TCW: A Quiet Retirement

[Astil]

And you can't even make the excuse that it's because he's limited to the era. This diary is present day (well you know what I mean)!

 

Right, but Cornell's in charge of the promotion, and one would think based on his own theme (Breaking the Law, look it up, it's cannon) that Cornell would pick similar style songs for his wrestlers.

[FINisher]

I'M YOUUURR TURBOOOO LOVER~~!!

[Bigpapa42]

Right, but Cornell's in charge of the promotion, and one would think based on his own theme (Breaking the Law, look it up, it's cannon) that Cornell would pick similar style songs for his wrestlers.

 

To my mind, it also works because I envision Tee-Cee-Dub as harkening back to the "realistic" wrestling of the 80s and early 90s, especially with promotions like JCP/WCW and WCCW. Whether its intentional by PS or not (and it won't surprise me if it is), those choices throw back to for me in a way that I expect. And like.

[Astil]

I'M YOUUURR TURBOOOO LOVER~~!!

 

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Workers/SWF/Small/Signed%20Alt/ChampagneLoveralt5Small.jpg

 

? :cool:

[Phantom Stranger]

Jesus Christ Phathom you love 80's style rock so much it's not even funny...it's scary.

 

Could be worse. Could be all of 'em.

 

Right, but Cornell's in charge of the promotion, and one would think based on his own theme (Breaking the Law, look it up, it's cannon) that Cornell would pick similar style songs for his wrestlers.

 

This sort of thing is a lot of it. Someone like Sam Keith or Eric Tyler has also probably been using that song at least since they were first known players. Then you've got, say, Tommy's protege coming in with a name like Wolf, and what the hell else would he think to use?

 

To my mind, it also works because I envision Tee-Cee-Dub as harkening back to the "realistic" wrestling of the 80s and early 90s, especially with promotions like JCP/WCW and WCCW. Whether its intentional by PS or not (and it won't surprise me if it is), those choices throw back to for me in a way that I expect. And like.

 

Partially. My own playlist is a lot broader than this, but any song I pick for a wrestler goes through a bunch of filters:

 

1. Do I think the crowd would react well?
   
2. Does it fit the gimmick the wrestler is working?
   
3. Do I think TCW's notably older booking team would go for it?
   

 

Bear in mind that Tommy is an old-school metalhead in theory at least, that Joel is older, and that Karen Killer has written for a goth/rock music magazine for the past ten years. And they're the bulk of my 'creative team'.

 

People who followed the Philly Pro diary will have noted that a lot of the music was from the late 90s, though there were still heavy levels of throwback. This is because the selection process there went differently:

 

1. Is this wrestler sufficiently established in age and the gimmick we want them to work that they'd be coming in with established music?
   
2. If so, what era do they hail from and what's the gimmick?
   
3. If not, what would music-mad 18-year-old Adrian Dangerous pick for them? How about for the PPVs?
   

 

As a result of this, Philly Pro had a bit more diversity. And, of course, it actually had some rap, which is the area I'm most aware this list lacks in.

 

I figure that SWF is the company that buys the hot new singles rights. TCW has its established music. Which is also gonna be cheaper much of the time. (Except, nuECW taught us, for the Metallica).

 

I don't promise that music choices will make sense outside my own mental filters, but I do promise that I thought about them rather than grabbing the first thing I liked the sound of.

 

Maybe I'll let the prediction winners for each PPV choose the official song for the next one.

[Phantom Stranger]

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

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/book_open-2.jpg

21st February 2008

Everyone else

 

My wife is going to be very happy when I finish this section of the diary; I'm watching about four matches per wrestler and as many of their interviews or other segments as I can find on YouTube. In the case of, say, a Ronnie Pain or a Danny Fonzarelli, both of whom have the sort of cardio regime that would have seen Ed Henson force them into daily ten-mile runs until they improved, this takes less than an hour.

 

In the case of Tommy it took most of a morning. But there's no other good way for me to get a sense of who's likely to be what in the company; a little of Joel's notes gets folded in, a little of my own plans, but mostly I'm trying to be realistic.

