12/01/10 -
SEVEN UNRESOLVED ISSUES FROM 2009 – Part III
This is the second of a seven part series, designed to look at
the seven unresolved issues remaining from 2009.
Today we will take a look at the events that led to the
suspension of Bobby Marshall and what this means for the
future of Explosive Pro Wrestling.
Now I will start this article by saying that I, in no way,
condone wrestlers striking referees and that Bobby Marshall
hitting Giles O’Brien with a chair was an appalling act.
However, I believe that he should not be serving a suspension
right now.
Hell or Highwater
was EPW’s last event in the Venville Centre in Maylands and
emotions were running high as Bobby Marshall and
Richter did battle for the EPW championship. The Blackest
Hour were all over this match and continually interjected
themselves into the bout on Richter’s behalf. Despite this, if
the match had been no-DQ, Marshall would have walked out with
the EPW championship. Unfortunately for him, the only illegal
activity that was viewed by a referee, was O’Brien seeing him
strike Richter with a chair.
After being so close to regaining the title that he never lost,
Marshall snapped and drilled Giles with a steel chair.
Brett Corvus acted quickly to reprimand Marshall and
place him on probation. He was warned that any future abuse of
EPW officials would lead to an immediate and indefinite
suspension.
It was not until a rematch for the EPW championship at
Re-Awakening 8,
that Marshall would cross the line yet again.
Towards the end of a brutal Last Man Standing Match, Bobby
appeared to have victory in sight. However, a groggy O’Brien,
who had been struck earlier by Rick Sanders, managed to
miss Marshall beating the ten count and declared Richter the
winner.
Marshall was livid and could not contain his rage. He levelled
the official with a scissor kick and was placed on immediate
suspension by EPW Board of Directors member, Brett Corvus who
also received a scissor kick for his trouble.
Let me state again that I DO NOT condone abuse of officials.
But, EPW officials dropped the ball in both of these matches.
At Hell or Highwater,
the Blackest Hour made a mockery of the rules, constantly
exploiting their three on one advantage. And when Marshall
decided to fight fire with fire, he was disqualified.
Re-Awakening 8
was even worse. After being struck by Rick Sanders, Giles
O’Brien was clearly in no state to continue officiating the
match. Someone should have had one of the other three EPW
officials come down so that O’Brien could seek medical attention
(it was revealed later that he was seriously concussed). Watch
the end of that match. O’Brien is delirious and doesn’t even
appear to clearly see Marshall at any point until he makes the
final count of 10!
If the Board of Directors are going to suspend Bobby Marshall in
order to provide referees with a safe working environment,
perhaps they should take a good hard look at the entire roster.
Men like the Blackest Hour have shown they have no issue with
blatantly striking officials yet they have faced NO action from
the EPW Board of Directors.
Brett Corvus has said that he will address the entire EPW locker
room at RISE OR FALL.
What will he say? Will he lay down the law? Will he address the
length of Bobby Marshall’s suspension? Or will we simply hear
more Board of Directors hypocrisy? Only time will tell. Make
sure you’re at the Queens Park Rec Centre on February
6th to find out.
