Rules:
1. What is the CSWA?
The CSWA (ChampionShip Wrestling Alliance) is celebrating it’s 10th year in fantasy wrestling. It’s owners, Chad Merritt and Stephen Thomas, created it as a ‘home’ league in 1988. In 1992, the league was moved to the Sports BB on the Prodigy Online Service. That’s where the league has resided for the last six years. Now the league that many call the greatest ever, makes yet another move. To the Internet.
As a home league and on Prodigy, the CSWA has had hundreds of cards, and seen thousands of wrestlers walk through it’s doors. Soon you’ll be able to see a detail account of the league’s history since ’88. Many members feel that the CSWA’s rich history enhances their enjoyment. You’ll find that a few wrestlers have been around since the inception.
The CSWA is a generated fantasy league, which means real wrestlers are not allowed to compete. You will not be allowed to join the league with Ric Flair, Benoit, Raven, etc. While we encourage you to 'base' your wrestler around a composite of real wrestlers, you should avoid duplicating the characteristics, look, etc. of just one wrestler.
2. How to Join
The first thing you need to do is read everything on this list. If you don’t understand some of it, read it again, or email us with any questions. It’s important you understand what you’re doing before you get started. Secondly, take a look at the roster of wrestlers already registered in the CSWA. That will give you a good idea of what kind of characters already exist. Policy for the last couple of years has been not to allow any characters that are the mirror image of real wrestling stars. For example, Bulk Logan….Dick Flair….and "Stone Cold" Bob Austin are wrestlers that will not be granted entrance. You may enter a wrestler that is 'part' of a wrestling family...but the focus of the character should not be its out-of-league relatives. If you can join within these barriers, then take a look at the join form.
Once you've submitted your join form, you'll receive an e-mail response from us. If we have any changes to request on your form, you'll be notified.
3. How does the CSWA work?
Roleplay and Booking
As mentioned before, the CSWA is a generated fantasy league. The object is to have fun, and be creative. The CSWA is primarily a roleplay league. Roleplay will be judged on quality, and not quanity. The success of your wrestler(s) will depend on how well you perform.
While success is not based on quanity of roleplay, you must be active. If it appears that your opponent is doing considerably more roleplay than you are, chances are you will not win the match. Unlike e-mail leagues and federations of that sort, all roleplay will be done on a public message board called RP Central.
Roleplay for a card begins when the card is announced and challenges are being made and signed. The end of roleplay for each card will be announced well in advance of the deadline. During that period, you will go one on one with your opponent. Post a note of rp, read his response and send up a counter of your own. The notes will be judged, and whoever gets the best of it will likely be declared the winner. Roleplay against other competitors may also be counted.
The CSWA is also a ‘booked’ league. Because the league does not live day to day, the grand scheme of things will always be taken into account. Your wrestler WILL lose matches. Accept that as fact. With two good roleplayers going at it, it becomes very difficult to decide winners. With that in mind, the front office will look at the emerging and ongoing storyline, as well as angles requested.
If you are a new wrestler, you can count on paying your dues. You must work your way up the ladder. Title shots for newcomers will not be granted. You must earn the shot. Challenge an established star in your first few matches, and chances are you’ll do the job. Paying your dues does not mean your effort isn’t noted. Like wrestling itself, jobs are a part of the business. Again, the bigger picture is what the league books towards. So, in the beginning, wins and loses don’t necessarily tell how you’re doing. The development of your character is first and foremost the prime factor. Get a feel for the league, plot a course and go for it. If you have any questions as to how you're doing, feel free to e-mail us.
Whether you’re a newcomer or an old timer, if you give the effort and show improvement you will be rewarded. On another note, it doesn’t really matter what you’ve done in other leagues. This is the CSWA, the big time. While your wrestler’s history is encouraged when you join, don’t expect it to carry too much weight.
Signing Matches and Running Angles
Look for announcements as to when the next card will begin. A challenge subject will be posted in RP Central. Some matches may be preset from ongoing angles or commissioners' choices. If your wrestler is not preannounced on the card, and challenges are being accepted, go to RP Central and respond to the challenge note. It’s simple. You call out the desired opponent. If he doesn’t accept the challenge, try again. You may also issue an 'open contract' to all-comers. However, you're still responsible for signing a match for the card. It’s a good idea to challenge wrestlers that are at your skill level. As you get better, challenge those who are higher ranked.
While not necessary for every match, angles are encouraged as part of storylines and feuds. Have something that you’d love to see in the WWF, WCW, or ECW? Well, try them here. Angles must be realistic. We’re pretty liberal as to what we run, but if it’s not acceptable it won’t happen. Also, if your opponent sends in one as well, we’ll go with what we feel fits the storyline. Don’t be afraid to team up with other members...in fact, please do. If you want to team up with a member or work on an angle together drop them an email and plot away. It’s also a wise idea not to post angles in RP Central. In order to be considered, all angles must be sent by e-mail to the front office before the roleplay deadline ends.
