Supercard 97: All-Star Summer Showdown

The heat is on for the Supercard of the Summer! The mercury always rises to its apex in August when the biggest names in history converge for the All-Star Summer Showdown! The annual Great Arena spectacular brings blood feuds to the boil, dream matches to reality, and career defining moments that will echo through time. It's half-summer bloc party, half-championship play-off! All the titles will be on the line, but none is bigger than the Undisputed Championship main event! It's show time!

16. "The Chosen One" Damo (c) defeated "Champion of Champions" Poasty in a close fought match! [+1] [Undisputed Championship]

Everything about the Championship Preview preceding the match seemed to favour "The Chosen One" Damo, but there was just one flaw in the overwhelming advantage of his experience: Poasty already defeated him! As Division 2 Champion; Poasty won the clash of champs in the Second Round of the Mid-Year Grand Slam, inspiring the nickname of "Champion of Champions". He lost his title in a surprise upset at Pre-Show 96, but immediately bounced back with an unexpected victory in the 2017 Royal Roulette match! While Damo was dominated the gold, Poasty vowed to win it! An opportunity he simply couldn't pass-up, cashing-in on an opponent he knew he could beat!

Most years the Undisputed Championship is defined by two or three fighters, and Damo had proven himself a "Chosen One" with wins at The Spring Classic and Tower of Power XIX! The odds were in his favour, but Poasty has never cared much about odds. The blue chipper looked remarkably at home in the Summer main event, immediately going toe-to-toe with the champ! Every time Damo tried to exert powerful dominance over the match, Poasty found an energetic counter-attack! It truly looked as if The Champion of Champions might pull off the steal of the century, but The Chosen One was able to call upon an extra gear. It went down to the wire, but in the end, Damo secured the win!

With the crowd going wild, Poasty reluctantly offered his to Damo in a show of respect. They shook, but Poasty assured him that he'll be coming for the gold again. Damo raised his hand, confident in the knowledge his next challenge will be far more familiar when Supercard 98: Night of Champions VI brings former Undisputed Champions back for a shot at his title.

15. Mick's All-Stars defeated The Invasion in a Survival Sequence! [5-4]

1. Rockey316 (Mick) elim. Shen_DuHBK (Invasion)

2. Black Rook 1 (Invasion) elim. Rockey316 (Mick)

3. Violent`J (Mick) elim. Black Rook 1 (Invasion)

4. Black Rook 2 (Invasion) elim. Violent`J (Mick)

5. The_Hurricane (Mick) elim. Black Rook 2 (Invasion)

6. DaemonX (Invasion) elim. The_Hurricane (Mick)

7. Statix (Mick) elim. DaemonX (Invasion)

8. Genku (Invasion) elim. Statix (Mick)

9. Mick (Mick) elim. Genku (Invasion)

Survivor: Chairman Mick

After destroying DaemonX at Dead Or Alive V; "The Spirit of Vengeance" Michael Lucifer retreated from the fight to become an official behind The Great Arena. When Chairman Mick refused to show for Genku's challenge at Dead Or Alive X, it seemed he would never fight again. After six months of continuous verbal attacks from Genku, he resorted to flat-out calling Mick a failure and a coward. It was the last straw that finally got The Chairman to act - with a catch! Genku would have to earn his match by fighting through four ICWW All-Stars fresh from their 15th Anniversary at DOAX!

Rockey316's much publicized return at Dead Or Alive failed to produce a golden win, but as the first fighter in for Mick's All-Stars, he was in fine form! "Italian Bishop" Shen_DuHBK managed to get an early shot in, but it was all Rockey after that! The Invasion recruited their mysterious enforcers for the match, bringing Black Rook 1 in to quickly dismantle the tiring sensation. The arena lit up as Violent`J arrived, entering into an all-out back-and-forth war with The Rook! BR1 briefly had control, but the Y2Juggalo was able to fight back for the elimination! He had nothing left for Black Rook 2, though, gifting an easy out. The_Hurricane ran in to a punishing blow, but recovered to sweep away the second Rook. No such luck against DaemonX, who swiftly dominated Hurricane, taunting him over the July turn of his partner AlbertBeefcake! Statix picked up where his teammate left off, unleashing holy hell against The Invasion leader for a vicious elimination! This left only Genku, who had no trouble wiping out his old rival Statix! This set the stage for the fight everyone wanted to see! Chairman Mick charged in to Sudden Death, taking full advantage of Genku's prior skirmish. It was like a flashback to ICWW as The Chairman rained down blows on Genku! There was nothing he could do. For the first time in five years: Chairman Mick celebrated the 5-4 win over Genku and The Invasion, joined by his All-Star teammates!

14. CCShadow & Scott-Howell (c) defeated Ratt & NightHawk in a dominant victory! [+4] [Duo Division Championship]

CCShadow & Scott-Howell may be one of the veteran pairings in The Great Arena, but their second Duo Division Championship win at the 2017 Spring Classic came with some surprise. In the months since: they've established themselves as the new dominant pairing, but the surprise return of Ratt & NightHawk at Dead Or Alive X signaled fresh uncertainty from an All-Star rematch challenge! Ratt remains one of the most awesome Hall of Fame fighters in arena history, and with NightHawk, one of the few teams to have beaten Team Xtreme! They captured lightning in a bottle with their Ultimate Grand Prix VII championship win, but CCShadow & Scott-Howell's time was long coming! After a close fought series with The Pacific Connection, it was presumed Ratt & NightHawk would enter the match favourites. Much has changed in the last four months, though. CCShadow & Scott-Howell have perfected the winning formula of a champion team. In front of a stunned audience, they once again proved they're the best tandem in the league by upsetting Rattamania at the Supercard of the Summer! The Duo Division has come to be defined by dominant forces, and with this win, CCShadow & Scott-Howell announced themselves as the new dynasty to beat!

13. VenoMark defeated ElJobber in a heinous battle! [-1/-6] [Steel Cage Fight]

The Summer celebrations of the previous match dissipated as competitors entered the arena for a very different type of match. The ominous confines of the Steel Cage lowered as #1 Contender ElJobber found himself in unfamiliar surroundings with a confident opponent. VenoMark knew he would have to go to extremes to beat the Iron Man who took contention from him at Supercard 96. With an undefeated streak in the Steel Cage against some of the best in the league: VenoMark knew the risk would be worth it. ElJobber clutched steel bars with uncertainty, but when the bell rung, there was no time for caution. VenoMark charged his opponent, immediately turning their environment into an unforgiving weapon! ElJobber's experience allowed him to fight back, but the dismantling endurance of UGP Death Matches couldn't prepare him in the violent sprint of a Steel Cage Fight! VenoMark fought like there was no tomorrow. Both man bled that day, but it was ElJobber who was unable to stand. VenoMark emerged from the Steel Cage 5-0, with the soft metal of gold back in sight!

12. "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile defeated Kron in a spectacular victory! [+6]

The tone shifted for one of the more unique contests at this year's All-Star Summer Showdown. Hall of Fame legend Kron returned to action during the Mid-Year Grand Slam, where he found one of his toughest opponents in Quarter Finalist: CaTigeReptile. Knowing the result could've easily gone the other way, he challenged CTR to meet him again, and finally take the next step toward securing her place as a bona fide All-Star! The resulting rematch confirmed what many already knew! CTR was at her very best, seizing the opportunity to drastically reverse her tournament fortunes! Under the lights of the Supercard of the Summer, against one of the legends of competition, CaTigeReptile executed a dominant +6 victory! The Guardian celebrated her landmark win as Kron recovered from the impact, applauding the rise of the league's newest All-Star!

11. "The New Generation" DECEPTION & Onryo defeated "The 5 Minute Kismet" Baraka_MK & MKMaster in convincing fashion! [+2]

It was the loss that divided a generation: Baraka_MK and "Mad Dog" Onryo went to Ultimate Grand Prix VII to beat Mark & Leroy - but were stunned in an upset defeat! They split-up to better hone their fighting technique, but when Onryo was closing in on the Div.2 title, BMK found a new partner: MKMaster! Allegiances tore The New Generation apart, and while BMK & MKM failed to beat Mark & Leroy at Supercard 94 -- DECEPTION came to Onryo's aid, slaying their dragon at Supercard 96! BMK & MKM settled the score at Dead Or Alive X, but the perceived insult of The New Generation's one-upping celebration was already felt. At All-Star Summer Showdown, BMK & MKM were announced by a new name - The 5 Minute Kismet! The new-look team were strong, but not strong enough to mitigate the All-Star pairing of DECEPTION & Onryo! The former Duo Champs were back to their very best, writing their own destiny of victory!

