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Wrestling Observations Exclusive By Maeve Seltzer | January 1, 1992 Welcome, wrestling aficionados, to the first edition of Wrestling Observations in the new year! As the fireworks explode in the sky, the world of professional wrestling is ablaze with changes and developments, especially in the hallowed halls of World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Hold onto your seats; we've got the inside scoop on the seismic shifts taking place under the reign of Paul E. Dangerously. Lex Luger's Suspension Saga Unfolds The WCW landscape is already experiencing a shakeup as its reigning champion, Lex Luger, finds himself on the wrong side of the WCW board's disciplinary actions. Luger is currently serving a 30-day suspension, and rumor has it, he's not taking this sitting down. Sources close to the Total Package suggest that he's expressing his displeasure quite vociferously behind the scenes. Only time will tell how this suspension will affect the championship scene in WCW. Frye's Departure and Solie's Uncertain Future Former CEO K. Allen Frye has been reassigned to another division within the vast empire of Ted Turner. Meanwhile, the venerable voice of WCW, Gordon Solie, is reportedly considering his options. The rumor mill is buzzing with speculation that Solie may be finishing up with the company. It's a bittersweet moment for fans who have grown up listening to Solie's distinctive commentary. If he decides to go elsewhere, it will undoubtedly mark the end of an era for WCW. Heyman's Grand Vision and Talent Hunt Paul E. Dangerously, the man of the hour, has wasted no time laying out his grand vision for WCW. Long-term goals include growing homegrown talent, and Heyman has already set his sights on several young prospects from around the globe. Our sources indicate that developmental deals are on the table, and contracts have been dangled before the eyes of promising wrestlers. However, the wrestling landscape is a fickle one, and not all negotiations go according to plan. Two notable talents, Dean Malenko and the massive Kokina Maximus, have opted for pastures anew. Malenko, the "Man of a Thousand Holds," has inked a full-time deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling, while Kokina Maximus, the colossal force, is heading south to showcase his skills in the Mexican wrestling scene. A Veteran's Crossroads In another twist, one seasoned veteran in the WCW locker room has received an offer to ply his trade elsewhere, and sources suggest he's seriously considering taking the leap. The identity of this wrestling stalwart remains undisclosed, leaving fans speculating about a potential departure that could reshape the dynamics of both WCW and the wrestling industry at large. As we embark on this new chapter in WCW's history, the wrestling world is on the edge of its seat, eagerly awaiting the next move in the chess game orchestrated by Paul E. Dangerously. Stay tuned, dear readers, as we navigate the twists and turns of this thrilling journey through the squared circle!

It was a chilly evening in late 1991 when Ted Turner, the media mogul and owner of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), gathered his top executives for a crucial meeting at the Turner Broadcasting System headquarters in Atlanta. Frustration filled the room as the group reviewed WCW's financial reports, showing losses that seemed insurmountable in the ongoing battle against Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Seated at the head of the conference table, Ted Turner wore a stern expression as he addressed his team. "Gentlemen, we've got a serious problem on our hands. Despite our best efforts, WCW is struggling to turn a profit, and we're falling behind the WWF. We need a fresh perspective, new ideas, and most importantly, we need to start winning." As the executives exchanged concerned glances, the door swung open, and in walked a confident figure with a smirk on his face – Paul E. Dangerously. Known for his sharp wit and shrewd business acumen, Dangerously had made a small fortune in the stock market and had been following the wrestling business closely since his teenage years. "Ted, gentlemen, I couldn't help but overhear your predicament," Dangerously said, taking a seat at the table without waiting for an invitation. "I've been watching the wrestling landscape, and I believe I have the vision and the means to turn WCW into a powerhouse. I'm willing to buy 51% of the company, inject fresh capital, and bring in some innovative changes." Ted Turner, intrigued by the audacity of Dangerously, raised an eyebrow. "You think you can do better than us, Paul?" With a confident smile, Dangerously began outlining his plan. "Ted, I've got ideas that will shake up the industry. We need to present not just an alternative to WWF, but an attractive alternative, with new stars that can carry us into the future. Vince is already starting to have issues figuring out who his next guys are. If we figure that out before he does, we'll be back here in 10 years laughing at him." As Dangerously continued to lay out his strategy, the executives in the room couldn't help but be captivated by his enthusiasm and fresh perspective. After a lengthy discussion, Turner leaned back in his chair and said, "Paul, you've got some guts, and I like that. If you're willing to put your money where your mouth is, let's make a deal." In a historic turn of events, the room buzzed with excitement as Ted Turner and Paul E. Dangerously shook hands, sealing the deal that would forever change the landscape of professional wrestling. - - - - - The last few times I've tried to do diaries on here, weird stuff has popped up. I've had Windows-on-Mac options fizzle out on me, an actual Windows machine give up the ghost, and, of course, had to deal with the general everyday life stuff we all have to deal with. Having said that, when I saw Fleisch/SkyCrasher's 1992 mod, I knew I had to give it a go. I came of age as a wrestling fan in the mid-1990's, and the biggest "butterfly effect" scenario I could come up with was Paul Heyman buying a controlling interest in WCW, rather than getting fired and hopping to ECW. It's been a little while since I've done one of these (to those who may remember some of my past stuff, thanks for reading this one!). I'm not the best with graphics, so it's going to be pretty text-heavy. Still, there's a lot of fun ideas I've got in mind, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them all play out.

Lots of news to report from the Tri-State area. In happy news for New York City Wrestling, the company and WrestleWorld agreed to a nine-month deal that will see NYCW programs stream on the network through mid-2021. NYCW will receive the same 55% revenue split. In other business news, Handsome Stranger was so impressed with referee Michael Bull that he offered Bull a contract to referee FCW's monthly shows. The locker room rejoiced, as the former cop getting more dates (and free trips to a fun place!) is cause for celebration. In addition, NYCW rewarded two of its "pillars" with raises. Ernest Youngman and Ash Campbell saw their rates nearly triple, to $130/show and $110/show, ahead of... - - - - - NYCW Heat Of The Night August 2020, Week Two Location: Generic venue; Newark, NJ Attendance: 552 Phil Vibert starts the show in the ring announcing a "unique punishment" for Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum's antics last month. They come out, and Vibert announces a surprise: A triple threat match for Pablo Rodriguez's COTT World Heavyweight title, where it's every man for himself. It comes with a twist: Ernest Youngman will be the ringside enforcer. SEGMENT RATING: 62 MATCH #1: HAPPY ELWOOD vs. Sal DiMeo In a decent match, Sal DiMeo defeated Happy Elwood in 9:47 by pinfall with a Powerbomb. MATCH RATING: 39 PHIL'S NOTES: We needed a babyface to come in for one match and give Sal some shine. He's no pillar, but he's a very solid prospect that deserves a bit of a push and did his time after the debacle with the two Acid's earlier this year. MATCH #2: Brutus Milano, Masked Stranger and Crockett Tubbs vs. The New York Doll and The Prodigies In a bout that had great wrestling and good heat, Brutus Milano, Masked Stranger and Crockett Tubbs drew with The New York Doll and The Prodigies in 10:21 following a double DQ. MATCH RATING: 55 Shocker. Brutus Milano was the weak link in an otherwise fun match. Tennessee William berates the crowd on his way to the ring. He says the beatdown on Riley McManus the previous week did NYCW a huge favor, and now they can focus on seeing the best wrestler and entertainer on the roster do his thing rather than "some grimy, disgusting Georgia Bulldog." SEGMENT RATING: 64 This dude is gold, GOLD, on the mic. MATCH #3: Geoff Borne vs. Tennessee William In a bout that had superb wrestling and good heat, Tennessee William defeated Geoff Borne in 12:38 by pinfall with a Devil's Crossroad. MATCH RATING: 64 He's gold in the ring, too. Borne isn't a bad worker, either, and if this gets William some momentum heading into the back half of the year, that's fantastic. Backstage, Logan Wolfsbaine and James Diaz run into Sal DiMeo. They make Sal an offer to "take care of Brutus Milano." Diaz hands DiMeo a thick envelope, and DiMeo says he'll "run it by the family." SEGMENT RATING: 35 Cheap? Sure. A bit lowbrow? Absolutely. An easy way to keep the feud going and book a few fresh matchups? You betcha! MATCH #4: Acid & Acid II vs. Richie Riggins and Denny King (w/Cheerleader Nicki) In a bout that had superb wrestling and good heat, Acid & Acid II defeated Richie Riggins and Denny King in 13:02 when Acid II pinned Denny King with an Acid Rain Bomb. MATCH RATING: 57 Back of the line, huh? Let's see if that holds over the next few months... MATCH #5 (COTT World Heavyweight title): Pablo Rodriguez (C) vs. Ash Campbell vs. Nelson Callum In an exceptional match, Pablo Rodriguez defeated Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum in 19:46 when Rodriguez pinned Callum with a Sinner's Salvation following interference from Ernest Youngman. MATCH RATING: 73 The Philly Blondes couldn't help themselves, and when Michael Bull got bumped, Youngman took matters into his own hands. The crowd ate all of this up, and it helped that the two young guns got a great match out of the aging Rodriguez. The post-match antics quickly devolve into a four-way brawl. Eventually, though, Ernest Youngman and Pablo Rodriguez get the better of Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum and send them back up the ramp. The two champs pose with their respective belts in the ring...and their eyes linger on the other's strap for just a few uncomfortable seconds at a time. SEGMENT RATING: 68 SHOW RATING: 70. This show increased our popularity in 18 regions. NYCW Heat Of The Night got 32,761 viewers. - - - - - Backstage, Phil Vibert is pacing. It was a good show with a bang-up main event, but if the last eight months have taught him anything, it's to expect the unexpected from Larry Vessey. Sure enough, Vessey comes to his booker and silently hands him two things: An envelope with his pay for the evening, and a hand-written message. "You've got good guys," the message reads. "Some big names are free agents. Use my money to sign one. - A friend." "LARRY!!!" Vessey slowly turns around. "What's with this Sicilian message nonsense?," Vibert says, clearly exasperated. "This 'friend' clearly knows where we're doing business. Why doesn't he just show up?" Vessey...chuckles? "Because it's more fun winding you up." Phil Vibert has broken one of wrestling's cardinal rules: Never sell a rib. "He's right, though. Let's get some new blood in here."

