Texasrangers13
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Posts posted by Texasrangers13
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1. GCW World Championship: ACH © vs Joey Janela --- The booker holds the title, it goes so well! haha.
2. Insanity Deathmatch: Nick Gage vs Rickey Shane Page -- Gage is retiring, give RSP the shine.
3. Barbed Wire Match: MoFos (Nate Webb/Ruckus) vs 44.OH! (Eddy Only/Gregory Iron) --- 44.0H! With the sweep.
4. Dynasty (Alex Hammerstone/Richard Holliday) vs IronBeast (KTB/Shane Mercer)
5. GCW Velocity Championship Scramble Match: Tony Deppen © vs JJ Garrett vs Jimmy Lloyd vs Atticus Cogar
6. Queen of Fighters Shoot Fight: Leyla Hirsch © vs Allie Kat
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Really love the around the world updates; brings a fun amount of life to the game world. Men on a Mission/Harlem Knights would have been an interesting ECW act had WWF not snatched them up.
Love New Jack shooting on ECW; and the direction of Paul Heyman doing whatever it takes (no blood, etc) to stay on TV.
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Fun show, Glacer wiping the mat in Lizmark! A nice "Syxx" call out/hint. A TV Title draw too. Feels like a nice build-up. I was always more of a first hour Nitro guy, so the undercard is my jam... yes that's strange.
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Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Show Report (The Collective Debuts: Mini-Season 1/8)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
January Week 3, 2021
Show Report: The Collective's Debut "Mini-Season" (1 of 8)
Opening Show PromosThe lights are off but there is a loud rumble of sorts as the show kicks off. A spotlight illuminates the ring where Stephen Amell is standing. He delivers an impassioned speech about The Collective, and what it means. He says "This is wrestling. This is a Fight Club, and the results really do matter... Tonight it marks the beginning of a journey and for the next eight episodes you'll be able to follow along on YouTube and on IndependentWrestling.TV because we are here to stay." He says that investors have floated enough to make this "mini-season" but by the time the season ends these fighters will be established and the show will go on... so stay tuned...
Sirens blare through the arena and Scott and Rick Steiner walk out from the back. They cut Amell's spiel off and say that they've promised 2021 would be about the "New Age" well the new age is someone just like them when they started in the mid 1980's... but this man isn't just any man, he's a GENETIC FREAK JUST LIKE HIS UNCLE, and HE'S AS MEAN A DOG-FACED GREMLIN because he's the son of one... He's an All-American... and a former NFL player... He's "The New Age Steiner" ... BRONSON STEINER.
Match One
SCHAFF (3-0) vs. Bronson Steiner (DEBUT)
Well, talk about a surprise to kick off our show. Rick and Scott Steiner open the show debuting Rick's son, Bronson Steiner. Steiner was an all-American Running Back at Kennesaw State and went to training camp with the Baltimore Ravens, when he was released over the summer he began training with his father and uncle, but this is his professional debut. SCHAFF on the other hand has a rare moment where he is a more experienced fighter and it showed in the early going. Steiner's strength was apparent and Cyrus Fees on commentary made frequent mention to the fact that he's capable of mass feats in the gym, but everything he tried SCHAFF was able to counter or recover from. The ending came when Bronson went for a spear but SCHAFF slid out of the way, sending Bronson head first into the turnbuckle. SCHAFF delivered the inverted TKO and took home the victory but Bronson's debut was impressive and his father and uncle immediately pulled him from the ring to critique and teach him...
Promo
TK O'Ryan is seen sitting on a horse in what appears to be a snow-covered plain. He talks about once being known as the Wild Horse, and the man without a plan. He said he would do anything for his team, both in baseball and in The Kingdom... but both sport and wrestling have abandoned him and now he's The Man Without A Country. He's tamed the Wild Horse and he's going to run roughshod over the Flight Club and earn his rank a top the division...
Artemis Spencer is backstage stretching and getting ready for his conflict with nZo's Real1 Krew... "Dirty Daddy" Chris Dickinson walks into the frame and smiles. He tells Spencer "You may not have a ton of personality, but I love the way you fight... so let's do this thing"...
Match Two
Cezar Bononi (0-1) vs. "Savage Gentleman" Victor Benjamin (1-1)
This one was a disaster from the start, neither man is particularly good in the ring and that impacted this one. It was a slugfest, Benjamin tried to prove he could earn a spot in the Fight Club, jumping from the smaller, Flight Club division but in the end Bononi choked him out and took home the victory... and to the victor go the spoils, Bononi maintained his membership in the Fight Club with the win. What can Victor do?! Will he be able to earn his keep?
