Tournament Grand Slam - Day 2!

August 30, 2011 -- For only the second time, one hundred and twenty-eight fighters gather in The Great Arena for the glory of besting their peers in pure combat! Unlike other tours, Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] features the first ever arrangement of sixteen seeds place at the top and bottom of each mini-bracket. Representing the highest league ranked fighters, they pose the ultimate threat for the rest of the random draw!

Much like Day 1, the seeds were all comfortable winners in their First Round encounters. Genku [#8] set the pace for the second group, devastating davy with a massive +19 impact! The_Purple_Bunny [#9] also treated killswitch to a +4 debut beatdown, giving the newcomer plenty to think about as he lives to fight another day in The Great Arena! Porygonix [#14] was comfortable but unremarkable in his clearing of vaiisekk.

It was another +4 impact that decided the danger match between Kron [#4] and STEROLIZER, one of the feature fights of Day 2, where the once ridiculed STERO was positioned as a potential First Round upstart against a recently returned and relatively untested Kron. Surprise victory against Toryn at Tower of Power II wasn't enough to spur the rising scrapper to tournament glory.

Baraka_MK set himself up for an interesting Second Round face-off against Kron, downing muttonhead -- a name remembered for his performance in Battle Royals. Politics also stepped it up to take out xtactics in another key face-off of the Day 2 bracket. "The Upset Machine" Chiefin scraped through with much less dominant results than his T5 stunners, but the headline encounter had to come from Bofh and MinnyBean! The pair finally delivered the first draw on record -- perfectly matched to a complete standstill!

In a field of debuts, sucka and flameshang put the right foot forward, picking up big victories! killswitch, J-Spit, Sanitized and ErmackDaddy were not so fortunate.

Grand Slam [Singles] First Round Results:
17. Kron [4] d. STEROLIZER in a +4 decimation.
18. Baraka_MK d. muttonhead in a comprehensive win.
19. Politics d. xtactics in a close fought match.
20. GreenLantern d. Shujinko in a close fought match.
21. iGornet d. J-Spit in a close fight.
22. CeeKay d. Red_Spaniard in a close fight.
23. Chiefin d. CCShadow in a close fight.
24. Porygonix [14] d. vaiisekk
25. The_Purple_Bunny [9] d. killswitch in a +4 decimation.
26. sucka d. Leroy in a narrow victory!
27. flameshang d. JRF in a close fought match.
28. Bofh & MinnyBean fought to a standstill!
29. Quirk d. Sanitized in a close fought match.
30. KombatKid d. ErmackDaddy in a narrow victory!
31. ThirtyThr33 d. IAmAce in a close fight.
32. Genku [8] d. davy in a +19 annihilation!

Day 3 serves up the third quadrant of the First Round and yet more intriguing match-ups! Hokey [#3], ElJobber [#7], DaMo [#12] and Pink_Ranger [#16] are the four seeds who will attempt to defend against their randomly drawn opponents. Pink_Ranger represents the only former-winner among them, with her Tournament 6 victory sure to be of particular interest September 4 when Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] launches with eight seeds in a field of thirty-two teams!

Pink_Ranger will face the challenge of Jammer2Omega in one of the blockbuster First Round matches, while DaMo deals with an also interesting Next Phase clash against SubMan799! nif v m0s promises to be one of the matches of the round, the first outing for m0s since he earned the moniker of "Mr. Daruma" with two wins in the popular arcade attraction [Aug 22, Aug 27]!

Artanix will have plenty of eyes on him as he attempts another dream run after making the Semi Final of Tournament 7, favourite against jaytea! The legend of Hokey will get another outing, the popular competitor said to be the golden charm that will deliver anyone who beats him to tournament glory!

Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 3:
33. ElJobber [7] versus Celeste
34. MINION versus eMoRTal
35. JoelKatz versus kororaa
36. GuiltyByDesign versus Murdoink
37. nif versus m0s
38. Abaddon versus LadyRaiden
39. kibble versus Kairyu
40. SubMan799 versus DaMo [12]
41. Pink_Ranger [16] versus Jammer2Omega
42. Chewwi versus Mark
43. Mk_FrEaK versus Ghostdragon
44. Liam versus Shadaloo
45. AlexanderLuthorJr versus DarkScythe
46. NovaStarr versus lita83
47. Artanix versus jaytea
48. Randomini versus Hokey [3]

Tournament Grand Slam - Day 1!

August 29, 2011 -- It was an ominous open to proceedings as Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] kicked off with the #1 seed, Cr0w, unleashing a +30 MAX damage against the hapless form of Menas! The reigning Undisputed Champion begins his campaign to win a second consecutive tournament, following on from his last appearance at Tournament 5!

While Cr0w [#1] extended his T5-post win streak to a staggering eighteen straight victories, the other seeds progressed with similar ease. TonyTheTiger [#10] kept his T7 narrative running with an aggressive, powerful performance, delivering a +14 impact on a debuting Jironobou. The result reflects TonyTheTiger's status as the most realistic threat to Cr0w's run, in the top bracket.

In the feature match of the round, DECEPTION [#15] endured against Duo Division rival, Scott-Howell, to eliminate one of the arena darlings in a comprehensive result. CaTigeReptile scored a much-needed win in another of the intriguing randomly drawn match-ups, earning a solid victory over Team Agaper's ZachAngel. NightHawk was a disappointing departure, while Shoe went down to a somewhat surprising +4 impact from Bronzie! Another +4 winner was Ninja_Mime [#6], decimating the always intriguing Shizuma.

This is the first time The Great Arena has played host to simultaneous tournaments, with the best of the best seeded in two massive, randomly drawn brackets! One hundred and twenty-eight fighters duke it out in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles], while sixt-four fighters comprising thirty-two teams prepare themselves for Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles], providing fights every day for two whole weeks!

Grand Slam [Singles] First Round Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. Menas in a +30 demolition!
2. Dolce d. KittyKat in a close fought result.
3. foahchon d. giandavil in a close fought result.
4. wife_smasher d. rxvt in a close match.
5. Khan d. ThePredator151 in a close fought result.
6. Hidin d. Kiddcade in a close fought result.
7. jess d. nikb in a close fought result.
8. DECEPTION [15] d. Scott-Howell in a comprehensive win.
9. TonyTheTiger [10] d. Jironobou in a +14 decimation!
10. Buster d. NightHawk in a narrow result!
11. Casselman d. Kiara85 in a close fight.
12. FunGuyInTheVan d. Queequeg in a close fight.
13. CaTigeReptile d. ZachAngel
14. ShingoEX d. Swisher in a somewhat close fight.
15. Bronzie d. Shoe in a +4 decimation.
16. Ninja_Mime [6] d. Shizuma in a +4 decimation.

Day Two of competition throws up a fresh batch of randomly drawn match-ups as Kron [#4], Genku [#8], The_Purple_Bunny [#9] and Porygonix [#14] feature in seeded positions. The #8 and #9 seeds enter as former winners of Tournament 1 and Tournament 7!

"The Upset Machine" Chiefin takes on CCShadow in one of the intrigue matches, while Politics and xtactics present a closely pitted combination. Fresh from his recent return, Kron will look to avoid the embarassment of a shock loss to STEROLIZER in the first round. Baraka_MK will look for the same opportunity in Round 2, if he can beat Battle Royal upstart, muttonhead.

Day Two of competition will see a noteworthy number of debuts in The Great Arena: J-Spit, killswitch, sucka, flameshang, Sanitized and ErmackDaddy all lining up for the first time via random draw.

Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 2:
17. Kron [4] versus STEROLIZER
18. Baraka_MK versus muttonhead
19. Politics versus xtactics
20. GreenLantern versus Shujinko
21. iGornet versus J-Spit
22. Red_Spaniard versus CeeKay
23. Chiefin versus CCShadow
24. vaiisekk versus Porygonix [14]
25. The_Purple_Bunny [9] versus killswitch
26. Leroy versus sucka
27. JRF versus flameshang
28. Bofh versus MinnyBean
29. Quirk versus Sanitized
30. KombatKid versus ErmackDaddy
31. ThirtyThr33 versus IAmAce
32. davy versus Genku [8]

Schedule: Tournament 8 Begins Tomorrow!

For just the second time in the history of The Great Arena, one hundred and twenty-eight fighters will unite in the common pursuit of fighting supremacy in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles]!

