FIGHTS: PREVIEW NWA 'Parade of Champions 2013'

by Bowie Ibarra
(as of 3/9/13)
(revised 3/31/13)
(revised 4/8/13)

 

One of the biggest events in independent wrestling history is going down April 20th in Houston, Texas.  The first of what I am hoping is an annual event, The NWA Houston Parade of Champions 2013 is going down with the biggest NWA pro-wrestling card in years.

ZombieBloodFights.com is pleased to present a preview of the great event that is poised to be a springboard for the future of the NWA.  Check it out.

NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
Rob Conway vs. Chris Masters

"Ironman" Rob Conway made it out of Japan with a win and the NWA World Title.  Now, he puts it up against his first domestic US opponent.

What was once an undercard matchup has now become a world title bout.  Conway was able to wrestle the title away from Kahagas only a day after Kahagas defended the belt in Houston against Texas standout, Ray Rowe.  Originally assigned to fight Jax Dane at a sanctioned NWA-Branded Outlaw Wrestling event, Dane had to drop his chance after being jumped by The Kingz of the Underground.  Conway was brought in as a last-minute replacement.

The fact remains that these two dudes are seasoned professionals and they are going to mix it up in one of the undercard matches.  Conway has been a presence on the San Antonio indy scene in NWA-BOW, and Masters has had a run across the world on the independent scene.  It will be a great matchup.

NWA National Championship Title Match
'The Texas Prodigy' Houston Carson vs. 'The Xperience' Damien Wayne (c)

'The Texas Prodigy' Houston Carson has only been around for a few years, but his talent and skill level has propelled him to great heights early.  Already a former NWA North American Champ, he's lined up to take on one of the east coasts best wrestlers.

Damien Wayne was a pinfall away from being crowned the NWA World Heavyweight Champ in a 8 man elimination tournament when Dontay Brown called the shady NWA President Bruce Tharpe, who allowed TokyoMonster Kahagas to be entered in the final at the last minute.

Since that debacle, he has earned the NWA National Championship title and has confirmed his legitimacy as a contender on the national scene.  Wayne thinks Carson is a 'pretty boy', and is ready to challenge the young Texan.  This matchup looks to be fantastic.

NWA Lone Star Heavyweight Championship
'Vanilla Godzilla' Jax Dane (C) vs. 'Canadian Lion' Lance Erikson

NWA Lone Star Heavyweight Champion 'Vanilla Godzilla' Jax Dane has been stomping competition across Texas for several years now.  A seasoned veteran, Dane has held titles across Texas and has faced some of the stiffest competition in the Lone Star State.  His power game in the ring is hard to overcome when opponents can't hold the ferocity off early.

But challenger 'The Canadian Lion' Lance Erickson believes he can match Dane's power game and up the ante on brutality.  Erickson was one of the people the NWA tapped to participate in the NWA World Heavyweight Title tournament as well, but didn't make it to the final.

Both wrestlers have been chomping at the bit to get at each other on the 20th, with lots of posturing and challenges via their Facebook profiles that are adding fuel to the fire.  This matchup looks to be competitive.

NWA NORTH AMERICAN TITLE MATCH
Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion 'Tokyo Monster' Kahagas
vs.
NWA North American Champion Byron Wilcott

The rumors are true.  NWA North American Champ, 'Addictive and Expensive' Byron Wilcott, has talked his way into a title match with former NWA Heavyweight Champ 'TokyoMonster' Kahagas.  But now, Wilcott is the only one with something big to lose going into this match after Kahagas lost the belt.

In spite of his shady start, Kahagas has proven to be a fighting champion, taking title defenses in NWA territories all across the US and even outside its borders, as per a quality NWA champ.  Up until he lost the belt to Conway, no one has been able to beat him yet.  Could his matchup the previous night with Rowe have taken some fight out of the champ?

Byron Wilcott might be arrogant, but he can back it up with skill, strength, and talent.  Since picking up the North American Title, his cocky attitude has turned up to 11 because now he's called for this match to be a unification match.

With the swiftness this challenge was accepted by the NWA championship committee, Wilcott needs to be careful when wrestling Kahagas, especially if Tharpe is the TokyoMonster's ace in the hole.  Take some time out of your wild lifestyle and read that contract, Wilcott.

INTER-PROMOTIONAL TITLE-FOR-TITLE MATCH
NWA World Tag Team Champions vs. IWGP World Tag Team Champions
'Kings of the Underground' Scot Summers and Ryan Genesis
vs.
'Killer Elite Squad' Lance Hoyt and DH Smith

If the previous booked matches did not pique your fancy, then there's no way this scheduled battle of titans can be ignored.  The current NWA World Tag Team Champions 'Kings of the Underground' Scot Summers and Ryan Genesis will be taking on the current New Japan Pro-Wrestling Tag Team Champs, 'The Killer Elite Squad' Lance Hoyt and DH Smith in a history-making inter-promotional match.