 

And sometimes it comes down to as basic a comment as it did for Charlie. Today is likely to be like that, as most of these guys, well... have some way to go before they're going to be important to the company.

 

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

Freddy Huggins http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

A useful enough member of the All-Action division, Freddy takes to the air well and can cut a pretty good interview – though he likely won't get much chance unless he can climb up the totem pole significantly. His sister's been brought into the company to look after him over the last year; and she's doing a domineering older sister schtick. Which is fun, but honestly... all the heat he needs when the bell sounds is going on her. He just looks under the thumb. All due respect to Joel, it's not smart booking; I'll have to figure something out.

 

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

Clark Alexander

Until recently the Iceman, now a proud Hawaiian warrior supported by the fans. In this level of ability, he's one of our very best – which is to say, he can probably rise if he gets the opportunity, but he's unlikely to get that opportunity anytime soon. He's just entered his thirties; that rise may or may not come during his career.

 

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

Barry Kingman

I feel for Barry, to be honest. I wrestled his father nearly a hundred times in the old APWF and TWL, and his father was one of the all time greats. Barry, on the other hand, is a decent hand and a good worker who, if he gets lucky, will position himself to finish out his career a perennial midcarder as far as the big leagues are concerned. And that's a perfectly fine career, one where you can do well, gather a fanbase, make a decent wage. But when you're constantly compared to Crippler Ray Kingman, it has to hurt. Barry is one of two guys I pushed for signing to do some job work while they find their feet, savvy enough in the ring to tune some of our brawlers up and help them add to their arsenal.

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ShingenMiyazaki_alt1.jpg

New render by jtlant

Shingen Miyazaki http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

Stone-trained and honed in the legendary GCG roster, Shingen is someone I have a lot of hope for in time. He has one simple problem; the die-hard fans know his name, and the die-hard fans know what it means to be trained by Dan Stone and his family as well as what it takes to rise in GCG. But the casual fan? They have no idea who young Shingen is, and we're going to have to let him show them before he can move too high in the ranks. I have plans to pick the pace he'll be exposed at up as soon as I can.

 

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

Aaron Andrews

A real hope for the future; Aaron can throw down in a brawl and take it to the mat well, and he's got a minor fan following. He's lost to just about everyone on the roster, is the problem, and he's virtually discredited at the age of 21. I can't turn that around fast – I can just hope to do it slowly. In a smaller company this kid could be the kind of guy you build around as champion, and I suspect that if it weren't for the pay he'd wish he was.

 

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

Frankie Perez http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

Frankie's the other man I earmarked, alongside Barry, to job their way to recognition. He boasts a submission finisher – the Perfect Parity, as he calls it – which is one of the most respected in the world, while he himself is not on that level by any stretch. He could be; we'll have to see how it goes.

 

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

Floyd Goldworthy http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

Ah, Floyd. Long-standing manager and a stand-up guy. 'The Fast Buck' is a man I always viewed as a perfect heel; recently he got back to that, backing up American Buffalo and supplying the words that, thus far, Buffalo can't.

 

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

Jasmine Saunders

I'll be honest; this was the first name on the roster that earned the reaction 'Who?' from me. She's... well, in theory she's a future face of the promotion. I honestly have no idea what we're going to do with her early on, but I know that Tommy wants to develop her as a voice the fans will accept – someone who knows wrestling. I'm considering her a pet project by default. Maybe, if we can get a show to back up Total Wrestling, we'll find her a seat on the third commentary chair so we can demonstrate to the fans what knowledge she has. For now, Total Wrestling has its own issues on the announce desk...

 

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

Karen Killer http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

Sammy Bach's back-up – which in theory gives him instant credibility; last time she was on our roster she was the voice of Tyson Baine. In practice, Sammy really doesn't need a mouthpiece, and I'm not sure he needs Karen's interference to keep him credible – but there aren't many folks on the roster Karen would make sense paired with. She might be the answer to another question I've been asking myself, but in all honesty I'm not sure we need her.

