TCW: A Quiet Retirement

[Phantom Stranger]

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Saturday 20th January 2009

The main event last night was kind of fraught backstage. Hiring Antonio – the man better known as Champagne Lover – went a little against Tommy's requirements.

 

Now, let's be honest here. Last year we spent a lot of time securing great talent who'd already been recognised as such; to put it another way, a lot of the success 2008 brought to TCW involved people who had good runs with big or biggish name companies. We've a couple more we hired during that era who haven't yet hit the main roster, but Tommy decided that 2009 was going to see a crackdown against this.

 

Which, barring something like Dan Stone, Tom Gilmore, or Eisaku Kunomasu suddenly deciding to walk away from their current arrangements, I'm pretty happy to stick to – mostly.

 

Antonio was a big part of my main goal right now, however, that being to rehabilitate the All Action belt in the eyes of the fans – and he worked for the kind of company Tommy didn't want us signing from.

 

His contract was something of an argument between us, and seeing him produce on that level, even against a man who at the moment seems unable to put a foot wrong, was satisfying – seeing Tommy smile during it might be the first step in getting him to make a concession.

 

TCW's branding, at the moment, is slowly becoming more and more about being a place where the world's best meet. To make that work, frankly, a lot of the people we bring in have to start out with some buzz about them. And like it or not, someone who's been hanging around in, to pick a company at random, NYCW, doesn't tend to have that kind of buzz.

 

(Which is not a knock on NYCW. I spent a lot of time, while I was officially out of the game, going along to their shows to catch up with old friends and watch good old traditional booking. A lot of the Danger Zone dojo's graduates got their first paid experience looking up at the lights for Stomper's boys. But the fact of the matter is that it's a small company, and only the most dedicated fans would know our new guys from there.)

 

I guess this is me saying that Tommy and I differ on this, and I think that difference will cause issues. I also think that Antonio is the last time I can afford to push him on it for a while, though, so we'll have to hope for contract issues on good people and concentrate on using just those we've got still under wraps for a while. It's not, I guess, like Marat Khoklov is already in TCW rings constantly; we can get a bit more shock return value out of him yet.

 

What we'll do with him once the shock wears off, I guess, depends in no small part on how far John Campbell and the other FCW trainers can bring him along.

[Phantom Stranger]

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The last two names for Shot at the Top will be settled this Tuesday as we get ever nearer to Malice in Wonderland. Two big matches have been signed as qualifiers; the first of those pits Acid squarely against Edd Stone. The School of Tradition, head to head with the Syndicate. With Wolf Hawkins already in the big match, will there be an alliance?

 

Champagne Lover made a big showing last Friday in the main event. This week he's one of two men Mr Cornell has ordered to face the Keith Brothers ahead of their tag team title shot, alongside the ever-vicious Sayeed Ali. Can Ali and the Lover coexist? Will they want to? And how will the Keiths fare by the end?

 

More tag action follows that; Eric Tyler and Freddy Huggins of the School of Tradition look to gain momentum before Tyler's big championship match on the big stage. Their opponents, though, are one hell of a tall order - the New Wave, still arguably the biggest challenge in the tag team division.

 

Following that, Jack Bruce is slated against Danny Fonzarelli in a Shot at the Top qualifier. Bruce swore not to wrestle on TV not very long ago - we're told, however, that he requested a qualification match in order to have the title shot necessary to go up against Troy Tornado next month if Troy should win the unification match. Quite how he's going to reconcile these two things is anyone's guess.

 

The tag champions themselves don't get a week off either; arguably they've got one of the nastiest challenges of all to overcome. Rick Law is on the other side of the ring, and next to him, the man he's sworn to make remember who he used to be - and folks, we remember when Chris Rockwell was the best thing going in wrestling. This contest is non-title, and Law and Rockwell both have matches already lined up for Malice in Wonderland - but they're sure, at the very least, to leave a lasting impression on the champs.

 

It's a match that hasn't taken place in nearly a year after that; Mayhem Midden has ordered that Tommy Cornell face Ricky Dale Johnson in the ring. These two haven't met in singles action since Just Another Day? last year, when the Syndicate interfered to prevent RDJ from winning the World Heavyweight Championship or being awarded a title shot again so long as Cornell held the belt. The timing of this match is interesting; with the Syndicate/Rising Stars match coming up at Malice, and Mayhem Midden having promised to ensure it would be fair, is Ricky Dale Johnson looking to take another shot at his old adversary?

 

Lastly, in the main event Eddie Peak teams with Troy Tornado as the pair get set to take on Sammy Bach and Jeremy Stone. Both teams have, between them, every aspect of professional wrestling covered, but who's going to come through on the day?

 

Prediction Key:

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

 

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

 

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

[Tigerkinney]

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

 

This is one that could go either way, so I'll go on personal preference and tip Acid to get the win here.

 

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

 

Two thrown together yet to really establish themselves singles aren't going to beat an increasingly established tag team.

