Post by fifthhorseman on Jan 1, 2021 21:10:58 GMT -5
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA
EPISODE 39
EPISODE 39
A 60-second video montage showcasing some of the greatest stars that competed in the classic CWF, as well as FCW and NXT, opens the telecast, ending with a still shot of Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar in a fierce staredown.
Lance Russell and Mauro Ranallo recapped recent events in CWF, and said that Bobby Heenan would say more about his “expansion franchise”, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, later in the show. But they were kicking off tonight's telecast in a big way!
30 MINUTE IRONMAN MATCH
BROCK LESNAR (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DREW McINTYRE:
vs.
BROCK LESNAR (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DREW McINTYRE:
vs.
Howard Finkel made the big-match intros as the two giants prepped in their corners. As soon as the bell rang, McIntyre launched himself toward his foe – but the freak of nature Lesnar beat him to the punch, spearing the Scotsman before he could score with the Claymore kick. It was a brutal collision that drove the wind from McIntyre, and he had no defense for the F-5 that Lesnar hit him with. The crowd was silently shocked - “the Beast” was up 1-0 less than a minute in.
The 30 seconds between falls wasn't nearly enough, and the one-time “Chosen One” rolled outside when the match restarted. Blassie laughed at the pathetic sight, and told his man to go get him. Lesnar simply bounced in the corner, arrogantly waiting, knowing that his opponent would have to come to him before the ten-count.
Imagine, then, his surprise when McIntyre dropped to one knee, and got counted out. The match was barely two minutes old, and he was down 2-0.
Ranallo and Russell were at a loss to explain it. He was still so dazed that he was willing to go down another fall to recover... or he was too injured to go on, period. The announcers reminded the audience that if Lesnar won, McIntyre would never receive a CWF Southern Heavyweight title shot against Muhammad Hassan.
In any event, the 30 second countdown elapsed, and the ten-count started anew, but this time McIntyre gingerly rolled in. Lesnar was all over him, hitting him with suplexes and throws, but the native of Ayr absorbed all of the punishment. Gradually, the tide began to turn, and McIntyre took over with quicker strikes. He had the momentum, and this time he was able to connect with a Claymore, and he made it 2-1 with about ten minutes to go.
Blassie was concerned, and with good reason. When the match restarted, McIntyre was back on the offensive, but the multi-time Universal champion are already in recovery mode. The next couple of minutes were relatively tight, and then Lesnar took back over. With less than a minute to go, he hoisted McIntyre on his shoulders for another F-5 and spun him around – but in a shocking display of agility, McIntyre landed on his feet, bounced off the ropes, and hit the behemoth with another Claymore kick! With just a few seconds on the clock, the big Scot evened things up 2-2.
But then the bell rang several times, indicating the 30-minute time limit was over. The crowd got to their feet, expecting sudden death, and Bobby Heenan walked onto the stage with a microphone. The owner was tempted to let them keep fighting, but... “Listen up! That was a hell of a match, but you all know that I'm a man of my word. 30 minutes is 30 minutes. However, it wouldn't be fair to either man to declare a draw and call it a day. So, next week, right here on Championship Wrestling from Florida, it'll be Brock Lesnar versus Drew McIntyre, sudden death – no time limit, no disqualification, no countout!”
And just like that, Heenan made next week's show a must-see event.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, Christian Cage cut a promo. He was frustrated that since arriving in Florida, he only wrestled a handful of times. “I get it – there are a lot of great wrestlers on the CWF roster. It's tough to get TV time when you're competing with so many talented guys down here. But here's the deal – I just want a match. So I'm issuing a challenge that I hope a lot of guys accept. Let's have a fatal four-way. A fearsome five-way. A six-pack challenge, even! I'm going to put my name on an open contract right now, and if anyone else wants to take me on next week... sign it.”
RAVEN (w/the Flock) vs. RICHIE STEAMBOAT:
vs.
vs.
All three members of the Flock came down with Raven, but the referee told Raven that only one man would be allowed to be his cornerman. Therefore, O'Haire and Lumis retreated halfway up the ramp and sat down, while Vansen stood in the corner. It was a short spotlight match for the ECW icon, and he took care of Steamboat quickly courtesy of the EvenFlow DDT.
After the bout, Raven told Okerlund that it was just the beginning for the Flock, and next week, they would get their rematch against Dory and Terry Funk for the Florida Tag-Team championships.
COMMERCIAL
All three members of the New Day were interviewed before Kingston's big rematch later tonight, and they all vowed that after Kofi brought the CWF Television title “home,”, the tag-team titles were next.
BUDDY LANDEL vs. JON MOXLEY:
vs.
vs.
The Jacksonville “Nature Boy” was back in CWF, but he wasn't the man everyone was cheering for in this one. Moxley was finally making his debut, and he did not disappoint. Landel got in a few cheap shots, but it was an otherwise dominant performance by the former WWE World champion, and Moxley finished his cocky foe off with the Death Rider DDT in just under five minutes.
