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The Star Of The Show!

Posted: May 12th 2011 By: CMBurnham

He likes to tell his fans that he will be "The Star of the Show!" And Jeff Starchild did just that when he once again became the MWA Champion this past Friday. But not everything looks like smooth sailing for the "Human Action Figure" as both his title victory and his past performances are somewhat unimpressive in many people's eyes.

Starchild had won the MWA title before, back on March 5, 2010. On that occassion he defeated Michael Barry for the title in a steel cage match in which current MWA & IZW Tag Team & MSWA Oklahoma Champion Max McGuirk served as a special "enforcer" on the outside. Starchild was declared the winner in that match, but he never pinned Barry for the title, instead climbing over the top of the cage to win the match. That in itself was not enough to malign Starchild's title reign, but two months later, in his first title defence, Starchild was defeated by Jack Legacy, beginning his nearly one-year reign as MWA Champion.

Although the fans never lost their admiration for Starchild, a lot of insiders and people in MWA management wondered if Starchild was championship material. While a loss to Legacy is in no way demeaning, being unprepared for his first title defence and losing certainly took a lot of shine off of Starchild's star.

Starchild began to work his way back up the ladder and met some interesting competition in the form of Michael Barry. Barry and Legacy began fighting amongst themselves, much to the dismay of Excellence Personified manager Mike Iles. And it seemed that Barry had come out on top of the situation when he defeated Starchild and current BYEW Caution & ComPro Champion Tim Rockwell in a Triple Threat Match to become the #1 contender to the title in January. Oddly, though, Barry seemed to lose his interest in the Heavyweight Title, instead choosing to focus his attention on MWA MAX-Division Champion Dustin Heritage. Starchild seemed to disappear from the scene as well after a confrontation with newcomer Bobby Lambert. Lambert, who had just defeated the Canadian Red Devil in his MWA debut, wasn't content with that accomplishment and proceded to continue his viscious attack until Starchild came to his rescue, bringing a chair to get Starchild off of CRD. But Lambert grabbed the chair and in an insane show of toughness, slammed himself in the head 5 times with it while walking around the ring. Starchild took the microphone and proposed a match for the next show between the two of them, but that match never happened as Starchild was not present at the April show.

So with Barry focused on Heritage and Starchild wanting to get his hands on Lambert, who was lining up to take on Jack Legacy for the MWA Title? Turns out that wasn't an issue. Jack Legacy had been injured on November 20 during a 5-on-5 Elimination match at a ComPro event. He attempted to compete, mostly in tag team matches, but had reinjured that ankle on April 15 when he reformed the Jet Setters one more time to take on Barry and his surprise partner Butch Reed. Legacy was unable to defend the title and the MWA Board of Directors had no choice but to strip him. A 10-man Battle Royal was announced at the beginning of the MWA event and Starchild immediately made it clear to all the fans that he intended to walk away as the champion. Then after the opening match, Starchild reappeared to again talk about the Battle Royal. Bobby Lambert decided this would be a good time to reintroduce himself and complained that he had been there for 3 months and no one would give him a chance to talk, so he was just going to take it. He said that it made no sense for Starchild (whom he referred to as a "pansy in glitter pants") to be a representative for all Oklahomans. He had something to prove. Starchild simply said that 2 months before, Lambert had rained on his party and if he thinks he's losing this title opportunity, he's sorely mistaken, once again stating that he has always been "the star of the show!"

The issues between these two heated up after Lambert got DQed in his match against Max McGuirk. Again, Lambert went to the chair and walloped McGuirk with it in their one-on-one match, losing the match. But that didn't matter to Lambert as he drug McGuirk back in the ring and delivered more chairshots. Finally, Starchild came to the rescue and the two men completely laid into each other until the locker room emptied to try and seperate them. Starchild wriggled free to go after Lambert on a couple of occassions, but finally "The Lumberjack" was removed from the ring and order was restored.

But when it came time for the main event, there were no rules holding these men back. As long as neither of them went over the top rope, they could beat on each other all they wanted. And along with 8 other MWA stars, that's just what they did. Other pairings certainly had issues with each other. Chris Morrison and Richie Adams were the first two eliminated and battled their way up the ramp. Michael Barry threw Dustin Heritage out, but then was yanked over the top by Heritage and those two wailed on each other as they went through the curtain. The final 3 people in the match were Starchild, Bobby Lambert and newcomer Crow. Crow was picked up easily by Lambert, but instead of tossing him over, Lambert threw him at Starchild. Starchild caught him without letting him hit the mat, but Lambert then followed it up with a stiff kick to Starchild and Crow was inadvertantly thrown over the top rope. That left Lambert and Starchild, both of whom were determined to prove they were the alpha male in this scenario. Lambert grabbed Starchild by the head and threw him over the top, but Starchild held onto the ropes, skinning the cat and reentering the ring. Starchild then dropkicked the already-celebrating Lambert, who plunged over the top to the ground and the crowd erupted as Starchild laid claim to his second MWA Championship.

But again, Starchild had won the title without actually pinning anyone for it. And it certainly seems that Bobby Lambert has a claim to be the first contender to the belt as he was the last person eliminated from the Battle Royal. Lambert has not been pinned yet in his MWA career and certainly provides a stern challenge to the new champion. And what of Michael Barry? Officially, he still is the #1 contender to the title, having never cashed in that championship opportunity it won in January. Certainly lots of people remember how weak of a champion Starchild proved to be before. He will most certainly have to step up his game or his star will not shoot to the top so much as burn out very quickly.