Sunday, August 23, 2009

Match #8: $500 Battle Royal (3/30/78)

On every fifth Wednesday of the month, the MVW had a cash battle royal with many of the stars on the roster participating. This is the first of those battle royals.

March 30, 1978
National Guard Armory
Tupelo, MS

$500 Battle Royal (12 participants)

Littleton climbs into the ring. He puts the microphone to his face and begins the main event’s introduction. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s now time for the main event of the evening!! This match is a battle royal with twelve men participating. A wrestler is eliminated when he is thrown over the top rope and both feet land on the arena floor. The winner of the match will be the last man standing in the ring. That man will receive $500 in cash.” The crowd cheers.

“Let’s bring the wrestlers down to the ring. First, from Jackson, MS, Mr. Mississippi! From Holly Springs, MS, Troy Canby! From Mount Olympus, Argonaut #1! From Nashville, TN, Mr. Tennessee! From Starkville, MS, ‘Sensational’ Seth Greeley! From Mount Olympus, Argonaut #2! From Oxford, MS, ‘Excellent’ Xavier Cross! From Tunica, MS, ‘Double A’ Arnold Adams! From Starkville, MS, the Grappler! From Holly Springs, MS, Travis Canby! From Vicksburg, MS, Jason James! From San Bernandino, CA, Al Madril!”

All twelve men come to the ring and are greeted with the appropriate crowd reaction. When all twelve men are in the ring, Littleton says, “Wrestlers, are you ready?!” The wrestlers nod. Littleton says, “Fans, are you ready?!” The fans cheer greatly. “Let the battle royal begin!!!”

The bell rings and Littleton gets out of the ring. All twelve men lock up. Mississippi with Argonaut #1. Travis with Seth. Troy with Grappler. Xavier with Tennessee. Arnold with Jason. Al with Argonaut #2. Argonaut #2 backs Al into a corner. Tennessee tries to put Xavier over the top rope, but Xavier elbows him in the ribs. Troy backs Grappler into a corner. Seth whips Travis into the ropes. Travis slams into Arnold’s back. Arnold’s and Jason’s heads collide. Travis slams Arnold’s head into the turnbuckle. Seth comes up behind Travis, but Jason tosses him out of the ring between the ropes. Jason clotheslines Travis over the top rope. Travis tries to hang onto the top rope, but he loses his grip and falls to the floor.

Littleton announces, “Travis Canby has been eliminated!!”

Seth climbs back into the ring. Arnold kicks Jason in the stomach. Argonaut #2 pins Al into the corner with a vicious kneelift to the chest. Troy shouts to #2. #2 whips Al across the ring as Troy whips Grappler. Al and Grappler arm dance for a second before charging the opposite corners. Al spears Troy into the corner. #2 grabs Grappler’s arm and whips him hard into the turnbuckle.

Xavier takes Tennessee down with a snap mare and applies a reverse chin lock. Mississippi trades punches with #1. Arnold slams Jason shoulderfirst into the turnbuckle. Seth dropkicks Arnold from behind. Arnold rolls under the bottom rope to the outside. Al chops Troy across the chest. Enraged, Troy puts Al in the corner and kicks him three times in the stomach and legs. Troy climbs the turnbuckle and starts planting right hands on the side of Al’s face. Al grabs Troy’s legs and shoves him over the top rope. Troy lands on the ring apron. Al tries to shove him off the apron, but Troy manages to hold his ground. Al takes a step backwards and charges him. Troy pulls the top rope down and Al sails over and lands on the floor. Troy rolls back into the ring under the bottom rope.

Littleton announces, “Al Madril has been eliminated!!”

Troy gets blindsided by a running forearm from Seth. Having cleared a path now, Seth runs into the side ropes and sends Xavier flying out of the ring (over the bottom rope) with a flying headscissors. Tennessee falls over and brings himself back to his feet with help from the ropes.

