Pre-Show 12: Grand Slam Aftermath!

September 11, 2011 -- For two straight weeks The Great Arena was gripped by the excitement of another tournament first, this time, the co-running test of two tours filled with the very best of the solo and duo divisions! Cr0w continued his impressive streak to obtain a twenty-fourth straight win and total victory in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles], while Hokey & Ninja_Mime confirmed a similar pattern of dominance, claiming their first overall victory in Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles]!

With the tournaments complete, the Grand Slam Aftermath reunites the people of The Union of the Human League in the honorable pursuit of combat! Showcasing rematches from the Grand Slam and brand new bouts designed to test and prepare, Pre-Show 12 is a return to form -- but is that a good thing?...

Baron of War, Ares Menschlich, has been revealed as the sinister tug that tore The Great Arena in twain during the conflict of Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron! He is the occult influence that pushed the ranks into a War for the Kr0wn and distracted attentions from the dark influence of the conquering overlord, Lord Mislukking! He claims he merely exposed what was already there -- a natural contempt that drives the feuds and rivalries of the league and the self-interest that pushes warriors to pursue titles. The Grand Slam phenomenon appears only to reaffirm this, and in doing so, spurs Kron to make a stand for something else.

The Night of the Barons is coming, but before it does, there will be choices to be made amidst the Grand Slam Aftermath. Here the future will be decided and the fate of the souls who return week after week will be written! Let the people unite, for freedom and liberty!

14. Kron d. Praga Conquette in a +3 decimation!
When Kron returned from the realm beyond at Pre-Show 11, it was bombshell enough! Revealing that events leading to the Arena-splitting Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron, and the War for the Kr0wn that followed, were actually the occult machinations of Ares Menschlich, Baron of War, was a shock The Great Arena could never have prepared for!

Born again; Kron has made it his mission to return focus to the oppressors that have used the construct of organized competition as distraction from their true nature. Denying Menschlich's claim that every human in the league possesses a natural proclivity for conflict and hate, Kron puts aside his rivalries in the hope that others will follow his example. At Supercard 12: Night of the Barons, "The Iron Man" Ratt will once again stand with Kron against the Four Barons, as he did at Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix, during the first major press to destroy the forces of the dark Lord Mislukking.

In preparation for his SC12 rematch with Menschlich, Kron challenges Praga Conquette -- Baroness of Pestilence -- to a warm-up match that will also potentially soften the threat of the vile villainess, and inspire others to join his cause.

Kron was electifying, fighting at full strength in ways he had not during Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles]. Renewed in spirit by a clear objective, he defied the illmaking influence of the Baroness of Pestilence, unleashing a decimation of limited impact, but unquestionable totality! A +3 defeat was enough to leave Conquette thoroughly defeated, reminding all that the Barons of Lord Mislukking are indeed fallible, and that they can eventually be overthrown.

13. Ratt d. SixArmedSamurai in an open challenge!
Supercard 12: Night of the Barons will pit fighters against the four horsemen of Lord Mislukking, and as preparation for his grudge battle with the Baron of Famine, Bez Busshitsu -- "The Iron Man" Ratt returns to Pre-Show competition to throw his customary open challenge to any of the non-league fighters that populate the outskirts of the kingdom!

Answering Ratt's challenge is the mysterious warrior known as SixArmedSamurai -- a solitary figure fighting to hone his skills and perfect his deadly art. 6AS appeared during Tournament 1, and was last seen losing a rematch to his T1 eliminator, Aquilluxborg Hydroxybot, at Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix! Having amassed a wealth of experience since that time, the SixArmedSamurai provides a potent warm-up for the daring warrior!

Comparable in strength, but lacking the occult abilities of the Baron of Famine, SixArmedSamurai challenged Ratt with brute force and fighting technique. The fan-favourite was well prepared for the assault and maybe even relished it, enjoying the rush of legitimate competition that has earned him the nickname of "The Iron Man", and made him a darling of The Great Arena. In classic Ratt fashion, the never-say-die fighter rose to the challenge, defeating the SixArmedSamurai with honor.

