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POSTED TO THE NYCW YOUTUBE CHANNEL Coming up at COTT WRESTLING SHOWCASE NYC Broadcast Live on WrestleWorld Brutus Milano (NYCW) & FRANKIE PEREZ (CZCW) vs. PABLO RODRIGUEZ (OLLIE) & ERNEST YOUNGMAN (NYCW) NYCW Showcase: Animal Harker vs. Quentin Queen COTT WORLD TAG-TEAM TITLES: The American Cobras (CZCW) vs. THE BOYS FROM THE YUKON (NYCW) NYCW TRI-STATE TITLE: Masked Cougar (CZCW) vs. Denny King (NYCW) NYCW SHOWCASE: Curtis Shaw & Happy Elwood vs. The New York Doll & Andrew Harper COTT JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAPIONSHIP: Miller Fforde (MAW) vs. Louis Monterio Jr (OLLIE) vs. Hugh De Aske (IPW) INTER-PROMOTIONAL OPEN CHALLENGE: Charlie Corner vs. ????

97. If only because 1998 festures two big injuries (Michaels herniating his back, Foley hetting mauled by HisC) that drastically change the WWF landscape and its interesting to see how that changes things.

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Impact;"><strong><span style="font-size:24px;">THE BIRTH OF AN ICON</span></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Impact;"><strong> </strong></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Impact;"><strong><span style="font-size:18px;">NYCW OFFICES, BRADFORD ARENA, BROOLYN</span></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Impact;"><strong><span style="font-size:18px;"> Week 4, February, 2020</span></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The first test of whether someone will make it as a top guy is always the airport test—how much attention would they garner walking through JFK departures on a busy morning? The future top guys will always attract a few eyeballs as they stroll through, even if nobody knows who they are. Sometimes it’s because of their raw charisma or good looks, sometimes it’s because of their size.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Sometimes it’s just a matter of poise and the way they carry themselves, utterly comfortable with the attention and unphased by the furtive looks.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Bobby Knox was one of the latter, once you took the mask off him. At 6’1” and 232 pounds, he didn’t have the size or the muscle to make you think pro-wrestler, but the way he moved did the job of attracting attention.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="w7nLzLS.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/w7nLzLS.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> And, of course, once he slipped the mask on and became Hawkeye Calhoun, he was transformed into something greater than he’d been as simple Bobby. That had probably been the start of the shift--the need to master body language in the ring to make up for the fact the mask obscured his face—but there was every chance we could take the mask off him one day and still rely on him as a top guy.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> I pushed the envelope across the desk. “There’s a two-year contract in there,” I said. “A guaranteed spot every show, with a small pay-rise to go with it. You’re free to take other bookings, but you can’t go full-time with any of the other major players until your hitch is up.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Knox reached for the paperwork. “I think me and Arlie could be fine with that, sir.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Arlie—or Arlington Jones—was the other masked man in Brooklyn’s Finest. A solid hand and a good mechanic in the ring, but he wasn’t passing the airport test anytime soon.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “We’re not offering a guaranteed contract to Arlie just yet. We want to focus on you for a stretch.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Knox froze and let the paperwork go, settling back into his chair. “For real?”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “For real,” I said. “And before you take this away and read it over, I’d like you to understand what I’m hoping will come with your signature. Yes, we’ll be locking you in for two years, and I’m hoping for a few years after that, but I want to position you as the face of NYCW. Not just the top guy, but the absolute ace who carries this place on his shoulders. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “You’ve got a long and impressive career ahead of you, and I have no doubt you’ll be fielding offers from TCW, Supreme, Canada, and Reverie within twenty-four months, assuming they aren’t calling already. You’re going to have the people throwing money and opportunity at you, and I know we won’t be able to compete with the money they offer once that starts.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “But if you give us two years—two good years booking you as the focal point of NYCW while you bust your ass inside that ring and out—I promise you that the paycheck you earn at the end of it will be far more than if you take one before this contract would be up. Whether it’s us offering you a full-time renewal or one of the big boys paying to steal you away, you’ll know everything you need to walk into any promotion in the world and become one of their headliners. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “You’ll be the guy who built this place as it grew and developed a national profile, and everyone will know you can do the same in their promotion if given half a chance. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “I can’t put that in a contract—not in a way that means a damn thing—but I want you to understand what comes with that signature. Don’t take it on unless you’re happy to be the man around these parts.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Knox beamed at me and nodded, unfazed by the prospect. “I assume it’s okay if I get someone to look this over?”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Hell, Bobby. I’d prefer it, but I’d like an answer before we tape. If we’re going to do this, it’ll start the moment NYCW appears on screen and we’re not going to let up. Your life is going to change, even if it’s not in the ways that will make you money right away.” </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div>

THE NEWS FROM BACKSTAGE We held a round of applause for Tennessee when he came back after the match, and I congratulated Denny, Stranger, and King on a impressive showing despite the limitations of their match. Tennessee went out a class act—he organised (and won) a video-game tournament for the boys. And yet, it feels bizarre that we’re going into the biggest show NYCW has ever run without the star who got us to this point, even if I can respect Tennessee’s concerns. I do, however, lament the lost opportunity given that we discovered he’s got excellent tag-team chemistry with Denny King on his final night with the company. Ernie Turner has taken LA Star #1 under his wing as a protégé. He seems something in the powerhouse of the duo. Ernest Youngman has wasted no time getting aquainted with folks backstage--he's started dating Ferm Hathaway. I chatted to Sean Noggin after the show and offered him a spot with NYCW on a handshake deal now that he’s left MAW. He remained professionally quiet about why he’d left his home promotion, but seemed relieved to have a place to work. I’m still debating whether to do the same with his tag-team partner, Seoni Tokoeka. Of the pair, Noggin is the guy most likely to break out, while Tokoeka is likely to develop into a solid tag-team specialist. On the other hand, Sean’s a lot less valuable to us as a solo act given his inexperience. Perhaps it's time to sit down with Larry and hammer out the details of the training program he's been eyeing off for the last few weeks…

NYCW WAY OF THE WARRIOR Saturday, Week 3, February 2020 Bradford Arena, Brooklyn—479 people COTT WORLD TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP vs. THE WOLF PACK vs. THE BOYS FROM THE YUKON We kick the show off with the rising stars of MAW’s tag-team scene challenging the newly-crowned World Tag-Team Champions, and cut both teams loose to go all-out as they brawl their way around the ring. The Wolf Pack put on a respectable performance, but the newly-slimmed down Boys from the Yukon move faster and hit harder than they ever have before, and their experience tips the balance. Mort pinned Tokoeka with the Tiiiiiiiiiiimber to retain. The Boys From The Yukon defeated The Wolf Pack in 10:17 when Howlin' Mad Mort pinned Sione Tokoeka. RATING: 29 vs. ANIMAL HARKER vs. SANDMAN WINKS Animal Harker is one of the top names in NYCW, and so the commentary team debates whether he’s taken this match against a raw rookie from the Mid-Atlantic in order to make a point. He barrages Winks with hard strikes and kicks, showcasing the skills he’s learned on his tours of Japan, and soon puts the young wrestler away with a Stump Piledriver. Animal Harker defeated Sandman Winks in 6:29 by pinfall. RATING: 27 POST-MATCH CONFRONTATION Harker grabs the microphone and calls out Quentin Queen. Harker points out that he’s listened to Vibert run him down and call his choices into question for months now, but he always overlooks the real reason Harker goes over there—because steel sharpens steel, and pitting himself against the best in Japan night after night teaches him skills he brings back to his hometown of NYC to kick ass and be the best wrestler he can be. But make no mistake, he is going to be here in two weeks when NYCW Evolution is broadcast coast-to-coast on Wrestleworld for the first time, and Harker would be pleased to show Quentin everything he’s learned in Japan when they square off one-on-one. The contract is waiting, Animal is ready to go…all Quentin Queen’s got to do is sign it! The challenge brings out Phil Vibert, Quentin Queen, and Super Massive Destroyer. Phil goes through his usual opening, then commends Harker for having everything planned out—he ducked Quentin Queen when the match could have made Queens’ career, but he’s perfectly willing to accept a bout now that Queen is the guy with buzz about him and the match could make Harker the next big thing in wrestling. It’s a sign that Harker may actually be smarter than Vibert gives him credit for…except a truly smart man wouldn’t let Vibert get close with a weapon of mass destruction like the Destroyer. The big man surges across the ring and lays Harker out with a lariat. The big man and Quentin Queen proceed to stomp the hell out of Harker as Vibert shouts encouragement… …until Crockett Tubbs comes charging down to the ring with a steel chair to fend the heels off, clearing house and standing over Harker to protect him. RATING: 36 vs. w/ LA STARS vs. RICHIE RIGGINS & DEVASTATING DON w/Cheerleader Nikki He’s largely been overshadowed by the antics of his partners-in-crime, but the commentary team notes that Richie Riggins has been the guy collecting pinfalls in tag-team and six-man matches ever since Don, Riggins, and Harper joined forces and became a unit. Perhaps he’s found his niche in the tag-team scene, after months of losing big singles matches? There’s a definite argument for that here, as Riggins and Don take the fight to the more experienced team in the LA Stars. Riggins is the workhorse of the team, cutting the ring in half and establishing control, bringing Don in for the high impact punishment. At the same time, when the Stars make a comeback, they invariably target the bigger man as the serious threat…which leaves LA Star #2 open for a Body Bag that nets Riggins another victory. Richie Riggins and Devastating Don defeated The LA Stars in 10:06 when Richie Riggins pinned LA Star #2. RATING: 25 POST-MATCH ATTACK A roar goes up at Curtis Shaw hits the ring, spearing Richie Riggins in half to take him out. Cheerleader Nicki cries out and rushes to her client, but Shaw is already on his feet and taking the fight to Devastating Don. For a moment, the two men trade wild punches in the centre of the ring, but when Don pushes Shaw away, Shaw hits the ropes and comes back with a low dropkick to Don’s bad knee. The superheavyweight staggers, trying to find his centre of balance, and Shaw is on him in an instant. Hands are locked and he launches the big man, bringing Don up and slamming him down with a hard spinebuster. Shaw drops down and gets in Don’s face. “Esse, I got your number now, and you owe me a fight…” RATING: 29 vs. CHUCK CASEY vs. RAY SNOW Snow picked up a win against a young guy on a try-out last week, but this week he’s up against one of our established young guns. Chuck Casey is a solid striker, transitioning into wrestling after training as a boxer until the age of twenty. The kid is still green as grass, despite guidance from his older brother, but he guards well against the more strike-based aspects of Snow’s offense courtesy of his boxing training. But once again, Snow transitions away from his high-impact style and catches his opponent off-guard with a Dragon Sleeper, cinching it tight to pick up the win after a hard-fought battle. Ray Snow defeated Chuck Casey in 11:34 by submission. RATING: 29 vs. BROOLYN’S FINEST & TEAM LIVESTREAM vs. THE DiMEO FAMILY The DiMeo’s kick off the match by jumping their opponents, delivering kicks to the gut and throwing everyone but Freedom Eagle out to ringside. And so the match opens with DiMeo beating on his nemesis Eagle, taking him over to the turnbuckles and choking him with a boo while the rest of the Family are throwing Calhoun, Corner, and Big Dom into the guard rails. Then Eagle makes a comeback, delivering a series of big chops as he fights his way back to a vertical base, only to get cut off by a rake to the eyes and a toe stomp. Sal DeMio looms over the masked man, confident that he’s got the advantage... …and promptly gets blindsided by Dominic DeGraff, who unleashes a series of forearm strikes against the Don of the Family. The rest of the match is chaos, as you might expect, full of double-teams and eight-men brawling in the ring and down at ringside, running hot on a fuel of anger and ambition. Charlie Corner gets into it with Vito Pirelli, their fight spilling into the crowd and out the doors of Bradford Arena, leaving the other three men on their teams to finish things. And then, in heart of all that, Hawkeye Calhoun gets on a roll. The young man has captured the fans hearts recently, and they come alive as he makes the late comeback that marks the end of the match. He unleashes enziguris and dropkicks, lariats using both arm and leg, and ultimately picks up the win after he hits the Home Run on Machine Gun Marino. Brooklyn's Finest & Team Livestream defeated The DiMeo in 10:21 when Hawkeye Calhoun pinned Machine Gun Marino. RATING: 31 POST-MATCH BEATDOWN Freedom Eagle gets in Sal DiMeo’s face after the match, taunting the big man in charge of the Family. DiMeo responds by smashing Eagle in the face with a forearm, sparking a fresh round of violence. Luca Sacramoni drops Calhoun with a chairshot to the back ot the skull, while Machine Gun Marino unleashes a series of rapid-fire punches that batter DeGraff. With the numbers on their side, all three members beat Freedom Eagle into a pulp, feeding him to DiMeo for the Powerslam to end it. RATING: 29 vs. GEOFF BORNE vs. ERNEST YOUNGMAN Borne is giving up size and weight to his opponent, but if that bothers him the young Lightweight doesn’t show it. He settles into his half of the ring and eyes Youngman during the announcements, sizing him up and plotting first moves. When the bell rings, Borne comes in fast—quickly transitioning from opening lock-up to getting thrown into the ropes, streaking back with a low dropkick that puts Youngman on the mat. That starts a concentrated, strategic attack on Youngman as Borne takes advantage of the surprise. Kicks build up to knee lifts, which build to the elegant springboard moonsault that has long been a central feature of Borne’s arsenal. For a few minutes, it actually looks like Borne might take the upset win…and then Youngman catches Borne’s foot as he goes for a step-up enziguri, and breaks his momentum with a slap to the side of the face that seems to catch Borne’s eye. The smaller man staggers and Youngman proceeds to break him down, using a mixture of high-impact offense and dirty tactics to keep Borne on the back foot. Youngman’s arsenal of knee strikes gets a workout, including a grim Muay Thai clinch sequence where he batters Borne’s ribs, but despite the punishment he dishes out he can’t quite put Borne away. True to his word, the veteran cruiserweight refuses to stay down…even when he’s taken so much punishment the fans are almost begging for it. He’s busted open by a knee lift to the nose, tortured with arm and neck submissions, and almost seems out on his feet as the match cross the twenty-minute mark. It’s almost a mercy when Youngman finally connects with The Hit to end things, but you can’t deny Borne’s heart and determination in the face of superior firepower. Ernest Youngman defeated Geoff Borne in 24:43 by pinfall with The Hit. RATING: 52 IN-RING PROMO We come out of interval with Doll, Curtis Shaw, and Andrew Harper in the ring, awaiting the start of tonight’s Four Corner Survival…only to be surprised by Brutus Milano’s music as the champ walks out in his tights. Milano puts over the Four Corner Survival match as the hottest thing in wrestling right now, and tonight’s match features the hottest rising star in the company in Curtis Shaw, the meanest bastard in NYCW in Andrew Harper, and a man who took him to the limit in The New York Doll. “Well, tonight, I’m stepping into the ring with all three of you, and taking part in the match that’s got everyone talking. And—unlike Ernest Youngman—all three of you have the wins to be viable contenders for this belt. “And since I’m the champ, and I deserve to be in the biggest match every show, I’m going to ensure this is the biggest and baddest Four Corner Survival thus far…I’m putting the EMPIRE Title on the line. Anyone who can pin me deserves it.” RATING: 47 FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL FOR THE NYCW EMPIRE TITLE vs vs. vs. BRUTUS MILANO vs. THE NEW YORK DOLL vs. CURTIS SHAW vs. ANDREW HARPER As you’d expect, this is chaos. Two vicious heels and one ambitious rookie all turn their sights on the Empire Champion, and Brutus Milano stands tall against all comers as he throws them around, slams them into the canvas, or simply squeezes the life out of them with a bear hug. The story of this match largely revolves around who can clear the decks long enough to actually get Milano down and pin him, given that everyone will endeavour to break up a pin. The trouble, of course, is getting the powerhouse champion down—something that only Andrew Harper seems to manage out of the four men in the ring. He successfully gets the champion up for a powerslam, but can’t get the three before New York Doll comes in to break things up. This sparks a series of finishers, with Shaw picking up the last of them, only to get caught by an powerful Backdrop Driver from the champ in order to retain the belt. Brutus Milano defeated The New York Doll, Curtis Shaw and Andrew Harper in 14:44 when Brutus Milano pinned Curtis Shaw. RATING:37 vs. HAPPY ELWOOD vs. OZZIE GOLDSTEIN A rarity in NYCW thus far—a match-up between two light heavyweights, characterized by a speed and high-flying action that’s rarely seen in our ring. Neither of these men were a regular on our cards prior to January, and they were only brought in after long discussion with Larry about the future directions and how to reinforce the narrative he wanted to build around, so this is something of a proof of concept for us. And it’s surprising how well the fans respond to it, after years of heavyweights and slow-paced traditional bouts. We give this plenty of time—cruiserweight bouts in the US have traditionally been short, flippy affairs and that isn’t a long-term perception we want to foster—and the two men make the most of it. Goldstein is in his element as the heel torturing a white meat babyface, while Elwood gets a chance to shed the USPW jobber perception in a big way as he matches Goldstein on the mat and pulls off some innovative counters. A late comeback makes it seem like Elwood might pick up the win here, but he’s ultimately cut off and put down by a Golden Shower. Ozzie Goldstein defeated Happy Elwood in 19:38 by pinfall with a Golden Shower. RATING: 40 POST-MATCH PROMO Goldstein calls for the mic, post-match. “Last week, I took the Empire Champion to the limit despite giving up six inches and a hundred pounds to Brutus Milano. It seems to me the fact he wears the Empire Championship around his waist isn’t a matter of skill or talent, it’s genetics in action. “So make no mistake: pound-for-pound Ozzie Goldstein is the best wrestler in the world. It’s been that way since the first time I stepped into the ring, and it’ll be that way when I finally hang up my boots many years from now. “And when I look back over my career, it’s full of bigger men who have fallen despite their confidence in their size. Some I outwrestled, some I outwitted…and some found themselves in situations where their genetic advantages were neutralized. “Brutus Milano, I’ve got my sights on you, and your size won’t save your title forever. All that strength means nothing if you can’t grab me, and the crushing of those arms won’t do a damn thing if I break your hands and elbow. “The next time we meet, I won’t be content to take you to the limit, Brutus. The next time we meet, I’ll be taking that belt for my own.” RATING: 47 NYCW TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP w/ vs. RILEY McMANUS & MASKED STRANGER w/Fern Hathaway vs. DENNY KING & TENNESSEE WILLIAM The word is out that Tennessee is leaving NYCW, so there’s not a lot of surprises for the fans in this particular bout. There is a surprising amount of blood good wrestling, though, with McManus and Stranger making their case for a long run with the belts. We put the belts on the pair because, frankly, they’re the two hands I trust most to do a half-hour broadway at the top of the card and make the opponents look good. Which means this bout is all about giving them a high-profile match and a win over William, who remains an incredibly over star despite his losses on the way out the door. Tennessee works his ass off to make that mean something. He bumps like crazy for McManus, trades holds and counters with the Masked Stranger, and infuriates everyone with his trash talk, stalling, and long streaks of cheating like a madman. He and King succeed in isolating Stranger, leaving the fans eager for the McManus tag, and the place explodes when Riley finally gets into the match and starts throwing the heels around with suplexes. William nails McManus with a low blow amid the chaos of the breakdown, allowing King to clothesline the champion out of the ring, and Tennessee closes in on the weary Stranger to try and take advantage. He goes to set up for a big powerbomb…and Stranger wriggles free, falls behind Tennessee, and locks in the Cobra Clutch without wasting a moment. He holds it tight as Tennessee struggles, then drops to one knee, and finally blacks out. McManus & Stranger defeated Denny King and Tennessee William in 24:42 when Masked Stranger submitted Tennessee William. RATING: 46 FINAL SHOW RATING: 45

