UPW Weekly Wire 06/26/03

UPW Weekly Wire
By Todd Keneley

Commissioner Doyle makes blockbuster announcement concerning
UPW Heavyweight Title!

As promised last week, UPW Commissioner Pete Doyle has decided
to utilize this edition of the Weekly Wire to drop a bombshell announcement
regarding the UPW Heavyweight Championship, and the role that it will play
at “Title Wave” on July 11 at The Grove of Anaheim. The following
decree comes directly from the desk of the UPW Commissioner:

War or Peace? That was the ultimatum on the mind of George
W. Bush in recent history. Either way, he was screwed. Not invading Iraq
would have made the United States and Bush look weak and cowardly. Then
again, after deciding to go to war, Bush could not escape being criticized
by many of his own people and the rest of the world. What I am trying to
say is that there comes a time in everyone’s life in which you must make
a decision that many people will disagree with, even though you are confident
in you heart that it is the right thing to do. Now, I’ve been in this business
for quite a few years, and I made it all the way to the top. In fact, unbeknownst
to many, I’m still there. As someone who is seasoned in the business, I
take pride in knowing what the average wrestling fan wants; even if they
don’t agree with me all the time. Just like George W. Bush, I feel that
I must make a decision that many of you may not like, but trust me, it is
for the good of the company and you, the fans. In my case, the role of The
United Nations is played by UPW Chairman, Rick Bassman. Although the U.N.
traditionally has the final say, Bush made a gutsy move and decided to put
his plan into action anyway. At first, this was met with the dismay of the
U.N., but they finally came around. I am confident that Rick will come to
realize that what I am about to do will be done with the best interest of
UPW and its fans in mind. People like George Bush and myself do not need
our hands held to make the major decisions in our careers. Just as we now
have a new hope of peace here in the United States after the victory in
Iraq, we will have a new hope for the success of UPW and the company that
it will continue to become. Leadership is action, not position.

Therefore, the action that I am taking as of now is this;
Tom Howard is hereby officially stripped of the UPW Heavyweight Title.
I regret having to enforce this action, as I agree with many that Tom is
the premiere performer in UPW and in all of independent wrestling for that
matter. Tom has been the heart and soul of this company as a champion as
well as being the Head Instructor at UPW’s training center, Ultimate University.
He also continues to represent the United States in Japan and is widely
considered the leading American star in Zero-One. However, his hectic schedule
in Japan and subsequent frequent absences from UPW events here in the U.S.
has unfortunately left me with no other option. I have consulted the UPW
By-Laws and there is a mandatory 90 day title defense rule in effect. Howard
has not defended the title since defeating Bison and Schwag on March 15
in Laughlin, Nevada. If I did not take action, Title Wave would have marked
the fourth consecutive UPW event without the presence of the UPW Heavyweight
Champion. This would simply be unacceptable. Despite the fact that Howard
has proven himself to be a fantastic champion, allowing this to continue
would not be fair to the fans or the hard working UPW Superstars who deserve
an opportunity to fight for the coveted gold. Although Rick Bassman, who
often accompanies Tom in his journeys to Japan, may likely not agree with
me, my decision if final. Tom is, as of now, no longer the UPW Heavyweight
Champion.

UPW’s upcoming show at The Grove of Anaheim is aptly named
“Title Wave” as a new UPW Heavyweight Champion will be crowned
July 11. I’m not one for crowning a champion by way of battle royal, nor
any other similar gimmick match. I prefer one-on-one competition, with the
best man coming away with the gold having earned it. I want to make the
road to the title a challenging one; thus ensuring that my fans are entertained
with the highest level of competition possible. Therefore, I further decree
that a 4-man tournament will be held at Title Wave. The new champion
will certainly have some big boots to fill. To ensure that he is able to
live up to the legacy and standard previously set by the former champion,
I have gone up and down the UPW roster to personally select the four individuals
who I feel are most deserving of the opportunity to battle for the richest
prize in UPW. Horshu? No, he’s on his way to WWE. Mike Knox? Worthy yes,
and destined to be a top contender, but embroiled in a bitter feud with
the Native Nation. Hardkore Kidd? Also deserving, but carrying a UPW Title
already. Ditto for Frankie Kazarian. After applying much logic to the task
at hand, I’ve selected crowd favorite Skulu, the never-more-on-top-of-his-game
Keiji Sakoda, the recently returning Scrap Iron Adam Pearce, and Tom Howard/Rick
Bassman protégé and 22-Man Battle Royal winner Big Chris Mordetsky.
I will be on hand to preside on July 11, and will personally hand the belt
to the winner …and new UPW Heavyweight Champion!

Let the games begin!

Your UPW Commissioner
Pete Doyle

Wow! Commissioner Pete Doyle promised a big announcement;
he certainly did not disappoint. Since receiving this decree, Doyle’s office
has sent further details regarding the UPW Heavyweight Title Tournament,
which is set to take place at Title Wave. In semi-final action, Japanese
Assassin Keiji Sakoda will battle Big Chris Mordetsky. Polynesian powerhouse
Skulu will lock horns with Scrap Iron Adam Pearce in the other semi-final
match. The winners will advance and face each other in a one-on-one contest
in the Main Event of the evening with the victor earning the right to wear
the coveted gold around his waist. Who will walk away as the new UPW Heavyweight
Champion on July 11? One thing is for sure, the new champion will certainly
be a deserving one as he will have wrestled and defeated two of the very
best that UPW has to offer in one night! Make sure that you reserve your
opportunity to be on hand to witness history in the making at The Grove
of Anaheim. To see how these historic tournament matches fit into an already
stellar card, check out the updated Title Wave match line up towards the
bottom of the Weekly Wire!

