Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 21, 2020 23:44:02 GMT -5
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA
EPISODE 20
EPISODE 20
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 Nick Nemeth and the rest of the Gulf Coast Varsity Club celebrating a victory over Jack Brisco.
Lance Russell: “Welcome to Championship Wrestling from Florida! We have five outstanding matches in store for you tonight, and our main event will see 'Ravishing' Rick Rude defend the illustrious CWF Florida Heavyweight championship against a resurgent Nick Nemeth, representing the Gulf Coast Varsity Club. I'm Lance Russell, joined as always by Stu Bennett at the broadcast table. But before we get to our first match, let me introduce the CWF Florida Tag-Team champions... Billy Jack Haynes and Kerry Von Erich!”
The two men came out to a huge ovation, wearing gold around their chiselled waists. They kept their message short and to the point, knowing that a tag-team match was just about to begin. The Fabulous Freebirds were in their rear view mirrors, and they were looking ahead to whoever Bobby Heenan put in front of them; whether it was a team that had been here in Florida from the very beginning, or one of the new teams that entered the territory, Von Erich and Haynes were ready for them.
The EAST-WEST CONNECTION vs. MIKE GRAHAM/STEVE KEIRN:
vs.
vs.
Ventura and Adonis were eager to prove themselves against a team that many considered to be the quintessential CWF tag-team, and the former AWA champs brought it. Graham and Keirn were game competitors as always, but “the Body's” power and the underrated technical skill of Adonis were too much for them. It was a spotlight match for the Connection's debut, and they won the relatively short contest when Adonis pinned Graham after a running shoulder-breaker.
The heels left them laying, and as they walked up the ramp, they were met – and passed – by David Von Erich and Ray Gordy, who attacked Graham and Keirn with chairs. After launching Graham shoulder-first into the steel steps, the “Yellow Rose of Texas” locked the iron claw on Keirn, who flailed on the mat for several seconds. Finally, Jerry Lawler ran out to confront the two Freebirds, who reluctantly left, but certain that they conveyed a message that no team was safe while the Fabulous Freebirds were around.
COMMERCIAL
A VTR was shown out of the break, profiling Timothy Thatcher. He was a mat wrestler par excellence, and eager to demonstrate his rugged skills with whoever dared to step in the ring with him.
DEXTER LUMIS (w/Hade Vansen) vs. RAZOR RAMON:
vs.
vs.
Bennett reminded the audience of Ramon's confrontation with the Devil's Advocates the week before. The “Bad Guy” was happy to see that Lumis only came out with one cornerman, and that O'Haire and Kruger were still in the back – but he still kept looking up the ramp just in case. Lumis used that to his advantage, and the surprisingly powerful sociopath laid in stiff shots. However, Ramon rallied after Lumis missed a top-rope legdrop, and after a series of clotheslines and punches of his own, he finished Lumis off with the Razor's Edge.
After the victory, as he walked up the ramp, Ramon was confronted by the other two men. O'Haire wore a sinister smile, as his other allies slowly left the ring. Surrounded, Ramon did the smartest thing he could think of, given the numbers – he jumped the rail and went through the crowd, celebrating the win with the fans.
While he did this, a pre-taped interview aired. Russell sat beside “Superstar” Billy Graham, and the man with the gigantic pythons hadn't forgotten about the House of Humperdink's nefarious, treacherous attack. He owed them all some payback – especially the man that hit him from behind, Lex Luger – so he issued a challenge to the “Total Package”, daring him to meet him anytime and any place.
COMMERCIAL
Another vignette, showcasing the career of Drew McIntyre. From his very early push as the “Chosen One”, to his rebirth on the independents, he was positioned as a threat to anybody in CWF, and he would be wrestling in his first one-on-one battle... next week.
The USOS vs. the VARSITY CLUB:
vs.
Noticeable by their absence were Nemeth and Bogojevic, but Russell explained that the two were preparing for the “Showoff's” match later in the night against Rick Rude. The match was a contrast of styles, with Rotunda and Spivey relying on their amateur skills and superior strength, while the Uso brothers were quicker and flashier. It went back and forth for over ten minutes, and when Jimmy and Jey hit stereo dives to their opponents on the floor, the referee began his count.
He never had a chance to even get to five. Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin ran down the ramp armed with chairs, and blasted the Usos across their backs with them. Seeing that they were not the targets, the Club merely walked away. As the collegians walked through the curtain, they were nearly trampled by the Samoa Fight Club, who sprinted down and got in a couple of shots on the Freebirds before the heels ran away. Fatu and Siaki checked on the brothers, and they all angrily looked at the former CWF Florida tag champs as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
LUMBERJACK MATCH
RUSEV vs. RYBACK:
vs.
vs.
Various wrestlers came out to surround the ring, including Barry Windham, Leo Kruger, Richie Steamboat, Hade Vansen, the Prime Time Players, the Destruction Crew, 2MB, and the Blond Bombers. On the way down, though, Freddie Blassie stopped for a moment by the broadcast desk as he sent Patterson and Stevens on their way. Blassie wanted the hosts – and by extension, the television audience - to know two things. First: if Von Erich and Haynes wanted to put their titles up against somebody, then they could do so against the greatest team on either coast or in either hemisphere, the Blond Bombers. Second: he was still scouting talent in Florida and around the world, and it was only a matter of time before “Classy” Freddie Blassie's stable was the most dominant force in the MUW Network.
