REPOST: 2006 TEAM Tournament of Champions

[TH]

[Note: Just to have everything TEAM related here as well as any other places they were posted]

[Screen is black. Fade-in to TEAM Studios, West Chester, PA. Tom Holzerman sitting at the desk. No music.]

TH: Hello everyone and welcome to a special edition of TEAM Epicenter here on the Alternative Sports Network. If you're just joining us from TEAM Season Ticket on DirecTV, Dish Network or Comcast On Demand, then you've just witnessed one of the craziest one-night tournaments in the history of wrestling. If you haven't and you're just trying to catch up on the results, then this is the show for you. And if you're going to stay tuned for the exclusive replay of the final match after this show, then I suggest you turn your television off for the next hour, because you won't wanna be spoiled. Although you could say everyone in attendance tonight in the Wachovia Spectrum was spoiled. Spoiled by one hell of a wrestling tourney. I'm talking about the...

2006 Tournament of Champions!

[Cue up "Down," Stone Temple Pilots.
Cut to: Jacob McKail and Jake Hix grappling.
Cut to: D! stretching Ravager in a Tequilia Sunrise.
Cut to: Lindsay Troy clotheslining Adam Benjamin.
Cut to: Mr. Amazing! clocking IrishRed with the A1E Triple Star Championship.
Cut to: Karl Brown nailing Victor Molotov with the Dragonrana.
Flash cut to Karl Brown hoisting the Merritt Trophy.

Cut to: The metallic EPICENTER logo in the fiery background that fades into Tom Holzerman sitting at the TEAM desk.]

TH: Hello everyone, and once again, welcome to this special Epicenter. Tonight at the Wachovia Spectrum, we saw seven matches featuring six men and two women. These were the Champions of leagues across the entire spectrum, no pun intended, of the wrestling world, and they were pared down from 24 the night before at a special Opening Round card held at the famous Viking Hall down on Swanson and Ritner Streets. Before we take to the main tournament, let's look back at last night's action.

[Cut to the ECW Arena ring, where IrishRed, Jacob McKail and Promo are jostling for position.]

TH V/O: The first match of the opening round featured IrishRed, UCW's Champion, Jacob McKail, the GCW Television Champion, and UXW legend and Philly crowd favorite Promo. The match was hot early on...

[Cut to Promo with Red in the katahajime.]

TH V/O: Promo with Red locked in that Fadeout, which the Arena faithful know by a different name, but McKail comes right up behind Promo and nails him with a forearm to the back of the head. Promo's dazed and McKail takes advantage...

[Cut to McKail delivering a roaring elbow to Promo.]

TH V/O: And just because the man has a mask on his face doesn't mean he can't feel the elbow crashing into his grill. Roaring elbow and McKail scores a pin.

[Cut to McKail on the top rope.]

TH V/O: McKail thinks he has Red beaten here, going for his Fearless Freefall... but no one's home! Red moves and takes advantage of a dazed Jacob McKail, nailing him quickly with Bad Company (Note: Fallaway Pumphandle Slam) 'til the day he dies. One, two, three and Red moves on.

[Cut to Karina Wolfenden, Adam Benjamin and Alias sharing the ring.]

TH V/O: The next match of the night featured ACW Legend Alias, PRIME megastar and former PTC Global Champion Karina Wolfenden and current EPW Television and UCW United State Champion Adam Benjamin.

[Cut to Karina Wolfenden running off the ropes.]

TH V/O: Some impromptu teamwork from the Original Pulp Hero and Yours Truly. K-Wolf off the ropes, and Benjamin with the back body drop that Alias catches and segues nicely into a powerslam. Teamwork wouldn't last long though. With K-Wolf momentarily out of the picture, Benjamin slyly comes over and nails Alias with the Shining Wizard, putting him out cold and out of the match.

[Cut to K-Wolf with a dazed Benjamin.]

TH V/O: And the First Lady of PRIME would make Benji pay for his treachery, as she grabs him up over to the corner. Look at this tornado DDT, two rotations, twice as nice. They call it the Dual Halo, and I call it advancement for the K-Wolf.

[Cut to Lindsay Troy on the top rope, Vangelus Olsig on top of Jayce Bradley's shoulders.]

TH V/O: From some impromptu teamwork to some planned collaboration, GCW's Jayce Bradley is in a bit of trouble, set up for a Doomsday Device from the PRIME Intense Champion, Vangelus Olsig, and the EPW World Champion, Lindsay Troy. One problem. Bradley wasn't going to go that easily. He victory rolls Olsig up before Troy leaps and just like that, Olsig's out.

[Cut to Bradley on the top rope, Troy a little dazed.]

TH V/O: Now it's Bradley's turn to fly, but like Troy earlier, he's going to encounter some turbulence as the Queen of the Ring moves out of the way of his missile dropkick. She wastes no time and locks in the Dynastic Cycle (bridging Sharpshooter) and Bradley has no choice but to tap out.

[Cut to D!, Ninja K and Eddie Mayfield in the ring.]

TH V/O: Next up in the queue was a battle of two giants in the world of wrestling in Eddie Mayfield, the UWA Champion, and Ninja K, former LoC Legacy Champion, along with a big fish in a little pond, NAPW's former Champion, D! Early on in the match, it was all Mayfield, here with the double clothesline on D! and Mr. Inogame, but that would be short lived.

[Cut to Mayfield with D! staggering.]

