TV REPORTS FCW TV REPORT 8/30: WWE debuts new seven-foot tall big man, Tyler Reks defends FCW Title, Abraham Washington's weekly shenanigans
Sep 5, 2009 - 12:05:26 PM
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Florida Championship Wrestling TV Report
August 30, 2009
Aired on the Bright House Sports Network
Report by Cody Endres, PWTorch contributor
-Announcers Dusty Rhodes and Byron Saxton are standing at ringside to open the show. The audience is revved up and chanting "FCW." The fans are so loud you can barely hear the announcers. Saxton said that the 50th FCW television show is just a few weeks away and FCW General Manager Abraham Washington has a very special announcement for tonight. Nothing was mentioned about the Fatal Four-Way FCW Title match announced last week.
1 – HEATH SLATER vs. JOHNNY CURTIS
Both men trade the advantage on collar and elbow tie ups. Curtis focuses on Slater's arm which is still in a cast. Curtis hits an atomic drop and then clotheslines Slater over the top rope to the floor. Curtis follows up with a plancha to the outside. Fans chant "FCW" some more. Back in the ring, Slater catches Curtis standing on the top rope and sends him down throat first across the top rope. Saxton questions how long Slater needs to wear the cast. Curtis surprises Slater with that Booker T. sunset flip out of the corner for a nearfall. Slater hits a knee to the side of the head and a knee drop for a nearfall of his own. Slater attempts his Sweetness finisher, but Curtis grabs hold of the ropes. Curtis with a back body drop and a Russian legsweep for another nearfall. Curtis flies off the top rope with a guillotine legdrop, but Slater moves at the last second. Slater hits Sweetness for the win.
WINNER: Heath Slater in 6:03. Very good match. Slater is better suited with this heel persona. Curtis's short push seems to be over already.
-After the match, Slater grabbed a microphone at ringside. Slater said what he did last week was just the beginning. Slater said nobody in the FCW Universe could stop him including Johnny Curtis, Joe Hennig, or even Tyler Reks. Slater promised to blow everyone's mind.
[Commercial Break]
2 – MICHAEL TARVER vs. JOHNNY PRIME
As you can probably guess, Michael Tarver is the former Mr. Tarver. He is still doing the same MMA gimmick. Saxton told viewers that we hadn't seen Prime in a while because he took some time off to find himself and refocus. Tarver battles out of an arm ringer by doing a one-handed handstand and kicking Prime in the ribs. Tarver signals for a touch of gloves as a sign of sportsmanship. Awesome. Prime takes control with a fireman's carry and a dropkick. Tarver hits Prime with a series of quick jabs for a nearfall. Tarver scores with an overhead belly to belly suplex for another nearfall. Prime flubs up on a leg lariat maneuver. Out of nowhere, Tarver executes the Tarver's Lightning slam for the victory.
WINNER: Michael Tarver in 4:24. Tarver's unique MMA style and offense continues to stand out on this roster. Not a good night to be named Johnny.
[Commercial Break]
-Backstage FCW General Manager Abraham Washington talked to his Cabinet which includes Fletcher Chase, Troy Jackman, Alex Riley, and Courtney Taylor (formerly Beverly). Washington told Riley he has been working hard and he will get another shot at the FCW Heavyweight Championship tonight. Well, let's just throw the whole Fatal Four match buildup from last week's show out the window. Courtney was excited and said they (Courtney & Riley) had been waiting for this for so long. Keep in mind Riley just had a title match on the August 16th show. Riley interrupted her and told her he didn't want to take any chances that she would screw something up tonight. Riley ordered her outside the office. Suddenly, Gabriel barged into the office. Gabriel said there wasn't anyone in the room he couldn't defeat including Riley. Gabriel wants to be in the mix for the FCW Heavyweight Championship. Washington claimed he didn't even know Gabriel's name and stated that tonight would be about Alex Riley. Viewers could hear the door creak open. Everyone in the office looked wide-eyed and stared upwards like they were looking at a giant of a man. Washington and the Cabinet laughed and shouted in amusement.
-We were treated to another viewing of an Escobar hype video focusing on how white his teeth are.
