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Post by Cory Olson on Jul 25, 2017 10:08:54 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 5-16: • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon’s next challengers for the USWA World Tag Team titles. The Vachons will defend against Red Pepper in the main event on June 15 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, OH. This will be the USWA’s return to this city and arena after nearly nine years! Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez are 5-0 in 2015, with a recent big win over Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy a few weeks ago in Nashville. This will be their first shot at the titles in nearly three years. • Some matches were made for the card on June 8 in Evansville. The New Age Outlaws will battle the Age of the Fall in a rematch from Derby City Stampede. The Outlaws won the first meeting via disqualification when Jimmy Jacobs shoved down referee Scott Bowden, after attempting to use his spike on “The Road Dogg” Jesse James. Commissioner Armstrong announced that the Outlaws will receive another shot at the USWA World Tag Team titles in the near future, now that they have two victories over the champions (both former champs Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito and current champs the Vachons) in title matches via either countout or disqualification. • Another match in Evansville will see Mid-America Heavyweight champion Tracy Smothers face the masked Double X in a non-title bout. Smothers saved the New Age Outlaws from the attack by Double X, Doctor X, and the Vachons after the Tag Team title match last week in Memphis. Double X has been impressive in his matches so far and would love to get a non-title win over the champ. But Smothers has had a great 2015 as well! • The new tag team of Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy had an impressive first match last week against the Gilberts. On the Evansville card, they will have a huge challenge against two other Hot Stuff, International members—one of the longest-reigning USWA World Tag Team championship teams—Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito. Both Williams and Gordy have battled the Japanese in the past. Gordy most recently had bouts with each man—losing to Saito in Jackson, TN after an attack by the returning Ox Baker, but defeating Fuji in Lexington on the next card. This will be an interesting tag team match-up! • A new wrestler was announced as coming to the area, and for fans of pro wrestling around the world, he is a name that is well-known. “Classy” Freddie Blassie will make his USWA debut on June 15 in Dayton! The “Hollywood Fashion Plate” has wrestled most of his career in recent years in the WWA in Los Angeles, where he held the WWA World Heavyweight title, as well as the America’s title. The platinum-blonde wrestler is known for his wild brawling tactics inside the ring, including biting his opponents! Lance Russell narrated a video package of Blassie’s matches, including a famous match for All Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo, where Blassie bit two-time former USWA World Heavyweight champion Rikidozan and bloodied him up so badly, that several Japanese fans watching on television had heart attacks and died! Russell sounded disgusted as he narrated the footage! Tactics like this have earned Blassie another nickname of “The Vampire”! • While Blassie will soon be debuting, another superstar has decided to leave the USWA for now. It was announced that “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Jr. has decided to leave the USWA. The former World champion will be competing in Central State Wrestling in his home state of Missouri.
The USWA returns to Owensboro, KY and the Sportscenter on May 18 with a huge card! • Double X will take on Hot Stuff, International member Doug Gilbert. The masked grappler has been impressive so far, but he will have a tough opponent in Gilbert. Who will leave Owensboro the winner? • In tag team competition, the Midnight Express will face David Taylor and “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay in a rematch from last month in Nashville. Last time these teams met, the Midnights got the win when “Sweet” Stan Lane just barely beat the count back in the ring. What will the result be this time? • In another rematch from Nashville, one-half of the World Tag Team champions Butcher Vachon will collide with “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Cannon defeated Vachon by countout, after a distraction from the-then World Tag Team champions Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito. Cannon would love a decisive singles win to get back into the USWA singles championship picture, after losing in his challenge for Tracy Smothers’ Mid-America Heavyweight title last week in Memphis. But both Vachons have been brutal this year in singles and tag team matches. Which brawler will out-brawl the other? • “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka continues his battles with the First Family of Wrestling, when he collides with Larry “The Axe” Hennig. These two battled in Nashville, with Snuka getting the win after interference from “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. Snuka is looking ahead to his rematch for the USWA World Heavyweight title against Hennig’s ally and fellow Robbinsdale, MN native “Ravishing” Rick Rude on June 8 in Evansville, but he cannot overlook the dangerous “Axe”! • “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan will do battle with Doctor X! Duggan is coming off of a big win over Ox Baker at Derby City Stampede and would love to keep the momentum going. The masked Doctor X is a very formidable foe. Will “Hacksaw” reign triumphant or will X mark the spot? • The other half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon will be in action against six-time former World champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis. These two met in Nashville a few weeks ago, with Lewis winning via disqualification due to a choke hold. Lewis is looking forward to another shot at “Ravishing” Rick Rude in the future, but he cannot overlook Mad Dog, who is a dangerous combination of pure wrestling and brawling. Can Lewis tame the Mad Dog? • The main event will be a rematch for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current and five-time champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will put the title on the line against his rival and former champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Gilbert captured the title from an injured Williams back in February in Johnson City. Williams came back at 100% last month in Nashville to regain the title and set the record for the most number of Southern title reigns. Gilbert stated on last week’s edition of USWA Championship Wrestling that Williams “got lucky” last time and he will get back “his” title this coming week. Will Williams’ 5th reign be a short one or will he topple “Hot Stuff”?
All these bouts, plus Red Pepper, the PYT Express, Hot Stuff, International member Ox Baker, and more USWA stars in action in Owensboro!
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Post by Cory Olson on Jul 26, 2017 21:58:04 GMT -4
May 18, 2015 Card #434: Sportscenter in Owensboro, KY
1) Ox Baker was victorious in the opener in a very competitive bout with S.D. Jones. “Special Delivery” surprised “The Fabulous” Ox and nearly upset the big Iowan. He used his head butt several times, eventually busting Baker open. Jones even got Ox up with a power body slam. He went for a cover, but “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert (in his wrestling gear for his main event title match later in the card) distracted Tom Branch. Baker fought back and executed a neckbreaker and a shoulder break on “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son.” Baker got the victory after his dreaded heart punch. **½
2) The PYT Express defeated Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke via countout. All four men tagged into the bout. Jim caught D’Lo Brown in the bear hug and Brown looked in trouble. Sweet Brown Sugar came off the top rope with a double ax-handle to Jim’s back to break up the submission attempt. Jim released the hold, but quickly recovered and was irate. He chased Sugar out of the ring and up the aisle. Unfortunately for the hillbillies, Sam Platania had been counting Jim as the legal man. Platania’s count hit 10 and he awarded the bout to the PYTs. The Owensboro fans erupted in boos at the new team’s cheap win! Sugar and Brown quickly retreated before Jim and Luke could catch them! DUD
3) Double X made Doug Gilbert submit in a very competitive match-up. Gilbert had the initial advantage. He hit a sitout body slam on the masked man for a two-count. Gilbert tossed Double X out of the ring and then distracted Tommy Marlin. This allowed his brother and manager Eddie Gilbert to sneak over and clothesline Double X. Marlin turned his attention to the masked man out on the floor and put a count on him. Double X managed to roll back into the ring by the count of eight. Doctor X made his way to ringside to counteract Eddie and “Sensational” Sherri Martel’s presence. Double X fought back and surprised Doug with a rolling reverse cradle for a two-count. He went for the figure-four leglock, but Doug made the ropes for a break. Double X used a cross hiplock for a near fall. Doug regained control and had Double X in trouble. He went up to the top rope and came off with his shoulder ram. He made a cover, but Doctor X distracted Marlin. Doug went after the Doctor, as did Eddie from down on the floor. The distraction allowed Double X to get to his feet. He grabbed Doug from behind and executed an atomic drop, which sent him over the top rope and to the arena floor. Doug hit his head on the ring apron and was busted open, but with Eddie and Sherri’s encouragement got back into the ring. Double X caught him in the X-cellent sleeperhold. A bloodied Doug fought hard for the ropes, but started to drop. Marlin checked his arm and it dropped three times, so Marlin called for the bell and awarded the bout to Double X via submission. ***
4) The Midnight Express scored an impressive win over David Taylor and “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay. This was largely a showcase for the Midnights, as they controlled much of the match against the British team, including hitting a Flapjack, a Double Goozle, and the Veg-O-Matic on Taylor. As “Sweet” Stan Lane attempted a pin on Taylor after the third double team maneuver, Finlay came in and broke up the pin attempt. Taylor was able to tag in Finlay, but the five-time former USWA World Tag Team champions cut him off as well. The Midnights got the win after Lane blasted Finlay with the superkick, while “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton stopped Taylor from a save, with one of his stinging right hands. The Owensboro fans were definitely in support of Eaton and Lane on this night! ¾*
5) One-half of the World Tag Team champions Butcher Vachon avenged his countout loss in Nashville last month, with a submission victory over “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Cannon had control early on, even hitting an exploder on his larger opponent. Butcher capitalized on a mistake by Cannon and get him up in the hangman. Cannon was trapped and forced to surrender. ¼*
6) “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka defeated Larry “The Axe” Hennig by disqualification in a match with an outcome similar to their meeting last month in Nashville. Hennig used a bear hug early to try and get a submission, but Snuka broke free by head butting “The Axe.” Snuka hit a chop off a leap frog and knocked down Hennig, but couldn’t keep him down for the count. Snuka later blasted Hennig with a flying head butt for another near fall. Hennig regained control and squashed Snuka in the corner for a two-count on the Fijian warrior. Snuka regained control and had Hennig in trouble. He managed to get Hennig up in the air, for what appeared to be a backbreaker. Before Snuka could slam Hennig across his knee, “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart jumped into the ring and nailed Snuka in the back with the megaphone, right in front of Tommy Marlin, leaving Marlin no choice but to call for the bell. Snuka recovered from the megaphone shot and had the crazed look in his eyes! Hart and Hennig saw this and quickly retreated. You can bet that Hart was trying to weaken Snuka prior to his World Heavyweight title rematch with “Ravishing” Rick Rude in a few weeks in Evansville! **
7) “Dastardly” Danny Doring & the Amish RoadKill scored a big upset, giving Red Pepper their first loss of 2015. Red Bastien and Doring were the legal men to start the bout. They were going at it, when Doring surprised Bastien with a Bareback out of nowhere. Doring covered Bastien and scored the pinfall in about 1:15, before Pepper Gomez or RoadKill could even tag into the bout. The Owensboro fans were shocked at the outcome and Doring and RoadKill were definitely delighted! DUD
8) Doctor X got a hard-earned victory over “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. A few minutes into the bout, Duggan had X down on the mat. He went for the Old Glory, but X rolled out of the way and Duggan crashed hard. X went for a cover, but Duggan kicked out. His knee was definitely hurting and the masked man would focus his attack on it for most of the bout. Duggan was able to fight back and had X hurting. He had X in one corner and got into the three-point stance in the opposite corner. As Duggan launched for the flying spear, his injured knee buckled before he could hit the move. Duggan managed to maintain control. He locked X in a powerful bear hug and looked like he might earn a submission win, but X kicked the injured knee to break up the hold. X went for the figure-four leglock, but Duggan made the ropes for a break. X went up to the second rope for a second rope knee drop. Duggan rolled out of the way this time. X landed hard, but wasn’t hurting as much as “Hacksaw.” Duggan hit a clothesline for a near fall. X fought back, continuing to focus on the injured knee. He applied a second figure-four, but with big chants of “USA,” Duggan again powered his way to the ropes for a break. Duggan hobbled to his feet, but X was quick to attack, hitting a dropkick to the injured knee. Duggan went down and X seized the opportunity by covering Duggan and scoring the three-count. It was an impressive win for the masked man! ***¼
9) Ed “Strangler” Lewis took a lot of punishment, but in the end was victorious over the other half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon by disqualification. Mad Dog was hoping to get a big win over the six-time former World champion and showcase his abilities in singles competition. He used the piledriver twice through the bout, but Lewis was able to kick out. Mad Dog also used an airplane spin, but again Lewis kicked out. The “Strangler” battled back and controlled Mad Dog on the mat. Butcher Vachon and Double X, recovered from their earlier bouts on the card, came down to the ringside area. Lewis caught Mad Dog in a full nelson. Mad Dog started to drop to his knees. Tommy Marlin was asking Mad Dog if he wanted to submit, but before Mad Dog could answer, Butcher and Double X jumped into the ring and attacked the “Strangler” from behind. Marlin immediately called for the bell. Butcher and Double X stomped away on Lewis, but then quickly retreated before Lewis could recover and retaliate! ***
10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight champion. Current and five-time champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams put the title on the line against former champion and his rival “Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert. The champion took control at the start and hit a standing dropkick for a near fall. Williams went for another dropkick a few moments later, but Gilbert dodged the attack and Williams landed hard. Gilbert worked on Williams’ leg and set him up for a figure-four leglock. Williams got to the ropes for a break. “Dr. Death” battled back and hit a powerful football tackle for a two-count. Gilbert took control outside the ring and hit a piledriver inside the ring, targeting Williams’ previously-injured neck. He went for a pin attempt, but the champion kicked out. Gilbert tried for the figure-four again. Williams was in trouble, but with the fans’ support, made the ropes again. Williams took control and had the challenger in trouble. He executed the Oklahoma Stampede and went for a cover, but “Sensational” Sherri Martel distracted Tom Branch. Williams got off of Gilbert and threatened Sherri, which allowed Gilbert to recover and attack from behind. He snapped Williams’ neck on the top rope. “Hot Stuff” maintained control and hit the Hot Shot a few moments later. He covered Williams and scored the pinfall, somewhat out of nowhere, to capture his second Southern Heavyweight championship! The Owensboro fans were somewhat in shock, as Gilbert was given the belt. Gilbert and Sherri were delighted by the win. Perhaps in a state of confusion after his bout, Gilbert started to walk to the back, forgetting about Sherri! The valet caught up with him up the aisle. ***¼
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Post by Cory Olson on Jul 28, 2017 12:37:08 GMT -4
Highlights of the last three episodes of USWA Championship Wrestling:
May 23: • The new and now-two-time Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert was interviewed in studio. He bragged about his victory and said he proved the wrestling critics wrong and showed he can beat Steve Williams when he’s at his physical best, not just when he’s injured. Lance Russell noted that “Sensational” Sherri Martel was not with Gilbert in studio. Gilbert announced that he has released Sherri from Hot Stuff, International, as she was not living up to her expectations! Russell pointed out that Sherri got involved in Eddie’s title win last week, distracting Tom Branch after Williams hit the Oklahoma Stampede. Gilbert said that he would have kicked out of the move, no problem! The champion said that the time had come for some changes in Hot Stuff, International. He has been working on things for a few months and the dismissal of Sherri is just one step. He said that the addition of Ox Baker was another part of the change. Gilbert said that the biggest change will be announced on June 8 at the card in Evansville and it will have a huge impact on the USWA! • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that Gilbert’s first defense of his second reign of the USWA Southern title will be on June 22 at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville. Gilbert will put the title on the line against his rival Doctor X! Prior to regaining the title, Gilbert defeated X via countout at Derby City Stampede. While X challenged Lou Thesz for the USWA World title at Independence Day Bash 2014, this will be his first time challenging for the Southern title.
May 30: • An additional bout for Chilhowee Park was announced. The World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude will be in non-title action against his rival Nick Bockwinkel! Bockwinkel has challenged Rude twice for the USWA title in 2015 and controversial circumstances allowed Rude to retain both times. Bockwinkel is gunning for a non-title win to get another shot at the title against the “Ravishing One”!
