The official wrestling sim topic [Archive] - Page 14

Evil Vito

07-07-2022, 12:05 PM

It is night 1 of the AEW's Grand Climax Tournament! Tonight, we will see 5 A Block matches and 5 B Block matches. Fans and competitors alike have been kept in the dark on who is even in this tournament, who is in their block and even who they are facing tonight.

Justin Roberts announces that our opening contest will be from the A Block. One can only wonder what surprises will lie ahead...

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The crowd gasps as, holy shit, MJF is here! We haven't seen him since he famously and publicly demanded to be fired over a month ago! He has evidently returned to win this tournament and possibly give himself even more contract leverage.

MJF soaks up the combination of heel heat and adulation for a while before the music of Wheeler Yuta hits. The ROH Pure Champion and popular young member of the Blackpool Combat Club charges out to the ring and we are on!

A Block: MJF vs. Wheeler Yuta

MJF's return match didn't look like it would go as planned at the start with Yuta catching MJF off guard with some high octane offense, requiring MJF to beg off for a bit. The announcers point out that Yuta was in NJPW's Best of Super Junior tournament earlier in the year, and he's well-prepared for the endurance required to get through a grueling tournament of this style.

MJF eventually gets the upper hand, ironically, using some underhanded tactics including busting out the Dynamite Diamond Ring. MJF counters a clothesline from Yuta into the Salt of the Earth armbar and that's all she wrote.

Winner: MJF
Time: 14:01
Rating: 80%
---

We're told we'll be alternating blocks tonight as B Block is next. "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes is out to a big hand, followed by Scorpio Sky.

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. Scorpio Sky

Chances are quite good that the 53-year old Rhodes will be the oldest participant in this tournament, how will his body hold up over 9 block matches? Fortunately for him, Sky's head didn't seem fully in the game here, possibly still dealing with the disappointment of dropping his TNT Title to Wardlow recently. He picks Dustin up for a TKO but Dustin slides out. Scorpio leaps up to try a hurricanrana but is reversed into a powerbomb pin for a flash pin.

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
Time: 10:36
Rating: 76%
---

Dustin celebrates his win. Sky sulks to the back. On the way back, Sky is passed by his Men of the Year teammate Ethan Page, apparently up next for the A Block. He gets a tough draw as "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer charges out next.

A Block: "All Ego" Ethan Page vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Page is at both a size disadvantage as well as an experience one as Archer has experience in the actual G1 Climax tournament from which this tournament is based. Anyway, despite both guys being good talents I don't think anyone in the arena was prepared for what happened.

Both men brawled all over ringside, flirting with countouts. Archer's EBD Claw was too close to the ropes and Page slithered out. Similarly, Archer's long legs thwarted Page from making a pin attempt many times.

What people probably assumed would be a run of the mill undercard match ended up getting perilously close to being a time limit draw that had the fans on their feet by the end of it. The big man Archer attempts to go up top in desperation, only for Page to knock him into a seated position on the turnbuckle. He hits a Vanity Search on the big man for a huge win! Good luck to everyone else following this one.

Winner: Ethan Page
Time: 27:25
Rating: 96%
---

B Block: Daniel Garcia vs. Samoa Joe

After what fans just saw, I'm not sure how they will hold up for 7 more matches tonight but the show must go on, and these two were a treat to be paired up against one another.

Both men are known for their hard strikes and their submission ability, but neither man could make the other tap. Joe had to call in the heavy artillery and put down Garcia with the Muscle Buster.

Winner: Samoa Joe
Time: 12:14
Rating: 85%
---

In a similar site to Sky and Page earlier, Garcia worked his way to the back only to be comforted by the leader of the Jericho Appreciation Society, that's right, Chris Jericho is here and in the A Block! He gets an interesting round 1 matchup against the charismatic Swerve Strickland.

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. Swerve Strickland

It would seem the always arrogant Jericho didn't think too much of his opponent nor did he seem concerned. He talks down to Swerve early on and physically controls the match for the first half of it until Swerve gives him a taste of his own medicine, forcing Jericho onto the offensive.

Jericho eventually gets back in the catbird seat, puts Swerve on the top rope to try and give him a superplex. Swerve pushes him off and leaps off the top for a Swerve Stomp! And holy shit, Swerve beats Jericho in what has to be viewed as a big early upset!

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 10:08
Rating: 82%
---

B Block: Malakai Black vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

A potential clash of styles in this one. Hobbs, as his name would imply, is a powerhouse through and through while Malakai relies on a more vicious kick-based arsenal. This is another match that probably went longer than people expected, with both men throwing everything they have at one another.

Hobbs gets Black up for a Powerslam, but Black rolls out. Hobbs turns around directly into a Black Mass kick, and that's that. The leader of the House of Black starts his tournament off with a W.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 19:42
Rating: 83%
---

A Block: Darby Allin vs. Kyle O'Reilly

These two kick off their tournament with a rematch, KOR having beaten Darby at Double or Nothing back in May. That was considered to be a pretty good match, this one sadly was not.

Actually a fairly one-sided affair, Darby doesn't seem to have learned from their last meeting as KOR had a counter for everything, including countering a top rope splash into a Guillotine Choke. Darby taps and KOR starts off with a relatively easy 2 points.

[b]Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
Time: 9:47
Rating: 61%
---

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We've got ourselves another return as the crowd gets on their feet within 2 notes of Flight of the Valkyries. Blackpool Combat Club's Bryan Danielson is back to kick some fucking heads in! And he's drawn a man synonymous with the latter days of ROH in his first match.

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal attempted to quiet the crowd who were showering Bryan with "YES" chants even though that's not his gimmick anymore. Nothing really could've stopped this momentum though.

It was far from the strongest showing for Bryan, who looked like he was shaking off some ring rust. Lethal was able to counter the Running Knee, only to then turn around right into a rollup for a flash pin.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 9:53
Rating: 80%
---

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Rey Fenix

Our A Block action for the night ends with another rematch, this time between two men who just had a banger a couple of weeks ago on Rampage. This match wasn't quite to the same lofty standards but it was still a very solid performance all around.

Also much like the last match, the rematch did not see a reversal of result. Fenix misses a senton, Andrade picks up the pieces with an El Idolo armbreaker to get the victory.

Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 11:50
Rating: 83%
---

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THE CHAMP IS HERE! Wait, wrong guy. We've got our 3rd and final surprise return of the evening as AEW World Champion CM Punk makes a return to join what is looking like a very crowded B Block.

B Block: CM Punk vs. PAC

B Block gets even stronger and it's a fitting way to close out the inaugural tournament show, with a Champion vs. Champion match between the World Champion and the All-Atlantic Champion. On paper, this should've been a dream match and truth be told, it was still nothing to sneeze at, but these two guys just didn't seem to gel like expected.

Neither guy could successfully connect with a finish, which is always a great way to tease a crowd. But perhaps spending the night watching the B Block action unfold and realizing Malakai Black was possibly PAC's most hated rival, Punk decided to break out a Roundhouse Kick of his own. This put PAC down and, to the surprise of the crowd, was enough to get the win.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 11:12
Rating: 77%

C and D blocks will get kicked off on the next show, bah gawd what other twists and turns could lie ahead!

M-A-G

07-08-2022, 03:42 AM

It is night 1 of the AEW's Grand Climax Tournament! Tonight, we will see 5 A Block matches and 5 B Block matches. Fans and competitors alike have been kept in the dark on who is even in this tournament, who is in their block and even who they are facing tonight.

I'm going to assume this will have zero connection to your previous AEW sim in EWR but is going off of real world continuity?

Justin Roberts announces that our opening contest will be from the A Block. One can only wonder what surprises will lie ahead...

Maybe there will be something that causes Justin Roberts to...*ahem*...choke up....

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The crowd gasps as, holy shit, MJF is here! We haven't seen him since he famously and publicly demanded to be fired over a month ago! He has evidently returned to win this tournament and possibly give himself even more contract leverage.

MJF soaks up the combination of heel heat and adulation for a while before the music of Wheeler Yuta hits. The ROH Pure Champion and popular young member of the Blackpool Combat Club charges out to the ring and we are on!

A Block: MJF vs. Wheeler Yuta

MJF's return match didn't look like it would go as planned at the start with Yuta catching MJF off guard with some high octane offense, requiring MJF to beg off for a bit. The announcers point out that Yuta was in NJPW's Best of Super Junior tournament earlier in the year, and he's well-prepared for the endurance required to get through a grueling tournament of this style.

MJF eventually gets the upper hand, ironically, using some underhanded tactics including busting out the Dynamite Diamond Ring. MJF counters a clothesline from Yuta into the Salt of the Earth armbar and that's all she wrote.

Winner: MJF
Time: 14:01
Rating: 80%
---

Have to say just by appearance, MJF reminds me of the Miz. His "fire-me-oops-wait-I'm-back" is such a George Costanza move. Is the ROH Pure Title still a thing? I used to follow ROH when we carried the channel but I said goodbye to cable companies a long ass time ago.

We're told we'll be alternating blocks tonight as B Block is next. "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes is out to a big hand, followed by Scorpio Sky.

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. Scorpio Sky

Chances are quite good that the 53-year old Rhodes will be the oldest participant in this tournament, how will his body hold up over 9 block matches? Fortunately for him, Sky's head didn't seem fully in the game here, possibly still dealing with the disappointment of dropping his TNT Title to Wardlow recently. He picks Dustin up for a TKO but Dustin slides out. Scorpio leaps up to try a hurricanrana but is reversed into a powerbomb pin for a flash pin.

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
Time: 10:36
Rating: 76%
---

Even in video game world, fucking 50+ year old Dustin Runnels still going will always be hilarious.

Dustin celebrates his win. Sky sulks to the back. On the way back, Sky is passed by his Men of the Year teammate Ethan Page, apparently up next for the A Block. He gets a tough draw as "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer charges out next.

Men of the Year and Murderhawk are actually pretty boss names.

B Block: Daniel Garcia vs. Samoa Joe

After what fans just saw, I'm not sure how they will hold up for 7 more matches tonight but the show must go on, and these two were a treat to be paired up against one another.

Both men are known for their hard strikes and their submission ability, but neither man could make the other tap. Joe had to call in the heavy artillery and put down Garcia with the Muscle Buster.

Winner: Samoa Joe
Time: 12:14
Rating: 85%
---

The employment situation of Joe confuses me. I could've sworn he was in WWE again a while back.

In a similar site to Sky and Page earlier, Garcia worked his way to the back only to be comforted by the leader of the Jericho Appreciation Society, that's right, Chris Jericho is here and in the A Block! He gets an interesting round 1 matchup against the charismatic Swerve Strickland.

Swerve Strickland? Please tell me he specializes in propane and propane accessories. :lol:

B Block: Malakai Black vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

A potential clash of styles in this one. Hobbs, as his name would imply, is a powerhouse through and through while Malakai relies on a more vicious kick-based arsenal. This is another match that probably went longer than people expected, with both men throwing everything they have at one another.

Hobbs gets Black up for a Powerslam, but Black rolls out. Hobbs turns around directly into a Black Mass kick, and that's that. The leader of the House of Black starts his tournament off with a W.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 19:42
Rating: 83%
---

I've seen that Black guy's name tossed around here and there, more so than some of these other guys. Wasn't he one of the big names that got the axe from NXT a while back?

A Block: Darby Allin vs. Kyle O'Reilly

These two kick off their tournament with a rematch, KOR having beaten Darby at Double or Nothing back in May. That was considered to be a pretty good match, this one sadly was not.

Actually a fairly one-sided affair, Darby doesn't seem to have learned from their last meeting as KOR had a counter for everything, including countering a top rope splash into a Guillotine Choke. Darby taps and KOR starts off with a relatively easy 2 points.

[b]Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
Time: 9:47
Rating: 61%
---

I love it when the computer gives zero fucks about the real world and produces results that are like this. I remember simulating an Iron Man Match between Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho and RVD ended up with like 25 decisions in his favor. :lol:

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We've got ourselves another return as the crowd gets on their feet within 2 notes of Flight of the Valkyries. Blackpool Combat Club's Bryan Danielson is back to kick some fucking heads in! And he's drawn a man synonymous with the latter days of ROH in his first match.

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal attempted to quiet the crowd who were showering Bryan with "YES" chants even though that's not his gimmick anymore. Nothing really could've stopped this momentum though.

It was far from the strongest showing for Bryan, who looked like he was shaking off some ring rust. Lethal was able to counter the Running Knee, only to then turn around right into a rollup for a flash pin.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 9:53
Rating: 80%
---

I've mentioned that I haven't played a wrestling video game in over 15 years but I do have to ask: did they ever incorporate the "YES!" chants in the WWE 2K games? Or did they go the extra mile in their burial attempts and downplay him there, too?

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THE CHAMP IS HERE! Wait, wrong guy. We've got our 3rd and final surprise return of the evening as AEW World Champion CM Punk makes a return to join what is looking like a very crowded B Block.

B Block: CM Punk vs. PAC

B Block gets even stronger and it's a fitting way to close out the inaugural tournament show, with a Champion vs. Champion match between the World Champion and the All-Atlantic Champion. On paper, this should've been a dream match and truth be told, it was still nothing to sneeze at, but these two guys just didn't seem to gel like expected.

Neither guy could successfully connect with a finish, which is always a great way to tease a crowd. But perhaps spending the night watching the B Block action unfold and realizing Malakai Black was possibly PAC's most hated rival, Punk decided to break out a Roundhouse Kick of his own. This put PAC down and, to the surprise of the crowd, was enough to get the win.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 11:12
Rating: 77%

LOL, that "THE CHAMP IS HERE" bit made me call back to Punk's feud with Cena a decade ago. I wonder if he'd get in any trouble if he was to wear the Cena shirt with that phrase on TV. Of course, him rocking pro-choice apparel is good enough.

Once again, welcome back to the land of the simming. I've never worked with Fire Pro but whatever works, I suppose. I don't know when I'll get back to my game but I can work on the Slammy Award nominees so that I can be prepared for when they roll around after Survivor Series.

Evil Vito

07-08-2022, 10:38 AM

I'm going to assume this will have zero connection to your previous AEW sim in EWR but is going off of real world continuity?

Yeah, I can't see myself getting back into that EWR game. I started it on February 2021, only made it to June 2021 and in the past year AEW's roster has grown exponentially. I'd be hard pressed to go that far back when I know the real world is just so different and I could be throwing bangers out there every single week with the talent on the current roster.

If I were to do an EWR game again it would almost certainly be another restart. But two issues....A) I know myself well enough to know I'll get writers block quickly, B) a nearly 20-year old EWR really isn't meant to sim modern wrestling, especially with how much everyone's stats drop once you hit 35 years old. Nowadays guys are performing at a high level into their mid-40s and beyond, can't really replicate that in EWR.

Have to say just by appearance, MJF reminds me of the Miz. His "fire-me-oops-wait-I'm-back" is such a George Costanza move. Is the ROH Pure Title still a thing? I used to follow ROH when we carried the channel but I said goodbye to cable companies a long ass time ago.

Miz and MJF are very much comparable. Much as I wanted to hate on Miz for a long time, the man has always been a genuine heat magnet. MJF might be the Miz on steroids (well, not literally), his shoot promo where he demands to be fired was viewed as one of the best in recent years. I have no idea when he'll actually return to AEW but in Fire Pro land, sure what the hell.

The ROH Pure title was deactivated a long while ago but reactivated in 2020. ROH basically closed up shop last year but Tony Khan bought them out. For now, AEW contracted talents hold most of their titles but I believe the plan is to get ROH on TV and eventually hire an ROH-exclusive roster.

The employment situation of Joe confuses me. I could've sworn he was in WWE again a while back.

WWE have had like 3 or 4 massive firing waves since the start of the pandemic, along with a number of guys asking to be released. Joe I believe got fired, rehired, and then fired again. He wants to wrestle and WWE think he was too injury prone. So off to AEW he goes. I should've mentioned he is also holding an ROH title at the moment (the ROH TV Title).

Swerve Strickland? Please tell me he specializes in propane and propane accessories. :lol:

I dunno if I'd buy propane from him but I'd probably buy something else.

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I've seen that Black guy's name tossed around here and there, more so than some of these other guys. Wasn't he one of the big names that got the axe from NXT a while back?

Yeah he was another in the long line of WWE cuts last year. Wrestled in WWE at Aleister Black. Held the NXT title for a while, got called up to the main roster and was squandered for a solid 2 years before getting cut.

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I love it when the computer gives zero fucks about the real world and produces results that are like this. I remember simulating an Iron Man Match between Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho and RVD ended up with like 25 decisions in his favor. :lol:

Yeah that's the fun thing about Fire Pro especially, anyone can win. Yes certain characters will always be favored and have higher stats but at the end of the day it's a RNG happening behind the scenes. Upsets will happen.

I've mentioned that I haven't played a wrestling video game in over 15 years but I do have to ask: did they ever incorporate the "YES!" chants in the WWE 2K games? Or did they go the extra mile in their burial attempts and downplay him there, too?

Prior to this year (the first GOOD entry in the series in an eternity), the last one I played was like 5 years ago. They actually did incorporate YES chants and even scripted it so the crowd would visually chant along. One of the few good things about those games.

LOL, that "THE CHAMP IS HERE" bit made me call back to Punk's feud with Cena a decade ago. I wonder if he'd get in any trouble if he was to wear the Cena shirt with that phrase on TV. Of course, him rocking pro-choice apparel is good enough.

I doubt he could actually wear real WWE merch on AEW TV. There was a PPV match last year he had against Eddie Kingston where both guys were face but the night of the show the crowd seemed to be siding more toward Eddie, so Punk leaned into it and started working through Cena's 5 Moves of Doom. Wonderful bit of trolling when the crowd figured out what he was doing.

Evil Vito

07-08-2022, 10:41 AM

I think I'll stick with Fire Pro for a while because I don't have to do an actual fed or league, I can just do tournaments or dream matches whenever I want because the roster is literally endless, you can download anyone from any time period. After I finish this I could do a Round Robin tourney of Attitude Era WWF, for example.

In terms of the text-based sims, TEW 2020 has sounded like the best bet in terms of being equipped to sim the modern day wrestling landscape. Haven't tried it as I figure I'll get overwhelmed. But it's at least tempting to be playing a game where stuff like this can happen on its own.

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Evil Vito

07-08-2022, 04:08 PM

Night 2 of the AEW Grand Climax tournament coming in hot...tonight we learn the other 20 men competing in the tournament as the C and D blocks kick off.

After Justin Roberts states that our opening contest will be in the C Block...the music of Ricky Starks hits. The FTW Champion and member of Team Taz saunters out as our first participant of the evening. He grabs the mic from Roberts and shoots his mouth off about how this tournament will be the crowning moment he's been waiting for, and how there isn't anybody in this field who will stop him. He holds his FTW Championship high above his head as he awaits his challenger...

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IT'S HOOK! The crowd loses their shit as Taz's son makes his way out to the ring. Although he's been palling around with Danhausen of late, Hook is still a member of Team Taz and he's now got to battle his stablemate, who also happens to hold the title his dad made famous.

C Block: "Absolute" Ricky Starks vs. Hook

Hook is 10-0 in his young career and now he's got his toughest challenge yet. The crowd goes nuts for Hook as Starks can't believe this draw. As soon as the bell rings, Hook starts off with a belly to back suplex and Starks immediately takes a powder.

It takes a bit of a feeling out process but Starks eventually goads Hook into more of a standard wrestling match, trying to be wary of the suplexes and chokes that Hook is known for. At one point, Hook locks in the Redrum but Starks is just close enough to the ropes. A reversal out of a suplex turns into Starks picking Hook up for the Roshambo and the win.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 10:27
Rating: 80%
---

Starks, in a rare moment of doing the right thing, helps his fellow Team Taz member to his feet to enjoy a hand from the crowd. Although Hook has the first blemish on his AEW record, him being in this tournament is going to gain him a new level of experience.

Shortly after the Team Taz members depart, the theme of AEW's newest signing hits and I have to post it because my god it's such a banger.

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D Block: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Buddy Matthews

It's Blackpool Combat Club vs. House of Black as Claudio and Buddy square off. These two have a history together, having faced each other multiple times in WWE so it's only fitting that their paths should cross again on this stage.

This match does not disappoint in the slightest as they beat the tar out of each other for nearly 20 minutes. Buddy hits the ropes aiming for a running knee, but Claudio reverses, throwing him into the air and into a massive uppercut. He quickly picks up the pieces and hits the Neutralizer for the win.

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 19:44
Rating: 90%
---

C Block: Frankie Kazarian vs. Penta Oscuro

A relatively solid match given the potential styles clash involved, Kazarian is far more of a technician in his older years contrasted with the unique mix of brawling and high flying that Penta brings to the table.

Although Frankie is a good guy, the crowd is solidly behind Penta as always, and he doesn't disappoint them, eventually catching Frankie in a Pentagon Driver for the win.

Winner: Penta Oscuro
Time: 9:14
Rating: 73%
---

D Block: "Limitless" Keith Lee vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

Speaking of styles clashes, this is a match that really entertains me to think about, because Sammy can sell his ass off like not many others can and here he would get to bump for a huge dude who can also move like a guy his size shouldn't be able to.

Sammy misses with a 630 Senton, allowing Keith to seize the moment and get him up for a Spirit Bomb for the win. After Jericho lost to Lee's partner Swerve Strickland last night, Sammy follows it up with a loss to Lee. The Jericho Appreciation Society has started the tourney 0-3, not how they drew it up.

Winner: Keith Lee
Time: 8:28
Rating: 76%
---

The music of "Hangman" Adam Page hits and the crowd loses it. Those cheers soon turn to a hushed silence as the music of Luchasaurus takes over.

C Block: "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Luchasaurus

Having recently turned heel, Luchasaurus has gone from a lovable monster to a downright terrifying one, making him about as tough of a test for the always popular Hangman as possible. Luchasaurus is another very athletic big man, err, dinosaur, doing things a being his size shouldn't be able to do.

Hangman fights out of a few nearfalls and takes everything Luchasaurus throws at him, but he can't seem to put the big man down himself. Hangman eventually mounts another rally, heads to the apron, flips in for the Buckshot Lariat but NO! Luchasaurus catches him by the throat. Chokeslam, and the win. Luchasaurus has pinned the former World Champion in what has to be an early upset.

Winner: Luchasaurus
Time: 9:32
Rating: 82%
---

As Luchasaurus is about to exit the heel tunnel, "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora hits which means Jungle Boy is here! He charges out of the face tunnel and makes a beeline straight for his former tag partner Luchasaurus! Security immediately intervene and forceably separate the two.

After he gets into the ring, "Jane" by Jefferson Starship plays over the PA which can only mean the arrival of Orange Cassidy.

D Block: Jungle Boy vs. "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy

The crowd is electric for this one as the first night of the D Block sees two of AEW's most popular competitors get paired off. The crowd is really split right down the middle with dueling chants right out of the gate.

This match kicked it into high gear and never really let up as there were a heaping helping of nearfalls on both sides. Fire Pro's crowd reactions get louder and louder when a match registers as hot and this one certainly qualifies. In the end, Orange prevails with a Beach Break and 2 points.

Winner: Orange Cassidy
Time: 16:20
Rating: 89%
---

C Block: Brody King vs. Jon Moxley

Buddy vs. Claudio featured a House of Black vs. Blackpool Combat Club battle, and now we're getting another one here. Mox just defeated Brody to retain the Interim AEW World Championship the other night, and now has to do it again all while knowing that at the end of this tournament, he'll have a date with the newly returned CM Punk to determine the true World Champion.

Anyway, these two went hell for leather in what can only be described as a violent brawl both in the ring and at ringside. Imagine having to fight a huge, tattooed 6'8" dude twice in the span of a few nights? Not a walk in the park for Mox by any stretch. He eventually gets a Paradigm Shift that knocks King out cold, and the ref calls for the bell in a critical stoppage decision!

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 17:04
Rating: 93%
---

D Block: Adam Cole vs. Wardlow

Welcome back from concussion protocol, Adam Cole. Your reward is you get to face the brand new TNT Champion who has been known to Powerbomb his opponents into oblivion.

The size difference between these two men is very apparent, as Cole attempts to be crafty and avoid being caught in Wardlow's grasp for any length of time. It doesn't work. As soon as Wardlow seizes control of the match, it's game over. Wardlow ends up hitting Cole with two Powerbombs and he gets the win in, by this tournament's standards, short order. If Wardlow's gonna do this to a perennial World title contender in Adam Cole, he could well be establishing himself as the favorite in the block.

Winner: Wardlow
Time: 7:00
Rating: 70%
---

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. "The Redeemer" Miro

Our C Block action closes off with a rematch from All Out 2021. These two had a total banger for the TNT Title back then, and Miro came out victorious. Unfortunately, this one didn't live up to the hype as it should've. This is sorta the Fire Pro equivalent of a non-clicky show, except thankfully just for certain matches instead of the shows.

Even still, it wasn't a bad match...more in the realm of watchable, just wasn't what I thought it'd be pairing them up. Both guys were heavy on the striking throughout, and Eddie ends up avenging his loss from nearly a year ago, putting Miro down with the Uraken spinning elbow.

Winner: Eddie Kingston
Time: 12:36
Rating: 73%
---

And time for our main event. Christian Cage enters as the 39nd participant in the tournament, soaking in enormous heat. Since turning on Jungle Boy a few weeks ago, he's become possibly the most hated man in AEW. Now to see who is opponent will be...

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Bah gawd! Entry #1 saw the surprise return of MJF and now entry #40 features the even more shocking return of Kenny Omega. We haven't seen him since he lost the AEW World Title to Hangman Page back at Full Gear in November. People wondered if he'd ever return, and now he's here!

D Block: Christian Cage vs. Kenny Omega

The crowd absorbs the return of Omega. As the winner of the actual NJPW G1 Climax tournament in 2016, he knows exactly what it takes to survive this grueling schedule. And he's no stranger to Christian, they've split a pair of decisions last year, with Christian besting him on the debut episode of Rampage and Omega returning favor with a win at All Out.

It's a beautiful thing in Fire Pro when you can have a short-ish match that draws a high rating because it's just bell-to-bell action that never lets up, and that was this match in a nutshell. Both men threw the kitchen sink at one another in rapid succession, with plenty of nearfalls to go around.

Omega charges Christian in the corner looking for a V-Trigger, Christian ducks and sends him knee first into the corner. LOW BLOW! Christian then spins Kenny around and hits the Killswitch. 1-2-3! The crowd is stunned as Christian has out of nowhere spoiled Kenny's grand return! Boos rain down upon Christian as he flashes that punchable smirk of his while the show goes off the air.

Winner: Christian Cage
Time: 10:47
Rating: 94%

M-A-G

07-10-2022, 12:39 PM

In terms of the text-based sims, TEW 2020 has sounded like the best bet in terms of being equipped to sim the modern day wrestling landscape. Haven't tried it as I figure I'll get overwhelmed. But it's at least tempting to be playing a game where stuff like this can happen on its own.

https://content.invisioncic.com/r229509/monthly_2022_01/image.png.cf4b8bda27202ccb3e6d659443b600bd.png

I hereby declare that had that actually happened in real life, WCW would still be around today!

Evil Vito

07-12-2022, 04:02 PM

Night 3 of the AEW Grand Climax tournament is upon us as the A and B Blocks return for their 2nd night of action.

B Block: "Red Death" Daniel Garcia vs. "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes

Garcia is the second-youngest man in this tournament, but this match with Rhodes features the largest age gap in block play. At a staggering 30-year difference, Garcia was born when Rhodes was going through his weird preacher stage in WWF.

Anyway, these two had an absolute barnburner to kick us off, Dustin sticking predominantly with his old school brawling and Garcia using his kicks and submission acumen. Garcia attempts to lock Dustin into an Abdominal Stretch which is countered into a School Boy for a win.

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
Time: 17:01
Rating: 96%
---

A Block: Rey Fenix vs. Swerve Strickland

We go from a more hard-hitting opener to a battle of flashy speedsters as Swerve looks to ride some momentum off of his upset tournament-opening victory over Chris Jericho.

Unfortunately for Swerve, he ran into a Rey Fenix that was every bit on his A-game. This match was just in full throttle the entire time and ended with Fenix connecting with a Fenix Driver to secure his first points.

Winner: Rey Fenix
Time: 8:39
Rating: 84%
---

B Block: Jay Lethal vs. PAC

Here we have our first matchup between participants who started their tournaments off on a losing note and looking for redemption. They also seemed hellbent on following up the opening B Block match of the night, and they gave it their best shot with a ton of drama and nearfalls.

PAC goes for a top rope suplex but gets shoved off the top. Lethal follows it by paying homage to Macho Man with a Flying Elbow Drop for the victory. In addition to getting his first points of the tournament, Lethal might be able to lay claim to a future shot at PAC's All-Atlantic Championship.

Winner: Jay Lethal
Time: 13:46
Rating: 93%
---

A Block: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Wheeler Yuta

On paper, this is a match that should've had all the makings of a technical masterclass. In practice, it was the 2nd straight KOR match in the tournament that just didn't quite live up to expectations. He did his job for certain, but he certainly wasn't looking to impress anybody nor get paid by the hour.

KOR is a master of not only submissions but he also has so many suplexes with pinning combinations, it's only a matter of time before his opposition succumbs, as was the case here with Yuta being put down with a Northern Lights Suplex. The former ROH World champion takes down the current Pure champion.

Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
Time: 10:25
Rating: 71%
---

B Block: Scorpio Sky vs. Samoa Joe

Oh my word, the B Block is having an incredible night tonight in terms of match quality. Another match that was packed with drama and had the crowd on their feet from the variety of near-falls that were seen. This match also saw the recurring theme continue of champions being dropped.

Joe picks Sky up for a Muscle Buster but he's able to wrangle himself free and then impressively pick the larger man Joe up onto his shoulders. Sky hits him with the TKO and takes down the ROH TV Champion in a fantastic bout.

Winner: Scorpio Sky
Time: 16:51
Rating: 97%
---

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Having nearly been forced into a near-30 minute draw only to come up with a losing effort in his last contest, Archer charged into the ring tonight hoping to put down the smaller Andrade in quick fashion. The shrewd Andrade was prepared for this and attempted to use his shiftiness to play Archer's overeagerness against him.

A stunned Andrade sat on the top rope, Archer walked over to get him into position for a Blackout, only for Andrade to reveal he was playing possum and boot him in the face. Andrade leaps off the ropes with a Diving Senton to collect 2 more points.

Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 11:40
Rating: 78%
---

B Block: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson

On paper there would seem to be some similarities to this match as the previous - big powerful dude vs. resourceful dude. It's also tough to imagine a universe where Bryan Danielson would have the worst match of the night, but such is life in Fire Pro simulations.

Bryan had an answer for everything Hobbs threw at him, whether it be an elbow strike, knee strike, or a good-ol' fashioned brutal submission. Hobbs lifts Bryan up for a Powerslam but Bryan is able to clasp his hands around Hobbs neck and shoulders. Hobbs collapses down into the LeBell Lock and Bryan forces him to tap out.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 7:24
Rating: 68%
---

A Block: "All Ego" Ethan Page vs. MJF

The combined cockiness of these two men would probably be enough to form a sucking black hole that would envelop the entire arena and maybe even the entire ZIP code. But the crowd on this night decided to support Page as the babyface. Both because MJF is the heeliest of heels in the business, and also out of appreciation for Page pulling out a MOTY candidate the other night.

Somehow, someway, Page topped his performance from a few nights ago. The crowd was absolutely losing their minds at the back and forth nature of this one, and cheering Page on as he wrestled his way to the ropes out of the Salt of the Earth armbar on multiple occasions. Page ducks MJF's attempt to hit him with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, then hits him with the spinning Uranage he refers to as the "Spinning Dwayne". Page scores a big upset and wins a classic!

Winner: Ethan Page
Time: 18:56
Rating: 99%
---

B Block: Malakai Black vs. CM Punk

We last saw CM Punk winning a match with a roundhouse kick, reminiscent of one Malakai Black. Well now he gets to face the man himself to close out the night's B Block competition. The match ran a bit shorter than expected, but it still delivered a solid showing.

The announcers pointed out that Punk's next challenger, the interim World champion Jon Moxley, beat House of Black member Brody King via knockout the other night. Punk seemed determined to do the same thing. He hits the leader of the House of Black with not one but two GTSs, forcing the ref to call the bell for a knockout win! What a statement to Moxley from CM Punk.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 7:56
Rating: 81%
---

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. Darby Allin

Although the block assignments were a surprise until competition started, if you'd seen the blocks ahead of time, these two men would've jumped out as being among the favorites for A Block. The tournament is young, but things can slip away from you in a hurry if you have too bad of a start, and now these two favorites are squaring off to avoid a dreaded 0-2 start.

The bulkier Jericho outpowered Darby for most of it, but couldn't do enough to put him down. The speedster threw caution to the wind, throwing his body at Jericho from the top rope and ring apron with reckless abandon. Darby eventually starts a string of three straight rapid fire pinning combo attempts, visibly wearing Jericho out. The fourth ends up being the charm as the Last Supper puts Jericho down for three. Darby's got his first points and Jericho starts 0-2!

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 14:19
Rating: 92%

M-A-G

07-14-2022, 03:35 AM

Dustin Rhodes continuing to have a strong showing remains funny as hell. Even his video game interpretation has this aura about it that is fueled by spite. It wouldn't surprise me if he ends up taking this whole thing. My money is on Punk but I'm probably going to be disappointed.

I actually have some time coming up for myself on the first week of August. I might use that time to do a deep dive and finish up the month of November on my game.

I can present some of the nominees for the Slammys later and see what you think. I'm not expecting anything major to qualify for the rest of the year so this should be enough but if something comes up I'll add it in.

Evil Vito

07-15-2022, 12:07 PM

Second night of C and D blocks coming in hot.

D Block: Claudio Castagnoli vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

Blackpool Combat Club vs. Jericho Appreciation Society action to kick us off as the crowd is red hot for Claudio. They have themselves a fine opener to start off the evening, I'm laughing imagining Sammy's facial expressions when the time comes to sell the giant swing.

Sammy eventually starts to take control and attempts to springboard off the ropes but it results in a stiff uppercut. Neutralizer finishes it off, Claudio continues his early AEW winning streak as the JAS falls to 0-6 in the tournament.

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 10:51
Rating: 83%
---

C Block: Frankie Kazarian vs. "The Redeemer" Miro

Perhaps he was up until the wee hours of the morning having riotous sex with Lana, but Miro just looked completely off his game here and never got out of the box against an opponent he would've been viewed as a considerable favorite over.

Kazarian controls the pace throughout as Miro struggles to really do anything, winning with a Northern Lights Suplex in the worst match of the tournament thus far. Miro will need to live up to his nickname and redeem himself soon.

Winner: Frankie Kazarian
Time: 7:56
Rating: 58%
---

D Block: Adam Cole vs. "Limitless" Keith Lee

OK, these two have chemistry together from their time in NXT so it should serve as a nice palate cleanser after that stinker of a match that preceded it. Tough draw for Cole having to face the two largest competitors in the block back-to-back, but he had a better strategy in this one as he attempted to use a ground game to work on one of Lee's knees.

Later in the match, Lee picks Cole up for the Spirit Bomb but his knee gives out! Down to one knee in pain, Lee has no way to see Cole bounce off the ropes behind him and lay down The Boom! The knee to the back of the head puts Lee down for the count and gets Cole on the board.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 12:17
Rating: 84%
---

C Block: Hook vs. Luchasaurus

Hook was taking a hell of a risk entering this tournament after only 10 matches of professional experience, but the value of facing top-tier competition can't be understated. Many would've thought this match had squash potential and instead Hook proved to be a tough son of a bitch just like his dad taught him.

Hook's sole focus on this match was to choke Luchasaurus out as he went for the Redrum constantly but could never quite cinch it in. Luchasaurus eventually slides out of it, picks Hook up and connects with a Burning Hammer to win it.

Winner: Luchasaurus
Time: 10:47
Rating: 87%
---

For the second C/D Block show in a row, Jungle Boy is booked right after Luchasaurus and he makes a bee-line for him on the way out the ramp. These two have a lot of bad blood and will have to settle their differences in the ring someday.

D Block: Jungle Boy vs. Wardlow

Jungle Boy might have business with Luchasaurus looming in the future, but for now he has to deal with the TNT Champion Wardlow who we last saw running through Adam Cole like a hot knife through butter. Jungle Boy was all fired up in this one, taking the big man off guard on more than one occasion.

The crowd rose to their feet at numerous times in this one with Jungle Boy throwing everything at the champion, including a tope suicida. Several near falls to build drama. Wardlow stunts momentum with a huge lariat. Goes to pick up Jungle Boy for a Powerbomb and it's reversed into a Hurricanrana! 1-2-3! Jungle Boy has pinned the TNT Champion!!!

Winner: Jungle Boy
Time: 14:41
Rating: 95%
---

C Block: Brody King vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

What a tough act to follow that match was, thankfully in Fire Pro we don't have to worry about matches being downgraded solely because they came after a banger! King and Starks were up to the task though, continuing the night's theme of large man vs. smaller opponent.

Starks wrangles his way out of a gorilla press, impressively gets the big Brody up for a flash Fisherman's Suplex to grab 2 more points. Starks is off to a great start in his tournament.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 12:37
Rating: 87%
---

D Block: Buddy Matthews vs. Kenny Omega

Matthews just watched his House of Black teammate get off to an 0-2 start and doesn't want to do the same, meanwhile Omega comes off of a surprise loss in his return match. Plenty of matches in this tournament are ones I'd actually want to see in real life, but this one might be near the very top of the list based on stylistic similarities.

Both men were working at a breakneck pace throughout, sometimes quite literally with the number of suplex variants being handed out. They also both need to be checked for concussions from how often they kneed each other in the face. Omega gets Buddy up in a Fireman's Carry, slams him down and then connects with a Moonsault to win.

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 12:20
Rating: 87%
---

C Block: Penta Oscuro vs. Jon Moxley

As JR would say, this match was bowling shoe ugly. Both men brought out the hardcore brawler in each other as this match went out to the floor numerous times with a chair being introduced into the mix. It's more of a shock that somebody didn't draw blood.

Penta reverses out of the Paradigm Shift on two separate occasions, forcing Mox to dig further into his bag of tricks to pull out another move. The Hook and Ladder, a move he rarely uses to finish matches anymore, ends up putting Penta down for the count.

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 9;14
Rating: 68%
---

D Block: Christian Cage vs. "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy

Much like the last contest, the D Block main event featured two men who got off to winning starts in the tournament, and you can't really find two polar opposites in terms of crowd reaction. The crowd hates Christian's guts, and he made sure to soak in every ounce of heat as he tried a ground and pound approach on Cassidy.

Cassidy wouldn't yield though, and Christian's unrepentant dickery eventually caused the normally aloof Cassidy to come alive and start mounting a big comeback. Cassidy goes for the Stun Dog Millionaire, Christian blocks. Christian goes for the Killswitch, Cassidy blocks. Cassidy connects with an Orange Punch and gets the dub to a huge pop.

Winner: Orange Cassidy
Time: 12:58
Rating: 82%
---

C Block: "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Eddie Kingston

Two of the most popular competitors in AEW lock up in this one, and they wasted no time in just pelting each other with fists and forearms. Before too long this one resembled a fight more than it resembled a wrestling match, which is par for the course for Eddie Kingston.

Page ducks a Uraken backfist and picks Kingston up for the Dead Eye. He connects with it and then jumps straight to the apron waiting for Kingston to get back to his feet. Buckshot Lariant and Page gets his first 2 points. That's some real cowboy shit right there. Hangman celebrates with a beer after as we go off the air.

Winner: Adam Page
Time: 8:49
Rating: 80%

M-A-G

07-15-2022, 10:48 PM

Second night of C and D blocks coming in hot.

D Block: Claudio Castagnoli vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

Blackpool Combat Club vs. Jericho Appreciation Society action to kick us off as the crowd is red hot for Claudio. They have themselves a fine opener to start off the evening, I'm laughing imagining Sammy's facial expressions when the time comes to sell the giant swing.

Sammy eventually starts to take control and attempts to springboard off the ropes but it results in a stiff uppercut. Neutralizer finishes it off, Claudio continues his early AEW winning streak as the JAS falls to 0-6 in the tournament.

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 10:51
Rating: 83%
---

Jericho could've called his crew the Jericho's Appreciative People Society. Then the acronym could be...um...

And don't tell me Cesaro is another victim of the WWE exodus/purging? :lol:

C Block: Frankie Kazarian vs. "The Redeemer" Miro

Perhaps he was up until the wee hours of the morning having riotous sex with Lana, but Miro just looked completely off his game here and never got out of the box against an opponent he would've been viewed as a considerable favorite over.

Kazarian controls the pace throughout as Miro struggles to really do anything, winning with a Northern Lights Suplex in the worst match of the tournament thus far. Miro will need to live up to his nickname and redeem himself soon.

Winner: Frankie Kazarian
Time: 7:56
Rating: 58%
---

Yeah, short of post-coitus exhaustion or congenital heart failure, no way some scrub like Kazarian could take a dude like Miro in a fight.

D Block: Adam Cole vs. "Limitless" Keith Lee

OK, these two have chemistry together from their time in NXT so it should serve as a nice palate cleanser after that stinker of a match that preceded it. Tough draw for Cole having to face the two largest competitors in the block back-to-back, but he had a better strategy in this one as he attempted to use a ground game to work on one of Lee's knees.

Later in the match, Lee picks Cole up for the Spirit Bomb but his knee gives out! Down to one knee in pain, Lee has no way to see Cole bounce off the ropes behind him and lay down The Boom! The knee to the back of the head puts Lee down for the count and gets Cole on the board.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 12:17
Rating: 84%
---

The Limitless moniker has potential. I'm going through my head to pin down somebody from history that could have carried it but I'm drawing a blank right now.

C Block: Brody King vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

What a tough act to follow that match was, thankfully in Fire Pro we don't have to worry about matches being downgraded solely because they came after a banger! King and Starks were up to the task though, continuing the night's theme of large man vs. smaller opponent.

Starks wrangles his way out of a gorilla press, impressively gets the big Brody up for a flash Fisherman's Suplex to grab 2 more points. Starks is off to a great start in his tournament.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 12:37
Rating: 87%
---

Yeah, that EWR tendency to fuck you for putting less over guys after a fire of a match can suck but logically you're supposed to be progressively building up the show to the most over people you've got for your main event.

D Block: Buddy Matthews vs. Kenny Omega

Matthews just watched his House of Black teammate get off to an 0-2 start and doesn't want to do the same, meanwhile Omega comes off of a surprise loss in his return match. Plenty of matches in this tournament are ones I'd actually want to see in real life, but this one might be near the very top of the list based on stylistic similarities.

Both men were working at a breakneck pace throughout, sometimes quite literally with the number of suplex variants being handed out. They also both need to be checked for concussions from how often they kneed each other in the face. Omega gets Buddy up in a Fireman's Carry, slams him down and then connects with a Moonsault to win.

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 12:20
Rating: 87%
---

Buddy Matthews sounds like a character from some '50s TV show.

C Block: Penta Oscuro vs. Jon Moxley

As JR would say, this match was bowling shoe ugly. Both men brought out the hardcore brawler in each other as this match went out to the floor numerous times with a chair being introduced into the mix. It's more of a shock that somebody didn't draw blood.

Penta reverses out of the Paradigm Shift on two separate occasions, forcing Mox to dig further into his bag of tricks to pull out another move. The Hook and Ladder, a move he rarely uses to finish matches anymore, ends up putting Penta down for the count.

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 9;14
Rating: 68%
---

I'm awaiting the day when Jim Ross going completely off the deep end and mixes up all of his trademarks and calls a match like this by screaming "BOWLING SHOE!!! BOWLING SHOE!!! IT'S BOWLING SHOE UGLY, BAH GAWD!!!"

D Block: Christian Cage vs. "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy

Much like the last contest, the D Block main event featured two men who got off to winning starts in the tournament, and you can't really find two polar opposites in terms of crowd reaction. The crowd hates Christian's guts, and he made sure to soak in every ounce of heat as he tried a ground and pound approach on Cassidy.

Cassidy wouldn't yield though, and Christian's unrepentant dickery eventually caused the normally aloof Cassidy to come alive and start mounting a big comeback. Cassidy goes for the Stun Dog Millionaire, Christian blocks. Christian goes for the Killswitch, Cassidy blocks. Cassidy connects with an Orange Punch and gets the dub to a huge pop.

Winner: Orange Cassidy
Time: 12:58
Rating: 82%
---

I honestly don't know how to feel about Christian still rocking the tights. He's most certainly not as banged up as Edge but I still question his choice.

Evil Vito

07-16-2022, 12:29 PM

And don't tell me Cesaro is another victim of the WWE exodus/purging? :lol:

Yes indeed he is. In his case, his contract quietly expired in February and apparently they just couldn't agree to terms. The longer he was gone, the more people thought they'd agree to something to return, but instead he signed with AEW in late June.

Yeah, short of post-coitus exhaustion or congenital heart failure, no way some scrub like Kazarian could take a dude like Miro in a fight.

In fairness, I'd happily go 0-9 in the tourney if the only reason was sex exhaustion.

Yeah, that EWR tendency to fuck you for putting less over guys after a fire of a match can suck but logically you're supposed to be progressively building up the show to the most over people you've got for your main event.

So here's where booking a tourney like this differs in Fire Pro than an EWR or even real life. You'd pick your tourney winner, the finalist, and kinda work backwards from there.

In the real life G1, it's treated like an actual sport and in a real sport you'd see your schedule in advance. So when they announce the G1 schedules, you know which night each match is. The one drawback though is you could quite easily look at the final night of the blocks and pretty much figure out where the tourney is going, because obviously they want it to work out so that the block is decided on the final night of the tourney.

In this case, I'm not in control of the outcomes so I just decide the matches on the fly and if two guys position themselves as favorites and haven't fought yet, I'm gonna try to push their match to the end. If I can get to the point where there is a clear cut "this guy wins the block if he wins this match" scenario then that's a win, but it's out of my control.

I honestly don't know how to feel about Christian still rocking the tights. He's most certainly not as banged up as Edge but I still question his choice.

It was one of those things where WWE benched him in 2014 out of extreme caution, and it felt like one of those things where once Bryan managed to get himself cleared after a 2-year retirement, the door would've been open for Christian to do the same but he just never seemed to press the issue.

I do think Edge returning though got him into the mindset where he actually wanted to give it a go.

Funny enough, he returned as a total surprise in the 2021 Royal Rumble (which Edge won). There was a fairly clear path to do some Edge and Christian vs. The Usos stuff on Edge's road to face Roman. Instead, Christian almost immediately bailed and signed with AEW within a month of his return. :lol:

Evil Vito

07-22-2022, 04:13 PM

Night 5!

"Judas" by Fozzy blares as a very flustered Chris Jericho makes his way out to the ring. He's heard enough shit from people about his 0-2 start to the tournament, and his Jericho Appreciation Society being 0-6 total. He's not going to wait for his match, he's demanding his next opponent get out here RIGHT NOW!

"Everybody Dies" hits and Jericho shits his britches. As and you shall receive as the 6'8" Lance Archer charges his way out to be Jericho's next opponent!

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Jericho has seen the blocks and knew who he has yet to face in the block, but arguably Archer was the man he was least hoping for to come down that aisle. Not only is he a big and tough bruiser but he's 0-2 and desperate for a win just like Jericho is.

Archer dominated the early going of the match like a house of fire, but Jericho had a few tricks up his sleeve. A well-placed low block with the ref down brings the big guy down to size, Jericho connects with a Codebreaker to land his first points of the tournament. At 0-3, Archer is an incredibly difficult mathematical spot, and he might be left playing spoiler the rest of the way.

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 9:45
Rating: 79%
---

B Block: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal is trying to ride some momentum from his win over the All-Atlantic Champion last time out, while Hobbs is in the same spot as Archer. He ended up meeting the same fate. Picks Lethal up for a Powerslam, Lethal slides off and sends Hobb into the ropes. Leg sweep, diving elbow, done. Both A and B blocks have to contend with big, mean dudes getting off to 0-3 starts.

Winner: Jay Lethal
Time: 11:41
Rating: 75%
---

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Wheeler Yuta

Two opposite trajectories in this man with one man undefeated in the tournament and the other winless. Poor Yuta gave this one his best showing of the tournament, nearly tapping out Andrade on multiple occasions but never quite finishing the job. El Idolo for the win to move 3-0 as Yuta becomes the third straight man tonight to fall to 0-3, as the line to compete for his ROH Pure Championship grows ever larger.

Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 14:28
Rating: 83%
---

B Block: Malakai Black vs. Scorpio Sky

Quite the reversal of fortunes for both men in this one. Black is coming off a knockout loss to CM Punk, while Sky is coming off of a win against Samoa Joe in one of the best matches of the tournament. But let this be an example of how a Round Robin tournament has its ebbs and flows. This match was all Malakai as he just throttles Sky for 9 tortuous minutes and puts him down for a German Suplex for the win.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 9:19
Rating: 59%
---

A Block: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Swerve Strickland

Same deal - ebbs and flows. KOR arguably looked like the most dominant man in the tournament with how swiftly he put down his first two opponents, yet tonight Swerve Strickland took him to the absolute limit.

A back and forth encounter which the crowd got really into as it went deeper into the match. Swerve proved himself to be a tough bastard, muscling his way out of several KOR suplex attempts and wrangling his way to the ropes during submissions. Swerve connects with a big lariat and jumps up to the top for a Swerve Stomp for the win!

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 17:15
Rating: 885
---

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. PAC

The cagey Rhodes has been one of the surprise performers of this tournament so far, while PAC's still finding himself scrapping for a win. Tough not to start thinking about Rhodes as an ageless wonder with the performance he churned out here. As the speedier PAC tried to quicken the pace, Dustin was able to hold his own and meet him with his strength advantage.

Fans were in for a treat as this was another one they got really into and they bought on all of the drama and near-falls. That sound Fire Pro makes when the crowd starts to get really electric during a tight match is a great noise indeed. PAC locks in a Brutalizer and Dustin refuses to yield, PAC takes a different course, goes up top and hits the Black Arrow for the win to finally get on the board. What a match!

Winner: PAC
Time: 14:11
Rating: 97%
---

A Block: MJF vs. Rey Fenix

Coming off of a surprise loss last time out, MJF looked to regain his composure against the speedster Fenix. MJF had no time for Fenix's lucha shit as he was able to cut Fenix down to size every time he looked to be getting the momentum. Fenix attempts a dive to the outside that MJF sidesteps, causing him to land awkwardly on his arm. MJF slides Fenix back in and immediately cranks back on the Salt of the Earth, bending Fenix's arm in a way it shouldn't. The referee calls for the bell!

Winner: MJF
Time: 7;19
Rating: 84%
---

B Block: Daniel Garcia vs. CM Punk

Jericho finally got the JAS on the board earlier in the evening, could this propel his stablemate to do the same? These two put on a clinic in there, with Garcia very smartly placing an emphasis over working on Punk's knees with an eye towards many of his signature moves, the least of which being the GTS.

This all comes in to play at the finish as Punk does hit the GTS but Garcia is too close to the ropes, sliding himself out of the ring and leaving Punk favoring the knee in the ring. As Garcia recovers, he gets into the ring and relentlessly assults the knee further. He locks in a Sharpshooter and then goes a step further and bridges it for extra torque. With his knee in agony and a long tourney still ahead, PUNK TAPS!!! What an upset!

Winner: Daniel Garcia
Time: 16:39
Rating: 95%
---

A Block: "All Ego" Ethan Page vs. Darby Allin

Tonight's A Block finale features two men with some previous history, as longtime AEW fans will remember Page throwing Darby down a flight of stairs while they were still in the midst of the Daily's Place COVID-era shows. The two wasted no time slugging it out and letting the bad blood flow.

Page has been one of the standout stars of the tournament thus far, putting on two masterclasses and scoring arguably two of the biggest upsets. But tonight was not his night. Darby reverses the Spinning Dwayne into an armdrag and they he quickly puts Page into the Last Supper pinning combination for the victory.

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 15:06
Rating: 92%
---

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

On paper this match was a no-brainer to close out the night as the two have a storied history with one another, battling many times across multiple promotions including a more than 45-minute ROH Title match way back in the day. Although it's been quite a long time since they've faced off, I'm sure their in-ring chemistry would pick right back up again.

Instead we got a match that was solid but nowhere near what it could have been. Them's the breaks in Fire Pro. Bryan is pretty deadly in the Fire Pro realm with so many submission and pinning combinations. Such was on display here as Bryan ducked a clothesline and turned it into a quick backslide for the win just as the match was hitting its second gear.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 11:27
Rating: 80%

M-A-G

07-22-2022, 10:53 PM

Night 5!

"Judas" by Fozzy blares as a very flustered Chris Jericho makes his way out to the ring. He's heard enough shit from people about his 0-2 start to the tournament, and his Jericho Appreciation Society being 0-6 total. He's not going to wait for his match, he's demanding his next opponent get out here RIGHT NOW!

"Everybody Dies" hits and Jericho shits his britches. As and you shall receive as the 6'8" Lance Archer charges his way out to be Jericho's next opponent!

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Jericho has seen the blocks and knew who he has yet to face in the block, but arguably Archer was the man he was least hoping for to come down that aisle. Not only is he a big and tough bruiser but he's 0-2 and desperate for a win just like Jericho is.

Archer dominated the early going of the match like a house of fire, but Jericho had a few tricks up his sleeve. A well-placed low block with the ref down brings the big guy down to size, Jericho connects with a Codebreaker to land his first points of the tournament. At 0-3, Archer is an incredibly difficult mathematical spot, and he might be left playing spoiler the rest of the way.

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 9:45
Rating: 79%
---

Jericho winning anything at this stage in his career will always put me in a tizzy. Archer seems like the kind of guy Vince would cream himself over...IF HE WAS STILL THE BOSS!!! :rofl:

B Block: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal is trying to ride some momentum from his win over the All-Atlantic Champion last time out, while Hobbs is in the same spot as Archer. He ended up meeting the same fate. Picks Lethal up for a Powerslam, Lethal slides off and sends Hobb into the ropes. Leg sweep, diving elbow, done. Both A and B blocks have to contend with big, mean dudes getting off to 0-3 starts.

Winner: Jay Lethal
Time: 11:41
Rating: 75%
---

I suppose the same sentiment for Archer could be applied to Hobbs. I'm sure Vince would love a guy like that to smash all of those puny cruiserweights...IF HE WERE STILL IN CHARGE!!! :rofl:

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Wheeler Yuta

Two opposite trajectories in this man with one man undefeated in the tournament and the other winless. Poor Yuta gave this one his best showing of the tournament, nearly tapping out Andrade on multiple occasions but never quite finishing the job. El Idolo for the win to move 3-0 as Yuta becomes the third straight man tonight to fall to 0-3, as the line to compete for his ROH Pure Championship grows ever larger.

Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 14:28
Rating: 83%
---

Tournament formats like this are great to build a dude up and have him go undefeated for a good length and have the question raised of will he lose eventually...KIND OF LIKE VINCE WHO'S FINALLY OUT!!! :rofl:

A Block: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Swerve Strickland

Same deal - ebbs and flows. KOR arguably looked like the most dominant man in the tournament with how swiftly he put down his first two opponents, yet tonight Swerve Strickland took him to the absolute limit.

A back and forth encounter which the crowd got really into as it went deeper into the match. Swerve proved himself to be a tough bastard, muscling his way out of several KOR suplex attempts and wrangling his way to the ropes during submissions. Swerve connects with a big lariat and jumps up to the top for a Swerve Stomp for the win!

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 17:15
Rating: 885
---

I'm sure he's a nice guy and all but I can't get behind the name Swerve Strickland. Who came up with it, Vince McMahon? Oh, right, he can't BECAUSE HE'S GONE!!! :rofl:

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. PAC

The cagey Rhodes has been one of the surprise performers of this tournament so far, while PAC's still finding himself scrapping for a win. Tough not to start thinking about Rhodes as an ageless wonder with the performance he churned out here. As the speedier PAC tried to quicken the pace, Dustin was able to hold his own and meet him with his strength advantage.

Fans were in for a treat as this was another one they got really into and they bought on all of the drama and near-falls. That sound Fire Pro makes when the crowd starts to get really electric during a tight match is a great noise indeed. PAC locks in a Brutalizer and Dustin refuses to yield, PAC takes a different course, goes up top and hits the Black Arrow for the win to finally get on the board. What a match!

Winner: PAC
Time: 14:11
Rating: 97%
---

Boo, the run is over for Dustin. I'm still not giving up on him. An old-timer like him can make a comeback. UNLIKE VINCE WHO'S GONE!!! :rofl:

A Block: MJF vs. Rey Fenix

Coming off of a surprise loss last time out, MJF looked to regain his composure against the speedster Fenix. MJF had no time for Fenix's lucha shit as he was able to cut Fenix down to size every time he looked to be getting the momentum. Fenix attempts a dive to the outside that MJF sidesteps, causing him to land awkwardly on his arm. MJF slides Fenix back in and immediately cranks back on the Salt of the Earth, bending Fenix's arm in a way it shouldn't. The referee calls for the bell!

Winner: MJF
Time: 7;19
Rating: 84%
---

It doesn't say Fenix tapped so I'm assuming the ref just decided to end things and call for the bell himself. Kind of like Vince in Montreal. Shame he can't do that anymore! Remember, VINCE SCREWED VINCE!!! :rofl:

B Block: Daniel Garcia vs. CM Punk

Jericho finally got the JAS on the board earlier in the evening, could this propel his stablemate to do the same? These two put on a clinic in there, with Garcia very smartly placing an emphasis over working on Punk's knees with an eye towards many of his signature moves, the least of which being the GTS.

This all comes in to play at the finish as Punk does hit the GTS but Garcia is too close to the ropes, sliding himself out of the ring and leaving Punk favoring the knee in the ring. As Garcia recovers, he gets into the ring and relentlessly assults the knee further. He locks in a Sharpshooter and then goes a step further and bridges it for extra torque. With his knee in agony and a long tourney still ahead, PUNK TAPS!!! What an upset!

Winner: Daniel Garcia
Time: 16:39
Rating: 95%
---

Not familiar with AEW as you can imagine so is Garcia a guy who is even remotely close to being on the level with Punk? It's kind of jarring to see someone who's not a name in my eyes getting the duke over a big name. Still good to know Punk's doing wrestling. UNLIKE VINCE!!! :rofl:

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe

On paper this match was a no-brainer to close out the night as the two have a storied history with one another, battling many times across multiple promotions including a more than 45-minute ROH Title match way back in the day. Although it's been quite a long time since they've faced off, I'm sure their in-ring chemistry would pick right back up again.

Instead we got a match that was solid but nowhere near what it could have been. Them's the breaks in Fire Pro. Bryan is pretty deadly in the Fire Pro realm with so many submission and pinning combinations. Such was on display here as Bryan ducked a clothesline and turned it into a quick backslide for the win just as the match was hitting its second gear.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 11:27
Rating: 80%

See, here's the problem with a match like this happening in this day and age. Yes, they're darlings and talented and all that jazz but they've been going 20+ years at this point. I don't really see much of a difference between this and Hogan and Flair headlining Raw. OK, the latter might make me hang myself with barbed wire but still. Granted this is just a game but in the real world, both guys deserve so much better at this point. If for no other reason than TO SHOVE IT VINCE'S FACE!!! :rofl:

OK, enough of that. :o

I'll see what I can do about getting around to my Slammy nominees.

M-A-G

07-23-2022, 06:03 AM

Still working on a whole list for all of the categories but this is what I've got so far for the nominations for Manager of the Year and Match of the Year:

Manager of the Year:
Jake Connelly
Paul Andrews
Luscious
Vivian Merrick
Nathan Quinn
Madison

Match of the Year:
Iron Woman Match: Jenna Kyle vs. Faith Connors on Raw
Hell in a Cell for the WWE Unified World Title: Noah Carmichael vs. Butch Fleming at SummerSlam
Last Man Standing for the WWE Intercontinental Title: Seth von Kamp vs. Brandon Reigns at Unforgiven
WWE Unified Tag Team Titles: The Future Foundation vs. The Dillingers at WrestleMania
Kerry Cemenko vs. Xavier Cross at the Night of Champions pre-show
The Play Pals vs. The Royal Effect at Unforgiven

Evil Vito

07-23-2022, 01:40 PM

Archer seems like the kind of guy Vince would cream himself over...IF HE WAS STILL THE BOSS!!! :rofl:

Funny enough, he already had him. He was Vance Archer in WWECW and was doomed from the start as he was made to shave his face and cut his hair, completely killing his look dead from the jump.

He then went on to spend a decade in NJPW though and became one of the better big man workers around.

I'm sure he's a nice guy and all but I can't get behind the name Swerve Strickland. Who came up with it, Vince McMahon? Oh, right, he can't BECAUSE HE'S GONE!!! :rofl:

He wrestled as Shane "Swerve" Strickland on the indies, had a WWE run as Isiah "Swerve" Scott and now is in AEW and just made Swerve his first name probably because people call him that anyway. I love the dude but felt like Shane Strickland was a less ridiculous name.

It doesn't say Fenix tapped so I'm assuming the ref just decided to end things and call for the bell himself.

Yep that's a Fire Pro feature. Certain moves can force the ref to call for a "Critical", effectively a K.O. It's particularly brutal when it happens in submission moves.

Not familiar with AEW as you can imagine so is Garcia a guy who is even remotely close to being on the level with Punk? It's kind of jarring to see someone who's not a name in my eyes getting the duke over a big name.

If they were to have a match in actual AEW I think it'd be one of those things where everybody knows Punk will go over, but they'd take care to make Garcia look competitive and good in defeat. In the real life G1 tourney though, there are always a handful of upsets. The IWGP champion always participates in the tourney and usually the 2 or 3 people he loses to throughout the tournament will be set up for a rematch with the title on the line. Takes care of the next few months worth of big shows.

Evil Vito

07-23-2022, 01:41 PM

M-A-G

07-23-2022, 02:11 PM

This should be the rest of the categories. Like I said, I'm not expecting anything to really blow up at Survivor Series at the 5-on-5 matches tend to not rate super high. If anything changes to where I think something noteworthy occurred, I'll make edits.

Woman of the Year (limiting it to actual competitors):
Hannah McCormick
Sonya Braddock
Faith Connors
Leah
Jenna Kyle
Naomi Bailey

Tag Team of the Year:
Future Foundation
The Royal Effect
The Play Pals
The Dillingers
The Wyldhearts
Galino & Farnes

Shocker of the Year:
Butch Fleming returns and wins the WWE Unified Title
Luscious turns on Martyn LaSalle and joins Michael Hotbody
Adam Hail and Simon Bennett return to win the Unified Tag Team Titles
Kyle Jacobs ends Salvatore Scabbia's two-year win streak at WrestleMania
Seth Von Kamp finally wins his first singles title
Brandon Reigns turns on Jake Connelly

Rookie of the Year:
Michael Hotbody
Eddy Clash
Nigel Gallagher
Neil Quint
Leah
Alexander Piero
Ethan Lang
Dusk
Ziggy Styles

Douche of the Year:
Brandon Reigns
Butch Fleming
Wrakk
Xavier Cross
Michael Hotbody
Salvatore Scabbia
Quentin McDaniels
Chris Collins

Noteworthy Moment of the Year:
Lisa Benton gains complete control after firing Vanessa.
Faith Connors and Jenna Kyle become the first Women's Tag Team Champions.
Adam Hail turns on Simon Bennett.
Jake Connelly retires.
The Play Pals are forced to split.

Cruiserweight of the Year:
Jason Sorola
Michael Hotbody
Jordan Demiras
Shawn Dangerson
Martyn LaSalle
Miles Shawcross

Superstar of the Year:
Xavier Cross
Haven
Noah Carmichael
Brandon Reigns
Butch Fleming
Wrakk
Ryan Pattillo
Seth Von Kamp
Salvatore Scabbia
Kyle Jacobs
Quentin McDaniels

M-A-G

07-24-2022, 01:06 AM

I'll have to go with Luscious and Kyle/Faith. But it is genuinely hilarious to imagine a pre-show match winning MOTY.

Fuck, I forgot to put Brooke on the ballot. She had quite a year for herself. I don't think it would have helped much since Luscious seemed like a shoo-in to take this one. She has so many tremendous assets and attributes that helped her with this category. Lovely, beautiful, and useful assets....

It would be something if a women's match were to take the title of best of the year in real life. If anyone could pull it off it'd be those two lovely ladies. I'd imagine the rest of the nominees getting pissed and feeling looked over. I kind of felt obligated to include that pre-show match because I could picture the fans in that universe being outraged on the internet over it not being appreciated.

Evil Vito

07-25-2022, 09:03 AM

M-A-G

07-25-2022, 02:23 PM

Woman of the Year: Sonya "Blade" Braddock

Tag Team: The Royal Effect

Shocker of the Year: I'll have to go with Fleming, the idea of someone coming off of a controversial longass suspension and then immediately getting rewarded would be a shocker

Rookie of the Year: Michael Hotbody, of course

Douche of the Year: Michael Hotbody, of course (lol this being added to his intro)

Noteworthy Moment: Faith and Jenna, HISTORY!

Cruiserweight of the Year: Jordan Demiras (just to give Hotbody something to complain about)

Superstar of the Year: I'll go with Brandon Reigns and his briefcase of doom

Someone like Sonya taking the award despite wrestling, at the most, 12 times in a year would be something. Did Brock manage to accomplish something like that in real life? Either way, it gives Naomi something more to use against Sonya in their little tussle. Braddock really did own the fuck out of a lot of the chicks so her wrestling so little speaks volumes.

The Royal Effect taking Tag Team of the Year despite forming in the middle of the year and not being tag champions is quite a choice. I would imagine being responsible for breaking up a super group like the Hunters and having some of the best matches on any card tipped things in their favor.

I am already working on the details of how to incorporate Hotbody's Slammy nods into his entrance. For the Cruiserweight of the Year category I imagine him storming the stage and just taking the trophy for himself and giving himself another bullshit addition to his name.

Faith and Jenna being double Slammy winners, one for them fighting each other and the other for them teaming up is almost poetic and funny at the same time. At the same time, even more fuel to anger Naomi.

A heel taking Superstar of the Year would be interesting. If Reigns can't carry the Intercontinental Title along with his briefcase, I suppose a Slammy will suffice. And next year can only get better for him as that WrestleMania cash-in gets ever closer...supposedly.

Evil Vito

07-25-2022, 02:34 PM

Yeah I was kinda imagining a situation where Sonya, Jenna, Naomi, and Faith have basically a dead heat with Sonya controversially winning by one vote or something.

And year Royal Effect are having 5 star matches nearly every show they're on, I imagine voters being begrudgingly like "man, these fuckers are really good aren't they?"

Reigns was a tough call, I just figured based on the number of accolades held during the year it could make some sense. In a way heels really are the best people to win Slammies as it's easy promo ammo but maybe that's Hotbody's thing. Not sure who else would take it though.

Evil Vito

07-26-2022, 03:32 PM

Night 6!

C Block: Brody King vs. Hook

Continuing what happened on Night 5, two winlesss competitors squared off looking to secure their first points in the tournament. Poor Hook got absolutely throttled here, this match played out in such a way that it was the single biggest drubbing in the entire tournament so far. This was all Brody all the way and the big man grabs 2 points following the Gonzo Bomb in a quick one.

Winner: Brody King
Time: 4:27
Rating: 62%
--

D Block: Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews

Inspired by his House of Black stablemate finally getting a win, Buddy Matthews looked to do the same against a game Adam Cole. Unfortunately luck was not on his side. Buddy carried all of the early momentum but he couldn't quite put Cole down before he started to mount a head of steam in comeback. A stellar match full of vicious knees thrown at each other ends quite appropriately with Cole lowering The Boom right to the back of Buddy's head.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 16:24
Rating: 96%
---

C Block: Luchasaurus vs. "The Redeemer" Miro

On paper this looked like it'd be a serious hoss fight between the unbeaten and the winless. Instead we got another stinker of a showing from Miro. Given how strong he's booked on AEW television, it's kinda fascinating to see him just get his ass kicked in Fire Pro. I'm trying to imagine how they'd actually play this off in reality, I can only assume Miro would just look completely unfocused. Dammit Lana! Anyway, Luchasaurus puts Miro away with the Land Before Time to go 3-0 and send one of the block favorites to a shocking 0-3.

Winner: Luchasaurus
Time: 7:18
Rating: 64%
---

For the third time in as many shows, Jungle Boy is booked to wrestle right after Luchasaurus but this time the security detail thought better of it and had the face tunnel covered before Jungle Boy could try to have another go at Luchasaurus. What would happen if these two have to meet in the semi-finals bah gawd?

D Block: Jungle Boy vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

After two largely terrible one-sided matches from the C Block, the D Block is definitely picking up the slack and delivering the goods. These two men have been described as being two of the four "pillars" of young AEW talent as the company first got its footing, and they gelled really well in this one. Crowd reaction intensified as Jungle Boy's lovable plucky underdog played a sharp contrast to Sammy's smarmy dickhead self.

Sammy looks like he's got Jungle Boy ready to be put away for the kill. Picks him up for a GTH only for Jungle Boy to reverse out of it and spike Sammy on his head with a Poisonrana! Jungle Boy wins!

Winner: Jungle Boy
Time: 14:43
Rating: 91%
---

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. Penta Oscuro

These two men are former friends, forging an alliance back during the pandemic days of AEW. But there's no time for friends in a tournament setting like this. True to their hardcore style, this match almost immediately got taken out to the floor with gratuitous use of the barricade. Bryce Remsburg's arm must've gotten worn out from the amount of times he had to start and restart his countout attempts.

Once the match got back into the ring, Penta was able to leverage his quickness to keep Eddie off his game. Penta connects with a Fear Factor too close to the ropes, and then tries again and Eddie, being a tough and stubborn bastard kicks out! Penta remains undeterred and hits him with a third Fear Factor to finally end it.

Winner: Penta Oscuro
Time: 11:38
Rating: 85%
---

D Block: "Limitless" Keith Lee vs. Kenny Omega

This is a match I'd quite like to see in real life, Lee moves so much better than a guy his size has any right to and Omega for my money is the best worker in the world nowadays. Anyway this was all about Omega managing to find a way to stay clear of Lee's high impact power moves, which he was able to do so successfully. A few V-Triggers are unable to put the big man down so Omega had to go to the next plan: show off his surprising strength by hoisting the big Lee up on his shoulders for a One Winged Angel! Nobody kicks out of that one!

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 9:28
Rating: 84%
---

C Block: Frankie Kazarian vs. Jon Moxley

When we last saw Kazarian, he was pulling off a surprise upset over Miro. Watching Miro tonight, it would be easy to question if maybe he just took advantage of a slumping opponent and that he'd come back down to earth against the unbeaten Moxley. Instead what we got was Kazarian proving he can absolutely rise to the level of the competition. Both men throw everything they have at one another, Kazarian narrowly avoids a Paradigm Shift and instead hits Mox with a D.O.A. for the win. Kazarian has just pinned the Interim World Champion!

Winner: Frankie Kazarian
Time: 10:24
Rating: 90%
---

D Block: Christian Cage vs. "Mr. Mayhem" Wardlow

This match was a masterclass in crowd reaction as Christian remains just about the most hated heel in the company and Wardlow is currently over as all fuck. I can just imagine the boos as Christian keeps finding ways to slither out of the Powerbomb as he did in this match. Christian keeps trying to resort to some underhanded tactics but gets thwarted at every turn. Wardlow finally connects with a Powerbomb which gets a massive pop. Wardlow decides this isn't enough punishment for an asshole like Christian so he picks him back up and hits him with a F-10 to close it out.

Winner: Wardlow
Time: 11:44
Rating: 94%
---

C Block: "Hangman" Adam Page vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

There's some definite bad blood in the C Block main event of the evening. The last time these two men faced off, it was early 2021 and Starks suffered a neck fracture during the match and it could've been a whole lot worse. So suffice to say, these two went hell for leather at each other right from the opening bell and never really let up.

Hangman connects with a Dead Eye, dropping Starks right on his previously damaged neck but he kicks out! Page goes to Plan B and heads to the apron for a Buckshot Lariat but Starks thwarts the attempt with a Superkick. Picks Page up and connects with the Roshambo for a huge win.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 10:29
Rating: 83%
---

D Block: "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Capping off the night in a big way with two fan favorites meeting up with the winner guaranteed to end the night in sole possession of first place through the first third of the tournament. Unfortunately, this match would probably be way more fun in real life than it was in Fire Pro. The game doesn't know what match is the main event since you just play individual matches within league mode...but it sure feels like they're hellbent on making every main event be mildly underwhelming.

Anyway, they never quite got out of second gear here but it was a fairly even contest throughout. The finishing spot I imagined being pretty dope though. Claudio whips Cassidy off the ropes, shoots him high into the air for a big uppercut but instead, Cassidy hits a Stundog Millionaire on the way down to get the win outta nowhere.

Winner: Orange Cassidy
Time: 10:30
Rating: 74%

Evil Vito

07-26-2022, 03:37 PM

A third of the way through group play, here is where everyone stands on points:

A Block
6 points: Andrade El Idolo
4 points: Darby Allin, Ethan Page, Kyle O'Reilly, MJF, Swerve Strickland
2 points: Chris Jericho, Rey Fenix
0 points: Lance Archer, Wheeler Yuta

B Block
6 points: Bryan Danielson
4 points: CM Punk, Dustin Rhodes, Jay Lethal, Malakai Black
2 points: Daniel Garcia, PAC, Samoa Joe, Scorpio Sky
0 points: Powerhouse Hobbs

C Block
6 points: Luchasaurus, Ricky Starks
4 points: Frankie Kazarian, Jon Moxley, Penta Oscuro
2 points: Adam Page, Brody King, Eddie Kingston
0 points: Hook, Miro

D Block
6 points: Orange Cassidy
4 points: Adam Cole, Claudio Castagnoli, Jungle Boy, Kenny Omega, Wardlow
2 points: Christian Cage, Keith Lee
0 points: Buddy Matthews, Sammy Guevara

M-A-G

07-28-2022, 10:46 PM

Night 6!

C Block: Brody King vs. Hook

Continuing what happened on Night 5, two winlesss competitors squared off looking to secure their first points in the tournament. Poor Hook got absolutely throttled here, this match played out in such a way that it was the single biggest drubbing in the entire tournament so far. This was all Brody all the way and the big man grabs 2 points following the Gonzo Bomb in a quick one.

Winner: Brody King
Time: 4:27
Rating: 62%
--

See, this is why I can't see something like this tournament working in the WWE. There's no way they'd go this long letting somebody stand with zero points. Everyone's a winner, trophies for participation. The Gonzo Bomb isn't what I think it is, right?

D Block: Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews

Inspired by his House of Black stablemate finally getting a win, Buddy Matthews looked to do the same against a game Adam Cole. Unfortunately luck was not on his side. Buddy carried all of the early momentum but he couldn't quite put Cole down before he started to mount a head of steam in comeback. A stellar match full of vicious knees thrown at each other ends quite appropriately with Cole lowering The Boom right to the back of Buddy's head.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 16:24
Rating: 96%
---

Sorry, but Buddy Matthews is such a jobber name, I think. I'd need to see him to really make a fair call because I feel like I'm being mean. I at least know Cole and his history before moving on up to the majors.

C Block: Luchasaurus vs. "The Redeemer" Miro

On paper this looked like it'd be a serious hoss fight between the unbeaten and the winless. Instead we got another stinker of a showing from Miro. Given how strong he's booked on AEW television, it's kinda fascinating to see him just get his ass kicked in Fire Pro. I'm trying to imagine how they'd actually play this off in reality, I can only assume Miro would just look completely unfocused. Dammit Lana! Anyway, Luchasaurus puts Miro away with the Land Before Time to go 3-0 and send one of the block favorites to a shocking 0-3.

Winner: Luchasaurus
Time: 7:18
Rating: 64%
---

Dude, Lana must have some glorious pie to be affecting Miro in this fashion. :lol:

D Block: Jungle Boy vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

After two largely terrible one-sided matches from the C Block, the D Block is definitely picking up the slack and delivering the goods. These two men have been described as being two of the four "pillars" of young AEW talent as the company first got its footing, and they gelled really well in this one. Crowd reaction intensified as Jungle Boy's lovable plucky underdog played a sharp contrast to Sammy's smarmy dickhead self.

Sammy looks like he's got Jungle Boy ready to be put away for the kill. Picks him up for a GTH only for Jungle Boy to reverse out of it and spike Sammy on his head with a Poisonrana! Jungle Boy wins!

Winner: Jungle Boy
Time: 14:43
Rating: 91%
---

Spanish God seems like the right way to go for a nickname. It's simple and broad, not too specific, otherwise you'd be making the fans have to spell something like Xothchipeloauticanehan or whatever.

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. Penta Oscuro

These two men are former friends, forging an alliance back during the pandemic days of AEW. But there's no time for friends in a tournament setting like this. True to their hardcore style, this match almost immediately got taken out to the floor with gratuitous use of the barricade. Bryce Remsburg's arm must've gotten worn out from the amount of times he had to start and restart his countout attempts.

Once the match got back into the ring, Penta was able to leverage his quickness to keep Eddie off his game. Penta connects with a Fear Factor too close to the ropes, and then tries again and Eddie, being a tough and stubborn bastard kicks out! Penta remains undeterred and hits him with a third Fear Factor to finally end it.

Winner: Penta Oscuro
Time: 11:38
Rating: 85%
---

Fear Factor would be a great tag team name. I'm sure someone's done it. Yes, I know of the Faces of Fear but that doesn't count.

D Block: "Limitless" Keith Lee vs. Kenny Omega

This is a match I'd quite like to see in real life, Lee moves so much better than a guy his size has any right to and Omega for my money is the best worker in the world nowadays. Anyway this was all about Omega managing to find a way to stay clear of Lee's high impact power moves, which he was able to do so successfully. A few V-Triggers are unable to put the big man down so Omega had to go to the next plan: show off his surprising strength by hoisting the big Lee up on his shoulders for a One Winged Angel! Nobody kicks out of that one!

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 9:28
Rating: 84%
---

OK, I looked up what these guys looked like and no freaking way a dude like Omega is hoisting up a dude like Lee for that. :lol:

C Block: Frankie Kazarian vs. Jon Moxley

When we last saw Kazarian, he was pulling off a surprise upset over Miro. Watching Miro tonight, it would be easy to question if maybe he just took advantage of a slumping opponent and that he'd come back down to earth against the unbeaten Moxley. Instead what we got was Kazarian proving he can absolutely rise to the level of the competition. Both men throw everything they have at one another, Kazarian narrowly avoids a Paradigm Shift and instead hits Mox with a D.O.A. for the win. Kazarian has just pinned the Interim World Champion!

Winner: Frankie Kazarian
Time: 10:24
Rating: 90%
---

First Miro, then Moxley? WTF, does this game have a hard on for Kazarian?

D Block: Christian Cage vs. "Mr. Mayhem" Wardlow

This match was a masterclass in crowd reaction as Christian remains just about the most hated heel in the company and Wardlow is currently over as all fuck. I can just imagine the boos as Christian keeps finding ways to slither out of the Powerbomb as he did in this match. Christian keeps trying to resort to some underhanded tactics but gets thwarted at every turn. Wardlow finally connects with a Powerbomb which gets a massive pop. Wardlow decides this isn't enough punishment for an asshole like Christian so he picks him back up and hits him with a F-10 to close it out.

Winner: Wardlow
Time: 11:44
Rating: 94%
---

If you're really going to double the F-5 you'd end up with the L-10. :shifty:

C Block: "Hangman" Adam Page vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

There's some definite bad blood in the C Block main event of the evening. The last time these two men faced off, it was early 2021 and Starks suffered a neck fracture during the match and it could've been a whole lot worse. So suffice to say, these two went hell for leather at each other right from the opening bell and never really let up.

Hangman connects with a Dead Eye, dropping Starks right on his previously damaged neck but he kicks out! Page goes to Plan B and heads to the apron for a Buckshot Lariat but Starks thwarts the attempt with a Superkick. Picks Page up and connects with the Roshambo for a huge win.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 10:29
Rating: 83%
---

What, is the Roshambo just a punt to the nuts?

D Block: "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Capping off the night in a big way with two fan favorites meeting up with the winner guaranteed to end the night in sole possession of first place through the first third of the tournament. Unfortunately, this match would probably be way more fun in real life than it was in Fire Pro. The game doesn't know what match is the main event since you just play individual matches within league mode...but it sure feels like they're hellbent on making every main event be mildly underwhelming.

Anyway, they never quite got out of second gear here but it was a fairly even contest throughout. The finishing spot I imagined being pretty dope though. Claudio whips Cassidy off the ropes, shoots him high into the air for a big uppercut but instead, Cassidy hits a Stundog Millionaire on the way down to get the win outta nowhere.

Winner: Orange Cassidy
Time: 10:30
Rating: 74%

I always preferred the big uppercut to the giant swing when Claudio was in the WWE. It was something out of Street Fighter.

OssMan

07-29-2022, 07:08 PM

Nice

Evil Vito

07-30-2022, 01:39 PM

The Gonzo Bomb isn't what I think it is, right?

Probably not.

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Sorry, but Buddy Matthews is such a jobber name, I think. I'd need to see him to really make a fair call because I feel like I'm being mean. I at least know Cole and his history before moving on up to the majors.

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He's on the right here. Sticks out like a sore thumb in the House of Black but he has a good look. Was Buddy Murphy in NXT and later shortened to just Murphy on the main roster. I guess he felt he needed to keep the Buddy name in an effort to sound recognizable but it sounds kinda dumb. Dude's indy name was Matt Silva which sounded way better to me.

Fear Factor would be a great tag team name. I'm sure someone's done it. Yes, I know of the Faces of Fear but that doesn't count.

Could absolutely see it being a couple of high flying dudes in a team like that. Knowing WWE they'd actually turn it into a team about the show though, show them backstage eating gross shit etc. And they'd probably try to reach out to Joe Rogan because we live in hell.

OK, I looked up what these guys looked like and no freaking way a dude like Omega is hoisting up a dude like Lee for that. :lol:

Kenny's a strong dude but yeah I'd shit my britches if he could actually pull that off. Not everybody can possess Claudio's otherworldly strength.

First Miro, then Moxley? WTF, does this game have a hard on for Kazarian?

I'm really surprised by some of these results. As the tournament progresses I try to schedule matches later and later that have higher stakes and it feels damn wrong that Kazarian is sitting there as a potential block winner in the early going. I like the guy but damn.

What, is the Roshambo just a punt to the nuts?

:lol: a punt to the nuts would be funny, but nah it looks like this in its normal form, pretty good

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My favorite iteration though was when he countered Jay Lethal's Lethal Injection finisher with it

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M-A-G

08-01-2022, 03:35 AM

No, see, the Ganso Bomb I'm thinking of is that one Kawada did where the dude is just dropped on his head. King's version doesn't look that much safer.

If we're talking wrestling Buddys there's always Buddy Roberts from the Freebirds. Yeah, he was known for being the one getting his ass kicked, but come on, it's the Freebirds.

I'm shocked they didn't try to apply that Fear Factor idea to Tommy Dreamer when he was doing that 'gross out' schtick. They could've brought in Bastion Booger to complete the package.

I like to imagine a wrestling Roshambo playing out as the two competitors agreeing to rock, paper, scissors and then the guy winning the match just goes for the punt and that leads to the pin. The announcers could play up the fact that the dude works on his mix-up game and that's why it's tough for his opponents to anticipate what he's going to do. Yeah, it'd be incredibly stupid but look where we are now in wrestling.

Evil Vito

08-01-2022, 12:08 PM

Onto Night 7!

B Block: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Samoa Joe

We've got a certified HOSS FIGHT to kick us off as two big men who have had disappointing tournaments thus far look to take out their frustrations on one another and right the ship. This match would probably rule in real life and it didn't disappoint in the slightest in Fire Pro.

I'm sure the crowd wasn't expecting to see an epic right out of the gate, and this match was just packed with drama, neither man able to put the other down as the minutes ticked away. Joe kicked out of multiple Powerslams, frustrating Hobbs to no end. Joe locks in an STF and Hobbs refuses to tap as the bell sounds! A draw! Hobbs finally gets rid of the goose egg in the point column but not the way he wanted.

Winner: Draw
Time: 30:00
Rating: 95%
---

A Block: "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer vs. Wheeler Yuta

Our opening contest saw two men desperately trying to keep their tournaments alive and that was only amplified in this one as Archer and Yuta come in with 0 points. Starting 0-3 makes a block win very unlikely, 0-4 makes it nearly impossible.

That desperation both men felt got parlayed into a classic, surprisingly becoming the best match of the tournament to date. Yuta tried his mightiest to wear Archer down with technical prowess, and proved himself to be a tough bastard by fighting out of the EDB Claw multiple times. But one last Final Days puts Yuta down for the count and gets Archer on the board.

Winner: Lance Archer
Time: 21:45
Rating: 99%
---

B Block: Scorpio Sky vs. "The Bastard" PAC

Suppose after two lengthy, tightly-contested bouts the crowd needed a reset with something completely different. Not much to say here, PAC wasn't fucking around tonight as he just runs roughshod over Sky and taps him out with the Brutalizer.

Winner: PAC
Time: 6:45
Rating: 62%
---

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. Rey Fenix

Nice happy medium from the last two matches - a nice, compact 10 minutes but they got a lot in and it worked well. Jericho controlled a lot of the early pacing and was a dickhead trying to pull off Fenix's mask before Fenix started to mound a fiery comeback. Jericho goes for the Judas Effect elbow, Fenix ducks, spins Jericho around and gets the Black Fire Driver for the win.

Winner: Rey Fenix
Time: 9:55
Rating: 89%
---

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. Malakai Black

A fairly straightforward, if sloppy, brawl between these two guys. The finishing sequence sees Dustin get his arms up with perfect timing as Malakai attempts to Black Mist him. This catches Malakai off guard as Dustin connects with the Final Reckoning for the win. Dustin season is back on!

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
Time: 8:34
Rating: 68%
---

A Block: "All Ego" Ethan Page vs. Kyle O'Reilly

I'm getting kinda lazy with commentary at this point since honestly I'm not sure what to say especially since I'm often recapping the results a day or two after I actually played the match. :lol: Anyway this match was what EWR would call "Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling", KOR puts Page down with the Northern Lights Suplex.

Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
Time: 9:51
Rating: 72%
---

B Block: CM Punk vs. Jay Lethal

Punk is looking to bounceback from arguably the biggest upset in the tournament following a submission defeat to Daniel Garcia. Instead he's running up against Jay Lethal who is on a 2-match win streak. After a good match, Punk goes for a GTS but Lethal slides off, waits for Punk to turn around. Superkick and a flash pin, the the World Champion has been knocked off twice in a row!

Winner: Jay Lethal
Time: 16:22
Rating: 85%
---

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Swerve Strickland

Andrade entered this match as the only undefeated man in A Block through the first third of the tournament. But Swerve was determined to bring an end to that. Incredibly fast paced bout between these two, the crowd was biting on some of the high spots that happened at a frenetic pace.

Andrade throws Swerve off the top and hits a Frog Splash for a narrow two count. Andrade is beside himself and arguing with the official for a while. Doesn't realize Swerve got back up behind him, Complete Shot and just like that Swerve has pulled himself to the top of the leaderboard himself.

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 11:55
Rating: 85%
---

B Block: "Red Death" Daniel Garcia vs. "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson

Garcia is given tonight's B Block finale following his upset over the World Champion, and he goes from facing one of the greatest technical competitos of all time in the currently undefeated Danielson. Unsurprisingly, these two put on a technical clinic and just torture each other with kicks and holds for days.

The fight briefly spills out to the floor as the referee attempts to regain order. Danielson charges Garcia for a Busaiku Knee but Garcia ducks, sending Danielson knee first into the ring post. Garcia slides Danielson back in and locks in the same Bridging Sharpshooter he used to put away Punk. Danielson taps! Bah gawd Garcia has knocked off two legends in a row!

Winner: Daniel Garcia
Time: 16:55
Rating: 90%
---

A Block: MJF vs. Darby Allin

Our main event of the evening sees the other two homegrown "pillars" of AEW in MJF and Darby go at it. These two have no shortage of history with one another, with MJF getting the better of Darby in a 22 minute affair back at Full Gear last year.

This match took half that amount of time but they kept the crowd engaged throughout. Darby is one of the most popular wrestlers in the company and MJF is a heat magnet, so it's a naturally nice pairing. MJF removes the turnbuckle pad to cheat, Darby thwarts it and sends MJF face first into the exposed steel! MJF is busted open. Darby quickly hops up top and lands right on MJF's face with a Coffin Drop! The referee calls for the bell as a bloodied MJF is in no condition to continue. Darby moves into a 3-way tie for 1st.

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 11:05
Rating: 91%

M-A-G

08-03-2022, 05:56 PM

I question opening things up with a hoss battle, even if one of them is Joe. But LOL @ the game deciding to go the distance and end with a draw. It gives zero fucks.

Somebody with the name "Murderhawk Monster" not picking up any wins until now would seem counterproductive in real life. Kind of like how WWE handles things. How many times have we seen the "big, scary, unstoppable monster" turn into this dancing and smiling idiot who can't buy a win. I don't even want to imagine what they would've done with Vader had he not bailed when he did. Can you imagine him and Rikishi doing the dancing heavyweight schtick? No? Because I can guarantee Vince probably thought about it once or twice.

I knew Dustin wasn't going to let me down! Now we just need the crown jewel of him and Jericho going at it with their 100-year combined age and see which geriatric the game really prefers.

This game really seems to hate Punk. Is HHH behind this or something? I really don't know what to make of its decisions especially when it goes on to act positively towards a scrub named fucking Swerve.

I hope Garcia wears some kind of creepy mask that way it can be referred to as The Mask of the Red Death. :shifty:

I wonder why more matches don't end that way in real life, where it's booked so that ref stops things because one dude just fucked up the other beyond repair. The last time I saw that was when Brock was on initial killing spree and KO'd Jeff Hardy. It'd really help in getting someone over a dangerous motherfucker. Of course the problem is finding someone to look the part but what can you do?

Evil Vito

08-04-2022, 02:43 PM

I question opening things up with a hoss battle, even if one of them is Joe. But LOL @ the game deciding to go the distance and end with a draw. It gives zero fucks.

Hobbs is actually really similar to Joe in that he's a really athletic hoss, so I think the match would actually rule. But 30 minutes? God damn.

That's definitely a rarity in this game (30 minute draws) but I suppose that's a good thing, in the average G1 you'll get maybe one or two draws at the absolute most.

Of course if I did a tag tourney like this I'd probably need to up it to 60 minute time limits, tag matches last a long ass time in this game.

Evil Vito

08-04-2022, 04:10 PM

Night 8

D Block: Buddy Matthews vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

Continuing a theme from the last show, the matchmakers apparently love to see people squirm as they decided to book the two 0-3 guys against each other in a desperate attempt to salvage their tournament. In reality this would be a fast-paced, fun match but in Fire Pro world it was a pretty clunky, one sided affair with Matthews hitting a Running Powerbomb for the win.

Winner: Buddy Matthews
Time: 8:29
Rating: 62%
---

C Block: "The Redeemer" Miro vs. Hook

Ditto in this match with the two 0-3 men trying to earn some points. Unlike the previous match, this one ended up hitting all the right notes. Miro, who'd looked surprisingly unfocused in his first few matches seemed to have a much clearer headspace in this one as he threw Hook around in the early going.

They brawl outside for a bit, Hook starts to mount a comeback that Miro shuts down. Miro locks in the Game Over but Hook gets himself to the ropes. Miro charges for a Machka Kick but Hook sidesteps to get behind him and he locks in a Redrum. MIRO TAPS! Holy shit, Hook scores a major upset and the favorite Miro falls to 0-4. Why has God forsaken Miro?

Winner: Hook
Time: 18:47
Rating: 93%
---

D Block: Christian Cage vs. "Limitless" Keith Lee

This was a really good one with Cage resorting to his usual douchebaggery to try to evade the bigger Lee, including a cheap chairshot when the ref was down. Cage hits a Killswitch onto the chair as the ref comes to and gets the W.

Winner: Christian Cage
Time: 9:33
Rating: 90%
---

Cage fistbumps his associate Luchasaurus as he makes his way to the ring for our next contest.

C Block: Luchasaurus vs. Brody King

It is time once again for everybody to come aboard the HOOOOOOSSSSSS TRAIN! Wait, that's not right. Anyway this hoss fight was short and sloppy with the undefeated Luchasaurus continuing his roll. He impressively gets the massive King up for a Burning Hammer to move to 8 points.

Winner: Luchasaurus
Time: 6:54
Rating: 62%
---

Security once again are put to work as they again crowd the face tunnel to prepare for Jungle Boy's entrance. Jungle Boy instead runs out of the heel tunnel to ambush Luchasaurus! Security and even Christian Cage get involved in breaking up another fight between the two men.

D Block: Jungle Boy vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Perhaps Jungle Boy let his emotions get the better of him tonight, because it likely wasn't the wisest of ideas to exhaust so much physical energy brawling Luchasaurus right ahead of going into the ring with someone of Claudio's stature and conditioning. Jungle Boy hung in there for a while and had some close calls but ultimately Claudio was too much on this night, getting himself back in the win column with a Ricola Bomb.

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 11:19
Rating: 83%
---

C Block: "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Penta Oscuro

As usual with these write-ups I don't have too much clever to say when it's just a match. Page is one of the block favorites off to a 1-2 start and on paper this seemed like a match he should win, but shit like Miro starting 0-4 is proof that expectations can easily be broken in this game. Anyway Hangman didn't disappoint in this case, they had a solid match and Hangman gets the win with the Buckshot Lariat.

Winner: Adam Page
Time: 11:10
Rating: 84%
---

D Block: Kenny Omega vs. Wardlow

Truly a toss-up contest here with no clear favorite going in. Wardlow has the power and strength advantage while Kenny has the tournament experience and the endurance. As it turns out the former won out. Kenny impressively was able to get Keith Lee up for a One Winged Angel last time, but wasn't up to the task this time. Wardlow slips off, picks Kenny up and hits the F-10 for the win.

Winner: Wardlow
Time: 10:47
Rating: 84%
---

Our next contest pits another undefeated man in the tournament against a man who has pulled off two major upsets already.

C Block: "Absolute" Ricky Starks vs. "You Guessed It" Frankie Kazarian

Jeez, this seemed like a compelling story going in but instead it turned into one of the worst matches in the tournament. Not even 6 minutes into the match, Starks hits a Roshambo and the ref calls for the bell. In Fire Pro, all you see is the opponent KO'd (for what the game calls a CRITICAL).

I like to imagine the reason for the KO, suppose the Roshambo is a move that could cause you to land awkwardly if the recipient didn't take their bump correctly. So let's just assume that happened as Starks squashes Frankie's momentum and moves to 4-0.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 5:37
Rating: 58%
---

D Block: Adam Cole vs. "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy

The D Block main event certainly didn't disappoint the audience. These two had a lengthy rivalry earlier this year and they seemed to pick right up where they left off with both men knowing each others' moves and strategies like the back of their hands.

Cassidy leaps up for an Orange Punch but Cole counters and takes out his knees in mid air. Cassidy slowly attempts to get up leaving him easy pickings for Cole to clobber him in the back of the head with The Boom.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 13:42
Rating: 90%
---

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley

These two are the best of friends going way back to their original indy days despite the fact that they nearly (lovingly) killed each other in an I Quit match back in the main event of Full Gear 2020. It only makes sense that the matchmakers chose to gave them a headliner spot in the tournament.

Sadly this continues a trend all tournament of Eddie just having bowling shoe ugly matches. Suppose that's not hard to do with his violent tendencies. These two just can't help but go outside and brawl and get weapons involved, and during a match with these two Bryce Remsburg allowing them to get away with everything just short of felonious assault. Mox puts away his bloodied friend with the Paradigm Shift for a victory.

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 9:46
Rating: 72%

M-A-G

08-06-2022, 03:08 AM

Raw: November 5, 2040

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Hotbody wants to thank all of his devoted followers like the two young individuals who just last week saved him from making what was sure to be a huge mistake. The love he felt from those letters was enough to inspire him to stick around a bit more. There is still so much to accomplish! In fact, his match on SmackDown! gave him an idea as to where to look for his next challenger to his Cruiserweight Title. He was very impressed with the teams he faced in that match and since a great superstar can emerge from practically anywhere as long as the right opportunity presents itself, Hotbody wants to offer a chance of a lifetime to one brave soul. Hotbody wants his next challenger to be a member of a tag team! He wonders who out there has the guts to discard their current situation for a chance at something greater! You can't fly until you fully spread your wings and, more importantly, get rid of any dead weight holding you down. Hotbody is eager to see who will rise to the occasion but anyone looking to take up this chance needs to understand that there are no guarantees here. This is only a chance we're talking about here, nothing more, nothing less. Keep in mind that Michael Hotbody is known as Mister Twenty-Forty for a reason and that's not looking to end anytime soon!

Cue the music of Gavin Jones!!! He decides to enter the ring and join the Hot Button. Hotbody is upset at this as he wasn't invited. Gavin declares that he's out here to challenge for the Cruiserweight Title. It's been a LOOOOONG time since Gavin has been involved in the championship picture and given how things went down for him farely recently, he was hoping to end the year on high note and reclaim something that's been away for too long.

Hotbody claims that he sympathizes. Actually, he can't sympathize because he hasn't had a horrible year. Plus, maybe Gavin is deaf or something but Hotbody clearly just finished saying that he wants his next challenger to be part of a tag team. If this were two months ago, Hotbody would consider Gavin for this role, you know, because he was actually IN a tag team at that point. Hotbody declares that he's been pretty caught up in a lot of drama of his own so he hasn't been keeping close tabs on everything and so he asks Gavin to remind him what happened to his tag team. Did they break up because they were bested or was Gavin's partner just so sick of him that he saw a way out and took it?

Gavin takes offense to this and grabs Hotbody by the collar. HOLD THE PHONE! Jason Sorola makes his way out and Gavin lets Hotbody go to face Sorola as he enters the ring. Sorola gets in Gavin's face and accuses him of still having unfinished business with him. Gavin has a long way to go before asking for title shots, considering Sorola was in a much better position before all of this nonsense. Gavin says Sorola's shot went bye-bye when Shawn Dangerson embarrassed him three times in a row. Sorola is right about one thing: Gavin does have unfinished business with him and he's more happy to settle it. Sorola just needs to name a time and place.

Sorola backs away and claims that he needs to think about that for a bit but then he tries a surprise sucker punch. Gavin is prepped for it and blocks it and he knocks Sorola out of the ring. Gavin turns and faces Hotbody and the champion takes a hint and decides to bolt.

Backstage, we get to hear from the Jake Connelly, talking about his shocking return on SmackDown!. He may have been forced out of the ring but he most certainly wasn't forced out of the business. Brandon Reigns may not have wanted to listen to Connelly but there is a long line of young men and women who would do damn near anything to pick the brain of a veteran like himself. Ethan Lang is one such individual. Connelly sees a lot of potential in that young man. Now, Lang isn't here tonight. Connelly has him on a rigorous preparation schedule. Tonight is all about expanding the landscape of Connelly's management career. He'll see us all later.

First Match: King Kavovit vs. Robbie Greer
Madison is with Greer as she's returned to her managerial role. She confirms that the Wyldhearts have received a chance at the Unified Tag Team Titles but that date is down the road. Tonight, she hopes that the process of chipping away at the pristine image the Royal Effect have put up for themselves continues. The titles will be a fantastic welcome back present, right up there with Chris Collins paying for what he did to her. So this match is fucking great. Who knows, the Royal Effect might just be Tag Team of the Year. Ahem...anyways, both men end up floored as Madison looks on. Chris Collins, who is evidently miffed at Madison's comments, wanders out with an incredulous look on his face and sets his sights on Madison. He gets pretty close but Alexander Piero runs out to intercept him! We get a brawl on the outside and it's what greets Kavovit as he comes to. He's at a loss and Greer takes advantage by rolling him up from behind and getting the pin. Greer goes out to assist Piero and Collins takes the hint and decides to back off for now. *****, 86% overall.

Second Match: The Lady Liberties vs. C4
Brooke is out here with C4 and she wants to talk about how Salvatore Scabbia will be making his return later tonight. If we all thought Salvatore was mad before, oh boy, we haven't seen anything yet. Not only did he ONCE AGAIN get screwed out of the Unified World Title at No Mercy but Lisa Benton actually has the gall to suspend him?!? For what? Scabbia reacted like anyone would have in that situation! Everyone saw Noah Carmichael tap out! It doesn't matter what some other referee wants to claim. He wasn't even the original referee assigned to the match! His only job was to check on the original referee! And since that first referee came to and saw the submission THAT is only call that counts! The minute the original referee in a match is capable of continuing his or her duties, any other actions by another official are null and void! Scabbia may have been punished for what he did but understand that he's not sorry in the slightest and he's going to show that same lack of mercy for anyone dumb enough to continue pissing him off. So tonight is about regrouping and getting everyone's ducks in a row. The camp of Brooke is going to get back on track and woe to the people who want to derail that.

Cue someone who is going to derail that as the Lady Liberties have a bit of a surprise with them. HOLY SHIT! JAKE CONNELLY IS WITH THE LADY LIBERTIES!!! The man has kept himself busy in these last few months. Brooke is beside herself as she obviously wasn't expecting this. A good effort from everyone here despite the charisma vacuum. Brooke tries getting her hands dirty but gets stared down by Connelly. Cordelia is left alone with the Liberties and she falls victim to the Stars and Stripes double team giving the faces the win. This is certainly not going to help the mood Brooke is in. ****1/2, 78% overall.

I think this is a DUD show. :(

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, with the returning Sonya Braddock! As she so eloquently demonstrated on SmackDown! when she knocked the taste out of Naomi Bailey's mouth, Sonya is not in the mood to be messing around. She's back for one reason and one reason only. Naomi really should be thanking Sonya for her generosity. Sonya pretty much allowed Naomi to have the best five months of her life as Women's Champion. But Sonya's generosity only runs so deep before her selfishness kicks in. It's past time that the Women's Championship returns to Sonya Braddock and Survivor Series will be the perfect stage for that to happen. Naomi had to have known that this was coming, and if she didn't then that definitely means she's not prepared for what's going to happen and that's going to be disastrous for her, even more than it was going to be already.

Naomi Bailey, the Women's Champion herself, has apparently heard enough and she takes this opportunity to come out and give Braddock her thoughts on the matter. Nobody should blame Naomi for not expecting Sonya to return on SmackDown! because after what Naomi did at Night of Champions, NOBODY in their right mind would haven thought that Sonya would be dumb enough to come back and ask for more. Everyone saw what happened that night. Sonya was humiliated and destroyed like never before. She had never suffered an ass kicking like that before. She had never suffered a loss like that before. And now she's going to come out here and try to save face? There's no shame in what happened to Sonya. Naomi Bailey is the Queen of Queens and she carried this championship better than Sonya ever did. This simply just wasn't Sonya's year and if anyone wants proof of that, they can watch Survivor Series. Naomi is more happy to give a repeat of Night of Champions and this time, it won't be a simple 5-month vacation that keeps Sonya occupied when it's all over. Don't want to believe that? Talk to Eclypse. And with that Naomi takes her leave as Sonya glares in content.

Third Match: Bobbi Jo vs. Jenna Kyle
Neither woman has their respective partners out here. Jenna is extra salty as she takes issue with Bobbi being the one to steal victory from her at No Mercy. So they have a boss match that only makes me love Jenna even more. Bobbi doesn't share that sentiment as she has Jenna down on the outside and she looks like she wants to nail her with her title belt. We'll never know if that's what she intended as Leah decides now is as good a time as any to get her hands on Bobbi and that causes the ref to call for the bell. Leah's fury is enough to send Bobbi away cowering and Jenna is all "WTF, bro?" and they have a bit of a shoving fest. The drama continues. ****1/2, 83% overall.

Fourth Match: Martyn LaSalle vs. Lonny Richards
Ozzy Mandias decides to come out and join the announce team for this match. Ozzy laments the fact that Martyn still hasn't offered an apology for his screw up at No Mercy and essentially rips into him throughout the bout. It's a good big man/little man affair. Right now, though, building up Nathan Quinn's little cabal is a more lofty goal so LaSalle is going to have to take a hit here. LaSalle ends up outside in front of Ozzy. Nathan looks like he's going to get involved and approaches LaSalle but Ozzy gets in between. LaSalle starts to get up and uses Ozzy to help in that regard. Ozzy blindly elbows LaSalle in the face, no doubt thinking it was probably Lonny trying to grab him. That sends LaSalle backwards and Lonny reaches out and pulls him back in and locks in the Dragon Sleeper and LaSalle passes out. Ozzy looks dumbfounded as Nathan and Lonny take their victory lap. ****1/2, 83% overall.

Fifth Match: Quinten McDaniels vs. Eddy Clash
Quinten wants to let Seth Von Kamp know that despite how the two of them may feel about their situation, Seth needs to understand that it's nothing personal. Seth is just the poor sap caught in the crossfire. The WWE needs to understand the frustration felt by Quinten McDaniels and if that means a guy like Seth Von Kamp needs to lose the Intercontinental Title, so be it. Seth shouldn't be so upset about it and on top of that, it's fine that this match at Survivor Series is supposed to be the last chance. Wasn't Seth prepared to call it quits not that long ago anyway? The Intercontinental Title will be in good, more deserving hands so if after Survivor Series Seth doesn't want to show his face around here anymore, he can go off into the sunset with a clear conscience. Eddy has a good showing here, despite the big experience gap. Unfortunately, Brandon Reigns must be looking to avenge being chased off on Superstars as he comes down when the ref is bumped. Clash looks to pick up Quinten but Quinten shoves him into the ropes where Brandon is waiting with his Money in the Bank briefcase. The back of Eddy's head collides with the briefcase. It doesn't send him down immediately so Brandon lends more of a helping hand by slamming it down on Eddy repeatedly until Quinten recovers enough to hit the Great Depression. The ref recovers and counts the pin for Quinten. Seth Von Kamp has evidently seen enough and runs down to try to get him some of Quinten. Brandon bails as he's got nothing to gain from sticking around. Quinten goes to the eyes of Seth and uses the opening to make his exit. ****1/2, 83% overall.

Backstage, Haven wants to jaw a bit about his affairs regarding Wrakk. Unless one is capable of seeing all sides, they are never truly safe atop the mountain. The hubris on display from Wrakk will be his downfall. Haven has proven he can get to Wrakk anytime. Wrakk has built his throne on a pile of lies. It can burn with him at Survivor Series.

Sixth Match: Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello vs. Simon Bennett and Mathias
So Brooke and Scabbia look like they are in NO MOOD to be dealing with any shit. Brooke declares that she expects ALL of her clients to be in step because she isn't going to tolerate anything like earlier tonight. Scabbia is just aggressive all fuck. It eventually comes down to Bennett and Costello as Scabbia takes Mathias on outside the ring. He locks in the Omerta and swings him around violently. The ref tries getting him to release the hold. Scabbia eventually gets annoyed enough that he throws Mathias away but he hits Justin Mitchell. Randy Ellis is all "WTF, bro?" and gets in Scabbia's face. Scabbia shoves Ellis down and issues threats. The ref uses this chance to get back in the ring and escape Scabbia's wrath. Just in time, too, as he sees Costello locked in the Bennett Lock and he taps. Oh, that's not going to help matters. ****1/2, 80% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Kyle Jacobs and Michael Haywood vs. Xavier Cross and Ziggy Styles
Kyle Jacobs takes the mic and declares that he should've known better than to expect Xavier Cross to hold up his end of an agreement. Cross is just too proud of a man, apparently. That's fine because Kyle knows how to break proud men. He's spent his time away dreaming up lots of neat ways to make Cross pay. Kyle apologizes to the people in attendance in advance because what he wants to do to Cross tonight might go over time so he understands if they feel the need to leave before he's done. They have hard work at their jobs and family to worry about, something Cross can't wrap his head around. However, Kyle hopes he can wrap something around Cross's head. Anyway, this match is a direct result from what went down on SmackDown! when Kyle made his surprise return. Ziggy continues to be an annoying idiot, constantly poking the bear of Michael Haywood. Kyle looks like he hasn't lost a step. Ultimately, Cross feels like the face team is too much for him and he decides to leave Ziggy to his fate as Kyle hits a Legacy Bomb on him and he gets the win while staring at Cross. Cross looks nervous to say the least. *****, 84% overall.

Overall show rating: 83%

M-A-G

08-08-2022, 08:56 AM

Superstars: November 8, 2040

Opening Match: Lyle Morris vs. Marc Fury
I actually have plans for Mr. Lyle over here...kind of. Anyway, you want a way to open your show hot, you get some damn fine cruiserweight action all up in this bitch. Morris gets the duke after some solid back-and-forth after coming off the top and hitting his half of the Backwoods Bomb, as Chet Morris isn't around right now...yet. ****1/2, 91% overall.

Second Match: The Love Connection vs. Galino & Farnes
Luscious gets on the mic and wants to talk about how the challenge Michael Hotbody laid out on Raw isn't the only challenge being put out by her camp. Luscious just doesn't have the greatest Cruiserweight Champion and lover under her; she also has one the greatest units of wrestling talent at her disposal. The Mean Bodyguarding Machine Zed Jones and the cream of the crop top legal counsel that happens to be one hell of a tag team, Galino & Farnes help make up the Luscious Dynasty. And with Survivor Series on the horizon, the question of what collection of talent is going to want to dare oppose them? They had better think long and hard about it because even the combined "might" of Jordan Demiras, Martyn LaSalle, and Ozzy Mandias collapsed at the hands of her boys. Nevertheless, they'll be looking forward to any group that's up for the challenge. To say nothing of the pretender over on the other side here, who has the gall to name herself Aphrodite. Luscious is the real goddess of wrestling, someone everyone should admire and who everyone will respect! So this is a typical "underdog faces vs. big baddie heels" match. It's good shit that comes to a head when Aphrodite tries stopping Luscious from slipping Farnes the GAVEL OF DOOM! They get into each other's faces and a chase ensues when Luscious slaps Aphrodite and then quickly realizes that was dumb. Greene gets in between them but that leaves Coleman alone and suffers SERIOUS INQUIRIES from Galino & Farnes and the legal counsel gets the win. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Third Match: Ryan Pattillo vs. Orlando Kincaid
Kincaid also wants to do a pre-match spiel as he wants to decry all of the craziness going on right now. Between Wrakk coming back and unexpectedly winning the Unified World Title to the drama between Simon Bennett and Adam Hail to Jake Connelly once again being a fixture in the company to new Women's Tag Team Champions, it's enough to cause some people to get lost in the shuffle. Kincaid does not want to be part of that group getting overlooked so he's taking the initiative to make sure he's noticed and not forgotten. This next match was set up by him tossing out an open challenge to anyone. Come hell or high water, Kincaid wants to be part of Survivor Series. So Ryan Pattillo answers the call and thus we have a match of two really talented motherfuckers who I've been sadly overlooking. They are going to be part of Survivor Series, I assure you, short of them fucking up backstage. Anyway, things end up outside and the count begins. Pattillo is up first and starts making his way in at around 8. Kincaid struggles to get up and tries stopping Pattillo's retreat by holding on to his legs. Pattillo uses a last gasp to yank Kincaid towards himself and Kincaid gets the wind knocked out of him as his chest collides with the ring apron. The ref reaches 10 and Pattillo gets awarded the countout win. Kincaid is pissed and decides to make Pattillo pay by hitting the OK Corral on him afterwards. *****, 94% overall.

Backstage, we have Madison who is with her team, the Wyldhearts. She's ready to put the last few months behind her. She wants to make her return mean something and it's already going well. Her boys have themselves a shot at the Unified Tag Team Titles. Tonight, McKay and Kavovit can watch the Wyldhearts tear up the main event with the knowledge that it's only a matter of time before those titles have new owners.

Also backstage, Jake Connelly is walking around on his phone. He runs into Stephan Q. Sterling who apparently has been waiting for him to pass by. Sterling is less than impressed with Connelly's return and he certainly doesn't appreciate Connelly elbowing his way through his business. Every client Connelly picks up is potential money for Sterling that's getting snatched away. Connelly makes the claim that it's not his problem if people don't want to sign up with whatever Sterling is hocking. In fact, Connelly wouldn't blame them if they chose not to. Sterling thinks Connelly is out of his depth when it comes to managing. He presents the idea of pitting Connelly's Lady Liberties against his own team of the Pacific Connection later tonight. Connelly is game and he takes his leave to let his clients know.

Fourth Match: Leah vs. Maya
Let's see how this whole face turn for Leah and Bonnie works out. If nothing else, I've got a whole new round of matches I can do with the two of them now. This one rocks but the charisma factor prevents it from being phenomenal. Leah gets the duke after hitting the Sultry Splash. Afterwards, Hannah McCormick runs down and slams her title belt into the back of Leah's head for fun. ****1/2, 87% overall.

Going to the back again as the Women's Champion, Naomi Bailey, wants to rip into Sonya Braddock. Naomi wants to know just who in the hell Sonya thinks she is? Naomi left Sonya a broken little bitch back at Night of Champions. That should've been the end of it. This year belongs to Naomi and she made it happen all by herself! Sonya has got a lot of nerve walking back in here and laying her hand on Naomi! Sonya just had to go for a cheap shot because she found out the hard way that she can't handle Naomi head on. Sonya barely survived WrestleMania and she most certainly suffered the worst loss in her career at Night of Champions so nobody can tell Naomi that she isn't the best. The Queen of Queens reigns supreme and will continue to reign supreme. So the bottom line is that Survivor Series is on and that's the best that Sonya can hope for: surviving.

Fifth Match: Kerry Cemenko vs. Romeo Valiente
Nothing much to say here other than I'm slapping some really talented motherfuckers together. I need to do something with Cemenko. Maybe one of the new people can debut against him. Anyway, Cemenko gets the clean pin after a Curb Stomp. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Sixth Match: The Lady Liberties vs. The Pacific Connection
Before the match, Connelly wants to bring up the fact that when he presented this match to his clients, Ethan Lang was kind of disappointed being left out. So Connelly has a propostion for Sterling. How about Ethan gets to join in and Sterling picks out one of the Young Bloods to make this a six-person affair? Sterling has no problem with that as he'll get to see all of Connelly's clients humiliated in one go. So Sterling sends in Matt Riley and thus we get...

Sixth Match: Ethan Lang and the Lady Liberties vs. Matt Riley and The Pacific Connection
Riley kind of sticks out here as he's got more experience under him than probably everyone else combined. All eyes are on Connelly's group as the question is up in the air as to how well Connelly is mentoring them and whether or not they're worthy of his attention. It's a great match nonetheless and it comes down to the guys and Lang is able to get the upset after hitting Riley with the Bitter Languish. Sterling is beside himself! Things are looking OK so far in Connelly's camp. ****1/4, 84% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with Eddy Clash! Clash wants to recall how excited he was when he signed his contract to fulfill his lifelong dream of being part of the WWE. Unfortunately, it's been a while since he's experienced anything close to that. He wants to call attention to the coward known as Brandon Reigns and the briefcase that he carries around. Clash may be a rookie but Reigns himself has a long ways to go before he can carry himself as a world champion. And maybe that's the real reason Reigns hasn't cashed it in. Maybe in the back of his mind, Reigns knows that he's all talk. If Reigns is more than bluster, then he'll have no problem accepting Clash's challenge to a match at Survivor Series to get all of this business between them hashed out.

Cue the music of Brandon Reigns and the Money in the Bank contract holder makes his way out, incredulous that Clash would be calling him out. Reigns says he takes great pleasure in being someone who's helped turn Eddy Clash's WWE dream into a nightmare. Reigns warned Clash a long time ago that things were going to go south for getting involved in his business. Clash has nobody to blame but himself. Clash started all of this and Reigns, being the kind and merciful person that he is, has already tried to finish it but Clash continues to be a stubborn idiot, just like when the two of them first crossed paths. And as far as this stupid little challenge goes, Clash is far beneath Reigns that Clash should be grateful that Reigns is even out here talking to him. Clash doesn't deserve a stage like Survivor Series, at least not across from Brandon Reigns. "Simply put, Eddy, keep dreaming." And with that Reigns takes his leave and Clash looks annoyed at this.

MAIN EVENT: Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello vs. The Wyldhearts
Brooke wants to let us all know that despite her, Scabbia, and Ronnie being upset and disappointed with Justin Mitchell and Randy Ellis after what went down on Raw, they're not about to hold a grudge because they know the two of them realize they screwed up and that getting back on the same page is all that matters. Luscious talked earlier about a strong force under her watch but the real power group is whoever follows Brooke. So you can either get with the program or get crushed and join Noah Carmichael in whatever hole he crawled into! Brooke then addresses Madison and tells her that she picked the wrong time to come back and that Scabbia and Ronnie are going to mess up the Wyldhearts so badly, they won't even have a chance to worry about becoming tag team champions. The match that ensues rules all kinds of ass as the Wyldhearts know how sell and make Scabbia look like a complete monster. It breaks down after the hot tag which leaves Greer and Scabbia as the legal men. The Academy decides to make themselves known just as Scabbia is about to lock in the Omerta. Brooke looks happy BUT WTF IS THIS?!?!?!? The Academy attacks Scabbia and Costello!!! That's going to draw a DQ but that's just a formality. Brooke is irate to say the least as she has to watch the continued assault from the Academy. Costello is no condition to help as Scabbia falls victim to the double team when the Academy hits the PHD on him. I suppose this is a face turn from Ellis and Mitchell but what happens now? WE'RE OUT OF TIME!!! *****, 95% overall.

Overall show rating: 90%

Evil Vito

08-08-2022, 09:03 AM

Yessssss Hotbody's intro gets even longer! Pretty soon it will be long enough to sustain the universe in and of itself. The whole "I can sympathize....wait no I can't" is a brilliant bit of heelery :lol:

Sadly yes your return show was a DUD, even though in this universe a DUD show would've been the show of the year compared to a modern day Raw. I just sorts shrug it off and embrace the wonderful star ratings that pour in in spades.

Jake Connelly expanding his stable is a good thing. I do love the prevalence of managers in your universe. I never thought managers necessarily needed to form a stable around them either, they can just simply sign multiple clients and manage them individually. AEW's got something like that happening now with Stokely Hathaway.

Cross being a bitch and leaving the tag is another classic heel tactic.

Banging out a few 80+ overall matches even in a DUD show speaks to the quality of the roster and how over everybody is.

M-A-G

08-08-2022, 12:37 PM

See? I knew I'd be able to crank out a couple of shows once I had the free time to focus on them. Does this mean I can crank out a third show before the end of the day?!?!

I mean, probably not...:o

Evil Vito

08-08-2022, 02:51 PM

Evil Vito

08-08-2022, 04:17 PM

Night 9

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta

Ironic timing for this one as these two just main evented last week's Dynamite in real life, yet here they are facing off in the opener with all of 2 points between them. The real life match was actually a lot of fun and I kinda felt a similar vibe here with Yuta being the fiery underdog getting ever so close to pulling off the upset only for Jericho to stunt the momentum with a well-placed cheap shot. Jericho takes it old school and wrenches Yuta's back in the Liontamer for a win. Jericho moves up to 4 points while poor Yuta stays winless.

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 14:53
Rating: 96%
---

B Block: Jay Lethal vs. Scorpio Sky

When I script out a card I do seem to always put the guys with the lowest amount of points early even when they're facing someone near the top of the block. Such was the case here as Sky's 2 points sees him in the opener against Lethal coming off of a big win against Punk. Lethal carries this momentum right on through into a really great contest between the two. Sky ducks a Clothesline and hits a Superkick for a flash pin.

Winner: Jay Lethal
Time: 13:56
Rating: 93%
---

A Block: Darby Allin vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Holy shitballs, Archer might be turning into the tournament MVP despite the relative lack of success in the points column. He's had multiple really long, epic matches including this one which could've been a prototypical little guy vs. big guy match and instead turned into much more, spilling all over the arena floor and everywhere else.

Darby shows he's just a glutton for punishment as he finds a way to kick out of everything Archer throws at him, from the Big Boot through the Final Days. Archer picks him up for a Powerbomb which Darby reverses into a Hurricanrana for a successful pin and a guaranteed share of 1st place for another week.

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 26:30
Rating: 94%
---

B Block: Samoa Joe vs. "The Bastard" PAC

Guess we've had too many bangers in a row so it only makes sense that a match that, on paper, would also be a banger ends up being a big disappointment. For a second show in a row, PAC shows he's not being paid by the hour as he just throws everything he has at Joe in short order. Maybe Joe is still feeling the effects of the 30 minute draw last time out but he just couldn't keep up with PAC and the Black Arrow finishes things up.

Winner: PAC
Time: 6:45
Rating: 64%
---

A Block: MJF vs. Swerve Strickland

File this one under "matches that I'd like to see in real life if MJF ever actually fucking returns". This show is batting .800 in terms of quality as the two go back and forth with MJF's attempts to cheat never quite being enough to put Swerve away.

MJF apparently didn't learn his lesson from last time as he again tries to expose a corner post, only to see his effort go awry and see him sent into the steel instead. Swerve heads up for the Swerve Stomp and grabs the win.

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 13:02
Rating: 86%
---

B Block: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. CM Punk

Samoa Joe being exhausted from his 30 minute encounter with Hobbs no longer seems like a valid excuse as Hobbs went out there and had himself another lengthy battle, this time against CM Punk. Fun fact - yours truly was in attendance the last time these two wrestled one another, at last year's Grand Slam event in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was just Punk's second match back. Was a good match and I'd be happy to see it again.

Anyway, Punk enters this match reeling from two straight defeats to Daniel Garcia and then Jay Lethal. He's clearly hurting and favoring his knee, and Hobbs is relentless in his pursuit. He did muster just enough strength in that knee to roll out of a Powerslam and hit a well-placed GTS to stop the bleeding and get himself back in the win column.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 21:38
Rating: 98%
---

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Ethan Page

This show has been on great match overload so it only makes sense we veer back down into the "perfectly acceptable" territory of things. Crowd wasn't sure who to support this one as it was two cocky pricks going had to had, but Page's early tournament momentum has certainly vanished. Andrade hits the El Idolo DDT to move into a three-way tie atop the leaderboard.

Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 9:37
Rating: 76%
---

B Block: Malakai Black vs. Daniel Garcia

Garcia is coming into this match after successive tapouts of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, so really no matter what else he does here, he's got a boasting point for a long while. Unfortunately his luck seems to have run out here as Black was there to meet him strike for strike. These two kick the shit out of each other (quite literally), right up through Black hitting the Black Mass kick to secure the W.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 11:42
Rating: 89%
---

A Block: Kyle O'Reilly vs. Rey Fenix

KOR saw 3 other men climb up to 8 points tonight, and with a W tonight he could join them. Instead he ran into Rey Fenix who was just having nothing of it. KOR's dangerous with his kicks, holds, and suplexes but Fenix had the speed advantage to evade some of his most effective offense. KOR goes for a German Suplex and Fenix backflips his way out of it, picks KOR up for a Black Fire Driver and the win. Fenix equalizes KOR with 6 points.

Winner: Rey Fenix
Time: 9:57
Rating: 72%
---

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes

Coming off of a big win against Malakai Black, matchmakers decided to reward Dustin with a main event spot against Danielson as both men go into this match sitting at 6 points. These two had themselves a really nice match, back and forth throughout with several nearfalls on both sides.

