Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Ratings: Memphis Wrestling TV 10.20.07

----This week’s Memphis Wrestling show did an overall 3.3 [55,404 viewers] rating, which is right at 3,000 viewers less than last week and about 5,000 viewers over average. The show did lose over 6,000 viewers in the second quarter, but then jumped back up to over 8,000 viewers in the 3rd quarter. The last quarter lost over 3,000 viewers, but that is retention of 94% of the quarter before it. The finish of the Tatt2 vs White bout along with the Lawler angle finishing up rest of the show with the Triple Threat Match and not losing many viewers they should be happy. The Triple Threat was a bad match, but most people stayed for the finish.

-Insane Clowns interview
-Starr/Lexx interview
-Clowns vs Lexx/Starr
1st Quarter 3.4 [57,083 viewers]


-Lawler/Watson/White/Young interview
-Tatt2 - interview
-Tatt2 vs White [start]
2ncd quarter 3.0 [50,535 viewers] [-6548 viewers]


-Tatt2 vs White [finish]
-Triple Threat interviews
-Triple Threat Tag Team Title Match [start]
3rd Quarter 3.5 [58,762 viewers][+8227 viewers]

-Triple Threat Tag Team Title match [finish]
-Dotson/Rashard/King interview
4th quarter 3.3 [55,404 viewers][-3358 viewers]

12 Week Average: 3.0 [50,017 viewers]
12 week low – 1.9 [31,395 viewers] 9.29.07
12 week high – 4.3 [66,484 viewers] 8.11.07
From start to finish [-1679 viewers]

What Memphis Was Watching??
Channel 3 News [1st]/Action News 5 [2ncd]/CSI Miami [3/4] 6.4 [108,163 viewers]

Flashback!! April, 2003

----There has been some talk about Chaotic Championship Wrestling on the message board, so I thought I would link one of the final messages I wrote on the web, which I consider the end of CCW. The photos surrounding the post have a lot of the current workers in this area. You will see Psycho with the Real Kayte [my ex-wife Stephanie Dale], “Total Kaos” [Kade/Christian Jacobs] with Coach BT, “InHumane Society” [Tony Diamond/Krusher] with Rod Dent III, Mark Justice, “Code Red” [Kilo/Kade], “Riot Squad” [Paul & Rick Justice – the first incarnation of the team] with Coach BT, “Trendsetter” Jon Michael, Jacobs pinning Derrick King from our 1st show, “The Golden Boy” and Seth Knight as first tag champions and all the guys and girls that helped the promotion in the first two years.

----There is a listing for the second Super 8 tournament. I copied the tourney from the ECWA group and it was just a show a year I designed for the workers and me. The 8 guys participating in the tournament were voted on backstage by the other workers. They voted for everyone, except themselves and put them in the order they felt they should be. The first tournament was held in Dexter, MO in 2002 and was won by Mark Justice. That show had nothing to do with bookings – it was just a show book by the boys’ votes on who they thought was the #1 worker in the dressing room at the time of the tournament. I plan to release some CCW DVDs one day and some of this tournament will be on them. If you are able to see it, then you see me in the crowd marking out for the matches. The workers were not told who was going to win their matches and such until right before the bell rang. All finishes were their own and it was fun to watch.

CLICK HERE to the see the post and pictures!!

RassleResults: ASWF Tuckerman, AR 10.20.07

----Evan Gelistico beat Austin Lane by DQ…Dorian Victory over Blalock The Blazer by DQ…Gary Jay by DQ over Bishop…Reno Diamond beat Pierre Abernathy by DQ…Judgement beat Big Bubba…Acid [pictured] with Brittany Star beat ““Crazed Country Rebels [Cody Murduch/Wild Bill]” in a handicap match to get a tag team title shot at Havoc…Loose Cannon vs Little Lucky – No contest…”Entourage” [Austin Lane/Blalock The Blazer/Bishop] & Pierre Abernathy beat Reno/Gary Jay/Gelistico/Victory, when Bishop hit Reno with a chain.

----Over 100 in the building to see the action...They did an angle at the start where Brian Edwards confronted Johnny Harper. Edward brought out Mac Daddy to help him out. Mac Daddy was going to wrestle Harper and if Harper beat Mac Daddy, then he got a match with Edwards. Then they did the thumb to the head finish. Havoc has Harper vs Edwards for ASWF Commissionership…As you can tell they were screwing the heels all night with a DQ finishes…They ran an angle during the Cannon vs Lucky bout. There was a Casket sitting outside the ring. Cannon was going to finish off Lucky, when the lights went out. Three X-Kaliburs came out and X-Kalibur’s voice was over the loud speaker. Cannon went after the first two, but it was not him. Rotten Randy went after the third one and was superkicked by Morgan Lane. Then out of the casket comes the real X-Kalibur attacking Cannon and they do a pull-a-part. I was told this was done real well. But, I got a question?? Does X where a mask now?? How was Cannon fooled?? And, when did X start doing the Taker casket gimmick?? I am confused??... Havoc this Saturday night. Look for the full card in Shows of The Weekend!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

A Piece of my Mind-Oct 23,2007 by "The Big Cheese" Sal Corrente


There have been many stories bouncing around about Bonnie Hammer of USA Network sending over numerous ideas for WWE since the ratings appear to be dropping. It is widely known, for the most part that, Vince and Stephanie have been ignoring most of the input from Bonnie Hammer. It does seem that they didn’t ignore the direction to get the Mr. McMahon character back on television. I do agree with Bonnie that Mr. McMahon needed to get back on TV he is the biggest heel and biggest baby face in the whole company. Isn’t it amazing that Bonnie had no good ideas at all except for that one? I understand Vince wanting to ignore advice from someone who has no knowledge of the wrestling business. The only thing she has to go by is the days when the rating were strong and comparing them to the pathetic ratings of today. It is ok to show your colossal arrogance when you’re running the ship but in this case USA Network is paying you a lot of money to produce a product and for whatever the reason you are failing. You had better start producing if you’re going to take the position of ignoring your boss. Let’s face it, she isn’t suggesting that you call Jim Herd and ask him where he is hiding The Ding Dongs.
Does anyone remember The Ding Dongs? When Jim Herd was running wrestling on TBS this was one of his contributions. They were two enhancement talents that came out wearing bells on their ankles and wrists. They wore full body suits and masks; their skills were very limited at best. If this was something that had to be done couldn’t someone have convinced Jim Herd to at least make them heels? I wonder what kind of heat these guys would have gotten if they used some sort of a cowbell to knock opponents out? Don’t get my wrong I’d have never used The Ding Dong’s on my own but if I had to it would have been totally different than they were used on TBS. I would say this, if WWE ever has another gimmick Battle Royal these guys need to be in it for sure.

