2009 Pulse Wrestling Fantasy Draft: Second Shows and Voting Round #2

First round voting results

IWCASPCWGAAGAFU: 5 votes (20.0%)
PCW: 3 votes (12.0%)
GNW-25: 4 votes (16.0%)
JPW: 0 votes (0.0%)
RAPW: 1 vote (4.0%)
FFW: 4 votes (16.0%)
LAW: 6 votes (24.0%)
NGW: 2 votes (8.0%)

Based on your votes, the four companies’ names that are bold-faced and italicized will move on to round two of the 2009 Pulse Wrestling Fantasy Draft. In this very article, these four promotions will present you, the readers, with a second television show. Only two companies will move on from here on to the finals of the 2009 Pulse Wrestling Fantasy Draft.

For your own reference, each of the companies’ debut shows can be viewed at this address. Finalized rosters of every promotion can also be viewed at the bottom of this article.

Second shows

BIG ANDY MAC – International World Class All Star Professional Championship Wrestling Global Alliance and Grappling Arts Federation Unlimited (IWCASPCWGAAGAFU)

Week two gets underway immediately with Gabe Sapolsky and Raven running down the rebirth of the Crockett Cup tag team tournament which is as follows:

A) William Regal/Mystery Partner vs. the Embassy of Jimmy Rave and Jamie Noble

B) Paul London and Brian Kendrick vs. The Super Smash Bros. Player Uno and Player Dos

C) Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. The Young Bucks of Matt and Nick Jackson

D) Roderick Strong and Jack Evans vs. SHINGO and Yamato

Things start immediately with bout D as suspension builds for who Regal has chosen as his partner.

Roderick Strong and Jack Evans vs. SHINGO and Yamato

These are two pretty evenly matched teams as they are both a mix of power and speed. Both also need to make a statement as they are now privy to be scouted by every other team in the tournament. SHINGO and Yamato start off with the early advantage and isolate Jack Evans who makes every one of SHINGO’s slams and throws look like absolute death. Roderick repeatedly ignores the whole “tag rule” and sneaks in to deliver chops whenever the opportunity presents itself. One especially devastating chop on Yamato buys Jack enough time to make the tag at which point Roddy goes to work. Strong and Evans use their well timed double teams and end up finishing the Japanese duo with the ode to the Bulldogs. Jack scores the fall on Yamato advancing his team to the semi-finals. This match was excellent for its short time, but there is still a lot of wrestling to go tonight.

Winner: Roderick Strong and Jack Evans via pinfall

As Roderick and Jack exit they cross paths with Kevin Steen and El Generico who they wish luck.

Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. The Young Bucks of Matt and Nick Jackson

This is of course born out the attack on the Young Bucks during last week’s show. Rules are pretty much thrown out the window in this one and a wild brawl breaks out. Steenerico takes the advantage and somehow is even more violent with them than they were against Uno and Dos last week. The Bucks refuse to back down however and a blind tag sets up there lightning quick double teams. Steen looks like he’s had enough though and throws a chair in the ring just in time for El Generico to hit a brainbuster on it. The referee sees it though and calls for the immediate DQ. Steen doesn’t seem to care and starts laying into Matt Jackson while Generico works over Nick. A Brainbuster and a Package Piledriver on the chair to the Jackson and they are left laying. Steen and Generico exit and are congratulated on the ramp by Strong, Evans, and Hart. Something a bit fishy is certainly going on.

Winners: Matt and Nick Jackson via disqualification

Paul London and Brian Kendrick vs. The Super Smash Bros. of Player Uno and Dos

The match starts with a good natured handshake. The action picks up fast and furious after that. As much as Uno an Dos try they’re experience is just not enough to keep up with London and Kendrick. London makes short work of Dos with a shooting star press to advance to the semis. This match was on the short side, but a lot of fun.

Winners: Paul London and Brian Kendrick via pinfall

Prince Nana makes his way to the ring with Jamie Noble and Jimmy Rave. Nana takes the mic and says, “It doesn’t matter who William Humble takes as his mystery partner. The Crown Jewel and Jamie Noble are the single best tag team in the company and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop them.”

The Final Countdown kicks in over the loudspeaker and Nana’s jaw drops. He starts thrashing wildly around the ring while Noble and Rave try to restrain him. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson makes his entrance with William Regal and it is pretty clear who the mystery partner is.

William Regal and Bryan Danielson vs. Jamie Noble and Jimmy Rave with Prince Nana
Regal and Danielson get the early advantage holding the element of surprise over their opponents. It doesn’t take long for Nana to interject his way into the match. He trips up William Regal allowing Jamie Noble to hit a surprise Noble Driver. Danielson is able to make the save, but Regal is eventually cut off from American Dragon as the Embassy go to work on the Englishman. Regal shows amazing intestinal fortitude taking everything Nana’s goons can dish out and even a few shots from Nana himself. Dragon continually gets cut off from providing aid to his partner and mentor. The fans get drawn to a fever pitch as Regal gets closer and closer to making a tag. The tag is finally made Danielson is a house afire. He takes it to Noble and Rave and eventually he and Regal are able to hit stereo Regal-plexes for the double pin. Nana is furious he charges the ring but gets locked in Cattle Mutilation for his troubles. Danielson release him only for Regal to lock in the Regal Stretch echoing the beat down that was put on Regal last week. Danielson and Regal move on.

Winner: Bryan Danielson and William Regal via pinfall

Gabe and Raven inform us that the semi-finals are The Young Bucks vs. Roderick Strong and Jack Evans and William Regal and Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London and Brian Kendrick. Without further ado we get to our next match.