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

 

They might not have the belts right now but the New Wave are the glue that holds the tag division together, so it's best they remain looking strong at all times.

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

 

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm sure Jack Bruce said he didn't want to wrestle Troy Tornado on TV, I don't recall him saying about anyone else. So unless JB really does sit this one out, I don't see him losing to Fonzarelli.

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

 

As this is non title, this is a shoo in that they pair of borderline main eventers will go over the midcard (albeit at the moment champion) Tag Team.

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

 

You've managed to maintain RDJ being relevant, but given current storylines it's more important to keep Tommy strong.

 

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

 

Strong line up on both sides, but Tornado is one of the World Champions and needs to look as strong as possbile heading into his Unification match with Johnny Bloodstone.

[Beeker]

Pretty much ignore what you're about to read below, since I'm sure Tigerkinney has a better grasp on this than me.

 

***

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

- Edd adds that wild unpredictability to the SatT, he'll be there for highspots and while Acid can do that too. I like Edd's goofy charisma for the slot.

 

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

- Quite possibly by DQ but the Keith Boys are twin-headed machine. CL and Ali do get an early vote for... bizarro pairing of the year though!

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

- I'm not good at keeping promises to myself. Mainly *never* voting against the New Wave in tag team action. So why here? History. Tyler taught TNW in DaVE... I think he gets in the ear of Guide or Scout and promises solo possibilities in return for this one small favour... yes, I know I over think things.

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

- Meh. Whatever. I'm ready for Bruce to go away now.

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

- Ugh. I'm sure I'm wrong here but I WANT the Riders to win. I don't see what RockLaw gain from this win. I can see what the Riders lose by losing though.

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

- Hello Enforcers. Nice to see you at ringside. Tommy needs to momentum heading into Malice. I suspect he'll get it by underhanded tactics.

 

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

- Gah. Again. Could easily go either way. But Tornado needs the momentum and since Monkeypox's DaVE diary I mark hard for the Great White Shark.

[Regis]

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

I don't want to bet against either of these guys, really. Both would fit in the match, both have backup. In the end, though, Edd Stone is Edd Stone.

 

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

Sayeed takes the fall.

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

Cheating makes the world go around, and Tyler has a title shot coming. The New Wave can take a loss here without too much of a kick in the nuts.

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

Showtime lose to Danny Jobberelli? No thanks.

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

Non-title or not, main event players or not, I can't bet against the champs.

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

Draw. Both top guys, and they both know each other too well.

 

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

The Champ is here.

[Dragonmack]

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

 

This is one that could go either way, so I'll go on personal preference and tip Acid to get the win here.

 

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

 

Two thrown together yet to really establish themselves singles aren't going to beat an increasingly established tag team.

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

 

They might not have the belts right now but the New Wave are the glue that holds the tag division together, so it's best they remain looking strong at all times.

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

 

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm sure Jack Bruce said he didn't want to wrestle Troy Tornado on TV, I don't recall him saying about anyone else. So unless JB really does sit this one out, I don't see him losing to Fonzarelli.

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

 

As this is non title, this is a shoo in that they pair of borderline main eventers will go over the midcard (albeit at the moment champion) Tag Team.

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

 

You've managed to maintain RDJ being relevant, but given current storylines it's more important to keep Tommy strong.

 

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

 

Strong line up on both sides, but Tornado is one of the World Champions and needs to look as strong as possbile heading into his Unification match with Johnny Bloodstone.

 

I agree with these

[Bigpapa42]

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

 

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

[Zergon]

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

This seems like a coin flip to me but for some reason I just see Edd taking this one though I really have no idea why

The Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

Established tag team vs. random pairing isn´t promising much for the random pairing

 

The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

This one is hard. Tyler has that title shot coming and thus he should look strong, but New Wave is pretty much the best tag team in TCW and I´m not completely sure that Huggins can handle this one espesially since he and Tyler aren´t even real tag team...I guess I take the easy way out and go with draw here which allows everyone to look good.

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

Danny Fonzarelli vs. Jack Bruce

Unless Bruce desites not to fight there isn´t much that Fonzarelli can do to win.

 

Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law (non-title)

non-title against two borderline main eventers so it looks like tag champs are going to lose this one

 

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

Another guess here, I never seem to be able to pick a winner from this particular pairing

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

I think Tornado makes this match tilt slightly to faces favor

[Phantom Stranger]

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TCW Presents Total Wrestling

 

Tuesday Week 4 January 2009

 

Live on GNN Total Sports (Rating 8.61)

Rebroadcast on Continental Sports X1 (Rating 0.02)

 

Held at the Alabama Field Row (South East)

 

Attendance: 19,034

 

Announcers:

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Jason Azaria – Horatio Dangerous – Shawn Doakes

 

Shot at the Top Qualifier

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/Acid_alt2.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/LauraCatherineHuggins.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddStone_alt13.jpg

Acid w/ Laura Huggins vs. Edd Stone

Speed. Skill. Talent. And a receptive crowd – so this showdown between Syndicate and School of Tradition gets the show off to a heck of a start.

