BILL BEHRENS NWA NOTES for 8/15

NWA WILDSIDE returns to the UK WRESTLING CHANNEL starting Monday, August 22, at 10PM.   Go to www.nwa-wildside.com and the merchandise section to order NWA Wildside Home videos. 

NWA ANARCHY 8-20-05 UPDATE

We are less than one week away from the third annual Mysterious Benefactor Memorial Tag Team Tournament, which takes place on August 20th at the NWA Arena in Cornelia, GA.

Here is the complete list of teams. Starting tomorrow, we will begin to release some of the first-round matchups. Complete brackets will be printed in the programs and be available the night of the tournament.

2004 tourney winners Pomp & Circumstance
2003 tourney winners Tank & Iceberg
Anarchy Tag Team champions Alabama Attitude
Heavyweight champ Mikal Adryan & TV champ Jeff Lewis
Onyx & Biohazard
The Urban Assault Squad
3 Guys Who Totally Rule
The Lost Boys
Todd Sexton & Tony Mamaluke
Slim J & Skeeter Frost
Nick Halen & Jeremy V
The Texas Treats
Cru Jones & Ken Westbrooks
Heath Miller & Randall Johnson
Andrew Alexander & Stryknyn
D.L. Norris & Simon Sermon

And don't forget the bonus singles match between Brandon P and Scottie Wrenn.

As always, ringside seats can be reserved by e-mailing us at [email protected]  

8/13 Pro Wrestling Evolution Report    By: Larry Goodman

NWA Pro Wrestling Evolution crowned a new champion last night at the Southern Heritage Invitational. Tank won the 16 man tournament to regain a title that he never lost in the ring.

As an overall live experience, the Invitational was PWE’s most successful effort to date. PWE bills its styles as high impact southern wrestling and this was as close as they’ve come to actualizing the concept. The tournament matches had all clean finishes and no outside interference. The plethora of glitches that have plagued the promotion’s previous shows were non-existent. They were on track for an excellent show until the last two matches.

The show drew a crowd of 180 to the Canton National Guard Armory, which was more or less the same as their June and July shows.

The tournament was structured with four-way matches in the quarterfinals, standard singles matches in the semis and a two out of three fall finale.

Sergeant Shirley opened the show by reading the names, ages and hometowns of the 12 Georgia national guardsmen that had died in Iraq. Taps played in their honor.

Ring Mistress Jen Holbrook introduced the PWE announce team of Nigel Sherrod and “The Insider” Ken Wallace. Wallace was wearing a bowling shirt that looked like it came out of Al Getz’s closet.

The quarterfinals were fun. The work was good to excellent and they all told stories.

(1) Tank beat Jason Blackman and Shaun Tempers and Mikal Adryan in 7:25. Blackman has the attitude of an old school wrestler when he comes to the ring. Tank, who was coming back from the torn ACL that forced him to vacate the title, got a big pop. Tempers was taking it from all sides in the early going. They established a pecking order of sorts. Tempers and Blackman didn’t want to mess with Adryan. In turn, Adryan bailed out when Tank tagged in. Tank gave Blackman a beating. Adryan chop blocked Tank’s bad knee from behind. Adryan ordered Blackman into the ring like he was his lackey. Tank managed to tag Tempers. He scored a pair of near falls on Blackman before Adryan took over with his devastating power game. Adryan hit the Assisted Suicide but before he could make the cover, Tank dumped him and made Blackman tap with the STF. Adryan glared at Tank. Tank gave Adryan the one finger salute.