POSTED TO THE NYCW YOUTUBE CHANNEL COMING UP AT NYCW WAY OF THE WARRIOR Riley McManus & Masked Stranger vs. Tennessee William & Denny King –NYCW Tag-Team Titles Happy Elwood vs. Ozzie Goldstein Brutus Milano vs. The New York Doll vs. Curtis Shaw vs. Andrew Harper – Four Corner Survival Brooklyn’s Finest & Team Livestream (DeGraff & Corner) vs. The DiMeo Family Chuck Casey vs. Ray Snow LA Stars vs. The Heartrbreakers (Riggins & Don) Animal Harker vs. Sandman Winks The Wolf Pack (MAW) vs. The Boys from the Yukon (NYCW) – COTT World Tag-Team Titles

AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL Phil's Office, Bradford Arena, Brooklyn Monday, Week 3, February 2020 The weirdest thing about working for NYCW is the presence of Sam Keith’s number on my speed dial. For years, we’d worked at different ends of the wrestling spectrum—me the rabble-rousing hardcore booker who represented everything he hated about the way wrestling changed, him the technically-minded icon of Supreme Wrestling, second only to Christian Faith as the man who represented everything DAVE was fighting against. We’d spent years trading barbs in interviews, and I’ve never been entirely sure how much of it was a shoot. And now we exchange phone calls every week or so, talking about the talent trades and COTT titles and the long-term vision of both MAW and NYCW. He’s a guy I talk to when we need an underneath guy, or get second opinions on talents we’re planning to push. He let himself get talked around to the idea of a Boys of the Yukon title reign. It’s never friendly, but we’re professional. Which is why it catches me by surprise when he calls me late on a Friday night and says, “Phil, I need a favour—have you got any interest in working with Noggin beyond next week’s show?” It’s a loaded question from the outset, for all the answer is probably yes. We’d brought in Sean Noggin and his tag-team partner, Sione Tokoeka, on a one-off talent trade to challenge for the COTT titles at Way of the Warrior. They were young and green, but loaded with potential—and Noggin’s byline as “the Last Survivor of the Bootcamp” gave him plenty of cache in addition to the Wolf Pack’s rising status as a tag-team to watch in the COTT. But it’s telling that there’s only one name in Sam’s question. “Maybe,” I said. “What happened?” And so the story comes out: a bad day in the office leaked through into the booking meeting; a young talent eager to push through to the next level pushing back against the office; a low-key tension about the way things are done blossoming into angry words and those words every booker’s heard spoken in anger: “I quit.” “So he’s trouble,” I said. “He’s young and he’s ambitious. You know how it goes.” “Hmm.” “Marv confirmed that he’d finish out his dates with you, but he’s done with MAW for a stretch,” Keith said. “He’ll walk into a couple of jobs on the indies, but he’s got enough promise that I’d like to see him develop somewhere that will teach him the right way to do things. Maybe even bring Sione in for a few dates, let them keep working on their team.” Keith took a deep breathe on the far side of the phone. “And it really was my fault,” he said. “There were other things on my mind, and I put my foot in it. If you’d take him on, I’d consider it a personal favour.” “Words I never expected to hear from you,” I said. “Words I never really expected to say, but the Coastal Zone will swallow him alive and he’s not ready for a tour of Mexico. He’s a good fit for the things you and Sam have been working towards, and I think he’d be an asset.” There are worse things in the world than being owned a favour by a legend, COTT founder, and talent on the level of Sam Keith. And he was right: there were things we could do with Noggin. “I’ll give him a call tomorrow, see if he’s interested in working with us,” I said.

<p>After a few months of only hitting the boards intermittently, I realised I'd lost the thread of what was going on and went back to read everything from the beinning. It's really fantastic work, and great to watch the builds with some knowledge of where things are going.</p><p> </p><p> **</p><p> </p><p> Giant Brody versus <strong>Nate "the Great" DeMarcus</strong> ©</p><p> <em>It feels a little like DeMarcus is going through temporary talents while the next challenger is being built up, but I've got no complains on that score--this seems like it'll be a great slobbernocker of a match.</em></p><p> </p><p> Wild Red Stallion versus <strong>"The Hillbilly Outlaw" Zippy Deverell</strong> ©</p><p> <em>You've made me a confirmed Zip the Lip fan with this diary</em></p><p> </p><p> The Latino Kings versus <strong>The Dynamite Express ©</strong></p><p> <em>They've come a long way since 2005, but I still can't bring myself to cheer for the Kings. </em></p><p> </p><p> "Dangerous Woman" Piper Hale versus <strong>Lucy Stone-McFly ©</strong></p><p> <em>Don't bet against a Stone.</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Mr. Grappling</strong> versus Xavi Ferrera w/ Lucinda Lush</p><p> <em>Obviously</em></p><p> </p><p> The Dog Soldiers versus <strong>American Gold</strong></p><p> On the fence with this one, as the Soldiers have a recent loss, but American Gold seem to have a bit more going on at the moment. </p><p> </p><p> Frankie Carmello versus <strong>Tzilla</strong></p><p> </p><p> The Hooligans versus <strong>Reece & Wells</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Hoss Handley</strong> versus Kalder Tagg w/ Haley Buck</p><p> <em>Some payback for the big hoss</em></p><p> </p><p> Nebo Martell versus <strong>Juggernaut Jones</strong> w/ Lucinda Lush</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="TheStroke7" data-cite="TheStroke7" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I was looking forward to one of your shows.. great card too!<p> </p><p> Riley Mcmanus & Masked Stranger Vs. <strong>The Boys From The Yukon</strong> – NYCW Tag-Team Titles</p><p> <em><span style="font-size:8px;">That is strange... I like this match a lot and I am curious to know what direction its result is going to take... I say the boys win, but I am intrigued</span></em></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> This was definitely a problem solving match from my perspective, albeit one that's building a long-term angle. The local belts go on the two ring generals, giving us talent who can do the long matches NYCW fans demand at the top of the card and help train up the next generation of tagteams while they develop their own teamwork.</p><p> </p><p> Meanwhile, The Boys get to tour the COTT and build up experience and overness in other Feds, solidifiying their role as our top tag-team. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><strong>Curtis Shaw, Crocket Tubbs, & Happy Elwood</strong> Vs. Andrew Harper, Richie Riggins, & Devastating Don<p> <span style="font-size:8px;"><em>the faces are too popular to lose in my opinion... but I would love to see Don with its hand up at the end of the bout</em></span></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> This would have been sound logic in 2016, but one things that's really interesting in these bouts is the way momentum plays into things. Tubbs and Elwood are definitely the most over names in this bout, but their momentum is struggling because they're largely warm bodies in the midcard.</p><p> </p><p> Meanwhile, Richie Riggins has been quietly gaining momentum in the background, and folks largely put him over without a complaint. The same is true of Calhoun, whose been at White Hot momentum for the last two or three weeks. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Zergon" data-cite="Zergon" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><strong>Brutus Milano</strong> Vs. Ozzie Goldstein – NYCW Empire Championship<p> <em>Ozzie might one day be the champ but doubt he´s there quite yet.</em></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He's not, but he's damned close. We've currently got two Big Stars in Youngman and Milano, two stars in McManus and Calhoun, and Ozzie is on the verge of stepping up as our fifth major name after this bout. He's also the only guy on both the Ring Generals and Show Stoppers list, so he'll be spending some quality time at the top of the card in weeks to come. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="1PWfan" data-cite="1PWfan" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Curtis Shaw, Crocket Tubbs, & Happy Elwood Vs. <strong>Andrew Harper, Richie Riggins, & Devastating Don</strong><p> <em>Much as I hate Don unconditionally you seem to like him and Harper and Richie are decent</em></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's less a case of liking him and more a case of making use of the tools around. He'd have been jobbed out and dumped in a 2016 game, but right now he's local, cheap, and an interesting experiment in seeing how the momentum system can benefit subpar talent. It's why the Sandman comparison intrigues me--it feels like there's more scope to pull the kind of tricks that Heyman did with him and 911 in the current version of the game. </p><p> </p><p> Weirdly, I've recently realised he's the best talker of the trio as well, which seems counterintuitive on so many levels...</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Aura" data-cite="Aura" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>LA Star #1 Vs. The New York Doll Vs. LA Star #2 Vs. <strong>Denny King</strong> – Four Corner Survival<p> <em>Expecting some tag team shenanigans from the Stars in this match, but Denny's probably getting the win for his build.</em></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The thing that has been clear from this round of predictions--I should probably be doing more with Denny. He's been lost in the shuffle a bit, and I largely forgot what I'd originally had planned for him after winning the belt. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Historian" data-cite="Historian" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I want Ozzie to be a star for you so bad, but I also remember how he left me in CWI! So I'm conflicted -- but I love seeing you use the non-exclusive written deals. I use them for some people in CWI too.<p> </p><p> Are you using one or two year deals?</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm offering 8 written deals, and the split is about 50/50 on one and two year contracts. Ozzie is a two-year talent--he's too good and too central to the course I'm trying to chart to risk losing him unless I absolutely have to.</p><p> </p><p> A guy like Brutus is a one-year deal--I want him around, but I'm not particularly concerned if he up and leaves after I've built up a stronger talent to occupy his spot on the card. Mostly, the contract is just making sure he doesn't leave before he puts over who he needs to put over <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

THE NEWS FROM BACKSTAGE We asked a lot of our babyfaces to step up this week: Milano, obviously, is the man upon whose shoulders all of NYCW rests now that Tennessee is leaving, while Stranger and Riley were shifted into the tag-team ranks for a stretch with a tricky angle to sell as we separated the COTT and NYCW tag-team belts (and, frankly, to give us a couple of workhorses who can go at the top of the card if Milano doesn’t step up). I complimented all three men for threading a tricky needle this week. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s impending departure seems to have made him pretty free with his opinions—he cornered me after the show to point out that Charlie Corner is money, and suggested strapping a rocket to the kid. We’ve started locking down some of our focal points to written contracts this week—non-exclusive and still by-the-show deals, but a commitment on both sides that will prevent situations like the one with Tennessee. We kicked things off with Goldstein, whose pretty central to a long-term plan we’ve got cooking. A lot of our guys have been hitting the gym pretty hard after our whole-of-company talk about shifting into broadcast. Some of the smaller guys like LA Star #2 and Geoff Borne have started to look a little more toned and defined, but the real impressive changes have been the big man like Whittacker and Mort who shed a whole bunch of their bulk and started moving a little easier. The real surprise, however, was Luca Sacramoni—he’d always been one of the flabbiest guys on the roster, outside of Devastating Don. It seems the idea of being on screen was a huge motivator for him—he’s dropped a lot of the weight and slimmed down to a healthy weight for a guy of his size, and has already started making noise about hitting the gym with his more defined, bodybuilding tag-team partner, Vito Pirelli. Only one winner on the forum prediction contests for this show, although second place was shared with a whole lot of names. Zergon gets the bundle of signed 5x10s donated by Brooklyn’s Finest, The DiMeo Family, and Fern Hathaway from our merch pile.

