Mark Cuban Does DaVE!

[sebsplex]

I think Hell's Bouncer is a luxury you can't really afford. If DaVE had money to burn, then he puts in a decent turn during segments or can double up as a 'manager' to give someone a ringside presence. The pay-off for that compared to the financial implifications just isn't worth it though. Your only real hope would be to find someone that has decent chemistry with HB as a partner (as well as being a superior worker) and team the pair together to at least hide his limitations. Even then though, there's the question of why bother when that money can be put to better use to bring in someone new anyway. I don't often use DaVE too much, but inspired by HB's alternate render, I have combined him with Big Cat Brandon to form a new version of The Animals before, but given BCB's current form in your dynasty, such a move would probably only hold the latter back.

[NoNeck]

Hell's Bouncer's real life counterpart is Tomko. Fire him, and then call him in the night, laughing.

[foolinc]

[QUOTE=sebsplex;315937]I think Hell's Bouncer is a luxury you can't really afford. If DaVE had money to burn, then he puts in a decent turn during segments or can double up as a 'manager' to give someone a ringside presence. The pay-off for that compared to the financial implifications just isn't worth it though. Your only real hope would be to find someone that has decent chemistry with HB as a partner (as well as being a superior worker) and team the pair together to at least hide his limitations. Even then though, there's the question of why bother when that money can be put to better use to bring in someone new anyway. I don't often use DaVE too much, but inspired by HB's alternate render, I have combined him with Big Cat Brandon to form a new version of The Animals before, but given BCB's current form in your dynasty, such a move would probably only hold the latter back.[/QUOTE] I was also inspired by his alt image and then stuck him with Minnesota. It works well since I tend to push Joey like WWE pushed Christian in 2005 (before he got moved to Smackdown). Bouncer gets to be Tomko. :D

[mad5226]

Just for a fun fact, In reguards to The Latino Kings, I'm currently playing a NYCW game. I'm about 2 years into it and who is my world champ you ask... Why it's Rudy Velasquez. He has been a great dominate heel for me, and fits in with my product well. Of course this won't help your dynasty at all, but hey just some FYI =)

[Antithesis]

Could try jobbing Tank out to Braun then using Braun as the first serious type challenger to Tyler while you build up Jack G some more. Also if Tank still has some post Braun overness left could set up a tarde with TCW for him before jobbing him out. Could occupy Eddie Peak with a stable disentrgration type storyline... have him work a couple of quick squashes with hell's bouncer while you look for new guys to briung in and have Nemesis feed them to Eddie for the time being. Maybe you can use Hell's Bouncer in another trade with TCW and get a decent return out of him... It keeps Eddie and Tyler separate for a while longer and gives you more time to build up Jack. Not crazy about your tag division either, but without it Smmy B and Teddy would be lost. VMan.. I have no idea... if he was Steve Flash and could help the young guys improve while putting on decent matches He's be worth the investment... but VMan's involvement drags the matches down. I assume you are gonna pair Emma off with Acid and his group (since none of them seem to talk). Feed them the Mcwades to solidify the group as a threat to not just Sammy's love life, but the tag titles. Maybe some combination of Acid's group vs Sammy and Teddy can net you some decent tag match ratings.

[eayragt]

[QUOTE=Monkeypox;315736]I finally added the 1.4 patch (known as the mass retirement patch), which could be a very significant decision in an old geezer federation like mine. But even if Tyler sticks around, this is almost certainly it for him. [/QUOTE] I wouldn't worry about it too much - the patch is really mass injury retirements, then two or three age retirements a month. Now there's plenty of old, old dead weight out there (and most of them are at USPW), so I'd give Tyler a 50/50 chance of still wrestling in 3 years time. He's still going in my game in 2010, Main Eventing at DaVE, and Steve Flash is still knocking around, so old does not equal auto retirement. I hope he's got another year and a half left in him, personally.

[Dragonmack]

For some real fun, in my SCCW test game, SWF did its usual fall to Cult in may, but then recovered back to International on a Runamway Trian-Remo title feud. And in theire re-expansion, they snagged Eric Tyler. SO Eric Tyler ends up finishing his career with Richard Eisen as his boss! :D

[Monkeypox]

