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"Mr. Saturday Night" Leaves The Building As MWA Champion

Posted: Jul 14th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Months of pursuit finally paid off for Michael Barry as he captured the MWA Title from Blake Albright. But he needed distraction and a loaded glove to win it and the next night he needed outside assistance to keep it.

Michael Barry had made his feelings well known concerning his shots at the MWA Title. On two seperate occasions, Barry had challenged for the title and both matches were 5-star classics. The first match saw the ringside table destroyed and the second came close to repeating that event. As Barry became more and more angry, he grew more and more desperate to capture the belt and prove that he was the best wrestler in MWA.

In June, Barry was supposed to receive another title shot, but Albright wasn't able to wrestle due to an ankle injury. He still hobbled himself to the ring and spoke to the crowd and said he would be ready to defend the title the next month against Michael Barry. But that wasn't enough for Barry, who stormed to the ring and declared that everyone was playing a game of "Let's screw Michael Barry." He also accused Albright of faking the injury and went to sucker punch him, but Blake knocked Barry out in the ring, forcing new associate Lars Manderson to come to his aid.

Barry ended up competing against Jim Fallon that night, but Albright sat at ringside for the match A flurry of action is the best way to describe their match, which appeared to be over when Fallon hit the "H-Cutter" on Barry. But there was no referee and when Fallon went to revive him, Barry connected with the Saturday Night Special for the win.

On July 10, just one day after celebrating the 6-month anniversary of winning the title, Blake Albright once again stepped into the ring with Michael Barry. Barry was accompanied by Lars Manderson and also was wearing a black glove, reminiscent of "Black Betty", worn by Ted DiBiase in his MSW days. Early in the match, Manderson tripped Albright on the outside of the ring and the referee ejected Manderson from the procedings. But that wasn't the end of the outside interference.

After another top-quality match was mostly done, it appeared that once again Albright was going to come out victorious. But then a masked man stepped from the curtains and stood at the top of the rampway. Although it appeared to be the Longhorn Assassin, there was no way to prove it. During this brief distraction, Barry reached in his tights and pulled brass knucks out that he could load into the glove. When Albright turned around, Barry connected once in the middle of the forehead, then covered Albright for the 3-count. At that point, the mysterious masked man disappeared and Lars Manderson reappeared, running down the ramp to help the new champion to his feet.

But as sweet as the moment was for Barry and his protege, it was about to get worse as, from backstage, MWA Director of Operations Raymon Downey annouced that Barry would be FORCED to defend his belt the next night in Pryor. With no rest for the wicked, Barry knew that it would be a lot more prepared for that match. And it was held in the semi-main event postition in Pryor. Again, these two left everything in the ring and the match has been described (for the who were not there) as 'Amazing.and hard-hitting." This time, the end of the match was somewhat more devestating. Barry once again was accompanied by Lars Manderson, who got up on the ring apron. His intention was to hold Albright while Barry once again hit him square in the middle of the forehead, but that didn't work and Barry ended up knocking Lars out. Albright then went to hit the "Posterizer", but missed. Barry did not miss the opportunity with the Saturday Night Special and retained his title.

With Blake unable to capitalise on his automatic rematch clause, it seems like Barry will now have some fresh opponents to face as champion. Barry is known for long title reigns, as his first IZW Title reign lasted over a year and he enjoyed seven months as NWA-OK Oklahoma Champion during his second title reign. Whoever steps up must be prepared to outwit not only Barry but anyone who accompanies him as well.

Tags: Michael Barry, MWA, Blake Albright, Lars Manderson, Jim Fallon, Ted DiBiase, MSW, Raymon Downey, IZW, NWA-OK