Promo
This one starts out with an elk in alone in the amounts. A voiceover states "When you find yourself lost in the mountains, alone, and afraid... you must know you are in Grizzly Country!" A metal soundtrack plays as Kal Jax is seen on another training montage saying he was itching for a fight and would take on anyone once he's wrapped his latest training session. The video ends with "Grizzly" Kal Jax lifting the carcass of the elk that he appears to have downed in the wild and beginning to carry it back to his compound.
Match Three
Gods of War (Odinson (0-1) and Kratos (DEBUT)) vs. Local Talents
They came they saw, they conquered. Odinson and Kratos bullied the local talents, identified as Steve Vasquez and Patrick Scott (Scott we'd actually seen on the pilot, but it appears they've decided to just job him out, and Vasquez looked semi-familiar from the Southwest scene, but I couldn't place him...) Needless to say, Kratos ragdolled both, and then Odinson hit the F10 on Scott for the easy win. These guys are dominate forces.
Promo
"Da Pope" Elijah Burke is sitting in a what appears to be an abandoned mansion. He's holding a cigar, the smoke filling the air around him... He begins a missive on learning from the mistakes of others. He says that's he's found a nice base of operations here in The Collective, snatching up a mountaintop mansion from the teeth of bankruptcy to call home. He says that some spend wildly on lavish lifestyles but "Da Pope" he's here to save you from those mistakes. He's here to save you from the things that cause you to fail... He's here to lead you to the greater good... Just then "Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto walks into the picture... he has a long chain on his leg, he appears to be chained to the wall, just in case... The camera pans back and we see "The Fly" Eli Everfly "captured" in a large glass cell he's moving erratically, and similarly to a fly in a jar... "Da Pope" smiles and says... "you see, sometimes I need to feed my monster to help them see the light from the darkness. Sometimes The Madness needs a Cure... But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know..."
We see a pre-taped cinematic with nZo and The Real1 Krew, they appear to still be on the set of a video... one could surmise they may even be in the same studio the show is being filmed in, nZo is on the phone with his "agent" when he looks up and tells Adonis and Grey, "Boys, you know I'd love to be ringside for the big fight... but my agent, well... he thinks that nZo, Entertainment's Hottest Free Agent would be better served opting out for this one... So i'm heading to the resort for some Apres Ski lifestyle... but... you boys... you've got this... See ya at the after party... Real1 Out."
Match Four
Real1 Krew (Liam Gray (0-1) and Adrian Alanis (0-1)) vs. Chris Dickinson (1-0) and Artemis Spencer (1-1)
This one utterly shocked me, Dickinson and Spencer are both great wrestlers, so that elevated this match, but this one was both great in the story-telling aspect and the technical side was solid. All four men looked solid enough in the ring, but the bigger and badder Dickinson led the charge for the victorious team as they worn down the Real1 Krew before Spencer tagged in and wrapped up the victory... Spencer and Dickinson celebrated as the Real1 Krew returned to the back with their tails tucked... at least the after-party will probably be solid...
Promo
The final promo of the night featured Junior Fatu sitting around a table with "The Future" Sefa Fatu and Afa Jr. The Samoan Bloodline as they are known talked about how tonight things were about to change... the main event was about legacies and all four men in it were exactly that... So tonight, Junior was going to stay in the back and make some calls to the family, tonight he's just going to let the boys fight...but the in "The Future" he'll be out there...
Main Event
Davey Boy Smith Jr (2-1) and "Big" Sean Studd (0-1) vs. "The Problem" Sefa Fatu (DEBUT) and Afa Jr (1-1)
This one could have, and should have been better and I'm sure The Collective expected more from its first main event of the season, unfortunately Afa and Sefa, despite being cousins seemed out of sync all night. Studd is your prototypical big lumbering wrestler, which left the heavy-lifting to DBS Jr. DBS delivered though and the finish saw DBS Jr plant Afa Jr with a Running Bulldog Bomb while Studd and Sefa brawled on the outside. We went off the air with Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd celebrating a successful launch.
Match Recap- SCHAFF defeated Bronson Steiner (Worth a watch, fun debut for Steiner, solid bout)
- Cezar Bononi defeated Victor Benjamin (Skip. Total dud)
- Gods of War defeated Local Talent (Squash)
- Chris Dickinson and Artemis Spencer defeated Real1 Krew (Adonis and Gray) (Fun match, good action, match of the night!)