The two participants were next, and were thoroughly checked over by the ref before he signaled for the bell. Once it rang, Ryback and Rusev locked up, and engaged in various tests of strength, but neither man seized a decisive advantage. They brawled on, and every time one of them went to the floor, the lumberjacks converged on them. It became increasingly intense out there as well, and when both Rusev and Ryback tumbled over the top rope, they were swallowed up by the crowd. Everybody was throwing down, and after about 30 seconds, while the referee was desperately trying to restore order, the two behemoths slid in the opposite side.
Therefore, the official never saw the brass knuckles wrapped around the “Big Guy's” right hand. He nailed Rusev on the jaw, flooring him with such impact that the referee only turned when he heard the Bulgarian hit the mat. It was over, suddenly, and Ryback took the tainted win.
Russell: “Ryback absolutely stole that one. Rusev isn't going to accept that loss, certainly not in that fashion – Stu, I'm sure we haven't seen the last of this feud.”
Bennett smirked. “No doubt, those two will see each other again, and I can't wait to see it. But as a pugilist of some renown myself, and no stranger to its use, I think that we have to ask ourselves another question – where did those brass knuckles come from? Is it possible that someone handed them to Ryback during the match?”
COMMERCIAL
As usual, Bobby Heenan made his grand entrance, but before sitting down with Russell and Bennett, he addressed the crowd with a broad smile on his face. “Now is that any way to welcome the man who is putting together the best pay-per-view event of the summer? I have not one, but two, match announcements for you for Bash at the Beach, and if you'll just shut up for a couple of minutes, I'll tell you what they are!”
A few seconds passed, and “the Brain” continued. “That's better! First of all, you saw them earlier tonight, so I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that you'll see them again at Bash at the Beach. The CWF Florida Tag-Team championships are on the line, when Kerry Von Erich and Billy Jack Haynes face off... against Percy Pringle's Destruction Crew!”
“And if you thought our main event tonight was a doozy, then wait until you hear how high the stakes just got raised. The MUW World Heavyweight title, currently held by AJ Styles, will also be defended at Bash at the Beach next month – and it will be defended against the CWF Florida Heavyweight champion! Will it be our reigning champion, 'Ravishing' Rick Rude? Or will be Nick Nemeth, the man he's facing in just a few moments? Well, it all depends on who wins tonight! So, good luck, gentlemen – may the best man win!”
CWF FLORIDA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NICK NEMETH (w/Niko Bogojevic) vs. RICK RUDE (c, w/Percy Pringle III):
vs.
NICK NEMETH (w/Niko Bogojevic) vs. RICK RUDE (c, w/Percy Pringle III):
vs.
Big-match intros for this one. Two of the best-conditioned and well-rounded athletes in the sport went nose-to-nose in the center of the squared circle, with their cornermen right behind them. The challenger got more of the cheers, solely because Rude was just that good at being bad – but it wasn't unanimous.
The “Ravishing One” used his power advantage early on, throwing Nemeth around with relative ease. Ride hit him with stiff forearms and clotheslines, and whipped him from corner to corner. The Kent State heavyweight rolled to the outside for a breather, and when he returned, he tried to outwrestle the champion. Getting Rude on the mat certainly helped, and whenever he took him off the proverbial vertical base, Nemeth was able to seize control.
It was a pay-per-view quality main event, and they breezed past the 20-minute mark. There were very few pin attempts to that point, simply because neither man was worn down enough. Pringle was his usual irritating self at ringside, while the massive Bogojevic's mere presence was enough to prevent Rude from doing whatever he wanted. It was a hard-nosed battle, and thus the two never noticed that two other men came out to watch the match in person... Dusty Rhodes and Jack Brisco. They respectfully kept their distance, rolling a pair of chairs up to the broadcast table so they could sit beside Heenan, who was not that impressed. However, once Rude and Nemeth noticed them, they couldn't help but keep one eye on them. The pace quickened, and the pin attempts increased in frequency as well. Nemeth hit Rude with the Zig-Zag, but inexplicably turned to the stage, where Heenan – without a headset – and Brisco were standing and pointing... at him. Bogojevic, sensing that his teammate was losing focus, shouted at him and even went to the base of the ramp. Rhodes, though, also got up, as if he thought the super-heavyweight was challenging him.
While all of this took place, Rude recovered, and the wily veteran wasted no time. He sneaked behind Nemeth and nailed him with the Rude Awakening. He cinched in a half-nelson with the pin just to be safe, but it was unnecessary, and the match ended at 26:20. Bogojevic stomped into the ring to check on Nemeth; Brisco nodded at Heenan, and then he and Rhodes left. Meanwhile, Pringle celebrated with Rude, who was still the flag-bearer of CWF, and the rotund manager was triply excited to go to Bash at the Beach with the opportunity to bring tag-team gold, and the MUW World title, into his possession as well.