Post by fifthhorseman on Oct 8, 2018 18:54:58 GMT -5
MLW FRIDAY NIGHT HEAT
EPISODE 11
EPISODE 11
60-second video montage recapping last week’s landscape-altering show, followed by title graphics and explosive pyro.
Lance Russell: “Good evening, wrestling fans – and welcome to MLW Friday Night Heat! I’m Lance Russell, and I’m joined this week by Jim Cornette, live from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. If you missed Major Impact or last week’s show, well, I’m not sure that I can fully explain how much our world has changed here in MLW, and I implore you to find the replays. We have four matches lined up for you tonight, and tonight’s main event will see the coronation of new MLW Intercontinental Tag-Team champions. But let’s get straight to the ring, it’s time to call the action.”
MONEY INC. (w/Keith Lee) vs. the STREET PROFITS:
vs.
vs.
Cornette: “Looks like the World champion bought himself an insurance policy!”
Indeed, that’s exactly what Ted DiBiase did, employing the 6’2”, 320-pound Lee as his “executive assistant”. The match itself was little more than a squash, with the energetic but inexperienced Profits putting up a decent fight. However, Money Inc. was simply too much for them, outwrestling the younger duo while enjoying the constant presence of Lee on the outside. After tossing Ford over the top rope, DiBiase locked the Million Dollar Dream on Dawkins to finish it off at 6:38.
The MLW World Heavyweight champion asked for and received a microphone, and with Schyster and Lee on either side of him, said, “Listen up! You’re looking at the best wrestler in the world today, and mark my words, we’re just getting started. We’re in the business of making money and taking gold, and we have our eyes on the rest of the championships in Major League Wrestling. Whether you consider yourself my friend or my enemy, it doesn’t matter – sooner or later, we’ll have it all.”
Cut to backstage, where Russell stood with the new MLW Wild Card champion, Davey Boy Smith, and his partner, Owen Hart. The announcer informed the “British Bulldog” that next week, he’d be defending the strap against Buddy Murphy. Smith responded by saying, “Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a fighting champion. Anytime, anyplace. Now, he might be one of the most improved wrestlers in the world – but I’m always improving, too. When he-“
The interview was rudely interrupted by the Great Britons, who walked into the scene applauding. “Bravo, Davey Boy, bravo,” Barrett said with a smile. “From one countryman to another, let me – let us – congratulate you on a job well done at Major Impact. You’re the champ!”
Hart: “Why don’t the two of you get out of here, right now. Let Davey have his moment. This is our business, not yours – besides, don’t you have a match to prepare for?”
McGuinness: “That’s right, Owen, we do. As a matter of fact, that’s why we’re here. Just in case you forgot, we were right there when your partner won that championship. You, on the other hand, were not, because you got ejected from ringside. But that could happen to anyone, right?”
Barrett: “Let’s get straight to it. Davey, we helped you, and we want you to help us. Quid prop quo. Just come down to ringside with us tonight and watch our backs – I don’t trust anyone else but you, mate, and if you just keep anyone from crossing us, I guarantee that the Great Britons get our hands raised and leave tonight as MLW Intercontinental Tag-Team champions. Do that, and we’ll even give you the first title shot. So, one Englishman to another, grant us this favor. You owe us.”
The Great Britons left, Smith and Hart looked at each other in tense silence, and the show went to
COMMERCIAL
After a video recap of the Edge and Christian / Hennig and Pillman championship match from Major Impact was shown, a pre-taped segment was shown, featuring the former titleholders. They sat in Edge’s home, and the “Rated-R Superstar” began the duologue.
Edge: “I suppose all good things must come to an end – that’s the saying, right? And God knows, I’ve won and lost so many championships over the years that I should be used to it by now – but I’m not. Because I was expecting to fight two guys at Major Impact, not four. PIllman and Perfect, we were ready for them… but Dawson, Wilder… you surprised us. We’ll deal with you soon enough.”
Christian: “We’ll get our rematch, there’s no question about that. Whether we have to go through the Revival first, or any other team that Jeff Jarrett - or even Chuck Norris - decides to put in our way… it doesn’t matter. At least now Edge and I know what the playing field looks like. No surprises next time. And when the times comes – and it will – we’ll be wearing those belts again.”
Edge: “No resting on our laurels. Tonight, we take on the XVC. Go big or go home. Tonight, we start the process of regaining the MLW World Tag-Team titles.”
EDGE and CHRISTIAN vs. the EXTREME VIOLENCE CONNECTION:
vs.
vs.
The former World champions weren’t easing their way back into action, taking on the rugged duo who found their fame in ECW. Awesome started the match off against Christian, and his freakish combination of strength and agility didn’t make it easy. His partner Tanaka was no pushover, either, and the action went back and forth for over ten minutes. Eventually, the superior teamwork and quickness of Edge and Christian came into play, and after successfully isolating “Dangan”, Edge finished off Tanaka with a spear at 13:17.
COMMERCIAL
A graphic appeared on the screen for several seconds: “Coming soon… Beauty and the Beast.”
It was immediately followed up by an “earlier in the day” montage of several wrestlers arriving at the arena. The Great Britons, the Heroes of the Republic, Barry Windham, Terry Gordy – all of whom were wrestling in the main event. Russell: “Jim, I think it’s worth noting that neither Terry Gordy, nor Barry Windham, came to the Sun Dome with their tag-team partners. Interesting strategy on their parts.”
Cornette: “Or maybe neither one of them could find anyone that could stand them!”
