Post by fifthhorseman on Apr 26, 2017 1:40:20 GMT -5
UWF FRIDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT
EPISODE 23
EPISODE 23
Mauro Ranallo: Hello, wrestling fans – we are live from the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, and THIS is UWF Friday Night’s Main Event! As always, the best wrestling action on the planet is seen right here, and tonight is no exception. In our main event, UWF North American heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel defends his title against the man he defeated for it, Jay Lethal! Also, Kenny Omega takes on Tajiri in a ladder match, with the winner of said match earning the right to challenge the Mid-South Junior Heavyweight champion – and special guest referee – Danny Hodge! The Dudley Boyz are in Trios action against Drew Galloway, Will Ospreay, and Jack Gallagher, and finally, Alex Shelley battles a familiar foe in Roderick Strong. But before all that, I have to ask my guest and this week’s color commentator, Eddie Gilbert, about what happened last week.
Cut to action from last week’s UWF-FNME, during which Gilbert defeated former Hot Stuff International teammate Chris Candido in a brutal cage match. After the match, “Hot Stuff” was aided by the newcomer Rusev, who pounded on Candido even more until the show ended.
Gilbert: I’m glad you asked me that, Mauro, just like I’m glad they all showed the footage of me taking Candido to school. Plain and simple, me and Chris were bangin’ heads and not gettin’ along. Hell, we didn’t even want him to be with us as far back as Superblast – that’s why we said he was sick, so we could get big Matt Morgan into WarGames with us instead! After that, I made a few calls and brought Rusev into the company. Now, make no mistake about it – I knew I was gonna win my match. But just in case, I had Rusev go to ringside dressed up like ring crew, and he slunk underneath right before the cage was all done. We even got a monitor underneath for him – if he saw something he didn’t like, he had the OK to help me out. Turns out – of course – it wasn’t necessary. After I beat Candido, well, then it was time to show the world that Hot Stuff International was back and better than ever. Rusev put such a beating on Candido that that coward left town! Mark my words – things are gonna be a lot different around here now.”
Ranallo: And let’s get to the ring!
THE DUDLEY BOYZ and TEST vs. JACK GALLAGHER, DREW GALLOWAY, and WILL OSPREAY:
vs.
The squad from the United Kingdom entered first, and Ranallo announced that they were the latest trio to enter the Crockett Cup. The Dudleys followed, with their latest partner, a man with whom they had history… Test. In fact, he started out against Galloway, and the two titans locked up in the classic Greco-Roman knucklelock to begin. That was about as scientific as it got for the next ten minutes, as the bigger heels alternately battered and were bewildered by the smaller Brits, until Galloway got the hot tag. After a flurry of action, he put down Test with the Claymore kick, and landed the pin for his team.
Disgusted and incensed by the loss, D-Von took to the top rope and flew, hitting Test with the midsection headbutt. The Dudleyz left, another partner thrown to the curb.
COMMERCIAL
Kevin Kelly was backstage with the UWF Western States Heritage champion, Barry Windham. The lanky Texan was confident, ingratiating, and eager to speak. “Kevin, as you know, I’m a fighting champion. If I could, I’d defend this title each and every week in front of all of these great fans. Unfortunately, I’m not on the card tonight, but when I heard that my good friend Ricky Steamboat was making his UWF debut next week, why, I went straight to Bill Watts’ office and insisted that he book a match between me and my pal. I can’t wait to show our amazing fans and the world what UWF wrestling is all about!”
LADDER MATCH
KENNY OMEGA (w/Triple H) vs. YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI (w/Gary Hart):
KENNY OMEGA (w/Triple H) vs. YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI (w/Gary Hart):
vs.
The Mid-South Junior Heavyweight champion, Danny Hodge, was introduced first to a rousing ovation. The two men that followed were not received nearly as well, though they both had vocal pockets of fans in the crowd. Ladders were strategically placed, and a symbolic brass ring was hung about 15 feet above the mat.
