Waste-of-Time:

Welcome, once again, to the most meaningless half-hour in television, the Waste-of-Time!! We know how much you love great VCW action, so we're going to whet your appetite with some not-so-great VCW action, along with a bunch of recaps of stuff you already know!! If you've already ordered the pay-per-view, this is your chance to order a pizza and take your bathroom break now... or if you have any friends who haven't ordered the pay-per-view yet, call them up and bug them! Tell them not to miss Deck the Halls 2000, and to catch the least-exciting pre-game show in sports television, the Waste-of-Time!!

We've got a great show tonight, from the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan, and we're looking forward to a lot of intense matches. But few are any more intense than the impending confrontation between Falcon and Chris Champlain. Ever since Chris Champlain's attack on Lady Erica Whitmore at last month's pay-per-view, Spontaneous Combustion, Falcon has been after him with a vengance. Let's take a look at some of the scenes that set the tone for this heated confrontation, but be forewarned... some of this footage is NOT for the weak at heart.

From Spontaneous Combustion 2000:

David Wright Hubbard just grabbed Julian Page's legs... and he puts on a scorpion deathlock of his own!! Lance Errington is charging in to try to break up the hold, but Scott Hall nailed him!! Scott Hall takes Falcon down as well... but now Randy Savage is up... and Scott Hall mowed him down with a clothesline too!! No relief in sigh for Julian Page... and he's tapping out!! Linda Peterson calls for the bell!!

But now Chris Champlain has the knife and... NO!! He's cutting Erica's face to ribbons!! Blood is spraying out of her forehead, and he just keeps slashing her with that knife!!

Chris Champlain had threatened to harm Lady Erica Whitmore unless the War Games Match was surrendered to his team... and David Wright Hubbard called his bluff, which turned out not to be a bluff after all. But the next night, he would give us a disturbing look into his twisted motive for doing such a horrible thing.

From VCW 96:

C. Champlain: Why did old Uncle Chris turn on the loving fans and join the despicable forces of evil? Why!?... I'll tell you why. Because I'm an evil, wicked, spiteful man. ... My motive, my reason for being, is to inflict as much pain and suffering on the pathetic weaklings as I can. ... Say what you will about the sensual, electric feel of sexual orgasm, the warm, languid inner peace brought on by heroin, or the chilling rush of biting into a York peppermint patty... I've come to realize that holding a frail, trembling girl in your arms, as she struggles pitifully with her small, weak muscles and screams like the Grim Reaper himself has come for her soul, then opening her delicate skin with a knife and watching the blood cascade down her pretty little face... THAT is the greatest pleasure in life. I recommend you try it sometime.

It didn't take Falcon long to respond to that. Next week, he let us know why Erica is so important to him... and why Chris Champlain may have made a very big mistake in choosing her as a target.

From VCW 97:

Falcon: ...as much as I HATE to sound like Troy Black, there's not a lot of people in this company that I can trust. ... and it's kind of nice to be able to confide in someone. Erica's that someone. And Chris Champlain made the mistake of his life and attacked her with a knife. ... Chris, you sick, pathetic piece of crap, you're going to wish Gabriel Black HAD ended your career with that first Destiny Driver after I get done with you.

They would meet each other in a match next week. Falcon fully intended to tear Chris Champlain apart there, and not wait for Deck the Halls. That wasn't what happened, though his team did get the technical victory.

From VCW 98:

But on the outside of the ring, Chris Champlain just stunned Falcon with a low blow, and now he reaches under the ring... he has his iron mace! Chris Champlain turns around with the iron mace, and he nails Falcon right upside the head with it! Falcon is OUT, as David Wright Hubbard flattens Randy Savage with a power bomb, then goes up to the top turnbuckle for the Flying Cross Bodypress! But Chris Champlain jumps up on the apron... and nails David Wright Hubbard in the back with the iron mace!! David Wright Hubbard crumples forward into the ring, and the referee calls for the DQ!!

But that wasn't all that took place that night. What Chris Champlain did after the match may be the real story... he sent a deeply disturbing message, in an equally disturbing fashion.

Chris Champlain's leaving the ring... he's going back out to Falcon... and he just pulled a straight-razor out of his boot!! Chris Champlain has a straight-razor, and he's kneeling over Falcon's crumpled body... he's going to carve him up too! No... he's slicing into his own chest!! Chris Champlain is cutting himself!! But he's not just randomly cutting himself... he's carving letters backwards into his own chest!! He has "DIE" spelled out backwards on his chest, and now he presses himself against Falcon's chest, leaving the bloody message "DIE" soaked into his shirt. Even Randy Savage is staring at Chris Champlain strangely now, and he's not even bothering to attack Falcon, just turning and heading backstage as "Stormbringer" by Deep Purple begins playing over the arena sound system.

Falcon and Chris Champlain were both absent from the next week's show, but they returned later. Falcon formed an alliance with Gabriel Black, and Chris Champlain teamed with fellow sadistic bastard Tony Garcia, to make a tag team match. As the following clips demonstrate, they tore into each other viciously.

From VCW 100:

Falcon starts the match on top of Chris Champlain, pounding away at him, but the referee soon breaks that up. Falcon continues to beat the living daylights out of Chris Champlain, bouncing all around the ring and drilling him at every opportunity.

[portion of match removed]

After knocking Falcon headfirst into the ringpost, Chris Champlain grabs the ring bell and nails him with it, opening up his forehead into a nice, bloody wound. He pulls out a table and sets it up, then sets Falcon on it, climbs to the top turnbuckle, and hits a moonsault through the table on Falcon.