TH V/O: Mayfield perhaps looking to finish D! off here, but that wasn't to be the case as the Ninja comes out with the STEALTH~! kick to the back of Mayfield's head and the one-two-three.

[Cut to D! behind Ninja K.]

TH V/O: And how does D! repay the Ninja? The only way he knows how...

[D! hits Ninja K with an Edge-O-Matic out of a sleeper hold.]

TH V/O: ...with the deadly NyQuil Driver. Good night Ninja K, and in the first big upset of the tournament, D! advances.

[Cue up "No Quarter," Led Zeppelin. Cut back to a shot of Mr. A! grappling with Classy Mike C.]

TH V/O: Time for our first commercial break, but when we get back, highlights from last night's other four matches, including a three-way with another one of NAPW's superstars, as well as the A1E Triple Star Champ and an EUWC bigshot, all when we come back.

[Cut to a commercial for Geico.]

 

[TH]

[Cut back to the studio. Tom Holzerman sitting at the desk.]

TH: Welcome back to Epicenter, and there four more matches last night at Viking Hall, all three-ways of course. Let's take you back to the highlights, shall we?

[Cut to the ring, Devastation backing Mr. Amazing! into a corner with Classy Mike C on the outside of the ring.]

TH V/O: This one between former NAPW Champion Devastation, A1E Triple Star Champion Mr. Amazing and EUWC Champion Classy Mike C. got rowdy quickly. Mike C. got tossed out on his butt earlier in the match, and Devastation was having his way with Mr. A!, backing him into the corner and tying him to the proverbial Tree of Woe. The worst tree to be hung from. But Dev didn't watch his back, as Mike C came storming back into the ring, giving Devastation a Death Valley driver for the pin.

[Cut to Mike C. with Mr. A! on his back.]

TH V/O: And the Classy one almost had this match in hand, looking to set up his patented Texas Classyleaf. He's got one leg, but Mr. A! won't let him get his second leg. He's struggling and fighting, and BAM! Kick right to Mike's face. Mr. A! rolls back up onto his feet, off the ropes and... CRACK! Amazing Grace flying forearm, right to the bridge of Mike C.'s nose. It's all academic after that, and Mr. A! advances.

[Cut to Jake Hix and Red Rock looming over Jesse Banks.]

TH V/O: Next up, it's AWC's Relentless Champion Red Rock, Global's World Champion Jake Hix and HSW's World Champion Jesse Banks. Banks wasn't in a good way early on as Rock and Hix team up to deliver a big double clothesline to Banks. It went from double clothesline to double cross as Rock turned right around and clocked Hix in the face, but right as he was going to down to pick Hix up, Banks comes out of nowhere to rll him up for his troubles.

[Cut to Banks and Hix grappling.]

TH V/O: Banks made it close the rest of the match, but it was this botched suplex that Hix reversed into a flip behind Banks. And once the Big Dawg is behind you, it's only a matter of time before he locks in the Dawg Collar (rear choke). Banks has no choice but to tap out, and Hix advances.

[Cut to High Flyer on the top rope with Mikael Lundgard standing up.]

TH V/O: Crazy match next with fWo World Champion High Flyer, EUWC US Champ Nero and FUSE Universal Champ Mikael Lundgard. Flyer has Lundgard sized up here, but Lundgard hits the deck at the last second causing Flyer to fan on his missle dropkick. But Nero, ever the opportunist, hops from the outside of the ring right onto the top turnbuckle and uses Lundgard's hit the deck avoidance against him with a flying elbow to the back of Lundgard's head! He scores the pin while Flyer is dazed.

[Cut to Nero with Flyer dazed.]

TH V/O: Nero looks to finish Flyer off here with the Nerokick, but the Neighborhood Lunatic falls back, Matrix style, and with the QUICKNESS, bounces off the ropes and nails Nero with the LOCOmotive (running yakuza kick). Goodnight Irene, and Flyer moves on.

[Cut to Kin Hiroshi chopping away at Ravager while Professor Tremendous looks on.]

TH V/O: Finally, the last match of the night featured MBE legend Professor Tremendous, former NAPW Champ Ravager and CSWA US Champion Kin Hiroshi. Hiroshi and Ravager spent most of the first part of this match battling each other while the good Professor watched. Here, Hiroshi is chopping away at Ravager. He drops back off the ropes and as he's charging in towards Ravager, Prof T trips him up, right into Ravager's grasp, and the Brooklyn native hits him with a quick pinning Northern Lights suplex. Hiroshi's not happy, but the Professor's looking smart.

[Prof on the top with Ravager ready to strike.]

TH V/O: Ravager is ready to finish off the good Professor with a good ol' fashioned muscle buster, but the Prof fights him off, knocking him back, and then... Blockbuster, which finishes off the NAPW superstar and gains him entry into the second round.

[Cut to Holzerman at his desk.]

TH V/O: After the match, Professor Tremendous got into a fracas with CSWA officials. Upon defeating Hiroshi and Ravager, Tremendous went outside the ring and claimed Hiroshi's United States Championship for himself, holding it up over his head and even taking it back to his locker room. Hiroshi and CSWA officials on site were not pleased with the action, so they got cease and desist orders and Philadelphia police to take the title back. No charges were filed, although sources say Hiroshi needed to be restrained from breaking into the locker room and taking on not only Prof himself, but the entire Team Tremendous, every man, woman and midget.

[Cue up "No Quarter." Cut to Mr. A! and Red brawling.]

TH V/O: Lots more, including the entire lot of tonight's action from the Spectrum, all of it, including a blood brawl between two A1E rivals. Stay tuned.

