Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Tournament 81: Mid-Year Grand Slam - Day 2

Day 2 of the First Round introduced some of the first major upsets to the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam! The random draw loaded up the second-half of the bracket with ten fighters featured at Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX! This included a Round 1 rematch showdown between C7 qualifier MKMaster and Tower gatekeeper Statix! A surprise win for MKM, who could be a dark horse given his Runner-Up appearance at the 2017 Grand Prix Warm-Up!

By far the biggest shock exit of Day 2 was Genku! His recent woes went from bad to worse when he stumbled through a devastating loss to Darfus! There was also some surprise when returning Hall of Famer Ratt received a walkthrough to the Second Round! Officials announced the late withdrawal of "Red Nightmare" LordSkarlet, whose recent heavy schedule included a MAX Damage loss at Supercard 93, and a Steel Cage fight at Supercard 94 that left him hurting worse than the loser!

The_Purple_Bunny and Baraka_MK contributed to the brutality of the first round, executing hard hitting wins to the tune of +18 and +14 impacts respectively! Top seeds ElJobber (#2) and VenoMark (#3) passed through the first time with comfortable wins over Menas and Kiara85.

The random nature of the draw nearly delivered an intriguing Round 2 scenario when Duo Division Champions CCShadow and Scott-Howell were drawn at close proximity. SubMan799 managed to eliminate CCS in a close fought match. Scott-Howell progressed with an impressive victory against Invasion leader DaemonX!

There are a lot of major contenders to watch in the second half of the draw! Other names of note making their way to Round 2 include: KFL Champion United: Mime"Y2Juggalo" Violent`J, DArqueBishopBangingJerrod, Porygonix, Benjamin and 2017 Fighter for Europe tournament winner Chromatose!

Tournament 81: Mid-Year Grand Slam - Round 1, Day 2:
33. VenoMark (#3) d. Kiara85 [+7]
34. kororaa d. "Big Johnny" Bofh [+1]
35. Sgtf d. BilboFett [+1]
36. Maridany d. Rhyno [+2]
37. Kairyu d. lita83 [+1]
38. VR-FIST d. J1sy [+1]
39. fraysol d. Mo2 [+1]
40. MKMaster d. Statix [+1]
41. Scott-Howell (c) d. DaemonX [+3]
42. SubMan799 d. CCShadow (c) [+1]
43. edge d. Piccolo [+1]
44. Jerrod d. Cherri [+4]
45. Ratt advanced to Round 2 via a bye.
46. Red_Spaniard d. LadyRaiden [+1]
47. Miller d. KurtAngle [+1]
48. ErmackDaddy d. PaganFreak [+1]
49. DeathScepter d. AlexanderLuthorJr [+4]
50. Banging d. McDaniel [+3]
51. deadpool d. tabmok99s_wife [+1]
52. Cukier d. Torchia [+1]
53. Porygonix d. Dez-Burnett [+1]
54. Benjamin d. Zengeance [+1]
55. legoslayer10 d. nif [+1]
56. United: The_Purple_Bunny d. "Bad Bad" Leroy [+18]
57. United: Mime (c) d. nface [+1]
58. DArqueBishop d. The_Hurricane [+1]
59. Onimike d. JoelKatz [+1]
60. "The Sword of Europe" Chromatose d. Mark [+1]
61. Darfus d. Genku [+2]
62. Baraka_MK d. __-Standards-__ [+14]
63. Violent`J d. Killswitch [+3]
64. ElJobber (#2) d. Menas [+6]

Tournament 81 Impact Players:
- Kron +MAX (R1), The_Purple_Bunny +18 (R1), DECEPTION +17 (R1), Baraka_MK +14 (R1), Mimik +12 (R1), Damo +10 (R1), NightHawk +7 (R1), VenoMark +7 (R1), ElJobber +6 (R1), TonyTheTiger +4 (R1), Sekktor +4 (R1), Jerrod +4 (R1), DeathScepter +4 (R1), Poasty +3 (R1), Oozaru +3 (R1), jack4813 +3 (R1), Scott-Howell +3 (R1), Banging +3 (R1), Violent`J +3 (R1)

Tournament 81 Shock Eliminations:
- Politics (R1), G0LD (R1), Statix (R1), DaemonX (R1), LordSkarlet (DNC), Genku (R1)

Monday, June 19, 2017

Tournament 81: Mid-Year Grand Slam - Day 1

The heavy-hitters led the way on the first day of the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam!