- Davey Boy Smith Jr and "Big" Sean Studd defeated "The Problem" Sefa Fatu and Afa Jr (Disappointing main event, told a good story, and this one is a storyline, so maybe watch if you have some time to spare)
Overall Thoughts:
This mini-season will be make or break for The Collective and honestly the debut was solid, the main event fell a bit flat as Afa and Sefa didn't have chemistry, but Davey Boy Smith Jr is the star of the show in the ring.
Chris Dickinson and Artemis Spencer are likely the next two best pure wrestlers in the company, so they'll need some development and a story. Dickinson's path from Open Fight Night to star is being developed. He's got all the intangibles to make that happen.
The Steiners debuted one of their own and it was both a surprise and fun match. No one would have guessed Bronson Steiner as the debut and that made this a true shock. Remember this is a Fight Club, and a guy making his professional debut with limited in-ring training, is really not likely to win but Bronson Steiner held his own and looked solid, he made one big mistake and it cost him the match. SCHAFF continues to look like a star in the making (or maybe already star) and he's now 4-0; it's looking like a rematch clash with Davey Boy Smith Jr (3-1) or a first-time conflict with Chris Dickinson (2-0) is inevitable at some point but with both men on separate paths we have something to build towards during this mini-season.
Elijah Burke and his "Freak Beast" put out yet another enthralling promo, they appear to have captured "food" for the beast, and I'm assuming this means that Comoroto will be facing Everfly on the next episode. This was a great use of cinematic effects and a fun promo. This will grow on us.
nZo's Opting Out of the match was hinted to by him not being listed as in the match, but we expected him ringside, instead his agent told him to not show up, leaving his entourage on their own... they lost without him and Spencer and Dickinson both showed why they are some of the better fighters in The Collective.
Kal Jax's promo appeared to be taking more of a "hunter not prey" theme... let's see where this goes.
TK O'Ryan is also continuing to sell that he's a single act and finding his own voice.
The Gods of War are the true threats of a tag division; how that fits is to be determined, but they are both massive and beasts.
Victor Benjamin and Cezar Bononi wasn't a good match... Benjamin's bulked up look is solid, but he's still not in the realm of the bigger guys and Bononi choked him out. Bononi will continue to get a chance to shine, and rumor has it may even be in the main event on the second "mini-season" episode.
All in all, this was a fun episode, it built on a number of stories and created some new ones. This show was a 3/5 for us, but color us intrigued!
- SCHAFF defeated Bronson Steiner (Worth a watch, fun debut for Steiner, solid bout)
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Langston “Lion Heart” Franklin vs. Seth James Wilson
Jerry Pepper & Astro vs. Brutality Incorporated
In a Handicap Match:
BP SWOLL & Nate DeMarcus vs. The Jet Set (Jack Pryde, Tavon Blakr Jr., Rocco Renoir)
Onslaught vs. Deathwish
Paulie Pelton vs. The Masked Mauler VII
Devil Dog vs. Raphael
Conner Threepwood vs. Cip Conduit
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James Ellsworth vs. Sal Rinauro
Vipress vs. Thunder Rosa
NWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP: Anthony Bennett © vs. Jervis Cottonbelly
Occam's Razor vs. The Briscoe Brothers -- Good ole fashion out of control brawl to end the show!
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<p>1. IWTV Independent Tag Team Championship 6 Way Cage Match: <strong>Silver & Statlander (BEYOND)</strong> vs Punk Rock Pussycats (Allie Kat/Jodie Threat) (A-1) vs Pain Incorporated (Takeda/Fujita) (FREEDOMS) vs WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry/JD Drake) (BLP) vs Astronauts (Abe/Nomura) (BJW) vs Bear Country (GCW) -- I wanted to pick my guys the WorkHorsemen, or Bear Country, but I have to assume Silver and Statlander are easily the most over in this match.</p><p>
2. Insanity Trios Deathmatch: <strong>Janela/??/?? </strong>vs 44.OH! (RSP/Effy/Eddy Only) -- Eddy Only is here to eat the fall.</p><p>
3. GCW Velocity Championship Metal Mayhem Match: <strong>Lio Rush ©</strong> vs Tony Deppen vs Davey Vega vs Orin Veidt -- Rush brings the most to the table, thought about Deppen</p><p>
4. GCW King of Fighters Shoot Fight: <strong>KTB ©</strong> vs Douglas James</p><p>
5. GCW Queen of Fighters Shoot Fight: <strong>Leyla Hirsch ©</strong> vs Kiera Hogan</p>
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Good and fun show to build some new feuds and head down the path to the next major events; loved Taz just skipping over Douglas, feels very authentic and raw. The Eliminators graphic made me realize they were the namesake of the move... (DUH)... Always loved Saturn, so this is great to see him being pushed as a semi-star.