 

It's an impressive display. At one point Acid manages to counter out of a huracanrana while both men are in midair, landing on the mat with the Acidity Test applied. If they hadn't been beside the ropes, the match could have been over there – but Edd manages to get a foot there and the hold has to be broken.

 

As he often does, Edd finds himself segueing more and more into the babyface role, taking advantage of Acid's sinister movements and unsettling mask to allow himself to become someone the crowd can cheer a little. And that guarantees a satisfying ending when the Party's Over scores and Edd picks up a victory...

Edd Stone defeated Acid

Rating: B

 

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Keith Brothers w/ Blonde Bombshell vs. Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

Hectic stuff, this, with Lover and Ali embodying completely different attitudes to the match, and the Brothers doing their best to switch between styles and compete. Lover and Ali are new, and relatively untried in TCW, but the crowd are slowly taking to them – and it's down to performances like this; they go out there and they fight their hearts out.

 

Lover in particular does exceptionally well, catching Greg Keith with the Champagne Sunrise – and it seems absolutely certain, Azaria and Doakes agree, that if Matthew Keith hadn't been there in time, that would have been an upset win.

 

Ali turns into the weak link, though – when Lover is in trouble, he has the speed, the agility, and the flexibility to get clear. But Sayeed can't do that nearly so well, and Matthew Keith gets him pinned, takes him down, and clamps down the Proton Lock to eke out a victory.

The Keith Brothers defeated Champagne Lover & Sayeed Ali

Rating: C+

 

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The camera has found its way backstage. We move toward another argument, loud, one of the voices recognisably English, just around the corner.

 

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As the camera rounds the corner, we see another instalment in the raging arguments between Hawkins and Cornell.

 

“-should've thrown the bloody match!” Cornell yells. “We have business, Wolf, serious damn business to take care of.”

 

“No,” Hawkins fires back. “YOU got business to take care of, Tommy. If you'd listened to me we'd never have made him an offer. This whole thing is bull****. So I'll help you take care of it, but I'm not passing up my chance while I'm at it.”

 

Tommy snarls, and Wolf steps closer. “Anyway,” he says. “We've got the whole gang. We can cripple them right there at Malice. Humiliate them. Wreck them. Leave 'em incapable of leaving their hospital beds for years.”

 

Cornell manages his trademark smirk at that. “I guess.”

 

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The New Wave vs. Tyler & Huggins w/ Laura Huggins

Freddy Huggins is surprisingly enthusiastic here, though as after every successful move he glances over to a disdainful sister as if for approval, the reason is probably understandable.

 

Laura, meanwhile, makes a big thing of only offering advice – or helping at all – when Eric Tyler is active.

 

And Tyler is very active. He consistently has the numbers of both Guide and Scout, having low-energy, simple counters for everything they do. Azaria hammers home repeatedly that the New Wave were both trained by an earlier iteration of the School of Tradition.

 

In the end, though, the New Wave begin to turn the tide. A slick cameraman catches Tyler nodding to Laura from his perch at the tag line – and Laura Huggins hops up onto the apron. With Sam Sparrow distracted, the New Wave pause, looking around. Freddy Huggins low blows Scout, and while Guide returns the favour with a boot, that has them both distracted.

 

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JD Morgan and Merle O'Curle come out of the crowd. Morgan clotheslines Guide and the pair toss the New Wave from the ring, then jump down to apply vicious submission holds as Eric Tyler joins Laura Huggins in keeping Sparrow distracted.

 

O'Curle rolls Scout back into the ring; Eric Tyler tags in and covers Scout to pick up the win – a win that took four men and a manager. Doakes and Dangerous begin to speculate on why the British Lions are aiding the School of Tradition, with Azaria noting that Acid first attacked John Anderson during a match against a British Lion.

Tyler & Huggins defeated the New Wave.

Rating: B

 

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Danny Fonzarelli comes down to the ring for his Shot at the Top match. He gets into the ring, turning to face the entrance ramp, and Jack Bruce's music hits. Bruce starts making his way extremely slowly to the ring, dragging it out.

 

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The crowd suddenly bellow in disapproval, and the camera cuts to the ring, where the Enforcers have jumped Fonzarelli. Marlowe flattens him and Watson clamps on the figure-four leg lock, leaving Marlowe to stomp, elbow drop, kick and splash Marlowe before also splashing his legs, putting more pressure and pain on them.

 

With him duly hobbled, and Bruce standing outside the ring with a smirk, the Enforcers climb the top turnbuckle and Watson superplexes Marlowe onto Fonzarelli with the Gojira Falls.

 

Then the Enforcers leave, while the announce team speculate on why – is Jack Bruce joining the Syndicate? Given their recent behaviour, it doesn't seem likely they'd hire quietly.