[Cut to a commercial for Subway... sike, **** Jared. This commercial's for the Burger King Texas Sized Whopper, nuckas! Long live bald guys lugging dumptrucks with chains!]

 

[TH]

[Cut to the studio, Tom Holzerman at his desk with an IrishRed/Mr. Amazing! graphic inset.]

TH V/O: Welcome back to this special edition of TEAM Epicenter for the Tournament of Champions. You can't write it any better than this. Two men, heated rivals, burning with hatred for each other. One man burns for respect while the other shows none, going so far as to attack the other's wife. A1E's hate is no longer just contained there, as the draw gave us Mr. Amazing! and IrishRed in the first match of tonight's action.

[Cut to Mr. A! in the ring, blowing kisses in Donelle's direction, Donelle being Red's wife.]

TH V/O: Mr. A! starts out by trying to piss Red off, which he accomplished. Red charges in, lefts and rights, flailing. Folks, if you were coming into this match looking for Fly/Gilkison or Manson/Southern, then you came to the wrong place. Red took Mr. A! off his game and into the deep dark world of brawlage. In fact, we found out afterwards that TEAM officials instructed referee Monet Samuel of ACW to call the match very leniently.

[Cut to Red with Mr. A! on the canvas, pounding him.]

TH V/O: Just carnage, Red here with Amazing on the canvas, punching him UFC-style, and Mr. A! was soon wearing the crimson mask.

[Cut to a bloodied Mr. A! with Red astraddle the second rope and turnbuckle in the corner.]

TH V/O: For Red though, payback would be a *****. Mr. A! showed he can brawl with the best of them here. After bashing Red's skull in, he's now thinking of going towards a more ginger spot.

[Mr. A! kicks Red in the groin.]

TH V/O: Ouch... see, I told you they told Samuel to go easy here, since these two men couldn't.

[Cut to Mr. A! running the ropes.]

TH V/O: And they would get even more brutal as the proceedings went on. Mr. A! comes charging in, but Red sidesteps him and tosses him clear out of the ring. Now it's Red's turn to run, and the roughneck from South Dakota thinks he's El Arco Iris...

[Red goes for a suicide dive, but Mr. A! moves and Red eats guardrail.]

TH V/O: ...but he looks more like Nacho Libre. Fans on the tope suicida and now Mr. A looks like he has things in hand, right?

[Cut to Mr. A! in the ring with Red in the electric chair position.]

TH V/O: ...wrong. What would start as probably an electric chair drop or suplex turned into IrishRed clubbing away at Mr. A!'s bloodied head.

[Cut to Red with Mr. A!'s head in his hands.]

TH V/O: And taking a page from George Steele's book, he treats Mr. A!'s head like a turnbuckle. Ouch, you really have to hate a man to want to have his blood in your mouth. Red was relentless, but he was also overzealous and that led to his downfall.

[Cut to Mr. A! standing with Red running the ropes.]

TH V/O: Red comes charging in with the lariat, but Mr. A! ducks last second. Red's momentum is so big that he can't turn around and runs chest first into the ropes. Mr. A! takes full advantage, rolling up Red and getting the one-two-three by the skin of his teeth.

[Cut back to Holzerman in the studio.]

TH: Of course, Red wasn't very happy with the decision as he felt Mr. A! pulled the tights en route to his pinfall victory.

[Cut to a video replay of the pin.]

TH V/O: From this angle, it's clear that Mr. A! did have the tights. Referee Monet Samuel was not in position to see the count and therefore, didn't notice it.

[Cut back to the studio.]

TH: TEAM officials commented on it shortly thereafter, and their official statement was that while there was clear pulling of the tights, the policy of TEAM is that all referee's decisions are final.

[Cut to another shot of Holzerman at a different angle, with a Troy/Prof T graphic inset.]

TH: The next match is an Internet fanboy's wet dream. Web-favorite Hall of Famer Professor Tremendous against current message board darling Lindsay Troy.

[Cut to the ring, where Prof and Troy are circling each other.]

TH V/O: This one got off to a very interesting start. The two feeling each other out before the Prof decides he wants to feel Troy up. A grab of the boob, and the EPW Champion is not amused at all. HARD Muay Thai palm strike to Prof's face, and I'm sure that makes Chazz's plastic surgeon happy.

[Cut to Prof behind Troy.]

TH V/O: The Queen kept the pressure on early, but the Good Professor found ways through it, like here with this back suplex that bounced Troy's head off the canvas. Not a very good sign early on for Troy.

[Cut to Prof with Lindz in an octopus lock.]

TH V/O: Prof really working the neck, trying to slow Troy down with a case of paralysis. But Troy would fight back.

[Cut to Prof running the ropes.]

TH V/O: The Good Professor running and he gets absolutely CLOCKED by a Troy dropkick here. One of the most beautiful dropkicks you'll ever see.

[Cut to Troy working Prof over with martial arts.]

TH V/O: Since the Prof is a little too big for Troy to work her power game, she goes back to doing what she does best. Martial arts. A few palm strikes and chops here, some roundhouse kicks there, and you get a good ass-kicking salad. Prof knocked for a loop.

[Cut to Lindz running towards Prof.]

TH V/O: She forgets her size disadvantage for a second and goes for a Thesz press, but the Prof catches her with a big spinebuster. What impact.

[Cut to Prof behind Lindz again.]

