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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 23, 2018 15:27:08 GMT -4
Highlights of a newsworthy edition of USWA Championship Wrestling on 10-17: • Both members of Red Pepper were attacked last week in Lexington. This week wrestling fans received updates on the condition of both wrestlers. Red Bastien suffered an injured knee in the attack by Double X and Doctor X and will be out of action for about one month. Pepper Gomez suffered a concussion in the attack by Mid-America champion Ray Stevens, Big John Studd, and King Kong Bundy. He will be out of action indefinitely, as he suffered some very severe side effects. • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced the status of the three First Family of Wrestling members. He said that their attack on Gomez last week did not help their case. Between that attack and the attack on “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka last month in Knoxville that also caused a concussion for Snuka, the commissioner has decided to fine each one of the First Family members $10,000 and to suspend them for 10 cards! Based on the USWA’s schedule for the remainder of 2015, that would put them out until the end of January 2016. The commissioner also stated that because of the suspension, Ray Stevens has been stripped of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship! Jimmy Hart entered the WMC-TV Studios in a rage and didn’t need his megaphone to be heard, as he called Armstrong’s decisions an “outrage” and a “conspiracy” against the First Family. He said that when Larry “The Axe” Hennig was attacked by Snuka and Nick Bockwinkel in the same city three months ago, Armstrong did nothing. “Bullet” Bob responded that Bockwinkel and Snuka received a suspension as well for their actions! Hart stormed out of the studios as quickly as he entered in a huff! • With the Mid-America title being vacant for the first time since its inception 4½ years ago, Commissioner Armstrong announced that an eight-man, single-elimination tournament will take place over the next three cards to crown a new champion. The first round will start next week in Jonesboro (See Card #449 preview below), while the finals will be held on November 16 at the Tupelo Sports Arena. The Tupelo card was originally scheduled to have Ray Stevens defending the title against “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, so Tupelo fans will still receive their Mid-America championship bout. • Another championship match will headline the November 16 card in Tupelo, as the new and now-six-time USWA World Tag Team champions the Midnight Express will defend the titles against Brian Kendrick and Paul London. Kendrick and London defeated “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane two weeks ago in Nashville. The new champions were interviewed on this edition of Championship Wrestling. Lane did most of the talking, stating that many so-called wrestling “experts” thought that he and Eaton could not survive without Jim Cornette in their corner, but that they have proved these “experts” wrong. He said that the Midnight Express will defend “their” titles against any team, starting with Kendrick and London. They will prove that Kendrick and London’s win over two weeks ago was nothing more than a fluke! • Some more announcements pertaining to the 450th USWA card on November 9 at the Mid-South Coliseum! o A huge first-time tag team match will see the Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy team up to take on the former World Tag Team champions the Vachons! The Vachons and Double X ambushed Williams during his match with their ally Doctor X last week in Lexington. Gordy and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan came to Williams’ rescue, but ultimately the rulebreakers’ interference led to a countout win for the Doctor. Williams and Gordy are hoping to gain revenge and score a big tag team win over the former champions the Vachons! o “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, accompanied by Sir Oliver Humperdink, was interviewed in the studio. The three-time former Southern champion said that since he cannot challenge for that title for the time being, he is going to move on to other things. He challenged the four-time former USWA champion Nick Bockwinkel to a one-on-one bout on November 9! Gilbert said that Bockwinkel is a former champion, while Gilbert is the present and future of the USWA and he wants to prove that by shooting his way to the top with a win over one of the top names in the history of the USWA in Bockwinkel! There was no comment from Bockwinkel at this time.
The USWA returns to the Earl Belle Community Center in Jonesboro on October 19! • A tag team feud will see two singles bouts on this card. First, “Sweet” Stan Lane of the Midnight Express will face D’Lo Brown of the PYT Express! It’s the martial arts and great technical skills of Lane vs. the high-impact offense and the Lo Down of D’Lo. Whose skills will trump the others? • Four big matches will make up the first round of the tournament to crown a new USWA Mid-Heavyweight champion! Commissioner Armstrong put together a great tournament consisting of a mix of former Mid-America champions and wrestlers who have never held the prestigious championship, some of whom are gunning for their first USWA championship of any kind! 1. Former Mid-America champion “The Road Dogg” Jesse James will face a man he has battled several times this year—Tyler Black! This match was already scheduled for this card as a grudge match, so Commissioner Bob Armstrong made this one of the first round matches. Black scored an impressive win over former Mid-America champion and James’s ally Tracy Smothers two weeks ago in Nashville. He followed that up by injuring Smothers’ ribs with several Phoenix Splashes, which put Smothers out of action for this tournament. James is not only out for revenge against Black but also hoping to earn a second Mid-America championship. An interesting twist to this match is that the winner will be doing double duty on November 9 in Memphis, as he would not only wrestle in the semifinals but also be against each other in the Elimination Match between the New Age Outlaws and the Age of the Fall! 2. Two former Mid-America champions will be returning from suspension to be a part of this tournament. First, British grappler David Taylor will take on “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Taylor won the title in 2012 at New Year’s Knockout IX from the Samoan warrior Manu and went on to hold the title for about three months. Duggan has never held any USWA championships and is hoping this will finally be his time! 3. Another grudge match originally scheduled for this card has been “upgraded” to a title tournament match as former Mid-America champion and current World Tag Team champion “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton will take on former partner Sweet Brown Sugar! Eaton would love to be a double champion, as he has achieved that feat before, holding the World Tag Team titles simultaneously with the USWA Texas title on two separate occasions between 2008 and 2009. Sugar is very familiar with “Beautiful” Bobby, not only from his time with the Midnight Express but also as an opponent. Sugar, under his real name of Koko B. Ware, feuded with the Midnight Express of Eaton and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey, teaming with Brad Armstrong. Ware even challenged Eaton for the Texas title during Eaton’s historic 18-month reign and came close to winning the title from Eaton. With six more years of teaming with and wrestling against Eaton, perhaps Sugar can finally get the big win! Commissioner Armstrong acknowledged that if Eaton goes all the way to the finals on November 16, he will both try to win the Mid-America title and defend the World Tag Team titles with “Sweet” Stan Lane against Brian Kendrick and Paul London on the same card! 4. “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay will also return from suspension for injuring Claudio Castagnoli. Finlay will do battle with “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Finlay, along with David Taylor, was brought to the USWA by the inaugural Mid-America champion Nigel McGuiness in 2012. Of these three British grapplers, the Irish brawler is the only not to have held any USWA titles yet. Valiant is one of the most popular USWA wrestlers and had some great battles with most-recent champion Ray “The Crippler” Stevens. Valiant is a two-time former Southern champion and two-time former World Tag Team champion, hoping to win his first Mid-America championship!
• “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos has been undefeated since debuting at Independence Day Bash. He will face his toughest opponent so far when he takes on former Southern champion Doctor X! While X is known for bending the rules, he also sports a great technical background and could mat wrestle with Londos. Will Londos continue his winning ways or will X stop the streak? • The main event will be a battle of powerhouses for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship! Current and seven-time champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will put the title on the line against First Family of Wrestling member Larry “The Axe” Hennig! Hennig has been impressive since returning to the USWA last July and joining Jimmy Hart and the First Family, scoring impressive singles wins over the likes of Nick Bockwinkel, “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, and others. This will be his first ever shot at the Southern Heavyweight title, a title his son Curt held on two occasions, in 2009 and again in 2011. Williams is coming off a tough countout loss to Doctor X last week in Lexington and his knee may be hurting after Doctor X and his allies’ attack. Whoever leaves Jonesboro the champion will be defending against Ox Baker on November 23 in the main event at the Louisville Gardens. Can Williams retain the gold or will “The Axe” chop him down?
All these huge bouts, plus the team of Brian Kendrick and Paul London, the House of Humperdink’s team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito, as well as their ally “The Fabulous” Ox Baker in action at the Earl Belle Community Center on Church Street!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 25, 2018 11:59:41 GMT -4
October 19, 2015 Card #449: Earl Belle Community Center in Jonesboro
1) House of Humperdink Ox Baker scored a quick win in the opener over “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. It took the Iowan just a few minutes to put Cannon down with the heart punch for the pinfall. Baker looked impressive and you can bet he was watching the main event to see whom he will challenge next month in Louisville for the Southern Heavyweight title! DUD
2) The House of Humperdink was successful again, as Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito defeated Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke. Sir Oliver Humperdink was not out with his team right away, having just managed Ox Baker, but came out a few minutes into the bout. His new tag team looked impressive again, dominating the hillbillies. Saito picked up the win after his suplex on the big Jim. ¼*
3) In the first of two singles bouts, pitting the World Tag Team champions the Midnight Express against the PYT Express, D’Lo Brown defeated “Sweet” Stan Lane by disqualification. Lane hit the superkick a few minutes into the bout, but Brown rolled out of the ring, before “The Gangster of Love” could go for the pin. Brown recovered and grabbed Lane’s World Tag Team title belt from the announcers’ table and held it up to taunt Lane. Lane went out after the Chicagoan and grabbed the belt. Almost out of instinct, Lane clocked D’Lo in the head with the belt, right in front of Tommy Marlin. Marlin was left with no choice, but to call for the bell and disqualify Lane a few minutes into the bout. Brown was hurting, but retreated to the back, before “Sweet” Stan could attack more. ¾*
4) Brian Kendrick and Paul London defeated George South and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. The high-flying fan favorites largely dominated South and Sharpe. London hit the Shooting Star Press off the top on Sharpe to pick up the pinfall after just a couple minutes, while Kendrick knocked down an intervening South with a jumping heel kick. Kendrick and London looked impressive tonight as they look ahead to challenging the Midnight Express for the World Tag Team titles on November 16 in Tupelo! *½
5) In the first of four first-round matches in the tournament to crown a new USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion, Tyler Black scored somewhat of an upset defeating former champion “The Road Dogg” Jesse James. Black was ready for James, using his high-impact arsenal to wear down his rival. He hit an enzuigiri early in the bout for a near fall. James took control and sent Black into the ropes. James telegraphed a back body drop and Black surprised him with a sunset flip for a near fall. Black stayed on offense and got James down on the mat. He went to the top and came off with the Phoenix Splash to score the pinfall and move on to the semifinals. **
6) Black will be battling “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan on November 9 in Memphis, as the American hero defeated former Mid-America champion David Taylor. Taylor was returning from a three-card suspension for injuring Claudio Castagnoli’s neck, along with Fit Finlay. Duggan was fired up here, pounding the British grappler from pillar-to-post. After nailing Taylor with a shoulder block off the second turnbuckle, Duggan got him up in a bear hug in the center of the ring. Taylor tried to escape, but was forced to submit, giving Duggan an impressive win and a big pop from the Jonesboro fans! *¾
7) One-half of the World Tag Team champions “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton advance in the tournament defeating rival Sweet Brown Sugar. Eaton used several spinning neckbreakers on Sugar throughout the bout. Sugar took control and hit a power slam on “Beautiful” Bobby and then climbed up the turnbuckles. He came off with a splash, but Eaton rolled out of the way. Sugar crashed hard and Eaton seized the opportunity by rolling him into a small package and scoring the pinfall to move on in the tournament. After the bell, Eaton continued to attack Sugar, stomping away on him. “Sweet” Stan Lane, recovered from his earlier match, ran to the ring. The World Tag Team champions double teamed Sugar, hitting a Flapjack on him and then followed it up with the Veg-o-Matic. D’Lo Brown ran down to the ring to try and save his partner, but the Midnights cut him off and hit a Double Goozle. They then delivered a second Veg-o-Matic on Sugar, before leaving the ring. USWA officials came down to the ring to check on the PYT Express. Brown recovered, but Sugar was holding his neck. Brown helped his tag team partner back to the locker room. **½
8) The last tournament match saw the returning “Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay score a big win over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Finlay hit a fireman’s carry Hot Shot, as well as the Tombstone, but Valiant managed to kick out. He came off the second rope with a reverse splash and made a cover, driving his forearm into Valiant’s throat to put “Boogie Woogie” down for the pin. Finlay will face “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton in the semifinals on November 9 at the Mid-South Coliseum on the historic 450th card! **
9) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos scored an impressive pinfall on former Southern champion Doctor X. While the masked man showcased his scientific wrestling skills, Londos seemed to have counters for every attack. Londos got Doctor X up in a crotch lift and a slam and went for a pin, but X got his shoulder off the mat. Londos got the masked man up in the airplane spin a few moments later, then dropped him to the mat, and made a cover to score the pinfall after about six minutes of action. Londos continues to impress! **
10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current and seven-time champion put the title on the line against First Family of Wrestling member Larry “The Axe” Hennig. This was Hennig’s first time challenging for the Southern gold. Wrestling experts were worried that Williams would be injured from his match last week with Doctor X. If he was hurting, he did not show it, as he largely dominated the big Minnesotan. He nailed Hennig with a football tackle for a two-count. He got Hennig up with a great effort and hit the Oklahoma Stampede, but “The Axe” kicked out at 2¾. The challenger had offense but couldn’t maintain it or put the champion down long enough for a near fall, despite the presence and yelling of Jimmy Hart at ringside! Williams hit an impressive backdrop driver on the 290-pounder and followed up a few moments later with an equally impressive German suplex to score the pinfall and retain the title! Williams retained tonight and will put the title on the line next month against “The Fabulous” Ox Baker in Louisville! **½
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 30, 2018 12:04:06 GMT -4