There's plenty to report as we march into the dog days of summer. Overseas, 21CW star Adam Matravers has broken his leg, and doctors say he'll be out six months. In Japan, the nightmare is over, as Marv Statler has agreed to join Burning Hammer and reunite with Dean Waldorf (one without the other just doesn't make sense). Closer to home, Mark Speed and TCW could not come to terms on a new contract. Just as he began talking to independent promotions, though, USPW came a'calling, and Speed got signed up. This came as unwelcome, but unsurprising, news to Phil Vibert, whose New York City Wrestling proceeds to one of the more well-known events on the calendar. - - - - - NYCW Gang Wars 2020 July 2020, Week Two Location: Generic venue; Yonkers, NY Attendance: 455 The show begins with the Philly Blondes in the ring, gloating about their recent defenses of the COTT Tag Team titles in OLLIE and CZCW and their attack of Ernest Youngman last month. Naturally, this brings out the champion, who says he has a surprise for Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum in tonight's main event. SEGMENT RATING: 66 PHIL'S NOTES: These are the three cornerstones of the promotion right now, and there's no reason not to milk them for all they're worth. MATCH #1: Brutus Milano vs. James Diaz In a decent match, James Diaz defeated Brutus Milano in 8:06 by pinfall with an Asian Thumb Spike. MATCH RATING: 42 Milano is tailor-made to put Diaz over. This turned out to be a decent opener, and a good little power match that makes the kid look like a monster. MATCH #2: Brooklyn's Finest vs. Denny King and Richie Riggins (w/Cheerleader Nicki) In a bout that had superb wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Denny King and Richie Riggins defeated Brooklyn's Finest in 10:13 when Richie Riggins pinned Freedom Eagle with a Body Bag. MATCH RATING: 56 King and Riggins look like a cool midcard tag team, especially with the real-life relationship with King and Cheerleader Nicki baked in. Freedom Eagle, meanwhile, introduced a brand-new move to pop the crowd. MATCH #3 (NYCW Tag Team titles): The Boys From The Yukon (C) vs. The LA Stars In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, The Boys From The Yukon defeated The LA Stars in 13:26 when Howlin' Mad Mort pinned LA Star #2 with a Tiiiiiiiiimber. The Boys From The Yukon make defense number four of the NYCW Tag Team titles. MATCH RATING: 55 The champs bash Acid and Acid II, saying they had their shot at the gold last month and couldn't capitalize, so why should they stay at the front of the line? SEGMENT RATING: 34 Good match, lousy promo. Gotta remember to keep the microphone away from the lumberjacks. MATCH #4 (NYCW Tri-State Regional title): Masked Stranger (C) vs. Logan Wolfsbaine In a bout that had superb wrestling and good heat, Masked Stranger defeated Logan Wolfsbaine in 13:28 by submission with a cobra clutch after botched interference by The New York Doll. Masked Stranger makes defense number seven of the NYCW Tri-State Regional title. MATCH RATING: 62 Good way to continue the Masked Stranger/New York Doll feud while giving Wolfsbaine, in his own right one heck of a prospect, some shine. Masked Stranger's hand is raised, but the beatdown is on just a few seconds later. James Diaz runs out to join Logan Wolfsbaine and The New York Doll for a 3-on-1 assault, but Brutus Milano runs out for the save. SEGMENT RATING: 36 I smell a midcard match brewing for next month! MATCH #5: Riley McManus (w/Fern Hathaway) vs. Tennessee William In a bout that had superb wrestling and great heat, Riley McManus defeated Tennessee William in 13:16 by pinfall with a Slingshot Suplex. MATCH RATING: 67 Tennessee William attacks Riley McManus with his guitar after the match, much to the dismay of the crowd and Fern Hathaway alike. McManus is stretchered out as William taunts him all the way into the ambulance. SEGMENT RATING: 57 McManus is a heck of a performer, but his gimmick's gotten a bit stale. Let's see if William can carry the storyline while the good guy rehabs his injuries. I'm just guessing this won't be a problem! Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum are introduced first ahead of the main event. Ernest Youngman follows and introduces his partner by saying, "come on out, stranger." Masked Stranger's music plays, but Youngman quickly cuts off the sound guy and says, "no, the OTHER Stranger!" On cue, new music is played, and out walks FCW champion HANDSOME STRANGER. SEGMENT RATING: 57 MATCH #6 (COTT World Tag Team titles): The Philly Blondes (C) vs. Ernest Youngman and Handsome Stranger In an exceptional match, The Philly Blondes defeated Ernest Youngman and Handsome Stranger in 23:16 when Nelson Callum submitted Ernest Youngman with a Honey Trap after blatantly cheating. The Philly Blondes make defense number four of the COTT World Tag Team titles. MATCH RATING: 68 The Puerto Rican mainstay's getting up there in years, but the other three guys are so good, that didn't matter. Strong main event that only makes the crowd hate Campbell and Callum even more! SHOW RATING: 66. This show increased our popularity in 18 regions. NYCW Gang Wars 2020 got 31,958 viewers. - - - - - After the show, Phil Vibert is summoned into Larry Vessey's office. The benevolence Vessey showed the previous month is gone, and he's back to an all-business state of mind. "You lost more money again," Vessey says, not looking up from his sheet. "But you'll like what I'm about to tell you." Finally, Vessey's weathered face looks across the table at his nervous booker. "Remember the friend you made? The one who texted you?" "The one whose identity you won't tell me?," Vibert counters. "Yes, I remember vividly." "Don't be so snippy, kid. He just saved your rear end." Vessey pulls out an envelope containing $50,000 in cold, hard cash, and Vibert is dumbfounded. "What, we've got a benefactor now?" "I don't know if it's 'we' or 'you,'" Vessey says, "but someone sure seems interested in bankrolling this little experiment. And if it's not my money being burned, I'm all for it." Vessey stands up as Vibert continues to struggle with processing this. "You waiting for anything in particular, Phil?" "No...no, I'm just trying to piece this together." "Don't. Overthinking never leads to anything good. Just keep doing your job."

It's been a very quiet month. Nationally, the big news comes from SWF, which has announced respected commentator Ana Garcia will be leaving the company. Locally, in New York City Wrestling, Cheerleader Nicki and Denny King have begun dating, and Sal DiMeo has been kept home from this month's show due to morale issues stemming from the Acid/Acid II match in May. - - - - - NYCW Summer Lightning June 2020, Week Two Location: Generic venue; New York, NY Attendance: 422 Ernest Youngman kicks off the show with a big entrance, and welcomes people to the arena as the new NYCW Empire Champion. He says he's a fighting champion, and that tonight the floor's open for anyone who wants to step up. On cue, the lights go out and driving rock music begins to play. A familiar face appears at the top of the ramp, and the name ART REED appears on the big screen! Reed makes his way down to the ring, says he's impressed by Youngman, and that he accepts the open challenge. SEGMENT RATING: 52 PHIL'S NOTES: We needed a fairly-big name that could come in for one big match, for reasons that will soon become clear. Art Reed ticked all of the boxes and still has remarkable skills for someone in his mid-40's, so this worked well. MATCH #1: JOHNNY NEEDHAM vs. James Diaz In an extremely short match, James Diaz defeated Johnny Needham in 3:44 by pinfall with an Asian Thumb Spike. MATCH RATING: 21 James Diaz continues the assault after the match, only stopping when Brutus Milano comes flying down to the ring to chase him off. Milano tends to Johnny Needham as Diaz walks to the back with a cocky smirk on his face. SEGMENT RATING: 36 Yep, this squash was the punishment for Needham bailing on the title defense. Nothing huge, but it does play into the Brutus Milano storyline a bit, so it works just fine. MATCH #2: Masked Stranger and The LA Stars vs. The New York Doll, Richie Riggins and Denny King (w/Cheerleader Nicki) In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, The New York Doll, Richie Riggins and Denny King defeated Masked Stranger and The LA Stars in 11:50 when The New York Doll pinned LA Star #2 with a Punk-N-Nasty. MATCH RATING: 53 We haven't done a lot of six-man matches, but these teams made way too much sense. This turned out to be a strong second match, and the Doll gets back some of the momentum he lost last month. MATCH #3: Animal Harker vs. Tennessee William In a bout that had superb wrestling and good heat, Tennessee William defeated Animal Harker in 13:17 by pinfall with a Devil's Crossroad. MATCH RATING: 67 Tennessee William may have dropped the title, but he still delivers the goods from bell to bell. Add in that Harker can be carried, and these two wound up stealing the show. Tennessee William grabs the microphone and says the road to regain his title is a long one. It starts next month, with a match against Riley McManus. SEGMENT RATING: 64 I love this guy very, very much. MATCH #4 (NYCW Tag Team titles): The Boys From The Yukon (C) vs. Acid & Acid II In a bout that had superb wrestling and great heat, Acid & Acid II defeated The Boys From The Yukon in 13:12 when Whitehorse Whittaker intentionally got disqualified while fighting Acid II. MATCH RATING: 55 No reason to blow this off quite yet. Let's have some fun with this for a little while. MATCH #5 (COTT World Tag Team titles): The Philly Blondes (C) vs. Jacobs & Nelson In a bout that had superb wrestling and great heat, The Philly Blondes defeated Jacobs & Nelson in 17:33 when Ash Campbell pinned Josh Jacobs with a Shooting Star Press. MATCH RATING: 66 This was the Blondes's first defense since winning these titles last month. As a peace offering, MAW's Jacobs and Nelson got the first title shot, and while they needed to be carried a bit, this was still a lot of fun. Campbell and Callum will be gigantic assets for as long as they're here. MATCH #6 (NYCW Empire title): Ernest Youngman (C) vs. Art Reed In an exceptional match, Ernest Youngman defeated Art Reed in 22:59 by pinfall with The Hit. Ernest Youngman makes defense number one of the NYCW Empire title. MATCH RATING: 69 After the match, Ernest Youngman offers his hand in a sign of respect. After a moment, Art Reed accepts it, and the two embrace in the ring. However, the wonderful moment is broken up by Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum, who attack the two in stereo with their COTT belts. The onslaught continues for several minutes, and it ends with Campbell and Callum taking turns holding Youngman's title high up in the air. SEGMENT RATING: 65 A fantastic main event, and new challengers arrive on the scene to end the show! SHOW RATING: 67. This show increased NYCW's popularity in 18 regions. NYCW Summer Lightning got 29,258 viewers. - - - - - Needing someone to talk to after the show, Phil Vibert calls an old friend, and someone with whom he shares several stars. "Mitch Naess speaking." "You KNOW who this is, Mitch. Caller ID tells you." "Yeah, I just enjoy winding you up." Phil cackles. His protege has gotten Pittsburgh Steel Wrestling onto WrestleWorld, and both promotions prominently employ Ernest Youngman and Nelson Callum, among others. "Loved the show tonight," Mitch says. "That Youngman kid...man, he's good. Haven't seen a guy like that in a long time." "I just hope he stays around a while," Vibert responds. Art Reed's clearly seen better days, and Youngman carried him to one of his better matches in years. The NYCW head should be happy, but he's still a bit apprehensive. "Listen...did you get my text earlier?" "The text you kept to yourself for a month? Has whoever it is buzzed you back?" "No. But why would Larry give him my number?" "Your guess is as good as mine. Also...it's a no from me on joining the COTT." "Why?," Vibert says, taken aback. "You guys don't need a bunch of brawlers, and the ones you all can use are already there because you have them," Naess explains. "Besides, dealing with Larry and Sam all the time isn't exactly on my list of things I like doing." Vibert can't argue too much. Mitch has a point. "Let's just keep making our guys bigger stars," Naess says. "We do that, we'll both benefit, especially locally in our Tri-State area. Good enough?" "Good enough. Talk to you later."

