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Post by hammerfist on Feb 18, 2013 11:57:35 GMT -5
Just a quick note to let you know I'm really digging this circuit GentlemanJeff. Great set-up and follow through with the era details (the summer break, the feel of it being a NWA territory with the mentions of special appearances by other top draws and mentions of other regions). I especially like the detail of the only NWA title being defended regularly being the World Tag Team title (since the NWA itself did not have a recognized World Tag Team title and each region had their own version of said title). Hope to see more soon.
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Feb 18, 2013 13:39:52 GMT -5
Thanks hammerfist! Really appreciate it. I ended up immersing myself in the early NWA era, buying books and spending an inordinate amount of time on the wrestlingclassics.com, kayfabememories.com and wrestling-titles.com pages and forums. It fascinates me; plus, as someone who spent the first twenty-one years of his life in West Palm Beach and Miami (and is also a big Mad Men fan), I enjoy learning about and developing the 1960s Miami Beach/Florida setting.
Hope I can make it through the 70s when CWF becomes the diamond of the NWA.
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Post by carking2007 on Feb 18, 2013 17:50:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the information about pedro godoy. He has wrestled in hundreds of matches and I cannot find one match with him in it during the early 1950s.
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Feb 21, 2013 21:56:16 GMT -5
October 24, 1960 – American Legion Arena – Orlando, FL
Milo Steinborn, Championship Wrestling from Florida’s promoter for the city of Orlando, packed the American Legion Arena for a double main event featuring “The Buffalo Bomber” Don Curtis defending the NWA Southern Heavyweight championship against “Killer” Buddy Austin and a big six man tag bout between CWF’s resident Germans and Eddie Graham’s team of fan favorites.
Angelo Poffo pinned Tito Carreon with the Italian Neckbreaker in 0:08:37. Rating: * 1/2
Poffo got back on the winning track against the agile Mexican, Tito Carreon. Poffo grounded his opponent and finished him off with the Italian Neckbreaker.
Mark Lewin pinned The Red Menace after a flying dropkick in 0:14:06. Rating: ** 1/2
The Red Menace was routed last month in Miami against Mark Lewin’s long-time tag partner and reigning Southern champion Don Curtis, so the masked Cuban may have been looking for some measure of revenge against the young Lewin. Lewin has had his troubles with the Menace in the past, but the athletic technician proved more than a match for Menace tonight, keeping the Menace off balance and scoring the pinfall after a beautifully executed dropkick off the turnbuckles. A frustrated Menace pounded the mat in anger, much to the Orlando crowd’s jeering delight.
Brass Knuckles Match: Iron Mike DiBiase pinned Chief Big Heart after hitting him with the brass knuckles in 0:14:49. Rating: ** 1/2 (Iron Mike DiBiase retained the NWA Brass Knuckles Title.)
Iron Mike is well on his way to establishing himself as one of the toughest men in the National Wrestling Alliance. Chief Big Heart, no stranger to the bar bawl style of fighting, battered DiBiase about the ring with a series of tomahawk chops and knife-edged blows, but DiBiase fought back and landed the knockout blow to retain his beloved championship. Both men were exhausted, bruised and bleeding after the match.
Two-out-of-three-Falls Match: Don Curtis beat Buddy Austin 2 falls to 1: x D. Curtis beat B. Austin via a back suplex in 0:11:12 x B. Austin beat D. Curtis via a piledriver in 0:18:39 x D. Curtis beat B. Austin via a clothesline in 0:25:32 Rating: **** (Don Curtis retained the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.)
The Bomber knew he had to be careful around the cold, calculating Buddy Austin; a man who has been steadily working his way through the Florida wrestling ranks these past few months. Austin tore into Curtis with a variety of stretches and cheapshots, looking to take the Southern Heavyweight title away from the popular champion. Curtis’ honed athleticism proved the difference initially, allowing Curtis to catch Austin with a surprise back suplex that captured the first fall. An enraged Austin laid into Curtis, picking up the second fall with a piledriver that drove Curtis’ head right into the canvas. Even with referee John Henning giving Curtis some discretionary time to recover from the deadly maneuver, Curtis was still shaken up when Austin resumed his attack. Austin measured Curtis up for a second piledriver, but Curtis lunged and grasped the challenger in the sleeperhold! Austin elbowed out, but Curtis shoved Austin off the ropes and right into a clothesline across the throat, stunning Austin and giving Curtis the three count. Austin kicked out a hair too late and Don Curtis retained his title in another hard-fought battle!
