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Farat's 13 Month Reign Of Terror Ended

Posted: Oct 2nd 2008 By: CMBurnham

On September 8, 2007, just short of 6 years since the devestating attacks on American soil by Middle Eastern terrorists, a terrorist attack of a different sort began when Al Farat tossed 3rd Rail over the top rope and captured the vacant MSWA Mid-South Title in a battle royal.

What followed was a reign of terror that lasted 386 days. Farat held the MSWA title hostage. Sure, he defended it. Occasionally. But often against lesser-calibre opponents. Even when MSWA held the Lethal Lotto Tag Team Tournament to determine a #1 contender to the title, Farat demanded that he make his title defence right after the match where Ky-Ote won the privelege. Farat knew that Ky-Ote was beaten, worn down and weakened. Thus he was easy pickings.

Since that time, Farat has faced challengers who simply have not presented him with enough challenge in the ring. All except one. Striker took up the cause of America when Farat threatened to burn the American flag in the MSWA ring. He challenged Farat to a Flag match for the title, but he got more than he expected when Farat threw fire in his eyes, blinding him and allowing the "Crimson Prince" to hold onto his title. Striker was incapacitated for quite some time, but quietly planned revenge for these actions.

Between Farat's many absences from the MSWA ring and his manipulation of the title defence regulations, he managed to hold on to his belt until September 28, 2008. On that day, Farat came out to address the crowd when his manager Jin Soon, who was filling in as ring announcer, introduced him to the assembled crowd. Farat said all his issues in Oklahoma started in 1988 when he embarassed Tom Jones in Cobo Hall. He informed the fans that last week, he had wrestled in front of 10 000 people in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but this week, he's in front of 50 fans in Midwest City at a flea market. He then announced that at the next show, he would be having a huge party to celebrate his 1 year-plus reign as champion. Chants of "Where's the title?" began to eminate from the crowd as Farat had not brought out the belt with him and the fans were concerned that once agaIn, he would not be defending. Farat said that he had been forced to defend against someone that he liked even less than Tom Jones. That "someone" was Striker and Striker came out to confront the Arab champion.

Striker said that Farat's 13 months as champion meant nothing because being a champion meant defending the belt, not throwing fire in an opponent's face or using lawyers to get out of the 30-day title defence rule or running out of the building and back home to mom rather than face a "real opponent" in the ring. He promised to take the title for all the people represented by the American flag and swore that Farat would be lucky to walk out of the arena on his own.

Striker's request for a Blindfold Match had been answered by MSWA management and when it came time for the main event, both men came to the match with different mentalities. Striker couldn't wait to get the mask on so he could win the belt, but Farat was much more concerned. One at least one occassion, he pulled the mask off, complaining about how hard to breathe it was and how he couldn't see anything. Striker let his actions do his speaking for him, waiting for the referee to take charge and secure the bags over their heads. The action then began and was surprisingly fast for a blindfold match. Usually, these matches plod along as each man tries desperately to find the other. But Farat was quick to locate his opponent and get him down. These tactics did short term damage, but the long term was much different. Jin Soon attempted to get involved, but Striker knocked him off the ring apron, then used the foreign object Soon had tried to get to Farat on him instead, setting him up for an easy pin and an end to the 386 days of terror in Central Oklahoma.

Farat was so irate that he came to physical blows with Jin Soon and apparantly ended their relationship.

With Farat's title reign ended, the position of longest reigning current champion is divided between Tim Rockwell (TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion) and The Innovators (TAP Tag Team Champions). Both of these champions have held their tiltes since March 22, 2008.

Farat's loss of singles gold does not put him completely off the chart as a champion. He and Thomas Trump, better known as High Society, have been NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions since the middle of May. They also added the TCB Dual Kombat Division Titles about a week ago and may be adding more titles soon as they are set to challenge for some championships in Arkansas and Texas in the coming 2 months.

Tags: Al Farat, 3rd Rail, MSWA, Ky-Ote, Striker, Tom Jones, Jin Soon, TAP, Tim Rockwell, The Innovators, Thomas Trump, High Society, NWA-OK, TCB