TCW: A Quiet Retirement

Eidenhoek · June 2, 2012

Both Wrestling Spirit 1 and Wrestling Spirit 2 do not allow me to reverse a powerbomb into a Party's Over. I am sad. <img alt="

" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> See?

Phantom Stranger · June 2, 2012

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Eidenhoek" data-cite="Eidenhoek" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="23671" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Both Wrestling Spirit 1 and Wrestling Spirit 2 do not allow me to reverse a powerbomb into a Party's Over. I am sad. <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> See?</div></blockquote> Clearly Edd learned his tricks in the year and a half between WS2 and TEW08.

Wallbanger · June 2, 2012

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Eidenhoek" data-cite="Eidenhoek" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="23671" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Both Wrestling Spirit 1 and Wrestling Spirit 2 do not allow me to reverse a powerbomb into a Party's Over. I am sad. <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> See?</div></blockquote> So make a custom move called YOU CAN'T POWERBOMB EDD STONE!! and configure as being able to reverse a powerbomb. Problem solved. <img alt=";)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/wink.png.686f06e511ee1fbf6bdc7d82f6831e53.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

Wallbanger · June 2, 2012

Oh, and stop pestering PS, E. I nearly (insert unmentionable thing here) myself seeing that he'd posted, only to experience (insert other unmentionable thing here) when it wasn't Night 1. <img alt="

" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

ampulator · June 2, 2012

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Eidenhoek" data-cite="Eidenhoek" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="23671" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Both Wrestling Spirit 1 and Wrestling Spirit 2 do not allow me to reverse a powerbomb into a Party's Over. I am sad. <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> See?</div></blockquote> Is it possible to add it in? If it is, just add it then. Nothing to despair over.

Eidenhoek · June 2, 2012

Oh, and stop pestering PS, E. I nearly (insert unmentionable thing here) myself seeing that he'd posted, only to experience (insert other unmentionable thing here) when it wasn't Night 1.

K.

I was more mentioning it as amusing given that it's a counter I'd expect and PS kept talking about it. Melodramatic on the smily, but didn't intend to have PS post.

So don't post until it's for srs time, PS!

ampulator · June 2, 2012

K.

I was more mentioning it as amusing given that it's a counter I'd expect and PS kept talking about it. Melodramatic on the smily, but didn't intend to have PS post.

So don't post until it's for srs time, PS!

What are you apologizing for? You aren't exactly doing anything different from what you normally do. Well, normal for you, anyway.

Phantom Stranger · June 4, 2012

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PPV%20Logos/TCWMaliceinWonderland.jpg

TCW Presents Malice in Wonderland Night One

Sunday Week 4 January 2010

Live on America 1-Select, Premier Pay CAN-TV, PPV Japan, Rivera Pay Television, V-Corp, UK-1 (6.87)

Held at the Jennifer Cornell Coliseum Grand Hall (South West)

Attendance: 61,399

Announcers:

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JasonAzaria_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MayhemMidden.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/HoratioDangerous_FIN6a.jpg

Jason Azaria – Mayhem Midden - Horatio Dangerous

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ChanceFortune.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DeanWaldorf.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MarvStatler.jpg</div>

The show kicks off, somewhat surprisingly, with Chance Fortune at the centre of the screen – along with the Balcony Express. None of them are dressed to wrestle, and all are looking concerned, calling offscreen for help.

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ShingenMiyazaki_alt2.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SuzanneBrazzle_jhdPS.jpg</div>

In the form of a number of backstage staffers, help soon arrives. They round a corner and find Team KOBRA, all outfitted for combat, downed, bloodied, their bokken still clutched in apparently unconscious hands. A number of broken, battered steel chairs also decorate the room.

“We've got trouble,” Midden says into the mic. “Charlie, if you can hear me – go see if you can figure out who did it. My money's on Generation Omega.”

“The Kings of Wrestling,” Azaria offers as a counter.

“ELITE,” Dangerous says. There's a pause.

“...We have a lot of troublemakers,” Azaria says.

“I'll fix that soon enough,” Midden says grimly.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TCWAllAction.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/HellMonkey_alt4.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KashmirSingh_jhd2.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ZeusMaxmillion.jpg

John Pathlow © vs. Kashmir Singh w/ Zeus</div>

The speed of this match is good, but it's far from a traditional North American flyer's match – which seems to be deliberate; both men go out of their way to show they can hit hard without having to go to the air.

Pathlow has the upper hand for a chunk of the match, though Singh shows some good moves along the way. Toward the end, though, he sends the champion out of the ring with a lariat.

While Singh has Eugene Williams distracted, Zeus acts instinctively, seizing Pathlow up and sending him crashing to the guardrail with a huge release powerbomb. The champ stays down – but he stays down outside, and with Williams' attention back on him, Zeus can't roll him in to allow Singh to capitalise.

The victory is... unhelpful.

Kashmir Singh won by count out

Rating: B-

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AlexDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JackDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickyDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SteveDeColt_Self1.jpg</div>

“- so long as they don't break Ricky's arm.” There's a burst of raucous laughter as the DeColts round a corner, swaggering as a group – and then they stop in their tracks.

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They stop in their tracks because, coming the other way, they've just encountered ELITE, and the original gang of professional wrestling isn't willing to budge, either.

Somewhere in there, Jacob Jett and Ricky DeColt make eye contact. Both men silently step backward, moving further and further out of shot.

Alex DeColt sighs. “Really?” he asks.

ELITE are silent.

“We're going to do this again?” Steve asks.

ELITE are silent.

Jack rolls his eyes. “You know how this goes. Go ahead and say-”

“Your mom's a *****,” DaLay says flatly.

Both sides crash into each other, fists and feet flying, and the brawl gets big. Abruptly, Jacob Jett vaults back into shot off Joe Money's shoulders to dropkick Steve. Moments later, Ricky DeColt flies in from the other side, nailing Maverick with the Rickyrana to the concrete.

The brawl's still going when the camera cuts away.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FrankiePerez-1.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RhinoUmaga.jpg

Frankie Perez vs. Rhino Umaga</div>

A sick, twisted, and bloody-from-early-on brawl. These two let it all hang out, Perez apparently driven into a frenzy of hate, Umaga just hitting hard because that's how Umaga does things.

Brutal kicks. Hard slams. Solid punches. By the seven minute mark, it's a wonder either man is still standing.

Little by little, Umaga shuts Frankie's offence down. He hammers Frankie and tries for the second rope powerslam, but Frankie shoves clear. He tries a flying lariat, but Rhino dodges.

Sam Sparrow collapses to the mat when the P-Dawg hits him. Umaga, recovered, tries a second powerslam, and nails it -

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MikeyJames.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BulldozerBrandonSmith_alt3.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JungleJack_alt1.jpg</div>

Mikey James kicks him in the head. James and 'Bulldozer' Brandon Smith haul Umaga to his knees and Jack Marlowe paintbrushes him twice in the face. A Scythe Kick from James knocks Umaga back into Smith's grasp fully, precipitating a Backdrop Driver.

Umaga half-rises from the impact, only to eat a Jackhammer from Marlowe. They drag Perez over to him, move Sparrow into sight, and bail as the referee painfully counts three.

Frankie Perez defeated Rhino Umaga

Rating: B

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MikeyJames.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BulldozerBrandonSmith_alt3.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JungleJack_alt1.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/LobsterWarrior_PS.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickLaw.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RockyGolden_PS2.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/StephanieWade.jpg</div>

The Enforcers high-five off the victory, but turn around to see something coming down the ramp – the Three Amigos and a nightstick-wielding Stephanie Wade, thundering in like the cavalry.

They even get a few shots in before the Enforcers manage to get back out of range, fleeing with their tails between their legs.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Match%20Types/shotat.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TCWShot.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ArtReed.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/CanadianElemental.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ChampagneLover.jpg

Art Reed vs. Canadian Elemental vs. Champagne Lover

vs.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DavisWayneNewton-1.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddieChandler_Self1-1.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AdrianGarcia.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickLaw.jpg

Davis Wayne Newton w/ Phil Vibert vs. Eddie Chandler w/ Adrian Garcia vs. Rick Law</div>

This sort of match is difficult to follow, to recount. It may be impossible to do it perfectly. Instead, glimpses:

Rick Law cleaning house, early on, putting everyone down, controlling the ring.

Champagne Lover setting up two ladders leant against the ropes, so that with a leap forward he could grab each one, bringing both crashing down on the prone forms of Can El and Eddie Chandler.

Art Reed flying from a ladder, taking Newton with him, as he delivered the Dark Matter from the top to the canvas.

Phil Vibert and Adrian Garcia engaging in the World's Least Effectual Slapfight – until Canadian Elemental wiped them both out with a huge suicide dive.

Newton superplexing a ladder onto Law.

Reed and Chandler standing atop a broken half-ladder wedged into one that lay prone, close enough for anything, to reach for the top – until Champagne Lover perched on the rails of the prone ladder, reaching up, to drag them both down with a stereo Lover Stunner.

Elemental knocking everyone else out of the ring and climbing to the top rope for a suicide Thrill Seeking Missile – and getting wedged in a ladder when Chandler used it to block the impact.

Chandler literally hanging from the briefcase when Newton shoved the ladder he'd been on over, only to be brought down by a missile dropkick from Art Reed.

Art Reed, the briefcase half unhooked, eating a low blow from Newton, who then threw him into Law's path and seized the reward for himself.

Davis Wayne Newton defeated Art Reed, Canadian Elemental, Champagne Lover, Eddie Chandler & Rick Law

Rating: B+

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DavisWayneNewton-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeyMinnesota.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MarcDuBois-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AliciaStrong.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg</div>

As Davis celebrates, Joey Minnesota, Marc DuBois, Alicia Strong and Phil Vibert join him in the ring. Minnesota shakes his hand, Alicia hugs him, and Vibert raises a mic to his lips and beginns to talk.

“It wasn't an official part of the seven-match series,” he says. “But if it had been, that would have been great, because it was a victory. And we've got more coming. We have three matches left tonight. All of them count.

“By the end of Malice in Wonderland, I'm – we're – going to own this company. By tomorrow night, everything will have changed.

“And to make sure of that, tonight we'll go four for four. Three of them will count to the series – and that means, by the time Night Two starts, it'll be all over except for a formality.

“Right now, Christian Faith – the supreme legend of this sport – is getting ready. But it doesn't matter. This is Joey Minnesota, a wrestler so good I hand-picked him to stand with me not once but twice. This is Joey Minnesota, who would have owned DaVE by holding the championship if it had lasted.

“This is Joey Minnesota, who went to Nemesis and went to bat for your friend Aaron Andrews. Without Joey your precious little Aaron would still be losing to, hell, I don't know – Harry Allen.”

DuBois whispers in Vibert's ear. Vibert looks at him.

“Marc, I know Allen's out with injury,” he says. “I'm saying he'd still win. Anything Andrews is, he owes to Joey Minnesota.

“Which he'll be cursing Joey for, because it's put him in the sights of Remo. Let me do you both a favour, Aaron, Christian – you can still forfeit, alright?

“Drop out now. Just give us our foregone conclusions. We'd be pissed off not to have the win bonus, but frankly, we'll have the company. We can afford to be generous, just this once...”

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ChristianFaith.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FloydBowman_jhd2.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeyMinnesota.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg

Christian Faith w/ Floyd Bowman vs. Joey Minnesota w/ Phil Vibert</div>

Christian Faith has yet to regain his footing since moving to TCW, but he understands big-night wrestling as well as any other active wrestler today, and it becomes clear during this match that he's not slowing – he's just finding his way forward.

Minnesota has his work cut out for him. In technical terms, he's probably a better wrestler, but Faith has enough fight in him for any five wrestlers.

So it rapidly becomes a brawl, and the fans get more and more behind Faith, causing him to move faster and faster, until he's almost as fast as Minnesota. But Joey does have a little speed advantage – and he does have the mat wrestling – and there are times when he almost has the strength advantage.

Joey starts to dominate, only for Christian to fire back with Faith Hammer after Faith Hammer. Joey reels – Christian sets for the Leap of Faith – but Minnesota sidesteps! He nails the Minnesota Salute, only for Faith to kick out.

The struggle continues. Minnesota again blocks the Leap of Faith, but this time by diving clear. He takes a moment to recover and turn – during which time Vibert, on the outside, has caught Faith's ankle, slowing him.

Christian turns around into a straight right. Seeing an opportunity, Joey lands the Empire Spiral, lightning-quick, and covers, hooking the leg tight, bearing his weight down fully to ensure the pin.

Joey Minnesota defeated Christian Faith

Rating: B+

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DanDaLay_alt3jt-1.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AdrianGarcia.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SeanMcFly.jpg

Dan DaLay w/ Adrian Garcia vs. Sean McFly</div>

The power of the giant among giants versus the skill, knowledge, and fast-growing veteran savvy of the American Tiger, the man who married into the House of Stone.

It's a simple equation and, even as the opening minutes of the match see the two men, seasoned main eventers both, struggle to find a rhythm and a pace they can both shine at, it's one which provides the match with a spine and a story. Sean sets the speed in the early going, but the Delorean Driver is absolutely out of the question against an opponent of this size.

The chokeslam DaLay uses to fire back, though – that can hit. And while it seems almost iffy, as if somehow the two didn't quite come together at the right speed for it, it nearly wins it – but McFly kicks out, his sense of the occasion saving him, and he goes back to work.

After a slew of wrenching holds to the shoulders and arms of DaLay, McFly shifts gear. He actually gets the giant off his feet with something that almost looked like a German suplex, but can't bridge it and only barely recovers well enough to make the cover. The giant among giants kicks out.

