[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 9 – IPW Hardcore Heaven 2020 – After the show…

 

 

Vin could feel a slight tension in the room this time, Gil Thomas wasn’t the sort of man to press the panic button too soon and Phil Vibert was unlikely to ever acknowledge that there was even the hint of a real issue even if the world burned around him but, even if there was nothing being said out loud, there was no real way to get around the fact that the show had been, if not quite a definite failure, a very qualified success at best. Phil, as was his way, was talking up the good anyway. The main event had been solid, the promos by Hustle Muvva, Vibert himself and, in particular, Aldous Blackfriar, had been somewhere between good and excellent and the debuts of Remmy Skye and Sweet Tabitha had passed off reasonably (even if both of their gimmicks had been disappointingly received). So Phil was focussing on these things and not paying to much heed to the fact that Skye had looked a long way from the trailblazer of six years ago or that the Deacon Darkhold – Zombie Boy match had been a complete mess which was only more problematic as they were trying to build Darkhold up as a legitimate threat for the top title. The way Phil was spinning things you’d believe that USPW would struggle to match them. Vin suspected it was more likely that they’d trail in well behind CZCW and GSW again but he kept his thoughts to himself.

 

Gil took a sip of water and said, almost to himself,

 

“Well, I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight anyway,”

 

There was a moment of silence before Gil spoke up again,

 

“Okay, I was thinking, we need to be more aggressive. God knows GSW aren’t afraid to take shots. Last month you were talking about upping our music production. It was costly I know.”

 

“$10k a month or so,” Phil supplied glibly, sounding no more concerned than if it was $10 a month. Gil pondered this for a moment, took a breath and added,

 

“Do it. I would have been just as happy to live and let live with GSW. If Grimm wants a fight though I’m not going to roll over. He was always a pain in the ass, always wanted everything his own way. I’ll be damned if I just stand back and let him have it all his own way. Do you have somebody in mind?”

 

Phil nodded,

 

“Yeah there’s this Irish kid. Living out this way now. Met a girl. He can do all sorts, a lot of it is a sort of, I don’t know, punk-grunge-alternative sort of thing. He’ll help give us an identity.”

 

“Well, it’s only money I suppose,” Gil seemed to be talking more to himself again. He gave a rueful sigh and turned to his next thought,

 

“Zombie Boy is gone too right?”

 

“Yeah. Look, he’s a nice kid and he has a lot of potential, happy to take risks, good character. He has a long way to go too though. No consistency, in a world of his own half the time, it was absolutely on him that the Darkhold match didn’t work out as well as we hoped, he just wasn’t on the same page at all."

 

Gil nodded at this while Vin reflected on how, weeks earlier, Phil had been lavish in how ‘Zombie Boy has no ceiling, could go as far as he wants to!” Vin loved Phil but he was never anything but amazed at how easily Phil could manipulate his own arguments depending on what was convenient at the time.

 

Phil was smiling widely now, the consummate salesman again.

 

“Gil, it was always going to take a little time for everything to get lined up. I promise you though, give it another three months or so, you won’t even recognise where IPW is! I’ve got ideas, I’ve got plans. This is going to be a big year for us and I guarantee you, 100%, by the end of the year nobody is going to be talking about Spring.”

 

“I hope so Phil, I really do. IPW is dear to me and I want to see us become secure and safe as we grow.”

 

Vibert leaned across the table, almost conspiratorial, as he outlined a little of his master plan. He only ever fed information in drips and drabs, never wanted to give too much away. For now though, Vin acknowledged, what he was hearing made a lot of sense.

 

“You started the ball rolling ever before I got involved. Joining the COTT was a masterstroke. We need to utilise the link though, it gives us access to a whole well of talent and we need to willing to tap into that. It gives us a huge advantage over GSW. Let them cling to the faux credibility of being ‘independent’. We’re all independent. PSW in particular… there’s already a good relationship there, Mitch Naess is my protégé, we can do well out of working with them. Trust me! I’ve got this.”

 

After a little more back and forth they wrapped up the meeting and Gil Thomas seemed to be leaving the room much happier than he had walked in. Phil Vibert had done it again. He really was a one of a kind.

 

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 8 - IPW Hardcore Havoc 2020 –Saturday, Week 2, February 2020

 

 

IPW Hardcore Havoc 2020 – From Los Angeles, California – Attendance: 266

 

 

Preshow

Announce Team: Moses Makesh, Luther Judge, Phil Vibert

Referees: Jeffrey Davis, Kurt Lovenkrantz

Road Agent: Frantic Ali, Lug Phelan

 

The Outlaw defeated PsychoMike in 8’:18 by pinfall.

Match Rating: 32

Canadian Hardcore defeated Barnaby & Rudge in 11:45 when Sasquatch McGraw pinned Zack Rudge with a Running Big Boot.

Match Rating: 31

Lil Henry defeated Manny Alvarez in 6:22 by pinfall with a Double-Handed Choke Bomb.

Match Rating: 29

 

 

The Show Proper

Announce Team: Moses Makesh, Luther Judge, Phil Vibert

Referees: Jeffrey Davis, Kurt Lovenkrantz

Road Agent: Vin Tanner

 

Moses Makesh: Hardcore Havoc 2020 is here! Welcome to this latest night of what is sure to be more incredible action from Invincible Pro Wrestling! I am Moses Makesh and I am joined tonight by Luther Judge and the IPW Commissioner Phil Vibert! Gentlemen, welcome to the show, what are you most looking forward to tonight?

Luther Judge: Well, and I’m sure I speak for many here, I find it difficult to look past our Main Event. A triple threat match for the IPW Championship contested between the current champion Aldous Blackfriar, Frantic Ali (ably managed by our erstwhile broadcast colleague Anselm Briggs) and ‘The Irish Warrior’ Lug Phelan. Not an easy match to call!

Phil Vibert: I must confess to having more than a little curiosity as to how Fiasco Fierce’s Open Challenge will play out.

Moses Makesh: From top to bottom this card is stacked! It is the IPW way! And you need look no further than the first match on the card for evidence of that. It was supposed to happen last month but we’re going to see the IPW Californian title defended.

Phil Vibert: And the intervening time between the originally scheduled match and today has only seen this one become more and more embittered. Hugh de Aske and JOJI are now more than merely champion and challenger. There’s a legitimate distaste between these two.

Luther Judge: It’s easy to see why. JOJI felt badly slighted when de Aske didn’t show up last month and has made plenty of cutting, dismissive remarks about ‘The Dread Pirate’s’ character and courage. De Aske, perhaps understandably, is less than enamoured by this.

Moses Makesh: Well in that case it might befit our Californian champion to make himself available for all of our shows! In any case, we’re about to get underway here. And before the wrestling starts, we’ve got an appearance by Cindy with a t-shirt gun!

 

Cindy does make her way into the ring and spends the next three minutes firing t-shirts into the crowd with a fair degree of sensuality. Despite the crowd’s warm feeling towards ‘Princess Bling’, the whole thing never really seems to take off. It would appear that, in IPW, the audience are here for the violence and not necessarily for the sex appeal.

Segment Rating: 21

 

Moses Makesh: I’m sure it’s been said before but Hustle Muvva is a very lucky man indeed.

Luther Judge: Undoubtedly! They make quite the couple.

Phil Vibert: Now it’s time for the in ring action to start with that IPW Californian title match we mentioned earlier. Hugh de Aske defending against ‘The Wild Man’ JOJI.

 

Hugh de Aske © Vs JOJI – Title Match for IPW Californian title

This was a decent opener with both men playing their part and doing a good job at getting over the increasing disdain that they feel for each other as they tussled for the IPW Californian title. JOJI worked hard to try and unsettle his more decorated opponent. De Aske, as is his wont, worked hard to get JOJI over here too and, while the Belgian born Pirate never quite seemed to hit his top form, he still showed enough to lift this bout to reasonable levels in an evenly contested struggle. De Aske’s charisma is always clearly abundant and this helped to sustain the interest in this one for the 12’34 it took for de Aske to successfully defend his title belt, scoring the pinfall after a Cut-Throat Driver.

Hugh de Aske defeated JOJI in 12:34 by pinfall with a Cut-Throat Driver

Match Rating: 36

 

Moses Makesh: Well it may have taken a month longer than expected but it took just over twelve and a half minutes for Hugh de Aske to emerge victorious here. His reign as Californian champion has survived the first hurdle at least!

Luther Judge: ‘The Dread Pirate’ is a very, very capable fighter and anybody who fails to recognise that is setting themselves up for a serious shock that will end just as this bout did.

Phil Vibert: To be fair I don’t think that JOJI underestimated de Aske. If anything, I think JOJI was guilty of allowing his emotions to take control. De Aske, on the other hand, however outlandish he can appear at times, retains a cold sense of self control even in the heat of battle. I think that was the decisive factor here tonight.

Moses Makesh: Possibly so Phil, possibly so. I think another thing that should never be underplayed is the drive in Hugh de Aske to collect as much treasure as he can. The IPW Californian title definitely fits that description and he won’t be in any rush to let it go!

Phil Vibert: I suspect his long-term ambitions are probably going to run somewhat higher than just his current title too. Speaking of goals… former IPW Tag Team champions Barnaby & Rudge believe they have found somebody who will help them to accomplish theirs too!

 

Ash Barnaby and Zack Rudge made their way to the ring a little gingerly, still showing the ill effects of their match on tonight’s preshow. They talked about how they’re former IPW Tag Team Champions but they’ve yet to make an appearance on the show proper this year. They stress that they don’t blame anybody else for their situation, (“we’re not like the bitches in The Brigg House,” shot Rudge to some applause) but they assured the crowd that they were taking steps to get their careers back to where they want them to be. They announced here that they had taken a manager on board and Sweet Tabitha joined them in the ring. She did her part here too, promising that she would help lead the pair back towards the glory they tasted back in 2015. Her girl-next-door gimmick attracted derision from the rabid audience but there’s no denying that it did help to get the crowd hotter.

Angle Rating: 27

 

Moses Makesh: That is another very lovely young woman. If she can manage anywhere near as well as she looks, Barnaby & Rudge might just have taken a very shrewd decision.

Phil Vibert: They’re two talented guys and still not at their peak. I think it’s understandable and, indeed, praiseworthy that they’re trying to take steps to return to the business end of things. I can promise them (and anybody else) that opportunities will be available for anybody who earns them going forward in IPW.

