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Post by Cory Olson on Jul 22, 2008 21:18:15 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on July 19: • Bill Apter traveled to Beverly Hills for a special interview with four-time USWA World Heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel informed Apter that after suffering a series of concussions, he wanted to be very cautious about returning to the ring too soon, thus he has sat out of action for all of 2008. He feels that after recuperating and training the last few months, he is ready to come back. Apter asked Bockwinkel if he is hoping to win his fifth World championship. Bockwinkel responded by saying that that is the ultimate goal of each and every wrestler. He said that he is not expecting to get a title shot in his first bout back, but he will take on any USWA wrestler, old and new, and will prove his superior wrestling skills to earn another championship opportunity. Apter asked Bockwinkel when fans can expect him back in the ring. Bock said he hasn’t decided on a date yet, but he will be ringside on August 15 in Lexington for World Heavyweight title bout between champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Dan “The Beast” Severn. • Lance Russell interviewed the new USWA World Tag Team champions, “Dastardly” Danny Doring and Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose, along with “Sensational” Sherri Martel. The trio came in with bottles of champagne. Martel was ecstatic about her men holding the Tag titles. She said it was her inspiration and her men’s talents that brought them success. Doring gloated about scoring the pinfall, saying that he didn’t even have to hook the leg to get the 1-2-3! Rose naturally bragged about being a double champion and the first man in USWA history to hold three championships. Russell asked if Rose is going to go for the “Grand Slam” and challenge for the Southern Heavyweight title. The “Playboy” said that he plans to down the line, but for right now his focus is on holding the two championships and figuring out where to spend his hard earned money. • Killer Kowalski has certainly made his share of enemies in the USWA. His longest-term rival Yukon Eric has challenged him to another bout on August 15 in Lexington. Eric has asked the Southern Heavyweight champ for a Lumberjack Match! The big Alaskan is very anxious to get a one-on-one pinfall or submission victory over Kowalski in a USWA ring. He feels confident that he can win this bout, that Eric has vowed if he loses, he will leave the USWA for at least one year! Kowalski and Capt. Lou Albano accepted Eric’s challenge later in the show, and called him foolish for risking his USWA career against Kowalski. • Lance Russell announced that “The Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous” The Crusher will be competing in the USWA! “Da” Crusher will make his debut on August 22 at the annual card from the Nashville Fairgrounds.
The Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville hosts a big card of USWA action on July 25! • Since “Jumping” Jim Brunzell will be in the main event of this card, B. Brian Blair has enlisted the help of Brad Armstrong to battle The Killer B’s. Capt. Lou Albano is hoping not only that his men defeat Blair, but embarrass Armstrong for scoring an upset on Magnificent Muraco. Albano also announced that Buff Bagwell will have a surprise for the fans. What could it be? • Another of the Captain’s men, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine will take on “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. Valentine continues to be on a roll, but can he put down the popular boy from New York City? • Bobo Brazil takes on The Sheik in another wild bout! Brazil got the pin on Sheik at Independence Day Bash. Can he do it again? Sheik has been using his fireballs with more frequency as of late. Will Bobo feel the burn? • Rikidozan takes on The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. This feud has heated up with Destroyer, Masked Superstar, and King Kong Bundy injuring Giant Baba at the Bash. Who will walk out the winner here? • In another rematch from the Bash, Dan “The Beast” Severn takes on The Masked Superstar. Severn got the win at the Bash, but Superstar scored a pin on Severn in the six-man tag team main event two weeks ago. Severn is looking for another win prior to challenging for the World Heavyweight title. This should be an exciting match! • The main event will be for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship, as Killer Kowalski defends against “Jumping” Jim Brunzell. Brunzell eliminated the champ in the ten-man tag team Elimination Match at the Bash. Can the Killer Bee win his first USWA title or will Kowalski stop him? Plus “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka battle “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Also Magnificent Muraco in action, as well as the new World Tag Team champions “Dastardly” Danny Doring and Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose!
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Post by Cory Olson on Jul 23, 2008 21:53:17 GMT -4
July 25, 2008 Card #176: Sailors & Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville
1) Former World Tag Team champions The Midnight Express got a victory in the opener over Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Hodge started off strong against “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, but “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey came in and take over. He dropped Hodge on the arena floor with his face-first leg sweep. Hodge barely beat the count back in. The Midnights hit a Midnight Massacre on Hodge, but Hodge kicked out. The new World Tag Team champions “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring, along with “Sensational” Sherri Martel came out midway through the bout and watched from the aisle, most likely scouting potential challengers. Hutton came back in and worked over Condrey. Hodge tagged back in, but got busted open by a Double Goozle. Hodge came off the second rope with a vertical body press, but Condrey caught him and dropped him throat-first across the top rope. “Loverboy” Dennis hit the face-first leg sweep and went for a cover, but Hutton made the save. A few minutes later The Midnights hit a second Midnight Massacre on Hodge and scored the pinfall. Jim Cornette stood in the ring with his team and bragged to Rose, Doring, and Sherri that the Midnights would soon win the belts for a third time. ***½
2) Magnificent Muraco scored a quick pinfall over George South. It took Muraco only a few minutes to put South down after a Hawaiian Hammer. DUD
3) New World Tag Team champions “Dastardly” Danny Doring and Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose defeated Cousin Luke and “Special Delivery” Jones. Rivals Luke and Rose went at it for a few minutes, which saw Luke hit a Hillbilly Drop on the “Playboy”. Luke went for a cover, but Rose kicked out. Doring came in and hit Luke with the Bareback, which won him and Rose the belts last week. The hillbilly managed to roll out of the ring before a pin attempt could be made. The champs fought back and showed their double teaming skills that they have developed in the short time together. Doring hit the Danaconda on Jones, but Luke broke up the pin attempt. After a G-Spot Sweep, Doring hit a second Danaconda to get the pin. **
4) The “makeshift” tag team of B. Brian Blair and Brad Armstrong scored somewhat of an upset win over The Killer B’s. Buff Bagwell’s big “surprise” for the Evansville fans turned out to be that his face has healed from his broken orbital bone. “Buff Daddy” came to the ring in his mask, but removed it before the bout began. This was a great back-and-forth tag team match. For their first time teaming together, Blair and Armstrong worked very well. Sam Platania went down after Armstrong reversed a whip into the corner and Brutus Beefcake crashed into him. With Platania out of commission, all four men ended up in and out of the ring. Kevin Christian ran down to take over Platania’s duties. The B’s trapped Blair in the corner and choked him with the tag rope, while Christian tried to get Armstrong back to his own corner. The B’s later worked over Armstrong, but the popular Georgian hit a Russian leg sweep on Bagwell out of nowhere. Armstrong went for a cover, but fellow Georgian Bagwell managed to kick out. Armstrong made the hot tag to Blair and the Bee went to work on “Buff Daddy”. Blair clamped on the sleeper. Beefcake jumped in, but Armstrong cut him off with a dropkick. Capt. Lou Albano jumped on the apron, but Armstrong dropkicked him as well. Bagwell looked close to the ropes, but Blair released the sleeper and shoved Buff into the turnbuckle, busting him open. In a great move, when Buff rebounded off the turnbuckle, Blair caught him in the sleeper again and drug him back to the center of the ring. This time there would be no escape as the sleeper put Bagwell out. ****
5) Rick Rude defeated Jimmy Snuka. It was a bad night for the USWA officials, as Tom Branch went down in the opening minutes, after “Superfly” accidentally blasted him with a chop. While Bobby “The Brain” Heenan was trying to revive Branch, the battle continued. Rude came off the top rope with a double sledge, but Snuka cut him off with a big chop, which sent Rude head over heels to the mat. Magnificent Muraco and Capt. Lou Albano came down to ringside. Muraco jumped in and blasted Snuka with a clothesline. He threw Snuka to the floor, then followed up by smashing him into the ring post. Just as quickly, Muraco and Albano returned to the locker room. Rude hit two Rude Awakenings while Branch was still recuperating. Branch finally came to and Heenan yelled that Snuka should be disqualified for hitting Branch, but the bout continued. Rude hit a big clothesline and went for a cover, but “Superfly” managed to kick out. The “Ravishing One” hit another Rude Awakening and got the pinfall. Snuka looked infuriated at the loss, and especially at Muraco’s involvement. **½
6) Greg Valentine defeated “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in a wild bout. The referees may be going on strike after tonight, as for the third straight bout, an official went down. Kevin Christian went down after Valentine (apparently) accidentally smashed him with an back elbow smash. “The Hammer” took advantage and smashed Valiant’s legs into the ring post several times. This weakened Valiant and Valentine went for the figure-four leglock, but Christian was still down. Valiant’s partner “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka ran down and head butted Capt. Lou Albano. He then jumped in the ring and came off the second rope with a fist drop to Valentine, breaking the figure-four. Snuka and Valiant whipped Valentine into the ropes and executed a double chop. Magnificent Muraco came back down to ringside, but before he could attack, Snuka went after him, diving over the top rope and blasting Muraco with a plancha. The two brawled back to the locker room. By this time Christian had recovered. “The Hammer” controlled Valiant throughout the bout, even busting “Boogie” open after several chops to the chest, then a stiff chop to the face. Valentine went for the figure-four again. Valiant fought for the ropes, but with his legs weakened and blood running down his face, the former Southern champ was left with no choice but to tap out. ***
