TCW: Gathering Storm

christmas_ape · August 10, 2020

Mighty Mo vs Wolf Hawkins

I doubt Mo is at the pop to be able to do this, so this will likely be a 'mo pushes Wolf to his limits to prove he is learning to hang with the very best but isn't quite there yet' thing. BUT it could also be a huge moment for him/perhaps some interference.

Sammy Bach & Aaron Andrews vs The Heritage (Edd Stone & Greg Gauge)

You probably want/need to get Edd some overness on route to the PPV

Davis Wayne Newton vs Masked Patriot

I too liked his debut, so can see him bouncing back here

Tag Team Title Match

American Ultra vs The Roughnecks ©

Annoyed that I called the title change, but I think I picked wrong (I definitely picked Roughnecks at first but I think I then changed my mind)

Ernest Youngman & Real Deadly vs Joshua Taylor, Fro Sure & Jackson Laine

Perhaps a surprise here.

I definitely preferred the changes to the format. 100% some people might love reading long matches, and so they never particularly put me off as I could always skim. But personally I found rather than skimming a long wall, I'll fully read a smaller block and end up actually reading more if that makes sense. So I'm a fan of the change.

eayragt · August 10, 2020

I like the changes. Reducing the wall of text always works with me.

Mighty Mo vs Wolf Hawkins

A win here would instantly move Mo on from the tag division, but a good showing does almost as well, so I think that's what we will get.

Sammy Bach & Aaron Andrews vs The Heritage (Edd Stone & Greg Gauge)

I think some momentum back for Andrews.

Davis Wayne Newton vs Masked Patriot

After last week's performance, this one's in the bag.

Tag Team Title Match

American Ultra vs The Roughnecks ©

No chance the new champs lose here.

Ernest Youngman & Real Deadly vs Joshua Taylor, Fro Sure & Jackson Laine

By far the hardest match of the night to call...

Devilb0y · August 11, 2020

Thanks for the feedback guys, good to know that it reads OK.

Let's have a look at those predictions for Week 1 of April! And it's a three way tie thanks to that tag title match and the schmoz of a finish to the main event. Rest assured, the fans in attendance probably didn't call / enjoy that ending much either. Congratulations to all three of you.

christmas_ape: 2/4

DarEatWorld: 2/4

eayragt: 2/4

There will be more matches on the card for next week which should hopefully split up the pack a little. I may also start throwing pre-show matches into these just to give it a bit of variety, although the booking in those tends to be a bit formulaic.

This Month Prediction Scores:

christmas_ape: 1

DarEatWorld: 1

eayragt: 1

Overall Running Prediction Scores:

christmas_ape: 10

DarEatWorld: 1

eayragt: 2

Herrbear: 2

kanegan: 2

KnowYourEnemy: 1

Sco xY2Jx: 1

TJ94: 2

Xendarii: 7</div>

Devilb0y · August 11, 2020

(I've tossed together a profile for Jay Chord as I've been wanting to do one for ages, but just a reminder christmas_ape that you won the predictions for March so if you'd like to nominate anyone else you're welcome to do so )

April 2nd 2020 - Eye On The Ring, Konrad Douglas

In Profile: Jay Chord

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Name(s): Jay Chord

Theme Song:

by Black Label Society

Signed: 2013

Notable Accomplishments: Son of the legendary Rip Chord, 2 x TCW International Champion, 1 x TCW All Action Champion, 1 x TCW Television Champion

Real Name: Jay Chord

Age: 29

From: Louisville, Kentucky

Billed From: New York, New York

Gimmick: Legacy of Greatness

Signature Moves: Cradle Piledriver, Super Top-Rope DDT

Ring Attire: Black and gold trunks, black elbow & knee pads, black wrist tape, white boots

Power15 Highest Placement: 1

Likes: Compliments, winning, getting recognised

Dislikes: Other people receiving praise, his father, losing</div>

Jay Chord is one of those guys who seem to get everything their way. He has the looks, he has the charisma and he has the god-given ability in the ring that ran through his father's veins too. If there is a flaw to the young man from Louisville it's that he knows - and has known for some time - exactly how good he is, which has rubbed a few of his colleagues the wrong way more than once. Although Chord has matured backstage as he approaches his prime that same attitude which has seen him become one of the hottest acts in America hasn't gone away. Rumours abound that he is still something of a backstage politician who keeps his friends close, and high on the card. So new-found allies Greg Gauge and Edd Stone must be thrilled to have him on their side.

Born in Kentucky, you wouldn't know it to listen to Chord. His ascent to stardom has seen him leave behind his thick "hillbilly" accent in favour of a more mid-Atlantic kind of sound; the product of elocution lessons no doubt. Topped off with him changing his billing from his home town of Louisville to his current residence of New York (a classic heel city if ever there was one) in 2017. And that constant tension between his present and his legacy is part of what makes Chord such a compelling character. He hates being compared to his father, yet he constantly talks about a need to emulate the success of his past; to live up to his name. He hates where he came from, yet his entire raison d'etre is wrapped up in fulfilling the promises of his heritage. It's a fascinating duality and he plays it brilliantly, almost neurotically, switching on a dime between someone who will utilise his surname for a title shot and someone who will knock someone out for mentioning his dad.

In the ring Chord is very close to being without peer. He's not yet 30 and he's already one of the very best workers in the world. He has a wide arsenal of impressive suplexes and submission holds to choose from but is just as comfortable getting into knock-down brawls with opponents. And his in-ring storytelling is second to none. On the mic he is exceptional, on the camera he is exceptional. It is not surprise that Jay is where he is, if we're being honest.

His finisher - the Cradle Piledriver - is a nod to the classic wrestlers of the 50s and 60s, those who influenced his father. It's an old school move for a man who in many ways is an old school heel, who doesn't want to be secretly loved by fans or considered cool, but who simply wants - or needs, even - to win at all cost. He has recently added an amazing looking Super top-rope DDT to his arsenal which looks impossibly painful - how anyone can take that move and not break their neck is unreal. Yet for all the venom in his character Chord is also one of the safest wrestlers in the world, being able to boast - as he is want to do - that he has never injured another wrestler.

One often hears talk of "Destiny" in wrestling, and it's usually bluster for the cameras. But with Chord it is more than that. He simply has to emulate his father's success, and then surpass it. Anything less than that would be a failure. The idea that Chord will be anything less than a multiple time World Champion when it is all said and done is unthinkable and, frankly, almost impossible.

Devilb0y · August 12, 2020

April 3rd 2020 - Eye On The Ring, Konrad Douglas

The TCW Heavyweights: Jay Chord

Following up on our well-timed profile of Jay Chord (almost as if we wrote it to coincide with this news story. Funny that), we have an exciting interview with "The Past & Present Superstar" to do with the recent shift we have seen in Chord's body. Rip's kid goes into nutrition, his new gym routine and finding time to work out with new buddies Greg Gauge and Edd Stone while the three take the road by storm.

Jay caught up with us by phone, the following is an excerpt of the interview which can be found on our website:

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">KD: Jay, thanks for taking the time to catch up with us today. I can't imagine how busy you must be.

JC: Pretty busy, yeah. We're off to the races, so to speak, as far as The Heritage is concerned.

KD: And how long have you known about this stable and the booking plans around it?

JC: About six months, give or take. Long enough to get in shape.

KD: And anyone with eyes can see that you've been hitting the gym. You were always in great shape, but you must be down to about 12% body fat now, right?

JC:...10% actually.

KD: Right, sorry. Well, you look amazing. How much of that had to do with having some workout buddies in Greg Gauge and Edd Stone?</div>

Over the phone I could hear Chord laughing lightly. It was odd to hear a relatively innocent chuckle from a man so famous on screen for laughing when he is about to attack someone.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JC: Well, I don't think Stone has ever lifted a weight in his life. He's not in bad shape considering, but he's more about speed and cardio than looking great. Greg was the main influence. He's Mr. No Days Off and I took his routine and physique as a personal challenge. There's no way I'm gonna be on the road with him, in the ring hundreds of time a year and not look like at least the joint-best member of The Heritage. So it became a kind of friendly competition between us?

KD: How friendly?

JC: Ha. Have there been heated moments you mean? There always are with people who push themselves as hard as Greg and I. But we respect each other and enjoy about 90% of our time together.

KD: And who would you say is winning?</div>

I couldn't see him, but I got the impression that Chord was gesturing to himself before speaking again.

Whatever you may think of Jay Chord the character it's hard to see the man behind it as anything but a consummate, almost frighteningly driven professional. His latest push is a reflection of his standing in the world of wrestling and he now has a physique to match that. Chord was always a star, now he has the look of a grade A superstar.