When you were growing up did you ever have a friend that had something really great? You know that great toy that everyone else in the neighborhood wanted but only one kid had. Is anyone starting to connect this with Corey Maclin yet? In this case it seems to be one of those durable can’t be broken toys. He obviously didn’t read the directions when he was opening the package. You couldn’t have a more perfect setup for a WWE developmental territory than you do with Corey’s Memphis setup. Isn’t it funny that even before Lawler single handedly destroyed the Fed-Ex Forum event? It was Corey’s only chance to get some real credibility in the business with the Hogan-Lawler match in Memphis. I always knew that there were dense people in the business. I would have to say that Corey Maclin takes the cake. I have to wonder if Jerry Lawler just sits back laughing at the whole thing. He is making money producing the second biggest insult to the public’s intelligence in the wrestling business. It is a shame that something with such potential is being treated like an after thought. Of course the results reflect the effort put in to the product. In this country, the difference between success and failure is sometimes a very fine line. I am not sure what constitutes it in Memphis if anyone does feel free to let me know.

In the world of TNA there is a girl named Valerie Wyndham who has been working for several years now. She was first brought to my attention by Rob Russen who discovered her while attending an Indy show on behalf of WrestleReunion. She is commonly referred to as SoCalVal. I have to admit I was not an immediate believer in her. She did win me over and she became our ring announcer for WrestleReunion 2 and our event in Davie, Fl. She has a tremendous desire to succeed in the business. She was a pleasure for us to work with in WrestleReunion. I asked her to do something that she really hadn’t done before. I wanted her to be our ring announcer. She worked hard and tried her best under tremendous time constraints. If I was running a regular company she would be a part of it in an on air role. She has a true old school type desire for the business. She loves it like the old timers loved it. I keep waiting for someone there to give her a real shot right now she is nothing but window dressing. She is the closest thing I have seen to an Elizabeth type in a long time. Of course it’s hard to give talent a break when you are to busy playing "all in the family" with your superstars.

Does Hacksaw Jim Duggan get a bigger pop than most of the talent on Raw? Maybe I am just imagining it? Hmm you wonder where Bonnie Hammer gets some of her ideas from. You would think that this stuff really was rocket science. It really is simple ... give the people what they want and they will come.

I wonder at times if Vince and Stephanie were both asked to walk with a wheel barrel between their legs who would need the bigger wheel barrel? Any thoughts let me know.

This week I included a picture of So Cal Val taken by George Napolitano the official WrestleReunion photographer.

This has been a piece of my mind

If you would like to provide feedback email me at salcorrente929@hotmail.com

VCW RETURNS!!

----Just got word that Volunteer Championship Wrestling will be breaking all ties with Ricky Guys and Southeastern Championship Wrestling. Apparently the SCW name was owned by another person and he wanted a piece of the pie if they were going to run shows in Tennessee with Guys. Billy Ray Hickerson and company were also having problems getting a hold of Guys after the internet story came out and he is not answering his phone anymore. This group will continue as planned and will be running a show this Saturday in Selmer, TN at 12:00 NOON. They will also start the promotion by recognizing Kevin White as their VCW Champion. They will be crowning tag champs in the future. I have been told they are talking with Bobby Eaton and Ricky Morton to form a team to be their champs.

----I also got confirmation that everything I wrote in the former story was all correct. They wanted to kayfabe the news that Guys was going to be part of the promotion, but now they are seeing it is just a bad seed and he will not be part of anything.

RassleResults: TLCW Ripley, TN 10.20.07

“Rockin” Randy over Crime with superkick.

Shannon Lee over The Grappler [Kevin White student]

Interview announcing that Chris O’Neal will there for the upcoming TLCW this Friday!

Tatt2 by DQ over Reggie B Fine

Interview with Jon Michael telling about his injury and they were singing “Happy Birthday” the TLCW photographer when Dustin Starr walked out. He jumps Michael and is going to hit with a chair, when Derrick King makes the save. Alan Steel and they beat on DK until Dell Tucker makes save.

Maxx Corbin beat J-Bone

“Naughty By Nature [Rude/Pokerface] beat Tommy Redneck/ J Weezy. After the match, they played “Crank Dat” by Soulja Boi and then “Rythem & Blues” [Brian Steele/Ike Tucker] came out. They are going to do some kind of Old school music vs new school music – face vs face angle.

Motley Cruz beat Cody Melton with a Kishi-driver – Melton screw up a few moves and then Cruz just settled him down and stretched him a bit.

Seth Knight beat Chris Lexx with his RKO finisher. He then hit Ms Vanna [Sue Young] with it after the match. She manages Lexx.

Derrick King/Dell Tucker beat Dustin Starr/Alan Steel when Tucker rolls Starr up 1.2.3 – DK/Steel brawl all over the place.

Flash Flanagan vs “The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony – DK in flash’s corner – Flash puts finisher on TGB – Steel jumps DK and handcuffs DK – Bill Rush got some punches in on TGB. No contest.

----Around 150 in the crowd with a gate around $900…This weekend there is a special Friday night show in Ripley, TN and then a TLCW/ IWA promoted with Charlie Parks at the National Guard Armory in Memphis, TN…Friday in Ripley has “Loser Leave Town” Tatt2 vs Fine, Tucker vs Starr – special ref Jon Michael, TGB/Steel vs Flash/DK and more.