7) The Sheik came out the winner over Bobo Brazil by DQ. Brazil was in control early, going for a cover after a big body slam. But Sheik went to his best tactics—cheating—and pulled out his sharp object. He weakened Bobo and applied the Camel Clutch. When Bobo wouldn’t submit, Sheik brought out the object again and slipped it in for extra pain. But Brazil saw it coming and blocked the object. He broke out of the Clutch and threw Sheik off. The object fell out of Sheik’s hand and Bobo picked it up. Much like he did at the Independence Day Bash, Brazil used Sheik’s own object against, pounding away on him. Abdullah Farouk jumped on the apron and pointed it out to Tom Branch. Unfortunately Branch caught Brazil using the object. Unlike at the Bash, this was not a No-Disqualification match, so Branch had to call for the bell and disqualify Bobo. The Evansville fans were not happy about this and berated Sheik and Farouk as they fled to the dressing room. **¼
8) The Destroyer scored a big pinfall victory over Rikidozan. The “Intelligent, Sensational One” had a lot of control throughout this bout. He came off the second rope with a stomp to Rikidozan’s leg, then went for the figure-four leglock. Rikidozan was able to get the ropes. Destroyer came off the top rope with a Bombs Away and scored a somewhat surprising pinfall in a relatively short bout. As the masked man gloated over his win, Giant Baba made a surprising appearance, limping to the ring, and wearing a walking cast on his leg. Destroyer cut him off in the aisle, but Baba responded with a big chop to the chest. The Japanese giant threw Destroyer back into the ring, where Rikidozan had recovered. Baba and Rikidozan whipped Destroyer into the ropes and nailed him with a double chop. Baba then held Destroyer while Rikidozan blasted him across the chest with his famed chops. Several USWA officials, as well as Bobby Heenan, Rick Rude, and The Masked Superstar came down to ringside. It was determined that Destroyer had suffered a torn pectoral muscle. No word at this time on whether he will miss any ring time. **½
9) Masked Superstar and Bobby Heenan stayed in the ring for the next bout, which saw Superstar get a DQ win over Dan Severn. “The Beast” for whatever reason couldn’t get going in this one. Superstar did use some rough tactics on him, hitting the Superstar clothesline outside the ring, and then following up with two spinning neckbreakers in the ring. Severn managed to kick out. Superstar loaded his mask and delivered the head butt, which sent Severn to the floor. Dick Hutton noticed this and tried to inform Kevin Christian, but by that time Superstar had removed the object and given it back to “The Brain” at ringside. Superstar hit a third neckbreaker and went for a cover. Coach Hutton, infuriated by the breaking of the rules, jumped in the ring and nailed Superstar with a forearm. Naturally this gave Superstar the win by DQ. Superstar and Heenan left the ring the victors, while Severn and Hutton were angered by the results. ½*
10) Killer Kowalski put the Southern Heavyweight title on the line in the main event against the man who eliminated him from the 10-man tag team match at Independence Day Bash—“Jumping” Jim Brunzell. Brunzell started the match off a house of fire against Kowalski, working him over with fast-paced, high flying moves, knowing that was his first and perhaps only chance at the Southern gold. But the big champion came back and blasted Brunzell’s midsection with knee smashes, then went for a stomach claw. Brunzell quickly got to the ropes to break the hold. The champ came off the top rope with a Bombs Away, then grabbed Brunzell’s legs and delivered a giant swing, spinning the Bee around the ring several times. He dropped Brunzell, then himself dizzy, Kowalski fell on to Brunzell and was able to make a cover and score the pin to retain the Southern strap. **
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Post by Cory Olson on Jul 31, 2008 21:11:52 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on July 26 and August 2: • World Heavyweight champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis was interviewed by Bill Apter on the 7-26 episode. Apter put the champ in the hot seat and asked him what he thought about Team RPW’s offer to join them. Lewis said that he recognizes that this is a group of talented athletes and great pure wrestlers. The champ said he doesn’t like the idea of being “labeled” and branded as part of a group, but he considers it an honor to be invited to join such an elite unit. He said he will make a decision soon. • Brad Armstrong announced that he and “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware will be teaming up in the USWA. Armstrong said that after his victory with B. Brian Blair over The Killer B’s, he is wishing to pursue tag team competition and see what heights he can reach. Since Ware’s partner “Special Delivery” Jones has been teaming more with Cousin Luke, Koko is excited to team with Armstrong. • A huge main event was announced for August 29 at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga during the 8-2 edition. The USWA will end the summer with a huge Steel Cage Match, featuring Killer Kowalski defending the USWA Southern Heavyweight title against two-time former champ The Sheik! This will not only be the first time the Southern title has been up for grabs in a Cage Match, but it will also be the first one-on-one Cage Match up to this point in USWA history. After two disqualification endings, and the Sheik winning a non-title match due to the use of a fireball, as well as involvement by managers Capt. Lou Albano and Abdullah Farouk, the USWA Committee decided to put these two wild rulebreakers inside of a cage to hopefully try and settle the score!
The USWA comes to the Rupp Arena in Lexington on August 15! • A tag team war will be contested in two separate bouts. World Tag Team champion “Dastardly” Danny Doring will face Midnight Express member “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, while Doring’s partner and USWA Texas champion “Playboy” Buddy Rose will collide with “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey. Will Jim Cornette’s team get the wins or will it be “Sensational” Sherri Martel’s men? • A huge card has gotten ever bigger, as for the first time, Frank Gotch will do battle with former World Heavyweight champ Rikidozan! Experts say that while Rikidozan has respect for Gotch and Team RPW, he doesn’t like the idea of them trying to recruit his ally “Strangler” Lewis to join them. A victory for either man will definitely catapult them towards a title shot! • Yukon Eric puts a lot on the line as he will take on Southern Heavyweight champ Killer Kowalski in a non-title Lumberjack Match. Remember fans, if Eric loses, he must leave the USWA for one year. On the 8-2 episode of Championship Wrestling, Eric announced to little surprise that his lumberjacks will be “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, and The Killer Bees. Kowalski will have fellow Capt. Lou Albano stable mates Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Magnificent Muraco, and The Killer B’s watching out for him. • The main event will be for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Kentuckian Ed “Strangler” Lewis will defend the title against Dan “The Beast” Severn. This is an interesting match-up. Severn has about 35 pounds on Lewis. Both specialize in submission finishers—Lewis has the Strangler’s Headlock, while Severn has the wakigatame. Lewis has not lost a match via pinfall or submission in 2008. Who will walk out the champ and will the result sway Lewis’ decision about joining Team RPW? All this plus The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy take on The Killer B’s. Bobo Brazil in action and the new team of Brad Armstrong and “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware.
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 1, 2008 10:11:46 GMT -4
August 15, 2008 Card #177: Rupp Arena in Lexington
1) The new tag team of Brad Armstrong and “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware defeated George South and Larry Sharpe in their first bout together. South and Sharpe had the early advantage, as Sharpe scored two near falls on Armstrong after separate piledrivers. Armstrong would come back and later bust Sharpe open with a running knee lift. Armstrong and Ware were able to keep their opponents in the ring for long periods of time throughout the bout. “The Birdman” popped South with several fast-paced punches and South came up with a busted nose. Ware dropped South with the Ghostbuster for the 1-2-3. ***¼
2) In a rematch from the Independence Day Bash, Magnificent Muraco scored a pinfall victory over S.D. Jones. Muraco utilized his Asiatic Spike throughout this bout and eventually “Special Delivery” was coughing up blood as a result. Jones had some moments, but Muraco came back and put him down for the pin after a fourth Spike. **¼
3) “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton defeated World Tag Team champion “Dastardly” Danny Doring. This was a battle of top rope leg drops, as Eaton hit the Alabama Jam on three occasions and Doring hit the Danaconda once. Neither finisher could beat the other man, but a top rope elbow drop from Eaton would get the win. **½
4) The Killer Bees defeated the Team RPW Oklahomans of Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Hutton actually has history with The Bees, as he suffered a back injury from them in 2005, while Hutton was teaming with the then-“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. Hodge and Hutton started off in control in this one. Hodge got Blair with the Oklahoma side roll, but Blair managed to kick out. Hodge got “Jumping” Jim Brunzell grounded with a Boston Crab, but Brunzell made the ropes. Hutton tagged in but got hit with a Bee Sting, but managed to kick out. Hodge later came off the second turnbuckle with a sledge, but Blair intercepted him with a dropkick. Brunzell nailed a stiff dropkick right to Hutton’s face, which busted him open. Brunzell went for the cover, but Hutton kicked out. Hutton fought back, seeming angered by the blood flow. However he couldn’t maintain control and “Jumping” Jim hit a second dropkick to put Hutton down for the three. The Bees offered handshakes out of respect afterwards and the Oklahomans accepted. ***
5) USWA Texas and World Tag Team champion “Playboy” Buddy Rose evened the odds for his team, scoring a pinfall victory over “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey. Surprisingly for the second match of the evening, neither Jim Cornette nor “Sensational” Sherri Martel got involved much. Rose and Condrey went back-and-forth in this one. Condrey hit a face-first leg sweep for a two-count. Rose would pick up the win after the Bombs Away. **
6) The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy defeated The Killer B’s by DQ. Superstar hit a dreaded spinning neckbreaker on Buff Bagwell in the opening minutes, but Bagwell managed to get his foot on the bottom rope. The Heenan Family team hit a double Avalanche in the corner on Brutus Beefcake, but the San Francisco native was able to kick out when Superstar went for a cover. Beefcake fought back and wanting to make an impact for his team started choking Superstar on the middle rope. Frank Morrell warned Beefcake about the infraction, but Beefcake wouldn’t listen. Morrell put the five-count on him and Beefcake still didn’t release. This left Morrell no choice but to disqualify The B’s. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan yelled at Capt. Lou Albano for his man’s actions. After the bell the two teams started to brawl, but several officials quickly broke them up before actions escalated. **¼
