Texasrangers13

January 18, 2021

Trevor Murdock vs. Aron Stevens - One Last Time!

NWA World Television Championship: Anthony Bennett © vs. Jocephus

Eli Drake vs. ROH's Kenny King

I wanted to pick K.I.N.G.... KINGGGGG... but alas Drake makes more sense. I'm going with Jocephus here; honestly don't know too much about Bennett, but you've booked him really well; just think the long-term story with Jocephus makes sense here.

January 18, 2021

In a Tiny or Small company is there any benefit to pre-booking a show and having a legend on there? Like if you pay for Ricky Steamboat and pre-book it does it help at all?

January 17, 2021

What a kick-off to Season 5. I could see, and hear, the entire thing. Perfect buildup and now perfect execution to the season. Love Agent Low-Ki; that'll be perfect. TJ Perkins reaching back to his past and mixing it with his present, nailed it. Loved the Marty/Pentagon bit. Main Event and final promo have me hyped for the next one.

One of the best journal starts I've seen.

January 17, 2021

Preview: Episode Seven

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

March Week 3, 2021

Exclusive Preview: Episode Seven of the Mini-Season (Monday Night Fight Club)

Promos
1) We start the promos with a recap of the last episode with Stephen Amell announcing that all four competitors from the last episodes main event will be facing off with the winners earning the shot to finish the "mini-season" at the Top of the Table. That means this episode will feature both Chris Dickinson vs. Odinson and Kratos vs. SCHAFF.

2) Next we see the same promo from last week that featured "Sao Paulo Hitman" Cezar Bononi as it wrapped up, we see him sitting at a table, fanning through a large pile of cash. He smiles and says "Everything has a price when your the hitman" --- Cezar Bononi will be in action...but against who... well our next promo answered that...

3) "Big" Sean Studd is typically a man of few words, but he's sitting in a doctors office getting his knee checked and the Doctor tells him that he wouldn't recommend him putting much weight on that knee (the same one he had surgically repaired last year before joining us) for 2-3 weeks. The Doctor gets and call and steps out briefly; but Studd gets up and limps out of the office without finishing the appointment, the cameraman follows and asks if he knows who attacked him: Studd says "Of course I do; I'm not blind, Cezar Bononi picked the wrong man to mess with... and now rents due."

3) The West Coast Wrecking Crew's promo aired again; click below to see it in its entirety...
<iframe width="280" height="160" src="
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The West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Issacs and Jorel Nelson; Looking for a fight)

4) nZo is on the phone with his agent: "J, you seeing this sh!*, they are still airing that ridiculous promo; I'm going to this to stop... it's killing my airtime...and you better bring Pretty Boy with you."

5) In a brief, but haunting, scene "Da Pope" is dressed to the nines as he walks out of The Sanctuary to greet a vehicle that pulled into the driveway...
He converses with the driver who pops the trunk, "Da Pope" nods and Steve Pain leads "Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto to the vehicle, Comoroto pulls a restrained and hooded body from the trunk, tossing him over his shoulder as they return into The Sanctuary. It appears they may have a victim to "practice" on...

Confirmed Matches

Representing The Bloodline: The Anoa'i's (Afa 2-3, Lance 1-3) vs. Local Talents
Cezar Bononi (1-2) vs. "Big" Sean Studd (5-3)
Chris Dickinson (4-1) vs. Odinson (7-1)
SCHAFF (5-1) vs. Kratos (7-0)

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Pretty Boy is a strange nickname for a bodyguard/bouncer!... Maybe Big O?
Great show as always, intrigued by the mini tournament, will SCHAFF end the mini season as the top guy? I wonder. Can't really see Kratos be the top guy at the end, so my bet is that we're having a SCHAFF/Dickinson finals

nZo might just be naming his people whatever he feels like... he's even been debating renaming Adrian Alanis and Liam Gray ("Yo Adrian and Gray Z") ... I'm pretty pleased with my choice for the Bodyguard... Think he'll fit the gimmick well.

Kratos is undefeated so far; but SCHAFF is pissed and "Wrestling Baddest MF'er" is out for revenge... it'll be a hot main event.

As I've told you before, you've made me a fan of TK for sure with his stance on being a loner and forgotten – it's hard not to want him to win. Glad to see the logical win over Dunkerton here and a setup for Colon vs TK which is something that will be good for either man to come out on top for honestly. You know as soon as I read a paragraph and know it's the pope I smile to myself because I know it will be good. He has become my favorite on the show and I always look forward to his promos. Learning from failure promo I think is a good way to keep the faction strong while also acknowledging they have a bit to go. Good job. I think the nZo promo interests me as I am racing in my head to figure out who this could be. I am equally interested in the Studd incident. Who can knock this big man down? Good show, got me into the next one. Good stuff as usual.

TK has become my favorite project; based entirely off a couple instagram/twitter posts he made last year; it's been a fun way to take a spin on a character and give him life. Dunkerton has a purpose, and can really fit in a number of roles. Burke has always been a favorite promo of mine to listen to; so it's fun to try to capture a bit of that and write it.

Studd's payoff may or may not be disappointing; just working on the longer-term story-telling here with this one and giving both a match.

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Reminder here is the card:

Confirmed Matches
Representing The Bloodline: The Anoa'i's (Afa 2-3, Lance 1-3) vs. Local Talents
Cezar Bononi (1-2) vs. "Big" Sean Studd (5-3)
Chris Dickinson (4-1) vs. Odinson (7-1)
SCHAFF (5-1) vs. Kratos (7-0)

January 16, 2021

Late Nominations

Trying to get this in before the buzzer (I'll edit and add links)

Rookie RW

No one man should have all that POWERRR by BigJ I love both his Lucha Underground Bootstrap Paradox and this NWA diary. Personally the NWA one I connect more with; but both are excellent, so I wanted to make sure this one is nominated as well!