8-Man Battle Royal: The Red Menace won an 8-man Battle Royal: x Big Heart threw out M. DiBiase after the Tomahawk chop in 0:01:18 x Calhoun threw out A. Poffo in 0:01:31 x Calhoun threw out T. Carreon in 0:05:43 x Red Menace threw out M. Lewin after a backdrop in 0:12:07 x Big Heart and Little Eagle threw out Calhoun in 0:13:36 x Red Menace threw out Little Eagle in 0:13:41 x Red Menace threw out Big Heart after a series of punches in 0:14:34 Rating: ** 1/4
The Orlando crowd roared for the mighty Haystacks Calhoun, one of the biggest draws and men in the eastern United States. Haystacks rarely loses a battle royal, so the audience had him pegged as the favorite in tonight’s bout. The Indian duo of Chief Little Eagle and Chief Big Heart, still looking the worse for wear thanks to his brawl with Iron Mike earlier in the evening, immediately pounced on DiBiase and made quick work of the Brass Knuckles champion. Calhoun disposed of Poffo and Carreon in short order, and Red Menace, who spent most of the contest lurking in the corners, backdropped a charging Lewin out of the ring. Menace hung back as the Indians focused on Haystacks, chopping away and surprising the crowd by forcing the country boy up and over the top rope! Haystacks tumbled to the floor with a thud, but no sooner was he out than the Menace capitalized, grabbing Little Eagle from behind and dumping him to the outside. The Cuban then turned to a tired Chief Big Heart, pounding the Indian in the corner and shoving him to the outside. The Red Menace soaked up the crowd’s boos as he was announced the victor: the Menace may have lost the Southern championship, but he appears to remain a tricky threat in the Florida mat game.
Two-out-of-three-Falls Match: The Von Brauners (Karl Von Brauner and Kurt Von Brauner) and Hans Schmidt beat Eddie Graham, Dory Funk and Ray Villmer 2 falls to 1: x H. Schmidt beat D. Funk via the Teuton Backbreaker in 0:15:50 x R. Villmer beat Karl Von Brauner via disqualification in 0:26:29 x H. Schmidt beat E. Graham via countout in 0:34:10 Rating: ** 3/4 [Saul Weingeroff interfered against Ray Villmer.] [Saul Weingeroff interfered against Eddie Graham.]
Hans Schmidt brought the brutal Von Brauner brothers to Florida for one reason: to serve as his protection and backup while he pursued the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The Von Brauners have been tearing through the Florida tag ranks, but tonight was their first test against the CWF’s top competition. The trio of stoic Germans marched to the ring in black, bedecked with iron crosses and spiked steel army helmets, taking in the crowd’s boos as manager “Gentleman” Saul Weingeroff taunted and wagged his cane at ringside fans. Next came three of Florida’s favorite sons—the wild and charismatic Eddie Graham, Texas outlaw Dory Funk, and the cool veteran and former Southern champion, Ray Villmer. The Orlando crowd was on the edge of their seats for an anticipated clash between good and evil, and they got just that. The Von Brauners used their devious tactics to cut the ring in half and dominate their opponents physically, like a flawless beating machine. Hans Schmidt took the tag and finished off his beleaguered rival, Dory Funk, who he had last met in a Texas Death match in a losing effort, with a devastating (and no doubt satisfying) backbreaker.