#1 backs Mississippi into the ropes on the other side of the ring. Troy grabs Seth’s hair. Seth elbows Troy in the ribs. #1 tries to push Mississippi over the top rope, but Mississippi manages to stay on his feet. Tennessee charges #1 from behind and nails him with a double axehandle. Tennessee and Mississippi both try to dump the larger wrestler over the top rope. Xavier climbs back into the ring. Troy headbutts Seth. Xavier kicks Mississippi in the stomach. Mississippi releases #1’s right leg. Xavier whips him across the ring. Tennessee manages to get #1 three-quarters of the way to the floor before Arnold grabs him from behind and starts to shove him over.

Jason gathers his wits about him in the corner after the pummeling he took from Arnold. #2 comes over to help his partner, but he’s stopped by Mississippi and Xavier. Arnold works to get Tennessee over the top rope, but he can’t seem to do it. Mississippi and Xavier take #2 down with a double suplex. Arnold drops a knee across #2’s forehead. Tennessee, after regaining his own balance, finally gets #1 out to the ring apron. #1 punches him in the face and then snaps his neck over the top rope, forgetting that he had just eliminated himself.

Littleton announces, “Argonaut #1 has been eliminated!!”

Troy takes Seth down with a swinging neckbreaker. Mississippi grabs Arnold in a waistlock. Arnold elbows him in the side of the head. Xavier drops an elbow on #2. Jason comes out of the corner and nearly clotheslines Tennessee out of his boots. Grappler dropkicks Jason on the side of the head. Mississippi cinches the waistlock better and takes Arnold over with a belly-to-back suplex. Xavier straddles #2 and starts throwing punches at him. Troy drapes Seth’s foot over the bottom rope and stomps on it. Mississippi picks Arnold up and dumps him over the top rope.

Littleton announces, “’Double A’ Arnold Adams has been eliminated!!”

Grappler whips Jason into Troy. Tennessee gets back to his feet. Xavier gets to his feet and picks #2 up. #2 grabs Xavier by the throat with both hands and choke slams him in the middle of the ring. Grappler charges the corner with Jason, Troy and Seth. Grappler leaps and catches Jason and Troy with a flying splash. Seth crawls out of the way, but he crawls right into a piledriver from Mississippi. Tennessee runs into the ropes behind him and clotheslines #2, but #2 doesn’t fall down. Grappler brings Troy out of the corner. Mississippi lifts Seth up in a fireman’s carry and dumps him out over the top rope onto the ring apron. When Seth instinctively tries to roll back in, Mississippi shoves him to the floor with his feet.

Littleton announces, “’Sensational’ Seth Greeley has been eliminated!!”

#2 whips Tennessee into the corner where Jason had just gotten to his feet. Jason ducks and backdrops Tennessee over the top rope. Tennessee dangles almost helplessly as he hangs onto the top rope. He manages to get both feet on the apron as Jason turns around. Tennessee hip tosses him to the floor.

Littleton announces, “Jason James has been eliminated!! Six wrestlers have been eliminated. Six wrestlers remain!!” The crowd cheers.

Grappler whips Troy across the ring. Troy ducks a clothesline. Grappler runs into the opposite ropes. Troy leapfrogs over him, but Grappler catches him. Grappler’s momentum takes both men over the top rope, but Troy manages to hook his arms around the middle rope as he went over, leaving Grappler the only one to hit the floor.

Littleton announces, “The Grappler has been eliminated!!”

Tennessee climbs back into the ring. #2 has Xavier high over his head in a military press. Tennessee runs into #2 and rushes him into the ropes. Xavier drops across the top rope on his stomach and falls back inside the ring. Tennessee rolls #2 up for a pinfall. #2 kicks out and sends Tennessee into Xavier with a clothesline that takes him over the top rope and out to the floor.

Littleton announces, “’Excellent’ Xavier Cross has been eliminated!! Four wrestlers remain for the $500 prize money!!”

