Pre-Show 88: The Long Hard Road

A weight of expectation hung over Pre-Show 88: The Long Hard Road as the first major step on the path to Ultimate Grand Prix began! The stakes were high with six Qualifying matches offering guaranteed entry into the 2017 Battle Royale match -- a forty-fighter bout to determine who will challenge the Undisputed Champion in the main event of the annual Great Arena Spectacular!

DECEPTION reached new heights in 2016, successfully defending the Undisputed Championship in his first ever defense in the main event of Ultimate Grand Prix VI! At Pre-Show 88, his struggle to get back to the UGP spotlight headlined! "The Chosen One" Damo was in-form as Runner-Up of the 2017 Grand Slam Launch! He put up a titanic fight, but in the end, it was The Hitman who found his target, earning guaranteed entry into Battle Royale!

The_Purple_Bunny was MIA in December after suffering a vicious defeat at Supercard 86: Survivor Sequence! Qualification meant a grudge match with the man who destroyed him inside the Steel Cage: VenoMark. It was a challenge too great; the jilted Supercard 87 title contender earning a devastating MAX Damage defeat against TPB!

"American Nightmare" LordSkarlet had a grudge of his own, ending an incredible year with a dragon to slay in the form of Statix! The Alliance fighter got the best of LS in back-to-back wins in the final week's programming, but LordSkarlet summoned an all mighty effort to earn guaranteed qualification into the match he almost won last year!

Few fighters ended the year as hot as "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile! Her instrumental role in winning the war with The Invasion put her at the top of the contender stakes in many eyes! She may have been an overwhelming favourite against Invasion fighter Shen_DuHBK, but after his back-to-back upset wins against Genku, all bets were off! The Guardian showed indications of her hard end to the last year, but Shen_DuHBK's powers were clearly spent. CTR will now head into the 2017 Battle Royale as one of the favourites to win the annual match!

Also qualifying was the inspiration for the July 4 Battle Royal match: Scott-Howell! The former American Dream was comfortable beating Canadian Olympic stand-out Jerrod. Last year's surprise three-man eliminator Onimike couldn't earn his way back into the Battle Royale match, coming up short against the most exciting signing of 2016: G0LD!

In other battles: "Mad Dog" Onryo got a chance to settle the score with proXade in a Duo Division grudge match borne of his Round 3 loss. The New Generation comfortably put away The Greek Crisis. Invasion combination Jason_Voorhees & edge were also able to maintain the status quo, defending a grudge bout from their New Year's Resolution opponents, Politics & Menas!

It's all leading to Supercard 88: Battle Royale! We now know "Hitman" DECEPTION, VenoMark, "American Nightmare" LordSkarlet, "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile, Scott-Howell and G0LD will join 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and already announced entrant Hokey in the forty-fighter match! Who will earn the right to challenge for the Undisputed Championship at the greatest event on the calendar - Ultimate Grand Prix VII? Be here January 29th for full results from annual event!

Pre-Show 88: The Long Hard Road (January 22, 2017):
12. "The Hitman" DECEPTION defeated "The Chosen One" Damo [+1] [Battle Royale Qualifier]
11. VenoMark defeated The_Purple_Bunny in an explosive battle! [+MAX] [Battle Royale Qualifier]
10. "American Nightmare" LordSkarlet defeated Statix in convincing fashion! [+2] [Battle Royale Qualifier]
9. "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile defeated Shen_DuHBK in a comprehensive victory! [+3] [Battle Royale Qualifier]
8. "The New Generation" Baraka_MK & Onryo defeated "The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade in a comprehensive victory! [+2]
7. Jason_Voorhees & edge defeated Politics & Menas in a hard fought match. [+1]
6. Scott-Howell defeated Jerrod in a comprehensive win. [+5] [Battle Royale Qualifier]
5. G0LD defeated Onimike in a solid win. [+2] [Battle Royale Qualifier]
4. Mark & Leroy defeated "Brexiteers" Liam & nif [+1]
3. Benjamin defeated nightbreed_16 in a solid win. [+2]
2. "Portuguese Pegasus" Zentile defeated ArtemisFlow in a solid victory. [+3]
1. Piccolo & GohanSon defeated McDaniel & fraysol in a solid win. [+1]