(2) Murder One beat Kid Ego Jr. and Iceberg and Nemesis in 13:05. Referee Mitch Bade came out with a new dye job. There’s something that seems so wrong about a ref with orange hair. Nemesis did this great entrance where he was doing everything in his power to check himself against going after the fans. Ego and Iceberg both got strong pops. M-1 offered to join forces with his black brother Nemesis. Ego looked like a small child in there with the Iceberg. “The Inconceivable Being of Horror” took it relatively easy on him. Except for the brainbuster, I guess. Nemesis unleashed a vicious series of headbutts on Ego. It settled into a heel/face tag team dynamic with Ego taking the heat. Ego got a nice hope spot with a huracanrana to counter M-1’s Blazin’ Lariat. Nemesis did a spinning fireman’s carry slam I hadn’t seen him use before. Ego superkicked Nemesis to get to the hot tag. Iceberg cleaned house. It broke down to four-way action. The Afro-Americans dumped Ego and worked over Iceberg. They decked Iceberg with an impressive double shoulder block. When Nemesis paused to savor the moment, M-1 leveled him with the Blazin’ Lariat to score the pinfall.

(3) Elix Skipper beat Biohazard and Canadian Sheik (with Brad North) in 9:17. Sheik replaced the Lost Boys who no-showed. The crowd gave Skipper the star treatment with a huge pop. He had no trouble getting the fans to tell him what time it was. About the time I was wishing Sheik could magically disappear to allow Skipper and Bio to do a singles match, they gave him a variation of the Total Elimination. Skipper went for a monkey flip and Bio landed on his feet. Bio did his rolling neck snap off the middle rope on Skipper and Sheik saved. Skipper busted out the Puroresu stiff kicks on Bio. Skipper draped Bio on the top rope and gave him axe kick. Bio did a reverse roll into a german suplex on Skipper and Sheik saved. Sheik hit a middle rope twisting neckbreaker on Skipper and Bio made the save. Bio got Sheik in the Prey For Death. Skipper broke it up with ropes walk legdrop. Skipper took Sheik out with a spinkick, but Bio caught Skipper in the Prey For Death. Skipper got to the ropes. Skipper made the big comeback with a flip-over-the-top lariat and a ropes walk huracanrana to set up the Play of the Day. Good stuff. Skipper and Bio meshed well.

(4) Rainman beat Brad Armstrong and Ranger Ross and Simon Sermon 11:00. Another entertaing match. Sermon replaced the injured Ace Rockwell. Ross, the mystery entrant, was accompanied the ring by a flag-waving Sergeant Shirley. Rainman was careful to protect his rear flank against Sermon, who took a page out of Adrian Street’s book in the early going. Fans chanted “Tinker Bell” at Sermon. After seeing Ross suffer with some really sorry opponents of late, it was great to see him work with a high caliber talent like Armstrong. Ross can still go. Sermon sold big for Rainman. Armstrong and Rainman did a classic test of strength spot. Rainman hit Ross up with some Dark City brawling. Sermon took over with the really filthy tactics. Armstrong dumped Ross hit his trademark Russian legsweep on Sermon. But Rainman tossed Armstrong. Rainman hit the Dark City Street Cutter and Sermon was toast. Ross shook hands with Armstrong.

Nigel Sherrod opened the second by opening a special package from Jake Roberts. There was a fake snake inside. Roberts is booked for the next PWE show on 9/3. That should be perversely interesting.

The semifinal round got underway.

(5) Tank beat Murder One via submission in around 7 minutes. M-1 headed towards the dressing room. Tank said he must have been hanging out with Sermon too much because M-1’s ass looked sweet. Tank gave M-1 an ultimatum. They did some UFC styles striking. They traded blows while they were down on their knees. M-1 used a low blow. M-1 scored with a dropkick but Tank was in the ropes. Tank hit the chokebreaker and got the tap out with the STF.