Tennessee turns around to receive a stiff upper cut from #2. Troy sends Mississippi to the mat with a double leg takedown. Troy signals #2 to a corner. #2 backs Tennessee into a corner. Troy catapults Mississippi into the opposite corner. #2 whips Tennessee across the ring. Tennessee crashes into Mississippi. Troy runs towards #2, who whips him across the ring. Troy sails into the corner with a spinning heel kick that sends himself and Tennessee over the top rope. Tennessee falls to the floor, but Troy keeps hold of the top rope.

Littleton announces, “Mr. Tennessee has been eliminated!!”

Troy slides back into the ring. #2 charges Mississippi in the corner. Mississippi moves out of the way. Troy goes for a clothesline, but Mississippi ducks it. Mississippi nails Troy with a right cross to the face. #2 kicks Mississippi in the face as he turns to challenge him. #2 grabs Mississippi’s mask and Troy’s hair and slams their heads together. #2 sends Mississippi into one corner and Troy into an adjacent corner. #2 slams into Mississippi with a vicious back elbow that causes Mississippi to slump to the floor. #2 walks back into the corner opposite Troy. #2 charges across the ring. Troy backdrops him over the top rope. #2 hits the floor hard.

Littleton announces, “Argonaut #2 has been eliminated!! Only Mr. Mississippi and Troy Canby remain for the $500 grand prize!!”

Mississippi gets back to his feet with the help of the ropes. Troy slides along the ropes, seeming to need them to keep himself upright. Mississippi and Troy trade punches with each other. Both hold onto the top rope. Troy ducks a left cross and grabs Mississippi in a waistlock. Troy goes for a belly-to-belly suplex, but Mississippi blocks it. Mississippi headbutts Troy to break the waistlock. Mississippi takes him down with a drop toe hold. Mississippi slides across Troy’s body and applies a side headlock. Troy scrambles to his feet and backs the duo into the ropes. He shoves him off, but Mississippi grinds in on the headlock. Troy goes for a back suplex, but Mississippi blocks it. Mississippi backs them into the ropes and comes off with a bulldog. Mississippi applies a front face lock as Troy lays motionless on his stomach. After twenty seconds, Mississippi releases the hold, steps behind Troy’s head and applies a camel clutch. After thirty seconds (and three tap outs by Troy), Mississippi releases the hold. Troy lays flat on his face on the mat. Mississippi steps in front of him and sets Troy up for the Mississippi Mud Pie. Troy tries to fight, but the fatigue from the submission holds prevents him. Mississippi plants Troy into the mat with the Mississippi Mud Pie. Mississippi drags Troy to the ropes and dumps him over the top rope. Troy hits the ring apron and falls flat on the concrete floor.

Littleton announces, “Troy Canby has been eliminated!! The last man standing, and the winner of the $500 grand prize is Mr. Mississippi!!!” The crowd cheers wildly.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Match #7: MS Tag Team Title (4/13/78)

April 13, 1978
National Guard Armory
Tupelo, MS

Mississippi State Tag Team Title
Grapper & 'Sensational' Seth Greeley def. Canby Twins

Littleton climbs into the ring with the microphone. Gentz stays in the ring.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is our main event for the evening." The crowd cheers. "It's set for one fall with a one hour time limit. It is for the Mississippi State Tag Team Title."

Jessica, Grappler and Seth walk into the arena. Grappler and Seth climb onto the ring apron. Jessica takes a seat at ringside.

"Introducing first, the challengers, from Starkville, at a combined weight of 471 pounds, are the Grappler and 'Sensational' Seth Greeley!!"

The crowd cheers for them. The twin blonde bombers walk into the arena. They climb onto the ring apron.

"Their opponents, from Holly Springs, at a combined weight of 484 pounds, are the Mississippi State Tag Team champions ... Travis and Troy ... the Canby Twins!!"

