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Midnight Madness! Rider Targets Hardaway, But Why?

Posted: Jun 4th 2009 By: CMBurnham

When the Midnite Rider came to MSWA, it seemed obvious that he was supposed to be current MSWA Oklahoma Champion Bad Boy. Bad Boy had just lost a Loser Leaves Town match to Outlaw and for anyone who knows the history of masked wrestlers using names similar to the Rider's, they know that it's often the exiled wrestler come to get revenge for his banishment.

That doesn't seem to be the case here. In FACT, during one appearance, the Rider was unmasked after a match and revealed to be Outlaw himself. But it seems likely that that was just a one-time disguise as Outlaw and the Rider have appeared multiple times together since then.

Rider's original purpose seemed to be as a hired hit man of Outlaw's. That quickly changed so that he targeted the OKC veteran. But with Outlaw retired from in-ring competition, it seemed like the Rider would disappear as well. And that hasn't been the case. He's been lurking around. He's been wrestling now and then (not terribly successfully) and now it appears he has found a target in Dexter Hardaway.

Rider appears to have targeted Dexter as early as April 5, when he interfered in a match between Hardaway and Tyson Jaymes. Outlaw turned this match into an impromptu tag team match and Dexter paired up with MSWA Mid-'South and IZW Champion Aaron Neil to gain a victory. A month and a half later, the Rider made his presence felt again by interfering in a tournament match to determine the #1 contender to the MSWA Oklahoma TItle between Dexter and Brian Blade. Blade advanced thanks to a crippling piledriver from the Rider onto Dexter, but Dexter's wife Talon gained a measure of revenge, throwing a pie in the Rider's face and allowing her man to escape without any further injury.

When Dexter came out to address the crowd this past Sunday, he said that ever since returning to MSWA, he and Talon had had a lot of fun. They loved being there on Sundays, but the past few Sundays hadn't been the best because of the Midnite Rider. After taking that piledriver, Dexter competed later that week at the NWA-OK show in Bristow in a tag team match with TAP Champion The Canadian Red Devil against Montego Seeka and the returning Prophet. During that match, his left shoulder went numb and this caused him to worry about his future in the business. But more than that, it makes him mad. And when Dexter gets made, he gets focused. At that point, Dexter revealed that he was in possession of the mask of the Midnite Rider and announced to the crowd that he knew who the Rider was.

But before he could reveal his suspect, MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions T. M. S. strolled to the ring. They said no one cared about Dexter, Talon or the Rider. They were just there to see the champions. Dexter, feeling slighted and never one to back down from a conflict, suggested that the champions put their titles on the line against him. GPCW Champion Seth Allen said that he would, but the commission wouldn't allow Talon to wrestle as his partner, so Dexter would have to find a real partner. Dexter suggested that he could take anyone from the back or even someone from the audience and would beat the champions. Both pairs then made their way to the back to prepare for the surprise main event.

When the main event came, Dexter revealed his partner as Aaron Neil and Seth Allen, together with IZW Impact Division Champion Dane Griffin, seemed a little taken back. But all four men remained committed and Neil & Hardaway had a good showing, considering that they're not regular tag team partners. But then, in what should have come as no surprise to anyone, the Midnite Rider made his way to the ring. He was no surprise to Hardaway, though, who saw him and attacked by executing a cross body from the top rope to the outside, then battling with the Rider to the back. All the while, Talon looked on, wondering which way to go and Aaron Neil seemed oblivious that his partner had left him. Despite being a double champion, Neil is still one man and was unable to counter the double team, allowing T. M. S. to retain their tag team titles. But despite winning the match, Allen & Griffin prepared to carry out some post-match punishment and it was only the assistance of TAP Pure Xtreme Champion Brandon Groom that prevented the champion from suffering potentially devestating injuries.

Personal issues are nothing strange for Dexter Hardaway. Earlier this year, he engaged in a horrendous feud with Shane Morbid, which ended in a match that appeared to put Dexter's career in jeapordy. Will the issue with the Midnite Rider be the same? Hardaway seems to have a slight advantage, as he claims to know who the Rider really is. And as far as suspects go, there is an entire locker room full of them. But if history is any indication, Dexter will make his revelation soon and it seems likely that the feud may increase at that point.

Tags: Midnite Rider, MSWA, Bad Boy, Outlaw, Dexter Hardaway, Tyson Jaymes, IZW, Aaron Neil, Brian Blade, Talon, NWA-OK, TAP, Canadian Red Devil, Montego Seeka, Prophet, T. M. S., GPCW, Seth Allen, Dane Griffin, Brandon Groom , Shane Morbid