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And the #1 Contender is...J. P. Steele?

Posted: Aug 13th 2009 By: CMBurnham

When you think of the people likely to dethrone ComPro Champion Draven Cross, there are several strong contenders: TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion Shane Morbid, ComPro Showtime Champion The Canadian Red Devil, TOPW Oklahoma Champion Brandon Groom. But nowhere on that list would you expect to see J. P. Steele. Nonetheless, after the events of the ComPro show Saturday night, J. P. now sits with a title shot awaiting him against "The Annihilator".

To be fair, Steele's record during his entire career hasn't exactly been amazing. He's seen far more of the loser's share of the purse than the winner's. And after losing in a 6-shot match at the TAP show in April, 2008, Steele faded from the Oklahoma scene. Perhaps he was healing up injuries. Perhaps he was just fed up with the direction his career was going. Whatever the circumnstances, Steele was gone and no one really noticed.

That all changed on July 11, 2009, when Steele made his return to ComPro. Steele was announced, followed by his opponent, Tyson Armstrong. Soon after the bell rang, Tyson hit Ground Zero and gained the win. The match lasted about 8 seconds.

Two weeks later, J.; P. burst out after the opening segment and confronted ComPro owner Mike Two. He said that his loss to Armstrong was a fluke and demanded a REAL opponent. Mike Two provided one in the form of Shane Morbid. To the surprise of no one, this match didn't go the way of Steele either, although it did last a little longer and Shane felt like playing with his opponent before "smoking his lips" and gaining the win. Steele's return seemed to be headed along the direction that his entire career had headed and he didn't know what to do to fix that.

This past Saturday, Steele once again came to the ring and demanded to speak to Mike Two. He said that he felt he'd been cheated and wanted one more chance to prove himself. The look on Mike Two's face was similar to that of the teacher who is dealing with the constant problem child asking for "one more chance". But he gave and and upped the ante a little, saying that he was going to put J. P. in a #1 contender's match for the ComPro Title. Steele was excited, but then his mood swiftly changed when he learned that he was again going to have to face Shane Morbid.

Morbid confidently came to the ring and began to disassemble his opponent with chops to the chest and stiff forearms to the face. The beatings continued and Steele's morale went straight downhill as he could feel the end coming. In desperation, he grabbed Shane's trunks and threw him outside. Shane prepared to reenter the ring, but just then ComPro Champion Draven Cross emerged from the entrance and clobbered Shane from behind, ramming his head into the cornerpost, busting him open and rendering him unconscious. As Steele stood by and an astounded crowd looked on, the referee counted 8...9..10. Steele defeated Morbid by Countout, but the win was still valid to make him the #1 contender to the title.

Steele left the ring and then Draven & MWA & TAP Tag Team Champions Texas, Inc. came out to triple team Morbid. Tim Rockwell grabbed a mic and said that Morbid had as much of a chance against Draven as ComPro Tag Team Champions Team SuperBad did against Texas, Inc. Perhaps Texas, Inc. should have kept the champions' names out of their mouths as MWA MAX-Division Champion Justin Lee & TAP Adrenaline Champion El Super Colibri ran to the ring armed with steel chairs to defend their fallen comrade. With Team SuperBad inside the ring and Texas, Inc. & Draven outside the ring, Mike Two once again appeared to restore order.

The fans made their wishes known as a huge "Take the Belt!" chant rose up, directed at Draven, but Mike Two said he wanted to see Draven lose the belt in the ring, not strip him of it. He ordered Texas, Inc. and Draven out of the building and then went to attend Shane, who was recovering by that point.

Most of the fans believe that the true #1 contender to the title is Shane Morbid, but as it stands now, J. P. Steele has earned the next title opportunity. Whether he capitalises on it or not is anyone's guess, but if he can pull off what would have to be considered an upset, lots of local fans and promoters would have to sit up and pay attention to a man who had made perhaps the most triumphant return to Oklahoma wrestling ever.

Tags: Draven Cross, ComPro, TAP, Shane Morbid, Canadian Red Devil, TOPW, Brandon Groom, J. P. Steele, Tyson Armstrong, Mike Two, MWA, Texas, Inc., Tim Rockwell, Team SuperBad, Justin Lee, El Super Colibri