So, this is my (way too long) complete write-up, and this is actually the short version, I really wanted to include match spots and various promos from each of the matches, but didn't think it was worth the extra effort:
USA Pro Wrestling is proud to present CLASS WARFARE, live from the SUperdome in New Orleans.
Match 1: Jushin Liger vs. Juventud Guerrera
The Build-up: An infusion of international talent was brought in to help bring some energy to the opening of the weekly show, Wednesday Night Wrestling. The combination of lucha libre and puroresu cruiserweight stars performing in singles, tag team, and six man tag matches quickly became a favorite part of the show for many fans. Jushin Liger and Juventud Guerrera separated themselves from many of their peers, and finally, the fans will get their wish of a one-on-one match between the two.
The Match: Lots of early chain wrestling and back and forth aerial assaults to start the match, but Juventud eventually takes over most of the offense. Juventud Guerrera hits a Juvi-driver for a two count, then a somersault leg drop for a second two count, and finally a 450 Splash that also only gets a two count. Unable to put Liger away for a three count, Juventud Guerrera snaps and goes on a brutal rampage attacking not only Liger but also the referee, which leads to a disqualification. After another punishing 450 splash, Juventud seems to be done and exits the ring, only to climb back in and go after Liger again, this time trying to rip his mask off. Liger struggles to break free of Guerrera, and both men fall to the arena floor. Out of desperation, Liger pulls the tights of Guerrera and Guerrera goes face first into the steel ring post. Officials finally make it to the ring and keep the two men separated.
Aftermath: A Liger vs. Guerrera feud is born, which will ultimately lead to a mask vs. mask match at a future PPV. The bigger storyline is the emergence of emotional storylines from the cruiserweight division going forward and a legitimization of the division as a Cruiserweight Championship is sanctioned.
Match 2: Hardcore Match: Terry Funk vs. Kevin Steen
The Build-up: One year ago, Terry Funk turned on his former tag team partner and ally Dusty Rhodes and cost him the World Heavyweight Championship in a fit of jealousy. Funk and Rhodes would go on to have a series of bloody battles over the next couple months with neither man claiming a decisive victory. Terry Funk, then, introduced his protege, a young wrestler by the name of Kevin Steen, who would become the advantage Funk needed to finally defeat Dusty Rhodes. Soon after, Terry Funk became the most hated man in USA Pro Wrestling as he took to branding his defeated opponents in the ring after allowing Kevin Steen to perform one of a variety of signature devastating maneuvers. Dusty Rhodes finally meted his revenge, however, in a "Loser Leaves Town" Cage Match at last year's "Brawl to Settle it All" PPV event. Without whatever level of guidance Funk was giving him, Steen became increasingly violent and unpredictable in the ring, but a variety of innovative and dangerous moves made him a man to be reckoned with. Terry Funk made an unannounced return to USA Pro Wrestling on the January 16th edition of Wednesday Night Wrestling. He told the fans that he came back "a humbled man" and he was seeking forgiveness and redemption from the fans and Dusty Rhodes, "the greatest friend a man could ever have." He said that the version of himself the fans last saw left USA Pro Wrestling "not only disgraced, but A disgrace" and he would do whatever it took for however long it took to restore his name and honor. Later that night was the infamous Triple H and friends sledgehammer attack on Dusty Rhodes which damaged his right eye; Terry Funk came to Rhodes' rescue chasing Triple H from the ring and helping medical personnel move Dusty Rhodes to an ambulance. The following week Kevin Steen faced off with US Heavyweight Champion William Regal in a non-title match. Kevin Steen controlled most of the action until an unnoticed low-blow from Regal turned the momentum. Not content with the mere victory, Regal proceeded with a post-match beatdown and humiliation of Kevin Steen, which Terry Funk finally put a stop to, chasing Regal out of the ring. As Steen was getting medical attention, Funk cut a promo stating that he hadn't forgotten about Kevin Steen and their relationship, and that maybe Steen, above all others, was the most hurt by his actions. Funk said, in fact, that he believed he may have "ruined" Steen, and put all of the wrong messages into the young man's developing mind and now Steen would have to unlearn all of Funk's teachings. He spoke to Steen about how greed and power were not the most important things in the world, but friendships and honor are; he invited Steen to renew their previous partnership, only this time they would do things "the right way" and for "the right reasons."