7) Greg “The Hammer” Valentine defeated Bobo Brazil by DQ in a great bout. Valentine worked on Brazil’s legs during the bout, attempting the figure-four twice, but being unable to get a submission. Brazil fought hard, using the Coco Butt several times. At one point, Bobo had Valentine locked in a bear hug, and then blasted him with a Coco Butt while holding the hug. The Coco Butt bloodied up Valentine. With Valentine’s face a bloody mess, Bobo got fired up, trying to figure out a way to beat “The Hammer”. Brazil was punching away at Valentine in the corner. Jerry Calhoun warned Brazil about letting Valentine out. Brazil’s response to the warning was to blast Calhoun with a big hammer punch. Calhoun went down but had enough strength to call for the bell. Capt. Lou Alban pulled the bloodied Valentine out of the ring and helped him back to the locker room. Valentine was the winner, but sure didn’t look like one. Brazil seemed frustrated at losing his temper and costing himself the bout. ***¾
8) In a first time meeting, Rikidozan pinned Frank Gotch in a great wrestling bout. Dick Hutton actually stayed in the locker room for this one, to eliminate any doubts of “outside involvement”. Rikidozan and Gotch exchanged some great scientific wrestling moves in the first minutes of the bout. The fans were split on whom to support. Rikidozan threw Gotch down hard with a scoop slam on two separate occasions and went for covers both times. Although the slams were hard, they were not enough to put down the Iowan. Gotch applied the rolling knee bar and later got on the Gotch Toehold, but Rikidozan wouldn’t surrender. Gotch went for a double leg takedown, but Rikidozan blocked it and turned it into a piledriver for another near fall. It was Rikidozan’s thunderous chops that would bring him victory. The two greats shook hands afterward and showed no disrespect to one another. ***½
9) Yukon Eric came back from a bloody beating to defeat Southern Heavyweight champ Killer Kowalski in a Lumberjack Match and to remain in the USWA. Since the lumberjacks were in place, Capt. Lou Albano stayed in the locker room. Greg Valentine was heavily bandaged up from his earlier bout with Bobo Brazil. The Albano contingent worked well together, as two would distract Paul Neighbors while the other two would attack Eric outside the ring, before “helping” him back in. Buff Bagwell hit a modified Buff Blockbuster on the floor. Kowalski went for a cover back in the ring, but Eric kicked out. Bagwell later attacked Eric again and whipped him into Brutus Beefcake, who blasted him with a flying knee smash. Kowalski also went for the cover, but again Eric got out. Magnificent Muraco distracted Neighbors, while Valentine wrapped Eric’s legs around the ring post. Kowalski hit a Bombs Away in the ring, which busted Eric open. He later went for another Bombs Away, but missed. Eric picked him up in the Kodiak Krunch and held him up for over two minutes. The Southern champ weakened, but was able to get his foot over the top rope to break the hold. Kowalski came back and knocked Eric out of the ring. His stable mates swarmed Eric, but were soon cut off by The Killer Bees and Jimmy Valiant who had kept the rules up until this point in the match. While Neighbors tried to break up the brawling lumberjacks, the eighth lumberjack, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, slipped into the ring with a steel chair in hand. He smashed Kowalski across the head with it, then drug Eric over and placed him on top of Kowalski. Neighbors turned around to count the three! The crowd went wild at seeing Eric’s first one-on-one pin on his rival in a USWA ring. Eric’s allies held him up afterwards. Albano ran out from the back and was infuriated at the result. ****¼
10) Ed “Strangler” Lewis put the USWA World Heavyweight title on the line in his home state against Dan “The Beast” Severn in the main event. Before the competitors came to the ring, Nick Bockwinkel made his return. He and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan came to ringside and sat next to Lance Russell and Dave Brown. Dick Hutton did accompany the challenger to the ring for this match. The coach was sporting a bandage from his earlier tag team bout. Lewis had the early advantage, using his better agility to counter many of Severn’s holds. “The Beast” attempted a choke sleeper early on, but Lewis quickly got to the ropes. Lewis took over and wore down Severn with a full nelson. From there it was Headlock City. After attempting to pin Severn’s shoulders down, Lewis kept the pressure on and was able to get “The Beast” to tap out. Lewis helped Severn up to his feet afterwards and shook hands with Hutton and Severn. Frank Gotch came down and shook hands with Lewis as well. As Jerry Calhoun handed “Strangler” the belt, Lewis stared down Bockwinkel and Heenan at ringside. **
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Post by shazam6000 on Aug 1, 2008 10:42:38 GMT -4
I'm pretty sure I've said this before but this awesome. I really enjoy reading your write ups
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 1, 2008 10:57:33 GMT -4
I'm pretty sure I've said this before but this awesome. I really enjoy reading your write ups Thanks, CC! That means a lot.
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 3, 2008 17:34:00 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on 8-16: • Bill Apter interviewed Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Apter asked Bockwinkel what he thought about the World title match between Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Dan Severn that he had witnessed the night before in Lexington. The four-time champ stated that he witnessed a good bout between two good athletes. However while both Lewis and Severn were excellent wrestlers, neither one would be able to defeat him (Bockwinkel) when he returns. Apter reminded Bock that Lewis did defeat him and put him out of action last December at New Year’s Knockout IV. “The Brain” interrupted and reminded Apter that Bockwinkel was already suffering from a concussion at that point and was not 100%. Bockwinkel thanked his manager and then continued stating that part of the reason he waited to return to the ring was to be in top condition. He was not going to rush back too soon and get injured yet again. Bockwinkel said he is in the best physical shape of his career and is in the best competing shape as well. Apter asked the duo when USWA fans would see Bock in the ring again. Heenan answered that Bockwinkel will return to action on September 19 at the Louisville Gardens. Apter asked if there was any symbolism behind Bockwinkel choosing Lewis’ hometown as his place of return, but neither Heenan nor Bockwinkel responded to that statement, but they did say that Bockwinkel’s first opponent will be announced in the coming weeks. • In addition to the Steel Cage Match for the Southern Heavyweight title, two more matches were announced for the card from Engel Stadium in Chattanooga on August 29. For the first time one-on-one in a USWA ring, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka will take on Magnificent Muraco. After some of the wild brawls these two have had on recent cards, you can bet this will be a heated match. The other bout will feature two other feuding rivals, as Rikidozan takes on The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. The bout will be of even more importance, as the winner will challenge Ed “Strangler” Lewis for the USWA World Heavyweight title on September 12 at the Mid South Coliseum in the USWA’s home base of Memphis. The masked man was interviewed by Lance Russell and stated that despite a torn pectoral, he was going to fight through the pain and earn another shot at the “Strangler”. • A few days before his upcoming debut, The Crusher appeared in the WMC-TV studios and was interviewed by Lance Russell. “The Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous” came in with a cigar in his mouth, but it was not lit, since there is no smoking in the WMC-TV studios! Crusher said he is happy to have some new “fights” in the USWA and he will knock out any wimps, just like he does in the “sloons”. After he wins his bout he will head to the best Southern sloons, drink some beer (or moonshine) and go dancing with the Southern “dollies”!
It’s fair time and the USWA will hold its annual card at the Nashville Fairgrounds on August 22! • Abdullah Farouk’s sanity has often been questioned, but he should be really examined here. One week before his charge The Sheik challenges for the Southern Heavyweight title in a Steel Cage Match, he’ll face his long-time rival Bobo Brazil! Brazil was DQ’d in their last meeting for using Sheik’s own sharp object against him, and has looked even wilder lately. Can Sheik get the win before entering the cage or will the Michigan native Coco Butt his enemy down? • Frank Gotch will go head-to-head with “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Each man holds a victory over the other. Who will win the “rubber match”? • Prior to their one-on-one meeting at Engel Stadium, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and Magnificent Muraco will be across the ring from one another in a tag team bout, as Snuka teams up with “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant to battle the Capt. Lou Albano-led team of Muraco and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Snuka and Valiant are undefeated so far in teaming up. Can they stop a tough looking team like Muraco and Valentine? • After losing in his challenge for the World Heavyweight title, Dan “The Beast” Severn looks to get back on track when he battles The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. Severn scored a big win on the masked man on May 23, but Destroyer assisted Masked Superstar in gaining the pinfall win on Severn in a six-man tag team match on July 11 in Cookeville. Destroyer said he’s ready to challenge for the belt again, but will his pec injury deter him? • The main event will be for the World Tag Team titles as “Dastardly” Danny Doring and Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose make their first defense when they face The Killer Bees. B. Brian Blair and “Jumping” Jim Brunzell are looking to win their first USWA Tag Team gold, but they know not to overlook Rose and Doring, as the champs have defeated The Bees in the past and are still undefeated. Will Rose and Doring or retain or will The Bees get that sweet taste of gold? All this plus Southern Heavyweight champion Killer Kowalski in action, Yukon Eric, and the debut of “Da” Crusher!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 7, 2008 21:55:10 GMT -4
August 22, 2008 Card #178: Nashville Fairgrounds
1) Yukon Eric got a submission win in the opener over George South. The Nashville crowd gave Eric a big cheer, supporting him after his big win over Killer Kowalski last week. The Alaskan dominated South and got the win with the Kodiak Krunch. DUD
2) Brad Armstrong and Koko B. Ware got a big win in their second bout together, defeating The Killer B’s by countout. Buff Bagwell hit Armstrong with a double arm DDT and went for a cover, but Ware saved him. Bagwell bent over for a back body drop, but Armstrong sidestepped him and hit a Russian leg sweep for a near fall. The Georgian tagged out to “The Birdman” who went to work on “Buff Daddy”. Ware hit the Ghostbuster and went for a cover, but Bagwell kicked out. He went to lift Bagwell for a second Ghostbuster, but Capt. Lou Albano grabbed Ware’s leg from the outside. Ware dropped Bagwell and went after the manager on the outside of the ring. Brutus Beefcake went to attack Ware, but Armstrong cut him off. Bagwell recovered and came out to save his manager. Koko saw him coming and grabbed him, then delivered a noggin knocker to Bagwell and Albano! Ware then dove back in the ring. Both B’s were knocked woozy and Paul Morton counted legal man Bagwell out of the ring. **¼
