HWA Tuesday Night Showcase Results 3-19-02
Submitted by Chris Koontz on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 at 5:27 PM EST



HWA Tuesday Night Showcase
Tuesday, March 19, 2002
The HWA Arena at Les Thatcher's Main Event Pro Wrestling Camp & Gym
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.hwaonline.com


It was a cold, wet line waiting for the doors to open tonight. The line is a little short, but the weather does that. The conversations are dominated by talk of WrestleMania 18 and the following night's RAW. I won't include my thoughts here, but you can e-mail me, or IM me at LeapStrike on AOL Instant Messenger. I would be glad to share, just let me know who you are first. Anyway, there is also some talk about the current goings on in the HWA. The fans seems a little disconcerted that two of the three titles have been recently held by WWF players and not HWA regulars. They are also upset at the apparent high turnover rate of those same titles recently. I am, of course, referring to the HWA Tag Team and Heavyweight Championships. For those that don't know, last week at this show, Raven and Hugh Morris won the HWA Tag Team straps from Lance Cade and Hugh Morris, only to lose them to the same team at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds show the following Friday night. Also, at that MCF Show, OVW alumni Rico Constantino defeated EZ Money for the HWA Heavyweight belt, only to lose it the following Sunday at the TV tapings to WWF star Steven Richards. Most of the regular fans are very upset over TWO non-HWA regulars holding the belt, both for an short period (STEVEN announced that he is leaving on the 27th of this month, and I doubt he'll take the belt with him). I am not as concerned with the WWFers holding the belts as I am with the lack of reasoning behind them holding the titles. Neither was established as a contender in anyway, and the belt has become a bauble, a trinket to fight over. EZ Money worked his ass off for that belt, as did race Steele. I am not saying that Rico and Richards don't deserve the belt, just that there was never an explanation as to why they got their shots, or why they got the belts. At least I do understand the Rico v. Richards bit. Last Tuesday Rico and Richards fought, with Rico out on top. Richards then tired to interfere in the HW Title match the following Friday. I would assume that Richards laid out the challenge and Rico put the belt on the line. I just don't know why Rico got a shot. Whatever happened to Tony B.'s shot? Like I said, this is more fan reflection than mine, so the fans are really unhappy with this turn of events. This does not bode well. Anyway, enough commentary, on with the recap.

Hoss comes to the ring, and relates that tomorrow night (tonight as of this typing, Wednesday, March 20) the HWA returns to Oscar's Nightclub on the river. This is only for those of us in the age of majority (18+) so leave the kids with the sitter. He also adds that they have HWA TV tapes all the way from November, through February on sale tonight. You can also order those tapes through the website, or by calling the HWA. After Hoss finishes, in a stroke of genius, he begins to explain why Steven Richards has the HW Strap tonight, since the TV show that he won it on won't air until this upcoming Saturday (March 23). A fan sitting near me asked why they do this, referring to why they don't keep things in continuity. Why would Richards appear with the belt if no one knows that he won it? Why not just have Rico as the official champ until after the show airs, then they wouldn't need to explain themselves. Same with the whole Stryker incident. Anyway, the fans, on the whole, are not very happy hearing that Richards is the new champ, and I don't think it's just because he's a heel. Oh well, on with the show!


FIRST MATCH
Derek Neikirk of A-Squad (with Brock Guffman) v. Human Time Bomb

Is it me or did HTB get new music and I missed it? I probably missed it. Anyway, the fans really aren't into either of these competitors tonight, but I would wager that the weather has hardened them a little bit. Derek is getting heat, as he should, but so is HTB. Derek dominates the match at the start, using his size advantage to it's fullest. But Derek underestimates the resiliency of HTB, and the human explosive drives Derek out of the ring. Once Derek gets back in the ring, HTB hits a Crucifix Roll Up for a two count, followed quickly by a Back Slide for another two count. It takes one of Derek's Belly-to-Belly Suplexes to take the fuse out of HTB. Derek covers for a two count, then covers again, seemingly dissatisfied with the referee's ability to count to three. In take the time to notice how dead the crowd is. They converse among themselves and pay little attention to the action in the ring. Derek is back on top, now, and he has his way with HTB all over the ring. After a failed Camel Clutch Submission, Derek sets HTB in the Tree of Woe position. He then "tags" all the turnbuckles, as if rounding the bases (he is a former Baseball Player with the Arizona Diamondbacks), then, at the urging of Guffman, "slides" into home. To bad no one was "home" for Derek as he racked himself on the ring post. After that debacle, HTB hits Derek with a one man Pancake for two, then evades Derek's charge in the corner, turning into a Sunset Flip roll up for the three count. Derek is not at all happy with this outcome, and the fans just don't seem to care.
WINNER: HUMAN TIME BOMB via Pin Fall


