DAVE '97: No Disqualifications

arwink · July 3, 2010

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/DAVE.jpg

No Disqualifications

No Count-Outs

There are only two options: Victory and Defeat

DANGER AND VIOLENCE EXTREME

Join the Evolution

_______________________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PhilVibert.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisCaulfield.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MitchNaess.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg

It’d been happening for so long that it’d become routine: the four of sitting in the cramped DAVE offices, clustered around the small desk I shared with Mitch Neass when he came in to do the company accounts. Me and Mitch and Chris Caulfield and Phil coming together on the first of the month, hatching plans for the company’s future while we waited for the GDS to post the monthly rankings of the East Coast War.

Usually the mood was tentative, everyone on edge until we’d heard where we fell, but the combination of the News Years Day hangover and the knowledge that Phil had sent out the press release three days earlier did a lot to keep us subdued. Mitch was in the corner, mainlining coffee and aspirin; he’d spent most of the DAVE New Years bash trying to talk Emma Chase into sleeping with him, and he’d made the mistake of using tequila shots as his weapon of choice in the struggle

“Jesus, Oz,” he said, mumbling through the headache, “why didn’t you stop me?”

“Maybe I thought you had a shot, mate.”

“Maybe you wanted to see me throw up my own liver.”

“Well, there’s that.” I pulled a coke out of the bar fridge in the corner of the office, glanced over at Caulfield. “Wait, throwing up a liver? You reckon you could manage that?”

Caulfield shook his head warily. “You’re kidding, right?”

“You’re the one who wants to play babyface, and it might work.”

“I’m not throwing up in the ring,” Caulfield said. Then he thought about it for a few seconds, running through the possibilities: “Well, not intentionally.”

I shrugged and pulled the tab on my Coke, winced at the taste just like always. American soft drink never tasted right; it was something to do with using corn syrup instead of sugar.

Caulfield noticed. The bastard was clear-eyed and hang-over free, one of the few DAVE employees smart enough to stop after the third drink. And Caulfield noticed everything; he was one of those guys that liked figuring out the way things worked. “Why drink it if you don’t like the taste?”

“Caffeine and sugar. I don’t like the taste of coffee.”

Phil sat by the computer, watching the e-mail. A soft ding let us know there was a new message waiting for us.

“Well, the word is out,” he said, “I own Danger and Violence Extreme and everyone knows it.”

That wasn’t news; we’d helped Phil draft the press release. The three of stared at him, waiting for the rest. He milked it for effect.

“We won,” he said. “Best show on the East Coast in December, the third month running.” He grinned and leant back in his chair. And congratulations, Oz, you’ve officially been named the booker. Try not to **** up our good work, yeah?”

tristram · July 4, 2010

Full credit to the backstory post, mate. I really enjoyed that. Any backstory that talks of a lure to try to tap Emma up is good... plus, loved the "Wait, throwing up a liver? You reckon you could manage that" line.

I'm looking forward to seeing the DAVE revolution.

Good luck with this!

arwink · July 4, 2010

On The Weirdness of My Authority

Phil’s ribbing aside, the title of “booker” didn’t really mean as much in DAVE as it did elsewhere. The companies success over the last three years bore the hall-marks of Vibert’s brilliance for sure, but by the time the take-over happened the fans were already talking about the DAVE Gang of Four that formed the support network – Mitch Neass and Eric Tyler had been the sounding board for Vibert since he first arrived at the company, I’d been more and more involved since taking over the DAVE youth program, and the friendship between Vibert and Caulfield had seen Chris having an influence on the company a few months before he actually debuted.

None of that was going to change, not really; I just got the job because I was the least visible of the Gang of Four and because Phil didn’t want an active wrestler making storyline decisions. I’d been out of the game for twelve months by then, working in the DAVE offices shipping tapes and updating the website in between putting the rookies through their paces at the semi-regular DAVE training camp, and I’d made him a firm promise that I wouldn’t be getting back into the ring.

Of course, there was slightly more than that. Phil had a vision for where the company would be. He'd promises his backers a thirty-month push towards television and pay-per-view in order to deliver a return on their investment, and I'd agreed to take the booking job to serve as his scape-goat if things didn't work out. If we succeeded I got a bonus; if we failed, he could blame me and keep the company running while I drifted off and found work elsewhere for a while.

The company was also deeply mired in Phil's vision. There was a particular plan at work with Phil’s vision of DAVE – one that’d been carefully crafted to place it at the forefront of the American indie scene. Lots of criticism had been leveled at him for putting the Hardcore elements to the forefront, but in reality the really extreme stuff was happening over in XFW. The core of DAVE remained Traditional wrestling matches that pitted skilled competitors against each other, with the Hardcore and more salacious aspects of the product a secondary concern to what went on in the ring. Arena-wide brawls and chair-shots were part of that, and Phil had spent three years stacking the top of the card with workers who could perform in that environment, but the primary goal was competitive and entertaining matches.

In preperation for taking over I'd spent two weeks getting more familiar with the DAVE roster than I ever expected possible, reviewing tapes, my own notes, and the rap both Phil and Mitch had given our various workers.

__________________________________________________

DAVE’s Main Event

Phil Vibert spent three years maneuvering a very particularly group of wrestlers into the main event, instituting workers who represented the company’s ideal. Only four times in the last five years had the DAVE Extreme title found its way into the hands of a worker not on this list, and in two of those cases the workers in question had left the company prior to 1994.

As of January 1997 the following men were carrying the company, performing in the main event and defining the DAVE style.

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“The Traditionalist” Eric Tyler

Age: 37; Build: Middleweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Tradition Lift (Standing Double Chickenwing)

Eric Tyler’s the ticking heart in the centre of many of DAVE’s greatest matches, a veteran of the old school whose charisma and in-ring talent is undeniable. After a stellar year in 96, picking up the number 24 spot on the Power 100 due to his work here and in Canada, Tyler is starting to make noises about retirement. Phil’s admitted that he’d happily keep Tyler on board as a road agent and manager when that happens, but we’re all sworn to secrecy in case the news actually encourages him to put more thought into the prospect than we’d really like.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/FreddieDatsun.jpg

“The American Everyman” Freddie Datsun

Age: 27; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Patriot Press (Spinning Death Valley Driver)

The people who gripe about Datsun’s hardworking everyman gimmick are generally focusing on the wrong part of the equation – Datsun isn’t over because he’s an everyman, he’s over because he works harder than any other wrestler on our roster. He’s tough, he’s dependable, and he sells every beating so damn well that the fans can’t help but want him to pick up the victory. It’s a combination that’s seen him become a three-time Extreme champion and a cornerstone of the main event.

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JD Morgan

Age: 28; Build: Middleweight; Style: Technician

Signature Moves: Cross Atlantic Stretch (Cross Armlock), German Suplex

Morgan’s the first DAVE Extreme champion and he’s held the strap twice since then, but his reigns are usually kept short and he spends more time working programs with the guy just about to go for the belt than he does challenging for it himself. Such are the challenges of being a European submission specialist in a hardcore federation, although it’s something we’ll be looking to change as time progresses and there’s the space to open up the DAVE style a little.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/DAVE_Extreme.jpg

Johnny Martin (DAVE Extreme Champion)

Age: 27; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Twist on the Rocks (Slingshot Suplex)

Johnny Martin and DAVE evolved together – the Ace Express were in the first match of DAVE’s first show back in September of 92 and since then both the company and the wrestler have been guided to prominence by the booking of Phil Vibert. Martin was one of the first wrestlers Phil identified as a potential star and his combination of rugged brawling, hardcore and technical skills led to the development of the “DAVE Style” match as a showcase of his potential. Martin’s career with the company looks bright, and seems likely to remain so as long as Vibert’s in charge.

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The Wolverine

Age: 31; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: The Maul (Mafia Kick)

In the five years he’s spent with the company the Wolverine has been in and out of the main event scene a dozen times. He’s very good at what does, delivering physically intense hardcore matches and arena-wide brawls, but the lack of depth in his matches means there’s few prospects for long-term runs at the top. Riding a wave of momentum into his projected program with Vengeance – pitting the pair against each other for the first time ever - the Wolverine is another wrestler who seems destined to serve as a gatekeeper to the main event.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Vengeance.jpg

“The Avenging Angel” Vengeance

Age: 25; Build: Big Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Vengeance Drop (Inverted Piledriver)

Big, charismatic and scary as hell; easily the hottest wrestler in DAVE right now, his long-term prospects are shaky. Vengeance is the kind of young wrestler promoters dream about and it would take an act of god to keep Vengance in DAVE for another year. Hollyweird and Supreme have both been sniffing around the big Texan monsters since his run with the Extreme championship back in ’95 and his recent surge in popularity suggest that a signing with either isn’t too far away.

Anderz · July 4, 2010

really well written first couple of posts.. got my interest.. very intrigued to see how you take on DAVE.. KUTGW!

arwink · July 5, 2010

Gatekeepers & Future Stars

If I’m honest the DAVE midcard excites me far more than the main event, largely because it’s where we finally see some diversity in the roster. Part of the good news Phil’s given me in the lead-in to ’97 is that the style is established well-enough that some of the following can be moved up, taking the places of straight-through brawlers like Wolverine and Vengeance as they move on to other companies (Vengeance) and move down the card over time (Wolverine).

It’s a credit to Phil’s booking that no-ones particularly bothered by this prospect; the DAVE locker-room is a dream to manage after five years of being reminded that everyone has their place and it’s their job to get each other over. It’s a policy that extends, unofficially, right down to the merchandise – during Caulfield’s first program working face against Eddie Chandler; he offered his heel opponent half his cut of Caulfield merchandise for the duration of the fued. For six straight months Chandler worked like a bastard, doing everything he could to make Caulfield look like a million bucks, and the spike in Chris’s t-shirt sales quickly encouraged others to make the same deals.

It’s disgustingly utopian, I’ll give them that, but it’s also the result of careful planning by Phil when it came to hiring talent. He wanted guys who get it, who’d work together and enjoy it, and thus far the only guy in the locker room who fails to understand is Dog Fyte (and even then he’s pretty restrained compared to the stories about his backstage antics up north in NOTBPW). DAVE is light on ego and heavy on loyalty, making it a pretty easy locker room to run.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisCaulfield.jpg

“The Hardcore American” Chris Caulfield

Age: 22; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Danger Drop (Reverse Snap Suplex)

Chris Caulfield presents a problem. On one hand he’s a hard-working, dedicated rookie with the charisma and work-ethic be the next Johnny Martin; on the other, he’s one of Phil Vibert’s friends and every single fan in the audience knows it. It’s virtually impossible to push him without someone crying nepotism, and attempts to turn that distrust into heat are hampered by the fact that Caulfield’s one of nature’s babyfaces. He’s also one of the nicest guys on the locker room, and the one who understands the industry like a ten year veteran.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/DogFyte.jpg

“The Stiffest Mutha-F—ker in the Game” Dog Fyte

Age: 20; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Strong Style

Signature Moves: Death Threat (two shoot kicks followed by a roundhouse kick), Detonation Sequence (Rolling German Suplexes)

In theory Dog Fyte is tailor made for DAVE - he’s tough, he’s intense, and he can wrestle as well as he brawls. Unfortunately he’s also devoid of charisma in the ring, stiff as hell with his opponents, and prone to making trouble backstage. The latter may well outweigh his good qualities when it comes time to renew his contract, especially in light of Phil Vibert’s “we all work together” approach to running a company.

