, looking to hurt the Southern champion. Paul Morton saw this and disqualified Kowalski. Kowalski punched away at Brazil but then returned to the locker room, looking to fight another day. *¾

6) “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers and “Playboy” Buddy Rose defeated “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and his bodyguard Virgil. Rogers and Rose worked over DiBiase for the first few minutes of the match. Virgil tagged in but Rogers and Rose worked over his leg. Rose applied a half Boston Crab in the center of the ring. DiBiase went for a save but Rogers came in and knocked “The Million Dollar Man” out of the ring with a jumping knee smash. Virgil was trapped and forced to tap out. Rogers and Rose were impressive here. Can they capture the World Tag Team titles next week in Louisville? **

7) Frank Gotch scored an impressive pinfall on Giant Baba. The Memphis fans gave both wrestlers a big ovation. They showed great sportsmanship by shaking hands before the bell. The bout was brief, as Gotch hit a go-behind on the Japanese giant and hit an impressive Iowa backdrop. He quickly turned into a cover and scored the three-count. Gotch helped Baba to his feet after the bout and made sure he was OK. Baba offered his hand first and admitted that Gotch was the better man tonight. Gotch accepted the handshake and the fans gave both a big ovation! *½

8) The main event was for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Johnny Valentine made his first defense of the title against Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel was the only wrestler in the tournament to crown the first champion to lose by a disqualification and the loss was not a legitimate one. These two had a competitive match and it looked like either man would come out the victor. After several minutes, Bockwinkel caught Valentine in the Bockwinkel sleeper in the center of the ring. Valentine started to drop. Jerry Calhoun consulted with the champion but Valentine wouldn’t give. Suddenly, Valentine was not responsive. Calhoun checked the champ’s arm and it dropped three times. Calhoun called for the bell and awarded Bockwinkel the World Heavyweight title via submission! The fans were surprised to see the title change hands in the first defense! Harley Race (wearing a fine suit) came out to congratulate Bockwinkel. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, recovered from his earlier bout, came out to check on Valentine. He yelled at Bockwinkel to wake him up, which the new champion finally did. Johnny was shaken up but was able to walk to the back with Greg’s help, as Bockwinkel held the title up to boos! ***