My other Rookie RW nominations are all nominated; but shoutout to all those. Lots of excellent Real World diaries here currently which I love!

Showcase

[shock Signing] ECW97: Survival on Swanson and Ritner by Tobin834 Jake "The Snake" Roberts debut in ECW; the way this was presented in the story with the large black space in the story just fit. I love the overall graphics and everything about this one.

January 16, 2021

The Collective: St. Patrick's Fight Club

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

March Week 3, 2021

Show Report: St. Patrick's Fight Club

Opening Bout
TK O'Ryan (2-1) vs. Sugar Dunkerton (2-2)

The show opened in the ring with "The Man with No Country" squaring off with Sugar Dunkerton; in the pilot episodes Sugar scored a victory, but as TK has become a more marquee character he's been on a roll, both in promos and in the ring. He took home the victory here with a pretty consistent offensive attack capped off with the 8 Second Ride followed by a gorgeous Moonsault for the 1-2-3.

Promos
Immediately following the match "Classico" Eddie Colon was out and immediately applauded TK O'Ryan but proceeded to say that he too understands what it means to be cast aside and forgotten because of the fact that he's tag team star. So he wants to TK to think about his next opponent and pick the man he thinks will make his career what he wants it to be... so at the finale, Eddie wants to face TK one on one.

<iframe width="280" height="160" src="
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The West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Issacs and Jorel Nelson; Looking for a fight)

As the promo ended we see nZo, with the Real1 Krew, on a cell phone with his agent. nZo is laughing and says "You see that video J; those clowns think they can just come in buy airtime... well not on our watch... If they show up here next episode, you better be here ready to serve them the papers and you better bring our muscle Pretty Boy!"

Match Two
Artemis Spencer (2-3) vs. Liam Gray (1-3)

Unfortunately for Liam; while nZo was rambling on the phone to his (their?) agent, he had to head to the ring to face a pissed off Artemis Spencer. Spencer methodically dismantled Gray and forced him to tap out to a Crossface in the middle of the ring.

Promos
We see EMTs rushing into the studio from the snowy outside, they rush to the side of "Big" Sean Studd who is screaming in pain on the ground. The EMTs try to calm him down but he pushes them back and says he just needs a little help getting up... Davey Boy Smith Jr., entered the scene and helped his partner to his feet as they walked towards the ambulance Davey Boy asked what happened, but the cameras were unable to pick-up what Sean said in reply.

Next there is a stock-style drone shot of the favelas in Brazil, the camera diving down into the streets before transitioning to a more local to us dojo with Cezar Bononi training in it; Bononi looks up, snarls and calls himself "The Sao Paulo Hitman"

We jumped back into the Steiners Training Camp where they were breaking down the earlier matches. Rick staying focused on the technique, with Scott seemingly semi-distracted but also getting into Bronson's face and telling him that he needed to uphold the family name. Scott said that they'd get Bronson ready and once it was time, he'd run over the competition like a fullback pounding the hole. Rick just shook his head as Scott's 'legendary' promo skills creeped into the scene.

Match Three
Patrick Scott (0-3) vs. "The Problem" Sefa Fatu (1-2)

Back from the warehouses by the bay, "The Problem" nearly faced a problem when Patrick Scott rolled him up for a flash 2.99 pinfall; but this only upset Fatu who swung the table his way and dominated the match, delivering a huge Superkick followed by the Samoan Splash for the victory. Post-Match, Junior Fatu stepped into the ring, and gave a "thumbs down" sign as Sefa smiled and delivered another Superkick to Scott. Sefa lifted him for another move but Davey Boy Smith Jr, still pissed from his partners assault came flying out and cleared the Fatu's from the ring.

Promo
We head into the darkness and up the darkened driveway to the mansion known as "The Sanctuary". "Da Pope" Elijah Burke is seated in the study of the home at a large mahogany desk. Behind him there is a collection of books lining the shelves. There are two empty chairs in front of him, but it doesn't take long before Steve Pain leads the "Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto into the room. Burke tells them both to sit, he slides a metal tray that has a crystal glass with liquid in it and two small pills on the tray. Both men quickly take the pills and chase it with the liquid. "Today's lesson is about growing from failure. We all fail, but how we get up shows who we truly are... Like the books lining the wall behind me, we will turn the page, and return to the ring, and we will show our growth. If you are to succeed, you must fail."

Main Event
SCHAFF (5-0) and Chris Dickinson (4-0) vs. Gods of War (Kratos 6-0 and Odinson 6-1)

The main event collision between four of the top competitors thus far was easily the match of the night and one of the best matches we have seen. This was a pure bloodbath and it started early with SCHAFF bleeding from the mouth after a stiff shot from Odinson. Dickinson returned the favor when he bounced Odinson's skull off the ring post. All four men here dealt out striking blows and this one came across great. The finish saw the chemistry of the Gods of War outweigh the undefeated Dickinson and SCHAFF as Kratos delivered a huge Running Powerslam to SCHAFF, Dickinson appeared to have a chance to break up the count, but with the damage dealt, he chose to lick his wounds and backed himself out allowing Kratos to cover the man at the Top of the Table and give the Gods of War another marquee victory...

End of Show Promo
As Dickinson went to exit... Stephen Amell appeared behind him... tapping him on the shoulder and reminding him that "In The Collective, team wins and losses and individual wins and losses are the same thing... so he did nothing to help his own case... but... tonight showed us there is a new hierarchy here... so next week we will have an eliminator showcase. JR Kratos will face SCHAFF one on one, and Chris Dickinson will face Odinson... The winner of each fight... will face each other in the main event of our mini-season Finale for the right to stand atop the Table.

