Post by fifthhorseman on Aug 17, 2020 15:09:12 GMT -5
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA
EPISODE 24
EPISODE 24
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 Nigel McGuinness and Timothy Thatcher staring each other down after their grueling “Pure Rules” 20-minute time limit draw.
Lance Russell: Welcome to Championship Wrestling from Florida! We are just one week away from our next major event, Bash at the Beach... but we gotta get through tonight before we get there! I'm Lance Russell, and I'm joined by the British bare-knuckle brawler himself, Stu Bennett. We have five great matches in store for you tonight, and who knows what else will happen tonight, Stu.”
Bennett: “The competition has never been more intense here in Florida, Lance. Tonight's card features a lot of men who have a lot to prove, given that they are not on the main card next show... but it also features a few men who are on that show, and let's just see if they choose to rest on their laurels, or come out and fight.”
Russell: “Let's get to the ring!”
BRENT ALBRIGHT vs. NICK NEMETH (w/Niko Bogojevic, Mike Rotunda, and Dan Spivey):
vs.
vs.
All four members of the Gulf Coast Varsity Club came out to the ring, Nemeth leading the entourage with a towel over his head. He personally asked Heenan earlier in the week for a match that would test him, and “the Brain” accommodated the request, slotting the relatively unheralded Albright in with him. Nemeth made it look easy for the first couple of minutes, but Albright – a former Oklahoma Sooner heavyweight himself – didn't just lie down. He put up a battle, combining his superior strength, amateur skills, and pro tactics to keep Nemeth at bay. But the former WWE World champ took advantage of the newcomer's mistakes, and finished him off with a ZigZig.
After the match, the Club entered the ring to congratulate their leader, and in the process, surrounded Albright – but they simply shook his hand and let him go. Nemeth took the microphone and said, “That's just what I needed. Brisco, we're all looking forward to meeting you, team to team, at Bash at the Beach – and you can either wrestle us like a man, like the former collegiate champion you were a long time ago... or you can hide behind the Funks and Dusty Rhodes, and we'll take them out, one by one, until you're the last man standing. Your choice. Good luck.”
COMMERCIAL
A “tale of the tape”-styled vignette aired, comparing the physical attributes of two men competing head to head at Bash at the Beach, the “Total Package” Lex Luger and “Superstar” Billy Graham. They were two of the most imposing and powerful men in the sport, and their measurements, and weightlifting records, were almost unmatched.
The STRONGHOLD (w/Oliver Humperdink and Lex Luger) vs. the USOS:
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Four of the best athletes in the territory – and two teams that were angry that they weren't on the Bash card. Thus, they fought as if to prove Heenan made a big mistake by leaving them off, and the action was non-stop. The Samoan twins had the superior aerial skills and teamwork – in that regard, they had no peers – but Cameron and Nation were bundles of dynamite, and when either man caught one of the Usos, they flung them around the ring like ragdolls.
It gradually started to go the Usos' way, so Humperdink tried to turn the tide. He walked up the stairs to argue with the referee, giving Luger the chance to run in and hit Jey with a forearm from behind, then he knocked Jimmy off the ring apron. But in a rare instance of the official using all five of his senses, he heard the commotion, turned around to witness the “Total Package” striking Jey again, and called for the DQ. The House of Humperdink kept fighting, three-on-two, until “Superstar” Billy Graham charged out for the save, and all six men fought until the show went to
COMMERCIAL
A recap video of the Thatcher/McGuinness instant classic, along with the subsequent “no holds barred” challenge by Ryback, played on the monitors. After it ended, the scene shifted to Bobby Heenan's office, where Ryback was waiting for a challenger to appear. As if on cue, “the Brain's” door opened, and Terry Funk walked in, fists taped and ready to go. “I haven't had a match since I hurt my knee, and I got a big match next week – and I just can't go into it cold. You're telling me I can have a fight with no rules? Hell, that's just what I need. Ryback, you big galoot, I'm ready if -”
Suddenly, another man barged into the office – and he hadn't even debuted in CWF yet. It was Monty Brown, and he respectfully nodded toward the hardcore icon before planting his hands on Heenan's desk. “I've been waiting a couple of weeks for you to give me a match, Bobby. I don't care if it's against Ryback, I don't care if it's back here or in the ring, rules or no rules. If you're gonna waste my time, then just release me and get it over with.”