Luther Judge: There’s a lot to be said for honest endeavour and hard work. Of course, not a lot of that is always said among certain elements of the IPW roster where other… shall we say… less savoury qualities are sometimes more highly prized.

Moses Makesh: Is that a reference to Deacon Darkhold and his posse ahead of our next match tonight?

Luther Judge: I can neither confirm or deny that Moses, I’m sure it could be applied to many people in this industry of ours. Some promotions seem riddled with nothing else. It’s very… Grim.

Phil Vibert: Grim indeed. Grimm even! In any case Deacon Darkhold is about to make his way to the ring for his bout against the unpredictable Zombie Boy.

Moses Makesh: Darkhold has interjected himself forcefully into the business of Aldous Blackfriar. Now we’ll see what he can do when the spotlight is shining upon him!

 

Deacon Darkhold Vs Zombie Boy

From the outset Deacon Darkhold dominated this one. There was a decent reaction from the crowd but the wrestling was largely sub-par. It would appear that the goal of the match was to establish Darkhold’s credentials as a dangerous force in his own right. The match was disjointed however with Zombie Boy really off his game and an unmistakable sense that at least one of the competitors wasn’t following the same script. The ending, at least, was dramatic. Darkhold dragged his wounded opponent to the outside and hit a wicked looking German suplex through the ring barrier. Zombie Boy looked absolutely broken up upon impact and it was a simple matter for Darkhold to haul him back into the ring, land his Reverse DDT finisher and pick up the victory. It may not have been anywhere near as memorable as IPW would have hoped (at least not for the right reasons) but Darkhold will at least move forward with some momentum from this one.

Match Rating: 19

 

Moses Makesh: ‘The True Voice of Evil’ is backing up his words! He is setting out to make believers of us all. Zombie Boy was simply a sacrificial victim to the plots of The Dark Watch tonight. There may be more to follow!

Luther Judge: That was not easy to watch. That suplex through the barrier… if Zombie Boy wasn’t at least half dead before, he certainly is now

Phil Vibert: Only a fool would suggest that this isn’t just one part of a larger plan for Darkhold. His next move could be just as intriguing. Tonight though… tonight was a reminder that he can get the job done in his own right. There were no Night Terrors there, no Marvin Otto, just one man with a propensity for pain!

Moses Makesh: Quite so! A man with lofty (and probably unspeakable) goals! And that brings us nicely to our next segment. Hustle Muvva is about to address us and this IPW Original is always worth listening to!

 

Hustle Muvva delivered the goods here, cutting a passionate promo about how he’s changed and developed, personally and professionally, in his time in IPW. He talked about how the two most important things in his life are IPW and his wife Cindy and both those things began in earnest for him within a day of each other, in June 2011. Muvva stresses that he’s never been a man to sit on his laurels. On the streets he dragged himself up from nothing and he’s only getting started. He acknowledged his disappointment at coming up short in his title match at Unbreakable IX but repeated that he is far from finished succeeding. He told the crowd that he had recently discovered that he is going to become a father and seemed to enjoy the ‘Papa Muvva’ chant that followed. He nodded approvingly and finished up with a strongly delivered promise that when his child arrives into the world the first thing that they’ll see will be their father standing before them, the reigning holder of the IPW Championship!

Angle Rating: 44

 

Moses Makesh: A big statement of intent from Hustle Muvva!

Luther Judge: I agree. Though it will count for very little unless he can back it up against Deadly Deadshot.

Phil Vibert: And Deadly Deadshot is not a man to lay down for anybody.

 

w/

Deadly Deadshot Vs Hustle Muvva w/Cindy

This was comfortably the best match of the night so far. It was a decent clash, keenly contested. Deadly Deadshot has had better days but both men played their part here and the crowd reacted accordingly, getting hotter as the action accelerated. It was an interesting clash of styles, the Lucha Assasin and the powerhouse brawler, speed against strength. Deadshot’s unorthodox offence rocked his bigger opponent and it really did look as though Muvva’s lofty ambitions were going to take a serious knock more than once. Eventually though, the big man’s power came to the rescue, catching Deadshot in mid-air after another high-risk move and turning it into a power bomb. With momentum reversed Muvva went through the gears, taking his opponent apart and eventually putting him away with a Hustler’s Headbutt.

Hustle Muvva defeated Deadly Deadshot in 12:08 by pinfall with a Hustler’s Headbutt.

Match Rating: 40

 

Moses Makesh: As first steps go, this one was pretty impressive. Hustle Muvva may end up looking back with great fondness at this match as the beginning of his second coming.

Luther Judge: A fine victory for sure. Muvva is a man on a mission.

Moses Makesh: He certainly is. So too is our commissioner, Phil Vibert, who has made his way into the ring to address the IPW audience once more.

 

Phil Vibert cuts another superb, off the cuff promo here, running through his own storied background before emphasising that he doesn’t want to merely recreate DAVE here in IPW. He says again that he thinks that the next few years will be pivotal for the whole wrestling industry. He knows that nothing happens overnight but his goal is to turn IPW into something that the whole scene is forced to take notice of. He promises that he won’t be found wanting for effort and that, as far as he is concerned, he needs to prove himself all over again now. He stridently declares, for a finish, that he was the winner of the East Coast Wars (at least for a time) and now he plans to repeat the trick on the West Coast too! The crowd love it and break into “I-P-Dub!” chants.

Angle Rating: 58

 

Moses Makesh: Big talk from our esteemed Commissioner there! And the crowd here tonight are very much on board for Vibert’s revolution!

Luther Judge: I defy anybody not to be roused to action by that call to arms tonight. After listening to that I feel like I could storm a certain warehouse myself and take anybody out!

Moses Makesh: Controversial!

Luther Judge: Undoubtedly!

Moses Makesh: Speaking of those who follow a call to arms The Night Terrors, the acolytes of Deacon Darkhold will be in action now against Mexican Hardcore Killers. MHK, for their part, are looking to rebound from a surprise failure in their bid to unseat Minnesota Awesome at the last show.

 

w/

Mexican Hardcore Killers (E-Z and Sanchez Villano) Vs The Night Terrors (Babau and Moroi) w/Melvin Otto – Hardcore Rules

This one is absolute Mayhem from start to finish and the crowd were buzzing by the end having watched these four men absolutely tear into each other with relish. Babau stole the show somewhat here with Moroi receiving a surprisingly negative reaction from those in attendance. It was the masked duo who would emerge victorious setting themselves up nicely moving forwards. Mexican Hardcore Killers, after back to back defeats, will need to go back to the drawing board now.

The Night Terrors defeated Mexican Hardcore Killers in 12:45 when Babau pinned Sanchez Villano with a Sleep Paralysis

Match Rating: 39

 

Moses Makesh: The Night Terrors sending out a pertinent reminder that, even when you strip back the guerrilla tactics and the agenda of fear, these guys can get the job done from bell to bell too. Babau and Moroi are decorated, multi-time champions both here in IPW and in Japan!

Luther Judge: I would suggest that these guys might be the men that Minnesota Awesome should be most concerned about as they attempt to hold onto the IPW Tag Team championship.

Phil Vibert: There is no doubting the threat posed by The Night Terrors. That being said, this is as good a time as any to confirm that Minnesota Awesome will have not just one, but two, other teams to worry about at our next show. IPW Triplemania will feature only matches contested under Triple Threat rules.

Moses Makesh: Controversial! That means that all our championship titles could change hands with none of our current champions being pinned!

Luther Judge: It means we’ll have another night of high drama and unmissable action to look forward to. I like it Commissioner, I like it a lot.

Moses Makesh: Speaking of drama and action it’s time for The Fiasco Fierce Open Challenge. I have been waiting to see who is going to accept it since Fierce issued it.

 

Fiasco Fierce makes his way to the ring with manager Anselm Briggs. With Briggs nodding sagely throughout, Fierce launches into a strong, strident promo. The former three-time IPW Californian champion denounces the people who have tried to keep him down, the puppets of higher powers who have always feared the latent greatness of the strong, black man. Stooges like the new Commissioner might like to pretend that they are free spirits but The Brigg House recognise cronies when they see them. “So let me tell you about free spirits,” starts Fierce when music interrupts him…

 

Moses Makesh: Oh. My. God. It’s Remmy Skye. Remmy Skye! The man who won every title available to him in CZCW.

Luther Judge: Fiasco Fierce looks shocked!

 

Judge is right. Fierce and Briggs both look mildly shell shocked as Skye makes his way to the ring. The always weirdly charismatic Skye gets a good initial pop though his rather cliched Surfer Dude gimmick is less well received. Still… there’s no denying that moment works.

Angle Rating: 40

 

w/

Fiasco Fierce w/Anslem Briggs Vs Mystery Opponent

The match itself, despite good heat and decent wrestling, doesn’t quite live up to the intro. Neither man is at his best. Skye at least has the excuse of a long layoff and will surely improve but there is a sense that this was somewhat of a missed opportunity. The two men trade offence and momentum in this one before the faster Skye pulls out a quick rollup for the victory. Skye is a new piece on the game board so to speak and the whole of IPW will have to allow for his unpredictability now. For Fierce and Briggs, this will doubtless be taken as another sign that the establishment are out to screw them.

Remmy Skye defeated Fiasco Fierce in 10:38 by pinfall with a fast roll up.

Match Rating: 37

 

Moses Makesh: Remmy Skye has arrived in IPW. He has a track record to match anybody. ‘The Son of the Beach’ is here and, as The Brigg House have just found out, he is here to make an impact.

Luther Judge: I must admit, there is a large part of me that can hardly wait to hear Anselm Briggs’ response to this. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind about that one he starts ranting!

Phil Vibert: Remmy Skye is an example of the sort of competitor that we want to have here in IPW. Talented and with something to prove. It’s been six years now since he pretty much disappeared. His arrival could be the start of something very, very special. Not just for himself but for the whole of IPW!

Luther Judge: And how does his emergence play on the thoughts of the three men who will shortly be taking part in our Main Event tonight? If you’re Frantic Ali, Lug Phelan or Aldous Blackfriar, you have got to be trying to figure out how this changes things for you.

Moses Makesh: It is very important too though that they don’t switch their focus from tonight’s challenge too. The IPW Championship is too big a prize to take for granted.

Phil Vibert: And now it is time for another battle for control of that prestigious title.