Match Results

TK O'Ryan defeated Sugar Dunkerton (Put TK O'Ryan over more in a solid opener)
Artemis Spencer defeated Liam Gray (Gray served as fodder for Spencer getting a win back; but the bigger story is the Real1 Krew is likely to have some new muscle next episode)
Sefa Fatu defeated Patrick Scott (Story-telling; got the point across but not a great match at all)
Gods of War defeated Dickinson and SCHAFF (Match of the night; one of the top five matches the company has put on so far)

Overall Thoughts
TK O'Ryan continues his star-making performance with the combination of unique character development and solid in-ring action. Sugar Dunkerton served as a nice foil here and while he'll mix it up in the ring, he's better on commentary than in the ring for this story.

Eddie Colon and TK O'Ryan have a bit of a similar dilemma in that both are much more known for their time as Tag Team Specialists, Colon has much more of the name value, but TK is on the rise and with this challenge, TK could make his mark.

The West Coast Wrecking Crew of Royce Issacs and Jorel Nelson are well-known on the West Coast, and they made an appearance as an unsigned team at the Kings of the Mountain; this promo tonight seemed to indicate they are looking for an opportunity here. They've wrestled primarily as "The 1%" with success in places like CWH and DEFY, after a brief break, they've rebranded themselves and now are looking to make an impact in a blossoming tag division... It appears the first headache they'll face are the Real1 Krew... speaking of whom nZo referred to his agent as "J" and mentioned "Pretty Boy" but we aren't sure if those are just nZo lexicon or the names of his agent and his "bag-man" aka Muscle... but I get the feeling we are about to find out.

"Big" Sean Studd was attacked backstage but we got no details; expect to learn some more prior to the next episode.

Cezar Bononi got a bit of character development; he appears to be pushing a street fighter type gimmick... The last good street fighter from Brazil was Blanka (ok, bad pop culture reference)

Sefa Fatu has some character development, and his father helps, but the in-ring work has been fringe average at best. He's the best of the Bloodline currently, but they'll need to make a step up to really take hold. They continue to torment Davey Boy Smith Jr; and the fact that we didn't see the Anoa'i's tonight leads to some speculation that it was them who attacked Studd.

The Sanctuary appears to be heading back into the ring; and I can only expect that "Da Pope" will expect a different result from his men.

Last but not least, our main event and the subsequent announcement of next episodes "Eliminator Challenge" was excellent. Chris Dickinson and SCHAFF were partners by necessity and they proved to be strange bedfellows. Dickinson began to walk out on his partner but ultimately, as Amell reminded all, wins and losses in a tag team match count the same regardless of who is pinned. As such, Kratos is now the lone undefeated man with 5+ matches. The eliminators will help shake out the top four, and will lead to the main event of our mini-season finale two episodes away.

January 15, 2021

Loved the recap and podcast episode. Seeing Corino as a rookie is wild to me considering that he felt like a really big name only a couple years later. Will be fun to see if you can get him over a bit. Brian Lee is a guy I've never loved, but you've made me take him seriously and view him as a real "champ" (Which I love). Keep it up!

January 15, 2021

MARTI BELLE VS. VIPRESS

JR KRATOS & ??? VS. SoCAL DISTANCING -- Kratos gets his win back from Brown thanks to his new partner.

NICK ALDIS & KAMILLE VS. JAY BRISCOE & ODB -- ODB eats the pin

BONUS QUESTION: Who is JR Kratos' mystery Mentor? Matt Sydal -- Total guess, but the whole Spritual Advisor piece made me think Jocephus but he's... lost in Mongrovia.

BONUS QUESTION 2: What is Bennett's special announcement? He and Maria are getting divorced?! No clue.

January 10, 2021

The Collective Episode Six Preview

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

March Week 2, 2021

Exclusive Preview: Episode Six of the Mini-Season (St. Patrick's Fight Club)

Promos
1) Hot off the heels of the Kings of Mountain, "Dirty Daddy" Chris Dickinson and SCHAFF have challenged the Gods of War to a match that will shape the coming episodes. This promo starts with Dickinson going through his typical spiel and saying that he's a dominant force that can take down anyone; but tonight he's teaming up with another undefeated mountain of a man in the man at the Top of the Table, SCHAFF, and with this match they'll take down the newly crowned kings... and once they do... all bets are off. ... Static cuts in and the camera cuts to the a mountain top, Odinson and Kratos are seated in the two ridiculous thrones that nZo tried to woo them with, The Kings of Mountain agrocrag-esque trophy at their feet. Both men stand, they bump forearms and menacingly staredown the camera as the static ends the scene. A match graphic shows this will be the Main Event.

2) TK O'Ryan is seated on top of a hay bail inside the barn. He says he enjoyed watching the Kings of the Mountain and it reinforced his knowledge that the only way to make a name for yourself is to do it yourself. Otherwise, the industry will just will just chew you up and spit you out. He calls out Sugar Dunkerton as a specific example, he says that Sugar has been in the industry for 17-years but no one knows who he really is. He says Sugar had a chance this summer to prove himself and instead he became a bad punchline "Pineapple Pete", he was on a big podcast and was the flavor of the month, but in the end... he wound up without the contract. And then when this new division, Flight Club launch here in The Collective TK faced Sugar one on one and Sugar proved to him that he can go, infect Sugar beat TK and that stung. It reminded me of the work that I still needed to do; and that if I wanted something I needed to go take it myself. "The Man With No Country" felt that loss in his core, and now he wants to go one on one with Sugar to continue to prove why he walks alone and isn't just a follower.

3) We see an MMA/karate gym with a number of fighters surrounding two men in the middle of the ring. Cezar Bononi judo-tosses the faceless opponent to the mat before locking in an armbar as the man screams in pain tapping out. He stands up and steps back, we see that the men around him appear to be taking bets or a collection of some kind. As the man on the mat writhes in pain, Bononi walks over to the group and receives of a cut of the bet... "Pain has a price, and the hitman has a menu of services..."