Debut Set For Next Week's Total Wrestling

Word reaching us through the grapevine is that next week's TCW Presents: Total Wrestling is going to be one you'll want to catch, with a debut of a "returning, familiar face" set to occur.

We don't yet know who it is, but we know that they were big enough to warrant a press release all to themselves. And, moreover, someone at TCW's web team has been working hard to get the fans whipped into a frenzy by designing an ingenious ARG on TCW.com which, when it was solved by the attendant internet fans, revealed the following image:

Now just what could that mean, I wonder?

Tune in on Tuesday to find out!

Devilb0y · August 12, 2020

Editor's Notes

So, through the bluster of my fake-newsman-prose I'm hopeful that I got the point across: this month Jay Chord completed his shift from a toned Middleweight to a muscular Middleweight and in doing so his Star Quality has leapt from 92 to 99! There is now one active wrestler on the entire planet who has a higher SQ than Jay: Rocky Golden (that turncoat).

eayragt · August 12, 2020

Editor's Notes

So, through the bluster of my fake-newsman-prose I'm hopeful that I got the point across: this month Jay Chord completed his shift from a toned Middleweight to a muscular Middleweight and in doing so his Star Quality has leapt from 92 to 99! There is now one active wrestler on the entire planet who has a higher SQ than Jay: Rocky Golden (that turncoat).

Wooh!

Devilb0y · August 12, 2020

TCW Presents Total Wrestling - April 2020, Week 2

Connecticut Symphony Hall, New England - 8’769

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">(Pre Show)

The Elite def T-Bone Bright & Tana The Mighty

Rating: 61

Length: 10:24</div>

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">(Pre Show)

Troy Tornado and The Behemoths def Benny Benson and Hammer & Anvil

Rating: 61

Length: 10:29</div>

”...you’re still talkin’ to a shadow, man.”

”You and I have unfinished business”

The Wolf and The Shadow collide at Where Angels Fear To Tread.

by Five Finger Death Punch

The brief stinger gives way to the shows intro sequence, which then cuts to a sweeping shot of the historic symphony hall in Connecticut, packed with colourful signs and raucous fans. As the sound of pyro rattles around the venue the camera feed cuts to our announce team for the night: Shawn Doakes, Ernie Turner and Jasmine Saunders.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">SD: Hello and welcome, one and all, to Total Wrestling. We’re coming to you live from Hartford where the superstars of TCW are set to showcase the best wrestling on the planet!

JS: There’s no better place to be than right here. We’ve got Wolf Hawkins taking on Mighty Mo one week removed from his shock tag title loss to The Roughnecks. And speaking of, they’ll be defending their titles against the clinical American Ultra tonight.

ET: And of course, the match of the night is gonna be The Heritage members Edd Stone and Greg Gauge taking on Aaron Andrews and Sammy Bach. Hopefully the refs can keep their powder dry and actually let The Heritage record a deserved win this time.

SD: And exciting undercard action as Masked Patriot looks to bounce back from his debut loss last week with a match against 1% member Davis Wayne Newton, and multi-man tag action featuring Joshua Taylor and Doc Hammond.

ET: This card is stacked!

JS: We don’t do things any other way, ET.

SD: One has to wonder: will we see John Blackfyre tonight? The tension between him and Wolf Hawkins is simmering away, and with a match agreed between the two at Where Angels Fear To Tread it seems likely that the two may reach boiling point.

ET: God, that metaphor was hammy.

JS: Says the man making references to “powder” like he’s a captain on a Napoleonic ship. Multi-man tag action first, let’s go Joshua Taylor!

ET: You’re supposed to be impartial…

SD: Let’s hit the ring!</div>

VS

Standard Tag Match (3 vs 3)

Ernest Youngman & Real Deadly (0-0-0) vs Joshua Taylor, Fro Sure & Jackson Laine(0-0-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">”You and me, right now.”

</div>

The match proceeds as one would expect it to with the young stars getting a chance to show off their impressive move sets before yielding their time to the veterans in the ring. JT and Doc Hammond get a solid 6 minutes to work more or less all by themselves. After taking Remus’ head off with a stiff kick JT beckons Doc on and the two get into a wonderful catch wrestling match, exchanging hold after hold and nailing - and no-selling - a snug sequence of suplexes to really hammer home how tough both men are. Doc is eventually strapped into the Butterly Lock and is unable to respond to Tony Thorpe’s three count after JT flips out of a German suplex and cinches in the hold.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 64

(Doc: 64, Youngman: 53, Fro: 52, Jackson: 48, JT: 67, Remus: 55)

Length: 10:07

Winner: Joshua Taylor via submission (Doc Hammond)

SD: Convincing performance there fro Joshua Taylor, and doesn’t Doc look angry about it!

JS: If rumours are true Jack Bruce is looking to line up some workers for World Title shots in the near future and you have to believe that those two are high on the list.

ET: It should be Doc, let’s be honest. JT’s record recently is as patchy as a quilt.

</div>

The camera cuts to backstage where Edd Stone is walking with what looks like a fruit basket in one hand.

He comes to a door with a star on it and opens it without knocking, revealing a communal dressing room with Aaron Andrews doing split lunges in his ring gear in the middle of it.

As soon as he notices who has entered the room, Andrews stands up and narrows his eyes.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">ES: Heeeeey, champione, how’s it going?

AA: You’ve got about five seconds to explain what you’re doing here before I drop you, Stone.

ES: Relax, man. I just wanted to bring you this. Show you there’s no hard feelings. We might be opponents at the end of the month but there’s no reason we can’t be friends, right?

AA: Actually that’s exactly what that means, Stone. Take your fruit basket to someone on the same level as you. There must be a zoo around here with some chimps in it you could get on with.</div>

Stone sarcastically pretends to crack up laughing.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">ES: Oh MAN. I can’t believe how funny you are dude. People said you were kinda stiff for a surfer from Cali but we are just having so much fun!

AA: Back off, Stone. Now.

ES: So, listen, hermano; there’s no reason why this has to end in unpleasantness at the end of the month. You could just drop the title, take a quick vacation, give us Heritage boys some space to work and then come back better than ever. Maybe even get a nice little Television Title shot somewhere down the line. We don’t have to be enemies, Ace...</div>

Andrews laughs, steps forward and clocks Stone with a right hand that sends him tumbling back across the locker room, spilling the contents of the fruit basket all over the place. The Canadian swears and runs out of the room. The camera follows his flight before the show goes to an ad break.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 85

JS: Interesting ploy from Stone there.

ET: Giving Andrews an out that lets him save face was a noble choice. Not his fault that the so-called Ace chose to ignore it.

SD: Offering a guy you’re fighting later in the night a fruit basket might be a first for me.

</div>

Tag Team Titles

VS

Standard Tag Match (2 vs 2)

American Ultra (9-1-0) vs The Roughnecks (2-0-0) © (1st defence)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Are those two still drunk from last week?

</div>

In terms of personality, The Roughnecks and American Ultra couldn’t be further apart. And it does seem as though the Texans may be a little worse for wear as Dave Diamond semi-jokingly pretends to be out of breath after running the ropes a few times. The Ultra showcase their technical skill with some nice chain wrestling but Marshall Dillon responds in typical fashion by answering a arm drag by standing up and flooring Marv Statler with a sick right hand. He then collapses into the corner and closes his eyes for a second, which incenses their opponents.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Hit the left one, Dave!

</div>

The Ultra dance circles around Dave Diamond and it appears as though the team from Texas may be dropping their title at the first time of asking until Marshall Dillon roars advice at Dave, telling him which of the two Dean Waldorf’s he can see to hit. The advice proves to be good as he catches the American Ultra member with a stiff right of his own before sending Dillon in, who counters a sunset flip attempt into a double-handed deadlift sit-out chokeslam, following by a Dead Hand lariat and the win.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 59

(Diamond: 52, Dean Waldorf: 44, Marshall Dillon: 59, Marv Statler: 45)

Length: 9:49

Winner: The Roughnecks via pinfall (Marshall Dillon over Dean Waldorf) - 1st Defence

SD: A definitive, if slightly laboured first defence for The Roughnecks there.

ET: If they turn up looking like this for The Behemoths there will be hell to pay.

JS: Who knows? Maybe their own brand of Texas Drunken Boxing will fool the big guys.

</div>

After another short word from a sponsor we catch up with Troy Tornado backstage, waiting outside Jack Bruce’s office, where the sounds of music and laughter can clearly be heard.

By the frustrated look on his face he has been waiting for some time. After thirty seconds or so the door to his right creaks open a smidge and Jack Bruce - his hair a tousled mess - pokes his head out. It is initially difficult to hear his voice over the sounds of various voices in various states of jubilation emanating from the room.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JB: What the…? Troy? How long have you been waiting out here?