 

Aldous Blackfriar makes his way to ringside first and, with a microphone in hand, displays once more the tremendous potential that he possesses. He ends his darkly hypnotic spiel with his trademark catchphrase, “The hellgate is open, ‘His Satanic Majesty’ stands above all. You will serve or you will die!” The crowd are fully onboard.

Angle Rating: 61

 

w/

Aldous Blackfriar © Vs Frantic Ali w/Anslem Briggs Vs Lug Phelan – Title Match for IPW Championship – Hardcore Rules

This one goes well and benefits greatly from great heat and good wrestling. All three men give a good account of themselves but it is, fittingly, the defending champion, the precocious Aldous Blackfriar who is most impressive. The crowd are buzzing again as this one goesthrough its paces. The brutal Phelan takes control early on, utilising his greater power to keep both his opponents down. Anslem Briggs is a constant influencer at ringside though and he distracts the Irishman for long enough to allow his guy, Frantic Ali to slide into the metaphorical driver’s seat and score a near fall on Aldous Blackfriar. The 24 year old champion though, continues to belie his comparative lack of experience and remains competitive.

 

It tuns full circle though and Phelan is once again in control as we pass the quarter hour mark and enter the home stretch. The Dark Watch make their presence felt again. Melvin Otto runs down the aisle and, after shoving Anslem Briggs to the floor, takes Frantic Ali out with a neckbreaker over the top rope. Simultaneously, with everyone distracted, Deacon Darkhold enters the ring from the crowd and lays out Lug Phelan with a low blow. He slides out again and makes his way to the top of the ramp with Otto and they observe along with the rest of us as Blackfriar hits a Batwing on Phelan and retains in title defence number 11. There is a sense that this match has gone just a little bit longer than the IPW audience have patience for. Blackfriar doesn’t look happy at the conclusion though and glowers at his one-time allies in The Dark Watch. Darkhold addresses the camera just before we go off air, insisting that he and he alone will be the man to dethrone Aldous Blackfriar.

Aldous Blackfriar defeated Frantic Ali and Lug Phelan in 16:26 when Aldous Blackfriar pinned Lug Phelan with a Batwing following interference from Deacon Darkhold.

Match Rating: 44

 

Moses Makesh: It ends in absolute chaos once more. The match may well be finished but there is no resolution here that I can see and the repercussions of this will be seen at IPW Triplemania next month and possibly much further out than even that! For now, at the end of another night of action, I’d like to thank everybody who was here and watched this. Things continue to explode here in IPW!

 

Show Rating: 45

 

Show increased our popularity in 1 region, show appeared worse because Music is slightly worse than at least one rival.

 

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

<p>Chapter 7 – IPW Hardcore Havoc – Before the show</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="iTUhhfe.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iTUhhfe.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Chapter 7 – IPW Hardcore Havoc – Before the show</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="5F1e53r.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5F1e53r.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="iCSSxa4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iCSSxa4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

Even at 52, with 34 years of experience in the business, Vin Tanner still got excited before a show. The ropes had been tightened, the sound system was good to go, the merch table was set up. All was in readiness for Show Two of the Phil Vibert era. Vin was delighted to have Phil there. Vibert had been good to him, every success of his professional wrestling career had come with Vibert at the helm and Vin truly believed that, in the crowded battlefield of the West Coast indie wrestling scene, this was IPW’s best chance of avoiding the fate of AAA. Vin walked around the squared circle, making some minute adjustments to the ring apron. Truthfully, he was happier now, working hard as IPW’s Road Agent and not worrying about the book. There was less pressure on him that way, he could just focus on what happened bell to bell and allow the responsibility for the bigger picture to fall to Phil and to Gil. They were better equipped to deal with that stuff than he was anyway.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="IPW40cE.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/IPW40cE.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="pa4JFNf.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pa4JFNf.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

It had been an interesting month since the last show. Hustle Muvva and Cindy had announced that they were expecting their first child. It was a testament to the tremendous spirit of the locker room that this news was being treated as a cause for great celebration by all. It helped, of course, that the powerful Muvva was a popular member of the crew and it certainly didn’t hurt that he had embraced the arrival of Phil Vibert from the very outset and was already an outspoken, loyal supporter of both this new era for IPW and of the man now calling the creative shots. The running joke was that little baby Invincible would be a future IPW Champion</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="iCSSxa4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iCSSxa4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="oo6E28C.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/oo6E28C.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ujg70Q4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ujg70Q4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

It remained to be seen where IPW would stand when Muvva and Cindy’s kid was old enough to get between the ropes. Hell, Vin considered, it remained to be seen where they’d stand at the end of the year. To the surprise of nobody GSW and Brother Grimm had loudly declared war upon IPW. It had been inevitable really, ever since Grimm had flounced out of IPW in the early days after falling out with Gil Thomas and the late Nemesis over the creative direction of the company, there had been a simmering rivalry building. Now it was out in the open and battle was most definitely joined.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="bwVn2Wb.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/bwVn2Wb.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ujg70Q4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ujg70Q4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="iCSSxa4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iCSSxa4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

The worrying truth was that IPW had definitely lost the first battle too. CZCW had comfortably put on the best show in the region for the month but, judging from the general feedback on the internet, GSW had been a clear second with IPW bringing up the rear. It wasn’t a catastrophe by any stretch, there was no doubt that it would take a few months for this new dawn to catch fire and nobody in wrestling had more ideas than Phil Vibert. Things had changed a lot for IPW even before Phil’s arrival. They were members of COTT now and had particularly strong relationships with CZCW and PSW. All these things gave some reason for hope. Long-term there was no doubt that they would need to stand up to GSW at least but Vin believed that they would manage that. He trusted in Phil Vibert. Always had, always would.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="iTUhhfe.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iTUhhfe.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p>

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 6 – IPW Hardcore Havoc 2020 – Preview

 

 

Chapter 6 – IPW Hardcore Havoc 2020 – Preview

 

w/

Aldous Blackfriar © Vs Frantic Ali w/Anslem Briggs Vs Lug Phelan – Title Match for IPW Championship – Hardcore Rules

Anslem Briggs has scored a big coup for his nascent stable, The Brigg House, by getting Frantic Ali a shot at the IPW Championship. With the biggest prize in the promotion up for grabs, stakes couldn’t get any higher, a situation only amplified by the Hardcore stipulation attached, the pedigree and drive of all three men to come out on top of this battle and the unknown that remains the motives and the intentions of the ever dangerous Dark Watch could yet play a role with enemies old and new taking part in the form of defending champion Blackfriar and, a man chasing his own destiny, Lug Phelan, even though none of that stable are directly involved in this one. And amidst the swirling chaos of the IPW battleground, it may require luck as well as ability to leave with the title belt around your waist here!

 

w/

Fiasco Fierce w/Anslem Briggs Vs Mystery Opponent

After his complaints about the running order at the last show Anslem Briggs will already view the card order as a major victory against “the crooked establishment”. With Frantic Ali in the Main Event it appears that Fiasco Fierce will be issuing an open challenge in the semi-main. Fierce cut a promo that lived up to his name at Unbreakable IX and there is no doubt that this cocky brawler has his sights set on taking the IPW by storm all over again. His opponent, whoever they are, could be in line for a long night.

 

w/

Mexican Hardcore Killers (E-Z and Sanchez Villano) Vs The Night Terrors (Babau and Moroi) w/Melvin Otto – Hardcore Rules

The Night Terrors made their presence felt at Unbreakable IX despite not actually being booked to compete on that card. The Dark Watch clearly don’t respect anything other than their own murky goals and trying to figure out what they are could be best described as an exercise in insanity. Three time Tag Team champions in IPW in their own right, only a fool would forget how capable the masked pair are between the ropes. Against Mexican Hardcore Killers though, especially with that pairing looking to bounce back from an unexpected failure to capture the titles in their last bout, it will be crucial that they retain focus on the task at hand. It will be violent, that can be promised.

 

w/

Deadly Deadshot Vs Hustle Muvva w/Cindy

This bout features two men who had wildly differing results at Unbreakable IX. Deadly Deadshot impressed anybody who caught his victory over Stanley Axis on the preshow of that event and there’s no doubt that he possesses all the necessary tools to add to his already successful seven year run here in IPW. Hustle Muvva, for his part, was in the main event last time out but came up short in his bid to regain the IPW Championship for what would have been the third time. This match represents an opportunity for both to influence their own trajectory going forward and, as such, could be as important a match as either will have this year.

 

Deacon Darkhold Vs Zombie Boy

‘The True Voice of Evil’, Deacon Darkhold will be setting foot between the ropes for the first time this year, against the enigmatic and unpredictable Zombie Boy. There are already whispers that this match could be one part massacre to one part recruitment drive and there could well be a place in The Dark Watch for Zombie Boy if he sufficiently impresses. Less clear is how motivated Zombie Boy would be to affiliate with anybody at all. Still… it adds another layer of intrigue to this one.

 

Hugh de Aske © Vs JOJI – Title Match for IPW Californian title

After champion de Aske missed his scheduled title match against JOJI at the last show, the Japanese competitor loudly denounced the champion (albeit in slightly broken English) for ducking him. ‘The Dread Pirate’, as ever, is slow to show a lot of outward annoyance but he is a proud competitor and it is impossible to imagine that he has not been infuriated at JOJI’s verbal assault. Certainly de Aske was quick to agree to this bout and, after all that has been happened in the last month, what could potentially have been a contest in good faith is now a simmering clash of resentment.

 

Preshow Matches

Lil Henry Vs Manny Alvarez – Hardcore Rules

Barnaby & Rudge (Ash Barnaby and Zach Rudge) Vs Canadian Hardcore (Otis Von Battenberg and Sasquatch McGraw)

The Outlaw Vs PsychoMike – Hardcore Rules

 

 

Good start to this.

 

As for the guy who hands his notice, i am guessing Lug Phelan.

 

Thanks Kanegan, I appreciate the kind words! I'll hope I can maintain and even improve upon this standard!