4) Highlights from the Kings of the Mountain are shown, including The Real1 Krew's shocking first round victory. After that highlight aired, Artemis Spencer is seen on the screen and he issues a challenge for Liam Gray and will face him this episode.

5) We return the warehouse district we saw Junior and Sefa Fatu during the Kings of the Mountain... this time they are walking out of the warehouse with a giddy look on their face. Junior looks at his son and says "nicely done; it's time to get back in the ring and show no mercy... Samoan Style"... Sefa will be in action against Patrick Scott.

Confirmed Card

"Dirty Daddy" Chris Dickinson (4-0) and SCHAFF (5-0) vs. Gods of War (Odinson 6-1 and Kratos 6-0)
Sugar Dunkerton (2-2) vs. TK O'Ryan (2-1)
Artemis Spencer (2-3) vs. Liam Gray (1-3)
"The Problem" Sefa Fatu (1-2) vs. Patrick Scott (0-3)

January 7, 2021

Really fun first part of the show! Love Low-Ki and the addition of him feels like something Lucha Underground would do... Will he bring his Hitman gimmick and wrestle in a full suit again... he should haha.

Tarver/Ryback with The Lord is a very interesting dynamic and should be a good prizefight!

Love the graphics and style, really excellent work.

January 7, 2021

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BHK1978" data-cite="BHK1978" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Should have gone with Gods of War. My thought process was Davey seems to be someone who you have high hopes for. Plus the fact that he is a former WWE wrestler. But it makes perfect sense to see GOW win there. I like the slow build of Bronson. Just because he is the son of a superstar does not mean he will be one and I think you are getting that across nicely here.</div></blockquote> Ya Davey's actually only slightly higher overall in the Southwest than Kratos/Odinson were, partially due to my build I suspect, but I was surprised by that myself. Bronson has been a fun one to envision and script out for me. Gotta keep getting him better in the ring too. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blodyxe" data-cite="Blodyxe" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Interesting song choice for Steve, I remember that show <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Gotta catch up, always liked your diaries. Just read up the first few pages, damn it sucks that AR Fox got that nasty injury <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote> Not gonna lie; that show freaked me out as a kid. I refused to watch it. But it fit the Sanctuary theme. You are the first person to point out the theme songs which I added merely for the cosmetics, and I've enjoyed finding random songs for guys... Ya, the AR Fox injury was a bad break (literally). I originally was going to push him as the face on the Flight Club division and bring the Skulk along with him... when that injury happened before the first show; I realized that Alanis and Gray were perfect foils for nZo's group and that fit so well... next couple episodes will show more development there. Glad to have you on board.

January 7, 2021

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="tobin834" data-cite="tobin834" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52246" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="WZsQRHk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WZsQRHk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> <div style="text-align:center;">The official ECW Hardcore Podcast from iWrestling.com</div> This week we go over the night that was in Philadelphia at ECW Wrestlepalooza '97, the television deal for ECW and more!! Listen: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12jZgF8HKrG0b-BXk_I3BQtQbQ3_ISXcX/view?usp=sharing" rel="external nofollow">https://drive.google.com/file/d/12jZgF8HKrG0b-BXk_I3BQtQbQ3_ISXcX/view?usp=sharing</a></div></div></blockquote> This is an INCREDIBLE usage of technology and kayfabe. So well done; really feels like one of the podcasts I'd thrown on while driving long-distances a couple years back on WCW (83 Weeks, The Conrad/Tony one and the Nitro Podcast)... This is awesome. Love hearing the thoughts and logic; and such a great execution.

January 5, 2021

Introducing: Steve Pain

Steve Pain

Anarchy: A state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority. So naturally, Steve Pain, a man who has forged his own path of late under the guise of bringing Anarchy appears to have been indoctrinated into "Da Pope's" Sanctuary for those who cannot help themselves. Having made a bit of a name for himself under a mask as Pindar in Lucha Underground, Pain continued to make a bit of a scene down in Mexico wrestling with reckless abandon and a general distaste for the rules. Finding himself at a crossroads in his career, the Los Angeles native reportedly approached "Da Pope" Elijah Burke to help resurrect his career and guide him down the path to salvation from himself. Officially now the third member of Burke's stable, Pain hasn't even made an official in-ring debut, but with that coming up soon, he’s officially received his membership into the Fight Club. Trained by Junior Fatu and Gangrel, among others, Pain’s path to the top hasn’t been linear, but with “Da Pope” in his corner, things may be turning around…

Vitals

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 205

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Theme:

January 5, 2021

Almost think one of GoW were gonna betray his partner and join nZo!
As always, fantastic stuff
Pope, TK & nZo are a testament of how well you develop interesting characters. They are a constant highlight of your dhows and are what I come back for even more than the actual matched!
The general feel you generate throught your words is fantastic. It's gritty, it's underground, I love it

It feels like what Wrestling Society X should have been

Wrestling Society X is a great visual for this (minus the metal bands...though maybe that'll come).

I think I've said it, but I'm glad the appreciation of character development is coming through. I've enjoyed remaking their characters and enjoy the push they are building towards. I've always thought wins and losses matter, but so to does the story being told behind the results, after all not everyone can be undefeated.

nZo still needs his muscle... so his recruitment efforts may not be in vain.

Doesn't sound like Big Poppa Pump has truly put down the wrestling spirit like his brother Rick. Is it a feud, a new Steiner's or nothing? I think Bronson has become someone very interesting to watch, I like his development thus far. Having the Steiner Bros there doesn't hurt the interest either. I dig the TK advancement and showing he wants to get out of the shadows. Very identifiable to I'm sure a lot of people. He's also right, the tournament does nothing for him (unless he won, but even then he shares the spotlight – something he said he doesnt want to do anymore). Happy with the finals and who was involved, happy with the result. I liked seeing how Pope dealt with a loss, to me it built his character a bit. His promos are very well written out and creative, so to see his sorrow was sort of cool to me. (I'm a real life heel I guess). Great show top to bottom. Enjoyed the tournament and how you presented it.