JEFF JARRETT vs. STAN LANE (w/Bobby Eaton):
vs.
The “King of the Mountain” strode down the ramp first to a generous amount of applause, befitting the franchise’s founder. The Midnight Express parted the curtain afterwards; however, as soon as Eaton saw Cornette at the broadcast table, he chased him backstage.
Lane and Jarrett bumped fists to begin the match, and the first few minutes were relatively scientific, back-to-forth, with Jarrett using his slight weight advantage when he could. Suddenly, a referee ran down the ramp, got to the ring apron, and yelled in “Sweet Stan’s” direction – as he did, the arena scoreboard switched to a camera feed from the back, where the Dynamic 2uo was beating up Eaton. Lane bolted, leaving Jarrett in the ring, where he “earned” the count-out victory at 5:21. After the referee raised his hand, he slowly walked back up the ramp, and he was met at the top by MLW newcomer Elias. "The Drifter" played his guitar for several seconds, but did not sing or speak, and retreated back through the curtain. Jarrett was bewildered.
COMMERCIAL
A 60-second highlight reel featuring Buddy Murphy was shown. “The Juggernaut” looked sharp, and he looked ready for next week’s title bout against Davey Boy Smith.
It was main event time, and a cameraman stood backstage with Barry Windham, who was angry and confident. “Terry Gordy, you brought this on yourself! I thought I had a man I could trust in that ring, but I was wrong – somewhere along the line you forgot about the team, forgot about the titles, and thought only about yourself! Well, now that I’ve seen your true colors, I’m going to reclaim the Intercontinental Tag-Team championships with this man – just as big, just as fast as you, tough as leather, and a Texan I can trust. Houston’s own…”
The camera panned over, and there stood Hernandez, arms crossed, slowly nodding.
MLW INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM MATCH – FATAL FOUR-WAY RULES
The GREAT BRITONS vs. the HEROES OF THE REPUBLIC vs. HERNANDEZ/BARRY WINDHAM vs. TERRY GORDY/?:
The GREAT BRITONS vs. the HEROES OF THE REPUBLIC vs. HERNANDEZ/BARRY WINDHAM vs. TERRY GORDY/?:
vs. vs.
vs.
Lance Russell was calling the action solo; Cornette and his 2uo were long gone.
“The Widowmaker” and “Supermex” were the first team to enter the ring. They were followed by the upstart group that shocked everybody at Major Impact to earn their shot, Rusev and Nikita Koloff. Then there was a delay of several seconds, as the “British Bulldog” parted the curtain and stood in front of the Britons. Before the trio got any further, Owen came out and implored his brother-in-law not to associate himself with McGuinness and Barrett, but Smith shook his head, almost as if embarrassed, and the cameraman picked him up saying, “I owe them. Just one time.”
After they got to the ring, the ring announcer paused, not knowing who else to summon. There was a long pause, and finally, Terry Gordy walked through the curtain.
Followed by Michael Hayes.
The Fabulous Freebirds were reborn.
Their faces were painted with the confederate flag, in true Freebird “IDGAF” fashion, and they jogged down the ramp to the infamous “Badstreet U.S.A.” theme. The crowd went ballistic, and the referee earned danger pay just by keeping them away from Windham until the bell could ring. Once that happened, the action was intense and brutal. Every participant got their chance to shine - and also took a beating at one point or another. 15 minutes in, and no group had a decided advantage… but 15 minutes in, Gordy and Windham finally got their hands on one another.
The two big men threw heavy right hands at each other in the center of the ring, neither man backing down. They traded clotheslines, shoulder-tackles, and dropkicks, and the full house in Tampa loved every second of it. At one point, the two tumbled over the top rope, and then business really picked up. All eight men were squaring off, both inside and out, and the scene was chaotic. Taking advantage of the pandemonium, Barrett turned to Smith, who wore his Wild Card title belt. “Give me that! Give me that now!” he screamed, insistent that the champion give him, in essence, a weapon to smash Hayes with.
But Smith refused. Barrett was furious, and he took a swing at Smith. The burly Brit ducked, and responded with a press-slam onto the timekeeper’s table. As he turned to leave, McGuinness hit him with a vicious lariat, finally drawing Hart down to ringside. A horde of officials quickly followed, holding him back as they pulled him, and Smith, back to the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Hernandez and Rusev were slugging at each other mere inches from the ringside barricade, when a fan suddenly reached out and barked at the massive Texan. Pulling the hoodie off his head, the fan yelled, “What are you doing here, man? Why are you with that gringo? We’re better than any of them!”
It was Homicide.
He kept prodding Hernandez, who let “the Brute” go. After listening to his former partner’s words, he slowly turned to Windham, who was gingerly entering the ring after bulldogging Gordy on the floor… then he walked away, side-by-side with his long-time friend and partner in the Latin American Exchange, and the two left through the crowd.
Windham was stunned; after spending weeks searching for the man that he considered to be the ideal tag-team partner, he was suddenly alone. Confused, furious, his eyes shifted from Hernandez to Gordy, feeling betrayed.
He never saw the Russian sickle coming.
Koloff blasted him as soon as he turned around, his weakened body doing a complete mid-air somersault. The Russian landed on top of Windham, and hooked both legs as the referee went down to make the count. One, two, three. The match lasted a grueling 22:55, and no one was leaving in better shape than they came in. But one team felt considerably better than the others, and as the cameras faded to black, that team – Koloff and Rusev - was handed the Intercontinental Tag-Team titles.