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Chaos at the Stampede! Injuries, Betrayals and New Champion Make For An Unforgettable Event!

Posted: Jul 19th 2022 By: CMBurnham

Ask anyone in the wrestling industry what the number one driving factor is for any aspiring wrestler and generally the answer is "ego". All the competitors who step in that ring believe they are the best or else they wouldn't be there. They thrive on the competition and many of them thrive on the reactions of the fans. Some even find ways to connect with the fan base in specific ways.

Take WFC Hometown Heroes and UWE Apex Champion Koko. Koko has been competing for a little over a year, but has developed a strong, dedicated following that he refers to as his "Kokonuts". And that year has seen him rack up an impressive resume of championships here in Oklahoma as well as up in Kansas. While he no longer holds the WAH Living Hope Title, the other two Oklahoma based championships are firmly in his grasp. Koko won the UWE Apex Title from CPW Champion Tommy Dean on October 16th and Dean has pursued Koko and that title ever since.

This past Friday saw what was billed as the final confrontation between those two for the Apex Championship. But it didn't end the way anyone expected it to. After getting frustrated by Koko and his success at out-wrestling Dean, Dean moved from wanting to win the title to simply wanting to hurt Koko. And he did that, focusing on Koko's leg and injuring him to the point where Koko could not stand up and had to be helped to the back. This meant that his chance to earn a spot in the main event against UWE Champion Wesley Crane was seemingly taken from him, all due to the jealousy of one man.

That wasn't the end of Tommy Dean's surprises that night. A video was shown with Dean and Crane and Crane talking about how he intended to be a fighting champion. And to demonstrate that, he declared that he was going to defend the UWE Title in the 12th annual Sooner Stamped match. For reasons that are still unclear, Tommy Dean chose that moment to attack Wesley Crane, laying him out with a belt shot across the forehead so hard that UWE Director of Operations Dereck Rhodes informed the crowd after intermission that Crane had been taken to a local medical facility and was diagnosed with a concussion that would render him incapable of competing in the Sooner Stampede match. Rhodes also decided, given Crane's uncertain status, to validate Crane's announcement and therefore the Sooner Stamped Match would see a new UWE Champion crowned. Suddenly the stakes were so much higher than they had been. And the stars entered had so much more motivation to be successful.

Tommy Dean and UWO Champion Derek James were the first two combatants in the match and over the next 30 minutes, many other stars would join them. Nathan Estrada, WAH Champion Dan Webber, Romeo Reese, rookie sensations such as Dove Puro, Eddie Levaughn and El Gallardo and several of the mini-Thunders from the labs of Thunder, Inc. And to everyone's surprise, 2/3 of the way through the entrants, Koko made his way out. His right knee heavily bandaged and noticeably limping, Koko still was determined to prove that his heart could carry him through the match. Sadly, Tommy Dean showed no remorse in once again attacking that knee, leaving Koko in a heap on the outside, no eliminated from the match, but clearly not going to be able to compete.

The final two men were ones that would make a severe impression on this match. Next to last was WCR Tag Team Champion Mr. Nasty, who attacked everyone in the ring, demonstrating the power of his pimp hand and leaving no questions unanswered regarding his desire to once again by UWE Champion. And then at the end came the the man called Fuel. 4-time UWE Champion. A 3-time Sooner Stampede winner. He had posted on his social media earlier this day that he was going to win his 4th Stampede and planned to go for his 5th UWE Title in October. And the crowd in Tahlequah erupted as they always do for Fuel. He was their hero, their icon. The man who fought the good fight against all the evils to invade a UWE ring.

Fuel entered the ring and began clearing house quickly, disposing of Dove Puro and Eddie Levaughn. This left 5 men, with Fuel, Tommy Dean, Dan Webber, Mr. Nasty and technically Koko still in the match. Somehow, Koko was able to muster the strength to get into the ring and Webber found himself catapulted out of the ring. Then, a complete surprise as Wesley Crane's music hit and Crane appeared in the entrance-way, bandaged, but upright and taunting Tommy Dean. Dean soon found himself eliminated over the top rop and that left three. Three men beloved by the fans, so they knew they would get an ending that would be satisfying to them in some way. Nasty was the next to be dumped over the top and it came down to two proud Native warriors.

This was where things got interesting. It was clear on his face that Fuel did not want to compete further against an injured foe like Koko. He tried to reason with him. Tried to convince him to just go out and compete at a later date. But Koko refused to be treated like a lame horse. If he was going to fall, he would go down fighting and he demanded that Fuel fight him.

And Fuel finally acquiesced. He went right after the injured leg. And ever so gradually, the boos began to filter through the cheers in response to Fuel. Fuel knew this was not what he wanted to do, but if it was the only way that Koko was going to accept defeat he would do what Koko wanted. Positioning Koko against the ropes on one side of the ring, Fuel got momentum up to clothesline him over the top and eliminate him.

And just when Fuel was a couple of steps away, Koko moved and pulled down the top rope, causing Fuel to fly over the top and land on the outside.

Koko, despite his injury, had won not only the Sooner Stampede match, but the UWE Championship. The crowd went crazy in celebration. And when one of the referees came over to get the belt to present it to Koko, Fuel grabbed the belt out of his hand and entered the ring.

Seemingly sensing that something wasn't right, Mr. Nasty quickly came to the ring as well. The last three men in the Stampede now stood together as Fuel handed Koko the championship and then Nasty and Fuel raised Koko's hands as he turned and saluted all the members of the crowd.

And then, in what has to be considered the biggest shock in the history of UWE, Fuel betrayed all the loyalty and love that had carried him through the entire existence of this company as he and Mr. Nasty attacked Koko. The viciousness of their beating on the fallen warrior reflected the obvious jealousy in their hearts. Long established as the heroes of UWE for much of the past 13 years, Fuel and Nasty together violently attempted to end Koko's champioship reign before it began. It was only thanks to the intervention of Dan Webber that Koko was not more seriously injured. And somehow, after Fuel and Nasty had been driven off, Koko was able to get to his feet and make his way around to his family in the front row and his other fans, thanking them for their support in his championship endeavours and their continued goodwill after what they just saw.

Koko's physical condition is not currently known, but he is scheduled to defend his WC Hometown Heroes Title this Saturday and rumour has it that more than one challenger will be across the ring from him, one of which will again be Tommy Dean. Clearly the odds do not seem to be in Koko's favour, even if he were not dealing with an injury. But nagging at the back of Koko's mind during that match and all other matches until UWE's next event is one simple question: Why? Why did you do it, Fuel? Why did you do it, Mr. Nasty?

And how will both of them feel when Koko is finally able to gain some revenge?