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Fires All Around For MSWA Commissioner To Put Out

Posted: Oct 10th 2011 By: CMBurnham

No one said the job would be easy. But when C. M. Burnham was named commissioner of Mid-South Wrestling Alliance, he probably didn't expect it to be quite this difficult either. Trying to restore law and order after the regimes of Shawn McKeaigg and Impact, Inc.has proven to be an uphill battle and Burnham's innate stubborness and focus have been quite helpful in his battle to fix the company's problems.

The problems came at all levels. One of the first to confront him was with MSWA's lone remaining referee Brock Landers. Landers is a quality referee, but over the past few years has gotten himself booked in a wrestling capacity at several feds, even MSWA. Recently, he had an opportunity to capture the Mid-South Tag Team Championship with current MSWA Mid-South Champion 3rd Rail. This didn't go to Landers' favour as Rail turned on him during the match and walked out, leaving Landers to be pinned by then-champions The New Age Syndicate. Landers returned to refereeing and was quite efficient in the job. But apparantly underneath the calm exterior, Landers was boiling with rage at being "only" a referee. And while officiating the match between Max Wyld and the debuting Senor Pappos Fritos, Jr. III, Landers attacked both men, causing the match to be thrown out. Burnham hopped up into the ring to confront the Landers, who said that didn't want to be a referee anymore. He wanted to be a wrestler. Burnham reminded him that as long as he wore the referee's shirt, he was obligated to be an official. Landers tore the shirt off. Burnham then declared that if Landers wanted to be an official so much, he had an opponent in the back for him and brought out ComPro Oklahoma X Division and SWCW Hardcore Champion Se7en. Wasting no words, Se7en hit the ring and pummeled Landers, not letting him get in a single offencive blow. Landers eventually walked out on the match, knowing he was outclassed and declaring that he wanted a match with MSWA Oklahoma Champion Eric Rose.

After intermission, a confrontation in the ring between Nemesis & The New Age Syndicate, prior to their Tag Team Title main event, had to be calmed down by Burnham as well. He said that he wasn't present or in charge when the Syndicate won the Tag Team titles, but he had seen the tape and knew that there were shenanigans pulled. He promised that would not be happening in this match. To make things completely equal, he ordered that Rage Logan not be allowed in the building. It would be 2-on-2. He also said that the Sanders' would not be allowed to bring kendo sticks or shillelaghs with them as well. During the match, the Sanders found themselves frustrated and tried to take a count-out loss, knowing that would protect their titles. But Burnham stopped that, saying that if the Sanders' didn't return to the ring, they would be counted out and the belts would be awarded to Damien Morte & Damon Windsor. The Sanders' returned and tried to use the tag team belts on Windsor, but he ducked and Shawn Sanders hit his brother Scott Sanders in the head. This allowed Windsor to connect with the chokeslam and Morte to connect with a swanton for the win and the championship. On their way, Shawn Sanders stepped straight up to Burnham and said that he would be sorry he did this. He then shoved Burnham before continuing on his way out.

But perhaps the most surprising actions concerned someone who isn't even a wrestler. Since MWA Tag Team Champion Max McGuirk lost the MSWA Oklahoma Title, his former valet Katy has aligned herself with Les Mayne. Mayne has made it clear that he wants the Oklahoma Title and is prepared to go through Eric Rose to get it. The pair met up in the semi-main event and Katy, who has never been shy about getting physically involved in the matches, took off her shoe and went to hit Rose in the head with it as Mayne whipped Rose into her. But Rose reversed the whip and Mayne almost collided with Katy. Rose then charged in, knocking Mayne into Katy and dumping her on the floor, then did a reverse roll-up on Mayne for the win. Katy had made her presence known for much of this match and for several matches before and as the fans were chanting for him to ban her from the ring, Burnham came up with a better plan. He told her to make sure to bring some gear to the next show and even though Katy protested that she wasn't a wrestler, Burnham said it didn't matter. He had a surprise for her, but he wouldn't reveal what it was.

When contacted about this article, Burnham granted some exclusive comments about all of these situations. "I'd like to address each of the actions I've taken and explain why they had to happen. I need order in MSWA. For too long, people like Johnny Z & Shawn McKeaigg have run roughshod over the company. (MSWA owner) Bad Boy seems too preoccupied to attend the shows, so I stepped up and offered to try and bring things back to the way they were. It's not an easy job, but I think I'm making headway. I believe in opportunity and people proving themselves. That's what I base my decisions on.

As far as Mr. Landers goes, he was a highly valued employee as a referee, but he seems to have been dissatisfied with that position. He took it upon himself to abandon his position and demand a match. I gave it to him and he left in the middle of it. I don't know what his issue is, but for him to request a title match when he can't even win the match I gave him at his request seems unbelievable. I am not of a mind to grant him his request until he proves himself with some wins in the ring. Obviously, I need a referee as I can't have Senor Pappos Fritos, Jr. III out there all the time. Hopefully this situation will resolve itself as I have been in contact with a couple of referees in the state and am trying to come to terms with them about employment.

Mr. Sanders, your actions will not be tolerated any further. In the future, if you attempt to lay your hands on me while I'm in my official capacity as the commissioner, you will find your bank account deeply hurting. I let you get by with it once because I figured if I were to fine you after you lost the tag team titles, it might be too many blows to your fragile ego. But watch your step. Obviously, you'll want a rematch. I'll have to check your contract to make sure you have a rematch clause in it. If not, you'll start at the bottom just like everyone else.

And as for "Ms. Thang" Katy...you have shown since day one that you are gutsy enough to stick your ample nose into the affairs of the wrestlers in MSWA. You prolonged Max McGuirk's title reign with your actions and I see you trying to do the same for Les Mayne. Let me make this very clear. If you want to compete in the MSWA ring, I'll give you that chance. You say you're not a wrestler. Your actions speak otherwise. So I say for you to bring your gear (or go out and buy some) and I will have something for you to do IN THE RING at the next MSWA show. I won't reveal any further at this time, but trust me, everyone will see what you're capable of and what you lack in ability.

I must officially announce that I will be taking care of personal business during the next MSWA event. But I have appointed Shawn Bragan as my official representative, so between him and Milton Winkelman, I'm sure to get a complete report of the activities. Trust me, MSWA locker room, if anyone gets out of hand, I'll hear about it. Thank you for your time."