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| April 14, 2007
Last night’s NWA Wrestle Birmingham show in Graysville, Alabama was fun times at the wrestling, an alchemy of the old and the new that was just right for the promotion’s target audience. With a standing room only crowd of 275 totally into everything they were seeing, the heat was extraordinary, the type that can cover up a multitude of sins. That, and the relaxed, feel-good vibe at the Graysville Community Center made it virtually impossible not to have a great time. The main storyline developments revolved around “Mr. Motivation” Jimmy Powell, as the mastermind-by-proxy of evil for Robert Fuller. Powell lost some battles but won the war, as Dennis Condrey emerged as the new with NWA Wrestle Birmingham Television Champion. (1) Anton Leveigh pinned Brandon Barbwire after the Border Destroyer These were two talented, young guys from Missssippi that had worked out a nice match. They went a fast-paced 8-10 minutes with lots of hot moves. It would have fit in well on an NWA Anarchy show. WB fans have seen very little of this style, and they got into the technical quality of the wrestling. The Border Destroyer is a version of Petey Williams’ move. An unexpectedly strong opener. (2) “Maddog” Dan Sawyer beat Jason Phoenix in 4:39 Sawyer is super over as a king-sized version of Buzz. Lots of dog pound barking by the fans. “When the dog is off the leash, he bites. When the dog is in the ring, he fights.” Phoenix is based out of Chattanooga and had a strong run with NAWA in Rome a few years back. Sawyer got off to a fast start. Phoenix snapped Sawyer’s throat off the ropes to take over. Phoenix hit rolling neck snap and made a nonchalant cover for two. The crowd started woofing. Sawyer caused Phoenix to miss on a top rope elbow. Sawyer hit a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Phoenix tried a sunset flip and Sawyer sat down to get the 1-2-3. It was the right length. Sawyer is too heavy to work much longer without completely gassing out. (3) Bambi pinned the NWA Wrestle Birmingham Junior Champion, Dafffney in a non-title match (11:20) One of the high points of the evening. Bambi does all the little things that the WWE Divas don’t have clue one about. Daffney was very good as well. Bambi likes to work stiff, and Daffney was up to the task. Daffney was pure heel for the first time in WB, since she’s been wrestling men and always has a good percentage of the crowd behind her. Bambi used a snap mare and Daffney bailed out selling a sore butt. Bambi worked the body part with an elevated bodyscissors butt drop straight out of the 70s. Bambi then did a rolling bodyscissors to score a near fall. Daffney went to the outside again, and managed to derail Bambi by snapping her neck off the top rope. Daffney applied a camel clutch. Daffney choked Bambi with her boot and raked her along the top rope. They traded chops, and Bambi’s were wicked stiff to the point Daffney’s chest was blistered and bright red. Daffney used a full nelson and took it to the mat. Bambi fought up from the bottom. Daffney did some awesome facial expressions and blood curdling screams here. Bambi’s comeback built to a flying face plant for a near fall. While Powell came down and distracted referee Roy George, El Mexicano jumped Bambi. But Bambi ducked and Mexicano’s forearm found Daffney chin. Bambi rolled Daffney up for the three count. Daffney was hot at Powell for the screw up. Intermission with LeVeigh, Daffney, Bambi, Armstrong, Jackson, Buchanan, and Sawyer for sure out at the gimmick tables and probably some others. (4) Bill Franklin beat River D’Angelo in 4:56 This started as a special challenge match between Franklin and joke opponent, Mad Jack with WB television host Larry Lloyd in his corner. Ring announcer Cowboy called it Mad Jack’s funeral. Exactly why Jack issued the challenge, I’m still not sure. After a minute of shenanigans, Franklin picked Jack up by the neck and Lloyd threw in the towel. While Jack was being carried out, D’Angelo jumped Franklin to gain a short-lived advantage. Franklin came back with a jackhammer. D’Angelo resorted to a low blow and brought a table in. D’Angelo did a top rope splash through the table with an assist from Franklin. The finish was memorable and that’s all that really mattered. (5) The Bloodline (Michael Rayne & Billy Blade) beat Dog River Boys (“Crybaby” Will Owens & Ricky Roberts with Marcel Pringle) in 13:59 Bloodline would have fit right in at the metal arts convention at Sloss Furnace. As a general rule, gothic freaks aren’t babyface material in the state of Alabama, but with heat-machine Owens, there were no worries. Owens stomped around the ring bellowing “You want some a me? You want some a me?” before tagging out to a surprised Roberts. Bloodline dominated with combo moves early. But while Pringle was occupying the attention of Rayne, Owens knocked him over the top rope with a rabbit lariat. The Boys got heat on Rayne. Roberts used the Walls of Jericho. With both men down, Rayne inches from a tag, and the crowd going nuts, Owens jumped in to drag Rayne back to the heel’s corner. Moments later, Rayne made the hot tag. Dog River Boys fed Blade. A springboard legdrop brought Pringle up on the apron. Owens clubbed Blade. Pringle held Blade for the DRB, but Blade got away and Pringle took the bump. Bloodline pinned Roberts and Owens with stereo roll ups. The crowd popped huge, as they did for every clean finish on the show. Sure enough, Owens shed a bucket of tears in the postmatch. (6) Mike Jackson vs. Ultimate Dragon vs. El Mexicano ended as a no contest (19:18) The heat didn’t hold up as well for this match. The style was similar to the opener and that match had smoother execution. Dragon did mic work insulting the good people of Graysville. The crowd