Pre-Show 96: Heat Up Scramble

The stakes for victory at Pre-Show 96: Heat Up Scramble were high as ten competitors fought for guaranteed qualification into this year's Royal Roulette match! The winners would not have to leave it to fate to decide if they enter the thirty-fighter bout, where random entry occurs every 90 seconds, and the last man standing earns the right to challenge for any title, at the time of his choosing!

A reversal of fortunes saw United: The_Purple_Bunny defeat his Hall of Fame United teammate and arch-rival Mimik! The pair have dogged each other over disappointing performances since May, leading to their match at Pre-Show 95: Tower Defense. Mimik won that one with a +2 impact, but it was a mirrored result as the 2017 Battle Royale winner fought his way into the mid-year scramble. The win gives TPB another chance to fulfill his goal of winning his 7th career Undisputed title in 2017!

Genku was forced to face "The Predator" TonyTheTiger in another rematch for Royal Roulette Qualification, having mistakenly assumed he would be guaranteed entry. An emphatic victory helped undo the damage of a disappointing Mid-Year Grand Slam, earning him a guaranteed slot in the match that could finally bring him back to the Undisputed Championship he abruptly lost in February! Genku continues to blame officials for conspiring to keep him from the title, but will have total control of his fate if he wins Royal Roulette!

"The Sword of Europe" Chromatose earned a good win over rival NovaStarr to score guaranteed qualification. He also joins qualifying match winners King Ken and The Invasion's Loopster, as well as previously announced entrant Poasty, who defeated reigning Undisputed Champion Damo in the Second Round of the Mid-Year Grand Slam in a clash of champions!

A condition of Poasty's entry into the match was that he defend the Division 2 Championship at Pre-Show 96. His chosen challenger Shinnokxz was defeated in June at Supercard 94: Red Reign, but he earned his way back for a second chance and made the absolute most of it! Poasty's pre-occupation with adding a second championship to his waist may've been his undoing! Shinnokxz fought hard to match the dominant champ, hitting his peak to narrowly take an upset victory! It marks the first title in Shinnokxz' long career. Will it damage Poasty's reputation as a "Champion of Champions"? He has the ultimate second chance when he enters the Royal Roulette match - next week!

24 fighters will be plucked from a random draw of hundreds when Supercard 96: Royal Roulette gathers thirty fighters for the ultimate game of chance! The July 23rd event will also feature Mid-Year Grand Slam winner Oozaru taking on "The Chosen One" Damo to decide who marches into August as Undisputed Champion! Oozaru's Pacific Connection partner Banging will challenge United: Mime for the KFL Championship. Be here next week for full results!

Other big winners at Pre-Show 96 included: G0LD picking up an impressive Div.2 win over Round 1 tournament rival avenger45! One-man Greek Revolution maxilos fended off the aggressions of Italian attacker giandavil! The teams of Politics & Menas, "Brexiteers" Liam & nif, and rxvt & deadly earned big wins, with the latter marking the surprise return of rxvt from his Pre-Show 85 injury!

Pre-Show 96: Heat Up Scramble (July 16, 2017):
12. United: The_Purple_Bunny defeated United: Mimik in a comprehensive result! [+2] [Royal Roulette Qualifier]
11. Genku defeated "The Predator" TonyTheTiger in a comprehensive win! [+7] [Royal Roulette Qualifier]
10. "The Sword of Europe" Chromatose defeated NovaStarr in a solid result. [+2] [Royal Roulette Qualifier]
9. King Ken defeated "Portuguese Pegasus" Zentile in a solid win. [+1] [Royal Roulette Qualifier]
8. Loopster defeated Sekktor in a near draw! [+1] [Royal Roulette Qualifier]
7. Shinnokxz defeated "The Franchise" Poasty (c) in a close fought upset! [+1] [Division 2 Championship]
6. G0LD defeated avenger45 in a solid victory! [+4]
5. maxilos defeated giandavil in a narrow victory. [+1]
4. Politics & Menas defeated SubScorpTile & ErmackDaddy in a competitive clash. [+1]
3. jack4813 defeated nightbreed_16 [+1]
2. "Brexiteers" Liam & nif defeated Sgtf & BilboFett in a solid win. [+1]
1. rxvt & deadly defeated Piccolo & GohanSon [+1]