SECOND MATCH
Chet Jablonski of A-Squad (with Brock Guffman) v. HWA Rookie of the Year Crypt

Before the match begins, Guffman takes the mic and says that he is honored to be in the ring with the HWA's "Rookie of the Year". He adds that it wasn't like there was any competition for the slot. Of course this is ironic to those of us who voted, knowing that the A-Squad's own Dean Jablonski was also in the running. When challenged with this, Guffman retorts that they pulled Dean's name out at the last minute. Great stuff from Guffman. Chet easily takes the reigns of this match from the smaller Crypt, and basically uses him for a punching bag. Chet underestimates his opponent, though, and as he spends some time taunting the crowd, Crypt relieves Chet of his need to stand with a Double Leg take Down from behind. Chet gets to his feet quickly and attempts to put an end to Crypt with a Float over Suplex, but Crypt slips out, and drops Chet with a Neck Breaker for the two count cover. Flustered, Chet now attempts a Power Bomb, but the wry Crypt reverses that into a Hurricanrana for another two count pin attempt. It takes a POWERFUL Clothesline from Chet to bring Crypt hijinks to an end. I notice that the crowd is very non-reactive during this match, with the exception of some die hard Crypt fans in the front row. I have to admit, he takes a beating better than most men I know. Chet slows down a bit now, trying to slap a submission hold (which I could not see clearly) on Crypt, trying to bring an end to this match. Crypt isn't done, yet, and he reverses the hold into a Sleeper Drop for yet another near fall. Undaunted, Chet follows Crypt attempt with a Fisherman's Belly-to-Belly...to the OUTSIDE! This is an odd move for the HWA wrestlers, since they normally toss their opponents out of the ring, not Suplex them. While Crypt is down on the outside, Brock gets in his cheap shots before letting Crypt crawl back into the ring. Once there, he falls as easy prey to the devastating Float over Suplex of Chet's, laying still for just a two count. I notice that many fans are just disinterested in this match. This week, I would say that the long, cold, wet wait outside has soured some spirits. The fans seem much more hostile than usual. Oh well, I think this is a solid match. Chet bullies Crypt around the ring with some resounding chops, making the whole crowd wince. Crypt attempts a comeback in the form of a Drop Kick, which Chet tossed off into a Power Bomb type move. The two exchange roll ups and subsequent two counts, culminating with Crypt hitting Chet with a Standing Side Kick, putting both men down until at least a seven count. In the end, both men reverse the other's finisher, with Chet eventually getting the upper hand and Slamming Crypt with a...get this...Sit Out Crucifix Power Bomb (think Razor's Edge, but ending in the sit down position). We need to name this move. Perhaps the Line Buster. Anyone who played football knows of the Linebuster Machine...a sort of a squat machine on an upward incline. The position you take up is similar to what Chet does to get the other guy on his shoulders. Let me know what you think. As for the match, solid work from both guys. The crowd reaction is really not indicative of how well they worked. The crowd was almost hostile, even to Chet.
WINNER: CHET "The JET" JABLONSKI of A-SQUAD via Pin Fall


THIRD MATCH
Johnny the Bull v. "Dark Meat" Gotti

Gotti has been inexplicably MIA from the HWA roster for a little while now. His reappearance, unexplained and unannounced is very cold, and the crowd gives him an incredible amount of heat (considering his last role was as a heel). I don't know why they placed him in a match with Johnny, other than to embarrass him about the shape he is in. Johnny gets heat too, but he has a solid fan club on the far side of the arena. If I had to pick a face, it would be Johnny, but since I know that isn't true, I will not propagate that opinion. Anyway, Gotti tries to get over on Johnny quickly with a flurry of offense before the two trade holds. I don't think I need to say that Johnny has the obvious physical advantage, here, but Gotti is a ring veteran, and had proven himself time and again in the squared circle. Gotti makes his mistake when he attempts to suplex the larger man, which allows Johnny to reverse it into a drop onto the top rope. Johnny powers Gotti all over the ring, pummeling him until Gotti drops him with an insiguri kick. Gotti tries to come back, but Johnny is all over him, repeatedly using the ropes to his advantage against Gotti. Johnny drops Gotti with a hard right hand, then slams him into the mat with an Inverted Sidewalk Slam for a two count cover. Without missing a beat, Johnny just continues the beating, then coolly applies a Sleeper Hold, hoping to put the worn out Gotti down for the count. After a the ref drops the arm twice, Gotti fights back, and gets out of the hold with a Back Drop, putting both men on the mat until the ref says EIGHT. Gotti is back now, and he slams Johnny with punches, leading to a Neck breaker for the two count. Gotti goes up top, but when he comes down in the Cross body, Johnny catches him and applies a wicked looking slam, which I could not even begin to describe accurately, for the cover and the pin. If anyone knows what this is called, please let me know. AS a match, this was a little lighter than the last match, but there still wasn't a crowd to speak of. Gotti looked very worn out after the match. Perhaps his time off has made him a little rusty.
WINNER: JOHNNY the BULL via Pin Fall