RassleResults: MAW New Daisy Theatre Memphis, TN 10.21.07

The opening contest saw Dell Tucker def. Shannon Lee in Shannon Lee's debut for MAW. Dell Tucker appeared once before taking on Gabriel Stalker for the MAW Junior Heavyweight Championshio. Dell Tucker has a bit of a mean streak last night and it paid off.

Big Country def. "Iceman" Chris Austin in a hardcore contest. Country said a new promotion, which he called AXW, was coming to the Daisy that would bring back hardcore to Beale Street. We hope to get more word on that very soon.

"God's Gift" Jason Richards def. the debuting Cassanova Kid. This was a back and forth contest that proved that their was stregnth in numbers as far as Jason Richards was concerned with him bringing Antoin Smooth and new mysterious bodyguard out with him.

Stan Lee def. Flash Flanagan via pinfall after the match went from the ring, to the floor, and back again. Flash didn't seem to be happy with the officiating from Senior Official Biscuit.

MAW Tag Team Championship
The Front Office (Precious and Crime) /w KC Gold def. Kross and the debuting Bonecrusher to retain the championship. This was suppose to be Kross and JR Mauler, collectively known as 24/7, but JR was unable to make it. It has been reported that Kross has gone on record stating that he wants another shot at the champs with JR at his side.

8 Man Tag Team Match
Derrick King, Johnny Dotson, "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony, and Rockin Randy def. “Showstopper” James Kentrell, Danny B. Good, and TFO.

Main Event
MAW Heavyweight Championship
Due to an injury sustained earlier in the week, Austin Lane was unable to attend the MAW 4th Anniversary event. As a replacement, former MAW Heavyweight Champion Bishop made his return to the "House of MAW", but that wasn't it for the surprises. Tatt2 made his way out to join Dre Black, Chris Lexx, and Bishop to make this match a four way dance for the vacant MAW Heavyweight Championship. Carnage Antwane joined Scotty C and Poncho for commentary. During the course of the match, it appeared Lexx went down with injury and took himself to the back. Minutes later, The Crime came out and officially took Lexx's spot in the contest. At the end of the match, Lexx had returned, although visabliy in pain and favoring his left foot. Lexx was able to get enough energy together to enter the ring, hit the Lexxicution and finally win his first ever MAW Heavyweight Championship. Lexx is now holding two championships in MAW.

After the contest, Derrick King's voice could be heard and after a few moments, we saw King with a large group of wrestlers normally seen in Ripley, TN standing over the drapped and bloody body of KC Gold, stating that MAW is done, finished, and should never try to run another event. As the TFO looked on, helpless to do anything, they were attacked by Golden Boy and Rockin Randy.

----This report made note when e-mail in that there was around 60 people in the crowd, but as stated here yesterday everyone was being told 6 paid...Austin Lane must be done with this promotion as they have already crowned a new champion...The end with all the TLCW wrestlers over KC Gold should have been good...How does this group continue to run and draw these numbers??...Next show - 11.25.07.

Site News!! New Weekly Lineup!!

----I would first like to apologize for missing my last two "Coach's Corner" articles, but I have been busy with real life. Below is a new weekly schedule that will start as of today and it is revised to having myself with a column 2 times a week, instead of 3 times. I will post a third one if I got the material and time. I am also working on getting another columnist for Saturday. All days will feature updated results as the flow in slowly from some promotions. Finally, I have been working on a possible "political cartoon" of sorts and it might be debuting this Saturday, if everything goes as planned.

Sal Corrente “A Piece of My Mind” – Tuesday and Fridays
Poll Results and New Poll – Fridays
“Coach’s Corner” – Monday & Thursdays
Gene Jackson “Cheap Heat” – When he wants
Ratings – Wednesday
Flashback – Wednesday
Shows of The weekend – Thursdays
Saturday – Friday results & Memphis Wrestling TV Report
Sunday – Results, Results!!

Monday, October 22, 2007

MAW MATCH TURNS INTO A SHOOT!!!

----Some fun stuff happened at the MAW show last night with a worker by the name of “Showstopper.” [James Kentrell] Apparently this all started with him showing up to Memphis Wrestling TV and trying to get on the tapings. He made a total fool of himself, when Jerry Lawler asked him if he could dance and he square danced in the front of the boys.

----He then had been promising everyone that he would sell 400 advance tickets for the MAW show on his own. And he said that if he didn’t sell those tickets, then he would pay the boys to work. He arrived to the building with no tickets sold and no money to pay the boys.

----The fun then got started when he was teamed with Danny B Good, Crime and Precious vs Johnny Dotson, Derrick King, Rockin Randy and “The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony. He was in the ring with TGB first and TGB tried to work with him. When it became apparent that he had no idea what he was doing, TGB took control and ended up butterfly suplexing him and slapping him for shoot. They ended up stopping the match and all the guys on TGB’s side did a shoot interview on “Showstopper” pretty much saying he did not deserve to be in the ring. At some point, EVERYONE turned on him and just beat the hell out of him. He took like 20 chair shots and bunch of really stiff shit. I think even the guys on his side then did shoot interviews on him and they even threw him in the trash.

----After it was all done, “Showstopper” finally left the ring and went to the dressing room. After the match was finished he was waiting there to tell everyone he was sorry. He promised the crew that he would not get in the ring again until he was properly trained.

----The show drew 6 paid.

RassleResults: TFW Tupleo, MS 10.19.07

"Prime Time" Nick Grymes defeated Tysin Starr.

Mark Mayhem defeated Chazz.

Max Steele, returning to TFW after a five week absence, defeated Devon Raynes.

Lil' Extreme defeated "Bad Attitude" Tony Dabbs. Tony Dabbs is the second member of Attitude, Inc. to be pinned by a midget.

The New Age Cowboys (Chris Kilgore & Josh Holly) defeated Attitude, Inc. (Bless & Big Jake) w/T-Byrd by DQ. Attitude, Inc. retains the tag team belts.

TFW Light Heavyweight Champion Vinnie the Blade defeated Chop top the Clown by pin fall to retain. Vinnie's feet were on the ropes when the referee made the count.