(6) Rainman beat Elix Skipper in 12:01. Match of the night. Rainman showed why he’s moving up in class. Skipper was in even more over his second time out. They may have stumbled onto something if they can book Skipper regularly. On the mat early. Skipper did a drop toehold into the STF. Rainman got a ropes break. Skipper hit a spectacular corkscrew pescado in some very close quarters. Rainman launched a barrage of dropkicks. Rainman catapulted Skipper’s into a bottom rope hotshot. Rainman pounded Skipper on the outside. Skipper wound up getting tossed into someone’s lap. Skipper posted Rainman. Skipper gave Rainman a wicked spinal tap. Rainman responded with windmill forearms to the back. Back inside, Skipper rolled away from Rainman’s second rope elbow drop. The count reached seven. Skipper hit the flip over the top lariat. Both men on the canvas again. Skipper made the full-fledged comeback. Skipper did a headstand on the top turnbuckle into a legdrop for a near fall. Rainman reversed a whip and hit the Spinesplitta for a near fall. Rainman called for the Dark City Street Cutter. Skipper tried to counter with an Air Raid Crash. Rainman escaped that but not the Play of the Day. Rainman threw a foot over the ropes to break the count. Referee Jack Doan got bumped. Rainman waffled Skipper with two chairshots to the back. Rainman dragged Doan over to make a groggy three count.

(7) Scott Steel won the Southern Heritage Brawl in 18:00. This was freaking horrible. There must be some local ordinance that forces PWE to book these guys. It was Rumble rules with a new combatant entering every 60 seconds. The field, in order of entrance, included D. L. Norris, Brad North, Notorious D.O.G., Justin Sane, Andrew Alexander, Jesse Wade, John Doe, Buford T, Solitude and Steel. D.O.G. took a fork to Norris. Norris bled. Sane came out with his elbow pads on fire. Doe was dressed like a sanitation worker wearing a stocking mask. Steel died his mustache blonde. All ten guys were in the ring before anybody got eliminated. It figured that this was the time for Steel, a green guy with the WWE look that they’ve been pushing, to run wild. But it was not to be. Steel did toss Alexander out with a gorilla press for the first elimination. But it was a miserable cluster##### after that. Buford T, who goes a good 400 pounds never did go over the top. Steel speared D.O.G. of the apron for the final elimination. Geez, did it ever suck the life out of the crowd.

(8) Tank beat Rainman two out of three falls to win the Evolution Wrestling Championship in 7:33. Being that the crowd was dead, they called an audible to do a short match, selling the effects of doing three matches in one night. It was probably the best thing for the live crowd, although it didn’t do much for the credibility of the EWC. Rainman attacked before the bell. Tank made the comeback and applied the STF. Rainman bit him to break the hold. Tank was in total command when Rainman hit the Spinesplitta out of nowhere to win the first fall in just 2:50. Rainman immediately tried to end it in two straight falls, but Tank kicked out. Rainman’s punches appeared to have no impact on Tank. Tank pinned Rainman with the chokebreaker at 3:48. Tank tried to choke Rainman out. No go. They traded bombs and collapsed. Both men barely beat the 10 count. Tank missed a flying butt smash. Rainman connected with a roundhouse kick to the temple. Tank gave Rainman the Strong Style Curb Stomp and applied the STF for the tap out. Rainman was so out of it that he thought he had won the match.

NOTES: Rockwell was under doctor’s order not to wrestle…Due to the increased demand for his services, Rainman will not be working regularly for PWE or NWA Anarchy. Rainman is booked for the ROH show in …They cut additional backstage promos for the DVD and Pirate TV…Altar Boy Luke has moved back to the New Orleans area…Mercedes was not at ringside with Steel due to injury. The show will be made available on DVD at www.prowrestlingevolution.com...M-1 & New Jack face Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney in the main event of the Joey Styles/WEW PPV taping at Earthlink Live next Saturday night.

Saturday, September 3rd, 2005
Saturday, October 15th, 2005
Saturday, November 12th, 2005
Saturday, December 17th, 2005

Keep an eye out on our website, www.prowrestlingevolution.com , as more dates will be added soon!

NWA Wrestle Birmingham returned to the Zamora Temple for the fourth installment of their nostalgia-based product. The big news was the announcement that the company would be bringing wrestling back to the famed Boutwell Auditorium with a Night of Legends (aren’t they all?) on October 8.

It was the first Wrestle Birmingham event without Brent West, who parted ways with Linda Marx after the show in June. There were points at which things didn’t seem quite as well organized. The crowd of 500 was down slightly from June.