[CENTER][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="6"]"The Prospects"[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER] Ah, whiskey. If they only had a rule where you could drink at work but you'd have to do it out of a baby bottle, I'd be the first one with a rubber nipple in my mouth. I'd wear diapers if I had to. Three shots later and the bad taste of the roster cut session was more or less out of my mouth. The meeting hadn't happened yet, but after a little liquid courage, I was surer of my decisions. [b]Tank Bradley[/b] needed to go immediately, that much was obvious and likely to be unanimous. But I was more confident about cutting [b]Hell's Bouncer[/b] as well, and possibly [b]The McWades[/b], though not immediately. Only [b]Vin Tanner[/b] was likely to escape the axe in the short to medium term, and even him only because his basics made him a natural teacher for the younger guys... ... and with the roster spots created by the departures, there'd be some more young guys running around. I opened my prospect file. Trying to find fresh meat when you were forbidden from approaching organizations like MAW or NYCW was difficult - nothing would make me happier than yanking away a guy like [b]Darryl Devine[/b], and in all likelihood nothing would make [I]him[/I] happier either, but it wasn't allowed and wasn't going to be allowed. Perversely, he'd have to quit his job before I could hire him. Even for a weirdo like Mark Cuban, with his paucity of legit wrestling industry experience, [b]the hiring restrictions were a very hard thing to rationalize and I found myself wishing yet again that I'd turned them off at the start of the game.[/b] Wait, [i]what game?[/i] I took another sip of my favorite brand of alcohol, [b]Total Extreme Whiskey[/b] from my TEW shotglass, and got back to work. [CENTER][B][U][FONT="Georgia"]THE PROSPECTS[/FONT][/U][/B] [i](This list is in alphabetical order and meant to be non-exhaustive. If you think I should add someone, tell me and I'll edit them into the post for consideration.)[/i] [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/CalSanders.jpg[/IMG] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]Cal Sanders[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] The "Leaping Lumberjack" Cal Sanders is a technically gifted youngster from Winnepeg who seems to have a bright future ahead of him. Sadly, his lack of charisma will probably keep him from his full potential. [b]Age:[/b] 27 [b]Overness:[/b] F- (US) [b]Likely Roster Postition:[/b] Enhancement Talent [b]General Fighting Style:[/b] Super Junior [b]Most Similar To:[/b] Cammy Vessey[/center] [b]Strengths:[/b] [i]"Modern" skillset. [/i]Cal is a bit of a Fumihiro Ota junior insofar as his skills cut heavily in the direction of technical and aerial, and while he isn't an ace at either one, he could feasibly work a pretty good match with any of the members of the [b]Cult of the Gray Dragon[/b], or [B]Adrenaline Rush[/B], or [B]Art Reed[/B]. Cal Sanders would represent another entry into the "New" model of DaVE, where traditional hardcore skills are de-emphasized in favor of a smaller, faster skillset. [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [i]Low upside.[/i] I'm having trouble differentiating Cal from another, more promising prospect named [b]Cammy Vessey[/b]. But Cammy is younger and has a much higher ceiling. Additionally, Cal Sanders, despite his allegedly "bright future", has an absolutely appallingly low appeal as a potential star, and the infamous (and inevitably metaphysical) "overness cap" probably hangs about a foot over this guy's head. Very little upside, very little potential. Though in his defense, the "Leaping Lumberjack" is just the sort of retarded gimmick that we writers and bookers here in DaVE get all excited about. [center] [b]OVERALL PROSPECT RATING: [/b] D- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/DavisWayneNewton.jpg[/IMG] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]Davis Wayne Newton[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] "The Triple Threat" Davis Wayne Newton is a young wrestler who is loaded with potential. A naturally gifted athlete who could excel at any sport, he brings a superb all-around game to the table, being able to brawl, counter-wrestle or take to the air. Other than injuries, there doesn't seem to be much that could stop the blue-chipper from Toronto from becoming a major player. [b]Age:[/b] 19 [b]Overness:[/b] F- (US) [b]Likely Roster Postition:[/b] Enhancement Talent [b]General Fighting Style:[/b] Regular Wrestler [b]Most Similar To...:[/b] Acid[/center] [b]Strengths:[/b] [I]All-around game.[/I] DWN has an incredibly diverse skillset, being able to legitimately hang in almost any type of match, with good over-all athleticism and technique. He can also hold his own on a microphone, and stick around in longer, more intense matches. [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [i]Fragility[/i]. DWN is Acid-lite in terms of his skillset, with the addition of a real streak of charisma that could make him something of a self-starter. Where Acid is almost unbreakable, DWN already looks like he doesn't like getting his hands dirty (or broken), with glaring weaknesses in stiffness, hardcore and toughness. These are worrying, and contributed quite a bit to the holding back of a guy like [b]Hell's Bouncer[/b], and in the old DaVE, these would be deal breakers. However, with guys like the aforementioned [b]Acid[/b] or [b]Joey Minnesota[/b] running around, it's likely I could find a use for DWN in DaVE that didn't involve breaking his neck. [center] [b]OVERALL PROSPECT RATING: [/b] A- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/DazzlingDaveDiamond.jpg[/IMG] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]"Dazzling" Dave Diamond[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] I look like David Lee Roth! My gimmick writes itself! PANAMA! PANAMA-oh-oh-oh-OH-oh! [b]Age:[/b] 29 [b]Overness:[/b] F+ (US) [b]Likely Roster Postition:[/b] Opener [b]General Fighting Style:[/b] Brawler [b]Most Similar To...:[/b] Dean McWade[/center] [b]Strengths:[/b] [I]Hardcore Credentials.[/I] "Dazzling" Diamond Dave can do one thing and one thing only - brawl. For a blood, mud 'n' beer knock-up, Dave is an A-Lister. He could go toe to toe with an [B]Eddie Peak, Bulldozer Brandon Smith, McWade Brothers[/B] type wrestler and put on a convincing, bloody hurtfest. [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [i]Wrestling[/i]. The hurtfest would be convincing because it would be [I]totally real.[/I] Yes, putting Dazzlin' Dave in a match with 'Dozer would be fun to watch, right up until Dave miscued a powermove and broke Brandon's leg. Then, the only fun would be matching him up against [B]Eddie Peak[/B] for seven straight weeks. Not to mention, this guy's personality is a rare combination: [I]A free-spirited egomaniac.