It's announced that Kevin Steen will be out for several weeks, and that Terry Funk will be re-instated to take what would have been Kevin Steen's spot in a tournament to determine the number 1 contender to William Regal's US Heavyweight Championship and face Regal at Class Warfare. Funk advances to round 2 to face off with Damien Sandow, which Funk wins after a long back-and-forth match. Sandow, with tag team partner Cody Rhodes, attacks Funk after the match leading to a two-on-one beatdown. Kevin Steen appears out of the crowd and enters the ring, steel chair in hand, to even the odds, throwing both Sandow and Rhodes to the floor, who after exchanging some words with Steen beat a hasty retreat. Steen turns around and Terry Funk is standing, but leaning back against the top rope for support. Terry takes a minute to regroup as Steen stands in the middle of the ring, the chair still in his hand. Terry Funk comes off the ropes with his right hand extended for a handshake, Steen shifts the chair from his right to his left hand and extends his arm out. Just as their hands are about to meet, Steen pulls back and winds up for a whirling two-handed chair shot right across the skull of Funk. Two weeks later, Terry Funk and Kerry Von Erich take on each other in the finals. After a classic struggle, Kerry Von Erich is victorious, but they shake hands in a sign of mutual respect after the match. After a short celebration, Kerry Von Erich leaves the ring and Terry Funk is by himself in the ring, visibly exhausted but acknowledging the fans' support. It's then that Kevin Steen appears out of the crowd and attacks Terry Funk from behind, culminating in a Steenalizer in the center of the ring. Steen grabs a microphone and begins a verbal tirade, mocking the "new" Terry Funk and his fall from glory. He states that the "Terry Funk of redemption" is a shell of the great man that he once looked up to and admired. He states that Terry Funk didn't "ruin him" like he thinks he did, in fact he made him stronger, better than he could have ever been. "Professional wrestling isn't about respect and honor; it's about being the better man, about winning, about Championships, about...glory. If this was your dream, Terry, to lie flat on the mat with your face down, then I'm happy I don't share your dream. For all of the people out there, for all of the people in the locker room, for all of the people at USA Pro Wrestling's headquarters...if this is the dream, then Kevin Steen is "Wrestling's Worst Nightmare." He finishes by stating that Terry Funk's time has obviously passed, and as his friend, and as his protege, it's his duty to be the one to put Terry Funk out to pasture. He would have to be the one to have the courage to do what no one else was willing to do, and that is end Terry Funk's career.
The Match: As expected, the match quickly devolves from anything resembling a professional wrestling match and into a violent bloodbath. Kevin Steen is dominant, looking faster, stronger, and more athletic than Terry, who somehow manages to just keep getting up. For his part, Kevin Steen seems far more interested in inflicting damage to Funk than winning the match, opting for more and more risky and dangerous weapons and maneuvers to vent his hatred with. Funk rallies for a short time after a missed moonsault by Steen, but it's not enough to keep Steen down for long. Both men are physically exhausted as they trade fists atop the announce table outside of the ring, finally Steen gains the momentum and it leads to a Steenalizer through the table. Neither man is moving as the referee counts the pinfall with Steen having landed on Funk in the debris. Medical personnel rush out to the aide of both men, but Steen recovers first and goes back after Funk who hasn't moved since the last Steenalizer. Steen throws the unconscious Funk into the ring and sets a chair atop his head and delivers a leg drop off the top rope that creates a violent, sickening sound around the arena.
The Aftermath: "Wrestling's Worst Nightmare" Kevin Steen is vaulted to USA Pro Wrestling's most hated villain and interjects himself into the World Heavyweight Championship picture, whether he's welcome or not, at every opportunity. He eventually puts together a collection of like-minded individuals in an attempt to takeover USA Pro Wrestling. Terry Funk, after a short hiatus, returns as a fan favorite and takes on a new persona as the "Hardcore Icon," with his best days as a technical wrestler behind him. He goes on to make the "hardcore match" a part of the mainstream and becomes USA Pro Wrestling's inaugural "Hardcore Champion" in December.
