* As promised Angus Skaaland and the LARIAT Roster were on hand at the University of Texas campus before All-Stars of Wrestling got underway for a 4th of July Blowout Bash! The Meet and Greet brought in a few new fans, and Wyatt Bronson and Dusty Griffith on the grill brought even more! Everything was going as well as could be expected until Frank Dylan James showed up visibly intoxicated and instigated a situation with Dusty Griffith. Frank was asked to leave, and after quite a bit of hollering he did eventually relent and leave so the party could go on. As the festivities came to a close Angus called everyone’s attention and he announced the teams for the night’s Main Event Flag Match:
Team TEXAS:
Wyatt Bronson (Captain)
Thom Rhodes
Apache
Doomsday
Team AMERICA:
Frank Dylan James (Captain)
Erik Ledger
Shank Nasty
Gutshot
* Texas Heritage Tag League
The former Backyard “Superstars” the Pine Street Posse were slowly but surely winning over the Texas wrestling fans even though they’d yet to win any points for the Tag League. The Dirty Rydas, on the other hand, were easily the most hated Tag Team so far in LARIAT due to their Gangsta attitudes and tactics. The Posse got the quick advantage with Suicidal Youth’s high-paced high-flying attacks and Rod’s insanely effective “big man” offense. It didn’t last though as Gutshot was more than a match for Rod’s power, and when SY tagged back in the Rydas quickly shut down his aerial offense with a series of powerful double-team attacks. The Rydas took it to Suicidal Youth, hitting him with their unique combination of speed and power and effectively cutting the ring in half for quite a few minutes until Youth made the desperation tag and Fantastico came in like a blazing house of fire! The end came when Gutshot was on the outside distracted by The Hell Riders who had come half-way down to ringside and the Posse set up and connected with their Pine Street Plunge (Powerbomb/Reverse Bulldog Combo) finishing combination! The PSP celebrated in the ring as they grabbed their first five points for the Tag League. In the interim, the Dirty Rydas and Hell Riders stared each other down in the aisle.
* After the Hell Riders left and the Pine Street Posse finished celebrating Shank Nasty and Gutshot were back in the ring, this time Shank had a microphone.
"I don’ know what them nuccas thank dey be doin’ comin’ out hurr an’ getting up in the Rydas bid’ness, but dem bitches gon’ be on da wrong end’a some GANGSTA SH*T befo’ it’s ova wit’!"
* Pride of Texas Tournament [Round 1]
The first singles match of the evening saw perennial favorite “The Lonestar Lariat” Wyatt Bronson dismantle “Big Time” Tavares Bayle. The rookie was cocky to start with and that didn’t sit well with Bronson at all, so he took his head off with a devastating Lariat and never relented his full-force offense. The match was mercifully done relatively quickly when Bronson absolutely planted Bayle with an Oklahoma Stampede and made the easy cover. Bronson was as over as ever, but Bayle looked like he was so far out of his league it was embarrassing.
* After the match Rich Mahogany was once again at the Interview Station with Angus Skaaland and the Lonestar Television Title was strapped securely around his waist. After blowing half the segment giving roses to The Ladies in the nearby bleachers and flexing his abs he allowed Angus to ask him one question, which was about rumors that he was ducking Wyatt Bronson after getting himself disqualified two weeks ago in their Television Title match. Mahogany had the following to say:
“Listen here, brother, the Mack-Daddy of all of Texas has absolutely no idea what that big oaf is going on and on about! He got his title shot, and the Rich-Man’s still got the title wrapped _securely_ around oh-so-sexy waist! Bronson wants another title shot, maybe he ought to EARN another shot by facing a little stiffer competition that that rube Tavares Bayle daddy-o!”
The Lonestar Lariat barged onto the set where the Champ hid behind Angus Skaaland. Bronson was not in the mood to mince words:
“Far’s I’m concerned you ain’t nothin’ but a pencil-necked little homo who ain’t never won a rasslin’ match in his life! You ain’t gon’ duck me ferever boy!”
Rich left the scene immediately.
* Texas Heritage Tag League
In a fast paced, hard hitting, high flying affair the journeyman Superior FT took on the enigmatic Firebirds in an absolute clinic of a Tag Team match! The action was intense, with neither team holding a clear advantage over the other for very long. SFT had one extended sequence where they controlled the pace of the match but the sheer energy of Phoenix I was enough to turn the tide before Grendel or Garrett could score the pinfall. The end came in an outstanding spring where all four wrestlers hit signature holds and combos, but the bell rang signaling a time-limit draw before either team could pick up the win. Both teams picked up three points for their efforts.
* E-40’s “Go Hard or Go Home” played out LARIAT’s Japanese contingent next, as Kazuo Akamatsu lead the Osaka Hate Crime (Tendo and Yahagi) to the ring. The three of them mugged for the Texan crowd who didn’t have a problem throwing beer cans and garbage at the group. The more heat they got, the more they postured and posed to agitate the crowd. Finally Kazuo took a microphone from a ringside attendant and spoke to the rowdy Texans:
“Myself, Yutaka Tendo, and Mitsuru Yahagi have come near seven-thousand miles to this cesspool of a so-called “State” to wrestle, and this is thanks we get? The Osaka Hate Crime are UNDEFEATED and are going to win the Texas Heritage Tag Team Titles! And then I will defeat all challenges to win this “Pride of Texas” tournament and the title that goes with it! LARIAT will cower under the rule of the NEW VIOLENCE EXPRESS!”
