[2000-11-18-MCW-TV] Steve Bradley vs K-Krush

[soup23]

This is presented as Bradley’s return to the area. K-Krush is back for probably his last appearance in Memphis now that he has debuted with WWF proper. Bradley really dominates the match and we get some good input from Kevin Kelly about how working in Puerto Rico really toughens you up. Of course we follow that up hearing K-Krush may be off his game from late night recording with Road Dogg. Bradley misses a moonsault and now Krush can mount some offense. Finish sees Bradley using a trash can lid to smash a diving K-Krush and then he gets the pin becoming the new champion. Ok match. *1/2

[GSR]

Steve Bradley has already stalled his way through a commercial break with Kevin Kelly wanting him to get on with it.  Bradley tells him that he’s a seasoned veteran of the Memphis style and he’ll take his time!  The bell rings and Bradley looks like he’s about to lock up but ducks to the outside as he continues to drag things out.  Krush isn’t prepared to wait and goes to meet him on the floor.  Leg lariat by Krush followed by a great, high impact looking axe kick.  He heads to the middle turnbuckle however Bradley snatches him and hits an ‘Assault Driver’.  Swinging neckbreaker for a near fall.  Bradley looks to slow it down again, a rear chinlock giving the fans to rally and get behind Krush.  It’s noted that Bradley has been wrestling in Puerto Rico recently, presumably over in the IWA-PR developmental territory.  He misses the moonsault and Krush fires away at him as Bradley backs off.  A whip to the corner is reversed and referee Charlie Miller gets squashed up against the turnbuckles.  Krush goes for a second axe kick, only this time Bradley catches him and drops him on Miller.  ‘Krush Buster’ but there’s no-one to count as the ref is still KO’ed.  After a top rope guillotine legdrop he again makes the cover which makes him look like a right fool as he can clearly see that Miller is down.  The crowd count along though as he gets a visual pin.  Finally realising that he can’t win the match without an official he goes over to Miller and tries to wake him up.  In the mean time Bradley rolls to the floor to collect a trash can lid.  As the unaware Krush climbs to the top turnbuckle, he leaps at his opponent and Bradley swings the lid into his knees, ‘knee capping’ him if you like.  Reverse DDT onto the metal and Miller comes too as ‘the Baddest Mo’Fo in Mempho’ becomes the new Southern champion.

I thought Bradley was great here with his pacing and control, had some cool innovation and steals the title with some classic heeling.  Krush was perfectly fine in his role in what I think is probably his goodbye to Mempho as he moves full-time to the WWF.  Some nice cut off spots in there and some of Krush’s offensive looked particularly effective.  Good TV match.