TT: Longer than I care to admit. Get out here, right now, before I call the police and have that office investigated.</div>

Jack steps out of the room, sliding his suit jacket on over his naked torso and doing up his belt.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JB: Alright, alright. No need to turn narc on me. What do you want?

TT: Mighty Mo. Specifically, I want what he is evidently about to receive based on his match tonight with Wolf.

JB: I’m not sure I follow. What is Mo about to receive?

TT: I’m not an idiot, Bruce. I know you’re lining up World Title challengers for the next few months and I know you think Mo has what it takes. I’m telling you that I should be at the top of your list, not some guy on the rebound from failing in the tag division.

JB: Well that’s an interesting perspective. But no. You don’t get Mo, he’s spoken for. Now, if you don’t mind?</div>

Bruce doesn’t wait for Troy to respond as he slams the door again. The music starts up, the conversations resume and Troy is left looking more frustrated than ever in the hallway.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 88

ET: Such disrespect for a man who has been an absolute general for this company.

SD: Bruce doesn’t care what you were, only what you are to him now, harsh thought it seems. And Troy is - many people feel - a little long in the tooth.

JS: Still, the man is dangerous. And Bruce may have just forced a dangerous man’s hand here.

</div>

VS

Standard Singles Match (1 vs 1)

Davis Wayne Newton (0-0-0) vs Masked Patriot (0-1-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Does your legal guardian know you’re here, behaving like this?

</div>

Masked Patriot’s schtick almost got the better of Wolf Hawkins last week, and this week it does the job as he is able to out-wrestle and roundly frustrate the Triple Threat in his singles debut. Even with his 1% chrony Nelson Callum at ringside he is unable to overturn the sheer power and enthusiasm of the Patriot, which is as infectious as it is ridiculous. Culminating in a moment where he nails Newton with the Patriot slam, pins him for the win and then offers him a handshake...

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 63

(Newton: 53, Patriot: 62)

Length: 10:17

Winner: Masked Patriot via pinfall

ET: Who hired this guy?

SD: Your boss. And he just put one of the most promising 1%ers to the sword.

JS: Say what you will about his personality but it’s contagious and popular with the fans here tonight.

</div>

Davis Wayne Newton looks down at the offered hand, then back up at Patriot’s smiling, masked face with a look of sheer disgust. Then his friends arrive…

by E-Dubble

And like a pack of dogs they descend on him, hitting a sequence of finishers from each member of The 1% before putting the boots to him on the ground. This continues for five minutes before the elite boys club decide they have had enough fun for one day and leave the Ultimate Patriot sprawled on the mat, yelling in pain and gripping an injured forearm.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 48</div>

SD: Damn the 1%. Patriot won that match fair and square, what the hell is this!?

ET: Payback Shawn. They don’t get mad, they get even.

JS: How very original. The Patriot will have something to say about this.

</div>

After Patriot is helped to the back, a familiar theme song rocks the arena...

by Motley Crue

And Jack Bruce struts out onto the stage in - fortunately for those in attendance - more clothes than he was wearing when confronted by Troy Tornado earlier. The fans greet his arrival with cheers as he makes his way down the ramp and enters the ring, politely tailing off as he indicates he wants to speak.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JB: TCW universe: when I took this job I promised that I was going to take this company to the top of the damn pile in the United States. And I’m a man who keeps his promises. But how do you go about doing that? It’s easier said than done, right? Well, I’ll tell you how. You build superstars, and when the opportunity arises you sign them. And folks, the opportunity has arisen. So without...</div>

Before he can finish his sentence Bruce is rudely interrupted by another theme song.

by Logic

Freddy Huggins strides out onto the stage in an enormous scarf and long sleeveless cotton coat that looks like it came straight from a runway in Milan. His interruption is showered with boos and he soaks them in, grinning widely and sarcastically accepting the “applause” as he also steps into the ring.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">FH: Oh Jackie baby, you’ve made a mistake. A biiiiiiig mistake. You went looking for stars but you missed the one that was standing right in front of you.

JB: Huggins, I’d really advise against this…

FH: And bubula, I get it. It’s hard to look straight at the sun, it’s so blinding. But here I am, ready to stun the crowds. So how about we forget about your little signing and discuss my future?

JB: Freddy, I’m serious, you don’t want to do this…

FH: I don’t care who you’ve signed, do you understand! Bring them out if you want and I’ll humble them so much they’ll be getting me coffee within the week.

JB: You want me to bring them out?</div>

Huggins nods, and Bruce then looks at the fans to see if they want to see who he was talking about. They respond with cheers.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JB:Your funeral, Freddy. Ladies and gentlemen, your new signing...</div>

He points up at the stage as a theme song starts playing. A song the TCW universe hasn’t heard since 2014, and one they know very well indeed. Accompanied by an image that immediately lets the attentive in the audience know who they are about to see. The crowd issues a dull roar...

by Parkway Drive

...which rises to thunderous cheers of “KOBRA” as the new signee makes themselves seen…

White and black face paint with matching tassled boots and bicep bands. A frighteningly powerful physique and an unblinking gaze that could stop a clock, focused straight on Freddy Huggins in the ring. Koshiro “The Kobra” Ino is back. Huggins snatches the sunglasses off of his eyes and stares up at the mountain of Japanese muscle with his mouth open and outright terror playing across his face.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JB:...KOSHIRO. INO.</div>

Ino runs down the ramp, leaps up onto the apron then mounts the second rope and points two fingers skyward as the crowd chant his name. A pose he holds for a moment longer before entering the ring and squaring off with Huggins. Ino has always been a man of few - or no - words, and so it proves to be here. Huggins offers Ino his own mic, and The Kobra simply smiles and laughs. Freddy then turns to Bruce, who shrugs, before making the incredibly unwise choice of trying to catch Ino off-guard with a right hand. The Kobra simply catches the strike, twists to bring Huggins to his knees and then tosses him across the ring. Ino crouches in the corner and motions for the Kobra Bite but Huggins is able to scout the move and roll out of the ring before he eats the running tackle, high-tailing it to the back as both Bruce and the Kobra look on with malevolent grins on their faces.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 76

SD: Holy crap! The Kobra is back and he just tossed Freddy Huggins around the ring like a ragdoll.

JS: The legend, inarguably the most successful Japanese athlete in US wrestling history, the man behind the ultra-popular NEO in Burning Hammer. He is, quite simply, a star.

ET: So guys are just walking in and attacking people now? Cool. Duly noted.

</div>

VS

Standard Tag Match (2 vs 2)

Sammy Bach & Aaron Andrews (1-0-0) vs The Heritage (Edd Stone & Greg Gauge) (0-0-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Get in here, Stone

</div>

As if mirroring last week’s match, Andrews is perhaps too focused on hurting Edd Stone. Their relationship clearly has not been improved by the Canadian Party Animal’s gesture earlier in the night. However he appears to know this and utilises their animosity against them by luring them into sneak attacks from Greg Gauge, including one nasty moment where Bach is chasing Stone around the ringside and eats an enormous soccer kick to the face from Gauge on the apron.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Bach wasn’t born yesterday.

</div>

Gauge, in a bald-faced display of arrogance attempts to lure Bach into some kind of gentlemen’s agreement to have an honourable wrestling match with a proffered hand-shake that is clearly a ploy. And Sammy, good guy though he is, isn’t stupid enough to fall for it and instead hits a boot to the gut. Gauge responds with some great striking and suplexes of his own but is ultimately planted with an Adrenaline Shot for the pinfall victory.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 79

(Andrews: 81, Stone: 68, Gauge: 69, Bach: 68)

Length: 20:30

Winner: Sammy Bach via pinfall

SD: A warning shot for Greg Gauge there. If he thought his pay-per-view match with Bach was going to be a cake walk, he was wrong.

ET: Just a warm up. Watch and see how he performs on the night before you judge him.

JS: And Andrews is yet to really get a solid grip on Edd Stone, frustratingly for all of us..

</div>

VS

Standard Singles Match (1 vs 1)

Mighty Mo (1-3-0) vs Wolf Hawkins (14-2-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Mo has a point to prove here

</div>

Mighty Mo comes out of the blocks like a race car, as he often does, and Wolf can’t deal with his sheer power in the early running as he eats a Plunge and very nearly a Hopes Fall within the first five minutes. The Alpha Wolf is only able to rally when Mo goes for a running corner splash which is countered, opening him up to some offense.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">You’ll never be on my level.

</div>

Wolf pokes the bear by taunting Mo after a period of his own dominance and Mo roars back to life, wiping Wolf (and referee Ray Johnson, albeit accidentally) out with a sequence of snug power moves that look to have him beaten. Even more so when he suckers Wolf into going for a Full Moon Rising which he - unbelievably - catches without falling over before planting Wolf with his finisher, the Hopes Fall spinebuster. The crowd and announcers sense the victory and go nuts, but…

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">So this is how you climb the mountain again...

