[2004-11-13-FWA-British Uprising III] Mark Belton vs D-Lo Brown

[TonyPulis'Cap]

This is the only match on the card without a real amount of build-up or back story to it, although the storyline for Mark Belton is that he had never been given the opportunity to wrestle a big name import or US wrestler on an FWA show and felt disrespected. D’Lo had been a somewhat semi-regular for the company including challenging Doug Williams for the FWA Title at Crunch in April. Belton meanwhile, after some sporadic appearances was now being pushed as part of a heel unit with James Tighe and going into 2005 would be a much more featured performer.

Reflecting the company’s goal to get behind Belton, this match looks like it was designed to get Belton over by giving him a win over an established imported name in D’Lo. While the logic is sound, the reality is very similar to Jack Xavier’s victory over Homicide at British Uprising II; the crowd just don’t buy the home grown guy at the import’s level. The fact the match is fairly bland and meandering doesn’t help.

Belton stalls a lot at the beginning, which does elicit some heat, but when he starts to wrestle looks a bit nervous almost screwing up a hip toss to the outside spot. D’Lo in contrast looks really good when on offence, and gets a nice early shine segment including a springboard dropkick when Belton is on the apron (ala Chris Jericho), a flip over the ropes into a fakeout (ala Chris Hero) and then a stranding moonsault off the apron, all moves which I can never really recall D’Lo busting out before.

Belton eventually takes over with a blatant low blow that he doesn’t even attempt to hide. The story the commentators push is that ref Steve Lynskey sees it but that it plays into the long running story of him being a corrupt official. It’s actually a nice little nod to what will happen in the title match later on, but is still very jarring for why it’s not a DQ, or at least a yellow card (I can’t recall if that was still a thing in the FWA at this stage). Once on top though Belton’s work is unfocussed and uninspiring – there’s no story to get into the match.

D’Lo again looks good running through his hits but misses the Low Down. Belton then hits his top rope leg drop finisher for 2, although it doesn’t get much of a reaction as I don’t think the crowd knew it was one of his signature moves.  The cheap ending of Belton faking a knee injury and then getting the win with a really ugly roll up while D’Lo is distracted puts a cap on a pretty blah match. (** ¼)