He makes his way back to his feet, and the American Tiger is waiting. Sean McFly doesn't often go airborne, but he can – and the missile dropkick nearly takes DaLay down. A shift is attempted, but it's not enough. They somehow scramble into a lockup. The sheer power of DaLay turns that into a whirlaround spin, and Eugene Williams takes a flying boot to the face as McFly spins out of control.

McFly somehow converts the spin in midair to nail a tornado DDT, but it's not enough, and sure enough, with the referee down... here they come.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeSexy_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JacobJett_sp.jpg</div>

Joe Money engages first, and Sean has to work hard to counter him before he's safe – except that he isn't; Jacob Jett connects with a superkick, then the Jett Take-Off. The American Tiger stumbles forward and eats a Wall Street Crash.

Money and Jett hold McFly down, while DaLay boosts himself up to sit on the top turnbuckle, then comes forward with a heavy splash. With Williams slowly reviving, the rest of ELITE bail from the ring, allowing DaLay to pick up the win.

Dan DaLay defeated Sean McFly

Rating: B-

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AaronAndrews-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MaskedPatriot.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/One-Offs/drewbrees.jpg</div>

Finally, if a little too late, the cavalry arrive. Andrews and the Masked Patriot lead the charge, both swinging chairs, and other than the Patriot's mask, both men are dressed to hang out backstage. Also with them is a shock reinforcement; flown in from Miami after being named Superbowl MVP earlier that day, Drew Brees runs down to back them up.

ELITE, their job done, make themselves scarce, Joe Money bringing up the rear, laughing the whole way.

In the ring, Andrews collects a microphone. As the crowd finally settle down, Andrews recovers his breath.

“I don't know what happened to Team KOBRA,” he says. “None of us do, yet, I don't think. And I don't know how ELITE figure they can get away with pulling this kind of bull**** - but that doesn't matter.

“It's been crazy these past couple months. Feels like TCW's been under siege.

“I kind of take exception to that. I've been here since I started.” He pauses, seeming to take note of the men who backed his charge for the first time. “Same for Patriot here. Neither of us ever wrestled anywhere else.

“You threaten something like that, you shouldn't be surprised if it bites back. We're going to be biting hard.

“Drew – I wanna thank you, OK? I know we were supposed to do the thing with the big reveal and glad-handing the fans later, and I guess that ain't happening now, but you've had a hell of a day and you still came out fighting. So – thanks.”

He holds out his hand. With a smile, Brees shakes the hand of the younger man.

Andrews looks around again. “Alright,” he says. “We're taking time now, time that could be wrestling. And up next is the tag title match – let's get backstage, get back to watching.”

“Buddy, you got a deal,” Brees smiles.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TCWTagTeam.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MerleOCurle_jhd3.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/WalterMorgan.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/LauraCatherineHuggins.jpg

British Lions © w/ Laura Huggins

vs.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Guide.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Scout.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BlondeBombshell.jpg

New Wave w/ Blonde Bombshell</div>

There's a fantastic little back-and-forth here, with the New Wave throwing everything at the wall to demonstrate that they deserve to be champions again – to win the titles and restate their position as one of the very top teams in TCW – and the match runs pretty long.

That shouldn't be read as a criticism; these two teams have done battle quite a few times in the past, and while the Lions never, ever lose the same way twice, the Wave are no pushovers, and more than willing to fight to the end.

They do take a couple of innovative new strategies into the match with them, looking to find something the Lions don't have scouted, but equally they aren't willing to cost themselves the match by not trying the stuff they're best with.

It's a smart plan; this match is a war confined only by the rules of wrestling, and by those only very, very barely. Time and again the New Wave skirt the edge of the rules or dart over it entirely, much to the visible frustration of the Blonde Bombshell.

The end comes after the Wave of Mutilation is countered, after Scout is forced to accept that the Lions have evolved a functioning counter to the Special Force. He lets Guide take the running, and his partner hammers Walter Morgan, making a real brawl of it where his strength and DaVE-won experience can give him the edge.

Guide uses this, in time, to set up the Guided Missile – but Morgan has him scouted. He drops to his back ahead of impact, bringing his feet up into Guide's midsection and sending him crashing to the ground. In moments, the Wigan Wrench is locked in, earning the tapout submission.

British Lions defeated New Wave

Rating: B

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Match%20Types/bestofseven.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TCWInternational.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ShooterSeanDeeley.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/LauraCatherineHuggins.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FreddyHuggins.jpg

Sean Deeley © w/ Laura Huggins vs. Freddy Huggins</div>

By now these two men know each other as well as any two men in the company. They circle a couple of times before the lockup resumes.

From the off, Deeley targets Huggins' left leg, looking to take out his stability if he tries for a kick, wearing it down with hold upon lock. Freddy, meanwhile, counters as best he can, shifting weight to press the champ's shoulders to the mat, firing off punches, and kicking as best he can with one of his legs down.

In the early phases, Freddy even borrows from his mentor, pulling off a passable Tradition Lift, but Deeley has had his own dealings with Eric Tyler, knowing the score and knowing how to counter.

The battle continues. Huggins connects with the Huggins Kiss on the second pass but, weakened by having his leg taken down, it's not strong enough to get the three.

Deeley sees that objective as completed. He shifts his game, looking to force Huggins to tap – the events of the match to that point having made it abundantly clear that pain in his legs won't do that. A sleeper hold is applied, Deeley hopping onto Freddy's back and grapevining it for leverage.

Both men take a spill out of the ring from that, crashing to the mats outside, Freddy landing atop Deeley.

There's a long moment after that before either man move. Huggins grabs the ring apron, dragging himself up on an injured leg. Deeley, on the other hand, is up fast once he's shaken out the cobwebs.

Sam Sparrow is counting four and Deeley sees time to do a little more before getting back in the ring. He reaches out and grabs Huggins' shoulder. Freddy spins around, hitting Sean with a punch to the gut.

Apparently on reflex, Freddy nails the HugginDriver on the outside – but his leg gives out on the hoist, and Sean seems to land awkwardly, coming down hard on the back of his head.

By the time Sparrow reaches ten, neither man is in any position to claim victory.

Sean Deeley drew with Freddy Huggins

Rating: A

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MayhemMidden.jpg</div>

Mayhem Midden rises from his seat at the announce table. “Cue my headset to the arena,” he says, and as well as the fans at home, the production team clearly hear him.

“OK,” Midden announces. “That is just about it. We've had two title matches, here at Malice, end with a result I couldn't call conclusive if I was paid to.

“Lucky for you guys, I'm not. What I'm paid to do is make sure you all get your money's worth.

“Now, I'm not going to restart this one – I don't think either of these guys is in any condition. But to all the officials, listen up – as of right now, there are to be no count outs on the outside. I don't want to see 'em inside, either, unless you're pretty sure someone's actually out of it.

“Let's get to this, people.”

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/NemePeak.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MarcDuBois-1.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg

Eddie Peak vs. Marc DuBois w/ Phil Vibert</div>

DuBois is cagey. Peak is brutal. But all of a sudden, DuBois has ample excuse to bail, take as long as he wants, regroup, stall... to bait Peak out of the ring and hope to use the environment against him.

It's a strategy that has only just opened up, but the master of mind games takes to it with a wild eagerness. A cutter onto the steel steps opens it, and it slowly becomes rarer and rarer for the match to actually enter the ring; it's not like the Bloody-Handed God isn't happy in a more hardcore environment.

(His favoured weapon in this match is a pencil stolen from Vibert's jacket. Ray Johnson, overseeing proceedings from inside the ring, lets it go with a smirk on his face, prompting speculation that Generation Omega has in some way infuriated the referee. DuBois takes that as tacit permission to up the ante himself.)

The self-proclaimed master of mind games shows a surprising flair for the hardcore. Before long, DuBois' matinee idol blonde mane is sopping with red blood, but Peak's own darker do is wet and slick with a deeper crimson than his dye.

The brawl gets nastier, and in the end returns to the ring. DuBois, somehow, conjures a fireball, but Peak seems almost to see it coming, dodging the flame. A Peak of the Devil comes just seconds later, ending the match.

Eddie Peak defeated Marc DuBois

Rating: B+

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AliciaStrong.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KateDangerous.jpg

Alicia Strong w/ Phil Vibert vs. Kate Dangerous</div>

The two stare each other down. Dangerous offers a gloved fist; Alicia touches gloves as the match begins, but her smile curves into something cruel as she does so.

The lock-up sees Strong overpower Dangerous, cinching her into a tight headlock. Kate, in response, lifts Alicia into a backdrop suplex, but Strong holds on, rolling into position to keep it locked in tight.

Dangerous backs up to the ropes, looking to shoot Alicia off, but she shows her ability, holding the lock in place, not budging.

“This is the first real test Alicia Strong has had since she came to TCW,” Azaria says. “It's your training, Horatio, up against one of Japanese womens' wrestling's absolute icons; the training of Sensational Ogiwara.”

“A woman who recently came to the Angel Athletic Association here in America to help train a new generation,” Horatio acknowledges. “AAA, of course, is affiliated with TCW. Looking at Alicia Strong, you can see a blueprint for womens' wrestling to come. Of course, you can't overlook her heritage.”

By now, Kate is trying a different tack, firing punch after punch, forearm after forearm, into the midsection of Alicia. The hold is still on tight. Dangerous eventually finds a different route; she single-legs Strong, taking the Generation Omega representative down into a single-leg crab, using leverage of her own to break the hold.

Alicia twists, though, and kicks Kate off, rising to meet Dangerous on the rebound with a backdrop – but Kate lands on her feet, spinning around, leading to another faceoff, both women standing with clenched fists raised and ready.

“Bringing back memories?” Midden asks. Horatio laughs. “You could say that. But I've a feeling we're just getting going.”

The women meet in the centre, fists flying. Strong drives Dangerous back a pace and Kate loses no time in utilising that new space, kicking Alicia in the gut, taking her down with a snap DDT. She twists into a cover – ONE, T – and as Alicia gets her shoulder up Kate rolls with her, applying a kneeling full nelson.

“Something of a tribute to her father there,” Azaria notes.

Alicia tries to twist out one way, finds she can't, tests her leverage in the other direction, finds she doesn't have enough – tries to power out, but Kate's hands are clasped, fingers locked tight. Visibly frustrated, she shifts, feeding one foot then the next further under her, leaning as far forward as she can in the hold – it unbalances Dangerous!

Alicia rolls forward, applying a crossface armbreaker as she comes to a halt. “Not one of her favourite moves,” Midden says. “But it's effective.”

“Maybe not,” Horatio replies. “That's very like the End of Days, and Kate's been helping JeriLynn scout that move for-”

And he breaks off as his daughter slips free, rising and taking a couple of steps away from the lockup, adjusting her tights slightly as she does so. Somewhat surprised by this sequence, the crowd find themselves applauding.

Strong rises to her feet, shifting position slightly, and changes tack, raising her hands, fingers splayed wide. Calling for a test of strength. “Don't do it,” Horatio breathes, but his daughter answers the test.

Alicia puts on the pressure, slowly bending Dangerous double, forcing her all the way down until her shoulders touch the mat – ONE, TWO – Kate rolls a shoulder up, but the pressure's still on – she lifts a leg, slipping it up over Alicia's shoulder, but in so doing both shoulders touch the mat once more – ONE, TWO – the other shoulder rolls up.

Dangerous takes the opportunity to snake her other leg up onto Alicia's other shoulder and twists with her whole body, sending Strong flipping through the air to land back-first on the mat as Kate comes up fast, jumping onto the bottom rope, backflipping into a springboard moonsault! ONE, TWO – No!

The pace of the contest abruptly changes. Both women come up fast, Dangerous just barely ducking a Strong Arm Tactic – but Alicia shifts direction, nailing a superkick almost out of nowhere! She covers, hooking the leg, using her arm to keep a shoulder down – ONE, TWO, TH- Kate just barely kicks out, and her father can't quite contain himself.

Both women rise, once again. Alicia delivers two jabs to the jaw, then a shot to the gut, doubles Kate over, goes for the Angel Driver – Kate kicks her legs on the lift, shifting her balance to the point it doesn't work – Alicia has to lower her – Kate lifts as if in a backdrop, bringing Alicia over and down to the mat! Kate keeps the bridge – ONE, TWO – NO!

“For all that she's been claiming her right to a title shot on her name,” Midden remarks, “she could have had one by now if she'd come in and wrestled more matches like this.”

Alicia takes over again with a series of punches and then goes to toss Kate over the top rope, but Dangerous reverses and Alicia lands on the apron. A superkick from Kate sends Alicia crashing to the floor!

Feeling the momentum build, Kate hits the far ropes at speed, coming back and soaring over the top rope in a suicide dive – only to be caught by Alicia on her way down – ANGEL DRIVER!

Alicia celebrates for a moment, then realises that she's outside the ring, and a ten count will no longer cut it. She lifts Kate – who's dead weight – and boosts her up, rolling her into the ring. A brief moment, considering, and she nods to herself – then starts climbing the turnbuckle.

Atop the turnbuckle she poses for a moment, flexing the famous Strong flex routine, then takes to the air with a flying fist drop – but Kate has rolled clear!

Up Kate gets, and behind Alicia, stalking her as, nursing her injured wrist, she rises. Kate cinches in a half nelson and launches backward in the half-nelson suplex – but she holds on, rolling through, and hits another before locking down the Danger Zone!