'Showtime' Scot Summers has been the foundation in which the revival of Texas independent wrestling was built on.  Both wrestling promotions and wrestlers have built their following and reputation off his back over the past few years.  He's wrestled greats like Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan, Nigel McGuinness, Claudio Castagnoli/Antonio Cesaro, Jimmy Jacobs, Chris Hero, and Jerry Lynn among others, and has been a springboard and mentor to fresh faces like ACH, who is taking the national scene by storm.  The guy might be batshit crazy, but he has the talent and skill to mix it up and win in any style, science or hardcore.

Combining this madman with another wild wrestler, Ryan Genesis, has been wrestling gold for this duo.  Genesis not only has amazing skills on the ground, but hand skills that are second to none in the wrestling business.  Genesis is a legit boxer that brings a serious striking aspect to his game in the ring.  Mixing it up with strikes with Genesis is a formula for disaster, and it has served the duo well.

And that's what makes this matchup with KES so titanic, because Hoyt and Smith are just as dangerous.

Lance Hoyt has been on the Texas indy scene for years and has seen its ups and downs.  Working across the state and country, he made waves in San Antonio and Dallas.  He was even called up to WWE for a run as well.  Its been in Japan with Hoyt that he's been able to excel.  With amazing size, agility, and speed for a big guy, he is one of the remaining wrestlers on the scene that has training by Shawn Micheals.

DH Smith is part of the sacred Hart Dungeon bloodline.  The guy has been around wrestling for all of his life.  With Davey Boy Smith's blood running through his veins, this run with the NJPW tag titles is only the beginning of a line of titles for the descendent of the British Bulldog.

This matchup, as well as the entire card, is not to be missed.  Titles might change hands by then.  But you can be assured of great matchups anyway.

Get your tickets today for this outstanding card and see why the revived NWA is turning heads and making waves on the indy scene.

Check out the TV spots:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgSYXNn9r7o&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EovU-BVgMgc&feature=youtu.be

-----------

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, PIT FIGHTERS: BAPTISM BY FIRE, features a luchador from Mexico who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.  It is available in paperback and on Kindle for .99 cents.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.
Follow ZombieBloodFights.com on Twitter (@wingback20)

Network with ZombieBloodFights at their official website, ZombieBloodFights.com

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

FIGHTS: UFC on Fox 5/Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV - A great night for fights

by Bowie Ibarra

If Elton John has taught me anything, it's that Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting.  And it proved true in this amazing night for combat sports.  ZombieBloodFights.com takes a look at the night.

UFC ON FOX 5

Mike 'Quick' Swick vs. Matt 'Immortal' Brown

The show started strong with these two UFC vets.  Matt Brown documented how he found salvation in MMA to keep him from drugs.  Swick was on a comeback from health issues.

It played out fine by me, with both guys fighting it out on the ground and feet with some MMA science.  Brown KO'd Swick, and it was a great knockout.  I was happy Swick got finished with such cruelty as I've had a problem with the dude when he tried to rename the 'guillotine choke' after himself.

BJ Penn vs. Rory McDonald

BJ Penn was fighting for relevance that has long passed him by.  Rory McDonald was not to be denied in the most douchey way possible.  The young Canuk showed little respect to the MMA legend in promos leading up to the fight, as well as the actual fight.  Penn could not handle McDonald's youthful offense and weight, and fans like myself will have to wait until another time to watch this cocky jerk from the great white north get his comeuppance.

It was nice, though, to hear the fans boo him as he tried to call out Carlos Condit.  He stood in the ring like a pendejo, wondering why everyone was booing him as he tried to be the 'respectful mixed martial artist' Mike Goldberg has tried to hammer into our brains for years.

Even Joe Rogan couldn't get him over with the crowd, hugging McDonald's nuts in front of the Seattle crowd that was having none of it.  Joe, we understand he's a talented young up-and-coming star, my man.  But he's an arrogant and disrespectful dick, and I just want to see someone whip his ass.  He would do well to work on some of those Canadian manners us ugly Americans are always told canuks have.

Maybe start by having him NOT cut 'Arrogant Young Heel' promos before a fight.

We see through your act, McDonald, you hoser.  Take off, eh.  You're loaded.

(insert caption here)

Ronda Rousey gets booked in her first UFC Match

Ronda Rousey is granted an official UFC Women's Title Belt to defend, and is booked for her first fight.  She's real excited about all that.










