Waste-of-Time
Hello, and welcome to the Waste-of-Time, the least exciting pre-game show in professional wrestling today! "Wasting My Time" by Jimmy Page is playing as the intro rolls, and we'll be showing previews, clips, and meaningless matches between people you've either never heard of before or you wish you'd never heard of before. There's still time to order the pay-per-view if you haven't already, and it's looking like No Quarter will be a stacked show from top to bottom. It's coming up, less than a half-hour away, coming to you live on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand in Nevada... so if you haven't already ordered, now's the time... pick up your phone, call your cable or satellite provider, and order No Quarter now!!
One of the top stories going into No Quarter is a three-way feud involving the VCW Intercontinental Title. The events here all spring from the outcome of last month's pay-per-view event, the Big Fight, where Johnny Smiles, Julian Page, and Crimson were the last three men remaining in the ring, with the VCW Intercontinental Title on the line...
From The Big Fight 2001:
Julian Page collapses to the mat, and Crimson grabs him and pitches him out over the top rope... but Julian Page grabs the top rope and holds on, and Crimson doesn't see it!! Crimson pulls the limp, lifeless body of Johnny Smiles up off of the mat, and prepares to toss him out again... but meanwhile, Julian Page performs a "skin the cat" flip back into the ring, and he's coming up behind Crimson again... and he nails him with another low blow!! Crimson doubles over again, and once again Julian Page hooks him for the DDT... but Crimson lets out a loud bellow of rage this time, and backdrops him off!! Julian Page goes down, and gets up in time to see Crimson turn to him, his eyes practically burning with rage... and he drops to his knees and starts begging off!! He's backing up, trying to get out of Crimson's way somehow... but Crimson steps forward and grabs him by the throat!! CHOKESLAM!! Julian Page is laid out in a heap on the mat, and after an hour, that may be what it takes to finally put him out of commission... and it is, as Crimson grabs him and hurls him over the top rope to the floor!! (Julian Page was eliminated in 1:04:25.)
It's down to Crimson and Johnny now... and that may just be a formality, because Johnny's just now starting to come to his feet, barely alive. Crimson pulls him up and whips him into the ropes, then swings a massive lariat straight at his head as he comes off... but Johnny ducks!! Crimson turns around... and gets knocked off his feet a superkick!! The crowd erupts into deafening cheers, and now Johnny's picking Crimson up on his shoulders in a fireman's carry... can he actually do this!? He's going for it... SMILEDRIVER!! Johnny Smiles just planted Crimson with the Smiledriver (admittedly, he took the bump on his upper back rather than his head), and the crowd's going crazy!! Johnny Smiles picks Crimson up, and tries to toss him out over the top rope... but Crimson grabs the rope and blocks it!! He's still not going out without a fight!! He grabs a handful of Johnny's hair, and levels him with a massive headbutt, drawling a loud round of boos from the crowd.
Johnny's starting to pull himself up again, but Crimson puts him in a standing headscissors... come on, he's had enough abuse already... POWER BOMB!! Johnny has been reduced to mat pizza once again, but now Crimson's waiting on him!! Johnny Smiles begins to get up, pulling himself up on the ropes... and Crimson charges him with a big boot... but Johnny dodges out of the way!! Crimson's kick overshoots, and he ends up straddling the top rope... and now Johnny pivots suddenly... SUPERKICK!!! CRIMSON FALLS OFF THE ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE!!! (Crimson was eliminated in 1:06:10.) JOHNNY SMILES WINS!!!
Johnny Smiles won the VCW Intercontinental Title that night, but not without earning the wrath of Crimson and Julian Page. Julian Page was the first to react, coming out the night after the Big Fight for a specially-requested match with Johnny Smiles. Johnny was equally quick to respond, however...
From VCW 111:
J. Page: Last night... after one solid HOUR of outsmarting and outwrestling twenty-nine other wrestlers, once again, I was screwed out of my rightful place as VCW Intercontinental Champion. Last night, Crimson lost sight of the goal at hand, and threw me out of the Big Fight... and since I wasn't there to save him, Johnny Smiles ended up outsmarting the big lump and winning my VCW Intercontinental Title. But tonight, fortunately, there's one fan out among the festering pile of humanity like you that's above your level, one fan with some intelligence and a sense of justice, and he won the right to make a match on VCW television. The match he made... Julian Page against Johnny Smiles, one-on-one for the VCW Intercontinental Title. And even though I'm still sore and battered from last night, even though I'm hurt, I'm going to make sure that justice is served tonight when--
Hold it, "Degenerated" by the Lone Rangers just kicked on, and that brings forth Johnny Smiles, the new VCW Intercontinental Champion!! He steps out of the backstage area, wearing the VCW Intercontinental Title and carrying a microphone, to a loud burst of cheers from the crowd, and stops at the top of the ramp, staring at Julian Page with a smile on his face.
J. Smiles: HEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRE'S JOHNNY!!
The crowd sings along and cheers wildly.
J. Smiles: Now, Julian... you know, it's true, you did last for over an hour in the Big Fight, and I have to give you credit for that. I mean, I know I was expecting you to get thrown out of there faster than Marty Jannetty gets thrown out of the hotel room of any woman who's crazy enough to invite him in in the first place... but you surprised me. And I think maybe I understand why you lasted so long... it was just so much fun smacking you from one end of the ring to the other that none of us wanted to get rid of you!
The crowd cheers, and Johnny Smiles starts walking towards the ring.
J. Smiles: But in spite of that, I was the one who came out on top in the Big Fight, and I'm the one who's once again the VCW InterJohnnynental Champion. And you're right about one other thing... one of our fans won a contest, and tonight, the match was made... me against you, for the InterJohnnynental Title. But then you lost me when you started talking about justice and all that other rigamarole... because it's clear to me that the reason our lucky fan made that match is because even one whole hour of seeing Julian Page taking the beating of his life wasn't enough, and he wants to see it happen again tonight! So the question again is... what would Johnny do? And the answer's really easy to figure out, even for someone who's dumb enough to try to jump Crimson during the Big Fight... I'm going to go in there and slap you around one more time, right here, right now!!
The two proceeded to battle each other in a close, intense contest, and Johnny Smiles emerged with the victory, though it has to be said, in fairness, that Julian Page was clearly not recovered from the hour-long beating he took the previous night. All the same, Johnny won the match... but his celebration was to be short-lived on that night before Crimson came on the scene...
