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Post by MadStepDad on Apr 16, 2011 17:23:43 GMT -5
"MY BLOODY VALENTINE"Ringside Intro with the Announce Team: Gordon Solie & Matt Striker Striker and Solie welcome everybody to the show. Critics said it couldn't be done, haters said it was too raw (like sewage). But XPW is back with it's second full-length offering: "My Bloody Valentine". Tonight, old scores will be settled as XPW champion Bruno Sammartino teams with the vivacious Missy Hyatt to take on the Black Army tandem of Kevin Sullivan and Lizzy Borden. If Sullivan wins, he earns an automatic XPW title shot! Plus a dog-collar match, a "Legends Match", King of the Death Match title and much much more! Will secrets come to the light? Or will darkness continue to prevail??? Oh my, on with the show! GORDON SOLIE: One day, MSD called me and told me that his ring announcer had quit, and would I be interested in ring announcing. And I said, "Well, what does it pay?" and he said, "$5.00 a night" - well, I was making 50 bucks a week as a radio announcer, so that was a 10% increase in pay - so I said, "Sure!" Of course, I was, in a sense, terrified because it's one thing to have them on your studio, when you're in control - but now it's going into their "happy hunting ground". I would rap rather timidly on the dressing room door and go in and get weights and all of that. Everybody was very cordial, but also I noticed that when I walked into the XPW dressing room all conversation stopped, and the environment was not hostile but it was very guarded... ____________________________________________________________________ 1) SABU (1995) versus HAKUSHI (1995) versus Striker covers the bisecting history of these two superstars, as they rose to prominence at roughly the same time. Sabu bubbled within the hardcore underground scene, while Hakushi made it national on American television with the WWF. Gordon Solie explains how this is a smart mark (circa 1995) wet dream match, and only XPW Remixed can bring it to you! Sabu is wheeled down the entrance ramp on a standing gurney by a platoon of XPW security. Sabu is restrained in a strait jacket, with a Hannibal-Lector mask. Driven into a frenzy by his lust for combat, the wily and unpredictable Sabu is truly a scarred-up, horrific sight. Contrast that with the big-match entrance of the Oriental enigma Hakushi. He strides into the dimly lit XPW Arena like an Angel of light. Bright white spotlights frame his entrance amidst a dazzling backdrop of Oriental letters and symbolism. Tension is high even before the first lock-up of the night. Sabu and Hakushi start slow, bringing the crowd along with them. They exchange takedowns, ground work, then suplexes and slams and before escalating to a dangerous array of hand-spring, springboard, aerial attacks (like Arabian face busters and Space Flying Tiger Drops). Match is a virtual "oooh" and "ahhh" fest. A table gets introduced into the match, and after numerous dramatic teases - Sabu is the one who winds up crashing and burning through the table to great crowd effect. Hakushi's "Koya Otoshi" crucifix powerbomb over the top rope through that table seals the deal, and Hakushi wins the match via count-out. Winner: HAKUSHI ___________________________________________________________________ 2) EDDIE GILBERT (1993) versus NECRO BUTCHER (2006)(Dog Collar Match) versus EDDIE GILBERT: I always hate coming here to Los Angeles because I get so depressed. Every time I come here, because all the people are always booing me! Now Necro Butcher - you have finally after weeks and weeks and months and months and now a few years, you have FINALLY agreed to meet me in my kind of match... on my kind of turf... "Anything goes, non-sanctioned" Dog Collar Match!!! You can't have your favorite referee... you can't have the people yell "please stop the match we want to save Necro Butcher's career!!!", because this time in LA I will put you out for good! Eddie Gilbert enters first with mic in hand, and cuts the previous pre-match promo - proudly wielding the dog collar around his neck and calling forth the Necro Butcher to answer his challenge. This is the mad scientist Eddie Gilbert circa 1993, Eastern Championship Wrestling bleeding buckets around Philly with Terry Funk. This Eddie Gilbert was ranked #29 in the PWI 500 for 1993. His dream opponent on the other hand, Necro Butcher, is a world renowned certified