One of the busier months to date comes as temperatures in New York begin to rise. The wrestling world is abuzz over the Cornell brothers wrestling a clinic in the finals of the 2020 Cornell Cup, and Freddy Huggins has been pressed into service as the new TCW World Heavyweight Champion following what could be a career-threatening injury suffered by Wolf Hawkins. Meanwhile, in Japan, news of a shocking breakup ripples through the New York City Wrestling locker room. NYCW alum Dean Waldorf has signed a deal with Burning Hammer, while Ring Generals partner Marv Statler is, for the moment, still on the PGHW roster. Seeing one without the other, most admit, doesn't seem right. Closer to home, Nelson Callum requests a significant increase in pay ahead of the May show. He's given 75% of his ideal total, which seems like a fair compromise. With that crisis averted, we shift gears to... - - - - - NYCW Fire Fight May 2020, Week 2 Location: Generic venue; New York, NY Attendance: 385 MATCH #1: Acid & Acid II vs. Sal DiMeo and Andrew Harper In about that had superb wrestling and good heat, Acid & Acid II defeated Sal DiMeo and Andrew Harper in 12:27 when Acid pinned Andrew Harper with an Acid Rain Bomb. MATCH RATING: 50 PHIL'S NOTES: Unfortunately, Acid broke his nose during this match, and Sal DiMeo's getting some backstage heat for it. Also, Acid II narrowly averted injury when Andrew Harper botched a move. Hopefully, we can move past all of this. Still, this was a fun opener. Acid and Acid II confront Phil Vibert at the announce table. They demand a shot at the tag titles held by The Boys From The Yukon, and the match is set for next month. SEGMENT RATING: 47 MATCH #2: Josh Jacobs vs. Logan Wolfsbaine In a bout that had superb wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Logan Wolfsbaine defeated Josh Jacobs in 17:45 by submission with a Boston Crab. MATCH RATING: 60 Nothing wrong with this at all. Wolfsbaine is a blue-chipper, Jacobs can have a good match with anybody, and this got plenty of time. MATCH #3 (NYCW Tri-State Regional title): Masked Stranger (C) vs. Ray Snow In a bout that had superb wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Masked Stranger defeated Ray Snow in 11:43 by submission with a Cobra Clutch. Masked Stranger makes defense number six of the NYCW Tri-State Regional title. MATCH RATING: 56 Surprise! These two turned out to have ridiculous chemistry with one another. Snow's seen better days and wasn't considered a threat, but they made the most of their time and the crowd ate it up. The New York Doll runs in from the crowd and attacks Masked Stranger after the match. Security gets the champ out of the ring and back to safety, all while the Doll accosts him for ducking a worthy challenger. SEGMENT RATING: 37 MATCH #4: Riley McManus vs. The New York Doll In a bout that had superb wrestling and good heat, Riley McManus defeated The New York Doll in 12:57 by pinfall with a roll up. MATCH RATING: 58 Sorry, Doll: We like you, but McManus needs the shine more. Still, we protected the Tri-State challenger reasonably well here, and the match was good enough that he'll likely come out of it better than he entered. MATCH #5 (COTT World Tag Team titles): Ralph Liotta and Brutus Milano (C) vs. The Philly Blondes In a bout that had superb wrestling and great heat, The Philly Blondes defeated Ralph Liotta and Brutus Milano in 9:51 when Ash Campbell pinned Brutus Milano with a Shooting Star Press. The Philly Blondes win the COTT World Tag Team titles. MATCH RATING: 65 Yep, our solution was to plug Brutus Milano in and let him take the fall. We couldn't well job the one champion who showed up and allowed us to have an out. Ash and Nelson have the potential to set the world on fire with these belts, provided, of course, they don't get snapped up!!! Brutus Milano staggers to his feet, but he's quickly knocked down in a surprise attack! Logan Wolfsbaine and James Diaz jump him, with Logan getting a few suplexes in and Diaz hitting a power bomb before security breaks it up. SEGMENT RATING: 27 Let's see if Brutus can give these guys a rub, shall we? A promo video recapping the feud between Tennessee William and Ernest Youngman airs as the crew hastily assembles the steel cage. SEGMENT RATING: 64 MATCH #6 (NYCW Empire title, cage): Tennessee William (C) vs. Ernest Youngman In an exceptional match, Ernest Youngman defeated Tennessee William in 17:37 by pinfall with The Hit. Ernest Youngman wins the NYCW Empire title. MATCH RATING: 71 There was no wrong answer here. Tennessee William is a tremendous heel enjoying the run of his life, and this shouldn't be the last time he holds gold in NYCW. Youngman, though, is riding a tidal wave of momentum, and we had to give the fans what they want. SHOW RATING: 68. This show increased NYCW's popularity in 18 regions. NYCW Fire Fight got 26,920 viewers. - - - - - The talent has gone home. Phil Vibert sits quietly in the empty arena. A set of heavy footsteps is behind him, and they belong to Larry Vessey. "Is this where you tell me how much money we lost?," a shaken-up Vibert asks. "Not tonight, kid," Vessey says, in a shockingly-gentle fashion, as he sits down next to his booker. "You did just fine." "We had half the COTT tag champs, Larry. The first job of a booker is to give the audience what they expect to see." Larry raises his hand, his eyes staring a hole through Vibert's skull. "That was a scumbag move by Sam Keith," Vessey grumbles. "He wanted to throw us for a loop. And now, when it's time for Ash and Nelson to go down there, he's got a built-in main event because the Heartbreak Express didn't lose the titles. You got put in a lousy situation, and you did what you could." Perhaps seeing there's no getting through to Vibert, Larry stands up. "You're gonna get a text message from a new number," he says. "Don't be alarmed." "What do you mean?" "Just...don't freak out." Vessey walks away, and on cue, Vibert's phone buzzes. He looks down and sees the following message: "I've seen a lot in this business. What Sam did was LOW. You adjusted really well. Tear his heart out. - A friend." Vibert's mood goes from bummed-out to perplexed. Who's sending him messages? How did Vessey know what was coming? And what could be brewing beneath the surface that he doesn't know about?

WRITER'S NOTE: This just popped up and it's way too good not to use as a mini-writeup/interlude of sorts, so here we go. May 2020: The COTT Conundrum The Confederation of the Territories is a noble idea: Unite America's small, feisty companies into one conglomerate, with global titles, talent-sharing agreements, and promoters that work for a common good. Sometimes it works. Other times, it's messy, and that brings us to New York City Wrestling's first big problem under recently-installed head booker Phil Vibert. On a recent phone call, COTT bookers shared a common concern. Marvel Malloy and Storm Spillane, while exceptionally talented, likely weren't long for the independent scene. Their matches were clearly being studied by executives from bigger companies around the world. It was decided they would lose the belts at a Mid Atlantic Wrestling event in April. Having won the lottery, Sam Keith decided to put the belts on two youngsters: Johnny Needham and Ralph Liotta. Keith saw potential in the two, but the other promoters had their doubts. They were clearly unfinished products, and for that reason, Larry Vessey motioned to have the belts change hands once again at a NYCW show in May. Vessey was gruff and standoffish, but his promotion did feature a tag team scene rapidly growing in talent. He had leverage, and fellow COTT owners reluctantly approved the idea. NYCW's show is now upon us. Phil Vibert is mapping out the run sheet to hand to staff when his phone rings. "Hello?" "Phil? It's Ralph Liotta." It was unusual for another company's worker to call his personal phone. "How did you get this number?" "Sam gave it to me. Phil, we've got a problem." A pause. "I just landed at JFK," Liotta says. "I'll have my bag and be at my hotel in an hour. But I landed to Johnny texting me. He's in Mexico." "WHAT?!?!" It's a miracle Vibert's phone doesn't get spiked through the table. It stays in his hand, but barely. "Yeah. OLLIE got him on a loan, and he's down there to work that show." "We have both of you on a loan. Why is it that you're here and he's not?" "I don't know. He was supposed to fly in later tonight, but I guess he's doing the show down there, having talked to Sam." "I'm going to ask you a very important question..." Before Vibert can ask, Liotta cuts him off. "Phil, I've got both belts in my bag." Vibert breathes a sigh of relief. "What do you want to do?," Ralph asks. "It is far, far too soon to ask me that question," Vibert responds. "You have the belts, and unlike your boss, you had the decency to call me. I appreciate that. Get to your hotel, get some sleep, and we'll figure it out in the morning. I have a VERY unpleasant call to make." "Thanks, Phil. See you tomorrow." Ralph hangs up. Phil lets fly a string of obscenities that echo around the NYCW office building. It's fortunate for him that he's the only one in the building. After taking a series of deep breaths (and a swig from a bottle hidden in his desk drawer), Phil goes back to his phone and raises it to his ear. "Hey Larry. There's something you need to know..." TO BE CONTINUED...

What is it with back injuries to major stars? Wolf Hawkins, who has literally been carrying TCW on his back, suffered a badly herniated spinal disc at a recent show. Like Trent Shaffer, he'll be out for at least a year, and with TCW's ever-diminishing star power, that's a massive blow. Closer to home, the signing of Acid is already paying dividends for New York City Wrestling. He's relocated from Canada to the Tri-State area, and he's resumed teaching Acid II more about in-ring psychology ahead of... - - - - - NYCW The King Of New York April 2020, Week Two Location: Generic Venue; New York, NY Attendance: 364 Tennessee William, Ash Campbell, and Nelson Callum arrive at the arena. William reminds them their job tonight is to take out Ernest Youngman. Both Callum and Campbell, however, remind them they're not just in the battle royal for that reason, and that they won't hold back just because William is the champ. SEGMENT RATING: 65 MATCH #1: Geoff Borne and Jacobs & Nelson vs. The DiMeo Family In a decent match, Geoff Borne and Jacobs & Nelson defeated The DiMeo Family (Luca Sacramoni, Vito Pirello, and Machine Gun Marino) in 6:43 when Ade Nelson pinned Machine Gun Marino with a Custom Ade. MATCH RATING: 41 Sal DiMeo accosts his Family members backstage and says the recent run of bad luck isn't acceptable. However, he's got just the solution. He's made Andrew Harper "an offer he can't refuse," and he's bought his spot in the King of New York battle royal. SEGMENT RATING: 26 PHIL'S NOTES: Sue me, I've got a soft spot for the DiMeo Family. They've got a ceiling, but they're fun and represent punching bags for mid-card faces that could be on the way up. MATCH #2 (NYCW Tag Team titles): The Boys From The Yukon (C) vs. Acid & Acid II vs. The LA Stars In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, The Boys From The Yukon defeated Acid & Acid II and the LA Stars in 10:45 by blatantly cheating. The Boys From The Yukon make defense number two of the NYCW Tag Team titles. MATCH RATING: 55 Acid and Acid II start jawing at The Boys From The Yukon after the match. The heels start gloating as they think they're far enough away from the ring, but the two masked high-flyers come through the ropes with a tandem suicide dive and pound away on the arena floor. SEGMENT RATING: 44 The lumberjacks make decent champions, and Acid coming into play to team with his protege instantly gives them two viable challengers. Let's see how this works! MATCH #3 (NYCW Tri-State Regional title): Masked Stranger (C) vs. The New York Doll In a bout that had great wrestling and good heat, Masked Stranger drew with The New York Doll in 17:45 following a double pinfall. MATCH RATING: 54 No reason to blow this one off quite yet. We can get some really strong matches out of these guys while building up some possible challengers, so why not do it? MATCH #4: King Of New York Battle Royal Featuring: Animal Harker, Ash Campbell, Brutus Milano, Crockett Tubbs, Ernest Youngman, Logan Wolfsbaine, Nelson Callum, Richie Riggins, Riley McManus, and Sal DiMeo Ernest Youngman won the battle royal in 19:36. The other members of the "final four" were Nelson Callum, Ash Campbell, and Brutus Milano, with Nelson Callum being the final elimination. Ernest Youngman wins the NYCW King Of New York. MATCH RATING: 71 There wasn't much suspense here, but it's never a bad thing to give people what they want. The newly-crowned Ernest Youngman grabs the microphone and says he's cashing in his title shot next month. Tennessee William, he says, will have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and nobody to turn to...because they'll fight for the title in a steel cage. SEGMENT RATING: 67 SHOW RATING: 68. This show increased our popularity in 18 regions. NYCW The King Of New York got 25,728 viewers. - - - - - ...what a show. It marks the largest attendance so far this season, and Ernest Youngman's won one of the most prestigious crowns in independent wrestling en route to a major match next month. Surely, Larry Vessey can't be displeased, right? "Six." "Six what?," asks Phil Vibert, still riding a natural high. "We lost six thousand dollars." "I mean, that's better than $10,000, right?" Vibert takes a step back out of swinging distance. "Crowds are growing," Vibert points out. "We got out of the Weston Gymnasium, and we may get a bigger, more permanent home soon. This is going to pay off. Trust the process." "Yeah, that worked real well for the Sixers, didn't it?," Vessey grunts, shaking his head. "Better hope that cage match packs 'em in." "It will!," Vibert promises, making sure to back out of the office. "...at least, I hope it will."