3) Larry Sharpe scored his first one-on-one victory in the USWA, and it was a big upset at that, as he defeated The Crusher, in the big Wisconsin native’s debut match. Crusher got a big cheer from the crowd, coming to the ring to the “Beer Barrel Polka”. Perhaps Crusher underestimated Sharpe, as the New Jersey native took advantage early on, using shortcuts and dirty tactics to gain the advantage. Sharpe attempted a piledriver, but Crusher powered out of the hold. Crusher came off the second turnbuckle with a knee drop, but missed and hit hard. Sharpe took advantage and clipped Crusher’s knee, then got him down with a modified school boy roll-up. Sharpe grabbed the tights and was able to pin the Crusher. The crowd was mad at Sharpe’s tainted win. Crusher recovered and popped Sharpe with a big right hand, sending him to the floor. Sharpe was knocked for a loop, but tried his best to celebrate his first win. ¾*
4) Southern Heavyweight champion Killer Kowalski scored an impressive win over Cousin Luke. Kowalski worked over the hillbilly from the get-go. Luke had his moments, but Kowalski was focused here. Luke kicked out after one Bombs Away, but a second one would put him down for the count. Kowalski appeared aggressive prior to his defense against The Sheik in a Steel Cage Match next week. DUD 5) The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy defeated Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge, surprisingly by DQ. The Oklahomans looked very close to a big win, as they kept Bundy in the ring for quite a while, wearing the big man down. Hodge managed to get him off his feet after a nice standing dropkick. With Bundy down on all fours, Hodge managed to hit a modified Oklahoma side roll. He had Bundy in a pinning combination, but Bobby Heenan got on the apron to distract Tommy Gilbert. Hutton from the corner was upset about this. Bundy took over on the floor, slamming Hutton’s back into the ring post. Bundy whipped Hutton into the corner back in the ring and hit an Avalanche. Weakened from his being double teamed so long, it took Bundy longer than usual to make the cover, thus Hutton was able to kick out. Superstar tagged in and hit his dreaded spinning neckbreaker, but Hodge broke up the pin attempt. Hutton recovered and locked Superstar in a sleeper, but Superstar grabbed the ropes. Hutton was aggressive and fired up and wouldn’t release Superstar. Gilbert put the five-count on Hutton, but the Team RPW coach refused to release the hold. Gilbert was left with no choice but to disqualify Hutton and give the match to the Heenan Family team. The crowd was not happy by this result. Hutton finally released the sleeper and seemed upset at his own actions. He dropped a knee across Superstar to “wake him up”. Bundy and “The Brain” got Superstar out of the ring and dragged him to the back, while Hodge tried to console Hutton. ***¼
6) The Sheik defeated Bobo Brazil by DQ. Sheik charged Brazil, as the former Southern champ was entering the ring. The sharp object made an appearance early and it wasn’t long before Brazil was wearing the “crimson mask”. Sheik applied the Camel Clutch, making use of the object. It looked like Brazil was going to go out, but we’ll never know for sure, as out of nowhere Southern Heavyweight champion Killer Kowalski ran down to the ring. Kowalski ascended the turnbuckles and dove off with a Bombs Away to Sheik, while Sheik still had the Clutch locked on. Paul Morton disqualified Brazil for Kowalski’s interference. Kowalski and Sheik brawled after the bell, fighting around the ringside area, until several USWA referees and officials broke the two up. ½*
7) Frank Gotch scored a hard-fought submission win over “Ravishing” Rick Rude. The Team RPW member controlled most of the action, using his technical wrestling skills to dominate Rude. Gotch locked on the Gotch Toehold midway through the bout, but Bobby Heenan jumped up on the ring apron to distract Scott Bowden. Dick Hutton quickly ran over and threatened “The Brain” to get down, especially after Heenan’s involvement in Hutton’s own tag team match earlier in the night. Gotch hit an Iowa backdrop, which dropped Rude on his head and busted him open. Gotch floated into a cover, but Rude kicked out at 2¾. The “Ravishing One” came back, even with the blood flowing and got a near fall after a clothesline. He hit the Rude Awakening and went for a pin attempt, yet Gotch was able to kick out again. Rude came off the top rope with a big knee drop, which hit the target right on. Somehow Gotch still had fight left in him and kicked out. The Iowan made the comeback and took Rude down to the mat and applied the crossface and bar arm. Rude fought, but with the blooding flowing, he could only use his free arm to tap out. ****
8) Capt. Lou Albano’s team of Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Magnificent Muraco gave the duo of “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant their first loss. Muraco and Valentine worked over Valiant for a few minutes, hitting the Hawaiian Hammer and applying the figure-four leglock respectively, but Valiant was able to hold on. Snuka came in and the crowd went wild when Snuka and Muraco were in together. The Hawaiian dropped the Fijian warrior with the Hawaiian Hammer, but Snuka kicked out. He hit a second Hammer, but “The Boogie Woogie Man” broke up the pinfall. A few minutes later a third Hammer would put the “Superfly” down for the count. The match was over, but the war wasn’t. As Valiant came in to help his downed partner, Valentine nailed him with a big elbow to the back of the head, then tossed him out of the ring. He and Muraco then double teamed Snuka. Muraco picked Snuka up into the Hawaiian Hammer and Valentine pushed down on Snuka’s legs, making it a spike Hammer. Yukon Eric made his way from the back with an ax-handle in hand. Albano, Muraco, and Valentine fled the scene. Eric helped Snuka to his feet, as did Valiant who had recovered. Snuka suffered a minor neck injury. It is unclear at this time as to whether or not he will be able to compete against Muraco next week at Engel Stadium. ***
9) Despite a torn pectoral muscle, The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer was able to score a submission win over Dan Severn. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan made another appearance, accompanying his associate, Destroyer, to ringside for the bout. Destroyer worked over “The Beast” for the opening minutes of the bout. He locked Severn in a single leg Boston Crab to wear down the leg. Severn came back and caught Destroyer in a head and arm throw, taking Destroyer down into a pinning combination. Tommy Gilbert was distracted by Heenan who had jumped on the apron. Dick Hutton was fed up and went after “The Weasel” who ran up the aisle and towards the locker room. Meanwhile Severn had released the headlock and turned his attention to Heenan’s antics, allowing Destroyer to recover and clip Severn’s leg from behind. He applied another single leg Crab and got the submission on Severn. **½
10) Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring put the USWA World Tag Team titles on the line for the first time in the main event against challengers The Killer Bees. Rose started off against “Jumping” Jim Brunzell. Rose went to dirty tactics right away, punching Brunzell with some type of foreign object. Brunzell was able to get to his corner and tag out to B. Brian Blair. Blair and Rose exchanged offense, but Rose got the advantage with a gut wrench backbreaker. Blair rolled to the arena floor. Rose tried to follow, but Paul Morton held him back. Meanwhile Doring jumped to the floor and hit his Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am on Blair right on the arena floor. Doring went back to his corner like nothing happened. Morton turned around to see Blair out on the floor. Morton put the count on Blair. Brunzell went over to try and help his partner, but couldn’t revive him in time. Blair was counted out after only a few minutes, giving the champs the win. The Nashville Fairgrounds crowd was not happy about this! They pelted Rose, Doring, and “Sensational” Sherri Martel with garbage. The trio quickly made their way to the back to try and escape with their lives! DUD
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 16, 2008 22:13:28 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on August 23: • It was announced that Nick Bockwinkel’s first opponent back will be Team RPW member Frank Gotch. Bockwinkel and Gotch are two USWA “originals” and have battled many times, especially over the USWA World Heavyweight title. They met in the main event of the first New Year’s Knockout in 2004, with Bockwinkel coming out the winner in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match. Gotch has never defeated Bockwinkel by pin or submission, other than in the second fall of their NYK match. This should be a great bout for the Louisville Gardens faithful! • Another USWA wrestler will make his return from injury, when Giant Baba steps into the ring on September 12 at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis to battle former World Tag Team champions The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy. This will not be a Handicap Match, rather Baba's tag team partner will be announced later. The Japanese giant's interpreter said that he hopes that Rikidozan will be available, but keep in mind, that he may have bigger plans--challenging for the World Heavyweight title that same night! Baba is also scheduled to do battle with his archrival and former partner The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer the following week in Louisville.
A hot and wild summer comes to an end, as the USWA presents a huge card on August 29 at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga! • Dan “The Beast” Severn will do battle with The Masked Superstar. These two have had their problems the last couple of months. Will they settle their score in Chattanooga? • In another rematch from Independence Day Bash, World Tag Team and Texas champion “Playboy” Buddy Rose will face the man he beat for the belt—Danny Hodge. Hodge is fired up to get his hands on Rose, after Rose jumped him at the bell in Texas Stadium. Can the Oklahoman put down the Texas champ? • Two feuding tag teams will meet again as The Killer Bees battle The Killer B’s. Which “B” team will get the win? • In a first time meeting, Frank Gotch takes on a huge challenge in Heenan Family member King Kong Bundy. In addition to manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Nick Bockwinkel announced that he too will be at ringside to scout his first opponent back. Gotch has taken on many challenges, but can he beat the big bad Bundy? • It was announced on Championship Wrestling that despite a neck injury, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka will be in Chattanooga to take on Magnificent Muraco in their first one-on-one meeting in the USWA. This match was a heated one before, but with the injury to the Fijian warrior, things are even hotter! Can Snuka overcome the injury or will Muraco hammer him down? • Rikidozan goes head-to-head with The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. Remember fans, the winner of this will face Ed “Strangler” Lewis for the USWA World Heavyweight title on September 9 in Memphis. Can former champ Rikidozan earn another title bout or will Destroyer defeat the Japanese superstar again? • The main event will be the first ever one-on-one Steel Cage Match in USWA history. Current two-time Southern Heavyweight champion Killer Kowalski will put the gold on the line against two-time former champ The Sheik. This feud has been wild and wooly so far, but the cage will add an even more violent element. Even though Capt. Lou Albano and Abdullah Farouk will be at ringside for their respective charges, the cage will make them basically useless when it comes to interference. This type of a match could change either man’s career. Will Kowalski hold on to the gold or will Sheik win his third Southern crown? All this and more great bouts, including a rematch between The Crusher and Larry Sharpe!
