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TAP's New Era All About One Man

Posted: Feb 17th 2010 By: CMBurnham

For several months, J. P. Steele worked to establish himself as the Hardcore Icon of Oklahoma wrestling. In numerous outings against the Canadian Red Devil, Steele used treachery, deceit and a multitude of foreign objects to try and gain victories over the Devil as well as other opponents like Sam Stackhouse. But the injuries took their toll. And after a falling out with ComPro management, Steele found himself without anywhere to wrestle. So he did what so many former wrestlers have done: he turned to the corporate side of wrestling and became TAP?s new acting commissioner.

TAP debuted this past Friday in Wagoner and brought a plethora of fresh talent as well as some returning faces. Two championships changed hands and fans were treated to a show that delivered action, intrigue and plenty of hard-hitting wrestling. When the show opened, J. P. Steele came to the ring and addressed the crowd, saying that it was a new era. He was now in charge and he promised that things would change. It seemed appropriate, since TAP was moving from its former headquarters in Muskogee and setting up station in Wagoner, that new beginnings should be declared and after making his announcement and allowing hometown boy John the Encourager to make some statements to the crowd, J. P. took his seat at the announce table and proceded to watch the action. After Richie Adams defeated Steven Sterling (thanks to some help from the Stars of Chaos) for the vacant TAP Adrenaline Title, J. P. delivered the belt to him, then exited, making no comment on the outside interference. Things appeared a little suspicious already.

A couple of segments later, Steele returned to introduce Michael York, who came limping to the ring. York had injured his knee during the match where he and TAP Champion Reckless lost the ComPro Tag Team Titles to Legion 13 and the damage was determined to be severe enough that he would need surgery. York thanked the crowd and said that he would be back in 10 weeks, but when he came back, he also promised to be a champion they could be proud of. This brought out the Saints of Twilight, who confronted York and asked what he was trying to do. Without Boss Campbell there to calm things down, it appeared that the twin grapplers were going to attack a wounded York until the Canadian Red Devil came to York?s defence. The Devil, who had lost the TAP Title to Reckless in June of last year, demanded a rematch for the title, something he had never received. And J. P. Steele was quick to agree that the main event would see CRD challenge Reckless for that title once again.

When the time for the main event came, York accompanied CRD to the ring, presumably to counter the presence of ComPro Showtime Champion Ignition in Reckless? corner. And then, J. P. Steele arrived again and declared that the match would now be a No DQ match. York and the Devil were quick to take advantage of that stipulation, each taking a member of the SOTs and pounding on him. York and Ignition battled to the outside and then separated to watch their respective men. CRD & Reckless also made good use of the No DQ policy which allowed them to use such things as the rope that made up the barricade, the ring ropes, moves such as standing on the throat of their opponent and so many others. Neither man seemed to be able to gain a strong advantage until the Devil locked Reckless in a submission hold in the ring. The referee was down asking Reckless if he wanted to give up and sacrifice the title and York, apparently to enthusiastic about the possible victory, jumped in the ring with the belt, shouting encouragement to CRD?until he took the belt and slammed it onto the head of the masked challenger. And there was nothing the referee could do because it was a No DQ match.

After pinning the Devil to retain his belt, York and the SOTs began a vicious beatdown of the Devil. And who should come out and affirm their actions? None other than TAP commissioner J. P. Steele, who entered the ring and reminded the Devil, and the fans, that he had declared a new era of TAP. Not even commissioner for 2 hours and Steele was already drunk with power. And he used that power to gain the victory over the Devil that he couldn?t decisively do in the ring. Steele and Devil have a long history with each other and that history only became more convoluted thanks to the commish?s actions this night. Now, surrounded by the TAP Champion, the ComPro Showtime Champion and a man who is willing to sacrifice his ethics just for a quick buck, J. P. Steele is set to show the dominance outside the ring that he could never get the fans to acknowledge inside the ring. Heaven help any member of the TAP roster who gets in his way.

Tags: J. P. Steele, Canadian Red Devil, Sam Stackhouse, ComPro, TAP, John the Encourager, Richie Adams, Steven Sterling, Stars of Chaos, Michael York, Reckless, Legion 13, Saints of Twilight, Boss Campbell,