NWA-UK
Hammerlock REBIRTH
Coventry Skydome
Your commentary team is Chris Freeman and Adam Wheeler.
[Dark Match]:
La Cosa Nostra (Manuel Majoli and Luigi Cosmi) defeated
Payne and Simms (Danny Payne and Tony Simms) when Cosmi pinned Payne with the
Canoli Crusher in 0:16:29.
Rating: * 1/4
[Dark Match]:
Kontraband pinned Delo with the Kontra Kode in 0:13:36.
Rating: *** 1/2
[Kirsty interfered against Kontraband.]
[Dark Match]:
Anthony DeAngelo pinned One Step Down with the X-Spot in 0:09:10.
Rating: **
[Adam Hussain and Mike Balls interfered against Anthony DeAngelo.]
A superb video package rolled hyping up REBIRTH, focusing on the four
semi-finalists in the NWA-UK Heavyweight Championship Tournament. The scene
opened inside the jam-packed Coventry Skydome and the camera panned across the
3,500 fans in attendance. "Meant To Live" by Switchfoot, the official Rebirth
theme, played in the arena as Chris Freeman introduced viewers to the show.
Chris Freeman: THIS is the NWA, THIS is Hammerlock, ladies and gentlemen,
THIS IS REBIRTH!!! Hello everyone and welcome to what may very well go down in
history as the most significant night ever in British wrestling!! I'm Chris
Freeman and tonight we will crown a brand new NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight
Champion and Adam, that is a guarantee!
Adam Wheeler: It certainly is Freeman! Tonight, one of these four men - The
Punisher, Jason Prentice, Muerte de Antedicho and Midnight Blue - will leave
Coventry with the championship as the most gruelling tournament EVER in
professional wrestling finally comes to an end! But that's not the only title up
for grabs here this evening!
CF: That's exactly right, Adam! There will be an eight team Tag Team Battle
Royal here tonight with the two surviving teams meeting later in the night for
the Tag Team Titles...
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
AW: I love this song!
CF: And here comes "The Blue Chipper" Bryan Campbell! This second generation
superstar is hoping to become the Television Champion here tonight!
(Bryan Campbell emerges from the entrance way with a huge smirk on his face as
"Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas plays. He is being booed out of the building.
He does a twirl at the top of the ramp, showing off his glittering robe.)
CF: We are about to start the three man Round Robin Tournament for the NWA-UK
Hammerlock Television Title. There will be three singles matches involving
Campbell, Luke Champion and Steve Bailey. The man with the most decisions - be
it pinfall, submission, disqualification or count-out - at the end of the series
will become the new champion!
AW: And I find it hard to look past this man, Freeman! Bryan Campbell has it
all! He's one of the finest technical wrestlers Britain has ever seen and of
course he has that delicious mean streak that I'm very fond of.
CF: I know that you are, Adam, but don't discount the other men left in this
round robin series! We'll discuss "Shotgun" Steve Bailey in due course but
Campbell kicks off things tonight against "The Legacy" Luke Champion, a man who
many people were disappointed with regarding his performance in the Heavyweight
Title Tournament, including himself.
AW: Champion didn't do himself justice, there's no doubt about that. But you
could argue that Bryan Campbell should also have advanced, if it hadn't been for
Junior Jones!
CF: Why? Because Jones beat him?!
AW: He should have just stepped aside, Freeman.
CF: That's debatable, and Campbell's actions after that contest were deplorable.
Of course, Campbell also cost Jones the opportunity to wrestle for the TV Title
when he attacked him during his four corners elimination qualifying match nearly
two weeks ago on Hammerlock TV.
AW: That's that mean streak I was talking about, Freeman! Campbell proved that
he'll sink as low as is necessary in order to be successful!
CF: Well even that may not be enough against the man who calls himself "The
Legacy", Luke Champion. He's got perhaps the most raw talent and potential out
of anybody in Hammerlock. Now this is not the first time that these two have
crossed paths. Indeed, in the previous TV Title tournament back in 2001, these
two made it all the way to the semis. And who else was also involved in the last
four? That's right, Steve Bailey.
AW: It's like deja vu all over again!
CF: And, by the way, Luke Champion defeated Bryan Campbell for a place in the
final.
AW: That was then and this is now, Freeman. I doubt very seriously that history
will repeat itself!
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Television Title Round Robin]:
Iron Man Match:
Luke Champion drew Bryan Campbell:
x B. Campbell beat L. Champion via the Chip Off The Old Block in
0:10:41
x L. Champion beat B. Campbell via a rolling reverse cradle in 0:15:10
x time limit expired (L. Champion and B. Campbell) in 0:20:00
Rating: *** 1/2
Round Robin standings:
Decisions:
Bryan Campbell 1
Luke Champion 1
Steve Bailey 0
Match analysis:
A cracking contest to open the show, featuring two of the finest talents Britain
has to offer. Luke Champion seized the advantage early, dropping Campbell with a
backdrop driver and a clothesline, following up with a very nice cradle suplex.
Campbell was able to block a Death Valley Driver and duck an enzuigiri though.