Chris Champlain rolls Falcon back into the ring, and continues to pound on him, seemingly giving no thought to the idea of tagging in Tony Garcia or going for the pin. He grinds the heel of his boot into Falcon's bleeding forehead, then climbs on top of him and proceeds to punch him until the referee forces him off.

[portion of match removed]

...Falcon introduces Chris Champlain's head to the guardrail and announcer's table, then gives him a piledriver on the steel entrance ramp. Chris Champlain goes limp, but Falcon picks him up and gives him another one, then a third, before rolling him back into the ring. No thought is given to going for a pin, as Falcon continues to pound on Chris Champlain's fallen form.

The match ended inconclusively, when Tony Garcia went berserk and laid both of his opponents out with the wooden axe handle. But Chris Champlain wasn't ready to leave yet...

Chris Champlain is straddling Falcon now, laying in several hard punches to his blood-covered forehead! As usual, the H.A.R.P. Squad is fashionably late, and considerable damage has already been done by the time they spray Chris Champlain with pepper spray and haul him away.

There's no question that Falcon never backs down from a challenge. He's stood toe-to-toe with Troy Black, Gabriel Black, David Wright Hubbard, and Crimson, and taken some of the worst beatings VCW has to offer, surviving every time. But Chris Champlain is the same way too, but if anything even less afraid. From all that anyone can tell, he feels no fear, only a desire to take delight in the pain and suffering of his opponents. When they meet tonight, both of them will be trying for nothing more than to hurt each other very badly. Falcon seeks revenge for Lady Erica Whitmore... while Chris Champlain just seeks another victim.

That wasn't all to come out of the War Games slashing incident, however; Lance Errington was also affected strongly by what happened to Erica. But unlike Falcon, who clearly held Chris Champlain to blame, Lance Errington focused his vengance on another target...

From VCW 96:

L. Errington: ... But I know who's really to blame for this now... I know who the bastard is who's responsible for what happened to Erica, and he's going to PAY.

Lance Errington didn't say who he meant, but his later actions made it obvious when he followed through on his actions in a big way.

Hold on, a fan in a Salvaje Demonio mask just jumped over the guardrail! He's entering the ring behind David Wright Hubbard, carrying what appears to be a lead pipe!! But David Wright Hubbard doesn't see him!

D.W. Hubbard: So, bottom line, Crimson... you want some, get out he--

That fan just nailed David Wright Hubbard square in the back of the knee with that pipe! Damn it, David Wright Hubbard's down, and this masked jackass is pounding the crap out of his knee with that pipe! David Wright Hubbard is down, and this guy's just whaling on his knee! David Wright Hubbard shoves him back, he's trying to get up... and the mask-wearing man just nailed him between the eyes with the pipe! David Wright Hubbard is laid out, and the man gives him a few more good shots to the knee... he's dragging him over to the ringpost... and he applies a figure-four around the post! David Wright Hubbard can't escape... his leg is being destroyed, and whoever his assailant is is doing Crimson's job for him!

Finally, the hold is released... the masked assailant is calling for a microphone, and he climbs back into the ring... he's taking off his mask... HOLY CRAP!! That's Lance Errington!! Lance Errington just tore David Wright Hubbard's knee to shreds!! But why!?

L. Errington: How's it feel, you son of a bitch!? How's it feel to know you're completely helpless, that your physical well-being lies completely in the hands of another!? That's probably how Erica felt... scared... suffering, in pain... now you know. ... And I'm going to make sure you NEVER forget what it feels like to be helpless, in pain, and afraid for your well-being. This is just the beginning, you piece of crap.

Next week, he went on to explain his actions, revealing that he blamed David Wright Hubbard for what happened to Lady Erica Whitmore. And the week after that, he struck again, after David Wright Hubbard had just taken a grueling beating from Randy Savage and Chris Champlain.

From VCW 98:

Randy Savage gives the fallen body of David Wright Hubbard a few good stomps, then heads backstage, as a medical team comes out for David Wright Hubbard and Falcon. They were both just hit in the head with an iron mace... it wouldn't be surprising if they were seriously injured, perhaps with a concussion or cracked skull. But one of those members of the medical crew looks a little familiar... it's LANCE ERRINGTON!! He enters the ring and executes a kneedrop right on David Wright Hubbard's skull, then grabs his legs and applies the Scorpion Deathlock! The other members of the medical crew try to pull him off, but Lance Errington just attacks them, then reapplies the hold! David Wright Hubbard was just hit in the head with an iron mace, and now he's being brutally attacked again!!

Finally, the H.A.R.P. Squad enters the ring, and they pull Lance Errington off so that the medical teams can do their job and haul David Wright Hubbard and Falcon away on stretchers. Lance Errington is escorted backstage as Falcon and David Wright Hubbard are wheeled off...

The following week, David Wright Hubbard and Scott Hall were set to face Lance Errington and Randy Savage, who were brought together only by their hatred for the men they were facing. Before the match, Lance Errington gave his most nonsensical, far-fetched interview yet...

From VCW 99:

L. Errington: ... I've been counting down the minutes until I get an excuse to inflict as much brutality on you as I want, with no excuse for any security men or anybody else to pull me off of your carcass. You're going to feel the same helpless feeling, blurred by a haze of unbearable pain, that Erica did when you refused to save her.