A field of 128 was last seen during Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn, where Cr0w emerged victorious to claim his second tournament win. A bracket of the same scale was featured in the original Tournament 1, with only 114 fighters competing with several byes on offer.

Unlike previous tournaments, Tournament 8 will run the duration of a complete fortnight, coinciding with Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] (starting September 4). T8 will also mark the first time League Rankings have been used to determine favourites in the field. The top ranked sixteen fighters have been seeded at the top of bottom of randomly drawn mini brackets, arranged in a closing order based on the standard Wimbledon system. At each end of the the complete bracket sits #1 Cr0w and #2 Ratt, able to meet no sooner than the Grand Final, after seven rounds of competition.

Tournament 8 begins tomorrow (Aug. 29), with an as yet unrevealed randomly drawn order of combat. Each day will reveal the successive following scheduled fights after completion of the bracket. Here is a preview of the first sixteen fights coming up:

1. Cr0w [1] versus Menas
2. KittyKat versus Dolce
3. foahchon versus giandavil
4. rxvt versus wife_smasher
5. ThePredator151 versus Khan
6. Hidin versus Kiddcade
7. jess versus nikb
8. Scott-Howell versus DECEPTION [15]
9. TonyTheTiger [10] versus Jironobou
10. Buster versus NightHawk
11. Kiara85 versus Casselman
12. FunGuyInTheVan versus Queequeg
13. ZachAngel versus CaTigeReptile
14. Swisher versus ShingoEX
15. Shoe versus Bronzie
16. Shizuma versus Ninja_Mime [6]

Cr0w sits perched at top the bracket as the #1 fighter to beat, entering with the goal of extending his already impressive seventeen match win streak, which included total victory in his last tournament appearance, T5: War for the Kr0wn! The reigning Undisputed Champion will be the measure of competition, with a reasonably safe run toward the Quarter Finals in comparison to other seeds.

It seems unlikely any of the other seeds will be upset, but Scott-Howell and DECEPTION [15] will be a big match Day 1, pitting two Duo Division rivals against each other in a stunning first round punch-up! TonyTheTiger [10] will look to do better than his Tournament 7 second place, likely to continue a path of decimation when he takes on debuting Jironobou. Shizuma will bring a certain mystique to her fight with Ninja_Mime [6], statistically unlikely to win, but always a danger.

ZachAngel and CaTigeReptile will make for another intriguing match-up, with CTR looking for the path to a comeback after her loss at Supercard 11. CTR asserted herself in the last 128-tour, reaching the Quarter Final of T5, where she went down to Shoe. The Tournament 4 winner will also appear in this bracket, attempting to resurrect a career that has seen him beaten and battered in vengeful bouts with former-victims, Mimik (SC8) and The_Purple_Bunny (SC11). Bronzie presents a modest challenge, but Shoe has struggled since taking a lambasting for his crimes.

Breaking News: Another Name for the Banzuke?!

Not a hoax! Not a dream! Not an imaginary story!

The Great Arena was stunned just five days ago when m0s achieved the remarkable feat of completing all seven layers of Daruma 7 to become the games first champion in over five thousand games. Expectations were quickly dashed when, just yesterday, a second champion was crowned when Genku achieved victory!

If you doubted that m0s was worthy of the title of "Mr. Daruma," you spoke too soon! The first ever winner of the event managed to do it all again, scoring another victory with his 281st attempt at victory!

• 1. m0s August 22, 2011 (158th)
• 2. Genku August 26, 2011 (172nd)
• 3. m0s August 27, 2011 (281st)

The shocking turn of events is such a departure from normal proceedings, the wins have left many speculating about the legitimacy of the wins. It has been estimated that there is a 1 in 1371 probability of successfully completing all seven layers of the Daruma 7, making the crowning of these recent champions statistically overdue based on the 5000+ games that have been played.

In fact, with the total number of games being tallied at 5452 upon Genku's win, a fourth champion seems statistically probable (after 5484 games). This, of course, does not mean a champion will be crowned tomorrow, or even in the next nine months. It will be very exciting waiting to see who and when it is, though.

Breaking News: Genku Joins The Banzuke!

It was regarded as the impossible obstacle, but after more than nine months of Daruma 7, the challenging game finally found its first champion on August 22nd, 2011!

With a reputation for difficulty, nobody could have anticipated that a second champion would be crowned just four days after the first! Never the less, Genku has achieved the remarkable feat of completing all seven layers without the Daruma doll falling, to become the second name written in the fabled Banzuke list of champions!

• 1. m0s August 22, 2011 (158th)
• 2. Genku August 26, 2011 (172nd)

Genku achieved his victory on his 172nd session, the 5452nd game in total. With a victory probability of 1 in 1371 plays, The Great Arena is technically playing catch-up, crowning overdue champions from a large number of play. It is still a very exciting and shocking addition to the legend of this beloved game!

Breaking News: m0s enters The Banzuke!

The Great Arena is best known for playing host to the fights and feuds of Pre-Show and Supercard combat. Competition in The Great Arena is much more diverse than that, with cognition and skill tested to the fullest extent by a complete arcade of challenges. One of those tests of skill is known as Daruma 7 -- an expanded version of the traditional five-layer Japanese Daruma Otoshi game.

In Daruma 7, challengers are required to confront a stack of seven layers, upon which sits perched the Daruma Doll of Bodhidarma. The challenger must hammer each layer of the stack out, starting at the bottom, without the Daruma falling from the top. It may sound simple, but it takes a rare confluence of chance and skill to successfully perform the feat.

So difficult is Daruma 7, many believed there may never be a champion. Yet, after 5124 attempts in total, Daruma 7 has indeed finally found a winner!

In just his 158th attempt, the warrior called m0s has done the impossible! Knocking each layer in succession, m0s successfully eliminated each of the seven layers without the Daruma Doll falling! His success is unparalleled, earning him the respect and adoration of his peers and fans alike!

Can this feat ever be replicated? Only time will tell!
For now, The Great Arena must stand in awe and appreciation of m0s! The first man to write his name in the fabled Banzuke list of Champions!

• 1. m0s August 22, 2011 (158th)

The odds of winning Daruma 7 are an estimated 1 in 1371 tries.

HYPE: Tournament Grand Slam Open Preview!

While Championships have given sequential linearity to the quest for dominance over competition, there is a unique satisfaction associated with the domination of a tournament bracket. Tournaments have been the backbone of The Great Arena since its inception, beginning with the bold 128-fighter bracket that contained many byes during Tournament 1.

Since then, competition has hosted six more tournaments of varying length and design, including the first ever tandem tournament -- Tournament 6: The Duo Championships! Beginning August 29, a fortnight of competition will see Tournament 8 and Tournament 9 run simultaneously, delivering both singles and doubles brackets!

Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] will dominate the entirety of the two week sprawl, unleashing a standard one hundred and twenty-eight randomly drawn fighters into single elimination brackets. For the first time ever, however, sixteen seeds will be planted at each end of mini brackets, offering the top fighters maximum opportunity to meet in blockbuster finals encounters! Based on win/loss records of the League Rankings, the sixteen seeds will be:

• #1 Cr0w (30-6-0) (c) [T2, T5]
• #2 Ratt (30-15-0)
• #3 Hokey (28-11-0) (c)
• #4 Kron (23-8-0)
• #5 Toryn (23-15-0)
• #6 Ninja_Mime (22-11-0) (c)
• #7 ElJobber (22-11-0)
• #8 Genku (21-12-0) [T1]
• #9 The_Purple_Bunny (18-8-0) [T7]
• #10 TonyTheTiger (18-15-0)
• #11 Mimik (17-10-0) [T3]
• #12 DaMo (17-10-0)
• #13 DeathScepter (17-11-0)
• #14 Porygonix (17-19-0)
• #15 DECEPTION (14-11-0)
• #16 Pink_Ranger (14-14-0) [T6]

Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] will begin September 4, sharing the second week of competition with the Third Round and beyond of the Singles version. Thirty-two tandem duos will make-up the single elimination bracket, with eight carefully selected teams seeded at the top and bottom of each section. Like their solo counterparts, the top teams will be given maximum opportunity to meet in the final rounds, adding a never before offered structure to the tournament system. Competitors may appear in both Singles and Doubles events. The seeds are:

• #1 Hokey & Ninja_Mime (8-1-0) (c)
• #2 DECEPTION & Onryo (6-2-0)
• #3 DaMo & DeathScepter (5-2-0)
• #4 Scott-Howell & Murdoink (5-6-0)
• #5 Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon (4-3-0) [T6]
• #6 SubMan799 & Casselman (4-5-0)
• #7 Artanix & foahchon (3-3-0)
• #8 kororaa & DigbyRigby (2-1-0)

Brackets have already been randomly drawn, but for the first time in competition history, they will remain unknown until the preceeding round has been completed. With many dark horse competitors lurking within the randomly drawn ranks, seeding will by no means decide guaranteed outcomes, with the prospect of upsets and shock eliminations just as likely as ever.

