By Midnight Guthrie
On Friday, June 26 at Downtown Destruction, 3XW Cruiserweight champion “The Rockstar” Jimmy Rockwell will get the first opportunity of his career to challenge one-on-one for Casanova's 3XW Heavyweight title.
Setting aside the emotional elements involving Rockwell's friend and Casanova's top enemy “Delicious” Devin Carter, some fans may ask themselves, “Why does a cruiserweight get a shot at the heavyweight title?”
The answer is quite simple – it makes sense. Rockwell has brought a higher prestige to an already prestigious title and has earned a right to compete for 3XW's top prize.
Quiz time: Who holds the record for longest 3XW Cruiserweight title reign?
Answer: Casanova, who held the title for 15 months before losing it at 3X-Iversary in a nine-man Gauntlet match in which he was the first entrant. Casanova outlasted three contenders before being rolled into a small package and pinned by “The Unbreakable” Zach Thompson.
The eventual winner of the match was “The Rockstar” Jimmy Rockwell and he's held the title ever since.
To this day, Casanova will tell anyone who will listen that if it wasn't for being forced into such a brutal – almost impossible – match structure by 3XW Commissioner Todd Countryman, he would still be holding the Cruiserweight title today.
Many believe this was the turning point for Casanova, a deciding factor in changing his mindset just months later from loyal friend and scruffy fan favorite to a backstabbing friend and a...scruffy rulebreaker. Casanova assumed that aligning with 3XW's evil forces, such as Countryman, could only serve to benefit him, friendships be damned. Thus far, it's been a sound strategy for the man who still resides in Burt Reynolds' guest house, as evident by his title of 3XW Heavyweight champion.
But perhaps no one is better suited to dethrone a cruiserweight than another – possibly more accomplished? - cruiserweight like Jimmy Rockwell.
Let's break down the interesting stats leading into this battle:
Combined length of Casanova and Rockwell's Cruiserweight reigns: 26 months and counting
Months to go until Rockwell beats Casanova's 15-month record: 5 months
Wrestlers each man has defeated while holding the 3XW Cruiserweight championship – including title matches, non-title matches, tag team matches and matches involving heavyweight competitors:
Casanova: Ben Sailer, Nate Bash, Tony Rican, “The Canadian Sex Icon” Ryan Slade (x2), “The Party Danimal” Dan Lawrence, Hunter Matthews, Krotch (x2), Sonjay Dutt, Gage Octane (x3), Brian Ash, Shane Hollister (x2), Chance Cordova, Matty Fitness, Mark Sterling (x2), Knight Wagner, Brady A. Dezire (x2), Todd Countryman and....”The Rockstar” Jimmy Rockwell.
Rockwell: Aaron Masterson (x2), Hunter Matthews, Knight Wagner, “Unbreakable” Zach Thompson (x3), Mike Sydal (x2), Shane Hollister, “The Canadian Sex Icon” Ryan Slade, Brady A. Dezire (x2), Mark Sterling (x3), Arya Daivari, Jaysin Strife, “Torturous” Tony Sly (x2), Jeremy Wyatt, Gage Octane and....Casanova – twice!
Based on the stats, it looks to me like Rockwell is a more than deserving opponent to face Casanova for the 3XW Heavyweight title. To be perfectly honest, I believe Rockwell has a very good chance of walking out of Downtown Destruction as the new champion. Fans may call it an upset, but I believe it's a case of one man's ability getting the best of one of his peers on the night that it counts the most.
Either way, as we begin a time of reflection with 3XW's 4 Year Anniversary show on the horizon, I believe this battle could be a pinnacle match in 3XW history. Will Rockwell become the first graduate of the 3XW Wrestling Academy to hold the 3XW Heayweight title? Join us Friday night at the Des Moines Social Club for Downtown Destruction and witness history live for yourself.
Other news and notes:
- Speaking of cruiserweight action at Downtown Destruction, Mike Sydal vs. Shane Hollister has the makings of one of the most important non-title matches in 3XW history. After only a year in 3XW, Mike Sydal is on the cusp of being 3XW's next big breakout star. Hollister, already a very impressive striker and ring technician in the eyes of many 3XW fans, has improved by leaps and bounds in his time away from 3XW. In 2009 alone, he's beaten the likes of former WWE star Al Snow, Ohio/Pennsylvania territorial star Johnny Gargano, and even “The Anarchist” Arik Cannon, among others. He's also secured a spot in the 24-man Ted Petty Invitational tournament, one of the top competitions in the country, where he'll contest against the likes of Necro Butcher, Tyler Black, Davey Richards, Zach Gowen, Human Tornado, etc.
The winner of this bout will be in strong contention to earn a Cruiserweight or even Pure Wrestling title shot in the future. It should be an incredible match between to of the fastest young talents in wrestling today.
- “Delicious” Devin Carter is making an excellent recovery from his devastating face injuries suffered by Casanova's one-man con-chair-to after Carter's incredible Gauntlet for the Gold victory last month. Doctors are extremely optimistic that he'll be able to compete on July 17 at the 4-Year Anniversary event. Believe me when I tell you Carter has some wild ideas for revenge in mind for Casanova when he returns to action – Casanova better be prepared to get his bell rung!
- Despite contacting, A.J. Smooth, “The Candian Sex Icon” Ryan Slade and even 3XW Commissioner Todd Countryman, I have still not received a clear answer as to what “Canadian Rules” signifies in Friday's “Canadian Rules” match between A. J. Smooth and Tyler Cook.
- Don't think for a moment that the hatred between “The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt and Tyler Cook has blown over – not by a long shot. Even though they're competing in separate matches, it would completely shock me if these two men DIDN'T find a way to cause another near-riot in Des Moines on Friday night. If you ask me, 3XW President Skylar Pierce is going to have to go to great heights if he hopes to put an end to this feud once and for all.
- His opponent has not yet been announced, but I fear for whomever has to face Kraig Keesaman at Downtown Destruction. His viking fury is just absolutely devastating to watch in person. He is an incredible athlete and it's only a matter of time before he receives another title shot.
- Elsewhere in the Midwest, there is a competitor wrestling in parts of Illinois by the name of Neil Diamond Cutter. That's a great wrestling name if I've ever heard one.
- I recently updated my YouTube channel with many interviews I conducted last July at 3X-Iversary, including comments from Devin Carter, Casanova and Mike Sydal. Thanks to SEP Video for the footage. Please visit www.youtube.com/midnightguthrie to see the videos.
Classic Wrestling of the Month:
- Finally, thinks to the magic of the internet, we can access classic footage of wrestling dating back to 1920. As part of a new feature of my Midnight Madness column, I'm going to provide some links to some video footage of great wrestling moments of the past.
This month, we focus on one of my favorite feuds in the entire history of pro wrestling – Jerry Lawler vs. Terry Funk, Memphis, March/April 1981. While the feud itself was actually short in length, it's intensity is relatively unmatched to this day and provided two classic matches. Today we'll look at the famous “Empty Arena” match, but I encourage fans to seek out the even better “No DQ” match from March 1981.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLccH1bM0O4 – Terry Funk challenges Jerry Lawler to an “Empty Arena” match in an awesome promo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ESoFCdq-wg – Part one of the “Empty Arena” match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3YCWkynwQ – The finale of the “Empty Arena” match.
Wrestling fans, we'll see you this Friday at Downtown Destruction!