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TIM STORM'S RETIREMENT CEREMONY -- Maybe Mama Storm will make an appearance!
ARON STEVENS & THE QUESTION MARK VS. JERVIS COTTONBELLY & SAL RINAURO
MARTI BELLE VS. ALLYSIN KAY VS. KAMILLE
NWA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: TREVOR MURDOCK © VS. SCORPIO SKY
Accidentally missed predicting on Hard Times but man was that a great show! Jay Briscoe is a great challenger, he's always a star in my games. In TEW 2016 he popped to A-/A popularity while the rest of the company was maxing out around C-/D+ was crazy!
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WON: Exclusive Details About The Collective's Q1 Schedule
Late December 2020
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Peek At The Plan For The Collective
Exclusive: The group behind The Collective, led on-screen by actor Stephen Amell, has reportedly secured financing to begin production of the first full "season" if you will after a successful series of pilot episodes was pitched to investors. The company will reportedly use the funding they received to film eight episodes at the Utah Film Studios over the next three months with the first one taking place next week to kick off the new year, in the heart of the winter. While inspired by some of Lucha Underground's batch tapings, and "season" approach they took. We can confirm that this eight episode mini-season is designed to further push towards a full-time deal with a broadcasting partner.With the funding that is coming in, the company is able to continue to produce content and continue to position themselves for a full-time position in the world of wrestling. Long-term, it is believed that the company intends to position itself as a featured product for the digital world, meaning that they are likely looking at studios and or companies in the digital space. Think YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, even HBO Max or ESPN+ rather than the traditional market of commercial television, that will allow them to bend the rules or create the type of content they want without the restrictions of commercial broadcasting. They believe this method will allow them to produce shows with fresh content and without the risk of burn out for both the creative staff and the performers. Rather than being a weekly episodic show they may produce one show in a month, and four in another.
With that in mind we can confirm that the first episode of this "Mini-Season" will take place next week and will feature five matches. As part of our exclusive coverage, The Collective has sent us a collection of promos for this episode to introduce a number of the matches we will see.
Promos
1) Similar to what we've seen during the pilots, the first promo we saw recapped the Steiner Brothers promising to bring a "New Age" force to The Collective in 2021 and SCHAFF stepping up and offering to be his first opponent. After a solid 3-0 debut, SCHAFF stands atop the table here and a battle against an unknown opponent is bound to be intriguing... Who will the Steiners be bringing in and how will SCHAFF deal with the unknown!
2) We saw another promo from "Pretty Proper" Lady Frost and the "Savage Gentleman" Victor Benjamin discussing his weight gain and jump from the Flight Club in the Pilots to the Fight Club division here in the debut.. Something about these two just isn't working for us, and this promo further highlighted that. Despite being husband and wife, these two just don't really vibe on screen, add that with the poor performances we've seen out of Benjamin and he might be a deadman walking into this bout...We see Cezar Bononi's challenge from the final pilot and can confirm that as a bout as Victor Benjamin will take on Cezar Bononi and as we learned on the final pilot, Bononi is out to prove himself as a valiant fighter, this was highlighted with a quick 30 second clip of him training in a classic, dusty, boxing gym. He's working on his punching and ultimately steps back and cracks his knuckles while smirking into the camera. Bononi is so eager to prove himself he was willing to put his Fight Club membership on the line for this bout. If Benjamin wins, he'll officially join The Fight Club.
3) We see the end of the pilot where nZo and The Real1 Krew were celebrating in the ring only for Artemis Spencer to come calling demanding another shot at nZo. In this promo, nZo and his Real1 Krew are on the set of another music video shoot, "Entertainment's Hottest Free Agent" tells the Krew that they'll handle some business... and by that he means... If Artemis Spencer wants a fight... that's fine, he can find a partner and face... The Real1 Krew... How You Doin?!
4)
The Gods of War will debut
5) The main event is set to be a brawl between four sons of Hall of Famers as we will see The Samoan Bloodline of Afa Jr and "The Problem" Sefa Fatu with Junior Fatu take on Davey Boy Smith Jr., and "Big" Sean Studd. This promo was a classic wrestling sit-down interview style with Stephen Amell sitting with both teams (at different times) and getting their opinions on what this brawl meant. It was lit differently with what appeared to be a heavy smoke swirling in the room and really made everyone look "different" in a good way.