Danielson kicks out of the Final Reckoning to Dustin's surprise. He picks Bryan up to go for it again but Bryan fights his way out of it before laying in a barrage of kicks. Bryan heads off to the corner and waits for Dustin to rise. Busaiku Knee! And the Dragon is back in the win column.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 11:14
Rating: 88%

All in all pretty easily be best night of the tournament from a match rating perspective.

Evil Vito

08-09-2022, 11:16 AM

Night 10

C Block: "The Redeemer" Miro vs. Penta Oscuro

Miro finally showed some signs of life even in a defeat last week, unfortunately for him he's in a spot where he'd need to rattle off 5 wins AND get help to even win the block. Is tonight the night he finally gets off the schnide?

LOL nope. He and Penta have a solid opener but once again it comes down to just a slight mistake, the Matchka Kick is ducked and Penta hits the Pentagon Driver for the victory. God has fully turned against The Redeemer, as Penta picks up the big win to stay in contention.

Winner: Penta Oscuro
Time: 9:23
Rating: 83%
---

D Block: Adam Cole vs. "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara

Sammy still finds himself on the hunt for his first points as well as he matches up with Adam Cole who put away one of his rivals last time out. These two had a very fast paced match that got the crowd revved up. Sammy is on his knees, Cole lines up for The Boom but Sammy drops last minute, throwing Cole off guard. Sammy leaps up for a snap suplex. Runs up to the top rope and hits a Shooting Star Press for the win! Sammy scores a huge win!

Winner: Sammy Guevara
Time: 13:11
Rating: 86%
---

C Block: "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Brody King

The crowd is fully behind Hangman in this one as he fights from behind despite the size disadvantage he has going against the big man king. Page shows why he is a former World Champion, taking all of the punishment King will offer and even managing to kick out of the Gonso Bomb.

King tries for another Gonso Bomb, which Page slides out of into a Rollup, only for King to then flip over into his OWN rollup and his weight is too much for Page to overcome. King scores a win and stuns the crowd who are just crestfallen to see Page's path to a block win look even murkier.

Winner: Brody King
Time: 11:00
Rating: 91%
---

D Block: Buddy Matthews vs. Wardlow

Let this matchup be a lesson that there is no such thing as a gimme in this kind of tournament, especially not with this roster. Even coming off of a win last time out, few would've given Buddy much of a shot against the TNT Champion Wardlow who just pinned one of the biggest names in the company last time out.

Instead, Buddy kept a respectable accounting of himself and threw everything he had at Wardlow, managing to avoid the dangerous Powerbomb. Wardlow course corrects and goes for the F-10 but Matthews is able to counter and land on his feet. A couple of palm strikes and knees keep Wardlow off balance before Buddy goes up top and connects with a Meteora knee drop and he scores a major upset!

Winner: Buddy Matthews
Time: 13:44
Rating: 85%
---

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

This match seemed to lack a lot of the intensity and drama the last few have but they had a respectable showing. Eddie, as usual, took things out to the floor but Starks was having none of it and kept bringing the action back into the safe haven of the ring. Starks ducks a Uraken and hits a Fisherman's Suplex to get the win and move to a perfect 5-0 in the block.

Winner: Ricky Starks
Time: 12:31
Rating: 75%
---

D Block: Claudio Castagnoli vs. "Limitless" Keith Lee

Keeping the train right on rolling with another good one here. Two really strong men here with Claudio being basically superhuman in his ability to throw Lee around, while Lee is just a big powerful dude on his own. A nice mix of power and agility displayed by both men, getting the crowd into it over an even contest. Apparently even Claudio has his limits as his attempt to throw Lee up for an uppercut fail and instead Lee picks him up for a Spirit Bomb to get the victory.

Winner: Keith Lee
Time: 11:55
Rating: 88%
---

C Block: Hook vs. Jon Moxley

Hook is coming off a win against Miro in possibly one of the biggest on-paper upsets in the tournament, and now he's got the biggest test in the block in the interim champion Moxley. This match felt like less of a match and more of just a fight with both guys laying it in hard and trying to choke one another out MMA style. Hook gets Mox in a chokehold and goes to sit on the top rope for extra leverage but Mox fights out of it, and delivers a devastating Paradigm Shift from the higher elevation for the win.

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 10:48
Rating: 83%
---

D Block: "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy vs. Kenny Omega

Fire Pro really loves to take what should be a surefire great match and turn it into a big 'ol disappointment. These two had a really fun feud in the spring of 2021 but sadly it didn't translate into this match. Instead it wound up being a fairly one-sided affair in favor of Omega who was so determined to make up for his loss last time out yet he didn't even need to really break out the big guns. Omega prevails with a Kotaro Krusher.

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 7:09
Rating: 66%
---

C Block: Luchasaurus vs. "You Guessed It" Frankie Kazarian

Never would've dreamed of this match getting the honors of being a block main event but here we are as Luchasaurus is unbeaten and Frankie, despite a loss last time, still had a couple of huge upsets to his credit in the early going. These two took the ball and ran with it in this one as they had themselves a hell of a match with Frankie nearly ending Lucha's streak on multiple occasions. But Mr. Saurus eventually has enough of this shit and puts Frankie down with a Chokeslam to tie Starks at 10 points.

Winner: Luchasaurus
Time: 10:12
Rating: 91%
---

Once again, security line the entry ways (both of them this time) to prevent Jungle Boy from jumping Luchasaurus. But fans then quickly realize by process of elimination that, oh shit, Jungle Boy and Christian Cage are the last two men to fight! These two have been at each others throats for months and now they're getting a chance to settle things in the tournament!

D Block: Jungle Boy vs. Christian Cage

Maaaaaan. These two have an intense rivalry in real life and I suspect their feud will culminate with a PPV match at All Out in a few weeks. So I figured hey, they're in the same block here so let's have them main event a show. Having a match that should be good but isn't is the Fire Pro equivalent of a non-clicking/DUD EWR show.

Not a whole lot to say about the actual match as it was underwhelming as hell. Christian had the early advantage and controlled the tempo, which is fine because he's the heel. But Jungle Boy never had his fiery comeback and every attempt was quickly thwarted. A low blow with the ref's back turned and a Killswitch later, and Christian wins. DAMN YOU CHRISTIAN!

Winner: Christian Cage
Time: 10:14
Rating: 70%
---

D Block is an absolute shitshow right now with 6 men at 6 points, 3 men at 4 points and Sammy Guevara at 2 points. To be at only 2 points through 5 matches and still have a realistic chance is pretty unhear of. This block is truly wide open.

M-A-G

08-09-2022, 01:32 PM

Night 9

A Block: Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta

Ironic timing for this one as these two just main evented last week's Dynamite in real life, yet here they are facing off in the opener with all of 2 points between them. The real life match was actually a lot of fun and I kinda felt a similar vibe here with Yuta being the fiery underdog getting ever so close to pulling off the upset only for Jericho to stunt the momentum with a well-placed cheap shot. Jericho takes it old school and wrenches Yuta's back in the Liontamer for a win. Jericho moves up to 4 points while poor Yuta stays winless.

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 14:53
Rating: 96%
---

Is anyone seriously getting over with the name Wheeler Yuta? Why not just "Yuta"? I know the NXT Name Generator is everyone's favorite punching bag but that doesn't let everyone else off the hook.

B Block: Jay Lethal vs. Scorpio Sky

When I script out a card I do seem to always put the guys with the lowest amount of points early even when they're facing someone near the top of the block. Such was the case here as Sky's 2 points sees him in the opener against Lethal coming off of a big win against Punk. Lethal carries this momentum right on through into a really great contest between the two. Sky ducks a Clothesline and hits a Superkick for a flash pin.

Winner: Jay Lethal
Time: 13:56
Rating: 93%
---

It's going to be the year 3207 and wrestling will have been reduced to small underground "fight clubs" with mutated humans who have survived nuclear fallout and there will still be jackoffs winning matches with a Superkick.

A Block: Darby Allin vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Holy shitballs, Archer might be turning into the tournament MVP despite the relative lack of success in the points column. He's had multiple really long, epic matches including this one which could've been a prototypical little guy vs. big guy match and instead turned into much more, spilling all over the arena floor and everywhere else.

Darby shows he's just a glutton for punishment as he finds a way to kick out of everything Archer throws at him, from the Big Boot through the Final Days. Archer picks him up for a Powerbomb which Darby reverses into a Hurricanrana for a successful pin and a guaranteed share of 1st place for another week.

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 26:30
Rating: 94%
---

Can Fire Pro be worked to where you can have wrestlers using trademark foreign objects? It'd be something if the game were to have Darby pull his skateboard from under the ring and use it to score the win over a larger guy like Murderhawk.

B Block: Samoa Joe vs. "The Bastard" PAC

Guess we've had too many bangers in a row so it only makes sense that a match that, on paper, would also be a banger ends up being a big disappointment. For a second show in a row, PAC shows he's not being paid by the hour as he just throws everything he has at Joe in short order. Maybe Joe is still feeling the effects of the 30 minute draw last time out but he just couldn't keep up with PAC and the Black Arrow finishes things up.

Winner: PAC
Time: 6:45
Rating: 64%
---

Everyone has their off days, I guess. Not even Kevin Nash could keep up a 30% effort on a consistent basis.

A Block: MJF vs. Swerve Strickland

File this one under "matches that I'd like to see in real life if MJF ever actually fucking returns". This show is batting .800 in terms of quality as the two go back and forth with MJF's attempts to cheat never quite being enough to put Swerve away.

MJF apparently didn't learn his lesson from last time as he again tries to expose a corner post, only to see his effort go awry and see him sent into the steel instead. Swerve heads up for the Swerve Stomp and grabs the win.

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 13:02
Rating: 86%
---

I'm having a hard time explaining it but for some reason the game granting so much favor to a motherfucker named Swerve Strickland pisses me off.

B Block: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. CM Punk

Samoa Joe being exhausted from his 30 minute encounter with Hobbs no longer seems like a valid excuse as Hobbs went out there and had himself another lengthy battle, this time against CM Punk. Fun fact - yours truly was in attendance the last time these two wrestled one another, at last year's Grand Slam event in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was just Punk's second match back. Was a good match and I'd be happy to see it again.

Anyway, Punk enters this match reeling from two straight defeats to Daniel Garcia and then Jay Lethal. He's clearly hurting and favoring his knee, and Hobbs is relentless in his pursuit. He did muster just enough strength in that knee to roll out of a Powerslam and hit a well-placed GTS to stop the bleeding and get himself back in the win column.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 21:38
Rating: 98%
---

Punk uses a knee-based move to win even though his knee is fucked is like when Edge had his arm worked over the entire time but still winning with the Spear.

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Ethan Page

This show has been on great match overload so it only makes sense we veer back down into the "perfectly acceptable" territory of things. Crowd wasn't sure who to support this one as it was two cocky pricks going had to had, but Page's early tournament momentum has certainly vanished. Andrade hits the El Idolo DDT to move into a three-way tie atop the leaderboard.

Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Time: 9:37
Rating: 76%
---

I'm sure there are other people under the AEW banner I'd appreciate to have in a 3-way...

B Block: Malakai Black vs. Daniel Garcia

Garcia is coming into this match after successive tapouts of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, so really no matter what else he does here, he's got a boasting point for a long while. Unfortunately his luck seems to have run out here as Black was there to meet him strike for strike. These two kick the shit out of each other (quite literally), right up through Black hitting the Black Mass kick to secure the W.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 11:42
Rating: 89%
---

This makes me call back to when CM Punk tweeted how he shit his britches on SmackDown!.

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes

Coming off of a big win against Malakai Black, matchmakers decided to reward Dustin with a main event spot against Danielson as both men go into this match sitting at 6 points. These two had themselves a really nice match, back and forth throughout with several nearfalls on both sides.

Danielson kicks out of the Final Reckoning to Dustin's surprise. He picks Bryan up to go for it again but Bryan fights his way out of it before laying in a barrage of kicks. Bryan heads off to the corner and waits for Dustin to rise. Busaiku Knee! And the Dragon is back in the win column.

Winner: Bryan Danielson
Time: 11:14
Rating: 88%

I'm torn on this one. I mean, yay for Bryan but at the same time fuck him for possibly derailing my horse in Dustin. :(

Evil Vito

08-09-2022, 03:52 PM

Is anyone seriously getting over with the name Wheeler Yuta? Why not just "Yuta"? I know the NXT Name Generator is everyone's favorite punching bag but that doesn't let everyone else off the hook.

Funny thing is apparently he really was just gonna go by YUTA (stylized in all caps like Japanese wrestlers often do) but his trainer Drew Gulak gave him the first name Wheeler for no real particular reason and it stuck.

Hell of a worker IRL though and seems to be getting over with crowds, puzzling name aside.

Everyone has their off days, I guess. Not even Kevin Nash could keep up a 30% effort on a consistent basis.

If Nash ever put in a higher effort the risk of a quad tear greatly increases. He motored across the ring at a solid 40% and look what happened.

I'm having a hard time explaining it but for some reason the game granting so much favor to a motherfucker named Swerve Strickland pisses me off.

I'm not entirely surprised he's doing well but am surprised he might genuinely win the block. On paper he feels like he has the "easiest" schedule left of the contenders.

Punk uses a knee-based move to win even though his knee is fucked is like when Edge had his arm worked over the entire time but still winning with the Spear.

I'm always of two minds about it. Whilst you should be selling the injury, I'm okay using that body part for the finish provided you sell the shit out of it. Like "oh man this is gonna fuck my knee up even more but it really is my best option.

If you can't do that you need at least a believably secondary finisher to turn to.

I'm sure there are other people under the AEW banner I'd appreciate to have in a 3-way...

https://c.tenor.com/xqWLxj6bIBUAAAAd/tayjay-anna-jay.gif

OssMan

08-11-2022, 11:48 AM

:y:

M-A-G

08-11-2022, 10:28 PM

SmackDown!: November 9, 2040

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Hotbody claims that his phone has been ringing off the hook from offers to challenge for his Cruiserweight Title. There are just so many potential victims to choose from. Sadly, Hotbody had to take notice of the fact that El Dandy was NOT one of the people stepping forward. He's in a tag team, isn't he? Him and his old lady? Nevertheless, as El Dandy continues to deny giving the people the epic of a lifetime, Hotbody has a lot of thinking to do. He can obviously ignore Gavin Jones. He was way out of line on Monday when he had the arrogance to make demands of Michael Hotbody. His misfortunes aren't Hotbody's problem. Hotbody has enough problems on his plate and that includes trying to find decent grub in this miserable Louisiana town. Why does everything have to be so damn spicy here? He may be Michael Hotbody but there are limits to what even he can tolerate! And what the hell is the thought process behind gumbo and jambalaya anyway? You just toss in whatever is in a 6-foot radius around the pot? Hotbody needs the proper food intake to keep up his intense training regimen that allows him to be the greatest Cruiserweight Champion in the company's history. Do you think he got all of those accomplishments that appear before his name by eating this kind of sludge? No, the quicker Hotbody can get out of here, the better. He has work to do and it can't get accomplished sticking around this place any longer than he has to!

This calls for someone to interrupt these proceedings. And it's Lyle Morris of all people??? Well he is a Louisiana boy. He enters the ring and gets in the face of Hotbody. Lyle declares that Louisiana isn't the problem. The problem is Michael Hotbody isn't enough of a man to handle the way they do things here. But then again, that's been Hotbody's trademark for the last year, hasn't it? Not being a man about things and spending all his time crying about everything.

Hotbody is taken back at these comments and demands to know just who the hell Lyle Morris thinks he is talking this way! Lyle brings up the point that Hotbody is looking for a challenger for the Cruiserweight Title and if people will recall, Lyle Morris was part of probably one of the best matches at WrestleMania when he competed for that belt. And, of course, let's not forget the fact that Hotbody is looking for someone who's part of a tag team. Add all of that up and it shouldn't take a genius to figure out what Lyle's business here is.

Hotbody looks like he's trying to hold in a laugh. "Oh, you can't be serious, right? Sorry, what exactly have you done to even consider thinking about asking for this opportunity? WrestleMania might as well be a lifetime ago. Besides, you're not in a tag team either considering your other half has been spending the last few months..."

"DON'T GO THERE!" Lyle interrupts. "Chet is more of a man than you'll ever be and he'll prove it by getting past all of what's happened to him. Of course, you can prove me wrong by giving me that title shot."

"Um, OK. Let me think about it...NO! And you want to know why? Chet is in no way a real man because your cousin's going to show up, join up with you again, and then get reminded about why he went to where is right now in the first place!"

That's enough to cause Lyle to snap and he nails Hotbody and the champion goes down. Lyle goes into the mount and gets in some more shots before Hotbody manages to shove him off and take his belt and run away. Hotbody just can't seem to stop making friends.

Backstage, we see that Brooke is arriving with Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello. Our crack interview team tries getting a word with them and Brooke claims that they're here to set a few things straight with the Academy. Oh, boy, did they make the stupidest mistake they could've made last night. Those two ingrates are going to bite her hand? After everything they've been through? After everything she's done for them? And especially with the mood Scabbia has been in? Randy Ellis and Justin Mitchell are NOT leaving this arena tonight under their own power!

First Match: Alexander Piero and The Wyldhearts vs. Jerome McDougall and the Millennium Rebels
Madison gets on the mic and says that this lovely reunion of her and her clients has been a long time coming and she couldn't be prouder of all of them. The Wyldhearts are in prime position to become the next Unified Tag Team Champions and Piero did nothing but carry the torch for her while she was gone. It's time to start to giving out as much as they've been taking. This match is 6-man goodness as you can imagine. Aaron Ramsey has himself a good crew under his watch but they have a role to serve here in putting over Madison's crew. Piero manages to hit Sammy Brady with the Flashpoint and picks up the win for the faces. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Second Match: Eddy Clash vs. Brandon Reigns???
Clash is on the mic and makes the declaration that he should be facing Brandon Reigns here tonight right now. After all, Reigns said that Survivor Series wasn't the stage for it so Eddy figured a change of stage would lead to Reigns changing his mind. The venue isn't so important as much as being able to kick Brandon's ass. Surely a change of scenery will be enough to convince Reigns to answer the challenge and step into this ring tonight, right?

We get no response for a good while despite Clash's repeated attempts. Finally, the music of Orlando Kincaid hits and the man himself steps out and begins making his way down to the ring. Orlando calls Eddy pathetic and a bonafide idiot. He needs to be able to take a hint. It's fairly obvious that time and place isn't what actually matters to Brandon Reigns. Eddy Clash himself is the thing that makes it not worth it. On the bright side, Kincaid doesn't really have much to do tonight and since he's still on his big initiative kick he started last night, Kincaid will happily take the place of Brandon Reigns tonight. Eddy Clash gives his approval to the ref and so we get...

Second Match: Eddy Clash vs. Orlando Kincaid
More good shit here. Clash shows a pretty awesome big man game as Kincaid does his best to outwit him. Kincaid tries taking a breather by rolling to the outside and retreating up the ramp a bit but Ryan Pattillo decides to make himself known, looking upset as all hell over what Kincaid last night. Kincaid backs up towards the ring and gets grabbed by Clash. Clash brings him in by one hand and chucks him back into the ring. Kincaid decides to hell with all of this and crawls out the other way and decides to make his escape via the crowd while shouting at Ryan Pattillo. Clash gets the countout win here. No Reigns, though. ****1/2, 91% overall.

Third Match: The Academy vs. The Sin City Rollers
Randy and Justin want to talk about what they did last night. They just about had it up to here with all of the noise that comes out of Brooke's mouth when she's out here flapping her gums. Brooke put everybody else that wasn't Salvatore Scabbia on the backburner in order to focus only making sure he won the Unified World Title. Well, look at where we are now and what does she have to show for it? And she's going to get on the Academy's case for not stepping in line? The Academy followed Brooke through thick and thin but they've got their limits. Week in and week out, if it wasn't one thing, it was another. Now supposedly, Scabbia and Costello are here all full of angry vigor. The Academy isn't afraid because they actually had the balls to stop being Brooke's errand boys. So this match is all about establishing the Academy as faces. It's a role I don't think I ever would have given them but we got to do what we can to mix things up, no? Ortega falls victim to the PHD from the Academy and the pin is, well, academic after that. Post match, Brooke attempts to make good on her promise by sending Scabbia and Costello after her former clients and we have ourselves a brawl! It's a pier six affair and we need officials to get things under control! *****, 94% overall.

Backstage, we are all blessed to hear from the Lonely Girls, Jenna Kyle and Faith Connors. To say their disappointed with the turn of events surrounding the Women's Tag Team Titles is an understatement. They didn't go through hell this entire year to have things end up the way they are now. The two of them have been going over when they think they should exercise their rematch clause to challenge Hannah and Bobbi Jo for the belts. Whenever it does happen, all they ask is that Leah and Bonnie Beckham stay out of the way. They can get a piece when it's all said and done, they have their word on it.

Also backstage, Ozzy Mandias wants to clear the air regarding what's going on between him and Martyn LaSalle. Ozzy is big enough to admit that he made a mistake on Raw when he elbowed Martyn in the face. See? That wasn't so hard. So why is it so difficult for Martyn to own up to his mistake at No Mercy when he screwed up and basically let Michael Hotbody walk out still the Cruiserweight Champion. Ozzy is a patient guy but the longer this goes on without any sort of apology from Martyn the more ridiculous this gets. And Ozzy has no tolerance for the ridiculous.

Fourth Match: Clubber Harris vs. L.A. Xander
I'm gettis Harris involved in Survivor Series so I gotta give him some shine. I forsee a little feud with another big beefy monster on the roster. Should be good. Just like this match. Harris hits the Club Pain after a strong showing and gets the win. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Fifth Match: Neil Quint vs. Zachary Vale
Can't forget about the quintessential Neil Quint match on my shows. It's a cheap way to steal a good rating to help with the overall average. This is good little cleanser after the big man display in the previous match. Quint comes off the top with the Quint-Essential Top Rope Maneuver to score the pin. ****1/2, 88% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time with Kyle Jacobs. Kyle wants to make things as simple as possible. He wants to settle things with Xavier Cross, one way or another. He's not asking for much. He just wants the opportunity to get Cross's blood all over his fists. He just wants to kick Cross's teeth in. He just wants to drag Cross's useless sack of meat from corner to corner all over this ring and take a leak on his broken body. Is that so much to ask for? And to think we ended up here all because Cross wasn't going to stand a blow to his precious ego. Well, if he doesn't want to suffer humiliation, he'll just have to flat out suffer and while Kyle hasn't been keen on going down that road, he's certainly willing to learn for Cross's sake.

Cue Chris Collins who wants to interrupt these proceedings. Collins thinks that all of these people coming back and making these outrageous claims and calls for revenge is getting out of hand. They can't all get what they want. Collins himself is having to hear this garbage from Madison and her little pet, Alexander Piero, so you can imagine he's not too thrilled having to hear it from some entitled little piss ant like Kyle Jacobs. Collins wants to tell Kyle, one second-generation star to another, a name is just a name. Actions are what matters so Kyle needs to pick his battles more carefully. Kyle wonders if Collins is looking to pick a battle right now. Seeing as Cross doesn't seem like he's willing to show up and take his medicine, Kyle is willing to take a substitute.

We get a staredown between the two but Xavier Cross uses this chance to sneak up from behind Kyle and knock him down! Well this doesn't look good for Kyle. It's a two-on-one scenario as Kyle is beaten down and he ultimately gets laid out after taking the Fall From Heaven from Collins and Cross puts the exclamation point on it all with the Cross Cutter. Well this is certainly not over to say the least.

MAIN EVENT: Wrakk and Quentin McDaniels vs. Haven and Seth Von Kamp
So we've got the two title matches at Survivor Series hooking up here. The heat is fucking great so I can only hope Survivor Series doesn't end up being a fucking DUD show. Seth and Quentin handle most of the load as they're probably the best workers of the group. Wrakk and Haven are really just the big kaiju scene at the climax of the movie. I'm not keen on having anybody job here so we'll just go the double countout route as Wrakk and Haven just forget about formalities and slug it out to their hearts content. Quentin decides to be a dick and lays out Seth with the Great Depression after all is said and done and he stands tall. *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

Evil Vito

08-12-2022, 10:11 AM

Survivor Series shaping up nicely. I love that Hotbody continues to feud with basically everybody on the cruiserweight roster, seemingly everybody has some sort of beef with him.

And how dare he besmirch the wonderful world of Cajun cuisine! I'm the furthest thing from a Louisiana boy but damn that stuff is delicious.

M-A-G

08-12-2022, 10:59 AM

***BREAKING FROM THE DESK OF THE GENERAL MANAGER!!!***

Lisa Benton has announced over the weekend two 5-on-5 Survivor Series matches that will take place at the PPV. Card subject to change.

Kyle Jacobs, Alexander Piero, Ryan Pattillo, and The Wyldhearts vs. Xavier Cross, Chris Collins, Orlando Kincaid, and the WWE Unified Tag Team Champions The Royal Effect

Simon Bennett, Mathias, Michael Haywood, The Academy vs. Adam Hail, Lonny Richards, Ziggy Styles, Salvatore Scabbbia, and Ronnie Costello

These two matches will likely not be the only traditional Survivor Series elimination matches and they join the already announced set of matches, which are as follows:

WWE Unified World Title: Wrakk vs. Haven

WWE Intercontinental Title: Seth Von Kamp vs. Quentin McDaniels

WWE Women's Title: Naomi Bailey vs. Sonya Braddock

Tune in to Raw for more, if any, additional announcements to WWE's biggest fall extravaganza!

Evil Vito

08-18-2022, 11:28 PM

Night 11

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

When we last saw Dustin, he had earned main event honors in a losing effort to Danielson, and now he's right back out there trying to right the ship and keep his block hopes alive. He did just that against a tough Hobbs who still has yet to find the win column in the tourney. Dustin hits the Final Reckoning and gets the win.

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
Time: 10:08
Rating: 74%
---

A Block: Rey Fenix vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Fenix has been on something of a hot streak in the A Block but his fire was put out fairly quickly in this one. Archer wasn't fucking around tonight, as he used his size advantage to ragdoll Fenix multiple times and put him away with the F'n Slam.

Winner: Lance Archer
Time: 7:38
Rating: 59%
---

B Block: "Red Death" Daniel Garcia vs. "The Bastard" PAC

Fucking hell what a match this was. Frantic pace, both guys had like a dozen nearfalls on each other and they were killing each other with hard strikes and suplexes all night. Garcia is eventually able to get a low bridge and put PAC into his patented Bridging Sharpshooter which has put away Punk and Danielson and now does the same for PAC. And for the first time in this tournament a match scores the full monty!

Winner: Daniel Garcia
Time: 21:56
Rating: 100%
---

A Block: Kyle O'Reilly vs. MJF

Not that these two aren't good wrestlers but man, this is kinda the equivalent of a *****, 97 overall segment in EWR where it feels like anything that comes after is going to get dinged by being something else. Anyway they had a fairly standard match with some good chain wrestling and KOR ends up leveling MJF with a Muay Thai High Kick for the victory. MJF continues to freefall down the block and his tournament is, for all intents and purposes, over.

Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
Time: 11:16
Rating: 80%
---

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Scorpio Sky

FUN Easter Egg: Scorpio Sky portrayed Harold during the Team Hell No Anger Management sketches back in 2012. Life has come full circle!

The current standings would make you think this should be lopsided but as we've come to learn, "on any given night". Sky viewed this as his chance to make a real statement and he didn't disappoint. He was able to take everything Bryan threw at him and evade some of his real put-away moves. Sky eventually sets Bryan up top and hits a devastating top rope Powerbomb for the upset!

Winner: Scorpio Sky
Time: 14:06
Rating: 87%
---

A Block: Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta

An evergreen statement at this point but...poor Yuta. This continues a recurring trend for him to have a banger of a match and nearly getting the win but ultimately being stopped just shy of being able to shut the door on a victory. Yuta and Darby go through a chain of attempting to German each other repeatedly, before Darby finally course corrects and rolls up a Small Package instead. Darby wins and becomes the first man in A Block to hit the double digit threshold.

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 17:12
Rating: 92%
---

B Block: Jay Lethal vs. Malakai Black

Not a whole lot to say about this one, both men are doing well in the standings but that didn't matter at all in this one. Black didn't waste any time, immediately disorienting Lethal with aggressive, brutish offense that threw any strategizing Lethal might've done out the window. Black Mass ends it in a pretty lopsided affair.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 7:55
Rating: 64%
---

A Block: "All Ego" Ethan Page vs. Swerve Strickland

Before the match, Page cuts a promo insulting his opponent, asking what the hell kind of name Swerve is anyway? Regardless, while the early momentum of his tourney was long gone he still had the golden opportunity to play spoiler here. Unfortunately Swerve showed why he was near the top of the block for a reason, hitting a Complete Shot out of nowhere to win a solid, even bout. Swerve joins Darby at the top of the board with 10 points.

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 14:10
Rating: 84%
---

B Block: Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk

The B Block main event features familiar foes as another old ROH rivalry is rekindled for a new generation. Joe's had a rough go of it in this tournament, the results just haven't been there for him and he's coming off of an embarrassing lopsided loss to PAC.

Joe was clearly motivated in this one, and had his best showing in several outings. But Punk showed why he is the AEW Champion as he was able to take all that Joe was giving and bend but not break. Unable to lift Joe for a GTS with his sore knee, Punk focused on a more ground-based attack before eventually heading up and sealing the deal with a Diving Elbow Drop.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 13:11
Rating: 88%
---

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Chris Jericho

Andrade looks to join Darby and Swerve on the top of the boards while Jericho, sitting at 4 points, needs to win out and hope for help if he was gonna be able to pull off the block. These two had a pretty solid match, both guys are full of themselves and felt the need to pose for the crowd after big moves.

The fight spills onto the floor where Jericho pulls out a chair and crashes Andrade in the back while the ref was tending to the turnbuckle pad Jericho had undone. This sore back of Andrade left him prey for the Liontamer as Jericho closes the night with a win to keep his hopes alive.

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 14:42
Rating: 83%

Evil Vito

08-18-2022, 11:36 PM

A and B Block standings through 2/3rds of Block Matches

A Block

Darby Allin - 10 points
Swerve Strickland - 10 points
Andrade El Idolo - 8 points
Kyle O'Reilly - 8 points
Rey Fenix - 6 points
Chris Jericho - 6 points
Lance Archer - 4 points
Ethan Page - 4 points (eliminated on tiebreakers)
MJF - 4 points (eliminated on tiebreakers)
Wheeler Yuta - 0 points (mathematically eliminated)

B Block

Bryan Danielson - 8 points
CM Punk - 8 points
Dustin Rhodes - 8 points
Jay Lethal - 8 points
Malakai Black - 8 points
Daniel Garcia - 6 points
PAC - 6 points
Scorpio Sky - 4 points
Samoa Joe - 3 points (eliminated on tiebreakers)
Powerhouse Hobbs - 1 point (mathematically eliminated)

M-A-G

08-19-2022, 10:37 PM

Night 11

B Block: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

When we last saw Dustin, he had earned main event honors in a losing effort to Danielson, and now he's right back out there trying to right the ship and keep his block hopes alive. He did just that against a tough Hobbs who still has yet to find the win column in the tourney. Dustin hits the Final Reckoning and gets the win.

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
Time: 10:08
Rating: 74%
---

Damn straight. No way my horse is letting me down in the face of some scrub.

A Block: Rey Fenix vs. "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer

Fenix has been on something of a hot streak in the A Block but his fire was put out fairly quickly in this one. Archer wasn't fucking around tonight, as he used his size advantage to ragdoll Fenix multiple times and put him away with the F'n Slam.

Winner: Lance Archer
Time: 7:38
Rating: 59%
---

It only makes sense. I'd have probably booked this to go the same way.

B Block: "Red Death" Daniel Garcia vs. "The Bastard" PAC

Fucking hell what a match this was. Frantic pace, both guys had like a dozen nearfalls on each other and they were killing each other with hard strikes and suplexes all night. Garcia is eventually able to get a low bridge and put PAC into his patented Bridging Sharpshooter which has put away Punk and Danielson and now does the same for PAC. And for the first time in this tournament a match scores the full monty!

Winner: Daniel Garcia
Time: 21:56
Rating: 100%
---

LOL, way to ruin the rest of the night, fuckers. :lol:

A Block: Kyle O'Reilly vs. MJF

Not that these two aren't good wrestlers but man, this is kinda the equivalent of a *****, 97 overall segment in EWR where it feels like anything that comes after is going to get dinged by being something else. Anyway they had a fairly standard match with some good chain wrestling and KOR ends up leveling MJF with a Muay Thai High Kick for the victory. MJF continues to freefall down the block and his tournament is, for all intents and purposes, over.

Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
Time: 11:16
Rating: 80%
---

I figured something like this was going to happen with a barn burner happening right before it. It's like starting out with Daffy Duck's exploding act. Where do you go from there?

B Block: "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Scorpio Sky

FUN Easter Egg: Scorpio Sky portrayed Harold during the Team Hell No Anger Management sketches back in 2012. Life has come full circle!

The current standings would make you think this should be lopsided but as we've come to learn, "on any given night". Sky viewed this as his chance to make a real statement and he didn't disappoint. He was able to take everything Bryan threw at him and evade some of his real put-away moves. Sky eventually sets Bryan up top and hits a devastating top rope Powerbomb for the upset!

Winner: Scorpio Sky
Time: 14:06
Rating: 87%
---

LMAO, I had forgotten about those sketches. Harold and the doctor were fucking great and the subsequent "hugging it out" segment Bryan and Kane had in the ring was tremendous. I think that was the last time I gave two shits about whatever Kane was doing.

A Block: Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta

An evergreen statement at this point but...poor Yuta. This continues a recurring trend for him to have a banger of a match and nearly getting the win but ultimately being stopped just shy of being able to shut the door on a victory. Yuta and Darby go through a chain of attempting to German each other repeatedly, before Darby finally course corrects and rolls up a Small Package instead. Darby wins and becomes the first man in A Block to hit the double digit threshold.

Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 17:12
Rating: 92%
---

It's not too late to switch my pick to Darby, is it?

B Block: Jay Lethal vs. Malakai Black

Not a whole lot to say about this one, both men are doing well in the standings but that didn't matter at all in this one. Black didn't waste any time, immediately disorienting Lethal with aggressive, brutish offense that threw any strategizing Lethal might've done out the window. Black Mass ends it in a pretty lopsided affair.

Winner: Malakai Black
Time: 7:55
Rating: 64%
---

Like with Fenix and Archer, I'd have done the same thing.

A Block: "All Ego" Ethan Page vs. Swerve Strickland

Before the match, Page cuts a promo insulting his opponent, asking what the hell kind of name Swerve is anyway? Regardless, while the early momentum of his tourney was long gone he still had the golden opportunity to play spoiler here. Unfortunately Swerve showed why he was near the top of the block for a reason, hitting a Complete Shot out of nowhere to win a solid, even bout. Swerve joins Darby at the top of the board with 10 points.

Winner: Swerve Strickland
Time: 14:10
Rating: 84%
---

:nono:

B Block: Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk

The B Block main event features familiar foes as another old ROH rivalry is rekindled for a new generation. Joe's had a rough go of it in this tournament, the results just haven't been there for him and he's coming off of an embarrassing lopsided loss to PAC.

Joe was clearly motivated in this one, and had his best showing in several outings. But Punk showed why he is the AEW Champion as he was able to take all that Joe was giving and bend but not break. Unable to lift Joe for a GTS with his sore knee, Punk focused on a more ground-based attack before eventually heading up and sealing the deal with a Diving Elbow Drop.

Winner: CM Punk
Time: 13:11
Rating: 88%
---

Well, with the move you can generously call something somewhat resembling a Flying Elbow Drop.

A Block: Andrade El Idolo vs. Chris Jericho

Andrade looks to join Darby and Swerve on the top of the boards while Jericho, sitting at 4 points, needs to win out and hope for help if he was gonna be able to pull off the block. These two had a pretty solid match, both guys are full of themselves and felt the need to pose for the crowd after big moves.

The fight spills onto the floor where Jericho pulls out a chair and crashes Andrade in the back while the ref was tending to the turnbuckle pad Jericho had undone. This sore back of Andrade left him prey for the Liontamer as Jericho closes the night with a win to keep his hopes alive.

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 14:42
Rating: 83%

Jericho and Rhodes need to team up and form the Geriatric World Order! Watch them as they arrive backstage and take up all the good parking spaces! It'll draw millions!!!

A and B Block standings through 2/3rds of Block Matches

A Block

Swerve Strickland - 10 points

B Block

Dustin Rhodes - 8 points

https://i.imgur.com/6kGZuWq.gif

M-A-G

08-19-2022, 10:39 PM

Again, I'm sure the dude's a great guy but, fuck, that's a stupid name. I don't know why I'm being so irrational about this.

Evil Vito

08-24-2022, 04:21 PM

Night 12

D Block: Buddy Matthews vs. "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy

Never underestimate momentum in a tournament like this. Following his first tournament win over Sammy Guevara and then a stunning upset over Wardlow, Matthews seems to be firing on all cylinders and that carried right into this match against Orange Cassidy. The normally aloof Cassidy had to be on his A-game tonight, he kicked up the pace and even that wasn't enough. Buddy finishes him off with a brainbuster and a Frog Splash to win his 3rd straight.

Winner: Buddy Matthews
Time: 15:40
Rating: 88%
---

C Block: Hook vs. "You Guessed It" Frankie Kazarian

Both guys lost last time out but had great showings against favored competitors. These two got C Block action off to a rousing start on the night as they had no issues following up the D Block opener with an exciting match of their own. Back and forth encounter that sees Kazarian get the win with the D.O.A.

Winner: Frankie Kazarian
Time: 15:28
Rating: 92%
---

D Block: "Limitless" Keith Lee vs. "Mr. Mayhem" Wardlow

HOSS FIIIIIIIGHT! Gotta love when it's two genuinely athletic hosses going at it, and these two slugged it out and made it 3-for-3 on bangers tonight. Lee was looking to ride the momentum while Wardlow was trying to recover from an upset loss. These two excited the crowd with nearfalls, both men Powerbombing each other to no avail. Wardlow ducks a clothesline and picks Lee up for the F-10 to get the dub.

Winner: Wardlow
Time: 10:28
Rating: 87%
---

C Block: "The Redeemer" Miro vs. "Hangman" Adam Page

One would've assumed this is a match that could've served as a block main event, but Miro's 0-5 start coupled with Page's 2-3 start got it relegated a bit lower. As two block favorites, Miro has nothing to play for but pride while Hangman is desperately clinging to a chance with so many other guys getting off to great starts.

These two absolutely delivered a long, PPV-quality match that will be hard to top tonight. Just tons of drama, including Miro managing to kick out of a Buckshot Lariat not once, not twice, but thrice. On a fourth attempt, Miro meets him with a Lariat of his own and locks Page into the Game Over for the win! The crowd is stunned....Miro laughs at the crowds' displeasure, he has successfully spoiled the tournament for possibly the most popular wrestler in AEW!

Winner: Miro
Time: 25:39
Raing: 98%
---

D Block: Adam Cole vs. Jungle Boy

Surely anything is going to feel like a come-down from that one. Suppose it's only natural to follow it up with Jungle Boy who has strung together some rather unimpressive showings of late. They have a fine match that only seems so-so compared to the match before it, Cole gets the win with a Frog Splash, second man to use that as a finish tonight.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 11:24
Rating: 81%
---

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. Luchasaurus

Speaking of other men who have grossly underachieved in this tournament, Eddie Kingston is here with only one win on the tournament and at this point he doesn't seem to care about playing spoiler, he just wants to kick ass. As is the case with most Kingston matches, this turns into a full-on brawl fairly quickly. Luchasaurus picks Kingston up for a Chokeslam but Kingston counters with a series of hard elbow strikes. As Luchasaurus gets back to his feet, Kingston winds up with a spinning Uraken elbow to hand the dinosaur his first blemish of the tourney!

Winner: Eddie Kingston
Time: 8:41
Rating: 83%
---

D Block: Christian Cage vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Jesus, this is turning into easily the best night of block competition so far as we have yet another really good match on the offing. These two are both consummate pros in the ring, even if one of them often resorts to slimy piece of shit tactics. Cage produces some brass knuckles to try to cheat but Claudio thwarts him with a massive Uppercut that requires no weapon to put someone out. Ricola Bomb ends it.

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 11:46
Rating: 87%
---

C Block: Brody King vs. Penta Oscuro

Train keeps on rolling with yet another great one. Penta often yells "CERO MIEDO!" to the crowd and that very much applied here as he threw his body at the much larger King with reckless abandon. Penta seemed to have a counter for all of Brody's power moves and Penta was able to keep making mistakes and avoiding the dreaded Gonzo Bomb. The crowd's jaws collectively drop to the floor when Penta is able to pick Brody up for a Pentagon Driver for the win.

Winner: Penta Oscuro
Time: 9:56
Rating: 89%
---

D Block: "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara vs. Kenny Omega

The crowd are surely exhausted by the sheer amount of awesomeness thrown at them so far, so let's add on even more with a breakneck pace main event. Another exciting match that kept the crowd riveted, Sammy thought he had it one with a 630 but Kenny was able to evade the maneuver. He then picks Sammy's downed body up for a One Winged Angel to grab the win and make D Block an even more crowded affair.

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 12:27
Rating: 88%
---

C Block: "Absolute" Ricky Starks vs. Jon Moxley

THE STREAK.....IS OVER :( in more ways than one. At long last we have a stinker of a main event that sees Starks fail to secure sole possession of first place, losing for the first time all tournament. Although the match went over 10 minutes, it was a fairly one-sided affair with Mox just beating Starks all over the arena and putting him down with the Paradigm Shift to move himself into the 1st place mix as well. Perhaps Ricky will think better of his pre-match shit talk next time.

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 10:16
Rating: 69%

Evil Vito

08-24-2022, 04:27 PM

C and D Block standings through 2/3rds of Block Matches

C Block

Jon Moxley - 10 points
Luchasaurus - 10 points
Ricky Starks - 10 points
Penta Oscuro - 8 points
Frankie Kazarian - 6 points
Eddie Kingston - 4 points
Adam Page - 4 points (eliminated on tiebreakers)
Brody King - 4 points (eliminated on tiebreakers)
Hook - 2 points (mathematically eliminated)
Miro - 2 points (mathematically eliminated)

D Block

Adam Cole - 8 points
Claudio Castagnoli - 8 points
Kenny Omega - 8 points
Wardlow - 8 points
Buddy Matthews - 6 points
Christian Cage - 6 points
Orange Cassidy - 6 points
Jungle Boy - 4 points
Keith Lee - 4 points
Sammy Guevara - 2 points (eliminated as some of the 8 point guys have yet to face each other, ensuring one of them will get at least 9 points)

M-A-G

08-28-2022, 03:34 AM

Night 12

D Block: Buddy Matthews vs. "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy

Never underestimate momentum in a tournament like this. Following his first tournament win over Sammy Guevara and then a stunning upset over Wardlow, Matthews seems to be firing on all cylinders and that carried right into this match against Orange Cassidy. The normally aloof Cassidy had to be on his A-game tonight, he kicked up the pace and even that wasn't enough. Buddy finishes him off with a brainbuster and a Frog Splash to win his 3rd straight.

Winner: Buddy Matthews
Time: 15:40
Rating: 88%
---

Hmm, maybe with enough momentum he can overcome that jobber name stigma I have in my head.

C Block: Hook vs. "You Guessed It" Frankie Kazarian

Both guys lost last time out but had great showings against favored competitors. These two got C Block action off to a rousing start on the night as they had no issues following up the D Block opener with an exciting match of their own. Back and forth encounter that sees Kazarian get the win with the D.O.A.

Winner: Frankie Kazarian
Time: 15:28
Rating: 92%
---

I should probably take the time to finally addressing Kazarian's moniker. It's just at the right amount of stupid that I'm actually OK with it. I also love finisher names that are just acronyms. I gave one of my guys the finisher name the C.O.D. (Concussion On Delivery) and of course now I have the Academy rocking the PHD (Pretty Humiliating Defeat).

D Block: "Limitless" Keith Lee vs. "Mr. Mayhem" Wardlow

HOSS FIIIIIIIGHT! Gotta love when it's two genuinely athletic hosses going at it, and these two slugged it out and made it 3-for-3 on bangers tonight. Lee was looking to ride the momentum while Wardlow was trying to recover from an upset loss. These two excited the crowd with nearfalls, both men Powerbombing each other to no avail. Wardlow ducks a clothesline and picks Lee up for the F-10 to get the dub.

Winner: Wardlow
Time: 10:28
Rating: 87%
---

I don't even want to imagine J.R.'s commentary for a match like this at this stage of his life.

C Block: "The Redeemer" Miro vs. "Hangman" Adam Page

One would've assumed this is a match that could've served as a block main event, but Miro's 0-5 start coupled with Page's 2-3 start got it relegated a bit lower. As two block favorites, Miro has nothing to play for but pride while Hangman is desperately clinging to a chance with so many other guys getting off to great starts.

These two absolutely delivered a long, PPV-quality match that will be hard to top tonight. Just tons of drama, including Miro managing to kick out of a Buckshot Lariat not once, not twice, but thrice. On a fourth attempt, Miro meets him with a Lariat of his own and locks Page into the Game Over for the win! The crowd is stunned....Miro laughs at the crowds' displeasure, he has successfully spoiled the tournament for possibly the most popular wrestler in AEW!

Winner: Miro
Time: 25:39
Raing: 98%
---

If I were that audience, I'd almost feel like standing up and clapping for the guy FINALLY getting a win after all this time. Must've been a cold shoulder night from Lana.

D Block: Adam Cole vs. Jungle Boy

Surely anything is going to feel like a come-down from that one. Suppose it's only natural to follow it up with Jungle Boy who has strung together some rather unimpressive showings of late. They have a fine match that only seems so-so compared to the match before it, Cole gets the win with a Frog Splash, second man to use that as a finish tonight.

Winner: Adam Cole
Time: 11:24
Rating: 81%
---

I'd like to imagine after the previous match that the crowd spent this entire match chanting "THAT WAS BULLSHIT!" :lol:

C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. Luchasaurus

Speaking of other men who have grossly underachieved in this tournament, Eddie Kingston is here with only one win on the tournament and at this point he doesn't seem to care about playing spoiler, he just wants to kick ass. As is the case with most Kingston matches, this turns into a full-on brawl fairly quickly. Luchasaurus picks Kingston up for a Chokeslam but Kingston counters with a series of hard elbow strikes. As Luchasaurus gets back to his feet, Kingston winds up with a spinning Uraken elbow to hand the dinosaur his first blemish of the tourney!

Winner: Eddie Kingston
Time: 8:41
Rating: 83%
---

LOL, things getting spoiled left and right.

D Block: Christian Cage vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Jesus, this is turning into easily the best night of block competition so far as we have yet another really good match on the offing. These two are both consummate pros in the ring, even if one of them often resorts to slimy piece of shit tactics. Cage produces some brass knuckles to try to cheat but Claudio thwarts him with a massive Uppercut that requires no weapon to put someone out. Ricola Bomb ends it.

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Time: 11:46
Rating: 87%
---

Did these two ever have an encounter in the WWE? I'd have remembered something like that because it would've been fucking great.

C Block: Brody King vs. Penta Oscuro

Train keeps on rolling with yet another great one. Penta often yells "CERO MIEDO!" to the crowd and that very much applied here as he threw his body at the much larger King with reckless abandon. Penta seemed to have a counter for all of Brody's power moves and Penta was able to keep making mistakes and avoiding the dreaded Gonzo Bomb. The crowd's jaws collectively drop to the floor when Penta is able to pick Brody up for a Pentagon Driver for the win.

Winner: Penta Oscuro
Time: 9:56
Rating: 89%
---

He managed it so easily it's almost as if King cooperated and helped Penta deliver the move. :shifty:

D Block: "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara vs. Kenny Omega

The crowd are surely exhausted by the sheer amount of awesomeness thrown at them so far, so let's add on even more with a breakneck pace main event. Another exciting match that kept the crowd riveted, Sammy thought he had it one with a 630 but Kenny was able to evade the maneuver. He then picks Sammy's downed body up for a One Winged Angel to grab the win and make D Block an even more crowded affair.

Winner: Kenny Omega
Time: 12:27
Rating: 88%
---

There's something to work with here, what with the "Spanish God" moniker and One-Winged Angel thing. I'm drawing blanks at the moment.

C Block: "Absolute" Ricky Starks vs. Jon Moxley

THE STREAK.....IS OVER :( in more ways than one. At long last we have a stinker of a main event that sees Starks fail to secure sole possession of first place, losing for the first time all tournament. Although the match went over 10 minutes, it was a fairly one-sided affair with Mox just beating Starks all over the arena and putting him down with the Paradigm Shift to move himself into the 1st place mix as well. Perhaps Ricky will think better of his pre-match shit talk next time.

Winner: Jon Moxley
Time: 10:16
Rating: 69%

With the way the night went I don't think it could've ended any other way for Starks.

Evil Vito

08-29-2022, 09:04 AM

I'm glad that all the blocks seem to have something going for it, I've done tourneys like this before and it's such a wet fart when someone clinches a block before the final show.

If there's at least one A/B block and C/D block match that becomes a no-doubt "win and in" situation for the final day, that would be great.

M-A-G

09-02-2022, 08:43 AM

Hey, I give you kudos for continuing to work your way through them. My brain has a tough enough time keeping up the fantasy booking of a promotion with real life talent, let alone a game deep enough in the future to be all fictional characters. Takes on a new level of creativity.

"The Mean Bodyguarding Machine" is such a ridiculous moniker. I love it.

I was actually going over this in my head and I was thinking how evil it would be towards my announcers if I gave all of Hotbody's crew ridiculously long bullshit monikers making it a test of endurance every time they came out together.

I actually have some time free of major responsibilities this week so I can try to crank out more shows.

Evil Vito

09-02-2022, 02:32 PM

I was actually going over this in my head and I was thinking how evil it would be towards my announcers if I gave all of Hotbody's crew ridiculously long bullshit monikers making it a test of endurance every time they came out together.

:lol: that would be great

The closest I've seen to something like this in real life is Kenny Omega's entrance. He doesn't have a long moniker, but he has Justin Roberts read out an assortment of facts before his name is announced.

This past week, he used his entrance to properly troll his opponent Will Ospreay.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kenny Omega trolled Will Ospreay hard asf with this entrance. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWDynamite?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWDynamite</a> <a href="https://t.co/JS4kwItSmh">pic.twitter.com/JS4kwItSmh</a>— Legit_Boss36 (@SashaMania36) <a href="https://twitter.com/SashaMania36/status/1565163513328402438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

M-A-G

09-11-2022, 02:31 AM

Finally sitting down and laying out the next show. The problem is getting around potential bankruptcy by having Simon Bennett and Adam Hail both on the same show.

Evil Vito

09-12-2022, 03:00 PM

Hopefully I'll actually get around to finishing my tournament :o work's picked up considerably and now I finally got a PS5 that takes up my downtime

Go figure the AEW landscape has changed considerably since I started the tourney. Now MJF actually is back (shame he's shit the bed in this tourney) while Punk and Omega who are very much alive in their blocks are suspended.

M-A-G

09-14-2022, 09:17 PM

Finished Raw, just have to do the report. I'm eager to jump into Superstars but I'm at a point where I'm debating if it's a good time to debut a few of the noobs. I've got 3 women ready to go but I'm wondering if it'd be better to hold off on their introductions until later down the road. I have an idea for one of them but it might ruin what I had in mind for WrestleMania. Again, I'm bumping my head into the problem of too much talent to know what to do with it all.

M-A-G

09-20-2022, 02:52 PM

Raw: November 12, 2040

Opening Match: Moses McKay vs. Robbie Greer
This is, of course, a taste of the little rivalry between the tag team champions and their challengers. McKay makes it clear that he doesn't care that the Wyldhearts got their dumb little sweetheart, Madison, back in their corner. McKay and Kavovit don't get their inspiration and drive from some cheerleading tramp who's trying to relive her glory days by living vicariously through other people. The Royal Effect know that they're the best and that's good enough for them. If the Wyldhearts feel that the only shot they have at winning the tag titles is with their skirt at ringside, then they shouldn't be wasting the champions' time. First Survivor Series, then the title match, and everyone will see just how pathetic the Wyldhearts really are! If this match is anything to go by, their inevitable match for the titles is going to be fire. Like, this is a fucking amazing outing. You might have had something there in picking the Royal Effect as Tag Team of the Year. The end comes when Greer knocks McKay to the outside next to Madison. McKay is flustered and decides to threaten Madison as a response who stumbles over as she backs away. Greer responds by taking out McKay with a baseball slide. Greer checks on Madison but McKay uses this opportunity to send Greer into one of the ring posts. Back into the ring we go as Greer is dazed and McKay uses a roll up with some assistance from the ropes to score a cheap pin. *****, 96% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Hotbody knows that the people are just waiting with baited breath to see who will end up with a shot at his Cruiserweight Title. Hotbody, however, is going to have to keep that close to his chest because he wants to address something just as important. You see, we're approaching Thanksgiving, and it's a time when you're supposed to look at your life and be grateful for what you have. Hotbody is nothing if not the most generous person and humble person in the entire WWE locker room, if not the entire WWE corporation. His exploits are important enough but it's only fair and right to shine a light on the talents of his crew. One man in particular has been put on the backburner for far too long, and it's high time that his talent and presence get the recognition they deserve. "You all know him as the Mean Bodyguarding Machine, but I know him as my dear friend and confidant, the man standing next to me, Zed Jones!" Zed stands menacingly in the center of the ring as Hotbody continues his rant. "Zed, I know you're a man of few words, but the important thing is that you're a man of many actions! How many times have you been at my side making sure things are fair and on the up-and-up? The way you stood up to tyranny at Night of Champions by protesting me being in that steel cage match! All the times you've been my generous substitute when I've been under the weather. And just a few weeks ago at No Mercy, when you came out on top in a battle of giants by beating that meathead Eddy Clash! Forget the Survivor Series main event and whoever ends up as Unified World Champion. You, Zed, are the hoss of hosses. The monster under the bed of the entire WWE. Never in the annals of history has there been such badassery in a powerhouse machine like you! The Big Show? More like the Big Slow, am I right? Andre the Giant? More like Andre the Giant Pansy! No, now is the time, Zed, where you're marking your territory, breaking out, and staking your claim and I can guarantee that it's making everyone back there behind that curtain pee their pants! But I think I've said enough of my piece. Zed, you wordsmith, why don't you drop some truths on these people?"

Hotbody lifts the mic to Zed's mouth but before he can say anything the music of Clubber Harris hits and the Ebony Empire himself comes out looking incredulous. He pulls Hotbody's mic hand towards his own mouth and Zed gives him a death glare and points as a warning. Harris is undeterred and speaks his mind: "You're gonna have to excuse me but I needed to come out to make a point. As you can see, Hotbody, my pants are quite dry and piss-free. Your boy over here has a loooooong way to go before all he can be doing all this puffing with his chest. Zed, you think long and hard about the places this little punks talks you into. There are some fights that ain't worth the paycheck."

Hotbody decides to interject and offer a rebuttal: "Harris, you're such a simpleton it's almost embarrassing. You think money is the only thing that motivates Zed? Zed craves violence. Zed craves the challenge. Zed craves the fight. Money is temporary. Glory makes you immortal. And when it all comes to pass, Zed will stand on the shoulders of victims and pretenders and people like you, Harris, will ask themselves why they thought to question his words. Why they thought it was a good idea to ever stand in his face like you're doing right now. Little by little, battle by battle, you'll be a believer. I pride myself on being associated with only the best, Harris, and if I thought that included you, I'd have been knocking on your door long ago. And let's be honest, nothing has really been knocking on your door for quite some time."

That right there is enough to trigger Harris and he grabs Hotbody by the throat. Zed is quick to jump in and sends Harris reeling backwards with a forearm. He charges Harris but Harris drops down and pulls the top rope down, causing Zed to stumble over and to the outside. Hotbody, brilliant strategist he is, leaps on Harris's back but Harris merely throws him off by flipping him over forward. Harris looks to punish Hotbody some more but Zed pulls Hotbody out and tries to get back into the ring to get him some more of Harris. Hotbody grabs Zed and calls him off. The two back away with Zed still wanting to fight as Harris stands tall in the ring.

Second Match: C4 vs. The Lonely Girls
Brooke is with C4 and she's still in a mood. She berates the Academy for ditching her but luckily there still those who know what loyalty is and know how to get their bread buttered. Carmella and Cordelia here deserve to be commended for not being crybabies and following the example set by Randy Ellis and Justin Mitchell. Brooke claims that the Academy aren't going to find anyone willing to put with them and take them to the top like she did! Later in the night, Carmella's brother Ronnie is going to set an example himself when he lays waste to Justin Mitchell. And it's only going to get worse once Survivor Series rolls around. Salvatore Scabbia wanted to be here tonight so bad but he's afraid of what he might do to the Academy and they might not make to Survivor Series. It's all about sending messages. Which leads us to right now as C4 have to deal with the entitled little princesses known as Faith Connors and Jenna Kyle. The Academy picked the wrong time to leave this gravy train because Brooke is set to take over all aspects of the WWE, including the women's division. So the match goes off with little problems as the rating will demonstrate. Faith and Jenna look good as they're still in the hunt for those Women's Tag Team Titles. The finish comes down to Cordelia and Jenna as Jenna lands a Kyle Driver. Jenna goes for the cover and Brooke puts Cordelia's foot on the rope but the ref sees it and calls for the DQ against C4. Jenna shares some words with Brooke and Carmella nails her from behind. Faith, however, comes to the rescue and clotheslines Carmella over the top. Brooke continues to have a bad week. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Third Match: Jason Sorola vs. Lyle Morris
Michael Hotbody comes out for guest commentary at ringside. Jason Sorola gets on the mic and declares that he demanded this match because he took great offense to the idea of someone like Lyle Morris trying to cut in line and expecting to be the number one contender to the Cruiserweight Title. Sorola goes on to say that after Shawn Dangerson was taken out of the picture, all claims to being the number one contender should have been immediately transferred to himself. Sorola is going to take care of this little problem and send Lyle Morris back to the trash heap where he belongs. This is another fucking great match. Hotbody continues to brag about his accomplishments and all the people he's conquered as he sits on commentary. Things spill to the outside and Lyle ends up in front of Hotbody. As great as the match is, unfortunately it looks like Lyle must've said something about Hotbody's mother because the Cruiserweight Champion leaps out of his chair and nails Lyle from behind as a strike for justice. He towers over Lyle and looks like he's going to punish Lyle some more but Jordan Demiras comes running out of nowhere to chase him off, no doubt approving of the tactic of insulting one's mother. Problems continue to mount for Hotbody. *****, 96% overall.

Backstage we've got Paul Andrews with Simon Bennett. Andrews wonders what the real reasons are that Adam Hail decided to leave him and Bennett. Did they snore too loud on the road? Did they pick some fries off of Adam's plate? Do they have bad breath? Or is Adam Hail really just that damn full of himself? A phone call explaining himself before all of this mess would've been nice. Things would've been a lot easier on him in the long run. Now it's going to get a whole lot uglier. There's no way around it. Survivor Series is where Adam Hail is going to have to put his money where his mouth is as he leads his team to the victory that he has in mind. One small hitch that Hail is going to have contend with, however, is Simon Bennett here is out to prove himself that night, too. He's got the winning team at his disposal and we'll all get a small snippet of that later on tonight when Mathias takes on Lonny Richards. Just remember one thing after all is said and done, Adam; you asked for all of this.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with the challenger for the Unified World Championship at Survivor Series, Haven! He wants to talk about the one prize that has eluded him for so long. He has the respect from his peers. The admiration from the masses. And the fear from the weak. Now he demands the title from the unworthy. Wrakk is merely a placeholder. The Unified World Title begs to be carried by strength and security. This business between the two of them will culminate in ugliness come Survivor Series, one way or another. There is no avoiding that for either one of them. But the brutal and bitter failure that comes with defeat and being dethroned, there is no avoiding that for you, Wrakk.

This looks like the perfect time for Quentin McDaniels to interrupt the proceedings. He gets right up in the grill of Haven and stands defiant. McDaniels wants to make it clear that despite his misgivings about Butch Fleming, he has to credit Fleming for being a much stronger and better figurehead that Haven ever was. It may sound like throwing stones in glass houses, but Haven should probably ask himself if he's just not good enough and that's why the Unified World Title has eluded him. Quentin McDaniels may not have worn that title himself, either, but that's only because he's been cheated countless times over. He can win any title he wants, it's just a simple matter of things being fair and having a proper opportunity. Case in point, Survivor Series, when he swoops on in that night and ends the farce that is the fairy tale championship reign of Seth Von Kamp. And when the night is over, there will the extra bonus of being able to wave that Intercontinental Title in Haven's face while he goes slithering off into whatever dark hole he comes from with nothing!

Haven is not amused and calls McDaniels a flailing body in a sea that threatens to swallow him whole and leave him drifting amongst the flotsam and jetsam, lost with no purpose. Survival is for the fiercest and for the most merciless. When survival is at stake, it's people like McDaniels and Wrakk that get devoured. That right there is enough to anger McDaniels and he decides to slap Haven. Haven fires back by knocking McDaniels down with a forearm. Haven moves in and picks up McDaniels and takes him to the corner to deliver some more punishment BUT HERE COMES WRAKK FROM BEHIND! The champion grabs Haven in a choke hold, pulling him away from McDaniels. A two-on-one beating on Haven starts up BUT HERE COMES SETH VON KAMP!!! The Intercontinental Champion runs down to even things out and McDaniels takes his cue and bails. Meanwhile, Haven is able to clothesline Wrakk over the top rope. Haven and Von Kamp stand tall as everyone exchanges finger pointing and words as we go to break.

Fourth Match: Justin Mitchell vs. Ronnie Costello
Brooke is out with Ronnie Costello. Before things get underway, Justin Mitchell gets on the mic and says that a very important announcement needs to be made. Earlier, Brooke made the claim that the Academy leaving her was a mistake and that there wasn't anyone that was going to be willing to be in their corner other than her. Well, to clarify a couple of things, both Justin and Randy Ellis have never felt better now that this big weight has been lifted off their shoulders. And secondly, and perhaps more importanly, as luck would have it, there actually was somebody who was eager to jump at the chance to be in the corner of a team like the Academy. That being said, no need to stand on ceremony, let's introduce everyone to the new manager of Justin Mitchell and Randy Ellis...SOPHIE WATERS!

The crowd goes wild and Brooke is in disbelief as the woman, Sophie Waters, herself does in fact walk on out and join Justin Mitchell in his corner. Brooke is beside herself but what can she do as the match gets underway. A pretty good match, by the way. Things come to a head when Brooke tries distracting the referee but Sophie runs interference, yanking her off the apron, leading to a chase around the ring. Mitchell takes advantage of Ronnie's attention being diverted to catch him in a jack knife roll-up for the pin. Sophie Waters is already paying dividends as Brooke throws a tantrum. It just hasn't been her week. ****1/2, 89% overall.

Fifth Match: Lonny Richards vs. Mathias
As promised by Paul Andrews earlier, here we are. We've got some good hosses being trotted out here, each with their respective managers in their corners. Adam Hail tries to get involved by hopping on the apron but that just brings out Simon Bennett to try to even things up. Hail yells at Simon and ends up getting knocked off when Mathias reverses a whip from Lonny. Mathias hits the Goliath Gore on Lonny off the rebound and that's enough to get him the win. MOMENTUM HAS BEEN ACHIEVED! ****1/2, 91% overall.

More In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time in the form of another edition of Getting Ziggy With It with Ziggy Styles! He knows that we all endured another talk show earlier in the night but we can never have enough of a good thing, especially when Ziggy can do it better! Ziggy knows what the people want and he's going to do his best to deliver it to them tonight. Ziggy knows that deep down what they all really want to see between himself and Michael Haywood...is a reconciliation! That's right, they don't want to see them week in and week out just at each other's throats. Michael Haywood has been through enough these last few months. He lost his tag team partner. He lost his entire band of buddies. He's been on his own and the people feel sorry for him. Ziggy is hosting tonight's edition of Getting Ziggy With It to let Michael know that he doesn't have to be alone anymore. Now, Ziggy isn't as dumb or untalented as Michael's former buddies but for the sake of peace between himself and Michael Haywood, Ziggy is willing to try! And in a world like this, sometimes trying your best for the sake for greater good is the most noble thing you can do! So, if everyone here is ready to see this move forward, Ziggy Styles would like to ask Michael Haywood to come on out right now, hug it out, and move on from all of this unpleasant business between the two of them!

Some time passes but eventually the music of Haywood hits and the man himself comes out looking incredulous. Ziggy stands in the ring with a smile on his face and encourages Haywood to enter. Ziggy sticks out his hand in an offer of a handshake as Haywood stands in front of him. Ziggy asks Haywood to go with his gut and give the people what they crave. There isn't any more of a reason for the two of them to be enemies. They call a truce right now and Michael can learn to get Ziggy with it and not be such a stick in the mud. Haywood stares at Ziggy's outstretched hand for a bit, looks at the crowd with a questioning look on his face, and then decides to shake. Ziggy is ecstatic. Haywood gestures that a hug is in order and he pulls Ziggy in and he locks in an embrace...and then suplexes Ziggy into his set. Haywood picks up a chair and smacks Ziggy across the back and that's enough to get Ziggy motivated to get the hell out of Dodge and run away wounded.

Backstage we're set to hear from Xavier Cross. Cross wants Kyle Jacobs to understand why he did what he did when Cross refused to be his servant. If Cross is ever to be subservient to anyone, then that person would legitimately have to be superior to Cross in almost every way imaginable. Facts being what they are, Kyle Jacobs is nowhere near superior to Xavier Cross. Xavier Cross headlined WrestleMania 50 for crying out loud. He's a legend in his own time. The wannabes come to him, not the other way around. And if you think there isn't any truth to that, then think back to how all of this between Cross and Kyle got started. Kyle was the one full of himself and wanted to get attention so he made it a point to come to Cross. Xavier Cross is no one's whipping boy. He's no one's servant. And he's no one's stepping stone. Kyle can dream of the immortality that his dad and uncle achieved all he wants. But he has no right to get all in a fuss when reality smacks the crap out of him. Xavier Cross will be there at Survivor Series as part of one of the 5-on-5 matches and he hopes it comes down to just the two of them.

MAIN EVENT: Brandon Reigns vs. Ryan Pattillo
The Money in the Bank holder declares that he once again feels the need to reiterate that he is NOT interested in stepping into the ring with Eddy Clash. He'll be happy to teach him some manners and respect but it's not going to be on anyone's terms but his own. He doesn't need a match with Clash to show everyone the severe gap between the two of them. People like Kyle Jacobs, Conner Buchanan, and Jake Connelly were speed bumps on the road to his destiny. Eddy Clash is a bug on the windshield. Barely a blip on the radar. He's welcome to give Reigns a call when he's got some more mileage under his belt. Of course, by that time, it may not even matter anymore because that WrestleMania cash-in is getting closer and closer and before long, the WWE will be dealing with a new breed of Unified World Champion. So this match kicks ass, as you would expect. It's heartening to see Reigns can hang with a big name like Pattillo. Things come to a head when Eddy Clash comes through the crowd and makes off with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Pattillo and Reigns continue their match and it spills to the outside. Reigns gets to his feet first as the ref starts his count. As Reigns walks around the ring, he notices his briefcase is missing. He looks around angrily and he catches Clash just as he disappears behind the curtain. Reigns gives chase as Pattillo makes it back into the ring. The ref reaches ten and counts Reigns out but he's got other matters on his mind as he runs around the back looking for Eddy Clash. Pattillo stands in the ring afterwards but Orlando Kincaid takes this opportunity to run out and attack Pattillo, laying him out with the OK Corrall. Kincaid stands tall as we go off the air. *****, 95% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

Evil Vito

09-25-2022, 05:22 PM

Nice to see the show return but yeah you’ve run into precisely the same problem I’ve had trying to run my EWR game, or ironically the problem real-life AEW had. So much talent, so little time. Basically impossible to feature everyone consistently and it results in good talent being “benched” even if unintentionally.

Even reading it through on my phone, Hotbody’s intro is 8 lines of text and counting :lol:

M-A-G

09-26-2022, 08:24 AM

Finished booking Superstars and not to spoil what's going to be on the show, but afterwards Clubber Harris e-mailed me asking for he and Jordan Demiras to be a regular tag team, which would be...interesting, all things considered. Imagine Mr. T hanging out with someone like Zac Efron.

M-A-G

10-10-2022, 01:59 PM

M-A-G

10-10-2022, 05:00 PM

Superstars: November 15, 2040

It's 20-MINUTE OPENING PROMO OF DOOM TIME! OK, maybe not 20 minutes but we do get Sonya Braddock joining us to kick things off in the ring. She's always one to get down to the point. And her point is that she's been looking forward to knocking Naomi Bailey's lights out for what's seemed like a lifetime. You'd have thought that after WrestleMania, Naomi would've just taken her licks and gotten the point. But, hey, give her some degree of credit for eventually doing the impossible and managing to take the Women's Title from Sonya. It only took her another match and her scepter to pull it off but who's keeping track of these things, right? The important thing is that Sonya has been generous long enough in allowing Naomi Bailey to continue being the champion, sitting back and preparing and watching her try her best to build something out of her victory at Night of Champions. It's an impressive house to be sure, but the big bad bitch is back to knock it all down at Survivor Series, whether anyone likes it or not.

Cue someone who doesn't like it, namely Vivian Merrick of all people, who comes out and joins Sonya in the ring, looking perturbed. Vivian claims that no one cares about Sonya's belly-aching. Vivian's boys, The Future Foundation, are the real victims of highway robbery. The tag team titles were yanked from them in the most undeserving of fashions but yet, where is the outcry and vitriol from the people? Isn't her plight just as sympathetic as Sonya's? Vivian came out here to demand equal time to air her own grievances. Vivian tells Sonya that her downfall at Night of Champions couldn't have happened to a better person because Sonya isn't owed anything! After what Sonya did to Vivian's jaw, it was worth the pain when she laughed at Sonya losing the title. Sonya is not infallible and it's going to be a repeat performance at Survivor Series and Vivian promises that the laughter will be even...

...*BAM*!!! Sonya interrupts the tirade by delivering another Left Hand of God to Vivian's mouth and she goes down. The crowd voices their pleasure at this turn of events as Sonya stands tall and strong heading into Survivor Series.

Backstage we have Sophie Waters on her phone. It's not long before Brooke comes onto the scene to get in Sophie's face. Brooke demands to know who the hell Sophie thinks she is and what kind of crap she's trying to pull by managing The Academy. Sophie replies by pointing out that Ellis and Mitchell were free agents and Brooke seemed more than happy to be rid of them, so why not scoop them up? Brooke claims that Sophie was always jealous of her and that Sophie should know better than to get on her bad side. Sophie has always been inferior to Brooke and it's still the case because Brooke still has a better clientele. Sophie thinks that should be put to the test. How about tomorrow night on SmackDown!, Sophie's girls The Internet Darlings take on Brooke's girls, C4? Brooke is fine with that, but tells Sophie to be prepared for a wake up call.

First Match: Debra Phillips vs. Ainsley
I'm debuting both women here. I have higher hopes for Ainsley as she's got charisma up the wahoo. The announcers preface this by pointing out how both women trained together in the hopes of getting to the WWE and this is their opportunity to make an impact on the higher-ups. No surprise, it suffers in the crowd reaction department, despite being technically good. Debra manages to get the win by stacking Ainsley up after a sunset flip from the apron. Debra soaks in the moment and Ainsley offers a handshake, which is promptly ignored as Debra takes her leave, still in euphoria. What was that about? ***1/4, 65% overall.

Second Match: Neil Quint vs. Clayton North
The Quint-Essential Cruiserweight continues to shine! If he keeps his head on his shoulders he's got himself a nice spot in my inner circle. Some good shit, as you'd expect, and Quint gets the win after hitting the Quint-Essential Top Rope Maneuver. ****1/4, 89% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with Dusk. She says that she's somewhat satisified with her time in the WWE, despite its short length, but she thinks she can do more in order to instill the type of fear and despair in the women's locker room that she envisioned. She thinks she should aim a little higher. Think bigger. There are so many top names that could stand to dance in the darkness...and get devoured by it. Then, we'll begin to feel that shiver going up the spine of the WWE. All this talk of surviving, but the unfortunate truth is that sorrow leaves no survivors in its wake.

Cue Phoebe Hansen who wants to interrupt this shiznit. Phoebe says that you can call her crazy but she didn't sign up for the WWE to be "swallowed by darkness" or whatever the hell Dusk is selling. Phoebe says that Dusk might be reaching far beyond her grasp because people around here aren't going to be set back by a Hot Topic employee. Of course, Dusk is more than welcome to try to put the fear of God in her if she's so sure of herself.

Dusk is not amused at Phoebe's take on this matter and says that she can humble Phoebe anytime she wants. Bravado rarely lasts once reality sets in. Phoebe gets irritated and says this isn't a literature course and asks that Dusk talk like a normal person. Dusk fires back by telling Phoebe that's the point: Dusk isn't normal. And with that, Dusk boots Phoebe in gut, doubling her over. Dusk tries setting Phoebe up for the Final Sunset but there's still some life in Phoebe! We get a short back-and-forth as things spill to the outside until Dusk manages to drop Phoebe across the barrier. Dusk backs away glaring at her fallen prey.

Third Match: Clubber Harris and Jordan Demiras vs. Galino & Farnes
This is continuing from the ordeal on Raw. Demiras declares that he's determined to not let Michael Hotbody have a moment's peace. It's only fair considering the act of slamming a cage door into his head still resonates with him. Harris makes it known that he's still up for a fight with Zed Jones if Jones wants to back up all that talk from Hotbody on Raw. The faces certainly make for an odd pair like I pointed out before. It's good solid tag action all around. It comes down to Harris and Farnes on the outside. Farnes tries whipping Harris but it's reversed and Farnes ends up colliding with Zed. Back in, Harris looks to put this away. He runs to the ropes, no doubt looking for some sort of clothesline or tackle, but Zed low-bridges him and Harris tumbles over the top to the floor. That's enough for a DQ. Zed and Michael Hotbody look like they're going to assault Harris but Demiras comes flying over the top rope with a dive but he's caught by Zed before he can hit Hotbody. Zed follows up by launching Demiras into the ring post. Lyle Morris tries coming down to get him some but he's horribly outnumbered as Hotbody's crew just lays waste to the three faces. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Fourth Match: Ethan Lang vs. Ozzy Mandias
Martyn LaSalle comes out to be part of the announce team. He's disappointed that Ozzy still hasn't agreed to a match with him, but he's taking it as a sign that maybe Ozzy doesn't want any hostilities between them, which LaSalle is fine with as Ozzy was the one who started all of this. But maybe with him being out here on commentary, Ozzy will find it in him to deliver a clear answer. So this match is great, as Lang is making tremendous progress. Things come to a head when the action spills to the outside and Ozzy is knocked back and falls down next to LaSalle at the table. Ozzy makes his way up but instead of getting back to the match, he starts getting in the face of LaSalle, asking if he's bad mouthing Ozzy on commentary. LaSalle claims innocence and tells Ozzy to worry about the match. Ozzy tells LaSalle that he doesn't tell Ozzy what to do. Meanwhile, Lang has made it back into the ring and the ref counts Ozzy out. Ozzy is livid and gets back in the face of LaSalle. LaSalle stands up in response but gets a shove for his troubles. The referee comes between the two and Ozzy decides to bail, still yelling at LaSalle. ****1/2, 89% overall.

More backstage goodness as we're joined by Madison and one of her clients, Alexander Piero. Madison wants to thank Piero for carrying the torch for her while she was gone. Chris Collins has been avoiding the ass kicking that's been coming to him for what seems like forever. Nothing against the teammates that will be beside her at Survivor Series, but she hopes their match comes down to just Collins having to face her three boys. Not only would the fans get their money's worth, but so would Madison. She tells Collins to sleep on that thought.

Fifth Match: Isaac Wolff and El Silencio vs. Tom Foley and Doug Michaels
You might find it weird that I'm featuring El Silencio more and more but just bear with me for a bit in that department. I think I've got something good here, if only for a one-off thing. Just some good cruiserweight shit that ends with El Silencio getting the pin on Foley after coming off the top with the Careless Whisper. ****1/2, 89% overall.

Sixth Match: Gavin Jones vs. Vinnie LaPaige
Gavin declares that he's on the same page as Jordan Demiras as he also has no intention of letting Michael Hotbody off the hook as far as his responsibilites go. Jason Sorola would be better off not meddling in affairs that don't concern him. So this match is all about giving Gavin a stage to look good and LaPaige is a good punching bag for this task. Jones gets the pin after the Frog Splash, naturally. No time to celebrate as Jason Sorola apparently has taken umbrage to Gavin's words and runs down to lay out the former Play Pal with a chair. Sorola yells some harsh words at the fallen Jones before taking his leave. ****1/2, 89% overall.

God damn, three times in a row with that fucking rating?

MAIN EVENT: Simon Bennett and the Perfections vs. Adam Hail and the Southern Belles
Do you have any idea how much this main event is costing me? Hell, this show combined with Raw is probably enough to make me cut catering costs. So there is animosity all over and it comes out in spades during the whole ordeal. It comes down to Hail and Bennett and Bennett looks like he's getting the better of that exchange. Nathan Quinn must sense it, too, because he grabs a hold of Bennett's leg as he's in the corner, waiting on Hail to stand up. This obviously distracts Bennett, and causes the ref to call for the bell, but it's enough to allow Hail to blindside Bennett and stomp him down into the corner. The ladies brawl to the back leaving the men alone and Hail decides to send a message by crushing Bennett with a couple of Hailstorms off the top. Hail keeps looking strong as we get ever closer to Survivor Series. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Overall show rating: 86%

M-A-G

10-11-2022, 01:08 PM

Evil Vito

10-11-2022, 03:05 PM

Hey, is there a certain threshold I'm supposed to reach before the game starts making relationships between the workers on my roster? I've been at this in 4.0 for half a year in game time and nothing's come up as far as that department goes. Plus, is it possible for there to be homosexual relationships? Just saying, Faith and Jenna can explore a little further between them...:shifty:

I feel like the relationships remain largely static throughout the game with the exception of people marrying unknown daughters of your owner. It's definitely one area in which TEW and other iterations improved a bit, since relationships can and do change over time.

A shame though as Faith and Jenna would be quite the pairing.

Of course, modern TEW also allows workers to die which, while incredibly morbid, would probably present a fun challenge as long as it only happened like once a decade or something.

Evil Vito

10-11-2022, 03:09 PM

BREAKING FROM THE DESK OF THE GENERAL MANAGER:

Coming off the heels of Superstars, Lisa Benton has put together two more 10-person traditional Survivor Series elimination matches for the PPV. The first will come from the women's division as Dusk, C4, and the Women's Tag Team Champions The Southern Belles will face Phoebe Hanson, The Lonely Girls, and The Perfections. The second match will pit the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody, Zed Jones, Galino & Farnes, and Jason Sorola against Lyle Morris, Gavin Jones, Clubber Harris, Jordan Demiras, and an additional teammate that Lyle Morris will announce on SmackDown!. Be sure to tune in to keep up with the latest updates surrounding this year's Survivor Series!

Classic Survivor Series matches really were the best. It was nice to have at least one big stable where the team made perfect sense to be in the match, but then being able to pair together other sensible teams made for some fun interactions in the build up.

Wayyyyy back during my old WWE games I used to remember Survivor Series being the easiest month for me to book because I could do singles or tag matches involving so many pairings of the upcoming Survivor Series matches.

M-A-G

10-14-2022, 03:22 AM

Was typing up the SmackDown! recap when it came to me that I overlooked another Slammy category. By all means, look over the nominees and take your pick for FUED OF THE YEAR!

Salvatore Scabbia and Kyle Jacobs
Noah Carmichael and Butch Fleming
Naomi Bailey and Sonya Braddock
The Royal Effect and The Play Pals
Michael Hotbody and the Cruiserweight Division
Faith Connors and Jenna Kyle
The Wyldhearts and The Future Foundation
Wrakk and Haven
Seth Von Kamp and Brandon Reigns

Evil Vito

10-14-2022, 08:35 AM

I WANT to say Hotbody and the Cruiserweight Division because it's consistently the most entertaining part of the show, but the dude's already gonna win some other Slammys.

Faith and Jenna feels like a strong choice given their entire story arc.

M-A-G

10-24-2022, 03:20 AM

Between Hotbody and Luscious that's three Slammys and I was thinking about how hilarious it would be if along with his usual dumb entrance, each member of his crew pushes an individual award down the aisle on some kind of mobile pedestal also getting an introduction while Hotbody and Luscious look on with tears in their eyes.

M-A-G

11-03-2022, 12:17 PM

SmackDown!: November 16, 2040

Opening Match: Lyle Morris vs. Jimmy Farnes
Not wasting any time here. Well, Galino & Farnes want to waste some time running their mouths, first. They talk about how they're not sure why Lyle Morris is even wasting Michael Hotbody's time with this ridiculous challenge for the Cruiserweight Title. Of all of the surefire epic feud of the year contenders that Michael Hotbody has entangled himself in, Lyle seems like the odd man out. Besides, with no Chet Morris, technically Lyle doesn't even qualify for a shot based on the criteria Hotbody laid out. The law offices of Galino & Farnes will be seeking a CEASE AND DESIST ORDER against Lyle Morris and that's only the cherry on top of what's going to go down here tonight right now!

So this is a typical big man vs. little man match. Lyle manages to get the upper hand as we start to head home. Lyle stands perched on the middle rope, ready to strike at a dazed Farnes, but Galino pushes Lyle off. The ref calls for the DQ but it's a mere formality as Galino & Farnes start the 2-on-1 beatdown. HOLD THE PHONE!!! IT'S CHET MORRIS RUNNING DOWN THE RAMP AND INTO THE RING!!! He's got a steel chair with him and Luscious alerts Galino & Farnes to this turn of events and they take the hint and run out of the ring, avoiding any physicality with Chet. Chet checks on his cousin and pulls him up. Lyle takes the mic and says that he promised that he'd name his fifth team member for Survivor Series tonight. Well, we're looking at him. The Morris Cousins are back so Galino & Farnes can go tell Hotbody to get that Cruiserweight belt shined up, nice and pretty. ****1/2, 91% overall

Second Match: The Internet Darlings vs. C4
This was set up last night on Superstars between Sophie Waters and Brooke. Brooke wants to make it clear that while she is looking to show anyone who's ever been ungrateful to her what happens when she's crossed, her team Ronnie Costello and Salvatore Scabbia are not here tonight, so Randy Ellis and Justin Mitchell can breathe a bit easier. They'll feel the full wrath, however, come Survivor Series. Right now is all about letting everyone else know that they're not safe either. Brooke is the woman that runs the show and she runs it because she doesn't tolerate weakness in her camp, male or female!

As much as I want to do more with the faces, right now it's all about Brooke's team so this match is all theirs. Brooke puts Carmella's foot on the rope to break up a near fall. Sophie sees this and goes to confront her. Brooke, in a panic, pulls a dazed Cordelia in front of her to block Sophie. Cordelia isn't sure what's going on but Lauren Franklyn assumes Sophie is in trouble and delivers a baseball slide to Cordelia, knocking her down. Carmella takes advantage of the chaos by rolling up Lauren and grabbing the tights to score the cheap pin. ****1/2, 88% overall

Third Match: Chris Collins vs. Blaine Bellamey
Chris Collins declares that he's getting tired of facing all of these weaksauce simps who can't handle a woman getting the slightest bit hurt. Where are all the REAL men at? He can't even remember the last time he got to challenge for a title and that's probably the biggest insult in all of this. He wants to fight for gold, not for a woman. And that right there is what separates him from a wimp like Alexander Piero. So let the match at Survivor Series come down to him and all three of Madison's little petting zoo. Chris Collins is so much of a man that all three of them combined can't even add up to an alpha like himself!

This is another big man vs. little man affair. It comes to a head when Moses McKay makes his way down to ringside and stalks Madison. Naturally, Blaine is a bit peeved and reaches over the top rope and grabs McKay by the hair. This allows Chris Collins to pop up and snatch Blaine into the Fall From Heaven and get the pin. Alexander Piero runs down afterward to fuck shit up royally for the heels but they decide to bail. ****1/2, 93% overall

Fourth Match: Jason Sorola vs. Gavin Jones
I mean, why not do this match? Gavin is distraught over how things have turned out regarding the Hunters and Jason Sorola but if it means he's got a shot at once again wearing that Cruiserweight Title, it's something he'll just have to live with, especially if Sorola wants to continue being a bloody jackass about everything. Gavin may not have the Hunters behind him, but he is going to have a team at Survivor Series, and they're going to be looking for a clean sweep. This match is looking like it's going to be match of the night. The blow off between these two is probably going to be fire. Not Match of the Year, mind you, but it's tracking to be a highlight. Of course that means that nothing can be settled here just yet, as Michael Hotbody decides to make himself known. Clearly he's just here to show everyone how shiny he made his Cruiserweight Title belt, like Lyle Morris asked for earlier. It's so shiny that Gavin can see his own reflection in it and Hotbody even offers Gavin that chance. It's quite a close look and for some reason the ref calls for the bell, disqualifying Sorola. Hotbody tries slapping Gavin awake in order to get him back on his feet so he can see the shiny Cruiserweight title some more. Jordan Demiras comes running down, no doubt looking to ask Hotbody how he got the belt so shiny, seeing as he was never capable of such an accomplishment. Hotbody, wisely, isn't going to share such a trade secret with just anybody and decides to split and Sorola accompanies him out of the ring. *****, 96% overall

Fifth Match: The Academy vs. Southern Gentlemen
Man, am I spoiling the audience with this parade of matches or what? Justin and Randy aren't fazed and have no regrets about their decision to split from Brooke. Brooke demonstrating earlier just how little she actually cares about people not constantly jumping at every little snap of her fingers. They give a warning to the rest of the pack still under Brooke's watch that it's only a matter of time before Brooke finds little use for them when things don't go her way. The Academy aren't going to be the scapegoats for Scabbia's failures and too bad for anyone over on Brooke's side who doesn't like that. Things go a bit better for Sophie Waters here, as her new clients have quite the handle on this match. Brody Lee falls victim to Today's Lesson from Randy Ellis and that gives the Academy the pinfall victory. BUT WAIT!!! SALVATORE SCABBIA IS HERE! What about what Brooke said earlier. Scabbia does what he does best, and that is just wrecking shit. Both Mitchell and Ellis get absolutely annihilated by Scabbia's rampage until Scabbia decides to put them both out with the Omerta. Scabbia has made quite the case for himself being a key part of his Survivor Series team. *****, 94% overall

Backstage we go to the Lonely Girls, Faith Connors and Jenna Kyle! Five matches in a row is a bit excessive, even for me. Anyways, Jenna wants to know what Lisa Benton has been smoking because the Lonely Girls can't see anything positive coming out of them having to team up with Leah and Bonnie Beckham at Survivor Series. Jenna says that she can still feel the spot on her face where Leah smashed a camera. And speaking frankly, Jenna still gets a feeling of giddyness every time she thinks about the time she got to repeatedly introduce Leah's face to the mat that one time. Things may never be copacetic between the two teams. They've still got their eyes on those tag team titles. Faith and Jenna will do their best to behave themselves at Survivor Series, but once that's over, all bets are off.

Sixth Match: Leah vs. Bobbi Jo
Speaking of the devils, we've got this match to tackle. It is, of course, awesome as hell. They brawl to the outside and the count commences. Leah tries climbing back into the ring but Bobbi grabs her legs to try to stop that. They struggle for a bit until Leah shoves Bobbi off, sending her into and over the announce table. Leah makes it back in while the count continues on Bobbi. Bobbi starts making her way back to the ring as the count reaches 8 but she's apparantly had enough for the night and decides to grab her belt and walk away, giving Leah the countout win. Leah is not satisfied and tries to get her hands on Bobbi but Bobbi responds by plastering Leah's face with her title belt. The drama continues. ****1/2, 91% overall

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time with Orlando Kincaid! He thinks it's been a long time coming that he and Ryan Pattillo have a heart-to-heart about their issue. Ryan shouldn't be such a baby about what Orlando has been doing. You'd think Ryan would have some degree of empathy. You see, much like Ryan Pattillo, Orlando is also the former member of a great faction. Now Orlando's faction was without question far superior as the Order was about dominance and ferocity. Ryan's little pack of embarrassments was about acting like idiots. That image and the desire to keep that image up and running for the sake of the morons in the crowd is to blame for Ryan not being part of that upper echelon scene. Orlando, however, has legitimate gripes with other people. People who know how dangerous he can be to that status quo. That barrier is going to get broken by Orlando Kincaid, one way or another, and poor Ryan Pattillo is going to left laying among the pieces. There's only so much room at the top and Ryan Pattillo just isn't vicious enough to stop Orlando from getting there. Ryan Pattillo had his time in the sun and whether he likes it or not, after Survivor Series he's going to end up even worse off than where he is now and he'll have plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong. The sad thing is that it's not even that big of a mystery. Ryan squandered all of his potential being a damn jester and Orlando would be willing to wager that the real reason Michael Haywood and Gavin Jones decided to break ties with him is that even those two were getting beyond embarrassed about what a loser and failure as a leader Ryan Pattillo has become!

Things have finally reached the boiling point for Ryan Pattillo and he decides to make himself known and runs down to the ring to get a piece of Kincaid. Unfortunately there's some kind of theme going on here with the heels tonight as he doesn't want any of Pattillo's rage and decides to vamoose through the crowd.

Seventh Match: Ziggy Styles vs. Martyn LaSalle
Ziggy tells that audience that he hopes everyone will tune into his first Survivor Series where he will lead his team to a dominant victory. He also hopes that they spend Thanksgiving giving thanks that Ziggy Styles graces their screen, week in and week out, bringing the best thing going on in the WWE today. He blesses everyone's Thanksgiving meal and declares that everyone is going to be getting Ziggy with it that day! This match is more goodness as the rating clearly shows. LaSalle looks like he's about to lock in the Martynizer for the submission but Ozzy Mandias makes himself known by coming out onto the stage with a mic looking like he's in a hurry with something important to say. "Martyn, Martyn, Martyn...I'm so glad I caught you. I thought I wasn't going to be able to get a hold of you tonight. This was super-duper important!" LaSalle takes his eye off the ball due to this distraction as he yells back at Ozzy. Styles takes advantage of the interruption by hitting the Thinga-Ma-Zig and getting the pin. However, during all of this, Ozzy continues his speech, claiming that it was important for him to be out here because he wanted to be sure Martyn and all of the people here heard Ozzy's announcement loud and clear. Ozzy declares that he is, in fact, accepting Martyn LaSalle's challenge to a match...and even better, it will be at Survivor Series! Isn't that great Martyn? LaSalle of course can't respond as he's in a daze after the loss. Ozzy tells him not too worry about getting back to him immediately. LaSalle can take his time. And with that, Ozzy takes his leave. ****1/2, 93% overall

More In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with a very pissed off Brandon Reigns. "Are we seriously doing this again?" he starts. "Am I seriously going to have to deal with Eddy Clash taking my damn briefcase AGAIN? Eddy, it wasn't funny the first time around and it sure as hell isn't funny now. You are down right pathetic. You have nothing but nip at the heels of people better than you, hoping to get even the slightest bit of attention. Well, mission accomplished, because you are priority number one in my book. I'm not simply asking for you to come out here and hand over my briefcase. No, no, before things could've been forgiven because you were a mere simpleton who just didn't know any better. Well now, you're clearly just trying to piss me off and asking for the beating of a lifetime, so come on out here and take your ass kicking like a man! I'll make it quick but memorable enough for you to ever think twice about ever believing you were worth my time. GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Time goes by with no response but eventually Eddy pops up on the tron. Eddy says that he's absolutely willing to go through whatever Reigns has in mind and he is absolutely willing to hand over the Money in the Bank briefcase. The problem is that Eddy just finished sending the briefcase to a hotel room in Miami. The same hotel room where Eddy will be staying Survivor Series weekend. The same hotel room that's in the same city as this year's Survivor Series! What a coincidence. It seems that the best way for Brandon Reigns to get everything he wants is to show up to Survivor Series and face Eddy Clash in that match that he proposed a while back. Everyone walks away happy! That is if Brandon Reigns wants it that badly. "See you in Miami, Brandon!" And with that, the tron goes black and Reigns throws a tantrum by smashing things on the outside of the ring.

MAIN EVENT: Wrakk, Quinten McDaniels, and Xavier Cross vs. Haven, Seth Von Kamp, and Kyle Jacobs
Quite the packed main event here. There's still debris around the ring after Brandon's tantrum. In fact, Reigns is still there as the faces start coming out for the match. He yells at Seth and Kyle while puffing out his chest but Haven's entrance finally makes him change his mind about sticking around. This all kicks ass on so many levels. It's a "Katy, bar the door!" scenario as things break down and it comes down to McDaniels and Seth. The ref is busy getting things under control with Kyle and Cross and McDaniels takes advantage by KOing Seth with the Intercontinental Title and that's enough to get McDaniels to get the cheap pin. Quinten stands tall holding up the belt as we go off the air. ****1/2, 93% overall

Overall rating: 91%

Evil Vito

11-04-2022, 08:58 AM

I love building to Survivor Series. So many different ways to mix up the roster and match people up together who normally wouldn't be in programs together. Especially all the big man vs. little man stuff. God forbid the WWE of old ever allowed the cruiserweights to occasionally branch away from their own division (except Rey, seemingly).

Nice to see a return of The Morris Cousins, Survivor Series is always a great place to bring back a returnee.

The Internet Darlings is a fantastic team name. They be chasing snowflakes for sure.

M-A-G

11-12-2022, 05:51 AM

Damn, I shot into second place as far as number of posts in this thread. :o

Evil Vito

11-15-2022, 11:30 AM

Another new sim game out called Pro Wrestling Sim. Seems like it might be somewhat of a happy medium between the bare bones simplicity of EWR and the overwhelming complexity of TEW.

The game itself comes with a generic fake database but there are tons of mods out there already and, perhaps more importantly, the game is constantly getting new support.

Evil Vito

11-15-2022, 11:32 AM

Cool thing is the mods include skins to change up how your game looks depending on the promotion and time of the scenario you're booking.

https://imgur.com/lNzJFGT.png

https://imgur.com/Qa3WoUS.png

https://imgur.com/d4dwbLi.png

https://imgur.com/Sgws887.png

https://imgur.com/oQrkGKh.png

https://imgur.com/5PslYTN.png

https://i.ibb.co/v1fpR4p/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-8-20-17-AM.png

https://i.ibb.co/GPYWKQ1/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-8-07-51-AM.png

https://i.ibb.co/ZNgf83D/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-8-17-27-AM.png

M-A-G

11-15-2022, 12:48 PM

That actually looks pretty slick. Is it free?

M-A-G

11-15-2022, 12:50 PM

Ooh, better question: is it possible for you to be removed from power via sex scandal?

Evil Vito

11-15-2022, 09:00 PM

That actually looks pretty slick. Is it free?

Alas, it is on Steam and costs $20. But I’ve got some Steam money to blow and will probably get another gift card for Christmas so hey, I’m not averse to giving it a whirl and providing feedback at some point.

Of course…with my penchant for not following through on things :o couldn’t even finish my damn Fire Pro tournament

M-A-G

11-24-2022, 10:02 PM

LOL, I'm thinking of all the hardcore simmers of TPWW past who've moved on to bigger and better things suddenly coming back one day and stumbling across this thread and trying to make heads or tails of the stuff we've been doing over the last year+. :lol:

Evil Vito

11-25-2022, 02:16 PM

Funny enough, former sim thread mainstay loopydate is way into Fire Pro simming, much like my big AEW tournament.

But alas, he left TPWW back in 2015 or so and has no interest in returning.

M-A-G

12-21-2022, 01:23 PM

Raw: November 19, 2040

We're in the home stretch on the road to Survivor Series. Let's see what fuckery gets spawned here tonight!

Opening Match: The Morris Cousins vs. Galino & Farnes
Luscious is with the heels and announces that Lisa Benton has pulled yet another corrupt move by officially granting Lyle Morris a Cruiserweight Championship match with her boo, Michael Hotbody! As vile a move that this is, all of Hotbody's many, many fans can rest assured that the legal team of Galino & Farnes are ON TOP OF THIS! Lyle can't just pull a fast one by bringing in his drug-addicted cousin out of nowhere just to steal an undeserved title shot! The Morris Cousins, naturally, take offense to this and storm the ring and chase the heels a bit. The ref gets in Chet's way and they hash it out, but that allows Lyle to get double-teamed as the match starts. Lyle does his damndest to fight while getting abused by all three heels. Finally, Chet can't stand not being tagged in anymore and grabs and chair and starts the chase again, causing the ref to call for the DQ. The heels don't want anymore and Chet tends to Lyle. Lyle recovers enough to where he grabs the mic and yells at Galino & Farnes, telling them to send a message their little bitch of a boss. Lyle is coming for the title, whether he likes it or not. *****, 95% overall.

Second Match: Phoebe Hanson vs. Arianna
Phoebe wants to talk about what a trip it's going to be at Survivor Series. She's teaming up with a hell of a collection of ladies but she hopes that they'll understand if she goes off the deep end and just destroys Dusk. Dusk isn't dealing with some bright-eyed, naive babe in the woods that fell off a turnip truck. Dusk wants darkness? Phoebe will knock her God damn lights out. How's that for darkness? So of course this is a fucking banger of a match. Speaking of things to bang, Dusk creeps her way on out to observe. Phoebe is razor focused, though, and still manages to crank out the pinfall victory after nailing the Stardust. Phoebe goes to glare at Dusk but Dusk merely sics Sorrow on her and then takes her leave after calling the raven back, leaving Phoebe flustered. *****, 96% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time with the Women's Champion Naomi Bailey! Naomi wants to make it clear what's going to be difference between the women's elimination match and her title match against Sonya Braddock at Survivor Series. There's easily going to be more chaos in the title match. And the only animal everyone will see is herself, when she absolutely mauls Sonya into paste. Everyone knows the real reason Sonya Braddock waited so damn long to try to get back in the ring with the champion. Sonya got embarrassed at Night of Champions! She knows that's true because she walked into that night with all the confidence in the world but got bitch-slapped by reality! She got bitch-slapped by the Queen of Queens, the rightful Women's Champion, and she had to crawl into some little dark corner of her home to mope about it and think about what it meant. Well, Naomi is going to tell you all what it meant. It meant that Sonya's days as the top bitch were done. She can make up this excuse about her letting Naomi be champion these last few months, but it's a damn lie. She needs to try to save face because everyone knows the damage Naomi did to her that night when she took this belt and carried it like no other. "This Sunday is supposed to be survival of the fittest? Well, Sonya you sure aren't the fittest...and you for damn sure ain't gonna survive!"

This, naturally, calls for Sonya Braddock to come out and deliver some smack talk of her own. The challenger makes her way out to the stage...with a pumpkin? Well, it is Thanksgiving in three days so maybe she's going to share some pumpkin pie reci...no, wait. She just crushes it by squeezing it with her bare hands and glares at Naomi. Sonya really does have a way with words. How much trouble is the Women's champion in this Sunday?

Backstage, it's time for some more talking but with Brooke as she stands with her guys, Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello. Brooke wants to clarify that she didn't lie on SmackDown! about Salvatore Scabbia because she specifically said the TEAM of Scabbia and Costello weren't there that night. No Costello meant no team, so she didn't lie. She was just smarter than Randy Ellis and Justin Mitchell. And that has been the defining characteristic of her entire career. She can outthink anyone on the roster and she knows a bad decision when she sees one. The Academy tucking tail and running and turning their backs on her is certainly one of the worst decisions anyone could've made. They'll learn...oh, they will absolutely learn the hard way at Survivor Series. In the meantime, Randy and Justin can watch as she leads her other team to victory right now.

Third Match: The Perfections vs. C4
I'm getting some good mileage out of turning Leah and Bonnie face. This is, of course, a preview of the traditional elimination match involving the ladies that will happen on the pre-show this Sunday. Some chicanery on Brooke's part allows C4 to get Bonnie in the "face-in-peril" scenario. Fast forward to the end as Leah gets the hot tag and cleans house, even knocking Brooke for a loop. She has Cordelia in position to begin the sequence leading to the Sultry Splash but the Women's Tag Team Champions The Southern Belles decide to run down and ruin everything by attacking the Perfections, causing the DQ. Cordelia is all "WTF, bro?" and looks upset with the champions. Things look tense but that gives enough of a delay to allow the Lonely Girls to run down and even things out. The heels are cleared from the ring and we get a lot of pointing and yelling at each other as we go to break. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Fourth Match: Adam Hail vs. Michael Haywood
Ziggy Styles is on commentary and he expresses extreme disappointment and sorrow over the destruction of his set when he had Michael on as a guest. There is opportunity in disaster, however, and Ziggy promises to deliver even bigger and better than before, and it starts at Survivor Series when he single-handedly will eliminate all of Michael's team. Speaking of which, this match is a bit of a preview of Survivor Series as each man will be on opposite teams this Sunday. Haywood has been doing what he can to shake off the Hunter image he had while in that group. He holds his own well enough here with a guy like Hail, even with Nathan Quinn sticking his nose in the match here and there. On the outside, Quinn finally gets busted trying to help and the ref orders him to the back. Looks like we'll finally get a fair matc...no, wait. Ziggy just clobbers Michael from behind with the announcer headset and tosses him back into the ring. Hail races to the top and comes off with the Hailstorm and gets the pin. Ziggy dances over the fallen Haywood as we go to break. ****1/2, 92% overall.

More In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with Brandon Reigns. He wants to set the record straight with everyone and ESPECIALLY Eddy Clash. Truth be told, whether or not Brandon is in possession of the Money in the Bank briefcase, he's still cashing it in at WrestleMania. Brandon doesn't actually need the case to make history happen in just a few months time. But to shut the mouths of all the haters and mockers and jealous people who are creating whispers, Brandon will show up to Survivor Series and he will finally put an end to all of the silliness that's been plaguing him. This isn't even about the briefcase anymore. Brandon will happily shove it down Eddy's throat so he can choke on it. This is about reminding the WWE about what they're dealing with when they get on Brandon's bad side. Ask Jake Connelly. Ask Connor Buchanan. Ask Kyle Jacobs. Reigns didn't ask for the fight that Eddy is going to get this Sunday, but it's become clear now that it's a necessary fight. A means to an end, and Eddy can't say he wasn't warned.

This calls for Kyle Jacobs to make his way on out to confront Reigns, face-to-face. Kyle had hoped that Reigns hadn't forgotten all about their little spat. Unfortunately Reigns is remembering things a bit differently from what Kyle recollects. Kyle will confirm that Reigns is quite dangerous once he's in the zone; but he'll take the easy way out just like any other common coward. How else would you explain Mr. Money in the Bank, Mr. Future of the WWE taking it upon himself to assault two veterans sitting at ringside in order to steal a win? Jacobs understands that, at the moment, both he and Reigns have some separate business to attend to come Survivor Series. But Reigns needs to understand that the dream WrestleMania moment of him cashing in that contract isn't the only date with destiny that's on his calendar. The two of them still have a lot to hash out and on the chance that Reigns does manage to become Unified World Champion, it'll be Jacobs who will get to show off just how dangerous he can be.

Jacobs turns to walk away but Reigns isn't done and grabs Jacobs by the arm and spins him back around. Jacobs shoves Brandon's arm off and Brandon responds with a shove to the chest. Kyle slaps Brandon in return and we've got a scuffle as Reigns tackles Jacobs to the mat. Jacob manages to get into the mount BUT HERE COMES XAVIER CROSS! Cross kicks Jacobs in the head and that puts him down. The heels stomp away on Jacobs in a two-on-one affair until Cross decides to finish things off with the Cross Cutter. Cross glares at the fallen Kyle as Brandon looks into the camera and shouts at Eddy Clash, hoping that he's watching.

Fifth Match: Clubber Harris and Jordan Demiras vs. Zed Jones and The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody
Well, everyone looks ready to go but Hotbody declares that participating in this match is not really in his best interests. You see, this year the responsibilities of handling the annual Hotbody Thanksgiving Feast has fallen to him. Hotbody has a lot to take care off ahead of the holiday. HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THE CRANBERRY SAUCE! Plus, he now has to worry about that little backwater runt, Lyle Morris, getting an UNDESERVED SHOT at the Cruiserweight Title! Besides, there's also the responsibility of him having to lead his team to victory this Sunday. He can't formulate a winning strategy unless he's sure all of his players can function as a team. So to get things in working order and so he can watch and learn and plan, Hotbody is allowing a very capable substitute to join Zed as his partner for this match. Without further ado, let's all welcome JASON SOROLA!

Actual Fifth Match: Clubber Harris and Jordan Demiras vs. Zed Jones and Jason Sorola
Hotbody sticks around FOR PURELY OBSERVATIONAL PURPOSES! Demiras and Sorola do most of the heavy lifting. Gotta save the hosses for down the road. Plus, they're infinitely more talented. Fast forward to the end, we do end up with Harris and Zed as the legal men. If JR were still around in this universe he'd be all over this. Anyway, Harris is really giving it to Zed. Perhaps a bit too hard because Hotbody, no doubt concerned over Harris needlessly overexerting himself, grabs Harris's leg and holds on, obviously trying to get the big man to slow down and bit and check his pulse. The ref calls for the DQ as Zed nails Harris from behind and the three-on-two commences. HOLD THE PHONE!!! Gavin Jones comes running down to try to even things out a bit but Sorola chop blocks him while he's distracted by Hotbody. Sorola locks in the STF to really punish Gavin as officials come down to try to get control back. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Backstage we go so we can hear from Martyn LaSalle. LaSalle is asked if he's glad that Ozzy Mandias finally came around to accept the match between the two of them for this Sunday. LaSalle doesn't know if he's glad but he knows that he can beat Ozzy Mandias. At this point, LaSalle isn't even concerned with getting an apology out of Ozzy. Once LaSalle has Ozzy's arm twisted and ready to bend and snap, he'll be more than content with Ozzy saying that he gives up.

Even more In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with the Intercontinental Champion Seth Von Kamp. He can somewhat relate to Quinten McDaniels and the frustrations that he's been putting on display these last few weeks. It can really stick in your craw when you're so sure of something, so deeply devoted to an idea, and then it gets taken away from you. Be it by simple chance or facing superior odds, it can be soul crushing. Finally capturing the Intercontinental Title after so long has reignited that belief that all things are possible, stronger than ever. This ride can't end at Survivor Series. He can't let it end at Survivor Series. It's only the beginning and there's always the lure of the biggest prize the industry has to offer. And just like he plowed through every brick wall to get to this point, reaching that Unified World Title will be no different.

Cue Haven, the challenger for the Unified World Title this Sunday, who most certainly has a different perspective on the matter. Haven knows that Seth is all about anarchy. Haven is all about order. Disruption, however well-intended, will not be tolerated. Order will be brought to the Unified World Title after all of the chaos surrounding it, and it begins when Wrakk falls victim, once again, to the Dark Shepherd, the Beacon of Hope, the Savior of the WWE.

And with that bit of promo, we're treated to another interruption, this time by the Unified World Champion himself, Wrakk. Wrakk declares that Haven can give himself as many monikers as he wants. It's not going to intimidate Wrakk and it's all irrelevant anyway because there is one moniker that Haven can't claim and will not be claiming anytime in the near future, and that is Unified World Champion. Order has already been brought to this title, and it doesn't need Haven sticking his hand in its business. Wrakk is the fittest and the strongest and no one in that ring right now on their best day is man enough to take down the empire that Wrakk is building. If anyone thinks that Wrakk is giving this up anytime soon after one whole God damn year away, they're in for a very rude, very painful awakening.

What's this? More interruptions, you say? This time it's the challenger to Seth's Intercontinental Championship this Sunday, Quinten McDaniels. Quinten isn't about to be overlooked, what with all of this talk of who's going to be the big dog around these parts. He's sick of Haven thinking he's owed something and he's definitely sick of Seth Von Kamp running his mouth and thinking he's got one over on Quinten. Seth is doing everything he can to make up for all of his past failures and it's almost embarrassing how much he's overcompensating. Seth couldn't get the job done against Quinten during King of the Ring and he got out of No Mercy by the skin of his teeth. There's only so much borrowed time Seth can be on before it all comes crumbling down and when Quinten takes that Intercontinental Title at Survivor Series, there will be no more overlooking his name.

Seth and Haven glance at each other as they stand side-by-side. Seth takes the mic and points out that there's nothing standing between the four of them but air and opportunity right now. While neither Seth or Haven have any fear of the two blabbermouths up on that stage, they're more than welcome to come on down and try to beat some fear into them because that's really the only hope in hell the two of them have come Survivor Series.

Wrakk and McDaniels glare at the two faces in the ring as they ponder this over and sure enough they eventually decide to start making their way down to try to start some shit. Unfortunately, the usual gang of idiots and security run down and get in between the two pairs and try to get some sense of order as we go to break.

MAIN EVENT: Alexander Piero and the Wyldhearts vs. Chris Collins and the Royal Effect
Madison announces that next week, the Wyldhearts will be getting their shot at the Royal Effect's Unified Tag Team Titles. It's something long overdue for her boys, kind of like the ass kicking that Collins has been asking for these past few months. Collins and the Royal Effect will get embarrassed tonight and at Survivor Series, and next week will be the cherry on top of it all when Blaine and Robbie finally take home those tag team titles. So of course, this is another six-man main event that rocks everyone's balls off. It comes down to Piero and Kavovit as Collins and McKay want to threaten Madison but the Wyldhearts cut them off and they brawl on the outside. The ref is distracted with this chaos and Madison takes the opportunity to trip up Kavovit as he runs the ropes and that allows Piero to hit the Flashpoint and pick up the pin. Collins decides to bail when he sees that Piero is up and about and looking to get a piece and it's basically a 3-on-2 scenario. How will things unfold at Survivor Series?!? *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 90%

M-A-G

12-21-2022, 01:26 PM

So Survivor Series is looking like this:

WWE Unified World Title: Wrakk vs. Haven

WWE Women's Title: Naomi Bailey vs. Sonya Braddock

WWE Intercontinental Title: Seth Von Kamp vs. Quinten McDaniels

Brandon Reigns vs. Eddy Clash

Kyle Jacobs, Alexander Piero, Ryan Pattillo, The Wyldhearts vs. Xavier Cross, Chris Collins, Orlando Kincaid, The Royal Effect

Simon Bennett, Mathias, Michael Haywood, The Academy vs. Adam Hail, Lonny Richards, Ziggy Styles, Salvatore Scabbbia, Ronnie Costello

Michael Hotbody, Zed Jones, Jason Sorola, Galino & Farnes vs. Jordan Demiras, Clubber Harris, Gavin Jones, The Morris Cousins

Ozzy Mandias vs. Martyn LaSalle

Dusk, The Southern Belles, C4 vs. Phoebe Hanson, The Lonely Girls, the Perfections

Hopefully nothing fucky goes down these next few days.

The Mackem

12-23-2022, 10:14 AM

M-A-G

12-23-2022, 10:37 AM

LOL, no fucking way!!!

The Mackem

12-23-2022, 10:42 AM

I started reading the thread when I couldn’t for the life of me work out what the security question was all about

M-A-G

01-01-2023, 11:06 PM

Yeah, I booked like a madman during our lockdown and thus I'm in the year 2040 as a result. Vito sort of prodded me into posting my progress and reinvigorating the thread, so to speak. I have less time to go wild like I used to, what with the world sort of back to where things were and all so I update when I can.

The Mackem

01-02-2023, 03:22 AM

I haven’t played any wrestling sims in years. Don’t get the time and lockdown didn’t result in any free time at all, in fact resulted in less free time.

Good to see that you and Vito are going strong. At least Vito’s is a name change that I can follow!

Also laughed at a topic suggesting this should be closed.

Evil Vito

01-23-2023, 02:15 PM

Holy shit @ The Mackem

M-A-G

01-24-2023, 02:24 AM

Holy shit @ me not getting around to more booking.

M-A-G

05-13-2023, 09:28 PM

Man, it's been a while....

Superstars: November 22, 2040

Only 2 more shows until Survivor Series!!!

Opening Match: The Morris Cousins vs. The Tokyo Titans
The cousins get on the stick and want to rag on Michael Hotbody and his crew. They call it a carnival of fools that haven't had a threat like the Morris Cousins standing in their way. Chet and Lyle were part of one of the most dangerous and dominant forces in the WWE, but even on their own, they can break anyone. Any team. Any group. The countdown until the inevitable has begun and hopefully Hotbody is watching. I figure I should have an actual proper reunion of the Morris Cousins that goes smoothly and this is that match. Wu is the unfortunate victim tonight as he falls victim to the Backwoods Bomb from the Cousins and Chet picks up the win, GAINING MOMENTUM as they head into Survivor Series. *****, 97% overall.

Second Match: Ethan Lang vs. Doug Michaels
Nothing too special here as I figure I help increase Lang's exposure. I mean, I saddled him with fucking Jake Connelly, I might as well make it matter. It's not Doug's night as Lang has too much momentum and coaching on his side and he falls to the Bitter Languish and Lang picks up the pin. ****1/2, 88% overall.

Backstage we've got Nathan Quinn with his clients, the Women's Tag Team Champions. Quinn lets us know that neither Bobbi nor Hannah are sweating Survivor Series. Besides the fact that they're the best team in the women's division, the simple fact is that there is no chance in hell the Perfections are going to be able to co-exist with the Lonely Girls on the same team. There's simply too much bad blood there for them to be on the same page. They're going to self-destruct probably before the bell even rings this Sunday. And when that happens, all that's needed is for the Southern Belles to take charge, swoop on in, and devour what's left. If nobody wants to believe that, well let's just get Leah and Jenna Kyle together and ask them who is going to be the team captain? We'll see how much "teamwork" they've got going then. A little something Leah should ponder while she's out there tonight.

Third Match: Leah vs. Maya
If there is any sort of fretting going on in Leah's head she doesn't show it as she's all about business with this match. She does say that she and Bonnie have a pretty big surprise in store tomorrow night for Nathan Quinn, the Southern Belles, and any ladies out there that think the Perfections have lost their edge. It's going to be an incredibly rude awakening. So this match is indeed the shit as Leah comes out looking good ahead of Survivor Series. Perhaps a case can be made for her leadership for her team on Sunday? The end comes when Maya is down and Leah capitalizes with a Sultry Splash for the pin. ****1/2, 87% overall.

Fourth Match: Simon Bennett and Mathias vs. The Agents of Change
Bennett feels the need to demonstrate cohesion between himself and Mathias to his opponents this Sunday, especially Adam Hail. Hail's betrayal hurt, but it didn't break Simon Bennett. If nothing else, it gave Bennett a new goal to strive for; knocking Adam Hail off his course and claiming that top spot for himself. As with the other "preview" matches here tonight, this follows the same idea in that we've got to make Sunday's participants look good and strong. It comes down to Clayton North and Simon Bennett and Bennett is able to reverse an attempted backslide into the Bennett Lock, giving his team the submission win. ****1/2, 93% overall.

It's In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with Ozzy Mandias. Ozzy wants to help anyone out there who may still be wondering where things went wrong between himself and Martyn LaSalle. It's actually quite easy to pinpoint if you've been paying attention. Ozzy has nothing but love for LaSalle, but all LaSalle had to do was fess up to the mistake and incompetence he demonstrated at No Mercy. Now we've gone past the point of no return. A simple "sorry" isn't going to be enough. LaSalle can try coughing out an apology after Ozzy is done with him this Sunday, after his superiority has been proven once and for all. Ozzy would've walked out of No Mercy the Cruiserweight Champion if it hadn't been for LaSalle being so ineffectual. Ozzy means no offense, but it might be time for LaSalle to admit that his time has come and gone. Ozzy might just have to step up and be the focal point of the cruiserweight division and fill that role in a way that LaSalle never could. But in the interest of fairness and to show LaSalle that Ozzy is indeed the bigger man, on the extremely off chance that LaSalle can bust out a miracle this Sunday and get one over, Ozzy is willing to do what LaSalle can't seem to find in his heart to do, and that is admit defeat and acknowledge the better man. Ozzy highly doubts LaSalle is willing to do the same and he's more than welcome to come on out and say otherwise...unless he's scared.

A short time passes but soon enough Martyn LaSalle decides to take Ozzy up on his offer and walk down the ring and get face-to-face with his opponent for Sunday. LaSalle declares that he's always able to recognize when someone has the better goods when he's faced with defeat...it's just that it doesn't happen very often because he's the top dog in the cruiserweight division and he believes Survivor Series is going to be no different. LaSalle doesn't want anymore talking; he wants to shut Ozzy up...after he makes him squeal like a little bitch.

Ozzy is a bit ticked off at this statement and decides to get in LaSalle's face. They trade words off-mic and Ozzy decides to shove LaSalle. LaSalle ponders this turn of events over for a bit...before slapping the taste out of Ozzy's mouth. Ozzy is taken back and looks pissed...but decides to ask for a truce by backing up out of the ring and walking away, all while trading some choice looks at each other.

Fifth Match: Jason Sorola vs. Patrick Dean Quartermaine
Sorola needs the momentum heading into his 5-on-5 match at Survivor Series. He declares that it's his special mission to personally eliminate Gavin Jones come Sunday, and that none of his teammates better have a problem with that. Pretty straightforward encounter here and Sorola polishes off Quartermaine with the STF for the win. ****1/4, 93% overall.

We've got more talking to listen to backstage, this time from the Unified Tag Team Champions, The Royal Effect. They want to make it clear that the Wyldhearts are just a couple of pretty boys. If they weren't able to capture the championship before, they sure as hell have no hope now that the belts are in the possession of the Royal Effect. The Royal Effect are looking forward to a clean sweep this Survivor Series and showing the world that they have the ability to dominate and it will go a long way towards humiliating the Wyldhearts ahead of their scheduled match for the titles. Another word of warning to Greer and Bellamy: keep that hussy Madison out of the way.

Sixth Match: Zed Jones vs. Raymond Delaney
Luscious is with Zed and she wants to deliver a message from her boo, Michael Hotbody. Hotbody and his legal team, the incredible duo of Galino & Farnes, have heard from Lyle Morris and Lisa Benton. They understand that Hotbody may have put himself in this corner with his open challenge, and he will agree to honor the proposed match between himself and Lyle for the Cruiserweight Title. HOWEVER, nobody on Team Hotbody still believes Lyle really deserves this shot, so a proposition is at hand for Lyle if he wants to agree to it. If Lyle Morris and his team are victorious at Survivor Series, the title match can go on as planned and Lyle can even pick the stipulation. But if Hotbody's team can win at Survivor Series LYLE GETS NOTHING!!! GOOD DAY, SIR!!! Michael Hotbody will be waiting for your answer.

So with that out of the way, Zed does what he does best and that's being an impressive, dominant big dude. Delaney is no cruiserweight, but it's not his night as he not only has the monster in Zed to deal with, but Luscious's lusciousness, too. She plays distraction and that's all the opening Zed needs to yank Delaney from behind and hook him in a Dragon Sleeper and get the win by getting Delaney to pass out. Clubber Harris observes the post-match celebration from the stage with a glare on his face. ****1/2, 91% overall.

More backstage goodness as we sit down with newcomer Ainsley who debuted last week. Ainsley is so excited that she's finally here in the WWE after working for seemed like an eternity. Ainsley brings up the fact that Debra Phillips trained and travelled in the same circles as she did and the two of them sort of gravitated towards each other, propping each other up because they both wanted to make it to where they are now. Ainsley is asked about Debra's actions after their match last week where she didn't seem to be too thrilled with sharing in the joy of the two of them debuting together. Ainsley isn't sure how to answer that because she hasn't had a chance to speak with Debra, but she can't worry about it right now. The dream is happening for her and she can't get too bogged down by something like that. Right now she's looking forward to her first SmackDown! appearance tomorrow night.

MAIN EVENT: Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello vs. The Wyldhearts
Brooke and Madison both get tossed from ringside fairly early after they get a bit physical with each other. TENSIONS ARE HIGH!!! Brooke, of course, has a lot on her plate, what with the Academy splitting from her and her crew. Madison has a tag team title match for her boys soon, plus making sure Alexander Piero is ready for Survivor Series. It's a lot of pressure! Anyway, the match is some good dominant heels/underdog pretty boys shit. Costello gets isolated towards the end of the match and it looks like the faces are going to put him away with the Heartstopper BUT HERE COMES THE ROYAL EFFECT!!! The champions attack the Wyldhearts and that's going to be an obvious DQ. WE'RE NOT DONE YET!!! The Academy runs down and they get themselves a piece of Scabbia and Ronnie and it's a wild 8-man brawl to close out the show. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 87%

Evil Vito

05-15-2023, 09:18 AM

It's back :eek:

Props for being able to jump right back in, being so close to an already-booked PPV definitely helps things out.

Always nice to end a go-home episode of weekly TV with a massive brawl, especially when it's Survivor Series.

Evil Vito

05-15-2023, 09:28 AM

I'm now almost 2 years (both in game and real life) removed from my AEW game. And I'd just finished off a PPV and only had maybe one match booked for the next one. I'd be hard pressed to go that far back knowing how much things have changed since then.

That said, Double or Nothing is like 2 weeks away in real life. Then in June they're expected to be debuting a new weekly TV show, reportedly centered around the return of CM Punk and at least some rumors of there being a loose roster split.

I'm SORTA tempted to launch a new game in June...maybe with a harder roster split because this is a gigantic roster and it helps me to stay organized.

M-A-G

05-15-2023, 06:54 PM

I managed to get the final SmackDown! before Survivor Series and the PPV booked and in the can. It's all about being able to sit down and do the report. Being on vacation is a big boon to getting time to do this shit. I wonder if I can make to December by next week.

M-A-G

05-25-2023, 09:29 PM

Fuck, I missed my deadline. Well, it was self-imposed, but still; I should have a bit more commitment.

M-A-G

05-25-2023, 11:23 PM

SmackDown!: November 23, 2040

SURVIVOR SERIES THIS SUNDAY!!! ***SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL!***

Opening Promo of Doom Time with the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk. He wants to address anyone who has been taken back by the levels of violence and brutality that he and Haven have gone through. He understands their concerns and so being the generous champion that he is, he wants to issue a piece of advice: if anyone feels that they might not be able to stomach any more, they should probably pass on Survivor Series this Sunday. Definitely pass if you're hanging on to any hope of Haven walking out as the new Unified World Champion. Wrakk just won the damn thing so he's not coughing it up any time soon, certainly not to someone who Wrakk has had the number of ever since he made his return. It's ironic that Haven has the name that he does, because there is no refuge from what Wrakk is going to unleash on him this Sunday. Haven will be the first victim in Wrakk's new era. He has a lot of time for which to make up and Survivor Series is just the beginning. And after that, everyone will be pissing themselves at the very thought of getting a shot at the most dominating Unified World Champion!