From VCW 111:
If there were any doubts that Johnny Smiles was a deserving VCW Intercontinental Champion, this surely has erased them... but wait just a second! "Walk" by Pantera kicks on over the arena sound system, and Crimson comes running out of the backstage area to a huge round of boos from the crowd! He's coming to the ring... and Johnny's facing the wrong way, looking into the crowd! Crimson runs to the ring and leaps up on the apron, then steps over the top rope... and Johnny turns around just in time to see him! Johnny tries to bail out of the ring... but Crimson runs forward and grabs him by the hair, then hauls him back in!
Johnny begins punching Crimson in the midsection uselessly, but Crimson doesn't release the grip on Johnny's hair or even do more than flinch from the punches... he just draws back and nails Johnny with a massive headbutt! Johnny goes down, and Crimson grabs his throat and hauls him to his feet... CHOKESLAM!! Crimson just laid Johnny out in the middle of the ring with the Chokeslam, drawing a loud explosion of boos from the crowd, and now he's picking up Julian Page by the throat as well! He lifts him... and Julian Page gets a Chokeslam as well!! Both Julian Page and Johnny Smiles are laid out... and now Crimson's grabbing the VCW Intercontinental Title! He looks at it... then throws it down across the fallen body of Johnny Smiles and calls for a microphone, which he's quickly given. He stands over Johnny Smiles at him, looking down at him angrily.
Crimson: Last night, boy... you made the biggest mistake of your fucking life. Now I'm gonna give you two options. Either you hand that title belt over to me with a smile on your face next time we cross paths... or I'm gonna get your little punk ass in the ring, physically kill you, and take the belt off of your rotting carcass. You just think that over when you come around.
Crimson steps away from Johnny, and stops briefly to stand over Julian Page as well.
Crimson: And you... I just don't like your face, you little pussy.
Crimson tosses the microphone aside and drops a quick elbow on Julian Page, then rolls out of the ring and begins walking up the aisle to the backstage entrance, leaving Johnny Smiles and Julian Page laid out in the middle of the ring.
Crimson would come back to haunt Johnny two weeks later, when Johnny Smiles and Ken Collins were booked in a match against Crimson and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Johnny Smiles gave it his all near the end, despite some clear nervousness and uncertainty against an opponent like Crimson... but in the end, that just wasn't good enough to faze the massive man.
From VCW 113:
Johnny Smiles just picked Crimson up on his shoulders... and he plants him on the mat with the Smiledriver!! The crowd erupts, as Johnny Smiles goes for the pin... AND CRIMSON KICKS OUT AT ONE!! That didn't even keep Crimson down for a two-count... that just made him mad!! Johnny quickly scrambles up to the top rope as Crimson stands up, hoping to have better luck with a high-risk move... but Ken Collins is down, and he's not there to stop Randy Savage from jumping up on the apron and pushing Johnny Smiles off the top turnbuckle... right into Crimson, who grabs him by the throat!! He carefully braces Johnny Smiles with his left arm, then lifts him... CHOKESLAM!! Crimson just flattened Johnny Smiles with the Chokeslam, and he puts a foot on his chest as Linda Peterson goes down and makes the three-count!
Johnny Smiles was just flattened by that Chokeslam... but would he have gotten any further had Ken Collins been there to neutralize Randy Savage? Crimson seems to be nearly invincible... we saw how much abuse it took David Wright Hubbard to defeat him at Wrestlewar, and even then, he only pinned him by a fraction of a second. Short of another unstoppable powerhouse like Tony Garcia or the Grave Digger, can anybody really hurt Crimson!? Crimson's not abusing Johnny any further, fortunately... but he's grabbing the VCW Intercontinental Title from the timekeepers' table, and strapping it on!! The crowd boos as Crimson puts the title around his waist, then begins walking backstage with Randy Savage, stopping only to make lewd suggestions as to what Stacey Lockman might do for him backstage, earning an angry glare from her.
After several minutes, Johnny Smiles and Ken Collins recover... and Johnny Smiles looks around for his title belt, unable to find it! Stacey Lockman seems to be telling him what became of it... and he doesn't look pleased to hear that! Johnny Smiles and Ken Collins begin staggering backstage with Stacey Lockman, and Johnny seems to be in his own little world as he contemplates what just happened. He's still the VCW Intercontinental Champion, by the books, but Crimson dominated him and took his belt tonight, and that doesn't seem to be sitting well with him at all as they head backstage.
Crimson was out to show us all something by dominating Johnny Smiles and stealing the VCW Intercontinental Title belt, and he explained that clearly to everyone next week in a backstage interview...
From VCW 114:
Z. Adderloaf: ... Crimson... I notice you've got the VCW Intercontinental Title belt strapped on. You're not the champion, and that's common knowledge... so what were your motives behind taking this belt last week?
Crimson: It's real simple, little buddy. I just wanted to show everyone something... I wanted to demonstrate that I can destroy that piece of shit Johnny Smiles any time I choose to, and take his belt any time I choose to. Yeah, it ain't official yet, and I ain't the champion... but that's gonna change real fast when we meet up next. I'm calling his punk ass out at No Quarter, and I want him to put this belt on the line if he thinks for even one second that he might deserve it. And that little punk Julian Page, who's been bitching about not having the title... as far as I'm concerned, we can make it a three-man match and I'll whip both their asses. Everyone knows I can do it... I've already lost count of how many people I've stomped over since I came to VCW. So taking on those two little pussies... I ain't even gonna break a sweat before I break their fucking necks.
Now, don't misunderstand me, boy. It's not a matter of being cruel... it ain't even because I really want the title all that bad. It's just that I want to show I can have it any time I want, to show that Johnny Smiles and Julian Page don't mean shit to me. And the VCW Intercontinental Champion is the number-one contender for the VCW World Title... so the way I see it, after I take Johnny's belt, I'm gonna be first in line to go after whoever the World Champion is... and I'm gonna get my big belt back.
Crimson kicked out of the Smiledriver effortlessly, then destroyed Johnny Smiles and stole the VCW Intercontinental Title belt, and one would think that that would have crushed what little confidence Johnny had while on his collision course with Crimson. But when he came out with VCW World Champion David Wright Hubbard for their match against Crimson and "Macho Man" Randy Savage, we found out that Johnny was more determined than ever to keep the VCW Intercontinental Title where it belonged.
From VCW 114:
J. Smiles: And here I am with VCW World Champion, David Wright Hubbard. We're both major titleholders in VCW, but there's one important distinction between us... he hasn't had his belt stolen by some cheating, conniving, sneaky, overgrown, big-headed biscuitcase biker!! And that's why I have to take it upon myself to use the power vested in me to knight myself Sir Johnny, and charge forward to slay the foul, ugly, mighty beast... and this time, I'm talking about Crimson, not Virginia or Commie Lingo or whatever she's called now. I have to do it, not just for all of the Johnnycoholics who look to me for inspiration when a seven-foot tall biker steals a title belt that THEY care about... but also, for the very sake of all that's right and well in VCW today.