NYCW Empire State Saturday, Week 2, February 2020 Bradford Arena, Brooklyn – 455 people OPENING PROMO The Slick Pimp Daddy, Ernie Turner, stands in the middle of the ring. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are in Bradford Arena, New York, New York, and you are here for New York City Wrestling’s EMPIRE STATE! We’ve got a great show for you tonight, with Brutus Milano—” Turner is cut off by Tennessee William storing out to the ring, guitar over his shoulder like a battle-ax. He stares down the Slick Pimp Daddy and lays claim to the mic, then stares at Turner until the announcer leaves the ring. “I don’t want to hear about Brutus Milano tonight,” he says. “He’s the man walking around with my Empire Championship, and it seems there’s not a goddamned thing I can do to get it off him. This is unacceptable, given the way he cheated to win that title, and I refuse to stay in a promotion that positions a man like Milano over myself. “Which means, the way I see it, NYCW has two choices before them. They can immediately move to secure me a COTT World Heavyweight Championship, giving me the opportunity to claim the one belt that means more than the Empire Championship, or I can turn on my heel and walk out of this company right n—” This time, It’s William who gets interrupted by someone coming through the curtain, and the masked Hawkeye Calhoun makes his way down to the ring. “You can beg for a title shot all you want, but the line to get a shot at the COTT champion starts with me,” he says. “So I guess you’ve got to ask yourself, William—how confident are you that you’re the best in the world? Are you really sure you’re better than little ol’ me?” Tennessee William looks Calhoun over. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll see you in the ring.” RATING: 54 vs. GEOFF BORNE vs. MACHINE GUN MARINO The rapid-fire punches of Machine Gun Marino come up against the straight-out rapid-fire offense of Borne. Marino jumps Borne to start the match off, unleashing combos straight out of the gate, but the veteran Borne weathers the storm and mounts a comeback, picking Marino apart before going to the top rope for the Borne Again. Geoff Borne defeated Machine Gun Marino in 8:52 by pinfall. RATING: 29 vs. JONAH PILGRIM vs. RAY SNOW The rehabilitation of Ray Snow starts here. We asked Sam Keith to recommend us a decent technician who could give Snow eight good minutes, and MAW sent us Jonah Pilgrim—young, pudgy, but technically oriented and good at getting folks over. Pilgrim comes in prepared for Snow’s usual tactics, ready to counter the spinning backfist that serves as Snow’s finisher. Unfortunately, Snow isn’t looking to end this with a high-impact strike—he fakes the backfist, lets Pilgrim duck, and transitions into a tight dragon sleeper that quickly draws the submission win. Ray Snow defeated Jonah Pilgrim in 8:17 by submission. RATING: 29 IN RING PROMO “Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Phil Vibert, and I am the advocate for the future of this sport we all love known as professional wrestling. As you can probably guess, I am here to inform you that once again your scheduled match between my client, Quentin Queen, and the inestimable Animal Harker has been delayed because Mister Harker has elected to wrestle overseas instead of meeting his commitment’s here. “The same isn’t true of my client—Quentin Queen is here, ready to wrestle, eager to earn his share of the winner’s purse in any match NYCW would care to put him into. All we need—” This week, he’s interrupted by the Casey Brothers, who roll down to the ring and square up against Queen and—surprisingly—the hulking Super Massive Destroyer. Chuck Casey grabs the microphone out of Vibert’s hands. “Me and Tully, we’ve never been big on talking,” he says. “But if your boys are looking for a fight, we’re more than happy to step up.” Vibert trades a look with Queen, who gives the Casey’s a once over and shrugs his ascent. Vibert nods and turns to the big man. “Take ‘em out.” RATING: 29 vs. w/ THE CASEY BROTHERS vs. QUEEN & DESTROYER w/Phil Vibert Quentin Queen seems content to sit back and let Destroyer unleash, making a big show of lounging against the ring ropes while the big man throws the Casey’s around. That lasts right up until the Casey’s experience turns the table, and a series of rapid tags and double-teams sees them put Destroyer on the foot. Queen tags in…and the entire tenor of the match changes as he proceeds to trap Chuck Casey in the wrong part of town and dismantle the younger wrestler. A motivated Queen proves to be a dangerous thing, focusing all his offense on the head and neck as he soften’s his opponent up for the Q-Ball, and he’s even more dangerous with Destroyer in his corner as an ally. The Caseys put up a good fight, but ultimately fall when Quinn capitalises on the damage he’s done to Chuck and lays him low. Quentin Queen and Super Massive Destroyer defeated The Casey Brothers in 9:42 when Quentin Queen pinned Chuck Casey. RATING: 29 vs. w/ CURTIS SHAW, CROCKET TUBBS, & HAPPY ELWOOD vs. ANDREW HARPER, RICHIE RIGGINS, & DEVASTATING DON w/Cheerleader Nicki This one’s mostly a showcase for Harper’s burgeoning alliance of evil and Shaw’s growing issues with Devastating Don. There’s a dogged focus on trying ot throw the big man around that works against Shaw’s side of the booking sheet—at first, because Don simply tags out rather than facing Shaw, and then, as the match ticks past the ten minute mark, because Don is the fresher man in the match and excels at blocking any attempt to move him. Tubbs and Elwood do their best to make it work with Shaw, but he lacks their veteran instincts and ability to tell the difference between an opening and a lure drawing him into making a mistake. Soon Shaw breaks, throwing closed fists and letting himself be drawn into ill-advised brawls, and it’s up to Tubbs to break things up and keep their team in the game. An angry Shaw goes on a late rampage in the final moments of the match, but it sees him get drawn into an ambush by Devastating Don. Tubbs makes the save, as he’s done so may times before, but Riggins comes in off a blind tag and takes Tubbs down with a Body Bag to pick up the three-count. Andrew Harper, Richie Riggins and Devastating Don defeated Curtis Shaw, Crockett Tubbs and Happy Elwood in 20:09 when Richie Riggins pinned Crockett Tubbs. RATING: 29 POST-MATCH ATTACK Curtis Shaw roars and launches himself across the ring, battering Devastating Don as the big man has his hand’s raised. The powerful rookie wraps his hands around Don’s expansive bally, then his shoulder’s strain as he attempts to pick up and throw the super heavyweight. Harper and Riggins go to save their ally, but Tubbs and Elwood are more than happy to bring the fight to them, sparking a furious brawl. Elwood kicks Riggins out of the ring with a dropkick, while Tubbs sends Harper face-first into the canvas with a drop toe hold. Don tries to elbow his way free, but Shaw takes the damage and keeps straining. His shoulders bunch and he screams his frustration, and he ultimately gets Don up in the torture rack position...then falls back into a samoan drop as he overbalances and can't maintain the hold.RATING: 29 NYCW TAG-TEAM TITLE MATCH vs. RILEY McMANUS & MASKED STRANGER vs. THE BOYS FROM THE YUKON The Boys from the Yukon are double champions right now, but this match has only been sanctioned as a bout for the NYCW Tag-team Titles, with the COTT declining to sanction it for their world belt until McManus and Stranger have a track record as a tag-team. It seems a sound choice at first—The Boys cut the ring in half and work over Masked Stranger with a vengeance, cutting off any attempt to tag. McManus is goaded into making mistakes, often lured into the ring to try and prevent the pinfall only to give the Boys an opportunity to fight dirty while the ref tries to hold Riley back. It’s clear that Stranger and McManus are the superior singles wrestlers in the bout, but their lack of tag-team experience leaves them at a massive disadvantage. At the same time, Masked Stranger plays babyface in peril exceptionally well and simply refuses to stay down. He keeps fighting and scrapping, searching for the hot tag, and when it finally comes after nearly ten minutes of punishment McManus hits the ring like a house on fire. Both of the Boys find themselves thrown around the ring with suplexes—an unusual experience for men their size—and soon McManus and Stranger are finding their rhythm as a team. Double clotheslines take the champions down, then twin dropkicks and a second rope guillotine legdrop. The fans rally as they see McManus and Stranger may actually earn themselves a belt…and then Morty clips Stranger’s knee with a chopblock and leaves the masked man writhing in agony. McManus is quick to become the legal man, putting himself in the two-on-one situation, and we go into another sequence where the Boys control the ring. They batter McManus from pillar to post, looking to put him down, but McManus fights a one man war to buy Stranger time to recover. It’s only when the Boys hit the TIIIIIIIMBEEER! that Stranger gets involved once again, breaking up the pinfall, and we got into a rapid breakdown and exchange of big moves. Amid the chaos, Stranger takes Whittaker over the top rope with a clothesline and an angry Riley McManus hits a Slingshot Suplex on Mort for the three. Riley McManus and Masked Stranger defeated The Boys From The Yukon in 20:19 when Riley McManus pinned Howlin' Mad Mort. Riley McManus and Masked Stranger win the NYCW Tag Team titles. RATING: 42 vs. w/ FREEDOM EAGLE, CHARLIE CORNER, & DOMINIC DeGRAFF & TEAM LIVESTREAM vs. THE DiMEO FAMILY w/Machine Gun Marino The DiMeo’s jump their opponents before the bell, looking for an early advantage, but it doesn’t take long for Eagle to rally his allies and make a fight of it. We keep thigs short and lively after the previous two matches, with the hottest sequences coming as DiMeo squares off against Eagle, when DeGraff slugs Sal in the face, and when Charlie Corner wipes out Vito with a cutter on the ring apron. Alas, that move provides the opening Machine Gun Marnio needs to interfere, and he soon feeds Corner to Big Sal DiMeo for a powerbomb to end things. The DiMeo Family (Sal DiMeo, Luca Sacramoni and Vito Pirelli) defeated Freedom Eagle and Corner & DeGraff in 10:25 when Sal DiMeo pinned Charlie Corner. RATING: 30 FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL vs. vs. vs. LA STAR #1 vs. THE NEW YORK DOLL vs. LA STAR #2 vs. DENNY KING The LA Stars really don’t want to wrestle one another here, but the match opens with Doll and King cycling through tags to ensure the Stars are the two men in the ring to kick things off. Thus, it starts with a measure of respect, the two evenly-matched LA Stars going through an opening sequence without getting any advantage. Denny King tries to step in at that point, taking advantage of the fact both men are worn down, and the Stars smoothly transition into tag-team tactics as they take the fight to their two opponents. He’s forced to form a makeshift alliance with Doll to stay in the match, and for a stretch this is less frantic than most Four Corner Survival matches as it cleaves to tag-team tactics. It is, of course, a fragile peace on both teams, but it surprises no-one when Doll is the first man to break. He nails Denny King from behind with an enziguri, going for a cover on the Tr-Strate Champion, and LA Star #2 only just makes the save to keep the match alive. A string of big moves and finishers follow, everyone breaking up everyone else’s pinfall, until Doll ultimately catches Star #2 with the Punk-N-Nasty to claim the three. The New York Doll defeated Denny King, LA Star #2 and LA Star #1 in 15:07 when The New York Doll pinned LA Star #2. RATING: 36 vs. HAWKEYE CALHOUN vs. TENNESSEE WILLIAM Both men have something to prove after our last show, but there’s a stark contrast in the way they attempt to prove it. Calhoun is as white-meat as a white-meat babyface can be, wrestling clean and unleashing big, impressive moves as he tries to pick up the win. William is a classic Southern heel, cheating to win and stalling to break Calhoun’s momentum every time the younger wrestler picks up some momentum. It goes without saying that we’re going to miss William when he goes, but this match is really a demonstration of why. With very little build, he can walk out there with a kid like Calhoun and get the kid over simply by infuriating the fans. William’s genius has always been his complete lack of interest in being a “cool” heel—all the big moves here are Calhoun’s, with the portions where William takes control inevitably coming off something cheap and small. It makes for one hell of a fight, and the fans were incredibly hungry by the time Calhoun scored the pinfall off the back of a Home Run. Hawkeye Calhoun defeated Tennessee William in 24:46 by pinfall. RATING: 38 NYCW EMPIRE TITLE MATCH vs. BRUTUS MILANO vs. OZZIE GOLDSTEIN The powerhouse babyface versus the technically-minded heel is a classic wrestling match-up, and it’s made all the more impressive here because Goldstein is one of those guys who improvises his way through classic sequences the way other people breathe. They lock up and Goldstein is quickly overpowered, so he drops his weight to pull Milano off-balance and uses the impact of knees hitting canvas to break free and transition into a vicious headlock. When Milano eventually shoots him off, Goldstein comes back with a rising knee that’s narrowly avoided, only to bounce of the ropes on the far side and knock Milano down with a shoulder block to the base of the back. The dynamic of the match flows from that—Goldestein can’t overpower the bigger champion, but momentum is a wonderful equalizer—and they iterate that basic structure over and over again. Goldstein gets the lion’s share of the offense, keeping Milano’s title in peril, but the champ’s response is often short bursts of high-impact offense targeting the back, with the occasional bear hug thrown in for good measure. Goldstein works the champ hard and gets several two-counts throughout, but he ultimately can’t overcome the raw heart and power of Milano. He tries to rely on his own heart when Milano finally catches Goldstein in an Italian Backbreaker, but Goldstein doesn’t have the same stomach for pain—he holds out for a few seconds before tapping out. Brutus Milano defeated Ozzie Goldstein in 21:52 by submission. RATING: 40 POST-MATCH CONFRONTATION Milano calls for the microphone after the match, and scans the back of the arena. “Ernest Youngman, I know you’re out there,” he says. “You’ve gone to the press and made a big deal about signing with NYCW, talked a whole lot about your hopes of laying claim to the Empire title and using it as a stepping stone to the World Heavyweight Championship. I know you’re out there, dreaming big dreams, because once upon a time I did the same. “But it’s time to stop dreaming, Youngman. It’s time to come out here and talk, man-to-man, about the future.” Youngman smirks as he lopes down to the ring, showing no fear as he squares off against the massive champion. He points at the championship belt over Milano’s shoulder. “That belongs to me.” “Then you come claim it the way every champion claims his belt,” Milano says. “In the ring, in a one-on-one match-up, laying everything on the line to prove you’re the best there is and the other man can’t match you. You recognise that challenging for a title is an opportunity, not a right, and it’s something that’s earned, not given. “I know your background, Youngman. I know the lawless, reckless territory where you’ve been making your name. I even know how skilled you are in the ring, how dangerous you and how accurate the nickname Hitman really is. “But this isn’t Philly. This is New York City. This is the city that never sleeps, and this is the championship that means more than any other on the East Coast, and if you want the opportunity to challenge me for this belt, you earn it just like anybody else. You wrestle, you pick up wins, you make your case in the only court that matters—this ring.” Youngman locks eyes with Milano, neither man willing to back down. Then Youngman breaks into a smile, takes a step away, and whirls around to unleash a big elbow shot… …only to find Milano has blocked it, holding Youngman at bay with ease given his phenomenal strength. The champ pushes Youngman away, the attack thwarted, and raises his title overhead as an exclamation mark. RATING: 44 SHOW RATING: 41