Before Heenan could reply, Ryback said, “Mr. Heenan, you know that I'd love to get in the ring with either one of them. Hell, I'd fight both of them at the same time, even if you didn't ask me to! But seeing how this was my idea - with your help, of course - maybe I should just observe how it goes tonight. Why don't you let these two guys take each other on, and I'll referee it?”
The CWF president raised his eyebrow at the suggestion, looked at Ryback, then back to Brown and Funk. “You're more than just a big pile of muscles, kid. What the hell, let's do it. You guys are on after the next commercial break – and remember, I'll be watching!”
DREW McINTYRE vs. RAY GORDY:
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vs.
The high-flying Freebird was full of confidence, as always, even without any back-up – the other three men were getting ready for their match later on. McIntyre was as well, but he didn't need to jump around and boast about it. When the bell rang, Gordy charged in for the lock-up, but got tossed across the ring into a corner by the strong Scotsman. Undaunted, he came in again, with a similar result. Angrily, Gordy yelled at the crowd as he got to his feet, and began his charge for a third time – but McIntyre met him in the middle of the ring with a Claymore kick. That was it for Gordy, and the match was over in about 90 seconds.
McIntyre made the universal “pointing at his waist for a title shot” gesture, and from the way he was mowing through his foes, he made it clear that he didn't feel like waiting long. Suddenly, the scene changed to a VTR of the Devil's Advocates, in a darkened room, and the camera gradually zoomed in on their macabre leader, Sean O'Haire.
As usual, he spoke in sinister, twisted hypotheticals. His abnormal philosophy was counter to all things good and right in the world, but his eerie charisma somehow gave it weight. Near the end of his monologue, he got to his point. O'Haire: “It doesn't matter if you feel like an outsider or not, you have to do what you think is right. Deep down you know that you're right, and it's the world that's wrong. Stop pretending to be someone you're not. Take this man sitting here. When he was at his best, he was... an outsider. He embraced being... an outsider... didn't you, Scott?”
The lighting went up in the room, but only a little bit. In a chair, bound with his mouth and eyes covered... sat Razor Ramon.
COMMERCIAL
Russell: “Fans, as you all know, the man called Rusev was brutally attacked by four masked men last week. After that cowardly assault, he was diagnosed with a fractured forearm. Sadly, the 'Bulgarian Brute' will be out of action for at least a couple of weeks, and certainly for Bash at the Beach. The big man sent in a video for us, and here it is – now.”
Rusev was at home, his right arm in a cast. He started out speaking slowly, and calmly, but it was obvious that he was angry. It didn't take too long for him to show that anger, and he loudly vowed that he would find out who attacked him, and take care of them all – and then, he'd take care of Ryback as well.
Speaking of Ryback, the video ended and the former WWE IC champ strutted down to the ring, wearing a form-fitting striped tank top. He smugly flexed his muscles for the unappreciative audience, and relaxed in one of the ring corners.
CWF NO HOLDS BARRED EXHIBITION MATCH, GUEST REFEREE: RYBACK
MONTY BROWN vs. TERRY FUNK:
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MONTY BROWN vs. TERRY FUNK:
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They had one thing in common – they loved to fight. Otherwise, they came into the match with different agendas; the “Alpha Male” wanted to show everybody in the locker room that he was a force to be immediately reckoned with, while the NWA legend just wanted to get ready for his big tag-team match next week. Funk didn't waste any time thinking about what his peers thought about him.
Brown was immensely strong and explosive, and using his power was his game plan. Funk was Texas tough, deceptively strong as well, and had almost literally seen everything that could be seen in a wrestling ring. They fought in and out of the ring, but kept the battle confined to the ringside area, which was a blessing to the fans in the first several rows.