He fired back and scored with a powerslam. Champion almost decapitated The Blue
Chipper with a leg lariat and then clotheslined him over the top rope. The
Legacy looked to dive onto Campbell with an Asai moonsault, but Campbell
side-stepped the move and Champion hit the floor hard. Campbell whipped Champion
into the guardrail and then introduced him to the ring steps. Back in the ring,
Campbell spiked Champion with a DDT for a near fall. Campbell was certainly in
control and went 1-0 up at the 10:41 mark with the Chip Off The Old Block,
rubbing salt into the wounds by holding the tights for the pin.
With the crowd behind him, Champion rallied, hoping to even up the score as soon
as possible. He planted Campbell with a Northern Lights Suplex, but Campbell lit
Champion up with chops and executed a flawless flying bulldog. Champion replied
with some jaw-rattling European uppercuts, a fantastic powerslam and then rolled
the Blue Chipper up for three at 15:10. 1-1!
Immediately, Bryan Campbell attempted to make it 2-1 in his favour with an
inside cradle, but Champion escaped before the pinfall. Campbell argued with the
referee and opened himself up for Champion to take advantage with a power bomb,
but Campbell backdropped his way out of the move. Luke Champion then grew
extremely frustrated with the officiating after he only got a two count with a
dragon suplex. The time limit then expired, with nothing to choose between these
two incredible athletes.
CF: What a superb battle, a fantastic advert for British wrestling! It
finishes one apiece.
AW: Certainly was, Freeman! I think that the advantage now swings into Steve
Bailey's favour. Remember, it's not totally about winning, but about how well
you win. You need to rack up those decisions.
CF: It's difficult to know what type of match to wrestle. I suppose you have to
think defensive, but you cannot afford to be too cautious either.
(Backstage, Kelly was attempting to interview Jason Prentice, whose dressing
room door was ajar. She peered inside, witnessing Prentice in a panic. Linda was
doing her best to calm him down.)
Jason Prentice: I can't do it! I just can't!!
Linda: Take it easy, come on...
JP: Have you seen how big he is?! HAVE YOU?! He's bigger than me, he's stronger
than me...he's actually gonna kill me. He'll do it, you know. He'll...
(Prentice notices Kelly at the door and gets angry.)
JP: ...what do YOU want?!
Kelly: I was hoping for a few words before your match with The Punisher?
(Exasperated, Prentice walks off.)
Linda: Erm, now's not a good time.
(Linda goes off to find Prentice.)
Kelly: Guys, back to you.
CF: Thanks, Kel. Prentice obviously brimming with confidence there before his
match with the big, bad Punisher in the Heavyweight Title Tournament.
AW: Real funny, Freeman. I know Jason Prentice very well and he'll have
everything under control. He's always got some sort of trick up his sleeve and
it wouldn't surprise me if this wasn't some sort of mind game.
CF: That remains to be seen. However, up next is the Tag Team Battle Royal, with
the two surviving teams meeting later in the night to determine the new
Hammerlock Tag Team Champions. Can't wait for this one!
AW: Are those Neds out here yet? Man, I hate them. Better keep a close eye on my
wallet.
CF: Out of all the eight teams involved here, the one that intrigues me the most
is the bizarre pairing of M.J. and Jawaid Kaleeq. M.J. convinced Kaleeq to team
with him after Kaleeq was eliminated from the Heavyweight Title Tournament under
somewhat controversial circumstances against Jason Prentice. But can he trust
M.J.? I certainly wouldn't. The guy's a creep.
AW: M.J. craves success, Freeman, and I admire him for it. All Kaleeq has to do
is ride his coattails and he'll go all the way to the top. M.J. thinks that the
two of them will be unstoppable and you know what? I believe him.
CF: I thought you might. Let's go to the ring.
AW: Aren't you and I entering this, Freeman??
16-Man Tag Team Battle Royal:
Dunky and Biscuit and The Hammersmith Hard Men co-won an 8-team Battle Royal:
x Xain threw out M. Sullivan (partner: Migraine) in 0:06:30
x G. Phillips threw out Fharquar (partner: Lord J. T. Potemkin III) in
0:09:33
x Jawaid Kaleeq threw out M.J. (partner: Jawaid Kaleeq) after a Running
Forearm Smash in 0:11:57
x Burke threw out Alvarez (partner: Kyle Coulbourne) in 0:15:05
x Biscuit threw out Burke (partner: William Blair) after
a Japanese armdrag takedown in 0:16:27
x Biscuit threw out Mystikal (partner: P Xain) after
a single-leg takedown in 0:18:59
Rating: ** 1/2
[The Maggot interfered against Martyn Sullivan.]
Match analysis:
This match was almost impossible to call as there was so much action going on
inside the squared circle. Lord Potemkin took Dunky down with his Cultural
suplex early. Martyn Sullivan was using all of his usual high-flying manoeuvres
and was lucky that it didn't cost him several times in this dangerous encounter.
Sullivan climbed once more to the top rope, looking for yet more aerial offence,
but Goldie Lookin' Chain's The Maggot jumped on to the apron and pushed The Air
Devil from his perch. P Xain then easily threw him out, eliminating the
make-shift team of Sullivan and Migraine.
William Blair of the Bodysnatchers threw Gaz Phillips over the top rope, but Gaz
was able to slide back in. Dunky, who was not having a good night, felt the
effects of Blair's Blair Bomb. Wee Tam then hit the ring and swung a chair at
Blair, who dodged the blow and the chair connected with Biscuit. Blair then
tossed Tam, who wasn't a legal participant, from the ring. The Aristocrats would
play no further part in the contest as Phillips eliminated Cuthbert Fharquar.