The brutal submission is locked in, and on the outside Phil Vibert strains to reach the pair and intercede on Generation Omega's behalf – but he can't. Alicia will have to do this for herself. Slowly, but surely, she makes her way to her feet, though Dangerous holds on – and Alicia makes a charge across the ring, sending Kate crashing into the turnbuckle.

Kate loses the hold and Alicia spins her around – Strong Arm Tactic – ducked – suplex attempt from Kate, but Alicia twists to land on her feet – bridged German suplex – ONE, TWO, THR- NO!

Kate regroups, but as she turns she meets a Strong Arm Tactic coming the other way, then a cover – ONE, TWO, THREE!

Alicia Strong defeated Kate Dangerous

Rating: A*

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AlexDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JackDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickyDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SteveDeColt_Self1.jpg

DeColts

vs.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DuaneStone_Self.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddStone_alt6.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeremyStone.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeriLynnStone.jpg

Stones</div>

There's no part of this that doesn't have the crowd electric, and both teams have serious expressions writ large on their faces. Alex DeColt starts against Edd Stone, leading to a blur of offence interrupted by massive, major moves – big slams, huge release bombs, but then, even Alex DeColt's dropkicks are big impact moves and heavy hitters.

Changeover comes when Alex whips Edd hard to the ropes and the prodigal Stone simply catches the top rope and flips himself over and down, using his momentum to deposit him on the outside. Alex turns around to meet Jeremy Stone, and things start to change – the former CGC owner knows how well Jeremy can block throws.

It becomes a more grounded game for a little while, with Alex resorting to strikes, holds, and the occasional bearhug-into-a-throw against Jeremy's offence. Soon enough, though, Alex tags out. Jack DeColt vaults over the top rope with a dreamy smile on his face.

The Stone Hold against the End of Days; it's a question hotly debated in Canadian playgrounds for the past decade. The pair work through a lot of efforts trying to lock in their big moves, but it's not easy. Both men gradually see their expressions shift, and the message is clear; this wasn't supposed to be that hard, both men seem to think.

It takes effort, it takes energy and enthusiasm, and eventually, Jeremy Stone gets the Stone Ankle Stretch applied – only for Jack DeColt to roll it through into the End of Days!

Jeremy struggles for a moment – DeColt has a grip that the men the Stones had tested this with can't rival – but he twists and is free. The two circle again, and Jack's goofy smile is now completely gone. On the next pass he tags out to Steve DeColt.

It's eldest son versus eldest son, power versus technique, and what ensues is flamboyant, remarkable, and a showcase of DeColt's own technical skills as the two men run through an accelerated highlight reel of the last singles match their fathers wrestled before Steve powers out of it.

He whips Jeremy into the corner. Left hook. Right cross. Boot to the gut. Uranage backbreaker – holds on – springs up, sending Jeremy staggering into the centre of the ring – comes out for the DeColt Stampede -

Out of nowhere, Duane Stone intercepts with a dropkick. Jeremy rolls out of the ring as Steve blocks the Alabaster Agony and nails a DeColt Drop. Another pinfall opportunity flies by and the duo split apart. Duane tags in JeriLynn then rushes forward, flapjacking Steve as he charges, and JeriLynn vaults over the top rope to catch Steve's head as he drops and effect a cutter.

Having battled through two Stones' offence already, Steve DeColt – after kicking out – heads back to his corner and tags in Ricky. Here's where things slow down, at least for a moment. Ricky regards JeriLynn carefully for a long moment. The DeColts' student of the game slowly steps into the ring.

“Here's where the hidden advantage the Stones have had til now disappears,” Azaria notes. “They've done so much work out of sight of the DeColts, but Ricky's a known tape trader. He frequently features recommendations for Japanese and European shows on the CGC blog. What JeriLynn can do... he already knows.”

Ricky takes his time in locking up with JeriLynn who, for her part, is equally slow in doing so. What follows is a battle of attempted one-upsmanship; as much as Ricky knows JeriLynn's signatures and is able to replicate them, JeriLynn turns out to have done her own homework.

The pair may just be precisely equal – which is doubtless why Edd decides to intervene, nailing an Edd-Renaline Shot. And everything breaks down, all eight wrestlers in the ring at once. An Edd-Renaline Shot/Stone's Throw combo by Edd and Duane puts Alex down on the mat, but the DeColts come back with a Doomsday DeColt Stampede from Jack and Steve on Jeremy.

They toss Edd from the ring and isolate JeriLynn, calling for the Welcome To DeColt Country – but Ricky hesitates, uncertain. JeriLynn manages to kick free of Jack's hold – DeColt Drop from Steve in any case. Jeremy rises, only to eat a D-De-Colt from Ricky, and it looks like the match will be over until, out of nowhere, Duane connects with a From Canada With Love.

The crowd are on their feet and screaming their choices, apparently evenly split between the two teams.

And then it happens. Or, rather, they happen.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DanDaLay_alt3jt-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddieChandler_Self1-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JacobJett_sp.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeSexy_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JohnMaverick-1.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/CharlieThatcher_nac2.jpg

</div>

ELITE are in the ring, and they've brought weapons. DeColts and Stones alike feel their wrath. Midden screams for Charlie Thatcher, who races down to the ring with his metal ball bat - but by that stage, and anger at having to do so evident on his face, Ray Johnson has ruled this one a no contest.

The DeColt Family fought the Stone family to a no contest

Rating: A

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DanDaLay_alt3jt-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddieChandler_Self1-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JacobJett_sp.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeSexy_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JohnMaverick-1.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/CharlieThatcher_nac2.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DuaneStone_Self.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddStone_alt6.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeremyStone.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeriLynnStone.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AlexDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JackDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickyDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SteveDeColt_Self1.jpg</div>

ELITE are outnumbered by Canada's wrestling royalty, but that doesn't faze them; they keep going. The slugfest spreads outside the ring, too, and while DeColts and Stones alike fights back, this one is a slow one to turn around.

On the outside, Joe Money is raining down brass-knuckle punches on Steve DeColt, his forehead already busted open and flooded with crimson. Suddenly, though, Duane Stone straightens up behind him. He seizes him in a full nelson and arcs backward in a full nelson suplex.

Releasing the bridge, he rolls back behind Money and locks in the full nelson again while sat over him. Inside the ring, JeriLynn knows exactly what he wants; but Ricky stops her, hitting the far ropes himself and soaring over the ropes in a corkscrew which ends with a dropkick to Money's trapped face.

DaLay punches Jeremy Stone down. As he lands, he sees what Ricky's done and shoves a chair he'd landed near in Ricky's direction; the DeColts' student of the game catches on quick, moving it in front of Money's face – and JeriLynn smashes into the chair in a duplicate of the move Ricky made.

So far so good, but Jacob Jett is there to break it up with chairshots for all. Maverick low-blows Duane and locks in the Deadly Silence. As hard as it is to believe, ELITE are holding their own.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/QueenEmily_FS2.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FumihiroOta_PS.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Hidekazu_jtlant.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KoshiroIno.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ShingenMiyazaki_alt2.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SuzanneBrazzle_jhdPS.jpg</div>

And then something happens to turn the tide. And that something is a tide of reinforcements – bandaged up and looking furious, Team KOBRA charge down with bokken in hand, dealing out shots. It's finally no longer odds ELITE are willing to deny, and at last they flee.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/GregGauge-1.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MatthewKeith.jpg

Greg Keith vs. Matthew Keith</div>

The tension in the air between these two is incredible. They stare at each other as the bell rings, neither one moving. At length, Matthew smiles, beckoning his brother toward him.

Greg closes, then backs off just before the two would lockup; catching Matt off balance, he drops to one knee and boosts Matt up and over him, putting his brother on his back and getting an early advantage. He immediately slaps on a grounded keylock, looking to limit Matt in his use of their father's famed signature moves.

Matt manoeuvres, using his feet to steer him around, and gets braced in such a way that his free arm can hook around Greg's neck in an inverted facelock. He slowly rises to his feet, forcing Greg to release the hold by leverage before pulling his brother up and sending him down in an inverted suplex.

Matt doesn't even try for a pinfall yet, instead hitting the ropes and coming off with a fast elbow drop to the gut of his brother. He rises back up and delivers a chain of seven or eight stomps, then grabs a front facelock, dragging Greg up – and Greg shoves free, meeting his brother with a lariat as Matt recovers.

An armlock gets applied almost instantly, but again, Matthew has the counter ready. The two are driven apart by a shove, then collide. The technical wrestling is starting to fall by the wayside in favour of a furious slugfest, brother matching brother punch for punch, chop for chop. Eventually, Matt gets the upper hand, stunning Greg with a particularly hard straight right.

His hand goes up, massaging his throat, getting ready, and he sprays a virulent red mist – but Greg saw the warning sign and got his arms up crossed in front of his face in an X. The burning effect doesn't reach his eyes and instead spatters harmlessly against his arms, and Greg unfolds the X defence into a blistering double-handed chop.

Grabbing his brother's hand, Greg whips Matt across the ring, meeting him on the way back with a huge kick to the head. He promptly drops a knee onto his brother's shoulder, looking to jar it still further, and tugs him back up savagely by the shoulder. An armwrench puts Greg in position to punch away at the shoulder from behind, then he pulls Matt in close – belly to belly suplex! Cover! ONE, TW- NO!

Matt rolls clear, pulls himself up by the ropes, and as Greg comes close, he braces his weight against the top rope, lifts his feet, and kicks Greg in the stomach, doubling him over. A sunset flip follows – ONE, TW- NO! Greg is able to get a shoulder up against Matt's weakened arm.

Separation again and they circle. Greg closes in and Matt takes him down with a single-leg, holding on to the ankle and kicking Greg in the thigh four or five times, looking to numb his muscle, slow him down, then drops to one knee, ducking his head under Greg's leg, stretching it out as a torture rack hold across his shoulders.

Matt stands up, dangling his brother off his stronger-armed side, and starts spinning – but he can't hold on for long and Greg goes flying, crashing belly-first into the steel post beyond the turnbuckles.

Eager, the prodigal Keith starts after his brother, dragging him back into the centre of the ring. He starts setting up to lock in the Proton Lock, but Greg sees it coming, powering out neatly and coming up in a low crouch, able to meet his brother's renewed onslaught with a roaring elbow that sends Matt tumbling from the ring.

Greg scrambles to the top rope eagerly, poses for a second, and soars – and Matt moves! Whatever Greg was attempting, he instead crashes and burns against the guardrail, his ribs taking the brunt of the punishment.

Matt immediiately zeroes in on that. Three punches to the ribs, then he sets his weight and spears his brother into the ring apron.

Greg is visibly hurting, and, heartened, Matthew backs up and gets ready to do it again – but as he rushes forward, Greg gets a facelock, sweeps his brother's leg out from under him, and brings him smashing to the mat in a DDT – but his ribs hit, too.

The two roll apart, both groggy, both dazed. Greg makes his way to his feet first, rolling into the ring to recover in there.

A few seconds later, Matt makes it back to his feet. Grabbing the middle rope, he hops up onto the apron – Greg rushes in, but he takes a punch to the head that spins him around, then a kick to the gut that drives him backward. Matthew rushes to the top rope and comes off with a cross-body, planting Greg to the mat.

Once again, Matthew looks for a Proton Lock – and once again, he fails, Greg kicking him away at the expense of putting more strain on his ribs. He picks himself up and Matt drives an elbow into the injured area, then boosts him onto his shoulders for a torture rack.

Greg endures for a few moments, then finds his out. He rolls down Matt's back, pulling him down into a pin – ONE, TW- NO!

Matt kicks clear, rolling to his feet, and meets Greg's latest charge with a backdrop – only for Greg to land on his feet. German suplex attempt, but Matt hooks the leg, then elbows clear – reversal – bridged – ONE, TWO, TH- NO!

Somehow, Greg makes it out. Matt comes up with a low spear, again targeting the ribs. He tries for another, but Greg meets it with a kick across the face, drawing first blood, a legit crimson staining against the bright red aftermath of the Red Mist.

Furious, Matt staggers a full circle and launches a lariat takedown, then moves for another Proton Lock attempt. This time it's locked in – but too close to the ropes, Matthew's sense of ring positioning lost in his blind rage. Sam Sparrow forces the break.

They stare at one another for a long moment, breathing hard, breathing heavily. After a long, long moment, both brothers smile.

Not that that stops them. They collide again, and Matt is so busy throwing forearms at Greg's ribs that he misses the Neutron Plex. Greg goes for the cover – ONE, TWO, THRE- NO!

He holds on to Matthew's arm, wrenching at it, looking to work the shoulder. For the first time this match, Greg steps up for the Proton Lock attempt – but even with an injured arm, Matt is too quick to have it locked in. A fireman's carry slam puts the ball back in the prodigal son's court.

Matt looks the situation over, breathing heavily. He shakes his head, then goes to the top rope again, measuring Greg. As his brother rises to his feet, Matt comes off with diving double-knees, and trues for the Proton Lock again off that – but somehow Greg blocks it again, though he isn't able to counter out; he just rolls clear.

Another moment to size things up. They close in again. Matt aims a kick to the ribs; Greg catches it, spins him around, and goes for an armlock to put some pressure on the injured shoulder, but with his better arm, Matthew handstands through, then closes in. A snap suplex attempt – Greg blocks it! DARK MATTER BY GREG! He shifts! Hands are clasped! THE PROTON LOCK IS LOCKED DOWN, CENTRE OF THE RING!

Matthew fights, and fights, but at 29:44, he nonetheless has to tap.

