Supercard 96: Royal Roulette

The wheel of fortune is inconsistent by nature. In moments of great triumph we rise up on its spokes, inevitably returned to depths as the wheel completes its fall. Fortune's gifts are fleeting, withdrawn as quickly as they're offered. Some will choose to make their own path, but at Royal Roulette, the prize is a moment to ascend to the summit of possibility and reach for greatness!

Last year it was 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Hokey who outlasted twenty-nine other fighters to win the Royal Roulette match! Four months later, he used his title opportunity to claim the Undisputed Championship at Supercard 86: Survivor Sequence - Invasion! With six guaranteed qualifiers and untold hundreds entering the random draw: Who will be 2017's lucky winner? The wheel of fortune spins once again. This is Supercard 96: Royal Roulette!

10. "The Franchise" Poasty (#19) eliminated The_Purple_Bunny (#22) to win Royal Roulette!
Royal Roulette 2017 Eliminations:
1. AlexanderLuthorJr (#3) elim. Miller (#1)
2. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. AlexanderLuthorJr (#3)
3. xort (#5) elim. kibble (#2)
4. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. xort (#5)
5. Ken (#6) elim. Lays (#7)
6. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Ken (#6)
7. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. DarkScythe (#8)
8. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. vaiisekk (#11)
9. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Onimike (#13)
10. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Jericho (#15)
11. LordSkarlet (#14) elim. Chromatose (#12)
12. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Ottis (#16)
13. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Evolved (#18)
14. Poasty (#19) elim. Fantoche (#17)
15. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Benjamin (#10)
16. LordSkarlet (#14) elim. SlumDunk (#21)
17. Poasty (#19) elim. KombatKid (#24)
18. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. maxilos (#23)
19. Loopster (#20) elim. Vultyrex (#26)
20. Loopster (#20) elim. NightHawk (#28)
21. abcdeath (#29) elim. J-Spit (#30)
22. CaTigeReptile (#9) elim. Loopster (#20)
23. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. abcdeath (#29)
24. LordSkarlet (#14) elim. CaTigeReptile (#9)
25. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. Murdoink (#27)
26. TonyTheTiger (#4) elim. LordSkarlet (#14)
27. The_Purple_Bunny (#22) elim. TonyTheTiger (#4)
28. Poasty (#19) elim. Marz (#25)
29. Poasty (#19) elim. The_Purple_Bunny (#22) Excitement permeated the air as anticipation for the first Royal Roulette entrants grew. It was to be a flashback to last year when Miller entered at #1, with kibble grossly outmatched in the opening struggle!

Miller was denied another year's first elimination as AlexanderLuthorJr stormed in at #3! The pair brawled for 90 seconds straight until the arrival of TonyTheTiger at #4 dramatically changed the atmosphere! The Predator nailed Miller, setting him up for elimination by AlexanderLuthorJr. Then TTT capitalized by taking him out of the match, as well!

#5 xort got his first Royal Roulette off to the right start, instantly eliminating an enduring kibble! It meant he had to suffer alone against The Predator, however, who didn't even miss a beat when King Ken arrived: the first of the Pre-Show qualifiers!

TTT greeted Lays with a knock-out blow, which allowed Ken to steal an elimination. It was soon the King of the World who was sent packing, though. DarkScythe was a lamb to the slaughter until "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile arrived to lend a helping hand! TTT & CTR became allies out of last year's match, but it was every fighter for themselves in the 2017 Royal Roulette! CTR did her best to take control of the match, but it was still The Predator who sunk his teeth into the eliminations of DarkScythe, vaiisekk, and surprise last minute qualifier Onimike - who ultimately cost Genku his appearance in the match! The audience waited for Genku when the countdown to #30 began, but it was J-Spit who drew the lucky last position -- only to be eliminated after 12 seconds by abcdeath!

The twenty minute mark saw rapidfire eliminations of Chromatose, Ottis, and Evolved. After just 4 seconds in the match, Poasty scored his first elimination by taking out Fantoche! Nearly a minute later, TonyTheTiger completed the erosion of Benjamin to bring the match to its halfway point!