[/I] Even in the old, brawling DaVE, this guy would be a very risky hire. [center] [b]OVERALL PROSPECT RATING: [/b] C- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/FreddyHuggins.jpg[/IMG] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]Freddie Huggins[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] "Teen Idol" Freddy Huggins is a young good looking kid who started to make a big impression in 2004, after ditching his bland babyface act and wrestling as a ****y heel instead. He has unlimited potential. [b]Age:[/b] 22 [b]Overness:[/b] D (US) [b]Likely Roster Postition:[/b] Lower Midcarder [b]General Fighting Style:[/b] Regular Wrestler [b]Most Similar To:[/b] Sammy Bach[/center] [b]Strengths:[/b] [i]Charisma. [/i]Freddie is a mediocre cruiserweight with a skillset that will need some series development if he's ever going to be an A-Lister. On the other hand, the guy oozes charisma and confidence, and if hired, he'd be the most obvious choice to serve as a hybrid "manager/worker in progress" and could be slotted into any number of plotlines as a minor character. He did a brief (if not very impressive) stint in TCW earlier this year, and his residual overness would be enough to carry him directly into the lower midcard, though he'll probably be a comedy jobber for at least awhile if hired. [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [i]Masculinity.[/i] This guy is a prancing pony, frou frou teen idol type. We've already got two of those - I call them "Adrenaline Rush", and they're practically girls some of the time, especially that Bach guy. Huggins is cut from the same cloth, though he's nasty and arrogant as opposed to youthful and moderately heroic. Huggins would serve as a relative counterpoint to Powell and Bach, but the heartthrobs at Adrenaline Rush definitely have better things to do. He's also likely to be more expensive than the other prospects. Additionally, he's one-dimensional as a cruiserweight - he can't brawl and he's crap on the mat, despite his self-billing as a "regular wrestler", and doesn't match up well against most of the roster, so his success in DaVE would be contingent on the plotline availability of guys like [B]Black Eagle[/B], [B]Acid[/B], [B]American Elemental[/B] and Adrenaline Rush. With the possible (and diminishing) exception of A.E., those guys are pretty much some of the busiest, most heavily booked guys on the roster already. Acid wrestles almost every show... I don't really have the time to use him to train up some cruiser-weight also ran. [center] [b]OVERALL PROSPECT RATING: [/b] C [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/PrimalRage.jpg[/IMG] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]Primal Rage[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] Primal Rage is a good heavyweight brawler who is noted for using a very hardcore approach to matches, often using tables in particular. He is a former CZCW champion. [b]Age:[/b] 36 [b]Overness:[/b] E- (US) [b]Likely Roster Postition:[/b] Opener [b]General Fighting Style:[/b] Brawler [b]Most Similar To...:[/b] Big Cat Brandon[/center] [b]Strengths:[/b] [I]Brawling.[/I] Primal Rage, like Dazzlin' Dave, can bring it in a hardcore mileau, and has hardcore credentials equal to no less than [B]Eddie Peak[/B] himself. Even in DaVE, there aren't that many guys who really know how to work a hardcore match, and Rage is one of those rare guys. As a hardcore specialist, he's likely to come cheap. And unlike Dave, Rage can work the match in a reasonably safe way, though his knowledge of match psychology is terrible and he'd need to be booked against people who could cover his rather limited range. Also, [b]Black Eagle[/b] vouches for him and would presumably want him slotted into the Gray Dragon as an enforcer. I don't know about that. [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [i]Versatility/Upside[/i]. Rage can contribute in a hardcore match, but that's IT. Absolutely. And at his age, he's unlikely to learn how to do anything other than what he's spent his life doing. He'd be a tragedy in a match with anyone besides our A-List brawlers, which means his entire life at DaVE would be spent against [B]Dozer, Big Cat Brandon, Guide, Eddie Peak, Joey Minnesota, Jack Giedroyc, Chris Caulfield, Shawn Gonzales, Nathan Coleman, etc[/b]. Actually, type them out like that and he doesn't look so bad. Still, this isn't someone who would ever realistically compete for the [B]Brass Knuckles title[/B] or have much of a chance of ever seeing the far side of the Lower Midcard. Low risk, low reward. But presumably low salary as well. [center] [b]OVERALL PROSPECT RATING: [/b] C [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/SgtBubbaLeeWest.jpg[/IMG] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]Sgt. Bubba Lee West[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] Sgt. Bubba Lee West was a former Army Ranger who begin wrestling professionally shortly after leaving the armed forces. Super tough and totally beliieveable as a sadistic psycho, he makes a great heel. [b]Age:[/b] 29 [b]Overness:[/b] E (US) [b]Likely Roster Postition:[/b] Opener/Fringe Lower Midcard [b]General Fighting Style:[/b] Psychopath [b]Most Similar To...:[/b] Eddie Peak[/center] [b]Strengths:[/b] [I]A good fit.[/I] The Sarge is another guy with incredible hardcore and brawling credentials, working at the same level as our most elite brawlers. Furthermore, he's not as far behind on wrestling fundamentals as a lot of the other guys we've looked at so far. But his fighting style is one that has historically resonated with DaVE fans, who love the sincerely crazy guys. And because of his legitimate army history, he's likely to be respected backstage. Sarge [i]could[/i] theoretically come in and start contributing immediately - a match between him and [b]Eddie Peak[/b] would almost certainly produce authentic action, if not much fan interest. He wouldn't be a rookie debut on the scale of [b]"Bulldozer" Brandon Smith[/b], but with the possible exception of Davis Wayne Newton, I haven't been able to find anyone on the open market with 'Dozer's level of talent. [b]Weaknesses:[/b] [i]Pandora's Box[/i]. Sarge is an ***hole. He's selfish and driven, he's a bully backstage, he gives orders to wrestlers who have a lot more experience than he does, and he's a general arrogant trouble-maker. There is no question in my mind that if I hire him, guys like [B]Nemesis[/B] will hate him immediately, and guys like [B]Eric Tyler[/B] will do their best to isolate him in the locker room, which will only make his behavior more attention-seeking and annoying. Furthermore, he's one of those rare guys who has the potential to be so unprofessional, he could deliberately botch a spot in the ring and hurt someone he doesn't like. The guy can brawl and he has the potential to be a safe, controlled worker. I'm just not sure he has the desire. [center] [b]OVERALL PROSPECT RATING: [/b] B-[/center] It's possible I won't hire any of these guys. It's impossible that I'd hire all of them. I continued poring over magazines, blogs and indie websites, reaching for my Total Extreme Whiskey, hunting for the phantom of the [I]"Next Dirk Nowitski"...[/I] [i]Also Considered: (and if you think I should give any of these guys, or anyone else, further consideration, please tell me and I'll work them into the main list with a real analysis) [u]Dog Fyte:[/u] Fringe candidate rejected for now due to very low "safety" rating. Potential for further consideration. [U]Freddy Huggins:[/U] Very close to being considered, might still be added to the list if anyone recommends him. [U]Steve Grayson:[/U] Doesn't bring much besides reputation, likely to be overpriced.[/i] [U]Zeus Maximillion:[/U] Works for CGC and is not available.