Seven of the competitors from last night's Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX were in action -- all securing confident victories in the First Round! Chief among them was newly crowned Undisputed Champion Damo, who utterly destroyed an unlucky Stealth-Ninja in the opening match!

It was a high impact start to the tournament all around! Returning Hall of Fame legend Kron got his tournament off to a brutal start with a MAX Damage destruction of The New Generation's "Mad Dog" Onryo! #4 seed DECEPTION was the next deadliest winner, progressing to the next round with a +17 demolition against IAmAce!

The random draw created a competitive contest between Duo Division aces Jammer2Omega and Jason_Voorhees. The pair of Js were remarkably well matched, resulting in one of the narrowest wins of the round for The Invasion's Jason! As if to one better: Nemesis316 and xort fought to a definitive standstill in the match immediately following!

Other winners to watch included "The Predator" TonyTheTiger, Oozaru, United: Mimik, "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile and King Ken. It was also a positive showing for reigning Division 2 Champion Poasty, whose victory sets up a clash of champions in Round 2 against the Undisputed Champion: Damo!

Tournament 81: Mid-Year Grand Slam - Round 1, Day 1:
1. "The Chosen One" Damo (c) (#1) d. Stealth-Ninja [+10]
2. Poasty (c) d. mwgrant0 [+3]
3. TripleH d. Politics [+1]
4. Dolce d. Celeste [+1]
5. Shinnokxz d. GohanSon [+1]
6. WilliamRegal d. CRX7 [+1]
7. Jauger d. bfk [+1]
8. United: Murdoink d. ArtemisFlow [+1]
9. foahchon d. Mojo6 [+1]
10. "The Predator" TonyTheTiger d. maxilos [+4]
11. ]{0MBAT d. DemoniaX [+1]
12. NovaStarr d. deadly [+2]
13. avenger45 d. G0LD [+1]
14. Oozaru d. Shizuma [+3]
15. nightbreed_16 d. Jericho [+2]
16. jack4813 d. jess [+3]
17. NightHawk d. little-mac [+7]
18. King Ken d. Coltess [+1]
19. United: Mimik d. SubScorpTile [+12]
20. "Portuguese Pegasus" Zentile d. Methuselah6463 [+2]
21. Sekktor d. United: zelse [+4]
22. Kron d. "Mad Dog" Onryo [+MAX]
23. Loopster d. redman [+1]
24. Nephrite d. abcdeath [+1]
25. J-Spit d. Quan Jeeves [+1]
26. Jason_Voorhees d. Jammer2Omega [+1]
27. Nemesis316 and xort fought to a complete standstill!
28. "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile d. MattHardy [+1]
29. NOOB d. "The Rocket" MKR [+1]
30. Angelia d. kingjolly [+1]
31. Liam d. BIGkev [+1]
32. "The Hitman" DECEPTION (#4) d. IAmAce [+17]

Tournament 81 Impact Players:
- Kron +MAX (R1), DECEPTION +17 (R1), Mimik +12 (R1), Damo +10 (R1), NightHawk +7 (R1), TonyTheTiger +4 (R1), Sekktor +4 (R1), Poasty +3 (R1), Oozaru +3 (R1), jack4813 +3 (R1)

Tournament 81 Shock Eliminations:
- Politics (R1), G0LD (R1)

Weekly Rankings Recap - 6/18/2017

Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX was a welcome return to the traditional tropes of the format. I really enjoyed seeing fewer matches, and a much stronger Tower than the chaos of XVIII! It was to see The Challenger 7 reach the peak [of 18], but fewer matches enhanced the stakes of the entire event. That's what this return to the main chase needed.

"The Chosen One" Damo is once again our Undisputed Champion. I have mixed feelings about the title picture's instability, but I cannot fault any of the players involved. Damo and ElJobber seem to have incredible chemistry each time they fight. In isolation, it was satisfying to see Damo get a win against ElJobber. Another notch of credibility to take him forward at the top level.