That's because when Crimson stole the VCW InterJohnnynental Title, he committed an unpardonable sin. You see... the InterJohnnynental Title's kind of like the Holy Grail, except that you can't drink out of it. It represents the pinnacles of my career, days when all of the Johnnycoholics can rejoice in the accomplishments of their proud hero. The second, and most recent time I won the VCW InterJohnnynental Title... I won the Big Fight, in one of the greatest moments in VCW history. And the first time I won the VCW InterJohnnynental Title... I did it by beating this man right here, the VCW World Champion, David Wright Hubbard!!
Once again, despite a valiant fight, Crimson and "Macho Man" Randy Savage emerged victorious from this meeting, though David Wright Hubbard was the one who went down in defeat this time. Johnny and Crimson remained focused on each other, but the third player in this rivalry, Julian Page, reminded us that he still had a say in things the following week...
From VCW 115:
J. Page: But I can promise you that when No Quarter is upon us, Crimson and Johnny'll finally get their comuppance. All of the losses we took at Wrestlewar III... we're gonna get it all back. Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon will retrieve the VCW World Tag Team Titles, I'll make up for everything that went wrong at the Big Fight and at Wrestlewar, and take my VCW Intercontinental Title back. At No Quarter, Crimson's getting cut down to size, and Johnny'll be put in his place. It WILL be done... count on it.
Johnny was facing a threat to his title from both sides now, but rather than seeming worried, he seemed to rise to the anticipation of the challenge, eagerly accepting Julian Page's presence in the upcoming match.
From VCW 115:
J. Smiles: As you know... I've had a few blows to my pride recently. I've taken a loss or two in the past few weeks, and Crimson stole my VCW InterJohnnynental Title... so things just don't look so good. And that's why I'd like to thank you, Julian Page, for accepting Crimson's offer to make the InterJohnnynental Title match between me and Crimson at No Quarter a Triple Threat Match! Because whatever else happens, whatever else might come up, I'll be secure in one piece of knowledge... thanks to your being in that match, I'll no longer be the biggest sissy-boy in the ring during that match!!
... But anyway, Julian... even if I have to beat both you and Crimson at the same time for my VCW InterJohnnynental Title to be safe, then that's what I'll do. Because that's not just any title belt... it's MY title belt, especially for me and all the Johnnycoholics. Without the title, I end up in bleak, desperate situations, struggling even to beat boring, bumbling excuses for wrestlers like Arthur Justice... Virginia... and let's not forget the worst of all, my good friend Marty Jannetty! But when I have that title, I'm on top of the world, going places, doing things, and always having a great time, with all of the Johnnycoholics cheering me on and chanting my name...
As if on cue, the crowd begins a loud "JOHNNY!!" chant, and Johnny Smiles stops to look around at the chanting crowd for a second. In the ring, Sophie smiles giddily and starts to join in with the chant, but Rex Richards stops that with a stern glare and an open-handed whack to the back of her head, earning an angry scowl from her but silencing her voice in the chant.
J. Smiles: So that's why I need to do everything I can to keep the VCW InterJohnnynental Title where it belongs. And if that means that I have to deal with a big-headed biscuitcase like Crimson, or a pompous crybaby like you, Julian... then that's exactly what I'll do.
Though Johnny lost that match thanks to some underhanded tactics by Rex Richards's valets, he showed later in the evening that he wasn't all talk, that he was eager to hold onto the VCW Intercontinental Title, both in name and in possession, when he made a daring raid during a big eight-man tag team match...
From VCW 115:
Jack Norman and Dean Sanders meet in the middle of the ring and begin slugging it out, and Crimson, Butch Manson, Marty Jannetty, and Lars Coverdale join them on the inside, as Bass Rogers begins brawling with "Macho Man" Randy Savage on the outside. The ring is filled with chaos... but someone's coming out of the backstage area!! It's Johnny Smiles!! Johnny Smiles creeps down the aisle as the brawl continues raging on inside of the ring, and he's moving to the timekeeper's table... and he grabs the VCW Intercontinental Title from it!! But Crimson turns around and spots him!! Johnny Smiles freezes for a second, then bolts, sprinting up the ramp and running for the backstage area... and Crimson slides out of the ring, and begins chasing after him!!
Johnny Smiles reclaimed his title, and escaped on that evening to walk away with it, but can he do that tonight in the Triple Threat Match? Johnny Smiles has never consistently, convincingly proven himself capable of defeating an opponent the calibur of Crimson or even Julian Page. He's motivated like we've seldom seen before, but it's clear that Crimson's also strongly motivated to take the title from him, and we all know that Julian Page has been scheming to reclaim the VCW Intercontinental Title ever since losing it to Bret "The Hitman" Hart at Wrestlewar III.
We'll see what happens later on, when that match comes to pass. But right now, we're going to take a look at something completely different. "Jesus Built My Hotrod" by Ministry is blaring over the arena sound system, and the crowd gives a lukewarm round of cheers as NCXCW's Dragon Mandoodle, a small man in greenish tights and a goofy, smiling dragon mask, runs to the ring and slides inside, then performs a cartwheel in the ring, leaps up fluidly into a jumping spinkick and intentionally wipes out and falls flat on his butt, before breakdancing his way back to his feet! He bows to the crowd, and a few fans try to start a "DRAGON!" chant, but it's just not happening.
We're about to see another NCXCW performer as his opponent... "Here Comes The Sun" by the Beatles begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd goes virtually dead as Raisin Brandon, a scrawny, scruffy man with a wrinkle-covered face and a deep suntan, wearing dark purple tights and boots, comes out of the backstage area and jogs to the ring. He climbs inside, and grabs a microphone, then turns to face Dragon Mandoodle... and who said this jackass could cut a promo!?
R. Brandon: Hey, hey!! Dragon Mandoodle... you know me, I'm Raisin Brandon, and I'm a balanced part of your complete wrestling match. You may think you look scary in your big, bad dragon suit, but tonight I'm gonna hit you with two scoops of California sun-ripened goodness, and fulfill more than one hundred percent of your USDA recommended daily allowance of PAIN!!
The parents who raised this human being in an environment where he was able to learn to speak should be shot... that has to be the worst promo in wrestling history. Dragon Mandoodle nods his masked head gravely, and puts a hand to his chin, seeming to consider Raisin Brandon's words... but then he folds his elbows to make his arms look like chicken wings, then drops to the mat and begins slithering around like a snake, as he flaps his stubby little "wings", then pops to his feet, still writhing and flapping, and draws his head back sharply, only to extend it forward slowly like a turtle peeping out of its shell. VCW referee Linda Peterson enters the ring, and calls for the bell... and it looks like we'll finally get the pre-match nonsense out of way, because she's calling for the bell to begin this contest!