June 6: • A big tag team match was made for the June 15 card at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton. The New Age Outlaws will take on the masked team of Doctor X and Double X! The masked men interfered in the bout with their allies the Vachons against the Outlaws a few weeks ago in Memphis, which cost the Outlaws the World Tag Team titles. Commissioner Armstrong has announced that the Outlaws will receive another shot in the future, but in Dayton, they will be out for revenge!
The USWA kicks off the summer with a huge card from the Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville! • Two tag teams looking to get noticed for the World Tag Team title picture will battle it out, as the Midnight Express take on the First Family of Wrestling’s giant tag team of Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy! Jimmy Hart’s men have been fairly impressive, since they started teaming in February. While Studd and Bundy have the size and power advantage, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane have the experience advantage teaming together, with five World Tag Team title reigns as a duo, as well as Lane’s 10 individual reigns and Eaton’s nine. Can the Midnights topple the giants or will Studd and Bundy power their way to a big win? • Four-time former USWA World Heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel will grappler with former Mid-America Heavyweight champion David Taylor. Bockwinkel is looking ahead to his bout with World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude in two weeks at Chilhowee Park, but he cannot overlook the always capable British grappler Taylor. This could be a great, scientific bout! • Mid-America Heavyweight champion Tracy Smothers will face the undefeated Double X in a non-title bout. This match was made, after Double X and Doctor X interfered in the World Tag Team title match with the Vachons against Smothers’ allies the New Age Outlaws in Memphis a few weeks ago. Smothers came to the Outlaws’ aid. Both of these wrestlers have not suffered a decisive loss this year. Who will get the win? • Speaking of the New Age Outlaws, they will be in action in Evansville as well, as they take on the Age of the Fall in a rematch from Derby City Stampede. The Outlaws got a disqualification win in the first meeting when Jimmy Jacobs shoved down Scott Bowden, after attempting to use his spike on “The Road Dogg” Jesse James. Jacobs has stated that he and Tyler Black plan to drive out “overrated” tag teams like the Outlaws out of the USWA and become the “new leaders.” The Outlaws are undefeated in 2015 and have defeated the World Tag Team champions twice in title matches, via disqualification or countout. Can Jacobs and Black topple the two-time former World Tag Team champions? • Another wrestler waiting for a title rematch is Ed “Strangler” Lewis, who is looking ahead to another shot at “Ravishing” Rick Rude and the USWA World Heavyweight title. This week, Lewis will do battle with Rude’s First Family of Wrestling ally Larry “The Axe” Hennig. Lewis and Hennig met in April in Tupelo, with the “Strangler” getting a countout win, after Hennig’s rival Nick Bockwinkel interfered, unbeknownst to Lewis at the time. Will a decisive winner emerge in Evansville? • The new tag team of Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will collide with the former World Tag Team champions and Hot Stuff, International members Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito. Gordy has recently battled Fuji and Saito in singles matches. He and Williams are taking on a big challenge in facing one of the longest-reigning former Tag Team champions. Can they pull off a big win or will the Japanese team reign supreme? • The main event will be a rematch for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Current and two-time champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude will put the title on the line against “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. These two wrestlers met in March in Knoxville for the title. Snuka appeared to have the title won, but the First Family of Wrestling hit the ring, followed by Snuka’s allies, which lead to a double disqualification. Will Snuka finally capture the USWA title or will Rude find a way to retain?
All these great bouts, plus a tag team rematch between Red Pepper and “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill. As well as “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in singles action, plus a huge announcement from the new Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert about the future of Hot Stuff, International!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 1, 2017 19:00:59 GMT -4
June 8, 2015 Card #435: Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville
1) “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant defeated the masked Terror by countout. Valiant controlled much of the action, to the Evansville fans’ delight. He knocked the Terror out of the ring with some big right hands. Valiant followed the Terror and delivered a body slam on the floor. Valiant rolled back into the ring, but Terror was unable to get back in, so Valiant earned a countout victory. DUD
2) Red Pepper earned a measure of revenge for the upset loss on the last card in Owensboro, defeating “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill via disqualification. All four men wrestled in the bout, which was a back-and-forth tag team match. RoadKill had Pepper Gomez in his and Doring’s corner and was choking “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach.” Despite Paul Neighbors’ count, “The Angry Amish Warrior” would not release by five, so Neighbors called for the bell. Red Bastien leapt over the top rope and went after Doring and RoadKill. The bizarre team retreated, rather than try to fight. Red Pepper got a victory one week before they challenge for the USWA World Tag Team titles in Dayton, although it probably wasn’t the type of victory they would have wanted. ¼*
Prior to the next match, Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert came out with his brother Doug Gilbert for his big announcement. Gilbert said that he had great success leading Hot Stuff, International the last 3½ years as their manager. But with his recent success inside the ring, at which point he pointed to the Southern title belt, the time has come for him to focus on his “great” wrestling career and let someone else take the managerial duties. Gilbert said that he has been negotiating with someone for a while, but the deal is now complete. He has sold the contracts of all of his charges, as well as signed his own contract, to someone else. Gilbert said that June 8, 2015 will mark the end of Hot Stuff, International, but the birth of the House of Humperdink! Out to the ring came the newest manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, who had managed more recently in Championship Wrestling from Florida. Humperdink entered the ring and hugged both Gilberts, as the crowd booed the flamboyant manager!
3) Now-House of Humperdink member Doug Gilbert defeated “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Both Humperdink and Southern champion Eddie Gilbert stayed at ringside with Doug for his bout. Cannon had the early advantage, but Doug took over and tossed him outside the ring. Eddie distracted Frank Morrell, while Humperdink smashed Cannon across the back with his cane. As Morrell turned his attention back to Cannon, he started his count. Cannon was almost counted out, but Eddie rolled him back inside the ring at the count of eight. Doug maintained control and hit the top rope shoulder ram a couple of minutes later to score the pinfall. The fans booed the new members of the House of Humperdink, as Eddie and Humperdink held Doug’s arms up in victory! DUD
4) The Midnight Express scored an impressive victory over Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy. “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane double teamed Bundy in the first few minutes. Lane hit the superkick, but couldn’t knock the New Jersey giant down. Studd tagged in, but Eaton and Lane worked over him as well. They got Studd down on the mat and hit the Rocket Launcher, but Jimmy Hart jumped up on the apron to distract Jerry Calhoun. The Midnights maintained control. They got Studd down on the mat again. They hit a modified Veg-o-Matic, with Lane holding Studd down on the mat by his legs, in a position like he would turn him in to a Boston Crab. Eaton came off the top with the Alabama Jam, landing right across Studd’s nose and busting the big man open. They tried for a pinfall, but Bundy broke up the pin. Studd managed to tag Bundy and Bundy took control on “Beautiful” Bobby. Bundy hit a knee drop to Eaton, which caused him to bleed as well. Bundy whipped Eaton into the corner and hit the Atlantic City Avalanche. Bundy went for the cover. He got the three, but in demanding his five-count, “The Gangster of Love” jumped in and broke up the pinfall. Bundy and Hart were outraged by this! Bundy knocked Eaton into the Midnights’ corner, where he tagged to Lane. Lane jumped in, but was cut off by an irate Bundy. The giants double teamed Lane for a few minutes and looked like they were on their way to a big win over the former World Tag Team champions. Bundy tossed Lane out of the ring. While Bundy distracted Calhoun, Studd went after Lane on the floor. He set up “Sweet” Stan against the ring post and then charged at him with a clothesline. Lane dodged the attack and the bloodied Studd hit the post and the floor. Lane jumped up on the ring apron, where Bundy tried to attack him. Lane cut him off with some stiff punches. While Bundy was staggering around, Lane leapt over the top rope back into the ring, and then blasted Bundy with a lariat. The move took the big Bundy off his feet. Lane went for a cover and scored the pinfall. The Evansville fans favored the Midnights over the First Family of Wrestling team tonight and popped big for Eaton and Lane’s impressive comeback win! ***¾
5) Nick Bockwinkel pinned David Taylor in a great scientific bout. Former Mid-America champion Taylor was hoping for a big win over the four-time former USWA World champion. Taylor had the initial advantage. He hit two British suplexes, but Bockwinkel was able to kick out of both pin attempts. Bockwinkel reversed a whip into the ropes and caught Taylor in an abdominal stretch. Taylor pulled himself to the ropes for the break. Taylor fought back and had Bockwinkel in trouble again. He whipped Bockwinkel into the corner and went for a tackle. Bockwinkel dodged the attack and Taylor hit the buckles hard. Bockwinkel took advantage and caught Taylor with a reverse rolling cradle. The maneuver was enough to put Taylor’s shoulders down for the three-count after about 10 minutes action. Bockwinkel looked impressive here as he looks forward to a non-title bout with the World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude in Chilhowee Park in two weeks! **½
6) Double X scored a big non-title win via submission over Mid-America Heavyweight champion Tracy Smothers. Smothers had control at the start. He went up to the top rope for the jawjacker, but Double X moved out of the way and Smothers crashed hard. Double X hit a crossbody block for a two-count. The masked man focused his attack on Smothers’ leg. He applied the figure-four leglock. Smothers fought hard for the ropes for nearly a minute, before finally tapping out. It was an impressive win for Double X, as he gave Smothers his first decisive loss of 2015! **½
7) The Age of the Fall defeated the New Age Outlaws via DQ in a match that barely got started! “The Road Dogg” Jesse James and Billy Gunn entered the ring first and started their self-ring introductions. As James hit the line about “two-time former USWA Tag Team champions of the Worrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllllllllllddd!” they were ambushed by Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black, who came out from the back. Black tossed Gunn out of the ring, while Jacobs went after James. Jerry Calhoun called for the bell to start the match, while the brawling continued. Jacobs grabbed his spike again and went to attack James, as he tried to do at Derby City Stampede. He charged James, but “The Road Dogg” sidestepped him and hit a drop toehold, which sent Jacobs throat-first onto the second rope and sent the spike flying to arena floor. James bounced off the opposite ropes and hit a rope straddle. He then proceeded to choke Jacobs across the rope. Calhoun started his count and James did not break by five, so Calhoun called for the bell and disqualified the Outlaws. The Evansville fans berated Calhoun for his decision! Jacobs and Black quickly retreated to the back, grabbing Jacobs’ spike and avoiding more damage from James and Gunn! neg*
8) Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeated Larry “The Axe” Hennig by submission in a competitive match-up. Lewis clamped on a double wristlock early in the bout. Hennig powered his way to the ropes for a break. Lewis went for the Strangler’s Headlock, but Hennig rolled through and took control. He blasted Hennig with the Axe and went for a cover, but Lewis kicked out. Hennig hit a second Axe a few moments later, but again the “Strangler” kicked out. Lewis surprised Hennig with a bear hug, tripped him, and took him to the mat. Hennig managed to stay off his shoulders and avoid a pin. Lewis threw Hennig again with the headlock and was grinding away at Hennig’s forehead and drew blood. Hennig stayed off his shoulders and fought for the ropes for nearly two minutes. Finally Hennig was left with no choice but to tap. As Lewis got his hand raised in victory, he stared down “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart, perhaps indicating he is awaiting his rematch with World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude! ***¼
9) Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy scored a huge tag team victory, defeating former champions Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito. Fuji and Saito were accompanied by both Southern champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and their new manager Sir Oliver Humperdink. The fan favorites had the early advantage against Fuji. After just a few minutes of action, Williams scooped up Fuji for the Oklahoma Stampede. Before he could execute his finisher, Williams was nailed from the outside by Humperdink’s cane. Frank Morrell did not see this interference. Williams was hurting, but threatened Humperdink from inside the ring. Fuji tagged to Saito and the Japanese Olympian ambushed Williams. Williams managed to get to his corner and tag Gordy. Saito cut Gordy off with a chop to the throat. The Japanese double teamed the former Southern champ for several minutes, busting him open by raking his face. Saito hit four separate Saito suplexes, but Gordy kicked out each time. Fuji and Saito hit a double karate chop and Saito went for a cover, but Gordy kicked out. Gordy surprised Saito by blasting him with the Oriental Spike. He was too weak to attempt a pinfall, but made the hot tag to “Dr. Death.” Williams came in a house of fire and worked over Saito. Fuji came in to try and help Saito, but Williams blasted him with a football tackle, sending him out of the ring. Williams grabbed Saito and executed the Oklahoma Stampede to score the 1-2-3. The Evansville fans popped wild, as Williams and Gordy gloated toward Gilbert and Humperdink! **½
10) The main event was a rematch for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Current and two-time champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude put the title on the line against “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. When these two met for the title in March in Knoxville, the end result was a double disqualification when allies for both wrestlers entered the ring, as it appeared Snuka might have had the title won after the Superfly Leap. The challenger started off tonight with the advantage. He got Rude down on the mat and hit the Superfly Leap after just a few minutes, but it was too early and the champion was able to kick out. Snuka came off with the top rope with a head butt, which busted the champion open. Rude battled back and hit a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. The champion took control, working over the Fijian warrior’s neck for the Rude Awakening. Rude whipped “Superfly” into the ropes, but Snuka reversed the whip. Rude bounced back, but Snuka leapfrogged over him. On the rebound, Snuka blasted Rude with a chop, but Snuka himself was fatigued and fell into the ropes. As he was trying to catch his breath, Jerry Calhoun was checking on the champion and did not see “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart jump up on the ring apron and clock Snuka from behind with the megaphone. Both wrestlers were down on the mat and Calhoun began a 10-count. Rude recovered first, grabbed Snuka, and hit a piledriver. He went for a cover, but only got a two-count. As the action continued, “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant made his way to ringside. He warned Hart to stay out of the action and then cheered his tag team partner on from ringside, along with the Evansville fans. Rude hit another piledriver a few moments later, but Snuka got his foot on the bottom ropes. Rude went up top and came with a falling sledge, which now busted open the challenger. The champion appeared to have victory in his grasp, as he slowly picked Snuka off the mat, taunting him and the crowd with his hip gyrations. He set up for the Rude Awakening. Valiant jumped up on the apron, which lead to Hart getting up on the other side. Calhoun saw Hart first and went to warn him about interfering. Rude saw Valiant, released Snuka, and went after “Boogie Woogie.” As Rude went over to Valiant, Valiant fired back with a big right hand! Valiant got off the apron, Snuka grabbed the dazed Rude, and hit a backbreaker. Calhoun turned around as Snuka made a cover. The move only got a count of 2¾. The battle continued with Snuka hit a flying body press off the top for a two-count. Snuka followed-up with a piledriver of his own for a very near fall. It looked like things were going the challenger’s way, when Rude reversed a whip into the ropes and blasted “Superfly” on the rebound with a stiff clothesline. With both combatants bleeding and tired, Rude had just enough strength to get an arm over Snuka for the cover and score the three-count to retain the title. Hart was ecstatic that his charge had taken so much punishment and held on to the gold! Valiant checked on his partner and helped him to the back, as the fans cheered both popular wrestlers. ****½
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 3, 2017 12:09:01 GMT -4
Thanks to Crue Fan and Joe Breakdown for the comments!