Stay tuned for updates as we count down to the Grand Slam!

Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown

August 14, 2011 -- He is the progenitor of organized competition, Baron of War, and league council member, Ares Menschlich. It was revealed with the return of Kron that the Baron of War had been secretly manipulating the forces of The Great Arena into fighting distracted squabbles amongst them, culminating in the Arena splitting saga of Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron!

Kron's bombshell at Pre-Show 11 should have been the birth of a revolution, but atop the beaten form of the resurrected fighter, Menschlich made the boastful claim that he simply unleashed the natural competitive contempt that each and every Arena survivor possesses for one another. A fact seemingly made self-evident by the emergence of challengers who would rather destroy their fellow man than unite against the oppressors working for Lord Mislukking -- conquering ruler of the Cheevment Kingdom.

Genku is one of those men.
A fighter who defeated eleven of his fellows in a scramble to earn a shot at the covetted Undisputed Championship! A fighter who has fought to the top of the mountain before, victorious in the first-ever Tournament, held before any official title existed. This is the fact he seeks to rectify, challenging a Champion who has made it his business to write records and dominate the ranks as utterly as any invading overlord.

The_Purple_Bunny is one of these men.
A growing presence whose legend engulfed The Next Phase challengers of Tournament 7, leading him back from the realm of unliving to a glowing glory that positions him as a future contender for the Undisputed Championship! Though he has achieved much in his return, it is revenge that drives this spirit, a lust for a debt owed in flesh by a man who crossed the line and must pay the price.

ElJobber is one of these men.
Once regarded as the metaphorical conscience of The Great Arena, he was a fighter capable of bridging battle between the emergent top tier and the peloton of the masses. The trust that once defined him was undermined by unfounded accusations of misconduct that saw guilt for his success turn into steely, unfeeling determination. Attempts to answer accusations have only bred more suspicion as ElJobber's purpose becomes one of destruction for his fellow fighters.

Thus; with the biggest card The Great Arena has ever hosted, Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown unites the ranks in combat. On this grandest stage of all, some will choose to be agents of War, while others will fight for the power to fight back and be immortal. This is their story.

15. Cr0w (c) d. Genku in a +4 Championship decimation!
Having earned his shot at Supercard 9 in a twelve-person Battle Royal, Genku is a fighter with one goal in mind! Talking up a big game, Genku showed no signs of intimidation against an Undisputed Champion who has set about demolishing standing records with a reign that has defined by five successful defenses, one hundred cumulative days as Champion, and a win streak of sixteen matches! The Tale of the Tape told an overwhelmingly favourable story about Cr0w, but come showtime, that did little to cool the nerves of a Champion whose luck will eventually have to run out!

The always bashful Genku got right in Cr0w's face, but just as he came up short from the top spot of Tower of Power II, the short-fused Genku was out of his league against Cr0w! The Undisputed Champion commenced a beating, shockingly unphased by a Genku who simply couldn't deliver the hard shots that brought him to a main event match! Cr0w was every bit as cool, calm, and collected that Genku wasn't! To the shock and awe of everyone watching, a sixth Championship defense was written, as Cr0w continued his warpath as the top man in The Great Arena with a +4 decimation against yet another challenger!

As soon as he could, Genku let loose a wild tirade against the heirarchy of The Union of The Human League! The firebreathing fighter denounced the Championship and the League, spewing vitriol in response to a loss that was his and his alone! Genku rejoins the line behind other top contenders, while Cr0w not only eyes off his next defense, but also the chance to extend his win streak into twenty-four fights, an eventuality should he be successful in dominating seven rounds of Tournament 8! Seeded #1 in the first-ever tournament to feature sixteen seeds based on League Ranking, Cr0w will have every opportunity to win his third Tournament in follow-up to his title winning performance at Tournament 5!

14. The_Purple_Bunny d. Shoe in a +9 decimation!
It has been three months since The Great Arena was shocked to learn of the untimely demise of Mimik and The_Purple_Bunny! After returning to the realm of living as the surprise final entrant in the Supercard 9 Battle Royal -- TPB has been biding his time, earning a breakout victory in Tournament 7, whilst waiting for the inevitable All-Star grudge match between he and his killer -- the vile Shoe!

The Great Arena was with The_Purple_Bunny every step of the way as he entered into a clinical dismantling of his nemesis! It was a dominant TPB who delivered an excess of force, ripping and tearing at a Shoe who could barely defend himself! It was the ultimate catharsis, a dish best served three months cold, with a whole lot of success ramping up to it! As much as the public execution provided personal satisfaction for The_Purple_Bunny and his supporters, it also sets him up as one of the top contenders in the fighting league, sure to be next in line for a shot at the Undisputed Championship barring a stand-out performance at Tournament 8!

13. Kron d. ElJobber in a comprehensive return!
With his shock return from the realm beyond delivering a bombshell of truth at Pre-Show 11, Kron probably had more on his mind than the first-ever match between he and ElJobber! Having been manipulated by the occult influence of Ares Menschlich, Kron was one of the faction leaders at the Arena bifurcating event, Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron. Despite an obvious desire to seek revenge against the figure who ultimately led to his exile and downfall -- Kron found the Baron of War's philosophy of combat being embraced by an ElJobber who is a changed man!

It was during his domination of the ranks at Tower of Power II that ElJobber went from fan-favourite "conscience" of The Great Arena, to a calculating competitor interested only in earning a shot at the Undisputed Championship. Seeing a returned Kron as the perfect opportunity, ElJobber shrugs off accusations of misconduct by decimating his accuser, Tyrant-Cenobite, despite uncovering no new revelation from the Pre-Show 11 beat down.

The first-time meeting between the two stars turned into a motley affair as they engaged in a down and dirty grapplefest! There was nothing elegant about the fight as ElJobber attempted to grind out a victory against his hugely powerful opponent! It won't be remembered as a fine technical display, but in his return to man-on-man league competition, Kron secures an impressive victory under extreme duress! Both fighters will place well in Tournament 8 seeding, but each has his demon to bare in the race for gold -- a fact that will no doubt prove significant for both as they enter competition in September! Then again, a rematch seems inevitable...

12. Ratt d. Toryn in a shock +18 annihilation!
If Ratt is to be regarded as the "heart" of The Great Arena, then Toryn must be an appendage quite a distance lower! Tensions between the pair have been mounting outside competition as Toryn regards Ratt's success with bitter envy, but the collision between these two All-Star former champions was really set up with a staggering +20 decimation as part of the Tower of Power II!

It can't be forgotten that Ratt defeated Toryn for the Undisputed Championship at the original Tower of Power, a fact that may have infact motivated Toryn's ire against the fan-favourite fighter. It was a history that the heel of the situation would hope to learn from, but as has been seen so many times before, "The Iron Man" Ratt is not so easily dismissed!

Toryn looked absolute outclassed as Ratt unleashed an All-Star whooping not far from his Supercard decimation! The rematch rated at another devastating +18 on the impact scale as Ratt swatted Toryn from one side of The Great Arena to the other! The crowd couldn't help but love the hero's triumph -- a huge win heading in to Tournament 8, where Ratt will be one of the top two seeds dependant on the Championship match result!

11. Hokey & Ninja_Mime (c) d. DaMo & DeathScepter in a comprehensive Duo Division Championship defense!
They earned the right to challenge with a massive win at Pre-Show 11 against SubMan799 & Casselman, but even the bizarre and unpredictable duo of DaMo & DeathScepter had to be intimidated by the presence of a Championship tandem that has only lost a single match -- the original title bout held at the conclusion of Tournament 6!