</div>

Troy Tornado hits the ring with a chair to the collective and thunderous boos of the entire arena. He swings for Mo’s head, misses and eats a Hopes Fall of his own but the distraction has done its job as Mo turns around into a Full Moon Rising from the now-recovered Wolf who covers him for the thoroughly unearned victory.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 81

(Mo: 70, Wolf: 95)

Length: 25:03

Winner: Wolf Hawkins via pinfall

ET: Who’s relevant to the modern TCW now, Bruce? Troy just made himself a thorn in the side of the golden boy.

JS: I can think of easier ways to commit suicide, frankly.

JS: Mo is livid in the ring and is storming after Troy!

</div>

Mo sprints up and rank and after Troy, leaving a tired Wolf celebrating in the ring.

by HEALTH

When suddenly the lights in the arena go out. The crowd roars as they know what this means, and those cheers grow as an image flashes up on the big screen...

..and a disembodied but thoroughly recognisable voice speaks over the PA system.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JBF: Two weeks to judgement day, Wolf. Two weeks to steel yourself against the test. I wonder whether you’ll pass. And, if you don’t, what will become of you once I expose you to the whole world? Long way down from the top, man. And I’ll be with you the whole way. All the way down, down to where I live, in the shadows.

See you real soon, Wolf.</div>

In the ring Wolf wipes the sweat from his face and shakes his head, though it is hard for him to fully disguise the nervous glint in his eyes.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 76

ET: Big talk from the guy in hiding.

SD: John Blackfyre delivers another warning to Wolf Hawkins, in that ethereal way that only he can.

JS: Can you imagine what will happen if Blackfyre is able to claim the Alpha Wolf’s scalp at Where Angels Fear To Tread?

</div>

Overall Show Rating: 81

</div>

Devilb0y · August 12, 2020

Booker's Notes

Show Notes

So Koshiro Ino is back. He's always been a favourite of mine, a kind of Japanese mixture of Sting and The Ultimate Warrior, but who is actually really good in the ring. His gimmick of "The Kobra" got an initial Poor rating (ooof) but hopefully that will improve, and at 43 time decline is a concern, but I plan to use him to shore at the midcard while occasionally providing TV main events, an area where TCW is massively depleted.
The Roughnecks get a title defense under their, well, belts. I'm trying not to write them as your typical Texas cowboy brawler tag team, though it's hard not to fall back on the old standards of "They like fighting and drinking".
Bach gets a much-needed win over Gauge in the tag match which sets up their match at Where Angels Fear To Tread quite nicely, though I'm quietly concerned that Edd Stone may not be up to carrying his side of the match in his main event with Andrews. We shall see how that one goes.
I hadn't realised quite how little I had used Mo in singles competition since I started, and quite how badly he has done in it when I have. Now marks the moment where that changes, I can promise you.

The new show format makes writing these much quicker and - hopefully - the same is true for reading them. Obviously this is up early this week, hopefully that doesn't disrupt the schedule too much; just had some free time on my hands. There's some fairly big news heading down the pipe which will, without giving too much away, mean I have more writing to do each week, so the schedule should normalise somewhat. Keep your eyes peeled

christmas_ape · August 12, 2020

100% enjoying the new format, it's definitely flowing like an actual show, and this week was a really enjoyable read. The Freddy/Ino segment was great... part of me thinks even with time decline (or perhaps especially because of it) he could have come straight in to the top of the card, but then swiftly gone down. It's a huge coup to get him back, he's always been one of my favourites too, but perhaps his in ring stats are no longer up to main eventing a PPV.

Guessing your hinting at either a B show or developmental. Both sound interesting, personally I'd prefer to see the A show progress at a good speed and so the new show to be kept very brief to not hinder that, although at the rate you're getting them out I have no reason to believe you can't keep up both!

Devilb0y · August 13, 2020

<p>Time for another prediction roundup and it was a week of pretty narrow calls, with lots of feuds either starting or being furthered by matchups this week. The Heritage boys vs Bach & Andrews could have gone either way, as could Wolf vs Mo, and the opener really boiled down to JT vs Doc Hammond.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>christmas_ape:</strong> 2/5</p><p>

<strong>eayragt:</strong> 4/5</p><p> </p><p>

So that makes our winner for this week <strong>eayragt</strong>! Congratulations are in order for a strong showing!</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";"></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">This Month Prediction Scores:</span></strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>christmas_ape:</strong> 1</p><p>

<strong>DarEatWorld:</strong> 1</p><p>

<strong>eayragt:</strong> 2</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Overall Running Prediction Scores:</span></strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>christmas_ape:</strong> 10</p><p>

<strong>DarEatWorld:</strong> 1</p><p>

<strong>eayragt:</strong> 3</p><p>

<strong>Herrbear:</strong> 2</p><p>

<strong>kanegan:</strong> 2</p><p>

<strong>KnowYourEnemy:</strong> 1</p><p>

<strong>Xendarii:</strong> 7</div></p>

christmas_ape · August 13, 2020

and apologies I keep forgetting, for my prize can I pick Koshiro Ino please, nice timing for it.

Devilb0y · August 13, 2020

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong><span style="font-size:18px;">Preview: TCW Presents Total Wrestling - April 2020, Week 3</span></strong></span></p><p>

(to be posted by 18/08/2020)</p><p> </p><p>

<img alt="1U9n1C4.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/1U9n1C4.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

We're half-way through the month already and hurtling towards Where Angels Fear To Tread; a show which threatens to be something of a coming out party for The Heritage, though some of TCW's finest stand in their way. And elsewhere we now know that Wolf Hawkins will seek revenge against John Blackfyre while Mighty Mo is likely to do the same against Troy Tornado. And in the midcard the Masked Patriot and the 1% have already come to blows.</p><p> </p><p>

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";"><strong>Sammy Bach & Masked Patriot vs Wolf Hawkins & Doc Hammond</strong></p><p>

<em>Tale of the Tape:</em> The two senior figures in The Syndicate take on Sammy Bach - who is in decent form after a convincing win over The Heritage last week - and Masked Patriot, nursing a slight injury after his run in with The 1% last week.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Television Title Match</strong></p><p><strong>

Joshua Taylor vs Matt Hocking ©</strong></p><p>

<em>Tale of the Tape:</em> Matt Hocking makes number five of his television title against the dangerous technical / striker hybrid: Joshua Taylor. This surely marks one of the most significant challenges Hocking has faced as champion.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Koshiro Ino vs Maverick</strong></p><p>

<em>Tale of the Tape:</em> Ino looks to shake off the ring rust and get back to the "American" way of working in this match against the technician: Maverick. Wouldn't want to be in his shoes, frankly.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>The Elite vs John Blackfyre & Mighty Mo</strong></p><p>

<em>Tale of the Tape:</em> Mo and Blackfyre join forces for the first time since Battleground III to take on the tag team specialists from The Syndicate: The Elite.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>One Man Army and The Roughnecks vs The Heritage (Jay Chord, Edd Stone & Greg Gauge)</strong></p><p>

<em>Tale of the Tape:</em> The Heritage look to bounce back from their loss last week against perennial nemesis One Man Army and the new tag team champions: The Roughnecks</p><p>

</div></p>

Devilb0y · August 13, 2020

and apologies I keep forgetting, for my prize can I pick Koshiro Ino please, nice timing for it.

No problem at all! I've been catching up on your diary actually and I'm frankly surprised you have any time to read any others with how much work you put into your presentation!

DarEatWorld · August 13, 2020

Sammy Bach & Masked Patriot vs Wolf Hawkins & Doc Hammond

It's an interesting set up. Bach, Masked Patriot and Hawkins could all do with some momentum so I think Hammond will be sacrificed.

Television Title Match

Joshua Taylor vs Matt Hocking ©

I think I might be guilty of booking with my heart rather than my head in this one. Taylor would benefit from a title run IMO to cement the face turn. Against that there could be an argument to be made that making him TV champ is underlining the fact that he has drifted down the card somewhat this year. Hocking has definitely benefitted from his time as champ too so it's a question as to how badly you feel like a change also.

Koshiro Ino vs Maverick

Obviously. I don't know who Ino is but you haven't brought him in to get beaten this early.

The Elite vs John Blackfyre & Mighty Mo

Tale of the Tape:Mo and Blackfyre could lose this without too much credibility being lost against a team with proven tag pedigree but I think it just makes more sense to maintain their momentum.

One Man Army and The Roughnecks vs The Heritage (Jay Chord, Edd Stone & Greg Gauge)

The Heritage need the win I think. Depending on the victory combo it could also spin into a Stone/Gauge challenge for The Roughnecks first title defence? I wouldn't expect that but, while fantasy booking in my head, it made a certain sort of logical sense.

