HRTVAndrew

Lucha Underground: Aztec Warfare January 2021, Week 2 Attendance: 850 MATCH #1 DEONNA PURRAZZO vs. ANNA JAY We needed to beef up our women’s division beyond Thea Trinidad and Taya, so we picked up two of the best female workers on the market and had them kick off our first pay-per-view. These two work a strong, fast-paced opener, and it’s clear Lucha Underground has gained significant depth in the division. Purrazzo, though, gains the upper hand and forces Anna to tap to a Fujiwara Armbar at 7:38. WINNER: Deonna Purrazzo, submission MATCH RATING: 41 - - - - - We go backstage, where Dragon Lee and Thea Trinidad have arrived at the arena together. Marty Scurll approaches the two, and says that while he has a big issue with Dragon Lee, he had nothing to do with the abduction two weeks ago. This brings in Dario Cueto, who simply laughs at the spat and says both men will simply be “sacrifices to the gods” at the hands of his brother, Matanza. SEGMENT RATING: 50 - - - - - LUCHA UNDERGROUND WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP Thea Trinidad © vs. Ivelisse Full of vim and vigor after the last few weeks, the champion hits the ring like a house of fire while Mike Tenay and Konnan explain Taya is not in the building tonight due to a booking conflict (we’re pretty sure The Intern was cursing AAA through the headset at this point). Instead, it’s Ivelisse who gets thrown into the proverbial tornado, and she succumbs to a moonsault at 10:10 that allows the champ to retain her title. WINNER: Thea Trinidad, pinfall MATCH RATING: 56 - - - - - LUCHA UNDERGROUND TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP The Motor City Machine Guns and Mil Muertes © vs. Brian Pillman Jr., Bandido, and Flamita Perhaps it’s fitting that one of LU’s best matches since the rebirth of the company is a trios match that pays homage to the golden age of lucha libre. Pillman, Bandido, and Flamita are perceived as the underdogs, but they have no problem getting the crowd behind them (a task made far easier by Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin being unlikeable, cocky jerks). All six men work their butts off here, but the crowd gets brought down a peg when Muertes clears the ring, Sabin hits a Future Shock on Pillman, and the champs retain at 11:57. WINNERS: The Motor City Machine Guns and Mil Muertes, pinfall MATCH RATING: 71 Backstage, Dario Cueto is seen in one of the far-flung corners of the arena, with a key in his hand. “Brother…it’s time.” Matanza springs to life behind his cage, and his brother opens the door while the crowd inside the arena begins chanting, “Animo, animo, animo…” SEGMENT RATING: 41 - - - - - AZTEC WARFARE, FOR THE LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPIONSHIP Right away, we get a surprise. LU mainstay Son of Havoc is the first entrant in the match, but the crowd erupts as a conga line headed by NO WAY JOSE makes its way to ringside. The bell rings, and the two do a sequence that ends with Havoc flying over the top rope and onto the conga line members in front of the believers. Number three, however, is Mil Muertes, and this is where the fun ends. Havoc and Jose try to team up to fell the big man, but that goes as you’d probably expect, and Mil pins both men before the next entrant: Tyrus. The two big men clobber each other with forearms, and the stalling allows the ring to fill a bit: Aramis arrives at number five, Bandido comes in at number six, and the debuting DOUGLAS JAMES arrives at number seven. Number eight, however, is Alex Shelley, who teams up with Mil to clear out some of the dead weight. James falls victim to a choke slam, Shelley pins Aramis, and Bandido appears to be in trouble…before Dragon Lee runs in at number nine to a big pop. He first eliminates Tyrus and sets up a standoff between he and Bandido and Mil and Shelley, but Chris Sabin is number 10, and the united trios champs assume a numbers advantage. Flamita runs out in an attempt to even the odds at number 11, and he and Bandido get in several flashy double-team moves, but then comes the second big surprise as the PA system plays three words not heard in wrestling in quite some time. FEED. ME. MORE. RYBACK is number 12 and, to the dismay of the fans, forms a quick alliance with the trios champs. Bandido and Flamita are quickly dispatched, as is Dante Fox, who comes in at number 13 and gets hit by a Shellshock after a brief offensive flurry. Fans in search of a savior for Dragon Lee then get anything but, as Marty Scurll is 14 and…opts to sit in the crowd and watch Dragon Lee face a 4-on-1 numbers disadvantage. Amidst the boos, though, Ryback sees an opportunity to prove himself and leaves the ring to battle with Marty on the outside. Dragon then gets a sudden bust of adrenaline, snaps off a rana, and pins Shelley before bolting to the outside to regroup. Shelley throws a temper tantrum as DAVE CRIST enters at number 15, but he falls victim to a Shelley superkick on his way in, and Sabin pins him shortly after. Ryback and Scurll fight their way back into the ring as Brian Pillman Jr. runs in at number 16. This provides Dragon Lee with a bit of help, and the two double-team Sabin before Lee hits an Operacion Dragon for the pin. Austin Aries dashes in at number 17, though, and he makes a beeline for the two tecnicos. Pillman is forced to tap to the Last Chancery, but Lee fends him off as Warhorse enters at number 18. Muertes forms a makeshift alliance with Aries to tackle Dragon and Warhorse, and Scurll immediately sees an opportunity, sneaking up behind Mil for a sudden rollup and pinfall that stuns the crowd. Mil, naturally, responds with a choke slam and a one-finger salute before storming back up the ramp, and fortunately for number 19, Will Hobbs, Muertes is off the scene by that point. Hobbs beelines for Ryback, and the two powerhouses engage in a short test of strength. That ends quickly, however, as Matanza barrels down the ramp at number 20 and bodies start flying. Hobbs is gone quickly after Ryback throws him into a Wrath of the Gods, and a charge from Warhorse is met with a similar fate. Matanza pops up, and rather than look at Dragon Lee, he looks to Ryback and Scurll. The three men nod and immediately turn their attention to Austin Aries, who tries to beg off but gets caught by Scurll’s Graduation for a pin. FINAL FOUR: Dragon Lee, Marty Scurll, Matanza, Ryback Immediately, the situation seems precarious for Dragon Lee, who is surrounded on three sides. Suddenly, Dario Cueto signals to Matanza…who levels Ryback with a running clothesline and picks him up for a Wrath of the Gods! The shocked crowd counts the pin, and we’re down to three. Knowing that the alliance that had been built is on shaky ground, Scurll pleads for Matanza to help him eliminate Dragon Lee. However, Scurll’s begging is met as harshly as possible, as Dragon Lee dropkicks him from behind into another Wrath of the Gods! One pinfall later, we’re down to two men, with a new champion assured. Quickly, Dragon Lee’s strategy becomes evident: He sticks, he moves, and he stays out of the monster’s grasp while using his speed to his advantage. That only works for a few moments, though, as Matanza crushes him in the corner and begins tossing Dragon around like a rag doll. The crowd begins to lose hope, and Matanza picks him up for a Wrath of the Gods…but midway through the slam, Dragon somehow finds a way to counter into an inside cradle! 1!!! 2!!! 3!!! WINNER, AND NEW CHAMPION: Dragon Lee, pinfall MATCH RATING: 66 Dragon Lee’s title celebration is short-lived, however, as Marty Scurll comes flying out from the backstage area and pounds away with furious fists. He makes no secret Dragon wasn’t the one who pinned him, and he demands a rematch, which Konnan summarily books for next week. SEGMENT RATING: 50 - - - - - SHOW RATING: 63 PPV BUYS: 3,115

Every time I need a C-Verse game, I think, "why not try something in Canada?," but I've never done it. Looking forward to seeing how this comes together!