Dragon Mandoodle
vs.
"Two Scoops" Raisin Brandon
They lock up to begin, and Raisin Brandon whips Dragon Mandoodle into the ropes, then runs off the other side... but Dragon Mandoodle leaps up and springs off the second rope in a half backflip, catching himself with his hands and springing back to his feet, then leaping into a high flip and hitting Raisin Brandon with a standing moonsault as he comes off the other side... but Raisin Brandon catches him... but Dragon Mandoodle takes him down with a spinning headscissors!! Raisin Brandon pops right back up and rushes Dragon Mandoodle with a clothesline, but Dragon Mandoodle does a forward roll under that, then springs to his feet fluidly and runs into the ropes without missing a step, coming off with a spinning leg lariat that takes Raisin Brandon down to a fair-sized pop from the crowd!!
Dragon Mandoodle begins dancing around the ring, skipping at a strange pace and bobbing his head as his arms pinwheel wildly at his sides, but Raisin Brandon's back up, and he clobbers Dragon Mandoodle in the middle of the dance, then chucks him to the outside of the ring. Dragon Mandoodle's down on the outside, and Raisin Mandoodle grabs the ropes as he gets up, and slingshots himself onto him with a cross bodypress to the floor!! Dragon Mandoodle goes down again, and Raisin Brandon clobbers him with a few right hands while he's down, then pulls him up and whips him into the guardrail... but Dragon Mandoodle leaps up onto the guardrail, then springs off onto Raisin Brandon with an Asai moonsault, taking him down!!
Dragon Mandoodle gets up, and now he's reaching under the ring... and he pulls out a table!! He sets the table up at ringside, and he's reaching under the ring again... and now he's pulling out a HUGE ladder!! He slides that into the ring, then reaches under the ring again and pulls out a smaller ladder... what the hell's he doing!? He slides into the ring and sets the huge ladder up near the ropes, parallel to the ring apron, then sets the smaller one up nearer the center of the ring, perpendicular to the huge ladder. And now he's sliding back to the outside of the ring, where Raisin Brandon is still down... and he puts Raisin Brandon up on the table! Raisin Brandon must have been nearly killed by that Asai moonsault, because he's staying in position for this spot, whatever it is. And Dragon Mandoodle slides back into the ring... what the hell's he planning? Dragon Mandoodle runs into the ropes on the opposite side of the ladders... then runs up the rungs of the smaller ladder until he gets to the top, from which he springs to the top of the huge ladder, and then he leaps off of the huge ladder with a shooting star press through the table on the floor!! A huge chant of "HOLY SHIT!!" erupts from the crowd, and both Dragon Mandoodle and Raisin Brandon are down in the wreckage of the table!!
After a few seconds, Dragon Mandoodle pulls Raisin Brandon up, and tosses him into the ring and follows him inside, where Linda Peterson has since cleared away the ladders. Raisin Brandon starts getting up, evidently coming out of his Asai moonsault-induced coma, but Dragon Mandoodle takes him down again with a swinging neckbreaker! He's down, and Dragon Mandoodle duck-walks into the ropes, then comes off with a legdrop!! Raisin Brandon's still down, and Dragon starts going up to the top turnbuckle... and he leaps off, straight into an upraised foot from Raisin Brandon!! Raisin Brandon gets up, and pulls Dragon Mandoodle up to his feet too, then takes him down with a DDT!! Dragon Mandoodle's down, and Raisin Brandon's going up to the top turnbuckle himself... SENTON BOMB!! That's his finishing move, and he calls it the Sunkiss Bomb!! He crawls across Dragon Mandoodle for the cover... but Dragon Mandoodle kicks out at two!!
Undaunted, Raisin Brandon picks Dragon Mandoodle up, and whips him into the ropes, then puts his head down for a backdrop... but Dragon Mandoodle hits the Dragon DDT as he comes off!! Raisin Brandon's down, and Dragon Mandoodle's doing the Dragon Dance!! His arms wave gracefully, but wildly at his sides as he wiggles his body like a serpent, stalking and strutting around the ring and cocking his head this way and that... but now Raisin Brandon's starting to get up, and Dragon Mandoodle heads up to the top turnbuckle! Raisin Brandon gets up and turns around... right into the DRAGON DESTROYER!! He covers Raisin Brandon, and hooks a leg as Linda Peterson counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!!
Dragon
Mandoodle pinned Raisin Brandon with the Dragon Destroyer in
0:05:14.
Rating: **
The crowd gives a mild round of cheers; this wasn't much of a wrestling match, but it was a fairly decent stuntman show. Dragon Mandoodle begins dancing in celebration in the middle of the ring, until Linda Peterson reminds him that it's time for him and Raisin Brandon to move on out, at which point he begins dancing his way backstage. Raisin Brandon gets up in a few seconds as well and begins jogging backstage, slapping palms with any fans who actually extend their hands to him. What a bunch of spot-filled garbage THAT was.
Moving on to more important matters, one of the biggest issues in tonight's show has to be the first-ever showdown between Troy Black and Sandis Arlington, two men who are probably among the greatest wrestlers of our time. This confrontation appears to be Sandis's primary objective in VCW... he wants to add Troy Black to the list of names that he's beaten during his illustrious career. When Sandis Arlington first appeared on the scene in VCW... we didn't even know it was him.
From VCW 109:
A old, crumbling, yet still majestic castle is seen among from the air, atop a green hill surrounded by plains and forests. The camera slowly comes closer to the castle, finally peering in through the doors and coming inside. The interior of the castle is mostly shrouded in darkness, with faint rays of sunright coming in through small windows, illuminating decaying tapestries and finery. The camera continues, deeper into the castle, through a door into a room with no light at all, except for one dimly lit candelabra in the middle of the room. The room is filled with vague shadows that might be any number of things... stuffed trophies, furniture, armor displays, piles of books... but it's very hard to make out what any of it is. A soft, vaguely familiar voice begins to speak from an unknown source...
Voice: In ancient days, there were no televisions or radios or telephones or newspapers to spread information across the world. Most who lived in these times couldn't even read... and if they could, there was nothing to be read but the Bible and a few other documents. The only way that most people knew what was happening around them was to perceive their surroundings with their own senses... and so they feared the darkness and the shadows, which obscured their vision and further limited what they could know. What could be lurking where they could not see? It might be a monster, or a murderer, or an evil spirit... or it might be nothing at all.