Alexander 'The Mauler' Gustafsson vs. Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua

This was a big test for Guffstasson.  Rua is not a man to be trifled with, event his far into his illustrious career.

But Gustafsson was able to weather the Brazillian's storm and shut down Rua with cruel strikes.  Well done, Gus.

UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Benson Henderson (C) vs. Nate Diaz

Benson Henderson is a great and dominating UFC Lightweight Champ.  Diaz has never been considered a class act, but he's a pretty good fighter.  He uses his tremendous reach to pepper foes with punches like his brother to great success.

But Benson showed why he was the champ, dominating Diaz on the feet and the ground.  As per the Diaz brothers, he talked trash and even flipped Henderson off, which was edited by Fox to avoid fines by the FCC.

Great job there putting such a loose cannon in the main event there, Dana.  The Diaz brothers are fighters through and through, and I enjoy watching them because they are pretty exciting fighters.  This sport is clearly a good career choice for them with their bad attitudes and lack any social skills or class.  They just need management.

PACQUIAO/MARQUEZ IV

From Juan Manuel Marquez's official Facebook page

The undercard was alright.  The Miguel Vasquez vs. Mercito Gesta was garbage, and was highlighted by an in-between rounds backstage shot of Juan Manuel Marquez getting his hands taped while watching the above UFC Fox 5 main event.

The Filipino Micheal Farenas fight against the returning Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa was competative, with Farenas even knocking Gamboa down late.  Gamboa won by decision, but it was a hard-earned victory, as every time Gamboa had Farenas in trouble, the dude would fight his way back out.

50 Cent also came down from the roof before the Gamboa fight, singing a rap song.  He was strapped to cords that lowered him from the rafters.  Owen Hart is dead, yet 50 Cent continues to make records.  Life is unfair.

There were even celebrity guests at the event, including Mitt Romney, who looked so scared trying to mix in with the people.   I imagine him telling Pacquiao it was great that he was representing Brazil, or calling the cops when he met 50 Cent.  He was to sit in the crowd near Pacquiao's corner, which is a bad omen when you think about it.

After this match was the headliner.  But before that, we had to do the national anthems.  Apparently, the sound guy forgot the national anthem CD or MP3, because they were all done A Capella.  C'mon, guys.  In this day and age, no one could download the karaoke version of the songs?

Also, the US national anthem was sung as well after the Mexican and Filipino.  I guess for the referee, or what? 

The main event that was outstanding.  The guys came out swinging, and it hearkened back to their very first match years ago.

In the third round, after an exchange, Marquez knocked Pac down.  Then in the fifth, Pac answered by sending Marquez to the mat.

It was in the 6th that Marquez put Pac's lights out in the final seconds of the round.  Eating a punch from Pac, Marquez took the shot to deliver one of his own, an overhand right that clocked Pac straight in the mouth, sending him hopping off his feet and face first to the mat.

I swear, I thought he was dead.  He was out for a little bit, and it was reminiscent of Pac's fight against Ricky Hatton.  What goes around comes around, and Pac went out a warrior.

And that's the great thing about Pacquiao:  He is a warrior.  It's just what he does.  He fights.  He fights very well, and he knows it.  He said he would be fine with a rematch with Marquez.  That would be good.  He's a warrior.  Set the pay, and he'll do it.  That's his profession.

But it looks like first a match between Marquez and Brandon Rios is on the horizon, which sounds pretty good.

It's too bad that Pacquiao/Mayweather, the greatest fight to NEVER happen, never took place.  The cowardly loudmouth Mayweather dodged Pac for so long, making excuses, saying Pac was taking performance enhancing drugs.  He thinks Pac is a cheater.

Mayweather is a total douche, but he's good.  He's real good, and a great boxer and athlete.  You cannot take that away from him.

He's also smart.

He knows Pac could beat him back in the day.  He knew Marquez would beat him, too.  That's why he put on several extra pounds and paid off Marquez with $500,000 to get away with it on the night of their fight.  Some would call that cheating to win, in spite of the payoff.

Hell, he even cheap-shot KO'd the foolish Victor Ortiz when Ortiz was turning up the heat.  Granted, the shot was within the rules, but there's not one person who can say it was not a cheap shot, a shitty win, and a slap in the face to everyone that paid to see a boxing match.

But that's the kind of cowardly turd Mayweather is.  A cowardly turd who's an amazing boxer.

Last night, Pacquiao showed he's not a yellow bastard.  He showed he's a warrior that will fight the best fighters put in front of him.  And on that fateful night, when boxing history was made, not only did Pacquiao cement himself as one of boxing's immortal warriors, but so did Marquez.  And that's something Mayweather can never say.

==============

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book, Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire , features a boxer from Scotland who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.