[2000-11-25-MPPW-TV] Spellbinder vs Tracy Smothers

[soup23]

Tracy interrupts the intro and gives a scathing promo. Spellbinder comes out to defend MPPW honor and the match begins. Short but decent basic match with Tracy trying to cheat with powder and a chain but being cut off by Spellbinder. Spellbinder even shows some fire and doesn’t look quite as awkward as usual. Seven interferes to end the match and then we get a decent brawl to end the segment between Tracy and Bulldog Raines and Seven and Spellbinder. *1/4
 

[GSR]

Tracey Smothers gate crashes the studio, getting plenty of heat from the fans, as Dave and Corey say how he isn’t even on the format for today. He tells them that he’s here because he wants to be here and he does as he pleases! ‘The Triad’ aren’t here today as they’re celebrating Thanksgiving, plus they’ve got better things to do than beat up this punk called the Spellbinder. In 1995 he, Smoky, Sell Out, Smasher, Syco (sic) Smothers singlehandedly destroyed the now defunct USWA by himself, and challenges Spellbinder to put his Power Pro title on the line right here and now if he’s got the guts. Spellbinder has got the guts and chases Tracey around ringside and into the ring. Press slam where he just drops Smothers chest first to the mat, followed by a spinning heel kick. Tracey grabs hold of Binder’s tights and pulls him into the turnbuckles. From there he chops away at his chest before dropping him with a savate kick. Binder blocks the bodyslam and counters with an inside cradle for a two. Folding press by Tracey, but referee William Gibson spots that he’s got his feet on the ropes and stops the count. As Smothers complains, Binder rolls him up and Tracey is forced to rake the eyes to escape. Spellbinder just about hangs on to a powerslam and now he’s complaining to Gibson about the count. While he’s doing so, Fabulous Rocker has sneaked down to ringside and passed Tracey a bag of powder. When Binder turns around he throws it at him, however he ducks out the way and it hits Gibson instead. Crossbody by Smothers, but Spellbinder catches and then launches him with a fallaway slam. Even though the ref is still down, he makes the cover and Rocker is in to crack him over the back with a chair. He puts Tracey on top, although Binder manages to get a shoulder up. Rocker throws a chain to Smothers, but he fails to catch it and Spellbinder picks it up and wraps it around his fist. Huge right hand, senton, and here’s Seven, clearly not at home for Thanksgiving, who attacks Binder for the DQ. The three of them then triple team him until Bulldog Raines makes the save and he and Tracey fight to the back while security does their best to try and separate Seven and Binder.

A more decisive finish would’ve been nice, but this was a good studio match and my favourite Spellbinder singles match of the year. I don’t think anyone gets as much heat and reaction out of the studio fans than Tracey Smothers does, which was again in evidence here. I was surprised to see that the Fabulous Rocker was still around as I thought MCW consisted purely of WWF developmental talent at this point.