Highlights from the last three episodes of USWA Championship Wrestling:10-24• It was announced that Sweet Brown Sugar suffered a neck injury from the attack by the World Tag Team champions the Midnight Express last week in Jonesboro. The PYT Express member will be out of action for about one month. • Commission Bob Armstrong announced that as a result of their attack, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane have been suspended for the next four cards! Because they would not be able to defend in the month of November, the Express were stripped of the USWA World Tag Team titles! Armstrong said that Eaton won the match against Sugar and should not have continued the attack following the decision. The commissioner said that he would have a decision on the World Tag Team titles on next week’s Championship Wrestling. • Armstrong also announced that because of the suspension, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton will miss his semifinal match in the Mid-America title tournament and has been kicked out of the tournament! Because of Eaton’s elimination, Fit Finlay has received an automatic bye and will wrestle in the finals for the championship on November 16 in Tupelo! • The commissioner also verified that Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will defend the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship against Ox Baker in the main event on November 23 at the Louisville Gardens! Baker is a former World Tag Team and Texas champion, but this will be his first-ever shot at the Southern title! 10-31• Commissioner Bob Armstrong reached a decision on what will happen with the USWA World Tag Team titles. The Midnight Express were originally scheduled to defend against Brian Kendrick and Paul London in the main event on November 16. Due to the shorter suspension time, the commissioner has decided to have Kendrick and London face the most recent former champions—Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon, with the winners becoming the new champions! With the finals of the Mid-America championship tournament on the same card, that means the fans in Tupelo will see two new sets of champions crowned on the same card! • Commissioner Armstrong announced that he is giving the Midnights a fair shake, as their suspension will end by the scheduled December 14 card at the Union City Civic Auditorium and they will challenge either Kendrick and London or the Vachons for the World Tag Team titles in the main event on that card. • Highlights of Bill Apter’s most recent “Press Conference” recorded for Pro Wrestling Illustrated aired. Apter’s guests were the Midnight Express. Apter asked the six-time now-former World Tag Team champions their thoughts on being suspended. Eaton called the decision “crap” and Lane said this proves that Armstrong is still upset with them from their involvement in “Bullet” Bob’s past feud with their former manager Jim Cornette. He also said that Eaton was suspended from the Mid-America title tournament because Armstrong was jealous that his son Jesse James lost his first round match and out of spite made his decision! He said that it doesn’t matter who wins the match in Tupelo, as the champions will have a short reign, as the Midnights will get “their” belts back in December! You can read the full transcript of Apter’s “Press Conference” in the latest issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, available on newsstands everywhere! 11-7• It was announced that former Mid-America champion Tracy Smothers will return from his rib injury on November 16 in Tupelo. Smothers will take on one-half of the Age of the Fall—Jimmy Jacobs! Jacobs’ partner Tyler Black defeated Smothers last month in Nashville and then delivered more punishment by executing more Phoenix Splashes after the bell. It is somewhat ironic that Smothers is returning on the card where a new Mid-America Heavyweight champion will be crowned, but he was unable to compete in the tournament, due to his injury. As of today, Black could be in that championship bout! • Commissioner Bob Armstrong said that he had met with the USWA Committee this past week and they have settled on a location for New Year’s Knockout XII. The New Year’s Eve supercard will take place for the first time in history in Knoxville, at the Civic Coliseum! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the announcements of matches for the USWA’s biggest card of the year! The USWA presents its historic 450th card, when it comes to Memphis and the Mid-South Coliseum on November 9! Loyal USWA fans will be treated to a card with 12 big bouts!• The opening bout will be a big one, as Tyler Black will take on “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in the semifinals of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship tournament! Both men are hoping to win and move on toward their first USWA championship. It will be the high-impact offense and agility of Black vs. the brawling and power of Duggan. With the suspension of “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, the winner of this match is guaranteed to meet “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay in the finals next week in Tupelo. This match will start the card, as Black will wrestle in two separate bouts on this huge card. Who will move on to battle Finlay for the Mid-America title? • In a tag team match, Brian Kendrick and Paul London will face the masked tag team of Doctor X and Double X! The masked men are hoping not only to defeat the high-flying fan favorites but also to injure them prior to their bout with the X’s’ allies the Vachons next week in Tupelo for the vacant World Tag Team titles. Can the X’s carry out their mission or will Kendrick and London score a big win? • Speaking of the Vachons, they too will have a huge bout, as they will face Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy! The Vachons and Double X attacked Williams during his bout with Doctor X a few weeks ago in Lexington, leading to a countout win for X. Gordy and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan came out during the match to counteract the Vachons and Double X. This should be a hard-hitting, wild bout. Can Williams and Gordy avenge the attack or will the Vachons leave a mark once again? • “Classy” Freddie Blassie has been undefeated since debuting in June in Dayton. On this historic card, he will face his toughest challenge yet, when he takes on “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant! On the October 31 edition of Championship Wrestling, Blassie was interviewed. He called Valiant a “pencil-necked geek” like the rest of the “Memphis morons” and said he has such a long beard to hide his ugly face! He said that Valiant can try to hide, but Blassie will catch him and he will rule the South with his Southern neckbreaker. Valiant responded the next week saying that “Bassie” is ugly as a fish and twice as dumb. He said that “Boogie Fever” will be too much for Blassie to handle and that Blassie will go to sleep, while he (Valiant) dances the night away on Beale Street! Can Valiant hand Blassie his first loss or will “Classy” Freddie win again? • Tyler Black will make his second appearance of the night, when and Jimmy Jacobs, the Age of the Fall take on the New Age Outlaws in an Elimination Match! These teams have been feuding since Derby City Stampede back in May. Many of their meetings have been battles of survival, so it is fitting that they are meeting in an Elimination Match, where surviving is key! Dave Brown reviewed the rules of an Elimination Match on the November 7 episode of Championship Wrestling: - A wrestler is eliminated from the match when he has been pinned, disqualified, counted out, or has submitted.
- Once eliminated, that wrestler must return to the locker room for the duration of the match.
- The last team with any number of surviving wrestlers will be the winners.
Which team will survive this battle? • A first-time match was made on the 10-24 edition of Championship Wrestling, as four-time former World Heavyweight and two-time former World Tag Team champion Nick Bockwinkel accepted the challenge of three-time former Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Bockwinkel was interviewed in the WMC-TV Studios. He said that while fans may not see it, he and Gilbert have a lot in common. Both are second-generation wrestlers. Both have a great knowledge of and appreciation for the history of this sport. Pointing to the fine suit he was wearing, he said that both place a great importance on expensive clothing, although Gilbert’s flashier tastes leave a lot to be desired! Both are willing to do whatever it takes to win. Bockwinkel said that while a lot looks similar, he has the stronger success rate of the two. And at a historic card, in a historic first-time match, Bockwinkel plans to prove that he is superior. Will his words turn out to be true or will Gilbert do anything to defeat the four-time former champion? • Another undefeated superstar will face a big test, when “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos faces Larry “The Axe” Hennig of the First Family of Wrestling. Londos has been very impressive since debuting at Independence Day Bash. Not only has he won all his matches, but in short order. Hennig is no slouch, as he has gained a lot of singles wins in the last year-and-a-half. He also has the size and power advantage. Can Hennig stop the impressive Londos or will “The Golden Greek” triumph again? • The main event is a big return bout for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. The current and two-time champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude will put the title on the line against six-time former champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Rude has held the title since last December, winning it at New Year’s Knockout XI. He’s currently at 10 defenses, which puts him tied at #4 for the most defenses of this title (along with Lou Thesz’s second reign). Lewis has held the title the greatest number of times and has been Rude’s biggest challenge during this historic reign, defeating him in three title bouts, but not leaving as champion (winning two via disqualification and one via countout). Lewis also holds the only pinfall or submission victory over the champion in 2015, when he pinned him in a tag team match with Lewis and Nick Bockwinkel against Rude and Larry Hennig in September in Evansville. Lewis seems to have a lot in his favor going into this huge championship bout, but Rude and “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart always seem to have a plan on their side. Can Lewis finally take the gold from Rude or will the “Ravishing One” prevail again? All these big matches, plus “Superstar” Bill Dundee takes on his biggest challenge to date when he faces former Mid-America champion David Taylor! Plus, “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay, D’Lo Brown, the House of Humperdink team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito, and more USWA stars in action on this historic card!
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 4, 2018 12:30:45 GMT -4
Thanks to Crue Fan for the comments!
November 9, 2015 Card #450: Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis
1) The opener was a big bout, as “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan moved on to the finals of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight championship tournament, as he defeated Tyler Black via countout. Duggan was extra fired up in this one. He hit a spinning body slam early in the bout for a near fall. A few moments later, Duggan got down in the three-point stance and blasted Black with the flying spear. He went for a cover, but Black had landed near the ropes and managed to get a foot under the bottom rope. Black slowly got to his feet but was met with a big clothesline from “Hacksaw,” sending him over the top rope and to the arena floor. Black was hurt and unable to beat Paul Morton’s 10-count, so Duggan won the bout and moved on to the finals next week in Tupelo! **
2) The House of Humperdink’s tag team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito defeated Virgil and “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. Zbyszko and Saito double teamed Rodz for the first few minutes of the bout. Zbyszko slammed Rodz’s head into the top turnbuckle in his own team’s corner. Sir Oliver Humperdink got up on the ring apron and distracted Sam Platania, which allowed Zbyszko to remove the turnbuckle pad, leaving exposed metal. Platania turned around before Zbyszko could make use of the turnbuckle rod. Zbyszko blasted Rodz with a spinning kick and went for a cover, but Virgil made a save. Rodz battled back and tagged to Virgil. The former bodyguard ran wild on Zbyszko, hitting an impressive missile dropkick for a near fall. He then went for the Million Dollar Dream, but Zbyszko got to the ropes for a break. Rodz tagged back in, but got cut off by Zbyszko, who tagged back to Saito. The Japanese Olympian hit the Saito suplex on Rodz, but Virgil made another save. Saito got off of Rodz, grabbed Virgil, and delivered a crushing head butt. Virgil dropped to the canvas and rolled out of the ring. Saito took Rodz to his team’s corner and tagged back to Zbyszko. Humperdink again distracted Platania, which allowed Zbyszko to shove Rodz back-first into the exposed turnbuckle as he entered the ring. Zbyszko then grabbed Rodz and delivered the piledriver. Platania turned around to count the pinfall. This team looks like they could be a deadly combination of wrestling skills and dirty tactics! **¾
3) “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon scored somewhat of an upset by defeating D’Lo Brown of the PYT Express! Perhaps Brown underestimated Cannon’s skills and took him lightly, as Cannon dominated much of the match. He hit an exploder for a near fall and followed up with an elevated snap neckbreaker about a minute later for the pin. Cannon celebrated amongst the Memphis fans, with plenty of PBRs being passed around! ¼*
4) “Superstar” Bill Dundee took a beating but scored a submission victory out of nowhere on former Mid-America champion David Taylor! Taylor was hoping to be the first USWA wrestler to defeat the Aussie and he looked like he was on his way. He hit a floatover fallaway slam and the British suplex for near falls. Taylor dropped a leg right across Dundee’s nose, busting open the “Superstar.” Dundee battled back and sent Taylor hard into the corner. Taylor put up a knee to avoid crashing into the buckles, spun around, and nailed Dundee with a forearm smash. He went for a cover, putting his own feet on the ropes, but Jerry Calhoun caught Taylor and made him break up the pin. Taylor thought he had won, but Calhoun told him he had been caught! Taylor maintained control and whipped Dundee into the ropes. He wound up for a big haymaker, but Dundee dodged the punch by sliding underneath Taylor. In one motion, Dundee grabbed Taylor’s legs, pushed him face-first to the mat, and locked on a Boston Crab in the center of the ring! Taylor was trapped and forced to tap. The fans popped big for Dundee’s big comeback win! **¾
5) Doctor X and Double X defeated Brian Kendrick and Paul London. The masked team were able to trap Kendrick in the ring for several minutes. They worked on his leg, grounding the high-flyer. X locked Kendrick in the figure-four. London attempted a save but was cut off by a dropkick from Double X. Kendrick was forced to tap out to the hold. **
6) “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay made short work of Hillbilly Jim. Despite Jim having the height and weight advantage, Finlay controlled much of the bout. He hit a short-arm clothesline for a near fall. Finlay managed to get Jim up for the Tombstone and he drove the hillbilly into the mat for the pinfall. Finlay looks ready to battle “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan next to crown a new Mid-America Heavyweight champion! *
7) Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon scored an impressive win over Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. The Vachons worked over Gordy for the few minutes of the bout. Mad Dog hit his Pounce for a near fall and then a running knee lift a few minutes later for another two-count. Gordy made the hot tag to Williams, who pounded away on Butcher. Williams impressively pressed Butcher over his head and then slammed him down to the canvas. He went for a cover, but Butcher kicked out. Mad Dog tagged in and was aggressive against Williams. He hit the piledriver and went for a pin, but Gordy broke up the pin attempt. “Doc” battled back against Butcher and blasted him with a lariat. He then hit the backdrop driver on Butcher. Gordy tagged back in but was cut off by Butcher. Butcher came off the second rope with a double foot stomp to Gordy and then tagged to Mad Dog. “Bamm Bamm” briefly fought back, but Mad Dog stopped him with an eye rake. He then followed up with the piledriver on Gordy, a move that was brought Gordy many wins. Mad Dog went for a cover. Williams attempted a save, but was stopped by Butcher, as Mad Dog got the pinfall. The Vachons were impressive against the powerhouses and hope to ride that momentum into regaining the World Tag Team titles next week in Tupelo! ***½
8) “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored a quick pin on “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Valiant looked like he might be the one to end Blassie’s winning streak, as he ran wild on him in the first minute with roundhouse punches and went for a pinfall but only got a two. Valiant went up to the top rope, but before he could leap, Blassie climbed to his feet and shook the ropes, causing Valiant to land on the top ropes. Valiant fell to the mat and Blassie made a quick cover to score the pinfall out of nowhere in about 90 seconds. The Memphis fans booed Blassie as he gloated about his win! DUD
9) The New Age Outlaws scored a dominant win over the Age of the Fall in an Elimination Match. Jimmy Jacobs wrestled a lot of the first fall, perhaps actually showing some sympathy for his partner Tyler Black, who had already wrestled one bout earlier in the card. Jacobs hit the Contra Code on Billy for a near fall. Gunn battled back and tagged to “The Road Dogg” Jesse James. The Outlaws executed a spike piledriver on Jacobs. A few minutes later, James hit the Shake, Rattle, & Roll knee drop to pin Jacobs and eliminate him from the match, while Gunn stopped Black from making the save.
