Post by fifthhorseman on Jan 30, 2021 1:39:38 GMT -5
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA
EPISODE 42
EPISODE 42
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 CWF Florida Heavyweight champion Jack Brisco standing over his most recent defeated foe, Ryback.
“Mean Gene” Okerlund was in the ring, and he introduced Bobby Heenan. The CWF President was greeted with the usual chorus of boos, but he silenced them with a major announcement. “By the end of the night, the CWF and CWH rosters will be all set, and my friend and Executive President, Buddy Rogers, will be here to reveal the final few picks. But with half of the Florida roster going to Hollywood, that means my tag-team division is cut in half. Therefore, we only need one set of tag-team champions again. So I'm starting the show with a title unification match, between Dory and Terry Funk and the Gulf Coast Varsity Club, and the winning team will be the CWF Florida Tag-Team champs! Finkel – do your job!”
TITLE UNIFICATION MATCH FOR THE CWF FLORIDA TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
DORY and TERRY FUNK vs. the VARSITY CLUB (w/Nick Nemeth):
vs.
DORY and TERRY FUNK vs. the VARSITY CLUB (w/Nick Nemeth):
vs.
The GCVC was represented by their most experienced duo, and they handed the Southern titles to Heenan. The teams shook hands during the ring instructions, but it felt forced, and the stare-down was fierce. Once it got underway, it was a rugged blend of mat wrestling and pro wrestling, and “Dr. Death” brought the power. Despite their differences, they were very closely matched, most likely the best two teams in Florida.
25 minutes flew by. It was still anyone's match, but then the Tampa Towers slowly strode down the ramp. Nemeth wasn't going to let them ruin it, so despite the numbers, he left his team's corner and started walking towards them. Suddenly, Eric Bugenhagen charged onto the scene as well, and those four men fought outside while the action continued inside. It took a minute or so, but CWF officials eventually forced them all to the back.
Once the crowd's attention was focused back on the ring, the end sequence came. Rotunda and Terry Funk traded a series of holds and counters, and the Syracuse heavyweight fired the Texan into the ropes, and caught him in an airplane spin. After a few rotations, Funk slid off his back but took Rotunda's arms with him, snaring him in a crucifix pin. After 29 long minutes, the Funk brothers were victorious.
COMMERCIAL
Okerlund was backstage with Heenan for a rare in-show interview, and he asked him about Rick Rude's surprising announcement that he was going to CWH. “The Brain” admitted he was shocked, and even a little hurt, but now he looked at it like his son was leaving home for college. “Rick just needs a break, and he'll always have a home here. I can say this – whether it's EC3, or Brock Lesnar, or even the Rock himself... the locker room out in California better watch themselves when 'Ravishing' Rick Rude arrives.”
NIGEL McGUINNESS (w/the Kings of Wrestling) vs. KYLE O'REILLY (w/Adam Cole):
vs.
vs.
Before the bout started, McGuinness took the microphone from Finkel and addressed the audience. “Everyone wants to know – why have I aligned myself with the Kings of Wrestling? It's simple. They are wrestlers. I am a wrestler. Chris Hero and Antonio Cesaro are professionals in every sense of the word, and they reminded me that I've been wasting my time. I lost my edge! Meanwhile, people named 'Starship Coyote' and 'Otis' and 'Road Dogg' have come and gone through here stealing my spotlight. Well, not anymore!”
O'Reilly started strong with vicious kicks and strikes, but McGuinness took control after just a couple of minutes. It wasn't an easy win for the ROH legend, as O'Reilly (and his partner) were both improving every time they stepped in the ring. Still, it only took McGuinness about eight minutes to finish the Canadian off with his Tower of London cutter.
COMMERCIAL
A video package recapped Steven Regal's private conversation with Wade Barrett earlier in the month, followed by amateur footage taken at the CWF house show at which the NeXt Evolution ambushed the Nexus, resulting in the departure of all but Barrett and Tom “RY” Carter. When it ended, Okerlund summoned them to the stage, where the two men explained that since bringing in most of the original Nexus and wreaking havoc last summer, it was all downhill from there. But Regal saw something in them, and recommended going west to get a fresh start. Though the arrogant Brit didn't say it, he implied that Triple H considered them part of the group.