Despite a reputation for being somewhat unorthodox, it was a very conventional show of strength that revealed D&D were more than ready for the challenge! The well oiled machine of Hokey & Ninja_Mime wasn't going to be easily rattled, but even they would have to succumb to a show of brute force that overwhelmed their individual accumen! Fortunately for them, the power play by DaMo & DeathScepter wasn't powerful enough to overwhelm their own golden defense! Fighting at the peak level of the Duo Division -- the Champions seemed inspired by the powerful assault, giving it back in kind to deliver a surprisingly comprehensive win against upstart challengers!

The impressive victory marks the first successful defense for the Duo Division Champions, who won the titles from then-winners, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon, just one week after they won them. Granted a full month of preparation due to their solo endeavours, the Champions were able to reunite after being forced to fight in the random draw for Tournament 7! Their next challenge will come at Supercard 12, where they will take on the close second team of DECEPTION & Onryo in September!

10. TonyTheTiger d. Ghostdragon in a close encounter!
He was decimated at the hands of TonyTheTiger during Tournament 7 Quarter Finals, and with a mounting reputation for last minute choking, Ghostdragon had plenty to prove in this All-Star grudge rematch!

TonyTheTiger was once known as a scavanger, ready to take the short way toward Championship contention, but at Tournament 7, the ultimate opportunist became a predatory force within the league ranks! Decimating his opponents with little regard, TTT fell short of winning against The_Purple_Bunny, exhibiting a competitive spirit that represents a total transformation of his position within The Great Arena! Polarizing in their approach to the match, it seemed as if TonyTheTiger would run away with it -- but that simply was not to be!

TTT looked a little lethargic, but was clearly going to be challenged by a Ghostdragon fighting for T8 seeding and the respect that so often eludes him! GD was convincing in his assault, taking it right to the wire, but TonyTheTiger, pressed against the wall, proved he had claws when it counted the most! It was only by a whisker that TonyTheTiger was able to pull out another important victory, no doubt a gauling consolation for Ghostdragon, who enters Tournament 8 with the knowledge that he once again lost it at the crucial moment!

9. DECEPTION & Onryo d. SubMan799 & Casselman
SubMan799 & Casselman may have been casualties of a comprehensive contender match at Pre-Show 11, but they remain one of the respected top ranking teams of the booming Duo Division! Matched against the second ranked DECEPTION & Onryo, it looked to be a second-chance draw in this unofficial contender clash for the Duo Division titles!

Favourite status went out the window as the match-up stood to rise to the occasion! As a tandem, SubMan799 & Casselman continued their coming of age, standing as a legitimate threat to the 5-2 team-up positioned before them! The epic stoush stopped any fighter from standing out as all four went to war over their rite to challenge the All-Star Duo Division winners of the marquee! In the end, it was the better rated team of DECEPTION & Onryo that emerged victorious, but SubMan799 & Casselman put in a performance that rates them far from losers. The Duo Division remains one of the highlights of the Supercard as DECEPTION & Onryo move on to face to the winner of the Championship headliner, knowing full well they'll have plenty of competition, win or lose!

8. Porygonix d. Jammer2Omega in a comprehensive win.
As the posterchild of the "Next Phase" movement, Jammer2Omega has had a lot of pressure to shoulder despite a relatively recent rise to prominence. Porygonix has emerged as one of the critics of J2O's longevity, doubting his ability to win the big matches even in spite of a loss to him in the Third Round of Tournament 7! Arguably more interested in elevating himself, Porygonix challenges J2O in a Next Phase All-Star rematch!

It would have been a prime opportunity to dismiss claims about his ability, but alas, something truly was working against Jammer2Omega from within! The rising star appeared at a fraction of full power, relatively light work for a Porygonix who showed expected signs of life. J2O held off any kind of severe punishment, but was still dealt a comprehensive defeat by a fighter who has been taking every opportunity to return to the spotlight he'd left for quite some time. Porygonix has prospered since unexpectedly stepping in to the spotlight at Supercard 9 and is going from strength-to-strength, while J2O has left with big questions to answer!

7. Mimik d. Pink_Ranger in a +3 decimation!
Revealed as the occult catalyst for Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron, Ares Menschlich claimed his interference merely brought out the competitive contempt that lies within every fighting individual. As former teammates with Team Cr0w, Pink_Ranger and Mimik's clash for ratings superiority seemed to be the proof that Menschlich was right -- that the ranks within The Great Arena would just as soon destroy each other, as they would his nefarious master, Lord Mislukking!

With the Baron of War no doubt delighted by their clash, the "First Lady of Fighting" met the Tournament 3 winner in an epic encounter! Knowing another tournament lies right around the corner, rankings stakes have been given new meaning, pushing the pair to fight for much more than another stat in the win column!

Pink_Ranger was one of the fighting few to emerge with a victory from the Challenger 7 at Supercard 10, but appeared wildly outmatched against the former tournament winner! Mimik looked to be in fine form, absolutely dominant in his return from a drubbing at the same event! The dominant victory not only ensures a top spot in the league ranks, but also boosts Mimik's grip on contention for the Undisputed Championship -- a position he narrowly missed as runner-up to Genku in the Supercard 9 contender Battle Royal!

6. NovaStarr d. Dolce by a narrow margin!
Ever since Supercard 7, NovaStarr has had a chip on her shoulder! Eager to assert herself as a dominant female, she tracked Dolce through a series of matches, including their ill fated Duo dash at Supercard 8! Suffering the indignity of a near-draw at the following Supercard 9, it was put up or shut up time for NovaStarr in this grudge match!

The fiery fighting femme brought a new level to her game as she tackled the defense of Dolce! If it was a decimation NovaStarr was hoping for, however, she'd be sorely disappointed. Dolce was able to run blow for blow for the majority of the match, once again taking the battle to a close fought conclusion. Perhaps wanting it just that little bit more, NovaStarr extended herself in ways she was unable to in the previous clash, slogging her way to a long sought victory over her arch-nemesis!

As antagonist, NovaStarr brings a certain degree of closure to the enduring feud with her win, but by taking it in yet another narrow fought decision, you couldn't call it a certain ending for the rivalry shared by this unique pair. Both will no doubt move forward in their exploits, but the war between NovaStarr and Dolce may yet escalate in the unknown future.

5. GreenLantern d. Piccolo & NightHawk in a close fought blockbuster three-way rematch!
They might not be the most recognisable names in The Great Arena, but their three-way clash at Pre-Show 9 set a tension-filled standard for the unique match type. Battling to an almost three-way draw, Piccolo, NightHawk and GreenLantern were hand picked for a special rematch on the grand stage of the All-Star Summer Showdown!

The trio didn't disappoint, engaging once again in a blockbuster clash of evenly matched powers! A surprising turn saw the original winner, NightHawk, fade early as GreenLantern and Piccolo elevated their game above the lagging fighter. With NightHawk being gradually forced out of the match, the remaining pair went hard at it, once again going neck-and-neck! It was by the barest minimum of margins that GreenLantern was able to battle his opponent into submission, turning the tables to emerge victorious! A massive win for the relative rookie!

4. Ken d. CaTigeReptile
They have both been top ten ranking superstars with hot prospects for contention, but the shifting sands of competition in The Great Arena have swept aside the legacy of Ken and CaTigeReptile to varying degrees. Up and down, both fighters have struggled to cling to the top ranks, while upstart fighters within The Next Phase have put pressure on their status, threatening to surpass them as relics of a former revolution.

As opponents, the pair appeared refreshed, fighting with a determination fitting of their early appearance in this prestigious event! With gusto, they clashed, zigging and zagging in opposition with a lot to gain and even more to lose. While you couldn't call it a domination, it was Ken who bounced back from defeat as one of the Tower of Power II Challenger 7 to assert himself as a force still to be reckoned with! CTR will never be unwelcome within The Great Arena, but a string of defeats since her Supercard 7 Battle Royal win have cost her dearly.

3. Artanix & foahchon d. Scott-Howell & Murdoink
With a monumental fifteen matches across the card, Supercard 11 had to be described as the biggest event The Great Arena has seen! The claim impeaches the standard setting Grand Prix of Supercard 4, where the biggest show of its time set the stage for a career defining clash between Scott-Howell & Murdoink and Artanix & foahchon in one of the earliest Duo Division clashes!

