Post by fifthhorseman on May 6, 2017 0:34:44 GMT -5
UWF FRIDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT
EPISODE 24
EPISODE 24
Mauro Ranallo: We are live from the Civic Center in Columbus, Georgia, and THIS is UWF Friday Night’s Main Event! And indeed, it is a huge main event tonight, as the UWF World Heavyweight championship is on the line, as Bret Hart defends his gold against Bam Bam Bigelow! But that’s not all, as Barry Windham will also put the UWF Western States Heritage title up against the man making his UWF debut tonight, Ricky Steamboat! We’ll also see Sean O’Haire of the Authority battle ALW’s Marty Jannetty in a preview of their upcoming Trios match, and in Junior Heavyweight action, Roderick Strong goes head-to-head with Jack Gallagher. I’m joined tonight by “the Straight Edge Superstar”, CM Punk… and let’s get to the ring right now!
UWF WESTERN STATES HERITAGE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
RICKY STEAMBOAT vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c):
RICKY STEAMBOAT vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c):
vs.
The challenger entered the ring first to a raucous cheer; Windham did not receive nearly the ovation as “the Dragon”. The two shook hands in the middle as Christy Hemme made the introductions, as if they were old friends. Once the bell rang, though, it was all business, and they started out cautiously. Windham tried to use his size and strength to put Steamboat down, but the Hawaiian, in turn, used his superior quickness and patented armdrags to frustrate the champ.
The pace quickened, and with their conditioning, they could have fought for an hour. Chops and throws were thrown at will, but when Windham missed a shoulder-tackle in the corner, Steamboat sprang atop the turnbuckle as his foe shook over the pain. He soared with a high cross-body, crushing the champion with his weight. Senior referee Tommy Young hit the mat and counted one, two…
Ding ding ding.
Everyone in attendance was stunned, and Windham rolled outside, flexing his shoulder as he took the microphone from Hemme. “Ricky, Ricky… that was a great match, and you were so close! A little quicker, and you’d’ve had me! But you see, I figured you might be a bit nervous wrestling the champ on your first night in the UWF, and I didn’t know where you’re traveling in from, so I convinced the championship committee to put a 10-minute time limit on our match. A warm-up bout for you – and hey, you’re ready, buddy! Heck, now that you’ve settled in, there’s nothing you can’t do!”
Windham gave the microphone back, and seeing the anger in his foe’s eyes, left the ring with the title still in his grasp.
COMMERCIAL
Ranallo: Fans, as we try to get the format of our broadcast back – quite frankly, that match ended a lot sooner than we anticipated – let’s show you this.
Earlier in the week, Kevin Kelly conducted an interview at the home of Mid-South Junior Heavyweight champion Danny Hodge. The two-sport legend acknowledged that the newest challenger to his title, Kenny Omega, might be his most dangerous. “I’ve been watching some of his tapes, and he’s improved leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. He’s unorthodox, he’s cunning, and he’s worn plenty of gold throughout his career. He also has an entourage backing him up. I’ll have my work cut out for me… but next week, when we meet, I don’t expect to lose, either.”
JACK GALLAGHER vs. RODERICK STRONG (w/Armando Alejando Estrada):
vs.
As Strong and his manager strode to the ring, Ranallo and Punk reminded the audience of the shenanigans they employed last week – namely, tricking Alex Shelley into a match with the monstrous Umaga. Gallagher took charge early with his unique grappling skills, frustrating his opponent who rolled outside to consult with his manager. The break worked, as did the increased interference from Estrada, as Strong went on the offensive with a series of backbreakers and strikes. The Englishman tried his best, but he was essentially stuck in a handicap match, and he never even saw the Sick Kick that finished the battle, about eight minutes in.
After the match, as the “Messiah of the Backbreaker” celebrated, the Motor City Timesplitters parted the curtains and stood at the top of the ramp, microphone in hand. Shelley said, “You thought you were pretty smart last week, and bravo – you got me. But that was then, and this is now, and next week is next week. How about you and Umaga meet us two of us, oh, I don’t know… a week from now?”
