[1998-02-28-NWA-3rd Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial] Dan Severn vs Franz Schuhmann

[Jetlag]

This is a weird as hell matchup (with Nick Bockwinkel commentating) where they mesh oddly well. Schuhmann's my boy, a former accomplished amateur who's feuded with Finlay for years and faced a lithany of random foreigners over his years as the CWA middleweight ace. His career and body were deteriorating at this point, but he still busts his ass, bumping big for Severn and hitting his spots. Severn seemed to be holding back a little due to wrestling an opponent with such an unfamiliar style, but still got to look plenty beastly thanks to Schuhmann's bumping. The Severn moment of the match was easily his repeated lift and slams from mount position which was pretty brutal. Overall pretty good stuff considering it's pretty much two workers trying whatever for 10 minutes.

[Phil Schneider]

I loved this match

 

Loved the story of this match. Schumann tries early to wrestle with Severn and gets thrown violently. I mean he just hurls Schumann to the mat like he was a punking a first day trainee. I also really liked Schumann putting Severn in the guard and Severn constantly lifting and slamming him. I am sure Severn has bad Royce Gracie associations being stuck in guard, and certainly wasn't going to let a random German guy Brazilian Ju-Jitsu him. Franz realizing he was out gunned broke out some 1980's highflyer offense to stymie Severn, "My ju-jitsu may not be up to par, but I bet no one ever gave you a standing dropkick in the octagon, fine you have a better double leg takedown, but how about this tope." Really loved the finish with Severn deciding he had enough and just tossing Schumann and trying to rip his arm off. Great stuff.