Contenders Chosen for Feb. Championship Chase

It's sandwiched between two of the biggest events on The Great Arena calendar -- with a fraction of the pageantry -- but it's fair to say the February Supercard is as important an annual event as the majors that surround it. While the high profile Battle Royale of January confirms one worthy competitor for an Undisputed Championship match at Ultimate Grand Prix -- the defending Champion can still change courtesy of the rare, often times overlooked February opportunity!

Coming out of Supercard 32; two competitors have been chosen to battle it out for the right to challenge the Reign of the DaMo at February 17's Supercard 33: The Long Hard Road (2013). As former Champions in their own right, each knows the adreneline rush of a major event title match. As opponents, each knows the other better than they know themselves. Supercard 29 was to have ended their long running feud, but with the Round Robin Final of The 2012 Masters Series (Tournament 24); Violent`J and ElJobber must do battle one more time!

Worthy of a UGP spotlight; the Pre-Show 33 contender bout will be a main event unto itself, with a long and complicated history behind it! The many grudge battles fought between the two provides but a section of the tale of the tape - measured most accurately by each fighter's achievements of the present day!

"The Y2Juggalo" Violent`J not only springs out of 2012 as the winner of the year-end Masters Series, but also enjoys the accolade of his pending induction into The Immortal Hall of Fame. VJ was recognized for achievements stretching long before his arrival in The Great Arena (at Pre-Show 21: Tower Fallout), dating back to a career in "ICWW" (2002-2004).

"The Iron Man of Conquest" ElJobber earned the People's Choice Award for 2012 Best Solo Competitor, runner-up to his rival in the 2012 Master's Series tournament. As a 2011 Battle Royale winner and 2012 Runner-Up, he was granted instant qualification into the draw for Battle Royale 2013 -- but when he found his random entry number was #1, the former winner was none too pleased. This fact, coupled with his impressive six eliminations and marathon effort of 1 hour 15 minutes 9 seconds, has allowed him to politic his way into contention opportunity.

It was ElJobber who lost the Undisputed Championship to DaMo just forty-five days ago (at December's Supercard 31: Finale - Year of the DaMo). If he succeeds in defeating Violent`J at Pre-Show 33, he will have settled one feud to reengage with a new one! Violent`J will be no less motivated, however -- one of the few surviving members of the invading "ICWW" force known as The Immortals! Violent`J wants nothing more than to crush his arch-nemesis, to taste his blood and the sweet gold of The Undisputed Championship!

The ElJobber/Violent`J Path of Rivals:
ElJobber d. Violent`J - Grand Final, Tournament 12: Grand Prix Warm-Up (Mar. 11, 2012)
Violent`J d. ElJobber - Supercard 25: Tower of Power V (Jun. 17, 2011)
Violent`J (c) d. ElJobber - Supercard 27: All-Star Summer Showdown (Aug. 19, 2012)
ElJobber d. Violent`J (c) - Iron Man, Supercard 28: Night of the Iron Men (Sep. 16, 2012)
ElJobber (c) d. Violent`J - Supercard 29: Violent`J/ElJobber - End Game (Oct. 28, 2012)
Violent`J d. ElJobber - Grand Final, Tournament 24: The Master's Series (Dec. 30, 2012)

The Path of the Challengers:
ElJobber d. Conquest - Special: New Year's Resolution (Jan. 1, 2013)
Death d. ElJobber - 5on5, Special: New Year's Resolution (Jan. 1, 2013)
ElJobber d. JimmyJunk - Round 1, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 2, 2013)
Violent`J d. Angelia - Round 1, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 2, 2013)
ElJobber d. Jironobou - Round 2, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 3, 2013)
Violent`J d. CCShadow - Round 2, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 3, 2013)
ElJobber d. CaTigeReptile - Round 3, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 4, 2013)
Violent`J d. kentei290 - Round 3, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 4, 2013)
ElJobber d. Genku - Friday Night Fights: Week 1 (Jan. 4, 2013)
ElJobber d. Knickxasawrrrr - Round 4, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 5, 2013)
Violent`J d. McDaniel - Round 4, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 5, 2013)
Genku d. ElJobber - Quarter Final, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 6, 2013)
m0s d. Violent`J - Quarter Final, Tournament 25: Year Three Begins (Jan. 5, 2013)
ElJobber d. TonyTheTiger - Friday Night Fights: Week 2 (Jan. 11, 2013)
The_Purple_Bunny d. ElJobber - Friday Night Fights: Week 3 (Jan. 18, 2013)
m0s d. Genku & Violent`J - Pre-Show 32: Royal Meltdown (Jan. 20, 2013)
Violent`J d. Oozaru - Supercard 32: Battle Royale (Jan. 27, 2013)
Kron d. ElJobber - Battle Royale, Supercard 32: Battle Royale (Jan. 27, 2013)

All the action kicks off in The Great Arena February 10, 2013 for a jam packed Pre-Show 33: The Iron Age! The card also looks set to host all the fallout from Battle Royale 2013 - including the collapse of The Iron Men of The Great Arena and much more!

Supercard 32: Battle Royale 2013

8. Ratt d. Genku to win the 40-Man Battle Royale
- 1. ElJobber (#1) elim. JordanStarks (#2)
- 2. ElJobber (#1) elim. ThirtyThr33 (#3)
- 3. ElJobber (#1) elim. Mark (#4)
- 4. ElJobber (#1) elim. Queequeg (#5)
- 5. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. Murdoink (#7)
- 6. Kron (#10) elim. n.tsuab (#11)
- 7. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. Chromatose (#12)
- 8. Ratt (#8) elim. tghuhyg19 (#14)
- 9. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. Chryo_Spyder (#21)
- 10. Mimik (#9) elim. Jax (#20)
- 11. Kron (#10) elim. dibula (#22)
- 12. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. FunGuyInTheVan (#17)
- 13. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. Mimik (#9)
- 14. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. Piccolo (#18)
- 15. IAmAce (#25) elim. sucka (#19)
- 16. Genku (#27) elim. McDaniel (#24)
- 17. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. IAmAce (#25)
- 18. Kron (#10) elim. neokryp (#26)
- 19. Genku (#27) elim. ErmackDaddy (#31)
- 20. ElJobber (#1) elim. DeathScepter (#29)
- 21. CaTigeReptile (#15) elim. Swisher (#33)
- 22. Knickxasawrrrr (#6) elim. Mk_FrEaK (#34)
- 23. CaTigeReptile (#15) elim. Torchia (#28)
- 24. Hokey (#36) elim. fraysol (#32)
- 25. CaTigeReptile (#15) elim. Marist (#35)
- 26. DECEPTION (#39) elim. STEROLIZER (#38)
- 27. ElJobber (#1) elim. Mime (#16)
- 28. Crow (#23) elim. Ken (#40)
- 29. TonyTheTiger (#30) elim. nface (#37)
- 30. The_Purple_Bunny (#13) elim. DECEPTION (#39)
- 31. The_Purple_Bunny (#13) elim. Knickxasawrrrr (#6)
- 32. Genku (#27) elim. CaTigeReptile (#15)
- 33. Kron (#10) elim. ElJobber (#1)
- 34. Kron (#10) elim. TonyTheTiger (#30)
- 35. Hokey (#36) elim. The_Purple_Bunny (#13)
- 36. Ratt (#8) elim. Crow (#23)
- 37. Hokey (#36) elim. Kron (#10)
- 38. Genku (#27) elim. Hokey (#36)
- 39. Ratt (#8) elim. Genku (#27)
7. DaMo (c) d. m0s [+1] [Undisputed Championship]
6. Artanix & foahchon d. Ghostdragon & Pink_Ranger [+1] [Duo Division Championship]
5. Violent`J d. Oozaru [+1] [Hall of Fame Clash]
4. Mr.Pirat d. Dolce [+1]
3. Scott-Howell & CCShadow d. Porygonix & xtactics [+1]
2. ShingoEX d. jaytea [+1]
1. VenoMark & blacksaibot d. NovaStarr & Poasty [+1]

Preview: The History of the Battle Royale

Over the past two years, The Great Arena has established certain calendar traditions that seem destined to stick. The first half of the year has the annual spectacle that is Ultimate Grand Prix; while the latter half enjoys the celebration known as the All-Star Summer Showdown. Both events hold distinctions of being rallying points around which the biggest and best talents in the league gather to test their might. For two years running, each supercard has become the most exciting event of its time -- but neither can quite claim to have the unique appeal of the annual Battle Royale!

The origins of Battle Royale can be traced back to the earliest days of The Great Arena.
It was at the very first Supercard that the Battle Royale was first unleashed. The January 31 event defined the tradition, bringing together forty hopeful competitors in an all-out rumble to declare one ultimate Championship contender! Tradition dictates there may be a certain quotient of guaranteed entrants via qualification, but that the Battle Royale draw be essentially random, with participants entering every 90 seconds in an undetermined order.

When fewer than forty competitors enter, the event is described as a Battle Royal (sans Royale). This smaller incarnation has also come to support an all-in elimination format as well, starting an entire field in the match without sporradic random entries. Though similar to the annual Battle Royale, even July's Royal Roulette -- which upgraded in 2012 to the forty-man format -- lacks the annual excitement of the January classic!

January's Battle Royale holds the distinction of providing the winner a guaranteed Championship match at Ultimate Grand Prix -- the biggest event of the year! In this sense, it is the official beginning of the UGP carnival season, and has typically been the first official Supercard of the year, as well. With such obvious gravitas, it's little wonder the event has been a major milestone in the careers of many fighters -- even those who haven't claimed ultimate victory!

It's difficult to talk about the Battle Royal match type without mentioning Mimik. His BR2012 victory cemented his status as King of the Battle Royal. To date, he remains the most successful Battle Royal competitor in history, having won four seperate rumbles. Mimik alone represents 23.5% of the winners from seventeen matches that have occurred. An impressive statistic, double that of his nearest and most recent competitors! [CaTigeReptile, Ratt, Genku and Kron have won 2.]

ElJobber and Ratt are the only other competitors to have claimed victory in a forty-man Battle Royale (at Supercard 1 and Supercard 28, respectively). Ratt made history when he lasted 1hr 19mins 53secs in the first Battle Royale [which ElJobber won], earning the mantle of the original "Iron Man" of The Great Arena. From three Battle Royale matches, Ratt has eliminated a record 15 total opponents. Kron set a record for most opponents eliminated during a Battle Royale at Supercard 19, when he single-handedly took out 13 competitors in one match -- 32.5% of the field!

As we countdown to Battle Royale 2013 it's impossible to predict a winner!
There is no guaranteed formula for winning a Battle Royale; no strategy for overcoming the vast array of variables involved. Previous winners have entered at #29, #33 and #35, suggesting a late entry is some advantage, but in a random draw, that's not a lot of use. Nevermind that many early entrants have only narrowly missed out, their momentum carrying them right to the finish! In 2011, Ratt entered at #9 and was eliminated #38; in 2012, Kron entered at #4 and was eliminated #35!

Strength, endurance and willpower have a lot to do with victory, but so does luck!
Luck of the draw is a major factor, but so is the luck of the battles that breakout during the course of the match. Staying out of trouble can be as good as building momentum with a strong attack!

Battle Royal History:
ElJobber (#33) d. Genku (#36) - Supercard 1: Battle Royale 2011 [40] (Jan. 31)
Toryn (#6) d. Ratt (#1) - Supercard 2: Triple Double - The Eliminator [6] (Feb. 21)
Ratt (#18) d. Shoe (#11) - Supercard 4: Ultimate Grand Prix 2011 [30] (Apr. 3)
Mimik (#2) d. DaMo (#12) - Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron [12] (May 1)
CaTigeReptile (#16) d. Pink_Ranger (#6) - Supercard 7: A Bird's Eye View [18] (May 22)
Genku (#10) d. Mimik (#8) - Supercard 9: Royal Roulette [12] (Jul. 17)
Mimik (#12) d. m0s (#13) - Supercard 13: Spirit of Vengeance [16] (Oct. 2)
Kron (#6) d. DigbyRigby (#4) - Pre-Show 19: Battle Royale Qualifiers [10] (Jan. 15)
Mimik (#35) d. ElJobber (#38) - Supercard 19: Battle Royale 2012 [40] (Jan. 29)
CaTigeReptile d. avenger45 - Pre-Show 22: Ultimate Grand Prix-Show [15] (Mar. 25)
Violent`J (#16) d. Oozaru (#17) - Supercard 22: Ultimate Grand Prix 2012 [20] (Apr. 1)
Shen_DuHBK (#11) d. Dez-Burnett (#4) - Supercard 24: The Reckoning [16] (May 20)
Ratt (#29) d. Genku (#23) - Supercard 26: Royal Roulette 2012 [40] (Jul. 15)
Genku d. ElJobber - Olympic Games 2012: Battle Royal [22] (Aug. 3)
Mimik d. avenger45 - Supercard 27: All-Star Summer Showdown 2012 [26] (Aug. 19)
Kron d. TonyTheTiger - Pre-Show 28: Night of Champions [9] (Sep. 9)
VenoMark d. NovaStarr - KFL: Halloween Battle Royal Special [25] (Oct. 31)

Supercard 32: Battle Royale 2013 takes place January 27, 2013!
Former victors ElJobber (2011) and Mimik (2012) return, with Pre-Show 32 qualifiers: "The Prodigy" nface, McDaniel, "The Iron Man of War" Ratt, Ken, Ninja_Mime, DeathScepter, "The Charmed" Hokey & "The Predator" TonyTheTiger! PLUS: "Lord Daruma" m0s challenges undefeated Tournament 25 winner Reign of the DaMo for the Undisputed Championship!

Pre-Show 32: Royal Meltdown

15. m0s d. Genku and Violent`J [+1/--/-1]
14. Ghostdragon & Pink_Ranger d. Scott-Howell & CCShadow [+1]
13. Artanix & foahchon d. Murdoink & Baraka_MK [+1]
12. "The Predator" TonyTheTiger d. "Self-Proclaimed #1" The_Purple_Bunny [+5]
11. "The Charmed" Hokey d. CaTigeReptile [+1]
10. DeathScepter d. Y2Knickxasawrrrr [+1]
9. Mime d. Jammer2Omega [+1]
8. Ken d. ShingoEX [+4]
7. "Iron Man of War" Ratt d. Kiara85 [+11]
6. McDaniel d. jaytea [+1]
5. "The Prodigy" nface d. GohanSon [+1]
4. "Iron Man of Pestilence" King Mimik d. Exthalion [+7]
3. NovaStarr d. blacksaibot [+1]
2. LordSkarlet d. SubMan799 and Sekktor [+1/--/-1]
1. DECEPTION & Onryo d. Politics & Menas [+2]

2012 Year-End Union People's Choice Awards

> 2012 BEST SOLO FIGHTER
ElJobber 4 (50%)
The_Purple_Bunny 2 (25%)
Kron 0 (0%)
Ratt 1 (12 %)
TonyTheTiger 0 (0%)
Genku 1 (12%)
[Total Votes: 8]

> 2012 BEST DUO FIGHTERS
m0s & Knickxasawrrrr 4 (57%)DaMo & DeathScepter 1 (14%)
Marz & Violent`J 1 (14%)
Artanix & foahchon 1 (14%)
Oozaru & Banging 0 (0%)
[Total Votes: 7]

> 2012 MOST IMPROVED
nface 0 (0%)
DaMo 1 (10%)
CaTigeReptile 4 (40%)
foahchon 0 (0%)
VenoMark 5 (50%)
[Total Votes: 10]

> THE NEXT PHASE (2012)
Knickxasawrrrr 5 (71%)
Nephrite 0 (0%)
SubMan799 1 (14%)
jack4813 0 (0%)
Chryo_Spyder 1 (14%)
[Total Votes: 7]

> 2012 IMMORTAL HALL OF FAME
Violent`J 3 (50%)
Oozaru 3 (50%)
Marz 2 (35%)
TheNomad 2 (35%)
Statix 2 (35%)
Crow 4 (66%)
[Total Votes: 6]

> BEST EVENT OF 2012
Supercard 22: Ultimate Grand Prix 4 (50%)Supercard 27: All-Star Summer Showdown 0 (0%)
Tournament 21: The Ultimate Grand Slam 1 (12%)
2012 Summer Olympic Games 2 (25%)
Tournament 10: The Master's Series 2012 0 (0%)
Supercard 26: Royal Roulette 2012 1 (12%)
[Total Votes: 8]