The candles suddenly flicker as a gust of wind rushes through the room, then a gloved hand reaches out from the darkness and begins extinguishing them, one by one.
Voice: In the twenty-first century, of course, things are different. Science has documented or disproved all of the terrors of the night, and made that information known to every person in the modern world. With the knowledge provided by science and the safety provided by an organized police force, people have learned to feel safe in the darkness. They no longer fear what might await them in the darkness if they turn out the lights. They are no longer frightened of shadows.
The hand hovers over the last burning candle, then suddenly enfolds the flame and extinguishes it as well.
Voice: But perhaps they should be.
The camera lingers in the darkness, alone, for a few seconds.
Voice: Beware the shadows... they move when you're not looking.
That was the first we heard of Sandis Arlington, but it wouldn't be the last. The following week, we still didn't know who he was, but he hinted at his intentions by striking at the Black Plague from behind the cover of darkness.
From VCW 110:
Desmond picks him up, hits a kick to the midsection, and goes for the Outcast... but Falcon shoves him forward... right into Jerry Rogers, who goes down! Desmond staggers away... right into a kick to the midsection from Falcon! Falcon hooks him in a front chancery... and lifts him for the Falcon Arrow! But Rebecca Black slides into the ring and clips his leg, causing him to fall backwards under Desmond! Lady Erica Whitmore slides into the ring and grabs Rebecca Black by the hair, pulling her away... but Rebecca Black lunges forward with a headbutt to the chest, driving Erica back, then hauls her outside of the ring and begins beating her senseless with her fists! And Desmond picks Falcon up... OUTCAST!! He just gave Falcon the Outcast, and Jerry Rogers is starting to stir! No, don't let it-- HOLY SHIT, THE LIGHTS JUST WENT OUT!!! The arena is completely dark... what the hell's going on here!? A few thumping sounds ring out, then the crash of someone being driven to the mat, and a few members of the crowd begin setting their camera flashes off, revealing a figure ascending to the top rope... and he flies off to execute some sort of move on a prone opponent!
After that, for several seconds there's nothing... until the lights come back on, revealing that Desmond is laying motionless on the mat, and both Falcon and Jerry Rogers are starting to get up! On the outside of the ring, Rebecca Black has forgotten about Lady Erica Whitmore completely, staring into the ring in shock... Falcon looks down at Desmond, then shrugs and covers him, as Jerry Rogers stares around, befuddled, then makes the count... and Falcon gets three! Falcon just beat Desmond! The Black Plague just lost a match!!
Falcon scored the first big victory anyone has earned over the Black Plague, but the question remains... what the hell was that that just happened? The lights went out, and apparently someone attacked Desmond in the darkness! Falcon rolls out of the ring and helps Lady Erica Whitmore to her feet, then begins making his way backstage with her... and Rebecca Black's in the ring to check on Desmond, who's just now starting to come around, holding his head in pain. As he gets up, a mocking laughter is heard over the arena sound system... and now what the hell is this!?
Voice: Beware the shadows... they move when you're not looking.
Rebecca Black and Desmond both stare around the arena, looking for someone with a microphone... but there's nobody there. Desmond gets up and begins heading backstage with Rebecca, looking severely disturbed over what just happened. This is the first real loss that the Black Plague has endured since its formation, and it's all because of that person who interfered in this match!
That wasn't the last time that evening that Sandis Arlington interfered with the Black Plague that night. The next time he struck, it was in a much more high-pressure situation, against a much more formidable target.
From VCW 110:
Tony Garcia just got the submission over Melissa DelArmeggio... but he's not releasing the Torture Rack! He's continuing to rack Melissa... but now David Wright Hubbard's in the ring! He draws back a fist, preparing to nail Tony Garcia... but Amy Lin steps in front, saying something to him... and he lowers his fist! James Applebee had said that David Wright Hubbard and a member of the Black Plague can't have physical contact outside of a sanctioned match... and the match is over now! David Wright Hubbard can't stop Tony Garcia from racking Melissa, or he'll be stripped of the VCW World Title! David Wright Hubbard's hesitating, obviously torn between saving Melissa and sacrificing his title or leaving her at the mercy of Tony Garcia. After a few seconds of hesitation, he grimaces and reluctantly draws back his fist again... BUT THE LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN!!
The lights are out once again, and the crowd begins setting off camera flashes, trying to shed some light on the ring to see what's going on, but nothing can be seen clearly... and the sound of wood on bone rings out throughout the arena, followed by the sound of someone crashing to the mat! A few seconds later, the lights come back on... and Rebecca Black, Amy Lin, David Wright Hubbard, and Bobcat McGavin all stare in bewilderment into the center of the ring, where Tony Garcia is laid out, with his wooden axe handle broken in two halves, draped over his head! Somebody just attacked Tony Garcia in the darkness, and laid him out with his own axe handle! This isn't Desmond we're talking about here... this is Tony Garcia, the TNM Elite Lethal Lottery Cup winner, and the challenger in this Sunday's World Title match!
David Wright Hubbard quickly pulls Melissa up off of the mat and drapes her over his shoulder, then begins carrying her backstage, saving her from further assault... but Rebecca Black and Amy Lin are barely paying attention to him! Tony Garcia's laid out in the middle of the ring, and the Black Plague was just struck from the darkness again! What the hell's happening here!? What effects will this have on this Sunday's title match! Tony Garcia's starting to get up now... and he's not happy! He's looking around wildly, bellowing out incoherent challenges, but nobody's stepping forward...
By this time, it was pretty well suspected that whoever the mysterious man in the darkness was, that he'd play an important part at the Big Fight. Many people expected him to surface and become a factor in the Troy Black vs. Falcon Street Fight. Instead, he revealed himself after the VCW World Title Match between Tony Garcia and David Wright Hubbard, and stated his purpose in coming to VCW as well, in a memorable verbal showdown with Troy Black.
From The Big Fight 2001:
Melissa goes down, and Amy Lin says something to Tony Garcia... and he's smiling now as he picks her up across his shoulders... TORTURE RACK!! Tony Garcia has Melissa DelArmeggio in the Torture Rack, and the rest of the Black Plague descends on David Wright Hubbard once again, and they continue assaulting him!!
The crowd continues booing loudly, and this looks exceedingly bad... there's no signs of the beating stopping anytime soon. Melissa DelArmeggio and David Wright Hubbard could end up severely injured, in the same boat as Falcon... BUT THE LIGHTS JUST WENT OUT!!! The lights are out again!! What the hell's this all about!?