I'm not the most prolific dynasty writer, but I'll give it a go. My current dynasty isn't quite a neat fit for this, given that it's the first one I've written in a long while where I wasn't working to TV schedules, but you'll see enough echoes of what I'm talking about here if you go check out NYCW: The Tri-State Hustle in the relevant forum. Right, then. High level: I tend to set up two long-term planning tools before I start a dynasty, and they get updated every couple of weeks worth of in-game booking. TOOL 1: ROSTER PLAN A roster list that contains all the details I've established about a particular wrestler (theme songs, signature moves, size and weight, imgur link to cut-and-paste for graphics). This list also includes a note about the thing I want to get over every time they appear, and a set of strengths to play too (great braweler, awesome promo, ring general) and weaknesses to avoid. The last two are important to me because it makes writing their matches and angles easier, and helps figure out the best way to book them. For example, it's one thing to say "I'd like to get Happy Elmore over in NYCW", but another thing to focus on "Happy Elmore is trying to transcend his past as USPW job guy" while listning his USPW overness, relatively strong high-flying abilities, and good sellig as strengths to play with. The first tells me what I'd like to do, but the second tells me how. I know what Elwood going to say in promos, but also guides the kind of opponents he gets booked against--lots of wins against lesser guys, and hard-fought losses against the top guys he'll eventually need to beat as he overcomes his past and steps up to be a NYCW main-eventer. It also helps book the underneath guys in a way that keeps them relevant--if the thing that I'm trying to get over about Charlie Corner is his role as a YouYube livestreamer who captures candid moments backstage, it doesn't really matter if he's losing every match. He's basically "Number One Announcer" era Funaki. It even helps find a use for seemingly useless lumps where you start out wondering why they have a spot on the roster. Devastating Don is basically NYCW's worst long-term talent and useless in the ring, but he's a surprisingly useful when you focus on giving him promo time to be gross, ambush people with his finisher, and then lose matches to transfer heat to the winner (also, this works *so much better* in 2020 than it did in pervious editions, because short angles and attacks can give guys prominence even if they aren't building overness). All this tends to live in a word document. TOOL 2: STORYLINE/LONG-TERM ANGLE LIST This is the part where I do the classic pro-wrestling "pick your big moments and work backwards" booking, but it tends to emerge from the big roster list. I tend to make three sets of notes in the details section of a storyline. The first tells me the overall gist of the storyline (New York Doll wants to tear Elwood down about his past), the major historical beats (Elwood beat Doll on his debut, Doll is taunting him, Doll wins second match dirty), and the eventual blow-off I'm working towards (Elwood beats Doll in a Texas Death Match). Tracking beats is the important thing for me here--I'm generally looking to track the major transition points where the dynamic between the various members will typically change and the types of angles/matches need to shift to avoid repetition. In this instance, the "Doll wins dirty" beat means the dynamic for the next few show shifts from Doll running down Elwood in promos to Elwood campaigning for a match. I work off an assumption of six-to-eight storylines at a time, and they get ranked into three tiers. TIER ONE storylines get a major progression every episode. There are typically only two of these, usually attached to a major title. TIER TWO storylines are divided into odd and even, which largely represents the weeks when they'll get a focus spot on a weekly show. So ann "odd" storyline will get an angle/match on weeks 1 and 3, getting maintained on the even weeks with short promos (2 minutes or less) and recaps. I'll typically run 4 to 6 of these, depending on how much show time I've got. TIER THREE storylines are the low-key stuff that will get maybe 1 major beat per month, and otherwise sustain themselves through short backstage promos or in-ring performances. Stuff like "X & Y keep meeting in three-man matches and costing one another wins," or "Charlie Corner keeps trying to draw his tag-team partner into his YouTube clips." These will bubble along until they build up enough heat to justify moving the folks involved up to a tier 2 storyline for a stretch. Writing this up, I realise it seems like an insane amount of set-up before I ever book a show, but it tends to make my life easier to have this in place. BOOKING A SHOW I tend to think in one-hour blocks when booking shows, and the assumption that four major things will happen in each hour. Three of those things will be matches (about 45 minutes worth), and the fourth will likely be a major angle (brawl, in-ring confrontation) lasting about six minutes. Shorter angles (2 minutes or less) get packed around the edges of those four segments, providing buffers, and take up the other nine minutes devoted to angles The two things I look for straight off are the main event and the major storyline development that will happen on the show, as these will typcially get two or three shorter promos to build everyone's momentum leading up to the change. These will typically provide the spine of the show. For a two hour show, I'll usually add a second ongoing thread focused on midcard guys, particularly if I've got a lot of stables (for example, two stable guys fighting in the opening match, leading to a brawl, leading to a larger confrontation beween stables in the semi-main event). The next things I book are the guys/storylines that are predominantly match focused. Often these make up at least one segment an hour, and in a two hour show will have very different focuses (typically a monster or submission specialist squash in hour one, and a cruiserweight/tag/Six man match in hour two). I'll typically have a rough structure in place that I work to. This breakdown by Matt Murphy is a decent baseline and breaks down to six major beats to hit: FIRST MATCH: Decent midcard match between established talents who'll deliver a good rating. SECOND MATCH: Rookie you're building versus experienced veteran THIRD MATCH: Upper Midcarder/Main Eventer defeating an lower card opponent to speed things up before intermission. FOURTH MATCH: Change of pace (Cruiserweights, women's division, hardcore) FIFTH MATCH: Upper card clash/tagteam--you want a combo of star power and competence here. MAIN EVENT: Your big clash that will bring people back next week. The major angles get slotted in around that, and I figure on at least one short backstage segment between each match/angle. I basically run down the storyline list and fill that structure. For example, the Doll/Elwood story doesn't need them to be fighting one another right now, but I want them to be picking up wins over undercard guys to build up their momentum. So Elwood gets a bunch of matches in spots one, three or five, and Doll gets to snipe at him in promos and sneak attacks. Once Doll gets his dirty win, it's more important that he gets some wins and Elwood does the promos. Maybe once a month, I'll put them into a ring together outside a pay-per-view/big show, and that will typically be in service of another angle (the World Champion and Challenger need tag-team partners, for example). WRITING MATCHES I'm not a big level of detail guy in match write-ups, so I'm generally trying to nail down a dynamic, some major beats based on match structure (again, Matt Murphy has a really good write-up of things to look for). This is where all the pre-dynasty work with the roster plan pays off, because I can take any two guys and know what they're trying to get over in the ring: Elwood isn't just wrestling to win a match--he's trying to show he belongs. Corner is a guy with split focus, as interested in his YouTube hits as he is performing in the ring, which means there's a really obvious reason he's losing beyond being a rookie. Doll is a vicious punk with something to prove, and he'll unleash hell against anyone he deems inauthentic or fake-wrestling. This tells me not just what they're trying to do, but how they might lose while still selling the thing I'm trying to get over. Elwood will let his desire to prove himself lead him into taking big risks he shouldn't against major opponents, while Doll will focus on pain over winning a match and pay the price for it. RANDOM STUFF Focus on 6 to 8 guys--I might know what I want to get over about 95% of my roster, but the lions share of my focus is going to go to 6 to 8 guys. They get the big wins, remain the focus of the major angles, and get protected to insure they're a really big deal. Everyone else is largely there to serve the project of getting these guys over. Typically four of these names will be permanent fixtures--your top two singles wrestlers and tag-team--while the other four are cycled in and out of focus as you're building up challengers. Build one or two new/lower card talent at a time--There's time when that's not possible, due to talent raids and such, but generally speaking don't rush the development of your hot prospects and young guys. Look to move one or two of them into your focus group of eight and drop one of the guys who are getting stale back. Let Your Talkers Do the Recaps instead of the announce team--a technique blatently stolen from Paul Heyman, who has a long history of letting guys who were good on the mic take on the role of hyping other matches. Whether it was James Mitchell in ECW, Ken Kennedy in Heyman's OVW run, or the Street Profits in his most recent run with RAW, Heyman's fond of letting performers get over by talking up the show's storylines. Simple Motivations/Angles for the Undercard--the thing I'm trying to get over for my undercard will often be things like "trying to earn a permanent spot on the roster," "rookie trying to pull all the peices together," or "a good wrestler working a bad strategy." They're going to losing a lot, but having something like this gives me a detail I can sneak into match write-ups and mark the point where their status has changed and wins are a lot more likely. Void, Strategy, and Tactics--Even with all the preplanning, there is usually a lot I'm figuring out about the wrestlers as I write. Knowing how they act is enough to get me working on stuff, but I'll typically look for their void (aka the bad thing that happened in their past and causes psychological pain they're trying to cover), their Strategy (the personality trait they use to cover up their void), and the tactics they use on a day-to-day basis. To take a guy I'm in the process of working out, Andrew Harper, I've got a pretty clear tactic from his write-up in the game--he likes putting people through tables. If I'm building around him long-term, I want to start getting a sense of why he chose that tactic and what it tells us about who he is. And so I start building up layers--he does it as a mindgame, to psych out opponents, which means there's something in his past that drove him to trying to outthink the opponents he can't outwrestle (strategy). He does that because his ambition was thwarted early on, and his trainer made it clear hed never be a top guy because he lacked the physique and star quality (void), which matters because... Well, that's something I'm still working on, but it'll be some pre-wrestling thing that Harper started wrestling to cover up (because "becoming a wrestler" is pretty much a strategy for covering a void in and of itself). But if I've got Harper long-term, and I want him to go face after a long run as a heel, this stuff gives me the details I need to keep his charater consistent--he's still trying to cover the same void, but using babyface tactics instead of heel ones. He's still trying to prove himself by outsmarting opponents (strategy) to show he can be a top guy depsite his trainer's assessment, but he can do so by outhinking heels and not falling for familiar tricks. Even better, when it's time to transition him to heel again, all I've got to do is hit his void hard and show how his current tactics are failing (a face Harper who loses a world title match with this particular void is likely to go into a major tailspin). It's also really useful to me because I enjoy doing behind the scenes stuff and this give sme details to write about and speculate on in those sections. Persistence matters--I'm crazy slow on the update front compared to a lot of writers and typically post on Australian time (aka when the vast bulk of the northern hemistphere is sleeping), which means I'm rarely the first guy people think about in terms of dynasty writers. Even so, I still have a small core of readers who'll show up because I've been around for a while and one wrote a fairly lengthy Dynasty that covered a year or two of HGC, which means they're familiar with what I've done and recognise my style. When you start out it can feel like you're writing into a void, but sticking with things long-term usually matters more in terms of finding readers than being good right from the get-go. Not sure if any of that helps, or whether I've gone too high level/not high level enough. It's the first time I've really tried to lock down a process for TEW.

