Saturday, May 6, 2017

European Tournament Takeover - Next Week

The month of May means The Great Arena will turn European for one special week in preparation for the 2017 Fighter For Europe tournament!

The annual event gathers the best European fighters in the league to battle in a format of standard, single elimination brackets. The last fighter standing will be the prestigious Fighter For Europe - but that's not all! Along with the honor of representing their respective nation in victory; the Fighter For Europe will also advance to Pre-Show 93 for a guaranteed shot at the Division 2 Championship!

Past winners Nephrite and Chromatose will be seeded #1 and #2 in this year's bracket, providing a bar of excellence for fighters from across the continent! Warriors will represent Croatia, Portugal, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Great Britain on Saturday, May 13th!

As a preview for the exciting event, this week's Monday Night Games will host Team Europe for the latest edition of VS United! European fighters will also continue to prepare themselves during the Friday Night Fights, where ArtemisFlow and maxilos already earned valuable wins last night!

Tournament 80: 2017 Fighter For Europe (May 13th, 2017):
- Nephrite (CRO) [#1] versus nif (GBR)
- VR-FIST (CZR) versus Liam (GBR)
- Red_Spaniard (ESP) versus "Portuguese Pegasus" Zentile (POR)
- Asesino (BLG) versus "Bad Bad" Leroy (GBR)
- Sgtf (EST) versus ArtemisFlow (FIN)
- giandavil (ITA) versus "The Greek Revolution" maxilos (GRC)
- Cukier (POL) versus Dez-Burnett (GBR)
- "Big Johnny" Bofh (POL) versus Chromatose (HNG) [#2]

This year's draw already promises exciting things! The ever controversial Brexiteers line up at the top of the bracket with former Division 2 Champion Zentile and "Bad Bad" Leroy promising big things. One-man Greek Revolution maxilos and hard hitting Fin ArtemisFlow stalk the second half!

Revisit previous tournament finalists below and begin your predictions as Europe Week kicks off!

History of the Fighter For Europe Tournament:
1. Shen_DuHBK (ITA) d. Tyrant-Cenobite - Tournament 14: A Fighter For Europe (May 21, 2012)
2. Nephrite (CRO) d. Chromatose - Tournament 30: A Fighter For Europe (May 18, 2013)
3. Chromatose (HUN) d. Asesino - Tournament 42: A Fighter For Europe (May 11, 2014)
4. Chromatose (HUN) d. CCShadow - Tournament 55: A Fighter For Europe (May 23, 2015)
5. Nephrite (CRO) d. Chromatose - Tournament 67: 2016 Fighter For Europe (May 14, 2016)

Friday, May 5, 2017

Friday Night Fights (May 5, 2017)

"The Pacific Connection" Oozaru & Banging have been unstoppable since reuniting at Ultimate Grand Prix VII! In the month following: they dominated the main event of Friday Night Fights, carrying that success through to a comprehensive victory at the 2017 Spring Classic! With all that momentum behind them, they set-up a must-see Supercard-like edition of FNF with a fast-tracked challenge for the Duo Division Championship!

Expectations went sky high as the main event of Friday Night Fights built anticipation with every passing contest! ArtemisFlow and maxilos kicked the night off in preparation for the 2017 Fighter For Europe tournament coming May 13th. tabmok99s_wife settled a score from the Pre-Show 92 battle royal, recruiting ]{0MBAT to even the odds with Cherri & LadyRaiden! The top contenders for the Division 2 title jockeyed for position, with Shinnokxz and "Mad Dog" Onryo scoring big!

It was a densely packed card of high quality action, but nothing could compare to the dream match scenario of The Pacific Connection versus CCShadow & Scott-Howell!

The Champions have been on their own impressive streak of late. Recruited into The Invasion by old comrade and new Invasion management - DArqueBishop; the pair were refreshed heading into the biggest event of the Great Arena calendar - Ultimate Grand Prix VII! They tore through the division to win their second consecutive Grand Prix Show tournament, then backed that up with a win against Jammer2Omega & Porygonix at UGP itself! The Spring Classic completed their rise to an overdue second reign as Duo Champions, earned against the duo who beat Team Xtreme: Ratt & NightHawk!

