Respect is big in the National Wrestling Alliance, and the fans respect Da Pope and everything he has done for the promotion and its up-and-coming talent. Big Strong Mims is one such example, but now that he’s the NWA National Champion, he thinks Pope needs to know his place. You know Pope doesn’t step away from a fight, and we’ll see that fight in the main event.
We come to you from the PowerrrStation at the WEDU PBS studios in Tampa, FL. Joe Galli and Danny Dealz have the call, and your First Match of the Night is…
Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch vs. The Cloud 9 Cowboys (Ty Awesome and Shawn Carlson, with Eric Smalls)
Smalls picked this team as we learn from Galli, and this is his response to how he was treated by his former running buddies after The Crockett Cup.
Carlson squares up against Knox, and as he jaw jacks Smalls on the outside, he waylays Carlson. A tag to Murdoch, and he unceremoniously tosses him to the corner as Awesome tags in. He fares no better than Carlson and is looking less than Awesome, as Knox and Murdoch double team with a whip into a clothesline, followed by an elbow drop by Knox. Murdoch whips Awesome hard to the steel steps on the outside, and Carlson is unceremoniously given a pop-up powerbomb by Knox. One high/low to Awesome turns him inside out as a message to Smalls never to cross them.
Your Winners via Pinfall: Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch
Smalls is on the mic and says he’s been disrespected for the last time. He tells about his time in the hospital, explaining to his kids why “uncle Trevor and uncle Mike” turned on him. He wants a match with both of them, and Murdoch is willing to oblige. They go to Corgan at commentary, and he tells them he’ll sanction one of them, but not at the same time.
Meanwhile, back at the BitCrush, Mike Mondo asks where the boss is. The management explains they don’t have a boss per se. As Mondo gets hot under the collar, out walks Dr. Viktor, Tiffany Nieves, and The Cashier (who we learn is called “Mel” and the aforementioned “boss” Mondo was channeling his inner Karen about), and they have the most guiltiest looks on their faces I’ve ever seen. Mondo reads them the riot act. When he gets to Nieves, she claps back at Mondo and tells him that under no circumstances is he to speak that way to her or her “special friends,” Mel and Viktor that way ever again.
Also, folks, allow me a moment to deliver an…
(Author’s PSA: If there are two takeaways from this segment, they are:
- Never kink shame
- Never start an argument with ANY Latina woman…especially La Princesa)
Get it. Got it? Mondo is stunned to silence, so…Bueno, I guess.
In the back, Murdoch and Knox discuss who will face Smalls, and neither man wants to face “the chihuahua,” especially since his reach and uppercut can really hurt them in the…err, little tag titles.
While we’ll find out later who will face Smalls, Alex Taylor is joining at commentary to see who will be the…
Number One Contender for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title: Alex Misery (with Father James Mitchell and Lev) vs. Rich Swann
Swann hasn’t lost a step in his entrance or in facing Misery early in the match. Misery offers his hand, but Swann sees behind the tricks and blocks his boot. This is just fast-paced action with Swann making the case for why he should face Taylor. Of course, Misery can answer with his unorthodox offense with a dropkick for a two count. Swann is begging to get Lost until Misery runs into his educated feet with a kick and neckbreaker, and then follows with a step up on his shoulders into a mule kick to his face. Misery rolls out, and Swann follows with a diving senton to the floor. Back in, Swann gives a frog splash and cover for a count of two. He then attempts a 450 splash from the middle ropes, and there’s no pool in the water as Misery gets away in time and attempts a roll up for a near fall.
Misery is no stranger to high flying either as he launches at Swann to the outside, and rolls him back in for a spinning flatliner, but he can’t put him away. He sends him to the ropes, and Swann comes back with a springboard cutter, followed by a short thrust kick, and the Phoenix Splash allows him to punch his ticket for the three count.
Your Winner and the Number One Contender: Rich Swann
Aron Stevens is berating Carson Drake with some tough love. He says he needs to be directed by someone who has been to the top like him, and he needs to stop reaching for “the top…of the bottom of the barrel.” He asks if he wants to do this or do this the right way by letting him take over and give him those opportunities. Smirking, Drake answers with an emphatic no.
Yeah, that’s gonna end in tears or a beatdown. I’ll let ya decide which is which.
Now for an impromptu match between Eric Smalls and…
Well, that’s the $64,000 question as Knox and Murdoch are hemming and hawing as to who will start. Smalls tries to get in their face, and the ref tells him to back up. He goes to the tag champs, and they respond by tossing the ref out of the ring. With that done, Knox nails a running crossbody that levels Smalls. Now this is an unofficial handicap beatdown, and the disrespect continues as they get to their knees and give Smalls a mini high/low to mercifully put this to an end.
Since the bell never rang, this wasn’t an official match. Regardless, Smalls is truly a sore loser after Knox and Murdoch got done.