We will see everyone next week! And like always, we will have a full report on the show, looking forward to seeing what these guys have up their sleeve...
The Collective: One Rule of Fight Club (Debut Show, Episode 1 of 8 in "Mini-Season")- Cezar Bononi (0-1) vs. "Savage Gentleman" Victor Benjamin (1-1)
- Gods of War (Odinson (0-1) and Kratos (0-0)) vs. Local Talents
- Real1 Krew (Alanis (0-1) and Gray (0-1)) vs. Artemis Spencer (1-1) and ???
- SCHAFF (3-0) vs. The Steiners "New Age" (Debut)
- Davey Boy Smith Jr (2-1) and "Big" Sean Studd (0-1) vs. Afa Jr (1-1) and Sefa Fatu (Debut)
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Just noting, as of now I'm not planning a prediction contest for this "mini-season" we are building the company up right now, getting some stories and "content". I'll still post the cards and the win/loss records of the fighter as that is part of the esthetic of the company and I think a big component of this. Not all cards will be full, I debating leaving Gods of War off, as it is obvious they will win ... and don't worry, Elijah Burke and Nick Comoroto's story is just beginning; I have what I think is a fun cinematic vignette for them in the debut episode. Anyhow, onward and upward!
- Cezar Bononi (0-1) vs. "Savage Gentleman" Victor Benjamin (1-1)
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Signing Announcement: JR Kratos
JR Kratos
After making his debut during a cinematic scene in the pilot, JR Kratos is officially joining The Collective. An 8-year veteran of the California independent scene, the monstrous Kratos has run roughshod over his opponents throughout the West and has recently broke out with a stint with NJPW’s LA based offshoot. Weighing nearly 300 lbs, he’s aligned with Odinson as the Gods of War and The Collective as a whole better watch out as these two men are out for blood and ready to absolutely annihilate anyone and anything who stands in their way. Kratos will utilize a vicious spear and a running powerslam to bury his opponents.
Vitals
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 290
Hometown: Pacifica, California
Theme:
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The Real1 Krew Part Duex
Liam Gray
22 years old and hailing from the ATL; Gray got started in 2017 at the same time as fellow “Real1” Adrian Alanis; the two have been inseparable ever since. Like Alanis, Gray tends to be the life of the party outside the ring but once they get down to business they are a formidable team. Having lost their mentor, AR Fox, Gray and Alanis immediately latched onto “Entertainment’s Hottest Free Agent” nZo and have found themselves once again in the limelight. While Gray has proven to be a valuable ally, the next question is can he take his game to the next level. His recent rejection by the WWE still stings, but now aligning with both his best friends, Alanis, and a former “star” in nZo proves that Liam Gray is taking this next step of his career seriously. Liam is the more apt flier of the group, while Adrian provides the muscle, but together they are an established team that can score some wins and move towards the top of the table. Liam would like to remind you, “Stay TURNT my friends”
Vitals
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 175
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Theme:
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Real1 Krew Officially Signed
Adrian Alanis
Atlanta’s Finest, Adrian Alanis started training in 2017 at AR Fox’s WWA4 School before associating himself with Liam Gray, Leon Ruff and AR Fox as “The Skulk” in independent promotions across the country. Alanis and Gray broke out in Full Impact Pro in Florida where they captured the Tag Titles but recently found themselves in a hard place when their home promotion, Evolve, shut down and they were not picked up with the WWE. Bordering on the middleweight group Alanis has used this quarantine to avoid the clubs and has devoted himself to the gym, as a result he qualified in the lightweight division. As a unit, Gray and Alanis broke out in late 2018 with major matches against the likes of Chris Dickinson and Odinson and bigger names like the WWE’s Street Profits. Here in The Collective. Always associated with others, Alanis joined his partner Gray here and have found themselves latching on to another bigger star, this time, “Entertainment’s Hottest Free Agent” nZo. Alanis always brings the energy, and along with Gray, they are guaranteed to be the best entourage in the scene, known collectively as the “Real1 Krew”
Vitals
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 205
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Theme:
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Official Fight Club Standings (Post-Pilots)
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Couple quick notes, I know it says "Champion" for the time-being we don't have a title so think of that as more "top of the table" "Top Dog" whatever you wish; SCHAFF is the man at the top. Contenders to break the tie as to which 0-1 guy made the rankings I used the in-game rating for their matches; Odinson had the highest score thus got the spot! This will flesh itself out as we get deeper. Important notes to remember; being #1 doesn't always mean you'll get the next shot (much like UFC); but it does mean you are a threat. Wins and Losses matter; no matter the division or the match-type. With the debut show Davey Boy Smith Jr is in a tag match; a loss even if he isn't pinned will impact him; as will a win.