The crowd cheers for them as well. They climb into the ring and grab pictures to autograph.

Seth and Troy climb out of the ring. Grappler and Travis circle the ring. Gentz calls for the bell. Grappler goes for a leg sweep, but Travis moves out of the way. They lock up. Grappler forces Travis back into the ropes. Gentz calls for a break, and Grappler does.

They lock up in the middle of the ring again. Travis takes him down with an arm drag. Grappler rolls into the corner. Travis charges the corner, but Grappler moves out of the way. Travis stops before he reaches the corner. He turns around to be taken down by Grappler in a snap mare.

Grappler holds on with a side headlock. Travis tries to roll Grappler over, but Grappler clamps down on the headlock. Travis tries to get his foot over the bottom rope. Grappler tightens the headlock again with Travis' foot less than a foot away from the rope. Travis cries out in pain. Travis grabs a handful of tights and rolls Grappler onto his shoulders. Gentz starts to count ... one ... two ... Grappler kicks out!

Grappler complains about the tights pulling. Gentz warns Travis. Travis manages to get up to his knees. Grappler strains to keep the headlock on. Travis almost makes it to his feet, but Grappler drags him over to his corner and tags Seth. Seth climbs into the ring and kicks Travis in the stomach. Grappler releases the headlock. Seth whips Travis across the ring. Grappler leaves the ring. Travis ducks a clothesline. Seth takes him down with a back body drop. Travis rolls out of the ring. Troy jumps off the ring apron and checks on his brother. Gentz tells him to get back into the corner.

Seth comes to the ropes. Gentz pushes him back. Troy rolls into the ring while Travis climbs back into the corner. Seth sets Troy up for a piledriver, but Troy backdrops him out of the ring. Troy climbs out of the ring and drops a double axehandle across Seth's shoulders. Troy slams Seth's head into the ring apron. Jessica starts to get the crowd behind Seth. The crowd is rather split between the two teams.

Troy goes to slam Seth's head into the turnbuckle, but Seth blocks it. Seth drives an elbow into Troy's sternum. Seth rolls Troy into the ring to break Gentz's count. Seth takes a bit of an extra breather on the outside. Troy steps back out through the ropes, but Gentz stops him. Troy steps back into the ring. Seth climbs onto the ring apron. Troy charges him, but Seth greets him with a shoulderblock to the stomach. Troy doubles over and Seth slingshots over the top rope with a sunset flip. Troy rolls right through it and hooks both of Seth's legs in a pinfall. Gentz gets in for the count ... one ... Seth kicks out!

Troy gets to his feet first and whips Seth into the ropes. Seth ducks a clothesline and comes off the opposite ropes with a flying clothesline. Seth runs into the side ropes. Troy drops to the mat and Seth skips over. Troy leapfrogs over him as he comes back through. Troy goes for an arm drag, but Seth reverses it. Troy rolls out of the ring. Seth plays to the crowd, who cheers greatly.

Troy climbs back on the ring apron. Seth knocks him off again with a standing dropkick. Seth slingshots over the top rope and lands on Troy with a cross body block. Seth rolls back into the ring. Travis jumps down to help his brother. Gentz tells him to get back in his corner. Travis obliges and Gentz starts to count Troy out. Troy gets to his feet at the count of six. At eight, he is back on the ring apron. Seth runs into the neutral corner and springboards off the middle turnbuckle with a missile dropkick. Troy barely manages to keep himself on the ring apron by holding onto the bottom rope.

Seth brings Troy back into the ring and whips him into the farside ropes. He telegraphs a backdrop that Troy leapfrogs over. As Troy hits the opposite ropes, Travis tags his shoulder. Seth takes Troy down with a drop toe hold and slides into a headlock. Travis kicks him in the back of the head. Travis grabs Seth by the neck and rolls him to his feet. Travis backs him against the ropes. Seth reaches for a tag, but Grappler's just barely out of reach. Troy leaves the ring.