madman. But does he have what it takes to elevate himself beyond mindless brawling and garbage wrestling? This is from the peak of his career when Necro Butcher was taking massive damage from such heavy-hitting names like Samoa Joe and Low-Ki - absorbing superhuman levels of punishment. This entire match is a demonstration in blatant brutality. The match cannot be contained within the ring, as the two men battle out to the ringside area and into the audience. They are tightly tethered neck-to-neck in the dog collars, and the blood quickly pours. Match is a spotlight effort for Eddie Gilbert, who gets massive heel heat for his actions and heinous assaults - all of which Necro Butcher weathers gamely (earning the crowds respect). So Eddie Gilbert sinks low enough to blaze Necro Butcher with a match-ending fireball, and finally keeps the Butcher down with an elevated "Hot Shot" flapjack hangman to earn the grueling victory. Winner: "HOT STUFF" EDDIE GILBERTMATT STRIKER: To hear it from him in front of all those people on national television … you saw Necro Butcher's face, I mean, I realize that what Gilbert did was wrong. But then right away, I realize that Necro Butcher's passion and commitment to professional wrestling says so much for all of the people who have come before him who have paid the dues in blood and sweat. I mean, Necro Butcher paid his dues and his blood and his sweat for years so that he could be in that ring, and just because he’s not a worldwide-known name, that doesn’t mean that I can’t realize that I made sacrifices for my passion the same way people like him did._________________________________________________________________ 3) BERZERKER & THE SHEIK (w/ TGW) versus THE MESSIAH and.... Mystery Partner versus The Messiah is just that - the literal Son of God returned to XPW. His vignettes occur in dark confessional booths and gothic cathedrals, and focus upon returning to his prior glory and his continued dedication to punishing himself for the sins of humanity. Really bizarre stuff, made only more insane by the antics of some kind of follower or stalker that has taken to the Messiah's cause. The mysterious cloaked man in the arena alcoves, watching on with a spiked baseball bat in his hand. In the lone radio call-in spot the mysterious watched did to XPW Satellite Radio, he told host Matt Striker that he was "bearing Witness" to the Messiah's rebirth. At "My Bloody Valentine", the mystery watcher will make his agenda known. But tonight - as The Grand Wizard stands center ring, jawing away on the mic to draw the ire of the fans while the massive Berzerker storms about uncontrollably and the Sheik unfurls his prayer rug - The Messiah's mystery tag team partner is nowhere to be found. The Messiah - shorn thumb and all - arrives as usual through the throngs of rowdy XPW fans. The people embrace him as he prepares for death upon God's battlefield. Somebody appears to be on his side tonight however, as before the match officially begins - the referee bans The Grand Wizard from ringside! TGW is irate, but is forced to return to the locker room. The match itself begins under handicap rules, with the Berzerker and Sheik being forced to tag in and out. At first, the fresh Messiah dazzles with leaping planchas and other aerial moves that keep TGW's Monster Squad off-balance. But soon the numbers game catches up, and Messiah catches an extended heel beat down segment. But despite the punishment, and gaping bloody head wounds delivered upon him by the Sheik and is foreign object, the Messiah refuses to stay down. Finally, he makes his grim comeback with a devastating series of steel chair shots that permanently disables the Berzerker. The Messiah dramatically outmatches the Sheik to deliver his TKO/Stunner maneuver for a near fall... but Berzerker pulls the ref out of the ring! While arguing with the official, reinforcements arrive. To a rising cheer from the audience, DOINK THE CLOWN runs in from the vending and merchandise area to enter the ring! But instead of saving the Messiah as is presumed, the neon-colored, green mop topped circus clown clobbers the Messiah with a steel chair! The evil Doink pauses to giggle at the crowds angry reception, before placing the steel chair on Messiah's chest and scaling the top rope in preparation for his Whoopee Cushion dive. The Berzerker and Sheik have recovered enough to join Doink in the ring and eagerly direct him to execute