Supercard 85: Tower of Power XVII

The Tower exists as a beacon of hope. Gleaming in its splendor, it looms high above - representing man's desire to reach up to the heavens and brush godhood. For some, The Tower will be the path to ruination. An unattainable peak setting them up for an all mighty fall. For others, it will be the base of their Promethean success -- a monument to their excellent immortality!

An entire has provided a compelling backstory to Supercard 85: Tower of Power XVII! There will be more at stake than the Duo Division Championship. History hangs in the balance as "Team Xtreme" Marz & Violent`J face one final, almighty test on their quest to reign undefeated for a full calendar year! They have endured fifteen title defenses before this moment. Now ten of the very best teams in the Duo Division scramble to fend off The Challenger 7, and ascend to defeat these historic champions -- or to anoint them!

The Tower of Power:
28. "Team Xtreme" Marz & Violent`J (c) d. TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile (#1) in a history making victory! [+2] [Duo Division Championship]
There was a tension unlike any other as "Team Xtreme" Marz & Violent`J entered The Great Arena to defend their Duo Division Championship! There's always a special gear reserved for when a title is defended at the peak of The Tower of Power, but this time it was more than  a mere twenty-something matches building up to the final battle -- it was 364 days!

Marz & Violent`J have had a spectacular career with two major chapters, the second representing an almost unbeaten Great Arena run that began in 2012 and culminated in the Duo Championship, won this time last year, at Supercard 71: Greatness! In the fifteen title defenses since, Team Xtreme have remained undefeated -- besting the 10 defense record set by Damo & DeathScepter in their defense at June's Tower of Power XVI! At Tower of Power XVII, the chance to become the first team to secure a full year as champions put an extra layer of pressure on an already momentous occasion!

The unrefined team dynamic of TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile didn't quite fit the historic Duo Division moment. It lent an air of uncertainty to the bout, with neither team having a lot to do with the other. TTT had gotten the better of Violent`J when they met in the Summer Grand Slam. Facing the combined might of Team Xtreme proved a very different story!

The rift that had formed between Marz & Violent`J over VJ's affiliation with The Invasion appeared to mend amidst the nostalgia and spectacle. Team Xtreme was in top form in the historic title defense, leaving nothing to chance as they faced the prospect of rewriting the record books! TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile were worthy adversaries, delivering a challenge that could've troubled any other team. Against the Hall of Famer pairing, it simply wasn't enough. Summoning the peak of their powers, Marz & Violent`J were comprehensive in their victory! The sting of defeat would only cost TTT & CTR -2p, but the impact of the result will resonate throughout all time! Marz & Violent`J are the Duo Division Champions -- reigning undefeated for 364 days! Be watching for results from Monday Night Invasion, where Team Xtreme will arrive at the 365th day of their reign - one year on from their original title win!

27. TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile (#1) d. "The United" Shoe & Artanix (#2) [+1]
The bad blood between The United and TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile goes back to July's Royal Roulette match, escalating into their alliance at All-Star Summer Showdown. After they conspired to take out Mime, the bitter rivalry between the #1 team and Shoe & Artanix developed into a searing constant -- burning multiple events, including the contender's clash at Supercard 84! Fighting from the #2 spot, it was now The United who were eager to get one back against the all-star alliance of Guardian & Predator! Though their attack was considerably more venomous than it was against The New Generation, they had clearly expended their best in just reaching the #1 spot. Though not nearly as experienced as a duo, TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile have been successful in mutually directing their impressive solo talents against the enmeshed forces of The United! If they'd faced each other a match sooner it might have gone the other way. In the final fight before the Championship final - it was TonyTheTiger & CaTigeReptile who were convincing winners!

26. "The United" Shoe & Artanix (#2) d. "The New Generation" Baraka_MK & Onryo (#3) [+2]
The top three rungs of Tower of Power XVII were determined by a three-way contender's clash at Supercard 84: Return to the Dark Carnival. Despite sharing the loss, "The United" Shoe & Artanix at least had the distinction of elimination Baraka_MK & Onryo. Eager to avenge their swift defeat, The New Generation brought the fight directly to the faces of The United -- and paid for it! Shoe & Artanix had their own score to settle with the winners of that contender match, and demonstrated the severity of their intent with the kind of fight that could win them The Tower of Power! With absolutely no margin for any other result, The United dominated The New Generation and stepped forward to the biggest grudge match of Supercard 85!

