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Injury Forces Spike To Take Time Off to Heal

Posted: Jul 10th 2015 By: Michael Hunt

Few people embody the heart and determination of a champion like Spike Lopez. Sheer desire and ability have gotten him far in this business, but there is more than that in the makings of a champion. And Spike was a champion for 341 days in 2014 and 2015, part of that a dual champion. That time came to an end this past Friday, but Spike handled it like a champ, because that is what he is.

When the major upheaval of talent happened last summer in MSWA, Spike had been part of the Greenhorns. But when offered an opportunity to vie for the MSWA Oklahoma Title that Double D had vacated, Spike faced off against Buster Cherry and former stablemate Kenneth K. Kenneth and capture his first singles gold. Thus bean a near-1 year run as the dominant champion in MSWA. While Rick Russo was the MSWA Mid-South Champion, he was absent and non-competitive for more than half of his title reign. But Spike was in there, defending his title against anyone thrown against him. When Les Mayne won the MSWA Title from Russo in an incredible Dog Collar Chain Match, that was the last time Mayne was seen in MSWA. And again, Spike was the man that the people recognised as champion. Even when the K. C. Wolves were in their 1 year-plus reign as MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions, there were weeks that went by without them present. And once more, Spike was the only champion on the card.

He was a true champion and the peoples champion.

Not one to rest on his accomplishments, Spike began 2015 by beating Patient Zero for the ComPro Showtime Title. This title is unique in Oklahoma in that it is required that the champion make a title defence at EVERY ComPro event. But that was normal for Spike, as he had essentially been doing that in MSWA. Two months of successful defences ended on March 7 when Wade Argento defeated him and began his impressive reign which is still ongoing as of this writing.

On June 19, Paul Puertorico came out and voiced his frustration to commissioner C. M. Burnham in regards to the outcome of his impromptu MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title Tournament match against Brock Landers. Puertorico said he felt that he deserved a title opportunity and wanted a shot at the Oklahoma Title. Spike arrived and as always, was up to the challenge. So the match was set for later.

Both of these men were very familiar with each other, having competed against each other in ComPro, SRPW and BCW, just to name a few. That familiarity made it much more difficult for either man to gain an advantage. Puertorico certainly had the experience edge while Spike brought intensity and desire. Both men had strong crowd support. As the match went on, Puertorico began to compete in a slightly more aggressive style than usual, showing how much the title meant to him, especially now that Burnham had added extra value to it.

And then, the big mistake. As Puertorico was whipped into the corner, Spike sensed that the end was near and charged in for the Spear, but Puertorico side-stepped it and Spike collided with the ring post. Wailing in pain, Spike lay collapsed on the outside. Referee Alan Arthur quickly checked on Spike, then threw up the X signal to the back, indicating serious injury. Members of the locker room, including Burnham and Rock-N-Roll Cowboy, came to ringside as an uneasy us fell on the crowd. Spike was helped to his feet and was assisted towards the back while Puertorico expressed both dismay at the circumstances in the match and a continued desire to finish it properly.

But despite an undiagnosed, but obviously serious injury, Spike did not want to quit. Despite an attempt at calm rational thought from both Burnham AND RNR, Spike did not want to end the match that way. He demanded that the match be restarted and reentered the ring. Puertorico, sensing blood in the water, immediately pounced on the injured arm. But Spike fought through the pain and was successful this time in catching Puertorico with the Spear, followed by a Jackhammer (done, for all intents and purposes, with one arm). With the last bits of energy in this body, Spike covered his opponent and got a 3-count.

Spike was taken to a hospital after the show and doctors diagnosed an injury to his shoulder that would require rest for several weeks in order not to make it worse. But Spike was not willing to sacrifice his career for that and competed the next day in a Battle Royal to determine the #1 contender to the UWE Title. He entered 1st and was the 9th person to be eliminated. But his time in the ring also served to do more damage. e was scheduled to compete the following week against Wade Argento for the Showtime Title, but that never happened after his girlfriend, Misty Lynn, suffered an injury in her match against ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion Killista. Nevertheless, the stress of that scenario did nothing to help matters. Another visit to the doctor was scheduled and the news was rim: surgery was a necessity.

On July 3, 2015, just 21 days short of a one-year title reign as MSWA Oklahoma Champion, a somber Spike stood before the MSWA fans. He spoke emotionally about what being a champion meant to him and about what wrestling meant to him. But he knew that he could not fight anymore in his current condition. With that understood, Spike called out Commissioner Burnham and relinquished the Oklahoma Title. But he promised the fans that he would be back and would be stronger and better than ever.

And that he would be a champion again.