the move. He looks a little shaky on the top rope. But before he can leap...the house lights suddenly go out, plunging the arena into blackness... and the dark-purple cloaked mystery man rappels from the ceiling via grappling hook!!! When the houselights return in a flash, the mystery man stands wearing a second Doink the Clown mask (NOT face paint) and wielding a spiked baseball bat! Shock and horror from Berzerker and Sheik! The mystery man clobbers Berzerker with the bat, drawing blood, and punctures Sheik's back with the weapon as the madman attempted to flee! The mystery man with the Doink mask points his weapon at the other Doink the Clown, still standing frozen on the top rope! He tries to beg off to no avail! The man in the purple trench coat pulls him off the top rope via his frizzy clown wig, and rips the disguise right off the guy! It's The Grand Wizard!!! After being banned from ringside, he must have went backstage and put on this Doink the Clown get-up! The mystery man in the purple trench coat and Doink the Clown Halloween mask plays up to the audience to gather their approval, before flinging TGW over the top rope like a sack of potatoes. This leaves the mystery man alone in the ring with a bloodied Messiah, struggling in vain to reach his feet. As the Messiah does... the man suddenly rips off his Doink mask to reveal a similar, Joker-inspired painted face. Solie and Striker are aghast on commentary! It's Matt Bourne, the ORIGINAL Doink the Clown! He then LAYS into Messiah with the spiked ball bat, driving an already-bloody Messiah down to the mat! Crowd stunned by the development! Matt Bourne just stares down coldly at the unconcious, bloody Messiah and tilts his head to the side as if he's studying him! Why did he do that??? (Doink REBOURNE!!!)___________________________________________________________________ 4) "Diamonds Are Forever"Cue "Diamonds from Sierre Leone" by Kanye West as XPW is greeted to the vainglorious entrance of the OG "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Much pomp and circumstance as the immaculately-attired "Nature Boy" takes center ring to engage the rabid audience. First item on his agenda is old foe and new XPW champion Bruno Sammartino... "NATURE BOY" BUDDY ROGERS: Sammartino? To me, he was a very highly overrated wrestler. He doesn't stand a ghost of a chance with me. Look I know Sammartino is one of the most agile, tremendously-conditioned athletes -- never gets tired. I would sit back and admire this guy, really I would. I'd never tell him that, but hey, you know, I'm human, but God darn, I believe in one thing, and I'll give credit where it's due. But the next time -- oh, I think I'll be a little more emphatic with him I think, yeah (chuckles to himself). When it c omes to that match, I think I'll do him in more than I did Lou Thesz!!! "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers wants an XPW World Title match! Finally, he wants to make his formal announcement. A grand proclamation. His revered and legendary stable the "Diamond Dynasty" will be reborn right here in XPW!!! As a matter of fact, the Nature Boy just may reveal the franchise cornerstone of his new dynasty tonight... Nature Boy has his eye on one piece of talent in particular... "NATURE BOY" BUDDY ROGERS: I've never seen anything like him. Never seen a guy leap up, give you a flying kick -- B A L L O O M you through the air, do a handstand in front of you, click his feet together, and kick you. Man, he did some ungodly things -- dropkick a guy, and you went down, and as you were getting up, he'd go around behind you, leap up on your shoulders, head-scissors you front-face, dive and throw his body out, and then wheel you through the air. That Sammartino will think his ass was in some kind of boxing-glove factory or something. He's just one big windmill. But before the ungracious XPW audience is rewarded by laying eyes on the newest Diamond Dynasty recruit... we are interrupted by the sounds of '50's dance hall swing music. Could it be? Yes it is! Much to the Nature Boy's consternation and indignity, he's being joined in the ring by none other than the HONKY TONK MAN!!!