10. "The Pacific Connection" Oozaru & Banging defeated Jammer2Omega & Porygonix and "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge in a spectacular 3way performance! [+2/-1/-1]

Ever since UGP7; The Pacific Connection has been on a whirlwind tour, defeating some of the very best teams the Duo Division has to offer! The rise of the classic combination and their championship series has put the pinch on rising pairs like Jammer2Omega & Porygonix, and Invasion rivals Jason_Voorhees & edge! With Oozaru & Banging missing out on gold at Dead Or Alive X, the target was on their back! The rivalry between The Connection's opponents played to their advantage as they revisited their Supercard 96 grudge! J2O & Pory managed to neutralize The Invasion, but the effort expended took its toll. The Pacific Connection navigated their way to a strong All-Star victory!

9. United: Mime (c) defeated Evil AlbertBeefcake in a comprehensive win. [+1] [KFL Championship]

The United's domination of The Invasion earlier in the night seemed like a good omen for reigning KFL Champion Mime. The champ himself has been dominant since capturing the gold at Ultimate Grand Prix VII, but in Evil AlbertBeefcake he faced an unknown. Albert was once a sworn enemy of The Invasion, but after disappearing suddenly, he returned at Supercard 96 by their side! Victory at Pre-Show 97 secured Evil AlbertBeefcake the opportunity to corrupt the KFL gold, but Mime would not be so easily bamboozled! He retained against Rockey316 ten days prior at Dead Or Alive X, and put on another All-Star performance at the Supercard of the Summer! The result was never in doubt as Mime cruised to his ninth consecutive defense! A result that could've been far more painful!

8. Marz defeated United: The_Purple_Bunny in a comprehensive victory! [+7]

Before the 2017 Royal Roulette match; the paths of Marz and The_Purple_Bunny had rarely had reason to cross. As one-half of Team Xtreme, Marz set records in The Great Arena as Duo Division Champion. With his surprise entry into Royal Roulette, he revisited days as a record-setting ICWW World Champion! Celebrating ICWW's 15th Anniversary at Dead Or Alive X: Marz faced the other runners-up in a three-way, bundled out by The_Purple_Bunny on a quest for his 7th Undisputed Championship reign, in 2017! Attempted payback at Pre-Show 97 saw Team Xtreme suffer a rare loss at the hands of United All-Stars! A fire was lit under Marz that could not be denied come All-Star Summer Showdown! The_Purple_Bunny was arrogant, clearly under estimating his legendary opponent! Marz took full advantage, calling upon years of Hall of Fame experience to dominant TPB with a heinous +7 impact! An All-Star victory that left The_Purple_Bunny livid!

7. "The Predator" TonyTheTiger defeated "Red Nightmare" LordSkarlet in a comprehensive victory! [+3]

LordSkarlet has become a self-styled "Red Nightmare" for the fighters of The Great Arena, but its his own recurring horror he blames for stalling a Red Reign. He defeated TonyTheTiger at the 2015 All-Star Summer Showdown, but The Predator has continued to periodically disrupt his path ever since! He memorably sent LordSkarlet on a downward spiral after Ultimate Grand Prix VI. During his comeback in the 2017 Royal Roulette match -- history repeated itself. Payback was supposed to be swift and brutal after making TTT run the Red Reign gauntlet, but TonyTheTiger was destined to cause more upset for The Red Nightmare. The Predator was well prepared, executing a defensive-offense that cost LordSkarlet +3 impact! Salt in the wound of a demoralizing defeat!

6. Shinnokxz (c) defeated "Wild Pegasus" Zentile in a solid win! [+3] [Division 2 Championship]

An ability to fight on the edge led Zentile to two memorable reigns as Div. 2 Champion during last year's title blitz -- but his high-risk style has been slowly catching up with him! "Wild Pegasus" earned a title opportunity at the last minute, unseating favourite contender G0LD at Pre-Show 97! It was recovery from DOAX disappointment, but the instability of his style was evident when he came to All-Star Summer Showdown! Shinnokxz arrived at the big show untested, having been a surprise title winner at Pre-Show 96: Heat Up Scramble. Zentile presented a legitimate concern to the new champ, but when push came to shove, Shinnokxz pushed harder! A stunning +3 impact confirmed Shinnokxz was no mere fluke! A punishing result pushing Zentile precariously close to the edge!

5. The United defeated The Invasion in a dominant Survival Sequence! [5-2]

1. zelse (United) elim. Zengeance (Invasion)

2. zelse (United) elim. TripleH (Invasion)

3. WilliamRegal (Invasion) elim. zelse (United)

4. Murdoink (United) elim. WilliamRegal (Invasion)

5. Murdoink (United) elim. Jauger (Invasion)

6. Loopster (Invasion) elim. Murdoink (United)

7. Mimik (United) elim. Loopster (Invasion)

Survivors: Mimik, Artanix & Shoe

The Invasion were banished from Monday Nights at the beginning of the year, but Loopster found a vulnerability in The United in July, that he attempted to widen with a new front. A United broken by injury and in-fighting weren't there to defend, but the return of Shoe rallied the troops, leading to a dominant win in a round of VS United! Loopster managed to persist, leaving the last course of action to be a 5-on-5 Survival Sequence! Beleaguered rookie, zelse, led the charge in his first All-Star Summer Showdown, earning two stunning eliminations! WilliamRegal quickly stemmed the flow for The Invasion, but Murdoink obliterated him just as fast! Jauger managed to force Murdoink to work hard for his second elimination. Loopster effortlessly picked off Murdoink, but was no match for The United's Hall of Fame heavyhitter: Mimik! A stunning 5-2 result saw Shoe & Artanix join Mimik in celebrating The United's dominant victory in the Survival Sequence!

4. Benjamin defeated King Ken in a comprehensive result. [+2]

Coming out of Royal Roulette; Benjamin and King Ken had a common enemy in TonyTheTiger. Efforts to resolve the three-way issue quickly turned the pair against each other as Benjamin brushed Ken aside. A rematch further reinforced Benjamin's ability to out muscle King Ken, but throughout 2018, he's been a man torn between individual and tandem disciplines. Ken took advantage of this, crushing Benjamin with the aid of Bee_07, after bouncing back at DOAX! With Ben's lot in the duos dashed, the stage was set for the ultimate showdown! They've been comparable in so many ways, but King Ken's legendary career has always been undermined by failing to win big. Benjamin rose to the occasion, earning a comprehensive victory on the big Summer stage!

3. "Red Reign" Sekktor & legoslayer10 defeated "The Greek Crisis" maxilos & proXade in convincing fashion. [+1]

Six months ago The Greek Crisis were on a path of revolution as one of the top teams in the Duo Division. The high of participating in Tower of Power XVIII soon turned to a tragic low when the early stages of The Red Reign delivered a devastating defeat as unannounced challengers! The six month journey back for proXade finally came to an end as he and maxilos proudly marched into the arena! legoslayer10 had to play substitute in the comeback grudge match: The Red Reign suffered a karmic loss in April when hydraslash became victim of his own brutal injury! The change in line-up didn't diminish their team credentials. Sekktor & legoslayer10 reprised the role of Summer winners. The reunited Greek Crisis never the less celebrated the glendi of their Summer return, making up for missing out at UGP.

2. Mark & Leroy defeated "Brexiteers" Liam & nif [+1]

Mark & Leroy were the benchmark squeezed between competing rivals at Dead Or Alive X and Royal Roulette. The legacy of their Ultimate Grand Prix VII excellence almost cost them, but a strong win at Pre-Show 97 saved their place at the All-Star Summer Showdown! Awaiting were a duo who've set the division on fire: The Brexiteers have established themselves as a Top 5 pairing through hard work and determination. That drive wasn't enough in a match that didn't really capture either team in their best light. It wasn't pretty, but a down and dirty struggle delivered Mark & Leroy another win to compliment their UGP success.

1. DArqueBishop eliminated Chromatose to win the Summer Elimination Battle Royal!

Battle Royal Eliminations:
1. Darfus elim. Red_Spaniard
2. Chromatose elim. Kiara85
3. Menas elim. McDaniel
4. NovaStarr elim. Nemesis316
5. DArqueBishop elim. Politics
6. Onimike elim. KombatKid
7. Onimike elim. redman
8. Menas elim. Darfus
9. Chromatose elim. Coltess
10. NovaStarr elim. Onimike
11. DArqueBishop elim. SubMan799
12. G0LD elim. ]{0MBAT
13. xort elim. Menas
14. Nephrite elim. Jerrod
15. Nephrite elim. xort
16. Chromatose elim. G0LD
17. NovaStarr elim. Nephrite
18. DArqueBishop elim. NovaStarr
19. DArqueBishop elim. Chromatose The big event atmosphere started to build as twenty fighters made their way into the arena for the opening salvo: a twenty-fighter Summer Elimination Battle Royal!