The Young Bucks of Matt and Nick Jackson vs. Roderick Strong and Jack Evans with Teddy Hart

Teddy Hart accompanies Roddy and Jack to the ring so in response Matt Bentley follows the Young Bucks. The Jackson boys are visibly hurt after the beat down the received earlier from Steen and Generico. The hatred between the two sides is palpable. The Jacksons get the early advantage and Bentley keeps Hart from trying to cheat during this one. Bentley eventually gets admonished by the referee for being on the ring apron allowing Strong and Evans to get the advantage. Strong acts like the anchor of the team with Evans popping his head in occasionally to hit some huge flying moves. The crowd is thoroughly impressed by both teams. The Bucks eventually make the hot tag and it seems to be nearly over but Jack Evans kicks out at 2.9999 after More Bang for your Buck. Evans somehow makes the tag and Strong hits the half nelson backbreaker on Matt Jackson to score the pin. This was an awesome match held back somewhat by the shortened time given that this is a tournament. Still, this has been the best tag match in IWCASPCWAAGAFU thus far.

Winners: Roderick Strong and Jack Evans via pinfall

After the match Teddy Hart begins gloating about getting a team of his friends into the finals. Jack Evans takes the mic and guarantees victory for his team. He says that he doesn’t care if it is Danielson and Regal but he hopes that he gets to take on London and Kendrick to get some revenge for last week. Steen and Generico come out, and the five men begin beating on the Young Bucks and Matt Bentley only for London and Kendrick make the save. The ring gets cleared and London says that he wants the semifinals to start now so he can get another shot at Evans, Strong, and whoever else they have.

William Regal and Bryan Danielson vs. Paul London and Brian Kendrick

London and Kendrick are keyed up from moments ago, but they still take time to shake hands to set the match going. Danielson and London start off and watching this everyone in attendance salivates at what another singles match between these two could be. They trade off, and Kendrick and Regal take over. The pace is slower, but they tell a good story with Kendrick frustrating the methodical Regal with his antics. Kendrick and London prove to be the better overall tag team, but it is pretty clear that Danielson is the best wrestler in the match. His acumen and Regal’s experience keep them not only in the match but controlling long portions of it. Regal and Danielson get an amazingly close near fall after hitting simultaneous rolling elbow strikes to Kendrick. London is able to break it up only to get him and his partner caught in stereo Regalplexes. They both manage to kick out of the double pins, though. Kendrick gets a sliced bread number two out of nowhere on Regal to score the shocking three count and send his team to the Crockett Cup finals. Regal and Danielson are upset, but they shake hands and congratulate the victorious London and Kendrick. This has unseated the previous match as the best tag match yet in IWCASPCWAAGAFU.

Winner: Paul London and Brian Kendrick via pinfall

Matt Bentley vs. Teddy Hart

Neither man has anyone accompanying him to the ring, and neither one waits for the bell to ring to start brawling. This one really isn’t even so much of a match as it is a fight. They continue brawling and the bell hasn’t even rung yet. Things make their way to the ring and the bell sounds as a mere formality. Bentley immediately grabs a chair and wallops Hart. The ref signals for the bell, but Bentley pleads with him to make it a no disqualification match. Hart, barely conscious, agrees, and the match gets restarted. This seemed like it was Teddy’s plan all along as the instant the match got restarted Steen and Generico came in and started wailing on Bentley. The Young Bucks make the save and it is a wild six man brawl. Hart and Bentley are both bloody messes but still are going at each other tooth and nail. The four men from the Crockett Cup come out and even the sides at ten apiece. They are interrupted by General Manager Bret Hart who immediately rules the match a No Contest.

Result: No Contest

Bret Hart continues, “Well tonight we revived one NWA tradition and you men have attempted to ruin it at every turn. This makes me think we need to keep the ten of you confined in one place.” The audience begins to simmer with anticipation. “…and revive another NWA tradition.” The crowd explodes knowing what he is going to say before he says it. “At the pay-per-view next week, I see no other choice than to revive WAR GAMES!!!! Two rings. Ten Men. One team on top as a result of making the other submit or pass out. That’s the only thing that can settle you men and keep you from getting in each other’s business. There are still a few things to consider though. First is the finals tonight. First, the winner of the match will not only be the first IWCASPCWAAGAFU champion but their team will have the first advantage in the War Games match. Secondly, if there is any interference in the finals, both teams for War Games will be suspended indefinitely without pay. Lastly, based on your behavior thus far in this tournament none of you will be able to participate in the World Title Tournament which is scheduled for the pay per view as well. That’s all that concerns you men, so you can go.”

The ten men begin brawling again before Bret can do anything. Security forces come down and handcuff all ten men and lead them from the ring but not without incident.

Bret Hart Continues, “With that unpleasantness behind us, let’s talk about the tournament for the pay per view. There will be a series of preliminary matches that will pare down the competition into a six man elimination championship match. The winner of said match will be crowned the first ever International World Class All Star Professional Championship Wrestling Association and Grappling Arts Federation Unlimited.”
Before the Hitman can continue the screams of Laurie Strode blare of the public address and Jimmy Jacobs makes his presence known.

He says, “It seems like the voiceless are not only silenced, but they are invisible too. I was unfairly left out of this tag team tournament. Hell, I was left off of this show entirely. I bet you are going to conveniently leave me out of the World Title Tournament too. I demand a spot in the tournament at the pay per view. This company needs a man of integrity on top, and looking around, I am the only such man.”

Bret responds, “Fine, Jimmy. I apologize for not giving you a match tonight. I will try to kill two birds with one stone. You see, I also left a couple of other men off the show tonight and I feel terrible about not giving them a chance to show off, so we’re going to have a triple threat match. And Jimmy, if you or anyone else wins the match, you will obtain a bye to the finals of the tournament. That’s right, Jimmy, one night’s work to earn you a pay per view main event. I know you’re a smart man, so I think you can guess who your opponents are…KENTA and Takeshi Morishima.”

Jacobs flips his lid knowing that he was unable to beat Morishima last week he stands little chance of besting the two Japanese superstars.