 

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Bruce enters the ring and demands that Ray Johnson ring the bell. Johnson refuses. Bruce backs him into a corner, and This Corrosion hits. Sammy Bach slides into the ring and joins the entreaty; faced with both of them, Johnson rings the bell.

 

Jack Bruce covers Danny Fonzarelli and Johnson makes the pincount.

 

After a long moment, Doakes breaks the announce table's silence. “Of course,” he says. “Hawkins still owed Sammy a favour.”

 

“Which... Sammy spent on Jack Bruce? That boy is palling around with some nasty elements.”

 

“Yeah. Does mean Jack has a chance at Tornado, though... maybe two, if you count the fact Bloodstone might beat him.”

 

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Easy Riders w/ Carl Batch vs. Chris Rockwell & Rick Law

What a brutal brawl this one is. Law's the only one who doesn't fly off the handle right from the start, and after a while, he joins in too.

 

All four men pound at one another, but Rockwell does so most of all. He's almost unhinged; he keeps battering away at the Riders, furious, wild-eyed.

 

Billy Fonda gets trapped in a corner, taking knee after knee to the face, Rockwell controlling the ring. Batch doesn't dare get near; Law and Hopper are oblivious to it, brawling as they are on the outside.

 

Eugene Williams awards the match to Rockwell by knockout after thirty seconds of Fonda being utterly unmoving, but Rockwell keeps hammering away. After another fifteen, twenty seconds, though, Williams has to reverse the decision.

Easy Riders defeated Chris Rockwell & Rick Law by reversed decision

Rating: B

 

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Remo Richardson promptly hits the ring, landing a clubbing blow on Rockwell before Rick Law intervenes. The two men manage to stand Remo off, but Phil Vibert is behind Remo with a microphone.

 

“One on one this Sunday, Chris,” he says. “I spoke to Midden. No running. No hiding. You get in the ring with Remo and lose, or you look like a coward, take the count out, and you lose.

 

“Either way, Chris, you belong to the past. When you were good. When you were in control. You're done. And this Sunday, my supreme specimen is going to prove it.”

 

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http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickyDaleJohnson.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TommyCornell_alt5.jpg

Ricky Dale Johnson vs. Tommy Cornell

There's the makings of a good match here, and the atmosphere is absolutely electric from the opening bell on out.

 

Nonetheless, the match isn't a great example of psychology, nor do we see more than a little, brief example of what has made Cornell and Johnson such storied rivals over time. Why don't we see more?

 

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Much the usual reason, sad to say; the Syndicate – in the form of Tyson Baine – arrive, and the match briefly looks like a beatdown.

 

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And then the Rising Stars hit home, taking it to the pair. Sam Sparrow is already throwing the match out as Wolf Hawkins and Jeremy Stone join in.

Ricky Dale Johnson & Tommy Cornell went to a no contest.

Rating: B+

 

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It's an even brawl for a couple of minutes, and then...

 

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“What we're dealing with here is a total lack of respect for the law.” The opening moments of the Prodigy's Their Law signal the arrival of Charlie Thatcher, knuckledusters visible on both hands. Wolf Hawkins goes down to a punch, and Jeremy Stone bails before he takes one. Thatcher squares off against Tyson Baine – and RDJ flies in, taking Baine down with a Leaping Lariat.

 

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Shout At the Devil kicks in as Tommy Cornell, too, bails, heading up the ramp. He wheels, too late, to come face to face with the impassive Mayhem Midden – whose head suddenly snaps forward. Cornell drops immediately following the headbutt, and a camera shot a moment later shows him bleeding from his forehead.

 

As the brawl dies away in Midden's presence, he reaches up and, for the first time on TCW TV, removes his bandanna – revealing a headband with a large metal plate at the front. Suddenly, the vicious knockout force of Midden's headbutts since his arrival is explained.

 

“I'm glad you're out here for this, Tommy,” Midden says, smiling slightly. “I just want to tell you something...

 

“I want to tell you that your tag match this Sunday has been discussed by the Board.

 

“We've decided to appoint a special referee to ensure fair stays fair. And that special ref knows all your tricks, or should do – he's the man you just faced in the ring.” Midden abruptly grins. “So thanks, Tommy. Thanks for giving him a reason to deal with any Syndicate interference with extreme prejudice. I'm sure Ricky would anyway, but it's nice to make sure.”

 

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/EddiePeak.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TroyTornado_nacht6.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JeremyStone_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SammyBach_alt1.jpg

Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado vs. Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach

It's not the match of the night, sad to say, but it's a solid enough match nonetheless. Tornado and Peak fight a hell of a game, but Bach and Stone seem more than willing to take it right to them, and the talent levels stay close to exactly even.