Travis whips Seth across the ring and catches him off the ropes with a sleeper. Seth struggles to get to the ropes, but Travis leans onto him. Seth drops to one knee. Travis cranks on the sleeper. Seth drops to both knees. Grappler gets the crowd chanting for Seth. Gentz asks Seth if he wants to submit. Seth says no. Seth sags further. Finally, Seth slumps to the mat. Gentz raises Seth's arm and it drops to the mat. Gentz raises Seth's arm a second time and it drops.Gentz raises Seth's arm a third time and he keeps it up.

Seth struggles against Travis to get back up to one knee. Seth continues to struggle and gets to his feet. Seth charges into a neutral corner and drops to his knees. Travis gets slung into the turnbuckle. Seth struggles along the ropes and manages to tag in Grappler. Travis crawls toward his own corner, but Grappler cuts him off with a running kneelift to the side of the head. Travis falls out of the ring.

Grappler climbs out onto the ring apron. He comes off across Travis' shoulders with a double axehandle. He tosses him into the turnbuckle. Gentz tells Grappler to get back into the ring. Grappler rolls back into the ring under the bottom rope.

Travis climbs onto the ring apron. Grappler dropkicks Travis onto the floor. Grappler climbs through the ropes. Troy comes over to protect his brother. Gentz backs Grappler into the middle of the ring. Troy rolls Travis into the ring close to their corner and climbs onto the ring apron. Grappler nails Troy with a running forearm to the side of the head. He backs Travis into the ropes and whips him across the ring. Grappler drills him into the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. Grappler hooks the leg ... one ... two ... thr ... Travis kicks out!

Grappler stands up and drops an elbow across Travis' throat. Travis rolls over and gets to all fours. Grappler kicks him in the ribs. Travis rolls out onto the ring apron. Grappler goes to kick him off the ring apron, but Gentz keeps him back. Travis gets to his feet with the help of the ropes. Grappler charges him, but Travis plants a shoulderblock into Grappler's solar plexus. Travis slingshots over the top rope into a sunset flip. Grappler tries to hold onto the top rope, but Travis overpowers him. Grappler rolls through and grabs his legs for a catapult into his corner. Seth moves out of the way.

Grappler tags in Seth. Grappler and Seth whip Travis into the ropes and take him down with a double clothesline. Seth jumps onto the middle rope and comes off with a flying splash, but Travis puts his knees up. Troy tries to get the crowd behind him. Grappler climbs out of the ring. Travis crawls toward his corner. Seth nails him with a running kneelift just as he tags in Troy.

Troy jumps over the top rope. He nails Seth with four quick forearm smashes. Seth backs into the ropes. Travis rolls out of the ring. Troy whips Seth across the ring. He falls out of the ring as Travis uses the middle rope to get back to his feet. Gentz warns Travis, but he swears it was an accident. Troy climbs out of the ring, but Gentz stops him. Troy steps back through the ropes, and Seth slides in under the bottom rope. Troy stomps on the back of Seth's head. Troy brings him to his feet and whips him across the ring. Seth ducks a clothesline. He leaps onto the middle rope and comes off with a moonsault, but Troy steps back. When Seth lands, Troy grabs him in a waistlock and throws him back onto the mat with a belly-to-back suplex. Seth rolls out of the ring. Grappler drops down to discuss strategy.

Gentz warns Seth about leaving the ring and Grappler about interfering. Troy walks over to the corner to talk with Travis. Grappler climbs onto the ring apron. Seth slides under the bottom rope and makes a grand gesture of tagging in Grappler. Grappler climbs into the ring. Troy makes the same grand gesture for tagging in Travis. Travis climbs into the ring.

