"Show Time Power Hour" TV Taping Number 75 (Week 149)

William Regal: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the finest sixty minutes of pro wrestling in the world, the Show Time Power Hour! I'm your host, William Regal. With me are Jim Cornette and our newest broadcast member, Mauro Ranallo! Mauro, welcome to the program old chap!"

Mauro Ranallo: "William, Jim, I couldn't be more excited to be a part of a televised product like the Show Time Power Hour! I've admired this company from afar, and it's surreal to think I'm working for it now! Mama Mia!"

Jim Cornette: "Well, it is a privilege to get to call the action along someone of my caliber, Mauro! Listen and learn, pal!"

William Regal: "Indeed. If you fans are wondering what will become of Michael Hayes, he is still with the company, but will be focusing on his duties as Senior Live Event Producer and working at the 'Show Time Dojo.' So, he'll still be around. Fans, we are two days removed from a huge NWA Spring Stampede that saw eighteen matches in one of the biggest cards of all time! Most notably for us, we saw Adam Cole successfully defend the Heavyweight Championship and capture the Mid-Atlantic Championship from Ricochet in their 'Winner Takes All' match! We'll hear from the dual champion tonight. Also, the 'Mixed Match Challenge' rolls on with 'Deadman, Inc.' against Cole and girlfriend Britt Baker! Also on the program, we'll see Chad Gable challenge Television Champion Bobby Roode and 'Absolution' takes on 'Worldwide Underground' in our first match-up! Let's go to the ring!"

Instead of a match, the fans were "treated" to this interruption:

Dual champion Adam Cole was all smiles as he walked down the aisle, flanked by Britt Baker, Commissioner Ric Flair, CEO Jordan Richards, and Karlee Perez. Richards grabbed a microphone.

Jordan Richards: "Ladies and gentlemen, this past Sunday, we saw history made in Chapel Hill, North Carolina! This fine young man standing before has done it again! For the second time in this company's history, Adam Cole has become a dual titleholder! Coincidently enough, both times he's done it, he has won our prestigious Mid-Atlantic Championship! Typically, we don't sanction matches in which a current champion can win a second title because we like to spread the wealth and not allow one man to hold two championships at once. However, Ric and I made an exception for this match at the behest of both parties involved. So, here we are again. Adam Cole proving that he is one of the elite wrestlers in the sport! Adam, tell 'em about it!"

Adam Cole: "Who's ready for story time with Adam Cole, baybay?! When Adam Cole comes out here and tells you he's the best d*** pro wrestler on the planet, he means it! Ricochet got a fluke pinfall on me and the world gasped in awe, because even the most uneducated fans know that he's not in my league! At Spring Stampede, I proved it and now I stand here holding two championship belts! The problem is that I'm the Heavyweight Champion of this fine organization and my dance card is full as it is. I cannot do justice to this title. So, I am forced to relinquish this Mid-Atlantic Championship to our esteemed Commissioner."

Ric Flair: "Adam, you are fine man and a fine champion! I humbly accept this championship back and I already have a plan to crown the next Mid-Atlantic Champion! We are going to have ourselves a one-night tournament at the University of South Florida Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida on May fifth! Woooo! But, it won't be any ordinary tournament. This one is going to have eight participants who have never won this prestigious championship trophy. I am a proud former Mid-Atlantic Champion myself, many times over. I want someone to feel that joy who never has before! I will release the tournament brackets at the end of the hour! There's gonna be a party in Tampa on May fifth! Woooo!"

Regal: "I can't say I'm surprised that Adam Cole has relinquished the Mid-Atlantic Championship for the second time. But, it was a refreshing change of pace to hear the announcement from Commissioner Flair that a new champion will be crown in a one-night tournament that guarantees we'll see a first-time Mid-Atlantic Champion!"

Ranallo: "Typically, Ric Flair seems to look out for the best interests of the members of 'The Richards Collective.' But, it would seem he's actually thinking of the rest of the roster with this decision!"

Cornette: "I, for one, think it's a fantastic decision! Ric Flair is a forward thinking Commissioner who always looks out for what's best for the company as a whole!"

Regal: "That might be a stretch. Nevertheless, let's get the action started in the ring!"

Match One ~ "Worldwide Underground" (Johnny Mundo & Taya) vs. "Absolution" ("Golden Girl" Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville)

In NWA: Show Time, a male competitor is almost never the odd man out. In this scenario, that's exactly what Johnny Mundo was. In fact, Taya barely tagged him in, intent to prove that she could handle "Absolution" on her own. Every time Mundo got into the match, he was never able to execute more than one or two moves before Taya was beckoning for the tag back in. Her plan ultimately backfired. Mundo set up for "Starship Pain." Taya blind tagged him, which caused him to slip and fall to the mat. Taya got into the ring to check on her man and forgot about the match. Rose quickly rolled her up and got the surprise pin before Taya knew what hit her.

Winners = "Absolution" by pinfall in 7:48

Regal: "What a disastrous turn of events for Johnny Mundo and Taya!"

Ranallo: "But, it was a fortuitous mishap for 'Absolution.' They took full advantage of Taya's blunder to steal a victory!"