FOURTH MATCH
Dean Baldwin v. Matt Dillinger

Dillinger actually gets a decent response from the crowd, about 50/50 heat/pop. Dillinger is definitely an up and comer in my eyes, and apparently in many other eyes as well. Dean gets a great response from the crowd. He has to be one of the most ENTERTAINING wrestler that I have seen in a long time. He has some great interaction with the crowd, the ref, and even his opponents, as seen last week with Crypt and the autograph. Dean takes the mic, and has the ref held his drink. AS Dean talks, Dillinger takes the glass and drink the contents, a frightening looking blue liquid of indefinable origin. The look of total disgust on his face is great, and Dean blows a fuse when he sees what Dillinger has done. He slaps Dillinger for "drinking a Baldwin's drink," but this only enrages the "southern Style" wrestler. As he moves to assault Baldwin, Dean begs not to be hit in the face. Dillinger obliges with a solid shot to the midsection, followed by some solidly strong offense. Dean is no rookie, though, and he uses the ropes in an Arm Breaker to bring an end to the assault by Dillinger. As he uses the ropes to choke, the ref gets to five and pulls Dean off. dean retorts by saying that, "Baldwin's get six!" Baldwin follows up by covering, with his feet on the ropes, until the ref sees the infraction. Dean doesn't seem to understand that the rules apply to everyone...including Baldwin's. Dillinger tries to fight back, But Dean blocks the offense and goes back to the ropes. At one point, he decides to go "old School" by climbing to the top rope and rope walking like the Undertaker of old. Too bad for him that Dillinger recovers enough to pull free and knock him from his precarious position. needless to say, this ends bad for Dean, whose "below deck" area meats up with the rope for a little party. Dillinger takes advantage and goes right to the punches, trying to keep Dean from getting back on top. After a Side Russian Leg Sweep for a two count, Dillinger goes to the top rope. Dean sees this, and pushes the ref into the ropes, knocking Dillinger down, setting up a Mini Superplex and a submission, which I again could not see clearly. That sucks because Dillinger taps out to whatever it was, and I an left wondering. Again, Stryker comes to the ring, but this time after Dean gets the win. Stryker chases Baldwin all around the ring, only to be slammed with a lariat from Dillinger (???!!!???). Dean and Dillinger then beat on Stryker a bit in the ring before leaving. What an odd ending to a very good match.
WINNER: DEAN BALDWIN via Submission


FIFTH MATCH HWA Cruiserweight Title Match
HWA Cruiserweight Champion Chad Collyer (with Hellena Heavenly) v. Kimo of the Island Boys

