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Two Cents Worth

Posted: Apr 27th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Well, it?s been a little while since ol? J-Dub has been on the presses for the Maximum Wrestling Alliance, but I?m back. This past show in April, the MWA crowned their first tag team champions in a tournament-style, tag team trifecta. In addition to that, MWA was honored to debut a few new stars such as Dawn of Extreme (Ty Thunder & Crucifer), Mike Sydal, and Oklahoma?s own, Brandon Groom. In addition, MWA fans got to witness the comeback of one of the best wrestlers in the state (the best, according to the recent Oklafan year-end awards), ?Mr. Endurance? Sugar Shane Morbid.

The M.U.S.C.L.E. Club (Mark Sterling & Mike Sydal) v. Compound Varsity (Canadian Red Devil & ?Broken Arrow Bad Boy? Justin Lee)

While Mark Sterling has been seen in the MWA previous to April, his tag team partner, Mike Sydal, was looking to make his debut a memorable event. However, the first targets for his campaign were the wildly popular duo of CRD and Lee. Though many fans thought that the Compound Varsity would be able to escape with victory, the M.U.S.C.L.E. Club were able to flex just hard enough to get the ?W? and get into the tag team trifecta match for a shot at being named the first MWA tag team champions.

Winners: M.U.S.C.L.E. Club (Mark Sterling & Mike Sydal)

Old School Express (?Big Country? Jake Boulder & ?Space Cowboy? Jason Jones) v. El Matadors (Uno & Dos)

What originally looked like a possible audition for ?Dancing with the Stars,? quickly turned into a great bout for the second spot in the tag-team trifecta match. El Matadors were doing quite well against the former Southern States tag champions, but the duo of Boulder and Jones were just too much for the El Matadors? taquito and salsa. After a devastating slingshot into a missile dropkick, the OSE secured the their spot in the trifecta match. Afterwards, in a fitting show of good sportsmanship, OSE & El Matadors put on a dancing spectacle (more or less?mostly less) for the fans.

Winners: Old School Express (?Big Country? Jake Boulder & ?Space Cowboy? Jason Jones)

Texas, Inc. (?Terrific? Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk, w/?Big? Stevie Caballero) v. Dawn of Extreme (Ty Thunder & Crucifier)

In their first outing in front of the MWA crowd, the DOX duo may have been the unluckiest tandem of the night by drawing Texas, Inc. in the opening match. While Texas, Inc. obviously had the experience factor, they also had the ?ace in the sleeve,? Stevie Caballero, which also offers the security of the ominous El Famoso. Texas, Inc. may have underestimated the young, high-flying duo, as DOX was able to control a good portion of the match with quick tags, good team work, and some very impressive high flying moves. However, the veteran team of Rockwell & Funk rounded out the final spot in the trifecta match by nailing the spike piledriver and getting the win.

Winners: Texas, Inc. (?Terrific? Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk, w/?Big? Stevie Caballero)

?Mr. Saturday Night? Michael Barry v. Brandon Groom

Though Brandon Groom was a new face to the MWA fans, he and Barry are quite familiar with each other. Years back, the two were thorns in each other?s sides. When they met in the MWA ring, it was as if the feud had not missed a step. Barry thought he was going to be automatically named the #1 contender because of the absence of Max McGuirk, but Director of Operations, Raymon Downey, had other plans in the form of Groom. Groom put up a good fight against the bigger Barry, but one mistake and a Saturday Night Special sent Groom home with a loss on his record.

Winner: ?Mr. Saturday Night? Michael Barry

El Famoso (w/?Big? Stevie Caballero) v. ?Mr. Endurance? Sugar Shane Morbid

After making a huge impact in his MWA debut, El Famoso was back again, much to the disdain of the crowd on hand. After a few choice anti-American words from his manager, Caballero, Famoso waited anxiously as the MWA fans saw the return of Morbid. El Famoso was surprised by the intensity brought to the ring by the real American, which gave Morbid just enough edge to get past the enormous Latino competitor. Knowing Caballero, I don?t think he and El Famoso will be very happy about the loss, so look for them to be in rare form in May.

Winner: ?Mr. Endurance? Sugar Shane Morbid

Tag Team Trifecta
The M.U.S.C.L.E. Club (Mark Sterling & Mike Sydal) v. Texas, Inc. (?Terrific? Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk, w/?Big? Stevie Caballero) v. Old School Express (?Big Country? Jake Boulder & ?Space Cowboy? Jason Jones)

In the final contest of the evening, the MWA was going to crown their inaugural tag team champions. Each team had to earn the right to be in the match, and those three teams were going to have to work even harder to earn the right to be called the MWA tag team champions. OSE and Texas, Inc. were no strangers to each other, plus, both have been quite successful in the past amongst the tag team ranks. The wild card in the match, the M.U.S.C.L.E. Club, was certainly in a good position to win the tag titles. They had confidence coming off of a victory over a proven tag team such as the Compound Varsity. In addition to that, little was known of the duo, other than Sterling?s previous performance in the MWA. Finally, the feud between Texas, Inc. and OSE could have been a huge factor, had the M.U.S.C.L.E. Club capitalized on the situation, properly. However, Caballero proved to be worth his weight in gold (which isn?t very much weight, so good thing that gold is at an all-time high), and he was able to lead his team to victory, making Texas, Inc. the first tag team champions in MWA history.

Winners: Texas, Inc. ("Terrific" Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk, w/"Big" Stevie Caballero)

The MWA is going to start off the summer with a hot card on May 1. With the returns of Blake Albright, Max McGuirk, and ?The Toast of the Coast???Handsome? Jack Legacy. With such big MWA stars on the bill, you won?t want to miss this show. Until next, time?take care.

That?s my two-cents worth,
J.W. McGillicutty