From Jeff Richards: A Changing of the Guard at Weaver Cup Finals GIBSONVILLE (NC) -- CWF Mid-Atlantic chose to bypass the high roa...
From Jeff Richards:
A Changing of the Guard at Weaver Cup Finals
GIBSONVILLE (NC) -- CWF Mid-Atlantic chose to bypass the high road this past Saturday night (8/23/14), selecting two upset winners to compete in a tournament final. It was the the culmination of this summer's on-going Johnny Weaver Memorial Cup tournament. The show started with a pair of semi-fianl match-ups and concluded six bouts later.
Booker Brad Stutts wove the 2014 tournament version throughout June/July/August and told a story of one young man's vision to stay the course. Brad Attitude, a former WWE developmental talent, was the "chosen one" this season to represent the Weaver legacy. Ex-World Class tv announcer Bill Mercer from near-by Durham, NC was brought in to represent wrestling's legends at the newest Sporatorium incarnation.
Attendance (less than 80 paid at bell time) was down from this past December's sold out "Battlecade" spectacular. The A/C was on, but with so many bodies in and out of the ring there was no way to tell. The CWF Mid-Atlantic Sportatorium is one of the easiest facilties to travel to and get back home from. However, at night's end, every single fan needed a shower just like the wrestlers who were sweating profusely too.
First semi-final of the Weaver Cup: Attitude pinned "An Army of One" Marcellus King in 8:40. Joey Hogan refereed. There was a 20 minute time limit for the semi-finals. Attitude advanced past Chet Sterling and current CWF Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Roy Wilkins to get here. King had a much easier time: Court Montgomery and Jordan Flyght. The grapplers took turns taking each other down and keeping score. King went to work on Attitude's taped-up left hand. Attitude was accompanied to ringside by valet (wife?) Amy Love but not by former tag partner Brad Rainz (remember "The Brads"?). A diamond cutter was a nice cut off maneuver and scored a two count for Attitude. However, Attitude's springboard senton missed its mark and connected with King's knees. Ultimately, it was a crucifix pin by Attitude that catapulted "Bad" Brad to the finals. Rating: 1 1/4 stars
Seond semi-final of the Weaver Cup: "Dangerous E" Corey Edsel cheated to win over former CWF Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Arik Royal in 4:42. Referee Redd Jones officiated. Having lost 312 pounds, Edsel is half the man he used to be. He was accompanied to the ring by "Rage & The Machine" (of whom we saw too much of on this evening). Edsel now has the flabbiest underarms of anyone since my 93-year-old grandmother passed away. He defeated Donnie Dollar$ and CWF Rising Generation League Champion Charlie Weston to meet Royal. Those hoping to see Royal back on top had witnessed his earlier beatings of "Assassin" Ray Kandrack and Trevor Lee. An early spinebuster by Royal aroused fans' hopes, but it was a two count. He received another two counts for a spin heel kick. Edsel was about to step on one of his own shoelaces. Royal has dropped poundage too and was about to deliver a crunching football tackle, but Edsel smartly rolled out. The former champion's plancha almost took out Edsel along with Mercer & his cane. Back in the ring but distracted by the raging entourage, Royal succumbed to a nut shot, and Edsel stole an unpopular decision. Rating: 1 star
A videotron presentation highlighted the career of Mercer, who was introduced by Stutts. From the John F. Kennedy assassination to the Cotton Bowl, Stutts commented that Mercer had seen it all over his nearly 60 year career in broadcasting. William Cross presented an award to Mercer, an innovator in the television production of pro wrestling, for his lifetime achievements.