There's more to Tower of Power than just one match. There's usually one or two names elevated just by pure performance. VenoMark was clearly that fighter at Tower of Power XIX. The former champ had a tremendous showing with his four eliminations. This week's 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam will inevitably have an influence on the title picture moving forward, but VenoMark is primed to remain a part of the conversation. His performance has earned him a seeded placement in the tournament, too.

Statix was the other big winner of the night. The #10 rung on The Tower can be a very unenviable place to be. Statix did well holding the line as gatekeeper to the upper tiers. He maximized his time with an impressive win against the reigning KFL Champion. I don't question Mime's position on the list of top contenders, but I'm always a little uneasy seeing a secondary champion put into a position to lose. This was a special circumstance, and I think it worked. I'd be very interested to see Statix take a shot at the title, but that would mean diverting his attention from The Invasion. It may not be the right time.

The timing was clearly right for TonyTheTiger. What a knack he has for coming out of nowhere to get back amongst the action! His fights with Genku and DECEPTION were fitting and squeezed more juice out of unexpected rivalries. An embarrassing night for Genku, who keeps over playing his hand and talking himself into difficult lies.

The 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam is coming up. I always look forward to the major tournaments and this one's going to have a real distinct flavor. It's arguably the first time we'll see the draw loaded to the gills! The top seeds are now confirmed as: #1 Damo, #2 ElJobbver, #3 VenoMark and #4 DECEPTION. A lot of pedigree spread across the bracket. It should be a good week!

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

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

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

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX

The Tower of Power is a tradition almost as old as The Great Arena itself. It was conceived as the ultimate opportunity for fighters to prove their worthiness through their own grit and determination. When the first Tower of Power was constructed at Supercard 5 - it did just that! For the first time in his career, legendary Hall of Fame fighter Ratt became Undisputed Champion!

It's been more than a year since the ultimate prize was on offer at the summit of Tower of Power. For three consecutive iterations, "Team Xtreme" Marz & Violent`J ruled the structure with joined iron fists. The last time any one man scaled its heights alone - ElJobber reigned supreme at Supercard 75!

ElJobber is one again the man standing atop The Tower of Power. There, he will await any individual who proves they have what it takes to challenge for the Undisputed Championship! Could one of The Challenger 7 upset the world - or is there another Chosen One among the ranks?

The Tower of Power:
23. "The Chosen One" Damo (#1) defeated ElJobber (c) in a competitive contest! [+1] [Undisputed Championship]
There was an air of respect when ElJobber entered The Great Arena to face the last man standing at Tower of Power XIX. When they fought in January to decide the winner of the 2017 Grand Slam Launch, ElJobber won an incredibly competitive final! When he returned at Supercard 94: Red Reign, it was another epic battle for Damo's Undisputed Championship! Like VenoMark before him; ElJobber had had the best of self-professed "Chosen One", but he'd learned to respect just how strong Damo has become. The final battle of Tower Power XIX was destined to be another epic encounter and it did not disappoint! Damo came at his second fight of the night with absolutely everything he had! ElJobber was prepared, but for every answer he devised - Damo countered with a new attack! Eventually the result could not be denied. Damo is once again the Undisputed Champion!

Damo entered Tower of Power XIX as the #1 contender, and with his title win he confirms his place as #1 seed in the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam! ElJobber will be situated at the opposite end of the 128-fighter bracket, entering as the #2 seed in the final fight of Day 2. Round 1 of the tournament begins tomorrow while regular weekly program takes a week hiatus! Be here for every result!

22. "The Chosen One" Damo (#1) defeated VenoMark (#5) in a destructive win! [+14]
VenoMark said he'd failed to take "The Chosen One" Damo seriously when he came to challenge for the Undisputed Championship at Spring Classic 2017. When they went at it again at Supercard 93: The Chosen -- Damo proved to the world he's the real deal! Damo's time at the top was narrowly ended at Supercard 94, but as the #1 fighter he had the final say on the ultimate opportunity to claim an Undisputed Championship opportunity! VenoMark had worked hard to beat four of the best fighter in the league, but when he reached his nemesis, there appeared to be nothing left! The Chosen One continued his eerie dominance over VenoMark, executing a devastating +14 impact to advance to the final battle of Tower of Power XIX!