 

 

IPW Hardcore Havoc 2020 - Prediction Key

1. Aldous Blackfriar © Vs Frantic Ali w/Anslem Briggs Vs Lug Phelan – Title Match for IPW Championship

2. Fiasco Fierce w/Anslem Briggs Vs Mystery Opponent

3. Mexican Hardcore Killers (E-Z and Sanchez Villano) Vs The Night Terrors (Babau and Moroi) w/Melvin Otto

4. Deadly Deadshot Vs Hustle Muvva w/Cindy

5. Deacon Darkhold Vs Zombie Boy

6. Hugh de Aske © Vs JOJI – Title Match for IPW Californian title

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 5 – IPW Unbreakable IX –The Aftermath

 

 

Chapter 5 – IPW Unbreakable IX –The Aftermath

 

Gil Thomas took a sip from the glass of sparkling water in front of him. Thomas was 58 now but still looked much younger, his straightedge lifestyle helping to keep him trim and healthy. The IPW head honcho had called a meeting with his booking team to go over the fallout from their show the previous night. Gil had been cautiously pleased with how things had gone overall and keen to hear from the two men sitting opposite him.

 

Phil Vibert seemed pretty pleased with himself too though, truth be told, that seemed to be his default setting anyway. Gil was still coming to terms with the realisation that Vibert was here. The man was a legend in the industry and to have the genius behind DAVE onboard, well, that could surely only bode well for IPW as a whole.

 

The other man in the room was Vin Tanner. Gil had brought him in to take the book when Nemesis has died a few years earlier. He had done a solid job and it said a lot about the measure of the man it had been Tanner who effectively requested his own demotion when he proposed bringing Vibert in. Still, Tanner owed a lot to Phil Vibert who had been instrumental in both of his memorable runs in the business, with DAVE and CGC respectively. Gil was glad that Vin had stayed on an Road Agent though, the man was a born teacher who plenty to offer everybody around him.

 

“A decent show?” Gil observed to open the conversation. Vibert shrugged before replying casually,

 

“Yeah, something we can build on certainly. The main event went well definitely. There’s some depth in the tag division, Frantic Ali looked very good, there’s plenty of moving parts. We’ll make something of it definitely.”

 

“What happened with Hugh de Aske? It worked out fine obviously but we don’t want to make a habit of promoting matches that don’t happen either!”

Vibert and Tanner looked at each other and, for the first time, Vibert’s smile dropped off ever so briefly before he snapped it back in even as he explained,

 

“He was double booked. CZCW were running their show last night too. In San Diego.”

 

“Is that going to be a problem?” Gil wondered, “he’s our Californian champion. Are we going to have to figure out a way to get the title off him without getting him back in the ring?”

 

It was Tanner who answered this time,

 

“No boss, we’ll be okay. They’re only running against us four times a year and not again until April. We have time to figure it out.”

 

“That’s good. I’d prefer to avoid going to war with CZCW. It could make the next COTT meeting an awkward one. How’s the locker room?”

 

Tanner spoke again,

 

“It’s good. Morale couldn’t be better to be honest.”

 

He paused and considered something for a moment before adding,

 

“There was a small issue with Deacon Darkhold. He was moaning a lot before the show, nothing too serious, just questioning why we don’t have catering laid on. I pulled him aside, told him to buy a round of drinks for the others… he seemed to take it on the chin so I hope we won’t have any more issues. On the other hand Aldous Blackfriar and Deadly Deadshot are really getting tight. They’re very much firm friends at this stage. That should be good for the mood in general.

 

Gil nodded and asked a question,

 

“Why don’t we lay on catering for them?”

 

Phil Vibert answered again this time,

 

“You never have. This is the indies. It’s my first month here. I’m open to considering anything like that but let’s wait and see how the financials look at the end of the month before we start throwing money around too. We probably need to look at our music too. It’s nice that we’re using local artists but, compared to GSW, it makes us look a bit staid. It’s not a huge deal, we have better broadcast quality so that helps.”

 

“How much would it cost to match them?”

 

“Honestly?” Vibert shot back before calculating,

 

“I’d say $10k a month. We’re paying about $250 at the moment. It’s a lot of cash, I’m not saying we need to make a decision today, it’s just something to keep a mind. The only other thing I’d want to say, and you’ve probably heard already, we’ve had one of the boys give in their notice.”

 

Gil nodded in confirmation,

 

“I heard. It’s disappointing. I had hopes he had a big role to play”

 

Vibert shrugged again,

 

“Yeah, definitely. Look, we’re at the stage now, thankfully, where I’d say nobody is irreplaceable. Maybe Aldous at a push. We’ll survive this. There’s nothing personal as far as I can tell, just a guy wanting a change. Or maybe he doesn’t like me? Who knows? In any case he’s given us a month’s notice. All going well he’ll put somebody over at Hardcore Havoc. No harm, no foul, no damage.”

 

From there the talk turned to their next show. Gil had to admit it, he was excited to see where things were going to go.

 

 

Which roster member has handed in their notice?

 

Welcome back. This is a very promising start and I will be paying attention to this for sure.

 

It feels good to be back! I'm hoping for a long run. I've missed this place!

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 4 - IPW Unbreakable IX

 

 

IPW Unbreakable IX – Saturday, Week 1, January 2020 – From Los Angeles, California – Attendance: 276

 

Preshow

Announce Team: Moses Makesh, Luther Judge, Anslem Briggs

Referees: Jeffrey Davis, Kurt Lovenkrantz

Road Agent: Vin Tanner

 

Barnaby & Rudge defeated G Force and Mark Smart in 8’34 when Barnaby pinned Smart after a Double Super Kick.

Match Rating: 29

Lil Henry defeated PsychoMike in 5’46 by pinfall after a Double Handed Choke Bomb.

Match Rating: 30

Deadly Deadshot defeated Stanley Axis in 9’34 by pinfall with a Dead Drop

Match Rating: 35

 

 

The Show Proper

Announce Team: Moses Makesh, Luther Judge, Anslem Briggs

Referees: Jeffrey Davis, Kurt Lovenkrantz

Road Agent: Vin Tanner

 

Moses Makesh: Welcome to Unbreakable IX, the latest chapter in the story of Invincible Pro Wrestling, California’s realest wrestling promotion! Tonight promises to kickstart a brand new era for everybody here in IPW and you will not want to miss it! Joining me in calling all the action is, as always, Luther Judge and, for tonight, ‘Smooth Talker’ Anslem Briggs! Gentlemen, we have quite the evening ahead of us!

Luther Judge: You damn sure got that right Moses. We saw more action in the preshow alone than most wrestling organisations can manage in their main events. Speaking of which we’ve got a hell of a one of those ourselves tonight. Aldous Blackfriar has more than lived up to ‘His Satanic Majesty’ moniker in his near year long reign as holder of the IPW Championship. Tonight though, against a former champion who just keeps getting better in the shape of Hustle Muvva, Blackfriar might find that his time is up!

Moses Makesh: All very true. The question of focus has to be addressed here too. How much can the champion concentrate on the task at hand tonight when Deacon Darkhold and his other former colleagues in The Dark Watch are still waiting in the shadows to pounce. Of course we’ll also see another of The Dark Watch in action tonight as Melvin Otto collides with Lug Phelan. ‘The Irish Warrior’ is not shy about his own plans to capture the IPW Championship as a tribute to his mentor, the late IPW legend, Nemesis.

Anslem Briggs: You’re both overlooking the biggest match of the night. The MVP of IPW, the five time champion, The X-Factor All-Rounder, Frantic Ali will make a statement of intent when he dismantles The Outlaw. There’s an agenda against Frantic Ali coming from the very top and the disrespect shown to him by the audience here, by Gil Thomas and his staff, by our new commissioner… well that’s all fine but you can’t stop greatness and, under the guidance of Anslem Briggs, Frantic Ali will force his way back to the very top!

Moses Makesh: There’s nobody overlooking Frantic Ali here, we’re all too aware of what he can do. I would just suggest, Mr.Briggs, that you and your client do not want to look past The Outlaw.

Luther Judge: Speaking of things that you don’t want to look past, we also have a pair of compelling looking tag team matches on the bill tonight. Canadian Hardcore vs. Coulrophobia is going to be a spectacle of violence between two sets of previous champions. The young duo currently in possession of the belts, Minnesota Awesome, will also have a big challenge on their hands against Mexican Hardcore Killers.

Moses Makesh: The Champions have led a charmed existence so far but tonight might be a step too far. As for our other championship title here in IPW we had a match scheduled between champion Hugh de Aske and ‘The Wild Man’ JOJI. The challenger is in the ring with an update however.

 

JOJI paced the ring with a microphone in hand. He stalked from corner to corner, completing two full circles before bellowing mindlessly and then, by contrast, sinking smoothly to a sitting position and addressing the crowd,

“Tonight was JOJI’s night. The night for JOJI to win the title he deserves. Tonight JOJI was to destroy the pirate once and for all. Well, JOJI is here tonight but Hugh de Aske is not here. They tell JOJI that the pirate man is gone to plunder in richer seas. The pirate man is trying to steal JOJI’s glory. It will not work. He can not hide from JOJI forever!”

JOJI fluidly stood up again in one movement before continuing,

“JOJI is here to fight. Who will fight JOJI?”

Angle Rating: 33

 

JOJI Vs Manny Alvarez Vs Zombie Boy

The opening match on the card goes 10’28 and ended with JOJI overcoming the two young men who accepted his challenge in the shape of Manny ‘El Loco’ Alvarez and ‘The Undead Daredevil’ Zombie Boy. The inexperience of both Alvarez and Zombie was pretty clear here but, while the crowd were vocally dismissive of Alvarez, Zombie Boy’s charisma, star quality and selling all impressed. Overall though there was little to write home about in this one, JOJI was solidly functional throughout and duly picked up the W after taking Manny Alvarez out with his JOJI Miracle Explosion.

JOJI defeats Manny Alvarez and Zombie Boy in 10’28 when JOJI pins Manny Alvarez with a JOJI Miracle Explosion.

Match Rating: 20

 

Moses Makesh: JOJI picking up the victory there to build up some momentum as he continues to hunt down Hugh de Aske and the IPW Californian title.

Luther Judge: Indeed so. JOJI is always unpredictable, he’s not a man I’d want to antagonise. If Hugh de Aske doesn’t watch his step he could find himself walking the plank when he does make his way back to IPW!

Anslem Briggs: You fools are paying heed to false idols and paltry baubles. The real thing is about to start right now. I’ll come back to try and raise the bar here once my business is done.

Moses Makesh: Anslem has just left his place here at the announce table and that can only mean it’s time for our next match.