POSTED TO THE NYCW YOUTUBE CHANNEL COMING UP AT NYCW EMPIRE STATE Brutus Milano Vs. Ozzie Goldstein – NYCW Empire Championship Hawkeye Calhoun Vs. Tennessee William LA Star #1 Vs. The New York Doll Vs. LA Star #2 Vs. Denny King – Four Corner Survival Freedom Eagle, Charlie Corner, & Dominic Degraff Vs. Sal Dimeo & The Italian Americans Riley Mcmanus & Masked Stranger Vs. The Boys From The Yukon – NYCW Tag-Team Titles Curtis Shaw, Crocket Tubbs, & Happy Elwood Vs. Andrew Harper, Richie Riggins, & Devastating Don The Casey Brothers Vs. Quentin Queen & Super Massive Destroyer Jonah Pilgrim Vs. Ray Snow Geoff Borne Vs. Machine Gun Marino

BEHIND THE CURTAIN LIVE PODCAST with JOAN RODRIGUEZ PENNSYLVANIA PARK, NOVEMBER 30, 2020 Joanne Rodriguez had been running one of the top wrestling podcasts in the US ever since she retired from in-ring competition. Since I’d been running one of the others, starting a few years ahead of her, we’d guested on one-another’s shows from time to time and done a few crossover episodes. It also means she takes great pleasure in throwing me the tricky questions. “So, Phil, I know you’ve heard about the recent change in Supremes’ fortunes? What used to be the top wrestling company in the world is now rating about as well as DAVE did in their prime, and there’s rumours there’s cutbacks on the horizon. Care to share any thoughts on how the largest company in the world dropped down to a steady medium-sized fed?” “You’re trying to lure me into saying something controversial,” I countered. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, given that I’m booking one of their competitors.” “Are you suggesting NYCW is a competitor to Eisen’s playground?” “If things are as bad as you say, I’m suggesting they’ll be competition with us before the year is out.” I paused and shared a smile with Joanne. “Although I doubt it will be much competition, given their choices of late. Who looks at a blue chip prospect like Primus Allen and thinks, here’s a man who deserves to be one-half of a pirate-themed tag-team with John Greed?. Hell, who thinks you need to create a pirate wrester when young guys like Hugh De Aske have figured out how to work the character on the indies and have the talent to take their act to a larger show. “There’s nothing wrong with a wrestler going out there with a larger-than-life character, but it strikes me as enormously short-term thinking to do it with a man like Primus. It’s a lower card gimmick and he’s an established talent. It’ll dog him for years to come. If they ever want to put a world title on him, it will be there waiting as a permanent stain—it won’t be the moment a great young prospect finally overcame the odds. It won’t be a chance for fans who recognised him as the next big thing to feel like they were right. It’ll be a moment when everyone sits back and thinks, ‘really, the pirate guy?’ “Now, I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes—nobody can unless they’re there, and wrestling is complicated enough that trying to second-guess a booker’s choices from the outside is foolish—but who is there to get excited about in Supreme right now? Who is going to step up once guys like Remo and Rogue and Angry Gilmore are finally allowed to step aside? What’s the long-term vision of what wrestling could be? “Say what you will about USPW, but when you tune into their show, it makes a statement about who they are and the kind of fighters they present. The same is true of TCW, of places like Philly Pro, and Coastal Zone, and Mid-Atlantic and New York City Wrestling. “For years, the statement the Eisen’s made was ‘we’re the top dog.’ They had the biggest stars, the most charismatic talent, the household names. And they had them because they had the money to pay for it, and it didn’t matter what you did if your name wasn’t Jack Bruce, Vengeance, Rich Money, or Christian Faith. “Well, they’re not the top dog anymore, and they don’t have those names. And they’ve spent so many years showing us how little the other guys matter—and they’re still telling us with Pirate Primus and Buccaneer John Greed—that they don’t have an answer when someone like USPW uses their deep pockets to lay claim to the biggest names in the business. “People keep talking about the fact that Supreme needs to worry about USPW, and they’re right. But that’s just the tip of the spear. Right now, they need to be worried about [everyone[/i] because if they start letting go of their contracts, they’re going to be hard-pressed to get them back “And while they’re not dead in the water—the Supreme brand will be strong enough to carry them to TV deals and pay-per-view for a while yet—they need a vision that’s not we’re number one to carry them into 2021 and beyond. “And if they’re smart, once they find it, they’ll never rest on their laurels again.”

Still unravelling the mashed-up timelines and deadlines with work, but slowly getting some more gaming time in and catching up on dynasty write-ups. Alas, I did not take adequate notes to remember what I originally intended with that last show and the next one when I booked them, so rebuilding the original intent is tricky. It's also, weirdly, leading to some insights that is likely to keep everyone's least-favorite wrester Devastating Don with the company longer than originally intended. It's (hopefully) fairly clear that I'm writing Phil as an analog of Heyman, so every now and then I run my eye over the roster and compare it to some of the booking decisions I've heard Heyman discuss in shoots and such over the years. And it occurred to me, writing the Harper/Don attack on Shaw, that Don is basically Sandman--a guy who is there to deliver a very specific moment, show after show, who occasionally gets put in matches no-one really wants to see in order to justify keeping him around for the stuff that actually matters. Sandman's main role in ECW is drinking beer, hitting people with a kendo stick, and giving the crowd three minutes of going nuts to Enter Sandman. Don's main role in NYCW is eating junk food, belching in people's faces, and jumping off the top rope to deliver the ringshaker legdrop so folks can enjoy the spectacle of an insanely obese wrestler launching himself like a cruiserweight. Now I just have to find him a themesong that will resonate with the NYCW fans...

So...err...as someone who made their living as a writer long before I discovered TEW and still writes a dynasty for fun, I largely disagree with everything about this take. Not least because the assumption that your hobbies need to be improving and worthwhile has sunk more writing careers than anything else I've come across. And writing for a living is a very different thing to vision most people have, involving a lot more running-of-a-small-business than anyone assumes.

THE VIEW FROM BACKSTAGE And so we begin the process of resetting the company in the wake of Tennessee’s departure. For all that I elected to bring in Youngman and take the consequences of attaching one of Mitch’s stars to the company, the real focus of this show was all about setting up options. Harper and Riggins will bolster one-another as a stable, especially with Don moving into the role of heater for the pairing; Goldstein gets a win; Riggins gets a strong showing; Queen makes his in-ring debut and shows enough to suggest he’s a prospect worth pushing. Even some of the long-shots, like Snow and DiMeo, get a little structure around their recent losses. Meanwhile, the future standard bearers on the babyface side get some big wins. Masked Stranger submits one of the newly-crowned tag-team champions, and McManus continues his march towards supplanting Milano as our top babyface. Ironically, right as Milano starts making a case for keeping the spot by upping his game and working on his cardio. It’s nice to have options, even if none of them aren’t great. Crocket Tubbs proved to be the best possible opponent for Quentin Queen’s in-ring debut—the pair have a natural, easy chemistry that allows them both to shine. I can see myself returning to this match-up and giving them both time, and it’s a reminder that Tubbs could probably do with a program to bolster his status within the company. Meanwhile, Ernest Youngman definitely impressed with the handful of things we asked of him in the debut. I called him out specifically in my post-show speeches, alongside Brutus--who stepped up as champ tonight. I also offered my thanks to Sal DiMeo—he’s taken a series of losses for his stable rather well, content to give us the time we needed to move them all back into a position of prominence. Andrew Harper is on the injured list after tonight’s match, heading to the infirmary with a strained bicep. Nothing serious enough to keep him out for long, but he was furious with Curtis Shaw for causing the injury with a mistimed armdrag. Tennessee William may be heading out of the company real soon, but he’s recently started dating Cheerleader Nicki and the couple went public with it after some of the boys asked about their recent flirting on Twitter. Assuming things work out for the young pair, it could be a potential perk if we get the chance to coax William back in a few month’s time. Another three-way tie on the forum predictions this month, with TheStroke7, Zergon, and 1PWFan all sharing a fresh-from-the-screenprinter King of New York 2020 t-shirt as we start the countdown to the tent-pole show of the season.