Honestly, I just get a kick out of Scott Steiner cutting promos. He may make a special appearance here or there in the ring but the goal is definitely to help Bronson take the next step... that said, you can never rule out a sibling rivalry...

TK wants to be his own man, and I agree, it is definitely identifiable for a lot of people. He's not really a loner, but he's also not wanting to be second fiddle.

The finals were probably a bit obvious, but the I think it's building to the story and building to the finale of the mini-season well which ultimately is the goal. Plus it means Gods of War will face SCHAFF and Dickinson next episode, which should be a great fight.

Pope's character is a ton of fun for me to think out and envision. I want him to show emotion and show the highs and lows of "helping those who cannot help themselves"... Not everything is perfect in this world after all.

------

As always guys, appreciate the feedback without a shadow of a doubt. This has been the most fun I've had from a story-telling perspective. Really looking forward to the next three episodes too.

January 5, 2021

Onslaught vs. Deathwish -- I feel like these are the same people... that shows my CV knowledge.

Langston “Lion Heart” Franklin vs. The Masked Mauler VII

First Round Match in the NEW Championship Tournament:

Mullet Mike vs. Cip Conduit

First Round Match in the NEW Championship Tournament:

??? vs. Tavon Blake Jr.

First Round Match in the NEW Championship Tournament:

Devil Dog vs. Raphael

First Round Match in the NEW Championship Tournament:

Conner Threepwood vs. Remmy Honeyman

January 5, 2021

The Moth as a Coke-addict... that seems safe! And now he's got a Session Moth... ah....

Love the visuals, and design. Fun second episode.

January 5, 2021

EPISODE 36 PREDICTION CONTEST RESULTS

Theheel: 3/3
falling_star: 2/3
The Pitbull: 2/3
Dustin: 2/3
tobin834: 1/3

Congrats to Theheel for the perfect score and guessing the (almost) exact ending of the Main Event! Textbook 101 booking on my part I guess

TOTAL STANDING:

falling_star: 12/16
Texasrangers13: 10/13
Theheel: 8/13
tobin834: 8/16
TheLariat: 3/7
Dustin: 2/3
The Pitbull: 2/3

Looks like you missed my predictions! HAHA, think I was 2 for 3; but I can verify.

As for the new episode.

Brian Milonas vs. Aron Stevens KA-RA-TAY

NWA TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Anthony Bennett © vs. JR Kratos -- Kratos continuing his GDS boards reign of terror!

GRUDGE MATCH: Vipress vs. Thunder Rosa

MAIN EVENT: 4 vs. 4, one fall to a finish

Strictly Business (Nick Aldis, Mike Bennett, Thomas Latimer & Doug Williams)

vs.

The Briscoe Brothers & Occam's Razor

BONUS QUESTION: Who will take the pinfall in the Main Event? Williams

January 4, 2021

Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The Kings of the Mountain Review

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

March Week 1, 2021

Show Report: The Kings of the Mountain, One Night Eight Team Tag Tournament

Opening Promo
The Collective opened the month of March with their one night, eight team, single elimination tournament for tag teams that Stephen Amell titled Kings of the Mountain. The show opened with Amell backstage with a large mountain shaped monolith that was to be given to the winners... He showed the bracket and then was joined by The Steiners who came in to discuss being a tag team all over the world and capturing titles all over the world. They brought Bronson up and said that they didn't want to throw him right into a tag team because they wanted him to learn how to stand on his own, but that eventually they know he's going to be a threat to any division. They reemphasize his training and say they'll be watching this tournament closely to pick up anything that Bronson can learn and grow from... Ultimately Scott gets into one of his rambling promos and says the cream always rises to the top, and Big Poppa Pump is your hook up... Rick interrupts him and reminds him that their time has passed them by but the focus is now on Bronson... and now they better watch and learn.

Opening Match
Gods of War (Odinson 3-1, Kratos 3-0) vs. Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs (Debuts)

Nelson and Isaacs have been one of the better tag teams on the West Coast over the past few years were the eighth and final team in the tournament, looking to make an impression and earn a membership to The Collective; unfortunately they drew the Gods of War in the first round and despite the best effort of any team against the Gods of War so far, they fell victim to Kratos and Odinson in the opening round.

Promo
TK O'Ryan is seen sitting on the back of a pick-up truck, the truck has a snowplow attached to the front and it is clear that TK has spent the day on this ranch that he's been seen at in all the other promos. TK smiles a wry smile and addresses the camera. He states "I was asked why I wouldn't want to find a partner, and enter this tournament, I was asked why I didn't want to compete, but to me that was easy, I've always been a 'good solider', a 'great teammate', a 'high character locker room guy' but I've never been that star. I've never been the person that people want to be. I've never been the guy that kids dream of growing up to be. And frankly, if I keep doing what I was doing, I never would be that guy... I realized that the industry doesn't really care about my dreams... So I needed to chase them myself... Entering this tournament does nothing for me... it merely gives the company another hand in the fight... I've places to go and people to beat... but it is on my terms. I have no loyalties, and I don't want any friends. I am the Man with No Country; I'm here for me."

Match Two
"Big" Sean Studd (3-2) and Davey Boy Smith Jr (5-1) vs. The Madness and The Cure ("Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto (0-1) and Steve Pain('0-0')

"Da Pope" led his charges to the ring with "Freak Beast" on a chain being pulled by Steve Pain. Burke unhooked the chain and immediately veered off and joined commentary as Pain and Comoroto got into the ring. The match began with Comoroto and Studd squarely off, goliaths in the ring and the fierce strikes echoed through the studio. On commentary, Cyrus Fees questioned Pope's purpose but Pope insisted his intentions were pure and that he was helping those who couldn't help themselves. Comoroto and Pain worked well together initially and the "Freak Beast" for his part seemed unphased by much of the damage dealt by Studd but a Big Boot took him off his feet and from the ring and that shifted the entire tide as Comoroto lost his focus and didn't return to the apron, as Steve Pain looked for a tag, Davey Boy Smith got rolling preventing him from getting to his corner. Compounding matters, Comoroto began self-inflicting damage to himself outside the ring rather than return to the apron, banging himself against the ring apron and ring posts, while Steve Pain was left to dry giving Studd and Smith a relatively easy win in the end. Shockingly good match.