Mystikal hit a top-rope Frankensteiner on Blair.
M.J. had convinced Jawaid Kaleeq to team with him on Hammerlock TV and the two
were working quite well together. However, that alliance was about to explode.
M.J. held P Xain for a running forearm by Kaleeq, but Xain ducked and M.J.
absorbed the impact, which sent him sailing over the top rope. Kaleeq was
apologetic to M.J., but the fitness instructor attacked Kaleeq with some hard
punches and threw him into the ring steps! The crowd jeered as M.J. dropped
Kaleeq throat-first across the guardrail and then locked on the Total Body
Workout at ringside! Eventually enough officials arrived to drag M.J. off the
helpless Kaleeq and escort him backstage. Kaleeq had to be helped to the back.
Back in the ring, P Xain executed his Manifesto inverted DDT on Biscuit and then
later Gaz Phillips. William Burke threw out Brandon Alvarez and the New Young
Lions tandem were eliminated, much to the disappointment of all the teenage
girls in attendance. Dunky smashed a bottle of Buckfast over Burke's head - not
like a Ned to waste some cheap wine! Biscuit and Knight double-teamed Burke,
softening him up enough for Biscuit to eliminate him. Mystikal executed the Self
Suicide - an amazing Stardust Press - and a 450 Splash on Biscuit. However, the
resourceful Biscuit turned a rana attempt into a sitout power bomb and he then
eliminated Mystikal!!
CF: So it'll be the Hammersmith Hard Men and the Neds battling for the titles
later tonight!!
AW: But they don't want to wait!
(Knight and Phillips jumped Dunky and Biscuit after the bell before an army of
referees and Hammerlock officials flooded into the ring to separate them. They
were joined by the rest of Young Posso Fleeto No.1 as the fans chanted, "Let
them go!")
CF: Well, I guess we were right to be sceptical over the pairing of Jawaid
Kaleeq and M.J. That attack by the personal trainer was totally unprovoked and
uncalled for!
AW: What are you talking about, Freeman?! Kaleeq cost M.J. his chance at glory,
so M.J. taught him a lesson! Good for him.
CF: It was a mistake. An honest to God mistake. Do you not think Kaleeq wanted
to win the Tag titles as much as M.J.? I don't think we've heard the last of
this situation. The first semi-final in the Heavyweight Title Tournament is just
moments upon us, as The Punisher squares off against Jason Prentice.
(A video aired showing how both men had made it this far in the tourney.)
CF: You know, Prentice's methods in getting to the semis have been somewhat
questionable to say the least.
AW: Come on, Freeman. You can't question the amount of talent this boy has.
Although The Punisher has the size and strength advantage here, Prentice would
outsmart him any day of the week.
CF: Do you think Prentice would have gotten this far without Linda O'Neil by his
side? She's not above getting involved in his matches - in fact, she has done
several times already. Just ask Devon Ferrari or Jawaid Kaleeq.
AW: Freeman, she's as pure as the driven snow. I can't even imagine her breaking
the rules.
CF: Please...
("PRENTICE...MAKES...PERFECT!!" Jason Prentice's music hits and he makes his way
out from the back, cautiously hiding behind the shapely figure of Linda O'Neil.
The Punisher is already in the ring, waiting impatiently and clubbing his fist
into the palm of his hand. "Prentice sucks!" chants fill the arena.)
CF: Look at this! Can you believe this?! He's scared! He's actually
petrified! Does that look like a champion to you?!
(Prentice hesitantly climbs into the ring, snatches the microphone from the ring
announcer and then hides behind him. The Punisher advances towards Prentice.)
JP: Whoa! Whoa! Referee, get him back!!
(Alex Fletcher, the assigned official for this contest, tells The Punisher to
get back to his corner.)
CF: Now what?!
JP: Hold on a second there, big fella. Just calm down, wait just one minute. Now
I know everyone in here wants to see you kick my ass...
(The crowd pops.)
CF: Damn straight!
JP: But I don't think that they deserve to. Come on, man. We're both grown
adults. We can talk about this. It doesn't have to be like this.
CF: This is ridiculous.
(Tired of Prentice's chat, The Punisher pushes the referee aside and walks
towards him. Prentice flashes a wad of cash in his face.)
JP: Oh yeah, this is what I'm talking about, baby! I've got five grand here, big
man. And it's all yours! All you have to do is just leave this ring right now.
It's the easiest money you'll ever make. Five thousand pounds for doing
absolutely nothing.
(The crowd jeers Prentice mercilessly, but The Punisher appears to be
considering the offer.)
CF: I cannot believe that Jason Prentice is actually trying to bribe The
Punisher and buy a place in the final. Who does he think he is? Ted DiBiase?!
AW: He's so smart, Freeman!
CF: He's a pussy!
(The Punisher takes the money and counts it.)
JP: All yours, buddy. Just take a walk to the back and you'll be five grand
richer.
(The crowd implore The Punisher not to take the cash.)
AW: I know what I'd do.
CF: Well I thought The Punisher was better than this...
(The crowd voices its disapproval as The Punisher puts the money in his back
pocket and starts to leave the ring. Prentice is overjoyed.)
JP: Mr. Referee, come over here and raise my hand.
(Then, The Punisher stops half-way through the ropes. The crowd start to cheer
as The Punisher makes his way over to Prentice. He spins him around and decks
him with a right hand!)