This is too funny. For those unfamiliar with the Island Boys, they are a Samoan tag team, and everyone knows that they grow them big in Samoa. Kimo is the larger of the two, both in height and size, tipping the scales, easily, at about 375 or 400. The Cruiserweight Division ends at 220 for the HWA, and Collyer knows it. He throws a royal fit when he sees who his opponent is, and he calls HWA Commissioner Patrick Black to the ring. Pat obliges, carrying the official scale over his shoulders, ala Crash Holly. In the ring, Kimo steps on the scales, to weigh officially at 221 pounds. WOW! I knew he had dropped some weight, but who knew? Collyer beams in triumph, but a determined Kimo removes his top shirt, which I might add, was very wet. After steeping on the scales for a second time, Kimo officially weighed in at a Cruiserweight qualifying 219 3/4 pounds. We have a match now, and I am interested to see how Collyer deals with this. As for the crowd, the intermission seems to have done them good, because they are incredibly responsive for this pair. AS the match begins, Collyer tries to drop Kimo to the mat with a Drop Toe Hold, which was actually pretty funny to watch. The big man no sold it to hell and back before attacking Collyer. Undaunted, the champion actually gets Kimo off his feet with a SLOW Single Leg Take Down. He knows that on the mat, he is far better, and he easily takes control of this match, working Kimo's left leg hard. Don't get me wrong. Kimo gets in plenty of offense in the form of massive chops and slams. He looks to have completely come back after he eats two lariats from Collyer, before delivering his own massive Clothesline. Then, he jumps up to the second rope, telling the crowd he told us it was coming. At first we didn't know what he meant, but when he COMPLETED an ASAI MOON SAULT off that second rope, the crowd went nuts (after about two seconds of stunned silence). Even though Kimo about took off his own head, the very fact that a 219 3/4 lb man of his size could even do a moon sault, let alone an Asai Moon Sault is amazing. Too bad Collyer had time to recover and get out of the way. The Moon Sault takes a lot out of Kimo, and Collyer takes advantage. He goes right back to the left leg, trying to keep Kimo off of his feet this time. Hellena even gets her cheap shots in while Kimo is draped over the ropes. Collyer applies all sorts of leg holds, including the famed Figure Four, which Kimo reverses. He even attempt to apply the Texas Clover Leaf submission to the massive legs of Kimo, but he can't lock it in. After he gives up the hold, he climbs to the top rope, but misses the ensuing Elbow Drop. After Kimo recovers, he drops his meaty thigh on Collyer's chest with the Kimo Therapy Rotating Leg Drop. He covers, but Hellena is on the apron now. Kimo sees her, gets up, and KISSES her full on the lips, allowing Chad to get a chair and slam Kimo with it, following the hit up with a Roll Up for the pin. Wow, Hellena will do anything to get her man the win. Overall, this was an extremely entertaining match, and I am glad Collyer kept the strap.
WINNER: CHAD COLLYER via Pin Fall


SIXTH MATCH Non Title Match
HWA Tag Team Champions "Who's Your Daddy?" Steve Bradley and "The 21 Year Old Phenom" Lance Cade v. "Ice Cream Man" Tony B. and "Surfer" Cody Hawk

Well, it's official. The fans still hate Lance Cade. I, personally, think he has done very well in his current role, and he and Bradley work well together as a team. I hate to think that Bradley will get called up first, leaving Cade to fend for himself (which I have no doubt he can do). They would ruin a great combination here. There is some good pop for ICM and Cody, and the fans have really awakened here in the second half of the show. Cody and Bradley start the match, with Cody really evading very well. I am not sure how his ribs are (they were taped up the last time he wrestled, and he is wearing a T-Shirt tonight, something he has never done before to my knowledge), but he seems to be moving OK. The two trade holds, but the ref loses control quickly and all the men are in the ring. Cody and ICM clear the ring, causing Lance and Bradley to reevaluate their strategy. When the match gets underway again, ICM comes out on top, slamming Bradley with a Double Underhook Belly-to-Belly. It isn't enough, though, and Bradley gets off the Paternity Test, but only for a two count. Hell tactics prevail against ICM for a while as Cade and Bradley use their heel status to it's fullest advantage. Eventually, ICM escapes their clutches and tags to Cody, who wastes no time establish an offense, and slamming Bradley to the mat with the Riptide. Unfortunately for Cody, though, Cade breaks the cover, and Bradley has a chance to come back. Bradley is back in control after he drops Cody into an Inverted Atomic Drop, setting Lance up for the boot. Lance kills Cody while Bradley and ICM both keep the ref tied up. Bradley and Cade are a great team. Actually, ICM and Cody are a great team too, come to think of it. IN the end, Cody does get the tag to ICM after taking an incredible amount of punishment from Cade and Bradley. ICM is hot in the ring, and he and Cody hit the "Hurrican-Senton" (Cody uses a Hurricanrana on ICM to launch him, Senton style, onto their prone opponent). This was a great match, and my hope is that this gives ICM and Cody a shot at the HWA Tag Team titles, next time. The crowd was very awake during this match, and I hope they stay that way.
WINNERS: "ICE CREAM MAN" TONY B. and "SURFER" CODY HAWK via Pin Fall


SEVENTH MATCH HWA Heavyweight Title Match
HWA Heavyweight Champion Steven Richards of the WWF v. Bennie the Bookie