Jimmy Jacobs vs. KENTA vs. Takeshi Morishima

Bret Hart bows politely to both Japanese men, the bell rings, and they begin unloading on the unfortunate Jacobs. KENTA and Morishima don’t really seem to be concerned with fighting each other, or winning the match. They both seem perfectly content destroying the Emo Warrior. A well timed dodge by Jacobs is all it takes to start the stars from the Orient fighting each other. Jacobs takes the time to get much needed respite. Morishima and KENTA go at it for a while. Takeshi charges KENTA with a hip attack, but KENTA catches him in a bridging German Suplex. Before the ref can reach three Jacobs comes off the top rope and hits KENTA with a huge senton. Morishima is unable to break up the pinfall and Jimmy Jacobs wins. That finish was pretty awesome. The fans are shocked that Jacobs overcame the odds to win the match and earn a spot in the main event at the pay per view.

Winner: Jimmy Jacobs via pinfall

Before we get to the main event Gabe and Raven run down the card for the pay per view:

War Games: Teddy Hart, Roderick Strong, Jack Evans, Kevin Steen, and El Generico vs. Matt Bentley, Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Matt and Nick Jackson

IWCASPCWAAGAFU Title Tournament: (first round matchups by random drawing)

Jamie Noble vs. Player Dos

Jimmy Rave vs. Takeshi Morishima

“American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. YAMATO

Shingo vs. William Regal

KENTA vs. Player Uno

World Title Six Man Elimination Match: Jimmy Jacobs vs. the winners from the five prelim matches

Crockett Cup Finals: Paul London and Brian Kendrick vs. Roderick Strong and Jack Evans

Their handcuffs have apparently been released as both teams are free to make their entrances. Bret Hart has also elected to be at ringside as a special enforcer. While these two teams clearly hate each other, instead of brawling they attempt to prove their superiority in the ring. The results are truly epic. London has the speed and technical expertise to keep pace and even in most cases outstrip both Strong and Evans. Kendrick acts more like the leader of his team using his superb timing to keep Strong and Evans on their toes. Strong and Evans stay ahead of the curve by being more willing to bend the rules as hair pulls, tight pulls, stalling and illegal tags balance out their offense of huge strikes, crazy flips and dives, and huge backbreakers, suplexes and slams. Strong and Evans are actually able to get the surprise clean win after an Ode to Bulldogs on Paul London. London and Kendrick do not look happy with the result but try to be the bigger men and offer their hands to the new champions. Strong and Evans do not accept and hit their vanquished foes with the newly won title belts. A brawl erupts and all ten men from the War Games main event make their way to the ring and start brawling as the show goes off the air.

Winners: Roderick Strong and Jack Evans via pinfall

STEVEN GEPP – Generic Wrestling Promotion #25 (GNW-25)

This week starts with Batista in the ring following the opening pyro and lasers to signify the start of The Wrestling Zone. He is clearly furious about what happened last week as he paces back and forth. He roars until finally he cries out, “I want Wilson and I want him now!”

But he is met with the sounds of Hendrix instead as the General Manager makes his appearance. “Brother,” Hogan says, “I appreciate where you’re coming from, but you gotta understand, I’m running a business here, and we got a tournament to go on, and Ace Wilson is scheduled to fight in that tournament tonight.” The crowd has a mixed response to this. “And I’m not real happy about that match last week. Since when did commentators make matches in my promotion?” The crowd cheers this and Wolfdogg says nothing. “But I’ll tell you this – Wilson has a match against Mimic, one of the greatest wrestlers Australia has produced. If he wins then next week, in round two – he’s all yours.”

The smile that crosses Batista’s face does not inspire happiness in Hogan, but the crowd loves it.

Match 1) James Storm v Doug Williams. Storm comes out with Roode, and Williams with Magnus, both of whom lost their own respective first round matches the previous week. And the match starts off as a straight up wrestling bout, until the referee is distracted by Roode’s cheering and Magnus lays in some blows on Storm. And then it breaks down as all four men hit the ring and start to attack one another. The referee has no choice but to throw the match out, and it is announced that the winner of the next bout will have a bye in the second round! Total Time – 7:43

Jericho is out, standing with Rob Terry and Ace Wilson. “Canada, Wales, Australia,” he says, smiling. Then he frowns and points out at the audience. “United States.” He points at himself and his three companions. “Good.” He points out at the crowd. “Bad.” He laughs and the other two join in. “I think even you morons could understand that. And we proved it last week, along with our British allies. So Batista wants our boy Ace here, does he? Well, he might have won last week, but who walked to the back? We did. Because we always do. No matter what you throw at us, the Canadians, the Aussies, the men from the United Kingdom, we stand together and fight and we win. We beat the Japanese in World War Two. Sure, you had to go drop a bomb to show off, but we already had it won. We defeated Hitler while you were debating whether to get involved and the French were hiding. The only reason you defeated the British in 1776 was because they let you win. After all, they still had Canada; why did they need this place?” The crowd has turned on him. “Well, Batista, you want Wilson, that’s fine. But it’s the same as always: You take on one of us, you take on all of us.”

It’s Wolfdogg on commentary who adds, “That’s what the Commonwealth is all about, JR. All for one, and one for all.”

Match 2) Kofi Kingston v Bruce ‘Havok’ Mills. It’s Kingston’s speed against Havok’s strength and experience. The crowd decides straight away who they are cheering, but Havok does not seem to care at all. He hits his sit-out powerbomb finisher, but Kingston kicks out at two after a lazy cover. And it is Kingston who then hits the trouble in paradise for the pin. However, after the match, it is another Australian who comes to the ring, identified by Wolfdogg as ‘Jag’ Hartley Jackson, a man with extensive Japanese and US experience as well as years wrestling in Australia. Wolfdogg also points out that Jag and Havok had formed a very successful tag team in Australia. He and Havok beat Kingston down until second generation grappler Joe Hennig slides in and quickly pulls Kingston out. Veteran Jerry Lynn also comes down to keep the warring parties apart. Time – 12:00

It is Hogan on the stage who announces that it’s Lynn against Jag for the next tournament match, and that all others are banned from ring-side to make sure it is a real match, and there are no more enforced byes on the tournament. Havok complains and Kingston seems reluctant to go, but Hennig convinces him it’s for the best and finally it’s just the two opponents.