CF: Oh yeah! The Punisher's not leaving! And he's keeping Prentice's money!!
AW: He's a thief!!
(Alex Fletcher calls for the bell, getting this semi-final underway!)
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament Semi-Final]:
Jason Prentice pinned The Punisher with the Perfect Plant in 0:16:49.
Rating: *** 1/2
[Linda O'Neil interfered against The Punisher.]
Match analysis:
The Punisher hit the Doctor Bomb extremely early on in this encounter, but
Prentice was able to kick out at the very last second. After a legdrop, an
Exploder suplex and a hard kneelift, Prentice began to beg off. The Punisher
wasn't there to show any mercy but opened himself up for Prentice to poke him in
the eyes and score with a swinging neckbreaker. The Punisher came back with a
belly-to-belly suplex, but Prentice turned the tide again with a low blow.
Prentice was unsuccessful with a baseball slide and The Punisher smashed
Prentice's head off the steel ring steps, which were taking a real beating
tonight. The Punisher crushed his opponent in the corner with a heavy-duty
clothesline and planted him with a running power bomb. The Punisher then hit
Total Punishment on Prentice, but Linda O'Neil put her charge's foot on the
rope, avoiding certain defeat. Pissed off, The Punisher spiked Prentice with a
brain buster and hit Total Punishment again, but this time Linda distracted
referee Alex Fletcher before he could count to three. With The Punisher's
attention now also diverted, Jason Prentice snuck a steel chair into the ring
and levelled him with it. He then executed a gutwrench suplex onto the chair and
discarded the evidence. Prentice made the cover and put his feet on the ropes,
but incredibly The Punisher kicked out! The fans were going crazy but their
delight would be short-lived as Prentice earned the three count with the Perfect
Plant on a groggy Punisher to advance to the tournament final!
AW: Prentice may be £5,000 down, but a place in the Heavyweight Title
Tournament Final is priceless!
CF: Well yet again, Prentice had to rely on Linda O'Neil to get him out of jail.
AW: By any means necessary, Freeman, by any means necessary. Prentice did what
he had to do to get the job done.
CF: And it sickens me. Well earlier tonight, Luke Champion and Bryan Campbell
drew 1-1 in the first Iron Man match in the TV Title Round Robin series. Up
next, Steve Bailey has his first match in the series against Luke Champion.
AW: And of course that means it is Luke Champion's last match of the evening, so
he'll need to pick up some decisions here or his chances of winning the title
could be finished.
CF: Bailey was offered a bye in the TV Title Tournament after he had to withdraw
from the Heavyweight Title Tournament due to injury, but he refused to take it.
That shows what kind of a stand-up guy he is.
AW: It shows how stupid he is!
CF: Bailey's problems with Byson are well-documented too. He doesn't forgive
Byson for injuring his back and costing him a shot at Heavyweight Title gold.
AW: And Bailey cost Byson a shot at the TV Title by proving to be a distraction
in his Four Corners qualifying match. You know, if I'm Luke Champion, I would go
right after Bailey's back and be totally relentless. I think that he was lucky
to get past Ian Powers on Hammerlock TV and I doubt he's at 100% yet.
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Television Title Round Robin]:
Iron Man Match:
Luke Champion drew Steve Bailey:
x L. Champion beat S. Bailey via a backslide in 0:10:26
x S. Bailey beat L. Champion via the la magistral in 0:15:40
x time limit expired (L. Champion and S. Bailey) in 0:20:00
Rating: *** 1/2
Round Robin standings:
Decisions:
Luke Champion 2
Bryan Campbell 1
Steve Bailey 1
Match analysis:
Steve Bailey had guaranteed victory tonight and promised to leave Coventry with
the TV Title in tow, but he started off slowly here. Champion rocked him with a
power bomb and continued on the offensive with a leg lariat and a vertical
suplex. Bailey answered with a Baileycanrana, a belly-to-belly suplex and a DDT.
Bailey brought the fans to their feet with a beautiful flying dropkick. Bailey
recorded an extremely near fall with a top-rope Frankensteiner and then punished
Champion with a spinning backbreaker, but Bailey still had nothing to show for
all his dominance. Champion looked to make him pay with a fujiwara armbar and
then hit a spinebuster slam. It was only a brief flurry of offence though as
Bailey went for the submission with a bow-and-arrow, then scored with a legdrop
and a flying cross body. Bailey went for a somersault slam, but Champion was
able to pull his knees up! He then surprised Bailey with a backslide for the
three count at 10:26!
Incredibly, Champion was 1-0 ahead, as Bailey had dominated the first half of
this match and Champion's fatigue was beginning to show. Bailey began to pull
out all the stops, landing an incredible handspring elbow in the corner and
followed up with an inside cradle. The crowd popped when Bailey took Champion
out at ringside with an amazing springboard somersault plancha!! Bailey then
rocked Champion with an enzuigiri and then tied The Legacy up in the magistral
cradle to even things up at 1-1 with under five minutes remaining.
Champion soon got his second wind, knowing that his opportunity at the TV Title
could be slipping away from him. He executed a German suplex and lifted a
shoulder, but Bailey kicked out. There were barely seconds left as Bailey hit
the Pistol Whip, but Champion intelligently rolled out of the ring to avoid the
pinfall. The time limit then expired before Champion could be counted out, so
the bout ended all square!