But now it was time for Graham’s team to go on the offensive. Graham and Villmer traded tags back and forth, but Saul Weingeroff, sensing the turning tide, jumped to the apron to distract senior referee Herbie Freeman. The damage was done: Karl Von Brauner, who is practically his brother’s twin outside of a few inches of height, ambushed Villmer and took control. Karl mercilessly choked Villmer against the ropes. Freeman threatened Von Brauner with disqualification...and he refused to let go, forcing Freeman to disqualify the Germans for the second fall! The Germans took it in stride, beating on a weakened Villmer until the veteran made a last gasp tag to Bloody Eddie! Graham came in a house of fire, beating back the Von Brauners. In came Schmidt, and the crowd roared at a showdown between two of Florida’s top grapplers. The two battled to the outside and Freeman applied the count. Schmidt rolled back in the ring, but while the referee was busy warding off the Von Brauners, Weingeroff crept up behind Graham and laid into him with his cane! Graham went down for the count and Freeman awarded the contest to Schmidt and the Von Brauners! A huge win for the Germans!
Graham, Funk and Villmer would have none of it, however—they stormed the ring, chasing and knocking the Von Brauners and Schmidt to the outside. Weingeroff quickly led his men to the locker room as Graham and company taunted them from the ring.
Card rating: ** 3/4
The Grapevine:
What a war! Hans Schmidt and the Von Brauners made a statement tonight, taking on three of the toughest men in Florida and emerging with the victory—they had to break every rule in the book to do it, but their willingness to do so only makes them that much more dangerous. Schmidt brought the Von Brauners in as allies and, with the help of their conniving manager, the burly Teutonic brothers look to be up to the task. Tonight’s win has to put the rest of CWF on notice.
Don Curtis, the NWA Southern Champion, scored a big title defense against the sadistic “Killer” Buddy Austin. Curtis, whose clean cut, athletic persona is a hit statewide, looks to be the very definition of a fighting champion. His partner had success of his own, defeating former champion the Red Menace in singles action. But the Red Menace shocked the world by out-thinking seven other men and eliminating Haystacks Calhoun in tonight’s special attraction battle royal! It’s not often you see Haystacks lose a battle royal.
A reminder that next month Championship Wrestling from Florida will be back on Miami Beach to see the biggest main event in the long history of Sunshine State wrestling! “The Nature Boy,” the defending NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, Buddy Rogers, will be taking on Florida’s own Eddie Graham! These two men are no strangers to each other, having tagged off and on in their Capitol Wrestling days in Washington and New York. We will see how they handle each other as opponents. And finally, a huge contest next month as the Von Brauners challenge “Argentina” Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez for the NWA World Tag Team Championship! Rocca and Perez have taken on, and defeated, all comers, but I wonder if they have ever met a unit as synced up and focused as Saul Weingeroff’s Von Brauners.
“The Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers vs. “Bloody” Eddie Graham WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES 2/3 FALLS MATCH – Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez (c) vs. The Von Brauners Don Curtis & Mark Lewin vs. Buddy Austin & Dick the Bruiser BRASS KNUCKLES TITLE – Iron Mike DiBiase (c) vs. Dory Funk
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Post by snabbit888 on Feb 24, 2013 2:52:24 GMT -5
Decent win for Poffo. Nothing too special.
A rough patch here for The Red Menace. He needs to do something evil to get back on track!
DiBiase is a bad ass. I wish I had used him in GCW before he died.
As much as I like Austin, after what he went through to get the Southern Title back in his possession, there wasn't any way Curtis was losing tonight.
Wow... since you were bringing in Calhoun, I figured he was a sure fire winner of the battle royal. Glad it was the Menace though. He's my favorite here.
Like your German team a lot too. Such easy heels to hate.
Looking forward to Buddy Rogers next show!
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Post by JoshiQ on Feb 25, 2013 23:59:42 GMT -5
Pretty surprised to see Calhoun lose a battle royal. Probably didn't happen often around this time period.
Good main event to end the show. Loving the Von Brauners. Hoping they take the straps on the next show.
You're doing a good job of writing up the two out of three falls matches. I've always had trouble with them. Bravo!
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Jun 9, 2013 11:28:33 GMT -5
November 16, 1960 – Miami Beach Convention Hall – Miami Beach, FL
Championship Wrestling from Florida was back at the Miami Beach Convention Hall for the biggest wrestling show to ever take place in the state of Florida. The crowd was abuzz with “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, the most famous wrestler in the world today and reigning NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, in town to take on the state’s favorite son, Eddie Graham. Plus, the hated Von Brauners would be challenging the fantastically popular duo of Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez for their long-held NWA World Tag Team Championship. But first, the masked Mighty Yankees strode to the ring to make their debut.