The post-match interview with Okerlund was short and to the point. The normally verbose brawler said, “I'm here for money and shiny gold belts, and I'm not a patient man. You know my history. You know I deserve it. Heenan – put me in a title match, pronto.”
As soon as Moxley was back through the curtain, the Jumbotron came to life. It was the NeXT Evolution, and despite being pre-taped, it echoed what Christian said earlier. They demanded respect, and none of them were happy waiting for an opportunity to fall into their laps – if Heenan didn't do something about it, they'd have to force the issue.
COMMERCIAL
A 30-second highlight reel of the Brisco/Rude match from CWF Survivor Series was shown, and Okerlund introduced the new Florida Heavyweight champion onto the stage. Brisco was all smiles, but he was also all business, and the NWA legend made it perfectly clear that he was a fighting champion. But before he could wrap things up, Rude and his manager, Percy Pringle III, entered stage left. The “Ravishing One” shouted at Brisco, warning him that their cage match was going to go down in history – not only as the bout that made Rude a two-time Florida champ, but also as Brisco's retirement match. CWF officials stepped in between them before they could get their hands on each other, and they all eventually departed.
CWF SOUTHERN TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The GEORGIA OUTLAWS vs. the GULF COAST VARSITY CLUB (c, w/Eric Bugenhagen):
vs.
The GEORGIA OUTLAWS vs. the GULF COAST VARSITY CLUB (c, w/Eric Bugenhagen):
vs.
Williams was Rotunda's chosen partner on this night, as the Varsity Club wanted to introduce “Dr. Death” to the Tampa audience... as if they didn't know who he was. The four men shook hands before the bell, and when it was time to go, it was a very entertaining match. The Outlaws were game competitors, and Brad in particular was as smooth as ever. However, the two collegiate standouts across from them were just too skilled and powerful, and they took charge. After about ten minutes of fast-paced action, Williams crushed the “Road Dogg” with his patented Oklahoma Stampede powerslam.
As they received their belts, Williams noticed a tiny trickle of blood above his eye, and it angered him. He slowly stalked toward the Outlaws' corner, where neither man noticed him closing in. But before he could do anything, another big man, in street clothes, ran down the ramp, slid nearly the full length of the ring, and got to his feet in between them. It was Billy Gunn, and he held his hands in front of him – not because he was afraid, far from it, but because the match was over. Rotunda and Bugenhagen also stepped in, and eventually the tag-team champions went back to the locker room.
COMMERCIAL
Heenan was back, and the crowd was not thrilled. “The Brain” sneered, and addressed them as humanoids. “Unlike most of you ham-and-eggers, I've been working over the holidays. Working with my executive president, Buddy Rogers, in Hollywood to determine who's staying here in Florida, and who's going out to California. And mark my words, that announcement is gonna come real soon – in fact, we'll be revealing some of those names next week. But just to make it interesting, we'll also have a few matches where those will be the stakes – in other words, I'm gonna let the winners of those matches decide who stays and who goes!”
CWF TELEVISON TITLE MATCH
KOFI KINGSTON (w/Big E Langston) vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c):
vs.
KOFI KINGSTON (w/Big E Langston) vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c):
vs.
Rematch time for the main event; last week's match was so competitive that it earned the former WWE champion another crack at Windham's gold. This time, Langston accompanied the challenger to the ring. As usual, the dial on the belt was spun, and it came up no holds barred.
Despite the turn, early on the two fought as if it was a “regular” match. They' respected each other, and like the previous week, it was a very competitive battle. But as it went on, it got rougher, and they ended up on the floor. They traded punches and threw each other at the railing. Kingston hip-tossed the champ over the timekeeper's table, and slid under the bottom rope to break the long 20-count. However, when he slid back out, he – and the referee – were shocked to see Big E hoist Windham up and hit him with the Big Ending. There were only three major rules in a no holds barred match, and one of them was no outside interference; the official had no option but to call for the (very rare) disqualification, and award Windham the win.
Kingston was equal parts confused and angry, and even Langston seemed to be surprised by what he just did. As the New Day members talked to each other, Windham staggered to his feet, but before he could say anything, Lex Luger appeared on the stage with a microphone in hand.
“It looks like my message didn't get heard last week,” he began. “I said that I could beat any member of the New Day, just like you, Barry – and if I could, you'd have to give me a title shot. But it looks like they're gonna keep getting title shots until they win - especially when the odds are in their favor. So I'm making a different challenge... Barry, let me be your tag-team partner against those two! Just like the old days! But when we win, you have to give me a Television title shot. Well?”
The camera zoomed in on Windham, and with an exasperated expression on his face, he nodded in approval, as if even he was surprised he said yes.