CF: Another tremendous contest in the Round Robin, but another 1-1 draw!
AW: Smart move by Champion there to roll out of the ring and avoid the pin. He
keeps his chance of winning the title alive, but it's a very slim one. He must
hope that the final Round Robin match ends in a 0-0 draw.
(Backstage, Midnight Blue is preparing for his semi-final match in the
Heavyweight Title Tournament against Muerte de Antedicho. He looks totally
focused as he walks to the gorilla position, with Serenity following him. He
stops suddenly and turns to face her.)
Blue: Wait a minute. Maybe you should just stay here in the back.
Serenity: What?!
Blue: Look, I want to be 100% focused on what I have to do out there in the
ring. I can't worry about you out there too. Something might happen to you...
Serenity: I can look after myself. I want to be out there and support you...
Blue: No, stay here. I mean it. This is the most important night in my career
and I don't need any distractions.
Serenity: Distractions?!
(Serenity is taken aback.)
Serenity: Well, I'm sorry if I'm such a "distraction" to you.
Blue: You know what? I don't need this right now. We'll talk later.
Serenity: Whatever.
(Serenity folds her arms and storms off, while Blue makes his way out to the
ring.)
AW: Trouble in paradise, Freeman?
CF: Certainly would appear that way. I know that Blue has been training harder
than ever in preparation for this tournament and he's looked very good so far.
He'll have his hands full with the exciting Muerte de Antedicho, who has been
turning a lot of heads as of late.
AW: I'll bet not as many as Serenity! (wolf-whistles)
CF: Let's see how both men got here.
(Another video aired showing how both men had made it this far in the tourney.)
CF: The winner of this one faces Jason Prentice in our main event for the NWA-UK
Hammerlock Heavyweight Championship. Now both these men have beaten Prentice
significantly in the past; Antedicho in the first round of the tournament and
Blue back in 2001 for the TV Title. Who will earn the chance to try and repeat
that feat?
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament Semi-Final]:
Muerte de Antedicho pinned Midnight Blue with the Antedicho Driver in 0:11:55.
Rating: *** 3/4
[Serenity interfered against Midnight Blue.]
Match analysis:
Antedicho used his high-flying arsenal to dominate the early going, nailing Blue
with a springboard spinning leg lariat. He tried to hit the Antedicho Driver on
the floor, but Blue blocked it just in time. Both men were attempting their
finishers early as Blue went for the Blue Light Special, but Antedicho escaped
and hit a springboard moonsault. Midnight Blue rallied with a German suplex and
a jack-knife power bomb, but the Spaniard was able to fire back with an Asai
moonsault. Blue executed a Michinoku Driver and followed up with a double
underhook piledriver, before wearing Antedicho down with a camel clutch.
Antedicho refused to submit and later locked on the Fujiwara armbar! Blue
writhed around on the mat in agony, fighting the pain, as Serenity came down to
ringside to seemingly help her man. Blue reached the ropes and then rolled out
of the way of Antedicho's twisting moonsault. Blue looked to capitalise, but
Serenity crawled into the ring and low blowed him! She rolled back out with an
evil smirk on her face as Antedicho planted Blue with the Antedicho Driver for
the win and the right to meet Jason Prentice in the final!
CF: Muerte de Antedicho is going to the final, but it was that conniving
witch that cost Blue his place! It is an absolute crime that Blue should lose
this way!
AW: He shouldn't have talked to her that way, Freeman! Hell hath no fury like a
woman scorned, and Blue found that out to his detriment tonight.
(Serenity stood over Blue's beaten body and yelled a string of profanities at
him. She then left the ring scowling and walked to the back with boos ringing in
her ears.)
CF: That young lady, and I loose that term loosely, is going to have some
serious explaining to do. I really feel for Midnight Blue, who truly believed he
could leave the Skydome here tonight with the Heavyweight Championship. Up next,
we shall crown the first champs of the evening, as the Hammersmith Hard Men meet
Dunky and Biscuit for the NWA-UK Hammerlock Tag Team Titles.
AW: Can you imagine a couple of Neds with our Tag Team Titles?! Then again,
those two skinhead thugs, Phillips and Knight, wouldn't be much better!
CF: The Neds defeated the Hammersmith Hard Men on TV two weeks ago and I'm
wondering how much of an effect that result with have on the outcome of this
one. Let's find out, shall we?
Match for the vacant NWA-UK Hammerlock Tag Team Titles:
The Hammersmith Hard Men (Gaz Phillips and Rick Knight) defeated
Young Posso Fleeto No.1 (Biscuit and Dunky) when G. Phillips pinned Biscuit
after a clothesline in 0:16:57.
Rating: *** 1/2
(The Hammersmith Hard Men won the NWA-UK Hammerlock Tag Team Titles.)
[Kirsty and Chiz interfered against Gaz Phillips.]