Devilb0y · August 13, 2020

April 8th 2020 - Eye On The Ring, Konrad Douglas

In Profile: Koshiro Ino

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Name(s): Koshiro Ino, The Kobra,

Theme Song:

by Parkway Drive

Signed: 2008, 2020

Notable Accomplishments: Trained by Haruki Kudo, 1 x BHOTWG World Champion (2016), 1 x BHOTWG Tag Team Champion (2006), 1 x TCW World Tag Team Champion (2009 - w/ Rocky Golden)

Real Name: Koshiro Ino

Age: 43

From: Nagoya, Chubu, Japan

Billed From: Japan

Gimmick: The Kobra - Power and Paint

Signature Moves: The Kobra Bite (Spear), Snake Fangs (Mongolian Chop)

Ring Attire: Black and white face paint, black and white trunks, boots and bicep bands (both with tassles) and black kneepads.

Power15 Highest Placement: 4

Likes: Working out, shonen anime, baby oil

Dislikes: Snakes, bullies, backstage politics</div>

Koshiro Ino is a man who has travelled from one corner of the world and back again, multiple times in fact, in an attempt to perfect his craft. One of the rare examples of a Japanese export who has not only succeeded in the US but blazed a path bright enough for others to follow. While it's true that he never won the big one during his six years with TCW, he was also never far off and was booked strongly enough that it convinced a younger generation of Japanese stars that they could make a career in the west. Quite simply; without Ino you wouldn't have landmark deals like the ones that have brought "Brave Star" Yuta Isono, Orange Tsuchie, Takenori Doi and Tsuneyo Yanagimoto to TCW. And entire generation of Japanese talent now making their way through TCW's developmental system have The Kobra to thank for their opportunity in the US.

But this is not to say that Ino's career is done. The man himself remains a fantastic in-ring brawler and powerhouse, capable of getting a good match out of just about anyone he has ever faced. As evidenced by the fact that he is only a few years removed from winning the BHOTWG World Title. And while he has never been an exceptional promo he remains a decent enough talker to disprove the notion that non-native-English-speaking workers struggle to connect with fans in interviews. Ino is, and always has been, loved by the US fans, who have always been attracted to the combination of his old school Power 'n' Paint gimmick and the typical fighting spirit of Japanese workers. He can hype a crowd with the theatricality of his intro as much as with an exchange of blows in the middle of the ring. His in-ring style is fairly slow-paced and psychology based which has perhaps contributed to the longevity of his career, yet he is capable of making his offense look incredibly stiff and believable. In particular, his Kobra Bite spear has an awesome sense of speed and dynamism to it.

The last time Ino hit these shores he was a relative unknown, but he now returns as a bonafide star at a time when TCW is in desperate need of anyone not named "Andrews" or "Wolf" to take the pressure off of the guys at the top of their card. And The Kobra's mixture of work rate and popularity fits the bill to a tee. Whether he is coming back to settle unfinished business and finally win a World Title remains to be seen, but that must surely have factored into the discussions which brought him back.

christmas_ape · August 13, 2020

<p>Sammy Bach & Masked Patriot vs <strong>Wolf Hawkins & Doc Hammond</strong></p><p>

Very tough one</p><p> </p><p>

Television Title Match</p><p>

<strong>Joshua Taylor</strong> vs Matt Hocking ©</p><p>

Part of me thinks Taylor is above the TV title, so perhaps an interference or something else keeps the belt on Hocking...</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Koshiro Ino </strong>vs Maverick</p><p>

Definitely</p><p> </p><p>

The Elite vs<strong> John Blackfyre & Mighty Mo</strong></p><p>

I know it's 2 singles vs tag team specialists, but still you want/need John to gain popularity and Mo could do with the win after losing.</p><p> </p><p>

One Man Army and The Roughnecks vs<strong> The Heritage (Jay Chord, Edd Stone & Greg Gauge)</strong></p><p>

Bounce back they shall</p><p> </p><p>

Enjoy the Ino spotlight, I wouldn't have thought that he's never won a single title in TCW? Or is it just that the International Title doesn't make it onto Notable Accomplishments list?</p>

eayragt · August 13, 2020

Sammy Bach & Masked Patriot vs Wolf Hawkins & Doc Hammond

Wow, hard one to pick. The faces could get a huge boost by winning this, but can they? Even by DQ? I'm going to say not quite.

Television Title Match

Joshua Taylor vs Matt Hocking ©

A defining moment for Hocking?

Koshiro Ino vs Maverick

Into returns and loses to Maverick? I think not...

The Elite vs John Blackfyre & Mighty Mo

No way JB takes a loss

One Man Army and The Roughnecks vs The Heritage (Jay Chord, Edd Stone & Greg Gauge)

I think I can be confident in this one.

Devilb0y · August 13, 2020

Enjoy the Ino spotlight, I wouldn't have thought that he's never won a single title in TCW? Or is it just that the International Title doesn't make it onto Notable Accomplishments list?

I know! I suspect that this might have been retconned in the C-Verse from the earlier games as I feel like he must have held the International Title at some point. Though according to his title history it was just a lone tag title reign with Rocky Golden back in 2009. 3 titles in 10 years is no good. I think he's one of those guys who has such great star quality that he kind of doesn't need titles, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve them!

Devilb0y · August 14, 2020

April 8th 2020 - Eye On The Ring, Konrad Douglas

The Return of Saturday Night Showcase

Pretty big news coming out of TCW this week with the return of the weekly Saturday Night Showcase. Originally considered an 'A' show, rumour has it that the event has been re-purposed to exist as more of a... well, a showcase for the young talent on the roster, a chance for them to get some exposure and experience against one another in a lower pressure environment.

The TCW Network continues to reap dividends with this show reported to be the latest addition to the FunCo-owned subscription model network, though if other rumours are to be believed them there may be yet another show in the offing. Though exactly what form that will take remains to be seen.

Catching Up With The New Tag Team Champions

Yours truly was able to grab some time out of The Roughnecks' busy partying schedule to catch up with the new TCW Tag Team Champions about their recent success, Marshall Dillon's move from SWF down south and how they see the future of the tag division panning out. Be warned, when I say "Some time" I really mean "About five minutes of conversation over loud music in a bar somewhere".

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">KD: Dave, Marshall, thanks for taking the time. First of all: congratulations on your success. Straight back into the tag division with a big win. How do those belts feel?

DD: These gimmicks are such a rib, brother. I get recognised all the time already, now with these things we're basically walking "Free autographs" signs.

MD: He says that, but no one is forcing the jackass to wear the damn thing through the airport.

DD: Man, if I don't how's anyone gonna know who I am?

KD: But I thought you just said...

MD: Try not to think too hard about what Diamond says. He just wants to confuse people so we're all operating on his level, aint that right double D?</div>

There is the sound of a cheer down the phone and then a clinking of glasses.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">DD: You know it, Walker.

KD: Walker?

MD: Texas Ranger. He thinks it's funny. I don't have the heart to tell him that no one has watched that show in thirty years.

KD: There's worse people to be compared to than Chuck Norris, I guess.

MD: Hell yeah, brother. Man is an ass-kicker, just like me.

KD: So Marshall, how has your first month in TCW been? And how is the transition from up north?

MD: Honestly, it's been a little tough. Y'all are a lot more serious down here. Lot more focused on 'The Sport' if you get my meaning. Which isn't to say that it's bad...

DD: You BETTER not be sayin' it's bad, brother.

MD: ...just that it's more work than I thought it'd be. But then TCW was always famous for workrate. It's why none of the old-timers wanted to come out here anymore. SWF is a cushier retirement.</div>

There is another voice, I can't make out what they're saying, but whatever it is it gets The Roughnecks' attention.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">DD: Aw hell, we gotta go. Butch is here and he's after my tab. Peace, man.

MD: Sorry man, we'll catch up again another time.

KD: If I could just get one more word....</div>

Spoilers: I couldn't. Still, charming guys.

Devilb0y · August 16, 2020

TCW Presents Total Wrestling - April 2020, Week 3

Evanovich Riverside, Tri State - 10’000 (SELLOUT)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">(Pre Show)

Ernest Youngman, Troy Tornado & Nick Booth def Danny Fonzarelli and Hammer & Anvil

Rating: 57

Length: 9:47</div>

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">(Pre Show)

Human Arsenal, Fro Sure & Jackson Laine def Jeremie Courtney and American Ultra

Rating: 54

Length: 9:58</div>

Six Men.

”...you and Gauge seem to despise each other just enough to make it entertaining.”

Three Matches.

”You want a legacy of greatness?”

One chance to settle the score.

”We might be opponents at the end of the month, but that’s no reason we can’t be friends, right?”