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JackBruce_alt8.jpg

And then Jack Bruce arrives, at a moment where Ray Johnson is down from a stray Peak clothesline. Tornado takes a boot to the gut from Bach, who shoves him toward a corner; climbing up the turnbuckle, Bruce soars off into a super New York Minute on Tornado, driving him hard into the canvas. With Peak jumping on Bach, by the time Johnson comes to he finds Tornado trapped in the Stone Hold. Assuming Jeremy to be the legal man, he tests Tornado's arm, but it falls three times.

 

Tornado never submitted, but he passed out.

Jeremy Stone & Sammy Bach defeated Eddie Peak & Troy Tornado

Rating: B

 

Show Rating: B+

[Phantom Stranger]

Show notes:

 

- The secret of Mayhem Midden's unstoppable headbutt is finally revealed. That's something I've been waiting for for quite some time.

 

- I can't call to mind a reversed decision finish in a diary before now. It seemed to fit so well, though.

 

- God bless strong angles.

 

- Only one match left to set for Malice In Wonderland, and that's just a question of deciding the participants for the women's match...

[Phantom Stranger]

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

<span>http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/book_open-2.jpg</span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

<strong>Thursday 25th January 2009</strong></p><p>

Usually this is the day I sit down at home with... well, not my sons anymore, as they're busy in Japan, but my daughter is back... and catch up on all the wrestling I need to be following; our big competition, anything my family are involved in, our DVD shipment of the CZCW TV show every week, and anything else – like the other big developmental events – that's relevant at the time. </p><p> </p><p>

This week, I'm not at home. We're down in the heart of TCW territory at a luxury hotel four blocks away from the recently-finished Jennifer Cornell Coliseum. Tomorrow, a good chunk of the roster arrive from a house show in Hawaii, and some of us fly across to Texas for Badge of Honor, but at any given time this week about half the roster has been in town.</p><p> </p><p>

It's the biggest promotional junket I've ever been part of. (Yes, I did work the Supreme Challenge a time or three in the late eighties. Hell, I did the job for Sam Strong in the main event once. But that was the late eighties. I believe Sam when he tells me that the current SC press routine outstrips this by miles – but I never encountered it. We had a couple press conferences before and after. That was about it.)</p><p> </p><p>

As a side note, if you ever get a chance to lose the main event in the Supreme Challenge, or Malice, or even Total Mayhem, take it. Unless you're a regular champion, it'll be the biggest single payoff of your career, and that's worth a loss.</p><p> </p><p>

One of the things that's been going on, as a result of all this, is that business has been on Tommy's mind. Normally it's on Jen's mind too, but as the Coliseum's namesake, she's been hounded for soundbites constantly, and that tends to disrupt your train of thought. </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/One-Offs/JenniferCornell.jpg</span><p>

<span style="font-size:10px;"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Jennifer Cornell in front of the building that bears her name, TCW Publicity Department, 2009</span></span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

I should say, here, that the business is never far from Tommy's mind. But it's on it more so this week. All the biggest announcements of TCW's year hit during this week, when press interest is at a peak – and this year has apparently been bigger than usual. Some polling over the past month indicates that we may have a new Sam Strong on our hands, a new name synonymous with pro wrestling, a new figurehead to bring in new fans.</p><p> </p><p>

The question is which one. At least, that's the question the <em>Daily Show</em> is asking. I just got back from setting up an interview skit with Sam Bee which will focus on this news, on the ratings of our guys, and see her hitting on Troy Tornado, Chris Rockwell and Eddie Peak as “the hottest things in wrestling... ever.” </p><p> </p><p>

Which is more chaos going on around the place, and more stuff the Creative gang get called into.oversee. Last night Tommy was discussing the order in which he wants to put new books into line for TCW Publishing...</p><p> </p><p>

...Which is actually supposed to be the main thrust of this diary entry, but I just helped write a Daily Show skit and I'm basking in the fact this will give me major brownie points with my kids. </p><p> </p><p>

Tommy mentioned my memoirs; I pretty much told him I wasn't that interested and pitched this diary as an alternative. That involved mentioning this diary, but as he'd had two glasses of Scotch by then I was fairly confident it'd go down well.</p><p> </p><p>

It did, and we even enlarged on it. So, from time to time, Sam Keith is going to be given some space in this book to give his opinion on what's going on. Which gives me something to look forward to reading when the book finally comes out.</p><p> </p><p>

Sam is someone I'm glad is on the Creative team, but anyone who's seen him book knows he and I don't perfectly agree. As a matter of fact, he's argued for dropping the Hard-Hitting Championship to a new generation a few times, and as I've mentioned before, has yet to ever pull rank and use his creative control clause on me.</p><p> </p><p>

He's forthright, he's smart, he's sarcastic... Sam Keith is actually not much like the guy he plays on TV nowadays, but if you caught the brash young man with the sarcastic, arrogant streak when he was in CGC, before he honed a character he could stay on top with in the SWF, then you pretty much know Sam. I don't expect this is going to be nothing but praise. I do expect that it'll raise the value of this book to anyone who wants to understand the whys and wherefores of wrestling angles immeasurably to have the contrast.</p>

[Bigpapa42]

Must say that I definitely enjoyed Mayhem Midden's revelation. Good old fashioned booking, that. Love it.

