 Despite this loss, he would go on to have impressive matches against larger opponents like Knuckles Zandwich and Corporal Punishment during the next few months.On June 7, 1996, he defeated Quinn Nash (substituting for Earl the Pearl) in a championship tournament to become the first light heavyweight champion for Cueball Carmichael's Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance in Alexandria, Virginia.By the fall of 1996, Shrader began challenging MEWF Heavyweight Champion Axl Rotten on MEWF television.