In just one week, Ratt will be summoned to do it all again for Supercard 12: Night of the Barons! The former champion will reignite his feud with frequent foe of days gone by, Bez Busshitsu, as he attempts to prove there's more to The Union of The Human League than self-interest and greed. Will Ratt succeed in ridding The Great Arena of Famine? Find out in seven!

12. Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny d. Artanix & foahchon in a +2 tandem decimation warm-up!
It's not often that a fighter is able to jump into the deep end of competition in their debut, but Blaze did exactly that during the Grand Slam fortnight! With a staggering Third Round upset elimination of Toryn [#5 seed] in only her fourth league fight, Blaze also took it to the Duo Division ranks, teaming with old ally The_Purple_Bunny to go down to Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon in an impressive Second Round battle!

One of several new teams to emerge during Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles]; Blaze reteams with The_Purple_Bunny to further test their tandem credentials, whilst providing the perfect warm-up for The_Purple_Bunny ahead of his confirmed Undisputed Championship match against the record holding unstoppable champion, Cr0w! Providing the workout -- one of the hottest teams of the Duo Division (and The_Purple_Bunny's solo Tournament 7 Semi Final rival), Artanix & foahchon!

It was the fight heard throughout the Duo Division! Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny showed considerable chemistry as a team, unleashing a combined force far beyond what was witnessed during their first appearance, in Tournament 9! Artanix & foahchon may have been the far more experienced, but they were left gobsmacked, outclassed by a pairing that looks likely to stand very well on their own, in much the same way as the reigning Duo Division Champions, Hokey & Ninja_Mime. It is a tale most encouraging for The_Purple_Bunny, who in just one week will try his luck against the twenty-four match win streak of the seemingly unstoppable force of Cr0w, in a Supercard 12 main event for the covetted Undisputed Championship!

11. m0s d. UNdiscovered in a +7 decimation.
Since emerging as a two-time winner of the challenging Daruma 7 arcade attraction, "Mr. Daruma" m0s has become one of the hottest new stars of The Great Arena! Now a regular fixture, in and out of organized events, m0s has dramatically increased his powers, whilst earning a reputation as a real favourite amongst fans! With such a hotstreak preceeding him, you'd think the Tournament 9 Semi Finalist would have few enemies, but not quite everyone is on even terms with m0s!

UNdiscovered makes his official debut in competition in the Grand Slam Aftermath, but a personal grand slam was waged between the two in the weeks prior to m0s' Daruma 7 success. As a persistent pest eager to gain the approval of m0s, it was only natural that UNdiscovered would find his way into The Great Arena, forcing their association to turn formal under ranking conditions!

Just as inevitable as their meeting in The Great Arena was the punishing rebuttle that m0s would deliver to UNdiscoverd's challenge! The completely untested fighter stood little to no chance against m0s, way out of his depth in an exchange that concluded quickly with a +7 impact! You've got to wonder if "Mr. Daruma" wasn't taking it easy on his emerging nemesis, a more devastating impact on the cards if not for his generosity! He moves forward with a whole lot of potential, but who could possibly want to fight him?...

10. SlumDunk d. giandavil in a close fought Battle for the Bottom!
After failing to fight his first win in the surprise Battle for the Bottom bout of the Day 4 of Tournament 8; SlumDunk takes the Aftermath opportunity to challenge the fighter closest in another attempt to rise from the lowest position in the league! The concept began with JRF at Pre-Show 9 and has been the domain of SlumDunk ever since!

Fighting with a record of 0-8, SlumDunk had plenty of motivation to spur him towards victory when facing his most obscure opponent to date! giandavil entered with a less than embarassing record of 0-4, only picking up his most recent loss, from foahchon, Day 1 of Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles]!

The unlikely marquee encounter presented The Great Arena with yet another compelling clash between two well matched opponents! You could be forgiven for forgetting their bottom ranked stature, the pair engaging in hard fought competition as if they were contesting a major championship opportunity! Despite this even kiltered stoush, it was finally the time of the bottom man! SlumDunk celebrated enthusiastically, finally joining the winners circle as the likes of STEROLIZER and JRF did, before him!