In a Street Fight, Fusion defeated the self-proclaimed "King of Mississippi Wrestling" Neil Taylor w/Tony "The Weasel" Watts. Yes, the reports on the message board are true, I did keep Tony Watts from interfering in the match.

The Southern saints (Josh Matthews, Chris Styles, & Shawn Reed) w/Anita Page vs. DC, Curly Moe, & J-Kidd w/Dirty Rell Mo ended in a double count out. After the match the Southern saints gave DC, Curly Moe, J-Kidd, & Dirty Rell Mo a major beat down.

Max Steele came to the ring and announced that he had a clause in his contract for a rematch with DC for the TFW belt any time he wanted it, and he was exercising his rematch clause immediately. He went into the ring and pinned DC, who had been beaten down a few minutes earlier, in less than a minute to win the TFW Heavyweight Championship. After the match the members of Attitude, Inc. came out to congratulate Max on winning the belt. Max clobbered them all.

This was a very good show. TFW has definitely "kicked it up a few notches."

Credit: Axeman @ www.hollywoodjimmy.com

Sunday, October 21, 2007

RassleResults: Big Time Wrestling Boone,NC 10.20.07

----Bobby Fulton beat Killer Kent II…Crazy Stomper beat Beau James…Miles Long beat Big Cat Brazil…James and Misty James beat Nicole Starr and Stomper …Buff Bagwell beat The Sheik of Arraby

----85 to 100 in the crowd…This is Fulton’s group and is also works the Sheik gimmick…”Miles Long” use to be a gimmick in this area used by Tre Keller.

RassleResults: NBW Dyersburg, TN 10.20.07

----Jeremy Moore beat J.R. Manson…”Black Label Society” [A.J. and Robbie Douglas (C) beat “Ultimate Bodies” [Jon Roberts and Sicilian Kid]…Gaylon Ray Beat Phoenix X to become the New NBW High Risk Champion…Void Vs Chris Rocker ended in a time limit draw…Kilo beat Lil Tim Alfonso…NBW Heavyweight Title Match: Mark Justice Vs Jason Reed ended in a no contest when the locker room emptied.

----78 paid with around 100 in the building…Manson [LAW’s Slim Pickens] works main event chain match on Friday night and then has to lose to the Booker in the opening bout on Saturday night. Welcome to professional wrestling. LOL Sorry I could not resist.

RassleResults: USWO Nashville, TN 10.19.07

----Damien Payne b Rob C…White Tiger b Shane Smalls…Kevin Dunn b Tim Renesto by DQ when Renesto shoved ref Mark Owen…Slade b LT Falk…USWO Champion AM Vision (w/Anthony Cervantes) vs Michael Jablonski went to a 15:00 time-limit draw…Petey Wright b Damien Payne in a fan lumberjack match…LT Falk & Mark Anthony b "Wild Boys"-Ben Jordan & Steve Neely

----78 paid with a gate close to $750…SAW did a TV taping in Millersville Friday night . Vision worked both, but Gary Valiant and Arrick Andrews, who were scheduled for the main event, were unable to make it to USWO. Anthony's place in the main event was explained by Tony Falk saying that Anthony's only loyalty was to money…I imagine I wasn't the only one who agonized over which show to attend as a lot of fans and wrestlers alike feel some degree of loyalty toward both promotions…USWO will have a 4-team tournament for the vacant tag belts next Friday…It was also announced that Jerry Lynn would be at USWO on 11/2.

Credit: Jimmie Daniel

----The SAW has announced on their web site that they will be having events EVERY Friday night, so this group and SAW will be battling it out for Friday crowds. SAW drew on the same night 150 for the TV tapings. Both of these guys had been working together, but it seems that is over. Nashville area is so crazy, even compared to the Memphis area. Trent Van Drisse had a full report on the SAW TV tapings featuring some familiar names like Naturals, Shawn Shultz and more. CLICK HERE to read the report.

RassleResults: MEWA Batesville, AR 10.20.07 - New Champion - Big Al and Casino Kid Return


The night started off with General Manager Johnny Hawk coming to the ring again this week. The G.M had two points of business in mind. The first was to welcome back to M.E.W “The California Dream” Christopher Lee to M.E.W. Lee said it was great to back in M.E.W after being off for months due to injuries. The second order of business was Big Al was back and ready to fight. Al came to the ring and thanked all the fans for the phone calls and e-mails he had received of the past two weeks. He also said he was back and ready to take down “Dangerous” Dave Cox for what he had done to him. Al let the fans help him decide on which match he should choose. He chooses the “Strap Match”, so it was set that the main event tonight would be Big Al –VS- “Dangerous” Dave Cox in a “Lumber Jack Strap Match”.

The First Match of the evening was Tommy Gunn taking on “Hot Rod” John Ellison. This was going to be a speed VS power match all the way. Gunn started off with his high impact power moves, but Ellison quickly tried to make it a high flying with a lot of fast paced match. Ellison was quickly grounded and Gunn went to work on him working on his left arm and back to make sure he never got the chance to speed up the match. Gunn’s style proved to be just much for Ellison and after 11:23, Gunn got the win.

Before the second match could start the Casino Kid made an appearance. He was addressing the issue about him being suspended weeks ago for his actions. The fans were chanting for him to go for the M.E.W Heavy Weight Title tonight, seeing that he never lost the title it was stripped by the M.E.W Commission. As Casino was taking to the fans about him finally being able to return he was jumped from behind by Matt Justice. These two men had never faced in the ring and everyone was wondering why he jumped Casino. Justice yelled into the mic. As he beat Casino down that he was the future and he was the top dog around M.E.W and not Casino anymore. After Justice left Casino beaten and shaken, Casino said that his hunt to back on top started tonight and Matt Justice was #1 on his list.

