It was an exciting night of wrestling at this year's Chapmanville Apple Butter Festival. Though the rain kept the crowd away from the outside vendors, it was warm and dry inside the Chapmanville High School Gymnasium. A crowd of approximately 200 fans watched the evening's activities that saw more than 20 WPW stars in action in 8 separate matches.
The night began when Superstar Shane Matthews made his way to ringside and began to make disparaging remarks about the local fans. He threatened to leave at one point, which the crowd encouraged him to do. Eventually he entered the ring and prepared for his match. Then a buzzing sound was heard. It sounded like a swarm of insects flying into the gym. As Matthews and the crowd looked around for the source of the noise, Yellow Jacket came from the dressing room to a rousing response from the crowd. This match went back and forth, with Matthews controlling much of the action. However, he argued with the referee and the crowd throughout the match. This distraction with the crowd eventually proved to be his downfall as Yellow Jacket pinned him for the victory.
The next match was a repeat performance from the 2002 Apple Butter Festival as Lotus took on Rip Manson. Fans that were used to the wild, take-no-thought-for-his-own-physical-safety actions of Manson were severely disappointed. Manson seemed now to be replicating much of the style of Adrian Adonis, who was very much a girly-man. Lotus troubled Manson throughout the match, but Manson was able to secure the victory with the help of leverage from the ropes.
The next match saw the two former tag team partners of the Stud Stable, Sensational Shawn Edwards and Mark Holiday face each other for the WPW Television title. Holiday had won the belt from Edwards after the Sensational One regained it from Adorable Danny Ray. These two local favorites gave their all in a close match. Edwards looked genuinely surprised when Holiday rolled him up in a small package for the win. Edwards then asked Holiday to shake his hand and the two former tag team members hugged each other as Shawn congratulated Mark on the victory. But the former all-around-good-guy turned on his old partner and clotheslined him to the mat and began to kick and stomp the TV Champion. Edwards left the arena to a chorus of boos from the fans. Holiday, though, was cheered as the referee helped him to the dressing room.
As always, when WPW comes to Chapmanville, the fans turn out to see their favorite son and current City Councilman, Psycho. This year was no different. There was no bigger pop during the program than what the Mental Misfit received as he entered the arena. He went directly to the announcer's table and grabbed the microphone. First he took special notice of the Chapmanville Tiger's victory the previous night over the Logan Wildcats. Then he made the comparison that he would be doing the same to Daredevil - an old-fashioned ass whooping! As the crowd responded, Psycho hit the ring and did his traditional "worm" around the ring. Daredevil came out to the ring and the action quickly started. Daredevil apparently remembered his performance at last year's Apple Butter Mayhem appearance where he was severely beaten and his head was busted open. Once he gained an advantage on Psycho, he tossed him out of the ring. Then he followed to the outside and grabbed a metal folding chair. Once, twice, then a third time, he beat the chair against Psycho's head. This was too much for the Doctor who had been called into ringside duty and was not scheduled to appear. He ran from ringside to the dressing room, and then quickly returned to assist Psycho. Grabbing a briefcase that was used to carry the duo's posters and pictures, he rushed to ringside and yelled to get the dazed Psycho's attention. As Daredevil whipped him to the ropes, Psycho was able to reverse the move and instead threw Daredevil to the ropes. The Doctor was waiting for him and hit the masked miscreant with the briefcase. Daredevil went down hard and Psycho climbed to the top rope and delivered a missile-like fist to Daredevil's head. Then Psycho picked him up, and performed a top rope suplex on Daredevil for the pin fall.
As Psycho and the Doctor made their way to the ringside announcer's table for some post-match comments, Ring Announcer Dave Allen told them that there was a surprise guest that had arrived backstage and wanted to come out. It was Rock-N-Roller Tommy Gibson! Gibson, who has been absent from WPW since suffering an injury in 2002, looked much like his old self as he made his way to confront his old nemesis. Gibson's comments were short and sweet: he was back and he wanted a match for Psycho's WPW Heavyweight Title. He also asked for a special stipulation - he wanted the match to be a BARBED WIRE MATCH!!! The Doctor reminded Tommy that he had already had many shots at the title, that he was just coming back from injury and that bad things were certain to happen if he became involved with Psycho again. Gibson said he returned for one reason: revenge! Psycho got on the microphone and drew Gibson's attention away from The Doctor. Suddenly though, the manager yelled for Gibson to turn around, and when he did, The Doctor threw a fireball directly in the Rock-N-Roller's face. Psycho took this opportunity to grab Gibson and threw him against the stage, then began to stomp the prone Gibson until being dragged away by his manager. As the two walked away, The Doctor could be heard asking Gibson "Now do you remember what it's like, Tommy? You were warned! You just won't listen!" Gibson, to his credit, soon got up, thanked the crowd for their support, and made his way backstage.
