Post by Ringside Junkie on Aug 15, 2005 0:17:44 GMT -5
WRESTLE BIRMINGHAM SHOW REPORT
By: Larry Goodman
Wrestle Birmingham returned to the Zamora Temple for the fourth installment of their nostalgia-based product. The big news was the announcement that the company would be bringing wrestling back to the famed Boutwell Auditorium with a Night of Legends (aren’t they all?) on October 8.
It was the first Wrestle Birmingham event without Brent West, who parted ways with Linda Marx after the show in June. There were points at which things didn’t seem quite as well organized. The crowd of 500 was down slightly from June.
(1) Mike Jackson beat Johnny Slaughter in 9:38. Good fast-paced opener. Jackson avoids predictable patterns and shows a lot of imagination with the way he lays out his matches, not to mention that he’s a hell of athlete for a 55 year old. Slaughter heeled right off the bat. Jackson responded with deep armdrags and a charging clothesline over the top. Jackson sent Slaughter out again with a spinning headscissors. Slaughter taunted Jackson as he worked the armbar. Jackson came back with a floatover armdrag and a drop toehold to take control. Jackson did the old school rope walk around the ring, finishing with a flip armdrag. That spot is way over here. Slaughter hit an atomic drop to send Jackson out. Slaughter dropped Jackson’s throat on the security rail. The crowd brought the hate. Slaughter cut off Jackson’s comeback with a superkick. Slaughter hit a top rope elbow but Jackson kicked out at one. Slaughter went for a sharpshooter and Jackson countered with an inside cradle. Slaughter got the sharpshooter applied. Jackson made the ropes after a valiant effort. Jackson got a near fall with a sunset flip. When Slaughter went for the formula clothesline cutoff, Jackson countered with a hangman neckbreaker to score the pinfall.
(2) Exotic Adrian Street (with Miss Linda) beat Aeonn Flexx (with ?) to win the European Title in 12:17. Fun match up to a point. Flexx and Senior Official Roy George played their parts well, but it’s basically the same match every time out and this one went longer than necessary. Flexx’s unidentified manager came out waving the Canadian flag. Flexx told the fans if they didn’t hush, he would deprive them of the opportunity of seeing his technical brilliance. Fans chanted “USA” for Street. Maybe he sold of the castles in England and became a citizen. Street’s pelvic thrusts had Flexx on the run. Street asked Flexx how he could win his title back if he wouldn’t stay in the ring and bloody wrestle? Street threatened to make the Canadian flag into a popsicle and stick it up the manager’s arse. Street did the usual kissing and goosing routine. Street kissed Flexx to break a bearhug. A ride ‘em cowboy spot got a good pop. Flexx looked baffled and bamboozled. Manager guy grabbed Street’s leg to turn the tide. Flexx grapevined the leg and locked hands with manager guy for extra leverage. Linda got on apron to complain about outside interference. Linda’s psychedelic stretch pants are a trip. Finish saw Street snapmare Flexx’s manager into the ring. Flexx collided with his manager. Linda gave Flexx a forearm shot and he tripped over his fallen manager. Street covered for the pin.
Street was in the midst of a celebratory promo when Robert Fuller showed up. Fuller said he wanted to be the first to congratulate Street on regaining the title. Fuller complimented Miss Linda on cleaning herself up to where she looked like a bonafide lady. Fuller said he didn’t want to rain on Street’s parade, BUT he was bringing in Wendell Cooley to face him on October 8. Street said that with Linda in his corner, Fuller had bitten off more than his big mouth could chew.
(3) Brickhouse Brown beat River D’Angelo in 5:55. It would take a miracle worker to get anything more than a passable match out of D’Angelo. Good pop for Brick’s entrance. D’Angelo bailed out for a TO. Brown clapped D’Angelo’s ears. Brown worked the back with a spinal tap and a gutwrench suplex. D’Angelo took over. D’Angelo took a lousy looking bump off the top. Brown used a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall and finished D’Angelo with his signature Russian legsweep.