The Second Match of the evening was a “3 Way Match” for the #1 contender for the M.E.W Light Heavy Weight Title. It was Greg King Jr.-VS- “The Suicide King” Ray Ray –VS- “Mr. Playboy” Tommy Wayne. This match was going to be super fast paced with 3 of the best Light Weights in the world. Ray and Tommy being the veterans they are they both put King through Hell in this match with 2 HUGE Suplexs on the concert floor. With King lying one the floor Wayne and Ray picked-up from where they left off from there huge battle month’s ago. Ray busted Tommy wide open, as Ray set-up a steel chair to do one of his high-flying moves King got back into the ring and caused Ray to go head first into the chair being busted open as well. All 3 men battled inside and outside the ring leaving a trail of blood and broken bodies. After 13:58 “Mr. Playboy” Tommy Wayne was able to get the win and become the #1 contender for the M.E.W Light Heavy Weight Title.

The Third Match was for the M.E.W World Heavy Title Match, it was the champion “3-G” Eric Wayne being challenged by the former champ Kid Nickels. As soon the bell rung Wayne demanded the mic. Tell the fans how lucky they are to have his as there champion, the fans responded by chanting “Faggot and You Suck”. The fans have really have had a strong hatred for “3-G” and his ways of cheating and telling them “How Lucky They Are to Have Him”. With all the fans yelling at him, this enraged Wayne and he decided to leave the area, but Kid stopped him the entrance ramp and beat him all the way back into the ring. Once Wayne decide he had to fight to keep his title he went to his bag of dirty trick’s trying to cheat Nickels out of his last shot at the title. The fans have really grown to love Kid Nickels with his “No Guts / No Glory”, and “No Surrender” style he has in the ring. Kid came prepared for anything and everything Wayne could and would try to keep his title. Wayne was over powered by Kid’s “High Impact” style he use’s so well. After a hard fought battle for 17:51, Kid Nickels was able to recapture the M.E.W World Heavy Title.

The Semi-main was “The Casino Kid” taking on the M.E.W Light Heavy Weight Champion Matt Justice in a non-title match up. As Matt Justice came to the ring he stopped at the announce table and told Ast.General Manager “Bigg” Joe Johnson that from now on to call him “The Main Attraction” Matt Justice. Justice came to the ring with the idea he could and would beat the veteran Casino in a very short time. At point Matt tried to embarrass Casino by grabbing a video camera from a fan and tape him beating Casino senseless. By being the veteran he is Casino reversed it and used the camera to tape Justice getting beat as he put it “A Boy”. Justice quickly realized that beating “The Casino Kid” was not going to be as easy as he had hoped. Casino was taking this rookie to school inside the ring when all of a sudden Casino hit the mat. Justice had used an “Illegal Chop Block” to injure the Left Ankle of the Casino Kid. The ref. quickly called for the bell, Casino Kid was declared the winner in 13:06 by D.Q. The Casino Kid had to be carried to back. He was later carried out of the area to a waiting car to be taken for X-Ray’s, next week we will have full report on the status of “The Casino Kid” and how long he will be out of action due to this injury.

The Main Event was the “Strap Match” between Big Al and “Dangerous” Dave Cox. General Manager Johnny Hawk came to the ring drew the winning tickets to see which lucky fans would have the opportunity to whip either Big Al or “Dangerous” Dave Cox. There were 20 fans chosen to be the lumber jacks outside the ring. Al was very excited at this opportunity to get his revenge on Cox for injuring him 2 weeks ago. It didn’t take long for Al to through Cox outside the ring so he could feel the hatred and pain he had for him. Cox was not going to be the only man strapped he returned the favor and tossed Al to the fans and laughed and enjoyed seeing Al get whipped. Cox wanted to pick-up from where he left off when Al was injured and work on his lower back, but Al was ready for this and kept Cox beat down on the mat most of the match. After 9:39 Big Al was able to get his revenge and score the victory, this also meant that he could take the dress off he has had to wear for several week’s now.

There was a very strong crowd this week with 278 fans in an attendance.

MAW SHOW TODAY!!

MAW Press Release

Midsouth All-Star Wrestling will have its 4th Anniversary Event at the New Daisy Theater. Main Event for the show will finally crown a NEW MAW Heavyweight Champion as "Memphis 10" Winner Austin Lane takes over Dre Black AND MAW Southern Champion Chris Lexx to finally see WHO will be the #1 Man in MAW.

Also, a #1 Contendership Match is set to take place to see who is next in line for Chris Lexx's Southern Championship as the wrestlers of that match will be revealed live during the event. The MAW Tag Team Championship will be on the line as The Crime and "Juicy" Johnny Morton of TFO will defend their titles against Kross and Bonecrusher.

Derrick King is also announced for the event and only controversy follows when this championship caliber wrestler walks into any building, so get ready to see a powder keg explode.

More matches will be revealed at the event, so come on down. Belltime is 5pm and doors open at 4:30

Arena Report: GCW Macon, Ga 10.19.07

Great Championship Wrestling made their Macon debut Friday night at the Bloomfield Community Center.

It was test run for taking the show on the road rather than a full-scale attempt to run Macon on regular basis (although it would be close perfect as a double shot weekend with Phenix City).

They didn’t much effort into promoting the show locally, so a house of 60 (paying roughly $750) was acceptable, and the make up of the crowd was encouraging. They were fairly knowledgeable - they knew people like David Young and Johnny Swinger from TV – but not in a smart mark way, and this group had considerably more class than the scary folks that used to inhabit stands at the Nashville Fairgrounds. It was also a racially-mixed audience - something I rarely see on indie shows- in a city that is 60% black.

The Bloomfield building is serviceable, much like what IWA Mid-South/Deep South uses, except the power supply wasn’t sufficient for GCW’s far more elaborate set up (wouldn’t it have to be?).

A couple of problems will be easy fixes. For one, they use the canned “ramp time” time intro, which was rendering meaningless once GCW left Columbus. Now THAT was a ramp. The real annoyance was how the six-sided ring wasn’t in synch with the seating. Each section was facing a post.

Billy Roper announced that commissioner Scrappy McGowan had renamed the GCW Columbus Title as the GCW Interstate Championship.