Match analysis:
The Hammersmith Hard Men kicked things off with a flurry, taking Biscuit down
with a double back suplex. Rick Knight countered Biscuit's Frankensteiner
attempt with a vicious power bomb. Knight executed two consecutive piledrivers
on Dunky and Phillips followed up with a legdrop and a kneedrop. Knight blocked
a Shining Wizard attempt by Biscuit, but couldn't avoid his Yakuza kick. Biscuit
followed that with a beautiful shooting star press which earned only a two
count. Biscuit superkicked Gaz and then took him down again with a spinning heel
kick, but Phillips was able to foil Biscuit's Vertebreaker. Knight struck with a
low blow on Biscuit and Phillips blasted him with a Hotshot. The Neds were not
out of it though and the resilient Dunky nailed an amazing swanton bomb on
Knight. Gaz Phillips made the save after Dunky planted Knight with a Northern
Lights Bomb. Biscuit put his sovereign ring on his finger and punched Gaz in the
face, but Gaz was able to kick out at 2 3/4 to cheers from the crowd. Phillips
unloaded with stiff headbutts, chokes and finally a devastating clothesline on
Biscuit to score the win and capture the titles!
CF: Well, there you have it! Your new Hammerlock Tag Team Champions - The
Hammersmith Hard Men!!
AW: Doesn't it make you feel proud? I can't believe these two thugs are the
champs.
CF: Perhaps it was the lesser of two evils. The fans seem to be happy and you
can't say that they didn't earn the gold here tonight.
(A video promo aired for the
Tag Team World Cup, a tag team tournament featuring
twenty-four tandems, each representing a different country from all over the
globe. It happens this summer and several Hammerlock superstars will be heavily
involved.)
CF: Adam, I cannot wait for the Tag Team World Cup, but coming up next is the
third and final bout in the Round Robin Tournament for the Television Title. As
it stands so far, Bailey and Campbell are tied at one point apiece, with Luke
Champion leading the way on two points.
AW: So basically Bailey and Campbell need to score two decisions in this contest
to claim the gold. That's going to be easier said than done, as I can't see
either of these men losing twice in twenty minutes.
CF: Campbell's had a longer rest period than Bailey, I wonder if that will prove
to be factor in the outcome. I'm sure Luke Champion will be watching on
backstage, praying for this one to finish scoreless.
AW: I'm still confident that Campbell can do it, Freeman. He wants to erase the
heartache of the Heavyweight Title Tournament and I'm sure he'll be able to
pound Steve Bailey here!
CF: But will he have to cheat again to do it?!
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Television Title Round Robin]:
Iron Man Match:
Bryan Campbell drew Steve Bailey:
x S. Bailey beat B. Campbell via the Pistol Whip in 0:10:27
x B. Campbell beat S. Bailey via an Oklahoma side roll in 0:15:19
x time limit expired (B. Campbell and S. Bailey) in 0:20:00
Rating: ***
Final Round Robin standings:
Decisions:
Bryan Campbell 2
Luke Champion 2
Steve Bailey 2
Match analysis:
Bryan Campbell attacked before the bell, unloading with chops, forearms and a
stunning dropkick. Both men knew that two decisions would be enough to become
the new Television Champion. Campbell resumed his assault with a full nelson
slam and an elbowsmash, but Bailey replied with a series of armdrags and a stiff
lariat. Campbell scored with a nice back suplex, but Bailey was able to duck the
Chip Off The Old Block flying side kick. The Blue Chipper wore Bailey down with
a rear chinlock; Bailey tried to make Campbell say "uncle" with a surfboard. To
everyone's surprise, Bailey executed the Pistol Whip out of nowhere at 10:27 to
go 1-0 ahead.
Refusing to feel disheartened, Campbell used a flying bulldog to reclaim the
advantage and assaulted Bailey with a barrage of right hands. Bailey stopped
Campbell in his tracks with a spin kick and a high back body drop. Bryan
Campbell uncorked a powerslam and put his feet on the ropes for leverage, but
Bailey still escaped. Campbell hit the Chip Off The Old Block, but Bailey draped
a foot over the bottom rope much to the delight of the fans in attendance!
Campbell was close to tearing his hair out!! What had been a great wrestling
match so far broke down into a slugfest. Out of nowhere, Campbell used an
Oklahoma roll on Campbell and much like he had against Luke Champion, The Blue
Chipper had a handful of tights when he scored the pinfall at 15:19. 1-1 - the
winner of the next decision will take the title! It's all on the line!
Bailey spiked Campbell with a piledriver as both men knew it was all up for
grabs. There were two more pulsating near falls - Campbell with a crucifix and
Bailey with a small package. The brawl spilled to the floor and the time limit
ran out. The round robin tournament ends with everyone tied up on two points!
Who wins the title?! Confusion reigns at the Coventry Skydome!!
AW: What the hell is going on here, Freeman?! Who's the champion??
CF: I really have no idea, Adam! Everyone has scored two points here tonight -
there is no clear winner!
AW: I don't know why I bothered asking you...
(Campbell and Bailey look at each other, totally confused. They return to the
ring and begin arguing between themselves and the referee. The crowd are not
happy with the outcome. Luke Champion returns to the ring area, equally
demanding of a decision over the TV Title. NWA-UK Hammerlock president Peter
Abram makes his way down to the squared circle with the Television Championship
under his arm. He takes the mic.)
CF: We might get some sort of a ruling here, Adam.
Peter Abram: Seeing as how this round robin tournament has unexpectedly ended up
all square with every wrestler scoring two points, I feel that this is an
unsatisfactory finish - we need an overall winner and a new Hammerlock
Television Champion.
(The crowd pops. Bryan Campbell thinks that it should be him.)