To the Nature Boy's chagrin, Honky Tonk Man caterwauls for the audience and entertains the laughs and cheers he gets. Honky swivels his hips before the first WWWF champion ever, and Rogers shakes his head in disgust. But before Rogers can address HTM on the mic - Honky jumps in first. Honky Tonk Man knows what Buddy is gonna say! The Nature Boy is gonna say the only man with enough class, dignity. luster and swagger to warrant inclusion in the greatest pro wrestling stable of all time (the Diamond Dynasty) is the Honky Tonk Man! Everybody knows Honky Tonk Man is the world's greatest entertainer! Everybody wants to see the Honky Tonk Man dance and sing! But Honky Tonk Man wants to tell everybody here tonight - and the great Nature Boy Buddy Rogers - why Honky is in XPW, and why he should be inducted into the ranks of the new Diamond Dynasty. HONKY TONK MAN: We all get burned from time to time by some dirty dealing promoters. That aspect of the business has no social or economic boundaries. WWE will burn you as bad as any small time promoters! It is hard for young guys to break in now because there is just not too many places to get steady work. Steady work is the only way to learn the business. The fellows on the east coast seem to do ok with bookings but in other areas there is one or two shows a month or every 3 months. My advice to the new guys is try to perfect your gimmick. Try different approaches until you find that little something that you can do very well. Learn your role so to speak. I don't know what promoters are looking for today. Hardcore is not it for sure. I think you have to be uniquely different to get over nowadays. Too many guys all look the same, dress the same and so on. Be different is the best way! Nature Boy Buddy Rogers is aghast that Honky Tonk Man would have the gall to address him as if he were some kind of jabroni, or curtain-jerker. But again as Buddy Rogers raises his the mic to angrily address the Honky Tonk Man, he's quickly cut off by Honky who is jabbering away on a cordless headset (so he can better grasp is guitar). Honky Tonk Man has prepared a special song just for the Nature Boy! Honky figures they can use it as the next Diamond Dynasty theme song! Honky Tonk Man begins to tune up the guitar, when suddenly... "I Found A Body" by Insane Clown Posse cuts him off! The arena lights get dim, fog rises from the entrance ramp like steam from a fresh grave. The huge "XPW" letters vibrate from the pulsating bass of the song, as the audiences rocks back and forth in anticipation! It's another XPW homecoming! Welcome back POGO THE CLOWN!!!!Rogers is gone before the giant killer clown (complete with barbed wire-wrapped shovel) enters the ring, leaving only a stunned Honky Tonk Man to receive him. The massive Pogo stares down Honky Tonk Man, before slowly taking the guitar from his hands. Pogo mock-plays the guitar to get a smile of relief from Honky... only to viciously SMASH the guitar into pieces over Honky Tonk Man's expertly-coifed head!!! Pogo smashes Honky's guitar over his own head and the crowd goes crazy! Pogo poses with his shovel and encourages the chants of "XPW! XPW! XPW!" ______________________________________________________________________ 5) CRYME TYME versus HEADHUNTERS(Ghetto Streetfight) versus Headhunters represent for the sick "Cannibal Cartel" - Cryme Tyme are a gang unto themselves. Unleashed from the PG-confines of WWE, Cryme Tyme has begun to reach their full in-yo-face potential. Their popularity, even here on the West Coast tonight in XPW Remixed, can only be matched by the Headhunters ferocity. Classic tag team tornado match that carries throughout the entire hall, shades of the old Gangstaz brawls of the mid 90s. But updated with new millennium skill and swagger, as the athletic abilities of JTG and Shad Gaspard allow them to perform tandem moves with synchronization and finesse. But the match is really a showcase for the tandem destructive powers of the Headhunters, and the their power moves are accentuated by the respective size of their opponents (so the big power moves look even more destructive to the smaller JTG, while moves performed to the huge Shad Gaspard make the Headhunters look like power houses). Headhunters get the extended heel beat down segment to really put over their size and athleticism. But in the end, a comeback rally from JTG (involving a tire iron) propels Headhunter A off the entrance stage through a set of tables and allows Big Shad Gaspard to hoist the massive Headhunter B onto his shoulders for Cryme Tyme's "G9" finisher! Winners: CRYME TYME(Post match, Cryme Tyme don't even get a chance to celebrate as they brutally bumrushed by the Headhunters