(3) Dollar$ & PWI International Ultra-J Crown Champion Lance Lude outlasted Kandrack & "Goon Squad"'s Walter Eaton (w/ Coach Gemini & Chappy) in 9:00 flat. Dollar$' rolling koppo kick to Kandrack (for a one count) may have been taught to him once upon a time by Gemini. The famous Front Row Section D fan John Hitchcock unmercifully heckled Lude, referring to him as "Midget" throught out the match. Objecting to something, "Coach" Gemini threw his yellow flag, and referee Hogan threw it right back at him. Eaton lit Lude up with sweet-sounding chops. Lude had to kick out after a splash because Dollar$ was still in no condition to make the save. Eaton got his knees up too when Lude called for a back senton. However, it was Lude's "El Christo" which submitted Eaton. Afterward, Eaton got his heat back, beating up Montgomery (in street clothes) and leaving him lying with a reverse DVD. Rating: 3/4 of a star
(4) CWF Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions The Killbillies (Aric Andrews & Evan Banks) downed Rage & The Machine (Michael McAllister & Mecha Mercenary). The Killbillies (w/Bobby O'Neill) are a popular duo and had vowed to break up if they did not capture the belts in 2014. This match was contested under elimination-style rules. Rage is accompanied by an unnamed (seriously) masked woman who carries a chain with her. She reminded me of an early Tasmaniac. Mercenary delivered a superBOY punch to Andrews and tagged out. Andrews was fortunate to escape a perfectplex that McAllister attempted. McAllister soon was eliminated in 4:17 after a stunner was converted into a side Russian legsweep by Andrews. It was Mercenary securing the next pinfall in just 1:32 by executing a "Black Hole Slam" on the previously victorious Andrews. So, the two-on-one advantage was over, and either Banks or Mecha were coming out of this with the belts. When Mercenary missed an elbowdrop, the charismatic Banks took over. Referee Jones messed up, counting three on a gore from Banks to the massive Mercenary. He quickly corrected himself, and the next time Banks gored Mecha, Mercenary kicked out in plenty of time. It was on Banks' third spear attempt that Mercenary left his feet and mid-air splashed Evan for a two count. Soon thereafter, Banks retained the belts in 4:47 for the Killbillies with a schoolMAN on Merc. No one except the company's champion should be pinning this 400 lb monster. And he should not be talking, as Mercenary was yelling at fans sitting ringside. Rating:1 1/2 stars
(5) "Lost Cause" Nick Richards & Jason Miller excelled in a Texas Tornado contest against Chris "Sho Smoove" Lea & Aaron Biggs in 9:19. Hogan refereed. A pre-match promo by Richards set up Lea's enraged attack at the bell. After a Dragon Screw leg whip, Lea rocked Richards with a reverse fireman's carry and bridged for a two count. Biggs finally entered the ring after brawling with Miller for quite a while. Lea held Richards in a surfboard, so Biggs could dropkick his adversary in the chest. The heels retaliated with a double gourdbuster on Lea, who rolled outside. Biggs was next to feel Miller's & Richard's wrath. A double shoulderblock took the former security staff member off his feet for two counts. Half of this audience clearly did not understand (or hear) the Texas Tornado rules/announcement. The villainous pair tried to suplex Biggs, but Aaron turned the tide with a double snap suplex. Lea, back in, came off Biggs' shoulders to double clothesline his team's opponents. Miller dove halfway across the ring to save his partner from certain defeat. Richards finally pinned Biggs to keep this feud alive. Rating: 1 3/4 stars
(6) Flyght, Weston & "The 1st" Ric Converse put away CWF Mid-Atlantic TV Titleholder Manny Garcia, Chase Dakota & Number Man in 5:41. Flyght is Danny Dollar lite. He recently came within a hair's length of winning the TV Championship from "El Jefe," Garcia. In contrast, Garcia is hilarious, screeching and screaming like a girl when in trouble. Dives by Weston & Flyght highlighted this high-flying affair. Garcia reached into his bag of tricks for a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. "Numbers," an original Gemini Kid concoction, accidentally slugged Dakota, who used to side with Converse. Garcia was chased to the back by Flyght, who stole the champion's title belt (heel move). Number Man's number came up when he fell victim to Converse's "Ric-Tor Scale." Post-match, Stutts promised that on 9/13 for Fan's Choice night, Converse could get one more crack at Dakota. He also announced a return TV title opportunity for Flyght against Garcia. Rating: 3/4 of a star