Supercard 4 saw the affectionately regarded 'original team' exert their dominance, but "Sugar" Scott-Howell & Murdoink have experienced a lull in their success during this most crucial period. Capitalizing on the twist of fortunes, Artanix & foahchon set out to rewrite the rules of this classic Duo Division rivalry! Following on from his Semi Final solo success in Tournament 7, Artanix blasted his foes, fighting with foahchon to a shockingly convincing win over the Duo favourites! The stunning result retains pressure on Scott-Howell & Murdoink as they drift farther from contention for the Duo Division Championships they were expected to win prior to their shock First Round exit from Tournament 6! A stark contrast to the on-the-rise Artanix and his partner, foahchon!

2. m0s d. SmokeRulz & Chiefin in a solid win.
The first of two exhibition three-way match-ups could only be described as very unpredictable and highly combustible! The legend of "The Upset Machine" Chiefin has been well assured with some shocking big wins early in his career, but he could only be regarded as fledgling in comparison to former upstart and Great Arena stalwart, m0s! SmokeRulz is no veteran, but his experience in three-way matches has earned him the reputation of being something of a specialist in the unique situation, and added a special ingredient to this intriguing opener.

That ability to account for the multiple variables of two opponents saw SmokeRulz asserting himself in close quarters combat with The Upset Machine! Chiefin showed the competitive drive that has made him a rising star of The Next Phase, but it was to be a situation calling for experience. That factor went on deep into the match as m0s showed signs of mounting an incredible enduro style fight to the finish! What began as a close struggle ended in a comprehensive push to the finish, m0s enjoying no signs of fatigue in his big game win! An important result for the former top ten challenger!

1. Leroy & Mark d. ZachAngel & Angelia in a narrow win!
Since the crowning of Champions at Tournament 6, the Duo Division has been an absolute hotbed of tag team competition! Keen to pick up a valuable win in the All-Star opener, emerging members of the fighting faithful of Team Agaper, ZachAngel & Angelia, met up against their Team Ops DD counterparts, Leroy & Mark!

Both teams have enjoyed moderate success at their own level, making this a well matched combination from the outset. The science of their opposition did not fail to delight, sending the pairs into a flurry of fierce fisticuffs as they battled for an all important next win. Leroy & Mark were able to hold on with just a little more grit than their opponents, making it evens all around as the winners improved their Duo record to 3-3, while Agaper's finest settled for a 2-2 history. Both teams will be grateful for the experience as they head forward into the Duo stakes!

The All-Star Summer Showdown ensures the All-Stars remain present and accounted for in a refreshed version of the unofficial top ten! The_Purple_Bunny's meteoric rise through T7 and decimation of Shoe position him as most likely to challenge for the Undisputed Championship in September, providing somebody else doesn't make a compelling case for themselves in the upcoming 128-fighter tournament!

Ratt and ElJobber both eye-off rematches against the dominating Champion, Kron marches back into The Great Arena with renewed potential as a contender! A string of defeats against Cr0w, culminating in their match at Pre-Show 7, seemed to strike Kron from contention, but as one of the few fighters powerful enough to actually defeat the record-setting Champ, he might be the instrument of final resort! A factor that will no doubt come to play in Genku's perspective of things, as he drifts back to fourth after missing out on a double-chance at Tower of Power II.

With a decimating victory over Pink_Ranger, Mimik remains in contention, while TonyTheTiger claws his way toward the shot with a legitimacy that has been lacking in his previous visits. Toryn clings to contention by his fingertips as Porygonix, Ken, Artanix and m0s make cases for themselves. The Duo Division Champions remain fixtures of the scenery, secure after their first defense of the tandem titles.

Champion: Cr0w
#1 The_Purple_Bunny
#2 Ratt
#3 ElJobber
#4 Genku
#5 Kron
#6 Mimik
#7 Hokey
#8 Ninja_Mime
#9 TonyTheTiger
#10 Toryn

The All-Star Summer Showdown has delivered a final set of league ranked top sixteen combatants! They will sit at the ends of mini-brackets as one hundred and twenty-eight fighters return to The Great Arena for the opportunity to fight toward victory in the first-ever sixteen seeded tour! Tournament 8 begins August 29 and will run for two weeks, twisting around a second week Tournament 9 Duo competition that will conclude at Pre-Show 12 on Sunday, September 11!

The action is heating up! Who are the seeded fighters with optimum opportunity to battle through the randomly drawn ranks? This will be revealed and more as we count down toward another epic encounter in organized competition!

HYPE: Genku/Cr0w Supercard 11 Preview!

With a run through the first two organized tournaments that took him to eleven straight victories, there was a time when Genku was a record holder of the biggest win streak. That claim to fame went out the window, however, when Cr0w secured his sixteenth straight victory at Supercard 10: Tower of Power II!

August 14 will see Genku and Cr0w clash in a battle for the Undisputed Championship at an epic fifteen match blockbuster called Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown!

Genku booked himself the guaranteed match at Supercard 9 when he beat out eleven other fighters to win a contender Battle Royal! The win should've handed the #1 Contender a nifty double-chance, but at Tower of Power II the script was torn up, delaying the hotly anticipated match for tighter odds! The hiccup couldn't deny an impressive run of eliminations that included Mimik, Toryn and Ninja_Mime in the Battle Royal, as well as singles successes against Toryn and Hokey at recent events. Will it be enough to prepare him for the challenge that lies ahead?

Preparation for Cr0w has included total victory in Tournament 5, Championship defenses against Kron, Ratt, ElJobber and Mimik, and a record setting reign that took him to one hundred days (cumulative) as holder of the covetted Undisputed Championship! This domination of the colosseum has assured Cr0w's legacy in The Great Arena, but has also painted a massive bullseye on his back!

The path of the challenger and champion tells an interesting tale:

Genku d. foahchon - Round 1, Tournament 1 (Jan. 4)
Genku d. Shadaloo - Round 2, Tournament 1 (Jan. 4)
Genku d. Tyrant-Cenobite - Round 3, Tournament 1 (Jan. 5)
Genku d. Baraka_MK - Round 4, Tournament 1 (Jan. 5)
Genku d. Famine - Quarter Final, Tournament 1 (Jan. 5)
Genku d. Hokey - Semi Final, Tournament 1 (Jan. 5)
Genku d. Toryn - Final, Tournament 1 (Jan. 5)
Genku d. Dolce - Round 1, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 8)
Genku d. TonyTheTiger - Round 2, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 8)
Genku d. foahchon - Round 3, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 9)
Genku d. Ninja_Mime - Quarter Final, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 9)
Cr0w d. Genku - Semi Final, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 11)
Genku d. The_Purple_Bunny - Pre-Show 1: Battle Royale 2011 Qualifiers (Jan. 23)
ElJobber d. Genku - Battle Royal, Supercard 1: Battle Royale 2011 (Jan. 30)
Toryn d. Genku - Battle Royal, Supercard 2: Triple Double/Eliminator (Feb. 21)
Revenant Genku d. Ratt - Supercard 3: The Long Hard Road (Mar. 13)
Ratt d. Revenant Genku - Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix (Apr. 3)
Revenant Genku d. Ratt - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (Apr. 17)
Cr0w & Kron d. Genku & Famine - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (Apr. 17)
Ratt & Genku d. Famine & Pestilence - Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron (May 1)
Ratt (c) d. Genku - Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron (May 1)
Genku d. ElJobber - Pre-Show 7: The Spoils of War (May 8)
Genku d. SmokeRulz - Round 1, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 10)
Genku d. DECEPTION - Round 2, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 11)
Genku d. Chiefin - Round 3, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 12)
Darkrai (Ratt) d. Genku - Round 4, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 13)
Kron d. Genku & Toryn - Supercard 7: A Bird's Eye View (May 22)
Genku d. Hokey - The Rapture & The Madness (May 29)
Genku d. Toryn - Supercard 8: Corporeal Punishment (Jun. 19)
Genku d. Mimik - Battle Royal, Supercard 9: Royal Roulette (Jul. 17)
ElJobber d. Genku - Supercard 10: Tower of Power II (Jul. 31)