The crowd loved it, and cheered both men on – however, Ryback was getting increasingly frustrated, and jealous of the adoration they received. Finally, about 12 minutes in, the “Big Guy” dropped both of them with a double meathook clothesline, then stomped away at Brown. Funk got up and started fighting with Ryback, and then Brown joined in as well, ultimately repelling the bald powerhouse from the ring. The two men shared a laugh, then left the ring together, very satisfied with their efforts.
COMMERCIAL
A highlight video aired, featuring the Gulf Coast Varsity Club's amateur accomplishments contrasted with the various big wins put up by Dusty Rhodes, Terry and Dory Funk, Jr., and their team's captain at Bash at the Beach, Jack Brisco, who – combined – had over eight years worth of NWA World Heavyweight championship reigns, and seven reigns total.
When it finished, that was Heenan's cue to make his grand entrance, much to the crowd's displeasure. As he sat down, Bennett asked, “What did you think of that fight, Bobby? No holds barred indeed!”
The owner smiled from ear to ear. “I gotta tell you, Stu, I loved last week's match between Tim Thatcher and Nigel McGuinness – a lot more than I thought I would, I gotta admit – but I loved that match just as much. Though I must say, when we do another one – and we will – we'll have to add one more rule. No outside interference – holds might not be barred, but wrestlers other than the actual combatants will be!”
Russell: “You said 'when we do it again', Bobby... should we expect more matches like this in the future?”
Impossibly, Heenan's grin got even bigger. “Let me just say this, Russell – I'll have something to say about it at Bash at the Beach. And if you want to know what it is, you'll have to pay me – I mean, buy the event – to find out.”
CWF SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The FABULOUS FREEBIRDS vs. BRIAN PILLMAN, BILLY JACK HAYNES, and KERRY VON ERICH:
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The FABULOUS FREEBIRDS vs. BRIAN PILLMAN, BILLY JACK HAYNES, and KERRY VON ERICH:
vs.
It had been a couple of months since the Von Erich brothers stood on opposite side of the ring, but that was not even the most interesting aspect of this match. Pillman angrily stared up the ramp at Heenan, furious that he had to “defend” his title one more time before his gauntlet match next week - if any of his foes beat him, they would be the Southern Heavyweight champion. The tag-team champions weren't that pleased, either; win or lose, they were in there against the former champs, and the brutal “Yellow Rose of Texas”, while the Destruction Crew sat idle.
Thus, the faces tried to end it early, and took it to the Freebirds from the get-go; the sooner they were out of there, the better. But to their credit, the heelish veterans weathered the storm and then focused their efforts on Pillman. They cut him off and ground him down, making quick tags like the pros they were. However, there were small signs of dissension, as each man wanted to be the new Southern champion. The “Loose Cannon” eventually suplexed Hayes away when he tried a bulldog, and made the hot tag to Kerry.
Hayes tagged out to David, and the brothers traded heavy right hands in the center of the ring. The crowd loved it, and the bout broke down, as all six men wound up brawling in various corners. It was chaotic, and Haynes got posted in the melee, and blood immediately spurted from above his eye. But in the confusion, Pillman fended off the opposition long enough for Kerry to smash “Jimmy Jam” with a tornado punch, and the "Modern Day Warrior" pinned him for the win.
The three champions left the ring first, with their gold draped around them, happy to survive the stern test. As each man walked past Heenan, they let him know exactly what they thought about his matchmaking, and Pillman got right in his face, prompting Bennett to jump up to separate the two men.
But the show wasn't over yet.
One last vignette before Bash at the Beach. The CWF Florida Heavyweight champion, Rick Rude, was narrating what the viewers saw. There were scenes of the “Ravishing One” training in the gym with heavy weights, looking as ripped as he ever did. Scenes of Rude in action in CWF, against the best challengers in the world, and almost everybody went down via the Rude Awakening. Scenes of the Florida champ taken from various archives, when he defeated various icons of the sport for titles such as the WWF intercontinental and the WCW United States belts. Rude also spoke down to the MUW World champion, AJ Styles, claiming he was just a career minor leaguer that fluked out a win over an over-the-hill and worn-down Bruno Sammartino.
But in just one week, Styles would be facing a real man. A real champion. And the uncrowned MUW World champion.