TH V/O: Prof looking to finish Lindsay off with the Honor Roll, but he can't even get the German off. Troy flips behind the Prof and quickly lands a roundhouse kick to his temple. Prof slumps over, and for good measure, Troy hits the top rope and... 720 degree splash! The Spectrum goes bananas! Troy wins in amazing fashion, setting up an amazing date with Mr. Amazing! later on that night.

[Cue up "No Quarter." Cut to High Flyer on the top ropes with a prone D! on the mat.]

TH V/O: After this commercial break, we'll take you to match between the fWo Champ and the upstart from Alberta.

[Cue up a commercial for Miller Lite, the Men of the Squared Table.]

 

[TH]

[Cut back to Holzerman at the desk.]

TH: For many in the PrimeTime Central world, the benchmark is Karina Wolfenden. She's done nearly everything there is to do, been praised as highly as you can be praised. Yet, her quarterfinal opponent is no slouch either. Jake Hix, Global Champion, PTC Infinite Gauntlet winner. An up-and-comer vs. the gold standard. It was an interesting match with intersting dynamics.

[Cut to the ring, K-Wolf bouncing off the ropes at Hix.]

TH V/O: K-Wolf with the quickness early on, trying to offset the size advantage that Hix has, and she did so quite well. Leaping calf kick here, taking the Big Dawg off his equilibrium. Not quite there yet, but with this thrust kick, she finally knocks the big man off his feet.

[Cut to K-Wolf in front a dazed Hix.]

TH V/O: Kari wouldn't stop there, as she kicks Hix's leg out of his leg and brings him to his knees and watch this. She goes to a handspring to a 619... one of the most athletic moves I've ever seen and totally rocking on Hix's face.

[Cut to K-Wolf on the top rope.]

TH V/O: She was effective from the top rope too. Hix is groggy and K-Wolf just hits him out of nowhere... top rope enzugiri kick. Wolfenden would go to the well once too often. Four-fifty splash misses, Hix finds his opening.

[Cut to Hix with K-Wolf over her shoulder.]

TH V/O: The Big Dawg now showing everyone who's yard it is. Running powerslam with THE IMPACT~!

[Cut to Hix whipping K-Wolf off the ropes.]

TH V/O: And here... shades of Beast and his GORE as Hix just spears Wolfenden out of her tights, which if that were literal, may have caused a mass splooging in the Spectrum from all the straight males.

[Cut to Hix with K-Wolf in the full nelson.]

TH V/O: And here he is with his suplexing skills. Dragon suplex and a beaut.

[Cut to Hix whipping K-Wolf off the ropes again.]

TH V/O: K-Wolf finds another way to slink out. Hix tries for the spinebuster off the whip, but Wolfenden uses momentum to shift into a tornado DDT.

[Cut to Wolfenden with Hix in the corner.]

TH V/O: K-Wolf trying now for double the pleasure, but on this Dual Halo is broken. Hix just throws K-Wolf off him, and then... Dawg Bomb (DVD). Academic after that, Hix with the mild upset, moving onto the final four.

[Cut back to Holzerman in the studio.]

TH: So three in the final four, and who'd be the fourth? Most people would have told you High Flyer, but sometimes, the smart money looks stupid after Cinderella's done with 'em.

[Cut to D! and Flyer in the ring.]

TH V/O: Although I don't think I'd call D! Cinderella to his face. He might punch it like he's doing here, martial arts styled punches, taking it right to the fWo Champion.

[Cut to D! with Flyer in a single crab.]

TH V/O: D! really taking it to Flyer early on in the match, here trying to take his legs, Flyer's deadliest weapon, away from him. The single leg crab is one of D!'s favorite holds.

[Cut to Flyer running the ropes.]

TH V/O: This was a back and forth match, and now the see-saw goes in Flyer's favor. D! makes the classic mistake of bending over too soon on the back body drop, and Flyer nails him in the face with that kick and follows right up with a diamond cutter.

[Cut to Flyer running away from D!]

TH V/O: And check the athleticism on this move, springboard Thesz press. D! to the mat, but NAPW's pride finds a way to come back.

[Cut to D! with Flyer in the Tequilia Sunrise.]

TH V/O: After countering a piledriver attempt and some other strikes, D! gets Flyer in that Tequila Sunrise, with the bloodshot eyes, stretching Flyer out.

[Cut to D! with Flyer on his shoulders.]

TH V/O: And more of that old-school feel from D! here, twirling Flyer around with the AIRPLANE SPIN~! Man, it's been awhile since I've seen that one. Yet Flyer was able to shake off the dizziness.

[Cut to Flyer with D! in a front facelock.]

TH V/O: Right here, textbook brainbuster from Flyer after a counter. D! should be feeling a little dizzy himself.

[Cut to Flyer on the top rope, D! prone.]

TH V/O: High Flyer looking to fly high and finish D! off here with his Four and a Half Star Frogsplash, but at the last second D! moves. He gets right up and WHAM! NyQuil Driver, same move that put out Ninja K last night, and D!'s dance card still with names on it, he's going to the final four.

[Cue up "No Quarter." Flash cut to Troy, Mr. A!, D! and Hix.]

TH V/O: Four left, only one won. Who was it? We'll find out more when we recap the semifinals, after this.

[Cut to a commercial for the Toyota Yaris. This one's for you, Edmunds!]

 

[TH]

[Cut to Holzerman in the studio again at his desk with a Mr. A!/Troy inset.]