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:24px;">NYCW PHOENIX RISING</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"> </span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;">Saturday, Week 1, February</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;"> Bradford Arena, NY – 443 people</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="WKvuNBg.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WKvuNBg.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Charlie Corner’s face is in close-up as records himself pulling up to Bradford Arena ahead of the show. “What up, YouTube! This is your boy, Charlie Corner, and his tag-team partner, Big Dom DeGraff—”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="R2qPaJY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/R2qPaJY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The camera turns to take in DeGraff in the passenger seat, is nose buried in a battered copy of </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Alice in Wonderland</em></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">. “Yo,” he says, not bothering to look up.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “—and right now we’re pulling in to Bradford Arena is scenic Brooklyn, because Larry Vessey suggested we might actually… hey, Dom. Yo. What’s going on over there.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="33XbxuM.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/33XbxuM.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="6PuYud4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6PuYud4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="6mmsx1q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6mmsx1q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="DmpvoZD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/DmpvoZD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The car comes to a halt and Corner turns the camera towards the Arena, where Sal DiMeo and his family are clustered around the door. Corner keeps the camera rolling as he and DeGraff approach the doorway, catching Sal’s orders as he informs the Family that he doesn’t want Brooklyn’s Finest to make into the building tonight--they're the reason the DiMeo's have been on a losing streak and he wants them gone.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Machine Gun and the Italian American’s go to hassle DeGraff and Corner, but Big Sal calls them off. “He’s cool, boys. I owe his uncle a favour.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> DiMeo’s orders come to a halt as he realises DeGraff hasn’t budged.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “You got a problem, kid?”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Yeah, I got a problem.” DeGraff looks over the whole DiMeo family. “Frankly, the four of you are embarrassing to me. Ever since I got into this business, folks have asked me to dress up and talk like I’m an extra in a Scorsese flick. Nobody wanted to hire me for my skills--they want me to play gangster to boost the ticket sales, sell a little extra merch.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “And frankly, it’s guys like you who put me in that situation. I got a Master’s degree in literature, Sal. I know what a cliché looks like, and I’ve got no desire to denigrate myself or my family by pretending I’m something I’m not, when I should be going out there and showing the fans I’m one hell of a wrestler. How about you stop pretending to be a mafia boss long enough to actually show people you’re a wrestler, and let Calhoun and Eagle do the same.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> DiMeo comes in close, standing nose-to-nose with DeGraff. “You ought to watch your mouth, boy. I don’t owe you uncle that much.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “I don’t have an uncle you owe a damn thing to,” DeGraff says. “So how about we call this what it is, and acknowledge you don’t really want to pick a fight with a young stud like me?”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “The day I’m afraid of fighting you, boy, is the day I deserved to get taken out and a new boss steps into my shoes. But since you’re so fond of doing things in the ring, how about—”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “You’re on,” DeGraff says. Then, seeing DiMeo's hesitation: “You were going to challenge me, right?”</div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 28</strong></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>BACKSTAGE PROMO</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="LKXGe2D.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/LKXGe2D.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Geoff Borne sits backstage, taping up his wrists. “Three weeks ago I set myself a goal and a deadline,” he says. “Twelve months, one COTT title shot. By any means necessary. If I fail, I walk away from this business because no matter how much I love wrestling, it doesn’t love me back.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “So far, so good. But tonight… Look, Ray Snow is the dangerous striker in New York City Wrestling. He’s got heavy hands and a knockout backfist strike. He’s tough. He’s </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>good</em></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">. He’s got size and power I don’t. In short, he’s exactly the kind of guy a man like me wants to be defeating if he’s got a title shot in his sights.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Personally, I hope he brings his A-game. I hope we go out there, and he delivers the kind of fight that means I’ve gotta be at the top of my game to stand a hope in hell of winning. Because for the next twelve months, that’s gotta be where I live—on the edge, pushing myself, taking the hardest fights I can.” </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 21</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>BACKSTAGE PROMO</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="VodgZhH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/VodgZhH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="rzPKEyR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/rzPKEyR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="0htwukW.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/0htwukW.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Y5XBu0o.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Y5XBu0o.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Andrew Harper is in the locker rooms with Riggins and Don. “Riley McManus, you may think you’ve got it easy now I can’t touch you, but the run to King of New York isn’t going to be as easy as you think. Tonight, you’re going to fight Richie Riggins, one-on-one, and it’s going to be one of the hardest fights of your life.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “As for me, it seems my buddy Don has been having a little trouble of his own lately.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Don stops eating a leg of turkey long enough to take the mic. “Shaw, tonight you’re going through a table. Count on it.” </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 35</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="pASVuhV.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pASVuhV.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ZlU1f12.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZlU1f12.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="n7UM07s.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/n7UM07s.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs.</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="vbAZaj2.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vbAZaj2.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="JA7LKaR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/JA7LKaR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="e4B48k0.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/e4B48k0.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> MASKED STRANGER & THE LA STARS vs. DENNY KING & THE BOYS FROM THE YUKON</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> A six-man with championship implications, given that the pinfall could shoot Stranger or the Stars into contention for the tag-team or tri-state belts. King and the Boys fight accordingly, willingly sacrificing one-another in an attempt to avoid a new challenger, and the faces take advantage.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The real excitement in the match revolves around Stranger’s attempts to take down Denny King, and the masked man wrestles with a passion as he tries to beat the Tri-State champ. In the end, however, King avoids taking the loss by sacrificing his partners, walking away when it becomes clear he’s not able to win. The numbers game puts the Boys at the disadvantage, and it’s Whitehorse Whittaker who eventually taps out to the Cobra Clutch just fourteen days after claiming COTT’s top tag-team prize. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Masked Stranger and The LA Stars defeated Denny King and The Boys From The Yukon in 14:04 when Masked Stranger submitted Whitehorse Whittaker. RATING: 35</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="WKvuNBg.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WKvuNBg.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Charlie Corner’s face fills the screen. “Yo! Yo! Check this out!”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="w7nLzLS.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/w7nLzLS.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ZSv2yjc.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZSv2yjc.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="6PuYud4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6PuYud4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="6mmsx1q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6mmsx1q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="DmpvoZD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/DmpvoZD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> He turns the camera, and it shows the exterior of the Bradford Arena, where the Italian Americans and Machine Gun Marino are standing guard as Brooklyn’s Finest are approaching the building. “Big Dom asked me to keep watch and make sure these goomba’s don’t get involved in his match,” Corner whispers, “but it looks like s—t’s getting real a little early.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Eagle goes to open the door, and Luca Sacramoni moves to block him. Eagle goes to move around, and Pirelli gets in his face. The two masked men back up a step and stare at the Italian Americans, but the attempt to scramble past that follows sees Eagle and Calhoun thrown down the steps. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Walk away,” Machine Gun Marino warns them. “You ain’t wrestling tonight.”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Calhoun and Eagle attempt to rebut that with violence, but they’re quickly beaten down and thrown down the steps a second time. </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 31</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="LKXGe2D.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/LKXGe2D.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="8HmfZIh.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/8HmfZIh.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> GEOFF BORNE vs. RAY SNOW</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Borne has traditionally been a smiling, cheerful babyface who settles into the underdog role. That’s gone here—replaced by a no-nonsense focus that’s fixed on a future World Title shot. It’s coupled with a more grounded style, with every attempt to go high risk carefully considered and deployed to have maximum impact.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ray Snow meets Borne’s new approach in kind, turning this match into something of a chess match. Nothing really rattles “Ice Cold,” even the dire run of form he’s been on in late. Ernie Turner admires Snow’s focus and commitment to working a game plan, but notes that sooner or later you have to acknowledge something isn’t working and mix thigs up a little.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> It seems he may be right given Borne catches Snow with the Borne Again and picks up the win. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Geoff Borne defeated Ray Snow in 11:49 by pinfall. RATING: 33</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="Z8oIRbJ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Z8oIRbJ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="VodgZhH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/VodgZhH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> w/</strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="Y5XBu0o.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Y5XBu0o.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> CURTIS SHAW vs. ANDREW HARPER w/ Devastating Don</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Harper surprises everyone when Devasting Don comes out to work as his second, and Shaw spends several long moments staring down the Immovable Object of NYCW. He pays for almost instantly, as Harper launches an assault right as the bell is ringing, and quickly takes control with a surprise beatdown. Soon Shaw is fighting back, and the dynamic of the match is clear: two tough-as nails brawlers attempt to beat the stuffing out of one-another, while Don plays heater at ringside.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> This is a war—and a war designed to get Shaw over as a legitimate tough guy on the babyface side of card. Harper gets to play to his strengths here, wearing Shaw down with sleepers and attacks on the floor, and Shaw’s comebacks are frequently cut off by Don’s interference. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Eventually, a frustrated Shaw nails Don with a yakuza kick that sends the big man tumbling over the guard rail, opening up a short period where Shaw can take control of the match and build up some momentum. The crowd pops as the big man bounces Andrew Harper around the ring, eager to see Shaw pick up the win…but a trip from a recovered Don sends Shaw stumbling into a Spike Slam from Harper to pick up the win. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Andrew Harper defeated Curtis Shaw in 19:58 by pinfall. RATING: 28</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>POST-MATCH BEATDOWN</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="VodgZhH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/VodgZhH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Y5XBu0o.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Y5XBu0o.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Z8oIRbJ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Z8oIRbJ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Devastating Don climbs into the rang and sits on Curtis Shaw, taunting him with a barrage of “You think you can throw me? You think you can suplex me? Brother, you can’t even breathe right now. How you going to do a damn thing if I do this to you in a match?”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Meanwhile, Andrew Harper sets up a table. Everyone is prepared for the powerslam through the table, but Harper and Don drag Shaw over and set him up on the tabletop.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Which is when Devastating Don climbs the turnbuckles. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> He’s surprisingly graceful for a man who weighs over four hundred pounds, but he gives everyone plenty of time to think about the impact he’ll have when he lands the ringshaker legdrop through a table.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Then he delivers on that. </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 31</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="R2qPaJY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/R2qPaJY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="33XbxuM.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/33XbxuM.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> DOMINIC DeGRAFF vs. Sal DiMEO</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The initial collar-and-elbow is furious in its intensity, DeGraff locking his grip and dragging DiMeo down, establishing his power. DiMeo eventually retreats to a corner, forcing the break, and DeGraff moves on to punishing him with forearm shots to the chest.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> DiMeo responds by taking the match to the floor and softening DeGraff up by throwing him into the guard rails a few times. DeGraff falls to the concrete and DiMeo proceeds to unleash the stops, only to end up in the guard rails himself when he pulls Big Dom up for a fresh round of Irish Whips.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> DeGraff drapes DiMeo over the guard rails and unleashes a series of big chops, then rolls him back into the ring for a trio of suplexes. DeGraff fires up and goes for a roaring elbow, but DiMeo ducks it and takes control, taking his opponent apart with clubbing blows, headbutts, and strategically times kicks to the groin. It’s pretty clear that DiMeo isn’t interested in a wrestling match—he’s here to inflict pain in a fight—and it’s equally clear that DeGraff is too proud to back down. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="6mmsx1q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6mmsx1q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> They go back-and-forth in a furious brawl that ultimately ends when Vito Pirelli interferes while the ref is distracted, smacking DeGraff across the back of a skull with a chair. DiMeo quickly capitalises with the big powerbomb to ed things. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Sal DiMeo defeated Dominic DeGraff in 15:08 by pinfall with a Powerbomb. RESULT: 31</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;">FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="cMOrxXm.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cMOrxXm.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="e5l8ECk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/e5l8ECk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="0M1oWnC.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/0M1oWnC.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="R8Eqvz8.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/R8Eqvz8.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> HAPPY ELWOOD vs. THE NEW YORK DOLL vs. TULLY CASEY vs. OZZIE GOLDSTEIN</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The match starts with a game of tag roulette, with Elwood tagging in to get at Doll and Doll tagging out to avoid him. They combinations switch back and forth about six times before Tully Casey gets frustrated and blitzes Doll, throwing forearm strikes and taking the skinny punk to the mat with a roll-up. Elwood promptly jumps in to break up the pinfall, and the match kicks into high gear. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Doll uses full advantage of the Four Corner Survival rules to torture Elwood, launching surprise attacks and grinding Happy down with an array of stomach claws, boot scrapes, and stomps to the fingers. Elwood fires back, but every time he succeeds in making a cover on Doll, Ozzie or Tully break the count.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> There’s a late rally where Tully Casey goes on a hot streak, throwing all three of his opponents around with suplexes as the match breaks down. This leads into the chain of finishers that marks the closing minutes, Casey getting laid out by a Punk’Nasty, only for Doll to be laid out by a Happy Elwood superkick. Goldstein lays Elwood out with a Golden Shower, but Casey breaks it up. The young rookie attempts to take Goldstein down, but a second Golden Shower puts him down for the count and delivers the pinfall to Goldstein. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Ozzie Goldstein defeated The New York Doll, Happy Elwood and Tully Casey in 10:35 when Ozzie Goldstein pinned Tully Casey. RATING: 37</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>IN-RING PROMO</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="M4BW9dX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/M4BW9dX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="Lal1Plj.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Lal1Plj.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="pN3L3n9.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pN3L3n9.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Phil Vibert shoulders his way through the curtain, leading Super Massive Destroyer and Quentin Queen down to the ring. He grabs the mic and addresses the fans. “Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Phil vibert, and I am the advocate for the future of professional wrestling, Quentin Queen. Tonight, I bring you good news: my client and Larry Vessey of New York City Wrestling have come to turns and finalized a contract for Quentin Queen to wrestle here in Bradford Arena.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Now you might think this means you’ll finally see Quentin Queen wrestle Animal Harker…but once again, Mister Harker has elected to renege on his commitments to this company and wrestle over in Japan tonight. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Harker may have prevented my client from walking away with the winner’s purse tonight, but make no mistake—it’s all of you who are being robbed tonight. Instead of seeing a wrestler at the top of his game step between these ropes—”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Crockett Tubbs steps through the curtain and interrupts Vibert’s tirade. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="3rGhktv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3rGhktv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Phil, Quentin, big man,” he says, nodding at them all by turn. “You may not be wrestling Harker tonight, but now that you’ve signed a contract, you better bet your ass that you’ll be wrestling. I talked to Mister Vessey, and he agreed tonight’d be the perfect time to start earning a little return on the investment he made in bringing Quentin Queen to NYCW.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Quentin, boyo, after listening to your advocate run his mouth for the last few weeks, I’m thinking I’d like to be getting your measure in the ring. Fortunately, Mister Vessey agrees…and he made the match official just two minutes ago. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “So I’m thinking the rest of you need to clear your asses out of the ring, because that match is happening right now.” </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 42</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="3rGhktv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3rGhktv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="Lal1Plj.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Lal1Plj.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> w/</strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="M4BW9dX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/M4BW9dX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="pN3L3n9.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pN3L3n9.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> CROCKET TUBBS vs. QUENTIN QUEEN w/Phil Vibert & Super Massive Destroyer</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Tubbs locks up with confidence here, showing Queen respect but obviously not buying into the hype about the young prospect. He even holds the early advantage, coming out ahead of the opening exchanges and having Queen’s first cheap-shot well scouted.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> But Queen soon catches Tubbs by surprise with a bulldog and proceeds to take control of the bout. Vibert’s protégé showcases the skills he learned at the TCW Academy, grounding and grappling with an extensive focus on the neck and upper chest. Tubbs rallies, but the presence of Vibert and Super Massive Destroyer on the outside is a constant source of distraction. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ultimately, this proves decisive—Vibert provides the distraction as Destroyer blitzes Tubbs from behind, setting Queen up for the win using the Q-Ball (Pancake Faceslam).</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Quentin Queen defeated Crockett Tubbs in 8:08. RATING: 37</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="WKvuNBg.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WKvuNBg.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “What up, Youtube,” Charlie Corner whispers. “I know Big Don’s had his match by now, and I don’t need to be here watching, but there’s something going down right now I figured you’d like to see…”</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="33XbxuM.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/33XbxuM.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="6PuYud4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6PuYud4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="6mmsx1q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6mmsx1q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="DmpvoZD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/DmpvoZD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> He turns the camera to the gathered members of the DiMeo family on the ring, a sweaty Sal checking in with his flunkies, arguing with passion and sharp hand movements. He’s building up to a core point that we can’t quite hear when Vito Pirelli spots Corner and the Camera, pointing it out to the rest of the crew.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Big Sal issues the orders and the Italian Americans break off from the group and close on Corner as the livefeed goes dead… </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 33</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="WKvuNBg.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WKvuNBg.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="6mmsx1q.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/6mmsx1q.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> CHARLIE CORNER vs. VITO PIRELLI</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The match starts with Vito Pirelli dragging a battered Charlie Corner to the ring by his hair. The big man sets the kid up on one side of the ring and intimidates the referee into ringing the bell.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> It’s meant to be easy—Pirelli grabs Corner and sets him up for a shoulder breaker that could well break the younger man’s arm—but Corner blocks the move and begins a weary underdog come-back against the larger man. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The whole match revolves around Pirelli’s frustration and Corner’s unexpected ability to keep this alive, but it’s still short and sweet and ultimately ends with Pirelli hitting the Shoulder Breaker to pick up the three. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Vito Pirelli defeated Charlie Corner in 5:43 by pinfall. RATING: 21</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="hHzWwFD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/hHzWwFD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> w/</strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="gRbxKpm.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/gRbxKpm.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="rzPKEyR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/rzPKEyR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> w/ </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="0htwukW.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/0htwukW.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> RILEY McMANUS w/Fern Hathaway vs. RICHIE RIGGINS w/Cheerleader Nicki</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Strategically, this match is one of the most pivotal matches on the card because it’s got to do some heavy lifting and establish Richie Riggins as a guy who can </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>go</em></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> with some of our top guys. And so we give them twenty minutes and three simple instructions: make it close, put McManus over, and </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>get</em></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Riggins over along the way. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> They start this one off slow and measured, with McManus testing defences and Riggins proving more than adequate to repelling each advance. This leads to a certain amount of strutting from Riggins, and McManus taking a more defences approach to see what Riggins can do, and here the two men prove to be relative even. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The next series of exchanges ups the brutality a little. McManus starts throwing elbows at Riggins’ face, expecting the pretty-boy to flinch, and Riggins ultimately uses that to lure McManus into a trap: he flinches away and breaks holds three times, setting up a precedent, then eats the strike on the forth attempt and uses it to get in close and drop McManus with a Urunagi Slam. McManus kicks out, but he’s also on the ground when Riggins starts unleashing stiff kicks and stomps.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The rest of the match is basically a war, with both man battering the hell out of each other using strikes and holds. McManus keeps taking control of the bout, but every time Riggins—and, occasionally, the helping hand of Nicki—wrest the advantage away through dirty tactics. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Despite his best efforts, Riggins can’t quite put McManus away, and ultimately falls prey to the Slingshot Suplex. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Riley McManus defeated Richie Riggins in 19:53 by pinfall with a Slingshot Suplex. RATING: 40</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>PRE-MATCH PROMO</strong></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="s3dOi1h.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/s3dOi1h.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Tennessee William heads down to the ring before our main event, and cuts a promo about his decisions to put it all on the line for this last shot at the Empire Championship belt because he wanted to shut up everyone who truly believes Milano is the better wrestler. Tonight they go two-out-of-three falls, and William can’t challenge for the title again if he’s on the losing end. It’s a risk, but one that William feels confident taking. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “I believe in going big or going home,” he says “And tonight’s going to be the biggest match of Brutus Milano’s career, the match that defines him as a wrestler and underlines the fact that despite his size and despite his power, he’ll only ever be the </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>second</em></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> best wrestler to step into a NYCW ring.” </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 63</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;">TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;"> NYCW EMPIRE CHAMPIONSHIP</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="G0VNJIx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/G0VNJIx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> vs. </strong></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="s3dOi1h.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/s3dOi1h.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> BRUTUS MILANO vs. TENNESSEE WILLIAM</strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> This match starts with a long stare down, both men doing their best to intimidate the other. From there they move into a series of lock-ups and reversals, with Milano’s strength giving him control of the pace despite William’s best attempts. There’s some discussion about whether this is a smart plan for William, but Ernie Turner points out that the smaller man has the cardio advantage here, and pushing the pace early may well pay off down the line.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Sure enough, the match spills outside not long after Milano’s breathing gets noticeably ragged, and from there William takes control. He thwarts every attempt Milano makes to take control, and stalls the big man’s momentums with European Uppercuts, headlocks, and the occasional trip into the guard rails. Soon, Wiliam has the space he needs to smack Milano across the head with a guitar…</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> …but when he rolls Milano into the ring again, the champ is ready, snatching a small package out of nowhere and securing three-count on the overconfident William. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Tennessee William is both astonished and appalled, even as the fans celebrate him being behind. He goads Milano into charging and drops the champ face-first into a turnbuckle, allowing Tennessee to take control of the pace. He locks in a sleeper and chokes Milano out, quickly transitions into a powerbomb as it becomes clear that Milano isn’t ready to quit yet. The next phase of the match revolves around small bursts of offense that all feed back into another Sleeper hold. Willian grinds the champ down, exhausts him, and cinches the hold in tight. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> At one point it seems like he might even up the score in the match, clamping down so hard that Milano is actually on his knees and grasping for air, but the big man rallys and throws William free. The come-back that follows is fiery as hell, full of big shoulder blocks and elbows that pops the crowd every time, He beats William down again and again, working the lower back with stops and Boston crabs, and ultimately picks up the second fall courtesy of William tapping out after getting caught by an Italian Backbreaker. </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Brutus Milano defeated Tennessee William in 21:26 by two straight falls, with the final fall happening by submission. RATING: 45</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="NgP2R0J.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NgP2R0J.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>POST-MATCH ATTACK</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><img alt="dwCyEEJ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/dwCyEEJ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> There’s a rumble as PSW’s Ernest Youngman strides trough the curtain wearing aviators and a long black coat. He climbs into the ring and stands toe-to-toe with Brutus Milano, casually chewing a toothpick as he takes in the champ, the title, and the fallen Williams on the canvas.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="G0VNJIx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/G0VNJIx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Milano holds his title high, making a statement.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> And Youngman deftly takes the fight too him, slides in behind, and takes the bigger man down with a snap dragon suplex.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> There's a colloctive intake of breath, but the suplex is just softening the champion up for the THE HIT! – a charging knee strike that echoes as it makes contact with Milano’s jaw and lays the champ low.</div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ernest Youngman stands over Milano, mimes two shots from a pistol, and then turns and walks out of the arena as the show ends... </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 44</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;">SHOW RATING: 45</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>