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 18, 2008 0:04:30 GMT -4
August 29, 2008 Card #179: Engel Stadium in Chattanooga
1) The Crusher got a small measure of revenge in the opener, defeating Larry Sharpe by countout. Crusher hit a big body slam on Sharpe and went for a cover, but Sharpe kicked out. Crusher pulled him up and blasted him with a forearm, knocking him out of the ring. “Da” Crusher went out and did what he does best—brawl. “The Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous” smashed Sharpe’s head into the ring post, then crawled back in the ring. Sharpe was down and Kevin Christian counted him out of the ring. DUD
2) The Midnight Express defeated Brad Armstrong and Koko B. Ware. The popular duo of Armstrong and Ware has looked great together so far, but this was their toughest challenge to date, taking on the two-time former World Tag Team champions. “Beautiful” Bobby and “Loverboy” Dennis kept Armstrong in the ring for the first few minutes. Jim Cornette even got involved taking a swing at Armstrong, which wound up the Chattanooga crowd. The Midnights hit the Rocket Launcher, but “The Birdman” made the save. Ware finally tagged in and his home state crowd went wild. But the Midnights showed their experience and came back to hit Ware with the Double Goozle. They soon followed up with another Rocket Launcher and pinned Ware to the mat. **½
3) Greg Valentine scored a big submission win over Bobo Brazil. Brazil started off strong, hitting several Coco Butts for near falls. “The Hammer” rolled out of the ring and rammed Brazil’s leg into the ring post. He applied the figure-four leglock, but Brazil rolled to the ropes. Still Brazil’s leg was hurting throughout the match and “The Hammer” worked over it. Former Southern champ Brazil somehow fought through the pain and took over control. He drew blood on Valentine, took him down to the mat, and applied a hammerlock. Capt. Lou Albano jumped on the apron to distract Sam Platania. Brazil released the hold and rolled out of the ring, threatening to hit the manager. He attempted a Coco Butt, but Valentine followed him out. He clipped Bobo’s hurt leg from behind and the big man went down quickly. Valentine tossed him into the ring and again applied the figure-four. Bobo fought for the ropes, but eventually tapped out. ***½
4) The Masked Superstar pinned Dan Severn. The Heenan Family member took control early on and was relentless on “The Beast”. He hit two dreaded spinning neckbreakers in the opening minutes, but Severn kicked out. Superstar came off the second turnbuckle with a version of his Superstar clothesline. He then picked up Severn and hit two more consecutive neckbreakers and went for the cover to get the big win. DUD
5) It was another tough bout for Team RPW, as USWA World Tag Team and Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose scored another quick pin on Danny Hodge. Rose was more aggressive than usual, wanting to prove his Texas title win at Independence Day Bash was not a fluke. He hit a gut wrench backbreaker for a near fall. Rose came off the top with a Bombs Away to get the pin. DUD
6) The Killer B’s took advantage of a wounded B. Brian Blair to defeat their rivals The Killer Bees. Blair’s neck seemed to affect him, after getting dropped on the floor with Danny Doring’s Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am last week in Nashville. Buff Bagwell hit a similar move, a double arm DDT on the stadium ground and it looked like it would bring The B’s a countout win. Blair somehow managed to get back in the ring before the 10-count. Brutus Beefcake came off the top with a double sledge. Rather than go for a cover, the San Francisco native strutted. It cost him as “Jumping” Jim Brunzell jumped in and blasted him with a dropkick, which allowed his partner to recover, then legally tag him in. Brunzell hit a flying body press off the second turnbuckle, rebounding off a whip into the corner from Beefcake. He followed with another big dropkick and went for a pin attempt, but Buff made the save. With Blair back in the ring, Bagwell focused on the neck again. He came off the second turnbuckle with the Buff Blockbuster on Blair and picked up the win for The B’s. **½
7) Frank Gotch scored an impressive victory over King Kong Bundy. As advertised, Nick Bockwinkel, dressed in his finest suit, joined Bobby “The Brain” Heenan in accompanying Bundy to ringside. While many fans wouldn’t label this an “upset”, the manner in which Gotch dominated the big man was certainly surprising. Gotch used his superior wrestling technique and mat wrestling ability to wear the giant down and “wind” him. Gotch actually attempted the Iowa backdrop several times, but couldn’t get him up. Bundy missed a shoulder tackle in the corner and when he rebounded back, Gotch used Bundy’s own momentum against him to take him over with a fireman’s carry. That move drew a big pop from the crowd. He floated into a cover, but Bundy lifted his shoulder. Gotch showed his punching ability as well, grounding and pounding the big man. Gotch locked on the Gotch Toehold and managed to turn Bundy over. The New Jersey giant had taken such a beating, that he quickly tapped out. Bockwinkel looked somewhat concerned, watching his first opponent take the victory. Dick Hutton was certainly happy at a Team RPW member getting their first win of the evening. ½*
8) In their first one-on-one meeting in the USWA, Magnificent Muraco got a DQ victory over “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Snuka came out in a neck brace, but the Fijian warrior was incensed and worked over Muraco early on. He hit a picture perfect Superfly Leap in the first few minutes (a +5 rating), but as he hit the splash, Snuka held his neck on the “whiplash” and thus couldn’t make the cover right away. When he did, Muraco just got the shoulder up at 2¾. Muraco fought back and hit an Asiatic Spike, going under the neck protector. He went for a cover, yet couldn’t get the win. Snuka’s partner, “The Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant, came down to ringside to cheer him on. Muraco went right for the Achilles’ heel and hit a neckbreaker on Snuka after ripping the brace off. The Hawaiian went for a pin attempt. “Handsome” Jimmy, furious at seeing the treatment of his injured partner, jumped in the ring and dropped a big wind-up elbow drop on Muraco. Tom Branch immediately called for the bell, giving Muraco the DQ win. Valiant stood over Snuka to protect him from further damage. Muraco and Capt. Lou Albano walked away, but you can bet this war isn’t over. **¼
9) Rikidozan came back from a bloody beating to pin his rival The Destroyer and earn a shot at the USWA World Heavyweight title. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan once again accompanied Destroyer to the ring for this important match. The “Intelligent, Sensational One” worked on the Japanese superstar’s leg the majority of the match, using the single leg Boston Crab several times. He locked on the figure-four midway through the match, but Rikidozan made the ropes. Destroyer took the bout to the floor and rammed Rikidozan’s head into the ring post, then gave him a kneebreaker into the post. Rikidozan was busted open and the blood quickly flowed. Kevin Christian checked the wound and asked Rikidozan if he wanted to concede, but the blood seemed to make him stronger. Rikidoan blasted Destroyer’s injured pectoral with his chops. Destroyer kicked out of the pin attempt, but got taken down with the hiplock and was pinned. It was a quick and remarkable comeback for the former World champ Rikidozan. ****
10) During the typical pre-main event intermission, the cage was assembled around tehr ring. The main event was for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship within the confines of a Steel Cage Match. Killer Kowalski put the gold on the line against The Sheik. Sheik scored the first submission or pinfall on Kowalski in a one-on-one bout in 2008, back on July 18 in Knoxville, when the brawling between Capt. Lou Albano and Abdullah Farouk led to a distraction and allowed Sheik to throw a fireball and then apply his Camel Clutch. With the cage surrounding the ring, this would keep the managers out. But Sheik was able to pull out a sharp object early on and he would use it on Kowalski, in addition to the cage wall. Kowalski decided to go airborne, hitting his Bombs Away three times during the bout, as well as a top rope splash. He attempted pins each time, but couldn’t keep The Sheik down. Sheik ended up bloody after a Bombs Away. Kowalski went up the ropes again, but a weakened Sheik fell against the ropes, which caused Kowalski to go flying off the top rope and smash headfirst into the cage, knocking him out. Sheik drug Kowalski under the ropes and into the ring. He made a cover and scored the three-count, in somewhat of a surprise finish, as Sheik had taken more punishment. Once Tom Branch opened the cage door, Albano jumped in to revive Kowalski. Farouk celebrated with his man, as Sheik held up the Southern title in victory for the third time (tying the record originally set by Gorgeous George). ***¼
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Post by Cory Olson on Aug 23, 2008 21:07:03 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on August 30 and September 6: • Following The Sheik’s record-tying third Southern Heavyweight championship win, it was announced that the Syrian madman will make his first defense on September 26 when the USWA makes its debut at the Mesquite Rodeo Arena in Mesquite, Texas. His challenger will be Yukon Eric. USWA Committee Chairman Jerry Jarrett announced that Eric his shot by defeating then-champion Killer Kowalski in a Lumberjack Match a few weeks ago in Lexington. • Speaking of Kowalski, his manager Capt. Lou Albano announced on September 6 that the former Southern champ has decided to leave the USWA following his title loss in the cage. No word on where Kowalski plans to go to next, but you can bet he’ll cause mayhem in every ring in which he competes! • On the August 30 edition, Lance Russell interview Giant Baba and Rikidozan, along with their English interpreter. Russell congratulated Rikidozan on earning another opportunity at the USWA World Heavyweight title. Baba congratulated his ally as well, but stated that now he must find a new partner to help him battle The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy that same night. Frank Gotch and the rest of Team RPW entered the studio. Gotch offered his services to Baba, stating that he just defeated Bundy in Chattanooga the night before, he has beaten Superstar in the past, as well as defeated Baba in their only meeting back in 2004. Gotch also brought up his tag team experience, having been a former co-holder of the USWA World Tag Team championship and his leadership capabilities in forming Team RPW. Baba seemed hesitant, but after some convincing from his interpreter, he agreed and shook Gotch’s hand. • An already big card, just got bigger, as Louisville’s own, current USWA World Heavyweight champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis will be in action that night. Lewis will have what is sure to be a great scientific bout against Dan “The Beast” Severn. Lewis also said that he will make a decision on Team RPW’s offer to join them on the September 13 episode of Championship Wrestling. This will come the day after his next World title defense.
It’s time to go back to school and the USWA’s coming back home to Memphis and the Mid South Coliseum on September 12! • After what Magnificent Muraco did to “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, he’ll have to take on Snuka’s partner “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant! You can bet the big bearded man will be looking revenge, but can he stop the Hawaiian superstar? • USWA World Tag Team and Texas champion “Playboy” Buddy Rose will take on “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton. The Midnight Express-Rose & Danny Doring feud will continue. Both men utilize top rope maneuvers as their finishers. Eaton is known for his surprising singles success. Can he beat a two-time former USWA World champion in Rose? • In the continuing bouts between The Heenan Family and Team RPW members, Dan “The Beast” Severn will face “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Severn is looking to get back on track after a rough loss to The Masked Superstar, and before he takes on the World champ. He has beaten Rude before, but can he make it two? • The wild feud continues as new Southern Heavyweight champion The Sheik takes on his blood rival Bobo Brazil. Sheik has won their last two bouts by DQ. Will a clear-cut winner come out of the one? • A huge tag team bout will take place when former World Tag Team champions The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy take on the returning Giant Baba and Team RPW member Frank Gotch. Baba and Gotch will be an interesting team to watch work together. Can they stop the monstrous Heenan Family duo? • The main event will be for the USWA World Heavyweight title as for the third time champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Rikidozan do battle. Lewis captured the belt from the Japanese superstar in January and won the rematch the following month, both of which were classics. Can Rikidozan win his gold back or will Lewis keep up his amazing reign? All this plus Yukon Eric, The Crusher, The Killer B’s, and more in action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 13, 2008 20:03:03 GMT -4
The USWA is back! This was the first card I played in my new house!