[Phantom Stranger]

Must say that I definitely enjoyed Mayhem Midden's revelation. Good old fashioned booking, that. Love it.

 

"You and I are going to butt heads, Tommy, and you're gonna find that my head is much harder than yours."

 

Thanks, man. I've been planning that for a while - Midden needed something he could use, but I needed to make sure him dropping people wouldn't destroy their cred.

[Phantom Stranger]

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

 

Only one show to go before the biggest night of TCW's year, the most important date on the pro wrestling calendar - and Badge of Honor comes to you from the famous Huntsville Fairgrounds. The energy is already astonishing...

 

The Kobra, Koshiro Ino, has his first match since we discovered the fate of losing members of Team KOBRA this week; he takes on Champagne Lover, who did extremely well last Friday against Rick Law, then laid out one of the Keith Brothers and nearly stole a win on Tuesday. If the Lover beats Ino, will he have to face the same penalty?

 

Tag team action follows, with the Rising Stars having requested a match to warm up for Sunday. Mayhem Midden has agreed to make a match, but has ruled that if the Syndicate - or anyone who might be allied with them - interfere with this match, serious penalties will be imposed, in order to prevent the Stars from being incapacitated so close to the biggest show of the year.

 

The two matches immediately afterward are semi-finals in a miniature tournament. Both matches' winners will go on to face each other at Malice In Wonderland to crown the first ever TCW Women's Championship. First, Kate Dangerous will square off with Raku Makuda; following that, Lauren Easter does battle with Suzanne Brazzle.

 

And next up comes an actual title defence; Mayhem Midden has ordered that as Frankie Perez enters the Shot at the Top match on Sunday, he must defend the All-Action Championship beforehand. The opponent selected for him? Art Reed.

 

Rick Law has not yet told us about the show's main event, but he has told us that while he will not be taking place, it's a tag-team contest which is designed to give Texas Pete, the man in the Hard-Hitting Championship match with the least exposure, a chance to prove himself to his critics ahead of the bout.

 

Prediction Key:

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

[Bigpapa42]

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

 

Hmm... One side has more question marks but the other has Texas Pete... I'm gonna go against Petey on this one...

[Phantom Stranger]

Predictions for the final Badge of Honor before Malice in Wonderland up on previous page.

 

 

Another re-render has been grandfathered in (this is becoming a habit...), that being the exceptional JD Morgan reworking produced by ewanite:

 

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

 

And just in time, too, given that the British Lions stable has recently started actually doing things...

[Beeker]

I'm off to Vietnam in about 12 hours so... here's goes an unthinking prediliction!

 

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

- the leader of TEAM Viper should not lose to the Leader of Team TEQUILA.

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

- One of these teams have a program, it is not the team without last names.

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

- Booker's kid gets the win!

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- She has a new render.

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

- Perez ain't dropping this on the PPV Preview.

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

- I never (okay rarely) vote against ???? so how can I possibly pick against ???? and ???? , plus Pete's new gimmick is a jobbing one.

[Dragonmack]

Prediction Key:

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

[Tigerkinney]

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

The Team Viper leader is more established and as a leader of a cult he should be kept strong. I suspect Lover will be an impressive loser for the forseeable future.

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

 

Rising Stars have already risen far above where the Fly Boys could even contemplate heading up to.

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

My guess is that the gaijin in reverse won't have quite enough overness to go over without that hurting Dangerous. The other match is more difficult to call but Easter's already semi established in the eyes of the TCW faithful with her mixed gender feud against Dangerous, so I say Brazzle gets the win here to establish that the womens division isn't going to simply be Dangerous/Easter and a few add ons.

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

Perez looks like he could have a strong run with this belt, especially with Vibert's backing.

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

 

Damn I hate having to predict mystery man matches...but I'm actually going to go against the grain here and tip Pete and his mystery partner to beat the mystery team. This is Badge of Honor not Total Wrestling, so the main eventers aren't necessarily going to be main event calibre talent.

[smurphy1014]

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

[Zergon]

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

[Regis]

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

Jobbing your way to the midcard is an established TCW tradition.

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

Feud = Win.

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

The best and brightest of the Dangerous kids gets the win here.

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

She's more established, and I think slightly more talented.

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

Could happen on BoH, but I doubt it.

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

Pete can start taking a bit more focus here.

[Oregano Jensen]

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

 

Ino's bigger in America, and at least somewhat on the rise. CL is gaining a US reputation just by losing at this point... putting on awesome matches against bigger-name talent. He'll have his time; you wouldn't have signed him over Cornell's protests if not. But that time doesn't need to be now.

 

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

 

Fly Boys are lower midcard or so -- they're jobbers who I could see stealing a win from someone, but nobody major. Rising Stars are way bigger -- and going into a show where they want momentum.