Quick OOC note: So it's taken a bit due to work and other things popping up, but I'm aiming to have Aztec Warfare up tomorrow. I've already played several months past this show, and it's going to be a blast...but Aztec Warfare is a freaking BEAST to write and I want to nail it. For fans of "The West Wing," call it Sam Seaborn Disease. Anyway, that'll be up soon, and I sincerely hope y'all enjoy it. There's a gigantic twist coming that I think will be wildly entertaining.

Man, after yesterday, it makes me a little uneasy continuing with a kidnapping storyline, but alas, here we go in the name of art and a different timeline where things in the real world aren't completely broken... - - - - - Lucha Underground: Season 5, Episode 4 Title: "Unleashing the Dragon" January 2021, Week 1 Attendance: 288 Police have arrived outside the temple and are taking Dragon Lee's statement after the events of last week, when Thea Trinidad was kidnapped by Dario Cueto and Matanza. As he finishes, Konnan walks up to him and pulls him aside. He says he has no faith in the police doing anything quickly, wants to take matters into his own hands...and has the secret weapon necessary in order to do just that ahead of Aztec Warfare. After some hemming and hawing, Dragon Lee says he's in. SEGMENT RATING: 44 - - - - - MATCH #1 Ivelisse vs. Thunder Rosa With Trinidad out of the picture (at least temporarily), it presents an opportunity for the other women on the roster to gain valuable momentum. Ivelisse aligning herself with Taya made her no friends in the temple, and she gains the upper hand through underhanded means. As if that wasn't enough, Taya struts out, taunts Rosa, and essentially makes it a 2-on-1 bout. The referee gets bumped and Taya runs in...but clocks Ivelisse by accident to the roar of the crowd! Rosa catches a second wind, cleans house, and finishes her opponent with a reverse DDT at 8:08. WINNER: Thunder Rosa, pinfall MATCH RATING: 46 - - - - - "The following is a match put together by Konnan for a guaranteed Lucha Underground contract!!!" MATCH #2 BRIAN PILLMAN, JR. vs. TYRUS LU's search for talent ahead of Aztec Warfare led to the second-generation wrestler and the big man formerly known as Brodus Clay being brought to the temple. This is an interesting styles clash, with Tyrus attempting to control the action and slow things down while Pillman wants to take to the skies. Just when it seems as though Tyrus is set to finish him off, though, he misses a running legdrop, and a playing-possum Pillman (say THAT five times fast) pops up and gets the rollup for the pin at 8:02. WINNER: Brian Pillman, Jr., pinfall MATCH RATING: 40 A shocked Tyrus pops up and levels Brian Pillman, Jr., with several clotheslines and motions to the back. On cue, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, and Mil Muertes appear, making it a 4-on-1 attack on the hopelessly-outnumbered Pillman. Before they can strike as a team, though, Bandido and Flamita come flying out from the back and team up to send the heels running out of the ring. A confused Pillman looks around, but the three then go off one set of ropes, bound over the top, and hit a group plancha on their four targets to wild cheers from the crowd. SEGMENT RATING: 43 - - - - - MATCH #3 Austin Aries vs. Son of Havoc Remember how Drago got a main-event spot last week because Aerostar up and bolted? This is Son of Havoc's make-good, and he gets every chance to shine against a red-hot heel. Indeed, this match is shockingly even and gets plenty of time to breathe, with Aries heeling it up and Havoc's never-say-die attitude combining to get the crowd emotionally invested in the match. However, Havoc's pluck isn't enough, and Aries pins him at 18:25 after a 450 splash. WINNER: Austin Aries, pinfall MATCH RATING: 63 - - - - - Out in the field, Konnan and Dragon Lee have encountered Dario Cueto's hideout. Konnan instructs Dragon Lee to go behind the house while Konnan goes to the front. Surprisingly, the door is open, and Dario is in a chair waiting for Konnan. He says he and Matanza kidnapped Thea Trinidad solely because he could, and that it serves as a reminder of who's really in charge. A commotion off-screen is heard, as is a gigantic "THUD" of someone hitting the ground. After a few seconds, Dragon Lee emerges, with Thea Trinidad in one hand...and the Gauntlet of the Gods in another. Cueto runs back to tend to his fallen brother while Konnan and Dragon Lee escort Thea to the car. As their car speeds off, though, Dragon Lee makes the decision to throw the gauntlet out the window, off a bridge, into the rushing water below. He explains he plans to win Aztec Warfare the right way, and that no man alive can properly harness the Gauntlet's power, so it can't possibly make it back to the temple. Konnan sighs, and says he hopes he's right as our scene fades to a graphic. AZTEC WARFARE NEXT WEEK FITETV SEGMENT RATING: 44 - - - - - SHOW RATING: 54 TV RATING: 0.07