T. Black: I don't know who you are, or who you THINK you are... but your little tricks don't scare me.
Troy Black still has a microphone! The lights are out, and previously this has been a prelude to a mysterious attack on the Black Plague, but Troy Black wants to confront whoever's responsible!
T. Black: I'm not scared of the dark. If you want to settle something with the Black Plague... if you want to settle something with ME... come out and show yourself. I already put one man in the hospital tonight, and I can do it again.
Troy Black meets only silence and darkness in response. Obviously the activity in the ring has stopped, as the Black Plague members brace themselves for another attack in the darkness.
T. Black: In the darkness... in the light... it doesn't matter to me. Set foot anywhere near me, and it'll be the last mistake you ever make. Now show yourself, so that the people can see who you are... because even your mother won't recognize you after I'm through with you.
The lights flicker, and they come back on... and someone's standing on the entrance ramp! SANDIS ARLINGTON!!! IT'S SANDIS ARLINGTON, FORMERLY OF SMCW!!! The portion of the crowd that recognizes him cheers wildly, and the others just sit in stunned silence. The Black Plague members are staring at him in shock, with Melissa DelArmeggio and David Wright Hubbard in lifeless, forgotten heaps on the mat, but Troy Black quickly recovers his composure and raises the microphone again...
T. Black: Who in the HELL do you think you are to show up in my wrestling company and stick your nose in my business!?
Sandis Arlington just returns Troy's glare with a look of bored annoyance as he raises his microphone to speak.
S. Arlington: To put it simply... I'm Sandis Arlington. Those who've seen me before know that I'm the reason why you're only the SECOND-best wrestler the world has ever seen... and those who haven't are about to find out.
T. Black: ... And you're here to make a name for yourself at the expense of the Black Plague. Let me tell you something, you overrated, overconfident pest... and a pest is all you are. Not a threat, but a nuisance. Maybe you're a big fish in the tiny little pond you came from... but you just jumped into an ocean full of sharks, and if you don't get the hell out right now, you'll be eaten alive.
S. Arlington: Setting aside all of your aquatic gibberish and tedious self-promotion, I can tell you one thing. I'm not here to make a name for myself... my name's already been made. All around the world, I've beaten the best wrestlers ever to step into the ring. Just recently in SMCW, I made a monthly routine of beating a sad, pathetic little man who reminds me a great deal of you... but I'm not here to deal with the past. I'm here to pursue the future... a future that will see me put an end to your pathetic egotistical parade and your ridiculous Black Plague.
T. Black: Let's see what ends up being pathetic and ridiculous when you try to back up that talk. You can even turn the lights out, if it makes you feel better... even if I can't see you, I can sense you... I can feel you... and that means if you have the guts to come near me, I can destroy you.
Troy Black's eyes are unmoving from Sandis's location at the top of the ramp, staring out at him with raw, icy malice. But Sandis Arlington's face, though set in a grim expression, shows no hint of concern at Troy's threats.
S. Arlington: I have to give you credit... it's clear that you don't fear the darkness. For your own sake, you'd better have a healthy fear of the ones who strike from behind its cover... but I can tell that you do. You knew that I was gone from SMCW when you were bringing together your Black Plague... and you didn't even try to recruit me. By your mind, surely a mere insignificant pest like Sandis Arlington would jump at the chance to serve the great and mighty Troy Black... but you never tried to reach me, saving me the trouble of laughing in the face of your little offer. But why didn't you try to reach me? I can tell you why... you fear me. You didn't want me anywhere near "your wrestling company", because you were afraid that the people would learn the truth... the simple truth that Sandis Arlington is better than Troy Black.
Troy Black paces back and forth in the ring, staring at Sandis Arlington down the aisle. Melissa DelArmeggio and David Wright Hubbard are both stirring now, but neither seems likely to get up any time soon. Most members of the crowd, and all of the members of the Black Plague are silent, as the tension builds. Finally, Troy stops and looks directly at Sandis.
T. Black: You know... you're not even worth the time I'd waste proving you wrong. Guys... go down there and make sure we send him back up to Toronto in a bodybag.
The Black Plague members nod and mutter in agreement, and they're piling out of the ring and rushing down the aisle... BUT THE LIGHTS ARE OUT AGAIN!!! The lights went out before they could reach Sandis Arlington... but what's going on!? After several moments of confused silence, the lights come back on again... and Sandis Arlington's nowhere to be found!! But inside the ring, neither are Melissa DelArmeggio and David Wright Hubbard!! They must have recovered and escaped during the confusion, or maybe Sandis somehow helped to hide them... but whatever the case may be, Sandis, Melissa, and David Wright Hubbard have all disappeared, and Troy Black can't believe it!! He's clearly enraged at seeing his victims escape, as he raises the microphone again...
T. Black: Okay, Sandis... you've got my attention. But there's one rule in VCW that has held true since Wrestlewar... getting Troy Black's attention is the last mistake you'll ever make. Gabriel was the first... Falcon was second... and Sandis, you're next.
Despite Troy Black's words at the time, it soon became clear that he didn't intend to deal with Sandis Arlington personally. Instead, the next night, he introduced a deadly new mercenary that he had brought into the Black Plague... the Grave Digger.
From VCW 111:
T. Black: Last night, Sandis Arlington was foolish enough to try to stand in the way of the Black Plague. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... the Black Plague has a one-hundred percent mortality rate, and Sandis Arlington's no exception to that rule. But I came to a decision... I decided that Sandis Arlington wasn't even worth my time. I certainly could bother dirtying my hands with him, and see him carried out of the building on a stretcher just like Falcon, but a big match with Troy Black is more than an insignificant pest like him deserves. So instead, I'm placing the duty of disposing of Sandis Arlington with someone else...
Lorenzo Vasquez takes a microphone and steps forward, with a sadistic, cocky grin on his face.
L. Vasquez: I got this one, Troy. One quick, messy, and painful Barcelona assassination coming up...
T. Black: No, Lorenzo... not you. I'm talking about someone who's beaten Sandis Arlington before, when they said it couldn't be done. I'm talking about someone who specializes in giving out beatings that nobody can come back from. I'm talking about the newest member of the Black Plague... the Grave Digger.
WHAT!? "Wait And Bleed" by Slipknot begins blaring over the arena sound system, and the crowd boos as the Grave Digger steps out of the backstage area! He's as big as, or bigger than, the Super Giant Ninja, over seven feet tall and nearly four hundred pounds... but unlike the Super Giant Ninja, he's one of the most deadly forces the wrestling world has ever seen. When VCW fans last saw him, he was the SMCW Triple Crown World Champion, destroying Falcon in under ten minutes... and now he's in the Black Plague!?