[Dragonmack]

DWN turns out to be a god in every game I have seen. He also gets grabbed by NOTBPW in every game I have seen as well, so he would probably strictly a short term investment. Sanders has great skills but the total lack of charisma and star power means he is just a rag doll. I know , I've tried and 6 years later, he is still enhancement talent and never broken the E+ pop level. Primal Rage may have potential as a fall taker for your hardcore guys and a trainer for the ones that need to improve in hardcore, so as a valuable filler, instead of a player, he seems to have potential. I always see Bubba in the main event in the smaller feds like MAW, CZCW, NYCW when controlled by the computer. I don't have any personal experience with him, but I haven't seen him grow past the smaller feds, so the Brass Knuckles Championship picture is probably his ceiling. If you just need filler for training, take Rage and Sanders. If you want actual stars, take DWN and hope for the best. As for the sgt, he would be a wildcard that could go either way.

[Phantom Stranger]

[QUOTE=Monkeypox;316337] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][u][SIZE="5"]"Dazzling" Dave Diamond[/FONT][/u][/SIZE] [b]Description:[/b] I look like David Lee Roth! My gimmick writes itself! PANAMA! PANAMA-oh-oh-oh-OH-oh! [/QUOTE] I virtually never laugh aloud when I'm reading. This was an exception.

[Dragonmack]

[QUOTE]Even for a weirdo like Mark Cuban, with his paucity of legit wrestling industry experience, the hiring restrictions were a very hard thing to rationalize and I found myself wishing yet again that I'd turned them off at the start of the game. [/QUOTE] If it was that easy, Cuban could do his own booking :p

[Monkeypox]

[QUOTE=Dragonmack;316344]DWN turns out to be a god in every game I have seen. He also gets grabbed by NOTBPW in every game I have seen as well, so he would probably strictly a short term investment. I always see Bubba in the main event in the smaller feds like MAW, CZCW, NYCW when controlled by the computer. I don't have any personal experience with him, but I haven't seen him grow past the smaller feds, so the Brass Knuckles Championship picture is probably his ceiling. If you just need filler for training, take Rage and Sanders. If you want actual stars, take DWN and hope for the best. As for the sgt, he would be a wildcard that could go either way.[/QUOTE] I definitely don't need trainers - I have Tanner, the McWades, Alex Braun, Gonzales, Caulfield, Johnny Martin, Nathan Coleman... none of those guys are ever going to be legit stars in DaVE, all are available to train up and/or eventually job to up-n-comers, and all would do the job better than Rage or Sanders. At this point, DWN is a definite offer, and I'll probably send feelers out to Sarge. Any other recommendations or guys that I've missed? Oh, and while NotBPW will certainly get him if they want him badly enough, I've got a friendly agreement with them and I won't be helping DWN's Canada overness in the slightest until he's over enough to have a spillage, and at the rate my dynasty moves, that's an entirely theoretical problem. Plus, it isn't like him leaving would really kill us. When Eddie goes to NotBPW, then we can talk about PAIN, brother.

[Antithesis]

I don't have as much experience using him in the game as most folks, but I've found Sgt Bubba to work well in tag teams with other brawlers... he doesn't even complain about losing tag matches to teams beneath him in standing/overness so long as its Bubba's partner that's actually pinned. Also wanna point out his gimmick is a natural fit with Guide and Scout. Either as a 6 man or as a potential feud. That plus if you can get Bubba over in Dave it would be easy to bring in a new prospect and saddle em with a Private type gimmick to help them get a rub... I said private and rub in the same sentence didn't I?