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“Fabulous” Eddie Chandler

Age: 21; Build: Middleweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Fabulous Stretch (Double Armbar),

He’s not the most hard-hitting of wrestlers, but the combination of Chandler’s flamboyant heel act and the curvy presence of Easy Emma at ringside have made him a constant presence at DAVE shows over the last year. The main problem with getting him over is a one of fan acceptance - there’s not a man whose hit the main event in the last five years who can’t work the hardcore style, and it’s usually on the back of their move violent matches that the fans choose to elevate them and accept them as legitimate. Eddie Chandler doesn’t brawl well, and he’s uncomfortable with a chair in his hand, so finding the right way to give him a “hardcore” moment is probably going to require a tag-team.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpg

Elijah Black

Age: 33; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Soul Train (Big Corner Splash)

A veteran of the Texas Wrestling League whose settled into his role as one-half of the Black Murder tag-team with Muderous Mikey. His specialty is old-school Texas slugfests, much as you’d expect from his background, and he delivers a highly charismatic promo. Valued for his consistency; he rarely produces the best match on the card, but he’s rarely in the worst either.

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Jay Darkness

Age: 21; Build: Big Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Fade to Black (Spinebuster), Endless Night (w/Raul; Tag Decapitation Knee Drop)

The Darkness Warriors have been one of the three foundation acts that Phil Vibert’s built upon over the last two years, largely because of the raw charisma and hard-hitting style of the hulking Jay Darkness. It surprised everyone when the decision was made to have the Warrior’s lose to Black Murder in the inaugural Tag-Team Title match last October, especially given the momentum Jay’s built up in a series of squash matches prior, leading some to speculate that he may be the second combing of Vengeance is Vibert played things right. He and his brother recently earned Extreme Championship shots at Christmas with the Devil and Jay’s already advertised as cashing his in at our debut Boston show.

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“The Icon of Insanity” Henry Lee

Age: 27; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Psychopath

Signature Moves: Asylum Buster (Leaping Piledriver)

There’s no way around it - Henry Lee is a crazy f—ker. In the six months since he jumped ship from XFW he’s been on the highlight reel of every show taking the kind of testicular-shrinking sick bumps that leave the fans wincing and demanding more. Beyond his willingness to attempt the foolhardy, Lee’s main talents begin and end with hardcore brawling and the ability to cut a phenomenally deranged promo. He's been part of a storyline where Vibert's trying to force him out of DAVE, fighting a series of special guest wrestlers in brutal hardcore bouts that Lee keeps winning.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RaulDarkness_Alt.jpg

Raul Darkness

Age: 25; Build: Middleweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Demonic DDT (Snap DDT), Endless Night (w/Jay; Tag Decapitation Knee Drop)

The lesser half of the Darkness Warrior’s tag-team, although still no slouch in the ring. Raul lacks his brother’s size and Charisma, but seems to have a better grasp of the Acolyte gimmick they’re working. He’s also the airborne half of the Decapitation Knee Drop tag finish.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/VinTanner.jpg

“The V Man” Vin Tanner

Age: 29; Build: Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: V for Victory (Spinning Face First Suplex)

Tanner’s an old-school worker who’d be more at home in the slower pace of NYCW, but he’s managed a four-year career in DAVE and had a six-month run with the Extreme strap back in 1995. Still highly-placed in the card, Tanner’s likely to settle into a gate-keeper role as the company changes around him.

1PWfan · July 5, 2010

I like your roster rundown, and it's clear that you've got a very particular vision for DaVE (the vibe I get from what you've said is a kind of old-school hardcore: not the weird, darker stuff Eisenverse puts out, but more of a combination of old-school good vs. evil with more chairshots)

arwink · July 5, 2010

I'm looking forward to seeing the DAVE revolution.
Good luck with this!

really well written first couple of posts.. got my interest.. very intrigued to see how you take on DAVE.. KUTGW!

Cheers, lads. Glad to have you aboard.

I like your roster rundown, and it's clear that you've got a very particular vision for DaVE (the vibe I get from what you've said is a kind of old-school hardcore: not the weird, darker stuff Eisenverse puts out, but more of a combination of old-school good vs. evil with more chairshots)

More the opposite way around - going through the roster write-up and figuring out why people were where they were is largely how I started developed a vision for the '97 DAVE product. Basically, the DAVE of 1997 has a very different product to the DAVE of 2007. There's slightly more focus on the traditional, slightly less focus on the hardcore, and very little focus on the Daredevil stunts.

It makes for a slightly odd grab-bag of traits: performance and popularity rated equally; simple and low-risk gimmicks; a preference for high-risk matches. I'm still figuring out how that'll work, long term, and whether I'm inclined to edge towards the more familiar product as time passes and in-game events warrant making the changes.

Eisen-verse · July 5, 2010

not the weird, darker stuff Eisenverse puts out

whoa... whoa... whoa... I'm weird? haha

Best of luck, Arwink! DaVE should be a lot of fun to book!

The Celt · July 5, 2010

I sincerely hope you've lowered JK Stallings, Richard Eisen and Jerry Eisen desired roster size somewhat or quite simply DAVE will get game-destroying raped (I'm speaking from experience

)

arwink · July 6, 2010

The DAVE Youth Movement

The previous owners of DAVE ran a youth movement program, signing raw talent to long-term deals in an effort to train them up and make them an integral part of the company. Phil’s famous for saying that anyone can get gotten over if you find the right angle, but the reactions the crowd has to these rookies makes it difficult to imagine sometimes. Most of these guys have a long way to go before they’re stepping up and carrying any aspect of the company

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J.J. Coles

Age: 20; Build: Middleweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: RPM Kick (Superkick)

JJ’s all X-Factor and Charisma, a kid who’d be better used as a manager than a wrestler until he gets a better grip of the fundamentals. I suspect he’ll be more useful after he learns to sell better and garner more sympathy for his passionate promos.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/LucasHale.jpg

Lucas Hale

Age: 17; Build: Lightweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Money Maker (Flying Butt Press)

At seventeen Hale is easily the greenest of the rookies on the roster, with his only real saving grace being the laughs he gets on the way to the ring with his inept lounge-lizard gimmick. After spending three months watching his work in dark matches, I asked Mitch Naess why Hale was still employed. “Eric Tyler said he’ll be the face of the company in ten years time,” Mitch said. “And he still sucks, I know, but he’s improving faster than the rest of them combined.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MichaelCook.jpg

Michael Cook

Age: 25; Build: Middleweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Furusawa Arm Bar, Half-Nelson Bridging Cradle

A talented amateur wrestler who tried out for the youth program after challenging Johnny Martin to a match when they worked out at the same gym. Currently the best in-ring competitor of the rookies whose gotten over by using the Furusawa Arm Bar as a finisher in quick matches, but his inability to get the crowd to buy into his work remains a problem.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg

Murderous Mikey

Age: 25; Build: Big Heavyweight; Style: Psychopath

Signature Moves: Switchblade Symphony (Gutwrench Powerbomb)

Six-eleven, three hundred and fifty pounds. Mikey’s always going to have a career in pro-wrestling, but his lack of cardio means he’s currently limited to working tags with Elijah Black. One-half of the tag-team champions.

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Roy Stephens

Age: 18; Build: Middleweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: High Rotation (Rolling Cutter)

Roy’s a guy with plenty of improvement required, but he’s young and he’s got a good attitude and he’s well-liked by the boys backstage. Spent a lot of time learning to sell, which makes him more immediately useful than any rookie but Mikey. He’s also fairly reserved and conservative, which makes him less useful in the long-term given the wild and outrageous vibe DAVE is starting to court.

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"Hollywood" William Fletcher

Age: 18; Build: Lightweight; Style: Technician

Signature Moves: Number One Crush (Seated Dragon Sleeper), Flying Elbow Drop

Fletcher’s one of Vibert’s long-term projects, signed to a twenty-month contract despite his relative dearth of in-ring talent. He’s charismatic enough that he could become a big name in years down the line, but his relatively lackluster work ethic makes it unlikely. Works a gimmick where he imitates scenes from movies in his promos, and well-liked by the boys backstage.

Credit where credit's due: The Fletcher and Stephen's renders are lifted from the C-Verse Re-Render thread to replace the default images in the '97 database. If the original creators have any issues with them being used here, let me know and I'll swap them out.

arwink · July 12, 2010

Coming up at DAVE Back in Black

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EricTyler.jpg

“The Extreme Icon” Johnny Martin vs. “The Traditionalist” Eric Tyler

for the DAVE Extreme Championship

Tyler has been petitioning for a rematch since losing the title to Martin last August, but faced stiff competition for the number one contender spot from Freddie Datsun. The Traditionalist has promised to bring honor and tradition to the Extreme Championship by destroying the fan-favorite Martin.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/FreddieDatsun.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JDMorgan.jpg

“The American Everyman” Freddie Datsun vs. “The English Invasion” JD Morgan

Datsun’s held a grudge since Morgan dislocated his shoulder with the Cross-Atlantic Stretch in September of ’96 – an injury that would cost Datsun a shot at the Extreme title one month later. Since then the American Everyman’s been searching for revenge, but Morgan’s manager Phil Vibert refused to make match…until now.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EdMonton.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/HenryLee.jpg

“Canadian Hardcore” Ed Monton vs. “The Icon of Insanity” Henry Lee

Phil Vibert continues his search for a man Extreme enough to force the Icon of Insanity out of DAVE. At Back in Black the task falls to Ed Monton - a man renowned for being one of the toughest men ever to wrestle in Canada.

Complete Card

Rafael Ruiz vs. Chris Caulfield

JJ Coles & Roy Stephens vs. Black Murder (DAVE Tag-Team Championship)

Michael Cook vs. Tayler Morton

Ed Menton vs. Henry Lee

Thomas Morgan vs. The Wolverine

Chris Perkins vs. Vin Tanner

Freddie Datsun vs. JD Morgan

Vengeance vs. Eddie Chandler

Johnny Martin vs. Eric Tyler (DAVE Extreme Championship)

Jingo · July 12, 2010

Rafael Ruiz vs. Chris Caulfield

JJ Coles & Roy Stephens vs. Black Murder (DAVE Tag-Team Championship)

Michael Cook vs. Tayler Morton

Ed Menton vs. Henry Lee

Thomas Morgan vs. The Wolverine

Chris Perkins vs. Vin Tanner

Freddie Datsun vs. JD Morgan

Vengeance vs. Eddie Chandler

Johnny Martin vs. Eric Tyler (DAVE Extreme Championship)

Dragonmack · July 12, 2010

Rafael Ruiz vs. Chris Caulfield

JJ Coles & Roy Stephens vs. Black Murder (DAVE Tag-Team Championship)

Michael Cook vs. Tayler Morton

Ed Menton vs. Henry Lee

Thomas Morgan vs. The Wolverine

Chris Perkins vs. Vin Tanner

Freddie Datsun vs. JD Morgan

Vengeance vs. Eddie Chandler

Johnny Martin vs. Eric Tyler (DAVE Extreme Championship

Timber · July 12, 2010

Complete Card

Rafael Ruiz vs. Chris Caulfield

JJ Coles & Roy Stephens vs. Black Murder (DAVE Tag-Team Championship)

Michael Cook vs. Tayler Morton

Ed Menton vs. Henry Lee

Thomas Morgan vs. The Wolverine

Chris Perkins vs. Vin Tanner

Freddie Datsun vs. JD Morgan

Vengeance vs. Eddie Chandler

Johnny Martin vs. Eric Tyler (DAVE Extreme Championship

arwink · July 15, 2010

DAVE Back in Black

Monday, Week 2, January 1997

Pennsylvania Park (Tri-State) – 1,898 people

____________________________________

Dark Match: In a bout that had solid in-ring action but not much in the way of heat, Thomas Morgan defeated Dog Fyte in 8:14 by pinfall. (D-)

Dark Match: In an extremely short match, The Darkness Warriors defeated William Fletcher and Lucas Hale in 5:03 when Jay Darkness defeated William Fletcher by pinfall with an Endless Night. (E-)

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PhilVibert.jpg

“Hello everyone, and welcome to Danger and Violence Extreme!” Phil Vibert comes out to announce his take-over of the company and run down the list of booked matches, hyping the crowd for an evening of DAVE’s best. “If you thought 1996 was Extreme,” he says, “wait ‘til you see what happens now that the gloves are off.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/FreddieDatsun.jpg

His tirade is interrupted by Freddie Datsun, who climbs into the ring and grabs Vibert by the lapels. “You can come out here running your mouth about new beginnings, Vibert, but no-one here’s going to buy it. Not the fans, not the boys in the back, and not me. Four months now you’ve been letting your boy Morgan duck me, telling me I can’t get back in the ring with him and make him pay for what he did to my arm. Four months of ‘no Freddie, not tonight. We’ll reschedule the match for another time.’ Well, I’m damn—”

“Freddie, Freddie, Freddie.” Vibert cuts off Datsun’s tirade and pulls himself free, smoothing down the lapels on his jacket. “JD’s never been ducking you. You think he didn’t want to get back in the ring with you? You think he hasn’t been asking me, week after week after week, for another chance at breaking your damn arm? It didn’t happen because I was told not to let it happen, because you were too damn valuable to the people who ran this place. They didn’t want you hurt, and they didn’t JD to end your career, so I was told not to book it.”