21. VenoMark (#5) defeated "Red Nightmare" LordSkarlet (#2) in convincing fashion! [+1]
The Great Arena was in stunned awe to see "Red Nightmare" LordSkarlet make his entrance as the #2 fighter at Tower XIX! Two weeks prior at Supercard 94: Red Reign; he emerged from a Steel Cage fight suffering worse damage than his opponent! It was the culmination of a heavy schedule of feuding with The United that also cost him MAX Damage at Supercard 93, and another brutal Steel Cage fight before that, at The Spring Classic! All wisdom would've led LordSkarlet to take the week off, but the opportunity to climb to his first Undisputed Championship was too much of a lure! He did his best to put together a challenge against old rival VenoMark, but every Tower of Power seems to produce one fighter whose determination is too great to refuse! At Tower XIX that fighter was VenoMark!

20. VenoMark (#5) defeated United: The_Purple_Bunny (#3) in a comprehensive victory! [+8]
With the top of The Tower nearly in sight; it was to be an Ultimate Grand Prix main event rematch! The_Purple_Bunny was pursuing the goal of winning his 7th Undisputed Championship at UGP7, but VenoMark's star-making performance ensured the 2017 Battle Royale winner was delayed! Right when it seemed payback was within his grasp - TPB's strength capitulated at the worst possible time! His inconsistent performances were the source of tensions at Pre-Show 95: Tower Defense, where his United teammate Mimik disrupted preparations for Tower XIX with a solid victory. VenoMark had a cakewalk as he dominated his UGP rival to score an unexpectedly anti-climactic elimination!

19. VenoMark (#5) defeated United: Mimik (#4) [+1]
Great Arena legend Mimik has been back to a regular schedule in 2017, keeping himself at the top of the ranks with competitive victories against his own United teammates! Tensions between he and The_Purple_Bunny escalated into a match at Pre-Show 95: Tower Defense. It wasn't enough to put the Hall of Famer higher on The Tower, but it did secure him #4 spot! Unfortunately, Mimik's path intersected with one of the most motivated competitors in the league! VenoMark summoned another peak performance to become the first Tower fighter to scale two rungs!

18. VenoMark (#5) defeated "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile (#6) [+1]
Just as CaTigeReptile thought she was finally getting her championship goal back on track, the game changed with an early entrance from VenoMark! His UGP title defense seems so long ago, but VM was still Undisputed Champion as recently as The Spring Classic! His rematch loss at Supercard 93: The Chosen had clearly pushed VenoMark down the contention ranks -- but the opportunity to climb back to the top is what Tower of Power is all about! CTR wasn't about to go down without a fight, but VenoMark brought the bluster with everything he has! He may've under estimated the champ in earlier months, but he was leaving nothing to chance in his first Tower match!

17. "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile (#6) defeated "The Hitman" DECEPTION (#7) in convincing fashion! [+1]
It was an uncanny case of role reversal when "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile arrived to take on the #7 contender! She was the last line of defense earlier in the night when Violent`J attempted to topple The Tower - and she was every bit the wall to DECEPTION as he had been to TonyTheTiger! The convincing win put CTR back on the path toward the Undisputed Championship, which seemed to be shortening until a devastating defeat at Supercard 94!

16. "The Hitman" DECEPTION (#7) defeated "The Predator" TonyTheTiger (#8) in convincing fashion! [+1]
The Hitman came in hot as he set his sights firmly on the charging Predator! An unexpected rivalry between DECEPTION and TonyTheTiger broke out just a fortnight ago in matches at Pre-Show 94: Blood Gold and Supercard 94: Red Reign. TTT found himself caught in a firestorm as DECEPTION unleashed the kind of attack that took him to the top of Tower of Power XV! The Predator did his best to mount a defense, but it was all DECEPTION as the #7 kept the dominoes falling!