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Lucha Underground: Season 5, Episode 3</strong></p><p> Title: “Villain vs. Reptile”</p><p> December 2020, Week 4</p><p> Attendance: 262</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #1</strong></p><p> Mil Muertes vs. <strong>WILL HOBBS</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> This match serves as Will Hobbs's Lucha Underground debut, and fittingly, the powerhouse goes up against LU's resident monster. The Trios Champion, however, gives Hobbs anything but a warm welcome to the temple. Despite the newcomer getting in a not-insignificant amount of offense, Muertes maintains the upper hand for most of the match and finishes Hobbs with a chokeslam at 7:39.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WINNER:</strong> Mil Muertes, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 60</p><p> </p><p> - - - - -</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Backstage, <strong>Marty Scurll</strong> is lacing up his boots when a familiar face comes circling up behind him. <strong>Dario Cueto</strong> expresses admiration for Marty's long list of accomplishments, and says there's no shame in walking away to avoid annihilation at the hands of <strong>Matanza</strong> at Aztec Warfare. Scurll takes offense to this, saying that while Matanza may have dismantled legends, machines, and <strong>Rich Swann</strong>, he's never faced someone as villainous as he is. Scurll stomps off, leaving El Jefe to mutter, "it's your funeral."</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 46</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #2</strong></p><p> Thea Trinidad/Thunder Rosa vs. Taya/Ivelisse</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> The growing women's division gets some time to shine here, and the champion continues to look impressive when she's in the ring. However, Taya and Ivelisse isolate Thunder Rosa for large portions of the match, leaving Trinidad on the apron. Thea finally gets a hot tag near the end of the match, but Rosa tags herself in, comes off the top rope, and gets caught by Taya's Northern Lights Suplex for the pin at 10:03.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WINNERS:</strong> Taya/Ivelisse, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 48</p><p> </p><p> - - - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #3</strong></p><p> Dragon Lee vs. <strong>DANTE FOX</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> One of Lucha Underground's resident soldiers from the first few seasons is back for another tour of duty, and he and Dragon Lee waste no time taking to the skies and dazzling the Believers. Fox has his moments, and he keeps up with the high-flying dragon at times, but Dragon Lee's positive momentum carries him through, and he finishes Fox at 10:29 with an Operacion Dragon.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WINNER:</strong> Dragon Lee, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 66</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Dragon Lee</strong> celebrates after the match, but is attacked from behind by <strong>Marty Scurll</strong>, who beats him from pillar to post and stops to shout at <strong>Konnan</strong> behind the announcer's booth. This, however, proves to be a mistake, as Konnan books a surprise title defense against <strong>Drago</strong>...for right now!</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 50</p><p> </p><p> <strong>LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPIONSHIP</strong></p><p> Marty Scurll © vs. Drago</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> According to dirt sheets, this match was booked as a make-good for Drago after longtime partner Aerostar bolted for greener pastures. Drago takes full advantage, and despite being no young buck himself (either in storyline or in real-life, where he's 45 years old), he more than holds up his end of an entertaining main event against the champion. However, Scurll ultimately fights and scraps for the upper hand and finishes Drago off with a Graduation at 13:03.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WINNER:</strong> Marty Scurll, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 63</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Dragon Lee</strong> wastes no time going for revenge, and he hits a beautiful splash on <strong>Marty Scurll</strong> after knocking the champion to the floor. Crowd chants are interrupted, however, when a video shows up on the big screen.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Thea Trinidad</strong> is backstage, alone, when she bumps into a lurking <strong>Matanza</strong>. With <strong>Dario Cueto</strong> calling the shots, Matanza holds his big hand to Thea's nose and mouth and carries her to a waiting car. Dragon Lee bolts to the back as fast as he can, but is helpless to stop the vehicle speeding away as our scene fades to black.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 45</p><p> </p><p> - - - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SHOW RATING:</strong> 60</p><p> <strong>TV RATING:</strong> 0.07</p></div><p></p><p></p>

This is so, so, so, so good. Amazing Firefly, in particular, could be a gigantic star in this setup.

INTERLUDE The intern is backstage at Lucha Underground headquarters, with his cell phone pressed firmly to his ear and an exasperated look pasted onto his face. He tries to jump into the conversation at various points, but it seems as though he keeps being interrupted. Finally, he can take no more. “Dude, I don’t work for you anymore!,” he shouts. “If you’re looking to do another one of your silly press releases with the fancy letterhead, maybe go through Tony. He’s probably got a staff of writers who can help you.” A pause. “…well, yes, you should probably sober up first,” he says, rolling his eyes as Konnan walks into the room. “Listen, I’ve gotta go.” Another pause. “…look, figure out your own lower-thirds. Got a meeting.” The intern hangs up the phone as Konnan looks on knowingly. “The cowboy’s out of ideas, huh?,” he says with a smirk. “Sort of,” the intern responds. “What’s up? Why the emergency meeting?” “Well, you saw how Rich Swann got booked the other night, right? There’s a reason. He’s leaving for CMLL. That was his last show.” The intern recoils a bit. Swann was one of Lucha Underground’s best babyfaces, and a guy whose style meshed perfectly with what the company is looking for. “There’s more,” Konnan continued. “Aerostar’s headed there, too.” Aerostar isn’t as big a draw as Swann, but that still hurts. He’d been a staple of Lucha Underground since the very first season, and there were plans for him, Drago, and Son of Havoc to have a sustained run as a stable of Lucha Underground originals. Alas, this is life for a smaller promotion in late-2020. The big guys aren’t going anywhere, and their reach extends to all corners of the wrestling world. “It might be tough for us to get 20 guys for Aztec Warfare,” Konnan concludes. “Any ideas?” “Well, there are a few guys we can bring in short-term. And then there are a bunch of people we haven’t used yet…” The camera slowly zooms out as Konnan and his intern (the only backstage help he can feasibly afford on a modest budget) hunch over a yellow legal pad and begin to plot out the next few shows.

Thank you very much! I said this in another thread, too, but I love how a bunch of us all have our different takes on LU and how they're all great. I've played through Aztec Warfare so far and I'm having a blast. Thanks, Will! Great to see/hear from you again.

I love how we're all taking different spins on Lucha Underground. Every one of them is so much fun.

Lucha Underground: Season 5, Episode 2 Title: “The Monster Mash” December 2020, Week 3 Attendance: 268 Konnan opens the show walking down the hall to his office, but he's abruptly stopped by Austin Aries. Aries makes his case for why he should be first in line for a shot at the Lucha Underground Championship, but Konnan cuts him off, announces the return of Aztec Warfare next month, and says if Aries wants a title shot so badly, he can get the title by beating 19 other men. He finally gets into his office...only to see Dario Cueto sitting behind his desk. Cueto remarks Konnan should really change the locks around the building and asks why he and his brother weren't invited to Lucha Underground's grand relaunch. Konnan says that was no accident, but that if Matanza wants a contract, he can earn it tonight...in a main event matchup with Rich Swann. SEGMENT RATING: 46 - - - - - MATCH #1 Austin Aries vs. ARAMIS Aramis is a young hopeful looking to make waves in the temple, and it's clear he has plenty of potential. In this particular instance, though, he's no match for his veteran opponent, who's out to make a statement ahead of Aztec Warfare. Aries controls the short, energetic match and makes Aramis submit to the Last Chancery at 5:49. WINNER: Austin Aries, submission MATCH RATING: 59 - - - - - Up next is the three-way match for the Lucha Underground Trios Championships. The teams of Aerostar, Drago, and Son of Havoc, and Bandido, Flamita, and Warhorse make their way to the ring, followed by the Motor City Machine Guns. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin have microphones in hand, and after running down the Believers and their opponents, they signal for their mystery partner...and familiar, ominous music plays. The crowd gasps audibly as former Lucha Underground Champion MIL MUERTES appears at the top of the ramp. He accompanies the Machine Guns to the ring as their opponents quickly discuss strategies to attack the big man. SEGMENT RATING: 46 LU TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIPS Aerostar, Drago, and Son of Havoc vs. Bandido, Flamita, and Warhorse vs. The Motor City Machine Guns and Mil Muertes Trios matches were staples of the original Lucha Underground, and this one more than lives up to the hype. While two of the teams almost exclusively take to the air, Shelley and Sabin are quick to defer to Mil, who makes it a point to flatten anything that moves. This is evident in the finish, as Muertes catches Flamita with a chokeslam for the pin and the titles at 12:37. WINNERS: The Motor City Machine Guns and Mil Muertes, pinfall MATCH RATING: 66 - - - - - Backstage, Thea Trinidad is preparing to leave the arena with her Lucha Underground Women's Championship in hand. Taya comes to confront her, but she's only there as a distraction, as she's leveled from behind. Trinidad turns around while on the ground to see a familiar face...IVELISSE, who says she's tired of being known as "the one who got hurt all the time." She and Taya begin putting the boots to the champ, but they're quickly chased off by a shadowy figure dressed in all-black. When the heels scatter, Thea thanks her savior...who reveals herself as THUNDER ROSA. SEGMENT RATING: 49 MATCH #3 Matanza vs. Rich Swann Those who aren't familiar with Matanza get a brutal introduction. This is a one-man wrecking crew designed to destroy everything put in his path, and Swann attempts to stick and move as best he can. He puts up a valiant fight, but he gets caught coming down from a Phoenix Splash by Matanza, who rises up with Swann in his grasp and turns it into a Wrath of the Gods for the pin at 13:15. WINNER: Matanza, pinfall MATCH RATING: 61 Unsurprisingly, Matanza's assault does not stop after the match. He hits not one, not two, but three more Wrath of the Gods slams on Rich Swann and ends the show by carrying his body out of the temple as Dario Cueto looks on with a familiar, evil grin on his face. SEGMENT RATING: 46 - - - - - SHOW RATING: 57 TV RATING: 0.07

