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C. J. Ward's Victory Just One Of The Stories From The 2017 Mid-South Rumble

Posted: Jun 1st 2017 By: Michael Hunt

The Mid-South Rumble, in only its second year, has quickly become one of the most anticipated and favourite events of the MSWA fanbase as well as the MSWA roster. Similar in many ways to its namesake, the WWE's Royal Rumble, 20 competitors vie for an opportunity to challenge the MSWA Mid-South Champion at Mid-South Justice. Last year, the winner was Mr. Barnes, who went on to defeat Drake Gallows for the title (albeit with some assistance from C. M. Burnham). This year, 20 hungry competitors hoped to be just as fortunate as Barnes was last year. But in addition to that, several other key moments were created in the Rumble before the winner stood victorious in the ring.

The initial entrant was C. J. Ward, a man who had been through several key battles with current Mid-South Champion Prince Mahalli. All those battles had seen Ward come close to victory, but never grab the brass ring. If he were to once again find himself in a position to vie for the title, he would need to outlast 19 other people and potentially last close to 30 minutes (or maybe longer). Not the most enviabel position to be in. And it did not help matters when, after the first 5 entrants to the Rumble were present, 3 of them were all the membership of the Saints of Pro Wrestling. Even though the basic concept of the Rumble is that every man is for himself, the Saints have always put brotherhood before anything else.

The ring slowly continued to fill with the likes of Dean Lambert, Buster Cherry, and MSWA Tag Team Champion Kuda. Then, one of the obvious favourites, Nytronis A'Teo arrived and everyone took a step back. One by one, they tried to attack the Samoan Predator. And one by one, they all got knocked down, except for Buster Cherry, who never really had a chance to lay a hand on him before the other competitors got back in the game.

8 people were in the ring and more were still on the way. Brock Landers and Grizzly Gates, the newly-named Cub Scouts, were the next to arrive and after the Saints decided to poke the bear (figuratively and literally), a Bear Claw Party broke out and the Scouts were soon the only people on their feet. Even A'Teo was put down (though it took both men working simultaneously to achieve that). Sadly, the realisation quickly set in to Gates that everyone would have to be revived as they were all too large for either Landers or Gates to pick up and throw over the top rope. And unfortunately, after revival, none of them were particularly happy. None less so than A'Teo, who clotheslined both of them over the top for the first eliminations in the match.

A'Teo and Cherry were soon eliminated and battled each other to the back. All the Saints were also cleared out and several new faces began to appear. Christian Temple, Tristan Thorne, Chuck Singer, Double D. Then, Mascara La Parka made his way down. But it seemed like something was different about him. Even the competitors in the match noticed that Mascara didn't seem the same. After a quick surrounding, his mask was ripped off and revealed MSWA Champion Prince Mahalli, who made a quick (though involuntary) exit from the match.

After that, more and more people arrived until we got to number 20, Xavior. Xavior came out with the blue mask of Gemini [2nd], only to see that the masked high-flyer had already been entered. Now clad in a red mask, Gemini and Xavior tore into each other with Gemini getting the upper hand and eliminating Xavior. But then, in possibly the biggest surprise of the Rumble, Draven Cross made his return to MSWA. Not an official participant, nonetheless, he stormed into the ring, picked up Gemini and press-slammed him over the top, eliminating him. He and Xavior then left after Cross picked up the fallen masked man and draped him over his shoulder. A huge impact had been made and the match still wasn't over.

MSWA Commissioner Adam Patrick then put another twist in the situation as he announced a surprise 21st participant, Drake Gallows. By this point, the final 4 had been established as Temple, Ward, Double D & Paradox. Gallows made short work of Temple and Paradox, but then Colby Black made another surprise appearance and blindsided Gallows from behind, eliminating him. Gallows, who had already lost a match earlier in the card where chairs were legal, found himself once again out of contention for the MSWA Title he had been without for almost 1 year.

This left Ward and IZW Impact Division Champion Double D in the ring and now the intensity hit a fever pitch. D had slid out of the ring and hid around in various spots while most of the match went on. Now, hoping to captitalise on the circumstances, D slid in and immediately upended Ward over the top. Ward skinned the cat to get back in and the match continued, much to D's frustration. Ward now reversed things and clotheslined D over the top, but D landed on the apron. Quickly, D hooked Ward for a vertical suplex, which could have ended either man's careers if he had pulled it off, but Ward countered and brought D back into the ring. A few more moments passed and Ward caught D charging into the corner, elevating him over the top. D landed on the apron and prepared to springboard back into the ring, but Ward countered with a perfectly executed dropkick and D found himself on the ground.

Ward had done it. He had outlasted 20 other men, plus a couple of unofficial entrants and come out victorious. Now, at Mid-South Justice, Ward has one more opportunity to capture the MSWA Title. All the heart and determination he showed in this match will have to be replicated if he is to pull that off. For Prince Mahalli, as well as his manager, Mohammad burn Ham, are sure to have plot after plot ready to keep that belt which is most precious to them.