At Where Angels Fear To Tread the future is now.

by Five Finger Death Punch

The Tri State area is heated up and ready for a night of awesome in-ring action by the sounds of their raucous cheers, which can be heard over the event theme, and threaten to drown out even the voices of our three intrepid announcers for the night: Shawn Doakes, Ernie Turner and Jasmine Saunders.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">SD: Welcome, one and all, to Total Wrestling. It’s a muggy night here and things aren’t showing any signs of cooling down in this arena. And boy, do we have a card stacked with non-stop action for you tonight!

JS: Sammy Bach teams with the unconventional Masked Patriot to take on Wolf Hawkins and Doc Hammond while Joshua Taylor takes on Matt Hocking for the Television Title. And let’s not forget the in-ring re-debut of “The Kobra” Koshiro Ino.

ET: I’m not a fan of the guy but I wouldn’t want to be Maverick tonight. And of course we’ll be seeing The Heritage make mincemeat out of One Man Army and the tag team champions: The Roughnecks

JS: If The Roughnecks’ form in recent weeks is anything to go by they may provide stiffer opposition than you’re giving them credit for ET; stiff as a Marshall Dillon lariat!

ET: That was a reach, even for you Shawn.

JS: Ignore them. John Blackfyre and Mighty Mo will be in action against The Elite - dangerous tag team specialists that they are - tonight. That should be a great match.

SD: And after last week’s visitation of Wolf Hawkins by Blackfyre it has been revealed on Twitter by our GM Jack Bruce that he has sanctioned a Falls Count Anywhere match between those two, which surely plays into Blackfyre’s favour as a man who is most at home when attacking from the shadows.

ET: What!? Who allowed this!? That’s outrageous! That plays right into that freak’s hands!

JS: I’d be careful who you call a freak, ET. He’ll come for you if you’re not careful.

SD: And on that note we’re scheduled to hear from the champ Aaron Andrews right now!</div>

The arena rises as one to greet the familiar theme song of the champion, Aaron Andrews, who strides out onto the stage in a light grey linen suit.

by Fire From The Gods

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: Cut my music.</div>

The production team oblige him.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: I’m gonna have to apologise to all of you fans here tonight, but I’m not here to play. Edd Stone is a coward, a waste of my goddamn time and an embarrassment to this company. I’ve fought damn near everyone worth anything on this roster; lost to some, beat most of them, and I can honestly say that Edd Stone is the least deserving title challenger I have ever had. The man comes to the dressing room I share with all the boys in the back and asks me to quietly vacate the title so he can have a run? Not on my watch.</div>

The crowd have never seen Aaron Andrews this incensed before. There is normally a genial element to his demeanour even when he’s focused and angry. Not today. He points at the jumbotron and an image of the legendary Dan Stone Senior appears.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: Dan Stone Senior. Patriarch of one of, if not the most, famous wrestling dynasties in history. Was winning World Titles consistently for 15 years. Surely, being one of his children would set you up for success?</div>

The image shifts to the bald head and icey demeanour of Jeremy Stone.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: His eldest son: Jeremy Stone. One of the finest technicians to ever set foot in a ring. Could have a great match with anyone, just don’t expect him to keep you enraptured in conversation.</div>

The crowd laugh a little as the image on the screen changes to Dan Stone Jr.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: Dan Stone Jr. One of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Storytelling, technique, charisma. Junior had it all in a career that spanned twenty five years.</div>

Once again, it changes. This time to Duane Stone.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: Duane Stone. Took after his older brother, Jeremy, as an amazing technician. And, just to prove that it wasn’t all nepotism that got the Stone boys to where they were, he went off and became a legend in Japan.</div>

Next up the pretty but dangerous face of Victoria Stone-McFly.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: Now this is one for the books. Not content with being an ass-kicking member of the Stone clan, the only girl decided that the only thing better than being a Stone was being a Stone-McFly. Victoria was a great wrestler in her own right.</div>

Finally, the screen is dominated by a large and frankly unflattering photo of Edd Stone in mid-party.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: And so we come to Edd. The “Black Sheep” of the Stone family and man, that term may as well have been made up just for him. In character he’s nothing like his brothers and - let’s be real - in achievements as well. Look back at that list. World Champions as far as the eye can see, man. Gold falling off of every member of the Stone family. And then there’s Edd. He won some Cruiserweight titles in Canada fifteen years ago, sure. Even picked up one down here too. But aside from Freddy Huggins carrying his useless ass to three tag title runs, what has Edd actually done with his career?</div>

The Ace gets a close-up from a camera man on the apron, staring straight into it.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">AA: Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

You see, Stone, you talk about this legacy that you, Gauge and Chord share. This rightful place in the pantheon of the greats based on your family heritage. But the fact is that you didn’t do a damn thing with that heritage until it seemed like it might get you something for free.

So here’s the deal, Stone. Listen hard - and I know you are listening: you get your title shot at the end of the month because it means I get a chance to show the world just how far you’ve got to go until you’re on my level. But if you ever, EVER come to me and ask me to give you something based on who your father is again I’m gonna embarrass you, even more than you’ve already embarrassed yourself.

Ace. Out.</div>

Andrews tosses the mic over his shoulder and stares down the hard cam as his music plays and the show goes to commercial.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 88

SD: A blistering promo from Aaron Andrews there. Edd Stone has really gotten under his skin, it seems.

ET: Brilliant mind games from the party animal. The Ace isn’t thinking straight.

JS: Hard to argue with that, though Andrews is likely to channel this into a biblical beating for Stone at the end of the month.

</div>

VS

Standard Tag Match (3 vs 3)

One Man Army and The Roughnecks (0-0-0) vs The Heritage (0-0-1)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Stone is making a show of not caring what the Ace has to say.

</div>

As things get underway Edd Stone is making a point of vocally and often stating that he doesn’t care about Aaron Andrews, jaw-jacking with fans at ringside instead of focusing on his match, a behaviour which begins to frustrate his partners. Culminating in a moment where he eats a double Dead Hand from The Roughnecks and looks as though his lack of attentiveness has cost his team the match before Greg Gauge and Chord leap into the ring to break up the pin.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">You aint got the spine of your brothers, kid

</div>

Dave Diamond gets into a slugging match with Edd Stone which sees the Canadian Party Animal battered down to the mat with clubbing blows, and it is to his credit that he continues to stand back up. However, after one such exchange Diamond is able to simply shove Stone over at which point he laughs down at the prone form of his challenger.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">The Heritage are running like a well-oiled machine.

</div>

Chord, Gauge and a - relatively - recovered Stone take it in turns to dismantle their opponents with a highly choreographed, exciting display of tag team wrestling, culminating in a moment where Marshall Dillo eats a Cradle Piledriver while One Man Army is down on the outside of the ring and legal man Edd Stone is able to land a Party’s Over shooting star press onto Diamond for the pinfall victory.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 76

(Diamond: 55, Stone: 70, Gauge: 78, Chord: 77, Dillon: 57, OMA: 69)

Length: 18:17

Winner: The Heritage via pinfall (Edd Stone over Dave Diamond)

ET: Stone had a point to prove to Andrews there, and prove it he did.

JS: Still, it’s easy to look impressive when you have Jay Chord and Greg Gauge standing behind you.

SD: Will those two be a factor in the title match between Stone and the Ace?

</div>

VS

Standard Tag Match (2 vs 2)

The Elite (3-2-0) vs John Blackfyre & Mighty Mo (0-0-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">To hell with that, I aint fightin’ him

</div>

Blackfyre spends the first five minutes employing his typical waifish offense, slipping all of The Elite’s attempts to grapple and responding with stinging strikes that frustrate and anger his opponents. When Eddie Chandler lands a big german suplex on The Man In Black he lies on the mat and begins loudly laughing, which seems to visibly scare his opponents, who demand Mo be tagged in.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Asking to fight Mighty Mo is an interesting, if vaguely suicidal, choice.

</div>

The Elite soon regret their decision as they prove incapable of dealing with Mo’s high-power offense. They get a few licks in but ultimately Mo is far too dangerous an opponent for them to contain and after he has has finished toying with them he tags in Blackfyre who is able to kill things off with a Batwing on Eddie Chandler, followed up with a pinfall for the victory.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 64

(Blackfyre: 41, Chandler: 57, Mo: 69, Johnson: 57)

Length: 10:11

Winner: John Blackfyre & Mighty Mo via pinfall (Blackfyre over Eddie Chandler)

SD: Mo looking imperious there, Troy Tornado watch out.

JS: And Blackfyre’s unconventional offense upsetting The Elite; could be a warning for Wolf Hawkins.

ET: Wolf has faced far weirder than Blackfyre and walked away.

