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The Ladder of Success Pt. 1: Michael Barry

Posted: Sep 14th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Since the splintering of Excellence Personified back in December, Michael Barry set his sights on his former partner Jack Legacy and the MWA Title he held for much of the beginning of the year.

Things changed for Barry a few months into 2011. In March, he was told he would receive the title shot he had earned against Legacy for that belt. But in actuality Barry would be getting a shot at the MWA MAX-Division Title held by Dustin Heritage. Barry didn't seem too upset by this as it still meant he could get his hands on an EP member. Or at least a former EP member, as by this point, Heritage was being valeted by Sandy Partlow. Barry certainly had the crowd on his side when he did the 10-punch in 3 corners and showed his caring side by kissing Partlow during the match after she tripped him. There were a lot of near falls in this match, but towards the end, after Barry charged towards the corner, Heritage pulled referee Mark Wilson into the corner, resulting in a collision. With the referee down, Heritage superkicked Barry and covered him. Referee Jeremy Evans ran down, but only got to 2 before Barry kicked out. Heritage again went for the superkick, but Barry turned it into a Saturday Night Special. This time, Evans counted to 3 and it appeared there was a new champion. But the revived Mark Wilson overrode that decision and declared the match a No-Contest since he was unable to determine who initiated the collision that left him unconscious.

Barry continued his issue with EP when he teamed with Butch Reed as a surprise partner against the Jet Setters in a Steel Cage match in April. It was conducted under War Games rules, where escape was the only way to win and both members had to get out to end the match. This time Legacy cost his team the match when he hit Heritage with a steel chair meant for Barry, allowing Barry to escape and win the match. It appeared that Barry was on a track to get that title shot against Legacy at the May event.

But fate stepped in. Legacy had been injured in a match back in November and although he had tried to fight through the pain, it finally caught up with him and he was unable to fulfill his championship obligations, forcing MWA to strip him of his title. A Battle Royal was held, which Barry was part of, to determine a new champion. But prior to that match, Barry once again faced Heritage for the MAX-Division title. This time Heritage brought a ladder to the ring and after a long match, both men were outside battling when the referee got to 10 and declared the match a Double Countout. Heritage threw Barry into the ring, then scaled the ladder and dropped an elbow after stepping out onto the top rope. But Barry moved before the elbow could connect and after throwing Heritage from the ring, he took the microphone and challenged Heritage to a Ladder match for the MAX-Division Title in May.

That match didn't happen, as Heritage was a victim of the Joplin tornado. But both men had plenty of time to ponder the match over the summer and this past Friday, it finally came to pass. Heritage knew this was serious, so he brought back Mike Iles to be at ringside for him. Iles, in return, brought out EP Chief of Security Hadji Shore. Barry came to the ring alone, but was armed with humour as he took the microphone and addressed everyone facing him before the match began. He said that Mike Iles was like a Chinese buffet because there was always ice cream at the end and Iles looked like he had been poured (like ice cream) into his pants. He acknowledged Hadji Shore, then noticed there was no reaction and said this was appropriate as no one knew who he was. Finally, he apologised for having a hand in training Dustin Heritage. He pointed out how wrestling and titles were obviously important to Heritage, but there should be other important things, like his testicles. Because it was apparent to Barry that they should have been hung up there with the belt. According to Barry, it was obvious Heritage wasn't in possession of them because Iles was around.

With all the trash talking over, the match began. Although it started in the ring, it quickly spilled to the outside. Hadji Shore interfered, slamming a nightsick into Barry's back. This got him ejected by Mark Wilson, but Heritage used this moment to take over on Barry. Barry rallied, picking Heritage up in a Fireman's carry position and running around the ring, slamming Heritage's head into 3 of the 4 cornerposts. 2 ladders came into play, one small the other large and a lot of the typical abuse during Ladder matches became evident in this. In a surprise move, Heritage hit the Saturday Night Special on Barry and covered him. At ringside, Mike Iles counted 3, but Wilson refused, reminding everyone that this was a Ladder Match and the only way to win was to climb the ladder and bring down the belt.

After Heritage hit Barry with a Codebreaker, Iles slipped him the nightstick Hadji originally had, but Mark Wilson saw this and took it away. This provided Iles with the chance to enter the ring with a steel chair and hit Barry with it. While Heritage tried to take advantage of this, the Old School Express ran from the back. Jason Jones hit Heritage with a chair while Jake Boulder punched Iles and then stomped him incessantly until he rolled out of the ring. After one last Saturday Night Special, Barry climbed the ladder and yanked down the title belt, adding another championship to his resume. As the EP members stumbled their way up the ramp and to the back, the OSE celebrated with "Mr. Saturday Night" and helped him strap on his newly won title.

With Heritage's title loss, the longest reigning current champion in Oklahoma is SWCW Tag Team & ComPro Oklahoma X Division Se7en. His X Division title reign began on August 14, 2010.

Michael Barry now has championship gold once again, but the issues between him and EP may not be over. The condition of Jack Legacy is uncertain, although rumours abound that he might be returning at the next MWA event. If that's the case, Barry certainly has the opportunity to get his hands on the former champion. If not, he needs to focus on the challengers for his title. The ladder of success isn't just a one-way ticket and the plunge down often is a lot swifter than the ascension if caution isn't maintained.