September 12, 2008 Card #180: Mid South Coliseum in Memphis
1) The Killer B’s got a countout win in the opener over Cousin Luke and “Special Delivery” Jones. Capt. Lou Albano’s B’s kept S.D. in the ring the whole time, cutting the ring in half. Buff Bagwell also knocked Luke off the apron with a double sledge at one point. Jones kicked out of a Buff Blockbuster, but then Brutus Beefcake came in and took the fight to the floor. He rammed Jones head first into the ring post and then crawled back in the ring. Jones was out on the floor and Paul Neighbors counted him out of the ring. DUD
2) The Crusher scored a quick win over George South via countout. The Mid South Coliseum fans gave Crusher a warm welcome in his Memphis debut, as he stomped in to the arena to the “Beer Barrel Polka”. This one was short and sweet, as “Da” Crusher used his power to whip South into the corner and send him flying out of the ring. South was hurt and couldn’t return by the 10-count, giving Crusher his second countout victory in as many cards. DUD
3) Team RPW’s Oklahomans—Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge earned a hard fought victory over Brad Armstrong and Koko B. Ware in a great tag team bout. The Armstrong-Ware combo has become very popular with the fans due to their fast-paced offense and “underdog status”. Hutton and Hodge had control early on. Armstrong was able to hit his Russian leg sweep on Hodge, but Hodge kicked out. “The Birdman” was on and was getting on worked on, but hit a sunset flip out of nowhere on Hutton for a near fall. Ware went for a hip toss at one point, but Hutton used his great wrestling skills to block it and turn it immediately into a side salto. He floated over into a cover for a very close fall. Hodge took a rough spill out of the ring after going for a takedown on corner on Armstrong, but missing and hitting his head on the buckle. It looked like Hodge might get counted out (which wouldn’t have sat well with the fans for the third bout in a row!), but Armstrong helped him back in the ring, wanting to see a clear-cut winner. Armstrong used Hutton’s finisher the abdominal stretch on Hodge. Hodge fought for the ropes and Hutton reached in to pull his partner towards the ropes. Jerry Calhoun didn’t notice the action, but Ware did and jumped in to point it out. Calhoun cut off “The Birdman” and in doing so, missed Hutton actually pull Hodge towards the ropes. Calhoun turned around in time to see it and forced Armstrong to break. Ware tagged in and came off the top with a big dropkick on Hodge, but Hodge kicked out. Hutton came back and busted Ware open with a forearm smash. He picked Ware up into the Cowboy backbreaker. Ware was weakened, but was saved when Armstrong “fought fire with fire” and dropkicked Hutton in the back. As Calhoun got Armstrong out, Hutton recovered, picked Ware up, and applied the abdominal stretch. Ware was weakened and quickly surrendered after nearly 20 minutes of action. Both teams shook hands afterwards and apologized for their brief “flaring of tempers”. The Mid South Coliseum applauded the great bout. ****¼
4) Yukon Eric pinned Larry Sharpe. Sharpe was hoping for his second USWA win after his upset of The Crusher a few weeks ago, but wouldn’t get it here. Despite Sharpe’s dirty tactics, the Alaskan’s power was too much. Sharpe attempted to whip Eric into the ropes, but “bounced” Sharpe off his massive chest with a tackle, as Sharpe attempted a forearm smash. Eric covered Sharpe and got the easy three. Eric looked impressive as he awaits a shot at the Southern title in two weeks. ¼*
5) Magnificent Muraco pinned “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant. The Hawaiian had the early advantage, using his power against Valiant and working on the neck. Muraco blasted Valiant with an Asiatic Spike, which riled up the Memphis fans. Even being from New York City, Valiant has become popular with the Southern fans and they cheered him to fight back. “The Boogie Woogie Man” sidestepped a Muraco sledge from the second turnbuckle and immediately locked on a sleeper. Muraco weakened, but made it to the ropes before going down. Muraco came back and come off the top rope with a splash, but Valiant put his knees up and smashed Muraco in the midsection. He went for a cover, but Muraco kicked out. Muraco reversed a whip into the turnbuckle, sending “Boogie” back first into the corner. On the rebound Muraco caught Valiant and picked him up into the Hawaiian Hammer. He dropped Valiant right on his head, made the cover, and got the clean pin. Capt. Lou Albano came in the ring and celebrated with Muraco, but things weren’t over. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, who wasn’t scheduled for this card, came down and he and Muraco worked over the wounded Valiant. In a scene similar to what they did to “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka at the Nashville Fairgrounds a few weeks ago, Muraco picked Valiant up again into position for the Hawaiian Hammer, while Greg “The Hammer” pushed down on Valiant’s legs to make it a spike Hammer. Yukon Eric, having just showered and changed from his bout right before this, ran down to the ring with his axhandle. Muraco, Valentine, and Albano bailed out. Eric helped Valiant to the locker room. It was later determined that Valiant, like Snuka, suffered a neck injury. No word at this point on how much ring time, if any, he’ll miss. ***¼
6) “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton defeated USWA World Tag Team and Texas champion “Playboy” Buddy Rose by countout. Eaton had the advantage in the opening minutes, hitting several top rope maneuvers on Rose for near falls. He landed the Alabama Jam, but “Sensational” Sherri Martel jumped up on the apron. Eaton went after her, as did Jim Cornette. This allowed Rose to recover. He hit a body slam and shortly thereafter followed up with the Bombs Away. He went for an arrogant cover, but Eaton kicked out. The crowd was behind Eaton and Cornette tonight. Eaton fought back and knocked Rose out of the ring with one of his famed right hands. “Beautiful” Bobby followed up and went after Rose on the floor. Sherri attempted to attack Eaton, but Cornette jumped in front and threatened to smack her with the tennis racket! While Paul Neighbors separated Cornette and Sherri, Eaton grabbed Rose and delivered a big running bulldog on the floor. He then rolled back in the ring. Sherri went to try and revive her man, but the “Playboy” was out. Neighbors counted the double champ out of the ring, giving the Midnight Express member the win. *** 7) Dan “The Beast” Severn defeated “Ravishing” Rick Rude by submission. Both men had suffered some tough losses lately and were hoping to get a win here, especially Severn who will face USWA World Heavyweight champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis in a non-title bout next week in Lewis’ hometown of Louisville. Severn outwrestled Rude early on, but the “Ravishing One” fought back. He landed a top rope knee drop on Severn, then hit two separate Rude Awakenings. Severn showed great endurance and fortitude as he kicked out both times. Rude continued to focus on Severn’s neck. He went up to the top rope again and came off with a falling sledge. “The Beast” was able to dodge the sledge, grab Rude’s arm and take him right down in the wakigatame. The crowd popped big time at the surprising nature of the move. Rude was in the middle of the ring and quickly tapped out from the armbar. ***¼
8) New USWA Southern Heavyweight champion The Sheik scored a very quick DQ win over Bobo Brazil in a non-title bout. As Sheik was doing his pre-match prayer ritual, he tried to trick Brazil and sneak attack him, while Brazil was turned the other way, but Bobo saw him coming and got the first punches in. With his turban still on, Brazil choked Sheik with the turban. Frank Morrell warned Brazil about the actions, but Brazil was a man incensed. Morrell gave him a five-count, but Brazil refused to surrender the choke. Morrell called for the bell in a less than a minute, giving the bout to Sheik. This is the third meeting in a row between the two rivals in which Sheik has won by DQ. neg*
9) Giant Baba returned to action, teaming with Frank Gotch to form a “dream team” of sorts. The team turned out to be a good pair, as they defeated former USWA World Tag Team champions The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy. Before Superstar, Bundy, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan came out for the match, Nick Bockwinkel came to ringside, dressed in his best as usual, and sat ringside with Lance Russell and Dave Brown. Certainly he was scouting Gotch, who will be his first USWA opponent in nearly nine months, when he returns to action in Louisville next week. Baba was fired up, going after the two men who helped The Destroyer put him out of action. Baba hit his dreaded neckbreaker drop early on, blasting Bundy with it. Heenan, knowing the strength of the move, quickly distracted Paul Neighbors. Superstar and Gotch came in and Superstar hit his Superstar clothesline, which is similar to the neckbreaker drop. He even pointed at Baba in the corner, mocking him. Superstar went for a cover, but Gotch kicked out. Superstar would later get hit with two neckbreaker drops, but managed to get his foot on the ropes. Superstar loaded his mask and head butted Gotch outside the ring. He applied the Cobra Hold, but Gotch rolled into the ropes. Bundy tagged in and worked over Gotch, but the Iowan fought back. He knocked Bundy into the ropes with a forearm smash, then on the rebounded, used Bundy’s momentum to throw him with a fireman’s carry, which he used in their one-on-one bout in Engel Stadium a few weeks ago. Gotch went for a cover, but Superstar made the save. Baba came back and blasted Bundy with one of his patented chops. The big man was rocked, but didn’t go down. Baba bounced off the ropes and came back with another neckbreaker drop to put the big man down. He went for a cover and got the three-count. Baba shook hands with Gotch and Team RPW coach Dick Hutton afterwards, showing thanks for their help in his feud. ***¼
10) Nick Bockwinkel remained at ringside for the main event, as Ed “Strangler” Lewis put the USWA World Heavyweight title on the line against Rikidozan. These two men have become allies this year in the USWA, but this one was all about the top prize in the USWA. As they did in their previous meetings, the two greats exchanged some great mat wrestling holds early on, although Lewis seemed to control things more often than the challenger. The action picked up and Lewis applied a head scissors on the mat, but Rikidozan was able to stand up and with Lewis still holding on, deliver a slam out of the hold. He followed up with his famed thunderous chops on the champ and went for a cover, but Lewis kicked out. He threw Lewis down with a hiplock and went for another cover, but the champ again got his shoulder up. Lewis came back with a Strangler’s Headlock, but Rikidozan got to the ropes. The Japanese superstar fought back again and balsted Lewis with more chops for another near fall. To little surprise in this seesaw battle, Lewis got another headlock, but again Rikidozan made the ropes. The crowd seemed to favor the champ, as Rikidozan broke out of a bear hug with a head butt, a move he often uses. But this time, the Memphis fans (known for liking wild wrestling) booed the maneuver. Perhaps they were into the idea of it being a scientific bout and viewed the head butt as “dirty”. Rikidozan busted Lewis open with a roundhouse kick out of nowhere and went for a cover, but Lewis kicked out. The challenger executed a piledriver, again a regular move in his repertoire, but the crowd again berated him with boos. Rikidozan floated into a cover and this time got the three to capture his second USWA World Heavyweight championship! Bockwinkel watched from ringside as Rikidozan held up the title. Rikidozan helped Lewis to his feet and offered his hand. Despite some objection from the Mid South Coliseum crowd, Lewis did accept and held up the new champion’s hand. This was Lewis’ only pinfall or submission loss so far in 2008. ****
