Post by fifthhorseman on May 17, 2020 15:02:33 GMT -5
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING from FLORIDA
EPISODE 13
EPISODE 13
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. The clip ended with a still shot of Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes standing in the ring, celebrating a win with the CWF Florida Tag-Team championship belts over their shoulders.
Lance Russell: “Good evening, wrestling fans, and welcome to Championship Wrestling from Florida! We are just one week away from the premiere wrestling event of the spring, Battle of the Belts, but before we get there, we gotta get through tonight! There are four fantastic matches on deck, along with previews of what's coming up next week, so let's get straight to the action in the ring!”
2MB vs. LEO KRUGER and DEXTER LUMIS (w/Sean O'Haire):
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This was a rematch of sorts, as the four had singles matches against each other earlier in the month. The rock stars displayed good continuity early on, but the self-proclaimed “Devil's Advocates” cut them off with their superior combined strength and willingness to cut corners. They isolated Slater, and he was the proverbial face in peril for several minutes before hot-tagging Bugenhagen, who briefly cleared house. However, a strategic distraction by O'Haire was all it took for Lumis to lock the collegiate star in an anaconda vice, “earning” the submission victory at 11:10.
COMMERCIAL
The first of several PPV preview vignettes aired, focusing on the Kevin Sullivan/Jack Brisco cage match.
The ASCENSION (w/Kevin Suliivan) vs. BLITZKRIEG and RICHIE STEAMBOAT:
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Heenan thought it would be fun to make Steamboat and Blitzkrieg partners in a match just days before they battled each other, and he didn't give them easy opponents. The Ascension were on a roll, and with “the Taskmaster” barking instructions at them from the corner, Konnor and Viktor dominated the early minutes. However, the two high-flyers dug in and displayed surprising teamwork, putting the heels on... well, their heels. But a ref bump gave the "Army of Darkness" a numbers advantage; while the four wrestlers fought, and Sullivan “checked on” the referee, Hade Vansen ran down and hit Blitzkieg with a top-rope kneedrop, enabling Viktor to make the easy roll-up at 9:34. The Army retreated, while the faces protested the loss, and then they shook hands in anticipation of their bout at the upcoming pay-per-view.
A 30-second highlight video was shown, hyping the “Bulgarian Brute”, Rusev, along with a chyron indicating that he would make his in-ring debut on the first episode of Championship Wrestling from Florida after Battle of the Belts.
COMMERCIAL
A video recorded after last week's show went off the air was shown, and the Fabulous Freebirds were livid. All four of them hated Kerry Von Erich – and now, they also had a problem with the newcomer, Billy Jack Haynes, sticking his nose in their business. Collectively, they dared Haynes to meet one of them in the ring “next week”, and after several other choice insults and words, they decided that Ray Gordy would represent them in the ring.
RAY GORDY vs. BILLY JACK HAYNES:
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Haynes was escorted to the ring by his friend, Kerry Von Erich; when Gordy emerged from the curtain, he was briefly joined by Kerry's brother and enemy, David, who smirked as he turned around and left, replaced by Michael Hayes. Once the action started, the second-generation Freebird wondered if he bit off more than he could chew when the Oregonian pressed him over his head, and he was sure of it when he was slammed to the mat. Haynes controlled most of the action, and with Hayes neutralized on the floor by the “Modern Day Warrior”, he finished off Gordy with a full nelson at the eight minute mark.
Another video was shown, previewing the inevitable brutality of the TLC match for the Florida Tag-Team titles, and the three teams that would be involved: the Upperclassmen (Chris Nowinski and Alex Riley), Uhaa Nation and Larry Cameron, and the Freebirds.
COMMERCIAL
The third of four preview videos aired – this one spotlighting the feud between the Von Erich brothers that would culminate in their Texas bullrope match, refereed by their father Fritz.
When it ended, Russell was joined by Bobby Heenan on commentary. He sat down and exhaled a long breath of relief, as if happy that Battle of the Belts was just around the corner. After trading pleasantries, Russell asked him for his thoughts on the Brian Pillman – Buddy Murphy match, as there was no vignette for that one. Heenan shrugged and replied, “Not much to say, really. Non-title match on the pre-show... not really worth giving it a video when we have so much more going on that night.”
Ever the professional, Russell simply raised his eyebrow in disbelief, and carried on.
NIGEL McGUINNESS vs. BOB ORTON, Jr (w/Don Muraco):
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Two of the most scientific wrestlers in the federation were in action, but their specific technical skills were quite different from each other: Orton was a legacy, trained in the territories, and as smooth as anybody, while McGuinness mixed a variety of styles, specialized in British strong style. Regardless, they meshed extremely well, and it reminded the sold-out arena crowd how underrated both men were. Muraco stuck his nose into it as often as he could, but he couldn't keep his partner from losing, as McGuinness won after a complex pinning combination at 13:26. The Brit rolled out and backed up the ramp before the villains could exact any revenge.
COMMERCIAL
The final preview aired, and this was for the biggest contest on the card – the Florida Heavyweight championship match between Rick Rude and Razor Ramon.
Russell: “Last week, we heard from the champion himself, 'Ravishing' Rick Rude. So right now, with his response, is his challenger, the man who will face Mr. Rude at Battle of the Belts for the Florida championship title... Razor Ramon!”
The 6'7”, 287-pounder emerged from the curtain to a chorus of cheers, and even Heenan – despite his loyalty to his former client, Rude – had to smile, knowing how huge and profitable this match would be. The “Bad Guy” acknowledged the crowd with his trademark catch phrase, “Hey, yo”, popping the crowd again...
... but before he could say another word, he was suddenly jumped from behind by Bob Orton and Don Muraco! The audience was shocked, as was Russell, and Ramon fought back against the two veterans, who took a punch for every one that they delivered. The big Cuban just would not stay down, and when other officials came out to try to separate the combatants, they were tossed to the side.
The two eventually beat Ramon down to one knee, and that was the moment that Rude and his manager, Percy Pringle III, decided to show up. The champ was in his wrestling gear, as if he already knew he'd be fighting, and he made it a three-on-one attack. Ironically, his presence fired up Ramon, and he battled back, trading punches with Rude. However, the adrenaline rush quickly subsided, and before officials could stop him, the cocky heel hit Ramon with the Rude Awakening. Ramon was down for good now, and the show ended with Rude standing over top of him, and Muraco, Orton, and Pringle – with the belt over his shoulder – in the background.