Greg Keith defeated Matthew Keith

Rating: A*

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Gimme Shelter hits as Sam Keith hurries to his sons, Art Reed close behind him.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BobbyThomas_jhd.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/NateJohnson_jhd1.jpg</div>

Reed picks up Greg, and as Sam tries to tend to Matt, Matt shoves him away. The Elite Express slide into the ring to support their leader in the Kings of Wrestling.

The atmosphere is tense, two three-man sides staring at each other. Matt and Keith both stare at each other.

As if synchronised, each twin takes a step forward, then another, perfectly in step.

And then, standing nose to nose, the two brothers embrace tightly.

The crowd explode.

“What a way to finish Night One!” Jason Azaria yells into his microphone. “Fans, Horatio and Mayhem will be with you tomorrow night, but tomorrow I get to just be a fan – Duane Fry will be calling his first TCW pay-per-view.

“Generation Omega are two-one up, the British Lions defend their titles in London, and I'm sure ELITE have something coming for interfering in the match of the century. On top of all that, we've got Wolf Hawkins and Tommy Cornell. If you want to find out if the champion is on top of the world, you need to watch tomorrow.

“Malice in Wonderland is far from over, but for now – Goodnight!”

<div style="text-align:center;">Show Rating: A*</div>

Oregano Jensen · June 5, 2012

Well, damn.

How good IS Kate Dangerous, anyway?

ampulator · June 5, 2012

According to the match grade, pretty damn good.

Blake Trask · June 5, 2012

I might have to cry at DaLay going over McFly.

But HURRAH for the reunion!

Regis · June 5, 2012

Dan DaLay didn't beat Sean McFly, the ELITE beat Sean McFly. There's a subtle difference.

Eidenhoek · June 5, 2012

For all the hate of cowboy gimmicks in wrestling, I defy anyone to claim that the Keith reunion did not begin with bow-legged steps forward, like crazy western robots.

Also...hell, I'll wait unil night two, but suffice it to say that ELITE have me unhappy for more than just being heels (and somehow catching Duane, which was weird, because he's god.)

Phantom Stranger · June 5, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/embed/RPV6exMUmUs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/One-Offs/deslynam.jpg

As the video clip fades away, the camera finds itself in a press box overlooking the famous City of London statium where, forty-four years earlier, that match took place. Des Lynam, long the face of British sport, turns from gazing out of the window down to the sunlit ring and the crowds around it to smile at the camera. “The stuff that dreams are made of,” he says.

“In a very little while indeed, dreams will be being made down there again. Already, in the locker rooms and hallowed halls of this famous stadium, the men and women of TCW are preparing to do battle.

“For those of you joining me who haven't grown up on British sports broadcasting, my name is Des Lynam. I've been doing this almost all my life now, and I cut my teeth on boxing.

“That doesn't mean I know what's coming. And I wouldn't dream of claiming I do. But, eleven years after I was last on the air talking about sports, I have the opportunity to return to the City of London Stadium. To describe the action as British, American, Canadian and Japanese wrestlers do battle in front of a nation...” He smiles beneath his moustache, “...and, for the first time, I have the opportunity to describe the action in front of the world.

“Hopefully, we'll see some more dreams made flesh tonight. And don't worry – there are three men there who do know wrestling; Duane Fry, Horatio Dangerous, and TCW Board's Representative, Mayhem Midden. They'll keep things accurate.

“I have a journey ahead of me, now. And you? You get to see the opening musical act, as Halestorm play, live, the theme to Malice in Wonderland 2010.

“Let's not waste any more time.”

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PPV%20Logos/TCWMaliceinWonderland.jpg

TCW Presents Malice in Wonderland Night Two

Monday Week 1 February 2010

Live on America 1-Select, Premier Pay CAN-TV, PPV Japan, Rivera Pay Television, V-Corp, UK-1 (6.93)

Held at the City of London Stadium (South UK)

Attendance: 36,380

Announcers:

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DuaneFry_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/MayhemMidden.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/HoratioDangerous_FIN6a.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/One-Offs/deslynam.jpg

Duane Fry – Mayhem Midden - Horatio Dangerous – Des Lynam

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/One-Offs/lizzyhale.jpg

As Tell me Where It Hurts, the official Malice in Wonderland theme, comes to a close, Lizzy Hale looks around the crowd surrounding her in the famous stadium, then grins. In the shaft of sunlight that illuminates her, she raises the microphone to her lips.

“Hey, London,” she calls. “Make some noooi-ise...”

The crowd respond, but she doesn't look impressed.

“Alright, alright,” she grins. “We can do better than that... but I know how to getcha to.

“For one night only, we aren't Halestorm. For one night only, we are the latest – the fourth – lineup... of...

“PAINFUL PROCEDURE!”

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Jack Bruce and Troy Tornado run out to join her.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TanaTheMighty.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BlondeBombshell.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/NichirenAmagawa.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AdamMatravers_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TamaraMcFly.jpg

The group cuts loose with abandon. Some TCW standouts show up to rock out – notably, Giant Tana, the Blonde Bombshell, Nichiren Amagawa, Adam Matravers and Tamara McFly.

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AaronAndrews-1.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Remo.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg

Aaron Andrews vs. Remo Richardson w/ Phil Vibert

Remo has the clear size advantage and he's clearly confident as anything, too. Des Lynam asks just the right questions as the introductions are completed to catch up anyone who missed Night One on the scores; 2-1 to Generation Omega with four matches in that series left to go, of which this is the first.

They lock up, and Andrews gets the worst of it, but bails to the outside after being shoved down. Remo follows, and Aaron manages to make the most of some careful footwork and momentum, flipping round the steel upright to deliver a two-footed kick to the supreme specimen's gut that leaves him doubled over and gasping for air.

Action returns inside the ring for a decent while, and Andrews gets into trouble. He's always wrestled a more confrontational style than most people his size, but that's tricky to deal with when you're up against someone like Remo. Still, he takes his beating to land his hits, and he escapes an early Destroyer attempt, even countering to a spinebuster.

Still, the power advantage doesn't belong to Andrews. If he wants to carry the day, he'll have to find something else – and he goes looking. An improvised stunner blocks the second Destroyer try, and with Vibert having uncovered a turnbuckle, Aaron sets himself up, baits Remo in for a spear, and sidesteps. Blood trickling from the impact wound on his forehead, Remo staggers backward. Aaron seizes the opportunity for a Game Breaker, but rather than pin, he hesitates – and instead leaves the ring.

An open-air show like this one has to approach different ways of keeping the ring illuminated as night sets in, and while this show's a little early for the American core audience, it's already growing dusky outside. The lighting rig is rooted in the ground around where the guardrails are, forming a structure over the ring at a distance of a clear twenty feet above the centre.

Andrews begins to climb the rig. Vibert goes to stop him, clinging to a leg, and Aaron kicks – and the Generation Omega manager goes flying into Halestorm's drums. Aaron keeps climbing. He gets to the centre of the rig...

...and splashes Remo. Andrews doesn't even pin him, so much as he continues to lie on Remo's prone form – but after the Game Breaker and this, it seems like enough...

Aaron Andrews defeated Remo Richardson

Rating: B

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“...hell of a way to make your living, is all.” Bill Nighy is sat backstage alongside Tommy Cornell, Rocky Golden, and the Easy Riders, watching proceedings on a large screen. He gestures at the big screen. “That kid just took a real risk, and he's – what? 25?”

“Twenty-three,” Cornell confirms. Golden, pint glass in hand, nods agreement. Nighy's eyebrows go up as he processes that.

“Hell of a way to make a living,” he re-iterates. “How many nights a year-”

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“Pardon me.” The voice is soft, polite. The voice of a veteran. Tommy Cornell twists in his seat; the voice belongs to Steve Flash. Standing next to him is Elite Express grappler Bobby Thomas and, body language mimicking Flash precisely, Acid.

“Steve,” Tommy says, somewhat surprised. “You made it out for the show, huh? We've got some of your trainees in the cruiserweight-”

Acid raises a hand, calling for a moment of silence. Cornell, surprised, lets it go.

“We're here to ask for a match,” Bobby Thomas chimes in. “With three of ELITE.”

“Any particular three?” Golden asks.

“Jacob Jett's wrestling already, so we can't force him to fight. But any of the other four.”

Cornell nods thoughtfully. “You've considered this. Alright. Why?”

“Jeremy Stone trained me,” Thomas says. “Trained Acid, too.”

Flash nods. “Jeremy Stone was my tag team partner when I made my name. We all three of us owe him our careers.”

“ELITE ruined the match we were all waiting for last night,” Thomas picks up. “We want to show them we won't stand for it.”

Cornell lets that hang for a second, then nods. “Alright,” he says. “Charlie?”

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Charlie Thatcher emerges from his place in the background, suddenly visible again.

“Go root them out,” he says. “Tell them they're on after... ah, hell. Fair's fair. They've got two matches to get ready.”

Thatcher nods. Golden grins appreciatively.

“Thank you, sir,” Thomas nods, and the Disciples of Stone retreat.

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SammyBach_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ZimmyBumfhole_alt1.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JackBruce_alt10a.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TroyTornado_nacht6.jpg

Darkwave vs. Jack Bruce & Troy Tornado

A grudge match more than a year in the making, and this war has lasted all that time, resisting all attempts to shut it down. And as Sammy Bach takes the field for his team, it's clear that the grudge still burns bright. All of a sudden, Sammy Bach has lost the man he was manipulating.

For the first time in this war, the master manipulator isn't just having fun. He's pissed.

But these four aren't brawlers. They aren't even, purely, wrestlers. These are showmen whose art is the art of hurting someone until they can't prevent a pinfall.

The speed of this thing is dazzling, and everyone hits hard, throwing their best at it, dazzling the crowd, sucking them into this feud once again on one of the biggest nights of the year. The split-legged moonsault, the Blood Rush, the Adrenaline Shot, the Bach on your Back, the New York Minute and Long Island Lariat, the Tornado Driver, the Star Maker – all are hit. All are used.

Everybody finds themselves, at times, gasping for air, searching for a way to fight back. And everybody – everybody – is bloodied and bleeding by the end, Tornado, Bruce, and Bach's headbands all indistinguishably crimson.

Bach and Bruce, toward the end, find themselves standing atop a turnbuckle, swinging punch after punch. It'd be fine – except that Zimmy whips Tornado into that same turnbuckle, sending both men crashing to the outside. Zimmy goes for his third Blood Rush of the match, but Troy rolls under it. As Zimmy rebounds, the Whirlwind Kick connects, and Troy rolls Zimmy over for the pin and the win.

Jack Bruce & Troy Tornado defeated Darkwave

Rating: A

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeyMinnesota.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SamKeith.jpg

Joey Minnesota w/ Phil Vibert vs. Sam Keith

What a beautiful match. Joey Minnesota takes this opportunity to put his name on the top tier list, to really make a claim to be one of TCW's best.

Sam Keith remains the living legend, and his stamina and performance here force Minnesota to rise to heights not seen from him before. Several times, Keith seems to have the match won, but each time, to Midden's audible frustration on commentary, Joey finds an out.

Early on, Minnesota doesn't even seem to be trying to put this one away, and over time, the logic of that becomes more and more clear, as he slowly chips away at the veteran's stamina, allowing Sam to drain himself and taking the occasional opportunity to work over a limb, limiting Keith's freedom of movement.

Minnesota's intent is obvious; he doesn't just want to beat Keith, he wants to dismantle him.

Sam puts up a hell of a fight, but on the night, it seems like the new generation is fully arrived; Joey Minnesota's patronage by Phil Vibert is clearly explained here. He's every bit as calculating, every bit as cunning. But he can wrestle – and wrestle well – and on top of that, he takes pleasure in more than winning.

He takes pleasure in leaving his opponent less than before. The Minnesota Salute sets up the Empire Spiral, but Joey promptly locks in the Minnesota Cloverleaf and earns a submission victory, fully making his point.

Joey Minnesota defeated Sam Keith

Rating: A

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/totalbanner.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Acid_alt2.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BobbyThomas_jhd.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/Dangerous/SteveFlash_FIN7.jpg

Disciples of Stone

vs.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddieChandler_Self1-1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeSexy_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JohnMaverick-1.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AdrianGarcia.jpg

ELITE w/ Adrian Garcia

The Disciples are an odd bunch. “Talke me through this group,” Lynam says. “They don't look as unified as most of your teams...” And, of course, beyond the Stone family connection, the announce team aren't able to answer that one.

Nonetheless, the lineup they have has a lot of talent – and a lot of fury. Flash returns to the look he used as PPPW's avenging angel, and Eddie Chandler, who knew him back then, seems a little worried by that – but when they go head to head, ELITE have a unity the other side don't.

Not that that's all there is to it; Acid's ability to mimic his opponent becomes a terrifying changeup for the ELITE here as he transitions, pitting Maverick against an ersatz Money, Chandler against Maverick's submission style, Money against Chandler... leading a a lot of speculation on why those choices from the announce team.

Whyever he chose them, he made good selections; Money has to scramble to rescue Chandler after an Acid Rain Bomb. When they fight back, though, ELITE use their unity to great effect; Acid's mimicry even seems uncannily confused when Double J unite around him, leaving him twitching between two options – and then, at last, they crush him, a wheelbarrow suplex/cutter combination planting Acid and taking him out of the match.

Bobby Thomas knows tag wrestling like few others, but he doesn't know his partners. A spectacular headscissors/neckbreaker evens the score, putting Double J down, only for Chandler to show what he can do.

Thomas desperately tags out, and Steve Flash gets his moment to shine on the grandest stage of all. He runs wild for a while, nailing the Flash Bang, only for Money to intervene and prevent the pin. In the end, though, Chandler catches Flash with a low blow, and clamps down on the Fabulous Stretch, slowly but surely forcing a victory.