 

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

Laura Huggins http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

Freddy's sister, as noted – and twin sister, no less. Need to do something different with her so she doesn't leech his heat – she's got the chops for her job, but if a manager isn't reflecting their heat onto their client, they're doing it wrong. She could do with lessons from Karen, frankly.

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EugeneWilliams.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RayJohnson.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SamSparrow.jpg

Eugene Williams, Ray Johnson & Sam Sparrow http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

I'm grouping these three together. They're our refs (Sam having the top spot) and they do a perfectly worthwhile job, but unless you plan to develop a referee's character or use them beyond just being a referee, that's all you need out of them. And that, right now, is all I want out of them.

 

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

Jason Azaria

I love this guy. We've worked together before, I've been listening to his voice over almost every single match I've reviewed this last week, and while he's not the best in the business, he's perfect for our company. Jason puts in an insane level of prep work, to the point where he's got an expenses account for acquiring rare footage whenever we sign someone who's done work elsewhere. He'll sell their credentials from other companies. He knows what their best moves are called and how they set up for them, and he'll tell you – and he'll tell you what the moves do to people in loving detail. Would I like to have someone like Peter Michaels on board? Yes. But until and unless that happens, Jason Azaria stays in the hot seat.

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KyleRhodes_alt1.jpg

Kyle Rhodes

Kyle I'm less in love with. Jasmine Saunders is already capable of delivering on the level he's reached. Tapes I have around the house prove that Tom Townsend is better at layering in colour – the same goes for Shane Sneer, Duke Hazzard, Farrah Hesketh, Adrian Garcia, and Sara Silver, just to name the examples who work for smaller companies than TCW (in the Duke and Sara's case, much smaller). And when you consider that Silver works for a company that's as much striptease as wrestling, that says a lot. In the next couple of weeks we're going to be phasing him off the TV show, leaving him in the second seat on PPV alone. We'll see how things go from there. The thing is, we have a potential replacement. (Two, if you include Jasmine.)

 

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

Shawn Doakes

Shawn's goal is to become our play-by-play man, and that means that officially he's after Jason's job, not Kyle's. At the same time, he's already, I'd guess, Kyle's equal – and he's young enough to learn. When I remember the days when Mitch Naess used to call PPVs solo, Shawn seems like a very bright prospect. He's taken the second seat on Total Wrestling, as a test.

 

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

Horatio Dangerous http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/Wrestling/Main/Other/Playegg_28207.jpg

The third seat on commentary? For the next little while, I'm going to be taking it. I know where the stories are going, I'm working with the guys to lay out their matches, and I know what I want the audience to take in about any shifts in gimmick or just plain attitude the wrestlers undergo, so it seems like a halfway smart idea. I may ape Peter Michaels in providing the occasional sit-down interview to go with it; we'll see how that goes. Ultimately I want to get to the point where I can relax during the shows as much as possible, so ideally I'll be off the desk inside a year. But that depends on Shawn, Kyle, and maybe Jasmine.

[Phantom Stranger]

It's perhaps worth noting that the music was always due to diversify when we hit the young'uns near the bottom - see also Chance Fortune for this one.

 

And yes, Horatio's theme is a bit of an oldie. So is he.

[Astil]

Have you given thought to using Doakes as a Manager until his time comes?

[Phantom Stranger]

Have you given thought to using Doakes as a Manager until his time comes?

 

Some. It's not how I'm going right now - chiefly because he can Announce and I'd like to see that improve too - but it's something I may do, ditto with Jasmine if/when she gets over.

 

We actually have more managers than we can use right now, and I've brought in another old favourite who hasn't been revealed yet.

 

So we'll see how that goes...

[James Casey]

If nothing else, you can use the dark time to train your announcers as much as the wrestlers - Rhodes/Doakes/Saunders calling the pre-show battle royal or whatever has potential

[Hyde Hill]

BTW In my TCW games Azaria and Silver seem to get an uncommen amount of good chemistry notes in like 3/4 games. But I like the fact that you are going to try to get something outta those no good Doakes/Saunders/Rhodes. BTW where are the road agents? And grouping the 3 refs where did I see that before? Oh yeah lolz.