(1) Mike Jackson beat Johnny Slaughter in 9:38. Good fast-paced opener. Jackson avoids predictable patterns and shows a lot of imagination with the way he lays out his matches, not to mention that he’s a hell of athlete for a 55 year old. Slaughter heeled right off the bat. Jackson responded with deep armdrags and a charging clothesline over the top. Jackson sent Slaughter out again with a spinning headscissors. Slaughter taunted Jackson as he worked the armbar. Jackson came back with a floatover armdrag and a drop toehold to take control. Jackson did the old school rope walk around the ring, finishing with a flip armdrag. That spot is way over here. Slaughter hit an atomic drop to send Jackson out. Slaughter dropped Jackson’s throat on the security rail. The crowd brought the hate. Slaughter cut off Jackson’s comeback with a superkick. Slaughter hit a top rope elbow but Jackson kicked out at one. Slaughter went for a sharpshooter and Jackson countered with an inside cradle. Slaughter got the sharpshooter applied. Jackson made the ropes after a valiant effort. Jackson got a near fall with a sunset flip. When Slaughter went for the formula clothesline cutoff, Jackson countered with a hangman neckbreaker to score the pinfall.

(2) Exotic Adrian Street (with Miss Linda) beat Aeonn Flexx (with ?) to win the European Title in 12:17. Fun match up to a point. Flexx and Senior Official Roy George played their parts well, but it’s basically the same match every time out and this one went longer than necessary. Flexx’s unidentified manager came out waving the Canadian flag. Flexx told the fans if they didn’t hush, he would deprive them of the opportunity of seeing his technical brilliance. Fans chanted “USA” for Street. Maybe he sold of the castles in England and became a citizen. Street’s pelvic thrusts had Flexx on the run. Street asked Flexx how he could win his title back if he wouldn’t stay in the ring and bloody wrestle? Street threatened to make the Canadian flag into a popsicle and stick it up the manager’s arse. Street did the usual kissing and goosing routine. Street kissed Flexx to break a bearhug. A ride ‘em cowboy spot got a good pop. Flexx looked baffled and bamboozled. Manager guy grabbed Street’s leg to turn the tide. Flexx grapevined the leg and locked hands with manager guy for extra leverage. Linda got on apron to complain about outside interference. Linda’s psychedelic stretch pants are a trip. Finish saw Street snapmare Flexx’s manager into the ring. Flexx collided with his manager. Linda gave Flexx a forearm shot and he tripped over his fallen manager. Street covered for the pin.

Street was in the midst of a celebratory promo when Robert Fuller showed up. Fuller said he wanted to be the first to congratulate Street on regaining the title. Fuller complimented Miss Linda on cleaning herself up to where she looked like a bonafide lady. Fuller said he didn’t want to rain on Street’s parade, BUT he was bringing in Wendell Cooley to face him on October 8. Street said that with Linda in his corner, Fuller had bitten off more than his big mouth could chew.

(3) Brickhouse Brown beat River D’Angelo in 5:55. It would take a miracle worker to get anything more than a passable match out of D’Angelo. Good pop for Brick’s entrance. D’Angelo bailed out for a TO. Brown clapped D’Angelo’s ears. Brown worked the back with a spinal tap and a gutwrench suplex. D’Angelo took over. D’Angelo took a lousy looking bump off the top. Brown used a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall and finished D’Angelo with his signature Russian legsweep.

NWA official, Roy Lee Welch announced a Loser Leaves Town match between “Bullet” Bob Armstrong and Jimmy Golden for October 8. Welch said that due to his mistrust of Fuller, he was asking Brown to serve as the special referee. Brown said he didn’t know nothing about being a referee, but he was a fast learner. Brown said he had history with Fuller and dues got to be paid. Brown promised to call it right down the middle. Brown said Bullet wasn’t going nowhere. The day after the show, they would fire up the grill and cook up some steaks. “Tell mama you gonna be here for Christmas.”