Cr0w d. Queequeg - Round 1, Tournament 1 (Jan. 4)
Cr0w d. DeathScepter - Round 2, Tournament 1 (Jan. 4)
Aquilluxborg Hydroxybot d. Cr0w - Round 3, Tournament 1 (Jan. 5)
Cr0w d. Nightmarescarz - Round 1, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 8)
Cr0w d. Ken - Round 2, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 8)
Cr0w d. Pink_Ranger - Round 3, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 9)
Cr0w d. Hokey - Quarter Final, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 9)
Cr0w d. Genku - Semi Final, Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 11)
Cr0w d. Kron - Final (c), Tournament 2: Quest for a Champion (Jan. 11)
Kron d. Cr0w (c) - Supercard 1: Battle Royale 2011 (Jan. 30)
Cr0w d. Porygonix - Pre-Show 2: Champion's Revenge (Feb. 12)
Kron (c) d. Cr0w - Supercard 2: Triple Double/Eliminator (Feb. 21)
ElJobber d. Cr0w - Supercard 3: The Long Hard Road (Mar. 13)
Cr0w & Kron d. Famine & Pestilence - Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix (Apr. 3)
Cr0w d. Mimik - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (Apr. 17)
Cr0w d. Kron - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (Apr. 17)
Ratt d. Cr0w - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (Apr. 17)
Cr0w & Kron d. Genku & Famine - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (Apr. 17)
Cr0w d. Kron - Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron (May 1)
Cr0w d. Mimik - Pre-Show 7: The Spoils of War (May 8)
Cr0w d. Bronzie - Round 1, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 10)
Cr0w d. Pink_Ranger - Round 2, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 11)
Cr0w d. Chewwi - Round 3, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 12)
Cr0w d. Onryo - Round 4, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 13)
Cr0w d. ElJobber - Quarter Final, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 14)
Cr0w d. Shoe - Semi Final, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 15)
Cr0w d. Kron - Final, Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 15)
Cr0w d. Ratt (c) - Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn (May 15)
Cr0w (c) d. Kron - Supercard 7: A Bird's Eye View (May 22)
Cr0w (c) d. Mimik & Shoe - The Rapture & The Madness (May 29)
Cr0w (c) d. Ratt - Supercard 8: Corporeal Punishment (Jun. 19)
Cr0w (c) d. ElJobber - Supercard 9: Royal Roulette (Jul. 17)
Cr0w (c) d. ElJobber - Supercard 10: Tower of Power II (Jul. 31)

Both fighters are playing it very cool in the lead to their Championship match, and indeed, confidence plays a big part in the keys to victory for each! Cr0w's dominance gives him an undeniable intimidation factor to play upon, best repelled by Genku showing no signs of fear come zerohour! Afterall, as they say, nothing lasts forever. The tension of that fact gets more intense for the Champion with every defense, come showtime!

In the colosseum, Genku will simply have to call upon his very best, leaving nothing in reserve when he goes to war with the odds! Cr0w is undeniably one of the most powerful warriors in competition and, on his day, really cannot be rivalled blow for blow. Genku will be hoping the long win streak brings with it pressure and fatigue -- otherwise, it'll be defense number six for the Undisputed Champion!

For more detail on Cr0w's phenomenal record-setting reign as Undisputed Champion, and Genku's history in title contention, check out the Champions Records! Also be sure you don't miss the full rundown of a massive fifteen match card for Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, with all the build available in the card announcement!

Schedule: August Heats Up for All-Stars!

The very fabric of The Great Arena was changed when Kron returned from the realm beyond and revealed a plot with strings pulled by Ares Menschlich and the dark overlord, Lord Misslukking! The Four Barons and their master may have been returned to the spotlight, but reprisals will have to wait as the colosseum prepares to play host to even more pressing matters in a massive Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown!

Pre-Show 11: Truth or Consequences provided both in spades, with the delivery of new contenders to the Duo Division Championship, as well as the continuation of several other rivalries. Indeed, the Baron of War claimed that his secret influence over conflicts that led to the blow-up of Supercard 6 would pale in comparison to the natural desire for competition that lies within the ranks, which he has helped hone to further perfection. There will be those who desire rebellion against the oppressive and deceptive forces of Lord Mislukking, but Supercard 11 promises to be a testament to Menschlich's competition musings!

Menschlich's meddling may have created circumstances fit for a massive Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn -- but the next one hundred and twenty-eight fighter extravaganza will be an all together purer affair, free from Barons' influence! Tournament 8 is on the horizon and for the first time ever, will borrow from League Rankings to determine the seeding of sixteen key fighters. This distant opportunity adds a special dimension to certain key battles where the path to glory may be shaped by the rankings earned!

Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown (August 14, 2011)
1. Genku versus Cr0w (c)
Victory in a hotly contested twelve-person Battle Royal (at Supercard 9) earned Genku a promised match against the Undisputed Champion in the main event of the summer. A double-chance passed Genku by, while Cr0w continued his domination as Undisputed Champion with a record-setting fifth defense at Supercard 10: Tower of Power II! Cr0w owns an impressive win streak of sixteen matches, but is that to be the pattern of precedent, or a dynasty awaiting its inevitable end? No matter the fate, the record-setting domination of Cr0w poses a daunting obstacle for every challenger, even one as fiery as Genku!

2. The_Purple_Bunny versus Shoe
It was battling outside The Great Arena that claimed The_Purple_Bunny's life in the middle of May, when Shoe began a heinous, unprovoked rampage against his fellow fighters of The Union of The Human League! With an exciting shock return at Supercard 9, as well as a Tournament 7 victory behind him; The_Purple_Bunny finally gets his shot at revenge in a titanic showdown between man and murderer! It will be the ultimate grudge match as TPB continues his Next Phase rise, walking into a match where anything less than a total decimation will be considered injustice!

3. ElJobber versus Kron
Having fought through exile and damnation, Kron clearly has a score to settle with the Barons of Lord Mislukking, but before he avenges the manipulations of Supercard 6, he will face a human threat he has never before encountered! ElJobber is fighting with a new sense of determination amidst suspicion regarding Tyrant-Cenobite's allegations against him, and some of the biggest wins of his career. He will no doubt relish the opportunity to earn his ticket back to an Undisputed Championship match if he can defeat the former champ in this first-ever encounter of top tier superpowers!

4. Toryn versus Ratt
Ever since a shock loss to STEROLIZER (at Supercard 9), "The Iron Man" Ratt has been on the rampage to prove such a staggering defeat was nothing more than an abberation! On his path to proving this, the fondly regarded "heart" of The Great Arena ran through a cocky Toryn with a devastating +20 impact at Supercard 10: Tower of Power II! An old hand at being heel, Toryn demands a grudge rematch against the cult hero, hoping to capitalize on a return to old form that has earned him fresh criticism from those who don't take kindly to antagonising Rattamania!

5. DaMo & DeathScepter versus Hokey & Ninja_Mime (c)
A contender match at Pre-Show 11 delivers DaMo & DeathScepter to a potential breakthrough match-up as they step into the grill as first challengers to Hokey & Ninja_Mime's Duo Division Championship! Well established within the solo ranks, the abruptly crowned tandem have had plenty of opportunity to savor their titles, busy chasing individual glory at Supercard 9 and 10! With a Tournament 7 random draw having pitted the Champions against each other, the bizarre and unpredictable D&D combination will be sure to pose the ultimate test, ready to capitalize on any team-up doubts that might lie between the dominant duo!

6. Ghostdragon versus TonyTheTiger
TonyTheTiger has traditionally been known for seeking opportunistic shortcuts toward the ultimate prize of the Undisputed Championship! At Tournament 7, a very different TonyTheTiger emerged, however, fighting with a ferocity against his Next Phase rivals that proposed a very different breed of contender! It's a stark contrast to the reputation of last minute fumbling earned by Ghostdragon -- who suffered a decimating defeat at the hands of the TTT in the T7 Quarter Final! GD will look to get some much needed payback as Next Phase forces collide with rankings and Tournament 8 on their minds!

7. DECEPTION & Onryo versus SubMan799 & Casselman
They may have been unsuccessful in their Pre-Show 11 bid for Duo Division Championship contention, but when SubMan799 & Casselman return to The Great Arena, they'll have the opportunity to stake their claim anew when they fend off the advances of upstart tandem, DECEPTION & Onryo! With an impressive 5-2 record, DECEPTION & Onryo are right behind the reigning Champions for win/loss success, owning a Tournament 6 win over their opponents that delivered them to a Second Round exit. Will history repeat itself, or have the Manly Men learned a few tricks to see them through?