NWA official, Roy Lee Welch announced a Loser Leaves Town match between “Bullet” Bob Armstrong and Jimmy Golden for October 8. Welch said that due to his mistrust of Fuller, he was asking Brown to serve as the special referee. Brown said he didn’t know nothing about being a referee, but he was a fast learner. Brown said he had history with Fuller and dues got to be paid. Brown promised to call it right down the middle. Brown said Bullet wasn’t going nowhere. The day after the show, they would fire up the grill and cook up some steaks. “Tell mama you gonna be here for Christmas.”
Welch announced a special presentation to Mike Jackson for his 30+ years in wrestling. Welch called out Jackson’s former partner, Tony Ledoux, to make the presentation. Ledoux said they first met in 1972. Jackson raised the possibility of them tagging one more time. Ledoux said the health problems that lead to his retirement in 1996 wouldn’t permit it. Ledoux left the ring to allow Jackson to make his acceptance speech. Out came Jimmy Powell to congratulate “Mikey.” Powell said he told Jackson he would motivate him and make him a star. Powell said that “after doing jobs for everybody in the country,” Jackson was finally the man. Jackson decked Powell. Alan Martin hit the ring. He’s put on so much weight since his heyday that I didn’t recognize him. Martin blasted Jackson with a chairshot. Ledoux ran out with a chair to make the save. Jackson talked Ledoux into doing one last reunion of The Birmingham Duo despite his sky high blood pressure. They face Powell and Martin on the Boutwell show.
(4) Dennis Condrey beat Lee Thomas in a Loser Leaves Town Match (7:56). Condrey tossed Thomas out. Thomas threw a shoulder from the apron and did a slingshot sunset flip for a two count. They locked up in a test of strength. Condrey saw his advantage slipping away and resorted to an eye gouge. Condrey raked Thomas’ back and took him down with a lariat. Condrey pulled Thomas’s ears. Condrey banged Thomas’ head off the announcer’s table. Thomas launched a comeback. Condrey begged for mercy but Thomas was seeing red. Thomas went for the 10 punches. The ref got bumped. Condrey pulled out a set of brass knucks and it was lights out. Time for Thomas to pack his bags.
Condrey and Welch went back and forth to set up a match for October 8. Condrey was awesome here. He told Welch to get out of his business. Condrey called Welch was a stooge with a capital S. and threatened to stomp his butt. Welch said he was retired. Condrey got ticked off because Welch kept turning his back on him. Welch finally had enough and said he was going to teach Condrey a lesson. Condrey said the Road Warriors, Rock ‘n Roll Express and Steiners all said the same thing. Welch said he was willing to fight fire with fire to get the job done. Condrey said, “Nobody’s nothin’ to me. If I beat you, it’s because I’m a better man and that ain’t a very big if.”
(5) Ranger Ross beat Alan Martin in 6:44. Boring match. Martin looks like he swallowed a bowling ball. Ross attacked with arm drags. Martin heeled. Ross reversed Martin’s vertical suplex. Martin leveled Ross with a lariat and covered with his feet on the ropes, but the eagle eye of Roy George caught him cheating. Martin griped. Ross shut Martin up with a superkick to score the pinfall.
Michael St. John conducted a postmatch interview with Ross about his match on October against Ali Baba. I don’t know who Ali Baba is but the man for the job, so to speak, is Jaheed (Jeff Anderson) of the Knoxville-based Turbantors. Ross said the Ranger moniker was no gimmick, as he served 8 years in the armed forces. Ross said Baba was a known terrorist. St. John tried to soften it by saying that Baba was a terrorist in the ring. Ross pressed forward, stating that terrorism was an act of desperation. Ross held up his fists and said the only suicide bombers he needed were these two soup bones.