15. "The Predator" TonyTheTiger (#8) defeated Statix (#10) in a total destruction! [+11]
"The Predator" TonyTheTiger cemented his place at the #8 rank when he defeated Genku during the June 9th edition of Friday Night Fights. A hard fought rematch loss at Pre-Show 95 didn't dull the arena's apex predator in the slightest! It was fangs out as he took complete advantage of the obvious signs of wear and tear getting the better of Statix! In his ninth match of the night, Statix had nothing left -- suffering a brutal +11 destruction!

14. Statix (#10) defeated United: Mime (c) (#9) in a competitive contest! [+1]
As The Tower turned toward inward for the elimination phase; Statix and Mime both showed signs of their previous matches taking a toll! Having already faced every Challenger 7 competitor, Statix was already achieving a Herculean feat -- especially considering the attack he suffered prior to Supercard 94: Red Reign! In an incredibly competitive contest, it was Statix who somehow bounced back to claim his fifth victory of the night! A shocking result for the reigning KFL Champion!

The Challenger 7:
13. "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile (#6) defeated Violent`J in convincing fashion! [+2]
12. Violent`J defeated "The Hitman" DECEPTION (#7) in a close fought match! [+1]
11. Violent`J defeated "The Predator" TonyTheTiger (#8) in a convincing win. [+1]
10. Violent`J defeated United: Mime (c) (#9) in a solid win. [+1]
9. Violent`J defeated Statix (#10) in a solid win. [+1]
Officials promised the return of a Hall of Fame legend, and The Challenger 7 turned out to be a countdown for the return of the "Y2Juggalo": Violent`J! VJ has already been announced as one of the legends competing in this year's Mid-Year Grand Slam, and he got his preparations under way with an explosive attack on the Tower! As one-half of Team Xtreme, VJ won the last three Tower of Power events! His exciting solo run came to a much earlier end as the #6 rung "The Guardian" CaTigeReptile shut him down in convincing fashion. An exciting finish to The Challenger 7!

8. "The Predator" TonyTheTiger (#8) defeated Genku [+1]
7. Genku defeated United: Mime (c) (#9) in a competitive clash. [+1]
6. Genku defeated Statix (#10) in a comprehensive victory! [+9]
When Genku was announced as a guaranteed entrant into The Challenger 7, he immediately saw it as a deliberate insult by booking officials. He claimed superiority over all Tower fighters, but was soon embarrassed when TonyTheTiger answered his challenge during the June 9th Friday Night Fights with brutal results. Genku scrambled to settle the score at Pre-Show 95, but it was The Predator who had the pleasure of eliminating Genku at the eighth rung! Though a far cry from his boastful claims, Genku's challenge did deliver Statix his first punishing defeat of the night. He also managed a solid win against reigning KFL Champions - United: Mime.

5. Statix (#10) defeated Oozaru in a comprehensive victory. [+3]
With the 15th Anniversary of ICWW looming in August, there was a special energy when Pre-Show 95 qualifier Oozaru stepped up to face old friend Statix! It was Statix who struck the winning blow at Ultimate Grand Prix VII in the fight for Banging's soul, reuniting the original Pacific Connection who've lit up the Duo Division in recent months! The two former ICWW International Champions had a lot of history between them, but their competitive encounter at Tower of Power XIX proved disappointingly brief. Oozaru dominated his Pre-Show qualifier, but was short on intensity as Statix secured his fifth consecutive shut-out of the night! A hard-hitting +3 result, but Oozaru would have it no other way!

4. Statix (#10) defeated DArqueBishop in a comprehensive win. [+3]
Ousted as The Invasion's managerial "Black Bishop" by Genku's May 26th takeover: DArqueBishop and Statix are two fighters who share a common enemy. Under other circumstances they may have fought together, but at Tower of Power XIX DAB was granted automatic qualification to fight for himself as part of The Challenger 7! Like the other fighters before him, DAB fell in a clean result.

3. Statix (#10) defeated Banging in a convincing victory. [+1]
As one-half of The Pacific Connection; Banging has been electrifying he league with his challenges against the Duo Division Champions! At Pre-Show 95, he earned the right to enter The Challenger 7, reminding everyone of his considerable solo chops. Awaiting at the tenth rung was one-time Pacific Connector and an ally in the UGP fight for Banging's soul: Statix! The ICWW alum put on a good competitive contest, but in the end it was another decisive result in favour of Statix!

