Post by fifthhorseman on Feb 24, 2017 1:17:50 GMT -5
FRIDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT
EPISODE 17
EPISODE 17
Cold open in Commissioner Bill Watts’ office, recorded earlier in the day.
“UWF Superblast is going to settle some scores. I’ve already announced a WarGames match, in which Hot Stuff International will take on America’s Least Wanted and two teammates of their choice. No surprises, though – the two must be on the UWF roster, and they will be revealed no later than the week before Superblast.”
“And then I thought to myself… if we have two rings set up, why not use them? For the past month, the Authority have been running roughshod over the locker room here, using their strength of numbers to gang up on their opponents in both singles and trios action. So I figured that the cage would keep things nice and even – at least, for one night. So, I’m proud to announce that the main event for UWF Superblast will pit the Authority – Triple H, Randy Orton, Kenny Omega, Sean O’Haire, and Perry Saturn – against the Newer Age Outlaws – Billy Gunn, Jesse James, and Chuck Palumbo - UWF World Heavyweight champion Bret Hart, plus one more man. I’m giving that fifth man, whoever he is, one week to state his case. The Authority has made a lot of enemies in a very short time, and I’m sure I’ll have no shortage of candidates to step into WarGames.”
“Enjoy the show.”
Tony Schiavone: What an announcement! Hello, fans - this is UWF Friday Night’s Main Event! For the next 90 minutes, you’ll see the finest wrestling action on the planet, live from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Mid-South Junior Heavyweight champion Danny Hodge will put his title on the line against the Authority’s Kenny Omega, but that’s far from it, right, Mike?
Mike Tenay: Absolutely not – Triple H, the leader of the Authority, goes one-on-one against Drew Galloway. Barry Windham makes his UWF debut as well, and he’ll face Brutus Magnus. Finally, in Trios competition, the Motor City Timesplitters battle the Midnight Express. But it looks like it’s time to go to the ring, and we’re starting with a championship match!
MID-SOUTH JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
DANNY HODGE (c) vs. KENNY OMEGA:
DANNY HODGE (c) vs. KENNY OMEGA:
vs.
The cocky challenger entered first, noticeably without any other members of the Authority. This was a great test for both men, and an extreme contrast of styles, but Hodge was able to use his unparalleled amateur ability to keep Omega temporarily grounded. This frustrated the IWGP star, who resorted to an eyerake to take control.
Omega quickened the pace with dropkicks and strikes, but Hodge was able to neutralize that attack, and a clothesline near the ropes propelled both men outside the ring. As the two threw punches during the referee’s count, Roderick Strong made his way down the ramp, accompanied by his brand new manager, Armando Alejandro Estrada. They stopped about a third of the way down, catching Hodge’s wary eye. Estrada continued down the ramp, chirping non-stop at the champion, who didn’t dare turn his back on Strong… and Omega rolled back in the ring. A few seconds later, “the Cleaner” was announced the winner by countout.
COMMERCIAL
A 30-second vignette for the Dudley Boyz was shown… returning from suspension and in action next week.
BRUTUS MAGNUS vs. BARRY WINDHAM:
vs.
As Windham entered the ring against the unpopular Brit, a split-screen popped up where the Texan spoke directly to the audience. Imagine early Kurt Angle and his disingenuous, over-the-top “good guy” persona. He brought the Western States Heritage belt with him, proudly displaying it to the crowd.
Regardless, Windham was the clear fan favorite in this match, and he wrestled like one as well. Magnus sought to use what he thought was a power advantage over his foe, but the “champ” was mostly successful in fighting him off, and used his uncannily smooth chain wrestling to finish off the TNA stalwart in about ten minutes.
After the match, Schaivone noted that the championship committee was still undecided about sanctioning the Western States title. Before he could say anything else, D’Lo Brown walked through the stage curtains with a microphone in hand. “Hey, champ! That’s a nice belt you got there, but the last I heard, it doesn’t mean anything here in the UWF. Hell, you don’t see me walking around with the WWF European championship – and I was the GREATEST European champion of all time! Tell you what – why don’t you put that strap on the line against me at Superblast? And when you lose, I’m gonna call it whatever the heck I want!”
COMMERCIAL
Tenay: Well, that was fast. The UWF championship committee has made the match – Barry Windham versus D’Lo Brown at Superblast. If Windham wins, the UWF will indeed sanction the title, just as it had many years ago. But if he loses, it may as well just be a souvenir replica belt… and no, D’Lo Brown will not get it, either.
Schiavone: Big news indeed, partner.
THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette and Matt Morgan) vs. the MOTOR CITY TIMESPLITTERS:
vs.
Michael Hayes, one-third of the UWF World Trios champions, the Fabulous Freebirds, sat in on commentary. He lamented the fact that it seemed like just about team in the UWF was already busy for Superblast, but the Freebirds didn’t have a title defense lined up. “Are the Timesplitters busy? Maybe we’ll ask them!”
This was a highlight reel of a match between two very similar squads. The double- and triple-teaming by both trios was ferocious, and there were maneuvers that even Tenay had difficulty describing. It was a see-saw struggle, with Shelley playing the face in peril role for the middle third of the match, before a hot tag saw an all-out brawl ensue. During the melee, Morgan was able to trip up Sabin from the outside, and Condrey was able to roll him up in a small package. Cornette’s crew gloated in their tainted victory, and both teams eventually departed.
However, before the Freebird could leave the broadcast table, he was met on the ramp by Dalton Castle and his Boys. “We heard you mention something about not having any dance partners for Superblast in a couple of weeks… well, what about this threesome? We don’t have anything to do that night, either.” Hayes pondered the question for a moment, then extended his hand to the flamboyant grappler, sealing the deal on yet another match at the UWF pay-per-view.
COMMERCIAL
Before the main event started, Schaivone and Tenay discussed the way Superblast was shaping up, and reminded the fans of the announcement Commissioner Watt made earlier in the week about the UWF North American heavyweight championship. Jay Lethal would defend his title against the top contender, Manny Fernandez, whose sole mission in life was to wear that prestigious strap. However, because two rings were going to be set up that night for War Games, Jake Roberts and Nick Bockwinkel would go one-on-one in the next ring… at the same time… and if there was a winner declared in their match before the title match ended, that winner could join Lethal and Fernandez and make it a triple-threat!
DREW GALLOWAY vs. TRIPLE H (w/Perry Saturn):
vs.
This was the match the “Scottish Dragon” wanted, eager to show the world that he was main event material. “The Game” was led to the ring by the Authority’s enforcer, Saturn, who was constantly looking over his massive shoulder – after all, they had made plenty of enemies in a very short time.
The bout nearly went to the TV time limit. Galloway went hold for hold and punch for punch with Triple H, and fought out of several near-fall predicaments. The big Scot had Helmsley at his mercy, laying in right hands at will, but the “Cerebral Assassin” was as tough as he was skilled in the ring. Suddenly, Saturn was attacked at ringside by Steve Williams, who then lunged at Triple H. But “the Eliminator” shook off the blow, and he and “Dr. Death” slugged it out and up the ramp. The referee was distracted, and in that moment, the leader of the Authority hit Galloway with a low blow, and a lightning-quick “Pedigree” sealed the deal. He was smug in victory, and the show ended with the referee holding his hand above his head.