 

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

- Winners will compete at Malice In Wonderland to become the first TCW Women's Champion

 

The two most established names in this group, with an established semi-rivalry going. I don't think it's a problem to start the division with two names up front. Anyway, Suzanne is affiliated with Team VIPER, who are -- were? -- at least nominally faces. Though who knows where that's going, right? Easter's a heel.

 

TCW All Action Championship

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

 

As an Art Reed mark, I wish I could vote otherwise, but Perez looks strong, and his story as a champion is yet to play out. If nothing else, this is going to be an awesome match.

 

???? & ???? vs. Texas Pete & ????

 

No contest -- some sort of brawl breaks out, in which Malice in Wonderland fighters and storylines are involved/showcased. I think good things are ahead for Texas Pete... I wouldn't call him a "jobber". The impression I'm getting is that he's in more of a holding pattern... not winning too much, but definitely getting portrayed as a guy who can sustain a push, should it become time to give him one. A gatekeeper, but not a permanent gatekeeper.

[Phantom Stranger]

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/tcwbadge2.jpg

 

TCW Presents Badge of Honor

 

Friday Week 4 January 2009

 

Live on GNN Total Sports (Rating 1.26)

 

Held at the Huntsville Fairgrounds (South East)

 

Attendance: 4089

 

Announcers:

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JasonAzaria_alt1.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JasmineSaunders.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KyleRhodes_alt1.jpg

Jason Azaria – Jasmine Saunders – Kyle Rhodes

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ChampagneLover.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KoshiroIno.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/QueenEmily_FS2.jpg

Champagne Lover vs. Koshiro Ino w/ Baroness Emily

Fast and furious. Lover dominates this contest from the off, coming in strong and quick, and Ino has real trouble handling him – on commentary, Saunders refers everyone back to Ino's decision to come to TCW, to test himself against other wrestlers, other styles.

 

“I guess he hadn't got to Mexico yet,” she says. Azaria ties that in neatly with the growing spread of places TCW is drawing its wrestlers from. Meantime, Lover has the Kobra on the ropes with a counter for everything the bigger man tries. It's a real show of what he can do, and the Champagne Sunrise connects again – but when he makes the pin, he finds Ino's feet under the ropes.

 

Lover protests to Ray Johnson, but when he turns around, Ino has recovered enough to land the Kobra's Bite, and he secures the pinfall.

Koshiro Ino defeated Champagne Lover

Rating: B

 

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KoshiroIno.jpghttp://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/ShingenMiyazaki_alt2.jpg

Lover looks furious, and it looks as if he's preparing to strike Ino from behind – but Hidekazu and Team VIPER are already on their way down to the ring, and with the weight of numbers against him, the Lover bails.

 

Team KOBRA surround Koshiro Ino, who returns their gazes each in turn, and the group once again bow to each other in respect before leaving en masse.

 

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/DonnieJ.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JamesPrudence.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FloydGoldworthy.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AaronAndrews.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeyMinnesota_alt.jpg

Fly Boys w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Rising Stars

The two teams have very different approaches to the ring, but that doesn't matter too much here; they work well together. It's enthusiastic, it's well-executed, the Fly Boys in particular are able to mesh extremely well...

 

But they are up against the Rising Stars, and the Stars aren't without teamwork of their own. Eventually, Jimmy P soars from the top rope in a crossbody; Aaron Andrews catches him in midair and pivots.

 

He doesn't even use the Game Breaker; the spinebuster brings Jimmy to the ground and Andrews makes the cover. It earns the Stars the match.

Rising Stars defeated Fly Boys

Rating: B-

 

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AaronAndrews.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/JoeyMinnesota_alt.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TommyCornell_alt5.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/WolfHawkins_alt3.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RickyDaleJohnson.jpg

The match is over, and with it done, Cornell and Hawkins hit the ring and go after the Stars. The brawl gets intense fast, but it's not too long before Ricky Dale Johnson arrives, getting between the two sides, separating them and holding them off, looking like he's working hard not to just favour the Stars.

 

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/KateDangerous.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RakuMakuda.jpg

Kate Dangerous vs. Raku Makuda

There can't be many better demonstrations for a fledgling women's division than this one. Dangerous and Makuda are both excellent fighters, and they clearly know how much impact they have to make at the begging to make themselves legitimate in the fans' eyes.

 

Raku Makuda arguably has the most to prove; Dangerous has been in the ring before for TCW. She DDTs Kate fairly early on, hits a dropkick to the back of the head to keep her down, and goes to the top, hitting her trademark swanton bomb on the way down – except that Dangerous managed to move clear.

 

It ends up being another exchange of major holds that does it; Makuda backdrops a charging Kate to the outside; Dangerous grabs her by the ankles and yanks her to the outside, then hits a brainbuster on the floor before rolling her back in. Scooping her up into the over-the-shoulder full nelson backbreaker known as the Danger Zone, Kate is able to contain her for long enough to force the submission.