2. Statix (#10) defeated MKMaster in a comprehensive win. [+3]
There was no doubt when MKMaster defeated "Mad Dog" Onryo to qualify for The Challenger 7 at Pre-Show 95. A rivalry between the pair was established at Supercard 93 over Division 2 contention, but the story has grown as MKM forged a partnership with Onryo's New Gen partner: Baraka_MK! BMK & MKM couldn't find greater success against New Gen rivals at Supercard 94, and MKMaster couldn't break The Tower of Power alone, either. Statix sent him packing with a hard hitting +3!

1. Statix (#10) defeated NovaStarr in a solid win. [+1]
An emerging rivalry with 2017 Fighter For Europe, Chromatose, gave NovaStarr the chance to fight her way into The Challenger 7 in qualifying at Pre-Show 95. Unfortunately, it also took something out of her. The close fought qualifier left NovaStarr spent when she came-up against the opening battle on The Tower of Power. Statix was too strong in the opening bout.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Legends Return for Mid-Year Grand Slam

The 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam officially begins this coming Monday after Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX -- and it's attracting some of the biggest names in Great Arena history!

Recent tradition dictates that members of the Hall of Fame are ineligible for January's customary Grand Slam Launch, and by the time the Grand Prix Warm-Up begins, many of the top fighters are already resting to prepare themselves for the grandest stage of them all: Ultimate Grand Prix!

It's this confluence of events that makes the Mid-Year Grand Slam one of the most competitive and unpredictable Grand Slam Tournaments of the Great Arena calendar -- and 2017 will be no exception!

A star-studded line-up is hungry to win this prestigious event in a year that will host Supercard 100, and Dead Or Alive X -- the 15th Anniversary of ICWW!

Five Hall of Famers have now confirmed their entry into the random draw for this year's bracket! With a laundry list of individual accolades between them, but no prospects of seeding, they will be some of the deadliest competitors navigating the seven rounds of competition! Could one of them be the next Mid-Year Grand Slam champion? Here's who you'll be watching out for:

Ratt
Achievements: 2016 Mid-Year Grand Slam Winner, 2014 Grand Prix Warm-Up Winner, Ultimate Grand Slam Semi Finalist, Tournament 8 Runner-Up, 5-time Undisputed Champion, 2013 Battle Royale Winner, 2015 Battle Royale Winner

Ratt's tournament success may have come late in his career, but he's widely recognized as one of the greatest competitors of all-time! He's a dangerous opponent in any situation, but as defending Mid-Year Grand Slam champion -- history will be on his side! Winning another tournament would be the perfect way to jumpstart Rattamania all over again in the countdown to Supercard 100!

Kron
Achievements: Ultimate Grand Slam Winner, 2015 Mid-Year Grand Slam Runner-Up, Tournament 2 Runner-Up, Tournament 5 Runner-Up, 4-time Undisputed Champion, 2016 Battle Royale Winner

Kron has only won a single Grand Slam Tournament -- but it was the biggest one of them all!
Before the Summer Grand Slam became an annual fixture in 2013; 256-fighters were gathered for an unprecedented Ultimate Grand Slam in 2012! Kron endured the extra eighth round, defeating four Hall of Famers in the final stretch to claim the ultimate victory! A vital participant in the earliest tournaments that established The Great Arena, he's another legend looking ahead to Supercard 100!

"Y2Juggalo" Violent`J
Achievements: 2016 Mid-Year Grand Slam Runner-Up, 2012 Grand Prix Warm-Up Runner-Up, 2012 Master's Series Winner, Undisputed Champion, ICWW International Champion, ICWW Heavyweight Champion, ICWW National Champion, ICWW Hardcore Champion

Violent`J may have established his legend in the days of ICWW, but in 2012 he was one of the first Immortals to lead a "Silent Invasion" of The Great Arena! He quickly found success, becoming the only fighter in history to have held both the coveted ICWW International Championship and Great Arena Undisputed Championship! With ICWW's 15th Anniversary fast approaching, the Y2Juggalo would love to start the countdown to DOAX with a tournament win! And considering he was Runner-Up in last year's Mid-Year Grand Slam -- now could be the time to do it!

