Post by fifthhorseman on Dec 18, 2020 23:36:42 GMT -5
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA
EPISODE 38
EPISODE 38
Lance Russell started the show by announcing the various matches scheduled for the night, featuring a couple of debuts and arguably the most unusual main event in CWF history – the East-West Connection versus the Road Warriors for the WCW World Tag-Team titles!
But before the first match could get underway, Russell and Ranallo recapped what took place last week, where CWF President Bobby Heenan announced the formation of an expansion territory in California, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. He didn't reveal much else in terms of its start date or who would be on the roster, but it was a given that the “People's Champion”, the Rock, was key to its success.
BRENT ALBRIGHT vs. RICK RUDE (w/Percy Pringle III):
vs.
vs.
The former Florida Heavyweight champ was in a foul mood, and the newcomer from Oklahoma could not match Rude's ferocity. The “Ravishing One” was all business, and he made short work of Albright, finishing him off with his patented neckbreaker. After the match, he demanded a rematch against Jack Brisco, confident that his manager, and Bobby Heenan, would get him what he wanted.
COMMERCIAL
"Mean" Gene Okerlund presented the CWF Southern champion, Muhammad Hassan, along with his manager, Freddie Blassie, to the crowd. Typical heel stuff, with Hassan claiming a clean and decisive win over Drew McIntyre at CWF Survivor Series.
The BAD STREET BOYS vs. the KINGS OF WRESTLING:
vs.
vs.
Another CWF debut, and Hero and Cesaro were eager to make a good first impression. And that they did; the BSB did well for themselves, and got in several fast double-team moves throughout the match, but the former ROH tag champs were too tough and experienced. The Kings hit York with a brutal combination of a giant swing/slingshot (Cesaro) into a roaring elbow (Hero).
COMMERCIAL
A VTR was sent to the office by Raven and his newly-minted Flock, consisting of Sean O'Haire, Hade Vansen, and Dexter Lumis. The ECW icon explained that as the Devil's Advocates, they weren't living up to their true potential – and by cutting Leo Kruger, the Flock was already a tighter, stronger group. Addition by subtraction. Raven said that he would make his CWF debut next week, and he would lead by example.
CWF TELEVISON TITLE MATCH
KOFI KINGSTON (w/Xavier Woods) vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c):
vs.
KOFI KINGSTON (w/Xavier Woods) vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c):
vs.
Windham was on a roll, taking on all comers on a weekly basis – and now he had a former WWE World champion to deal with. The spin of the dial came up champion's choice, and the lanky Texan chose pure rules. Woods was a non-factor from the floor, albeit a very vocal one, as the two athletes put on an outstanding battle. However, Windham's pure rules experience proved to be the deciding factor, and with just 30 seconds left on the clock, he used his superior weight to trap Kingston in a head-and-arm hold and score the pin.
The post-match activity was just as intriguing. The New Day and Windham all shook hands, but before any of them left the ring, Lex Luger appeared on the stage. He boasted that he could also beat any member of the New Day, and if that was all it took to get a TV title shot, then he was stepping to the front of the line. Then he, and his manager Oliver Humperdink, departed, while his longtime frenemy Windham exhorted him to back up his claim.
COMMERCIAL
A cameraman was following Jon Moxley through the corridors. He claimed that he had tried – several times – to set up a meeting with Heenan, but the CWF boss refused to see him. “If he doesn't open his door for me, then I'm just gonna have to kick it in. And I'm not necessarily speaking in metaphors, either.”
PAUL ORNDORFF vs. DAVEY BOY SMITH, Jr (w/Tyson Kidd):
vs.
vs.
For whatever reason, Heenan seemed to be setting up his former client against Legacy, one by one... and that suited “Mr. Wonderful” just fine. That said, Smith gave him a good fight, and “the Bulldog” didn't let Orndorff push him around. They went about eight minutes, and while Smith was competitive, it ended like a lot of Orndorff matches did: with a jumping piledriver, and the Tampa native's hand raised in victory.
After the match, he was met on the stage by Blassie, Humperdink, Wade Barrett, and most surprisingly (due to his affiliation with former foe Rick Rude), Percy Pringle. They all tried to get a word with Orndorff, but he blew right past them, and the frustrated quartet argued with each other as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
Okerlund introduced the Gulf Coast Varsity Club, and Nemeth led Rotunda and Bugenhagen onstage, each of whom wore a Southern Tag-Team belt around his waist. He told Okerlund that they got permission from Heenan to defend them with “Club Rules”: because Rotunda earned both belts last week, he earned the right to choose his partner every time the titles were defended.
