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Hagen Overcomes Humiliation To Capture Heritage Title

Posted: Mar 31st 2010 By: CMBurnham

A Match of the Year contender occurred this past Friday when ComPro Tag Team Champion Dutch Hagen defeated TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion Shane Morbid for his title in Wagoner.

Morbid was one of the five longest reigning champions in the state, having held the title since defeating Jon Cross for it on June 12 in Muskogee. Although Morbid has generally been a solo performer, this championship came to him with the assistance of manager Sensei Bolo. But that alliance didn't last long. By the time of TAP's move from Muskogee to Wagoner, Morbid had traded Bolo for newcomer Richard Pierce. Pierce, complete with cocky attitude and Joel Gertner-esque wardrobe, brought Morbid to the ring to defend against Dutch Hagen. Hagen was prepared to meet "Mr. Endurance" and even seemed able to counter many of Morbid's underhanded moves. But nothing prepared Hagen for a low blow from Morbid, which brought a DQ victory, but not the title. Hagen was irate and Morbid sacrificed his own manager, throwing Pierce to Hagen, who promptly bodyslammed the pudgy manager before applying the "Dutch Clutch", causing Pierce to scream in pain. Morbid returned to help his fallen assistant from the ring and seemed unwilling to risk any further physical confrontation.

Dutch had plenty of time to let the issue simmer and prepare to take the title away from Morbid between February 12 and March 26. When the show opened this past Friday, Hagen came out and said that Morbid had taken the easy way out. He cheated, but Hagen was prepared for that this time and was ready to take full advantage of his rematch. This brought Richard Pierce out and he told Hagen that he obviously didn't learn his lesson the last time. Morbid owed Hagen nothing. Hagen lost his cool and grabbed Pierce by the lapels, but turned his back from the entrance, which allowed Morbid to slide into the ring and clip Hagen in the left knee. Pierce and Morbid were certainly prepared and produced a pair of handcuffs, which they used to secure Hagen to the ropes. Then, in the ultimate act of humiliation, they unmasked the bound superstar in the ring, exposing his identity for all to see. Pierce and Morbid continued to beat on Hagen before leaving, feeling secure that they had done enough damage to avoid the title defence later that evening.

Morbid even went so far as to annihilate newcomer Pennywise in the second match. Referee Mark Wilson held the Oklahoma Heritage title up at the beginning of the match, indicating that it was on the line, but this was not a worthwhile contest as Morbid disposed of the clown in slightly over one minute. Morbid seemed confident that this would constitute his title defence and he wouldn't have to put the belt on the line again until April at the earliest. He was very wrong.

After the semi-main event, TAP commissioner J. P. Steele arrived and informed ring announcer C. M. Burnham that Dutch Hagen had demanded to have his title match that night. Obviously injured, but still determined, Hagen came to the ring, a towel covering his newly unmasked head. Morbid and Pierce confidently strode in after them and the match began. For the first time, Hagen completely revealed his face to the crowd and the focus in his eyes reflected the determination in his soul. It was an epic contest, with Morbid giving Hagen everything he had. But no matter how badly Hagen was knocked down, he wouldn't stay down. He kept fighting back, hitting European forearms, shoulder blocks off the top rope and ultimately connecting with the Dutch Oven to put Morbid down and become the Oklahoma Heritage Champion. Pierce completely lost his cool at ringside, but Morbid showed a calm consistency that reflected the character many fans in ComPro had come to know. After the match, Morbid extended his hand to acknowledge the victorious effort Hagen had given. Pierce slapped Morbid's hand down, though, not willing to accept that his champion was no more. Morbid shrugged off the champion and again extended his hand, grasping that of Hagen and celebrating the new champion. When Hagen left, Pierce forearmed Morbid in the back, but that was like using a BB gun to attack a Sherman tank as Morbid unleashed on Pierce, laying him out with the Leroy Jenkins clothesline, then walking away with the crowd supporting him.

Morbid ended last year as the only Triple Crown Champion in Oklahoma, but that status was eliminated when he was upended for the ComPro Title by TAP Adrenaline Champion Richie Adams. After his loss to Hagen, Morbid's only title is the MWA MAX-Division Title, which he will defend on April 9th against an as-yet-to-be announced opponent.

With Morbid's title loss, the longest reigning current champion in Oklahoma is now TAP Champion Reckless, who defeated the Canadian Red Devil for the title on June 12, 2009.

Tags: ComPro, Dutch Hagen, TAP, Shane Morbid, Jon Cross, Sensei Bolo, Richard Pierce, Mark Wilson, J. P. Steele, C. M. Burnham, Richie Adams, MWA, Reckless, Canadian Red Devil