Title action is the name of the game, and no one knows more about the burden of defending the Ten Pounds of Gold like Thom Latimer. He has successfully vanquished all worthy contenders, but now he will face Carson Drake in the main event. Drake has held the NWA Television title and defended it seven times so that he can cash in an opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship.
Will this be the night Drake adds Hard Times to Latimer with a title loss in the National Wrestling Alliance?
We find out later as Latimer is in downtown Dothan. He feels blessed and remarks on how this is where peanuts solidified the town’s niche in Americana. Speaking of a bunch of nuts, he talks about The Slimeballz and Drake. He understands they’re a bunch of upstarts, but Latimer’s seen those individuals like him before. He promises that after tonight, he will walk in and walk out with the gold.
We come to you from the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, AL for more Hard Times. Joe Galli, Billy Corgan, and Danny Dealz have the call. Your First Match of the Night is for the…
NWA World Tag Team Championship: Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch(c) vs. The Slimeballz (Sage Chantz and Tommy Rant)
This will be a ladder match for the tag titles, and we learn that this will be Knox’s first ladder match. As for The Slimeballz, this might very well be their last match if they aren’t careful.
The refs hoist the belts up top and ring the bell, and right away, The Slimeballz go outside for plunder. When they get back in the ring, Knox and Murdoch come out swinging with chairs and trash can lids. They are making mincemeat of The Slimeballz, and at one point Knox splashes on both Chantz and Rant. Chantz gets a drop toehold to Knox on a chair, and dropkicks a ladder at Murdoch on the inside. Now they give the receipt to Knox and Murdoch, and they hit a wheelbarrow splash on Murdoch. There are a lot of double-team moves by both parties, and all sorts of weaponry are utilized. Murdoch manages to counter and backdrop Chantz to a ladder as well as Rant. He gets a ladder on his head and shoulders and spins around with the ladder like a Funker. Not only does he clock CHantz and Rant, but he accidentally hits Knox in the friendly fire.
Murdoch climbs the ladder, but Rant uses Chantz and chucks him like a spear to knock him off. Now, The Slimeballz climb, but Knox tips it over, and Rant is draped over the ropes. Murdoch cracks him in the jewels with a kendo stick. They set up Chantz in the corner and Murdoch tees up and manages to get the bogey and the poor Slimeball member is two under-par in his nether regions. There is no mercy from either group, and as Chantz tries to pull Knox from the ladder, he gives a Russian side Legsweep as they plummet to the center of the ring. He dumps Murdoch outside, but then Chantz gets a high/low from him and Knox on the apron edge. Rant punts and gives a DDT to Knox. He climbs to grab the belts, but Murdoch stops his ascent and slams him hard to the mat. Knox tells Murdoch to get the tables (and I seriously hope there is no gimmick infringement here, lest we get a visit from brothers south of Dudleyville). They set up in the center of the ring, powerbomb Rant through the table, and then set a ladder under him where Murdoch climbs and grabs the belts to end the match.
Your Winners, And Still NWA World Tag Team Champions: Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch
Carson Drake is backstage before his match and offers a rebuttal to Thom Latimer. I think ol’CBD deserves to be heard, so here’s what he had to say:
“Thom, I am the only man in professional wrestling that is as good as they say they are.
You know what? I was as good as I say I am when I won the NWA World Television title. I was as good as I say I am when I defended it well over seven times to get the Lucky Seven rule. I was as good as I say I am when I varsitied in lacrosse; when I varsitied in water polo. I was as good as I say I am when I just bought my fifth house at the age of 25, two weeks ago.
And Latimer, I will show you that I am as good as I say I am when I win the NWA World Heavyweight title, and I show you and Everybody…you can’t beat me.”
He does know how to make himself punchable, doesn’t he? That’s what makes him a good heel…or a budding politician who oozes smarm.
But enough about “senator” Mike Lee…
Right now, let’s head back to the Center as it is time for the Main Event, and it is for the…
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Thom Latimer(c) vs. Carson Drake
As both men enter the squared circle, Kyle Davis brings it to the Dothan faithful with the boxing-style intros, and they are more than happy to proclaim to Drake, “You suck!*Clap Clap* You Suck!*Clap Clap*”
The bell rings, and they lock up. Latimer shoves him to the corner and eggs him on. They go for another collar and elbow, and Drake pushes Latimer into the corner. They get into a shoving match and Drake is down on his butt. He talks smack to the champ, and then Latimer nails a headlock takedown, then shoulder tackles Drake out of the ring. He walks out and tries to compose himself, and Drake slowly makes his way in. He swings, but Latimer gets the better of him with a boot and an atomic drop. Drake begs off until he chops Latimer in the throat. He is briefly in control until he receives a back body drop. Latimer shoots him to the ropes, and Drake puts on the brakes and gives a spinning neckbreaker for a two count.
Latimer comes back with some heavy hands. He hits the ropes, and Drake locks in a sleeper. Latimer powers through and gives a jawbreaker, followed by an inverted atomic drop and then a lariat. He whips him to the corner and then lands his signature Confusion Bay spinning back drop. Latimer poses for the fans in the corner. As he hops down from the turnbuckle, his knee gives him some pain, like he tweaked something. But that still allows him to hit a DDT on Drake for a count of two. Now Drake uses his knee to his advantage as he kicks it and chop blocks him behind the knee. Latimer is in pain as Drake becomes more vicious, targeting the bad joint, and he wraps it around the ring post, and then positions his leg in between the steel steps, and he gives it a boot, further injuring The King of All Evil. Now Drake attempts an Indian Deathlock variation, and Latimer tries to block it. He finally gets the submission cinched in, and as Latimer fights through, Drake grabs the ropes for added leverage. The ref sees what he’s doing and forcibly removes his hands from the ropes. The submission is released from Latimer, but the damage is done. Drake smells blood and hits a spinebuster but only gets a two count. He attempts a piledriver and Latimer backdrops him, then spins around and hits an Ace Crusher and a spear, but gets a two count for his trouble. Limping, Latimer tries to set up for a finish, but Drake boots him and nails an axe kick and a spinning neckbreaker, but he cannot put him away. Drake connects with a back elbow to Latimer and pulls him down to the mat by the hair. Latimer pops up and returns the receipt. He delivers his Brighter Side of Suffering pop-up powerbomb as the ref counts for the one, two, and three.
Your Winner via Pinfall, And Still NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Thom Latimer
As Latimer holds the belt high while The Slimeballz come out to attend to Drake, the arena goes black. Then we see Rhino in the ring and he gores Rant, Chantz, and then Drake. He points to Latimer and gestures he wants the ten pounds of gold as the show ends.
Top Photo: Carson Drake (left) and Thom Latimer get ready to fight for the Ten Pounds of Gold at the NWA HARD TIMES Signature Event. Courtesy of the NWA via “X”