Match 3: Manami Toyota vs. Sara Del Rey
The Build-up: The rivalry between Manami Toyota and Sara Del Rey has been going on, seemingly, since the day Sara Del Rey joined USA Pro Wrestling. The rivalry was borne out of mutual respect more than any kind of emotional hatred for each other, but it still provided the fans with some of the best matches in, not just women's wrestling, but all of wrestling over the past decade. Over the past couple years, Sara Del Rey has become less and less interested in the actual wrestling part of the "wrestling business," opting instead to travel the world doing photo shoots, taking on acting roles, and even trying her hand at managing some young, talented wrestlers. Her popularity in wrestling and pop culture has soared over this time. Manami Toyota, for her part, has maintained her cerebral fixation on the ring and has been the dominant force in women's wrestling around the world, using her sporadic time off from USA Pro Wrestling to take on all comers in competing organizations from Japan to England. After a couple of regrettably poor showings at the box office in her latest action movie roles, Sara Del Rey makes a surprise appearance on Wednesday Night Wrestling. She cuts a promo stating that even though she's been away, USA Pro Wrestling and the fans were who made her who she is today and she is thankful for that, and they are never far from her heart. She says that she has returned to USA Pro Wrestling to take back what is hers, the title of "Best Woman Wrestler" in the world from Manami Toyota. A cadre of younger fans only aware of her movie roles and diehard Del Rey fans hung up on nostalgia get behind Sara Del Rey's comeback with intense vigor, knowing that she will once again rise to the top of the women's wrestling world. Older fans seem to doubt Del Rey's conviction and dedication, noticing that she's not in great shape anymore and even seemed to be out-of-breath after giving her comeback speech. Their first match, in January, is mainly a flop. Manami Toyota is forced to carry most of the action with the out-of-shape Del Rey just able to manage some of her signature spots to the crowd's approval. After a ref bump, Sara Del Rey hits a springboard DDT and has Toyota covered for the win, but no ref to make the count. Toyota ends up coming back and scoring the victory. They set the rematch for Class Warfare. Most of the crowd is firmly behind Del Rey in the lead-up, pointing out how the victory was stolen from her the first time around. The internet is abuzz about Del Rey being out-of-shape and just cashing a paycheck from USA Pro Wrestling. A series of vignettes are shown over the weeks leading up to Class Warfare showing Del Rey training harder and longer than she ever has for "the biggest match of her life."
The Match: Unlike the first match-up, the action is fast-paced and crisp from the opening bell with both women trading salvos of offense. Del Rey, by all accounts, is in the best shape of her career and is just a step quicker than Toyota, who keeps the match-up even with her assassin-like precision and execution. After a fifteen minute clinic in women's wrestling, Del Rey finally hits her Royal Butterfly finisher and picks up the win.
Aftermath: The feud continues regularly despite Sara Del Rey's consistent time off with Manami Toyota picking up most of the victories along the way, re-establishing her dominance over women's wrestling.
Match 4: World Tag Team Championship: The Fabulous Freebirds (c) vs. Team Rhodes Scholars
The Build-up: The Fabulous Freebirds with their rock 'n' roll lifestyle and redneck bona fides are as popular as any superstars in wrestling, but despite the groupies, the chart-topping singles, and the all-night parties, The Fabulous Freebirds are just as dominant in the ring. Team Rhodes Scholars were a makeshift tag team, brought together by a "lethal lottery" tag team tournament for a shot at the World Tag Team titles, but as fate would have it, Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes were two of a kind and quickly became best friends, as well as a devastating tag team. They would lose in the finals of the lethal lottery tournament, but would remain partners going forward and become the obvious contenders to The Fabulous Freebirds reign. The feud heated up as Team Rhodes Scholars pointed out the lack of class or decency within the Freebirds, as well as their inability to figure out that the Tag Team Champions were to be two people, not three. This went hand-in-hand with their messages to enlighten the many "ignoramuses" that were the core of USA Pro Wrestling's fanbase. During one of these such diatribes, The Fabulous Freebirds interrupted Team Rhodes Scholars and chased them from the ring. Team Rhodes Scholars challenged The Fabulous Freebirds at Class Warfare, and the Freebirds were more than happy to oblige.