Black was left in a 2-on-1 battle against the two-time former World Tag Team champions. James hit the pump handle slam for a near fall. Gunn tagged back in and hit the Famouser to score the pinfall just a few minutes after the first elimination. It was an impressive win by the Outlaws! neg*
10) In a first-time match-up, “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert got a controversial win via disqualification over Nick Bockwinkel. Gilbert started off aggressively against the four-time former World champion, wanting to score a big singles win. He hit a piledriver and a DDT for near falls. With the fans rooting him on, Bockwinkel caught Gilbert by surprise in his sleeper. Gilbert started to drop but managed to grab on to the bottom rope for a break. Bockwinkel turned his attack to Gilbert’s legs and went for the figure-four. Gilbert looked like he might surrender but after nearly 45 seconds, managed to pull himself to the ropes for a break. Bockwinkel hit a piledriver of his own and went for a cover, but Gilbert managed to kick out at 2¾. Bockwinkel tried for a suplex, but Gilbert blocked it and rolled him into a small package for a very near fall. The battle was back-and-forth and the action spilled out of the ring and to the arena floor. Sir Oliver Humperdink attempted to ambush Bockwinkel from behind, but the four-time former World champion saw him coming. He ducked Humperdink’s attack and Humperdink hit his own man with his cane! Bockwinkel then decked the manager, who dropped his cane. Bockwinkel picked it up and gave Gilbert another whack with the cane. The fans went wild, but unfortunately, this took place right in front of Sam Platania. Platania was left with no choice, but to call for the bell and disqualify Bockwinkel. Gilbert and Humperdink retreated as quickly as they could to avoid more of an onslaught from Bockwinkel, but at the same time gloating that Gilbert had gotten a win over Bockwinkel! ***
11) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos took on a larger, more powerful opponent in Larry “The Axe” Hennig, but continued his winning ways. Being from Minnesota, Hennig naturally has a background in amateur wrestling and he showcased his mat skills in the opening minutes. He had a lot of control against Londos, but “The Golden Greek” used his stamina to avoid Hennig and wear him out. Londos attempted a submission with a Grecian sleeper grip, but Hennig made the ropes. Londos attempted an airplane spin, but couldn’t get Hennig up, so he transitioned into a single leg takedown. With “The Axe” on the mat, Londos applied the Boston Crab. Hennig fought hard not to turn, but Londos kept at it and rolled him to his stomach. “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart was screaming at Hennig through the megaphone to get to the ropes. Hennig tried to power his way there, but Londos outmaneuvered him and forced him to tap after about eight minutes of action. The Memphis fans popped big for Londos, who is becoming one of the most popular wrestlers in the USWA! **½
12) The main event was for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Current and two-time champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude, accompanied by First Family of Wrestling manager Jimmy Hart, defended the title against six-time former champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Lewis was going into this bout with three wins over the champion in title matches and a pinfall win on him in a tag team match.
Lewis started off more aggressively than usual, throwing the champion with the Strangler’s Headlock in the first few minutes. Rude rolled out of the ring quickly for a breather. The challenger reached through the ropes to try and bring the champion back in, but Rude grabbed Lewis and punched him. He then pulled him out of the ring and rammed him head-first into the guardrail. He tossed Lewis back in and continued his attack. He went for the Rude Awakening just a few minutes into the bout, but it was too early, as Lewis kicked out. Rude focused the attack on the neck and blasted Lewis with a stiff clothesline, causing his head to hit the mat hard. Lewis held his neck as the champion went for the cover, but Lewis kicked out. Rude continued the attack. He went up to the top rope, as Lewis stumbled to his feet. Rude came off with a big sledge right to the back of Lewis’ neck. Rude looked like he had things won until Lewis surprised him with the headlock! He let Rude up, but then quickly took him down again. He did this three more times, basically mocking the challenger and playing with him. After the fifth headlock, Lewis held on, going for the pin or submission. He ground his forearms around Rude’s forehead, busting him open. Rude held up his arm like he might tap but didn’t. The crowd chanted “Tap! Tap! Tap!” over and over. “The Mouth of The South” jumped up on the apron, distracting Jerry Calhoun. Calhoun turned his attention to Hart, just as Rude finally tapped out! The fans were irate by Hart’s involvement. Lewis released the hold and was incensed that he had not just won his 7th World title! The “Strangler” looked down at Hart and threatened him. Rude got to his feet, bloodied and tired, but still in the match. He attacked Lewis from behind with a forearm to the back of the neck. He continued to punish Lewis’ neck for a few minutes, before hitting a second Rude Awakening to score the pinfall and retain the championship. The Memphis berated Rude and Hart as they celebrated Rude’s win! (With the win, Rude now pulls ahead of Lou Thesz’s second World title reign to spot #4 for the most title defenses with 11 defenses.) ****
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 16, 2018 18:21:13 GMT -4
After the historic 450th USWA card in Memphis last week, the 11-14 episode of USWA Championship Wrestling had some big announcements, including some details about the main event for New Year’s Knockout XII on December 31 at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville! • “Ravishing” Rick Rude continued his historic World Heavyweight title reign by defeating Ed “Strangler” Lewis in Memphis last week. If he continues his winning ways, Rude will have a busy December, as first he will defend the title against Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy in the main event on December 7 at the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville! Gordy is a former Southern Heavyweight champion, but this will be his first shot at the World title. He has been very impressive in 2015 since being let go from the former Hot Stuff, International, currently only suffering two losses in singles competition, which is very impressive in the ultra-competitive USWA. • Whether Rude or Gordy leaves Evansville the champion, they won’t have too long to rest, as 24 days later the champion will put the title on the line against “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos in the main event of New Year’s Knockout XII at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville! Londos has been undefeated since debuting at Independence Day Bash, winning most of his matches in short order. Commissioner Bob Armstrong has deemed that whether Rude or Gordy win on 12/7, the champion will defend against Londos at the biggest USWA supercard of the year! • Londos was interviewed in studio and said he is very thankful for his upcoming World championship shot. He thanked the USWA fans for being so welcoming to him the last four months. He said that he wants to get in some good training in the coming weeks and wants to battle a former USWA World champion before challenging the current champion. Londos said he has a great deal of respect for a man who is a great pure wrestler and a man who largely competes by the rules, despite being cheated by his opponents or their allies in some recent bouts. He said if this man would accept his challenge, he would be honored to wrestle him. Londos challenged Ed “Strangler” Lewis to a match before New Year’s Knockout! Lance Russell asked if Londos has a specific card in mind and Londos said he does not, but that there are about six weeks until the year-end supercard. There was no response from Lewis at this time. • Jimmy Hart and the World champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude were interviewed in the WMC-TV Studios as well. Hart said that despite what all the oddsmakers in Vegas said, despite what wrestling fans thought, despite what the USWA locker room thought, and despite what Lance Russell thought (pointing right at Lance as he said it), Rude overcame the odds once again and finally put an end to the myth of Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Rude said that he was willing to make two World title defenses in the month of December, as it will lead to him setting records quicker. He said that Gordy is a tough opponent, but Rude is in a league of his own. He said that he will defeat Gordy in Evansville and then go on to celebrate one year as champion by beating Londos at New Year’s Knockout. He admitted that Londos is also a fine wrestler, but he’s not equal to “Ravishing” Rick Rude! • Commissioner Armstrong announced some more matches for the November 23 card at the Louisville Gardens! o Louisville’s own Ed “Strangler” Lewis will be back in action when tangles with Mad Dog Vachon! These two grapplers have wrestled three times this year in singles matches. Lewis has gotten two DQ victories, while Mad Dog scored the only pinfall victory of the series at Chilhowee Park in June (albeit with some interference from his brother Butcher and a hook of the tights). This time Lewis will be in his hometown and in an arena where he has only lost three times since 2007! o Speaking of the Vachons, Butcher will also compete Butcher when he battles Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. While Gordy has his sites set on the World title on December 7, he is also looking for a measure of revenge against both Vachons, after getting his eyes raked, leading to their pinfall on him in the tag team match against Gordy and Southern champion Steve Williams last week in Memphis. o Nick Bockwinkel will take on Doctor X in what could be a great scientific, pure wrestling bout! Both men are hoping to get back on track with a singles win. o In a rematch from this past week in Memphis, the undefeated “Classy” Freddie Blassie will take on “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. While Blassie scored the pinfall on Valiant in about 90 seconds, Valiant appeared to be on his way to ending Blassie’s winning streak, until he got crotched on the top rope! o Red Bastien will return from his knee injury and battle one of the culprits who injured him—Double X! These two wrestlers have had some great bouts, both in singles and tag team action. Their battles turned more personal after Double X and Doctor X attacked Bastien last month in Lexington after Bastien got the victory. • “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, along with Sir Oliver Humperdink, was interviewed in studio. Gilbert bragged about his win over Nick Bockwinkel last week in Memphis saying that his words from a few weeks ago on Championship Wrestling rang true and he is the present and future of the USWA. Lance Russell told him that his victory was only because Bockwinkel was disqualified and that he (Gilbert) could have been disqualified if Bockwinkel hadn’t stopped Humperdink. Gilbert said that that was exactly their plan: they tricked Bockwinkel, got him upset and got him to lose focus, and lose the match! Gilbert said that it still counts as a win in the record books and this is just the beginning as “Hot Stuff” will be wearing championship gold once again!
The USWA comes back to the Tupelo Sports Arena on November 16! This will be a historic card, as two new USWA champions will be determined on the same card! • Before Ox Baker challenges for the USWA Southern Heavyweight title next week in Louisville, he will do battle with a two-time former Southern Heavyweight champion— “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant! Valiant is not afraid of any opponent, which is important against the intimidating Ox! Can Ox knock down “Boogie Woogie” before challenging for the Southern gold? • The undefeated “Golden Greek” Jim Londos will tangle with another House of Humperdink member, Doug Gilbert. Londos is awaiting both his shot at the World title and an answer from Ed “Strangler” Lewis about a match. He cannot look past the ever-capable Gilbert, especially when Sir Oliver Humperdink is at ringside. Can Londos remain unbeaten? • Tracy Smothers will return from injury! The two-time former Mid-America Heavyweight champion will do battle with one-half of the Age of the Fall—Jimmy Jacobs! Jacobs’ tag team partner Tyler Black scored a big win over Smothers last month in Nashville and then proceeded to deliver more Phoenix Splashes after the bell, injuring Smothers’ ribs. Smothers is healed and is hoping to get his rematch for the Mid-America title soon, as he was unable to compete in the tournament for the vacated championship, due to the injury. He cannot look past Jacobs, whose End Times can be a devastating submission finisher and who can use psychology and mind games to wear down and defeat his opponents. Who will leave Tupelo the victor in this one? • The Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will be in action as he faces Double X! Double X joined the Vachons in ambushing Williams during his match in Lexington last month against their ally Doctor X, which lead to a countout win for the Doctor. This “Doc” is out for revenge against Double X. Can he gain revenge? • In the first of two bouts for vacated USWA titles, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan will do battle with “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay in the finals of the eight-man tournament to crown a new Mid-America Heavyweight champion! In an interesting turn of events, Duggan was originally scheduled to change previous champion Ray “The Crippler” Stevens for the belt on this card, prior to Stevens being suspended. Finlay had an easier route to the finals, as he won his first round match and then got a bye in the semifinals, due to the suspension of his originally scheduled opponent “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton. Neither of these wrestlers has held any USWA championship before. For the fan favorite Duggan, he has challenged for every USWA title, including the now-retired Texas title, and come up short. Could he finally achieve his dream or will the Irish brawler go home with the gold? • The main event will crown new USWA World Tag Team champion, as the former champions the Vachons will face Brian Kendrick and Paul London! Kendrick and London were originally scheduled to challenge the previous champions the Midnight Express for the titles on this card, but the Midnights were suspended for four cards for their attack on Sweet Brown Sugar last month in Jonesboro. Since the Vachons were the prior champions and Kendrick and London were the originally-scheduled challengers, Commissioner Armstrong signed this bout to crown new champions, with the winners defending against the Midnights in their return in Union City next month. The Vachons are a roughhouse team, willing to do anything to win and hold on to the titles. Kendrick and London are fast-paced and full of innovative maneuvers. This will be only their second shot at the titles, as their last match was in October 2013 against the then-champions the Fabulous Kangaroos. Can Kendrick and London finally win the gold or will the Vachons get back on top of the mountain? All these huge bouts, plus the New Age Outlaws, “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “Superstar” Bill Dundee, and the House of Humperdink tag team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito in action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 22, 2018 14:57:09 GMT -4
November 16, 2015 Card #451: Tupelo Sports Arena
1) Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito scored a dominant win in the opener over George South and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. The House of Humperdink tag team kept South in the ring the entire bout and got him to submit after just a couple of minutes to Saito’s Scorpion Leglock. This new duo continues to impress! DUD