The stage was set for another titanic tag team test match! With the world watching in anticipation -- the two teams let each other have it with both barrels! Possessing decades of experience between them, both pairs were intent on setting a UGP-level standard with their attack! Oozaru & Banging were clearly eager to complete their reunion with a second reign as Duo Division Champions, but CCShadow & Scott-Howell were equally determined not to give up theirs!

Inseparable at a heavyweight standard, they drew gasps of awe with every epic blow! The possibility of a tie creeped into the subconscious of everyone in attendance, but with the night stretching thin -- "The Invasion" CCShadow & Scott-Howell managed to dig deep to find a finishing blow! A sudden end to a desperately hard fought Duo Division Championship match! The kind of epic fight that will leave fans arguing over who can truly be called champions!

Friday Night Fights (May 5, 2017):
10. "The Invasion" CCShadow & Scott-Howell (c) d. "Pacific Connection" Oozaru & Banging [+1] [Duo Division Championship]
9. Shinnokxz d. Benjamin [+1]
8. "Mad Dog" Onryo d. AlexanderLuthorJr [+3]
7. SubScorpTile d. G0LD [+3]
6. ]{0MBAT & tabmok99s_wife d. Cherri & LadyRaiden [+1]
5. nightbreed_16 d. Loopster [+1]
4. Dolce d. Angelia [+1]
3. JoelKatz d. Kiara85 [+1]
2. maxilos d. Red_Spaniard [+1]
1. ArtemisFlow d. Cukier [+15]

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Pacific Connection Issue FNF Title Challenge

"The Pacific Connection" Oozaru & Banging are one of the all-time greatest tag teams to come out of ICWW, and they've been an unstoppable force since reuniting at Ultimate Grand Prix VII!

The past month has been a whirlwind tour of Friday Night Fights, seeing the pair go undefeated in a string of matches that culminated at The Spring Classic with their victory over top ranked rivals "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge!

The Pacific Connection's success has been undeniable, leading their infectious charge to inevitable contention for the Duo Division Championship. The Spring Classic crowned "The Invasion" CCShadow & Scott-Howell new champions, and Oozaru & Banging don't want to wait for their chance to claim Duo Division gold!

The gauntlet has been thrown! The Pacific Connection want CCShadow & Scott-Howell to meet them in the main event of tomorrow's Friday Night Fights to put the Duo Division Championship on the line! Be here tomorrow for full results from the event to find out who walks away with the gold!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Queen Bee Chooses Supercard Crowning

The league's original "Queen Bee" Pink_Ranger stunned everyone at the Spring Classic when she proved her dominance against "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile! PR made her surprising return at the event because of her outrage over CTR declaring herself the first ever KFL Women's Champion.

With CTR apparently vanquished, the only thing left for Pink_Ranger to do is confirm her status as the greatest female fighter in history by winning the KFL Championship at Supercard 93!

The title ceased to be gender-exclusive with Mime's victory at Ultimate Grand Prix VII, yet the women of the league continue to assert themselves as legitimate contenders! So far results have proven CTR is the only lady on a competitive level of the title. Will Pink_Ranger change that?

It's a second big title bout announced for the May 21st event! The main event will see a hotly anticipated rematch when VenoMark/Damo II determines the true Undisputed Champion at Supercard 93: The Chosen!

Supercard 93: The Chosen (May 21st, 2017):
- VenoMark versus "The Chosen One" Damo (c) [Undisputed Championship]
- Pink_Ranger versus United: Mime (c) [KFL Championship]

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

VenoMark/Damo II Headlines Supercard 93

He's had an incredible start to the year, including winning the 7th Annual UGP Battle Royal, but somehow nobody took "The Chosen One" Damo seriously when he challenged for the Undisputed Championship at the 2017 Spring Classic!