Lucha Underground: Season 5, Episode 1 Title: “Reborn in Blood” December 2020, Week 2 Attendance: 261 With the crowd chanting at the top of their lungs, new Lucha Underground owner KONNAN walks to the ring and acknowledges the believers in the temple. He thanks the fans for keeping the faith and makes sure they know that big changes are coming, starting with tonight’s main event deciding a new Lucha Underground Champion. The four-way match will be contested by AUSTIN ARIES, DRAGON LEE, MARTY SCURLL, and RICH SWANN. On cue, out walks TAYA, who marches to the ring and gets in Konnan’s face. She’s angry about intergender wrestling being removed from Lucha Underground, but Konnan reveals the first big surprise: The Lucha Underground Women’s Championship. Taya assumes the belt is for her, but Konnan smirks as RICK KNOX slides into the ring. He points up the ramp for his second big surprise…the debuting THEA TRINIDAD. SEGMENT RATING: 50 LU WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP Taya vs. Thea Trinidad The crowd immediately gets behind Trinidad, one of the most popular women in the wrestling world. The two wrestle a physical match that spills out to the floor and threatens to move into the crowd. Taya has the upper hand for most of the match due to her height advantage and her ability to throw Thea around, but at 10:25, Thea counters a slam with a Cutter and gets the pinball to become the first Lucha Underground Women’s Champion. WINNER: Thea Trinidad, pinfall MATCH RATING: 55 - - - - - “This is a triple-threat tag team match!!!” Familiar music plays, and out walk two Lucha Underground mainstays: AEROSTAR and DRAGO. After they arrive comes the first surprise team: BANDIDO and FLAMITA, who also enter to a pop from the surprised crowd. “And, our third team…from Detroit, Michigan…ALEX SHELLEY AND CHRIS SABIN, THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS!!!” The logical profane chant comes over the arena as Shelley and Sabin strut to the ring. They get there, though, and immediately launch attacks on the luchadors, sparking a wild melee before the bell rings. MATCH #2 Aerostar/Drago vs. Bandido/Flamita vs. Motor City Machine Guns This is out of control from the word “go,” with all six men working at a ridiculously fast pace. It’s a ton to keep up with, and Rick Knox does what he can to keep things under control. However, Bandido comes off the top of the temple with a splash that takes all six men out, and when none of them can answer a 10-count, Knox calls for the bell and rules it a draw. WINNER: Draw MATCH RATING: 64 Following the match, Konnan steps out from behind the announcer’s booth and grabs a nearby microphone. “Okay, okay. Rick, you did what you felt was best. I don’t like it, the fans don’t like it, but I respect it and I can make this right.” The men at ringside begin to stir. “We’ll decide two champions tonight. Next week…the Lucha Underground Trios Championship will be rewarded, and we’ll have another three-way match to decide it. Guys? Find partners by next week, and let’s run this back.” SEGMENT RATING: 49 - - - - - It’s time for an LU staple: A slickly-produced mini-movie! First, Aerostar and Drago are outside the arena. They wonder who they can get as a partner and lament the loss of most of their old counterparts… VROOM VROOOOOOOOM A motorcycle pulls up, driven by LU mainstay SON OF HAVOC. He asks if they’re up for one last ride, and Aerostar and Drago nod. On the other side of the arena, Bandido and Flamita prepare to leave, but they encounter a shadowy figure lurking in the darkness. He walks out, identifying himself as WARHORSE and saying that he’s usually not much for the concept of team unity, but that the trios titles provide “interesting spoils of war.” Confused but intrigued, the two luchadors acknowledge they’ve found their man. Finally, we come to Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, who are on their phones trying to find a partner of their own. After being simultaneously hung up on by different people after failed pitches of “making an impact” and “upholding your honor,” Shelley has an idea and points to a name on his phone. Sabin’s clearly intrigued, but seems scared to call the number in question. SEGMENT RATING: 42 - - - - - LU CHAMPIONSHIP Austin Aries vs. Dragon Lee vs. Marty Scurll vs. Rich Swann This four-way match would be a main event in any independent promotion in the country, and for good reason. These four are tremendously gifted workers, and all four bring it in the first main event of the new LU era. However, while Swann hits a Phoenix Splash on Aries, he gets caught by Scurll’s Graduation, which is good for the pin and the title at 11:38. WINNER: Marty Scurll, pinfall MATCH RATING: 72 Dragon Lee attempted to make the save, but was a half-second too late. He compensates by beating Marty Scurll down after the match to the cheers of the crowd, even hitting a Dragon Driver before the champion can escape to the floor. Suddenly…the lights go out, and the video board illuminates with a replay of what we’ve just seen on a computer monitor. Fingers are seen clicking a mouse and pausing the video. “Impressive. But it certainly seems like there’s something…missing.” The camera pans quickly, and a smirking DARIO CUETO is sitting in the chair. “You didn’t think I was just going to sit quietly, did you? No. And guess what? I’m not alone.” Dario snaps his fingers, and heavy footsteps are immediately heard. A few seconds later, MATANZA takes his place behind his brother, with his masked face looming over Dario’s shoulder. “Brother? I think our invitation got lost in the mail. Don’t worry. You’ll get your chance at destruction…next week.” SEGMENT RATING: 49 - - - - - SHOW RATING: 62 TV RATING: 0.07

