SPOILER WARNING!
On Sunday’s Episode five of Real Pro Wrestling, which featured competition in the 184-pound weight class, eight world class wrestlers battled for the right to compete in the championship match. Emerging, however, were two polar opposite personalities.
The first is a brash, charismatic kid with a love for southern rap music, named Muhammed “Mo” Lawal. The other is an unassuming and hard working Greco-Roman star from small town Nebraska who has a fondness for the outdoors, named Brad Vering. The two will now battle in the Real Pro Wrestling finals, which will air on Fox Sport Net on May 25.
Lawal, the fourth seed, entered the arena strutting and beaming with confidence. He first dispatched fifth-seeded Quincy Clark of the Pennsylvania Hammer, and then shocked everyone (but maybe himself) by upsetting top-seeded Lee Fullhart of the Iowa Stalkers, a wrestler who had beaten him in their three previous meetings.
In the quarterfinals, the 24-year-old Lawal jumped out to a big early lead on Clark, a Greco-Roman veteran and 2000 Olympian. Lawal was able to exploit Clark’s weakness (defending his legs), scoring with a barrage of quick and explosive leg attacks. He cruised to an easy 16-7 victory.
Prior to meeting Fullhart in the semifinals, Lawal exuded a confidence extending well beyond his years, as he sat in the scouting room with Oklahoma Slam teammates Teague Moore and Daniel Cormier.
“He’s like a tractor,” said Lawal as he watched film of his finals opponent. “He just moves straight forward. He can’t move to the side.” Lawal continued, “That’s his weakness to me, no level changes, straightforward and slow.”
Lawal struck first on Fullhart, scoring with a beautiful double leg, earning back exposure in the process, to jump out to an early 4-0 lead. As the match progressed, Lawal seemed to gain confidence in his abilities. Fullhart came out aggressively in the second period, but to no avail, as Lawal was able to secure another double leg takedown to take a 6-0 lead, which all but secured the match. Fullhart mounted a late rally, scoring with three push-outs, but it was too little too late, as Lawal held on for the 7-3 victory.
Lawal was equally as confident after the match as he was before it.
“I walked the walk, talked the talk,” he said. “I told you boys on TV that I was going to shake the world up and beat an old tractor. That’s what happened. That’s a changing of the guard right now. It’s my time, boy.”
Vering, who competed on the U.S. Olympic team in Greco-Roman, had to battle through two talented freestyle wrestlers, Andy Hrovat of the Chicago Groove and Brandon Eggum of the Minnesota Freeze, to reach the finals.
In the quarterfinals, Vering scored early and often with a series of upper-body and lower body attacks as he dominated Hrovat from virtually every position. He cruised to an easy 13-1 victory.
Things got a little tougher for Vering, though, in the semifinals, as he battled Eggum, a 2001 World silver medalist. Vering got on the scoreboard first, locking up a tight front headlock to earn a go behind and take a quick 2-0 lead. He then scored with a push-out to make the score 3-0 heading into the second period. The two wrestlers jostled for position during most of the final period, before Vering once again scored a takedown with a front headlock to put the match away. Eggum added a late takedown, but Vering held on for the 5-2 victory.
Vering, who has been competing strictly in Greco-Roman events since his college days, is excited about having the opportunity to now expand on his wrestling.
“It’s a lot easier when you can grab the whole body compared to just grabbing the waist up,” he said after the match.
The Iowa Stalkers, with three finalists, currently lead the team race with 65 points, followed by the New York Outrage (49 points), and the Pennsylvania Hammer (43 points).
Next week’s episode of Real Pro Wrestling will feature competition in the 211-pound weight class.
Sunday’s Results (184 Pounds):
Quarterfinals:
#1 Lee Fullhart (Iowa Stalkers) decision over #8 Marcus Mollica (California Claw), 13-2
#4 Muhammed Lawal (Oklahoma Slam) decision over #5 Quincy Clark (Pennsylvania Hammer), 16-7
#3 Brandon Eggum (Minnesota Freeze) decision over #6 Aaron Simpson (Texas Shooters), 5-4
#2 Brad Vering (New York Outrage) decision over #7 Andy Hrovat (Chicago Groove), 13-1
Semifinals:
Lawal decision over Fullhart, 7-3
Vering decision over Eggum, 5-2
Finals (May 25):
Lawal vs. Vering
Current Teams Standings:
1. Iowa Stalkers 65
2. New York Outrage 49
3. Pennsylvania Hammer 43
4. Chicago Groove 33
5. Oklahoma Slam 32
6. Texas Shooters 11
7. California Claw 2
8. Minnesota Freeze 1
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