Over at the Culbreath Isle estate, The Attorney overseeing the wishes of the late Mr. Bleer has all parties gathered, and he wants to hear how the money will be spent. Kenzie Paige wants people to think about the children, and she wants to start a “Kenzie Paige Schoolhouse of Rock.” Hunter is thinking a skateboard or skateboard park, or a yacht…you know, for the kids. Bryan Idol suggests a bigger and better wrestling school, also for the kids. Tyler Francks, overcome with emotion, wants to share the fortune with others less fortunate than him. Aron Stevens steps in and suggests the money should be invested, and he would let it gather while he sits at home, as he puts it, “contemplating mortality” (which, coincidentally, is the name of a racehorse he’d like to buy). Tommy Henry says he smells BS and tells his Kross Fire crew to leave. Hunter and Francks follow suit, but Paige is conflicted and stays behind.
You can smell the drama, right? Either way, this still beats reality TV.
Yeah, I said it!
*ahem*
The NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Thom Latimer, cuts a promo saying he’s found his next opponent for the title, but that will be revealed in due time. He also acknowledges that “Thrillbilly” Silas Mason has been barking at him for a shot at the Ten Pounds of Gold. The Champ advises that Mason needs to head to the back of the line and earn a shot.
Curious what that next opponent will be and how Mason will respond.
Let’s head back to the ring as we have title action, and it is for the…
NWA World Women’s Television Championship: Tiffany Nieves(c) vs. Aleah James
The 6:05 time limit is in effect, and as of this TV taping, Nieves will be defending the belt for the first time since winning it against Big Mama. This is James’ first time in the NWA, as the British wrestler was previously featured on WWE’s NXT UK program.
The bell rings, and La Princesa connects with a boot, wasting no time showing James why she’s the champ. She’s able to outmaneuver Nieves with some fancy gymnastics. James gives the champ a basement dropkick, followed by a whip to the corner and then drilling her with double knees to the back and a bulldog drops Nieves, but she only gets a two count. At 4:37, James attempts a springboard crossbody, but Nieves gets out of the way and proceeds to stomp a mud hole to the upstart and mounts with punches. A short arm clothesline and Nieves covers for a close two count at 3:24. She gives James a facebuster, and Nieves switches her game plan by running out the clock. She gets her in a sleeper, but James slips out with a snapmare. Nieves responds with a knee to the midsection and gets James in a modified abdominal stretch at 2:35. She manages to hip toss La Princesa, and James fires up with 1:58 left on the clock, and gets a crossbody for a near fall. Nieves has Eat DeFeet blocked, but she hangs on to the ref. Once she lets go of the ref’s shirt, she plants James with the move, yet she still can’t put her away. With 1:07 left, James goes for a series of near falls, but Nieves nails her with a spinebuster and locks in the Royal Seat (sharpshooter) submission. James has no choice as she taps out at 0:26.
Your Winner, and Still NWA Women’s Television Champion: Tiffany Nieves
Natalia Markova cuts a promo telling Kenzie Paige she wants to face her for the NWA Women’s Championship, and is tired of dealing with her KFW minions. No more hiding, she says, and Markova is hungry for The Burke.
The NWA Territories president, Joe Cazana, sends a message to Tommy Henry and Hunter from Kross Fire Wrestling that they can’t hold a candle to the Country Gentlemen or his Joe Cazana promotion. AJ emphasizes that once they get their hands on them, they’ll have Henry and anybody else from Kross Fire Dead to Rights.
Now we head to the squared circle, and it’s a matter of pride in the Main Event between..
The Pope vs. Big Strong Mims
This is a non-title match as the Tampa fans give a big pop for Da Pope. Mims, for his part, enters without BLK Jeez at his side. So, this could be anyone’s match.
They come face-to-face, talking smack, and once the bell rings, they lock up. Pope manages to cinch him in a full Nelson, but Mims powers out with little effort. They lock up again, and Mims shoves him to the corner, but Pope uses his momentum against him with a series of hip tosses to ground him to the mat. Mims gets up to a vertical base, but the veteran Pope connects with a thrust kick and follows with a shoulder tackle, and he’s still pimpin’ to the delight of the fans, Daddy. Pope is in the driver’s seat and shows his protégé he hasn’t learned everything from him. However, Mims sends him on a ride with a flapjack, and Pope lands throat-first to the top rope.
Stunned, the National champion hammers his former mentor with blows, and then that leads to a corner splash, followed by a series of short arm clotheslines, and Mims is showing his nasty side. Pope is not out of the fight as he reverses a standing waistlock and nails him with a German suplex, followed by double axe handle blows to his chest. A step up enzugiri later, and he covers for the pin, but Mims kicks out. As Pope picks him up by the hair, Mims gives a chop to the throat. He rushes into the corner, but Pope backs out at the last second. The knee pads come down, and the Elijah Express is delivered as Pope covers for the one, two, and three.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Da Pope
Before he can celebrate his victory, Mondo and Slade come out and beat down Pope. Mondo gets a steel chair, and as Slade holds down Pope in the center of the ring, he blasts his leg with the chair. Pope is writhing in pain as Mondo and Slade look on in satisfaction of their handiwork as the show comes to a close.