8. Jammer2Omega versus Porygonix
He has been regarded as the face of The Next Phase movement, but a surprise exit during the Tournament 7 Quarter Final has raised questions about Jammer2Omega's longevity as a rising star in The Great Arena! Once held with similar regard; Porygonix will look to avenge his Third Round exit from the same bracket, bouncing off a reinvigoration of his career that began with Supercard 9 tribute to then-fallen ally, Kron. Will the Next Phase be usurped, or is it all part of the plan for J2O's rise to the top?

9. Pink_Ranger versus Mimik
The chaos of War's Supercard 6 made them allies, but free from influence, the former bed fellows will be made enemies in a ranking realization of Ares Menschlich's claim that competition will sustain its own dissention within The Union of the Human League! Tournament 8 will shape a bracket of one hundred and twenty-eight using the top sixteen league ranks determined by win/loss! Pink_Ranger has worked hard to rise through the ranks in recent months, enjoing Duo Division success as well as her individual domination as "First Lady of Fighting," but she'll find little chivalry from T3 victor, Mimik!

10. NovaStarr versus Dolce
The feud has been raging for months ever since the Battle Royal at Supercard 7, and after ditching duo partners at Supercard 9, NovaStarr finally came within striking distance against arch-rival, Dolce! After battling to what was very nearly The Great Arena's first recorded draw, the epic grudge match becomes a summer blockbuster as NovaStarr takes her final shot at getting one back against the determined Dolce! A clear winner must be decided in this do or die clash!

11. Ken versus CaTigeReptile
In their own rights, they have each been amongst the upper echelon of top contenders in The Great Arena! The stars of Ken and CaTigeReptile have begun to dull, however. Looking to battle their way back into the contender stakes, these two fighters on the slide will hope to assert themselves on the grand stage in a last ditch effort to remain All-Stars of the combat colosseum!

12. Piccolo versus NightHawk versus GreenLantern
They might not be the first names fans in The Great Arena think of, but at Pre-Show 9, NightHawk, Piccolo and GreenLantern made their submission to All-Star status in one of the biggest three-way battles the league has ever seen! Fighting with the grit of more seasoned warriors, this triple threat nearly approached an unfathomable three-prong draw! NightHawk scraped through to be the victor in July, but at the All-Star Summer Showdown, it'll be anyone's game as they reprise their classic match!

13. Scott-Howell & Murdoink versus Artanix & foahchon
It simply wouldn't be a summer spectacular without the all-star "originals" of the Duo Division, but "Sugar" Scott-Howell and Murdionk have hit on hard times in recent months. It'll be a vintage combat classic when they reunite with old rivals Artanix & foahchon for a chance to fight their way toward contention for the Duo Division Championships, but with Artanix flying high on the back of a Semi Final berth in Tournament 7, it'll be anyone's game!

14. m0s versus Chiefin versus SmokeRulz
In a special three-way encounter, stars of the Next Phase will have the perfect opportunity to launch into bigger and better things as m0s clashes with "Upset Machine" rival, Chiefin, and three-way match specialist, SmokeRulz! With a great exhibition history backing each fighter, it's sure to be another classic Supercard challenge!

15. Leroy & Mark versus ZachAngel & Angelia
Rounding out the monumental fifteen match Supercard is another classic encounter between stars of the Duo Division! "Team Ops" Leroy & Mark have been earning their stripes, but it'll be an evenly matched clash when they encounter the fighting faithful of "Team Agaper", ZachAngel & Angelia. Will the new breed be converted, or is ascension the domain of the special ops?

The time for truth and consequences is over, let the solstice mark the celebration of competition as The Great Arena plays host to Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown -- the biggest event the colosseum has ever seen!

PLUS! The winners will advance as the end of August promises another epic Tournament encounter, with the top sixteen league ranked fighters progressing to the privilege of bracket seeding in the first one hundred and twenty-eight solo scramble since Cr0w dominated the ranks in Tournament 5! All this and more! Don't miss it!

Pre-Show 11: Truth or Consequences

August 7, 2011 -- It was designed as an incorruptible truth, an exercise in purity, where combat between two sides would result in blind justice, an impenetrable system of cause and effect. The Great Arena was supposed to house honest battles between hardened men, but secrets have swept beneath the stone and dirt to undermine this proud colosseum.

One of the Great Arena's beacons of light, the once professed conscience of this proud tradition, has been accused of a dark act. ElJobber challenges Tyrant-Cenobite in the wake of an accusation that casts a shadow across what was supposed to be the brightest moment in competition history! Is this the gusto of an innocent man, or is ElJobber become a totem of grey, a compromised symbol, a driven force of dishonor no longer worthy of the people's trust?

While Champions sit on a golden perch, the men of The Union of The Human League scramble for an opportunity to undo them. SubMan799 & Casselman will do battle with DaMo & DeathScepter in an encounter of high stakes and dire consequences, the winners to be granted the prize of a Duo Division Championship match against the as yet untested reigning holders, Hokey & Ninja_Mime. Are they next in line to become corrupt, or can this institution still be trusted to foster truth through the fists of at least some of its party?

The summer will celebrate them like new gods in a showcase as big as any "Arena Spectacular," but first, competitors will line up, contenders will be counted, enemies will engage in mortal combat, and a fallen son will return. Before the All-Star Showdown, The Great Arena must experience a cleansing. Before this day is through, the people will have their Truth or Consequences!

12. Ares Menschlich d. Kron in a confident victory.
Prior to his scheduled match at Supercard 9, Kron rather suddenly left the mortal realm. His return proved just as startling, bringing with it secrets learned in the afterlife! It was at Supercard 10 that a far more suspicious absence was noted in the 'Bonus Stage' return of the Four Barons of Lord Mislukking. Ares Menschlich, Third Baron of War, was conspicuously absent from the rare Arena appearance, replaced in a first-ever official battle featuring Fourth Baron of Death, Sinvida Von Grimm.

As the resurrected warrior dragged "War" back inside the colosseum he helped create, he accounted for Menschlich's absence, apparently occupied by attempts to prevent Kron's return! In death, Kron had learned certain secrets about the machinations of Lord Mislukking's trusted inner circle, including a plot to divide and distract the fighters of The Union of The Human League with the subtle influence of conflict that resulted in Supercard 6 and the arena splitting war between Team Cr0w and Team Kron! Indeed, it was the mystic influence of the Baron of War that tipped the rivalry between Kron and Cr0w into epic proportions!

With the truth revealed, a returning Kron may have vowed to gain revenge against Ares Menschlich and the Barons of Mislukking, but such a feat would be easier declared than done! An always powerful warrior, swollen in the presence of such a battle tested combatant; Ares Menschlich was in top form, well prepared to repell the upstart threats of a freshly returned deadman. Though Kron would aim high in his assault against the Third Baron, it would be a half measure, leaving him wide open to a dominant retort by the situation's antagonist!

The veil of deception faded like thin smoke as the Baron of War opened up to his responsibility in stoking the largest conflict The Great Arena has ever played host to. Always excited by competition, the victorious administrator called Supercard 6 a perfect exercise in making fighters stronger. He declared the competitive ranks more potent than ever before -- a fact not easily denied! He called the ranks of the Union of the Human League better prepared to fight the inevitable war with the Mislukking faction, which he intended to fight in with honor, but not at the expense of civilized competition.

With a massive Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown just a week away, the Baron of War lamented the fire that drives the best fighters of The Great Arena to battle toward the ultimate prize of the Undisputed Championship. He lamented the determination and personal sacrifice faced by ElJobber -- who would be the perfect highly motivated opponent for Kron to face in the wake of his return! He announced the truth revealed and the consequences a natural continuation of any manipulations he might inspire -- the will to win.

11. ElJobber d. Tyrant-Cenobite in a +4 decimation!
It was a changed, more aggressive ElJobber who exited The Great Arena at the conclusion of Tower of Power II! The once dubbed "conscience" of The Great Arena has lost his lustre and the support of the crowd amidst accusations levelled by Tyrant-Cenobite (at Supercard 9) that suggest the former favourite was responsible for preventing TC entering a contender Battle Royal way back in April, at Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix - The Arena Spectacular!