The Match: Team Rhodes Scholars controls the early stages of the match cutting off half the ring, keeping Michael Hayes in the ring, and using frequent tags and double-team maneuvers to stay fresh. Hayes turns the momentum by ducking under a Cody Rhodes' clothesline and hitting a crossbody block, and then making the hot tag to Terry Gordy who comes in like a house a-fire taking on both members of Team Rhodes Scholars before dumping Sandow to the outside. Sandow comes in the ring to break up a pinfall attempt, which brings in Hayes as well, and there's bedlam as all four men are in the ring brawling for a while before Hayes and Sandow tumble to the outside. Terry Gordy finishes off Cody Rhodes with a powerbomb to win the match.
Aftermath: The Fabulous Freebirds continue to dominate the tag team division for several months before Hayes and Gordy aspire to singles success, after several failed attempts to win the US Heavyweight Championship, Gordy and Hayes turn on former friend Kerry Von Erich, igniting a vicious multi-year feud between the Fabulous Freebirds and the Von Erich family. Team Rhodes Scholars breaks up soon after their loss to the Fabulous Freebirds, but they remain friends outside of the ring and still pair up occasionally. Both have their sights set on competing for the US Heavyweight Championship as well.
Match 5: US Heavyweight Championship: William Regal (c) vs. Kerry Von Erich
The Build-up: William Regal eclipsed the longest US Heavyweight Championship reign in January and has been none-too-shy about letting every American in every arena that USA Pro Wrestling visits know about it. The Englander has gotten a great deal of enjoyment from poking fun at the American fans and his American competitors for their inferiority. One young superstar, "The Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich has proven to be a more than capable opponent to William Regal and his US Heavyweight Championship, however. William Regal has attempted every possible angle to keep Kerry Von Erich from getting a legitimate chance at the US Heavyweight Championship, the latest hurdle being an 8-man tournament to determine the number 1 contender to the championship, which Kerry Von Erich won. Left without a choice, William Regal will finally give Kerry Von Erich a shot at the US Heavyweight Championship at Class Warfare.
The Match: An adrenaline-rushed Kerry Von Erich starts out the match on fire to the joy of the crowd, but William Regal almost traps him a couple times in quick roll-up pin attempts. The pace slows, but Von Erich mostly maintains his control of the match, despite Regal's well-executed reversals and occasional underhanded tactics. Regal busts Von Erich open with a rake across the forehead, and Regal takes over the match, arrogantly toying with Von Erich and mocking the fans at ringside. The crowd gets behind Von Erich after a series of Regal European uppercuts, and Kerry fights back with a series of punches before knocking Regal down three times in a succession with his patented discus punch. Regal tries to even the odds with a low-blow, but Kerry is ready for it and blocks it while applying the Iron Claw, which Regal eventually submits to.
Aftermath: William Regal gets several opportunities to win back the US Heavyweight Championship, but to no avail. Closer to the end of his career than the beginning, he falls from the Championship picture after several months. Kerry Von Erich goes on to have quite a prestigious run of his own with the US Heavyweight Championship taking on all comers over his eight month reign, which is ended when his Fabulous Freebird friends turn on him and cost him the title.
Match 6: Andre the Giant vs. "Superstar" Billy Graham
The Build-up: Former World Heavyweight Champion "Superstar" Billy Graham entered 2013 with a resume that few in the wrestling world could match, and he knew it. After winning his first four matches of the year in relatively easy fashion, Graham determined that he was done wrestling until USA Pro Wrestling found suitable opponents for him. Even after reminders of his contractual obligations and even monetary fines, Billy Graham stuck to his guns about not wrestling anymore. Enter Andre the Giant, the 7'4" 485 pound hand-picked opponent for Billy Graham by the Board of Directors of USA Pro Wrestling. At first, Billy Graham even refused to wrestle Andre the Giant, calling him a circus sideshow act, not a wrestler. Andre the Giant, for his part, just went into the ring week after week and dominated each opponent that was set in front of him (sometimes two of them at once). Eventually, the goading of the USA Pro Wrestling Commissioner and the on-air commentators finally ate enough at Billy Graham's pride that he accepted the challenge to take on Andre at Class Warfare.
