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Rockwell Rides Into The Sunset Until 2010

Posted: Nov 13th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Last week, TAP Tag Team Champion Tim Rockwell physically attacked his uncle and fellow TAP Tag Team Champion Bernard Funk after Funk was pinned, costing Texas, Inc. the ComPro Tag Team Titles. Rockwell was irate that Funk decided to retire after that match and delivered a resounding message to his "Uncle Bernie", labelling him a quitter.

Perhaps Rockwell should have thought about karma before that.

While Rockwell & Funk were staples of the ComPro ring, that wasn't the only federation they competed for. A month ago, they engaged in an Old School Butt Whoppin' Match against the Old School Express for the MWA Tag Team Titles. Tensions seemed to be building between Funk & Rockwell after that match. How that tension might have played out in the MWA ring was not to be discovered. This past Friday, MWA commissioner Mike Iles came out and told the fans that he received many phone calls from wrestlers around the area wanting to get a shot in MWA. But he had never received a phone call from someone wanting to leave. He then brought Bernard Funk out. Funk came out and congratulated The Old School Express on their victory the previous month. He said they were the better team and it was time for him to step aside and retire.

At that point, Texas Inc's manager Stevie Caballero came out and said he was not shocked, but he was sad. He ran down many of Funk's accolades from his 17-year career. While this was going on, Tim Rockwell was sneaking into the ring from behind Funk. Caballero told an unsuspecting Funk that they had a present for him for his retirement. Funk turned around and was speared by Rockwell. Rockwell then sealed Funk's career by delivering Funk's own finisher, the Texakazie and then buried him under the Texas flag. Rockwell took the microphone and said that this "wasn't personal, it's just business."

Officials would come down to help Funk, escorting him from the ring while the crowd chanted "Bernie!!".

This might have been the only thing to go right for Rockwell the whole weekend. later that night, After intermission at the MWA event, The Old School Express said they wanted to compete that night. Rockwell & Caballero answered the challenge and said they deserved a rematch for the tag team titles. Iles agreed, but pointed out that Funk was now retired, so Rockwell didn't have a partner. Rockwell revealed the Longhorn Assassin as his partner. In the past, the Longhorn Assassin had been revealed to be Bernard Funk, but that obviously wasn't the case this time. The OSE didn't care who Rockwell's partner was. They were together and prepared and it showed, as the Assassin was isolated and unable to live up the reputation that Bernard Funk had created. Things got so frustrating that Rockwell & Caballero walked out on their partner, leading to a loss. But, to their credit, they did come back to help him from the ring after the match was over.

Rockwell was unsuccessful in one title challenge, but another one lay waiting for him the next night. The previous week, Rockwell had battled with ComPro Showtime Champion The Canadian Red Devil after intermission. This prompted ComPro owner Mike Two to come out. Rockwell said he wanted a title shot and he would kill CRD the same way he had killed Bernard Funk. Mike Two pointed out that Rockwell had lost matches the past two weeks, once to ComPro Tag Team Champions Dawn of Extreme and once to long-time nemesis Justin Lee. Rockwell said he didn't care what he had to do in order to get the match. Mike Two then conceived an idea. To counter the Devil putting up his Showtime Title, Rockwell would have to put up his career for the remainder of 2009. If Rockwell, lost, he would be gone from ComPro until 2010 and if he violated that suspension and was seen at any ComPro event, he would be suspended forever. Rockwell told Mike Two that he would have Stevie Caballero draw up the contract and, if he won, Caballero would rip it up. But he promised not to lose and assured the crowd that they would respect him after he became Showtime Champion.

One week later and there was no backing down. Stevie Caballero was notably absent from ringside, leaving Rockwell on his own. But Rockwell is no rookie and did well countering the varied attack from the masked Canadian. It was all for naught, though, as the Devil finally locked Rockwell in the Sharpshooter and forced him to tap out.

After the match, Rockwell stood opposite the champion with the microphone. He publicly proclaimed that the Devil was the better man, then thanked the fans for their time and money and promised to return. Perhaps some of what Rockwell promised came true as the fans gave him an ovation as he left. Some of that respect that Rockwell had forseen had come to him. And maybe karma was repaid.

Two years ago, Rockwell was ranked the #1 wrestler in the state. Last year, he had only slipped down to #3. His absence from the ring for two months will probably cost him in the rankings, but it will give him a chance to recover and rethink his career. Rockwell might return with the fans behind him. Or he might come back the same old Tim Rockwell that the fans have known for so long. Only time (about two months' worth to be exact) will tell.

Tags: TAP, Tim Rockwell, Bernard Funk, ComPro, Old School Express, MWA, Mike Iles, Steve Caballero, Canadian Red Devil, Mike Two, Dawn of Extreme, Justin Lee