2) “Superstar” Bill Dundee got a submission victory over Virgil. Dundee had the early advantage, but Virgil capitalized on a mistake by the Aussie and caught him in the Million Dollar Dream. Dundee made the ropes for a break. He battled back and went for a submission with an Indian Deathlock, but Virgil got to the ropes. Dundee clamped on a Boston Crab, which brought him the win against David Taylor in Memphis. The Crab was equally effective this week as Virgil quickly tapped out. **½
3) Another superstar remained undefeated, as “Classy” Freddie Blassie pinned “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. Blassie brutalized Rodz with knee drops and then hit the Southern neckbreaker to score the pinfall after just a few minutes. DUD
4) Ox Baker scored a quick pinfall over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Baker was very dominant here. He used a shoulder breaker and a neckbreaker for near falls. A few minutes later, a second neckbreaker did the deed and brought Baker the win. Baker looked “Fabulous” here, as he looks forward to his first shot at the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship next week in Louisville! ¼*
5) The New Age Outlaws defeated “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill. The bizarre duo of Doring and RoadKill put up a fight against the Outlaws, but the two-time former champions were focused here. They scored the win after a few minutes when “The Road Dogg” Jesse James hit the pump handle slam on “The Angry Amish Warrior” and scored the pinfall, while Gunn stopped the “Dastardly One” from a save. **
6) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos went to 10-0 in the USWA with a pinfall on Doug Gilbert. Gilbert had the early advantage and looked like he might score a huge upset and give Londos his first loss. He came off the top rope with the shoulder ram and went for a cover, but Londos kicked out. Londos battled back and went for the Boston Crab, but Gilbert made the ropes before Londos could turn him and fully apply the hold. Despite Sir Oliver Humperdink’s presence at ringside, Londos maintained control and executed the airplane spin. He then dropped onto Gilbert in a cover and scored the pinfall. Londos is looking impressive as he looks forward to a shot at the USWA World title, but will he meet Ed “Strangler” en route to New Year’s Knockout XII? **½
7) Jimmy Jacobs scored a huge upset defeating Tracy Smothers via submission. Jacobs took the bout to the floor early and rammed Smothers’ previously-injured ribs into the guard railing. Smothers took over back inside the ring and hit the jawjacker. When he landed, he held his ribs and couldn’t make the cover. When he finally did, Jacobs kicked out at two. Jacobs surprised him a few moments later inside the ring with the End Times in the center of the ring. Smothers dropped and tapped out to the hold, giving Jacobs a big singles win. As Jacobs got his hand raised, he stomped on Smothers’ ribs. He then waved toward the entry. Tyler Black ran down to the ring and joined his tag team partner in stomping Smothers’ ribs. Black went up top and just like he did last month in Nashville came off the top with the Phoenix Splash. Jacobs then had a deranged look on his face and pointed toward Lance Russell, Dave Brown, and Gary Michael Cappetta at ringside. He and Black left the ring and basically bullied the announcers out of their spots. They then pulled the announcers’ table into the ring, set it up, and placed Smothers on top of it. Black went up top again and came off with another Phoenix Splash, driving Smothers through the table. The Age of the Fall posed over the carnage. Suddenly, the New Age Outlaws came running to the ring. They appeared to have been in the shower after their earlier match, as they were half-dressed and were dripping wet. The Outlaws ran off Jacobs and Black. They then checked on Smothers. A stretcher was brought into the arena and Smothers was hauled out on it, holding his ribs and appearing to be in a lot of pain. (NOTE: This was one of the few table-breaking angles I’ve done since I started playing LOW.) **¾
8) Following the carnage of the last match, a new table was brought out for the announcers and the debris from the broken table was cleared up. Matches resumed, as Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams defeated Double X. A few minutes into the bout, Double X sent Williams into the corner, but “Doc” bounced back and blasted him with a clothesline. Doctor X, wearing a suit, since he was not booked to wrestled on this card, came to ringside and momentarily distracted Williams, allowing Double X to clip Williams’ leg and take control. Double X went for the figure-four leglock, but Williams used his strength to pull himself to the ropes for a break. Williams battled back and blasted the masked technician with a football tackle for a near fall. He executed the backdrop driver, dropping Double X right on his head. The masked man hit his head hard, as blood was pouring out of his black mask. Williams hit a lariat a few moments later and scored the pinfall. As he got his hand raised, Williams pointed to Doctor X still at ringside, indicating he will meet him down the road. “Dr. Death” looked strong tonight, as he looks ahead to his title defense against Ox Baker in Louisville next week! ***
9) On a historical card, in the first of two matches to determine new champions, “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay won his first USWA championship by defeating “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in the finals of an eight-man tournament to become the new USWA Mid-America Heavyweight champion! These two brawlers went back-and-forth in this match, fighting it out for the gold. Duggan hit a spinning body slam a few minutes into the bout for a near fall. Finlay took control and got Duggan up for the Tombstone. He went for a cover, but Duggan managed to kick out. Both men went up the ropes at times: Duggan coming off the second rope with a shoulder tackle and Finlay with a second rope sit-down splash, trying anything to get the win. Duggan gained the advantage and had Finlay dazed after several big right hands. Finlay was in one corner of the ring and Duggan got set in the three-point stance in the opposite corner. He charged at Finlay with the flying spear, but Finlay dodged the attack and Duggan crashed hard into the second turnbuckle. Finlay rolled up Duggan with a school-boy and hooked the tights to score the pinfall and capture the gold. Duggan got up almost right after the bell and told Joe Wheeler about the tights being used, but to no avail, as Finlay was given the Mid-America championship! ***
10) The main event was to crown new USWA World Tag Team champions. The original challengers for tonight’s card, Brian Kendrick and Paul London, faced the most-recent champions prior to the suspended Midnight Express, Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon. The Vachons were not going to give their opponents any opportunities in this big match, as they charged the fan favorites before the bell, before Gary Michael Cappetta could finish his ring introductions. Paul Morton called for the bell to officially start the match. Butcher and Kendrick became the legal man, as Mad Dog took London out of the ring and slammed him head-first into the ring post, before London could take off his ring vest. Butcher beat on Kendrick and pulled off his vest for him. Mad Dog tagged in and hit the piledriver on Kendrick, but Kendrick kicked out at 2¾. Butcher tagged back in and came off the second rope with a double ax-handle to the back, while Mad Dog held Kendrick by the legs with Kendrick’s throat across the top rope. Butcher then grabbed Kendrick and picked him up into the hangman in the center of the ring. Kendrick was trapped and forced to surrender. Morton called for the bell and awarded the Vachons their second World Tag Team titles after about three minutes of action! London, who never entered the match, had just recovered at ringside and was irate as he got to his feet outside the ring and heard the announcement. The Tupelo fans were irate at the short main event, as well as the Vachons’ ambush attack! neg*
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 20, 2018 13:35:28 GMT -4
Highlights of USWA Championship Wrestling from 11-21: • After their dominant and brutal win last week, it was made official that the Vachons will defend the USWA World Tag Team titles on December 14 in the main event at the Union City Civic Auditorium against the team that defeated them for the belts in their first reign—the Midnight Express! The Midnights’ suspension will expire by this date and they will return with an immediate opportunity to win back their titles. • Also on that same card, Union City’s own Sweet Brown Sugar will return from his neck injury caused by the Midnights. Sugar and PYT Express partner D’Lo Brown will take on the high-flying team of Brian Kendrick and Paul London! • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that Tracy Smothers suffered broken ribs in the heinous attack by the Age of the Fall last week in Tupelo. He will be out of action until early 2016. Because of the attack, Armstrong has fined both Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black $10,000 and has suspended them for 10 cards! This puts the Age of the Fall out of USWA rings until February 2016. • The main event for the December 21 card at the North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY was announced. The USWA Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will battle Doctor X! Of course, this cannot be a title bout, due to the stipulations from the September Triangle Match with Williams, X, and Eddie Gilbert. However, Williams asked for this match to try and gain revenge for X beating him by countout last month in Lexington, after X’s allies Double X and the Vachons all jumped Williams. • Sir Oliver Humperdink and “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert were interviewed in-studio. Humperdink announced that it has been decided that Doug Gilbert has decided to leave the House of Humperdink and the USWA for the time being. There was no word on his immediate plans in wrestling. Lance Russell asked Eddie his thoughts on his brother’s departure. Eddie seemed to have a disappointed look on his face, but stated, “Family is one thing, but this is business.” He said that the House of Humperdink will continue to dominate the USWA and that they have to focus on their goal—winning championships and money! • Ed “Strangler” Lewis was interviewed in-studio toward the end of the program. He acknowledged Jim Londos’ challenge for a match on last week’s episode. He said that he never backs down from a challenge and he has a lot of respect for Londos, so he would be happy to give him a match. He continued that one thing he did not like about Londos was his tone and the way that he implied that a match with him would be a “warm-up” for New Year’s Knockout XII. Lance Russell said he didn’t think that’s what Londos meant and the “Strangler” said, “That’s why everyone loves you, Lance!” Lewis reminded Londos and the wrestling world that he (Lewis) is a six-time former USWA champion and you don’t get that by being a “training partner” for someone; that holding that title means you’re the best. And Londos will be facing Lewis at his best when they meet. Lance asked the “Strangler” when he would like to have that match and Lewis said that December 7 at the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville would be a good date, as “Ravishing” Rick Rude will be defending the World title in that card’s main event against Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. This would be a good opportunity for Londos to wrestle Lewis and scout his opponent for the World title bout on December 31. This mega match-up was signed for December 7!
The USWA comes to the Louisville Gardens for the last time in 2015 on November 23! The Louisvillians will be treated to a huge card of action! • In a rematch from two weeks ago in Memphis, “Classy” Freddie Blassie will face “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Blassie scored the quick pinfall on Valiant after crotching him on the top rope last time. “The King of Men” was interviewed in studio on Championship Wrestling and told Lance Russell he doesn’t know how these idiot Southern fans could cheer Valiant when he’s from New York City. Lance reminded Blassie that his hometown of St. Louis is in the Midwest and not the South. Blassie asked Lance what his finisher is, and Lance replied the Southern neckbreaker. Blassie said that’s exactly right and that he represents the “poor idiots” of the South as their great role model and leader! Can “Classy” Freddie go 2-0 against “Handsome” Jimmy or will Valiant’s “street people” cheer him on to victory? • Red Bastien will return from his knee injury and will be out for revenge against Double X! These two have had some great bouts this year. Red has claimed in the past that he is eager to know who is under Double X’s mask. Who will win this huge grudge bout? • In tag team competition, the two-time former USWA champions the New Age Outlaws will take on the new Mid-America Heavyweight champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay and David Taylor. Although Finlay is now a singles champion, he plans to still compete with Taylor in the tag team ranks. A win over the Outlaws would get the British duo some recognition. “The Road Dogg” Jesse James is a former Mid-America champ and would love to score a win on Finlay to earn him a shot at that title. So much at stake in this bout! • In what could be a great technical wrestling bout, Nick Bockwinkel will tangle with Doctor X. This will be a first-time matchup between these two grapplers, who both like to utilize the figure-four leglock. Will it be that move that makes the difference in this match? • Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will face one-half of the new USWA World Tag Team champions Butcher Vachon. Gordy and Steve Williams were defeated by the Vachons two weeks ago at the Mid-South Coliseum at the 450th USWA card. Gordy is out for revenge, as he looks ahead to his first shot at the USWA World title in a couple of weeks in Evansville. He cannot look past Butcher, who is a capable singles wrestler, having scored lots of big wins in the past, including a win over former USWA champion Bruiser Brody in a singles bout in Jonesboro in December 2006. • The other half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon will also compete in singles action. He will have a very tough opponent in Louisville’s own Ed “Strangler” Lewis. While Lewis has more wins over Mad Dog in their meetings this year, only Mad Dog has gotten a pinfall victory in their encounters. Lewis has only lost three times in the Louisville Gardens. An added factor to this match is that Lewis’ opponent on December 7, “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos, announced on Championship Wrestling, after Lewis accepted his match, that he will be in attendance in Louisville and plans to sit ringside to scout the “Strangler.” Can Lewis finally get a decisive win against the Mad Dog or can the Mad Dog achieve an arduous task of beating Lewis in the Gardens? • The main event will be the battle of two powerhouses for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current and seven-time champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will put the title on the line against House of Humperdink member Ox Baker. Baker has been on a winning streak since August, with a lot of dominant wins, including over two former Southern champions: Don Leo Jonathan in Cincinnati in August and just last week over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in Tupelo. Baker is a former Texas and World Tag Team champion, but this will be his first shot at the Southern title. He and Williams wrestled back at Independence Day Bash at Engel Stadium and that was one of Baker’s first losses since his return to the USWA in April. Can “The Fabulous” Ox capture the gold or will Williams stop his winning streak?