Match 3) Jerry Lynn v ‘Jag’ Hartley Jackson. This is a masterpiece of technical wrestling and high flying. Barely halfway in and both Wolfdogg and JR are putting each man over as potentially a great future champion. Wolfdogg goes so far as to suggest the winner of this match could well be champion at Battleground 1. The end comes with Jag missing a top rope moonsault and Lynn capitalising by hitting a bridging German suplex for the three count. Afterwards he goes to shake Jag’s hand but the Australian just walks away from him. Time – 14:23

Match 4) Matt Silva v Val Venis. The crowd reaction for the unknown Australian Silva and the half-forgotten Venis is apathetic at best, but it only takes a few minutes for them to realise Venis still has it and there is a reason why Silva is called Australia’s answer to Mike Awesome. When Silva hits his over the top rope tope onto Venis more than two metres away from the ring the crowd pops like a firecracker. Venis tries for the money shot at the end, but Silva blocks it and hits a gourd buster followed by brain buster and then a pump handle powerbomb for the pin. And he is the first Australian to get a good crowd response. Time – 9:00

Jericho is back on the stage, this time with Rob Terry only. “We want Finlay to come out here right now!’ he demands, though he is not angry. It only takes a few moments for the Irishman to join them.

“We want you with us,” Jericho states. “Join us. Canada, the UK, Australia. We need Ireland…”

“Ireland don’t need you,” Finlay responds shortly, starting to walk back. It is Terry who stops him, but Finlay slaps the hand from his shoulder.

“Look, friend,” Jericho says condescendingly, “without England, where would you Irish be, eh? Still farming, still stuck in the twelfth century. England made Ireland what it is today…’

“A divided country,” Finlay spits. “They gave us the potato famine. They gave us hatred, brother against brother. There’s a reason why there’s more Irish in New York City than Ireland. I’m Irish and proud of it, but all Irish are American. We’re all New Yorkers. We don’t need you.” The crowd erupts.

And he turns again. Terry and Jericho smile at each other, Jericho shrugs and Terry hits him from behind. The two then kick him down. “Never trust an Irishman my mother said,” Terry pants into the mic as they leave him laying.

Match 5) Ace Wilson v Mimic. The last of the first round tournament matches sees the two Australians going for it, with Mimic automatically getting the face reaction after Wilson’s actions and associations of the previous week. And the way he takes it to the taller but less experienced Assassin gets the crowd right behind him. Slowly but surely he wears down the bigger man until he has him ready to finish him off with his 450 splash, when suddenly Batista swings in and starts to pummel Wilson over and over again. Mimic looks on stunned as the match is awarded to Wilson by DQ. Time – 8:22

Mimic grabs a mic. “What the hell did you do that for?” he demands. “I had it won!”

“I want Wilson,” is all Batista replies into his own mic.

“I could have won…”

“But you would not have beat me next week.”

“We won’t know. You’re clearly too gutless to face me.” Mimic is clearly furious. And the crowd has sided with him. They do not know what to make of Batista now.

Batista’s face turns into an angry scowl. “Tell you what,” he growls. “The next show that I’m not wrestling – you got me. And then we’ll see who’s the best.” He smiles. “But my first match is in the tournament next week against this chump, and I don’t plan on losing, so you won’t fight me until I’m champ…”

“So you’re saying I get first shot at your title?”

Batista pauses, then grins and nods. “Yeah. A good win always helps the new champ.” And Batista laughs as he walks away, leaving the Assassin still laying there and Mimic still fuming.

There’s only 15 minutes left of the broadcast when a final match is announced. Hogan come onto the stage. “First, I just gotta say, since when do wrestlers make matches in my promotion?” The crowd roars. “But I’ll let it go because it’s only fair that Mimic, who was cheated out of a win, get a shot at Batista, champ or not. So when Batista loses next – or is indeed crowned champ – his next match will be against Mimic!” The crowd seems to like this a lot. “Now, I have been asked for this next match tonight by both participants. And as we’re all for giving the best, I have agreed. But… Rob Terry, Fit Finlay, out you come.”

They enter from opposite sides of the stage and stare at the Hulkster.

“Now, Rob, Finlay has asked for some rule changes.”

“Traditional rules,” Finlay states coldly. “The old ways. The Irish ways.”

“Anything,” Terry sneers. “Just let me at ‘im.”

Hulk looks at Finlay who shrugs. “You know what this means?”

“I don’t care.” Terry is angry.

Hulk looks at Finlay who explains, “Five-count. You don’t break on the ropes. Closed fists are legal. And a 15-count on the outside.”

“Bring it, mate,” Terry growls as he walks to the back. The crowd does not know quite how to respond to this, but Hogan looks pleased. And the crowd are more than happy to have one more match.

Match 6) Finlay v Rob Terry. And they go at right from the bell. However, the rules rattle Terry. The ref does not get Finlay off the ropes, and when Terry hits a move for a three count he jumps up to celebrate. This is when Finlay hits the Rolling Hills… however at the four count things break down, as Jericho, Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus all rush the ring, followed by a sore and sorry Ace Wilson. They ignore the ref and the bell as they beat Finlay to within an inch of his life before tossing him out of the ring. Time – 6:32

Wolfdogg comes to the ring. He shakes Jericho’s hand as the boos start to fill the arena. “What you are looking at here is the greatest collection of International talent ever to grace this ring,” Jericho says. “And all you can do is boo. I think it’s time all of you just shut the hell up!” The crowd’s jeering grows louder.

“So what are your plans for this Commonwealth?” Wolfdogg asks.

Jericho smiles. “I like that. We are the Commonwealth, aren’t we? And so, like the Commonwealth, there is but one thing we want – everything.” The crowd is becoming more vocal. “I hear tell that Mr Hogan is going to announce a tag team championship match at Battleground 1. And that the teams with the most previous titles get the first go at it. I don’t know who our opponents are going to be, but sorry to steal your thunder, brother, but here it is – Williams and Magnus here are going to take those straps. I’m going to be world champion. The Commonwealth will have it all. And the US is going to have to live with being second rate. But you’re all used to that by now, aren’t you?”