Welch announced a special presentation to Mike Jackson for his 30+ years in wrestling. Welch called out Jackson’s former partner, Tony Ledoux, to make the presentation. Ledoux said they first met in 1972. Jackson raised the possibility of them tagging one more time. Ledoux said the health problems that lead to his retirement in 1996 wouldn’t permit it. Ledoux left the ring to allow Jackson to make his acceptance speech. Out came Jimmy Powell to congratulate “Mikey.” Powell said he told Jackson he would motivate him and make him a star. Powell said that “after doing jobs for everybody in the country,” Jackson was finally the man. Jackson decked Powell. Alan Martin hit the ring. He’s put on so much weight since his heyday that I didn’t recognize him. Martin blasted Jackson with a chairshot. Ledoux ran out with a chair to make the save. Jackson talked Ledoux into doing one last reunion of The Birmingham Duo despite his sky high blood pressure. They face Powell and Martin on the Boutwell show.

(4) Dennis Condrey beat Lee Thomas in a Loser Leaves Town Match (7:56). Condrey tossed Thomas out. Thomas threw a shoulder from the apron and did a slingshot sunset flip for a two count. They locked up in a test of strength. Condrey saw his advantage slipping away and resorted to an eye gouge. Condrey raked Thomas’ back and took him down with a lariat. Condrey pulled Thomas’s ears. Condrey banged Thomas’ head off the announcer’s table. Thomas launched a comeback. Condrey begged for mercy but Thomas was seeing red. Thomas went for the 10 punches. The ref got bumped. Condrey pulled out a set of brass knucks and it was lights out. Time for Thomas to pack his bags.

Condrey and Welch went back and forth to set up a match for October 8. Condrey was awesome here. He told Welch to get out of his business. Condrey called Welch was a stooge with a capital S. and threatened to stomp his butt. Welch said he was retired. Condrey got ticked off because Welch kept turning his back on him. Welch finally had enough and said he was going to teach Condrey a lesson. Condrey said the Road Warriors, Rock ‘n Roll Express and Steiners all said the same thing. Welch said he was willing to fight fire with fire to get the job done. Condrey said, “Nobody’s nothin’ to me. If I beat you, it’s because I’m a better man and that ain’t a very big if.”

(5) Ranger Ross beat Alan Martin in 6:44. Boring match. Martin looks like he swallowed a bowling ball. Ross attacked with arm drags. Martin heeled. Ross reversed Martin’s vertical suplex. Martin leveled Ross with a lariat and covered with his feet on the ropes, but the eagle eye of Roy George caught him cheating. Martin griped. Ross shut Martin up with a superkick to score the pinfall.

Michael St. John conducted a postmatch interview with Ross about his match on October against Ali Baba. I don’t know who Ali Baba is but the man for the job, so to speak, is Jaheed (Jeff Anderson) of the Knoxville-based Turbantors. Ross said the Ranger moniker was no gimmick, as he served 8 years in the armed forces. Ross said Baba was a known terrorist. St. John tried to soften it by saying that Baba was a terrorist in the ring. Ross pressed forward, stating that terrorism was an act of desperation. Ross held up his fists and said the only suicide bombers he needed were these two soup bones.

(6) McNasty beat Brickhouse Brown in a Stretcher Match (15:23). This was some classic old school violence and what a stretcher match is supposed to be. Easily the best match on the show. McNasty ambushed Brown as he came out of the dressing room and quickly pinned him with a low blow. Just as Brown got off the stretcher, McNasty caught him with a double ax from the top rope. Brown rallied but McNasty put him down for another three count with a Yakuza kick. McNasty pulled Brown off the stretcher and pounded him. McNasty blasted Brown with the ring bell. McNasty planted Brown on the stretcher and security carted him towards the back. But Brown got came to life before they got him through the curtain. The fight was on. Brown ran McNasty up the aisle and rammed his head into the post. That popped the crowd. Brown hit McNasty with the bell. McNasty was busted open. Brown used a DDT onto the bell for the pin. McNasty flopped off the stretcher bleeding like a stuck pig. Brown blasted him with a chair. They traded some brutal shots on the outside. Brown pinned McNasty with a flapjack. Brown hit an elbow drop off the apron as McNasty was being stretchered out. Brown gave McNasty a piledriver on a chair on the concrete floor. That figured to be it, but McNasty is one hard-headed maniac. They fought into, and I mean into the crowd. People didn’t have a chance to clear out. The stretcher came into play. The ref got bumped. Brown hit a Mr. Wrestling II kneelift and applied the camel clutch. Robert Fuller hit the ring and smothered Brown with a rag full of ether. Brown was out cold. McNasty was still in lala land as security carried Brown out.