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 18, 2008 21:58:49 GMT -4
Highlights from USWA Championship Wrestling on September 13: • Lance Russell interviewed a somber Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Russell asked Lewis what he thought about the Memphis fans’ reaction to Rikidozan taking the USWA World Heavyweight championship from him. Lewis thanked the fans for the support, but said he didn’t feel that Rikidozan was doing anything illegal. He stated that on that night Rikidozan was the better man. He still considers him an ally and hopes that he will be granted a rematch. Russell asked Lewis the question that’s been on the fans’ minds—whether or not the “Strangler” was going to join Team RPW. Before he could answer, RPW walked in to the studio to hear the answer in person. Lewis thanked the group for their invitation, but said he’d prefer to not be labeled as a group member. Thus he politely declined the offer. Dan Severn and Danny Hodge looked somewhat angered by this statement, but Frank Gotch and Dick Hutton said there was no offense taken. They shook hands with Lewis and said they would see him next week in Louisville, when Lewis does battle with “The Beast”. • Bill Apter interviewed Capt. Lou Albano and his stable. Apter specifically asked Greg “The Hammer” Valentine if his being in Memphis the night before was all a plot to ambush “The Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant. Valentine replied saying that while that was part of his reason for being there, he had a second reason. Like the majority if USWA wrestlers, he was watching the main event for the World Heavyweight championship between Rikidozan and Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Valentine stated that he was watching both men carefully, as he issued a challenge to Rikidozan for a title match. “The Hammer” said that he has been in the USWA since its inception in 2004 and he feels that he deserves an opportunity. The Captain interrupted and reminded Apter that Valentine holds victories over both Rikidozan and Lewis, and that should be enough proof that he deserves a shot. It was announced that Jimmy Valiant will miss some ring time to due the neck injury caused by Valentine and Magnificent Muraco. • The new World champ was interviewed later in the show. His interpreter stated that Rikidozan would be more than willing to defend against Valentine. The match was made for October 10 at the Civic Center in Knoxville. The interpreter also stated that Rikidozan was sorry if he angered the Memphis fans, but he was just competing for the top prize in the USWA. He said that he hopes the fans will continue to support him as they have done in the past year. He called “Strangler” Lewis a top level fighter and stated that he was an excellent champion.
The USWA comes back to the Louisville Gardens on September 19 for a huge card! • In a big tag team rematch from Card #177 in August in Lexington, The Heenan Family duo of The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy will face Capt. Lou Albano’s Killer B’s. Superstar and Bundy got a DQ win last time. Can they get a decisive win? And what role with the rule breaking managers play? • The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer is said to be healed up from his torn pectoral muscle and will he take on his rival Giant Baba in a rematch from the Independence Day Bash! Who will win this heated battle between former World Tag Team champions? • Ed “Strangler” Lewis will return home. Even without the World Heavyweight title, he’s still a champion in the fans eyes. He takes on Dan “The Beast” Severn. These two had a great scientific bout for the gold on August 15. Based on his reaction on Championship Wrestling, Severn will be looking to put Lewis down to the mat after the “Strangler” rejected Team RPW. But Lewis will have the hometown advantage. Who will win this battle of two grappling greats? • Another former World Heavyweight champion will be in action, as Nick Bockwinkel returns to the ring after a nearly nine-month absence. He’ll take on a man he’s battled many times—Frank Gotch. What shape will Bockwinkel be in? Is he fully recovered from his concussions? Or can Gotch finally get a pin or submission victory over Bockwinkel? • The main event will be for the USWA World Tag Team titles and will feature another Louisville native—“The Louisville Slugger” Jim Cornette will accompany The Midnight Express to the ring as they hope to win their record setting third USWA World Tag Team championship. But across the ring will be the team that defeated them for the titles—the undefeated duo of Texas champion “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring, accompanied by “Sensational” Sherri Martel. On WMC-TV, Cornette stated that he considers himself a Louisville historian and reminded Lance Russell that back in March, The Midnights were the challengers in Louisville against then-champions The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy and they walked out the champs at the end of the night. The tennis racket-wielding manager said that history will repeat itself in Louisville and that “Beautiful” Bobby and “Loverboy” Dennis will win the titles and make history by becoming the first three-time champions. Can they do it or will Rose and Doring derail The Express again? All this plus Magnificent Muraco looks to avenge his only pinfall loss in the USWA so far, when battles Brad Armstrong. Plus Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Yukon Eric, and more in action!
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 20, 2008 22:38:49 GMT -4
September 19, 2008 Card #181: Louisville Gardens
1) Yukon Eric scored a quick win via countout over George South in the opener. The big Alaskan showcased his power by press slamming South over the top rope and to the arena floor. South was hurt and unable to return to the ring. Eric looked impressive, but can he be as impressive next week when he challenges The Sheik for the Southern Heavyweight championship? DUD
2) The Crusher was hoping to get a decisive win over Larry Sharpe, but the New Jersey native shocked the world again defeating the big man by pinfall. Crusher used his power to bounce Sharpe around the ring, but Sharpe came back and used illegal tactics, both in and out of the ring, to gain control. He twice attempted a piledriver (which seems to be his specialty), but couldn’t get Crusher up. Sharpe’s tag team partner George South came down to ringside, with his ribs taped up from the previous match. He rooted Sharpe on, wanting to see him win again. Sharpe was able to execute a short piledriver on Crusher, using leverage to drive the big man’s head to the mat. He went for a cover and put his feet on the ropes, while South assisted in holding Sharpe’s legs there. The leverage was enough to put the big man down for the 1-2-3. The Louisville fans were upset by this. Sharpe and South quickly bailed to the locker room to avoid any injury! *¾
3) Magnificent Muraco defeated Brad Armstrong by submission. The Georgian fought hard and had the crowd behind him pulling for an upset. At one point, he got whipped into the buckle, but was able to reverse it and send Muraco flying into the corner and up and out of the ring. Muraco was embarrassed by this and pulled Armstrong out of the ring. He smashed Armstrong’s head into the ring post, then tossed him back into the ring. Muraco hit the Hawaiian Hammer and went for a cover. Armstrong was near the ropes and got his foot over the bottom rope. Muraco pulled him and blasted him with an Asiatic Spike. A few minutes later Muraco lifted Armstrong up into an over-the-shoulder backbreaker and was able to force Armstrong into submission. **
4) The Killer Bees got a hard-fought victory over Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. Hutton kicked out of both the Bee Sting and “Jumping” Jim Brunzell’s famed dropkick early on in the bout. Hutton got the advantage in sitting upwards in a sunset flip attempt from Brunzell. Hodge tagged in and was worked over by The Bees, but refused to quit, even after getting busted open by a dropkick. Hutton came back in and saw blood after a double elbow from The Bees. The Team RPW duo had the advantage at times, but couldn’t get neither Brunzell nor B. Brian Blair down long enough for a pin attempt. Hutton threw Blair with a strong side salto and got a near fall. It looked like it might be the Oklahomans’ time, as Hodge came back in and he and Hutton attempted a double suplex. Blair showed great agility in flipping out of the suplex attempt, then dropkicking both Hutton and Hodge, one with each leg. Hutton went down and Blair took legal man Hodge and rolled him into the ropes with a reverse rolling cradle. The move was enough to put Hodge down for the pin. The fans popped at the “out of nowhere” ending. The Bees shook hands with Hodge and Hutton afterwards. ***½
5) Greg Valentine defeated Cousin Luke by submission. This bout belonged almost exclusively to “The Hammer”. He worked over the hillbilly with his falling elbow hammer and several neckbreakers. Valentine locked on the figure-four leglock and Luke quickly tapped out. Valentine looks impressive as he prepares to challenge for the USWA World Heavyweight title for the first time. DUD
6) In a battle of two rule breaking tag teams, The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy barely got by The Killer B’s. The B’s showcased a good amount of power as they executed a double body slam on Bundy early on. Superstar broke up the attempted pin attempt by Brutus Beefcake. Buff Bagwell worked on Superstar’s neck, in a battle of two men who specialize in neck finishers, hitting a double arm DDT for a near fall. The B’s choked Superstar with the tag rope in their corner, while Paul Morton was trying to get Bundy out of the ring. Bundy later had control of Beefcake, whipping him into the corner and charging at him with the Avalanche. Beefcake managed to dodge the move and went for a cover on a downed Bundy, but Bundy just got the shoulder up in time. Beefcake blasted Superstar with his studded armband smash and went for a cover. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan jumped up on the ring apron, claiming the armband was loaded, which it didn’t appear to be. Capt. Lou Albano ran around to yell at “The Weasel’s” distraction. The Heenan Family came back after Superstar caught Bagwell coming off the top rope with a flying bodypress and slammed him to the canvas. Bundy hit an elbow drop on Beefcake and went for a cover, but Albano made the distraction this time. Bundy followed up with a successful Avalanche. This time “Buff Daddy” would be the one to save his partner. Beefcake came up bleeding. Superstar tagged in and a few moments later hit the dreaded spinning neckbreaker to put Beefcake down for the pinfall. ****½