Jimi Hendrix interrupts as Hogan comes out onto the stage. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demands. “What makes you think those two are even line for the tag straps. We got other teams here in GNW-25…”

“But they suck! You suck! The USA sucks!” Wilson screams into the mic.

And then the crowd explodes as suddenly Roode and Storm, R-Truth, Jerry Lynn and Charlie Haas all rush the ring. And behind them Batista runs down. But he is met by Mimic who leaps from the side of the stage and takes him down. Kingston and Joe Hennig come to help him, but Jag and Havok attack them as well… and then the whole rest of the locker-room empties and the show goes off air with every single member of the GNW-25 roster brawling in the ring, on the stage, in the aisles and around the ring-side area…

And in the middle of it all, Hulk Hogan stands, fuming…

As the next round in the fantasy draft is the PPV, here’s where we go from here:
WEEK THREE
QUICK RESULTS:
* Tournament round 2: R-Truth def Hennig after Jag and Havok distract him
* Tournament round 2: GD Grimm def Rob Terry after Ace Wilson interference backfires
* Tournament round 2: Jerry Lynn def Matt Silva
* Tournament round 2: Batista def Ace Wilson, Mimic stops Rob Terry interference
* Tournament round 2: Kingston announced as having the bye
* Terry comes out and challenges anyone to a ‘traditional rules’ match; Val Venis responds; Terry wins and declares himself traditional rules champ
* Tournament round 2: Jericho defeats Finlay (final tournament match)
* Jag & Havok come to the ring to declare themselves contenders for the tag belts; Beer Money come out, dispute this; Final match: Beer Money defeat Jag & Havok just
* Post-match British Invasion come to ring-side, but are also met by Hennig & Kingston. Stand-off as we go to credits.
WEEK FOUR
QUICK RESULTS:
* Matt Silva def Fuzion in a ‘battle of the Australians’; good crowd response
* Tournament round 3: Grimm def Kingston
* Charlie Haas challenges Terry to a ‘traditional rules’ match; Terry wins, but Finlay is out to say it’s his match; Hogan comes out and at Battleground 1 Terry v Finlay for the ‘Traditional Rules’ belt
* Hogan announces a 3-way tag team scramble – pinned or submitting team is out, other two teams fight for the tag titles at Battleground 1; Beer Money v British Invasion v Jag & Havok; Roode pins Havok; Hennig & Kingston applaud on the stage
* Tournament round 3: Lynn def Batista; Mimic comes out and reminds Batista of their agreement
* Damien Slater def Val Venis when Ace Wilson interferes; Slater not happy at his intrusion
* Tournament round 3: Jericho def R-Truth
* Grimm and Lynn come out to the stage (but do not stand together) and Jericho on the mic tells them he’s going to be champ. They walk away in opposite directions and Jericho is screaming at them as we fade to black.

ROY REYNOLDS – Full Force Wrestling (FFW)

As the cameras flicker on, “FFW” chants echo throughout the wrestling arena. Tonight, Full Force Wrestling presents their second ever event, “Prelude”. In one week, Full Force Wrestling will make their debut on pay-per-view with “A Fall From Grace”.

A short recap video of the FFW debut show, “Game Time”, plays to the live fans in attendance. Rob Van Dam is seen being crowned the first FFW World Champion by Paul Heyman, Chris Hero is seen in a face-off against “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush, and even some women’s wrestling is highlighted.

Already announced for tonight’s show is Cheerleader Melissa versus Sara Del Rey for the FFW Women’s Championship, Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino versus Gran Akuma and Icarus, and Chris Hero versus Mike Quackenbush in the main event.

NARUKI DOI AND MASATO YOSHINO BEAT GRAN AKUMA AND ICARUS VIA PINFALL (BAKATARE SLIDING KICK) IN 9:12.
– Jerry Lawler and Dave Prazak made the FFW fans watching from home aware that the winners of the tag team match would face off against the Briscoe Brothers for the FFW Tag Team Championships at “A Fall From Grace”. This was actually a pretty solid tag team bout with Naruki Doi and Gran Akuma looking particularly impressive from their respective teams. Late in the match, Icarus nailed a shiranui on Yoshino, but he kicked out at the last possible second. After Yoshino nailed Akuma with the Lightning Spiral, Doi quickly followed things up with the Bakatare Sliding Kick to pick up the victory.

As Doi and Yoshino celebrated following the match, Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe appeared on the entrance ramp. The Briscoe Brothers signaled for the FFW Tag Team Championships around their waists, as Doi and Yoshino told the redneck duo to “bring it”.

FRIGHTMARE DEFEATED HOMICIDE VIA DISQUALIFICATION IN 6:27.
– It is quite amazing at how quickly the FFW fans turned on Homicide within a matter of one week. Homicide used every trick in the book to take advantage of Frightmare early. However, the young rookie out of the Chikara WrestleFactory made a comeback towards the end of the match with a series of kicks and frankensteiners. After Homicide refused to listen to a warning by the referee following a beatdown on Frightmare in the corner, the referee was refused to end the match via disqualification.

Following the exhibition match, Homicide knocked the Full Force Wrestling official down and proceeded to grab a chair from ringside to further attack Frightmare. Before Homicide could do anything with the chair, though, Hernandez made the save. Hernandez then grabbed a microphone and told Homicide to “pick on someone his own size”. Hernandez told Homicide that he had already talked with Paul Heyman and at “All Fall From Grace” on pay-per-view, it will be Hernandez versus Homicide one on one. The Latin American Xchange is dead and only one man will walk out of “A Fall From Grace” as the superior member of the former stable.

GO SHIOZAKI DEFEATED NICK NEMETH VIA PINFALL (GO FLASHER) IN 12:43.
– Pretty much a back and forth match from bell to bell. Nemeth took control of the match early by using a series of suplexes and submission holds. As the match progressed, though, Shiozaki fought back hard with some hard chops. In the final seconds of the match, Nemeth looked to finish off Shiozaki with the Blonde Ambition, but Shiozaki caught Nick in mid-air and powered him down with the Go Flasher to pick up a big singles victory over one of WWE SmackDown’s former top stars.
After Nick Nemeth exited the arena, Go Shiozaki grabbed a microphone and cut a promo that was spoken in broken English. Even though his speech was short, what Shiozaki had to say was quite clear. Some time soon, Go wants a shot at the FFW World Championship.