This obviously calls for...Michael Haywood? The former Play Pal decides to get into the ring and interrupt the champ's business as he grabs a mic. Haywood will admit that he's known for some silliness from time to time, but even he has his limit. Namely dealing with that idiot Ziggy Styles, who by the way will be eliminated by Michael at Survivor Series. This seriousness from Wrakk is refreshing to Michael. And seeing as how it looks like neither of them have anything to do tonight, it seemed like a good idea to come on out here and make a proposal to the Unified World Champion. You see, Ziggy Styles needs to understand what he's getting into. He needs to know that Michael Haywood isn't the tree he wants to be barking up. And Michael figures if he can get one over the "most dominating Unified World Champion" tonight, that'll probably send a strong message to not just Styles, but the rest of the team he has to deal with at Survivor Series. So what does the champ say? How about the two of them as the main event tonight? What does he have to lose?

Wrakk smiles creepily and accepts, claiming that it's not himself that has anything to lose. Michael on the other hand, can most certainly lose his health. So it looks like we got ourselves a main event!

Backstage Nathan Quinn and his client Adam Hail want to sling some garbage towards Simon Bennett. It's a shame that things have taken this turn, but Simon has only made the situation worse by not going away. What Hail did to Simon wasn't personal. He would've done the same thing to anyone else who was his partner at the time. If Simon can't get over it, Hail will make him get over it.

First Match: Ainsley vs. Dusk
Ainsley, of course, talked about this last night in her sit-down interview. Quite the opponent to make a first appearance on SmackDown! against, though. Dusk is all business and seeing how she's the one with a Survivor Series match, she's the one who gets the momentum here. The two tumble to the outside and Debra Phillips makes her way out to ringside in front of them to observe. The count is on and Dusk is the one to her feet first and makes her way back in. Ainsley struggles a bit more and Debra "offers" a hand in helping her up. Ainsley takes a step back when she realizes what's going on and she asks WTF Debra is doing out here. This exchange is enough to keep Ainsley out long enough for the ref to reach the 10 count and Ainsley is livid. Debra just gives a "oh well" shrug and takes her leave. ****1/4, 81% overall.

Second Match: The Morris Cousins vs. Zed Jones and The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody
Lyle Morris announces that he's accepted the terms laid out by Hotbody last night. He doesn't mind putting his title shot up because he knows he's got a winning team this Sunday. This match, unfortunately, doesn't go Lyle's way as he's isolated from the get-go and is double-teamed. Chet keeps trying to make his way into the match to stop the heel shenanigans much to the ire of the ref and when he sees Luscious trying to slip Hotbody the Cruiserweight belt, it's too much for Chet to take and he grabs a chair and starts chasing everyone around with it. That's obviously enough for a DQ as Hotbody and Jones take their leave but Clubber Harris and Jordan Demiras make their way out to the stage to intercept them. Zed calls an audible and picks up Hotbody and takes Luscious by the hand and cuts through the crowd to escape. *****, 95% overall.

Backstage, we see Gavin Jones talking with Michael Haywood about the match with Wrakk later in the night. They exchange a few pleasantries before Gavin leaves. Outside, he's met by Jason Sorola, one of the members of Gavin's opposing team at Survivor Series. Jason makes it known that he's not itching for a fight right now. He's got that covered come Sunday. Right now Jason just wants to mock Gavin and Michael for apparently not being able to move past their break-up. Here they are months later after they were supposed to have gone their separate ways, still being sad and pathetic together. Them not being able to move on is one of the biggest things holding the two of them back. It's the reason Michael is going to fail tonight, and it's the reason Gavin is going to fail at Survivor Series. Gavin takes this chance to interrupt Jason and lets him know that he actually can get over things. Namely, Jason's betrayal all that time ago. Jason is going to learn just how much Gavin has moved past that ordeal when Gavin obliterates him this Sunday. And with that, Gavin takes his leave.

Third Match: The Perfections vs. The Brooklyn Sisterhood
Leah and Bonnie need some MOMENTUM!!! But first things first, they promised a surprise for everyone that they were going to reveal tonight. Seeing as how Nathan Quinn would rather hang around those two skanky yokels, Hannah and Bobbi Jo, and when you consider that the Lonely Girls can't be trusted to be team players, Leah and Bonnie have decided that real back-up is in order. So allow them to introduce their new manager...PAUL ANDREWS!!!

The heels are aghast at this as Andrews makes his way down to be in the corner of his newest acquisitions. He's collecting quite a portfolio. Maybe this can even the odds between the Perfections and the Southern Belles? Nevertheless, this match rules as you'd expect. Things come to a head when the Southern Belles come out looking upset at this turn of events but Andrews moves to intercept them. Emma is distracted with these proceedings and Bonnie drops her throat on the top rope and that leaves Emma open to a Sultry Splash from Leah leading to the pin for the faces. The game has been changed! ****1/2, 93% overall.

Sports Entertainment Segment Time as we're told that Brandon Reigns has made it to Miami for Survivor Series and the WWE took it upon themselves to follow him around as he was on a quest to locate Eddy Clash and the Money in the Bank briefcase. The video consists of Reigns going around the city in various establishments and hotels demanding that someone tell him if they've seen Eddy. His frustrations lead him to yell at people to tune into Survivor Series and he'll get Eddy anyway seeing as how everyone's just wasted his time.

Fourth Match: Cameron Harper vs. Marc Fury
This may seem kind of random, but this will be sort of leading to something in the near future...I hope. I'm not really stacking the show with matches involving a lot of Sunday's participants so why not do this here? Harper eeks out a win here by reversing an attempted off-the-top rope belly-to-back. Harper goes into overdrive mode with the celebrating and looks into the camera while asking "Were you watching?" Who is he talking to? ****1/2, 85% overall.

Fifth Match: Xavier Cross vs. Ryan Pattillo
I figure one match involving Sunday's proceedings couldn't hurt as these two are on opposite teams. It rules as you'd expect but I can't really choose who to give the upper hand. Let's just do a double countout instead and then have Kyle Jacobs run out trying to get his hands on Cross. That works, no? Yeah, let's do that. *****, 95% overall.

Backstage, Quinten McDaniels has some last minute truth to drop on Seth Von Kamp ahead of their match this Sunday for the Intercontinental Title. Seth's current reign as champion is an anamoly and nothing more. It's like the universe decided to just play a joke on the WWE and it doesn't want to let up. Quinten accomplished more in his first few years in the WWE than Seth ever dreamed of doing in his entire time here. Seth doesn't impress Quinten and it still sticks in his craw that ONE GOD DAMN SECOND was the thing that prevented Quinten from getting that World Title. That one second is so representative of Seth's entire being. Happenstance. Fluke. The joke isn't funny anymore. The laughter ends this Sunday.

MAIN EVENT: Wrakk vs. Michael Haywood
Haywood tries his best here, and manages to look good surviving Wrakk's completely dominating nature. Haywood would most certainly work in the Intercontinental Title ranks. It's a great main event and it comes to a head when Ziggy Styles sneaks his way down and hides under the ring close to where Michael has been knocked to the outside. The count is on and Michael tries making his way in but Ziggy holds on to the leg and the count reaches ten. Haywood eventually breaks free and joins Ziggy under the ring for a brawl, leading Ziggy to hastily crawl out and run away in a funny visual with Michael giving chase. Wrakk stands tall in the middle of the ring but the lights go out! Everyone is confused until the lights come back on again and the scene in the ring has changed to Haven standing over a fallen Wrakk as he holds the two title belts in his hands. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT SURVIVOR SERIES?!?! *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 87%

Evil Vito

05-26-2023, 08:41 AM

Bah gawd look at all the stars! I would say Dave Meltzer must've run out of stars by this time, and then remembered it was 2040 and Meltzer would be 81. Wouldn't he be tired of this shit by now? :lol:

Seems like a good go-home show, I too try to play it safe in terms of not burning through a bunch of my PPV competitors, because the last thing I need in that situation is an injury.

Seeing the former Hunters still interacting both makes me happy and sad because man, do I miss the golden days of Rooster Teeth.

I have a wide computer monitor and Hotbody's intro is still up to 3 lines!

M-A-G

05-26-2023, 08:49 AM

I have a wide computer monitor and Hotbody's intro is still up to 3 lines!

He's most certainly going to earn some more stuff for that introduction after Survivor Series.

Speaking of which...

M-A-G

05-26-2023, 08:52 AM

Survivor Series: November 25, 2040

Pre-Show Match: The Lonely Girls, The Perfections, and Phoebe Hanson vs. The Southern Belles, C4, and Dusk

First Elimination: Faith, of course, just has to do a dive to the outside onto a sea of bodies at the beginning. Faith's willingness to kill herself ON THE PRE-SHOW says a lot about her. The first elimination honors are going to have to go to poor Cordelia Capriati as her partner Carmella Costello whiffs on an attempted crossbody on Jenna Kyle. Faith runs interference and tosses Carmella and Cordelia falls victim to Jenna's Kyle Driver and the pin is academic.

Second Elimination: Dusk and Phoebe end up the legal women for this one. Phoebe gets enough of a flurry that Dusk needs to retreat to the corner but as Phoebe moves in for the kill, Dusk yanks her forward and Phoebe's face hits the middle turnbuckle. That leads to the Final Sunset and Phobe is out of here.

Third Elimination: Dusk continues her rampage as Faith ends up legal on the face team. Faith gives no fucks about her body as, damn it, she's going to get Dusk over or die trying. The two of them end up outside and they brawl around. Dusk looks like she's reeling from a kick to the face from Faith but she comes back with a chair to Faith's face. That's going to be a DQ and Dusk has to say good night.

Fourth Elimination: Faith isn't getting back in the ring anytime soon and that's a countout to end her night.

Fifth Elimination: Bonnie gets the call and she's legal against Carmella. Brooke tries running interference but Paul Andrews moves in to put a stop to that. Brooke "accidentally" leaves behind a chain as she retreats from Paul. Carmella puts it to good use and KOs Bonnie and that's enough to send her packing.

Sixth Elimination: It's Leah and Jenna alone for the faces and CAN THEY GET ALONG?!?!?!? Leah is in for what's left of the team and she wants revenge against Carmella. The ref is busy with Andrews and Brooke's shenanigans so Leah steals the chain from Carmella returns the favor by knocking her ass out. Nathan Quinn steps in and pulls Brooke away to break things up and the ref sees the pin and thus counts Carmella out and Brooke is furious.

Seventh Elimination: So it's the Wacky Tag Team Partners Who Don't Get Along against the Women's Tag Champions. Quinn and Andrews are the only managers remaining after Brooke goes off to pout. Jenna wants to rag on Leah for using the chain but Leah fires back because she wants to win. Bobbi Jo takes advantage by attacking Leah from behind. Jenna makes a blind tag unbeknownst to either of the other two women. Bobbi has Leah down and she preps herself for some more damage but Jenna rolls her up from behind for the pin, leaving Hannah alone.

Eighth Elimination: Leah and Jenna get into it verbally as each are upset with the actions of the other. Hannah tries a surprise attack but the faces knock her down. Leah gets ordered back onto the apron as Jenna continues the match. However, Leah tags herself back in once Jenna gets in range and she assaults Hannah. Jenna does the same and deals out some harsher abuse. They trade off back and forth, trying to one up the other at the expense of poor Hannah. Ultimately, Jenna decides to just shove Hannah into Leah and then hit the Kyle Driver for the pin.

Survivors: Leah and Jenna Kyle, ****1/2, 81% overall.

Fuck the DUD show.

SURVIVOR SERIES STARTS NOW!!! The official theme song for the show is "Hunting Grounds" by In This Moment.

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Opening Match: Ozzy Mandias vs. Martyn LaSalle
This is the culmination of a lot of tension after what happened in the fatal four-way for the Cruiserweight Title last month. It's a solid opener, despite the DUD show's greedy little hunger. The end comes as we have a virtual repeat from happened between the two the last time. Ozzy hits a top rope superplex but LaSalle shifts himself over Ozzy in a roll-up upon impact, but makes sure that his own shoulders are off the mat, and that's enough to give LaSalle the pin. Afterwards, Ozzy reluctantly applauds LaSalle and takes his leave. ****1/2, 80% overall.

Second Match: The Morris Cousins, Jordan Demiras, Clubber Harris, and Gavin Jones vs. The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody, Zed Jones, Galino & Farnes, and Jason Sorola

First Elimination: Chet Morris gets himself thrown out by deciding to start out by chasing the heel team with a chair like a lunatic and not listening to the ref. A bit too much rage on his behalf. Understandable, but that kind of screws his team over.

Second/Third Elimination: The match continues as best as it can under the circumstances. It comes down to Harris and Zed and they're too involved in beating the fuck out of each other and they brawl to the outside and into the crowd leading to a double countout. Security tries to break things up as they fight through the audience to the back.

Fourth Elimination: It's still an advantage for the heels as Jordan and Jason go at it next. It's some more good shit as you'd expect. Gavin eventually gets the tag so Jason decides to tag in Farnes and keep himself safe. Ultimately we have to say bye to Farnes as a botched double team attempt from Galino opens things up for Gavin to hit a victory roll to pin Farnes.

Fifth Elimination: Farnes is upset and he gets Galino to help him hit SERIOUS INQUIRIES! on Gavin. Jason Sorola sneaks in for the pin to send Gavin packing.

Sixth Elimination: Lyle is in now and tries to get him some of Sorola. Galino makes a blind tag and becomes legal. He knocks down Lyle from behind while the ref tries to get Sorola out. Hotbody calls an audible and tries tossing in the GAVEL OF DOOM to Galino. Lyle intercepts, however, and nails Galino with it and knocks Hotbody off the apron with it. He goes for the pin and that's enough to send Galino to the back.

Seventh Elimination: Things go into a regular tag format here as it's 2-on-2. It comes down to Demiras and Hotbody and Zed Jones comes back to ringside, no doubt to peacefully request that he be reinserted into the match. He tries pleading his case with the ref and Luscious takes advantage by sneaking in and low blowing Demiras. Zed decides the ref has heard enough of his proposal and allows him to do his job by counting Demiras out after Hotbody hits the Hot Ticket.

Eighth Elimination: Hotbody tags Jason back in as he doesn't want to deal with Lyle. Lyle and Jason go at it and eventually end up outside. The ref tries to keep Hotbody from getting involved as the count is on. Zed looks to take advantage by trying to kick Lyle's head off with a big boot but Lyle ducks and Sorola takes the hit. Lyle rolls back in and the ref ends up counting Sorola out.

Final Elimination: Despite it being one-on-one, Lyle still has to contend with Zed and Luscious. The match goes on with Hotbody taking an ass whipping. Clubber Harris eventually comes out to continue his beef with Zed and we've got more chaos. Chet Morris eventually decides enough is enough and comes out to do more of his chair shenanigans. Everyone's running all over the outside and this confusion allows Hotbody to find the GAVEL OF DOOM and KO Lyle with it to get the final pin.

Sole Survivor: Michael Hotbody, ****1/2, 82% overall.

Third Match: WWE Women's Title
Naomi Bailey (c) vs. Sonya Braddock
I love how this match says "Fuck you" to the DUD show. Both women are AWESOME here as it's just another brutal affair between the two of them. Things don't seem to be lining up for Naomi tonight, though. The end comes when Sonya locks in the Calf Crusher. Naomi fights for her life as she scrambles for the ropes, her arms waving wildly. It's just too much to take, however, and she eventually taps to give the title back to Braddock. *****, 86% overall.

NEW CHAMPION: Sonya Braddock

Fourth Match: Adam Hail, Lonny Richards, Ziggy Styles, Salvatore Scabbia, and Ronnie Costello vs. Simon Bennett, Mathias, Michael Haywood, and The Academy

First Elimination: After a good start with some awesome exchanges between everyone, we're going to have to say adios to Ziggy as Haywood's rage cannot be contained and he squeezes the shit out of him with the Rage Quit and Ziggy taps.

Second Elimination: Did I mention that Haywood's rage cannot be contained? He keeps the hold on way past the point of what is considered acceptable parameters and the ref has no choice but to DQ him.

Third Elimination: We get officials out here to separate Haywood from Ziggy's limp body. The match continues nonetheless. More back and forth goodness is forthcoming. Bennett ultimately ends Lonny's night by getting him to submit to the Bennett Lock.

Fourth Elimination: We march on and the match turns to the rivalry between Brooke's former clients, the Academy and her current boys, Scabbia and Costello. It's a good back and forth and eventually Ronnie is isolated enough to where the Academy can double team him by Mitchell launching Ronnie into Ellis for Today's Lesson, and that's enough to pin and eliminate Ronnie from the equation.

Fifth Elimination: Scabbia goes scorched earth and clotheslines the shit out of the Academy. He manhandles the two while the ref tries to get the non-legal man out. Scabbia locks in the Omerta on Ellis to send him out of the match.

Sixth Elimination: Mitchell gets isolated as the heels do the double team thing. He tries fighting back but Quinn pays dividends by tripping Mitchell up and that sets him up for a Hailstorm off the top from Adam. So long Justin Mitchell.

Seventh Elimination: Mathias in now as the legal man for the faces. Brooke and Quinn work their magic to make sure the ref can't deal with the double team from the heels. Scabbia ends up finishing off Mathias with the Omerta and we're down to one man for the faces.

Eighth Elimination: By now Andrews says fuck it and decides to take the fight to Quinn as Bennett is alone with the heels. They take their leave as they fight up the ramp. Brooke hops up on the apron for moral support but Bennett sends Hail into her with a drop kick. Scabbia comes from behind with the Omerta but Bennett refuses to tap. He escapes by ramming Scabbia back into the corner. Hail blind tags himself back in and floors Bennett with a bulldog and that leads to him capitalizing with a Hailstorm off the top to get the win for his team.

Survivors: Adam Hail and Salvatore Scabbia, ****1/2, 81% overall.

Fifth Match: Brandon Reigns vs. Eddy Clash
Reigns attacks from behind after coming through the crowd. He grabs the briefcase and gives it to security, telling them to take it to his dressing room. Eddy recovers and drags Reigns back in to continue the match. It's actually more of a fight than anything else. Eddy accidentally trucks the ref after Reigns avoids a charge. Reigns still isn't safe as Eddy still looks to deliver some more punishment. WAIT A MINUTE!!! SOMEONE IS IN THE RING!!! It's Hugo?!?!? WTF? We haven't seen him in a while. He clobbers Eddy Clash and just manhandles him. Hugo takes his leave when he feels like he's done enough damage. The ref comes to and sees Reigns hit the Reignfire on Eddy and that's going to give him the pin. WTF is the deal with Hugo returning now??? ****1/2, 82% overall.

Sixth Match: WWE Intercontinental Title
Seth Von Kamp (c) vs. Quinten McDaniels
We've had one title change hands tonight. Is in the cards for it to happen a second time? They deliver another quality outing, all things considered. It would be a bit mean to end things for Seth here and now, but that's not in the cards. Seth reverses the Great Depression and connects with the Collapse of Society to score the pin and successfully retain the title. ****1/2, 82% overall.

Seventh Match: Kyle Jacobs, Ryan Pattillo, Alexander Piero, and the Wyldhearts vs. Xavier Cross, Orlando Kincaid, Chris Collins, and The Royal Effect

First/Second/Third/Fourth Elimination: This match has a much longer start before any eliminations than the other 5-on-5 matches we've had tonight. Of course, things just can't go that smoothly and organized before TENSIONS RISE!!! The Royal Effect keep Robbie Greer isolated and doubled team very effectively until Robbie gets the hot tag to Blaine Bellamey. It's BONZO GONZO as Blaine cleans house. McKay is alone and Blaine tags Robbie back in so they can try the Heartstopper. Kavovit runs in to save his partner however and the four men just go apeshit on each other, ignoring the ref. He finally decides to throw all four men out and calls for officials to get them out of here. They don't go quitely as they continue fighting as they make their exit.

Fifth Elimination: Down to 3-on-3. It proceeds like a regular match until it's down to Pattillo and Kincaid. Pattillo reverses an Irish whip attempt and hits a surprise Shutdown on Kincaid and gets the pin to send him packing.

Sixth Elimination: Collins tries his hand next. He actually manages an upper hand moment and makes Pattillo play face in peril for a bit as he trades on and off with Cross. Pattillo makes the eventual comeback and hot tags Piero! A hot exchange ends with Piero drop toe holding Collins making him land across the middle rope. Madison gets a bit of payback by slapping the taste out of Collins's mouth while the ref is busy with Cross. Piero nails the Flashpoint to eliminate Collins.

Seventh Elimination: Well, Xavier Cross is fucked to say the least. He tries running away but Madison gets in his way. Cross yells some threats and looks to move her out of the way but Piero grabs him from behind and tosses him back into the ring. The three faces all take turns with their abuse. Piero hits the Flashpoint and tags in Pattillo who nails the Shutdown and finally, Jacobs gets the tag and he finishes poor Xavier with the Legacy Bomb. That will obviously be enough to put Cross down for the count and the faces get the win.

Survivors: Kyle Jacobs, Ryan Pattillo, and Alexander Piero, ****1/2, 83% overall.

MAIN EVENT: WWE Unified World Title
Wrakk (c) vs. Haven
This is No Holds Barred. It's more monster on monster brutality as you'd expect from these two. We even get some color from the two, which really stands out against the white of Haven. Wrakk looks like he's on the ropes as the match comes to conclusion. Haven looks ready to strike BUT THE LIGHTS GO OUT!!! What is up with tonight? The lights return and WTF IS THIS??? Someone is standing in the ring in front of Haven. Haven looks surprised at this man who is as big as he is, and just as scary. Wrakk takes advantage of this staredown and clobbers Haven from behind with a chair. He continues the assault on the fallen Haven as the mystery man just looks on. Wrakk gets bored from all of the chair shots and decides to just end things with the Demon Cross, and that's enough for him to retain the title. Someone needs to explain what the hell is going on!!! *****, 84% overall.

Overall show rating: 83%

Seriously, fuck the DUD show.

Evil Vito

05-26-2023, 01:51 PM

That absolute bastard of a DUD show :( having it land on a PPV is definitely deflating.
I think the odds are 1 in 25 and even that seems high for how frequently it tends to happen.

Honestly though, when I have Scott Keith doing the ratings and the match ratings and quality is high, that's all I really care about. Then again I'm not seriously competing with WWE in my game, even if we are both global promotions. I don't even care about money since Shad Khan is richer than Vince. I just want to do enough to stay in business and have fun booking.

So yeah, the DUD can stick it up its ass.

Evil Vito

05-26-2023, 01:54 PM

:cool: @ Hotbody being the sole survivor. Yet another accolade! Immediate ratings draw.

As played out as the "spend most of your time outside the ring or get stretchered out just to return and win" spot is.....I'm chortling imagining a world where Hotbody takes the Rumble from #1. The egotism rating would be 99.

M-A-G

05-26-2023, 10:48 PM

Lisa Benton messed up her back apparently (how'd that happen? :shifty: ) and will be out for the rest of the month. Never fear! I have just the replacement authority figure for the next show and thus we shall begin the slow march towards Bragging Rights and the Slammys in just a few more shows.

M-A-G

05-27-2023, 11:07 PM

Raw: November 26, 2040

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! He wants to brag about yet another amazing accomplishment that happened last night at Survivor Series. It's actually a 2-for-1 deal. Not only did Hotbody manage to be the sole surviving member and win the match single-handedly, he snuffed out any championship hopes that Lyle Morris had! This year just keeps getting better and better and Hotbody's star just keeps burning bigger and brighter. It's almost unfair if you really think about it! Hotbody isn't sure what's in store for his immediate future regarding the Cruiserweight Title, but in the meantime everyone can now refer to him as the Sole Survivor! This is a ride that's exceeded even his own expectations and there's just no end in sight!

Cue the interruption as HOLY SHIT!!! IT'S IAN GOD DAMN MOORE!!! The legend himself!!! What's he doing here other than deciding to join Hotbody on the Hot Button. Hotbody is equally shocked and excited at the sight of this as the rest of the crowd and gets down to it.

"Well, this is a surprise! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show, the great Ian Moore! Ian, I have to ask, what brings you here tonight. No, wait, I can guess. You heard about me wanting to celebrate my milestone achievment and wanted to get in on the action so you can recapture some of that excitement from your glory days! Well, you're most certainly always welcome to come onto the Hot Button anytime because if there is one iconic WWE Superstar that I would've enjoyed beating if I had been around back in the day, it's definitely you, Ian. That's why you're here, right? Am I right? I think I'm right."

Ian looks annoyed as he delivers his response. "Well, actually, I was supposed to be here to open the show but I come to understand that you just hijacked this time. Allow me to get things started properly here, if you don't mind, Michael. Lisa Benton is unable to be here tonight as she is taking part of a company retreat. Nevertheless, as one of her direct superiors, I have been appointed to carry out her duties in the time being. First and foremost is the announcement of the Slammy Awards! This annual tradition is one of my personal favorite events and I'm here to confirm that proceedings will take place next week on December 6th, live on Superstars. This event, of course, relies heavily on fan voting so tonight, immediately after the conclusion of Raw, I encourage everyone to log on to the WWE website or use the app to vote for your favorite nominees on all the different categories, ranging from Woman of the Year to Match of the Year and of course, the big one, Superstar of the Year."

"Oh, that one is definitely going to me. I know it. The people here know it. All of you go do what this guy just said and go vote for me. I am going to clean up at the awards, that's a fact. I may even win more than you, Ian!"

Ian continues with his promo while still looking annoyed with Hotbody. "Uh, yeah...anyways, the other major thing is the next PPV at the end of this month. We need a new challenger for the Unified World Title in the main event. So tonight, we will hold two triple threat matches. The winners of those matches will face each other one on one in the main event of SmackDown! this Friday where the winner will get the right to wrestle for the Unified World Title at Bragging Rights. And the participants for those triple threat matches? None other than the six men who managed to survive their elimination matches last night at Survivor Series."

"Wait, that includes me!!!" exclaims Hotbody. "I get a chance at the World Title? Ian, this is huge!!! And here I thought you were just going to bore everyone by telling a bunch of stories of the good old days. But you know what? You're alright. I'm glad you wanted to be part of the show because this is probably the best news I could've gotten today. I may be overselling that sentiment, but still, I'll take you over that hag of a general manager, Lisa, I'll tell you what. Am I right, dog? I can't wait for SmackDown! where everyone is going to watch me become the number one contender and go on to end one hell of a year by adding the World Title to my accomplishments! Suck on that, Lisa!!!"

Ian looks fed up with Michael as he has more to add. "Well, see, about that. Lisa not being here doesn't mean she can't perform her duties. In fact, she had a message to deliver to you specifically. See, it's good that you're looking forward to SmackDown!, because if things do indeed go your way, you're going to have a busy night on that date. See, the stipulation surrounding your match last night was that Lyle Morris wouldn't get his title shot for the Cruiserweight Championship if your team won. But as you so eloquently put it earlier, your team didn't win last night; only you did. So using the logic you tried pulling a while back, this would mean that Lyle Morris still gets his chance at your title...and he's going to get that chance this Friday on SmackDown!. Have a nice week, Michael." And with that Ian takes his leave, waving to the crowd while Hotbody loses his shit in the ring.

Backstage, both Xavier Cross and Chris Collins want to air their grievances about last night's events. Xavier is particularly irate at the fact that people have been dunking on him for losing. Those so-called winners should feel nothing but shame because it took three of them just to beat the mighty Xavier Cross! Collins calls out Alexander Piero for needing a woman to fight his battles and help him out. The two of them challenge Kyle Jacobs and Piero to face them on Superstars if they're not afraid of a fair fight.

Opening Match: Ainsley and Debra Phillips vs. C4
Brooke gets on the stick to talk about her mixed feelings. Salvatore Scabbia did her proud last night and is most certainly going to do the same when he emerges victorious later tonight. However, Carmella and Cordelia need to show a bit more promise and cohesion that they did last night. Jenna and Leah shouldn't have been able to pull off what they did and the fault lays with C4 needing to act as one. Brooke demands perfection tonight. That being said, things don't look so peachy on the other side as Ainsley looks upset having to team with Debra, no doubt because of Debra's recent actions. Debra insists on handling the match herself. It comes to an end when both Carmella and Debra stuggle to their feet after a collision. Debra refuses to go for a tag and tries to go on the offense. Cordelia tags herself in as Debra tries pulling Carmella off the ropes. Cordelia comes in by nailing a Crowning Achievement from the top and that's enough for the pin. Ainsley is all "WTF, bro?" on the apron as Carmella looks annoyed at what Cordelia did. ****1/4, 72% overall.

Not sure if this another DUD show because both Ainsley and Debra are really low in terms of overness and the charisma from C4 is kind of balls.

It's more Sportz Entertainment! time as Ozzy Mandias makes his way out to the ring for some more gab. Ozzy isn't going to try make excuses for what happened last night. A loss is a loss and he's man enough to admit that LaSalle was able to get the duke. It took a while to swallow a lot of his pride, but now Ozzy is ready to man up and call Martyn LaSalle out here so he can be personally congratulated. Ozzy honestly didn't think it was possible, but he's a man of his word. "So Martyn, come on out here and get what you're owed."

It takes a while, but reluctantly Martyn LaSalle comes on out to joing Ozzy in the ring. LaSalle makes it clear that this had better be good because he's kind of tired of this at this point and really isn't in the mood for any more nonsense. Ozzy assures him that everything is on the level. LaSalle made the claim that he'd walk out victorious at Survivor Series and hed did so. Ozzy feels bad about leaving Martyn hanging last night so he's ready to make up for that by offering a handshake. "Come on, man, you earned it."

LaSalle looks at Ozzy with hesitation, but ultimately accepts the shake and Ozzy is content and says that LaSalle is free to go. LaSalle takes him up on that and turns to start to leave.

"Although," Ozzy continues, "I can't help but recall the claim that you made before that you were going to break my arm and make me squeal and tap or what not. It seems odd that you're just going to take all the praise and applause for winning without actually doing what you claimed you were going to do, isn't it?"

LaSalle closes his eyes and takes a deep breath as he looks fed up with this shit. Ozzy continues his rant: "I mean, those were your words, not mine. It just seems like you're more than happy taking the easy way out and being a liar."

That's enough to get LaSalle to snap and he turns back around and grabs Ozzy by the shirt collar forces him into a corner and yells at him. Things look bad BUT HERE COMES HUGO!!! WTF?!? Didn't he already make a mess by screwing over Eddy Clash last night. He attacks LaSalle from behind as Ozzy looks shocked and decides to do the smart thing by getting out of the ring. LaSalle gets tossed around some more until Hugo decides he's done enough and exits as hastily as he entered. Is no one in the locker room safe now that this lunatic monster is back?

Backstage, old buddies Paul Andrews and Ian Moore catch up with each other as Ian is about to head out. They exchange pleasantries about the past until Paul brings up the fact that he's got a favor to ask. He'd normally try to ask Lisa Benton, but that's not an option right now so he's kind of hoping Ian can do him a solid for old times sake. Leah has been on his ass about the whole situation she's got going on with Jenna Kyle. Andrews is kind of hoping to get something juicy enough to placate her. Ian Moore suggests giving her the opportunity to take out all her frustrations on Jenna herself. How about the two of them, one-on-one on Superstars? Oh, and to make it even juicier, let's give the winner a shot at the Women's Title at Bragging Rights. Andrews thinks that will be more than enough and with that they say their goodbyes and part ways.

Second Match: Adam Hail vs. Alexander Piero vs.The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Sole Survivor, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody
Why yes, that didn't take long for the new addition to the moniker to get added. Nathan Quinn accuses Paul Andrews of politicking and using his friendship with Ian Moore to get ahead. Now he's going to have a chance to be managing the Women's Champion? Well, we'll all just see how he likes it when Adam Hail goes onto to Bragging Rights and captures the Unified World Title! And he's going to do it not by sucking up to anyone, but by being the best! Hotbody spends most of the match macking on Luscious and making kissy faces at her, only getting involved when he needs to break up a pin. It finally comes to an end when Lyle Morris decides to come out and chase Hotbody out of the arena, leaving Piero and Hail. Chris Collins comes out and makes his way down the ramp and glares at Piero, getting the rookie's attention. This allows Quinn the opportunity to pull Piero's throat onto the top rope and that sets him up for a Hailstorm off the top from Hail, allowing Hail to advance to SmackDown!. ****1/2, 81% overall.

Third Match: Ethan Lang vs. Steve Hayes
This match seems out of place BUT I'VE GOT PLANS!!! Once again, this is all about Ethan making the most of his association with Jake Connelly and continuing his push. He manages to get the win after the Bitter Languish. Afterwards, Cameron Harper of all people runs down to join Connelly and Lang, but he looks more interested in pestering Connelly, much to the annoyance of both him and Lang. What's the deal here? ****1/2, 79% overall.

Still not sure on the DUD show-ness.

Fourth Match: The Morris Cousins vs. The Dillingers
Lyle is over the moon about his opportunity at Michael Hotbody. He's been given a second wind and he's not going to squander it. He's reached the point where he has the chance of this being the greatest year of his life. He has Chet back at his side and he's got gold in his future. The countdown begins, Hotbody! So this match kicks ass as you'd expect. It's two well established veteran teams. The Morris Cousins get that lovely momentum by hitting Joey Dillinger with the Backwoods Bomb and Chet gets the pin for the victory. *****, 86% overall.

OK, I think we're good.

Fifth Match: Ryan Pattillo vs. Kyle Jacobs vs. Salvatore Scabbia
Brooke is confident as all fuck and declares that she can't wait for Scabbia to get what he's been due for so long. It's a chaotic affair to say the least. Xavier Cross watches from the stage. It comes to an end when Jacobs has Pattillo down but Scabbia pounces on the opportunity and locks in the Omerta on Jacobs! Jacobs manages to keep fighting and pushes Scabbia back into the corner. Scabbia won't let go and Jacobs looks like he's screwed. WAIT A MINUTE!!! The Academy comes down to ringside and they each grab one of Scabbia's legs and yank him down, causing the hold to be broken. They then post his nuts. Jacobs is dazed and Pattillo has recovered and he hits the Shutdown on Jacobs to get the pin and punch his ticket for SmackDown!. ****1/2, 81% overall.

OK, now I'm really not sure. Maybe Scabbia's charisma dragged things down?

More In-Ring Super Special Talky Time this time with the challenger for the Unified World Title last night, Haven. Haven is aware that last night left many questions unanswered. However, the only one Haven is interested in is how long is Wrakk going to hide like a coward behind the smoke and mirrors? Haven makes it clear that he knows who that man was who showed up in the match last night and wants to know from where Wrakk dug him up because he's ready and willing to send him back there.

The Unified World Champion Wrakk decides to come on out and address these concerns. Wrakk claims that he had nothing to do with whoever the hell that was last night. If that guy has any sort of issue with you, that's Haven's problem, and no one else's. Wrakk didn't even need that guy in the first place. He was well on his way to retaining his title without him and everyone knows it! He's not going to listen to anymore whining and excuses from a loser like Haven. He has more important things to focus on, namely who's going to be the next victim at Bragging Rights.

Haven doesn't look particularly amused by this and decides he's just going to beat some answers out of Wrakk. He leaves the ring and starts making his way up the ramp while Wrakk begins his way down. THE LIGHTS GO OFF!!! This looks bad. They come back on and that same man from last night is behind Haven!!! He spins Haven around and once again Haven looks shocked. Then he starts to look like Wrakk is kicking his ass. Wrakk commences a beat down all while this still unnamed man just gazes on. Wrakk eventually looks like he's had his fill and decides to leave, leaving this man to crouch over the fallen Haven. We need answers!!!

MAIN EVENT: WWE Unified Tag Team Titles
The Royal Effect (c) vs. The Wyldhearts
As promised, the Wyldhearts finally get their shot. They pick where they left off from last night but enough officials come out to get things somewhat organized into standard tag team parameters. Aside from being awesome, that is, because this is a great way to cap off the night. The end comes when McKay tries to toss in one of the tag belts to Kavovit while the ref is down. Madison runs interference and snatches it away from him. She gets stalked by McKay for this but Robbie Greer dives onto him from the ring to put an end to that. Bellamey recovers and continues the fight with Kavovit. Kavovit tries an Irish Whip but that gets reversed and Robbie makes his way back in time to help hit the Heartstopper with Bellamey. The ref comes to and counts the pin for the Wyldhearts giving them win and the titles! WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!!! *****, 86% overall. Well, we ended on a high note at least.

Overall show rating: 82%

Helmsphere

05-27-2023, 11:52 PM

Is there a sim that can be ran on a android phone? Just curious because I miss wrestling sims.

M-A-G

05-28-2023, 12:54 AM

There's nothing that I found where there is a way to do the WWE, but I did find AEW Elite General Manager on the Google Play Store. There's also Wrestling GM which looks fairly generic.

M-A-G

05-29-2023, 03:54 AM

Superstars: November 29, 2040

20-Minute Opening Promo of Doom Time! It's the new Women's Champion, Sonya Braddock coming out to join us. Braddock brings up the fact that this is her 6th championship and winning it the sixth time was every bit as sweet as the first time. Actually, that's a bit of a lie, because she savored every minute she was beating down Naomi Bailey at Survivor Series and hearing her scream out and bang the mat puts that night above almost everything else. Naomi's reign was a house of cards that was bound to collapse and Sonya was more than happy to be the bulldozer that ruined everything for Naomi. Sonya is ready to put her own house back in order and she wants to let both Leah and Jenna Kyle know that whoever wins tonight, they'll be walking into the same force that obliterated Naomi.

Well that's obviously going to be enough to cause Naomi Bailey herself to come out to the stage to snap back at this. Naomi scoffs at Sonya's choice of words as everyone can see that she's clearly up and about and ready to kick ass at a moment's notice. Naomi is here to rain on the parade of the phony champion because she has proof that Sonya does not deserve to be holding that title! She wants everyone to pay attention to the Tron as she replays the final moments of the match from Sunday and she'll explain. We, of course, see Naomi locked in the Calf Crusher as she's fighting for the ropes trying to get a break before ultimately submitting. Naomi asks us if we all see what she's talking about. "Here, I'll play it back again, slow enough for you morons to see it!" The footage replays the part where Naomi is flailing her arms towards the ropes and she narrates the proceeds. "THERE! You see that? I'm waving my arms and you can CLEARLY SEE that my fingertips pass under the bottom rope! That should've broken the hold! The referee should've broken the hold and the match should've continued and had it continued, I would've obliterated YOUR ass, Sonya, and I would've kept MY Women's Title! How can you stand there in front of everyone and be proud of stealing that title. If you were any kind of woman, you'd hand that thing over RIGHT NOW!"

Sonya doesn't look like she's keen on that idea as she offers her take on the matter. "First of all, I don't even see what the hell you're even talking about. But if you want the belt so much, you're more than welcome to come and get it your damn self." With that, Sonya tosses both the mic and Women's Title in front of her on the ground and gestures for Naomi to come on down. Naomi ponders this for a bit and ultimately decides to take Sonya up on that offer and makes her way down. We got ourselves a fight! It's a back-and-forth bit before Sonya is able to take Naomi down and looks to lock in a Calf Crusher but Naomi escapes that pretty quickly and decides to fight another day by bailing. She leaves still angry and yelling back at the champion.

First Match: Orlando Kincaid vs. Michael Haywood
Fucking awesome opener. Kincaid declares he's going to beat on Ryan Pattillo's boy to send a message, but that's easier said than done as Haywood isn't going down so easily. Ziggy Styles, of course, just has to come down to make a niusance of himself. This triggers Haywood's programming and he goes into his rage subroutine to get him some of Ziggy. Ziggy tries running back into the ring as Haywood chases him down with a chair. He takes a swing but Ziggy ducks and runs away and Kincaid takes the hit instead. That's enough for the DQ, but Haywood's CPU doesn't register this and directs him to continue the pursuit on Ziggy. *****, 94% overall.

Backstage, Jenna Kyle is prepping for her match tonight against Leah when she's joined by her partner Faith Connors. Jenna is happy to see Faith back up on her feet after Sunday, but Faith clarifies that she's still not cleared until Monday. That Dusk bitch really knows how to make it hurt. Faith is here in support of Jenna's efforts tonight. Jenna is grateful and declares that this has been a long time coming between her and Leah and hopefully things get settled. Then Jenna can go on to become Women's Champion at Bragging Rights. It'll go great with all the Slammys she's going to win next week. Faith points out that the two of them are going to win some Slammys. She's heard talk that the two of them are leading in the Moment of the Year category. Jenna, however, points out that only one of them can win Woman of the Year. Faith isn't worried as she thinks she's got it in the bag. Jenna counters that she's got tonight in the bag. We'll see how it all plays out next week. Faith wishes her luck as she takes her leave.

Second Match: Zed Jones and Galino & Farnes vs. Nigel Gallagher and the British Infection
Michael Hotbody is FURIOUS over Ian Moore's appearance on Monday. He hogs up almost all of Hotbody's time and then drops the nonsense that Lyle Morris is still going to get a Cruiserweight Title shot tomorrow?!? UNACCEPTABLE!!! Michael Hotbody means business! He led one of the most dominant teams in Survivor Series history to GLORIOUS VICTORY on Sunday and they're going to demonstrate that again here tonight! Lyle Morris is in for one of the worst nights of his life on SmackDown! because Hotbody is going to take out all of his frustrations on him and walk out the champion! This is another sweet outing. It comes down to Zed and Exley as the legal men. The British Infection look to end things by setting up Zed for the Queen's English but Luscious grabs their legs. As they each turn around, Zed clobbers them both from behind and he stacks up Exley using the ropes for the pin. Clubber Harris makes his way out looking like he wants a piece of Zed, but Hotbody calls him off and the heels take their leave. ****1/2, 89% overall.

Backstage once more as this time Jake Connelly is walking down a hallway until he gets confronted again by Cameron Harper. Harper wants to know if Connelly has made up his mind about Harper's proposal. Harper feels slighted that someone like Connelly hasn't come to him to be his mentor. What does Ethan Lang have that Cameron Harper doesn't? Connelly answers that Lang has patience for one thing. Connelly is always keen on picking up more clients but he's got to do it wisely. He's open to managing Harper, but right now he's got his hands full as he's got the Lady Liberties in a match next. He promises Harper they'll talk later.

Third Match: Ainsley and Debra Phillips vs. The Lady Liberties
Debra wants to apologize to Ainsley for what went down on Raw. She knows she overstepped by hogging all the spotlight and not working with Ainsley. She promises to make up for that tonight. Debra keeps her word and allows Ainsley the chance to start the match. Actually, she pretty much just lets Ainsley do all the work and doesn't even want to tag in, even when Ainsley is in trouble. The Liberties end it by hitting Stars and Stripes on Ainsley for the win as Debra walks away. What a bitch. ****, 77% overall. Hey, they didn't get smoked from following the previous match.

Fourth Match: Seth Von Kamp vs. Jason Sorola
Sorola is quite full of himself as he brags about eliminating Gavin Jones on Sunday. He's riding a high that he hasn't felt in a while. He deserves some kind of reward for his efforts. He calls out Seth on his claim of being a fighting champion and dares him to put his money where his mouth is and agree to make this match for the Intercontinental Title. Sorola deserves it. He's a former champion himself and it'll be one more thing he can rub in the face of Gavin Jones! Seth has no problem with this idea and agrees so we have ourselves a bonus for this match as it's now a title affair. Sorola levels the playing field by keeping it on the mat and working the arm to make up for the size difference. Here comes the finish as Sorola knocks down both Seth and the referee off a springboard crossbody. He gets cocky and goes to grab the title belt but things aren't done yet between him and Gavin Jones as Gavin himself runs down to get him some of Sorola. Sorola does the smart thing by getting the hell out of there and the two go into the crowd. Both the ref and Seth recover to find no one else in the ring so the ref decides to just count out Sorola and award the match to Seth. *****, 95% overall.

Fifth Match: Leah vs. Jenna Kyle
Paul Andrews makes it clear that there is respect for Jenna Kyle from both himself and Leah, but it's a dog-eat-dog business and the prize of getting to wrestle for the Women's Title at Bragging Rights is too tempting and it's only fitting that a top talent like Leah gets that spot, no offense to Jenna. This match rules, of course. Probably their best outing to date. Things unfortunately have to get a bit screwy as Nathan Quinn wanders out here and gets the attention of Paul Andrews. Andrews and Quinn exchange some words and the ref gets on their case. Hannah McCormick sneaks in from behind with her Tag Team Title belt unbeknowst to either competitor and jumps onto the apron as Leah whips Jenna towards her. Jenna reverses, however, and Leah collides with Hannah and Jenna catches Leah off the rebound with an inside cradle and the ref turns around to count the pin, giving the win to Jenna and sending her to Bragging Rights. ****1/2, 91% overall.

More SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT! time as Eddy Clash sees fit to join us in the ring and address Survivor Series. He was having the time of his life on Sunday beating up Brandon Reigns. Then, out of nowhere, we've got the return of the lunatic known as Hugo. Why now? What does he want? Eddy thinks he's entitled to some answers so he's offering Hugo the opportunity to come on out here like a sane person and bare his soul to everyone. Maybe he has some deep reasoning behind his thought process. Maybe he can captivate us with his words and feelings. Eddy is certainly open to hearing Hugo out...then he'll shove this giant fist of his down Hugo's throat. "So come on out here, Hugo. You obviously have something on your mind if you were going to be such a party pooper this week. You're more than welcome to come out here and ruin this party if you got the guts."

Eddy remains facing the stage during his pleas and thus doesn't see Hugo coming up from behind him and entering the ring and commencing a beat down. This guy really is out of control. It's hoss on hoss brutality that spills to the outside. Hugo preps the announce table and sends Eddy through it with a powerbomb. Hugo evidently is going to pass on explaining himself verbally as we get some officials down to check on Eddy.

Sixth Match: Mathias vs. Ronnie Costello
Brooke wants to rundown her clients and especially gets on Ronnie's case for not backing up Salvatore Scabbia when he really needed it on Raw. She demands that everyone fall in line. Everyone on her team needs to be on the same page. No petty personal gripes, no egos. She's seen the interactions between Carmella and Cordelia these past few shows and she wants to nip this in the bud. The match goes on fine enough. The end comes when Ronnie pulls the ref in front of him to block a charge from Mathias. Mathias pumps the brakes and moves the ref out of the way, but that opens him up to getting whacked in the nuts from kick by Costello and he gets stacked up with Costello putting his feet on the ropes for leverage for the win. Randy Ellis decides to get him some of Ronnie and he comes down afterwards to get a few shots in before Ronnie retreats. ****1/2, 89% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Kyle Jacobs and Alexander Piero vs. Xavier Cross and Chris Collins
Collins dares the faces to show how good they really are now that it's going to be an actual level playing field. He also wants to challenge Piero for one final one-on-one encounter between them to finally settle things and hopefully Collins can move on to better things. Cross adds that it's a travesty that he and Collins were denied the opportunity to be in the hunt for the Unified World Title, all because of these two young punks. The one saving grace is that they didn't get past Monday and now they're going to get their punishment for Survivor Series on top of that! This is an awesome close to the show as the rating will attest. The end comes down to Piero and Cross as the legal men. Cross tries a roll up, using his feet on the ropes, but Madison is all, "That was the finish to the last match" and thus knocks his feet off. Collins sees this after disposing of Jacobs and starts to go after her. She tries another slap like on Sunday, but Collins catches her and picks her up and starts to carry her off. Piero sees this and tries to go after the two but Cross yanks him back and into a Cross Cutter to steal the pin. Collins dumps Madison and laughs at their misfortune as we go off the air. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Overall show rating: 88% overall

Much better than the last two outings. This sparks joy.

Evil Vito

05-29-2023, 11:35 AM

Hotbody’s intro is now up to 9 lines if I read it on my iPhone :lol: love it

Ian Moore’s return got a pop out of me. I remember his name from one of the really old save files back in the day, close to 20 years ago now. Love the idea that so many of these guys retired and stuck around as occasional on-air authority figures.

Raw was weird because it didn’t seem like a total DUD show but it did seem some ratings were lower than usual. Superstars was all steam ahead.

M-A-G

05-29-2023, 01:40 PM

Hotbody’s intro is now up to 9 lines if I read it on my iPhone :lol: love it

Believe me, it's only going to get worse/better after the Slammys and Bragging Rights.

Ian Moore’s return got a pop out of me. I remember his name from one of the really old save files back in the day, close to 20 years ago now. Love the idea that so many of these guys retired and stuck around as occasional on-air authority figures.

Moore was probably my greatest prospect that the game developed for me. I obviously kept him in training until everything was maxed out but he had a natural charisma stat of 97 right off the bat. If I'm remembering correctly, it was him who unified the two world titles at my iteration of WrestleMania 40, which marked the end of the split rosters era. I also picked him to be the guy to break the 3-year+ undefeated streak of this one douche heel in Chris Sylvain, so I had a lot of confidence in him and it warms my heart that I can still get mileage out of him. He's in his late 50's though, so I'm not foreseeing any in-ring action for him anytime soon.

Raw was weird because it didn’t seem like a total DUD show but it did seem some ratings were lower than usual. Superstars was all steam ahead.

I'm blaming the charisma ratings for some of the participants involved. They can really drag down the crowd reaction unless they're propped up by more engaging workers. I'm hoping to get SmackDown! done tonight.

Evil Vito

05-29-2023, 04:01 PM

Moore was probably my greatest prospect that the game developed for me.

If anything this puts me to shame because it’s been SO long since I played a game long enough to make it to 13 months in to get the first batch of new training camp graduates. Kinda just assume that if I play a new EWR game it’ll be more of the same :lol:

I'm blaming the charisma ratings for some of the participants involved. They can really drag down the crowd reaction unless they're propped up by more engaging workers. I'm hoping to get SmackDown! done tonight.

Personally I’ve never really noticed charisma having much of an impact on match rating. I used to be very heavy on the speed and technical guys who could produce bangers but not talk, and they still got over.

M-A-G

06-01-2023, 06:02 AM

SmackDown!: November 30, 2040

Opening Match: The Wyldhearts vs. The Future Foundation
The new Unified Tag Team Champions are ready to get down to business by welcoming all comers. They run down the Future Foundation as to how the show is on the other foot. Rick Hilton fires back that the Wyldhearts shouldn't be bragging about anything since they couldn't become champions by beating him and Julian when they were the ones holding the belts. The Future Foundation will bring these posers crashing back down to Earth with just this one match! The rating reflects just how awesome an opener this is. I should've made the Wyldhearts champions a long time ago. Well, either way, they'd have brought out some sick matches with the Royal Effect. Speaking of which, the former champions run down during this affair, looking none to happy about no longer having the belts. They attack Robbie and Blaine as they're setting up Rick Hilton for the Heartstopper. It's a DQ win for the champions but they're in a bad here. Luckily, The Love Connection runs down to make things even again and we have a 4-on-4 stand off to end things here. ****1/2, 93% overall.

SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT! TIME as Jason Sorola wants to rap with us and comes out to the ring. He wants to talk about how sick he is of his past. He left that pack of village idiots in Ryan Pattillo, Michael Haywood, and ESPECIALLY Gavin Jones so he could spread his wings and make his own name. By the way, everybody should be voting for Jason Sorola for Cruiserweight of the Year! Putting up with the crap he does on a weekly basis should guarantee him that even though he's not the champion. But Sorola realizes that he can't get another crack at that title until he's finally dealt with the garbage at his front porch. So right now he's DEMANDING that Gavin Jones get his ass out here and hear Sorola out, because this business needs to be addressed one way or another.

Gavin eventually comes out looking well annoyed. Gaving declares that he hopes Jason isn't going to try to pour on the guilt because Gavin feels no shame in knowing what loyalty is. He is ashamed of Sorola and he's more than happy to deal with him physically so by all means, let's all hear how Sorola wants to address this business.

Sorola smiles and says that he knew Gavin wasn't going to be able to get over the fact that Sorola eliminated him at Survivor Series, just like how he hasn't been able to get over being apart from his "bros". Maybe if Gavin spent less time moping and more time following Sorola's example, things wouldn't be where they are right now. But as things stand now, Sorola is infinitely superior to Gavin and any one else in the cruiserweight division! And Sorola will prove it if Gavin is willing to accept his challenge. This Monday, one-on-one, in a 2 out of 3 falls match!

Gavin asks if Sorola has truly gone off the deep end. He's basically asking for Gavin to embarass him TWICE in one night. So of course he accepts and he hopes Sorola will regret the day he ever betrayed the crew.

Ian Moore pops on the Tron to interrupt this bit and asks the two of them to pump the brakes because neither one of them is in charge and they can just go around making things for the show on their own accord. "Besides, you guys didn't even think of what I'm going to add on top of this match on Monday. The winner will get to go to Bragging Rights as the number one contender to the Cruiserweight Title! Have fun, you all!" So that settles that.

Second Match: Dusk vs. Phoebe Hanson
Phoebe is looking to right a perceived wrong from Survivor Series. Dusk continues to make great strides in getting over. They stumble out of the ring and continue to slug it out as they ignore the count and that's going to be a draw as they both fail to get back in the ring. Dusk has Phoebe down and looks like she's going to really put the hurt on her but Faith Connors comes on down to get in the way of that. Dusk merely glares at Faith as she decides to back away and take Sorrow with her. Dusk has managed to make another enemy in such a short time frame. ****1/4, 89% overall.

Backstage Jenna Kyle is PUMPED about being named the number one contender to the Women's Title. She knows that it's not really over between herself and Leah because she knows that once she reclaims the gold, they're all going to be coming for her. And her next reign will be no different from any others; she'll take them all on. Naomi Bailey decides to get in Jenna's face as she's still not letting go of the fact that she feels Sonya robbed her at Survivor Series. Who the hell does Jenna think she is? Jenna says that she's the woman who embarassed Naomi at SummerSlam. She's the woman who alongside her partner, Faith, made history as the first ever Women's Tag Team Champions. Jenna accuses Naomi of talking a good game but all she's going to be known for in this year, is being such a whiny sack of tears that even her own cousin couldn't take it anymore. Naomi shoves Jenna in response to this and Jenna leaps onto the former champion and we might have ourselves a fight but officials step in to pull the two apart.

Third Match: WWE Cruiserweight Title
The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody(c) vs. Lyle Morris
Ian Moore makes the decree that all of Hotbody's associates are banned from ringside for this. Hotbody declares that this just another piece of evidence of the LUNATIC CONSPIRACY against him! Lisa Benton had better hope she never comes back because she's going to be DROWNING IN LITIGATION! Hotbody is on the cusp of immortality and he keeps having to deal with nonsense like this! So with that little tirade out of the way, Lyle takes the fight to Hotbody and doesn't let up. Lyle has the champ on the ropes so naturally Hotbody must resort to his superior strategy. He rolls out of the ring and tries to hide under the ring. Lyle follows and raises the apron to try to get to the champ while the ref looks on. Hotbody comes out the other side and grabs his title belt and slips back in and nails the ref from behind with it. Lyle realizes what's happening and slides back in to get his hands on Hotbody. Hotbody takes a swing but Lyle ducks and snatches the belt away but Hotbody, using his cat-like reflexes and ingenuity, punts Lyle in the balls and the challenger goes down. Hotbody looks to capitalize BUT HERE COMES CHET MORRIS!!! And his chair friend! Hotbody is fucked! He starts backing away as Chet enters the ring....and then watches as Chet blasts Lyle in the head as he's trying to get back up! WTF?!?!?!? Chet gets the ref back to his senses and then rolls out as Hotbody hits the Hot Ticket on the fallen Lyle and the ref counts the pin and that allows Hotbody to retain!

CHET ISN'T DONE!!! He stands over his fallen cousin as Luscious comes down to take her boo away. Chet ponders his next move for a bit and then commences to just rain fists down on Lyle. He's still not done! He flips Lyle over and proceeds to abuse him with the chair repeatedly until the damn thing is bent out of shape. Not to fear, as there are spares around the ring and thus Chet drage Lyle to the outside and proceeds to use more chair-related brutality on his cousin. Lyle is a bloody mess and it's only going to get worse as Chet sandwiches Lyle's head in between the seat and then stomps on it, crushing Lyle's throat. What the hell has gotten into Chet for him to do this?!?!? *****, 94% overall.

Fourth Match: Michael Haywood and The Academy vs. Ziggy Styles, Ronnie Costello, and Salvatore Scabbia
We're shown what went down at Survivor Series between Styles and Haywood, where the latter refused to let go of the Rage Quit. Ziggy declares that he shouldn't even be here! Michael Haywood is a lunatic and thus he leaves Ziggy no choice but to PERMANENTLY REVOKE his standing invitation to join him in getting Ziggy with it!!! Ziggy hates that he has to resort to such drastic measures for punishment, but maybe it'll go a long way in teaching Michael Haywood to not be such a sour puss all the time! The match is kick ass despite all that word salad. The end comes when Scabbia tags himself in as Haywood whips Styles into the ropes. Haywood flapjacks Ziggy and then starts to lock in the Rage Quit but Scabbia comes from behind with the Omerta! Haywood struggles in agony as Ziggy recovers enough to mock him to his face and eventually Haywood passes out. ****1/2, 90% overall.

In Ring Super Special Talky Time with the Money in the Bank briefcase holder Brandon Reigns! He actually has it handcuffed to him and he explains that it's necessary to do so in order to prevent any more Eddy Clash wannabes or even Eddy himself from taking what's rightfully his! He's somewhat disappointed to see that his Money in the Bank win isn't a nominee for any Slammys but if can walk away with Superstar of the Year, then he can overlook that little slight. The year 2040 is going to be synonymous with Brandon Reigns and next year is going to be more of the same. The days until the inevitable are getting smaller in number. Second by second, minute by minute, we are all slowly inching our way to the moment of truth, where Brandon Reigns makes his ascension to the top of the mountain and claims the Unified World Title with the power of this briefcase. So this offer is on the table to anyone who thinks they can sour the mood and make a last minute ditch effort to make a name for themselves, Brandon Reigns is opening the door for anybody to come take a swing. Just be aware of all the bodies right in front, like Jake Connelly, Connor Buchanan, Eddy Clash, et cetera, et cetera!

This is going to call for Kerry Cemenko to make himself known and he joins Reigns in the ring. Kerry brings up the fact that he feels even more terrible about not winning the Unified World Title earlier this year. It would've been even sweeter to be at WrestleMania and watch the look on Brandon's face after he failed to cash in the briefcase after so much talk. Reigns is aghast that Cemenko is insulting him but Cemenko counters by asking how could he not? Reigns threw away an opportunity to have another title shot by refusing to be in the King of the Ring tournament. He also didn't bother to use the case to claim the title when it was vacated not that long ago. Reigns is putting A LOT of eggs in this one basket, and all Cemenko is trying to say is that it's going to be open season on Reigns if WrestleMania comes to pass and this whole master plan doesn't pan out.

Reigns points out that at least he actually has eggs, unlike Cemenko. Cemenko counters that he has the "huevos" to stand up to a guy like Reigns. Reigns says good on him but this isn't the World Standing Federation. Cemenko says it's also not the World Get Knocked On Your Ass Federation, but that's what's going to happen to Reigns anyway. Cemenko clotheslines Reigns down. Reigns tries to bail but the handcuffs prove to be a hinderance as Cemenko merely grabs the case and prevents Reigns from leaving. Cemenko pulls Reigns in but Reigns meets him with a forearm, causing Cemenko to lose his grip and allowing Reigns to bail.

Fifth Match: Hugo vs. Raymond Delaney
We're back to HUGO SMASH!!! He still hasn't explained his actions and I don't foresee that happening here tonight. I do foresee a lot of pain and loss in Delaney's future though as he suffers the Moonsault Crush from Hugo and gets pinned. Hugo gets on the mic and stares off into space with a crazed look and merely says, "I've been set free..." WTF does that mean? ****1/2, 91% overall.

More SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT! Time as the lights go out and when they return, the mystery man who was all up in Haven's business on Sunday and Monday is in the ring. He says that it's only appropriate that introductions are finally in order. He is named Victor Dark and he is here to save everyone from the fraud that is Haven.

"I need to make it clear that I am not here to fight Haven. I don't even consider him an enemy. He is merely a disappointment. A disappointment like that does not deserve to be called a champion in any walk of life, much less a champion all of you should praise and encourage. Here is the ugly history between myself and Haven. The WWE isn't the first tent he's tried to bring his brainwashing message under. I met Haven at a commune many years back, and like so many unfortunate minds that fell under his sway, I was what you would call a lost soul. So desparate was I for guidance and acceptance that I came to believe in him and his message. But the truth eventually came to fruition. He wasn't about saving us. He was about power. That's the only explanation one can draw from his decision to ditch us all and come here. Haven would have had all that power if he had won on Sunday. I couldn't live with myself if I saw him get his hands on the thing that would allow him to have unlimited influence on so many innocent minds. I would have been here sooner, and it's a shame to have witnessed so many victims get suckered in by him, but I'm here now and Haven can't escape his past anymore. He's going to have to face up to it. And as much as I don't actually want to get physical with him, I'll have to force him to face it if he is inclined to be stubborn."

Well, we all knew this wasn't going to be a solo outing for long as the music of Haven hits and the Dark Shepherd himself walks out on stage. He addresses Victor in an angry tone. "Victor, I know that there's no way you came here under your own devices. Someone had to have brokered a way in for you. So where is she?"

"Oh, are things unraveling for you, Evan? That's right, his real name is Evan. You people don't have to keep him on that pedestal anymore. I'm here to save you all. Look at him. He knows what kind of force I am. He knows that I can undo him. But since you're so curious about 'her', well, by all means you're welcome to see for yourself. Andrea, come on out!"

Haven looks perplexed and right behind him appears a young lady with a haunting expression on her face as she gazes at the now shocked Haven. "You weren't really expecting this, were you?" Victor asks. "Well, Andrea is also going to be at my side from here on out. And everything that happens by our hand, Evan, is all on you." Andrea takes her leave without saying a word as Haven continues to look bewildered. Seriously, WTF is going on???

Backstage, Nathan Quinn runs into Ian Moore. Quinn wants to rip on Moore for playing favorites with Paul Andrews after giving one of his clients the deal that he asked for. Quinn was always better than Moore and it makes him sick that Moore has the position that he does. Quinn doesn't rely on crap like that to get ahead. Paul Andrews interrupts the proceedings by asking what's going on. Quinn accuses Andrews of trying to get another favor from his buddy. Andrews claims that his girls can get the attention and accolades without any politicking. Ian says that's good to hear because he's got an idea for the two of them. They can each pick one of their women to have a match on Raw. If Nathan's pick wins, she'll get added to the Women's Title match at Bragging Rights. But if Paul's pick wins, the Southern Belles defend their Women's Tag Team Titles against the Perfections at Bragging Rights. "Have fun on Monday," Ian says before leaving. Nathan is all smiles and declares that Paul is set for even more humiliation come Monday. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I've got a client that's about to become the number contender for the Unified Title."

MAIN EVENT: Adamn Hail vs. Ryan Pattillo
This will determine who will face the Unified World Champion at Bragging Rights. I actually don't recall if these two ever had a match when Adam was around on his first run. Either way, they know how to have a good main event, Adam's lack of charisma notwithstanding. It comes to an end when Nathan tries some heel manager chicanery but Simon Bennett comes running down to get him a piece of his former manager, yanking him off the apron causing him to hit the edge. Adam Hail is beside himself and yells at Simon, but Pattillo isn't done with the match and he hits the Shutdown on a distracted Hail and gets the pin, sending him to the main event at Bragging Rights. ****1/2, 91% overall.

Overall show rating: 87%

M-A-G

06-01-2023, 09:37 AM

End of the month notes:

BIRTHDAYS!!! Tokyo Kid turns 28. I might need to change that name already.
Joey Dillinger: 36
Ronnie Costello: 25
Justin Mitchel: 27
Maya: 35
Caleb Greene: 39
King Kavovit: 34
Sarah Moore: 28

Canadian Golden Combat has opened its doors as a new promotion.

Nobody wants to retire from my roster. Good news I suppose, but it'd be nice to have a way out of those giant contracts I gave to Hail and Bennett.

Three guys from NXT want out as they think they're ready for prime time. They are as follows:

Karl Hodder: 26 years old. A guy with a name like that and the game can't even be asked to give him the Menacing attribute?
Leo DeNucci: The only cruiserweight of the bunch. 22 years old. All his wrestling attributes are in the 90s.
Shawn Damon: 25 years old.

The charisma of all of these guys sucks dong. I need to think hard on how I'm going to introduce and utilize them, if at all.

Evil Vito

06-01-2023, 02:05 PM

Gotta say, I give you props for writing out your promos the way you do. I generally can visualize what is being said but I don't think I'd have the patience to actually write it all out word for word.

Tough for me to find the happy medium between fully writing up my shows vs. just quick rapid fire results. The latter means I can blow through shows way quicker even if it's not always the most interesting thing to read.

Evil Vito

06-01-2023, 02:09 PM

:lol: always nice to not have any retirements. Your managers will be busy with some new clients for these charisma-less call-ups.

It's almost jarring to see how relatively young your roster is. Modern wrestling is packed to the brim with guys who are still really good but in their late 30s, 40s, even 50s. I know people who do modern day EWR games who have to use Arsenic to at least ease the blow slightly and make the regression less steep, because the game really does think you can't move at all once you hit 40 and that's not how wrestling is now.

If/when I get my new game rolling, the retirements are gonna be plentiful.

M-A-G

06-01-2023, 10:43 PM

I probably could just go with simple points when it comes to the promos but I feel you can't really appreciate the depths of Hotbody's douchebaggery without going into detail. Patience isn't the problem for me so much as just having the time. I can do bit by bit when I can, but having a whole open day to get anything done is a rarity so I do what I can, when I can.

The thing is I do have people above the threshold for retirement. Lisa Benton and Ian Moore in particular REFUSE TO DIE! Riott should at least be a non-wrestler at this point. If she chooses to retire come WrestleMania time I've got a tough decision to make as to whether or not I should bring her in for one more match where she gets her streak ended.

If wrestling nowadays is as you described, I'm glad I'm not part of it anymore. There needs to be a cut-off point because it starts getting sad after a while. Jericho, from what I understand, has become a parody of himself, and he was my favorite wrestler for a time. I'm sure it's different for everyone because not everyone trains the same way or what have you, but when fucking Goldberg is a major part of your show in the God damn 2020s, we've got problems. At the very least I imagine it's not like Mexico where you've got out of shape Mil Mascaras running around the ring, no-selling shit acting like he's still the belle of the ball.

M-A-G

06-01-2023, 10:47 PM

Sweet, another page!

So basically we've got this for Bragging Rights:

Wrakk vs. Ryan Pattillo for the Unified World Title

Sonya Braddock vs. Jenna Kyle for the Women's Title

Michael Hotbody vs. the next poor sap who has to put up with his buffoonery. I'd like to believe a character like Hotbody would get over in real life.

Evil Vito

06-02-2023, 09:02 AM

If wrestling nowadays is as you described, I'm glad I'm not part of it anymore. There needs to be a cut-off point because it starts getting sad after a while. Jericho, from what I understand, has become a parody of himself, and he was my favorite wrestler for a time. I'm sure it's different for everyone because not everyone trains the same way or what have you, but when fucking Goldberg is a major part of your show in the God damn 2020s, we've got problems. At the very least I imagine it's not like Mexico where you've got out of shape Mil Mascaras running around the ring, no-selling shit acting like he's still the belle of the ball.

Jericho's an interesting one. Even into his early 50s he's shown he can still produce bangers when the moment calls for it. At some point in 2021 or so he was looking severely alcohol bloated and slower in the ring, he seemingly took the criticism personally and ended up getting himself into damn good shape for his age and wound up putting on good matches again for a time.

To his credit, after getting a run as the inaugural world champion, which I felt was a sensible move for a new company to put the title on someone lapsed fans would know, he's spent most of the last few years putting people over, which is what he should be doing at this stage of his career. My biggest criticism though is his feuds feel like they drag too long. You know he'll do the right thing and put the other guy over, but not EVERY feud needs to be half a year FFS.

Most recent program he had with Adam Cole was the first time I felt Jericho really laid an egg in a big spot. Dunno why but those guys just didn't gel in the slightest, which is a shame since the program leading in was pretty good as both guys can talk. Another flop like that and I'll be ready to send Jericho to the NJPW-esque "multi man tag" stage of his career.

In EWR land I have no doubt the game will either force him into a non-wrestler role if not outright retire by the fall, so he'll be doing a significant amount of job duty for me :lol:

Someone like MJF feels like such an anomaly now because at 27 he's the world champion and top guy in the company. Most guys don't get their first "big break" on a national wrestling promotion until their mid-30s by now, which is roughly the age where EWR decides you must start to suck. I will probably sign fuckloads of early 20-something talent to cheap development deals and see if any gems surface down the line.

Evil Vito

06-04-2023, 11:58 PM

It's baaaaaaaack!

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/2022/04/8e3263abc3945e45-600x338.jpg

AEW Dynamite
June 7, 2023

Pyro and ballyhoo to begin the broadcast, seguing directly in to "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimore. We've got some high octane tornado tag action right from the jump!

Tornado Tag Match: ”Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Hook vs. La Faccion Ingobernable (Preston Vance & Dralistico)

A wild brawl to start us off with as these four men battle all over the arena, getting the crowd into a frenzy from the get-go. Vance is the largest man in the match by far and he starts cleaning house, forcing Jungle Hook to break out the weapons. A few well-placed trashcan lid shots send Vance down, leaving Dralistico all alone. Hook locks in the Redrum for the tap out victory win for the faces.

As they celebrate, fellow LFI members Rush and Jose the Assistant charge down to the ring, with Rush wanting more of Jungle Boy after their match a few weeks ago. Just as Rush is about to enter into the ring, he throws poor Jose in instead and gets a Brainbuster for his troubles. ***, 72% overall rating

---

MJF Promo

AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman makes his way out to the ring to a chorus of boos, sporting his trademark smirk. This is the first we’ve seen MJF since he defended his title in a Fatal Four Way match at Double or Nothing.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, let's face it. A week and a half ago, you had the privilege of watching me annihilate your so-called heroes at Double or Nothing. Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy, lined up like dominos. And just like dominos, they fell one after the other.

Darby Allin, the emo skateboarder who somehow thought he could step in the ring with me. You think facepaint and a skate punk attitude is enough? Oh please! You're lucky I didn't shove your skateboard down your throat!

And then there was Sammy Guevara, the Spanish God? More like a Spanish Mouse. Couldn't hit a vlog shot if his life depended on it. And as for Jungle Boy... *chuckles* If you ever decide to crawl back from the depths of the jobber jungle, call me. I'll gladly put you back in your place again.

But now, apparently, it's about what's next. The so-called 'Forbidden Door' is opening, and I'm being forced to defend the AEW Title against a...a...[chuckles]...New Japan Pro-Wrestling superstar?

Seriously? In just six months I can walk out that door and Tony Khan is going to force me to defend this title against someone from a company where the biggest thing going on is the number of hip replacements its wrestlers need!

Rumor has it that Uncle Tony and the New Japan front office have got me going up against one of their "best", Tetsuya Naito??? Naito, the self-proclaimed 'Uncontrollable Charisma'? More like 'Uncontrollable Boredom'. I mean, has anyone ever actually made it through one of his matches without dozing off?

[He laughs and shrugs, the crowd's boos growing louder.]

But hey, it's not all bad. Once I'm done with Naito, I can start charging the rest of the New Japan roster for wrestling lessons. Maybe then they might rise above their status as a mid company. And I’ll remind everyone once again that I’m better than you, and you know it!

---

TNT Championship: Wardlow (C) w/ Arn Anderson vs. QT Marshall w/ Aaron Solo and Powerhouse Hobbs

Wardlow is back in action following a ladder match title defense over Christian Cage at Double or Nothing. Poor ‘ol QT really doesn’t have much of a prayer here as all of his underhanded tactics are quickly thwarted and Wardlow treats him to a bevy of Powerbombs for his troubles as Wardlow retains.

Post-match, Aaron Solo tries to intervene and gets Powerbombed as well. Wardlow joyfully takes turns Powerbombing both QT and Solo. QT helplessly watches his “friend” Powerhouse Hobbs on the ramp and calls for Hobbs to help, but Hobbs just walks off, leaving QT and his underling to get the fuck beaten out of them. **3/4, 69% overall

---

Christian Cage and Luchasaurus video promo

Wardlow celebrates with Arn Anderson, when the lights dim and Christian Cage appears on the tron with Luchasaurus.

CHRISTIAN CAGE: (chuckles and starts applauding) Bravo, Wardlow. Bravo! I must admit, you put on quite the show at Double or Nothing.

(The crowd hushes, intently focusing on the screen. Christian’s eyes narrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: And beating me, no less. Truly commendable. But let's not forget, you needed to scale ladders to do it.

(He points to the towering Luchasaurus next to him, a smirk playing on his lips.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: So, you want to be the biggest monster in this company, huh?

(Luchasaurus grunts affirmatively, cracking his knuckles.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: Alright, then. Prove it. If you're as tough as you claim to be, why not put that shiny TNT Title on the line?

(Christian glances at Luchasaurus, the giant dinosaur-man towering over him, flexing his muscles.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: Against my monster, Luchasaurus. Next week.
(The crowd erupts in a mixture of cheers and boos, the atmosphere electric with anticipation. The camera pans back to the ring where Wardlow, now serious, gazes directly at the screen.)

(He smirks and gives a confident nod. The challenge is accepted.)
WARDLOW: (Mouths silently, confidently) Next week.

---

AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (C) w/ Ruby Soho and Saraya vs. Riho

A really strong match here between these two women as Storm will always bring the goods in the ring, and Riho is the perfect opponent for Storm to throw around like a ragdoll. Some pretty decent blending of brawling and technical acumen here with Riho trying to avoid the distractions from The Outcasts on the outside. As Saraya distracts the ref, Ruby trips up Riho in the corner, setting her up for a Hip Attack from Storm as she retains. ***1/2, 77% overall

---

Don Callis backstage with Konosuke Takeshita

[CAMERA ON: The scene opens backstage, red curtains behind, lighting overhead. DON CALLIS stands tall and proud in his tailored suit, his signature sunglasses perched atop his head. By his side, KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, whose strong silent gaze beams confidence.]

CALLIS: [Adjusts tie, clears throat] "You know, Omega, I remember when I took you under my wing, polished you into the gem you are today. [Chuckles, wry smile] Or, maybe I should say, the gem you were. I made you, Kenny. I carved you into the icon, the legend, the Cleaner. But it's always the creator who knows the creation's every flaw, every crack."
[Camera cuts to a close shot of Takeshita, listening intently to Callis' every word. Camera switches back to Callis.]

CALLIS: "And at Forbidden Door, you've got your work cut out for you. Will Ospreay, huh? You know, in another lifetime, I might've called Ospreay a step-down from you. But, Kenny, things have changed. Ospreay has become a titan in his own right, while you… Well, you've lost your luster."
[Callis leans in closer, his voice turning into a hushed whisper.]

CALLIS: "But let's imagine, just for a moment, that you do survive Ospreay. That you do somehow hold onto your precious IWGP United States Championship. You still have to contend with this man standing beside me, Konosuke Takeshita. My 'son'. And let me assure you, Kenny, if Ospreay doesn't do the job, Takeshita will be more than happy to."
[Callis steps aside, motioning to Takeshita.]

CALLIS: "Kenny, meet your destiny. Meet the man who's going to make you wish you stayed in Winnipeg. Konosuke Takeshita is coming, and he's bringing a storm with him. And I promise you this... the aftermath is going to be a sight to see."

[CAMERA OFF: Callis, smirking, drapes an arm around Takeshita, both men looking directly into the camera as the scene fades to black.]

---

AEW International Championship: “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (C) vs. Swerve Strickland

So far, the real-life June 7th edition of Dynamite has three matches booked – the tornado tag, Jay White vs. Ricky Starks, and this one. I suspect this match will rule and EWR apparently agrees as these two provide to have fantastic chemistry, along with Orange being one of the most over acts in the company.

Orange remains mostly nonplussed even when Swerve’s associate Brian Cage ambles his way down to the ring, but even the slightest distraction proves costly as Swerve hits him with a back suplex. Swerve ascends the top looking for the Swerve Stomp, but Orange was playing possum and moves last second, getting the flash pin and the title retention.

After the match, Cage hops in as he and Swerve put the boots to Cassidy, only for the music of “Limitless” Keith Lee to hit! Lee has some unfinished business with his former tag partner Swerve, and his presence sends the heels heading for the exits. ****, 83% overall

---

Chris Jericho and Adam Cole promo battle

Chris Jericho, flanked by the Jericho Appreciation Society, makes his way out to the ring to boos. He grabs a microphone and makes his address.

Jericho: "Adam Cole, Baby! You think you're all that, don't you? You might have one-upped me these past two times, but that doesn't change anything, Bay-Bay. The Forbidden Door is coming up and I've got something in my sights that you failed to grab hold of last year - the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!"

Jericho: "That's right, the Championship that eluded you, the one that you were too weak, too timid to seize. But me? I'm Chris Jericho, the living legend, the Demo God, The Ocho the man who redefined professional wrestling. I'm not just going to seize that Championship, I'm going to claim it, brand it, make it MINE!"

[As he finishes, Adam Cole's music hits. He comes out to the ramp, a confident look on his face as he walks down, microphone in hand]
Cole: "Jericho, Jericho, Jericho... you're living in the past, man. You're so obsessed with being the 'Best in the World' that you're willing to make a fool out of yourself, time and time again. But this time, you're just barking at the wrong tree."

Jericho: "Oh, is that so? Because last I checked, Forbidden Door was the very show that nearly ended your career. You were broken, beaten, humiliated. You were concussed beyond measure, barely survived, and you think you can tell me to step aside? You think you can deny 'The Ocho' his rightful claim to become 'The Nueve'?"

Jericho: "You see, Cole... For your own sake, and to save you from another career-threatening beating, maybe you should just step aside and let the big boys play. Because if you don't, and if you dare to stand in my way, I promise you this - I will make sure that your career doesn't just nearly end. It will be over. Completely and unequivocally. You won't be 'Adam Cole, Bay-Bay!' anymore. You'll be 'Adam Cole, Bye-Bye!'"

---

“Absolute” Ricky Starks vs. “Switchblade” Jay White

Starks and White have been at each others’ throats for over a month now, and this match figures to be where the tension finally comes to the boiling point. White’s Bullet Club Gold teammate Juice Robinson is banned from ringside, as are FTR who have come to Starks’ aid in recent weeks. So this should be it, mano-y-mano with no fuckery, right?

Of course not, Switchblade is the catalyst for a reason. The two have a pretty solid match, but just as it appears Starks is getting the upper hand, White desperately heaves him to the outside and then ties up the referee. Meanwhile, who should emerge from the crowd but Powerhouse Hobbs! He has a bitter history with Starks, and he’s here to rekindle that rivalry. He spinebusters Starks into the steps, and throws him back into the ring where White hits him with a Blade Runner and a win.

White laughs and points to his head, after all – only Juice Robinson was banned from helping him. White and Hobbs do the all too familiar “Too Sweet” gesture. Guess we know why Hobbs walked out on the QTV crew earlier, because he’s on to better things as apparently the newest member of Bullet Club Gold! ***, 77% overall

---

Kenny Omega backstage interview

Renee Paquette stands in the backstage area of AEW Dynamite. Kenny Omega appears in the frame, the IWGP United States Championship draped over his shoulder. His eyes, cool and focused, gaze directly into the camera.
RENEE: Kenny, earlier tonight, Don Callis made some pretty strong statements. He called Konosuke Takeshita his son, and said you're ripe for the picking for Will Ospreay, and that. Any comments?

Before Omega can answer, the frame widens to reveal Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley of the Blackpool Combat Club entering the shot. The crowd, even from the backstage, roars their arrival.

DANIELSON: The Invisible Hand isn’t wrong, Omega. Ospreay's ready for the hunt. But then again, so am I. At Forbidden Door I'm gearing up to face Kazuchika Okada, the so-called best wrestler in the world.

Moxley steps forward, an unmistakable edge in his voice.

MOXLEY: And as for me, I'm issuing an open challenge. Any NJPW wrestler who thinks they've got what it takes can step through the Forbidden Door.
Danielson turns back to Omega, his gaze stinging.

DANIELSON: You, Omega... You're just an amateur compared to us. AN AMATEUR! How do you possibly think you’ll get out of Toronto with your title. Don’t you remember at Double or Nothing when WHEELER YUTA pinned you?
In a quick, unexpected move, Yuta enters from behind and, strikes Omega with a cheap shot. Omega reels back, and before he can recover, Danielson and Moxley join in.

The camera shakes as the three of them lay into Omega, the interview turned into a backstage brawl. The segment concludes with Blackpool Combat Club standing triumphant over a fallen Omega, their message loud and clear.

---

Main Event: Claudio Castagnoli vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

Following that backstage assault of Kenny, we jump right into this main event to write another chapter in the ongoing war between the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite. Not much too say here other than that these two also have fantastic chemistry and they put on an absolute belter of a performance.

As the match begins to draw to a close, we see on camera that the Blackpool Combat Club have also taken out The Young Bucks backstage, and they begin to walk out and surround the ring. The Dark Order appear on the ramp to a huge pop, but rather than come out to help...they look at Hangman with a look of disappointment, upset that Hangman has been spending more time with The Elite than with them, and they turn around and leave.

Hangman and Claudio continue their battle only for the hobbled Young Bucks to make their way back out to try to fight the BCC. Through the fracas, Yuta tries to distract Hangman as Claudio prepares for a running uppercut, only for Hangman to duck and Yuta is sent flying off the apron. Buckshot Lariat and Hangman retains, as the tension between the Elite and BCC is far from over. ****1/4, 88% overall

82% overall show rating

M-A-G

06-05-2023, 01:20 PM

It's baaaaaaaack!

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/2022/04/8e3263abc3945e45-600x338.jpg

AEW Dynamite
June 7, 2023

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, sheeyat!!! :eek:

Pyro and ballyhoo to begin the broadcast, seguing directly in to "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimore. We've got some high octane tornado tag action right from the jump!

Tornado Tag Match: ”Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Hook vs. La Faccion Ingobernable (Preston Vance & Dralistico)

A wild brawl to start us off with as these four men battle all over the arena, getting the crowd into a frenzy from the get-go. Vance is the largest man in the match by far and he starts cleaning house, forcing Jungle Hook to break out the weapons. A few well-placed trashcan lid shots send Vance down, leaving Dralistico all alone. Hook locks in the Redrum for the tap out victory win for the faces.

As they celebrate, fellow LFI members Rush and Jose the Assistant charge down to the ring, with Rush wanting more of Jungle Boy after their match a few weeks ago. Just as Rush is about to enter into the ring, he throws poor Jose in instead and gets a Brainbuster for his troubles. ***, 72% overall rating

---

Smart move with the Assistant Sacrifice. All great heels need to do this at least once, be it with a valet or even an animal if they really want to get some heat/whining on Twitter.

MJF Promo

AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman makes his way out to the ring to a chorus of boos, sporting his trademark smirk. This is the first we’ve seen MJF since he defended his title in a Fatal Four Way match at Double or Nothing.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, let's face it. A week and a half ago, you had the privilege of watching me annihilate your so-called heroes at Double or Nothing. Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy, lined up like dominos. And just like dominos, they fell one after the other.

Darby Allin, the emo skateboarder who somehow thought he could step in the ring with me. You think facepaint and a skate punk attitude is enough? Oh please! You're lucky I didn't shove your skateboard down your throat!

And then there was Sammy Guevara, the Spanish God? More like a Spanish Mouse. Couldn't hit a vlog shot if his life depended on it. And as for Jungle Boy... *chuckles* If you ever decide to crawl back from the depths of the jobber jungle, call me. I'll gladly put you back in your place again.

But now, apparently, it's about what's next. The so-called 'Forbidden Door' is opening, and I'm being forced to defend the AEW Title against a...a...[chuckles]...New Japan Pro-Wrestling superstar?

Seriously? In just six months I can walk out that door and Tony Khan is going to force me to defend this title against someone from a company where the biggest thing going on is the number of hip replacements its wrestlers need!

Rumor has it that Uncle Tony and the New Japan front office have got me going up against one of their "best", Tetsuya Naito??? Naito, the self-proclaimed 'Uncontrollable Charisma'? More like 'Uncontrollable Boredom'. I mean, has anyone ever actually made it through one of his matches without dozing off?

[He laughs and shrugs, the crowd's boos growing louder.]

But hey, it's not all bad. Once I'm done with Naito, I can start charging the rest of the New Japan roster for wrestling lessons. Maybe then they might rise above their status as a mid company. And I’ll remind everyone once again that I’m better than you, and you know it!

---

So I'm going to assume this is a reset because last I recall you had Omega as your champion and from what I understand MJF is the current champion in real life. There's been such a large amount of time since your last EWR run and you had the Fire Pro tournament in the meantime...that still needs a conclusion!

But, yeah, definitely points for another great heel tactic: The Rubbing It In Your Faces Celebration Promo.

TNT Championship: Wardlow (C) w/ Arn Anderson vs. QT Marshall w/ Aaron Solo and Powerhouse Hobbs

Wardlow is back in action following a ladder match title defense over Christian Cage at Double or Nothing. Poor ‘ol QT really doesn’t have much of a prayer here as all of his underhanded tactics are quickly thwarted and Wardlow treats him to a bevy of Powerbombs for his troubles as Wardlow retains.

Post-match, Aaron Solo tries to intervene and gets Powerbombed as well. Wardlow joyfully takes turns Powerbombing both QT and Solo. QT helplessly watches his “friend” Powerhouse Hobbs on the ramp and calls for Hobbs to help, but Hobbs just walks off, leaving QT and his underling to get the fuck beaten out of them. **3/4, 69% overall

---

LOL, even more heel sacrificing? I love it. I love the concept of a dude getting powerbombed repeatedly that it leads to a pin. I'm surprised that doesn't happen in real life. Instead of one major move to finish a guy off, do multiple instances of one regular move and it's enough to wipe a guy out. Maybe they do it in Japan?

Christian Cage and Luchasaurus video promo

Wardlow celebrates with Arn Anderson, when the lights dim and Christian Cage appears on the tron with Luchasaurus.

CHRISTIAN CAGE: (chuckles and starts applauding) Bravo, Wardlow. Bravo! I must admit, you put on quite the show at Double or Nothing.

(The crowd hushes, intently focusing on the screen. Christian’s eyes narrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: And beating me, no less. Truly commendable. But let's not forget, you needed to scale ladders to do it.

(He points to the towering Luchasaurus next to him, a smirk playing on his lips.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: So, you want to be the biggest monster in this company, huh?

(Luchasaurus grunts affirmatively, cracking his knuckles.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: Alright, then. Prove it. If you're as tough as you claim to be, why not put that shiny TNT Title on the line?

(Christian glances at Luchasaurus, the giant dinosaur-man towering over him, flexing his muscles.)

CHRISTIAN CAGE: Against my monster, Luchasaurus. Next week.
(The crowd erupts in a mixture of cheers and boos, the atmosphere electric with anticipation. The camera pans back to the ring where Wardlow, now serious, gazes directly at the screen.)

(He smirks and gives a confident nod. The challenge is accepted.)
WARDLOW: (Mouths silently, confidently) Next week.

---

Is Christian still actively wrestling? Being a mouthpiece for someone would really suit him as he's just so good at being a little shit.

AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (C) w/ Ruby Soho and Saraya vs. Riho

A really strong match here between these two women as Storm will always bring the goods in the ring, and Riho is the perfect opponent for Storm to throw around like a ragdoll. Some pretty decent blending of brawling and technical acumen here with Riho trying to avoid the distractions from The Outcasts on the outside. As Saraya distracts the ref, Ruby trips up Riho in the corner, setting her up for a Hip Attack from Storm as she retains. ***1/2, 77% overall

---

For some reason when I saw Hip Attack I immediately thought of R. Mika's Flying Peach from Street Fighter.

Don Callis backstage with Konosuke Takeshita

[CAMERA ON: The scene opens backstage, red curtains behind, lighting overhead. DON CALLIS stands tall and proud in his tailored suit, his signature sunglasses perched atop his head. By his side, KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, whose strong silent gaze beams confidence.]

CALLIS: [Adjusts tie, clears throat] "You know, Omega, I remember when I took you under my wing, polished you into the gem you are today. [Chuckles, wry smile] Or, maybe I should say, the gem you were. I made you, Kenny. I carved you into the icon, the legend, the Cleaner. But it's always the creator who knows the creation's every flaw, every crack."
[Camera cuts to a close shot of Takeshita, listening intently to Callis' every word. Camera switches back to Callis.]

CALLIS: "And at Forbidden Door, you've got your work cut out for you. Will Ospreay, huh? You know, in another lifetime, I might've called Ospreay a step-down from you. But, Kenny, things have changed. Ospreay has become a titan in his own right, while you… Well, you've lost your luster."
[Callis leans in closer, his voice turning into a hushed whisper.]

CALLIS: "But let's imagine, just for a moment, that you do survive Ospreay. That you do somehow hold onto your precious IWGP United States Championship. You still have to contend with this man standing beside me, Konosuke Takeshita. My 'son'. And let me assure you, Kenny, if Ospreay doesn't do the job, Takeshita will be more than happy to."
[Callis steps aside, motioning to Takeshita.]

CALLIS: "Kenny, meet your destiny. Meet the man who's going to make you wish you stayed in Winnipeg. Konosuke Takeshita is coming, and he's bringing a storm with him. And I promise you this... the aftermath is going to be a sight to see."

[CAMERA OFF: Callis, smirking, drapes an arm around Takeshita, both men looking directly into the camera as the scene fades to black.]

---

A fucking great promo that I can absolutely visualize Callis doing. It sucks that he got the shaft in the WWE because he could've been gold. Like WTF is he supposed to do with Kurrgan?

AEW International Championship: “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy (C) vs. Swerve Strickland

So far, the real-life June 7th edition of Dynamite has three matches booked – the tornado tag, Jay White vs. Ricky Starks, and this one. I suspect this match will rule and EWR apparently agrees as these two provide to have fantastic chemistry, along with Orange being one of the most over acts in the company.

Orange remains mostly nonplussed even when Swerve’s associate Brian Cage ambles his way down to the ring, but even the slightest distraction proves costly as Swerve hits him with a back suplex. Swerve ascends the top looking for the Swerve Stomp, but Orange was playing possum and moves last second, getting the flash pin and the title retention.

After the match, Cage hops in as he and Swerve put the boots to Cassidy, only for the music of “Limitless” Keith Lee to hit! Lee has some unfinished business with his former tag partner Swerve, and his presence sends the heels heading for the exits. ****, 83% overall

---

Swerve Strickland...the name returns to draw my ire once again.

Chris Jericho and Adam Cole promo battle

Chris Jericho, flanked by the Jericho Appreciation Society, makes his way out to the ring to boos. He grabs a microphone and makes his address.

Jericho: "Adam Cole, Baby! You think you're all that, don't you? You might have one-upped me these past two times, but that doesn't change anything, Bay-Bay. The Forbidden Door is coming up and I've got something in my sights that you failed to grab hold of last year - the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!"

Jericho: "That's right, the Championship that eluded you, the one that you were too weak, too timid to seize. But me? I'm Chris Jericho, the living legend, the Demo God, The Ocho the man who redefined professional wrestling. I'm not just going to seize that Championship, I'm going to claim it, brand it, make it MINE!"

[As he finishes, Adam Cole's music hits. He comes out to the ramp, a confident look on his face as he walks down, microphone in hand]
Cole: "Jericho, Jericho, Jericho... you're living in the past, man. You're so obsessed with being the 'Best in the World' that you're willing to make a fool out of yourself, time and time again. But this time, you're just barking at the wrong tree."

Jericho: "Oh, is that so? Because last I checked, Forbidden Door was the very show that nearly ended your career. You were broken, beaten, humiliated. You were concussed beyond measure, barely survived, and you think you can tell me to step aside? You think you can deny 'The Ocho' his rightful claim to become 'The Nueve'?"

Jericho: "You see, Cole... For your own sake, and to save you from another career-threatening beating, maybe you should just step aside and let the big boys play. Because if you don't, and if you dare to stand in my way, I promise you this - I will make sure that your career doesn't just nearly end. It will be over. Completely and unequivocally. You won't be 'Adam Cole, Bay-Bay!' anymore. You'll be 'Adam Cole, Bye-Bye!'"

---

"The Ocho" becoming "The Nueve"??? That's fucking hilarious. Jericho showing off that Spanish he picked up way back when. :lol:

“Absolute” Ricky Starks vs. “Switchblade” Jay White

Starks and White have been at each others’ throats for over a month now, and this match figures to be where the tension finally comes to the boiling point. White’s Bullet Club Gold teammate Juice Robinson is banned from ringside, as are FTR who have come to Starks’ aid in recent weeks. So this should be it, mano-y-mano with no fuckery, right?

Of course not, Switchblade is the catalyst for a reason. The two have a pretty solid match, but just as it appears Starks is getting the upper hand, White desperately heaves him to the outside and then ties up the referee. Meanwhile, who should emerge from the crowd but Powerhouse Hobbs! He has a bitter history with Starks, and he’s here to rekindle that rivalry. He spinebusters Starks into the steps, and throws him back into the ring where White hits him with a Blade Runner and a win.

White laughs and points to his head, after all – only Juice Robinson was banned from helping him. White and Hobbs do the all too familiar “Too Sweet” gesture. Guess we know why Hobbs walked out on the QTV crew earlier, because he’s on to better things as apparently the newest member of Bullet Club Gold! ***, 77% overall

---

Bullet Club Gold? Is there a Platinum Membership, too? Does it allow for discounts at Chez Pierre?

Now that I think about it, I don't think I ever saw the Bullet Club in their heyday. I certainly never saw them in WWE, other than Styles. I wonder what I missed out on.

Kenny Omega backstage interview

Renee Paquette stands in the backstage area of AEW Dynamite. Kenny Omega appears in the frame, the IWGP United States Championship draped over his shoulder. His eyes, cool and focused, gaze directly into the camera.
RENEE: Kenny, earlier tonight, Don Callis made some pretty strong statements. He called Konosuke Takeshita his son, and said you're ripe for the picking for Will Ospreay, and that. Any comments?

Before Omega can answer, the frame widens to reveal Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley of the Blackpool Combat Club entering the shot. The crowd, even from the backstage, roars their arrival.

DANIELSON: The Invisible Hand isn’t wrong, Omega. Ospreay's ready for the hunt. But then again, so am I. At Forbidden Door I'm gearing up to face Kazuchika Okada, the so-called best wrestler in the world.

Moxley steps forward, an unmistakable edge in his voice.

MOXLEY: And as for me, I'm issuing an open challenge. Any NJPW wrestler who thinks they've got what it takes can step through the Forbidden Door.
Danielson turns back to Omega, his gaze stinging.

DANIELSON: You, Omega... You're just an amateur compared to us. AN AMATEUR! How do you possibly think you’ll get out of Toronto with your title. Don’t you remember at Double or Nothing when WHEELER YUTA pinned you?
In a quick, unexpected move, Yuta enters from behind and, strikes Omega with a cheap shot. Omega reels back, and before he can recover, Danielson and Moxley join in.

The camera shakes as the three of them lay into Omega, the interview turned into a backstage brawl. The segment concludes with Blackpool Combat Club standing triumphant over a fallen Omega, their message loud and clear.

---

God damn, Renee, you're just going to stand there and let your husband fuck up your job? He'd have better spent the night on the couch for that shit.

Main Event: Claudio Castagnoli vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

Following that backstage assault of Kenny, we jump right into this main event to write another chapter in the ongoing war between the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite. Not much too say here other than that these two also have fantastic chemistry and they put on an absolute belter of a performance.

As the match begins to draw to a close, we see on camera that the Blackpool Combat Club have also taken out The Young Bucks backstage, and they begin to walk out and surround the ring. The Dark Order appear on the ramp to a huge pop, but rather than come out to help...they look at Hangman with a look of disappointment, upset that Hangman has been spending more time with The Elite than with them, and they turn around and leave.

Hangman and Claudio continue their battle only for the hobbled Young Bucks to make their way back out to try to fight the BCC. Through the fracas, Yuta tries to distract Hangman as Claudio prepares for a running uppercut, only for Hangman to duck and Yuta is sent flying off the apron. Buckshot Lariat and Hangman retains, as the tension between the Elite and BCC is far from over. ****1/4, 88% overall

It said Hangman retains, but I didn't see anything on the line. Is he a champion? If nothing else, that's a pretty strong way to end the show with that kind of rating.

Good as it is that this is back in swing, I'm saddened that we're left hanging as far as the tournament goes. I was behind Dustin all the way!

Evil Vito

06-05-2023, 03:44 PM

So I'm going to assume this is a reset because last I recall you had Omega as your champion and from what I understand MJF is the current champion in real life. There's been such a large amount of time since your last EWR run and you had the Fire Pro tournament in the meantime...that still needs a conclusion!

But, yeah, definitely points for another great heel tactic: The Rubbing It In Your Faces Celebration Promo.

Yes, this is a reset to modern day AEW, picking up right through last year's real-life programming and storylines. I would just be really hard pressed to dive 2 years back into AEW with how much the landscape has changed since then. Their roster has grown exponentially (including tons of dream match potential) and it just feels like it'll be way more fun to book, even though I'm almost overwhelmed with the amount of options.

LOL, even more heel sacrificing? I love it. I love the concept of a dude getting powerbombed repeatedly that it leads to a pin. I'm surprised that doesn't happen in real life. Instead of one major move to finish a guy off, do multiple instances of one regular move and it's enough to wipe a guy out. Maybe they do it in Japan?

That's actually part of Wardlow's schtick, he'll go into a Powerbomb Symphony where he powerbombs the fuck out of his opponent multiple times. Really makes squash matches feel more epic.

Is Christian still actively wrestling? Being a mouthpiece for someone would really suit him as he's just so good at being a little shit.

Officially he's part of the active roster, but his last three matches on record were on PPVs so he's more along the line of what EWR would consider a non-wrestler. Right now I've got him set as a manager which is closer to his real-life role, but I know I'll give him some occasional in-ring work. The guy can still go, but the gift of gab will make him an asset for me.

For some reason when I saw Hip Attack I immediately thought of R. Mika's Flying Peach from Street Fighter.

Pretty much. I'd sign up for being concussed if my last memory was getting trucked by this glorious posterior.

https://media.tenor.com/YL37_te83V0AAAAd/toni-storm-hil-attack.gif

A fucking great promo that I can absolutely visualize Callis doing. It sucks that he got the shaft in the WWE because he could've been gold. Like WTF is he supposed to do with Kurrgan?

Last week on Dynamite, Callis got possibly the loudest heel heat I've ever heard someone get in AEW. He stood in the ring with Takeshita, explaining his betrayal of Kenny Omega and the crowd booed him solidly the entire time, forcing him to talk over them. It was brilliant. He plays such a great slimy piece of shit.

"The Ocho" becoming "The Nueve"??? That's fucking hilarious. Jericho showing off that Spanish he picked up way back when. :lol:

The Ocho being one of his many nicknames he took on last year after winning the ROH World Championship, his 8th World title in pro wrestling. So winning the IWGP Title would make him the Nueve. Definitely works as a corny Jericho line.

Bullet Club Gold? Is there a Platinum Membership, too? Does it allow for discounts at Chez Pierre?

Now that I think about it, I don't think I ever saw the Bullet Club in their heyday. I certainly never saw them in WWE, other than Styles. I wonder what I missed out on.

Bullet Club's now been going on for more than a decade although I'd argue the group's original purpose shifted considerably years ago. They usually do have a strong leader up front, possibly not so much now as the current leader in Japan is Fit's oldest son, David Finlay.

White was the leader from late 2018 through the beginning of year. Held the IWGP title multiple times, headlining the Tokyo Dome multiple times including this year. His contract was up and NJPW wrote him off with a "Loser Leaves NJPW" match.

He hit the market as one of the hottest free agents in recent memory. WWE were reportedly very confident they'd sign him, but he opted to go to AEW instead, where he's promptly set up his own stateside branch of Bullet Club.

It said Hangman retains, but I didn't see anything on the line. Is he a champion? If nothing else, that's a pretty strong way to end the show with that kind of rating.

Oops, meant to just say he wins :o no titles involved in this match. It was late when I finished up.

Evil Vito

06-05-2023, 03:46 PM

So confession about the promos...as said, they're not my strong suit. I went into ChatGPT and asked for some promos, supplying it with bullet points and you got the promos you saw. Notice how they don't all follow the same format...but they do seem very true to character. I asked ChatGPT to include the Nueve line but flipping the "Adam Cole, Bay-Bay" line into "Adam Cole, Bye-Bye!" was all AI.

Pretty impressive for AI. All the match recaps I wrote myself since it was mostly just focused on the results, but pretty damn impressive promos that got across everything I wanted. We'll see how repetitive it gets after a while.

Evil Vito

06-05-2023, 03:51 PM

Oh shit I forgot about the tournament :lol:

So it was really a perfect storm of events. Last August, mid-tournament, I finally was able to procure a PS5 so basically all of my free gaming time went to playing the shit out of that. Then when I thought about picking the tourney back up, AEW was in hell in a handbasket with probably the worst creative time I've seen from them paired with huge portions of the roster hurt, backstage drama, etc. and I just couldn't get into it.

The trouble now is the way Fire Pro works, if any of the CAW edits I was using have been revamped by the original creator, I won't be able to use them unless I download a shitload of updates. I'll have to see. Would be nice to finish the thing out since it was coming to a photo finish.

Evil Vito

06-06-2023, 12:08 AM

https://www.wrestlezone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/08/AEW-Rampage-logo-1-.jpg

AEW Rampage
June 9, 2023

Last week's (real life) Rampage featured a quartet of championship matches featuring champions of AEW's partner promotions. It was probably one of the better Rampages in recent memory. So I figure, hell, let's double down and make it another Championship Friday!

ROH Television Championship: Samoa Joe (C) vs. AR Fox

Always a good time to see Samoa Joe in a wrestling ring, although his opponents would surely disagree with that. Fox tried his hardest here, but the size difference was evident as Joe killed him dead with a variety of suplexes before eventually locking him into the Coquina Clutch for the submission victory.

After the bell, Joe's not done. He begins to stretch Fox in a variety of brutal locks and holds. A direct shot at IWGP Television Champion and submission expert Zack Sabre Jr. who last week challenged Joe to a Champion vs. Champion match at Forbidden Door. **3/4, 71% overall

---

AEW Trios Championship: The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) (C) vs. Action Andretti, Brian Pillman Jr. and Matt Sydal

The House of Black are always quick to remind people that the door is always open for any three men who wish to step inside to their dark world to try to take the titles from them. Tonight the bell was answered by a makeshift trio of babyfaces trying to come in get their first taste of AEW gold.

There was a styles clash in this one but in a good way, as the brawling and striking style of House of Black meshed pretty well with the speedster style of their opponents. But the House always wins, as Black puts away Pillman with a Black Mass to get the victory. ***, 71% overall

---

The Acclaimed promo

As House of Black are in the ring, the rap music of The Acclaimed hit as the crowd get on their feet. The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass make their way out of the tunnel to big cheers, apparently making their intentions known that they want another shot at the Trios Titles after coming up just short at Double or Nothing.

Max Caster: Last time we tangled, you might've had us beat,
But this ain't no rerun, House, so take a seat.
You three goths are looking oh so dark,
But we're the Acclaimed, lighting up the charts.

We might've lost the battle, but we'll win the war,
House of Black, we're knocking on your door.
Any day you want, any place, any weather,
You can wish your titles the best in their future endeavors.

Anthony Bowens: THE ACCLAIMED HAVE ARRIVED! And we're gonna take your titles. Now scissor me, Daddy Ass!

https://wrestlingheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/billy-gunn-acclaimed-1140x568.jpg

The House of Black look at the Acclaimed with dismissive disdain, clearly they don't sweat the challenge.

---

TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. Diamante

Still riding a high from ending Jade Cargill's 50-match undefeated streak at Double or Nothing, Statlander intends on being a fighting champion and tonight she faced a challenge from a game Diamante. The match was pretty similar to the others - good action but not great crowd reactions, which in fairness is par for the course for how Rampage is run in real life and how I'll be using it in game. Stat hits the Big Bang Theory for the victory. **3/4, 69% overall

---

AEW Collision hype video

A video plays reminding everyone that we are just 8 days away from the debut episode of AEW Collision on the TNT Network. The episode will broadcast live from the United Center in Chicago, IL and will feature the AEW return of CM Punk!

---

AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (C) vs. The Jericho Appreciation Society's "Cool Hand" Angelo Parker and "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard

Bullet Club Gold stand on the rampway to watch this one, still smugly proud of themselves for their antics on Dynamite.

Holy hell did this match ever deliver, which I guess is par for the course for FTR matches but these teams have hella chemistry together, to the tune of a 98% match quality. They had an absolute back and forth belter, even if the outcome was never fully in question. FTR put away Parker with the Big Rig to get the title retention, as FTR turn up the ramp and stare down Bullet Club Gold, daring them to come get them some. ****1/4, 84% overal

79% overall rating for Rampage. In all honesty this is probably as good, if not better, of a rating than I'll usually get for Rampage. I'm sure the Punk video that got 100% didn't play a big part of this, not at all.

Evil Vito

06-06-2023, 12:14 AM

Some housekeerping: In EWR, I had to set AEW Collision up before I started my save. But I used autobook to do the first two episodes so that I can set up the booking of the first REAL episode of it for June 17th.

At some point shortly after that show starts, I plan on doing a roster split between Dynamite and Collision, as it'll be easier for me to manage my huge roster and give everyone some appropriate shine. Anyone that I'm "benching" to sell an angle or rotate out for a while gets turned into a Manager so they don't have a morale hit.

Rampage will turn firmly into a C-show and mostly be a chance to get guys and gals I'm not using much on the main shows reps akin to Heat, Velocity, Superstars or any other C-show of yesteryear.

Also, my save originally had all of the ROH Titles in the game. I chose to delete those belts. While AEW is actually running ROH as a standalone show right now, I don't want to run another company on top of everything else I'm doing. In my game's headcanon, any ROH titles held by ROH wrestlers will be gradually lost offscreen and those wrestlers will then be fully dedicated to the AEW side of the business.

In-game, Ring of Honor is the name assigned to the development territory where I'm shoving tons of young workers to see if anyone can grow into something usable.

M-A-G

06-06-2023, 10:20 AM

https://www.wrestlezone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/08/AEW-Rampage-logo-1-.jpg

AEW Rampage
June 9, 2023

Last week's (real life) Rampage featured a quartet of championship matches featuring champions of AEW's partner promotions. It was probably one of the better Rampages in recent memory. So I figure, hell, let's double down and make it another Championship Friday!

I do occasionally like doing TV shows where I put a good chunk of, if not all, the titles on the line. In the game, there's really no consequence for it so why not? Plus, in real life, it'd make for a great special episode. Like to commemorate an anniversary or something. Of course, it makes something like Night of Champions redundant, but fuck it. It's my promotion and I will use any excuse to use more of my women on my show.

ROH Television Championship: Samoa Joe (C) vs. AR Fox

Always a good time to see Samoa Joe in a wrestling ring, although his opponents would surely disagree with that. Fox tried his hardest here, but the size difference was evident as Joe killed him dead with a variety of suplexes before eventually locking him into the Coquina Clutch for the submission victory.

After the bell, Joe's not done. He begins to stretch Fox in a variety of brutal locks and holds. A direct shot at IWGP Television Champion and submission expert Zack Sabre Jr. who last week challenged Joe to a Champion vs. Champion match at Forbidden Door. **3/4, 71% overall

---

I feel kind of bad that Joe has essentially ended up right back where he started after all these years. This motherfucker should be at the Performance Center stretching out new hires and weeding out all the pussies. He should be smashing all the pussies, too.

AEW Trios Championship: The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) (C) vs. Action Andretti, Brian Pillman Jr. and Matt Sydal

The House of Black are always quick to remind people that the door is always open for any three men who wish to step inside to their dark world to try to take the titles from them. Tonight the bell was answered by a makeshift trio of babyfaces trying to come in get their first taste of AEW gold.

There was a styles clash in this one but in a good way, as the brawling and striking style of House of Black meshed pretty well with the speedster style of their opponents. But the House always wins, as Black puts away Pillman with a Black Mass to get the victory. ***, 71% overall

---

Still waiting for you to do that Pillman, Jr./Dustin angle I suggested a while back. The loss of Cody takes out some of what you could do but I think it still has legs, Twitter sheep be damned.

The Acclaimed promo

As House of Black are in the ring, the rap music of The Acclaimed hit as the crowd get on their feet. The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass make their way out of the tunnel to big cheers, apparently making their intentions known that they want another shot at the Trios Titles after coming up just short at Double or Nothing.

Max Caster: Last time we tangled, you might've had us beat,
But this ain't no rerun, House, so take a seat.
You three goths are looking oh so dark,
But we're the Acclaimed, lighting up the charts.

We might've lost the battle, but we'll win the war,
House of Black, we're knocking on your door.
Any day you want, any place, any weather,
You can wish your titles the best in their future endeavors.

I want to smack him for rhyming 'dark' with 'charts', but managing to work in 'future endeavors' wins me back over.

Anthony Bowens: THE ACCLAIMED HAVE ARRIVED! And we're gonna take your titles. Now scissor me, Daddy Ass!

https://wrestlingheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/billy-gunn-acclaimed-1140x568.jpg

Oh, thank God for that picture. The phrase "scissor me" has a very different and immediate visual in my brain.

TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. Diamante

Still riding a high from ending Jade Cargill's 50-match undefeated streak at Double or Nothing, Statlander intends on being a fighting champion and tonight she faced a challenge from a game Diamante. The match was pretty similar to the others - good action but not great crowd reactions, which in fairness is par for the course for how Rampage is run in real life and how I'll be using it in game. Stat hits the Big Bang Theory for the victory. **3/4, 69% overall

---

Isn't Diamante a singer?

https://i1.wp.com/musicmayhemmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-02-at-2.09.31-PM.png?fit=1326%2C838&ssl=1

Yup, and a damn fine one, too. Very, very damn fine...

Anyways, I imagine Statlander and her juicy ass celebrated that streak-ending win like crazy. A big bang indeed....

AEW Collision hype video

A video plays reminding everyone that we are just 8 days away from the debut episode of AEW Collision on the TNT Network. The episode will broadcast live from the United Center in Chicago, IL and will feature the AEW return of CM Punk!

---

Truth be told, I don't know what they're expecting to get from another show. This would be their third one, right?

AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (C) vs. The Jericho Appreciation Society's "Cool Hand" Angelo Parker and "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard

Bullet Club Gold stand on the rampway to watch this one, still smugly proud of themselves for their antics on Dynamite.

Holy hell did this match ever deliver, which I guess is par for the course for FTR matches but these teams have hella chemistry together, to the tune of a 98% match quality. They had an absolute back and forth belter, even if the outcome was never fully in question. FTR put away Parker with the Big Rig to get the title retention, as FTR turn up the ramp and stare down Bullet Club Gold, daring them to come get them some. ****1/4, 84% overal

That is a pretty solid finish to the proceedings. Imagine sending the crowd home with a DUD match. :lol:

Evil Vito

06-06-2023, 03:40 PM

I do occasionally like doing TV shows where I put a good chunk of, if not all, the titles on the line. In the game, there's really no consequence for it so why not? Plus, in real life, it'd make for a great special episode. Like to commemorate an anniversary or something. Of course, it makes something like Night of Champions redundant, but fuck it. It's my promotion and I will use any excuse to use more of my women on my show.

Honestly it's an easy way to boost title image. I can't recall ever seeing a note that a title lost image from being defended, even if it was in a battle royal or a horrendous match. In-game I only have the official AEW titles but through working partnerships with NJPW, CMLL, Impact, along with owning ROH there's always the chance to throw random title matches on the card.

Maybe this is too simplistic but I always felt that, at minimum, if a champion was in a standard 1 vs. 1 match. If the tag champs were in a standard 2 vs. 2 match etc. The titles should be on the line. I mean why not? "Non-Title Matches" were always just WWE's way of letting the champ lose endlessly in the build up to the PPV match where they'd win.

I feel kind of bad that Joe has essentially ended up right back where he started after all these years. This motherfucker should be at the Performance Center stretching out new hires and weeding out all the pussies. He should be smashing all the pussies, too.

I love Joe. He's been battling some injuries over the last few months but watching him just obliterate folks is always a joy. Lately he's been working more on the ROH side of things just to keep him busy before he gets his next major AEW storyline, which is rumored to be happening on Collision.

Still waiting for you to do that Pillman, Jr./Dustin angle I suggested a while back. The loss of Cody takes out some of what you could do but I think it still has legs, Twitter sheep be damned.

It's possible I'll go with something of that ilk before long. Pillman's a bit of a nothing job guy at the moment, but Dustin's gonna need to be kept busy until until next May when the game will presumably force him to retire. Gotta love how in my last game Dustin retired and now, because he has a May birthday, he's likely gonna be usable for me for a year.

Truth be told, I don't know what they're expecting to get from another show. This would be their third one, right?

Yeah, it's their third show but the more apt comparison is that Collision is their SmackDown to Dynamite's Raw. Rampage is an hour-long show that airs at 10 PM on Friday nights. Aside from being the place where Punk made his AEW debut, it's largely been treated as a B-show and sometimes even a C-show without there being a B-show. It's basically Sunday Night Heat.

Contractually, what they're getting out of it is a metric fuckload of money from WarnerMedia to the tune of a $1.2 billion contract that included the creation of Collision and rumors of an HBO Max streaming deal that might see the entire AEW library end up there as well as future PPVs. Networks want content, promotions want money and exposure, and so it goes.

Creatively I do see some benefits to it. One look at the AEW roster and you'll see how enormous it is. There's just way too many people to feature with only one main 2-hour show without some guys being taken off the road, lost in the shuffle etc. Collision is going to be the platform a bunch of guys return to who haven't been seen in a while due to injury, suspension, creative disputes etc. CM Punk, Thunder Rosa, Miro, Andrade El Idolo, and Samoa Joe are among the names confirmed to be on the new show.

I think any "brand split" between Dynamite and Collision will be loose in reality, but in my game I'm probably going with a relatively hard split just to make it easier for me creatively. I always did well treating Raw and SmackDown as near exclusive entities, aside from maybe the main champions.

As a fan, I'm glad AEW is growing and raking in the big bucks, becoming a viable alternative etc. But I don't really see myself sitting down for 4 hours of wrestling a week like I used to. More likely for me is that I'll DVR both shows and parse through them to watch my favorites.

M-A-G

06-09-2023, 03:29 AM

There are solutions to the problem of too many people on your roster, especially if they're not really worth putting on TV. At some point, Tony or whoever has to be the boss and cut his losses. Rotating people out might seem like a fine idea, but what if you wind up with a dude who just absolutely catches fire with the audience? Yeah, doing another show sounds good but it's going to depend on who you put on there and how that affects the others. I presume Dynamite is still the flagship show, right?

I need to see if I can resume my report writing on Monday. I've got Raw in the books and your selections for the Slammys helps majorly with Superstars. Street Fighter 6 has been demanding my attention, and that's stretched thin as it is. Sadly, I'm not keen on the idea of using an AI. Writing was always my strong point and it's the best avenue for my creative juices, so typing shit up for the shows doesn't bother me. Hotbody in particular is great to write for as I kind of live vicariously through him. Fucker gets to make out with Luscious.

Evil Vito

06-09-2023, 05:31 PM

Somewhere in an office building you have ascended to CEO and demand a full Hotbody-request introduction every time you walk in

Evil Vito

06-12-2023, 12:19 AM

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/2022/04/8e3263abc3945e45-600x338.jpg

AEW Dynamite
June 14, 2023

TNT Championship: Wardlow (C) w/ Arn Anderson vs. Luchasaurus w/ Christian Cage

A good 'ol fashioned hoss fight to kick us off tonight. Both guys have very brawl-heavy arsenals mixed with the occasional surprise aerial maneuver. Their stats suggest they'd gel well and the match quality for this one agrees. Christian tries to run interference in the heat of the moment only for Arn Anderson to pop the crowd by giving him a Spinebuster at ringside. Wardlow muscles up the big man for a Powerbomb to retain his title. ***1/2, 79% overall

---

We see "Hangman" Adam Page, not booked to wrestle tonight, having a beer in the locker room with fellow members of The Elite. As they discuss their ongoing business with the Blackpool Combat Club, their convedation is cut short as the ominous presence of The Dark Order approaches. The Elite members look on, unsure of what's about to unfold.

The leader of The Dark Order, Evil Uno, steps forward, his face obscured by his trademark mask. The other members, Alex Reynolds, John Silver and Stu Grayson flank him, their expressions serious.

"Hangman," Evil Uno begins, his voice echoing in the silent hallway, "we thought you were better than this."

Adam Page looks at them, confusion clouding his features. "Better than what?" he asks, putting down his drink.

"Than running back to The Elite," Silver responds bitterly, crossing his arms over his chest. "After all they've done to you."

Grayson steps up, nodding in agreement. "We were there, Hangman. We were there for you when you were at your lowest. When they betrayed you, cast you out, we were there for you. We put your on our shoulders after you won the AEW Title. And now, look at you...back with them."

Adam Page shakes his head, trying to form a response. "Guys, it's not like that, I-"

Evil Uno raises a hand to silence him. "Save it, Page. We've heard it all before."

The group turns and heads out of the room. Before departing, Reynolds has one last piece of advance for Hangman. "Maybe it's time for you to take a hard look in the mirror, Hangman. See who your real friends are."

Page stands there, speechless, as The Dark Order turns their back on him, walking away. The Elite members are silent, offering no comforting words as the scene ends with Page staring after his departing friends, a look of conflict etched on his face.

---

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal along with Karen Jarrett and Sonjay Dutt make their way out to the ring. The music of The Acclaimed hits to a big pop, and the Acclaimed flanked by Daddy Ass enter next. As always, Max Caster has a microphone in hand.

"A lot of people wanna know what you're doing on our show,
When you haven't been relevant since two-thousand 'fo.
Failing upwards is just your way of life,
Stealing money like you stole Kurt Angle's wife.
And Jay Lethal, a guy who's imitating dudes,
20 years in the business, nobody's imitating you.
The Acclaimed are gonna hit you harder,
You can take the L and blame it on Dixie Carter."

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal vs. The Acclaimed

Pretty decent tag match here which is no real surprise, all 4 guys do have some charisma to them, The Acclaimed are mega over and Jarrett and Lethal are two solid veterans for any young talent to work with.

Jarrett joined AEW in a backstage role last fall and he's also a midcard performer, and in all seriousness, he's been fun to watch because he totally understands his assignment, which is to put over a bunch of promising young guys and sell their acts accordingly. His role in my game will be nearly identical as I try to milk what I can out of his solid 80-something overness before the game makes him retire, very possibly soon with a July birthday looming.

Anyway, as you'd expect The Acclaimed get the W here with Caster hitting the Mic Drop on Jarrett. The Acclaimed grab some momentum as they gear up for a trios match against House of Black. ***, 78% overall

---

A video package is shown announcing that NJPW's Minoru Suzuki, one of the most feared legends in the sport, will be coming to Forbidden Door to face Orange Cassidy for the International Championship. The match is billed as more than 3 years in the making, as it was supposed to happen in spring 2020 but was cancelled amid the pandemic.

(RENEE PAQUETTE steps into the backstage area, a microphone in her hand. Beside her, leaning against a wall with sunglasses perched on his nose and hands in his pockets, is the AEW International Champion ORANGE CASSIDY.)

RENEE: Thanks for joining us today, Orange. After watching that. How are you feeling about your upcoming title defense at Forbidden Door?

ORANGE: (Nonchalantly) Title defense?

RENEE: (Laughs a little) Yes, your championship match.

ORANGE: Oh, okay.

RENEE: You didn't watch the video we just showed?

ORANGE: (Shrugs) Nah.

(RENEE looks a bit taken aback but quickly regains her composure.)

RENEE: Well, your opponent is Minoru Suzuki. What are your thoughts on that?

ORANGE: (Pauses) Suzuki?

RENEE: Yes, Minoru Suzuki. One of the most respected and dangerous veterans in pro wrestling.

ORANGE: (Thinks for a moment, then shrugs) Sounds cool.

(RENEE stares at him, blinking in disbelief.)

RENEE: Just 'cool'? He's a legend, a feared competitor.

ORANGE: (Nonchalantly) Yeah, cool I guess.

(RENEE laughs, shaking her head.)

RENEE: Well, we all look forward to seeing your cool response to this match at Forbidden Door. Good luck, Orange.

ORANGE: (Nods, no change in expression) Thanks.

(They part ways, RENEE shaking her head in amusement, ORANGE strolling off, hands in his pockets, the very picture of indifference.)

---

Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

This is pretty much just a showcase match for Takeshita, his first match since his heel turn at Double or Nothing. Poor Vikingo is really talented and has a near 100 speed rating, sending him to development doesn't help him. But he's also very much lacking in overness and will need to put on some good performances to get himself over or eventually be hooked up with a face manager. Anyway, Takeshita finishes him off with a Zahi knee for an impressive win. ***, 68% overall

---

The backstage area is bustling, echoing with the roar of the crowd beyond. Renee Paquette stands with The Elite - Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson.

RENEE:
Tonight, I have with me The Elite. Gentlemen, we just saw an impressive win from Konosuke Takeshita. There's been quite a lot of action involving Takeshita, Don Callis, and the Blackpool Combat Club recently. Can we get your thoughts?

Before they can respond, the shot widens to include the members of the Blackpool Combat Club - Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta, stepping into the frame with determined expressions.

DANIELSON:
Renee, you needn't waste any time interviewing these amateurs. They've still not learned their lesson, they still don't seem to get enough ass beatings from the Blackpool Combat Club. Omega, you still seem to forget... Wheeler Yuta pinned you at Double or Nothing! And he's going to do it again tonight!

Yuta grins, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

MOXLEY:
And Bryan and I, we could use a little tune-up before Forbidden Door. So, we thought, why not take out the Young Bucks next week? If you two boys are man enough to take on the challenge, we'll see you next week.

There's a brief moment of silence, tension hanging thick in the air. And then, chaos ensues as both factions start throwing punches, transforming the interview into a brawl. Crew members scramble to break up the fight, but the members of the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite are relentless.

The camera shakes, capturing the intense altercation. Amidst the confusion, Renee Paquette quickly wraps up the interview.

RENEE:
Clearly, tensions are running high. We'll have to see how this develops next week. Stay tuned for more AEW Dynamite!

---

Dr. Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho w/ Toni Storm and Saraya

Baker is probably the most over woman on the roster and has some decent charisma and character to her, but unfortunately her in-ring work just isn't that great particularly compared to the many women who have joined the roster in the past year or two. Britt and Ruby have tangled before but this one just worked into the "Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling" territory.

Toni Storm distracts Aubrey Edwards and Saraya attempts to jump Britt, but Aubrey is too smart for that as she turns anyway to catch Saraya in the act. She does what she feels is the right move by throwing the match out and giving Britt the DQ win. The Outcasts pounce on Britt after the bell, as NJPW Strong Women's Champion Willow Nightengale runs out for the save. **1/2, 71% overall

---

[Lights dim, then an arrogant MJF struts into the ring, microphone in hand, showered with boos from the DC crowd.]

MJF: Look at you, Washington DC! Booing the salt of the earth, the AEW World Champion. Just remember, the only reason I'm gracing your miserable presence is because my contract demands it. You should be thanking me!

[He smirks, basking in the crowd's disapproval.]