Vibert pauses, pondering the dilemma, then grins. “Of course, I own the place now, and I don’t care if JD breaks your goddamn neck. You want the match? You got the match. Just pray you survive it, you flannel-wearing pain in the ass.”

Rating: C

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RafaelRuiz.jpgvs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisCaulfield.jpg

Rafael Ruiz vs. Chris Caulfield

Ruiz is all focus as he hits the ring, barely acknowledging the DAVE fans as he stares at Caulfield during the introductions. Caulfield has no such luxury – the fans are on his case from the outset and Caulfield goes into his usual pre-match spiel, trading insults and losing his cool about the lack of respect they’re offering him.

The match follows as you’d expect from that: Caulfield is reckless and determined to show-up the fans, Ruiz is the stone-cold killer who smoothly counters every assault with cold intensity, dismantling Caulfield limb by limb. It isn’t until a desperate Caulfield pulls a chair into the ring that the match gets onto an even footing; Ruiz takes the shot to the head and looks momentarily stunned, unsure of what’s just happened. Caulfield spits on him, screams “welcome to DAVE, bitch,” and creases his skull again. It isn’t enough to put the Mexican Pit Bull down for good, but it rattles him bad enough that Caulfield is able to control the match. Ruiz mounts some good comebacks, working Caulfield’s knee in preparation for a figure-four, but when he finally shoots in to take Caulfield down for the submission he gets caught with Danger Drop and Caulfield covers him for the three-count.

Chris Caulfield defeated Rafael Ruiz in 9:18 by pinfall.

Rating: D-

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JJColes.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RoyStephens.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg

JJ Coles & Roy Stephens vs. Black Murder

DAVE Tag-Team Championship

It’s up to Elijah Black to do the heavy lifting in this match, although it’s helped by the fact that Roy Stephens knows how to take beating and JJ Coles is at his best when pleading for the hot tag. There’s enough raw rookies in the ring to ensure plenty of blown spots and opportunities, but the match does what it needs too – Mikey looks like a killer every time he gets into the ring, JJ and Roy get some empathy as they struggle against their opponents greater size and experience, and Elijah Black is the ****y bad-ass who keeps his monstrous partner in reserve and tries to take the opponents down on his own.

A lucky moment sees Coles hit the RPM Kick on Black, sparking the all-brawl after Mikey lumbers in to break the pinfall. Referee Michael Bull takes a bump from the big man and the legal men spill into the ringside area, throwing each other into guardrails before brawling through the audience. It leaves Stephens and Mikey in the ring, with the Switchblade Symphony a foregone conclusion. Mikey shakes Bull awake, makes the cover, and picks up the victory to retain the titles.

Black Murder defeated J.J. Coles and Roy Stephens in 6:44 by pinfall.

Rating: E

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J.J. Coles is getting in referee Michael Bull’s face, making noise about being the legal man. Black comes into object, getting into a shoving contest…then Mikey registers his objections with a Singapore cane. J.J. Coles goes down. Michael Bull goes down. Roy Stephen’s staggers back to his feet and takes a shot to the skull as well.

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Lucas Hale comes charging down into the ring to save his fellow rookies. Elijah Black gabs him and holds him while Mikey lines up the shot, smashing the butt of the cane into the side of Hale’s face and busting him open. Hale goes down, blood streaming from his nose, whimpering on the mat.

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Then Ben Cross, Michael Cook and Chris Perkins come charging out with chairs to make the save. The two rookies edge Mikey away from his victims, taking tentative swings with their chars, while Ben Cross claims a microphone and addresses Elijah Black. “Listen, mate,” he says, “you might want to reign in tall, bald and stupid here. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s a little outnumbered at the moment.”

Black weighs up the situation and puts a restraining hand on Mikey’s shoulder, pulling him back to the far side of the ring. “And what do you care, Ossie. This is between and Mikey and those two punks.”

“Not anymore.” Cross steps forward, getting into Black’s face. “Now I don’t know how you managed to sneak this shaved gorilla past the committee and claim him as your tag-team partner, but I don’t really care, mate. You back off, and you stay backed off. These kids came here to prove themselves in the ring one-on-one; to learn from the best, not get their arse kicked after the bell is rung. You make ‘em bleed in a fight, well, that’s fair enough. You step into the ring, you take your lumps. But if you want to it play it street rules after the bell is done, if you want to bully them and bleed them and get in their face, then we’re more than happy to oblige…mate.”

Cross nods towards the backstage crew working on Hale’s face, trying to stem the flow of blood. The rookie is out of it, spread-eagled on the mat and still, injured rather than selling the injury. “Looks like you put one of ours in the hospital Black,” Cross says. “Back off before I let these kids put one of yours in the morgue.”

Black and Murder back off, but they look more amused than scared. “Big mistake, Aussie.” Black’s got a huge grin on his face, almost eager. “Big f—kin’ mistake.”

Cross holds the stare as the heels retreats, staying in the ring alongside Michael Cook as the young rookie prepares for the next match.

Rating: E+

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MichaelCook.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpg

Michael Cook w/Ben Cross vs. Tayler Morton

This one’s all about the pace – Cook comes charging in, looking for openings he use for an amateur takedown, and Tayler peppers him with offense while dodging and weaving out of the way. It isn’t until Morton gets overly fancy that his tactics fail; he goes for a standing tornado DDT and Cook reverses into a small package.

Michael Cook defeated Tayler Morton in 4:58 by pinfall.

Rating: E

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Henry Lee emerges and the crowd immediately turns against him, starting their usual chant about …er…having sexual congress with Lee. The Icon of Insanity doesn’t seem to care – he climbs into the ring with a microphone.

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“No,” he says, “F—k you. F—k you and f—k Vibert. Hell, f—k this whole company. You think I don’t hear the stories? You think I’m a goddamn idiot? I hear the whispers out there, the people saying I don’t belong here. Henry Lee can’t wrestle. Henry Lee should f—k off back to XFW where he belongs. And I know Phil Vibert listens, and I know it’s what he’s thinking…I know he’d give his left goddamn nut to find that one man…just one…suicidal enough to run me out of this company for good.

“I’m not f—kin’ leaving this company, not without a fight.” He pauses and spits on Menton. “No-one f—ks with the Icon of Insanity. No-one f—ks with with me and comes out the same way on the other side.

As has become traditional in the last eight months, Phil Vibert comes down from the announce booth.

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“Lee, you’re a goddamn ass, but you’re a tough goddamn ass,” Vibert says. “Truth is, you might even be the toughest goddamn sonovabitch in the United States. But it’s over. Every month you come out here and run your mouth, claiming to be the hardest of the hardcore, and someone actually called me and asked to be your opponent. A man who can make a legitimate claim to be one of the toughest SOBs on the North American continent…a man who once got himself shivved in a fight in a parking lot after a show, and still beat down three guys before driving to a hospital…a man whose heard you running your mouth sand said, ‘well, ****, he ain’t so tough, eh?’”

“Tonight, Lee, you’re opponent is the toughest man in Canada, Ed Monton. And I’ve paid him a bonus to break you in two.”

Ratind: D

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EdMonton.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/HenryLee.jpg

Ed Monton vs. Henry Lee

Loser Leaves DAVE

This is short and furious: Monton endears himself to DAVE fans early in the match when he takes a waffle iron off a fan at ringside and uses it to beat Henry Lee’s head. The brawl gets out of control after that, raging through ringside, and it’s a better match than it deserves to be courtesy of Monton calling the spots for Lee. Henry Lee gets over the best way he knows how, taking a series of insane chances that culminates in him getting tangled in the ropes and hanging by the neck while Monton rains fists on his forehead. By the end both men are bloodied, Henry Lee fighting tooth and nail, but it’s Monton who proves to be the tougher man when he pins a bloodied Lee in the centre of the ring.

Ed Monton defeated Henry Lee in 8:26 by pinfall.

Rating: D-

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Thomas Morgan vs. The Wolverine

Morgan puts up a surprisingly adept defense given the size difference, countering the fury of the Wolverine with the technical skills learnt as one of the first non-family graduates of the House of Stone dojo. He succeeds in getting the savage on the mat a few times, but the Wolverine powers out of every submission and starts throwing Morgan around the ring, eventually nailing him in the jaw with The Maul.

The Wolverine defeated Thomas Morgan in 7:32 by pinfall.

Rating: D

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisPerkins.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpgvs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/VinTanner.jpg

Chris Perkins w/ Ben Cross vs. Vin Tanner

For all his faults, Tanner knows how to work his spot on the card and he can lead any competent rookie through a decent match by relying on the same heel stalls wrestling’s been using for decades. The various sly eye-rakes and choke attempts using wrist-tape are all it takes to get the crowd behind the debuting Perkins, playing on the recent break of the rookie’s two year losing streak over in CZCW. Cross works hard to keep the referee's attention on the less savoury tactics, although he stops short of interfering in the match.

It ends with one of Tanner’s regular spots when he’s playing veteran to a rookie babyface - he fakes the kid with a chair shot, lets them duck or shrink away from the blow, then smirks at the crowd before hitting the V for Victory while his opponent is waiting for the chair shot.

Vin Tanner defeated Chris Perkins in 8:59 by pinfall.

Rating: D-

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/FreddieDatsun.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JDMorgan.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PhilVibert.jpg

Freddie Datsun vs. JD Morgan with Phil Vibert

This match plays off the pair’s first clash back in October of ’96, with Morgan going after the same shoulder and Datsun countering. It’s a slow build with lots of building off the opponent’s signature spots, drawing considerable commentary by Mitch Naess about the amount of time both men must have spent watching tapes of their opponent. Even the presence of Phil Vibert at ringside doesn’t tip the balance – his first attempt to interfere is anticipated by Datsun and it earns Vibert a clothesline that knocks him off the ring-apron and convinces him he’d be better served scurrying back to the announce booth.

Slowly, imperceptibly, the match starts going Morgan’s way. He takes the cheap shots, he takes Datsun to the mat a little more often, and he finally locks a the first wrist submission at the ten minute mark that looks like it might end the match. Datsun fights his way to the ropes to break the hold, but Morgan grins like a bastard as they circle one another and lock-up again. The babyface come-back that follows is huge, Datsun picking up speed as he batters Morgan about the ring, but Morgan keeps working the arm with merciless brutality. It could go either way at many moments, but eventually Datsun picks up the win with a desperate Patriot Press that’s noticeably less crisp and authoritative than normal.

Freddie Datsun defeated JD Morgan in 17:34 by pinfall.

Rating: D+

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It’s time for every straight male’s favourite part of DAVE: Easy Emma hits the ring.

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Unfortunately she brings her client Eddie Chandler with her, strutting along beside her with a smug grin in place. He climbs into the ring and strikes a pose with a feather boa, holding it while Easy Emma takes photographs with a Polaroid to hand out to the crowd.

“What in the hell are the power’s that be doing around here?” Chandler asks. “I got here tonight and the match-sheet read Vengeance. Eddie Chandler versus Vengeance. Who thought that was a good idea?”

