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'Roughhouse' Makes Wrestling Comeback

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By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Things didn't look good for "Roughhouse" Ralph Mosca.
The 38-year-old professional wrestler and promoter from New Port Richey had taken a shot to the groin that seemed to legitimately hurt. He had been whipped into the ropes and violently clotheslined to the mat with a resounding thud.
He had felt Byron Saxton's boots on his back, his fists on his head and the sting of his words.
"I can respect a has-been," a microphone-holding Saxton told Mosca before the start of their 15-minute time limit match at Bourbon Street on Tuesday night. "But I never respect a never-was."
Known to Florida Championship Wrestling fans as a loudmouth heel, Saxton was accompanied by fellow wrestlers Lawrence Knight and Tyson Tarver, known collectively as The Conglomerate. Saxton, who held the microphone with a pair of flashy blue gloves, was booed lustily.
"Get out of here with those Mary Poppins gloves," bellowed one beer-swilling fan.
Then came the chant: "Ralph! Ralph! Ralph!"
To local fans, Mosca is sometimes loved and sometimes despised, depending on the storyline. Either way, he has never been shy about spilling his blood for the crowd's delight. One look at the map of scar tissue on his forehead could tell you that.
He viewed his match Tuesday as one last shot at ring glory. He has promoted local FCW shows since the company came to town more than a year ago; FCW is owned by Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment and Mosca, a pro wrestler for more than 15 years, would like to end his in-ring career in the big leagues
With his wife Nicole in attendance, Mosca immediately belabored Saxton when the bell rang, but Saxton quickly gained control.
He body slammed Mosca.
He landed eight consecutive blows to "Roughhouse" Ralph's skull before kicking him in the back of the head.
As Mosca grimaced in pain, Saxton rejoiced in his own savagery: "Come on, Ralph!"
Finally, Mosca mounted an attack, raising Saxton high in the air before bringing him down, buttocks-first, on his knee.
But Saxton, a 27-year-old Virginia native, wouldn't go quietly. In moments, Mosca was on the mat again, unmoving. Saxton scaled the ropes, gestured to the crowd and leapt at Mosca, his elbow pointed like a rapier.
As Saxton dropped toward him, Mosca suddenly, miraculously, awoke. He rolled out of the way just in time and Saxton crashed to the mat.
Now it was Mosca's turn.
Amid thunderous applause, he pointed the ropes, then climbed them – all the way to the top.
His arms spread like an eagle's wings, Mosca, all 225 pounds of him, sprang from the top strand. His shaven skull seemed to land like a wrecking ball on Saxton's head. Mosca calls the move "The Big Bamboozle," named for his friend and former tag-team partner, the late Bam Bam Bigelow.
But before Mosca could pin him, Knight and Tarver entered the ring. Even as Mosca was being announced the winner by disqualification, he was absorbing what appeared to be a vicious beating. Finally, New Port Richey's own Johnny Prime entered the ring with a pool cue and chased away the bad guys.
"I pretty much had him, but he had a lot of heart," Saxton said. "Next time, he should probably fight someone his own age."
Afterward, Mosca held his throbbing jaw and said he was glad he remembered to wear a protective cup.
He said he could be back in the FCW ring as early as next week.
"If this is my way to get a full-time position with the WWE, I'll do it."
Keyword: Roughhouse to view more photos.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613.

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