Post-Match "Da Pope" calmed Comoroto and encouraged Steve Pain that wins and losses weren't what measured growth, they'll take this as a lesson and learn from it.

Promo
We buzzed back to the Steiners training camp where they were watching the first two matches. The have multiple screens and angles and Rick is breaking down a series of moves from the most recent match to Bronson while Scott circles things on the screen...

Match Three
Real1 Krew (Alanis and Gray both 0-2) vs. Artemis Spencer (2-2) and "Grizzly" Kal Jax (2-1)

The money was on Spencer and "Grizzly" Kal Jax here and rightfully so as the Real1 Krew haven't exactly strung together many wins. Their leader, nZo enrolled them in this tournament as a way to keep the brand on television while things were going a bit rough on the music video front and his agent secured this slot... and well, Liam Gray and Adrian Alanis shockingly impressed. The dark charisma of "Grizzly" Kal Jax and Artemis Spencer just didn't click that well and they ultimately took a shocking defeat when Liam Gray rolled Arty up for a quick 1-2-3...

Promo
Backstage Eddie Colon and Sugar Dunkerton chat it up, they discuss "island life" and how Sugar D has always been looking to get to Puerto Rico. Eddie mentions he can arrange for that assuming they perform well in this tournament! The two men high five and head to the ring

Match Four
The Bloodline's Afa Jr (1-3) and Lance Anoa'i (0-2) vs. Eddie Colon (2-0) and Sugar Dunkerton (2-1)

Unfortunately for Sugar Dunkerton it doesn't look like Eddie Colon will be helping him get to Puerto Rico anytime soon. The Anoa'i's took this one with relative ease, a Samoan Spike and Samoan Splash did the ticket as Lance pinned Suge D and the Anoa'i moved into the next round where they'd clash with Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd.

Promos
We see a dimly lit driveway surrounded by tall pine trees; a blacked out vehicle approaches a gate and as the gate opens the vehicle drives through... "Da Pope" Elijah Burke gets out of the drivers seat, and Steve Pain follows from the passenger side... Burke glances back and says "wait" as he walks away from the vehicle and collects something from just inside the doorway... Pain opens the reardoor and "Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto lumbers out, guided by Pain and still on a chain like he was pre-match. Burke approaches with a two crystal glasses and tells Pain to unhook the chain. "Nick, tonight's lesson is trust. In the ring and out of the ring. In the ring, your partner trusted you would be there but you were not, you were self-inflicting pain, but now out of the ring you have a chance to grow." He hands the glasses to both men... "Salvation can only be seen through trials and tribulations... tonight was a failure in the ring, but it was not the end of the road...We grow as one, Welcome to our Sanctuary, let's go back inside."

Junior Fatu and "The Problem" Sefa Fatu are seen just outside a remote location, it appears to be a warehouse of sorts, and appears to be in California as there are palm trees outside and there is no snow on the ground (thus explaining their absence from the Anoa'i match earlier)... The warehouse has some busted out windows and reminds you on the type you'd envision black market activities taking place in. Junior and Sefa are seen entering the warehouse but the camera does not follow.

Match Five
Davey Boy Smith Jr (6-1) and "Big" Sean Studd (4-2) vs. The Bloodline's Afa Jr (2-2) and "The Future" Lance Anoa'i (1-2)

This match utterly disappointed as The Anoa'i's seemed a bit winded; Davey Boy and "Big" Sean continued to work well as a team. The finish saw Afa Jr eat a Big Boot from "Big" Sean as Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd punched their ticket to the finals. The Anoa'i's general failings continue to disappoint the Bloodline but at least tonight, Junior Fatu wasn't here to see it.

Promo
The Gods of War are sitting in what appear to be large thrones... nZo appears and asks them what they think of the "Thrones he's provided!" Odinson and Kratos both snarl but don't say anything. nZo asks if they'll consider joining the "Real1 Krew" so that no matter who wins the next match, they'll have someone in the finals... Odinson laughs and he and Kratos stand, pushing nZo aside...

Match Six
Gods of War (Odinson 4-1, Kratos 4-0) vs. Real1 Krew (Both 1-2)

Well... The finals you expected are the finals you got. Kratos and Odinson annihilated Gray and Alanis, making quick work (even faster work than their first round match) of the two smaller foes and punching their ticket to the finals and clash with Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd

Promo
In the gym SCHAFF is once again lifting... "Dirty Daddy" Chris Dickinson walks in and says that SCHAFF may be the top of the table today, but come the end of the month, everyone will be looking up at the "Dirty Daddy"... SCHAFF smiles and says, he respects Dickinson's confidence... He wants to know why Dickinson didn't enter this tournament, and even says "I would have teamed with you"... Dickinson seems impressed and shares his mutual admiration... "How about this... whoever wins tonight... we challenge next"

Main Event
Kings of the Mountain Finals
Gods of War (Odinson 5-1, Kratos 5-0) vs. "Big" Sean Studd (5-2) and Davey Boy Smith Jr (7-1)

This was a collision between arguably four of the top five challengers to SCHAFF and this finals bout delivered on all fronts. This was four men hoss fighting it out in the ring. Truly the first real challenge the Gods of War have faced and the first time we've seen a match featuring them cross the five minute mark. In the end though their strength and chemistry was on point and it allowed them take advantage. The finish saw Odinson hit the F10 on Studd and Kratos crash into Smith, preventing him from breaking up the cover. Odinson and Kratos won the match and posed with the Kings of the Mountain "trophy" as the show went black.