MJF: But let's move onto bigger and better things, or should I say, mediocre and overrated? Yeah, that's right, Tetsuya Naito, I'm talking about you. You're about to step into the ring with the best at Forbidden Door.

[He grins widely.]

MJF: Hope you're ready, Naito. Hope you're ready to get a taste of what a real champion feels like. Because once I'm done with you, you'll be crawling back to NJPW wishing you'd never left.

[He pauses, allowing the crowd to voice their displeasure.]

MJF: And then there's the debut of AEW Collision this coming Saturday in Chicago, and guess who's decided to make his grand return?

[He scoffs.]

MJF: CM Punk. A washed-up has-been who thinks he can waltz back into the company he abandoned, on a brand new show, no less.

[He shakes his head.]

MJF: Punk, I hope you're listening. AEW isn't your company anymore. It's mine. And if you think you can just show up in your city, in my company, and take the spotlight... You've got another thing coming.

[He drops the microphone and smirks, arms spread wide, drawing a deafening chorus of boos as his music blares from the speakers.]

---

The Jericho Appreciation Society's "Red Death" Daniel Garcia and "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara w/ Jake Hager vs. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong

Chris Jericho is on commentary at ringside for this one as he spends the match cheering on his boys and talking trash about Adam Cole. He talks about his desire to add the IWGP Title to his list of accolades at Forbidden Door, and mentions it will be a great night for the JAS as Garcia looks to defend his IWGP Pure Championship against NJPW legend Katsuyori Shibata.

The match itself is quite solid, everyone puts their work in until the inevitable fuck finish where Hager tries to intervene and distracts Rick Knox. Cole takes out Guevara and Hager at ringside, only for Jericho to leave the booth and kick Strong in the dick. Dammit Knox, didn't you pay attention to the last match! Daniel Garcia vultures the pin and the win. ***1/4, 78% overall

---

The audience boos as Jericho laughs and the Jericho Appreciation Society celebrates around him. A visibly frustrated Cole grabs a microphone.]

Cole: "You know what, Jericho? I'm sick and tired of this. I'm sick and tired of you constantly sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, and I'm definitely sick and tired of your little Jericho Appreciation Society constantly running interference."

[The crowd starts a "Jericho sucks!" chant]

Cole: "You want to play games, Jericho? Let's play a game that you can't cheat, a game where your 'Society' can't interfere. Let's settle this once and for all... next week, in a steel cage."

[The crowd goes wild at the prospect]

Cole: "And let's make it worth our while. Winner gets to face SANADA for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door. What do you say, Jericho? Are you man enough to accept?"

[The crowd chants "Accept! Accept! Accept!" Jericho grabs a microphone, smirking.]

Jericho: "Adam Cole... You want to trap yourself in a steel cage with me, knowing full well what I can do? And you want to put a title shot on the line? You want to get in the way of my destiny to become The Nueve? Well, that's music to my ears junior. I accept, and I'm gonna put you into the ground."

[Jericho drops the microphone, the crowd explodes, and both men stare each other down as the tension builds towards next week's steel cage showdown.]

---

Wheeler Yuta w/ Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kenny Omega

This match...actually didn't do as well as I thought it would. I knew Yuta's relative lack of overness would hold things back a bit but I figured it'd be one of those really good matches that automatically raise a guy's overness just from being involved in a banger. Alas, his lack of overness more than cancelled out Kenny's 90-something overness. The match was perfectly decent but not the barnburner expected so no overness change from Yuta.

Still, the story very much played a part here. We have more outside the ring shit with The Young Bucks ensuring Claudio Castagnoli doesn't get totally involved as Kenny hits the One Winged Angel to avenge his PPV defeat to Yuta. Omega stares down a pissed off Don Callis who watches the proceedings from the rampway. ***, 75% overall

78% overall show

After the show I'm given a notice from Dean Malenko that he didn't think Kenny Omega and Wheeler Yuta gelled. No shit Dean, that surprised me too.

Britt Baker also says she doesn't want to face Ruby Soho any more as she doesn't feel they click, and she suggests Taya Valkyrie as an opponent.

I also had not one but two rehab notices. Jose the Assistant and Jeff Jarrett both checked themselves into rehab. So much for using him to put people over before he retires. :lol:

M-A-G

06-12-2023, 04:03 AM

TNT Championship: Wardlow (C) w/ Arn Anderson vs. Luchasaurus w/ Christian Cage

A good 'ol fashioned hoss fight to kick us off tonight. Both guys have very brawl-heavy arsenals mixed with the occasional surprise aerial maneuver. Their stats suggest they'd gel well and the match quality for this one agrees. Christian tries to run interference in the heat of the moment only for Arn Anderson to pop the crowd by giving him a Spinebuster at ringside. Wardlow muscles up the big man for a Powerbomb to retain his title. ***1/2, 79% overall

---

The cynic in me is reading this secretly wanting an Arn/Christian match, but being sad that it's never going to happen. I'd like to imagine Christian doing an NWO-type parody, but in much better taste. Maybe make fun of Arn for being wrestling's most famous second banana. People don't really call this dude Luchasaurus, right? I can see it as a funny nickname like Booger Red or whatever the fuck, but that's about it.

We see "Hangman" Adam Page, not booked to wrestle tonight, having a beer in the locker room with fellow members of The Elite. As they discuss their ongoing business with the Blackpool Combat Club, their convedation is cut short as the ominous presence of The Dark Order approaches. The Elite members look on, unsure of what's about to unfold.

The leader of The Dark Order, Evil Uno, steps forward, his face obscured by his trademark mask. The other members, Alex Reynolds, John Silver and Stu Grayson flank him, their expressions serious.

See, "Hangman" is a great name. There's a lot to work with there. On the other side of this, I have to say it's hard to take something called The Dark Order seriously when it's got guys named "Stu Grayson" and "John Silver". I immediately think of the fucking restaurant when I hear that name...which is mysteriously still in business somehow.

"Hangman," Evil Uno begins, his voice echoing in the silent hallway, "we thought you were better than this."

Adam Page looks at them, confusion clouding his features. "Better than what?" he asks, putting down his drink.

"Than running back to The Elite," Silver responds bitterly, crossing his arms over his chest. "After all they've done to you."

Grayson steps up, nodding in agreement. "We were there, Hangman. We were there for you when you were at your lowest. When they betrayed you, cast you out, we were there for you. We put your on our shoulders after you won the AEW Title. And now, look at you...back with them."

Adam Page shakes his head, trying to form a response. "Guys, it's not like that, I-"

Evil Uno raises a hand to silence him. "Save it, Page. We've heard it all before."

The group turns and heads out of the room. Before departing, Reynolds has one last piece of advance for Hangman. "Maybe it's time for you to take a hard look in the mirror, Hangman. See who your real friends are."

Page stands there, speechless, as The Dark Order turns their back on him, walking away. The Elite members are silent, offering no comforting words as the scene ends with Page staring after his departing friends, a look of conflict etched on his face.

---

So are large stables a major staple in AEW? I guess that's one way to handle a large roster, but it's the Vince Russo problem where he sticks everyone on TV when not everyone deserves to be on TV. Who was tuning in to see Viscera and Mideon every week?

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal along with Karen Jarrett and Sonjay Dutt make their way out to the ring. The music of The Acclaimed hits to a big pop, and the Acclaimed flanked by Daddy Ass enter next. As always, Max Caster has a microphone in hand.

Oh, Jesus Christ, Karen Jarrett?!? Also, it's way too easy to poke fun at the name Daddy Ass with just a simple reversal. :lol:

"A lot of people wanna know what you're doing on our show,
When you haven't been relevant since two-thousand 'fo.
Failing upwards is just your way of life,
Stealing money like you stole Kurt Angle's wife.
And Jay Lethal, a guy who's imitating dudes,
20 years in the business, nobody's imitating you.
The Acclaimed are gonna hit you harder,
You can take the L and blame it on Dixie Carter."

OK, that's actually a pretty awesome collection of disses.

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal vs. The Acclaimed

Pretty decent tag match here which is no real surprise, all 4 guys do have some charisma to them, The Acclaimed are mega over and Jarrett and Lethal are two solid veterans for any young talent to work with.

Jarrett joined AEW in a backstage role last fall and he's also a midcard performer, and in all seriousness, he's been fun to watch because he totally understands his assignment, which is to put over a bunch of promising young guys and sell their acts accordingly. His role in my game will be nearly identical as I try to milk what I can out of his solid 80-something overness before the game makes him retire, very possibly soon with a July birthday looming.

Anyway, as you'd expect The Acclaimed get the W here with Caster hitting the Mic Drop on Jarrett. The Acclaimed grab some momentum as they gear up for a trios match against House of Black. ***, 78% overall

---

I've always felt bad for Jarrett in some ways because he always seems to be surrounded by people better than him no matter where he goes. He's a good guy and understands the business, but imagine the locker room of the WWE in 1993. You've got him, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Curt Henning, and Scott Hall. Who are you picking to help lead the charge as an upper-card guy? It's why his run in WCW in 2000 stuck out so hard. You're world champion? OK, if you say so. If this is his role now, I suppose it works but much like what happened with Jericho in the WWE, it starts to not mean anything when you want to put over every Tom, Dick, and Harry, especially if they don't have any real upside. Fucking Fandango and JTG can claim to have beaten Jericho and look where that got them.

Actually I don't know because I haven't kept tabs on that shit. :o

A video package is shown announcing that NJPW's Minoru Suzuki, one of the most feared legends in the sport, will be coming to Forbidden Door to face Orange Cassidy for the International Championship. The match is billed as more than 3 years in the making, as it was supposed to happen in spring 2020 but was cancelled amid the pandemic.

(RENEE PAQUETTE steps into the backstage area, a microphone in her hand. Beside her, leaning against a wall with sunglasses perched on his nose and hands in his pockets, is the AEW International Champion ORANGE CASSIDY.)

RENEE: Thanks for joining us today, Orange. After watching that. How are you feeling about your upcoming title defense at Forbidden Door?

ORANGE: (Nonchalantly) Title defense?

RENEE: (Laughs a little) Yes, your championship match.

ORANGE: Oh, okay.

RENEE: You didn't watch the video we just showed?

ORANGE: (Shrugs) Nah.

(RENEE looks a bit taken aback but quickly regains her composure.)

RENEE: Well, your opponent is Minoru Suzuki. What are your thoughts on that?

ORANGE: (Pauses) Suzuki?

RENEE: Yes, Minoru Suzuki. One of the most respected and dangerous veterans in pro wrestling.

ORANGE: (Thinks for a moment, then shrugs) Sounds cool.

(RENEE stares at him, blinking in disbelief.)

RENEE: Just 'cool'? He's a legend, a feared competitor.

ORANGE: (Nonchalantly) Yeah, cool I guess.

(RENEE laughs, shaking her head.)

RENEE: Well, we all look forward to seeing your cool response to this match at Forbidden Door. Good luck, Orange.

ORANGE: (Nods, no change in expression) Thanks.

(They part ways, RENEE shaking her head in amusement, ORANGE strolling off, hands in his pockets, the very picture of indifference.)

---

Is this how he comes across in real life? People aren't really paying money to see this guy, right? Why would I want to care about someone who doesn't care himself? I can understand indifference when it's a confidence thing where you just believe you're superior. I don't know what this is. The angle should be that Minoru whips his ass so hard that he beats the indifference out of him.

Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

This is pretty much just a showcase match for Takeshita, his first match since his heel turn at Double or Nothing. Poor Vikingo is really talented and has a near 100 speed rating, sending him to development doesn't help him. But he's also very much lacking in overness and will need to put on some good performances to get himself over or eventually be hooked up with a face manager. Anyway, Takeshita finishes him off with a Zahi knee for an impressive win. ***, 68% overall

---

Nothing wrong with a squash match here and there. Although it sucks that the game treats every match essentially the same and thus you end up with star ratings like this. If you could set matches to "Squash" or "Competitive" or what not, it'd go a long way.

The backstage area is bustling, echoing with the roar of the crowd beyond. Renee Paquette stands with The Elite - Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson.

RENEE:
Tonight, I have with me The Elite. Gentlemen, we just saw an impressive win from Konosuke Takeshita. There's been quite a lot of action involving Takeshita, Don Callis, and the Blackpool Combat Club recently. Can we get your thoughts?

Before they can respond, the shot widens to include the members of the Blackpool Combat Club - Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta, stepping into the frame with determined expressions.

DANIELSON:
Renee, you needn't waste any time interviewing these amateurs. They've still not learned their lesson, they still don't seem to get enough ass beatings from the Blackpool Combat Club. Omega, you still seem to forget... Wheeler Yuta pinned you at Double or Nothing! And he's going to do it again tonight!

Yuta grins, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

MOXLEY:
And Bryan and I, we could use a little tune-up before Forbidden Door. So, we thought, why not take out the Young Bucks next week? If you two boys are man enough to take on the challenge, we'll see you next week.

There's a brief moment of silence, tension hanging thick in the air. And then, chaos ensues as both factions start throwing punches, transforming the interview into a brawl. Crew members scramble to break up the fight, but the members of the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite are relentless.

The camera shakes, capturing the intense altercation. Amidst the confusion, Renee Paquette quickly wraps up the interview.

RENEE:
Clearly, tensions are running high. We'll have to see how this develops next week. Stay tuned for more AEW Dynamite!

---

Renee, always the shining beacon of professionalism in journalism.

I should take this time to point out how the WWE had her, Bryan, Moxley, and Claudio all under contract at one point and flushed them all down the toilet because reasons.

Dr. Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho w/ Toni Storm and Saraya

Baker is probably the most over woman on the roster and has some decent charisma and character to her, but unfortunately her in-ring work just isn't that great particularly compared to the many women who have joined the roster in the past year or two. Britt and Ruby have tangled before but this one just worked into the "Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling" territory.

Toni Storm distracts Aubrey Edwards and Saraya attempts to jump Britt, but Aubrey is too smart for that as she turns anyway to catch Saraya in the act. She does what she feels is the right move by throwing the match out and giving Britt the DQ win. The Outcasts pounce on Britt after the bell, as NJPW Strong Women's Champion Willow Nightengale runs out for the save. **1/2, 71% overall

---

Strong Woman? You don't mean....???

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/URz-RYEOaig/maxresdefault.jpg

[Lights dim, then an arrogant MJF struts into the ring, microphone in hand, showered with boos from the DC crowd.]

MJF: Look at you, Washington DC! Booing the salt of the earth, the AEW World Champion. Just remember, the only reason I'm gracing your miserable presence is because my contract demands it. You should be thanking me!

[He smirks, basking in the crowd's disapproval.]

MJF: But let's move onto bigger and better things, or should I say, mediocre and overrated? Yeah, that's right, Tetsuya Naito, I'm talking about you. You're about to step into the ring with the best at Forbidden Door.

[He grins widely.]

MJF: Hope you're ready, Naito. Hope you're ready to get a taste of what a real champion feels like. Because once I'm done with you, you'll be crawling back to NJPW wishing you'd never left.

[He pauses, allowing the crowd to voice their displeasure.]

MJF: And then there's the debut of AEW Collision this coming Saturday in Chicago, and guess who's decided to make his grand return?

[He scoffs.]

MJF: CM Punk. A washed-up has-been who thinks he can waltz back into the company he abandoned, on a brand new show, no less.

[He shakes his head.]

MJF: Punk, I hope you're listening. AEW isn't your company anymore. It's mine. And if you think you can just show up in your city, in my company, and take the spotlight... You've got another thing coming.

[He drops the microphone and smirks, arms spread wide, drawing a deafening chorus of boos as his music blares from the speakers.]

---

Is Punk/MJF the direction they're going in real life? I'm sure it's in your books because that's some easy stars right there.

The Jericho Appreciation Society's "Red Death" Daniel Garcia and "The Spanish God" Sammy Guevara w/ Jake Hager vs. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong

Chris Jericho is on commentary at ringside for this one as he spends the match cheering on his boys and talking trash about Adam Cole. He talks about his desire to add the IWGP Title to his list of accolades at Forbidden Door, and mentions it will be a great night for the JAS as Garcia looks to defend his IWGP Pure Championship against NJPW legend Katsuyori Shibata.

The match itself is quite solid, everyone puts their work in until the inevitable fuck finish where Hager tries to intervene and distracts Rick Knox. Cole takes out Guevara and Hager at ringside, only for Jericho to leave the booth and kick Strong in the dick. Dammit Knox, didn't you pay attention to the last match! Daniel Garcia vultures the pin and the win. ***1/4, 78% overall

---

Jericho just saw a giant spider on Strong's crotch and so had to think fast about how to handle it...so to speak.

The audience boos as Jericho laughs and the Jericho Appreciation Society celebrates around him. A visibly frustrated Cole grabs a microphone.]

Cole: "You know what, Jericho? I'm sick and tired of this. I'm sick and tired of you constantly sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, and I'm definitely sick and tired of your little Jericho Appreciation Society constantly running interference."

[The crowd starts a "Jericho sucks!" chant]

Cole: "You want to play games, Jericho? Let's play a game that you can't cheat, a game where your 'Society' can't interfere. Let's settle this once and for all... next week, in a steel cage."

[The crowd goes wild at the prospect]

Cole: "And let's make it worth our while. Winner gets to face SANADA for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door. What do you say, Jericho? Are you man enough to accept?"

[The crowd chants "Accept! Accept! Accept!" Jericho grabs a microphone, smirking.]

Jericho: "Adam Cole... You want to trap yourself in a steel cage with me, knowing full well what I can do? And you want to put a title shot on the line? You want to get in the way of my destiny to become The Nueve? Well, that's music to my ears junior. I accept, and I'm gonna put you into the ground."

[Jericho drops the microphone, the crowd explodes, and both men stare each other down as the tension builds towards next week's steel cage showdown.]

---

That's some hardcore overreacting from Page over Jericho's arachnophobia.

Wheeler Yuta w/ Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kenny Omega

This match...actually didn't do as well as I thought it would. I knew Yuta's relative lack of overness would hold things back a bit but I figured it'd be one of those really good matches that automatically raise a guy's overness just from being involved in a banger. Alas, his lack of overness more than cancelled out Kenny's 90-something overness. The match was perfectly decent but not the barnburner expected so no overness change from Yuta.

Still, the story very much played a part here. We have more outside the ring shit with The Young Bucks ensuring Claudio Castagnoli doesn't get totally involved as Kenny hits the One Winged Angel to avenge his PPV defeat to Yuta. Omega stares down a pissed off Don Callis who watches the proceedings from the rampway. ***, 75% overall

I think the way it works is that all the participants in the match have to have really good stats, more or less on even ground in terms of overness, with the Superstar Look stat sometimes being a factor. Also if one guy is just way much higher in overness than the other, they'll actually lose morale for working with them.

I also had not one but two rehab notices. Jose the Assistant and Jeff Jarrett both checked themselves into rehab. So much for using him to put people over before he retires. :lol:

Jarrett surprises me because I've never heard of him having any sort of issues in that arena. He's always been a "good ol' boy", God-fearing, and straight-laced. One of the benefits of keeping your talent in the training camp is that their behavior will improve, lessening the chances of them winding up like Tammy Sytch. Chet Morris was the last dude on my watch to do that to me. If he comes back in time for when he's due for retirement, you've got a ready made storyline right there.

Evil Vito

06-12-2023, 12:02 PM

The cynic in me is reading this secretly wanting an Arn/Christian match, but being sad that it's never going to happen. I'd like to imagine Christian doing an NWO-type parody, but in much better taste. Maybe make fun of Arn for being wrestling's most famous second banana. People don't really call this dude Luchasaurus, right? I can see it as a funny nickname like Booger Red or whatever the fuck, but that's about it.

Christian managing a heel stable is very much something I'm interested in getting to eventually, maybe sooner than later while I have him available. I hope EWR will take some mercy on forcing the older guys into retirement if I at least have them allocated as managers, but I somewhat doubt it. Pretty sure for retirement purposes the game views wrestlers and managers as one in the same, the only question is will the old guys retire or remain available as non-wrestlers.

Luchasaurus is a big dude that wears a dinosaur-inspired mask. As a face it totally works, he had a team with Jungle Boy for years as Jurassic Express. As a heel I'm kinda shocked they didn't try to give him a "real" name. I mean Jungle Boy is still face but he turned Jungle Boy into his nickname, now making Jack Perry his proper ring name. Surely good 'ol Luchasaurus could've gone the same route.

See, "Hangman" is a great name. There's a lot to work with there. On the other side of this, I have to say it's hard to take something called The Dark Order seriously when it's got guys named "Stu Grayson" and "John Silver". I immediately think of the fucking restaurant when I hear that name...which is mysteriously still in business somehow.

Can't remember if I described The Dark Order during my last AEW game but their origins in AEW were Evil Uno and Stu Grayson (the former Player Uno/Player Dos, Super Smash Brothers tag team on the indies) effectively trying to start an evil cult, claiming to be working for an exalted leader. They recruited Reynolds and Silver who were at the time working with AEW as a non-contracted enhancement jobber team and they recruited a few guys from the Nightmare Factory training camp as well. At the peak of their heel run they were all referred to by number, not by name...as you do in cults.

Anyway, Brodie Lee (Luke Harper in WWE) joined AEW and was revealed as the ultimate mastermind/The Exalted One. Though it was never said out loud, kayfabe-wise it was a pretty brilliant piece of casting because Brodie was a member of Bray Wyatt's cult for years in WWE and now here he is branching out and starting his own.

Sadly, Brodie tragically died of a lung illness in December 2020 at which point the Dark Order organically turned into sympathetic faces, going from an evil cult to goofball faces and reverting to their normal ring names. They befriended Hangman who I had join the group in my last EWR game but in real life AEW he never joined but still hung around them as friends for the last two and a half years.

They've been more or less treading water for a while and I feel like Hangman rejoining the Elite might be the last chance the Dark Order have to maybe go back to their original purpose.

So are large stables a major staple in AEW? I guess that's one way to handle a large roster, but it's the Vince Russo problem where he sticks everyone on TV when not everyone deserves to be on TV. Who was tuning in to see Viscera and Mideon every week?

I would say stables in AEW are inspired by NJPW pretty heavily. In New Japan, nearly everyone is in a stable, specifically one of 5 main groups. Not necessarily the case in AEW as the stables are smaller but most people on the roster at least have someone they're friends with.

If this is his role now, I suppose it works but much like what happened with Jericho in the WWE, it starts to not mean anything when you want to put over every Tom, Dick, and Harry, especially if they don't have any real upside. Fucking Fandango and JTG can claim to have beaten Jericho and look where that got them.

Actually I don't know because I haven't kept tabs on that shit. :o

Jarrett's picked up some wins in AEW, even was the number one contender for the International Title and Tag Titles at points. So I think it's one of those deals where you do treat him as something of a legend and let him build up before he does the right thing and loses to the bigger name they're trying to ultimately get over. His International Title match with Cassidy in particular was outstandingly fun IMO.

Alas, EWR is a bit of a different animal because I know there's a time clock here where these old guys are gonna retire soon. So rather than spend time giving them wins I kinda need to job them out while the getting's good, and the game doesn't know the wiser. :o

In general you can't really book like the real AEW in this game. Real life AEW doesn't have the same level of outside interference, but in-game it's the easiest way to build feuds.

Is this how he comes across in real life? People aren't really paying money to see this guy, right? Why would I want to care about someone who doesn't care himself? I can understand indifference when it's a confidence thing where you just believe you're superior. I don't know what this is. The angle should be that Minoru whips his ass so hard that he beats the indifference out of him.

Oh lord, I could probably write a book about Orange Cassidy because I'd say the single-most discussed wrestler in any discourse/argument about AEW.

So for starters, his gimmick can probably best be described as a wrestler who doesn't want to be a wrestler. A slacker. He's incredibly good at his job and he knows it, but that doesn't mean he wants to work. Which is why he's aloof in his promos and mannerisms. Any opponent to him is just "sure, whatever" another day at the office. During his International Title run he defends the belt almost weekly and as the months have gone on he's gotten more banged up, wearing tape around his ribs etc and despite clearly being hurt he still just plays it all off, knowing he'll keep suffering as long as he's got that title and it's just part of the job.

But this also plays into the psychology of his matches because he'll sometimes just fuck around at the beginning and lull the opponent into a false sense of security. Or the opponent will start beating his ass at the beginning and forcing Orange to tap into his more serious side ("whipping the indifference out of him"), as you say. Invariably in every match he ends up working his ass off, even though his character would suggest that's the complete opposite of what he actually wants to do. He had a multi-match feud with PAC last year that got so personal that Orange said in a promo "next week, I'm going to try" and the crowd collectively went OHHHH SHIT, because Orange actually wanting to try was unheard of.

As for if people pay to see him...the short answer is yes. Not only does he consistently get one of the loudest reactions on Dynamite every week, he's their top merch mover, is consistently one of their highest minute-for-minute ratings draws, there's countless anecdotes of lapsed and/or first-time viewers who immediately found him to be their favorite (I can personally attest to at least 3 people that watched AEW for the first time on my recommendation, all of them love Orange). Tons of pictures of kids dressing up like him on Halloween etc.

But he also has probably the most vocal detractors out there because he's about as polar opposite from "old school wrassling" as you can get. Jim Cornette practically issues death threats on the guy on his podcast every week. I got told last week in the AEW thread by the always pompous Mr. Nerfect that you can't POSSIBLY like Orange Cassidy and then claim to actually be a wrestling fan, etc. The people who don't like him view him as being the #1 guy who is "killing the business" and will prevent it from ever going beyond a niche audience.

Anyway, I can totally understand why people wouldn't like OC, but the discussion around him gets pretty toxic when people who take their wrasslin' so seriously act like he's worse than Hitler.

Nothing wrong with a squash match here and there. Although it sucks that the game treats every match essentially the same and thus you end up with star ratings like this. If you could set matches to "Squash" or "Competitive" or what not, it'd go a long way.

Alas, this is one thing the newer TEW games have that I wish were in the simplistic EWR world. There's even a nice middle ground between a squash and competitive, where it doesn't HAVE to be a full squash but the guy getting the shine can control like 85% of it.

Is Punk/MJF the direction they're going in real life? I'm sure it's in your books because that's some easy stars right there.

So MJF returned from a hiatus in AEW at All Out last year, right after Punk won the AEW Title in Chicago. Signs were clear that they were headed to Punk vs. MJF Part 3 (they had feuded earlier in the year). But less than an hour after winning the title, Punk did a press conference where he went went into a complete out-of-character rant, shitting on company EVPs (Omega and The Bucks), Hangman Page, his personal heat with Colt Cabana and a bunch of other guys. Basically sounding like a crusty old veteran (he was meant to be the conquering babyface btw). All while Tony Khan sat next to him and squirmed. This led to Punk and The Elite having a legit backstage fight leading to them all getting suspended.

Oh I should also point out that he injured himself in the process, having to vacate the title for the 2nd time in a year. And shortly before his return he's also shit-talked Jon Moxley, Chris Jericho, and others. There's a legit argument to make that he's too much of a cancer to be worth it. But the network wanted him back and would even give him pretty much his own show in Collision.

They might eventually get back to Punk vs. MJF, but politically it's probably tough to put him into a title program immediately, if at all. He's pissed off half the locker room. Thankfully, in EWR land it's easier to pull off.

I think the way it works is that all the participants in the match have to have really good stats, more or less on even ground in terms of overness, with the Superstar Look stat sometimes being a factor. Also if one guy is just way much higher in overness than the other, they'll actually lose morale for working with them.

Never really considered Superstar Look playing into it. I just figured that was more to do with Gimmicks, certain gimmicks will just fail if someone doesn't have the Superstar Look. Or if you give a Superstar Look guy a silly gimmick, it might fail.

I remember a WWE game a decade or more ago I got two nobodys into the mid-80s in overness just because their stats matched up so perfectly that they always put on a near 5-star match. Good times.

Evil Vito

06-13-2023, 04:19 PM

https://www.wrestlezone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/08/AEW-Rampage-logo-1-.jpg

AEW Rampage
June 16, 2023

The show opens up with the entrance of The Trustbusters, with "Smart" Mark Sterling taking the microphone.

Sterling: "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight you will be graced by the most potent, prosperous, and proficient group in wrestling today. I am Smart Mark Sterling, attorney at law, and these are my clients, The Trustbusters!"

The crowd roars, a mix of cheers and boos.

Sterling: "Now, I've been hearing a lot of chatter about our opponents tonight, The Dark Order. People are saying they're a force to be reckoned with. Well, I've got news for you, ladies and gentlemen. My clients here, they aren't just wrestlers. They are finely tuned athletes, the epitome of physical excellence. They're the human equivalent of a meticulously crafted legal document, every move calculated, every action precise."

He gestured to the members of The Trustbusters, smirking and flexing in the background.

Sterling: "And what about the Dark Order? They're nothing more than a disorganized horde, a group of misfits playing dress up."

The crowd boos and jeers, but Sterling remains unphased.

Sterling: "The Dark Order is all about chaos and mind games. They think they can disrupt our strategy, intimidate us with their numbers, their theatrics. But the Trustbusters, we thrive on order, discipline, strategy. We don't fear chaos, we break it apart, piece by piece. And tonight, we're going to do exactly that."

Sterling's voice drops, a hint of threat permeating his words.

Sterling: "And let me tell you something else, Dark Order. You want to play dirty? You want to try and bend the rules to your advantage? Well, I'm not just a manager, I'm a lawyer. And if you step over the line, if you try any underhanded tactics, I'll sue you faster than you can say Hangman Adam Page.

The crowd boos as the music of The Dark Order hits, they've heard enough and they charge to the ring to start the match.

8-Man Tag Team Match: The Trustbusters (Ari Daivari, Tony Nese, Josh Woods, and Sonny Kiss) w/ Slim J and "Smart" Mark Sterling vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver)

It's always fun when a heel singles guy runs his mouth and then gets trucked, it's even more fun when it happens to a whole heel stable. The Dark Order in this match showed a side of them we haven't seen in a long while. A much more ruthless, unrelenting style, a far cry from the goofy guys the AEW crowd came to know over the past couple of years. Clearly this situation with Hangman Page has weighed on them, and now they're taking out their frustrations on the Trustbusters.

The finish of the match becomes your prototypical pier six brawl with bodies flying all over the place. Uno gets Tony Nese up on his back, Grayson leaps off the top rope for The Fatality tag finisher, and Dark Order grab the win. **3/4, 65% overall

---

Next we have a video package promoting the debut episode of AEW Collision tomorrow night! Featuring the return of CM Punk! Definitely not a cheap excuse to get an easy 100 rating on a show that is going to have a mediocre show rating because it's meant to feature mostly midcarders. Nope not at all!

---

Mark Briscoe vs. Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford

Not much to say here, Rampage for me will mostly be about throwing some matchups together with talent not actively in a major program and pretty much seeing who gels and who doesn't. In this case, they do gel quite well. Penelope tries to make a nuisance of herself and trip Mark up to no avail, Mark grabs the win with the CTD. ***1/4, 74% overall rating

---

Taya Valkyrie vs. "The Native Beast" Nyla Rose

Britt requested to work with Taya and I haven't booked her yet in this game, so let's give her some reps here. What is the female equivalent of a Hoss Fight? Because that's what this one would be. Both ladies throw some high-powered offense at one another and are fairly evenly matched. But in the end, Taya prevails with the Road to Valhalla. ***, 71% overall

---

[Scene opens with The Mogul Embassy, including Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Toa Liona, Bishop Kaun, and Prince Nana, standing tall backstage. The camera finds Strickland's confident gaze as he begins to address the camera, the crew silent and serious in the background.]

Swerve: (Smirks) "So here we are again. My former partner Keith Lee, the 'Limitless One' and the... let's see... ah, yes, 'The Natural' Dustin Rhodes. A man so natural, he's practically a fossil."

[He pauses for a moment, allowing a smirk to curl his lips as his crew chuckles in the background.]

Swerve: "Keith, we used to be brothers, but look at you now. Your limitless potential has somehow found its limit, hasn't it? You're busy chasing your own tail, while The Mogul Embassy is defining the game. Swerve's House is right here, making moves while you're tripping over your own ambition."

[Swerve points to the crew, emphasizing his point as the men behind him nod, every one of them exuding confidence.]

Swerve: "As for you, Dustin... Shouldn't you be at home, watching the sunset of your career, reminiscing about the good ol' days? Or are you so deluded that you still believe you have something to contribute? You're old, man. Just like your tactics. Predictable. Irrelevant."

[Swerve lets out a confident laugh, his stablemates joining him, the sound echoing in the backstage area.]

Swerve: "But hey, you're welcome to try, to step up. Come on, step into the Embassy. The cage is always open... right, Brian?"

[Brian Cage steps forward, flexing his muscles in a show of force, a sly grin on his face.]

Cage: "Anytime, any place."

[Swerve nods, stepping back into the forefront.]

Swerve: "So here's the deal. Keith, Dustin, any of you... We're right here, not going anywhere. And remember, this ain't just a game, it's Swerve's game. This is where you find out if you're just a player... or if you're built to last."

[With a final smirk and a nod to his team, Swerve turns, walking away as the camera lingers on the remaining members of The Mogul Embassy, their gazes challenging, ready for the next match.]

---

Naturally Limitless ("Limitless" Keith Lee and "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes) vs. The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) w/ Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, and Prince Nana

Keith's been wanting to get him some of Swerve Strickland for months now, but he always seems to evade his grasp and sends some of his minions after him instead. But the Gates aren't just your run of the mill minions, they're big dudes. And they put a hurting on the babyfaces early.

Dustin eventually makes the hot tag to Keith who clears house. Swerve and Cage unsuccessfully try to interfere and Lee finishes off Kaun with a Spirit Bomb for the victory.

After the bell, the rest of the Mogul Embassy pounce on the faces and go for the beatdown. The numbers game is too much, until the music of Darby Allin hits as Darby Allin and STIIIIIIIING make their way out for the save. Looks like Naturally Limitless have found some new allies, and the Embassy quickly take their leave. **3/4, 65% overall rating

73% overall show

Not a bad show rating for what will equate to a C-show moving forward.

Afterwards, Dean compliments me for pairing Kip/Mark and Taya/Nyla together, citing good chemistry.

M-A-G

06-14-2023, 11:08 PM

The show opens up with the entrance of The Trustbusters, with "Smart" Mark Sterling taking the microphone.

"Who ya gonna call?"

Sterling: "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight you will be graced by the most potent, prosperous, and proficient group in wrestling today. I am Smart Mark Sterling, attorney at law, and these are my clients, The Trustbusters!"

The crowd roars, a mix of cheers and boos.

Sterling: "Now, I've been hearing a lot of chatter about our opponents tonight, The Dark Order. People are saying they're a force to be reckoned with. Well, I've got news for you, ladies and gentlemen. My clients here, they aren't just wrestlers. They are finely tuned athletes, the epitome of physical excellence. They're the human equivalent of a meticulously crafted legal document, every move calculated, every action precise."

He gestured to the members of The Trustbusters, smirking and flexing in the background.

Sterling: "And what about the Dark Order? They're nothing more than a disorganized horde, a group of misfits playing dress up."

The crowd boos and jeers, but Sterling remains unphased.

Sterling: "The Dark Order is all about chaos and mind games. They think they can disrupt our strategy, intimidate us with their numbers, their theatrics. But the Trustbusters, we thrive on order, discipline, strategy. We don't fear chaos, we break it apart, piece by piece. And tonight, we're going to do exactly that."

Sterling's voice drops, a hint of threat permeating his words.

Sterling: "And let me tell you something else, Dark Order. You want to play dirty? You want to try and bend the rules to your advantage? Well, I'm not just a manager, I'm a lawyer. And if you step over the line, if you try any underhanded tactics, I'll sue you faster than you can say Hangman Adam Page.

The crowd boos as the music of The Dark Order hits, they've heard enough and they charge to the ring to start the match.

Oh, they sound so smooth and all that, but I'll put them up against the top legal expertise of Galino & Farnes any day.

8-Man Tag Team Match: The Trustbusters (Ari Daivari, Tony Nese, Josh Woods, and Sonny Kiss) w/ Slim J and "Smart" Mark Sterling vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver)

It's always fun when a heel singles guy runs his mouth and then gets trucked, it's even more fun when it happens to a whole heel stable. The Dark Order in this match showed a side of them we haven't seen in a long while. A much more ruthless, unrelenting style, a far cry from the goofy guys the AEW crowd came to know over the past couple of years. Clearly this situation with Hangman Page has weighed on them, and now they're taking out their frustrations on the Trustbusters.

The finish of the match becomes your prototypical pier six brawl with bodies flying all over the place. Uno gets Tony Nese up on his back, Grayson leaps off the top rope for The Fatality tag finisher, and Dark Order grab the win. **3/4, 65% overall

---

I was expecting more stars from something like that. Usually slapping a bunch of people together in a match like this can get you over 3 stars easily.

Next we have a video package promoting the debut episode of AEW Collision tomorrow night! Featuring the return of CM Punk! Definitely not a cheap excuse to get an easy 100 rating on a show that is going to have a mediocre show rating because it's meant to feature mostly midcarders. Nope not at all!

---

100% rating you say? Guess xrod wasn't watching.

Mark Briscoe vs. Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford

Not much to say here, Rampage for me will mostly be about throwing some matchups together with talent not actively in a major program and pretty much seeing who gels and who doesn't. In this case, they do gel quite well. Penelope tries to make a nuisance of herself and trip Mark up to no avail, Mark grabs the win with the CTD. ***1/4, 74% overall rating

---

Nobody has tried to do anything with Mark as a result of of Jay's death, right? Sorry to ask, but with this being wrestling and the WWE exploiting anything and everything they can, it just seems like something that would happen. Penelope is never a nuisance.

Taya Valkyrie vs. "The Native Beast" Nyla Rose

Britt requested to work with Taya and I haven't booked her yet in this game, so let's give her some reps here. What is the female equivalent of a Hoss Fight? Because that's what this one would be. Both ladies throw some high-powered offense at one another and are fairly evenly matched. But in the end, Taya prevails with the Road to Valhalla. ***, 71% overall

---

Road to Valhalla is such a cool name. The move had better be fucking epic. Isn't a female hoss a cow? I doubt that would go over well with the audience.

[Scene opens with The Mogul Embassy, including Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Toa Liona, Bishop Kaun, and Prince Nana, standing tall backstage. The camera finds Strickland's confident gaze as he begins to address the camera, the crew silent and serious in the background.]

Swerve: (Smirks) "So here we are again. My former partner Keith Lee, the 'Limitless One' and the... let's see... ah, yes, 'The Natural' Dustin Rhodes. A man so natural, he's practically a fossil."

[He pauses for a moment, allowing a smirk to curl his lips as his crew chuckles in the background.]

Swerve: "Keith, we used to be brothers, but look at you now. Your limitless potential has somehow found its limit, hasn't it? You're busy chasing your own tail, while The Mogul Embassy is defining the game. Swerve's House is right here, making moves while you're tripping over your own ambition."

[Swerve points to the crew, emphasizing his point as the men behind him nod, every one of them exuding confidence.]

Swerve: "As for you, Dustin... Shouldn't you be at home, watching the sunset of your career, reminiscing about the good ol' days? Or are you so deluded that you still believe you have something to contribute? You're old, man. Just like your tactics. Predictable. Irrelevant."

[Swerve lets out a confident laugh, his stablemates joining him, the sound echoing in the backstage area.]

Swerve: "But hey, you're welcome to try, to step up. Come on, step into the Embassy. The cage is always open... right, Brian?"

[Brian Cage steps forward, flexing his muscles in a show of force, a sly grin on his face.]

Cage: "Anytime, any place."

[Swerve nods, stepping back into the forefront.]

Swerve: "So here's the deal. Keith, Dustin, any of you... We're right here, not going anywhere. And remember, this ain't just a game, it's Swerve's game. This is where you find out if you're just a player... or if you're built to last."

[With a final smirk and a nod to his team, Swerve turns, walking away as the camera lingers on the remaining members of The Mogul Embassy, their gazes challenging, ready for the next match.]

---

Again, I need a better name than "Swerve" to take him seriously, but this is still good shit.

Naturally Limitless ("Limitless" Keith Lee and "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes) vs. The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) w/ Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, and Prince Nana

Keith's been wanting to get him some of Swerve Strickland for months now, but he always seems to evade his grasp and sends some of his minions after him instead. But the Gates aren't just your run of the mill minions, they're big dudes. And they put a hurting on the babyfaces early.

Dustin eventually makes the hot tag to Keith who clears house. Swerve and Cage unsuccessfully try to interfere and Lee finishes off Kaun with a Spirit Bomb for the victory.

After the bell, the rest of the Mogul Embassy pounce on the faces and go for the beatdown. The numbers game is too much, until the music of Darby Allin hits as Darby Allin and STIIIIIIIING make their way out for the save. Looks like Naturally Limitless have found some new allies, and the Embassy quickly take their leave. **3/4, 65% overall rating

I'm trying to picture 60+ year old Sting running to the rescue. Also, props to Lee for not having to go through 3 episodes to pull off a Spirit Bomb, unlike in Dragon Ball. This all sounds about right for a non-flagship show. It may not be a main show, but there's no reason to not do some minor feuds on it to help a lower dude get noticed and move him up the ranks. There has to a prospect on the roster that looks good that would work well in a bigger storyline.

M-A-G

06-15-2023, 09:25 AM

Raw: December 3, 2040

Opening Match: Naomi Bailey and Dusk vs. The Lonely Girls
This seemed like a natural thing to put together after the events of the last few shows. Naomi is out in full Queen of the Ring garb as she says she's wearing it to remind us all about just who the hell she is! She tells us that we had all be voting for her as this year's Woman of the Year. She's more talented than her cousin Eclypse. She's much better looking and more of a real woman than that Barbie doll Jenna Kyle. And most of all, she was more dominant than that fake champion Sonya Braddock!

It might seem odd to open a show with a women's match, but holy fuck, these women have got it going on...so to speak. It breaks down towards the end with Jenna and Naomi as legal while Dusk just brutalizes Faith on the outside. Dusk threatens to smash Faith with the steel steps while the ref tries to disuade her. Naomi uses this opportunity to introduce Jenna's forehead to her Queen of the Ring scepter. Dusk backs off and drops the steps and the ref turns to count the pin giving the heels the win. Naomi just pinned the number one contender to the Women's Title. That's certainly not going to get her to shut up. *****, 95% overall. I mean, God damn....

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as Chet Morris comes out, no doubt to explain his reprehensible actions on SmackDown!. He wants us to know that he doesn't feel sorry for what he did to his cousin and don't ask him to be. "It feels that ever since I arrived to the WWE with Lyle, I have been trapped in a box. And everyone, from Haven to Lyle, have all seemed to want to keep me in that box. All I ever was to any of them, was someone to be used. Someone to be loyal to their causes and their agendas. When I made my return, Lyle wasn't happy to have me back as a cousin. He was happy to have me as his back-up. Well, Lyle, in the time that I was gone, I outgrew you. I watched you make a damn fool out of yourself while I wasn't here. And you never even seemed to care about any of my problems. So you are not entitled to any kind of happiness. That's why I did what I did on Friday. You will no longer be the albatross around my neck, the anchor around my leg. It had to be done and I can assure all of y'all, I am not done with my purging. I...have been set free...." Huh. That's weird. Wasn't that the same thing Hugo said on Friday? Either way, Chet takes his leave as we're left to ponder his future actions.

Second Match: Galino & Farnes vs. Jordan Demiras and Martyn LaSalle
Demiras and LaSalle reunite to continue the good fight against Hotbody's crew! This shit is awesome as you'd expect, despite the charisma void coming from the heels. It's breaking down in Tulsa as Demiras gets sent into the ringpost on the outside. Ozzy Mandias makes his way on out. Is he here to lend a hand to LaSalle? Nope. He floors him with a clothesline and delivers the Blizzard of Oz and rolls out of the ring while the ref is distracted. The heels regroup and team up for SERIOUS INQUIRIES! on LaSalle to really knock him loopy and that's enough to give them the win. Ozzy decides he's not done for the night and pulls LaSalle out of the ring and proceeds to beat on him some more. Into the steps LaSalle goes and Ozzy decides to do what Dusk didn't and sandwiches LaSalle's head in between the two sets of stairs. Jesus, that looked brutal. That might put LaSalle out of commission for a while. *****, 96% overall. I guess people really dug Ozzy's heel turn. Glad I pulled the trigger on it finally.

Third Match: Seth Von Kamp vs. Cameron Harper
Harper gets on the stick and informs us that he's had a talk with Jake Connelly and the legend himself is open to being his manager, but said that he would like to see a bit more from Harper before making any kind of promises. Harper says that he thinks he knows what Jake Connelly has in mind. Connelly wants to see some initiative. He wants some bold statements. "Well, there's no time like the present and I can't think of a bigger and bolder statement to make under these circumstances. So seeing as how you, Seth, were game and man enough to accept a challenge for your Intercontinental Title on Superstars, I don't see a reason why you can't put it on the line again right here, right now! Jake Connelly will be tripping all over himself to manage the new Intercontinental Champion! So how about it, Seth?"

Seth looks perplexed at this request and doesn't seem too sure. Cameron asks him if he's scared. Well that's rather rude. Seth doesn't look happy about this proposal but ultimately agrees and thus we have ourselves a little bonus!

WWE Intercontinental Title: Seth Von Kamp (c) vs. Cameron Harper
Points for such a move and Harper certainly tries here. Seth handles things well as the veteran, making Harper look good. Gold, unfortunately, is not in the cards for Harper tonight, as Seth outmaneuvers the firey upstart in a pinfall reserval sequence that ends with Seth scoring the pin off a backslide to retain the title. Harper doesn't look pleased as the champ takes his victory lap. What'll be his next move? ****1/2, 90% overall.

Backstage, Luscious is with Zed Jones and of course, her man, Michael Hotbody. They hope that Clubber Harris hasn't forgotten about Zed because Zed certainly hasn't forgotten about Harris. Zed has been looking for some more fight ever since Survivor Series and he's eager to get that fight from Clubber Harris. However, he's going to get it on his own terms, on his own time, when he's ready. Zed isn't some impetuous child. He knows he's tougher and badder than Harris. Zed Jones doesn't need to be flailing about in brawls that aren't going to mean anything. He'll let us all know when he's ready to take on the challenge of the so-called Ebony Empire. All empires fall, some harder than others. Hotbody also wants to add on that while he's not sure of who is going to come out on top of the next match, Hotbody assures either one of them that there's nothing but disappointment waiting for them at Bragging Rights.

Fourth Match: 2 out of 3 Falls - Jason Sorola vs. Gavin Jones
Winner gets a shot at the Cruiserweight Title at Bragging Rights here. I may be showing my hand as to who's going to win this with that stipulation. Hey, it's the journey, not the destination, right? Make no mistake, this match is a helluva journey. Sorola gets the first fall with some rope-assisted shenanigans while Gavin gets back into it by submitting Sorola in the second fall with the STF. The final fall is all full speed ahead as they each want to get this over with. Sorola looks for a superplex off the top but Gavin shuts that down with a sunset powerbomb off the top to set Sorola up for a Frog Splash and that'll be enough to give him the final fall and the ticket to Bragging Rights. *****, 96% overall.

More backstage goodness as Nathan Quinn is with Adam Hail. Boy, howdy, are they mad at Simon Bennett or what? Hail wants to remind Bennett that what he did to him was nothing personal and he should've learned to not mess with him anymore, especially since Bennett's team lost at Survivor Series. But Bennnett just had to ruin things on SmackDown! by costing Hail a chance to go to Bragging Rights with a title shot! Bennett is just determined to make this personal so Hail is going to oblige him. Bennett is dared to try crossing the two of them one more time.

Fifth Match: Hannah McCormick vs. Leah
So these two are the representatives chosen by their respective managers. Leah has to win to get her and Bonnie Beckham a shot at the Women's Tag Titles while Hannah needs to win so she can get added to the Women's Title match at Bragging Rights. The ladies bring the goods as you would expect. Leah's charisma is rough to overcome, but they pull it out. Leah has Hannah set up for a Sultry Splash but Nathan trips her up as she goes for the ropes. Paul Andrews decides to go after Nathan in response while Hannah decks Leah from behind. She sneaks outside while the ref is busy with the two managers and she grabs her custom mic. Back in the ring she goes and she looks like she's going to clobber Leah with it BUT SIMON BENNETT IS IN THE RING!!! He snatches the mic away and Hannah turns to face him and is shocked as a result of what she sees. Bennett rolls on out while Leah hits a bulldog, setting up for another attempt at the Sultry Splash. She hits it this time and the ref is back in the game and counts the pin for Leah. Simon Bennett looks like he just took Nathan and Hail up on their dare. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Sixth Match: Alexander Piero and The Wyldhearts vs. Chris Collins and The Royal Effect
Piero gets on the mic and announces that he has accepted a No DQ match with Chris Collins that will take place on Superstars this Thursday. Piero agrees that things need to be settled between himself and Collins. Piero wants Chris to know that this war between them has never really been about vengeance for Madison or fighting for her honor. Those are important things to be sure, but the truth of the matter is that Piero just doesn't like Chris Collins. Collins is welcome to try to beat that respect he so craves out of Piero this Thursday. Collins is going to learn that not everyone that comes his way can be overlooked and dismissed so easily.

This is a crossroads between two big fueds of course. No doubt the Royal Effect want their rematch for those tag titles. This will have to do for now and it's a bunch of goodness. Piero is all fired up as we head home in this match and he's so overwhelming that Collins decides maybe waiting until Thursday is probably a good idea. He tags in Kavovit without the latter's knowledge or approval and bails. Piero brings Kavovit in the hard way. The Wyldhearts inctercept McKay and hit the Heartstopper on him while Piero nailes the Flashpoint on Kavovit and that's going to give the faces the pinfall win. What's in store for Piero and Collins on Thursday>!> *****, 94% overall.

SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT TIME!!!~~~ as Haven once again makes his way to the ring. He's solemn as he addresses the crowd. "Explanations. How does one truly explain a matter when it is so deeply personal and quite possibly your greatest failure? My message of unity and cleansing of the wicked has always been my guiding purpose and it is a message that I have always believed because I know it to be righteous and true. Try as I might, I cannot always save everyone, for one reason or another. Perhaps one seeks the same goal, but is interested in another method to acheive it. Those are the ones that I can respect and forgive. However, there are those that would want to twist matters and be nothing but selfish. Victor Dark once came to me, eager to take part in my crusade to save the lost souls of this land and put them on a better path. But he was the Cain to my Abel. A jackal lying in wait to snatch away what he himself did not build nor earn. And caught in this crossfire, was a young woman...Andrea. I failed you most of all. You see..."

"Woah, woah, woah...," interrupts a voice. On stage Victor Dark and Andrea come out and look to respond to Haven's monologue. Andrea does the talking as she glares at Haven. "You're the failure. Your whole being and message is a lie. You crave power. Everyone here and everyone watching, ask yourself why he calls himself 'The Dark Shepherd'. That would imply that everyone following you is nothing more than some mindless bleating animal that you can exploit. But if you want to call me a failure, well you don't have to worry. Victor here, saved me. And while you may not have The Order anymore, the truth of the matter is that you haven't really suffered any major consequences from its fallout, have you? You still parade around here commanding fear and respect like the fraud that you are. Well, Victor Dark is here to take care of all that...brother."

Victor takes the mic and continues the browbeating. "Haven, it has been my mission ever since your departure to this place to bring you your day of reckoning. I have been hard at work setting people free from your nonsense. Some familiar to you, others that might've fallen under your sway had I not intervened. You see, unlike you, my purpose is not control, but to liberate. You have nobody to blame but yourself for what is to come."

Haven looks like he's heard enough and gets back on the mic. "If that is the case, then perhaps what is to come should happen right now!" He drops the microphone and starts making his way towards Victor. Victor steps in front of Andrea and looks prepared. Haven isn't stopping BUT HERE COMES HUGO!!! WTF is the deal with this lunatic?!? He stops Haven from reaching Victor rather violently and just assaults Haven, sending him into the set. He then decides to put the exclamation point on it by pressing Haven off the stage to the equipment below. WTF is going here?!? We need help for Haven!

MAIN EVENT: Ryan Pattillo vs. Orlando Kincaid
Pattillo wants to talk about how he's looking to get back on track and things are looking up for him now that he's the number one contender for Wrakk's Unified World Title at Bragging Rights. In some weird way, he has Orlando Kincaid to thank for this, as the focus that he's been on these past few weeks has seemed to do wonders for him. It's been a rollercoaster of a year for Pattillo, but he can cap it off by capturing the biggest prize in the business once again. This match is fire and a great way to end the evening as well as put this little feud to rest. Speaking of Wrakk, he makes his way out to watch the proceedings. I figure giving the number one contender a solid clean win will certainly help his standing, especially after a banger. It's a struggle but ultimately Kincaid falls victim to the Shutdown and Pattillo ends the night by getting a pinfall win. He trades glares with Wrakk as we go off the air. *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

NEXT: THE SLAMMYS!!!

Evil Vito

06-15-2023, 12:01 PM

Great shit as always in this one. Plenty of snowflakes all over the place, must be great to live in a hypothetical future where everyone just rules ass and everything is must-see appointment television. You fuckers would get the full 6 hours a week outta me :lol:

That ***** rating in the tag match, despite Galino & Farnes not having charisma is interesting. I'm still not entirely sure the extent to which charisma plays in vs. talent meshing well and, most importantly, overness.

If everyone is over, the crowd will always be shit hot and it'll impact the ratings in kind even beyond just the Crowd Reaction setting. Even way back in the day where the last version of EWR came out in 2003, I had to keep Hogan's annoying ass employed because he was guaranteed like a 90+ crowd rating every single match or segment he was in no matter how much of a slug he was in the ring. But I had to make sure he was facing reasonably over people to get him to agree to do the job. FACK HOGAN

Nice to see Ozzy's heel turn. Ozzy Mandias just FEELS like a heel name anyway.

Loved the Haven/Dark segment. Just really epic verbiage being thrown around. Poor Haven getting his ass whooped though. He needs some retribution!

M-A-G

06-15-2023, 12:44 PM

I've noticed than whenever you do a turn, heel or face, in a match, the crowd reaction rating goes up big time, sometimes even approaching 100%. I think because it's a major event or what not. The turn is essentially part of the match so I imagine that's what gives it the boost.

The thing with Victor Dark is that he was the jackass who evidently married a child of Linda McMahon so now I can't fire him and I'm worried it also gives him the ability to reject things. Like, will he agree to do the job to Haven should I ask for it? I don't really plan on him being a mainstay. I just need to give Haven something to do in the meantime. I'm not rushing to put the two together real soon as I've got a lot more twists and turns before this drama unfolds...completely.

Anyways, working on Superstars. I'm hoping to make some great acceptance speeches, especially from you-know-who.

M-A-G

06-15-2023, 12:49 PM

Bragging Rights looks like this so far:

WWE Unified World Title: Wrakk vs. Ryan Pattillo

WWE Women's Tag Team Titles: The Southern Belles vs. The Perfections

WWE Women's Title: Sonya Braddock vs. Jenna Kyle

WWE Cruiserweight Title: Michael Hotbody vs. Gavin Jones

You can bet there will be more gold on the line, plus I'll likely add Bennett vs. Hail. I'm debating who to leave off.

Evil Vito

06-15-2023, 01:46 PM

The thing with Victor Dark is that he was the jackass who evidently married a child of Linda McMahon so now I can't fire him and I'm worried it also gives him the ability to reject things. Like, will he agree to do the job to Haven should I ask for it? I don't really plan on him being a mainstay. I just need to give Haven something to do in the meantime. I'm not rushing to put the two together real soon as I've got a lot more twists and turns before this drama unfolds...completely.

:lol: I do love how the owner of the company nevers changes no matter how much time passes.

Linda McMahon would be 92 by this point, which would also mean Shane and Steph are 70 and 64, respectively.

Wonder how old this unknown daughter of Linda McMahon is...because it would seem Mr. Dark is out for the cougars.

Evil Vito

06-17-2023, 12:51 AM

https://cdn-cache.wrestlingnewssource.com/u/webp_full/7919d4ed638749ce6626cd6e4df4c272_711_400.webp

AEW Collision
June 17, 2023

"Saturday's Alright for Fighting" by Sir Elton blares over the PA as pyro shoots off with lights flashing all over the Chicago. Our announce team Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness welcome us to the debut episode.

The familiar guitar riff of "Cult of Personality" blares through the sound system. The crowd erupts as CM Punk emerges from the tunnel, wearing his iconic hoodie and a grin that lights up the packed United Center in Chicago.]

CM Punk: What's that old saying, Chi-Town? You can't go home again? Well, hell with that because here I am!

[The crowd cheers.]

CM Punk: Now, I know there's been a lot of talk over the last nine months. Lots of conjecture, lots of people taking sides. Lots of people developing parasocial relationships based on a situation none of you were in the room for. Do you want me to talk about that?

[He pauses, holding back a laugh as the crowd cheers.]

CM Punk: But, the truth? The truth's always more complicated. I've been away. I've been dealing with stuff, personal and physical. I won't bore you with the details. What's important is I'm here now. I'm home.

[More cheers from the crowd.]

CM Punk: I'm standing in this AEW ring, with a clean slate. On a new show. Ready to kick ass and take names. And I've got one name in mind. One match that was stolen from me and the AEW fans last year when I got hurt: Hiroshi Tanahashi.

[The crowd erupts.]

CM Punk: Tanahashi, I respect you. I respect what you've done. But that match we didn't get to have? I want it. I need it. You owe it to me, I owe it to you, and we owe it to these fans. So, let's do this. Let's open that Forbidden Door one more time and give them all the match we should've had a year ago.

[Before he can continue, MJF's theme hits, and the AEW World Champion, sporting his signature smirk and Burberry scarf, interrupts. The crowd boos heavily.]

MJF: Punk! Punk, Punk, Punk... You always did have a way with words. It's almost enough to make us forget why you really left.

[MJF pauses to let the crowd boo.]

MJF: Now, let's rewind a bit. Last time you were in an AEW ring? You'd just won the title, in this very city. And who made his triumphant return and was was staring you down to end the show? ME!

[MJF points at himself, smirking.]

MJF: And then, suddenly, you disappeared. Ran away, tail between your legs, with some sob story about an injury and backstage drama. But we all know the truth, Punk. You were scared. You knew your little fairy-tale comeback would end in a hurry, and it would end with me.

[MJF shows his title, the crowd's boos intensifying.]

MJF: But that's nothing new for you, right Punk? That's what you do best - run away from a company when the going gets tough. Leave when you know you'll never win the big one. And with me as the champion, you will NEVER get your hands on this belt again. I will keep this bad boy right on through the bidding war of 2024, and who knows, maybe I'll be wearing it on Mondays and Fridays in Stamford.

[MJF's smirk gets wider as the crowd boos.]

MJF: And, Punk? Here's a little reality check. This company never needed you in the first place, and they sure as hell didn't need you back. And believe me when I tell you - there's an entire locker room back there that resents you. And if I were you, I'd be watching my back.

[He drops the mic, leaving Punk in the ring as the crowd boos and his theme blares throughout the United Center.]

---

FTW Championship: "El Toro Blanco" Rush w/ Preston Vance and Dralistico vs. Hook (C) w/ "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry

The first match in Collision history sees the dangerous Rush going up against the cold-hearted handsome devil Hook. Both men show a great degree of physicality, with Hook looking more challenged than he has in any AEW match to date.

Eventually the other members of La Faccion Ingobernable try to interject, but Jungle Boy throws caution to the wind and takes out both with a diving senton to the outside. As the referee deals with the chaos, another masked man sneaks into the ring and plants Hook with a Hammerlock DDT. He unmasks and it's ANDRADE EL IDOLO! We haven't seen him in months!

Rush picks up the pieces with a Rush Driver and gets the win! Hook has suffered his first AEW defeat, and Rush has stolen the FTW Championship away from Taz's son. LFI is even more dangerous, as it's a 4 on 2 beatdown on Hook and Perry. ***, 75% overall

---

Nick Comoroto vs. Miro

Miro was advertised to return at Collision and "The Redeemer" made good on his word. He makes his return as something of a tweener, clearly getting cheers from the crowd but not looking like any less of a dangerous badass than he was when he was last seen.

Comoroto is a big hoss and he gives Miro a run for his money, but it's not too long before Miro locks in the Game Over to get a submission victory. Impressive return for Miro. **3/4, 70% overall

---

Backstage, Mark Henry is standing by with the Best Friends - Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor along with International champion Orange Cassidy and TBS champion Kris Statlander.

Mark Henry: "We're standing by with the Best Friends. Guys, it's a big night for your group as you've got two title matches tonight. What are your thoughts?"

Trent Beretta: "You're exactly right, Mark! First off, our man Orange has a big title fight with Minoru Suzuki next week. He's taking on all comers, so it only makes sense that he fights another badass tonight, right Orange?"

[The always-aloof Orange simply gives a thumbs up]

Trent Beretta: "And let's not forget about Kris Statlander, as she continues to be a fighting champion and putting the title on the line in an open challenge."

[Kris flexes her impressive muscles]

Trent Beretta: "As for me and Chuck, well, next up for us..."

Chuck Taylor [interjecting]: "I'm gonna say the S-word on live television!"

Trent Beretta: "What? No! You can't say that."

Chuck Taylor: "Why not? Someone says it every week!"

Trent Beretta: "It's a new show! You're gonna get us in trouble right out of the gate."

Chuck Taylor: "No way! The censors give us one S-bomb a week. I'm lucky MJF didn't already use the quota. It's my turn to say it. I'm gonna say it."

Trent Beretta: "No man! I'm telling you, you can't say shit on television.........oops"

[Trent and Chuck walk off-screen bickering, leaving Kris rolling her eyes as Orange just shrugs and heads to the ring for the next match.]

---

AEW International Championship: "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy vs. Lee Moriarty w/ Big Bill

Holy shit did these two ever have chemistry, 97% match rating! Unfortunately Lee's overness being in the 50s held things back in terms of overall, but with performances like this that might shoot up in a hurry.

Anyway, Cassidy's title reign has seen him get relentlessly punished week-in, week-out and Lee Moriarty's amateur background makes him a dangerous foe ahead of his match with the shoot fighter Suzuki at the PPV.

Big Bill tries to get himself involved only for Trent and Chuck to finish their bickering long enough to run him off as Orange puts down Lee with the Beach Blast. ****1/4, 81% overall

---

The music of The Acclaimed hits as Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Daddy Ass make their way out for their Trios Title match. As Caster raises the microphone to his lips to perform his rap, no sound comes out. The crowd boo at the microphone's malfunctioning, only for the lights to go out too.

We hear grunts and chaos happening, and when the lights come back on - all three members of The Acclaimed are down and out with the House of Black menacingly standing over them.

The House make their way to the ring, daring the Acclaimed to fight. But try as the Acclaimed might to get up and head to the ring, the officials won't allow it and force them all to the back.

---

The House of Black remain in the ring, smirking over the damage they caused The Acclaimed. But they still want to fight, and just like that, it seems we have an impromptu open challenge. The theme of the Hardys hits as the legendary tag team make their way out to the ring with Ethan Page reluctantly following behind them.

AEW Trios Championship: The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews (C) vs. The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) and "All Ego" Ethan Page

Hard to believe the Hardys are still doing their thing too, although even they've self-admitted that they see this as their final run before they hang up the boots and rest their surely wrecked spines. But hey, they're an asset in EWR because they're over, especially Jeff who is the very definition of the Unique gimmick.

Story of this match is the Hardys taking most of the damage with Page reluctant to be in this match at all. Page is a heel, and currently Big Money Matt "owns" his contract resultant from another feud that commenced at Double or Nothing.

When Matt goes to make a hot tag for Page, Page ducks off the apron and ignores his employer. When Jeff confronts him about it, Page and Jeff have a go at it. Jeff tries to give a Twist of Fate to Page on the ramp way only to get jumped by a returning Scorpio Sky! Ethan Page's former tag partner in the Men of the Year, and yet another return tonight.

As all this is happening, poor Matt's left for dead for the heels to pick the bones. Brody finishes off Matt with a Gonzo Bomb for the title retain. ***, 77% overall

---

TBS Champion Kris Statlander is out next awaiting to see her opponent. The crowd is pleased to see the music of Hikaru Shida hit, and the longest reigning AEW Women's champion is out to look to reclaim gold.

TBS CHampionship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. Hikaru Shida

Holy Shida! I haven't booked her yet and I think this would be a good babyface vs. babyface match. Although the rating for this falls solidly into Scott Keith's "Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling" wheelhouse, it's kinda a shame that even the most talented women on the AEW roster have pretty bad stats in this save data. This match would be fantastic in real life. It will take years and years to get to the division to the extent yours is.

Anyway, the two have a solid, competitive match which sees Kris get the retain with the Big Bang Theory.

As she celebrates, a new challenger emerges as the music of Thunder Rosa hits. Yes, another return. Why the fuck not? She and Kris have an understanding staredown. **3/4, 68% overall

---

AEW Tag Team Championship: The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Cero Miedo and Rey Fenix) w/ Alex Abrahantes vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (C)

Yeah it's a debut show in a major arena, so let's give the crowd another guaranteed banger. And holy hell these two did not disappoint, which is not remotely surprising given their previous battles within AEW a couple years back.

Anyway, this shit ruled ass and unlike their former battles where FTR played dirty, everything was above board in this one and FTR got the victory with the Big Rig after an intense back-and-forth, high-drama match.

Both teams are visually exhausted after the match, and then manage to muster the strength to stand in the ring and shake hands. As this happens, they suddenly find themselves jumped by Bullet Club Gold! Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Powerhouse Hobbs might officially be outnumbered 3 to 4, but those teams just went through a war and makes them all easy pickings. ****1/4, 87% overall

---

[Bullet Club Gold steps over the battered bodies of FTR and the Lucha Brothers as they strut to the center of the ring. The crowd’s boos are almost deafening, their heat for Bullet Club Gold palpable.]

[Jay White grabs a mic from the timekeeper's table and steps back into the ring. He raises the microphone to his mouth as the crowd's chants and boos get even louder. He smirks, basking in the animosity of the crowd.]

Jay White: "Hear that? That's the sound of fear. Fear, because you all know what's coming. You saw what we did to Ricky Starks last week, and you just witnessed what we're capable of."

[He points at the fallen wrestlers.]

Jay White: "You see this? This was your AEW Tag Team Champions. These were your warriors. This was your hope. And just like Ricky Starks last week, they have been decimated."

[White paces around the ring, his gaze focused on the crowd, feeding off their reactions.]

Jay White: "This isn't just about titles or championships. This is about dominance. This is about showing every single one of you that the Bullet Club Gold is the supreme faction in All Elite Wrestling. I've already proven that I'm the catalyst of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and now I'm gonna do the same here in AEW!"

[The crowd boos again, even louder than before.]

Jay White: "And let's not forget the newest addition to our family, Powerhouse Hobbs. A man who had previous history with Ricky Starks, his former friend-turned-enemy. The man who's become the embodiment of force and destruction. He is the future. He is the perfect edition to Bullet Club Gold."

[Just as White is about to continue, Ricky Starks hits and out comes Ricky Starks, armed with a steel chair.]

[Starks heads down to the ring. Seeing the babyfaces are beginning to stir again, Bullet Club Gold retreats, but not before White throws a last smirk at Starks.]

Jay White: "You're on borrowed time, Starks and the rest that dreck in the ring. We're not finished here. Not by a long shot."

[With those final words, Bullet Club Gold leaves the ring, leaving behind a chaos-filled scene as the crowd cheers for Starks.]

---

CM Punk vs. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

No way I couldn't have Punk headlining in his first show back. It's his first match in 9 months so he needs to work with a fellow experienced vet to knock off any ring rust, and preferably someone he has experience with.

Enter Christopher Daniels. A man Punk's had wars with in Ring of Honor. Also, while not acknowledged on commentary, he's AEW's head of talent relations and here he is working a match with the guy coming off of a major talent relations issue. I like to think of this as an extreme form of probation.

Anyway, Daniels doesn't really wrestle much anymore but even at 53 he can absolutely still go when the situation calls for it. This match unsurprisingly ruled with Daniels getting the chance to defy Father Time. The result was never much in question though, as Punk hits the GTS and wins to get the hometown happy.

After the bell, MJF who had been watching on commentary goes onto the ramp and points at Punk. Punk eggs him on and gets the crowd in a frenzy. However, while he's focused on MJF he doesn't see that SAMOA JOE had entered the ring! Joe chokes out Punk! MJF warned Punk to watch his back, but what is the meaning of this? We are out of time! ****1/4, 88% overall

81% overall show rating

Dean Malenko praises me for putting together OC/Lee citing they have amazing chemistry. And the debut episode of Collision pulled a superb rating, the network appear to be very happy with me.

In real-life, AEW's already announced that Punk, Miro, Andrade, Rosa, and Sky would all be a part of Collision. The first 3 are all wrestling on the real debut show. So I said fuck it, you only get one debut...let's find a way to bring 'em all back!

M-A-G

06-17-2023, 01:10 PM

AEW Collision
June 17, 2023

"Saturday's Alright for Fighting" by Sir Elton blares over the PA as pyro shoots off with lights flashing all over the Chicago. Our announce team Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness welcome us to the debut episode.

The familiar guitar riff of "Cult of Personality" blares through the sound system. The crowd erupts as CM Punk emerges from the tunnel, wearing his iconic hoodie and a grin that lights up the packed United Center in Chicago.]

CM Punk: What's that old saying, Chi-Town? You can't go home again? Well, hell with that because here I am!

[The crowd cheers.]

CM Punk: Now, I know there's been a lot of talk over the last nine months. Lots of conjecture, lots of people taking sides. Lots of people developing parasocial relationships based on a situation none of you were in the room for. Do you want me to talk about that?

[He pauses, holding back a laugh as the crowd cheers.]

CM Punk: But, the truth? The truth's always more complicated. I've been away. I've been dealing with stuff, personal and physical. I won't bore you with the details. What's important is I'm here now. I'm home.

[More cheers from the crowd.]

CM Punk: I'm standing in this AEW ring, with a clean slate. On a new show. Ready to kick ass and take names. And I've got one name in mind. One match that was stolen from me and the AEW fans last year when I got hurt: Hiroshi Tanahashi.

[The crowd erupts.]

CM Punk: Tanahashi, I respect you. I respect what you've done. But that match we didn't get to have? I want it. I need it. You owe it to me, I owe it to you, and we owe it to these fans. So, let's do this. Let's open that Forbidden Door one more time and give them all the match we should've had a year ago.

[Before he can continue, MJF's theme hits, and the AEW World Champion, sporting his signature smirk and Burberry scarf, interrupts. The crowd boos heavily.]

MJF: Punk! Punk, Punk, Punk... You always did have a way with words. It's almost enough to make us forget why you really left.

[MJF pauses to let the crowd boo.]

MJF: Now, let's rewind a bit. Last time you were in an AEW ring? You'd just won the title, in this very city. And who made his triumphant return and was was staring you down to end the show? ME!

[MJF points at himself, smirking.]

MJF: And then, suddenly, you disappeared. Ran away, tail between your legs, with some sob story about an injury and backstage drama. But we all know the truth, Punk. You were scared. You knew your little fairy-tale comeback would end in a hurry, and it would end with me.

[MJF shows his title, the crowd's boos intensifying.]

MJF: But that's nothing new for you, right Punk? That's what you do best - run away from a company when the going gets tough. Leave when you know you'll never win the big one. And with me as the champion, you will NEVER get your hands on this belt again. I will keep this bad boy right on through the bidding war of 2024, and who knows, maybe I'll be wearing it on Mondays and Fridays in Stamford.

[MJF's smirk gets wider as the crowd boos.]

MJF: And, Punk? Here's a little reality check. This company never needed you in the first place, and they sure as hell didn't need you back. And believe me when I tell you - there's an entire locker room back there that resents you. And if I were you, I'd be watching my back.

[He drops the mic, leaving Punk in the ring as the crowd boos and his theme blares throughout the United Center.]

---

It's funny how linked Punk has become with "Cult of Personality". Like, can you imagine him coming out to any other song now? I remember way back when I had Punk get beat and retired by my douchiest of douche heels and in game I imagined that it'd be even more douchy for the heel to continue using "Cult of Personality" for the remainder of his career just to rub it in the faces of everyone.

I'm sure Punk's in-game stats are stellar but you're facing the same problem as some of your other older guys on the roster where the game might want to kick you in the balls and get Punk to hang things up sooner than you'd want.

FTW Championship: "El Toro Blanco" Rush w/ Preston Vance and Dralistico vs. Hook (C) w/ "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry

The first match in Collision history sees the dangerous Rush going up against the cold-hearted handsome devil Hook. Both men show a great degree of physicality, with Hook looking more challenged than he has in any AEW match to date.

Eventually the other members of La Faccion Ingobernable try to interject, but Jungle Boy throws caution to the wind and takes out both with a diving senton to the outside. As the referee deals with the chaos, another masked man sneaks into the ring and plants Hook with a Hammerlock DDT. He unmasks and it's ANDRADE EL IDOLO! We haven't seen him in months!

Rush picks up the pieces with a Rush Driver and gets the win! Hook has suffered his first AEW defeat, and Rush has stolen the FTW Championship away from Taz's son. LFI is even more dangerous, as it's a 4 on 2 beatdown on Hook and Perry. ***, 75% overall

---

A solid 3 stars is a perfectly acceptable way to start things off. I don't know how two major returns back-to-back in such a short span on the same show would play out in real life, but fuck it. Remember that one show I did where, like, 4 God damn people returned? :lol:

Nick Comoroto vs. Miro

Miro was advertised to return at Collision and "The Redeemer" made good on his word. He makes his return as something of a tweener, clearly getting cheers from the crowd but not looking like any less of a dangerous badass than he was when he was last seen.

Comoroto is a big hoss and he gives Miro a run for his money, but it's not too long before Miro locks in the Game Over to get a submission victory. Impressive return for Miro. **3/4, 70% overall

---

MIRO SMASH....LANA'S PUSSY!!!

Backstage, Mark Henry is standing by with the Best Friends - Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor along with International champion Orange Cassidy and TBS champion Kris Statlander.

Mark Henry: "We're standing by with the Best Friends. Guys, it's a big night for your group as you've got two title matches tonight. What are your thoughts?"

Trent Beretta: "You're exactly right, Mark! First off, our man Orange has a big title fight with Minoru Suzuki next week. He's taking on all comers, so it only makes sense that he fights another badass tonight, right Orange?"

[The always-aloof Orange simply gives a thumbs up]

Trent Beretta: "And let's not forget about Kris Statlander, as she continues to be a fighting champion and putting the title on the line in an open challenge."

[Kris flexes her impressive muscles]

Trent Beretta: "As for me and Chuck, well, next up for us..."

Chuck Taylor [interjecting]: "I'm gonna say the S-word on live television!"

Trent Beretta: "What? No! You can't say that."

Chuck Taylor: "Why not? Someone says it every week!"

Trent Beretta: "It's a new show! You're gonna get us in trouble right out of the gate."

Chuck Taylor: "No way! The censors give us one S-bomb a week. I'm lucky MJF didn't already use the quota. It's my turn to say it. I'm gonna say it."

Trent Beretta: "No man! I'm telling you, you can't say shit on television.........oops"

[Trent and Chuck walk off-screen bickering, leaving Kris rolling her eyes as Orange just shrugs and heads to the ring for the next match.]

---

I don't know what's funnier, the idea of Mark Henry just being part of the production crew or that final punchline. Reminds me of the South Park movie when the boys keep saying "fuck". :lol:

AEW International Championship: "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy vs. Lee Moriarty w/ Big Bill

Holy shit did these two ever have chemistry, 97% match rating! Unfortunately Lee's overness being in the 50s held things back in terms of overall, but with performances like this that might shoot up in a hurry.

Anyway, Cassidy's title reign has seen him get relentlessly punished week-in, week-out and Lee Moriarty's amateur background makes him a dangerous foe ahead of his match with the shoot fighter Suzuki at the PPV.

Big Bill tries to get himself involved only for Trent and Chuck to finish their bickering long enough to run him off as Orange puts down Lee with the Beach Blast. ****1/4, 81% overall

---

Lee Moriarty is a great name. Big Bill not so much. It sounds like a character in one of those 90s arcade fighting games. The cheap ones that tried copying Street Fighter. If Lee can hang, I don't see a reason why he can't get a push down the road.

The music of The Acclaimed hits as Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Daddy Ass make their way out for their Trios Title match. As Caster raises the microphone to his lips to perform his rap, no sound comes out. The crowd boo at the microphone's malfunctioning, only for the lights to go out too.

We hear grunts and chaos happening, and when the lights come back on - all three members of The Acclaimed are down and out with the House of Black menacingly standing over them.

The House make their way to the ring, daring the Acclaimed to fight. But try as the Acclaimed might to get up and head to the ring, the officials won't allow it and force them all to the back.

---

I wish the game let you do more with stables. Like, an angle that's Stable vs. Stable brawl or what have you. You'd be able to do wild pre-Survivor Series go home brawls proper.

The House of Black remain in the ring, smirking over the damage they caused The Acclaimed. But they still want to fight, and just like that, it seems we have an impromptu open challenge. The theme of the Hardys hits as the legendary tag team make their way out to the ring with Ethan Page reluctantly following behind them.

AEW Trios Championship: The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews (C) vs. The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) and "All Ego" Ethan Page

Hard to believe the Hardys are still doing their thing too, although even they've self-admitted that they see this as their final run before they hang up the boots and rest their surely wrecked spines. But hey, they're an asset in EWR because they're over, especially Jeff who is the very definition of the Unique gimmick.

Story of this match is the Hardys taking most of the damage with Page reluctant to be in this match at all. Page is a heel, and currently Big Money Matt "owns" his contract resultant from another feud that commenced at Double or Nothing.

When Matt goes to make a hot tag for Page, Page ducks off the apron and ignores his employer. When Jeff confronts him about it, Page and Jeff have a go at it. Jeff tries to give a Twist of Fate to Page on the ramp way only to get jumped by a returning Scorpio Sky! Ethan Page's former tag partner in the Men of the Year, and yet another return tonight.

As all this is happening, poor Matt's left for dead for the heels to pick the bones. Brody finishes off Matt with a Gonzo Bomb for the title retain. ***, 77% overall

---

I'm just shocked that the game didn't just start with Jeff already in rehab/arrested for drugs. I could absolutely see this popping a live crowd, though. Wrestling fans tend to remember the good more than the bad.

TBS Champion Kris Statlander is out next awaiting to see her opponent. The crowd is pleased to see the music of Hikaru Shida hit, and the longest reigning AEW Women's champion is out to look to reclaim gold.

TBS CHampionship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. Hikaru Shida

Holy Shida! I haven't booked her yet and I think this would be a good babyface vs. babyface match. Although the rating for this falls solidly into Scott Keith's "Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling" wheelhouse, it's kinda a shame that even the most talented women on the AEW roster have pretty bad stats in this save data. This match would be fantastic in real life. It will take years and years to get to the division to the extent yours is.

Anyway, the two have a solid, competitive match which sees Kris get the retain with the Big Bang Theory.

As she celebrates, a new challenger emerges as the music of Thunder Rosa hits. Yes, another return. Why the fuck not? She and Kris have an understanding staredown. **3/4, 68% overall

---

God damn, this is putting that one show of mine to shame with all of these returns. The thing with my women's division is that it easily could've gone the other way, with me ending up with a bunch of failures. I mainly just kept checking the Other Workers list after the end of every month to spot any potential gems in the mix. I would narrow things down to wrestlers aged 19-24 and pick the ones that had strong charisma ratings and the Diva/Superstar Look box checked. Getting them trained wasn't an issue as I kept them in long enough to get everything ridiculously high. But becoming the next Lisa Benton or Riott or Jenna or Faith? That's rare, and that's why they're the stars that they are. As long as Statlander is still rocking that juicy planet of an ass, I see no reason to feel bad about this outing.

AEW Tag Team Championship: The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Cero Miedo and Rey Fenix) w/ Alex Abrahantes vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (C)

Yeah it's a debut show in a major arena, so let's give the crowd another guaranteed banger. And holy hell these two did not disappoint, which is not remotely surprising given their previous battles within AEW a couple years back.

Anyway, this shit ruled ass and unlike their former battles where FTR played dirty, everything was above board in this one and FTR got the victory with the Big Rig after an intense back-and-forth, high-drama match.

Both teams are visually exhausted after the match, and then manage to muster the strength to stand in the ring and shake hands. As this happens, they suddenly find themselves jumped by Bullet Club Gold! Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Powerhouse Hobbs might officially be outnumbered 3 to 4, but those teams just went through a war and makes them all easy pickings. ****1/4, 87% overall

---

Look at that rating. That's the kind of shit that makes you proud. I keep wanting to read "Lucha Brothers" as "Lucha Dragons", which is silly because no fucking way Sin Cara is stumbling his ass into a 4-star+ match.

[Bullet Club Gold steps over the battered bodies of FTR and the Lucha Brothers as they strut to the center of the ring. The crowd’s boos are almost deafening, their heat for Bullet Club Gold palpable.]

[Jay White grabs a mic from the timekeeper's table and steps back into the ring. He raises the microphone to his mouth as the crowd's chants and boos get even louder. He smirks, basking in the animosity of the crowd.]

Jay White: "Hear that? That's the sound of fear. Fear, because you all know what's coming. You saw what we did to Ricky Starks last week, and you just witnessed what we're capable of."

[He points at the fallen wrestlers.]

Jay White: "You see this? This was your AEW Tag Team Champions. These were your warriors. This was your hope. And just like Ricky Starks last week, they have been decimated."

[White paces around the ring, his gaze focused on the crowd, feeding off their reactions.]

Jay White: "This isn't just about titles or championships. This is about dominance. This is about showing every single one of you that the Bullet Club Gold is the supreme faction in All Elite Wrestling. I've already proven that I'm the catalyst of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and now I'm gonna do the same here in AEW!"

[The crowd boos again, even louder than before.]

Jay White: "And let's not forget the newest addition to our family, Powerhouse Hobbs. A man who had previous history with Ricky Starks, his former friend-turned-enemy. The man who's become the embodiment of force and destruction. He is the future. He is the perfect edition to Bullet Club Gold."

[Just as White is about to continue, Ricky Starks hits and out comes Ricky Starks, armed with a steel chair.]

[Starks heads down to the ring. Seeing the babyfaces are beginning to stir again, Bullet Club Gold retreats, but not before White throws a last smirk at Starks.]

Jay White: "You're on borrowed time, Starks and the rest that dreck in the ring. We're not finished here. Not by a long shot."

[With those final words, Bullet Club Gold leaves the ring, leaving behind a chaos-filled scene as the crowd cheers for Starks.]

---

Personally I would've booked Starks to get destroyed again, but I'm kind of mean-spirited like that where I give the heels a lot of leeway in feuds. It's the result of seeing so many of them just absolutely neutered in the WWE.

CM Punk vs. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

No way I couldn't have Punk headlining in his first show back. It's his first match in 9 months so he needs to work with a fellow experienced vet to knock off any ring rust, and preferably someone he has experience with.

Enter Christopher Daniels. A man Punk's had wars with in Ring of Honor. Also, while not acknowledged on commentary, he's AEW's head of talent relations and here he is working a match with the guy coming off of a major talent relations issue. I like to think of this as an extreme form of probation.

Anyway, Daniels doesn't really wrestle much anymore but even at 53 he can absolutely still go when the situation calls for it. This match unsurprisingly ruled with Daniels getting the chance to defy Father Time. The result was never much in question though, as Punk hits the GTS and wins to get the hometown happy.

After the bell, MJF who had been watching on commentary goes onto the ramp and points at Punk. Punk eggs him on and gets the crowd in a frenzy. However, while he's focused on MJF he doesn't see that SAMOA JOE had entered the ring! Joe chokes out Punk! MJF warned Punk to watch his back, but what is the meaning of this? We are out of time! ****1/4, 88% overall

Wait, did I miss this match being advertised? I know Punk's appearance was hyped, but I didn't expect you to put him in a match right off the bat. I'd have made Punk's return speech the main event segment with Daniels coming in to make a challenge for the next show, then do MJF's interruption. I feel that was something that the WWE would do well when they were hyping up something huge and they strung the viewers along to keep them tuned in to the very end. Of course, HHH/Steiner falls into that category so they can't all be winners. This main event was a winner, though. I think I can remember a few of their matches from way back when on the indies. It's just so weird seeing these guys who were so unknown. Kind of like that underground band you love, you know? Now Punk is making more money than he every would've imagined and he's such a presence that it sends every locker room he's part of in a tizzy.

I'm not sure I'd tune in to the actual AEW based on this, because I'm sure it's booked and structured completely different. The hurdle would be if the unknowns (to me) have enough of a mind for the business that they could get me to care about them. The imaginary world will have to do for now...especially if I can imagine Penelope and Allie...

M-A-G

06-17-2023, 01:34 PM

God damn, I'm just realizing that it look me more than a year just to get through the month of November in the game. WTF was I doing? :(

Evil Vito

06-17-2023, 04:33 PM

Wait, did I miss this match being advertised? I know Punk's appearance was hyped, but I didn't expect you to put him in a match right off the bat. I'd have made Punk's return speech the main event segment with Daniels coming in to make a challenge for the next show, then do MJF's interruption. I feel that was something that the WWE would do well when they were hyping up something huge and they strung the viewers along to keep them tuned in to the very end. Of course, HHH/Steiner falls into that category so they can't all be winners. This main event was a winner, though. I think I can remember a few of their matches from way back when on the indies. It's just so weird seeing these guys who were so unknown. Kind of like that underground band you love, you know? Now Punk is making more money than he every would've imagined and he's such a presence that it sends every locker room he's part of in a tizzy.

I'm not sure I'd tune in to the actual AEW based on this, because I'm sure it's booked and structured completely different. The hurdle would be if the unknowns (to me) have enough of a mind for the business that they could get me to care about them. The imaginary world will have to do for now...especially if I can imagine Penelope and Allie...

So one big way that AEW differs from WWE - on your average episode of WWE TV you might have maybe 2 or 3 matches tops that you know of going in (and with all their promos and talky time, on a 2 hour show that might be the entirety of the matches)

Usually before the main event of each Dynamite, they announce big matches for next week’s Dynamite along with matches booked for Rampage and Collision. Before the main event of Rampage, they run down the Collision and Dynamite cards etc.

Any matches that aren’t announced during the broadcast usually are announced by Tony Khan over Twitter, usually with the explanation or lead-in. So you’ll never have an episode of Dynamite where you’re going in blind, you know the entire 5-6 match card before the show goes on the air

So no, you didn’t miss an announcement of Punk/Daniels but I assume in the game universe, the match was announced either during a pre-main event bumper add or online. I could totally hear Excalibur being like “and breaking news, CM Punk makes his in-ring return in Chicago against one of the most respected veterans in the sport, Christopher Daniels!” and the crowd would pop at the matchup graphic.

But alas, this is another example of where the game being 21 years old means you have to leave a bit more to the imagination. TEW gives you so much control and ability to book like a modern promotion since you have to allocate every minute of your TV time, but it’s complicated as hell.

Evil Vito

06-17-2023, 04:36 PM

And yes in the real life Collision debut tonight, Punk is wrestling. Teaming with FTR against Samoa Joe and Bullet Club Gold (Jay White and Juice Robinson…adding Powerhouse Hobbs to the group was my doing). Kinda glad to see the ‘OL Punker back in action but I hope he doesn’t fuck it up again.

Andrade is also returning to face Buddy Matthews. Miro is also said to be “in action”. “So and so in action” is one of the few times they don’t explicitly tell you a match…it’s basically just telling you Miro’s gonna squash some ROH/indy talent.

Evil Vito

06-17-2023, 04:37 PM

God damn, I'm just realizing that it look me more than a year just to get through the month of November in the game. WTF was I doing? :(

Life gets in the way! If I weren’t doing write ups I’d probably blitz through no problem.

Remembering being in high school and it was insanely easy to write out months of PPV cards and I only ever posted the PPVs, so I just plowed through year after year.

Evil Vito

06-19-2023, 05:52 PM

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AEW Dynamite
June 21, 2023

Dynamite at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago opens up with the steel cage already assembled in the ring. A big #1 contender's steel cage match is opening up the broadcast, with the winner going to Forbidden Door on Sunday!

Steel Cage Match: Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho

So the actual feud between these two had some decent angles but their lone singles match at Double or Nothing was actually pretty disappointing. I gave them a chance to make amends and they more than lived up to their end of the bargain. Both are good workers in the game of course but moreover they also have the overness and charisma to get the crowd invested.

After a match that saw both guys get busted wide open, Jericho puts Cole down with a Judas Effect and then begins his ascent up the cage, taking his sweet time to rub it in. He gets to the top of the cage and taunts the crowd, not realizing Cole's found a sudden last second wind! Cole shoots up the cage and both men sit atop the cage throwing punches.

Both men look precariously close to falling, they begin to lean back and start kicking one another while perched. Cole grabs Jericho's leg and twists it into part of the top part of the cage, then throws a stiff elbow. Jericho falls backward toward the ring but his leg is stuck! He's stuck in the cage! Cole makes his way down to the ring and gets the win! He will face SANADA for the IWGP Title on Sunday! ***1/2, 88% overall

---

Renee Paquette stands with The Elite - Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, and Adam Page. Behind them, the backstage area bustles with activity.

RENEE:
I'm here with The Elite. Gentleman...

Before she can even say anything, Adam Page interrupts, looking slightly troubled.

PAGE:
Sorry, Renee. I've had a lot on my mind all week, I owe some people an explanation. I gotta go find The Dark Order.

Page quickly exits, leaving Renee with the rest of The Elite.

RENEE:
Alright. Well, Young Bucks, you have a match tonight with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley. What's your strategy?

MATT:
Well, Renee, our strategy is simple. We're going to go out there and give our best. Danielson and Moxley are the cream of the crop, some of the tougest ecompetitors in the business, but we're not called The Elite for nothing.

NICK:
That's right. We're always ready, no matter who the opponent is. We know the Blackpool Combat Club are always going to have tricks up their sleeve, but they're making a mistake if they take us lightly.

Renee turns to Kenny.

RENEE:
Kenny, there's been a lot of talk about your upcoming match with Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door. How are you feeling about that, especially with a match against Kyle Fletcher coming up next?

Omega shakes his head, irritation flashing in his eyes.

OMEGA:
Don and his games. He managed to lobby management into setting up a match against Ospreay's underling Fletcher tonight. But I won't let that distract me. I have to focus on tonight. I have to focus on retaining my title on Sunday. Ospreay gave me one of the biggest fights of my career this past January, and I can't let this business with Callis and Takeshita get in the way of my preparation.

Tongiht, I take out United Empire. This Sunday, I will beat Will Ospreay in my home country of Canada to reclaim my IWGP United States Championship. This week The Elite will stand tall over both Blackpool Combat Club and United Empire.

Renee nods, wrapping up the interview.

RENEE:
Determined words from The Elite. We'll see how it all unfolds. Back to you.

---

Kenny Omega vs. Kyle Fletcher

Well, this was a "rookie" EWR move by me that I do every time I pick up a new game. I figured Jericho/Cole opening up would get the show on a hot start BUT I needed to put something after it that wouldn't be seen as a let down. I figured between Omega/Fletcher's talent and Omega being one of the most over and charismatic guys on the roster, it would offset Fletcher being a relative unknown. It was not so, and it went from being what might've been a high-60s, low-70s crowd reaction drop down to live 54.

Anyway, Fletcher is one half of the Aussie Open tag team with his currently injured tag partner Mark Davis. They were signed to NJPW until a month or so ago when they moved over to AEW. However they are canonically in the NJPW-based United Empire stable led by Omega's Forbidden Door opponent, Will Ospreay so this is a logical match to build to it.

Pretty straightforward here - Omega wins with the One Winged Angel. EWR gave it the 'ol squash match single line treatment but I imagined it was actually a solid match, with Don Callis possibly joining commentary. ***, 71% overall

---

Backstage, we see La Faccion Ingobernable rolling up to the building in a limo with Andrade sporting his trademark smirk and Rush carrying his newly won/stolen FTW Championship. They don't get very far before "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry and Hook take aim at them and a brawl breaks out in the parking lot.

JungleHook are willingly outnumbered but the element of surprise worked to their advantage as they kept the fight going until security broke up the brawl. Taz on commentary, usually one to side with the heels, expresses happiness that his son Hook isn't taking any shit after having the family title stolen from him.

---

Trios Match: Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, and Chuck Taylor) vs. Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade w/ Penelope Ford and The Bunny

Trent and Chuck continue to try to run Orange through the ringer by booking him against dangerous opponents to get him ready for Suzuki, and that continues here with Butcher and Blade always being their menacing selves and Sabian being someone who has had a tightly contested title match against Orange before.

Your pretty standard decent trios fare here with everyone doing their thing and Orange waking up for the babyface hot tag. The Bunny tries to grab Orange's leg at ringside but accidentally grabs The Blade's instead, the temporary distraction leading to a Superman Punch and the win for the face team. **3/4, 72% overall

---

[The screen fades in on Renee Paquette, standing backstage with the members of The Jericho Appreciation Society. Chris Jericho's battle scars from the steel cage match against Adam Cole are clear on his face. He's a picture of despair, his expression a stark contrast to the confident smirks on the faces of his teammates.]

Renee Paquette: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm standing here with The Jericho Appreciation Society. First, Daniel Garcia, the reigning ROH Pure Champion. Daniel, you're facing Katsuyori Shibata at Forbidden Door. How are you feeling about this?"

Daniel Garcia: "Renee, let's be clear here. Katsuyori Shibata is a legend, a warrior... But he hasn't faced me yet. I respect him, but I won't hesitate to put him down. At Forbidden Door, the ring will be my battlefield, and I'll show him why I'm the ROH Pure Champion."

[The camera shifts to Sammy Guevara.]

Renee Paquette: "Sammy, two weeks ago, FTR beat Angelo Parker and Matt Menard. You're challenging them now, is that right?"

Sammy Guevara: "You're damn right, Renee! FTR, you had your fun with Parker and Menard, but now it's our turn. Jake Hager and I, we're not just another tag team. I'm the Spanish God, we're Sammy Hager, baby! We're throwing down the gauntlet, and we're coming for those Tag Titles!"

[Now the focus falls on Chris Jericho, and the atmosphere noticeably shifts.]

Renee Paquette: "Chris, I've noticed you've been quiet since your loss to Adam Cole earlier tonight. This has been a tough year for you with several high-profile losses. Now that your quest to become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has ended, what's your next move?"

[Jericho looks like he wants to answer. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. The silence stretches out, and the others exchange worried glances.]

[Jericho tries again, a determined look crossing his face, but once more, no words come. He seems to crumble, a man lost and defeated. Without a word, he turns and walks off set, leaving the others behind.]

[The camera lingers on the stunned faces of The Jericho Appreciation Society, and Renee Paquette looks equally shocked.]

Renee Paquette: "Well... it seems that tonight has taken a significant toll on Chris Jericho. We'll keep you updated on the situation as it develops. Back to you, guys."

[The camera fades out, leaving the viewers in suspense about the future of Chris Jericho and The Jericho Appreciation Society.]

---

NJPW Strong Women's Championship: Willow Nightingale (C) vs. Saraya w/ Toni Storm and Ruby Soho

Over the weekend at an NJPW show, Toni Storm laid out a challenge to Willow to do a title for title match on Collision, which Willow readily accepted. But The Outcasts then jumped her, and somehow this resulted in Saraya goading Willow into putting her title up for grabs against her first.

Pretty solid match all-in-all, very possibly Saraya's best AEW match to date with her heel antics playing well against the fiery babyface Willow. Willow seemed to have Saraya ready to be finished off only for Toni to just blast spray paint directly in Willow's eye, causing the DQ.

Willow keeps her title, but at what cost? The Outcasts perform a 3-on-1 beatdown until Britt Baker runs out to help, and the Outcasts take their leave, mocking the blinded Willow along the way. ***, 73% overall

---

[Lights dim, then an arrogant MJF struts into the ring, microphone in hand. The crowd, already chanting "CM Punk", grows even louder.]

MJF: First of all, Chicago, will you shut up! You sound like a bunch of seals at the zoo. I'm the AEW World Champion, and you will respect me!

[The crowd's CM Punk chants continue, only growing louder.]

MJF: So, let's talk about last Friday's Collision. I warned Punk. I warned him to watch his back. And what does he do? He brushes me off and gets choked out by Samoa Joe.

[He grins, shrugging.]

MJF: Now let me clarify something. I had absolutely no idea Samoa Joe would attack Punk. But I can't say I'm surprised. Punk was never one for heeding warnings, was he?

[The crowd booing grows louder.]

MJF: Now, with Punk and Joe out of the way, let's turn our attention to the match this Sunday at Forbidden Door. Tetsuya Naito, the pride and joy of that rinky-dink indie promotion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

MJF: Naito, do you honestly believe you stand a chance against me? Your boring, methodical style might fool the fans in Japan, but I see right through it.

[He smirks, arms crossed.]

MJF: New Japan Pro-Wrestling... It's funny how a company with 'Pro' in its name is anything but. But don't worry, I won't let this prestigious AEW World Title fall into the hands of that circus act you call a wrestling company.

[He raises the AEW World Title high, the crowd's booing reaching a crescendo.]

MJF: This Sunday, I'm not just fighting for myself. I'm fighting for every AEW fan, for every person who values real wrestling. I'm fighting to prove that AEW is the only company worthy of this title. And I'm the only man worthy of holding it. All of New Japan will know that I'm better than them, and they know it.

[He drops the microphone, his music blares, and he leaves the ring, the crowd's boos echoing around the arena.]

---

TNT Championship: Wardlow (C) vs. Big Bill w/ Lee Moriarty

Lee Moriarty had a helluva showing in a title match on Friday, so why not give Bill a go at gold as well? Though he isn't anywhere as good of an all-round worker as Lee, he's a good 7 ft tall brawler and that meshes well with Wardlow who is coming off of a hoss fight last week and now jumping straight into another one.

Anyway after a rough and tumble match and evading Lee at ringside, Wardlow finishes off Bill with one of his biggest powerbombs ever. After the bell, it sure seems like his string of hoss fights is just beginning as here comes Jake "The Snake" Roberts leading down Lance Archer to stare down the champion. Guess we have a new challenger! ***1/4, 77% overall

---

Renee Paquette stands again backstage. Flanking her are Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley of the Blackpool Combat Club.

RENEE:
Jon, Bryan, in just a few moments you will be facing off against The Young Bucks just days ahead of Forbidden Door. What are your thoughts?

Moxley grins, a hint of ferocity in his eyes.

MOXLEY:
Two weeks ago I threw out an open challenge for Forbidden Door and guess what? Tomohiro Ishii stepped up. The Stone Pitbull himself. One of the toughest son of a bitches I've ever been in the ring with. Ishii, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into coming at me again. The man you faced four years ago is not the same man you are stepping into the ring with now.

The crowd reacts, their excitement audible even from backstage. Renee turns to Danielson.

RENEE:
Bryan, your match with Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door is being called a dream match. What's your take?

Danielson smirks, his confidence unwavering.

DANIELSON:
It's not just a dream match, Renee. It's THE dream match. Okada might be the 'Rainmaker', but I've been making dreams come true in the ring for longer than he's been around. It's going to be a match that people will talk about for decades, and when all is said and done the American Dragon will do what he does best and kick someone's head in.

Renee nods, a question already on her lips.

RENEE:
And what about your match with the Young Bucks? Are you concerned about wrestling this match before doing battle against Okada?

Danielson laughs, dismissive and confident.

DANIELSON:
The Young Bucks? I've been saying this about The Elite for months. They're amateurs. Their flashy style might impress some, but it takes more than flips and superkicks to make it in this business. They're about to learn a tough lesson tonight.

RENEE:
Strong words from the Blackpool Combat Club. We'll see how this all unfolds in the ring. Back to you.

---

Tag Team Match: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley) w/ Wheeler Yuta

Well, for the second TV show in a row I got a tag match that completely ruled and, in this case, it led to me getting the highest match rating I've had in this match save. The styles just blended perfectly here with the speedster Bucks, master technician Danielson and brawler Moxley. They was just something for everyone here.

Wheeler Yuta tries to involve himself in affairs one time too many, leading to his ejection. As he protests, the ref doesn't see Claudio Castagnoli enter from the crowd. He leaps onto the apron just as Matt Jackson was going to attempt a springboard, massive uppercut!

Matt is in the ring stunned, he gets up slowly, turns around and receives a Busaiku Knee. BCC get the win and some momentum heading into Sunday.

The BCC put the boots to the Bucks as the crowd boos. The crowd chants for help and after some time has passed Hangman Page finally runs out with a bullrope and the BCC decide they've had enough, leaving through the crowd laughing as Page tends to the Bucks. ****1/2, 92% overall

83% overall show rating. Multiple 90-rated promos helped prop this show up even higher.

Evil Vito

06-19-2023, 06:05 PM

Card set for AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door:

AEW World Championship: MJF (C) vs. Tetsuya Naito

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Adam Cole vs. SANADA (C)

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Kenny Omega (C) vs. Will Ospreay

AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (C) vs. Minoru Suzuki

ROH Television Championship and IWGP Television Championship: Samoa Joe (C) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (C)

ROH Pure Championship: Daniel Garcia (C) vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada

CM Punk vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii

---

I would've put the Toni Storm vs. Willow Nightingale title for title match on the PPV because, in real life, not only do I think that match is happening on the card but also AEW would get understandably ethered if they had a PPV without a women's match. Similarly, there's no way there won't be tag matches on the PPV.

But this is just one of those deals where I have to book to the limitations of what the game gives me. Real-life AEW PPVs are infrequent so they load the cards up more than I'm allowed to in game. Plus, I have the entire NJPW roster available to me on Open deals, and I think they will be largely unavailable through most of July due to touring commitments.

Besides that, I have a huge roster and don't want to overuse NJPW talent. Both because it would get expensive in-game and also because it's not particularly realistic, the NJPW guys mostly just show up at certain times of the year. So this show is about just doing a 9-match "dream card" of AEW vs. NJPW singles matches while I can.

Technically Toni vs. Willow wouldn't fit there either because NJPW doesn't have a formal women's division. Their women come primarily through their sister promotion STARDOM, other joshi feds, AEW etc. But for all intents it would be an AEW vs. AEW match.

The one NJPW-contracted woman's wrestler I'd happily book is injured (in real life) so for realism purposes I'm avoiding using her right now. But I'm sure at some point, I'll have to look at my Bank Statement to see if I can afford to bring her in, if you catch my drift.

Evil Vito

06-20-2023, 12:11 AM

Fuck it, another show today. Trying to see if I can stay ahead of the pace of real-life AEW which means I'd need to hammer out Collision and Forbidden Door by the weekend.

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AEW Rampage
June 23, 2023

The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver) w/ Evil Uno and Stu Grayson vs. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry and J.D. Drake)

Dark Order kicking off Rampage for a second week in a row. The Workhorsemen are the kind of team that probably would get the "already in the ring" treatment in entrances. They are among a handful of talent on the roster who are actually pretty talented in-ring wrestlers but nobody would know them unless they watched AEW Dark when that was around. This is reflected in their very low overness, like high 30s/low 40s.

At the same time, they also indy veterans who are nearly 40 years old each so there's no point in sending them down to ROH to build overness. And much like the real AEW I probably won't be future endeavoring people unless they cause issues or I start losing money in-game. So they will likely just top out at solid hands to put against my regular tag teams to get a decent match. 80 quality for this one but the lack of a crowd reaction impacted the star rating.

The announcers speculate on if Hangman was able to make contact and amends with the Dark Order on Wednesday, but their questions are seemingly answered with Reynolds and Silver showing the same mean streak the group showed last week. Reynolds puts away Henry with a Fisherman Buster for the victory.

After the bell, Drake returns to the ring for a cheap shot but Uno and Grayson hop in to save their mates and they hit him with a Fatality for his troubles. The Dark Order stand tall and as pissed off as we've seen them in a long while. **3/4, 68% overall

---

TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. The Bunny w/ Penelope Ford

Kris Statlander has been keeping herself busy. First a Shida title defense, then being confronted by Thunder Rosa, and now issuing a challenge to either Bunny or Ford after they interjected themselves into the Best Friends' trios match on Dynamite.

The Bunny aka Allie is a veteran of the ring wars and her styles ended up gelling quite well with Kris'. Competitive all-around match ends with Stat finishing off Bunny with the Big Bang Theory. Penelope cheap shots her afterward, apparently wanting a chance against the champ too. ***, 73% overall

---

Next up we have a video package hyping up the matches for Forbidden Door. It couldn't be that I created a stable called "Forbidden Door" featuring all of the AEW talent on the card and ran a stable video for it. Nope not at all!

---

Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis vs. Bandido

Well last week I put Takeshita against a luchadore and the match was solid but suffered from crowd reaction. I'm giving it another go here, Bandido is not only more over than Takeshita's last opponent but the styles on paper seem they should mesh well.

And mesh they did. 92% quality match with Scott Keith admitting he was considering giving it 4 stars. Sadly, the crowd reaction did still play a part in this but not to the extent of last time. These two have a banger with Takeshita of course winning via Zahi Knee. ***1/2, 75% overall

---

[The arena is raucous after that competitive match. BANDIDO is slumped in a corner of the ring, spent and beaten. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA stands victorious in the center, his breathing heavy but his stance unbowed. DON CALLIS makes his way into the ring, microphone in hand, a devilish grin on his face.]

CALLIS: [Raises mic, his voice booming over the cheers and boos of the crowd] "Ladies and gentlemen, what you just witnessed was not an upset. It was not a surprise. What you saw was an inevitability!"

[The crowd reacts, with boos filling the air. Callis raises a hand, waiting for them to quiet. Takeshita remains stoic, silently standing guard.]

CALLIS: "Look around you, at the landscape of AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Think of the names. [He chuckles] Adam Cole. Kazuchika Okada. Hiroshi Tanahashi. 'Hangman' Adam Page. Tremendous talents, no doubt about it. But there's a new force rising. A man who stands tall above them all!"

[He places an arm around Takeshita, squeezing his shoulder.]

CALLIS: "This man, my 'son', Konosuke Takeshita! He didn't just defeat Bandido tonight, no... he made a statement. A statement that he will be making over and over again from this day forward that says he's better. Better than all of them. And, most importantly, he is certainly better than you, Kenny Omega!"

[The crowd roars, a cacophony of boos flooding the arena. Callis pauses, soaking in the reaction, then continues.]

CALLIS: "So Kenny, listen up. You've got a mountain to climb this Sunday against Will Ospreay. And let me tell you, that's a steep climb. But even if you make it to the summit, even if you somehow keep hold of your IWGP United States Championship... what then, Kenny?"

[He pulls Takeshita in closer.]

CALLIS: "You'll find another mountain waiting. A mountain named Takeshita. And he's not just any peak, Kenny. He's Everest. He's K2. And when you're spent and gasping for breath... Konosuke by god Takeshita will be there, ready to cast you down."

[Callis drops the mic, the sound reverberating throughout the arena. He leaves the ring with Takeshita, their silhouettes receding under the blinding lights as the crowd's reactions continue to pour in.]

---

Darby Allin vs. "The Machine" Brian Cage

In my last EWR game I had these two wrestle and was impressed with how well they gelled, they have opposing stats but the big meaty but still agile powerhouse dude gelled well with the small underdog guy who throws his body around with reckless abandon. Now that Darby's involved himself in Mogul Embassy business, I can try running it back.

And sure enough, it still works! I imagine Darby spends most of the match getting ragdolled as he usually does, with maybe a few flash nearfalls that nearly take the big man out.

As one point, Cage is lying on the apron and that mad bastard Darby goes off for a Coffin Drop. He leaps up and...Swerve Strickland slipped into the ringside area and pulled Cage away! Darby lands onto the apron back first, bah gawd that's gotta hurt.

Darby is writing in the ground in pain and Cage slides into the ring before the 10 count for a cheap victory!

Swerve instructs Cage to bring Darby back into the ring to inflict more punishment. As Swerve heads up top for a Swerve Stomp, the lights go out. When they come back on, Sting is in the ring with his trademark baseball bat. The Mogul Embassy leave well enough alone and exit the ring. Sting checks on Darby as Rampage goes off the air. ****, 80% overall

78% overall show rating

M-A-G

06-20-2023, 07:35 AM

AEW Dynamite
June 21, 2023

Dynamite at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago opens up with the steel cage already assembled in the ring. A big #1 contender's steel cage match is opening up the broadcast, with the winner going to Forbidden Door on Sunday!

Steel Cage Match: Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho

So the actual feud between these two had some decent angles but their lone singles match at Double or Nothing was actually pretty disappointing. I gave them a chance to make amends and they more than lived up to their end of the bargain. Both are good workers in the game of course but moreover they also have the overness and charisma to get the crowd invested.

After a match that saw both guys get busted wide open, Jericho puts Cole down with a Judas Effect and then begins his ascent up the cage, taking his sweet time to rub it in. He gets to the top of the cage and taunts the crowd, not realizing Cole's found a sudden last second wind! Cole shoots up the cage and both men sit atop the cage throwing punches.

Both men look precariously close to falling, they begin to lean back and start kicking one another while perched. Cole grabs Jericho's leg and twists it into part of the top part of the cage, then throws a stiff elbow. Jericho falls backward toward the ring but his leg is stuck! He's stuck in the cage! Cole makes his way down to the ring and gets the win! He will face SANADA for the IWGP Title on Sunday! ***1/2, 88% overall

---
Odd choice to not save something like a cage match for the main event, but I've done way sillier. Not sure if you're working towards making the title match a triple threat or it's a way to get Jericho out of the way and provide the rub. What kind of cages does AEW use anyway? Do they even do cage matches?

Renee Paquette stands with The Elite - Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, and Adam Page. Behind them, the backstage area bustles with activity.

RENEE:
I'm here with The Elite. Gentleman...

Before she can even say anything, Adam Page interrupts, looking slightly troubled.

PAGE:
Sorry, Renee. I've had a lot on my mind all week, I owe some people an explanation. I gotta go find The Dark Order.

Page quickly exits, leaving Renee with the rest of The Elite.

RENEE:
Alright. Well, Young Bucks, you have a match tonight with Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley. What's your strategy?

MATT:
Well, Renee, our strategy is simple. We're going to go out there and give our best. Danielson and Moxley are the cream of the crop, some of the tougest ecompetitors in the business, but we're not called The Elite for nothing.

NICK:
That's right. We're always ready, no matter who the opponent is. We know the Blackpool Combat Club are always going to have tricks up their sleeve, but they're making a mistake if they take us lightly.

Renee turns to Kenny.

RENEE:
Kenny, there's been a lot of talk about your upcoming match with Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door. How are you feeling about that, especially with a match against Kyle Fletcher coming up next?

Omega shakes his head, irritation flashing in his eyes.

OMEGA:
Don and his games. He managed to lobby management into setting up a match against Ospreay's underling Fletcher tonight. But I won't let that distract me. I have to focus on tonight. I have to focus on retaining my title on Sunday. Ospreay gave me one of the biggest fights of my career this past January, and I can't let this business with Callis and Takeshita get in the way of my preparation.

Tongiht, I take out United Empire. This Sunday, I will beat Will Ospreay in my home country of Canada to reclaim my IWGP United States Championship. This week The Elite will stand tall over both Blackpool Combat Club and United Empire.

Renee nods, wrapping up the interview.

RENEE:
Determined words from The Elite. We'll see how it all unfolds. Back to you.

---

It's kind of funny how Page just bolted and the rest of the group didn't even bother acknowledging his departure. :lol:

Kenny Omega vs. Kyle Fletcher

Well, this was a "rookie" EWR move by me that I do every time I pick up a new game. I figured Jericho/Cole opening up would get the show on a hot start BUT I needed to put something after it that wouldn't be seen as a let down. I figured between Omega/Fletcher's talent and Omega being one of the most over and charismatic guys on the roster, it would offset Fletcher being a relative unknown. It was not so, and it went from being what might've been a high-60s, low-70s crowd reaction drop down to live 54.

Anyway, Fletcher is one half of the Aussie Open tag team with his currently injured tag partner Mark Davis. They were signed to NJPW until a month or so ago when they moved over to AEW. However they are canonically in the NJPW-based United Empire stable led by Omega's Forbidden Door opponent, Will Ospreay so this is a logical match to build to it.

Pretty straightforward here - Omega wins with the One Winged Angel. EWR gave it the 'ol squash match single line treatment but I imagined it was actually a solid match, with Don Callis possibly joining commentary. ***, 71% overall

---

Yeah, if you have even one dude who is just not over and even less so than people that went on before, the crowd isn't having it. I know the WWE and AEW have their ways of structuring their shows, but it's not feasible in a game like EWR if you're wanting great overall ratings throughout the show. Can you imagine if you did what WWE did for WrestleMania 18 and putting on something like a women's match immediately after something like Rock vs. Hogan? I mean, I'll take Trish and Lita over the Hulkadoofus any day of the week but a lot of wrestling fans don't have my sophisticated taste....

Backstage, we see La Faccion Ingobernable rolling up to the building in a limo with Andrade sporting his trademark smirk and Rush carrying his newly won/stolen FTW Championship. They don't get very far before "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry and Hook take aim at them and a brawl breaks out in the parking lot.

JungleHook are willingly outnumbered but the element of surprise worked to their advantage as they kept the fight going until security broke up the brawl. Taz on commentary, usually one to side with the heels, expresses happiness that his son Hook isn't taking any shit after having the family title stolen from him.

---

"JungleHook". I see what you did there. A good old fashioned backstage fight is one of wrestling's bare necessities after all...:shifty:

Trios Match: Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, and Chuck Taylor) vs. Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade w/ Penelope Ford and The Bunny

Trent and Chuck continue to try to run Orange through the ringer by booking him against dangerous opponents to get him ready for Suzuki, and that continues here with Butcher and Blade always being their menacing selves and Sabian being someone who has had a tightly contested title match against Orange before.

Your pretty standard decent trios fare here with everyone doing their thing and Orange waking up for the babyface hot tag. The Bunny tries to grab Orange's leg at ringside but accidentally grabs The Blade's instead, the temporary distraction leading to a Superman Punch and the win for the face team. **3/4, 72% overall

---

The Bunny can grab my leg anytime. I wonder if the expression "humps like a rabbit" applies.

[The screen fades in on Renee Paquette, standing backstage with the members of The Jericho Appreciation Society. Chris Jericho's battle scars from the steel cage match against Adam Cole are clear on his face. He's a picture of despair, his expression a stark contrast to the confident smirks on the faces of his teammates.]

Renee Paquette: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm standing here with The Jericho Appreciation Society. First, Daniel Garcia, the reigning ROH Pure Champion. Daniel, you're facing Katsuyori Shibata at Forbidden Door. How are you feeling about this?"

Daniel Garcia: "Renee, let's be clear here. Katsuyori Shibata is a legend, a warrior... But he hasn't faced me yet. I respect him, but I won't hesitate to put him down. At Forbidden Door, the ring will be my battlefield, and I'll show him why I'm the ROH Pure Champion."

[The camera shifts to Sammy Guevara.]

Renee Paquette: "Sammy, two weeks ago, FTR beat Angelo Parker and Matt Menard. You're challenging them now, is that right?"

Sammy Guevara: "You're damn right, Renee! FTR, you had your fun with Parker and Menard, but now it's our turn. Jake Hager and I, we're not just another tag team. I'm the Spanish God, we're Sammy Hager, baby! We're throwing down the gauntlet, and we're coming for those Tag Titles!"

[Now the focus falls on Chris Jericho, and the atmosphere noticeably shifts.]

Renee Paquette: "Chris, I've noticed you've been quiet since your loss to Adam Cole earlier tonight. This has been a tough year for you with several high-profile losses. Now that your quest to become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has ended, what's your next move?"

[Jericho looks like he wants to answer. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. The silence stretches out, and the others exchange worried glances.]

[Jericho tries again, a determined look crossing his face, but once more, no words come. He seems to crumble, a man lost and defeated. Without a word, he turns and walks off set, leaving the others behind.]

[The camera lingers on the stunned faces of The Jericho Appreciation Society, and Renee Paquette looks equally shocked.]

Renee Paquette: "Well... it seems that tonight has taken a significant toll on Chris Jericho. We'll keep you updated on the situation as it develops. Back to you, guys."

[The camera fades out, leaving the viewers in suspense about the future of Chris Jericho and The Jericho Appreciation Society.]

---

I'm imagining doing something similar to this whenever I decide to finally job Michael Hotbody out. Imagine being so shocked over a defeat that it causes a cerebral malfunction.

NJPW Strong Women's Championship: Willow Nightingale (C) vs. Saraya w/ Toni Storm and Ruby Soho

Over the weekend at an NJPW show, Toni Storm laid out a challenge to Willow to do a title for title match on Collision, which Willow readily accepted. But The Outcasts then jumped her, and somehow this resulted in Saraya goading Willow into putting her title up for grabs against her first.

Pretty solid match all-in-all, very possibly Saraya's best AEW match to date with her heel antics playing well against the fiery babyface Willow. Willow seemed to have Saraya ready to be finished off only for Toni to just blast spray paint directly in Willow's eye, causing the DQ.

Willow keeps her title, but at what cost? The Outcasts perform a 3-on-1 beatdown until Britt Baker runs out to help, and the Outcasts take their leave, mocking the blinded Willow along the way. ***, 73% overall

---

Pssh, like that's the first time Willow has been sprayed in the face. I looked her up and it's an interesting change of pace to have a woman with that kind of build. It happens all the time in Japan, but the most we ever had over here was Awesome Kong. Speaking of which, she's not on your roster now, right? She could be a decent opponent for Willow.

[Lights dim, then an arrogant MJF struts into the ring, microphone in hand. The crowd, already chanting "CM Punk", grows even louder.]

MJF: First of all, Chicago, will you shut up! You sound like a bunch of seals at the zoo. I'm the AEW World Champion, and you will respect me!

[The crowd's CM Punk chants continue, only growing louder.]

MJF: So, let's talk about last Friday's Collision. I warned Punk. I warned him to watch his back. And what does he do? He brushes me off and gets choked out by Samoa Joe.

[He grins, shrugging.]

MJF: Now let me clarify something. I had absolutely no idea Samoa Joe would attack Punk. But I can't say I'm surprised. Punk was never one for heeding warnings, was he?

[The crowd booing grows louder.]

MJF: Now, with Punk and Joe out of the way, let's turn our attention to the match this Sunday at Forbidden Door. Tetsuya Naito, the pride and joy of that rinky-dink indie promotion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

MJF: Naito, do you honestly believe you stand a chance against me? Your boring, methodical style might fool the fans in Japan, but I see right through it.

[He smirks, arms crossed.]

MJF: New Japan Pro-Wrestling... It's funny how a company with 'Pro' in its name is anything but. But don't worry, I won't let this prestigious AEW World Title fall into the hands of that circus act you call a wrestling company.

[He raises the AEW World Title high, the crowd's booing reaching a crescendo.]

MJF: This Sunday, I'm not just fighting for myself. I'm fighting for every AEW fan, for every person who values real wrestling. I'm fighting to prove that AEW is the only company worthy of this title. And I'm the only man worthy of holding it. All of New Japan will know that I'm better than them, and they know it.

[He drops the microphone, his music blares, and he leaves the ring, the crowd's boos echoing around the arena.]

---

I know he's supposed to lay it on pretty thick with the exaggeration, but New Japan really was on the rocks last I heard when I had stopped following wrestling. The inevitable MJF/Punk payoff should give you a nice return, save for the hand of the DUD show sticking itself in the middle of it all.

TNT Championship: Wardlow (C) vs. Big Bill w/ Lee Moriarty

Lee Moriarty had a helluva showing in a title match on Friday, so why not give Bill a go at gold as well? Though he isn't anywhere as good of an all-round worker as Lee, he's a good 7 ft tall brawler and that meshes well with Wardlow who is coming off of a hoss fight last week and now jumping straight into another one.

Anyway after a rough and tumble match and evading Lee at ringside, Wardlow finishes off Bill with one of his biggest powerbombs ever. After the bell, it sure seems like his string of hoss fights is just beginning as here comes Jake "The Snake" Roberts leading down Lance Archer to stare down the champion. Guess we have a new challenger! ***1/4, 77% overall

---

It'd be a funny twist if Jake was the actual next challenger instead of Archer. :lol:

Renee Paquette stands again backstage. Flanking her are Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley of the Blackpool Combat Club.

RENEE:
Jon, Bryan, in just a few moments you will be facing off against The Young Bucks just days ahead of Forbidden Door. What are your thoughts?

Moxley grins, a hint of ferocity in his eyes.

MOXLEY:
Two weeks ago I threw out an open challenge for Forbidden Door and guess what? Tomohiro Ishii stepped up. The Stone Pitbull himself. One of the toughest son of a bitches I've ever been in the ring with. Ishii, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into coming at me again. The man you faced four years ago is not the same man you are stepping into the ring with now.

The crowd reacts, their excitement audible even from backstage. Renee turns to Danielson.

RENEE:
Bryan, your match with Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door is being called a dream match. What's your take?

Danielson smirks, his confidence unwavering.

DANIELSON:
It's not just a dream match, Renee. It's THE dream match. Okada might be the 'Rainmaker', but I've been making dreams come true in the ring for longer than he's been around. It's going to be a match that people will talk about for decades, and when all is said and done the American Dragon will do what he does best and kick someone's head in.

Renee nods, a question already on her lips.

RENEE:
And what about your match with the Young Bucks? Are you concerned about wrestling this match before doing battle against Okada?

Danielson laughs, dismissive and confident.

DANIELSON:
The Young Bucks? I've been saying this about The Elite for months. They're amateurs. Their flashy style might impress some, but it takes more than flips and superkicks to make it in this business. They're about to learn a tough lesson tonight.

RENEE:
Strong words from the Blackpool Combat Club. We'll see how this all unfolds in the ring. Back to you.

---

Not for nothing, doesn't anybody think it might be time for the "Young" Bucks to change their name? Just The Bucks would be fine at this point in time. Don't people bring it up when they do promos against them? Also, if I were Moxley and I'm doing an interview with my wife Renee, I'd do whatever I could to get her to corpse on camera. Sure, I'd be sleeping on the couch all the time, but I'd still be married to Renee.

Tag Team Match: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley) w/ Wheeler Yuta

Well, for the second TV show in a row I got a tag match that completely ruled and, in this case, it led to me getting the highest match rating I've had in this match save. The styles just blended perfectly here with the speedster Bucks, master technician Danielson and brawler Moxley. They was just something for everyone here.

Wheeler Yuta tries to involve himself in affairs one time too many, leading to his ejection. As he protests, the ref doesn't see Claudio Castagnoli enter from the crowd. He leaps onto the apron just as Matt Jackson was going to attempt a springboard, massive uppercut!

Matt is in the ring stunned, he gets up slowly, turns around and receives a Busaiku Knee. BCC get the win and some momentum heading into Sunday.

The BCC put the boots to the Bucks as the crowd boos. The crowd chants for help and after some time has passed Hangman Page finally runs out with a bullrope and the BCC decide they've had enough, leaving through the crowd laughing as Page tends to the Bucks. ****1/2, 92% overall

83% overall show rating. Multiple 90-rated promos helped prop this show up even higher.