[Commercial Break]
3 – JUSTIN ANGEL vs. VANCE ARCHER
Angel entered to Candice Michelle's old "Raise your Hands Up" theme. Interesting choice. Angel ducks out of the way of Archer's offense until being caught by a back elbow. Archer chokes Angel in the corner with his boot Big Daddy Cool style. Angel grabs the leg and takes his opponent down to the mat with a leglock submission in an innovative spot. Archer manages to escape by kicking with his free leg. Angel works over Archer's leg with a variety of kicks. Angel rolls up Archer with another leglock submission, but Archer breaks free again. Angel leaps off the second rope with a crossbody, but Archer catches him. Archer drops him with a twirling faceplant for a nearfall. Archer works over Angel's ribs for a short period. Archer hits a sidewalk slam for another nearfall. Saxton mentioned that Archer was on some dating show a long time ago and was eliminated. This led Dusty off on a tangent about soap operas for some reason. Dusty enjoys "Guiding Light." Dusty will be quite sad since "Guiding Light" was canceled and is scheduled to be replaced by a new version of "Let's Make a Deal" hosted by Wayne Brady. I can't make this stuff up if I tried. Archer whips Angel hard into the turnbuckle. Angel rolls out of the way of an elbow drop and a leg drop. Angel reverses a tilt-a-whirl into an inverted DDT for a nearfall. Angel attempts a spin kick, but Archer hoists him up and drops him with a powerbomb type maneuver for a very close nearfall. Both men struggle on the top rope. Angel leaps to the apron and sends Archer throat-first across the top rope. Angel connects with a high kick while on the apron to send Archer to the mat. Angel climbs back up and hits the 450 splash for the big victory.
WINNER: Justin Angel in 7:52. This is turning into one of the best episodes of FCW if you're a fan of quality wrestling. Hopefully this is the start of a big singles push for Angel. Please change his Candice Michelle theme music.
-Backstage, Alex Riley told Courtney Taylor that it was over. Fletcher Chase was in the background eavesdropping. Riley called her dead weight and told her not to bother stopping by their house because he's already had her possessions removed. Trent Beretta walked up out of nowhere to console a distraught Courtney. Beretta said he knew how she felt since his mom kicked him out of the house once. In the background, Chase motioned for an embrace. Beretta wrapped his arms around Courtney and grinned. Courtney pulled away and slapped him.
[Commercial Break]
4 – TYLER REKS vs. ALEX RILEY – FCW Heavyweight Championship Match
Rosa Mendes is doing a decent job as the ring announcer. Both men exchange headlocks early on. Riley attempts to back suplex his way out, but Reks keeps a tight grip. Riley grabs the ropes to get the break. Reks drop toe holds Riley and goes back to the side headlock. Riley battles out with some punches to the ribs. More headlock exchanges. Riley back body drops Reks over the ropes, but Reks lands on the apron. Reks goes for a sunset flip, but Riley counters and sends Reks back-first across his knee.
[Commercial Break]
The announcers explain that Riley focused his attack on Reks' back during the commercial break. Riley hits a snap suplex for a nearfall. Riley catches Reks coming off the ropes with a dropkick for another nearfall. Fans chant "Riley Sucks" as Riley sinks in a side headlock. Both men crash in the center of the ring with simultaneous clotheslines. Reks leaps off the second rope with a crossbody for a nearfall. Reks connects with his High Tide elbow drop for another nearfall. Riley suprises Reks with a sit-out slam for a nearfall of his own. Moments later, Reks leaps from the apron and takes out Riley with his springboard dropkick. The ref is standing too close to Riley and ends up being taken out as well. With the referee down, Fletcher Chase & Troy Jackman run out to interfere. Reks cuts them both off at the apron with punches. Reks grabs Riley and hits his Burning Hammer finisher, but the referee is still down. A tall man dressed all in black makes his way into the ring and takes Reks out with a chokeslam. The announcers were in awe and wondered who this man was.
WINNER: Tyler Reks by DQ in 10:32 of what aired to remain FCW Heavyweight Champion. Perhaps this was the last singles match between Reks and Riley. A quick check on FCW's website revealed that the mystery man's name is Eli Cottonwood. He's billed at 7'1". He sort of looks like Brodie Lee from ROH.
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