25. "The New Generation" Baraka_MK & Onryo (#3) d. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#4) [+1]
The last time these two teams met, it was Supercard 80: Tower of Power XVI, and CCShadow & Scott-Howell were running roughshod through the entire format! The New Generation were the #3 team on that Tower as well, and they fell victim to the rampaging veterans, whose performance was a defining moment of the event! At Tower of Power XVII, Baraka_MK & Onryo called upon their experience to ensure it didn't happen again! The New Generation were a wall before their legendary rivals, completely unmoved in their attempts to advance from the #4 spot. With a comprehensive win, The New Generation advanced toward a rematch they were looking forward to.

24. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#4) d. Jammer2Omega & Porygonix (#5) [+1]
The #5 pairing attacked their next match with gusto, eager to test themselves against the seasoned supremacy of CCShadow & Scott-Howell! J2O & Porygonix have viewed teams like these as the ultimate benchmark they've been fighting to reach. If their success is to be measured against these top teams, then the future is bright! CCShadow & Scott-Howell put up a solid defense against the enthusiastic team, who weren't able to topple the veterans -- but made a very convincing case for their ability to do so!

23. Jammer2Omega & Porygonix (#5) d. "The British Exit" Liam & nif (#7) [+1]
The lull in competition in their last match seemed to allow Liam & nif to rally before advancing to The Tower top half. They looked more convincing, but awaiting them in the #5 spot was one of the brightest up-and-coming teams: Jammer2Omega & Porygonix! The fan-favourite pairing didn't disappoint, relishing the opportunity to execute a comprehensive win against their lagging foes.

22. "The British Exit" Liam & nif (#7) d. Sekktor & legoslayer10 (#6) [+1]
Sekktor & legoslayer10 showed their ability to deliver hard hitting performances at a high level, but when The British Exit came to the sixth rung, they had none of the fire seen earlier in the night. Both teams looked heavily spent, clearly affected by the earlier trials of The Challenger 7. It was another close fought finish, but Liam & nif were again able to eke out a valuable win!

21. "The British Exit" Liam & nif (#7) d. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) [+1]
Just when it looked like Unknown265 & mwgrant0 were Cinderella at the ball -- "The British Exit" Liam & nif rushed in to meet their opponents at full force! The two duos collided like running bulls - perfectly matched and almost inseparable! With 2 defeats to their name already thanks to The Challenger 7, Liam & nif that bit more determined against their fatiguing foes. The slightest change to the match could've completely flipped the result, but after a hard hitting near-draw, it was The British who advanced to the sixth rung!

20. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) d. "The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade (#8) [+1]
On a night when numbers would matter so much, Unknown265 & mwgrant0 made their night something to remember with a sixth win that equaled The Alliance's C7 push! The Greek Crisis were completely bamboozled by the charging #10 team, who earned victory against the high profile Greeks in very convincing fashion!

19. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) d. Mark & Leroy (#9) [+1]
In the structure of Tower of Power, fighters positioned at #10 do one of two things: They crumble under the heavy barrage of The Challenger 7 -- or they thrive! Unknown265 & mwgrant0 had a solid run with 4 wins, and turned that momentum into the first Tower elimination against Mark & Leroy!

The Challenger 7:
18. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) d. Politics & Menas [+1]
Mystery surrounded the final team in The Challenger 7, the result of a draw in the qualifying matches at Pre-Show 85. Everyone in attendance exploded when Menas emerged alongside Politics to take the final C7 spot! Menas hadn't been seen since June, when he suffered a severe injury fighting Genku in the Mid-Year Grand Slam! Politics valiantly vowed to fight on in honor of his fallen comrade, reaching the peak of a Division 2 Championship shot at Pre-Show 83! It was an elating scene to see them now back together -- but the surprise reunion was quickly rained on by the fresh, highly motivated challenge of Unknown265 & mwgrant0. Suffering the rust of four years apart, Politics & Menas couldn't complete the dream return at Tower of Power XVII. Now that Menas is back, though, they have plenty of time to rebuild their game!

17. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (#4) d. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane [+1]
16. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane d. Jammer2Omega & Porygonix (#5) [+1]
15. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane d. Sekktor & legoslayer10 (#6) [+1]
14. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane d. "The British Exit" Liam & nif (#7) [+1]
13. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane d. "The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade (#8) [+2]
12. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane d. Mark & Leroy (#9) [+1]
11. "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane d. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) [+1]
Not content to be outdone by The Invasion -- "The Alliance" AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane came to fight! The seasoned combination were probably a little hard done to be forced to qualify at Pre-Show 85 - evidenced by the unfortunate fate felt by rxvt! The Alliance Super Friends continued that dominant, hard hitting style, completely bulldozing their way through the beginning rungs! They became the first C7 team to breach Jammer2Omega & Porygonix, and fought through a hard battle to equal Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon's record of reaching rung #4! CCShadow & Scott-Howell turned on a super heavyweight performance to prevent The Alliance reaching the top, but the impact of the record equaling run had every team in the Top 10 on notice with just one Challenger 7 pair left!

10. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) d. "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge [+1]
With The Invasion's Fallen out after an impactful run, it was up to Jason_Voorhees & edge to pick up the slack for their team. At Pre-Show 85 they qualified in a tense match against "British Exit" Ironize & AcidicWonder, and found themselves locked in a stabilizing encounter with Unknown265 & mwgrant0! The #10 team got their destiny back in control, fending off The Invasion in a tight one.

9. Sekktor & legoslayer10 (#6) d. "The Invasion" Corrupt hydraslash & Corrupt MINION [+2]
8. "The Invasion" Corrupt hydraslash & Corrupt MINION d. "The British Exit" Liam & nif (#7) [+1]
7. "The Invasion" Corrupt hydraslash & Corrupt MINION d. "The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade (#8) [+1]
6. "The Invasion" Corrupt hydraslash & Corrupt MINION d. Mark & Leroy (#9) [+1]
5. "The Invasion" Corrupt hydraslash & Corrupt MINION d. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) [+2]
They've only been together since Supercard 83, but Corrupt hydraslash & Corrupt MINION have picked up right where the previous incarnation of The Fallen left off! They confidently cleared their way through the first four layers of The Tower of Power, stepping up their qualifying game that saw deadpool & MercWithMouth taken out of contention. Liam & nif briefly whiffed causing trouble, but it was fittingly Sekktor & legoslayer10 who ended The Invasion's Corrupt charge up he Tower! They already bested the pair at Supercard 84, inspired by the turn of UlcaTron to revisit the rescue of their corrupted former allies. A big picture to be addressed when there weren't more matches to fight!

4. Mark & Leroy (#9) d. McDaniel & fraysol [+1]
3. McDaniel & fraysol d. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) [+1]
Just as it looked as if Unknown265 & mwgrant0 may be building up unbeatable momentum, the combination of McDaniel & fraysol reminded them that they are never a team to be under estimated! They had a hard fight with Supercard 84 title challengers KittyKat & JoelKatz in qualifying, but were more emphatic in their preliminary win. It didn't last past that - but it was an impactful reminder!

2. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) d. Bofh & Dolce [+2]
Bofh & Dolce were confident qualifiers over Rhyno & Grayback at Pre-Show 85, but they found themselves sorely outclassed against Unknown265 & mwgrant0! The #10 team turned up the heat after their first match, delivering a hard hitting victory in their second bout!

1. Unknown265 & mwgrant0 (#10) d. Piccolo & GohanSon [+1]
In the lead-up to Tournament 75, Piccolo & GohanSon helped Poasty prepare for a comeback with a string of matches culminating at Supercard 84. They had no trouble qualifying for the Challenger 7 at Pre-Show 85, but may've wished they'd done some extra training when facing Unknown265 & mwgrant0! Victory was beyond reach in the opening match -- but only just!