who gain their heat back immediately. The Headhunters are quickly joined by their Cannibal Cartel leader "Vicious" Vic Grimes, who orchestrates the ensuing beat down. Fellow Cannibal Cartel outlaw NAILZ has joined the assault, wielding his nightstick with deadly force. In a climatic moment, Headhunters lay Cryme Tyme out with tandem flying moonsaults - putting an exclamation point on Vic Grimes' following statements. The "CEO of Hardcore" Vic Grimes grabs the house mic and goes off on a profanity-laced tirade on the fans and viewers of XPW (who are now booing him relentlessly). Cannibal Cartel will continue to cut a swath through XPW, and violate the memory of the now-deceased ECW further. Vic Grimes claims personal responsibility for pissing on it's grave - first with his destruction of Tommy Dreamer - and tonight... with his open-mic "ECW Challenge" match!!!)______________________________________________________________________ 6) "VICIOUS" VIC GRIMES (2002) versus.... SUPERFLY JIMMY SNUKA!!! (1993)(Surprise "ECW Challenge") versus Vic Grimes is still in the middle of the ring, mic in hand, flanked by his Cannibal Cartel (Headhunterz and Nailz). When that familiar "shimmy shimmy shimmy waaaahhh" theme song plays - the Pavlovian reaction from the crowd is explosive. It's none other than the first ECW champion... "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka! On commentary, Striker and Solie remind you the ECW World Heavyweight Championship originated as the "NWA-ECW" Heavyweight Championship with Jimmy Snuka becoming the inaugural champion on April 25th (1992). Back when it was Eastern Championship Wrestling. Now Superfly is here tonight in XPW to answer Grimes' grim challenge! Grimes and his Cartel outnumber Snuka as he continues to spout nonsensical, coke-fueled rants on the ring apron. Just then Cryme Tyme returns to bumrush the ring and tackle the Headhunters right out of it! Security swarms the convict Nailz, and suddenly - Vic Grimes is alone against a raging Superfly! Match proceeds with the fast paced bump taking of Vic Grimes, as he bounces around the ring, off steel guardrails and onto steel chairs. But he won't stay down. Vic Grimes eventually makes the comeback, and an impressive display of violence bashes Snuka over the head with a steel chair about a 1/2 dozen times before he finally collapsed like a tree (because Snuka's Fiji head is so hard, ya see). In a brilliant, heat inducing tribute, Vic Grimes gives praise to the Superfly, before mimicking his top rope Superfly splash (modified with a steel chair because Grimes is XXXTREEEME!!!) to a downed Snuka. Because Vic Grimes is north of 300 lbs, the impact is thunderous. Pin fall is elementary. Post match, Headhunterz and Nailz reappear in the ring to back their leader and flex their Cannibal Cartel colors. Winner: "VICIOUS" VIC GRIMES - the CEO of Hardcore ______________________________________________________________ 7) LOU THESZ versus STRANGLER LEWIS(Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match) For the title "Undisputed All-Time Wrestling Champion" versus Lou Thesz defeats Strangler Lewis via Dragon Sleeper at 19:48Fun Fact: On the last episode of XPW TV, company president Strangler Lewis came out with the "Undisputed" title (a belt Lou Thesz once claimed that was stolen from him when he was betrayed by Lewis) and said he couldn’t have won the match with him at "New Years Revolution" without the element of surprise. Lou Thesz then comes out to a big time pop, and says he now wants his shot. Strangler doesn’t grant it as he has a non-title match with Lou Thesz at "My Bloody Valentine" but he told Thesz that he will get his shot soon. Later in the night Strangler comes out with his partners TGW & Toots Mondt to announce it was all a ruse, and that really Thesz was duped into helping Sammartino win (in their tag team match). He’ll never get a shot as long as Gold Dust Trio Inc is controlling the title. Scott: Another pair from the XPW Classic Six, and as their first PPV battle ever here at "My Bloody Valentine", Thesz and his former mentor Strangler Lewis tear the house down for twenty minutes. This match, however, seems to go down as more special, more unique than the others. Maybe because of the fact that it’s a title match or that Thesz and Lewis have never had a match before, despite their long, storied history together. Or the fact that Thesz and his fans have been waiting for