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 6-13, including the first matches announced for Independence Day Bash 2015 from Engel Stadium in Chattanooga! • Commissioner Armstrong announced that the main event will be a rematch from the USWA’s last supercard Derby City Stampede. “Ravishing” Rick Rude will defend the USWA World Heavyweight championship against Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Lewis appeared to be on his way to his seventh USWA title on May 1 in his hometown of Louisville, until Jimmy Hart interfered, leading to a DQ win for Lewis, but allowing Rude to retain the title. Lewis is set on defeating Rude decisively and breaking his own record for the most reigns with the World title! • Two Expresses will collide for the first time. The Midnight Express will do battle with the PYT Express! The PYTs were formed, when Sweet Brown Sugar was kicked out of the Midnights. The new team of the PYTs have worked well together so far, but this will be their toughest challenge to-date in the five-time former USWA Tag Team champions! • One of the biggest names in pro wrestling will make his USWA debut. Former WWF World Heavyweight champion “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos will compete in Chattanooga! The popular Greek wrestler has most recently competed in the Catch Wrestling Association (CWA) in Europe. He plans to compete regularly in the USWA and hopes to add the USWA World Heavyweight championship to his list of accolades. He utilizes a pure scientific style and has gained many victories, especially with his airplane spin and Boston Crab! • Two former allies, now turned enemies, will collide for the first time in a one-on-one bout. Chattanooga’s own Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will face his former manager and current two-time Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in a non-title grudge match. Gordy has been battling Gilbert’s charges prior to facing his former manager and now will get the chance to get his hands on the man who betrayed him and burned him with a fireball in this same city back in January. Gilbert and new manager Sir Oliver Humperdink were interviewed in the WMC-TV Studios. Lance Russell said that Gilbert’s announcement of the reorganization of the former Hot Stuff, International came as a surprise to many fans in Evansville last week. Gilbert replied that it shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Humperdink is a managerial genius. Gilbert said that he and Humperdink had been in negotiations for a while. Humperdink said that bringing in “The Fabulous” Ox Baker was part of the deal, as he had been managing Baker in the CWF in the last year. He said with the two of them together, the House of Humperdink will dominate the USWA, and that will include embarrassing Gordy in his hometown once again, coming up at Independence Day Bash! • The commissioner also announced some more matches for the June 22 card at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville. As a result of his non-title submission victory last week, the masked Double X will challenge Tracy Smothers for the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship! Double X remains undefeated in singles competition and his win over the champion last week in Evansville was impressive, as Smothers had not been decisively beaten in 2015! • Also at Chilhowee Park, Ed “Strangler” Lewis will tangle once again with one-half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon. The two wrestlers have tangled twice this year. The bouts have been competitive, but in both cases, Lewis emerged the winner via disqualification.
The USWA returns to the “Buckeye State” on June 15! Fans in Dayton will see USWA action for the first time in nearly ten years, when great wrestling action comes to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds! • Two former Mid-America champions will face off in an international bout, as “The Swiss Superman” Claudio Castagnoli will face the British technician David Taylor. Both wrestlers would love to get back in the singles championship picture. Which European will triumph? • Taylor’s tag team partner “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay will also be in singles action, as he will take on the American hero “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan! Both wrestlers are coming off some big wins in singles lately and are looking to keep their momentum going! • “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant continues his war with the First Family of Wrestling, as he does battle with King Kong Bundy. While Bundy has mainly been in tag team competition with Big John Studd since his return to the USWA in February, he size and strength makes him a dangerous threat in singles action. Can “The Boy from New York City” takeout the New Jersey giant? • The New Age Outlaws will be out for revenge as they face the masked duo of Doctor X and Double X! The X’s interfered in the Outlaws’ match last month in Memphis against the X’s’ allies the Vachons, leading to a disqualification win for the Outlaws, but costing them the World Tag Team titles. Can “The Road Dogg” Jesse James and Billy Gunn get payback against the mysterious masked men? • Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will collide with House of Humperdink member Mr. Saito. These two met in March in Jackson, TN. Gordy had the advantage in that bout, until Ox Baker made his USWA return and interfered, helping Saito to take over. Saito won that bout via submission with the Scorpion Leglock. Gordy now has allies in “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Can Gordy avenge that controversial loss? • Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon will defend the USWA World Tag Team titles in the main event against Red Pepper. Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez have been impressive in competition this year. Bastien held the titles briefly in 2005 with Bobo Brazil, but Gomez (a former Southern Heavyweight and Mid-America Heavyweight champion) has never held these titles. Red Pepper’s last shot was on July 16, 2012, when they challenged Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens in their first reign. The Vachons have also been impressive this year, using their brawling tactics to earn the titles for the first time and only suffering one decisive loss so far. Which team will leave Dayton the champions?
All these great bouts, plus a tag team rematch, as the Age of the Fall takes on the high-flying duo of Brian Kendrick and Paul London! As well as “The Fabulous” Ox Baker, the PYT Express, and the USWA debut of “Classy” Freddie Blassie!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 6, 2017 19:21:56 GMT -4
June 15, 2015 Card #436: Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton
1) Ox Baker was victorious in the opener over Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. “The Fabulous” Ox dominated Milliman. He executed a neckbreaker on Milliman. Rather than try for a cover, he pulled Milliman up, and for good measure, hit a second neckbreaker. He covered Milliman and scored the pin after just a few minutes. Baker’s newly-reunited manager Sir Oliver Humperdink was very happy with his win! DUD
2) The PYT Express defeated George South and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. Sweet Brown Sugar and D’Lo Brown dominated South for the first few minutes. Brown hit Sudden Impact (a clothesline to the seated opponent) on South for a two-count. Sugar later hit the Ghostbuster for a near fall. Sharpe tagged in, but the PYTs worked him over as well. Sugar executed a backbreaker near the PYTs’ corner and covered him to score the pinfall, before South could make the save. **
3) In a battle of former Mid-America Heavyweight champions, David Taylor scored a pinfall on Claudio Castagnoli. Taylor took control at the start. He executed the British suplex just a few minutes into the bout, but Castagnoli got a shoulder up off the mat. Taylor attempted a submission with a sleeperhold. Castagnoli’s arm dropped twice, but popped back up before the third time. He fought out of the hold and took control on the British grappler. The “Swiss Superman” hit the Neutralizer a few moments later. He covered Taylor, but Taylor got a foot on the bottom rope. Taylor surprised Castagnoli with a European uppercut. He hit a second British suplex to score the pinfall. **¾
4) One of the most nefarious men in all of professional wrestling made his USWA debut, as former WWA World Heavyweight champion “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a quick victory over S.D. Jones. “Special Delivery,” who has scored big upsets in singles competition in the past, hoped for the same tonight and was very aggressive from the opening bell. He blasted Blassie with the head butt, but Blassie kicked out. Blassie took control with a boot to the stomach. He executed his spinning neckbreaker finisher, which he calls the Southern neckbreaker. The move was enough to keep “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” down for the three-count. The Dayton fans booed “The Hollywood Fashion Plate” mercilessly! ½*
5) Brian Kendrick and Paul London defeated the Age of the Fall via disqualification. Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs worked over Kendrick for the first part of the match. Jacobs got Kendrick in the End Time, but Kendrick made the ropes. Kendrick made the hot tag to London, who ran wild on Jacobs. The fan favorites hit the assisted Shooting Star Press on Jacobs, but Black made a save. London took Black to the floor, while legal man Kendrick went after Jacobs. Kendrick knocked Jacobs out of the ring on the other side with a roundhouse kick. He then went for a slingshot plancha on Jacobs on the floor. However, Jacobs had grabbed a steel chair from under the ring and he smacked Kendrick with it, as Kendrick sailed to the floor. Joe Wheeler saw this and called for the bell, disqualifying the Age of the Fall. Black and Jacobs retreated as London tried to get his hands on both men! **½
6) “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay scored a big singles win over “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Duggan had control at the start. He hit a piledriver for a near fall. Later he got down in the three-point stance and blasted Finlay with the flying spear. Finlay was hurting, but able to roll out of the ring and avoid a pin attempt. “Hacksaw” hit a clothesline on the Irish brawler for another two-count. Finlay capitalized on a mistake by Duggan and took control. He managed to get the big man up on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry. Finlay then dropped Duggan throat-first across the top rope in a Hot Shot. He covered Duggan, but Duggan kicked out at two. Finlay was able to lift Duggan up again and hit the Tombstone. He covered him and scored the pinfall for a big win. ***
7) King Kong Bundy scored a dominant win over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Bundy was accompanied not only by manager Jimmy Hart, but also by his tag team partner Big John Studd. The New Jersey giant used his size and power to control “The Boy from New York City.” He hit two Atlantic City Avalanches, but Valiant kicked out at two each time. Bundy hit a third Avalanche and was able to score the five-count for the win. Right after the bell, Studd stepped over the ropes and into the ring. He and Bundy stomped away on Valiant and looked like they were going to deliver more punishment, as “The Mouth of The South” cheered them on through the megaphone. Suddenly, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka came out from the back making somewhat of a surprise appearance, since he was not booked for a match on this card. The Fijian warrior, wearing street clothes, ran into the ring, grabbing a steel chair from ringside as he did and chased the giants away, saving his tag team partner from any potential serious injuries. The Dayton fans popped big seeing former World Tag Team champions Snuka and Valiant in the ring! ½*
8) The New Age Outlaws got a measure of revenge by defeating Doctor X and Double X in a very bloody tag team bout! The action was back-and-forth in this one. The Outlaws double teamed Doctor X for several minutes. “The Road Dogg” Jesse James hit the pump handle slam for a near fall. Double X tagged in and both masked men hit Billy Gunn with a double dropkick. Doctor later tagged back into the bout and caught Gunn with a small package for a two-count. Double X and Gunn were the legal men, when Double X nailed Gunn with a dropkick, knocking him backwards into Joe Wheeler. While Wheeler was down, all four men went at it inside the ring. Gunn and Double X went to the floor, while James caught Doctor X in a sleeper in the center of the ring. Several USWA referees and officials came to the ring to help Wheeler to the back. Paul Morton took over refereeing duties. It looked like X had already been to sleep. Morton checked his arm and it dropped twice, but right before the third, Double X came to the rescue. Morton restored order and the match continued. The masked men blasted Gunn with another double dropkick, with Double X especially getting great height and blasting Gunn in the face, busting him open. Doctor X hit a piledriver on Gunn, but Gunn kicked out. Gunn made a brief comeback against Double X and attempted a high-risk maneuver, coming off the second rope with a flying Famouser, while Double X was bent over. Double X dodged the attack and Gunn crashed hard. Double X went for a cover, but Gunn kicked out again. Gunn caught Double X coming off the ropes and hit a Cobra Clutch slam. He made the hot tag to “The Road Dogg.” James took over on Double X, but was cut off by the Doctor on the ring apron, who grabbed James’s dreadlocks and snapped him to the mat. Doctor tagged in and worked over James, sending him to the floor. Doctor rammed James head-first into the guard rail, which busted James open as well. X tossed him back into the ring and worked over the leg. He tagged to Double X, who attempted the figure-four leglock. With Gunn and the Dayton fans cheering him on, James broke up the submission hold with some big punches. The former Mid-America champion attempted to tag to Gunn, but Double X recovered first stopped him, and clamped on the X-cellent sleeperhold. James fought hard to get out of his father’s finisher and eventually made the ropes. James battled back against Doctor X and rammed his head several times into the turnbuckle. X’s white mask now sported some red, as he became the third wrestler in the match to bleed. James tagged to Gunn who worked over the masked man. A few moments later, James tagged back in and the Outlaws executed a spike piledriver. James went for a cover, but Double X made the save. Doctor managed to tag to Double X, but James was ready for him. He knocked the man in the black mask down to the mat with some punches. Doctor X jumped in for a save, but Gunn cut him off and the two went to the floor. With Double X down, “The Road Dogg” executed a Shake, Rattle, and Roll knee drop. The fans popped for James’s theatrics, as James made a cover and scored the pinfall, giving the Outlaws a huge win! As James and Gunn celebrated, they indicated that they want their rematch with the masked men’s allies the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon! ****½
9) In another bloody match, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy earned a measure of revenge by defeating Mr. Saito. This was a back-and-forth bout between these two brutes. Gordy hit a Bamm Bamm Slam a few minutes into the bout and scored a two-count. He went for a big double knee drop, but Saito rolled out of the way and Gordy crashed hard into the mat. Saito went for a cover, but Goryd kicked out. Saito worked over the wounded knee, setting Gordy up for the Scorpion Leglock. Gordy fought hard not to get turned, but the Japanese Olympian finally managed to turn him. Gordy was in the hold for nearly two minutes, but finally got to the ropes for a break. Saito blasted “Bamm Bamm” with a head butt, which busted open Gordy. Saito tried to put Gordy out with a sleeper, but Gordy rammed him back-first into the turnbuckles to break up the hold. Gordy took control and set Saito up for the power bomb. Before he could execute the move, Sir Oliver Humperdink got up on the ring apron and distracted Scott Bowden. Gordy released Saito and went after Humperdink. Humperdink fled from the former Southern champion. The distraction allowed Saito to roll-up Gordy with a school body for a two-count. Gordy took control again. He went up to the top rope and hit an amazing flying body press. He covered Saito, hooking the leg, but only got a two-count. Gordy landed the double knee drop successfully, with one of his knees hitting Saito right in the face and causing him to bleed. Gordy blasted Saito with the Oriental Spike and went for a cover, but Saito kicked out again. Gordy successfully executed the power bomb in the center of the ring. He covered Saito and scored the pinfall to win one of the best matches in the USWA this year! ****¾
10) The main event was for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon put the titles on the line against Red Pepper. Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez were receiving their first shot at the titles in almost three years. The champions started the bout strongly against their challengers. Mad Dog got Bastien up on his shoulders and executed an airplane spin, a move that Bastien himself uses to set up his atomic drop. Mad Dog dropped the flying redhead and went for a cover, but Bastien kicked out. Butcher tagged in and pummeled Bastien for several minutes, until Bastien made the tag to “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach.” Butcher attacked Gomez, got him down on the mat and went for a double foot stomp, right to Gomez’ midsection. The move had no effect on Gomez, who stood up and nailed Butcher with a dropkick! He covered Butcher, but the Algerian kicked out. He followed up with the Mexican Leap and continued his onslaught on Butcher. Butcher stumbled to his feet, but Gomez swarmed him and nailed him with a series of punches against the ropes. A finally blow sent Butcher up-and-over the top rope and to the floor! Mad Dog got off the apron and went to try and help his brother. Butcher was dazed as Paul Morton continued his count. Butcher tried to get back in the ring, but couldn’t get back in by 10. Morton called for the bell and awarded the bout via countout to Red Pepper after just a few minutes of action! While Bastien and Gomez were happy with the victory, they were not happy that the Vachons left Dayton still the champions! ¾*
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 8, 2017 17:02:33 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 6-20, including more big matches announced for Independence Day Bash 2015 at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga! • Another championship match has been added to the supercard. Commissioner Bob Armstrong revealed that “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay will challenge for the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship on July 4. The Irish brawler will face either current champion Tracy Smothers or the masked Double X, depending on who leaves Chilhowee Park in Knoxville the champion this next week. Finlay has gotten some big wins in singles recently over “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and is hoping to win his first USWA title! • In a huge first-time tag team match, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant will take on the First Family of Wrestling’s team of Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy. This match was put together, after Studd and Bundy attempted to further injure Valiant after Bundy defeated him in singles action last week in Dayton, until Snuka made the save. Snuka and Valiant are very familiar with Studd, from their battles with the Masked Superstars, when Studd was Masked Superstar II, but how will they do against this giant team? • Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will collide with Ox Baker of the House of Humperdink! Baker was brought back to the USWA in March by Southern champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, in a deal that we now know also involved new manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, to take out Gilbert’s rivals like Williams, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy, Doctor X, and others. This should be quite the battle between these two behemoths! • In what has become a new heated tag team feud, the New Age Outlaws will collide once again with the Age of the Fall. Each team now holds a disqualification victory over the other team. Will decisive winners be determined in Chattanooga? • Other matches for post-Independence Day Bash were announced. Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon will put the USWA World Tag Team titles on the line against former champions and the team they defeated for the gold—Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito! This bout will headline the USWA’s annual summer card at the Nashville Fairgrounds, which will take place this year on the first card after the Bash—July 13. The Vachons ended the Japanese team’s record-tying reign by defeating them last month at Derby City Stampede. The Vachons have not yet won a title defense, but have held on to the gold, losing via disqualification or countout. You can bet that Fuji and Saito, now members of the House of Humperdink, are gunning to get their gold back! • The commissioner announced that Red Pepper will receive another shot at the USWA World Tag Team titles soon, due to their countout victory over the Vachons last week in Dayton. With the New Age Outlaws also owed a rematch and several other teams waiting in line, the World Tag Team championship picture is heating up in 2015! • Also at the Nashville Fairgrounds, fans will see the return to action of Ray “The Crippler” Stevens of the First Family of Wrestling! Stevens will do battle with former tag team partner turned hated rival Nick Bockwinkel! Stevens has been on the shelf with injured ribs, suffered in an attack by Bockwinkel, Jimmy Snuka, and Jimmy Valiant back in April in Lexington, after Stevens pinned Snuka. The injury has added fuel to the already-heated fire of this feud!