All these huge bouts, plus “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert battles “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. As well as the House of Humperdink team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito, and D’Lo Brown in singles action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Oct 21, 2018 23:12:10 GMT -4
November 23, 2015 Card #452: Louisville Gardens
1) D’Lo Brown defeated Jim Powers in the opener. The PYT Express member only needed about 90 seconds to pin Powers. He hit a swinging side slam to score the winning pinfall. DUD
2) Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito defeated Jake “The Milkman” Milliman and fellow Nashville native Roy Rodgers. Rodgers never actually wrestled, as the House of Humperdink tag team kept Milliman in the ring the entire time. Saito trapped Milliman in the Scorpion Leglock and forced him to tap out quickly. This team continues to impress! DUD
3) Double X pinned the returning Red Bastien in controversial fashion. Bastien was fired up and came out strong from the opening bell. He hit the airplane spin into the atomic drop early in the bout, but Double X got a foot on the ropes for a break. The masked man took control and went for a pin with a cross hiplock, but Bastien got a shoulder up. Double X worked the injured knee and went for the figure-four. It looked like the flying redhead might tap, but with the Louisville fans rooting him on, he made the ropes. As Bastien stumbled to his feet, Double X surprised him with another cross hiplock and turned it immediately into a pinning combination. As Tom Branch went to count, Double X also grabbed Bastien’s singlet for leverage and scored the pin. Double X quickly retreated to avoid an attack from his rival. ***
4) “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon, fresh off of a big win two weeks ago over D’Lo Brown, kept up the winning ways, with a big win over “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Shortly after the opening bell, Nick Bockwinkel came out to the aisleway to watch Gilbert, who defeated him via disqualification two weeks ago. Gilbert and Sir Oliver Humperdink kept pleading with Tommy Marlin to have Bockwinkel sent back to the locker room. Bockwinkel never got close to the ring but his presence had an impact on Gilbert, as Cannon took control while Gilbert was yelling at Bockwinkel and didn’t let up. Gilbert briefly took over and Cannon rolled to the floor for a breather. Gilbert followed and punched away at “The Anarchist,” then tossed him back into the ring. Gilbert climbed back up on the ring apron and jawed at Bockwinkel again. Cannon recovered, ran over to the apron, and nailed Gilbert with punches. He then draped “Hot Stuff” over the rope and hit an elevated snap neckbreaker. He covered Gilbert and scored the big win! The fans went wild at Cannon’s upset win! ¼*
5) “Classy” Freddie Blassie scored another quick win over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Blassie was extra aggressive at the bell, biting “Boogie Woogie” twice after a short amount of time. Blassie hit the Southern neckbreaker and scored the pinfall after about three minutes of action. “The King of Men” continues to be unbeaten in the USWA! DUD
6) The new Mid-America Heavyweight champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay had success in tag team action tonight, as he and David Taylor scored a big win over the New Age Outlaws. The British worked on “The Road Dogg” Jesse James for the first few minutes of the bout. Finlay even hit the Tombstone on James and went for a cover, but James kicked out at 2¾. James made the hot tag to Billy Gunn, who worked over Taylor for a few minutes. James came back in but was cut off by Taylor who the British suplex. Gunn broke up the pin attempt and was able to tag back in a few minutes later. He executed a Cobra Clutch slam on Taylor and got a two-count, then hit the Famouser a few minutes later, but Taylor got a foot under the bottom rope. Finlay and “The Road Dogg” were the legal men again a few moments later and were slugging it out. Finlay surprised James with a big head butt, which dropped “The Road Dogg.” Finlay immediately made a cover and grabbed James’s tights/pants as well, just as he did to “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in the tournament final last week in Tupelo. The trick helped as he scored the pinfall, which Taylor intercepted Gunn with a European uppercut. It was an impressive win for Finlay and Taylor, as it was only the Outlaws’ third decisive loss of 2015. ***¼
7) On a night of big wins, Doctor X joined the list, with a submission victory over Nick Bockwinkel, albeit with some controversy. The two grapplers showcased some great scientific wrestling in the first few minutes of the bout. Each man managed to apply their version of the figure-four leglock at one point, but the other managed to the ropes for the break. About eight minutes into the bout, “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and Sir Oliver Humperdink, came out to watch the match from the aisleway, in a similar fashion to what Bockwinkel did to Gilbert during his earlier match with Arik Cannon. X had the advantage and was choking Bockwinkel on the ropes. Gilbert came down to ringside and jumped up on the ring apron, distracting Tommy Marlin and the masked man. Meanwhile, Larry “The Axe” Hennig, who was not booked on this card, came down to ringside and dropped a big elbow across Bockwinkel’s neck. The big Minnesotan then returned to the locker room, just as quickly as he had appeared. X did not see this, but did see Bockwinkel in pain, and took advantage, as Gilbert returned to the aisleway with Humperdink. X grabbed Bockwinkel in an X-cellent sleeper. Bockwinkel started to drop to the mat. Marlin checked his arm and it dropped three times, giving X the big submission win after about 12 minutes of action. Gilbert and Humperdink seemed pleased with the result, although fans were shocked to see Gilbert’s involvement leading to a win for the Doctor! ***¼
8) Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy scored an impressive pinfall on one-half of the World Tag Team champions Butcher Vachon. Gordy blasted Butcher with a lariat and then used the Oriental Spike to knock down Butcher and score the pinfall a few minutes later. It was an impressive win for Gordy. How will he fare when he challenges “Ravishing” Rick Rude for the World title in Evansville in a few weeks? **
9) The other half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon had some huge singles success, scoring his second pinfall over Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Before either competitor entered the ring, “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos, sporting a fine suit, made his way to the ringside area and sat at the announcers’ table with Lance Russell and Dave Brown. While Londos has become popular in most USWA cities, the Louisville fans gave him a mixed reaction, since he will be facing their own hometown hero, the “Strangler,” in a few weeks. Lewis had the initial advantage going for a double wristlock, but not getting the submission, due to Mad Dog getting a foot under the ropes. Mad Dog took control and hit a double foot stomp and scored a two-count. Mad Dog choked Lewis on the middle rope, right in front of Londos, Russell, and Brown and Mad Dog growled at both Londos and Lewis. He then bounced off the opposite ropes and hit a Mad Dog Pounce. He pulled Lewis off the ropes, made a cover, and scored the pinfall. Perhaps being right in front of Londos distracted Lewis, leading to a rather quick pinfall. Londos went to check on Lewis, but Lewis walked away from him and returned to the locker room on his own. Mad Dog joins an elite and eclectic group of wrestlers who have defeated the “Strangler” in Louisville, the others being Bryan Danielson, “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, and King Kong Bundy. **
10) The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. Current and seven-time champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams put the title on the line against House of Humperdink member Ox Baker. Baker entered this match on a winning streak since August with a lot of quick and dominant victories. He started off the match strong, hitting the heart punch early, but Williams rolled out of the ring before a pin attempt could be made. Baker got the champion back in the ring and hit a knee drop for a near fall. He punished “Dr. Death” for several minutes, hitting a neckbreaker for another near fall. It looked like a new champion would be crowned in Louisville, but Williams battled back strong against “The Fabulous” Ox, nailing him with a standing dropkick. He executed the backdrop driver three times on the big Iowan, driving him up and on top of his face on the third throw and busting Baker open. Williams lifted Baker up for the Oklahoma Stampede, but Sir Oliver Humperdink grabbed Williams’ foot from under the bottom rope. Williams responded by tossing Baker over the top rope and on top of his manager! The fans went wild as Humperdink writhed on the floor. Baker was hurting but managed to get back into the ring. The Southern champ maintained control and hit a Doctor Bomb a few moments later to put down Baker for the pinfall. The fans popped big as Williams celebrated his victory! ***½
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 4, 2018 17:40:35 GMT -4
Highlights from the last two editions of USWA Championship Wrestling: 11-28 • More matches were announced for New Year’s Knockout XII at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville! o In a first-time tag team matchup, the World Tag Team champions the Vachons will do battle with the House of Humperdink team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito! Sir Oliver Humperdink brought Zbyszko back to the USWA in October after the Vachons injured Saito’s previous partner Mr. Fuji in July at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Zbyszko and Saito are 5-0 as of this week and are an impressive duo so far. A non-title win over the Vachons would put them in line for a title shot in 2016! o Red Bastien was interviewed in-studio. The former Texas and World Tag Team champion was holding a shaving razor. Bastien challenged his rival Double X to a match in Knoxville. He said that he has been studying footage of the masked man and thinks he can beat him one more time and if he does, he wants Double X to give up his mask once and for all! The high-flyer said that in exchange, he will put up something that fans often associate with him—his moustache! He held up the razor and said that if he loses the match, he will shave his famous handlebar moustache!
12-5 • More matches were made for the huge supercard on December 31! o One-half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon was interviewed, flanked by his ally Double X. The Algerian brawler accepted Red Bastien’s challenge on behalf of Double X! He said that that Red’s “ugly mug” will be uglier after he has to shave his “foolish moustache” and that Double X will prove to be the superior wrestler! He also said the Vachons will send Larry Zbyszko out of the USWA, just like they did Mr. Fuji, and they will drop Mr. Saito like a rock! o A second championship bout was added to New Year’s Knockout XII. Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will defend the USWA Southern Heavyweight title against “Classy” Freddie Blassie! “The King of Men” has been undefeated in the USWA since debuting in June, winning many of his matches in quick fashion. This will be Blassie’s first shot at a USWA title, but he has a tough challenge ahead of him in the seven-time champion Williams! o Larry “The Axe” Hennig and “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart were interviewed. Hart revealed that he and Hennig worked out a plan with Sir Oliver Humperdink and “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert to sabotage Nick Bockwinkel during his match with Doctor X on the last card in Louisville back in the locker room, after Bockwinkel “cost” Gilbert his match earlier in the same card against Arik Cannon. Hart said that Hennig had a challenge for Bockwinkel for New Year’s Eve. “The Axe” reminded wrestling fans of his history with Bockwinkel. Hennig and son Curt came to the USWA in 2009 as members of the Heenan Family along with Bockwinkel. They had a big feud in 2010 with Diamond Dallas Page and the Crusher, which included Bockwinkel and the Hennigs injuring Crusher’s leg at the Louisville Gardens and putting “The Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous” out of action for four months. At New Year’s Knockout VII that year in Lexington, Crusher returned and he and DDP defeated Bockwinkel and “The Axe” in a Stretcher Match, that saw the fan favorites give Hennig a spike piledriver, which put him out of action for nine months. When he returned to the USWA in July of last year, he joined the First Family of Wrestling primarily because Hart had promised him the opportunity to get revenge on Bockwinkel, who never once contacted him during his injury. Hennig has shown he can defeat Bockwinkel and he wants to do it one more time, once and for all! He challenged the four-time former USWA champion to the same kind of match that put him out of action five years ago—a Stretcher Match! He said this time, Bockwinkel will be the one who goes out of the arena on a stretcher! o Later in the show, Bockwinkel was interviewed in studio. Without hesitation, he accepted “The Axe’s” challenge to a Stretcher Match at New Year’s Knockout! He said that Hennig keeps bringing up the past, but this is the present, and the future will see history repeated, as Hennig will once again go out on a stretcher on New Year’s Eve! He said that he hasn’t forgotten about “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and that he will take care of him in 2016 after he finishes this chapter with Hennig! • A video aired that was sent in earlier in the week by the suspended Age of the Fall. Jimmy Jacobs stated that although he and Tyler Black won’t be back in USWA rings until 2016, their influence will still be felt for the next couple of months. He said that he has found two wrestlers who have joined their movement and are looking to eliminate “status quo” fan favorites like the New Age Outlaws. He said that neither wrestler has ever wrestled in the USWA before. He said that he is going to make “The Road Dogg” Jesse James and Billy Gunn, along with the rest of the wrestling world, wait in suspense until next week, when he plans to announce their names! • In addition to the new matches for New Year’s Knockout XII, Commissioner Bob Armstrong had new matches announced for other cards for the month of December. These matches were added to the December 14 at the Union City Civic Auditorium: o In a rematch from the last card at the Louisville Gardens, Nick Bockwinkel will face Doctor X. X won the match, thanks in part to help from Larry “The Axe” Hennig and “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Can he score the win again? o Claudio Castagnoli will return from his neck injury on this card. He will face one of the men who injured him—David Taylor! Taylor and Mid-America champ Fit Finlay put “The Swiss Superman” out of action in September in Knoxville with a spike Tombstone. Castagnoli is hoping to get his hands on both Brits! • These matches were announced for the December 21 card at North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY: o Before he challenges Steve “Dr. Death” Williams for the Southern Heavyweight title, “Classy” Freddie Blassie will battle one of Williams’ allies in “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan! Duggan is a formidable foe and could give Blassie his first loss in the USWA, prior to his title bout on December 31! o Williams and Duggan’s other ally Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy will also be in action on this card, as he faces one-half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon. Gordy defeated Butcher Vachon in impressive fashion two weeks ago at the Louisville Gardens and hopes to have similar success against the older Vachon. But Mad Dog has been on a roll lately in singles action, defeating Ed “Strangler” Lewis two weeks ago in his hometown on that same card. Depending on the outcome of next week’s main event, we could have the USWA World Heavyweight champion battling one-half of the World Tag Team champions!
The USWA kicks off the month of December and the road to New Year’s Knockout XII with a huge card at the Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville! • Two wrestlers with huge bouts at New Year’s Knockout XII will face other for the first time when “Classy” Freddie Blassie takes on Red Bastien. Blassie remains undefeated, but Bastien will be one of his toughest opponents to-date, as his high-flying style and airplane spin-atomic drop combination can put down many a foe. Who will get the win in Evansville? • Mid-America Heavyweight champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay will take on Billy Gunn in a non-title bout. Finlay and David Taylor got a big tag team win against the New Age Outlaws on the last card in Louisville, albeit with the help of hooking Jesse James’s tights. Gunn would love not only to avenge that loss but also get a win over the Mid-America champion and earn his first singles title match in the USWA. Can the athletic Gunn knock down the red-hot Irish brawler? • Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito of the House of Humperdink will face the World Tag Team champions on New Year’s Eve. But this week, they will have their one of their toughest challenges so far in their time as a team, when they face the high-flying fan favorites of Brian Kendrick and Paul London. Kendrick and London have scored big tag team wins in the past. Can they be the first to knock off Zbyszko and Saito or will the House of Humperdink duo continue their winning ways? • Two-former Southern Heavyweight champions will do battle, as Doctor X faces “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. X is coming off of a huge win over Nick Bockwinkel in Louisville a couple of weeks ago and would love to keep his momentum going. Can he topple “The Boy from New York City”? • In an interesting first-time match-up, Nick Bockwinkel will do battle with Ox Baker! Bockwinkel agreed to this bout, as he wanted a larger, more powerful opponent to prepare him for Larry “The Axe” Hennig. It’s interesting that he agreed to the match with Baker, as “The Fabulous” Ox was the wrestler who introduced the Stretcher Match to the USWA back in June 2006, when he lost the USWA Texas title against Nikolai Volkoff in Austin. This could be a good tune-up for Bockwinkel as he looks ahead to his own Stretcher Match with Hennig in a few weeks. Can Bockwinkel knock down Baker or will he be going out on a stretcher in Evansville? • In a huge match-up, two of the best pure, technical wrestlers not only in the USWA but in all of professional wrestling, will go one-on-one, as “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos will grapple with six-time former USWA World Heavyweight champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Londos challenged Lewis to this match. Lewis felt insulted that Londos was treating this like a warm-up match prior to Londos challenging for the USWA World Heavyweight championship on the New Year’s Eve. Londos never made that claim, but that attitude may add some fuel to the fire of this bout. Londos remains undefeated since debuting at Independence Day Bash in Chattanooga and has become very popular in the USWA cities where he’s competed. Lewis remains a fixture in the USWA since he started wrestling here in 2007 and is one of the most popular wrestlers himself. Whom will the fans choose in this one and who will win this epic match-up? • Londos will face the winner of this week’s main event in the biggest supercard of the year, as “Ravishing” Rick Rude will defend the USWA World Heavyweight title against Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. Gordy has been on a hot streak this year, since turning fan favorite and allying himself with Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. He is a former Southern Heavyweight champion, but this will be his first shot at the World title. Rude has been on his own streak this year, as he is 24 days away from achieving a one-year reign and he continues to climb the ladder for the greatest number of defenses. Will Gordy stop his historic reign and or will Rude continue his clutch on the title? Who will defend against “The Golden Greek” on New Year’s Eve?
All these huge bouts, plus the World Tag Team champions the Vachons in action! As well as “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon, D’Lo Brown, and more USWA stars in Evansville!