Just wanted to share the standings board to give everyone a feel.
Thinking about future growth (DOWN THE ROAD) might add a catchweight type group for guys (205-240 lbs) to allow for more direct one on one between the top of the Flight Club and bottom of the Fight Club; be we shall see.
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I just have a harder time being invested in the c-verse; but that doesn't stop me from wanting to support people who have supported me. And I like reading new ideas and concepts; so I might be a terrible predictor but I'm still here and enjoying!
The Jet Set is a perfect Dynastic rip-off; I love it!
I was genuinely hoping SJW stood for what I assumed it did; and I'm thrilled that it did... though the concept might be tricky to pull-off I thought you toed the line perfectly here! Loved the Safe Space concept; and the backstory in your notes made me laugh! That's why I love post-show notes; they give me great insight! Great show.
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Blood Runs Cold! Man I remember how hyped I was for that... mind you I was a small child, but still...
Fun show! (disappointed Alex Wright's opportunity for the Television title wasn't on Nitro lol)... and Michael Wallstreet defeating Jericho giving Jericho a rough 0-2 night.
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Totally agree with Tobin here; love the way you are putting Anthony Bennett over and hyping him up.
Even Sal's photo is creepy.
Eli Drake is going to cost Tim Storm his career; I can just feel it.
Fun show top to bottom! I'll get you my pick for the runner-up prize today and make some predictions.
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Barely Legal poster incredible; love the House of Hardcore ad at the end.
No blood... damn!
Predictions just for the fun of it...
I'm going with Taz capturing, Taz is the main image and the face.. Raven has a feud with Richards that can be next or perhaps Richards costs Raven the title.
Dreamer wins too; it's his turn!
Funk vs Williams; oh man... I'll go Dr Death; but that's a toss-up.
RVD wins; but Sabu snaps more
Eliminators defend.
This is going to be great.
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<p>WON: Final Pilot Show Recap</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="WDgbg6w.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WDgbg6w.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <strong><em>Wrestling Observer Newsletter</em></strong></p><p><strong><em> December Week 1, 2020</em></strong></p><p> <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong><em>Show Report: Flight Club: Prepare for Takeoff (Pilot #4; Final Pilot)</em></strong></span></span></p><p> </p><p> As with the first edition of Flight Club; this one was sent to us in the clips format again. This show did a lot of things well and the matches really worked. I do think they are right to combine the two divisions onto one show for the time being. For the first time thus far the show featured five matches which we will quickly cover below. We also saw a couple new promos and mainly repeats of things aired on the previous pilots.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><span style="color:#8B0000;"><strong><em>Show Results</em></strong></span><p> </p><ul><li>nZo defeated Artemis Spencer<br /></li><li>Sugar Dunkerton defeated TK O’Ryan<br /></li><li>Eli Everfly defeated Archimedes<br /></li><li>Victor Benjamin defeated Patrick Scott<br /></li><li>nZo defeated Sugar Dunkerton<br /></li></ul><p></p><p> </p><p> We saw five matches; shockingly the <strong>nZo vs Sugar Dunkerton</strong> match stole the show, these two really connected and put on a match that combined both wrestling skill and comedy effectively. In the earlier semi-final bouts <strong>nZo and Artemis Spencer</strong> appeared to have actual heat, but the match was solid, <strong>Artemis</strong> was left frustrated in the ring after <strong>nZo</strong> stole a win with a handful of tights. <strong>Dunkerton and TK</strong> was an average but not phenomenal match. In the Open Flight match <strong>Eli Everfly</strong> took a debut win against the masked <strong>Archimedes</strong>, that said, neither man were particularly impressive. We saw <strong>Everfly</strong> receive a promo at Fight Night, but I’m not certain he’ll be a full-time signing. <strong>Victor Benjamin</strong>’s transition to the Fight Club was highlighted as he defeated the high-flying <strong>Patrick Scott</strong> in a physical bout and the subsequent promo made it clear he was jumping to the Fight Club.</p><p> </p><p> <strong><em>Promos</em></strong></p><p> 1. <strong>TK O’Ryan</strong> was seen leaning against a barn, a cigar in his mouth, he spoke slowly on pain and recovery, and how he took a year off to heal himself only to find that the wrestling world had forgotten him. He felt like the “country” ignored him, the industry forgot him and now he’s here to stake his claim back like a settler in the Wild West, TK O’Ryan is The Man with No Country. Tough loss in the match that followed, but TK is starting to show some character development which is something he's never really had before.