The major news on the U.S. scene in March of 2020 is what many called "the bidding war of the year." Nicky Champion's USPW contract came up, and it seemed like every major promotion wanted him (including Mexico's EILL and Europe's 21CW). Ultimately, Champion chose to re-sign with his native promotion, likely for a Brinks truck full of money. It was much-needed good news for USPW, who lost another big name to a major injury. Trent Shaffer suffered a semi-severed spinal column. He'll be out at least a year, maybe longer, and he may not be the same if and when he returns. Closer to home, New York City Wrestling is rolling. After a break-even January, the Phil Vibert-booked promotion turned a profit in February. This leads to the conversation had prior to the promotion's March show... "WrestleWorld?!," exclaims Larry Vessey. "We've never shown any of our stuff outside the arena. That sounds expensive." "Gotta spend money to make money," Vibert counters. "We're making money off of our shows, so we can afford to take a few risks." Vessey is silent. Vibert draws closer, so none of the crew can hear him. "Besides, if you want to crush the other territories, what better way to do that than showing OUR shows in THEIR areas?" This seems to resonate. Vessey cracks a rare smile. "Just don't go broke," he says, walking to the backstage area. - - - - - NYCW Beasts Of War March 2020, Week Two Location: Weston Gymnasium Attendance: 300 (SELL-OUT) The show begins with Phil Vibert on-screen. In a pair of rare, on-screen appearances, he's flanked by LARRY VESSEY and STEVE FLASH. The trio welcomes the audience to NYCW's first WrestleWorld broadcast and promise audiences a mix of the company's known rough, believable style with the action current fans crave. SEGMENT RATING: 46 MATCH #1 (NYCW Tag Team titles): The Boys From The Yukon vs. Jacobs & Nelson In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, The Boys From The Yukon defeated Jacobs & Nelson in 9:58 when Howlin' Mad Mort pinned Ade Nelson with a Tiiiiiiiiiimber. The Boys From The Yukon make defense number one of the NYCW Tag Team Titles. MATCH RATING: 53 PHIL'S NOTES: We wanted to see if Jacobs and Nelson were ready for this sort of spot, so we threw them into the deep end. We got a pretty fun opener, and our tag team division is coming together well. MATCH #2: Brutus Milano vs. Logan Wolfsbaine In a bout that had great heat and good wrestling, Logan Wolfsbaine defeated Brutus Milano in 10:17 by pinfall with a Belly to Belly Suplex. MATCH RATING: 48 Logan Wolfsbaine has his hand raised, but he's not finished. He motions to the back, and out comes James Diaz. The Prodigies continue their assault on Brutus Milano, who's eventually helped to the back after security wards off the heels. SEGMENT RATING: 28 The fall of Brutus Milano begins... MATCH #3: Acid II vs. OZZIE GOLDSTEIN In a bout that had superb wrestling and good heat, Acid II defeated Ozzie Goldstein in 12:46 by pinfall with an Acid Rain Bomb. MATCH RATING: 55 We brought Ozzie in on a one-night deal to give Acid II someone to work with. This turned out to be a fun match with plenty of high spots, and one of our young guys gets a nice win. Immediately after the match, Acid II gets jumped by Tennessee William, Ash Campbell, and Nelson Callum, who run in from the crowd. Campbell and Callum do much of the heavy lifting, while William looks into the camera and yells, "ERNEST YOUNGMAN, ARE YOU WATCHING???" SEGMENT RATING: 54 This heel faction is really, really good. Hope they all stick around for a while. MATCH #4: Riley McManus vs. Andrew Harper In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Riley McManus defeated Andrew Harper in 13:15 by pinball with a Slingshot Suplex. MATCH RATING: 52 Our first WrestleWorld show provided a good environment to blow off one of the last remaining pre-2020 feuds. McManus has a bright future and is one of the guys we plan to build around moving forward. Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum walk out for their tag match. Ernest Youngman is next, and he gives them credit. He'd asked Acid II to pull double duty, but that's obviously not happening now. However, Youngman smirks, "gee, if only there was someone out there JUST like him...". The lights go out, and one word appears on the big screen: ACID. Out walks the original Acid, who's set to fill in for his protege. SEGMENT RATING: 55 Nothing like a fun debut on an initial broadcast, especially one that fits this well! MATCH #5: Ernest Youngman and Acid vs. Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum In an exceptional match, Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum defeated Ernest Youngman and Acid in 18:09 when Callum submitted Acid with a Honey Trap after blatantly cheating. MATCH RATING: 64 Ash and Nelson needed a win for some momentum. Putting them over an established guy, protecting our top babyface, and getting a really good match was the jackpot for us. MATCH #6 (COTT World Heavyweight title): PABLO RODRIGUEZ (C) vs. Tennessee William In an exceptional match, Pablo Rodriguez defeated Tennessee William in 18:18 by pinfall with a Sinner's Salvation following interference from Ernest Youngman. Pablo Rodriguez makes defense number seven of the COTT World Heavyweight title. MATCH RATING: 66 Rodriguez, unfortunately, has seen better days, but William showed he could hang on a big stage. Maybe down the road, we'll have enough cache to put the big belt on one of our guys, but for now, we've got bigger fish to fry. Ernest Youngman cackles at getting some revenge. He grabs a microphone and reminds the fallen Tennessee William that King of New York is next month, and the winner gets a title shot. He says he plans to win that, then take the NYCW Empire title. SEGMENT RATING: 59 SHOW RATING: 63. This show increased NYCW's popularity in 18 regions. NYCW Beasts Of War got 22,739 viewers. - - - - - The show was a very good one, and the mood backstage reflects it. Phil Vibert thanks Pablo Rodriguez for coming in and goes to Larry Vessey expecting praise. Instead, though, the boss is aggravated. "Ten. Thousand. Dollars." Vessey looks like he's about to explode. Vibert is non-plussed. "Spend money to make money, right?," Vibert responds. "Bringing in Pablo wasn't cheap. Getting that crew in wasn't cheap. We'll get some money back from WrestleWorld on the broadcast revenue, but nowhere near enough to break even. How long is this deal for?" "Six months," Vibert says. "Hopefully we'll be able to impress them and renew the deal later in the year." "I wonder if that's best for business. Be careful."

The early part of 2020 has been eventful, and most of the events haven't been good. Over in Japan, the wrestling scene reeling from tsunamis and scandals got some comic relief. Burning Hammer of the Wrestling Gods tried to convince the public that rival World Level Wrestling is run by devil-worshippers. This, of course, failed miserably. Closer to home, the Supreme Wrestling Federation decreased to a medium-sized company, continuing the swoon that started when Richard Eisen got booted out. Phil Vibert, however, is riding pretty high. Sponsorship deals got back the $2,000 or so New York City Wrestling lost with his first show, and like any good promoter, the money was burning a hole in his pocket. When news broke that Enygma of United States Pro Wrestling was about to become a free agent, Vibert dutifully made a call to inquire about his services. In turn, Enygma laughed until Vibert hung up the phone, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Ahead of NYCW Empire State, Vibert surveys the locker room. Logan Wolfsbaine has started dating PCW's Venus Angeletti, and Tennessee William is being loaned to Mid Atlantic Wrestling for a show later this month. All seems calm as showtime approaches... - - - - - NYCW Empire State February 2020, Week Two Location: Weston Gymnasium Attendance: 300 (SELL-OUT) MATCH #1: Jacobs & Nelson (w/Ernie Turner) vs. The Italian Americans For what they are, the Italian Americans are just fine. They're lackeys and solid opening match fodder for the guys going up the card. Here, they do the job in 7:41, as Josh Jacobs picks up the pin for his team. MATCH RATING: 41 After the match, Sal DiMeo runs in, and the numbers game proves too much. In fact, Ernie Turner runs in in an attempt to stop the assault. However, the Italian Americans instead hit back-to-back powerbombs on the manager and leave him laying in the center of the ring. SEGMENT RATING: 31 PHIL'S NOTES: Unfortunately, with us losing $2,000 on the last show, a manager making $400 is just too much for us to bear right now. Ernie seemed to understand, and hopefully we can bring him back soon enough. MATCH #2: Brooklyn's Finest vs. The Prodigies Logan Wolfsbaine is already a known quantity, and James Diaz has "star" written all over him. Their continued strong push goes onward here, as Diaz pins Hawkeye Calhoun at 6:17 after the heels dominate most of the match. MATCH RATING: 46 Logan Wolfsbaine and James Diaz continue their assault after the bell, and security can barely restrain them so medical teams can attend to Freedom Eagle and Hawkeye Calhoun. SEGMENT RATING: 31 Freedom Eagle and Hawkeye Calhoun are solid guys to have, but they're not going to rise up much further. We can re-heat them up soon enough. Wolfsbaine and Diaz, however, may be the future of this company provided the bigger ones keep their hands to themselves. MATCH #3: Geoff Borne vs. JOJI One of the few guys on the pre-existing roster that could wrestle a fast-paced, high flying-centric match, Borne was all too eager to get in the ring with JOJI. The new acquisition, however, proved too tough to keep down. A month after falling to Acid II in a show-stealing match, JOJI picks up his first NYCW win at 10:02. MATCH RATING: 52 JOJI's an unknown quantity, but he's done nothing wrong to this point and is certainly one to watch as our roster gets younger and infused with some more high-flying talent. Backstage, Tennessee William arrives with Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum ahead of tonight's main event. Tennessee apologizes for the "backup band" comment, knowing it's ruffled some feathers, but says he'll make it worth his while for his guys as long as Ernest Youngman, Acid II, and Brutus Milano are taken out. SEGMENT RATING: 58 It's nice having a champ that can talk! MATCH #4: Animal Harker vs. Richie Riggins (w/Cheerleader Nicki) Still reeling from his loss to shocking newcomer Ernest Youngman, Riggins falls victim to some early offense from NYCW vet Animal Harker. However, some underhanded tactics turn the tide, and Riggins ultimately wins by pinfall at 8:08. MATCH RATING: 52 Riggins can be carried, and Harker had his working boots on. This gives Riggins some momentum after last month's defeat, and the match wound up better than it had any right to be! MATCH #5: Crockett Tubbs vs. The New York Doll Two NYCW stalwarts took to the ring here, and predictably, the result was a solid midcard match between a pair of seasoned workers who knew what the crowd expected. The Doll, though, winds up emerging victorious by pinball at 13:24. MATCH RATING: 49 After the match, The New York Doll goes to the announcer's table to yell at Phil Vibert. He demands a match with Tri-State Champion The Masked Stranger, and Vibert says he'll take it under advisement. SEGMENT RATING: 45 An easy way to heat up the Doll with an OK match, and we set up a solid semi-main event next month. MATCH #6: Riley McManus vs. Ray Snow Ray Snow is built for this precise role. He can have a good match with anyone and make them look like a legitimate threat. McManus doesn't need much enhancement, and he more than holds up his end of the bargain before putting Snow away at 13:27 with a Slingshot Suplex. MATCH RATING: 55 Riley McManus grabs a microphone and says, "since we're throwing challenges out left and right, here's one: Andrew Harper, come face me next month, and we'll settle this once and for all!" SEGMENT RATING: 39 Riley's not much of a promo, but he's a heck of a worker. MATCH #7: Ernest Youngman, Acid II, and Brutus Milano vs. Tennessee William, Nelson Callum, and Ash Campbell Just how good are five of these six guys? Brutus Milano's limitations go almost completely unnoticed. In an energetic match that keeps the crowd on the edge of their seats, the faces ultimately prevail by unsatisfying means, as Tennessee William smashes Ernest Youngman with a guitar at 17:45 to draw a disqualification. MATCH RATING: 72 In a word: WHOA!!!!! Ernest Youngman comes to his senses in the ring after the match, as Tennessee William addresses him from the top of the ramp. The champ says he'd love to get his hands on Youngman, but it'll have to wait. He's challenging for the COTT title next month. William says, though, that if Youngman can settle on a partner, he can face Ash Campbell and Nelson Callum. SEGMENT RATING: 55 SHOW RATING: 67 - - - - - After briefly addressing the crowd following the show, Phil Vibert heads backstage. Larry Vessey stands guard outside the locker room. "All okay?," Vibert asks. "Better," Larry grunts. "Down a thousand." "We'll cancel that out with sponsorship revenue and be fine," Vibert says, pleased with the financials. "What about the boys?" "Brutus is annoyed..." "Of course," Vibert mutters under his breath. "He says Ade Nelson doesn't belong here and that we should release him." "Brutus ought to..." Instead of saying the words "keep his mouth shut," Vibert opts to do just that for a moment. "Anything else?" "SWF is really reeling. Just heard from a few folks Valiant's jumping ship to USPW." That's a huge story. SWF losing one of its biggest stars, right after officially decreasing in size, could have massive ripple effects on the industry. "Have they contacted any of our guys?" "Not yet. But I imagine it's coming. Be careful. Let's not get too far behind their targets." Larry pays Vibert his money, and Phil goes into the locker room.