[Phantom Stranger]

BTW In my TCW games Azaria and Silver seem to get an uncommen amount of good chemistry notes in like 3/4 games. But I like the fact that you are going to try to get something outta those no good Doakes/Saunders/Rhodes. BTW where are the road agents? And grouping the 3 refs where did I see that before? Oh yeah lolz.

 

Hate to tell you this, Hyde, but as I've been planning this diary since May, the roster write-up was done in the middle of last month, and that's when I lumped the refs together. The main reason this is just being posted now - and the main reason bigpapa's champing at the bit - is that I've been waiting for Philly Pro to be in the closing stages before I start something bigger. Bigpapa and I have been chatting about this since May, though, so it's no wonder he wants to see it actually come to something.

 

As I say, though, I'm trying not to make all the usual signings, so Sara Silver, best available colour though she is, isn't coming in. Rhodes has longevity on his side and both Jasmine Saunders and Shawn Doakes have specific mentions in their bios of having been recently signed as projects to be groomed. While the game doesn't 'know' that, starting out by canning them is not something Horatio would expect to leave a good impression on his boss.

 

Arnold and Archie are currently in dev while Tommy, Sam and Horatio help people put their matches together - Arnold and Archie know their way around storytelling, which those folk in development will need. In-game, Horatio plans to bring Archie back in a few months when he's got things the way he wants them.

[Hyde Hill]

I know man was just kidding too bad ya can't put sarcasm in posts. Hell I have the same problem been planning out my diary for a long while now and I have some similarities with the one Togg is running. Like I said I like the fact you are not bringing in the usual suspects and grooming doakes/saunders/rhodes. KUTGW and will be reading.

[Phantom Stranger]

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

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/book_open-2.jpg

 

 

Tuesday March 23rd 2008

 

Been a while. Sure, the entries are going to pick up in speed now, but it's been a while. I'm backstage at the Connecticut Symphony Hall, where we're going to be shooting Total Wrestling tonight. It's the last TV show of Joel Bryant's booking run, and it's our final chance to sell the Just Another Day? PPV. It's also the first show I'm going to be in the third chair for, planting a couple of seeds.

 

At my request we're not making a big thing of my arrival on commentary, in no small part to avoid any legal issue due to accusations of 'cashing in' on Jerry Eisen's big drive over at SWF. The Philly Pro shows are airing at quite a rate over there, but there's still a fair few months before they'll get near the end of my time there.

 

It occurs to me that I need to call Jerry and apologise for any fallout my appearing for the competition causes him. He doesn't deserve to get into trouble for the timing of Tommy's decisions.

 

There's a fair amount of joking going on backstage, a real carnival atmosphere. Some of it revolves around the fact that a significant proportion of the roster – the New Wave, the Machines, everyone still on our books who was ever part of Painful Procedure, and others – have been subscribing to the competition, watching and waiting for their appearances much earlier in their careers for Philly Pro. Some of it seems to be Joel Bryant letting the weight of the world off his shoulders.

 

Karen Killer comes by to discuss the bump she's due to take in the Procedure & Ino/Tag Team Specialists & Sammy Bach match next Sunday, on PPV. It's a big one, and it's my idea – take her out of the game so we can see how Sammy does on his own. I feel guilty about it and I spend most of the discussion apologising, but she's surprisingly game. I always forget this woman once took a Dreadsault when he was feuding with BLZ Bubb – but even if I hadn't, that was ten clean years ago. Priorities change.

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TysonBaine.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KarenKiller_alt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/Dangerous/SWF%20Footage/Dread_alt1.jpg

In happier times: Karen explains BLZ Bubb's challenge to Dread, HGC house show 1999

 

I can see Tommy from where I sit, stomping about in a small circle half acting out the big spots he sees coming in his tag match tonight as tag partner Wolf Hawkins and opponents Eddie Peak and Rocky Golden look on. Peak has a child's grin as he looks on, Golden less so, thoughtfully listening and occasionally offering embellishments, little things that'll help him and Eddie get a little rub out of a match they're scheduled to lose, part of the marathon run in to the PPV that RDJ has been setting for Tommy.