The heat was on as Kiara85 threw the opening blow, absolutely rocking Red_Spaniard! As the action erupted, it only took 31 seconds for Darfus to find his way to Red_Spaniard for the first elimination of the match! That was quickly followed with an act of karmas "The Sword of Europe" Chromatose cut down Kiara85 at the 62 seconds mark!

Onimike enjoyed a brief blitz in the first-half of the match, scoring back-to-back eliminations of KombatKid and redman! A surprise package also came from Menas, who outlasted partner Politics significantly, with an elimination of Darfus, to boot!

By the half-way point, it was becoming clear the match was a three-horse race between Chromatose, NovaStarr, and DArqueBishop. NovaStarr ended Onimike's exciting night to usher in the second half. DArqueBishop kept former allies turned Pre-Show rivals separated with an exit for SubMan799 at #11!

Top Division 2 prospect G0LD and Nephrite were able to exert some dominance around the middle of the battle. G0LD delivered chip damage to the top prospects in the match, finding time to eliminate ]{0MBAT. Nephrite got his licks in, chopping away at Jerrod and xort for two well earned elims!

Nephrite managed to hang in as part of the final four for a moment. He struck long time Fighter For Europe rival, Chromatose, with a punishing blow, before NovaStarr capitalized with a quick ambush elimination! The Sword of Europe paid her back in kind - delivering two hard shots that helped DAB secure the penultimate elimination! Chromatose attempted to cut DArqueBishop off immediately, but DAB was able to turn the tables! It took time to cut The Sword down, but persistence paid off with DArqueBishop securing the big win in the Summer Elimination Battle Royal!

Pre-Show 27: Dead Or Alive V

14. "Y2Juggalo" Violent`J (c) d. "The Godfather" Year of the DaMo [+2] [Undisputed Championship]
13. Michael Lucifer d. DaemonX [+MAX]
12. "The Pacific Connection" Oozaru & Banging (c) d. "The Suck Squad" Loopster & chaos_Drone [+4] [Duo Division Championship]
11. Jason Shamrock d. Statix [+1]
10. TheNomad d. The_Rock [+5]
9. Marz d. "The Red Cyclone" Shen_DuHBK [+4]
8. Rockey316 d. AlbertBeefcake [+1]
7. The_Hurricane d. Jesseman [+2]
6. Shaggy2Dope d. "The Rising Star" Dez-Burnett [+1]
5. SubScorpTile d. Jason_Voorhees & Zengeance [+1/--/-1]
4. "Catch 22" Ironize & AcidicWonder d. Rhyno & Grayback [+1]
3. "Y2K" Knickxasawrrrr d. The_Purple_Bunny [+4]
2. "Iron Man of War" Ratt d. Ken [+5]
1. The Great Genku d. ShawnMichaels [+1]

Supercard 13: Spirit of Vengeance!

October 2, 2011 -- On the Night of Barons, all hope seemed lost. A rebellion was launched, but what was the cost? Beaten by War, his "chosen" left in defeat. Kron's battle for truth would seem incomplete. Looking back at beyond, a final resort. A Spirit of Vengeance was what he was taught. A figure from past, enshrouded in dread. Forgotten long ago, sleeping as though dead. Walking a Highway to Hell, all dressed in black. Be forewarned, Michael Lucifer is coming back.

His pale skin was striped black, scorched by gods when he journeyed the Earth long ago. It was his education, his rite of passage. Tattooed into his flesh by lightning and cooled in rain... In my youth, I dared to challenge him. I thought it was fun and game, a perfect opportunity to make my name as a champion. How wrong I was. How wrong I was... I remember the war between the brothers. Mirror images, they fought within the flickering flame itself. Abel fought well, but his brother was always stronger... Always... You would be mistaken, to think this Spirit of Vengeance could be a tool in your war. Yea, he may help you at first, but he will not discriminate. He will not stop. He will not go back in the bottle so easily. Is it really worth it?... What makes you think he will even come? It has been many years since he was seen, or heard. The highway to hell is long! Do you think he'd really walk it for you ? Even Marz would struggle to pull that off!... It was nine years, in August, that it all started for me, but I suppose it's been longer than that. Maybe he knows. Maybe he really is coming back... I am The Nomad. I warn you.

Kron's ultimate trump card against the Baron of War is unleashed as The Spirit of Vengeance comes to The Great Arena! Kron can't afford to be distracted, though, as he fends off the challenge of War's disciple, ElJobber! Challengers will be in abundance at Supercard 13 as Ratt takes a second shot at ending the record setting reign of "The Unstoppable" Cr0w, while The_Purple_Bunny & Blaze do their best to unthrone the charmed combination of Hokey & Ninja_Mime! All this -- plus fierce feuds and a sixteen-person contender battle royale!

12. Ratt d. Cr0w (c) in a streak-ending +17 destruction of the Champion!
With a streak of twenty-five straight wins that include two tournament victories and seven championship defenses: "The Unstoppable" Cr0w has established himself as more than simply an Undisputed Champion! Representing the ultimate challenge in The Great Arena, his reign has taken on mythic proportions, inviting the brave and the bold of the fighting ranks to earn their right to challenge and break the streak! Ratt is a contender who has been there before, not just in a failed attempt to defeat the champion (Supercard 8), but as the title holder who surrendered the belt to Cr0w early in his terrific reign of terror, the result of victory at Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn. That win itself was the follow on to yet another earlier encounter, where Ratt defeated Cr0w in their first encounter, to rise through the Tower of Power to become Undisputed Champion for the first time.

Even with this impressive recent record against Ratt -- to say nothing of a string of victories that included a punishing defense against The_Purple_Bunny at Supercard 12 -- "The Unstoppable" Cr0w has been far from over confident. Where reluctance and tension have been evident in the past, the Champion has this time virtually prophecized his own doom, a fact well elaborated upon in championship previews. Would this be part of an elaborate tactic to unshake the "Iron Man" Ratt, or would the undying spirit of the former-champion continue the trend of change that saw Hokey & Ninja_Mime lose their Duo Division titles, while Ares Menschlich was unstuck by Lucifer?

Night of the Barons delivered Cr0w his most dominant victory as champion, but just as SC12 had suddenly arranged everything in its right place, Supercard 13 would see  that it all fell apart! As if to fulfill Cr0w's most grim expectations, his strength appeared sapped, the dream run at a heartbreakingly empty end. Ratt was in fine form for his big shot, but it was like a lamb to the slaughter. Seemingly spent, Cr0w crumbled before a shocking +17 decimation, not quite equal, but completely opposite to his last white hot defense. Cr0w's place in history is assured. His domination over the Undisputed Championship took it to a prestigious new level, adding a layer of intrigue unlikely to be soon rivaled. Victorious over Tournament 5 and Tournament 8 during his twenty-five fight win streak, Cr0w earns a place on record that may never be toppled. Of course, history will now remember Ratt as the man who broke the streak! A feat befitting of this "Iron Man," whose never-say-die attitude embodies the spirit to rise to these challenges, no matter how overwhelming they may be.

11. Mimik (#12) d. m0s (#13) to win the 16-person Battle Royale [26:05].
While Ares Menschlich offered a shortcut to the Undisputed Championship in the form of his lethal lottery, a sixteen-person Battle Royal would be the legitimate ticket toward top contender status! A rare opportunity, sixteen intertwined opponents were selected throughout the week, one of those being Tyrant-Cenobite, who was surprisingly absent from the final list in a repeat of the Supercard 4 incident that he famously accused ElJobber of perpetrating.

For the fighters who arrived through a random draw as expected, it was to be a fast paced contender brawl! TonyTheTiger (#1) had a hard slog of it, the unlucky fighter who drew #1, but managed to fight his way through the field with an impressive four eliminations in a twenty-five minute stint, taking him as far as the final three! Ken (#6) ran a respectable fifteen minutes, dominating old Battle Royal opponent STEROLIZER (#7) in his return to an embarassing forty-four second appearance. Toryn (#9) would do even better, however, lasting barely a single second, taken out of the battle as quickly as he appeared by DECEPTION (#4).

Porygonix (#14) was a surprise feature of the final four, nudging out Ghostdragon (#16) in a twist of fate. "Mr. Daruma" m0s (#13) would do his best as the last man standing against Mimik (#12), but Mimik's impressive charge through the ranks -- following his solitary "chosen" victory against Praga Conquette at Supercard 12: Night of the Barons -- continues unabated! As the new #1 contender, Mimik will ironically forego a clash with Baroness of Pestilence, Conquette, instead reserved a possible Championship match if he can beat the winner of Ares Menschlich's lottery!