The Mighty Yankees (Mighty Yankee #1 and Mighty Yankee #2) defeated Chief Big Heart and Chief Little Eagle when Yankee #1 pinned Little Eagle with the Knee to the Throat in 0:13:24. Rating: DUD
The Mighty Yankees, two burly grapplers announced as hailing from “Somewhere North of the Mason-Dixon Line,” were instant antagonists to the southern crowd here on Miami Beach. Their disdain for the fans plus their cheating ways only reinforced the crowd’s dislike. The Indians, two veterans of southeastern mat circuit, gave the masked men a run for their money, but a series of illegal double-teams left Chief Little Eagle open and prone to a vicious kneedrop across the throat, paving the way for the Yankees’ first win here in Florida.
Hans Schmidt pinned Tito Carreon with the Teuton Backbreaker in 0:15:10. Rating: *** 3/4
Hans Schmidt and his muscle, the Von Brauners, scored a huge win in Orlando over the combined forces of Eddie Graham, Dory Funk and Ray Villmer, and “The Teuton Terror” continued his string of successes in Miami. Carreon, an agile local favorite, kept Schmidt off-balance with dropkicks and bodyblocks that briefly fanned the flames of an upset, but the crafty Schmidt dashed the fans’ hopes by catching Carreon with the devastating Teuton Backbreaker for the three count. Schmidt has made it known that he wants a shot at Pat O’Connor and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship; with the run he’s on in Florida, it will be hard to deny him that.
Brass Knuckles Match: Dory Funk pinned Iron Mike DiBiase after a roll up in 0:12:03. Rating: *** (Dory Funk won the NWA Brass Knuckles Title.)
Iron Mike has proudly held his brutal and bloody championship since winning it last year in Texas. Thus far, no one in the NWA had proven crazy enough and mean enough to take the title from him. But DiBiase had yet to face the craziest and meanest son-of-a-gun in wrestling today—“The Outlaw” Dory Funk, straight out of Amarillo, TX. Funk attacked DiBiase before the bell, whipping the champ from pillar to post. DiBiase, as tricky as he is tough, caught Funk with a brass knuckle shot that almost put the Texan down for the count. DiBiase continued to hammer on Funk and wound up a haymaker for the knockout blow, but Funk ducked and rolled an unbalanced DiBiase up for the pin! An irate DiBiase argued with the referee while a bloody Funk grabbed the belt and celebrated outside the ring.
Ray Villmer made The Red Menace submit to the Stepover Toehold Facelock in 0:12:04. Rating: *** 3/4
The Red Menace may have lost the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship to Don Curtis, but the masked Cuban still has his wiles and the enmity of the Miami Beach faithful to count on. That, however, would not be enough to overcome the scientific veteran, Ray Villmer. Villmer, who was cheated out of the Southern title by the Menace back in 1959, gained a measure of revenge on the Cuban by forcing him to submit in the middle of the ring to the STF. The Miami Beach crowd was delighted to jeer the Menace all the way back to the locker room.
Dick the Bruiser and Johnny Valentine defeated Don Curtis and Mark Lewin when Bruiser pinned D. Curtis after a splash from the second rope in 0:23:04. Rating: ** 3/4
The Miami Beach crowd rained down boos on the team of Dick the Bruiser and Johnny Valentine, two of the toughest, most sadistic grapplers in the world today. The duo of NWA Southern Champion Don Curtis and Mark Lewin have held tag titles all up and down the East Coast, and they needed every bit of that experience to hold their own against Bruiser and Valentine. Valentine, who was last seen on Miami Beach passing out to Eddie Graham’s figure four leglock in a Lights Out match, took joy in dismantling the young Lewin. Valentine sneered to the crowd and tagged in Bruiser, but Lewin dove to the ropes and brought in his teammate, “The Buffalo Bomber” Don Curtis! Curtis dropkicked Valentine, then Bruiser, then turned back to Valentine--only to be caught square in the face by Valentine’s Brainbuster elbow shot. Bruiser planted Curtis, then launched himself off the second turnbuckle with a thunderous splash to seal the match. A very impressive win over the Southern champion and his partner for Bruiser and Valentine.