 

w/

Frantic Ali w/Anslem Briggs Vs. The Outlaw

Business picked up markedly in this one. The Outlaw is no slouch but he couldn’t quite keep up with the charismatic Frantic Ali, who looked every inch the star that Anslem Briggs was loudly reminding us he is. The crowd’s interest noticeably increased throughout the 9’01 that this one lasted. The Outlaw tried to turn it into a brawl from the outset and with neither man gaining the advantage in that sphere the tone of the contest was set when Frantic Ali brought his technical skills to the fore. Still, The Outlaw gave as good as he got and looked set to make a comeback when he was cut off by outside interference from Fiasco Fierce whose clubbing blow rocked The Outlaw and left him open. Frantic Ali took advantage with a Death Valley Driver and that was enough for the former five time IPW Champion to secure the three count.

Frantic Ali defeated The Outlaw in 9’01 by pinfall following a Death Valley Driver following interference by Fiasco Fierce.

Match Rating: 44

 

Frantic Ali was joined in the ring by both his manager Anslem Briggs and Fiasco Fierce. The trio took time to celebrate together in a brash manner. Briggs addressed the crowd then, saying that IPW mainstays like Frantic Ali and Fiasco Fierce has been marginalised by the system for too long. Together, and under his expert management, steps would be taken to rectify this. He asserted that nobody would be able to stand against him and his men, against The Brigg House! Frantic Ali and Fiasco Fierce added similar sentiments, railing against an establishment that tries to denigrate their accomplishments and inhibit their deserved progress. Fierce in particular lived up to his name here, cutting loose without a script and inciting the already hot crowd even more.

Angle Rating: 38

 

Moses Makesh: Well this has the potential to be a development that will have ramifications for the whole of IPW! Anslem Briggs making big moves to counter what he perceives as an agenda against him and his clients.

Luther Judge: And what he perceives, I would suggest, as an obstacle to his own earning potential!

Moses Makesh: Controversial!!!

Luther Judge: IPW is certainly the place for controversy.

Moses Makesh: Welcome back Mr. Briggs, you’ve been busy.

Anslem Briggs: I am only just getting started! The Brigg House is going to rebuild this whole crooked promotion from the ground up. There will be no more injustices for such warriors of this sport as Frantic Ali and Fiasco Fierce! Not under my guidance, not from within The Brigg House

Moses Makesh: Only time will tell what lies ahead for The Brigg House. Right now we have more action ahead of us and this one is for the IPW Tag Team Championship.

Luther Judge: Minnesota Awesome… they might well be the prettiest pair in IPW but prettiness won’t get it done against Mexican Hardcore Killers. Absolute, bloody murder might not be enough to get it done!

Moses Makesh: They shocked a lot of people by winning the titles at all and they’ve surpassed all expectations by retaining them as long as they have. I have to say though, I think that tonight might be the night that they run out of lives.

 

Minnesota Awesome (Clark Smallbone & Perry Longstaff) Vs. Mexican Hardcore Killers (E-Z & Sanchez Villano) – Title Match for IPW Tag Team Championship

The more experienced pairing of E-Z and Villano did most of the heavy lifting here. Just three years into their careers, there is no doubt that Minnesota Awesome are still very much learning their trade. They work well together and Longstaff in particular sells to match anybody but they are not yet at the stage where they can control matches. It hurt the match then that neither member of Mexican Hardcore Killers was really on top form either though Villano is starting to look like a star in the making in terms of the way that he carries himself. The match itself was straightforward enough with the challengers dominating against their younger opponents. Minnesota Awesome are nothing if not resilient though and would eventually steal this one when Clark Smallbone turned a sunset flip into a roll up on E-Z to preserve their championship reign. Minnesota Awesome didn’t stick around, grabbing their title belts and making their way to the back amidst a chorus of boos almost before Mexican Hardcore Killers realised what had happened.

Minnesota Awesome defeated Mexican Hardcore Killers in 7’46 when Clark Smallbone pinned E-Z with a roll up.

Match Rating: 31

 

Moses Makesh: Minnesota Awesome are the team that keeps on hustling and getting it done.

Anslem Briggs: I know you didn’t say that those two fools are hustlers! They’re just lucky, pretty punks and they can’t keep ducking forever.

Luther Judge: Put it down to luck all you want but they keep on picking up wins. That’s four successful title defences now and that is four more than pretty much anybody expected.

Moses Makesh: There will be, I would suggest, much less ducking and diving and far more stiff, hard punches to the face in this next match. Hardcore rules and two men who are well known for their willingness to engage in casual brutality. ‘The New Age Guru of Mayhem’ Melvin Otto and ‘The Irish Warrior’ Lug Phelan.

 

 

Lug Phelan Vs. Melvin Otto – Hardcore Match

This one was interesting on a number of levels. Lug Phelan has been an IPW success story, holding both Tag Team and Californian titles. There is a sense that he is well placed to move into the upper echelons of the company now, driven by a desire to honour the memory of Nemesis, who was so instrumental in his career. Melvin Otto is strange even by the standards of his sinister stablemates in The Dark Order and that IS saying something. Primarily seen as a manager for The Night Terrors his transition to in ring talent adds another layer of menace to The Dark Order. This was a brutal contest with no quarter asked or offered by either man. Ultimately it was Phelan who showed just why he is being viewed as such a star by so many observers, looking sharper throughout and ending this one with a particularly brutal looking Gutwrench Backbreaker.

Lug Phelan defeated Melvin Otto in 9’46 by pinfall following a Gutwrench Backbreaker.

Match Rating: 36

 

Phelan’s celebrations were cut short however by the sudden arrival of Babau and Moroi as The Night Terrors emerged from the back to avenge their fallen manager. Phelan attempted to defend himself but he was fatigued from his match and the numbers game was too much, especially when Otto recovered enough to join in. The Irishman was left, beaten and bloodied, in the middle of the ring and with every motivation to strike back at The Dark Order.

Angle Rating: 29

 

Moses Makesh: Controversial!!!

Anslem Briggs: Lug Phelan not looking like a winner right now. If he has any brains, which I personally doubt, he’ll let this one slide. Only a fool would go looking for trouble with The Dark Order.

Luther Judge: Lug Phelan is a fighter and I can’t see him forgetting about this. I would suggest however that the question should be asked why The Dark Order would seek to irritate this bull of a man when they’ve already got Aldous Blackfriar in their sights.

Moses Makesh: I would imagine that their own sick code would not allow Phelan’s victory over Otto to go without repercussions. This is a brutal, sadistic place. Everybody wants to prove themselves. The next match is another example of this. Two pairs of former champions will collide under Hardcore rules – the massive, vicious pairing of Canadian Hardcore and the crazed insanity of Coulrophobia. This is IPW in a nutshell!

 

Canadian Hardcore (Otis Von Battenberg & Sasquatch McGraw) Vs. Coulrophobia (Hellech & Pierrot) - Hardcore Match

This one was complete mayhem from bell to bell, a study of unrestrained violence and a pointed testimony that, whatever changes take place in this new Phil Vibert led IPW, the company will not be forgetting it’s Hardcore roots. The crowd were buzzing throughout this one, a deluge of destruction and aggression. Pierrot and Hellech lived up to their billing here, both men impressing and playing the dominant role in this match impressing. Canadian Hardcore are still at the point in their career where their chief assets are probably their size and their look. They don’t yet have the chemistry of Coulrophobia either but, despite this, they would take the victory in this one, debuting their new Maple Crush finisher where both of the near 7 footers ran off opposite ropes and crushed Hellech between them in the centre of the ring.

Canadian Hardcore defeated Coulrophobia in 9’41 when Otis Von Battenberg pinned Hellech with a Maple Crush.

Match Rating: 35

 

Moses Makesh: That was the sort of match you will struggle to see anywhere else in the world! Carnage is hardly a strong enough word to describe what we just witnessed.

Luther Judge: Canadian Hardcore are a team on a mission and that mission is to dismantle Minnesota Awesome and take back the IPW Tag Team championship. That border up there in the snowy north has never seen anything like this.

Anslem Briggs: This is just another example of four misfits getting all the opportunities that should be afforded to men like my clients. It’s a travesty that Frantic Ali is expected to work earlier in the card than mindless morons like these people.

Moses Makesh: You could take it up with Canadian Hardcore if you wish!

Anslem Briggs: I would, of course I would. Don’t think I wouldn’t. However I believe that our new, so called saviour, Phil Vibert, is due to address the IPW now and outline his goals for the future. I have no confidence in him addressing the web of corruption that permeates this whole rotten organisation but I will at least allow him the courtesy of speaking. Otherwise I would have no reluctance in letting Canadian Hardcore know exactly what I think!

Luther Judge: How considerate of you…the Brigg Heart if you will…

Anslem Briggs: Is that sarcasm?

 

Phil Vibert addressed the audience then, delivering a strong promo. He touched on his own reputation as one of the finest minds in wrestling. He summarised his career from the highlights of DAVE at it’s peak to the acrimonious ending of his stint as CGC head booker. Independent wrestling is approaching a crossroads in his opinion and he reiterates that he sees a true opportunity for change now. He says that the core of wrestling is tied up in two truths that sometimes seem contradictory. Vibert tells the crowd that wrestling evolves and changes and you have to change with it to stay relevant but, on the other hand, the basic goal never changes. Present people with a show that they want to see, with stories that they can engage in and you can thrive and make moments that will live forever. Vibert wraps things up by saying that he wouldn’t have come back for just any reason or for just any promotion, saying that he’s here because he believes in IPW and that he will serving as IPW Commissioner going forward. It won’t be the same under his guidance, he envisages a broadening of the promotion’s Hardcore roots but that the heart of the group will remain in place. He said that, to him, IPW was, and will remain, alternative, anti-establishment, energetic and, above all, invincible!

Angle Rating: 44

 

Moses Makesh: Well that all sounds very encouraging to me. I share Mr.Vibert’s enthusiasm that the future is bright for IPW!

Anslem Briggs: Are you serious? He didn’t even mention Frantic Ali or The Brigg House! This is just more of the same I’m afraid. A phony revolution.

Luther Judge: It might be wise to wait a little while to wait a little while before making such a definite pronouncement. Let’s see what the man does before writing his obituary.

Moses Makesh: Well it’s just about time now for the first main event of the Phil Vibert era. The IPW championship will be defended.