Entry #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16

Fighter TonyTheTiger Jammer2Omega GreenLantern DECEPTION SlumDunk Ken STEROLIZER Pink_Ranger Toryn DeathScepter plfx Mimik m0s Porygonix CaTigeReptile Ghostdragon

Elim. #14 #1 #2 #6 #3 #9 #4 #7 #5 #10 #8 -- #15 #13 #11 #12

Eliminator Mimik TonyTheTiger TonyTheTiger TonyTheTiger Ken Mimik Ken TonyTheTiger DECEPTION Mimik DeathScepter WINNER Mimik m0s Porygonix Porygonix

Enter Time [07:20:05] [07:20:10] [07:21:35] [07:23:06] [07:24:36] [07:26:06] [07:27:36] [07:29:07] [07:30:37] [07:32:07] [07:33:37] [07:35:08] [07:36:38] [07:38:08] [07:39:38] [07:41:09]

Exit Time [07:45:37] [07:23:30] [07:25:24] [07:34:53] [07:26:51] [07:41:17] [07:28:20] [07:36:04] [07:30:37] [07:41:34] [07:38:35] [07:46:10] [07:46:10] [07:44:12] [07:42:54] [07:43:44]

10. Michael Lucifer d. Ares Menschlich in a +4 decimation!
As the Baron of War, Ares Menschlich has gone mostly unchallenged in his occasional outings. Having famously opted to forfeit out of his Tournament 1 (in time for the finals) due to lack of competition, he has gone unopposed in The Great Arena, suffering only one or two rare defeats outside it. A major proponent in the proliferation of combat as a means of finding peace in a post-invasion Cheevment Kingdom -- Menschlich has walked a fine line between administrator and enemy of the people of The Union of The Human League. His claim that there are no friends within the fighting ranks sparked antagonism for its justification for his manipulation of the league, which brought about the split of Supercard 6, and led to the brief exile of many fighters. Second only to Lord Mislukking, the Baron of War has earned the vengeance of many, not the least of which was Kron, who learnt the truth during his time in the realm beyond.

Once, Michael Lucifer had been much like Ares Menschlich. Covetting the purity of combat, Lucifer reigned over his own arena of fighting, many years ago. His story stretches deep into the past, with tales of a baptism by lightning, feuds with other forgotten warriors of the past, and a reign as champion as dominant as Cr0w's. A monolithic figure who grew weary with the endless cycle of violence he attracted, he disappeared for years, fading like dust in the wind, a forgotten spirit of vengeance. Discovered to have become a reclusive member of the 7 Masters, he is compelled to return once more, in the service of vengeance as Kron's ultimate trump card in the battle with the Barons!

Solemn and silent, Michael Lucifer returned. Looking down upon the Baron of War through blackened eyes, the years showed on the face of this tired Spirit of Vengeance. Any prospect of fatigue would rapidly dissipate as the battle between titans began! Ares Menschlich may have amassed significant powers, but against an opponent he knows nothing about, his art of war was for moot. If Kron's intent was to inspire hope through the recruitment of this power, then it was a terrifyingly effective choice. Michael Lucifer exhibited a strength drawn from the ages, powerful enough to threaten even Lord Mislukking, should the time ever arise! The time was now for Ares Menschlich -- and it came with a +4 decimation the likes of which the Baron of War had never seen!

The dirty deed done; Michael Lucifer left in silence, leaving behind the bloodied visage of the Baron of War as a graphic image worth a thousand very loud words. Uncharacteristically shaken, Ares Menschlich announced an almost desperate act! As if to respond to the shock decimation with a 'trump card' of his own, he announced a lethal lottery open to any fighter in The Great Arena! This draw would be a risk/reward lottery for a special October 9 event, intended to prove that the fighting ranks would always take the path of least resistance, condemning their fellows in the quest for glory. His lottery would grant the winner a match against the unofficial #1 contender, with the Undisputed Champion then facing the winner. For those unfortunate enough to miss out on this opportunity, a battle with Praga Conquette would await.

Lucifer is the third renegade member of the 7 Masters to appear in The Great Arena, following in the footsteps of Grandmaster Wah Hung-Shen and Aquilluxborg Hydroxybot! The 7 Masters have remained largely uninvolved since one of their number fell to Lord Mislukking during his rise and conquest. It remains assumed that hostilities with Mislukking extend to their number, but with only three of their order known, it goes without saying that agendas are as mysterious as the identity of their fellows.

9. The_Purple_Bunny & Blaze d. Hokey & Ninja_Mime (c) in a convincing win!
Since winning the Duo Division Championships in July (Pre-Show 9); Hokey & Ninja_Mime have lived a charmed existence. Defeating all challengers who've come before them -- the immensely dominant duo seemed fit to form a win streak comparable to the record setting solo champ, Cr0w! Their own record an impressive 15-1; Hokey & Ninja_Mime have even successfully done away with the one team to take their number, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon -- former champions who missed out on a rematch in their contender clash with the challengers, The_Purple_Bunny & Blaze!

Buoyed by The_Purple_Bunny's rapid rise to the top through Tournament 7; the challengers have a unique and brief pedigree that allowed them to leapfrog many of the top duos in the league, emerging as a major threat to the indomitable champs! Barely a month since her debut during Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles], Blaze has blazed a trail, setting her up as one of the fastest rising competitors to enter The Great Arena in any capacity! Combining with longtime friend and partner, TPB, Blaze contributes to what is truly one of the most intriguing combos to come about in recent times, destined to go above and beyond their Second Round exit from T9!

They might have paled during Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] -- an event eventually won by Hokey & Ninja_Mime -- but The_Purple_Bunny & Blaze would not disappoint with the top prize on the line! The stars were aligned for change as TPB & Blaze unleashed a shocking decimation upon their opponents, luck nowhere to be seen for the otherwise impressive Hokey & Ninja_Mime! Against any other combination, the champions would likely have found themselves retaining. TPB & Blaze confirm every suspicion about their potential, wildly powerful with their powers combined, even if the impact of victory kept to the standard, modest single notch! It is the end of an era, but the beginning of an intriguing new chapter for the Duo Division Championships!

8. CCShadow & Scott-Howell d. Murdoink & Baraka_MK in a narrow blockbuster finish!
The story of their collapse began at Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles], but it was Scott-Howell's callous victory over partner Murdoink (at Supercard 12) that confirmed the split of a combination widely considered the original product that gave us the Duo Division. Unable to secure the success expected of them, they collapsed, turning inward during the disappointment of T9. On this Highway to Hell, Howell and Murdoink revealed new partners at Pre-Show 13, seeing victories alongside CCShadow and Baraka_MK, respectively. The confirmation of this new chapter would inevitably bring former allies back into conflict, with the shock twist of a grander plan underlying Howell's betrayal as he teams with old friend and ally, CCShadow. Certain to be part of their sinister machinations -- the Duo Division Championships, sure to be a step closer with a win over Murdoink & BMK!

The two "new" combinations proved to be shockingly closely matched, befitting of the bitter feud! Undeniable was the captained importance of Howell and Murdoink, who lent serious Duo Division credibility to their less tested partners. Baraka_MK pushed his less-than obscure muscle behind the previously defeated Murdoink, but a sinister unity seemed present between CCShadow & Scott-Howell. Against the best wishes of the crowd, it would be they who would capture a big win, edging out their counterparts by the narrowest of margins! What ever the winners' plans might be, it would be clear they would go unchallenged -- for now.

7. ElJobber d. Kron in a massive hard fought battle!
A fighter of immense potential; Kron has taken the task of challenging Ares Menschlich and his fellow Barons in a crusade against overwhelming odds. This war of philosophy has spread beyond the revelation that Menschlich used his occult influence to tear the fighting ranks apart (at Supercard 6), spreading to renewed hostilities between "chosen" members of The Union of The Human League, who put themselves in the firing line to prove there is more at work within the ranks than a primitive self-interested compulsion to fight. Some fighters are happy to reinforce Menschlich's claim that there are no allies in battle. Fighters such as ElJobber, who has taken a razor sharp focus as he pursues a path of maximum impact on the way to the much sought Undisputed Championship.

This indulgence of raw, unfeeling combat pushed ElJobber to meet Kron for the first time ever at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown! In the service of the Baron of War, ElJobber fell in an exciting but comprehensive win for then-returning Kron. Now, with the battle against War commissioned to a secret warrior known as Michael Lucifer -- Kron is forced to again take up the challenge of the calculated battler -- ElJobber desperate to gain a victory over his newest rival!

The walls of The Great Arena would shake as these two immensely powerful fighters exhibited the near full extent of their abilities! The sequel to their first encounter would be every bit the blockbuster, going a step further than the original as ElJobber made an impressive challenge to the man who bested him in their first outing! Separating the two would be a mammoth task, both incredibly closely matched despite the high level competition! In the end, you might say it was ElJobber who had more to fight for. Going into overtime, the closely matched rivals exploded in a final exchange, with Kron coming up short, despite his incredible efforts. The victory not only secures ElJobber the win he so desired, but ideally positions him for another shot at the covetted Undisputed Championship!