PA: I know how hard each one of these three men has worked and trained for
tonight and any one of them would make a superb TV champ. So I have decided that
right now we are going to have a Triple Threat Match for the vacant Television
Title - one fall to a finish - whoever wins this match takes this belt home with
them!!
(The crowd loves that idea! As the three men prepare to lock up, Byson comes
through the crowd and hits the ring! He attacks Steve Bailey from behind with a
barrage of punches and slings him out of the ring!)
CF: BYSON!!! Where the hell did he come from?!
(Byson lifts Bailey up and drives him back-first into the ring post. He beats
his chest, provoking several ringsiders, before whipping Bailey hard into the
ring steps. The force with which Bailey hit the steps completely dislodged him.
Byson runs his thumb across his throat, signalling that the end is nigh.)
CF: Somebody get Byson the hell out of here!! He's completely destroying
Steve Bailey!!
AW: Nobody wants to get anywhere near this monster when he is in this kind of
mood! I think we can discount Bailey's chances of winning the title now!
(Byson hoists Bailey into the air and drops him with the Bull Rutt brain buster
right onto the lower section of the steel steps. Bailey is unconscious, but
Byson gets right in his face with a frighteningly intense look on his face.)
AW: He's killed him!
CF: This has got totally out of hand. We need some serious help out here!
(A series of police officers drag Byson away from the scene of his crime, while
medical officers carefully strap a neck brace onto Steve Bailey and wheel him to
the back on a stretcher.)
CF: Steve Bailey has not moved since he took that Bull Rutt on the steps.
This is a grave situation.
(Taking advantage of the distraction, Bryan Campbell knees Luke Champion from
behind and the referee called for the bell.)
Match for the vacant NWA-UK Hammerlock Television Title:
Bryan Campbell pinned Luke Champion with the Chip Off The Old Block in 0:01:51.
Rating: **
(Bryan Campbell won the NWA-UK Hammerlock Television Title.)
Match analysis:
With the match now a one-on-one encounter, the fresher Luke Champion tried to
take advantage of Campbell with a German suplex, but The Blue Chipper kicked
out. Champion attempted the All She Wrote, but Campbell blocked it and then
struck with a low blow. Campbell succeeded with a kneelift and a flying forearm
before locking on a dragon sleeper. Champion refused to give up though, but was
now weary enough to succumb to the Chip Off The Old Block, which earned Campbell
the victory and the championship.
CF: All credit to Bryan Campbell. He was very impressive here this evening
and although some of his tactics were questionable, I think that he has earned
that title.
AW: I never thought I'd hear you say that, Freeman! You're damn right he earned
it, just like I predicted he would! He's made his daddy even prouder here
tonight at Rebirth!
CF: But how much different would it have been if Steve Bailey's opportunity
hadn't been snatched away from him by Byson? We're hearing that after that
sickening brain buster on the steel steps, Steve Bailey has been taking to a
local hospital for observation. We'll be sure to give you at update on his
condition if and when we get it.
(Bryan Campbell took his newly won championship and held it aloft as the fans
booed him mercilessly. The Blue Chipper climbed the turnbuckles in victory and
raised the belt over his head, when suddenly Junior Jones hit the ring dressed
in street clothes! He pulled Campbell down from the ropes by his tights and
peppered him with quick-fire rights as the crowd went crazy!)
AW: What the hell...?
CF: Junior Jones is here...and he wants revenge!
AW: He's ruining the greatest moment of Bryan Campbell's career!!
(The International Bright Young Thing whipped Campbell into the ropes and almost
broke his jaw with a fine dropkick. Jones then took Campbell down with a rana
and then planted him with a leaping swinging DDT! The fans inside the Skydome
were lapping all of this up! Referees then hit the ring to prevent Jones doing
anymore damage, while a disorientated Campbell retreated up the ramp cuddling
his new title.)
CF: Jones is fired up here tonight! We haven't seen the last of this rivalry!
AW: Campbell will make Jones pay, Freeman, you can rest assured about that!
CF: That remains to be seen. Well, coming up next is our main event of the
evening. It's been over a month in the making, it's the culmination of the most
gruelling tournament in professional wrestling history. It started with 16 men,
now it's down to only two. It's the final of the NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight
Title Tournament. "Picture Perfect" Jason Prentice. Muerte de Antedicho. Which
one of these two men will leave Rebirth as the new Heavyweight Champion?
AW: This is what the last five weeks have all been about, Freeman! I cannot wait
for this one. And I think that way back at the beginning of the tournament, a
lot of people wouldn't have predicted that these two would reach the final. But
you have to say that both men deserve their place here this evening.
CF: If we look at the tale of the tape, we see that the height and weight
advantage lies with Prentice. He'll be looking to hit that Perfect Plant
inverted DDT, while if Antedicho hits his variation of the Michinoku Driver,
creatively dubbed the Antedicho Driver, it'll all be over. Antedicho is more of
a high-flyer than Prentice, who...well...he just likes to cheat!
AW: Come on, Freeman.
CF: Which reminds me - how much of a factor will Linda O'Neil be in this one?
She's been a huge reason as to how Prentice has got this far, which really
annoys me because Prentice is certainly talented enough to have got to the final
by himself, yet he only seems to be successful because of that jezebel's
interference!
AW: Jezebel?! You know, Freeman, Antedicho may have the psychological advantage
going into this bout. Don't forget that these two men met in the first match of
Group C - a match that Antedicho in fact won.