Important Reminder: Not all angles will be used. An angle may not play out exactly as you send it in. Remember, we're juggling angles from you, your opponent, and possibly other wrestlers who want to interfere. In a case where we have multiple angles, we try to incorporate parts of all involved. In some cases, we may retool the angle to fit into the current storyline...or to create new feuds and storylines.
Front Office
The CSWA's 'legit' front office is comprised primarily of three members. Co-commissioners and co-founders CS Enterprises, Chad Merritt and Stephen Thomas, as well as Vice-Commissioner AJ Honold make up the front office. You can find out more about the 'kayfabe' front office and staff on the personnel page, coming soon.
The front office handles card-writing, booking, managing angles, etc. Their decisions are final. If you have an issue to bring up, feel free to e-mail us.
Complaints, whining, and general dissatisfaction with losing may be voiced via e-mail. However, we ask that you realize there are various reasons for losing matches. We look at the overall league when putting cards together and deciding winners. A loss today may be setting you up for a major push tomorrow. Part of playing the game is learning to lose.....if you can't do that, then you shouldn't play. If complaints and whining become excessive, you'll be warned. If it continues, you'll be asked to leave.
Interviews
Interviews play a major part of the CSWA, both in roleplay, cards, etc. This section contains some basic guidelines.
a) Interviews in Roleplay
A large part of roleplay is interviews. Some are simply off-the-cuff comments in response to another wrestler; others are long, intensive comments regarding the why, what, when and where of a wrestler's past, current, or future actions. Interviews can be done with or without interviewers. You cannot attack other wrestlers in roleplay.
b) Interviews on Cards
All CSWA cards often feature interview segments with wrestlers. If you would like to request an interview segment for an upcoming card, simply e-mail CS. They'll let you know whether a segment is appropriate for the card and available. They may also give you particular requested on points to hit on to keep the interview applicable to the card.
Interviews on cards should include an interviewer. They may be done from various locations: in the ring, backstage, by-satellite, etc. These interviews should be reasonably concise and very well thought-out.
c) Interviewers
Various CSWA commentators serve an interview role for cards. You may feel free to use these characters as interviewers in your roleplay.
Rudy Seitzer: The ultimate 'face' commentator, Rudy pulls for the good guys and berates the bad. Rudy's used to being threatened...but don't push him around too much. Rumor has it that Rudy once had a hidden identity as a masked wrestler named The Hooded Falcon. Some chalk that up to coincidence in the timing of their appearances.
Stan Parsons: Stan is the only commentator member of the illustrious Parsons family. Stan doesn't mind making fun of the good guys....or the bad. He's a bit of a smart-aleck. Stan put on the tights only once...in his fill-in role as the Red Midget when the real Red was hospitalized after a savage attack.
Billy Buckley: Son of CSWA play-by-play announcer Bill Buckley, oft-time commentator Billy Buckley has done play-by-play for some independent federations. He tries to ask the 'hard-hitting' questions and get to the bottom line. Billy, as many second-generationers do, continually tries to establish himself apart from his father.
4. Cards
The CSWA's goal is to keep action ongoing and exciting. While most cards are open to challenges, some events will have preannounced matches on the card. All challenges are subject to acceptance by the CSWA front office.
We'll also take this time to mention the difference between 'short-form' and 'long-form' match writeups. 'Short-form' refers to matches that are written in recap form. Many undercard matches are written in this format. 'Long-form' matches feature 'blow-by-blow' commentary. Most Main Events and championship matches will be written in this format.
CSWA PRIMETIME
CSWA PRIMETIME (PT for short) is a weekly 'house' card held in arenas across the country. The card is determined by challenges signed. All matches, with the rare exception of the main event, will be written in short-form.
CSWA SHOWTIME
CSWA SHOWTIME is a smaller card than PRIMETIME, often featuring just four or five matches in long-form. SHOWTIME is equivalent to a 'TV special', often featuring major feuds, championship matches, etc. This card is usually not open to challenges. In some cases, the front office may request 'dream matches' from members to be included on these cards; that is, those matches that you want to see.
CSWA SuperPRIMETIME
SuperPRIMETIME (SPT for short) is held every two to four weeks. SPT is one of the CSWA's larger cards, usually featuring short-form undercard matches with long-form midcard and main event matches.
PPVs
CSWA pay-per-view events are held every six to eight weeks. Many PPV matches or special events may be announced when the PPV card is announced. Challenge matches are accepted. We try to write all PPV matches in long-form, although time constraints may dictate some undercard matches be put up in short-form.
If you have any questions about the set of Rules listed above, contact us at csenforcer@prodigy.net