It’s late-2020. While WWE and AEW seem fixated on one another in hopes of dominating the American scene, there’s a rumbling coming from Southern California, one that promises to excite a loyal audience of fans who have been missing a critically-renowned product for nearly three years. Lucha Underground was thought to have perished for good in 2018 due to financial constraints and top-level talent moving to greener pastures. Its fans have held out hope that, one day, wrestling action would return to the temple. That day is here thanks to a familiar, polarizing face. Lucha libre legend Konnan, who spent time in Lucha Underground during its first season, bought the rights to the company and has seen fit to hire talent in preparation for a December relaunch. Everyone has their own opinions on Konnan, and for good reason. Some consider him a huge star in Mexico that paved the way for the country’s finest workers to revolutionize the American scene. Some consider him Mexico’s version of Hulk Hogan in every possible way, politicking his way to prominent positions while burning bridges in spectacular fashion. In cooperation with an intern who left his previous job compiling press releases for a perpetually-drunken cowboy, the company posted a list of standards and practices on its website. - Lucha Underground’s spirit will live on as originally intended, with hour-long shows available on YouTube every Sunday. Our 2021 schedule also calls for four pay-per-views, which will be shown on FiteTV and carry themes prominent in the original Lucha Underground. - Lucha libre expert Mike Tenay will have the call alongside Konnan, who will serve as the owner, booker, color commentator, and road agent. - We’re proud to welcome back Lucha Underground mainstay Rick Knox as our head official. - Yes, we have signed a roster of exciting workers to our roster. - No, we’re not telling you who. - Some familiar faces will be big parts of the relaunch, and some original storylines will continue. Some familiar faces are unavailable, and some familiar faces will not be brought back. - We apologize for Sexy Star, Joey Ryan, and the restrictive policies of prior owners. These mistakes will not be repeated. - In keeping with the evolution of women’s wrestling, Lucha Underground will strive to put together the best women’s division on the planet. Intergender wrestling will not be part of the new product. - If you think you have everything figured out…you don’t. The premiere of the new Lucha Underground is coming up soon. You won’t want to miss it! - - - - - First of all, I need to give credit to BigJ for the inspiration to do this. His thread is off to a fantastic start, and I don't intend to steal his direction (nor, for that matter, steal anything else from what he's doing!). If anything, think of this as LU in another alternate timeline, with some real-world, backstage stuff mixed in where appropriate. You may remember I had a diary a few months ago on a C-Verse company. Let's just say the Windows emulator I was using didn't particularly care for the game. I've just upgraded to a new machine, and with it a better, more efficient way to play TEW on my Mac. I've been a big LU fan for a while, and I'm stoked to find a way to bring this product to life through the amazing "Killing the Business" 2020 mod that's been built. As mentioned, I'll be using a bunch of familiar faces, along with several that should thrive in this setup. I can't wait for you to read what I come up with, and hopefully you enjoy it!

I'm a big Lucha Underground fan and I've really enjoyed reading what you've written so far. The first two seasons of LU were some of the best weekly wrestling I've ever seen...then they took that inexplicable break in the middle of Season 3 and never got momentum back.

I teamed up Greg Black and Edd Stone and called them the Black Diamonds. This was terrific...until I discovered they had no chemistry.

Sounds like the only fix moving forward is to use Parallels and run Windows, huh? That's highly unfortunate.

<p>Below is the prediction form for One Wild Night! Copy-paste your predictions with comments. The winner will get to pick the subject of either a profile or an interlude. neslo024 has first dibs from the last pick-em; if you're out there, send me a PM for what you'd like me to do!</p><p> </p><p> The American Cobras vs. Doug Peak and James Diaz</p><p> COMMENTS:</p><p> </p><p> The Texas Rangers vs. Texas Hangman and Desert Storm</p><p> COMMENTS:</p><p> </p><p> Masked Cougar vs. Masa Kurata</p><p> COMMENTS:</p><p> </p><p> SCW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: The Samoan Pit Bulls © vs. Going Coastal</p><p> COMMENTS:</p><p> </p><p> SCW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Frederique © vs. Frankie Perez</p><p> COMMENTS:</p>

TCP1, anytime you do a diary, I get pumped. This is a really cool idea, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Below is a summary of SCW Live! This isn't necessarily meant to be a top-tier show for the company. Instead, it's designed to build some angles while also giving some in-ring time to our younger guys (and, to be fair, giving us a potential "out" in case a talent gets poached between bigger events). I won't be doing pick-ems for these shows. I'll just be posting recaps, and the first one is below. Also, neslo024, you won the pick-em again, so PM me with who you'd like me to profile (or, alternatively, if you'd like an off-screen interlude with Christian Faith and a retired worker/someone who's out of the business). - - - - SCW Live! Week 1, April 2020 Attendance: 551 WrestleWorld viewers: 16,762 Christian Faith begins the show in the center of the ring, welcoming a worldwide audience to the first-ever edition of SCW Live! However, he's quickly interrupted by Vinny Cruz, still bitter about the disrespect his clients have received from upper management. Faith quickly responds by saying his crew can come out here right now and prove something to the world. A referee quickly turns up, and we're off and running with the program. SEGMENT RATING: 62 - - - MATCH #1: Jay Silver, Joffy Laine, and Kip Keenan vs. Masa Kurata and the Wild Cats (w/Vinny Cruz) This match doesn't get a lot of time, but it's heavy on action from several of SCW's most exciting young prospects. The Wild Cats, in particular, get plenty of time in the ring, and El Jaguar pins Silver at 6:54 following a Jaguar Suplex. WINNERS: Masa Kurata and the Wild Cats, pinfall MATCH RATING: 58 - - - MATCH #2: Amazing Fire Fly and American Flash vs. Desert Storm and Texas Hangman Creative just hasn't had much for American Flash, who's been shining in CZCW. Here, though, he gets paired with fellow high-flyer Amazing Fire Fly, and the two run circles around their much-bigger opponents. Ultimately, Hangman gets tripped up, and Flash scores the pin at 7:59 following a High Velocity Senton. WINNERS: Amazing Fire Fly and American Flash, pinfall MATCH RATING: 51 - - - Texas Hangman and Desert Storm are left bickering in the ring, and their argument briefly turns into a shoving match. However, James Diaz comes down to the ring, and without saying a word, he manages to break up the scuffle. He directs both men backstage and enters the ring to prepare for his match. SEGMENT RATING: 17 - - - MATCH #3: James Diaz vs. Jerry Pepper Jerry Pepper was brought in on a one-night deal for one reason: James Diaz needed someone to destroy. The rookie plowed through Pepper with no difficulty at all and finished him off at 3:38 with an Asian Thumb Spike. WINNER: James Diaz, pinfall MATCH RATING: 19 - - - James Diaz's work isn't done when the bell rings. He continues his vicious assault of Pepper, complete with several more Asian Thumb Spikes, until security runs down to the ring and ushers him backstage. SEGMENT RATING: 16 - - - MATCH #4: Going Coastal vs. The American Cobras This #1 contender match was a non-stop thrill ride, as longtime fans of both teams could have predicted. With a shot at the Samoan Pit Bulls on the horizon, all four guys let it all hang out over the course of a back-and-forth encounter. Ultimately, Marvel Malloy gets caught alone in the ring, and that's enough for him to get hit with a Coast-Liner by Frankie-Boy Fernandez at 12:55. WINNERS: Going Coastal, pinfall MATCH RATING: 66 - - - MATCH #5: Frankie Perez vs. Masked Cougar Simply put, it made sense to put these two together to headline the first edition of this show. Predictably, the two work hard, but disaster strikes near the end of the match, as Perez's jaw is broken. Somehow, he fights through the pain and winds up finishing Cougar by forcing him to tap out to the P-Clutch at 22:43. WINNER: Frankie Perez, submission MATCH RATING: 59 - - - The plan is for Frankie Perez to use a post-match promo to challenge Frederique for the SCW World Championship at One Wild Night. However, Christian Faith runs out and has to help him through the segment due to his injury. Still, by hook or by crook, we wind up with our next SCW main event: Frederique defending his title in a one-on-one match against Frankie Perez. SEGMENT RATING: 61 SHOW RATING: 58