[Monkeypox]

We here in DaVE are big believers in rubbing of privates. But that sometimes takes us away from the game. So it's a conundrum, for sure. But your point about Guide/Scout and Sgt. Bubba is very well-taken and something I'd been thinking about. If I do hire him, that will definitely happen, to some extent.

[Antithesis]

Zeus Maxmillion, Sayeed Ali Rhino umaga? The Natural... they are all on PPA deals at the start of the game.. any of em still available?

[Dragonmack]

[QUOTE]At this point, DWN is a definite offer, and I'll probably send feelers out to Sarge. Any other recommendations or guys that I've missed?[/QUOTE] One other that either should have debuted or will debut soon as you should be around Sep 2007 IIRC. Casey Valentine - He starts with a C in brawling, and performance skills in the C range. He has good entertainment skills. He starts with B athleticism and brawling, and if you actually build him, he rises to some excellent stats and popularity levels. I have seen him hit B's in overness in a MAW game I had him in and I was getting B level matches out of him. He hasn't risen to those heights in my dynasty yet, but that is more my fault as I haven't invested the proper work in him yet.

[Marcel Fromage]

I'd like to see you give the Sarge or Dave Lee Roth a go. Mainly because they don't often get used in diaries as opposed to the likes of DWN and Cal Sanders. But also because your diary is so much about the backstage goings on and personalities, and just on your initial write-ups alone, they'd be two interesting guys to have around from a diary reader's perspective.

[Guest The Aussie]

I would definetly take Sgt Bubba, he still probably has another 10 odd years in his career barring any major injuries and he's damn good at what he does. I would also personally take Dazzling Dave but that's becasue I'm a bit of a sucker for him.

[Beeker]

If you don't hire Freddy Huggins you're an idiot 'pox, and I like you and don't believe you to be an idiot. How can you NOT hire a guy tailor made to be a mid-level heel from his debut. A finisher called the Huggins Kiss or Huggins it out Bitch playing in DaVE would be nothing less than a license to print money. Team him up with Cammy and if they have ANY chemistry you've got a great young heel tag team. The Interns Cammy n' Freddy! And it's well known I'm a huge fan of Dazzling Dave. Going Crazy From the Heat. Californication Girls. Just like Paradise. Yes, David Lee Roth solo was the first concert I went to back in like... 1988 or so. Raaaaaaaaaawk on. And Bubba Lee West works with or against Scout and Guide since he could... OMG not have been in the Special Forces like Scout and Guide. Or you could do the Demolition Three Headed Monster! And if Zeus is available I'm a fan. Tempst Appleby would be a fun squash victim. Flashing back to someone who wanted [b]Eddie Peak vs. Cammy Vessey[/b] it's been done in round one of the DaVE-Offs. And Cammy didn't go over. Even though I booked a fantastic storyline that the TEW processors wouldn't have understood.

[Monkeypox]

Added Freddy Huggins to the main section. He's under consideration. At this point, if I had to put the guys in hierarchical order, it'd go: 1. DWN 2. Sgt. Bubba 3. Freddy Huggins 4. "Dazzlin'" "Hot For Teacher" "Van Halen" Dave "-id Lee Roth" Diamond 5. Primal Rage 6. Cal Sanders I'll probably send out invitations to negotiate with the top three.

[Tigerkinney]

Is Sayeed Ali available ? He is by no means the finished article and is a work in progress, but he is a good at Hardcore (B-) and could easily slot in at the lower end of the DAVE roster.

[Midnightnick]

I suggest Madman Boone provided he hasn't been resigned with anyone. And Monkey, honestly consider Dazzling Dave. That man could be a star.

[Monkeypox]

[CENTER][B][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="6"]"In Review, In Exhaustion"[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/CENTER] This months meeting was longer than usual, and even more contentious. The fighting erupted on largely partisan grounds, with honest rancor appearing during the debate over [B]the fate of Hell's Bouncer[/B], with [B]Nemesis[/B] insisting the youngster has potential and just needs more time to develop. [B]Emma Chase[/B] responded that if he's this slow at 21, he's likely to just get slower, and Nemesis barked back something about firing Sammy Bach that killed the conversation and left Emma sulking, herself only a month away from possible contract expiration. In the end, it was decided that [B]Tank Bradley would be terminated immediately[/B], [B]Vin Tanner would serve as a trainer for our new hires but would eventually be phased out[/B], and, over Nemesis' objection, [B]Hell's Bouncer would be released.[/B] [B]The McWades[/B] were still on the block, and might be used as talent trade bait, especially with Canadian feds who might be willing to overpay by American standards. In terms of hiring decisions, the decision to interview [B]D.W. Newton[/B] was unanimous and quickly made. [B]Freddie Huggins[/B] and [B]Sargeant Bubba Lee West[/B] were contacted after a little more discussion. The conversation hung up and stagnated on [B]"Dazzlin" Dave Diamond[/B], with Nemesis being openly disgusted by his lack of skills and Cuban intruiged by the possibilities of his personality. We decided to leave him on the back burner until after we'd talked to the others and resolved the pending [B]Emma Chase contract negotiation[/B], which everyone avoided directly mentioning. With no one completely happy, the booking team adjourned for the month. [CENTER][B][FONT="Arial"][SIZE="4"]POWER RANKINGS: MAY 2007[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/JackGiedroyc.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="3"][b]1. JACK "The Wrath of God" GIEDROYC: (+4) [/SIZE][/FONT][/b] I know, everyone is expecting to see the newly anointed [B]Unified Champion[/B] at the top spot, me included. But most of polling done after the PPV suggests that no one saw a bigger bump from the events of the evening than the Wrath of God. With a large contingent of fans feeling that [B]Eric Tyler[/B] barely snuck by [B]Eddie Peak[/B] and [B]stole the main event victory from Giedroyc[/B], Jack takes the top spot despite lacking the gold. With this much momentum and a gimmick that the fans continue to love, the title may not be far away. [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/EricTyler.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="3"][b]2. ERIC TYLER aka "The Man Who Won't Stay Down": (+1)[/SIZE][/FONT][/b] A year ago, Eric Tyler was out of title contention, shoved aside by guys like [B]Big Cat Brandon[/B] and [B]Eddie Peak[/B] to carry out violent but meaningless feuds with guys like [B]Shawn Gonzales[/B] and [B]Chris Caulfield[/B]. Now, he's back on top with victories over DaVE's best workers. Everyone who is paying attention knows that this is probably it for Tyler, the sixth time is probably the last time we'll see the [B]Unified Title[/B] around his waist. [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/BigCatBrandon_alt.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="3"][b]3. BIG CAT BRANDON: (-1)[/SIZE][/FONT][/b] Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, [B]Big Cat Brandon[/B] finds himself stopped again within spitting range of the [B]Unified Title[/B]. April was a good month for Brandon, seeing the formation of a powerful new alliance with [B]"Bulldozer" Brandon Smith[/B]. On the other hand, Brandon has now been conclusively beaten by both [B]Eddie Peak[/B] and [B]The Wrath of God.[/B] Will he fare any better against [B]Eric Tyler?[/B] [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/EddiePeak.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="3"][b]4. "The Great White Shark" EDDIE PEAK: (-3)[/SIZE][/FONT][/b] The single most pressing question in DaVE right now - [B]what happened to Eddie Peak?[/B] Carried off in a straightjacket after a psychopathic rage that left [B]half of DaVE's roster down and bleeding[/B] at Final Showdown, Eddie Peak's extraction and presumed institutionalization by medical personnel has left a vacuum in the heart of DaVE... is DaVE's most dangerous man out of commission? Have we seen the last of Eddie Peak? How will he react to Nemesis' seeming betrayal in the last seconds of his match with now champion [B]Eric Tyler?[/B] [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/Acid.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="3"][b]5. ACID: (-1)[/SIZE][/FONT][/b] The [B]Cult is rising again.[/B] After a month of quiet disorganization, the most obscure stable in DaVE has regained new focus, setting their sites on [B]Emma Chase[/B], and stopping repeated attempts to retrieve her from [B]Adrenaline Rush[/B]. Emma appeared at Final Showdown, but to what effect? Is she the newest member of the Cult? And what of [B]Sammy Bach?[/B] This is one conflict that has yet to be resolved, and expect more collisions between Acid and Bach and his allies. [B]6. JOEY MINNESOTA (-):[/B] [i] Still clinging to the Brass Knuckles Title, probably on the cusp of getting too big for it.[/i] [B]7. GUIDE (+1):[/B] [i]Being the Tag Champs doesn't give you much of a rub in DaVE, unfortunately, but being attached to the World Champion does. Guide has gotten a lot of very positive coverage out of the Tyler/Peak collision and put up some great matches on his own.[/i] [B]8. SCOUT (+1):[/B] [i]See above, but add a pretty nice couple of main events at Vendetta over the last month and you get a sense of why, in pure overness, Scout is the next guy in line for the main event right now.[/i] [B]9. FUMIHIRO OTA (n/a):[/B] [i]America refuses to stop their sexy, steamy love affair with Fumihiro Ota, no matter how little I use him.[/i] [B] 10.SHAWN GONZALES (+1):[/B] [i]uh.... still here?[/i] [B]11.SAMMY BACH (n/a):[/B] [i]That "B" rated match was an eye opener for me, and probably also unfortunately for Bach. Bach has what it takes to work the uppermidcard if he's intelligently matched and pushed, and the hot crowd response to his match with Acid is as much of an indication as anything I've ever seen that DaVE's fanbase is increasingly willing to cheer for a pansy-ass cruiserweight.[/i] [B] 12.ART REED (-):[/b] [i]Still not getting the push he deserves.[/i] [i]Big Winners: Jack "The Wrath of God" Giedroyc, Fumihiro Ota, Sammy Bach, Black Eagle[/i] [i]Big Losers: Chris Caulfield, Vin Tanner, Hell's Bouncer[/i]