The USWA comes back to Chilhowee Park in Knoxville on June 22, for the last stop before Independence Day Bash! This card itself is going to be huge! • “The Fabulous” Ox Baker will be in action. Baker made his surprise return to the USWA in March by attacking Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy during a match with Mr. Saito in Jackson. Now Gordy has the chance to get his hands on big Iowan. The ring will need to be reinforced for this one! • In a tag team rematch from last week in Dayton, the Age of the Fall will collide with the high-flying team of Brian Kendrick and Paul London! Kendrick and London were controlling the bout with Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black, when Kendrick attempted a slingshot plancha and got nailed with a steel chair by Jacobs for the disqualification. Will the fan favorites avenge that assault or will the Age of the Fall triumph? • Another rematch will see the challenge for the USWA World Heavyweight championship at Independence Day Bash, Ed “Strangler” Lewis go one-on-one with one-half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon. These two have tangled twice this year, with Vachon giving the six-time former World champion quite the challenge, before ultimately getting disqualified. Give Lewis a lot of credit for not taking it easy prior to his rematch for the gold on July 4. Will he finally put down the Mad Dog? • Speaking of the July 4 main event, the USWA World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude will also in action at Chilhowee Park, when he faces his rival Nick Bockwinkel in a huge non-title grudge bout. Bockwinkel would love to get another shot at Rude’s gold, after two controversial title challenges in 2015. Can the four-time former champ stop the two-time current champ? • In the first of two big title bouts, USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion Tracy Smothers will put the title on the line against the masked Double X! Double X defeated Smothers in a non-title bout via submission two weeks ago in Evansville. Smothers is currently tied with Pepper Gomez’ reign from the first half of 2012 with five defenses of this title, putting both men in second place for most defenses, behind British technician Johnny Saint. Should Smothers retain, he will be the sole holder of second place. The winner won't have much time to rest, as he will defend the title against Fit Finlay on July 4. Can Smothers hand the masked man his first singles defeat and make history or will Double X capture the gold? • Double X’s tag team partner will also be vying for singles gold, as Doctor X will be in the main event challenging two-time current USWA Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert! The last time these two met was at Derby City Stampede, in between Gilbert’s first and second title run, with Gilbert getting a very quick countout victory, thanks to interference of the now-departed “Sensational” Sherri Martel. Gilbert stated on last week’s Championship Wrestling that with Sir Oliver Humperdink in his corner, he can definitely retain the gold. X’s last title shot of any kind was nearly a year ago in Memphis at Tim McCarver Stadium, challenging Lou Thesz for the World Heavyweight crown. Can Gilbert retain the Southern title or will X capture his first USWA title?
All these bouts, plus a tag team rematch between the PYT Express and Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke! Plus, long-time rivals Fit Finlay and “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson do battle once again! As well as “Classy” Freddie Blassie, the Midnight Express, and more USWA stars in action at Chilhowee Park!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 10, 2017 16:14:09 GMT -4
June 22, 2015 Card #437: Chilhowee Park in Knoxville
1) The Midnight Express were victorious in the opener over “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill. “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane worked over Doring for the first few minutes of the match. Eaton landed a top rope elbow drop and Lane followed up with a jumping elbow of his own a few minutes later, but Doring kicked out of both pin attempts. Lane hit a side leg sweep on the “Dastardly One.” The back of Doring’s head hit the mat hard and he was busted open on the back. Lane went for a cover, but “The Angry Amish Warrior” made the save. Doring was able to tag to RoadKill and the big man worked over Lane. It looked like the bizarre duo was going to score a huge upset, as Doring tagged back in and he and RoadKill executed the Buggy Bang on “The Gangster of Love.” Doring went for a cover, but Lane kicked out. Doring stomped away on Lane and went up top again. He came off with the Danaconda, but Lane rolled out of the way and Doring crashed hard. Seeing Doring in trouble, Lane immediately went for a jackknife cradle and score the pin out of nowhere, drawing a big cheer from the Knoxville fans! The Midnights were impressive tonight, but how will they fare against the PYT Express on July 4 in Chattanooga? *¾
2) “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a quick pinfall on Jim Powers. The New Yorker Powers had some brief offense at the start. Powers whipped Blassie into the ropes and bent over for a backdrop. Unfortunately, he telegraphed the move. Blassie seized the opportunity and hit the Southern neckbreaker out of nowhere. He covered Powers and got the pinfall after about two minutes of action. Blassie was all smiles as he got his hand raised! DUD
3) “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay defeated long-time rival “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson via countout. The Irish brawler was ultra-aggressive from the start, wanting to keep his recent singles wins going. He dropped Danielson with a fireman’s carry Hot Shot early in the match and went for a cover, but only scored a two-count. Danielson battled back, got Finlay down on the mat, and went for the LeBell Lock. Finlay quickly fought to the ropes for a break, before “Dragon” could fully apply the hold. Finlay regained control and hit the Tombstone. He covered Danielson, but the two-time former USWA champion kicked out at two. Finlay hit a hard scoop slam, dropping Danielson’s legs across the bottom rope. Danielson kicked out of another pin attempt and rolled to the floor for a breather. He didn’t get one, as Finlay followed him. The two slugged it out, as Tom Branch continued his count. Finlay nailed Danielson with a big European uppercut, then grabbed him, and set him up for the Tombstone outside the ring! Finlay drove Danielson hard on to the ground and then returned to the ring. Danielson was down and out, so Finlay got the victory. After the bell, Brian Kendrick and Paul London came down to the ringside area, along with several USWA referees and officials. Danielson came to from the Tombstone, but needed some assistance in going to the back. The Knoxville fans gave him a big ovation as he returned to the back. ***
4) The PYT Express made a big comeback to defeat Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke. The hillbillies were hoping for a big tag team win here. Luke blasted Sweet Brown Sugar with a mule kick in the first few minutes and scored a two-count. Jim tagged in and got Sugar up in the bear hug. He held him in the submission move for about 45 seconds, until Sugar broke the hold with an eye rake. Jim was dazed but managed to keep Sugar from tagging to D’Lo Brown. Jim hit a leg drop right across Sugar’s face, busting him open. Jim hit a clothesline and went for a cover, but Brown broke up the pin attempt. Luke tagged back in and he and Jim hit a double big boot. Luke missed a charge in the corner and Sugar made the tag to Brown. D’Lo took over on Luke. He hit the Sky High (a sit-down spinebuster) and attempted a pin attempt, but Jim made a save. Sugar came in and knocked Jim over the top rope with the dropkick. Brown maintained control and went up to the top rope. He came off with a moonsault and scored the pin on Luke. The PYTs went to an overall record of 5-0 tonight, but they will face their toughest challenge to-date at Independence Day Bash against the Midnight Express! ***
5) In a battle of behemoths, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy got a countout victory over Ox Baker. Gordy was a house of fire against Baker at the opening bell. He tried for the Oriental Spike early, but Baker dodged Gordy and rolled out of the ring. While Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Sam Platania, Baker grabbed his bullwhip, pulled Gordy out of the ring, and choked the former Southern champ with the whip. Baker threw Gordy back into the ring and took control. He hit a knee drop and later a backbreaker for near falls. Gordy fought back. He set up “The Fabulous” Ox for the power bomb, but before he could execute it. Humperdink again got up on the apron. Gordy went after the manager, who avoided “Bamm Bamm.” Baker recovered and blasted Gordy with the heart punch. Baker went for a cover, but Gordy kicked out. Gordy rolled out of the ring and Baker followed. The two started a slugfest outside the ring. Gordy gained the upper hand and delivered a boot to Baker’s midsection. He grabbed Baker and executed a suplex outside the ring! Gordy rolled back in the ring, but Baker could not beat Platania’s count, so Gordy was declared the winner! Gordy looks ready to do battle with his former manager and current Southern champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert at Independence Day Bash! **¾
6) Brian Kendrick and Paul London scored a big tag team win, defeating the Age of the Fall in a competitive tag team match. The fan favorites worked over Jimmy Jacobs for the first few minutes of the match. Kendrick hit a huracanrana for a near fall. Tyler Black came into the match, but London took over on him. London hit the 450 splash and made a cover but Black kicked out. Kendrick came back in and hit a double foot stomp. He went for a cover, but Jacobs broke up the pin attempt. Black took control on London and got him down on the mat. He hit the Phoenix Splash and went for a cover, but Kendrick made the save. London took control, but missed on a Shooting Star Press off the top. The Age of the Fall double teamed him for several minutes, tagging in-and-out. Black was the legal man again and went up top again. He came off with a double foot stomp, but London rolled out of the way and Black landed hard. Both men were down and Tom Branch put a count on them. They both got to their feet by eight. Black grabbed London’s leg to stop him from making a tag, but London nailed him with an enzuigiri, which busted Black open. Black went down, but managed to tag to Jacobs. Jacobs went after London, but London got to the corner and tagged Kendrick. Kendrick ran wild on Jacobs. He got Jacobs down on the mat. Black jumped in, but Kendrick nailed him with a heel kick, knocking him out of the ring. Kendrick went to the top rope and came off with a double foot stomp, which Black had tried a few moments ago. Kendrick’s stomp landed and he covered Jacobs to score the pinfall. The Knoxville fans gave Kendrick and London a big ovation for their win! ****
7) One-half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon scored a huge singles win defeating Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Lewis had the early advantage and used his Strangler’s Headlock several times, but couldn’t pin Vachon or make him submit. The move did draw blood on the Mad Dog, as Lewis was grinding the headlock tightly. Vachon took over and hit several Mad Dog Pounces in a row. He went for a pin attempt, but Lewis got the shoulder up off the mat. Vachon took Lewis back to the ropes and was choking him and delivering elbow smashes, which now drew blood on Lewis. Vachon made sure to let Lewis go before Tommy Marlin’s count got to five, as Vachon did not want to get disqualified against Lewis for the third time. Lewis took control and outwrestled Vachon. Seeing his brother and tag team partner in trouble, Butcher Vachon made his way to the ring. Lewis grabbed Mad Dog and set him up for another headlock. Before he could throw the Algerian, Butcher reached in from outside the ring and grabbed Lewis’ ankle. The interference distracted Lewis and prevented him from attempting the throw. Mad Dog took Lewis down to the mat from the standing position into a lateral guillotine, putting Lewis’ shoulders on the mat. Mad Dog also grabbed a handful of Lewis’ tights and was able to hold the six-time former USWA champion down for the three-count! The Knoxville fans were shocked by the way Mad Dog won the bout. The Vachons quickly retreated to avoid an attack by the “Strangler” and were berated with boos by the Chilhowee Park fans! ****½
8) World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude scored another controversial victory over Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel came into this match a house of fire, going right after the champion as Rude dude his usual microphone work before the match, insulting the fans. Despite protests from Jimmy Hart, Tom Branch called for the bell to start the match. Bockwinkel attacked Rude while he still had his robe on and whipped him into the ropes. Bockwinkel nailed Rude with a huge dropkick and went for a cover, but only got a two. Rude got his robe off, but Bockwinkel remained in control. He tried the Bockwinkel sleeper, but Rude quickly scurried to the ropes for a break. Rude fought back and took control on his rival, but couldn’t keep him down long enough to try for a pin. Bockwinkel’s attack focused on the champion’s leg, as he drove his own knee into Rude’s right leg. He got Rude in the figure-four leglock in the center of the ring. Chilhowee Park erupted, thinking they might see the World champion’s first loss of 2015. Hart jumped up on the ring apron and distracted Branch. The distraction was needed as Rude actually tapped to the figure-four. The fans were irate at Branch missing this! Bockwinkel saw Hart on the apron, stopping his win, and released the hold. He went after Hart, who quickly fled. Rude hobbled to his feet and attacked the four-time former champ from behind. He had the advantage for a few minutes, but Bockwinkel battled back with some punches. He surprised Rude with a back suplex and bridged backwards into a pin. Branch went to count and just as it appeared that Branch’s hand was going to hit the mat for a three, the bell sounded! “The Mouth of The South” was standing near the announcers’ table. Branch looked around in confusion and asked Gary Michael Cappetta what had happened. Cappetta, Lance Russell, and Dave Brown all said that it was Hart that had grabbed the bell hammer and had rang the bell. Hart naturally denied it. While Branch was trying to figure everything out, Rude stumbled to his feet and grabbed Hart’s megaphone, which the manager had “conveniently” placed in one corner of the ring. Rude clobbered Bockwinkel from behind and then tossed the megaphone out of the ring. Branch decided to continue the match, since he had no evidence of Hart’s involvement. He turned his attention back to the action, where Rude grabbed Bockwinkel and executed the Rude Awakening. He covered Bockwinkel and scored the pinfall. The fans were irate as Hart and Rude made their way to the back! (In a USWA history note, Rude won a match by similar means in June 2008 against former USWA World, World Tag Team, and Southern champion Frank Gotch in Austin, TX, when Rude’s then-manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan rang the bell while Gotch had Rude in the Gotch toehold. Rude used a low blow on Gotch in the chaos, then hit the Rude Awakening to win that bout!) ***
9) Tracy Smothers gave Double X his first singles loss and retained the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title. The masked challenger attacked Smothers right before the bell, while Smothers was still taking off his jacket. The champ fought back and gave Double X a big body slam. The champion went up top and came off with the jawjacker. He covered Double X and scored the pinfall in about 30 seconds! The Knoxville fans gave the champ a big ovation for his quick win! Smothers will now defend the title against Fit Finlay on July 4 at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga. (With the win, Smothers is now the sole holder of second place for the most defenses of the Mid-America title with six defenses!) DUD