(6) McNasty beat Brickhouse Brown in a Stretcher Match (15:23). This was some classic old school violence and what a stretcher match is supposed to be. Easily the best match on the show. McNasty ambushed Brown as he came out of the dressing room and quickly pinned him with a low blow. Just as Brown got off the stretcher, McNasty caught him with a double ax from the top rope. Brown rallied but McNasty put him down for another three count with a Yakuza kick. McNasty pulled Brown off the stretcher and pounded him. McNasty blasted Brown with the ring bell. McNasty planted Brown on the stretcher and security carted him towards the back. But Brown got came to life before they got him through the curtain. The fight was on. Brown ran McNasty up the aisle and rammed his head into the post. That popped the crowd. Brown hit McNasty with the bell. McNasty was busted open. Brown used a DDT onto the bell for the pin. McNasty flopped off the stretcher bleeding like a stuck pig. Brown blasted him with a chair. They traded some brutal shots on the outside. Brown pinned McNasty with a flapjack. Brown hit an elbow drop off the apron as McNasty was being stretchered out. Brown gave McNasty a piledriver on a chair on the concrete floor. That figured to be it, but McNasty is one hard-headed maniac. They fought into, and I mean into the crowd. People didn’t have a chance to clear out. The stretcher came into play. The ref got bumped. Brown hit a Mr. Wrestling II kneelift and applied the camel clutch. Robert Fuller hit the ring and smothered Brown with a rag full of ether. Brown was out cold. McNasty was still in lala land as security carried Brown out.
Fuller said McNasty was the genuine legend killer. McNasty had blood streaming down his face and was acting like a total lunatic. I think they said something about Jerry Lawler here. This whole deal was great at getting McNasty over as a crazed monster.
Pat Rose was introduced to the crowd to a less than overwhelming response. Rose said that while he had some bad feuds with Scott Armstrong, he respected him as a man.
(7) The Armstrongs (Bullet Bob & Scott & Brad) beat Stud’s Stable (Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Elix Skipper) in 13:47. Brad started with Skipper. They didn’t do much, but their segment was still the athletic highlight of the evening. Armstrong scored three pins on Skipper: Bullet with a stomp, Brad with a Russian legsweep, and Scott with a lariat. Skipper barely beat the 10 count each time. Skipper did a dropdown and Golden nailed Brad from the apron. Stud’s Stable got four pins on Brad, who kept beating the 10 count. Skipper ate a boot on a telegraphed backdrop, and Brad went through the legs to make a double tag. It turned into a cluster. McNasty ran out to help Fuller and Co. McNasty and Skipper battled to the back with Scott and Brad. Just like the June show, Bullet put Fuller out with the sleeper hold and Golden clocked him with brass knucks. Fuller and Bullet were both out. Showing the wisdom of Solomon, referee George ruled that the first man to make it to his feet would determine the winning team. The crowd was really into this. Skipper and Golden tried to help Fuller. While George was admonishing the heels, Armstrong’s boys pulled dad up to his feet. The finish saved it. The rapid fire pins on basic moves looked silly, particularly after the stretcher match. Fuller was all wobbly and delirious looking as his teammates helped him to the back.
Bullet said that was the second time Golden had knocked him out with brass knucks and demanded a no DQ loser-leaves-town match. Either Alzheimer’s is setting in or this stuff is going to air in a different order on television. Bullet said he was like fine wine.Brown came out looking refreshed from his nap. Brown reiterated that he was calling it even steven and Bullet wasn’t going anywhere.
(8) Raven (with Jimmy Powell) beat “Roaddog” BG James via DQ in 8:44. This was billed as an NWA title match. Raven was legitimately pissed because they cut the intermission off while he was still doing good business at the gimmick table. James did the Degeneration X intro. the Raven came out without the title belt. Raven said how dare they rush him when he was “taking money from the morons” and “soaking the marks.” Raven called Alabama a sinkhole next to Georgia. He said the Alabamians smelled. Raven refused to defend the title and proposed a Raven’s Rules match. He explained that about the only rule was that none of the Armstrongs could get involved including “Wild Bill Irwin” Armstrong. Powell introduced Raven by mocking James. James said Raven’s bitch had to use his catch phrase to get a pop.