Apparently the crowd did, though Chandler doesn’t seem interested.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d loooooove the glory and adulation that comes with putting down the Avenging Angel,” Chanlder says, “and make no mistake, that’s exactly what would happen if I stepped into the ring tonight, but unfortunately Eddie Chandler isn’t medically cleared to wrestle. Unfortunately I’m—”

Eddie’s promo is cut off as the lights go out, throwing a spotlight on the entrance ramp for the emergence of the steel-faced Vengeance. The Avenging Angel glides towards the ring, climbing over the top rope to loom over Eddie Chandler.

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A low, rasping voice echoes out across the arena. “Not. Cleared?”

“Not cleared,” Chandler confirms. “If I had my way, I’d fight you in an instant. My heart beats with the spirit of a warrior, a soldier, a gladiator. I looooong for the struggle and the sweet, sweet feeling that only victory can bring…but…but…but…

He takes a deep breath, milking the moment. “I’ve got a cold.”

He pauses. No-one buys it, least of all Vengeance. Chandler gives a dainty sneeze for effect and Emma Chase hurries in with a tissue.

“Medically unable to compete,” he says. “A cold. A bad one. Hand of god. Here’s the letter from my doctor.”

It shouldn’t be possible for Vengeance to loom any more threateningly than he usually does, but somehow he finds a way. Eddie Chandler backs off, taking refuge behind Emma. “Wait, wait, wait,” he says, “don’t be like that. You see, when I realized the mix-up, I found you an alternative opponent, someone to take my place and whet your appetite for the epic struggle that will be the Fabulous one versus the Avenging Angel. I called in a friend, just for you big man, and the officials agreed. So while we can’t give you Eddie Chandler defeating Vengeance, we can give you the Avenging Angel versus…the New York City Wrestling World Champion, Corporal Eustace William Doom.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CorporalDoom.jpg

Doom lopes down to the ring. He’s not the monster he was in his SFW days – he’s older and there’s a gut hanging over the military fatigues he’s wearing, barely restrained by the cammo belt full of potential weapons – but the dismissive sneer is still the same and he’s tall enough to look Vengeance right in the eye. The two stare each other down, neither showing signs of fear.

“Trust me, big man,” Chandler says, sneezing once more before his lip curls into a smirk, “it’s the closet you’ll ever get to being beat-down by me.”

Rating: C-

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Vengeance.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CorporalDoom.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EmmaChase.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EddieChandler.jpg

Vengeance vs. Corporal Doom w/ Easy Emma & Eddie Chandler

Doom starts strong, pulling a riot baton off his belt and smashing it across the steel mask of Vengeance. The Avenging Angel stands there, a dent in his masked forehead, unmoving. Doom frowns for a moment, taken aback that his opponent is still standing, then rears back for another shot.

Then Vengeance’s hand shoots out, locking around Doom’s throat. The veteran sells the move perfectly, bug-eyed and desperate, wild swings at the arm with the baton saving him from the choke slam that could easily end the match. Vengeance responds by ripping the baton away, throwing over the top rope, then scooping Doom up and sending him after his weapon.

The ringside brawl that follows never seems to match the heat of the beginning, although it includes a host of weapons and some eager interference from Eddie Chandler when he thinks Doom has Vengeance distracted enough to ensure it’s safe to get involved. A two-man stomping looks like it’s going to end the match, but Vengeance surprises everyone by rising to his feet and Chandler is quick to decide that discretion is the better part of valor. Doom and Vengeance fight there way back into the ring where Vengeance finally ends things with a Vengeance Drop

Vengeance defeated Corporal Doom in 13:38 by pinfall.

Rating: C

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Eric Tyler emerges from the backstage curtain, ready for his Extreme Title match. He “Tonight the weight of Tradition comes down on Johnny Martin,” he says. “Eric Tyler is going to make history. I look around this arena and all I say are a bunch of drunk, angry, sexually frustrated douchebags who don’t know a damn thing about the dedication and discipline it takes to be a champion. And first among them is the man about to walk out here with my belt, the man who will learn what it means to have one of the best wrestlers in the world bearing down on him. A man who can beat him, one-two-three, in the centre of the ring without falling back on weapons and blood and brawling at ringside. I am the best wrestler in the world, and if Martin is going to learn exactly what that means.”

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Martin climbs into the ring and holds the battered Extreme Title in the air before claiming the microphone. “Eric, you’re a smart man. You’re a hell of a wrestler. You just don’t seem to be able to get it through that thick skull that you’re not in that nice, safe Canadian Grappling Championship ring. It ain’t like your new job at the Hollyweird. This is Danger and ****ing Violence Extreme and tradition don’t mean a damn thing once you climb into the ring. I didn’t come to ‘wrestle’ for my title – I came here to fight for it with everything I’ve got. If you can’t do the same, walk away before I hurt ya.”

Rating: C-

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http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EricTyler.jpg

Johnny Martin vs. Eric Tyler

DAVE Extreme Championship

As with most of Tyler’s DAVE matches, the tension in this one lies in when he’ll snap and go from pure wrestling traditionalist to cheating bastard. Martin and Tyler take their time building the heat in this one, setting up little spots and exchanges they’ll return to in the closing minutes, with Martin getting chance to drag out his under-rated mat-work as the two go at it.

It’s the accumulation of dozens of small thing that wear at Tyler: the transition to a hammerlock that Martin has scouted the second and third time it’s attempted; the one exchange where the champion comes up with an arm-bar, forcing Tyler to go to the ropes to avoid tapping out; the inability to retreat to ringside without Martin following him, searching for chairs and other weapons as he goes.

Eventually Tyler snaps, just as must, hitting a sneaky chair-shot while Michael Bull’s back is turned. He goes for the cover, gets a two count, and settles back into a technician’s rhythm. The second time he tries a sneak-shot he aims for the shoulder, softening Martin up for the Tradition Lift. Martin nurses the injury for the rest of the match, selling it like crazy, and twice it costs him victory when he can’t maintain a grip for the Twist on the Rocks. Tyler senses the weakness and goes back to the shoulder, searching for the submission, but a desperate Martin finally suckers the challenger – he lures Tyler in towards the injured shoulder, then unleashes a thundering discus lariat that catches the Traditionalist across the jaw. Martin goes down with an expression of pain on his face, but Tyler is close to knocked out. A few tense seconds pass while the fans watch Martin crawl over and make the cover, but it’s enough. The Extreme champion retains, holding the belt high with his single good arm.

Johnny Martin defeated Eric Tyler in 25:33 by pinfall.

Rating: C

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Overall: C-

arwink · July 15, 2010

The First Headache

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There’s nothing quite so irritating as a program that dies before it really starts. The night of Back in Black I toasted to the memory of the Henry Lee program that could have been with Phil, consoling him as he saw the planned angle between Monton and Lee – an angle just readiy to take its first real steps after six months of build - die after a single match.

The original plan had been to put Lee over Monton. That was pretty obvious to everyone, fan and wrestler alike, but a phone-call from Henry three days before the show immediately put the whole thing into jeopardy. Duncan Kendall wanted him back, Henry said, and Big Dunc’ was offering a pretty hefty paycheque to go back to XFW with a promise to push The Icon of Insanity as a feature player in the company.

There were all sorts of weird subtexts to the call – Lee isn’t the kind of guy whose bold enough to ask for a counter-offer outright, and there’d been bad blood between Lee and Kendall for a few months prior to his jumping ship to DAVE last year. Phil and I actually discussed the possibility of keeping him on, especially since Monton was brought in primarily to work as a long-term opponent with Henry, but in the end we decided against it. There was heat there, yes, but Monton was already costing us a small packet between his appearance fees and travel expenses. Paying Henry another couple of hundred bucks was pushing it, and there was no chance we’d be promising to push him into the main event.

Basically, when you got right down to it, Henry Lee just wasn’t a good enough wrestler to be anything but the middle of the underneath guys in DAVE. The big bumps and bloodshed got him over, but there were still enough fans in the audience who demanded psychology and actual wrestling talent that Lee copped considerable static from the crowd whenever he wasn’t risking his life in a crazy stunt. He’d started the program with Vibert as a charismatic babyface, but the in-ring work had seen the crowd turn against him.

Phil let me deliver the news to Henry that we weren’t going to match Duncan Kendall’s offer. Henry agreed to work his final date and went out like a true professional, risking his own neck with the hangman bump in order to make Monton look good. It wasn’t the debut we’d been hoping for and did less for both men than it could have, but at least we got that.

arwink · July 16, 2010

New Arrivals and the Rest of the Roster

Phil wasn’t terribly pleased with bringing in new blood, although he understood the need for it. He preferred to work with a small roster, making sure everyone knew their spot and had something to do, but driving towards Cult meant we’d be running more shows and losing more people as time went by. Securing guys who could be groomed into the next Johnny Martin was high on his list of priorities, especially in light of XFW and RPW putting on strong shows and making offers to various members of the roster.

And so there were a lot of new names in the locker room at Back in Black, with more on the way when we made our debut in New England in a few weeks. It’s a credit to Phil’s leadership that this barely made a ripple in the locker room – the only person stupid enough to complain about the impact this’d have on their spot was Darryl Freeman, aka Dog Fyte. The irony was that two of the new arrivals were being brought in to work an extensive angle designed to give Darryl a little more focus on the show.

The New Blood

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Black Eagle

Age: 22; Build: Lightweight; Style: Cruiserweight

Signature Moves: New Jersey Turnpike (Slingshot Corkscrew Legdrop)

Eagle was picked up after proving himself in PPPW, largely because he shows a knack for incorporating hardcore elements to his high-flying style. Intense, charismatic and capable of delivering a moody air of mystery. Backstage he’s loyal, liberal and driven – three of our favorite personality traits in an aspiring wrestler with Eagle’s kind of potential.

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Blackjack Robbins

Age: 32; Build: Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Leaping Side Suplex

Robbins is a tough son-of-a-bitch who gets by on his willingness to mix things up in the ring and try new things. He started his training late in life after working as a bouncer down in Georgia and then earned a mild rep for stiff brawls in XPW, brought in to work as one of the hard-drinking Tennessee Outlaws with Whisky Jack.

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Bryan Holmes

Age: 26; Build: Middleweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Cyclone Shock Kick (Dragon Legwhip), Final Impact (Full Nelson Suplex)

Stone-trained, versatile, consistent as hell and driven to succeed. Holmes is probably one of the best workers in the United States currently under the age of thirty. He’s been brought in to team with Thomas Morgan as one-half of The Ontario Kings tag-team, playing off their communal background training with the Stone family and giving Holmes the chance to learn some much-needed promo skills from his charismatic partner.

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Chris Perkins

Age: 23; Build: Lightweight; Style: Cruiserweight

Signature Moves: 450 splash, Super Kick

One of the strongest rookies to debut in CZCW in several years, Perkin’s spent two straight years losing matches before claiming his first win in January of ’97. Did several spots for DAVE in ’96 and impressed the hell out of everyone, leading to him getting hired full-time in ’97 and joining the Youth Movement stable.

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“The Hardcore Canadian” Ed Monton

Age: 35; Build: Light Heavyweight; Style: Regular Wrestler

Signature Moves: Jawbreaker (Leaping Forearm)

He’s got a silly name, but Monton’s a veteran of the ring. While guys like Perkin’s pop the crowd with the flashy moves, Monton knows how to pop the crowd with a simple running forearm as his finisher because of the way he builds the match. A legitimate tough guy, but we’re at a mild loss how to incorporate him after Henry Lee’s defection to XFW short-changed the planned feud.

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“The Mexican Militant” Rafael Ruiz

Age: 29; Build: Middleweight; Style: Technician

Signature Moves: Lockjaw (Full Nelson Clutch)

A phenomenal veteran worker whose work as a rudo in his native Mexico earns rave reviews. He’s on a slow build at the moment – spending a lot of time in the undercard while the fans get used to his style and presence, as well as learning how to handle some of the more extreme elements that go into a DAVE match. Our go-to name when we need a solid opener.