* Pride of Texas Tournament [Round 1]
“The Epitome” Erik Ledger was out quickly and into the ring. He stood nose-to-nose with the apparent leader of the first faction within LARIAT and demanded that they get their tournament match under way. The OHC left the ring, but did not go back to the dressing room, instead staying on as Akamatsu’s seconds. Ledger got the early advantage with his hybrid Lucharesu style and he kept the bigger, stronger Akamatsu off balance and unable to get any offense going. That came to an end as Yutaka Tendo caught The Epitome’s leg as he was attempting to hit the ropes for momentum, instead he turned to confront his assailant and this gave his opponent the opening he needed for a devastating Lung Blower. It was all down hill for Ledger from that point on as he was never given the chance to regain his advantage and eventually pinned following a Piledriver from Akamatsu.
* After the match Tendo and Yahagi were quickly into the ring and all three men began putting the boots to the fallen wrestler. It wasn’t to last, however, as the Hell Riders hit the ring at a dead run and cleared the ring of all three Japanese grapplers and gave the trainers time to get Ledger out of the ring and to the back. Akamatsu sent his men into the ring for the next match of the evening.
* Texas Heritage Tag League
Apache and Doomsday were all business early, dominating both Yahagi and Tendo and daring Akamatsu to stick his nose in their business. Eventually the bout evened up as the Hell Riders simply couldn’t match speed with the OHC. Things went back and forth for a while before completely breaking down near the ten minute mark. At a crucial moment of chaos and distraction The Dirty Rydas hit the ring apparently to press their issue with the Hell Riders, but in a surprise move they grabbed Yutaka Tendo and Gutshot slingshotted him into a downright NASTY Mafia Kick from Shank Nasty, this was their finisher called Dumpin’ and the referee saw everything he needed to see to disqualify the Hell Riders and award the five points to the Osaka Hate Crime. Shank and Gutshot then made themselves scarce as Apache and Doomsday figured out what had happened and proceeded to raise hell to the referee.
* It took referees several minutes to calm the Hell Riders down and remove them from the ring before they tore the thing down in their fit of rage. Once everyone had finally left the ring Angus Skaaland was out to inform the crowd that there would be a short intermission to sort everything out and give those wrestlers who would be working double-duty a few extra minutes rest before the Main Event.
* Lonestar Television Title Match
After the short intermission “Roughhouse” Thom Rhodes was out for his Lonestar Television Title shot against the champion Rich Mahogany. Rich, as is his way, wasted as much time as possible on his ring entrance. He pranced around ringside as the entirety of his theme music, Otis Redding’s “Love Man,” played over the sound system. By the time the Champ made his way into the ring Rhodes was so fed up with waiting that he attacked Mahogany before the bell was even rang and the match was on. Rhodes took a page out of his mentor Wyatt Bronson’s book and just brutalized Mahogany for the duration of the early portion of the match until Mahogany found an opening and crumpled Rhodes with the mule kick to end all mule kicks. As the match went on Mahogany used every dirty tactic he could think of to keep his advantage, and every time Rhodes started a comeback Mahogany would find another way to low-blow the challenger and usurp any and all momentum. Rhodes, having had enough, attempted to use pure power to gain an advantage but Mahogany latched on with a Testicular Claw that had Rhodes howling in pain. The referee made the obligatory five-count before disqualifying Mahogany once again for his dastardly tactics. The Ladies Man could have cared less, he’d retained his title yet again and had a much larger man in crippling pain as he’d still not let go. Finally Wyatt Bronson hit the ring and Mahogany let go of the Claw and cleared out of Dodge before Bronson could get his hands on him.
* Bronson was livid inside the ring and one of his partners for the upcoming Flag Match was on the mat and obviously in too much pain to wrestle another match. Angus Skaaland hit the ring again to check on Rhodes who wanted nothing more than to get up and continue, but he simply could not stand up. Rhodes had to be helped from the ring and to the back. This prompted Angus to announce that he had no other choice but to make the Main Event a Four versus Three Handicapped Match because it was far too late for a suitable replacement to be found…
* “God of Thunder” hit the sound system and Dusty Griffith hit the ring. He conferred first with Angus, and then with Wyatt, and then took a microphone:
“I know I may not be from Texas, and I know I’ll be standing on the opposite side of the Lonestar Lariat next week in the tournament, but I can’t think of a single reason why this should be a Handicap Match when I’m here, I’ve got my gear on, and I’m ready and rarin’ to kick somebody’s teeth in!”