... Thanks to you, Erica is mentally scarred for life. Hell, after that attack, she's probably physically scarred for life too. And I get the impression that you just don't care. You probably even liked it. I mean, your past experience in brutalizing women is well-documented. Melissa STILL has the scars from your Hardcore Cage Match. It was this time last year when you used to come out here and try to cripple Rebecca Black every night. It wouldn't surprise me if you even beat Michelle within an inch of her life every so often. In fact, I know that all the insiders think that the reason Michelle Hubbard isn't still active as a wrestler is because she destroyed both her knees taking crazy bumps for those Japanese Death Match promotions, but I'll bet there's a much more sinister explanation than that. I'll bet that the real reason that she's retired is because of career-ending injuries caused by cumulative damage from you brutally abusing her every night!!

So what was your excuse this time, Dave? Did you hit on Erica backstage and get turned down!? Did she look at you the wrong way, or say something you didn't like!? In the real world, a woman-hating brute like you would be locked up in prison. But you're not in the real world anymore... you're in MY world, and you're not getting off that easy.

But David Wright Hubbard, tired of hearing threats and accusations from Lance Errington, came out to let Lance know of the consequences of what he's been saying and doing before the match could begin.

D.W. Hubbard: But the fact of the matter is that that really doesn't matter to me right now. See, what matters to me right now is that you jumped me last week, you jumped me three weeks ago, and now you think you want some of me again... and I'm more than happy to come out here and give you exactly what you asked for.

The match broke out a little later, and it was a brutal, violent brawl for everyone involved. But the most alarming thing happened shortly after the match, which Scott Hall won by hitting Randy Savage with a pipe wrench. But after the match came the real carnage...

The match is over, but not in Lance Errington's mind... he's still bashing the edge of the chair repeatedly into David Wright Hubbard's knee like a crazy man! But Scott Hall's coming over to stop him... and he floors Scott Hall with a blow from the chair as well! Lance Errington continues the attack, hitting David Wright Hubbard in the knee a few more times... and finally the H.A.R.P. Squad's out, restraining him and pulling him back, as some medics come to tend to David Wright Hubbard, who may have a severe knee injury. Lance Errington is single-mindedly focusing on destroying his knee, and it may have paid off here tonight.

David Wright Hubbard's being loaded onto a stretcher, and Lance Errington's being led up the aisle by the H.A.R.P. Squad, smirking at David Wright Hubbard the whole time. But hold on! David Wright Hubbard's physically assaulting the medics, punching at anyone who gets near him! He's rolling off of the stretcher before they can strap him in, and now he has the chair that was just used to attack him!! He's hobbling up the aisle, barely able to walk, and coming after Lance Errington! The H.A.R.P. Squad starts trying to stand in his way... and he's mowing them down with repeated chairshots! Lance Errington tries to turn and run... but he waited a little too long, because David Wright Hubbard just stepped forward and nailed him!!

Lance Errington is down at the top of the entrance ramp, and the H.A.R.P. Squad is giving David Wright Hubbard a lot of space, fearful for their own safety. David Wright Hubbard puts Lance Errington into a power bomb position and picks him up... he breaks into a hobbling run... he's not going to... HOLY SHIT, he did!! He just pitched Lance Errington off of the top of the entrance ramp to the floor at the side! Lance Errington didn't have anything to break his fall... he just got tossed from ten or fifteen feet in the air down onto an unforgiving concrete floor, and he could be seriously injured or dead!! The crowd is cheering loudly and chanting "HOLY SHIT!", and David Wright Hubbard has a cruel, pissed-off smile across his face as he demands a microphone. He gets one... nobody's in the mood to defy him right now.

D.W. Hubbard: Lance, you son of a bitch, if you even survived that... if you still have a little left by the time Deck the Halls gets here, bring what's left of your sorry ass down to the pay-per-view, and I'll finish you off right then and there in a Street Fight. No countouts, no DQ... you want to bring your damn pipe wrench again, be my guest... you can bring some pipe wrenches, monkey wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers, circular saws, whatever the hell you want... bring the whole damn toolbox, for all I care... because all I want is to throw the rules out the window, and maybe you can quit feeling sorry for Erica and start feeling sorry for yourself after I give you the worst damn ass-kicking of your miserable life!!

After this brutal confrontation, both Lance Errington and David Wright Hubbard needed to take the following week off to heal injuries. But tonight, they're going to meet one-on-one, and in the process they may give each other injuries that never heal.

We're going to take a break from shilling matches, to actually presenting matches! Some generic medieval-style music by Jesse Smark begins playing, and here comes visiting independent wrestler Jockey Oldcastle. A former friend and compatriot of Dave Adams and Main Street Pete in NCXCW, he's not known for being a good or even decent or even remotely watchable worker, but for some reason he's getting a shot on VCW television anyway. He's a large, fat man, nearly four hundred pounds, dressed in grey slacks and an old-style leather jerkin. He has a large, full beard and a bird's nest of curly hair... overall, he looks like the town drunk from the twelfth century.

Now "Have A Drink On Me" by AC/DC is playing, and here comes NCXCW World Champion Johnny Stagger! Tall and somewhat slender, with a hairy chest, dirty blond hair, and a somewhat intoxicated look to his face, he's wearing black trunks, a brown leather jacket, and a fisherman's hat to the ring along with the NCXCW World Title, and carrying a bottle of whiskey. He'll be defending the NCXCW World Title on VCW television tonight against Jockey Oldcastle (as if anyone gives a damn) in an NCXCW Street Fight, right here, right now, in the Waste-of-Time! James Applebee is your referee, and this match is on!