It wasn’t much of match. Raven brawled. James did a crotch chop wind up on a fist in the face. Raven bailed. Raven used a low blow. James returned the favor and did a Beel throw for a two count. The diehard Raven supporters were making their presence known. Raven said he didn’t want any cheering from the morons and bashed James with the mic. Raven did a half-assed 619. James gave Raven a drop toehold onto a chair. James did the shake, rattle and roll kneedrop for a near fall. Powell’s distraction set up a DDT by Raven. The ref ate a superkick from Raven. Powell threw powder, but James ducked and Rave got it instead. James covered and Raven kicked out. James was set up for the pumphandle slam when Powell interfered for the DQ. Thinking it was Raven’s rules, the fans reacted negatively. James gave Powell the pumphandle slam. James put Raven in the sleeper. The refs took turns trying to break it up and James decked all three of them. George reversed the decision and DQed James. George explained that the promotion never gave the OK for a Raven’s Rules match.
NOTES: Jerry Lawler and Greg Valentine were also mentioned as appearing on the Legends Night at Boutwell. The failure to push Lawler’s appearance with the fans in attendance was a glaring oversight…Dan Masters handled most of the ring announcing and some of the television commentary alongside Michael St. John. He appears to be filling the on camera spot that was opened by West’s departure…Rodney Grimes, promoter of CWA in Corinth, Ms was at the show. Grimes said he recently got stiffed when he tried to book Rick Steiner and Buff Bagwell through “booking agent” Ronnie Gossett. This isn't the former Memphis manager but the Gossett that runs shows under the UCW banner. Grimes said he had a contract and sent $500 upfront money to Gossett. Steiner was a no-show. Bagwell did work the show after Grimes contacted him directly…Recently deposed GCW booker Bo Oates has a shoot interview up at www.danmasterslive.com in the blog section. He holds nothing back about his relationship with his dad, Jerry Oates.
Courtesy of Larry Goodman
By: Larry Goodman
Wrestle Birmingham returned to the Zamora Temple for the fourth installment of their nostalgia-based product. The big news was the announcement that the company would be bringing wrestling back to the famed Boutwell Auditorium with a Night of Legends (aren’t they all?) on October 8.
It was the first Wrestle Birmingham event without Brent West, who parted ways with Linda Marx after the show in June. There were points at which things didn’t seem quite as well organized. The crowd of 500 was down slightly from June.
(1) Mike Jackson beat Johnny Slaughter in 9:38. Good fast-paced opener. Jackson avoids predictable patterns and shows a lot of imagination with the way he lays out his matches, not to mention that he’s a hell of athlete for a 55 year old. Slaughter heeled right off the bat. Jackson responded with deep armdrags and a charging clothesline over the top. Jackson sent Slaughter out again with a spinning headscissors. Slaughter taunted Jackson as he worked the armbar. Jackson came back with a floatover armdrag and a drop toehold to take control. Jackson did the old school rope walk around the ring, finishing with a flip armdrag. That spot is way over here. Slaughter hit an atomic drop to send Jackson out. Slaughter dropped Jackson’s throat on the security rail. The crowd brought the hate. Slaughter cut off Jackson’s comeback with a superkick. Slaughter hit a top rope elbow but Jackson kicked out at one. Slaughter went for a sharpshooter and Jackson countered with an inside cradle. Slaughter got the sharpshooter applied. Jackson made the ropes after a valiant effort. Jackson got a near fall with a sunset flip. When Slaughter went for the formula clothesline cutoff, Jackson countered with a hangman neckbreaker to score the pinfall.