Fuller said McNasty was the genuine legend killer. McNasty had blood streaming down his face and was acting like a total lunatic. I think they said something about Jerry Lawler here. This whole deal was great at getting McNasty over as a crazed monster.

Pat Rose was introduced to the crowd to a less than overwhelming response. Rose said that while he had some bad feuds with Scott Armstrong, he respected him as a man.

(7) The Armstrongs (Bullet Bob & Scott & Brad) beat Stud’s Stable (Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Elix Skipper) in 13:47. Brad started with Skipper. They didn’t do much, but their segment was still the athletic highlight of the evening. Armstrong scored three pins on Skipper: Bullet with a stomp, Brad with a Russian legsweep, and Scott with a lariat. Skipper barely beat the 10 count each time. Skipper did a dropdown and Golden nailed Brad from the apron. Stud’s Stable got four pins on Brad, who kept beating the 10 count. Skipper ate a boot on a telegraphed backdrop, and Brad went through the legs to make a double tag. It turned into a cluster. McNasty ran out to help Fuller and Co. McNasty and Skipper battled to the back with Scott and Brad. Just like the June show, Bullet put Fuller out with the sleeper hold and Golden clocked him with brass knucks. Fuller and Bullet were both out. Showing the wisdom of Solomon, referee George ruled that the first man to make it to his feet would determine the winning team. The crowd was really into this. Skipper and Golden tried to help Fuller. While George was admonishing the heels, Armstrong’s boys pulled dad up to his feet. The finish saved it. The rapid fire pins on basic moves looked silly, particularly after the stretcher match. Fuller was all wobbly and delirious looking as his teammates helped him to the back.

Bullet said that was the second time Golden had knocked him out with brass knucks and demanded a no DQ loser-leaves-town match. Either Alzheimer’s is setting in or this stuff is going to air in a different order on television. Bullet said he was like fine wine.Brown came out looking refreshed from his nap. Brown reiterated that he was calling it even steven and Bullet wasn’t going anywhere.

(8) Raven (with Jimmy Powell) beat “Roaddog” BG James via DQ in 8:44. This was billed as an NWA title match. Raven was legitimately pissed because they cut the intermission off while he was still doing good business at the gimmick table. James did the Degeneration X intro. Raven had the belt at the gimmick table but didn’t bring it to the ring. Raven said how dare they rush him when he was “taking money from the morons” and “soaking the marks.” Raven called Alabama a sinkhole next to Georgia. He said the Alabamians smelled. Raven refused to defend the title and proposed a Raven’s Rules match. He explained that about the only rule was that none of the Armstrongs could get involved including “Wild Bill Irwin” Armstrong. Powell introduced Raven by mocking James. James said Raven’s b###h had to use his catch phrase to get a pop.

It wasn’t much of match. Raven brawled. James did a crotch chop wind up on a fist in the face. Raven bailed. Raven used a low blow. James returned the favor and did a Beel throw for a two count. The diehard Raven supporters were making their presence known. Raven said he didn’t want any cheering from the morons and bashed James with the mic. Raven did a half-assed 619. James gave Raven a drop toehold onto a chair. James did the shake, rattle and roll kneedrop for a near fall. Powell’s distraction set up a DDT by Raven. The ref ate a superkick from Raven. Powell threw powder, but James ducked and Rave got it instead. James covered and Raven kicked out. James was set up for the pumphandle slam when Powell interfered for the DQ. Thinking it was Raven’s rules, the fans reacted negatively. James gave Powell the pumphandle slam. James put Raven in the sleeper. The refs took turns trying to break it up and James decked all three of them. George reversed the decision and DQed James. George explained that the promotion never gave the OK for a Raven’s Rules match.