For the NCXCW World Title:
NCXCW Street Fight:

Jockey Oldcastle

vs.

Johnny Stagger (c)

Johnny Stagger enters the ring and begins pounding away at Jockey Oldcastle, then whips him into the ropes. Jockey Oldcastle lumbers off the ropes, right into a lariat from Johnny Stagger! He crashes to the mat like a ton of bricks, and Johnny Stagger stumbles drunkenly around the ring, before seemingly falling down at random and just happening to headbutt Jockey Oldcastle right in the massive gut. The crowd pops slightly for the funny spot, but it's evident that they couldn't care less about these two bush-leaguers.

Johnny Stagger pounds away at Jockey Oldcastle a few more times, then whips him into the turnbuckle... no, Jockey Oldcastle reverses it!! Johnny Stagger crashes into the turnbuckle, and Jockey Oldcastle charges in after him with a massive avalanche in the corner! Johnny Stagger... well, staggers out of the corner, and Jockey Oldcastle grabs him and takes him down with a massive powerslam! James Applebee's counting... ONE! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two by Johnny Stagger!!

As if the crowd isn't already dead, Jockey Oldcastle picks Johnny Stagger up and applies a bearhug to kill the rest of the crowd heat. Johnny Stagger struggles, trying to rally the fans behind him, but it's just not happening. But that doesn't stop him from getting a second wind anyway... he's making a recovery, and now he's punching Jockey Oldcastle from within the bearhug! Jockey Oldcastle lets him go, and Johnny Stagger runs into the ropes... but Jockey Oldcastle catches him and picks him up across his shoulder... Samoan Drop!! Johnny Stagger just got flattened under Jockey Oldcastle! Now he bounces off the ropes... BIG SPLASH!! That's his move!! James Applebee counts the pin... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THR... NO!! Johnny Stagger just rolled a shoulder up somehow!

Jockey Oldcastle is going up to the top turnbuckle now... he's going to try for another splash, and if he hits this, it's over. He's taking his time... he's really a slow climber... but he's finally up. He lets out a mighty bellow, then jumps off the top turnbuckle!! Here comes a three-hundred and eighty pound flying bodypress... but Johnny Stagger just rolled out of the way!! Both men take their sweet time getting back up... Johnny Stagger's up first, and he begins firing away at Jockey Oldcastle with big right hands!! Here's a wind-up... he turns and stumbles around the ring for a while, then finally draws back and throws the big punch!! Jockey Oldcastle goes down!!

Johnny Stagger's making a drinking signal now, and a small portion of the crowd pops... he's going over to his bottle of whiskey... he opens it, tilts it back, and slams down the whole thing in a matter of seconds!! The crowd gives a mild pop for that, and now he draws back the empty whiskey bottle... Jockey Oldcastle is getting up... and Johnny Stagger just broke that bottle over his head!! Jockey Oldcastle goes down in a shower of broken glass, and the match is still on... there's no disqualification in an NCXCW Street Fight!! Johnny Stagger grabs the leg, and applies a variation of a half Boston... that's his move!! He calls that the Ninety-Proof Leglock!! And Jockey Oldcastle's not even conscious to submit! James Applebee calls for the bell!!

NCXCW Street Fight:
Johnny Stagger defeated Jockey Oldcastle when the referee stopped the match in 0:05:39.
Rating: -**
(Johnny Stagger retained the NCXCW World Title.)

It wasn't much of a match, but seeing someone slam down a bottle of whiskey, then break the bottle over his opponent's head, is a unique sight even in VCW. All the same, after seeing these two, it's not hard to understand why even Dave Adams and Main Street Pete were among the biggest stars in NCXCW.

Jockey Oldcastle and Johnny Stagger aren't exactly household names, but two wrestlers whose names are known well are Tony Garcia and Gabriel Black. Previously, they've been known as allies, as the two dominant figures in the Inquisition... but these days, they're at each other's throats. It all started with a promise...

From VCW 83:

G. Black: ...This isn't about me anymore. This is about you. I'm not asking you to do my bidding, I'm making an offer of peace. I am offering you a chance to become VCW World Champion.

For your entire career, you have been supporting my father and I in our pursuit of titles and glory in the wrestling world, standing outside of the spotlight while you furthered our careers. Now it's your turn to stand in the spotlight. It's your turn to be World Champion. And I'll stand by you, just as you stood by me, just as you stood by my father for all those years.

Tony Garcia took that promise to heart, though he was unsuccessful at winning the VCW World Title away from Troy Black at Survival of the Fittest. So at Spontaneous Combustion, Gabriel Black returned to the ring in a rematch against Troy Black, for the VCW World Title, intending to win the title and bring it to Tony Garcia, fulfilling his promise. But that's not exactly what happened.

From Spontaneous Combustion 2000:

Gabriel Black is pulling himself up, still in great pain, and he picks Troy Black up back-first across his shoulders... he's going for the Burning Hammer!! But Troy Black is squirming, and Gabriel's right arm doesn't quite have him... Troy Black drops out behind him, and catches him in a backslide!! Jerry Rogers is down to count!

ONE!!

TWO!!

THREE!! Gabriel just BARELY stayed down for the three count! Was it even a three count!? Gabriel and Troy Black are looking at Jerry Rogers in confusion... did Troy just win the match!? HE DID!!! Jerry Rogers is calling for the bell!! Troy Black just defeated Gabriel Black AGAIN!!