The_Purple_Bunny came in at #22 and became an immediate target! Poasty & Loopster greeted the 2017 Battle Royale winner, before maxilos & LordSkarlet had a shot as well. Eventually the target on TPB's back brought together a five-on-one force that added CTR and TTT! That allowed Poasty to take control with hard shots against LordSkarlet, and an eliminating effort against KombatKid! The arrival of Hall of Famer Marz allowed TPB to draw attention away from himself. directing traffic at the ICWW legend!

9 fighters remained in the match with no more entrants to come. abcdeath managed to hide in the chaos as the heavyhitters went to work! For one brief moment CaTigeReptile revisited her role as Invasion killer, taking out Loopster. TonyTheTiger quickly found abcdeath, ending his upstart run. Then TPB caught CaTigeReptile from behind, allowing LordSkarlet to earn a massive elimination! Poasty made him pay for it, delivering hard shots to The Red Nightmare while TonyTheTiger busied himself with the elimination of Murdoink. The Predator soon spotted the vulnerable LordSkarlet, ending his hopeful run to set up a scintillating final four with: TonyTheTiger, The_Purple_Bunny, Marz and the one nobody thought should be there - Poasty!

Poasty went to war with TonyTheTiger, but The Predator had amassed a lot of enemies over the course of the match. His phenomenal 14 eliminations made him a serious threat that drew attacks from all sides. After devastating shots from The_Purple_Bunny, TTT's time was up! TPB then turned his focus to "The Franchise" Poasty, but Marz was quick to make the save!

The Battle Royale winner and Hall of Famer entered into an all-out blood feud, throwing devastating bombs like it was the main event of UGP! Poasty let the heavyweights tear each other down, taking a few shots before he saw his opening to finish off Marz! Wile veteran The_Purple_Bunny leapt immediately on Poasty, but the damage of his wars with TTT and Marz was done. To the absolute shock of everyone in attendance, Poasty chopped away at The_Purple_Bunny until he was finally the winner of the 2017 Royal Roulette match!  He will now have the opportunity to challenge for the title of his choosing, at the moment he pleases! The Division 2 Championship is now behind him, but will "The Champion of Champions" watch and wait - or strike at the Undisputed Champion he already defeated in a clash of champions at the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam?

9. "The Chosen One" Damo (c) defeated Oozaru in convincing fashion! [+3] [Undisputed Championship]
Over the past few months The Great Arena has been electrified by Oozaru as half of the reunited Pacific Connection. Their legend as a duo stretches back to the days of ICWW, where Oozaru was also an accomplished World Champion! With his tournament victory at the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam; Oozaru became an unexpected challenger for the Undisputed Championship, with a chance to carry the gold into the ICWW 15th Anniversary event of Dead Or Alive X! To do so, he would have to beat a fighter fast making 2017 his own year. "The Chosen One" Damo shocked the world at The Spring Classic, but has steadily added to a year full of major wins! He was ill prepared for his newest challenger, but once again showed he's everything he claims to be! For the second year in a row, Royal Roulette would see no title changes. Now Damo looks ahead to the challenges of likely main eventing the spectacle of the annual All-Star Summer Showdown!

8. ElJobber defeated VenoMark [+1] [#1 Contender]
Since The Spring Classic, the Undisputed Championship has been caught in a triangle between three fighters. VenoMark was dashed in a Supercard 93 rematch with Damo, suffering further setback at Supercard 94. ElJobber made his comeback at that time, briefly separating Damo from the gold, before he snapped it back in the final of Tower of Power XIX. VenoMark knocked back some of his biggest rivals at that same event, further demanding attention when he reached the final of the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam! Refusing to be ripped from the title: VenoMark and ElJobber are unstoppable force and immovable object! Their collision at Royal Roulette was a necessary inevitability. Their match: a highly competitive duel between proven champions. The result: a hard earned victory that confirms ElJobber will be the next challenger for the Undisputed Championship. All that was left to determine - who would carry the gold towards Dead Or Alive X and All-Star Summer Showdown!

7. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (c) defeated Jerrod & SubMan799 in a comprehensive result. [+2] [Duo Division Championship]
It's been a long time since either Jerrod or SubMan799 has competed for Duo Division gold, but at the Mid-Year Grand Slam they found a common enemy. Both were eliminated from the event by Scott-Howell, and both realized they didn't much like that. They asserted themselves on the June 30 edition of Friday Night Fights, fatally eliminated Rhyno and Grayback. They knocked back top teams Jason_Voorhees & edge and Jammer2Omega & Porygonix on July 7th and July 14th, respectively. As strange as their ascent was, they finally earned their shot -- but it was all for nothing. CCShadow & Scott-Howell loom over the Duo Division more than they ever have before!

