The final two Grand Prix house shows.
January 20, 1997
[Marks]
Shelly Marks here for your Grand Prix Report… let’s get right down to business.. the first match of the night.. #8 Mr. America takes on #9 Samantha Tanner.
[Footage]
[Mr. America goes for a short lariat, but Samantha Tanner blocks it. Samantha Tanner nails him with a sunset flip. Referee counts: One, two, thr... kickout. Mr. America nails him with a gutwrench suplex. Mr. America catches him in a Northern Lights suplex. Referee counts: One, two, shoulder up. Mr. America whips Samantha Tanner into the ropes. Samantha Tanner hits Mr. America with a kick. Samantha Tanner takes him down with a sleeperhold. Mr. America reaches the ropes after being trapped for 5 seconds. Samantha Tanner nails him with a ropeburn. Samantha Tanner takes him down with a clawhold. Mr. America reaches the ropes after being trapped for 14 seconds. Samantha Tanner executes a low blow. Samantha Tanner goes for the Fisherman Suplex, but she can't do it. Mr. America counters it with a small package. Referee counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
At 6:00 sharp, Mr. America defeats Samantha Tanner and he’ll face the #1 ranked competitor.. Gustaffson on Wednesday.. let’s hear from Mr. America.
[Mr. America]
So now after Sam Turner couldn’t cut it against me, it looks like I get to face the man himself. Well Gussy, you power bombed me through the mat the first time we met and got the win. But look no further. People are expecting you to roll right over me again, well it’s time for the big upset and you’ll be the one who’s out of the tournament after we meet Gussy. Talk to Consuelo, and come prepared. You don’t know what just could happen to you.
[Marks]
The next match of the night placed #7 Mariko against #10 Consuelo Salyards.. this one has interesting reprocussions as both are members of the Femme Fatale, and the winner will also face Rachel Ryan.. another of the Femme Fatale.. Let’s go to footage:
[Footage]
[Mariko goes for a flying forearm, but Consuelo Salyards counters it with a duck-down move. Consuelo Salyards runs into the ropes. Mariko executes a flying clothesline. Mariko takes her down with a flying dropkick. Mariko takes her down with a jumping side kick. Consuelo Salyards whips Mariko into the ropes. Mariko misses with a clothesline. Mariko takes her down with a thrust kick to the head. Mariko nails her with a chokehold. Referee counts: One, two, three, four. Mariko executes the Spinning Cresent Kick and Consuelo counters with a duck down. Consuelo with a back suplex. Referee counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
And Consuelo Salyards advances in the tournament, in 17:34. Let’s hear from the Latin Lover, who’s had these comments for Elaine Bryant.
(Camera comes up on Consuelo, who is covered in sweat, seated on a chair in the locker room. Her head is down, and there is a towel covering it. The locker room is otherwise empty.)
[Elaine]
Here in the locker room with “The Latin Lover” Consuelo Salyards, who just won her first match in the Endurance Challenge against stablemate Mariko. Consuelo, big win for you.
[Consuelo]
(Not looking up.) Yeah, right. Great. Real great.
[Elaine]
Not a very happy attitude for someone one step closer to the belt.
[Consuelo]
Yeah, well, let’s see: I just beat my sister, and I get to go on to fight another one of my sisters in the next round. Maybe, I don’t know, if someone could call my mom, maybe I could wrestle *her* for the title in the finals. Who the hell put this thing together? I think they put all the Femmes facing each other on purpose.
[Elaine]
You’re one of the top seeds now to take the belt. Surely that HAS to mean something to you.
[Consuelo]
(Taking the towel off of her head and looking up) Yeah, it means I’m one step closer to winning this whole thing and putting it behind me. I hate having to wrestle my girls. I hate it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to train for Rachel. I have a feeling she’s going to beat my ass in the next round.
[Elaine]
Okay…an….interesting response from “The Latin Lover.” Back to you.
[Marks]
It’ll be Consuelo Salyards against Rachel Ryan on Wednesday. The third match of the night, pitted #6 ranked Executioner against #11 ranked Danny Maxx. Let’s go to the highlights.