It was a fierce battle. “The Cleaner” and “the Buzzsaw” were so intent on destroying each other, they scarcely paid attention to the fact that the man who held the championship they desperately wanted was standing in the ring with them. In fact, Hodge’s primary duty was making sure that Triple H and Hart did not interfere. The ladders, plural, were used as weapons, and the combatants fought inside and outside the ring, risking their bodies for nearly 20 minutes. But in the end, it was Omega who made the slow climb to retrieve the ring, staking his claim as the top challenger for the Junior Heavyweight crown.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-recorded video was shown, shot earlier in the day from Bill Watts’ office. He said, “This was one of the most difficult contract negotiations that I can remember, but let me tell you, it was worth it. As you might recall, at Superblast, we had a number of stipulations that would reward the man that scored the winning submission for his team at WarGames. In our main event that night, neither UWF heavyweight champion Bret Hart, nor MUW World heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, recorded that fall… however, both men were so impressive in that match that, dammit, they’re gonna fight each other anyways. I am happy to announce that it will be Bret Hart versus Brock Lesnar, title versus title, winner take all, at the Crockett Cup this June.”
Gilbert and Ranallo were understandably excited, and as Alex Shelley made his way to his ring accompanied by his teammate Chris Sabin, they hyped the card that was taking shape. However, they were cut off by a man in a gaudy suit, who stood at the top of the ramp with a microphone in hand.
“My name is Armando… Alejandro… Essssssssssstrada. I figured I should come out and clear up this… confusion. You see, Alex Shelley, when you accepted the open challenge last week from my client, I wasn’t talking about the magnificent Roderick Strong. No, no, no. I was referring to my new client. The Samoan bulldozer… Uuuuuuuuuuumaaaaaaaga!”
ALEX SHELLEY (w/Chris Sabin) vs. UMAGA (w/Armando Alejandro Estrada):
vs.
The Motor City Timesplitters were shocked; Shelley hadn’t scouted this opponent at all, and he was outweighed by more than 100 pounds. Nonethless, he took the fight to Umaga with quick strikes and kicks. But he was no match for the power and ferocity of his foe, and the match was mercifully short. A vicious Samoan spike sealed the deal for Umaga, and it would have been worse had Sabin not be there to defend his friend.
A video package highlighting the teams that were confirmed for the UWF Crockett Cup was shown, featuring the skills of the Fabulous Freebirds, the Midnight Express, the Triple Threat, the Bullet Club, the British Bulldogs, and others.
COMMERCIAL
Another pre-recorded interview was shown, split-screen style. The Authority and America’s Least Wanted – the two trios that would be squaring off for the opportunity to face the champion Freebirds. Randy Orton did most of the talking for his crew, and he was obviously not impressed by the competition. Marty Jannetty spoke for his team, and he warned the Authority that they were taking them far too lightly… and that it was ALW’s time to show the world what they were capable of.
UWF NORTH AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NICK BOCKWINKEL (c) vs. JAY LETHAL:
NICK BOCKWINKEL (c) vs. JAY LETHAL:
vs.
Main event time and big-match intros from Christy Hemme. Lethal carried his cash-in briefcase with him, though he would not have to relinquish it tonight; he was introduced as Jay “Money” Lethal. The cocky champion waited in the corner, the title over his shoulder. Bockwinkel looked at his foe as if he was a hapless rookie.
His mistake. Lethal was on him like a man possessed, eager to regain the North American strap. He was lightning-quick, and used a variety of throws and fists to overwhelm the AWA veteran. Bockwinkel scrambled to the outside to catch his breath, but “Money” pursued him, throwing him back inside.
But that was the opening the champ needed. He dropped an elbow on Lethal’s neck, stunning him, and then instantly dropped to the mat with him to ground him and slow the pace. Neck vices, stretches, and submission holds, all focused on the upper back and neck, but the former champion refused to give up.
It took several minutes, but Lethal regained the advantage. A top-rope elbow-drop got him a long two-count, and he pressed on. A series of moves and counters, then he went for the Lethal Injection – but Bockwinkel sidestepped it, and drove his opponent down with a reverse DDT. It got him a 2.9 count, but all of the damage inflicted to Lethal’s neck throughout the match was evident. Bockwinkel lifted his for up and hit him with a crushing piledriver… but again, Lethal kicked out. The champion was furious, and hauled him up for one more piledriver. This time, there was no kick-out, and “the Smartest Man in Wrestling” left the ring with a successful title defense under his belt, but knowing he’d feel the effects of that match for a while.