"For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica is playing, and the silver-blue ring lights come on, with the crowd's wild cheering drowning out the music. Troy Black drops to his knees, holding his neck, but with a look of relief and happiness on his face, and Gabriel's just sitting in the corner, with his face buried in his hands, shaking his head. Troy Black goes over to Gabriel and puts a hand on his shoulder, then helps him up. Gabriel Black and Troy Black stare into each other's eyes, and slowly Troy Black extends a hand... and Gabriel Black takes it! Gabriel Black and Troy Black exchange a handshake in the middle of the ring, and Gabriel Black just embraced his brother!!

Troy Black and Gabriel Black were now apparently united, at least for the moment. But where did this leave Gabriel's promise to Tony Garcia? Did he still intend to keep it? We'll never know for sure, because before Gabriel would comment on it, Tony Garcia took the matter into his own hands the following night.

From VCW 96:

Lorenzo and Melissa are down in a heap, and Gabriel Black is continuing to abuse Rebecca... but here comes a stocky man with a bandage around his head and an axe handle in his hands... it's Tony Garcia! Whose side is he on!? Gabriel picks Rebecca up... He's going for the Destiny Driver on his own sister!! He's still a heartless bastard, but the crowd's loving it! No, wait, Tony Garcia in the ring, and he hits Gabriel in the arm with the axe handle!! This is a DQ, and the crowd is irate!

Gabriel Black is down, clutching his arm, and Tony Garcia applies an armbar submission. Rebecca Black goes out of the ring, and attacks Melissa two-on-one with some help from Lorenzo, and they throw her back into the ring, and Lorenzo Vasquez puts the Barcelona Armbar on her as well! The crowd is booing loudly, as both Melissa and Gabriel are in the ring, being assaulted!

The next week was just business as usual for Tony Garcia, making short work of Johnny Smiles in an I Quit Match. But the week after that, he had some strong words to back up his actions against Gabriel Black.

From VCW 98:

T. Garcia: ...Even when you positioned yourself to take on Troy for the title, promising me that I'd be first in line for a shot when you were champion... I believed you, Gabriel. Because you made a promise to me, and because of my loyalty to you... and my loyalty to your father. But after you fail to beat Troy, what happens? Do you attack him, and force the title to be put up as vacant? Do you ask for a rematch!? No, you shake his hand and turn to his side! Now what the hell am I supposed to do, Gabriel!? What about me!? You said you'd stand by my side... you said it was my turn to be on top of the wrestling world!

...But guess what, Gabriel? You're gonna keep your promise after all, punk. You're gonna help my career take off. Because at Deck the Halls, I want you in a match, one-on-one, and we're gonna get it on. And after I beat you, after I tear you limb from limb and pin you in the middle of the ring, my career goes straight to the top. Everyone will see that Tony Garcia just beat Gabriel Black in the middle of the ring. They'll see that I'm really the top dog in VCW. And then I get my title shot... because after I beat that punk Johnny Smiles last week, I can get title shots again... and I stand on top of VCW as the VCW World Champion. If you won't give me my piece of the pie, Gabriel... I'm gonna come after you and eat the whole thing.

But Gabriel Black's comments before his match with Melissa DelArmeggio against Rebecca Black and Tony Garcia showed that he wasn't afraid of this confrontation either...

G. Black: ...I promised to help you... but I never promised to drop the VCW World Title into your lap, as you expect me to do.

And then... then you attack me with a wooden axe handle, just because I reconciled my differences with Troy. That's your gratitude for all of my assistance, all that I tried to do for you? ... whatever the reasoning... whatever your motivations were, it doesn't matter. You simply do not attack Gabriel Black and expect to be free from retribution.

The match was every bit as personal and bitter as we could expect, but in the end, Gabriel Black appeared ready to triumph over Tony Garcia and Rebecca Black. That wasn't quite how things turned out.

Gabriel Black launches into a flurry of offense on Tony Garcia, who's still groggy from the Destiny Hammer, finally taking him down with a DDT, then going up top for another Destiny Hammer. But as Gabriel stays perched on top of the turnbuckle waiting, Rebecca Black grabs the wooden axe handle and hits him from behind with it!! That's an instant DQ; Rebecca Black and Tony Garcia will lose this match... but as Gabriel Black falls limply into the ring, it appears that this might not be over yet!

Gabriel Black is down, and as he gets up, Rebecca Black throws the wooden axe handle into the ring at Tony Garcia, who catches it and nails Gabriel Black in the head with it, sending him back down. Tony Garcia begins beating the hell out of Gabriel Black with the wooden axe handle...

The inconclusive ending to this match was a disappointment not only to the fans, but to each of the combatants as well. Two weeks later, they would go at it again, this time partnered with Chris Champlain and Falcon, but the finish would be equally inconclusive...

From VCW 100:

Gabriel Black's entering the ring again, but Tony Garcia goes over to the apron, and he's got his wooden axe handle!! The referee is protesting, trying to talk Tony Garcia out of it, but it's no use... Tony Garcia just turned and nailed Falcon with a shot to the head as he started to get up and enter the ring!! Now Gabriel is in the ring, and Tony Garcia fells him with a shot from the axe handle too! That's an instant disqualification!

The match is over, but Tony Garcia's enraged attack isn't, not by a long shot! He's hitting Gabriel Black repeatedly with the axe handle like he's gone berserk, and now he's turning to Falcon, and hitting him with it too!! Now he's sitting on Gabriel's back... he executes the camel clutch with the axe handle! He's going to seriously hurt Gabriel Black here! And Chris Champlain is straddling Falcon now, laying in several hard punches to his blood-covered forehead! As usual, the H.A.R.P. Squad is fashionably late, and considerable damage has already been done by the time they spray Chris Champlain with pepper spray and haul him away. Tony Garcia, not wanting a similar treatment, voluntarily releases the camel clutch and leaves the ring.