ELITE defeated Disciples of Stone

Rating: B-

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AlexDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JackDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickyDeColt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SteveDeColt_Self1.jpg

Up in one of the stadium's private boxes, the DeColt family are gathered to watch the show. Jack lounges, watching with a cheerful smile. Alex stands in front of the window with a pair of binoculars on a tripod, studying the action through just one perspective. Beer in hand, Steve stands next to him, leant against the glass, looking down, shaking his head.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TommyCornell_alt1jt.jpg

Ricky, for his part, is seated near the box's private screen, watching intently. Becoming aware the camera has cut to show them, he turns to the box entrance, seeing Tommy Cornell standing there. Cornell clears his throat.

That gets the family's attention.

“Will this take long?” Jack asks. With a grin, he continues, “It's the women up next. Ricky's spent a lot of time studying these young ladies.”

The youngster turns bright crimson. His older brothers smile, but not unkindly.

Cornell shrugs. “I don't know. Listen – you know we're having the problem that used to be your problem. I know CGC's off the air at the moment, and even if I can persuade the Board to drop our problems entirely, your network's not exactly happy – so I was wondering if you'd be OK taking some temp contracts here, wrestling with us, just long enough to get ELITE in line?”

Alex frowns. “Hell, Tommy, I don't know about that-”

“Hell yeah, you mean!” Steve interrupts with a wide grin. Alex rolls his eyes; Jack and Ricky share grins. “One last battle, Alex, one last war to put them in their place, and then we're done. And in the meantime, I can give that Reed Richards kid-”

“Art Reed,” Ricky corrects absently.

“-another shot at the belt, like I promised. We stay out there for the fans to see. Come on, Alex! Even the UK can! Be! DeCOLT! COUNTRY!”

Tommy Cornell seems taken aback. Alex grins at that. “He's always like this,” he says. “But... well, hell, he's got a point. We could use the exposure... and it does kind of sit awkward with me that we didn't get to kick their asses one last time.

“I guess you've got a deal. We can work out numbers tomorrow, man – you've got a match to worry about tonight, you don't need to be thinking about that.”

Cornell nods. “Thanks, lads. We'll do right by you.”

“Just go get ready to kick his ass,” Steve grins.

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/gina.jpg

Special Guest Enforcer Gina Carano

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeriLynnStone.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KatherineGoodlooks_Self2.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JessicaBunny_Self3.jpg

JeriLynn Stone © vs. Michelle Cox vs. Serena Starr

JeriLynn makes her way out last as always; arguably more noteworthy is the fact that her two challengers come out together. Even in a one-fall-takes-all match, the unity of the Leading Lights seems obvious.

“And,” Dangerous says to Lynam, “it's just about possible that these two will do what no team does.

“It's just about possible one of them will let the other take the pin without fighting it.”

Indeed, as the match begins, JeriLynn is set to battle against a beatdown. Gina Carano stays out of the fight, early on, but when Cox grabs a handful of hair for additional leverage, referee Ray Johnson points at it. Carano breaks Cox's hold and shoves her aside. A rake of the face by Starr gets similar treatment.

Johnson's seen grinning at that point. He glances across to the announce table and mouths something that looks a hell of a lot like “I could get used to this.”

JeriLynn is, nonetheless, under siege. She does well – damn well – to hold it at bay, but soon enough Cox scores with a Pretty Fly – and immediate steps back. Starr makes the cover, but doesn't get the win, as Stone kicks out and goes immediately to work on Starr's arm.

Naturally, Cox gets back into it and, one superkick from Starr later, it's Cox who makes the cover. Gradually a pattern emerges; the two have clearly agreed to alternate pinfall attempts, and are sticking with it.

The cheating continues. It's all low-level, but it's constantly there – and it comes to a head when, following a Star Burst, Michelle Cox covers, and Johnson refuses to count due to earlier shenanigans.

Furious, Cox slaps him. What would draw a DQ in any other match draws a grin from Johnson, who just looks to Carano and nods.

Realising her mistake too late, Cox turns and walks into a brutally stiff jab, then – as she steps back – a massive head kick. She drops like a stone – and speaking of Stones, JeriLynn blocks Starr's attempt to control and go for another Star Burst, single-legging her to the mat and locking in her uncle Dan's Stone Ankle Stretch – the same move that won her the title.

Carano drops to the mat to study the move, looking at it from various angles. Starr will later claim she anticipated an attack from Carano and that was the true reason she tapped, but regardless, at Malice in Wonderland, JeriLynn Stone hands the Leading Lights their first loss.

JeriLynn Stone defeated Michelle Cox and Serena Starr

Rating: B-

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeriLynnStone.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeremyStone.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddStone_alt6.jpg

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Stone In My Hand replaces One Girl Revolution and JeriLynn's father appears on the entryway, applauding and making his way down to the ring. After a moment, uncles Edd and Sean McFly follow, and Kate Dangerous joins them.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DuaneStone_Self.jpg

The family and friend embrace in the centre of the ring, though Edd does admittedly seem more interested in ogling Carano. After breaking from a hug with her father, JeriLynn drops back a step – and bumps into her Uncle Duane, standing behind her.

“I have got to figure out how he does that,” Fry deadpans.

“Concentrate on the why,” Dangerous replies. “The Stones have one match left this weekend, but it hasn't been their best so far – even if that's down to ELITE. JeriLynn has given them one beacon of hope, at least. And her father could well light another by the end of the night.”

“It's 3-2, advantage Omega, right now,” Midden acknowledges. “I'm seriously hoping her father lights another.”

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TCWHardHitting.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/LobsterWarrior_PS.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JohnnyBloodstone_alt2.jpg

Chris Rockwell © vs. Johnny Bloodstone

The fighters touch gloves before the start of this one, then square off. Any attempt at a pure wrestling match is lost when Rockwell throws three rapid punches at Bloodstone's head; Johnny blocks two, but one gets through, and he promptly sees red.

Rockwell endures the initial onslaught, blocking some of the shots, weathering others, and cuts to the chase with a fast double-leg takedown. Some MMA-style ground and pound ensues, but after a few moments, Johnny Bloodstone twists and ends up on top to fire back. That prompts Rockwell to shift momentum and escape, rolling to the outside and recovering.

Johnny, in-ring, is furious still. He rushes toward the side, but stops short, kicking at the bottom rope to show his frustration. Rockwell grins; it looks, all of a sudden, like the Hard-Hitting Champion had a gameplan, wanted Bloodstone furious, aimed to weather the storm, then shut him down.

As he returns to the ring he switches to a more purposeful mat-oriented game, taking advantage of Bloodstone's unleashed temper to tempt the challenger into making mistakes, to open up opportunities. Bloodstone's chance to win this match seems to be slipping away...

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The unfamiliar music gets both men's attention. They turn and stare as a newcomer marches down the entryway.

“That's the Iron Man! That's Tim Westybrook!” Fry gushes excitedly. “That must be Bloodstone's friend from the past.”

“I don't normally expect you to recognise people from outside,” Dangerous comments.

“Considering Johnny was expecting someone for Malice, I thought I'd best study up on the candidates,” Fry returns.

The battle is rejoined, and Bloodstone seems already a lot more focused, a lot more in control. Rockwell doesn't much like that, but he does his level best to counterattack, trying to slap some rage back into Bloodstone and, finally, taking full advantage of the No Holds Barred rules he knows so well.

He low blows Johnny, grabs his weakened arm, slams him to the mat and locks in the Furusawa Armbar. While Sparrow checks on Bloodstone, however, Westybrook wanders by and oh-so-casually punches Rockwell hard in the side of the head.

The hold is released, and Bloodstone loses no time in acting, bloodying Rockwell with a series of mounted punches, then powerbombing him and jacknifing over into a pin. On the outside, Westybrook grabs Bloodstone's legs to give him extra leverage – and that secures the victory.

Johnny Bloodstone defeated Chris Rockwell

Rating: B

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Johnny has his hand raised in victory by Sparrow as Westybrook grabs the belt. The moment he's announced as the winner, however, his face contorts back into a snarl and rushes forward and kicks Rockwell in the ribs. He stomps away at Rockwell's head.

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Needless to say, the remaining Amigos and Stephanie Wade storm down to ringside as Bloodstone locks in the Bloodstone Mutilation.

Westybrook is waiting. Law eats a big boot to put him on his back. Golden fares a bit better, jarring Westybrook with four or five punches and setting up for a powerbomb, but The Iron Man reverses it, boosting Golden above his head, spinning around four times, and tossing him into the air.

(“TNT WHIRLWIND!” Fry calls.)

Meanwhile, though, Wade has saved Rockwell, raining down shots on Bloodstone with her nightstick. Tim and Johnny bail, but once they're past the guardrail they do so casually, confidently enough. Westybrook is actively grinning.

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American Fox vs. Jacob Jett w/ Adrian Garcia vs. Kirk Jameson

vs.

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Ryan Powell vs. Shingen Miyazaki vs. UK Dragon

Some matches of this type are all about speed. That's a lot of it here, but it isn't all of it. The hits come fast and furious in the early going, thought after a while Miyazaki gets into position to clean house.

A slam puts Jett on his back; Jameson eats a DDT next, and American Fox gets caught out of the air and backbreakered. Ryan Powell splashes Jett, and Dragon tries to ambush Miyazaki – Miyazaki counters to a Blue Thunder Bomb – Dragon shifts in the air, converting that into a huracanrana pin! First blood in this contest sees the School of Tradition put one over on Team KOBRA.

Elimination #1: Shingen Miyazaki

Powell and Dragon exchange punches, but Jacob Jett interferes, nailing a Jett Take Off on Powell – only to eat a Fox Hunter from American Fox, but Jameson pops up behind him, twisting his mask so he can't see. UK Dragon promptly superkicks him, but it's Jameson who claims the pinfall.

Elimination #2: American Fox

Dragon and Jameson lay into each other next. Jacob Jett, recovered, springboards into the middle of the fray with a spinkick that connects with both before he lands. He raises his hands in salute – only to get booted in the gut by Ryan Powell, who points up at one of the VIP boxes, then nails a crisp D-De-Colt in homage to his tag partner, pinning Jett and taking him out of the game.

Elimination #3: Jacob Jett

Powell wastes no time; seeing UK Dragon coming for him, he stops him with a punch, whips him into the corner, and looks to set up for the Powell Plunge – only for Dragon to elbow free.

Showing incredible balance, Dragon slips from Powell's shoulders and lands standing on the top rope. He pulls Powell onto his shoulders, takes four running steps along the ring rope, then lets himself fall back into the ring to execute a top-rope Death Valley Driver. The cover is academic.

Elimination #4: Ryan Powell

Jameson stomps down hard on the back of Dragon's masked head, then tosses him out of the ring. He climbs to the top rope, thereby drawing Eugene Williams' attention, and on the outside...

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...Mikey 'the Dragon' James and “Bulldozer” Brandon Smith hit a side kick/backdrop driver combo on the UK Dragon, then roll him back into the ring. And Jameson? His moonsault isn't a thing of beauty, but it's a good, solid hit.

“So was that the Enforcers acting for Jameson, or for Team KOBRA like Eric Tyler keeps claiming?” Dangerous wonders aloud.

“Or both,” Fry points out.

Elimination #5: UK Dragon

Kirk Jameson defeated American Fox, Jacob Jett, Ryan Powell, Shingen Miyazaki and UK Dragon

Rating: C+

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Davis Wayne Newton w/ Phil Vibert vs. Jeremy Stone

All other things being equal, this match should be great, a contender to steal the show. It's... not, really, but the sheer captivating quality of it means that it takes some thought before the explanation is apparent.

Newton and Jeremy operate to two different rhythms of wrestling, and while they do a reasonable job of finding a midpoint, neither one is really firing on all cylinders that way.

Davis dances around the veteran in terms of speed, but Stone is able to shut down a lot of his gambits. It becomes human chess in the truest sense – one tactic, then another, selected, pace shifting according to the prevailing plan, as two men try to outthink one another.

Jeremy has the obvious advantage there, but there are new moves as well as old and half-forgotten. There are strategies that require young, flexible bodies to employ, and which are harder to counter the older and stiffer one grows.

Over time, despite Stone's legendary stamina, the advantage slowly swings back toward Davis – slowly moves back into Generation Omega's territory. With one match to spare, could Davis Wayne Newton, the man with the Ticket to the Top, see Phil Vibert's plan come to fruition?

Davis tries the STF, and Jeremy struggles for a while, but escapes. He retaliates, or tries to, with the Stone Hold, but Newton squirms clear. A Stone's Throw attempt is halted when Vibert, agitated and furious, yanks Jeremy's ankle out from under him, and Newton immediately looks to get the advantage.

Little by little, Newton continues to wear the eldest Stone wrestling down. He finally feels confident enough to hook up for the Fisherman's Suplex – and out of nowhere, Jeremy Stone counters it into an inside cradle! He holds on tight – ONE, TWO, THREE!

Jeremy Stone defeated Davis Wayne Newton

Rating: A

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All smiles as the camera joins her, Autumn Gleeson welcomes us backstage. “I wasn't sure what question I'd be asking,” she says. “But I'm back in the locker room areas, in a little place we've got set up for the boys and girls to watch the show. I asked a few of them if they'd be interested in predicting how things will go – who'll win the final match.

“We asked a backup, too, in case it had been decided, which was what people were expecting from the new regime. But cut together to save time, let's see what people had to say...”

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“I've wrestled both of them. Cornell's a better wrestler, but Hawkins wants it more. I'm praying I'm wrong, but I think that'll decide it.”