"NYCW Rush Hour," Phil Vibert thinks to himself. "It's a chance to start something new." Not entirely, of course. NYCW has been around longer than most people in the locker room have been alive. However, with the news coming down that Larry Vessey's baby would have to grow up, and fast, the first show of 2020 represents a new beginning. A quick scan of the locker room reveals plenty. A line of new talent forms to shake hands and introduce themselves to NYCW mainstays. Some of the veterans play cards while going over their matches. Meanwhile, Phil can't help but notice Larry working very closely with Richie Riggins on a promo. Given Phil's plans for the night, the new booker can't help but smirk. There are, of course, a few changes that have been made. Ron South, Arnie Plummer, and Devastating Don were all deemed surplus to requirements upon Vibert's arrival. In addition, with Vibert sliding into the color commentary role alongside Rock Downpour, Ernie Turner has been moved to a managerial spot. A quick look through the curtain shows a full house at the Weston Gymnasium. It's not the biggest house, but it's something. "Alright, let's rock," Vibert says to himself moments before hard rock music hits and reverberates throughout the small arena. - - - - - NYCW Rush Hour January 2020, Week Two Location: Weston Gymnasium Attendance: 300 (SELL-OUT) FORMATTING NOTE: Faces are listed first, with the exception of title bouts (where champions receive top billing). Debuting workers are in all-caps on first reference. PHIL VIBERT welcomes everyone to the new, improved NYCW. He says chapters will be closed tonight and runs down the card, which features a main-event matchup between NYCW Empire Champion Brutus Milano and #1 contender Tennessee William. SEGMENT RATING: 62 PHIL'S NOTES: Okay, good to see I can still cut a promo in front of a live audience. MATCH #1: The Casey Brothers vs. THE PRODIGIES (LOGAN WOLFSBAINE and JAMES DIAZ) In a decent match, The Prodigies defeated the Casey Brothers in 5:43 when Logan Wolfsbaine pinned Chuck Casey with a Belly To Belly Suplex. Logan Wolfsbaine shined in this match. MATCH RATING: 49 Why not start with a bang? Logan and James are family, so it made sense to team them up. Diaz could be a future star, and he fits the traditional NYCW mold, which may make him an easy sell down the line. The DiMeo Family confronts Freedom Eagle and Hawkeye Calhoun backstage. Ernie Turner barges in, saying he's had enough of life behind a desk and has found ways to even the score. SEGMENT RATING: 31 Nothing revolutionary. The DiMeo Family is a solid undercard act we can find ways to use. MATCH #2: Brooklyn's Finest, JOSH JACOBS, and ADE NELSON (w/Ernie Turner) vs. The DiMeo Family In a decent match, Brooklyn's Finest and Jacobs & Nelson defeated the DiMeo Family in 7:54 when Freedom Eagle pinned Machine Gun Marino with a Freedom Slam. MATCH RATING: 38 Luca Sacramoni and Vito Pirelli jump Josh Jacobs and Ade Nelson after the match. Sal stomps them both and yells, "NOW YOU'S CAN'T LEAVE!!!" SEGMENT RATING: 27 I could hear Larry screaming when he saw Josh and Ade, but they're solid hands, we need more face tag teams, and putting Ernie with them gives him something to do while giving two bland, decent workers a mouthpiece. Add in the token cliche mafia catchphrase, and we've got solid programming, even if it reminds Larry of Sam Keith. MATCH #3: ACID II vs. JOJI In a bout that had superb wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Acid II defeated JOJI in 10:30 by pinfall with an Acid Rain Bomb. MATCH RATING: 58 This was a test. The NYCW audience isn't used to guys flying around, and I told Acid II and JOJI to go crazy. The crowd ate this up, and Acid may well be a strong babyface for us down the line. Richie Riggins and Cheerleader Nicki run down the crowd and the influx of new talent. Specifically, Riggins calls out the new blood for not looking like the star he already is, but before he can keep going, out walks ERNEST YOUNGMAN to a big pop. Youngman's retort is short: It doesn't matter if you look like a star if you can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Just like that, an impromptu match is made. SEGMENT RATING: 41 MATCH #4: Ernest Youngman vs. Richie Riggins (w/Cheerleader Nicki) In a bout that had superb wrestling and great heat, Ernest Youngman defeated Richie Riggins in 9:34 by pinfall with The Hit. MATCH RATING: 68 Due respect to Riggins, who cut a strong heel promo (one Larry may as well have written himself...) and was good enough to be carried, but Youngman looked like a superstar here. He was a bit confused when we told him to play a face, but we did so knowing he wouldn't have to stray far from his PSW character to be respected by this audience. Fantastic debut. MATCH #5 (NYCW Tri-State Regional Title): Masked Stranger (C) vs. Denny King In a bout that had superb wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Masked Stranger defeated Denny King in 10:20 by submission with a Cobra Clutch. Masked Stranger makes defense number four of the NYCW Tri-State Regional Title. MATCH RATING: 54 Masked Stranger's celebration is interrupted by The New York Doll, who says that belt would look great wrapped around his waist. The two bicker back and forth, but security arrives before the confrontation can escalate any further. SEGMENT RATING: 30 Masked Stranger is a good hand and a perfect fit in this upper-midcard gatekeeper role. Eventually, he'll put guys over, but this wasn't the spot for that. The New York Doll makes a lot of sense in a similar capacity, too, so this should be a fun program. MATCH #6: Riley McManus and the L.A. Stars vs. Andrew Harper and The Boys From The Yukon In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Riley McManus and the L.A. Stars defeated Andrew Harper and The Boys From The Yukon in 11:44 when Riley McManus pinned Whitehorse Whittaker with a Slingshot Suplex. MATCH RATING: 52 I wanted to blow off most of the feuds that started before I got here. However, McManus and Harper have some juice together, so there's no reason to rush that. Add in our two most prominent tag teams, and it makes for a fun semi-main event. Tennessee William is backstage with a microphone. He says he respects Phil Vibert for keeping NYCW's biggest star at the top of the marquee, and that he plans to bring the Empire title back to Tennessee after beating Brutus Milano. What's more...he says he's not alone. SEGMENT RATING: 56 MATCH #7 (NYCW Empire Title): Brutus Milano (C) vs. Tennessee William In a bout that had great heat and good wrestling, Tennessee William defeated Brutus Milano in 9:48 by pinfall with a Devil's Crossroad. Tennessee William wins the NYCW Empire title. MATCH RATING: 50 Nothing about Brutus Milano hit me as champion-worthy. That included his performance in this match, as he and Tennessee William had poor chemistry. Simply put, William was too hot not to make a change here, and now we've got a champion that looks, acts, and wrestles the part. Tennessee William begins the celebration in the ring. He taunts Brutus Milano, who comes forward to attack...but is instead jumped from behind by two men in black hooded sweatshirts. Milano is laid out, and the two ambushers reveal themselves as...NELSON CALLUM and ASH CAMPBELL!!! William grabs a microphone and says, "what musician is ANYTHING without a backup band?" This description doesn't go over too well with Callum and Campbell, but they continue their assault until Ernest Youngman runs out to help even the odds. After a moment, he's joined by Acid II, and when the fight spills out onto the floor, Acid vaults to the top and hits a beautiful plancha to the floor. SEGMENT RATING: 54 SHOW RATING: 53. - - - - - The mood is strong backstage. The talent seems proud of a strong performance across the board, and back-slaps and hugs abound as Vibert pays them for their work. Finally, the talent has dispersed, leaving only Vibert and Larry Vessey. Vibert looks pleased, but Vessey's stone-faced expression implies there's trouble. "Well, what'd you think, boss?," Vibert asks, not quite sure of the response he'll get. "We lost about $2,000," Vessey replies. "Is that coming out of your check?" A pause. "I'm kidding," Vessey says, his face unchanged from its default "grumpy" setting. "But don't go spending money like we've got millionaire investors. We don't." "Understood," Vibert utters between sighs of relief. "You did fine. Just keep a better eye on the money," adds Vessey, handing Phil his check as he goes back inside. Vibert is a bit conflicted. He knows he can't be irresponsible, but he also knows NYCW needs to spend money in order to make money. Navigating that tight rope, while keeping Larry Vessey off his back, could prove challenging in the months ahead.

It’s New Year’s Day 2020, and Larry Vessey has a problem. Long one of the top independent promotions in the country, New York City Wrestling has hit a snag. Many of its one-time top performers have gone on to bigger and better things. This is to be expected to a degree, of course, but the promotion’s dearth of star power has not gone unnoticed by other members of the Confederation of the Territories. The COTT’s annual meeting is a lively one. After some shared laughing at the expense of the departed Richard Eisen, though, things get ugly in a hurry. “Larry, with all due respect, your product…it’s slow, and stale,” said Sam Keith, head of Mid Atlantic Wrestling. “I know you’ve lost some guys. We all have. But when are you going to realize times have changed?” “With all due respect, Sam? Really?,” Larry asks, hunching himself over the table a bit. “I know the kids you’ve got. When was the last time any of them saw the inside of a weight room?” “Guys! Guys!,” Coastal Zone Championship Wrestling boss Cliff Anderson piped up. “We can bicker, or we can figure things out as a unit.” “Easy for you to say,” Keith replies. “You’re in the best position of all of us.” In the midst of all of this, IPW’s Gil Thomas and OLLIE’s Phoenix I exchange glances, just trying to dodge the barrage of insults being thrown around the room. “I’m not trying to tell you how to run your business,” Keith says before Vessey cuts him off. “You’re ABSOLUTELY trying to tell me how to run my business, Sam.” A pause. “Okay. Fine. So I am,” Keith admits. “A rising tide lifts all boats. I want you to succeed. If you make stars, and I make stars, and Gil and Phoenix make stars…” Vessey’s face remains unflinching. “Changing what my promotion is, at its core, isn’t going to help anybody,” Vessey replies. “If I turn into Coastal Zone East, my fans are going to tune right out. I know my audience.” “We’re not saying, ‘totally sell out what you’re doing,’” Anderson adds. “But we’ve seen your numbers. Your guys…a lot of them aren’t drawing.” “So what ARE you saying then?” A pause. “Oh, for crying out loud, do I need to say EVERYTHING tough around here?,” Thomas suddenly exclaims. “Look, Larry. I like you. We all do. And we all respect you. But if you don’t evolve with the times, and you don’t put on a product that shows you respect what the modern wrestling fan wants, we’re going to have to seriously reconsider NYCW’s membership within our alliance.” Larry can’t believe what he’s hearing. “We put together, how do you say…a list of bookers,” Phoenix I adds, gingerly sliding a piece of paper down the table. “They’re all ready to help. We think you should pick one and call them.” Larry examines the paper, and most of the names he sees are ones he wants no part of dealing with. Enraged at the ultimatum being given to him, he stuffs the paper into his pants pocket, stands up, and storms out of the board room. It’s a quiet day in Southern California, but the stillness gets punctured by a scream that can be heard several blocks away. After coming to rest against a lamp post, Vessey pulls out the sheet of paper. Several of the names are non-starters. However, there’s one that jumps off the page, one that represents someone who can, at a minimum, prove to be an amicable partner (and maybe, just maybe, something more than that). Vessey pulls out his phone and brings it to his ear. After a few moments, someone picks up. “Yeah, it’s Larry Vessey. I imagine you were told I might be calling you.” - - - - - A few days later, NYCW talent are called to an impromptu, all-hands Zoom meeting. After the usual array of technical issues, Vessey hops on. “Hey, everybody. I’m sorry for the short notice, but I didn’t want you to hear this from the dirt sheets. We’re making a few changes.” Several wrestlers have their hearts in their throats. “COTT management want us to offer a more ‘contemporary product.’ They threatened us with expulsion from the organization if we didn’t go along with their wishes. That doesn’t mean we’ll totally abandon what we’re known for doing, but it does mean we need to make some tweaks. “The biggest one is near the top. I’ve hired a new booker to help me steer the ship. With that in mind, I’ll hand things over to a guy some of you may already know, someone whose business acumen I trust, someone who…well, of the possible names I was given, someone I could actually stand to talk to for more than two minutes at a time. “Allow me to introduce…PHIL VIBERT.” A few gasps and several eye-raises are seen and heard on the Zoom call. Phil Vibert, the former head of D.A.V.E., was coming here? “Thanks, everyone,” Phil says, clearing his throat. “I’ll keep this pretty short. It took a special opportunity to get me back into an office position. This is it. I’m excited to evaluate the talent we’ve got on hand and map out a road map that will bring New York City Wrestling to a place we can all be proud of. “Know this, though. We won’t settle for anything less than the best product we can put out there…for several reasons. I’ll see you all next week. Bring your working boots!” Slowly, the wrestlers drop off the Zoom call until only Larry and Phil are left. “Phil,” Larry said, “let me make this clear.” A pause. “The COTT doubted me. They threatened to cast me out. It’s true what they said about a rising tide lifting all boats. “Give our boat guns. And be prepared to use them when the time comes. Understood?” Phil nods. It’s clear there’s far more at play than just coming in and righting the ship. At some point, others will need to be sunk. - - - - - WRITER'S NOTE: I haven’t had the time to do a sustained TEW game in a while, let alone a diary for it. However, when I dove back into the forums, there was the ever-reliable TCP1 with a NYCW diary. I read it, got fired up, and am excited to give this a go. My prior NYCW experience is limited. I haven’t played as NYCW since the 2016 game, and that one didn’t last long. I booked eight matches on the first card, six got me unlucky chemistry rolls, and I rage-quit. I’m…hoping this one goes better. Here’s hoping this provides some high-quality entertainment (maybe even the INTENTIONAL kind!).

