NWA Midwest presents: INTO THE FIRE!! 12-11-05
DARK MATCH: Nigel McGuinness defeats Chris Hamrick *¼
Joey Styles opens the show by congratulating Austin Aries, Samoa Joe, and The Dudley Boys on winning their respective Tournaments and NWA Title Belts. NWA Midwest is proud to have 3 NWA World Champions on their roster.
MATCH#1: The Naturals vs. MNM vs. The Briscoes vs. The Lords of the Ring for the NWA Midwestern Tag Titles
This is a four way elimination match. When one worker is eliminated, their team is eliminated. The match starts out with Johnny Nitro and Nick Dinsmore. The two of them bo back and forth, neither really committing to any moves. This leads to Mark Briscoe blind tagging Dinsmore out of anger. Briscoe goes straight after Nitro, who tags in Chase Stevens because he’s a flipping wuss. Stevens & Briscoe both thankfully grapple in the middle of the ring, and the match is actually underway. There is definitely some interesting moments with people tagging in blind. A spot which is easily becoming overused in the indy circuit today. The first elimination occurs when Chase Stevens tries to use brass knucks on Rob Conway while Andy Douglas holds him. Conway ducks, and Stevens actually hits Douglas. Stevens rolls out of the ring quickly to avoid disqualification, but it leaves Douglas out cold, and Conway makes the cover.
The Naturals are eliminated.
Joey Mercury leaps into the ring and starts clobbering Conway in an attempt to catch Conway off guard. It works, and Conway is quickly the face in peril. Some back and forth work, with Conway feigning the hot tag. After a bit, Conway finally gets away and makes the hot tag. Dinsmore comes in hot as fire, and Mercury gets clobbered, as does Nitro. Melina is pissed, climbs on the apron. The Briscoes are furious, and tell the referee to get her down. The ref attempts to get her down, and Nitro & Mercury double team Dinsmore. Conway is still laying on the ground. The Briscoes start to climb into the ring, and Melina tells the ref to keep them out of the ring. The ref goes to tell them to stay on the apron, and MNM hit’s the Snapshot on Dinsmore. The Briscoes are irate, but the ref notices Mercury covering Dinsmore and turns to make the count. Lords of the Ring are eliminated
It’s now down to the Briscoes and MNM. The two teams duke it out for a bit, with each man getting a turn. The match starts winding down. Jay Briscoe and Johnny Nitro are working in the ring. Melina tries to help out, and the ref tosses her out. As she’s walking back to the locker room, Joel Gertner walks out the entranceway. Melina stares at him, and he grins an evil grin. He walks down to the ring. It looks like The Briscoes are getting the advantage. Jay whips Mercury into the ropes, and Gertner grabs his feet and causes him to fall face first into the mat. The ref didn’t see it, and Gertner walks away quick enough that the ref didn’t put 2 & 2 together. That actually proves to be the turning point in the match. From that point on, MNM keeps the advantage and actually gets the win with the snapshot on Mark Briscoe while Gertner distracted Jay.
WINNERS AND NEW MIDWESTERN TAG CHAMPS: MNM. **¾
Afterwards, Gertner hops up in the ring and celebrates with MNM, while Melina can be seen backstage fuming.
MATCH #2: Adam Windsor vs. Spanky for the NWA Midwestern X Division Title.
This match is taking place after these two won their respective matches on NWA Midwest Saturday Night last night. The match starts with Spanky offering his hand, and Adam Windsor slapping it away. Couldn’t tell if it was disrespect or not. Some good back and forth action, with Windsor being unsatisfied with Spanky’s inability to be serious. Spanky of course can’t help but be playful. Windsor eventually starts chasing Spanky, who runs around the ring saying “I’M IT!!!” The two get back in the ring and kick it into high gear. Spanky eventually knocks Windsor with a good stiff kick to the head, and then delivers the Left Turn at Albuquerque for the win.
WINNER AND NEW NWA MIDWESTERN X DIVISON CHAMPION: Spanky **¼
Spanky offers his hand to Windsor, but Windsor says no thanks.
BACKSTAGE: Alex Shelley is holding a dented chair.
SHELLEY: This chair, this one in my hands, is the one that knocked Rhino on his ass last night. This chair, the one in my hands, is what some people would call an “equalizer.” It is what I call respect. Rhino, you want me to meet you into the ring, one on one? I’m not crazy. That’s why I brought my friend here. Because of my respect for you. So tonight, Rhino. Be on the look out. *Shelley opens a marker and writes the word “RESPECT” on the chair* Because I’m bringing all the respect I have.
MATCH #3: NWA World X Division Champion Austin Aries vs. Petey Williams
Since Aries just won the belt, the World X Division Championship is NOT on the line tonight. These two are sharing some animosity, as they have been feuding. Aries starts out by pointing at the World X Division Title and pointing to his waist, saying “My belt.” Williams pulls his boots up tight, and Aries offers his hand. Williams goes to take it, and Aries pulls back with a “too cool.” The two lock up. There’s some back and forth, and Williams has the advantage. After some strong face work, it looks like Williams may have the advantage. Aries rolls outside and Williams dives over, but misses and lands flat on his ribs. Williams is thrown back in. Aries goes for the 450, and misses as well. Williams gets to his feet, and Aries rolls out onto the apron. Williams tries for a suplex back into the ring, but Aries hit’s the shoulder block and then follows through with a dropkick through the second rope. Williams falls back, and Aries bridges over him, and puts his feet on the ropes to get the cheap victory.