Before the next match began, Paul Heyman came out and revealed the brand new FFW Women’s Championship. Heyman shook both, Cheerleader Melissa and Sara Del Rey’s hands before the bell rang and wished them both good luck.

SARA DEL REY DEFEATED CHEERLEADER MELISSA VIA PINFALL (ROYAL BUTTERFLY) IN 10:46 TO WIN THE FFW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP.
– This match was essentially a battle of who could hit their finisher first; Melissa’s Air Raid Crash and Del Rey’s Royal Butterfly have proved to be two of the most significant finishing moves by any FFW women’s competitor. Both athletes are heels, so the crowd did not exactly know who to side with, either. After jockeying back and forth a bit, Del Rey suddenly hit the Royal Buttefly out of nowhere and stunned the crowd by getting the three-count and becoming the first ever FFW Women’s Champion.

Rob Van Dam and Paul Heyman make their way out to the ring. Van Dam does not have much to say and gets right to the chase. He calls out the “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels and tells him that if he wants a shot at the FFW World Championship, then it would be smart for him to make his way down to the ring right now.

After a few seconds of waiting, Daniels confronted Van Dam. Christopher Daniels tells Rob Van Dam that he always hated his attitude and thought he was one of the biggest chumps in professional wrestling history. Daniels tells Rob that he has always had things handed to him in his wrestling career. Most recently, Paul Heyman crowned him the FFW World Champion without even beating anyone. Daniels says that he wants a shot at the FFW World Championship at “A Fall From Grace”. Van Dam does not hesitate to agree, so Heyman makes the match official right then and there.

Just when it looked like Rob Van Dam and Christopher Daniels were going to leave the ring peacefully, Daniels attacked Van Dam from behind and nailed him with the Angel’s Wings. Daniels left the ring with an evil smirk on his face, as the FFW fans heckled him.

MIKE QUACKENBUSH VERSUS CHRIS HERO WENT TO A NO-CONTEST IN 15:33.
– Hero and Quackenbush absolutely killed each other with palm strikes and elbows respectively as soon as the bell rang. Both men brawled around the arena, as well, trying to do whatever they could to make each other suffer. The referee declared the match a no-contest after Hero put Quackenbush through a table with a Hangman’s Clutch. Chris Hero was also down and out from the effects of the table breaking from underneath his legs.

Paul Heyman, who was at ringside, then went on to book one final match for the “A Fall From Grace” pay-per-view. It will be “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush versus “That Young Knockout Kid” Chris Hero in a no holds barred match for the vacant FFW International Championship.

Before “Prelude” came to a close, Dave Prazak and Jerry Lawler ran down a list of already announced matches for the “A Fall From Grace” pay-per-view next weekend.

Former partners collide, as Hernandez takes on Homicide one on one. The first ever FFW Tag Team Champions will be declared, as the Briscoe Brothers of Jay and Mark Briscoe go up against Speed Muscle of Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino. It will be no holds barred for the vacant FFW International Championship when Mike Quackenbush takes on Chris Hero. Finally, Rob Van Dam will defend his FFW World Championship against Christopher Daniels in the main event on pay-per-view.

MICHAEL O’MAHONY – Lost Art Wrestling (LAW)

We open the show with a highlight package of last week’s show that features the ending of each match as well as the major angles. It ends with the stunning victory of Shawn Michaels over The Great Muta to become the first LAW Heavyweight Champion, and then the attack by Kojima. The brutal Kojima lariat that put Muta down on the outside of the ring is replayed several times.

Then we go live as pyro explodes at the top of the ramp and Jack Swagger’s music hits. He enters the arena accompanied by Claudio Castagnoli and Satoshi Kojima. As the three make their way down the aisle, Tenay reminds us that Swagger promised to make an impact last week, and he certainly did that when he and Castagnoli attacked the new Television Champion, Shelton Benjamin. Now it looks as though he may have had some involvement with Kojima’s attack on Muta, too.

Team Swagger Promo
Swagger grabs a mike. He reminds us that he said he would make an impact last week, and that’s exactly what he did. A rematch has already been signed between his associate Claudio Castagnoli and Shelton Benjamin this evening, but Jack wants it made known that he’s challenging the winner to a match at LAW’s first Pay-Per-View for the Television Championship.

Swagger hands the microphone to Castagnoli, who says that after he beats Shelton Benjamin tonight and claims the prize that should have been his last week, he’ll be more than happy to give Jack Swagger his shot and show these ignorant fans what happens when two real men wrestle.

Castagnoli hands the microphone to Kojima as the fans boo, and Kojima gestures to Swagger, shaking his head. Jack takes the mike from him. He tells the fans that he thought the disrespect shown towards him last week by General Manager Matt Striker, who made a popularity contest out of the title shots, was just about the most insulting thing he’d ever heard. But that was before he had the chance to sit down with Satoshi Kojima. Now, as Claudio has so accurately pointed out, most of the idiot fans who gave Striker a mandate to turn the first episode of LAW into a joke think they know about great wrestling. Matt Striker thinks he knows about great wrestling. But if that’s the case, why is it that Satoshi Kojima, one of the most decorated and celebrated competitors in the world, a multiple time world champion and a man who has already achieved enough in his career to assure his legendary status, had to make his own arrangements to attend LAW’s first show? Why is it that Kojima wasn’t told that he was to compete for the Television championship? Why is that LAW made no attempt to contact this man when he failed to arrive at the show on time through no fault of his own?

Swagger hesitates to use the word conspiracy, but it does seem a little odd that the two most marketable men on the roster were the two that ended up competing for the Heavyweight Championship as a result of a vote nobody except Striker actually saw.

With all that said, Swagger is issuing a challenge. Tonight on LAW, he and Kojima want Muta and Michaels.

Manami Toyota Promo
A highlight package of some of Toyota’s greatest moments plays, showcasing her role in some of the amazing matches of the nineties in AJW.

