Mr. Ooh La La Prepares For First Defense
The beloved legend faces Teddy Fine at ECWA Heat Stroke.
Mr. Ooh La La celebrated his 55th birthday on Sunday. But when it was time to blow out the candles, the new ECWA Heavyweight Champion had nothing left to wish for.
His nearly 30-year journey culminated one month ago at the 25th annual ECWA Super 8. He dethroned the despicable, yet resourceful Joey Ace, reunited with old friend Crowbar and soaked in the adoration of the wrestling world. After all, the beloved legend has come a long way from his days as Russian Invader #1 and Irish Micky.
“Holy smokes, it’s been friggin’ awesome,” Mr. Ooh La La says. “That was my WrestleMania moment.”
However, the Frenchman is aware that’s all it may be – a moment. Because this Saturday at Heat Stroke, he has his first title defense. His opponent is taller, heavier and younger. And like Mr. Ooh La La, he also wears gold.
Teddy Fine is one half of the ECWA Tag Team Champions, The Marvelous Ones. Similar to how Mr. Ooh La La acted in his younger days, Fine riles up the crowd with his lengthy, elaborate entrance. Donning a seemingly permanent scowl, the crafty veteran and his partner Greg Spitz (along with Reginald the Butler) often escape with their titles intact by any means necessary.
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A former ECWA Tag Team Champion in his own right, Mr. Ooh La La believes he has Fine’s number. “Sometimes, you depend on your partner more than you should,” he says. “There’s a part of Teddy that’s going to rely on tagging in and taking a break, but he’s not going to be afforded that luxury. I’ll have to watch some of his singles matches to see what he does because what he doesn’t do is going to help me.”
That’s not all Mr. Ooh La La is concerned about come Saturday. He’ll also be watching the Beat the Clock challenge, featuring six of the top competitors in the promotion all vying for a future shot at the champion, whoever that may be after Heat Stroke.
L.A. Vin will take on Mike Law, a former ECWA Heavyweight Champion who Mr. Ooh La La recently defeated in a coal miner’s glove match. But it was a lucky win, according to the champion. “Mike Law was a step ahead of me the whole match,” Mr. Ooh La La says. “He countered everything. If it wasn’t for him making the mistake of an airplane spin, which made us both dizzy, honestly, the outcome would have been different.”
In another part of the challenge, two former ECWA Heavyweight Champions collide when Chris Wylde faces Sam Shields. While Mr. Ooh La La has never met Shields in the ring, he’s endured an ass whopping from Wylde. “No matter how I look at it, I have a problem,” he says. “Both guys will manhandle you and twist you into a knot. They both know submissions, understand the basics and know how to fly.”
And in the final part of the challenge, best friends become adversaries when Rey Calitri takes on Joey Ace. Of course, Ooh La La is quite familiar with both of these goons, especially the latter.
“Joey Ace is no joke,” the champ says.
Hopefully, we’ll be spared another championship match featuring that slimeball, but if the “Champagne Papi” somehow squeaks out the victory, we can rest assured that Mr. Ooh La La will wipe the mat with him once again.
After all, he’s #StillZBest.
ECWA Heat Stroke takes place Saturday, June 5, at The Jersey Dugout in Morganville, NJ.
For tickets and more information, visit ecwaprowrestling.com.
You can also join the ECWA Pro Wrestling Facebook group for the latest news, match announcements, promos and more.
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