6. Artanix & foahchon d. SubMan799 & Casselman in a close match.
The Duo Division has been electric since the conclusion of the thirty-two team elimination bracket of Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles]! Teams Agaper and Ops might have made for a compelling division unto themselves earlier in the event, but the competition demands a whole lot more than just two factions going at it! SubMan799 & Casselman have shaken off rookie status as their pursuit for Championship gold has developed into a more complete effort to round out their game. Reaching for that level, the pair set their sights on seasoned veterans, Artanix & foahchon, who themselves have taken steps toward immortality and arena glory!

Escalating the quality of duo competition beyond even those earlier performances, these two top teams made their case for greatness! Aspirations would have to wait, however, as SubMan799 & Casselman found themselves up against a team hitting their stride. Artanix & foahchon matched up well, led by an Artanix who has been in rare form since Tournament 7! In a well contested clash, the winners secured a close fought, but decisive result.

5. Bez Busshitsu d. Genku.
With a 3-1 spread against Kron's "chosen" -- the conclusion of Supercard 12: Night of the Barons left a dystopian feeling in the air. Kron would announce his intent to unleash his ultimate trump card, the titular Spirit of Vengeance from another time that would strike in the name of the people, but the marquee comeuppance promised to Ares Menschlich would only stretch so far. For Genku, the battle with the Four Barons has been a long and personal one, stretching back to March when he was driven to throw himself on the sword of Lord Mislukking (outside competition), only to be resurrected as one of his number, a Revenant puppet for the guarded Baron of Death, Sinvida Von Grimm.

An attempt at payback resulted in punishing rebuttal as Genku once again came face-to-face with the wicked Baron of Death, a cold and unfeeling monster with the power to decimate even the strongest in the League. This powerful defeat at Supercard 12: Night of the Barons left Genku defeated, but relatively unscathed and burning with the desire to fight back against these tyrants who've ruled the Cheevment Kingdom with intimidation and terror. Genku, though a member of Kron's chosen, would subscribe to no philosophy of selflessness. His motivation would be pure and simple and honest, a rage that would resort to a challenge against any of their number, if it meant a pound of flesh!

Going up against Bez Busshitsu, the first Baron (of Famine); Genku hoped to get some payback against an unwanted former partner, while also improving his chances at an all important victory. It is said that Busshitsu is the weakest of Mislukking's Horsemen, but alas, the once frail and feeble fiend has fed to the gills on the nutrition of others. Ballooned to new strengths, Famine is now a formiddable foe, and he demonstrated it with pleasure against a mid-strength Genku!

The Baron of Famine flicked and flecked at his opponent, doing a fine impression of a fighter in control of the fight, even though he had to fight for every inch. It seemed the fight with Death had taken something out of Genku, but even so, he was against able to mount a defense that would allow Bez Busshitsu nothing to boast in the conclusion of his victory. Genku may have lost the fight, but he would walk away from the fight far from defeated.

4. ZachAngel & Angelia d. Leroy & Mark in a close match.
With the stakes all tied up, it would be up to the leaders of the two groups to resolve what has become a major feud within the ranks of The Union of The Human League. Opposites destined to find each other in the battlefield as if by the will of fate itself; these members of Team Agaper and Team Ops have already gone head-to-head on several occasions prior! As recent as Pre-Show 13, ZachAngel struck a decisive blow against Leroy, fighting back to rectify a duo loss witness at Supercard 12! Before that, it was Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, where victory also went the way of Mark and Leroy, against ZachAngel and Angelia. After so many battles, after such a long feud, with their fellows becoming wrapped up in an ever expanding rivalry, could this truly be the end? The final note struck from something somehow related, but never identifiable as a Spirit of Vengeance?

Stepping up the fray to a level ever so slightly higher than even the previous encounter -- the captaining teams of Team Agaper and Team Ops took the fight to its logical conclusion! At the apex of their representing teams, the combinations elevated their game beyond anything known of them. It was hard, it was fast, it wasn an intense and bitter battle of inches, each fought for furiously. With the scoreboard even at 1-1, it was the Agaper faithful, ZachAngel & Angelia, who found a second wind, a divine boost in the dying moments of overtime. Hard fought, but even more convincing than their precursors, ZachAngel & Angelia sent the winning blow echoing throughout the arena. 2-1 would be the final countdown to Team Agaper -- a hard fought, oh so close victory for an emerging force within the fighting ranks!

3. Politics & Menas d. Celeste & ScottK in a narrow conclusion.
Moving up the chain from their Supercard 13 predecessors; the combinations of Team Agaper's Politics & Menas and Team Ops' Celeste & ScottK proposed a different class, all together. With a tour in The Great Arena that included appearances by both teams in Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] -- the action promised to be far more complex, and steeped in experience and skill, than anything their teammates displayed earlier on. Given their history in a near-draw encounter at Pre-Show 12, the rematch had blockbuster potential all over it!

Indeed, both teams showed why they're a cut above their predecessors! As if spurred on by the bitter rivalry boiling between both groups, the duos exhibited a stainless steal cleanliness in their approach that went beyond anything expected based on their previous encounter! Both teams looked good, but it was Politics & Menas who showed signs of cashing in on the potential that had been brewing in their previous outings! Their combination would not only produce a ever so slightly more convincing win over their Team Ops opponents, this time, but also send a jolt of electricity through their hopes to become Duo Division Champions any time in the future! 1-1 in this inadvertent series!

2. Hidin & Learn d. MinnyBean & rxvt in a narrow conclusion.
Competition between the ranks of Team Agaper and Team Ops has been a feature of several Supercard and Pre-Show events for some months. Tensions between the two factions appeared to arise out of nowhere, but the chemical differences between the fighting faithful and their administrative counterparts have seen fit to unfold one of the biggest wars The Great Arena has ever seen! Escalation would deliver three Duo Division battles to Supercard 13 as ZachAngel and Leroy & Mark pilotted their respective groups into the first all-out assault against one another!

Representing the less tested of the bunch, Hidin & Learn looked like easy pickings for MinnyBean & rxvt, even in spite of MB's relative inexperience and a long history of defeats suffered by rxvt. It was those defeats that may have very well taken a toll on the combination, ambushed by the freshness of the Team Ops assault! Hidin & Learn fought beyond their weightclass, executing with a clean efficiency that left the faithful searching for answers from above. First blood would go to Team Ops, a 1-0 lead in their inadvertent best-of-three scenario.

1. SmokeRulz d. DaMo & xtactics in a gruelling 3way.
?He's been making a name for himself as a specialist of the three-way match type, but against a couple of seasoned pros like DaMo and xtactics, could a fighter as fresh as SmokeRulz expect to exert any kind of experienced-based dominance? That was the test in the Vengeance opener, which saw the trio in an exhibition bout with its own pattern of intrigue to play out. Afterall; three-way combat has begun to emerge as something of an artform, demanding a dimension of additional depth to standard one-on-one battles. Strategies that see a single party isolated in the early stages mean there is a lot to consider in any one encounter -- and that would absolutely be true here!

A top ranking competitor who sometimes sneaks under the radar -- DaMo seized on an early opportunity as xtactics began to emerge as the weak link. SmokeRulz progressed with an air of confidence, afforded time to strategize while DaMo took xtactics out of the equation. The move clearly energized DaMo, but it was still SmokeRulz who managed to fend off any signs of fatigue, increasing his own powers to a degree that left DaMo the loser in a fast-paced war of attrition. Another valuable win for the three-way king!

Unofficial Rankings Update:
It was to be a night of vengeance, but instead, it was a night of change!
The dominant and unchallenged would finally be toppled as The Great Arena seemed to shed its skin in a single, dramatic shake! The_Purple_Bunny recovers well from his punishing rejection from the Undisputed Championship, picking up a fine consolation with Blaze in the form of the Duo Division Championships. Their victory set the tone for the event, unseating the seemingly unstoppable combo of Hokey and Ninja_Mime, who don't look likely to suffer too much for their loss -- still in the hunt for solo glory in a now uncertain picture.

It goes without saying that Ratt's defeat of Cr0w has completely rewritten the domain of the possible, returning an element of unpredictability to a championship field in danger of becoming stale. Cr0w will assume his place in history, while fighters keen to take their shot do so with renewed energy! After fighting his way from a generous entry point to take out the Battle Royal, Mimik is a well deserved number one contender. TonyTheTiger, the other Battle Royal competitor to make a case for himself, continuing a similar ascension that has seen TTT become one of the top predators of The Great Arena! He's positioning himself well for a future assault, but nobody is as hot as Mimik right now! Nobody!...