The Match: Billy Graham, arrogant as ever, starts pounding on Andre with a series of punches that don't seem to phase the Giant. Graham goes to the ropes several times with lunging forearms which don't budge Andre either. Finally, Andre the Giant returns some offense of his own, clubbing Graham across the chest with a thundering slap, the force of which sends Graham tumbling all the way over the top rope and down to the arena floor. Graham throws both hands up in the air in an act of surrender before heading towards the backstage area, saying he's done and not fighting that freak of nature. The "coward" and "yellow" chants get to Graham though and he returns to the ring, just in time to beat the 10 count. He quickly re-exits the ring though and suckers Andre the Giant in so that he can snap Andre's throat down across the top rope, and follows that up with a series of chokes for the full five count from the referee to the boos of the crowd. Graham dominates the middle stages of the match using an arsenal of chokes and forearm blows to keep Andre off of his feet for the most part. Andre does find his way to his feet eventually, but Graham still maintains control as he keeps on Andre in the corner. Graham, returning to his cocky self, signals to the crowd that he's going to bodyslam Andre. He pulls Andre from the corner and tries to lift him, but can't get him off the ground, he tries again and still can't lift both of Andre's feet up. He Irish whips Andre to the ropes and tries to pick him up a third time; this time he gets Andre up off the ground but falls straight backwards and just barely kicks out of a pinfall attempt as Andre landed right on top of him. From that point on, the match was all Andre as he landed several crushing knife-edge chops to the chest of Billy Graham before bodyslamming him and coming off the ropes with a sitdown splash for the three count.
The Aftermath: Andre the Giant would go on one of the most impressive undefeated streaks in all of professional sports, but stayed out of the World Championship picture so that he was able to travel around the world competing in various federations on a rotating basis. "Superstar" Billy Graham became consumed with Andre the Giant, and spent much of what was left of his career trying to avenge his failed bodyslam attempt. Although he would become bigger and stronger, his best in-ring days were behind him and, inconceivably at the time, this would be "Superstar" Billy Graham's last "big time" match.
Match 7: 60 Minute Ironman Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Triple H (c) vs. Dusty Rhodes
The Build-up: Triple H has ruled USA Pro Wrestling as the World Heavyweight Champion with an iron fist during his 15 month reign as champion, basically making and living by his own rules. During that time, few men have been willing to step up and mount any type of challenge to Triple H's rule, and none of them succeeded. But, where others failed and gave up, Dusty Rhodes pushed harder, and it seemed had even put a tinge of fear into Triple H. The ever-confident and composed Triple H kept Dusty Rhodes on the outside of the World Heavyweight Championship picture looking in, taking shots at Dusty's age, physique, and working-class background along the way. Even more, Triple H claimed that Dusty Rhodes had already gotten his shot at the title, and he had failed (not mentioning the fact that he failed because his friend and tag team partner, Terry Funk, turned on him in the middle of that opportunity). Dusty never gave up the fight, however, and finally in January the USA Pro Wrestling Board of Directors named him the number 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, meaning that come Hell or high water, eventually, Triple H would have to step into a ring and defend his title against him. Of course, Triple H and his friends had other ideas, deciding that they would instead try to end Dusty Rhodes career, which led to the infamous sledgehammer attack on January 16, that looked like it was going to cost Dusty Rhodes his right eye and his career. Dusty Rhodes still wasn't ready to give up though, he vowed to recover in time to take his shot at the title at Class Warfare. Triple H wasn't done stacking the deck though, as he decided that the main event of Class Warfare would be a 60 minute Ironman match.