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">SCW Ides of March</span></strong></p><p> March 2020, Week Three</p><p> Attendance: 529</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #1:</strong> The Rock City Stars vs. Texas Hangman and Jason Patterson</p><p> </p><p> After two straight losses to start their SCW careers, Rockin’ Ryan Turner and Stan Manna are eager to right the ship and get some momentum. They capitalize on that opportunity here against much younger opponents, ones who have lofty potential but clearly aren’t there yet. Ultimately, Manna pins Patterson with The Cover Version at 7:40.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNERS:</strong> The Rock City Stars, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 44</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>The Rock City Stars</strong> celebrate their victory in the middle of the ring, but the party is short-lived as a muscular man in a white t-shirt and blue jeans rushes the ring. While most of the crowd has no idea who he is, the smarks in the room quickly recognize him as <strong>JAMES DIAZ</strong>, and he makes his presence felt by steamrolling Turner and Manna before security can get to the ring. Satisfied, Diaz stomps back up the ramp, nostrils flared and his eyes locked in a piercing gaze.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 16</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #2:</strong> Bradley Blaze vs. Desert Storm</p><p> </p><p> It’s no secret SCW management is high on Bradley Blaze. The young cowboy gets an opportunity at some shine here, and he controls much of this contest before prevailing at 8:16 following a Dallas Drop.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNER:</strong> Bradley Blaze, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 44</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Masa Kurata</strong> bounces down the aisle for his match, but he’s not alone. <strong>Vinny Cruz</strong> is at his side, microphone in hand, and he begins speaking as he walks down the aisle.</p><p> </p><p> VC: “Yep! In case you can’t put two and two together, my client list has grown by one. I am now the executive consultant for Masa Kurata, one of the most promising young stars ever produced by the country of Japan. A tsunami that killed the business over there couldn’t stop him…and neither can anyone in SCW.”</p><p> </p><p> Big boos from the crowd. Kurata sneers at the crowd from under his sunglasses as he enters the ring, with Cruz in close pursuit.</p><p> </p><p> VC: “Now, <strong>Christian Faith</strong> is once again discriminating against my clients. Masa has taken time out of his busy schedule to fly halfway across the world and prove his superiority, only our fearless leader has refused to tell him his opponent. This ‘mystery opponent’ nonsense serves no purpose except to disrespect one of the biggest young stars in the…”</p><p> </p><p> <em><span style="color:#FF0000;"><strong>FIRE-BALL</strong></span></em></p><p> </p><p> Pitbull’s “Fireball” blares over the speakers, and out walks SCW’s newest official signing, <strong>AMAZING FIRE FLY</strong>. Before Cruz can get a word in, Fire Fly is in the ring, standing chest-to-chest with his client ahead of his debut match.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 25</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #3:</strong> Amazing Fire Fly vs. Masa Kurata</p><p> </p><p> No chemistry? No problem! While it’s clear these two aren’t on the same page, it’s also clear these are two of the most talented young workers on the planet today. In fact, Fire Fly busts out an entirely new move that dazzles the crowd. Unfortunately for him, it doesn’t help him with the match, as Masa prevails by pinfall at 7:32 following a K-HD.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNER:</strong> Masa Kurata, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 53</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> The ring clears quickly, but <strong>Christian Faith</strong> stomps out, in no mood to celebrate the match he’s just seen.</p><p> </p><p> CF: “<strong>James Diaz</strong>! Come out here right now, or you’ll never be able to show your face in SCW again.”</p><p> </p><p> Faith stomps around the ring, and Diaz appears after a few moments. He takes his time sauntering down the aisle, and at this point, he’s getting booed pretty viciously.</p><p> </p><p> CF: “For those of you who don’t know who this man is, this is James Diaz. His father, <strong>Raymond Diaz</strong>, is one of the toughest men I’ve ever shared a locker room with. If he wanted a job, all he had to do was pick up a phone and call me.</p><p> </p><p> “James, I’ve known you’re going into the business. I’ve known you want to follow in your dad’s footsteps. Why did you do what you did?”</p><p> </p><p> Faith shoves a microphone into Diaz’s chest…but the young man simply stands like a statue, unmoved.</p><p> </p><p> CF: “…so that’s the way it’s gonna be. Fine. I’ve got a Plan B, and I don’t think you’re gonna like it.</p><p> </p><p> “I’ve got a guest in the locker room. This guy just finished a decorated stint in Japan. He’s moved to the United States to see if he can make a go of it here. As a favor to me, he’s in the back, with his gear, and I’ve told him to be ready in case I need him. Turns out…I do.”</p><p> </p><p> Faith points up the ramp. There’s silence for a few moments…until <strong>AKINORI KWAKAMI</strong> appears. The former face of PGHW, one of many casualties of budget cuts by that organization, soaks in the moment and walks to the ring to face the son of a man he’s battled against numerous times.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 38</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #4 (surprise!!!):</strong> Akinori Kwakami vs. James Diaz</p><p> </p><p> Kwakami coming out was a shock. The bigger shock, though, is that James Diaz controls this match from start to finish. His offense is vicious and violent, and the Japanese superstar is powerless to stop it. Diaz prevails at 8:30 following an Asian Thumb Spike, and the crowd is left shocked by what it has just seen.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNER:</strong> James Diaz, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 33</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #5:</strong> Harry Allen vs. Doug Peak</p><p> </p><p> This match would be a main event for many independent promotions in the country, and both guys still have plenty of gas left in the tank. Harry Allen tries his darnedest to take down the monstrous Peak, but in the end, the latter man’s size is simply too much to overcome. Peak wins by pinfall at 10:21 following a House of Horrors.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNER:</strong> Doug Peak, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 51</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Doug Peak</strong>’s hand gets raised, but he’s not done. He continues his vicious assault of <strong>Harry Allen</strong> and picks him up for a choke slam…but <strong>Bradley Blaze</strong> rushes to the ring for the save! The Texas Rangers unite to send Peak over the top rope, and Blaze checks on Allen as Peak backpedals up the ramp.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 43</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>MATCH #6:</strong> Going Coastal and The American Cobras vs. The Samoan Pit Bulls and The Wild Cats</p><p> </p><p> While Akima Brave and Toma look outstanding when in the match, neither ultimately plays a role in its outcome. The other three are tasked to fly around the ring and create organized chaos, which they do very strongly. However, in the midst of the mayhem, Marvel Malloy catches Tigre Salvaje, Jr., in a Marvel Breaker, and that’s good enough for the pin at 10:51.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNERS:</strong> Going Coastal and The American Cobras, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 56</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Going Coastal</strong> and the <strong>American Cobras</strong> celebrate in the ring, and <strong>Christian Faith</strong> suddenly appears at the top of the ramp.</p><p> </p><p> CF: “Gentlemen! Very impressive. And I’ve got an announcement you’re going to like.</p><p> </p><p> “I’ve come to an agreement with a new company called WrestleWorld. It’ll allow us to showcase our product, and the finest wrestlers in the world, on a global platform. If you watch, you’ll see a slick, well-produced show…and you’ll see more of them starting next month.</p><p> </p><p> “We’re rolling out a new show, the first week of every month, called <em>SCW Live!</em> And you four guys…well, you’re going to be a main attraction. I’m putting you in a tag match, Going Coastal against the American Cobras. I know it’ll tear the house down…and the winners will get a shot at the Samoan Pit Bulls two weeks after that at One Wild Night.”</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 69</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SCW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:</strong> Frederique © vs. Frankie Perez vs. Masked Cougar</p><p> </p><p> The crowd is STAUNCHLY against Frederique here, and for good reason, but nobody can justifiably say he can’t still go in the ring. Even in his mid-40’s, the most recognizable member of SCW’s roster more than keeps up with his two challengers, who double as two of the most talented workers on the independent circuit. Both Perez and Cougar look like new champions at several opportunities, but Frederique goes low on Cougar at 18:19 and rolls him up to retain his title.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>WINNER, AND STILL SCW WORLD CHAMPION:</strong> Frederique, pinfall</p><p> <strong>MATCH RATING:</strong> 70</p><p> </p><p> - - -</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Frederique</strong> celebrates as though he’s just climbed Mount Everest, but <strong>Frankie Perez</strong> is having none of it. He’s seen everything and super kicks Frederique over the top rope and onto the floor. This leaves the SCW World Championship belt in the ring, and Perez taunts Frederique with it to end the show.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SEGMENT RATING:</strong> 58</p><p> </p><p> <strong>SHOW RATING:</strong> 65</p>