TH: Mr. Amazing! and Lindsay Troy both advanced to the semifinals, but not without cost. Amazing was busted open pretty badly and needed 20 stitches to close the gash on his forehead, courtesy of one IrishRed. Troy was dropped on her head and neck more than a few times by the Good Professor. The question of who would win the match would be best answered through another question: Who would exploit their opponent's weakness best?

[Cut to Troy and Mr. A! in the ring.]

TH V/O: Well, it would be Troy who'd exploit first as she catches the cut right with the heel of her boot on that spinning heel kick. Not even two minutes into the match and Mr. A! was seeing red again, literally.

[Cut to Troy raking Mr. A! across the top rope.]

TH V/O: And she'd keep exploiting that. You know the summer months are when blood supplies run low, and matches like this are the reason why. But it wouldn't be a total rout.

[Cut to Lindz with Mr. A! in a standing front headlock.]

TH V/O: As the Queen goes for a DDT here, Mr. A! braces himself to resist the impact, gets himself free with a few rabbit punches, and then gives Lindsay Troy a Rude Awakening. Troy holding her neck and now the Amazing One is taking advantage of an injury.

[Cut to Mr. A! with Troy in a sleeperhold.]

TH V/O: Here he's wrenching harder on that neck, grinding it down. Normally, we don't show the restholds, but he almost got Troy to drop the third hand. But this woman is feistily resilient. So resilient, she was able to pop back.

[Cut to Troy bouncing off the ropes.]

TH V/O: Like here, after a reversal on a suplex, she's off the ropes and a beautiful spinning heel roundhouse kick, and like the cat, lands on both feet. Once again, the boot lands on Mr. A!'s face. I'm telling you, vampires have more blood running through them than Mr. A! had at this point.

[Cut to Troy with Mr. A! in another front facelock.]

TH V/O: And here, she finally gets the DDT she wants, and it leaves a mark of blood on the canvas. Not a good sign for Mr. A!

[Cut to Troy on the top rope.]

TH V/O: Troy now going for the big finish, like she did against the Prof, only this time, it's a shooting star frogsplash that fans completely. Mr. A! rolls out of the way, gets up to his feet and waits for Troy to get up. Drops back... Amazing Grace also fans, and we're back to to square one, two crumpled bodies.

[Cut to Mr. A! with Troy in a rear waistlock.]

TH V/O: Mr. A! in control, going for a German suplex here, but no! Troy amazingly slips free and flips behind. Mr. A! turns around, he can't believe it. Troy rushes in and goes for a twisting headscissors takedown, but Mr. A! shoves her off mid-move, adn Troy lands on her head. Then, for the coup de grace...

[Cut to Mr. A! with Troy seated on the top rope.]

TH V/O: And it ends here, Mr. A! with Troy all the way out from the top rope and just spikes her to the mat with that modified DDT, the Exclamation Point Driver. Mr. A! wins the hard-fought match and he moves onto the finals.

[Cut back to Holzerman in the studio with a D!/Hix inset.]

TH: Dreams do come true, even for the underdogs. Just ask the George Mason Patriots. However, after beating Eddie Mayfield, Ninja K and High Flyer, one has to wonder if D! is an underdog or just the wrestling world's best kept secret. And one would also have to wonder if he could defeat a guy who could very well be PTC's best kept secret. I mean, Jake Hix did put down Karina Wolfenden, Jesse Banks and Red Rock. Think of it as George Mason/Gonzaga.

[Cut to Hix and D! grappling in the ring.]

TH V/O: This match was back and forth, and the first salvo was had by D!, here with some hard knife edge chops, and then with the Irish whip and the LARIATO~! Hix down to the canvas like a ton of bricks.

[Cut to Hix behind D!]

TH V/O: Hix had an answer for that, just look at this, a German suplex, all impact, no bridge.

[Cut to D! with Hix reeling a little.]

TH V/O: A minute later and D! was back in control. Look at this sequence. Kick to the gut, swinging neckbreaker, bounce off the ropes and an elbow drop right across the Hix's neck. Simple but effective.

[Cut to Hix with D! staggering in front of him.]

TH V/O: But once again, another turnaround, this time, Hix sets D! up and Northern Lights suplex. Two count, but the damage is done.

[Cut to Hix on the top rope, D! prone.]

TH V/O: Hix gonig for the kill here, but once again, the tide turns, elbow drop that misses. D! rolls to his feet and Hix follows up slow, and there you go, picture perfect dropkick, followed up with an OLD SKOOL leg drop.

[Cut Hix with his back turned to D!]

TH V/O: This match went back and forth so many times, it's almost dizzying. D! going in for the kill here, but Hix at the last possible second counters with a snap mare, and just listen to this...

[CRACK~! as Hix soccer kicks D! in his spine.]

TH V/O: Brutal.

[Cut to Hix with D! in a standing headscissors.]

TH V/O: ANd another reversal here. Hix gets D! in a powerbomb, and at the height, he starts raining the punches. Powerbomb turned into a Thesz press. D! would not look back.

[Cut to D! with Hix in a standing headscissors.]

TH V/O: Memphis piledriver here...

[Cut to D! with Hix in a staggered state.]

TH V/O: And for the finishing touch, palm strike, chop, roundhouse, roundhouse, toe kick, he's going crazy! I can't even keep up with it anymore. He calls it the Beat-o-Barrage, and it's different each time he does it, but the result is the same. D! advances to the finals.

[Cue up "No Quarter," cut to Mr. A! in a Rip Hamilton plastic mask staring at D! in the middle of the ring.]