Love/McCool Promo
McCool is backstage getting ready when Love approaches her. She hands McCool a DVD and sits down. McCool asks her what she thinks. Love tells her she gets it, this Toyota chick is a legend, but that was more than ten years ago. What’s she done since? McCool tells Love that all she’s saying is that of all the people to insult, Manami Toyota would probably be last on her list. There isn’t a woman in LAW who isn’t awed by Toyota’s achievements. There’s one, Love says.

Match 1: Naomichi Marufuji Vs. Kaz Hayashi
As Naomichi Marufuji makes his way down to the ring, Tenay says that he finds it unbelievable that he’s watching athletes of this caliber compete every week. These two guys typify all the reasons he loves this sport. Foley agrees, but for the record, Michelle McCool and Angelina Love typify one or two other things he loves about this sport.

This is fifteen minutes of first class cruiserweight action, with Hayashi and Marufuji starting out exchanging holds and strikes before taking us up through the gears to a breathtaking, spot-filled last five minutes. Hayashi looks for the Hayashi Cutter, but Marufuji escapes, snaps off a super kick, then hits a Shiranui for a close two count. As both men recover, Alex Shelley makes his way out to the ramp, where he seems content to watch the action without directly involving himself. Nonetheless, Marufuji is distracted, and he gestures for Shelley to leave. Hayashi uses the opportunity to recover, and he scores with a series of vicious kicks to Marufuji before snapping off the WA4 for the win.

After the match, Shelley golf-claps Hayashi’s victory and then leaves. The fans applaud both competitors.

Striker Promo
Matt Striker makes his way down to the ring. He’s here to announce the competitors for the LAW Women’s Championship match that will take place tonight, but first he wants to address the accusations made against the company by Jack Swagger and his associates. Striker says that Kojima’s travel issues were unfortunate, but that every effort was made to contact his representatives when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to make it to the show on time last week. As for not making him aware that he was to wrestle for the Television title, Striker didn’t make any of the championship contenders aware that they were fighting for titles until he announced it on the show. LAW is not a popularity contest. Striker isn’t exactly a close friend of Jack Swagger and Satoshi Kojima, and he’s certainly not impressed by what occurred last week, but they were signed for the promotion because they’re world class talents who could contend for championships anywhere in the world. With that in mind, he’s going to give them their tag team match against Shawn Michaels and The Great Muta tonight. If Swagger and Kojima can win, he will grant Swagger his Television title shot at the PPV, and Kojima will receive a shot at the World Heavyweight championship.

Striker’s excited for that match, but also about the LAW Women’s championship. Without further ado, he’d like to call out the first athlete chosen by her peers to compete for the belt tonight, Awesome Kong. Kong’s music fills the arena, and as she heads to the ring, Striker says that this is going to be a match forged in the AJW of the mid-nineties, the women’s promotion by which all female wrestling must be judged. Kong’s opponent tonight will be the legendary Manami Toyota.

Toyota follows Kong down to the ring as Tenay explains that these two women have met before in Japan, where Toyota carried on a lengthy feud with Awesome Kong’s one-time tag team partner and mentor, Aja Kong, that produced several matches regarded as classics.

The two women face off, and Striker tells us that part of what LAW wants to achieve is the reinstatement of women’s wrestling as the thrilling athletic spectacle it once was. He believes that the performers in LAW’s fledgling division have shown that they agree by voting for this match, which will happen later tonight.

Match 2: Kenny Omega Vs. Petey Williams
This clash of the Canadians marks the LAW debut of Petey Williams, who seems less than impressed with Omega’s Streetfighter-inspired schtick and attacks him during the introductions. Williams is the obvious heel here, beating down Omega and responding to the crowds boos by yelling at them. Omega comes back with explosive flurries of offence, but Petey remains in control for much of this contest. Omega goes behind on a Williams German Suplex attempt and looks for Croyt’s Wrath, but Petey drops down behind, kicks a turning Omega in the gut, and nails a spectacular Canadian Destroyer for the win.

Match 3: Taylor Wilde Vs. Misaki Ohata
The plucky Ohata gets a decent pop for her courageous effort against Awesome Kong last week, and she’s clearly inspired to go after Wilde in the early going, with the two exchanging hiptosses and arm drags leading into a stand off. This face vs. face style continues throughout the match, with Wilde’s size and experience starting to tell as time goes by. It’s at this point that Love and McCool make their way down to the ring. Wilde turns to question their presence, and Ohata rolls her up with a Crucifix for a close two count. As the two women get to their feet, McCool reaches into the ring and grabs Ohata’s ankle. Ohata turns around and Wilde locks in a German Suplex. Instead of executing the move, however, she releases her opponent and yells at Love and McCool to leave. While this is going on, Ohata hesitates, looks to the crowd, then grabs Wilde and locks her into a cross-arm breaker. Wilde quickly taps.

After the match, Wilde rests on one knee, clutching her hurt arm and looking questioningly at Ohata, who does not look pleased with the manner of her victory. This is the moment that Love and McCool attack Misaki, beating her down to the canvas and then stomping her repeatedly. Wilde comes forward, and McCool halts her while Love picks up Ohata and executes Lights Out, leaving Ohata motionless on the canvas. McCool grabs a microphone.

Michelle McCool Promo
Michelle tells Taylor Wilde to take a good look at what’s going on around here. Everybody’s talking about legends and AJW like the last ten years never happened. Apparently, all that time they spent busting their asses was the period where women’s wrestling sucked and didn’t matter, but now Manami Toyota and her little apprentice are here, all that’s going to change. McCool has to wonder where women like she and Love and Wilde, wrestlers who are glamorous as well as talented, fit into the picture that’s being painted. She doesn’t expect Taylor to like her, and she knows Wilde and Love aren’t friends, but surely it makes sense for them to work together to preserve what they’ve worked so hard for.

She offers her hand to Taylor, who looks at it and then rolls out of the ring.