</div>

The Elite are helped to the back with ice packs on their necks and, after a brief handshake, John Blackfyre leaves Mighty Mo alone in the ring where he calls for a mic.

His breathing is slightly heavy as he stares down the hard cam.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">MM: Troy Tornado. You’ve got a death wish, coming at me the way you did last week. I’m gonna turn that wish into a reality.

You think I was handed anything? That I’m getting opportunities I don’t deserve? Man, you’ve screwed up so many of your own chances that I genuinely think you believe that noise now. Well imma show your pompous ass exactly what I’m owed.

See you at Where Angels Fear To Tread, Troy.</div>

He drops the mic and his theme song hits.

by Vo Williams

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 80

SD: It was always going to have this result, Mo wasn’t going to take that lying down.

ET: Troy is playing Mo against his own ego. Genius.

JS: Or he’s just pissing off one of the most dangerous men on the planet. Not so genius.

</div>

After another ad break we cut to Jack Bruce’s office backstage where Edd Stone, in his stringer vest, backwards snap back and adidas tracksuit pants, is after something...

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">ES: All I’m asking, Jack, is that you consider the proposal.

JB: That we make your match with Andrews No-DQ? Do you think I was born yesterday, Stone? I’ve cheated enough times to know when someone is asking me to set them up to do it themselves.

ES: Ok, but, hear me out: we could make it worth your while…

JB: And what exactly does that mean?

ES: You wanna run a smooth, profitable ship, right boss man? Prove you aren’t just a party guy - and believe me, I empathise. Well The Heritage is how you do that. No one on this roster will mess with us, we just need you to let us do things our way.</div>

Bruce rubs his eyes tiredly and sighs. He cuts a very different figure right now to the man who wore a silk dressing gown to the ring two weeks ago.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JB: Stone… you got your title shot. Chord got his. And I’m out of favours to do you guys. If you can’t win with the deck already stacked in your favour then you aren’t the big deal you’re claiming to be.

So no. There will be standard singles rules for your match with Andrews. And if you or any of your Heritage boys try to get around those rules I’ll personally see to it that you’re disqualified and ejected from the arena.

ES: Oh Jack. You’re making a mistake here, hermano.

JB: I’ve made ‘em before.</div>

Stone pauses, looks down at the ground for a moment and then raises his head again with a conniving grin on his face.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">ES: Fine. Normal rules it is. We’ll just have to do this the long way. But when it’s all said and done, Jackie boy, just remember that we gave you the option to make this easy on Andrews and yourself.</div>

Stone turns and exit the room, leave Bruce to ponder his cryptic parting message.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 80

JS: The hell did Stone mean by that?

SD: I’m not sure, but I don’t like it. The Heritage are up to something here.

ET: You bet your ass they are. They’re conspiring to get the World Title away from the Ace by any means necessary.

</div>

The camera cuts again and, rather than going to another match as expected, we find ourselves in another room backstage dominated by a large wooden table around which are seated The 1%, Masked Patriot and - in between them - Haley Buck.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">HB: Gentlemen, thank you for agreeing to meet here today. As well as being an accomplished journalist, award-winning author and successful amateur tennis player, I also have a Bachelor’s degree in group psychiatry and workplace conflict remediation.

MP: Young lady, I understand about 30% of the words you just said.

NC: She wants us to talk through our problems, moron.

MP: Friend, you and your gang have some anger issues.

NC: We’re not a… Newton, talk to him.

DWN: Patriot, I’ll make it simple and use short sentences so you can understand. You beat me last week and we can’t have that. We want revenge.

HB: ...and will get it in the form of a constructive dialogue between the conflicted parties.

MP: Dialogue?

DWN: Talking.

MP: Ahahaha, you’re a real good sport, Ms. Buck. But talking is for politicians.

NC: So you DO want to fight?

HB: I think we need to drill down on the core of the issue here, really get to the centre of where this animosity comes from.

DWN: You understand this is a wrestling organisation, right Haley? Fighting is kind of what we do here.

MP: Boys, I’m tuning out almost all of what you’re saying. But if you’d like to suggest a time and a place for a donnybrook I’m all ears.</div>

The 1% exchange slightly confused glances and then laugh.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">NC: Alright. Where Angels Fear To Tread, at the end of the month. You versus Jake and Jackpot over there.</div>

Rich & Famous grin and crack their knuckles.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">MP: Two on one? I like those odds. You’re on!</div>

Masked Patriot reaches across the table and shakes each of The 1%’s hands, followed by Haley Buck, in turn before giving a thumbs up to the camera, which fades to black.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 58

SD: Did Masked Patriot just willingly agree to a handicap match?

ET: At some point it becomes cruel to keep him employed.

JS: He’s not the sharpest tool in the box, I’ll grant you. But point him at a wrestling ring and he’s dangerous..

</div>

VS

Standard Singles Match (1 vs 1)

Koshiro Ino (0-0-0) vs Maverick (0-2-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">What would possess a man to fight the Kobra?

</div>

Ino’s debut match goes exactly as the fans expect it to go: with him flattening Julian “Maverick” Watson in no time flat. The Kobra runs through his big moves, each popping the crowd before finally putting Maverick down for the count with a bone-snapping Kobra’s Bite.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 54

(Maverick: 37, Ino: 62)

Length: 4:51

Winner: Koshiro Ino via pinfall

SD: Well I’ve seen weaker returns.

JS: Freddy Huggins must be watching this and praying Ino catches a cold.

ET: Funnily enough, I’m hearing that we can catch up with Huggins right now....

</div>

As promised, the camera feed cuts backstage where Huggins is standing with a look of consternation on his face, arms folded, watching Ino’s match on a TV.

He’s muttering to himself just loud enough for us to hear.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">FH: He’s sloppy. So sloppy. See that move there? Real rough. He’s rusty, Freddy. Very rusty. Nothing to measure up to you. See that that? Oh man. See that? You could have slipped that, easily. Oh you’ve got this…. oh… oh yeah you’ve got this. Nothing to worry about, nothing at all.</div>

It becomes clear that he is going to carry on like this and isn’t going to address the camera, so the feed cuts back to the announce team.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 75

JS: Freddy seems totally normal and not at all nervous.

SD: Wouldn’t you be nervous going up against The Kobra!

ET: It’s all mind games. Lulling Ino into a sense of false security.

</div>

Television Title

VS

Standard Singles Match (1 vs 1)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">These two don’t particularly like each other, but there’s respect there at least

</div>

Things start off technically between the pair in a great display of catch wrestling, with Hocking doing the majority of the selling, taking a sequence of throws and stiff strikes; JT’s typical no-nonsense offense. However he brings the crowd to their feet when he drops Taylor to his knees with a low drop kick and then spikes his opponent’s head into the matt with a great running face crusher.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Revenge is a dish best served cold

</div>

Taylor has the upper hand for much of the match, putting on a clinic which serves as a great advertisement for his own capabilities as a potential Television Champion, however his offense is pulled up short by the sudden and profoundly unwelcome appearance of a certain Syndicate member...

Doc Hammond, clearly frustrated with being submitted by Taylor last week, strides down to ringside and begins remonstrating with Taylor, who lets a battered Hocking drop to the mat rather than finishing him. The pair get into it with Hammond eventually eating a high kick that sends him spilling back to the floor. But the distraction is enough as Hocking hits a nice reverse facelock backbreaker and then finishes things off with the Hock Shock from the top rope.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 65

(JT: 66, Hocking: 64)

Length: 20:05

Winner: Matt Hocking via pinfall

SD: Hocking got a little lucky there, though neither man will be happy with the Doc’s intrusion.

JS: And Doc must know that JT is going to come back at him.

ET: Doc eats fake tough guys like Joshua Taylor for breakfast.

</div>

A frustrated Joshua Taylor leaves the ring while Doc Hammond lingers around ringside - being up next.

But as he makes his way up the ramp JT can clearly be heard shouting back up at Doc:

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JT: You just put a bullseye on your head, Doc. Good luck next, I don’t need to mess with your matches to embarrass your ass. See you at the end of the month.</div>

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 62

ET: Yeah, yeah, yeah...

SD: I can think of a long list of people I would piss off before crossing Joshua Taylor.

JS: But would Doc Hammond come before or after him on that list? If these two are going to go at it it’s going to be a clash of two of TCW’s most brutal technicians.

</div>

The feed goes to a brief commercial and then returns with Jay Chord sitting in a leather seat backstage, undoing the black athletic tape on one of his wrists.

He looks up at the camera periodically as he slowly, methodically undoes the tape. He doesn’t shout; he’s clearly in one of darker moods, despite the win earlier.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JC: Nice little win you got for yourself there, Hocking. Only took some help from one of Wolf’s buddies to get you over the line. You’re a real credit to yourself and the Television Title.</div>

He finishes unwrapping one wrist and then moves onto the next with the same cautious pace.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JC: People round here don’t like me. Never did, really. They don’t like seeing someone succeed through adversity.