10) The main event saw “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, with manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, put the USWA Southern Heavyweight title on the line against his rival Doctor X. The fans sided with Gilbert on this night. The masked man was aggressive at the start. He went for an X-cellent sleeper, but after 45 seconds, Gilbert made the ropes. X turned his attack to Gilbert’s leg, setting him up for the figure-four. He attempted the move once, but Gilbert kicked him off before he could fully apply it. Gilbert took control, whipped X into the ropes, caught him on the rebound, and hit the Hot Shot. He executed the move, but reinjured his leg in doing so and was slow to make a cover, so the challenger kicked out. X took over again and dropkicked Gilbert’s injured leg. He then clamped on the figure-four in the center of the ring. Gilbert was trapped and fought hard for the ropes. Despite his efforts and Humperdink yelling from outside, Gilbert was forced to tap out, giving X the victory and the Southern Heavyweight championship! As Humperdink checked on his charge, X was joined by Double X and the World Tag Team champions the Vachons in celebrating his first USWA championship! **
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 14, 2017 11:59:56 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 6-27: • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that on August 3, the USWA will come to Cincinnati, OH for the first time in history! This card will take place at the Cincinnati Gardens and will not only be a USWA card, but also a joint card with Big Time Wrestling (BTW)! BTW is headquartered in Detroit and promotes cards around Great Lakes region of Michigan and Ohio. The promotion currently does recognize a World Heavyweight title, although the NWA World championship is occasionally defended on BTW cards. The promotion recognizes its own United States Heavyweight championship, currently held by three-time former USWA Southern champion the Sheik, as well as Tag Team titles, currently held by John and Chris Tolos. Lance Russell asked the commissioner if this card would see matches pitting USWA stars against BTW stars. The commissioner said the fans will see a combination of USWA-exclusive matches, BTW-exclusive matches, and yes, interpromotional matches! He said that the USWA World Heavyweight title will be defended against a current BTW star! Russell asked who would challenge for the USWA title and “Bullet” Bob replied that he is in negotiations with BTW promoter Ed Farhat and will announce the challenger on the July 11 edition of Championship Wrestling! Stay tuned for more announcements in the coming weeks about this historic card! The USWA presents the 8th annual Independence Day Bash! This annual supercard comes your way from Engel Stadium in Chattanooga (naturally!) on July 4! From beginning to end, here is the lineup for this huge card!Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito vs. Brian Kendrick & Paul London The former World Tag Team champions Fuji and Saito are looking ahead to their rematch for the titles on July 13 against the Vachons at the Nashville Fairgrounds. But they cannot underestimate the high-flying fan favorites. Kendrick and London are coming off a big win in the Iron Men Match at Derby City Stampede against David Taylor and Fit Finlay, as well as a win just last week over the Age of the Fall. Who will win this big tag team bout! Freddie Blassie vs. Jake Milliman “The King of Men” Blassie has scored quick wins in his first two USWA bouts. Will “The Milkman’s” win-loss record is not stellar, he is a sneaky and capable grappler. Will Blassie continue his winning ways? Doctor X & Double X vs. Red Pepper Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez got a countout win over the masked team’s allies the World Tag Team champions the Vachons two weeks ago in Dayton and are waiting for a rematch. Doctor X enters this tag team bout as the new Southern Heavyweight champion after winning the belt from Eddie Gilbert on the last card in Chilhowee Park. Both he and Double X have done well in singles action. In this bout, they will be looking to weaken Red Pepper, prior to their next match with the champions the Vachons. Can Red Pepper stop the masked duo or will X and XX mark the spot? Arik Cannon vs. Doug Gilbert These two met last month in Evansville. Sir Oliver Humperdink was introduced as Gilbert’s new manager right before the match and interfered to help Gilbert defeat “The Anarchist.” Will Gilbert triumph again or can Cannon avenge that loss? The Midnight Express vs. The PYT Express The Midnights used to consist of three wrestlers in this match: “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, “Sweet” Stan Lane, and Sweet Brown Sugar. Lane and Sugar held the USWA World Tag Team titles three times between February 2013 and June 2014. But after some losses and arguments in bouts early this year, Eaton and Lane dropped Sugar from the unit. Sugar brought in D’Lo Brown as his new tag team partner and has claimed that the new duo will surpass the Midnights. Eaton and Lane are five-time former USWA champions and are undefeated in 2015. Which Express will triumph? Steve Williams vs. Ox Baker Baker was brought back to the USWA by Eddie Gilbert, via Sir Oliver Humperdink, back in March to take out Gilbert’s foes. “Dr. Death” is looking to get the Southern Heavyweight title back, which has bounced around a lot in 2015. Williams cannot underestimate the dangerous Baker. Can Williams topple “The Fabulous” Ox? Jimmy Snuka & Jimmy Valiant vs. Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy Studd and Bundy have been a strong tag team for the First Family of Wrestling. The two tried to attack and injure “The Boogie Woogie Man” two weeks ago in Dayton, after a singles victory by Bundy, but Snuka made the save. Even though Studd and Bundy have the weight advantage, they will face one of their toughest challenges yet, in the two-time former USWA Tag Team champions. Can Snuka and Valiant avenge the attack in Dayton or will Studd and Bundy power their way to a win? Jim Londos vs. George South “The Golden Greek” Londos is one of the most popular wrestlers worldwide. He is a former WWF World Heavyweight champion and is looking to capture gold in the USWA. He cannot underestimate South, who has victories over former USWA champions “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “The Nebraska Tiger Man” John Pesek, including ruining Pesek’s debut in August 2009 in Memphis! Can South ruin another debut or will Londos win his match in the USWA? The New Age Outlaws vs. The Age of the Fall These two tag teams have had two intense matches, with each team getting a disqualification win over the other. Jimmy Jacobs has insulted the Outlaws, calling them the “old guard” and that he and Tyler Black will be the “new leaders” of the USWA! “The Road Dogg” Jesse James and Billy Gunn have been undefeated in 2015 and are looking ahead to another shot at the World Tag Team titles, after scoring two wins over the champions in title bouts, but not leaving with the belts. Will the Age of the Fall end the Outlaws’ winning streak or can the Outlaws keep their momentum going? And will we finally see decisive winners? Terry Gordy vs. Eddie Gilbert This is a battle between a wrestler and his former manager and has a lot of tie-ins to the host city of Chattanooga. Gilbert brought Gordy to the USWA in January 2014 in Gordy’s Chattanooga, which is also “Bamm Bamm’s” hometown. Gordy had a good win-loss record and won the Southern title from Steve “Dr. Death” Williams in a historic 2-out-of-3 Falls, Two-Ring Match last August at Engel Stadium. Gilbert earned a shot at the title that same night by winning the largest Battle Royal in USWA history (a 25-Man Two-Ring Battle Royal), but postponed his shot, since he was managing the champion. Gordy lost the title back to Williams in November. Gilbert kicked Gordy out of his group (known as Hot Stuff, International at the time) back in January of this year in this same city. Gordy has joined forces with Williams and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan to battle the now-House of Humperdink and has become very popular among the USWA fans. Gilbert is coming off the loss of the Southern title to Doctor X last week at Chilhowee Park and will be fired up to get back on track with a win. Can “Hot Stuff” score a big win or will Gordy defeat the man who brought him to the USWA in the same city where their alliance started? Tracy Smothers vs. Fit Finlay (USWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship) Smothers has had a great 2015 and a great second reign with the Mid-America Heavyweight title, currently in second place for most number of defenses. If he retains, he will be tied with Johnny Saint for the most defenses. “The Belfast Bruiser” is coming off recent singles wins over the likes of “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson and is hoping to win his first USWA championship. Can the Irish brawler win the gold from the red-hot Smothers or will the Southern boy continue his historic reign? Rick Rude vs. Ed “Strangler” Lewis (Main Event—USWA World Heavyweight Championship) Rude captured the World title for the second time by defeating Lou Thesz at New Year’s Knockout XI in Evansville. Lewis was the manager for Thesz at the time and decided to return to wrestling regularly to try and win the title from Rude and break his own record by capturing the title for the seventh time. The two met in Lewis’ hometown of Louisville at Derby City Stampede, where Lewis dominated much of the match. Jimmy Hart interfered, causing a disqualification win for the “Strangler,” but leaving Rude the champion. Rude has had an impressive second reign, although he often has help from “The Mouth of The South” when he gets in trouble. Can Lewis win the gold from Rude or will Rude find a way to retain again? That’s Independence Day Bash 2015, coming your way from Engel Stadium in Chattanooga! Stick around after the wrestling action for the annual 4th of July fireworks show!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 18, 2017 12:42:19 GMT -4
Independence Day Bash 2015 July 4, 2015 Card #438: Engel Stadium in Chattanooga 1) Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito got a tag team win in the opener over Brian Kendrick and Paul London. The Japanese kept Kendrick in the ring the entire match and tried to ground the high-flyer. Fuji hit the Banzai Drop, but Kendrick kicked out. Saito tagged in and worked over the leg, attempting a submission with the Scorpion Leglock. Kendrick fought for over 30 seconds and made the ropes for a break. Saito turned to London on the apron and head butted him, then pushed him off to the floor. He then applied the Prison Deathlock and forced Kendrick to tap. Sir Oliver Humperdink was happy with his team’s win. Can they win the gold back from the Vachons on July 13 at the Nashville Fairgrounds? DUD 2) “Classy” Freddie Blassie made short work over Jake “The Milkman” Milliman. Blassie dominated the Nashville native, biting Milliman and hitting the Southern neckbreaker to score the pinfall after just a few minutes of action. DUD 3) New Southern Heavyweight champion Doctor X and Double X were victorious in tag team competition over Red Pepper in one of the best and bloodiest matches in the USWA this year, with all four wrestlers bleeding by the end of the bout! Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez kept the Southern champ in the ring for several minutes after the masked man missed a charge into the corner on Bastien. Gomez landed a Mexican Leap to X’s face, which caused blood to pour through his white mask. Bastien came back in. He hit a flying body press off the top rope and went for a cover, but the Doctor kicked out. Bastien attempted a submission with an abdominal stretch, but the Southern champ made the ropes. Double X tagged in and was aggressive against “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach,” throwing him out of the ring. Gomez was hurt, but crawled under the ring, throwing the masked man off. As the masked tag team looked around, Gomez came up near the announcers’ table, snuck in and surprised Double X with a small package for a two-count. Double X surprised Gomez with a reverse rolling cradle for a near fall a few moments later. The masked team trapped Gomez in the ring for a few minutes. They hit a double dropkick right in the face, drawing blood on Gomez. Doctor X hit a handstand knee drop on Gomez for a near fall. The masked men tagged in-and-out and trapped the Mexican superstar in the ring for several minutes. Gomez finally made the tag to the flying redhead. Bastien ran wild on the Southern champion. He went for a flying head scissors, but X dodged the attack and Bastien landed hard on the top rope, getting tangled up in the top and middle ropes. X got Bastien out and tried for the figure-four leglock. Bastien managed to get to the ropes for a break. Double X came in and threw Bastien with a cross hiplock. He went for an immediate pin, but Bastien got a shoulder up off the mat. Double X tried to put the former Texas and World Tag Team champion out with the X-cellent sleeper. Bastien started to drop, but made the ropes for a break. Bastien ducked a punch from Double X, picked the masked man up, and gave him an airplane spin into the atomic drop. He covered Double X, but Doctor X made the save. Gomez tagged in, but the masked men worked over his leg. Double X attempted the figure-four, but Gomez made the ropes for a break. Bastien tagged back in and the masked men pummeled him in their corner, busting him open as well. Bastien escaped and tagged to Gomez, who ran wild on Double X. He landed the Mexican Leap, right across Double X’s face, drawing blood from his mask as well, making this a quadruple-juice match! Doctor X entered the ring, as did Bastien. Paul Morton saw Bastien come in first and warned him to get back to the corner. This allowed Doctor X to chop block Gomez and allow Double X to recover. Double X locked Gomez in the figure-four. Bastien jumped in again for a save, but the Southern champion cut him off. Gomez was trapped, in pain, and bleeding and forced to tap, giving the masked men an impressive win in great match! ***** 4) Doug Gilbert defeated “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon in a competitive singles bout. Gilbert, accompanied by Sir Oliver Humperdink, used a sitout body slam several times throughout the bout for a near fall. Cannon came back and hit a top rope splash for a near fall. The bout went to the floor and Humperdink distracted Jerry Calhoun, allowing Gilbert to choke Cannon with Gary Michael Cappetta’s microphone chord. Inside the ring, the PBR drinker took control a few moments later and hit an exploder for a two-count. Cannon placed Gilbert on the top rope and hit a superplex for another near fall. Cannon missed a second top rope splash and Gilbert took control again. He weakened Cannon and came off the second rope with a knee drop. The move was effective enough to put Cannon down for the three-count, giving Gilbert an impressive win. ***¼ 5) In a first-time meeting of the Expresses, the Midnight Express were victorious over the PYT Express. Sweet Brown Sugar showed his knowledge of teaming up with “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane, as he had counters in the early part of the match, even blocking the Veg-o-Matic, by rolling out of Lane’s seated bear hug before Eaton could hit the Alabama Jam. Sugar took control on Lane and tagged in D’Lo Brown. The PYTs double teamed Lane for a few minutes, including Sugar hitting a backbreaker on “The Gangster of Love” for a near fall. Lane recovered and tagged to Eaton. Sugar jumped Eaton right away, trying to stop him from taking any advantage. Sugar whipped Eaton into the ropes, but Eaton blocked the whip and immediately caught Sugar in a small package in a near fall. Eaton nailed Sugar with his famed right hand. D’Lo jumped in, but Eaton decked him as well. Brown rolled to the floor and Eaton went up to the top rope. He came off with a big elbow drop and covered Sugar to score the pinfall. The Chattanooga fans were on Eaton and Lane’s side tonight! **¾ 6) Steve “Dr. Death” Williams was victorious over “The Fabulous” Ox Baker. Baker had the early advantage and looked like he might get a quick win as he blasted Williams with the heart punch in the opening minutes. Williams kicked out of the pin attempt and battled back. He nailed Baker with a lariat for a two-count. He showed his strength by pressing Baker up over his head. Sir Oliver Humperdink got up on the ring apron and Williams tossed Baker over the rope and into his own manager! Baker and Humperdink were on the floor in a pile, but the big Iowan managed to get back up on the apron. Williams ran over and scooped Baker up into the Oklahoma Stampede! He brought him back into the ring and slammed him down hard. He covered Baker and got the win. The fans went wild for Williams’ impressive win! *½ 7) “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant defeated Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy via disqualification in a tag team grudge match. The fan favorites double teamed Studd for the first few minutes. Bundy tagged in, but took punishment as well. Valiant attempted to put Bundy out with the sleeper. Bundy started to drop, but was able to slam Valiant back-first into the turnbuckles to break up the hold. Bundy and Valiant both tagged out to their partners. Studd took over on the “Superfly,” blasting him with a clothesline for a near fall. Studd missed an elbow drop and was down on the mat. Snuka went up top and hit the Superfly Leap. Bundy came in and hit an elbow drop on the Fijian warrior to break up the pin. As Jerry Calhoun got the New Jersey giant back to his corner, Valiant jumped in a hit a super elbow of his own on Studd. Both Studd and Snuka were down, but Snuka managed to crawl over and cover Studd, but the big man kicked out at a 2¾. Snuka busted Studd open after a head butt. Later in the bout, Valiant and Bundy were the legal men again. Valiant had Bundy dazed with some punches and went up to the top rope. Before “Boogie Woogie” could leap, Bundy cut him off and tossed him off the top and to the mat. Studd came back in. He had control against “Handsome” Jimmy, but Valiant battled back. He had Studd bent over after a boot to the midsection, then grabbed the giant by the head and hit a swinging neckbreaker. He went for a cover on the bloodied Studd. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart jumped up on the ring apron to distract Morton, but not before handing Bundy the megaphone. Bundy came in to the ring and smashed Valiant in the back with the megaphone. Morton had turned around just as Bundy went to attack and saw the use of the megaphone. Morton called for the bell and disqualified Studd and Bundy. Snuka jumped in the ring and head butted Bundy. The giants and their manager quickly got away before the fan favorites could punish them more! ( NOTE: This was the first time I used Snuka’s LOW color card.) ***¾ 8) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos made an impressive USWA debut, defeating George South by submission. Londos made a big entry into the ring and received a big ovation from the Chattanooga fans. Londos used his pure wrestling skills to get South down on the mat. He locked on a short-arm scissors and got South to tap out after two minutes of action. DUD 9) The Age of the Fall scored their biggest win to-date in the USWA, defeating two-time former champions the New Age Outlaws. Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black double teamed Billy Gunn for several minutes. Black tossed Gunn outside and then hit a slingshot plancha. Gunn was almost counted out, but managed to crawl back in by nine. Black hit the Phoenix Splash, but Gunn kicked out. Jacobs came in and hit an impressive spear on his larger opponent. He went for a cover, but again Gunn kicked out. Gunn managed to tag Jesse James. The Outlaws hit a double Hot Shot on Jacobs. “The Road Dogg” hit the pump handle slam, but Jacobs kicked out at two. Gunn came back in to the match. He hit the Famouser on two separate occasions on Jacobs, but Black broke up the pin twice. Jacobs took over and surprised Gunn with the End Time in the center of the ring. James came in to break up the submission attempt, but Black saw him coming and cut him off with a jumping knee strike to the face. Gunn was stuck and forced to tap out to Jacobs’ finisher, giving the Age of the Fall a huge win! This was also the Outlaws’ first loss of 2015. ***½ 10) Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy was victorious in his hometown, as he defeated his former manager “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Gordy got a huge pop from the Chattanooga fans as he entered Engel Stadium to “Freebird.” This was a back-and-forth battle between two wrestlers who know each other well. Gilbert executed a Hot Shot a few minutes into the bout, but Gordy kicked out. Gordy fought back and executed the power bomb. He made a cover, but Gilbert was near the ropes and got a foot under the bottom rope for a break. Gordy tried to get a submission with the Oriental Spike, but Gilbert grabbed the ropes for a break. Gilbert took over outside the ring, running “Bamm Bamm” head-first into the ring post. Gilbert tossed Gordy back inside and worked over him for several minutes. Gordy surprised Gilbert with a back suplex out of nowhere for a near fall. Gordy maintained control and hit blasted “Hot Stuff” with the Oriental Spike. He went for a cover, but Gilbert kicked out. Gordy head butted Gilbert and busted him open. He then tried for a submission with a sleeperhold. Gilbert started to drop to the mat. As Paul Morton started to check Gilbert’s arm, Gordy had his own back turned to the ropes. Sir Oliver Humperdink reached in from outside and hit Gordy in the back with his cane, breaking up the hold. Morton didn’t see Humperdink’s interference. Gilbert came to and pulled Gordy toward the center of the ring. He made a cover, but Gordy kicked out. Gilbert worked on Gordy for several minutes and it looked like he would defeat Gordy. Gordy was hurting and crawled to the corner for a breather. Gilbert followed him, climbed up to the second rope, and began to punch away at Gordy, mockingly trying to get the crowd to count along with him. Gilbert was slow in delivering punches and his mockery fired up Gordy, who lifted Gilbert up from the position into the power bomb. Gilbert was surprised and fought to get out of the hold, but Gordy drilled him into the mat. He covered the bloodied Gilbert and scored the pinfall, which drew another big pop from Gordy’s hometown fans! ***¾ 11) In the first of two championship matches, Tracy Smothers made history by becoming tied with Johnny Saint for the most defenses of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title, by defending against “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay. Finlay had the early advantage. He hit a fireman’s carry Hot Shot for a near fall. Smothers fought back and took control, wearing the Irish brawler down. He hit the jawjacker after just a few minutes to score the pin and make history with the title! * 12) The main event was a rematch from Derby City Stampede. “Ravishing” Rick Rude put the USWA World Heavyweight championship on the line against six-time former champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis. When these two met in Lewis’ hometown of Louisville, it appeared that Lewis was about to win his seventh USWA title, but Jimmy Hart interfered for the disqualification. Lewis was very aggressive from the opening bell, outwrestling the champion. He used a full nelson twice, but Rude got to the ropes. Lewis went to the Strangler’s Headlock next, taking Rude down three times. Rude managed to avoid a pin or submission, but came up bleeding after the third headlock, due to Lewis’ intense grip strength. Lewis went for a bear hug and tripped Rude’s leg, taking him back to the mat. The “Strangler” had the “Ravishing One” trapped on the mat. Hart jumped up on the ring apron and distracted Jerry Calhoun from seeing a pinfall. The challenger released the hold and threatened “The Mouth of The South.” Rude got to his feet and ambushed Lewis from behind. The champion took control for a few minutes, dominating his opponent. He got cocky and seemed more content to swivel his hips then try and defeat Lewis! Rude finally delivered a Rude Awakening and made a lazy cover, so Lewis kicked out. Rude went up to the top rope and went for a knee drop. Again, he took his time and swiveled his hips before leaping, which allowed Lewis to recover and Rude crashed hard. Both men struggled to their feet. Rude went for a punch, but Lewis ducked, got behind the champ, and clamped on the full nelson once again. Rude reached for the ropes, but the “Strangler” pulled him away, and spun him toward the center of the ring. As Calhoun checked on Rude, Hart got up on the ring apron again. He attempted to smash Lewis from behind with the megaphone. The challenger saw Hart’s attempt coming, spun Rude around again, and the champion took the brunt of the megaphone. Hart was in shock that his plan was foiled! Since Hart hit his own charge and Calhoun could tell it was accidental, he allowed the match to continue. Lewis grabbed Hart, still on the apron, in the headlock and squeezed with all his strength! The fans went wild at this. Lewis released the headlock and Hart crumpled to the floor. Lewis turned his attention back to the champion. Rude charged him, but Lewis caught him with another headlock. Rude fought hard for the ropes and to keep his shoulders off the mat. As it looked like the bloodied champion might be done, fellow First Family of Wrestling members Larry “The Axe” Hennig, Big John Studd, and King Kong Bundy hit the ring. They stomped Lewis, breaking up the hold. Calhoun immediately called for the bell and disqualified Rude, giving Lewis another win, but not the title. The First Family was ganging up on Lewis, until “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant ran down to ringside and chased away their rivals. Snuka and Valiant helped Lewis up to his feet. The “Strangler” was not injured, but was definitely disappointed that he once again he was leaving without the USWA title! **¾
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 25, 2017 22:28:16 GMT -4
After a memorable Independence Day Bash at Engel Stadium, the July 11 edition of USWA Championship Wrestling was packed full of news! • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that Ed “Strangler” Lewis will definitely receive a rematch for the USWA World title in the near future, as a result of another DQ victory over “Ravishing” Rick Rude at Independence Day Bash. • The commissioner also announced other matches for the huge card on August 3 at the Cincinnati Gardens, co-promoted by the USWA and BTW! o As was mentioned on the June 27 edition of Championship Wrestling, the main event will feature Rick Rude defend the USWA World Heavyweight championship against a current BTW superstar. Armstrong revealed that after negotiating with BTW promoter Ed Farhat, it was decided that the BTW superstar will be former USWA World Tag Team and Southern Heavyweight champion Bobo Brazil! Brazil was the very first Southern champion and had a brief run with the World Tag Team titles in 2005 with Red Bastien. The very popular Brazil only received one shot at the USWA World title, which was in March 2005 against Nick Bockwinkel in Memphis, during Bockwinkel’s first reign (also the longest USWA World title reign to-date). o Other big matches were announced. Current BTW United States Heavyweight champion the Sheik will defend against former USWA World, World Tag Team, and Southern champion Johnny Valentine! Valentine has been competing in BTW since February of this year and has been gunning for the Sheik and his title. This will be Valentine’s first at the U.S. title. As he did in the USWA for most of the time since his debut in 2006, Sheik is still managed by Abdullah Farouk! o Another huge tag team match will see two former USWA World Tag Team championship teams that have never met each in a standard four-man tag team match. The Midnight Express will face the Fabulous Kangaroos! Two-time former champions the Kangaroos had several battles with the Midnight Express of “Sweet” Stan Lane and Sweet Brown Sugar in 2013 and early ’14 over the USWA World Tag Team titles. Al Costello and “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton met in a ***** singles match in December ’13 in Evansville, but this will be the first time these two specific combinations have done battle. The ‘Roos are still managed by “Wild” Red Berry, but one difference is that the Express will not have Jim Cornette in their corner, as they did in their past battles with the Aussies!
• The commissioner also announced some big match-ups for the July 20 card at the Rupp Arena in Lexington! o Doctor X will make his first defense of the USWA Southern Heavyweight title, when he puts the gold on the line against five-time former champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Williams has gotten some momentum after defeating Ox Baker at Independence Day Bash and is hoping to make the masked man’s reign a short one! o Ed “Strangler” Lewis will have a chance for revenge for not leaving Chattanooga with the USWA World title, as he will battle Larry “The Axe” Hennig! Hennig, Big John Studd, and King Kong Bundy attacked Lewis, leading to their First Family of Wrestling ally “Ravishing” Rick Rude keeping the title after a disqualification win. The “Strangler” wants to get his hands on every member of the First Family! o “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson will be back in action, as he takes on “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay! Finlay has two recent wins over the two-time former World champion and the three-time former Mid-America champion, the most recent of which occurred last month at Chilhowee Park, when Finlay gave Danielson the Tombstone on the floor and got a countout victory. Danielson did not suffer any severe injuries from the move and is back and hoping to avenge the losses! o The Age of the Fall is hoping to avenge some losses, as they will collide with Brian Kendrick and Paul London on this card, in what could be a high-impact tag team match-up! The USWA returns to the “Music City” on July 13 with its annual summer card from the Nashville Fairgrounds! • In a huge rematch, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will battle House of Humperdink member Ox Baker! Gordy defeated Ox by countout at Chilhowee Park a few weeks ago, after a suplex outside the ring. He’s also got momentum on his side from his win over “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert at Independence Day Bash in Chattanooga. Can Gordy keep things going or will “The Fabulous” Ox avenge his loss? • “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka will go one-on-one with First Family of Wrestling member Larry “The Axe” Hennig! Snuka has two recent wins over the big Minnesotan, both via disqualification, due to interference from “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. Can Snuka get a decisive victory or will Hart make the difference in this bout? • The PYT Express lost to their rivals the Midnight Express on July 4, in their first loss to-date. They are hoping to get back on track this week, but they will have a tough challenge in the high-flying tag team of Brian Kendrick and Paul London! • Ray “The Crippler” Stevens will return from rib injuries. He will be going for revenge against one of the men that injured him—his former tag team partner Nick Bockwinkel! Stevens suffered his injuries in April in Lexington, after an attack from Bockwinkel, Jimmy Snuka, and Jimmy Valiant, after “The Crippler” defeated the “Superfly.” The last time these two met, Stevens came out the victor in quick fashion over the four-time former USWA champion. Bockwinkel is also coming off of the controversial loss to World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude at Chilhowee Park, where Jimmy Hart rang the bell and Rude used Hart’s megaphone in the midst of the confusion to get the win. Bockwinkel has had a history of concussions in the USWA and some wrestling experts are wondering if he sustained another one in that bout in Knoxville. Which grappler will win the latest chapter in this epic feud? • Speaking of the World champion, Rick Rude will be in action as well, as he will collide with “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in a non-title grudge bout. When these two met in Tupelo in April, Valiant appeared to have gotten a victory over the champ (also a non-title bout) with the sleeper, but Jimmy Hart had distracted Scott Bowden. Rude took a bloody beating in his championship main event with Ed “Strangler” Lewis at Independence Day Bash and may not be at 100%. Can “Boogie Woogie” score a big win for his street people? • The main event will be a rematch for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon will put the titles on the line against the former champions and the team they defeated for the gold—Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink! After having a series of brutal, bloody bouts with the Japanese team, the Algerians finally captured the gold in May at Derby City Stampede. The Vachons have not yet won a title defense, but have retained the titles in each outing. Can Fuji and Saito win the titles for a second time or will the Vachons find a way to retain once again?
All these big bouts, plus Southern Heavyweight champion Doctor X teaming with Double X! As well as “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos, “Classy” Freddie Blassie, and Nashville native Jake “The Milkman” Milliman!