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Tayler Morton

Age: 19; Build: Lightweight; Style: Cruiserweight

Signature Moves: Shooting Star Press

A driven young Canadian cruiserweight whose gained attention by his work out on the West Coast with CZCW. Has shown himself to be surprisingly adept at matwork, but provides some of the more exciting spots during our whose due to his comfort with the top rope.

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Thomas Morgan

Age: 22; Build: Lightweight; Style: Technician

Signature Moves: Trademark Finish (Half-Neslon Backbreaker)

Young, charismatic and trained at the House of Stone. Made a strong showing in his first match against the Wolverine, and scheduled to debut as a regular tag-team with Bryan Holmes in New Egnglad. Morgan is the weaker of the two in the ring, but he provides the Charisma and promo skills that Holmes lacks. Our main hope is that we can build to the point where he’ll sign exclusively with us before signing a written deal with NOTBPW.

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Whisky Jack

Age: 21; Build: Heavyweight; Style: Brawler

Signature Moves: Face First Suplex

The younger, greener half of the newly-formed Tennessee Outlaws team. Jack may not be the most polished wrestler, but he's agressive and earned attention for his work in Awesome Max Wrestling. Very personable outside the wring, always willing to share stories about his time working as a bouncer and bareknuckle fighter in Tennessee. Utterly devoid of charisma in the ring through.

Non-Wrestling Crew

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Ben “Southern” Cross

Age: 25; Role: Manager

Me. The short bio goes something like this: Australian import Ben Cross was a journeyman when he made his debut in the United States, working his way across the country before being one of the few men in XPW who suffered a career-ending injury at the hands of someone *other* than Big Smack Scott. His friendship with Phil Vibert and Japanese connections saw him find work in the DAVE offices, and he currently works as the trainer of the DAVE Youth Movement when he appears on shows.

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Buddy Gaines

Age: 37; Role: Road Agent

The running joke between me and Buddy is that Phil Vibert likes collecting himself busted-up ex-wrestlers. A solid road-agent and a strong presence in the backstage area.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/DeweyLibertine.jpg

Dewey Libertine

Age: 36; Role: Senior referee

Good at what he does. The only man in DAVE who can end a match on a DQ rather than a referee stoppage, and even then it’s only happened once in the last three years.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EmmaChase.jpg

Easy Emma

Age: 20; Role: Manager

Young, ultra-charismatic and hot as hell; Emma’s one of Phil’s closest friends – the kind of close that leads to “did they used to date or something” speculation among the boys – and possessed the same killer instincts as the boss. Currently managing Eddie Chandler and showing a lot of skin, which is kind of a waste of her talents.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MichaelBull.jpg

Michael Bull

Age: 35; Role: Referee

Our secondary Referee. Competent.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MissBliss.jpg

Miss Bliss

Age: 42; Role: Manager

A veteran of the scene, currently working with Freddie Datsun under a nurse gimmick. Neither of things work particular well. Bliss is another ex-wrestler who gave up due to the toll her style took on her body. There’s a well of cynicism in Nancy Bliss that I recognise from my own experiences with the industry, although I don’t have the entertaining stories about being propositioned by Jerry Eisen to trot out when we’re all drinking…

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MitchNaess.jpg

Mitch Naess

Age: 20; Role: Announcer

One of Phil’s protégés who found himself working as lead announcer after Shane Sneer jumped ship to XFW back in ’95. He’s got a rapid-fire delivery and his screeches reach an impressive register when things get particularly intense.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PhilVibert.jpg

Phil Vibert

Age: 23; Role: Manager/Colour

Vibert’s a charismatic manager with one of the best minds for the business that wrestling’s ever seen. The potential for DAVE to suffer, creatively, now that he’s devoting more of his time to running the promotion is something that plagues those of us booking every time we make a decision.

arwink · July 16, 2010

Coming up at DAVE Invasion Force

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JayDarkness_Alt.jpg

Johnny Martin vs. Jay Darkness

DAVE Extreme Championship

FANS BRING THE WEAPONS MATCH

DAVE main-events its New England debut with one of the hottest title matches in DAVE history. Jay and his brother Raul have beend decimating the DAVE roster as a tag-team, but they've turned their attention to Martin as singles competitors. With No Disqualifications to keep Raul from helping him brother, Boston could be Martin's last night with the Extreme belt.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ThomasMorgan.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BryanHolmes.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BlackEagle.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpg

The Ontario Kings vs. Black Eagle & Tayler Morton

They're four of the hottest young talents wrestling in America today. Two of Canada's best, boasting pedegries that trail back to the presitigious STone Dojo, take on the cruiserweight tandem of Black EAgle and Tayler Morton. With The Darkness Warriors focused on singles gold, any victory in the tag-team ranks could be enough to earn a title shot against champions Black Murder.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MichaelCook.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpg

Michael Cook vs. Elijah Black

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JJColes.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg

JJ Coles vs. Murderous Mikey

The war between Black Murder and the DAVE Youth Movement kicked off at our last show, resulting in the injury of Lucas Hale and threats being exchanged. The War continues in singles action when we hit Boston - and Elijah Black has promised a particularly bloodthirsty surprise for one of the unfortuante DAVE Rookies.

Complete Card

Ed Monton vs. Raul Darkness

JJ Coles vs. Murderous Mikey

Lucas Hale & Rafael Ruiz vs. The Tennessee Outlaws

Michael Cook vs. Elijah Black

The Ontario Kings vs. Tayler Morton & Black Eagle

Johnny Martin vs. Jay Darkness – DAVE Extreme Championship

Dragonmack · July 16, 2010

Ed Monton vs. Raul Darkness

JJ Coles vs. Murderous Mikey

Lucas Hale & Rafael Ruiz vs. The Tennessee Outlaws

Michael Cook vs. Elijah Black

The Ontario Kings vs. Tayler Morton & Black Eagle

Johnny Martin vs. Jay Darkness – DAVE Extreme Championship

arwink · July 18, 2010

Pre-Show

We’re three hours out from the first match when I hear singing from the locker room. This isn’t unusually in-and-of itself – there’s been plenty of singalongs in the past, especially when some of the younger guys are raring to go out after the show – but it’s usually a very distinct breed of music. Nine Inch Nails are popular, for example, as are the Chilli Peppers and Rage Against the Machine. Metallica is a perennial favourite that everyone seems to know, and Mitch Naess can actually summon a surprisingly convincing James Hetfield Barritone when he’s belting out Nothing Else Matters at a karaoke bar.

The reason this singing attracted my attention is because someone was working their way through the collected works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Not just the popular stiff like Cats and Phantom, I’m talking the B-sides of the Cast Recordings of Starlight Express. When I went to investigate I found Freddie Datsun and Roy Stephens preparing to break into a duet, having found a new common ground in their love of musical theatre.

If I’d known it was going to get weirder, I probably would have turned and run there. Instead I hung around long enough to see JJ Coles arrived, decked out to the nines in his biker leathers, with a potted plant tucked under one arm. “It’s for the V-Man,” he said. “Rare New Zealand fern. Turns out he’s got a thing for botany, and so did my gran.”

I nodded a few times, trying to ignore the fact that Freddie Datsun was singing Memories. “I don’t really want to know,” I said. “I really, really don’t.”

And to think, for this I gave up dealing with Smacker Scott talking crap about his opponents and picking fights in the locker room. Some days I wonder if Scott and his brother were preferable….

DAVE Invasion Force

Monday, Week 4, January 1997

The Skid Row Club (New England) – 639 people

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PhilVibert.jpg

Phil Vibert comes down to the ring and unleashes his customary greeting, hyping up the crowd as he explains the core tenets of DAVE: “No rules, no disqualifications. Our wresters compete to win or lose, no other results are acceptable. Now I’d invite you to welcome my guest at this time: Johnny Martin.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg

Johnny Martin climbs into the ring with the Extreme strap slung over one shoulder. “For those who don’t know me, my name’s Johnny Martin,” he says, then he pulls the belt off his shoulder and holds it high. “For those who don’t know what this here belt means, it means that I’ll do everything I can to win a fight once it starts. This isn’t just title belt to me. It represents pain, it represents blood, and it represents six months of getting my ass kicked and getting back up to keep on fighting. When you’re the DAVE champion, there’s no other choice; you win, or you give the belt to someone who wants it that little bit more, that guy who is willing to accept a little bit more pain.

“I pride myself on fighting anyone, anyone, who wants a shot at this title. Tonight I’m fighting Jay Darkness. He and his brother have been demolishing folks, one after another. They do everything together, and I don’t ‘spect this to be any different. That’s why we’ve got you; that’s why we declared this a weapons match where anything you give me can be used to beat Darkness down.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JayDarkness_Alt.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RaulDarkness_Alt.jpg

Gregorian chanting plays over the Skid Row’s sound system and the Darkness Warriors step through the backstage curtain, the cowls of their robes pulled low. Both men carry kendo sticks, holding them forth as though the cane’s were crosses. Raul makes to head into the ring, but his brother’s drops his weapon down to block the movement.

Slowly, imperceptibly, the larger Darkness brother shakes his head. He points at Johnny, then at himself, then snaps the kendo stick he’s carrying in half with his bare hands before disappearing back behind the curtain.

“Well champ,” Vibert says, “the good news is that it doesn’t look like he’ll be using his brother’s help.”

Martin doesn’t reply, just nods and rolls out of the ring. The Gregorian chanting continues as Raul Darkness continues down the aisle and climbs into the ring for the first match.

Rating: C-

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EdMonton.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RaulDarkness_Alt.jpg

Ed Menton vs. Raul Darkness

Ed Menton’s entrance is explosive, with the Canadian veteran getting an early pop after Darkness blasts him across the head with a kendo stick and Ed is back to feet in a matter of moments, fighting on despite being cut open by the blow. After that Menton settle’s into the same routine as he used against Henry Lee, taking a series of hard knocks without going down. The violence here isn’t as bloody and the pair spend more time in the ring, but Darkness is a hard-hitting kid who’s a little bigger and a lot scarier than Lee and the results are just as good when Ed kicks out of the Demonic DDT to bring things home with the come-from-behind brawl. He puts Darkness away with the Jawbreaker.

Ed Monton defeated Raul Darkness in 14:37 by pinfall.

Rating: D

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisPerkins.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RoyStephens.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg

vs.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WilliamFletcher.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EddieChandler.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EmmaChase.jpg

Perkins & Stephens w/Ben Cross vs. Fletcher & Chandler w/Easy Emma

This is a filler match because I misjudged the length of the show during planning, but the boys do a good job of making it work despite things being thrown together at the last minute. It helps that Chandler’s there – with Emma at his side the Fabulous One is a heat magnet that goes a long way towards hiding the fact that his partner really can’t wrestle. Some nice back and forth, enough to convince me these pairings may become regular sooner or later, with Chandler finally trapping Perkins in the Fabulous Stretch for the submission.

William Fletcher & Eddie Chandler defeated Chris Perkins & Roy Stephens in 8:50 by submission.

Rating: E+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpg

Elijah Black strolls down to the ring with a garbage can full of weapons. He claims the microphone that Mitch Naess is using at the commentary table.

“I’ve been wrestling for sixteen years,” Black says. “When I started, rookies new their place. They came in, they got their asses kicked inside the ring and out of it, and eventually they got good enough to hold their own against anybody who tried to mess with them. This ain’t a business for pussies, you dig me? It’s hard and its brutal and its full of mean sons-a-bitches who wanna get their own back on the rookies of today. I know, ‘cause I’m one of those sons-a-bitches, and it seems Benny Cross has a problem with that.

“It seems he’s gathering together all the rookies of today and telling them there’s strength in numbers. Telling them there’s a future where they don’t need to pay their damn dues if they work hard and stick together. And maybe he’s right. I mean, I hear the news that one of Cross’ boys is leaving – little Jay-jay’s got himself a job with the big leagues and doesn’t want to play with mean ol’ DAVE anymore. And that makes me sick, ‘cause who the hell is JJ Coles? What makes him worth so much time and money when good wrestlers who put in their time are stuck in miserable sweat-box bar earning two hundred bucks a match while they’re carrying the goddman titles.