(1) J Connection (Ruben James & Randall Johnson) beat Frankie Valentine & Tex Monroe in 11:51. Crowd had no idea who these guys were. The babyface team looked dorky and didn’t connect with this crowd at all. J Connection did better in that department. Johnson wore this sparkly blonde wig attached to a red trucker hat. Strange, very strange. He was trying to cover up the shaving he got at the hands of Valentine, but I don’t know how anyone in Macon would have put that together. When the gimmick came off, it looked like a normal WWE haircut. James has something going for him besides the British accent, but needs to step up his physicality in the ring. Valentine took the heat. A double suplex by the heels got polite applause. The crowd reacted to a huge missed moonsault by Valentine. He really laid that sucker out there. Valentine put Johnson down with a spinning heel kick and did his step up elbow instead of tagging. Oops. A slight problem with ring positioning there. James pinned Monroe with a variation of the Dominator.

Quentin Michaels came out with Shaun Banks. He was unhappy about the lack of “respect” for their entrance, so they did a redo for more heat. Michaels said Banks’ scheduled opponent, John Bogie wasn’t there and challenged anyone in the back. David Young came out to a better pop that he gets in Phenix City, a place he’s held multiple titles. Go figure.

(2) David Young beat Shaun Banks (with Quentin Michaels) in 10:48. Like Consequences Creed, Banks is greatness disguised as an unknown Georgia indie guy. His bumping, facial expressions and ability to flat out entertain are the makings of an awesome heel. Banks also happens to have the most ripped junior heavyweight physique around. Point being, they didn’t do a whole lot and this match was still a huge step up the opener based on ring presence alone. Banks ducked one enzuigiri from Young but got nailed by the second one. He took a belly flop bump out of the ring onto the linoleum. Banks got a couple of arm drags and did this hilarious dance. Young slapped the taste out his mouth. Banks stepped aside allowing a charging Young to take a flying crotch bump on the buckles. Banks seized the on the opening and appeared to have the match well in hand when Young caught him with a spinebuster out of nowhere.

(3) Scotty Beach beat Cru Jones (with Michaels) via DQ when Banks interfered at 7:18. There was a rumor that Jones has signed with WWE. Not true but easy to believe with his physique, and the fact that he got TV time at Deep South. Beach struck me as a more effective babyface here than he has in Phenix City. He made a nice connection with the crowd. The lei tossing gimmick worked. And he wasn’t booked to look dumb. Jones had to cheat to take over. He gave Beach one hell of a body slam – so simple and yet so effective when it’s done that well. Jones did a stalling suplex and released the support arm to flex his bicep. Beach showed fire. Jones pounded him. Beach rolled out from under a flying elbow drop to start his comeback. He hit the Beach Balls (double legdrop to the groinular region) and went to the top. Banks clubbed him and referee Jeff McGowan called for the bell. Afterwards, Banks and Jones doubled on Beach. Michaels accosted Roper for announcing the DQ and had to be pulled off of him.

(4) Thug Rowe beat Hooligans (Devin & Mason Cutter) in 8:58. A very indietastic match in that occasionally something looked good, while a lot looked really mediocre. Fans instantly picked up on the Highlander wannabe aspect of Hooligans. They attacked Rowe before the bell, and used quick tags to control most of the match. Rowe hit a big time piledriver on Devin. Mason tried to interfere, but Thug saw him coming and planted him on top of his brother for a double pin. Well done. The crowd was into Thug after seeing that finish, but not so much until then. If the idea was to portray Thug as a major force, he should have been able to dominate the likes of Hooligans.

(5) Johnny Swinger (with Quentin Michaels) beat Mister #1 in 14:25. Basic match that worked fine because the crowd knew them and they had a solid heel/face dynamic going. Mr. #1’s physique is looking more “Samoan” these days, but he does the same stuff and hasn’t lost any speed. The match opened with a lengthy comedic stalling routine. Swinger tried to brawl but couldn’t phase #1’s coconut-like Samoan head. Enough with the stalling. #1 sent Swinger into the rail and turned his attention towards Michaels. Swinger capitalized with a high knee to the back of #1. Swinger scored a series of near falls as he continually managed to thwart #1’s comebacks. When #1 kicked out of a Russian legsweep, Swinger tried to end it with a sleeper. The lights were dimming, but #1 broke free with a jawbreaker to start a full-fledged comeback. Finish came as #1 had Swinger set up for the Samoan Cutter. Michaels distracted the ref. #1 gave Michaels a headbutt. Swinger put #1’s lights out with a set of brass knucks.

(6) A.J. Steele pinned Death Row to retain the GCW Interstate Championship in 14:15. Death is not a main event level guy, and for Steele to be one, he needs to a strong opponent. The thing that saved it was how ridiculously over Steele was as the hometown hero. Before the match, Death attacked Roper. He’s from the Institute for the Criminally Insane. Those crazy eyes are a dead giveaway. The Intern ran out with a syringe in a failed attempt to tranquilize Death. This got more reaction than it does in Phenix City where the fans some variation of that spot every week. Death and Steele started slugging away and it was ugly. Steele went down on an Irish whip like he had blown out his knee, but Death didn’t pick up on it. Steele speared Death. Not good. They both looked blown up. Steele tried to go up top, and Death brought him off with a Samoan drop to get the match on track. Death punished Steele’s back on the rail and ring frame. That part of Death’s game looks fine, but he’s sloppy as hell when he applies any type of hold, like he’s had no training. The crowd was pulling hard for Steele. Death cut off his comebacks. Death shrugged off a pair of lariats. Steele put him down with a backdrop. Steele used a DVD and a top rope shoulder block for near falls before putting Death away with the Steele City Bomb (similar to a Catatonic).

NOTES: GCW returns to their home base at the Gr8 Sk8 Plex in Phenix City, Al on 10/20 with Beach vs. Swinger in an I Quit Match and David Young & Chris Stevens vs. Hooligans in a tag team tournament match…The GCW Heayweight Champion, Bull Buchanan has made several defenses of that title during his current tour of Japan. Through an agreement between GCW and NOAH, Buchanan has defended against Akira Taue, Takuma Sano and Go Shiosaki…No return date was officially announced, although they have a tentative date of 11/30...The fourth episode of GCW TV aired this morning at 11 am on East Alabama cable 7…During a recent match, Jones got this line off on Buff Bagwell. “Buff, you used to be the stuff, but now you’re nothing more than a pudgy cruiserweight.”