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“Doesn't concern me, sister. Whatever happens, the Easy Riders will pick our moment and fight back to the tag championships.”

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“I'm pulling for Tommy. If he doesn't manage it, though, I'm prepared to beat some contrition into both of them.”

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“Phil Vibert never planned a setup like this without it being a scam. He's got something lined up.”

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“I dunno... why do you care?”

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“The Wolf has fire. Cornell has no fire.”

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“I've got a lot riding on Tommy Cornell. I had a lot riding on Aaron Andrews. I'm not worried.”

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“Shōrai no bijon o motsu hito wa sapōto ga ataisuru Phil Vibert.”*

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“Wolf Hawkins. Hands down.”

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“I want it to be Tommy, but I'm not betting on it. I wish I could.”

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British Lions © w/ Laura Huggins vs. Machines

A certain amount of ceremony to the entrances here, as O'Curle and Morgan make their approach in brand-new ring attire and robes. Their short tights are modeled after old-style world championship belts, with the flags of the countries they've defended their titles in and the opponents they've faced on the hips.

Morgan makes a point of shaking hands with each Machine before Sam Sparrow checks all four men for hidden weapons and the ring announcing is done.

Despite that, it's O'Curle who starts for the Lions; Anderson for the Machines. They circle twice, quickly, and close to a lockup, which Anderson has the power advantage in. He applies the headlock, only for O'Curle to slip out of it and into a hammerlock, really cranking that on, applying extra pressure occasionally to make Anderson stragger in a wide arc.

As soon as Anderson's facing the Lions' corner, Merle releases the lock and shoves. John Anderson stops himself before hitting the turnbuckles, but he's suddenly in close. He turns, to be met with another lockup. O'Curle transitions fast into a Russian legsweep, taking him down, and grabs a guillotined armbar, further working the limb.

After a few moments, Anderson gets himself to the ropes, breaking the hold. The two separate for a second and Anderson fires off some chops with his other arm, then springs up to hit a standing vertical dropkick.

Backing up, Anderson gets a runup and hits a charging knee to O'Curle's face, snagging him by the boot afterward and dragging him back out into the centre of the ring. He promptly tags out to Brent Hill, shaking some life back into his arm.

Hill speeds forward to hit a running elbow drop, drawing Merle back up and setting for a suplex – O'Curle hooks the leg, stopping the lift, then spins Brent around. A German suplex attempt – but Brent jumps into it and lands on his feet. A chop block takes Merle's leg out.

Hill immediately shifts to a figure-four leglock, looking to keep up the pressure, but they're just a little too close – O'Curle makes the ropes. As Hill releases the hold, Merle rolls clear from the ring.

Walter locks up with Brent and immediately spins out and around, stepping on the back of Brent's knee to drive him down and cinch in a straitjacket lock.

Placing both feet more firmly in the back of Hill's knees, Walter settles onto his back, forcing Hill into the air, bent uncomfortably in a straitjacket surfboard variant.

The Machine hangs there for a long moment, almost choked by his own arms, before managing to extricate one foot, then the other – and rolling over and out of the hold, back to his feet. Morgan rises away from him, and the two stare one another down.

A slow circle, now, then closing – and at the last moment Brent speeds up, delivering a hard knee to the gut. A gutwrench suplex immediately follows, then a legdrop. He pulls Morgan back up and scores with a powerbomb, then covers – ONE, TWO – NO!

Hill looks across to Anderson, who nods. Once again, Brent pulls Morgan to his feet. He goes to a tight bearhug, holding that for maybe fifteen seconds before launching his opponent into the air with a big belly-to-belly. Walter hits the mat and rolls to the outside, bringing O'Curle back in. Brent hesitates for a moment, then falls back, tagging out to Anderson.

Merle smiles, acknowledging the show of respect. He closes in on Anderson fast, circling out in a crouch, staying lower than his opponent. Anderson keeps a little out of reach, looking to work out what O'Curle's up to.

Backed into a corner, however, Anderson eventually has to close, and when he does, O'Curle rises into his midriff, standing up now with his opponent clamped tight over one shoulder. He takes two steps back into the ring and drops to both knees, jarring Anderson's gut into his shoulder, then flips Anderson forward, hanging on such that the Human Arsenal's feet hit the floor while his head is suspended in an inverted headlock.

And then O'Curle twists, delivering a high-speed neckbreaker to lay Anderson out. Immediately he goes to the Celtic Wreath.

Naturally enough, running on instinct Hill comes in to save the match for his team, breaking the hold with a sliding dropkick. It's efficient and effective; Brent scoops Merle up for a slam as his partner rolls back out of the ring, effectively tagging the King of the Hill in.

O'Curle hits the mat hard. Brent pulls him back up, but this time with something of a smile. He whips Merle to one rope, hitting the far ropes himself, exploding into his opponent with a flying shoulderblock.

Merle finds his way back to his feet, but Brent is on a roll now; a volley of chops drive the Irishman back into a corner, and a superkick follows. O'Curle collapses back into the turnbuckles; Hill tags in Anderson and whips O'Curle into him. The Human Arsenal ends the champion's speed with a spinebuster, then draws him back up – AMMO DUMP! COVER! ONE, TWO, THR- Morgan's there to break it up, which he does with remarkable efficiency.

Walter backs into their corner as Anderson leaves the ring, bringing Hill back in. After the Ammo Dump, Hill decides to capitalise with a stalling brainbuster, and then, finally, he goes to the top rope – looking, one would have to assume, for the King of the Hill.

He soars – and O'Curle, having been beaten by this before, brings his knees up to strike Hill in the gut. As he does so, Morgan leaps from their own corner. Moments after Hill has the air driven out of him by impact with the knees, Walter's legdrop nearly decapitates him.

Anderson rushes in, going for Morgan, who bails, baiting the Human Arsenal out after him. Meanwhile, O'Curle is in position to lock down the Celtic Wreath, centre of the ring – and Brent Hill has no option but to tap.

British Lions defeated the Machines

Rating: A*

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Breakin' The Law begins to play, and Tommy Cornell starts to walk the ramp to the ring. On one side walks legendary British wrestler, renowned both in the UK and in Gene Plumelli's storied Boston territory, “Gentleman” Othello Dawson – one of Cornell's trainers in the famous Dog Pound.

On the other walks Cornell's former greatest rival, still leaning on a cane after his injuries over a month ago at the hands of ELITE, Ricky Dale Johnson.

By the ancient laws of professional wrestling custom, the challenger has entered the ring first, to one of the loudest crowd reactions professional wrestling has received in the UK in almost two decades.

His music ceases and an expectant hush falls.

*ksht* “Ah, be advised, private craft taking to the air.” *ksht*

The big screen cuts to an external pickup somewhere on the river Thames, as, from just beside the river itself, a sleek black helicopter rises into the air.

*ksht* “Roger that. In accordance with pre-filed flightplan, you are authorised to enter London airspace.” *ksht*

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The helicopter proceeds up the Thames, flying fairly low past a number of London landmarks as the music continues to play. A set of lights lining the flat-topped entryway, just in front of the big screen, flare into life; landing lights.

TCW staff scurry out of the entryway itself to set up a ramp leading down from the flat top.

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As Metallica reach a climax, the helicopter comes into view over the stadium, coming to a halt above the hitherto-unsuspected helipad. The door slides open, revealing Wolf Hawkins stood inside, a new long ring jacket flaring in the updraught, belt around his waist.

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The helicopter lands, and the champion makes his way down the ramp. Phil Vibert meets him at the base to walk with him; ahead of them, TCW staffers scramble to unroll a red carpet fast enough.

The champion is here.

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Nose to nose go champion and challenger. Hawkins unfastens the belt from around his waist and raises it aloft, one-handed, though neither man looks. Sam Sparrow runs his tongue nervously over his lips, anticipating having to back them away from one another.

“He knows how to make an entrance,” Lynam observes. “And he has that belt – so I know he can back it up.”

Midden and Dangerous agree. “You're very right, Des,” Fry chimes in. “Believe me – you don't need to be a rocket scientist to predict it. This one is going to be a barnstormer.”

Eventually, the two men are separated to their corners. Wolf shrugs off his jacket. Sparrow checks, and ensures that neither man is concealing foreign objects. They return to the centre of the ring, eyes locked on one another.

Hawkins glares. Cornell looks back at him almost sorrowfully. He shakes his head marginally – and Hawkins strikes! Punch after punch to the jawline, grabs the wrist, whips Tommy to the ropes – chasing there himself, nailing Cornell with a lariat before he has anything resembling a chance to assess the situation.

Tommy hits the mat immediately and Wolf is on him, snarling ferally, raining down punches. Cornell can block only a few and must squirm free, rolling out of the ring.

He gets a few moments to recover, but Hawkins has no intention of giving him long and quickly scrambles up to the turnbuckle, then dives to the outside, sandwiching Cornell against the guardrail. With a gleeful savagery, Wolf pitches Tommy back into the ring and grabs a handful of hair to drag him to his feet – but Tommy cuts him off with a European uppercut!

Wolf falls back a step and Cornell fires off the Blade Chops, fighting back to his feet. Another European uppercut – suplex attempt – Wolf lands on his feet and charges forward, looking for a bulldog – and nailing it! Cover! ONE, TW-

Cornell powers out and meets Hawkins' next rush with a big boot – keeps the leg extended, swivelling on his other foot – drops the leg. He doesn't make a cover of his own, instead pulling Wolf to his feet – and Hawkins punches out of it, then takes Cornell down with a belly-to-belly, rising to his feet to rake Cornell's face with a boot, then pivot and deliver a harsh kick across Tommy's chest.

Dropping an elbow, Wolf transitions to a kneeling chinlock, which Tommy has to fight for a few moments, eventually bracing up on his feet to get enough leverage and counter to a snapmare. He moves for a chinlock of his own but, seated, Wolf still gets enough power into a volley of chops to drive him back. Scrambling up, Wolf hits the ropes and comes off with a running lariat – Cornell ducks it, but turns around into a high-speed jumping neckbreaker.

Hawkins grins, looking out of the ring at the watching Dawson. “I'm better!” he calls, smirking widely. Tommy starts making his way back to his feet and Wolf backs off just slightly, stalking, measuring. He moves as if to hit the Full Moon Rising, and Cornell moves to block – which is great for Hawkins, as it leaves Tommy unprotected against a swift backbreaker.

Wolf walks a slow half-circle around Cornell as he struggles back to his feet, smiling the whole time. He grabs Tommy from behind and tries a back suplex, but Cornell lands neatly and immediately goes for an atomic drop, sending the champion four or five steps forward across the ring.

By the time Wolf's collected his thoughts, Tommy's slammed into him with a hard forearm to the back of the head. Cornell backs off a few paces, getting his breath, and the two turn to face one another. Hawkins beckons Cornell in, and Tommy goes back to circling – closes in – closes too far, tagged by a sudden dropkick, sent staggering back into the corner.

Wolf is on him in an instant, hammering him with punches and kicks, then back a step, allowing Tommy out – drives his shoulder into Cornell's gut and rams Tommy into the turnbuckles, stays on him, snaking an arm around him, as the two feed back out, and hits a twisting spinebuster. From his knees Wolf glares down at his former mentor. “Whose is better, then?” he taunts.

Cornell's clutching at his back and Hawkins zeroes in immediately, gathering up the challenger's legs and converting for the Minnesota Cloverleaf that was so successful earlier. Tommy, however, struggles more effectively, less injured to begin with, and twists back onto his back, then pulls his legs in toward his stomach. Hawkins comes with them – and catches one hell of a forearm to the jaw on his way down.

Tommy rolls clear again, to his knees, then to one knee, and finally back to his feet. Hawkins charges again – Cornell drops down and sweeps the leg out from under him! He steps into a figure-four, as seen earlier in the night, and settles in for what he knows is going to be a long campaign yet.

Hawkins writhes in the pain, slamming his arms against the mat, then rising again to avoid a pin count. Cornell, already propped up, grins, taunting him. “The old ones are the best,” he jibes.

And Wolf Hawkins goes the extra mile, leaning forward against the pain, to take a swing and connect solidly with Tommy's jaw. He turns the hold over – Cornell breaks it quickly, scrambling away, meeting another charge with a Blade Chop.

Wolf staggers backward and Tommy hops onto the second rope, coming off with a Three-Inch Shrink. He tries for a Rough Ride – Hawkins shoves clear and charges, nailing Cornell with the Full Moon Rising to the back of the head – only to see the challenger tumble out of the ring!

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Frustrated, Wolf goes out after him, but both RDJ and Othello Dawson are there. One is nearly eighty, and the other is leaning on a cane – but they're a risk, cumulatively, Hawkins feels he doesn't quite need. He backs off, and Cornell's ringmen block him off, allowing Tommy to recover...

...except that Phil Vibert has snuck round the other side and is putting the boots to Cornell.

“Oh, to hell with this,” Midden snarls. “Damn right,” agrees Dangerous.

Wolf, meanwhile, is staring at this assistance he's getting and snarling. “NO!” he yells, and RDJ risks a glance over his shoulder. Seeing the assault, he turns to approach Vibert, who panics and bolts into the ring.

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Also entering the ring, from the other direction, are Mayhem Midden and Horatio Dangerous. Vibert backs away from RDJ, eyes still on the injured wrestler, until Midden spins him around and lashes forward, connecting with the headbutt. Vibert's head snaps backward; Midden snares his head with both hands and headbutts again.

By the time Phil stumbles backward he's visibly bleeding from the steel-plate headbutt of the Board's Representative, but he stumbles backwards into the waiting arms of Horatio Dangerous, who sends him crashing to the mat with a half-nelson suplex.