 

w/

Aldous Blackfriar © Vs. Hustle Muvva w/Cindy - Title Match for IPW Championship

This was, fittingly, the best match of the night with both men involved setting out to steal the show (and succeeding). The crowd were buzzing as the charismatic pair went back and forth. The challenger looked good in this, his own star quality and Blackfriar’s generous selling helping to build the tension in this excellent contest. To the frustration of Cindy at ringside however, tonight was not to be the night where Hustle Muvva would become a 3-time IPW Champion as he would ultimately fall victim to the champion’s increasingly feared Batwing.

Aldous Blackfriar defeared Hustle Muvva in 9’54 by pinfall following a Batwing.

Match Rating: 56

 

As Hustle Muvva wass helped to the back by Cindy, Aldous Blackfriar stood in the centre of the ring, arms spread wide in victory and gazing blankly to they sky, almost trancelike as he communed with whatever mystical spirits guide him. Deacon Darkhold appeared at the top of the ramp with a microphone in hand, taunting his former leader and declaring that he will be the man to dethrone His Satanic Majesty. Blackfriar was sufficiently distracted by this interruption that he missed, for the second time tonight, the unexpected appearance of The Night Terrors. As they did earlier Babau and Moroi hit the ring and hit the man inside hard and fast. Once Blackfriar was down, Deacon Darkhold joined the attack with relish and the IPW champion was in deep trouble, outnumbered three to one by his fresh assailants. Salvation would arrive from an unexpected source. Lug Phelan, the victim of the first assault by The Night Terrors, joined the fray armed with a steel chair as a difference maker. Darkhold was the first to bail and summoned his stable mates to join him. The night ended with the two groups engaged in a stare down as the announce team summarised what we had just witnessed.

Angle Rating: 25

 

Moses Makesh: What a way to end Unbreakable IX. The war between IPW Champion Aldous Blackfriar and his one-time comrades in The Dark Order is showing no signs of dying down at all. There are only more questions now though. What role does Lug Phelan have to play in all of this?

Luther Judge: I said this earlier tonight, The Dark Order should be careful who they antagonise. If they’ve drawn Lug Phelan into this battle they’ve just made things much more difficult for themselves. Blackfriar alone is about as tough a nut to crack as you could find.

Anslem Briggs: Let us not forget that Lug Phelan has at least one eye on the IPW championship himself. Even if he and Aldous Blackfriar are on the same page now, they’re not truly allies. Not like, say, Frantic Ali and Fiasco Fierce.

Moses Makesh: In any case, it leaves us with a fascinating situation at hand as we look ahead to our next show. That will be IPW Hardcore Havoc 2020 and it will take place a month from now. I’m sure I speak for everybody who’s watched tonight when I say I can hardly wait!

 

Show Rating: 48

Increased popularity in one region.

 

[Invincible Pro Wrestling: The Birth of the West Coast Wars]

Had I realised that this brilliant diary existed... I may not have returned to the forum with an IPW effort of my own!

 

Seriously, this is great!

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

 

Chapter 3 - IPW Unbreakable IX – Preview

 

w/

Aldous Blackfriar © Vs. Hustle Muvva w/Cindy - Title Match for IPW Championship

‘His Satanic Majesty’ Aldous Blackfriar will defend his hard won title against a former two-time champion in his own right in the form of Hustle Muvva. Blackfriar is coming up on a year as the reigning champion but he will have to ensure his focus remains on the dangerous challenger and not his ongoing war with his former allies in The Dark Watch. For Muvva, on the other hand, it’s two years this month since he lost the title. In the time since then he has worked hard at his craft and is, he claims, “bigger and better than I was then!” He’s also now married to manager Cindy and she could be the difference maker too in a contest of fine margins.

 

Canadian Hardcore (Otis Von Battenberg & Sasquatch McGraw) Vs. Coulrophobia (Hellech & Pierrot) - Hardcore Match

It’s been almost six months but Canadian Hardcore still haven’t gotten over the embarrassment of losing the Tag Team titles to Minnesota Awesome. These two huge men are now determined to get back to the top of the pile once more. They see this match as an opportunity to make a huge statement of intent. Unfortunately for them, Coulrophobia have the same goal. The highly decorated pair, who have a COTT World Tag Team title run and victory in the 2018 Sam Keith Classic on their resume, are a very dangerous duo under the hellish clown makeup. Hellech and Pierrot see a fourth reign with the IPW Tag Team titles in their future and they will utilise every move in their sadistic arsenal to make that come to pass.

 

w/

Frantic Ali w/Anslem Briggs Vs. The Outlaw

This clash between two stalwarts of the IPW roster has all the potential to steal the whole show. Ali, a former five time holder of the IPW Championship, believes that he is the franchise player for the whole organisation and that he deserves more respect. Anslem Briggs is both in his ear and serving as a mouthpiece. They will view this match as a chance to stake a fresh claim for another crack at IPW’s top prize. They would be well advised not to look past The Outlaw however. With a trio of reigns as IPW Californian Champion to his name as well as a run as IPW Tag Team Champion he considers himself ready to take the next step and he sees no better way to announce his arrival in the main event scene than by knocking off Frantic Ali.

 

Hugh de Aske © Vs. JOJI – Title Match for IPW Californian Championship

‘The Dread Pirate’ de Aske has held the Californian Championship for 62 days now and is preparing for his first title defence. Facing him is Japanese import JOJI. This pair, while hardly typical IPW performers, have both shown real quality in their time here in Los Angeles and they have worked hard to win over the often unforgiving IPW audience. The versatile (and much in demand) de Aske can do pretty much anything in the ring but against JOJI, whose career has now outlasted that of the GCG where he debuted, he will have to find the right combination. JOJI is a man who can punish even the slightest error of judgement.

 

Lug Phelan Vs. Melvin Otto – Hardcore Match

‘The Irish Warrior’ Lug Phelan has been a part of the IPW since day one. He’s been Californian Champion and Tag Team Champion. Now, driven by the desire to honour the memory of Nemesis, he has his sights set on completing the IPW Triple Crown. Turning his attention to the IPW Championship has brought him to the attention of Deacon Darkhold and The Dark Watch. To that end Melvin Otto has been dispatched to destroy the Irishman and clear the way for the Deacon Darkhold – Aldous Blackfriar battle that the whole of IPW seems to be racing towards.

 

Minnesota Awesome (Clark Smallbone & Perry Longstaff) Vs. Mexican Hardcore Killers (E-Z & Sanchez Villano) – Title Match for IPW Tag Team Championship

Minnesota Awesome are young, promising and pretty, the whitest of white meat. In many wrestling crowds this would springboard them to the very top. In IPW… things are a little different and the bulk of the screaming hordes will be baying for their blood when they collide with Mexican Hardcore Killers. E-Z and Sanchez Villano will see this as almost a free shot at securing another run as Tag Team champions. Nobody is still quite sure how Minnesota Awesome managed to topple Canadian Hardcore (and that includes both those teams), let alone retain the titles since, but whatever else they may be lacking Smallbone and Longstaff have plenty of confidence and won’t go down without a fight. Against MHK… that may not be enough.

 

Phil Vibert will address the IPW audience.

 

 

Preshow Matches

 

Deadly Deadshot Vs. Stanley Axis

 

Lil Henry Vs. PsychoMike

 

 

Prediction Card (if needed)

Aldous Blackfriar © Vs. Hustle Muvva w/Cindy - Title Match for IPW Championship

Result:

Canadian Hardcore (Otis Von Battenberg & Sasquatch McGraw) Vs. Coulrophobia (Hellech & Pierrot) - Hardcore Match

Result:

Frantic Ali w/Anslem Briggs Vs. The Outlaw

Result:

Hugh de Aske © Vs. JOJI – Title Match for IPW Californian Championship

Result:

Lug Phelan Vs. Melvin Otto – Hardcore Match

Result:

Minnesota Awesome (Clark Smallbone & Perry Longstaff) Vs. Mexican Hardcore Killers (E-Z & Sanchez Villano) – Title Match for IPW Tag Team Championship

Result:

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 2 - IPW appoint new booker – January 1st 2020

 

Invincible Pro Wrestling have today announced the appointment of Phil Vibert as their new head booker. The Los Angeles based promotion (owned by wool industry millionaire Gil Thomas), rocked by the death of company stalwart Dave 'Nemesis' Campbell in 2017, are hoping that the addition of Vibert (the brains behind DAVE, last directly involved in the business with CGC between 2009-2014) will help them to thrive and grow amidst the changing face of professional wrestling in 2020.

 

Vin Tanner, who previously held the ICW book and worked with Vibert in both DAVE and CGC, will continue with the company in the role of Road Agent. IPW’s next show, Unbreakable IX, takes place in just 5 days and it remains to be seen what impact Vibert will have on the company. IPW has changed direction somewhat in the last few years but they still bill themselves as Urban Alternative and Vibert could be just the man to take them to the next level.

[The Invincible Vibert - A C-verse dynasty]

Chapter 1 - Vibert’s Voice Podcast – December 2019 (excerpt)

 

Phil Vibert: Welcome back to this special, live, Christmas Edition of Vibert’s Voice after that message from our sponsors. I still have today’s guests here with me. On my right is SCCW legend and recent inductee to the USPW Hall of Fame, a man who has done almost everything there is to do in this business, Shane Sneer!

 

Shane Sneer: Thanks Phil, it’s good to be here and a very, merry Christmas to you and all your listeners.

 

Phil Vibert: Many happy returns to you Shane. On my other side is a woman who also needs little introduction, a veteran of wrestling rings all around the world, a multi-time champion, a woman who pioneered intergender wrestling and who is now exceeding all of her wrestling accomplishments in her roles as podcaster and mother, ladies and gentlemen, she’s better known as J-Ro, the inimitable Joanne Rodriguez.

 

Joanne Rodriguez: That’s a very kind introduction Phil, thank you very much!

 

Phil Vibert: Finally we have outstanding, up and coming, rising indie star, a delightful young woman who is absolutely going places, Black Diamond!

 

Black Diamond: I’m really just glad to be here in such exalted company!

 

Phil Vibert: And we’re glad to have you and your fresh perspective here. J-Ro, you made an interesting point during that ad break. Shane was pretty vehement in his disagreement and I’d like for us to discuss it a little further. Would you outline it again for our listeners?