popped some for Mexicano. He may be heel, but he was the only young guy with a major league physique. Mexicano cut a promo in Spanish. That got heat and created the perfect moment for Jackson to enter. Hot start with Mexicano and Dragon doubling up on Jackson, and Jackson mounting a major 1 on 2 comeback. Mexicano took a spectacular backdrop over the top onto Dragon. Mexicano has impressive athletic ability, although his inexperience shows through at times. The body of the match was the typical three-way stuff: two guys working spots and the third guy selling and breaking up any pin attempts. It went on a long time and that’s where the heat faded. Jackson did a plancha. It was safe, but the guy is closer to 60 than 50. Jackson got a pop with a satellite hiptoss. Jackson did a ridiculous double knuckle lock ropes walk and jumped off the top causing the heels to collide. They did a three-way superplex/electric chair spot that was scarily out of synch. Mexicano’s body got twisted in a sicker manner, but he was OK, at least for the time being. The heels got back to double teaming Jackson. They flew from opposite corners and Jackson got both boots up. Jackson pulled the straps down. Mexicano cut off the rally with a wheelbarrow face plant. Mexicano ran up the ropes and hit a plancha. There was nothing obviously wrong with the spot, but Mexicano suffered a debilitating ankle injury on the landing, and they were forced to go to the finish. Jackson caught Dragon with a neckbreaker and was attacked by Owens and Powell. Jackson cleared the ring, but the ref called for the bell and ruled it a no contest. The crowd got hot about Jackson getting robbed. Jackson promised to take the WB Junior Title from Daffney at Zamora Shrine Temple on 7/6. Mexicano was carried out and transported to the hospital with a possible broken ankle. Intermission featuring in-ring Polaroids with Mike Jackson. (7) Dennis Condrey (with Jimmy Powell) beat Brad Armstrong to win the NWA Wrestle Birmingham Television Champion (11:26) The title was up for grabs after they wrestled toa no contest on the last Zamora Temple show. Lots of stalling by Condrey, which just served to get the crowd more fired up. They did the same deal as they did at Zamora, where Condrey convinces Roy George that Armstrong is pulling hair. Condrey tries to use hair, only to end up flat on his back after a hair pull by George. They criss-crossed running the ropes and Armstrong jumped out and chased Powell. That gave Powell palpitations. Condrey did a dropdown and Powell tripped up Armstong, simple but beautifully timed by all three. Powell did a lot of the dirty work, but acted like Mr. Innocent anytime George was looking. Armstrong came back with big right hands that had Condrey on rubbery legs. Condrey finally went down, which brought Powell up onto the apron. Armstong cut Powell off, but his ever-present loaded briefcase made its way into the ring. Condrey konked Armstrong with it for the 1-2-3. Powell was literally jumping for joy after the match. (8) McNasty vs. Bull Buchanan for the NWA Wrestle Birmingham Heavyweight Title ended in a no contest at 9:07 This match way exceeded my expectations. They saved the crazed, edgy stuff for the main event, so it came across as something special. I’ve never thought of McNasty as an entertaining talker, but he was on this night. The good-natured way he got into it with the ringsiders had the people laughing bigtime. He cautioned the crusty rascal that had been tormenting the heels all night about popping a blood vessel. I think it was that same guy from the TNA show at Zamora. They did a brute force standoff, which left no mistake that these were two big, powerful dudes. McNasty bailed out after taking a monster backdrop. McNasty raked the eyes and used taped fists to the gut. But there was nobody home for his corner splash, and McNasty went tumbling over the top. They battled on the outside. Somebody got tossed into a metal gate. McNasty grabbed a walking stick from a guy on the first row and used it on Buchanan. Back inside the ring, McNasty choked Buchanan with his wrist tape. Buchanan started landing to where the ropes were the only thing holding McNasty up. Buchanan made the full-fledged comeback, and the action once again spilled to the outside. They battled up the stairs into the upper level, which is nothing more than a fenced catwalk. Buchanan ground McNasty’s face into the fence. They each teased throwing the other guy over the fence, a potentially life ending drop onto the concrete below. George saw no other option than to call for the bell. But that didn’t stop the violence. A host of wrestler ran up the stair to break it up. A massive pull apart ensued. George got popped by Buchanan. They battled their way back into the ring before the other wrestlers could get them separated. The fans chanted “let them fight.” McNasty said anytime, anywhere and left. Buchanan said let’s go right now. They went at it again and got another chant of “Let them fight.” McNasty said the fans would have to pay for another ticket if they wanted to see more. Buchanan promised bloodshed and busted eyeballs for the rematch. Television announcer Michael St. John said promoter Linda Marx had made a match involving chains and bullropes for the next show in Graysville. NOTES: Adrian Street cancelled due to the horrible driving condition between his home in Florida and the Birmingham area…Wrestle Birmingham airs Saturdays at 11:30 pm on WTTO 21 and Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9:30 pm on Charter Mainstreet 18 and 24…Stay tuned to the WB website for the announcement of the return date for Graysville…The 7/6 show at Zamora Temple has every indication of being WB’s biggest event of the year. Details to follow. |
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