The crowd really HATES the fact the Richards is champ. One member of the crowd, who will remain nameless, even began an RTC reminiscent whistle, which was annoying beyond measure (Goose you butthead).Richards took it all in stride, though, and in a masterful stroke of heel genius, he used every bit of it to his advantage. When he is able to speak, about five minutes later, he says that he is honored to be in the ring with a ring veteran like Bennie. This is straight from the fans: How in the blue hell did Bennie get a title shot? Ok, that being said, Richards attacks Bookie before the bell, and dominates this match up early. The two trade roll ups, but Richards is coolly in charge here. He even rips open Bookie's shirt (much to the chagrin of most of the crowd) and delivers some massive chops. Now we know why many fans call him Bennie the Wookie. Ouch! Richards beats Bookie like a redheaded step child, and attempts the Stevie Bomb twice before Bennie manages to reverse it. The whistle is still going and Richards goes nuts over it. So am I come to think of it. The fans begin to comment that they want to take up a collection to buy Bennie new pants too. His keep falling down, and the crowd really doesn't want to see his underwear. Richards goes to the apron, and tells the fans sitting behind him to move. It see,s he wants to Suplex Bennie to the outside, but Bennie reverses the Suplex (luckily for him).Bennie fights back hard, but he misses a critical elbow in the corner, allowing Richards to get the roll up, with help from the ropes, for the pin. After the bell, Richards kills Bookie with his version of the Super Kick, drawing a vengeful Race Steele out from the back. Race is all over Richards, slamming him to the canvas with the Steele Mill. It seems Race is back in the hunt and recovered from his injury. From the fans point of view, this was a pitiful excuse of a Title Match.
WINNER: STEVEN RICHARDS via Pin Fall


MAIN EVENT
Jamie "By God " Knoble, the Redneck Messiah and Shawn Stasiak of the WWF v. Shannon Moore and Hugh Morris of the WWF

The fans seem eager for this match, as a good portion of them love to see Knoble and Moore work. Knoble and Moore actually start the match, but Knoble says that since he's already whipped Moore, that he wants a piece of Hugh. High happily obliges and he easily dominates Knoble, being about twice his size. He no sells a couple of Jamie's chops (drawing some ire from Knoble's fans) before slamming Jamie with his own chops. Hugh tags to Shannon and Shannon surprises Stasiak with a Flying Head Scissors Take Down, taking the larger man off of his feet. Shannon begins the Triple Leg Drop on Knoble, hitting two of them, then tags to Hugh who hits the third. Knoble tags and Stasiak offers Hugh the Test of Strength. This was interesting as every time that Hugh would start winning, Knoble would run into the ring, under Staysiak's legs, and hit Hugh, causing him to falter. This happens twice,but on the third attempt, Hugh catches on and he kicks Knoble, who rears back, hitting Stasiak in the groin, allowing Hugh to break free, and he and Shannon clear the ring. Stasiak and Knoble look as if they are going to throw the match, much the way Nash and Hall did last week on RAW, but they come back to the ring on the count of EIGHT. Shannon gets isolated by Stasiak and Knoble, who use every heel bit they can to stay on top. Hugh does a great job keeping the refs eyes on him and not on the illegal actions of the other team. Knoble gets in an awesome looking move, which I have to describe as a Fireman's Carry into an Inverted Atomic Drop. It looked awesome, and I haven't seen it before. Stasiak also hits what looks like a tilt-a-whirl style Spine Buster...or something like that. It looked awesome though, and my lack of description doesn't do either move justice (which means you'll just have to come look for yourselves). Hugh makes sure neither move ends on a pin fall, and the match goes on. Shannon isn't done, though, and he evades elbows from both Knoble and Stasiak, and hits the Sleeper Drop on Knoble, allowing him to tag out. Hugh comes in, but when he sets up the Body Avalanche on Stasiak and Knoble, the ref gets in the way, getting smashed himself. Now it gets a little hard to follow. I know that Hugh misses a Moon Sault, but I don't know on who. I also know that Shannon hits the Corkscrew Moon Sault on Knoble, and that the ref can't see the cover. BJ Whitmer comes out, then and hit Shannon with the Cradle Pile Driver. After about 20 seconds, Knoble covers, and the ref recovers to count the pin, but only gets to two before Shannon kicks out. Knoble attempts the Double Shot, but Shannon evades and instead hits the Bottom's Up for the cover and the one-two-three. An Awesome ending to this match, even though it was a little hard to keep track of on paper. The fans were quick to get up, though after the pin, and the place was almost cleared out before the music stopped.
WINNERS: SHANNON MOORE and HUGH MORRIS of the WWF via Pin Fall


This was an odd show, looking at the fans. They were a little harsher than usual, and seemed a little rough on the early matches. I almost didn't want to put out this review, so as not to give you all the wrong impression about the quality of the first matches. Hopefully, when the roster thins and they access to WWF wrestlers lessens, the HWA can go back to developing characters as well as wrestlers.

-Chris "The Crusher" Koontz
http://www.hwaonline.com








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