A tag team challenge match saw the team of "Hot Stuff" Chris Vega and Brett Sharp face Johnny Blast and Eric Darkstorm. This match had two of the up-and-comers of WV independent wresting in Darkstorm and Vega. Additionally local fans will remember that Johnny Blast has had much success in the Urban Death Squad with his tag team partner Spyder Crowley. So this match was more of a singles rivalry than a tag match. There were some heated exchanges between Vega and Darkstorm, but Vega always seemed to be out of the ring letting Sharp do much of the work for the team. Once the advantage was gained, Vega would come in to take the advantage. Thought Blast and Darkstorm functioned much better as a team, Vega gained the victory and walked away laughing over the outcome. Darkstorm has asked WPW to grant him a match against "Hot Stuff" as soon as possible.
Next up was a three-way tag team elimination match featuring Gemini: Jason and Jared Lancaster, Chet Cartwright and J.V. Insanity, and the team of Scotty McKeever and Chuck Jones. This match was announced to determine the WPW US Tag Team Champions and a new set of championship belts was brought to ringside for the winners. These teams have had previous encounters for other wrestling federations but this was their first exposure in WPW. Long-time fans of WPW will remember both Chuck Jones and Scotty McKeever, who have previously had singles matches in the promotion. They seemed to be the veterans in this match, although the Lancaster twins have had much recent success as well. Cartwright and Insanity are newcomers to WPW and their inexperience shown, as they were the first team to be eliminated. McKeever and Jones tried every trick in the book to earn the win. Unfortunately some of their tricks backfired and ended up causing dissension between the two, which ended up costing them the match. Gemini was named the new and inaugural WPW United States Tag Team Champions.
The heavyweights came out for the semi-main event of the evening. WPW's own 6 feet, 5 inches tall, 400+ pound Big Daddy Gordy had a non-title shot against the National Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, Lance Erikson. This was a no-nonsense battle of two of the strongest men in WV Wrestling. Gordy has proven himself in WPW but has not been able to wrest any singles title away for himself. Though this was a non-title match, Big Daddy apparently had something to prove - not just to the fans but also to himself! Erikson first gained success as a member of the Canadians Tag Team with Brian Douglas. But over the past year, he has trained hard and increased his size and strength accordingly. He had strong words for Gordy telling him to stay in WPW, or as he put it "the kiddie pool" and stay away from the deep waters where the big boys play. Gordy took exception to this challenge and took it to Erikson, giving him all he could take and more. Repeatedly Lance escaped from the ring to take a breather. Finally, Gordy followed him outside and the two grappled out among the crowd. Eventually they made their way back to the ring and Erikson began to wear down the big man. But Erikson kept running his mouth and Gordy drew on the crowd's energy to make a comeback which ended in his scoring a pin fall over Erikson. Then Gordy asked for a real title shot, but Erikson refused saying Gordy hadn't proved himself!
The Main Event of the evening saw Adorable Danny Ray take on Joey "By God" Morton. ADR is no stranger to the fans of WPW and also enjoys a big following in Chapmanville, especially the ladies. Joey Morton has made his claim to fame by drawing on his relationship to WWE star Jamie Knoble. However, he wrestles well enough to back the claim up. Danny Ray, of course, was responsible for giving Knoble the initial training that led him to the bigger promotions. ADR is also one who can back up his talk. On this night, ADR let Morton run his mouth just long enough for him to get close enough to smack it closed! These two battled back and forth, in and out of the ring, before the Adorable One scored the victory.
Eight matches and more than twenty wrestlers appeared at the 2003 Chapmanville Apple Butter Festival. The fans went away satisfied, though many were ready for more. New US Tag Team Champions were determined and the big three of WPW (and Chapmanville) - Psycho, Big Daddy Gordy and Adorable Danny Ray, all emerged victorious.
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World Professional Wrestling will soon make its third appearance at the 2003 Apple Butter Festival in Chapmanville, WV on September 27th at 7:30 p.m. Appearances are still being finalized but expect many of your WPW favorites to attend. It is expected that WPW will have title matches for the WPW World Heavyweight Championship and the WPW Television Championship among others. Among those expected to appear are Psycho, Adorable Danny Ray, Big Daddy Gordy, Superstar Shane Matthews, Eric Darkstorm, Daredevil, "Hot Stuff" Chris Vega and more. Special match stipulations are also being worked out. Check back here for more information.
UPDATE!
This year's WPW show is co-sponsored by the Chapmanville Kiwanis Club. Tickets are on sale now at area businesses.
Scheduled to be in action at this show will be many of your favorite WPW Superstars. Rumor has it that Superstar Shane Matthews is demanding a title shot from the WPW Heavyweight Champion, Psycho. Adorable Danny Ray has said that he would defend the WPW TV Title against any opponent. Among those in line for a shot at his belt are Big Daddy Gordy and Eric Darkstorm. The high-flying Daredevil has set his sights on returning to the top of WPW's rankings one way or another. He will be in action along with Excalibur.
Advance tickets are $5 for children, $7 for adult and are on sale at Nelson's Family Diner and Chapmanville TV in Chapmanville. Chapmanville Kiwanis Club Members also have tickets available for sale. Ticket prices will be slightly higher at the door. Card subject to change. WPW reserves the right to substitute wrestlers. Make your plans now to attend. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
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