Hawkins, having rolled into the ring, measures Vibert and nails him with a Full Moon Rising before throwing his unresisting body from the ring. He turns around to face Midden and Dangerous, who simply nod respect and leave the ring, heading back to their places at the announce table.

By this time, Tommy Cornell is back in the ring. Wolf hits him with a volley of chops and pulls him in close, looking for the Wolf's Call, but Cornell elbows free and once again goes for the ROUGH RIDE! COVER! ONE, TWO, THR- NOOO!

Wolf Hawkins is back on his feet surprisingly fast, too. He blocks a kick from Cornell and throws a headbutt of his own, then goes back to the Wolf's Call. This time it hits! ONE, TWO, THRE- NO!

Frustrated, Hawkins shakes his head, then a light seems to come on in his eyes. “I know what beats you,” he snarls, literally spitting in his fury. “I teamed with what beat you!” He stomps Tommy back to the mat and heads to the outside, then springboards as Cornell rises, drawing on a former teammate's speciality, the move that won the World Heavyweight Championship from Cornell, the STAR MAKER! COVER! ONE, TWO, THRE- NO!

Hawkins pounds the mat in frustration. He drags Tommy to his feet then whips him hard across the ring and into the turnbuckles, following him with a lariat to keep him dazed. He boosts him to the top turnbuckle, going up after him. Everyone knows what's coming, the SOLO SPANISH-

It takes a few moments to work out what's going on, but what becomes obvious is that while both men are in the air, Cornell somehow manages to lock in the GUILT TRIP! They hit the mat hard, but Tommy holds on! Everything is on the line for Hawkins here – leading the stable with control of the company, the World Heavyweight Championship, everything – and he struggles, and fights – but as time goes on, his struggles cease. Sparrow moves in, lifts his arm -

It falls.

Sparrow lifts again...

It falls.

Sparrow lifts again...

HAWKINS IS STILL IN THIS THING! Frustrated, Cornell releases the hold. He sits back onto his knees, looking across to Dawson.

The camera nearest Othello Dawson catches the old man's words. “You've tried what I taught you,” he seems to say. “What else have you learned?”

Cornell nods. As Hawkins regains his feet, Tommy measures him. A boot to the gut, and Hawkins is up on his shoulders -

GAME BREAKER! COVER! ONE, TWO, THRE- NOOOO!

Cornell shakes his head, thinking. Wolf makes it to his feet again – SOUTHERN JUS- NO! Hawkins counters – shoves clear – FULL MOON RISIN- NO! Cornell blocks it – DARK MATTER! COVER! ONE, TWO, THREE!

Tommy Cornell defeated Wolf Hawkins

Rating: A*

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Breakin' The Law hits again, but nobody's hearing it over the noise of the City of London Stadium roaring their approval. TCW wrestlers are pouring down the entranceway, eager to be there, applauding the match they've just witnessed. Vibert still lies, unmoving and unaware, beside the ring, but nobody pays attention.

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Aaron Andrews, who just one year ago was engaged in a life-or-death struggle with Tommy Cornell, brings the World Heavyweight Championship into the ring. Standing behind the new champion, he fastens the belt into place.

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The British Lions help Cornell from the ring, then lift him onto their shoulders, carrying him to the crowd. Andrews slaps them on the back, then makes a point of going to say hi to Othello Dawson – who's happy to greet him, but happier to embrace Sam Keith, who crossed his path early in Keith's career and late in Dawson's.

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Amid all the celebrations, almost nobody notices Sammy Bach, a cruel smile on his lips, shake Aaron Andrews' hand before the four individuals who retained their championships today pose for the crowd and photographs, closing out Malice in Wonderland.

Show Rating: A*

* - With serious apologies to anyone who actually speaks Japanese.

Phantom Stranger · June 6, 2012

Steve Flash is Sting.

I am...that's cool.

I'm guessing you're gonna edit this post with more thoughts that I'll end up missing, but I just wanna say:

Read PPPW: Dangerous Dreams, the first Horatio saga, in the 08 forum. For one thing, it has Tom Gilmore as one of the top players. It also has this Flash, and a number of sequences I'm confident you in particular would love.

Hashasheen · June 6, 2012

So... Damn. It's actually done. The months long push to the Malice in Wonderland being in London, the return of Tommy Cornell to the World Championship... and the little twist at the end with Sammy Bach and Aaron Andrews didn't go unnoticed.

It's been one hell of a ride, Stranger. Been honored to have been following this one, unlike the catch-up with PPPW.

NoNeck · June 6, 2012

Standing ovation, sir. Standing ovation.

Phantom Stranger · June 6, 2012

So... Damn. It's actually done. The months long push to the Malice in Wonderland being in London, the return of Tommy Cornell to the World Championship... and the little twist at the end with Sammy Bach and Aaron Andrews didn't go unnoticed.

It's been one hell of a ride, Stranger. Been honored to have been following this one, unlike the catch-up with PPPW.

Standing ovation, sir. Standing ovation.

It's actually done. And maybe, when I wake up tomorrow, that'll have sunk in.

I've been planning the end to this one for so long... but I rebooked a chunk on the weekend itself. There will be some more IC stuff and some more OC commentary when I'm more compos mentis.

For now...

Thanks, guys.

And thanks to those of you who have me ahead in the DoTM this month. One last time seems... fitting.

Excuse the slight indulgence that was Des Lynam and the opener to this one. It's partly appropriate guest, partly obscure running gag.

And with that... I'll have more to say soon.

Eidenhoek · June 6, 2012

I'm guessing you're gonna edit this post with more thoughts that I'll end up missing, but I just wanna say:

Read PPPW: Dangerous Dreams, the first Horatio saga, in the 08 forum. For one thing, it has Tom Gilmore as one of the top players. It also has this Flash, and a number of sequences I'm confident you in particular would love.

Deleted it because a non-sequiter shouldn't be the first comment after Malice.

~~~~~

First I need to make clear that I think this is one of the best diaries on the board. The length of time in and out of game is tremendous; changing from 2008 to 2010 is at the very least a marked moment in the fistory of this series; the writing, both that of the action and characters, is excellent. Again, I think this is one of the best diaries on the board. Keep that in mind.

Secondly, I need to talk about ELITE, since I hinted at that earlier.

ELITE is not the Canadian Generation Omega; instead of being headed by the glory-hog get-off-the-television Vibert, they have an actual competent leader in Eddie Chandler (or Joe Money, who I dislike, but whatever). Aside from that, I do feel relatively similar about the two. Since I want to talk about Malice, I'll leave this discussion with heels are bad.

ELITE didn't do anything offensive (aside from cheating) in their match on night two, so my only issue is with who they were on night one.

Night one we open with the security being laid impotent. Not even jumped unawares, apparently, but armed with weapons. I'm assuming this was ELITE just because I am, but regardless, now the show is screwed. The one force that was supposed to keep things in line is gone at the opening of the show. I don't think that was a great idea; I'd rather have them get laid out after a match or segment or something. Then again, given the stacked show night one was, (along with the ambiguity in expected match ratings; the tag match sucked far worse than what I expected) you needed them out early. Not an ELITE issue, necessarily, but a poor booking decision in my opinion's view.

We have THE GREATEST CANADIAN MATCH EVER. Oh wait, ELITE ruined it. I understand that they hate the DeColts. And people. I understand that they're heels and thus prone to screwing up things with people they don't like. I also understand that there's supposed to be a suspension of disbelief in any form of fiction; in wrestling, things begin and end in the ring, assault is expected, property destruction is warranted, etc.

That said, ELITE screwing over that match, making it undecided, broke my disbelief. That interference made me want Midden or Cornell or whoever fire ELITE. I don't care that they had contracts, I don't care that plenty of people (OMEGA) have interfered. You don't get to pull the crap they did. Basically, my thoughts on the show thus war were marred by me saying, "**** ELITE, they should be fired, I don't want to see them at all, no comeuppance. Just leave."

Admittedly, you followed with an A* match and robot cowboys. And a weirdly-sized Drew Brees was in there, so...right, right, that'd be the review stuff.

On to the review!

~~~

Night One:

Oh, hey, KOBRA's out of commission? WHAT EVER WILL HAPPEN NEXT? Wait, they're gone now? Already commented on why that was a bad move in my eyes; I now think that TCW can't defend itself (which...given the stables that have run rampant, and Vibert, I guess they can't).

~

Pathlow match was filler, which makes me sad. Countout victory, though, so that was amusing (I'm not a Singh fan, but I could earliy respect him with some more development/matches).

~

DaLay is Sean Connery? Yay!

~

Perez/Umaga sucked; I say that thinking that this is a main event match. I'm not sure why I think that, or why I can't expect a midcard feud to get a nice midcard grade, but I feel like it underperformed given the writing (which I've said of some other stuff before, and I know you've said that you write the match irrespective of rating). Perez reuniting (well, sorta) with James was cool. I'm glad Perez goes over; not a fan of Umaga.

~

DAMMIT DAVIS WAYNE NEWTON WHY

~

Oh, I expected Strong to kiss Newton. I can't remember who gets with whom, but a Newton/Strong kid would be godly.

Also, why the hell hasn't Sam Keith taught ISAAC FREAKING NEWTON (IFN, if you will) his science moves? blahhhhh storylines that should exist because I'm insane and have no bearing in reality nor the fact that the two are of opposite alignments.

~

Why the hell didn't Bowman brainbuster Vibert for interfering? I don't like Faith losing here, given that my impression of him is overridden by him being the face of SWF (unsure where he was in '08 in terms of popularity, and I know he's been booked far differently in your game).

~

McFly...whatever. Whatever, DaLay sucks, I stopped caring.

Oh, except here:

Sean McFly doesn't often go airborne, but he can

80+ aerial and he doesn't often go airborne? Okay Stranger-verse McFly, you pulled one over on me.

~

YEAH DREW BREES FIST PUMP SMALL PICTURE SMILE AT THE AUDIENCE!

Wait, Masked Patriot is in the angle? Uh...

~

Tag match got a B. I'm torn here; on one hand, I want to say that the Lions aren't as good as I thought, since they can't carry a 100 experience team to at least a B+. On the other hand, I want to place the blame on the New Wave, given that the Lions are proven excellence. Which then means New Wave suck? Whatever; I'm disappointed.

~

YEAH SEAN DEELEY wait a draw? /sigh Long storyline with Huggins is long. I am impressed by their inability to get the 4+ matches in six months penalty. Ignoring my bias, that's impressive.

~

YEAH EDDIE PEAK YEAH FIREBALLS YESSSSSS. /happy

~

and on the outside Phil Vibert strains to reach the pair and intercede on Generation Omega's behalf – but he can't.

I like the Women's Match.

Well, it also got an A*, which was surprising/entirely expected. That was awesome. Or should I say, a Strong showing YEAHHHHHHHHH

~

Stone/DeColt match already has plenty of stupid babble up there. I want to add that Duane Stone getting low blowed and caught in a submission is inexcusable.

~

ROBOT COWBOY YAY!

I might have liked the Womens' match better, though. There's something about the style of Greg that bugs me. Or Matt; not real sure.

Also, Mist use without ill effects was a touch weird, but the match was excellent.

~~

Night Two:

Wait, so...England scores the last goal, making it 4-2 instead of 3-2? Or was that Germany? I like the part where I'm totally from Britain or whatever and get the significance of this event. And that one chick that I refuse to believe isn't holding a rifle or something.

Wait, Nichiren Amagawa is dancing to the music? That is definitely the wtf moment of Malice.

~

Wolf's the one that did the crazy bump in the elimnation...chamber...match thing, instead of...Lover? Or was it DuBois...regardless, FINALLY REMO GETS BEATEN CLEAN DAMMIT I'M TIRED OF HIM.

~

Wait a second, Bill Nighy...ohhhhhh. I assume he's done other significant things than worn a hat and mimicked Ultros.

Wait another second-why aren't the Easy Riders killing everyone onscreen?

~

Darkwave/Tornuce was weird. I liked the rating (wanted an A*), and I kinda liked the match, but at the same time I didn't. I dunno. Something seemed off I guess. /shrug

~

...God dammit. Now Joey Minnesota is my least favorite member of Generation Omega. Way to bury Sam Keith. AND DAMMIT I'M USING THE WORD BURIED SHUT UP PWB!

...

So...anyway, I don't like it when a guy I'm supposed to like is systematically shut down in any media. For example, in Ultimate Muscle, when...the...german guy did the Red Reign of Pain and...the...bird...evil guy caught the arm, then cut off the bloodflow to said arm, removing the use of that ability for the match, I felt uneasy. Not mad/angry/sad/whatever, I felt messed up.

Yes, I watched that episode years ago and barely remember much. Like, for example, the fact that Kid Muscle at one point had german dude's necklace allowing him to be possessed and use said move against that guy. Which implies that that move and/or the guy's style is the birdman's weakness. Which, given other backstory, makes sense, because Kid Muscle had to invent the Muscle Millenium to beat the guy later in the story; the Kinnikubuster was reversed by...finger...something. Twice. Because Buffaloman told birdguy about it when they were training years ago.

Now you might be saying, "Eiden, what the **** does this have to do with Minnesota versus Keith?" My response?

STOP BURYING LEGENDS.

~

Stiiiiiiiiiiiiing. And I'll never read your other diaries. EVER! Because weird geisha-sexing Gilmore is freaking weird. Or because I keep forgetting to do that I guess.

I knew Flash wasn't going to wait there's my apple cinnamon bread that means I've been typing for an hour.

I knew Flash wasn't going to win, even with his Sting getup. Knowing that ELITE was going to win made me sad.