* Independence Day Flag Match
The new teams were set as follows:
TEXAS:
Wyatt Bronson (Captain)
Dusty Griffith (replacing Thom Rhodes)
Apache
Doomsday
AMERICA:
Frank Dylan James (Captain)
Erik Ledger
Shank Nasty
Gutshot
As was to be expected, this match was pandemonium from the word go. The poor referee didn’t even try to maintain order, and to be honest I don’t think fifteen referee’s could have kept any order with these eight men in the ring. Frank Dylan James led his team to the ring before Bronson and Griffith’s partners the Hell Riders could get out and it was four against two for a minute…
Until Apache and Doomsday road to the ring on their choppers and joined the fray and evened the odds up. The Hell Riders went directly after the Dirty Rydas and the brawl was on. FDJ and Erik Ledger squared off with Griffith and Bronson in the ring, and what it turned into was a regular tag match in the ring and a two on two fight around the ringside area between the Riders/Rydas.
It didn’t take long for this to break down either and the next thing anyone knew there were eight guys beating the crap out of each other all over the Wrestle-Plex! Every direction you looked somebody was fighting, throwing chairs, or just pounding on someone. The referee did his best to convince anyone to bring it into the ring but as it stood nobody involved had any interest whatsoever in any eliminations or capturing of flags.
Apache and Shank Nasty fought their way up into the upper-deck of the bleachers while Doomsday and Gutshot just traded ugly and life-threatening punches until they’d managed to find themselves outside fighting where the party had taken place before the event.
Erik Ledger saw this as his chance to make his name in Texas by taking on the Big Texan Wyatt Bronson in his own element, but the only thing he proved was that little flippy wrestlers have no business trying to go toe-to-toe with big badass Texan rasslers!
Frank Dylan James and Dusty Griffith fought all the way around the ringside area, trading punches, kicks, chairshots, and anything else they could think of to hit each other with. An errant chair throw from Ledger clipped the Boise State Bronco in the back of the head causing him to go down in a heap, but Bronson then proceeded to grab Ledger and send him headfirst into the guardrail before taking off after the Hillbilly Jesus.
A good portion of the fans had followed Doomsday and Gutshot outside, which turned out to be a good thing as both Apache and Shank Nasty came tumbling off the side of the bleachers and to the bare floor below when they both lost their balance while trying to throw the other off.
Frank had seen Wyatt coming and an ugly smile came over his face. He tossed two chairs inside of the ring and slid in before the big Texan could do anything about it. He set the two chairs up opposite each other and demanded that Bronson get in the ring and have a seat. Wyatt was wary, but his pride wouldn’t let him back down from a challenge. Frank sat down and gesticulated that they were going to sit there and punch each other until one of them was out and the other was the last man left standing in the fracus.
Bronson threw the first punch, Frank retaliated in kind. The punches continued and the fans still in the building got a “YAY!/BOO!” rhythm going as the two mastodons traded blows in the center of the ring. As the contest went on the chants switched more along the lines of “THIS IS AWE-SOME!” before Frank finally took the advantage after a seriously hefty right hand that rocked Bronson. Sensing victory Frank stood and started with a barrage of head-butts that eventually sent the hulking Texan down into a heap on the mat.
Frank stood and staggered around the ring for a few seconds to regain his bearing. His head had been split open and his nose looked broken, but the Redneck Rampage was quick to shake loose the cobwebs and make for Texas Flag hanging from a pole in what would have been the TEXAS corner had the match ever made it into the ring. He got all the way to the top, but his footing was wobbly from the beating he’d just taken and he hesitated to gain his (bare) footing on the top turnbuckle.
That hesitation was all that Dusty Griffith needed to haul himself up and into the ring. He bounded up the ropes with Frank and caught him with a forearm to the back of the head to stop him from grabbing the flag. The two former WCWA Tag Team Championship partners jockeyed for position atop the turnbuckle until Dusty managed to turn Frank around to face him and unleash a head-butt of his own that rocked both men so much that they nearly fell to the floor. In a last ditch effort to keep from dropping down to the concrete Dusty grabbed hold of Frank and pulled him back into the ring, twisting into a Super Belly-to-Belly Suplex that left Frank to not only take the full force of the impact on his back, but also left him to be crushed under the massive body of Dusty Griffith. It was academic from there and the referee did his first bit of work in the entire match, counting the pinfall and awarding the match to Team TEXAS!
* After the final bell was rang it was a while before anyone moved, but Wyatt Bronson was the first man to his feet and he called for a microphone. He helped Dusty to his feet and thanked him for showing up when it counted. He went on to name Dusty an honorary Texan and they retrieved both flags from their respective corners and waved them inside the ring to close the show.
07/04/09 @ The Wrestle-Plex [198 fans]
The All-Star Independence Day Special!
1. Pine Street Posse def. Dirty Rydas (6:22)
2. Wyatt Bronson def. Tavares Bayle (3:17)
3. Superior FT draw The Firebirds (15:00)
4. Kazuo Akamatsu def. Erik Ledger (9:52)
5. Osaka Hate Crime def. Hell Riders (7:37)
6. Rich Mahogany DQ Thom Rhodes (6:48)
7. Team TEXAS def. Team AMERICA (13:43)