 

Tommy beckons American Buffalo over; safe bet that he's reached the point where Buffalo's run-in will help cost Peak and Golden the match as Eddie abandons the match to brawl with Buffalo all the way through the crowd. They split off after Tommy lays out their ending, discussing the brawl itself; a tricky business, as they can't pre-empt the big spots for Sunday, but they've got to hold their intensity without getting boring or overshadowing whatever action's going on in the ring. Eddie's still joking, a side of him I'd never considered before I finally saw him backstage here.

 

There's a bellow from just outside the locker room; Tyson Baine is filming his backstage segment to be inserted near the end of the show, the traditional brutal, justified fury promo he's honed since his face turn. I can't quite make out the words, but I know what Baine's talking about; he's running down the bad points of Eric Tyler, his fellow Canadian, before the blow off on Sunday.

 

Just pissing off Tyson Baine has given Eric Tyler more recognition among the broader wrestling fanbase than all his years with CGC and DaVE. This actually makes me sad; there shouldn't be this kind of gulf between the Big Two and everyone else, and Eric deserves much more recognition than he's had. Still, the birth of the DVD retrospective market means he may yet get that chance to shine.

 

Bit of a break there. Joel called me over to help him lay out the Young Guns' match against Acid and Sammy Bach tonight, based off what I want to do with the four of them in the future – it's a filler match, so apart from leaving Sammy strong Joel didn't have an agenda for it. Mostly I tried to emphasise the new 'punk' attitude Steve and Harry are displaying these days. Sure, they're well established, they've held plenty of gold, but it's going to be a while before they feature as key players again.

 

I can feel the adrenaline starting to flow. By the time we get to Sunday I know I'm going to feel right back in the swing of things. I'm getting excited.

 

Better and better – Shawn Doakes just came by with the dinner orders we'd put in earlier. Most of the guys are digging into pasta or salad right now. Me, I'm lucky – I'm not wrestling anymore, and that means that with the rest of the backstage guys I get to pick whatever I want. This is still a novelty for me when I'm on the road, and I'm loving it. It'll wear thin when I get back into the swing of it, but my guess is that that's some time off.

 

Ten minutes to go now. Jasmine's warming up the crowd as best she can. Eric's going to give Barry a going-over in the dark, then it's the Natural Talent/Specialists match, and then Jason, Kyle and I will come out just before the show gets rolling. So close to my booking takeover I can taste it...

 

--

 

Sunday March 28th 2008

 

Maybe Monday, actually. Just Another Day? is in the history books now. Straight title retentions down the line, though Wolf had to resort to getting himself disqualified against the Kobra in what was still a damn fine semi-main. RDJ will not be challenging Tommy again for months.

 

Joel's time as a booker's in the history books too. I got a kick out of him dancing through the hotel bar after the show belting out 'Happy Days Are Here Again' but I could've done without Eddie Peak then leading the entire roster in a chorus of whatever the song is that keeps repeating 'F*ck you I won't do what you tell me' – not a message a booker's particularly keen on hearing.

 

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

Would you believe this man could smile?

 

Still, he bought my Scotch for the rest of the night. When he gets his room bill back I'll see how he reacts to finding that out.

 

Flying out to the Theatre of Dreams in the morning for Tuesday's show. Haven't been to Montana in a while, and haven't been to the Theatre in fifteen years or more.

 

I'm looking forward to it; I'm still kind of stunned that we are where we are. Koshiro Ino is as over, now, as anyone bar Tommy or RDJ were at the start of the year – and he's done that by losing his way past Sammy to Wolf. I'm wondering if he might not lose his way to a face off with Tommy before too long...

 

Rambling now, though. Good night.

[Phantom Stranger]

I know man was just kidding too bad ya can't put sarcasm in posts. Hell I have the same problem been planning out my diary for a long while now and I have some similarities with the one Togg is running. Like I said I like the fact you are not bringing in the usual suspects and grooming doakes/saunders/rhodes. KUTGW and will be reading.