Oozaru
Achievements: 2017 Grand Prix Warm-Up Semi Finalist, Ultimate Grand Slam Quarter Finalist, ICWW International Champion, ICWW National Champion, 5-Time ICWW Hardcore Champion

Oozaru returned earlier this year, fighting for the soul of his legendary Pacific Connection partner, with whom he reunited at Ultimate Grand Prix! His history as an ICWW Tag Team and Duo Division Champion is legendary, but Oozaru's legacy is also one of phenomenal individual success! Earlier this year he fought into the Semi Finals of the Grand Prix Warm-Up, and was one of the fighters who challenged TPB during this year's Battle Royale match! In the days of ICWW he was one of the elite few to hold the prestigious International Championship! Could the Mid-Year Grand Slam be his next triumph on the road to DOAX and the 15th Anniversary?

United: Mimik
Achievements: 2016 Summer Grand Slam Semi Finalist, 3-time Undisputed Champion, 2012 Battle Royale Winner

As a member of The United; Mimik has become embroiled in an internal struggle with comrade and fighting legend - The_Purple_Bunny! That may seem like poor preparation for a fighter whose past in tournaments was always sketchy, but just six months ago he was Undisputed Champion after beating another member of The United! Last year Mimik reached the Semi Finals of the Summer Grand Slam tournament, establishing credibility in the format that once vexed this King of the Battle Royal! He entered the Hall of Fame way back in 2013, but has become a regular in The Great Arena once more! What better way to continue his tremendous legacy than with a tournament win before Supercard 100?

Each and every one of these Hall of Fame legends will be a serious contender! Will one of them be the next Mid-Year Grand Slam winner? Revisit the past finalists and then prepare for a big week of action as Monday Night Games and Friday Night Fights go on hiatus! Tournament 81: Mid-Year Grand Slam 2017 starts the night after Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX -- next week, Monday, June 19th! Do not miss it!

Friday, June 16, 2017

Friday Night Fights (June 16, 2017)

Three weeks after Genku staged a hostile takeover during Friday Night Fights: members of The Invasion decided it was time to start fighting back! It was the culmination of weeks of criticism and an ultimatum Genku never imagined would turn out the way it did!

The night started well for The Invasion. Rhyno & Zengeance continued a simmering feud with the duo who put Grayback on the injured list, earning a solid win against ]{0MBAT & tabmok99s_wife. Things started to turn sour as WilliamRegal succumbed to a grudge clash with Killswitch, and Loopster took +2 damage in a desperate clash with Division 2 title hope: "Mad Dog" Onryo!

Pressure was building late in the night with knowledge Genku had issued an open challenge to any team able to test the mettle of Jason_Voorhees & edge! Despite the pair's confident win last week, endorsement by league officials, and strong performance in their title match at Pre-Show 95 -- Genku remained convinced they were the weak link in their losing trio!

Statix & The_Hurricane emerged to provide a daunting challenge for Jason & edge. For them, it was about investigating the disappearance of AlbertBeefcake, and the identity of a pair of mystery attackers who tried to take out Statix before his match with DaemonX at Supercard 94!

Jason_Voorhees & edge fought hard to resist their opponent's combative interrogation techniques, but the experience of the investigators was too great, on this night. They left the battle with sufficient data to eliminate Voorhees & edge from suspicion. They weren't entirely off the hook yet, though/

Genku emerged to confront The Invasion team over their loss. He echoed sentiments from earlier in the week, describing his past successes as a 3-time Undisputed Champion and even a Duo Division Champion! He explained he only wants the best surrounding him! He reluctantly offered one final chance for the three of them to fight together on the next Friday Night Fights. An offer Jason & edge soundly rejected as they launched a two-on-one attack on Genku!

Friday Night Fights came to a bombshell close with Genku out-cold, suffering another devastating +7 impact! A bad way to prepare for this weekend, when Genku will compete at Supercard 95: Tower of Power XIX as one of the guaranteed entrants into The Challenger 7!

NOTE: Next week's Friday Night Fights will be on hiatus as the league clears the week for non-stop tournament action in the 2017 Mid-Year Grand Slam! The 128-fighter elimination bracket begins the night after Tower of Power XIX - Monday, June 19th! Don't miss it!