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 9, 2017 21:50:09 GMT -4
July 13, 2015 Card #439: Nashville Fairgrounds 1) Nashville native Jake Milliman was victorious in the opener over Gene Spurlock. Spurlock has gotten a win in the past, pinning Paul London in a tag team bout teaming with George South against London and Kendrick almost two years ago in Knoxville. Tonight “The Milkman” dominated Spurlock, with his hometown fans cheering him along the way! Milliman got Spurlock down on the mat, went up to the second rope and came off with the head butt to score the pinfall. Milliman got a great ovation from the “Music City” fans! DUD 2) “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a dominant win over George South. While Blassie can wrestle, he largely brawled and used dirty tactics to control South, including biting South’s forehead. South tried to get a breather in the corner, but “The King of Men” caught him and stomped away at him. Blassie finally pulled South away from the ropes and covered him to score the easy pin. ¼* 3) Another strong win, saw newcomer “Golden Greek” Jim Londos get a submission win over “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. Londos took Sharpe down and clamped on a short-arm scissors, the same move that brought him victory against Sharpe’s tag team partner George South at Independence Day Bash. Tonight, Londos needed less time, as he got Sharpe to tap out in about one minute. The Nashville fans gave Londos a big pop for his strong win! DUD 4) Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke scored a huge win, defeating Southern Heavyweight champion Doctor X and Double X. The hillbillies trapped Double X in the ring for the first few minutes of the match. Jim nailed him with a big boot and then a clothesline a few minutes later. Jim went for the cover, but it was near the masked team’s corner, so the Doctor was able to simply reach in and kick Jim to interrupt the count. The interference allowed Double X to tag his partner. The Southern champ hit a back suplex on Luke a few moments later and scored a two-count. Luke tagged to Jim, but the Doctor attacked the big man right away, attacking the leg and taking him down to the mat. X worked on Jim’s leg and clamped on the figure-four. The big man fought the hold for two minutes and had the fans going wild for him! He couldn’t make the ropes or counter the move, but Luke jumped in and hit a falling head butt on the Doctor, breaking up the leglock! X was hurt, but rolled to the corner and tagged Double X, before Jim could tag Luke. Double X outwrestled the big man and had him in trouble. He went up to the top rope and came off with a flying body press. Jim caught Double X and body slammed him hard to the mat. He then delivered a leg drop, right across the face for good measure, which caused blood to come through Double X’s black mask. Jim made the hot tag to Luke, who ran wild on Double X. The Southern champ jumped in the ring for a save, but Jim intercepted and booted him in the face, despite his own bad leg from the figure-four earlier. X rolled out of the ring and the hillbillies gave Double X a double team body slam. Jim then returned to his corner, while Luke picked Double X up and hit the Hillbilly Drop. He covered him and scored the huge upset win. Doctor X had tried to make a save, by crawling in from the outside, but was too late. The Nashville Fairgrounds erupted and fans went wild, as “Don’t Go Messin’ with a Country Boy” blared throughout the building! *** 5) Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy pinned Ox Baker in a short, but physical bout. The action was fast and physical from the opening bell. Gordy went up to the top rope, but Ox cut him off and slammed off the top. “Bamm Bamm” fought back and hit a back suplex on Baker for a near fall. Gordy went for a submission with the Oriental Spike, but Baker made the ropes. Gordy drew blood on Baker with some punches. A few minutes later, Gordy hit the power bomb to score the impressive pinfall. As Gordy got his hand raised in victory, he glared at Sir Oliver Humperdink, gloating over another victory over a House of Humperdink member! *¾ 6) Larry “The Axe” Hennig pinned “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, thanks to the help of “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. “The Axe” had the initial advantage. He body slammed Snuka hard to the mat several times and used his power and weight advantage to control the pace. Snuka rallied back and knocked down the big Minnesotan. He went up to the top rope and hit the Superfly Leap, but Hennig managed to kick out. Snuka went up top again a few moments later and hit a second Superfly. As he went for the cover, Hart jumped up on the ring apron. Snuka went after the manager, grabbing him by his colorful jacket. Joe Wheeler tried to break up the fracas and in doing so, didn’t see Hart drop the megaphone into the ring. Hennig grabbed the megaphone and clocked Snuka from behind, then tossed the megaphone out on the other side. This was behind by Wheeler’s back, as the official was focused on getting Hart out of the match. Hennig grabbed Snuka and whipped him into the ropes. He blasted him on the rebound with the Axe. Snuka dropped to the mat and Hennig covered him to score the pinfall. The Nashville fans pelted Hennig and Hart with garbage as they returned to the locker room! ***¼ 7) The PYT Express were victorious over Brian Kendrick and Paul London in a competitive tag team match-up. This was a back-and-forth, high-action match. D’Lo Brown hit a Shakey Shakey leg drop on Kendrick for a two-count. Kendrick tagged in London, but the PYTs cut the ring in half on him. Brown hit the Lo Down for a near fall. Sweet Brown Sugar came and hit a Ghostbuster for a very near fall. London capitalized on a mistake by Brown and tagged to Kendrick, who took over on D’Lo. He knocked Brown down with a running forearm and scored a two-count. London tagged back in, but the PYTs took over on him again. Sugar hit two dropkicks for near falls. Brown came back in and hit another Lo Down, but Kendrick broke up the pin. Sugar came in and dropkicked Kendrick out of the ring. He then followed Kendrick and rammed him into the ring post. Sugar returned to the PYTs’ corner and was tagged back into the match. Sugar worked over London and hit another dropkick to score the pinfall. ***¾ 8) Ray “The Crippler” Stevens returned from injury and gained a measure of revenge by pinning Nick Bockwinkel. The action was very aggressive at the start between these two rivals and former tag team partners. Bockwinkel took Stevens down early and tried for a submission with a Boston Crab, but Stevens made the ropes for a break. Bockwinkel tried to lock Stevens in his sleeper, but Stevens drove Bockwinkel head-first into the top turnbuckle to stop the hold. Bockwinkel recovered and worked over Stevens’ right leg. He locked on the figure-four. Bockwinkel was near the ropes and as Scott Bowden asked Stevens if he wanted to submit, Jimmy Hart reached in through the ropes and raked Bockwinkel’s eyes. Stevens recovered and worked over Bockwinkel. Even with the hurting leg, Stevens managed to climb the buckles and hit the Bombs Away. He covered Bockwinkel, but the four-time USWA champion kicked out. Stevens maintained control and hit a piledriver for another near fall. Stevens went up top again and came off with the Bombs Away, but Bockwinkel rolled out of the way and Stevens landed on the injured leg. Bockwinkel clamped on the figure-four again. Stevens looked very close to tapping out, but once again Hart made the difference, as he reached through the ropes and clocked Bockwinkel with the megaphone. Both wrestlers were hurting and Bowden put a 10-count on them. With Hart yelling through the megaphone (Which still worked, despite being used twice as a weapon on this card!), Stevens got to his feet. He stomped away at Bockwinkel and then went up the ropes again. He landed a second Bombs Away to Bockwinkel’s head to score the pinfall. Stevens and Hart targeted Bockwinkel’s head, knowing about his past concussions to get the win, much to the Nashville fans’ dismay! ***¼ 9) Another First Family of Wrestling member made it a perfect night for this unit, as World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude pinned “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in a non-title match. Jimmy Hart did not initially come out with the champion, as he was still back in the locker room with Ray Stevens from the previous bout. Rude had the advantage at the start, hitting a top rope sledge a few minutes into the match for a two-count. With the fans cheering him on, Valiant fought back. He knocked the champ down and hit a super elbow drop for a two-count. Valiant maintained control and hit a running elbow smash to flatten the champ again and score another two-count. Seeing his charge in trouble, Hart came sprinting out from the locker room to cheer on Rude. Valiant nailed Rude with a series of roundhouse punches, knocking him down again and scoring another two-count. Rude capitalized on a mistake by “Boogie Woogie” and took control. He hit a snap suplex for a two-count. He turned his attack to Valiant’s neck, hitting a swinging neckbreaker for a two-count. Rude continued to punish the neck and hit the Rude Awakening to score the pinfall. After the match, as Rude’s music started to play, Larry “The Axe” Hennig, recovered from his earlier victory, ran down to the ring. The Robbinsdale natives double teamed “Handsome” Jimmy. Hennig grabbed Valiant in a piledriver and Rude jumped off the top rope, spiking Valiant’s legs. “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and Nick Bockwinkel, recovered from their earlier bouts, but both looking wounded from the megaphone, ran down with steel chairs to chase off Rude, Hennig, and Hart. Bockwinkel and Snuka cleared the ring and then checked on Valiant. Valiant was able to walk to the back, but was holding his neck a lot. **** 10) The main event was a rematch from Derby City Stampede. The Vachons put the USWA World Tag Team titles on the line against the team they defeated for the gold—Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink. Typically USWA main events start with the wrestlers in their respective corners and Gary Michael Cappetta introducing the wrestlers. However, tonight the champions hit the ring and went right after their challengers, due to the animosity between the two teams. Mad Dog and Saito went to the floor, while Butcher and Fuji stayed in the ring. Paul Morton called for the bell to start the match. Fuji took control of Butcher and got him down on the mat. He went for the Banzai Drop a minute into the bout, but Butcher kicked out. Outside the ring, Mad Dog threw Saito head-first into the ring post, then body slammed him on the floor. Sir Oliver Humperdink got in Mad Dog’s face, but Mad Dog slammed his head into the ring apron. Inside the ring, Fuji went for a second Banzai Drop, but Butcher moved out of the way and Fuji crashed hard. Butcher went for the hangman, but Fuji got a foot over the top rope for a break. Butcher dropped Fuji hard and continued to punish him. Butcher tagged Mad Dog in and Mad Dog picked up where his brother left off with Fuji. Mad Dog picked Fuji up and spun him around with an airplane spin. Rather than dropping him to the mat, Mad Dog went near the ropes and tossed Fuji over the top rope and to the floor. Fuji fell and hit his back on the announcers’ table. Morton let the match continue, apparently ruling that Mad Dog did not intentionally drop Fuji on the table. Fuji lay on the floor in a lot of pain. Saito, recovered from the brawl with Mad Dog, crawled over to his partner and tried to help him back in the ring. Fuji could not get off the floor and Morton counted to 10. Morton called for the bell and awarded the Vachons the match via countout. Saito never got to legally tag into the match, which ended after just about three minutes of wild action. Humperdink was recovered too and he and Saito helped Fuji back to the locker room. neg*
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 8, 2017 19:32:41 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 7-18: • It was announced that Mr. Fuji suffered a back injury in last week’s main event in Nashville, when Mad Dog Vachon dropped him over the top rope and his back hit the table. The former World Tag Team champion will be out of action indefinitely. “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and Sir Oliver Humperdink were interviewed in-studio. Humperdink said that Paul Morton made a terrible call and should have disqualified the Vachons immediately. Gilbert said that he and Humperdink are scouting the wrestling world for a new tag team partner to team up with Mr. Saito and that they plan to bring the World Tag Team titles to the House of Humperdink! • Another injury occurred on the Nashville card, as “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant suffered a neck injury from the spike piledriver by World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Larry “The Axe” Hennig. Valiant’s neck is thankfully not too severe, as the two-time former Southern champion should only miss about a month of action. • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced more matches for the huge card on August 3 at the Cincinnati Gardens, co-promoted by the USWA and BTW!
o “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan will take on a current BTW star he knows well, both as a tag team partner and enemy. The American hero will collide with two-time former World Tag Team and two-time former Texas champion Nikolai Volkoff! USWA fans remember Volkoff most recently from using his Croatian name of Bepo Mongol and teaming with Geeto from 2012 to 2014. The Mongols went to the WWF after their tenure in the USWA and briefly held the World Tag Team titles. Bepo came to BTW in May and resorted to his Russian name. This should be a physical bout! o In a tag team match involving USWA wrestlers, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will do battle with Eddie and Doug Gilbert of the House of Humperdink! These two teams last met in a tag team match in May in Memphis, with the Gilberts getting a win in a five-star, triple-juice match. What will happen in the rematch? o Larry “The Axe” Hennig of the First Family of Wrestling will be in action, facing a former USWA World and Southern champion—Dan “The Beast” Severn! While Severn has been competing more in the UFC in MMA fights this past year, he has wrestled a few matches for BTW and is very popular in his home area. o Another House of Humperdink member will wrestle in Cincinnati, as the fans will see Ox Baker take on former USWA Southern Heavyweight champion Don Leo Jonathan! “The Mormon Giant” wrestled in the USWA from 2005 to 2006 and was very popular among fans for his amazing combination of size and agility! o “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon will face one of the most vicious rulebreakers in BTW—“Wild” Bull Curry! Curry has been in BTW for years and is a former U.S. Heavyweight champion. He is known for his wild brawling, including the frequent use of brass knuckles or whatever weapon he can grab!
• The commissioner also announced that the Vachons’ next defense of the USWA World Tag Team titles will be on August 10 at the Louisville Gardens. The Algerians will put the titles on the line against Red Pepper in the main event! Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez defeated the Vachons by countout last month in Dayton, winning the match but not the titles. The fan favorites are hoping to leave Louisville victorious and the World Tag Team champions!
The USWA returns to the Rupp Arena in Lexington on July 20! • “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson is out for revenge, when he grapples with “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay! Finlay gave Danielson a Tombstone outside the ring last month at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville. “Dragon” is back in action and is hoping for a win over the Irish brawler. Can Danielson gain revenge or will Finlay triumph again? • Red Pepper will be in action against the First Family of Wrestling team of Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy. Red Bastien and “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach” Pepper Gomez gave Studd and Bundy their first decisive loss back in April in Nashville. They are the next scheduled challengers for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Give the fan favorites credit for not taking it easy prior to their rematch for the gold! Can Red Pepper topple the giants once again? • Another tag team rematch will see the Age of the Fall tangle with Brian Kendrick and Paul London! The high-flying fan favorites have gotten two recent victories over Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black. The Age of the Fall are hoping to stop Kendrick and London. Can they do it or will the popular duo rise again? • Ray “The Crippler” Stevens was victorious last week over Nick Bockwinkel in Nashville, albeit thanks to some help from “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. This week, Stevens will take on another man who injured him back in April in this same city and arena—“Superfly” Jimmy Snuka! Stevens pinned the Fijian warrior in their last meeting in Lexington by using the ropes for leverage after a Bombs Away. It was right after that bout when Snuka, Bockwinkel, and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant attacked Stevens and injured “The Crippler’s” ribs. Can Stevens avenge that attack or will Snuka soar high? • Ed “Strangler” Lewis has his sights set on another USWA World Heavyweight championship match with “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Before he faces the champion, Lewis is going to battle the men who cost him the title at Independence Day Bash in Chattanooga. He will start this week with Larry “The Axe” Hennig. Who will come out the winner in Lexington? • The main event will be for the USWA Southern Heavyweight title. The champion Doctor X will make his first defense of the title against five-time former champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. The masked man won the title last month from “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert in Knoxville. Gilbert’s second reign was a short won as he had defeated Williams the previous month in Owensboro. Logic would think that X would beat Williams, as he has defeated him in the past (last September in Knoxville). Can X beat “Doc” again and hold on to the title or Williams regain the gold and break his own record by starting his sixth reign?