Kate Dangerous defeated Raku Makuda

Rating: B

 

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/LaurenEaster.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SuzanneBrazzle_alt1.jpg

Lauren Easter vs. Suzanne Brazzle

The same kind of intensity is present here, but the execution is, perhaps, a little weaker. Nonetheless, these two put it all on the line, and they come across pretty damn well. Azaria touts Suzanne Brazzle's knockout punch – the Miracle Connection – but we don't see it this time; what we see instead is Lauren Easter's Hellcat Pounce, scoring a dominant pin.

Lauren Easter defeated Suzanne Brazzle

Rating: C

 

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

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FrankiePerez.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/PhilVibert.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/ArtReed.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BlondeBombshell.jpg

Frankie Perez © w/ Phil Vibert vs. Art Reed w/ Blonde Bombshell

Maybe it's just the number of times these two have faced off in house shows, but they've really established a fantastic rhythm together.

 

It's a hell of a pace here, both men stepping up gears to give the full puroresu experience – particularly notable when Frankie tries for a hook kick, Reed catches, then there's a lift and, shortly afterward, Perez' head bounced off the mat. Reed covers -

 

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

Remo Richardson yanks him out of the ring and drills him with a clothesline. Ray Johnson ejects him from proceedings as Vibert rolls Reed back into the ring and tosses him the All-Action championship.

 

Perez promptly hits the hook kick again, this time jarring his title belt into the side of Reed's head. While the Bombshell protests, Vibert collects the belt and hides it, and Ray Johnson turns around to see Perez cover for the victory.

Frankie Perez defeated Art Reed

Rating: B

 

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

 

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

Texas Pete stalks out to the ring as Ain't No Rest For The Wicked plays. He holds a microphone loosely in his hand as it plays, and smirks a little as he listens. “You know,” he begins, “I didn't pick that music as a hint, Law...” He shakes his head dismissively.

 

“I know I'm the long shot on Sunday,” he continues. “YOU know I'm the long shot on Sunday. And so does Law.” He steps forward, leaning on the top rope. “But I'm the one in a tag match today, ain't I? I'm the one with one last obstacle. One last match. One more thing put in my path.

 

“Figures.

 

“I come out here again, I spent nearly a year training with the very best. But that's only going to get you part of the way, right? The real test is what the real test has to be. Can I get it done when the belt is on the line?

 

“Sammy Bach's been enough trouble for me trying to prove that anyway. But now I've got this. One last match. And the people I'm up against... I know you guys don't know yet, but you know they're TCW so you know they're tough.

 

“Ain't no rest for the wicked. Ain't no rest for me, neither. And Law, that ain't something I'm happy about. I may have to come after you next...”

 

He shakes his head, grinning suddenly. “**** it,” he announces. “I'm here now. There's no changing that. But... you know something? I gotta protect my chances on Sunday.”

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

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/AmericanBuffalo.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/TexasHangman.jpg w/ http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/FloydGoldworthy.jpg vs. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/BrentHill.jpghttp://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/RockyGolden_PS2.jpg

American Buffalo & Texas Pete w/ Floyd Goldworthy vs. Brent Hill & Rocky Golden

This was always going to be a hellacious brawl, though it's worth noting that Pete gamely squares up against Hill early on for an exchange of hold and counter hold, one that isn't as one-sided as you might think – but when Pete realises he's going to lose, his foot comes up sharply, and Hill's head snaps back fast. A right hand puts Brent down seconds later, and the camera registers the dazed look in his eye.

 

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm75/trenchcoatbrigand/TCW/SammyBach_alt1.jpg

If Sammy Bach hadn't appeared at ringside, that might have been it, but Pete broke off, staring at him for a long moment, then walks back to his corner, his eyes still on Bach.

 

He tags out.

 

Well, that's one word for it. The slap nearly knocks Buffalo off the apron, but it counts as a tag.

 

Then Pete hits the ropes and charges.

 

Bach doesn't believe what's coming in time to dodge. Pete goes out over the second rope in a suicide dive, wiping Sammy out.

 

Texas Pete never comes back to the ring; the Buffalo tries to destroy Brent Hill, but after a few good moves, Hill escapes and makes the tag.

 

Bach and Pete are still brawling in the stands when Rocky Golden – in a burst of surprising athleticism for the big man – leapfrogs the Stampede. With his body cutting Ray Johnson off from sight, Golden lands the Rocky Road and tags Brent Hill back in, launching him in a Rocket Launcher-esque King of the Hill onto a winded Buffalo. Hill gets the pin easily from that point on.

Brent Hill & Rocky Golden defeated American Buffalo & Texas Pete

Rating: B

 

Show Rating: B+

[Phantom Stranger]

And with that, the final show before Malice in Wonderland, posted...

 

I want to encourage everyone who hasn't to head over to the Hall of Fame Voting thread and get your votes in for your favourite diary writers, whoever they are.