Shawn Michaels Promo
Shawn is backstage, repeatedly saying the word ‘conspiracy’ with a pronounced lisp. That’s one Swagger should probably have avoided. Nonetheless, Michaels feels pretty good about tonight. Last week he won a world title and competed in a match against perhaps the greatest competitor he’s ever faced. This week, that competitor is going to be by his side. Shawn freely admits he’s not as much a student of the game as he should be, and that he hadn’t seen too much of Satoshi Kojima until witnessing his work last week, but he’s ready for tonight, and even though he doesn’t speak Japanese, Muta has made it fairly clear that he’s itching to get his hands on Kojima and Swagger.

The camera pans back to reveal that Shawn is standing in the center of a locker room that has been completely destroyed. In its center, sitting on the one chair still left intact, The Great Muta looks pissed. Shawn shrugs and grins. See you boys in a few.

Match 4 – World Television Championship: Shelton Benjamin Vs. Claudio Castagnoli
A straight rematch from last week. Claudio takes a different approach this time, focusing on wrestling Benjamin instead of trying to power him down. This seems to catch Shelton by surprise, and Castagnoli dominates the early going. If Claudio’s strategy has a fault, though, it’s that he’s all too eager to soak in the reaction of the crowd and to pose for their disapproval. This gives Benjamin the opportunity he needs to fight back with his Sting-inspired strikes and then a beautifully executed dropkick. Benjamin goes to work on Claudio until Castagnoli manages to distract the ref long enough to hit a low blow in the corner. He then whips Shelton into the ropes for the Very European uppercut, which knocks the champion silly and almost results in a three count. Castagnoli signals for the Ricola Bomb. Shelton drops down behind him, but this time Claudio is ready, and he hits another brutal European uppercut. Claudio comes off the ropes for a lariat, but Shelton ducks, super kicks Castagnoli, then executes a T-Bone suplex for the three count.

After the match, an exhausted Shelton celebrates with his titles while Claudio kneels on the outside, angry and disappointed.

Match 5 – Women’s Championship: Awesome Kong Vs. Manami Toyota
Big match in-ring intros here, with Tenay talking up the history and what’s at stake here. Both women look extremely focused. When the match starts, it’s Kong that takes immediate advantage. Tenay talks about some of the brutal beatings Toyota took against Aja Kong, and points out that it was Toyota’s speed and agility that were her primary weapons. Toyota, now in her late thirties, has surely lost a step since then, and Awesome Kong is an even more powerful opponent.

Kong continues to dominate, throwing Toyota around like a rag doll until she gets her into position for the Awesome Bomb. Toyota, incredibly, manages to backdrop her much larger opponent. The crowd gets into the match as Toyota fires right hands at Kong, who tumbles out of the ring. Toyota ascends the turnbuckles and hits a missile dropkick from the top to the outside. After an eight count, both women are back in the ring. Kong looks for a spinning backfist, but Toyota ducks and locks in the Japanese Ocean Suplex. The fans rise to their feet, believing the match is over, but Kong rolls the shoulder at two, to the disbelief of Toyota. As Awesome Kong rises, Toyota comes off the ropes, looking for the Manami Roll. Kong catches her halfway up, in perfect position for the Awesome Bomb. She slams Toyota to the mat, and covers her for an unbelievable two count. Infuriated, Kong pulls up Toyota and executes a second Awesome Bomb, this time for the pin and the title.

As LAW staffers prepare for the presentation ceremony, Kong – apparently not satisfied with her victory – picks up Toyota and Awesome Bombs her a third time. This brings out Gail Kim to a thunderous reaction, and she and Kong brawl in the ring. Meanwhile, Angelina Love sneaks in and attacks the prone Manami Toyota. She in turn is jumped from behind by Misaki Ohata. The brawl brings out Michelle McCool and then Daffney, who is looking for revenge after being cost her match against Taylor Wilde last week.

The entire women’s roster with the exception of Taylor Wilde is now brawling in the ring. The fight ends with the unlikely alliance of Ohata, Daffney, and Gail Kim standing over the unmoving Toyota as Love and McCool exit the arena and Kong celebrates on the ramp with the new Women’s championship.

Match 6: Michaels & Muta Vs. Swagger & Kojima
Part three of this amazing trio of matches begins with full entrances for all four men. Muta is selling the neck as a result of the attack from last week, but he attacks Kojima before the bell, and the two Japanese wrestlers begin the match at a pace that belies their age. Muta’s rage gives him the advantage in the early going, and he gives the crowd the VINTAGE Muta offence they came to see. This last right up to the point where Kojima hits a powerful lariat out of nowhere then retreats to his corner to tag Swagger. A lengthy heat segment on Muta follows, with Swagger focusing his attack on the neck while Michaels is frustrated on the outside. Kojima and Swagger make frequent tags and cut off the ring, with Muta getting hope spots but never quite able to make the tag. Finally, he rolls beneath a Swagger big boot and hits a dropkick before turning and diving to slap the outstretched hand of the champion.

Shawn is on fire, with clotheslines for both men. He throws Kojima out of the ring, then hits the flying forearm on Jack Swagger. The kip-up elicits a huge response from the crowd, and Shawn slams Swagger and then heads for the top rope, where he leaps off with his signature elbow drop for a two count. Shawn makes his way to the corner and tunes up the band. Sweet Chin Music is ducked by Swagger, who kicks Shawn in the stomach and goes for the Doctor Bomb. Shawn fires right hands down on Swagger’s forehead, and Swagger stumbles back to the ropes, where Kojima makes a blind tag. Shawn ranas Swagger, then turns around right into another of Kojima’s insane lariats. Kojima picks him up and executes the Rydeen Bomb for the clean pinfall.

The last shot of the show is Swagger and Kojima celebrating in the ring.

Like the last time, votes can be submitted by posting a comment below or through e-mail at royreynolds@4sternstaging.com.

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Only two companies can be voted for this time around. The two gentlemen with the highest amount of votes will go one on one to produce a fantasy pay-per-view event in the 2009 Pulse Wrestling Fantasy Draft finals in two weeks time. Let the best man win.

~ Roy Reynolds