(2) Exotic Adrian Street (with Miss Linda) beat Aeonn Flexx (with ?) to win the European Title in 12:17. Fun match up to a point. Flexx and Senior Official Roy George played their parts well, but it’s basically the same match every time out and this one went longer than necessary. Flexx’s unidentified manager came out waving the Canadian flag. Flexx told the fans if they didn’t hush, he would deprive them of the opportunity of seeing his technical brilliance. Fans chanted “USA” for Street. Maybe he sold of the castles in England and became a citizen. Street’s pelvic thrusts had Flexx on the run. Street asked Flexx how he could win his title back if he wouldn’t stay in the ring and bloody wrestle? Street threatened to make the Canadian flag into a popsicle and stick it up the manager’s arse. Street did the usual kissing and goosing routine. Street kissed Flexx to break a bearhug. A ride ‘em cowboy spot got a good pop. Flexx looked baffled and bamboozled. Manager guy grabbed Street’s leg to turn the tide. Flexx grapevined the leg and locked hands with manager guy for extra leverage. Linda got on apron to complain about outside interference. Linda’s psychedelic stretch pants are a trip. Finish saw Street snapmare Flexx’s manager into the ring. Flexx collided with his manager. Linda gave Flexx a forearm shot and he tripped over his fallen manager. Street covered for the pin.
Street was in the midst of a celebratory promo when Robert Fuller showed up. Fuller said he wanted to be the first to congratulate Street on regaining the title. Fuller complimented Miss Linda on cleaning herself up to where she looked like a bonafide lady. Fuller said he didn’t want to rain on Street’s parade, BUT he was bringing in Wendell Cooley to face him on October 8. Street said that with Linda in his corner, Fuller had bitten off more than his big mouth could chew.
(3) Brickhouse Brown beat River D’Angelo in 5:55. It would take a miracle worker to get anything more than a passable match out of D’Angelo. Good pop for Brick’s entrance. D’Angelo bailed out for a TO. Brown clapped D’Angelo’s ears. Brown worked the back with a spinal tap and a gutwrench suplex. D’Angelo took over. D’Angelo took a lousy looking bump off the top. Brown used a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall and finished D’Angelo with his signature Russian legsweep.
NWA official, Roy Lee Welch announced a Loser Leaves Town match between “Bullet” Bob Armstrong and Jimmy Golden for October 8. Welch said that due to his mistrust of Fuller, he was asking Brown to serve as the special referee. Brown said he didn’t know nothing about being a referee, but he was a fast learner. Brown said he had history with Fuller and dues got to be paid. Brown promised to call it right down the middle. Brown said Bullet wasn’t going nowhere. The day after the show, they would fire up the grill and cook up some steaks. “Tell mama you gonna be here for Christmas.”
Welch announced a special presentation to Mike Jackson for his 30+ years in wrestling. Welch called out Jackson’s former partner, Tony Ledoux, to make the presentation. Ledoux said they first met in 1972. Jackson raised the possibility of them tagging one more time. Ledoux said the health problems that lead to his retirement in 1996 wouldn’t permit it. Ledoux left the ring to allow Jackson to make his acceptance speech. Out came Jimmy Powell to congratulate “Mikey.” Powell said he told Jackson he would motivate him and make him a star. Powell said that “after doing jobs for everybody in the country,” Jackson was finally the man. Jackson decked Powell. Alan Martin hit the ring. He’s put on so much weight since his heyday that I didn’t recognize him. Martin blasted Jackson with a chairshot. Ledoux ran out with a chair to make the save. Jackson talked Ledoux into doing one last reunion of The Birmingham Duo despite his sky high blood pressure. They face Powell and Martin on the Boutwell show.
(4) Dennis Condrey beat Lee Thomas in a Loser Leaves Town Match (7:56). Condrey tossed Thomas out. Thomas threw a shoulder from the apron and did a slingshot sunset flip for a two count. They locked up in a test of strength. Condrey saw his advantage slipping away and resorted to an eye gouge. Condrey raked Thomas’ back and took him down with a lariat. Condrey pulled Thomas’s ears. Condrey banged Thomas’ head off the announcer’s table. Thomas launched a comeback. Condrey begged for mercy but Thomas was seeing red. Thomas went for the 10 punches. The ref got bumped. Condrey pulled out a set of brass knucks and it was lights out. Time for Thomas to pack his bags.