[Footage]
[Danny Maxx throws Executioner out of the ring. Danny Maxx goes through the ropes. Executioner knocks Danny Maxx into the ringsteps. Executioner knocks Danny Maxx into the ringpost. Executioner goes for a gutwrench suplex, but Danny Maxx blocks it. Danny Maxx knocks Executioner into the ringpost. Executioner executes a German suplex. Danny Maxx reenters the ring. Executioner follows him back in. Danny Maxx runs into the ropes.
Danny Maxx executes an armdrag takedown. Danny Maxx climbs to the top turnbuckle, but Executioner nails him in the stomach. Danny Maxx falls onto the top turnbuckle. Executioner catches him in a belly-to-belly superplex. Referee counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
In 17:06, it’s Executioner getting past Danny Maxx in the Grand Prix tournament. Let’s hear from the Executioner.
[Executioner]
Danny Maxx.. great match.. For a Tag Team specialist I am impressed you made it this far in the tourney.. but now is the time for me to win back my belt, and you were the first challenge to overcome….. Now it’s on to bigger and better things and that being Freddy Fever… Freddy, I knew this would happen someday soon with both of us going for the Championship as hard as we do.. But now is not your time Fever… I am still too hungry for that gold and now that I’m reunited with the Family and Monty, I am as determined as ever to win back my belt. Freddy, this will be a war, all friendships are out the window for this.. so bring everything you got bud cause I wont be holding back…
[Marks]
On Wednesday, it’ll be Executioner taking on Freddy Fever. And the final match of the night pitted #5 ranked Wendy Ryker against #12 ranked Miguel Thunder. Let’s go to that footage now.
[Footage]
[Miguel Thunder executes an elbowsmash on a very bloody Wendy Ryker. Miguel Thunder goes for a scorpion deathlock, but Wendy Ryker blocks it. Wendy Ryker goes for the DDT, but she can't do it. Miguel Thunder runs into the ropes. Miguel Thunder hits Wendy Ryker with a shoulderblock. Miguel Thunder executes a piledriver. Wendy Ryker is bleeding like hell. Miguel Thunder goes for the Rocker Dropper, but Wendy Ryker counters it with a legsweep. Wendy Ryker nails him with a short clothesline. Wendy Ryker goes for a facerake, but Miguel Thunder blocks it. Miguel Thunder catches her in a power bomb. Referee counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up. Miguel Thunder executes a Boston crab. Wendy Ryker reaches the ropes after being trapped for 6 seconds. Miguel Thunder goes for a spin kick, but Wendy Ryker counters it with a duck-down move. Wendy Ryker is bleeding like a faucet. Wendy Ryker goes for a flying lariat, but Miguel Thunder counters it with a fist to the midsection. Miguel Thunder gives the sign for the Somersault Kick. Miguel Thunder nails Wendy Ryker with the Somersault Kick. Referee counts: One, two, three!]
[Marks]
And Miguel Thunder with a win over Wendy Ryker, to advance in the tournament. He’ll face Anthony Hazard. Let’s get this comments from Miguel Thunder!
[Miguel]
I have proven time and time again, only one wrestler can survive and this tournament. Ryker, you aren’t the one. Hazard, better be ready for a deadly match, cuz this time, I’ll be winning my way back to Mexico, then in February, I’ll just come on over the EEC, and take the belt from YOU, Lane!
[Marks]
That’s it for today.. let’s go over the matches for Wednesday!
Mr. America vs. Gustaffson
Consuelo Salyards vs. Rachel Ryan
Executioner vs Freddy Fever
Miguel Thunder vs. Anthony Hazard
January 22, 1997
[Shelly Marks]
Shelly Marks here with the OWA on the road. We’re at the final four. Let’s go over tonight’s matches and give you the run down for the matches that will be taking place this weekend on OWA Championship Wrestling.