The Match: The start of the match proved that this was not going to be an exhibition in technical wrestling as both men began throwing haymakers at each other in the center of the ring. The momentum swung back and forth rapidly as seemingly one man would tire and the other would take advantage, until the other got a burst of adrenaline to regain control. The match spills to the floor and the battle escalates as chairs and the announce table become involved. Triple H busts Dusty Rhodes wide open with a chair shot, but Dusty returns the favor by smashing Triple H into the ring post and then bulldogging him through the announce table, which seems to do just as much damage to Dusty as Triple H. They trade punches from their knees in the debris of the announce table and then fight their way back into the ring, where they again go toe-to-toe with haymakers back-and-forth. Dusty sends Triple H to the ropes and goes for a back-bodydrop but Triple H counters with the facebreaker knee smash which leads to the Pedigree, but somehow Dusty Rhodes manages to kickout at two. Incredulous, Triple H sets up Dusty Rhodes for another Pedigree, but Dusty Rhodes somehow manages to reverse it into a back-bodydrop and take back the momentum of the match. The first fall comes at the 35-minute mark as Triple H lays out Dusty Rhodes with a neckbreaker followed by a running knee drop, and finally, hits another Pedigree that Dusty doesn't kick out of. Triple H quickly takes a 2-0 lead in the match as a winded and battered Dusty walks right into a Tornado DDT and a second pinfall. As the match reset after the second fall, most of the Dusty-faithful had lost hope as their hero was bloodied and, seemingly, out of gas. With the 2-0 lead, Triple H was content to play a version of "rope-a-dope" with Dusty, keeping out of his reach for the most part, but looking for opportunities to strike. Dusty misses Triple H with a wild clothesline attempt, and Triple H again goes for his patented facebreaker knee smash, and again goes to the Pedigree which puts Dusty Rhodes down on the mat. Triple H casually covers Dusty Rhodes, but somehow, Dusty Rhodes manages to kick out before the three count, and the crowd goes crazy. Dusty Rhodes jumps to his feet to the shock of Triple H and dances, jabs, and jives as only Dusty Rhodes can with left and right hands before stunning Triple H with a bionic elbow, which leads to a piledriver and a three count, setting the count at 2 falls to 1. Triple H escapes to the outside after the next reset to put a stop to Dusty's momentum, but Dusty goes right out after him and another brawl ensues on the arena floor and spills into the front row. Triple H tries to ram Dusty's head into the guard rail, but Rhodes blocks and sends Triple H face first into it. Dusty throws Triple H back towards and then into the ring. Dusty drops an elbow across the throat and gets a two count, and then comes off the ropes with a splash that also gets a two count. Dusty comes off the ropes a third time with a jumping elbow across the chest, and this time it's enough to get a three count and we're tied at two falls a piece with ten minutes remaining. The match resets and both men stare at each other in the center of the ring, nose-to-nose with neither man willing to back down. Triple H blinks first, hammering Rhodes with a right hand, Rhodes returns a right of his own, Triple H, Rhodes, Triple H, Rhodes, back-and-forth they go. Dusty Rhodes takes control with a series of left jabs, and he's shimmying and a-shaking again as the crowd goes into a frenzy. Dusty goes for the bionic elbow again and sends Triple H down to his knees, and Dusty Rhodes looks to go for the piledriver again, but Triple H turns the tide in one swift low-blow that cripples Dusty Rhodes just long enough for Triple H to set up the Pedigree and drive Dusty Rhodes into the mat. Triple H comes off the ropes with a high jumping knee drop across the forehead, and the three count is elementary at that point, giving Triple H a late 3-2 lead in pinfalls. It takes a while for Dusty Rhodes to recover, but as soon as he gets to his feet he's right after Triple H. Irish whip into an elbow from Dusty Rhodes and then a vertical suplex puts Triple H down for a two count. Another Irish whip leads to a powerslam from Dusty Rhodes, but yet again, Triple H somehow manages to get a shoulder up before the three. Dusty sends Triple H to the ropes again, Triple H ducks under a lariat attempt, but on the way back through Dusty Rhodes catches him with his right arm and applies a sleeperhold. Triple H fights at first, but Dusty has the sleeperhold locked in tight and Triple H eventually succumbs to the pressure and slowly begins to fade. The referee checks Triple H once, then twice, and then the bell rings. There's confusion at first because Dusty Rhodes thinks he's tied up the match at three falls a piece, but the timekeeper is claiming that the 60-minute time limit had expired. Triple H, unconscious in the center of the ring, retains.
The Aftermath: Triple H and Dusty Rhodes would feud over the title for the next six months, the matches, somehow, managing to keep getting more emotional as they went. Along the way, "Wrestling's Worst Nightmare" Kevin Steen injected himself into the World Heavyweight Championship picture against the wishes of both Triple H and Rhodes, which only complicated matters. Rhodes would win the title at "The Brawl to Settle It All" in a steel cage, no disqualification match after Kevin Steen interference, but would lose the title to Kevin Steen only a month later in a triple threat match that also included Triple H.