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Memphis Wrestling TV Report 10.20.07

----Corey Maclin is joined AGAIN this week with Reggie B Fine. Why?? They went over the show and talked about the chairs they were sitting in.

----“Insane Clowns” [Giggles/Bobo] with Rashard Devon. They talk about a triple threat Southern Tag Team Title match later tonight and why are they not in it?? Rashard was stumbling over his words. Why would Rashard complain when he has a team in it?? Dustin Starr/Chris Lexx came for an interview. Starr says, “How do you expect anybody to take the Clowns seriously?” Clowns beat Starr/Lexx in a good match. Better than the match last week. Heat was on Starr with hot tag to Lexx. Lexx came off the second turnbuckle for a flying press having Giggles pinned, but ref was distracted. Lexx/Starr did a great looking flapjack on Bobo. Ref distracted ended with Bobo using a kid’s bicycle to hit Lexx and have Giggles pin him.

----Maclin brings out a rep from FexEx to promote an event on November 4, 2007 at the Agri-Center Amphitheater for the “Make-A-Wish Foundation” at Shelby Farms in Memphis, TN. They are giving away a trophy to a fan – FedEx Cup. All fans pick the winner of the end of the night Battle Royal. A fan that picks the winner, then they get the Cup along with dinner and a limo ride with the winning wrestler. I would put my money Jerry Lawler. Jerry Lawler [wearing Cleveland Indians jersey] comes out to explain more about it. Lawler was with Grady Watson. Kevin White with Sue Young/Mr. White walk out – “Don’t we have some unfinished business?” Lawler says that Renee could not make it tonight. Mr. White says, “Looks like you got a new girlfriend” – pointing at Watson. LOL

----Tatt2 interview “What it is Beef Jerky?? Smooooooth Turkey” – Tatt2’s catch phrase. White comes out. White tries to tell Tatt2 he is too small. Tatt2 responds and White pushes him and tells him to get in the ring. Tatt2 beat White by DQ. Good shine for Tatt2. Heat on Tatt2 after White used something that Young handed to him. Tatt2 made his comeback. Young then gave White the foreign object again and the ref caught him with it and DQ’ed him. White/Young beat on Tatt2 after the match and Lawler then made the save for him. Young just stood in the turnbuckle [it looked bad] until White bumped out the ring and then Lawler went after her. White saved her. Good match – little sloppy with Tatt2 coming out of heat.

----Brian Christopher/Ali interview. “Too Kool 2” [Tim Grind/Flex] come out. Then, Derrick King/Johnny Dotson with Rashard Devon walk out to promote the triple threat coming up. Rashard has a phone and DK tells Corey he has a call – a call from “common sense”, because it is common sense that they are going to win the belts. If Maclin had any common sense, then he would have a REAL announcer sitting next to him!! Maclin/Brian C did a very good job explaining the rules of the triple threat. Belts can change hands even if Brian C doesn’t do the job. LOL

----Brian C/Ali retained the tag team belts beating TK2 and King/Dotson. Three in the ring at the same time. This was a disaster waiting to happen and I wished could say this turned into a good match. Just a total clusterfuck. Finish was good though. Everyone got threw out of the ring leaving Dotson/DK with Brian C. They are going to spike piledrive him, but Ali makes the saving closelining DK and then military pressing Dotson. Ali was then holding Dotson with Dotsons’ legs wrapped around Ali’s waist. Brian came off with a legdrop from the top rope and it looked as if they took Dotson’s head completely off. Brian pins Dotson. DK/Dotson jumped them after the match and then TK2 makes the save. Crowd was good for this, but Maclin/Fine were not even putting it over that TK2 made the save.

----Maclin returned talking with Dotson/DK/Rashard and made no mention of TK2 making the save.

NOTES

----Wow!! Starr got mic time!! He did a good job also…Maclin called the little bicycle that the Clowns used a “tricycle.” Two wheels..three wheels..oh forget it…Young said that Renee was scared of her “karate” and chopped towards Lawler. Lawler jumped. LOL That was funny…During the White/Tatt2 bout, I actually yelled at the screen – “Will someone shut Reggie B Fine up!!” He is horrible…Tatt2 also gets mic time?? And Lawler makes a save for him?? Good direction…A good show. I liked it. The best bout was Tatt2 vs White. They did good to continue angles and storylines. Maclin had tried to promote a Fine bout last week, but there was no mention of it on this show, but other than that, they mentioned stuff from the last two shows. They seem to be saving Lawler vs White in the ring again. As I said, the last bout was not good, but it had a good finish.

The Ratings - Memphis Wrestling 10.13.07

----The Memphis Wrestling cast and crew should be very happy with this rating. The show last week scored an overall 3.5 [58,426 viewers] rating. Not a record breaking rating, but the best rating in the last 9 weeks. Also take a look at the trend from start to finish gaining over 30,000 viewers from start to finish. That is very good. It will be interesting to see if there is any retention with the coming week’s ratings, because the two quarters that scored the highest actually were not as good as the preceding quarters. It is positive to have over 70,000 viewers in one quarter.

-Brian C/Ali – interview
-“Opening The Vault”
1st Quarter – 2.4 [40,629 viewers]

-Kevin White/Sue Young/Mr. White interview
-DK/Dotson-int
-DK/Dotson vs Crime/Tatt2
-DK/Dotson beat up Crime/Tatt2 – Starr/Lexx save
2 quarter – 3.21 [53,893 viewers] [+13,264 viewers]

-Lawler interview
-Brian C/Ali vs Gladiator/White
-TK2 beat up Ali/Brian C
3rd Quarter – 3.9 [65,981 viewers] [+12,088 viewers]

-TK2 interview
-Ali/Brian C brawl with TK2
-Starr/Lexx vs Insane Clowns
4th Quarter - 4.4 [73,368 viewers] [+7387 viewers]

12 Week Average: 3.1 [51,346 viewers]
12 week low – 1.9 [31,395 viewers] 9.29.07
12 week high – 4.3 [71,353 viewers] 7.28.07
From start to finish [+32,739 viewers]

What was Memphis watching??
Channel 3 News/CSI Miami 9.5 [160,083 viewers]

Answers!!