Damo won a hard fought match to claim his second title, and former champion VenoMark has had to admit: failing to take his old rival seriously cost him the gold!

The pair feuded extensively throughout 2016, culminating in a one-sided Steel Cage Fight at All-Star Summer Showdown. The violent match left experts questioning the future of Damo's solo fighting career, and put VenoMark on the trajectory toward championship glory!

VenoMark attributes his focus on getting to the title for failing to recognize just how far Damo has come in the last four months. He allowed himself to assume he had Damo's ticket based on their last Summer match. A mistake he has no intention of making again!

VenoMark/Damo II will officially headline at Supercard 93: The Chosen with the Undisputed Championship on the line!

VenoMark has vowed to spend the next three weeks physically and mentally preparing himself for the fight of his life. It's sure to be the ultimate test for Damo's status as "Chosen One" and new Champion! The hotly anticipated rematch will go down Sunday, May 21st!

Supercard 93: The Chosen (May 21st, 2017):
- VenoMark versus "The Chosen One" Damo (c) [Undisputed Championship]

Monday, May 1, 2017

Monday Night Games (May 1, 2017)

Tensions between The Fallen and The United were raw just twenty-four hours after they clashed at The Spring Classic! Sekktor stalked the Monday Night Games with particular aggression, still furious over the fatal defeat of his partner hydraslash during last week's VS United special.

Recent recruit redman did his best to represent The Fallen in a challenge against Murdoink, but the United fighter was able to secure a solid win. It set a tone for the night's main event, where Sekktor lashed out at the man responsible for inadvertently putting hydraslash on the shelf: Artanix! Art was dragged down into the mud for a white knuckle, vicious brawl that nearly overwhelmed him. He turned the tables at the last moment, securing a bloodless victory!

Both teams were depleted on Monday, with their respective leaders recovering from a brutal Steel Cage Fight that ended in a mutually damaging victory for "American Nightmare" LordSkarlet! The brunt of the Supercard brutality was felt by United: Shoe. The only member who didn't compete at the Spring Classic was United protégé zelse. That meant he was fresh for Monday Night, where he scored a hard fought victory against rival jess!

GreenLantern was back in The Great Arena to target his rival of recent weeks: Baraka_MK! A trios loss to the full line-up of The New Generation clearly didn't soften his dislike for BMK. With nothing to lose, he was better off alone - securing his first comprehensive victory against his nemesis!

GL's Spring Classic partner The_Hurricane turned his attentions to freshly dethroned Division 2 Champion MKMaster, hoping to earn himself a look-in at the new champ. His plan backfired as MKM showed his title win was no fluke. A comprehensive victory ending with +2 impact!

Monday Night Games: Week 14 (May 1, 2017):
8. United: Artanix d. Sekktor [+1]
7. United: Murdoink d. redman [+1]
6. MKMaster d. The_Hurricane [+2]
5. GreenLantern d. Baraka_MK [+1]
4. United: zelse d. jess [+1]
3. bfk d. NOOB [+1]
2. abcdeath d. Fantoche [+1]
1. "Brexiteers" Liam & nif d. Jericho & Zengeance [+2]

Weekly Rankings Recap - 4/30/2017

Just like that: everything we thought we knew gets turned on its head! This year's Spring Classic was a transformative carnival for many, with no bigger change coming than "The Chosen One" Damo becoming the new Undisputed Champion!

Six months ago I honestly thought Damo's time as a major singles challenger was finished. That All-Star Summer Showdown cage match was hard to watch, and when he limped into Survivor Sequence to get destroyed by Kron, it seemed like there was no way back! I really thought he'd be better off moving back to the Duo Division. Given their history, I still didn't rate him as a threat to VenoMark even after his Pre-Show 92 #1 Contender's win! It just goes to show that anything can happen in The Great Arena and it's only over when you stop fighting!