All these huge bouts, plus “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos tangles with former Mid-America Heavyweight champion David Taylor! As well as the Midnight Express, “Classy” Freddie Blassie, and the House of Humperdink tag team of Eddie and Doug Gilbert in action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Jun 26, 2018 21:53:27 GMT -4
July 20, 2015 Card #440: Rupp Arena in Lexington
1) Eddie and Doug Gilbert were victorious in the opener over Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke. The hillbillies gave the Gilberts a challenge in this match. Luke hit a two-fisted sledgehammer on Doug a few minutes into the bout and went for a pin, but Doug kicked out. Jim tagged in, but got double teamed and trapped in the ring for several minutes by the Gilberts. Eddie hit a second rope fist drop on Jim near the Gilberts’ corner and then tagged to Doug. Doug worked over Jim and hit a sitout body slam for a two-count. Doug went up top and came off the top with the top rope shoulder ram. He gloated about hitting the move and took his time in making a cover, so Jim kicked out. Eddie came back in and the Gilberts hit a double suplex. “Hot Stuff” went up the ropes again and came off the second rope with an elbow drop. Jim rolled out of the way and Eddie crashed hard. Jim managed to tag to Luke. Luke ran wild on Eddie, hitting the two-fisted sledgehammer again. Eddie kicked out of a pin attempt and Luke tagged Jim back into the match. Jim got overzealous and missed a big boot into the corner. The Gilberts double teamed Jim for a few minutes, before Eddie hit a DDT to score the pinfall. Luke had attempted a save, but was cut off by Doug, who nailed a DDT of his own. The Gilberts were impressive here and made Sir Oliver Humperdink happy! How will they fare against Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy in Cincinnati in a few weeks? ***¾
2) “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a pinfall on “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Blassie largely dominated Cannon. He attempted a submission with a stomach claw, but Cannon got a foot on the rope. As Cannon got to his feet, Blassie grabbed him and hit the Southern neckbreaker to put Cannon down for the three-count. “The King of Men” continues to impress in the USWA! ¼*
3) The Midnight Express were victorious over George South and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe via disqualification. “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane kept South in the ring the whole time. They hit a Flapjack on South. A few minutes later, Lane tagged back in and the Midnights hit the Veg-o-Matic. As Tommy Marlin was telling Eaton to get back to the Express’ corner, Sharpe entered the ring. He pulled brass knuckles out of his singlet and then placed them on his hand. He went over to “The Gangster of Love” and punched him with the knucks. Unfortunately, Marlin turned around just as Sharpe used the knucks and called for the bell, disqualifying South and Sharpe. Eaton jumped in the ring and went after Sharpe. Sharpe grabbed South and headed for the locker room to avoid an onslaught from the Midnights. DUD
4) “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay scored another victory over “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson. Finlay was aggressive against Danielson from the opening bell. He worked over Danielson’s neck and hit the Tombstone early in the bout, but Danielson kicked out. Finlay body slammed “Dragon” hard, causing his legs to bounce off the bottom rope. He went for a cover, but Danielson again kicked out. Finlay hit a second Tombstone, but Danielson got a foot under the bottom rope to stay in the bout. With the fans chanting him on, Danielson battled back and worked over the Irish brawler with stiff kicks. He got Finlay on the mat and applied the LeBell Lock. Finlay was in trouble, but managed to grab the bottom rope for a break. Finlay rolled out of the ring for a breather, but Danielson bounced off the opposite ropes and came at him with a suicide dive. Finlay saw the attack coming, dodged Danielson, and Danielson crashed head-first into the guard railing. Danielson collapsed to the floor and Finlay tossed him back into the ring hard. Finlay hit a third Tombstone and scored the pinfall. Danielson was hurting a lot, as Finlay made his way to the back. Brian Kendrick and Paul London came down to help “Dragon” back to the locker room. **¾
5) Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy got a disqualification win over Red Pepper. It looked like Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez were going to get another big win over the First Family of Wrestling team, as they used their quickness to wear down Studd midway through the match. “The Man with The Cast Iron Stomach” managed to get Studd down on the mat and he hit a Mexican Leap. He went for a cover, but Jimmy Hart distracted Scott Platania. Gomez got off of Studd and threatened “The Mouth of The South.” Hart avoided the Mexican superstar and Gomez tagged Bastien back into the bout. The fan favorites double teamed Studd and flattened him with a double dropkick. Unfortunately, they were so focused on getting the giant down, they lost track of Platania’s five-count for both being in the ring and Platania called for the bell, disqualifying Red Pepper. Studd and Bundy didn’t look much like winners and the Rupp Arena fans did not agree with Platania’s decision! **
6) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos over former Mid-America champion David Taylor. The two grapplers exchanged some great mat wrestling. But after just a few minutes, Londos lifted Taylor with an impressive crotch lift. He slammed Taylor down to the mat and applied a half nelson to hold Taylor’s shoulders down for the pin. The fans gave Londos a big ovation for his quick and impressive win ¾*
7) Brian Kendrick and Paul London scored another victory over Age of the Fall in a bloody and fast-paced match-up. The high-flying fan favorites had the early momentum, as Kendrick hit a double foot stomp on Tyler Black for a near fall. London and Jimmy Jacobs were the legal men a few minutes later, when London got Jacobs down on the mat and hit the 450 splash for a two-count. Kendrick tagged back in and executed the Sliced Bread #2, but Black broke up the pin. Jacobs managed to tag in Black and he worked over Kendrick, hitting God’s Last Gift for a near fall. Jacobs tagged back in and scored a near fall after a springboard dropkick. Kendrick recovered and made the hot tag to London. The fan favorites executed the assisted Shooting Star Press on Black, but Black kicked out. Black took over and he and Jacobs double teamed Kendrick. Black went up top and came off with the Phoenix Splash, landing on Kendrick’s face and busting him open. He made a cover, but Kendrick kicked out at 2¾. Jacobs came back and locked on the End Time. Kendrick looked ready to tap out, but London came in and nailed Jacobs with a kick to the back of the head. Jacobs maintained control and went up to the top rope. He came off with a senton, but Kendrick rolled out of the way. Both men were hurting, but Kendrick managed to crawl to the corner and tag London before Jacobs could tag. London pulled Jacobs toward his team’s corner and went up top immediately. He hit another 450, but Jacobs kicked out. London went up top again and hit a second 450. Like Black’s Phoenix Splash a few minutes early, London landed across Jacobs’ face and busted him open. London went for a cover, but Black made another save. Despite bleeding, Jacobs seemed to get stronger, as he stood up and punched away at London out of nowhere. He took London to the Age of the Fall’s corner and they pounded away on him. Black tagged in and briefly had control, but Kendrick and London trapped him in the ring. The fan favorites dished out a lot intense punishment, but Black hung in there. They twice hit the assisted Shooting Star, but Black survived. Kendrick nailed Black with a stiff roundhouse kick to the head, busting Black open. He hit the Sliced Bread #2, but Black kicked out. A few minutes later, Kendrick hit a second Sliced Bread #2, kicking off the turnbuckles in Age of the Fall’s own corner and kicking Jacobs off the apron as he flipped over. He covered Black and scored the pin in a hard-fought match! ****½ 8) “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka beat Ray “The Crippler” Stevens by disqualification. Stevens was aggressive against Snuka, hoping to gain another win over Snuka in this same arena and avenge the attack from April. Stevens came off the top rope with a sledge and went for a cover, but the Fijian warrior kicked out. Jimmy Hart jumped up on the ring apron to distract Sam Platania, while Stevens rolled out of the ring and grabbed a steel chair from the ringside area. Stevens brought the chair into the ring and nailed Snuka across the back with it. Unfortunately for “The Crippler,” Platania turned around just in time to see this and called for the bell. Stevens was delivering more punishment and looked like he might try and put Snuka out of action, when Nick Bockwinkel (dressed in a suit, since he was not booked for a match on this card) came running out of the locker room to chase off Hart and Stevens! He helped Snuka to his feet. The “Superfly” was hurting, but was able to walk to the back. ½*
9) Larry “The Axe” Hennig scored a huge singles win, defeating Ed “Strangler” Lewis, albeit by controversial means. Since Jimmy Hart had just been out ot the ring with Ray Stevens (and perhaps was hiding from Jimmy Snuka and Nick Bockwinkel!), he did not come out with Hennig. Lewis had control early on, but Hennig battled back. He slammed Lewis to the mat and hit an elbow drop to score a two-count. Hart sprinted down to the ring a minute later. Hennig went to the corner, while Tom Branch was checking on Lewis and received an object from “The Mouth of The South.” Hennig slipped the object into his elbow pad and then blasted Lewis with the Axe. He made a cover, but Lewis kicked out, mostly out of instinct. Hennig whipped Lewis into the ropes and delivered a second Axe with the loaded elbow pad. Lewis dropped to the mat and was out, making him easy prey for the big Minnesotan to score the pinfall. As Hennig was getting his hand raised in victory, Nick Bockwinkel and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka stormed the ring. They attacked Hennig and then delivered a spike piledriver, with Snuka lifting Hennig up in the piledriver and Bockwinkel pushing his feet down, just as Hennig, World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude, and Ray “The Crippler” Stevens did to “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant last week in Nashville. Snuka and Bockwinkel then left the ringside area, just as quickly as they arrived. Hart checked on “The Axe” and was joined by Stevens, Big John Studd, and King Kong Bundy. Meanwhile, Lewis lay in the ring still knocked out from the loaded Axe. USWA officials came down to check on the “Strangler,” as the First Family of Wrestling members helped “The Axe” to the back. Lewis came to and was very confused, seeing the man who had just defeated him needing to be helped to the locker room! *
10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. The new champion Doctor X made his first defense of the title against five-time former champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. The champion had the initial advantage. He executed a back suplex out of Williams and made a cover for a two-count. Williams battled back and surprised the masked champion with a football tackle for a near fall of his own. Williams executed a backdrop driver and went for a cover, but X got a foot on the bottom rope to save the match and his title. X took control a few minutes later, blasting Williams with a dropkick and getting the challenger down on the mat. He attempted to work over Williams’ knee in an effort to go for the figure-four, but Williams battled back. Williams nailed X with a stiff head butt, which caused blood to come through the champion’s white mask. Williams picked X up for the Oklahoma Stampede. X grabbed on to the top rope to try and block the hold, but “Doc” used his immense strength to pull him off. He then executed the Stampede, covered X and scored the three-count. Tommy Marlin called for the bell and awarded Williams his record-breaking sixth USWA Southern Heavyweight championship! Rupp Arena exploded at witnessing history being made! ***
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Post by Cory Olson on Jun 30, 2018 23:03:50 GMT -4
Highlights from the last two editions of USWA Championship Wrestling: July 25: • It was announced that as a result of the spike piledriver from Nick Bockwinkel and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka last week in Lexington, Larry “The Axe” Hennig suffered a neck injury. The injury is not too severe, but the big Minnesotan will be out of action for about two months. Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that because of their attack on Hennig Bockwinkel and Snuka were suspended for four cards! • The commissioner announced some more matches for the August 10 card at the Louisville Gardens.
o Louisville’s own Ed “Strangler” Lewis will be in action, as he continues his battles with the First Family of Wrestling. He will have a huge challenge in the New Jersey giant King Kong Bundy! Lewis was interviewed in-studio. He reminded the USWA fans that he has defeated Bundy in the past. He hopes with his hometown fans on his side that he can do so again! Lance Russell asked Lewis’ thoughts on Nick Bockwinkel and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka attacking Larry Hennig after Hennig’s bout with the “Strangler.” Lewis said that he knows that Hennig used a weapon to defeat him, so perhaps he was getting what he deserved from Bockwinkel and Snuka! Lewis said that he did not ask Bockwinkel and Snuka to be there for him in Lexington, that that was their decision. Lewis said that his strength is singles competition and that he is focused on getting his rematch with “Ravishing” Rick Rude for the World Heavyweight title! o In addition to the main event for the World Tag Team titles announced on last week’s edition of USWA Championship Wrestling, a second title match has been added, as Tracy Smothers will put the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship on the line against First Family of Wrestling member Ray “The Crippler” Stevens! Stevens has gotten some big singles wins this year over “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and Nick Bockwinkel. He last challenged for the Mid-America title against Smothers, during Smothers’ first reign, last September in Knoxville.
August 1: • Commissioner Armstrong announced some matches for the August 17 card at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis.
o Ray “The Crippler” Stevens will have a busy month, as he will take on the returning “Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Valiant will be back from his neck injury and has his sights set on revenge against one of the First Family members that put him out of action! o The main event on that card will see new and now six-time USWA Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams make his first defense of his sixth reign, when puts the gold on the line against two-time former champion and his hated rival “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert! Williams was interviewed in-studio and was congratulated by Lance Russell for making history with the Southern title once again. Williams thanked Russell for the comments and said that he hopes for this sixth reign to be a long one. He stated that he knows that the title has been a “hot potato” this year, changing hands several times, and that he hopes to put Gilbert down once-and-for-all in Memphis! He said that if Doctor X wants a rematch, he can have one! o It was announced that “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson will be departing the USWA for now. Danielson plans to compete in both New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and train for some fights in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Danielson had been wrestling in the USWA since February 2010. He won the USWA Texas title in November of that year and ended up being the last man to hold that title, after the controversial decision by the Texas State Athletic Commission to ban the USWA from holding cards in Texas. (Most feel that Fritz Von Erich of WCCW had something to do with their decision!) Danielson went on to have an even better 2011, winning the USWA World Heavyweight title on two occasions. He would eventually become a three-time USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title holder, being only of two men (along with Nigel McGuinness) to achieve that honor. Brian Kendrick stated in-studio that Danielson did suffer some more neck damage in his match with Fit Finlay in Lexington, but hopes to train and get back to competition soon. Kendrick stated that he would not be surprised to see “Dragon” back in USWA rings in the future!
The USWA joins forces with Big Time Wrestling to present a huge card of action on August 3 at the Cincinnati Gardens! BTW commentator Bob Finnegan will join Dave Brown at ringside to call the action! • In a tag team rematch from Independence Day Bash, Red Pepper will face Doctor X and Double X! These teams had a ***** quadruple-juice bout on July 4 in Chattanooga, that saw the masked men walk out the victors. Both teams have a lot to gain with a win, as Red Bastien and Pepper Gomez are looking forward to another shot at the USWA World Tag Team titles = next week in Louisville. Doctor X is coming off the loss of the Southern Heavyweight title to Steve Williams in Lexington on the last card, and he and Double X are coming off a big upset loss to Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke a few weeks ago at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Which team will get the win? • In a battle of big men, “The Fabulous” Ox Baker of the House of Humperdink will collide with former USWA Southern champion “The Mormon Giant” Don Leo Jonathan! Jonathan was very popular during his tenure in the USWA and is currently very popular in BTW. Baker is hoping to get back on track after recent losses to Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. A win over Jonathan would certainly get him noticed. Can Baker knock down the giant? • Speaking of new Southern champion Steve Williams and Terry Gordy, the two popular powerhouses will team up to battle Baker’s House of Humperdink allies Eddie and Doug Gilbert! The Gilberts defeated Williams and Gordy back in May in Memphis in a ***** triple-juice battle. The Gilberts would love to get another win over their rivals, particularly a pin or submission on “Dr. Death” to try and get a Southern title shot. Can Williams and Gordy avenge that loss or will lightning strike twice for the Gilberts? • Former tag team partners and rivals in the USWA will collide again, as “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan goes toe-to-toe with Nikolai Volkoff! These two have a lot of history in the USWA, dating back to 2005. They started as enemies, but joined forces later that year to form a tag team against the Iron Sheik. In 2010, Duggan brought Volkoff back to the USWA to help him battle Ivan Koloff and Boris Zhukov, only to have Volkoff immediately betray him and join his fellow comrades! With so much history between these two, this could be an intense match-up! • In a huge tag team match-up, five-time former USWA World Tag Team champions the Midnight Express will take on two-time former champions the Fabulous Kangaroos, managed by “Wild” Red Berry! This will be the first time that the Midnights of “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane have taken on Al Costello and Roy Heffernan in a standard four-man tag team match. Each team is looking to get a win and get in line for a shot at their territories tag team championship. The Kangaroos have bragged on BTW TV that the Australians invented tag team wrestling and that naturally gives them the advantage! The biggest difference maker in this bout could be the presence of Berry at ringside, while Eaton and Lane are without a manager. Which team will leave the Gardens victorious? • Both the USWA and BTW always announce “Card subject to change” with their line-ups. Due to the neck injury to Larry “The Axe” Hennig, caused by Nick Bockwinkel and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, the Minnesotan powerhouse will not able to compete against Dan “The Beast” Severn, as was originally announced. USWA Commissioner Bob Armstrong and BTW Promoter Ed Farhat were able to put together a suitable substitute—six-time former USWA champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis! The revised bout was announced on the August 1 edition of USWA Championship Wrestling. Lewis and Severn know each other very well, as Severn was part of Frank Gotch’s Team RPW (Real Pro Wrestling) unit that tried to recruit Lewis back in 2008. When Lewis politely declined the offer, Team RPW responded by attacking Lewis and putting him out of action with a broken ankle, thanks largely to the Gotch toehold. It will be interesting to see if these two pure wrestlers will keep things scientific in this bout or if tempers from the past cause things to flare up! • In the first of two big championship bouts, the Sheik will put the BTW U.S. Heavyweight title on the line against the first USWA World Heavyweight champion Johnny Valentine! Valentine has been impressive in BTW and this will be his first shot at the U.S. title. The always dangerous Syrian Sheik seems to find a way to hold on to his title, just as he did during USWA Southern title reigns. Sheik is still managed by the devious Abdullah Farouk. Can Sheik stop the hard-hitting Valentine or will Valentine (skull)crush the Sheik and grab the U.S. title? • The main event will be for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Current and two-time champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude will put the gold on the line against former USWA Southern Heavyweight and World Tag Team champion Bobo Brazil. Rude has been able to hold on to the title since New Year’s Knockout XII, currently having made seven defenses of the title. Brazil has never held the USWA World title and would love to finally capture the gold. On the August 1 edition of Championship Wrestling, it was announced that Brazil’s former USWA World Tag Team championship partner Red Bastien would accompany the challenger to ringside for this match! Can Brazil finally claim the USWA World title or will Rude leave Cincinnati the champion?
All these huge bouts, plus “Wild” Bull Curry battles “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon, and popular BTW wrestler Bobby Fulton in action!
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