----Answers!! I got answers!! Thanks to everyone for responding about the Flashback questions. The huge Smoky Mountain Massacre was a guy from Dale Mann’s group in Kentucky. Chad Austin is in his home state of Maryland – not sure if he still wrestles. And, yes, Rikki Burton is better known to us as “San Francisco Treat.” I thought my memory was correct on that one. Burton also worked as “Slick” Rick Burton for a short time. Also as noted by a visitor that wrote in – Burton was doing the gay gimmick even before GoldDust or Rico. A visitor also pointed out that Burton took the gimmick “a few years after Adrian Street left the territory.” Didn’t Street leave in the late 80s?? Just slightly more than a few years. LOL Thanks again!!

WANT TO SEE SOME FUNNY ADRIAN STREET VIDEOS?? CLICK HERE TO TAKE YOU TO RASSLETUBE AND GO TO PLAYLISTS!!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE MESSAGE BOARD AND SEE COMMENTS ABOUT THESE ANSWERS!!

Arena Report: LAW Rector, AR 10.20.07

----Tommy Redneck beat Super Destroyer. A pretty dropkick from Redneck. Short. SD was bad. [DUD]

----Idol Bane beat Shannon Lee. Lee was not believable against Bane. Lee’s comeback was weak. A small guy has to get some hope spots to make him the fans think he has a chance at winning or beat him the whole way and slip him over in the end. It was almost like they were trying to do both. Bane won with the “Ghost of Andy Kaufman” [Cradle piledriver], which looked awesome. [*] for the piledriver. Not a good match.

----Flash Flanagan beat Stan Lee with his feet on the ropes. Good match. Flash was so freakin stiff with his chops that I thought about crying. LOL Lee came out with bandaged ribs to sell Flash jumping him from last week. Flash took the heat when Lee got a chair and was going to hit Flash with it, but the ref – Biscuit – grabbed the chair and Flash attacked Lees’ ribs. Crowd was quite for a bit, but Flash got them going constantly working them in rest spots, but ALWAYS working the ribs. Flash took Lee out in the crowd and thru a trashcan that bounce through the chairs. A whole section of people had to move. Did I say that Flash chopped Stan hard?? LOL Lee’s comeback was brutal - the flurry of punches looked shoot. After the match, Flash whipped Lee with a belt, and then Lee got it back from him to setup Lee vs Flash in an Audience Participation Strap match in two weeks. A real good match. Crowd was loud, but if they had a bigger crowd, this match would have worked well. [***]

----“The Asylum” [James Arnez/Psycho] beat “Rockin” Randy/J Weezy. Good solid match with nothing wrong. Fans popped big for the Asylum and the finish. Arnez took the heat with Randy/Weezy working on this leg. Perfect stuff for a big/little man telling a story. Randy/Weezy could have done a few more double team moves, but still good. Hot tag to Psycho with them finishing off Weezy with the “Straight 2 Hale” [Russian leg sweep with a big boot]. [**1/2]

----Chain Match: Slim Leaves LAW vs Slim Wins His Freedom – Slim “Bulldog” Pickens beat LAW Champion “The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony. TGB got heat on Slim by working his neck with the chain with a neckbreaker onto the chain, hanging him over the top rope with a chain and just slinging him across the ring. It was a very smart way to work, but I think if it is a chain match, then the babyface of all people should juice. TGB even put his “Goldilock” submission hold on him and that was just weird to me in a chain match. [I know – he was working the neck!!] Pickens made his comeback and busted TGB open with the chain. TGB bled buckets and the crowd loved it. They did a ref bump [which I did not like in a chain match!!] and Jeff O’Dell got in the ring to help TGB. He removed his chain, but Slim grabbed him from behind and punched him. Crowd went nuts for that!! Slim jumped on O’Dell and got in some more punches. Slim finished TGB off by wrapping the chain around his neck and bulldogging him onto the chain. At this point, the crowd lost heat as he was wrapping it around his neck. I am not sure if they just stretched the finish too long [as one worker in the back suggested] or if the crowd was just stunned as it was looking as if Slim was going to win the match. As Slim pinned TGB the crowd counted 1..2..3 and popped huge!! This was a good match – a real good match. But, Slim is not at the level [remember he is a rookie] to work a match like this. TGB did carry him, but you could see so much hesitation on Slims’ parts that some one with more experience would have not stumbled. He should be proud of himself for such a good match in his rookie career though. [***1/2]

NOTES

----50 to 60 in the building with a gate near $280…I love the Bane gimmick with kilt and such. Bane is a big guy too, but still needs work. Why did both Bane/Lee wear orange/black?? Isn’t that Banes’ colors??...The ring announcer Little Koko is real good. No commentary over the matches – just ring announcing. He was dressed up with shirt and tie – very professional…Flash did something that I have even seen the WWE [on ECW this week] screw up – he ripped the bandages, but he left some of them on. I know that is being picky, but keeping the bandages on the ribs reminds people that the ribs are hurt…The marks hate Flash…Asylum are over to the point that I don’t think no one is believable to beat them. If Flash had a tag team partner that could be brutal and toe to toe with them, then that might be the right choice. It becomes a problem getting a babyface champion tag team that is as big as these guys so over, because then you have no one to beat them…It looks as if the Slim/TGB is done. Slim will now be bringing the chain to the ring as part of his gimmick. Great idea – as the chain means SOMETHING now…A good show, but not anywhere near the show I seen a couple of weeks back in the same building. Flash/Lee/TGB are three of the best workers in this area and it can only help improve the show. Why does this group not draw?? Good booking and some fair to real good wrestling?? I am not sure if it is the advertising or the fact that it is in Rector, AR.