UWL Eruption 9-21-24

We open on the UWL Heritage Championship sitting nicely on a side table. The table is next to a bench, and as the camera slowly pans out, we see not only the Heritage Championship but also the Heritage Champion, Billy Danielson. He’s not yet in his ring gear, but you can tell he is in the middle of getting ready when the urge to cut a promo hits him.

Billy Danielson - Can we take a moment and appreciate something…

Danielson throws a hand as if asking the viewers to contemplate his suggestion.

Billy Danielson - I have been teaming with and fighting against Jackson Burnside and Daron Smythe all year. It doesn’t matter where we have been in our journeys, because the one constant has been one of the three of us in some form of tag team match, with the odd man out on the other side of the ring. I watched as Daron was questioning his place here in UWL and contemplating retirement, but now he’s a two-time World Champion. Jackson Burnside had his title taken from him by me nearly a year ago, and yet here he is with another title.

There’s a look of familiarity on Billy’s face. It’s ALMOST like he’s talking about old friends or beloved colleagues. ALMOST. As he continues to smile and hype up his partners for tonight, he places a hand on his Heritage Championship.

Billy Danielson - I’ve watched as their stock has risen and dropped and risen again. All while I was becoming the longest reigning Heritage Champion and had the most defenses of any singles champion in nearly a decade. Now we sit, as a team bonded in blood and gold, standing tall as 3 separate but equal champions.

He takes his Heritage Championship, throws it over his shoulder and smiles.

Billy Danielson - At this point, Daron, Jackson and I need to revive the trios' titles and become their forever champion because we’ve teamed so much and know each other so well. The chemistry in the ring is so impeccable, that we’re almost at the point of creating tag moves just in case we decide to do so.

Billy laughs under his breath as he continues.

Billy Danielson - What is really scary is that, under any other circumstance, nobody would be able to stop us. The respect, the bonds, the chemistry, the gold. We’re basically the perfect unit…

He pauses.

Billy Danielson - If we weren’t facing the other 2 champions in the same match.


Danielson’s face dramatically drops, as if someone had spoiled his near-dream team-up by booking the other champions.

Billy Danielson - And that’s another thing to appreciate about this match.

He throws his finger up, trying to catch the attention of the audience as he raises another point of appreciation.

Billy Danielson - Because not only is one, two, or even 3 titles in one singular match tonight, but UWL has all 5 championships being represented in their main event.

The star power of this main event seems daunting, but Danielson doesn’t look bothered. Billy wiggles the shoulder with his championship belt to signify his part in this big match-up.

Billy Danielson - This is a crazy concept because even back when my grandfather ran his territory out in the St. Louis area, the mindset was “Don’t book 2 champions in the same match unless it’s really going to mean something”.

Remembering the wise booking advice of the late great Carny, Russ Danielson, Billy throws a finger up to the sky in a small, but wholesome moment.

Billy Danielson - It’s impressive to see so many high-profile wrestlers in one match. We are all at different places in our careers, but we are all at the top of the UWL right now. So if we can’t make this match mean something, nobody can.

He forms a fist in front of himself to emphasize the fact that this match is one of the biggest in UWL’s current history. When was the last time all of the champions were in one match fighting for supremacy? Even in just an exhibition like this one. It was definitely going to be something special.

Billy Danielson - Cyrus Rinaldi for instance…

He pauses for effect.

Billy Danielson - He’s one of the fastest-rising stars in the UWL. Daron, Jackson, Cory, and myself have all been here before, but Cyrus has had to blaze a trail. He could have been like Nick Danger, Ace Sky, or the guys who all ran off to WWA to feel like they meant something, but he didn’t. He has scratched and clawed his way to an upper echelon, even if it’s whatever the TWN Championship is.

Billy laughs. He obviously respects Cyrus and the TWN Championship, but he couldn’t help the little dig he made.

Billy Danielson - Cyrus is formidable, but he has just proven that he can’t be Daron Smythe, which begs the question, can he hang with the Greatest of All Time or The Weatherman? Two of the most decorated men in the modern era of the UWL? Or is the TWN Championship just the 3rd Runner-Up Medallion and he’s settling for the bottom of the barrel?

Danielson shrugs, having no answers for these questions that only he is really asking.

Billy Danielson - But those questions need to be held for another time because he’s not alone.

Billy’s demeanor changes. It’s hard to tell if he’s excited to talk about his friend, or reluctant to talk about his rival. The issue is that these feelings are for the same person, and it’s not easy to decipher which emotion The Silverback elicits off the top of the head.

Billy Danielson - No, Cyrus has the King of Carrying on his side, Cory Chevelle.

A bit of scoffing from the Heritage Champion as he playfully rolls his eyes.

Billy Danielson - Whether it was Nascar Billy Sutton, Binky the Bear, Ron Hamilton, or even a younger Billy Danielson, Cory Chevelle was always able to carry people to success when they weren’t able to do it on their own. He’s just that damn good.

He nods with emphasis.

Billy Danielson - However, he’s horrendously oblivious to his own stupidity and likes to lower himself to match those he’s carrying. The HellBillys went nowhere, Binky is a dick, and Ron with the rest of the Bully Club never made it out of our little notebooks. Hell, I could even get a little personal and talk about all the women he’s wasted his time with because he knew he could provide no matter how little they offered him. He’s in the same loop with the person he’s tagging with. Someone I don’t believe is worth acknowledging, so they’re lucky I’m referencing them here.

The frustration rises in his voice. Cory Chevelle is definitely a polarizing individual both inside and outside of the squared circle, and the people he associates with are often a point of strain between him and Billy, but Billy always finds room in his heart for his friend, no matter the low lives he associates with.

Billy Danielson - I love Cory, but if he wants to talk about my ego, he should look in the mirror and see the man I learned it from. I give praise to my opponents, win or lose. I acknowledge the fans. I have busted my ass to not only be the man that prevented Cory from retaining his World Title earlier this year but also be one of the most decorated Heritage Champions of all time. I am a first-ballot Hall of Famer when I finally retire from here and that means I have earned every bit of my ego that I have and will wear it like a badge of honor as I put you down for a second time in my career.

He pauses for a moment as he looks at the camera with a competitive and focused face. At this moment, Danielson believes he could handle his three opponents by himself with an arm behind his back. Luckily, he doesn’t have to do that, because he’s not alone in the main event.

Billy Danielson - And the same can be said about Jackson Burnside and Daron Smythe. They’ve earned every ounce of ego that they have, and when we put down Cyrus and Cory, we’ll remind them just how big of a handicap it is to face us in this capacity, as a tag team, or otherwise.

Billy pats the face plate of his Heritage Championship as he smiles with determination. Billy holds the Work Horse Championship, Daron holds the World Heavyweight Championship, and Jackson Burnside is the Champion of Television in its entirety (but specifically, the Weather Channel).

Billy Danielson - Our blood is as golden as our hearts and our belts, so get ready for one of the hardest matches y’all have ever wrestled in, and Asheville I hope you’re ready for the highest profile six-man tags you will have ever watched…

He smirks one last time.

Billy Danielson - On that much, I can promise.

Billy raises his Heritage Championship one last time, showing that he is ready for tonight.