[2001-01-31-OVW-Christmas Chaos] Rob Conway vs Ron Waterman (UFC Rules)

[GSR]

On the video introduction Jim Cornette clarifies that ‘UFC Rules’ means it’s a submission match.  There are no holds barred, bar eye gouging and groin shots, just like in the UFC, and to win you must make your opponent submit or tap out.

Rob Conway takes the microphone pre-match and tonight, for a change, he’s going to be a compassionate man.  He knows Ron Waterman has an injured arm, because he’s the one who injured it, so he’s giving him the option to stay in the dressing room and let everyone know he’s a coward.  If he opts to do the stupid thing and walk down the aisle he’ll just have to beat the living hell out of him.  Waterman is a physical specimen, reminiscent of Scott Steiner with the bleach blonde hair, coming out to ‘Eye of the Tiger’.  On the lock up the two fall backwards through the ropes to the floor.  I’ve no idea if that was planned or not but Conway is limping from it.  Back inside the ’Iron Man’ starts punching at the arm before twisting and torqing it.  Gut wrench suplexes by Waterman, using that supposedly injured arm.  Cornette runs down Waterman’s credentials, pointing out that he won his UFC debut by submission in just 45 seconds.  Boston crab, Conway inching his way towards the ropes for the break.  Inverted atomic drop followed by a belly to back, the ‘H2O man’ again using that “bad” arm.  After running into a big boot, Conway is once more targeting the arm.  As Waterman starts his comeback Corny says how he’s trying not to use that hurt left arm, right as he picks Conway up for a bodyslam!  The ‘Iron Man’ ducks to the floor, Waterman on his coat tails.  He runs at Conway, who moves, and he inadvertently clotheslines the ringpost.  The moment they get back in the ring Conway slaps on a kneeling armbar. Waterman doesn’t tap but passes out due to the pain, the referee calling for the bell to save him from further damage.

Ron Waterman doesn’t have anywhere near the potential of other developmental projects like the Minnesota Stretching Crew or Randy Orton.  He’s got the physique they like, but that pales next to say Leviathan.  Considering he’s doing an injured arm gimmick it should be straight forward to sell that throughout, as it is I don’t think he does once (until clotheslining the ring post) and blows off Conway’s limb work to throw gut wrenches and the like.  He last another eighteen months, working plenty of WWF dark and house show matches, before being cut.