... Except maybe ElJobber has kept himself in the hunt for the Undisputed Championship, and after picking up an impressive victory against Kron, lurks right on the periphery heading toward Ares Menschlich's special "Feast or Famine" event. Menschlich was, of course, another one of the dominants toppled, worthy of note even if it was one non-Union fighter taking down another.

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

At the behest of Ares Menschlich the game changes in unexpected ways!
Intent on proving the lowest truths about the fighting ranks, October 9 will unveil the fighters who submitted to a "lethal lottery" for a chance to compete for the Undisputed Championship! Feast or Famine will be the special event, where one lucky winner will face Mimik for the right to challenge "The Iron Man" Ratt for the Undisputed Championship -- while the rest suffer for their avarice at the hands of the disease spreading Praga Conquette -- Baroness of Pestilence!

Then the winners face the fallout of Feast or Famine as they countdown to Supercard 14 -- October 23! The action is coming thick and fast as the year begins to count down. PLUS! October 30 promises something dark and disturbing as whispers of the Devil's Night begin to spread!

ICWW: Aftershock (May 29, 2004)

Episode #48

RCA Dome, Indianapolis

Buddy Luv and Stat-Man were kicking it off in the RCA Dome for Aftershock, still reeling from the developments at Civil Action. Buddy Luv regretted to inform fans that earlier in the week children had been found to have been poisoned while in the ICWW arena. He assured fans that ICWW had resolved the matter privately, compensating the families for their stress and medical expenses.

In the gym, Superfly and Godfather approached Albert Beefcake and the Hurricane. Superfly asked Albert if he had any leads on where Rockey Rakesh may have been taken. Albert took a deep breath, and told Superfly that on Civil Action fifteen children were poisoned in the ICWW arena. He said that for all they knew, Rakesh had gone back to India to get advice about Daemon X from the wise yoga masters. Albert slammed the desk, and told them that the children were more important, before grabbing his trench coat off the rack and storming out.

Daemon X versus Marc Scott

The arena went cold and dark signaling the arrival of Daemon X. Marc Scott, whose form has been less than encouraging for the head-booker, made his way to the ring looking a little intimidated. The match kicked off, seeing Daemon X go right to work with an irish whip into a high leg clothesline. Scott rolled to the outside, prompting referee Acidic Wonder to start a count, which may have been faster than usual. Marc Scott rolled back, knocking Daemon X back with hard right hands before tying up with an STF. A slow count prompted Scott to get in the Wonder's face, leaving him vulnerable to a quick roll up cover. Scott and Wonder exchanged shoves after the match, seeing Acidic fine Scott for referee abuse!

Winner: Daemon X via pin fall [2:58]

The number one contender, Michael Lucifer, made his way into the arena only to be approached by Statix and the Nomad. Statix welcomed Michael Lucifer back, telling him that they'd missed him. Lucifer told Statix he knew it was him that had given Nomad the black king he received weeks ago, and he knew it meant he had finally joined he CEO. Statix told Lucifer he had had his eyes opened, and wanted to share that. A brawl erupted, seeing Lucifer battle off both the Nomad and Statix. Struggling to avoid the crushing blows, Lucifer was forced to flee as soon as he found an advantage in the fight.

Superfly versus Jason Shamrock

Hardcore champion Jason Shamrock looked to keep up his form, facing off against a concerned looking Superfly. The zenlightened one was able to channel that aggression clearly, taking it before he could unleash his impressive strength seen in recent weeks. The fight was far from a wrestling match, deteriorating into an outright brawl. As the blows sent Shamrock out the outside, the two battled to the outside, being counted out much to the shock of Jason Shamrock!

Winner: Double count out [3:19]

In the back, Banging was heading toward the entrance when he was stopped by Steven Oozaru. Oozaru put his arm out to stop Banging from walking away, and told him he knew he was getting through. The Aussie colossus told Banging that he didn't have magic or voodoo to break Daemon X' hold, but he didn't need it, because they were more than a team, they were brothers. Banging turned to look at Oozaru, before heading onward to his match.

The Nomad versus Banging

Enter the Nomad for the first of the night's matches for the suited duo. X-division champion Banging faced off against Nomad, who was heading into the match with a focused approach. Hard right hands were the recipe of the day, seeing the Nomad attack with a linear approach. Banging's speed proved to be a great advantage, seeing him go off the ropes with a running head scissors. Daemon X made his way to the ring to play distraction, giving Banging the opportunity to make the cover.

Winner: Banging via pin fall [3:42]

A knock on the office door was followed with Paul Heyman entering to talk to head- book, Violent J, about the night's headlining match. He said that the bad blood running between Michael Lucifer, Rhyno and Marz was the ideal basis for a high quality contender re-match. Violent J said that it did seem that Marz lost unfairly, and agreed it would probably help his approval rating. He consulted Hulk Hogan, before erupting into cackled laughing. Heyman half laughed, before backing out.

Amazing Red versus Statix

The light heavyweights were on show, as International champion, Statix, took on Amazing Red in one on one competition. The lightest superstar in the industry looked to continue his giant killer ways, taking on the world champion. Statix was too much for him however, completely shutting him down with devastating kicks and right hands. A thrust kick to the mid-section took the wind out of his sails, allowing Statix to finish the match with a modified oshi.

Winner: Statix via pin fall [5:13]

In the parking lot Jason Shamrock was heading toward his car when he discovered Daemon X and Banging waiting. Daemon X told Shamrock that he shouldn't have been shocked, because he knew what the deal was. Daemon X began to chant when suddenly the lights and horns of the surrounding parked vehicles began to flash and beep. Shamrock backed off, running back to the arena, but not before Daemon X told him if he wasn't going to co-operate, he'd see him on Civil Action.

International Championship contender match

Rhyno versus Michael Lucifer versus Marz

The night's headliner saw the spirit of vengeance going on the attack as Rhyno made his way to the ring. Having lost the hardcore title in a bloody steel cage match against Rhyno, Lucifer looked to be intent on extracting some revenge. The Dark Lotus, Marz, was content with letting them beat each other down, before finally heading to the ring. In-ring, Marz and Lucifer did the double team on Rhyno, before turning on each other. Lucifer sent him reeling with throat thrusts, but the experienced Marz was able to counter Lucifer's assault, taking him out with a sweeping kick and following it up with the phoenix splash. Rhyno tried to capitalise with a cover, but Marz wasn't letting him have it the easy way. Turning his attentions to Rhyno, knocking him back with the shotei palm! Lucifer looked to take Marz down with the chokeslam, but was attacked from behind by Rhyno! Turning his attention around, Lucifer slammed Rhyno with a chokeslam, but fell victim to the springboard kick and a cover.

Winner: Marz via pin fall [11:02]

Marz slipped to the outside, having the referee raise his arm on the outside, making him the new number one contender for the International championship. Lucifer stood in the middle of the ring, pointing out at Rhyno and Paul Heyman with a look of death on his face, as Aftershock came to an end.

Special mention:

Daemon X continues to intimidate Jason Shamrock, promising to see him next week!

ICWW: Civil Action (May 25, 2004)

Episode #43

Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

Buddy Luv and Stat-Man were pumped with the Indianapolis crowd right behind them. Later in the night a match to decide the number one contender for the International championship between Michael Lucifer and Marz, plus a whole range of action. Stat-Man turned his attentions to the International champion, Statix, and asked what his agenda might be during the night. Buddy Luv said he wasn't sure, but was keen to learn more not just about Statix, but about Daemon X also.

In the lobby, Violent J was mixing it up with the fans, handing out "Violent J #1" balloons to fans when Hulk Hogan approached. Fans shouted out to the Hulkster while he told Violent J that Superfly and Godfather were requesting a tag team match against Daemon X and Banging. J told Hogan that he'd be back in the office after he'd finished pumping up his approval rating.

The Nomad versus Jason Shamrock

The in-form hardcore champion, Jason Shamrock, looked to take on the Nomad, new image and all. Nomad came in hard and unforgiving, but as in past weeks, Shamrock was fighting like a man possessed, unloading with fists of steel. Nomad was trapped in the corner, giving Shamrock total control. Nomad proved to be a solid challenge, taking it to Nomad with various martial arts kicks, but in the end, Shamrock's managed to pluck victory from the hands of the Nomad, scoring the belly to belly.

Winner: Jason Shamrock via pin fall [3:26]

In the locker rooms Paul Heyman had a look of utter disbelief as he was standing with Rhyno. He told his client that he wasn't scheduled in a match, probably because he was too much of a disappointment. Heyman told Rhyno that his loss to Shamrock last week was an embarrassment. He told Rhyno that everything the campaign of pain had done for them was wasted. Passion spilled into Heyman's voice as he continued the verbal battering, telling Rhyno that there was no way he was going to be able to negotiate any kind of rematch with Violent J. He told his client that if he was going to salvage his career, he was going to have to make an impact then and there.