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 8, 2018 1:14:09 GMT -4
December 7, 2015 Card #453: Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville
1) D’Lo Brown got a win in the opener over George South. Brown hit a picture-perfect moonsault after just a few minutes to score the pinfall. He looked impressive here in singles action. Will that carry over next week in Union City when his tag team partner Sweet Brown Sugar returns from injury and the PYT Express battle Brian Kendrick and Paul London? ¼*
2) “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon kept up his recent winning ways with a pinfall on “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. Cannon needed only about two minutes to execute the Burning Hammer and score the pinfall. He celebrated with some PBRs amongst the Evansville fans. DUD
3) “Classy” Freddie Blassie had perhaps his toughest bout to date, but still came out the winner, with a pinfall win over Red Bastien. Blassie used his brawling skills in the opening minutes to work over Bastien, including biting Bastien’s forehead twice. Bastien battled back and hit the airplane spin into an atomic drop. He covered Blassie but “The Hollywood Fashion Plate” kicked out. Bastien maintained control and went up to the top rope. He came off with a splash on the downed Blassie, but Blassie rolled out of the way and Bastien crashed hard. Both men struggled to their feet and Blassie struck first, hitting the Southern neckbreaker and putting Bastien down for the pinfall. After tonight’s victory, Blassie is 12-0 overall and he is looking ahead to his shot at the Southern Heavyweight title on New Year’s Eve! ***¼
4) The World Tag Team champions the Vachons defeated Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke. The Vachons double teamed Luke for the first few minutes, including Mad Dog hitting two Pounces. Butcher tagged in and went for the hangman but Luke got a foot over the top rope for a break. Luke battled back and surprised Mad Dog with a mule kick for a near fall. He tagged to Jim, who worked over both Vachons for a few minutes. Jim tagged back to Luke, but Butcher cut him off. He busted Luke open with a head butt and then went for a second hangman. Jim stepped over the ropes and booted Butcher in the face to break up the submission attempt. Mad Dog ran in and raked Jim’s eyes, then tossed the big man out of the ring. He then took Jim to the floor and rammed him head-first into the ring post. Back in the ring, Butcher maintained control of Luke. He whipped Luke into the ropes and then picked Luke up in a modified Hot Shot. He dropped Luke throat-first across the top rope, just as Mad Dog returned to the Vachons’ corner. Mad Dog assisted his brother in grabbing Luke’s head and adding more pressure to the Hot Shot. Butcher went for a cover and scored the pinfall. The Vachons looked impressive once again tonight. They have two big bouts upcoming: a title defense against the returning Midnight Express next week in Union City and a non-title bout with Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito at New Year’s Knockout XII! ***
5) Mid-America Heavyweight champion “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay scored an impressive comeback win over Billy Gunn. Gunn had the early advantage, scoring near falls after a running knee lift and a running corner splash. He later executed a Cobra Clutch slam and went for a cover but again Finlay kicked out. Gunn whipped Finlay into the corner and went for another running corner splash but the Mid-America got out of the way and Gunn’s head hit the ring post. Finlay rolled up Gunn with a school-boy and hooked the tights but Gunn kicked out. Finlay took control for several minutes but with the crowd on his side, Gunn fought back. He went up to the second rope and came off with an impressive Famouser. He went for a cover but “The Belfast Bruiser” kicked out at 2¾. It looked like Gunn would get a non-title win over Finlay. He sent Finlay into the corner. He then climbed up to the second rope and started to punch the Irish brawler, as the Evansville fans counted along with each punch. After eight punches, Finlay went low and tossed Gunn over the top and to the arena floor. Gunn hit his head on the ring apron on the way down. Frank Morrell put a count on Gunn but he crawled back in by nine. Finlay maintained control and executed the Tombstone a few minutes later to score the pinfall. The Mid-America champion continues to be on a roll, both in singles and tag team matches! ***½
6) Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito continued their winning ways with a win over Brian Kendrick and Paul London. The fan favorites were hoping to be the first team to knock off the House of Humperdink duo. Kendrick executed the Sliced Bread #2 on Zbyszko a few minutes into the bout and went for a cover but the former Southern champ kicked out. Zbyszko tagged to Saito, who worked on grounding the high flyer. Kendrick tagged to London, who ran wild on Zbyszko for a few minutes. He got Zbyszko down and went up to the top rope. He went for the 450 splash but Zbyszko rolled out of the way and London crashed hard. Zbyszko made an immediate cover but London kicked out. Saito tagged back in and punished London. He hit the Saito suplex and made a cover but London got a foot underneath the bottom rope for a break. Zbyszko tagged back in and hit the piledriver on London and scored the winning pinfall, while Saito kept Kendrick at bay. Sir Oliver Humperdink’s team continues to impress! ***
7) Doctor X earned a submission victory over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. The masked man had early control and got Valiant down on the mat. He went up to the second turnbuckle and came off with a knee drop, but “Boogie Woogie” rolled out of the way and X crashed hard. Valiant went for the sleeper, but X scrambled to the ropes. X surprised Valiant a few minutes later with his own X-cellent sleeper. It looked like the move might bring the victory, as Valiant dropped to the mat. Jerry Calhoun checked “Handsome” Jimmy’s arm. It dropped twice but right as it went to drop a third time, Valiant held up his arm and boogie-woogied his way to his feet. He broke out of the sleeper and took control. He attempted another sleeper of his own. X dropped to his knees but grabbed the ropes for another break. X took control on a mistake by Valiant and worked over his neck. He clamped Valiant in a full nelson. Valiant fought hard for the ropes but X held on and kept him in the center of the ring. Valiant dropped to his knees. Calhoun checked Valiant’s arm and this time it dropped three times, giving X the submission win. The former Southern champ looked impressive as he looks ahead to a rematch with Nick Bockwinkel next week in Union City! ***¼
8) Speaking of Nick Bockwinkel, the four-time former USWA champion got a submission win over his own over Ox Baker. Bockwinkel largely outwrestled “The Fabulous” Ox. He showcased his brawling and aggressive side by grabbing Baker’s legs from outside the ring and then smashing his right leg into the ring post. He crawled back into the ring and clamped on the figure-four in the center of the ring. Due to the leg injury from the ring post, Baker was forced to tap. Bockwinkel looked impressive as he looks forward to a Stretcher Match with Larry “The Axe” Hennig on December 31! *¼
9) In a huge match-up between two popular, pure wrestlers, “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos scored an impressive submission win over Ed “Strangler” Lewis. The crowd was buzzing as both grapplers entered the ring. Londos offered his hand to Lewis before the bout. “Strangler” did not accept and headed back to his corner to await the bell, which drew a round of boos from most of the crowd! Despite this action, both men were cheered, although Londos had slightly more fans tonight in Evansville. The two exchanged some great scientific wrestling holds for several minutes. Lewis gained control and went for a single-leg Boston Crab, a move like one of Londos’ finishers. Londos was in pain but managed to crawl to the ropes for the break. Londos took control. He double-legged Lewis and then immediately went for his own Boston Crab. The “Strangler” fought hard for the ropes but Londos had counters for his attempted counters. Lewis was trapped and tapped out about 10 minutes into the bout! The somewhat quick finish drew a big pop from the Evansville crowd! As Londos got his arm raised, Lewis slowly got to his feet. He walked over to “The Golden Greek” and offered his hand. Londos accepted without hesitation and helped up the “Strangler’s” arm as well. The Evansville fans appreciated the show of sportsmanship between these two greats! **
10) Jim Londos’ opponent for the main event of New Year’s Knockout XII would be determined by tonight’s main event. Current and two-time World Heavyweight champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude put the title on the line against former Southern Heavyweight champion Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. Gordy had the crowd behind him tonight, as they hoped to see the title change and Rude’s historic reign come to an end. Rude took advantage at the bell. He came off the top a few minutes in with a stiff sledge, which busted open Gordy. Rude got Gordy down on the mat and came off the top again, this time with a knee drop. Gordy rolled out of the way and Rude landed hard. Gordy took control on the World champion and had him reeling from pillar-to-post. Gordy executed the power bomb on Rude and went for a cover but Rude kicked out at 2¾. With “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart frantically yelling through his megaphone at ringside, Rude battled back against Gordy. He hit an impressive suplex on the big man for a two-count. Rude continued to work over “Bamm Bamm” and took his time in setting up the Rude Awakening. He finally executed the move but decided to pose and flex to the crowd instead. He finally made the cover and not surprisingly Gordy kicked out. A bloodied Gordy briefly battled back and looked like he might leave Evansville the champion. He whipped Rude into the ropes, but the champion reversed the whip. As Gordy bounced back, Rude nailed him with a powerful clothesline. He then covered Gordy, hooked the leg, and scored the pinfall to retain the World title after about eight minutes of intense action. Rude will now go on to main event New Year’s Knockout XII for the second year in a row. This time he enters as the champion, putting the title on the line against “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos. (With the win, Rude has now defended the World title 12 times.) ***¼
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 17, 2018 23:42:01 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 12-12, including more announcements for New Year’s Knockout XII! • The main event for the New Year’s Eve tradition was made official after last week’s card in Evansville. “Ravishing” Rick Rude will defend the USWA World Heavyweight title against “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos! It was at last year’s New Year’s Knockout that Rude captured his second USWA title; the reign which continues to this day. Londos was interviewed in studio on this edition of Championship Wrestling. He said that he feels he is the superior wrestler to the champion. But he knows that sometimes outside forces can dictate the outcome. Therefore, he has asked for some help from a man he respects greatly. Into the studio walked Ed “Strangler” Lewis. As they did last week in Evansville, Lewis and Londos shook hands and Lewis said that he will be in Londos’ corner for the big match. Londos said he contacted Lewis after their own bout last week and asked him for his assistance, as the “Strangler” knows Rude both inside and outside the ring, from his time managing Lou Thesz. Lance Russell asked if Lewis would be a full-time manager for “The Golden Greek.” Lewis said that he will not be accompanying Londos regularly, but he will be there to see him end the “reign of terror” of the “Ravishing One”! He said that Londos is one of the most skilled technical wrestlers he’s ever wrestled and he feels that he has the tools to be the one to end Rude’s reign. • Two big behemoths will collide once again as Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy faces Ox Baker of the House of Humperdink! Baker made his USWA return this year, initially with Hot Stuff, International, by attacking Gordy during a bout with Mr. Saito back in March in Jackson. The two have battled each other a few times this year and are looking for a decisive win to end 2015! • The Mid-America Heavyweight champion will be in non-title action, when “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay clashes with Claudio Castagnoli in a grudge match! Finlay and David Taylor put Castagnoli out of action in September in Knoxville with a spike Tombstone. “The Swiss Superman” will return to action next week in Union City and is aiming for revenge against the Irish brawler. A win over the Mid-America champion would definitely put former champion Castagnoli in line for a title shot in 2016! • New Year’s Knockout XII will also feature the debut of the popular Tommy Rogers! Rogers hails from Los Angeles and has most recently wrestled in Hawaii for 50th State Championship Wrestling. He has a fast-paced style and a unique finisher in his Tomikaze (an inverted double-underhook facebuster). • Another video was sent in by the Age of the Fall. Jimmy Jacobs spoke through the entire video and said that he has recruited two men who agree with his beliefs and have agreed to take out the New Age Outlaws so that the real “New Age of the USWA” can begin. The camera panned over to show the wild brawler the Necro Butcher! Jacobs said that Necro is not afraid to hurt himself if it means hurting an opponent more. The camera then switched to show Luke Harper! Harper is known for competing in Midwest promotions like Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW) and Midwest All-Star Wrestling (MASW). He is a huge man who has amazing agility! Jacobs said that neither Jesse James nor Billy Gunn can compete with a physical specimen like Harper. Jacobs said that in the absence of himself and Tyler Black, Harper and Butcher want to battle the Outlaws in a tag team match at New Year’s Knockout! • The Outlaws were later interviewed in-studio. “The Road Dogg” stated that he knows about both Butcher and Harper and he doesn’t understand why such talented wrestlers would associate with a “freak” like Jimmy Jacobs. But he said that he and Gunn are more than willing to accept their challenge and show them that they’ve joined the wrong team! • More matches were announcedHardinthe December 21 card at North Hardin High School in Radcliff: o Fit Finlay will make his first defense of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title, when he puts the title on the line against “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Finlay has been on a roll the last few months, in both singles and tag team competition. Cannon has had his own hot streak the last month, with singles wins over D’Lo Brown and “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Can the PBR drinker capture his first USWA championship? o Before he challenges for the USWA World Heavyweight championship on December 31, “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos will battle a three-time former Southern Heavyweight champion in “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert! Londos defeated Eddie’s brother Doug last month in Tupelo, right before Doug departed the USWA. Eddie is looking to defend the Gilbert family, but also to earn himself a big singles win, especially as he is coming off a disqualification victory over Nick Bockwinkel from last month in Memphis at the USWA’s 450th card. o In a rematch from the 450th celebration, the undefeated “Superstar” Bill Dundee will battle former Mid-America champion David Taylor. Taylor busted Dundee open in their first bout and came very close to giving Dundee his first loss in the USWA, but Dundee surprised him with a Boston Crab out of nowhere for the submission victory. Taylor hopes to finish the job this time!
The USWA comes back to the Union City Civic Auditorium on December 14! • “Superstar” Bill Dundee will battle the masked Double X! Dundee has become very popular in the USWA cities, due to his exciting style and charisma. Double X has been very impressive since debuting in March and he has a huge bout on December 31 that could reveal who he truly is. Who will win this match-up? • Union City’s own Sweet Brown Sugar will return from his neck injury in his hometown! Sugar and PYT Express partner D’Lo Brown will take on Brian Kendrick and Paul London. The PYTs are hoping to get back on track and earn a big win in their hometown. But they cannot look past the always-capable duo of Kendrick and London. This could be an exciting tag team bout! • Larry “The Axe” Hennig will collide with an enemy of the First Family of Wrestling—“The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Hennig is looking ahead to his Stretcher Match with Nick Bockwinkel on December 31. But he cannot look past the two-time former Southern champion “Boogie Woogie.” Valiant is fighting for his ally Nick Bockwinkel and would love to put out “The Axe” with his sleeper. Can he do it or will “The Axe” chop him down? • Another USWA superstar will return, as Claudio Castagnoli battles David Taylor. Castagnoli is out for revenge on one of the men who injured him. He hopes to take out Taylor and then go after Taylor’s mate Mid-America champion Fit Finlay. Can Castagnoli defeat the British grappler? • In a rematch from last month in Louisville, Nick Bockwinkel tangles with Doctor X! X scored a huge win last time with an X-cellent sleeper, although he was aided in part by Larry Hennig and Eddie Gilbert. Bockwinkel looked like a man possessed in dominating Ox Baker last week. Will the same Bockwinkel show up this week or will X mark the spot twice? • Speaking of Ox Baker, “The Fabulous” Ox will take on the undefeated “Golden Greek” Jim Londos! This is an interesting match-up. You have the pure scientific skills of Londos vs. the brawling and punching of Baker. It’s also a match-up of “Beauty vs. The Beast.” (Which one is which?) Londos can defeat larger opponents, as he was triumphant over Larry Hennig last month in Memphis. But he can defeat the big Iowan? • The main event will be a big rematch for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon will make the first defense of their second reign, when they put the titles on the line on against the returning six-time former champions the Midnight Express! “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane captured their sixth championship from the Vachons in October in Lexington. However, their reign was cut short as they were suspended 12 days later for four cards for injuring Sweet Brown Sugar in Jonesboro, who will also return on this card. The Midnights gave the Vachons only their second decisive loss since returning to the USWA at Independence Day Bash 2014. Many fans feel that the Vachons are simply “keeping the belts warm” until the Midnights’ suspension ended and that the same thing will happen this time. Can the Midnights become seven-time champions or will the Vachons have a game plan to hold on to the gold?