9. ElJobber d. queve in a +30 annihilation!
He was once regarded as "the conscience of The Great Arena," but since being accused of conduct unbecoming a fan-favourite by Tyrant-Cenobite, a change has occurred in ElJobber! Tower of Power II saw the longstanding fighter become a more driven, less remorseful competitor, interested only in capturing the elusive Undisputed Championship!

During Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles], ElJobber unleashed shocking +30 decimations upon his opponents in the Second and Third Rounds, MINION and JoelKatz, respectively. Looking to continue his path of maximum damage, ElJobber's Grand Slam Aftermath would include a little venting for his Semi Final defeat against Tyrant-Cenobite's recently recruited partner, queve!

The newcomer was a lamb to the slaughter, walking into a gross mismatch that all-but guaranteed a punishing exit. Indeed, it was another MAX impact rating for ElJobber as he took his frustrations out with unrelenting force! With Supercard 12: Night of the Barons just one week away, ElJobber is already prepped to face Tyrant-Cenobite in yet another grudge match, a battle that seems unlikely to prove anything with regards to the still unresolved claims about events at Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix!

8. MinnyBean d. Bofh in a close fought match.
Day 2 of Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] was to be a historic date, not just for progress in the first ever co-running solo and duo tournaments, but because it produced the first ever tie in nine months of organized fighting! "Big John" Bofh and MinnyBean fought to a complete standstill during the T8 First Round, neither fighter willing to say die with tournament glory on the line!

Paired up for a Grand Slam Aftermath rematch, the pair were destined to intrigue, but unlike their tied counterparts from the T8 Second Round, these two weren't about to tease another inconclusive result! Bofh has certainly seen his fair share of fisticuffs in The Great Arena, but it was the fresh faced MinnyBean who brought a convincing fight to the rematch! The bout was contested, to be sure, but in the end, the guile and determination of the newcomer were just too good to leave anything to doubt!

7. Menas & Politics d. Celeste & ScottK in a near draw!
Tensions between the "fighting faithful" of Team Agaper and their Team Ops counterparts have been simmering through competition in recent weeks. The rivalry has emerged through competitive encounters between spiritual leaders, ZachAngel and Mark & Leroy, making a clash between their teammates a natural inevitability!

Representing some of the slightly less seasoned members of their respective factions, the quartet elevated their game dramatically under the duo division conditions! Lifting for a titanic tussle, the two teams looked like repeating the phenomenon of a draw, unwilling to submit to their opponents! Celeste & ScottK showed tremendous tenacity, but the mutual pursuit of a first duo victory spurred the Agaper combo of Menas & Politics to an impressive, hard fought win! Not that it seems likely this will be the last the teams see of each other!...

6. KombatKid d. Quirk in a near draw!
After nine months of competition, The Great Arena finally played host to its first tied fight during Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles]! Remarkably enough, the tournament even produced a second bout without a winner, making for the perfect post-tournament Aftermath encounters! KombatKid and Quirk went the distance on Day 5, suffering a double-elimination from the Second Round! Theoretically one of the best matched combinations possible, the pair squared off in a Pre-Show rematch, with pride on the line and a chance to prove superiority!

It was always expected to be a close match-up and the pair did not disappoint! Fighting tooth and nail toward another near draw, it was ultimately KombatKid who found the edge in their second encounter, downing Quirk late in the game!

5. SmokeRulz d. Chiefin & Vultyrex in a close fought three-way!
SmokeRulz is no stranger to being a danger to top competitors, and Chiefin has made his name as an "Upset Machine," but it was the Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] First Round elimination of #11 seed, Mimik, that rekindled a fascination for upsets and made Vultyrex a name to watch once again! With their upset mojo thrown against each other, the trio made for an unpredictable three-way mixup!

In similar fashion to Tournament 8; Vultyrex struggled to match the success of eliminating Mimik! Looking strong in the early goings, the "Upset Machine" Chiefin made a meal of Vultyrex, punishing the fighter for daring to be classed in their ilk. SmokeRulz has become something of a specialist in three-way conditions, however, and had plenty to contribute. As the match escalated, Chiefin and SmokeRulz appeared only to swell, but it was the latter who had the marathon legs. SmokeRulz once again went the distances to reaffirm his status as a top flight triple threat!