Friday Night Fights (June 16, 2017):
10. "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge d. Genku [+7]
9. Statix & The_Hurricane d. "The Invasion" Jason_Voorhees & edge [+1]
8. "Mad Dog" Onryo d. Loopster [+2]
7. G0LD d. maxilos [+2]
6. Benjamin & Mo2 d. SubScorpTile & ErmackDaddy [+1]
5. Kiara85 d. mwgrant0 [+1]
4. Killswitch d. WilliamRegal [+1]
3. deadly d. subzero776 [+1]
2. JoelKatz d. Celeste [+1]
1. "The Invasion" Rhyno & Zengeance d. ]{0MBAT & tabmok99s_wife [+1]

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Tower of Power XIX Preview

It's been more than a year since the Undisputed Championship was last up for grabs during The Tower of Power! In that time, many champions have arisen and fallen -- yet we find the same man standing atop the structure as last time, when The Tower returns this Sunday!

Past Tower Champions are a who's who of The Great Arena's finest!

Ratt achieved the greatest climb, reaching the final battle from the #7 rung at Tower of Power XIII. He won his first Undisputed Championship at the original Tower of Power, and defended the gold at Tower of Power VII against The_Purple_Bunny. Few names are as synonymous with The Tower as TPB! He factored into four consecutive Tower of Power championship matches, suffering a string of near-misses until he finally conquered at Tower of Power XI!

This weekend's reigning Undisputed Champion, ElJobber, equaled Ratt's record of winning Tower of Power twice. He also achieved a similar feat of scaling its heights from the unenviable #6 rung, at Tower of Power II! Revisit the history of previous Undisputed Championship matches below:

Former Undisputed Championship Tower of Power Finalists:
1. Ratt (#1) d. Toryn (c) - Supercard 5: The Tower of Power (April 17, 2011)
2. Crow (c) d. ElJobber (#6) - Supercard 10: Tower of Power II (July 31, 2011)
3. Violent`J (#1) d. Crow (c) - Supercard 25: Tower of Power V (June 17, 2012)
4. ElJobber (c) d. The_Purple_Bunny (#1) - Supercard 30: Tower of Power VI (November 18, 2012)
5. Ratt (c) d. The_Purple_Bunny (#1) - Supercard 35: Tower of Power VII (April 28, 2013)
6. Hokey (#1) d. The_Purple_Bunny (c) - Supercard 50: Tower of Power X (April 20, 2014)
7. The_Purple_Bunny (c) d. Kron (#1) - Supercard 55: Tower of Power XI (September 21, 2014)
8. Kron (c) d. Ratt (#7) - Supercard 65: Tower of Power XIII (May 31, 2015)
9. ElJobber (c) d. DECEPTION (#4) - Supercard 75: Tower of Power XV (February 21, 2016)

ElJobber successfully defended the gold at Tower of Power XV, but he conceded the championship shortly thereafter to DECEPTION! His Tower of Power run from the #4 position was a star-making performance, earning him his first Undisputed Championship at the following Supercard! DECEPTION went on to successfully defend the title in the main event of Ultimate Grand Prix VI!

For every Tower of Power winner, there is often one stand-out performer who emerges from the pack with a display of unparalleled determination and tenacity! Will Tower of Power XIX deliver us the next big contender?

Former Champion "The Chosen One" Damo will enter the Tower of Power in the #1 position. We also know "The Predator" TonyTheTiger will contest the field after his dominant performance during last week's Friday Night Fights! The rest of the structure will be revealed this weekend!

Before The Tower collapses in on itself there will be The Challenger 7! Tower of Power XVIII showed us the incredible feat of conquering the entire Tower of Power is possible! Two teams were able to reach the Champions on that night.

After preliminary announcements and Pre-Show 95 qualifiers, The Challenger 7 will be: Genku, DArqueBishop, Oozaru, Banging, NovaStarr, MKMaster and a returning Hall of Famer! Could Tower of Power XIX be the first time a lone fighter bests the ten top contenders and claims gold? Be here Sunday, June 18th to find out!