[mad5226]

Great stuff as usual Pox. I would love to see what you would do with Dazzlin Dave, you cold definatly make that a fun character. As far as Emma goes, shes the reason that I first started playing as DAVE in TEW 05. You have to keep her even if it means paying her more than Eddie Peak... she's the real star =)

[Monkeypox]

[B][CENTER][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="6"]"The Bride of the Dragon"[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/B] [CENTER][I]Except where otherwise noted - graphical props should be directed to our own multitalented J Silver...[/I][/CENTER] [i]OoC Bit: I think by now it's relatively well-established that I've got very particular feelings about how we C-Verse dynasty authors and readers should relate to eachother , in the best case. The biggest reason that this dynasty has stuck around as long as it has, up against only my high stress job as a motivator to keep it around, is the wide and varied participation and mixing of ideas and gimmicks by everyone on the board. At various times, people have helped me out with banners, ideas, organization, comments... and it's really rewarding when, say... I see Jack "The Wrath of God" Giedroyc turn up in a dynasty that I like (RoF) or the Cult of the Gray Dragon shows up in Dragonmack's NYCW... and Payne's participation, back when it was regular, was very helpful, but on the stage and behind the scenes. I think this sort of thing should be encouraged as much as possible and I want to implement more of it in my diary. So I don't know who it was, exactly, who settled on "Joey Frickin' Minnesota", but I just stole it. If anyone knows, clue me in so I can give them the proper credit...[/i] [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/DangerZone.png[/img] [CENTER][I][I][FONT="Century Gothic"]Live from the Arkansas Colosseum for a crowd of a sold-out crowd of 2,000![/FONT][/I][/I][/CENTER] [FONT="Garamond"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Indigo"]DARK MATCH: Johnny Martin vs Cammy Vessey[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER] Result: Johnny Martin d. Cammy Vessey w/a [b]J-Drop[/b]. [i]Jack's Notes: If Cammy can get to C-, I'll put him on Vendetta and he'll really start to be on his way. He's right on the border to being a legitimate lower midcarder. When [B]Black Eagle[/B] hit that point, he started making major strides in overness. [B]American Elemental[/B] is there now. Cammy is next in line. I tend to treat a D+ as the very bottom of what I'll accept on Vendetta (while making Dangerzone, at least in the best case, requires a reliable C. Until then, he's a strict darkmatcher, no matter what his potential. Vessey is improving, and his match performance is very much in line with what I expect from him at this point in his career. His intern gimmick was wonderful during the [B]Eddie Peak[/B] portion of the tournament - the crowd loved watching the shark feed on a ****y legacy kid with a huge chip on his shoulder, but even as he puts on a fairly crisp (if basic) display in the ring, I'm not sure what to do with him next. If we do sign [B]Freddy Huggins[/B] or [B]Davis Wayne Newton[/B], I see a Cuban managed tag team. Anyhow, Johnny Martin does a good job of dragging a reasonable match out of him and Vessey makes a few surprising rallies to keep it interesting, but this is school, and Vessey is the one getting learned.[/i] [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: D+[/B][/COLOR] [center]***MAIN SHOW*** [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/MarkCuban-1.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Cuban hits the ring, and the capacity crowd goes crazy taunting him and immediately starts chanting for Tyler, which draws a cold stare from Cuban but no other reaction. "TYLER ISN'T HERE, SO YOU CAN SHUT IT." (the booing intensifies - whatever "it" is, it does not appear to have been shut) Cuban shakes his head. "From what I've heard, Tyler was so badly beaten, his body so broken down and bruised by his match against Rick Law at Final Showdown, that [B]he can't leave his bed without assistance[/B]. So he's safe at home tonight, in whatever trailer park or puptent he calls home." (more boos) "Even though you aren't man enough to make it in tonight, Tyler, I've got a message for you and I know you're watching your small, rabbit-eared TV somewhere out there in lesser America. So listen, and then watch. You may have won the Unified Title, but you won't hold it long. I've spent the weekend thinking, and I realized what you have that I don't. [b]Friends[/b]. (The crowd cheers and starts watching)" Cuban smirks. "Oh, I have friends. I have rich, important friends. We discuss our yachts and our investments and [B]the playboy bunnies we're f**king on the side[/B], but they don't wrestle. They don't grease themselves up with face paint and skulk around in the goddamn shadows. [B]They don't call themselves the F**KING SCHOOL OF TRADITION![/B]" (crowd goes nuts) "[B]Guide, Scout, you guys are officially on my list.[/B] I'm not stupid. Tyler can't get it done on his own, so he hides behind you two. And you've got gold of your own. Well, here's news. I'm coming for you too." "You might have friends, but I have something you don't. Money. Lots and lots of money. And you know what else? Money over friendship. And with that in mind, I'd like to introduce MY new friends, men who are interested in profit, men who smell opportunity, men smart enough to know which way the wind is blowing, and that [B]it's blowing Mark Cuban![/B]" (the crowd laughs - that didn't make sense even as I was writing it up) "First, they're the nastiest, meanest, spit-and-dirtiest men in all of DaVE, and they've got their eyes on the tag prize. Ladies and gentlemen, my newest clients, the [B]Old D-D-D-D-D-D-Diiiiiiiiiiirty Bastards!!![/B]" [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/JDMorgan.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/NathanColeman.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] (the crowd boos as Nathan Coleman and JD Morgan hit the ramp, looking stubbled, hung-over and dangerous, like a barbrawl projected in horrible accuracy onto a massive bigscreen, all whiskey breath and bad tattoos. The two men smile, revealing craggled teeth, and lurch down the ramp together, hitting the ring and shaking hands with Cuban, who forces a smile and very deliberately wipes his palm across the side of his pressed khakis as the two men are posing to the crowd.) "But that's not it. Ladies and gentlemen, my newest client is the centerpiece of what I like to think of as [B]the Cuban Coalition[/B], a group of like-minded men... visionaries, even... dedicated to nothing but profit and ME. He is the [B]suplex kid[/B], he is the [B]Brass Knuckles Champion[/B], he is the FUTURE.... he is [B]Joey... FRICKIN... MINNESOTA[/B]!" [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/JoeyMinnesota.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] (the crowd really lets Joey have it, as his bloodless signing with Cuban only further solidifies his character as a [B]preening, supertalented Kobe Bryant type[/B], overwhelmed in equal portions by his incredible talent and incredible ego. Minnesota is expressionless as he heads down the ramp with the Brass Knuckles title around his waist and shakes hands with Cuban, staring daggers into the crowd as Cuban bounces around the ring.) "Just look at him! Joey Freakin' Minnesota! I mean, come on! This guy is one tenth your age! And next week at DANGERZONE, my client, the Suplex Kid, Joey Minnesota, well, [B]he's gonna cut you down like an old dead tree[/B], Eric Tyler. And your belt is on the line! I hope you enjoy your run as champion, grandpa. My advice is just STAY IN BED." "And since you're too beat up to wrestle, we had to find another out-of-shape, over the hill old man for Joey to play with. Watch this carefully, Tyler, YOU'RE NEXT." (Cuban throws down the mic as Vin Tanner's music hits the speakers) [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: C-[/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][FONT="Garamond"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Indigo"]#6 Joey Minnesota -vs- Vin Tanner[/COLOR][/SIZE] [B]BRASS KNUCKLES TITLE MATCH - Hardcore Rules[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/JoeyMinnesota.jpg[/IMG] -vs- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/VinTanner.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Result: Joey Minnesota d. Vin Tanner with a [b]Minnesota Salute[/b]. [i]Jack's Notes: Man, we might need to fire Tanner sooner rather than later. There's really no excuse for this in a match against a guy like Joey Minnesota. This match served two purposes. The first, and most obvious, was to let Joey Minnesota beat the crap out of someone semi-respectable and popular as a way of building heat for next week's contest between him and Tyler, which I'm already all fired up about. And Minnesota does his part, lifting and planting Tanner with the multiplicity of suplex variants that has earned him the name The Suplex Kid with DaVE's announcers (including the rabid, overeffusive Cuban, who alternates gushing over Minnesota's technique with simply screaming "Joey Frickin' Minnesota!"). The problem is the second component of why I booked this fight. After our meeting, the booking committee decided that while Tank Bradley would be fired immediately and Hell's Bouncer "released" shortly, Vin Tanner and The McWades would be given the chance to bounce around a few more matches before a decision was made, since neither has been effectively utilized or really given a chance to shine lately. After some debate, it was decided that for Vin Tanner, Joey Minnesota was as favorable a match-up as any. Tanner was subtly warned to "bring it" tonight, and I think he tried. But he looked stiff, tired and a step behind in the ring, never managing an effective challenge beyond a few cringe-inducing, slap happy non-rallies as Minnesota puts him down in six minutes for a lukewater opener that never gets the crowd excited AND doesn't manage to sell Minnesota as the wrestling monster I want him to be. The idea that Johnny Martin and Cammy Vessey can put on a more DaVE worthy show than Vin Tanner and Joey Minnesota is completely appalling, and I know exactly who to blame. [B]I think Vin Tanner just signed his ticket out of town.