We’ll start out with the much anticipated match between Mr. America and Gustaffson:
[Footage]
[Mr. America goes for a flying forearm, but Gustaffson counters it with a duck-down move. Mr. America goes for a clawhold, but Gustaffson blocks it. Gustaffson goes for a power bomb, but Mr. America blocks it. Mr. America takes him down with a choke against the ropes. Earl Hebner counts: One, two, three, four. Mr. America whips Gustaffson into the ropes. Gustaffson nails him with a double-axhandle chop. Gustaffson whips Mr. America into the ropes. Gustaffson hits Mr. America with an elbow. Gustaffson nails him with a spinning power bomb. Earl Hebner counts: One, two, thr... kickout. Gustaffson catches him in a dragon suplex. Earl Hebner counts: One, two, kickout. Gustaffson executes the Drop Piledriver and goes for the pin. Earl Hebner counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
Gustaffson with a win in 15:02 and advancing in the tournament. Let’s get a few words with the big guy.
[Gus]
Vhat VAS that little vimp America thinking? Dat he could beat da Giant? Dat is MY ring. I haf vought hard to get to vhere I am, and no rookie shall stop me! He had better think again before bothering me…
[Marks]
Now you face your stablemate Consuelo Salyards.. Your thoughts?
[Gus]
Consuelo, I am sorry, but I haf to go through you. I haf only one shot at dat belt so far here. I vill not look past you Consuelo, you are very good fighter… But I no fight for month to vall back. I must get dat belt… (Walks off, not happy…)
[Marks]
The second match, pitted Rachel Ryan against Consuelo Salyards. The winner will have to face Gustaffson this weekend.. let’s check out that footage.
[Footage]
[Rachel Ryan nails her with a short clothesline. Rachel Ryan whips Consuelo Salyards into the ropes. Consuelo Salyards hits Rachel Ryan with a shoulderblock. Consuelo Salyards goes for the Front Flipping Legdrop from 2nd Rope, but he can't do it. Rachel Ryan counters it with a knee pull-up. Rachel Ryan takes him down with a piledriver. Rachel Ryan whips Consuelo Salyards into the ropes. Consuelo Salyards nails him with a Hotshot. Consuelo Salyards executes a piledriver. Consuelo Salyards catches him in a flying legdrop. Tim White counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
At the 20:30 mark, Consuelo Salyards with perhaps an upset victory of sorts.. she’ll advance to this Sunday to face the Femme bodyguard, Gustaffson. Let’s get a few works with the “Latin Lover”
[Consuelo]
Great. Gustaffson is next. I still can’t believe I beat Rachel. Any word
yet on my mom? Is she gonna face me in the finals? This is crap. I’ll be
glad when I have the belt around my waist and I don’t have to fight any
more Femmes. Frustrating.
[Marks]
A little upset is Consuelo Salyards. Let’s go to the third match pitting Executioner against Freddy Fever:
[Footage]
[Executioner goes for a Northern Lights suplex, but Freddy Fever blocks it. Freddy Fever goes for a slap, but Executioner reverses it. Executioner reenters the ring. Freddy Fever follows him back in. Executioner goes for a Gorilla Press, but Freddy Fever counters it with a rolling reverse cradle.
Tim White counts: One, two, shoulder up. Freddy Fever runs into the ropes.
Freddy Fever hits Executioner with a kick. Freddy Fever takes him down with a chokehold. Tim White counts: One, two, three, four, five. Tim White warns Freddy Fever. Freddy Fever goes for a choke against the ropes, but Executioner blocks it. Executioner catches him in a power bomb. Executioner executes an elbowdrop from the second turnbuckle. Tim White counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
It’s Executioner with a win over Freddy Fever, advancing him in the tournament. I was able to get some comments from Executioner after his match.
[Shelly]
Executioner, congratulations on your win tonight you look exhausted… Was tonights match everything you expected it to be against Fever?
[Executioner is lying on a table getting a rub down by a large muscular women, after a few more moments he sits up to talk to Shelly Marks, when she notices a large black eye and multiple scraps and bruises on his body]
[Executioner]
Shelly, I didn’t exepect anything less against Freddy. I know what kind of wrestler he is and I expected one of the toughest matches of my career, and that’s what I got.. but the bottom line is that I came out on top and won the match…. I knew this match could go either way so I just threw everything to the wind and went all out to get another victory… Freddy, thanks for a tough match and I expect to meet you again after I regain my belt.
