TEAM EPICENTER: 2nd Round Boston and Memphis Recap

[TH]

[Fade into Tom Holzerman in front of the big screen; Ulysis Solian and Larry Tact in split-screen, each on their way to the ring.]

TH: Friends, fed-mates... opponents in the TEAM Invitational Tournament. It's every man for himself, except in the TEAM studios, because I got Steve's back like a mofo. That can only mean EPICENTER... now!

[Cue up "Down" by Stone Temple Pilots.
Cut to JASON PAYNE, shouting out in primal fury with a man's blood as his war paint.
Cut to MR. AMAZING! delivering Amazing Grace to JAKE HIX.
Cut to YORI YAKAMO, JR. grappling PROFESSOR TREMENDOUS.
Cut to ULYSIS SOLIAN staring down RAVAGER.

Cut to KARL BROWN hoisting the Merrit Trophy, then flash cut to D! with the Championship of Champions Belt across his waist, then flash cut to Team NEW hoisting the Dupree Cup.

Cut to: The Epicenter logo once more, fading into Tom Holzerman and Steve Murray at the Epicenter desk.]

TH: Hello ladies and gentlemen, I'm Tom Holzerman...

SM: And I'm Steve Murray, welcome to EPICENTER. Tonight, we've got recaps of second round acting for both Memphis and Boston, and let's start with the action at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

[Cut to Murray, close up, Tact/Solian inset.]

SM: It's unfair how fate deals your cards sometimes. Sometimes, it deals the smallest of luchadors matches with giants. Sometimes, it finds you in no disqualification situations against the leader of the most bloodthirsty and ruthless stable on the roster. But the cruelest twist is when you're thrown in the ring against a man you respect, a man you admire... a man you've befriended. Ulysis Solian and Larry Tact had to face that situation in the ring in the Boston regional, and they rose to the occasion.

[Cut to the ring, Tact with Solian in a side headlock.]

SM V/O: We start with Tact on the early advantage. He's got Solian locked up, but the Guiltiest Pleasure shoves Tact off only for the first ever NEW World Champion to answer with an elbow right to Solian's face.

[Cut to Tact with Solian in a front headlock.]

SM V/O: Tact continues the offensive here, nailing Solian with that DDT, swinging the leg out and just planting Solian on his head with more momentum.

[Cut to Tact with Solian in a pumphandle.]

SM V/O: Now, it's time to innovate. Tact out of the abdominal stretch right into a sidewalk slam, a great feat of dexterity and power. Tact was cruising along, but the ride never stays that smooth for too long in this business.

[Cut to Tact running the ropes.]

SM V/O: The biggest bump early comes here. Tact runs face first right into the outstretched feet of Ulysis Solian. Dropkick and a beauty.

[Cut to Solian running the ropes.]

SM V/O: And shades of Masato Tanaka here, Solian comes charging in, RRRRRRROAARRRRRINNNG ERRRRBAAAARROWWW!

[Cut to Tact with Solian in a front waistlock.]

SM V/O: Tact takes back control here, and look at the combination of finesse and power. Overhead belly to belly suplex, and Solain goes flying.

[Cut to Tact outside of the ring.]

SM V/O: Tact goes to take a small breather after a counter and some offense from Solian, but the Prodigal Son takes air on the attack now. Tope suicida to the outside, and both men are down, although Tact took the brunt of that.

[Cut to Solian whipping Tact.]

SM V/O: And Solian whips Tact off the ropes here and gets him with an Enforcer Spinebuster. He tried to get Tact in position for the Capicoo, but Tact fights it off.

[Cut to a woozy Solian.]

SM V/O: Tact going for the kill here. Solian, they're not shooting with you, they're shooting at you, Point Blank range. Superkick and a beaut. Tact thinks it's over.

[Cut to Tact setting Solian up for a Urinage.]

SM V/O: But it's not. A Humbling turns into two elbows to the head of Tact. He's stumbling and Solian NAILS him with a kick to the back of the head.

[Cut to Solian with Tact in an Argentine Backbreaker.]

SM V/O: And here, shades of a former life, BURNING HAMMER! Only cyborgs and the undead get up from that. Tact is gone, Solian advances.

[Cut to the Welsh-Ryan Auditorium, Jarod Poe and Troy Douglas grappling.]

TH V/O: Taking you right to Memphis bracket action, Jarod Poe, the Torture King, takes on Troy Douglas, and play-in Poe is getting a small dosage of his own game, Dragon sleeper and this early. Douglas really out-foxed Poe to get that locked in there.

[Cut to Poe with Douglas in a precarious position.]

TH V/O: Poe answers right back with a figure-four sleeperhold right there.

[Cut to Poe with a wobbly Douglas.]

TH V/O: Poe here on the attack, fireman's carry takeover, and Poe bouncing off the ropes and nails Douglas here with a good-time, old fashioned knee across the Adam's apple.

[Cut to Douglas running the ropes.]