[/B][/i] [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: D[/B][/COLOR] [B] The camera starts at her chest[/B], of course, because this is DaVE and for women, that's where it starts and stops. The chest is ample in that corn-fed, "I can chop wood" sort of way often seen in the Midwest, and as the camera pans out, we get our first look at her. She's tall and well-built, a woman capable of throwing a punch if she had to, but her face is all doe eyes and a wide open mouth as she runs around the locker room, hands clasped to her chest. [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/mrs-smith-a.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] "Golly Dozer, this is about the biggest locker room I've ever done seen! Look at all these lockers!" (she sticks her head inside a locker, and pops back out, smiling) "I ain't seen so many lockers since I was a cheerleader and we went on our travelin' tour to the big city! You remember that?" The camera pans around to a smiling, proud [B]Bulldozer Brandon Smith[/B], his fingers laced across his belly. "I sure do, honeybabysnookinpie." The woman skips back across the room. "I was in town cheering, you were playing quarterback, so HANDSOME. And all those big city lights. The farmgirl in me just fell right over right then and there." Dozer smiles, wrapping the woman in his arms. "Yeah, I was happy to get you out of that city, though. So much traffic and noise, all those big city people not botherin' to stop and say hi to nobody. All those huge buildings. I couldn't get you out of Duluth fast enough." The door opens, and a [B]scowling Big Cat Brandon[/B] walks in. Dozer immediately brightens. "Hey honey, this is just the guy I wanted to tell you about. This is my good buddy, he goes by the name of Big Cat Brandon! See, Brandon, just like me!" She beams up at them. "Oh honey, just like you!" Dozer claps Big Cat on the shoulder. "Big guy, this is my WIFE, [B]Missus Smith[/B]!" Her nose crinkles as her smile intensifies, becoming ridiculously large. "You can call me Missy!" Big Cat Brandon stares at her for a moment, his face not registering anything, and mutters "Nice to meet you." He spins and grabs Dozer by the shoulders, almost violently. "Bulldozer - you have a match with Giedroyc tonight, right?" His voice is low, growling, intense. Dozer shrugs. "Well gosh, I guess I do. Wanna put on a show for the missus, you know. Giedroyc's no slouch, even if he does take the Lord's name in vain a bit too much. I worry about him, you know. I don't think his parents did much of a job raisin' him up right, and - " Brandon interrupts. "I need you to crush him. Keep the match going. DON'T LOSE." Dozer laughs, nervously. "Well, I never TRY to lose, buddy. But sometimes it's just losin' time, just like sometimes it's just winnin' time or dinner time or lunch time or Miller time or..." Dozer trails off as Brandon walks back out the door, banging it shut behind him. [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: C-[/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][FONT="Garamond"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Indigo"]#10 Art Reed -vs- Alex "The Iceman" Braun[/COLOR][/SIZE][/font] [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/ArtReed.jpg[/IMG] -vs- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/AlexBraun.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Result: Art Reed d. Alex Braun w/a [b]Dark Matter[/b]. [i]Jack's Notes: Solid match. Reed is exactly the sort of old-school style that Braun needs to shine, so it's no surprise that the two have excellent chemistry. If Braun had a little more gas in his tank, I'd consider pairing or feuding these two. But Braun is certainly not Vin Tanner, and I can see him having a relatively long career with matches like these, beating up on the young guys and giving the legitimate players a boost. This match is even better because it's clean and very technical, if slow-paced. The Iceman is happy to put the chair to people, but Reed prides himself on keeping his style clean even within a hardcore fed (in fact, this is rapidly becoming his defining characteristic), and while this isn't a "DaVE"-style match, the crowd gives their respect with a bigger pop than I expected. I keep the match length short but close and Reed gives Braun a pretty good chance to shine before finally putting him away at the ten minute mark with a [b]Dark Matter[/b] (I didn't want Braun to have to tap, so he takes the fall instead). Reed helps Braun up after the match and the two men embrace, to the delight of the audience.[/i] [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: C[/B][/COLOR] To say the crowd falls silent would be an understatement. The steam, creaking music and slicing green lasers signify, as always, [B]the arrival of the Cult of the Gray Dragon[/B], and Acid, Ota and Black Eagle cut their usual menacing profile as they coalesce out of the smoke, seemingly stepping out of nothing. But the crowd has seen all that before. What they haven't seen is [B]Emma Chase[/B], her arm snaked in the crook of Acid's elbow. [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/Emma-Chase-1.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Gone are the famous goldilocks tresses in their [B]characteristic sexy-librarian bun[/B], gone is the c[B]ome-hither blouse[/B] and the [B]butt-loving business skirts[/B]. From head to toe, Emma has changed. Her hair is the color of ink, shiny in the pale light. Her eyes are blacked out, her lips darker than the color of blood, her face even more pale than before. And that body... already something of a thing out of legend, Emma's famous torso has gone from don't-show-and-don't-tell business casual to the stuff that makes 15 year old boys die of shock. Seemingly poured into a one piece black leather dress that starts about six inches below her clavicle and ends somewhere on the upper-end of "midthigh", Emma glides down the ramp despite the knee high black boots. Strange, snake themed jewelry snakes around her upper arms... even her fingernails are the color of blood. Gone as well is the catatonic blankness. Emma's face is all confidence, smirking under the gothic imagery, sweeping her eyes across the stunned audience. Despite the [B]skintight outfit[/B] and [B]teeter-totter heels[/B], Emma saunters into the ring with her dignity intact, suggesting but never actually showing anything, and picks up a mic. When she speaks, it's a near purr, and the arena is as silent as I've ever seen it. She exhales breathily into the mic, then smiles. [B] "I am the bride of the dragon."[/B] The crowd boos, but not too heartily. After all, if being the "bride of the dragon" means Emma Chase in something you'd normally only see on Catwoman, it's hard to argue. "Sammy Bach, I know you're back there somewhere with your dog Teddy Powell, rubbing your stubble together or whatever you boys do when I'm not around. With him back there, I doubt it ever even occurs to you to miss me. You'll be happier with me gone. But let me make something clear, in case you tear yourself away from him long enough to make a REAL attempt at rescuing me... don't bother. I'm happy here." (the crowd boos again, though a lot of people are laughing at Sammy Bach now) "You see, while I was waiting for you, locked and alone in all of those dark closets, SO SURE that you'd be along to rescue me, I started to ask questions. The dragon can speak, Sammy. And I spoke to the dragon... and the dragon... showed me things. The dragon... did things, Sammy." (Emma runs her hands down her sides and sighs. Every adolescent boy in the arena simultaneously dies of a heart attack) "And I... liked them. In any case, I can never go back. Don't try to bring me back, Sammy. You'll only get hurt. And a part of me doesn't want that, Sammy. A part of me would do anything to avoid watching you suffer." (she pauses, inhaling, then hisses, her demeanor changing) "But a part of me would like nothing more, Sammy, then to watch you and your ineffectual little boyfriend writhe on the teeth of the dragon. The choice is yours. Remember me as your Emma if you must, but accept me as what I am now: [B]The Bride of the Dragon[/B]." [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: C+[/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][FONT="Garamond"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Indigo"]#5 Acid vs American Elemental[/COLOR][/SIZE] [B]HOUSE OF FUN MATCH[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/Acid.jpg[/IMG] -vs- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/AmericanElementalII.