(7) Wilkins fought to a 30 minute time limit draw with "Head Honcho" Lee and retained CWF's biggest prize. Gemini & Chappy supported Wilkins at ringside; fellow "Aftermath" member Sterling was in Lee's corner. Incidentally, Sterling was originally scheduled to be in the previous six-man tag. Lee was greeted with a snappy "new champ" chant. Wilkins, who has been around for the past decade, is silky smooth in his transitions. Champion and challenger paced themselves, as you could tell they were going long in this one. Andrew Everett, out with a torn ACW until February 2015, was doing commentary with Stutts. Lee would not release his waistlock even after Wilkins dragged them both outside. Both wrestlers proceeded to have a "chopfest" until Lee German-suplexed Wilkins on the ring apron. Wilkins surprised Lee with a leg takedown. It is astonishing how incredibly in-shape Lee truly is. Whenever Wilkins would have Lee outside "on the ropes," he would visit his corner for a Chappy towel-off/water break. If Wilkins wanted some water, he unexpectedly got some from Lee and a water bottle. At the 20 minute mark, Lee was stretching Wilkins until Eaton's "Goon Squad" partner back-suplexed his way to a two count. Lee fired back with a roundhouse enzuigiri and bridging German suplex for his own two count. Chappy took a bump from Lee, who was headed up top until Gemini crotched the challenger. Lee's sunset-flip was reversed into a leglock, but Wilkins had to break it when Lee made the ropes. Sterling got his shot in on the champ. At the 25 minute mark, both competitors were outside brawling. One of Wilkins' shodas smacked Sterling, and Lee's compatriot was done for. Lee reversed Wilkins' powerslam into a crossbody on one of those moves you just have to see. A small-package at the two minute mark was not this match's finisher. Wilkins was so gassed he could not stand up, and the title bout's waning moments suffered as a result. The clock went up on CWF Mid-Atlantic's Titantron. Lee's high knee sent Wilkins, who had been dragged up, back down. When the time limit's draw was announced, fans wanted five minutes more. Gemini said to Lee, "You had your chance, and you came up short." Rating: 2 3/4 stars
Finals of the annual Weaver Cup Tournament: Attitude (w/Love) continued his run to the elusive title by winning an 8:28 final over Edsel, who could fit in with the hillbilly Killbillies. To counteract Rage & The Machine, Attitude brought out fellow "Dynasty" stablemate Converse. "Girls Girls Girls" should be held in reserve for someone like Amber O'Neal, not Attitude (although he was wearing pink). Attitude seemed refreshed and performed his normal routine of flying neckbreaker and springboard knee senton. Mecha was the first to cheat here, pulling down hard on Attitude's left arm. No one could believe that the Weaver Cup finals was a comedown match from Lee's heavyweight title challenge. Attitude assaulted Edsel with a superkick but followed up by missing his foe, who was pulled out of the way by McAllister. Lude, Flyght & Montgomery soon arrived to cheer on Attitude. When Converse got his anger up, the action broke down, and all lumberjacks marched out through the lobby. Edsel retrieved a billy club and struck Attitude's already aching shoulder. He then applied an armbar that Ole Anderson would have marked out for. However, Hogan was hanging out in the lobby and missed Royal kicking Edsel to "even" things up. Edsel started to climb the ropes, but Attitude met him in the middle with a Russian leg sweep and won this match. "Handsome" Mitch Connor received the honor of presenting Attitude with a nice trophy. Riled up by some hardcore marks, Attitude broke character while cutting his promo. Rating: 1 star
NOTES: CWF Mid-Atlantic returns to Gibsonville's Sportatorium on Springwood Church Road (not Springwood Avenue) on September 6th....Tickets were $10 for adults, and children under 11 got in for $5....Mike Howell & Jim Hall, representing OMEGA Championship Wrestling, were handing out multi-colored flyers for their next show. Christopher Daniels, Zane Dawson, both Hardys, Scotty Too Hotty, Hurricane, Bravados, etc. were all pictured. Saturday September 20th in Smithfield, NC at Neuse Charter School (a bigger building this time) is the next OMEGA show. Two hundred fans were turned away at the door when OMEGA last ran Smithfield in February 2014....Stutts seems to be doing it all for CWF Mid-Atlantic right now. We are hoping to conduct an interview with him after summer concludes....Congratulations to "Coach" Gemini, who married his sweetheart Amber Gertner recently in the Tampa, FL area....Thanks always goes out to the guys at indyinsiders.com, who provide valuable research material.