that first elusive win over his mentor, and the title "Undisputed Pro Wrestling Legend". So with all the plot points and the history these two have, we are presented with one of the greatest title matches ever put together in a ring. Both guys, awesome mat technicians and clearly in superior physical condition, go all out for twenty minutes with the "Undisputed" title on the line. The crowd is clearly all over this one after just having to watch that last piece of shit. Both guys know how to dictate and sell better than almost anyone, and there’s no wasted motion by either guy. They both want to be the best, and they went out and showed it. No lazy rest holds, no stalling, no around the ring nonsense. It’s just two guys in excellent condition showing why they’re respected by fans, critics, and the Internet Wrestling Community. At one point, Thesz is getting chants from the Los Angeles crowd, sitting on the edge of their seats hoping he would achieve his dream. Rarely does a major title change hands at this PPV as X-Pac defeating Kid Kaos for the XPW Television title on the "My Bloody Valentine" tour (2/28/03 in LA) was the last time it happened, but for some reason this match almost made you believe that Strangler Lewis would pull it off. The last four minutes are sparkling counter maneuvers by both men as they go back and forth trying to escape each other’s submission moves. The tension gets off the charts until Thesz finally grapevines that Dragon Sleeper and Strangler Lewis can do nothing but tap out. After the match the LA crowd, appreciative that two guys went balls to the walls, gives Lou Thesz a standing ovation for his effort. Solie and Striker who have really settled into a pretty good broadcast team, aren’t just giving lip service when they say that Strangler will seek his revenge against Thesz, and will give himself more chances to become a champion. He wrestled like one as well. I will give kudos to Strangler Lewis to do his part to make both Lou Thesz look like a million bucks and make himself look like a hated bad ass champion. This unfortunately would be the potential match of the year, and Thesz prepares himself for a big XPW payday. Grade: 5 Justin: As if Thesz and Lewis didn’t have enough pressure on them. Strangler Lewis emerged and the crowd started to wake up, showering him with his usual heat. His running buddies, Toots Mondt and The Grand Wizard, are quickly tossed from the ring. This would ensure a one on one classic from two of the best. The bout was mat based to start as both men worked a quick, crisp pace and traded control as it wore on. Adding the great action, Solie & Striker did a wonderful job telling the story of the match. They were really starting to become the premiere broadcast team of XPW with their insight and storytelling. Strangler would finally slow things up a bit as he started to wear Thesz down. The slow down would be short lived, as the pace got ratcheted back up with a crazy flurry of stiff, impactful offense moves. Thesz hit a great super belly to belly for a fall and after slowly waking back up; the crowd was fully engrossed by this point. As Scott mentioned, the final five minutes or so were just tremendous. It started with a nice battle over the rear naked choke and transitioned into a counter maneuver buffet. It felt like a true heavyweight war as the momentum kept shifting with each move. Thesz would finally land the win when he traps Strangler in a kimura and segues to a Dragon Sleeper and Strangler Lewis was forced to tap. This was just a beautiful, old school clean wrestling match. They proved that they didn’t need weapons, gimmicks or blood to get the crowd invested in their match. It was an instant classic that won over the fans big time. The closing portion was just fantastic and Lewis looked strong even in losing. The MOTY bar has officially been set as Thesz and Lewis come out to steal, and save, the show. Grade: 5 Winner (by submission - 2 falls to 1): LOU THESZGORDON SOLIE: I guess in my lifetime, I've never stopped to figure it out but I imagine I've called over 20,000 matches in my career - so to call out the specific matches would be very difficult - I can certainly tell you some of the great matches, or great competitors that I've seen in matches. The first thought that comes to mind is Lou Thesz - Lou would come to town when he was Champion always dressed in a business suit, always was impeccably attired, was an extremely courteous, deferential champion - he, in my opinion, never overstepped his bounds. The sports editor of the Brockton Enterprise would call Strangler Lewis and say, Hey Champ, Thesz is coming to town in two weeks." and Strangler would say, "Fine, I'll call Palmasea golf course and get us some tee-times..." and Palmasea was the social hub of Brockton, but Thesz was immediately welcomed. But gosh, he'd get into the ring and he was such a consummate master.