“And me, just thinking about it makes me kind of crazy. So me and Mikey got to talking about about just how we’re going to say good-bye.”

Black stops and empties the garbage can on the floor, spreading bags of thumb-tacks, light tubes and a medley of weapons on the floor.

“This seemed like a good start,” Black says. “But we figured it needed more.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg

Mikey emerges from the backstage area carrying a heavy board covered in loops of bar bed wire. He climbs into the ring and sets it up in one corner, considering it with satisfaction. Black pats his partner on the back.

“Jay-Jay, you may be out of here,” he says, “but Mikey’s going to mess you up so bad that the SWF ain’t never letting your scarred ass onto television. Enjoy you’re farewell party, punk. Hope you survive it.

“And Cross, you Aussie bitch, tell those little boys you’re working with that they better be afraid. ‘Cause this is DAVE, yo, and I’m going to make those little bitches bleed.”

Rating: E

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JJColes.jpg w/http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpg

JJ Coles w/ Ben Cross vs. Murderous Mikey w/Elijah Black

Deathmatch

It’s short, brutal, and largely uninspiring due to the tendency towards simply hitting each other with a menagerie of weapons in lieu of building any real sense of story. Mikey pounds the hell out of Coles using a combination of size and the absence of pain tolerance to dominate. The only real psychology the pair manage is “whose going into the barbed wire board” and eventually a bloodied Coles picks up the victory after nailing an RPM kick that sends Mikey tumbling into the ripping steel. Mikey howls as his partner rushes in, cutting him free with a pair of pliers, and JJ bails out of the ring before either member of Black Murder to can retaliate.

J.J. Coles defeated Murderous Mikey in 7:05 by pinfall.

Rating: F+

____________________________________

Tayler Morton appears while the ring crew is cleaning up the debris from the deathmatch.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpg

“There’s no such thing as a second chance to make a good first impression,” he says. “Two weeks ago, I made my debut for this company. Two weeks ago, my chance to prove myself was stolen from me by Michael Cook. And tonight we’re here – DAVE’s first show in Boston. Tonight I get a second chance to show DAVE what I’ve got…and Cook? He’ll get a chance too.

“He’ll get a chance to learn exactly how it feels to have that first shot taken away from you.”

Rating: F+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/LucasHale.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RafaelRuiz.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg

vs.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WhiskyJack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BlackjackRobbins.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Jakki.jpg

Lucas Hale & Rafael Ruiz w/Ben Cross vs. The Tennessee Outlaws w/ Jakki White Trash

Hale comes into the match wearing a protective mask over his face, the legacy of the cane-shot he took at the hands of Murderous Mikey at our last show. The injury is an easy target for the Outlaws beat on it early and often, whipping Hale around the ring with relative impunity. Ruiz isn’t quite so easy a target – he’s smaller than the cowboys, but faster on his feet and capable of finding submissions with relative ease – but even he can’t stop the inevitable. Blackjack Robbin’s plants Hale in the mat with a Leaping Side Suplex for the win.

The Tennessee Outlaws defeated Lucas Hale & Rafael Ruiz in 8:03 by pinfall.

Rating: E+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Jakki.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RafaelRuiz.jpg

Unfortunately for Ruiz, the Outlaws aren’t done. Jakki White Trash climbs into the ring, doing her best imitation of a guitar toting Daisy Duke, and immediately smashes her acoustic instrument across Ruiz’s skull. When that isn’t enough to keep the Mexican from rising, the sadistic cowgirl looks at her clients and puts out the call: “Boys? Get the tables.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WhiskyJack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BlackjackRobbins.jpg

Whisky’s in motion immediately, rolling out of the ring and pulling the offending furniture from its place beneath the ring-apron. Blackjack takes care of downed opponents, kicking them every now and then so they don’t cause trouble. Eventually a table’s set up and Blackjack climbs the turnbuckles…Whisky and Jakki feed the bloodied Lucas Hale to their comrade…and then Hale’s punched through the table by a spike Piledriver from the second turnbuckle. The wood crumples, the Outlaws are laughing as they lie amid the ruins, and Lucas Hale is taken away by the backstage crew for the second time in as many shows.

Rating: E

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ThomasMorgan.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BryanHolmes.jpg

Thomas Morgan and Bryan Holmes emerge from the backstage area, the two of them wearing matching wrestling trunks bearing the stylized maple-leaf that’s vaguely reminiscent of the North of the Border Pro Wrestling logo. The crowd pops, primarily, for Holmes, but it’s Morgan who claims the microphone.

“When you’re trained by the best, you go looking for excellence,” Morgan says. “A place to hone your craft where there are challenges worthy of the blood and sweat you put into your training. Bryan and I were trained by Jeremy Stone, the best in the world, and we’re here for one thing - competition. Tonight we take on two guys from the West Coast, Morton and Black Eagle. We don’t look past them – we were trained better than that – but we’re also here to put out a challenge.

“JD Morgan, you claim to be the best submission wrestler in America today. Well, the Ontario Kings learnt a thing or two about submission in the House of Stone...”

Morgan pauses, letting the crowd pop.

“So Morgan, we want to test your claims, individually or together. And we look forward to proving you wrong.”

Rating: E

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MichaelCook.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpg

Michael Cook vs. Elijah Black

Cook starts strong, taking his opponent down with relative ease and using his amateur skills to get a series of quick two-counts. Black manages to regain control not long after that, but it’s obvious the rookie he’s facing gets better with match and Cook surprises everyone when he snaps off a quick rana during his comeback. He makes another cover, gets the two count…

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpg

…then Tayler Morton is up on the turnbuckles, crouched and waiting like a bird of prey. Cook stands and turns, gets caught with a blockbuster off the top rope, Morton rolling out of the ring as soon as he’s done. Black’s on his fallen opponent in an instant, hauling him into the corner for the Soul Train splash and the pinfall.

Elijah Black defeated Michael Cook in 4:39 by pinfall.

Rating: E

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ThomasMorgan.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BryanHolmes.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BlackEagle.jpg

The Ontario Kings vs. Black Eagle & Taylor Morton

There were big plans for these two teams heading into the match, but it’s obvious only a few minutes in that the combination of Eagle and Morton aren’t gelling anywhere near as well as the Stone-trained duo of Thomas Morgan and Bryan Holmes. The action’s fast and furious, replacing the customary DAVE brawling with demolition-derby high-spots amid the fast technical exchanges. Holmes is the star player here, adeptly fusing the technical style of his partner with the cruiserweight speed of his opponents, and he pins Black Eagle after a Cyclone Shock Kick.

The Ontario Kings defeated Eagle & Morton in 9:51 by pinfall.

Rating: D+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JayDarkness_Alt.jpg

Johnny Martin vs. Jay Darkness

Fans Bring the Weapons Match

There’s a listless tenor to Martin’s performance here, almost imperceptible unless you know what to look for beneath the chaos of blood and improvised weaponry. Perhaps it’s the familiarity of the battle, playing babyface to the monstrous Jay Darkness as the Acolyte combs the ringside area for weapons. Perhaps it’s the mood of the crowd, filled as it is by fans who already know Jay’s on his way to XFW after building momentum for this clash for close to six months. Either way, things fall a little flat, and the build towards the finishing sequence takes longer to catch on than usual. Darkness hits the Fade to Black, smashing Martin into the concrete floor, but he takes too long getting the match back into the ring and Martin picks up the victory by creasing Darkness’ skull with a tennis racket before hitting the Twist on the Rocks.

Johnny Martin defeated Jay Darkness in 21:36 by pinfall.

Rating: D+

____________________________________

Overall: D

arwink · July 19, 2010

News of the War: January

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PhilVibert.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg

Another Monday, another month, another hang-over and another morning spent tucked into the small DAVE offices while we waited for the advanced copy of the TEW newsletter to drop into Phil’s in-box. I didn’t even realise how nervous I’d been about it until I heard the news: “We won.”

It was a terse admission on Phil’s part, but there was some relief behind it. Winning the war was important to him – more than ever now his house was used as leverage to borrow his stake in the company – but these days his desire to come first was tempered by one eye kept on the bottom line. We’d just edged out RPW for the show of the month, but we’d also gone over-budget and the big main event we had planned for Counter Culture was going to cost even more.

Every month the Total Extreme Wrestling columnists who covered the East Coast shows included MVP notes in their match reports, showering praise on the workers they thought had the performance of the night. To their credit, they had a good eye for it – the reviewer for DAVE shows tended to heap praise on Eric Tyler, Johnny Martin and Freddie Datsun – and the decisions were rarely governed by push. Cousin Ezra may headline RPW shows against Steve Flash, but he’s never been named the man of the night. Bryan Holmes tended to earn the honors for PPPW, but they’d kept him solidly in the midcard while pushing Krusher Karloff into the same USA versus Russia headline feud with the Whistler they’d been running for years.

Basically, Holmes was one of the names that appeared with boring monotony on the Man of the Night honours. There were a bunch of names that were almost as regular: Chris Storm for NYCW; The Insane Heat for XFW; Brent Hill and Steve Flash for RPW. We’d negotiated with all of them, keeping the conversation quiet, and they were ready to sign with DAVE a few hours after the January reports went live.

On Monday morning five men were hailed as being the backbone of their respective companies.

On Tuesday morning we released the main event for DAVE Counter Culture – a Best of the East Coast Five Man War.

TEW.com East Coast Rankings

1. DAVE for Back in Black

2. NYCW for Rush Hour (Show Rated: C-; Main Event: Corporal Doom defeated Ernest Mason for the World Title in a C match)

3. PPPW for Time of TRouble (Rated: D+; Main Event: Man Mountain Cahill & Krusher Karloff defeated Bryan Holmes and Rick Sanders in a D+ match)

4. XFW for No Law or Order (Rated: D+; Main Event: The Insane Heat defeated Ghengis Rahn in a C- rated title match)

5. RPW for Special Attraction (Rated: D; Main Event: Steve Flash defeated Dylan Sidle in a D+ rated title match)

arwink · July 20, 2010

Coming up at DAVE Counter Culture…

DAVE returns to Pennsylvania Park on Monday, Week 2 of February, with the following showcase matches:

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisStorm.jpgvs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/FreddieDatsun.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BryanHolmes.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BrentHill.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheInsaneHeat.jpg

Chris Storm vs. Freddie Datsun vs. Bryan Holmes vs. Brent Hill vs. The Insane Heat

Best of the Best Five Man War

They’re a whose who of East Coast Wrestling: Chris Storm, “The MVP of NYC”; The Insane Heat, two-time XFW World Champion; “Best in the World” Brent Hill, a man whose held gold in every company he’s worked with; The Silent Threat, Bryan Holmes; The Hardcore Everyman, Freddie Datsun. They’re among the best wrestlers to have stepped into the squared circle on the East Coast and they come together for the first time in a five man war to determine who is the Best of the Best. The TEW critics have hailed each man as a future legend of the sport, but only one will walk away with the victory.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheWolverine.jpg

Johnny Martin vs. The Wolverine

Fans Bring the Weapons match for the DAVE Extreme Championship

It’s been three years since the savage Wolverine last held gold in DAVE, but the powerhouse has gone undefeated for months as he devastated opponent after opponent. Can Johnny Martin stop the Wolverine’s Rampage and retain his gold, or will he too fall to the deadly force of the Maul?

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Vengeance.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpg

Vengeance vs. Taylor Morton

Morton is 0 for 2 in DAVE competition and desperate to make an impact, so the young cruiserweight has issued a challenge to one of the most dangerous men on the roster in the form of the Avenging Angel. After the actions of Eddie Chandler back in January, Vengeance is only too happy to step into the ring who won’t duck out of the battle.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EdMonton.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EddieChandler.jpg

Ed Monton vs. Eddie Chandler(?)