All these huge bouts, plus “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon, the House of Humperdink team of Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito, and more USWA stars in action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 22, 2018 1:11:25 GMT -4
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
December 14, 2015 Card #454: Union City Civic Auditorium
1) Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito were victorious in the opener, as they defeated “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill via countout. The House of Humperdink team kept Doring in the ring for the entire bout, which was a short one at that. Saito knocked Doring to the arena floor with some stiff chops and then followed him out there. He hit the Saito suplex on the Civic Auditorium floor and then got back into the ring. Despite RoadKill saying “Chickens!” right in Doring’s face, the “Dastardly One” could not beat Paul Morton’s count, so Zbyszko and Saito were victorious yet again. This makes them 7-0 overall as a team, as they look ahead to a non-title bout with the current World Tag Team champions the Vachons at New Year’s Knockout! DUD
2) “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon scored a pinfall on “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. Cannon largely dominated the New Yorker and won with an elbow drop off the top rope after just a few minutes of action. The PBR fanatic looked impressive here. Can he capture the Mid-America title next week in Radcliff? ¼*
3) “Superstar” Bill Dundee kept up his winning ways with a pin on Double X. The Australian grappler dominated the masked man and got the pin with the Superstar Bomb after just a few minutes. Dundee continues to impress and to gain fans in the USWA cities! ¾*
4) “Classy” Freddie Blassie picked up a tainted win over Cousin Luke. Blassie dominated Luke and for no reason a few minutes into the match, grabbed the hillbilly’s “lucky” horseshoe. Paul Morton stopped Blassie from using it but apparently there was a reason, as while Morton put the horseshoe in one corner of the ring, Blassie blasted Luke with a low blow. He then covered Luke and scored the pinfall. “The King of Men” gloated toward the Union City fans, as he got his arm raised. While he beat Luke, can he capture the Southern title from Steve “Dr. Death” Williams in 17 days in Knoxville? DUD
5) Brian Kendrick and Paul London spoiled the return of Union City’s own Sweet Brown Sugar and his partner D’Lo Brown with a big pinfall victory. The Union City fans were not happy to see Sugar back in action, as they booed the PYT Express as they made their entrance to their theme music. The PYTs dominated the first few minutes of the match but the fan favorites took over with a tossing dropkick on Sugar. London executed an Oklahoma side roll but Brown broke up the pin attempt. Brown tagged in a few moments later but London cut him off. London got Brown down on the mat and went for the 450 splash but Brown got his knees up and blasted London in the stomach. Both men tagged their partners. Sugar took over on Kendrick and hit a spinning neckbreaker for a two-count. Brown came back in and hit the Lo Down. He covered Kendrick cockily and not surprisingly only got a two. Sugar came back in but Kendrick took control. He tagged to London who worked over Sugar and then tagged Kendrick so the fan favorites hit the assisted Shooting Star Press. Kendrick went for a cover but Sugar kicked out. Kendrick hit the Sliced Bread #2 a few minutes later but Brown kicked out at 2¾. Kendrick surprised Sugar with a front rolling cradle a few minutes after and scored the pinfall out of nowhere. The Union City fans popped big and supported Kendrick and London over their hometown wrestler! ***¾
6) Larry “The Axe” Hennig scored a quick, albeit tainted, win over “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Just as Nick Bockwinkel was aggressive in his bout with Ox Baker last week in Evansville, Hennig was aggressive here. He rushed Valiant right at the opening bell and pummeled him. About two minutes into the bout, “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart jumped up on the ring apron to distract Scott Bowden. At the same time, Hart dropped an object into the ring. Hennig grabbed the object, loaded up his elbow pad, whipped Valiant into the ropes, and the delivered a loaded Axe. He covered Valiant and Bowden turned around to count the pinfall. Hennig looked ready for a Stretcher Match, where anything goes! DUD
7) Claudio Castagnoli returned from injury and gained revenge on one of the wrestlers who put him out of action, with a pinfall win over David Taylor. “The Swiss Superman” was very aggressive against Taylor. He used his power to pick Taylor up off the mat with ease with a lifting gut wrench. The throw was enough to put Taylor down for the pin. Castagnoli is half-way accomplished with his revenge mission. On December 31, he will try and accomplish part 2 with a win over Mid-America champ Fit Finlay! ¼*
8) Nick Bockwinkel also gained revenge with a quick submission win over Doctor X. The four-time former USWA World champion was relentless on the masked man at the bell, working over his legs. He slapped on his figure-four in the center of the ring and scored the tap out about three minutes into the match. Bockwinkel was a man possessed, as he has his sights sets on Larry Hennig on New Year’s Eve! DUD
9) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos took a lot of punishment but battled back to score a submission win over Ox Baker. Baker hoped to be the first USWA wrestler to defeat Londos, as he attacked the Greek right at the bell. He hit a knee drop to Londos’ head and made a cover but Londos quickly kicked out. Baker hit a powerful clothesline, as well as a shoulder breaker and went for pins but Londos kicked out. Londos surprised Baker and threw him with a headlock. Baker managed to keep his shoulders off the mat but got trapped in an armbar a few minutes later. Baker was in the center of the ring and despite screams from Sir Oliver Humperdink tapped out to the pain. Londos picked up another impressive victory, this time over a larger foe! **½
10) The main event was to determine decisive USWA World Tag Team champions. The current and two-time champions Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon put the titles on the line against the six-time former champions the Midnight Express. “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane won the titles from the Vachons in October in Lexington, being only the second team (after the New Age Outlaws) to defeat the Vachons decisively since their return to the USWA in July 2014. Their sixth reign was cut short, as they were suspended 12 days later for injuring Union City native Sweet Brown Sugar. As soon as Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced the suspension and vacating of the titles, he announced that Eaton and Lane would receive a rematch on their return.
The challengers cut the ring in half on Mad Dog in the first few minutes, as Lane blasted him with an enzuigiri and “The Sultan of Swing” blasted him with a right hand a few minutes later. Mad Dog kicked out of both pin attempts and took control on Eaton. He hit the Mad Dog Pounce on “Beautiful” Bobby and then tagged to Butcher. Butcher worked over Eaton until he went for a body slam and got surprised by a small package from Eaton for a near fall. Butcher stopped Eaton from tagging Lane and tagged back to his brother Mad Dog. Mad Dog bit and punched away at Eaton but “Beautiful” Bobby battled back on the Algerian. Eaton knocked Butcher off the apron with a right hand. He tagged to Lane and the Midnights hit the Veg-o-Matic on Mad Dog. Lane went for the cover and Paul Morton was about to count three but out of nowhere the PYT Express hit the ring and attacked both Midnights. Morton was left with no choice but to call for the bell and disqualify the Vachons, giving the Midnights the win but not the titles. The PYTs pummeled on both Eaton and Lane, as the Vachons got out of the ring as quickly as they could with their belts still intact. The Midnights fought back and sent the PYTs feeling, which excited the Union City fans! **
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 26, 2018 1:02:41 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 12-19, with the final matches announced for New Year’s Knockout XII in Knoxville! • The Midnight Express were irate that they did not become seven-time World Tag Team champions last week in Union City. They issued a challenge to the PYT Express for another bout on New Year’s Event. “Sweet” Stan Lane said he wants there to be no doubt who the better Express is on that night and that he and “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton want a No-Disqualification Match! The PYTs later in the show accepted the challenge and said if anything goes, they will prove their “street cred” and beat the “imposter” Express! • The undefeated “Superstar” Bill Dundee will be in action on New Year’s Eve when takes on former Southern Heavyweight champion Doctor X! Dundee scored an impressive win on X’s tag team partner Double X last week in Union City and hopes to repeat his success but he cannot underestimate the Doctor! • Two former singles champions will collide as two-time former Southern Heavyweight champion “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant faces former Mid-America Heavyweight champion David Taylor. Both combatants are hoping to conclude 2015 with a big singles win as they look forward to the New Year!
It’s the final stop before New Year’s Knockout XII, as the USWA comes back to North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY on December 21! • In a rematch from the historic 450th USWA card last month in Memphis, “Superstar” Bill Dundee will face David Taylor. Taylor gave Dundee his toughest USWA challenge to-date but in the end, the Aussie triumphed over the Brit. Can Dundee win again or will Taylor have his number? • Red Bastien has a big Moustache vs. Mask Match on New Year’s Eve. Before then he will meet one of Double X’s allies—one-half of the World Tag Team champions Butcher Vachon! Bastien and Butcher have battled in both singles and tags in the past. Can Bastien gain momentum prior to his big bout on the 31st? • The Midnight Express are irate about not becoming seven-time champions. Before they go for revenge on the PYT Express, they will face Brian Kendrick and Paul London. The high-flying fan favorites defeated “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane in a non-title match when the Express was in their sixth reign in October in Nashville. In between, the Express was suspended, but this win earned Kendrick and London a bout with the Vachons to determine new champions. Kendrick and London are hoping for another big win over Eaton and Lane. Will lightning strike twice? • The other World Tag Team champion Mad Dog Vachon will do battle with former Southern Heavyweight champion Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy. Gordy is hoping to get back on track after losing his challenge of the World Heavyweight title two weeks ago in Evansville against “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Mad Dog has been impressive in singles this year, with two pinfalls on Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Can he defeat “Bamm Bamm” or will Gordy put Mad Dog in his place? • The challenger for the World Heavyweight title on New Year’s Eve, “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos will battle three-time former Southern Heavyweight champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Gilbert, flanked by Sir Oliver Humperdink, was interviewed on this last week’s Championship Wrestling. Gilbert and Humperdink brought a chalkboard into the WMC-TV Studios. As Gilbert narrated, Humperdink drew diagrams on the board. Gilbert stated that while Nick Bockwinkel has never beaten “Ravishing” Rick Rude when it counts and that he (Gilbert) holds a win over Bockwinkel, then Londos won’t beat Rude for the World title on New Year’s Eve and he won’t beat him (Gilbert) this week! Lance Russell said that Gilbert’s theory is a little flawed. Gilbert responded that Lance isn’t as educated as he is and that his theory will become fact next week. Will “Hot Stuff’s” theory be true or will Londos continue to win? • Before he challenges for the Southern Heavyweight title at New Year’s Knockout XII, the undefeated “Classy” Freddie Blassie will battle Steve Williams’ ally “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Blassie has an impressive 13-0 record going into this week’s bout with “Hacksaw,” which is extra impressive in the ultra-competitive USWA. He cannot underestimate Duggan, who has scored many big wins in the past. Can Blassie win again or will “Hacksaw” knock down “The Vampire”? • “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay will make his first defense of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title against “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon! Cannon holds two recent big wins over “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and D’Lo Brown. Finlay has been impressive himself in the last few months, both in singles and in tags with David Taylor, doing whatever he needs to do to win. Can Finlay hold on to the belt or will Cannon be celebrating his first USWA championship with the Radcliff fans? (No PBRs will be opened on this night, in North Hardin High School!) • The main event will see the current and seven-time Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams will face former champion and a man he knows well—Doctor X! Since Williams’ seventh capture of the title back in September in Evansville, both X and “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert have been prohibited a shot at the title. X defeated Williams via countout in October in Lexington in a non-title bout, thanks in large part to interference from the Vachons and Double X. The Doctor is hoping to get a decisive win over the champion now to secure himself a shot at the belt in the future, whenever (if ever), “Dr. Death” loses the gold. Can X topple the “Doc” or will Williams reign supreme?
All these big bouts, plus the PYT Express in action, as well as the debut of the Age of the Fall’s team of Luke Harper and the Necro Butcher! It’s the last stop before New Year’s Knockout XII!