Condrey and Welch went back and forth to set up a match for October 8. Condrey was awesome here. He told Welch to get out of his business. Condrey called Welch was a stooge with a capital S. and threatened to stomp his butt. Welch said he was retired. Condrey got ticked off because Welch kept turning his back on him. Welch finally had enough and said he was going to teach Condrey a lesson. Condrey said the Road Warriors, Rock ‘n Roll Express and Steiners all said the same thing. Welch said he was willing to fight fire with fire to get the job done. Condrey said, “Nobody’s nothin’ to me. If I beat you, it’s because I’m a better man and that ain’t a very big if.”
(5) Ranger Ross beat Alan Martin in 6:44. Boring match. Martin looks like he swallowed a bowling ball. Ross attacked with arm drags. Martin heeled. Ross reversed Martin’s vertical suplex. Martin leveled Ross with a lariat and covered with his feet on the ropes, but the eagle eye of Roy George caught him cheating. Martin griped. Ross shut Martin up with a superkick to score the pinfall.
Michael St. John conducted a postmatch interview with Ross about his match on October against Ali Baba. I don’t know who Ali Baba is but the man for the job, so to speak, is Jaheed (Jeff Anderson) of the Knoxville-based Turbantors. Ross said the Ranger moniker was no gimmick, as he served 8 years in the armed forces. Ross said Baba was a known terrorist. St. John tried to soften it by saying that Baba was a terrorist in the ring. Ross pressed forward, stating that terrorism was an act of desperation. Ross held up his fists and said the only suicide bombers he needed were these two soup bones.
(6) McNasty beat Brickhouse Brown in a Stretcher Match (15:23). This was some classic old school violence and what a stretcher match is supposed to be. Easily the best match on the show. McNasty ambushed Brown as he came out of the dressing room and quickly pinned him with a low blow. Just as Brown got off the stretcher, McNasty caught him with a double ax from the top rope. Brown rallied but McNasty put him down for another three count with a Yakuza kick. McNasty pulled Brown off the stretcher and pounded him. McNasty blasted Brown with the ring bell. McNasty planted Brown on the stretcher and security carted him towards the back. But Brown got came to life before they got him through the curtain. The fight was on. Brown ran McNasty up the aisle and rammed his head into the post. That popped the crowd. Brown hit McNasty with the bell. McNasty was busted open. Brown used a DDT onto the bell for the pin. McNasty flopped off the stretcher bleeding like a stuck pig. Brown blasted him with a chair. They traded some brutal shots on the outside. Brown pinned McNasty with a flapjack. Brown hit an elbow drop off the apron as McNasty was being stretchered out. Brown gave McNasty a piledriver on a chair on the concrete floor. That figured to be it, but McNasty is one hard-headed maniac. They fought into, and I mean into the crowd. People didn’t have a chance to clear out. The stretcher came into play. The ref got bumped. Brown hit a Mr. Wrestling II kneelift and applied the camel clutch. Robert Fuller hit the ring and smothered Brown with a rag full of ether. Brown was out cold. McNasty was still in lala land as security carried Brown out.
Fuller said McNasty was the genuine legend killer. McNasty had blood streaming down his face and was acting like a total lunatic. I think they said something about Jerry Lawler here. This whole deal was great at getting McNasty over as a crazed monster.
Pat Rose was introduced to the crowd to a less than overwhelming response. Rose said that while he had some bad feuds with Scott Armstrong, he respected him as a man.