[Shelly]
And know you go on to face Anthony Hazard who beat Miguel Thunder in another match, you and Hazard have had words in the past and have split victories in 2 recent matches so there will be no surprises in this match you two definatly know each others style. What do you think you’re
chances will be in that match??
[Executioner]
–sighs– You know Shelly this is the main reason i joined
the OWA because of the top notch competition and the chance to beat some of
the best we have.. And i certainly rank Anthony Hazard in that category, he is quick and powerful and should prove a great challenge, but i have beat him before and i intend on doing it again this is just another stop on the way to winning this tournament.. and i plan on being that winner.. And yes shelly you’re right me and Hazard have had our words in the past and we have split our last two encounters.. But this time I will end it with a clean pin in the middle of the ring to put this fued to rest..
[Shelly]
There you have it Ed and Biff straight from the mouth of the Xman
himself, looks like the Executioner-Hazard matchup will be a classic!
[Marks]
The final match of the night, pitted Miguel Thunder against the Elitist Anthony Hazard.. let’s go to that footage now.
[Footage]
[Miguel Thunder hits Anthony Hazard with a shoulderblock. Miguel Thunder takes him down with a spin kick. Miguel Thunder executes a DDT. Miguel Thunder goes for a sleeperhold, but Anthony Hazard counters it with a jawbreaker. Miguel Thunder runs into the ropes. Miguel Thunder misses with a kick. Anthony Hazard hits Miguel Thunder with a shoulderblock. Anthony Hazard takes him down with a jumping side kick. Anthony Hazard executes a fistdrop. Anthony Hazard executes a flying shoulderblock. Anthony Hazard nails him with a legdrop. Anthony Hazard reenters the ring. Miguel Thunder follows him back in. Anthony Hazard executes a flying clothesline. Anthony Hazard executes the Reverse Power Slam and goes for the pin. Earl Hebner counts: One, two, three.]
[Marks]
Anthony Hazard advances to meet Executioner this weekend. I spoke with Anthony Hazard after that match.
[Shelly Marks and Anthony Hazard are standing in front of an OWA banner]
[Marks]
Well Anthony, you’ve been doin really good so far in the Grand Prix. What do think of the compitition?
[Hazard]
Ya know Shelly, everyone has been coming out almost every day and having a match. Most of these guys and gals aren’t used to wrestling that offen and even though they may be good or even great wrestlers, they just can’t pase themselves to last the entire tourny.
[Marks]
So your saying they just don’t have the endurance for it?
[Hazard]
Not at all. But what I am saying, is they don’t have the experience for it. If you look at the top contenders in this tournement, you will notice that most of them are all past champions. These poeple know how to win and for some of us, thats all we know.
[Marks]
Ok I get it. So what about now, you have Executioner to face.
[Hazard]
Ah…Executioner again eh. A fine wrestler, but I just don’t think he knows what he wants out of his career yet. What he really needs is to either stay a loner for a while, or just stay with the family. Yes, the fam can help him and guide him in some directions, but they can also hold him back.
[Marks]
Please explain.
[Hazard]
See, the family is, at this point, made up of three top World Champion contenders, one other champion contender and of course the yellow warrior. What I don’t see is how Executioner thinks by rejoining the family, that it can benifit him. You don’t see The Elite fighting over belts.
[Marks]
That’s true.
[Hazard]
Sir Goodwin selected us for certain reasons and it just so happens, that I was selected to be the World Champion.
[Marks]
Ok, thanks Anthony. So there we have the final rundown for this weekend. It’ll be Gustaffson taking on Consuelo Salyards.. as well as Executioner facing Anthony Hazard. The winners will face off, and that winner will be facing Traci Lane at Endurance’s Evil Challenge for the OWA Championship. For the OWA, I’m Shelly Marks.