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This week's edition of Memphis Wrestling featured the first week of their Superbout 3 coverage, celebrating the promotion on their third anniversary. Superbout is the taping that is based around the milestone, so for the next few weeks, we'll cover the episodes.
The show opened with congratulations from Booker T, Dave Marquez and Buff Bagwell, among others for hitting the milestone.
Dustin Starr, the owner, producer, lead announcer and a million other things riled up the crowd and told them it was belltime.
Memphis Wrestling Women's Champion Mackenzie Morgan vs. Cassandra Golden
They locked up, feeling each other out. Golden was backed into the corner. They broke clean but Golden snatched a headlock. She whipped the champ into the ring and nailed a splash in the corner. She went to repeat but Morgan kicked her off. She went for a headscissors takedown but was caught and nailed with a sideslam for a two count.
They went to commercial, including a plug for the Smackdown taping on 3/15.
When they returned, Morgan slipped away from an advance, shoving Golden into the ropes. The champ went to the top but was crotched when Golden shook the ropes. Golden went for a DVDR but McKenzie escaped. She charged but was caught with a spinebuster. The crowd chanted for Golden. She went for a hiptoss into the corner but missed. Morgan took advantage and used a pinfall combination to snatch the challenger, scoring the pin.
Your winner and still Memphis Women's Champion Mackenzie Morgan!
Golden grabbed the champ and nailed a short arm clothesline after the bout, then beat down Morgan. She hooked the Rings of Saturn on the champ, then grabbed the belt and held it over her head. So, she's officially turned heel.
Mr. Michael vs. Sycho Simon - Play By The Rules Match.
The storyline is that Simon has lost it and attacked Memphis legend King Cobra, who is a big part of the promotion on screen and behind the scenes. Teddy Long, who was in as a guest official recently, ruled that Cobra was no longer wrestling, but Michael could face Simon. The stip is that if Simon is DQ'ed, he will not be reinstated from an official suspension. Yes, he's suspended but wrestling. Pro wrestling my friends.
Simon wears an old black and white prisoner outfit, a spiked mask and facepaint. He said that if he wins, he's back, no questions asked. That led to Cobra and Michael (who is assistant matchmaker under Cobra) announcing a Play by The Rules Match.
As an old school Memphis fan, I love that Cobra is involved here.
The referee found a chain on Simon before the bout...and then a spike. Nice guy!
Michael gabbed a headlock early. Simon was way bigger than Michael so he was able to send him through the ropes to the floor almost immediately. Simon argued with Cobra, which allowed Michael to sneak up and nail several Gator kicks. He ran Simon into the buckles and went to the top but was knocked off and crotched. Simon tied him upside down and choked Simon. He broke it before the five count and argued with the referee. He rammed Michael into the buckles.
Simon got frustrated and grabbed a chair. Michael dared him to hit him, because he'd be DQ'd. The referee took the chair away, which allowed him to throttle Michael with a forearm and send him over the top. Simon dragged him around the floor and tossed him into the ring steps. Simon argued with the referee, which allowed Michael to fire back with punches. He pulled the strap down (and you know what that means in Memphis) and cleaned house until Simon lifted him up and ran him into the ring post.
As the referee checked on Simon, Cobra nailed him and tossed Simon into the ring. Michael came off the top but Simon moved and there was no water in the pool. Simon did the old Abdullah the Butcher running elbow and scored the pin.
Your winner, Sycho Simon!
Simon is now reinstated.
Gauntlet Match: Big John Dalton vs. The Righteous Path
The story is that if Dalton can run the gauntlet and beat all of Reverend Ash Taylor's family, BJD, nicknamed The Babyface Beast, will get his hands on Taylor. Taylor plays a crooked religious official. Dalton had turned down joining the group, which sparked the feud.
The first for The Righteous Path was Brother Bruce.
Beast gave his sunglasses to a young fan, a la Bret Hart. The fan was super happy.
They squared off with back and forth punches. Dalton took him down with a running big boot. He slammed Bruce and went to the top. The crowd chanted BJD. He nailed a top rope splash for the pin.
Righteous Brian attacked Dalton. He was hit with a series of right hands and snatched and slammed for the pin.
This meant that Dalton, who was showing that his leg was hurting, earned the right to face Reverend Ash Taylor, who came out as they went to commercial. They plugged their WrestleCenter, which King Cobra oversees as top trainer.
Taylor dropped down on his knees with his bac to Dalton, but a masked man attacked and grabbed Dalton, hitting an inverted DDT. He scored the pin. The announcers didn't know who the mystery man was.
They announced The Righteous Path were the winners.
They grabbed Dalton and hit a double chokeslam. They stood over Dalton's fallen body.
Memphis Wrestling Tag Team Champions Sir Matthew & Lord Gaston vs. Ray Ray Sanders & mystery partner
The champs were arrogant heels who had defeated Sander and Derrick King for the titles in the past. Sanders said he would fight alone to regain the titles. He got a big "Ray Ray" chant when he came out, he was followed by Derrick King, who got a big pop. The fans chanted DK for him. King had a big smile on his face from the reaction. King has been a stalwart in the area for over 20 years.
The story of the bout early on was that the champs tried to double team but Sanders' athletic prowess was too much for them. He nailed a nice springboard into a flying knee for a two count on Matthew. Matthew came back with a back suplex and then sent Sanders into the buckles. The champs nailed a double backdrop for a two count. Sanders kept kicking out of near falls.
Sanders tried to fight back but was caught on the top rope. Matthew attempted a superplex but Sanders nailed a sunset flip powerbomb from the top. He crawled to King for the hot tag. King cleaned house with right hands. He nailed a spinebuster on Gaston. Matthew went to break it up but Sanders dove in to stop him. King went to superkick Matthew, who moved and Sanders was nailed. They rolled up a shocked King to score the pinfall.
Your winners and still Memphis Wrestling Tag Team Champions Sir Matthew & Lord Gaston!
It felt like a local pro wrestling show, because that's what it was. A small, family friendly atmosphere with good energy and a lot of talents who are very young in their careers wrestling. Ray Ray Sanders showed a lot of promise. The stories were very easy to follow since they are obviously trying to appear to families. Back next week with Part 2!
James Storm, Lance Archer and Reality of Wrestling Champion Will Alday are slated for the 3/10 Memphis Wrestling TV Taping. Alexander Hammerstone is set for the 3/24 taping. Buff Bagwell will appear at the 4/21 taping. Memphis legend King Cobra is involved with all of the events.
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