Post by fifthhorseman on Feb 17, 2017 22:01:09 GMT -5
UWF FRIDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT
EPISODE 16
EPISODE 16
Tony Schiavone: Hello fans, and welcome to UWF Friday Night’s Main Event! We are live from the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and for the next 90 minutes, the greatest wrestling action will unfold before your very eyes. In our main event, UWF North American heavyweight champion Jay Lethal defends his title against Chuck Palumbo of the Newer Age Outlaws – but that’s not the match with title ramifications, is it, Mike?
Mike Tenay: Not at all, for you see, Jake Roberts faces D’Lo Brown, and Jack Swagger takes on Nick Bockwinkel in head-to-head “Beat the Clock” competition… if both Roberts and Bockwinkel win, the faster of the two will join the already -scheduled Jay Lethal/Manny Fernandez championship match at UWF Superblast and make it a three-way dance! Let’s not forget the other match of the night, which is about to begin – the British Bulldogs make their UWF trios debut, and they’re facing the Destruction Crew and Mike Knox!
THE BRITISH BULLDOGS vs. the DESTRUCTION CREW and MIKE KNOX:
vs.
Christy Hemme was back making the ring announcements, fully recovered after being 3Ded by the Dudley Boyz a couple of weeks earlier.
Despite the Destruction Crew’s resume, the former AWA tag champs and Knox were unable to mount much of an offense. The speed and power blend that the Bulldogs used was on another level; Dynamite utilized crisp, vicious strikes, while the Smiths imposed their otherworldly strength on their foes. It ended in just over six minutes with stereo powerslams on the Crew, and a top-rope headbutt by the Kid to finish off Knox.
As the combatants left, Schiavone set up a video package, filmed at a house show earlier that week. After defeating Terry Funk, UWF World champion Bret Hart was attacked by Triple H, who viciously slammed his head against the steel cage surrounding the ring. Returning to live action, Kevin Kelly introduced Hart to the audience. He was tired of the sneak-attacks – that was the second time the “Hitman” was surprised by the Authority, and it would be the last time. “I’ll fight you anywhere, anytime, for my title or in a back alley. Bill Watts – set it up.”
COMMERCIAL
In contrast to the relatively subdued Hart interview, a pre-taped reel with Schiavone and Jim Cornette was shown next, and the “Louisville Slugger” was in a frenzy about the announcement that Hot Stuff International would be in “War Games” at UWF Superblast. Declaring it unfair, inhumane, and unconstitutional, Cornette swore that his mother’s lawyers were looking to overturn the “cockamamie decision made by that power-tripping Watts!”
D’LO BROWN vs. JAKE ROBERTS:
vs.
As the wrestlers were introduced, Tenay noted that Fernandez won his match last week at the 8:55 mark; not that it meant anything, but simply as a point of reference. The WWF alumni locked up in the center; D’Lo was eager to impress the UWF championship committee, while “the Snake” simply wanted to finish off his foe and infuriate Bockwinkel. Roberts took charge early, but a missed corner shoulder-tackle let Brown assume control with high-impact punches and kicks. However, a failed “Lo-Down” frog splash gave Roberts the opening he needed to hit a short-arm clothesline followed by his signature DDT. Time of match: 8:34.
COMMERCIAL
Kevin Kelly was conducting a live, “split-screen” interview with Triple H, who was in his home, not at the Premier Center. “The Game” shrugged off the threat made earlier in the night by Bret Hart, and simply said that there was no reason for him to wait at the back of the line for a title shot. “The Authority is here, and we run this damn place. As for Drew Galloway, I heard that you have a death wish. You want a piece of me? I’ll see you next week."
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. JACK SWAGGER:
vs.
The AWA legend knew the time he had to beat, and the inaugural UWF North American heavyweight champion was keen to get back to his winning ways. Swagger pushed the pace at the beginning, overpowering Bockwinkel with ease, throwing him around the ring like a ragdoll. His opponent rolled outside for a moment, then as if remembering the time stipulation, darted back in.
A thumb to the eye gave Bockwinkel his opening. He engaged the “All-American American” with heavy right hands, elbows, and put him on the mat with a headscissors, hoping to knock him out. But Swagger fought back, and suplexed him several times. As the referee checked on him, Swagger moved in for the kill, but his opponent “accidentally” pushed him into the official. The collision knocked the ref down, and in that split-second, the wily veteran went into his tights for a roll of coins and smashed Swagger in the temple. Practically unconscious, he collapsed, and Bockwinkel made the pin…
…at 8:34. Exactly the same as Roberts.
COMMERCIAL
A 60-second highlight reel of last week’s show aired, followed by a 30-second vignette featuring Barry Windham, who will be making his UWF debut… next week!
UWF NORTH AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
JAY LETHAL (c) vs. CHUCK PALUMBO (w/Billy Gunn and Jesse James):
JAY LETHAL (c) vs. CHUCK PALUMBO (w/Billy Gunn and Jesse James):
vs.
Big fight introductions by Hemme to start it off, and the two grapplers bumped fists in the middle of the ring. Before the match could begin, Tenay blurted out that Commissioner Watts was in conference with the championship committee regarding the Roberts/Bockwinkel/Fernandez situation, and would have an announcement no later than next week’s show.
It was obviously a David vs. Goliath bout, with the champion outweighed by nearly 60 pounds. Nonetheless, Lethal was the aggressor early on, trying to use his speed to take down Palumbo. He landed some strikes, and the Outlaw briefly conferred with his corner to regroup.
The champ tried to work his foe’s leg, but Palumbo overpowered him and attacked his back. The big man slowed the pace, using backbreakers, camel clutches, and Boston crabs. He rarely went for pins, focusing on making his opponent submit instead. Perhaps he should have, for Lethal eventually escaped the holds, and after a series of punches and reversals, he landed a surprisingly fast “Lethal Combination” to take the three-count.
The referee handed the gold strap to the winner, and Lethal left to a great ovation. Gunn and James checked on their friend, and they too made their way up the ramp. However, they were met at the curtain by the Authority, who they never saw coming. Outnumbered, and with Palumbo worn down, they were swarmed by Omega, Orton, Saturn, and O’Haire. “The Viper” hit an RKO on James, and was about to do the same to “Mr. Ass” when Bret Hart charged through the curtain wielding a steel chair. The quartet scattered, with O’Haire taking a chair to the back for his troubles, as the show faded to black.