TH V/O: One more match to go. Who won? D!? Mr. Amazing!? A battle of the exclamation points. A battle for the ages. A battle to be Champion of Champions. All after the break.

[Cut to a commercial for Colon Blow... errr, Frosted Mini Wheats.]

 

[TH]

The end of Epicenter was pre-empted in favor of showing the entire final match between Mr. Amazing! and D!, a replay from TEAM Season Pass on your digital cable or satellite TV. The announcers, as always, are Jess Chapel on PBP and The Iron Duke on color. Marvin Darling's your ring announcer.
--

JC: Alright Duke, we've seen fourteen matches over the last two days, and now, here we are. The last match, for all the marbles. The right to become Champion of Champions.

ID: Bloody right, and by the looks of things both at the bloody Arena last night and at the Spectrum tonight, I'd be buggered to guess who's going to win this one. I bloody well think it's Mr. Amazing!'s to lose, but this D!, he's bloody come out of nowhere.

JC: Indeed, the pride of Edmonton, Alberta, the Cinderella story. This is like George Mason making it to the Final Four. The Pittsburgh Steelers may be a better comparison, he flew under the radar, but he had the talent all along.

ID: But he bloody well has to win to justify that comparison.

JC: You're absolutely right.

MD: This match is scheduled fo' one fall and is the TEAM Tournament of Champions final match! The winnah of this match will be crowned the 2006 Champion of Champions!

[Cue up "Right Before My Eyes" by the Snitches. The crowd erupts as their adopted underdog steps through the curtains.]

MD: Introducing first, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, weighing in at a lean 210 pounds, he represents New Alberta Pro Wrestling... this... is... DDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

JC: Listen to this ovation from the Philly crowd! They appreciate hardnosed underdogs, old school guys who come out, give their all every match, win or lose. It just so happens D! has been winning more than losing this weekend.

ID: Bah, this town's so starved for a winner they'll latch on to a bloody Canadian!

[D! makes his way to the ring and stands patiently.]

JC: Hey, a lot of great wrestlers have come from Canada. D!'s the latest in a long line.

[Cue up "Bittersweet Symphony." The boos start up.]

MD: An' his opponent, weighing in at 247 pounds...

[Mr. A! walks out of the back in his ring attire... and a clear plastic mask, ala the one Rip Hamilton of the Pistons wears, protecting the freshly re-stitched gash on his forehead.]

MD: ...an' hailing from the Big Apple, representing A1E as their Triple Star Champion... Mistuhh... AAAAAMAAAAAZINNNNNNNGGG!!!

JC: Words fail me...

ID: What do you mean?

JC: Don't play dumb, Duke, that mask, that protective mask. I can't believe he'd do that.

ID: Do what, protect his bloody face? That ruffian IrishRed sullied him and the harlot Queen Troy exacerbated it. He's protecting himself, and I think he's bloody sharp as a knife. Face it Jesse, if that were James bloody Irish or Karl Brown or any one of your other fan favorites, you'd be bloody cheering them. Your objectivity is nonexistant.

JC: What are you talking about, Duke? James Irish wouldn't wear that... but regardless, he's hit the ring, and now we're going to get a match.

[Mr. A! and D! are in the ring, inches from each other, staring each other down. Referee Roland Priest, a Philadelphia favorite with the UWA, is standing between them, explaining the ground rules.]

JC: You can cut the tension with a knife, Duke. Both of these men want it so bad. One was a favorite coming in, the other only a favorite with fans in Western Canada. It's like Duke vs. Gonzaga.

ID: I may not know bloody much about your basketball, but I do know that Duke wins out every time.

JC: We'll see about that.

[DING DING DING]

JC: And here WE GO!! Wasting no time! D! with a shot to Mr. A!'s face, and Mr. A! returns! Another shot from D! and another return from Mr. A! And this crowd is eating it up already!

CROWD: D! A! D! A!

JC: I told you Dukey, Philly's the best wrestling town ever!

[They continue to trade punches.]

ID: Don't worry about these bloody mouth-breathers! These two men are set to punch each others' bloody lights out!

JC: They are, D! A! D! A! D! D! [At this point, D! is gaining the upper hand.] D! D! D! is sending Amazing reeling to the ropes. Mr. A! is punch drunk! D! has him where he wants him...

[D! leans back his hand to do the spit on the hand spot before a punch.]

JC: He's going in and... NO! NO! Oh my Lord, Mr. Amazing with the rake of the eyes, and he's getting and ignoring a stern lecture from Roland Priest.

ID: Bloody hell, just let the buggers wrestle!

[Mr. A! collects D! in a front facelock as D!'s still holding his eyes.]

JC: I would agree, but you have to call some of the fouls. I'd have to have this match end on a DQ, but I'd have even more for a promising young superstar's career derailed from blindness because of someone else's pettiness... vertical suplex from Mr. Amazing!, and he's taken control of this match, ridiculous mask and all.

ID: Only a cheerleader like yourself would keep harping on that.

[Mr. Amazing! down and locks D! in a chinlock.]

JC: Me a cheerleader? Funny, you've been rooting for the heels all night.

ID: Such language! You're exposing the bloody business.

JC: Put a sock in it, Duke. Mr. A! looking to wear down D! here with that chinlock. Normally, moves like this don't have too great of an effect early on, but both men have been through wars tonight. Absolute wars.

ID: It's bloody attrition. Battle of the Marne, it's like the Great War all over again.

JC: Watch out Duke, you might date yourself there.