Two-out-of-three-Falls Match: The Von Brauners (Karl Von Brauner and Kurt Von Brauner) drew Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez: x Kurt Von Brauner beat M. Perez via the Big Stomp in 0:18:20 x A. Rocca beat Kurt Von Brauner via a dropkick to the face in 0:32:23 x time limit expired (Karl Von Brauner and A. Rocca) in 0:45:00 Rating: ** 1/4 (Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez retained the NWA World Tag Team Titles.) [Saul Weingeroff interfered against Antonino Rocca.]
The Von Brauners earned a shot at the biggest prize in wrestling by making short work of their competition in Florida, but the world-famous tandem of Argentina Rocca and the Puerto Rican Perez have beaten back challenges from the toughest tag teams in all of wrestling these past three-plus years. The Von Brauners took control of the bout early, beating on the popular champions with clubbing forearms and wearing them down with headlocks. The crowd was rabid for a comeback, but each time Rocca or Perez seemed to gain a little momentum, the Germans’ snake of a manager, Saul Weingeroff, made his presence known, distracting referee Bob Morrow and even being bold enough to whack Rocca with his cane while Rocca was recovering outside the ring. The Von Brauners executed their plan perfectly, isolating Perez and delivering the Big Stomp to the chest for the first fall.
The beating continued and it looked like the Miami Beach crowd was in store for a shocking upset, when the cagey Rocca dodged an attempted double-team maneuver, sending Kurt Von Brauner knee-first into his brother. Karl Von Brauner was knocked to the floor, allowing Rocca to pepper Kurt with a crescendo of rights and lefts before nailing a perfectly executed dropkick that kept Von Brauner down for the second fall. A rejuvenated Rocca celebrated with a cartwheel that had the crowd on their feet while the Von Brauners and Weingeroff conferred outside the ring.
The third fall was almost a repeat of the second--the Von Brauners took control with a slow, methodical approach and nearly picked up the decision on a couple occasions, but the slippery Rocca and Perez escaped and turned the tide. Suddenly, it was Karl Von Brauner on the receiving end of Rocca’s kicks and Perez’s dropkicks. Rocca signaled to the crowd for the Argentine Backbreaker and lifted Karl for the submission, but before he could get a good hold of the German the bell was rung. Rocca and the crowd celebrated, but were informed by the referee that the match had ended in a time limit draw. Rocca and Perez weren’t happy, but regardless they survived one of their greatest challenges to date.
Buddy Rogers defeated Eddie Graham by pinfall in 0:20:50. Rating: ***** [Johnny Valentine interfered against Eddie Graham.]
“The Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, perhaps the most hated (and biggest drawing) man in wrestling today was introduced to a riotous chorus of boos from the Florida fans. His opponent, “Bloody” Eddie, received the opposite reaction from the wrestling faithful. These two men know each other well, having partnered up in a series of tag matches over the summer against Bearcat Wright and Sweet Daddy Siki in Chicago and New York. This, however, was their first time meeting head-to-head, and the two muscled, sneaky blonds--seemingly carbon copies of each other--wasted no time in putting on a sensational match for those in attendance. The Nature Boy’s mix of cocky mind games, underhanded tactics and exciting, high-impact maneuvers demonstrated how he’s kept eyes glued to television sets from coast-to-coast. Eddie Graham, however, is no stranger to taking advantage of his opponent and stretching the rules where necessary, and he gave as good as he got inside the squared circle. The two blonds battled back and forth in a fast-paced contest of dropkicks, slams, backdrops, throws and dueling figure four leglocks that had the crowd rocking. A quarter hour into the match, Bloody Eddie was wearing the crimson mask after being sent into the ringpost outside. Graham regained the upper hand inside the ring, however, catching Rogers with an atomic drop that fazed him. Graham climbed to the top rope, looking to deliver the Atomic Kneedrop and score the biggest win of his career, when JOHNNY VALENTINE came running out! Valentine shoved Graham off the top rope and to the mat, where he landed awkwardly and lay crumpled. Rogers recovered just enough to drape an arm over Graham and pick up three count!