4. bfk d. rxvt in a close match.
It was to be a battle of consonants in another meeting of two of the cult figures of The Great Arena! rxvt has been a beleagured battler throughout much of his career, but in recent times he has suffered particularly, a fact greatly emphasized in his loss to wife_smasher in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and +2 pummeling in the T9 doubles!

Keen to pick up a much needed win, rxvt squared off with a relative newcomer, bfk, who offered every chance of a beatable opponent, despite the buzz that has surrounded his name since his Pre-Show 9 debut! Or at least, that was the theory. The punishment endured by rxvt in recent times appeared to take its toll, drastically effecting the strength of his assault. Endurance was the weakness that opened the close quarters duel to bfk -- earning the hero another special victory! A bitter pill for the long running, hard slogging rxvt!

3. nface d. Kiddcade in a close match.
Tying up in another exhibition bout, two of the more obscure figures in the league take full advantage of the opportunity to be showcased in the Grand Slam Aftermath! Mirror opposites, Kiddcade takes his chances with no success in his few previous appearances, while nface has begun to build something of a cult following since his recent debut, at Pre-Show 9: Destination Duo!

The rub of the crowd bolstered nface as he took control of the close fought match, finding an x-factor that Kiddcade has yet to obtain in his brief career! Though closely contested, you would have to say it was nface who showed the most promise, another rising name within the Next Phase portion of the league!

2. sucka d. Sanitized by a narrow margin!
Two of the newer names to join the fighting league; sucka and Sanitized have been frequent presences around The Great Arena during Grand Slam proceedings. Hoping to capitalize on they bouts they've witnessed, they meet for the first time in organized competition in a trial by fire!

Inexperience showed on both parts, but the tenacity and fresh perspective of their character more than made up for it. Evenly matched, it was an edge of degrees that nudged sucka into a controlling position, perhaps a confidence gained from her First Round win during Tournament 8! With almost nothing in it, sucka emerged with a second victory!

1. GreenLantern d. Angelia & Jax
They are some of the rising figures of the Next Phase and with First Round victories amongst them all in the previous fortnight's competition, The Great Arena was set for an exciting three-way battle between Angelia, Jax and the All-Star Summer Showdown winner, GreenLantern!

GreenLantern's confidence in tri-prong competition showed early, experience giving him the wherewithal to handle the multiple fields of attack. It was Jax who appeared most out of his element, coming in under par against the more seasoned of the triple. Jax' difficulty opened the fight up to a two horse race as the well matched Angelia did her best to combat the wiles of GL. It was by the slimmest of margins that GreenLantern secured himself another impressive win!

They came from beyond and conquered the land!
The Four Barons: Riders of Famine, Pestilence, War and Death, instruments of destruction wielded by the mysterious dark overlord called Lord Mislukking! They built The Great Arena on the ashes of the battlefield, and through it achieved a strange sort of peace, but theirs is a détente made of lies and deception. Born again; Kron has exposed their treacherous nature and reignites the fire of The Union of The Human League in the hopes others will fight!

Supercard 12: Night of the Barons is the moment when the Barons will be held accountable for their treachery -- providing anyone selfless enough will stand against them!

Ratt has risen to the challenge, ready to strike back against old arch-rival and Baron of Famine, Bez Busshitsu. Kron will fight the Baron of War, Ares Menschlich, who boldly claims none will have the conviction to stand against them. Could he be right?...

Championships will also be on the line as "The Unstoppable" Cr0w attempts to gain a staggering twenty-fifth straight win when he defends the Undisputed Championship to first-time contender and Tournament 7 winner, The_Purple_Bunny! The Duo Division will see "The Charmed" Hokey & Ninja_Mime face the challenge of Supercard 11 contenders, DECEPTION & Onryo, in another compelling clash for title gold!

PLUS! Personal scores will attempt to be settled when ElJobber takes on his accuser, Tyrant-Cenobite, in a rematch of the Pre-Show 11: Truth or Consequences decimation! All this and more! Stay tuned for more announcements!