In spite of that, Sandis Arlington made it clear in a statement that night that his goal was to challenge and defeat Troy Black in his own wrestling company, and that nothing else would do. This statement was taped before the Grave Digger was even introduced... but all the same, it made Sandis's intentions clear.
From VCW 111:
S. Arlington: Troy... you're the first target, and the biggest one. But I'm not here to fight your henchmen and yes-men... the notion of Brujah, Amy, or Desmond against Sandis Arlington in VCW is every bit as much a joke as it was in SMCW. Even Tony Garcia... I'm sure he'd give me a brief challenge, but that's not what I want. What I want is a match with you, Troy, a chance to walk into "your wrestling company" and beat you in the middle of the ring, a chance to make a simple demonstration of the fact that Sandis Arlington is a superior wrestler to Troy Black.
The amusement has slowly faded from Sandis's face and voice, and he appears matter-of-fact and grim, but unconcerned as he pauses briefly, looking into the camera with something less than a stare but something more than a casual glance.
S. Arlington: I've stepped out of the shadows to face you, Troy. And now I'm in the open, waiting for you to answer the challenge. If Troy Black, and not Sandis Arlington, is the best wrestler in the world... let's see you step forward and prove it.
In the next few weeks, an agreement was reached between both sides, with some assistance from VCW Commissioner James Applebee. Sandis Arlington was signed to face Troy Black, one-on-one, at No Quarter... but two conditions were added on Troy Black's side. First of all, that Sandis Arlington would have to face the Grave Digger on VCW 113, and secondly, that if the Grave Digger won that match, he would receive a VCW World Title shot the night after No Quarter. Troy Black's plan was for the Grave Digger to destroy Sandis Arlington before No Quarter arrived... but thanks to the Wrecking Crew, while the Grave Digger did win the match, Sandis Arlington escaped mostly unscathed.
From VCW 113:
Sandis Arlington rolls out of the ring and grabs a chair... this isn't a no-DQ match, but I don't think Sandis cares! He enters the ring with the chair... but the Grave Digger's up, and he drills the chair into Sandis's face with a Yakuza kick!! Sandis Arlington goes down, and the Grave Digger picks him up... he's pulling him into position again!! BURIAL ON THE CHAIR!!! All right, that had to have done it... but the Grave Digger's not done yet! He picks Sandis up again... and gives him a second Burial on the chair!! He's trying to cripple him in the course of doing Troy Black's bidding!! He's beginning to pick him up again for a third burial, ignoring Bobcat McGavin's demands that he just go for the cover and get it over with...
But wait, here comes the Wrecking Crew!! What're they doing here!! They run to the ring, and John Uldwall slides inside at a corner as Blade runs around to the other side and climbs to the top turnbuckle! The Grave Digger's oblivious to their presence as he muscles Sandis into position for a third Burial... but Blade yells "OVER HERE!!" and the Grave Digger drops Sandis and turns around... BREAKDOWN!! The Grave Digger crashes to the mat, and that's an immediate disqualification!!
After that, the collision course was set between Troy Black and Sandis Arlington, and the match was made. But they would have chances to meet one another in the ring before No Quarter as well, starting with a tag team match pitting Troy Black and Amy Lin against Sandis Arlington and Melissa DelArmeggio. Even before anybody stepped in the ring on that night, it was clear that the tension between the four people involved couldn't be any higher.
From VCW 114:
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica begins playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd explodes into a massive round of deafening boos as Troy Black and Amy Lin step out of the backstage area, arm in arm, with the arena lights replaced by dim, silver-blue lights. But they're not headed to the ring... instead, they pose for the rather unappreciative crowd on top of the entrance ramp, then Troy Black calls for a microphone.
T. Black: Okay, Sandis... this is what you wanted. I gave you uncountable chances to back down and leave before it came to this, but you demanded a match with Troy Black... and this is a preview of that match, a taste of what I can inflict on you when I face you one-on-one at No Quarter. I gave you the chance to turn and run, Sandis... but you didn't. You saw what happened to Gabriel when I crossed him... you saw what happened to Falcon when he tried to be a hero... and you're frighteningly close to finding out just what it is I'll do to you, after you had the nerve to come to MY wrestling company and challenge me.
Sandis Arlington doesn't seem intimidated in the least as he reaches for a microphone of his own.
S. Arlington: Your pathetic attempts to frighten me aren't going to work. The Grave Digger couldn't finish me off last week, and you won't do any better. All I wanted was the chance to prove that I'm a better wrestler than you, Troy... and now that I have that, I can do the rest from here.
Amy Lin takes the microphone now, directing a seductive, arrogant smile at the ring as she presses herself up against Troy Black.
A. Lin: You got what you wanted, Sandis... you should consider yourself lucky. Not everyone gets what they want. Your tag team partner, Melissa, for instance... she didn't get what she wants. I know what she wants, and it's all MINE.
Amy Lin turns and pulls Troy Black into a long, deep kiss, drawing a loud chorus of boos and a chant of "SLUT!" from the crowd, and earning a murderous stare from Melissa DelArmeggio in the ring. As the kiss draws on, Melissa seems to come closer and closer to mentally snapping... and then she suddenly turns, grabs Sandis Arlington, and kisses him!! The crowd's reaction is mixed, but Sandis soon backs away, looking at Melissa with a mixture of dismay and surprise as he raises the microphone to speak to her.
S. Arlington: Remember what I said in the locker room about not getting emotional and doing anything stupid? I'd like to stick to that plan, if we could.
Melissa steps back from Sandis, seeming a embarrassed and not really sure of what she's just done. Troy Black and Amy Lin both share a laugh at that, and Troy Black raises the microphone, with a smile of cruel amusement on his face.
T. Black: Melissa, I appreciate that you feel the need to make me jealous... but perhaps you'll forgive me if I say that it doesn't quite tear at my heart to know that Sandis Arlington may be getting my leftovers.
Melissa's face clouds with anger, and she tears the microphone from Sandis's hands as she turns to face Troy and Amy.
M. DelArmeggio: Well, Troy... you ignorant jerk... perhaps you'll forgive me if I say that after all that Amy's been around, I'm surprised there IS anything left over!
The crowd cheers loudly, and renews a loud "SLUT!" chant for Amy Lin, who's left sputtering with shock and anger for a few moments before she can finally raise the microphone to speak.
A. Lin: All right, you stupid bitch, you're dead now. I'm gonna kick your fucking throat in...
Amy Lin starts to advance on the ring, but Troy Black holds her back, then grabs the microphone from her.
T. Black: Sandis... you're about to learn what it's like to have to step into the ring and fight me. And Melissa... you're about to learn another lesson of how to show respect when you talk to me and Amy.
