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Taking Over The MSWA Asylum

Posted: Jul 12th 2014 By: Michael Hunt

The departure of Impact, Inc. had many effects on MSWA. One of the most unexpected was that things actually became worse for the company to control than better.

MSWA owner Bad Boy did as well as he could, but his heart has always been in competition. And it is essentially impossible to be an executive and be an in-ring participant. Nonetheless, Bad Boy attempted to perform both duties to the best of his abilities.

But some of the wrestlers knew that Bad Boy was stretched way too thin. And they gladly took advantage of that situation.

A confrontation between MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions The K. C. Wolves and The Nebraska Express became a major turning point for MSWA as it brought out one of the Oklahoma City veterans, The Roc-N-Roll Cowboy. When Brian Blade & Alex the Great went way beyond decency in a post-match attack, Bad Boy was tied up in the back signing some new midget wrestlers to talent contracts, so Cowboy stepped up and made an appearance to get things under control. And apparently that was when he realised that Bad Boy was not able to keep an eye on the inmates in the asylum. So the plan began to formulate in his head. Cowboy was already an agent in the back, but he wanted more. He wanted to be back in the spotlight.

Stuck out in the middle of things was MSWA ring announcer C. M. Burnham. Three years before, Burnham had ended up the commissioner of MSWA, taking over from Shawn McHale. It was, in many ways, a similar time. Impact, Inc. had departed. Some of the other MSWA regular talent went to be exclusive to IZW. It was a time for rebuilding. For a few months, Burnham attempted to do what was necessary to steer MSWA, but outside events forced the temporary shutdown of the company and when it came back, Burnham was back behind the microphone.

With that experience, plus several months as OWA commissioner, Burnham was now in a better position to recognise some of the problems inherent in being in charge. So, on several occasions, Burnham would drop hints about how MSWA needed a commissioner. But Bad Boy remained reluctant (or, perhaps, overwhelmed) and did not respond, believing he could hold things together without any assistance.

On June 29, it became very apparent that things were getting worse and worse as far as control was going. Newcomer Dalton Bragg ended up somehow being allowed to come to the ring and discuss his religious beliefs (or lack thereof) without actually being booked on the show, prompting Bad Boy to have to come out and settle the issue. Tyson Jaymes and Glen Steel had a No DQ Match to resolve their issue, which Steel won, but afterwards, Tyson took a belt and whipped Steel, again forcing Bad Boy and several other wrestlers from the locker room to come out and break them apart. Bad Boy ordered a Lumberjack Strap Match between the two for the next show. Larry Canyunga advanced in the tournament to crown a new MSWA Mid-South Champion by pinning Spike with some extra leverage from having his feet on the ropes. Glen Steel came out to protest this and once again, Bad Boy found himself forced to come out and render a decision. Since there is no instant replay in pro wrestling, Steel had to abide by the decision of referee Milton Winkelman. But he did say that in Canyunga's next tournament match, Steel would be the special enforcer to ensure this did not happen again. And, as a bit of consolation, he named Spike the #1 contender to the vacant MSWA Oklahoma Title.

And then it all broke down. The main event tag team match between The American Aristocrats and The Syndicate saw no winner as the referee was thrown over the top rope and both teams were disqualified. Again, the locker room emptied and wrestlers attempted to keep the two teams apart. But it began to feel like a futile effort. Now matter what the wrestlers did, those teams went after each other. Roc-N-Roll Cowboy and several members of MSWA Security even arrived to assist with the matter and finally, after what felt like forever, the ring was emptied and both teams were separated. But with the locker room all around ringside, other personal issues began to arise and minor battles were taking place outside. Cowboy took the microphone and ordered it to stop. He said that it was obvious that Bad Boy could not control this place on his own. He referenced a video blog that he had posted earlier that week, offering his services as MSWA commissioner, based on his years of experience. He mentioned that Burnham had offered the same. As far as he was concerned, it did not matter who Bad Boy put there, but it was obvious that someone needed to be commissioner.

So Bad Boy came out. And he agreed that something needed to be done. Someone needed to be in charge. And after a moment of careful consideration, Bad Boy announced that C. M. Burnham would be the new commissioner.

That was NOT the plan that Roc-N-Roll Cowboy wanted.

Cowboy stepped right up in the face of Burnham and told him that, beginning in two weeks, he would destroy the playground that Burnham now controlled. Cowboy had expected his long association and all his assistance for Bad Boy to pay off in a high-level administrative position, but instead, he was passed over. And that was not what he expected. Because, unbeknownst to anyone until after that show, Cowboy had made an alliance with the The Syndicate, Tyson Jaymes, Buster Cherry, and Brandon Barricade. Calling themselves The Saints of Pro Wrestling, they now presented themselves as the major force for the other wrestlers in MSWA to deal with. And Cowboy vowed to see Burnham taken down.

The old saying goes that you should be careful what you ask for, because you may just get it. Burnham now has control of MSWA. But it may not be anywhere near the experience he expected with Cowboy and his faction biting at his heels. The days of simply being the ring announcer may soon be an envious memory for the FACT Man.