</p><p> </p><p> 2. <strong>Kal Jax</strong> was seen training in the woods, the video highlighted his unique training methods including sprinting up a hill with a log over his shoulder. The video package finished with him staring down a Grizzly… Wonder if they'll hire famous TV bear, Bart the Bear, to do an actual fight with a bear...</p><p> </p><p> 3. The <strong>Gods of War</strong> promo that aired on Fight Night played here; <strong>Kratos</strong> and <strong>Odinson</strong> will debut as a team at the Opening Show.</p><p> </p><p> 4. <strong>The Steiners</strong> promo about bringing in the new age of wrestling in 2021 was partially interrupted by a televised call-out by <strong>SCHAFF</strong>. <strong>SCHAFF</strong> said he was the Baddest MF’er in all of Wrestling and he’s more than happy to meet the <strong>Steiner</strong>’s hand-picked man at the debut show… The <strong>Steiners</strong> (appearing via satellite) agreed that <strong>SCHAFF</strong> had impressed and at 3-0 is the pinnacle of the Fight Club… So whomever the <strong>Steiner</strong>'s have hand-picked as the "new age" of wrestling will face the undefeated <strong>SCHAFF</strong> at the debut show.</p><p> </p><p> 5. <strong>Stephen Amell</strong> did a sit-down interview with <strong>Chris Dickinson</strong>, similar to the one last month with <strong>SCHAFF</strong>. <strong>The “Dirty Daddy” Chris Dickinson</strong> is an 18-year vet and Amell confirmed that he’d signed his contract and was ready to fight his way to the top. The clip spliced in some highlights from <strong>Dickinson</strong>’s dominance on BEYOND! Wrestling over the last few years. Curious if this was just to show his range and versatility, but either way, it sold his ability to be a serious threat despite being the smallest man in a big division.</p><p> </p><p> 6. <strong>“Da Pope” Elijah Burke</strong>’s promo with <strong>“Freak Beast” Nick Comoroto</strong> that premiered at Fight Club was re-aired here. Initial reactions to this promo were strong and <strong>Burke</strong> is absolutely looking for ways to save more souls from themselves; I'm certain we will see more of this on the debut show.</p><p> </p><p> 7. After his defeat of <strong>Patrick Scott</strong>, <strong>Victor Benjamin</strong> said that at the debut show he was officially stepping up to the Fight Club and wanted a challenge. <strong>Cezar Bononi</strong> came out from the back and stepped into the ring, he said that people forget just how hard the streets of Sao Paulo make a man… But <strong>Bononi</strong> knows he’ll have to continue to prove his worth to earn that next opportunity especially after a very disappointing loss to <strong>Davey Boy Smith Jr</strong> so… he offers to put his spot in the Fight Club on the line against <strong>Benjamin</strong> on the debut show, <strong>Benjamin</strong> gladly shakes his hand.</p><p> </p><p> 8. We see a recap of the end of the Fight Club brawl with <strong>Davey Boy Smith Jr</strong> being jumped by the <strong>Bloodline</strong> and <strong>“Big” Sean Studd</strong> making the save. We can confirm now that <strong>"The Problem" Sefa Fatu and Afa Jr</strong> will team up against <strong>Davey Boy Smith Jr and “Big” Sean Studd</strong> at the debut show.</p><p> </p><p> 9. After winning the final bout, <strong>nZo</strong> calls out the <strong><em>“Real1 Krew”</em></strong> from the back, <strong>Adrian Alanis and Liam Gray</strong> come out with bottles of champagne and some victory cigars, <strong>nZo</strong> and his “Real1 Krew” start to celebrate in ring but <strong>Artemis Spencer</strong> storms out and says that he’s not done with <strong>nZo</strong>; <strong>nZo</strong> stole a victory and he knows that. He also knows he’s outnumbered… so at the debut, let’s even the score… We fade to black without a formal match confirmation.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="52268" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><strong><em>Overall Opinions:</em></strong><p> The fourth and final pilot show from a technical perspective was the best "produced" show top to bottom. The matches were crisp with the exception of the <strong>Benjamin vs Scott</strong> match which fell fall. <strong>Victor Benjamin</strong> hasn't been particularly good, but leaning into the tattoo across his chest which reads "All Fight, No Flight" is a smart idea. He's facing <strong>Cezar Bononi</strong> at the debut show, and we have noticed that <strong>Benjamin</strong> hasn't received an official signing announcement so this match may legitimately determine if <strong>Benjamin</strong> will be sticking around the company, in the flight club he's been disappointing. It also gives <strong>Bononi</strong> something to do at the debut after a tough loss on the first