The World’s Toughest Canadian Ed Monton is scheduled to square off against Eddie Chandler, and the Fabulous One has assured DAVE officials that he’ll be in the pink of health by the time Counter Culture arrives. Monton openly acknowledges that he’s preparing for a different match entirely, claiming the cowardly Chandler will duck the match in the same way he ducked the match with Vengeance.

Complete Card

Wiley Coyote vs. Black Murder vs. Perkins & Stephens vs. The Tennessee Outlaws (Non-Title)

Panda Mask vs. Vin Tanner

Mexico’s Most Wanted vs. Chris Caulfield & The Punisher

Thomas Morgan vs. JD Morgan

Johnny Martin vs. The Wolverine (DAVE Extreme Championship)

Jimmy Cox vs. Ericy Tyler

Ed Monton vs. Eddie Chandle(?)

Vengeance vs. Tayler Morton

Chris Storm vs. Freddie Datsun vs. Bryan Holmes vs. Brent Hill vs. The Insane Heat

Jingo · July 20, 2010

Wiley Coyote vs. Black Murder vs. Perkins & Stephens vs. The Tennessee Outlaws (Non-Title)

Panda Mask vs. Vin Tanner

Mexico’s Most Wanted vs. Chris Caulfield & The Punisher

Thomas Morgan vs. JD Morgan

Johnny Martin vs. The Wolverine (DAVE Extreme Championship)

Jimmy Cox vs. Ericy Tyler

Ed Monton vs. Eddie Chandler(?)

Vengeance vs. Tayler Morton

Chris Storm vs. Freddie Datsun vs. Bryan Holmes vs. Brent Hill vs. The Insane Heat

Dragonmack · July 20, 2010

Wiley Coyote vs. Black Murder vs. Perkins & Stephens vs. The Tennessee Outlaws (Non-Title)

Panda Mask vs. Vin Tanner

Mexico’s Most Wanted vs. Chris Caulfield & The Punisher

Thomas Morgan vs. JD Morgan

Johnny Martin vs. The Wolverine (DAVE Extreme Championship)

Jimmy Cox vs. Ericy Tyler

Ed Monton vs. Eddie Chandle(?)

Vengeance vs. Tayler Morton

Chris Storm vs. Freddie Datsun vs. Bryan Holmes vs. Brent Hill vs. The Insane Heat

arwink · July 22, 2010

DAVE Counter Culture

Monday, Week 2, February 1997

Pennsylvania Park (Tri-State) – 1,935 people

____________________________________

Dark Match: In an extremely poor match, Picture Perfect defeated Hale & Cook in 7:35 when Eddie Chandler defeated Lucas Hale by submission with a Fabulous Stretch. (D-)

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisStorm.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheInsaneHeat.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EricTyler.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Vengeance.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CorporalDoom.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheWolverine.jpg

Downward Spiral

-Video Montage-

The show starts with a long montage of clips from promos being cut in front of the DAVE banner and previous matches, the cuts flashing past in time with a grinding industrial soundtrack.

- cut- Johnny Martin: Some people just have a taste for violence.

- cut- Tayler Morton: I came here to earn money and establish my name.

- cut- Chris Storm: I’m the MVP of New York City

- cut- The Insane Heat: I walked away from a championship to fight in this match.

- cut- Eric Tyler: Johnny Martin lacks the finesse that comes with experience.

- cut- Vengeance: Legends? I don’t fear legends.

- cut- The Wolverine just stares at the camera, nostrils flaring.

- cut- Corporal Doom: I didn’t come here to entertain you, maggots.

- cut- Johnny Martin: You can’t beat a man who thrives on pain.

- cut- Eric Tyler: It only takes three seconds to beat a man in the ring.

- cut- The Insane Heat: I’ve destroyed men in that ring.

- cut- Tayler Morton: Vengeance is a monster, but I’ve beaten monsters.

- cut- The Wolverine…snarls.

- cut- Eric Tyler: He has to understand I don’t want to do this.

- cut- Corporal Doom: I’ve been in this business for 22 years. There’s nothing I haven’t done.

- cut- Chris Storm: I thrive on competition.

- cut- Eric Tyler: Next time we meet, I’ll rip shoulders out of the joint.

- cut- Vengeance: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

- cut- Corporal Doom: I didn’t come here to win. I came to get paid.

- cut- Tayler Morton: Tonight, I make a statement. Tomorrow, I deal with Michael Cook.

- cut- Johnny Martin: He may an animal, but I’m a warrior. He might be unstoppable, but I do not give ground.

- cut- The Insane Heat: You people think you’ve seen hardcore? You have no idea what’s coming.

- cut- The Wolverine leaps at the cameraman, knocking him over, and the montage ends as the camera spins out of control.

Rating: D+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisPerkins.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RoyStephens.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BenCross.jpg

vs.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WileySteinway.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CoyoteDynamite.jpg

vs.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WhiskyJack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BlackjackRobbins.jpg w/ http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Jakki.jpg

vs.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg

The Wild Boys w/ Ben Cross vs. Wiley Coyote vs. The Tennessee Outlaws w/ Jakki White Trash vs. Black Murder

This is a showcase for the four tag-teams involved, a brute-force way of getting DAVE fans used to the faces in our duo’s division. There’s precious little psychology to it beyond chaining together set pieces and spots, but it works well enough: The Wild Boys are the underdogs, an irony given they’ve jelled as a team slightly better than the three more experienced duos; The Outlaws enjoy themselves, hollering as they fight dirty and smash bottle across their opponent’s skulls and set up tables in the ring; Wiley Coyote are the experienced duo, showcasing a little more teamwork than the others; and Black Murder fight like the bastards they are, getting in everyone’s face and focusing the worst of their attention on Ben Cross’ protégés. Mikey proves to be the insurmountable obstacle, especially with the overbooked action hiding the worst of his deficiencies, and he finally nails Roy Stephens with the Switchblade Symphony.

Black Murder defeated Wiley Coyote, The Wild Boys and The Tennessee Outlaws in 9:37 by pinfall.

Rating: E+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Jakki.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WhiskyJack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BlackjackRobbins.jpg

“Outlaws! Get the tables!” Jakki White Trash climbs into the ring, swinging wildly with her guitar. Her boys spring into action and the other teams scatter, leaving the battered Stephens and Perkins to face the wrath of the thwarted cowboys.

“I really don’t think those boys care about winning,” Neass says, watching Blackjack and Whisky load up Chris Perkins in preparation. “They just want to inflict some damage.”

And damage they do. Stephens is pulled onto the table and Perkins is piledriven into him, leaving both the rookies and Blackjack lying in a heap amid the wreckage.

Rating: E

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/PandaMask.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/VinTanner.jpg

Panda Mask vs. Vin Tanner

The match starts with Panda Mask hunched over in the corner, chewing on a stick of bamboo. Tanner isn’t sure what to make of it and tries to cajole him into the match: insults fail; slapping Panda Mask earns only a minute of half-hearted action before he retreats to the bamboo shoot; it isn’t until Tanner takes the bamboo and throws it into the audience that the newcomer goes crazy, launching a furious assault that Mitch Naess gleefully identifies as “endangered species attack mode.”

The match that follows is equal parts wild and goofy, with Tanner playing the perfect straight man to the Panda gimmick. The crowd’s won over by the core of competence beneath the mask, especially Panda Mask’s ability to launch into a headscissor at the drop of the hat. Mitch Neass has the time of his life on commentary, culminating in the final sequence that sees Panda Mask take Tanner down and climb the turnbuckles, beating his chest like King Kong while Neass barks “PANDA ATTACK! PANDA ATTACK! IT’S ALL OVER” at the top of his lungs. It’s quickly followed by a “wait, never mind” when Tanner rolls free and Mask’s top-rope splash connects with the mat instead. Vin’s waiting with the V for Victory as the groggy Panda rises, picking up the victory over the weirdest competitor to climb into a DAVE ring so far.

Vin Tanner defeated Panda Mask in 8:27 by pinfall.

Rating: D-

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ElijahBlack.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MurderousMikey.jpg

Elijah Black is standing in a narrow, dimly hallway backstage with the hulking form of Murderous Mikey in silhouette behind him. “Unstoppable,” he says. “There were six other men in that ring, and still they didn’t have what it takes to pin me or my partner. We beat them, we broke them, and then we pinned them clean. Tonight Black Murder put the locker room on notice – stay out of our way unless you’re willing to get hurt.

Rating: D

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RafaelRuiz.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/SpanishSuperfly.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisCaulfield.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheIdahoPunisher.jpg

Mexico’s Most Wanted vs. Caulfield & The Punisher

It’s a standard big-man/little man match that sees Caulfield taking things easy in order to shine light onto his debuting partner. The Punisher wrestles like a man with only three modes of offense: punches, big slams, and devastating running clotheslines. Spanish Superfly makes the mistake of thinking this is a weakness and tries to outwrestle the Punisher; not long after he’s caught in a flying crossbody attempt and the Punisher lifts him into a military press before dumping him over the top rope. Ruiz comes in to object, gets rammed back-first into the turnbuckles for his trouble, then slammed into the mat in a definitive finisher Vibert puts over as the Idaho Crush Rush (Oklahoma Stampede).

Caulfield & The Punisher defeated Mexicos Most Wanted in 8:23 by pinfall.

Rating: E+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisCaulfield.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheIdahoPunisher.jpg

Punisher looms over his fallen opponent as a laconic Caulfield claims a microphone from ringside. “I came to DAVE six months ago,” he says, “and all it’s gotten me is grief. I come out here and get hit with chairs. I come out here and bleed all over the mat. I come out here and try to play the hero, and everywhere I go there are people saying I don’t deserve my spot. They’re saying Chris Caulfield isn’t hardcore, that Chris Caulfield only keeps his job because of who he’s friends with.”

Caulfield takes a moment to ignore the responses of the various DAVE fans who truly believe everything he’s just said.

“Well, f—k you,” he says. “If you want to talk s—t about me and my friends, start with the one in the ring with me. Just be warned that the Punisher doesn’t talk much, he’s much better at breaking people in half. From here on we’re going to teach you people what hardcore is all about. The School of Hard Knocks is now in session, and the first lesson is this: don’t f—k with the teachers, ‘cause we aren’t here to win matches. From here on, when we step into the ring…somebody’s going to die.”

Rating: E-

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ThomasMorgan.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JDMorgan.jpg

Thomas Morgan vs. JD Morgan

Mitch Naess posses a simple question at the start of the match: Thomas Morgan is good – very good – but does he have what it takes to hang with the more experienced submission specialist JD. Vibert says no, but Thom goes out of his way to make a liar of him – there’s ten minutes of fairly even action that sees both men searching for the submission hold. JD Morgan has the edge in this respect, but Thomas Morgan always manages to find the counter and at one point he even breaks out the Stone Ankle Lock in tribute to the man who trained him. JD breaks the hold – Thom isn’t Dan Stone Jr, after all – but Neass declares his question answered. Thomas Morgan can hang with the veterans, now he just needs to prove he can win.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/DogFyte.jpg

He never gets the chance. Dog Fyte comes charging into the ring, a stocky ball of aggression and intensity. He blasts Thomas Morgan with a chair, then nails him with the Death Threat. Thomas Morgan goes limp, knocked out by the final kick. JD Morgan and Dog Fyte exchange a long stare, then JD nods and makes the cover. One. Two. Three.

JD Morgan defeated Thomas Morgan in 10:08 by pinfall.

Rating: D+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JohnnyMartin.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheWolverine.jpg

Johnny Martin vs. The Wolverine

Fans Bring the Weapons for the DAVE Extreme Championship

There were high hopes for this match, especially given the talent both men have in a free-for-all environment, but they’re dashed pretty early on. There’s a series of miscommunications that ruin Martin’s trust in his opponent, and so his talent for creative improvisation with the foreign objects the audience hands him is undermined as he chooses to err on the side of caution. It’s not bad enough that everyone in the audience notices – there’s a portion of the DAVE fan base that’s happy as long as the champ is getting whipped with a length of bike chain – but there are enough people dissatisfied by the performance that the crowd turns against it somewhat. The end comes when Martin ducks a Maul attempt, then catches Wolverine with the Twist on the Rocks.