Amazing Red versus Marc Scott

Acidic Wonder was in the black and white, refereeing the match against Marc Scott and the light heavyweight red tornado, Amazing Red. Scott did his best to keep the tornado contained, working the suplexes and trying to keep him on the mat. Inevitably Red got control of the match, taking it to Scott with the running head scissors takedown. Looking to save grace, Marc Scott dropped an low blowed his opponent, prompting the Wonder to get in his face. The distraction gave Amazing Red the time he needed to roll him up. After the match, Marc Scott continued the argument, crying foul.

Winner: Amazing Red via pin fall [4:23]

Albert Beefcake was backstage, still bandaged, playing the role of roving reporter with Michael Lucifer. Albo asked the spirit of vengeance how he was feeling after the devastating assault he suffered at the hands of Rhyno in a steel cage. Lucifer told him that taking a week off was the best thing he could've done, because not only did he feel he had recovered from the cage match, he was feeling back in his peak. The Beefer asked how he felt about the International championship match against Marz later in the night. Lucifer told him that he and Marz had clashed many times, and he was more than ready to take care of him.

The Hurricane versus Hulk Hogan

The Hurricane took on Hulk Hogan, who worked the Indianapolis Hulkamaniacs, winding it up before turning his attention to the Hurricane! The two tied up, quickly trading right hands back and forth, until Hogan was able to over power his opponent. Hulkamania was runnin' wild, as the Hurricane tried for a cross body, only to be caught with a fall forward powerslam. Hurricane managed to kick out of a cover, and come back, hitting the ropes and catching Hogan with the floating neck breaker. It wasn't enough, Hogan countered the eye of the hurricane into the ropes, catching him with the big boot and finishing it off with the Hogan leg drop.

Winner: Hulk Hogan via pin fall [5:19]

Jason Shamrock was dressed and heading for parking lot, when Daemon X and Banging cut him off. Daemon X admired his hardcore championship belt, and congratulated him on his recent luck. Shamrock asked him what he wanted, and DX smiled, and told him that what he was after was simple. He said that it was time to give the devil his dues, Shamrock shrugged the pair off, and continued toward the parking lot, leaving Daemon X to laugh as he and Banging headed off.

In the ring, Superfly jumped on the microphone, and called Daemon X and Banging out. The occult duo made their way to the ring, coming face to face with Godfather and Superfly. Superfly told them that he had told Rockey Rakesh that everything was going to turn out fine, and he didn't like to be made a liar. He challenged Daemon X telling him that if they win their match, he would have to return Rockey Rakesh.

Superfly & Godfather versus Daemon X & Banging

DX and Banging wasted no time going on the offensive, attacking the zenlightened team without remorse. The referee got control of the match, leaving Godfather and Banging to exchange blows. Godfather countered the Samoan drop attempt, gaining the upper hand over the X-division champion, Banging. Daemon X made the tag, seeing him take control of the match. Leveling both superstars, it was Superfly who would be on the receiving end of the dust to dust. As the time ticked on, Godafther interfered when Daemon X looked for the pin, seeing Banging go up top to nail him with a flying heel kick, but Banging hit Daemon X! Superfly managed to score the cover. Superfly and Godfather headed up the aisle, while Daemon X was left in disbelief at his partner's grave mistake.

Winner: Superfly & Godfather via pin fall [0:00]

During the interval between matches, a commotion broke out in the crowd. ICWW officials were rushed to ringside, as children in the front row were found to be convulsing. The staff were able to help them, escorting them out of the arena through the backstage superstar area. Buddy Luv and Stat-Man were able to inform fans that the children had been taken to hospital for caution, and ICWW was going to pay expenses, and give them tickets to ICWW: Extinction Agenda.

International number one contender match

Marz versus Michael Lucifer

The night's headliner kicked off as Marz and Michael Lucifer faced off to name a number one contender for the International championship. Lucifer was in dominating form, striking out with throat thrusts, but Marz wasn't going down without a fight. Marz was able to take it to the mat with a dragon screw, catching Lucifer with the springboard kick on his way up. It wasn't enough to keep the big man down, who continued the assault despite being thrown over the top more than once. The devil driver was the exclamation point when suddenly Rhyno and Heyman ran down to the ring! Rhyno attacked Lucifer, before nailing him with a powerbomb! The referee had no choice but to disqualify Marz, making Lucifer the winner.

Winner: Michael Lucifer via disqualification [4:29]

With the match over, Marz battled Rhyno and Heyman with them having cost him his championship shot. Michael Lucifer recovered in the ring, while Civil Action came to a close. Buddy Luv against assured everyone the children were fine, and promised big action on Aftershock Friday.

Special mention:

The spirit returns, only to re-affirm his position as a force to be reckoned with!

ICWW: Kingdom Come (2004)

Tiger Stadium, Detroit

Buddy Luv and Stat-Man were on their feet, welcoming fans to the first main event since the return of regular ICWW programming. They were pumped for the show ahead, with some big feuds coming to a head after a month of tension. They looked forward to the tag team championship match, the first match booked for the event. Also high on the list the cage match between Michael Lucifer, and Michigan native Rhyno; the X-division title on the line between two bitter rivals in Banging and Rockey Rakesh; and the big one of the night, the headliner that would see either Violent J walk out of a no contest, or Statix would return.

Marz versus Amazing Red

Events kicked off with a big opener featuring the smallest superstar in ICWW history. Amazing Red had challenged Marz earlier in the week, perhaps not knowing what he was getting into. The two started things slow, exchanging grapples before Amazing Red sped the pace up. Red went up top catching Marz with a high flying moonsault. Marz, looking stiff tried to over power his opponent, dropping him with a spiral powerbomb. It wasn't enough to take care of the speedy superstar, who was able to hit the tornado driver, following it with a standing star press and a strong cover. Marz was clearly unhappy after the match, while Amazing Red celebrated the biggest victory of his career.

Winner: Amazing Red via pin fall [5:14]

In the back, Albert Beefcake was with his partner The Hurricane, psyching themselves up for their big tag title defense. Hurricane asked Albert why he was wearing bandages up his arms. Albert informed his partner that he had sustained second degree burns during the week, but assured him that he'd be pumped for their match. Hurricane agreed with a concerned look on his face, giving Albert a thumbs up.

Hulk Hogan versus Jason Shamrock

Hulkamania was runnin' wild in Detroit, as he prepared to face a surprisingly in-form Jason Shamrock. Shamrock entered with confidence radiating from his being. Hogan wound his arm up, putting his hand to his ear, getting a huge crowd reaction. Hogan pointed at Shamrock, shaking his head in disapproval, only to have Shamrock turn it into an arm bar takedown kicking the match off. Hogan struggled against the technically sound Shamrock. Reeling from the assault, Hogan barely managed a press slam, but Shamrock was able to shake it off sooner than Hulk! The slam of the belly to belly suplex echoed through the stadium, mimicking the explosive match. Shamrock looked to finish the match up with an ankle lock, but Hogan was able to find the ropes! The Hulkster climbed to his feet and blocked a strike from Shamrock, shaking his head he blocked another punch, and another, but Shamrock was able to use lightning fast Thai kicks to set him up for another belly to belly and the cover.

Winner: Jason Shamrock via pin fall [4:53]

In the locker rooms the Nomad was stretching, taping his mid-section up. He looked stiff as the ICWW doctor gave him a final fitness test. With a shocked look on his face, the Dr. Sale told him that he was appalled that someone cleared him to wrestle so early in the week. He warned Nomad that it would be negligent for him not to tell him there would be chances of further injury if he did wrestle Marc Scott.

Tag Team championship

Superfly/Godfather versus Super Friends (c)

The long awaited Tag Team championships kicked off, pitting the champs against the starship zenlightenment. With hoes at ringside, Hurricane and Superfly kicked things off. The two light heavyweights were in their element, while their partners cheered them on. Hurricane broke ground with some quick paced moves, taking it to his opponent with a flying elbow off the ropes. Godfather made a blind tag, shifting the momentum to a much slower pace, as Godfather tried to use his weight advantage. After getting hammered down, Hurricane was able to make the tag, but Albert's arms proved a vulnerable area. After missing out with an Albo bomb, he tagged back, as did Godfather, allowing Hurricane to nail his opponent with a DVD. Fatigue was setting in on the super hero, who had spent most of the match in the ring. He managed to get Superfly down, and dragged him to his feet only to give a thumbs up, and hit the eye of the hurricane! Albo was unable to have his arm raised, as the referee awarded the win.