pilot. Speaking of disappointing, <strong>Eli Everfly</strong>'s debut was an attempt to add another high flier to the division but his in-ring work reportedly was not up to par for the crew and he's unlikely to be offered a deal at this time. Though he may still appear for a bit. <strong>"Da Pope" Elijah Burke</strong>'s found a role that has captivated the early viewers. He's taken on a "Saving You From Yourself" prophet-type role and he's alliance with the mental, and insane, <strong>"Freak Beast" Nick Comoroto</strong> is a great start! <strong>Kal Jax</strong>'s promo was fun and unique, I think the company will be leaning into these training montage type promos as a way to keep wrestlers on your television even when they aren't booked. Color us intrigued by who the <strong>Steiners</strong> will be bringing in as the "New Age" of wrestling. All we've heard is that it is a wrestler that will check many of the same boxes that the <strong>Steiner</strong>'s themselves checked including NCAA Athlete.</p><p> </p><p> We've heard there will be five matches on the debut show and we will cover it here thoroughly. We've also heard that The <em>C</em>ollectiv<em>e</em> hasn't finalized a TV deal but they are proceeding with a monthly event, occasionally bimonthly format for the time being while they continue to pitch the concept to Hollywood executives. We have heard there has been interest and the company is scheduled to be presenting this pilots to a number of studios and channels over the next few weeks so stay tuned.</p></div></blockquote>
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Shun! Great finish (and opener). Loved it; YAMATO and Shun will be a fun title bout!
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I am really getting into the Pope's potential (or it seems eventual) stable. I like how you wrote the segments for them this week. Love the buildup of everything, and I am really digging the pace you're setting. Well done again.
I'm having a blast thinking of who/whom/what Pope can save and add to his faction. Genuinely scroll through the list of workers looking for someone who fits the aesthetic I'm going for.
This last show was excellent. For me, DA Pope is the highlight thus far, but I am really liking the battle of the Samoans and DBS Jr. and Sean Studd as well.What I love about your writing style is, it is direct and right to the point.
Appreciate it! I try to keep things relatively direct as it keeps me engaged as well. I like mixing and matching presentations/styles but ultimately still want to tell the story so I'm glad it is coming through so far.
Pope is a character that has a lot intrigue for me too... and I really enjoy the Studd/Smith vs Samoan Bloodline concept as they are literally all the sons of WWE/WCW Hall of Famers; that just came naturally.
One day soon we’ll get THE END and everyone will wake up to how much Parrow kicks ass.Always love your projects and this is the most interesting one yet. I love seeing a SoCal guy get a chance to shine, but Fight Club and Flight Club are both built up well enough that it feels as though he may get lost in the shuffle. Which isn’t a bad thing at all; the roster is just that stacked.
The End is such a fun team; and I hope to capture some of that chaotic nature they brought with the Gods of War team of Kratos and Odinson. May still bring Parrow in as well as he's a beast.
Not exactly certain which SoCal guy you are referring too (assume Everfly?); but regardless of what happens to him... I enjoy the SoCal scene a ton, so there will be plenty of opportunities for them. Plus the company is based in the "South West" in game so that gives me access to those guys.
Fourth pilot likely coming tonight assuming nothing interesting pops up in the next 7-8 hours lol.
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Enjoyed the show; and the buildup for KO Knockdown. I've always found the Feast or Fired qualifier concept humorous... like, if you don't win... you kinda still win... because at all you won't be fired.
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Thankfully the five week layoff allowed me to catch-up ;-) haha. Really great work, both of you. Always enjoy a well-run joint diary.
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Smothers, Rich and Guido now that's a stable of misfit toys. Love the attitude Raven is taking towards Stevie, rightfully so too. Fun show; looking forward to Barely Legal... The RVD/Sabu tension is fun too.
Brian Lee intrigues me to see what you'll do (if anything) with him. Feels like he's a bit miscast in ECW (as he was in reality). Though the Killdozer gimmick/concept is intriguing to me (I just looked at his wikipedia, I don't recall the Killdozer). I suppose he is coming off the 1996 feud with Dreamer; so there is some standard for him being a big-monster type. Maybe like Mike Awesome-esque?!
The Collective
in Total Extreme Wrestling 2020 Dynasties
Posted
The "New Age" Steiner, Bronson Joins The Collective