Johnny Martin defeated The Wolverine in 19:48 by pinfall

Rating: D

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EddieChandler.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CorporalDoom.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WilliamFletcher.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EmmaChase.jpg

Eddie Chandler comes out into the ring with his entourage of Easy Emma, Corporal Doom, and “Hollywood” William Fletcher. The Fabulous One takes centre stage, Doom looming at his side. Fletcher leans back against the ring-ropes, exchanging surreptitious glances with Emma as she slinks around the ring.

“I hear my opponent tonight has been saying very disparaging things,” Chandler says. “He’s been saying that he hasn’t bothered preparing for me, because he doesn’t believe I’ll get in the ring and wrestle. I find this personally insulting. The Fabulous One lives for his moments in the ring…he adores the adulation and honor that comes from meeting another man one-on-one in the field of battle. I crave the sensation of locking my opponent in the fabulous stretch and hearing him say ‘I give,’ but—”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EdMonton.jpg

Shine by the Rollin’s Band hits the loudspeakers and Ed Monton comes out into the ring, heedless of the numbers stacked against him. “Let me guess,” he says. “You’ve got a cold.”

“No, not at all,” Chandler says. “I recovered from my cold in a matter of days like the well-conditioned athlete I am.”

“So you’ll wrestle,” Monton says.

“Alas, alack, I cannot,” Chanlder says. He presses the back of his wrist to his forehead, selling the tragedy like a Jane Austen heroin. “Although I conquered the cold that had my doctors so concerned, they have discovered an even graver illness and recommended I stay out of the ring. I have…” He holds out his other hand, displaying the band-aid around his finger. “I have a toxic hangnail. Very dangerous. If I accidently scratched you, it could poison your blood and kill you.”

Monton waits, unimpressed. “I’ll risk it.”

“It’s not your risk to take,” Chandler says. “No, I’m sorry, I couldn’t live with something like that on my conscience. You’ll have to wrestle my colleague here instead.”

Doom snarls, flexing his hands, and Monton nods wearily. “As if I expected anything different.”

Rating: D-

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EdMonton.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CorporalDoom.jpg

Ed Monton vs. Corporal Doom

This is a brutal, hard-hitting affair between two veterans of the squares circle. There’s nothing particularly flashy about what they do, but they both settle into the traditional underdog/monster dynamic with practiced ease and each possesses hundreds of minor tricks that draw the crowd in.

The presence of Doom’s baton means Monton goes to ringside early, searching for foreign objects that’ll even the score against the hulking Doom and the Fabulous One’s coterie. He uses a chair to even the odds early on, laying out both Chandler and Fletcher when they attempt to interfere, then brings it to bear on his opponent. Things revolve around the weapon for several minutes after that, the chair getting traded back and forth as the momentum shifts. A jawbreaker forearm through the chair stuns Doom and busts him open, but it’s not enough to drop the big man. Monton goes for a second, opening Doom’s busted lip even wider, but Doom still stands. Monton lets loose a primal scream and goes to the ropes a third time…

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EmmaChase.jpg

…where Easy Emma hooks his ankle, tripping him up and sending him on a face-first ride to the canvas.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EddieChandler.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/WilliamFletcher.jpg

William Fletcher and Eddie Chandler immediately swarm the ring, stomping a mud hole in the fallen Canadian. The two man assault continues until Doom rises and finishes things with the Corporal Punishment, pinning Monton for the three.

Corporal Doom defeated Ed Monton in 10:06 by pinfall.

Rating: D+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/CorporalDoom.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EddieChandler.jpg

The three-on-one beatdown that follows the match is nasty. Doom starts things off with his baton, nailing Monton like cop wailing on Rodney King, and Fletcher soon joins in with a series of big boots. Chandler waits a few moments before clearing everyone away, then locks in the Fabulous Stretch on the helpless Monton and proceeds to wrench the hold as tight as he can. Monton is too dazed to scream, but the angle of his arms say it all – he’s in pain, and there’s the potential to do permanent damage if the hold isn’t broken.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Vengeance.jpg

And then Vengeance appears at the backstage curtain, pausing for a moment to collect a chair from a fan at ringside before charging the ring. The first chair-shot takes down William Fletcher, knocking him out cold, and Doom narrowly avoids having his head taken off by the second. Monton and Emma flee the scene, leaving Doom to deal with the angry Avenging Angel. The pair exchange shots with chair and baton, drawing blood, but eventually Vengeance connects solidly and the former SWF champion decides to beat a tactical retreat.

Rating: C-

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JimmyCox.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EricTyler.jpg

Jimmy Cox vs. Eric Tyler

Cox comes into the match with something to prove, hitting Tyler hard and fast with a series of Puro-influenced strikes and takedowns. The crowd responds warmly, building towards a mild furor as Cox finally prepares to position Tyler for the Immortal Driver for the first time about five minutes in. It doesn’t work – the Driver is one of the most over moves on the East Coast and Tyler has it scouted, flipping Cox onto the mat with a backdrop the moment the double-underhook that precedes the move is applied.

From there the Traditionalist controls the pace of the match, targeting the shoulders of his opponent in preparation for the Tradition lift. Cox gets plenty of opportunities to showcase his underrated technical skills, reminding people there’s more to his career than dropping people head-first into chairs, and there are plenty of hope spots where the fans really buy into the fact that he might be able to pull of the victory. All that ends the moment Tyler locks in the Tradition Lift though, forcing the debuting Cox to submit.

Eric Tyler defeated Jimmy Cox in 14:49 by submission.

Rating: C

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/EricTyler.jpg

“Cox, I’m going to give it to you, you put up a hell of a fight tonight,” Tyler says. “You fought hard and you fought fair, so I’m going to give you a word of advice. Go back to XFW, stay a big fish in a small pond. If you stay here, you’ll always be second best to me. You don’t have the focus, you don’t have the depth, and you don’t have the experience to be top of the heap.”

The crowd expresses their displeasure, but Cox nods once and waits for Tyler to continue.

“Good to see you can acknowledge the truth,” Tyler says. “Unlike the rest of the inbred idiots. That’s good, kid. I can work with that. Your problem is the same as every other idiot in this company – you care about these people more than you care about winning. I understand that, I do, so I’m going to offer you a deal: let me help. Let me teach you how to block them out, let me teach you how to be more than a single move. Let me help, Jimmy Cox, and one day you might be lucky enough to be where I’ve been.”

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/JimmyCox.jpg

Cox considers the offered hand for a moment, teetering on the verge of going heel in the eyes of the DAVE fans. Then he shrugs, kicks Tyler in the gut, and gives the crowd what they spent an entire match craving. “Immortal Driver!” Naess screams, “He’s laid Eric Tyler out! Jimmy Cox is making a statement here in Danger and Violence Extreme.”

Rating: D

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/Vengeance.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TaylerMorton.jpg

Vengeance vs. Taylor Morton

There’s a massive size differential between these two, and it makes it difficult for Morton to play heel as he stands toe-to-toe with the avenging angel. He largely gets by with stalls and cheap tricks, but there are chemistry issues between the two that means the crowd is never really at ease with booing him. He takes a beating during Vengeance’s comeback, getting turned inside-out after a series of big lariats, and there are portions of the crowd that applaud his resilience for climbing to his feet again and again. Vengeance finally miss-times a charge and Morton hits a drop toe hold, sending his opponent face-first into the turnbuckles. He immediately goes to the top rope and launches a shooting star press before going for the cover on the big man. One…two…

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/MichaelCook.jpg

Michael Cook rushes the ring, pulling Morton off his opponent in an act of payback for the interference back in Invasion Force. The young cruiserweight is pulled outside, then dumped onto the concrete with a German Suplex. Morton gets up to his feet again, wobbly but ready to fight, but the match doesn’t last long after that. Vengeance spikes him with the Vengeance Drop for the three.

Vengeance defeated Tayler Morton in 13:55 by pinfall.

Rating: D+

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ThomasMorgan.jpghttp://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BryanHolmes.jpg

Thomas Morgan is backstage with Bryan Holmes. Morgan has a cold pack pressed against the back of his head while the Silent Threat warms up in preparation for the five-man chaos. “Dan Stone taught us purity of purpose,” Morgan says. “He taught us to focus on the match in front of us, to beat the man you’re fighting instead of thinking ahead. I learnt that lesson. Bryan learnt that lesson. And when I was in the House of Stone, getting stretched to hell and back, there was another kid who learnt that lesson. A kid named Darryl Freeman who was never quite as good as me or Bryan or the other rookies.

“And it wasn’t that he lacked the skills – he’s as good as any of us in the ring – he just never had the discipline to work his way up the card. And after we were done training Darryl disappeared. He crossed the border and came to New York City. He joined DAVE and renamed himself Dog Fyte. But he’s still just a punk who didn’t have the discipline and patients to be the best. He’s still taking short-cuts instead of earning the respect his skills deserve.

“Well, Bryan’s got a match – one of the biggest of his career - and the lessons we were learnt say a match takes precedence over everything else. You go out there, you test yourself, and whether you win or lose you leave everything you’ve got in the ring.

“But afterwards…oh, Darryl, afterwards…we’re going to have us a conversation about what you did tonight. You may call yourself Dog Fyte, you may pretend you’re a big deal down here, but to us you’re just the same punk who never learned what it means to give one hundred percent.”

Rating: E

____________________________________

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/FreddieDatsun.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BrentHill.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/BryanHolmes.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/TheInsaneHeat.jpg vs. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/ChrisStorm.jpg

Freddie Datsun vs. Brent Hill vs. Bryan Holmes vs. The Insane Heat vs. Chris Storm

The action is fast and furious from the opening bell. Freddie Datsun seems unwilling to let himself be shown up by newcomers and everyone else does everything they can to make an impact. Holds are exchanged, fists are thrown, bodies are treated like vehicles in a demolition derby.

Storm seems to be the least at home in the DAVE milieu, reacting with surprise when The Insane Heat smacks him across the back of the heat with a chair and the match keeps rolling on, but he adapts soon enough. He wrenches the weapon out of Heat’s hands and nails him with it, then follows up with a brainbuster that dumps him into the steel. He goes for cover but it’s broken up – first by Freddie Datsun pulling him off, then by Brent Hill coming off the turnbuckles with a King of the Hill at the two-count.

Insane Heat dominates the middle portion of proceedings, pulling weapons from beneath the ring and unleashing a relentless offense that knocks everyone off their feet. It culminates when he finally unearths the XFW World Title strap and uses it to whip Bryan Holmes. Datsun stops the assault with a Patriot Press, then pauses to spit on the XFW strap before making a cover that’s broken up by Storm.

Eventually things settle into a furious exchange of finishing moves and desperate covers. Holmes hits the Cyclone Kick on Heat and goes for the cover. Storm pulls him off and clamps down with the arm bar, going for the submission. Holmes manages to pull himself free, showing the technique learned at the feet of Dan Stone, but Brent Hill is there with a round of chair-shottery for both men. His cover is broken by Datsun, who proceeds to mount the King of Hill and hammer fists into his face. Everyone lies on the mat, broken and bloodied, while referee waits to see if Hill is helpless enough that it’s time to call for a stoppage.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x15/arwink/RaulDarkness.jpg

And suddenly Raul Darkness is in the ring, blasting a cane across the back of Datsun’s skull. Datsun drops like a stone, dead on the mat, and Darkness pulls The Insane Heat over the prone DAVE hero’s form. He grabs Dewey Libertine by the shirt and demands that he make the three-count, giving Heat the victory. The Darkness Warrior stands over the array of fallen bodies, a cold smirk on his face, while Phil Vibert and Mitch Naess decry his betrayal of DAVE on commentary.

The Insane Heat defeated Freddie Datsun, Bryan Holmes, Chris Storm and Brent Hill in 24:29 by pinfall.

Rating: C

____________________________________

Overall: C-

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