Also, having robo-Acid actually act like a confused robot made me laugh.

Then Flash takes the submission, and I cried.

~

“Will this take long?” Jack asks. With a grin, he continues, “It's the women up next. Ricky's spent a lot of time studying these young ladies.”

The youngster turns bright crimson. His older brothers smile, but not unkindly.

I loled.

And in the meantime, I can give that Reed Richards kid-”

“Art Reed,” Ricky corrects absently.

*faceforehead*

God dammit why is Steve the Edd of the DeColts? An actually funny Edd, mind, but wtf?

I think Steve is on cocaine. Which makes me sad because he could be on cocaine in the game, and that guy was the bona-fide star of 6-months-in NOTBPW. Seriously, he's the first guy that rose to absolute superstardom. I was having trouble getting people above 90 popularity; after his mouth injury and numerous angles (I had to have changed to 80% at this point) he's breaking the light blue numbers everywhere. I...that's the first time since I've played the game that I was actually happy at what I had done unintentionally with the negative the game had given me. That's special. Of course, now he has to be carried in order to call a match, but I don't care. Bloodstone being at the same psychology? Angry. Steve? Unhappy, but I'm still pushing him. He's the most popular guy worldwide on the roster (and probably the most popular guy in the world).

~

YEAH GINA CARANO YOU SO HOT (if I ever meet her I am dead)

following a Star Burst, Michelle Cox covers

Isn't that...Phil Cox's finisher? Is Michelle Cox actually a guy?

She drops like a stone

Heh, that's a pun.

– and speaking of Stones,

HEY!

Man, for as fun as that womens' match was, kinda sucked compared to the previous one.

~

though Edd does admittedly seem more interested in ogling Carano.

pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

and bumps into her Uncle Duane, standing behind her.

NOTWHATIWANTEDBUTHE'SBACK!

~

Y'know, the Hard Hitting Championship should have been refereed by Carano. Hadn't realized that until I was reading it.

And she could have won the title through Russo-esque shenanigans.

“That's the Iron Man! That's Tim Westybrook!”

WOO GUY I GET RUSSEL WESTBROOK MIXED UP WITH! I'm from Oklahoma. GO GO 3-2 US VERSUS...um...San Antonio?

Westybrook wanders by and oh-so-casually punches Rockwell hard in the side of the head.

It's funny because him casually walking by is funny, then the punch being hard is funnier.

Also, Westbrook shouldn't be a heel ;'(

~

I had completely forgotten about the elimination match.

Noooo Miyazaki!

but Jameson pops up behind him, twisting his mask so he can't see.

Ha, it's like that box head guy in Chikara. Too bad it was to Patriot here.

Ha ha Jett doesn't win. And Powell still is in the match >_> <_<

Showing incredible balance, Dragon slips from Powell's shoulders and lands standing on the top rope. He pulls Powell onto his shoulders, takes four running steps along the ring rope, then lets himself fall back into the ring to execute a top-rope Death Valley Driver. The cover is academic.

/JoeyStyles?

YEAH JAMESON WINS in a C+ match. Oh. Well...oh. Isn't that un-match of the event (so far)?

~

GOD DAMMIT CHEMISTRY

It becomes human chess in the truest sense – one tactic, then another, selected, pace shifting according to the prevailing plan, as two men try to outthink one another.

Without Chess Maniac in the ring, you're lying.

Was that a "Flash Pinfall Finish?"

~

Shōrai no bijon o motsu hito wa sapōto ga ataisuru

Apparently this is Spanish. And something about a legacy or something. I hate the Internet.

~

THANK YOU TAG MATCH.

bent uncomfortably in a straitjacket surfboard variant.

http://img1.UploadScreenshot.com/images/main/6/15613521618.jpg

~

Man if that copter had crashed...

~

nailing Cornell with the Full Moon Rising to the back of the head

Isn't the Full Moon Rising an enziguri to the front of the head?

~

Woo happy times!

ampulator · June 6, 2012

It's been a good run. I can say that you are one of the best in this community.

With that being said, I wish some of your ardent readers would follow your example. It often feels like those admire your work don't really follow your example as much as they should. Your commitment to quality while maintain a minimum amount of quantity is admirable, unlike some those that claim to closely to follow your work, but don't express this idea within their own diaries.

June 6, 2012

It's finally done. And it's really, really good. And I have a couple years worth of a TCW diary to actively try NOT to copy.

Bravo, sir. Bravo. It was really worth reading.

James Casey · June 6, 2012

Awesome stuff, PS. I'll be back with more when I'm not at work... but awesome.

Phantom Stranger · June 6, 2012

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/bookbanner.jpg

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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

I had tears in my eyes coming away from the announce desk Sunday night, and with good reason. Everybody had to hustle to the coaches, then to the planes for the overnight flight to London, but I caught Kate on her way out of the arena with Art and took her aside for a moment.

“If my match with Sam had been that good,” I told her, “we'd have had more than one Supreme Challenge go-round.”

I feel justified in being proud of them both – and so does Sam; savvy guy that he is, he met us in London. Occasionally, Sam Strong can be one of the most generous men you'd ever meet, and between pride and wanting to help his daughter, he had reason to be.

He'd booked a table at a very cushy restaurant for our daughters and ourselves, and money was no object. It was an incredible start to the day, but I had to get moving soon.

Malice in Wonderland blows off a lot of its feuds, so not all of what we did requires explanation, but some of the odder choices probably do. Here goes.

I've already seen, through TCW's web guys, some claims – actually quite a lot of claims – that putting Dan DaLay over Sean McFly is a decision punishable by death. I can see their point, but – Sean McFly is Sean McFly. Given a long enough contract you could bury him down to the point where either member of Tooth & Claw is guaranteed to beat him, and he'd be able to fight his way back to a point where his lustre is as strong as before. Dan DaLay, with the best will in the world, has a shelf life. Beating Sean extended that shelf life, making Alex DeColt happy, strengthening ELITE as the faction which actually acts like a faction after Generation Omega, and generally served a lot of purposes.
Couple that with Perez bringing the Enforcers in to attack Rhino Umaga, and you start to have a number of suspects for who took out Team KOBRA – an attack which otherwise would have led, later in the PPV, to blatant and immediate consequences for ELITE. And the attack on KOBRA allows us to finally kick their storyline into high gear just in time for The War To Settle The Score – and to do so on the biggest platform we have.
Sean Deeley and Freddy Huggins, after two months' war, end up drawing – but between that and the Pathlow finish, we open up the matches later that night, allowing people to roam, which got a lot of gratitude from performers planning new ideas later on to make their matches special. It also allows us to begin the first of the CGC title unifications, as Deeley and Huggins set their sights on different things – and become part of TCW's frontline against ELITE.
The big controversial one – DeColts/Stones. This one was giving me a headache; it's Malice, and I prefer decisive results at Malice where it's possible, but settling this feud one match in seems awkward. And yet, with the timing of the CGC takeover, putting it off past Malice just hadn't worked. The finish was ultimately demanded by the wrestlers themselves, with Tommy putting a capper on it – we got more buys by advertising the match, but not many more buys (Night Two outsold Night One) and this contest, built right, with the world outside Canada given time to get used to the DeColts, can sell a lot of PPVs down the line and culminate at NEXT year's War To Settle The Score. We tweaked the match's story and angle to set up a few things, and just let eight genetic legends do their thing until it was time to crash the party.
Night Two was a Terribly British show. I was surprised by the addition for one night of a new announcer, but he was Tommy's sentimental demand, and everyone who'd grown up in the UK agreed. In terms of helping grow awareness and develop the UK market, then, he was the right idea. Having heard me talk so much about this Malice as being a payoff to dreams, Adam Matravers mentioned the clip we used at the start. Apparently, 46 years on, that moment – which won England a world cup – is still legendary in the UK.
The Disciples of Stone match surprised a lot of people, being an unadvertised addition to Malice in Wonderland of all shows. Part thank-you to Steve Flash for his work training the Lions, part opportunity to give ELITE more openings to be big on the show when they'd been added so late, I think it ultimately worked. The idea to thank Steve and give him a big-show payday came originally from Merle O'Curle; the match idea itself was mine.
Celebrities... what the hell do you do with them? We had a fairly weird assortment; the band, so we could have a live performance; a deal with the NFL to have whoever was named, that day, the Superbowl MVP flown in to appear (which meant we couldn't come up with specifics, anyway). Lynam, a Brit to appeal to the British viewer; Bill Nighy, a Brit that Americans would recognise (talks with Daniel Craig fell through), Othello Dawson... we were lucky, really, in that all of them were up for selling our product one way or another so long as it didn't hurt who they were. I think I found things for them all to do that worked, but that was, briefly, a nightmare. Dawson's line in the main event was ad-libbed and I could have hugged him for it.
We tried really, really hard to get everyone a Malice payday. In some situations it likely worked better than others – I'm happy with Aaron having made the explicit link between him and the Patriot as pure-TCW guys. It'll be helpful to have in the archives later, when building either of them.
Bloodstone's heel turn. This one's been a long time coming – Johnny has been begging me for the chance to turn heel, on and off, since he got here. I loved how it eventually turned out – Westybrook played his part to perfection, we did a little more with Johnny's temper, and the last month he was a face, Johnny ripped down the veils and spoke from the heart. What he said was moving, what he said was 90% true, and what he said made his downfall hurt all the more. Backstage he was giving credit for that whole thing to the promo the Bombshell cut when she abandoned him; that was, apparently, what tripped the switch in his mind, made him see how to plot this one. To make it work, the Hard-Hitting Championship was perfect – relaxed rules, allowing him to cut further loose before having to restrain himself so he was partly off the leash anyway, and a champ like Rockwell who'd mastered his anger to turn face, a guy you could look at as Bloodstone's reflection.
No one didn't see the result coming for the Battle of the Bands, particularly after Jack and Troy's song earlier. But I want to single it out for students of wrestling; that wasn't a typical grudge match. If you're hoping to wrestle – particularly if you've got a trial for USPW or SWF or anywhere that truly loves its gimmicks – you owe it to yourself to sit down and watch that match a dozen or two times. Take it apart, and see how they made it work; how they turned a grudge match into something that stayed a grudge match but was true to their gimmicks – and, more important, for their skills. Telling the kind of story Greg and Matt did is simpler (though doing it at the level they did is damn, damn hard, and harder still at their age – that's the youngest PPV main event, I'm confident saying, TCW will ever broadcast.)

Phantom Stranger · June 6, 2012

That said, ELITE screwing over that match, making it undecided, broke my disbelief. That interference made me want Midden or Cornell or whoever fire ELITE. I don't care that they had contracts, I don't care that plenty of people (OMEGA) have interfered. You don't get to pull the crap they did. Basically, my thoughts on the show thus war were marred by me saying, "**** ELITE, they should be fired, I don't want to see them at all, no comeuppance. Just leave."

Issue with which is, that match is still undecided. You mentioned it feeling like TCW can't defend itself, and my attitude really is, 'good'.

Within kayfabe, at the point where a match has been ruined, the promoter can only do so many things. One of them, the obvious one, is to rebook the match at a later date in such a way it can't be ruined; say, within a cage.

He can restart the match, but it will no longer seem decisive due to the interference. He can fire the talent who interfered - but assuming the contract has no payout to the fired talent (not common, and known not to be common, in high-level sports), can you imagine the wrongful dismissal suit? These guys were attacking the company before they came in, they'll keep doing it!

So, I guess, we could fire them, wait for another attack, then press charges, get them locked up... which is tantamount to admitting our wrestlers got punked and we're running scared...

Which devalues the guys in that big match you wanna make money off. Result: ELITE stay, get comeuppance, and we do the damn match again.

Tag match got a B. I'm torn here; on one hand, I want to say that the Lions aren't as good as I thought, since they can't carry a 100 experience team to at least a B+. On the other hand, I want to place the blame on the New Wave, given that the Lions are proven excellence. Which then means New Wave suck? Whatever; I'm disappointed.

Neither side is stellar, Psychology-wise. It's an issue I've run into before with both teams, and it's why putting either against the Machines is awesome. But yeah, it's not great... but equally not bad.

Also, Mist use without ill effects was a touch weird, but the match was excellent.

If you recall, it took a couple of matches before it started to hurt Matt. He hasn't used the mist in 3-4 months, and stole a remedy during a trip to Japan.

God dammit why is Steve the Edd of the DeColts? An actually funny Edd, mind, but wtf?

I think Steve is on cocaine. Which makes me sad because he could be on cocaine in the game, and that guy was the bona-fide star of 6-months-in NOTBPW.

Nah, Steve just doesn't care enough, in character, to get names right. Jack doesn't care enough, in character, to get anything right outside the ring. Ricky cares about everything. Take a look at the CGC blog post announcing their initial title opponents in TCW.

YEAH JAMESON WINS in a C+ match. Oh. Well...oh. Isn't that un-match of the event (so far)?

I know, right? It's like a whole bunch of guys who haven't built much pop even in the US because they're mostly fairly new or fairly jobby, and the semi-exception of popular Shingen Miyazaki, had a match designed to cool the crowd down in the UK... and STILL PULLED A C+.

I was honestly expecting worse.

Shmoe · June 6, 2012

I haven't stuck my head in as often as I would've liked to through the duration, but those two shows were an awesome finale. Wrapped up just enough to be entirely satisfying but left open enough to make you believe that TCW and Horatio would be going on from here, business as usual.

I honestly consider this one of the best works I've seen on the board, probably in my personal top 3. I've had a lot of fun.

You certainly know how to tell a tale, PS. Kudos!

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