FEBRUARY 2020, WEEK THREE Honolulu, Hawaii It's mid-afternoon, and Clark Alexander waits outside Jerry's Basement. He's trying to hide a bit beneath a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, but he doesn't really need to. Hawaiians know who he is and give him his distance as a black sedan pulls up next to him. A driver pops out and opens the back door, revealing COTT World Champion Pablo Rodriguez. Clark smiles and embraces his friend after he gets his gear from the back seat. "How was your trip?," Clark asks. "Not bad," Pablo says. "This weather...it DOES beat New York this time of year." The two trade knowing smirks as they go inside the building to a secluded dressing room. "All set for tonight?," Pablo says as he begins to lay out his gear. "Yeah, it's a good show, I think," Clark says, massaging his temple a bit. "There was another thing I wanted to talk with you about." Clark pulls a wrinkled piece of paper out from his pocket. It's a press release issued by a company called Wrestleworld, which has announced plans to launch a streaming platform for fans all over the globe in just a few months. "Do you know anything about this?" Pablo reads it, and his crooked smile grows into an ear-to-ear grin. "I think," he says, handing the paper back to the Hawaiian Pro Wrestling booker, "you've found your magic bullet." - - - - - HPW Clampdown Location: Jerry’s Basement Attendance: 59 ANGLE: Our show begins with a glance at HPW World Champion Akima Brave confidently strolling through the backstage area. He walks into Clark Alexander and begins bragging about his victory, but before too long, in walks PABLO RODRIGUEZ, holding his COTT World Championship. Rodriguez says he came to Hawaii for two reasons: The beach, and to shut Akima up. A match is then made for Rodriguez's belt, and both men smirk as they walk off in opposite directions. SEGMENT RATING: 53. TAG MATCH: FRO SURE and Jesse Tasman vs. The Cousins of Destruction Logan Wolfsbaine and James Diaz looked like world-beaters in January, and they waste no time in their official HPW debut. Fro Sure and Jesse Tasman are solid long-term prospects, but here, they're no more than cannon fodder. Wolfsbaine ultimately pins Fro Sure at 3:50 following a German suplex to cap off a squash match. MATCH RATING: 34. TAG MATCH: Aldous Blackfriar and Amazing Fire Fly vs. The Canadian Blondes This match was booked to give Flash and Ozzie a bit of momentum after their loss in January. They get that here, as Ozzie pins Fire Fly in 9:41 following the most unfortunately-named finisher in wrestling, the Golden Shower (we MUST rename that). However, the real story is that Blackfriar and Fire Fly showed excellent chemistry teaming with one another. Hmm... MATCH RATING: 55. ANGLE: Immediately following the bell, Penfold Perdition makes his way to ringside. The Canadian Blondes tremble, but it's soon shown to be a ruse: He's come to destroy Aldous Blackfriar and Amazing Fire Fly, which he does with a pair of gigantic splashes. The heels then cackle all the way to the backstage area. SEGMENT RATING: 30. SINGLES MATCH: DEADLY DEADSHOT vs. Damian Dastardly Someone in the audience joked that this couldn't be on the marquee outside because nobody had enough D's for the sign. Kidding aside, this turns out to be a fine, up-tempo match between two young upstarts. They make the most of their limited time, and Dastardly makes his in-ring debut a winning one with a pin at 7:44 following a Dastardly Cunning. MATCH RATING: 52. ANGLE: A smirking Damian Dastardly signals to the back, and out run his Next buddies: Ernest Youngman, The Architect, and Xavi Ferrera. The crowd boos lustily, but the 4-on-1 beatdown doesn't last long, as Frankie Perez runs out wielding a chair! Next scatters, and Frankie yells out an open challenge to any of them. Youngman steps into the ring, and away we go! SEGMENT RATING: 28. SINGLES MATCH: Frankie Perez vs. Ernest Youngman This isn't rocket science: If you instruct two of the best workers available to have a great match, chances are they will. That's what happens here, as Perez and Youngman go all-out for nearly 13 minutes and delight the crowd with a mix of chain wrestling and brutal strikes. The fans finally get a chance to cheer at 12:46, when The Architect attempts to interfere after a ref bump but decks Youngman with brass knuckles instead. Perez clears the ring, locks in the P-Clutch, and earns a submission victory. MATCH RATING: 63. HPW TAG TITLES MATCH: The Rock City Stars © vs. The Architect and Xavi Ferrera We may as well use the rest of Next while they're out here, right? Turner and Manna arrive to a nice pop and wrestle accordingly as the conquering, title-holding babyfaces. The young guys wrestle valiantly and pull out plenty of dirty tricks, but Manna ultimately pins The Architect at 12:50 following a Cover Version. MATCH RATING: 52. COTT WORLD TITLE MATCH: Pablo Rodriguez © vs. Akima Brave Smartly, plenty of time is left for the main event, and it doesn't disappoint the small crowd that came to see the show. Rodriguez and Brave throw big strikes at one another for more than 20 minutes, with the crowd buying into most near-falls. Finally, Rodriguez counters Brave's Samoan suplex and works it into a Sinner's Salvation, which plants Brave into the mat just long enough for a three-count at 23:14. MATCH RATING: 60. ANGLE: A weary Pablo Rodriguez celebrates with his championship belt before staring down Akima Brave, who has risen to his feet. Rodriguez, clearly winded, offers a handshake. Brave takes it...but it is, of course, a ruse. Brave pummels Rodriguez in a fit of rage, which brings out Clark Alexander, who attempts to stop the assault. Alexander, though, gets knocked to the ground, and can only watch as Brave puts Rodriguez through a table at ringside. SEGMENT RATING: 63. SHOW RATING: 59.

BAH GAWD, THAT'S UNCREWED'S MUSIC! WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?!?!?!?! (Hello from an old friend!)

WRITER'S NOTE: One of the reasons this took a few days is because I was debating whether or not to set up predictions. Ultimately, I decided not to, at least for the first few shows. It'd be a shot in the dark for everybody, since I haven't even made clear who I'm pursuing/would be pushing, and Hawaii is sort of the forbidden planet in that a lot of U.S.-based popularity doesn't carry over. I'll likely start doing them beginning with a few shows from now. Also, one more item: In the match listings, faces are generally listed first. JANUARY 2020, WEEK THREE Honolulu, Hawaii It had been a crazy few weeks in the world of professional wrestling. Clark Alexander's announcement of a new promotion in Hawaii that would be affiliated with the Confederation of the Territories got some buzz, but was quickly pushed to the back burner. Jay Chord, one of the biggest stars on the mainland, announced he was going on hiatus. TCW had been counting on the 29-year-old to be a major cornerstone for them, but he'd instead chosen to take his ball and go home. In addition, the indy scene was shaken by news of Tigre Salvaje Jr. storming out of a CZCW show. He'd been one of the COTT's most respected workers, but he's now without a COTT-based contract, and word is he's been put on an alliance-wide "black list" for the short term until tensions begin to ease. Alexander, though, isn't fazed by the lack of attention. In fact, he's thriving on it. It's allowed him to work in the background to sign a mix of talent from all over the world, a group he views with pride as it gets ready for Hawaiian Punch Wrestling's very first show. Calling the bunch "eclectic" would be an understatement. In one corner of the locker room, announcer Quentin Wednesday and color commentator Ford Gumble compare notes. The dueling accents provide a bit of a language barrier that provokes equal parts humor and concern, Alexander thinks, but Wednesday works cheap and Gumble lives nearby. In another sit several independent wrestlers based in Hawaii, ones who'd been looking for a promotion to call home and may have finally found it. In yet another, young guys brought in for an opportunity talk shop with several veterans, signed to be both the backbone of the new promotion and impart wisdom on those Alexander hopes will lead it forward in the coming years. He hears the crowd filing into Jerry's Basement. It's not a large one, to be sure, but it provides the baseline for what Alexander can hope to build on moving forward. "Okay," he says as he hears his music playing. "It's time." HPW Pay The Piper Location: Jerry's Basement Attendance: 62 ANGLE: Naturally, the first face the fans see is CLARK ALEXANDER, who comes out to a polite reception. He welcomes the fans to a new era in Hawaiian wrestling, and promises them they'll see a quality show each and every month. He's interrupted, though, by AKIMA BRAVE, who says he's come here to conquer the entire roster starting with the biggest name on it. Alexander responds by announcing the night's main event: A four-way match for the HPW World Championship featuring Alexander, Brave, ASH CAMPBELL, and FRANKIE PEREZ. SEGMENT RATING: 36. SINGLES MATCH: Amazing Fire Fly vs. Orange Tsuchie Right off the bat, we get a taste of the matchups Hawaiian Punch Wrestling figures to offer. Here, two of the world's top young high-flyers are sent out to open the show, and while the match is short and Amazing Fire Fly's gimmick falls flat, the action is dazzling. After a back-and-forth match, Amazing Fire Fly gets the duke at 7:43 with a Sky High Fire Fly. MATCH RATING: 59. SINGLES MATCH: Jesse Tasman vs. Penfold Perdition Tasman has the look of a guy who could be somebody, but he's not there yet. Perdition, meanwhile, is extremely limited, but is over with the crowd as a monster heel and is booked accordingly. The match is short, just 4:18, and Perdition squashes Tasman with an Eyebrow Raiser. MATCH RATING: 22. ANGLE: A luxury car pulls up to the building, and out walk FLASH SAVAGE and OZZIE GOLDSTEIN, the reunited CANADIAN BLONDES. They disparage Jerry's Basement and the "heathens" that occupy it, but they're interrupted by a monstrous tour bus containing ROCKIN' RYAN TURNER and STAN MANNA, the ROCK CITY STARS. The two teams confront one another, and security separates them before a challenge is issued...with the vacant HPW Tag Team titles on the line. SEGMENT RATING: 33. SINGLES MATCH: Aldous Blackfriar vs. Americana Jr. HPW trots out two more young guns here, with the difference being that Blackfriar has a bit more "name recognition" than either of the men in the opening match. Americana Jr. is a tremendous prospect, but one that's in need of matches like this to develop his skills and establish him as a player. Blackfriar finishes him at 12:52 with a Batwing. MATCH RATING: 48. TAG TEAM MATCH: Rayne Man and Molokai Milk vs. Ernest Youngman and Xavi Ferrera The bad news is that Youngman and Ferrera have no chemistry. The good news is that these four guys are so good it doesn't matter much. Rayne Man and Molokai Milk are two veteran babyfaces who have no problem giving the young guys some shine. The prospects get plenty of offense in, but it's Rayne Man who gets the win at 12:48, when he pins Ferrera clean. MATCH RATING: 49. ANGLE: In what at least one person hopes is a segment we'll relive for years to come, Ernest Youngman and Xavi Ferrera get their revenge after the match. Two other men jump the barricade and help them beat down Rayne Man and Molokai Milk. As the two veterans writhe around in pain, the newcomers reveal themselves to be DAMIAN DASTARDLY and THE ARCHITECT. Dastardly has a microphone and issues a stern warning: "No matter what anyone else back there things, the future of Hawaiian Punch Wrestling is here in this ring. If anyone has a problem with that, they can try us, but just remember...we're NEXT." SEGMENT RATING: 23. SINGLES MATCH: Cheetah Boy vs. Bull Wrecker Cheetah Boy was one of Clark Alexander's first calls. Every locker room needs a veteran presence in it that can serve a "utility" role, which Cheetah Boy had done with aplomb for years in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. However, Bull Wrecker has plenty of strong years in front of him to go along with a good look and strong in-ring skills. He pins his veteran opponent cleanly in 13:30 following a Pancake Maker. MATCH RATING: 42. HPW TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: The Rock City Stars vs. The Canadian Blondes The pace is slowed down a bit in this one, as fans are treated to some old-school tag team wrestling between two experienced units. None of these guys are technical wizards, but the psychology is on point as double-teams and ring cut-offs are plentiful. Finally, after a series of spots leave Ryan Turner and Flash Savage alone in the ring, Turner hits a Six String Shooter for the pin and the titles at 17:51. MATCH RATING: 54. ANGLE: As one may figure, the celebration is short-lived. Ryan Turner and Stan Manna get the titles, but the Canadian Blondes aren't done fighting. After a brief scrum, the lights go out. When they come back on, a third team is in the ring...LOGAN WOLFSBAINE and JAMES DIAZ. Wearing shirts that read COUSINS OF DESTRUCTION, Wolfsbaine and Diaz lay waste to both teams quickly, only leaving when it's clear security has them outnumbered. SEGMENT RATING: 26. HPW WORLD TITLE MATCH: Clark Alexander vs. Frankie Perez vs. Akima Brave vs. Ash Campbell While Alexander is clearly the face of the promotion, he's far from the standout in this evenly-booked, four-way go. He does, however, serve as the ring general and the architect of a fun main event, one where all four guys get chances to shine. Ultimately, a risky dive by Perez takes he and Alexander out on the floor. This leaves Akima Brave alone in the ring with Ash Campbell, and Brave hits a Samoan Suplex for the pin and the title at 11:53. MATCH RATING: 55. SHOW RATING: 51.