Their recent tag team matches haven't given us a clear winner. Both times, Tony Garcia has been disqualified for illegal use of the wooden axe handle. But given how important it seems to be to him to defeat Gabriel Black and rise to the top of VCW, it's a good bet that he won't want to be disqualified during their big match. Gabriel Black has been one of the most dominant forces in VCW history all through his career... but Tony Garcia is a big, powerful veteran, and his belief that Gabriel Black betrayed him seems to have lit a fire inside of him and enhanced his inner fury. Whoever comes away from this match with the victory has to be considered one of the top contenders for the VCW World Title in the coming months.

But speaking of the VCW World Title, that title itself hangs in the balance tonight, as Troy Black tries to do the impossible for the second time. At Disaster Area, Crimson put his Blood and Thunder title shot on the line against Troy Black. Previously undefeated, Crimson would lose his first match in VCW, and his VCW World Title shot, that night...

From Disaster Area 2000:

Crimson uses a jack-knife power bomb on Troy Black.
Tattoo counts: One, two, kickout.
Crimson executes the Chokeslam on Troy Black.
The crowd erupts.
Crimson goes for the pin.
Tattoo counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up.
Crimson goes for the Chokeslam, but Troy Black counters it with a kick to the midsection.
Troy Black takes Crimson down with a double arm DDT.
Troy Black executes the Black Dagger on Crimson.
Troy Black is being booed out of the building.
Troy Black executes the Black Dagger on Crimson.
Troy Black executes the Black Dagger on Crimson.
Numerous fans are using Troy Black for target practice.
Troy Black goes for the pin.
Tattoo counts: One, two, three.
Security guards are restraining some fans from hitting the ring.

The winner is Troy Black. Time of match: 0:16:18

At the time, Crimson was a fan favorite, and Troy Black was a member of the feared and hated Inquisition. That all changed after this match, however; Troy Black turned against his brother Gabriel shortly, bringing about the end of the Inquisition, and Crimson took out his frustrations senselessly on everybody in sight, turning the fans against him. Both men went on to other matters, until their paths would once again cross when Crimson set his sights on the VCW World Title.

From VCW 96:

Crimson: ...But there's one bigger name on my hit list... Troy Black. Back at Blood and Thunder, Troy Black won the VCW World Title, and he won it with my title shot, the one that I got screwed out of at Disaster Area. It should have been me kicking Gabriel Black's ass for the title at Blood and Thunder. So you're the champ now, Troy? Yeah, good for you, kid, but you're still a short, scrawny, ugly little piece of shit. I'm not asking for nothing... I'm TELLING your puny little punk ass to put that title up at Deck the Halls, and I'm gonna kill you and take the title.

Troy Black accepted the challenge, and nothing more was made of it except for the signing of the match at Deck the Halls... until two weeks later, when Crimson went on a reign of terror, destroying everything and everyone in his path and reviving the Homicide Road Tour. The last stop on the Homicide Road Tour was an unscheduled appearance, after Tony Garcia had savagely attacked Melissa DelArmeggio and left her for dead in the middle of the ring.

From VCW 98:

Meanwhile, back in the ring, Melissa is still down... she may be seriously injured after that blow. They need to get a medical team out here or something... Tony Garcia just swung that axe handle right into her back, and she may be... oh, no. "Walk" by Pantera just started playing, and this had better be some kind of production glitch. Not this!! Not now! Crimson's on his way to the ring, Melissa's down, and Rebecca Black's just standing at ringside, smiling!! Crimson enters the ring, and steps over the top rope... now he's calling for a microphone again. Rebecca Black gives him one, and he picks Melissa up by the throat... what could he be doing!?

Crimson: Troy, get your scrawny, pale-skinned, ugly, queer little ass out here and fight me, or I'm gonna Chokeslam your woman into the mat so hard that her tits explode.

Crimson's using Melissa to get Troy out here for a fight... he's already got a match with Lorenzo Vasquez, in the main event which is scheduled to take place tonight, but I'm sure Crimson doesn't care. "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica begins playing almost immediately, and Troy Black steps out of the backstage area carrying a microphone, before the lights even have a chance to change.

T. Black: Kill the music.

The music stops, just a few seconds in to the song.

T. Black: Crimson, I've seen you going on a rampage tonight, sending everybody out of here on stretchers... but I'm only telling you once... either you put her down right now, or you're the one leaving here on a stretcher.

Crimson: You know... when I called you out here, I was meaning to let her go when you got in the ring. But when you come out here and take that tone with me... I don't like your attitude, you punk motherfucker.

NO!! Crimson just picked Melissa up, and drilled her into the mat with the Chokeslam!! Now he's standing there, as if daring Troy Black to do anything about it! The emotion visibly drains from Troy's face as he directs a vacant stare into the ring for a second or two... God only knows what's going through his mind... and he's charging the ring!! Troy Black runs into the ring, and Crimson tries to kick him in the head... but Troy ducks! Crimson staggers forward after missing, then turns around... and takes a kick to the groin!! Crimson doubles over... double arm DDT!! And Troy draws his thumb across his throat... now he's going up to the top rope... he's going to give him the Black Dagger! But Crimson's up! Crimson just got up from the double arm DDT like nothing happened, and he reaches up and grabs Troy Black off of the turnbuckle, by the throat!! Crimson has Troy Black... and drills him with the Chokeslam!! But Crimson's not done yet... he picks him up, and he does it again!! Troy Black is laid out in the ring beside Melissa, and Crimson is walking away with a smile on his face! He just laid out the VCW World Champion, and made it look easy!!