____________________________________________________________________ 8) JUN KASAI (c) versus NEW JACK versus MUSTAFA versus ONITA(King of the Death Match title) versus versus versus A complete contradiction in styles from the previous match, and the perfect illustration of the total XPW experience. Truly something for everyone, as the intensity and adrenaline generated in the last match boils over here to a raving, suicidal brawl of near-riot proportions. Even on commentary, Striker and Solie must acknowledge the crowds feverish love affair for ultra-violence - even if it's not a style that particularly engrosses them (more like "grosses them out" in some spots). New Jack came out first and cut a rousing swear-laden promo to hype up the crowd, and disparage his former Gangstaz partner Mustafa Saed. This of course drew forth his former partner from the locker room, and the two began brawling before the match even started. XPW security finally got them pried apart in time for Onita's epic-level entrance (complete with Rising Sun backdrop). Unfortunately, Onita couldn't leave well enough alone - and had to grab the mic himself to lay into New Jack with some really inflammatory (and border-line racist) remarks - causing another full-scale brawl between Onita, New Jack and Saed. But this only opened the door for the stunning and dramatic arrival of Jun Kasai, who arrived fashionably late while "Monkey Business" by Skid Row blared through the arena sound system. Finally - Kasai was spotted - high above the arena, perched atop the crows nest. He carried and a banana and wore a monkey tail stapled to his tights, that flowed majestically as he launched himself from the crows next down upon his opponents (who crashed down in waves). The crowd pop could not be contained and the intensity only increased from there. Convoluted finish came when Onita doused a table with lighter fluid and laid Mustafa on it with the intention of burning him alive. But before he could light the table, Onita was KO'd by a hockey stick shot from New Jack. This led to New Jack and Jun Kasai brawling madly in the balcony section above the prone Mustafa Saed on the table. Jun Kasai got the advantage and New Jack dropped 30 feet through another table. Finally Jun Kasai lit his OWN monkey tail on fire and jumped off the balcony with a swanton onto Mustafa Saed and the flammable table, causing it to burst into flames upon impact in a dramatic visual. Kasai emerged from the flames, wreckage and ashes to score the pin on Saed and drive him from XPW forever. Winner (and STILL XPW King of the Death Match champion): JUN KASAIGORDON SOLIE: XPW is a special breed of fan, and they respect us because I don't think I ever deceived any of them. I think [the XPW wrestlers] respected me as a broadcaster as much because they know I respect them as athletes. I think that was very important to them because there were a lot of people back when I first got into the business that really didn't respect these people as athletes, they respected them as big, rough brawler-type guys but they didn't understand the beautiful intricacies of the sport. I had a promoter who came out from California [Strangler Lewis - president of XPW Remixed], watching the matches - came up to me after the TV show was over and said, "Boy, you do a tremendous job." and I said, "Thank you very much". "However," he said, "it would never go over in California." And I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "Well, you're talking above everybody's head." Well, of course, he was appealing to a certain ethnic group in California - but when you're on television you're appealing to all groups. And consequently...when I first got into radio, one thing I was told by a seasoned professional, "Please remember that when you go on the air, your audience mentality is age 14 - not physical age but mental age." ________________________________________________________________ 9) TERRY FUNK versus MIL MASCARAS(Legends Match) versus Winner: MIL MASCARAS____________________________________________________________________ MAIN EVENT