 

Oh, believe me, I'm not taking the ribs as negatives - I'm glad people are reading, and it's astonishing how often you suddenly realise your diary is going in the same direction someone else just went or vice versa.

 

...I'm sure people will be happy to know that we're almost at the first actual show.

[FlameSnoopy]

Nice nice nice nice. This is really good I must admit, I like how the grandpa is getting excited.

[Phantom Stranger]

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

 

With Just Another Day? over and the titles still in the hands of the champions, TCW looks to the future. Tommy Cornell has been busy all night fielding requests from the rest of the roster, and as always he's set out to make matches that will guarantee your TCW Champions are of the highest calibre.

 

 

Tomorrow night, for example, Koshiro Ino will continue his quest for Wolf Hawkins' International Championship. Many argue that Ino was cheated out of the beautiful platinum last night when Wolf Hawkins escaped through disqualification - and the Kobra uses that as the basis for his claim - but Cornell has deceed that if he wishes to return to the title hunt, Koshiro Ino has to beat Hawkins' Syndicate ally Sam Keith.

 

Eric Tyler has requested a match against young contender and former All-Action Champion Chance Fortune. It remains to be seen what the veteran Tyler wants from this contest, but after his loss to Tyson Baine last night it seems sure that he'll be thirsty to start climbing the ladder once again.

 

The resilient RDJ has bounced back from last night's loss despite the stipulation he now has to abide by - that he cannot challenge Tommy Cornell for the World Heavyweight Championship. Mr Cornell has informed us that as a consolation prize he has put RDJ in line for a shot at Sammy Bach's All-Action Championship - if he can beat the champ non-title tomorrow night. Bach has his own worries, of course, as Karen Killer was seriously injured last night...

 

This has presented RDJ's regular running mate Danny Fonzarelli with a problem, as the Tag Team Specialists' challenge to the pair cannot be fairly contested tomorrow. For a while it looked like Fonzarelli would find himself in a handicap situation - but 'A-Rated' Aaron Andrews has stepped up and volunteered to be Fonzarelli's tag partner. Can the two singles experts overcome the Specialists' wealth of experience?

 

Joey Minnesota is the other man currently calling out Cornell, and Mr Cornell has him in action tonight against Charlie Thatcher. Between Minnesota's brutal tactician and Thatcher's swift monster, it's sure to be a vicious contest.

 

Lastly, Tommy Cornell has offered two newcomers to TCW a chance to team for the first time against the Tag Team Champions. The Machines face the son of legendary 'Crippler' Ray Kingman, Barry 'No Gimmick Needed, No Quarter Given' Kingman and Shingen Miyazaki, trained by the House of Stone. Kingman and Miyazaki may not be well known yet, but their talent means it can only be a matter of time.

 

Prediction Key:

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

[Regis]

Prediction Key:

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

Let's go to school.

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

Eyy! Fonzie for the win!

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

Non-title? You sly dog, Horatio, you almost fooled us that the job squad stand a chance!

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

Up yours, Charlie.

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

I don't like to see a Main Event guy jobbing out a lower-card champ, but I think to have RDJ lose here would seriously harm his cred. Sammy's awesome, but still. Plus, ratings will be good enough that Sammy can raise his game even more in future.

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

Sam's a good guy, and will put over people who need it, but I don't think The Kobra's going to be elevated quite that far just yet.

[FlameSnoopy]

Card looks good for TV: not that special, but not that bad either. Just the way I like them to be. Won't be predicting though for some time, as I am really bad at it, and I don't know how you book just yet (haven't really read your PPPW one.)

[Astil]

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

 

Job time

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

 

Andrews is ... well he could be a future Cornell if planned correctly.

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

 

See Tyler v. Fortune

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

 

No way is Thatcher winning this.

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

 

An interesting storyline here

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

 

Tough choice, but the clincher was Cornell/Hawkinks are free tonight, so they're free to run interference.

[Tigerkinney]

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

 

Sounds like Chance is going to be on job duty until he learns to expand his boring move-set. One does have to wonder how he was ever a big deal in CZCW ?