6. "The New Generation" DECEPTION & Onryo defeated Mark & Leroy in a comprehensive result. [+1]
On the grand stage of Ultimate Grand Prix VII: Mark & Leroy upset the fairy tale run of The New Generation! Baraka_MK & Onryo decided to go solo thereafter, with the goal of coming back together when they'd honed their technique. Instead, BMK found a new partner at Pre-Show 93, while Onryo sought Div.2 title glory. With his fortunes turning, Onryo announced he was ready to return to the Duo Division - and his old partner DECEPTION was happy to help! The former champions were dominant in their reunion, executing a comprehensive win over the New Gen nemeses! With the monkey finally off his back, "Mad Dog" Onryo celebrated the win like it was for gold, shouting "We did it! We did it!" as the arena erupted with applause.

5. United: Mime (c) defeated Banging in a solid win. [+1] [KFL Championship]
United: Mime drastically changed the picture for the KFL Championship in 2017 when he earned an unexpected title win on January 1st! The outgoing champ was Banging, but he soon bounced back, finding success as one-half of the reunited Pacific Connection! With his partner earning a individual title shot, Banging entered the annual American Dream Battle Royal, emerging a surprise winner to set up a belated rematch! The dominant champ wasn't quite prepared for the voracity of Banging's challenge! He was able to dig deep, earning a solid win.

4. Jammer2Omega & Porygonix defeated "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge in a close fought match! [+1]
In recent months the Duo Division has been dominated by a select few teams. So when a new tandem attempted to challenge the champions: Jason_Voorhees & edge took immediate offense! Unhappy that The Invasion presumed to represent Duo Division contention: Jammer2Omega & Porygonix stepped into a three-way feud that inevitably led them to The Invasion at Supercard 96! The two teams proved remarkably well matched, worthy of their status as two of the most respected Duo contenders in the league! At the end of the grueling brawl, it was J2O & Porygonix whose desire was just that little bit better served! They would have to wait until later in the night to see what would become of the Duo Division Champions when Jerrod & SubMan799 went for gold.

3. Statix, The_Hurricane & Violent`J defeated "The Invasion" DaemonX, Shen_DuHBK & AlbertBeefcake in a solid victory! [+2]
Statix & The_Hurricane probably thought they had the upperhand when they challenged DaemonX to a contest of trios. Arriving first in the arena, they were soon joined by surprise third-man and one-time Invasion fighter: Violent`J! The advantage quickly faded into insignificance when DaemonX introduced his unannounced partners: AlbertBeefcake and Shen_DuHBK! Albert disappeared while investigating The Invasion just before Supercard 93, which led Statix to take over the investigation, and begin a search for Albert. Their reunion was baffling as Albert showed his former friends nothing but aggression! It wasn't enough to earn The Invasion a victory in the match -- but the mental impact of his return clearly took tis toll on three shellshocked ICWW alum!

2. Baraka_MK & MKMaster defeated "Brexiteers" Liam & nif in a comprehensive result. [+2]
Since pairing up at Pre-Show 93: Baraka_MK & MKMaster have developed into one of the most exciting new combinations in the Duo Division! It was only a matter of time before The Brexiteers came calling to cut them off. There have been no shortcuts for Liam & nif, who've risen through the ranks through hard work and determination. Alas; that wasn't enough to suppress the pure energy propelling the dynamic new duo of BMK & MKM! They celebrated the win, but would be watching BMK's former teammates as they attempted to do what they couldn't by beating Mark & Leroy!

1. "Red Reign" Sekktor, redman & legoslayer10 defeated "The Invasion" Jauger, WilliamRegal & TripleH in a comprehensive victory! [+3]
Sekktor left this week's Monday Night Games furious with The Invasion's recent incursion on the weekly programme. Having missed out on Royal Roulette qualification at Pre-Show 96 (and Monday), Sekktor led Red Reign teammates redman & legoslayer10 in an intense contest of trios against Invasion pawns: Jauger, WilliamRegal & TripleH! The victory sent a strong message to The Invasion pawns, but their ringleader Loopster would escape reprisal, still to appear in the Royal Roulette match later in the night.