Yeah, never underestimate the power of your non-wrestling segments fueled by the power of your most charismatic workers. Even when you've got your lower-card guys not bringing the crowd to life, 2 or 3 great interviews will most certainly get you over the top. The best is when you get the elusive 100% segment rating and/or your workers earn points toward their overness. I've had people get up to 6 points of additional overness sometimes. It's rare, but it helps when you've got the right people feuding.

I'm halfway through the Slammy edition of Superstars and I'm aiming to finish it by the end of the day. It came out better than expected, all things considered, but it helps that you picked winners that were going to add a lot to the proceedings.

M-A-G

06-20-2023, 07:44 AM

The one NJPW-contracted woman's wrestler I'd happily book is injured (in real life) so for realism purposes I'm avoiding using her right now. But I'm sure at some point, I'll have to look at my Bank Statement to see if I can afford to bring her in, if you catch my drift.

Oh, I definitely smell what you're drifting...

https://i.imgur.com/Uu683O3.gif

Seriously, this is one of biggest reasons racism is stupid. You're gonna turn down a fine cut of prime dark meat like this? I don't think so.

M-A-G

06-20-2023, 09:16 AM

Superstars: December 6, 2040

SLAMMY NIGHT!!!

We're not wasting any time getting into it as Lisa Benton welcomes us to the show as she's out here to present the first award for the night: Tag Team of the Year. There are a few awards that won't be presented here live for the sake of time, but rest assured they will still be acknowledged throughout the night and everyone can view exclusive interviews with the winners on WWE.com or on the app. But back to the Tag Team of the Year. Some of these nominees are set to participant in the opening match so now is the best time to tackle this award. We're shown the nominees and ultimately Lisa announces the recipients of the award as the former Unified Tag Team Champions, The Royal Effect!

Moses McKay and King Kavovit make their way out looking ready to go, but even more so, looking thrilled and elated that they've been picked to receive this award. McKay gets on the mic and says that even with the limited capacity for thought that permeates the WWE audience, they still had no choice but to acknowledge the tremendous ability and presence of the Royal Effect! Kavovit adds that it's a testament to their superiority that they formed halfway through the year and they still came out on top of the heap. It's the perfect allegory for the situation with the Tag Team Titles. Blaine Bellamy and Robbie Greer may have those belts now, but the fruits of robbery are never savored very long and whether anyone likes it or not, The Royal Effect will come out on top of that situation, too, and get back what's rightfully theirs. If the Wyldhearts don't like it, they can try doing something about it right now in this match!

Opening Match: The Royal Effect and The Future Foundation vs. The Wyldhearts and the Love Connection
These kinds of matches are always great. I wonder if the tag ratings of each team gets taken into account for the overall score. It's a wild way to start things and it only gets wilder as it breaks down in the end as it turns into a pier six affair and Coleman and McKay are legal for their teams. Vivian hops up on the apron to distract Coleman and the ref but Aphrodite comes in to put a stop to that. Unfortunately, that gives McKay the time he needs to whack Coleman from behind with his newly acquired Slammy and that's going to give the heels the cheap pinfall victory. The Royal Effect walk away with their awards in hand, gesturing that they want the titles back. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Going to break, a video does the honors of Manager of the Year, which is snagged by Luscious. Oh, joy.

Back from break, Lisa Benton is ready to present another award, this time for Shocker of the Year! This award is presented to the people who created a moment in time worthy enough to rattle everyone in the WWE and the fans. 2040 was full of those kinds of moments, but which was the biggest? As before, the nominees play on the big screen. We await with baited breath as Lisa opens the envelope to read the winner...it's Butch Fleming for his shocking return at Backlash! Lisa informs us that, sadly, Butch Fleming is not able to be present here tonight as he is still recuperating from his time in Hell in a Cell. She's ready to accept the award on his behalf until Chet Morris comes out to interrupt.

"I will be accepting this award on his behalf, thank you very much. If there's anyone that knows shocking, it's me. You wouldn't know shocking if it hit you upside the head, Lisa. What I did to my cousin Lyle was shocking...and like I alluded to before, you haven't seen anything yet. Now I've got some business to attend to."

Second Match: Chet Morris vs. Patrick Dean Quartermaine
Business is being attended to, indeed, as Chet dominates here. Do I dare have a new potential hot singles heel on my hands??? I mean, probably not. I do have something in store for him come Bragging Rights so I might as well make him somewhat of a big thing. Chet gets the win here by showing he doesn't need Lyle by ending things with a one-man Backwoods Bomb for the pin. ****1/4, 93%

Back from break, it's time for the award for Woman of the Year, with a very special presenter...RIOTT!!! Holy shit!!! Riott begins by saying she knows a thing or two about taking this award home. She feels honored and thankful that she was able to impress the fans enough to win this award way back when, but now we'll see who managed to pull off a year amazing enough that the people chose them for this Slammy. Once again we take a look at the impressive list of nominees via the big screen. Riott takes the envelope and reads the winner...IT'S THE WOMEN'S CHAMPION SONYA BRADDOCK!

The crowd pops as Sonya's music plays and the champion herself makes her way out to the stage. She and Riott share a tense moment as they look at each other. There's a lot of history here, folks. Ultimately, Sonya takes the award and Riott applauds the champion as there doesn't look like there's going to be any incident and Sonya looks to give her speech.

Oops, never mind. Here comes someone to make an incident out of this, namely the former Women's Champion, Naomi Bailey. Bailey is irate at the fans. She asks them how stupid can they be in picking Sonya over Naomi for this award. The people have got to be the biggest bunch of ingrates she's ever seen! Naomi stole the show all year! Day in and day out, she was at the top of her game and she made bitches like Sonya Braddock kneel in front her!

Sonya looks like she's taking offense to this and she gets in Naomi's face. Naomi isn't fazed and she continues her tirade against the champ, accusing her of being a phony. Sonya knows that her win at Survivor Series should be reversed and Naomi should be crowned the rightful champ. Besides, Naomi would be able to handle Jenna Kyle at Bragging Rights way more than Sonya ever could. With that comment, Sonya shoves Naomi back and Naomi looks to fire back but we get the usual gang of idiots to get in between the two ladies and stop any more breaking down of the show.

Third Match: The Glitz Girls vs. C4
Brooke is with C4, talking about how none of them have picked up Slammys. Brooke knows that she's a top manager, so the problem must lie with her clients not pulling their weight. She demands that either Cordelia or Carmella win that Woman of the Year award next time around...if she can even tolerate them as her clients by then, that is. All that aside, this is a solid match all around. It comes to an end after Cordelia and Carmella stumble over themselves trying to outdo the other. Tania is legal for the faces and she whips Carmella into the corner where Cordelia is slumped. Carmella manages to pump the brakes to avoid a collision and the two heels share a bit of words. Carmella turns back around and sees Tania trying a Stinger Splash. Carmella dodges this and Cordelia takes the hit. Tania gets rolled up by Carmella and Carmella uses Cordelia's own crushed body for leverage to score the cheap pin. Cordelia is slighted at these turn of events and shoves Carmella afterwards, but Brooke steps in to play peacemaker. ****1/2, 92% overall.

We're informed that Michael Hotbody has taken the award for Douche of the Year as we move on. I'm sure that will go over well with him.

The awards continue as Lisa Benton is back out to present Rookie of the Year! This award honors the person who has made a huge splash with the WWE audience despite it being their debut year. We go to the big screen for the nominees and upon the conclusion of that showcase, Lisa is once again tasked with opening the envelope to reveal the winner. She glances at the card and looks disgusted at what she reads. Begrudgingly, Lisa announces that the winner of the this award is none other than...Michael Hotbody. Lisa continues looking none too thrilled about this task as the Cruiserweight Champion indeed makes his way out with a smile a mile wide and shaking his body like nobody's business. He yanks the award away from Lisa and gets on the mic with glee. He claims that he's here to rub all of this great success in Lisa's face so she had better not go anywhere. "Now normally I would be upset at you not addressing me my full moniker, but seeing as how we're pressed for time, all of that introduction would've just eaten into my speech time AND I AM NOT ABOUT TO WASTE THIS SPEECH!!! I have been expecting to win every single category in which I am nominated and so far, so good! I now have this second Slammy to go along with the one that I won earlier. I am officially the Rookie of the Year...AND the Most Envied Superstar of the Year!!!"

Lisa looks confused and tries to interrupt by correcting him. "Uh, actually you won the Dou..."

"That's right!" Hotbody continues. "It is no small feat to be the most envied person in the locker room, but it's a burden that I am strong enough to carry! Just like I'm strong enough to carry multiple Slammys AND the WWE Cruiserweight Title. Now, onto the thank yous. First and foremost, thanks are in order to the other nominees for being so inferior to me that I could easily take this award. I am Mister 2040 and no one can take that away from me. More thanks to Zed Jones, who is a brother like no other! Loyal and brave and firm. He's the biggest and the baddest out there and he has my endorsement so Clubber Harris had better be thinking twice about crossing him in the future. Another special thanks to the best legal team money can buy. The law offices of Freddie Galino and Jimmy Farnes deserve so much love and credit for standing by me and making sure I am free of any sort of legal shenanigans anyone tries throwing my way. Last, but certainly not least, behind every great man is a great woman. And there is none greater than the sexiest thing happening in the WWE today, other than me, fellow Slammy Award winner, my girl, my heart and soul...THE LOVELY LUSCIOUS! You had all better believe that there is celebration of the physical kind that's going to do down and it's well deserved. The only way this night can get any better is me also taking home the award for Cruiserweight of the Year! As a matter of fact, why not just get that out of the way right now! Lisa, make yourself useful and get to it. I've got places to be and I'm a lock for this category anyway. Get the stupid envelope out here and give me my third Slammy!"

Lisa Benton looks exasparated, but she agrees nonetheless and asks that the production crew bring up the nominees for Cruiserweight of the Year. Hotbody objects to this and demands that Lisa just open the damn envelope because it's a waste of time anyway. Benton takes the envelope and opens it up and looks at the winner. She gets a huge smile on her face and she gets on the mic to announce the winner. "Well, Michael, I can say one thing for sure. I am absolutely thrilled to present this award with you here to witness it." Hotbody is all smiles and is giddy as all hell and he beckons for Lisa to announce the name. "Your winner for Cruiserweight of the Year is...JORDAN DEMIRAS!!!"

The crowd pops and Hotbody's smile disappears, replaced with a shocked expression. He is outraged and demands to see the card and he yanks it from Lisa's hand, not believing what he reads. Jordan makes his way out to claim his prize, but Hotbody isn't done. "Woah, woah, woah, I demand a recount! This is an outrage! What in the hell makes YOU, Jordan, so special that you think you should have this award? Do you have the Cruiserweight Title? NO! Have you ever beaten me in a match? NO! You have a lot of nerve coming out here to accept this award. If you had ANY sense of pride or honesty you'll give up this Slammy AND PERSONALLY HAND IT TO ME!!! What's it going to be?"

Jordan looks at Hotbody then scans the crowd as if looking for an answer. He goes the route of slapping Hotbody across the face and then takes the award and goes to leave. Hotbody isn't finished and challenges Jordan if he really wants to fight. He tells Jordan to get some back up and head to the ring so they can get a piece if they want to go at it so bad. Jordan and whoever wants to team with him can get in the ring with Galino & Farnes!

Fourth Match: Clubber Harris and Jordan Demiras vs. Galino & Farnes
Harris answers the call much to the chagrin of Hotbody. No doubt Harris just wants to get under the skin of Zed. This is more good shit from these guys. Jordan and Harris mesh oddly well together. It comes to an end when Ozzy Mandias comes running down while the ref is busy trying to keep Zed and Harris away from each. Ozzy shoves Jordan off the top as the latter is looking for an Axe Kick. Galino & Farnes hit SERIOUS INQUIRIES! on the dazed Jordan and that's enough to put him away for the cheap victory. Ozzy backs up the ramp pointing at Jordan and claiming that he's next. ****1/2, 92% overall.

A video does the job of presenting us the Feud of the Year nominees. Faith Connors and Jenna Kyle are announced as the winners.

We have more Slammys to hand out and Lisa Benton comes out to present the award for Noteworthy Moment of the Year. She describes this award as being the one to recognize the single instance of monumental history that went down in 2040. We go to the nominees, each one just as big as the other. It is ultimately down to the votes and it's time to see what the people have to say about this. Lisa opens the envelope. The winner of the award is...Jenna Kyle and Faith Connors becoming the first Women's Tag Team Champions at SummerSlam!

Well, the Lonely Girls are already Slammy winners, but now they get their chance to come out to the stage and make a speech properly. Faith Connors begins by pointing out how funny it is that she and Jenna have an award for fighting each other, and now have an award for being a team. Personally, she'll take fighting by Jenna's side over getting punched in the face by her and there is no doubt in her mind that she and Jenna can make even more history in the next year. She wants to thank Jenna just as much as she wants to thanks the people for this honor.

Jenna takes over and agrees that she and Faith have much more to accomplish. They're still owed an opportunity to get back those same tag titles they worked their asses off to win at SummerSlam. Hannah McCormick and Bobbi Jo had better be watching and understanding what their in for when the chance for the Lonely Girls to step into the ring with them again comes around. But for Jenna personally, her first stab at making history is at Bragging Rights when she gets the chance to win that Women's Title for the fourth time. Naomi Bailey can take a hike because all of her blustering amounts to nothing. Jenna hopes that Naomi isn't causing Sonya Braddock to take her eye off the ball, because Jenna wants no excuses. She wants Sonya at the top of her game because if there's anyone worth beating, it's the so-called Woman of the Year. In the meantime, Jenna claims that she and Faith are going to celebrate. Pleasure now...business later.

The Lonely Girls start to take their leave but the next match is set to get underway and Dusk is the first participant to come out. Dusk gives Faith the stink eye as there is still business among the two. That'll have to wait as we've got this match to take care of...

Fifth Match: Ainsley and Phoebe Hansen vs. Debra Phillips and Dusk
I was a bit worried about doing this match here as both Ainsley and Debra are still low-tier. Ainsley, Phoebe, and Dusk are rocking it in the charisma department, though. Plus, who wouldn't react to a woman like Dusk? Debra and Ainsely are still in the infancy of their feud so I don't think there's a need to job someone out hard yet. We'll just have Debra get herself counted out to escape the wrath of Ainsley. That'll work. And the rating proves me right, apparently. ****1/2, 85% overall.

Another video does the job of presenting a Slammy, this time for Match of the Year. The Iron Woman Match between Jenna and Faith get the honors as that's 3 Slammys for both women, the most for the night. That has to be a record.

Sixth Match: Alexander Piero vs. Chris Collins
Collins gets on the stick and wants to emphasize that after this, he wants to be done with Piero. He's tired of playing with the little boys. Piero should be counting his lucky stars that Collins even granted him this much attention. Collins belongs amongst the titans of the WWE. He's won more accomplishments than Piero can ever hope to achieve. The one lesson that Collins hopes Piero takes away from this whole experience is that choosing your battle wisely is always paramount. More importantly, Collins hopes to move onto bigger and better things because now is one of the best times to start making moves. With all that is happening in the WWE right now, Collins will be damned if he's going to be lost in the shuffle. So with that said, he invites Piero to come on down and make that one final swing for the fences.

Issues aside, this match rules. It's No DQ so they take advantage of that fact, leaving a mess all around ringside. I have no doubt in my mind that Piero is going to far down the road, but right now I have immediate concerns for Collins. After a long and solid brutal affair, Collins escapes an attempt at the Flashpoint and shoves Piero into an exposed turnbuckle. That's enough to set Piero up for the Fall From Heaven and Collins is going to walk away with the pin and the victory. ****1/2, 92% overall.

And thus we've arrived at the big one. It's time for the Slammy for Superstar of the Year. Here to present this one is none other than a legend who has a few of these under his belt, among other accolades, IAN MOORE!

"I admit, coming back last week to take part in the show kind of gave me the itch to want to come back and do it some more. Now I will have to get back to my usual day-to-day activities but this is too big to just pass up. This award is a symbol of excellence of the highest order. The superstar who claims this award will be someone who made history, shocked the world, performed at the highest level on a consistent basis, and came out better at the end of the year than from where they began, all rolled into one. All of these men deserve praise, but there's only one Slammy here. So without further ado, here are the nominees for Superstar of the Year!"

The big screen goes through all 9 candidates, each one receiving highlight footage from their time in 2040. We go back to Ian Moore and he's ready to open the envelope!

"And your 2040 Superstar of the Year is...BRANDON REIGNS!"

The crowd begrudgingly shows respect as the man himself comes on out to receive the award. He gives Ian a cold look, but accepts the statue and gets on the mic. "If there is one reason, and one reason only, why I should be the Superstar of the Year over everyone else, it should be over the simple fact that unlike any of the others, there was no doubt in my mind that I was the biggest name in the WWE. I beat out so many former World Champions. Hell, I beat out the CURRENT Unified World Champion! I was at the top of my game all year and I told you all, week in and week out, that I was bringing change to this company. Only a true Superstar of the Year is capable of bringing change. And the best part of all of this, is that I'm not done. We are just months away from WrestleMania and whether Wrakk makes it to the show with his title still in hand or Ryan Pattillo pulls off an upset at Bragging Rights or anyone else who might be wearing those belts by that time, they get the honor of being the first victim of my new landscape when I cash in this Money in the Bank contract! I'm not just aiming for Superstar of the Year again, I am going to be the Superstar of the Decade and I challenge anyone to try to knock me off course!"

Cue someone who looks like he wants to take Brandon up on that offer. Kerry Cemenko makes his way out and gets in Brandon's face. Brandon mocks Kerry for not winning anything tonight, but Kerry points out that it's actually a good thing because that gives him time to take Brandon up on his offer and whip his ass. Brandon isn't going to slight Kerry for wanting to take a swing at the oh-so special Superstar of the Year, right?

Brandon is amused at this and welcomes the challenge...but not right now. There's celebrating to be done and Kerry's not invited. Brandon will, however, demonstrate his generosity and admiration for Kerry's chutzpah by letting Kerry have an up close look at the Slammy, seeing as how Kerry didn't win one. With that, Brandon tries nailing Kerry with the statue but Kerry ducks and then slams Brandon's head into the podium. Brandon goes down and starts to crawl away. Kerry moves in for the kill but Brandon shoves the Money in the Bank briefcase into Kerry's guy and that buys him enough time to escape.

MAIN EVENT: Wrakk and Xavier Cross vs. Ryan Pattillo and Kyle Jacobs
I want to do Cemenko/Reigns and Cross/Jacobs but I don't know which one to put on the PPV. Jacobs and Cross would probably give me a higher rating. I mean, look at the results of this match. Wrakk and Pattillo are helping, sure. Anyways, it's a kick ass main event and a great way to cap off the evening. Pattillo, of course, needs THE MOMENTUM as he heads towards Bragging Rights. It breaks down into a pier six and Pattillo escapes an attempt at the Cross Cutter from Xavier. Wrakk tries booting Ryan, but he ducks and poor Xavier gets the size 15 to his face instead. Jacobs comes back into take himself and Wrakk over the top and to the outside and Pattillo stacks up the dazed Xavier with a jacknife roll up for the pin. Things can only get more tense as we inch closer and closer to the PPV. *****, 94% overall.

Congratulations to all the Slammy winners!

Overall show rating: 89%

M-A-G

06-20-2023, 09:18 AM

Aaaaaand fucking Naomi fucks up her ankle putting her on the shelf. Well, there goes what I wanted for the women's match at the PPV.

Evil Vito

06-20-2023, 02:22 PM

The Superstars Slammy Spectacular episode was a total home run. Loved the promos for this, just gradually building up as the night goes along.

Chet accepting the award for Butch and using it to further an angle. Riott and Sonya having a tense standoff playing off of previous history. Heels being incredulous at not winning the big one. Reigns being a complete dickhead about his own win.

And then of course the Hotbody arc. No-selling winning Douche of the Year (side note...hilarious to imagine a formal Oscars awards presentation video with "Douche of the Year" being in the graphics). Rubbing in his victories only to have the rug pulled out under him by losing out on the big one.

He's got every right to be upset! Demiras clearly was working some overtime on the voters and especially Lisa Benton to get that result.

Evil Vito

06-20-2023, 02:56 PM

Odd choice to not save something like a cage match for the main event, but I've done way sillier. Not sure if you're working towards making the title match a triple threat or it's a way to get Jericho out of the way and provide the rub. What kind of cages does AEW use anyway? Do they even do cage matches?

Yeah this was a case of me trying to book like the real-life promotion. Major matches like this very often do get put out there to kick off the show, as modern ratings metrics have shown people are more likely to tune in for the beginning of the show than anything else. So the theory is you put something big and important out there first in hopes that fans stick around and want to see what else is cooking.

But alas, this goes in direct contrast to how EWR was programmed. Considering this game dropped AFTER WrestleMania 18 it's a shame there isn't a "Purpose" reason called "cooldown match" or something. I believe in TEW the game is much better at recognizing what you are trying to do.

Yes, AEW does do the occasional cage match. Pretty standard looking modern era cage, with the top designed with room for people to be able to climb over (or more realistically, dive off of, as was the case at Full Gear).

Normally in AEW they don't allow you to escape the cage, it's meant to be two guys battling to a result with no option to leave. But it worked in my angle so fuck it.

https://411mania.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/aewfullgear3-645x370.jpg

The Bunny can grab my leg anytime. I wonder if the expression "humps like a rabbit" applies.

I'm definitely critical of how AEW book their women's division as despite having a ton of wrestlers under contract, it seems like there's just the token one women's match a week and maybe some sort of vignette or promo.

Of course, now I'm playing a game with an 11-segment limit and I'm doing exactly the same thing, granted in part because the women's ratings aren't all that great.

What they aren't lacking in, however, is hot women. I'd say they have at least a dozen smokeshows and a handful of other ones that are at least in the realm of "I wouldn't say no".

I'm imagining doing something similar to this whenever I decide to finally job Michael Hotbody out. Imagine being so shocked over a defeat that it causes a cerebral malfunction.

I have an idea in mind for Jericho and it's more or less in line with an angle he just started in real life, but in this EWR world he's clearly shellshocked and beginning to face the reality that maybe he's losing his touch or the young talent in AEW are starting to pass him by, leaving him trying to plot his next move.

I looked her up and it's an interesting change of pace to have a woman with that kind of build. It happens all the time in Japan, but the most we ever had over here was Awesome Kong. Speaking of which, she's not on your roster now, right? She could be a decent opponent for Willow.

Willow is interesting because even though she's got a bigger build, it's not like she's an overwhelming powerhouse either. She's got impressive agility for a woman who is more on the plus size side of things. It also makes her seem more credible against the brick shithouses like Jade Cargill, Kris Statlander, or Taya Valkyrie.

No Kong though sadly. In real life, she signed a 2-year contract beginning with AEW's first show Double or Nothing 2019. It was negotiated into her deal that she'd be written off in early 2020 so she could go film season 4 of GLOW. They wrote her off but then COVID happened, the season got scrapped by Netflix, and she didn't feel comfortable going to the bi-weekly tapings during the pandemic and AEW didn't force anyone in who wanted to stay in quarantine.

Add all that up and by the time AEW were getting ready to get back on the road just after Double or Nothing 2021, her contract expired and she had decided to retire. She did a one-off angle in NWA announcing her retirement formally and that was that.

Unfortunately both of her WWE and AEW runs are huge "what-if"s, a shame for one of my favorite female talents. But she's not in the game save.

I know he's supposed to lay it on pretty thick with the exaggeration, but New Japan really was on the rocks last I heard when I had stopped following wrestling. The inevitable MJF/Punk payoff should give you a nice return, save for the hand of the DUD show sticking itself in the middle of it all.

Around the time you stopped watching, NJPW had lost AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson. Part of the reason they jumped was because NJPW had done a good job of re-establishing itself in the mid-2010s. Opinions of Bullet Club are mixed but objectively their presence got more American eyes on the product than ever before, which led to WWE looking to poach Finn Balor and those other guys.

The product remained hot for a few years with Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega having one of the best series of matches I've ever seen in 2017-2018. By 2019 Kenny, the Young Bucks, and Hangman left NJPW to go form AEW and unfortunately COVID itself brought the company to a grinding halt.

I think NJPW is better right now than it's been since 2020 but it took time to get there. They only just recently started allowing fans to cheer again as Japan is/has been far stricter with protocols.

Not for nothing, doesn't anybody think it might be time for the "Young" Bucks to change their name? Just The Bucks would be fine at this point in time. Don't people bring it up when they do promos against them? Also, if I were Moxley and I'm doing an interview with my wife Renee, I'd do whatever I could to get her to corpse on camera. Sure, I'd be sleeping on the couch all the time, but I'd still be married to Renee.

I could swear somebody made a joke about the Young Bucks' name in a promo, might've been Mox himself when he and Eddie Kingston feuded with the Bucks in 2021. Alas I doubt they'll never drop their now-ironic name as it's so synonymous with their brand. You would think they are still young whippersnappers with how much the old-school guys like Cornette moan about them.

Evil Vito

06-21-2023, 11:30 PM

https://cdn-cache.wrestlingnewssource.com/u/webp_full/7919d4ed638749ce6626cd6e4df4c272_711_400.webp

AEW Collision
June 24, 2023

The fireworks explode in Toronto, Ontario as we have our go-home show for Forbidden Door. Let's see how I try to artfully construct a card that avoids getting my key players hurt with the PPV just 24 hours away!

Title for Title: AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm vs. NJPW Strong Women's Champion Willow Nightingale

As expected, on the real-life Dynamite that just ended, this match got announced for the actual PPV. Glad they are getting the shine in real life. In EWR land though, sorry ladies, I only have so many PPV spots. But throwing them out there first when the crowd is often at a fever pitch is hopefully something of a make-good.

Anyway, they had themselves a strong match with a lot of NJPW-esque hard hitting befitting of the occasion. Toni uses some underhanded tactics throughout the match and Willow begins charging back.

However, as the match seems to be reaching a crescendo, both women are suddenly taken out by a crossbody by someone else! Is that who I think it is, yes it is! It's ATHENA!

The Ring of Honor Women's Champion Athena has been doing her thing on the red and black brand for months, and apparently she feels overlooked. She uses the element of surprise to her advantage, hitting Toni with the O-Face and locking Willow into a Crossface.

The surprise appearance of Athena has caught everybody off-guard The Fallen Goddess holds the ROH Women's Title above her head as we fade to commercial. ***, 75% overall

---

Mark Henry: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm here backstage with none other than Samoa Joe. Joe, a lot has been said about your surprise attack on CM Punk last week, with people even speculating you're working on behalf of MJF. Can you clarify things for us?"

Samoa Joe: "Mark, I want to get one thing straight, I don't work for anyone but myself. People are quick to make stories to suit their own narratives, aren't they? MJF? No, that's not the case.

This is about CM Punk, and me. This goes way back, Mark, to the Ring of Honor days. Punk has always been selfish. He seems to think he can just waltz back into the business and hog the spotlight. The spotlight that those of us, who have been grinding and carrying this company on our backs since he's been gone, have earned. That doesn't sit right with me. He wants back in, he has to know that he's walking into my yard."

Mark Henry: "Strong words, Joe. Looking ahead, there's been a lot of buzz around your Forbidden Door match against Zack Sabre Jr. What's your take on that?"

Samoa Joe: "Forbidden Door, yeah, it's a buzzword. A lot of talent is booked for Forbidden Door, but it seems like they're all conveniently not booked to wrestle tonight. Are they scared? Do they lack the courage to step up on Collision?

But let me tell you something, Mark. I'm not like them. I'm here. I'm willing to put my ROH Television Title on the line right here tonight against anyone brave enough to step up to the plate. Because that's who Samoa Joe is. I'm not a coward. I'm a fighter, and I'm here to fight."

Mark Henry: "There you have it, folks. Samoa Joe is here and he's laying down the challenge. Whoever decides to step up, they've got a fight waiting for them. Back to you at ringside."

---

The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) vs. The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) w/ Maria Kanellis

The reunited Men of the Year, Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky, join the commentary table for this one as they spend the entire time egotistically running down the Hardys.

A pretty solid showing here all things considered, as all four guys are seasoned pros. Although I will likely not have the Hardys win too many matches in this universe, The Kingdom are an underneath ROH tag team I don't see myself doing too much with so a Hardys win to avoid jobbing them out too much makes sense as I build their program.

Jeff Hardy hits the Swanton Bomb on Taven for the win. The Hardys stand on the turnbuckles and point at Men of the Year, letting them know they haven't forgotten about the cheap shots last week. ***, 76% overall

---

Madison Rayne vs. Thunder Rosa

Thunder Rosa was among the handful of AEW returnees who turned up for the Collision debut, and this is her in-ring return. As you could expect, she's going to be kept looking strong in this match.

I more or less visualized this as an extended squash with Rosa largely dominating proceedings, finishing it off with a Fire Thunder Driver. This was the worst match of the night and still got the Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling label, so that's a mark of a solid night. **3/4, 71% overall

---

Mark Henry is standing backstage with Ricky Starks, FTR, The Lucha Brothers, and Alex Abrahantes.

Mark Henry: Hello agin ladies and gentlemen. Joining me now are an intimidating assembly of talent. Ricky, there's no denying there's been some serious friction between you and Bullet Club Gold recently, especially with Powerhouse Hobbs. Could you enlighten us on this ongoing issue?

Ricky Starks: Mark, let me tell you something, man. Bullet Club Gold thinks they're the biggest game in town, but they're nothing more than a cheap knockoff brand. Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Powerhouse Hobbs – it's like a group project where no one did their homework.

As for Hobbs... now, that's a special case. We go way back, all the way back three years ago to the Team Taz days. But I've never seen such a massive man accomplish so little. His name is 'Powerhouse' Hobbs, right? More like 'Out-of-Power' Hobbs, if you ask me. He's all brawn, no brain. I've never met a man who could lift so much but understand so little. I beat him in a Street Fight last year, and I'll do it again if I have to.

Mark Henry: Tonight, Jay White and Juice Robinson are scheduled to meet the Lucha Brothers in tag team action. Do you have any thoughts?

Ricky Starks: I think Bullet Club Gold has forgotten what they're dealing with here. It's one thing to have issues with me and FTR, we've been dealing with their nonsense for a while now. But now, they've gone ahead and pissed off even more people.

Let me tell you something about the Lucha Brothers. Fenix and Penta don't know the meaning of fear. These boys were wrestling in barns and fields before any of these goons even laced up their boots. Tonight, they're going to show Bullet Club Gold what "cero miedo" truly means.

Mark Henry: Well, it sounds like Bullet Club Gold is going to have their hands full tonight. We look forward to seeing this intense rivalry unfold in the ring. Best of luck to you all.

---

Dalton Castle w/ The Boys vs. Andrade El Idolo w/ La Faccion Ingobernable

Similarly, this is Andrade's in-ring return after a surprise return last week. I don't view this one as quite as much of a squash though. Although Castle is mostly in ROH land, he's got charisma coming out the ass and has a compelling, entertaining personality for any great heel to play off of. I'm not sure how much I'll push him him as an in-ring competitor but worst case he should make a brilliant manager someday.

Be that as it may, these two have a solid-in ring showing with Andrade getting most of his big moves in as he starts to take charge. LFI and the Boys have a proper fuck-about at ringside and Andrade hits La Sombra for the win.

Afterwards, here comes JungleHook again to get them some and we've got a good 'ol brawl to send us into the next add break. ***, 75% overall

---

Miro vs. Jeff Cobb

Now here's a juicy Forbidden Door preview. I didn't think I was going to book any NJPW talent outside of the PPV, but I was trying to think of an opponent for Miro and I was browsing through available talent and Cobb's name stood out immediately. Incredibly similar stats to Miro, overness in the high 60s which at worse isn't gonna drag a match down beyond repair. Figured it was as good a time as any to use him before he heads off on his next tour.

So I said fuck it, booked it, and magic resulted. These two guys blended insanely well together and now that I've done this I really wanna see this match in real-life. They're both similarly built barrel-chested dudes. Anyway, big meaty men were slapping meat in this one before Miro gets a pin with the Machka Kick. Consider this an early 1-0 edge for AEW as we head into Forbidden Door. ****, 83% overall

---

[The scene opens in a dimly lit room, shadows dancing across the grim visage of the three members of The House of Black. Malakai's eyes, one darker than the night itself, look straight into the camera, as he begins to speak, his voice as cold as the grave.]

Malakai Black: "The Acclaimed, Billy Gunn... last week was merely the beginning. The reckoning that fell upon you... that wasn't personal. No, you were just... inconvenient obstacles, standing in the path of the inevitable. This is not about you, it is about me... and the darkness we must bring forth."

[Malakai walks slowly across the room in front of the other two members, his steps echoing in the eerie silence, the camera follows.]

Malakai Black: "You, like so many others, live in the light. But that light is not purity. It's an illusion, it's blindness... and we are the ones who will open your eyes."

[A slight grimace touches his lips, not quite a smile, as he continues.]

Malakai Black: "You wear your victories like badges of honor, but they are nothing. They are the shackles that bind you to the illusion. Each victory, each cheer from the crowd, they only tighten your bonds."

[He comes to a stop, turning back to the camera, his gaze piercing the darkness.]

Malakai Black: "The Acclaimed... Billy Gunn... we have already taken you out in the ring. You wanted to fight again, but last week you were forced to realize how quickly your reality can shatter. That was merely a glimpse into the void, a taste of the House of Black. You can no longer ignore the darkness at your doorstep, the rot within."

[He leans forward, his voice dropping lower, the gravity of his words echoing throughout the room.]

Malakai Black: "This is your fate. You are just lambs in the grander scheme, sacrifices on the altar of the inevitable. I didn't choose you... the darkness did."

[He steps back into the shadows, his figure becoming one with the darkness.]

Malakai Black: "You will understand, in time. When all the lights have gone out, when all the cheers have turned to silence... You will understand once and for all, that the House always wins.

[The scene fades, leaving only his chilling words hanging in the air.]

---

Samoa Joe cockily struts out, ready to defend his TV Title less than 24 hours before a technical war with Zack Sabre Jr. Perhaps the fans were expecting someone else from NJPW to walk through the Forbidden Door...but instead they got a hometown hero. It's Ontario's own Shawn Spears!

ROH Television Championship: Samoa Joe (C) vs. Shawn Spears

Feel like this is a good spot for a hometown guy. Wrestling fans are predominantly smarks now and I'm sure everybody realistically knows Joe would go over, but adding that hometown element is enough to plant even the slightest bit of doubt in the minds of even the jaded fans.

Anyway the story here is Joe was being arrogant and figuring he'd just roll through anyone he faced. Instead, Spears came in like a house of fire, catching him off guard and nearly pulling off the upset a few times. Eventually though he gets his shit together and pulls off a flurry of submissions, send a statement to Sabre ahead of their match. He gets the win with the Coquina Clutch.

Sending another statement, he leaves the Clutch locked in on the hometown guy long after the bell as the ref tries in vain to brain it up. Eventually Cult of Personality hits and Punk charges to the ring! Joe rolls out of there and takes his leave. ***1/4, 79% overall

---

CM Punk, standing in the middle of the ring with a microphone in hand, watches Samoa Joe flee the scene. There's a mixture of anger and determination on his face.

CM Punk: "Joe, you can run all you want but there's nowhere to hide. You see, I heard your cute little interview earlier. You don't like me 'waltzing' back into the business, 'hogging the spotlight'. Well, I'm sorry, Joe, but you've got it all wrong. This isn't about the spotlight. This is about the love of this business, the fans, the fight.

You attacked me, you took the shot. You had your reasons, and honestly, I don't give a damn about them. You thought it was about making a statement? Well, I'm here to tell you, Joe, you've just written a check your mouth can't cash.

Now, we've got some business at Forbidden Door, sure, and I'm not one to overlook a challenge. I've got Hiroshi Tanahashi to focus on. You've got your hands full with Zack Sabre Jr. But you best believe, once that's over, I'm coming for you, Joe.

Next week, on Collision... Joe, I don't want to hear any more of your interviews, I don't want to hear about who you are or aren't working for. I want you. No running, no hiding. You fired the shot, Joe... now it's time to pay the price.

See you next week, Joe."

And with that, Punk drops the microphone, leaving his message to echo through the arena, the fans erupting in cheers, as the tension for next week's Collision intensifies.

---

Bullet Club Gold ("Switchblade" Jay White and Juice Robinson) w/ Powerhouse Hobbs vs. The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Cero Miedo and Rey Fenix) w/ Alex Abrahantes

Four episodes of TV in a row where a really fucking good match is closing out the proceedings, including both episodes of Collision. That's always a damn good sign here.

My tag division feels like it's gonna be magic to book as I have so many combinations to work with. Jay White and Juice Robinson aren't even set up as an official tag team in-game but Dean Malenko told me afterwards their styles blend well as a team...meaning I think I got another bonus to the match rating.

Anyway, this ruled as you'd come to expect. Lots of nearfalls and drama, lots of Bullet Club shithousery. Powerhouse makes a menace of himself and the heels pick up the win with an illegal double team.

Afterwards, Bullet Club Gold pick up where they left off last week by putting the boots to the Brothers, and even look like they're gonna do some damage to poor Alex Abrahantes. But FTR and Ricky Starks run in for the save, I sense a trios match can't be much further into the future. ****1/4, 87% overall rating

81% overall show rating

Checking some post-show overness ratings and yeah, Jay and Juice jumped way the hell up there after this one. You love to see it.

M-A-G

06-22-2023, 04:11 AM

SmackDown!: December 7, 2040

Twenty Minute Opening Promo of Doom Time as Haven makes his way out. He's aware of what Victor Dark is trying to do, but if what occured on Raw was his best shot, he's in for more disappointment. "Victor can speak grandly as much as he wants, but until he himself has the guts to get his hands dirty and try on his own to break me, he is but words. I have never been beaten or swayed by mere words. So throw whatever grunts you can my way and I shall send them back to you, bruised and demoralized and humiliated as a message. I am the Dark Shepherd and no one..."

"Please, for the love of God, shut up, Haven", interrupts someone. What the hell? Quinten McDaniels comes out to the stage and has a mic in hand, looking to speak with Haven. "I've heard sermons like this before so many times from you and I'm just about at the end of my rope. Now, I don't really know or particularly care about whatever history happened between you and this Victor Dark person, but there is a grain of truth coming from his camp that struck a chord in me. It wasn't that long ago when you had a collection of us at your beck and call. You promised us the world. Chet and Lyle and Orlando and Eclypse and, of course, me among others, we went along for the ride. Now I was never completely on board with what you were selling so I don't really feel any major sense of betrayal when it comes to that department, but you really never did end up taking as big of a hit when that whole Order thing collapsed. You went on to headline WrestleManias and win King of the Ring and continue to march these people along with this whole messed up pied piper schtick. That's not really fair, now is it? It's about time I get around to doing what I should've done a long time ago and that's finally knocking you off this throne of yours. Now seeing as you look ready and willing to get physical, I don't see a reason why you can't meet me in that ring later and you can try to shut me up. I have nothing left to fear from you, Haven. I...have been set free."

That's the third person in the last few weeks who's used that phrase. What the hell is going on? Well we can't worry about that right now as Quinten takes his leave and Haven is left to think about what was just said.

First Match: Adam Hail and Lonny Richards vs. Simon Bennett and Mathias
Paul Andrews speaks for Simon and wants Adam Hail to know that he can have his retribution if he really wants it. Simon Bennett is offering Hail a one-on-one match between the two of them at Bragging Rights. It's high time that things get settled because Simon isn't going to stop. Adam has nobody else but himself to blame for his headaches right now, but if he's so sure of himself and his goal to get to the top of the mountain is a surefire thing, he should have no problem accepting this match. A great match rating here with an 80% crowd reaction to remind me that these guys aren't rocking it in the charisma department. This match is costing me at least half a million to put on so it'd better be fucking good and the crowd had better appreciate it. Simon is a house afire and gets all up in everyone's business off the hot tag. Hail evidently thinks it's too much for him to handle for now and he decides to bail and call it a night and get counted out. No doubt this isn't over. ****1/2, 90% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Has Luscious with him, of course, as he feels that last night wasn't enough to celebrate all of the Slammys that the two of them acquired. "I mean, there was indeed a lot of celebrating all night. You'd think the two of us would be too tired to even show up here tonight, but never let it be said that Michael Hotbody isn't full of energy! I'm a walking, living, breathing dynamo and I lit up all of 2040! The Energizer Bunny has got nothing on me. And may I just say that bunnies of any sort have got NOTHING on dear, dear Luscious over here."
`
Luscious blushes and fans herself with her hands at that comment as Hotbody presses on. "So tonight, I am proud to present to all of you a special in-depth edition of the Hot Button, as we take a look at our awards and reflect on our success and what it is about us that led us to win these prestigious accolades. I know you're all chomping at the bits so let's get this show on the road. Bring them on down, boys!"

A music cue hits and one-by-one, Zed Jones and Galino & Farnes each bring down a Slammy on a mobile pedestal with Hotbody naming each one as he and Luscious look on with tears in their eyes. The Douche of the Year Slammy is covered with a piece of paper taped on with MOST ENVIED written on it in marker. Hotbody asks us all to bask in the beauty of them all. "It's the culmination of hard work and grit and determination that makes one the best in their chosen field. The only tragedy that one can and should find in all of this is that there is one particular Slammy missing and THAT'S THE CRUISERWEIGHT OF THE YEAR! Jordan Demiras, you know that deep down in your black soul, in your selfish unloving heart, you have no right to claim that award. Rest assured that I have my TOP LEGAL COUNSEL working on finding any irregularities! I don't know if it's a case of ballot stuffing, or Lisa Benton pulling some nonsense, or you people not knowing how a poll works, but there isn't any other person on this roster other than me that can say they were the best cruiserweight of the whole year. None of them have this belt around them and none of them are going to take it from me anytime soon! So to Jordan Demiras, I say you can choke on that statue and to Gavin Jones, good freaking luck because it's going to be one hell of a disappointment come Bragging Rights! Look at all you see before you, Gavin, and tremble!"

This is obviously the time for the number one contender himself to sneak up from behind the champion. Gavin spins Hotbody around and delivers a boot to the mid-section and Gavin sends Hotbody flying over the top, knocking over the pedestals and awards. Luscious bails and that leaves Gavin alone in the ring with the title belt. He hoists it up briefly before taking his leave through the crowd as Hotbody and crew start to recover.

Backstage, Sophie Waters is with the Academy who feel the need to unleash on Brooke and company. Justin Mitchell and Randy Ellis came to the realization that Brooke needed them way more than they ever needed Brooke. They're still up for a fight against Ronnie Costello and Salvatore Scabbia, but they feel the need to make this statement: there's always time for anyone thinking about abandoning that ship.

Second Match: Jason Sorola vs. Nigel Gallagher
It's rebuilding time for Sorola as he's coming off a pretty substantial loss on Monday. SmackDown! can always stand some hot cruiserweight action. I need to brainstorm his next feud. In the meantime, he can help rock this match like a hurricane. The match ends when Sorola yanks Nigel off the top rope by his leg and the Englishman hits hard. Sorola locks in the STF and that's going to give him the submission win. ****1/2, 91% overall.

Once again we go backstage where we see Cameron Harper looking dejected and disappointed. He runs into Jake Connelly, who he says he's been looking for. Connelly asks why Harper is sulking. Harper answers that he feels like he let Jake Connelly down. First, he couldn't win the Intercontinental Title on Raw. Then he couldn't win the Slammy for Rookie of the Year. Harper was really hoping to impress Connelly and it all blew up in his face.

Connelly tries his hand at reassurance and says that he's not disappointed in Harper at all. He says that what Harper did on Raw was bold. It got people talking and they had to pay attention. As far as the Slammy goes, it might sting a little, but think about what some proper guidance can do for Harper in the next year. Harper is surprised at this line of conversation and asks if Connelly is saying what he thinks he's saying. Connelly offers a handshake and says that while he has nothing on him right now to make it official, he would be elated to have Harper on board as a client. Harper is ecstatic and accepts the handshake and declares that Connelly will not regret this. The two take their leave as we head back to the ring for the next match.

Third Match: The Perfections vs. The Glamour Brigade
The Perfections need MOMENTUM as they have a date with destiny at Bragging Rights against the Women's Tag Team Champions. All four women bring it like their jobs are counting on it and thus we have a fucking sweet match. It comes to an end when Bonnie manages to hot shot Arianna on the top rope and that leaves her open to the Bluebonnet from Bonnie to pick up the win. Nathan Quinn starts to make his way down and Paul Andrews moves to intercept but that allows the Southern Belles to sneak in from behind their challengers and lay them out with belt shots. This is getting ugly between these two teams. ****1/2, 93% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time this time with Chris Collins. Collins begins by saying that he has defined his entire WWE career by making sure he is not lost in the quagmire. There is an entire locker room of some of the best this business has to offer and it's easy to get overlooked. "I have done what I can to keep my name on the tips of all of your tongues. I embarrassed and beat up my own father for crying out loud! Unfortunately, it seems like all I've been doing these past few months is struggling to keep my head above water. Well last night was the first step in me changing all of that. Tonight, is step two. Now it's far too late for me to do anything about the main event for Bragging Rights; that's already locked in and set. But I can do something about another title and seeing as how the man who wears that gold has been happily throwing it down this past week, I can't help but wonder if he's still game. So Seth Von Kamp, I hope you're listening, because I'm making my move. I am daring you to accept my challenge to face me at Bragging Rights and put that Intercontinental Title on the line. Seth, I know you like nobody else. We once rode into battle at each other's side. A lot has changed since then, but I know you're a proud man. I expect an answer soon, and I hope for your sake that you don't disappoint me."

Well, Collins isn't going to have to wait long as Seth's music hits and the Intercontinental Champion makes his way out onto the stage. He stares at Collins for a bit before nodding and raising the title over his head with one hand. Looks like we've got another match set for the PPV!

Fourth Match: Haven vs. Quinten McDaniels
Quinten gets back on the mic and says that he hopes Haven accepts this challenge. Haven has gone on for too long without punishment and Quinten feels like he needs to tackle this one gaping wound from his past before he can really move on. Haven can forget about Victor Dark, Andrea, Hugo, or whoever the hell else. Quinten is the man to worry about!

The music of Haven hits as evidently the Dark Shepherd will be accepting this challenge. They get right to it as Quinten seems to be reinvigorated. It was a pretty hefty loss at Survivor Series, but it appears he's not letting it get to him. It's a solid heavyweight slugfest, but things are about to get worse for Haven. He gets Quinten by the throat and looks to deliver something devastating but CHET MORRIS RUNS IN FROM BEHIND!!! He's got a chair and smacks Haven across the back with it. That's going to be a DQ but that's of no concern to neither Quinten or Chet. Quinten holds Haven and that allows Chet to deliver some more shots to Haven's mid-section. Victor Dark makes his way out onto the stage and observes the 2-on-1 beatdown with a smirk on his face. What the hell is the deal with guy? Quinten and Chet eventually take their leave as once again Haven has been left brutalized. *****, 94% overall.

Fifth Match: Jenna Kyle vs. Vivian Merrick
The Women's Champion and Woman of the Year Sonya Braddock joins the commentary team to observe this match. She's congratulated on her Slammy win and Sonya responds by saying it'll look great with the one she's going to win next year. She's asked about Naomi's injury and she replies by pointing out how much it sucks that she's not going to be able to knock her ass out again anytime soon. Naomi only needs to worry about getting better because despite the fight that Jenna Kyle is going to bring at Bragging Rights, Sonya is still going to be waiting for Naomi if she wants to take another shot at taking the title.

The match at hand, though, is all kinds of awesome. I often forget that Vivian is also a worker despite being a manager to the Future Foundation. Jenna BUILDS MOMENTUM by picking up a hell of a hard-fought win by nailing the Kyle Driver and scoring the pinfall. She has a staredown with Sonya Braddock as the champion looks on from the announce table. *****, 95% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Kerry Cemenko vs. Wrakk
If I'm going to have Kerry talk a big game, I should probably be sticking him in some high profile spots. This main event should do nicely. Wrakk is, of course, his dominating self. Kerry manages to escape the Demon Cross and gets the champion down in position for a Curb Stomp but Brandon Reigns is at ringside and he trips up Kerry as he goes to the ropes. That's a DQ as Reigns climbs in to deliver some more abuse. Things look bad for Cemenko BUT HERE COMES RYAN PATTILLO!!! He evens the odds as he tosses Reigns out and slugs it out with Wrakk. Cemenko recovers and he and Pattillo team up to clothesline Wrakk over the top rope. We go off the air with the four men exchanging gestures and threats. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

M-A-G

06-22-2023, 10:09 AM

AEW Collision
June 24, 2023

Title for Title: AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm vs. NJPW Strong Women's Champion Willow Nightingale

As expected, on the real-life Dynamite that just ended, this match got announced for the actual PPV. Glad they are getting the shine in real life. In EWR land though, sorry ladies, I only have so many PPV spots. But throwing them out there first when the crowd is often at a fever pitch is hopefully something of a make-good.

Anyway, they had themselves a strong match with a lot of NJPW-esque hard hitting befitting of the occasion. Toni uses some underhanded tactics throughout the match and Willow begins charging back.

However, as the match seems to be reaching a crescendo, both women are suddenly taken out by a crossbody by someone else! Is that who I think it is, yes it is! It's ATHENA!

The Ring of Honor Women's Champion Athena has been doing her thing on the red and black brand for months, and apparently she feels overlooked. She uses the element of surprise to her advantage, hitting Toni with the O-Face and locking Willow into a Crossface.

The surprise appearance of Athena has caught everybody off-guard The Fallen Goddess holds the ROH Women's Title above her head as we fade to commercial. ***, 75% overall

---

I had to look up Athena and to say I'm scared would be an understatement. You may not need Kong after all. I, on the other hand, need more Toni in my life.

Mark Henry: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm here backstage with none other than Samoa Joe. Joe, a lot has been said about your surprise attack on CM Punk last week, with people even speculating you're working on behalf of MJF. Can you clarify things for us?"

Samoa Joe: "Mark, I want to get one thing straight, I don't work for anyone but myself. People are quick to make stories to suit their own narratives, aren't they? MJF? No, that's not the case.

This is about CM Punk, and me. This goes way back, Mark, to the Ring of Honor days. Punk has always been selfish. He seems to think he can just waltz back into the business and hog the spotlight. The spotlight that those of us, who have been grinding and carrying this company on our backs since he's been gone, have earned. That doesn't sit right with me. He wants back in, he has to know that he's walking into my yard."

Mark Henry: "Strong words, Joe. Looking ahead, there's been a lot of buzz around your Forbidden Door match against Zack Sabre Jr. What's your take on that?"

Samoa Joe: "Forbidden Door, yeah, it's a buzzword. A lot of talent is booked for Forbidden Door, but it seems like they're all conveniently not booked to wrestle tonight. Are they scared? Do they lack the courage to step up on Collision?

But let me tell you something, Mark. I'm not like them. I'm here. I'm willing to put my ROH Television Title on the line right here tonight against anyone brave enough to step up to the plate. Because that's who Samoa Joe is. I'm not a coward. I'm a fighter, and I'm here to fight."

Mark Henry: "There you have it, folks. Samoa Joe is here and he's laying down the challenge. Whoever decides to step up, they've got a fight waiting for them. Back to you at ringside."

---

How is this ROH deal supposed to be working? Do people just go back and forth as they please or is a title necessary? The pieces are there to do a big time promotion vs. promotion angle if you were so inclined.

The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) vs. The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) w/ Maria Kanellis

The reunited Men of the Year, Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky, join the commentary table for this one as they spend the entire time egotistically running down the Hardys.

A pretty solid showing here all things considered, as all four guys are seasoned pros. Although I will likely not have the Hardys win too many matches in this universe, The Kingdom are an underneath ROH tag team I don't see myself doing too much with so a Hardys win to avoid jobbing them out too much makes sense as I build their program.

Jeff Hardy hits the Swanton Bomb on Taven for the win. The Hardys stand on the turnbuckles and point at Men of the Year, letting them know they haven't forgotten about the cheap shots last week. ***, 76% overall

---

LOL, OMG @ Maria Kinellis. I remember your crush on her. I wonder if she has any regrets and hard feelings seeing Punk happily married. Forget Matt and Jeff; SHE'S the big shock to me if she's still sticking her hand in wrestling these days. I would've thought Matt and Jeff would be two of the most over members of the roster and boost that rating a bit more. Still, this was nothing to sneeze at.

Madison Rayne vs. Thunder Rosa

Thunder Rosa was among the handful of AEW returnees who turned up for the Collision debut, and this is her in-ring return. As you could expect, she's going to be kept looking strong in this match.

I more or less visualized this as an extended squash with Rosa largely dominating proceedings, finishing it off with a Fire Thunder Driver. This was the worst match of the night and still got the Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling label, so that's a mark of a solid night. **3/4, 71% overall

---

Madison Rayne is another blast from the past. I'd give her a blast, I tell you what.

Mark Henry is standing backstage with Ricky Starks, FTR, The Lucha Brothers, and Alex Abrahantes.

Mark Henry: Hello agin ladies and gentlemen. Joining me now are an intimidating assembly of talent. Ricky, there's no denying there's been some serious friction between you and Bullet Club Gold recently, especially with Powerhouse Hobbs. Could you enlighten us on this ongoing issue?

Ricky Starks: Mark, let me tell you something, man. Bullet Club Gold thinks they're the biggest game in town, but they're nothing more than a cheap knockoff brand. Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Powerhouse Hobbs – it's like a group project where no one did their homework.

As for Hobbs... now, that's a special case. We go way back, all the way back three years ago to the Team Taz days. But I've never seen such a massive man accomplish so little. His name is 'Powerhouse' Hobbs, right? More like 'Out-of-Power' Hobbs, if you ask me. He's all brawn, no brain. I've never met a man who could lift so much but understand so little. I beat him in a Street Fight last year, and I'll do it again if I have to.

Mark Henry: Tonight, Jay White and Juice Robinson are scheduled to meet the Lucha Brothers in tag team action. Do you have any thoughts?

Ricky Starks: I think Bullet Club Gold has forgotten what they're dealing with here. It's one thing to have issues with me and FTR, we've been dealing with their nonsense for a while now. But now, they've gone ahead and pissed off even more people.

Let me tell you something about the Lucha Brothers. Fenix and Penta don't know the meaning of fear. These boys were wrestling in barns and fields before any of these goons even laced up their boots. Tonight, they're going to show Bullet Club Gold what "cero miedo" truly means.

Mark Henry: Well, it sounds like Bullet Club Gold is going to have their hands full tonight. We look forward to seeing this intense rivalry unfold in the ring. Best of luck to you all.

---

Abrahantes is a new last name that I've never heard. I imagine him ending up in Vince Land being named Abraham Alexanderson. Mark Henry doing interviews still continues to be funny. It's just a weird visual to imagine.

Dalton Castle w/ The Boys vs. Andrade El Idolo w/ La Faccion Ingobernable

Similarly, this is Andrade's in-ring return after a surprise return last week. I don't view this one as quite as much of a squash though. Although Castle is mostly in ROH land, he's got charisma coming out the ass and has a compelling, entertaining personality for any great heel to play off of. I'm not sure how much I'll push him him as an in-ring competitor but worst case he should make a brilliant manager someday.

Be that as it may, these two have a solid-in ring showing with Andrade getting most of his big moves in as he starts to take charge. LFI and the Boys have a proper fuck-about at ringside and Andrade hits La Sombra for the win.

Afterwards, here comes JungleHook again to get them some and we've got a good 'ol brawl to send us into the next add break. ***, 75% overall

---

La Sombra translates to "the shade" so it's safe to say that Andrade threw some shade on him. :shifty: Dalton has a cool name and it would fit well for a manager.

Miro vs. Jeff Cobb

Now here's a juicy Forbidden Door preview. I didn't think I was going to book any NJPW talent outside of the PPV, but I was trying to think of an opponent for Miro and I was browsing through available talent and Cobb's name stood out immediately. Incredibly similar stats to Miro, overness in the high 60s which at worse isn't gonna drag a match down beyond repair. Figured it was as good a time as any to use him before he heads off on his next tour.

So I said fuck it, booked it, and magic resulted. These two guys blended insanely well together and now that I've done this I really wanna see this match in real-life. They're both similarly built barrel-chested dudes. Anyway, big meaty men were slapping meat in this one before Miro gets a pin with the Machka Kick. Consider this an early 1-0 edge for AEW as we head into Forbidden Door. ****, 83% overall

---

I'm going to try to be an adult about the slapping meat line. Big beefy men reaching four stars is a rarity so enjoy it when it happens. I'd make Cobb's finisher the Tossed Salad. Hey, I said I was going to be an adult about the meat thing. I didn't say anything about anything else.

[The scene opens in a dimly lit room, shadows dancing across the grim visage of the three members of The House of Black. Malakai's eyes, one darker than the night itself, look straight into the camera, as he begins to speak, his voice as cold as the grave.]

Malakai Black: "The Acclaimed, Billy Gunn... last week was merely the beginning. The reckoning that fell upon you... that wasn't personal. No, you were just... inconvenient obstacles, standing in the path of the inevitable. This is not about you, it is about me... and the darkness we must bring forth."

[Malakai walks slowly across the room in front of the other two members, his steps echoing in the eerie silence, the camera follows.]

Malakai Black: "You, like so many others, live in the light. But that light is not purity. It's an illusion, it's blindness... and we are the ones who will open your eyes."

[A slight grimace touches his lips, not quite a smile, as he continues.]

Malakai Black: "You wear your victories like badges of honor, but they are nothing. They are the shackles that bind you to the illusion. Each victory, each cheer from the crowd, they only tighten your bonds."

[He comes to a stop, turning back to the camera, his gaze piercing the darkness.]

Malakai Black: "The Acclaimed... Billy Gunn... we have already taken you out in the ring. You wanted to fight again, but last week you were forced to realize how quickly your reality can shatter. That was merely a glimpse into the void, a taste of the House of Black. You can no longer ignore the darkness at your doorstep, the rot within."

[He leans forward, his voice dropping lower, the gravity of his words echoing throughout the room.]

Malakai Black: "This is your fate. You are just lambs in the grander scheme, sacrifices on the altar of the inevitable. I didn't choose you... the darkness did."

[He steps back into the shadows, his figure becoming one with the darkness.]

Malakai Black: "You will understand, in time. When all the lights have gone out, when all the cheers have turned to silence... You will understand once and for all, that the House always wins.

[The scene fades, leaving only his chilling words hanging in the air.]

---

This is some old school Undertaker/Mankind/Jake Roberts stuff. I try my best to do this kind of thing with Haven, but it's always a chore because there's a certain way to do stuff like this without it sounding hokey.

Samoa Joe cockily struts out, ready to defend his TV Title less than 24 hours before a technical war with Zack Sabre Jr. Perhaps the fans were expecting someone else from NJPW to walk through the Forbidden Door...but instead they got a hometown hero. It's Ontario's own Shawn Spears!

ROH Television Championship: Samoa Joe (C) vs. Shawn Spears

Feel like this is a good spot for a hometown guy. Wrestling fans are predominantly smarks now and I'm sure everybody realistically knows Joe would go over, but adding that hometown element is enough to plant even the slightest bit of doubt in the minds of even the jaded fans.

Anyway the story here is Joe was being arrogant and figuring he'd just roll through anyone he faced. Instead, Spears came in like a house of fire, catching him off guard and nearly pulling off the upset a few times. Eventually though he gets his shit together and pulls off a flurry of submissions, send a statement to Sabre ahead of their match. He gets the win with the Coquina Clutch.

Sending another statement, he leaves the Clutch locked in on the hometown guy long after the bell as the ref tries in vain to brain it up. Eventually Cult of Personality hits and Punk charges to the ring! Joe rolls out of there and takes his leave. ***1/4, 79% overall

---

CM Punk, standing in the middle of the ring with a microphone in hand, watches Samoa Joe flee the scene. There's a mixture of anger and determination on his face.

CM Punk: "Joe, you can run all you want but there's nowhere to hide. You see, I heard your cute little interview earlier. You don't like me 'waltzing' back into the business, 'hogging the spotlight'. Well, I'm sorry, Joe, but you've got it all wrong. This isn't about the spotlight. This is about the love of this business, the fans, the fight.

You attacked me, you took the shot. You had your reasons, and honestly, I don't give a damn about them. You thought it was about making a statement? Well, I'm here to tell you, Joe, you've just written a check your mouth can't cash.

Now, we've got some business at Forbidden Door, sure, and I'm not one to overlook a challenge. I've got Hiroshi Tanahashi to focus on. You've got your hands full with Zack Sabre Jr. But you best believe, once that's over, I'm coming for you, Joe.

Next week, on Collision... Joe, I don't want to hear any more of your interviews, I don't want to hear about who you are or aren't working for. I want you. No running, no hiding. You fired the shot, Joe... now it's time to pay the price.

See you next week, Joe."

And with that, Punk drops the microphone, leaving his message to echo through the arena, the fans erupting in cheers, as the tension for next week's Collision intensifies.

---

Shawn Spears has a good name. I'd book him as a Britney fanboy who's way too obsessed and went the extra mile to change his last name to match hers. God damn, I can be stupid when I really put my mind to it, so to speak.

It sucks that my flame for real world wrestling is dead and gone because I just know Punk would be bringing the goods just like this promo. It just feels so odd how some indy schmuck from over 20 years ago now has the ability to command so much attention and conversation...even from people who want to claim that he sucks and isn't worth shit.

Bullet Club Gold ("Switchblade" Jay White and Juice Robinson) w/ Powerhouse Hobbs vs. The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Cero Miedo and Rey Fenix) w/ Alex Abrahantes

Four episodes of TV in a row where a really fucking good match is closing out the proceedings, including both episodes of Collision. That's always a damn good sign here.

My tag division feels like it's gonna be magic to book as I have so many combinations to work with. Jay White and Juice Robinson aren't even set up as an official tag team in-game but Dean Malenko told me afterwards their styles blend well as a team...meaning I think I got another bonus to the match rating.

Anyway, this ruled as you'd come to expect. Lots of nearfalls and drama, lots of Bullet Club shithousery. Powerhouse makes a menace of himself and the heels pick up the win with an illegal double team.

Afterwards, Bullet Club Gold pick up where they left off last week by putting the boots to the Brothers, and even look like they're gonna do some damage to poor Alex Abrahantes. But FTR and Ricky Starks run in for the save, I sense a trios match can't be much further into the future. ****1/4, 87% overall rating

81% overall show rating

I could go either way on the name Juice Robinson. Of course, it could be an easy target for ridicule if the guy was ripped and overly muscular. But when you're racking up ratings like that, what does it matter? One of my favorite eye-rolling things of EWR is when you have an established team on a show and your road agent is apparently gobsmacked over how well they mesh and work together. It's like, how much am I paying you again?

Evil Vito

06-22-2023, 11:43 AM

SmackDown!: December 7, 2040

Twenty Minute Opening Promo of Doom Time as Haven makes his way out. He's aware of what Victor Dark is trying to do, but if what occured on Raw was his best shot, he's in for more disappointment. "Victor can speak grandly as much as he wants, but until he himself has the guts to get his hands dirty and try on his own to break me, he is but words. I have never been beaten or swayed by mere words. So throw whatever grunts you can my way and I shall send them back to you, bruised and demoralized and humiliated as a message. I am the Dark Shepherd and no one..."

"Please, for the love of God, shut up, Haven", interrupts someone. What the hell? Quinten McDaniels comes out to the stage and has a mic in hand, looking to speak with Haven. "I've heard sermons like this before so many times from you and I'm just about at the end of my rope. Now, I don't really know or particularly care about whatever history happened between you and this Victor Dark person, but there is a grain of truth coming from his camp that struck a chord in me. It wasn't that long ago when you had a collection of us at your beck and call. You promised us the world. Chet and Lyle and Orlando and Eclypse and, of course, me among others, we went along for the ride. Now I was never completely on board with what you were selling so I don't really feel any major sense of betrayal when it comes to that department, but you really never did end up taking as big of a hit when that whole Order thing collapsed. You went on to headline WrestleManias and win King of the Ring and continue to march these people along with this whole messed up pied piper schtick. That's not really fair, now is it? It's about time I get around to doing what I should've done a long time ago and that's finally knocking you off this throne of yours. Now seeing as you look ready and willing to get physical, I don't see a reason why you can't meet me in that ring later and you can try to shut me up. I have nothing left to fear from you, Haven. I...have been set free."

That's the third person in the last few weeks who's used that phrase. What the hell is going on? Well we can't worry about that right now as Quinten takes his leave and Haven is left to think about what was just said.

I'm assuming you are going for some sort of a stable formation with everybody dropping the "set free" line, and I'm all for it. The slow realization that all of these folks are up to something is good shit.

First Match: Adam Hail and Lonny Richards vs. Simon Bennett and Mathias
Paul Andrews speaks for Simon and wants Adam Hail to know that he can have his retribution if he really wants it. Simon Bennett is offering Hail a one-on-one match between the two of them at Bragging Rights. It's high time that things get settled because Simon isn't going to stop. Adam has nobody else but himself to blame for his headaches right now, but if he's so sure of himself and his goal to get to the top of the mountain is a surefire thing, he should have no problem accepting this match. A great match rating here with an 80% crowd reaction to remind me that these guys aren't rocking it in the charisma department. This match is costing me at least half a million to put on so it'd better be fucking good and the crowd had better appreciate it. Simon is a house afire and gets all up in everyone's business off the hot tag. Hail evidently thinks it's too much for him to handle for now and he decides to bail and call it a night and get counted out. No doubt this isn't over. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Always have a soft spot for heels getting themselves counted out. It's a well you can't go to too often and I feel like, in kayfabe, there should be some level of financial incentive tied to every match. Even if not explicitly stated, there's a winner's purse and that's reason enough for heels to not just skirt there way out of every match they're in.

But then you have a deeply personal rivalry where someone just says "nah I'm good" and the countout hits different.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Has Luscious with him, of course, as he feels that last night wasn't enough to celebrate all of the Slammys that the two of them acquired. "I mean, there was indeed a lot of celebrating all night. You'd think the two of us would be too tired to even show up here tonight, but never let it be said that Michael Hotbody isn't full of energy! I'm a walking, living, breathing dynamo and I lit up all of 2040! The Energizer Bunny has got nothing on me. And may I just say that bunnies of any sort have got NOTHING on dear, dear Luscious over here."
`
Luscious blushes and fans herself with her hands at that comment as Hotbody presses on. "So tonight, I am proud to present to all of you a special in-depth edition of the Hot Button, as we take a look at our awards and reflect on our success and what it is about us that led us to win these prestigious accolades. I know you're all chomping at the bits so let's get this show on the road. Bring them on down, boys!"

A music cue hits and one-by-one, Zed Jones and Galino & Farnes each bring down a Slammy on a mobile pedestal with Hotbody naming each one as he and Luscious look on with tears in their eyes. The Douche of the Year Slammy is covered with a piece of paper taped on with MOST ENVIED written on it in marker. Hotbody asks us all to bask in the beauty of them all. "It's the culmination of hard work and grit and determination that makes one the best in their chosen field. The only tragedy that one can and should find in all of this is that there is one particular Slammy missing and THAT'S THE CRUISERWEIGHT OF THE YEAR! Jordan Demiras, you know that deep down in your black soul, in your selfish unloving heart, you have no right to claim that award. Rest assured that I have my TOP LEGAL COUNSEL working on finding any irregularities! I don't know if it's a case of ballot stuffing, or Lisa Benton pulling some nonsense, or you people not knowing how a poll works, but there isn't any other person on this roster other than me that can say they were the best cruiserweight of the whole year. None of them have this belt around them and none of them are going to take it from me anytime soon! So to Jordan Demiras, I say you can choke on that statue and to Gavin Jones, good freaking luck because it's going to be one hell of a disappointment come Bragging Rights! Look at all you see before you, Gavin, and tremble!"

This is obviously the time for the number one contender himself to sneak up from behind the champion. Gavin spins Hotbody around and delivers a boot to the mid-section and Gavin sends Hotbody flying over the top, knocking over the pedestals and awards. Luscious bails and that leaves Gavin alone in the ring with the title belt. He hoists it up briefly before taking his leave through the crowd as Hotbody and crew start to recover.

Really good shit as you'd expect. Hotbody is now up to a whopping 4 and a half lines of an intro even on my large gaming monitor, so if I read this thread on my phone it's probably take up the whole screen. Covering up Douche of the Year is just classic.

At this stage I feel like Hotbody's eventual dethroning could be saved for a WrestleMania moment, but he's run through nearly everyone so I'm not entirely sure who will get the honor. I firmly enjoy this angle.

Second Match: Jason Sorola vs. Nigel Gallagher
It's rebuilding time for Sorola as he's coming off a pretty substantial loss on Monday. SmackDown! can always stand some hot cruiserweight action. I need to brainstorm his next feud. In the meantime, he can help rock this match like a hurricane. The match ends when Sorola yanks Nigel off the top rope by his leg and the Englishman hits hard. Sorola locks in the STF and that's going to give him the submission win. ****1/2, 91% overall.

I like the simplicity here. Sometimes guys are just between feuds and you need to keep them busy, and that's fine. That's where the hypothetical, unspoken winner's purse comes into play. You get yourself a good match to keep yourself going and that's good enough.

Fifth Match: Jenna Kyle vs. Vivian Merrick
The Women's Champion and Woman of the Year Sonya Braddock joins the commentary team to observe this match. She's congratulated on her Slammy win and Sonya responds by saying it'll look great with the one she's going to win next year. She's asked about Naomi's injury and she replies by pointing out how much it sucks that she's not going to be able to knock her ass out again anytime soon. Naomi only needs to worry about getting better because despite the fight that Jenna Kyle is going to bring at Bragging Rights, Sonya is still going to be waiting for Naomi if she wants to take another shot at taking the title.

The match at hand, though, is all kinds of awesome. I often forget that Vivian is also a worker despite being a manager to the Future Foundation. Jenna BUILDS MOMENTUM by picking up a hell of a hard-fought win by nailing the Kyle Driver and scoring the pinfall. She has a staredown with Sonya Braddock as the champion looks on from the announce table. *****, 95% overall.

I've said it before but I just love the ability to freely move people from wrestling to managing, and am just as happy sticking people into a "Manager" spot if I want to ensure they're standing there at ringside for any teammates or partners. EWR doesn't really know the difference between the roles.

Good to see Jenna BUILD MOMENTUM. I would like to BUILD MOMENTUM in my personal courtship of her.

Evil Vito

06-22-2023, 12:07 PM

I had to look up Athena and to say I'm scared would be an understatement. You may not need Kong after all. I, on the other hand, need more Toni in my life.

If this were mid-2000s WWE, Toni and Athena would having an ass-and-thigh contest. Not saying I wouldn't like to see that, but I'm glad to have women in the business now who are both hot and kick ass.

How is this ROH deal supposed to be working? Do people just go back and forth as they please or is a title necessary? The pieces are there to do a big time promotion vs. promotion angle if you were so inclined.

So ROH was owned by Sinclair broadcasting. Once COVID hit the company more or less went dormant aside from a few shows in 2021, and the word was that Sinclair was looking to dump it.

Tony Khan proceeded to buy ROH in 2022, including the entire tape library which has led to some cool callbacks, like CM Punk entering to AFI's Miseria Cantare for a PPV match. Sinclair didn't include any TV deals in the buyout however. Tony's claimed he's searching for a cable deal for them, but he's been saying that for so long now I don't know it'll happen.

Instead, he re-opened the Honor Club (ROH's streaming service), made the entire back catalog available and new episodes of ROH stream weekly. They generally tape ROH either before/after Dynamite, or do standalone tapings in Universal.

There are no roster rules with ROH, anyone is free to go and most of the titles are held by main AEW roster talent, though I'm currently offloading the belts. Technically, I could've set up a 4th weekly TV show for ROH in-game. But that's just far too much weekly booking, plus it would mess with the in-game morale mechanics to have a 4th show.

But in real life most ROH matches feature undercard guys or developmental guys. So I turned ROH into my Development Fed in-game. I will shuffle people back and forth from there as needed, obviously if the game decides you can't possibly improve and I still can't use you, you'll be on your way out.

LOL, OMG @ Maria Kinellis. I remember your crush on her. I wonder if she has any regrets and hard feelings seeing Punk happily married. Forget Matt and Jeff; SHE'S the big shock to me if she's still sticking her hand in wrestling these days. I would've thought Matt and Jeff would be two of the most over members of the roster and boost that rating a bit more. Still, this was nothing to sneeze at.

Maria's still around and still fine as fuck.

https://wrestlingnews.co/.image/ar_1:1%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200/MTkzMDQ5MzMwNzU4ODUzODUz/maria-kanellis-mike-bennett-matt-taven-the-kingdom.jpg

That is a 41-year old woman whose given birth twice. Not bad. Not bad at all. She's married to Mike Bennett (on the right). Been with him since 2011 so she moved on from Punk without issue.

Abrahantes is a new last name that I've never heard. I imagine him ending up in Vince Land being named Abraham Alexanderson. Mark Henry doing interviews still continues to be funny. It's just a weird visual to imagine.

https://ewrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/01-aew-rampage-mark-henry-pre-main-event-interview-catchphrase.jpg

Henry's a pretty fun interviewer. The aesthetic they were going for with Rampage for a while is he'd always do an interview before the main event, and it would be a split-screen style deal like you'd see in a sporting event.

This is some old school Undertaker/Mankind/Jake Roberts stuff. I try my best to do this kind of thing with Haven, but it's always a chore because there's a certain way to do stuff like this without it sounding hokey.

I was genuinely impressed by the promo the chatbot spit out. I asked for dark and brooding and god dammit, they gave me dark and brooding!

I could go either way on the name Juice Robinson. Of course, it could be an easy target for ridicule if the guy was ripped and overly muscular. But when you're racking up ratings like that, what does it matter? One of my favorite eye-rolling things of EWR is when you have an established team on a show and your road agent is apparently gobsmacked over how well they mesh and work together. It's like, how much am I paying you again?

Juice has some pretty decent size to him, and he's got a big personality and solid charisma. Real good over-the-top obnoxious kinda character but knows how to get serious when the time calls.

Also, he's married to Toni Storm so he's clearly got something going for him.

M-A-G

06-23-2023, 01:18 AM

LOL, I checked my Merchandise section and of all the fucking people on my roster to be in the top ten, there's God damn Ethan Lang at number 7. The motherfucker isn't even close to the other people on the list in terms of overness and his charisma sucks dong. WTF are you smoking, EWR? :lol:

Evil Vito

06-23-2023, 10:37 AM

Does he have the Fonz Factor or have any sort of an outlandish gimmick? I've never paid too much attention to the merch section but I could see why someone "cool" would do well with merch.

Forbidden Door coming shortly.

M-A-G

06-23-2023, 11:44 AM

Holy shit, he does have the Fonz Factor!!! That's probably why I picked him up in the first place. :lol:

https://i.imgur.com/5WEAzKW.png

Evil Vito

06-23-2023, 12:16 PM

So before I post this afternoon I'm going to add some disclaimers and say this pre-emptively about Forbidden Door...this is probably the closest I will get to having an "M-A-G" level show. I have a great base roster but most shows won't be this good because they aren't interpromotional spectaculars.

1. The NJPW guys I booked for this are largely their top guys. First off they are very talented. Very high brawl numbers generally (Japanese Strong Style), and some solid technical skills for many of them. But also pretty reasonably over even compared to my midcarders (most of the guys booked are around low 80s overness, except Okada who is legit main event 90+ overness level)

2. The overness ratings being that high is up for debate, casual WWE fans won't know these guys. BUT, I'd argue, in today's wrestling landscape the vast majority of people who attend shows are smarks but that's doubly so for AEW, the indies, etc. Basically if you booked a major NJPW name on any random show and promoted it accordingly, chances are a lot of people there would pop and know these guys.

3. As a result of the above, this show rules tons of ass and even though this card would bang in real life I'm not sure it'd get this many snowflakes in a row.

4. Technically I could "cheat" in this game by using these talented and over NJPW guys all over my programming year-round. Since the only times they are unavailable to me is when NJPW's touring commitments are happening. But that's not reflective of the real-life working relationship between the companies. NJPW guys make sporadic appearances outside of Forbidden Door season, and even then, the very top level guys don't usually come over. Most of them live in Japan and the real-life NJPW schedule is far longer than it is in EWR.

5. Even if I did "cheat" by booking them most of the year, I'd be in financial ruin. Case in point, there are 9 NJPW talents wrestling on this show, plus Jeff Cobb on Collision. According to my finance page, my workers costs so far this month is $406,000. Well, that only accounts for Open contract guys used so far, so that's those 10 guys. The money I brought in for PPV revenue? $405,000. So basically the guys paid for themselves for this show, but if I booked them constantly I'd go broke, especially with Okada charging like $85k per appearance.

6. As a Global promotion I can't even sign anyone with Japanese commitments to contracts, even on Open deals. The NJPW roster was on the AEW roster on open deals in my game save. There's a chance when the month ends, everyone from NJPW will make a mass exodus. Not sure if that happens. They might also quit working for me if I don't book them since they aren't earning money. If this happens I might just Arsenic them onto my roster for next Forbidden Door season but it otherwise changes nothing about my day-to-day booking of the promotion.

TLDR; a 20-year old game unsurprisingly does not really lend itself to the modern workings of a wrestling promotion :lol:

Evil Vito

06-23-2023, 03:12 PM

https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/2c5523c59b16253a8c3dbda9927fbcdaa8e17631e63b0e74b314c2674977b073-rimg-w801-h619-gmir.jpg?v=1685554328

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door
June 25, 2023
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Tony Schiavone and Excalibur welcome us to the proceedings as the early arriving crowd is already in a frenzy. Let Scott Keith, Dave Meltzer, and everyone else run out of stars before the night is over! But before the main show kicks off, we have Zero Hour!

---

Zero Hour - ROH Pure Championship: "Red Death" Daniel Garcia vs. "The Wrestler" Katsuyori Shibata

As the lights dimmed in the jam-packed arena, the thrilling anticipation rippled through the crowd. The stage was set for a brutal clash of two renowned wrestlers, Daniel Garcia, the defending ROH Pure Champion, and the challenger, Katsuyori Shibata. Known for their hard-hitting styles and relentless grappling skills, both wrestlers promised a match that would leave the audience on the edge of their seats.

The bell rang, and the match got underway. Garcia, calm and focused, circled Shibata, analyzing his opponent's movements, ready to seize any hint of vulnerability. Shibata, on the other hand, exuded an air of relentless determination. The intensity in the ring was palpable.

The first part of the match was a grappling masterclass. Garcia, known for his remarkable technical wrestling skills, locked Shibata in a series of innovative submissions, trying to force the challenger to tap out early. However, Shibata's endurance and resilience shone through, as he tenaciously wriggled free from each hold, much to the crowd's astonishment.

Shibata, renowned for his striking prowess, retaliated with a series of stiff elbow strikes, each blow resonating through the arena like a gunshot. Garcia absorbed the punishment, gritting his teeth, refusing to stay down. Back-and-forth they went, exchanging punishing blows and complex submission holds, each wrestler looking to gain the upper hand.

The end came after an exhausting, high-intensity encounter. Shibata, summoning his last ounces of strength, struck Garcia with his feared finisher, the Penalty Kick. The sound of his boot connecting with Garcia echoed throughout the arena, followed by a gasp from the crowd. Garcia fell to the mat, unable to rise, and the referee counted the pin. 1...2...3!

With that, Katsuyori Shibata was declared the new ROH Pure Champion. The crowd erupted, acknowledging the amazing display of technical mastery and brutal toughness. Despite the loss, Garcia's stock had only risen after the incredible match. Both warriors had pushed each other to their limits, creating a contest that would perfectly set the tone for the show ahead.

Winner and NEW ROH Pure Champion: Katsuyori Shibata
***
73% overall rating

---

Match 1 - Title for Title: ROH Television Champion "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe vs. IWGP Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr.

The crowd is still buzzing from the opening pyro detonations as Samoa Joe's music hits. The arena darkened once again to herald the arrival of Joe, smugly and confidently walking to the ring after his impromptu title defense not even 24 hours ago. Samoa Joe, the ROH Television Champion, squared off against IWGP Television Champion, Zack Sabre Jr. This encounter promised to be a submission spectacle.

The bell tolled, and both champions eyed each other, circling around the ring with the gaze of eagles. The initial few minutes of the match were a slow, meticulous dance, a chess match where each participant was sizing the other up, looking for a chink in their armor to exploit.

Joe, the embodiment of power and intensity, swiftly gained momentum with a flurry of high-impact moves. His explosive chops echoed through the arena, each landing with resounding thuds on Sabre's chest. The ROH Champion's goal was clear: wear Sabre down, sap his strength, and lock in the feared Coquina Clutch.

But Sabre was not to be underestimated. The IWGP Champion, known for his unparalleled technical skills, parried Joe's onslaught with an impressive array of submission holds. Arm-bars, leg-locks, and intricate choke holds were dished out with surgical precision, turning the match into a masterclass of grappling artistry.

The climax came in a stunning and unexpected sequence. Joe, sensing victory, managed to lock Sabre in a headlock and seemed poised to transition into his signature Coquina Clutch. The crowd held its breath, anticipating Sabre's imminent defeat. But the resilient Brit had one final trick up his sleeve.

Demonstrating his agility and quick-thinking, Sabre used the ring to his advantage and maneuvered towards the turnbuckle, using his feet to jump off and flip over Joe's head, turning it into a flash pin. The referee hit the mat. 1...2...3! Against all odds, Sabre had reversed the tide and emerged victorious.

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause as Sabre was declared the winner, now holding both the ROH and IWGP Television Championships. The match proved to be a technical spectacle and a testament to the cunning and guile of Zack Sabre Jr. As Sabre leaves with his two championships, Joe is left gob-smacked in the ring, pounding the mat in frustration.

Winner, still IWGP Television Champion and NEW ROH Television Champion: Zack Sabre Jr.
****
83% overall rating

---

Match 2 - Jon Moxley vs. "Stone Pitbull" Tomohiro Ishii

As the dust settled from the prior contest, a sense of foreboding and raw energy filled the air. This was no ordinary match. It was a clash of titans. Two men known for their brutality, their tenacity, and their complete disregard for their own wellbeing: Jon Moxley and Tomohiro Ishii.

The match began with a roaring bell, and the audience could immediately feel the visceral tension between the two gladiators. It was evident that this would not be a contest of finesse or high-flying acrobatics, but a brutal, punishing display of sheer willpower and resilience.

Their hard-hitting strong style approach was evident from the get-go. Each punch, each knee, each stinging chop was met with a defiant retort from the other. Neither was willing to back down, their attacks echoing throughout the arena like war drums.

The action soon spilled out of the ring, as both Moxley and Ishii began brawling with unchained ferocity amongst the ringside area. Ishii, ever the bruiser, relentlessly assaulted Moxley, his blows pushing Moxley into the barricade landing with brutal precision. But Moxley absorbed the punishment, his bloodied face a testament to his indomitable spirit.

The match eventually made its way back into the ring, with Moxley's bleeding getting worse. Blood trickled down his face, his battle-scarred visage the personification of his warrior spirit. Yet, he continued to fight, his resilience further cementing his reputation as one of the toughest men in professional wrestling.

The climax of the match came when Moxley, his face a mask of crimson, managed to hook Ishii under his arms. With a roar that echoed through the arena, he drove Ishii into the mat with the Paradigm Shift. The impact shook the ring, and the audience watched with bated breath as the referee counted. 1...2...3!

Despite the grueling brutality of the match, Moxley had emerged victorious. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, acknowledging the breathtaking spectacle they had just witnessed. It was a match that embodied the spirit of wrestling: raw, intense, and completely unforgettable. A testament to the tenacity of both men, it was a reminder of why Jon Moxley and Tomohiro Ishii are regarded as two of the toughest men in the business.

Winner: Jon Moxley
****1/2
89% overall rating

---

Match 3 - AEW International Championship: "Freshly Squeezed" Orange Cassidy (C) vs. "The King" Minoru Suzuki

After the sheer brutality of the prior bout, the tone shifted as the ever-enigmatic Orange Cassidy, the AEW International Champion, sauntered out to the ring, his casual nonchalance a stark contrast to the storm about to break. The storm had a name: Minoru Suzuki, a name synonymous with brutality and a reputation that commanded fear and respect in equal measure.

From the outset, the juxtaposition of styles was as stark as night and day. Cassidy, renowned for his laid-back approach, and Suzuki, the embodiment of relentless aggression. Cassidy left his signature sunglasses on, kept his hands in his pockets, and started with his signature slow kick spot, trying to offset the rhythm of the match. But Suzuki was not to be swayed.

Ignoring the mind games, Suzuki retaliated with a resounding forearm that rocked Cassidy to the ground, a shocking exclamation point that even broke Cassidy's glasses. This brutal awakening seemed to flip a switch in Cassidy. The comedic antics vanished, replaced by a determination that surprised the crowd and perhaps even Suzuki himself.

The rest of the match saw Cassidy, usually the master of minimal effort, take the fight to Suzuki in earnest. The man known for his sloth-like approach now moved with purpose, utilizing a mix of unorthodox offense and technical wrestling that kept Suzuki on the back foot.

The end came when Cassidy, with a surge of adrenaline, hit Suzuki with his finisher, the Beach Blast. The audience counted along with the referee, their voices echoing in unison. 1...2...3! Cassidy had defended his championship, once again proving that he could get serious when needed and continuing his run of maintaining the gold even in the face of brutal punishment.

In the aftermath of the match, a shocking development unfolded. Suzuki, known for his lack of respect for his defeated opponents, extended his hand to Cassidy. The crowd hushed in disbelief as Cassidy, equally surprised, accepted the gesture. This unexpected display of sportsmanship from Suzuki was the perfect end to a match that proved the mettle of both men and showcased the unpredictable and diverse nature of professional wrestling.

Winner and STILL AEW International Champion: Orange Cassidy
***1/4
81% overall rating

---

Match 4: CM Punk vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

There's no rest for the crowd in this one. Onto a dream match between two legends of the wrestling world, CM Punk and Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Best in the World vs. The Ace of New Japan. The match was a year in the making, initially slated for the previous year's Forbidden Door event. However, an injury to Punk had derailed their encounter, turning the dream match into a 'what could have been'.

Both Punk and Tanahashi entered the ring to an explosive ovation. There were no titles at stake like there would have been a year ago, but the prestige of victory in this battle of titans was reward enough. From the opening bell, both men showed why they are considered among the best in the business, putting on a spectacular display of athleticism and in-ring psychology.

The crowd was thoroughly engaged, every near-fall, every reversal met with a chorus of cheers and gasps. Tanahashi and Punk fought tooth and nail, each landing their signature moves to the delight of the audience. But the turning point came as Tanahashi went for his signature High Fly Flow.

As Tanahashi launched himself from the top rope, Punk managed to get his knees up at the last second, causing Tanahashi to crash and burn. Capitalizing on the situation, Punk quickly hit his Go To Sleep (GTS) finisher on the fallen Tanahashi. The referee's count followed: 1...2...3! Punk was declared the winner of this highly-anticipated bout.

Following the match, a show of respect was seen as the two icons shook hands in the center of the ring. Tanahashi exited, leaving Punk alone to soak up the applause. But the moment was shattered when Samoa Joe, still seething from his earlier loss, stormed the ring and blindsided Punk.

Joe's assault was brutal, and it took multiple officials to pull him off Punk. The turn of events left the crowd booing, a stark contrast to the loud cheers just moments before. Despite the tumultuous ending, the showdown between Punk and Tanahashi would undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable matches of the evening, a testament to their enduring legacy in the world of professional wrestling.

Winner: CM Punk
****1/4
92% overall rating

---

Match 5 - IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Kenny Omega vs. "The Aerial Assassin" Will Ospreay

The atmosphere in the arena was electric as the fifth match of the night was set to commence. In this battle, Canada's very own Kenny Omega, the IWGP United States Champion, prepared to defend his title against the spectacular high-flyer, Will Ospreay. The stakes were high, the tension palpable, as this was a rematch of their epic clash at Wrestle Kingdom earlier in the year - a match hailed as one of the best in recent memory.

Before proceedings could begin, Don Callis made his way out from behind the apron to massive boos and even chants of "fuck you Callis" from the crowd. Callis took a seat on the commentary desk, seemingly disowning his own Canadian brethren, calling them classless heathens. He's here for one reason and one reason only - to insult Omega on commentary.

Omega, the hometown hero, was received with thunderous applause as he made his entrance, his every move accompanied by the roar of the excited crowd. Across the ring, Ospreay, a human highlight reel, accepted the challenge, his steely gaze fixed on the championship he so eagerly desired.

Once the bell rang, the ring came alive with an awe-inspiring blend of jaw-dropping aerial maneuvers and hard-hitting blows. Ospreay demonstrated his mastery of high-flying offense, his every leap and flip defying gravity, while Omega showcased his potent mix of powerful strikes and exceptional technical prowess.

The decisive moment came when Omega hoisted Ospreay onto his shoulders, ready to deliver his infamous One Winged Angel. The crowd held its breath, fully expecting to see Omega seal his victory. However, Ospreay proved his mettle by fighting his way out of the precarious position and landing a precise strike that sent Omega staggering into the ropes. Ospreay lands awkwardly, on landing, forcing the referee to check on him.

All of a sudden, one of the New Japan cameramen, wearing a COVID mask, clocked Omega with his camera! What in the world? Ospreay, seeing what transpired, quickly waved off the ref and regained his composure. Seizing the opportunity, Ospreay capitalized on the distraction and landed the Stormbreaker, his signature move. The referee counted - 1...2...3! Will Ospreay has won back the IWGP United States title, in Omega's home country!

But the surprises weren't over. As Ospreay celebrated his victory, the masked cameraman revealed himself to be none other than Konosuke Takeshita. Of course it was Takeshita! He has ensured Ospreay steals the title from Omega.

Takeshita continues to put the boots to Omega as the crowd boos. Ospreay joins in, making it a 2-on-1 situation. All of a sudden, a golden star appears on the video board. HOLY FUCK, IT'S KOTA IBUSHI!!!!!!!

The crowd loses its collective shit as Kenny Omega's long-time tag team partner from Japan rushes the ring and sends the heels packing with a mixture of lariats and knees. He helps to bring Kenny to his feet as they embrace. The Golden Lovers have reunited!

Winner and NEW IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion: Will Ospreay
****
86% overall rating

---

Match 6 - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Adam Cole vs. "Cold Skull" SANADA (C)

It's weird to imagine a World title match being something of a cooldown bout, but boy do the crowd ever need a collective cigarette after that moment. But we must press on! Adam Cole, a charismatic force of energy, sought to challenge the icy composure of the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, SANADA. The stakes were enormous, the tension thick, as both wrestlers prepared for a match that could define their careers.

Cole started the match by firing up the crowd, his every gesture and word drawing them in. His infectious energy was a stark contrast to SANADA's icy calm. SANADA, despite being cast as the heel, opted to fight a clean match, seeking to unequivocally prove his superiority through pure wrestling skill and strategy.

The bell rang, and the battle for supremacy began in earnest. It was a contest of equal matches, with neither wrestler gaining a decisive upper hand. Each move, each counter, seemed to be met with an equally powerful response. Cole's fiery passion clashed with SANADA's cool determination, creating a riveting spectacle of athleticism and strategy.

The match swung back and forth, a brutal ballet of power moves, technical finesse, and high-flying stunts. However, the end came when SANADA managed to lock Cole into his dreaded submission move, the Skull End. Despite his best efforts, Cole found himself unable to escape. After a valiant struggle, Cole had no choice but to tap out, awarding the match and title retention to SANADA.

The crowd erupted in applause, recognizing the fantastic display of wrestling they had just witnessed. While Cole's quest for the championship fell short, his performance against SANADA only solidified his reputation as one of the best in the business. As for SANADA, he proved that he was a champion who could defend his title with honor and skill, standing tall in the ring as the true IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and proving that his run to the top of the New Japan ranks was no fluke.

Winner and STILL IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: SANADA
****
84% overall rating

---

Match 7 - AEW World Championship: MJF (C) vs. Tetsuya Naito

We continue on to the second of our World Title matches. This was a clash of personalities as the AEW World Champion, MJF, defended his title against Tetsuya Naito. MJF had made it clear before the match that he saw himself above this event, expressing disdain for having to defend his title against a New Japan Pro-Wrestling star. In contrast, Naito remained unphased, using his own brand of mind games to rile up the self-proclaimed "salt of the earth".

From the moment the bell rang, it was clear this was going to be a unique encounter. MJF's usual cocky demeanor was shaken by Naito's nonchalant attitude. The champion struggled to understand Naito's unorthodox approach, his every taunt met with a tranquil smirk or a dismissive gesture.

For as much as SANADA proved in the previous match that you can win a clean match even when you're not a fan favorite, MJF went for the complete opposite approach and opted to employ every underhanded tactic in the book. From distractions to attempted cheap shots, MJF did everything he could to retain his title, but Naito managed to thwart him at every turn.

The match reached its climax when Naito prepared to hit his finisher, Destino. However, MJF managed to shove Naito into the referee. The ref bump served to create the chaos he needed. With the official down, MJF took the opportunity to retrieve his Dynamite Diamond Ring hidden in his trunks.

MJF landed a punishing blow on Naito with the ring, sending him sprawling on the canvas. As the referee regained consciousness, MJF disposed of his illicit weapon. MJF covered Naito for the pin as the referee, unaware of the deceit, counted - 1...2...3!

Despite the boos from the crowd, MJF celebrated his underhanded victory, clutching his championship with a smug satisfaction. The match, while tainted by MJF's tactics, had still been an exciting back-and-forth affair, showcasing the diverse personalities and styles of AEW and NJPW's finest. The night was not over yet, but the controversy surrounding MJF's win would undoubtedly continue to fuel discussions long after the event's end.

Winner and STILL AEW World Champion: MJF
****1/2
93% overall rating

---

Main Event - "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. "Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada

The final bout of the night was a dream match that had fans buzzing with anticipation since the inception of the AEW-NJPW partnership. Bryan Danielson, known worldwide as "The American Dragon", would face Kazuchika Okada, the "Rainmaker" and unquestionably the top NJPW star for over the past decade. Although there were no titles at stake, the magnitude of this encounter was so significant that both promotions agreed it deserved to close the show.

Before the match, Okada extended a hand in a show of sportsmanship. Danielson, however, dismissed him, setting the tone for the intense clash that was about to unfold. The ring was their battleground, and the crowd could not contain their excitement.

The match was a showcase of Danielson's ruthless aggression against Okada's unwavering resilience. Each move was delivered with precision and strength, with Danielson seeming to take a perverse joy in pushing Okada to his limits. Yet, Okada, who had battled against the very best in his illustrious career, remained undeterred. His every counter and offensive move resonated with the promise of a fightback.

The closing moments of the match were nothing short of dramatic. Danielson aimed for his Busaiku Knee, but Okada evaded it, retaliating with a massive running version of his infamous Rainmaker lariat. The crowd was on their feet as Okada proceeded to land not one, not two, but three consecutive Rainmakers on Danielson, an emphatic statement that silenced even the most skeptical of observers.

The referee's count followed: 1...2...3! Okada emerged victorious from the epic battle. The final image of the night was of golden streamers cascading from the ceiling, bathing the triumphant Okada in a sea of gold. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, celebrating the victorious Rainmaker and the fantastic night of wrestling they had witnessed.

AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 concluded on this high note, and the fans knew they had witnessed a night that would be etched in the annals of wrestling history.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada
****
89% overall rating

87% overall show rating

Evil Vito

06-23-2023, 03:23 PM

Post-Show Notes:

-Dean Malenko praised several of the matchups, saying their styles blended together. No shit, Dean...it's almost like I researched the stats before I put the card together.

-Suzuki and Orange were the only match where the guys really didn't have THAT similar of styles, which was by design since that was meant to be a bizarre social experiment of a match I'd love to see in real life. And they're over so it worked. ***1/4 being the worst match on a loaded card is ridiculous.

-My one booking fuck-up was I accidentally got Suzuki docked overness. It wasn't because he lost to Orange (Oranges' overness rating is higher) but it's presumably because he did the handshake afterwards despite being a heel with a Bad Ass gimmick. Oops, please don't hurt me, Suzuki-san.

-The way the show was going I swear I was ready for Okada/Danielson to get to 5 stars. In hindsight, their stats are at least somewhat more different compared to some of the others on there. Plus add in MJF being like 97 over with 97 charisma and it being a world title match, I get it. Still, last year's show ended with an AEW Title match going on last with Mox going over Tanahashi, so it seemed fair to put a NJPW guy over in the finale. Plus in real life Danielson/Okada is happening Sunday and man I hope they close out the show.

-Speaking of fair, NJPW went 5-4 on the PPV but add Miro's win over Cobb and it's 5-5 on the weekend. Par for the course for an interpromotional arrangement. Last year's Forbidden Door featured a bunch of tags with guys mixed in from both promotions on each side so it wasn't a full-on promotion vs. promotion match like I was shooting for here.

-Following his surprise debut, Kota Ibushi has signed with AEW full-time. In real-life his NJPW contract expired this year, in this game data he's a free agent with no Japanese commitments, so I signed him on literal day one just waiting for this moment.

M-A-G

06-23-2023, 10:09 PM

I have to laugh at a dude with the moniker of "The Wrestler". As opposed to what, the Bassist? :lol:

I have to ask if you went to the AI again to come up with the report because this was a very different presentation. Like there was an actual storytelling element to each match breakdown. That's quite scary when you think about it if that's the case. All you have to do is give the thing a few points and the thing churns out some great captivating shit.

I would absolutely play up Joe being angry over not being victorious on the same show where Punk stole the show and came out on top. I don't think there's a reason to not extend this program out, especially if you're not in a rush to do Punk/MJF. It's some easy stars at the very least.

But stars were definitely the theme with this show. Plus you got that overall rating in the high 80s, which is always a win. It blows that you can't get all of these guys locked down but if nothing else, it almost makes the show that much more special. I still remember my one SummerSlam show from way back when getting a 98% overall rating and I've been chasing it ever since.

The elusive 5-star match is the result of high stats, similar styles, charisma up the ass from both competitors, and good morale. In real life I imagine Danielson and Okada can get there in their sleep but this is the game we're talking about. It has its fickle moments and knows how to disappoint you in the worst ways.

A guy losing overness always hurts because you want to do what you can to get it back up and there's not always a guaranteed way to do it, other than a feud, but that takes a while. When I did the finish to Jenna/Faith in the Iron Woman Match, I knew the handshake was going to hurt Jenna because she was still a heel basically, but I was confident she'd regain those points with the face turn and subsequent feud against Naomi and Eclypse.

So with this show taken care of, and the fact that you need to do PPV events every month despite the real AEW not following the same format, what's next for you? Do you have your own names for the shows that aren't on the real life schedule?

Evil Vito

06-24-2023, 03:19 PM

I have to laugh at a dude with the moniker of "The Wrestler". As opposed to what, the Bassist? :lol:

I believe the moniker is primarily because Shibata was the definition of EWR's "No Gimmick Needed" gimmick. Wrestlers who work as young boys in the New Japan dojo always start off in plain black trunks and black boots, then go away on excursion to either the US, UK, or Mexico for a year or two and then return to NJPW with flashier attire and maybe a gimmick.

Shibata never did this, keeping the plain gear and just staying purely a wrestler. And a total shit-kicker at that.

If you ever think you're in pain, just watch highlights of Shibata vs. Okada and you'll remember it could always be worse.

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I have to ask if you went to the AI again to come up with the report because this was a very different presentation. Like there was an actual storytelling element to each match breakdown. That's quite scary when you think about it if that's the case. All you have to do is give the thing a few points and the thing churns out some great captivating shit.

Yeah I figured PPVs called for longer than the quick TV write-ups. So I asked ChatGPT if it would be possible to recap of a hypothetical wrestling card one match at a time and it said yes, just give me the participants, outcome, and any specific spots.

So I did Shibata vs. Garcia first. Had it generate three different recaps for it, decided which one I liked the best and then responded to that one and said "this is exactly what I'm looking for, now onto the next match" and gave it the next match parameters etc.

It's really kinda fascinating to give it certain spots/tones etc and watching it "come to life". Obviously I did clean a few things up and add in some of my own stuff too but it made for a fantastic baseline.

I feel like the one advantage I have here is the AI knows these are actual wrestlers. So in knows the mannerisms, characters etc. Using AI to write results for your game would be near-impossible because you'd have to train it on all the characters. Although having it try its hand at a standalone Michael Hotbody promo would be kinda interesting.

I would absolutely play up Joe being angry over not being victorious on the same show where Punk stole the show and came out on top. I don't think there's a reason to not extend this program out, especially if you're not in a rush to do Punk/MJF. It's some easy stars at the very least.

Yeah I'm sorta imagining it being Punk wanting MJF but Joe being the roadblock he has to get through first. So figure Joe/Punk at the July "PPV" and then Punk/MJF in August.

But stars were definitely the theme with this show. Plus you got that overall rating in the high 80s, which is always a win. It blows that you can't get all of these guys locked down but if nothing else, it almost makes the show that much more special. I still remember my one SummerSlam show from way back when getting a 98% overall rating and I've been chasing it ever since.

If I could lock these guys down my game would basically become an NJPW game instead of an AEW game. I might book some underneath NJPW guys here and there and maybe bring in a big star or two for a major show if the calendar allows (August's PPV, in theory, is in Wembley Stadium which is the kinda show you go all out for) but otherwise I'll keep it realistic and keep most of these guys away until next year's Forbidden Door.

So with this show taken care of, and the fact that you need to do PPV events every month despite the real AEW not following the same format, what's next for you? Do you have your own names for the shows that aren't on the real life schedule?

The game data I downloaded had the core AEW PPVs set as PPVs and then the other months had ROH PPVs as large events. But I'm not booking ROH.

Real-life AEW often will have one big "special" episode of Dynamite a month where the card feels like a mini-PPV on free TV. I might borrow some of those names for the new "PPVs" I set up. In my imagination, these might be bonus shows they stream on HBO Max or something vs. true PPVs. Like July can be Fight for the Fallen, which originated as an AEW PPV where all the proceeds went to gun violence. But yeah, the game will basically force me into running monthly PPVs.

August/September will be interesting to me because I believe the plan in real life is to run PPVs in consecutive weekends. Wembley (All In) the last weekend in August. But then the following weekend is Labor Day weekend where they do one of their core US PPVs (All Out). I'd presume it'll be like building a giant mega-card between the two shows. I'd expect the Wembley show to have more involvement with NJPW etc and be more like a super-show while the September show would be strictly AEW.

I think I'll try running it like that in my game too, the benefit is I'll then have a shitload of time before my October pseudo-PPV and my actual main November PPV (Full Gear).

Evil Vito

06-27-2023, 12:24 AM

https://cdn3.whatculture.com/images/2022/04/8e3263abc3945e45-600x338.jpg

AEW Dynamite
June 28, 2023
Hamilton, ON, Canada

The crowd is still buzzing from Forbidden Door a few days ago, and one can only imagine how anyone could possibly top that show. But there's a whole locker room of talents willing to try.

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Men's First Round Match: Adam Cole vs. Daniel Garcia

The Owen Hart Foundation Cup is back for a 2nd year as 8 men and 8 women will look to win their respective brackets and earn a future championship opportunity. The finals will be taking place July 23rd at Fight for the Fallen. As last year's winner, Adam Cole is the first man out of the box looking to repeat. He's got a first-round match against Daniel Garcia. Both men are coming off of losses at Forbidden Door, with this tournament giving them the opportunity to have quick turnaround of fortune.

These two have history with one another, meeting up in tag team action a few weeks ago with the Jericho Appreciation Society earning a cheap victory. Speaking of Jericho, the announcers remind viewers of Cole's brutal cage match victory over Jericho last week. Jericho seemingly walked out of an interview in stunned silence, and reportedly none of the other Jericho Appreciation Society members have seen him since.

Anyway, these guys have themselves a really nice back-and-forth match, showcasing a nice blend of speed and technical wrestling befitting of an Owen tribute. However, Cole manages to work Garcia down onto the mat long enough to lower The Boom and get the win. Clearly these guys have gotten the "try to keep the banger PPV quality matches going" memo. ****, 81% overall rating

---

As Cole walks up the ramp to celebrate, the music of Dr. Britt Baker hits. Baker makes her way out for her match, giving Cole a smooch on the way out.

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Women's First Round Match: Dr. Britt Baker vs. Saraya w/ Ruby Soho

Much like her beau Adam Cole, Britt Baker won the women's side of last year's Owen tournament, providing a nice visual for the crowd with the couple celebrating their newly won trophies. As last year's winner, she's also the first one out in her bracket this year. Tonight she is facing off against Saraya, who beat Britt in her AEW debut last fall.

Britt's had no shortage of issues with The Outcasts for several months now. Luckily for her, the Outcasts have also done a good job of pissing off most of the AEW women's roster in the process. Including referee Aubrey Edwards. Ruby Soho makes a nuisance of herself at ringside a few times behind Aubrey's back, but when she catches Ruby trying to help drag Saraya to the ropes during a submission hold, she gets thrown out in no time.

With Ruby ejected and Toni being tied up in other business, Saraya has no backup and no hope against a game and determined Saraya. The Lock Jaw submission is put on and Britt gets the first victory on her road to repeating. ***, 79% overall

---

[The video opens to MJF sitting in a lavish home, his AEW World Title sitting prominently on a table next to him.]

MJF: Hello, AEW Universe. As you can see, I'm not there tonight. You see, I refused to spend one more second in Canada than I was contractually obligated to.

[He grins, crossing his arms. The crowd in the arena boos, both at the insult to Canada and at the gall of MJF to refer to an AEW crowd as the "AEW Universe".]

MJF: So here I am, back in the most magical place on earth, Long Island, resting and recuperating from my epic battle against Tetsuya Naito at Forbidden Door.

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

MJF: Naito and his glorified indie fed, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, thought they could take me down. But guess what? Just like every other challenger, they failed. So, Naito, why don't you go back to your rinky-dink company and tell them who the real champion is.

[He lifts the AEW World Title and smirks.]

MJF: Now let's talk about CM Punk and his encounter with Samoa Joe. Punk, I told you to watch your back. But did you listen? No. Instead, you got choked out after your little match with Tanahashi. Have fun trying to calm down the Samoan Submission Machine.

[He laughs, leaning back in his chair.]

MJF: And then there's the Owen Hart Cup. Tony Khan trying to determine a number one contender for my title? It's all a big formality.

[He scoffs.]

MJF: No matter who comes out on top, they won't be on my level. They won't be able to touch me. Khan's just lucky I don't take the entire summer off and leave AEW without a world champion. Just like I might take this gorgeous belt with me wherever I may go in the Bidding War of 2024!

[He smiles, leaning towards the camera.]

MJF: So keep watching, AEW Universe. Keep cheering for your heroes. Because no matter who they are, they'll never be MJF.

[He raises his title one last time, the camera focusing on the gleaming gold before the video ends.]

---

FTW Championship: "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry vs. "El Toro Blanco" Rush (C)

This match just keeps the JungleHook vs. LFI feud plugging along nicely, with the face Perry trying to win the title that Rush stole from his friend. These two guys have clashing styles but in a way that actually benefits the match, with the smaller Perry selling like hell for Rush's stiff shots.

As the match winds down and Perry gains moment, Andrade saunters out to the ring to run interference but Hook is right behind him. Hook locks in the Redrum on Andrade at ringside as the crowd goes nuts. Unfortunately, these ringside happenings also distract referee Mike Posey, and he doesn't see Rush clock Perry with a chain. Rush steals the win. ***, 77% overall rating

---

The scene transitions to Renee Paquette, the experienced wrestling journalist standing ready, microphone in hand. She is flanked by The Dark Order, each of them donning their characteristic masks and attire.

"Thank you, everyone. I'm here with The Dark Order, who have requested this time to speak," Renee begins. She turns towards Evil Uno. "So, what would you like to say?"

Before Evil Uno can respond, the shot of Adam Page comes into view. He walks into frame, his eyes focused on The Dark Order. "I've been looking all over for you guys since last week. I need to speak to you."

Evil Uno raises a hand, effectively silencing Page. "Save it, Hangman. You've already made your point clear," Uno states, his voice cold. "You teamed with The Elite against the Blackpool Combat Club. What? Didn't trust us to have your back like we always have?"

Page begins to speak, to defend his actions, but Uno doesn't let him. "We've noticed, Page," he continues, looking straight into the camera. "The Dark Order has been on a mean streak lately on Rampage. And now, we want to show you that you've placed your bet on the wrong group."

The camera zooms in on Uno's face, his eyes filled with determination. "Blackpool Combat Club," he calls out, "we challenge you. Next week. No disqualification, no holds barred, anything goes."

Page looks shocked, he tries to step in, to talk The Dark Order out of this reckless challenge, but they turn their backs on him, ignoring his words, leaving him behind as they march out of the frame, leaving Renee and a silenced Hangman in their wake. The camera lingers on Page's face, full of concern and regret, before the scene fades to black.

---

TNT Championship: Lance Archer w/ Jake Roberts vs. Wardlow (C) w/ Arn Anderson

Wardlow vs. Lance Archer was exactly as advertised - a match between two big, yet also surprisingly agile hosses. These guys gelled really well and got the crowd engaged in the action in the ring. Meanwhile, fans got a nice burst of nostalgia outside of it as Arn Anderson and Jake "The Snake" Roberts got into a shouting match. Fans were eagerly awaiting to see the legends throw down, although it ultimately did not come to blows.

In the ring, Archer gets Wardlow up for a Blackout but he manages to slide loose, hit the ropes and then run through Archer with a big lariat. He goes up the top and hits an impressive Senton, followed by a Powerbomb for the win. Wardlow keeps his hoss winning streak intact while Jake the Snake is pissed off at ringside. The only question now is who's next for Wardlow? ***, 74% overall

---

The AEW arena is charged with energy as the titantron flickers to life. Christian Cage, with Luchasaurus towering behind him, appears on the screen. A smug smile plays on Christian's face as the audience reacts with a mix of cheers and boos. The music fades, and he begins to speak, his voice cutting through the crowd noise.

Christian Cage: "Well, well, well... If it isn't the AEW International Champion, Orange Cassidy. The 'King of Sloth Style', the man who's held onto that title for nearly a year now. I gotta hand it to you, Cassidy. You've gone up against some of the toughest men in this business and still managed to keep that title around your waist. Hell, even Minoru Suzuki seemed to give you a nod of respect at Forbidden Door."

Christian pauses, his smirk growing wider as he leans closer to the camera.

Christian Cage: "But let me make one thing perfectly clear, Cassidy... You may have fooled some people with your gimmicks and your aviators, but you haven't fooled me. You haven't earned my respect."

Christian's voice lowers, and the intensity in his eyes becomes more pronounced.

Christian Cage: "You see, I've been in this business long enough to know that it's not about how long you can hold a title. It's about the impact you make, the stories you tell in the ring. And what's your story, Cassidy? That you can put your hands in your pockets and still win matches?"

He chuckles, shaking his head.

Christian Cage: "I'll admit, it's entertaining. A great trick for the crowd. But this is professional wrestling, not a comedy show. When I step in the ring, I do more than just entertain, I leave a mark. I create moments that will be remembered long after I retire. Can you say the same, Cassidy? Or will you just be remembered as the guy with the lazy kicks and the constant smirk?"

Christian stands tall, Luchasaurus roaring behind him, as he looks directly into the camera.

Christian Cage: "You can keep your aviators, your half-hearted thumbs up, and your sloth-style wrestling, Cassidy. Because I'm coming for that title. And when I take it from you, everyone, including you, will know what real respect feels like."

The titantron fades to black, the image of Christian's intense gaze and Luchasaurus' roar echoing in the minds of the audience. The challenge is set. The hunt for the AEW International Championship has begun.

---

Later in the night, Renee Paquette finds herself in the locker room of the Blackpool Combat Club: Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta.

"Blackpool Combat Club," Renee begins, standing amidst the group, microphone extended. "The Dark Order has issued a challenge to you all for next week. A no disqualification, no holds barred match. Do you accept?"

Before any of them can answer, Bryan Danielson steps forward. "Before we get to that," he starts, running a hand through his hair. "I want to address something. Yes, I suffered a deeply personal loss against Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door. And now, everyone thinks he's dethroned me as the best wrestler in the world."

He shakes his head, a determined look on his face. "I want everyone to know that this has made me more focused, more dangerous than ever. Okada, I don't care what country or what continent we meet in again. Mark my words, you haven't seen the last of me, and next time, I'll make you tap out."

Before Danielson can continue, Jon Moxley interjects, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Now, about that challenge," he begins, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "The Dark Order wants to dance with us in a no disqualification, no holds barred match? That's right up our alley."

His smile broadens, the thrill of the upcoming fight evident in his eyes. "They want violence? We'll give them violence. They want chaos? We're the kings of chaos."

Moxley leans into the camera, his voice dropping to a growl. "Dark Order, be careful what you wish for. You're stepping into our world now. And trust me, it's a world of pain. See you next week."

With that, the segment concludes, the Blackpool Combat Club standing united, their expressions promising an intense match for next week's show.

---

AEW Tag Team Championship: Sammy Hager (Sammy Guevara and Jake Hager) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (C)

FTR remain fighting champions, willing to take on all comers and answering the call of Sammy Hager who called them out during the JAS' promo last week. The announcers again speculate on the status and whereabouts of Chris Jericho, remarking that there have rarely been any Dynamites in company history without him.

Anyway, it's an FTR match so you know it's going to kick all sorts of ass. In addition to their stats being great, their tag experience is high so it feels damn near impossible for them to not pull a 4-star match out of anyone, even a team that's somewhat thrown together.

Finish sequence sees Hager make a blind tag as Sammy goes up for a 630 and misses, leaving Hager all alone for the Big Rig for the win. After the bell, the familiar intro sound effect for Bullet Club plays over the arena. FTR drop their titles and begin scanning all corners of the crowd, anticipating a run-in that never comes. Some head games from Bullet Club Gold as the champs retain. ****1/4, 86% overall

---

[CAMERA ON: The scene unfolds backstage on Dynamite. RENEE PAQUETTE stands with DON CALLIS and KONOSUKE TAKESHITA. Callis' face is a mask of smug satisfaction, Takeshita's, as ever, is cool and focused.]

PAQUETTE: [Microphone in hand, addresses Callis] "Don, Kenny Omega lost his IWGP United States Championship to Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door, but some would say it was your 'son' Takeshita's interference that made that happen. How do you respond?"

CALLIS: [Laughs, dismisses the question with a wave of his hand] "Let's not get lost in the details, Renee. The important thing here is Kenny Omega is no longer the IWGP United States Champion. Will Ospreay is. The wrestling world is shifting, and I dare say it's moving in our favor."

[Paquette seems to want to follow up, but Callis continues.]

CALLIS: "And speaking of change, Kota Ibushi having the nerve to show up in AEW. Coming to Kenny's aid at Forbidden Door. Getting involved in something that doesn't concern him. How... [His lips curl in distaste] touching."

[Callis leans in closer to the camera, his gaze intense.]

CALLIS: "But listen here, Ibushi. I don't care about your past with Kenny, or whatever bond you think you two share. In fact, your arrival here is, in my eyes, nothing more than a temporary blip. Because my 'son', Konosuke Takeshita..."

[He turns, placing a hand on Takeshita's shoulder, who meets the camera with a cold, challenging stare.]

CALLIS: "...is ready and waiting. You might be a Golden Star, but remember, even stars burn out. And when Takeshita is done with you, your time in AEW will indeed be very short-lived."

[CAMERA OFF: The scene ends on that chilling note, Callis grinning menacingly into the camera, his confident gaze not faltering as the frame goes black.]

---

Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis vs. "Golden Star" Kota Ibushi

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kota Ibushi...in the spirit of Forbidden Door, the kind of match that seemed unfathomable just a few days ago is now taking place in the main event of AEW Dynamite! Excalibur explains that, despite both men spending nearly their entire careers in Japan, they've nearly always been in different companies and their paths haven't crossed. They haven't shared a ring since 2015, and their lone singles matchup was just over a decade ago on January 27th, 2013.

Anyway, Takeshita's been running through some luchadores to get him established as a heel. But Ibushi is a whole other level. Really the purpose of this match is to familiarize the audience with Ibushi (not particularly difficult as smark heavy crowds would know him) and make sure he has a banger of a first AEW match.

And boy does he ever. These guys' stats match up nearly identically and it shows, as they pull off the elusive 100% match quality stat. Tons of hard hitting, a flurry of nearfalls and acrobatics all in one epic PPV quality main event. Ibushi connects with the Kamigoye for the win.

Don Callis pounds the mat in anger, and Takeshita pounces right back on Ibushi, acting like a sore loser. Here comes Kenny Omega for the save. Omega and Ibushi embrace again, as the crowd goes off the air with the pop at the reunion of the Golden Lovers. ****1/2, 86% overall rating

82% overall show rating

M-A-G

06-27-2023, 09:25 AM

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Men's First Round Match: Adam Cole vs. Daniel Garcia

The Owen Hart Foundation Cup is back for a 2nd year as 8 men and 8 women will look to win their respective brackets and earn a future championship opportunity. The finals will be taking place July 23rd at Fight for the Fallen. As last year's winner, Adam Cole is the first man out of the box looking to repeat. He's got a first-round match against Daniel Garcia. Both men are coming off of losses at Forbidden Door, with this tournament giving them the opportunity to have quick turnaround of fortune.

These two have history with one another, meeting up in tag team action a few weeks ago with the Jericho Appreciation Society earning a cheap victory. Speaking of Jericho, the announcers remind viewers of Cole's brutal cage match victory over Jericho last week. Jericho seemingly walked out of an interview in stunned silence, and reportedly none of the other Jericho Appreciation Society members have seen him since.

Anyway, these guys have themselves a really nice back-and-forth match, showcasing a nice blend of speed and technical wrestling befitting of an Owen tribute. However, Cole manages to work Garcia down onto the mat long enough to lower The Boom and get the win. Clearly these guys have gotten the "try to keep the banger PPV quality matches going" memo. ****, 81% overall rating

---

Aww, yeah, tournaments! You're going to need some neat looking brackets so that I can keep track of things. This is a solid opener. Actually more than solid if it reached 4 stars.

As Cole walks up the ramp to celebrate, the music of Dr. Britt Baker hits. Baker makes her way out for her match, giving Cole a smooch on the way out.

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Women's First Round Match: Dr. Britt Baker vs. Saraya w/ Ruby Soho

Much like her beau Adam Cole, Britt Baker won the women's side of last year's Owen tournament, providing a nice visual for the crowd with the couple celebrating their newly won trophies. As last year's winner, she's also the first one out in her bracket this year. Tonight she is facing off against Saraya, who beat Britt in her AEW debut last fall.

Britt's had no shortage of issues with The Outcasts for several months now. Luckily for her, the Outcasts have also done a good job of pissing off most of the AEW women's roster in the process. Including referee Aubrey Edwards. Ruby Soho makes a nuisance of herself at ringside a few times behind Aubrey's back, but when she catches Ruby trying to help drag Saraya to the ropes during a submission hold, she gets thrown out in no time.

With Ruby ejected and Toni being tied up in other business, Saraya has no backup and no hope against a game and determined Saraya. The Lock Jaw submission is put on and Britt gets the first victory on her road to repeating. ***, 79% overall

---

Hey, if you like women's tournaments as much as I do, you're going to love what's coming up for me in a few months after the Rumble...

[The video opens to MJF sitting in a lavish home, his AEW World Title sitting prominently on a table next to him.]

MJF: Hello, AEW Universe. As you can see, I'm not there tonight. You see, I refused to spend one more second in Canada than I was contractually obligated to.

[He grins, crossing his arms. The crowd in the arena boos, both at the insult to Canada and at the gall of MJF to refer to an AEW crowd as the "AEW Universe".]

MJF: So here I am, back in the most magical place on earth, Long Island, resting and recuperating from my epic battle against Tetsuya Naito at Forbidden Door.

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

MJF: Naito and his glorified indie fed, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, thought they could take me down. But guess what? Just like every other challenger, they failed. So, Naito, why don't you go back to your rinky-dink company and tell them who the real champion is.

[He lifts the AEW World Title and smirks.]

MJF: Now let's talk about CM Punk and his encounter with Samoa Joe. Punk, I told you to watch your back. But did you listen? No. Instead, you got choked out after your little match with Tanahashi. Have fun trying to calm down the Samoan Submission Machine.

[He laughs, leaning back in his chair.]

MJF: And then there's the Owen Hart Cup. Tony Khan trying to determine a number one contender for my title? It's all a big formality.

[He scoffs.]

MJF: No matter who comes out on top, they won't be on my level. They won't be able to touch me. Khan's just lucky I don't take the entire summer off and leave AEW without a world champion. Just like I might take this gorgeous belt with me wherever I may go in the Bidding War of 2024!

[He smiles, leaning towards the camera.]

MJF: So keep watching, AEW Universe. Keep cheering for your heroes. Because no matter who they are, they'll never be MJF.

[He raises his title one last time, the camera focusing on the gleaming gold before the video ends.]

---

I missed stuff like this. World Class would do this kind of thing all the time with Jimmy Garvin and Gino Hernandez and the like. It gave a much deeper look into the lives of these people you're watching every week. There's social media now, but it doesn't really register the same. I try to read these promos in the same manner as that video you linked me and I can absolutely see it. Letting guys talk for themselves...what a wacky idea, am I right?

FTW Championship: "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry vs. "El Toro Blanco" Rush (C)

This match just keeps the JungleHook vs. LFI feud plugging along nicely, with the face Perry trying to win the title that Rush stole from his friend. These two guys have clashing styles but in a way that actually benefits the match, with the smaller Perry selling like hell for Rush's stiff shots.

As the match winds down and Perry gains moment, Andrade saunters out to the ring to run interference but Hook is right behind him. Hook locks in the Redrum on Andrade at ringside as the crowd goes nuts. Unfortunately, these ringside happenings also distract referee Mike Posey, and he doesn't see Rush clock Perry with a chain. Rush steals the win. ***, 77% overall rating

---

Hey, you can't give the referees names! Don't you know they're just supposed to be anonymous, amorphous entities that for some reason are just there in the general vicinity of the action? That's what the WWE taught me, at least. I actually need to look at my staff because for the life of me I'm not sure who is still a ref in my promotion. I don't know if you've ever sent me a picture of it, but is the FTW Title belt still the same from ECW back in the day or did someone decide to give it an "update"?

The scene transitions to Renee Paquette, the experienced wrestling journalist standing ready, microphone in hand. She is flanked by The Dark Order, each of them donning their characteristic masks and attire.

"Thank you, everyone. I'm here with The Dark Order, who have requested this time to speak," Renee begins. She turns towards Evil Uno. "So, what would you like to say?"

Before Evil Uno can respond, the shot of Adam Page comes into view. He walks into frame, his eyes focused on The Dark Order. "I've been looking all over for you guys since last week. I need to speak to you."

Evil Uno raises a hand, effectively silencing Page. "Save it, Hangman. You've already made your point clear," Uno states, his voice cold. "You teamed with The Elite against the Blackpool Combat Club. What? Didn't trust us to have your back like we always have?"

Page begins to speak, to defend his actions, but Uno doesn't let him. "We've noticed, Page," he continues, looking straight into the camera. "The Dark Order has been on a mean streak lately on Rampage. And now, we want to show you that you've placed your bet on the wrong group."