Though ElJobber vehemently denied the allegations, it was clear they tainted his success in the Championship contending Tower of Power, where six superstars of The Great Arena went down, before he fell at the last hurdle against reigning Undisputed Champion, Cr0w. Guilt turned to steely resolve over the course of the special event, but it was something far more infernal that motivated the fighter in the Truth or Consequences main event. Determined to clear his name or deliver violent consequences, ElJobber exerted sufficient force to dominate his opponent into a +4 impact submission! Tyrant-Cenobite arguably never stood a chance, but it was that fact that played right into his favour, recasting ElJobber in the role of unsympathetic superior. Indeed, there would be no clear resolution as TC revealed nothing more, absorbing the "Consequences" of ElJobber's ire with no chance for retort.

Did ElJobber engage in an unprovoked, underhanded attack at Supercard 4? The truth of the matter may be no clearer, but the consequences remain, proving the old addage of mud sticking. ElJobber appears more determined than ever to claim the Undisputed Championship, but with the opposition of the fans, will the ultimate prize be more elusive than ever before? The two-time runner-up will certainly have his work cut out for him!

10. DeathScepter & DaMo d. SubMan799 & Casselman in a comprehensive Duo Division Championship Contender match!
With a key victory earned at Supercard 9, the Truth and Consequences were clear for both teams vying for a shot at the Duo Division Championships! SubMan799 & Casselman earned valuable credit at SC9 with a long sought win over Duo Division stalwarts, Scott-Howell & Murdoink; while DaMo & DeathScepter did well to establish a valuable win over top ranking tandem, DECEPTION & Onryo, courting the opportunity to advance to Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown!

Predicting the outcome between such competitive teams would be tough at the best of times, but with the bizarre combination of D&D, the X-factor was cranked up to 11! The high stakes situation seemed to bring out the best in the unorthodox pairing, who enjoyed similar success into the Semi Final stages of the Champion inducting Tournament 6! SubMan799 & Casselman were without a doubt competitive, but DaMo & DeathScepter were fighting as one, surpassing the sum of the individual to deliver a gestalt comprehensive victory! The win delivers DaMo & DeathScepter to the rare opportunity of contesting the Duo Division Championships in the first official defense by reigning pair, Hokey & Ninja_Mime!

9. Ratt d. STEROLIZER in a +12 decimation!
As the affectionatley regared "heart of The Great Arena" -- fan-favourite Ratt isn't known for holding grudges! The "Iron Man" has made a name for himself facing down impossible odds with grit and determination, but even he had to loath the shock upset defeat he suffered against STEROLIZER at Supercard 9! The upset win proved a launching pad for STERO to claim Challenger 7 status in the opening rounds of Tower of Power II -- supposedly proving his point that he was more contender than the men who have faced and failed against five-defense strong Undisputed Champion, Cr0w!

Ratt earned back credibility with his +30 annihilation of STERO's shadow, JRF, at Pre-Show 10, but was highly motivated to prove once and for all that STEROLIZER's win was nothing but a fluke. He did exactly that -- as if there was ever any doubt -- unleashing a +12 impact on the cocky upstart! The consequences of his victory bode well for Ratt, who seems likely to anticipate the challenge of one of The Great Arena's lead antagonists -- Toryn -- with confidence heading in to the Supercard 11 blockbuster!

8. Piccolo d. NightHawk in a close encounter!
They may be two of the less storied fighters in the competitive ranks, but it was at Pre-Show 9 that they took part in one of the most thrilling three-way fights The Great Arena has ever seen! The fateful fight saw NightHawk emerge victorious over Piccolo and GreenLantern in a battle that very nearly entered a triple tie! So incredible was the match that it is already announced to be repeated as one of the intriguing undercard features in a massive Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown!

The warm-up bash between two of the three men proved to be something of an equalizer, offering up a truth that represents just how evenly matched the trio were in their original clash! Piccolo picked up a valuable victory heading in to the rematch, setting himself up with key momentum heading in to the rare spotlight!

7. DECEPTION d. m0s
Three-way qualifications at Pre-Show 10 left DECEPTION and m0s ruing missed opportunities as DeathScepter progressed to the Challenger 7 stages of Tower of Power II. Keen for reprisal, m0s challenges DECEPTION in a clash of truth or consequences for the almost-challengers.

DECEPTION was in devastating form as he reprised his role as aggressor, but unlike the +2 oppression featured in qualifiers, it was a comprehensive, if modest defeat of m0s. The win bolsters DECEPTION's reputation as a solo competitor, but no doubt will bode well for the Duo Division star if and when he reteams with partner Onryo to contest the tandem Championships in the near future!

6. Liam & nif d. Dolce & Bofh in a close fought battle!
Since the introduction of the Duo Division Championships at Tournament 6 -- team-up competition has become a super-charged feature of the many events to follow! With top contender status to be delt in the Pre-Show 11 second main event; two of the lower ranked teams had plenty to aspire to in their ever important exhibition bout! Liam & nif have struggled to gain traction since their tandem debut at the Rapture and the Madness special event, but found well matched opponents in Dolce & Bofh.

The clash lived up to expectations as the pair of duos collided in a close fought encounter! It was Liam & nif who wanted it just that little bit more, able to convert a valuable win as the Duo Division landscape maps itself toward future contenders. It's not the kind of result Dolce would have wanted as she prepares for another Truth or Consequences battle at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, where NovaStarr will look to continue their rivalry with a solo rematch of their near draw at Supercard 9!

5. plfx d. rxvt in a close encounter.
In a battle of the consonants, an overachieving plfx returns to face one of the most beleaguered battlers of The Great Arena -- rxvt! With twelve losses from thirteen matches, rxvt has struggled to convert experience to success in his many battles, missing opportunity at junctures as vital as Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix! Indeed, it was a study in contrasts, given plfx' rookie status and 75% success rate, begun with a victory over the spiteful rxvt at Pre-Show 6!

rxvt showed the weather of his time in The Great Arena, but not the experience that has come with it. Clearly a dozen defeats has weighed heavily on this fighter who has faced everyone from STEROLIZER to Praga Conquette, tasting bitter defeat time and time again. No amount of vengeful motivations could produce the truth rxvt was seeking, consequences being delt definitively by plfx in a close fought, but no less convincing victory!

4. Simon d. SlumDunk in a close battle for the bottom.
Pre-Show 9 saw SlumDunk relegated to last place in the rankings race when he lost the first-ever "Battle for the Bottom!" Looking for a way to rise from the ashes as JRF did in their previous encounter, SlumDunk challenges next rung on the ladder, Simon, to yet another clash of the not-so-titans! The gambit seemed worth its while, but SlumDunk could not have anticipated a rise to the occasion by the winless Simon! Though well contested, it was once again to be SlumDunk who came out worse for wear in the Battle for Bottom, scraping his way to #144 in the league rankings!

3. Shizuma d. Jax by a narrow margin!
Always competitive, but often outmatched; Shizuma has struggled to live up to the reputation of mystique that has made her one of the top femme fatales in The Great Arena without a win! A string of bouts involving the likes of CaTigeReptile and Pink_Ranger have cost Shizuma any marking record, but when pitted against an equal opponent the calibre of Jax, the warrior within emerges! It was a battle that went down to the wire, but even as closely matched as the pair were, something special spurred Shizuma across the line to her first victory in competition! A well earned triumph for a feature player!

2. nface d. titsos in a close encounter.
Despite holding tenure in the competitive ranks since the beginning in Tournament 1; titsos has remained a rare sight in The Great Arena. It was to be a test of wills when he faced off against relative newcomer nface -- a fighter with less than a month under his belt. Rookie status wasn't about to handicap the evenly matched nface, demonstrated by a fighting tenacity far beyond his single match history. A close but confident win for nface!

1. bfk d. MinnyBean in a close match-up.
While the biggest names in league prepare for another blockbuster Supercard, action in the Pre-Show kicks off with an exhibition bout between two of the new faces in The Great Arena. Both bfk and MinnyBean made their debuts at Pre-Show 9, experiencing inverted records with twin wins and defeats, respectively. In the end, it was the winner's streak that made the difference in a hard fought battle, boosting bfk to a good win in the opening bout!