Match Results

Gods of War defeated Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson (Good showcase for a potential new team, but they weren't going to knock off the Gods of War)
Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd defeated "Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto and Steve Pain (Match of the Night; good storytelling, good progression of characters)
Real1 Krew defeated "Grizzly" Kal Jax and Artemis Spencer (Upset of the night, worst match of the night... dud)
The Anoa'i's defeated Sugar Dunkerton and Eddie Colon (Solid bout, showed the strength of the Anoa'i's)
Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd defeated The Anoa'i's (Dud, Anoa'i's underdelivered, not worth your time)
Gods of War defeated Real1 Krew (Classic squash with a humor piece tie-in pre-match)
Gods of War defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd to be crowned the Kings of the Mountain (Great main event, and true hoss fight. Hard-hitting contest)

Overall Thoughts
The first real tournament of purpose here in The Collective did a lot more than just move the needle in the tag division. We saw numerous stories move forward and that is important as we cross the halfway mark on this mini-season.

The big takeaways here from my point of view... Where were Sefa and Junior and why were they there and not at The Collective to help the Anoa'i's, this will develop but Lance and Afa Jr could have used the backup.

"Da Pope" led his charges into battle and they didn't take home the win, but it was the match of the night and it further developed Burke's "Sanctuary" he's calling the team "The Madness and The Cure" but I'm not so certain that isn't more a reflection on Burke's own personality as "Da Pope" seems convinced that he can find a lesson in everything. Today's was trust and growth, as he allowed Comoroto off the chains prior to reentering the Sanctuary.

The Steiners continue to showcase their "coaching" nature with the rookie Bronson and this will continue to be a theme for them moving forward.

TK O'Ryan cut yet another solid promo, furthering his character development and further his desire to go at it alone. If he keeps impressing in the ring he might be a central figure in the "Flight Club" division moving forward.

nZo tried to push the Real1 Krew and at his agents advice signed them up for this tournament... well... take the good with the bad... they won a bout! Upsetting Spencer and Jax, but they also were fed to the wolves after nZo may have pissed off the Gods of War by trying to buy their friendship... oops.

Speaking of Arty Spencer and "Grizzly" Kal Jax... TBD where this goes. The All-American Amateur wrestler Kal Jax has had some solid promo time; but he's a "Grizzly" and he needs to show that aggression more. Arty for his cause, is great in the ring, but has no character or personality and that is a hinderance... both could use something though.

In the end, Davey Boy and Sean Studd couldn't get it done, but they went 2-1 and both are in a good spot in the Standings as we cross the fifth show... with that said though, you have to expect that Kratos and Odinson are now #1 and #2 respectively as they stand 6-0 and 6-1 respectively.

January 4, 2021

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="tobin834" data-cite="tobin834" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Eight team, one night tournament you say? I'm in. Another impressive showing from Gods of Wars. Pope promos continue to be well written promos that make me really envision the scene, the mood etc. Always something I like looking for in your shows. I continue to love the reaction to Bronson's matches. The live feedback as I said show me progression through a storyline of sorts. TK's words and not entering the tournament makes me think of a bit of a push up the card for the man who's been left behind? Good character building I think that makes me root for him more. Good show top to bottom.</div></blockquote> Gods of War needed a story, so the tournament made the most sense to me and it ties into the scene and scenery of the studio in the Mountain West. The Pope's promos and TK's are my absolute favor to envision and try to paint that picture. When I set out to do this picture I wanted to create some unique characters and maybe even use some guys that were underused or used in a different way. I've loved that challenge and will continue to seek to improve on the story-telling aspect. Bronson's character is fun, I actually added him to my game when it was launched as I figured he'd wrestle once he was released from the NFL and now I just saw on Reddit that he made his in-ring debut this week in reality... His story is another that is fun; trying to incorporate "coaches" and a football-mentality with the struggle and desire for growth and victories... not to mention using his father and uncle to help boost him and the angles as a whole. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="tobin834" data-cite="tobin834" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Happy to see Studd and DBS move on. A personal favorite of mine. I like the idea of tournaments if they're not over played. But how your promotion is setup I think it lends itself pretty nicely to tournaments as well. The wins/losses in your company matter an awful lot. I think tournaments help solidify that feeling since there is one definitive winner. Also, happy to see a television deal could possibly be around the corner. I've told you this before but if this were real I would jump on board watching this. It def. has a "cool" factor to it. Keep up the great work!</div></blockquote> I agree with the tournaments being overplayed can water them down. Trying to incorporate unique takes, and in some cases the Japanese style. In a full year I don't anticipate more than one "tournament" or Round Robin per quarter, but even that might be overkill. With the Kings of The Mountain I intend for it to be a yearly event that crowns the top tag team. I'm still working on formal "titles" and how I want to incorporate that. As we move past halfway through the Mini-Season I need to have some solid shows to draw some real interest and I don't think I'm targeting "weekly" television as much as a full-season type approach with maybe 24-30 shows in a year. That's my current thought though. Somethings will evolve as the game develops though. One thing I'm keeping an eye on is a promotion I find very similar stylistically is going through some financial troubles, so they may be a nice fit for a storyline for a season in the future. Ultimately, the "fights" are what matter and Wins and Losses matter (there have been zero "DQs" and zero "Draws" for a reason) but the stories are what keep me (and the readers) interested. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BHK1978" data-cite="BHK1978" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I am not sure if you want us to make picks or not, if not then disregard this. From Group A Gods of War vs. Jorel Nelson and Royce Issacs "Grizzly" Kal Jax and Artemis Spencer vs. Real1 Krew I know the line of thinking is when you have a name team going against an unnamed team, one should go with the name team to win. However, one team has Kal Jax on it. So I guess that rule is going to be thrown out the window here. From Group B Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd vs. The Madness and The Cure (Comoroto/Pain) This is tough because you seem to be focusing on all four men right now. I just think Davey and Sean are probably going to end up being the eventual winners of the tournament so I shall go with them. The Bloodline's Anoa'i's vs. Sugar Dunkerton and Eddie Colon This is intriguing because I honestly don't know what you are going to do here. Part of me sees The Bloodline moving on to face off against DBS and BSS. However, rating wise those matches just don't seem to be doing well for you. Then you have DBS and BSS possibly facing their ally in the next round in Eddie. I think that is the better match so I am going with Eddie and Sugar here. Semi-Finals: Gods of War vs. "Grizzly" Kal Jax and Artemis Spencer Tough call here but I think GOW pull off the win here. Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd vs. Sugar Dunkerton and Eddie Colon Finals: Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd vs. Gods of War While I think of DBS and BSS being more of a temporary team and they probably shouldn't beat GOW. I just have a feeling they will.</div></blockquote> Predictions are always welcome! I definitely never mind and I've always loved seeing your thoughts, they've occasionally inspired some changes in the direct of characters too as you've always supported my projects.