Travis and Grappler circle the ring and then lock up. Grappler gains the advantage and pushes him back to a neutral corner. Gentz calls for a break. Grappler starts to give him one and then slams into the corner with a straight right hand. Travis steps out of the way and chops Grappler across the chest. Travis whips him across the ring. Travis rushes the corner, but Grappler moves out of the way. Travis slams chestfirst into the turnbuckle. Grappler rolls him up from behind. Gentz gets down to count ... one ... two ... thr! Travis gets his shoulder up! Grappler pounds the canvas three times. Gentz holds up two fingers.

Travis gets to his feet first and backs Grappler against the ropes. Gentz calls for a break, but Travis whips Grappler across the ring. Travis catches him with a bearhug. Grappler struggles against the stronger man, but Travis continues to apply pressure. Grappler elbows Travis on the forehead three times before Travis releases him. Grappler runs into the ropes. Travis levels him with a vicious clothesline. Travis grabs the back of Grappler's mask and tags in Troy. Travis puts Grappler in a front face lock while Troy climbs the turnbuckle. Troy flies off with a double axehandle across Grappler's ribs. Grappler drops to one knee.

Travis climbs out of the ring. Troy applies an armbar. Grappler backs Troy into the ropes. Gentz calls for a break. Troy gives a clean break, but Grappler jams his shoulder into Troy's ribs. Troy drops out of the ring. Gentz warns Grappler about making clean breaks. Troy climbs back onto the ring apron. Grappler rushes the ropes, but Troy jams his shoulder into Grappler's ribs. Troy slingshots over the top rope with a sunset flip. Grappler struggles to keep on his feet. Finally, Grappler manages to keep his balance long enough to sit down on Troy's chest. Gentz gets down to count the pinfall. Grappler grabs the top rope. Gentz counts ... one ... two! Travis climbs into the ring and kicks Grappler's hands. Grappler falls backwards. Travis climbs out of the ring. Gentz counts ... one ... Grappler kicks out. Grappler rolls to his corner and tags in Seth before Troy can grab his ankle.

Seth jumps over the top rope. He and Troy start trading right hands. Seth backs Troy against the ropes. He whips him across the ring. Seth goes to take him down with a hip toss, but Troy blocks and reverses it. Seth re-reverses it. Troy counters with an arm drag that sends Seth falling out of the ring between the middle and bottom ropes. Troy gets Gentz' attention. Travis drops off the ring apron. He runs towards Seth with a running clothesline, but Seth ducks and backdrops him onto the concrete floor.

Troy takes a swing at Grappler, causing him to climb into the ring. Gentz tells Grappler to get back in his corner. Seth climbs onto the ring apron. Troy meets him with a knee to the midsection. Troy brings Seth into the ring with a big suplex, but Seth holds onto the top rope. Troy loses his balance and Seth falls on top. Gentz gets down to count, but Travis pulls Troy out of the ring. Gentz starts to count him out as the twins discuss strategy.

Travis climbs back into the ring as Troy goes to the corner. Seth locks up with him. Travis powers him into a headlock. Seth backs him into the ropes and whips him across the ring. Travis ducks a clothesline. Seth leapfrogs over him as he returns. Grappler motions for Jessical to hand him a chair. She does and, as soon as Travis hits the ropes nearest him, Grappler hits him with the chair. Seth dropkicks Travis in the face and covers. Grappler drops the chair as Gentz starts to count ... one ... two ... three!! Troy tries to break the count, but he's too late!! Grappler climbs into the ring and starts to brawl with Troy. Seth pushes Travis out of the ring with his feet.

Littleton grabs the microphone. "The winners of the match and NEW Mississippi State Tag Team champions, in a time of 47:52, are Grappler and 'Sensational' Seth Greeley!!!" The crowd gives a less than enthusiastic cheer for the new champions. Seth looks a bit perturbed by the crowd's change in attitude towards them.

Grappler and Seth run the Canby twins out of the ring. Gentz hands them the title belts. They hold them aloft for the crowd to cheer. As they leave the ring, Seth puts his arm around Jessica's shoulder as they walk out.