CF: Excellent point.
AW: Antedicho knows that he can beat Prentice. He did so five weeks ago. But
this is the final. And Prentice is going to kick his ass!
CF: Let's send it up to ring announcer Steve Lytton for the official
introductions!!
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament FINAL]:
Two-out-of-three-Falls Match for the vacant NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title:
Jason Prentice beat Muerte de Antedicho 2 falls to 1:
x J. Prentice beat Antedicho via a bodyslam in 0:04:49
x Antedicho beat J. Prentice via a wheelbarrow suplex in 0:14:26
x J. Prentice beat Antedicho via the Perfect Plant in 0:20:38
Rating: **** 1/4
(Jason Prentice won the NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title.)
[Linda O'Neil interfered against Muerte de Antedicho.]
Match analysis:
Muerte de Antedicho hit the first big move of the match, planting Jason Prentice
with a vicious brain buster. He followed up with a bow-and-arrow dragon sleeper,
but Prentice escaped and fired back with a desperation headbutt to the
midsection. Prentice scored with a nice series of moves - a swinging neckbreaker,
a vertical suplex and a hard right hand. Antedicho took Prentice down with the
Diamond Dust, but Prentice nearly got the three count with a small package.
Prentice tossed Antedicho out of the ring and then attacked the Spaniard as he
rolled back in. Jason Prentice wore Antedicho down with a sleeperhold and just
as it appeared as the masked man was losing consciousness, Prentice bodyslammed
him and pinned him in under five minutes. Advantage Prentice!
Prentice didn't give Antedicho a chance to recover, intelligently locking in a
Boston Crab. Prentice wouldn't relent on his attack on Antedicho's back, pouring
on the punishment with a snap suplex and a back suplex. Prentice went after
Antedicho's mask, trying to tear it off. However, referee Lee Walton stepped in
to intervene and warned Prentice about his actions. This led to an argument
between the two and with Prentice's back turned, Antedicho sneaked up from
behind and tripped him! Surprised, Prentice was easy pickings for a wheelbarrow
suplex from Antedicho which earned him the three count to even things up!
Antedicho could feel the title in his grasp and executed a trademark Asai
moonsault, but sensing her man was in trouble, Linda O'Neil distracted official
Walton. While the ref attempted to get her down from the apron, Prentice struck
with a side suplex and an abdominal stretch. With the crowd behind him,
Antedicho refused to give up, so Prentice hurled him into the ringpost! Prentice
looked for his T-Bone Suplex, but Antedicho blocked hit and hit a screwdriver!
The fans were on their feet as Antedicho blasted Prentice with the Antedicho
Driver, but again Linda O'Neil diverted the referee's attention!! Antedicho
should be the champion! The Spaniard went for a flying spinning leg lariat, but
Linda shoved him off the top turnbuckle! Antedicho crashed down to the mat hard
and Prentice quickly hit the Perfect Plant for the win!!! We have a new NWA-UK
Hammerlock Heavyweight Champion!!!
AW: Yes! YES!!! Prentice has done it!! He's the new Heavyweight Champion!!
CF: Another screw-job Adam, another damn screw-job!! Something has to be done
about that bitch!
(Jason Prentice and Linda O'Neil basked in the glory of the championship win as
the fans jeered and threw rubbish into the ring, clearly feeling ripped off by
the finish. Linda strapped the gold around Prentice's waist and he dropped to
his knees in sheer ecstasy as the show drew to a close.)
CF: Well, Prentice is the new Hammerlock Heavyweight Champion, as much as it
chokes me to say it. Folks, we're out of time here at Rebirth. Join us next week
for Hammerlock TV! For Adam Wheeler, I'm Chris Freeman! Thank you for joining us
and till next time, so long everybody!!
Card rating: *** 1/4
Circuit information:
When we finally caught up with Jason Prentice, he was in a club partying hard
into the night, drinking copious amounts of champagne and celebrating the
biggest win of his career. However, when a reporter accused Prentice of only
winning the title because of Linda O'Neil's interference, he knocked out the
hapless newshound with one punch. The new Heavyweight Champion and his entourage
were then ejected from the premises, with Prentice absolutely seething.
Serenity hot-footed it from the Coventry Skydome immediately after she had cost
Midnight Blue his match and sped off into the night in an awaiting taxi. It’s
just as well she did as Blue is ready to kill her the next time he sees her.
Junior Jones is clamouring Hammerlock officials for a match with Bryan Campbell.
Campbell is also eager to get his hands on Jones after he embarrassed him after
his title win, but might be reluctant to put the gold on the line.
The feud between Byson and Steve Bailey seems to escalate each week. Bailey was
kept in hospital overnight as a precautionary measure. He was diagnosed with a
severe concussion and a stinger in his neck as a result of that dangerous Bull
Rutt. There will be an announcement regarding this rivalry on Hammerlock TV next
week.
Another upset Hammerlock superstar is Jawaid Kaleeq. He is seething at M.J.
after the beating he took following their elimination from the tag team battle
royal. Kaleeq sought out Hammerlock officials backstage at Rebirth, demanding a
match with M.J. as soon as possible.
This show was one of the finest in Hammerlock history. Heartfelt thanks to
everybody who made it possible and who made it such a success.
Don't forget to join us this week on Hammerlock TV for all the fallout from
Rebirth!!