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Result: Acid d. American Elemental w/a [b]Acid Rain Bomb[/b]. [i]Jack's Notes: Wow. American Elemental makes his TV debut in high form, as he and Acid put on an incredible display that would've absolutely been in the elite tier of DaVE's cruiserweight match history if AE was just a little bit more over. I've gotta get AE some wins, because the potential he's showing for a long-term feud with the Cult of the Gray Dragon is just off the charts. This was meant to be an Acid showcase, demonstrating the newfound power of the Dragon and all that, and in terms of the division of who controlled the match, it was. And in the end, Acid spirals off of a high bar with the Acid Rain Bomb and picks up a clean win. But I told American Elemental to control approximately one fourth of the match, which seemed appropriate given the discrepancy in overness, and he [B]absolutely owned his portion with some moves that I don't even know how to describe[/B], nearly getting a pinfall after hitting Acid with the [B]Inferno Splash[/B], a reverse-450 splash that had the audience completely stunned not just that he landed such an incredible move, but that he even attempted it. Acid and American Elemental don't even have any particular chemistry, but when the two collided in midair and AE was able to duck a lariat and reverse into a midair bulldog all without touching the ground, I literally had stars in my eyes. No one in this arena has much of an idea who AE is. He was a jobber for TCW for all of a few weeks, and he's been enough of a fixture over the last few years in the indie scene that his name has some recognizeability, but this is really his introduction to larger American televised audience. And damned if he didn't bring his A-Game.[/i] [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: C+[/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/MarkCuban-1.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Cuban sits in his office and the crowd starts booing immediately, even though the guy is only clipping his toenails and muttering to himself, with one pale, fleshy hairball of a foot planted squarely in the center of his massive mahogany desk. There are a few cheers when the door bangs open and Nemesis walks in, if only because the crowd harbors some hope that Nemesis will tear Cuban's foot off and slap him with it. Cuban doesn't stop the clipping when Nemesis walks in, and Nemesis' perpetual scowl deepens. [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/Nemisis.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Cuban very pointedly clips another crescent off of his ape-feet and smiles up at Nemesis. "Are you here to join [B]the Cuban Coalition?[/B] Excellent business opportunity for someone with your managing skills, especially with your best client off to the asylum and all." Nemesis leans forward, planting his gigantic knuckles on Cuban's desk, and Cuban blanches for the first time. [B]"Where is he."[/B] Nemesis' growled question is so flat it sounds more like a statement. Cuban gulps. "He's... uhm... he's at an asylum, like I said. After [B]Eddie Peak [/B]freaked out and flattened half of my employees, we had him [B]institutionalized under my orders[/B] and transferred to a maximum security asylum in Pennsylvania. It's fine. He's under heavy medication. With enough treatment, I'm sure we can get him back and..." Nemesis cuts him off. "How was he taken there?" Cuban frowns. "What do you mean, HOW WAS HE TAKEN THERE? In an ambulance. Under sedation." Nemesis shakes his head slightly. "Just sedation. Just an ambulance. No armored car." Nemesis sighs and starts to turn to leave. "You'd just better hope he made it." Cuban pales. "Why... why wouldn't he have made it?" Nemesis laughs softly. "You know the answer to that question. And if he didn't, [B]you're dead already[/B]. We both are." The door bangs closed as Cuban stares into space, clippers still in hand. [COLOR="DarkRed"][B] Rating: B-[/B][/COLOR] The crowd perks up a bit as [B]Bulldozer Brandon Smith[/B]'s music hits the speakers and he heads down the ramp with his newly introduced [B]popsicle of a wife, Missus Smith[/B]. He waves and she hangs on his arm with massive doe eyes, surveying the arena and audience like she's never seen anything so big before. Dozer takes the ring after giving his wife a demure peck on the cheek, and she takes up cheering from the apron. [CENTER][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/BulldozerBrandonSmith.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/mrs-smith-a.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] The crowd goes absolutely berserk as [B]The Wrath of God[/B] hits the ramp to the sounding of trumpets and radiant golden light, his helmet gleaming in the reflection from the overheads. As has started happening with increasing frequency at Giedroyc shows, the crowd starts screaming for a speech. Giedroyc holds up his hand in a gesture of divine benevolence and the crowd obediently quiets. He raises the microphone to his lips. [CENTER][img]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/WrathofGod.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [I](Props to Marcel Fromage for the icon!)[/I] "Bulldozer Brandon Smith, I am happy to report that I have completed a review of the personnel file that He keeps on you in His office, and He has no complaints about you. Truly, you are one of His children, close to His heart, walking in His path. You don't smoke, you don't drink, you rarely think ill of others, you are chaste outside of your marriage and [B]your coitus within it, when you remember to have it, is brief and admirably direct.[/B] You like baby animals. You occasionally jaywalk, but never forget to feel a little dirty about it. Your favorite food is the apple cobbler your wife bakes for her church group. Your only shortcoming, if you have one at all, is the [B]meanstreak that runs right down the middle of your soul[/B], but even your fury becomes righteous when you channel it for good purposes. You are truly your brother's keeper, and a finder of lost children... ... so it seems uncharitable at least and unconscionable at most that I am being called upon to cast you to the ground anyhow, without His benediction or holy cause, but He understands that sometimes I have to do this to effectuate His good purposes (and also to win the Unified title... for Him), and so He has given His Divine permission. I ask only your forgiveness, good man, and also that you remember to [B]thank him for this beating that you are about to receive[/B]." [CENTER][FONT="Garamond"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Indigo"]#1 Jack Giedroyc vs "Bulldozer" Brandon Smith[/COLOR][/SIZE][/font] [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/WrathofGod.jpg[/IMG] -vs- [IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p44/monkeypocks/BulldozerBrandonSmith.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Result: Jack Giedroyc d. Bulldozer Brandon Smith by DQ [i]Jack's Notes: And this one is clearly my fault. If you look at Dozer's match history (which I have, believe it or not), you'll see a pretty consistent pattern. He absolutely blew it out of the water with his main even debut against [B]Eddie Peak[/B], but even without the benefit of chemistry that can be mostly explained by similar fighting styles and Dozer's ability to actually hit legitimate power moves on Peak, which almost no one else in the Fed is physcially strong enough to do (including [B]Big Cat Brandon[/B], though gorilla press type moves have never been his style). So Dozer's ability to move quickly and still land the huge hits fits very well with Peak, who has much the same style, if a dissimilar moveset. But outside of that now-epic TV debut, Dozer usually tops out against good wrestlers somewhere in the mid-C range, and that's completely consistent with his popularity and good enough to get him on TV. But not good enough to main event. Sure, my main eventers are tired right now. Tyler really IS at home in bed, Big Cat is a little banged up, even the usually indestructible [B]Acid[/B] was a little more tentative than usual after his banger against [B]Sammy Bach[/B]. Giedroyc main-evented as a favor to me, but after our conversation at the after party I couldn't well put him in anything like a hardcore match. So this is what I had. I probably should've gone with another [B]Art Reed/Joey Minnesota[/B] style main event, but those don't move any sort of plot and this IS Dangerzone. Anyhow, the limitation on this one, besides Brandon's relative lack of overness, is that the size differential puts Giedroyc in the situation of having to play the underdog. He's fine at that, and spends most of the match staggering around, selling Dozer's huge hits, making incredible, pulled-from-the-depths-of-his-soul rallies and keeping the crowd going, but the crowd wants to see Giedroyc more dominant, especially against a guy who is really only a fringe midcarder. [B]Missus Smith[/B] is a breathy, chest-fanning presence at the side of the ring who seems very worried whenever 'Dozer takes a big hit, and I like her and Dozer together. [B]The most interesting part of the match, of course, is how it ends. [/B] Giedroyc comes back for the last time through pure brawling gumption, nailing a series of right hands in a nose-to-nose back and forth, followed by a running neckbreaker that has the crowd screaming for the [B]Crashing On[/B]. Giedroyc makes his obligatory heavenly gesture, then hauls Dozer to his feet. That, of course, is the moment he gets hit from the side with an out-of-nowhere [B]Big Cat Pounce[/B], as [B]Big Cat Brandon[/B] knifes through the crowd and plows into Giedroyc as the ref calls for the bell. BCB's assault on Giedroyc is vicious, and the crowd starts booing the big man as he laces The Wrath of God with stomp after stomp. Missus Smith takes a look at the gagging, coughing Giedroyc and turns away, covering her face with her hands. Bulldozer gets to his feet, confused, and starts to exchange words with BCB, who only shrugs him off and continues to assault Giedroyc. Dozer stares at his friend for another second, gives Giedroyc a clearly sympathetic look and walks up the ramp with his head down while behind him Giedroyc continues to writhe under the attack and Missus Smith screams at him to do something to help that poor man.[/i] [COLOR="DarkRed"][B]Rating: C[/B][/COLOR] [FONT="Impact"][SIZE="3"][U]Show Rating: C[/U][/SIZE][/FONT] [I]Not great, but good enough to count as successful in this part of the country.[/I]