Crimson destroyed both Troy Black and Melissa DelArmeggio with relative ease, enabling Lorenzo Vasquez to score an upset victory over Troy Black in a non-title match. Next week, Crimson was relatively inactive by comparison, and none except for his scheduled opponent, Salvaje Demonio, felt the wrath of the Homicide Road Tour. Or at least that was the case until Troy Black called him out after avenging his loss to Lorenzo Vasquez.

From VCW 99:

Troy Black tosses Lorenzo Vasquez's carcass out of the ring, and now he's going out after Rebecca... he grabs her from behind as she starts to get up, and pulls the VCW World Title off of her!! She just barely gets her hands up in front of her chest in time to shield any view of her naked breasts, and runs up the aisle, covering her chest with her hands and arms! She's standing at the top of the entrance ramp, arms covering her breasts, blood dripping from her mouth, yelling "FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING FUCK!!" loud enough to be heard clearly even without a microphone. Lorenzo Vasquez staggers up the ramp in a half-drunken-like state, and retreats backstage with Rebecca. The crowd is cheering loudly, and Troy Black grabs a microphone.

T. Black: Now that I've taken care of my light work... after what happened last week, I don't want to wait until Deck the Halls. Crimson, if you're still backstage, I'm calling you out, right here, right now.

The crowd explodes into cheers, and it's not very hard to see why!! Crimson vs. Troy Black!? TONIGHT!? And that's "Walk" by Pantera playing over the arena sound system... and it looks like Crimson's coming out to accept the challenge!! He is!! Crimson steps out of the backstage area, smiling in sadistic disbelief, and slowly strolling down to the ring. He makes his way to the ring area... and Troy Black runs at him, and dives out onto him with a shoulderblock plancha... but Crimson doesn't go down!! He just staggers back a few steps! Troy Black is on his feet, hitting Crimson with a series of punches all over the body and face, but Crimson's just standing there, absorbing them... and he nails Troy Black with a forearm smash!! Troy Black goes down!

Crimson pulls Troy Black up, and whips him towards the ringsteps... but no, Troy Black somehow reverses it, and Crimson goes into the ringsteps, injured knee-first!! He staggers away, holding his knee, but Troy Black isn't letting up... he kicks him in the knee a few times, doubling him over, then hooks his arms... DOUBLE ARM DDT!! And it's on the concrete floor!! Troy Black turns Crimson over and crouches over him, nailing him in the face repeatedly with a series of punches... and unfortunately the H.A.R.P. Squad is out to pull him off, drawing a HUGE round of boos from the crowd. Troy Black is struggling, trying to go forward to get his hands on Crimson, and Crimson is getting up, shaking off the effects of Troy Black's offense... and he charges the H.A.R.P. Squad!! Crimson rushes through the H.A.R.P. Squad, wading through the proverbial sea of humanity, and now he's got his hands on Troy Black! They're trading blows again, and the H.A.R.P. Squad can barely keep them apart!!

Next week, the situation would escalate even further, as Troy Black was set to team up with Robert Danson and the Wrecking Crew to face all four members of Hell's Bikers. By this time, the tension had reached immense levels, and threats were being levelled by both men.

From VCW 100:

Speaking of intense brawls, "Walk" by Pantera begins playing over the arena sound system, and here comes Crimson, the man who has become known for intense, if short, brawls... which are typically short only because nobody lasts more than a few seconds against him. He has his full entourage with him tonight... Jack Norman, Butch Manson, and Dick Douglas. All four members of Hell's Bikers are present, and they're going to be facing Troy Black, Robert Danson, and the Wrecking Crew in the main event tonight... they're climbing into the ring at the moment. But right now, Crimson has a microphone.

Crimson: Hey, Troy. When you come out here tonight, I'm gonna be real careful not to kill you five days early. I want my belt at Deck the Halls, and I want to win it by putting you six feet under. But all the same, if you step in my face, I WILL fuck you up like you've never seen before... I just won't put you out of your misery until the pay-per-view.

Strong words, but they come from a VERY strong man. Crimson is completely unstoppable these days... and we can only pray that perhaps Troy Black can stop him at Deck the Halls. Or maybe right here tonight, because "Domination" by Pantera is playing now, and here comes Troy Black, wearing the VCW World Title, flanked by Robert Danson, Nicole, and the Wrecking Crew!! He has a microphone, as he stands up on top of the entrance ramp.

T. Black: Crimson, we have a small difference there. Because after what you did to Melissa two weeks ago... after you tried to kill her or cripple her... I don't intend to let you live long enough to get your title shot. Prepare to die.

Troy Black is rushing the ring, and Crimson immediately gestures for Hell's Bikers to cut him off on the way... but the Wrecking Crew and Robert Danson charge at them, and keep them away from Troy!! Troy Black takes off the VCW World Title and tosses it to the timekeeper, then slides into the ring and stands up, pausing briefly to stare up at Crimson's face, which is curling in an evil smile.

The match broke down into chaos, and in the end, Crimson annihilated all three of Troy Black's partners for the victory, as his henchmen took care of Troy. But oddly enough, both men would then get the chance to make good on their pre-match promises...