Without even waiting for an answer, the trio left.
COMMERCIAL
A video vignette featured the various teams that had thus far entered the Crockett Cup, from the various territories and even the smaller independent ones. The last team featured received the most exposure, as they would be making their UWF debut next week – The Mighty Don’t Kneel: Pete Dunne, Shane Thorne, and Nick Miller!
SEAN O’HAIRE vs. MARTY JANNETTY:
vs.
Both men’s teammates were barred from ringside. Earlier in the week, the Authority made the challenge – any one of them against any member of America’s Least Wanted. An appetizer, so to speak, before their number one contender’s match. After the former Rocker answered the call, O’Haire did the same for his squad, eager to make up for taking the loss at WarGames.
As Jannetty stretched in the corner, O’Haire shot across the ring and clipped him from behind. As his foe writhed in pain, the big man wrenched at his knee, unconcerned if the bell rang or not. He dropped his own knee on it, and though the referee intervened, O’Haire tossed him aside like he was a small child, earning the disqualification. It didn’t matter – he was out there for one reason, and that was to make next week’s match much easier. He repeatedly smashed Jannetty’s knee into the steel ringpost, and fled through the crowd when Chris Harris and Jim Neidhart raced down the ramp.
They helped him backstage; medics tried to intervene, but Jannetty angrily waved them off. Ranallo and Punk discussed the Authority’s strategy, but they were interrupted by a wrestler who walked down the ramp and entered the ring with a microphone in hand – Brutus Magnus.
“All these shorter than expected matches tonight. Gives us enough time to squeeze another one, doesn’t it? Seeing how I’d rather ask for forgiveness rather than permission… well, not really, but it’s a quaint expression… I’d like to make a challenge to any man in the back. I’m a former World champion, and I deserve some respect! I deserve that title shot tonight against Bret Hart! If I can’t fight him tonight, then I’ll fight any man in the arena. Who wants a piece of Brutus Magnus?”
As it turned out, no wrestler appeared from behind the curtain… because the man that answered the call was already on his way down the ramp.
BRUTUS MAGNUS vs. CM PUNK:
vs.
Punk was in street clothes, but that didn’t stop the referee that Commissioner Watts sent to the ring from starting the contest. It was a crazy, fast-paced brawl, and Magnus hoisted Punk onto his shoulders for a Mag Daddy Driver. But the “Voice of the Voiceless” wriggled down and threw the Brit up onto his shoulders, and hit a quick Go To Sleep for the three-count.
COMMERCIAL
UWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BAM BAM BIGELOW (w/Gary Hart) vs. BRET HART (c):
BAM BAM BIGELOW (w/Gary Hart) vs. BRET HART (c):
vs.
Ranallo sat alone at the broadcast table to call this match. The “Beast from the East” looked confident, as one might when you might outweigh your foe by about 150 pounds. Nonetheless, the champion was equally ready to fight, and he handed the title to Tommy Young while Hemme made the big-match intros.
The two were very familiar with each other, but Hart had no idea that Bigelow’s first offensive maneuver would be a flying dropkick, and “the Hitman” was launched from the ring. The behemoth followed him outside and press-slammed him back in, and took his time to return. Bigelow went for a splash, but Hart rolled out of the way, and dropped a pair of elbows of his own.
For the next several minutes, it was a classic David vs. Goliath bout. The challenger threw Hart around whenever he could, while the champ employed a hit-and-run strategy, working on Bigelow’s legs. Five minutes became ten, and ten became 15, and despite their fine conditioning, both men were feeling the effects of a rugged battle. They traded punches at the 18-minute mark, and Hart ducked one and went for the sleeper. Bigelow reeled, but he still had enough presence of mind to gather himself and throw himself backwards… but Hart anticipated the counter, and turned it into a slingblade! Seizing the opportunity, “the Excellence of Execution” went for the Sharpshooter, sitting back as far as he could. Bigelow was in agony, and to his credit, he hung tough for several seconds – but in the end, he had to submit. His manager led him away, and the show ended with Bret Hart standing on the middle ropes, holding his championship title high overhead.