Heads-up: I have NOT bailed on this. I wound up getting dental surgery late last week, and that knocked me out of commission through the weekend. Expect a show recap up tonight. In the meantime, if you'd like to participate in the pick-em, feel free! You've got at least a few hours to do so.

I had a saga with a secondary title in 2016's game I wish I could take back. I brought in Edd Stone on a talent trade, and the matches were fine, but he was supposed to drop the title on his last night and exercised a "creative control" clause to block it. Well, I wound up bringing Petr Novak in around the same time, and I got the "change of heart" message when I experimented with jobbing Stone to him. Novak wasn't terrible, but he's no great shakes in the ring, so the matches weren't great. Thankfully, he left a short time later and I was able to job him to the guy I originally wanted to put over in the first place.

<p>We’ll start things off with an always-fun OOC note. Unfortunately, the save file became unplayable for some reason (runtime error 3343). This is the second time I’ve run into this problem in just three game months. Thankfully, for the second time, a backup of the game WAS created…but it was from before Ides of March ran, so I need to go back and re-run it, which’ll take a little time. It’s really annoying, and an issue I never once had to deal with in TEW 16. If anyone out there has a fix for this beyond “run the backup and pray it saved in a convenient place,” let me know.</p><p> </p><p> On the plus side, this’ll give folks a little more time to submit predictions for that card. The prize for these pick-em’s will be a profile on a worker/tag team of your choosing, courtesy of our resident wrestling writer, Grave Melter (no, we are not above parody where it is convenient to insert it!). Last show’s winner, neslo024, chose the Wild Cats, so off we go…</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">A Closer Look, with Grave Melter</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> <img alt="3xvkxvh.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3xvkxvh.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> <strong>El Jaguar</strong> and <strong>Tigre Salvaje, Jr.</strong>, form the tag team known as the Wild Cats. Individually, they’re extremely strong workers, but they’re best known for their tag team exploits in Mexico’s CILL and America’s CZCW and, most recently, SCW.</p><p> </p><p> El Jaguar is just 29 years old and may still have some room for growth in him. He’s never going to set the world on fire with his promo work or appear on any telenovelas, but he’s a strong hand that seems built for success as part of a high-flying tag team.</p><p> </p><p> Tigre Salvaje, Jr., meanwhile, seems like the older version of his tag team partner. Thanks to the experience gained by working in America and Mexico for 12 years, the second-generation luchador can work any conceivable kind of match with just about any opponent. If there’s any downside to him, it’s that, like his partner, he’s not a tremendous talker, and he’s not getting any younger to boot. While it wouldn’t be a shock if a bigger company took a chance on El Jaguar as a singles competitor, the window may have closed on a top-level run for his partner.</p><p> </p><p> SCW has already taken a significant step to minimize one of the team’s weaknesses. <strong>Vinny Cruz</strong>, best known for his work in Queens of American Wrestling, was brought in by <strong>Christian Faith</strong> to manage several foreign workers and serve as their mouthpiece. While he’s far from a household name, early reviews are very promising. He hung with Faith in a strong introductory promo and played a big role on his first night in the company, getting involved in both of the Wild Cats’ matches. This gave the fans, who had been very appreciative of Jaguar and Tigre’s work, a reason to despise them and care more about what they do.</p><p> </p><p> Time will tell just how far El Jaguar and Tigre Salvaje, Jr., will go. As far as SCW is concerned, it seems important to note that the tag team division, outside of current tag champions <strong>Akima Brave</strong> and <strong>Toma</strong>, is very face-heavy, with plenty of duos capable of putting together outstanding matches. This could set the luchadors up for a role as the long-term #2 heel team in the company, with the potential to improve should another business snap up the Samoan Pit Bulls (who are over in both America and Japan).</p>

Thanks so much! You're one of my favorite writers, and there's a lot of similarities between your NYCW diaries and my stuff. Blaze is a guy I'm certainly high on. I just hope he doesn't get poached until I can adequately tell the story I want to tell. That's the idea! I've struggled in the past to produce stuff that gets engagement, so I'm going to cycle between bits with investors, news updates, and some other ideas I've got kicking around. Some guys are easier to write than others, for sure, but writing Marat wasn't hard.