So many great results throughout the Spring Classic card. CCShadow & Scott-Howell are another overdue success story, winning the Duo Division Championship for just the second time! Joining The Invasion may be controversial, but it seems to have really refreshed them! It doesn't get much better than beating Ratt & NightHawk the same month they dethroned Team Xtreme! If I was a betting man, I'd predict The Pacific Connection make a run for the gold some time soon, but a rematch still has potential.

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Poasty would reclaim his Division 2 Championship from the upstart MKMaster. Take nothing away from MKM. He's made a mark on The Great Arena in ways I never expected. Hopefully this third reign will be Poasty's longest. I'd like to see him secure a strong run as champ before moving on to bigger and better things. G0LD, "Mad Dog" Onryo and SubScorpTile seem to be circling the Div.2 title. May means we'll also have a European Contender in the coming weeks thanks to the annual Fighter For Europe tournament!

Sadly we have to acknowledge the sidelining of hydraslash. I knew the conflicts of the last couple of years had taken their toll, but I didn't think he was as badly banged up as he clearly was. hydraslash was a shock casualty last Monday during the second edition of VS United. He left The Fallen a man short for their Survival Sequence, resulting in a Steel Cage Fight and Trios bout on Sunday.

The Great Arena League Top Ten:
#1 (--) AlbertBeefcake
#2 (--) United: Mime [KFL Champion]
#3 (+1) Oozaru
#4 (-1) "American Nightmare" LordSkarlet
#5 (--) "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile
#6 (--) United: Artanix
#7 (--) Benjamin
#8 (--) MKMaster
#9 (RE) Scott-Howell [Duo Division Champion]
#10 (RE) Banging

The Great Arena Duo Division Top Ten:
#1 (--) AlbertBeefcake & Shen_DuHBK
#2 (--) "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge
#3 (--) DaemonX & Banging
#4 (+1) "The Invasion" CCShadow & Scott-Howell [Duo Division Champions]
#5 (-1) "The Fallen" LordSkarlet & legoslayer10
#6 (+1) Oozaru & PaganFreak
#7 (+1) Benjamin & Mo2
#8 (-2) "The Fallen" Sekktor & hydraslash
#9 (RE) Politics & Menas
#10 (-1) "The New Generation" Baraka_MK & Onryo

The Division 2 Under 5k Top Ten:
#1 (--) AlbertBeefcake
#2 (--) Oozaru
#3 (--) Benjamin
#4 (--) MKMaster
#5 (+2) Scott-Howell [Duo Division Champion]
#6 (RE) Banging
#7 (-2) Shen_DuHBK
#8 (-2) PaganFreak
#9 (RE) SubScorpTile
#10 (-2) DaemonX

VS United Leader Board:
#1 (+1) Artanix
#2 (-1) Shoe
#3 (--) Murdoink
#4 (--) zelse
#5 (new) Mime [KFL Champion]
#6 (-1) The_Purple_Bunny

The Incapacitated List:
- hydraslash [vs Artanix - April 24, 2017]
- m0s [vs ElJobber - April 2, 2017]
- EasterBunny [vs Damo - March 16, 2017]
- UlcaTron [vs CaTigeReptile - March 15, 2017]
- KittyKat [vs Genku - March 13, 2017]
- proXade [vs Sekktor & hydraslash - March 5, 2017]
- MercWithMouth [vs CCShadow & Scott-Howell - February 5, 2017]
- Unknown265 [vs TonyTheTiger - January 4, 2017]
- MINION [vs Mime - January 3, 2017]
- ShawnMichaels [vs Genku - December 16, 2016]
- AcidicWonder [vs LordSkarlet - December 5, 2016]
- Ironize [vs Genku - November 25, 2016]
- rxvt [vs AlbertBeefcake & The_Hurricane - October 16, 2016]
- marianokombat [vs CaTigeReptile - August 24, 2016]
- xtactics [vs Leroy - August 22, 2016]
- jaytea [vs Artanix, Ken & Baraka_MK - August 13, 2016]
- TheMetinPorta [vs Violent`J - June 22, 2016]
- Knickxasawrrrr [vs Mime - May 22, 2016]
- Crow [vs Ratt - April 3, 2016]