Much appreciated! Thanks for reading the start.

I just spent about an hour reading all of this and getting caught up. Fantastic stuff so far; I did a group diary for a TEW 2016 game, and when everything's clicking and everyone's in a creative groove, it's a lot of fun. Also, this just in: Time limits are, indeed, for nerds.

JANUARY 2020 COTT Emergency Meeting The old adage about wrestling promoters in alliances is that they agree anyone outside their group should be driven out of business, but agree about very little else. This rings true here, as the Confederation of the Territories heavyweights have gathered to discuss a potential new inclusion in the group. Well, that's what SHOULD be happening. So it goes, only Sam Keith and Larry Vessey see fit to make appearances at Smith and Wollensky's flagship New York City steakhouse. The table is set for four, and through a back door walk Pablo Rodriguez and his guest, Clark Alexander. They sit down, but are hardly greeted with a warm reception. "Alright, let's get this over with," Keith says, barely looking up from the menu. "I don't love that we're taking direction from our champion, and I want to make that clear." "You're talent, not the guy in charge," Vessey says between sips from a glass of water he clenches in his giant hands. "Hey, if you don't want me, that's fine," Rodriguez says. "I'll just go back to Mexico and find a way to put those estupidos at South of the Border out of business without you." He has a point. Rodriguez's sudden departure from SOTBPW, and his appearance at the COTT shows, had given the promotions a shot in the arm, if only a short-term one. He thinks the COTT needs him more than he needs them, and he's not wrong. "Alexander, state your case," Keith says, again not making eye contact. "You'll make your pitch. If we like what we hear, we'll vouch for you and the rest of the guys will fall into line." "If we don't, go back to surfing in Hawaii," Vessey grumbles. "And where's the waitress?" "I won't be long," Alexander says, pulling out a flyer he had hastily made and printed at a Staples down the street. It says, in big bold letters, HAWAIIAN PUNCH WRESTLING. "Catchy," Vessey says, finally flagging down a waitress to check on his order. "People in Hawaii want wrestling," Clark continues. "There's been a demand for a regional promotion out there, and if I set something up, I can do things you can't." "Like what?," Keith says, his interest at least somewhat piqued. "Where I'm at, it won't cost quite as much to bring guys in from Japan or Australia," Alexander explains. "I'll be able to fly guys in from the mainland, too. That'll open up some dream matches the average fan won't want to miss, and I know some of your guys want to try new things and get better. This is an easy way to do that." "Easy for you, maybe," Vessey says. "This all sounds great and wonderful, but how is including you going to help us?" Clark can't help but chuckle at the typical "me first" attitude he's seeing from the promoters. "If you told your employees they could get a trip to Hawaii every once in a while," he says with a smirk, "wouldn't that employee be just a little happier and more likely to stay?" Even Vessey and Keith have to admit the upstart owner has a point. "We won't keep our prospects from going to USPW or SWF," Alexander says, "but maybe having another place to work keeps some of them from getting in bed with companies that aren't affiliated with us." There's a pause. "I can't promise you we're going to set the world on fire," Alexander says, finally getting some eye contact. "What I can promise you is, we'll put on good shows every month that have something for everybody. If we start making money, maybe we do two shows a month, but that's pretty far down the road. For now, you can count on someone who knows what it takes to produce good matches doing that, and I think you'd rather have someone like that in the fold than outside of it. "Now...is anyone going to offer me a menu? With all due respect, I didn't come to a New York City steakhouse to watch everyone else eat." Keith hands him one. He and Vessey exchange the same look. Neither is particularly welcoming, but Alexander makes enough sense that they let him in. "So what's your first move?," Keith asks. "Well, I'm getting things up and running later this month," Alexander says. "I'm putting feelers out everywhere. We'll use some of our local guys, for sure, but we want a good mix." "I can help him with some of that," Pablo continues. "I can't make the first show, but I've got no problem with anything else he needs." "You've got no problem with a trip to Hawaii," Vessey grumbles. "Shocker." "Hawaii in February, or New York in February?," Rodriguez counters, in no mood to deal with foul tempers. "Just saying. Clark's got you beat there." Alexander shuffles back in his chair just a bit. He wants no part of this, and thankfully a waitress arrives to take his order. He gives it and exchanges thoughts on booking philosophies (mostly with Keith) as the lunch continues. - - - - - The lunch ends, and Pablo and Clark slip out the back largely undetected. They get in a waiting car to head to the airport, and Clark can't help but feel like he's missing something. "So you and Larry...some tension, huh?" Pablo looks at him. "That obvious?," he says with a smirk. "Look. Larry and Sam...they're fine. They have their territories. They're staying afloat, barely. But they're old-school. They don't like anyone else, they barely tolerate the rest of the bookers, and it's bringing everything else down." A pause. "I don't know how long I'll be on the indies," Pablo continues while looking out the window. "While I'm here, I'd like to feel like I'm making a difference and that I'm with people who know how to make the sauce." "I suppose that makes sense," Clark says. "So is that your plan? Change the way the COTT does business?" "No, no talent can do that," Pablo chuckles. "But maybe you can. Get that business rolling, figure out ways to get it in front of people, and I think you'll have something special." It wasn't long ago Alexander was wondering if his days in wrestling were done. Now, he's preparing to organize his first show, with a roster that's far from a finished product, an alliance that's shaky at best, and a chief ally that seems most interested in stirring the pot and collecting his own paychecks. TO BE CONTINUED...

It's been a minute since I had the wherewithal to write a dynasty thread about a TEW game. However, work's on the slow side, and I got hit with a unique bit of inspiration for a particular kind of game I hadn't tried yet. If you're looking for dynasty threads heavy on graphics, this won't be the sort of thread you'll enjoy. My threads are very similar to those of writers like TCP1, whose "Welcome to New York" diaries are some of the best I've ever read despite not bashing people over the head with fancy HTML or long, drawn-out match and segment breakdowns. I'm a journalist-type by trade, and my writing reflects that. With that in mind, let's head off to the Aloha State, where the hero of this story is facing a mid-life crisis of sorts... It's January of 2020, and Clark Alexander has a problem: He's in wrestling's version of no-man's land. Alexander's been universally respected as a solid hand for the better part of two decades. He's a decent worker, with some charisma, that can generally be counted on to have a strong match with pretty much anyone. However, due to his lack of size and in-ring skills that topped out as "good" rather than "great," there was always a ceiling in place. He's now on the wrong side of 40, and as he looks out onto the Pacific Ocean from his perch near a beach in Hawaii, he finds himself asking a very important question. "What's next?" Alexander has an inbox of emails from promoters on the mainland. They're small-time, and the paydays promised barely cover his travel. Japan and Australia represent untapped markets, and would've been welcome destinations for him 10 years earlier, but they aren't easy places for an American veteran older than 40 to break into. He checks his email inbox again...and sees a note from an unfamiliar email address. "Clark, Know you're going through a lot. Think I can help. Call me. XXX-XXX-XXXX. - Pablo" ...Pablo? Pablo Rodriguez? Clark isn't sure how Pablo got his email address, and it's not like they're close. However, Pablo isn't some seedy promoter or booker. He's a fellow veteran who's thriving while working the independent circuit (specifically the COTT promotions, where he serves as the alliance's champion). That makes this outreach a bit different. Clark dials the number in the email, and Pablo answers on the second ring. "Yeah, hi Pablo. Listen...how'd you get my email?" He nods. "Well, it stood out, that's why I called. What did you have in mind?" We hear little bits of Pablo's response, delivered with the Mexican accent American fans have come to recognize. "...I don't think we've had a company here in years. You're right, that's an opportunity, but that takes money..." Pablo interrupts, and says something that makes Alexander tilt his head to one side. He's clearly got Clark's attention. "Hold on. You're telling me the Confederation would be part of this? How can you guarantee that?" The tone of Clark's voice changes. It's not a crowded beach, but several people around him have noticed he's having what appears to be a pretty animated conversation. Slightly embarrassed, Clark puts his flip-flops back on, hauls his beach bag over his shoulder, and rises to his full height. "...yeah, listen, can I call you back when I get home? Let's talk more in private about this." TO BE CONTINUED...

...draft? Did someone say draft? Discord: 142Winners Company: Smart and Snarky Wrestling Initials: SSW

The year is 2013, and CM Punk is frustrated. After carrying World Wrestling Entertainment’s main title for more than a year, the company repaid Punk by forcing him to drop the title to The Rock so the second matchup between The Rock and John Cena would be for the belt. Punk’s match with The Undertaker stole the show, but once again, the prideful Phil Brooks was left wanting more. This time, though, he was convinced he wouldn’t ever get that type of moment. Shortly after WrestleMania, Punk and WWE came to terms on a mutual parting of the ways. Punk and his fiancé, former WWE female superstar AJ Lee, were cut loose. In return, there were several places WWE made sure were off-limits for the duo. That short list included major promotions in other countries, such as AAA and New Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as TNA Wrestling, which has somehow maintained its grip as the #2 company in the US despite wild mismanagement, horrid booking, and sagas that seem straight out of late-day WCW. While sitting at home one day, Punk’s phone rings. “Hello?” “Punk? It’s Gabe.” Punk does a double-take. “…Gabe? Gabe Sopolsky? How’d you get my number?” “You’ve been a pretty hard dude to track down. I’m guessing that’s by design. Blame Paul.” Punk rolls his eyes at the thought of his former manager letting his number slip. “What’s up?” A pause on the other end of the line. “Well, there’s no easy way to put this. Sinclair’s shopping us around.” By ‘us,’ of course, Gabe’s referring to Ring of Honor. Punk’s old stomping grounds have fallen on pretty hard times, as WWE has raided the independent scene of the transcendent talent that helped make ROH matches must-see viewing for fans desperately seeking an alternative to mainstream options. “You okay?” “I don’t know. It depends entirely on who buys us. If it’s someone who cares about the business, maybe I’ll be okay. If Vince smells blood and just wants the tape library…” If Gabe is trying to push buttons, he’s succeeded. A hint of red goes into Punk’s face before he catches himself. “So let me guess. You’re putting together a group to try to buy the place back?” “Sort of. That group is currently comprised of one person. Well, two if AJ wants in.” Another pause. “What makes you think I can afford it?” “I know how you spend your money…or rather, how you don’t. If any wrestler who cares about the business would want to come in and steer the ship, I know it’d be you.” Punk takes a deep breath. The opportunity to run Ring of Honor and restore some integrity to the business he loves is a tantalizing one. In addition, while ROH has a TV deal with Sinclair and a contract in place to stream pay-per-views online, WWE didn’t view them as a direct competitor, so it wasn’t part of the “no-go” list in the legally-binding agreement. “Set up a meeting. I’m not saying I’ll do it. I’ve got some demands and a few things I want to make clear, and if what I’m seeing isn’t to my liking, I won’t pull the trigger.” “I wouldn’t expect you to. When can you get here?” “Two days?” “I’ll meet you at the office.” CLICK. Punk hangs up the phone and goes off-screen, presumably to inform AJ of what’s happened. - - - - - Yep, I'm back with a new diary, my third one for the 2020 installment of the game and the one that'll hopefully keep momentum going. My first and second ones crashed for different reasons; attempt #1 failed when my Windows emulator proved unreliable, and attempt #2 got off to a flying start but crashed due to a bonkers real-life work situation that has thankfully resolved itself. This time around, I'll be handling CM Punk (and his main squeeze, AJ Lee) as he takes the reins of Ring of Honor in 2013 in the Yes Movement mod. It's a fascinating time, as WWE has begun raiding the indy scene of a lot of wrestlers (male and female) that are major stars in 2021. However, ROH has some major players on the roster, and the start date of May 2013 is right around when a bunch of workers come onto the scene as blue-chip prospects. Add in that they've got a weekly TV show and a PPV deal that gives them room to grow, and I could have a lot of fun with this. I'm really excited to get this rolling, and I hope you come along for the ride.