“But Jay, your dad is Rip Chord, what adversity?”

You think it’s easy to hear how great your dad is constantly? You think that makes life fun for me? It just so happens that I’m better than my dad, which makes my life easier, but that has nothing to do with him. I have a legacy to maintain and I never had a choice in the matter. So yeah, I’m a Chord. Yeah, that means I have a standard of greatness to uphold. And yeah, people watched my tapes because of who my dad is. But don’t for one second think I wouldn’t be where I am right now if I had a different name.</div>

He closes his eyes and exhales slowly.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">JC: So when I see someone like you: a talented guy, no doubt, but a talented guy who does more harm than good by ultimately being a nothing more than a skillful failure, it makes me sick. It makes me sick because it diminishes how hard I’ve had to work to get where I am. People look at you and think that anyone can coast to a Television Title, because you’re lucky and the powers that be like you.

Well here’s the deal, Hocking. The powers that be don’t like me. And I don’t like them. And when I run this place I’m going to change the entire system. And parasites like you are gonna be the first thing to go. But I’ll make you a deal: if you can beat me at the end of this month I’ll give you a shot once the paradigm shift happens. I’ll let bygones be bygones and give you a clean slate. If - and that’s a big goddamn “if” - you can beat me in two weeks.</div>

He grins humourlessly and tosses the athletic tape to the ground as the camera feed cuts back to the ring.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 78

ET: Chord extending an olive branch to Matt Hocking there...

SD: Strange looking olive branch.

JS: His world view is so distorted, it’s not reality that Jay Chord lives in.

</div>

VS

Standard Tag Match (2 vs 2)

Sammy Bach & Masked Patriot (0-0-0) vs Wolf Hawkins & Doc Hammond (0-0-0)

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Doc seems pleased with himself for costing JT a match, but he needs to get his head in the game

</div>

After a strong start the Syndicate team begin to suffer as Doc allows himself to - uncharacteristically - be fairly self-congratulatory which opens him up to some great offense from Sammy Bach, who plants Hammond with a snug northern lights suplex and follows it up with a rare hurricanrana. All the time he is cheered on by the earnest encouragement of Masked Patriot from ringside.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">These hoodlums won’t overcome us, friend!

</div>

Patriot faced Wolf two weeks ago and looked great in doing it, even though he lost, and Wolf continues to “shine up” Patriot by selling like crazy for his power moves, eating a sequence of three vertical suplexes as well as giving the masked man time to get his bizarre catchphrases in. The fans seem to be getting on board with him, especially after the angle earlier tonight.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #EAE4E4; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">It’s really not wise to offer a handshake to Doc Hammond

</div>

After a nice exchange of lariats and European uppercuts, Masked Patriot nods approvingly and offers a handshake to Doc as the match enters it’s end game. Everyone in the arena knows it’s a terrible idea, and so aren’t surprised when Doc responds by accepting the handshake and then booting Patriot in the gut and planting him with a fantastic tiger driver, before cinching in the Greetings From Parris Island which is enough to force the Patriot to tap.

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Rating: 81

(Doc: 64, Patriot: 62, Bach: 71, Wolf: 92)

Length: 20:25

Winner: Wolf Hawkins & Doc Hammond via submission (Doc Hammond over Masked Patriot)

ET: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

JS: You say that, but once again the Patriot has proved that he can hang with the best in the company.

SD: And that’s gonna do it for all of us here, good night folks!

</div>

Overall Show Rating: 81

</div>

Devilb0y · August 16, 2020

Booker's Notes

Another show in the books and we're well on our way to Where Angels Fear To Tread now, with our "Big 4" matches all established and plenty of midcard action too.

Show Notes

The biggest news of the night is that Ino - at 43 years of age - isn't in time decline. Woop! I wanted to hold off on making any big booking decisions for him until his in-ring debut so I could gauge how important he could be for me. Well, now I know!
Wolf Hawkins continues to prop up my main events by himself, pulling a 92 match rating to make that main decent; a solid 20-30 points higher than everyone else in the match. God I love him.
As some people predicted, JT is above the Television Title and this was really just an opportunity for a high profile win for Matt Hocking while furthering Taylor's feud with Doc Hammond.
I loved writing The 1% / Masked Patriot angle. It's a comedy skit which I feel like TCW barely does, canonically, but I want their product to have some levity in it. The main event scene is very serious indeed but there's room in their midcard for some fun, I think. And in that vein we had the opposite end of the angle spectrum with Jay Chord monologueing about how hard his life has been in a very serious promo indeed (one that was also fun to write). I feel like Jay Chord actually believes that his family name hurt him more than it helped when it comes to his career, which is why he is so touchy about it.

Overall I'm pleased with the show. Some fun angles. Ducks are very much in a row for the PPV now and we're able to have some fun in the final two weeks before the big show.

Devilb0y · August 17, 2020

Another show in the books and time to review our prediction scores for the month.

christmas_ape: 4/5

DarEatWorld: 3/5

eayragt: 5/5

Strong scores all-round with a clean sweep for eayragt! Congratulations are due for that, so well done! We had some left-over copies of Genghis Rahn's autobiography "Barbed Wire and Bourbon" hanging out in the TCW warehouse, so please enjoy the copy that is currently on its way to you now!

This Month Prediction Scores:

christmas_ape: 1

DarEatWorld: 1

eayragt: 2

Overall Running Prediction Scores:

christmas_ape: 10

DarEatWorld: 1

eayragt: 3

Herrbear: 2

kanegan: 2

KnowYourEnemy: 1

Sco xY2Jx: 1

TJ94: 2

Xendarii: 7</div>

Devilb0y · August 17, 2020

Preview: TCW Presents Total Wrestling - April 2020, Week 4

(to be posted by 25/08/2020)

Wolf Hawkins in a Falls Count Anywhere match with John Blackfyre, The Heritage plotting something for Aaron Andrews, Joshua Taylor and Doc Hammond coming to a head. The bad blood is building up for Where Angels Fear To Tread with very little sign of abating!

This week we'll see a titanic singles clash, another tag title defence and Wolf Hawkins in singles action!

<div style="padding: 15px; border: 1px solid #000000; margin:10px;background: #C2C2C2; max-width:100%;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px ";">Jay Chord vs Aaron Andrews

Tale of the Tape: A pay-per-view main event anywhere in the world. These two pillars of TCW will face each other in singles action for the first time ever in a non-title match! A victory for Jay Chord here would send shockwaves throughout the whole of TCW.

Tag Title Match

Tale of the Tape: The Texan tag team make the second defence of their tag team titles with one eye on a clash with The Behemoths at the end of the month. But they'll need to focus if they're to beat Rich & Famous, who are licking their lips at the prospect of a handicap match with Masked Patriot at the PPV.

Sammy Bach, Mighty Mo & Joshua Taylor vs Marc Speed & American Ultra

Tale of the Tape: Bach and Taylor look to bounce back from losses last week with the aid of Mighty Mo against the ruthless trio of Marc Speed and American Ultra. This should be a hard-hitting and technical affair.

One Man Army vs Edd Stone

Tale of the Tape: There's no love lost between Edd Stone and OMA, who have clashed in multi-man tags in recent weeks. Stone has been accused of depending on his Heritage stable mates to get the big wins and this will be a test of that as he goes one-on-one with a TCW veteran.

Wolf Hawkins vs Benny Benson

Tale of the Tape: Wolf once again opens the show against the veteran cruiserweight Benny "Elmo" Benson. The fun-loving babyface will need to be at his absolute best to stand a chance here, surely?

(Pre Show)

Flying Jimmy Foxx vs Killer Shark

Tale of the Tape: It doesn't take a marine biologist to know that foxes and sharks don't mix. Will Jimmy be able to overcome The Behemoth in singles action?

(Pre Show)

Real Deadly vs Hammer & Anvil

Tale of the Tape: Roderick Remus continues to hang out with Doc Hammond; the prospective Syndicate member attempts to make a case for his induction against the team of Mark Griffin and Elliot Thomas.

</div>

eayragt · August 17, 2020

Jay Chord vs Aaron Andrews

Wow, what main event this will be. AA by DQ or a wing for th youngster? Let's go for Chord...

Tag Title Match

Two teams in different positions right now.

Sammy Bach, Mighty Mo & Joshua Taylor vs Marc Speed & American Ultra

The faces are all individually higher up the card, so a win for them here.

One Man Army vs Edd Stone

A solid victory will do Stone wonders

Wolf Hawkins vs Benny Benson

yeah, Wolf wins here

Flying Jimmy Foxx vs Killer Shark

Real Deadly vs Hammer & Anvil

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