POSTED TO THE NYCW YOUTUBE CHANNEL COMING UP AT NYCW PHOENIX RISING Saturday, Week 1, February 2020 Brutus Milano vs. Tennessee William – Two out of Three Falls for the Empire Championship Riley McManus vs. Richie Riggins Charlie Corner vs. Vito Pirelli Crockett Tubbs vs. Quentin Queen Happy Elwood vs. The New York Doll vs. Tully Casey vs. Ozzie Goldstein Dominic DeGraff vs. Sal DiMeo Curtis Shaw vs. Andrew Harper Geoff Borne vs. Ray Snow Masked Stranger & The LA Stars vs. Denny King & The Boys from the Yukon

Cheers. Fixed now

SINS OF THE PAST, PROBLEMS OF THE PRESENT The upside of the Bradford Arena offices were fairly numerous. The space was already paying for itself—both in the takings we brought home for each show, and in the rental fees we’d soon be charging as the front office fielded queries about using it for live podcast tapings, other shows, and—surprisingly—a TCW try-out weekend where they scouted newer talent. The downside, to my considerable surprise, was the private office we’d set aside for me to work in while between shows. It made it damnably easy for the boys to find me, when they wanted to have a private word. That made it far to easy for guys like Sal DiMeo to vent their spleen about their push, asking for something more. Thus far, those guys were usually placated by the discussion of future plans, and went away more-or-less happy and content they’d got my ear. Still, it was always a problem when one of the talent asked for a quick word. Which is why I felt an a chill when Tennessee William knocked on my office door and asked if I had a moment. If there’s one guy who didn’t really have the right to bitch about his push, it was Tennessee. Our next six months were booked around him and the title reign he’d get when he retained the title from Brutus Milano. Which meant, if he was showing up to have a chat, there was doubt looming over those plans. To his credit, he didn’t pussyfoot around the issue. “Sir, I hate to do this, but I’d like you to wrap my up my run here. Soon, if you’re inclined to do it. Next three or four weeks, at the most.” I stared at him for a while, hoping it was a rib. If it was, Tennessee William should be making his living on the world poker tour instead of wrestling. Damn. I figured this day was coming—he’d been running hot and he had what it took to be someone on a larger stage. “Who called?” I said. Tennessee shook his head. “I ain’t got nothing lined up yet, just feeling antsy to get out outta here. Been feeling it for a while now, and I figured it was better to pull the pin before the Wrestleworld deal came through.” Now I was confused. “You don’t have another job?” “No, sir.” “Then…why?” Tennessee’s shoulders shifted uncomfortably, and he found something interesting to look at in the corner of the ceiling. “I was never a fan of your work in DAVE, sir. What you did…it took wrestling in a direction I didn’t like. Away from the things I fell in love with as a boy, the approach that made me want to do this for a living for the rest of my life. “I know you’ve said plenty about not wanting to do that here—and I’ll grant, we ain’t had reason to doubt you—but I’m also watching my friends dive through a table mid-math to sell an angle. You’ve cleared guys to use moves in matches that Larry and Stomper expressly forbid us to use. You might not be trying to make another DAVE, but you’ve got a way about you, an’ if I’m honest that makes me nervous. I’d like to give it some time, see how things shake out, and then decide if I want to be a full-time member of this roster.” I took a deep breath, and picked my words carefully, trying not to let any anger seep in. “It doesn’t matter that were planning to make you the biggest star in the Confederation?” At this, Tennessee actually broke into a grin. “No, sir. If you please, that wasn’t going to be your doing—you were giving me an opportunity to make myself a star, and you were doing that because I’d already made myself the biggest thing in this company. Seems to me, if I can do that here, I can do that somewhere else. And if I go now, it doesn’t look like I’m going due to some kind of problem—optics are better for you and me alike, assuming I get out before the streaming deal’s in play.” “You’ve thought this through,” I said. “I have.” There were all sorts of ways to play this, all sorts of deals I could offer or ploys I might try to change his mind. But I long ago learned it’s easier to work with talent who trust you and want to work with you, and it seemed Tennessee wasn’t among their number… I offered him my hand. “I hope, when you see the way we develop, you’ll contemplate coming back.” “If you stick to your guns, and don’t change the spirit of the place, I might be willing to talk about it.” I spent the hours after meeting with Tennessee going through my folder, thinking about the way we’d need to adjust the coming cards to account for our top draw’s departure. It wasn’t going to be easy—I’d focused on my booking on building a top-draw babyface to challenge William when he finally regained the title—and none of the candidates I would have considered for the role were ready to slot in there just yet. Still, I had a short list: Ozzie Goldstein had the in-ring skills and presence on the mic; Richie Riggins could surprise me if we offered him the spot; The New York Doll…if he’d been thirty pounds heavier, it wouldn’t even be a question. Denny King could do it, but he would never be the good choice, being closer to forty than thirty. There were plenty of other talents out there, but they all involved crossing a line. Logan Wolfsbane had been tearing this up for PSW and had everything I wanted in a top NYCW heel, but he was one of Mitch’s boys and that sent a particular kind of message; Doug Peak was still living in Philly, which put him in easy reach if wanted to book him. The same was true of Lead Belyl and Grease Hogg, two ex-SWF talents I’d worked with up in Canada and had a lot of time for. All three were known for tag-team work, so letting them main event as a solo act would seem fresh and new to the fans…except for the fact that all four were past forty and that broke the guidelines Larry and I established when we first hashed out our partnership. Fact was, there were no good choices that didn't involve crossing some kind of line. It was all going to come down to which blemish I was willing to allow on the stories we were trying to tell...

Hmm. Weird show double-post, so I'm just going to commander this one and edit it for... THE VIEW FROM BACKSTAGE We'd put the argument to the COTT management committee that we needed an East Coast team to hold the tag-team belts for a stretch, even if it was only for a short while. No team from NYCW had been on top since the Confederation signed its charter, and the commictee had argued for the Boys as the first NYCW holders. I understood the logic of it--even in territories where The Boys aren't well-known, they're solid hands and they're big enough to tell one of wrestling's most fundamental stories in a way that will get the local boys over. It still galled, as I would have prefered a very different duo, and I suspected the tag-team title reign was a stall to keep us from pressing for one of the local boys to hold the top belt for a while. It made for a festive mood backstage, lifting the spirits of the locker room. I did my best to foster that by dishing out the compliments after the show, calling out Stranger and William for their outstanding match and complimenting Ozzie Goldstein on a great performance. It wasn't all sunshine though. The Super Massive Destoryer had broken tree fingers on his left hand when he mistimed a strike and connected with the ring post full-force. It wasn't a serious wound, and he could probably work through it, but there's nothing quite like injuring your monster heel right as you're preparing for the big monster push. Our merch continues to be a nightmare. I packaged up two I HEART NYCW t-shirts for MisterRomani and 1PWFan, the joint winners of this week's prediction contest on the NYCW website. It might be time to start asking the boys to donate some merch we can use until we get our dedicated department operating the way it should be...

NYCW LASHING OUT Saturday, Week 3, January 2020 Bradford Arena, NY – 432 PEOPLE OPENING PROMO The Slick Pimp Daddy, Ernie Turner, stands in the middle of the ring. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are in Bradford Arena, New York, New York, and you are here for New York City Wrestling’s LASHING OUT! We’ve got—” Turner doesn’t get the opportunity to run own the card, because Tennessee William storms out to the ring and demands the opportunity to speak. He’s been listening to people talk about the fact that he’s afraid of Brutus Milano all week, and he wants to get a few things straight. First, he’s not afraid to take on any man in a straight fight. Second, he ran away from Milano last week because he’d just wrestled an epic match-up against Happy Elwood—a match he won—and he wasn’t in any condition to fight a fresh Brutus Milano. Third…he’s sick of hearing these stories and rumors, and he’s sick of Milano running around with Tennessee Williams’ belt. So he’s making a challenge for Empire State next month—"Tennessee versus Brutus Milano, one last time, two-out-of-three falls, for the Empire Title.” The New York Doll then strolls down to the ring, and takes the microphone. He points out the sheer presumption involved in thinking Milano will be the champion by the time they reach Empire State, given Doll has got a match for the belt later tonight. “You can have your two-out-of-three-falls match any time you want, but the only way you’ll be able to get that belt is if you come after me once you’re done.” RATING: 48 COTT WORLD TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP vs, THE AMERICAN COBRAS vs. THE BOYS FROM THE YUKON The Boys from the Yukon have dominated the tag-team ranks in NYCW for several months, which has earned them a shot at the World Tag-Team Titles. They square off in the centre of the ring during the announcements, and Howlin’ Mad Mort makes things personal when he pie-faces Marvel Malloy instead of accepting a handshake to start the match. It sets the tone—the Boys from the Yukon aren’t here to play to nice, and they aren’t afraid of the Cobras reputation. Unlike last month’s World Championship match, there’s no big fight feel here—no NYCW team has ever won the World Titles and the Boys aren’t the ones the fans would choose to break that particular streak. The fans get what they expect, which is a fast-paced tag match full of quick tags and double teams, where the Boys dominate early and the Cobras mount an impressive comeback. Then the Boys hit Marvel Malloy with the Tiiiiiiiiiiimber chokeslam amid the tumultuous closing sequence, and Whitehorse Whittaker crash-tackles Spillane when he tries to break up Mad Mort’s pinfall. There is a moment of shocked silence while it sinks in—the Boys from the Yukon have just become COTT World Heavyweight Champions. The Boys From The Yukon defeated The American Cobras in 12:26 when Howlin' Mad Mort pinned Marvel Malloy. The Boys From The Yukon win the COTT World Tag Team titles. RATING: 34 vs. GEOFF BORNE vs. LUCA SACRAMONI Luca Sacramoni comes into this match with a host of advantages in terms of size and weight, but the experience edge is all Geoff Borne and it proves to be decisive. The problem—as Ernie Turner suggests on commentary—is that Sacramoni and his partner are street fighters, used to intimating people with threats of violence rather than wrestling in matches where half their fighting instincts would result in an immediate DQ. Outside the ring, in a brawl, the big men would be damn near unstoppable…but put them in a match and they overthink things, while Geoff Borne can trust in his training. Borne picks up the win with the Borne Again. Geoff Borne defeated Luca Sacramoni in 7:54 by pinfall. RATING: 30 Sweet Sal DiMeo and Machine Gun Marino swarm the ring and start beating on Geoff Borne, getting a little payback for the defeated Sacramoni. Which brings out Freedom Eagle and Hawkeye Calhoun to make the save, one wielding a chair and the other a baseball bat. The four men fight, and we transition into our scheduled match between Brooklyn’s Finest and DiMeo’s family. RATING: 33 vs. BROOKLYN’S FINEST vs. SWEET SAL & MACHINE GUN Plenty of warnings from the referee in this one, particularly in the opening minutes when temperatures are running high. Once again, the emphasis is placed on the DiMeo wrestler’s background—particularly Machine Gun’s training as a boxer, which leads to the rapid-fire strikes that give him his name and constantly threaten to get him disqualified for using a closed-fist punch. Eagle and Calhoun have no such problem, doing a great job of cutting the ring in half and focusing on the weaker opponent. They work Machine Gun Marino for the bulk of the match, only losing control when Eagle boils over and consents to brawl with Sal DeMio through the crowd and then out into the back. Which leaves Calhoun and Machine Gun to finish, and it surprises no-one when Calhoun puts it away with the Home Run. Brooklyn's Finest defeated Sweet Sal & Marino in 11:06 when Hawkeye Calhoun pinned Machine Gun Marino. RATING: 35 There’s six man action up next, and Andrew Harper is the first man announced. To the surprise of damn near everyone, Riley McManus’s music hits right after, and McManus makes his way down to ringside where he takes a seat to watch the coming match. Harper snarls and moves to intimidate McManus, then remembers what’s at stake if he engages in a. physical altercation. He reins himself in and McManus looks smug as he settles in the wait. RATING: 33 vs. w/ CURTIS SHAW & THE LA STARS vs. HARPER, RIGGINS, & DEVASTATING DON w/ Cheerleader Nikki This is short and wild, cycling through all the various in-ring combinations with surprising speed. Much is made of the LA Stars failed attempts to get Devastating Don off his feet, then Shaw’s attempt to suplex the superheavyweight which teeters on the edge of success until Richie Riggins interferes. Things break down and amid the chaos Andrew Harper sets up a table at ringside, but he doesn’t get a chance to use it before Richie Riggins his the Body Bag on LA Star #2 and picks up the pinfall. Harper, Riggins & Devastating Don defeated Curtis Shaw & The LA Stars in 10:11 when Richie Riggins pinned LA Star #2. RATING: 31 Shaw loses his temper after the match and shoves Richie Riggins, badmouthing the Body for interfering in his attempt to suplex the four-hundred-and-sixty pound Don. Devastating Don steps into the ring to shove Shaw in response, openly mocking the shredded Shaw. That’s the fuse that sparks a three-on-three brawl, and amid the chaos Harper drags one of the LA Stars towards the ropes where he’s set up the table. That’s the impetus for Riley McManus to get involved. He darts towards the the ring, ready to make the save…and then hesitates as he realises what touching Harper would cost him. Harper realises why McManus is hesitating and breaks into an evil grin, wasting no time in powerslamming LA Star #2 over the top rope and through the table below…making it very clear Riley McManus’ plan just backfired. RATING: 30 vs. MASKED STRANGER vs. TENNESSEE WILLIAM There are matches you book—sans angle—because you know the two guys in the ring will deliver a great twenty-minute chunk of wrestling. There’s a lot of buzz about Ray Snow being the guy hired to fulfil the workhorse role in NYCW after Steve Flash retired, but I honest believe the heir apparent to Flash’s “work a great match against anyone” role is the man who calls himself Masked Stranger. They take it slow and built the match in steps, both men picking a body part to work and doing everything they can to punish their opponent. William recognises that he’s outclassed early and starts heeling it up to take control, using stalls and cheap shots to buy himself time every time Stranger picks up some momentum. Stranger responds by refusing to lose his cool, doubling down on his focused attack on Tennessee William’s neck as he builds towards the Cobra Clutch. The first submission attempt comes around 12 minute in, Stranger going for his signature hold and getting rebuffed when William drops to the floor and crawls out of the ring in a panic. The first attempt at a guitar shot comes not long after, William looking for an equalizer that will keep him in the game, but Stranger has the attack scouted and lets the referee take care of things, shooting in once William’s disarmed to take him to the floor. They trade the advantage back-and-forth from there, picking up momentum, and ultimately Tennessee William only picks up the victory when a grabs a fistful of tights as he rolls Masked Stranger up. Tennessee William defeated Masked Stranger in 20:23 by pinfall with a handful of tights. RAITING: 48 Animal Harker heads down to the ring, collecting a mic on the way. “Four corner survival,” he says. “Four men in the ring, one pinfall between you and victory. A chaotic, wild kind of match…but I’m a chaotic and wild kind of guy. “But let’s be honest—there’s only one guy back there that I’m really interested in fighting. Vibert, I know you’re back there, brother. I hear you and Quentin Queen have been in town trying to nail down a deal, and you’ve spent the last few weeks calling me out and refusing to answer when I show up. I want—” “Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Phil Vibert, and I am the advocate for the future of this sport we all love known as professional wrestling. It’s my pleasure to come out here tonight to deliver a very simple message to Mister Animal Harker—I DON’T GIVE A GOOD GOD DAMN WHAT YOU WANT! “People like you are a scourge on the business of wrestling, Harker. Because make no mistake—this is a business. The goal of stepping into that ring is earning money, and as much of it as your talent and experience can bring in. We’re not going to fight just because your feelings a hurt…especially when you’re a living example of that old adage—the truth hurts. You chose to be in Japan instead of honouring your commitment to my client and these fans, and as a consequence Quentin Queen is the hottest young prospect in the territories. “That means if Larry Vessey wants to Quentin Queen to fight in a New York City Wrestling ring, then Larry Vessey needs to meet our demands and get Quentin’s signature on a contract. If you want this match so bad, go press the man who can make it happen instead of running your mouth here in the ring. “Better yet, start making the smart choice—focus on winning matches instead of trying to pick a fight. Maybe then you’ll earn enough that you don’t have to run off to Japan to make your rent in the first place.” Harker glares at the young prospect and his manager, cracking his knuckles as he does so. “Oh,” Vibert says. “I see you don’t like that, Mister Harker. I see you think intimidation will overcome good business sense and convince us to make a reckless decisions. Well, fortunately for you, I was able to come to an accord with Mister Vessey when he pointed out that our failure to reach an agreement left him a man short for the Four Corner Survival match." “I told him…when in doubt…unleash the weapon of mass destruction.” RATING: 43 FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL vs. vs. vs. CHUCK CASEY vs. JUSTICE JOLSON vs. ANIMAL HARKER vs. SUPER MASSIVE DESTROYER This one kicks off with a wild brawled between Animal Harker and Destroyer, who tear into one another before the other two competitors are even announced. It’s soon clear that everyone else is along for the ride, and the smart all is staying out of the way. Chuck Casey isn’t content to do that. In fact, the kid gets the first big pop of the match when he attempts to shoot in on Super Massive Destroyer and take the big man down. It goes horribly for the young rookie, but the fans are appreciative of the effort. Justice Jolson is a little more circumspect with his involvement, doing his best to stay out of the way. In fact, when a rattled Harker tags him in to wrestle Destroyer, Jolson actually looks a little green at the prospect. The big man attempts to match the Destroyer’s strength, and quickly pays the price for it, although he does succeed in holding off the double-handed choke bomb. All three men triple-team Destroyer after that, hoping to neutralise the big man, and things break down not long after. Animal Harker teams with Jolson to tip Destroyer out of the ring, then ducks Jolson’s attempt to double-cross with a clothesline. Harker quickly beats Jolson down to pick up the win with a Stump Piledriver. Animal Harker defeated Super Massive Destroyer, Chuck Casey and Justice Jolson in 8:48 when Animal Harker pinned Justice Jolson. RATING: 26 vs. RILEY McMANUS & HAPPY ELWOOD vs. DENNY KING & OZZIE GOLDSTEIN Business picks up with this one. Both teams may have been throw together for the very first time, but they both pair a relatively new and well-known face with one of NYCW’s established, rock-solid talents. Everyone knows their business here, and sets out to earn some money. King and Goldstein wrestle in unpredictable and seemingly chaotic ways, the unconventional logic of their attack only coming into focus much later in the match. Happy plays babyface in peril for much of the match, building up to the hot tag that unleashes McManus like a house on fire. Riley surprises everyone by eschewing his usual Slingshot Suplex and trying to draw the submission with a Fujiwara Armbar, but he’s never quite able to lock it in before the hold is broken or an opponent makes it to the ropes. Downpour and Turner speculate that he’s trying to formulate a game plan that might work against the high-flying ability of Pablo Rodriguez. Things break down, as they do in a tag match, and Denny King gets taken out of the ring by a missile dropkick/tope con hilo combination from Happy Elwood. Ozzie Goldstein goes to take McManus’ head off with a step up enziguri, but it’s ducked and McManus transitions into the Slingshot Suplex for the win. Riley McManus and Happy Elwood defeated Denny King and Ozzie Goldstein in 24:21 when Riley McManus pinned Ozzie Goldstein. RATING: 40 Elwood and McManus have their hand raised…and the Ramone’s Blitzkrieg Bop hits as The New York Doll makes his way down to the ring for his scheduled Empire Title challenge. NYCW’s resident punk stands at ringside and glares at Elwood and McManus, and Elwood wastes no time getting to ringside and standing toe-to-toe with Doll. The two men face off…but McManus pulls Elwood away before they can start brawling. RATING: 25 NYCW EMPIRE CHAMPIONSHIP vs. BRUTUS MILANO vs. THE NEW YORK DOLL The absurdity of this match sinks in the moment the two men lock up—Brutus Milano is a thickset heavyweight, muscle compacted upon muscle, while New York Doll is a skinny lightweight covered in tattoos who wrestles in torn jeans. If quickly apparent that the challenger doesn’t have a match for Milano’s strength, the predictions are made the match will be a short one. To everyone’s surprise, Doll accepts the offer for a test of strength against the champion. And, as you’d expect, he gets forced back into a corner, even when he gets his feet against the centre turnbuckle and uses his whole body to try and break free. Milano grins and releases the hold at the referee’s orders…and promptly gets slapped in the face, then elbowed in the face, then thrown to the canvas with a quick arm drag that Doll transitions into a crossarm submission. Milano gets to the ropes and breaks the hold, but the early damage has been done—Milano’s fighting this one with an injured wing and Doll is smart enough to work the appendage for the bulk of the match. Pretty soon Milano is struggling to get Doll up into a bearhug, let alone deliver a lariat with the injured limb, and a cocky Doll starts to fall back on his usual arsenal of stomach claws, boot scrapes, and choking his opponent with bootlaces. It’s a nasty, nasty stretch of match but the champion weathers the storm and attempts to mount a comeback. When he finally succeeds, it’s largely a series of shoulder blocks that bounce Doll around the ring. Doll ultimately tries to apply a sleeper hold to slow the big man down, and he chinches it in tight enough that Milano actually drops to one knee as he struggles to breathe, but ultimately the champ digs deep, gets free, and locks in an Italian Backbreaker despite the pain it causes him. Doll is forced to submit, and Milano retains the Empire title. Brutus Milano defeated The New York Doll in 19:52 by submission. RATING: 37 SHOW RATING: 38