 

Joanne Rodriguez: Glady. I said, and I stand over it, that USPW are doing their level best to carve out a monopoly in the wrestling industry and it’s only going to continue to damage the business as a whole. With Allen Packer’s billions and Reverie behind them it’s not a level playing field anymore.

 

Shane Sneer: I’m sorry for interrupting but I can’t stand by and let that go unanswered. First and foremost there’s nothing new in this. Every wrestling promotion has always tried to dominate their competition and better themselves. This is no different to when SWF squeezed out the old territories back in the 70s and 80s – the likes of AAFW, CPW and CWB were wiped out but it didn't 'kill the business'. It’s the natural order of things. It happened to both Phil and I as well. It happens in all industries, it happens in life. It’s survival of the fittest!

 

Joanne Rodriguez: Come off it Shane! This is different and you know it, USPW aren’t signing your checks any more, you don’t have to parrot the party line. There’s something badly wrong when a company like AAA can’t survive and these problems aren’t specifically tied to just the US. The wrestling scene in Canada has contracted from two national companies and two big indies to just one of each. Japan has lost a couple of promotions in recent years. GCG ran for nearly 60 years and now they’re just history!

 

Shane Sneer: You can’t blame USPW or Allen Packer for any of that, I’m sorry, it’s ridiculous. AAA went under because they couldn’t compete with QAW as far as I’m concerned. If anything USPW brought a credibility to women’s wrestling that just wasn’t there before and that should have helped AAA, not hindered them. Canada? NOTBPW and CGC merging made sense. Canada is a small country, how many promotions can they feasibly sustain anyway? That goes back to my last point too. Remember CWF? They died out because of the rise of NOTBPW and now that’s evolved into CWA. This is just how the business works. Japan? Are you blaming Allen Packer for the 2016 tsunami too? This is competition. You know what they say, A rising tide lifts all boats.

 

Phil Vibert: Only you, Shane, could make a metaphor about rising tides in the same breath that you talk about an international disaster like the 2016 tsunami. So for you it’s just friendly competition?

 

Shane Sneer: I’m not saying it’s friendly. But it is competition. Do you think SWF or TCW wouldn’t step right over the body of USPW to get back on top? Of course they would. And whatever puritanical or noble twist people want to put on the indies, they’re absolutely no better. California has been a battleground for a decade now. You came out on top in the East Coast Wars, you know what it takes more than anybody Phil!

 

Joanne Rodriguez: You’re missing the point Shane, there is a limited amount of wrestling pie, so to speak. And the more of it that USPW take, the more SWF and TCW hoard their own portions, the less crumbs fall down to the rest of us. And if the indies are allowed to wither and die where are the stars of tomorrow going to learn? Where will Black Diamond learn her trade? RIPW and MAW can’t train everybody.

 

Phil Vibert: I actually think there’s a great opportunity for somebody in the indie pack to break out in the near future. The mooted Wrestleworld broadcaster could be an absolute gamechanger for anybody who is quick enough to get onboard. The big boys are busy throwing punches at each other and, yeah, there’s always a chance that one of the smaller promotions will get stepped on inadvertently. Wrestling is still wrestling though. If you can create a show that people want to see you’ve always got a chance.

 

Shane Sneer: Sounds to me like you’re getting itchy feet Phil, do you fancy another shot at it? To be fair, I wouldn’t want the CGC mess to be your last active service either.

 

Phil Vibert: Haha. Never say never.

 

Black Diamond: Well, if that does come to pass, you have my number!

 

***

 

My long overdue return to these board begins. For anybody who is interested... a couple of my previous diaries can be found here:

 

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=535413

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=538915

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=541725

 

Perhaps only the first was really long enough to warrant your attention now!

 

And hopefully this new effort has legs...

[Diary Preview And Questions Thread]

<p>CWR - Canada's Wrestling Rejects & The Art of Redemption</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="5SzkYMl.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5SzkYMl.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

I don’t spend a lot of time on the internet. I’m 55 years old and I’ve plenty more important things to do with my days. A wife to keep happy, a garden to keep weeded and two dogs to walk. I barely have enough time to keep up with wrestling in general today, let alone browse every little article on the web. There’s so much wrestling out there now, it’s all that I can do to watch NOTBPW and CGC most weeks and try to keep an ear to the ground to see how ACPW are doing. It’s not quite a year since I walked away from being Road Agent at their shows and I truly hope they succeed in carving out their own little niche. I keep meaning to take in a 4C show too but, honestly, where do people find the hours?</p><p> </p><p>

There’s so much negativity out there too though, so many people who really seem to hate wrestling but still slavishly watch it just so that they can tear it down. I’ve never understood the point of that to be honest. Life is too short to spend doing things you don’t enjoy. I have enough to worry about. My daughter spent last semester studying in Ireland. She’s now decided to stay there for Christmas. There’s a boy involved, I know that much, but daughters don’t tell their fathers about that sort of thing and I guess I’m worried enough about what the answers might be that I don’t ask my wife, Laura, many questions. Anyway I do still make the effort to email Amanda every few days just so she knows that her Daddy is still thinking about her and, yes, worrying about her too. It’s funny, one of the reasons I walked away from wrestling was to spend more time with my family and now I’m here, staring at a screen and hoping that she’s replied to my last message, even if her response is usually full of references to bands I don’t know, places I’ve never seen and pictures of her with a skinny, smiling young guy whose hair is a bit too long for my taste.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="mjkI5l8.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/mjkI5l8.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

In any case, there’s no message from Amanda today. There is one from Ed Monton though. Ed and I worked together when I had a short run with CGC towards the tail end of my career. He spent more than twenty years with the company, a genuine legend in Canadian wrestling. We always got on well, both appreciating that, in the other, we had somebody we could truly talk to about wrestling. Ed is a man of many, many words in person but, when he’s writing, he works off a strict less-is-more policy. Having watched him slowly typing, using only one finger, I can understand why. Today’s piece is typically terse. Just a link and a couple of short sentence.</p><p> </p><p>

“So many nasty folk at the edge of the business today. Mean spirited junk. Makes me angry.”</p><p> </p><p>

When I click on the link I begin to feel pretty angry myself. I’ve no idea how Ed would have come across it to be honest. Maybe his boy George shared it with him. That’s not important anyway. The headlines screams “Canada’s Wrestling Rejects” in garish, ugly lettering. There’s so much of this around, snide, cruel bull written by people who have never taken a bump, never run the ropes, who have no idea what it really takes. The author, styling themselves as VintageBurn, has taken to time to write a badly spelled piece listing a whole bunch of Canadian talent who, for a variety of reasons, are not affiliated with one of the so-called ‘Big Four’ at the moment. </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="gKngCIq.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/gKngCIq.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ohZuPJw.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ohZuPJw.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="QixkEgf.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/QixkEgf.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="dgZLnj0.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/dgZLnj0.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="C0kgEao.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/C0kgEao.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

It’s an ugly piece of work, full of spite and nastiness, glorying in the misfortune of others. The writer takes a tangible joy in highlighting people like Philippe LaGrenier “a bum who couldn’t get it done”, Larry Wood “a has been”, Emma Bitch “a druggy mess”, Tamara McFly “used her family name to get to the top and then threw it all away for some BSC T&A dollars” and Slim V “a scumbag who should be in jail.” It’s just so nasty and untrue. LaGrenier faced the same struggles that we all faced if we were in CGC and not named DeColt. Larry is 47 and coming close to retirement, there’s no shame in that, it happens to us all. Emma Bitch was a young girl who made a mistake and Tammy McFly proved herself in Japan and North America before trying her damn best to make BSC work. Slim V… well maybe there’s half a point there but the guy deserves a chance to get on with his life too. </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="OselOnq.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/OselOnq.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="qKWOxx8.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/qKWOxx8.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="eLUmZqh.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eLUmZqh.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="mQPTvaq.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/mQPTvaq.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

At the end there’s another nasty shot, this time at a few of the guys I worked with in ACPW. Alistair Shufflebottom, Kirk Drury, Ricochet Ramone and Taylor Kidd are singled out as people who never belonged in the wrestling industry and if I could put my hands on VintageBurn right now I’d stretch the odious bastard until he was screaming. They're good kids who just wanted to try and be a part of something. They deserve better than to be the punchline for a crap joke by a crap person.</p><p> </p><p>

I’m still fuming about it internally a few hours later. Laura listens to me and sympathises as best she can. She would have met the ACPW lads, Taylor in particular was someone she always had a soft spot for. She lets me ramble on for longer than I have any right to expect before nodding sagely and offering me an idea that I would never have expected to hear from a woman who spent far too many nights on her own because I was on the road chasing my wrestling dreams.</p><p> </p><p>

“So why don’t you organise a few shows? Give these people a chance. Call George. See if he wants to get involved. Wrestling is what you do Art. I knew this when I met you. I never wanted or needed you to give it up. It could be the making of fresh opportunities for you and a whole load of other people besides.”</p><p> </p><p>

She looks at the article on the monitor of my computer where I’ve opened it again.</p><p> </p><p>

“Canada’s wrestling rejects?” she muses at the hateful headline, “CWR. Canadian Wrestling Redemption has a nicer ring to it.”</p><p> </p><p>

“I love you,” I tell her with all the sincerity in my heart,</p><p> </p><p>

“I love you too,” she assures me, “now call George. Invite him out here even. See what the two of you can put together”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Coming soon...</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p>

[Diary of the Month - The History Book]

Huh... I'm a Level 3 on this. If that realisation doesn't provide the incentive to get another diary up and running sooner rather than later then I don't know what will! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[Diary Preview And Questions Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarK_RaideR" data-cite="DarK_RaideR" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41210" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Quoting for emphasis (including the praise for SNP plus your CILL Dynasties) even though point No. 7 struck way too close for comfort. Guilty as charged, but taking notes along the others to improve. Glad people are willing to discuss such things here instead of just promote upocoming stuff.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I always read your stuff too. You write a hell of a scene and really make your characters come to life, how could I not? <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Diary Preview And Questions Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="smw88" data-cite="smw88" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41210" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>DarEatWorld, I still rate your SNP diary right up there as a go to example of what a great diary looks like on here :-)</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I really appreciate that. I actually reread it last week when I realised the pictures were back. It wasn't bad in parts to be fair to me. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="LlamaSquad" data-cite="LlamaSquad" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41210" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Thanks to all for the advice, you've made some great points...<p> </p><p> ...Is there any way to display pictures without registering with a 3rd-party site, e.g. Imgur?</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I was happy to advise and I'm really glad that you took it in the spirit in which it was intended. Best of luck with it, it can be really rewarding.</p><p> </p><p> I've used Photobucket and later Imgur for images, I'm not aware of a workaround but, equally, I'm not technologically savvy at all so don't take my word for it.</p>

