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Johnny Z Hesitates...And Could Be Lost

Posted: Dec 6th 2009 By: CMBurnham

There's an old saying: Don't kid a kidder. That can be turned into several things, including "Don't con a con". And there are few better descriptions of Johnny Z than "Con". The man is ruthless, deviant, disgusting and universally hated amongst the Oklahoma wrestling world. In his 7 years in the sport, he has proven over and over again that he is always one step ahead of his competition and there are no depths he won't sink to.

But it seems that SWCW Champion Kevin Morgan might have found the weakness for the Impact, Inc. leader. For weeks, Morgan has been apparently torn between his loyalty to MSWA and the wooing of Johnny Z. Fans constantly wondered which way he would turn. On November 15, it seemed he had made his decision, as he came out to the ring during a match between Johnny Z & MSWA Mid-South Champion Aaron Neil, clocking Aaron with a chair. As Johnny & MSWA Oklahoma Champion Jermaine Johnson celebrated, Morgan stripped off that shirt to reveal an MSWA shirt, then laid out Jermaine as well.

Huniliated and embarassed, Johnny went back to what he knew well, making people mad. At the beginning of the MSWA show last Sunday, he interrupted a promo by a church pastor who was telling the crowd about a luncheon that would be run in conjunction with the MSWA show on December 13. In an act of pure arrogance, Johnny told the crowd to bow before him because he was their "only saviour." He then put the entire locker room of MSWA on notice, saying that if they weren't with him, they were against him. He continued to brag about how he allegedly carried the show and no one would care about MSWA if it weren't for him. Finally, after hearing enough, Kevin Morgan came to the ring. He said that, when dealing with an evil mastermind, you always have to stay one step ahead. The question at hand was never whether Kevin was MSWA or Impact, Inc. He was ALWAYS MSWA. Now, the question is about how badly he wants to kick Johnny Z's ass. At that point, Morgan slapped Johnny hard across the face. Johnny almost jumped across the ring at Kevin, but was restrained by Jermaine Johnson. After calming down, Johnny proposed an idea to Kevin. He knew Kevin wanted to be the #1 contender to the Mid-South Title. Johnny was still officially the #1 contender. So, he proposed a match in the main event to determine once and for all who the #1 contender was. As the crowd chanted "Whoop him NOW!!", Morgan calmly agreed and returned to the locker room to prepare.

Never one to rely on chance, Johnny found an easy way to bait Morgan into a trap. After Johnson made a successful defence of the MSWA Oklahoma Title against Dustin Daniels (thanks in part to the presence of Impact, Inc. security and Johnny Z at ringside), a gang-style attack was made on Daniels until Kevin Morgan came to the ring. Morgan was able to spinebuster Johnny, but was then cut down by Johnson as he hit Morgan from behind with the title belt. Johnny then sent one of his minions to the back to get a chair and delivered a vicious beating to Morgan's ribs before several other members of the locker room came out to chase the group away. They arrived a little too late, though, as Morgan clearly had injuries to his ribs and had to be helped to the back.

Johnny's plan neared it's ultimate conclusion when the time for the main event arrived. Johnny came to the ring first, surrounded by the other Impact, Inc. members, but when Milton Winkelman announced Kevin Morgan, his music played but he was nowhere to be seen. Milton tried again, but still no Kevin. Referee Donny Brooks came out and told Milton that Kevin couldn't compete in the match as he was too injured. Johnny grabbed the mic and demanded that Morgan be counted out and he be officially announced as the #1 contender. The referee got to 8 before Morgan stepped through the curtain, ribs taped and obviously in severe pain. As he was helped to the ring by La Reina de Corazones, referee Bill Decker asked him if he was capable of competing. He said "Yes" and the match was on. Johnny moved in quickly, targeting the ribs, then using frequent distractions by his entourage (or, what Jermaine Johnson called his "John-tourage") to capitalise on the situation. Ruthless, aggressive and without pity, Johnny continued to beat on Kevin, but Morgan wouldn't stay down. Frustrated, the entirety of Impact, Inc. made their way into the ring. The referee called for the DQ, but they didn't care. More injury was the plan for the day and once again the steel chair was brought into the ring. But before Johnny could swing and connect on the back and ribs of the prone Morgan, La Reina threw herself across the fallen champion to protect him.

And Johnny Z hesitated.

Staring at the small woman who was willing to sacrifice herself, Johnny seemed hesitant. And that was all the time that was needed for several members of the locker room to once again run in and save Morgan, chasing off Impact, Inc.

Is it possible that there are actually depths that Johnny won't sink to? In the past, Johnny has used every means available to to him, be it financial or personal, to achieve everything he wants. He's ended friendships, tried to destroy federations and sacrificed titles all the in the name of personal advancement. But perhaps Johnny now shows a weakness. Maybe, as another old saying goes, it's beauty that can tame the beast.

Tags: Johnny Z, SWCW, Kevin Morgan, Impact, Inc., MSWA, Aaron Neil, Jermaine Johnson, Dustin Daniels, Donny Brooks, La Reina de Corazones