They set up James vs. Tom Prichard for the Boutwell show. Welch apologized for the foul language and said fines would be forthcoming.

NOTES: Jerry Lawler and Greg Valentine were also mentioned as appearing on the Legends Night at Boutwell. The failure to push Lawler’s appearance with the fans in attendance was a glaring oversight…Dan Masters handled most of the ring announcing and some of the television commentary alongside Michael St. John. He appears to be filling the on camera spot that was opened by West’s departure…Rodney Grimes, promoter of CWA in Corinth, Ms was at the show. Grimes said he recently got stiffed when he tried to book Rick Steiner and Buff Bagwell through “booking agent” Ronnie Gossett. This is the former Memphis manager but the Gossett that runs shows under the UCW banner. Grimes said he had a contract and sent $500 upfront money to Gossett. Steiner was a no-show. Bagwell did work the show after Grimes contacted him directly…Recently deposed GCW booker Bo Oates has a shoot interview up at www.danmasterslive.com in the blog section. He holds nothing back about his relationship with his dad, Jerry Oates.

News from the Rocky Top

NWA ROCKY TOP PRESENTS RETRIBUTION ON AUGUST 19TH!

The next big show for NWA Rocky Top "Retribution" will be held on
Friday night, August 19th at the Knoxville Expo Center in Knoxville,
TN with a bell time of 8:00 pm.

Make your plans to come on out and see what everyone in East Tennessee
has been raving about... NWA Rocky Top!. Here are the announced
matches for the show.

* MAIN EVENT/Tennessee Heavyweight Title Return Match
Dr. Tom Pritchard (Champion) vs. Jimmy Golden
Special Stipulation: Krissy Vaine will be handcuffed to Melissa Coates!

* Rocky Top Tag Team Titles/Tennis racket on the pole match
Champions Midnight Express (with Jimmy Gibson vs. Ricky Morton & Brad
Armstrong (whichever team climbs the pole and gets the racket can use it)

* X Division Title Match
Brad Thomas (Champion) vs. Shawn Schultz

Tag Team Match
Eddie Golden & Tim Horner (with Bobbie Golden) vs. The Turbanators.

Advance tickets for this event are $20.00 (Ringside) and $10.00
(General Admission) and can be purchased by visiting or contacting the
Knoxville Expo Center (865) 686-3200.

JIMMY GIBSON GIVES UP THE RACKET!

This week on NWA Rocky Top TV the Midnight Express and manager Jimmy
Gibson had a major decision to make. One week had passed since
Commissioner David Rossi ordered them to give up the tennis racket and
the fine was now up to $7000.

Gibson was still defiant and refused to give up the racket but Dennis
Condrey convinced him it would be in there best interest to give it up
which Gibson finally did. Upon receipt of the racket, Rossi removed
the cover and it was revealed that the racket was indeed loaded. With
that fact now established, Rossi announced that for the tennis racket
on the pole match to be held at Retribution that the racket would stay
loaded for either team to use!

John Noble was very upset that he was not getting another shot at the
X Division title at Retribution. This brought out Rossi who stated
very clearly that Noble had his shot and he would have to take a back
seat to Shawn schultz who would be getting the next shot at Retribution.

Bobbie Golden appeared wearing a neck brace courtesy of Dr. Tom
Pritchard. Bobbie vowed that his other family members would get
revenge for the neck injury he received by taking care of Pritchard
and the Turbanators at Retribution.

You never know what will happen so check out Rocky Top TV every
Saturday in Knoxville on WMAK 7 from 10-11 am and in the Tri-Cities on
UPN WAPK at 11:00 am.