The NEW DAY (w/Xavier Woods) vs. the STRONGHOLD (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink):
vs.
vs.
Both teams needed an impressive showing here, and the announcers discussed the New Day's inability to find their stride since joining CWF. But they looked strong in the early going, with Kingston's speed and Langston's strength matching up with the raw power across from them. The Stronghold gradually turned the tables, and it soon turned into a four-man brawl. But when Kofi accidentally hit Big E with Trouble in Paradise, things took a very unexpected turn... because the big man got to his feet, waved off Woods and Kingston, and walked away. His partners were perplexed, and because Langston was the legal man, the Stronghold won by countout.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, Kingston and Woods looked for their partner, shouting his name through the corridors... but he was nowhere to be found.
A VTR was shown, recorded earlier in the week by Jon Moxley. Raven threatened him last week, but the former WWE World champion wasn't scared of him or any other member of his Flock. “I'm gonna be in that ring next week,” he said, “and if none of you are there to fight me, then I bring the fight to you.
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. PAUL ORNDORFF (w/Gary Hart):
vs.
vs.
In his short time in CWF, Cage had established himself as the “gatekeeper”. He was someone that could beat anyone, any night, as evidenced by his first match with Rick Rude– and if someone defeated him, then they were amongst the elite in the territory.
“Mr. Wonderful” didn't need the validation, but he did want the win. As you'd expect, it was an excellent match between two pros; Cage used his quickness and superior chain wrestling to try to offset Orndorff's raw power. They went about 15 minutes, and after the “Brandon Bull” shoved Cage toward the referee, where he stopped himself just inches from a collision, Orndorff rolled the “Instant Classic” up from behind and put his feet on the ropes for added leverage, stealing the victory.
COMMERCIAL
Heenan came out to call the main event with Ranallo and Russell, and when he sat down he made an announcement for next week's show: a battle royale to determine the next opponent for both Jack Brisco and the new CWF Southern champ, Drew McIntyre. “And just you wait and see how it's gonna work!”
CWF TELEVISION TITLE MATCH
LEX LUGER (c, w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) vs. BARRY WINDHAM:
vs.
LEX LUGER (c, w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) vs. BARRY WINDHAM:
vs.
Rematch time for Windham, and he was ready to fight Luger under any conditions. The spin of the dial came up champion's choice, and the “Total Package” decided it would be a no holds barred match, insuring that he could do just about anything he wanted.
The former champ came out on fire, and it went to the floor quickly. The two men traded heavy blows throughout the battle, fists and clotheslines and slams, and it was difficult to tell whether Windham just wanted revenge or the belt back – it was probably both, but Luger could dish it out as well. He hoisted his former partner up for the Torture Rack, but Windham rolled off, hit the ropes, and nailed Luger with a flying lariat.
...and then the bell rang. The ten-minute time limit expired, and the draw meant that Luger retained the title. He didn't win, but he didn't lose. Windham pointed at him and said, “It's not over yet!” before leaving the ring in obvious frustration; Luger left a few moments later, arrogantly waving the TV title at the crowd before he walked through the curtain.
Heenan stood up and introduced Buddy Rogers to the audience, and he named the various wrestlers who were already transferred onto his roster; the video boards displayed their faces as well. “And now without further ado, it's time to introduce the other men representing Championship Wrestling from Hollywood!”
The first two men to walk out onto the stage were the Dream Team, Dusty Rhodes and “Superstar” Billy Graham, and their appearance surprised the crowd; Heenan and Rogers smiled at each other at the response. Then, others came out, one and two at a time: Barrett and Carter, Rusev, Jeff Cobb, and Future Shock all appeared on the stage.
They were followed by the Gulf Coast Varsity Club, all four of them.
The final man to come out was Big E. He scowled when the crowd booed him, and his New Day teammates ran through the curtain to confront him. Langston didn't say a word, and he turned his back to them.. But they wouldn't leave, and when they spun him back around to face them, the powerhouse hit them with a double-clothesline. The show ended with him standing over both of them, and Rogers and Heenan laughed in the background.