7) Giant Baba scored a pinfall victory over rival “The Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. Both men were healed from their respective injuries and ready to clash. Baba went for a dreaded neckbreaker drop early on, but Destroyer scouted the move and rolled out of the ring. Baba attempted a big boot in the corner, yet Destroyer ducked it and was able to roll Baba into a reverse rolling cradle, but couldn’t keep the big man down. Scott Bowden got knocked down when Baba hit the neckbreaker drop and accidentally kicked Bowden. Baba went for a cover, but there was no ref to count. Tommy Gilbert came down to ringside to take over. Baba hit a Russian leg sweep and went for a cover, but Destroyer kicked out. Destroyer’s white mask with red trim soon sported more red, as he was bleeding through the mask. Destroyer got the big man down and applied the figure-four leglock. The crowd chanted Baba’s name and after a minute, the big man powered his way to the ropes. Destroyer continued to focus on the leg that he injured, applying the single leg Boston Crab. Destroyer had Baba in the corner and charged at him with a jumping knee smash. Even with the bad leg, Baba managed to move out of the way, causing Destroyer to smash into the buckles hard. Baba crawled over with his bad leg and made the cover to pin the bloodied Destroyer. ****
8) Ed “Strangler” Lewis rebounded from his loss of the USWA World Heavyweight championship to get a win in his hometown over Dan “The Beast” Severn. Lewis offered Severn a handshake before the bout. Severn seemed to hesitate, but did accept. As expected, Lewis and Severn exchanged some great mat wrestling early on. The Louisville Gardens was clearly behind him in every little move he did and booing Severn any time he had control, even though “The Beast” was abiding by the rules. The two grapplers were tied up in the corner and rather than letting “Strangler” out of the corner, Severn rammed his arm into the buckles, then took him down into the wakigatame. Lewis quickly got his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Lewis came back and took Severn down with the Strangler’s Headlock. Severn fought hard, but quickly tapped out. The crowd went wild at Lewis’ victory. As Dick Hutton was helping Severn out of the ring, Lewis offered both men his hand again, but the two rolled out of the ring and walked back to the locker room. Lewis seemed surprised by this, but didn’t make a huge deal out of it and instead basked in his hometown cheers. **
9) Nick Bockwinkel made a successful return after nine months and scored a submission win over Frank Gotch. The Louisville crowd cheered Gotch, but booed Dick Hutton when Gary Michael Cappetta announced his name as accompanying Gotch, most likely due to Hutton walking on “Strangler” Lewis’ handshake in the last match. Bockwinkel walked to the ring with his usual strong confidence. He showed some ring rust, as Gotch controlled the action early on, outwrestling Bockwinkel at every turn. Gotch applied the rolling kneebar to try and set him up for the Gotch Toehold. Bockwinkel took the bout to the floor and took over, ramming Gotch’s head into the ring post. Bockwinkel did this same thing to Gotch in their 2004 bout at New Year’s Knockout, prior to locking on the sleeper to win the first fall. Bockwinkel rolled in and was going to take a countout win, but Gotch crawled back and beat the count. He fought back and he the Iowa backdrop on Bock. Gotch rolled in to a cover, but Bobby Heenan distracted Paul Morton. Bockwinkel came back and locked on the Bockwinkel Sleeper, but Gotch made the ropes. He then went to his other specialty—the figure-four leglock. Gotch was locked in the center of the ring and looked about out, but out of nowhere he reversed the pressure and reversed the leglock. Bockwinkel quickly rolled into the ropes to break the hold. The four-time World champ was determined to beat Gotch and worked him over, hitting a piledriver, which busted Gotch open. Bockwinkel went for an arrogant cover, but Gotch kicked out. Bockwinkel hit a second piledriver and this time hooked the leg, but Gotch still got out. Bockwinkel went back to the legs and applied the figure-four again. With blood streaming down his face and his leg hurting, Gotch tapped out from the pain, giving Bockwinkel a victory in his return bout. ***½
10) The main event featured Louisville’s own Jim Cornette managing The Midnight Express in challenging Texas champ “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Dastardly” Danny Doring for the USWA World Tag Team titles. Cornette and The Midnights received a big pop from the Gardens crowd. “Beautiful” Bobby and “Loverboy” Dennis double teamed Rose early on. Condrey hit the face-first leg sweep on Rose and went for an early pin attempt, but “Sensational” Sherri Martel jumped on the apron to distract Tommy Gilbert. Cornette ran around the ring and threatened to smack her with the racket, but Sherri got away. Rose was able to recover and tagged out to Doring. The challengers were focused and seemed to stop the champs at every turn. With Rose in control of Eaton, he tagged out to Doring. The champs whipped Eaton into the ropes and looked ready to deliver a double clothesline. Cornette tripped Rose from outside the ring. With Doring distracted Eaton rolled him into a small package, but Doring kicked out. Eaton nailed Doring with a right hand, then took him into the corner, where he tagged out to Condrey. The Midnights hit the Midnight Massacre on Doring. The Gardens popped big time. “Loverboy” Dennis went for the cover and got the three-count. Cornette jumped into the ring in celebration, as The Midnights were awarded the USWA World Tag Team championship for the record-setting third time! This was also Rose and Doring’s first loss as a team. Mama Cornette was certainly happy at her boy’s accomplishment! *½
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Post by Cory Olson on Sept 27, 2008 22:04:11 GMT -4
Highlights of USWA Championship Wrestling on September 20: • Bill Apter interviewed Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Apter congratulated the four-time USWA World Heavyweight champion on winning his first match back in the USWA and asked him what his next plans were. Bockwinkel stated, as he has before, that he wants to capture his fifth World Heavyweight championship. He said that he’s willing to go through each and every USWA wrestler if he has to, to prove that he is the best wrestler around. • Lance Russell interviewed Team RPW. He asked Dan “The Beast” Severn, point blank, why he refused the handshake of Ed “Strangler” Lewis the night before in Louisville. Severn stated that he can handle the fact that he lost the bout and there was no excuse for that. But what he couldn’t tolerate was the disrespect by the Louisville fans toward him and RPW coach Dick Hutton. Hutton stated that Severn did nothing illegal in this match with “Strangler” and did not deserve the jeers and catcalls. Hutton also said that it was one thing for Lewis to not want to join RPW, but now he’s got the USWA fans labeling them as “bad guys”. Frank Gotch was asked his thoughts and said that when he formed Team RPW at the beginning of 2007, the purpose of the team was not to be popular, but to showcase the greatest true wrestlers in the USWA. That ideal hasn't changed--whether the fans like them or not, they are out to be wrestlers. Gotch claimed that Lewis’ refusal to join up with them was an arrogant gesture and he should be the one to receive boos from the fans. Thus the “Strangler” has made himself some enemies in Team RPW. Hutton said that Lewis will need all the help he can get against the foursome. • The former World Tag Team champions “Dastardly” Danny Doring and “Playboy” Buddy Rose, along with “Sensational” Sherri Martel were interviewed and were furious about their undefeated streak coming to an end, and naturally even more mad about losing the gold to The Midnight Express. Texas champ Rose stated that he feels Jim Cornette or his mama paid off referee Tommy Gilbert in the Cornettes’ hometown. Sherri, in between blood curdling screams, stated that Rose and Doring have already signed for their title rematch, as the bout will take place on October 17 at the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Coliseum in Evansville. Rose added that he’s still proud to be the Texas champion and “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton won’t be taking that title from him next week in Mesquite. (See Card #182 preview below.) • In a preview segment from other upcoming USWA cards, Dave Brown announced that on October 10 at the Civic Center in Knoxville, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka will return to the ring and it was said that he will be 100% from his neck injury. He will be fired up to take on one of the men that injured him, Magnificent Muraco! As if this feud wasn’t hot enough, now Muraco and Greg Valentine have injured Snuka’s tag team partner “The Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant.
The USWA makes its debut in Mesquite, TX at the Mesquite Rodeo Arena! • In a rematch from Card #178 at the Nashville Fairgrounds, The Masked Superstar and King Kong Bundy will knock horns again with Dick Hutton and Danny Hodge. The Heenan Family duo came out the winners last time via DQ, when Hutton wouldn’t break a sleeperhold on Superstar, who had grabbed the ropes. Can Team RPW’s new angrier attitude help them beat the former World Tag Team champions? • Bobo Brazil will go head-to-head with The “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. These two met in the semifinals in 2004 to determine the first USWA Southern Heavyweight champion, which Bobo eventually won. Destroyer was blinded in the first round after an attack with Gorgeous George’s atomizer, and had a disadvantage in that bout. At the time the masked man held no ill will towards Brazil, who just competing in the tournament. But this past week he claimed Brazil was unsportsmanlike and “blindsided” him. Both men are looking for a win to get into the Southern or World Heavyweight title picture. Who will win this one? • Argentinian sensation Antonino Rocca will take on “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Rude has been in a bit of a slump lately and a win over “Argentina” Rocca would get him back on track. But can he stop the high flying, fast-pace, quick footed Rocca? • Before he challenges for the USWA World Heavyweight championship, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine will face a long-time rival, B. Brian Blair. Don’t underestimate Blair, as it was he who defeated Valentine last December for the USWA Texas championship. Can Valentine getting a win to give him momentum for his title shot? • For the first time, Nick Bockwinkel will take on Dan “The Beast” Severn. Bockwinkel isn’t slowing down his return here, taking on another Team RPW member, and a formidable one in former Southern Heavyweight champion Severn. Can Bockwinkel win again or will Severn score a big win? • “Playboy” Buddy Rose will look to get some revenge, as he defends the USWA Texas title for the first time. His challenger will be one of the men who defeated him and Danny Doring for the World Tag Team titles last week—“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton. Eaton is now a five-time Tag Team champion, but will look to grab his first USWA singles gold. Eaton also defeated Rose by countout two weeks ago in Memphis. Can Eaton become a double champ or will Rose hold on? • The main event will be for the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship as The Sheik defends against the big Alaskan Yukon Eric. Eric stated that he might not have the best win-loss record, but he has pinned one Southern champ (previous holder Killer Kowalski) and he can do it again. Eric said that he’s got lots of nice possessions, but the Southern belt would definitely be his top prize. Can Eric beat the wild Syrian or will Sheik carve down the Alaskan? All this as well as another big tag bout as The Killer B’s take on Brad Armstrong and “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware, and more great bouts!
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