SPECIAL BULLETIN – Right at press-time, UPW Owner Rick
Bassman learned of Commissioner Pete Doyle’s decision regarding the UPW
Heavyweight Championship. His comments are forthcoming in the next edition
of the “Weekly Wire.”

UPW Tag Team Championship
Triple Threat Match signed for Title Wave!

Hardkore Inc. (Champions)
vs
The Ballard Brothers
vs
The Thrillaz

The UPW Tag Team Titles will also be up for grabs at Title
Wave. There is a lot of history and bad blood between the three teams that
will be brawling for the belts on July 11. At Season’s Beatings in January,
the seventh tag team title reign of The Ballard Brothers (Shannon and Shane)
came to an end as they were defeated by The Thrillaz (B-Boy and Funky Billy
Kim). The Thrillaz’ victory was not without controversy however. Hardkore
Inc. (Hardkore Kidd and Al Katrazz) along with their devious manager El
Jefe interfered in the match, contributing to The Ballard’s loss of the
match and their Tag Team Titles. Later that night, while celebrating the
win with The Thrillaz, Hardkore Inc broke beer Bottles over the heads of
the new champions and left them laying in the back. Team Hardkore then declared
themselves to be the #1 contenders for the titles before fleeing in their
custom low rider after being run out of the building by the enraged former
champions, The Ballard Brothers. UPW’s administration did not agree that
Hardkore Kidd and Al Katrazz had done anything to deserve a shot at the
titles. In fact, at Rage on the River, in his final act before naming Pete
Doyle as the new UPW Commissioner, UPW Chairman Rick Bassman suspended Hardkore
Inc. for their actions and kicked them out of the building to the delight
of the Laughlin crowd. A frustrated Hardkore Kidd circled the outside of
the venue and took out his aggression on a helpless janitor by beating him
senseless. Hardkore stole the keys and uniform from his victim and used
them to re enter the building. Later in the evening, during a championship
rematch between the Ballards and The Thrillaz, Hardkore Kidd appeared at
ringside dressed as a janitor. Just when it looked like the Ballards had
everything going their way, Hardkore Kidd bashed Shannon Ballard in the
head with a trashcan. Obviously, Hardkore had planned to screw over the
Ballards yet again; but, the plan backfired as Shannon fell directly on
top of a prone member of The Thrillaz for the 1,2,3. In the midst of a melee,
the Ballards became 8-time Tag Team Champions! Hardkore Kidd then hit the
ring and in a sickening attack, chokeslammed the lovely Desire who had accompanied
the Ballards to the squared circle. Once again the interference of the thug
from the “mean streets” of Orange County had created major controversy
in a UPW Tag Team Title Match. This time it came at the expense of the Thrillaz
who had been out to prove that their title reign was not a fluke. The new
champions, Shannon and Shane approached Commissioner Doyle and requested
for him to lift Hardkore Inc.’s suspension so that They could exact some
revenge for their rival’s constant interference and for the inexcusable
attack on Desire. Doyle claimed that it was against his better judgment,
but he agreed to reinstate Hardkore Inc. for The Ballards as well as the
fans. “I had a hunch that the fans would love to see the Ballards get
their hands on Hardkore Inc. and make them pay” said Doyle. On April
25 at Entertainment Overload, The warring factions met in a brutal table
match for The UPW Tag Team Titles in which both tables and bodies were destroyed.
Not only were several tables broken in the match, but the 8th Tag Team Title
reign of The Ballard Brothers and their dreams of revenge were shattered
as well when Hardkore Inc. won the titles after yet another controversial
decision. The shoe is now on the other foot as Harkore Inc. now holds the
gold and has two very hungry teams knocking at their door. Hardkore Kidd
and Alkatrazz must face two teams who feel as if they are uncrowned champions
and who are willing to do anything to re-capture the UPW Tag Team Titles.
The odds are certainly not in the favor of the current champions as in this
triple threat match, neither member of Hardkore Inc. even has to be involved
in the decision for them to lose their titles. It would be poetic justice
if they were to lose the titles in that fashion, as they have been illegally
involved in so many Tag Team Title match decisions in recent months. The
UPW Tag Team Titles have changed hands three times over the last six months;
will lightning strike once again at The Grove of Anaheim? Who will walk
away with the gold once the dust settles at Title Wave? Make sure that you
are on hand to find out!

The Weekly Wire returns next week with all the latest UPW news as well as
an in-depth look at the four competitors who will strive to become the new
UPW Heavyweight Champion at Title Wave

This week on upw.com
By Murphy McDermott

With all the excitement surrounding “Title
Wave” at the The
Grove of Anaheim, It has been a busy week out there in cyberspace. But
we still found some time to add the following updates to upw.com
this week:

The complete card for Title Wave has been released and is
available here.
Come
check out who your favorite UPW superstar will be facing on this huge night!

We at UPW are proud to announce that The
Navajo Warrior is the UPW June
Wrestler of the Month and that Kjel
Hansen is the Ultimate
University June Student
of the Month.

http://www.upw.com/