TH V/O: Douglas gets back on top and he looks like he's going to deliver a lariat, but watch this. He wraps his arm around the throat of Poe, looking like he's going to do the sleeperhold out of the whip, which I personally haven't seen in twelve years, but it doesn't end there. Douglas with the SLEEPERDROP and Poe is down, but amazingly not out!

[Cut to Douglas with Poe up and leg hooked.]

TH V/O: Douglas looking to put this match away with the PerfectPlex, and he nails it, but Poe kicks out.

[Cut to Poe in front of a woozy Douglas.]

TH V/O: Poe comes back though, and here, he's going for the signature move, the Double Tap. Shin kick and Shining Wizard, but Douglas amazingly doesn't give in.

[Cut to Poe with Douglas in a front headlock.]

TH V/O: And it looks like Poe is trying for the finish here, presumably the Fading Light, but Douglas blocks last second, elbow to the ribs, breaks out... kick to the gut and a Tiger Driver right into the quick pin. Troy Douglas advances.

[Cut back to the TEAM desk, close up to Holzerman.]

TH: And now, a bit of news concerning the Championship of Champions. It was announced Thursday that the next Championship of Champions match, the first title defense in Mr. Amazing!'s reign, will happen at SuperShow III: Final Four, and the challenger will be none other than EPW World Champion and PRIME Tag Team Champion Lindsay Troy. Troy banked her shot by finishing third in last year's Tournament of Champions. The CoC match for SuperShow IV: Merritt Trophy was also announced. The Champion at that time will face Dupree Cup Co-MVW Spoiler. After that, TEAM officials have said that their plans to make the Championship a touring title will begin. No date has been set for the first out-of-TEAM defense, but EPW Aggression, PRIME ReVolution and MBE Wednesday Night Warriors have all been mentioned as possible suitors.

[Cue up Led Zeppelin, "No Quarter." Cut to a shot Jason Payne and Devin Shakur trading shots.]

SM V/O: Coming up after the break, more action from both regions, including a slugfest between the TEAM FREE FOR ALL~! Champion and PRIME's Plague. Stay with it!

[Cut to a commercial for Dunkin' Donuts. America runs on Dunkin, unless you're Holzerman. Then you just shoot the TV Elvis style whenever you see one of those stupid commercials on it.]

 

[TH]

[Fade back into the studio, Tom Holzerman in front of a YYJ/Mr. E inset.]

TH: Last year, Hida Yakamo made it as far as the second round of the TEAM Invitational Tournament before he lost to the eventual Champion, Karl Brown. This year, his little brother made it to the second round, this time against last year's Calgary bracket Champion Mr. Entertainment. How would he fare?

[Cut to the Bryce Jordan Center ring.]

TH V/O: And Mr. E starts out in with a burst here, flying forearm right to the still sunglassed-face of Yori. The Light of Yoriology was not pleased, but there wasn't much he could do early on.

[Cut to E with Yori over the shoulder.]

TH V/O: Here, Entertainment with some heavy impact on the left side with that shoulderbreaker. Ouch.

[Cut to Yori and Mr. E, face to face.]

TH V/O: Now, this is what I don't understand. Yori's moveset usually consists of groin attacks, eye rakes and more groin attacks, right Steve?

SM V/O: I'd concur.

TH V/O: Yeah, so explain this exchange, front chancery flowing seamlessly into the hammerlock. Then Yori floats back to the front, keeping the hammerlock sinched in and then nails him right with the neckbreaker. Whazupwitdat?

SM V/O: Maybe the witch rumors are true.

TH V/O: Maybe.

[Cut to Mr. E lining up a doubled over YYJ.]

TH V/O: Mr. E back in control shortly, here with the Implant DDT.

[Cut to Yori on the top rope.]

TH V/O: BUt the new, techincally sound Yori in cruise control. Moonsault from the top here.

[Cut to Yori behind Mr. E.]

TH V/O: And here with the German suplex... with thrusting.

SM V/O: Giggity.

TH V/O: Glad to see some things never change.

[Cut to Yori with Mr. E in a cross-armed triangle choke.]

TH V/O: And here, Yori with this unique submission hold. He calls it Handjobs for the Holidays. I call it the top seed in the Boston region advancing.

[Cut to the dynamic bracket.]

TH V/O: So in the Boston regional, Sweet Sixteen, number one, Yori Yakamo, Jr., will do battle with Ulysis Solian. Steve?

[Cut to the Anderson Arena.]

SM V/O: Devin Shakur and Jason Payne in action, and it gets a bit ugly early. Payne with a right to Shakur's face, and Shakur answers with a right cross in kind. Payne answers with a left jab, Shakur with a right uppercut. It's an all out fist fight to start things, and I think they really didn't like the throwing of cliches around early...

[Cut to Shakur with Payne wobbly.]

SM V/O: The dust clears and Shakur is in control now, nailing Payne with that jawbreaker.

[Cut to Payne with Shakur by the wrist.]

SM V/O: Payne answers right back, short-arm clothesline and Shakur gets hung out to dry...

[Cut to Shakur with Payne by the leg.]

SM V/O: See-saw matchup here, as Shakur grabs Payne and nails him with a leg capture suplex. He's on his way until he gets countered late.

