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Rail Runs Rockwell Over En Route To MSWA Title

Posted: Aug 4th 2011 By: CMBurnham

For far too long, the prestige of the MSWA Mid-South Title has been maligned due to behind-the-scenes activity and a lack of care. That all seemingly ended this past Sunday as a new champion was crowned, a new manager entered the roster of MSWA and the new regime was forced into a corner due to a technical loophole, bringing all of this to pass.

The problems all began back on March 6, 2011. On that date, Awesome X and Double D def. Impact, Inc. in an Elimination Match, forcing Bernie D, IZW Champion Jermaine Johnson and then-MSWA Mid-South Champion Johnny Z to leave the company. The problem was that Johnny couldn't come back to defend the title, so it was stripped from him. Qualifying matches were held for a Fatal 4-Way match, which saw Double D defeat Morgan, Xavior and 3rd Rail in an Elimination match to win the belt on April 17. But he never got to defend the title as MSWA commissioner Shawn McKeaigg fired Double D (simply because he could) on June 11 and again the title was vacant.

This was the dilemma facing new MSWA commissioner C. M. Burnham and he had a plan. Simple, but effective. Burnham opened the show Sunday by bringing out the MSWA Title belt and announcing that a tournament would be held and a new champion would be crowned before the end of the night. But before that tournament began, Big Stevie Caballero made his debut in MSWA, strolling to the ring and announcing that he loves gold and has acquired the services of 3rd Rail. Burnham reminded Caballero that Rail was not involved in the tournament, which prompted Caballero to complain about that. Despite Rail being a long-time major player in the company, always a top contender to the title and even having won a Battle Royal on March 6 to become the #1 contender to the title, he still hadn't been entered into the tournament. Burnham would not reverse this decision, but did offer a compromise. If someone in the tournament was unable to show up and participate in their match, Rail would be substituted in their place. Caballero seemed filled with glee about this and exited the ring.

Burnham tried to get the tournament started but was again interrupted, this time by the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions, the New Age Syndicate, who demanded to be put into the tournament. Burnham pointed out that they were already champions and he couldn't risk them being unable to defend the tag team titles if they were preoccupied with the Heavyweight title, but the Sanders' were insistent, so Burnham decided that Scott Sanders would have a tournament match immediately and his opponent would be...Shawn Sanders. Initially outraged, the Sanders tried some shenanigans involving Rock-Paper-Scissors and a Fingerpoke of Doom, but Burnham swore that if that that was how they were going to determine a winner, he would suspend them both. So the match then became something of a comedy of errors as the competitive spirit overcame both men and their propensity for dirty tricks took over. Eventually, Shawn Sanders faked a knee injury and as Scott checked on him, Scott cradled Shawn and referee George Knight counted 3. But Knight then announced Shawn as the winner as he was confused as to which Sanders was which, since they're twins. Unable to resolve the issue and faced with two screaming wrestlers in his face, Knight decided to just throw the match out and neither man advanced in the tournament.

Tim Rockwell faced Les Mayne in the 2nd opening round match. Rockwell held a solid experience advantage while Mayne had the distraction of Katy at ringside. It was a very competitive match, but Rockwell hit a Grapevine DDT from the 2nd rope for the win.

The 3rd match was supposed to see Tyson Jaymes take on newcomer Max Wild, but as soon as Wild got in the ring, 3rd Rail and Caballero arrived. Rail entered the ring, stared intensely at Wild and actually scared the rookie into leaving the ring before the bell rung. Caballero nearly went into convulsions as he screamed at Burnham that this should count as a competitor not arriving for his match since it happened before the match started. Faced with either advancing someon with a bye or acquiescing to Caballero's demands, Burnham saw no real choice but to allow Rail to take Wild's place. And the former South Side Soul Assassins faced off once again as they had done on several occassions over the past year. Fans unfamiliar with Caballero quickly learned that he not afraid to get physically involved in the match as long as the referee isn't looking and that interference proved to be the determining factor. After choking Jaymes over the ropes previously, Caballero hopped up on the ring apron to distract him. Jaymes turned towards Caballero and raised his fist, prepared to deliver a hamhock to Caballero's head, but Rail caught it, scooped Jaymes up and finished him off with a Rail Bomb in the middle of the ring, advancing to the finals.

So the final match was set and the irony was that Caballero wasn't the determining factor, but he certainly could have been. For many years, Caballero and Rockwell were inseperable as Texas, Inc. ran roughshod all over the state. Before the final match to crown the new champion took place, Caballero addressed this former association, saying he still had a soft spot for Rockwell and that was why he was offering him a chance to just forfeit the match and hand the title to Rail. Rockwell thought about it briefly and Caballero said that Rockwell should consider the future of his daughter. Rockwell too affront to the mention of his personal life and said that if he were to ask his daughter Chloe what he should do in this situation, Chloe would say, "Daddy, I want you to stick your foot as far up Stevie's ass as you can!" Rockwell then said he'd tell his daughter not to talk that way, but demanded that the match begin! It was a hard fought effort by Rockwell and he had plenty to prove. Although he had been Heavyweight Champion in MWA and ComPro, Rail had 4 SWCW Titles to his credit, along with a massive size advantage and the outside presence of Stevie Caballero. While it seems certain that Caballero coached Rail on Rockwell's striengths and weaknesses, he didn't interfere in the capacity that he did during the Rail/Tyson match. And ultimately it was proven that he didn't need to as Rail was able to beat Rockwell cleanly in the middle of the ring.

Caballero had what he wanted. Rail had what he had lusted after for years, but never achieved. And Burnham was forced to announce Rail as the new champion, much to Caballero's excitement. But then, the "celebration" began for Rail as he picked Rockwell up and delivered another Rail Bomb. Burnham ordered the bell rung to try and restore order, but Caballero and Rail obviously had a mission. Rail dragged Rockwell's prone body to the corner and delivered 2 Vader Bombs, only stopping when Burnham threatened to strip the newly won title off of him. At that announcement, Caballero quickly ushered Rail out of the ring and into the back. Members of the locker room came to the ring to help Rockwell to the back. At this time, it's uncertain what injuries Rockwell suffered, but trauma to his ribs seems assured.

Fans loudly protested Rail's actions, going so far as to demand that Burnham strip Rail of the title. But Burnham knew that would just set things back to where they had been before. When contacted for a comment, he simply said he had "other plans" for Rail and Caballero and they would be revealed on August 14.