[Diary Preview And Questions Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="LlamaSquad" data-cite="LlamaSquad" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41210" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Does anyone have any tips on developing an audience for a diary? In my first failed attempt, there was one commenter after a week. Should I post shows anyway and wait for people?<p> </p><p> I didn't realise that this thread existed, which might have helped.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Hey man, I read your diary just there and I'll share a few impressions of my own. Hope you'll forgive me for being fairly frank.</p><p> </p><p> 1) Your content was extremely short. You only made three posts and each of these was just a couple of sentences long. There wasn't a lot there to draw anybody in. All I really know after reading it is that your narrator is Richard Eisen and you'll *probably* be shaking up the main event scene a bit. It's not a lot for me to think, "well I definitely can't miss this".</p><p> </p><p> 2) I, in common with most of your readers, have never played a game with SWF. I love the C-verse but tend to use smaller companies. I think a lot of people assume knowledge in the reader but that's suicide. The ONLY thing that your readers definitely know is what you tell them. You have to sell a whole story, not just a headline. If you want people to know what you're thinking you have to tell them. To my eyes, your posts are more like movie trailers than movies themselves.</p><p> </p><p> 3) Visuals. I know that not everybody is the same but I only read diaries with pictures. I just find it more engaging. Darin Walker is the only person on this forum whose stuff I read without images. For me this is even more important with fictitious dynasties where, again, there's a real need to provide a colourful story that your reader can see for themselves.</p><p> </p><p> 4) It takes time to build up a readership. There's a lot of content on this forum and you need to give enough so that potential readers feel you're worth investing in. I've had a few dynasties on here and it takes time to prove yourself and for people to take the time to engage directly. I've had diaries that have done well, won Diary of the Month type stuff several times but even at my most (semi-)popular there will always be far less direct interaction than there are eyes on your output, especially in the early days. Over time you may build up a reputation but it won't happen instantly.</p><p> </p><p> 5) Choose something that you're passionate about and that you'll be happy to put time into. It takes a lot of work to run a dynasty so you need something that isn't a chore and that you're content to slog through. Personally I'll never do a Historical Real World dynasty - for me I just don't get anything from them, it tends to just be signing up a load of people that we all know will be superstars eventually. I would have zero real passion for it and that would come through. My usual games (dynasty or otherwise) tend to be with small companies trying to grow. </p><p> </p><p> 6) I would suggest trying to find a mix of in ring and backstage stuff that works for you too. As I've said above, the more engaging what you produce is, the more people will be inclined to engage with it.</p><p> </p><p> 7) Pick something and stick with it. Only a handful of diaries last long-term and I'm okay with that. I know what's involved and I know how hard it is to keep going. On the other hand though lots of people have passed through here too who constantly start a dynasty, make a handful of posts, give up and start over. Speaking personally, over time, I come to recognise their names and I never really engage with their stuff because I know it won't last more than a week or two anyway.</p><p> </p><p> 8) Enjoy it. Don't do it just for the responses from others. Don't misunderstand me, one of the best parts of a dynasty is the engagement of others, especially when people are willing to discuss your booking and you get a sense that your characters have gotten 'over' so to speak. But, ultimately, create for the sake of creation. Anything else is a bonus.</p>

[Diary Preview And Questions Thread]

<p>A Rockverse Diary - ECP - Another Second Time Around</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="tH05keK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/tH05keK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p>

<img alt="5AYpquY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5AYpquY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p>

<em>Trevor Fortune - the main man</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

Trevor Fortune didn’t sleep much. He never had. Even as a younger man he had never spent more than four hours in bed. Now, at 55, he regularly spent even less time in slumber. New Year’s Day 2016 was pretty typical in that regard. In the early hours of the morning he found himself sitting in his study, full of souvenirs of the past and reflecting on how he has gotten here. It had been a busy, fast life for Trevor ever since he was a child and it showed no signs of slowing down now. In a lot of ways… it all went back to his father.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="tNl9Zoo.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/tNl9Zoo.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

<em>Victor Fortune - the father who casts a considerable shadow</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

Victor Fortune was 77 years old now and enjoying a well-deserved retirement. He had amassed a fortune in real estate, sufficient to sponsor a lifestyle boasting a private jet, flash cars, multiple homes. A true success. From an early age Trevor had looked up to the old man. He admired his father’s work ethic and, even more than that, he really appreciated his father’s refusal to just settle, his willingness to take a big chance for the opportunity to make an even bigger impact.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="bm9Snpf.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/bm9Snpf.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="4zkFiLC.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/4zkFiLC.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

<em>Larry McMasters and Brad Bridges - the pretenders turned challengers turned conquerers</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

It was fair to say that the Fortunes, father and son, had done more to influence the course of professional wrestling than anybody else. Larry McMasters and the GEW crew might argue that one and Brad Bridges and his AACW had played his part but none of it would have happened without Victor Fortune.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="RgEjZxH.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/RgEjZxH.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

<em>UFPW - The Gamechanger</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

The Universal Federation of Professional Wrestling has changed the industry. From Victor’s original plans it rose to the very pinnacle of the wrestling business. Trevor had been only 18 when he assumed control of UFPW and carried it to still greater heights. In the 80s and early 90s it was bigger and more successful than anybody could even have imagined. Nor could anybody imagine it all coming to an end. </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="jHXSFIP.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jHXSFIP.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

<em>Hugo Prescott - the departed legend</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

Then it happened. Hugo Prescott died in a motorcycle accident. The figurehead, not just for UFPW, for the whole wrestling scene was a true star, a legitimate icon. His clash with Dolf the Enormous made both men icons but it was Prescott, as the point at the top of the Fortune’s spear, who truly dominated all around him. His death… though nobody realised it at the time… it was the beginning of the end for UFPW. GEW had been formed just one year earlier and, aided by a sharper, edgier product, took full advantage of the uncertainty surrounding UFPW. In October of 1999 it happened. UFPW went out of business. The Fortunes’ place in professional wrestling was gone. For the next thirteen years GEW sat astride the wrestling rankings, with the venerable AACW firmly established as their closest rivals and companies like AOA, NHEW and PGA all trying to take the next step towards national recognition also.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="NHIsawR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/NHIsawR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

<em>ECP - The shot at redemption</em></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

In January 2013 it happened. Trevor smiled at the memory of the first show. East Coast Pro, ECP, had been an intriguing return to the business that he loved more than any other. He had rebuilt his family fortune off the back off the music sharing software Trapster and he had found a sense of place in North Carolina that he never expected. He had opened ECP with the aim of creating new stars and carving out a niche for himself. McMasters had won the war and Trevor was at peace with that. So be it. For three years his young roster had set out to prove to him, to themselves and to the wrestling world that they had what it took. 2016, Trevor felt, was going to be a very, very big year for all of them. If that led them into war again… well, Trevor was ready for that too. He looked around the office again, his gaze catching a picture of Hugo celebrating one of his nine reigns as World Champion. Great times. The very best. Hugo took out his phone and, ignoring the time, made a call.</p><p> </p><p>

“Kennedy, how are you? Happy New Year! I was just thinking about your Dad…”</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="tH05keK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/tH05keK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p>

[southside_hitmen's CVerse Logos/Belts/Events]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="southside_hitmen" data-cite="southside_hitmen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="44160" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>For the life of me, I cannot come up with a name that fits BCG's "style" for TV. I usually run touring highlights with them. Any suggestions on name?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <strong>'Legacy'</strong> could work as they're about preserving the past in the face of modernism.</p>

[Willr0cks Cverse Belt Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Aeidos" data-cite="Aeidos" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43838" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Wow people still remember my work XD</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I still used those belts right up to the end of my dynasty. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> New account?</p>

[Willr0cks Cverse Belt Thread]

Gorgeous.

[Willr0cks Cverse Belt Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="willr0ck" data-cite="willr0ck" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43838" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I wouldn't mind getting a hold of those when you get a chance.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> How could I say no to you? Your wish is my command! <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> <img alt="z5PPq9p.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/z5PPq9p.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong>SNP Dragon Lightweight - </strong><strong><em>custom created for my old dynasty but worth having.</em></strong></p><p> </p><p> <img alt="jVBl3yp.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jVBl3yp.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong>SNP King of Scotland</strong></p><p> </p><p> <img alt="iOnIA1y.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iOnIA1y.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong>SNP Hardcore</strong></p><p> </p><p> <img alt="5tQPJDt.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5tQPJDt.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong>SNP Tag Team</strong></p>

[Tag Teams / Stables / Naming Thread Suggestions]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="nymetfan" data-cite="nymetfan" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41263" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Need a name for a stable of English wrestlers.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The British Empire</p><p> Her Majesty's Service</p><p> Iron Rose Alliance</p>

[Willr0cks Cverse Belt Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="willr0ck" data-cite="willr0ck" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43838" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Thanks! I thought Ayden Reid did some great belts for SNP but I can certainly give them a shot as well when I get a chance.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I used the Ayden Reid belts (including the custom Dragon Lightweight title) in my old dynasty, they may have been a victim of the Photobucket Collapse though? <img alt=":confused:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/confused.png.d4a8e6b6eab0c67698b911fb041c0ed1.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> I should still have them saved if anybody wants them let me know.</p>

[southside_hitmen's CVerse Logos/Belts/Events]

Consider me subscribed. I'm only adding to the chorus but AMAZING work! The NYCW logo is actually beautiful.

[Official Random Screenshots Thread]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="bradrach" data-cite="bradrach" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="41191" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><img alt="K4appmn.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/K4appmn.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> Playing a Real World MOD as Shane McMahon and as the owner. At my first show, this showed up. I was so tempted to fire him...</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The jobbing out of Hawkins has gone too far! <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Small Questions Thread & "Living FAQ"]

This is a newbie question from a long-time TEW player:

What exactly is the Young Lion thing? Does it mean that the worker can become extremely good, if treated right? Fx pushed and so on?

 

It basically just means that, in Japan, they should be losing most of their matches and, effectively, paying their dues.

 

I think.