January 4, 2021

ECW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Match only happens with a win from Williams and Lee over Dreamer and Funk

ECW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

© Eliminators vs. Dudley Boys -- Bubba's constant issues make him a risk as a champion, and I love Saturn... Realistically, I could see Dudleys taking this one though.

ECW TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

--With limited "real" TV, it's ok for the title to turn here. Dreamer doesn't get pinned, but Williams beats Funk and earns the title for Triple Threat.

Raven vs. Stevie Richards -- I've always LOVED Raven and especially around this time period. I think this is a good way for him to put Stevie away.

The Sandman vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts -- The Snake is a real threat and this solidifies that.

RVD vs. Sabu -- I go back and forth with this but I think we are about to see Fonzie and Sabu.

January 4, 2021

I LOVE THE GRAHPIC NOVEL concept to start this, nice spin on Lucha Underground and love the potential directions you can go with this. A lot of me wants to see this remain a "graphic novel" type concept with matches here and there.

I am for a AEW/LU crossover event, but personally would like it to be a one-off so certain characters (Jack Evans, Lucha Bros, Luchasaurus, Cage can get written off).

Very intrigued, and definitely following.

January 4, 2021

Use Imgur.

Intrigued by the start.

January 2, 2021

Oh, man, the cancellation of ECW's Syndication deal is tough, but glad to see you still have the events deal; that might be a good way to go for a bit as the company rebuilds. As usual, great stuff visually!

January 2, 2021

Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Preview for Episode Five Kings of the Mountain

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

March Week 1, 2021

Exclusive Preview: The Kings of the Mountain, One Night Eight Team Tag Tournament

On the last episode of The Collective, Stephen Amell announced a one night only, eight team, tag tournament. One thing the company has emphasized thus far is wins and losses and how they matter, this tournament will give the winning team three straight wins, which should boost both men towards the top of the table.

On the episode we saw seven of the teams announced, the eighth has now also been confirmed as Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson will get an opportunity after representing the West Coast well on the indy scene through the 2019 and early part of 2020; including a run as the DEFY Tag Champions. They'll draw the Gods of War in the first round, but an impressive showing might earn them a full membership here in The Collective.

Group A

Gods of War (Odinson (3-1) and Kratos (3-0))
"Grizzly" Kal Jax (2-1) and Artemis Spencer (2-2)
Real1 Krew (Adrian Alanis (0-2) and Liam Gray (0-2))
Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson (Debuts)

Group B

Davey Boy Smith (5-1) and "Big" Sean Studd (3-2)
Sugar Dunkerton (2-1) and "Classico" Eddie Colon (2-0)
The Bloodline's Afa Jr (1-3) and "The Future" Lance Anoa'i (0-2)
The Madness and The Cure ("Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto (0-1) and Steve Pain ("Debut"))

While this may seem obvious, in this one-day tournament, one team from Group A and one from Group B will face-off in the finals. But prior to that there will be a quarter final and semi-final. We can now confirm that that the quarterfinal matches have been set.

From Group A
Gods of War vs. Jorel Nelson and Royce Issacs
"Grizzly" Kal Jax and Artemis Spencer vs. Real1 Krew

From Group B
Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd vs. The Madness and The Cure (Comoroto/Pain)
The Bloodline's Anoa'i's vs. Sugar Dunkerton and Eddie Colon

We can also confirm that The Collective is actively considering running more tournament style events, and potentially event a Japanese-style round robin event in the future once this "mini-season" wraps up. With only four episodes remaining in the first "Mini-Season" The Collective's momentum has been through the roof and there has been network interest in the brand following a successful rollout of this season through IndependentWrestling.TV and through YouTube.

January 1, 2021

Hey guys,
Just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a Happy New Year

After literal YEARS of reading the incredible diaries on this board, I finally went ahead and joined the fray in 2020. It was in order to give myself a little escape from the terrible year that we all had, and distract myself from a shitty job.

I take great pleasure in interacting with you all on a daily basis. This board I full of incredibly talented and kind people.

I wanted to thank you for the reception you gave me and this diary. To be honest I don't even watch much wrestling anymore, but i'm passionate about story telling. I've found great enjoyement in writing this diary and having your feedback (although my written english still need some minor improvements )

Taking a short break from this diary to refuel the creative batteries, but next Powerrr should be up next week.

Wishing you and the one you love a happy new year, may 2021 give you everything you want

- Jérôme

Happy New Year, have really enjoyed this and your other diaries over these last few months. It is funny, I am like you in the sense that I don’t sit and watch full episodes of wrestling anymore but I like diving into research on characters and fighters and watching some highlights so the story can be told. I find that the most fun.

Looking forward to the return!

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