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-size:24px;"><span style="font-family:Impact;">POSTED TO THE NYCW YOUTUBE CHANNEL </span></span></strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="51697" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div style="text-align:center;"><div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>PARKING LOT PROMO</strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Curtis Shaw is out in the parking lot behind Bradford Arena, pacing back and forth as the fans exit. “So there’s this guy in New York City wrestling whose damn proud of being so big nobody can throw him around. Damn proud of being an immovable object that the rest of the company needs to work around. He’s a guy who goes out there and does his best not to lose, instead of giving his all to pick up the win. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “I’m not an immovable object. But unlike Devastating Don, I don’t wrestle matches to avoid losing. I wrestle matches with the intent of suplexing people out of their goddamn shoes and mashing their face into the canvas with the curb stomp.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “And Don? You ain’t so big that I can’t do that to you…” </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 20</strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>POST-SHOW PROMO FROM THE INTERVIEW STAGE</strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><img alt="pASVuhV.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pASVuhV.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Masked Stranger stands in front of the NYCW banner, dressed to impress in a three-piece suit, every inch an old-school wrestler. “Y’know, this thing between me and Denny King, it started long before either of us has a title. He calls himself the Wildcard, and he likes to live up to the name. In the past he’s jumped me from behind, tried to pull my mask off, and done his best to injure me and take me out of this sport.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “It’s been one thing after another for two years now, and now he’s the Tri-State champion.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Well, King, you’ve done your best to try and take me out, but I’m still here. I’m still coming after you. And one day I’ll catch you in a corner, and it won’t be about sneak attacks or masks or even a title belt.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “When that happens—on that day when you’ve got nowhere left to run—you and me will have to fight and settle things once and for all.” </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 24</strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="KW30ZUN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KW30ZUN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>FAN-CAM FOOTAGE</strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><img alt="G0VNJIx.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/G0VNJIx.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="qB5gh2e.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/qB5gh2e.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> We get some footage from a fan’s mobile phone, taken while the COTT World Champion, Pablo Rodriguez, is signing autographs after the show. Rodriguez is being professional and posing with fans...then finds hiself standing toe-to-toe with NYCW Empire Champion Brutus Milano.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The NYCW champ doesn’t say a thing, merely raises his championship belt high and stares Rodriguez down.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Pablo Rodriguez arises an eyebrow and rests a hand against the COTT World Championship strapped to his belt. He doesn’t break eye contact, but he also doesn’t need to lift the belt—he knows that he’s the better man. “One day,” he says, “if you’re lucky, esse, you may get a chance to wrestle for the one belt that matters more than yours.” </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>RATING: 37</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><img alt="Z8oIRbJ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Z8oIRbJ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><div></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="MGL3h2P.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/MGL3h2P.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> <strong>COMING UP AT NYCW LASHING OUT</strong></p><p><strong> Saturday, Week 3, January 2020</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> Brutus Milano vs. The New York Doll – NYCW Empire Title Match</p><p> Riley McManus & Happy Elwood vs. Denny King & Ozzie Goldstein</p><p> Chuck Casey vs. Justice Jolson vs. Animal Harker vs. Super Massive Destroyer</p><p> Masked Stranger vs. Tennessee William</p><p> Curtis Shaw & The LA Stars vs. Andrew Harper, Richie Riggins, & Devastating Don</p><p> Brooklyn’s Finest vs. Sal DiMeo & Machine Gun Marino</p><p> Geoff Borne vs. Luca Sacramoni</p><p> The American Cobras vs. The Boys From The Yukon—COTT World Tag-Team Title Match</p></div><p></p><p></p>

<p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:24px;">THE PAST IS PROLOGUE</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"> </span></strong></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;">POST-SHOW PARTY</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"><span style="font-size:18px;"> GOLDIES BAR, BROOKLYN | Two Hours After The Closing Bell</span></span></strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong><span style="font-family:Impact;"> </span></strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="M4BW9dX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/M4BW9dX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> The rumour went through backstage that Ozzie Goldstein knew one of the bouncers at a 70s themed bar in Greenpointe, and a surprising number of the boys decided to make a night of it post-show.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> It seemed a daring choice.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> There’s a longstanding urban myth among my generation of wrestlers that suggests that anything related to disco is a damned bad idea. In general, it relates to one of those unspoken rules in pro-wrestling: don’t do anything in front of a booker that you wouldn’t do in the ring. It got attached to disco, in particular, because fifteen years ago a young talent named Robbie Jones made the mistake of dancing to Staying Alive with his girlfriend at an SWF Christmas party.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Rumour has it old man Eisen caught sight of the kid mid-jive, and in that instant a blue chip athlete named Robbie Jones became the afro’d doctor of love, Robbie Retro, for the rest of his career. For many wrestling fans—particularly the faithful we’d cultivated as passionate fans of DAVE—Robbie Retro was the kiss of death and the end of a promising career.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> To those folks, I can only point out how well that gimmick served Robbie and how much money he earned from it over the years he spent working for Eisen. He may never have won a world championship, but his longetivity's been impressive. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Still, I suspect a lot of the NYC-Dub boys would have been happier if I’d gone home instead of joining the post-show party. Most nights, I would have obliged them, but Pablo Rodriguez was among the wrestlers heading out to celebrate and I wanted to catch up with an old friend. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Fifteen years ago, during the period where DAVE was the hottest thing in wrestling, Pablo Rodriguez had been one of the guys I built the promotion around—a hardcore luchador unlike anything America had seen before, with the ability to do it all: talk, fly, wrestle, and brawl.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Now I settled in behind him and handed him a glass of scotch. I tilted my head in Hawkeye Calhoun’s direction. “So, what do you think?”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="qB5gh2e.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/qB5gh2e.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Pablo went silent as he contemplated the question. “The kid’s got something, but he’s not the finished product yet.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Neither were you, the first time someone picked you to work on top.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> That earned me a smile, and a faint salute of acknowledgement. “It’s going to be an uphill battle,” Pablo said. “Everybody loved Steve, and everybody loved what Steve could do with the belt around his waist. It didn’t matter if nobody knew him because he’d make them believe once he stepped into the ring, and he’d get the other guy over before he took the win.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “It’s not often you get a Steve Flash on the roster.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Steve isn’t the problem.” Pablo drained his scotch, signalled the bartender to pour another. On the far side of the bar, Animal Harker tempted fate by doing the Hustle on a podium. Pablo Rodriguez cleared his throat. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Most of the promotors didn’t believe you were coming back, until you came back for real,” he said. “Now you’re back, and you’ve got a reputation.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “IPW does hardcore.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “It’s not the hardcore rep that bothers them,” Pablo said. “You’re the guy who took the land of misfit toys and got them on TV. You convinced the fans </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Tank</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> was a big deal through embellishment and promotion. Larry might want to bring the belt to New York, but a lot of the promotors are worried it’ll end up on someone who can’t bring in the money like the champion should. </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>That’s</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> what you’re up against.”</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> He claimed his drink and excused himself, heading off to talk shop with Happy Elwood in the corner. I sat on my stool and watched the NYCW crew at play, chewing over what Pablo had told me. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> I’d floated the news I was coming back to Pablo early, specifically because, as COTT World Champion, he had access to the promotors and bookers I didn’t. I knew Larry wanted the belts to have a run in the Tri-State, and I knew that was going to be a hard sell given our talent pool.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> And while I’d hoped for better news, I hadn’t </div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>expected</em></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> it. Getting a New York based World Champ wasn’t going to be easy at the best of times, and I'd rubbed all sorts of people the wrong way while running DAVE and working for the DeColts.</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> I knew there were bookers in the territory who disliked me, and more that held reservations. That's why I wanted to get their temperature, because I had a plan for the territories and the belts and NYCW, and Larry's desire to be the crown jewel played into that. </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> But to do that required trust, and a guy we could push for a world champioinship that could deliver like Steve Flash did. The question was: could that guy be Hawkeye Calhoun?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div>