The camera zooms in on Uno's face, his eyes filled with determination. "Blackpool Combat Club," he calls out, "we challenge you. Next week. No disqualification, no holds barred, anything goes."

Page looks shocked, he tries to step in, to talk The Dark Order out of this reckless challenge, but they turn their backs on him, ignoring his words, leaving him behind as they march out of the frame, leaving Renee and a silenced Hangman in their wake. The camera lingers on Page's face, full of concern and regret, before the scene fades to black.

---

This reminds me of when Lex Luger got jumped by "Sting" and the NWO and everyone wasn't sure about Sting's loyalties and for whatever reason Sting waited like 6 fucking days to even try to talk with Lex and the Horseman. Like, you all don't have phones? Wrestling asks us to accept this really weird world where people need an audience present to talk to one another. AND WE GO ALONG WITH IT!!! :lol: I'm guessing this is leading to Page doing some kind of turn.

TNT Championship: Lance Archer w/ Jake Roberts vs. Wardlow (C) w/ Arn Anderson

Wardlow vs. Lance Archer was exactly as advertised - a match between two big, yet also surprisingly agile hosses. These guys gelled really well and got the crowd engaged in the action in the ring. Meanwhile, fans got a nice burst of nostalgia outside of it as Arn Anderson and Jake "The Snake" Roberts got into a shouting match. Fans were eagerly awaiting to see the legends throw down, although it ultimately did not come to blows.

In the ring, Archer gets Wardlow up for a Blackout but he manages to slide loose, hit the ropes and then run through Archer with a big lariat. He goes up the top and hits an impressive Senton, followed by a Powerbomb for the win. Wardlow keeps his hoss winning streak intact while Jake the Snake is pissed off at ringside. The only question now is who's next for Wardlow? ***, 74% overall

---

Oh, man, Jake Roberts vs. Arn Anderson? Did that ever happen? The promos alone would've been amazing. Shame you have Mark Henry, I assume, as a mere member of the staff, because he'd make a great payoff to this thing you've got Wardlow doing, going through hosses and all.

The AEW arena is charged with energy as the titantron flickers to life. Christian Cage, with Luchasaurus towering behind him, appears on the screen. A smug smile plays on Christian's face as the audience reacts with a mix of cheers and boos. The music fades, and he begins to speak, his voice cutting through the crowd noise.

Christian Cage: "Well, well, well... If it isn't the AEW International Champion, Orange Cassidy. The 'King of Sloth Style', the man who's held onto that title for nearly a year now. I gotta hand it to you, Cassidy. You've gone up against some of the toughest men in this business and still managed to keep that title around your waist. Hell, even Minoru Suzuki seemed to give you a nod of respect at Forbidden Door."

Christian pauses, his smirk growing wider as he leans closer to the camera.

Christian Cage: "But let me make one thing perfectly clear, Cassidy... You may have fooled some people with your gimmicks and your aviators, but you haven't fooled me. You haven't earned my respect."

Christian's voice lowers, and the intensity in his eyes becomes more pronounced.

Christian Cage: "You see, I've been in this business long enough to know that it's not about how long you can hold a title. It's about the impact you make, the stories you tell in the ring. And what's your story, Cassidy? That you can put your hands in your pockets and still win matches?"

He chuckles, shaking his head.

Christian Cage: "I'll admit, it's entertaining. A great trick for the crowd. But this is professional wrestling, not a comedy show. When I step in the ring, I do more than just entertain, I leave a mark. I create moments that will be remembered long after I retire. Can you say the same, Cassidy? Or will you just be remembered as the guy with the lazy kicks and the constant smirk?"

Christian stands tall, Luchasaurus roaring behind him, as he looks directly into the camera.

Christian Cage: "You can keep your aviators, your half-hearted thumbs up, and your sloth-style wrestling, Cassidy. Because I'm coming for that title. And when I take it from you, everyone, including you, will know what real respect feels like."

The titantron fades to black, the image of Christian's intense gaze and Luchasaurus' roar echoing in the minds of the audience. The challenge is set. The hunt for the AEW International Championship has begun.

---

This is exactly the kind of thing Christian would say about someone like Cassidy. I'm trying to imagine what the actual roars would sound like. Like, is he actually trying to do dinosaur roars or is it just a normal yell? Why does this promotion bring up so many questions?

Later in the night, Renee Paquette finds herself in the locker room of the Blackpool Combat Club: Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta.

"Blackpool Combat Club," Renee begins, standing amidst the group, microphone extended. "The Dark Order has issued a challenge to you all for next week. A no disqualification, no holds barred match. Do you accept?"

Before any of them can answer, Bryan Danielson steps forward. "Before we get to that," he starts, running a hand through his hair. "I want to address something. Yes, I suffered a deeply personal loss against Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door. And now, everyone thinks he's dethroned me as the best wrestler in the world."

He shakes his head, a determined look on his face. "I want everyone to know that this has made me more focused, more dangerous than ever. Okada, I don't care what country or what continent we meet in again. Mark my words, you haven't seen the last of me, and next time, I'll make you tap out."

Before Danielson can continue, Jon Moxley interjects, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Now, about that challenge," he begins, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "The Dark Order wants to dance with us in a no disqualification, no holds barred match? That's right up our alley."

His smile broadens, the thrill of the upcoming fight evident in his eyes. "They want violence? We'll give them violence. They want chaos? We're the kings of chaos."

Moxley leans into the camera, his voice dropping to a growl. "Dark Order, be careful what you wish for. You're stepping into our world now. And trust me, it's a world of pain. See you next week."

With that, the segment concludes, the Blackpool Combat Club standing united, their expressions promising an intense match for next week's show.

---

I'm surprised that I haven't asked this question yet, but does AEW acknowledge the marriage between Renee and Moxley? They acknowledge so many other relationships from what you've told me, so I don't see why they wouldn't go for it here with these two. How soon do you think you'd be able to do Danielson/Okada again if you were so inclined?

AEW Tag Team Championship: Sammy Hager (Sammy Guevara and Jake Hager) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (C)

FTR remain fighting champions, willing to take on all comers and answering the call of Sammy Hager who called them out during the JAS' promo last week. The announcers again speculate on the status and whereabouts of Chris Jericho, remarking that there have rarely been any Dynamites in company history without him.

Anyway, it's an FTR match so you know it's going to kick all sorts of ass. In addition to their stats being great, their tag experience is high so it feels damn near impossible for them to not pull a 4-star match out of anyone, even a team that's somewhat thrown together.

Finish sequence sees Hager make a blind tag as Sammy goes up for a 630 and misses, leaving Hager all alone for the Big Rig for the win. After the bell, the familiar intro sound effect for Bullet Club plays over the arena. FTR drop their titles and begin scanning all corners of the crowd, anticipating a run-in that never comes. Some head games from Bullet Club Gold as the champs retain. ****1/4, 86% overall

---

I don't think I ever knew Harwood and Wheeler before I stopped following. I know a couple of guys on your roster just by name, like Omega, and a few that I knew in previous incarnations like Hager, but FTR are a complete unknown, I think. Everyone seems to praise them so I'll accept that such an outcome as this is absolutely possible.

[CAMERA ON: The scene unfolds backstage on Dynamite. RENEE PAQUETTE stands with DON CALLIS and KONOSUKE TAKESHITA. Callis' face is a mask of smug satisfaction, Takeshita's, as ever, is cool and focused.]

PAQUETTE: [Microphone in hand, addresses Callis] "Don, Kenny Omega lost his IWGP United States Championship to Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door, but some would say it was your 'son' Takeshita's interference that made that happen. How do you respond?"

CALLIS: [Laughs, dismisses the question with a wave of his hand] "Let's not get lost in the details, Renee. The important thing here is Kenny Omega is no longer the IWGP United States Champion. Will Ospreay is. The wrestling world is shifting, and I dare say it's moving in our favor."

[Paquette seems to want to follow up, but Callis continues.]

CALLIS: "And speaking of change, Kota Ibushi having the nerve to show up in AEW. Coming to Kenny's aid at Forbidden Door. Getting involved in something that doesn't concern him. How... [His lips curl in distaste] touching."

[Callis leans in closer to the camera, his gaze intense.]

CALLIS: "But listen here, Ibushi. I don't care about your past with Kenny, or whatever bond you think you two share. In fact, your arrival here is, in my eyes, nothing more than a temporary blip. Because my 'son', Konosuke Takeshita..."

[He turns, placing a hand on Takeshita's shoulder, who meets the camera with a cold, challenging stare.]

CALLIS: "...is ready and waiting. You might be a Golden Star, but remember, even stars burn out. And when Takeshita is done with you, your time in AEW will indeed be very short-lived."

[CAMERA OFF: The scene ends on that chilling note, Callis grinning menacingly into the camera, his confident gaze not faltering as the frame goes black.]

---

Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis vs. "Golden Star" Kota Ibushi

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kota Ibushi...in the spirit of Forbidden Door, the kind of match that seemed unfathomable just a few days ago is now taking place in the main event of AEW Dynamite! Excalibur explains that, despite both men spending nearly their entire careers in Japan, they've nearly always been in different companies and their paths haven't crossed. They haven't shared a ring since 2015, and their lone singles matchup was just over a decade ago on January 27th, 2013.

Anyway, Takeshita's been running through some luchadores to get him established as a heel. But Ibushi is a whole other level. Really the purpose of this match is to familiarize the audience with Ibushi (not particularly difficult as smark heavy crowds would know him) and make sure he has a banger of a first AEW match.

And boy does he ever. These guys' stats match up nearly identically and it shows, as they pull off the elusive 100% match quality stat. Tons of hard hitting, a flurry of nearfalls and acrobatics all in one epic PPV quality main event. Ibushi connects with the Kamigoye for the win.

Don Callis pounds the mat in anger, and Takeshita pounces right back on Ibushi, acting like a sore loser. Here comes Kenny Omega for the save. Omega and Ibushi embrace again, as the crowd goes off the air with the pop at the reunion of the Golden Lovers. ****1/2, 86% overall rating

I would've thought you'd save an encounter like this up for another show, possibly a PPV, but how can you argue with a rating like that? The next step I assume you're going to make is building towards Ospreay/Takeshita vs. the, uh, Golden Lovers?

M-A-G

06-27-2023, 10:04 AM

Raw: December 10, 2040

Twenty Minute Opening Promo of Doom Time as Orlando Kincaid of all people decides to start things off. He's not going to lie to us, he's had a rough couple of weeks. It was a rough pill to swallow losing at Survivor Series, but then it was an even rougher one last week when Ryan Pattillo came out on top. Now he has to watch Pattillo go on to possibly win the Unified World Title at Bragging Rights. "Well, Ryan, last week you said you owe me for your new found focus. I'd hate for you to carry such a debt with you so on the off chance that you're able crank out a miracle and take home the title twenty days from tonight, I've got a great idea about how you can repay me and that's giving me a crack at it."

"Orlando, Orlando, Orlando...", speaks a voice, interrupting things. Everyone looks to the stage and out from the back, one at a time, emerges Chet Morris, Quinten McDaniels...and Hugo! What's the deal with these three? They all step into the ring and stand facing Orlando as Quinten continues on the mic.

"At ease, Orlando. You've got nothing to worry about when it comes to the three of us. You know Chet and myself, obviously, and you know that if we're coming to you, we have nothing but the best of intentions. The three of us have come together for very different, yet very similar reasons. There's been a weight tied to each of us and it's what's been holding us back from our real potential. Chet had his worthless cousin dragging him down. Hugo was too confined by rules and regulations. And myself? Unfinished business. Orlando, I think it's safe to say that I know you better than anyone and I definitely sympathize with what you're saying out here. But take it from us, you can't move forward unless you're willing to be honest with yourself. You see there is a great man that we think you should meet, Orlando, and his name is Victor Dark."

Chet takes the mic and continues from where Quinten started. "Orlando, we go way back, so we can be honest with each other. Victor Dark helped us all realize what was wrong in our lives, and in turn, we can now see what's wrong in yours. We would all love to have you at our side as we help you get rid of the baggage that's holding you back."

Orlando takes this opportunity to interrupt. "Are you talking about Haven? Uh, hate to break it you guys, but I've been over him and that whole mess for a long time now, so I don't know where all of this is coming from."

Quinten takes back the mic and sighs before responding. "Orlando, you can't kid yourself and you can't kid us. Victor Dark has shined the light on something so obvious. We're prisoners of our past until the moment we confront it and destroy it. This is why Noah Carmichael and Seth Von Kamp managed to get the better of me. It's because I've been letting myself get the better of me. Victor is reaching out to you as a former victim of Haven's nonsense, but more importantly, I'm reaching out to you as a friend. We'll happily be at your side as you take the first real step towards actual rehabilitation."

Orlando takes his time as he looks at each of the other men and then gives his reply. "Quinten, no offense, but what the hell have you been smoking? Chet, don't take this wrong way, but I've always thought you smelled kind of funky. You, Hugo, I don't know what your deal is and we've never had any kind of relationship, but just the fact that you're standing here swallowing all of this crap tells me you're as dumb as you are big. And Quinten, did it ever occur to you that the reason you couldn't beat Noah and Seth is because you just suck?"

The crowd cheers all of this as each man is aghast at what Orlando is saying. He's not done, though. "Last I checked, Quinten, when we all split, you wanted nothing to do with me. Well, I learned to deal with that so you're a little late to the party. And as far as your great man Victor Dark goes, all I need to know about the guy is that he apparently doesn't have the balls to even come out here himself and face me. So thanks, but no thanks. I've got better things to do. You guys have fun with whatever the hell this is."

With that, Orlando tosses the mic down and makes his exit. Upon reaching the stage, he meets Victor Dark himself who merely looks at him briefly before closing his eyes and shaking his head. He steps aside and gestures to Kincaid to continue his exit. This isn't stopping Quinten McDaniels, though, and he gets back on the mic. "That's fine and dandy, Orlando. I guess we're just going to have to make a better pitch. We dare any team back there to come on out and face any two of us right here and now and maybe then you'll see what you're turning down!" With that we go to break as the three men await an answer.

First Match: Hugo and Chet Morris vs. The Wasteland
Well, we've our answer as we return from break as Duke and Drakken have stepped up to the plate. Quinten plays cheerleader on the outside as Hugo and Chet pretty much dominate this motherfucker. It comes to an end when the faces manage to get their shit together and have Chet set up for the Toxic Kiss but Quinten drags Drakken out of the ring behind the ref's back. Duke turns around to see this and that allows Chet to low blow him and deliver his Backwoods Bomb variation to score the pin. WAIT A MINUTE!!! HERE COMES EDDY CLASH!!! He's full of piss and vinegar and tries his hand at getting to Hugo. The three heels decide to regroup instead and make their escape. Like I said, more twists and turns. *****, 87% overall.

Second Match: Neil Quint vs. Ozzy Mandias
Ozzy gets on the mic as he wants to explain his actions. He declares that both Martyn LaSalle and Jordan Demiras got what was coming to them, something that was overdue. If it weren't for their incompetence and arrogance, Ozzy Mandias would be standing before all of us as the Cruiserweight Champion. Martyn LaSalle talked himself into a corner and ended up not being able to cash that check. "It's not my problem that he couldn't handle being called out on his BS! And then to add to the misery, all of you people though that freaking Jordan Demiras deserved a Slammy? For what?!? If he thinks he's earned that Slammy so badly, I'll knock him upside the head with it and then shove it up his ass because I'm through with being in the backseat!" So with that said, we've got a match to take care of and it's pretty lit. I've got plans for both guys and there's no need to end Quint's streak just yet. Neil has Ozzy set up for the Quintessential Top Rope Maneuver but Ozzy rolls out of the ring before Neil can launch. Ozzy tries taking a breather BUT HERE COMES JORDAN DEMIRAS!!! He's looking none too happy and Ozzy realizes this and thus gets the bright idea of running away with Demiras in pursuit. That's going to give Neil the count out win as he continues his winning ways but no doubt this isn't over between Demiras and Ozzy. ****1/4, 81% overall.

Hey, suck my balls, DUD show! :)

Third Match: Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper vs. The Sin City Rollers
So this is the first team up between Jake Connelly's clients. Connelly declares that he sees great potential in both of these young talents, but he wants to be see how well they fire on all cylinders together. That's why he issued an open challenge earlier to see if there is any team that can put his new project to the test. Connelly believes that Lang and Harper can go far...now they have to prove it. Vic Gambler and Luis Ortega have answered the call and are ready to put these two newbies over. With Lang being a top merchandise seller, I may have a hidden gem here on my hands. I didn't foresee that big of a future for him but the game might be giving me a sign. Connelly gets his two clients through this ordeal with his verbal orders as the Rollers obviously have a huge experience advantage here. Lang does the job of clean up after Harper gets the hot tag. Lang hits Gambler with the Bitter Languish and stumbles into the corner for a brief respite. Harper tags himself in and jumps on Gambler's body to score the pin. Connelly slides in to celebrate and congratulate the two as it appears he's got himself another pair of winners. ****1/2, 81% overall.

Seriously, suck my balls. :)

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time this time with the WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Von Kamp. "I knew from the moment I won this strap there was going to be nothing a barrage of would-be potential champions coming right at me, all looking to want to make a mark and all at the expense of my name. I scratched and clawed for nearly a decade to finally get my hands on this beauty so my only real message to the poor SOBs who are thinking of trying their hand is good freaking luck and sorry about what I'm going to do to your face. This belt will definitely get you noticed so it should be no surprise that I've got Chris Collins knocking at my door. Chris, we go back, and I always wondered where we'd each end up after we went our separate ways. Fast forward to right now, and I have to say that I'm not exactly interested in being part of your crisis. But like I said before, the struggle for this belt was real and I'm prepared to do it again, especially against someone like you. So I'll be there at Bragging Rights just like you asked. Think of it as a little something for old times sake. But as far as what you're going to do with yourself after I beat you, well, I can't help you there."

The arena gets blasted with the sounds of the entrance music of Chris Collins and the second-generation star makes his way on out to the stage. How's he going to respond to this? "Seth, if I hadn't been dealing with so many small fry issues this past year, understand that I would have surpassed where you are without so much as breaking a sweat. Now it's time for me to start catching the big fish again. Today, the Intercontinental Title; tomorrow...well, the sky is limit as far as I'm concerned. You can parade that lovely piece of hardware around all you like, but you're still the same Seth Von Kamp I used to know. I, on the other hand, am a new man. Sorry to have to cut your new lease on life short, but destiny is calling and you're in the damn way. Keep your apologies, Seth. I'm going to be just fine after Bragging Rights." And with that, Chris drops the mic and confidently struts his way to the back leaving Seth with a ponderous look on his face.

Backstage, Brooke is with Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello, and none of them are having what the Academy said on SmackDown!. Brooke has all of her ducks in a row. The Academy just didn't have what it took to measure up to the standards she has and so they decided it'd be easier to tuck tail and run. Well, it's not easier. Scabbia and Ronnie are prepared to make things VERY difficult for them. They've actually been toying with the idea of challenging the Academy to a match at Bragging Rights. Brooke thinks it's a great idea...or is that too tough for Justin and Randy?

Fourth Match: Gavin Jones and Clubber Harris vs. The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody and Zed Jones
Gavin Jones gets on the mic and addresses his current deal with Michael Hotbody. "I may have lost my crew and I may have lost my partnership, but I haven't lost my ability to get under people's skin. And if there's one person who's been asking for it for a very long time, it's none other than a guy who managed to win an award called Douche of the Year. Don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful ceremony on SmackDown!, but you'll forgive me for reading the room and reaching the conclusion that, just like me, everyone is sick and tired of Michael Hotbody and company. But there's a bigger issue at hand than Hotbody being a stain on this business. Hotbody, you've got the Cruiserweight Championship, and every day that passes where you're able to call yourself that is an embarrassment and a slap in my face. I've damn near broken my body for that belt in the past and I'm ready to do it all over again because a coward like you doesn't deserve it. But that's Bragging Rights; tonight is another deal entirely. And as I mentioned before, I am without my crew but I am not without backup. You've got a whole other problem with the man standing right next to me. I think he's got something to get off his chest, too. What say you, Clubber?"

Clubber Harris takes the mic and focuses his words on Zed Jones. "It's nice and all that Michael Hotbody has got himself a bodyguard in you, Zed. Unfortunately, there ain't nobody guarding your sorry ass. There ain't nobody that CAN guard your sorry ass. So when you step up to me, son, with your tough act and steel gaze, and then get smacked down into paste by an even tougher and badder sumbitch like Clubber Harris, I want you to look at each and every cut, every scrape, every bruise, and every bloodstain, and I want you to remember that your boy, Hotbody, was the one that put you up to it! I've been in fights that'll make your skin crawl, Zed. I have seen some stuff. So by all means, when you're ready to get some quality one-on-one time, I will give you an education you won't believe. COUNT ON IT!"

The heels make their way out and Luscious isn't about to let all that talk go unanswered. "All that talk and nothing to show for it! Look at all of this shine that we've got going on over here! Neither Michael nor Zed have anything to fear from two people like you! Gavin, you don't have a belt. Harris, you don't have a prayer." Everyone seems to have gotten what they need to say out of their system so now it's go time. Hotbody, of course, doesn't actually want to do anything here and is more than happy to let Zed muscle everyone else around. The Slammys need polishing you know! Gavin manages a hot tag to Harris and thus begins the part where Harris is on fire. Zed gets knocked around and Harris proceeds to bring in Hotbody against his will. Zed prevents any harm and slugs it out with Harris. Luscious slides a Slammy award to Hotbody and he tries to nail Clubber with it from behind. Clubber turns and catches Hotbody's arm and yanks the award away. Hotbody bails but Zed spins Harris around and he instinctively retaliates by striking Zed with the award causing the DQ. Gavin chases Hotbody around the ring and manages to grab him and send him back inside with Harris. Harris looks to drill Hotbody with the same award but Zed shoves Harris down from behind, scoops up Hotbody and gets his crew out of there. Heated doesn't even begin to describe this situation. ****1/2, 83% overall.

More backstage goodness as Madison and the WWE Unified Tag Team Champions The Wyldhearts want to rip into The Royal Effect. They hope that winning the Tag Team of the Year Slammy Award doesn't go to the heads of Moses McKay and King Kavovit. After all, the two of them were riding high as the Tag Team Champions not that long ago and living in a little bubble thinking they were untouchable and then that blew up in their faces. The Wyldhearts delivered a nice stiff jab when they captured these titles. So now all that's left is to knock out the Royal Effect for good. Believe Blaine and Robbie when they say they're ready whenever the Royal Effect are. 2041 is going to be year where everyone will have to pay attention to the Wyldhearts.

Fifth Match: Adam Hail and The Southern Belles vs. Simon Bennett and The Perfections
Nathan Quinn wants to laugh at the pathetic assemblage of clients under the banner of Paul Andrews. Andrews can get whoever he wants, they'll all be doing nothing but chasing rainbows and fantasies because they'll be chasing the best. Adam Hail is better than he's ever been. Hannah McCormick and Bobbi Jo are the Women's Tag Team Champions and the finest well-oiled machine in any of the tag divisions. "Paul, you need to understand that the main reason we're all in these positions is because you and your crew failed to see what was coming. You never suspected a damn thing because you lack vision. That's going to be your downfall. Bragging Rights is shaping up to be one of the worst nights of your career. First, my girls are going to keep these titles. Then, Adam Hail is going to put the finishing touches on what he started when he embarrasses Simon Bennett again. But don't take my word for it. By all means, come on down and get a piece!"

I've been wanting to do this trios match for a while, but Survivor Series kind of forced my hand to do other stuff. I'd have saved it for the PPV but I feel Bennett/Hail deserves a PPV slot on its own. The only issue is getting a buyrate large enough to cover their cost. Anyway, the match is the bomb as they work hard to offset the DUD factor. We head home as it's down to Bobbi and Bonnie as the legal competitors. The ref is distracted with Hail and Bennett going at it on the outside. Bobbi has Bonnie waistlocked and it looks like she's trying a suplex or takedown or whatever. Bonnie makes the ropes, trying to break free but Hannah uses this opportunity to clobber Bonnie with a title belt over the head. Bobbi uses the momentum to get a roll up and she uses the tights for good measure. Andrews and Quinn have managed to separate their clients the ref is free to count the cheap pin for the heels. Nathan Quinn might have had a point. ****1/2, 81% overall.

Sixth Match: Xavier Cross vs. Alexander Piero
This is essentially the main event but the final segment is going to be more talky stuff. Piero needs to be rebuilt, too, but Cross is the one with a major feud going on that still needs resolution. Cross declares that he's still looking to get retribution for being triple teamed at Survivor Series. He can't do anything about Ryan Pattillo now as he's got business at Bragging Rights. But Alexander Piero and Kyle Jacobs are ripe for the ass kicking. Cross hopes Jacobs is watching because he'll be bringing the same to his doorstep. Once that's all done, he hopes and prays that Ryan Pattillo is champion after Bragging Rights, because his beating will be the hat trick and just the start of the new year Cross is hoping for! We get a good outing here. Piero has managed to rack up some decent mileage this year despite still being relatively new and certainly way less seasoned than a guy like Cross. Cross makes good on his word, being hella vicious on Piero and working over the arm. It comes to an end when Piero fights back enough to where he can try a Flashpoint but his arm isn't up to snuff and he doubles over in pain, clutching the source. Cross grabs the arm and jumps over the rop, snapping the arm across it to make things worse. Cross slides in to go for the kill and he hits the Cross Cutter on a vulnerable Piero to get the pin. Afterwards, Cross looks like he's going to really deliver some punishment but HERE COME KYLE JACOBS!!! Cross feels discretion is the better form of valor and decides to bail. ****1/2, 83% overall.

SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT!!!!~~~ Time to close us out and we've got the number one contender for the WWE Unified World Title, Ryan Pattillo, joining us. "Against all odds and hope beyond hope, I knew that eventually I would be here again someday. I knew that I would be in prime position to once again take that top spot on the mountain and wear that gold one more time. It wasn't easy, watching the title scene get overrun with all of the drama and chaos and uncertainty. It's been a long time and while I may have forgotten a few things as time has passed, I haven't forgotten how to be a champion. I haven't forgotten how to win. At Bragging Rights I have the chance to close the book on a really bad time in my career and begin writing a new epic. In one night, in one big move, I can undo the bad and bring about something that you people deserve!"

"These people don't deserve a damn thing, Ryan." Well we knew this wasn't going to go on too long without an interruption. It's the Money in the Bank winner himself, Brandon Reigns! He talks as he makes way down to the ring to join Pattillo. "Oh, sure, I can give them a bit of credit for actually having the brains to name me as the Superstar of the Year, but a room full of monkeys could've made that same call. Although, maybe I can sort of see where you're coming from. A group of mediocrity definitely does deserve someone like you. You didn't just have a "bad time", Ryan. You had a disaster. And now you think you can somehow turn a negative into a positive? Well, points for enthusiasm, but you need to understand that should you succeed, it'll be fleeting. I'm here to remind you of what's in store for any champion that makes it out of the WrestleMania main event. The trail of bodies I've been leaving is leading to that night."

The music of Kerry Cemenko hits and the man himself makes his way out to give his thoughts, standing in the aisle. "Brandon, it's nice that you can make such bold plans, but the problem is that a lot can happen in the next few months. There could be a stock market crash. A new species of ocean life can be discovered! Crocs could make a comeback! But most importantly, I could probably mess you up so badly that WrestleMania won't even be possible for you. I know you feel like you have to come out here all the time and bluster and make a big showing for the sake of your ego, but I have to wonder as the days to WrestleMania begin to dry up, do you secretly look at yourself in the mirror and worry? Could all of your best laid plans be snuffed out in an instant? Would you be better off choosing to cash in that contract sooner? I don't envy your position, Reigns, but I know what I would've already done. I'd already be standing here the Unified Champion and I'd be the one looking towards WrestleMania."

Pattillo takes this opportunity to reply. "No, you'd be the one I'd be taking down at Bragging Rights."

Reigns interjects with his own take. "Sorry, but this is all moot anyway. You don't have this contract, Kerry. I do. Neither one of you was selected as Superstar of the Year. I WAS! There is nothing the two of you bring to the table that can shake my resolve!"

The music of the WWE Unified World Champion hits and Wrakk makes his way out onto the stage. "Maybe they can't rattle you, Brandon, but I sure as hell can. You got a trail of bodies? I've got a pile. You got a Slammy? I've got the Unified World Championship. You got the briefcase? I can shove it right up your ass. I am going to plow through everybody that gets thrown at me. Haven was the first. Ryan, you're going to be next. And when it all comes to pass, Brandon, once I've finished annihilating whoever is in that main event across from me at WrestleMania 57, if you're actually going to be there at ringside like you claim, I'm going to kneel over the broken body of my opponent, I'm going to hold up their head, face them towards you so you can see what's left of them, and I'm going to watch the piss drip from you as you slowly realize what a huge mistake you made in waiting so long. Now I don't have many vulnerable moments, but should you ever be so lucky to stumble across such an opportunity, you'd be stupid to not go for it. Of course, that actually might be worse."

Patillo responds by calling Wrakk stupid if he thinks he's heading into a cake walk at Bragging Rights. Wrakk counters that the two of them have already danced to this number before and it didn't turn out so great for Ryan in the end. Ryan dares Wrakk to test him right now if he's so confident. It'd be a great way to show a jackass like Reigns what he's getting himself into. Reigns takes offense to this comment and tries to cheap shot Pattillo in response. Pattillo blocks the shot and he and Reigns slug it out. Kerry slides in to lend a hand but Wrakk isn't too far behind. It's a wild four-man brawl. It comes to a close as Wrakk tries whacking Pattillo with one of his title belts but he swings too wildly and Pattillo avoids getting hit and manages to land the Shutdown on the champion. Reigns nails Pattillo from behind with his briefcase, sending Pattillo to the outside, leaving him standing over the fallen body of Wrakk. He looks down at the champion and it slowly dawns on him what an opportunity this is. He looks at the Money in the Bank briefcase, then back at Wrakk. He looks around the arena with an expression of uncertainty. Is he thinking about cashing in right now?!? This could really disrupt things if he decides to do it. He clutches the briefcase, still looking unsure, but Kerry Cemenko is going to make the decision for him by getting back into the fight and clotheslining Reigns over the top. Reigns decides he's done for the night and takes off in disgust as we go off the air. Would Reigns have done it??? The march towards Bragging Rights continues!

Overall show rating: 82%

I didn't say to stop sucking my balls!!!

Evil Vito

06-27-2023, 12:09 PM

Evil Vito

06-27-2023, 12:38 PM

Aww, yeah, tournaments! You're going to need some neat looking brackets so that I can keep track of things. This is a solid opener. Actually more than solid if it reached 4 stars.

I've set both tournaments up to be reasonably quick sprints. The next Dynamite and next two Collisions will have the first round matches and then it's right onto the semi's and we're then set for the finals on the "PPV".

I don't know if you've ever sent me a picture of it, but is the FTW Title belt still the same from ECW back in the day or did someone decide to give it an "update"?

As best I can tell it's the original ECW belt. Taz reintroduced it in 2020, awarding it to his client Brian Cage. Over time the Team Taz stable got built. By summer of 2021 they were having some in-fighting between Brian Cage and Ricky Starks and Taz was like "I'm sick of this shit, you guys fight it out for the FTW title". Taz proceeded to screw Cage out of the match, booting him from the stable.

Starks mostly just carried the belt for a year, only sporadically defending it, until Taz's son Hook won the belt last summer and he's held it ever since. It's not a sanctioned title so it really is just a prop. But I like the idea of the belt falling out of the realm of Taz's family.

This reminds me of when Lex Luger got jumped by "Sting" and the NWO and everyone wasn't sure about Sting's loyalties and for whatever reason Sting waited like 6 fucking days to even try to talk with Lex and the Horseman. Like, you all don't have phones? Wrestling asks us to accept this really weird world where people need an audience present to talk to one another. AND WE GO ALONG WITH IT!!! :lol: I'm guessing this is leading to Page doing some kind of turn.

It really is kinda daft, isn't it? :lol: I feel like with wrestling I do have to suspend my disbelief for things like this. Also when a miscommunication happens and apparently nobody bothers to sit down and watch a replay until the next week. Also people bouncing off the ropes in general. Man this sport is so dumb, I love it.

Oh, man, Jake Roberts vs. Arn Anderson? Did that ever happen? The promos alone would've been amazing. Shame you have Mark Henry, I assume, as a mere member of the staff, because he'd make a great payoff to this thing you've got Wardlow doing, going through hosses and all.

I have no knowledge of that match actually happening but if I have legends available as managers, dammit I'm gonna use 'em.

As for Henry, he's said in interviews he'd be open to a proper retirement match but since he's not worked a match since 2018, whoever made this data set up up as a staff member only. Whereas I have some other staff members that ARE available to be booked because they at least sporadically wrestle.

I've got some fun ideas for Wardlow that are in the realm of "probably wouldn't be a good match, wouldn't want to see it in real life, but it would still kinda pop me because of how surreal it is"

This is exactly the kind of thing Christian would say about someone like Cassidy. I'm trying to imagine what the actual roars would sound like. Like, is he actually trying to do dinosaur roars or is it just a normal yell? Why does this promotion bring up so many questions?

I've never once heard Luchasaurus roar :lol: it's not the first time ChatGPT has made him roar in a generated promo either. It must read his name and decide, DAMMIT, SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THAT MUST ROAR! I read that in Vince's voice.

I'm surprised that I haven't asked this question yet, but does AEW acknowledge the marriage between Renee and Moxley? They acknowledge so many other relationships from what you've told me, so I don't see why they wouldn't go for it here with these two. How soon do you think you'd be able to do Danielson/Okada again if you were so inclined?

Yeah, real-world relationships are definitely canon in AEW. Although I don't believe Renee ever actually interviews Mox, maybe for conflict of interest reasons + him being a heel and all of that. It's been acknowledged in passing that they're together but since it's not a part of the story it kinda is glossed over.

In game, NJPW are touring for all of July-much of August. There's a brief window in late August where I could hypothetically book them for the All In Wembley show to fit the "supershow" theme.

Dunno if I'd do Okada/Danielson again in-game though - I had him hint it in his promo but with this being a working relationship with NJPW, my headcanon is that he might go over and work the match during the January 4th Tokyo Dome show.

I don't think I ever knew Harwood and Wheeler before I stopped following. I know a couple of guys on your roster just by name, like Omega, and a few that I knew in previous incarnations like Hager, but FTR are a complete unknown, I think. Everyone seems to praise them so I'll accept that such an outcome as this is absolutely possible.

This timeline checks out since you stopped watching around WM32. I believe 2016 was the year The Revival (as they were known in NXT then) exploded and went on a run of tag team greatness. They ended up being called up to the main roster a year later.

Though they did hold main roster gold, they were always gonna be kinda fucked there. The Revival's best work came from really long-form matches packed with psychology. Main roster WWE at the time was just quick 5 minute TV matches, which was the opposite of their strength.

I would've thought you'd save an encounter like this up for another show, possibly a PPV, but how can you argue with a rating like that? The next step I assume you're going to make is building towards Ospreay/Takeshita vs. the, uh, Golden Lovers?

I probably should've saved Ibushi/Takeshita for a bigger show, but the conundrum I have is that my next "PPV" in July I've softly targeted as being the big blowoff to the Elite/BCC angle that, in real life, has been going on since late March. Not sure I want to stretch it all the way to late August at this point. In game it would be great, in reality it's time to wrap the feud up.

As for the Golden Lovers...if you ever care to read a very long/geeky blog post, this is a very in-depth glimpse onto the origins of their story. TLDR it's like a 15+ year gay story arc and they've done such a brilliant job of blending the angle with kayfabe that nobody even total knows the extent to their personal relationship outside of the ring.

Just kinda love the idea that angles like this can slowly go from being hush-hush/being played for laughs in the early to mid 2000s to being something you can actually bring over to mainstream.

https://medium.com/we-need-to-talk-about-wrestling/that-one-tweet-thread-about-the-golden-lovers-annotated-e9fc604e3a7f

Evil Vito

06-27-2023, 03:04 PM

Well, it's the last day of the month so may as well power through a quick Rampage to get to my first batch of month-end goodness.

https://www.wrestlezone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/08/AEW-Rampage-logo-1-.jpg

AEW Rampage
June 30, 2023

The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) w/ Alex Reynolds and John Silver vs. The Wingmen ("Pretty" Peter Avalon and Ryan Nemeth) w/ Cezar Bononi

Third Rampage in a row I'm opening up with The Dark Order as they continue to mow their way through jobbers to look more serious ahead of their match with Blackpool Combat Club on Dynamite.

More or less a one-sided affair with the heels impressively selling their asses off for Dark Order here. Bononi tries to get involved by Reynolds and Silver thwart his attempts, as Uno and Grayson finish Avalon off with The Fatality for the win.

After the bell, Nemeth is slid into the ring to get a Fatality of his own. And then the big man Bononi is impressively given one as well. We haven't seen the Dark Order look this imposing since 2020. Maybe they'll give the BCC more of a run for their money than Hangman thinks (narrator: or not). The group all do their signature claw gesture as we go to commercial. ***, 69% overall rating

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Roderick Strong vs. Tony Deppen

Booking Rampage really is a breeze sometimes. Scan my roster, find someone "important" I want to book and give some reps, scan through my list of "already in the ring" jobbers and enhancement talent to see if someone could be of use.

Picked Tony Deppen for the task as I felt like their stats would mesh well. Apparently was wrong here which surprised me, both guys have really nice brawl and technical. They still pulled a Perfectly Acceptable rating but nothing to write home about.

Alas, Deppen is also a vacuum of overness so that probably didn't help. Either way, he's here to make Strong look good and put over his shit. Strong wins with the Death by Roderick and that's that. **3/4, 68% overall

---

CM Punk and Samoa Joe hype video building to their clash on Collision tomorrow. Naturally this pulls a rating somewhere in the 90s as I continue to use videos to artificially bump up the fact that the wrestling itself is often just for enhancement purposes so the network doesn't cancel me.

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TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. Penelope Ford w/ The Bunny

Last week, Stat defended against the Bunny in a good match, but got jumped by Ford afterwards. Today it's Ford's chance to get her some as the champion takes on all comers.

I.....did not realize how bad Ford's stats were in this data. Because yikes, this was the worst rated match I've had in this save. I mean with that said it could've been way worse, but yeah the bar is quite high in this universe. I didn't realize but if you have a bad match and read the match results, Scott Keith will say stuff like "Ford hits a crap dropkick" and whatever, basically telling you the match sucks. Case in point, the TBS Title lost image in this match. It's hard to have an image-losing title match in this game.

Anyway, Stat avoids Bunny interference and wins with the Big Bang Theory. After the bell, Ford and Bunny double team her (there aren't enough zeroes for what I'd pay for THAT double team :shifty: ) and Thunder Rosa runs out for the save. Rosa has come in to save the woman she's been targeting for a title opportunity. In theory this is building to a tag match that I might go through with despite Ford's showing here, just for the sake of the story. We'll see. **, 65% overall

---

Bryan Danielson is standing by with Claudio Castagnoli, building to tonight's main event.

DANIELSON: "Forbidden Door might be in our rear view mirror, but the Blackpool Combat Club have come out of it learning some valuable lessons. Jon Moxley reminded everyone why he's one of the toughest sons of bitches on the planet, and I went toe-to-toe with the so called best in the world.

But my loss on Sunday will not be in vain, the Blackpool Combat Club enjoy being pushed. We push each other to the limits every single day in training. We push ourselves to be the best.

So tonight, Claudio steps into the ring with a man many others consider to be one of the best.

Chris Daniels, you've done a lot for us in our careers. You're a legend in this business. You're much more skilled than those clowns in the Dark Order that want to fight us next week. You're damn sure more reputable than those amateurs in The Elite. We don't want to hurt you. But tonight you're in the wrong place, wrong time."

---

"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Come on, just look at those names. Is there any doubt that this is gonna rule all kinds of ass?

Sure enough, it does! Danielson joins commentary and tries to refrain from letting his inner wrestling fan geekdom come out as Claudio and Daniels just put on a clinic in the ring. Given the squash-ish nature of the other three matches I'm seriously imagining this one being given the last 20 minutes or so of an hour-long broadcast, just let 'em cook.

Anyway, after captivating the audience with Daniels pulling off a number of surprise nearfalls, a brutal uppercut stalls his moment. Ricola Bomb and that's all she wrote, Claudio gets the win. Danielson hops in to raise his hand in celebration as we go off the air. ****1/4, 86% overall rating

80% overall show rating

Evil Vito

06-27-2023, 03:18 PM

End of Month Notes as we head into July:

-Not an e-mail note but I'm retconning my referring to the July "PPV" as Fight for the Fallen. I've re-named it to Blood and Guts. If you recall from my previous game, Blood and Guts is basically War Games. Well, I'm doing one of those matches at the show. And calling it "Fight for the Fallen", a show meant to raise money for gun violence and having a match called Blood and Guts on it would be, well, a choice :lol:

-NOAH announced their touring roster which includes Timothy Thatcher, who was on my roster on an Open deal but I couldn't use him because he was away for most of the month on a NOAH tour. Anyway, Thatcher announced he was dropping me and any other global-level bookings because of pressure from his Japan commitments.

What this means is that, all of the New Japan guys are going to leave me in March 2024 when NJPW announce their roster for the next year. I will need to use Arsenic if I want to get them all back on Open deals for Forbidden Door 2024. I probably will, because I'm not really here to "win" the game, just have fun booking.

-Also some of the Open contract guys demanded a 10% wage hike, it's whatever, they are independent contractors and can ask for whatever they want I suppose. It's mostly the lower paid guys on the NJPW crew I won't be using much if at all anyway.

-Staff member Danny Davis retired. I hired him and every other good trainer in the game immediately upon starting, including a bunch of WWE's jettisoned trainers that were good (Norman Smiley, Matt Bloom). Thankfully I've got the workload more than covered.

-Minoru Suzuki turned 55 years old and subsequently has announced he will retire at the end of the month :( alas, I saw that coming which is why I wanted to do the handshake thing with Orange. NJPW are on tour the entire month of July so that was my one and only Suzuki match.

-Main Roster Birthdays (not including NJPW birthdays since they'll be used sparingly, nor ROH birthdays because I have no idea when or if they'll be called up)

The Blade (43)
Dax Harwood (39)
Cezar Bononi (37)
Brandon Cutler (36)
Hikaru Shida (35)
Max Caster (34)
Peter Avalon (34)
John Silver (33)
Tay Melo (28)
Jack Perry (26)
Riho (26)

Next week I'll have over twice as many e-mails because I'll start getting some developmental reports from ROH.

M-A-G

06-28-2023, 09:13 PM

AEW Rampage
June 30, 2023

The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) w/ Alex Reynolds and John Silver vs. The Wingmen ("Pretty" Peter Avalon and Ryan Nemeth) w/ Cezar Bononi

Third Rampage in a row I'm opening up with The Dark Order as they continue to mow their way through jobbers to look more serious ahead of their match with Blackpool Combat Club on Dynamite.

More or less a one-sided affair with the heels impressively selling their asses off for Dark Order here. Bononi tries to get involved by Reynolds and Silver thwart his attempts, as Uno and Grayson finish Avalon off with The Fatality for the win.

After the bell, Nemeth is slid into the ring to get a Fatality of his own. And then the big man Bononi is impressively given one as well. We haven't seen the Dark Order look this imposing since 2020. Maybe they'll give the BCC more of a run for their money than Hangman thinks (narrator: or not). The group all do their signature claw gesture as we go to commercial. ***, 69% overall rating

---

With a name like the Wingmen, their gimmick should either be old timey pilots or the sidekicks of one guy and they help him land dates. The comedy of the latter writes itself. Like, imagine them macking on Brit Baker and it draws the ire of Cole and it leads to some matches or whatever. It's a good idea to have some anchor talent for a show that's not really considered the flagship. I should probably focus my efforts better in that regard because sometimes I want Superstars to be important and others it's just some matches with guys I'm not using on a consistent basis.

Roderick Strong vs. Tony Deppen

Booking Rampage really is a breeze sometimes. Scan my roster, find someone "important" I want to book and give some reps, scan through my list of "already in the ring" jobbers and enhancement talent to see if someone could be of use.

Picked Tony Deppen for the task as I felt like their stats would mesh well. Apparently was wrong here which surprised me, both guys have really nice brawl and technical. They still pulled a Perfectly Acceptable rating but nothing to write home about.

Alas, Deppen is also a vacuum of overness so that probably didn't help. Either way, he's here to make Strong look good and put over his shit. Strong wins with the Death by Roderick and that's that. **3/4, 68% overall

---

Death by Roderick is a good name. Gaps in overness are often an issue because it kind of reflects real life where a crowd may not really get into a match where it's a main eventer taking on an opener. Like, is the outcome really in doubt? A 10-point difference or less between workers should be a good rule of thumb. Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling is fine because you want people to pay for the really good shit. One thing I wish the game had for the television shows is segment breakdowns and how they did in the TV ratings. There's a segment rating, sure, but I always imagined that to be the audience at the show.

CM Punk and Samoa Joe hype video building to their clash on Collision tomorrow. Naturally this pulls a rating somewhere in the 90s as I continue to use videos to artificially bump up the fact that the wrestling itself is often just for enhancement purposes so the network doesn't cancel me.

---

LOL, network cancellation. The closest I've ever come to pissing off my partners is when I bumped up my risk level to 100% just so I could do a Death Match. They were not happy. I spent the PPV money on hookers and blow. I think I got the better end of that deal. Punk and Joe is going to be a great payoff, unless the DUD show wants to be a douche.

TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (C) vs. Penelope Ford w/ The Bunny

Last week, Stat defended against the Bunny in a good match, but got jumped by Ford afterwards. Today it's Ford's chance to get her some as the champion takes on all comers.

I.....did not realize how bad Ford's stats were in this data. Because yikes, this was the worst rated match I've had in this save. I mean with that said it could've been way worse, but yeah the bar is quite high in this universe. I didn't realize but if you have a bad match and read the match results, Scott Keith will say stuff like "Ford hits a crap dropkick" and whatever, basically telling you the match sucks. Case in point, the TBS Title lost image in this match. It's hard to have an image-losing title match in this game.

Anyway, Stat avoids Bunny interference and wins with the Big Bang Theory. After the bell, Ford and Bunny double team her (there aren't enough zeroes for what I'd pay for THAT double team :shifty: ) and Thunder Rosa runs out for the save. Rosa has come in to save the woman she's been targeting for a title opportunity. In theory this is building to a tag match that I might go through with despite Ford's showing here, just for the sake of the story. We'll see. **, 65% overall

---

Yeah, I've seen some of that Scott Keith commentary and it's all hilarious. It's usually when I would get some random worker in for a one-shot jobber deal to get someone else over. It can be offset if they're in the ring with someone REALLY good who can carry things or if they've got charisma up the yahoo. I've seen it whenever I've stuck a manager into the proceedings. I need to ready myself for when it happens again. There's a match I have lined up down the road that I'm dreading for this reason, but for the sake of the story I feel like it needs to be done. Stay tuned!

Bryan Danielson is standing by with Claudio Castagnoli, building to tonight's main event.

DANIELSON: "Forbidden Door might be in our rear view mirror, but the Blackpool Combat Club have come out of it learning some valuable lessons. Jon Moxley reminded everyone why he's one of the toughest sons of bitches on the planet, and I went toe-to-toe with the so called best in the world.

But my loss on Sunday will not be in vain, the Blackpool Combat Club enjoy being pushed. We push each other to the limits every single day in training. We push ourselves to be the best.

So tonight, Claudio steps into the ring with a man many others consider to be one of the best.

Chris Daniels, you've done a lot for us in our careers. You're a legend in this business. You're much more skilled than those clowns in the Dark Order that want to fight us next week. You're damn sure more reputable than those amateurs in The Elite. We don't want to hurt you. But tonight you're in the wrong place, wrong time."

---

An added benefit of starting another game is you get Daniels back into play as a worker as opposed to him switching to non-wrestler in your other game. Do what you can with him while you can because I'm sure the game is looking to screw you regarding him. Of course the alternative may happen like it does with me where he could end up going into his late fifties and refusing to take it easy or hang it up. I know I had Daniels way back when but I honestly can't remember what I did with him as far as feuds go. To me, he was always in the background to guys like Punk, Joe, Styles, and Danielson.

"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Come on, just look at those names. Is there any doubt that this is gonna rule all kinds of ass?

Sure enough, it does! Danielson joins commentary and tries to refrain from letting his inner wrestling fan geekdom come out as Claudio and Daniels just put on a clinic in the ring. Given the squash-ish nature of the other three matches I'm seriously imagining this one being given the last 20 minutes or so of an hour-long broadcast, just let 'em cook.

Anyway, after captivating the audience with Daniels pulling off a number of surprise nearfalls, a brutal uppercut stalls his moment. Ricola Bomb and that's all she wrote, Claudio gets the win. Danielson hops in to raise his hand in celebration as we go off the air. ****1/4, 86% overall rating

80% overall show rating

Even a lesser show deserves to have a quality main event. Shame Vince and Company never really wanted to do stuff like this with Main Event and Superstars in its later incarnation. I remember starting fairly strong and then slowly degrading to the fucking D-shows. Like, fine if he's got people that he doesn't want to push, but at the very least stick them on a show like this and let them go all out. It's like, "Yeah, pal, I signed you because they told me you had some great wrestling skills, but I'm just going to give you 5 minutes every 6 six weeks on Saturday Morning Slam and let you be a lumberjack in a Raw main event every so often. Oh, I also need you on hand in case Stephanie needs to emasculate someone in a backstage segment."

M-A-G

06-28-2023, 09:38 PM

Loved the opening promo with the heels all finally acknowledging why they've come together. Selfishly I hope the group winds up being called the Dark Order :lol:

I also kinda have to crack up at the open challenge being answered by two guys that I automatically picture as The Ascension from WWE. Total jobbers, inasmuch as a jobber can exist in this world where everyone just rules ass in the ring.

I've said this before but I love the role of managers in this game. I don't know why but at some point WWE got to the mindset of managers only being allowed to have one and only one client at a time and that's just totally different from how managers operated in the '80s. It would make sense for managers to try to recruit a robust list of candidates, bringing them together when necessary but ultimately just trying to make bank.

AEW does something similar, solid amount of managers. Smart Mark Sterling manages the jobber Trustbusters stable but his highest profile client is Jade Cargill....and he's responsible for costing Jade the title and undefeated streak because he decided to issue an open challenge on her behalf.

Nice work with the promo before the Hotbody match, he continues to grate on everyone's skin which is great, but I also love Clubber going after the bodyguard too. Zed Jones vs. Clubber Harris feels like it should be a boxing match from 1985.

Also good on you for not shying away from ending the show with a talking segment. I'm so used to the way AEW books that I very rarely don't end with a match, but ending with a promo makes for a nice change of pace.

Calling them the Dark Order would be appropriate because it'd be in opposition to what Haven had done and it's the brainchild of a dude called Victor Dark. Although, I'm doing something slightly different here because they're not really a stable, per se. I'm looking to send them all off on their own respective journeys after Bragging Rights as I just need people to keep Haven occupied until the inevitable showdown with Dark himself. It's also going to give me a chance to...oops, wait. I can't give away all the details just yet. :)

The thing with the Wasteland is that they're super over and ridiculously talented. I should probably be pushing them, but I'm bloated as it is. They give a great hand when it comes to filling up the undercard with a quality match at the very least.

Just like with the non-Dark Order angle, I want to stay really tight-lipped about what's in store for Hotbody down the road. I have his whole run mapped out and so far, we're on track, barring the game being a fucking piece of shit. I'm sure you could think of a certain somebody who could be the one to dethrone him for the title. Damn it, I need to pick up the pace so I can get to that part already. :)

I'm likely to do a special edition of SmackDown! to tackle some of these high-profile matches that aren't going to fit on the PPV. Stuff like Ozzy/Demiras, Cross/Jacobs, a tag title rematch, and Clubber/Zed. It'll be a good hoss fest, I'm sure.

The thing about me closing things out with an angle as opposed to a match is that I can only run so many matches in the time between PPVs and it's even worse now when I have a 5-week gap between Survivor Series and Bragging Rights. I figure Cemenko and Reigns could use some more heat and rubbing shoulders with main event guys like Pattillo and the freaking World Champion can only do wonders for them. The thing with Reigns is realistically he doesn't really have anything to do until WrestleMania and he doesn't really have to. He's got his ticket punched already so him participating in matches is kind of a waste of his time. In fact, that gives me an idea for him after Bragging Rights.

M-A-G

06-29-2023, 01:40 PM

Superstars: December 13, 2040

I think I can afford to be a little laid back here after the hurricanes of both SmackDown! and Raw in the last two shows.

Opening Match: The Love Connection vs. Southern Gentlemen
This is more like it. This is how Raw should've opened up with no pesky DUD show sneaking its way in. I'm thinking of doing a big four way for the tag titles and the Love Connection ought to be one of the teams involved. Aphrodite is her usual sexy self and she adds a lot to the scenery, if not the match. Brody Lee gets isolated towards the end of the match and he's going to fall victim to the Love Letter and unfortunately get pinned by Coleman, giving the faces the win. The Future Foundation come out onto the stage to give Greene and Coleman and Aphrodite some dirty looks and remind them that things aren't over between them. *****, 95% overall

PROMO TIME as it looks like we're going to get Andrea and Victor Dark to deliver some more of their spiel. Victor is disappointed in Orlando Kincaid's refusal to allow his friends to help him. However, he doesn't want Orlando to feel pressured into anything. Victor is a much more forgiving individual than someone like Haven. Victor wants to make it clear to Haven that he doesn't have "grunts" under him. What Quinten McDaniels, Hugo, and Chet have embarked upon is their own doing and they are free to do so. It's not Victor's fault that Haven has made so many enemies. Nonetheless, Victor will monitor the situation very closely. When a man is put out of his misery, you want as close of a view as you can get.

Backstage, Nathan Quinn and Adam Hail are prepped to give Simon Bennett some more of their minds. They want to inform Simon Bennett that Adam accepts Simon's challenge to a match at Bragging Rights. It's not because they believe Simon deserves it, but rather Adam deserves it. Adam deserves the opportunity to finally kick Bennett to the curb with an exclamation point because apparently he didn't get the message the last time. Adam will get to prove that he's better than Simon in every way and show the world that Adam is ready for the big stage. All Adam has ever wanted was to be acknowledged as one of the greatest, and if Simon Bennett is going to deny him that, then let Bragging Rights be the end of him.

Second Match: Ainsley vs. Debra Phillips
Fuck me for putting this after that banger of an opener. I don't know if anyone wouldn't have suffered after that one. You'd think the segments in between would give me some breathing room, but NOOOOO! A crowd reaction rating of 54% is pretty rough. Debra is just not up to snuff in the charisma department to help ease the pain. Either way, before the match Debra talks about merely using Ainsley to get her own foot in the door here in the WWE. It's an every woman for herself scenario once you bust your way in and Ainsley needed to find that out the hard way. She'll be more than happy to leave Ainsley in the dust while she skyrockets to the top. So, yeah, despite the circumstances, technically the match works so that it's not a complete disaster of a segment. They brawl to the outside as the referee begins her count. Debra gets desparate and rakes Ainsley's eyes to stop an onslaught. She goes for both legs and sets Ainsley up for a catapult into the ringpost and that knocks her loopy. Debra quickly slips back in to break the count and unfortunately Ainsley isn't going to be so lucky and that's a countout win for Debra, who bolts as if she's got something on the stove in the back. ****, 75% overall.

Third Match: Neil Quint vs. Sammy Brady
Sammy was Neil's original opponent for Raw until I realized I needed to address the Ozzy Mandias heel turn so he got the spot. Well, now we're here and it's some good shit. Neil is on a path and I've got plans for him. Sammy gets set up for the Quintessential Top Rope Maneuver. Neil starts to climb but Sammy's partner Johnny Dangerson hops on the apron to get in Neil's face. The two exchange some pleasantries until Sammy gets his bearings back and tries attacking Neil from behind. Neil is quicker to the punch and sidesteps Sammy, sending him into Dangerson. Neil gets Sammy back into position and goes up top for the Quintessential Top Rope Maneuver to score the pin. Quint once again leaves the ring undefeated. ****1/2, 90% overall.

We get a video showcasing the awesomeness that is the Woman of the Year, the WWE Women's Champion Sonya Braddock. She had a hell of a year and is looking for a strong closing come Bragging Rights.

Well, that segues perfectly into our next backstage interview with Jenna Kyle and Faith Connors, the Lonely Girls. Jenna is asked about what was shown in that video for Sonya Braddock as that's the woman Jenna needs to beat at Bragging Rights if she wants to win the Women's Title. Jenna points out that it was interesting and captivating and certainly very informative. The one thing it wasn't, however, is scary. Jenna knows scary. That fifth Halloween reboot? Very scary. The band that played at her prom? Also very scary. Sonya Braddock? Not so much. Sonya can be content with her 2040, but Jenna Kyle is set to kick off 2041 on one hell of a positive note. Faith gets her turn to speak as she calls out someone else who isn't scary, that being Dusk. Faith took a chair to the face from her at Survivor Series and she wants more. Faith personifies fearlessness every time she gets in that ring. If Dusk thinks her spooky Spirit Halloween nonsense is going to get the job done against Faith, then all of those nail polish fumes must be going to her head. The Lonely Girls can take anything anyone wants to throw at them.

Fourth Match: Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper vs. The Agents of Change
Harper looks thrilled beyond reason to be here. He wants to thank Jake Connelly for what is a huge opportunity. The chance to learn from and be properly guided by one of the greatest legends the WWE has seen is something he's not going to squander. He hopes Ethan Lang feels the same way and shows it by picking up some more slack because it's a two-man effort. Harper can't always carry things like on Raw. It's OK, though, because they've got another great chance here against Corey Mattis and Clayton North. Ethan looks like he doesn't know how to respond to that, but it doesn't matter as the match gets underway when Harper chucks the mic, not allowing either Connelly or Lang to respond. Nevertheless, Connelly's boys work well here against yet another fairly established team. Lang once again plays the role of getting the hot tag and unloading on the heels. He manages to hit the Bitter Languish on North. Mattis tries attacking Lang as the latter is against the ropes, but Lang ducks and pulls the top rope down causing Mattis to stumble to the outside. Harper gets back into the thick of things and picks up North's body and hits the Cam Jam and gestures to Lang to get the cover. Lang does so with a confused look on his face and gets the victory. Harper goes nuts with the celebrating as things continue to look somewhat good for this new duo of Connelly's. ****1/2, 91% overall.

Fifth Match: Ronnie Costello vs. Randy Ellis
We get back to the battle between Sophie Waters's Academey and what's left over in the camp of Brooke. Sophie tells Brooke that the Academy have found some much better company. She's open to any kind of match Brooke has in mind. She's also open to anyone else who might be tired of their current circumstances and are looking for a change of scenery. Brooke insists that she doesn't have any deserters under her watch because she's managing people with actual brains! She's also managing people with actual guts and Ronnie here is willing to demonstrate that fact. So the match that ensues rules all kinds of ass. The conclusion comes about when Ellis and Ronnie end up on one side of the ring as the former is taking a beating. Sophie goes over to provide some more encouragement, but C4 are over there, too. Carmella starts jawing with Sophie, but Cordelia keeps her eyes on the match. Eventually, Carmella gives Sophie a shove and she responds with a shove of her own, sending Carmella into Cordelia, knocking her into the steps. The ref goes over to break up this chaos and that allows Brooke to slide in a chain to Ronnie and he uses it to KO Randy and that's enough for the cheap pin. Brooke goes over to her girls to sort things out. More trouble brewing? Hey, Ronnie actually gained some overness here. ****1/2, 93% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time, this time with Kyle Jacobs. Kyle Jacobs agrees with the frustrations felt by Xavier Cross over what went down at Survivor Series. Nothing against Alexander Piero and Ryan Pattillo, and he's naturally happy that he walked out with a win, but it wasn't as satisfying as a good old one-on-one, mano y mano, up close and personal battle where Cross still gets his ass kicked. Kyle should know, because he's already done it before. "You remember, don't you, Cross? I pinned you in a big time PPV match and if you lost you'd have to be my servant? I remember. I especially remember what happened afterwards, where you threw a tantrum like a bitch, refused to own up to the deal, watched me return, and then somehow turn into an even bigger bitch by cowering away from me. You talked a big game on Raw, so you'll forgive me for wanting to test your resolve in getting your payback. I am standing here, willing, ready, and able to take the fight to you one more time, Cross. By all means, come forward and make me suffer. Get your retribution! All you have to do is take down little old me. That won't be so hard, right?"

Time for this shiznit to get interrupted and freaking Ziggy Styles of all people feels the need to make himself known. He joins Kyle in the ring and states his business. "Oh, man, the WWE these past few weeks is getting way too hot and way too stressful. Things really need to settle down and bit. Never fear, because I feel with all my heart that deep down in the bowels of this man, Kyle Jacobs, is a rumbling of excitement. A need to just let go and be happy. My friends, I think now is the right time for Kyle Jacobs to Get Ziggy With it!"

Kyle Jacobs merely shoots Ziggy a death stare that doesn't waiver for an instant. Ziggy reads the room and adjusts his focus and continues on. "Well, maybe you're not quite ready just yet. But there is another reason why I felt the need to come on out here and maybe, just maybe, with Kyle and me jiving on similar wavelengths, we can get to that place where you feel like you can get Ziggy with it. You're out here throwing out challenges and all, looking to finally settle old scores and move on to bigger and brighter things. Well, I, too, have some unfinished business and I am absolutely feeling your initiative, Kyle, if not your attitude. I am giving Mr. Michael Haywood a major opportunity here to consider throwing down in one more match to get things square between us. Michael, you didn't need to keep that hold on me for that long at Survivor Series! It's not my fault you're such a stick in the mud! I'm lucky to even be able to talk after what you did! And have I even heard anything remotely close to an apology? No! So the way I see it is this: you owe me, Michael! You owe me this. I deserve my chance to beat you once and for all, so that I may continue on my quest to bring joy and good vibes to the WWE!"

Kyle looks like he's had enough of Ziggy's talk and gets back on the mic to admonish him. "Hate to break it to you, pal, but you stumbled onto the wrong set. This isn't your stupid little talk show and it's certainly not a dance floor. This is a place for actual adult men and if you can't understand that or bring yourself to get involved in that, then you need to go shake your ass somewhere else."

Ziggy tries calming Kyle down BUT HERE COMES XAVIER CROSS! Kyle takes his attention off Ziggy and locks eyes with Cross who is making his way down to the ring. Kyle demands Cross get in the ring, but Ziggy decides to low blow Kyle from behind. Cross immediately gets in and starts to assault Kyle. Ziggy leans back in the corner and observes the attack BUT HERE COMES MICHAEL HAYWOOD!!! Ziggy freaks the hell out as Cross stops his attack and steps in front of a charging Michael. Michael just plows through Cross with a clothesline like he wasn't even there and continues his pursuit of Ziggy, who has decided now might be a good time to take Kyle up on his advice. Both Cross and Kyle start to recover and Kyle goes for the Legacy Bomb but Cross slips out and also decides to bail. If these guys are serious about their respective matches, when will they be taking place?

MAIN EVENT: Quinten McDaniels and Chet Morris vs. The Dillingers
Chet Morris talks about how Orlando Kincaid's rejection hurt, but it can't keep him, Quinten, and Hugo from moving forward. They're all confident that Orlando will eventually come around once he sees what can be accomplished with a bit of introspection and the realization that he needs to overcome his past. Quinten continues by claiming that they can and will handle Haven with or without Orlando. The thing Orlando needs to understand is should he not come around, well, that would be yet another problem from the past that would need correcting. And considering how they've been correcting their problems in recent weeks, it'd be a shame for Orlando to be a part of that. In fact, let Eddy Clash try his hand at the three of them again and it'll be quite clear what's on the horizon for Haven and anyone else that wants to become a problem.

This match is nothing but win as the heels once again shine like a boss. Maybe they really did go through some rejuvenating process. Hugo is on the outside for obvious moral support. He starts to notice that Fantasee might also need some guidance and begins to approach her to make a pitch. Ben Dillinger sees this as the match has broken down to BONZO GONZO levels and tries to dive onto Hugo to intercept him. Hugo catches him in mid-air as poor Joey is left alone in the ring and Quinten sends him into Chet for his Backwoods Bomb variation and that's going to give the heels the win. Meanwhile, Hugo sends Ben through the announce table. These three look strong once more and...WAIT A MINUTE!!! It's Eddy Clash again! He tries to get at Hugo but Quinten and Chet go on the attack and Eddy unfortunately suffers a 3-on-1 beatdown as the heels all grab chairs and just demolish the big man on the outside. We go off the air as we're left to ponder what all this means for the WWE and if anyone can stand against these guys. *****, 97% overall. I mean...damn. I may have stumbled ass backwards into some pretty good angles here.

Overall show rating: 88%

Oh, why did I have to put that women's match there? I could've probably broken the 90% barrier. :nono:

Leah wants me to let her work with Cordelia Capriati as she thinks I'll be impressed with the results.

https://i.imgur.com/adiBjS9.png

Yeah, I can see that.

Cameron Harper thinks he and Lang should be a regular tag team so that they can then use it to springboard their singles careers. Oh, Harper...you sweet summer child. :)

Evil Vito

06-29-2023, 02:21 PM

OK I'm even more intrigued with the Dark "stable" now, knowing they're still more or less doing their own thing but not being his underlings. I don't know what the end game is but it'll be fun to follow.

****, 75% overall is literally an amazing rating in my game universe so the idea that in the world of 2040, something like that is viewed as a dud of a segment, good lord just imagine the workrate. a 54% crowd reaction makes me imagine you could hear a pin drop vs. the normal crowd reaction

That main event segment :eek:

LOL Cameron Harper - reading his mannerisms as described I just automatically imagine him as a short little shit trying to overcompensate in any way he can. And I love that he lobbied to stay part of a team :lol:

M-A-G

06-30-2023, 03:33 AM

For shits and giggles I decided to check for any updates as far as relationships between workers go. Here is what the game has decided for some of the workers:

Adrian Gallagher is loyal to Nate Exley. Not surprising considering their partnership.

Aphrodite loves some schmuck named Marc Godecker who isn't even on the fucking roster.

Arianna dislikes Marcus Dean, who is also not on the fucking roster.

Blaine Bellamey dislikes Robbie Greer. That's your fucking partner, dipshit.

Brody Lee hates El Siliencio. Why? He doesn't say anything. :shifty:

Cameron Harper is friends with Taylor Matheny. She WAS on the roster way back when.

Clayton North is friends with Tiger Mulligan. HOW ARE YOU FUCKERS INTERACTING?!?

Doug Michaels is evidently a blood relative to Emilio London. Half-siblings maybe?

Drakken is friends with Tokyo Kid. Well that's sweet. You'd think my teams would be like Adrian and Exley, gelling and being bros and shit.

El Silencio reciprocates the hatred from Brody Lee. I wonder what happened there.

Galino & Farnes apparently hate each other also. This is making me worry.

Joey Dillinger is friends with Big Coburn. Do my teams just not talk to each other in the back and they need to seek out companionship with people outside of the company?

Justin Mitchell has loyalty to Randy Ellis. See? That's more like it.

L.A. Xander dislikes Devin Nash. I doubt he'd even still be alive at this point, but sure, I can see someone disliking him. Oh, wait, DEVIN Nash? My bad...

Lisa Benton is friends with Mike Preston, yet another fuck not on my roster. I hope none of these fucks are going to try to pressure me into hiring their buddies. Can't you and Riott just seek a close, close intimate relationship with each other? :shifty:

Matt Riley is loyal to Sweet Dreams. Well go fuck off and leave and go be with her if you want it so much.

Nathan Quinn is another fucker making friends with someone not under contract: Mike Majors. I will not be signing him.

Robbie Greer dislikes Lindsey. She's not on the roster, bro. Get over it.

Stephan Q. Sterling is friends with Blazin' Benny Chong and James Watkins, who are two more people not under contract.

Vivian Merrick is friends with J.J. Johnston. Woman, I surrounded you with two guys and it's like you don't even give a shit.

Wu and Tokyo Kid dislike each other. Fuck you all, you bunch of ingrates.

Zachary Vale is loyal to Plague. HOW?!?!? He hasn't been on my roster since fucking 3.0 and you were a God damn training camp worker!!!

And that about does it. I only checked the main roster, but I'll give NXT a looksee sometime and see how little sense I make of what may be going over there.

Evil Vito

06-30-2023, 09:37 AM

:lol: brilliant, I completely forgot that worker relationships can change over time (except for ones that existed before the game started, because apparently humans are inflexible to change)

Reading through the FAQ and I think this one in particular can be explained away:

Zachary Vale is loyal to Plague. HOW?!?!? He hasn't been on my roster since fucking 3.0 and you were a God damn training camp worker!!!

The FAQsays Loyalty exists in 2 main ways - student/trainer and long-time tag partners. My guess is that Plague had Trainer as a secondary worker characteristic, so the implication here is that anyone who can train can potentially develop bonds with your Training Camp workers.

However, that also makes it very surprising that some of your tag teams hate each other. As far as I know, you don't get an e-mail or anything if you pair two workers that hate each other in a tag team. So either they had bad blood that was never noticed before, or the game programmed a mechanism where tag teams apparently spend so much time on the road together that they get on each others' nerves to various levels (hence some having dislike and others having hate)

I'm now imagining the eventual Galino & Farnes breakup resulting in a massive lawsuit over who gets to control the firm, culminating in a Legal Papers on a Pole match. Only downside of course is that the loser will have a huge morale drop from putting over someone they hate, but if you're either trimming the fat or one of them is retiring anyway it would be A+.

Evil Vito

06-30-2023, 10:05 AM

The worker relationships in my save data were pretty lazily done. In fairness, the updates are done by one guy over at EWBattleground and he does monthly updates. That's already enough work without bothering to keep changing worker relationships.

For instance I see no Loyalty ones for tag partners. The 2 teams within Dark Order (Evil Uno/Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds/John Silver) have been teaming for 17 years and 12 years respectively. FTR are definitely loyal etc. Feel like these ones should've been in there. No friendships either.

But they do have Love relationships for the couples and blood relatives for those it applies to.

I don't see any adverse relationships except for one guy......

https://i.imgur.com/3iZ0GNW.jpg

They don't even all fit on the screen (Nick Jackson is underneath). I'm kinda shocked they didn't make Colt Cabana a hate relationship really.

Is it any wonder why I've basically kept The Elite, Jericho, and Mox away from Punk? :lol: I kinda doubt I'll put the title on him since he'll likely never win it again in real life, but I wonder if morale in the company would tank among my top guys if I put it on Punk. Low key want to create a second save file just to see.

Evil Vito

06-30-2023, 04:11 PM

Did some more digging and it would seem on GameFAQS the consensus is that tag teams will develop a dislike or hate relationship if there is a perceived imbalance in the tag team.

Things that could cause this include one worker being higher up on the card than the other and beginning to feel "held back" by their partner. Or one worker consistently getting the pins or being the one getting pinned. As an example, by this metric Ron Simmons should've eventually gotten fed up with Bradshaw because he was clearly the one always scoring the victory for the APA.

First off, that's pretty impressive coding/tracking something like that for a 20+ year old game.

Second off, holy shit I can't believe I've had the game this long and never knew about it.

M-A-G

06-30-2023, 10:46 PM

Well here's how things stand with the Wyldhearts and Galino & Farnes. That overness gap might help explain things between Blaine and Robbie, but I'm not sure what's crawling up the ass of Galino and/or Farnes. I wonder how recently these relationship statuses formed and if it's been affecting things, because I haven't noticed.

https://i.imgur.com/ql9ym7S.png

https://i.imgur.com/WPTLA0j.png

https://i.imgur.com/TYFjqw4.png

https://i.imgur.com/pv168j8.png

Also, that Punk screenshot is just gold. Punk not putting up with any horseshit is at least still consistent. :lol:

M-A-G

07-06-2023, 03:18 AM

I put off doing more for a bit because of some nonsense, but I have SmackDown! done. I need to get to the report for that one, but another post I did brought up this question: did anyone try doing a simulation game using TPWW posters as the roster? That'd have been fucking amazing.

Evil Vito

07-06-2023, 12:00 PM

Yeah I was trying to stay ahead of the real-life calendar but, sadly, life had other plans. Would've rather been gaming that being outside in a cemetery, in a suit on a 100+ degree day but alas.

I'm pretty sure somebody tried doing an EWR game with TPWW posters way back when this game first started, whenever they had a data editor which I think it always did. This would've been 2002 when the game first came out and seemingly everyone was playing it, but also so far back that it pre-dates the current board (2003) so there wouldn't be any record of it.

Evil Vito

07-07-2023, 03:50 PM

https://cdn-cache.wrestlingnewssource.com/u/webp_full/7919d4ed638749ce6626cd6e4df4c272_711_400.webp

AEW Collision
July 1, 2023
Hamilton, ON, Canada

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Men's First Round Match: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. "Switchblade" Jay White

The first round of the Owen Hart Cup kicked off on Wednesday and continues along tonight. The announcers point out that Dustin's been tied up in some other business with the Mogul Embassy, but that is put on hold for tonight as, as one of the few members of the AEW roster to share a locker room with Owen Hart, he wanted to be sure to participate in this.

Anyway these two have a pretty solid match with Dustin bringing an intense brawling and White working a sound brawling tactic in return, mixed with slimy heel sneakiness. Dustin reverses the Blade Runner but White turns it into a roll-up with his hands on the trunks to steal the win!

The production team flash a graphic on the bracket. Jay White next week will face the winner of the other first round match tonight between Ricky Starks and Brian Cage. Also, in the spirit of having Owen's locker room mates compete, the crowd pops as it's revealed that the final first round match that will happen on Dynamite will be......Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy! (side note: god dammit Jeff Jarrett, way to check into rehab at the worst time)

This match got a ***1/4, 72% overall rating however the overall was lower than both the crowd reaction and match quality, which means I'm kicking off my July with the first DUD show of the game. And White was one of the most over guys I'm using tonight, ruh roh.

---

Backstage we see a limousine arrive and out walks Samoa Joe! That's certainly a fancier arrival than we're accustomed to seeing from Joe. We last saw Joe attacking Punk after his match at Forbidden Door. Punk's demanded to get Joe face to face tonight.

---

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Women's First Round Match: NJPW Strong Women's Champion Willow Nightingale vs. Ruby Soho w/ Saraya and Toni Storm

We last saw Willow having a solid outing against Toni next week only to have the match disrupted by the surprise appearance of the ROH Women's champion Athena. Fellow Outcast Saraya lost on Wednesday to Britt Baker. Ruby Soho was a finalist in this tournament a year ago, but this year she doesn't provide much more help to get on the board. Botched interference from Toni leads to Willow picking up the win and just like that, both members of the Outcasts are out of the tournament, ensuring Toni won't be seeing one of her stablemates as a challenger.

The women's bracket is shown, much like with the men's tournament - another first round match is taking place tonight. The aforementioned Athena makes her in-ring return against Riho, with the winner facing Willow next week. On Wednesday, the final first round match will see Emi Sakura face off against Hikaru Shida. **3/4, 62% overall rating

---

We cut to an eerie looking room. At the forefront of it all is “The Redeemer” Miro, fresh off of picking up impressive wins in each of the first two Collision episodes. Miro has a deadly serious expression on his face.

“There are only three things that had motivated me – my TNT Championship, a vengeful god, and a flexible, double-jointed wife. Before two weeks ago, it had been a long time since anybody saw me in AEW. I took my time, I waited for an opportunity. I trusted God to give me a sign when the time would be right to make a return. To give me a higher purpose. I’d been in exile for almost a year. And then at one point I was summoned.

And then when he finally spoke to me, he told me I would be his favorite champion once again. That I would retain my beloved TNT championship gold. That I would receive the glory and adoration. There were his blessings in my muscles that I would never lose again. And all I’d need to do is praise him.

It was at that moment that I realized that this coward was not the one kneel to. The Redeemer kneels before no man or god. So now I know what I must do. I must walk alone and I must be what this fool is not – righteous without seeking reward.

Therefore I now renounce my god, my gold, and my beautiful wife. Because I am Miro, and I am godless.”

---

AEW World Trios Championship: The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) (C) vs. The Spanish Announce Project (Angelico, Serpentico, and Luther)

I envisioned this open challenge as a glorified squash, which actually parlayed into a decent match rating here. Probably because Serpentico and Angelico are very much guys who can sell their asses off and make everything the House does look like death. Side note – Serpentico is the losingest wrestler in AEW history with a career AEW record of 14-122 as of right now. Fittingly, he also takes the loss here with Buddy pinning him after Matthews Law. ***, 63% overall rating

---

As we return from commercial, the House of Black are still in the ring, Malakai with a microphone in hand. Before he can even utter a word, the music of The Acclaimed hits. Out come The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass! No time to chat here tonight, tonight is all about them trying to kick ass. The House exchange a flurry of rights with the faces before eventually taking their leave and deciding to fight another day.

Anthony Bowens grabs a microphone. “House of Black! We still want our Trios title match. You and us, 2 weeks, Blood and Guts. No disqualification.”

A sinister grin works its way across the face of Malakai Black, with a nod to seemingly accept the challenge.

---

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Women's First Round Match: ROH Women's Champion "The Fallen Goddess" Athena vs. Riho

The first round matches continue and here is where I give the DUD rating a nice hearty fuck you as these two women went out there and proceeded to have the best women's match I've had so far in the game, only to be punished with a lower overall rating than it should have.

The Outcasts were shown backstage watching on, trying not to interfere in this one but Toni Storm clearly not liking seeing Athena here kicking all kinds of ass. Anyway these two beat the shit out of each other with Athena's typical mean streak being matched by the diminutive Riho breaking out every bit of hard-hitting joshi upbringing she could muster.

In the end though it was Athena prevailing with the O-Face, setting up a semi-match with a fellow champion in Willow Nightingale next week! ****, 71% overall rating

---

Mark Henry is backstage with the AEW World Tag Team Champions, FTR.

Henry: "Dax, Cash, on Wednesday we saw you guys successfully defend your titles against the Jericho Appreciation Society, only for Bullet Club Gold to send a signal to you. It would seem your issues with them are far from over."

Dax: "You're right Mark, we have a much bigger issue looming with Bullet Club Gold. They seem to like cheap shotting people from behind, and we're not sure why. We've made it clear to everyone that we'll put the titles on the line for anyone that wants to take their shot. All they have to do is name a time and a place."

Cash: "And we know they still want a piece of our good friend Ricky Starks too. He's got business to tend to in just a few minutes against Brian Cage in the Owen Hart tournament. But he's been wanting to get his hands on Bullet Club too, and if he wins tonight he can kill two birds with one stone next week. Hope you're paying attention, Jay White!"

Dax: "Oh and one more thing, we didn't forget about you, Cage. We know you've got your Mogul Embassy friends on speed dial. Don't even think about calling for help, because we've got a few friends who have a score to settle with you."

*Sting and Darby Allin walk on scene, brandishing baseball bats as we go to break*

---

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Men's First Round Match: "The Machine" Brian Cage w/ Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

Our final tournament match of the evening sees Starks opting to go it alone, knowing he's always got backup on hand in case the Mogul Embassy choose to make nuisances of themselves.

To the heels' credit, they opted to let Brian Cage largely do his thing, as the big man dominated the early part of the contest. The announcers reminded us of the bitter history these two have had over the years, dating back to their time together and subsequent fallout in Team Taz.

Starks eventually regains momentum and the Mogul Embassy try to intervene. But true to their backstage appearance, Darby and Sting make their way out to the ring. Swerve tries to play it cool and exit gracefully at the threat of Sting's baseball bat, while Nana is chased around the ring by Darby on a Skateboard.

All of the hijinx around the ring leave Cage alone with Starks in the ring, where Starks impressively gets the big guy up for the Roshambo and the win. Ricky Starks advances to the semi-final as Jay White and the rest of Bullet Club Gold look on from backstage. ***, 67% overall rating

---

We see CM Punk backstage, heading out to the ring ready to face Samoa Joe. Mark Henry asks him if he has any words before tonight's main event. Punk tells Mark he has no comments other than the fact that Joe is about to find out that it's clobberin' time.

---

CM Punk makes his way out to the ring, looking focused and determined as he throws his shirt into the stands and waits for Joe's arrival. And waits. And waits. Referee Bryce Remsburg and ring announcer Dasha Gonzalez find themselves asking the same thing - where is Samoa Joe?

After Dasha makes another attempt at introducing him and his music hits again, Joe finally saunters out to the ring but noticeably still in street clothes. He gets into the ring and yanks the mic out of Dasha's hand.

Joe: "Punk, Punk, Punk...we must have a misunderstanding. Last week you said you wanted to see me here on Collision. All week AEW have been saying we'd be facing off one-on-one. But I don't recall AEW ever saying we'd have an actual match.

We've had more than enough matches over the year, Punk. I assumed you'd be tired of that. I just thought we were here to fight."

Punk yells at Joe that he's fine with that, let's just have a fight then. Joe gets right in Punk's face.

Joe: "Good, I'm glad to hear that. Honestly, I'm not paid enough to wrestle you. I beat you almost 2 decades ago, I've got nothing left to prove there.

But if you wanted to fight, well, I've got no prob---"

Joe abruptly cuts himself off as he clocks Punk with the microphone, the cheap shot sending Punk down.

What we have now is the two men getting into a big fight that Joe is very clearly winning with the element of the cheap shot on his side. The slow beat-down of Punk does last for a while, effectively making this a proper main event angle.

The announcers ask what has gotten into Joe, why does he seem to hellbent on actually taking Punk out of commission in this brawl. The fight spills to the outside and a few officials are tossed aside by Joe who has a plan and is damned if he's not going to execute it.

Joe eventually wedges Punk's arm in between the steel steps and the ring post, and he then uses his full body weight to crash into the steps, sending nearly 300 lbs of force on Punk's arm.

Joe leaves the ring smiling as Punk writhes in agony, with the medical staff tending to Punk's damaged arm.

77% overall show rating

In the grand scheme, considering that your roster is loaded with ****1/2 matches even on DUD shows and you pull low 80s, having a 77% DUD show with my roster is nothing to sneeze at at all. That's roughly what I'd expect from a Rampage. Somewhat glad I had a good amount of angles and promos as those aren't as susceptible to the DUD hits as matches are.

M-A-G

07-10-2023, 03:59 AM

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Men's First Round Match: "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes vs. "Switchblade" Jay White[/b]

The first round of the Owen Hart Cup kicked off on Wednesday and continues along tonight. The announcers point out that Dustin's been tied up in some other business with the Mogul Embassy, but that is put on hold for tonight as, as one of the few members of the AEW roster to share a locker room with Owen Hart, he wanted to be sure to participate in this.

Anyway these two have a pretty solid match with Dustin bringing an intense brawling and White working a sound brawling tactic in return, mixed with slimy heel sneakiness. Dustin reverses the Blade Runner but White turns it into a roll-up with his hands on the trunks to steal the win!

The production team flash a graphic on the bracket. Jay White next week will face the winner of the other first round match tonight between Ricky Starks and Brian Cage. Also, in the spirit of having Owen's locker room mates compete, the crowd pops as it's revealed that the final first round match that will happen on Dynamite will be......Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy! (side note: god dammit Jeff Jarrett, way to check into rehab at the worst time)

This match got a ***1/4, 72% overall rating however the overall was lower than both the crowd reaction and match quality, which means I'm kicking off my July with the first DUD show of the game. And White was one of the most over guys I'm using tonight, ruh roh.

---

The DUD show just loves popping up when you're really expecting a banger. But Dustin pulling out a ***+ match in this day and age should be something worth remembering and praising. Jeff Jarrett being gone definitely sucks as he'd be a fine choice to take the whole thing just out of sympathy and to create a catharsis. The WWE would probably have him go all the way to the finals along with some other sympathetic babyface, then have him get screwed over when the other guy turns heel with the aide of a bunch of other heels to create a stable and then he suffers a beatdown afterwards...in Tennessee.

Backstage we see a limousine arrive and out walks Samoa Joe! That's certainly a fancier arrival than we're accustomed to seeing from Joe. We last saw Joe attacking Punk after his match at Forbidden Door. Punk's demanded to get Joe face to face tonight.

---

I could've sworn Joe used to ride in limos in TNA as part of the Main Event Mafia thing. A lot of TNA stuff blurs together so I don't remember it all that well. He SHOULD be doing the Batista thing of dressing like a sharp motherfucker that looks cool and badass.

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Women's First Round Match: NJPW Strong Women's Champion Willow Nightingale vs. Ruby Soho w/ Saraya and Toni Storm

We last saw Willow having a solid outing against Toni next week only to have the match disrupted by the surprise appearance of the ROH Women's champion Athena. Fellow Outcast Saraya lost on Wednesday to Britt Baker. Ruby Soho was a finalist in this tournament a year ago, but this year she doesn't provide much more help to get on the board. Botched interference from Toni leads to Willow picking up the win and just like that, both members of the Outcasts are out of the tournament, ensuring Toni won't be seeing one of her stablemates as a challenger.

The women's bracket is shown, much like with the men's tournament - another first round match is taking place tonight. The aforementioned Athena makes her in-ring return against Riho, with the winner facing Willow next week. On Wednesday, the final first round match will see Emi Sakura face off against Hikaru Shida. **3/4, 62% overall rating

---

I can't help but think of the song whenever I see Ruby Soho. If you're not going to give this tournament to Toni Storm, I can only guess that you're going with Willow as secondary to take the whole thing.

We cut to an eerie looking room. At the forefront of it all is “The Redeemer” Miro, fresh off of picking up impressive wins in each of the first two Collision episodes. Miro has a deadly serious expression on his face.

“There are only three things that had motivated me – my TNT Championship, a vengeful god, and a flexible, double-jointed wife. Before two weeks ago, it had been a long time since anybody saw me in AEW. I took my time, I waited for an opportunity. I trusted God to give me a sign when the time would be right to make a return. To give me a higher purpose. I’d been in exile for almost a year. And then at one point I was summoned.

And then when he finally spoke to me, he told me I would be his favorite champion once again. That I would retain my beloved TNT championship gold. That I would receive the glory and adoration. There were his blessings in my muscles that I would never lose again. And all I’d need to do is praise him.

It was at that moment that I realized that this coward was not the one kneel to. The Redeemer kneels before no man or god. So now I know what I must do. I must walk alone and I must be what this fool is not – righteous without seeking reward.

Therefore I now renounce my god, my gold, and my beautiful wife. Because I am Miro, and I am godless.”

---

I mean, it's hard not to believe in a god when you're blessed with a gorgeous double-jointed wife, but I can get behind something like this. He'd draw millions in the Bible Belt. I often wonder what would he be doing currently had he not left the WWE...aside from his gorgeous double-jointed wife.

AEW World Trios Championship: The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) (C) vs. The Spanish Announce Project (Angelico, Serpentico, and Luther)

I envisioned this open challenge as a glorified squash, which actually parlayed into a decent match rating here. Probably because Serpentico and Angelico are very much guys who can sell their asses off and make everything the House does look like death. Side note – Serpentico is the losingest wrestler in AEW history with a career AEW record of 14-122 as of right now. Fittingly, he also takes the loss here with Buddy pinning him after Matthews Law. ***, 63% overall rating

---

Have they modified the game to where you can do a six-man championship? I know which collection of superstars I'd slap those puppies on over on my roster. Is there someone actually keeping track of the win/loss records of wrestlers? That's some dedication for sure. Jesus, even the Detroit Lions would be probably be all, "Wow, what a loser." He joins the elite company that is JTG, Curt Hawkins, Slam Master J, and Heath Slater.

As we return from commercial, the House of Black are still in the ring, Malakai with a microphone in hand. Before he can even utter a word, the music of The Acclaimed hits. Out come The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass! No time to chat here tonight, tonight is all about them trying to kick ass. The House exchange a flurry of rights with the faces before eventually taking their leave and deciding to fight another day.

Anthony Bowens grabs a microphone. “House of Black! We still want our Trios title match. You and us, 2 weeks, Blood and Guts. No disqualification.”

A sinister grin works its way across the face of Malakai Black, with a nod to seemingly accept the challenge.

---

The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass should unite under one solid team name if they're serious about this. How about The Acclaimed Ass? Find a way to get Toni Storm with them and it's a gold mine, I tell you.

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Women's First Round Match: ROH Women's Champion "The Fallen Goddess" Athena vs. Riho

The first round matches continue and here is where I give the DUD rating a nice hearty fuck you as these two women went out there and proceeded to have the best women's match I've had so far in the game, only to be punished with a lower overall rating than it should have.

The Outcasts were shown backstage watching on, trying not to interfere in this one but Toni Storm clearly not liking seeing Athena here kicking all kinds of ass. Anyway these two beat the shit out of each other with Athena's typical mean streak being matched by the diminutive Riho breaking out every bit of hard-hitting joshi upbringing she could muster.

In the end though it was Athena prevailing with the O-Face, setting up a semi-match with a fellow champion in Willow Nightingale next week! ****, 71% overall rating

---

Aw, that stings. A solid 4 stars and the game is just "LOL". I'm very curious as to what Athena's O-Face looks like...along with the other women...

Mark Henry is backstage with the AEW World Tag Team Champions, FTR.

Henry: "Dax, Cash, on Wednesday we saw you guys successfully defend your titles against the Jericho Appreciation Society, only for Bullet Club Gold to send a signal to you. It would seem your issues with them are far from over."

Dax: "You're right Mark, we have a much bigger issue looming with Bullet Club Gold. They seem to like cheap shotting people from behind, and we're not sure why. We've made it clear to everyone that we'll put the titles on the line for anyone that wants to take their shot. All they have to do is name a time and a place."

Cash: "And we know they still want a piece of our good friend Ricky Starks too. He's got business to tend to in just a few minutes against Brian Cage in the Owen Hart tournament. But he's been wanting to get his hands on Bullet Club too, and if he wins tonight he can kill two birds with one stone next week. Hope you're paying attention, Jay White!"

Dax: "Oh and one more thing, we didn't forget about you, Cage. We know you've got your Mogul Embassy friends on speed dial. Don't even think about calling for help, because we've got a few friends who have a score to settle with you."

*Sting and Darby Allin walk on scene, brandishing baseball bats as we go to break*

---

Owen Hart Foundation Cup - Men's First Round Match: "The Machine" Brian Cage w/ Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana vs. "Absolute" Ricky Starks

Our final tournament match of the evening sees Starks opting to go it alone, knowing he's always got backup on hand in case the Mogul Embassy choose to make nuisances of themselves.

To the heels' credit, they opted to let Brian Cage largely do his thing, as the big man dominated the early part of the contest. The announcers reminded us of the bitter history these two have had over the years, dating back to their time together and subsequent fallout in Team Taz.

Starks eventually regains momentum and the Mogul Embassy try to intervene. But true to their backstage appearance, Darby and Sting make their way out to the ring. Swerve tries to play it cool and exit gracefully at the threat of Sting's baseball bat, while Nana is chased around the ring by Darby on a Skateboard.

All of the hijinx around the ring leave Cage alone with Starks in the ring, where Starks impressively gets the big guy up for the Roshambo and the win. Ricky Starks advances to the semi-final as Jay White and the rest of Bullet Club Gold look on from backstage. ***, 67% overall rating

---

I actually had to re-read that last bit to make sure it said what I thought it said. I would've thought Darby would be chasing someone WITH his skateboard, not actually ON it. Now I'm trying to visualize that and it's all kinds of hilarious. The DUD show continues to be a dick, unfortunately.

We see CM Punk backstage, heading out to the ring ready to face Samoa Joe. Mark Henry asks him if he has any words before tonight's main event. Punk tells Mark he has no comments other than the fact that Joe is about to find out that it's clobberin' time.

---

CM Punk makes his way out to the ring, looking focused and determined as he throws his shirt into the stands and waits for Joe's arrival. And waits. And waits. Referee Bryce Remsburg and ring announcer Dasha Gonzalez find themselves asking the same thing - where is Samoa Joe?

After Dasha makes another attempt at introducing him and his music hits again, Joe finally saunters out to the ring but noticeably still in street clothes. He gets into the ring and yanks the mic out of Dasha's hand.

Joe: "Punk, Punk, Punk...we must have a misunderstanding. Last week you said you wanted to see me here on Collision. All week AEW have been saying we'd be facing off one-on-one. But I don't recall AEW ever saying we'd have an actual match.

We've had more than enough matches over the year, Punk. I assumed you'd be tired of that. I just thought we were here to fight."

Punk yells at Joe that he's fine with that, let's just have a fight then. Joe gets right in Punk's face.

Joe: "Good, I'm glad to hear that. Honestly, I'm not paid enough to wrestle you. I beat you almost 2 decades ago, I've got nothing left to prove there.

But if you wanted to fight, well, I've got no prob---"

Joe abruptly cuts himself off as he clocks Punk with the microphone, the cheap shot sending Punk down.

What we have now is the two men getting into a big fight that Joe is very clearly winning with the element of the cheap shot on his side. The slow beat-down of Punk does last for a while, effectively making this a proper main event angle.

The announcers ask what has gotten into Joe, why does he seem to hellbent on actually taking Punk out of commission in this brawl. The fight spills to the outside and a few officials are tossed aside by Joe who has a plan and is damned if he's not going to execute it.

Joe eventually wedges Punk's arm in between the steel steps and the ring post, and he then uses his full body weight to crash into the steps, sending nearly 300 lbs of force on Punk's arm.

Joe leaves the ring smiling as Punk writhes in agony, with the medical staff tending to Punk's damaged arm.

77% overall show rating

This is the kind of stuff that fans who have been following the careers of both men would absolutely dig. Digging up the past and using it for fuel is what makes angles work. I also love the dichotomy of Joe being all, "Meh, I've got nothing to prove, but I'm still just going to be a dick to you and beat you up CAUSE I CAN!" Doing the main event angle is nothing to shy away from when you've got people who the audience gives a shit about. Plus, you got two other shows where a match can close things out. In terms of the real world, it's nice to give your guys a break and the fans some variety.

In the grand scheme, considering that your roster is loaded with ****1/2 matches even on DUD shows and you pull low 80s, having a 77% DUD show with my roster is nothing to sneeze at at all. That's roughly what I'd expect from a Rampage. Somewhat glad I had a good amount of angles and promos as those aren't as susceptible to the DUD hits as matches are.

Yeah, this version of EWR is hella weird considering 3.0 would have a DUD show and knock off at least a star and a half along with the low percentage rating for the matches. Willow/Soho would have been 2 stars at best and Scott Keith would be pointing out flaws in his commentary. This is another reason why doing angles, especially a really strong main event segment, is important as they're spared from the ravages of the DUD show for some reason. That's actually my dirty little secret as to why some of my DUD shows still turn out fairly well. I should probably start putting in the ratings for those segments. I need to use whatever spare time I have later today to get back at it. I was in such a nice little groove these last few weeks.

Evil Vito

07-10-2023, 11:03 AM

The DUD show just loves popping up when you're really expecting a banger. But Dustin pulling out a ***+ match in this day and age should be something worth remembering and praising. Jeff Jarrett being gone definitely sucks as he'd be a fine choice to take the whole thing just out of sympathy and to create a catharsis. The WWE would probably have him go all the way to the finals along with some other sympathetic babyface, then have him get screwed over when the other guy turns heel with the aide of a bunch of other heels to create a stable and then he suffers a beatdown afterwards...in Tennessee.

Yeah there were some fun possibilities for Jarrett. I probably wouldn't have had him win it all given a title shot being at stake but I'd have at least thought about it. I suspect the game is going to give me the "one week til retirement" notice after July, and if so I could've quickly turned him face and had him put over MJF on the way out.

I could've sworn Joe used to ride in limos in TNA as part of the Main Event Mafia thing. A lot of TNA stuff blurs together so I don't remember it all that well. He SHOULD be doing the Batista thing of dressing like a sharp motherfucker that looks cool and badass.

Man I forgot so much about TNA, even some of their bigger angles. And I say this as someone who watched them regularly for a while, and was all but desperately rooting for them to gain some traction to give WWE actual competition so they couldn't just coast anymore.

I can't help but think of the song whenever I see Ruby Soho. If you're not going to give this tournament to Toni Storm, I can only guess that you're going with Willow as secondary to take the whole thing.

She actually used it as her theme upon joining AEW. Was given the blessing of Rancid and all of that (Rancid being super tight with CM Punk surely helped matter sas well). Since she's turned heel and joined the Outcasts though she's using their generic ass heel rock music which is a shame.

I've left both Toni (as well as Kris Stat) out of the tourney as a shot at an AEW title is a prize for winning. But I'm purposefully vague on when the title shot will happen. I imagine it as sorta a hybrid MITB. You can't cash in as a surprise but you can get your title shot at any time with a one week notice. I don't really imagine an expiration date either, you're just guaranteed a one-time title shot whenever you decide you want it. Makes it easier to, say, have a heel win this thing even if there's a heel champ at the moment.

I mean, it's hard not to believe in a god when you're blessed with a gorgeous double-jointed wife, but I can get behind something like this. He'd draw millions in the Bible Belt. I often wonder what would he be doing currently had he not left the WWE...aside from his gorgeous double-jointed wife.

Gotta say, I straight up ripped this promo from one he did 2 weeks ago in real life. Thought it was so good and better than what I'd come up with, curious to see where they take his character in reality.

Have they modified the game to where you can do a six-man championship? I know which collection of superstars I'd slap those puppies on over on my roster. Is there someone actually keeping track of the win/loss records of wrestlers? That's some dedication for sure. Jesus, even the Detroit Lions would be probably be all, "Wow, what a loser." He joins the elite company that is JTG, Curt Hawkins, Slam Master J, and Heath Slater.

Nah, the Trios belts don't exist in-game, just gotta use my imagination for that one. But there are tons of stables in AEW so I like having the "imaginary" belts around.

As for records, AEW does track everything back to the inception of the company and the records are kept on the roster page. For example:

https://i.imgur.com/QarJTOf.jpg

5 tag wins + 8 trios wins = 13 wins. The 14th win was a 10-man tag back in February. 8-man tags, 10-man tags, battle royals or whatever else still count toward the record but only singles/tag/trios for the current year are shown separately.

I'm not tracking records since it would be too cumbersome, BUT this is the first time I've booked Serpentico and I took a gander at that poor bastard's record. :lol:

Aw, that stings. A solid 4 stars and the game is just "LOL". I'm very curious as to what Athena's O-Face looks like...along with the other women...

https://media.tenor.com/ngdrtQ8u10YAAAAd/ember-moon-the-eclipse.gif

[quote]I actually had to re-read that last bit to make sure it said what I thought it said. I would've thought Darby would be chasing someone WITH his skateboard, not actually ON it. Now I'm trying to visualize that and it's all kinds of hilarious. The DUD show continues to be a dick, unfortunately.

Given that Darby Allin is friends with Tony Hawk, I'm sad that there wasn't proper Darby facepaint in the THPS 1+2 remake or I totally would've made him as my custom skater instead of making a half-assed version of myself. Maybe in the THPS 3 + 4 remake (please Activision...please put that project back in motion :'( )

This is the kind of stuff that fans who have been following the careers of both men would absolutely dig. Digging up the past and using it for fuel is what makes angles work. I also love the dichotomy of Joe being all, "Meh, I've got nothing to prove, but I'm still just going to be a dick to you and beat you up CAUSE I CAN!" Doing the main event angle is nothing to shy away from when you've got people who the audience gives a shit about. Plus, you got two other shows where a match can close things out. In terms of the real world, it's nice to give your guys a break and the fans some variety.

I like the idea of Joe still knowing Punk's never beaten him. Of course in the real-life AEW this just changed over the weekend with Punker finally getting one over on Joe, but I enjoy the idea of keeping it going here. And perhaps this angle is to build to a match where Punk can finally beat him without actually pinning him, always giving the heel something he can be a dick about later :shifty:

Yeah, this version of EWR is hella weird considering 3.0 would have a DUD show and knock off at least a star and a half along with the low percentage rating for the matches. Willow/Soho would have been 2 stars at best and Scott Keith would be pointing out flaws in his commentary. This is another reason why doing angles, especially a really strong main event segment, is important as they're spared from the ravages of the DUD show for some reason. That's actually my dirty little secret as to why some of my DUD shows still turn out fairly well. I should probably start putting in the ratings for those segments. I need to use whatever spare time I have later today to get back at it. I was in such a nice little groove these last few weeks.

I quite appreciate the way they do it in this game. In theory, good wrestlers can still have good matches even on a DUD show. Yes, good wrestlers can also have an off-night but I'd say the majority of the time, the good'uns are gonna be able to do their thing even if the crowd isn't feeling it, the announcers are having a bad day, the "vibe" is just off etc

Of course you end up seeing the differences in overall rating anyway. I do try to limit myself to 5/6 matches per TV show at most with the rest being angles, both to hedge against a DUD and also for realism. I'd low key have a hard time booking an Attitude Era show realistically in this game, it wasn't unusual to have 10+ matches on a 2-hour Raw, but they were all like 2 minutes long. That era really was just all about the angles.

M-A-G

07-19-2023, 02:05 PM

SmackDown!: December 14, 2040

Let's see if I can get back on schedule here.

Opening Match: Ziggy Styles vs. Stone Walsh
Ziggy takes the mic and declares that he feels a great deal of sadness and pity for people who don't have it in them to get Ziggy with it. Those people cling on ever so desperately to their darkness and failures and it ruins them! Take Michael Haywood for instance. The destruction of his little group was no one else's fault but his own, and now he thinks that gives him leeway to just be a big meanie to everyone! To the credit of his former teammates, Ryan Pattillo has a chance to become the new Unified World Champion come Bragging Rights, and Gavin Jones also has a championship opportunity at the same event! What's Michael been doing? He's been nothing but a sour puss! "I've only been trying to help! But I am not without mercy and generosity. I am offering Michael his own day in the sun by challenging him to face me next week! It's high time we put this business of ours to rest and see what is more powerful here in the WWE: your cancerous negativity or the positive energy that is the Zig-Meister!" Ziggy's stupidity aside, this is a banger of an opener. Walsh is someone else who should be in a better position considering his attributes, but alas, he has to play the role of making this doofus look good here. The top turnbuckle in one corner gets exposed by Ziggy during the match and it comes to into play in the end as Ziggy escapes an attempt at the Stone Cutter from Walsh. He slips behind Walsh and yanks him into the exposed steel and catches Walsh in a small package off the rebound to score the pin. No time for celebration as HERE COMES MICHAEL HAYWOOD after the match to help Ziggy get his steps in for the day and chase him and the two go off into the night through the crowd. *****, 94% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Hotbody gets on the mic as he wants to talk about Gavin Jones. "Ladies and gentlemen, if there was ever a time when I needed your support and well wishes, it is definitely now. The thought of a degenerate holding this Cruiserweight Title quite frankly makes me a little nervous. Gavin Jones, last week you defiled the beautiful Slammys that I and Madison EARNED! You're lucky none of them were scratched otherwise you would've been hit with a lawsuit from Galino & Farnes so hard you'd think you were hit by a bus! But Gavin is just the latest in a long line of people who want to take away the things that I have worked so hard to obtain, and he thinks he can do it by being an annoyance and a punk. Well, if there's one thing that I can't stand, it's a goof! I will absolutely not tolerate silliness while I'm the champion, and the amount of arrogance that you have, Gavin, in thinking that you of all people are going to be one to end the year that was Michael Hotbody is a clown show! But the thing is, I don't fear clowns. I punch them in their stupid noses and stomp their teeth in. The time for funny business is over, Gavin, because you're not going to be laughing come Bragging Rights. When it's all said and done, the term "tears of a clown" will never be more appropriate!"

This calls for the number one contender himself to interrupt the show and make himself a guest. Gavin Jones steps into the ring with a mic and gets in Hotbody's face. "You know, you can run me down about goofing off, but if you'd been paying attention to me and all of the Hunters, you'd know that when something serious like gold is on the line, we all get serious about that business. And you? Your big claim to fame when the going gets tough is to whine and find an excuse to explain why you're not a man."

"Hey! Who the hell do..."

"NO, THIS IS WHERE YOU ZIP IT!" Gavin explodes. "90% of your entire God damn career here ever since you showed up is you flapping those gums of yours! So right now, you don't get to speak. You've done enough talking! You're going to stand there and listen and you had better listen good! Every cheap shot you take at me, that's one body part of yours I'm going to break at Bragging Rights. Every insult you throw towards my former teammates, that's another body part I'm going to break at Bragging Rights. Every dumb tactic you might try to get out of this, well, hell, I won't wait until Bragging Rights to break something. You think me a clown? Well, that's going to be one hell of a boot shoved up your ass. Keep your Slammys. Keep that jezebel of yours. Keep your stupid lawyers. Keep that big dumb oaf. I hope they all provide you comfort when I take that Cruiserweight Title from you!"

With that, Gavin shoves his microphone into Hotbody and makes his way to leave the ring, but Hotbody isn't phased by the words we all just heard and takes offense to it all and makes the decision to jump Gavin from behind. He stomps on Gavin a couple of times, screaming at Gavin and asking him who the hell he think he is. He tries going for a Hot Ticket, but Gavin grabs Hotbody's leg and latches on. Hotbody panics and kicks away with his free leg and bails once he's free. Gavin glares at the champion as the latter makes his escape.

Second Match: Leah vs. Cordelia Capriati
Cordelia has Brooke with her, but she doesn't look particularly thrilled about it. Leah may have business with the Southern Belles come Bragging Rights, but she's all focused here and shit. This is another fucking sweet women's encounter, with some good back and forth shit. Sadly, it has to get ruined by Hannah McCormick who is looking to ruin things for Leah. Leah tries a Sultry Splash, but Hannah pulls the rope causing Leah to slip and tumble. That's going to be a DQ. Hannah slips into the ring and looks to get her some of Leah. Cordelia recovers and is understandably miffed at this turn of events and spins Hannah around to get in her face. The two argue for a bit, but Brooke hops up on the apron and tries to reason with Cordelia, beckoning her to just back off and let it go and take her leave. Cordelia turns around and starts to leave, but Leah is back up on her feet and drop kicks Hannah into Cordelia. Cordelia responds by turning around and knocking Hannah down with a forearm! She must've though Hannah pushed her on purpose! Leah grabs Hannah and tosses her out of the ring. Brooke is incredulous as it looks like she's losing more and more control over her ranks. ****1/2, 87% overall.

Third Match: Neil Quint vs. Johnny Dangerson
Gotta keep Neil's momentum going. He's already trounced Sammy Brady. Let's see how he fares against his more experienced tag team partner. Johnny may have the better name, but his future isn't as bright as other people on the roster. Case in point, Neil has Johnny down and set up for the Quintessential Top Rope Maneuver. Sammy Brady slides in and covers Johnny's prone body and tries to call off Neil from executing the move. Neil says "Fuck it" and comes off with the move anyway on both men and that's going to be enough to give Neil the victory via pinfall. ****1/4, 89% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as we're joined by the Woman of the Year, the WWE Women's Champion Sonya Braddock! She brings up the year that she had and how she was looking forward to bringing closure to it all. "That closure would've come by getting a chance to once again make Naomi Bailey my bitch and knocking her ass out. I was actually on board with her complaining and lobbying because it was going to make it all the more sweet when I still walked away from that fight with this belt on my shoulder. Now, Naomi isn't cleared to compete, but in a way I've got something even better lined up come Bragging Rights. I've got Jenna Kyle. And while Naomi's humiliating defeat would satisfy me because I'd be destroying a big mouthed pretender to my throne, beating Jenna Kyle is a whole other beast. You see, Jenna, you're one of the few women who has managed to elude utter destruction at my hand. And look at all you managed to acheive. You racked up 3 Slammy wins for some of the biggest historical moments this year alone. As Woman of the Year, and as the WWE Women's Champion, what kind of person would I be if I let all of that go unchallenged. You're the unicorn, Jenna. You are just the thing that's going to help put a nice bow on this year. Everyone will be able to take a step back and look at that package and they'll be able to say that Sonya Braddock made that and she made it because she was the best. It's nothing personal, Jenna, but you know how things go. And upsetting you will be just the message I need to be sent to Naomi to let her know what's waiting for her when she's ready to go another round."

Well, like before with Hotbody and Gavin, this is the time for the number one contender to come on out here and give their take on the matter. Jenna Kyle comes on down and shows no fear getting into the ring with Braddock as she takes the mic.

"Let's clear up a misconception you seem to have, Sonya. I am not now nor will I ever be made a stepping stone or an example. I am a 3 time Women's Champion. I am a two time, back-to-back Queen of the Ring winner. I made history with Faith Connors by being part of the first team to capture the Women's Tag Team Titles. So, yeah, getting one over on me would be a pretty big deal. Which is why you're going to have such a hard time pulling it off. I promise you right here and now, if you walk into Bragging Rights thinking you've got it in the bag, your hopes of ever getting that chance to humilitate Naomi are dead before you even climb in between the ropes. I'm on my own path towards redemption, Sonya, so I hope you understand that it also isn't personal and that you don't take it as such when I take that title for the fourth time."

Sonya smirks as she circles Jenna while making her retort. "If I say you're a stepping stone, then a stepping stone is what you'll be. Everyone eventually gets crushed. But you don't need to take my word for it. The next time you have yourself a heart to heart with your pal Faith, I want you to ask her yourself how things went for her earlier this year. In fact, if things had gone even worse, you probably wouldn't have had someone to call a partner. I believe you when you say that you're not going to make things easy for me, but unless you've grown more vicious, unless you're willing to go to that dark place in your mind, and unless you've grown a stomach for the unpleasant, you don't have a prayer at Bragging Rights. Take solace in what you have managed to accomplish, Jenna. Let that be more than enough."

Jenna steps up to Sonya and looks the champion in the eye. "Until I get that title off of you, Sonya, it's never going to be enough. I'll see you at Bragging Rights." And with that we go to break as the two women stare each other down.

Fourth Match: The Royal Effect vs. The Tokyo Titans
The Royal Effect are, of course, due their rematch for the Unified Tag Team Titles, something we're all looking forward to. They have their Slammys with them and they take the time to remind the audience that they won the award for Tag Team of the Year because they are just too damn good to ignore. They are making it their new year's resolution to start the next year as the champions! The dislike between the two members of the face team has no noticable effect on the match as things are cooking. Things break down as it's BONZO GONZO and Wu and McKay are the legal men with Kavovit and Tokyo Kid fighting on the outside. The ref is distracted with the outside brawl and he goes out to check on Wu when Kavovit sends him into the steps. Kavovit slips McKay one of the Slammy awards while the ref is busy and McKay clobbers Wu with it. Kavovit informs the ref of the pinfall attempt and the shenanigans lead to the three count giving the Royal Effect another win. *****, 96% overall.

To the back we go as we see Jake Connelly waiting on his clients for the next match when Cameron Harper steps up to him. Jake looks confused as to Cameron's presence and asks him what he's doing here seeing as Jake didn't arrange a match for Cameron. Cameron says that he's here to continue showing his gratitude and loyalty to the Jake Connelly brand and he wants to lend a hand in any way he can. After all, Zoey and Katie are also his fellow clients so he should be working with them, too. Connelly says that he appreciates the gesture, but after the last couple of outings with Ethan Lang, Cameron might need a bit more seasoning with him before branching out. Cameron should consider it a hard rule with Connelly, in that if you're not booked, you're not needed. Connelly has got this covered. Cameron looks dejected, but he says that he understands and apologizes for stepping out of bounds. He wishes Connelly luck and takes his leave.

Fifth Match: The Lady Liberties vs. The Brooklyn Sisterhood
Zoey and Katie have themselves quite the test here with the monstrous veterans in Billie Padgett and Emma Edwards. Fortunately, Jake Connelly is behind them as their manager and mentor. Nothing can wrong! Right? Well, after a pretty cool underdog vs. monster match, things boil down to Billie and Katie. Cameron Harper decides his fellow clients are in need of his assistance despite what Connelly said earlier and comes on down and hops up on the apron to play cheerleader. Connelly is confused as all fuck and goes over to talk him down. Katie escapes an attempt from Billie at the Red Hook and she tries to run off the ropes for her next move but stops when she sees Cameron in the way. She's just as puzzled as everyone else but Cameron continues to encourage her. Billie comes up from behind and shoves Katie into Cameron, knocking him off, and that allows Billie to hit the Red Hook and give the Sisterhood the pin. That's actually their first loss since coming under the wing of Connelly. Speaking of which, he doesn't look too thrilled with Cameron's actions. ****1/2, 89% overall.

PROMO TIME as the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk feels the need to address his upcoming match with Ryan Pattillo. He tells Pattillo that the two of them have had this dance before and it didn't end so well for Pattillo. He asks us all to think about the fact that the previous encounter between the two of them didn't even have the belts on the line and Wrakk was STILL willing to brutalize Pattillo beyond belief. Just imagine what's in store for Bragging Rights now that that piece of crap is daring to try to take away the one thing that Wrakk thought about day in and day out for that entire year that was stolen from him. Ryan is trying his best to lash out at the cruel, cruel world that had forgotten him and do what he can to right what he perceives as wrongs. Wrakk can emphathize somewhat, but none of that is Wrakk's fault or problem. Now the embarrassment that Ryan is going to suffer at Bragging Rights? Well, that's going to be all Wrakk's fault and he's going to laugh about it. Wrakk has come too far to let it get taken away. And as far as Brandon Reigns goes? That moment of vulnerability on Raw is something he should remember for the rest of his life, because Reigns is never going to have another opportunity like that again. Not while Wrakk is the WWE Unified World Champion.

Sixth Match: Eddy Clash vs. Chet Morris
Good to get Eddy back into the thick of things. He's really had a roller coaster of a time since his debut. I didn't really think of sticking him where I'm going to stick him for Bragging Rights. Oops. Got to save that bit for later. Anyways, Eddy is out for revenge and he's his usual monstrous self, but Chet isn't going down easy. It's an awesome brawl, but Eddy gets Chet set up for the Thunderstrike and that's going to cause Hugo to slide in to save Chet by attacking Eddy for the DQ. It looks like we're going to get another beatdown BUT THE LIGHTS GO OUT!!! Everyone freaks out and when they come back on Haven is in front of Quinten McDaniels in the aisle and he takes him out with a choke slam. He then slides into the ring to even things up. Things start to look bad as Haven looks like he can't do much against Hugo and the latter starts to hammer the Dark Shepherd silly in retaliation. Haven goes down in the corner and looks like he's toast, but Eddy disposes of Chet and just rams his entire body into Hugo knocking the big man through the ropes and to the outside. He runs out to the timekeeper's area to grab a chair and slides back in to ward off the heels. It looks like Haven has himself an ally in this battle. But three on two hardly seems fair. Hmmmm.... ****1/2, 92% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Seth Von Kamp and Kyle Jacobs vs. Chris Collins and Xavier Cross
Kyle Jacobs declares that he's ready to go against Xavier anytime he wants to put pen to paper. What happened to Cross at Survivor Series was unfortunate, but he shouldn't have signed up if he was going to whine about the outcome. Kyle says that he would've much preferred going one-on-one with Cross and he can't think of any reason why that can't happen now, other than Cross not being as bold as he wants us to believe. "So name the time and place, Cross, and I'll finish what I started all that time ago." This is one excellent choice for a main event as the rating shows. It breaks down and Seth and Collins are the legal men. The ref tries to get things back in control with Cross and Jacobs fighting on the outside. Jacobs stalks Cross but Cross suckers him in and kicks the ring steps into Kyle's knee. Cross goes in for the kill and delivers a Cross Cutter ON THE STEPS! While this is happening Collins snatches Seth's Intercontinental Title belt from ringside and clobbers the champion from behind with it. He disposes of the evidence and picks up Seth's carcass and hits the Fall From Heaven as the ref gets his attention back to the match as EMTs attend to Kyle Jacobs. The pinfall is academic after that as Collins BUILDS MOMENTUM for Bragging Rights. *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 88%

Evil Vito

07-19-2023, 10:57 PM

:lol: Ziggy's promo was great. I'm a fan of a heel just using tons of corny language. I also think Positively Page was a low key banger of a gimmick so I'm happy with any sort of "overly happy heel" gimmick.

And then doubling it up with the Hotbody/Gavin promo was gold too. Gavin cuts a nice promo and damn, Hotbody gives his opponents so much to work with it really does get crowds thinking that maybe, just maybe, this is the time when he can finally get taken down.

Heels now having the Slammy Award available to be used as a weapon = ratings, classic heelery there

Oooh, Eddy Clash and Haven teaming up now for THE GREATER GOOD. I like that. 2 on 3 does hardly seem fair, even if EWR allows it. But it's a hell of a spot for someone else to come in and form an unlikely bond.

Nice to see the DUD show disappeared and fucked off into the ether. The usual goodness here and lots of BUILDING MOMENTUM!

M-A-G

07-25-2023, 08:53 AM

Raw: December 17, 2040

We open with our illustrious General Manager Lisa Benton on the stage, where she's got presents all over the place. She's excited about tonight and has a lot to announce. This time of year is her favorite as it's all about the holiday season. She can't wait to get the festivities started so she's going to kick them off a little early. So tonight is hereby dubbed Christmas Comes Early Night! She has three very important presents that she wants to give away to a lucky few, all of which will have a bearing on their respective matches at Bragging Rights. Also, SmackDown! next week is not just the last SmackDown! before Bragging Rights, but also the the last SmackDown! of the year, so it's only fitting to try to make it extra special. It'll be a SmackDown! Send-off. She has some great matches planned for that event, but we have to get through tonight first. Right now she wants to give away the first present and it's going to be awarded to the winner of this opening match!

Opening Match: Orlando Kincaid vs. Cameron Harper
Harper is with Jake Connelly and he gets on the mic, declaring that he wants to let everyone know that he apologized to Jake Connelly in a major way over what happened on SmackDown! this past Friday. "I was overly enthusiastic and I let it cause me to overstep my boundaries. But I just want Jake and everyone to understand that this is such a huge deal for me. Being under the guidance of one of the biggest stars, one of the greatest legends, of the industry is overwhemling and it's tough to keep a lid on some of these emotions. Nevertheless, I am more than prepared to make it up to you, Jake. I don't know what's in that box that Lisa Benton is giving way, but I'm sure it's good and I'm sure it's worth kicking ass over, so let's do this!" Both participants do indeed do this as this gets us up and running in a strong fashion. After an awesome exchange things come to an end when Harper goes for a pin after a superplex. Kincaid saves himself from a three count by placing his foot on the bottom rope at the last second. Harper thinks he's got the win, however, and leaps off in celebration. Jake Connelly and the ref both try letting Harper know that the match isn't over but he's not hearing it and he turns to Connelly on the outside, posturing for approval. Connelly keeps pointing at Kincaid who is behind Harper and has recovered and nails Harper with a German suplex with a bridge to get the actual pin and the present, whatever that may be.

Post-match, Harper is dejected as Kincaid makes his way back up the ramp to the stage. Lisa Benton stands there waiting for him next to the present that he's won and tell him that he's free to open it now. Kincaid has a "WTF" kind of look on his face about all of this, but nonetheless goes forward with opening the box and taking out what's inside. It looks like...a contract?

Lisa Benton clarifies what it is. "What you have in your hand, Orlando, is a document giving you the right to book your own match for Bragging Rights. There are some limitations, of course, as we already have some matches set, but outside of those parameters, you've got final say. Choose wisely...and happy holidays." Kincaid's confused expression turns into a sly grin, no doubt contemplating the possibilities as he looks at the contract. What will he end up doing? ****1/2, 92% overall.

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Backstage, Jordan Demiras has some thoughts on Ozzy Mandias that he wants to share. Jordan 100% believed in Ozzy and in the future that he was going to have here in the WWE. But then he got bitter. He got bitter and angry and desperate and foolish. That foolishness drove him to cross Jordan Demiras. "Well, now that future Ozzy had? It's not looking too bright. Let him come and try to bring that bitterness and anger to my doorstep one more time."

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Second Match: The Lonely Girls vs. C4
Brooke once again gets on the mic and demands unity from her clients. She believes that no doubt Randy Ellis and Justin Mitchell and Sophie Waters are having a laugh at her misfortunes and one of the last things Brooke wants to be known as is a laughingstock. So this match rules all kinds of ass. Jenna and Faith are just a well-oiled machine. Jenna, naturally, has to stand out here as she's got Braddock lined up at the PPV. Dusk decides she wants to make her presence known and comes out to the stage to observe, catching the attention of Faith. The trouble comes not from Dusk, however, as there's miscommunication over on the heel side of things. Carmella holds Jenna as Cordelia looks to nail her with a clothesline. Jenna escapes and rolls out of the way. Cordelia stops herself in time and she and Carmella have a few words. Faith takes advantage of this exchange to try a Mirror's Edge on Carmella. Carmella moves out of the way and Faith hits Cordelia. Jenna tackles Carmella out of the ring as Faith goes for the pin on Cordelia and gets the duke. The Lonely Girls take their leave in celebration, but that's not the end of this ordeal as Brooke is furious at what went down and starts to berate Cordelia. Well, that's all she can stands and she can stands no more as Cordelia just drops Brooke with a forearm and then proceeds to toss her to the outside into Carmella. Looks like a face turn to me and the crowd seems to agree. *****, 95% overall. I think the turn is what put it over the top.

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Third Match: Simon Bennett vs. Lonny Richards
Lisa Benton is back out on the stage standing next to a very large present and explains the conditions as to how it's going to be won. It will go to either Simon Bennett or Adam Hail, whose match at Bragging Rights has been made official. Simon will compete first here tonight and should he win, Adam Hail has a chance to take the prize if he can win his own match later tonight by beating Simon's time. If Adam can't do that, then Simon will get the prize. Should Simon lose right here and now, though, Adam will take it by default. So let's get down to business and kick things off.

The match is solid and naturally there is a sense of urgency from Bennett to wrap things up as quickly as possible. Things come to a head when Lonny tries locking in the Dragon Sleeper, but Bennett forces the two of them to the corner, causing Lonny to lose his grip. Bennett snap mares Lonny over and locks in the Bennet Lock to score the submission win. It's going to be all up to Adam Hail later tonight to try to do better. ****1/2, 91% overall.

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We go backstage again as Orlando Kincaid is gathering his things, apparently getting ready to leave for the night. Quinten McDaniels decides to approach him and make another overture. Orlando looks annoyed as he asks Quinten what he wants. Quinten expresses his dismay over Orlando's decision to not be part of the tremendous undertaking that Victor Dark has begun. Haven is still up and about and he made fools out Quinten, Hugo, and Chet when he made his return. Had Orlando been part of this great movement like the three of them wanted, there's no doubt Haven would've been struck down by a unified force that even he couldn't overcome.

Orlando breaks up the tirade by pointing out that he doesn't give a damn about any of that. "I didn't care when the three of you got all up in my face and asked me about this whole nonsense, and I don't care now. I've got a lot on my mind with what I picked up earlier tonight...on my own, I might add."

"Well, that brings me to why I'm here, Orlando," Quinten continues. "That's a lot of power in your hands right there with that contract. Imagine it, Orlando; 4 of us all against one man. One selfish man who let all of us down, and you wield the power to make him pay and suffer and quite possibly hang things up for good. Out of sight, out of mind, and we can all move on. And all you have to do is let us in and help."