WINNER: Austin Aries ***¾
Afterward, Aries grabs his belt and tells Petey that it’s exactly why he’s the champ. Petey tries to talk to the ref, but the ref isn’t listening to it.
BACKSTAGE, Chris Jericho has some words for Chris Benoit:
I heard what you have to say to me, Benoit. I was listening. But don’t think that had anything to do with me losing in the NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament. Hell, that had nothing to do with it. And don’t go around thinking you’d have won that tournament. You couldn’t even get into the tournament, Benoit. That tournament was for SUPERIOR wrestlers like myself, Masahiro, Chono, Vader, and Satoshi Kojima.
JOEY STYLES: Did he just say Vader???
That’s right, Chris Benoit, tonight I will prove exactly WHY I was in the NWA World Title Tournament while you were here sitting on your ass talking to a cameraman about how tough you are, and fantasizing about my sexy waistline. I will show you exactly what it means to be pushed to the limits. And I will prove to the world that I am the GREATEST WRESTLER ALIVE!!!!
Match #4: Rhino vs. Alex Shelley for the NWA Midwestern Interstate Championship
Alex Shelley is standing in the ring with “respect.” Rhino’s music plays and Shelley slams the chair on the mat, waiting for Rhino. Who happens to come from out of the crowd behind Shelley. Shelley hears the crowd react, and glances over his shoulder. Rhino charges and Shelley leaps out of the ring. The crowd starts taunting Shelley, who grabs his crotch in response. About this time, Rhino hits the floor and Shelley runs like a scared little girl. The two go back and forth with most of Shelley’s offense coming at the expense of Rhino being overzealous. The match moves into high gear, and Rhino nearly gets the gore twice, with Shelley escaping by the skin of his teeth both times. Shelley finally brings the chair into the ring, and the ref fights with Shelley over the chair, which leads to a spot where the ref hits Rhino in the head with the chair after pulling it loose from Shelley. The ref throws the chair out, and won’t let Shelley make the pin. So Shelley hauls an unconscious Rhino onto his shoulders, with some serious effort, and hit’s the ShellShock for the win.
WINNER AND NEW NWA MIDWESTERN INTERSTATE CHAMPION: Alex Shelley **
Match #5: Benoit vs. Jericho for the NWA Midwestern Championship
The two make their way to the ring, and the crowd is chanting Benoit’s name. Jericho refuses to start the match until the fans chant his name, and goes so far to tell them. The crowd reacts by chanting “JERICHO SUCKS!” Jericho is infuriated, and starts to leave, but Benoit pulls him back in. What occurs after this can only be described as a wrestling clinic, as Jericho and Benoit try to outdo each other, hold for hold. Benoit obviously has the upper hand while all this is going on. As usual, Jericho hops out of the ring to gather himself.
Benoit actually stays in the ring and tells Jericho to get back in. Jericho walks over to the timekeeper’s table and looks at the NWA Midwestern Title. Benoit climbs the turnbuckle. Jericho picks up the title and looks at it. He takes a deep breath and turns around, right as Benoit leaps off the top rope outside ONTO Jericho with a cross body. The crowd goes apeshit, and both guys are laying on the floor. Benoit grabs Jericho and pulls him to his feet. He whips Jericho into the ringpost. Benoit then turns and grabs the NWA Midwestern Title and holds it high. The crowd goes BANANA!
Jericho stumbles to his feet and Benoit rolls him into the ring. Benoit climbs the turnbuckles and goes for a flying head butt. Does he connect? No. But he put in a valiant effort that Jericho avoided by rolling away while Benoit was in mid-air. Jericho takes his time making it to his feet. He runs to the ropes and hits the Lionsault. Jericho then grabs the feet of Benoit and slaps on the Walls of Jericho. Benoit sells like a mo-fo, and instead of going for the ropes begins to struggle. After a moment, Benoit starts to make Jericho struggle. Jericho stomps/kicks at Benoit, which allows Benoit to reverse the walls and lock on the Sharpshooter. Jericho flips out, and pulls with all his might towards the ropes. He’s fighting as much as possible, but Benoit walks him away from the ropes even more.
Jericho pulls himself towards the ropes, and after a moment he finally makes it. Benoit lets go after the ref asks, and begins to pull Jericho up. Jericho thumbs him in the eye, and Benoit stumbles back. Jericho goes after him, and Benoit slaps on the Crippler Crossface. He’s leaning back, putting the emphasis on the lower back, and Jericho is screaming like a little bitch. Jericho is kicking his feet towards the ropes, and Benoit tightens his grip. Jericho gets within an inch of the ropes, though he doesn’t know it, and then he taps.
WINNER AND NEW NWA MIDWESTERN CHAMPION: Chris Benoit. ***¾
Benoit celebrates, and Jericho pouts.
Good show, Swiggy! Now let's see everyone else's.
Thanks. Probably the most effort I've put into a show in a Looong time