ID: Funny.

JC: Mr. A! locked tight, but D! is powering out, I don't know where he's getting it, but he's got it. This has gotta be his sixth or seventh wind here, and listen to these fans get behind him as he... NO!

[Mr. A! clubs him across the chest from behind to stop his momentum.]

JC: Just like that, Mr. A! asserts his control back on the match. Now putting the boots to D!, more attrition.

[Mr. A! drags D! to his feet.

ID: Bloody hell, that's how it should be, but I still have to wonder how much petrol these men have in the tank.

JC: We're going to find out one way or another. Mr. A! sends D! off the ropes and big back body drop, did you see the elevation on that?

ID: Bloody right I did. Only an athlete the caliber of Mr. Amazing! could pull that off.

JC: *sigh* Mr. A! back to the canvas, dragging D! to his feet. He's like a pitbull, you know?

[Mr. A! delivers a vertical suplex to D!]

ID: That's how you bloody have to be. We've been talking about attrition, you can't wear down a pitbull easily.

JC: That much is true, and Mr. A! knows this. He's got D! up for another suplex... no, it's a slingshot and the thud! That was one hell of a thud with that momentum.

ID: Stick a fork in him, he's had an admirable run...

JC: Mr. A! thinks so too, as he covers... one...

...two...

...no! D! kicks out!

ID: Begorrah!

JC: D! is struggling to get up, Mr. A! *****es to the ref. That won't get you anywhere.

ID: But the count was slow! Bloody hell, I'd have counted five in the time it took him two.

[D! up on hands and knees.]

JC: Yeah, but you got your PhD in reffing from the Danny Davis Academy of Evil Officials.

[Mr. A! notices D! on all fours.]

ID: You and your bloody jokes...

JC: OH MY LORD! Mr. Amazing! just nailed D! with a knee to his head! Goodnight Irene, this one can't go on much longer, but Mr. A! is still not done with him yet.

ID: Well, if the clock isn't going to strike midnight on its own for D!, then it's right for Mr. A! to force the minute hand there.

[Mr. A! has D! in standing headscissors.]

JC: That's actually pretty good insight. Mr. A! pulls the tights on D! and PILEDRIVER! Oh man, D!'s on dream street! Cover... one...

...two...

...NO! NO! NO! D! kicked out!

ID: I don't bloody believe it!

JC: Mr. A! has an earful for Priest now, and... wait up! D! just rolled Mr. A! up! Flash pin... two... NO! No! Mr. A! kicked out and he's NOT happy!

ID: Where in the bloody blazes did D! come from?

JC: I don't know, but wherever he did, Mr. A!'s stomping him right back there. It's almost like he thinks D! is showing him disrespect by kicking out.

ID: Well, I wouldn't go that far, but...

JC: Excuse me, Mr. A! now with the STF here, stretching D!

ID: As I was saying, I wouldn't say D! is disrespecting him, but after the night Mr. A! has had against wrestlers of bigger names, I wouldn't be shocked if he thinks D! is beneath him.

JC: Well, D! got as far as he has so far, so no one's beneath anyone. D! is in the ropes, and Mr. A! is off after a little hesitation... DROPS THE KNEE RIGHT ACROSS D!'S HEAD! He wastes no time, cover... one...

...two...

...no! NO! D! kicks out! Can you believe it?

ID: I don't and I don't bloody believe Mr. A! does either.

[Mr. A! grabs D! to his feet.]

JC: Oh he's steamed, he's stewing. I think he wants to end D! right now. Drops back, off the ropes... Amazing Gr... NO! NO! D! DUCKED! HE DUCKED! MR. A! FLIES INTO THE ROPES! THIS CROWD EXPLODES!

ID: He's gotta bloody be on something. The bloody cream or the clear.

JC: No, I think it's the Cole Hamels.

ID: Wha?

JC: Forget it, D!'s got another burst in him, and Mr. A! can't believe it! He charges in, D! repels him with a right hand! Another right hand! Mr. A! is reeling...

ID: What in the bloody hell is D! doing?

JC: I'll tell you, he's doing a kickline! He's dancing! He's having a good time, and he just booted Mr. Amazing in his solar plexus! He calls that the Rockette Kick of Doom, and this crowd is eating it up! DDT by D!

ID: Just when you think... my Lord, I don't think this job is bloody good for my health.

JC: D! soaking up the crowd for a moment, but now he's going back to work. Single leg crab, one of his favorite moves, and now his turn to play attrition.

ID: I just can't believe how the tides have turned.

JC: That's the nature of the business, Duke. One minute you're on top, the next, you're getting whooped. Mr. A!'s in the ropes and D! with the clean break. Now is that so much to ask from every wrestler?

[D! goes down to pick up Mr. A!]

ID: Bloody hell, always harping on the rules.

JC: No I'm not. I used to run a promotion that had no rules, but I like it when there's sportsmanship, honor. There's no honor in piling on like that. DO it the right way, like D!, who just planted Mr. A! with a vertical suplex. Off the ropes and leg drop, and D!'s still not going for the pin here.

ID: He's making up for lost ground.

[D! once again picking up Mr. A!]

JC: I think it's because he wants it. He wants it so bad, he knows he can't just make pin attempts and expect to win. D! with the whip into the ropes and tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Finally goes for a cover... one...

...two...

...no. Mr. A! kicks out. You know, I don't think...

[D! goes to pick Mr. A! up again, Mr. A! hits him with a low blow out of the sight of Priest.]