"You know, I'm glad it's just us one-on-one right now, because maybe your hearing will be much better this time around. I'm not interested in whatever it is you're selling. I don't care about Victor Dark. I don't care about Haven. If you still got issues, go see a God damn therapist. Just leave me the hell alone. The whole Order thing collapsing and scattering us all over was probably the best thing to happen to me to date. I haven't needed any of y'all since and that's not looking to change anytime soon."

"Orlando, I'm going to still cling onto a small sliver of faith that you'll come around, because the alternative isn't pretty. The alternative is me being pissed off at you."

"Then you should get therapy for that, too." And with that final line, Orlando takes his leave.

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To another location in the back we go as Andrea is with Victor Dark as they feel the need to address Haven again. They talk about how dangerous it is for Haven to gain power. That's why intervention was necessary at Survivor Series, because making Haven into a figurehead just opens the doors to more of his manipulation and smoke and mirrors. Haven serves himself and no one else. Let that be something that needs to sink in to anyone who might be thinking of aligning with Haven. The destruction of Haven is inevitable. There's no need for anyone else to suffer the same fate.

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Fourth Match: Gavin Jones and Clubber Harris vs. Galino & Farnes
Lisa Benton is back out as she declares that this match is also for one of the presents she's giving away, with the prize affecting the match between Gavin and Hotbody for the Cruiserweight Title at Bragging Rights. The winning team will claim the present, with Galino & Farnes being the representatives for Michael Hotbody. Lisa also announces that Clubber Harris vs. Zed Jones will be one of the feature matches for next week's SmackDown! Send Off.

Michael Hotbody isn't deterred by these declarations. He has worked so hard and so long to ascend the ladder to where he is now. Rung by rung, commoner by commoner, the voyage to the top hasn't been easy, but prevailing in the face of adversity and hostility has been the name of the game. But by all means, opening presents is always fun, so he'll be happy to take whatever's in that box. So the match gets underway and it's fun all around. Things break down towards the end as the ref is distracted with Hotbody on the apron. Harris and Farnes are legal and Harris stalks the latter as he's getting to his feet. Zed Jones tries sneaking in with a big boot but Harris moves out of the way and Farnes eats the boot instead. Gavin dives into Hotbody, taking him off the apron and Harris tosses Zed. Farnes then falls victim to the Club Pain and that's going to give the faces the win via pinfall.

The heels are all kinds of upset as Gavin and Harris make their way back up the ramp. Lisa greets Gavin with his present and tells him to open it. Gavin does so and what should be inside but...another contract? Lisa explains that this particular contract awards the holder the right to name the stipulation for their match at Bragging Rights. Lisa tells Gavin that this is a big decision and she doesn't expect him to come up with an idea anytime soon, so he's welcome to take some time to think about it.

Gavin isn't having that and he takes the mic. "Actually, I don't see a reason why I can't name the stipulation right now. Hotbody, you wanted to talk about climbing the proverbial ladder? Well, climbing a real one should be no problem. So at Bragging Rights, our match for that Cruiserweight Title you're holding, is going to be...A LADDER MATCH!" The crowd pops in enthusiastic glee as Hotbody throws a fit. Maybe Gavin has found the magic key to ending Hotbody's reign? *****, 95% overall.

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Fifth Match: Brandon Reigns vs. Jordan Demiras
Brandon Reigns does a little pre-match gabbing, talking about how his match with Kerry Cemenko at Bragging Rights is about justifying the award he received. Reigns has no problem stepping up to the challenge because he's not insecure. Superstar of the Year isn't some gimmick. It's a reality. Reigns talked the big game at the award ceremony because he's not afraid of backing it up. Cemenko made the right move...he just made it against the wrong person. This is another great outing for the night. Demiras plays underdog, but he holds strong against the Money in the Bank winner. Unfortunately, Ozzy Mandias must've heard Jordan's comments earlier and he comes out to ruin things. He does so by shoving Demiras off the ropes when he goes for an Axe Kick and that causes Demiras to land into the waiting arms of Reigns and into the Reignfire to give him the pinfall win. Ozzy stands over Jordan's body and berates him while Reigns starts to take his leave and goes to gather his briefcase. However, when he goes to collect it, Kerry Cemenko is on the other side of the barrier next to the case. Kerry teases going for the case and it's a game of chicken as Cemenko and Reigns stare each other down. Ultimately, security comes to get in Cemenko's way allowing Reigns to take the case and retreat while shouting some less-than-friendly verbage towards Cemenko. *****, 95% overall. I mean, God damn.

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In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as this time around we're going to be blessed to hear from Michael Haywood. "I'm going to try to make this short as there's been enough chatter tonight and I'm sure you're sick of it. I know I am. Sure, you can chalk it up to me not being much of a speaker to begin with and it's hard dealing with so many loud mouths, but boy, has there been one particular son of a bitch that's just been asking for a fist down his throat, and that's Ziggy Styles. Ziggy, I am not now or ever will be down with 'getting Ziggy with it'. None of these people are interested either. What they are interested in is when they'll get to see me finally shut that trap of yours. Well, consider your challenge accepted, but it's come to my attention that Lisa Benton is going to hold that encounter next week on SmackDown! Send Off. And how fitting is that, Ziggy, because I know just the way to give you your own little send off: your broken body being wheeled out of the building."

This is going to open the door for Ryan Pattillo to come on out and join Michael in the ring. Everyone's surprised, but happy as it's been a while since the two have shared the ring. Pattillo takes the mic and starts his spiel. "It's so odd how things change with enough time, but still manage to stay the same in a lot of ways. The last time you and I were in the ring together, Michael, it was one of the most difficult things I think either one of us had to do. Fast forward to right now, however, and I don't believe for a second that any of us let that night get the better of us. Here we stand, more determined than ever, and still the winners we've always been. We can't rewind things and they'll never be like they were, but that doesn't mean they can't be good again. Gavin has got Bragging Rights in the bag. You are on your way towards teaching Ziggy Styles what real rage is all about. And of course, I've got Wrakk's number, and even though I can't get back our crew, I damn sure can get back that Unified World Title."

Cue the music of the Unified World Champion himself, Wrakk, and he decides to come out to the stage to address Michael and Ryan. "Looking at the two of you, it really does hit me how you really are a pair. So delusional, so sad, and most importantly, I've managed to wreck the both you in the past. You two want to whine about what you've lost? I lost a whole damn year. Don't try to trivialize that, ever! It's actually quite the conundrum. I can't tell if you were more pathetic as a group or now as individuals. But here's something you can all hang your hat on. I'm still Wrakk. I'm still the measuring stick. I'm still the man I was when I first came on to the scene. And as far as the two of you are concerned, we can all count on you guys to still be losers!"

Cue the music of Ziggy Styles and he comes out next to Wrakk with his usual stupid idiot expression on his face. He wants everyone to just take a breath because it's getting way too gloomy in here. "Michael, I am so happy that you want to take that next bold step in your career by facing me next week. Now I don't want you to go into the match thinking that there won't be an upside when you lose. The personal reflection that you will undergo afterwards will be tremendously healthy. You won't have to carry around the burdensome question of whether or not I'm better than you. And with revelation, comes healing. And with healing, comes transformation."

Wrakk interrupts Ziggy by asking him who the hell he thinks he is and tells him to take a hike. Ziggy tries to speak up in defense but Wrakk grabs him by the collar. Michael warns Wrakk not to do anything that might cause Ziggy to not make to next week. "Otherwise, I'll have to do something to you that'll keep you from making it to Bragging Rights, and Ryan won't get his chance at taking that title of yours."

Wrakk takes offense to this and declares that the two of them together still couldn't add up to him. Ryan dares Wrakk to try to test that hypothesis. Wrakk lets go of Ziggy and stares at the ring while pondering things over. "The two of you deserve each other. Keep thinking that things are going your way. I always enjoy a good laugh when things blow up in someone's face." Wrakk decides to leave things at that and heads to back, pointing menacingly at Ziggy as he does so.

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Backstage, Chris Collins and Xavier Cross feel like bragging about their recent success. Cross brings up the fact that Lisa Benton has made it official that he and Kyle Jacobs will be squaring off against each other at next week's SmackDown! Send-off. Cross hopes to send Kyle off to obscurity. This has been boiling for a long between Cross and Jacobs and it's time for finality. Is Kyle worthy of that last name of his? Is he destined for a prosperous future? Or will it be the same story as always? The story of Xavier Cross being the cornerstone of the WWE, of being the gatekeeper. Cross has been in a lot of battles, but credit to where it's due, none of them have been as annoying as this one with Kyle Jacobs. Cross understands Kyle wanting to finish things off the same way he started the year. Cross just isn't the doormat Kyle thinks he is. It's all OK, because Kyle can dust himself off afterwards and he is more than welcome to try his luck with some other sap.

Collins takes his turn and runs down Seth Von Kamp, his opponent for the Intercontinental Title at Bragging Rights. Seth had to have known that their paths would cross again someday. But Collins had imagined it with him being on top of the pack with Seth being the one nipping at his ankles. Collins isn't thrilled with the scenario as he is superior to Seth in virtually every measure you want to think of. The frustrations that Collins has experienced being sidetracked with so much nonsense are all going to come out at Bragging Rights. It sucks to be Seth Von Kamp, but those are the cards he got dealt. The house Seth has built for himself has been flimsy at best. It's time for a new chapter in the book of Chris Collins and he's going to write the opening statement in Seth's blood.

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MAIN EVENT: Adam Hail vs. Alexander Piero
Lisa Benton comes back onto the stage to remind everyone of the stakes here. Simon Bennett has set the time to beat and if Adam Hail can't do better, Simon Bennett is the one walking out of here with the present. If Adam is successful, then he gets the spoils. Bennett comes out to the stage to watch the match, obviously interested in the outcome. The match itself is a banger of a way to close the show. Piero is only going to improve as time goes on. Like I said before in another report, Piero needs to be rebuilt. Being able to hang tough with a vet like Hail is a good thing for him, I think, plus there's the matter of the present. So the match concludes with Hail getting more and more desperate to put the rookie away as time slips away. Hail looks like he's got Piero in position for the Hailstorm, but Piero recovers in time to nail Hail with a dropkick as Hail is perched on the top rope. Hail loses his balance and stumbles off the top and collapses onto the apron and down to the floor. The clock reaches Bennett's time and that's going to end the match in a draw. Simon Bennett gets the prize. Nathan Quinn is upset as he tries to get Hail back to his feet.

Lisa Benton makes it official and allows Bennett to claim his spoils. What the hell could be in that big box? We get our answer as Bennett lifts the thing and reveals a table loaded with all sort of implements. A chair. Brass knuckles. A pipe. A leather strap. A kendo stick. Lots of goodies. Bennett is confused, but Lisa explains that Simon has won the right to pick any one of the items before him and that item will be legal in his match against Adam Hail at Bragging Rights. Bennett gets a devilish grin on his face as he looks over his options. Hail and Quinn look on with concern. Ultimately, Bennett settles on the steel chain as he picks it up and points at Hail. Like that match needed to be even more out of control. Hail and Quinn are livid as we go off the air with Bennett holding the chain up. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Overall show rating: 87%

Evil Vito

08-02-2023, 09:15 AM

Evil Vito

08-02-2023, 09:32 AM

Think the comments I'd drafted a week ago were more robust but ah well. Just wanted to make sure I said something.

I've got a bunch of shows "in the can" that I've booked and just need to write up, but this month has been pure chaos. Sadly barring a server turnaround I think my time here is coming to a close :(

M-A-G

08-05-2023, 03:42 AM

Loved the show structure of this episode. I like the idea of wrestlers being able to pick their own matches, their own stipulations etc sometimes.

Quentin trying to talk Orlando into a 4-on-1 match tickles me if only because I know such a match isn't even possible in EWR land. But I also like the idea of the delusional heel being unwilling to ever listen to the face even after clear rejection. Dude, he's just not that into you!

Hotbody in a ladder match is gonna make for some really good times. The best part of his run isn't just the promos but the fact that he keeps getting thrown into these blowoff gimmick matches and finding some way to bullshit his way through it every time. It's gold. I'm half expecting the Gavin to be ready to grab the belt only for Luscious or someone to climb the ladder on her man's behalf to get into a tug of war which, somehow, ends with the title falling on Hotbody's corpse for the win.

Ziggy Styles promos are fucking awesome too. That perfect type of annoying heel that even the other heels are like STFU.

Were this a real show I would imagine getting pressure to do some kind of Christmas themed nonsense and I figured doing a night like this would help break up some of the monotony. Plus, it's a cheap way to get some of these Bragging Rights matches booked, the ladder match especially.

Doing 4-on-1 would be amazing. I don't like handicap matches, but I would allow it for an angle like this. First and foremost I would want Elimination Chamber. Needless to say, there's a different approach I'm taking with Kincaid. I feel like he's been really underutilized and what I've got in store for him should help reinvigorate him, if only for a bit. The end game is still getting around to doing Haven vs. Dark, but there's a lot I need to do to get there. I'm cooking up quite the fireworks factory.

Speaking of which, booking Hotbody the way I have has been a treat. Doing a ladder match should make for some more idiocy from him. Your idea for the finish would be hilarious, but I could absolutely envision the same finish from King of the Ring 1999 with the Magic Briefcase where someone lowers the belt all the fucking way down to the ground so that he doesn't have to climb. :lol:

I've got time coming up so I need to use it wisely and try to finish up December. The dread of the Rumble is coming up, too. I'm both looking and not looking forward to that ordeal.

M-A-G

08-14-2023, 09:06 AM

Superstars: December 20, 2040

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Hotbody has his crew with him as he wants to talk about what went down on Raw and the match that Gavin Jones wants to have with him at Bragging Rights.

"Now far be it from me to want to have a gripe with a proposed match as I am the most fighting-est Cruiserweight Champion in history, but I have to say that this ladder match that Gavin wants to have, well, it's just not going to work for me. Now, I am well aware of the horribly veiled threats to my person that Gavin made to me should I try to pull some kind of shenanigans to get out of this match. Look, no one is looking more forward to beating the snot out of Gavin Jones than I am, OK? I am watering at the mouth thinking about conquering another delusional opponent who thinks they're better than me! I WANT to face Gavin Jones! But, this is a bridge too far and it has nothing to do with any kind of tricks of any kind. My CRACK LEGAL TEAM Galino & Farnes is out here with me to explain the situation and how I cannot be penalized for refusing to partake in Gavin's silliness. What this is all about is something that I've kept to myself and is very difficult for me to confess in public. It's embarrassing and deeply personal and I know it may lower my image in the eyes of my multitude of fans across the world. It's something that I've kept from even my dear Luscious. But in light of what Gavin is asking for, I feel the need to bring it to light and I only pray that you, Luscious, don't think of me as less of a man because of it. This isn't easy for me, but it's necessary. The ladder match that Gavin demanded between himself and me can't happen because...I'm afraid of heights!" The crowd boos as Luscious looks shocked but sympathetic. The announcers express their doubts as Hotbody continues.

"No, it's true. It's something I've carried with me for practically my entire life. It's why I'm a champion conga dancer and not a skydiver or bungee jumper or pilot. I'm just a nervous, sweaty mess when I have to deal with heights, OK? Gavin, I know you earned your spot as number one contender and I know you had the right to name a stipulation, but those rights mean nothing if they are going to be discriminatory! I turn things over to Galino & Farnes to elaborate."

Freddie Galino takes the mic and continues from where Hotbody left off. "In this line of business, forcing someone into a situation where there is a clear disadvantage towards one party due to any physical or psychological ailments is unfair. What Gavin Jones and Lisa Benton have done is orchestrate a scenario in which our client cannot possibly win. The rights of our client take precedence as you wouldn't ask someone with a fear of blood to participate in a First Blood match. This is yet another gross abuse of authority excerised by Lisa Benton."

Jimmy Farnes takes over, following up on Galino's statement. "But fear not because Michael Hotbody is not without mercy. Gavin Jones and the WWE can avoid any unnecessary legal drama by simply calling off the match and have Gavin relinquish his status as number one contender to the WWE Cruiserweight Title, whereupon Michael Hotbody will find a suitable replacement, one who will not be so brazen in exploiting a severe handicap. This is the only fair and just and acceptable outcome, otherwise Lisa Benton will be facing some very real discrimination paperwork! We have the necessary documents lined up and ready so the threat is very real and if Gavin Jones had even slightest bit of humanity in him, he would make the moves to limit his liability!"

Speak of the devil and he'll appear as Gavin Jones has evidently heard enough and makes his way out to respond to all of this. He's wiping his brow in what appears to be frustration, but nonetheless he presses on. "Michael, I only just became the number one contender a few weeks ago and I'm already God damn sick of you. That's talent right there. You don't have a fear of heights, you have a fear of being a man. You have a fear of the ass kicking that's been long overdue. I warned you about what was coming to you if you tried to weasel your way out this. Unlike you, I don't view that belt as a toy to carry around with that trophy bitch you got. That belt, to me, means that you're the best at what you do, so having to watch you, day in and day out, walk around with it pisses me off to no end."

Michael interrupts Gavin with an incredulous tone. "Yeah, well, what the hell do you want to do about it? You're not going to get your match and I've got my entire crew here ready to back me up in wiping the floor with you! I should let you get in here and take your licks for daring to insult my precious Luscious! It's the least I could do for her being so understanding and supporting even after learning about my deepest, darkest secret. But I have a lot to process and consider after all of this so the best thing you can do, Gavin, is go walking back to Lisa Benton and have a good cry with each other. You have nobody to blame but yourself for this!"

Gavin stares at the site in the ring, but he appears undeterred by the entirety of Hotbody's crew. "That would be smart, but unlike you, Mikey, I actually have balls and I can actually back it up."

Gavin starts to make his way down to the ring but who should interrupt this turn of events but Miles Shawcross! He comes out to the stage bemoaning what he's seeing. He tells Gavin that sometimes things need to just be let go and that he's holding up the show with all of this self righteous horse crap. The people want to see a real top level cruiserweight and Miles Shawcross is all that and then some! In fact, he'll be happy to take Gavin down a peg or two by facing him tonight!

Michael Hotbody takes this opportunity to deflect from himself and calls out Gavin Jones, asking him if he's going to just stand there and take that from Miles. "Well, seeing as how Gavin isn't going to get any kind of match out of me and the fact that I'm willing to show a bit of mercy, I don't see why Gavin can't get his jollies by facing Miles Shawcross here tonight! We'll let you two hash things out. Gavin, hopefully when we next meet, it's under better circumstances and this ladder match nonsense is behind us!" And with that, Hotbody signals his crew that they should depart. They make their way through the crowd as Gavin and Miles exchange stares.

First Match: Mathias vs. Steve Hayes
Nothing really major here. Just some quality big man on big man action. I figure if Simon Bennett is going to be parked in the same camp as a guy like Mathias, then the dude should get some shine here and there. Anyways, Mathias gets a hard-fought win here, finishing Hayes off with a Goliath Gore for the pin. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Promo time as somewhere backstage Dusk is with her raven, Sorrow. Faith Connors is what's on their mind. Well, Dusk's mind, but I like to imagine she and the bird are simpatico. Anyways, what's she got to say about the Parkour Princess? "Can you sense it, Faith? Can you not feel it all around you? That shining spotlight under which you exist and thrive is slowly being engulfed by a vile, choking, all-consuming blackness. It eminates from me, Faith, and it has no compassion. I hope that in your mind you didn't truly believe you were always going to remain safe in that light forever. Light ultimately reaches two possible outcomes: it burns out...or it is extinguished."

Elsewhere backstage, Cameron Harper is pacing in the dressing area when Ethan Lang walks in. Lang has a rather disapproving expression on his face as he confronts Harper. Harper is quick to be defensive as he addresses Lang. "OK, look, I know why you're upset. Believe me, I'd be just as upset if the situation was reversed. I blew it on Raw, and I'm sorry, OK?"

"Blowing it is a bit of an understatement, Cameron," Lang counters. "It wasn't that you made a simple mistake or that you got out-wrestled by someone better than you. You just flat out ignored Jake Connelly and what he was trying to do for you on Monday in that match! The same Jake Connelly you made such a stink about wanting to learn from and have as your manager! And you missed out on that contract. Think of what you could've done with that, man!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, Ethan," Cameron continues. "I'm well aware now of how badly I screwed the pooch. Believe me, I've spent a lot of hours thinking over the matches I could've booked for myself."

"Wait, for yourself? You could've used that contract to give the two of us a shot at the Tag Team Championship."

"Oh, right, right, of course. Of course I was absolutely thinking about the two of us!" Cameron assures Ethan. "Of course, if you really think about it, it would've been MY choice since it would've been ME doing all the work in winning the match so I'm not sure where you would fit in to all of it...."

Jake Connelly comes in to interrupt this exchange that looks like it's getting more tense as Ethan looks offended at what Cameron said. Connelly tries to calm things down. "Hey, hey, let's not go all out of control sniping at each other here, OK? Ethan, you don't need to browbeat Cameron. He made a mistake, this is a learning opportunity. That's why we accepted him into the fold, right, because he wanted to learn?" Ethan inhales deeply and lets it out as he begrudgingly agrees with Connelly. Connelly continues, however. "Now with that being said, Cameron, I take it that you're going to listen to me from here on out, right? Opportunities like the one on Raw don't come around often and they need to be snatched up when you can. The two of you are capable of great things, I know it. But it's not going to happen if there isn't a united dedication. The sky is the limit, guys. So tonight, let's get on the same page. What happened on Monday, we're just going to set it aside. We're going to build on that. We're going to make so much noise that opportunity will be breaking down our doors. Emilio London and Doyle Hughes, the Wolves of Wall Street, they haven't seen a pack like this before. Let's do this, alright?" And with that, Ethan and Cameron look at each other, give a nod and bump fists. Looks like things are back in order on this end.

Second Match: Southern Gentlemen vs. The Wyldhearts
Madison gets on the mic and announces that Lisa Benton has made it official that her boys, the Unified Tag Team Champions The Wyldhearts, will be defending the title against the former champions The Royal Effect next week on the SmackDown! Send-Off. Blaine and Robbie have been looking forward to that match just as much as Kavovit and McKay have because it's a chance to show the Royal Effect how it wasn't a fluke when her boys took the belts the first time around. The Wyldhearts are more than just a couple of pretty faces, and it looks like Kavovit and McKay have been getting too wrapped up in their own hype to remember that fact. "You can't call yourselves the Best Tag Team if you're not wearing these belts. We'll be waiting for you next week." To say this match is fire is underselling it quite a bit. A far cry from that first match, this is a great display of technique and high-flying goodness. The champs look to finish things cleanly here as Murdoch gets back body dropped over the top rope to the outside by Bellamey. Brody Lee moves in to try to clothesline Bellamey but the latter ducks. Greer comes back in and joins Bellamey and Lee turns around from his missed opportunity and eats the Heartstopper from the champions to give them the win. It's celebration time as the Wyldhearts hold up their belts in victory, but in true heel tag team fashion, the Royal Effect come sneaking in from behind to lay them out. Things are getting uglier and uglier between these two teams. *****, 95% overall.

Third Match: Gavin Jones vs. Miles Shawcross
Michael Hotbody plants himself at ringside to provide commentary and his expert insight on Gavin Jones. This match is all goodness all around. I figure giving Gavin a lot of strong outings helps in Hotbody putting out a strong aura of fear so that the audience buys Gavin having a good shot at dethroning him at Bragging Rights. Hotbody continues to reiterate his point about not going through with a ladder match as the match goes on. He's not going to walk into a situation where he's at an obvious disadvantage. It's discrimination at its worst and Gavin should feel ashamed of himself for even bringing it up! Anyways, Shawcross and Gavin slug it out on the top rope as Gavin tries escaping an attempt at a superplex from Shawcross. Hotbody declares that he's a nervous wreck just looking at this and that he'd be sweating Crisco if had to be at that height. Jones eventualy wins the exchange by landing a massive European uppercut on Shawcross that sends the latter flying back into the ring in perfect position for Jones to come off with the Frog Splash and get the win by pinfall. Jones then proceeds to stare a hole through Hotbody, for all the good it does him as Zed stands in the way of anything Gavin might be thinking about. How is this situation going to get resolved? *****, 95% overall.

Fourth Match: The Wolves of Wall Street vs. Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper
Well, let's see if that backstage pow-wow meant anything. Harper comes across as more reserved here, not going off half-cocked like in previous outings. I feel bad having a perfectly fine team in the Wolves that I can utilize as major players, but I'm sticking them out here to further an angle. Oh, well, it's not like the match sucks or anything. It breaks down at the end with all four men battling it out. Lang sends London to the outside through the middle rope. He goes down to one knee to get his breath with his back turned. Meanwhile, Hughes sets himself up as he looks like he's going to charge Lang. Lang starts to get back up and Hughes pounces by going for a big boot but Harper shoves Lang out of the way and ends up eating the kick instead. Hughes is confused as he looks down on Harper's body and Lang capitalizes by doing that twisty Booker T sunset flip thing on Hughes to get the roll up and the pin. Connelly and Lang check on Harper, but he's fine and Connelly looks proud as it looks like everyone is operating like one. ****1/2, 93% overall.

More backstage interview goodness as Paul Andrews is with Simon Bennett. Bennett gets asked why he picked the chain on Monday to be legal in his match against Adam Hail at Bragging Rights from all of the available choices. Bennett says that it wasn't an easy choice. "I stood there on that stage on Monday looking at all the options. Each time I looked at an object, my mind would race with creativity, thinking about what would bring me the most joy when I used it on Adam. What was going to put the biggest smile on my face as I put it to good use in beating the smugness out of his ass. The chain, though, caught my eye for one major reason. It's symbolic. A chain is all about connection, linking things together. Well, Adam had a link with me. We forged a chain together. A then he decided to throw it all away. He decided to break that chain. Well, congratulations for that, Adam, because now it's come full circle and I'm going to enjoy using that chain to bring karma right to your doorstep. And with each choke, with each whip, and with each fist you experience, I hope the thing that runs through your mind is the question of what the hell you were thinking in ever turning your back on me! The chain that you so callously discarded is going to be the thing that comes back around and wrecks you at Bragging Rights!"

Fifth Match: The Future Foundation and Vivian Merrick vs. The Academy and...Cordelia Capriati???
Wait a second. On Monday, Cordelia looked like she finally had enough of Brooke and her attitude. What is she doing here now? Sophie Waters gets on the mic and explains the situation. "Let me set the stage for everyone, especially Brooke, who is no doubt throwing a tantrum and pulling her hair out as she watches this. Much like Randy Ellis and Justin Mitchell before her, Cordelia was fortunate enough to stumble into a revelation. And that revelation was a simple one, one that I even had way back when. And that is the fact that Brooke is such a bitch. A snobby, screeching, stuck up, know-it-all little bitch to be more precise. Her loss is my gain, though, as I can actually appreciate these three outstanding talents. But don't worry, Brooke. I know you had high hopes for them. So take comfort in knowing that I'll be helping them along the way in reaching those high hopes." Well, how about that for a wrinkle? Sophie's words prove prophetic as her crew looks like they've got things well in hand here. It shouldn't be a surprise, as they operated as a unit before, just under different circumstances. Anyways, it boils down to Vivian and Cordelia as the legal participants. Vivian reverses an Irish whip from Cordelia, sending her into the corner. Vivian tries following up with a charge, but she eats knees from Cordelia. That sends Vivian reeling backwards, dazed and hurting and Cordelia strikes while the iron is hot, coming off the turnbuckle to nail Vivian with the Crowning Achievement to score the pin. How is all of this going to affect Brooke and what remains of her crew? ****1/2, 91% overall.

Sixth Match: Orlando Kincaid vs. Josh Turmell
Quinten McDaniels comes down to join the announce team for commentary as we're told that so far nobody has heard anything about what Kincaid plans to do with the contract that he won on Monday. Quinten says that it's a good thing and that it's a sign that maybe, just maybe, Orlando is coming around to what Quinten, Chet, and Hugo have been asking from him. Orlando has a history with Quinten and Chet, and it's not something so easily forgotten, but perhaps Orlando just needs a few reminders. The match goes on smoothly as Quinten observes and regales us all with stories of his time with Orlando. Orlando looks laser focused here. The calm can't last forever, though, as Josh ends up stumbling to the outside in front of the announce table. Quinten sees this as an opportunity to lend a hand and he gets up and goes over to Josh. Orlando yells at Quinten to back the hell off. Quinten looks shocked and incredulous and tries pleading his case again. Orlando isn't hearing it, though, and he heads out to grab Josh himself and sends him back into the ring. Quinten and Orlando exchange words as Orlando threatens Quinten again. Quinten turns back around to go back to the announce table, but Josh baseball slides into Orlando, sending him into Quinten. Josh brings Orlando back into the ring and he goes up, looking to land a crossbody block, but Orlando rolls through with it and ends up on top and scores the pin. Orlando celebrates, but here comes Quinten to ruin things as he slides in behind Orlando and nails him, sending him to the mat. Quinten yells at the fallen Orlando and pulls him up only to send him to the outside. Quinten looks disappointed and conflicted, but ultimately he decides to send Orlando into the steps. Quinten decides that an exclamation point needs to be added so he picks up part of the steps and nails Orlando in the face with it when he tries getting up. If Orlando hadn't wanted to be a part of whatever Quinten was offering, I doubt it's happening now. ****1/2, 92% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Haven vs. Hugo
I started with big man on big man, it feels right to end the show the same way. This is the kind of match I feel I can get away with putting on a show like Superstars as the main event. The real money match I would imagine people wanting to pay to see is the eventual Haven vs. Victor Dark showdown. As you'd expect, this is a power match, helped by Haven's overness and more athletic prowess. Hugo just monsters his way through this, and it's an odd sight seeing Haven as a vulnerable underdog, but here we are. That Victor Dark is such a weasel. A cunning weasel, though. Haven starts a comeback after surprisingly nailing a Stun Gun on Hugo, disorienting the big man. It comes to an end when Haven looks to hit the Sting of Solace, but Hugo escapes and back body drops Haven to the outside. Chet Morris comes over and taunts Haven while the latter is on his knees, but Haven responds by grabbing Chet by the throat as he gets up. Hugo goes out to continue the match and breaks up the grasp Haven has on Chet. Haven shoves Hugo away, but that leaves him open to Chet just kicking him in the balls to draw the DQ. Things looks bad for Haven in this 2-on-1 scenario but fortunately Eddy Clash comes running down, chair in hand to help chase away the heels. Quinten McDaniels comes down to withdraw his crew as we're left to ponder just how Eddy Clash and Haven are going to fight this battle fairly when it's just the two of them? ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

Evil Vito

08-24-2023, 11:21 AM

As always, the Hotbody stuff is gold. Crackhead lawyers trying to get him out of the match because of his fear of heights :lol:

I would like a 75 year old R-Truth to walk out and hype up his upcoming match with Hotbody and everyone's like WTF you're not in the match and he's like "Oh, sorry. My bad".

M-A-G

08-24-2023, 11:09 PM

SmackDown!: December 21, 2040

OPENING TWENTY-MINUTE PROMO OF DOOM TIME as the Stable That Isn't A Stable comes out to join us. It's more of an alliance of convenience. Anyways, Quinten McDaniels, Hugo, and Chet Morris come on down to express their grievances. Quinten takes the mic and proceeds to bare his soul. "It can be quite disheartening when you set out to make things better for yourself in life and barrier after barrier after barrier keeps coming up to disuade you. Look no further than the noble intentions of the three of us and then try to say that we aren't being tested. Haven is still up and about and filled with more righteous indignation than ever. Eddy Clash, in what is becoming the story of his WWE career, doesn't know how to keep his nose out of other people's business. And last, but certainly not least, the personification of the dagger through the heart known as Orlando Kincaid. You all witnessed the events that led up to last night so you can't call any one of us three a liar when we say that Kincaid did it all to himself."

Chet takes the mic and continues. "It wasn't that long ago that the three of us stood with Orlando in this ring before you all and let him know how welcome he was in our fold. But he thought he knew better. He thought he had everything all figured out. Orlando, credit where it's due, you did continue your trend of choosing the wrong path. So neither or Hugo hold it against Quinten for what he did to you last night. You can't expect to get off free when you bite the hand that's extended towards you. No barrier is going to stand in the way of the three of us purging our souls of failures."

Hugo takes his turn with the mic and address Haven. "Haven, I'm not through with you by a longshot. A great truth was revealed to me during our encounter last night, and that's the fact that when I looked you in the eye as I was pounding away at your carcass, you are no idol. You are no leader. You are no savior. I hate frauds. But Haven, you saw it and you damn sure felt it. You know that I'm no fraud. You know that I can break you. And it doesn't matter who is standing by your side. In fact, I demand justice for being cheated last night!"

Quinten takes back the mic and declares that he's in agreement with Hugo. "There's no reason that all of this can't be settled right now. Eddy and Haven, come and take your medicine! The quicker you face your fate, the better it is for everyone. And Orlando, if you're watching, know that what ends up happening to these two is the same thing we have in store for you."

The music of Eddy Clash hits and Big Thunder himself comes out to the stage, looking pissed. He's got a mic and wants to respond to all of this. "You know, if I can address something you brought up earlier, I actually was minding my own business for a good while. I remember it like it was yesterday. There I was at Survivor Series, beating the snot out of the Superstar of the Year, when this lunatic comes out of nowhere and ruined my night. Then that same lunatic surrounds himself with two other nutcases. So now I've got myself a problem. See, I really, really, REALLY want to wrap my hands around the neck of that original lunatic, but to do that, I've got to deal with the other ones. Well, I'm nothing if not a go-getter and a problem solver, so while I can't speak for Haven, I'm not about to turn down a chance like this."

With that, Eddy drops the mic and starts making his way down to the ring. Is he seriously going to do this with a 3-on-1 disadvantage? Regardless, he easily trucks Quinten and Chet thanks to his size and starts slugging it out with Hugo. Hugo doesn't go down as easy and it's only a matter of time before the tables are turned on Eddy, made even worse by Quinten and Chet making their way back into the fight, clipping Eddy's knee and bringing him down. Things look bad BUT THE LIGHTS GO OUT!!! Oh, shit, things are picking up. Indeed Haven is in the ring when the lights return and he's a house on fire! Down goes Quinten! Down goes Chet! Down goes Quinten again! Eddy gets back into it and Quinten and Chet are disposed. Haven and Eddy look like they're going to survive this but Hugo makes his comeback and just trucks the two faces. He gets them both by the throat and it looks bad BUT WTF IS THIS?!??!??! IT'S ORLANDO KINCAID!!! Orlando just came in out of nowhere behind Hugo AND HE'S GOT SOME HARDWARE! Steel chair hardware to be exact. He unloads on Hugo repeatedly, enough to break the grip he had on Eddy and Haven and to bring him down on all fours. Chet tries his hand at it but gets a chair to the gut for his trouble and gets sent to the outside by Haven. Orlando goes after Quinten, but Quinten isn't feeling that tonight and he retreats, calling for his comrades to call it a night. It's a 3-on-3 staredown as Orlando has added a new wrinkle to all of this.

Backstage, Brooke is with Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello, none of whom are looking happy about what's been going down between them and the Academy and now Cordelia Capriati. Brooke calls her former clients ingrates. Unintelligent ingrates, even. Leaving her fold is one thing. She can even understand going off and finding a new manager. But to go so far as to challenge her is a bridge too far. Brooke isn't hurting for talent in the slightest, but if Sophie Waters wants to make it seem otherwise, they can settle a few questions at Bragging Rights. Brooke will bring Carmella, Ronnie, and Salvatore and Sophie can bring those outcasts she's so proud of. It's time they all learned the hard way what a stupid decision it was to ever leave Brooke.

First Match: Neil Quint vs. L.A. Xander
Making Quint stand out and look good is certainly not an indication of something in store for him fairly soon, right? L.A.X. isn't even a cruiserweight, but I figure the wins need to continue somehow, so fuck it. We get a sweet outing here from these two, all of which is leading up to the streak continuing. Neil gets the pinfall win here after hitting the Quint-Essential Top Rope Maneuver. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Second Match: The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody, Zed Jones, and Galino & Farnes vs. The Wasteland, Isaac Wolff, and El Silencio
Hotbody gets on the stick as he wants to give us an update on the issue of the proposed ladder match. "The WWE is taking the issue I brought up last night VERY SERIOUSLY! Their legal department knows that a case of discrimination this severe and this blatant would be a huge black eye to the company's public image. This is nothing but good news because now it seems like some fair treatment for their Cruiserweight Champion is in order! I understand that the cancellation of this match is a huge letdown for all of my fans, but you will come to realize that it was all for the best! I am a wrestling champion, for sure, but I am also a champion for civil liberties! And in that epic struggle, there is always one winner which prevails, and that is justice! Yes, true justice, and Gavin Jones will come to realize that being on the right side of justice is way more important than any title!"

Well, with all that said, let's get this match underway. This is more about letting Zed get some shine, along with letting Hotbody go completely ridiculous with his supposed fear of heights, notably a spot where he's got Wolff down and he tries climbing to the top only to "freak out" and go to the middle rope where he also "freaks out", finally settling on "coming off" the bottom rope with a forearm. He hyperventilates a bit, while his crew shows concern, but he assures them he's OK. The match comes to an end when it's down to Drakken and Hotbody. The ref is busy trying to get some order with the other participants. Hotbody tries crawling away from Drakken, making his way towards Luscious on the outside. Drakken grabs his leg, trying to pull Hotbody off the rope. Luscious slips Hotbody her Slammy and he lets go of the rope as Drakken continues pulling, causing Hotbody to go towards Drakken with the Slammy just happening to collide with Drakken's skull. Oh, dear, what a horrible accident. Hotbody tosses the Slammy back to Luscious, as she no doubt misses it, and the ref turns around to count the pin for Hotbody. ****1/2, 91% overall.

More backstage interview time as we go to Nathan Quinn and his client, Adam Hail. Adam gets asked if there is any concern over the choice of stipulation that Simon Bennett made for their match at Bragging Rights. Adam says Simon could've picked a God damn Abrams tank and it wouldn't have mattered. "All Simon did was pick out the thing that I'm going to bludgeon his face with. He wants the chain? He's got enough to hang himself. Cutting my ties with him ultimately came down to the fact that I have always been and will always be better than Simon Bennett, and I refuse to be anchored to dead weight like that. Bragging Rights is where I'm finally free of this nonsense!"

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as the Parkour Princess, Faith Connors comes out to join us. She's got Dusk on her mind and wants to share some thoughts with us about that. "One of things that I still get asked about is how I'm able to dive into whatever I'm doing without fear. And I always respond the same way: don't be mistaken, the fear is always there. It's just a matter of how strong you are to overcome it. It's being able to have the feeling that what you're doing is going to pay off when you challenge that fear. And quite frankly that adrenaline rush I get when I've conquered whatever's in my way is like no other. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that when I get confronted by some chick talking about darkness and gloom and misery that I end up getting a little bored. Dusk, you're new here so I'll be somewhat gentle. I survived the onslaught of one of the toughest women ever to grace this ring to win the first ever Queen of the Ring. I upset the monster known as Sonya Braddock to capture the Women's Title just one year into my career here. I won the first ever Women's Money in the Bank. And I stood side-by-side with my sister-in-arms Jenna Kyle to make history by winning the Women's Tag Team Titles for the first time ever. So if you're thinking that you something in your bag of tricks that can ever rattle me or kill the high that I got in all of those moments, you're not just naive, you're delusional. Now under normal circumstances I'd just dismiss you, but a chair to the face is the kind of thing that sticks with me. I've got no issue with settling things if someone wants to come in here and be the big dog in the yard, and if that's how you want go about it, I'm more than ready to match you hit-for-hit. That is, unless, you're nothing but talk."

That's the cue for Dusk's music to hit and the Doll of Darkness herself makes her way out with Sorrow in tow. How are you liking these monikers I've been dropping for some of these people? Anyway, Dusk has a rebuttal for sure and she lets Faith know how she feels about what was just said. "Poor, poor Faith. It's quite the sight to see you flailing about, searching for meaning. But what else is left for you to do when you're being swallowed by the abyss? You can certainly scream, but that's just as futile because I won't hear it. You think yourself special because of your supposed form of 'fearlessness'? You think yourself above it all because you walk the mirror's edge, that thin line that separates the unreal from the truth? The only thing that makes you is alone. And with loneliness comes despair."

"You really know how to say a whole lot of nothing," Faith counters. "Critique me all you want, but one thing you can always count on is that I'm up-in-your-face direct about everything. And I'm not alone and I never have been. I've had people like this family over here. I've had people like this couple. I've had people like that group up there with the banner. All these people you see here raising their red gloves, they've been with me. The people at home watching right now. They've all been with me, loving every moment, from every big chance I ever took and every time I made some loudmouth eat my knee. So I'm willing to bet that they'll be with me all the way when I do the same thing to you. Which bring me back to my original point: are you going to bring some action with all of that talk or are you just going to stand around with your bird like some scarecrow?"

"You don't make demands of me," Dusk replies. "I am not beholden to your whims or any of your mindless followers. But if they want to be by your side, then let them be overtaken by the darkness, too. Next week seems appropriate, don't you think? If we're going to call it a send-off, then it only makes sense if you get a farewell." And with that Dusk takes her leave as next week's SmackDown! Send-off looks like it's getting even more packed.

Third Match: Clubber Harris vs. Romeo Valiente
There are times when I wonder why I even have Romeo still on the roster and then I remember it's for situations like this. Clubber Harris gets on the mic and announces his match against Zed Jones next week on SmackDown! Send-off. "Now I know Zed thinks he's got something in the badass department, but he needs to understand that I'm the damn boss of that section. Zed you got the tools physically. You're big, you're tough, you're strong. But what do you got right here, in your gut? Right here, in your heart? Right here, in your head? We're all going to find out together next week, only you're going to be finding out the hard way. You're running with a crew of people too big for their britches and you're going to learn you're no different. Muscle up and man up the best you can, Zed, because you're overdue one hell of a lesson!" So this is a sweet big man vs. little man outing. We've got to do what we can to get people looking forward to next week. Harris naturally has to go over here and so he does by hitting Romeo with the Club Pain to pick up the pin. *****, 94% overall.

Fourth Match: Kerry Cemenko vs. Vinnie LaPaige
Hey, it's round two of Matches For The Purpose of Putting a Dude Over. Brandon Reigns takes an interest here as he decides to watch from the stage as he and Cemenko have a date at Bragging Rights. It's another solid outing as Kerry looks good, trading glaces with Reigns throughout. Ultimately, Kerry gets the duke by hitting the Curb Stomp on Vinnie to score the win. We go to break as Kerry and Brandon shout some words at each other. ****1/2, 88% overall.

Fifth Match: King Kavovit vs. Robbie Greer
A little preview ahead of the Tag Team Title match scheduled for next week. Neither man has their respective partners out with them as it's going to be a true one-on-one affair. An awesome one-on-one affair as the rating demonstrates. A good sign for next week, unless the game wants to be a dick about things. Anyways, the end comes when Kavovit reverses an Irish Whip but Robbie rebounds off the ropes with an attempted crossbody. Kavovit ducks and Robbie hits the ref. He goes down and Robbie shows some concern. Kavovit takes advantage and grabs Robbie from behind, looking to dump him over the top. Robbie reverses and Kavovit ends up on the apron. A dropkick from Robbie puts Kavovit down on the floor and that gives Robbie a chance to try to revive the ref. The ref looks like he's coming to so Robbie turns his attention back to Kavovit. He reaches through the ropes and tries to pull Kavovit up, but Kavovit pops up and nails Robbie with his Tag Team of the Year Slammy in the side of his head. Kavovit gets back in and a dazed Robbie is open to an Oklahoma Roll from Kavovit and that's going to be enough to give him the cheap win. *****, 96% overall.

To the back we go again as Kyle Jacobs has some things to get off his chest. He's looking forward to next week's SmackDown! Send-off where he's hoping to send off Xavier Cross to obscurity. He talks about breaking into the business and all of the advice and talks he got from his father and uncle. They told him that he was a special case because the hardest thing he was going to ever have to endure was not the training, not the abuse, and not any kind of loss. The hardest thing he was going to have to overcome was the doubt and the reluctance of the people and his peers to accept him because of the simple nature of his last name. There was going to be resentment and scrutiny and they were right. But Kyle feels like he's past that and is ready to reach new heights. All that needs to be done is break through that barrier named Xavier Cross. "Cross, I've earned my place here, same as you. What happens next week was inevitable."

MAIN EVENT: Ryan Pattillo vs. Chris Collins
So we've got the two challengers for the two main singles titles at Bragging Rights going at it here. Collins brings up how this is a bit of a reignition of what went the two of them went through earlier this year, and much like how things are reigniting between him and Seth Von Kamp, the end result is going to be same: Chris Collins coming out victorious as the winner that he is. His father didn't do much for him as a person, but he passed on the necessary attributes to be the best in this business. Circumstances may change, but talent is talent and the proof will be presented to you come Bragging Rights! So this is a rocking main event as these guys have awesome chemistry. We can't really let either guy job here, though, so unfortunately we're going to have to go the double countout route as the two brawl on the outside. Things continue to break down afterwards, but luckily the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk looks like he's going to break things up, namely by attacking Ryan Pattillo. Wrakk tries charging at his challenger, but Ryan ducks in time and Wrakk nails Collins. Ryan looks to get one over on Wrakk and proceeds to nail a Shutdown on him to send a message. We close the show with Pattillo standing tall. *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 91%

Evil Vito

08-29-2023, 02:32 PM

Another solid show with some logical storybuilding. Kincaid inevitably being drafted in to make it 3 on 3 against the "Dark Order" is good shit and I imagine it would've gotten a huge pop. Simple but effective.

Lots of names on here I don't see around too much. Very easy to forget you have a gigantic roster of talented guys that mostly hang out in catering if only because there's only so many programs to go around at once. Wasteland, Wolff, and Silencio feels like a super fun mismatch team that served the purpose of putting over the Hotbody Family.

I just know Dusk is a super hot goth chick. Me likey.

M-A-G

08-30-2023, 10:32 PM

Raw: December 24, 2040

It's Christmas Eve!!! Let's see how our lovely roster celebrates tonight! Oh, and there's a PPV this Sunday, too. Our main event has been dubbed a Champion Showcase as the WWE Unified World, WWE Intercontinental, and WWE Unified Tag Team champions are all going to be involved. Let's get to it.

OPENING TWENTY-MINUTE PROMO OF DOOM TIME!!! Damn it, we just did this on SmackDown!. Anyways, this time it's Orlando Kincaid who wants to start us off with some griping. It looks like he's got some strong fan support. This turn of events might open up some new avenues for him. Anyway, Quinten McDaniels and the rest of his crew are going to be the target for his venom. "You know, before what went down a few days ago, I was on track to having a pretty damn good Christmas. Now, instead sipping cocoa peacefully by the fire I'm going to be spending the time thinking about pounding the hell out of a certain group of guys. This isn't the three wise men, it's a trio of the dumbest sons of bitches you've ever laid your eyes on. My feelings on these guys are the same as they were a couple of weeks ago when they were in this ring, sticking their hands out and trying to bring me into their little camp. You see, Quinten, I can recall a time not too long ago when we had the opportunity to stick together, but you felt that you had outgrown me. The whole collapse of the Order was your ticket to doing things your own way. Now I'm not going to stand here and claim that it didn't sting, but it did open a door for me, too. So just like you didn't need or want me then, I don't need or want you right now. But you couldn't just drop it, could you? You had to go and pull what you pulled on Superstars. Well, 'tis the season for giving and I'm in the giving mood, so Quinten, why don't you bring your ass out here right now so you can get what's coming to you and so that I can finish what I started on SmackDown!."

Sure enough, Quinten McDaniels eventually makes his way out looking none too pleased. He's ready to rip into Orlando as he stands on the stage. "Orlando, I was willing to be humble and merciful when I realized that what happened on Superstars was an accident. But then you once again decided to be rash and self-destructive when you decided to cross us on SmackDown!. You showed your true colors by choosing to stand with the man who has been the bane of the existence of so many people's lives. You want to cast your lot with him, then you'll suffer the same fate!"

"This isn't about Haven or any of this whack job therapy crap you're on. This is about you pissing me off! And since you've got yourself a crew that's willing to stand by you, they can get my boot up their asses, too. You see, I finally decided how I'm going to use my contract that I won last week. I want to take on all three of you! Now, you and everyone else watching might think that's a tad crazy to go forward with this, 3-on-1. So I'm going to add this wrinkle to it. I'm fine going it solo, but I'm thinking that there are two other people who would want a piece of the action, men who you are so keen on destroying. So if they're open to it, at Bragging Rights, Haven and Eddy Clash, this is their invitation to the party. And there's no egg nog or cider, no presents or reindeer, and definitely no jolly fat guy. It's going to be the fight that you asked for, NO TAKEBACKS!" And with that, Orlando drops the mic to the cheer of the crowd as Quinten looks on with a serious glare.

First Match: Jesse Capalbo vs. Doug Michaels
I'm mainly doing this to get Capalbo back into the mix and to get Doug's gimmick to finally change. There are some other people who need the same thing, but I can only do so much on a show. Also, I imagine with it being holiday time, some of my top guys would want to be off the road and at home. Cruiserweight action is also always a welcome addition. There may a gimmick change in order here, but it's not going to be Doug's night as Capalbo dropkicks Doug as he comes of the top with some sort of offensive attack and that opens him up to being locked in Capalbo's Spitfire to give him the submission win. Another person Hotbody or Gavin needs to worry about? ****1/2, 88% overall.

Second Match: Salvatore Scabbia vs. Justin Mitchell
Brooke gets on the mic and announces that on the pre-show for Bragging Rights her team of Scabbia and Ronnie & Carmella Costello are going to be facing Sophie's team of her former clients, The Academy and Cordelia Capriati. "And isn't just a perfect little snapshot of the kind of person Sophie Waters is and always has been. She's been nothing but a poor soul struggling to grow in the shadow of people better than her, specifically ME! I have always been smarter. I have always been more talented. I have always been more accomplished than she could ever hope to be, and now, even at this stage in my career she has to find a way to jump on my scraps and find a way to be relevant off of them. Let tonight be a sharp stinging jab, Sophie, to remind you of your place and to prepare you for what's in store. And to you ungrateful children who couldn't measure up, regret doesn't even begin to describe what you're going to experience!" So this is all about giving a peek at that aforementioned 6-person match for this Sunday. It may seem like an odd detour for a guy like Scabbia who was in a great position on the card not too long ago, but I feel like this is a good way to keep him occupied and an interesting story to tell for all parties involved. Again, it's about more avenues that everyone involved can take that wouldn't have happened otherwise. Plus, it's not like I'm going to let Scabbia just become some scrub. Case in point, Mitchell looks to climb to the top, but as he's perched Brooke hops on the apron to give him a mouthful to distract him. Scabbia sees the opening he needs and press slams Mitchell from his position and he follows it up by locking in the Omerta. Justin, to his credit, doesn't submit but the ref determines he can't continue as he starts to pass out and calls for the bell. Brooke's words may very well be prophetic. ****1/2, 89% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as the number one contender to the Women's Title, Jenna Kyle, comes out to join us. "Happy Holidays to everyone, first and foremost. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow morning turn out to be everything you're wishing for. Everyone is thinking about what gifts they'll be getting for the season and I'm no different. And while I may have to wait a little bit longer than most, I'm still planning on enjoying my present and that's the WWE Women's Championship. Now at the home of my family we do the upside-down tree thing, and yeah, go on, make your jokes about Australia and upside-down and all that, but it's so appropriate as it's been nothing but a topsy-turvy world for me this last year. From WrestleMania to SummerSlam and now Bragging Rights, never let it be said that life can't throw you curves, and that's what's coming for Sonya Braddock this Sunday. She spoke a good game a while back when we were face to face, but I know she's been at home training. She's been hard at work getting herself in top form, and I know this because she can't afford not to. She can't afford to take this Sunday for granted. She knows that she'll lose a lot of face if it's not backed up. Imagine the aftermath she'd have to contend with if the headlines read 'Woman of the Year Sonya Braddock Loses Championship'. So she's taking this extremely seriously, don't you doubt that, and I expect nothing less. I'm ready to make history one more time this year, Sonya. So with all due respect, enjoy your happy Christmas, because it's going to be a rotten New Year's."

Ordinarily, this would be the end of the matter, but it looks like someone's got the urge to add some more on top of this segment. That person being the Doll of Darkness herself, Dusk! She has Sorrow with her along for the ride, and needless to say neither one of them is decked out for the holidays. They join Jenna in the ring and get face-to-face with her. Obviously Dusk is going to do the talking...although I wouldn't put it past present day WWE to give the raven a voice. "All this cheer, all this joy, all this celebration...it's making me want to puke."

"Listen, Morticia, if you're going to be out here to ruin the mood and hate on the holidays, we're going to have a problem."

"You already have one. You know, I could never stand people like your friend, Faith. So full of herself that she thinks it's game to laugh in the face of the abyss. I could never stand people like your opponent for this Sunday. Accolades constantly heaped upon her despite the bare minimum. And most importantly, I could never stand people like you. Two-faced...conventionally pretty...a poster girl of who we're supposed to be. The blonde Barbie doll of "perfection" But the upside to it all is that I have the power to break all of you. The power to reduce you to ruin."

"You have to the power to reduce us to sleep. You see what people like you don't get is that I knew that I'd have a hard time being taken seriously, so I didn't worry about my looks. I made sure to work my ass off towards being the best I can be in this ring so that when some supposed "hard knocks" character like yourself came knocking, I'd have no fear because I'd know that I could handle them. Both you and Sonya are making a mistake thinking that I'm some fragile piece of porcelain. I grew up in Australia. Where'd you come from, the suburbs? What makes you so hard, Daddy forgot your Sweet 16? Mum didn't get you the fancy sports car? At least with Sonya Braddock, I know where she's coming from and I get how she can command such credibility. You? Sorry, mate, but I'm going to need more than words."

"You want actions then? Very well. But don't complain when you don't like what you see. Watch what I do to your companion this Friday and should you emerge victorious on Sunday, I hope the image of Faith's broken body is emblazoned in your mind, reminding you of what's to come. What you asked for."

"You don't need to worry about Sunday. I'll be taking that belt for sure. As far as Faith goes, she's never needed me to fight her battles or stick up for her with words, but I will say this. If you're going to underestimate her the same way you're doing to me, you're going to want to crawl back into that hole you came from and never show your face again." And with that, Jenna drops her mic and rolls out of the ring, apparently done for the night, leaving Dusk to ponder things over. We're actually not done with her tonight as she's got a match later. We'll see how that goes.

Third Match: The Love Connection vs. The Future Foundation
It's tag team goodness! Aphrodite and Vivian, of course, provide extra entertainment with their out-of-the-ring shenanigans. I'm looking to inject these guys into a four-way for the tag belts down the line. The Future Foundation would certainly love to get back on top of the ranks considering how dominant they were during the year. Anyways, it's down to Greene and Julian as the legal men. Greene has Julian set up for the Greene With Envy, but Vivian pushes him off the top. Julian manages to catch Greene as he comes down and rolls through trapping Greene in a small package and that's going to give the heels the cheap pin fall win. *****, 94% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Wait a minute...Hotbody isn't coming out. It's Gavin Jones making his way to the set in the ring and he takes the mic declaring himself the host for tonight's edition of the Hot Button. "Actually, that name kind of sucks. I'm thinking we change it to something a bit more Gavin-esque. How about the Play Pen? That sounds good, right? Anyway, as your host I think we can make some other changes. This podium? Looks pretty ugly if you ask me. Plus, it's kind of cheap. I think we can safely say goodbye to it." Gavin picks up the podium and chucks it out of the ring. "Now, what other changes can we make? Oh, I've got a good one! How about we get ourselves a new Cruiserweight Champion?!? That sounds like a great idea. In fact, that's been long overdue. Well, not to worry, I've got the power to take care of that, too!"

This is going to be the part where there's an interruption and Michael Hotbody himself comes out to the stage, looking angry and flabbergasted at what's going on. "Gavin, what the hell do you think you're doing?!?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest on the show, the soon-to-be former Cruiserweight Champion, Michael Hotbody! Michael, thank you for joining me here tonight!"

"What the hell are you talking about?!? Gavin, this is MY SHOW! That's MY SET! That was my podium you just broke! You're already in a lot of trouble as it is and now you're out here doing this?!? What the hell is wrong with you?!?"

"I'm just out here to talk about Bragging Rights, Michael. And now that you're out here, we can proceed. See, against all odds, your legal team has actually made some headway in their efforts to stop the ladder match from going down."

"Yeah, I know. That's what I was going to talk about on my show tonight before you..."

"Michael, you're too kind, but I've got this covered, OK? So Galino & Farnes have tried to get things between Hotbody and myself canceled because of the supposed discrimination of the match. Mind you, despite there being no actual proof of Hotbody's supposed fear of heights, the WWE isn't about to get thrown into a sea of litigation and risk tremendous liability. So it's with a heavy heart that I must announce that I have retracted my choice of stipulation, therefore there will be no ladder match at Bragging Rights."

The crowd boos at this announcment, but Hotbody is all smiles. "That's right! That's right, and you know what? It sounds so much better with you saying it! You thought you were going to pull a fast one and take advantage of my severe handicap! Well, look at what that got you! You get nothing! You deserve nothing! It's going to be such a merry Christmas at the Hotbody household this year! You, Gavin, can go choke on that lump of coal! Better luck next year! Maybe next time you should think twice about who you're trying to screw and hopefully your heart grows three sizes and you'll come to understand that this is all for the best. Thank you all, and enjoy the holidays!"

"Woah, woah, woah, let's not get ahead of ourselves. The stipulation may be off the table, but I'm still the number one contender to the title and I'm still entitled to pick what kind of match it's going to be at Bragging Rights. Now, I'm sure you've got some way to create another legal mess, so I've come up with a solution to this whole drama. This Thursday, on Superstars, how about you pick one of your goons to face me one-on-one. If they can beat me, I will relinquish my status as number one contender and you don't have to worry about me...but if I win, I keep that Bragging Rights date, and even though I can't make it a ladder match, I keep my right to name a stipulation and you CANNOT refuse it under any circumstances. What do you say?"

Hotbody ponders this over and turns to the entrance and makes a summoning motion with his hand. Galino & Farnes comes out and the three of them huddle, talking things over. They break after a bit and Hotbody returns his attention to Gavin. "Alright, if you're serious about giving up your title shot, you're on! This Thursday, you've got Jimmy Farnes. The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but rest assured Gavin, they're going to grind you to a pulp!" And so it looks like we've got this matter settled for now as Hotbody and his crew take their leave.

To the back we go as Paul Andrews is with his team, the number one contenders to the Women's Tag Team Titles, The Perfections! Andrews declares that neither Leah or Bonnie have ever really bought into the whole "better to give than to receive" thing. They're ready to receive those tag belts from Hannah and Bobbi Jo this Sunday. In the spirit of the season, Leah and Bonnie are hoping that the Southern Belles enjoy the remaining time they have as champions...and they'll make it relatively quick and painless when they take them away.

Fourth Match: Dusk and Debra Phillips vs. Ainsley and Phoebe Hanson
Well, we're back at it with Dusk. Let's see if she took anything Jenna said earlier to heart. Debra and Ainsley seem to be coming along nicely. I hope I can turn them into major players down the line. Dusk is the standout here for now. It's down to her and Ainsely and the latter gives it her all with a series of forearms to get Dusk down to her knee. Ainsley looks to come off the ropes with something big but Debra trips her up and that's the opening Dusk needs to get in for the Final Sunset and get the pin. ****1/2, 88% overall.

SPORTZ ENTERTAINMENT TIME!!!111 as Mr. Money in the Bank and Superstar of the Year Brandon Reigns comes on out to rap. "So how was your year, everyone? As you all are preparing to celebrate the coming of the next 365 days and open presents and be merry and all that, it only seems like the right time to ask yourselves if you deserve any of that. Do you really think you've earned any sort of reward or present or bonus or merriment this year? I know I have. This briefcase, this statuette, this status, I've earned it all. For me, it was Christmas virtually every month. You people? You have to wait all year for one moment and it's so sad to see. But never let it be said that I'm not generous. You may have to wait just a bit longer, but I am bringing the entire WWE Universe a very important gift. The gift of change. At WrestleMania I am opening the best present I could ever imagine. I am taking this briefcase to that main event and I'm going to become your new WWE Unified World Champion! You will all have the privilege of bearing witness to the birth of a new era. Forget Jesus, this will be the coming of an actual king worthy of worship! So take comfort in that fact that even though the gifts you get might be terrible, you will have me to look forward to. You will have a WWE that's headed by a champion you can be proud of. And in return for this generous offering, all I ask is that you all show me the respect that deserve! I can see some resistance out there, but understand that you're going to have no choice. You're eventually going to have to cave. You just watch Bragging Rights and see what I end up doing to Kerry Cemenko. He's choosing not to give me respect. He's choosing to muddy the waters and defy my status as Superstar of the Year. Kerry is another speed bump on my road to destiny. He'll learn, just like all of you will learn!"

And with that, we're going to get Kerry Cemenko interrupting things as he comes out and joins Reigns in the ring. "Brandon, there's not a doubt in my mind that you've got the chops to leave WrestleMania as the WWE Unified Champion when you cash in that contract. I just want you to remember one thing. When the confetti is falling all around you, and you're raising those two title belts over your head, and the crowd is making noise, and all the joy is flowing through you, I hope that you reflect on the moments leading up to that moment. Particularly, I hope you remember Bragging Rights and you reflect on the fact that I was better than you on that night and that I've got a claim to your ass and your title. Respect is a two-way street, Brandon, so if you want to continue this game of overlooking me, well it's a good thing I'm capable of reminding you otherwise." And with that, Kerry drops the mic and nails Reigns with a clothesline, knocking him down. Oh, no, we're not doing a holiday brawl, are we? Damn it, we are. Cemenko proceeds to use the decorations to knock Reigns around a bit before the Superstar of the Year decides it's not worth sticking around and he bails the first chance he gets, namely after shoving Kerry into the pile of presents on the stage. Does Cemenko have Brandon's number this Sunday?

Fifth Match: Kyle Jacobs vs. Ziggy Styles
We're reminded about the SmackDown! Send-off with Kyle Jacobs taking on Xavier Cross and Ziggy Styles taking on Michael Haywood. Xavier himself comes out on to the stage to watch. Michael then comes out and joins Xavier on the stage, giving him the stink eye, basically warning Xavier not to try anything. The match rocks all kinds of ass. It gets tense as things start reaching a climax. Xavier tries squirming his way down to the ring, but Michael matches him, wanting to keep Xavier out of the proceedings. Xavier eventually fires back and it looks like we've got an argument. It looks like Xavier comes up with a solution as it seems he's suggesting that they both just leave and go to the back, leaving the match be. That seems to be cool with Michael and Xavier even begins to leave first. Of course, that puts him in prime position to turn around and nail an unsuspecting Michael with a clothesline, knocking him down. Xavier continues his march to ringside, but he's greeted by Ziggy's body being flung over the top by Kyle. The ref begins the count, taking time in between to keep Kyle in the ring. Michael recovers and is full of piss and vinegar and he has Xavier in his sights. Xavier and Ziggy start coming to their feet, the latter trying to get back in the ring to beat the count. Michael charges at Xavier with a tackle attempt and that shoves Xavier into Ziggy, sandwiching the latter. Xavier and Michael brawl on the ground as Ziggy goes down again and the ref eventually reaches 10, having not seen Ziggy get crunched. Kyle is going to get the win but the fun isn't over as we get a two-on-two brawl to close out the segment. ****1/2, 93% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Wrakk, Chris Collins, and The Royal Effect vs. Ryan Pattillo, Seth Von Kamp, and the Wyldhearts
So you've got the three top titles being represented here. I'd say this is quite the collection here, and a great preview for what's down the road, both on SmackDown! and Bragging Rights. With 8 talented men and tremendous heat between them, this one's a lay up as far as getting over with the crowd. We want to send the crowd home happy for the holidays so this is going to be unfortunate for the heels. It comes down to McKay and Von Kamp as they renew their hatred from earlier this year and Seth isn't going let McKay forget about it. McKay gets things back under control by flipping out of a suplex attempt as Kavovit climbs up on the apron, Slammy in hand. McKay, with a waste lock, shoves Seth towards Kavovit but the Intercontinental Champion puts his boots up and kicks Kavovit off the apron, using the rebound to flip over McKay and setting him up for the Collapse of Society. It connects and that's going to be enough to get the pin for the faces. They win the battle for now, but the war is still going on. How's this all going to conclude? ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

M-A-G

08-31-2023, 01:16 AM

So we've got the SmackDown! Send-off looking like this:

Kyle Jacobs vs. Xavier Cross (the likely main event)

WWE Unified Tag Team Titles: The Wyldhearts vs. The Royal Effect

Dusk vs. Faith Connors

Michael Haywood vs. Ziggy Styles

Clubber Harris vs. Zed Jones

I'd say there's room for at least one more. We'll see what I can do on Superstars.

Bragging Rights is looking like this:

WWE Unified World Title: Wrakk (c) vs. Ryan Pattillo

WWE Intercontinental Title: Seth Von Kamp (c) vs. Chris Collins

WWE Women's Title: Sonya Braddock (c) vs. Jenna Kyle

WWE Women's Tag Team Title: The Southern Belles (c) vs. The Perfections

(pending Superstars) WWE Cruiserweight Title: Michael Hotbody (c) vs. Gavin Jones

Orlando Kincaid, Eddy Clash, and Haven vs. Quinten McDaniels, Hugo, and Chet Morris

Kerry Cemenko vs. Brandon Reigns

Simon Bennett vs. Adam Hail

Pre-show: Salvatore Scabbia, Ronnie & Carmella Costello vs. The Academy and Cordelia Capriati

I think I've packed things fairly well. The DUD show better stay the fuck home.

Evil Vito

09-03-2023, 12:25 PM

DUD shows are just the absolute worst. Except in your gaming universe where they're actually still filled with belters and the crowd are just imbeciles.

Bragging Rights sounds really good and "SmackDown Send-Off" is such a great tagline for a year-end show.

M-A-G

09-04-2023, 04:04 AM

Superstars: December 27, 2040

Opening Match: Ozzy Mandias vs. Nigel Gallagher
Ozzy gets on the mic before things get underway and declares that he's not about to left out of the festivities. He still has a mad-on over Jordan Demiras and the fact that he struts around the place actually proud about being the Cruiserweight of the Year. "Jordan, you and Martyn LaSalle are two peas in a pod. You both overestimated your worth, and you did it at the expense of overlooking me! Well, I'm nothing if not fair. I laid out the challenge to LaSalle, so I'll extend the same courtesy to you, Jordan. If you've got the balls to actually put action behind your words, you can face me tomorrow night on the SmackDown! Send-off, where I'm going to do my damndest to send you off the same way I did LaSalle!" Oh, you know this is quality shit here and it kicks off the show with a bang. Ozzy ends up getting the pin after yanking Nigel off the top rope, causing him to get crotched. A Blizzard of Oz follows and that's going to secure the win. Ozzy doesn't have much time to celebrate afterwards as Jordan Demiras makes his way out with SERIOUS INTENT and tries getting his hands on Ozzy. Ozzy bails through the crowd, but Demiras looks like he's accepting Ozzy's challenge. Tomorrow night is really going to be something...hopefully. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Second Match: Cordelia Capriati vs. Tamara Whitford
Sophie Waters wants to rip into Brooke and her camp but feels that Cordelia can probably explain things better than she can as she has inside information so Sophie turns the mic over to her newest client to speak from the heart. "Brooke, it's really simple. There comes a time when enough is enough. Gratitude is a two-way street. You spent so much time and effort and energy in the hopes that you could finally have a world champion under your management that the rest of us were just expendable. I didn't come into the WWE to be chopped liver. It took me a while, but I saw the writing on the wall and Justin and Randy ditching you was the big iceberg that really started this whole unravelling. This Sunday, and this is for you, Carmella, you want to draw battlelines and think you're in the right camp? I'll personally make sure you go down with the ship." So this is a fine match, obviously meant to get Cordelia some shine ahead of things on Sunday. New faces in the women's singles can only help matters, plus it gives me a route to pursue for the women's title match at the Rumble. Oops, getting ahead of myself there. Cordelia puts Tamara away with the Crowning Achievement off the top. Carmella comes out onto the stage during the celebration to glare at Cordelia. ****1/2, 87% overall.

Third Match: The Perfections vs. The Brooklyn Sisterhood
Hey, it's more women's awesomeness. Leah and Bonnie, obviously, need the shine as they head into Bragging Rights for their title match. Wrestling is weird as you've got a chick like Leah who got mad heat just a few months ago being the rival of one of the more popular female stars and now just a few months later, she's over as a popular star as well. Anyway, the Sisterhood are great opponents here as the Perfections can demonstrate their resolve and resiliancy and all that face stuff. The Southern Belles try their hand at ruining things as Hannah has the ref distracted. Padgett has Leah up for the Red Hook as Bobbi Jo tries to sneak in and attack Bonnie from behind. Bonnie is quick to the punch, however, and kicks Bobbi in the midsection, then sends her into Padgett's midsection in spear-like fashion. Everyone goes down, but Leah ends up on top of Padgett. Bonnie kicks Hannah off the apron and the ref turns to count the pin on Padgett, giving the win to the Perfections. MOMENTUM HAS BEEN BUILT!!! ****1/2, 93% overall.

To the back we go as Eddy Clash has something on his mind. He admits that he doesn't know a whole lot about Orlando Kincaid, but he knows that the offer laid out by Kincaid on Raw was too tempting to ignore. A chance to kick in the head of that dumb oaf Hugo some more is just the kind of thing he's open to. Orlando Kincaid enters the picture and wants to set the record straight with Eddy. "I need you to understand something, Eddy. This match is all about me settling the score with Quinten. Now he's got some company that needs addressing, and that's where you and Haven fit in. We're not really partners in the traditional sense. This is my match, you two are just along for the ride, so I'm hoping and expecting that you can follow my lead."

Eddy leans in closer to Orlando and replies, "I'm willing to play along for this at least...but you still need to convince Haven about all that." And with that Eddy takes his leave as Orlando has something new to ponder over.

Fourth Match: Jimmy Farnes vs. Gavin Jones
Michael Hotbody and Galino & Farnes are out here with a contract that Hotbody says spells out all of the stipulations and intricacies of this match. It is IRON CLAD so that there are no loopholes that Lisa Benton and/or Gavin Jones can exploit to worm their way out of a negative outcome. Farnes gets on the mic and says that all parties have reviewed the document, verifying its authenticity and legality. The only signature missing is that of Gavin's. Gavin gets handed the contract and pen and he briefly looks at it with trepidation before ultimately putting his name on the dotted line, making things official. He needs the win here so that he can keep his title match at Bragging Rights and name an alternate stipulation, if he so chooses. Gavin puts up a hell of an underdog fight here, wanting desperately to get that win. The match starts going south when the ref is bumped and Gavin has to fight off interference from Hotbody's crew. He looks like he's run into a brick wall when Zed gets involved BUT HERE COMES CLUBBER HARRIS! That gets Zed's attention and he makes a beeline to the Ebony Experience and they have themselves a fight on the aisle. Luscious tries sneaking up onto the apron with her Slammy to nail Gavin, but he grabs her arm. Farnes charges at Gavin, who moves out of the way, taking the Slammy with him and Luscious gets knocked off into Hotbody's arms, sending them both down to the ground. The ref starts to come to and Gavin notices that fact and reacts by tossing Farnes the Slammy and feigning getting hit and falling down. The ref only sees the falling part, looks at Farnes holding the Slammy, and assumes the worst and calls for the bell, disqualifying Farnes and giving Gavin the win. Oh, that sneaky little bastard. Gavin makes his escape with an Eddie Guerrero-esque smirk on his face. Oh, but wait. He still gets to name a stipulation and he wants to make sure it's announced right now. He waits for Hotbody to be back up on his feet so that he can hear the news. "Well, despite all odds, Michael, I am still your number one contender for that title this Sunday. What can I say? Destiny just has a weird sense of humor. But it's not all bad news, Michael. The upside is that I can't ask for a ladder match, right? Everything else, though, is fair game and thanks to that IRON CLAD contract we all signed earlier, you CAN'T refuse the match, otherwise you can say goodbye to that title. So after much deliberation, the only real choice that I can make is that our match at Bragging Rights will be...A TLC MATCH!" The crowd explodes in delight as Gavin tosses the mic with a smirk on his face and Hotbody and crew go ballistic. Oh, how the turntables. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Fifth Match: Jason Sorola vs. Jesse Capalbo
Capalbo is all smiles and confidence after his outing on Raw. Sorola still has that aura of misery around him. He decides to take out all of his frustrations on poor Jesse here. It's still a rocking match. It comes to an end when Sorola goes to the eyes to escape an attempt by Jesse to lock in the Spitfire. Sorola sends Jesse through the ropes and he hits the ring post and Sorola schoolboys him for the win. Sorola gets on the mic afterward and mocks Jesse, telling him to not get so caught up in himself just because things are looking slightly up for him...a lesson certain people around here need to learn the hard way. That was rather ominous. ****1/2, 91% overall.

It's video package hype time as we take a look at the Women's Champion Sonya Braddock as she's been prepping for Jenna Kyle this Sunday for their title match. A voiceover from Braddock tells Jenna that 5 months without the title can build a lot of frustration in a person, and that Jenna is sadly mistaken if she thinks it was all taken out on Naomi at Survivor Series.

More promo time as we've got Andrea and Victor Dark. They want to talk about Orlando Kincaid and the wrinkle that he's created. It's rather disappointing as the two of them had high hopes for him, but now it seems that Orlando seems content on suffering the same fate as Haven. The only real hope that Orlando has is that things go quickly and painlessly on Sunday. It would be a shame if Victor had to get his hands dirty.

Sixth Match: Dusk vs. Phoebe Hanson
Faith is on commentary, hyping up the match between her and Dusk tomorrow night on the last SmackDown! of the year. This is a good "two birds with one stone" situation as we need to wrap up things between Dusk and Phoebe while getting the people ready for the showdown with Faith. I just hope I'm going too fast with Dusk here. I mean, if this were a real life thing, she's essentially getting involved with the biggest female star on the roster virtually right out of the gate. What was it, October, when she debuted? Anyway, we've got Dusk looking all powerful and dominant as Faith assures us that she's not going to get rattled by Dusk. Regardless of how she feels, Dusk wraps things up in a neat little fashion here as she catches Phoebe off a crossbody attempt, delivers a gut buster, and that stuns Phoebe enough to where Dusk can hit the Final Sunset and get the win. Faith looks on with a serious look in her eye, perhaps with concern. Dusk takes Sorrow and has him screech at Faith while she makes a threatening gesture with her free arm. How are things going to play out tomorrow night? ****1/4, 89% overall. Dusk gained 3 points of overness. Things are looking great for her.

Once more to the back as Jake Connelly looks like he's wrapping up some promotional stuff when Cameron Harper pops in. Jake is surprised to see him and asks what the deal is as he doesn't have matches booked for any of his clients tonight. Cameron responds by saying that he felt bad about the holidays coming and going and not getting anything for Jake. "After all, just agreeing to be my manager has meant so much, I don't want you to feel like I'm taking you for granted."

Jake responds by repeating what he had said a while back. "If you're not booked, you don't need to show up. Plus, we all agreed we weren't going to do gift exchanges."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but chalk it up to anxiety or enthusiasm or whatever, I just couldn't help myself. You need to know how much I appreciate you, Jake. So, here, this is for you."

Cameron hands Connelly a wrapped gift, which Connelly reluctantly accepts. He thanks Cameron and begins to open it, but Ethan Lang comes in. Jake and Cameron both wonder what he's doing here and Ethan says that he came to give a present to Jake. "I know the agreement was that there wasn't going to be gifts being exchanged and what not"

Cameron looks mad and gets on Ethan's case. "Uh, yeah, we all said no presents. What's the deal, Ethan?"

"Yeah, I know, but my mother kind of gave me grief about the whole thing. She basically browbeat me into doing it. She's really appreciative of you, Jake, taking me under your wing and helping me out. She's always believed in me and my dream of making it here in the WWE. So, if it helps alleviate things, you can consider this more of a gift from her than from me. Here you go."

Cameron isn't having any of it. "Wow. You're really something else, you know that, Ethan? You're gonna play the Mom card? You're just trying to carry favor, that's all. Jake, you shouldn't accept that present. Just being happy to be his manager is good enough, right?"

"Wait, you just gave me a present, too, Cameron."

"Yeah, but this is different because I actually mean it."

"What the hell are you getting at, Cameron?" Ethan asks rather defensively. Both he and Cameron start sniping over each other as Jake's face turns to frustration.

Jake has heard enough and demands that everyone calms the hell down. He says he's grateful for everything from both of them. He's grateful for all of his clients. He appreciates both of their gifts and he'd hate for this moment to be ruined by a bunch of pettiness. The two of them just got back on the same page last week so what the hell is happening here? Jake reminds them they have a match tomorrow for SmackDown! Send-off and wants to be sure they're going to close out the year the right way.

Ethan and Cameron seem to agree and apologize to each other. Ethan and Jake start to leave until Cameron asks Jake if he's going to open the presents. Jake and Ethan stop and Jake relents and decides why not. Cameron insists that Jake opens his first. Jake proceeds to do so and he appears rather puzzled as to what he sees it is. Cameron is all smiles and explains it to Jake and Ethan. "See, isn't it great? It's a framed photo of me celebrating the first win I ever got after becoming your client! Now it may seem like it's just all me, but I made sure to get you there in the background in the lower right corner. See? Look how happy you are for me! I knew you'd want something like this commemorated because it's a portrait of the foundation that we've built together. Merry Christmas, Jake, I knew you'd like it!"

Jake looks like he isn't sure how to take all this but manages to utter out a thanks while looking at the picture. He turns his attention to the present Ethan gave him and opens it up. His expression is that of shock and wonder and joy as he sees what it is. "Oh, Ethan, no freaking way. I can't believe you remembered! Hell, I can't believe you even found this thing!" He holds up the contents and it's a jacket. Cameron looks confused and says it's just a jacket. Jake clarifies by explaining that it's the first jacket he ever wore on a show when he was first starting out. "Yeah, I told Ethan all about it. I didn't have anything snazzy to wear for the match and the promoter just threw this thing at me and said it was OK to use it for the night as long as he got it back. Unfortunately, I left the jacket too close to the crowd and there was some kind of fight or whatever happening and a bunch of beer and other crap spilled all over it. The promoter told me to just keep the damn thing, but he docked my pay for the night. I thought I'd lost this thing a long time ago. Ethan, you didn't have to go through all that trouble."

"Yeah, Ethan! You shouldn't have done that!" Cameron snaps. Jake and Ethan look really uncomfortable and ultimately Jake says that he's thankful for both of the presents but they need to focus on business now. He expects the two of them to move past this. And with that, Jake goes off on his merry way leaving Ethan alone with Cameron glaring at him.

MAIN EVENT: Simon Bennett and Seth Von Kamp vs. Adam Hail and Chris Collins
Let's close this out strong. Collins declares that he has always been better than Seth Von Kamp. Seth has managed to get to where he is because Collins hasn't been in his way. "Well, you couldn't avoid me forever, Seth. The past has a way of sneaking up and catching up with you in the worst ways possible. It's about time someone brought you off that cloud 9 and dragged you kicking and screaming to Earth!" With that out of the way, let's have ourselves a banger! Four veterans, all over as fuck, 2 sets of feuds. It all adds up to a match that has the crowd eating it all up. Speaking of eating, Hail delivers a drop toe hold to Bennett, sending him throat first into the middle rope. That leaves him vulnerable to a Hailstorm off the top from Adam. The ref goes for the pin, but Bennett manages to get his foot on the bottom rope at two. The ref doesn't see it though and Nathan Quinn earns his pay by pushing the foot off and the ref continues the count as if nothing happened, giving Adam and Chris the undeserved victory. Adam isn't done as Nathan hands him a length of chain. He wraps it around his fist and proceeds to pound away at Simon's forehead a few times, busting him open. We close the show with Adam standing tall, holding the chain up high over a fallen Bennett. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

Wrakk wants a couple of matches with Duke. I think he's back on the stuff that caused him to get suspended in the first place.

Chris Collins wants to be in a regular team with Adam Hail. Yeah, I don't see that happening. You have been paying attention to Hail's story, haven't you, Chris?

Evil Vito

09-05-2023, 08:59 AM

:lol: Gavin Jones resorting to the Eddie Guerrero trick. That is an absolutely timeless spot and one I pop for every single time. So many variations of it are great too, like the heel having to plead with the ref to not call for the bell only to then get rolled up anyway.

TLC MATCH bah gad. Maybe Hotbody should invest in some better lawyers. Galino & Farnes can't be much more effective than Barry Zuckerkorn.

And I love when guys have good chemistry in the ring and propose being a regular tag team despite the character being a prick. He's like that delusional girl convinced she will be the one to finally tame the broken bad boy.

M-A-G

09-07-2023, 04:04 AM

I got SmackDown! and Bragging Rights done and ready to be typed up. They turned out pretty damn good if I may say so myself. I'll try to get them written up by Saturday. This laughing fit I suffered from one of the rinky-dink promotions offering me a job set me back a bit.

M-A-G

09-17-2023, 11:34 AM

SmackDown!: December 28, 2040

It's the final SmackDown! of the year. Let's do this shit!!!

Opening Match: WWE Unified Tag Team Titles
The Wyldhearts (c) vs. The Royal Effect
This is, of course, The Royal Effect's rematch after losing the belts a month ago. The results here should speak volumes as to why they deserve that Tag Team of the Year Slammy. The Wyldhearts are great pretty boy underdogs and it's a banger the whole way through. We get shenanigans in the finish, however. The ref is bumped pretty badly and as a consequence we get a second official down while the first gets attended to. The match continues its awesomeness and as the second ref is turned around helping the first out of the ring, McKay fakes tagging in by clapping his hands as it looks like Kavovit can't make it to the corner. He comes in and immediately hits the Mass Effect on a dazed Robbie Greer and the second ref counts the pin. NEW CHAMPIO...woah, woah, woah, wait a second. The first ref is back on his feet and gets into the ring and puts a halt to this. It looks like he's telling the second ref that he saw McKay coming in illegally. They relay this to the timekeeper and announcer and thus we restart the match. The Royal Effect are besides themselves. Bellamey rolls Kavovit back into the ring as Greer dropkicks McKay to the outside. Kavovit is left 2-on-1 and he falls victim to the Heartstopper and thus that leads to Greer getting the pin for the actual official victory. I don't see The Royal Effect letting that one go, but what a way to start the show. *****, 95% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Hotbody has his set in the ring adorned with ladders. Aside from that, he looks miserable and defeated as he addresses the crowd.

"I want you all to take a look at the scene before you. This horridness is what Lisa Benton and Gavin Jones are trying to force on me at Bragging Rights! Forget my TOTALLY REAL fear of heights. Just the sheer brutality and carnage and bedlam that typically comes with a TLC match is enough to make my stomach wretch. Gavin, you think you're so clever with what you pulled last night, but all it did was demonstrate just how sick and twisted and vindictive you really are! When are people around here going to learn that you can't just take out your inadequacies on me. I'M THE VICTIM HERE! My good people, I know you don't want to see this match unfold at Bragging Rights. I know you have a strong sense of justice, just like I do. So I implore you all to fill those petitions, flood those inboxes, and raise those voices in a huge show of opposition for this vulgar display of cowardice! You people, your cries and your support, are the last hope in getting this unfair situation thrown out. Lisa will listen to you! She couldn't bear seeing such a revolt! There is no need for...."

And that right there is where the challenger for Hotbody's title, Gavin Jones is going to interrupt things. He shows no fear or remorse as he enters the ring and gets all up in Hotbody's space. "Michael, I want you to understand something about this match. It's not really all about the gold. The hope of me capturing that Cruiserweight Title is only a small part of it. The real appeal is being able to use all of this lovely hardware to hopefully shut up that God damn trap of yours. But, hey, listen, I consider myself a bit to be a man of the people, too, so let's make this fair. How about we just forego all that campaigning you asked for and we get the crowd right here to settle things?"

"Wait a minu...."

"No, no, it's fine, Michael, I got this. Ladies and gentlemen, in the words of the immortal Scott Hall, it's survey time! How many of you here don't want to see a TLC match this Sunday at Bragging Rights for the Cruiserweight Title?" The crowd just erupts in a aura of boos and the camera catches several people giving the thumbs down. "OK, OK, now for the next question: how many of you here want to see me, Gavin Jones, use every table, ladder, and chair he can get his hands on to break this weak sauce, spineless, man-baby's stupid face over and over and over and over and over and over again until he won't even be able to remember his own name and we get ourselves a NEW Cruiserweight Champion?"

The crowd, of course, starts going apeshit with approval before Gavin can even finish the question. He walks around the ring, looking out to the crowd with the mic pointed out to them and the cheers just get louder. He starts to turn around to address Hotbody but Hotbody decides to introduce a ladder to Gavin's face instead of continuing this dialogue. "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT ON SUNDAY, GAVIN?!?" he screams into the mic. Hotbody isn't done and decides to demolish the set by knocking ladders over onto Gavin's body. He grabs a chair and proceeds to pound Gavin across his back with it. He stops and fixates on a ladder. He takes the mic and declares that he's going to conquer his fear right now. He takes a ladder and carries it with him to the corner where he climbs to the top turnbuckle, then rides the ladder down, shouting "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" as it falls forward onto Gavin, crushing his mid-section. Hotbody gets back on the mic in joy, declaring that he might have conquered his fear and wants to try that again. He sets everything back up again and sure enough, does the same thing to Gavin, again shouting "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" the whole way down. He looks satisfied with what he's done and leaves the ring as Gavin looks seriously hurt.

Second Match: Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper vs. The Millennium Rebels
Before Lang and Harper come out, we're shown the backstage area where Connelly is with Lang, getting ready. Harper pops in, eager to get going. Connelly notices that Harper has something in his hand. "Uh, Cameron? Is that the framed picture you got for me for Christmas?"

"Yeah, of course. I saw that you forgot it at the hotel, but don't worry. I made sure to get it so that it could be here tonight," Cameron explains.

Connelly is dumbfounded as he responds. "Uh, I didn't 'forget it', Cameron. I left it there. It's a nice gift and I appreciate it, but it's a picture. There's no reason for it to be brought to a match."

"No, see, that's where you're wrong. It's inspiration! It's a sign of humble beginnings and a reminder of where we came from. It's a symbol and it's going to motivate us all to be our best every time we're out there in that ring!" Cameron explains with enthusiasm.

Connelly sighs with resignation and turns to Ethan asking him what he thinks. Ethan says that he really doesn't care either way; they need to get going. Connelly reluctantly tells Cameron that it's fine, but to focus on the match.

Well, with that out of the way, the match is sweet as hell. We get shots of the framed picture as it rests on the announce table throughout the match. Things come to a head when Dangerson gets launched over the top rope by Harper via back body drop, and Sammy is left alone with Lang to suffer the Bitter Languish to give Connelly's boys the win. Harper goes into overdrive mode as he immediately grabs the photo and parades around the ring with it in celebration. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Third Match: Ozzy Mandias vs. Jordan Demiras
You want cruiserweights? You got cruiserweights. Ozzy is, of course, still miffed about supposedly being overlooked and the fact that Jordan is the Cruiserweight of the Year. He did some hurt on poor Martyn LaSalle and he's looking to do the same here. It's all good shit as you'd expect as Demiras demonstrates the moves that helped him get that aforementioned accolade. Ozzy looks like he's got Jordan in a precarious and vulnerable state and he goes to the top rope to try to home in on the kill. Jordan manages to shake off enough cobwebs to where he springboards off the middle rope AND HITS AN AXE KICK ON OZZY WHILE HE'S ON THE TURNBUCKLE! Ozzy is dazed and he collapses to the outside in an ugly fashion. Jordan goes back down, having spent himself and the ref counts Ozzy out. That's not going to sit well with him and sure enough, as soon as he recovers and realizes what's up he goes on the assault on the fallen Jordan Demiras. More refs come on out to get in between the two and to get Ozzy out of there. No doubt the feud must continue. *****, 94% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as the WWE Women's Champion Sonya Braddock makes her way out in front of the crowd. "I know I wasn't scheduled to be here tonight, but I found that to be a bit of a problem. This is the last SmackDown! of the year, but more importantly it's the last one before this Sunday at Bragging Rights, and it's only right that I get a couple of last minute things off my chest before I defend this title. Jenna Kyle, it's fine if you don't feel intimidated or nervous with the idea of facing me. What I really hope you feel is honored. Honored to be the last victim that helps me close the book on this year with a bang. There's no shame to it. You, and Faith for that matter, have a lot to be proud of in 2040. And I have no doubt you'll go on to accomplish even more greatness in the coming year. But you're going to have to have to start it without this title. Those five long months I spent at home without this title were filled with some of the longest days I've ever experienced. More stressful than any match, more agonizing than any pain, living while not being recognized as the best woman this industry has to offer is a torture. Jenna, I know on some level you understand that sentiment, and that's why I know I'm walking into a fight this Sunday. The lion's den is waiting for you, Jenna. You may leave with some glory, but you won't leave with the gold."

That should be the end of it, but it looks like things are going to pick up as the arena is filled with the sounds of a screeching raven and the music of the Doll of Darkness hits, heralding the arrival of Dusk herself. Oh, this looks bad as she makes her way down to the ring and confronts the Women's Champion, who stands defiant as a mountain as she observes Dusk's entrance. Dusk has a mic of her own and she addresses Sonya. "Forgive me, but I'm sure you'll understand when I ask you to beat it. I've got my own slaughter to which I must attend and you're in the way. I think you're familiar with her, no? You barely got past her earlier this year if I recall. And now we're being forced to be an audience to this megalomania. I'd ask if you had any degree of shame flowing through you, but that's not really a trait associated with people like you."

"People like me? You mean a winner? A champion?"

"A monument. You're the kind of person who is propped up for the rest of us to admire. The only thing to admire about you, however, is that prize you hold. I have no doubt you'll remain on this path of glory, which means it'll only be a matter of time before you cross my own path and I have my opportunity to take that symbol of power."

"This isn't a symbol of power. It's excellence. The power is in the woman holding it. You must live in a really, really remote void if you've got designs on being the woman who can carry this, and if your theater hasn't moved Jenna or Faith, you can rest assured it hasn't got a prayer against me."

"Another so-called fearless competitor stands before me. Those are always a treat...because I get to put the fear in them. Do yourself a favor and watch what unfolds here tonight. It should prove quite educational. Now if you don't mind, there's the exit." Dusk points to the ramp, essentially signaling Sonya to leave. Sonya really has no recourse as we've got a match scheduled so she exits the ring, locking eyes with Dusk the whole time. The music of Faith Connors hits and the Parkour Princess herself makes her entrance and that's going to segue right into...

Fourth Match: Dusk vs. Faith Connors
I wonder if it's too early to do this match. I mean, sure, we're getting a great outcome here BUT AT WHAT COST?!? Anyways, Faith shows her usual fire, still pissed as all hell over that pesky chair to the face incident at Survivor Series. Dusk plays Vader to Faith's Sting, though, and is all about shutting down Faith's craziness. Faith plays a tremendous underdog here as she gets bounced around like a pinball, showcasing how willing she is to put Dusk over. The best analog would be her match against Sonya earlier in the year. Anyways, despite the brutalization of her body, Faith starts the comeback and through it all manages to counter a boot from Dusk into the Crisis of Faith. It only stuns her and she doesn't go completely down. Faith summons enough juice to attempt a Mirror's Edge but Dusk catches her as she comes off. Dusk looks like she going to power bomb Faith into the opposite corner as she runs towards it with Faith in position. Faith, though, uses the last of her reserves to roll off Dusk, sunset flip style, pull Dusk down into a pinning predicament and adds a jackknife for good measure and extra leverage and that's going to get Faith the upset victory. Unfortunately, like it was mentioned before, that was the last gasp from Faith and she's vulnerable to an irate Dusk and her retribution. Dusk rag dolls Faith around some more before going for a chair. She proceeds to lay it across Faith's face and then stomps on it. We get medical staff out on the referee's orders as it looks pretty bad for Faith, despite her win. Is Dusk the new scourge of the women's division? ****1/2, 93% overall.

To back we go as the number one contender to the WWE Unified World Title Ryan Pattillo has some last minute thoughts to get off his chest. He starts out by saying he's moved by what just went down in the previous match as Faith went through absolute hell and she's in a bad way. He feels for her, as it's a scene that nobody wants to be a part of. He hopes he doesn't have to experience that at Bragging Rights, but he will go through it if he has to if it means walking out of there the new WWE Unified World Champion. It's been too long and the stakes are too high. He's played this game with Wrakk before and he's still standing here, ready for more and ready to be champion.

Fifth Match: Zed Jones vs. Clubber Harris
Michael Hotbody gets on the mic before the match starts as he wants to lay down the law for Harris. "Harris, I know you're not the brightest knife in the drawer, but after witnessing what went down earlier between Gavin and me, even you have to be able to recognize that I am, in fact, a dangerous dude, and logically you'd be able to conclude that I only run with a dangerous crew. Witness Lord Zed standing right here before you! Your accolades and accomplishments may impress mere mortal men, but they only fuel the machine that's running under this chasis. And Gavin, if you're even capable of hearing me right now, there's plenty more where that came from because Camp Hotbody knows how to get physical when the circumstances call for it! Now let's get this show on the road, and Harris, I hope that throughout the pain you're about to experience, this one thought can solace you: you asked for this!" So it's hoss-on-hoss and you can imagine how that goes. Harris utilizes the experience advantage, but that's constantly halted via outside shenanigans from Hotbody when ref isn't looking. The match comes to a close as things look pretty drastic for Harris as it seems Zed is looking to lock in the Dragon Sleeper BUT HERE COMES GAVIN JONES! He's looking pretty bad as he limps out clutching his side but with determination in each step...and a chair in the other hand. He makes a beeline for Hotbody and even with Gavin's condition, the champ is not interested in further confrontation. Zed stops what he's doing and reaches over the top rope to grab Gavin by the head. Luscious has the ref distracted as she's trying to get him to do something about Gavin. Gavin responds by smacking Zed in the face with the chair and he stumbles backward into the waiting arms of Clubber Harris. Zed suffers Club Pain from Harris as Gavin continues the chase, sending Hotbody and Luscious running and the ref counts the pin, giving Harris the victory.

Hold the phone! Lisa Benton makes her way out and asks for a bit of control from everyone. "Things have certainly gone off the rails here and I need to be able to know that things don't go off any further than they have to. From what I've witnessed here tonight, it's clear that there needs to be a few safeguards for this Sunday. Therefore, in the match for the Cruiserweight Title between Michael Hotbody and Gavin Jones...everyone is banned from ringside!" Hotbody and crew throw another fit over this bit of news and Gavin gets a devilish grin on his face. It looks really bad for the champion on Sunday. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Sixth Match: Ziggy Styles vs. Michael Haywood
Ziggy tries a pre-match motivational speech but Michael just spears the shit out of him to start the ball here. Clearly he's heard enough. Besides he can always get Ziggy with it after the match. Or not. Probably for sure not. Ziggy weathers the storm and it eventually settles down into an awesome competitive affair, despite Ziggy's goofiness. Michael's rage can't be contained too long as he escapes an attempt at the Thing-ama-Zig from Ziggy and immediately locks in the Rage Quit. And much like Survivor Series, Ziggy can't take the heat for long and submits. Michael has the awareness this time around to let go and not get disqualified. I'd say that's a pretty definitive cap to this whole affair. *****, 94% overall.

More In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as Orlando Kincaid wants his turn at addressing the people. "It's a damn shame that I have to wait a little bit longer than most to get my present, but what keeps me from going insane with anticipation is that I already know what I'm going to get and that it's going to be worth the wait. This Sunday at Bragging Rights, I've got three targets down range that need a lesson in manners. First is a big, bad, dumb nutcase named Hugo. Tall as a Christmas tree, but not as bright and definitely easier to cut down to size. Next, some uppity hillbilly named Chet Morris. Chet, this little reunion we're having only served to remind me how much I never really liked you back in the day. You've come back declaring yourself to be in the middle of a reawakening! Well, make sure your ass shows up Sunday because I've got a way to knock you out again. And last, and certainly not least, the biggest pain the ass, the one who's going to put a smile on my face and make it the best holiday season ever when he's coughing up blood all over this ring after I pound his carcass, Quinten McDaniels! Quinten, I'm no Santa Claus but you're definitely on my naughty list right at the top. And while I don't have any coal I'm more than prepared to dish out the lumps. Quinten, I tried warning you away. You apparently never learned anything about me in that entire time we were all together. Well, Bragging Rights is where you get all the instruction you missed out, only it's going to be taught the hard way. As a bonus, I've got two assistant instructors that will make the lesson go a lot smoother. Eddy Clash and Haven, you're more than welcome to take what you think is your pound of flesh, but just keep in mind that this match is my brainchild and it's my show. I run a tight ship and I expect to see that this Sunday. If you're not on board with that, now's the time to let me know and you can go jump overboard."

That's going to cause Haven to make himself known as the lights go dim and the music of the Dark Shepherd plays. What will he have to say about all of this, including Kincaid's demands? Haven steps up to Orlando and speaks his mind. "I will applaud your spine in this situation, Orlando. You always were the initiative of the Order. But while you may have outgrown me, understand that you still have ways to go before you surpass me. I am no leader to you; this is certainly true. However, the same can be said of you. And when it comes to the affairs of Victor Dark, I warn you as a courtesy that you are in over your head. As far as unity for the sake of this fight, however, I will state this for the record, right here and now. I will do what I need to in order to survive, and more importantly, whatever is necessary to send the right message. I will be your ally, but I will not be your underling. Make of that what you will, Orlando. I have far more pressing issues that concern me more than your feelings."

Orlando smirks before delivering his rebuttal. "You always did have a way with words. Fortunately, I'm in a position where I'm not at their beck and call. But as long as we're all playing nice, it's fine with me." Orlando starts to leave but stops as he looks to deliver one final point. "Oh, and by the way, Haven. It's not gone unnoticed by me that this whole theater is essentially all because of one man's grudge against you. So when you get a chance, do us all a favor, and handle your business...or I'll have to handle it for you." And with that, Orlando goes off on his merry way, leaving Haven to think about what he said. How's this all going to play out on Sunday?

MAIN EVENT: Kyle Jacobs vs. Xavier Cross
If this were a real promotion, I could picture Kyle being a guy that gets the win here, uses it to start a buzz, and then go on to have an awesome showing in the Rumble next month. Not saying he's going to win the Rumble or anything...probably. :shifty: Anyways, these guys have a good amount of matches against each other under their belt, so you can imagine they've got things down by now. It's a great way to close out the show. Shame I couldn't squeeze them into the PPV. That aside, we finish things off, or rather Kyle finishes things off, with Cross getting his attempt at the Cross Cutter countered as Kyle slips free from the grasp and turns it into a Legacy Bomb to get the win. Kyle does his victory lap as confetti falls as SmackDown! says goodbye to 2040. *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

See you at Bragging Rights!

M-A-G

09-18-2023, 06:04 AM

Bragging Rights: December 30, 2040

Pre-show Match: Salvatore Scabbia, Ronnie & Carmella Costello vs. The Academy and Cordelia Capriati
It's the complete breakdown of what was once Brooke's united group of clients in all of its ugly glory. Brooke and Sophie are with their respective teams as this match is a great warm-up for the crowd. It goes south for the face team as things start to collapse and Carmella and Cordelia have themselves a catfight on the outside in the midst of the chaos. Brooke and Sophie try separating the two, but Brooke goes the extra mile by forearming Sophie in the face. That draws Justin's attention and he goes after Brooke and Carmella. His chase is cut off by Ronnie who clothelines him down as he turns the corner. This leaves Randy Ellis alone with Scabbia and he falls victim to the Omerta to give Brooke's team the victory as he passes out. Maybe things haven't completely imploded over in Brooke's camp? ****1/2, 89% overall.

BRAGGING RIGHTS STARTS NOW!!!

Tonight's theme song is "Vicious" by Halestorm

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Opening Match: Brandon Reigns vs. Kerry Cemenko
This was really the best option for the opening match, even though I debated back and forth in my head. Cemenko does have a habit of having a banger of a first match, leaving the rest of the card in a rough position. Well, they need to earn their paychecks anyway, especially a certain pair of really expensive fuckers. THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE! Anyways, both men here have their working boots on tonight and set the table in an awesome fashion. Reigns was certainly a top choice to win that award. The end comes when Cemenko tries coming off the middle rope for a Curb Stomp, but Reigns rolls out of the way and immediately grabs a schoolboy pin using his feet on the ropes for some extra cheating and that's going to give Mr. Money in the Bank the win. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Second Match: WWE Women's Tag Team Titles
The Southern Belles (c) vs. The Perfections
I don't think this will be the blow off for this whole ordeal, but it's a fucking great match either way. Leah's really come a long way in such a short time. It probably was for the best that I had started her out feuding with one of the top women in the company. Bonnie plays face-in-peril for this outing as the Belles just dismantle her for a good chunk of time. Hot tag to Leah is eventually made and she comes in on fire. It's a massive flurry from her and she gets set to come running off the ropes to deliver something to Bobbi Jo, while the ref tries getting Hannah out of the ring as she's not legal. Nathan Quinn trips Leah up, though, and that causes Paul Andrews to come over to tackle his ass and begin a scuffle on the outside. The ref is distracted with that now and the Belles try double-teaming Leah. They set her up for a double suplex, but Bonnie comes back and clips Hannah, taking her out of the picture. Officials have come down to separate Nathan and Paul, allowing the ref to turn her attention back to the match and witness Leah reverse and roll Bonnie up in a small package and that's going to get her the pin and the titles!

Winners and NEW WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: The Perfections! ****1/2, 93% overall.

Third Match: WWE Cruiserweight Title: TLC Match
The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody (c) vs. Gavin Jones
Michael INSISTS on hanging up the belt himself as he's already mad over this whole situation so he might as well just get it over with. The bell rings and he tries running away immediately up the ramp to the stage. Gavin is in hot pursuit and he catches up with the champion and they brawl on the set. Hotbody has the bright idea of low blowing Gavin and sending him into some of the set pieces. He immediately runs back down to the ring, grabbing a ladder on the way, and sets it up to try to grab the belt as fast as he can. Is this going to be the shortest TLC match in history? Well, no, as Gavin manages to make his back to the ring and grabs Hotbody's leg. Hotbody realizes this and tries begging off, but Gavin merely shakes his head and yanks Michael off. Now the fun can begin. Gavin just absolutely unloads on Michael, fucking up his shit royally with chairs. Michael buys himself a few hope spots here and there, but they're fleeting for the most part as the match goes on. It's a wild affair that comes to an end when Gavin manages a Frog Splash on Michael. That's clearly not enough in Gavin's mind and he goes up one of the ladders and delivers a Frog Splash from the top of that. Hotbody is DONE! Gavin sees that this is the perfect time to go for the belt as Michael is no shape to stop him. Gavin climbs up and starts to remove the title from its position. We're going to have new cha...WAIT A MINUTE!!! WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Something went off in Gavin's face! It looks like paint or dye or some kind of liquid! It looks like it came from the apparatus holding the belt. Either way, it makes Gavin let go of the belt and he goes falling off the ladder in an ugly fashion. Now he's blinded and hurt. Hotbody starts coming around as Gavin struggles to get to his feet, trying to clear his vision. Hotbody sees Gavin in his vulnerable state and takes advantage, grabbing Gavin from behind and sending him over the top rope through a table on the outside. Hotbody is free to climb the ladder! He fights his way up, no doubt in tremendous pain (and fear) but he eventually makes it to the top and retrieves the title to retain yet again! Hotbody's crew immediately comes down to collect Hotbody's broken body and get him the hell out of there. *****, 95% overall.

Fourth Match: WWE Women's Title
Sonya Braddock (c) vs. Jenna Kyle
Jenna is FEARLESS here and determined as all hell. This almost beat for beat the kind of match Sonya had with Faith back in April, just not as brutal as Jenna isn't insane like Faith is. Jenna tries a ground game with the mighty champion, managing to put Sonya in danger a few times using her elevated Boston Crab. The champion isn't going down that easy and fights back viciously. The match comes to an end as Jenna once again looks like she's got Sonya set up for another Crab attempt. Sonya fights to not get turned over but Jenna is just stubborn. Finally, Sonya cuts the proverbial Gordian knot by just nailing Jenna with the Left Hand of God as she's struggling to lock in the hold. That's going to put out Jenna's lights and Sonya gets on top for the pin and that's enough to give her the win and keep the title. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Fifth Match: WWE Intercontinental Title
Seth Von Kamp (c) vs. Chris Collins
Two experienced vets with a lot of mileage between them. You know this is going to go well. Both men know each other inside and out so the match is all about gamesmanship and trying to predict what the other will do. The match ends when Collins is overzealous and thinks Seth is ripe for the pickings after giving him an alley-oop face first into the top turnbuckle. He tries the Fall From Heaven, but Seth slips out the back and hoists Collins up and into the Collapse of Society and the pin is academic after that. Seth retains! ****1/2, 93% overall.

Sixth Match: Orlando Kincaid, Haven, Eddy Clash vs. Quinten McDaniels, Hugo, Chet Morris
Oh, boy. To say we're not going to get much control here is an understatement. We don't even get a face-in-peril segment as everyone is just at 60 mph the whole way through. It's down to Chet and Haven as the legal men for their respective teams. Haven has Chet by the throat but Quinten comes in from behind with a chair while the ref is busy with Hugo and Eddy, and whacks Haven with it. Orlando tackles Quinten out of the ring and proceeds to unload on him on the outside. Chet has Haven in trouble BUT HERE COMES LYLE MORRIS!!! Chet's cousin is back from the beat he took just a few weeks ago! Chet is speechless as he watches his cousin coming down the aisle and that's the opening Haven needs to recover and hit the Sting of Solace of him to get the pin for the faces. Lyle comes into the ring afterwards and tries getting him some of the fallen Chet, but Hugo pulls his teammate out of the ring and gets him out of there. What's next for all of these guys now? ****1/2, 93% overall.

Seventh Match: Adam Hail vs. Simon Bennett
We're told that due to the behavior of Nathan Quinn and Paul Andrews earlier, neither manager is going to be allowed here for this match. So we have a length of chain that's going to be perfectly legal to use for the match as per Simon's right to choose. You better believe it's put to good use from both men. Adam manages to reopen Simon's forehead and that's going to get the blood flowing on his end. It's nothing but good shit reminiscent of old NWA bloody brawls in Mid-Atlantic. Bennett eventually gets a good solid run of straight offense, including a ton of whips from the chain across Hail's back. It comes to a conclusion when Bennett manages to wrap the chain around Adam's neck and uses it to help apply the Bennett Lock. It looks really bad for Hail, especially when he's got blood coming out of his mouth. He tries to fight out of it as he's not giving up but his body eventually fails him and referee has no choice but to call for the bell and stop the match and award the victory to Bennett. I'd say that's pretty final if you ask me. We get help for Hail as he's still down and out, and Bennett makes his exit, bloody and victorious. ****1/2, 93% overall.

God damn, 4 matches in a row with the same fucking rating?!?

MAIN EVENT: WWE Unified World Title
Wrakk (c) vs. Ryan Pattillo
Let's end this night on a high note, shall we? Take their match from a few months ago and crank it up about 5 or notches. The gold is on the line after all. Pattillo takes no shit from Wrakk the whole way through and matches the physicality. The ref is bumped when he checks on Wrakk who's slumped in the corner and Pattillo tries to nail him with a corner clothesline. Wrakk "accidentally" pulls the ref in the way as he moves out of the corner. We're going to be lawless for a while here. Wrakk nails Ryan from behind and then goes out to grab one of his title belts. He has nefarious uses in mind for it as he climbs back into the ring. Ryan headbutts Wrakk's midsection as he gets back up to his feet and Wrakk loses his grip on the belt. More brawling and eventually Wrakk gets in a position to where he tries the Demon Cross but Pattillo counters and has Wrakk set up for a Shutdown BUT HERE COMES JASON SOROLA!!! WTF IS THIS?!? Sorola grabs the fallen title belt and plasters Pattillo in the back of the head with it and makes his escape as the ref comes to. Wrakk takes the vulnerable Pattillo and hits the Demon Cross and goes for the pin. The ref makes the three count and that's going to allow Wrakk to retain the Unified World Title. We go off the air with Wrakk in celebration and Sorola glaring at Pattillo on the mat. What is this all about? ****1/2, 93% overall.

Make that 5 matches in a row.

Overall show rating: 94%

How are we going to close out the year on Raw?

Evil Vito

09-18-2023, 11:54 AM

Banger of a PPV for sure. And a killer theme. I don't think I've ever seen that many matches in a row pull identical ratings before but it's all great shit so so be it. Thankfully the horrible DUD show did not rear its ugly head.

As always, Hotbody's stuff was great. I was wondering how he'd be able to weasel out of it this time and I can't say I saw the black ink thing coming. Love it. Also love that he'd pissed Gavin off to such an extent that Gavin chased him up the ramp instead of just going up the ladder right then and there. Babyfaces and their lust for revenge can bite them in the ass sometimes.

Chet vs. Lyle being set up is a great outcome for that trios match. A good 'ol fashioned Family Feud is always a winning angle.

I still laugh at thinking that Hail and Bennett were brought in on the world's most expensive open contracts and they parlayed it into a lengthy run and a big stipulation match program. Out of curiosity, what stip do you pick in-game for a chain match?

WHY SOROLA WHY???

M-A-G

09-18-2023, 08:51 PM

Banger of a PPV for sure. And a killer theme. I don't think I've ever seen that many matches in a row pull identical ratings before but it's all great shit so so be it. Thankfully the horrible DUD show did not rear its ugly head.

Yeah, "Vicious" is one of my favorite songs from them, and it's even better live. That many matches in a row getting the same outcome is a WTF moment for sure, but that just means everyone had a fire under their asses. And I'm especially grateful that the DUD spared not just this show but the SmackDown! Send-Off as well.

As always, Hotbody's stuff was great. I was wondering how he'd be able to weasel out of it this time and I can't say I saw the black ink thing coming. Love it. Also love that he'd pissed Gavin off to such an extent that Gavin chased him up the ramp instead of just going up the ladder right then and there. Babyfaces and their lust for revenge can bite them in the ass sometimes.

I'm sure Gavin didn't see it coming either.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!

But, yeah, Hotbody continuing to Honkey Tonk his way through this run would be something to see in real life. And you just know the moniker is going to get longer after this. I'm just proud that he was able to conquer his fears in the face of such tremendous adversity.

Chet vs. Lyle being set up is a great outcome for that trios match. A good 'ol fashioned Family Feud is always a winning angle.

That six-man gave me pause as to who should take the loss because a lot of them have been on a rough string of losses on PPVs and at the same time the Stable That Isn't a Stable needs to be established, but I figured this was a good out for them so they don't lose too much face. Chet and Lyle will probably take care of their business at the Rumble. Now about the rest of the crew? We'll see about that.

I still laugh at thinking that Hail and Bennett were brought in on the world's most expensive open contracts and they parlayed it into a lengthy run and a big stipulation match program. Out of curiosity, what stip do you pick in-game for a chain match?

I mean, I'm paying them all that money, they'd better fucking deliver. I should've done a stipulation here where the loser gets the axe to really put a nail in the feud and save me some payroll expenses, but I'm not quite done with them as I need a contender for the World Title at the Rumble. Oops...let it slip. I'm pretty sure I just did a Hardcore Match for this outing as it was probably the closest thing to what I had in mind. I wish there were chain/strap matches as part of the game.

WHY SOROLA WHY???

The black sheep of the Hunters needs his attention. :(

I need to get to work on Raw tonight as it's the last show of the year. I'm curious how my financials look compared to last year. I'm sure there's going to be a noticeable dip thanks to you-know-who. :lol:

M-A-G

09-18-2023, 09:42 PM

OK, so I finished Raw and thus finished the whole year, and I didn't know the game gives you a top 100 workers list. I'll try to get that posted, too.

M-A-G

09-18-2023, 10:59 PM

Top 100 Workers of 20240

1. Butch Fleming
2. Stone Walsh
3. Duke
4. Whiskey Murdock
5. Ben Dillinger
6. Doyle Hughes
7. Sonya Braddock
8. Rayne (Free Agent)
9. C.J.
10. Orlando Kincaid
11. King Kavovit
12. Quinten McDaniels
13. Kayla Hunter (Free Agent)
14. Paul Andrews (???)
15. Missy Brantley
16. Gavin Jones
17. Jason Sorola
18. Haven
19. Moses McKay
20. Arianna
21. Martyn LaSalle
22. Eclypse
23. Eric Silverman (Free Agent)
24. Jordan Demiras
25. Madison
26. Brandon Reigns (Come on! He's the Superstar of the Year!!!)
27. Drakken
28. Carl Deveroux (???)
29. Ryan Pattillo
30. Tania
31. Chris Collins
32. Naomi Bailey
33. Faith Connors (REALLY? She's at least top 20!!!)
34. Aaron Ramsey
35. Jenna Kyle (lower than Faith, huh?)
36. Miles Shawcross
37. Phoebe Hanson
38. Aphrodite
39. Shane Croft (Free Agent)
40. Hannah McCormick
41. Chris Carville (Free Agent)
42. Sandy Rochet (Free Agent)
43. Vivian Merrick
44. Cameron Harper
45. Roman Kensington (Free Agent)
46. Kyle Jacobs
47. Jake Connelly
48. Lyle Morris
49. Raymond Delaney
50. Stephan Q. Sterling
51. Marty Preston (Free Agent)
52. Daniel St. Croix
53. Noah Carmichael (He's a top 10 at least!)
54. Rick Bach (Free Agent)
55. Ozzy Mandias
56. Randy Ellis
57. Marcus Dean (Free Agent)
58. Lisa Benton (???)
59. Blaine Bellamey
60. Kerry Cemenko
61. Billie Padgett
62. Scott Andrews (Free Agent)
63. Kevin Daniels (Free Agent)
64. Rick Hilton
65. Sophie Waters
66. Hector Delgado (Free Agent)
67. Nathan Quinn
68. Mikhail Grigori (Free Agent)
69. Ziggy Styles
70. Xavier Cross (Come on...)
71. L.A. Xander
72. Emma Edwards
73. Kevin Martel (Free Agent)
74. Lzzy Ryd
75. Wu
76. Bonnie Beckham
77. Hugo
78. Romeo Valiente
79. Azazel
80. Robbie Greer
81. Simon Bennett
82. Sammy Brady
83. Ian Moore (???)
84. Michael Haywood
85. Tokyo Kid
86. Wrakk (That's right. The fucking WORLD CHAMPION gets put this far down.)
87. Nate Exley
88. Shawn Dangerson
89. Brooke
90. Mourn (Free Agent)
91. Joey Osbourne
92. Ainsley (who just fucking debuted a few weeks ago)
93. Emilio London
94. Julian Merrick
95. Jorn (Free Agent)
96. Melissa Gold (Free Agent)
97. Tom Foley
98. Fortune (Free Agent)
99. Chet Morris
100. Riott

That's right. MICHAEL GOD DAMN HOTBODY doesn't make the cut, but a shit ton of senior citizens working the indy circuit and conventions get in, not to mention all the fucking managers. I should use this for promo fuel if nothing else. :lol:

Fuck, even my Intercontinental Champion, Seth Von Kamp didn't get picked. :n:

M-A-G

09-18-2023, 11:17 PM

End of the month (and year) notes:

BIRTHDAYS!!! Lisa Benton turns 51, Vic Gambler is 37, Vivian Merrick is 32, DeeJay Stokes is also 32 and seriously needs to be cut already, Bill Crockett is 24, Ainsley is 26, Zed Jones is 25, Doyle Hughes is 28, Jordan Demiras and Hugo are 27, Romeo Valiente is 38, and Billie Padgett is 41.

I'm praised for our increase in our money. Let's take a gander:

December finishes with a cool $12,964,840 which is an increase over the last two months. So in total I end the year with $202,799,040 in revenue, which is a drop from $258,283,155 in 2039. I wonder who I can blame for that.

Ecylpse, Sonya Braddock, Brandon Reigns, Carl Deveroux, and Doug Michaels all have contracts coming up for renewal.

I'm told Kevin Kleinrock is looking to start his own promotion down the road. Good luck with that.

Oh, and Lisa Benton plans on finally retiring at the end of the month. :(

So, yeah, nothing major...

Evil Vito

09-19-2023, 12:26 PM

Evil Vito

09-19-2023, 12:28 PM

Hotbody not making it is :lol: though. Consistently gets the most TV time, but now there's brilliant promo material to be had. He can launch an injunction.

Also I popped for Chris Carville in free agency. A name I remember from way back in the day!

M-A-G

09-23-2023, 10:48 PM

To this day I've never been able to figure out how the game calculates the top 100 workers. I'd think it's gotta be some sort of algorithm between the worker stats, overness, charisma, all of the extra factors that could add value (Superstar Look, Fonz, etc) but I really don't know. Would think there's an element of randomness to it too.

Or maybe the game is telling you to book Duke vs. Stone Walsh in the main event of WrestleMania. I don't know.

I think the "over" stat is the biggest factor and then it just goes from there. A lot of those free agents are on the list of people one of my staff members keeps telling me I should hire, even though they're way past their prime and I already had them on my roster a long ass time ago.

But never let it be said that I don't make the effort to right a few wrongs. Let's see what the ACTUAL top twenty looks like, as composed by the person who knows my roster best...me.

1. Noah Carmichael
2. Brandon Reigns
3. Butch Fleming
4. Haven
5. Wrakk
6. Sonya Braddock
7. Seth Von Kamp
8. Michael Hotbody
9. Kyle Jacobs
10. Faith Connors
11. Jenna Kyle
12. Xavier Cross
13. Jordan Demiras
14. Naomi Bailey
15. Quinten McDaniels
16. Chris Collins
17. Ryan Pattillo
18. Moses McKay
19. Clubber Harris
20. Salvatore Scabbia

There! Doesn't that look more reflective of the promotion over this last year than whatever the fuck the game thinks? I can't wait to see what it does in 12 months.

M-A-G

09-27-2023, 10:05 PM

Raw: December 31, 2040

It's the last show of the year! How are we going to close things out here tonight? The road to the Royal Rumble begins here!

TWENTY-MINUTE OPENING PROMO OF DOOM TIME!!! as the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk makes his way out to the ring. He's in a bragging mood and it's only appropriate considering last night. "And with one fell swoop, I end 2040 at the top of the mountain, the same way I would have the year prior had I not been gone. I told you all that I was going to right a ton of wrongs and I haven't run into anyone who can stop me from doing that. In just a few short hours, the new year begins and it's going to be an open canvas. A whole new landscape is ripe for a new masterpiece of destruction that I will craft with my bare hands! Now I know that in 4 weeks, we're all going to witness 30 men battle it out at the Royal Rumble, looking to earn that shot at the main event at WrestleMania. Understand that what you're fighting for is the right to be laying at my feet as I stand over you in victory at the grandest stage of them all! You want to talk about a countdown? These next few months will be a countdown to that moment of glory and nothing is getting in the way of that!"

Cue somebody who is going to try to get in the way of that as the music of Orlando Kincaid hits. This is...random? We know he's coming off a win last night at Bragging Rights, but maybe he's got a good reason to interrupt the WWE Unified World Champion so let's have a listen to what's on his mind as he enters the ring and addresses Wrakk. "Sorry to intrude, but I'm sitting there in the back and I'm listening to what you got to say when it hit me that it's a whole lot of nothing and I really don't give a damn about any of it. Now before you go getting all offended and mad about your feelings getting hurt, understand that's not the end of it as far as why I'm out here. See, you got yourself a nice shiny prize in your hands in the form of that Unified World Title. And as much fun I'd have slugging it out with 29 other guys in that Royal Rumble to get the chance to have a crack at that title, I haven't had much room for patience in my life as of late."

Wrakk takes this opportunity to interrupt. "Woah, woah, woah, you've got to be kidding me if you're interrupting my time just to ask for a title shot. You haven't done a damn thing to earn one."

Orlando continues. "See, actually that's where you're wrong. As you'll recall, a couple of weeks ago I was in this ring and I whipped some ass and I earned myself a contract that let me make whatever match I wanted for Bragging Rights."

"Yeah, we know. You made that 3-on-3 match last night. So what? What's that got to do with anything?"

"Well, as you know, I made a promise to turn over a new leaf in my career and get laser focused on some gold. I told Ryan Pattillo that I expected a title shot after Bragging Rights. Now, he didn't win, but the point still stands. I wanted a shot so I took the steps necessary to get a shot. You see, that contract let me make whatever match I wanted, with whoever I wanted to have involved, and whatever stipulations I wanted. So that match I made last night came with a little bonus clause: if my team came out on top, which they did, then I have the right to be the number one contender to the Unified World Title! And seeing as how this is the last night of the year and I'm supposed to be doing some celebrating anyway, I want to celebrate by beating your ass for that championship RIGHT NOW!"

The crowd cheers in approval as Wrakk makes gestures indicating that he's not down with that idea. Lisa Benton decides to intervene by coming out onto the stage and addressing the situation. "Wrakk, I hate to break it to you, but Orlando does have a case as far as being the number one contender to your title. As per the powers granted to him by the contract he won a few weeks back, his match at Bragging Rights could be made as he saw fit, with any additional riders. Orlando, unfortunately this doesn't mean that you're going to get your title shot at any time you want. It's not a Money in the Bank contract. So, no, this title match you're asking for isn't going to happen right now. IT'S GOING TO BE TONIGHT'S MAIN EVENT!" The crowd erupts in approval again as Wrakk throws an angry fit while Orlando makes his exit with an evil grin aimed at the champion. Looks like Lisa is serious about ending 2040 with a bang! We could start the new year with a new champion!

To the back we go as Nathan Quinn is with the Southern Belles who have demanded this time in order to address Leah and Bonnie Beckham. Nathan wants to ask them if they feel proud over the fact that they stole the Women's Tag Team Titles from his clients last night. Hannah and Bobbi Jo are not to be trifled with and they are not to be insulted by the likes of the Perfections and their fluke win! Hannah adds her own take, calling the name "Perfections" a joke because Leah and Bonnie are the furthest thing you can imagine from perfect. "And you don't want to believe that now, you'll want to reconsider when you see what we do to their faces the next time we get a crack at them!"

First Match: The Love Connection vs. The Wolves of Wall Street
And thus begins the movement to get the Love Connection as part of the tag title scene as I've got the match already in mind for the Rumble PPV. Is it wrong of me to want to load a card when the show is already going to have 30 guys as it is? Anyways, this match is the goods, and you can probably attribute the high rating to Aphrodite's loveliness...and her ass. Outside of her, the charisma from this match up isn't much to write home about. What you can write about is Aphrodite's ass. Oh, I guess I already did that. Well, I'll do it again as she puts it to good use by showing it off to Emilio London as he's got Caleb Greene down. Emilio is understandably hypnotized and Coleman comes in to snap him out of it by drop kicking him in the face, leaving him open to Caleb's Greene With Envy from the top to give the faces the win. The Love Connection celebrates and it's only now that we notice that the Future Foundation and Vivian Merrick are on the stage glaring at them. More players in the game? ****1/2, 93% overall.