KID CASH COMING TO ROCKY TOP!

Commissioner David Rossi has announced that former ECW, WCW & TNA
superstar Kid Kash has singed up for appearances in Rocky Top. Kash is
a very talented worker who will be a great addition to the roster. Im
sure we will be seeing Kash making a impact in the near future.

NWA Rocky Top. Keeping the tradition alive and well in East
Tennessee....http://www.nwarockytop.com

Local athletes wrestle with ring stardom in McKeesport

By Josie Roberts
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, August 8, 2005

In the world of wrestling, nothing says professional like pleather.

A match at the Sportatorium in McKeesport opened with a 300-pound wrestler, who wore a Spandex suit meant for Olympic athletes, lace-up boots and pink kneepads decorated with hearts. He climbed into the ring ready to battle. The crowd screeched and cheered on this unlikely display of masculinity at the biweekly NWA Pro Wrestling Express.

The biggest names in the business may be coming to Pittsburgh tonight when the WWE invades Mellon Arena, but a die-hard conglomerate of fans and exhibitionists gathers every other week at the Sportatorium for their local rendition of "RAW."

While there are a handful of independent wrestling leagues scattered throughout Pennsylvania, NWA-PWX in McKeesport is known for dependably running shows every two weeks

"Because it's such a small venue, the wrestlers interact directly with the fans," said Jason Davidson, 23, who drives more than an hour from Butler to see every show. "In WWE, they don't even look at you. Here, if you yell at them, they'll yell back at you."

The fans trade four-letter words and insults with the wrestlers who run around the ring and slap high-fives with the crowd.

"I like looking at that side of the room at all the hillbillies 'cause they get all into it," Davidson said.

When the heavy-metal music screams through the speakers, a clan of characters throws aside the black curtain from backstage. The crowd erupts and a certain tension fills the air. Even though it's choreographed violence, it feels unpredictable.

Occasionally, the NWA hosts a Weapon Battle Royal, where fans bring a weapon of their choice to throw in the ring. A shopping cart sits backstage full of the spoils of a recent weapons night. There's a satellite dish, a mailbox, crutches, a VCR.

"The biggest misconception is that wrestling is fake. There's a lot of real parts," said Robert Piskor, the least likely wrestler of them all. A lanky teenager, whose stage name "Harold Potter" sprung from his resemblance to the diminutive, four-eyed wizard, he believes in pro wrestling as an art.

"I wish it were more like a magician('s act), where people didn't know the secrets to the tricks," said Piskor, who officiates in the ring but also must know how to take a hit from a metal chair.

WWE made professional wrestling more mainstream and exposed a lot of its secrets -- like the fact the matches are choreographed and their outcomes predetermined. Still, fans flock to arenas to see "RAW" and obsessively follow its soap opera-like storylines on cable and the Internet.

"My friends will ask me, 'Why do you like that phony stuff?'" Piskor said.

"I get, 'Why didn't you go to college?'" said Dan "Platinum Status" Miles.

It's the love of the fraternity, the energy and the dream to make the WWE.

Miles, 19, started with backyard wrestling, that dangerous hobby that got exposure when homemade videos of teenage boys flipping off rooftops into above-ground pools hit the infomercial circuit.

Now, Miles said, backyard wrestling is nothing compared to the pros.

"You push yourself to do things more smoothly when 70 people are in an audience watching you," he said. "Backyard wrestling was something you did with a couple of friends on the weekend. It's like when you can't get enough people together to play a game of touch football. We were just screwing around. Here, people pay to see you."

One of the NWA's biggest draws is the Tri Chi Fraternity, who captured the 2004 Tag Team Championship title. At 6-feet, 299 pounds, Jerry "Q.B. Blitzz" Harper makes up one-half of the duo.

"It doesn't matter where we are on the card, we want to steal the show," Harper, 26, said. "They say you can lose the match but win the crowd."

Harper, who played professional football in Europe Tags: