Supercard 80: Tower of Power XVI

It is a structure that offers hope to the outsider, belief to the underdog. The Tower of Power comes with the turning of the wheel, allowing those who take its challenge to ride the highs and the lows! At its peak - championship gold to be plucked by any with the hunger and power to take it!

Supercard 80: Tower of Power XVI is a special Tower, indeed! Waiting at the top is the Duo Division Champions: "Team Xtreme" Marz & Violent`J - Hall of Famers whose return to the ranks late in 2015 has resulted in in an unstoppable reign of 10 title defenses! It is a record second only to "The Service Krew" Damo & DeathScepter, who have reunited to be granted the #1 spot and a chance to defend their record of 10 title defenses provided they can make it to the top!

The Tower of Power:
21. "Team Xtreme" Marz & Violent`J (c) d. "The Service Krew" Damo & DeathScepter (#1) [+2] [Duo Division Championship]
It was at Supercard 69: All-Star Summer Showdown that "The Service Krew" Damo & DeathScepter established the benchmark for all Duo Division Champions! Their successful title defense against m0s & Knickxasawrrrr was their tenth and final in a two-pronged reign that lasted from December to September 2015! Nobody really expected their record to ever be challenged, but the return of ICWW minted Hall of Fame pairing Marz & Violent`J had changed all of that! In all of their appearances in The Great Arena, they had lost only once! They weren't the team to end the D&D title streak, but they did quickly seize upon the rival team who did. Their unstoppable reign has seen them beat the best the league has to offer - but they'd never defended against Damo & DeathScepter! Electricity filled the air as the two teams came face to face. They exploded! The Service Krew bitterly seizing upon their opportunity with all the entitlements of a team who'd done their apprenticeship in The Great Arena itself! Team Xtreme responded with contempt. They'd set the standard for two-man fighting over a decade ago! No record could stand without them setting it! For a stunning eleventh straight time, they proved they were the standard for Duo Division Champions! Damo & DeathScepter simply outclassed by the legendary Hall of Fame team!

20. "The Service Krew" Damo & DeathScepter (#1) d. "The United" Shoe & Artanix (#2) [+1]
With CCShadow & Scott-Howell taken out of their dominant rampage through The Tower, the tone shifted. It was down to two of the most dominant teams to grace the division in the past couple of years. For "The Service Krew" Damo & DeathScepter, it was the one fight standing between them and a defense of one of the most impressive records in league history - the longest undefeated streak for Duo Division Champions! They wanted a straight rematch against the champions, but league officials decreed they would have to earn it. For "The United", it was a chance to spoil the aspirations of a pairing who'd only achieved their 10 title defense record after they took the titles from them! An exciting, main event calibre grudge match in the mould of the 19th battle before it! In fact, the attack of both teams echoed that last battle closely. This time, Shoe & Artanix were the already sweating pair grappling with the fresh onslaught of a veteran team! They put up a brilliant fight, but in the end Damo & DeathScepter would not accept anything but a date with destiny!

19. "The United" Shoe & Artanix (#2) d. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) [+1]
No team starting a Tower of Power outside the Top 6 has ever made it to the final rung, but with their domination of the field to this point: #8 CCShadow & Scott-Howell had everyone in attendance expecting history to be made! Tower XVI unfolded to reveal a distinctly tiered ladder, with a clear progression to the most seasoned combinations in the top half. No team to this point had the notoriety or familiarity with their challengers that "The United" Shoe & Artanix have! It was always going to be a main event caliber showdown. The United used their freshness and established success to throw down a high level gauntlet! Some consider Artanix the greatest Duo fighter of all time, and he showed it, contributing to a massive effort! It was a hard fought legendary battle, but in the end, CCShadow & Scott-Howell's streak would come to an end. Howell so close to changing a record!

18. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. "The New Generation" Baraka_MK & Onryo (#3) [+2]
2016 has been described as the beginning of The New Generation era with DECEPTION's rise as Undisputed Champion at UGP6, but the dominance of Hall of Fame combination Marz & Violent`J has spoiled Baraka_MK & Onryo's efforts to claim their place. Old rivals CCShadow & Scott-Howell knew to respect their opponents, once again kicking their efforts into overdrive. The New Generation went hard, looking to continue the run that earned them their spot at Pre-Show 80. It was fast becoming apparent that the night would belong to CCShadow & Scott-Howell, however -- a phenomenal seventh victory fuelling belief they could climb The Tower!

17. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. Jammer2Omega & Porygonix (#4) [+1]
The emerging dynasty of Jammer2Omega & Porygonix took a hit at Pre-Show 80, relegating them to #4 behind the team who won. They were an exciting prospect to lock horns with the charging bull of CCShadow & Scott-Howell! The four warriors were compellingly matched, but the experience factor for CCShadow & Scott-Howell seemed to once again be the edge in an exciting battle! A loss, but another coming out for the still relatively young team of J2O & Pory!

16. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. "The Fallen" UlcaTron & Corrupt hydraslash (#5) [+1]
Considered frontrunners for contention, the rapidly rising "Fallen" pairing of UlcaTron & Corrupt hydraslash posed a promising challenge for CCShadow & Scott-Howell! The #5 team have been conquering the ranks in the weeks and months leading up to Tower of Power, but something about the synchronization of the team seemed slightly off. They were slightly out of step, opening the door for CCShadow & Scott-Howell to turn up the heat on their attack on The Tower! The beginning of a streak that started the Great Arena audience in attendance buzzing.

15. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane (#6) [+1]
"The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane set themselves up with a place on The Tower of Power with a big win over Sekktor & legoslayer10 [6/10/2016]. You wouldn't have necessarily known it, watching as they struggled against the awesome might of CCShadow & Scott-Howell! Once again, the legendary team working their way up The Tower showed signs of pacing themselves. A wile, veteran move, assessing vulnerable opponents ahead of many more strong opponents!

14. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. Sekktor & legoslayer10 (#7) [+1]
Sekktor & legoslayer10 had a hard path to The Tower of Power, not the ideal preparation for such a demanding event! They looked like a team distracted, still grappling with the drama of their friend and ally "The Fallen" LordSkarlet's return. They were clearly riding past performances to The Tower, engulfed by veterans CCShadow & Scott-Howell, who appeared to be pacing themselves as they effortlessly took the win.

13. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging (#9) [+1]
#8 team CCShadow & Scott-Howell came in hot, just like they did for their shock elimination of Ratt & NightHawk in The Challenger 7! "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging showed consistency in their offensive, but CCShadow & Scott-Howell put together an attack worthy of a Hall of Fame Duo! The Invasion weer able to escape the battle relatively unscathed - The American Dreamers looking ahead to the rest of The Tower!

12. "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging (#9) d. Politics & Menas (#10) [+1]
Politics & Menas did well to collect themselves after a bamboozling defeat at the end of a gruelling Challenger 7 run. The #9 team had lighter duties as the secondary enforcers against the C7 and it showed. "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging put together a compelling, championship calibre performance to eliminate the first team on The Tower of Power!

The Challenger 7:
11. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#8) d. Ratt & NightHawk [+1]
10. Ratt & NightHawk d. "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging (#9) [+2]
9. Ratt & NightHawk d. Politics & Menas (#10) [+6]
Anticipation was high for the return of Hall of Famer Ratt & NightHawk - the only combination in the league to hold a victory over Tower Champions: Marz & Violent`J! A groundswell permeated The Great Arena - many believing this could be the team to produce something special! They started as anticipated - destroying Politics & Menas in their seventh match of the night! "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging put up a better fight, but Rattamania engulfed them too - merciful to only dispatch them with +2p! It seemed as if the night was only just beginning when CCShadow & Scott-Howell descended like blast doors for their first match - completely shutting down the Hall of Fame assault! A shocking conclusion for The Challenger 7, and an exciting prelude to The Tower!

8. Politics & Menas (#10) d. "British Exit" Liam & nif [+1]
British Exiters Liam & nif continued to get the better of their European aligned counterparts -- but only just! They clearly out performed "The Greek Crisis", but were similarly unable to get the better of a reenergized Politics & Menas! It remains to be seen if the political strategy of Britain's fighters will pay off in the long run. They'll have a week to wait - Monday Night Invasion on hiatus next week for Tournament 68.

7. Politics & Menas (#10) d. McDaniel & fraysol [+1]
Politics & Menas bounced back from their previous loss, rising to the energy of one of the exciting up and coming teams in the Duo ranks! McDaniel & fraysol were explosive in their attack on The Tower, creating an incredibly close fought battle! They came up short, but it's another exciting step in the career of a hopeful combination!

6. "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging (#9) d. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 [+2]
5. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 d. Politics & Menas (#10) [+1]
The comeback reunion of Unknown265 & mwgrant0 continued to be a bitter struggle as they ran into the roadblock of "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging! They rose to the heights of past performances with a strong win over beleaguered Politics & Menas, but it all fell apart in the follow-up -- a far cry from the hot streak that took them to a Duo Division title match back at Supercard 76!

4. Politics & Menas (#10) d. "The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade [+1]
"The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade have been at the forefront of a political struggle between the fighters of Europe and the separatists of The British Exit, but their experiences couldn't prepare them for the man Politics, and his partner Menas! It was a hard fought match, but The Greek Crisis will have other priorities when Monday Night Invasion resumes in two weeks!

3. "The Invasion" DaemonX & Banging (#9) d. Mark & Leroy [+2]
2. Mark & Leroy d. Politics & Menas (#10) [+1]
Tensions with the "British Exit" had earned Mark & Leroy notable wins heading into Tower of Power and they kept that momentum alive in a clash with old rivals Politics & Menas! It couldn't continue any farther than that, though - The Invasion's DaemonX & Banging too strong!

1. Politics & Menas (#10) d. "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge [+1]
Pre-Show 80 qualifiers Jason_Voorhees & edge stepped up as the first team to take the challenge of the Top 10 team chosen from the Duo Division ranks. #10 tandem Politics & Menas set the tone for The 16th Tower, demonstrating the barrier to entry all Challenger 7 pairings could look forward to! It was a hard fought match, but The Invasion just couldn't find an edge.