CSWA PRIMETIME in Phoenix August 14, 2000 Featuring Kevin Powers vs. Steve Radder in a grudge match! But first, Merritt makes a guest cameo!

(As the U-62 logo fades, the camera cuts immediately to the recesses of the America West Arena, showing CSWA co-owner and commissioner Chad Merritt dressed in suit and tie, walking down the hallway flanked by security.)

BB:  Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we're dispensing with the preliminaries tonight.  We've been told that in a very un-CSWA manner, Commissioner Merritt is going to address this capacity crowd in just a few moments.  I want to welcome you to CSWA PRIMETIME in Phoenix...as always, I'm Bill Buckley along with my co-host Sammy Benson.

SB:  You know this may be the first time we haven't opened a show where I didn't have a headache after the whole over-the-top light-pyro-laser show that's usually going on.

BB:  Like I said...no frills tonight, apparently.

(Commissioner Merritt begins his walk down to the ring.  The crowd reaction is mostly boos.  Merritt's eyes are focused solely on the ring.  He accepts a microphone from ring announcer Rhubarb Jones and climbs in the ring.)

CM:  I know you people didn't come here to listen to me.  (crowd pop)  But we'll get things underway in just a few minutes.  I'm here to address a few things real quickly.  First, you all know about what has been going on between myself and my 'business partner', Stephen Thomas.  Steve apparently has decided that if he can't oust me permanently, then he'll just ruin the CSWA and start up his own company.  I won't allow that to happen.  (mini-crowd pop)  The CSWA is about to celebrate its twelfth anniversary...and if I have my way, there'll be a thirteenth, a fourteenth, a fifteenth  (crowd pop increases)...  Stephen Thomas is not the CSWA.  Chad Merritt isn't the CSWA.  Not by ourselves.  There have been too many people that have come through that curtain to entertain you...and there have been too many people behind the scenes that have worked their butts off.  And neither Steve nor anybody are going to end that.  So here's my promise to you fans... I know you've seen all this before, I know that you've watched as Thomas and I have gone through things like this in the past....but I promise that at CSWA ANNIVERSARY 2000, it ends.  Once and for all...no more games, no more ongoing 'drama' to milk the ratings...at ANNIVERSARY, either Thomas or I are leaving this company for good.  (crowd pops huge)  That's a promise.  I'm not going to go into the details just yet....but let's just say it'll involve some old friends.

Speaking of old friends, now let me address the Unified Tag Team Title situation.  You all saw what happened at INDEPENDENCE DAY when both Simply Stunning and The Dark Carnival each got one of the belts in the ladder match.  What you may not have seen is what Powers and Apocalypse did with the titles a few weeks earlier.  Roll it, Marvin.

(The camera cuts to the TV wall, where the words "EWI Shockwave" - Greensboro, North Carolina" appear as a clip begins)  

(cutto:  Merritt in the ring)

CM:  Apparently Mr. Powers thought that because he was in a minor league independent that's seen locally in Taiwan that I wouldn't catch on.  Thankfully, Mr. Locke still has ties back to his former stomping grounds.  (camera cuts to a sign that has EWI written down the side:  "Erik Wrestles Idiots.")  Boys, you've technically violated your contracts...but I'll let that slide for now.  Instead, I'll be content with taking you out of the running for the Unified Tag Team Titles.  Just be glad that I'm not...

("Play With Me" by ICP begins playing as Powers and Apocalypse show up on the rampway.  Powers has one of the Unified Tag Team Titles over his shoulder.)

KP:  What the (bleep) do you think you're doing?  We're still the champions, no matter what you...

CM:  Cut his microphone.  

KP:  You little...

CM:  CUT IT!

(Powers continues talking, but his words can't be heard.  He throws down the microphone and begins advancing down the aisle with Apocalypse.)

CM:  You're about to make the biggest mistake you've ever made if you keep walking, Kevin.

(Kevin continues mouthing off at Merritt...and continues walking down to ringside.)

BB:  Look out from behind!  It's SWAT TEAM!  Colt and Beretta crash into The Dark Carnival from behind!!!  Colt and Apocalypse fall off the railing almost into the first row.  Beretta has ripped the title belt out of Powers' hands, and now he levels Kevin with it!!!

CM:  Now that I'm done with Kevin and Co....let's move on to something a little more important.  We're just two events away from ANNIVERSARY....and everybody's been asking me for the lineup.  Well, I'm not quite ready to announce any more than I already have.  You all know that SHOWTIME in Santa Fe is up next...and I've given six men a chance to secure title shots for ANNIVERSARY in a special six-man tag match.  And I've also signed a special contenders match between Steve Radder and Mike Randalls.  But the big question is... who gets the title shot at Deacon.  Who gets the chance to knock Deacon off the pedestal and move onto ANNIVERSARY as the CSWA World Champion.

I've sat back over the past few months and watched as everybody and their mother has told me who I have special preferences for.  Kevin Powers says Radder is my buddy, while Radder says Powers is.  Mike Randalls has come out and said that Hornet is my 'fan favorite.'  Every time somebody loses around here, somehow it ends up being my fault.

Well let me be brutally honest...I could care less about some of these guys.  What I care about is which of them can put you fans in these seats and put on a good show....their personal issues don't make one bit of difference to me, as long they don't interfere in my plans.  So I know I'm gonna get raked over the coals for what I'm about to say.

For the past few months, it's been very public that I've been in negotiations with Hornet.  I've done everything I can to get Hornet to sign a CSWA contract again, to guarantee that he's going to be here to entertain you fans for years to come.  Unfortunately, due to some personal considerations, Hornet has felt unable to entertain those offers.  Well, there comes a time when a businessman has to cut his losses.  Before I do that, I'm going to give Hornet one final chance.  I've known Hornet for over twelve years now...I met him as Mark Windham's friend at the very first card we put on here in the CSWA...and while we've had our differences, I feel like I know Hornet pretty well.

So in one final opportunity, in addition to the contract offer I've laid out on the table, I'm going to give Hornet the shot at Deacon on SHOWTIME....with this caveat, if Hornet still won't sign a contract, SHOWTIME in Santa Fe will be his last match.  (crowd boos)  Hey, hey, I'm with you guys...but I can't continue bringing Hornet out here if he's not willing to play by the rules like everybody else. 

Anyway fans, thanks for bearing with me...now let's get this show on the road!

(The lights go out as the patented CSWA light, laser and pyro show begins.)

SB:  AAGH!  MY EYES!  MY EYES!

BB:  You know, watching you squirm like that must be worth the price of admission for a lot of these fans.  Fans, up first we've got the newest member of "Team Extreme!"

With Eli Flair and Poison Ivy at ringside as Fizzbin's trainer and manager respectively, Johnny got his first in-ring test from the former "Lord of Darkness."  Brigsby actually took the edge early, surprisingly, with his experience working over Fizzbin's in-ring nervousness.  Carl took Fizzbin down with a huge DDT, but Fizzbin had sense enough to roll outside for a breather before Brisgby could go for the pin.  After a short conference with Flair and Brigsby, Fizzy came back in and seemed to shake off some of the jitters.  He countered a clothesline attempt by Brigsby, with a drop toe hold of his own.  Taking over, Fizzbin showcased some aerial ability, following a tornado DDT with a quick moonsault from the top.    In the end, Fizzbin set up Brigsby perfectly for "The Monkeywrench"...his heel kick from the top rope for the win.

Onto Part 2 of PRIMETIME