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Hardaway Forced To Leave Two Feds After Failed Title Opportunities

Posted: Nov 28th 2013 By: CMBurnham

The accomplishments of Dexter Hardaway in the ring are well documented. In is lengthy career, he has amassed a multitude of titles, both on his own as well as in tag teams. And while titles represent greatness, Dexter has proven that he doesn't need to have the belts in order to be a great competitor.

He just wants them.

A major thorn on the side of Dexter was his absence during the tournament to crown the first OWA Junior Heavyweight Champion. And every appearance since that tournament as featured Dexter pleading with OWA booker John Crow to allow him a shot at the title. Every time, Crow reminded Dexter that there was a line of contenders and that he needed to work his way to the front of that line, something Dexter didn't appear to want to do. After all, he was a big star and believed his accolades should just propel him to the front.

So Dexter amassed some victories in April and May, but then OWA took the summer off. And it appeared that history was repeating itself as Dexter was booked at the WFC event on November 9th, the same night that OWA Junior Heavyweight champion Michael Wolf defended his title in a rematch from the finals against Kid Krash. These two young competitors tore the ring up and Krash was able to achieve a pinfall via a Fujiwara armbar to claim the title. A good scientific match, but not the outcome Dexter wanted. And he made those feelings well known as he stormed in through the front door after intermission, stomping right into the ring and demanding to speak with Jon Crow. Hardaway informed everyone that he was booked at another event, but should be in the main event of this show. Crow confirmed the booking, but also said that Dexter had promised to be at the OWA event since the WFC one started two hours previous to the OWA one. At bell time, there was no Dexter. Crow told Dexter that Kid Krash would be back in February or March and a title match could be arranged then, but that wasn't sufficient for Dexter. He wanted it now. And in a display of confidence, he agreed that if he wasnt able to win the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title, he would leave OWA forever. This seemed like a tremendous opportunity to Crow, but he needed to make sure that Krash was on the same side, so he brought out the new champion. Crow said that since Krash had already competed once that night, he would understand if he didn't want to wrestle again, but Krash understood that he could help rid OWA of Dexter forever if he did, so he agreed. And since Michael Wolf was the previous champion, he had a built-in rematch for the title, so Crow made the match a Triple Treat Match. This did not seem to faze Dexter as he left the ring to being to prepare for his title opportunity.

So it was one veteran against two young rising stars in the main event and all of them brought the best they had. Krash wanted to prove that he was deserving of being the new champion. Wolf had the support of the crowd and the drive to regain the belt. And Dexter unloaded every dirty trick he could find in order to walk away as champion. A hard fought battle, but ultimately, Krash was thrown from the ring and Wolf pinned Hardaway to gain the victory. Wolf was elated. Krash was surprised. And Hardaway sat in the ring, briefly unable to comprehend how he could have lost to these two and how his career in OWA was over. Then, in an act of class, Hardaway took the microphone and congratulated the new champion and the former champion, saying they were representative of the future of the business. e thanked the fans and then made his farewell.

It was a similar story at the WFC event as Dexter lost in his bid to become the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion against Robert Lee. And again, the stipulation was that he had to leave WFC.

So another wrestler fades into the background. One of the most controversial, for certain. But also one who entertained every time he came through the curtain. And while the championships and accolades may be one legacy for him, the appreciation of the fans and his fellow wrestlers is another just as important, if not more so.