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Emotions, Opportunities Overwhelm Gallows At SWCW Crow Tribute Event

Posted: Jul 27th 2011 By: CMBurnham

One month ago, Crisstopher Crow lost his life in a tragic automobile accident. Immediately, the Oklahoma City federations began to plan tribute events for him. The BYEW show occurred just a few days after his death and brought a record crowd for them in their current venue. On July 17, MSWA put on their tribute show, which saw the return of many former MSWA stars and the largest crowd for MSWA at Club RAW.

But the federation that most people understand to be Crow's "home" federation was SWCW. He had his first and last professional matches for them. So it was appropriate that the Underground Arena host the final Crow tribute show. And over 300 people agreed, packing the building despite the malfunctioning air conditioners.

Crow's brother, Drake Gallows, certainly appreciated the turnout. After the 10-bell salute to Crow, he said he was glad that they were all there for his family. It was the hardest time for him, but he knew his brother wanted them to celebrate, so this wouldn't be a sad day. Gallows told the assembled masses that Crow was the most talented person he knew. He had the opportunity to tag with him once (at an MSWA event on May 15, 2011) and he only had one match against him (at a SWCW event, June 4, 2011. Gallows won that match). Originally, Crow was supposed to be one of the four men in the main event for the SWCW Title. Gallows was taking his brother's place and was also in the Battle Royal for the SWCW All-American Title. He promised the fans that he would leave the building a dual champion or he would die trying.

Drake looked to be on the way to fulfilling one of those title quests in the opening match. SWCW All-American Champion Rudy Edwards had been forced to defend his title in a 24-man Gauntlet Battle Royal. Things didn't start well for Edwards has he and rival John E. Stone (who had put Edwards out with a concussion a few months back) started the match. 20 people made their way in and out of this match until it came down to Gallows, Bobby Star, Death Row 2nd & SWCW Champion Kevin James Sanchez. Gallows had spent quite a bit of time on the outside in the course of this match, building a platform of sorts out of steel chairs. That became incredibly important in the final moments of the match. Gallows threw Star out and Sanchez eliminated Death Row, then the final two competitors faced each other. Both men began throwing punches and tumbled over the top rope, but landed on the apron of the ring. Meanwhile, Star and Death Row were still on the entrance way and Star convinced Death Row to go back into the ring and spear both of them, knocking them off the apron and through the steel-chair contraption they had built. Referees George Knight and Hillbilly both raised one of the two men's hands, believing they had seen the other hit the floor first. So with no clear winner, SWCW commissioner L. J. McDaniels held the title up and said that Sanchez and Gallows would face each other at the August 6th show to determine who the new champion was.

That wasn't the last time these two men would have to be around each other, as both were in the main event. Sanchez would defend his SWCW Title against Gallows, Rick Russo and John E. Stone inside the 6-Sides of Sickness. But for a few minutes only Russo and Stone made inside the combination of barbed wire and steel. Sanchez & Gallows both battled each other out the back of the arena, around the outside and then back in through the front door. And all this was before the match officially started!! Commissioner L. J. McDaniels had one more surprise as he announced that there would be a special guest referee for the event. Again, Death Row 2nd came down the rampway. Earlier, Bobby Star had hinted that he knew who DR2 was, but he didn't provide any proof. Before he entered the ring, Death Row 2nd removed his mask, revealing himself as David Kyzer, who had been banned out of SWCW after losing a Loser Leaves Town match in June. Kyzer stepped into the ring and match was on. Stone was the first person to be opened up and his face soon became the proverbial crimson mask, as he dripped blood all over the floor. Gallows brought a ladder out from under the ring and put it inside the cage before being busted open by Rick Russo, who also was on the receiving end of some barbed wire on the outside, courtesy of Stone. As the action continued, Gallows hit Sanchez with a Emo Killer and got the win. Milton Winkelman announced him as the new champion, but L. J. McDaniels quickly announced that things had changed and that this was now an elimination match. So Gallows' dreams were crushed as he realised he had to battle his way through 2 more men. This didn't bring him down emotionally though as he quickly climbed to the top of the cage and connected with a crossbody on both Russo and Stone.

Kyzer gained a bit of personal revenge when he looked to be aiding Russo by holding John E. Stone for Russo to come off with an axhandle on. But when Russo jumped, Kyzer shoved Stone to the side and kicked Russo in the mid-section as he came off. Stone then went in for a cover and Kyzer counted 3, eliminating Russo from the match. So once again Gallows found himself as one of the final 2 men in contention for a championship. Gallows tried a legdrop from the top of the ladder, but missed. This led to Stone schoolboying Gallows and pulling the tights to gain the win and becoming the new SWCW Champion.

It seemed that Gallows had let everyone down by not being able to live up to his promise to walk out with 2 titles. But the most emotional moment of the show was still to come. Stone and Gallows hugged after the match and then Gallows called Kevin James Sanchez down to the ring. They also embraced and kayfabe was set on the back burner for the remainder of the show. Sanchez called SWCW Hardcore Champion Kareem Sadat out and Sadat then invited Gallows' & Crow's mother into the ring. She brought a white rose in, which she laid in the centre of the ring in honour of her son. Sadat gave thanks to BYEW and MSWA for their tribute shows and then handed the microphone over to Sanchez as the locker room began to come surround the ring again. Sanchez said that they had thought about making a video tribute for Crow, but wanted to do something more from the heart. He recounted Crow's title accomplishment as Sadat exited the ring and climbed a ladder near a cloth, hanging over the entrance to the arena. Sanchez said that Crow had been an SWCW Cruiserweight Champion and an SWCW Tag Team Champion, but now he would be THEIR champion. Sadat pulled the tarp, revealing a framed picture of Crow, together with a replica WWE Smackdown World Title belt. Sadat also had personal plaques made for both Drake and his mother and presented them in the ring.

It was a very touching and emotional display, marred only by the inappropriate choice on Rick Garrett's part to lead the crowd in a chorus of "Nah Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye" on two occassions. Both Gallows and his mother broke down in tears as the plaque was revealed and, just like at the MSWA event, the chant of "Freakshow! Freakshow!" resounded through the arena to close things out. There was no way that Gallows could have let his brother down given his performance at this event. But it's obvious that he still wants to prove something and win a title his brother couldn't. On August 6th, he'll have that chance. Gallows has never held a title in SWCW. The All-American Title is the only current title in SWCW that Sanchez has never held. Both men can certainly increase their personal standings as a result of this match. And both can say they did it in a final act to honour someone they cared about deeply.