JC: ...OH! You've gotta be frigging kidding me ref! You gotta see that!

ID: Bloody hell, this is for everything, Jesse! You have to be prepared to do anything and take anything in order to take the prize home!

JC: That's a copout Duke. You don't mess with a guy's jimmies. Never. Mr. A! is up and he's got D!, whips him off the ropes... spinebuster, Arn Anderson quality there. I'm sorry... there's just no excuse for hitting a guy below the belt.

[Mr. A! locks D! in a bow and arrow.]

ID: You're still on that? Christ, if the English held grudges like you did, the Revolutionary War would never have ended.

JC: I just don't like it, Duke. Not at all. D! is in the ropes, and Mr. A! breaks the hold a little more quickly this time. Odd...

ID: Well, maybe he found an opportunity...

[Mr. A! plants another knee in D!'s face.]

JC: That's why! He's so cunning, so calculating. He's hell-bent to make D! wear the same mask he is now. Mr. A! is up and he's got D! up. Vertical... no! Mr. A! went for a suplex, but D! slipped behind him!

ID: Bloody hell!

JC: Mr. A! turns around...

[Crowd pops huge as D! grabs Mr. A!'s protective mask and stretches it out to about a half a foot in front of his face.]

JC: Oh my! He's got the mask!

ID: Bloody hell! That's for his protection!

JC: Not anymore! Do it! Do it! Snap that mask!

[D! lets go and SNAP! The mask hits Mr. A! with the impact in the face. The crowd pops.]

JC: Can you hear it? This crowd is going nuts!

[Mr. A! turns his back to D!]

JC: And now D! comes right up behind Mr. A!... YES! YES! NYQUIL DRIVER! NYQUIL DRIVER! THIS MATCH IS OVER! COVER!

One...

...two...

...thr... NO! NO! Mr. Amazing! kicks out at the last second, he's still alive.

ID: You talk about D! wanting it, but Mr. A! wants it just as much if not more. He's on a March to Glory!

[Mr. A! staggers to his feet, D! is in wait.]

JC: There's no doubt both of these men want this badly. But right now, that March to Glory will have to be on hold... it's Beat-o-Barrage time with a kick... no! NO! Mr. A! just caught the kick and he throws D!'s foot! D!'s spinning... LARIAT! D!'s down and now Mr. A!'s stalking, waiting for D! to get up!

ID: You weren't bloody kidding when you were talking about momentum changing!

[D! staggers to his feet.]

JC: Damn right Duke, Mr. A!'s got the mo now. D! to his feet and Mr. A! off the ropes... AMAZING GRACE! AMAZING GRACE! He just hit D! with that trademark flying forearm, and this match has to be over. Mr. A! covers...

...one...

...two...

...three... NO! NO! D! got his foot on the ropes! He got his foot on the ropes! He's still alive!

ID: Bloody hell, slow count! This ref's in D!'s back pocket.

JC: Oh shut up Duke, he is not. It doesn't affect Mr. A! anymore.

ID: That's because he wants to finish this bugger off now. It's time for Duke to finish Gonzaga.

[Mr. A! picks D! up.]

JC: I don't know Duke, you may be right, but never count out the underdog.

[Mr. A! perches D! on the top rope.]

ID: Admit it though, it's not looking good.

JC: Well, it isn't. If Mr. Amazing! is doing what I think he's doing and if he hits this EPD, it's over. It's all over. This move put down Lindsay Troy last round, this move would put down Dan Ryan, Spoiler or Kodiak Vic Creed. It's deadly. Mr. A! grabs the head of D!, but D!'s fighting back! This crowd is alive, rallying behind D! Left punch, right punch, left punch... HAYMAKER! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! D! just nailed Mr. A! with a haymaker that sent him to the canvas while sitting on that top rope!

ID: Bloody Norah!

JC: I don't believe what I'm seeing here! Mr. A! is floored! D! is getting up to his feet, looking around... I... I...

[Silence from the announcers and steady buzz from the crowd. D! leaps, the crowd gets hotter. He sticks out his elbow... and WHAM!]

JC: ELBOW DROP! ELBOW DROP! ELBOW DROP FROM THE TOP! D! just hit Mr. Amazing! with that Savage-esque elbow and he covers...

...one...

...two...

........THREE!

[DING DING DING!]

JC: YES! YES! YES! D! WINS! D! WINS! GONZAGA WINS! D! WINS! HE JUST WON THREE MATCHES IN ONE NIGHT TO WIN THIS THING! D! WINS! GONZAGA WINS! D! WINS!

ID: Bloody hell! I can't believe it!

JC: IT'S AN UPSET! BUT THIS CROWD LOVES IT!

[Roland Priest raises D!'s hand.]

MD: Here is your winner... and the 2006 Champion of Champions... DDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

[Jess Chapel leaves his broadcast seat and collects something covered in a black velvet cloth.]

ID: I don't bloody well believe what I just saw. I... I have no more words.

[Announcer silence as Chapel, holding the item. He removes the cloth to reveal a gold, platinum and diamond plated, premium leather Championship belt that says "TEAM Champion of Champions" on it. He climbs into the ring, presents the title to D! and embraces him.]

ID: I don't believe it. The clock shall never strike midnight for this Cinderella... I... I'm speechless. For Jess Chapel, I'm the Iron Duke... and thank you kindly for watching the Tournament of Champions.

[Chapel raises D!'s hand as he has the Champion of Champions belt wrapped around his waist. The screen fades to black.]