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

 

Andrews and Fonzarelli aren't over enough as single star to overcome the Tag experience of Oxford and Bryant.

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

 

No shock here

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

 

If Thatcher wins, we riot !

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

 

It's non title so RDJ gets the win here, but him getting a shot at the All Action belt if he wins the match does seem a bit bizarre. Ino challenging for that belt, I just about get but a straight ahead old school brawler like RDJ ?!

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

 

Cheating, savvy veteran like win for Keith. Ino will dominate but ultimately Keith will find a way to come out on top.

[1PWfan]

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

I could see Fortune winning if Tyler's on the way out, but since Tyler is the far better wrestler he can go over (I've also noticed guys seem to improve more when they lose)

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

I don't usually bet against established teams, especially not Oldblood like Bryant & Oxford, but there's no denying the fact that they're on the way out long-term, and like Baine they have enough ready-made credibility to challenge for the titles regardless of results

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

Yeah, right, Shingen...this is why you shouldn't have left Japan

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

Thatcher should be in developmental. Minnesota's so much better he cant' lose

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

RDJ may have lost the right to challenge for the title, but he's still the number one babyface and needs to stay dominant

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

I don't like Kosh (largely through ingrained bitterness over Japan's tendency to steal all the best young talent), so I'm rooting for the Syndicate on this one.

[James Casey]

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

Stomp the pretty boy... Nah, Chance and Eric are a great pairing right now.

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

The Joel Bryant Appreciation Tour starts here

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

Non-title or not, this is an excuse for The Machines to make the opposition look good, tease a loss, and then go over

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

It's Joey "Frickin'" Minnesota, fyi. Likely to be my default choice ad infinitum.

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

Can't see it being clean, but as a way of starting a new feud, this works for me

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

A good way to transition Kosh from Wolf to Tommy, perhaps?

[Bigpapa42]

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

 

Sounds like Chance is going to be on job duty until he learns to expand his boring move-set. One does have to wonder how he was ever a big deal in CZCW ?

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

 

Andrews and Fonzarelli aren't over enough as single star to overcome the Tag experience of Oxford and Bryant.

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

 

No shock here

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

 

If Thatcher wins, we riot !

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

 

It's non title so RDJ gets the win here, but him getting a shot at the All Action belt if he wins the match does seem a bit bizarre. Ino challenging for that belt, I just about get but a straight ahead old school brawler like RDJ ?!

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

 

Cheating, savvy veteran like win for Keith. Ino will dominate but ultimately Keith will find a way to come out on top.

 

I'm just going to back these picks, as I can't really argue with the picks or the logic. I could possibly see Ino going over Keith, especially since Ino is now in the main event, much like Keith. But Keith is the safer pick.

[Zeel1]

Eric Tyler vs. Chance Fortune

Eric Tyler's auto-pushed to the Main Event, or atleast Upper Midcard, at the start of a TCW game. Fortune isn't taking him down.

 

Aaron Andrews & Danny Fonzarelli vs. The Tag Team Specialists

I'd have to guess you got Andrews out of the Enhancement Talent limbo that he begins the game in. All the same, I don't see his team winning here. Maybe give Joel a little consolation prize, seeing as you stole his job..

 

TCW Tag Team Champions The Machines vs. Barry Kingman & Shingen Miyazaki (non-title)

I like the Kingman/Miyazaki pairing, but I don't see them beating the tag champs in their first match together.

 

Charlie Thatcher vs. Joey Minnesota

Thatcher's the worlds strongest jobber, and won't be anything else until he improves significantly..

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. TCW All-Action Champion Sammy Bach (non-title)

Hmm..Bach can rise up the rankings very fast, and could easily be an Upper Midcarder at this point..but I still pick RDJ. No real point in setting the "Beat the champion, get a shot at his belt" stipulation if you aren't going to use it.

 

Koshiro Ino vs. Sam Keith

Ino seems like someone that comes into the promotion with a lot of momentum, and assuming you've kept that going, this is the kinda match I'd see Keith losing, to further enhance Ino's seemingly on-going feud with The Syndicate.