Coastal Championship Wrestling “Alive” Episode 188 debuted Tuesday on YouTube. This episode’s classic match from the CCW vault was pre-taped at Brawl at the Park from Hollywood, Florida way back on June 27, 2007. Here is what happened:
MATCH #1
BRUNO SASSI vs. DUSTIN RHODES (c)
CCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Having defeated Bruno Sassi for the CCW Heavyweight Champion earlier in the year, Dustin Rhodes knew what to expect from both Sassi and his manager when it came time for the rematch. As soon as the bell rang, Sassi’s manager took a swipe at Rhodes’ legs as a distraction. Moments later, he did it again. This time, Rhodes turned around just long enough for Sassi to attack from behind and send Dustin crashing to the outside.
Sassi followed Rhodes out and tossed the champion back into the ring. Sassi’s Irish Whip was reversed by Dustin with a reverse Atomic Drop followed by a flying clothesline. Sassi used a sucker punch to regain control momentarily, but Rhodes would soon reverse another Irish Whip by falling to his back for the Rhodes’ signature dropdown punch, then went for a bulldog.
Sassi had enough awareness to slip out of Rhodes grasp and escape to the floor to regroup. This time, Dustin followed and the two men brawled throughout the arena out of view of the camera. When the action returned to the ring, Sassi’s manager tried to trip Rhodes. Again, Rhodes turned around. Again, Sassi attacked from behind. This time, though, Dustin saw it coming and lifted Sassi up and over the top rope to the floor.
Rhodes followed and another ringside brawl ensued. Sassi’s manager distracted Rhodes on the apron at one point, which allowed Sassi to yank Rhodes off the apron by his feet. As the brawl continued around ringside, Sassi hit a series of shots to Rhodes, then took a break to steal a fan’s food. Sassi continued the attack, using a wet floor sign to strike Rhodes in the head, then tossed Dustin back into the ring.
Sassi maintained control of the match with a slowed down offense as Dustin Rhodes started to bleed from the forehead. Rhodes attempted a backslide, but could not secure the three count. Sassi hit a clothesline and grabbed a rear chin lock. Rhodes punched his way out of the hold, then used a referee distraction to hit a low blow kick to Sassi.
Rhodes locked Sassi in a sleeper, but Sassi quickly escaped. Sassi put Rhodes in the sleeper, brought it down to the mat, and nearly put Rhodes out. However, Rhodes’ hand stayed in the air on the third check by the referee and Rhodes began to re-energize. Dustin hit two lariats and a dropkick, then set Sassi up in the corner for Shattered Dreams.
Before Rhodes could charge, Sassi’s manager ran in to interfere. Rhodes grabbed him and propelled him forward into Sassi’s crotch instead. As the referee dealt with the manager, Rhodes made the cover and began yelling to get the referee’s attention. The referee eventually made the count, but Sassi kicked out at two.
Rhodes confronted the referee in the corner and Sassi came from behind with a low blow kick. It seemed the momentum was shifting once again, but, in the blink of an eye, Rhodes reversed an Irish Whip with a bulldog, made the cover and got the win.
WINNER: DUSTIN RHODES
“Alive” airs on YouTube on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM EDT. Stay tuned next week for CCW Alive Episode 189 featuring Meto & The Qrown vs. The South American Alliance in a six-man tag match, plus Kaci Lennox vs. Invidia and much more!!
The Indy Wrestling Experience 