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10 Years Later, History Repeats Itself, Spoils Return For Dutch Hagen

Posted: Jul 9th 2021 By: CMBurnham

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Wrestling For a Cause in October. While not technically a WFC event, but a ComPro event, the show that was held in October, 2011 for Ryder Herring was the seed to spark the beginning of WFC. At that show, the main event featured ComPro Champion Tim Rockwell defending the title against Dutch Hagen, with Richard Pierce in his corner, in a No DQ/Falls Count Anywhere match and if Hagen lost, he would be fired from ComPro. And that is exactly what happened, though it took a police force to remove Hagen from the building that night.

Dutch Hagen would go on to be a regular competitor for WFC and on December 1st, 2018, he and Richie Adam, along with Pierce and Gary Poppins, captured the WFC Tag Team titles from Bishop Nasty & Riker. Together, as London Calling, they would go on to set the current record for the longest WFC Tag Team Title reign, holding the belts until March 7, 2020, when they lost them to Tommy Dean and Reed, collectively known as The Chase.

That was the last time that Dutch Hagen was seen in WFC until this past Saturday. Quarantine travel restrictions had prevented him from returning to the United States from Luxembourg. His partner Richie Adams continued on in his absence, but seems to have been fighting a one-man war to represent London Calling in the absence of Hagen, Pierce and Poppins.

Things might be looking up for the tag team now, though initially, it appeared much more like a case of history repeating itself when WFC did a special show at Safari Joe’s in Tulsa. The main event once again was Dutch Hagen vs. Tim Rockwell. No title on the line. No special stipulations. Just another chance for these two to go at each other. And despite having been away from the ring for 15 months, Hagen had lost none of the arrogance he is typically associated with. After making his way to the ring, he immediately forced ring announcer Tuck Davion to be his manservant. The fans’ reaction to this was predictable, so they were more than thrilled when the man who still refers to himself as the “Natural Born Villain” came out to a crowd joyous to see him. Hagen went right to work after getting in the ring, throwing his wig at Rockwell and then using it to choke Tim. Referee Dylan Feltz forced Hagen to relinquish the wig and when Hagen turned back to Tim, Rockwell fired up, immediately dumping Hagen to the outside and pursuing him. Rockwell battled Hagen all the way around the outside, giving the fans an up close and personal view of how to dominate a man bigger than you. Once back in, Rockwell tried to go for the Grapevine DDT, but Hagen rough out of it. The two men battled back and forth until Rockwell was able to get Hagen down in a corner. Rockwell then delivered three running knee strikes, the third with the knee pad removed and went for a pin, but only got a 2-count. Hagen recovered and made his way to the top rope, but his lack of recent ring time displayed in his inability to stablise himself on the top rope. This led him to missing the Swanton Bomb and Rockwell went for the Grapevine DDT for a second time. Hagen shoved Rockwell into a corner, but after turning to yell at the fans, turned back around only to be greeted by a Tornado DDT from Rockwell. Another pinball attempt by Rockwell saw Hagen escape with his hand under the bottom rope. Not one to want to lose an opportunity, Rockwell picked up Hagen to go for the Grapevine DDT a third time but Hagen turned himself and kicked Rockwell below the belt while blocking the referee’s view of it. Hagen, sensing the end was near, hoisted Rockwell up for the Dutch Oven and in an impressive display of power, walked Rockwell around the ring before executing the move, but that gave Rockwell time to slide down Hagen’s back and FINALLY connect with the Grapevine DDT for the win.

So, as it did ten years ago, the record books will show another win for Tim Rockwell over Dutch Hagen. But one has to wonder now about the immediate future. Rockwell has already announced that he will be entering the Freedom Rings Rumble and if he wins, could be challenging WFC Champion Alex Royal, who he has said is his “best friend” for that title. Hagen has not held singles gold in WFC and it’s been over 7 years since he held a singles title ANYWHERE. But is Hagen going to be focused on that or is his interest in once again reigning atop the WFC Tag Team mountain? Whichever it is, Hagen’s return to WFC should put many of the roster members on notice that things will not be easy for them if he is across the ring.