[Cut to Payne whipping Shakur.]

SM V/O: Payne nails Shakur with that elbow to the head, and now, time to end it. Jason Payne picks up Devin Shakur... full nelson and... PAYNE KILLER! Not many people get up from that one folks, and Shakur's not a special case. Payne wins, and he's the only play-in to move onto the Sweet Sixteen.

[Cut to the Pizzitola Sports Center ring.]

TH V/O: Beauty and the Beast in the ring here as Foxx tries the massive uphill battle against the Main Man himself, Kodiak Vic Creed. Foxx catches Creed off-balance early, here with a no-hold enzugiri.

[Cut to Foxx on the top rope.]

TH V/O: And here, she nails Creed with a missile dropkick. However, that wouldn't serve to hurt Creed, it would only make him angry.

[Cut to Creed with Foxx in a double handed elevated choke.]

TH V/O: No effort on the choke lift there, and he just throws Foxx like a rag doll.

[Cut to Creed with Foxx in a rear headlock.]

TH V/O: Gather your children and take them to shelter, because you're about to see an Alaskan Avalanche (reverse DDT).

[Cut to Creed on the top rope.]

TH V/O: Finally, Creed finishes her off like no one else his size can... CREEEEDZILLINATOR (frogsplash), and if I may reiterate, you do NOT get up from that move! Creed wins and advances.

[Cue up Led Zeppelin, "No Quarter." Cut to Mr. Silver, CHAIRMAN of PRIME, laid out in the back.]

TH V/O: Who laid out Mr. Silver? We'll tell you when we get back!

[Cut to commercial, Borat on DVD... very nice!]

 

[TH]

[Fade into the TEAM desk, Steve Murray and a Hiroshi/Rees inset.]

SM: Lemondrops and muffins. You'd think the affair between two dessert-themed wrestlers would be on the sweet side, and it was if you're a fan of wrestling action.

[Cut to the Welsh-Ryan Auditorum.]

SM V/O: Hiroshi and Rees, and LDK starts things off with a bang, flying flipping clothesline. The former NAPW Champion with the air there.

[Cut to Hiroshi running the ropes.]

SM V/O: The Muffin Man can fly too. Running leg lariat with hangtime by Hiroshi here.

[Cut to Hiroshi next to Rees.]

SM V/O: Japanese, Newfie... but Hiroshi goes Russian here, as in side Russian leg sweep.

[Cut to Rees jumping onto the rope.]

SM V/O: Rees isn't finished yet, as you can see, he's still got a lot of wind in his sails and air under his feet. Fresh Water Flip (springboard corkscrew) and he just plants Hiroshi there.

[Cut to Hiroshi with Rees in tow.]

SM V/O: Hiroshi storms right back, Aurora Borealis Suplex, to the laymen out there, that's Northern Lights, but he can't put LDK away.

[Cut to Rees behind Hiroshi.]

SM V/O: Rees comes right back though, here he is nailing Hiroshi with one of his signature moves, a leaping reverse DDT that comes straight from The Green... wherever that is.

[Cut to Hiroshi with Rees in piledriver position.]

SM V/O: The Muffin Man finally gets a chance to put this one away though. Nagasaki Fat Man (Canadian Destroyer), and that's devastation right there. Hiroshi with the pin and the advance.

[Cut to the dynamic bracket.]

SM V/O: What does that mean? It means Kin Hiroshi will battle Jason Payne in the Sweet Sixteen in Memphis.

[Cut to backstage at the Bryce Jordan Center. Sonny Silver laid out.]

SM V/O: I'd like to tell you that Mr. Silver and Rocko Daymon wrestled a five-star match, but that would mean Sonny made it out the ring. He didn't, as someone laid him out. Who? Apparently, it was Hellion, trainer for Jared Poe, whose tainted loss to Rocko Daymon after a masked man interfered still stuck in his craw. He got his mentor to lay out Silver, ensuring that Daymon advance to face Poe in a later round, but that was all before Poe fell to Troy Douglas earlier. You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men...

[Cut to the Anderson Arena ring.]

SM V/O: And just as in the first round, more gavones were iced at the Anderson Arena as Ace Mason scored his second straight submission victory in this tournament, making Tony Gamble tap to that modified camel clutch. Mason will join his tag team partner Fusenshoff in the Sweet Sixteen.

[Cut to the dynamic bracket.]

SM V/O: First up, Daymon, through his forfeit victory, earns the right to take on Kodiak Vic Creed. I heard that right is given out freely in the third layer of hell. And as for Mason, he earns a date with Troy Douglas in the Memphis bracket.

[Cut back to the TEAM studio.]

SM: That's gonna do it for us. I'm Steve Murray.

TH: And I'm Tom Holzerman everyone. Be sure to tune into all the Sweet Sixteen action if you have TEAM Season Pass. And if you don't, we'll recap each and every single match for you right here on EPICENTER. For now America, good night.

[Fade to

]

 

[TH]

CREDITS

Writing: Holzerman
Judging: Holzerman, Lindsay Branca, Chris Skowronski, James Irish, Dan West

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