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Post by Cory Olson on Nov 29, 2018 0:52:47 GMT -4
December 21, 2015 Card #455: North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY
1) The PYT Express got a win in the opener over “Dastardly” Danny Doring and the Amish RoadKill. For the second card in a row, Doring was trapped in the ring the entire bout and was never able to tag to RoadKill. D’Lo Brown hit a running power bomb on Doring for a two-count but maintained control and pulled Doring closer to the PYTs’ corner. He came off the top rope with the Lo Down and scored the pin, while Sweet Brown Sugar stopped an intervening “Angry Amish Warrior” with a dropkick. The PYTs were impressive tonight but how will they do against their rivals the Midnight Express in a No-Disqualification Match in 10 days? DUD
2) “Superstar” Bill Dundee scored a second victory over David Taylor. Taylor was aggressive at the start, hoping to end Dundee’s winning streak. He hit a leg drop for a near fall and followed up with the British suplex a few minutes later. He scored a very near fall on Dundee but the Aussie got his shoulder up at 2¾. Dundee surprised the British grappler with a Boston Crab, which brought him victory when these two met in Memphis last month. Dundee maintained control and came off the top with the Superstar Bomb to score the pinfall! The “Superstar” remains undefeated. Will he finish 2015 unbeaten when he tangles with Doctor X on New Year’s Eve? **
3) The Age of the Fall’s new followers of the Necro Butcher and Luke Harper made their USWA debut and were victorious over S.D. Jones and Jim Powers. Necro and Harper double teamed Powers for the first few minutes of the bout, including Necro using a series of stiff head butts on Powers for a near fall. Powers surprised Harper with a crossbody block for a two-count and the tagged “Special Delivery.” Jones looked like he might ruin the new team’s debut as he had the big Harper dazed with some punches and then came off the top rope with a diving head butt. He knocked Harper down and went for a cover but the Butcher quickly jumped in and broke up the pin with an eye rake. Powers tagged back in and had control on the big Nebraskan for a few minutes. He went up to the top rope and came off with a double ax-handle but Harper blasted him with his big boot (his finisher) in midair. Rather than try a pin, the sadistic Harper administered more punishment before tagging to Necro. Necro worked over Powers and then hit a Death Valley Driver to score the pinfall. This duo looked very impressive but they will have a tougher challenge on their hands on December 31 when they face the two-time former USWA Tag Team champions the New Age Outlaws! **½
4) Red Bastien scored an impressive pinfall on one half of the World Tag Team champions Butcher Vachon. Bastien used his quickness and agility to wear down his larger opponent, blasting Butcher with several flying dropkicks for a two-count. A few moments later Bastien got Butcher up in an airplane spin and then turned it into the atomic drop to score the pinfall. Can Bastien be just as impressive with his moustache on the line against Double X’s mask in 10 days? *
5) The Midnight Express defeated Brian Kendrick and Paul London in a competitive tag team bout. London went for an early pin on “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton with an Oklahoma side roll but only got a two-count. “Sweet” Stan Lane tagged in and surprised London with an enzuigiri for a near fall. The Midnights double teamed London for several minutes and hit the Veg-o-Matic. Lane went for the pin but London got his shoulder up at 2¾. London made the hot tag to Kendrick a few moments later. Kendrick ran wild on Eaton, hitting a tossing dropkick with London for a near fall. The Midnights cut Kendrick off and executed the Flapjack on him for another near fall. London got back into the match and had control against Eaton. He knocked him into the corner and dove at him with a forearm but “Beautiful” Bobby got out of the way and London crashed hard. Eaton rolled him up with a school boy and put his feet on the second rope. The tactic was made near the fan favorites’ corner and Kendrick called Tommy Marlin’s attention to it. Marlin forced Eaton to break up the pin attempt. Eaton maintained control and tossed London to the outside. He followed the Texan and executed a bulldog on the North Hardin High gym floor. Eaton returned to the ring and it looked like the Midnights would be countout winners but with Kendrick’s help and the fans behind him, London got back in the ring by nine. “The Gangster of Love” tagged back in and executed a side leg sweep on London. He floated over into the cover and scored the pin while Eaton kept Kendrick at bay. The Midnights looked impressive in this battle! ***½
6) Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy defeated the other half of the World Tag Team champions Mad Dog Vachon via disqualification. This was a physical brawl. Gordy won out in a slugfest and then went up to the top rope. He came off with a 289-pound flying body press on to Mad Dog. Gordy made a cover but Mad Dog kicked out. Gordy hit the power bomb and went for a cover but Mad Dog kicked out yet again. Gordy maintained control and hit a second power bomb. As Gordy went for another cover Butcher Vachon and Double X stormed the ring and attacked Gordy, with Double X using a steel chair to the back. Sam Platania immediately called for the bell and disqualified Mad Dog. After the bell, Butcher smacked Gordy’s ankle with the chair. Mad Dog recovered and went up to the top rope. Butcher placed Gordy’s ankle between the top and seat of the chair and held his ankle down while the masked man held “Bamm Bamm’s” arms and Mad Dog dove off with a stomp to the chair. Gordy hollered in pain, as Mad Dog climbed the ropes again. Before the Algerian could dive off again Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan (with 2X4 in hand) stormed the ring. Duggan clobbered Butcher and Double X in the back with the 2X4 and then scared Mad Dog off the top rope. The rulebreaking trio fled the ringside area, while Williams and Duggan checked on their ally. The tough Gordy was in a lot of pain as he needed Williams and Duggan’s help to get to his feet and get back to the locker room. **
7) “The Golden Greek” Jim Londos had his toughest battle in the USWA to date but still kept up his winning ways with a pinfall on three-time former Southern champion “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Londos had the advantage at the start. He executed the airplane spin a few minutes into the match. He dropped down into a pin attempt but Sir Oliver Humperdink distracted Tom Branch. Londos, always focused on wrestling, did not notice right away and was very confused. He eventually noticed Humperdink and left Gilbert to go after the manager. Londos maintained control. He got Gilbert in the Boston Crab a few moments later. Gilbert looked in trouble but managed to get himself to the ropes for a break. Gilbert surprised Londos with a small package and a near fall a few moments later. “Hot Stuff” became the aggressor, hitting the Hot Shot for a near fall. He worked on Londos’ leg and clamped on a figure-four leglock in the center of the ring. Londos was trapped for nearly a minute and looked like he might tap but with the Radcliff fans cheering him on managed to get to the ropes. Gilbert threw some punches at Londos but Londos ducked one and surprised “Hot Stuff” with a headlock throw. Gilbert landed right on his head and was busted open but managed to keep from getting pinned, as he rolled Londos onto his shoulders and held the tights to try and get a sneaky pinfall. Londos rolled out of it and released the headlock. Gilbert took control. He pummeled Londos in the corner now drawing blood on “The Golden Greek.” Gilbert executed a piledriver on Londos and made a cocky cover. Not surprisingly Londos made a cover. Gilbert gloated as if he had won the match. He slapped Londos against the ropes in a taunting way. Londos got fired up and took Gilbert down to the mat with an armbar. He then crossfaced Gilbert and locked him up into a far side cradle, like in amateur wrestling. He turned Gilbert on to his shoulders and scored the pinfall out of nowhere. It was a great comeback win for “The Golden Greek.” He got a through a tough challenge in Gilbert tonight but how will he do in 10 days when he challenges “Ravishing” Rick Rude for the World Heavyweight title? ****¼
8) “Classy” Freddie Blassie also remained undefeated as he scored a pinfall on “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Duggan had control at the start. He hit a spinning body slam on Blassie for a near fall. Duggan got down in the three-point stance and blasted Blassie with the flying spear. Duggan went for the pin but Blassie landed near the ropes and managed to get a foot underneath the bottom rope for the break. Duggan maintained control for a few minutes but Blassie cut him off by dropping him throat-first onto the second rope. “The Vampire” showcased his dental tactics as he bit “Hacksaw” on three separate occasions during the bout. Blassie finally used the Southern neckbreaker to score the pin. Blassie looked impressive here, as he looks ahead to challenging Duggan’s ally Steve “Dr. Death” Williams for the USWA Southern Heavyweight title on New Year’s Eve! ***½
9) “The Belfast Bruiser” Fit Finlay made his first defense of the USWA Mid-America Heavyweight title with a win over “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon. Cannon had been on a roll prior to challenging the Irish brawler but Finlay was extra aggressive tonight. He hit a fireman’s carry Hot Shot for a near fall and then followed up with the Tombstone to score the pinfall just a few minutes into the match. Finlay has been on a hot streak lately. Can he keep it up when he battles Claudio Castagnoli in a big grudge match at New Year’s Knockout? ¼*
10) The main event saw two old rivals clash again, as the current and seven-time Southern Heavyweight champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams battled former champ Doctor X. Due to the Triangle Match with Eddie Gilbert back in September in Evansville, X is not allowed to challenge for the Southern title during Williams’ seventh reign, so this was a non-title bout. Williams was very focused here and dominated much of the bout. He hit the backdrop driver and then came off the top rope a few minutes later with an impressive flying body press. He hooked X’s leg and scored the pinfall. The fans gave Williams a big pop. He held up his Southern title belt but will he be holding it after December 31? *½
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Post by Cory Olson on Dec 15, 2018 17:24:04 GMT -4
Highlights of USWA Championship Wrestling from 12-26, with some huge news based off the last card, with big implications for New Year’s Knockout XII!• After the attack by the World Tag Team champions the Vachons and Double X, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy suffered an ankle injury. The former Southern champion will not only miss the biggest USWA supercard of the year but will be out of action until February. • Commissioner Bob Armstrong announced that the Vachons and Double X have all been suspended for six cards because of the attack! In addition, Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon have been stripped of the USWA World Tag Team titles! This is the second time the titles have been vacated in as many months. “Bullet” Bob announced that a tournament will take place starting on the first card of 2016 in Chattanooga! More announcements will be made on USWA Championship Wrestling in the coming weeks after New Year’s Knockout XII! • With the suspensions of Vachons and Double X, this definitely throws a wrench into some big bouts for New Year’s Knockout XII. But fans will get to see the Moustache vs. Mask Match between Red Bastien and Double X, as well as the Vachons battle Larry Zbyszko and Mr. Saito in early 2016! The USWA will wrap up 2015, with the 12th annual New Year’s Knockout! For the first time in the supercard’s history, the event will take place in Knoxville at the Civic Coliseum! With the injuries and suspensions announced on the 12-26 edition of USWA Championship Wrestling, it’s good that the USWA always announces, “Card subject to change”! From beginning-to-end, here is the revised line-up for the USWA’s biggest card of the year!Tommy Rogers vs. Johnny Rodz The up-and-comer Rogers is making his USWA debut. He is known for quick-paced offense and his unique Tomikaze finisher. He cannot underestimate “The Unpredictable” Rodz who is very…well, unpredictable! Rodz could spoil Rogers’ debut. Will the L.A. resident topple the New Yorker? Jimmy Valiant vs. David Taylor This will be a first-time meeting in singles between “The Boogie Woogie Man” and the British grappler. Valiant is a two-time former Southern Heavyweight and two-time former World Tag Team champion, while Taylor is a former Mid-America champion. Both men are looking to end 2015 with a win to give them momentum going into 2016. Who will celebrate New Year’s Eve the victor? “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. Ox Baker While Duggan is a last-minute substitute for his injured ally Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy, he and “The Fabulous” Ox are no strangers, as they have battled dating back to 2005 in the USWA. More recently, Duggan defeated Baker at Derby City Stampede back in May. Can Duggan topple Baker again or will Baker stop “Hacksaw” with the heart punch? Larry Zbyszko & Mr. Saito vs. Brian Kendrick & Paul London Due to the suspension of the Vachons, this match was changed as well, as the high-flying favorites were put into this match as replacements for the brawling Algerians. Zbyszko and Saito have compiled an overall 7-0 record since Sir Oliver Humperdink put them together and they started teaming in October. Kendrick and London have pulled off big upset wins in the past and going into 2016, especially with the World Tag Team titles vacant, would love to get end the House of Humperdink team’s winning streak. Can they do it or will Zbyszko and Saito triumph once again? Bill Dundee vs. Doctor X Another undefeated USWA superstar is “Superstar” Bill Dundee. The Aussie debuted in September and currently is at a 7-0 record in singles, which is very impressive in the ultra-competitive USWA. X has had a good year as well, holding the USWA Southern Heavyweight title briefly and scoring wins over Nick Bockwinkel and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Despite being in the USWA since 2014 and building a strong unit with the now-suspended Vachons and Double X, fans still don’t know much about this masked technical wrestler. Dundee cannot overlook X. Can the Aussie remain unbeaten or will X mark the spot? The New Age Outlaws vs. Luke Harper & The Necro Butcher “The Road Dogg” Jesse James and Billy Gunn have had their frustrations with the Age of the Fall this year. Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black made their feud more personal by putting the Outlaws’ ally Tracy Smothers out of action with a sickening attack through a table in November in Tupelo. With their suspension, Jacobs recruited Harper and the Necro Butcher to “join the cause” and go after the Outlaws. The size and abilities of Harper coupled with the brawling skills and sadistic nature of Necro could be very dangerous. But they are taking on two-time former World Tag Team champions and a team that’s been red-hot in 2015, in the Outlaws. Which team will triumph in this personal battle? Red Bastien vs. Eddie Gilbert Another match that was changed due to the suspension of Double X and the Vachons, as “Hot Stuff” jumped on the opportunity to get a match on the biggest supercard of the year, even though he will be subbing for a man with whose faction he has been feuding in 2015. Bastien was scheduled to try and win the mask of Double X. That match will happen in 2016 but the flying redhead will have to wait. Gilbert has had a great 2015, going from manager to a regular wrestler and winning the Southern Heavyweight title three times. He had a battle with Nick Bockwinkel in November at the 450th card and plans to see the four-time former USWA champion again in 2016. While both wrestlers await other battles in the New Year, who will win this encounter to end 2015? The Midnight Express vs. The PYT Express (No-Disqualification Match) “Sweet” Stan Lane and Sweet Brown Sugar were three-time former USWA World Tag Team champions, with “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton as their third partner. But after the forced departure of their former manager Jim Cornette at last year’s New Year’s Knockout, the former three-man Midnight Express started having some problems, specifically Lane and Eaton with Sugar. Lane abandoned Sugar in a match against “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant back in March. Sugar brought in D’Lo Brown as his new partner in April. The Midnights put Sugar out of action in October in Jonesboro with a neck injury, which also caused them to be stripped of the USWA World Tag Team titles. Eaton and Lane returned from suspension two weeks ago in Sugar’s hometown of Union City and appeared to be on their way to winning back the belts from the then-champions the Vachons but the PYTs interfered, causing a DQ. In this match, there will be no disqualifications and no countouts. Wrestlers will need to tag in-and-out to determine legal men but otherwise, anything is possible! Can the PYTs defeat the Midnights or will “Beautiful” Bobby and “Sweet” Stan avenge being screwed out of the World Tag Team titles two weeks ago? Fit Finlay vs. Claudio Castagnoli Finlay has had a good few months, running two-time former World champion “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson out of the USWA and capturing his first championship in the Mid-America title. Castagnoli was injured by Finlay and David Taylor back in September in Knoxville. He returned to action a couple of weeks ago in Union City and scored a decisive win over Taylor. While this will be a non-title match, you can bet the former Mid-America champion Castagnoli would love to defeat current champion Finlay and get a title shot in 2016. Can “The Swiss Superman” gain revenge on “The Belfast Bruiser”? Nick Bockwinkel vs. Larry Hennig (Stretcher Match) There is a lot of history in this bout. Bockwinkel and Hennig were former allies in the Heenan Family. At New Year’s Knockout VII in Lexington five years ago, “The Axe” was put out of action with a neck injury from a spike piledriver by the Crusher and Diamond Dallas Page in this same type of match against Hennig and Bockwinkel. Hennig returned to the USWA in July 2014 with Jimmy Hart’s First Family of Wrestling and attacked Bockwinkel during a bout with “Ravishing” Rick Rude. These two have had some physical bouts in the last year and are looking to end their feud in the same type of bout in which “The Axe” was injured five years ago. It was Hennig who wanted this type of match, as he wants Bockwinkel to go out the same way he did. Dave Brown reviewed the rules of a Stretcher Match on the December 26 edition of Championship Wrestling:
I. There are no pinfalls, submissions, countouts, or disqualifications in this match. II. There will be a stretcher stationed at ringside with two paramedics guarding it. III. A wrestler wins he places his opponent on the stretcher and the opponent is taken out of the arena by the paramedics. Who will leave Knoxville on a stretcher? Steve Williams vs. Freddie Blassie (USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship) Blassie made his debut in June in Dayton and has been undefeated since then, currently at an overall record of 14-0. Williams had some great battles over the Southern title with “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and Doctor X, with the title bouncing around before Williams settled with the title in a Triangle Match in September against both foes. Can Williams hold on to the gold and give Blassie his first loss in the USWA or will “The King of Men” capture the title in his first USWA title shot? Rick Rude vs. Jim Londos (Main Event—USWA World Heavyweight Championship) Rude captured his second USWA title at last year’s New Year’s Knockout with a win over four-time champion Lou Thesz. As of today, he has made 12 defenses of the title, putting him on the list in fourth place for most defenses of this title. Londos made his debut at Independence Day Bash and has been on a roll, going 13-0 so far. He has become one of the most popular wrestlers in the USWA. He enlisted the help of Ed “Strangler” Lewis for this bout, as Lewis first managed Thesz against Rude last year and then stepped inside the ring against him this several times this year. Can Rude continue his historic reign and end Londos' winning streak or will Londos knock him off at the one-year mark? That’s New Year’s Knockout XII, coming your way, as always, on December 31! This year, the huge supercard comes to the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville! Don’t miss a minute of the action!
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