Cornette: "'Absolution' has gotten lucky twice. But, luck eventually runs out! They'd never do that against one of my teams!"

Regal: "Fans, let's take a quick break. We'll be back in a moment!"

Regal: "We're back! Before we go to our Television Championship match, 'SoCal' Val is standing by with challenger Chad Gable."

Valerie Wyndham: "I am here with Chad Gable, Kurt Angle, and Shelton Benjamin, 'The All-Americans.' Chad is about to challenge Bobby Roode for the Television Championship. Chad, you primarily compete in tag team matches. Are you ready for a singles match like this against a world class competitor?"

Chad Gable: "Val, I'm a world class competitor! Haven't you read my bio?! I'm an Olympic level athlete! What I'm going to do is go out there and put on a wrestling clinic against Bobby Roode and take that TV Title!"

Kurt Angle: "And, it's going to be glorious! Oh, it's true! It's d*** true!"

Wyndham: "There you have it--a confident challenger. Back to you, William."

Regal: "This should be a classic encounter! Let's go back to the ring!"

Match Two ~ NWA: Show Time Television Championship ~ "Glorious" Bobby Roode with Maryse Ouellet & "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Chad Gable with "Olympic Hero" Kurt Angle & Shelton Benjamin

This was every bit the wrestling clinic promised by Gable. Both men were at their technical best. Gable is so quick and sharp. Roode is more of a showman, but still technically proficient. Gable unleashed his beautiful "Rolling German Suplex," along with a series of other "Suplex" variations against Roode. Bobby hit his patented offense as well. It was a beautiful spot-to-spot story being told. Both men left it all in the ring. Unfortunately, the mandatory twenty-minute time limit could not contain the expertise displayed.

Winner = time limit draw in 20:00 (Roode retains)

Regal: "Wow! What a match by both men!"

Ranallo: "Chad Gable proved he belonged with the big boys tonight! He gave us his entire arsenal!"

Cornette: "Instant classic! we thought it would be, and it delivered!"

Regal: "We need to take a break to catch our breath! we'll be back in a flash with our 'Mixed Match Challenge' quarterfinal main event!"

Regal: "We're back! It's main event time! 'Deadman, Inc.' versus 'B&C BayBay' in the 'Show Time Femme Fatales Mixed Match Challenge!'"

Match Three ~ "Show Time Femme Fatales Mixed Match Challenge" ~ "B& C BayBay" (Adam Cole & Britt Baker) vs. "Deadman, Inc." (The Undertaker & Michelle McCool)

It was clear from the start that the strategy in the Cole/Baker camp was to isolate McCool and keep The Undertaker from getting into the ring. 'Taker tried to start the match, but Baker demanded that his wife be tagged in. He got in a couple of times, but it wasn't for long. Through some collusion and a double-team behind the referee's back, McCool was subdued and she was kept in the ring for several minutes, being worn down by Baker. When she finally tagged in her husband, McCool was exhausted. The Undertaker came in and unloaded on Cole, bouncing him from pillar to post. Adam was no match for 'Taker's sheer size and strength. The climax of the match came next, as The Undertaker launched Cole to the mat with a thunderous "Chokeslam." Baker broke up the pin, then scurried out of UT's reach. The Undertaker then went to "Clothesline" Cole over the top rope. As he did, both men careened to the floor. Unbeknownst to 'Taker, Britt had blind tagged her beau before he was sent out of the ring. Baker stormed into the ring and charged McCool, who was still making her way through the ropes, and "Super Kicked" her square in the jaw. Michelle flopped into the ring and was covered quickly by the opportunistic Baker.

Winners = "B&C BayBay" by pinfall in 18:53

Regal: "What a match! 'B&C' will move onto the semi-finals, but what a showing by veterans The Undertaker and Michelle McCool!"

Ranallo: "Michelle McCool did all she could, giving her last ounce of energy for that match. But, it just wasn't enough for the victory."

Cornette: "Quick thinking by Britt Baker to sneak in that blind tag! That decision won the match for her and Cole!"

Regal: "I'll agree with that assessment. Britt Baker and Adam Cole had a flawless, no pun intended, plan from the start. Fans, unfortunately, we've run out of time for this week. Please join us again next Tuesday on TBS for more of the Show Time Power Hour! Also, pay attention to your screens as we go off air. The Mid-Atlantic Championship tournament bracket will be shown. Also, Cathy Kelley will be discussing the brackets on After Buzz, so log onto www.nwashowtime.com immediately following our broadcast! For Mauro Ranallo and Jim Cornette, I'm William Regal, saying ta ta for now!"

Mid-Atlantic Championship Tourney 2018.pdf (216.79 KB)

NWA: Show Time After Buzz with Cathy Kelley aired as normal.

As promised, Kelley discussed each of the four first round matches. She dissected the seeding and whether or not she agreed with it. Kelley then gave her projections and surmised a potential CM Punk finale appearance against either Bray Wyatt or Braun Strowman. Kelley gave one last nod to the play-by-play of new commentator Mauro Ranallo, concluding her broadcast with his signature, "Mama mia!"