Crimson just destroyed three men and made it look easy... and now the other members of Hell's Bikers have Troy Black tied up in the ropes, hanging limply by his arms, after beating the living hell out of him in the corner. Trainers are out to help John Uldwall, Blade, and Robert Danson away from the ring, but Hell's Bikers aren't letting them get anywhere near Troy Black... it appears that Crimson isn't done here just yet.

Once the trainers and officials are a safe distance away, Crimson motions for the other members of Hell's Bikers to head backstage, and they're on their way... Crimson's leaving the ring too, and he's searching under the ring... he's got a baseball bat!! Crimson steps into the ring with a baseball bat, and Troy Black is still motionless in the ropes! He's measuring Troy Black... he's drawing back the bat... Good Lord, this'll kill him!! Crimson is about to murder Troy Black in cold blood in the middle of the ring... but instead he's dropping the bat and turning away. Thank God... maybe he's come to his senses. He promised that he'd leave something left of Troy Black for Deck the Halls, and that may be what he's doing.

Crimson's looking out at the crowd, at all the people booing him and staring into the ring in shock at the carnage he's caused... but Troy Black is stirring behind him!! Troy Black just squirmed free from the ropes, and he's behind Crimson... he has the baseball bat!! Troy Black comes from behind, and nails Crimson right in the back of his bad knee with the bat!! Crimson staggers forward and falls against the ropes, then turns around, with pain on his face... he felt that!! Troy Black nails him in the midsection, and Crimson limps and staggers forward... he's hunched over, and Troy Black's measuring his head now... HOLY SHIT, Troy Black just hit Crimson full-force with the bat!! The sickening sound of wood against bone continues to ring out across the arena even after the blow... it's a miracle that Crimson's head isn't somewhere in the cheap seats. As it is, he probably has a broken neck or a cracked skull! He's bleeding heavily, and he's laid out on the mat, not moving!!

The crowd's cheering, and Troy Black drops the bat... he's going up to the top turnbuckle, and the crowd's cheers get even louder as he comes off the top... BLACK DAGGER!! Crimson is still stretched out in the ring, motionless, and Troy Black is rolling out of the ring! He just laid Crimson out in the middle of the ring, just like Crimson's done to countless opponents before! "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica begins playing and the arena lights are replaced by Troy Black's dim silver-blue lights as Troy Black reclaims the VCW World Title from the timekeeper's table and heads up the ramp. He stops at the top of the ramp to raise the VCW World Title high above his head, with his face covered in blood that appears a dark shade of purple in the unusual lights.

As it turns out, even THAT wasn't enough to keep Crimson down. He's coming here tonight to face Troy Black for the VCW World Title... and he's mad. Can Troy Black repeat his success from Disaster Area and slay the monster that is Crimson again? Can he do the impossible one more time!? If he can do it, Crimson will finally see some consequences administered for his recent warpath of destruction. If he can't, then who in the hell can!?

We're going to find out in tonight's main event. Unfortunately, that's still several hours away. In the meantime, we understand that the combatants are already in the ring for the next and final match on the Waste-of-Time! One man turned evil and attacked his partner for no reason... since then, they inexplicably reunited, but tonight, for one more night, they're out for revenge! Tag team partners collide!! It's Russel "The Muscle" Taylor vs. the Super Giant Ninja, and it's next!!

Russel "The Muscle" Taylor

vs.

The Super Giant Ninja

Your referee is Jerry Rogers. They start out the match with a lockup, and Russel "The Muscle" Taylor immediately puts on the big headlock! The Super Giant Ninja struggles for a little bit... but wait a second, he just remembered he's strong enough to easily break this hold! He lifts Russel Taylor up, and brings him down with a massive belly-to-back suplex! Russel Taylor gets up... and the Ninja hits... no, scratch that, misses a kick to the head, but Russel goes down anyway!!

The Ninja is stomping away at Russel Taylor, and now he picks him up and sets him up in the corner. Russel sags in the corner, and the Ninja drills him with a series of pathetic-looking kicks and chops, then makes cheesy martial arts motions for the fans, as Russel staggers out of the corner like he's been murdered. The utter lack of crowd response makes it seem like the NCXCW match was exciting by comparison. And now the Ninja puts on a nerve pinch hold on Russel's shoulders to add to the boredom. Russel feebly struggles, but it looks like he's going down. After a few moments pass without Russel moving, Jerry Rogers checks his arm... it drops once... it drops twice... but Russel keeps it up the third time! Russel is stomping his feet against the mat and shaking! He's getting to his feet!!

Russel Taylor gets up, and fires off several hard right hands into the midsection of the Super Giant Ninja! He comes off the ropes, and hits a clothesline! The Ninja is staggered!! Russel Taylor runs off the ropes again, and here's a second clothesline! The Super Giant Ninja is barely on his feet! And Russel hits the ropes again, and bounces off with a third clothesline!! The Super Giant Ninja goes down! Now Russel's climbing to the top turnbuckle... the Ninja's back up to his feet, and turns around... just in time for Russel Taylor to nail him with a flying clothesline!! The Ninja goes down, and Russel's going for the cover!! Jerry Rogers is counting! ONE ... TWO ... THREE!! Russel "The Muscle" Taylor just won the match!!

Russel Taylor pinned The Super Giant Ninja after a flying clothesline in 0:02:38.
Rating: DUD

As Russel "The Muscle" Taylor celebrates his victory, let's cut away and take you to the main attraction tonight, VCW's Christmastime pay-per-view extravaganza, Deck the Halls!!

Wasted enough of your time yet? The actual Pay-Per-View is about to start.