As promised, here's the card for predictions! As usual, faces are listed first unless it's a title match. SCW Ides of March March 2020, Week Three The Rock City Stars vs. Texas Hangman and Jason Patterson COMMENTS: Bradley Blaze vs. Desert Storm COMMENTS: ??? vs. Masa Kurata COMMENTS: Harry Allen vs. Doug Peak COMMENTS: Going Coastal and The American Cobras vs. The Samoan Pit Bulls and The Wild Cats COMMENTS: SCW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Frederique © vs. Frankie Perez vs. Masked Cougar COMMENTS: PLUS ONE OTHER MATCH!!! TIEBREAKER: Who is Masa Kurata’s mystery opponent?

INTERLUDE Mid-March Northern Siberia You don't come here, on your own free will, unless you don't want to be found. The unforgiving climate tends to weed out wimps, and there are reasons the Russian government has used this area as punishment for some of its most notorious prisoners. All of which begs the question: Why is Christian Faith here? He almost looks unrecognizable given the many layers he wears while trudging through the snow and ice. It's been a while since he's had to deal with weather like this, and he's incredibly uncomfortable as he moves to a large stone building that looks like a fortress. “This must be the place,” he says to himself as he knocks on the door. The knocks disturb the total silence that has been manufactured within the building. After a moment, a bundled-up old man opens the door. “I'm looking for a tall guy,” Faith says. “Said he lives here now.” Slowly, the old man responds by bringing his right index finger to his lips, which are pursed in a judgmental sneer. Knowingly, Faith rolls his eyes and gives the universal “tall, bald guy” sign, raising his right hand high above his head while keeping his left hand at his scalp to cover his hair. This gets a more favorable response from the man in the door, who nods and motions for Faith to come in. He follows and heaves as deep a sigh as he can without annoying his counterpart before being directed to a bench, which the old man points to. Faith obliges, sitting down and enjoying the heat coming from a nearby furnace. As he thaws out from the bone-chilling cold, he checks his phone...which has no cellular service but has somehow found a functional Wi-Fi network. Faith attempts to connect, but is asked for a password. “Nyet.” Faith sits bolt-upright in his chair and sees a familiar, shadowy figure in the doorway. “Password. Nyet.” A heavy pair of footsteps comes closer, and we quickly recognize the mountain of a man known around the world as MARAT KHOKLOV. CF: “Nice digs. Really good welcoming committee, too.” MK: “Not so loud. Old man judge.” Khoklov shakes Faith's hand and sits down next to him. Christian speaks in soft tones, trying not to disturb the peace. CF: “So let me get this straight. You sold off all your material possessions, put money into a wrestling company you won't see live, and came to the middle of nowhere...why, to freeze your butt off?” MK: “Freed from burdens of world. Nobody bother me here. Except you.” Khoklov may not have wrestled in years, but he still has the menacing glare that drove fear into the hearts of fans around the world. Even as a friend and business colleague, Faith knows he must tread carefully. CF: “I've got good news. We've made money. Not a lot, but we're in the black.” MK: “Hmm. This good. Unexpected.” CF: “What, you thought I'd lose my shirt?” MK: “No. Running business hard. How you do it?” CF: “Guys work cheaper than they did when we were around. I've got guys working for $30 or $40 a shot. They're not well-known, but they're hungry. Unlike you, they WANT to be found.” The Khoklov glare resurfaces, and Faith is reminded Russians aren't particularly well-known for having strong senses of humor. CF: “The point is, that's allowing me to make a big announcement on the next show in a few days. You're watching online, right? We've set up a stream for all of the owners.” MK: “Yes. Stream choppy. Reset router before show.” A pause. MK: “I'm recluse. Not idiot.” CF: “We'll do that. You okay? I know a lot of guys who are worried about you.” MK: “I'm okay. World tough. But so is Marat.” CF: “Brought you something.” Faith goes into his travel bag and flashes a bottle of clear liquid. Marat smiles. MK: “That's good stuff. Thank you. I hide that. Old man crazy.” CF: “What's his deal, anyway? Dude judged me for talking.” MK: “Vow of silence.” CF: “How long?” MK: “Stalin.” Faith laughs. Khoklov doesn't. MK: “You should go. You go to Japan tonight?” CF: “Yep. Can't believe they let him go.” MK: “What is plan?” CF: “I'm bringing him in for a night to start. Let's see if the crowd likes him. If they do, I'm all for bringing him back...but as you know, can't shove something down the fans' throats if they don't want to see it, right?” MK: “I respect you, booker man.” It's now, finally, that Khoklov allows himself a smile. He stands up to his full height and pulls a phone out from his robe. MK: “I call you cab.” CF: “I COULD'VE TAKEN A CAB?!?!” A collective gasp is heard around the building. Nobody's yelled inside the stone walls...well, ever, but Faith's face is as bright as the fire burning in the furnace. MK: “How long you walk?” CF: “Maybe five miles from the train station?” Khoklov roars with laughter that may as well shake the monastery. He presses a few buttons on his phone and nods his head. MK: “Ten minutes. Nikita. Red Nissan.” CF: “Gee thanks. Some host you are.” MK: “Better than most around here.” The old man has returned, and he's none too pleased with the behavior his guest has brought to his turf. Faith chuckles as he stands up and collects his things. CF: “You know, Rocky knocked out Drago on his home turf. Just saying.” Faith exits the monastery to wait for his car. Khoklov, meanwhile, retreats back to his life of solitude, one that's now only interrupted by business meetings and updates about a fledgling promotion half a world away. - - - - - OOC NOTES - Early impressions are that certain changes have made it FAR easier for small promotions to turn profits. It definitely helps to have capable hands working for $30 or $40 a shot, and if travel costs aren't covered, that's an added bonus. - The other thing I'm noticing is that the "keep strong" and "protect" instructions seem to be far more punitive with regard to match quality than they were in the 2016 game. I used it a few times on the last show in the last two matches, as I wanted to protect Blaze and keep Frederique strong. Doing so didn't kill either match, obviously, but those instructions did seem to knock things down a bit. Looks like I'll need to be pretty judicious with those instructions! - I'll have the March card up either late tonight or early tomorrow for predictions.