Bruno Sammartino (1965) & Missy Hyatt (1987) versus Kevin Sullivan (1983) & Lizzy Borden (2001) versus Epic-level main event entrance for Kevin Sullivan and his Black Army. Wizardry, pyrotechnics, smoke, lasers and strippers cavorting - straight Rock Star shit. The crowd heat for Sullivan, Demento and Borden is off the charts - with several fans having to be restrained or removed by security. Finally, the dramatic pause for effect, and the opening strains of the "Godfather" theme can be heard. The entire building shakes from the ovation it generates. Enter XPW champion Bruno Sammartino and his wrestling-gear (multicolored spandex) clad tag team partner, the lovely and vivacious Missy Hyatt. Crowd roars their approval. Match itself builds slowly,with Borden and Sullivan switching places multiple times to taunt their opponents and infuriate the fans. Finally - after using Lizzy Borden as a human shield, much to Bruno's chagrin - "The Prince of Darkness" Kevin Sullivan starts the match with Bruno. When they lock-up, the size difference is magnified - Bruno is just much bigger and burly. He shoves Sullivan around a bit, manhandling him and schooling him on the mat - necessitating a frustrated Kevin Sullivan to tag in Lizzy Borden and change the entire matches complexion. Things become even more convoluted later with the interference of Damien Demento. Extended heel beat down segment on Sammartino by both Borden and Sullivan, as the crowd heat magnifies. Ever thought you'd see a crowd go crazy for a Missy Hyatt hot-tag??? Well now you've seen everything. Match climaxes with a wild, pull-apart cat fight between Borden and Hyatt that draws enough attention from referees and officials for Damien Demento to enter the fray and bloody Bruno Sammartino with a wicked steel chair shot! At one point, Bruno was down and Missy Hyatt was left to the mercy of the Black Army - as Demento held her roughly in place, Lizzy Borden threatened and spit in her face, and Kevin Sullivan directed traffic in a truly horrifying moment. This affront to dignity and decency enrages Sammartino, who makes the superhuman comeback. A T-Bone suplex onto a steel chair KO's the "Prince of Darkness" - and a bloody Bruno Sammartino calls over Missy Hyatt to get the final, dramatic pinfall! The roof is blown off the building! XPW! XPW! XPW! Winners: BRUNO SAMMARTINO & MISSY HYATT___________________________________________________________________ MATT STRIKER: There has been such an outpouring of support from fans, students, and teachers for XPW Champion Bruno Sammartino. The story has become international news, and fellow teachers and friends and family and students and people I’ve never met have come out to tell me that they support what’s gone on. Like I said, it was really touching that so many people would come out and support XPW!
GORDON SOLIE: Bruno Sammartino brings a sophistication to the sport that has never been seen before. Bruno would tell the wrestlers that when they came into our area the rules and regulations for wrestling in XPW, and one of his admonishments every time was, "...and there's one thing you don't do...you don't touch the announcer. You leave him alone. He's not going to insult you, he's not going to mess with you...so don't mess with him." A lot of these guys were used to being in a territory where they could push the announcer aside or grab the mic out of his hand, you know, and treat them basically like a piece of dirt. These guys obviously didn't respect the announcer, and didn't expect the announcer to respect them. And Bruno Sammartino would always close it out too by saying, "You know..." If anybody questioned him on it, he'd say, "...do you plan on drawing any money with him?"...and that pretty well put everybody in their place. Bruno Sammartino is a true class act, and a noble representation of XPW Remixed! ___________________________________________________________________ CREDITS:Gordon Solie: Jeremy Hartley TWC interview Eddie Gilbert: CWA promo, March 1988 Matt Striker: WWE.com Interview July 14, 2005 Honky Tonk Man: Dale Pierce interview 9/9/04 "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers" Sleeper Hold Part III by Rey Tennenbaum Scott & Justin: Royal Rumble 2003 PPV recap
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