Winners: Hurricane & Albert Beefcake via pin fall [11:48]

In the offices Violent J was with Hulk Hogan and Marc Scott. Scrunched up styrofoam coffee cups littered the office, making a crunch every time Violent J paced back and forth over them. Speaking quickly, Violent J appeared frantic, quoting Hogan's loss as a bad omen for him. He grabbed Hogan and shook him, screaming in his face that Marc Scott would probably lose, and then asked if Statix would show up. Marc Scott calmed him down, and told him he always had a contingency plan. Scott told Violent J that it was him driving the car that hit the Nomad, and he had a phony doctor clear him to wrestle. Violent J started to giggle, building into insane laughter. Hogan and Violent J laughed together, while Marc Scott slipped off his jacket, and headed out in his trunks for his match.

Marc Scott versus The Nomad

The Nomad got a big reaction, his first match in almost a month. The Detroit crowd had no love for Marc Scott, sending a wave of heckles as the smug superstar strutted to the ring. The referee warned both wrestlers that he wanted a fair fight, telling them he wouldn't hesitate to disqualify either. The two danced around the ring, Marc Scott making the first moves with a hard grapple into a fisherman suplex. Nomad kicked out of the early cover straight away, heading to the corner to refresh himself. The dancing continued, seeing Nomad make the first move this time with a charging forearm. As the match went on, Scott started to show signs of his own problems, possibly from the defeat at the hands of Rhyno. The triple German suplex seemed to take a lot out of Scott, allowing Nomad to hit a running powerbomb. With Scott down, Nomad went on the offensive, making the cover, using the ropes for leverage. The referee didn't see it, handing Nomad the victory. Marc Scott blasted Nomad from the ring, as he retreated up the aisle tapping his head in a taunting fashion.

Winner: The Nomad via pin fall [6:12]

Paul Heyman asked Gregory Helms what his problem was, seeing Helms hunched over out of breath in the back. Helms huffed out that he was an asthmatic, prompting Heyman to snatch the microphone in disgust and conduct the interview with his client himself. Heyman asked Rhyno what it was like to finally return to his hometown of Detroit city. Rhyno told Heyman with a grunt, that it didn't matter where he was. Heyman reiterated, telling Rhyno that he was exactly right, because he was a gladiator, and a gladiator didn't care about his arena, all he cared about was victory. Heyman quoted, "There's more at stake than titles on the line, life's the prize this time!" Rhyno nodded and snarled, and Heyman backed off. Shouting into the mic. Heyman warned everyone that the Rhyno was getting to rampage, so they should stay away.

X-Division championship

Banging versus Rockey Rakesh (c)

The crowd erupted as X-division champion, Rockey Rakesh, ran his way to the ring, looking brave. The firecracker hit the ropes as Banging stalked his way to the ring, an eerie in the air. In the ring, Banging tilted his head and stared at the champ, as the bell sounded. Banging wasted no time, attacking Rakesh with a spinning heel kick, before shooting him into the ropes and hitting a Samoan drop. As the match continued, it spilled to the outside, seeing Banging fly over the top rope with a death defying swan dive. On the outside, the assault continued continued as both superstars invariably used the steel ring steps as weapons against each other. With their bodies broken, Banging tossed Rockey Rakesh into the ring, going up top for a shooting star press. With Rakesh someone making it to his feet, Banging was able to take advantage of his stupor, hitting the Kiwi bomb for an easy roll up.

Winner: Banging via pin fall [5:15]

With Rakesh in the middle of the ring, Banging raised his newly won x-division title above them both as the lights began to flicker on and off. Through the darkness, Daemon X seemed to float down from the closed roof. Floating above Banging and Rockey Rakesh, Daemon X' chanting echoed through the arena. Banging removed his mask, and bowed when all of a sudden a bolt of lightning struck him! He howled in pain, while Daemon X floated down to the ring. Suddenly at the entrance way Steven Oozaru appeared, racing down to the ring! He tossed Daemon X and Rockey Rakesh to the outside, and looked at Banging, staggering back in shock.

Steven Oozaru versus Daemon X

Banging ran to the back with the X title, while Daemon X ambushed Oozaru from behind. Daemon X clubbed down on Oozaru with double axe handle smashes, before catching him on the turn around with a Capoeira style helicopter kick. The Aussie giant managed to gather himself, asserting with high impact moves. Rakesh was carried to the back by medical staff before Daemon X was tossed over the ropes. On the outside Oozaru looked to do some damage, but fell victim to the speedy skills of the occult Daemon X. X landed well placed chops, before rolling back in the ring to avoid the count out. DX took to the mount position, pounding down on Oozaru with hard right hands, before setting him up against the ropes for the dust to dust, and a cover.

Winner: Daemon X via pin fall [3:22]

Albert Beefcake was with Marz for an interview after his loss to Amazing Red. Marz told Albert Beefcake that he didn't care about losing to Amazing Red, because he was irrelevant to his goals. Marz turned to Albert and asked, "what about Marz? What are his goals?", Marz told him that his goals were closely related and they involved beating down his idiot former partner Violent J, and taking back the title that was rightfully his, the International belt. Albert let out a "rar", before Marz asked him what smelt like Bacon. Albert told Marz he had second degree burns on his arms.

Rhyno made his way to the ring accompanied by Paul E. as the ominous steel cage lowered around the ring. A mixed reaction from the home crowd for Rhyno. Heyman slipped out of the ring as the cage was secured, still barking advice to his client. He was interrupted as the spirit of vengeance and hardcore champion stepped out at the entrance way to a huge ovation. As he headed to the cage door, Lucifer glared down at Heyman, who backed off.

Steel cage Hardcore championship

Rhyno versus Michael Lucifer (c)

Lucifer stepped through the ropes, and unclipped his belt staring over at Rhyno. The manimal pounded his own chest, before charging at Lucifer, tying him up in the corner while the champ used his leverage to push Rhyno back by the face. The two heavyweights exchanged blows, shaking the cage with each. Rhyno looked for the gore early, but Lucifer was able to use the cage to keep his balance avoiding it. Lucifer struck out with throat thrusts, getting slammed face first into the cage and busted open. The hardcore champ looked in bad shape as the manimal pounded down on him, nailing him with a devastating powerbomb. With nowhere to go, Lucifer tied up and managed to nail him with the devil driver! Lucifer had to use the cage to pull himself up, blood streaming down his face like never before. Heyman did distraction duties, taunting Lucifer from the outside. Lucifer leaned against the cage and stared out to Heyman with dead looking eyes, turning around only to get nailed with the gore. Rhyno dropped his full bodyweight down, getting the cover.

Winner: Rhyno via pin fall [8:52]

As the cage raised, Heyman jumped into the ring and celebrated the victory with Rhyno. Heyman held the belt above Lucifer, and shouted taunts at him, stomping down on the fallen superstar. The referee ushered Heyman and Rhyno out of the ring, while the Detroit crowd booed them. The medical staff had were making plenty of dough, helping the decimated Michael Lucifer out of the ring.

The Y2Juggalo countdown sent the arena into a frenzy as the headlining match was ready to get underway. Violent J strolled out of the ring with his International championship over one shoulder. With no sign of Statix, the atmosphere was tense. Violent J paced in the ring, while the gentle rumble of chatter filled the arena. Minutes seemed like hours, when suddenly green lasers covered the entrance, signaling the arrival of Statix! The sensation stepped out at the entrance way wearing a suit and tie with his hair slicked back, as the crowd went wild!

International championship

Statix versus Violent J (c)

Violent J slipped out of the ring as Statix marched down to the ring. Statix stood staring down at the world champ, a look of disgust making it's way across his face. The referee told J to get into the ring, with bell having already sounded. The champ slipped into the ring, only to be nailed with a stiff jaw breaking right hand from Statix. As J struggled to get to his feet, Statix followed it up with a boot to the ribs. The referee held Statix back, warning him to let J up. J made it to his feet, and nailed Statix in the gut before dropping him with a spike DDT. As the match continued, Statix showed an aggression like never before. Violent J was bleeding from the mouth as he continued to use punches and kicks to pound down on Violent J, before dropping him with the blood bomb. Violent J kicked out of the cover, only to get pounded with a shot to the throat, and tossed across the ring. Violent J was in next week, as Statix nailed him with a spinning back heel.

Winner: Statix via pin fall [10:10]

Statix slung the International championship over his shoulder, and slid out of the ring, marching back to the backstage area. Violent J staggered to his feet, and beckoned for a microphone. With his equilibrium barely existent, Violent J shouted at Statix. Telling him it was going to end like that, and demanding he come back and face him. Statix turned, with another look of disgust on his face as Violent J dropped to the ground.

Buddy Luv and Stat-Man could hardly believe what they were seeing, erupting with shock over what they had witnessed. Stat-Man said statistically speaking, Statix had completely changed the game. Buddy Luv couldn't help but agree, adding his shock for Daemon X' actions. He asked what would become of Rockey Rakesh, Michael Lucifer and where would the campaign of pain go next? They urged everyone to find out on Civil Action, wrapping up Kingdom Come for another year.