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R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Can Anyone Teach It To Stone?

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 By: CMBurnham

For someone who hasn't been in Oklahoma very long, John E. Stone certainly has racked up some enemies.

And he doesn't seem to mind that. Stone has made himself one of the more active wrestlers in the state, competing in federations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. While it's true that he's not setting the world on fire with his win-loss record, he is making his name known.

And along the way, Stone has not been picky about who he crosses paths with. Although, like most bullies, he enjoys targeting those who seem least likely to fight back. In MSWA, Stone found a minor amount of fullfillment by trying to make an example out of Chris Morrison. But Morrison had a defender in the form of Outlaw. As much as Stone seemed willing to pick on the rookies, he also appeared to show no respect for the veterans. Stone repeatedly told Outlaw on that day it was time for him to go home and it was that preoccupation that cost him the match as Outlaw spit in Stone's face and Morrison schoolboyed him for the win.

The issue with Outlaw and Stone carried over to SWCW, where Outlaw was a regular competitor. At Hardcore Hallelujah, there was supposed to be a Bullrope match between the two men, but due to a date change in the event, Outlaw was unable to be there. So the match became a Sooner Mayhem match and Stone faced Rudy Edwards. Edwards, another rookie, had made a name for himself with his flamboyant personality and alternative lifestyle, things that the fans embraced, but that Stone seemed unwilling to accept. The match didn't last very long as Stone gave Edwards a concussion after a steel chair shot to the head and referee George Knight stopped the match, awarding the decision to Stone. An ambulance was called and Edwards was transported to the hospital where his diagnosis was made.

Edwards announced on Facebook that he would be unable to compete for at least a month and Stone took great pleasure in what he'd done, even going so far as to carry the chair that delivered the concussion to the ring with him this past Saturday. Written on the chair were the words "Rudy Killer", but if that was meant to intimidate Outlaw, it didn't have the desired effect. The wiley veteran came prepared in a match that is one of his signature pieces. Normally, competitors in a Bullrope Match have to touch 4 corners to win, but since SWCW uses a 6-sided ring, that increased the difficulty. What no one expected though, was the appearance of Rudy Edwards. As the strains of "YMCA" rang through the Underground Arena, Edwards danced and gyrated down the runway. Both Outlaw and Stone had touched 5 of the turnbuckles on their way to winning the match, but Edwards' distraction took Stone's mind off his game. This let Outlaw chokeslam Stone, then slap the final cornerpad for the victory.

That wasn't the end of Stone, though. In an act of pure humiliation, Outlaw used the bullrope to hogtie Stone, then allowed Edwards to dance and gyrate over his immobilised body. Outlaw then put the exclamation point on the issue by chokeslamming Stone on the steel chair he had brought to the ring.

It seems unlikely that this will bring an end to Stone's behaviour, but perhaps he will think differently when faced with people who have been around longer in wrestling than he has. Also, the rookie contingent showed that they are not ones to be taken advantage of. Stone's journey in this business now progresses with the understanding that he may not be able to just run roughshod over whoever he wants to. To gain respect, he has to give it. And that giving may have begun with Rudy Edwards, if somewhat reluctantly.