(7) The Armstrongs (Bullet Bob & Scott & Brad) beat Stud’s Stable (Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Elix Skipper) in 13:47. Brad started with Skipper. They didn’t do much, but their segment was still the athletic highlight of the evening. Armstrong scored three pins on Skipper: Bullet with a stomp, Brad with a Russian legsweep, and Scott with a lariat. Skipper barely beat the 10 count each time. Skipper did a dropdown and Golden nailed Brad from the apron. Stud’s Stable got four pins on Brad, who kept beating the 10 count. Skipper ate a boot on a telegraphed backdrop, and Brad went through the legs to make a double tag. It turned into a cluster. McNasty ran out to help Fuller and Co. McNasty and Skipper battled to the back with Scott and Brad. Just like the June show, Bullet put Fuller out with the sleeper hold and Golden clocked him with brass knucks. Fuller and Bullet were both out. Showing the wisdom of Solomon, referee George ruled that the first man to make it to his feet would determine the winning team. The crowd was really into this. Skipper and Golden tried to help Fuller. While George was admonishing the heels, Armstrong’s boys pulled dad up to his feet. The finish saved it. The rapid fire pins on basic moves looked silly, particularly after the stretcher match. Fuller was all wobbly and delirious looking as his teammates helped him to the back.
Bullet said that was the second time Golden had knocked him out with brass knucks and demanded a no DQ loser-leaves-town match. Either Alzheimer’s is setting in or this stuff is going to air in a different order on television. Bullet said he was like fine wine.Brown came out looking refreshed from his nap. Brown reiterated that he was calling it even steven and Bullet wasn’t going anywhere.
(8) Raven (with Jimmy Powell) beat “Roaddog” BG James via DQ in 8:44. This was billed as an NWA title match. Raven was legitimately pissed because they cut the intermission off while he was still doing good business at the gimmick table. James did the Degeneration X intro. the Raven came out without the title belt. Raven said how dare they rush him when he was “taking money from the morons” and “soaking the marks.” Raven called Alabama a sinkhole next to Georgia. He said the Alabamians smelled. Raven refused to defend the title and proposed a Raven’s Rules match. He explained that about the only rule was that none of the Armstrongs could get involved including “Wild Bill Irwin” Armstrong. Powell introduced Raven by mocking James. James said Raven’s bitch had to use his catch phrase to get a pop.
It wasn’t much of match. Raven brawled. James did a crotch chop wind up on a fist in the face. Raven bailed. Raven used a low blow. James returned the favor and did a Beel throw for a two count. The diehard Raven supporters were making their presence known. Raven said he didn’t want any cheering from the morons and bashed James with the mic. Raven did a half-assed 619. James gave Raven a drop toehold onto a chair. James did the shake, rattle and roll kneedrop for a near fall. Powell’s distraction set up a DDT by Raven. The ref ate a superkick from Raven. Powell threw powder, but James ducked and Rave got it instead. James covered and Raven kicked out. James was set up for the pumphandle slam when Powell interfered for the DQ. Thinking it was Raven’s rules, the fans reacted negatively. James gave Powell the pumphandle slam. James put Raven in the sleeper. The refs took turns trying to break it up and James decked all three of them. George reversed the decision and DQed James. George explained that the promotion never gave the OK for a Raven’s Rules match.
NOTES: Jerry Lawler and Greg Valentine were also mentioned as appearing on the Legends Night at Boutwell. The failure to push Lawler’s appearance with the fans in attendance was a glaring oversight…Dan Masters handled most of the ring announcing and some of the television commentary alongside Michael St. John. He appears to be filling the on camera spot that was opened by West’s departure…Rodney Grimes, promoter of CWA in Corinth, Ms was at the show. Grimes said he recently got stiffed when he tried to book Rick Steiner and Buff Bagwell through “booking agent” Ronnie Gossett. This isn't the former Memphis manager but the Gossett that runs shows under the UCW banner. Grimes said he had a contract and sent $500 upfront money to Gossett. Steiner was a no-show. Bagwell did work the show after Grimes contacted him directly…Recently deposed GCW booker Bo Oates has a shoot interview up at www.danmasterslive.com in the blog section. He holds nothing back about his relationship with his dad, Jerry Oates.
Courtesy of Larry Goodman