Second Match: Neil Quint vs. Clayton North
The announcers bring up the fact that Neil has been on an amazing streak since debuting, as he has yet to suffer a loss. Well, no doubt he's looking to continue that run here. I'd say it's a good 1-2-punch to open with a solid tag match AND a balls-to-the-wall cruiserweight match. Neil is going to need the win here considering what's in store for him down the road...not to give anything away or anything. Clayton's partner, Corey Mattis, is on the apron giving the ref a piece of his mind, so Neil catapults Clayton into him after escaping a power bomb attempt. The collision sends Corey off the apron and sets Clayton up for the Quint-essential Top Rope Maneuver from Neil to give him the win and keep the streak going. ****1/4, 89% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Looks like he wants to celebrate his victory over Gavin Jones last night in that tremendous TLC Match. "Now I know that it's going to be hard for the remainder of the locker room to look back on 2040 with pride, seeing as hardly any of them accomplished even a fraction of what I was able to pull off. But we can't let that be a downer tonight! All they have to do is a little introspection and come out better than before, ready to make changes in their lives and make resolutions for the new year. Now, I understand resolutions can be difficult to stick to, and I clearly see that you people are the type who give up on them in the middle of February. But now I'm here to act as your inspiration to reach that better tomorrow and an amazing new year! Yes, much like how I reached for this Cruiserweight Title in my match last night, it's all about overcoming your fears and facing down challenges with a stern resolve! Last night, I conquered the crippling anxiety of heights and the savage brutality of Gavin's ego and now I stand here in victory, poised and ready for the new year, celebrating what once was and what will be! Plus, at the stroke of midnight, you had better believe that I am going to be smooching it up with the bestest and hottest girl around, the lovely Luscious! Yes, she is incredibly lucky to have a man as successful as I am at her side. I can't name someone in the WWE right now with a track record like mine, but if he exists, I'll slap him down, too. 2041 is going to be better than ever in the camp of Michael Hotbody! More wins! More accolades! More spectacle! You know what? I can't wait for midnight. I need to do some celebrating right now! Luscious, please come on out here. We're going to ring in the new year a bit early and I need those lips of yours to help. So come on out, babe!"

Luscious makes her way out, looking overjoyed and excited, and joins Hotbody in the ring. Hotbody continues his spiel. "Oh, baby, this is a moment. This is a moment that I'm going to remember for decades and decades. Now I get that the new year is going to have its own share of hurdles, but I stand here the Lord of the Ladder and the Conqueror of Fears! So 2041, I say do your worst because right now, I'm going to get me some of the best! Let's count it down, baby, from 10! 10...9...8...7..." Hotbody stops when he realizes that the crowd is counting along with him. "No, no, no, this is only for Luscious and me. You don't get to do the countdown with us. You have your own countdown later, OK? Your only job is to observe and learn from my example and status, OK? No counting! Where were we? Right...6...5...4...3...NO COUNTING ALONG!!! 2...1...LAY ONE ON ME, BABY!!!" The two smooch in a heated fashion as the crowd boos. It's actually a pretty lengthy kiss with no end in sight until the music of Jake Connelly hits, heralding the arrival of the man himself and his clients. Well, they are involved in the next scheduled match and Jake looks irritated. Luscious and Hotbody remain oblivious and it takes Jake tapping on Hotbody's shoulder to break things up. Ethan and Jake signal that it's time for Hotbody and Luscious to scram and the Cruiserweight Champion takes the hint as the circumstances are not in his favor and he bails with Luscious in tow, looking upset as we go to break.

Third Match: Hugo and Chet Morris vs. Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper
Back from break with this match getting underway. Chet and Hugo are seething over what happened to them last night and poor Ethan Lang has to suffer from their double-teaming brutality. Harper plays cheerleader on the apron, holding up the framed photo in hopes of inspiring the crowd and Ethan. Connelly isn't sure what to make of Harper's behavior. Anyway, Ethan still manages to fight back in a great showing and eventually makes the tag to Harper. Harper and Chet are legal as the former does his best to get his team back on track. Hugo gets the idea to go after Connelly on the outside. Ethan summons enough energy to dive through the ropes to intercept him, catching the ref's attention long enough for Chet to boot Harper in the nuts. Harper is down and at Chet's mercy, but LYLE MORRIS IS HERE!!! He runs in and tackles Chet again like he did last night, but the ref has turned back around at this point and sees the interference and calls for the bell. That's going to be a DQ win for Chet and Hugo, but that's a minute detail in all of this as Lyle continues to go to town on Chet's face. Hugo drags Chet out, bailing him out again. Lyle wants to pursue, but by this point, Harper has recovered and is upset as all hell over what Lyle did. He spins Lyle around so that they're face-to-face and Harper gives him a piece of his mind. Lyle really isn't in the mood for this shit and responds by slapping the taste out of Harper's mouth, knocking him down. Lyle takes his leave, no doubt in search of Chet. Well, that was a circus to say the least. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Fourth Match: Leah vs. Bobbi Jo
The feud MUST CONTINUE!!! Bobbi is naturally still upset over her team no longer being the champions and her actions here in this match reflect that. We get a hard-hitting affair from these two as we're likely to see more of this in the inevitable rematch down the line. They slug it out on the outside as the ref is delivering his count to the two women. After being knocked down on the ground, both women fight their way up. Leah starts to climb into the ring but Bobbi grabs her legs and tries to pull Leah. Leah clings on for dear life and it's a struggle. Ultimately, Leah kicks Bobbi away, sending her into the announce table. Leah rolls back into the ring and the ref continues his count to 10 as Bobbi is still on the outside and that's going to give the win to Leah. Like it was mentioned earlier, the feud will be continuing and Hannah McCormick decides to come in afterwards from behind Leah and deck her in the back of the head with her custom mic. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Once more to the back as Madison is on the phone, walking down a hallway. She eventually comes across Moses McKay who snatches the phone out of her hand and tells the person on the other end that she'll call back and hangs up. Madison tries taking the phone back but Moses keeps it away from her. He tells her that there are more important issues at hand. Like the fact that the Royal Effect should be the Tag Team Champions right now. "Now, I don't particularly care about what you were hashing out right now, but I am expecting you to answer me this. What exactly do you plan to do about this issue? You owe us."

Madison stands defiant. "I, and especially Blaine and Robbie, don't owe you a damn thing. You want another go at the titles? Go earn it! Now give me back my damn phone."

Moses merely sneers, then responds by grabbing Madison by the throat, threatening to shove the phone down her throat. Blaine Bellamey happens to come around the corner and sees what's happening and immediately jumps on Moses, tackling him to the ground. We got ourselves a fight on our hands! Eventually enough officials come in to separate the two as Moses makes his retreat and Blaine goes to Madison's aide. Looks like more tag team issues that need to be resolved.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time with Jason Sorola, no doubt because he wants to explain himself for what he did last night in the main event. "Now, enough time has passed since Bragging Rights to where I've heard all the talk and all the speculation. Everyone asking the question as to why I did what I did. The popular theory that's being floated around is that I'm just jealous. Jealous over what the rest of my former colleagues have managed to achieve without me. Well, you know what? So what if I am? I'm human! I have feelings, just like all of you! You can't sit there and try to act like you're above me! I can guarantee that every single one of you people has felt like I have! You're jealous of your co-workers who get the promotions you think you deserve! You're jealous of your neighbors; they've got a better house or a fancier car in their driveway! Some of you probably came here alone and are looking at all these couples and you're angry and jealous, wishing you had what they have! DON'T JUDGE ME!!! You don't have that right! Here's what separates me from the rest of you: I actually do deserve what I'm after. You don't deserve a promotion, you're probably terrible at your job and take home supplies and food from the break room! You don't deserve a better house, you'd probably just turn it into a hovel like you already live in! You don't deserve love, you're freaking pathetic! Me, on the other hand? I've always been the most talented, especially compared to the rest of the Hunters! So when I have to sit there in the back, the victim of circumstance, and I have to watch losers like Ryan Pattillo get an opportunity of a lifetime, one that he doesn't deserve, you think I was just going to hold my tongue and carry on like it doesn't bother me? Ryan, you were a terrible leader, and you turned into a terrible friend. Karma has made its way to the doorstep of all of you guys. It bit Gavin Jones in the ass when he tried to win the Cruiserweight Title, something that I was supposed to win for myself. It definitely came and bit Ryan in the ass when that Unified World Title got snatched from his hands. And I can assure you that there's more karma to come!"

With that declaration, the music of Michael Haywood hits, interrupting Jason's tirade. Michael, who is also a former teammate of Jason's, makes his way down to the ring defiantly and joins Jason to confront him over what he's saying. "Now, Jason, I hope you understand that I'm not about to fight the battles of Ryan or Gavin. They're big boys and they understood what was in store for them when it came time for us to go our separate ways. But here you, basically lumping me together with them and your tirade about them. Frustrations are frustrations, and we all deal with them in our own way. You seem to be choosing to deal with them by whining and taking joy in what you're calling 'karma'."

"Yeah, what about it, Michael?" Jason asks.

"Well, you know me, Jason. I like being forewarned and prepared. So, with you running down the list of people you think deserve your little karma or whatever, I just have to ask, is there any karma coming my way?" Michael asks while leaning in towards Jason in an aggressive fashion. "I mean, by all means, Jason, don't let me stand in your way of this indignation you've got going on here. Certainly I must've wronged you in some fashion. I just have to know. Am I due for some of that karma?"

Jason composes himself and responds with a demeaning tone. "Actually, you know something, Michael? You're not worth it. And you never were. I know what you're trying to do here. You want to goad me. Well, you can go puff your chest somewhere else. I've got better things to do." With that, Jason tucks his tail and rolls out of the ring, leaving Michael to continue to glare at him as he takes his leave. Surely Jason can't be scared, no?

Fifth Match: Clubber Harris and Seth Von Kamp vs. Zed Jones and Chris Collins
So many feuds that need to continue. We're told that there was some sort of interaction in the back with Luscious and Jake Connelly, but we don't have all the details right now. Nevertheless, this match is the goods, loaded with heat on both sides. No doubt we'll be getting another one-on-one round between Zed and Harris down the line. The match comes down to Harris and Collins as the legal men, while Zed and Seth fight on the outside. Luscious tries sneaking up behind Seth with the Intercontinental Title belt, but he turns around and catches her in the act. He starts going after her as she backs up. Zed goes on the attack, shoving Seth from behind, sending him into the ring post. The ref checks on Seth as Zed rolls back into the ring. Luscious slides the belt to Zed and he clobbers Harris in the back of the head as he's setting Collins up for Club Pain. Collins hits the Fall From Heaven and the ref turns to see the pin attempt and he counts the fall to award the win to the heels. What a brawl. ****1/2, 92% overall.

MAIN EVENT: WWE Unified World Title
Wrakk (c) vs. Orlando Kincaid
Let's end the year with some awesome shall we. Wrakk expresses his outrage over the situation, calling it unfair that he hasn't had time to prepare for something like this, not to mention that he doesn't think Kincaid has really earned this match. Orlando fires back, saying that there are three men out there that can point to the ass kicking they got last night as evidence that he damn sure deserves this match. Not to mention the ass kicking that Wrakk is going to get right now. Orlando says it's nothing personal. It's just a case of wrong place, wrong time for Wrakk. This is simply business. What's definitely personal and what's definitely something that gives Orlando pleasure, is beating the piss out of a sorry son of a bitch like Quinten McDaniels. Orlando hopes he's watching because this is a moment Orlando's going to throw in Quinten's face. With those pleasantries out of the way, this match certainly delivers, all things considered. I mean, there's no real history here, plus it's so weird when you consider Orlando was a heel not too long ago, and here he is, closing out the year IN THE MAIN EVENT FOR THE FUCKING TITLE. I guess one good angle is all he really needed. Well, it's fun all around. Of course, the fun just has to get ruined as Orlando has Wrakk in a vulnerable state and it looks like he's about to close in on a victory but Quinten McDaniels has to fuck it all up by running in and tackling Orlando from behind. The ref is going to call for the bell and Wrakk is going to retain, but the real story here is Quinten going to town on Orlando. Wrakk gets the hell out of here with his championship as Orlando continues to suffer an assault from McDaniels. Quinten ultimately decides to put an exclamation point on this attack by hoisting up Orlando and laying him out with the Great Depression. We go off the air as our final image of 2040 is Quinten McDaniels standing over a fallen Orlando Kincaid. What's next for these two? *****, 94% overall.

Overall show rating: 91%

Up next: THE NEW YEAR BEGINS ON SUPERSTARS!!!

M-A-G

09-27-2023, 10:08 PM

Forget about some other end of the year notes, as I've got a few more NXT guys thinking they're the shit and ready to come up to the main roster. Two of them are just going to have to be content with being managers because, Jesus Christ, they suck donkey dong in other departments. The only question is whether or not they fit in right now.

Splaya

09-28-2023, 10:56 AM

What simulators are you guys using for these

M-A-G

09-28-2023, 11:22 AM

I'm still rocking 4.2 of EWR, having converted all my stuff from 3.0.

Evil Vito

09-28-2023, 02:26 PM

What simulators are you guys using for these

Yeah EWR 4.2 is usually what I use but I'm very close to finally trying Pro Wrestling Sim.

EWR 4.2 is fun but incredibly simplified and after 20+ years it's easy for me to get burnout quickly. TEW I find to be far too immersive.

PWS it sounds like is somewhere in the middle so I'm keen to try it, just gotta find the time.

Evil Vito

09-28-2023, 02:35 PM

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favortie host, The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! Looks like he wants to celebrate his victory over Gavin Jones last night in that tremendous TLC Match. "Now I know that it's going to be hard for the remainder of the locker room to look back on 2040 with pride, seeing as hardly any of them accomplished even a fraction of what I was able to pull off. But we can't let that be a downer tonight! All they have to do is a little introspection and come out better than before, ready to make changes in their lives and make resolutions for the new year. Now, I understand resolutions can be difficult to stick to, and I clearly see that you people are the type who give up on them in the middle of February. But now I'm here to act as your inspiration to reach that better tomorrow and an amazing new year! Yes, much like how I reached for this Cruiserweight Title in my match last night, it's all about overcoming your fears and facing down challenges with a stern resolve! Last night, I conquered the crippling anxiety of heights and the savage brutality of Gavin's ego and now I stand here in victory, poised and ready for the new year, celebrating what once was and what will be! Plus, at the stroke of midnight, you had better believe that I am going to be smooching it up with the bestest and hottest girl around, the lovely Luscious! Yes, she is incredibly lucky to have a man as successful as I am at her side. I can't name someone in the WWE right now with a track record like mine, but if he exists, I'll slap him down, too. 2041 is going to be better than ever in the camp of Michael Hotbody! More wins! More accolades! More spectacle! You know what? I can't wait for midnight. I need to do some celebrating right now! Luscious, please come on out here. We're going to ring in the new year a bit early and I need those lips of yours to help. So come on out, babe!"

Luscious makes her way out, looking overjoyed and excited, and joins Hotbody in the ring. Hotbody continues his spiel. "Oh, baby, this is a moment. This is a moment that I'm going to remember for decades and decades. Now I get that the new year is going to have its own share of hurdles, but I stand here the Lord of the Ladder and the Conqueror of Fears! So 2041, I say do your worst because right now, I'm going to get me some of the best! Let's count it down, baby, from 10! 10...9...8...7..." Hotbody stops when he realizes that the crowd is counting along with him. "No, no, no, this is only for Luscious and me. You don't get to do the countdown with us. You have your own countdown later, OK? Your only job is to observe and learn from my example and status, OK? No counting! Where were we? Right...6...5...4...3...NO COUNTING ALONG!!! 2...1...LAY ONE ON ME, BABY!!!" The two smooch in a heated fashion as the crowd boos. It's actually a pretty lengthy kiss with no end in sight until the music of Jake Connelly hits, heralding the arrival of the man himself and his clients. Well, they are involved in the next scheduled match and Jake looks irritated. Luscious and Hotbody remain oblivious and it takes Jake tapping on Hotbody's shoulder to break things up. Ethan and Jake signal that it's time for Hotbody and Luscious to scram and the Cruiserweight Champion takes the hint as the circumstances are not in his favor and he bails with Luscious in tow, looking upset as we go to break.

The year of Hotbody comes to a fitting conclusion. After tons and tons of faces interrupting him all year, he gets to make out with his woman and rub everyone's noses in it after all of that. Also him telling crowds to stop counting is such brilliant shit too.

A nice way to close out the year. A surprise title match to finish out the year is a cool touch, furthers Kincaid's business along while also making him look kinda brilliant for getting that loophole put into his match stipulation.

Curious to see how (or if) Lisa Benton gets any sort of a proper write-off. Does she just retire with dignity, bequeathing the position along the way? Does somebody force her out? Does Michael Hotbody become the Supreme General Manager of all of WWE in addition to his many other accolades? Stay tuned!

M-A-G

09-28-2023, 10:44 PM

There will certainly be a degree of dignity to Lisa's departure. Counting her training and developmental time, she's essentially been with me for 30 years, so I figure a tenure like that deserves a nice send-off. Well, as nice as it can get with Hotbody around. It's most definitely going to suck without her, but it's been long enough. Her replacement, however, is up in the air as I'm going back and forth between two options. There's one really obvious choice that would certainly be fitting.

M-A-G

09-28-2023, 10:56 PM

Finished booking Superstars and Wrakk is still on my ass about wanting to work a match with Duke. :|

Evil Vito

09-29-2023, 10:41 AM

30 years in-game is a pretty wild tenure, to say the least you got your money's worth out of her. Thankfully EWR 4.2 lets you assign any non-wrestler as an authority figure and I always appreciated the workaround of allowing wrestlers and managers to be authority figures too provided they were set up with the gimmick. Always helped for simulating situations like Commissioner Regal back in the day.

Evil Vito

09-29-2023, 10:45 AM

So when I booked the Rumble in EWR I tended to follow something similar to what WWE did in real life, I'd have the title challenger be someone unexpected who wouldn't normally be bought in a title program, therefore freeing more stars up for the Rumble match.

I feel like I'd totally just do a "first name out of this tumbler gets a PPV title match instead of having to be in the Rumble" deal and that would be my excuse to get a random like Duke an opportunity

Time to earn your year-end rating bitch

M-A-G

10-04-2023, 09:50 PM

Nah, I've got an idea as to how to get to a match involving Wrakk and Duke for SmackDown!. It'll be a tad contrived, but hopefully it gets Wrakk off my ass. What's he got to complain about? He's the fucking WORLD CHAMPION!

I've already got my pick for who he'll face for the Rumble event. I think it's the right balance between "not a mega star" and "it's not beyond the realm of possibility this guy could win". Although I am a bit miffed that it's another dude who didn't make the cut for the top 100 for what I'm paying him.

I wish the game could let you book the order of entry for the Rumble, or at the very least the first two guys along with who you want the last two guys to be.

Evil Vito

10-05-2023, 10:08 AM

Yeah that's one way in which the other sim games give you more control. You can pick order of entry, specific eliminations, or anything like that.

Reading EWR Rumble write ups is funny because they'll have like 25 guys in the ring before an elimination.

M-A-G

10-07-2023, 10:29 PM

It also doesn't let you do draws like the '94 Rumble. Although, I can understand that as with something like this, you'd want just one winner. I'm still on board with the idea of number 30 winning the whole thing, but only because the other 29 have already eliminated each other.

M-A-G

10-14-2023, 08:51 AM

LOL, did a quick merchandise check again and not only is fucking Ethan Lang still rocking the top ten, four of the spots on there are taken by women, including Lisa. :lol: WTF is wrong with this thing?

Evil Vito

10-15-2023, 01:21 PM

Hey now! That “Thank You Lisa” retirement shirt deserves to be a best seller!

M-A-G

10-15-2023, 10:58 PM

Her finisher is a submission hold called "Get Bent" and I can imagine something like that on a T-shirt would go over well with the teenagers...and maybe some of the trans community.

M-A-G

10-25-2023, 07:50 AM

I've been ping-ponging in my head over whether or not I should debut some of the new guys right now. Things are pretty packed right now as it is, don't you think? Plus, I already have the Rumble card set. I suppose I could use them as a back up if any injuries come around.

Evil Vito

10-25-2023, 08:43 AM

It's tricky because once they decide they want out of developmental they simply won't get any better - and keeping there only serves to lessen morale.

So for me it's always just kinda a sink or swim thing. I'll give you a chance unless your stats are really trash. But if you're not bringing in good numbers, you're cut.

Having a guy or two debut in the Rumble is a pretty convenient excuse to get some new faces in the roster even if they slowly get integrated into the main shows after.

Kudos to you for not returning to the brand split roots, I'd have probably gone with a 3-way split by now with this many talented guys and gals to juggle.

M-A-G

10-25-2023, 08:46 AM

Talent-wise, they're really good, but lacking in the charisma department. I do have a manager to solve that problem, but like I said, I've got virtually everybody involved in something, the Rumble is coming up, and WrestleMania needs to be stacked with the big names. I might have to hold out until after then.

M-A-G

11-01-2023, 10:39 PM

Fuck, I need to get back to this. Been hella distracted as of late, plus I've been catching up on Lower Decks. Don't ask me why. I don't even like Star Trek. :|

M-A-G

11-03-2023, 05:49 AM

Superstars: January 3, 2041

It's the first show of the new year! Let's do this!!!

Opening Match: Neil Quint vs. Ziggy Styles
Ziggy gets on the mic and wants to be the first to welcome us all to the new year. "How appropriate it is that I, the great Ziggy Styles, am selected to be part of the first match of 2041! It's a time for new beginnings and reflecting on what was and seeing where you can improve in your lives! Even I am capable of benefitting from a bit of soul searching. And while last week did not produce the intended outcome I had in mind, it taught me a lot. I can be doing so much more, working so much harder to bring you positivity you all need! It's no longer just about the wrestlers in the back or the fans of the WWE. The whole world needs to learn to get Ziggy with it! Put your faith in me and I can be the rock you lean on and the source of strength you need to stick to your resolutions! It begins with a small step, one that I will take right now! So come on out here, Neil!" Neil Quint does indeed come out, guns blazing. The man's been on a tremendous roll. That's bound to lead to something good for him, no? I might as well make the first match of the year something of high quality. The match comes to an end when Quint flips out of a belly-to-back suplex from Ziggy and lands on his feet. He drop kicks Ziggy from behind, sending him face first into the turnbuckle, knocking him silly and he collapses to the ground, leaving him vulnerable to the Quintessential Top Rope Manuever from...uh...the top, from Neil to keep the streak alive. ****1/2, 91% overall.

We're told that there are more details surrounding the confrontation between Luscious and Jake Connelly that was mentioned on Raw. And there's even video! Let's see what happened.

We're shown Jake Connelly making his way down a hall, presumably to meet up with his clients. Luscious is seen trying to catch up with him and she confronts him over what happened with Hotbody's celebration. "Hey, who the hell do you think you are? That was our moment out there! You have no idea how mad you made Michael! That was a beautiful moment between two people who have been through hell and back and wanted to enjoy just a bit of satisfaction and joy! I know you're just a miserable old man, Jake, but you don't get to just throw your weight around anymore!"

Jake Connelly looks like he's not in the mood to be dealing with this, but nonetheless responds. "Look, miss, we all have better things to do than watch a round of tonsil hockey. If you or your boy have got a problem with that, you're welcome to do something about it."

"Oh, we most definitely have a problem with it! I hope your guys are ready to pay the price for this! I want them to show up on Superstars and they can deal with the wrath of Galino & Farnes! How about that?"

"Fine. Ethan and Cameron will absolutely be there. After what happened tonight, they could use a chance to get out some aggression."

We're back to present time as that little exchange brings us to...

Second Match: Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper vs. Galino & Farnes
Well, before this gets underway we're shown a video of the locker room where Cameron approaches Jake Connelly, apparently upset over this match. Jake asks what the problem is. "You know what the problem is. I want Lyle Morris tonight! He insulted me, hell, he insulted ALL of us with what he did on Raw. I had that match in the bag and he wants to come on down and ruin things? No, this is BS. I don't see why we need to have this match tonight."

Connelly looks down and takes a deep breath before responding in a pretty harsh tone. "We're having this match because I put it together, OK? If you wanted Lyle so badly, maybe instead of going off on your own to pout on Monday, you could've talked to me first and I could've tried to get you that match. Instead, this is where we are. It's not the match you wanted, but I still expect you to take it just seriously as any other. Ethan expects you to take it seriously, too. Do you understand?"

Cameron looks a bit upset, but ultimately he relents and apologizes. "You know, you're right. You're right and I'm sorry. I've been getting myself all tangled in a frenzy these past few weeks, I don't what it is. I'm gonna work on that and I'm going to make this match worth your while." And with that Cameron turns around to make his way to the ring...but not before grabbing the framed photo he gave Jake.

So the match begins and it's just funny how all of Hotbody's crew manages to piss off everyone in the locker room. It's a good outing, but despite what Cameron told Jake earlier, he still doesn't seem to be too keen on spending a lot of time in the match, preferring to continue playing cheerleader with the framed picture. Things come to a head when Ethan makes his own comeback after Galino & Farnes mess up SERIOUS INQUIRIES! Farnes gets dumped but Galino goes on the assault from behind and tries whipping Lang into the ropes for something, but it's reversed and Galino collides with Harper still on the apron, still with his attention to the crowd. Harper goes off the apron and Lang catches Galino off the rebound in a small package and that's going to be enough for a surprise upset from Lang. Harper throws a fit but Connelly points out the victory and that seems to somewhat satisfy him. ****1/2, 92% overall.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as we're going to get Kyle Jacobs out here to join us. We haven't seen him since his big win over Xavier Cross on the last SmackDown!. What's he got to say this time around? "Here we are finally kicking off the new year. It's time for us to get started on those resolutions we made as that clock struck midnight a few days ago. I made a few myself and while I'm going to keep some of those to myself, they're kind of embarrassing, there is a big one that have no problem sharing, not just with all of you, but with the entire locker room. Despite my last name, my one overarching goal is to have my own legacy in this business, separate from what my uncle and my father accomplished. The thing about that, though, is that would mean accomplishing things that neither man ever did during their career. I've taken major steps towards that goal, including capturing the Intercontinental Title, but there's an even bigger step that needs to be approached and overcome. Having a substantial, long-lasting legacy just isn't complete unless you're one of the lucky few to be standing in victory at the end of the main event of WrestleMania. So I'm making the move right now and letting you all know what's up. This is my declaration that I will be entering the Royal Rumble! Out of a pool of 30, there will be only one, and I know how to buck the odds better than anyone. Another WrestleMania moments awaits me when I head into that main event and walk out with gold one more time, only now it's for the biggest prize at the county fair. I will make the WWE Unified World Title part of the Jacobs legacy, and it begins at the Rumble!"

Now this can't just be the WWE without someone else coming on out to trade words. Here comes Chris Collins out from the back and he joins Kyle in the ring to share his thoughts. "Kyle, Kyle, Kyle; you know, people like you make me sick. You may be second generation like I am, but you fall into the category of people who want to have it both ways. You want to carve out your own piece of history, to leave behind a memorable legacy you can call your own. The problem, though, is that you can't bring yourself to stop fawning over those who came before you. You still want to praise them and ask everyone to still hold them in such high esteem. Well, Kyle, answer me this: how do you expect anyone to remember the things you do when you don't do a damn thing to make them forget about what your uncle and dad did? You don't have it in you to completely separate yourself from them. Now me, on the other, I did what was right and I made sure that right from the get-go, the story of Chris Collins was going to be mine and mine alone. I annihilated my own father because it was necessary! It's what needed to be done and I had the stomach for it! And just look at how far I've come without hitching my wagon to him! I've become my own man. I can look at myself in the mirror with a sense of pride. And I hope you and anyone else back there watching understands that I'm not done. I'm still gunning for that top spot once again and I'm going to be even better than ever in that role. You see, not only am I also announcing my participation in the Royal Rumble, I'm am also DEMANDING that Seth Von Kamp man up and give me another shot at the Intercontinental Title, one that I deserve! I will walk into that Rumble with that Intercontinental Title in my name and then I'm going to WrestleMania where I'll walk out with all the gold, something none of our seniors could ever hope to accomplish. Certainly something YOU could never accomplish!"

Kyle is keen on firing back and does so. "I'll say this much about my father and uncle. While they most certainly didn't achieve what you have, they can at least sit back in retirement with pride knowing that they'll carry way more respect and character than you ever will. Your own father, despite everything you've ever said about him and did to him, will always be on that high pedestal that you wish you could reach because he was actually a man about things. We don't choose the circumstances of our birth, and, yeah, it can be a pain with the family I was born into, but they paved the way for me and I'll never forget that! Isn't it about time you grew the hell up, Chris?!?"

Chris Collins also looks keen on firing back. "YOU DON'T GET TO GIVE ME LIP, BOY! I grew up a long time ago when I had to become the man of the house! I had to be the one keeping things together because "Daddy" wanted to be here in front of these undeserving slack-jawed nobodies! Forget your lineage. You have a LOOOOOOOONG way to go before you even measure up to ME! All the stories and coaching you got from your old man and your uncle, I assure you didn't get you ready for facing someone like me. I'll be looking to make a statement come Rumble time, and you're going to understand it the hard way, when you're out on your ass on that floor after I toss you and your stupidity out of this ring! Use this time up until that night to prepare yourself for failure, because while we're both second generation, I got to where I'm at because the real teacher was me, while you're still clinging to the scraps you got from what came before you. But don't you worry, Kyle. At the Rumble, I'm going to be your daddy."

With that last line of trash talk Kyle gets all righteous and shit and decides to slap the taste out of the mouth of Collins. Collins reels back, then looks back at Kyle with a fury in his eye, but ultimately decides to call it a night by rolling out of the ring, insulted with this whole matter. He yells a few choice words at Kyle, stuff along the lines of "You'll see". How is this going to go down between these two second generation stars?

Third Match: Hannah McCormick vs. Ainsley
Debra Phillips is on commentary continuing to run down and bad mouth Ainsley. She talks about how it's every woman for herself once they come onto the scene here in the WWE. She and Ainsley may have trained together, but it's not possible for the two of them to have the same kind of career. Debra just pulled the trigger first because she knows she's got what it takes to survive in the wasteland on her own. Well, that discussion continues as the match goes on. Hannah is extra salty coming off that loss at Bragging Rights and no longer being a champion. Ainsley has to play underdog here, as Hannah is the bigger star and the vet (relatively) in this situation, but she hangs tough regardless. It comes to an end when Ainsley is knocked off the apron and hits the announce table on the way down. Hannah tries going for the kill, but the ref tries holding her back so the count can begin. Ainsley tries getting back up and Debra is in her face. They trade a few choice words, but Ainsley decides to get back to business and turns to go back to the ring. This opens the door for Debra to sneak up behind her and shove her into the ring post and then back into the ring. Hannah capitalizes with an Oklahoma Roll for the cheap pin victory. Neither she nor Debra have time to gloat as Leah of the Perfections comes running down to get her some of Hannah for retribution. Hannah bails as Leah gives chase and no doubt there's going to be more to come from that department. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Fourth Match: Alexander Piero vs. Lonny Richards
Nothing really major happening here. Piero needs to get put back on track as that loss to Collins was a major detour for him. We need as many possible winners for the Rumble as possible to make things exciting. Madison cheers her man on as he's able to catch Lonny coming off the top into a power slam and that sets things up for him to finish it off with the Flashpoint to give him the win. ****1/2, 92% overall.

More In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as Quinten McDaniels comes out to the ring, fresh off of screwing Orlando Kincaid in the Unified Title match on Raw. He gets on the mic and tells us that he's here to draw the line between himself and Orlando Kincaid. "Actually, it's more of a reinforcement of the line that Orlando himself drew when he decided to be selfish and hostile towards me! And all of it was made even worse when he decided to think that he deserved the Unified World Title. Orlando, I will be absolutely damned if a traitor like you EVER becomes world champion before I do! I've given my all to my career and to this company. I have building a path that broke free from the likes of Haven and Butch Fleming and Noah Carmichael and ESPECIALLY YOU! All of that work and sacrifice isn't going to go to waste just so I can sit and watch you try to get ahead of me. I am your superior and if refusing to joing up with me wasn't a slap in the face, Orlando, you better believe that I'm taking your little stunt on Monday VERY personal! Pal, in case you haven't been paying attention, you're dealing with the man who won last year's Royal Rumble and don't kid yourself thinking that I can't do it again because I'll gladly toss you out on your ass and leave you behind like the footnote that you are and you can watch me take that Unified World Title at WrestleMania. I hope it stings then like it stung on Raw when you came to senses after that beat down I gave you and it hit you like a ton of bricks that you didn't get your moment in the spotlight! I warned you, Orlando, that you were signing your death warrant by being my enemy. Well here's the line! You're welcome to cross it if you like, but know that even if you don't have the guts to do it yourself, I'll do the crossing on my own and end you like I'll end Haven. And with those two pieces off my board, I can finally move on! So let it be known right here and now, that I announce my participation in this year's Royal Rumble and I'm looking for a repeat. I dare anyone to just to throw me over that top rope!"

Cue someone who might try to throw Quinten over that top rope as Orlando Kincaid's music hits and the man himself makes his way out with determination in his eye. He's looking pissed as all hell, but to Quinten's credit he's not backing down and demands Orlando get in the ring with him. Orlando obliges and we have ourselves a brawl! It goes back and forth, eventually ending up outside after a tackle from Orlando sends them both over the top rope. Orlando looks to press the advantage, but Quinten goes low and sends Orlando into the steel steps. He sets Orlando up by draping him face down across the lower half of the steps and then puts an exclamation point on it by slamming the top half on top of Orlando. Quinten takes his leave with a glint of satisfaction in his eye as this is twice now that Orlando has been humiliated by his hand.

Fifth Match: Ozzy Mandias and The Royal Effect vs. Jordan Demiras and The Wyldhearts
This will be fun, I'm sure. Both Moses and Kavovit reiterate their desire, their NEED, to have another go at the Wyldhearts and the Unified Tag Team Titles. Their path to winning a repeat Tag Team of the Year Slammy starts by destroying the pretenders to the throne who think they can run and hide. Madison is with her boys, pulling double duty tonight, and she fires back that neither Blaine or Robbie are hiding. They're not that hard to find because they're the guys with the big shiny belts that mark them as the best tag team going on in the WWE today. The Royal Effect may have burned way too bright, too soon, and for too short a time, and trying to snuff out the Wyldhearts isn't going to make it any better. So I would imagine this 6-man is just all over the place. It comes down to Kavovit and Jordan as the legal men. Jordan stalks Kavovi as he tries to get in position for an Axe Kick to finish things off. Ozzy comes charging at Jordan, though, but Jordan is quick to the draw and hangs Ozzy on the middle rope via a drop toe hold. Moses discreetly hands Ozzy one of the Slammys. Jordan goes over to try to get him some more of Ozzy while Kavovit has the ref distracted. Ozzy turns around, surprising Jordan with a shot across the forehead with the Slammy and Kavovit immediately capitalizes with a quick schoolboy on Jordan and that's going to give the heels the cheap victory. *****, 94% overall.

To the back we go as Dusk wants to cut a promo from whatever dark recesses she's hanging around. Her target for her vitriol is Jenna Kyle as she calls the Wonder From Down Under a sad excuse for a competitor as she failed to capture the Women's Title at Bragging Rights. She asks Jenna to consider the ramifications of such a colossal failure. If Jenna couldn't rise to the challenge and conquer Sonya Braddock, then the little Barbie doll doesn't have a prayer should she ever cross Dusk's path. "You can't deny what you witnessed with your own eyes when your friend, Faith, was swallowed whole by the darkness at my disposal. You can dig down deep as hard as you want, but eventually you can't dig anymore and all that's left is a void inside of you. And you fear that void, Jenna. People like you always do. But not to worry. It'll be replaced by an even more paralyzing and consuming fear...ME!"

Sixth Match: Eddy Clash vs. Xavier Cross
This is probably Eddy's biggest test to date as we've got a multiple-time world champion in Cross here. It's a good showcase for both guys as Cross has to use his smarts and experience to overcome the size difference. They tumble to the outside when Eddy gives Cross the Cactus Clothesline. Clash tosses Cross back in as the count is on. The ref checks on Cross as Eddy tries getting back in the ring. But what's this? Someone is grabbing Eddy's leg from under the apron! Eddy can't get back in as he struggles to break the grip. The count reaches 10, though, so it's going to be a win for Cross. Eddy reaches down and tries to pull the person out from under the ring. IT'S HUGO! Oh, boy, it's hoss-on-hoss time. Looks like these two didn't get enough of each other at Bragging Rights. They brawl up the stage and to the back as we get more and more people out to try to get things calmed down. ****1/2, 92% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Salvatore Scabbia and Ronnie Costello vs. The Academy
Let's try this without the ladies. Brooke gets on the mic as she declares that she wants to lay down the law as she agrees that a new year is all about new opportunities. She says that every belt and person holding them in the WWE is now on notice. She and her camp are reinvigorated and are on the hunt. It's high time that her crew get over all of these petty distractions and get back to what they're the best at, and that's being on top. With that said, she is proud to announce that both Salvatore and Ronnie will be participating in the Royal Rumble. Now is the time for the people under her watch to get their rightful dues, and it starts with putting the Academy in the rearview mirror! Well, with that out of the way, let's have ourselves an awesome main event. I suppose this would be kind of a blow off for this whole angle. I have no idea how the crowd reactions can be high for all of this considering the charisma scores for everyone, excluding the managers. Maybe they just love the ring work that much. Well, it is a strong main event in that department. We close things out with Brooke putting Ronnie's foot on the bottom rope to break up a pinfall attempt from Randy Ellis after hitting Today's Lesson. Sophie Waters gives chase in protest of this as Randy argues with the ref. Ronnie makes his way over to his corner and slumps there. Randy goes over to grab him but Scabbia makes a blind tag. Justin comes in to help with a double team on Ronnie as the Academy whips him into the ropes. Scabbia nails them both from behind and then tosses Mitchell as Ronnie grabs the ropes to stop himself. Randy is alone and he gets locked in the Omerta from Scabbia and he passes out to give the win to Scabbia and Ronnie. Brooke may be onto something with what she said earlier. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

Evil Vito

11-03-2023, 08:39 AM

Nice to see things back up and running! The Rumble season is always a fun one to book because I lay out any remaining WrestleMania plans aside from the World Title match and always work out fun ways to integrate them into the Rumble match itself, even if most of it is just happening in my imagination.

Evil Vito

11-03-2023, 08:40 AM

And yeah I've (once again) dropped the ball :lol: it's been a busy last few months with the girlfriend moving in and everything. Also as tends to be the case AEW goes through so many real-life changes every time I take a break it's like I'm stepping back into the dark ages revisiting a game from only a mere few months ago

Maybe I should go back to 2022 and finish the Fire Pro tournament before TPWW actually closes for good, which sadly I feel like might be on the table next year

M-A-G

11-12-2023, 10:33 AM

SmackDown!: January 4, 2041

TWENTY-MINUTE OPENING PROMO OF DOOM TIME!!!!111 as the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk makes his way out to the ring to address the people. "With 2040 behind us, I start the new year still the WWE Unified World Champion! Not even treachery like what Orlando Kincaid tried to pull on Raw can stop me from being the most dominating champion in the WWE. You don't luck your way into wearing this title. You get here because you deserve it, and thus far, I have proven that I alone deserve it. The sting of an entire year's absence still resonates, and I'm looking to make sure that every sad sack of crap that steps in the ring with me while I'm champion feels that same pain. You've been missing out on some sweet, sweet punishment and it's high time that it started catching up with you. So by all means, to the eager thirty men who want to slug it out in a few weeks in that Rumble, do what you can and summon whatever you can to get you to that main event spot at WrestleMania. That's going to be my magnum opus. A masterpiece of destruction...and despair."

Who should interrupt the proceedings but The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! This is certainly random, but certainly the Cruiserweight Champion has a reason to be out here joining Wrakk. Let's see what he's got to say.

"Wrakk, buddy, I'm so glad you're out here because I often feel at times that I'm alone in my struggle as a champion. It's true that I have the love of a good woman at my side, but there's that crippling void of not getting enough respect from all of the jealous challengers to my throne. But it's good to know that we feel each other's pain and that we can find a kindred spirit in one another. I, too, am deserving of this championship despite all the naysayers and we winners have to stick together. I mean, I don't need to remind you all that I myself am a winner of a Royal Rumble! That's right, I won one last year and that was the catalyst that put me on the path that I'm on right now! In fact, I think I have it in me to do it again, only this time I can head to the main event of WrestleMania and I can give you, Wrakk, that top level opponent that you deserve. Champion vs. champion, the way it should be for an event like this! Now, I understand that you may have your eyes set on someone else for the role, but know that I would treat you with all of the respect that you deserve because I know you'd do the same for me, a fellow champion and a fellow winner."

Wrakk has been looking annoyed during all of Hotbody's spiel and looks to give the Cruiserweight Champion an earful, but who should interrupt now but Duke and Drakken, the Wasteland! This has certainly been an odd way to start the show. Let's hear what these two have to say.

Drakken has the mic and he calls out both Wrakk and Hotbody for wasting time out here. Drakken points out how the two of them have done more talking than actual fighting in their respective reigns as champions. Duke gets on the mic and says that he's all for the new opportunities that a new year can bring and it would be a swell idea for both Wrakk and Hotbody to put their money where their mouths are right here and now. The Wasteland weren't planning on a fight tonight, but that doesn't mean there can't be one. Drakken throws down the gauntlet by challenging the two champions to a tag match right now.

Wrakk merely smirks, but Hotbody gets on his mic and asks the Wasteland who the hell they think they are. "Of course Wrakk is willing to throw down! He'll happily take you on and as his buddy and champion-in-arms, even though I'm still a bit tired from all of that New Year's physical celebration, it's my duty to back him up in his efforts tonight in teaching you two some respect! Let's get a ref out here right now!" Wrakk is obviously befuddled and confused over this, but apparently this is going to be an official match as a ref does indeed come down and the Wasteland follow suit. And so we get....

First Match: The Wasteland vs. Wrakk and The Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody
Hah, bet you didn't think I'd find a way to do Wrakk and Duke, did you? Well, I'm nothing if not chaotic and willing to try something new and off the wall. Speaking of which, Wrakk does the heavy lifting here and has the Wasteland as his personal crash dummies as Hotbody is in the corner cheering him on. Hotbody eventually tags in when it looks like Duke is all but paste. Drakken makes a comeback and gets the tag in to Drakken and now Hotbody has to experience some two-on-one pain. Drakken eventually gets the bright idea to drop kick Wrakk off the apron. Hotbody is in serious trouble as he gets further punishment and eventually the Wasteland get him set up for the Toxic Kiss. Wrakk comes back in, however, and plasters Duke with a clothesline. Drakken turns away from Hotbody as this gets his attention and the ref tries getting Wrakk out of the ring. Meanwhile, Luscious has run down to ringside and slides Hotbody a Slammy award. Drakken turns his attention back to Hotbody, who offers him a close up look at his prestigious award. Drakken, in shame that he hasn't won such an achievement, goes down to the mat and Hotbody quickly covers him and that's going to be enough to get the pic for the heels. *****, 97% overall.

I mean, hot damn!

To the back we go as standing by is the WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Von Kamp. He's asked about the proposed rematch for the title that Chris Collins brought up last night on Superstars. "You know, I'm guessing Chris Collins and I have two very different definitions for 'deserve'. I thought me beating him at Bragging Rights would have put an end to this whole matter. But you know what? I get where he's coming from. I remember for the longest time believing that I deserved accolades like this Intercontinental Title right here. And even though I stepped on a lot of rakes along the way and got splattered against a bunch of walls in my path, I still believed that I deserved better. So, hey, points for persistance, Chris! But until you get this belt off of me, that's all you'll have and it's all you're getting. I'll grant him another match for the title, this Monday on Raw. Let's see if really deserves it." And with that, Seth takes his leave.

Second Match: Carmella Costello and The Southern Belles vs. Cordelia Capriati and The Perfections
Brooke is with Carmella and gets on the stick to reiterate her claim that her clients are going to be relentlessly breathing down the necks of the champions here in the WWE. She tells them that unless they step up their game considerably, there's going to be a lot of new champions in the coming days. Brooke puts over Carmella for being loyal and thanks her for putting forward trust. And to the Southern Belles, know that if things aren't up to snuff with Nathan Quinn, the two of them can always look to gain back those Women's Tag Titles under the guidance of Brooke.

With that said, 6 women are always a good thing. Thank Lzzy they've got the stats for in-ring work because outside of Hannah, the charisma leaves a lot to be desired. That's what managers like Brooke are for. Speaking of which, she makes herself useful by hopping up on the apron to get the ref's attention as Bonnie has Carmella in position for the Bluebonnet, but Hannah takes advantage of the ref looking the other way and KO's Bonnie with her custom mic. Brooke backs away as Carmella goes up to hit the Defamation on the fallen Bonnie to get the cheap pinfall win for the heels. Brooke looks to be getting things back in gear in her camp. ****1/4, 89% overall.

Third Match: Simon Bennett vs. Steve Hayes
More pre-match promo time as Simon has got something to say. "If you think I'm looking a bit rough you should see the other guy. Bragging Rights was, in a word, an experience. It wasn't particularly fun, but it was a fight that needed to be fought, and needed to be won. Under different circumstances, I wouldn't have wanted that for Adam and me. I get wanting to have a career of your own and had he just been honest about that up front, this whole ugly chapter wouldn't have been a thing. But what's done is done and I do have to credit Adam with giving me a gift of sorts. Adam was so gung-ho about making this return to the WWE a launching point for his trip to the top. All things being fair, I wanted to make a big impact, too. So I figure this: let's make an impact, then. Let's make this return worthwhile. Let's make all the time away mean something. Adam, in a weird way, you inspired me. What I'm about to ask for right now, I'm sure you hand in mind for yourself so I'm not going to feel bad about it. The big difference between Adam and me is that I have reached that peak and I would love to get there again. So I am officially challenging Wrakk to a match for the WWE Unified World Title! I may not have asked for these circumstances, but I might as well make the most of it while I can. Now I know he'll say something along the lines of 'things have changed since you been gone'. Well, I say let's change them back with me taking that world title from you!"

Well, that's as clear as you can get. What will Wrakk have to say about it? A question for another time as this match needs to happen. As you can imagine we've got to make Bennett look like a million bucks here. He's still smarting from the chain match and that's the story throughout this encounter as he toughs it out. It comes to end in a clean fashion as they go through a complex Irish whip reversal sequence that ends with Bennett hitting a Russian Leg Sweep on Hayes and he turns that into a Bennett Lock and that's going to give him the submission win. A strong case for Bennett being the number one contender has been made. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Once more to the back where Aphrodite is with her boys, Caleb Greene and Stanley Coleman, the Love Connection. They've got the Tag Team of the Year on their minds apparently. Aphrodite thinks that Moses McKay and King Kavovit should go back to the end of the line as far as title matches go. Aphrodite thinks that she's got the hot new thing in the tag team division, a team that could very easily be the next Tag Team of the Year. All that they need is a chance. They just need an opportunity and that can't happen when there's two sour pusses like the Royal Connection choosing to be stubborn about things. She invites the Royal Connection to test the resolve of Greene and Coleman so that she can proven right.

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time with the Money in the Bank holder Brandon Reigns. He steps into the ring with a five-mile smile and takes the mic to speak his mind. "Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, we are inching forward to WrestleMania 57. We're inching towards the inevitable. This briefcase holds the key to the WrestleMania moment that everyone will be talking about. Me walking out of that night with the WWE Unified Title in my hand is basically a guarantee as long as I have this briefcase. And yet, there are those who still want to be in my ear, trying to get me to second guess my plan. This even goes back to the King of the Ring, I've got people telling me to really reconsider this course of action. And I have to say that maybe there's something to that. Maybe there's a way for me to have some sort of insurance. Winning the Royal Rumble and going into the main event with two title shots in my pocket? That's a pretty juicy proposition. So I drew a number for the Rumble and thought to myself that this was a great idea, until I realized that I had so much fun watching everyone else scramble around for my amusement, and on top of that, it hit me that until WrestleMania when I cash in this contract, I don't have to do anything! I don't need to exert myself. I don't need to be answering to jealous whiners like Kerry Cemenko! I was just about ready to put that number back into the bin, but then I saw what number I did draw." Brandon pauses to reach into his pocket and pull out a slip of paper and shows it to the camera for everyone to see. It has the number 29 on it! "That's right. I drew number 29. And the idea hit me that I could make all of the peons in the back riled up. You all want a trip to WrestleMania? Well, I've got the opportunity right here in my hand. Unless you want to take a chance at maybe, MAYBE drawing number 30? The choice is yours, fellas, and I don't particularly care either way, but understand that this number right here in my hand may be your dream, but this briefcase in this other hand is your wake up call!"

Cue Kerry Cemenko himself coming on out to get in Brandon's face. No doubt he's still ticked over that whole cheap win Brandon got over him at Bragging Rights. "You know, you kind of already gave me a wake up call, Brandon. You revealed to me what a little bitch the Superstar of the Year is!" Brandon is aghast at this claim, but Kerry continues. "It takes a bitch to be proud of what you pulled at Bragging Rights, and it takes a bitch to be pulling what you're doing right now. Now I know it's not going to do me any good to try to get you to actually fight like a real man, so I'll tell you my WrestleMania plan. I'll do the whole Rumble thing, I'll take that Unified World Title, and then I'll have you all to myself."

"Pretty words, Kerry, but if Bragging Rights is anything to go by, I don't have to worry about a thing. I showed that I can handle you at anytime, it's just going to be extra sweet should it happen again at WrestleMania. But please, by all means, go give it that old college try. I'll be rooting for you the whole time. You may end up disappointing me, but you'll certainly be making me laugh like the joke that you are!"

And with that statement Kerry decides that slapping Brandon across the face is the best course of action. Brandon stumbles back from this and retreats out of the ring when he sees Kerry wants to add some more punishment. Kerry kicks the Money in the Bank briefcase out of the ring and yells a bit at Brandon as he makes his way out of here. The number 29 spot is apparently going to be up for grabs?

Fourth Match: Lyle Morris vs. Doug Michaels
It's pre-match promo night as Lyle gets on the stick to rip on his cousin, Chet. "Chet, I thought I knew you. We were close, so much that we were practically brothers! It was never in question that I would always have your back no matter the problem, no matter the size of the problem! But I guess you were hiding something from me all along. No, I don't mean your anger or your hatred or your pain. I had no idea how much of cowardly bitch you are! You talked so tough after what you did to me! You walked that aisle like you owned it and you talked one hell of a big game. Well the chicken's come home to roost and now you show how little of a man you really are. You want to throw shade at me and call me your enemy and blame me for being an anchor? NO PROBLEM! But you had better be able to back that up when the other shoe drops. I didn't ask for this, Chet. YOU DID! And one way or another, I'm getting your sorry carcass in front of me and I'm going to let you know, the hard way, just what I think of your little rebirth. You have been set free, but so have I, so I say I'm free to kick your teeth down your throat! JUST TRY ME!"

Wow, intense to say the least. Like this match as Lyle is all business and poor Michaels has to take the brunt of his aggression. Lyle finishes things fairly strong and cleanly as he sends Michaels into the turnbuckle, causing him to rebound backwards, then proceeds to come off the middle turnbuckle with a flipping clothesline/STO thing that plants Michaels and that's enough for the pin. Lyle celebrates, but notices Chet Morris on the stage looking on with trepidation. Lyle dares Chet to come into the ring to get him some but Chet isn't feeling it tonight and merely walks away. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Fifth Match: Michael Haywood vs. Romeo Valiente
We're told that Michael has been lobbying for a match against Jason Sorola, but Sorola hasn't been giving any kind of answer. Well, no time to worry about that as Michael is all business here, much like Lyle Morris in the last match. This is the third match in a row that's all about getting an individual looking strong for what's ahead. It's some fucking good shit, but then again you have to remember how Michael was part of some bangers while being teamed up with Gavin Jones. Romeo gets Michael in position to where he tries going up for the Cassanova Crush, but Michael was playing possum and he rolls out of the way of the impact. Romeo is hurting and Michael pounces on the opportunity by locking in the Rage Quit and that's going to give him the submission win. Post-match Jason Sorola comes running down and knocks Michael down from behind and locks in an STF and keeps it on while the ref tries pulling him off. To Michael's credit, he doesn't offer a tap out and instead looks like he passes out. Ultimately enough refs come down to get Sorola off of Michael, but the damage is done and Sorola taunts his fallen former comrade as he takes his leave. ****1/2, 92% overall.

And once more to the back in the dark recesses of the building where Haven has something to say. These dark recesses seem to be everywhere. He wants to talk about Victor Dark. "Victor, I know you may feel wronged. I know you may feel betrayed. I know you may feel abandoned. But those feelings, united as anger, are nothing without purpose. What will your purpose be should I fall to you? What will fill that void? If you and Andrea cannot come to a satisfactory conclusion to that conundrum, what then? Know the fight that you want to take part in. Know it as much as you know your enemy. I see my path after this fight with you is through...if you are willing to actually take part in it."

MAIN EVENT: Haven and Eddy Clash vs. Quinten McDaniels and Hugo
Quinten gets on the mic so he can brag about what he did last night. "I know for a fact that the minute I announced my participation in this year's Royal Rumble, you all went wide-eyed and then sat up straight. You did this because you needed to pay attention and be absolutely sure about what you were hearing. You did that because you know about what happened last year. I pulled off the incredible task of winning that Rumble and I came oh-so close to walking out of WrestleMania with that Unified World Title. I have felt it in my bones that I can get it done, and all I need is to complete this purge of my past and to get one more opportunity. You all know that I can do it and that makes you worry. Well, this isn't about you or your feelings. This is about me and my redemption! I invite all of my enemies, especially you, Orlando, to take part in this year's Rumble. It will be my pleasure, it will be my purpose, to take you all out myself. I have been set free and you all get to suffer the consequences!"

Well, he's confident if nothing else. Not confident enough to actually do most of the heavy-lifting here, though, as he lets Hugo handle most of the match. Eddy, the least experienced of the bunch, is tasked with face-in-peril duty. Things come to a climax with Eddy fighting off a double team and sending Quinten face first into Hugo's crotch via a drop toe hold. Haven gets the hot tag and it's breaking loose in Tulsa! Haven grabs Hugo, looking for the Sting of Solace, but Quinten low blows him from behind. HERE COMES ORLANDO KINCAID!!! He's got a chair in hand and Quinten in his sight. Quinten sees this and decides to bail with Orlando giving chase. Hugo stands over a vulnerable Haven but Eddy comes in with a save by giving Hugo a big boot. Hugo stumbles into the ropes and rebounds right into the Thunderstrike from Eddy and Haven really puts some mustard on things with a Sting of Solace and that's going to give the faces the win here. Victor Dark and Andrea make their way out onto the stage during the post-match happenings and glare at Haven as we go off the air. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

M-A-G

11-12-2023, 10:53 AM

BREAKING FROM THE DESK OF THE GENERAL MANAGER! It has been confirmed that not only has Chris Collins accepted Seth Von Kamp's offer for another Intercontinental Title Match on Raw, it will open the show and be contested under Falls Count Anywhere rules.

Also, Brandon Reigns has put the number 29 spot in the Royal Rumble up for grabs and thus a 20-man open invitation battle royal will be the main event of Raw, with the winner claiming that position. How will this shape the Royal Rumble, if at all. Be sure to be there this Monday night!

Evil Vito

11-13-2023, 11:03 AM

Ha! That's quite the clever way to get to Duke vs. Wrakk. Visually it makes sense too because you just can imagine Hotbody being a huge asshole the entire time, trying his hardest to not get involved physically. Only to eventually tag in and nearly ruin the whole thing.

Most certainly lived up to the hype though, maybe the game is onto something with Duke. Duke for #29 in the Royal Rumble! :lol:

Brandon's antics are great too. It makes sense why the MITB winner would normally want the extra insurance but then to draw a late number and have everyone fight over it out of amusement? It's brilliant.

M-A-G

11-15-2023, 12:28 AM

Raw: January 7, 2041

Opening Match: WWE Intercontinental Title - Falls Count Anywhere
Seth Von Kamp (c) vs. Chris Collins
As promised, we're kicking things off with this sucker. It was a banger at Bragging Rights and it'll certainly be a banger here, no? Seth's been a fighting champion since winning the thing back at Summerslam and it's been tough to call as who can end this run and when. Collins gives it his all here to his credit. It's a fun brawl that spills into the crowd. We eventually end up at a merchandise stand as the two ruin some poor sap's day. Collins sends Seth crashing into the set up and tries choking the champion out with one of his own T-shirts. Seth responds by smacking Collins with a replica title belt, causing Collins to release his grasp. Seth finishes things by putting Collins through one of the tables with the Collapse of Society and gets the pin fall to retain the championship!

Well, that was wild to say the least. Post-match, Seth limps away in triumph BUT HERE COMES RONNIE COSTELLO!!! WTF IS HE DOING? Well, he's kicking Seth's ass apparently. He gets in some good shots after knocking the champion down and then caps things off by sending Seth through another merch stand. Brooke is evidently VERY serious with her claims about her clients. Ronnie walks off satisfied as we get officials down to the scene to check on Seth. ****1/2, 93% overall.

To the back we go where Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper are getting ready. Jake Connelly comes in to offer some words of wisdom as both men are going to be taking part in that battle royal tonight for that number 29 spot in the Rumble. Jake points out that while it sucks that there can only be one winner, if the two of them can be unified, they can assure that at least that one can be either Ethan or Cameron. Jake also emphasizes that he doesn't want any hard feelings, no matter what happens out there. Ethan says he's fine with it, but Cameron merely clutches the framed photo he gave to Jake and walks off. What's going on here?

In-Ring Super Special Talky Time as our illustrious General Manager Lisa Benton comes out to address the crowd for what's sure to be a huge announcement. She takes the mic and tells the crowd that she hopes they enjoy the rest of the show, despite her announcement that she's going to reveal right now. "Almost 40 years ago, I sat in the middle of an excited wrestling crowd much like this one and was mesmerized and captivated by what I witnessed in this ring. In what was merely a chore that my brother had to do in taking me along, it became the beginning point of the path that defined not just my career, but my life. Now I stand here at another crossroads, with more than 30 years spent in this business in one form or another. It's high time that I reflect on what I'm going to do from here on out, especially with the announcement that I have for you tonight. So if you please, in the back, let's cue up the video." Lisa gestures to the big screen and we're shown a highlight package of Lisa Benton's career, interspersed with talking heads giving their insight on her as a person and performer. It ends with the announcement that Lisa Benton is the first member of this year's Hall of Fame class! And she's being inducted by Riott!

We return to the arena with a tearful Lisa and the crowd in thunderous applause, voicing their approval of this turn of events. Lisa composes herself as she continues. "I don't know if there's anything that can top something like that. I take it as the ultimate compliment from my peers, my superiors, and definitely from all of you, the people who have allowed me to take part in this journey that has been my dream. But the flipside to that is that I have to take it as a sign that I may need to head off into the sunset. So it's with a heavy heart that I will be resigning as General Manager at the end of this month." The crowd reacts with shock and voice their displeasure, but Lisa presses on. "It's not a decision that I make lightly, but looking back at all the years and being reminded of the body of work I created and with this upcoming induction, I feel like I can go home proud of all I've accomplished. I feel blessed for having this career, one that a lot of people can only dream about, but all good things must end. In their wake, there may be tears, but there is an opportunity for new good things to be born."

Cue the music of The Royal Rumble Winning Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! He's got a smile 5 miles wide on his face and just exudes giddiness as he comes down to the ring, interrupting Lisa. He gets on a mic and gets to work expressing his sentiments. "It must be my birthday and no one told me! Is this for real? Like, seriously? Are we finally going to be free of the tyranny that is Lisa Benton's reign of suck as the General Manager? My God, between Christmas and Luscious and I celebrating New Year's and me retaining my Cruiserweight Title, this is just an overload of excitement! I'd ask what I've done to deserve such great news, but to hell with that; I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth! This is an amazing night, to say the least. I can't believe it. Somebody pinch me because I think I'm dreaming! Lisa, it's been real, but I think I speak for a good chunk of us when I tell you don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out! In fact, I don't see any reason why you should wait until the end of the month to call it quits. There's the exit right there! Don't let me stop you! You can go sailing off to the old folks' home right now!"

"You know, if there's one thing I'm not going to miss, it's dealing with your sorry ass, Michael," Lisa fires back. "But I had a feeling that you'd come out here. It's just in your nature to be a giant prick."

"Hey, you can't cal..."

"SHUT UP! I'm still the damn boss and I'm still capable of making your life miserable if I see fit. Like I said, I knew you'd be here so I came prepared to make another announcement, this one concerning your next title defense that will take place at the Royal Rumble event. You see, last week you made a claim that if there was anybody who had a winning record like you, then you'd be able to not only face them, but beat them as well. Well, Michael, I'm giving you a chance to prove that statement, because I did find someone with a spotless winning record that you're going to have to face for that Cruiserweight Title. It's going to be the battle of two undefeated superstars at the Royal Rumble! So let's not waste anymore time and let's bring him out. Michael, you're going to be defending that championship against this man..."

Lisa points to the stage, signaling that she wants her planned opponent to come on out. Michael Hotbody looks confused and worried as he looks to the entr...HOLY SHIT!!! IT'S NEIL QUINT!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS! The rookie comes down to the ring and shakes Lisa's hand as Michael is livid. Neil takes the mic and speaks his mind. "Lisa, it'll be an honor to take part of this match, not only because it'll be one of your last acts as General Manager, but I get to live out my own dream. And speaking of dreams, Michael, I don't know about pinching, but I do know another good way to tell that you're not dreaming." And with that statement, Neil drops the mic and slaps the taste out of Michael's mouth, sending the champion reeling. He turns back to Neil who drops into a fighting stance, making Michael think twice about this course of action and he decides to roll out of the ring in frustration. It's going to be streak versus streak at the Rumble!

Second Match: Dusk vs. Cordelia Capriati
Carmella Costello makes her way to the announce table, joining the team to lend her insights into Cordelia. Well, it's more like she wants to rag on her former partner and talk about how she's inferior. Carmella goes on to say that Cordelia left at the worst possible time because Brooke has a newfound focus. What Ronnie Costello did earlier to Seth Von Kamp is only the beginning. Carmella says that she'll prove how much better she is than Cordelia by winning some gold for herself. Carmella continues her spiel as this match goes on. Dusk continues to be a brutal, glorious mess of a performer...in a good way, allowing Cordelia to work out the kinks in her newly-acquired role as a face. Cordelia makes a comeback and it looks like she's in prime position to come off the top to hit Dusk with the Crowning Achievement, but Carmella leaves the table and goes to shove Cordelia off, causing her to land throat-first on the top rope. That's going to be a DQ, but Carmella enters the ring to try to put some more hurt on Cordelia. HERE COMES JENNA KYLE!!! Carmella makes the smart move of bailing, leaving Dusk to take the brunt of Jenna's flurry. Dusk pie faces Jenna away, giving her an opportunity to roll of the ring before things get too bad. Jenna stands tall as Cordelia starts to come around and they glare at the two heels as we go to break. ****1/2, 89% overall.

Third Match: Vivian Merrick and the Future Foundation vs. Madison and The Wyldhearts
Vivian Merrick throws the names of her boys into the hat as another team that deserves a shot at the Wyldhearts for the Tag Team Titles. Well, this seems like a good opportunity for them to make their case. Madison still has the goods as far as being able to work a match. Robbie plays face-in-peril for the majority of the match. It's interesting to revisit this combination now that roles are reversed. Anyway, the women get to be legal participants after the hot tag and Madison lets Vivian have it. The Future Foundation break up a pinfall attempt by pulling Madison off of Vivian. The Wyldhearts come in to take the Future Foundation to the outside, leaving the women alone to continue the match. Vivian ends up on the apron, but Madison tries to suplex her back into the ring. Rick Hilton is on the case, yanking Madison's foot from under her, causing Vivian to fall on top of Madison in a pin attempt. Rick holds down Madison's feet, preventing her from kicking out and Vivian is going to steal the pin for the heels. Well, this is going to stick in the craw of the champions. ****1/2, 93% overall.

Fourth Match: Simon Bennett vs. L.A. Xander
Paul Andrews joins the announce team to continue to make the case for Simon Bennett being the next challenger for Wrakk's WWE Unified World Title. He points out that Bennett has been there before and since Adam Hail is no longer a factor, he can focus on leading a client to the biggest prize in the land. He asks us all to consider the story that can be told here: the prodigal son known as Simon Bennett returning to the fold, conquering adversity, overcoming betrayal, and making it to the main event of WrestleMania, Unified World Championship in hand. The team continues discussing this proposal as L.A.X. and Bennett continue a pretty solid match. Bennett continues making a good case for his claim to the number one contender status by finishing L.A.X. off pretty strong with a submission win with the Bennett Lock. Wrakk comes out onto the stage post-match to stare at Bennett with a smirk on his face. ****1/2, 92% overall.

To the back we go again where Andrea is with Victor Dark. She points out how it's been a little more than a month since their arrival, and so far, the destruction of Haven is coming along fairly slowly...if it's even happening at all. She claims that she and Victor have patience for a lot of things, but the thought of Haven's broken body and soul has been on their minds for far too long. Maybe Haven was right about one thing. Maybe Victor does need to get...physical. Victor chimes in by stating Friday seems like a good time...although he won't count out anytime before.

Fifth Match: Leah vs. Debra Phillips
I'm doing what I can to get Debra some much needed experience under her belt to set her up to be a solid hand in the women's division. I don't see championships in her future, but who knows? I do know this match is hella rough. Neither one of these ladies has it going in the charisma department. Factor in Debra's low over rating and we end up with this. It's not TERRIBLE, but we've had much better. Debra tries to bail as the ref checks on Leah, but Ainsley, continuing her little feud with Debra, comes running down to grab Debra and send her back into the ring. Debra yells her anger over this at Ainsley, but Leah capitalizes by drop kicking Debra from behind, sending her into the ropes and rebounding into a roll up from Leah to give her the win. ***1/4, 79% overall.

Ugh, that one was probably a mistake to do in hindsight.

Backstage we see Chris Collins, looking like he's on his way out of the arena and pissed as all hell. He runs into Kyle Jacobs who is talking with some officials. He tries walking past, but stops and goes to get in Kyle's face claiming that he looked at him funny. He asks if Kyle thinks it's funny that Chris didn't win the Intercontinental Title tonight. Kyle claims he doesn't care because he's got his own problems to worry about. He's about to go win the number 29 spot in the battle royal tonight. He suggests that Chris go get his head straight because being this close to Kyle in the mood he's in is asking for trouble. Chris merely shakes his head in frustration and backs off slowly before continuing on his way.

Sixth Match: The Love Connection vs. Galino & Farnes
With a good chunk of the guys being involved in the main event, it's good to be able to do these kinds of matches for the rest of the show. Aphrodite dismisses Vivian's claim of the Future Foundation being the team that deserves a chance at the Unified Tag Team Titles. She thinks it's time that some love and real sexiness get brought into the tag team championship scene. Madison may have some heart throbs, but they don't hold a candle to the Love Connection. Bold words and Caleb and Stanley do their best to live up to them here. We're back on track with the match quality here as these two teams play well off of each other. The Love Connection get Galino alone and have him set up for the Lovestruck 2.0, but the Royal Effect, apparently taking up the offer of a fight, come storming into the ring and lay waste to the faces causing a DQ. Kavovit stalks Aphrodite on the outside while McKay lays out Greene and Coleman with a Mass Effect to each one. Kavovit tells Aphrodite that's what she asked for and he takes his leave with McKay. The tag team scene is getting ugly. ****1/2, 91% overall.

MAIN EVENT: 20-Man Open Invitation Battle Royal
This was set up due to Brandon Reigns picking number 29 for the Rumble, but electing to put it for grabs for some other lucky schmo and thus we have this. Brandon himself even comes out to gloat about it and claims he's going to be sitting at ringside for this match and will personally hand over the number to whoever wins it. Just like he's going to be sitting at ringside for WrestleMania's main event, ready to pounce and cash in the Money in the Bank contract. He claims that his road to WrestleMania is already locked in and he's going to have the time of his life watching everyone else scratch and claw all over each other to get theirs.

So for this match we've got:
Alexander Piero
Xavier Cross
Zed Jones
Orlando Kincaid
Quinten McDaniels
Chet Morris
Lyle Morris
Ziggy Styles
Jason Sorola
Michael Haywood
Clubber Harris
Kyle Jacobs
Eddy Clash
Ethan Lang
Cameron Harper
Kerry Cemenko
Hugo
Lonny Richards

That's quite the collection. Two separate groups form to each try to take Eddy and Hugo out at the beginning of the match. It goes nowhere as they're able to fight off the horde and make their way to each other to slug it out. Lyle manages to eliminate himself and Chet as he tackles his cousin over the top with a Cactus Clothesline. Chet manages to send Lyle into the steps, giving him the means to escape. The match continues and Ethan and Cameron eventually get into the groove and eliminate Lonny as a team. Ziggy is the next to go at their hands. Quinten does his damndest to hide from Orlando, with the latter having to stop his pursuit every now and then to ward off anyone coming to get him. Kerry gets in a verbal scuffle with Brandon. Taking his eye off the ball ends up costing him as Quinten sends him over the top to eliminate him. Brandon taunts Kerry and it looks like a fight is going to break out but the officials get in the way. They miss Jason being eliminated by Michael Haywood. Jason slips back in and tosses Michael and the officials see THAT. Sorola feels oh-so proud of himself, but he then falls victim to Ethan and Cameron's teamwork and he gets dumped officially. Eddy is getting worked over by Piero and Kyle. Ethan and Cameron go to help. Cameron tries going for Eddy's legs and manages to lift Eddy up and over but Ethan goes over the top with Eddy in a double elimination. Ethan is all "WTF", but Cameron doesn't seem to notice. He tries going for Orlando, but Orlando turns the tables on him and manages to hit the OK Corall. Orlando dumps Cameron Harper for his first elimination. Cross gets thrown out by Clubber Harris. Hugo and Quinten are the new double team threat as they work over Piero. Zed hammers away on Clubber in the corner. He charges Clubber, looking to land a big boot, but Clubber moves out of the way and Zed gets his foot on the top rope. That leaves him vulnerable to getting dumped by Harris. Kyle gets into the groove and goes on an explosive run of offense. That gets put to a halt when Chris Collins comes down to ringside to get Kyle's attention. Kyle gestures to Chris to get the hell out of here, but Chris stands defiant and taunts Kyle. Quinten and Hugo take the opportunity to double team Kyle into oblivion. They then proceed to dump Kyle to end his night. Hugo tries charging Orlando who's leaning against the ropes, but Orlando low bridges him and Hugo goes stumbling over the top to send him packing. Quinten tries his luck with Orlando and the two struggle against the ropes, each trying to force the other over. Harris comes over to break the tie and dumps them both, leaving himself and Alexander Piero.

We get a solid mini-match here from these two and...wait a minute. Is the count off? Did we miss someone being eliminated? Seems like the count is off. Oh, well, it's good shit from these two as the pace and intensity pick up as Brandon looks on. Harris finally looks like he's got things well in hand as he goes to throw Piero over but Piero locks his legs around Clubber's head and uses the momentum to pull Clubber over the top via a head scissors and he's the last one left in the ring! Piero has don...WAIT A MINUTE!!! WHO THE HELL IS THAT COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE RING BEHIND PIERO??? IT'S BUTCH FLEMING!!! WTF?!?!?!?! He hasn't been seen since SummerSlam!!! Piero doesn't see him! Butch spins Piero around and clotheslines him down viciously. Piero is too spent to fight back and Butch takes advantage of this surprise assault and tosses Piero over the top for the actual final elimination. Oh, dear God, that means Butch Fleming gets to enter the Rumble at number 29! Brandon Reigns looks as surprised as everyone. Butch goes over to the Money in the Bank holder and smiles in his face. Brandon merely holds up the number and Butch snatches it out of his hand. Holy hell, has the landscape of the Rumble changed or what? 88% overall.

Overall show rating: 86%

M-A-G

11-15-2023, 05:35 AM

Evil Vito

11-15-2023, 09:23 AM

The Benton/Hotbody angle was all kinds of glorious. Benton getting her moment of glory with making the Hall of Fame, Hotbody getting to be a dick to her one last time and then Benton getting one over on him.

Quint's a cool choice for an opponent and I actually have no idea what will give with that one. Hotbody's run feels like it needs to end at Mania, yet an impressive undefeated streak also feels more like a Mania thing. No idea which way it will go. Part of me would be tempted to have Hotbody lose only to sneak into the Rumble and win it in the most shithouse way possible :lol:

Speaking of sneaking in and winning - holy shit Butch Fleming! Usually the Rumble match itself is a time for surprise returns, so that makes for a nice twist to have a return ahead of time.

Wonder if the Rumble match itself will have a WWE-esque legend entrant. Get Ian Moore's ancient ass out there or something.

M-A-G

11-15-2023, 12:04 PM

Oh, man, I wonder who I could grab from the free agent list to be surprise entrant. I don't know if it'd be anybody you'd know, but I'll take a gander. Ian would be something for a guy pushing 60.

M-A-G

11-15-2023, 12:06 PM

Fuck, if El Dandy were still available and I went with your idea of Hotbody getting in, that'd be a great payoff.

Evil Vito

11-15-2023, 12:15 PM

*phonecall to AAA and CMLL*

"Listen, do you have anyone there that can grow their hair out to look like El Dandy? We want to give them a quick stint as El Dandy Jr.

Hello????"

M-A-G

11-18-2023, 08:43 AM

Superstars: January 10, 2041

TWENTY-MINUTE OPENING PROMO OF DOOM TIME!!!!1111 as Butch Fleming, fresh off returning on Raw and being the number 29 entrant for the Rumble, makes his way to ring. He gets right back into the thick of things by being a dick and berating everyone. "There was a certain something that Quinten McDaniels said last week that stayed with me. He said that you all sat up at attention when you found out he'd be in the Royal Rumble. Well, Monday on Raw, in that main event, I guarantee you all not only sat up, but you soiled yourselves when you saw that I was back! The piss started trickling from every pansy in that locker room when they saw me return and get that number 29 spot in the Rumble! The brutality of Hell in a Cell wasn't going to keep me down and away no matter how hard you hoped. In fact, your hope to never see me again was the fuel I used to pick myself up out of the mess I was in and come back in the most painful way possible way! I wanted to find a way to really make you all choke on all of your stupid little hopes and wishes! AND YOU DESERVE IT!!! You all wanted SummerSlam to be the end of me! You hoped that you would never see me again! Well the nightmare is back and it doesn't matter if you want to cry about it! So now all eyes are on the Rumble. I'm in possibly the best position I could ask for at number 29. Oh, there is a number 30, I understand that. But all that means is that some poor son of a bitch is going to have 2 minutes to rethink his life and whether or not it's worth making that trip down the aisle to where I'm knocking whoever's left in the ring around from pillar to post! And if anyone wants to do something about what I did on Raw, the line starts right here and I'll give you a taste of what the hell I'm talking about because I'm on my way to WrestleMania and getting back what's mine! DEAL WITH IT!" And with that emphatic statement, Butch slams the mic down and leaves the ring continuing to taunt the crowd.

Backstage, some of the locker room has been watching Butch's comments on the monitor. Two of them are Madison and Alexander Piero. The two look extremely upset, with Piero shaking his head in disappointment and the two start walking away. They're caught by our roving backstage interview crew who want to ask them about their thoughts on Butch Fleming and what went down on Raw. Piero talks about how Butch only succeeded in doing two things: being a coward and pissing Piero off. Madison adds that Piero is eager to be first in that line Butch talked about just now. He can't just steal from Piero and expect to get away with it. And with that, the two go off on their way.

First Match: The Academy vs. Galino & Farnes
Luscious is with the TOP LEGAL COUNSEL of Galino & Farnes and wants to assure all of Hotbody's fans that the two of them are combing through EVERY scrap of Neil Quint's history as a competitor! Freddie Galino adds that if Lisa Benton is going to award a championship match to someone claiming to have a spotless record like Michael Hotbody, there can't be any shred of evidence to the contrary! "The legal team of Galino & Farnes are tireless and committed to integrity and justice will prevail in one form or another!"

Fun as it is to have Galino & Farnes be douchey and slimy, The Academy needs to make a rebound coming off of that little mini feud with their former camp. We get a great outing here as I often forget how good Galino & Farnes actually are in terms of stats. We head home as Sophie Waters runs interference against Luscious and her attempt to get the GAVEL OF DOOM involved. Randy Ellis gets a hold of the gavel but tosses it to Galino when he sees the ref about turn his attention back to the match. Galino tries to use it, but the ref stops him and takes it away. The ref goes to put it out of the ring with Galino right after him in protest. He eats a flying kick from Mitchell coming off the top and that dazes Galino enough for Randy to hit Today's Lesson on him to score the pin for the Academy. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Second Match: Kerry Cemenko vs. Zed Jones
We're shown Brandon Reigns in the crowd making his way to a ringside seat behind the announce crew. I guess he's serious about this whole "do nothing" schtick. Kerry isn't thrilled seeing the Money in the Bank winner again and gets on the mic to give him shit. He tells Brandon that he can't hide behind that briefcase forever. Kerry then says he's going to make it a point to be around to watch all of Brandon's WrestleMania plans blow up in his face and laugh about it. Well, that's good to know. We get a hard-hitting match out of these two, with Kerry being extra salty. They head to the outside where the count begins. Zed manages to press Kerry onto the announce table and thinks about utilizing a chair for nefarious purposes. Clubber Harris joins the ringside area and meets eyes with Zed. Clubber stalks Zed for a bit, putting a pause on any chair-related plans Zed has in mind. Kerry stealthily crawls back into the ring to break the count and the ref eventually reaches 10 to award the win to Kerry. Zed is understandably upset at this turn of event and decides to go after Clubber with the chair. Clubber ducks and Zed misses and we've got ourselves a brawl. Luscious hops onto the back of Clubber, trying to go for the eyes, but he gets her off. That's enough of an opening for Zed to boot Harris in the bread basket and send him over the announce table. Zed scoops up Luscious and takes his leave. These two seem to be headed towards another showdown. ****1/2, 90% overall.

Backstage we go where we once again catch up with the Intercontinental Champion Seth Von Kamp. He's asked about what went down on Raw with Ronnie Costello after the title match. Seth wonders where the hell all of these guys come from. He's not going to think on it too hard, though, because he's equipped to send them back to wherever with their tails in between their legs and a story to tell everyone about how they failed when stacked up against the man known as Seth Von Kamp. He supposes that Ronnie Costello wants to be the next man on that list.

Brooke steps into the picture and hijacks the interview. She clarifies that the only thing Ronnie wants to be is the new Intercontinental Champion. "And while there are other avenues he could've taken, you needed to be aware of just how serious I am about my new initiative. I said it before that no champion is safe from me. The only question now, Seth, is are you going to be bold enough to try to prove me wrong?"

Seth leans in closer to Brooke and gives his response. "The question I would ask is whether or not your boy has it in him to prove you right? I'm down for some payback and I'm always down for defending this title. You get your boy to show up tomorrow on SmackDown!." And with that, Seth takes his leave.

Third Match: The Jersey Experience vs. The Pacific Connection
Man, there are some people I haven't put on TV in a while. Fortunately, this is Superstars and I'm always in need of some easy ratings. Enter 4 incredibly talented and gorgeous ladies! I'd like to be able to start pushing one of these teams into a bigger role. Maybe after WrestleMania. Anyways, some hot stuff here and Jamie Roderick finishes things in a decisive fashion by getting Mika to submit to the Roderick Legacy, giving the Jersey Experience the win. ****1/2, 88% overall.

Fourth Match: Ozzy Mandias vs. Patrick Dean Quartermaine
Ozzy gets on the mic and warns Jordan Demiras that he's still in his crosshairs. He claims that Jordan and Martyn LaSalle thought it was funny to treat Ozzy like a joke and not an equal. "They're not laughing now, are they?!? Jordan, the respect that I deserve is going to be beaten from you, one way or another!" Ozzy demonstrates how serious he's become with a very focused outing here against Quartermaine. Things finish when it looks like Ozzy has tweaked his knee. Patrick isn't buying it and keeps trying to go in for the kill, but the ref keeps stopping him. Patrick finally just pulls the ref out of the way, but Ozzy goes to the eye and quickly lands a sunset flip to get the cheap win. ****, 90% overall.

It's time for another edition of the Hot Button with everyone's favorite host, The Royal Rumble Winning Hero to Millions Around the World, the Host With THE Highest Rated Interview Show In All of Entertainment, The New Age Intellectual Savior to the Masses, The 2031 Fulton County First Place Conga Award Winner, The Luscious Lover of the Manager of the Year Slammy Award Winner and Undefeated Steel Cage Master and REAL 2040 King of the Ring, The Supreme Submission Machine, Mister Twenty-Forty, The Two Time Slammy Award Winner Including the Rookie of the Year and the Most Envied Superstar of the Year, the Man Who is the Rightful Winner of the Slammy for Cruiserweight of the Year, The Lord of the Ladder and Conqueror of Fears, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion-Elect, the Cruiserweight Champion Michael Hotbody! He welcomes us all to the show and wants to get down to some serious business after the events on Raw this past Monday.

"Alright so there's some REALLY big news that needs to get addressed. One that involves one of the biggest stars in the history of this company and the incredible downer it was to hear what was going to happen to them! That's right, I am of course talking about me being forced to defend my title against some flavor-of-the-month like Neil Quint! There was OUTRAGE and SADNESS reverberating throughout the fandom of the WWE! And who is the perpetrator of such ridiculousness? None other than that cow who's being put out to pasture at the end of the month, Lisa Benton!!! Well, the joke is going to be on her! You can't just have some rookie fresh off the street coming in and getting involved in the Cruiserweight Title picture after just a few months! That's absolutely absurd! But you all need to know something, and if I may reinforce what my TOP LEGAL COUNSEL stated earlier, we are making sure that Lisa Benton and Neil Quint aren't trying to pull a fast one on all of you! Lisa Benton can't promote a match claiming one participant is undefeated when chances are he's got a loss or two in some backwater little town out in some potato field in Idaho or whatever! So Galino & Farnes are hard at work combing through Neil's sordid little history because this would be a blatant case of FALSE ADVERTISING if I ever saw it! You can't trust Neil Quint, but you can take comfort knowing that I will always be a beacon of truth and a surefire bet when you need to put your faith in something. I mean, what do we really know about Neil Quint anyway? Well, we're all in luck because I have the show and the platform to get to the bottom of things, so Neil Quint, this is your invitation to come on out here and be an open book to these people and make your case for why you think a sorry sack like yourself belongs in the ring with me! Come on out here!"

Well, there's the invitation, but is Neil Quint going to resp...oh, wait, there he is. He's got the same expression on his face that everyone who deals with Hotbody has, but he persists in his trip to the ring to join the Cruiserweight Champion. He takes a mic and gestures to Hotbody that he's here and ready.

Hotbody takes the opportunity to begin this interview of sorts. "Alright, Neil, all cards on the table. You would really be doing me a solid by saving on legal fees if you just came clean and told us the truth about your wrestling record, OK? We all start out small doing shows in high schools and backyards and county fairs and what not. At least that's what I've been told. I've been lucky enough to have a straight shot into the WWE and can actually claim an incredible winning streak, but I know that others aren't so fortunate. So what's the deal, Neil?"

"Michael, let's get down to the actual reality of this situation. Whether or not I'm undefeated actually wouldn't matter. Even if I had a thousand losses to my name the sad truth is I would still be better than you."

"Oh, so you're not going to answer the question? Well, tha..."

"NO, I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THE GOD DAMN QUESTION!!!" Neil snaps. "I don't answer to you. I don't give two ounces of crap about you and I'm not going to get sucked into this stupid little world of yours! It all comes down this, Michael. You're not afraid of heights or cages or anything like that. You're afraid of being nothing! You're on one hell of a run, I'll give you that. But the reality of what could happen at the Royal Rumble when I face you for that title is setting in, isn't it? You've got a man with all the momentum in the world coming at you on that night and you're shaking in your boots and tossing in your sleep worried that you don't have anything in your playbook to stop it from hitting you like a ton of bricks! You want to know about Neil Quint? Here's all you and all the people watching need to know, Michael. I'm a winner. I've been winning. I'm going to keep on winning and you're in the middle of that road. Do what you need to do to get you through the days, Michael. For all the good it does." And with that Neil throws the mic down, apparently done with all of this, but as he goes to leave Michael decides to clobber him in the back of the head with the Cruiserweight Title, knocking him down to the mat. He puts some mustard on it by knocking over the podium onto Neil and walks out of the ring in a celebratory fashion as we go to break.

Fifth Match: Carmella Costello vs. Missy Brantley
Brooke wants to work that mic and get a few things off her chest. She brags about so many things being put into motion that are going her way. Ronnie Costello has a shot at the Intercontinental Title tomorrow night on SmackDown!. Salvatore Scabbia is going to run though that Royal Rumble, no matter what number he gets, and go to WrestleMania to win what's rightfully his. "And as far as tonight goes, Sonya Braddock better be paying attention to Carmella here. Sonya, I know you don't have the guts to be showing up all the time, but I'm hoping you at least have the brains to be aware of the danger that's knocking at your door. I'm going to see to it that Carmella is in line for that belt around your waist that you think is yours. It makes you look great in an 8 x 10, but that's all it is: a look. I've made it a point of professional pride to surround myself with people who have substance. Know that the day you find yourself in the ring with Carmella is going to the longest of your life!"

Carmella does her best to live up to those words here in a spectacular showing. It comes to an end when Missy has Carmella lined up for a Lasso and she preps herself in the corner for launch while the ref checks on Carmella. Brooke seizes the opportunity to be a nuisance and grabs one of Missy's ankles and holds on. Missy understandably turns her attention to these turn of events and wastes time yelling at Brooke. Carmella charges at Missy and sandwiches her in the corner against the turnbuckle then hits her with the Defamation off the top to score the win. ****1/2, 92% overall.

We're told that backstage, the cameras have picked up something odd involving Cameron Harper. Apparently, word was that Harper was spotted talking to someone and our crack interview team tried tracking him down, finding him turning a corner, coming out from some back hallway. Harper is surprised at being found and he gets pressed about what he's doing here. Cameron assures everyone that it's nothing that anybody needs to be concerned about. He's just here trying to take initiative. He knows that's the kind of thing that Jake Connelly likes. "Other than that, there's nothing more that needs to be said." Cameron goes off on his merry way, but someone else comes out of the same hallway as Cameron. It's...Chet Morris? He sees the crew and heads off in his own direction avoiding them. WTF was that?

MAIN EVENT: Orlando Kincaid vs. Xavier Cross
Orlando makes it clear before the match that he's still got his heart set on covering his hands with the blood of Quinten McDaniels. It's a fight he didn't ask for or want, but it's a fight he'll enjoy finishing and it'll be extra sweet to make Quinten one of those 29 other bodies that Orlando is going to toss over the top rope on the way to winning the Royal Rumble. "Quinten, I want you to add this to that of things you're going through with all of this ass backwards therapy crap. I'm going to do what you couldn't and that's leave WrestleMania with that World Title and that's MY WAY of purging my past!"

So we finish hella strong with this match. This might actually have to be an extended program that I do down the road so that I can get those sweet, sweet stars and ratings. I mean, look at the results of this match! And it's on God damn Superstars! Anyways, despite being a fucking awesome match, Quinten McDaniels has to come on down to ruin things when it looks like Orlando has Xavier set up for the OK Corral. He goes low on Orlando and then tosses him over the top rope. He gets a grin on his face and goes out to get Orlando's body back into the ring, only to stomp the piss out of him and throw him back over again. He yells at Orlando that it's Quinten's time this year and he stands tall as we go off the air. *****, 95% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

M-A-G

11-20-2023, 03:29 PM

SmackDown!: January 11, 2041

Opening Match: Michael Haywood and Jordan Demiras vs. Jason Sorola and Ozzy Mandias
I say we start this show off hot. And then the DUD show says "LOL, go fuck yourself." I mean, looking at the rating it shouldn't be a big deal, but fuck, that could've been a 96% easily. Not hard to see why considering the heat amongst all of these fine gentlemen. Things break down with Ozzy and Jordan as the legal men and Sorola gets chased by Michael. The ref is distracted with that bit of tomfoolery. Jordan goes over to try to get Ozzy back into the ring. He reaches over the top but Ozzy pops up and smashes Jordan in the head with something. Is that Jordan's Cruiserweight of the Year Slammy? Where'd he get it from? A question for another time as Jordan is down and out and vulnerable to Ozzy's Blizzard of Oz and that's going to get the cheap win for the heels via pin. Ozzy isn't done and decides to mount Jordan and bean him in the head repeatedly with the award until he decides he's done enough. *****, 85% overall.

To the back we go where the WWE Unified World Champion Wrakk wants to finally address Simon Bennett. He's asked if he's given any consideration to facing Simon Bennett and defending the Unified World Title against him. Wrakk says that Simon must be psychic because he's going to say the exact thing that Simon predicted. "The landscape of the WWE has changed in the time that Simon Bennett was gone and doing whatever. Now, I'm not dumb. I pay attention to the major waves that are made here. I saw Simon Bennett make his big, glorious return. And while it looks like he hasn't lost a step and even gained a bit of an edge judging from that match at Bragging Rights, the years haven't brought him wisdom. Luckily, I'm in one hell of a position to provide that to him. An opponent like Simon Bennett is just the example I need to demonstrate my vision for the new year. Even seasoned veterans aren't safe! Simon, you and I share something, in that a signficant time away from all of this has left us with something to prove. At the Royal Rumble, you'll get all of what I have to prove the hard way." Looks like we have another title match set for the Rumble!

Second Match: Leah vs. Hannah McCormick
Nathan Quinn gets on the mic and informs us that his team of the Southern Belles are exercising their right to a rematch and they will get their chance at regaining the Women's Tag Team Titles that were stolen from them at the Royal Rumble. Nathan goes on to say that Leah has a lot of nerve parading around the place as if she is in any shape or form superior to Hannah McCormick. Leah leeched off of Hannah's stardom and she knows it! All that's left now are the days that Hannah and Bobbi are counting until that day they can make those posers suffer...that is, of course, if Leah has it in her to survive right here and right now!

Never let it be said that Leah isn't game. She's a ball of fire here and makes Nathan eat his words...well, via proxy as Hannah is left to take the abuse. Another sound outing that fights against the DUD show's wrath is on display. It comes to an end when the ref is bumped after Hannah ducks a clothesline from Leah. They continue to brawl and Nathan tries to help out by tossing Hannah her custom mic, but Leah makes a case for a women's NFL with her interception skills. She threatens to hit Nathan with it but he hops off the apron to avoid that. She yells some more at him and Hannah comes to grab her from behind, but Leah instinctively strikes her with the mic. The ref has come to, though, and sees this and calls for the bell to DQ Leah. Leah is understandably upset at this and goes to mount Hannah to give her some more punishment but Nathan drags his client out of the ring to save her. More and more intensity gets added to this whole affair. ****1/2, 83% overall.

God damn DUD show.

Once again to the back where it looks like Chet Morris has hijacked a camera crew. He claims that he's tired of all the talk from everyone and especially Lyle Morris about how he's apparently a coward. "Lyle, you listen very carefully. I wasn't afraid to do what I did to you and I'm not afraid to do it again! I have moved past you and it ain't my problem you feel left behind! But if you think you need to get something out of your system, well, I'm heading to that ring RIGHT NOW so let's see who's really the coward!" And with that Chet goes marching to the entryway. Are we getting a match? We go to break with that question in the air.

Third Match (???): Chet Morris vs. Lyle Morris
Well, we're back and Chet is indeed in the ring, gesturing to the back and calling for his cousin. Some time passes and it looks like we're not going to s...NO, WAIT! LYLE COMES IN FROM BEHIND! Lyle is all over Chet with a flurry that causes Chet to retreat to the outside. Lyle is in hot pursuit, not giving an inch. Lyle gets Chet down and backing away. Chet is trapped as he's up against the ringside barrier. Lyle has a dangerous look in his eye as Chet begs off. WAIT A MINUTE! Cameron Harper comes up behind Lyle Morris and spins him around. Lyle is all "WTF?" and Cameron gives him some lip before slapping the crap out of Lyle. Lyle goes reeling backwards and Chet pounces on this distraction to grab Lyle and send him into the barrier. Cameron walks off looking satisfied and Chet decides to put some more hurt on Lyle by dropping him across the announce table. Chet issues another warning to Lyle before walking away. What the hell was up with Cameron Harper?

Fourth Match: Cordelia Capriati vs. Vivian Merrick
Sophie Waters gets on the stick to talk for Cordelia and offers a counterpoint to all of Brooke's talk. She claims that as far as she's concerned, she got the real winner in the split between Carmella and Cordelia. Sophie claims that Cordelia isn't done with Carmella by a long shot, but taking a stab at that Women's Title is also on Cordelia's plate and it's going to feel so good to see the look on Brooke's face when she realizes that she backed the wrong horse.

A bit odd to compare your female client to a horse, but the point is made. Vivian, though, has something to say about all this and we get a firey back-and-forth match here. Carmella comes out on stage to observe the match and Cordelia makes it a point to acknowledge her presence now and then through the contest. It comes to an end when Vivian tries a superplex on Cordelia. Cordelia fights it off and sends Vivian off the top, causing her to land face down on the mat. Vivian struggles to get back up, but Cordelia comes off with the Crowning Achievement and that's going to give Cordelia the win via pin. Carmella walks off with disgust on her face as Cordelia celebrates. ****1/2, 81% overall.

More interview time in the back where Orlando Kincaid is eager to talk some smack about Quinten McDaniels. He claims that he's been having dreams each night these last few days. "The details change a little every time, but the overall story is the same. One way or another, I manage to wrap my hands around the neck of that little ass stain called Quinten McDaniels. And then after I wrap my hands around that neck, I look him dead in the eye and staring right back at me is a scared little puppy who knows what's coming. So once I get a good look at that and I know I've managed to crush all the hope out of him, I beat the living piss out of Quinten McDaniels until my hands can't take it anymore and then I throw him over the top rope! Quinten, dreams can come true, and at the Royal Rumble, I don't just wish for them to come true, I NEED them to come true. I need to smack you around and make you pay! I need to throw you over that top rope and eliminate you in that Rumble. Quinten, you gave me the gift of a fire under my ass. It's too damn bad that it was the biggest mistake of your life and no amount of this therapeutic crap you're going through is gonna help you!"

Fifth Match: Victor Dark vs. Raymond Delaney
This is Victor's in-ring debut as he alluded to on Raw. Andrea is with Victor, of course, and she gets on the mic to set the stage. "This was inevitable, in one fashion or another. Haven needs to understand completely who he is dealing with when it comes to Victor Dark. Haven, you need to understand that Victor is not the same man you abandoned all that time ago. He has had years to mold himself into the specimen you see right now. More importantly, he's molded all of those emotions into raw fuel. You and everyone else needs the Fear of the Dark to be put into you and it starts tonight!"

Talk is cheap, but Victor, to his credit, backs it up 100%. I just wish his debut happened on a non-DUD show so that it could've had a little more punch. This goes as you'd expect, with Victor getting his shine and being a dominant force. It comes to an end with Delaney falling victim to Darkness Falls in a thunderous impact and that's going to allow Victor to score the pin and make a hell of a first impression in the ring. Messages have been sent. ****1/4, 78% overall.

More backstage shenanigans as Vivian Merrick is storming out of the building, upset with what went down in her match earlier when she bumps into Aphrodite. Vivian is incredulous at the sight of Aphrodite and asks if she's going to give crap about Vivian's loss. Aphrodite claims she's been doing her best to lobby on behalf of the Love Connection to get a shot for them at the Tag Team Titles. Vivian scoffs at the idea of anyone under Aphrodite's watch being equipped to take home the championship. Vivian, on the other hand, has a team that was already champions. Very good and very dominant champions and it's high time that the Future Foundation have those titles again! Vivian claims that they were stolen from the Future Foundation in the first place in one of the most unfair set of circumstances EVER and she'll be damned if a couple of geeks like Coleman and Greene are going to be in contention. Aphrodite suggests that perhaps Vivian's team should take it up with those "geeks" personally. She proposes the Future Foundation versus The Love Connection this Monday on Raw. Vivian scoffs again but agrees, if only because it'll help prove her point. And with that, Vivian continues on her way.

Sixth Match: Alexander Piero vs. Zed Jones
Luscious gets on the stick on behalf of Zed and declares that Zed has had enough of Clubber Harris. She claims that Clubber has been doing a lot of overcompensating as of late because he knows that he got outshined by Zed in their match on the SmackDown! Send-Off a few weeks ago. Zed may have lost, but the blame can be put on all the things that Zed has on his plate! He has an intense training regimen to keep up! He has to be on guard for both Luscious AND Michael Hotbody! His sharpness can only be streched so far! "But rest assured, Clubber, that the next time you want to dare step into the ring and try your luck again with Zed, he's going to be all over you and the question of who's the real big dog in this fight will be answered!"

This match is the goods and while the guys do their thing, Madison is able to keep things on the level by making sure Luscious isn't pulling any crap. Ultimately, neither Madison or Luscious are going to have a say in the matter as while they have a scuffle that draws the attention of the referee, BUTCH FLEMING comes running down to smack Piero in the back with a chair! WTF?!? He puts some mustard on it by hitting the Slaughterhouse Special and rolling out of the ring. Zed dives on top of the fallen Piero as the ref finishes up with his business with the women and Zed ends up getting the cheap pin off of Butch's interference. Butch isn't done as afterwards he slides back into the ring and stands over Piero, yelling something at him along the lines of "Is this what you want, boy?!?" Zed tries to leave BUT HERE COMES CLUBBER HARRIS!!! He brawls with Zed a bit, but Butch isn't feeling discriminatory and decides to smack Clubber with the chair, too. This whole ordeal ends up being a heel beatdown as Butch and Zed pair off with their victims and toss them around. Butch is especially vicious towards Piero, bending the chair with repeated shots to Piero's body. We get officials down to get some degree of order, but the damage is done. ****1/2, 81% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Intercontinental Title
Seth Von Kamp (c) vs. Ronnie Costello
Brooke addresses Sophie Waters and the comments she made earlier. "Sophie, I hope you don't think for a second that what went down earlier tonight with Cordelia is in any intimidating. Carmella knows Cordelia, inside and out. And on top of it all, she has ME! The brains are always the deciding factor and you've always come up short when you went against me in that department. Carmella's rise to that Women's Title is coming, and I am going to take great pride in being the guiding hand that will make that possible. But don't take my word for it. A preview is about unfold right before your very eyes and the Intercontinental Title will be the first prize that will be claimed by my new initiative!"

Man, is this a night for talking or what? Fortunately, Seth and Ronnie aren't down for talking and they deliver a strong conclusion to the night. Well, strong for a DUD show that is. We're treated to an awesome back-and-forth match that looks like it can go either way. Of course, it can't last as Ronnie has the Brooke factor to tip things in his favor. Well, Seth had a good run, but I've got to make it look like Brooke and her crew are serious. So we're going to go with this route: Brooke hops up on the apron to draw the referee's attention. Wait, what's this? She has the Intercontinental Title belt on the apron! She takes advantage of the ref being distracted with her and she kicks the belt through the legs of the ref towards Ronnie. Ronnie clutches it as he feigns vulnerability. Seth goes on the attack, unaware of the situation and he hoists Ronnie up for the Collapse of Society, but Ronnie clobbers Seth in the forehead with the belt to put a stop to those plans. Ronnie ditches the belt and goes up to hit the Defamation as Brooke relents in her distraction. The ref sees the cover from Ronnie and counts the pin to put an end to Seth's run as Intercontinental Champion. *****, 85% overall.

WINNER AND NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Ronnie Costello

And with that, we go off the air with a triumphant Ronnie and Brooke as they stand tall and confident. What does this mean for the rest of the champions on the roster?

Overall show rating: 84%

Heel of the night: The DUD show.

Evil Vito

11-20-2023, 04:01 PM

I still remain envious of your DUD shows pulling ratings in the 80s. The roster is just next-level all around.

Fucking sucks to have a title change "wasted" on a DUD show though, but hey it still pulled in the 5 star bonanza so FACK YOU to EWR.

Butch Fleming might have my favorite promos outside of Hotbody. Writing for Fleming is just "act like a modern day Republican" and hurl insults accordingly.

M-A-G

11-21-2023, 05:33 PM

When it comes to writing for Butch Fleming, I have to picture someone who's angry at the world all the time. It's easy to get into that mindset as I often have periods where a lot of things irk me in a short period of time and I just start to hate every motherfucker and their mother. A lot of his rants are based on stuff I want to yell at people from time to time.

Hotbody is just me being completely uninhibited in my goofiness, sprinkled in with a touch of wishful thinking. In both instances, I have to ask myself what can I come up with that would drive people to want to pay to see these douches get theirs. As you can probably tell, there's a lot of inspiration in the real world from which to draw.

Evil Vito

11-23-2023, 08:44 PM

My brain immediately pictures Butch Fleming as The Butcher from AEW

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfVXA0llIpcuEwqvGG9V0ehv3LAp2C7sOAwEOhtFEWJWvqKfy_

Angry ass motherfucker with a sweet mustache (ironically he’s a super cool dude IRL and played guitar for Every Time I Die

M-A-G

11-23-2023, 10:43 PM

Well, Butch is certainly an angry ass motherfucker. I think we've all come across somebody like this, especially a co-worker, where they live in a perpetual state of having woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Other note I forgot to add after one of the shows, Miles Shawcross eats a suspension for the rest of the month for apparently being tough to deal with according to my crew. Take a time out to get yourself together, bro.

M-A-G

11-30-2023, 05:50 AM

I'm doing my best to keep the momentum going, but the dodgy nature of the boards as of late has been throwing me off. I'm in the middle of the next Raw right now.

M-A-G

12-03-2023, 06:02 AM

Raw: January 14, 2041

TWENTY MINUTE OPENING PROMO OF DOOM!!!!!111 as the number 29 entrant in this year's Royal Rumble, Butch Fleming, comes out to grace us with his presence. He looks like he's got more venom to spew at the world so let's hear what it is this time around.

"If there's one thing I can count on whenever I'm gone for a long time it's there ends up being a couple of boys who use that time to grow too big for their britches. All of a sudden, they've managed to grow a set in between their legs and think they own the place. But the kick in the pants about all that is that I get to come back into the picture and show them the reality of the situation and who runs things around here. Alexander Piero, credit where it's due, you deserve a pat on the back for taking me up on my offer to get in line and try to do something about what I did last week. Now the best you could do was talk crap behind my back, but, hey, that's enough to get you on my radar so hats off to you! What ended up happening to you was the finding out part of you messing around. Your sad little outrage offends me, Piero! You got a dealt a bad hand last week. Suck it up and take it like a man because you don't deserve this number 29 spot and you don't deserve my attention! You served your purpose as an example and I take this opportunity to extend the same invitation I did last week. You got a problem with me and this Royal Rumble situation? By all means, take a shot and end up like Piero because I'm not going to be questioned! I'm not going to be insulted! I'm going to be the last man standing in that ring after everybody's been sent packing in that Rumble and I'm making one hell of a return by taking that Unified World Title at WrestleMania! And one more thing...Brandon Reigns! I know you're here. You're here somewhere sitting on your ass instead of being a man. For your own sake, you had better rethink this whole cash-in at WrestleMania strategy you got in mind because the only thing you're going to do with that briefcase at WrestleMania is choke on it!"

This is obviously time for an interruption and this time it's going to be the former Intercontinental Champion Seth Von Kamp, fresh off of having his title stolen from him by Ronnie Costello on SmackDown!. Butch looks furious at this turn of events as Seth enters the ring with a mic in hand, ready to gab. "Butch, I consider myself pretty good at reading a room and I think I can safely say that nobody gives a damn about your...what's the term...belly-aching?"

Butch is incredulous at this statement as the crowd gives their approval to it. Seth continues despite Butch's anger. "No, spare me this little show, Butch! I hate to be the bearer of reality, but the truth is we're not afraid of you, least of all me. I don't care about what ticked you off this time around and I don't even know what it is you have to be mad about. You got your number 29 spot in the Rumble. You made your big return. I'M the one with the actual gripe and all this chest pounding you're doing out here is getting in the way of that. I'M going to use this time and I'm going to use it to call out that son of a bitch who stole my Intercontinental Title on Friday. RONNIE COSTELLO, get your ass out here right now so I can do what I was going to do and that's beat you for that belt!"

We get no answer from Ronnie, but Butch is ready to offer his response. "Seth, I've gone easy on you in the past because I've known that you were never one of those guys who was going to have the moxie to try to step up to me and piss me off, but you've both suprised me and proved my point! Look at you out here pretending you're somebody that anybody should respect. It's almost adorable. Of course, you do realize that now I have to teach you some respect for coming out here and getting all up in my business, right?"

"That's fine with me. I got a lot of aggression to get out and if Ronnie Costello's going to be a wuss, I might as well use it on someone who's asking for it."

Things look like they're going to reach a boiling point, but our illustrious General Manager (and Hall of Fame candidate) Lisa Benton comes out to try to quell things. "Hold on a sec, you two. I know I'm on my way out, but I'm still calling the shots around here and this little scuffle is going to have to wait a while. I suggest the two of you suit up and get prepped because you're going to be tonight's main event. And if there's any objection to that, then Seth, you can forget about Ronnie and another chance at the Intercontinental Title. And Butch? You can forget about that number 29 spot in the Royal Rumble. That's final, you two!" And with that Lisa's music plays us out as Seth reluctantly rolls out of the ring, eyes fixated on Butch the entire time. We're going to have an awesome main event...hopefully.

Backstage, Cameron Harper is getting ready when Jake Connelly joins him, looking none too pleased. Connelly is furious as he points out Cameron's mistake last week in eliminating Ethan Lang from the battle royal and then asks Cameron what the hell he was doing on Superstars and SmackDown! associating with Chet Morris and taking part in what happened to Lyle Morris. Cameron looks ready to erupt in tears as he turns to face Connelly. He responds with a major outburst.

"YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I DID WHAT I DID?!? What choice did I have?!? All I wanted was to get even with what Lyle Morris did to me a few weeks back and neither YOU or Ethan wanted to back me up on that! And as far as Ethan getting eliminated last week? That was an accident, plain and simple! Maybe he should've been more careful and more in-step with me! I don't even know why we need Ethan! Jake, he's great and all, but I don't know if this is really going to work. I'M the only client you need! Quite frankly, if this whole Lyle Morris situation is anything to go on, I have to just flat out say it: he may be holding us back."

Connelly calmly collects himself with a deep breath before locking eyes with Cameron and replies with a stern tone. "Cameron, I want you to listen and listen really well. I have a reputation to uphold and it's not going to get soiled with this attitude of yours. I have a ship and I have a course for that ship. You're welcome to get off that ship if you want, but I'm not putting up with anymore of this. Tonight, you and Ethan are going to be on the same page, whether the two of you like it or not, or you can call it quits. Are we clear?"

Cameron takes a moment to absorb this, but reluctantly nods and says, "Yeah...we're clear." Cameron takes his leave, with Jake following behind him as they make their way to the ring.

First Match: Ethan Lang and Cameron Harper vs. The Royal Effect
Well, this isn't exactly the team for Lang and Harper to be tackling when they've got the issues they have right now. To Lang's credit, he's professional about the matter and handles the brunt of the work. Harper half-heartedly plays cheerleader in his corner with the framed picture as Lang plays face-in-peril. Things take a turn when Lang gets his second wind, escaping from McKay's attempt at the Mass Effect and delivering a drop kick to McKay's back, sending him forward and causing him to collide with Harper and knock him off the apron. THE FRAMED PICTURE IS SHATTERED!!! Cameron is livid and on the verge of a breakdown as he can't believe what's happened! He looks back to the ring in a fury as Lang continues his comeback. Harper is reinvigorated and slides into the ring with a furvor. Moses McKay is oblivious to Harper's appearance behind him! Harper grabs McKay, shoves him out of the way AND NAILS ETHAN LANG!!! WTF IS HE DOING?!?!?!?! Jake Connelly is just as befuddled as the rest of us as he watches Harper assault his partner! Harper lifts Lang up and hits the Cam Jam! What the hell is going on?!? Cameron slides out of the ring and starts to leave, beckoning Jake Connelly to come with him and leave Ethan Lang. Meanwhile, Moses McKay capitalizes on this turn of events and covers Lang to get the pin. Connelly can't believe what he's just witnessed and climbs into the ring to check on Lang. Harper continues to plead his case to Connelly, but Connelly isn't having it, choosing to stay with Lang as the latter starts to come to. Harper eventually decides to climb back into the ring, standing over Ethan Lang. Lang looks up at Harper as Connelly is shouting at the latter. It's for naught as Harper nails Lang with the broken picture frame sending him back down to the canvas before he leaves in disgust. What the hell was this all about? A question for another time as Jake Connelly and officials tend to Ethan Lang. *****, 95% overall.

Backstage, we catch up with the number one contender to the Cruiserweight Championship, Neil Quint! He's asked about what it feels like to have this opportunity at such an early stage in his career. Neil counters that it's never too early for something like this. "When you're good, you're good. That's what championships are actually supposed to be about, rewarding excellence and finding out who's the best. It's not about whatever circus Michael Hotbody wants to bring every time he shows up. The details may change, but at the end of the day you know that with him, you're getting a clown show. With Neil Quint, you're getting the best. And unlike how Hotbody weaseled his way towards that belt so quickly into his career, I'm actually going to earn that Cruiserweight Title. Hotbody, tell your crew to start folding up the tents because the show's over at the Royal Rumble."

This looks like the perfect time for Luscious to come into the picture and steal some time to provide a rebuttal. Luscious points out that the belt is already around the waist of the best. "Until you've been put the ringer like my boo, Mikey-Poo, you don't have a leg to stand on, Neil!" she claims. "Everything from cage matches to submission matches to fatal four-ways to tables and ladders and chairs and everything in between, Michael Hotbody has been through the fire and come out looking stronger and better than before!"

"Then what's with all the nonsense of him trying to get this match cancelled?" Quint asks.

"Hey, Michael isn't afraid of you anymore than he's afraid of any other person he's conquered! Michael just wants the WWE to show integrity and honesty when promoting its matches to the people. If there's one thing Michael can't stand, it's a liar! You were GIVEN this match and we just all want to be sure that you didn't get it based on a lie! If you don't have a spotless record like Lisa Benton claims you have, then you shouldn't get the match!"

"It says a lot when this alleged brave champion needs you to do all of his talking for him. As far as my record goes, it's WAAAAAAAAY cleaner than a woman like you!"

Luscious is AGHAST at this accusation from Neil and her subsequent gasp in reaction to it is so great it causes her hand to shoot up and across Neil's face in an action one could theoretically describe as a slap. Neil seems to think it's an act of aggression and starts to move in towards Luscious. Luscious is evidently confused as to how Neil could have misconstrued such an action and backs away as Neil follows. Fortunately, Michael Hotbody comes around the corner to hopefully explain things, but Neil bumps face-first into Michael's Cruiserweight Title. Neil is clearly in no position for Michael's explanation to have any bearing so the champ and Luscious take their leave.

Second Match: Dusk vs. Cordelia Capriati vs. Jenna Kyle vs. Carmella Costello
It's announced that the winner of this match will go to the Royal Rumble as the number one contender to Sonya Braddock's Women's Title and speak of the devil, she is here and she joins the announce team to watch.

Brooke is with Carmella as the first people to come to the ring and she uses this time to run down the champion as well as the rest of the competitors. "First, a message to Seth Von Kamp, the FORMER Intercontinental Champion. Ronnie has asked me to pass this along, as he's far too busy being a very important figure now that he's the NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION! Ronnie wants Seth to know that there are no hard feelings. Ronnie didn't really want to be the one to have to put an end to the storybook tale that was your miraculous title reign, Seth. Unfortunately, my new initiative doesn't leave a whole lot of room for sappiness and all that noise. All that matters is bringing all the gold to my side of the tracks. Seth, you were the first victim of this bold movement, but rest assured that you won't be the last. Which brings us to tonight and the Royal Rumble. Sonya Braddock, I trust that you clutched your belt just a little bit tighter when you saw the end to SmackDown! on Friday. You realize that I'm dead serious about my clients going on the hunt for all the champions here in the WWE. You sit there and you watch as it starts to hit you that my goal starts to become more and more real. Carmella is going to walk all over her competition in this match! Look at who we've got. Let's start with Dusk. Dusk, sorry, no offense, but it's just way too soon for you to be in a match like this with stakes like this. Jenna Kyle is nothing more than a pathetic Barbie doll who doesn't even deserve this chance after already blowing it at Bragging Rights. And then there's Cordelia. There may be a special place in hell for traitors, but I've always been more keen on my own brand of punishment. Cordelia, Carmella is more talented than you and she has all the motivation she needs to wipe the floor with you anytime! Seth Von Kamp was victim number one; Cordelia, appropriately enough, you get the honor of being number two!"

Brooke is certainly wordy tonight, but the time for words gets thrown out the window as this match gets underway. Luckily, I've got four talented women tussling here, with Jenna being the anchor keeping things in line. Braddock offers her thoughts on the competitors throughout the match as she watches. Things come to a head when Dusk and Jenna spill to the outside in front of Braddock. Dusk gives Braddock the stink eye and the two have words. The ref tries to calm things down and get Dusk back into the match. Brooke uses this chance to slide some brass knuckles to Carmella. Sophie Waters goes over to Brooke to give her some attitude in response. Jenna manages to slip out of the grasp of Dusk as Dusk tries to send her into the ring post. Jenna shoves Dusk into said ring post, knocking her out of the equation. Jenna rejoins Carmella and Cordelia in the ring as Cordelia has Carmella waistlocked, unaware of the knuckles in Carmella's possession. Jenna waistlocks Cordelia as it looks like we're going to get a double German suplex. Cordelia elbows Jenna to get out of the predicament, but that allows Carmella to get free and she turns around to KO Cordelia with the knux as the ref is checking on Jenna. Carmella covers Cordelia and that's going to give her the win and the number one contender status. Braddock looks less than impressed as Brooke and Carmella celebrate. ****1/2, 91% overall.

The next inductee for this year's Hall of Fame is...Jason Collins! The multiple time World Champion and father to current WWE Superstar Chris Collins takes his place among the rest of the greats the night before WrestleMania, joining Lisa Benton for this year's class. He will be inducted by Pete Shapiro.

Third Match: Kerry Cemenko and Eddy Clash vs. Chris Collins and Hugo
Kyle Jacobs joins the announce team to offer his views on Chris Collins during this match. Chris Collins gets on the stick before the match, wanting to talk about his dad. "I bet you all think I should feel some kind pride over the news of my deadbeat loser father getting fluffed and praised by a bunch of other deadbeat losers for the Hall of Fame, huh? Let me be perfectly clear on this: I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. I'm too busy crafting my own story, my own Hall of Fame career, and I'm doing it without making the same dumb mistakes my father did! Pete Shapiro, I sure as hell wasn't going to do the induction, because I wasn't going to be some puppet blowing smoke up everyone's ass! Quite frankly, every person who takes part in that night and fawns over my dad and whatever crap comes out of his mouth should be ashamed of themselves and that includes any of you fans!"

Chris Collins glares at the crowd as they proceed to boo him. He then turns his attention to Kyle Jacobs. "You see that, Kyle? THAT'S how you handle yourself as the offspring of a famous family. Take matters into your hands and live for yourself because that's the only way you're even going to come close to a legacy like mine. And you've got the best seat in the house to watch this match because there's plenty more to learn!"

This is the part where we talk about how awesome this match is. Eddy and Hugo, of course, are down with continuing their kaiju antics. Things come to an end as things break down after the hot tag with the two giants brawling on the outside, leaving Chris and Kerry as the legal men. The ref can only watch Eddy and Hugo slug it out, allowing Chris Collins to slip out of the ring to grab a chair. Chris hops back on the apron, looking to get back into the ring, but Kyle Jacobs leaves the announce table to take the chair out of Chris's hand. Chris turns his attention to Kyle in anger, but Eddy is back in action, having sent Hugo into the steps. Eddy brings Chris back in via a belly-to-back suplex, folding up poor Chris, and that leaves him open to a Curb Stomp from Kerry and the pin fall afterward is academic. Kyle walks off, eyes on the beaten Chris Collins as he leaves. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Fourth Match: Bonnie Beckham vs. Bobbi Jo
Nathan Quinn announces that the match between his Southern Belles and the Perfections for the Women's Tag Team Titles at the Royal Rumble is going to be contested under Tornado Rules. He claims it's fitting as it's two teams, no excuses. He again complains about the titles being stolen by Bonnie and Leah. "The Perfections are far from perfect. I know them because I made them and they think that they can get even for me dumping them by stealing what rightfully belongs to the Southern Belles! The Royal Rumble is where Hannah and Bobbi Jo put an end to this charade!"

Well, this match is no charade. It's fucking sweet as hell. To think under other circumstances, namely not having the women's tag division, these two probably would've suffered from a roster purge a long time ago. Thankfully I had the tremendous idea of doing this division. :shifty: Ahem...anyway, a fucking great match comes out of this pairing as we get a preview of what's to come at the Rumble. We get our finish in the form of Nathan drawing the ref's attention as the ref questions him about possibly putting Bobbi Jo's foot on the bottom rope to stop the count. Nathan proclaims innocence but this is opening for Hannah McCormick to come on down and slide a guitar to her partner, unbeknownst to Bonnie, who has joined the ref in the questioning. Bonnie eventually turns her attention back to Bobbi Jo, who takes the guitar and El Kabongs poor Bonnie, shattering it. Hannah helps gets rid of the evidence and Nathan eventually backs down, allowing the ref to get back to the match and see Bobbi Jo covering the KO'd Bonnie and count the pin. Well, you had to know the country gals would draw inspiration from Jeff Jarrett. ****1/2, 92% overall.

Backstage we go again with Simon Bennett and his manager Paul Andrews. They remind everyone about the match between Bennett and Wrakk for the Unified World Title is, indeed, on for the Royal Rumble. Bennett claims that perhaps Adam Hail had the right idea. "All of this trouble and all of the pageantry surrounding coming back to the WWE after all these years, I might as well make it mean something. This man next to me put a lot of work into getting me back into the thick of things here. This man believed that there was more for me to do in the world of wrestling. Now who am I to refuse such a stamp of approval? Wrakk, I don't know much about landscapes or creating art or whatever it is you've been on about for these past few months. The only picture I want people to take away from all of this is the image of me holding up that WWE Unified World Title at the Royal Rumble. It'll be a picture of the absolute best and a picture where anyone looking at it will say to themselves, 'Damn, right there is a champion. That right there is a guy who went through hell.' Contrary to what you may believe, Wrakk, I came back at the absolute right time."

Fifth Match: The Love Connection vs. The Future Foundation
This was set up on SmackDown! after Aphrodite had a run-in with Vivian Merrick. These two, along with the Royal Effect, have been aiming for the Unified Tag Team Titles held by the Wyldhearts. Speaking of which, the champions themselves park themselves in the aisle to observe. So we get a fucking amazing encounter, which unfortunately is going to get ruined. Coleman and Hilton are legal for their respective teams, but BONZO GONZO ensues, resulting in all four men on the outside, right in front of the champions. The Future Foundation see fit to be offended at the presence of the champions and some words are exchanged. The ref comes over and orders the Wyldhearts to leave. They do comply and the ref goes to try to break up Greene and Merrick, but Hilton uses this chance to shove Blaine Bellamey as he's going back up the ramp. Blaine responds by charging Hilton, but causes Coleman to get squashed against the apron. Robbie pulls Blaine off of Hilton, trying to get him to leave with him. Hilton sends Coleman back into the ring and small packages him to score a cheap pinfall. Post-match, the Royal Effect comes running down to get themselves a piece of the Wyldhearts and we go to break with a massive four team brawl. *****, 95% overall.

I mean, God damn.

Sixth Match: ???
Lyle Morris comes down to the ring with a referee in tow. They enter the ring and Lyle takes the mic and reiterates his claim that his cousin, Chet, is a damn coward. "Now, Chet, I may not know you anymore, but I haven't gone through some BS transformation. I'm still the same so you do know me, and you know that it's not in me to just pack it in. I'm still coming for your ass and I'm not hoping to beat some sense into you! I'm not looking to rescue you! I'm looking to do something that's been long overdue, and that's put a smile on my face for the first time in a long time. And if kicking your ass to get me some payback is what it takes, so be it! So get your ass out here right now so we can get this out of the way because I'm not stopping, Chet!"

It takes a while but Chet Morris does come out to the stage to reply to Lyle. He has a mic and gives his thoughts on all this. "Lyle, I don't want you to misunderstand me. Fighting you is absolutely on my agenda. I need to completely bury you in my past as it's a necessary step for me to move forward. However, I'm choosing to do it on my terms. Of course, there is another path forward, and that is if you, Lyle, open your heart enough to forgive me and just step aside, blessing me with your approval of my decision. One way doesn't end well for you. The other way REALLY doesn't end well for you."

Lyle, of course, pretty much says that's absurd and that Chet can stick this new philosophical crap he's on up his ass. Chet merely shakes his head and says that's a very disappointing answer. "Maybe you should take it up with the man himself." And with that statement the music of Victor Dark hits and the man himself comes on out with Andrea and they make their way to the ring. Victor climbs in, looks at the referee, and gestures for him to call for the bell. The ref checks with Lyle and he has no qualms about it, so this shit is on!

Sixth Match: Victor Dark vs. Lyle Morris
This is Victor's second match and he's just as impressive here as he was in his debut. Lyle is game, but it's an uphill battle as it doesn't look like he fully grasps what he's up against. Plus, he's evidently got Chet still on his mind as every so often he turns his attention to his cousin who is still on the stage observing. Lyle manages to get Victor in position for his Cajun Spice, but Victor catches him in mid-air and turns it into the Darkness Falls and that's going to give Victor his second win via pin. Afterwards, Chet comes down to stand over his cousin's body with a look of disappointment on his face. More drama! ****1/4, 87% overall.

MAIN EVENT: Seth Von Kamp vs. Butch Fleming
Might as well end with a banger. This is Butch's first match on a Raw since before SummerSlam. I say working with an opponent like Seth is a good way to get the ring rust off of you. Both men are spirited as they look to take out their respective grievances against each other. Seth looks like he's got Butch right where he wants him, but Ronnie Costello comes down to the ring, apparently not busy anymore. Seth looks like he's going to try the Collapse of Society on Butch, but he notices Ronnie at ringside, flaunting the Intercontinental Title belt in Seth's face. Seth is too furious to think straight and he makes a lunge at Ronnie, who backs away, and Butch pounces by coming up from behind Seth and nailing him with the Slaughterhouse Special. That right there is going to be enough for the pin for Butch, making this a successful return match.

Afterward, Ronnie slides into the ring to hold the title belt over Seth, followed by putting some boots to the former champion. Alexander Piero makes himself known by coming down, looking to even things out and trying to get a piece of Butch Fleming for what he did to him. Piero stomps at Butch in the corner until Ronnie gets all up in his grill all "WTF, bro?". Piero confronting this interruption leaves him open to Butch clipping his knee from behind and a double beatdown on the two faces commences. We close with the new Intercontinental Champion and the 29th entrant in the Rumble standing victorious. *****, 95% overall.

Overall show rating: 89%

Yeah, eat shit, DUD show.