“Sometimes,” Nemeth said, “I might jump in there with Mike once in a while if we feel like it. But to be honest, I'm focusing on singles gold, so that probably won't happen too much. So that means that, if the gameplan calls for it and it's against the right team, Mike will work with Eric to give him valuable championship experience. However, in other situations, we still have one more option. You see, we replaced that wannabe jock Dan Spivey with a real athlete. A two-sport phenomenon, and a four-time NCAA All-American. Allow me to welcome the newest member of the Gulf Coast Varsity Club... 'Dr. Death', Steve Williams!”
He walked through the curtain and shook each man's hand, and Bugenhagen handed him “his” belt as a show of respect. They were a formidable unit, and the awestruck crowd was split - cheering and booing – as they left.
JEFF COBB vs. BROCK LESNAR (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
Heenan was determined to make CWF must-see TV, and that meant Lesnar was making a rare television appearance. He squared off against yet another vaunted amateur grappler in Cobb, and the two superheavyweights started things off with a series of amateur-styled takedowns and reversals. After that, it became progressively more violent, and Cobb dished it out as well as he took it. This was no squash for “the Beast”; they went past the ten-minute mark, but eventually Lesnar began to take charge. He took the stout Hawaiian to “Suplex City”, and then he backed into a corner to chuckle at his work.
But before he could seal the deal, Drew McIntyre sprinted down, ran along the length of the ring apron, and hit Lesnar with a Claymore kick that sent them both spilling to the floor. The referee immediately called for the disqualification, and after several seconds, the Scotsman got to his feet and apologized to Cobb, who was not impressed with the DQ loss that he sustained. Regardless, he walked away as McIntyre grabbed a microphone. “Hey, Hassan! The whole world knows you didn't beat me clean, one-two-three in the center of the ring, so I'm challenging you to a rematch – and I”ll go through every damn member of the Blassie Family to do it!”
He strode past Blassie and Lesnar, who was just recovering from the kick, and casually tossed the mike in their direction.
COMMERCIAL
A camera shot zoomed out from quite possibly the ugliest pair of wrestling tights ever created; they were tie-dyed, with yellow polka dots on them. The man wearing them? “Superstar” Billy Graham, and he was joined by the “American Dream”, Dusty Rhodes, who wore similar trunks. The two men gave the type of interview that only they could give; though they waged countless bloody battles against each other in the past, they realized they were unstoppable together. If either of them ever got a singles title shot, they'd take it... but for now, the newly-formed “Dream Team” were after tag-team gold.
That segment segued perfectly into the main event, where the announcers recapped the East-West Connection's win at Starrcade – the biggest WCW event of the year. When they finished, Bobby Heenan joined them on commentary, confident that his team would chalk up a rematch victory, and in the process, he'd get one of the Road Warriors on his roster as well!
WCW WORLD TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
IF THE ROAD WARRIORS LOSE, ONE MUST STAY IN CWF
The EAST-WEST CONNECTION (c) vs. the ROAD WARRIORS:
vs.
IF THE ROAD WARRIORS LOSE, ONE MUST STAY IN CWF
The EAST-WEST CONNECTION (c) vs. the ROAD WARRIORS:
vs.
Despite everything, the LOD got the patented “Road Warriors pop” when they entered the arena. Adonis and Ventura was furious at the reception they received, as was “the Brain”, and the big-match intros didn't help. So they jumped Hawk and Animal before the bell rang, and the action spilled to the outside, where the four continued to brawl. Ranallo theorized that the EWC were trying to get counted out or disqualified – either way, they'd retain the titles.
But the referee let them fight for a while first, much to the crowd's delight, and he only started the match when Hawk and Ventura rolled into the ring. The match was officially underway, and it was a more competitive match than the Vegas oddsmakers would have predicted. The Connection used every double-teaming and duplicitous trick in the book to maul the mighty Road Warriors, and they trapped Animal during the middle stretch of the contest.
However, as most of their matches usually went, the Legion of Doom took charge. Hawk tagged in and took both foes on, and when all four inevitably ended up brawling again, Animal and Adonis went over the top rope together via a Cactus clothesline spot. Ventura was distracted just long enough for Hawk to go to the top turnbuckle, and when “the Body” turned back around, he was nailed by a flying shoulder-tackle from the 275-pounder. Adonis couldn't make the save in time, so three seconds later, the match was over.
The two behemoths celebrated in opposite corners with the belts held high. They were going back home to WCW, together, with the gold.