I just fired up a Ring of Honor game from 2004 and I'm having a blast playing as Bret Hart. Booking up-and-coming versions of Punk, Joe, AJ, and Bryan is a gas, and I've been able to add in some other guys who are fun, too. Noticing we were light on top-end heels to start, I signed Sean Waltman. In hopes of using him to help make other guys, I searched and found Brodie Lee and Sheamus both had REALLY good long-term rolls, so I signed them up as his muscle and have been putting them over in early-card squash matches to give them exposure/experience. Waltman, unfortunately, had to be pushed a bit more than I'd have liked. I put him in a feud with Joe, who starts 2004 as the champ, and NOAH poached him a month into my game. Thankfully, I was able to have Joe drop the title to Waltman before he left, and I've got AJ ready to go for a main-event program that should give him a ton of shine. I've got Punk and Bryan feuding over the Pure title, and America's Most Wanted have been brought in to be my tag champs. My upper-midcard has guys like Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels, and Low-Ki, and I've also signed Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, and Frankie Kazarian, among others. We're not making money hand over fist, but I'm having a blast playing this game through a few months. I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Lucha Underground: Season 5, Episode 6 Title: "Who Found the Medallions?" January 2021, Week 3 Attendance: 287 We open the show with Konnan at his desk inside his office. He looks down and finds an envelope, opening it up to reveal not one, not two, but three ancient Aztec medallions. On cue, in barges Dario Cueto, who accuses Konnan of playing games. He received a similar envelope, but makes clear he was expecting all seven medallions, not just three. On cue, in walks Marty Scurll, who is in possession of the seventh medallion. He looks at the current and former Jefe's of Lucha Underground and asks the $64,000 question: "If you two didn't find them...who did, and why did I get one?" SEGMENT RATING: 43 MATCH #1 Eli Drake vs. Aramis Eli Drake's arrival in the Temple was highly anticipated, and for good reason. He's a tremendous talent between the ropes, but just as sound from a psychology standpoint. Instantly, the crowd hates the smarmy heel, but their energy seems to only make him stronger. Aramis puts forth an effort, but Drake controls the match from bell to bell and pins his foe at 5:45 following a Gravy Train. WINNER: Eli Drake, pinfall MATCH RATING: 57 - - - - - MATCH #2 Deonna Purrazzo vs. Taya "Oh, Taya, how nice of you to show up!!!" - The Intern, into a headset before the match. Anyway, the women's division has been delivering in spades of late, and this match proves to be no different. It's a stiffly-worked, back-and-forth affair that makes the most of the time it's given, and Purrazzo does a nice job of getting the crowd behind her. However, Taya manages the upper hand with a series of leg lariats and puts Purrazzo away at 8:02 following a Northern Lights Suplex. WINNER: Taya, pinfall MATCH RATING: 55 After her victory, Taya rolls out of the ring and confronts Konnan at the announcer's booth. She screams in his face demanding a title shot against Thea Trinidad, and possibly to make her go away as much as anything else, Konnan relents and books the match for next week. SEGMENT RATING: 55 - - - - - MATCH #3 Motor City Machine Guns vs. Son of Havoc/Drago This is a pretty simple story to tell, as the obnoxious newcomers do everything they can to get under the skin of the Lucha Underground stalwarts across the ring. For the first part of the match, it works, much to the chagrin of the believers at ringside. However, following a sequence where all four men are in the ring, Alex Shelley gets distracted by Chris Sabin and Drago fighting outside, and that's enough for Son of Havoc to catch a roll-up for the shock victory at 7:34! WINNERS: Son of Havoc and Drago, pinfall MATCH RATING: 70 Furious, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin double-team Son of Havoc after the match. Drago rolls in to attempt to stop it, but the Machine Guns gain the upper hand on him as well...until Brian Pillman, Jr., rushes in to send the rudos scrambling back up the ramp to regroup! SEGMENT RATING: 40 - - - - - Austin Aries is in the ring with a microphone in hand. He says he was told Konnan got a "perfect opponent" for him after Aries had decimated everyone put in the ring with him in one-on-one matches. He demands to know who the mystery man is...and the lights go out. Fanfare plays over the loudspeakers, and it's quickly recognized as "Rule Brittania" by the more astute members of the audience. The big screen lights up, and the graphic slowly becomes more legible as the letters get bigger and brighter. A collective gasp is then heard as the mystery man reveals himself...beneath a big screen reading the name "WILL OSPREAY." The Aerial Assasin makes his way to the ring, and it's clear Aries was NOT expecting this. SPECIAL ATTRACTION MATCH Austin Aries vs. Will Ospreay Those in the crowd stay standing for the duration of this main event. Ospreay wastes no time taking to the skies, and his offense is a perfect fit for what Lucha Underground fans are accustomed to seeing. He controls most of this match, actually, and is given every opportunity to look like the star he is. However, Aries slowly wears him down, and when a 450 splash from Ospreay hits nothing but canvas, Aries locks in the Last Chancery. After fighting for 10-15 seconds, Ospreay has no choice but to tap out at the 13-minute mark. WINNER: Austin Aries, submission MATCH RATING: 71 - - - - - When we come back from the commercial break, Konnan and Dario Cueto are standing in the ring. They announce that the seven ancient Aztec medallions have returned to the temple, and that qualifying matches will take place ahead of the next big show on FiteTV: GIFT OF THE GODS. The crowd pops at the mention of the acclaimed LU custom. The winner of the match will earn a shot at the Lucha Underground Championship at a date of his choosing. Konnan and Cueto will each decide who gets their three, but both men are befuddled as to two questions: Who found the medallions, and why did Marty Scurll get the seventh one? Once again, the lights go out in the arena. Footage is shown of old Aztec monuments in Mexico, and we hear a chilling voice over the speakers. "I was on vacation. I was trying to escape what I've been bound to for so long. But I felt drawn to a quest, a quest many great warriors have tried and failed. I learned. I studied. I fought. And once I found the first medallion, well, I just HAD to get the other six. "As far as what I had to do to get them, let's just say...I walked for miles inside a pit of danger." If the Ospreay reveal drew gasps, this one draws unrestrained shock. Heavy metal music plays inside the temple, and the instantly-recognizable, suited-up, muscular figure of BATISTA appears at the top of the ramp. He smirks while Konnan stand stoically and Dario Cueto appears to suffer a nervous breakdown as our show fades to black. SEGMENT RATING: 54 - - - - - SHOW RATING: 65 TV RATING: 0.08 ...well, THAT series of events oughta get y'all talking.

INTERLUDE FROM THE INTERN It's time to take stock. From an on-air standpoint, things are progressing well, especially since CMLL poached one guy we had big plans for, Rich Swann, and another we saw as a reliable midcarder, Aerostar, right as our fifth season started. Dragon Lee has become our babyface "ace." Marty Scurll is shining as the thorn in his side, while Austin Aries has torn it up with everyone he's worked with and Thea Trinidad has done a nice job anchoring the women's division. That's the good news. The bad news is, we're steadily losing money. That'll happen due to the YouTube deal, which is great for exposure but dangerous for a weekly offering like ours. Hopefully, we'll stop the bleeding sooner rather than later. Elsewhere in wrestling, WWE re-signed Brock Lesnar, to the shock of absolutely no one. He immediately won the Royal Rumble and seems bound for a spot in the WrestleMania main event. WWE has also really done a number on independent companies by signing lots of workers to developmental deals (thankfully, we've been spared defections to this point). Things are, however, far rockier over in AEW. Word is beginning to spread that Tony Khan is re-thinking the hefty written contracts he's dished out to workers, and several of them have become available on pay-per-appearance deals. In addition, Eddie Kingston walked out on the company due to a dispute with Cody, and those two have engaged in an ugly war of words on social media. You may wonder why I'm choosing to take stock now. Well, I'm backstage ahead of Season 5, Episode 6, and this is going to be one of the most pivotal episodes we produce. There's a lot that's going to change once this goes online, and we're hoping the buzz will be invaluable as we build to our next big show.

Lucha Underground: Season 5, Episode 5 Title: "All That Glitters" January 2021, Week 2 (yes, we did a TV show the same week) Attendance: 295 MATCH #1 Drago vs. Flamita Drago was one of a few workers who didn't participate in Aztec Warfare due to obligations elsewhere (thanks, AAA). Here, he gets to put his skills on display against a promising young luchador in Flamita, one that could certainly benefit from the experience. After a back-and-forth opener, Drago gets the upper hand and prevails following a moonsault at 8:22. WINNER: Drago, pinfall MATCH RATING: 51 Backstage, Thea Trinidad goes down a familiar hallway in search of Konnan. However, she instead walks head-first into...ELI DRAKE, who is clearly smitten with her and offers one sleazy pick-up line after another. Disgusted, Thea walks away, and Eli vows to make her notice him when he makes his Lucha Underground debut next week. SEGMENT RATING: 52 - - - - - MATCH #2 Austin Aries vs. Dante Fox Fresh off of being demolished by Matanza at Aztec Warfare, Aries enters this match on a mission. Fox does his best to keep up with the annoyed Aries, but his opponent is ruthless and does everything possible to keep the aerial innovator on the mat. After felling him for good, Aries locks in the Last Chancery, and that's good for a submission at 9:51. WINNER: Austin Aries, submission MATCH RATING: 61 After the match, Austin Aries stomps over to the announcer's booth and confronts Konnan. He says he's yet to be beaten in a one-on-one match and wants a real challenge. Konnan says he has just the guy coming to town for one night only, and that Aries won't be disappointed next week. SEGMENT RATING: 54 - - - - - LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPIONSHIP Dragon Lee © vs. Marty Scurll After the two men come to the ring, Konnan makes a shocking announcement: This match...is now a ladder match!!! LADDER MATCH, LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPIONSHIP Dragon Lee © vs. Marty Scurll This match, while good, was actually a bit of a let-down. Not only do Dragon Lee and Marty Scurll not have lots of chemistry, but Dragon's tendency to work very quickly backfires, and Marty suffers a minor injury that clearly affects his workrate. However, the two pros work around this as well as they possibly can, and Dragon Lee ultimately knocks Scurll off the ladder and down to the ring below before grabbing the belt to retain the title at 19:42. WINNER: Dragon Lee, item retrieval MATCH RATING: 58 Backstage, Marty Scurll is clearly upset as he returns to his locker. However, there's an envelope hanging from a coat rack with something inside. He opens it to reveal a note. "THOUGHT YOU COULD USE THIS. - AN INTERESTED BYSTANDER" Marty turns the paper over, and the paper begins glowing. Marty's lips curl into an evil grin, and the final camera shot of the show displays...ONE OF THE ANCIENT AZTEC MEDALLIONS!!! SEGMENT RATING: 56 - - - - - SHOW RATING: 57 TV RATING: 0.07