The crowd was incensed! Clearly Johnny Valentine did not consider his feud with Eddie Graham settled. Valentine, no stranger to Buddy Rogers from his own tours in Chicago and the Northeast, raised a very weary Buddy Rogers’ arm in victory. Rogers, however, snapped his arm away and pointed a finger at Valentine, telling him off for getting involved in his match. Valentine shoved Rogers, but Rogers reared back and fired off a right hand, sending Valentine to the mat and rolling out to the floor! Rogers helped Graham to his feet and shook his hand, making peace between the two. Valentine was fuming outside the ring, but it looks like the Nature Boy won over the Florida crowd with a single punch.
Card rating: *** ½
The Grapevine:
Cowboy Luttrell wanted tonight’s show to go down as the biggest ever in Florida wrestling history and one has to think he got his wish! The star power was off the charts, with Buddy Rogers, Antonino Rocca, Eddie Graham and a host of other national names on the card, and they delivered. Valentine may have cost Graham his match against the Nature Boy, but fans will no doubt be talking about tonight’s contest as one of the greatest of all time. You can bet, however, that Graham will be looking to pay back Valentine in full. Plus, it’s been announced that Buddy Rogers will be returning to Miami in the new year at January’s big baseball stadium show, and who knows what role he’ll play in this feud!
And while the return of the Nature Boy might seem like big news, Luttrell Promotions had another huge items for wrestling fans: for the first time ever, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion will be defending his title in the state of Florida! Cowboy Luttrell has been hard at work negotiating with the National Wrestling Alliance Championship Committee, and as a result Pat O’Connor--or whoever is the champion at the time--is scheduled to face a CWF challenger this coming February in Tampa, at CWF’s traditional Gasparilla Spectacular show! And Luttrell further announced that the challenger will be none other than...the winner of a number-one contenders bout between Eddie Graham and Hans Schmidt, taking place next month in Tampa!
In other big news, after tonight’s time limit draw where Argentina Rocca and Miguel Perez were taken to the limit by the villainous Von Brauners, the two teams will be competing in a rematch, also next month in Tampa. The two teams may clash in styles, but they nonetheless appear to be evenly matched. The popular champions will need to be on top of their games to defeat the hated Germans.
And finally, after tonight’s pinfall victory over the NWA Southern Champion, Don Curtis, the CWF has seen fit to give Dick the Bruiser the next shot at Curtis’ title belt. The Bruiser is a mean masher of a man, and Curtis will have to find a way to outwit the Bruiser if he wants to escape with his championship, or even just his health.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDERS MATCH – Eddie Graham vs. Hans Schmidt WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES 2/3 FALLS MATCH – Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez (c) vs. The Von Brauners SOUTHERN TITLE – Don Curtis (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser
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Post by snabbit888 on Jun 17, 2013 19:47:17 GMT -5
Ha. I like the Mighty Yankees already. I kind of miss gimmicks that are this simplistic. We hate you because you're from up north!
Schmidt just keeps on rolling. I hope we get the title match with O'Connor sooner rather than later.
It's a title that requires a tough man to hold, and it was won with a roll up. I like that. DiBiase deserves a rematch for that, no doubt. But Dory Funk should make a good champion. It's not like he's not tough.
It looks like The Red Menace's days of being a top player are over - at least for now.
Bruiser/Valentine should be getting a title shot soon after that win.
Nothing wrong with a good time limit draw. I think the Von Brauners gave Rocca/Perez more of a fight than anyone expected. A rematch has to be in order after that.
Awesome main event. Rogers is legit through and through. Didn't expect him to turn face after the match though. Nice touch to end the show though. And I can't wait to see Valentine vs. Graham again. Their past matches were awesome.
Big matches coming up too. Get these posted immediately!
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