The tag team match failed to conclusively demonstrate whether Troy Black or Sandis Arlington was the superior athlete, but the trend continued the following week, when Sandis Arlington teamed up with VCW World Champion David Wright Hubbard against Tony Garcia and Troy Black, a mere six days before the pay-per-view was scheduled to take place. Troy Black had some last parting words for Sandis before their encounter tonight.
From VCW 115:
"I, Zombie (Europe In The Raw Mix)" by White Zombie begins playing, and the crowd explodes into a rafter-shaking roar of boos as Tony Garcia and Troy Black step out of the backstage area, accompanied by Rebecca Black and Amy Lin, who now wears a bandage on her forehead. They come to the ring, and Troy Black holds the ropes open for the women, then immediately grabs a microphone.
T. Black: Sandis... whether it's tonight or No Quarter, I must warn you... it's over. Last week, I found out how good you were, and I'll give you a little credit... you're pretty good. But you're just not good enough to compete with Troy Black. You were a beaten man last week before you disappeared in the darkness... and the smartest thing for you to do now would be to disappear permanently. I'm sure that's not going to happen... you want to make a martyr out of yourself, just like Gabriel and Falcon. It's perhaps a little fitting that we're doing this at No Quarter... because I ask no quarter, and I give no quarter... and if you're really so inclined to give your physical health and well-being... possibly your life as you know it... for this foolish dream of somehow pinning Troy Black... then I fully intend to take it.
The talk is over now, and so are the inconclusive tag team matches... tonight, Sandis Arlington and Troy Black meet one-on-one for the first time ever, right here at No Quarter in a VCW ring. Arguments have been made to call each man the greatest wrestler in North America, if not the world... and tonight is the night when each man will battle to live up to the hype behind him and prove that he, not his opponent, is the greater wrestler.
We're going to take a break now to catch a performance from two wrestlers who aren't so great. Some cheesy eighties rock music is playing over the arena sound system, and the crowd practically goes dead as Russel "The Muscle" Taylor comes jogging out of the backstage area, slapping the palms of any fans who actually hold their hands out to him. He climbs into the ring and begins stretching out and hopping up and down in anticipation of his upcoming match against his tag team partner tonight.
The crowd remains dead as some cheesy Oriental-style techno music begins playing over the arena sound system, and the Super Giant Ninja stalks clumsily out of the backstage area, then begins making his way to the ring. He's going to take on his own tag team partner, Russel "The Muscle" Taylor, tonight, in a match that has been held on many Waste-of-Times before. He walks to the ring, then awkwardly steps over the top rope and turns to face Russel Taylor. Jerry Rogers enters the ring, calling for the bell, and that'll begin this match!
Russel "The Muscle" Taylor
vs.
Super Giant Ninja
They lock up to start, and Russel Taylor whips the Super Giant Ninja into the ropes... no, the Ninja reverses! Russel Taylor runs off the ropes, and the Super Giant Ninja lashes out with a backhand chop, but Russel ducks under it and runs to the other side, then comes off with a clothesline! The Super Giant Ninja staggers back a little, but doesn't fall, and Russel Taylor runs into the ropes again, then hits a second clothesline! The Super Giant Ninja's wobbling, and Russel hits the ropes again... and a third clothesline takes the Super Giant Ninja off of his feet!! Russel Taylor pumps a fist in the air and shouts in triumph, but he seems to be the only one in the whole arena who cares.
The Super Giant Ninja gets up, and Russel Taylor begins bashing him with hard right hands, but the Super Giant Ninja blocks one, then cuffs Russel Taylor on the side of the head, sending him sprawling to the canvas! The Super Giant Ninja pulls him up and throws him in the corner, then begins giving him repeated kneelifts to the midsection, followed by a few backhanded chops that seem about as stiff as overcooked spaghetti. He picks Russel Taylor up out of the corner, and lifts him over his head.... GORILLA PRESS SLAM!! Russel Taylor crashes down hard on the mat, and the Super Giant Ninja stares around dumbly for a second, then drops down and covers him!! Jerry Rogers makes the count... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Shoulder up at two and a half! The Super Giant Ninja gets up, then walks into the ropes and comes off with a big splash!! But Russel Taylor gets his knees up, and the Super Giant Ninja catches them right in the gut!
The Super Giant Ninja rolls over, clutching his midsection, and Russel Taylor gets to his feet, shaking off the devestating seconds of offense he just received. The Ninja's up now, but still doubled over, and Russel Taylor runs into the ropes and hits (in the loosest sense of the word) a swinging neckbreaker!! The Super Giant Ninja's down again, and Russel Taylor climbs up to the top turnbuckle as the Ninja begins to get back to his feet... and he cuts him down with a flying clothesline!! The Ninja's down, and Russel Taylor goes for the cover, as Jerry Rogers counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two and a half!!
But Russel Taylor's not done yet... he lifts the Ninja up into a standing headscissors! He grabs him, and lifts for the Power Bomb... but he can't pick him up!! Russel Taylor tries to lift again, and he gets the Ninja off the ground, but can't pull him up all the way!! Now the Super Giant Ninja's rearing up... and he flings Russel Taylor high in the air with a HUGE backdrop!! Russel Taylor wipes out on the mat, and the Super Giant Ninja stands back, measuring him, as he gets to his feet... and he barely grazes him with a huge spin kick, then falls down in the process!! Russel Taylor still goes down, flattened like a pancake... but the Super Giant Ninja gets to his feet and pulls him up, then measures him again... evidently they're going to do the spot over. And this time it connects, albeit a bit weakly, and Russel Taylor crashes to the mat again!! The Super Giant Ninja covers Russel Taylor, and Jerry Rogers goes down to count... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!! The Super Giant Ninja wins!!
The
Super Giant Ninja pinned Russel Taylor after a spin kick in
0:02:45.
Rating: -***
Well, that'll be that... and with that match out of the way, it's time to talk about the main event for the evening, the Quadruple Threat Match for the VCW World Title, pitting VCW World Champion David Wright Hubbard against "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Tony Garcia, and Falcon. As has been well-documented in the past, ever since his return to VCW, Tony Garcia has sought to become the VCW World Champion. At our last pay-per-view, the Big Fight, that quest took him to a match with VCW World Champion, David Wright Hubbard. Though he didn't win the title that night, he showed a lot of people that had the match gone slightly differently, perhaps he could have.
From The Big Fight 2001:
David Wright Hubbard glares down at Tony Garcia as he gets up... but now he's pointing to the sky, and that gets a pop from the pro-David Wright Hubbard portion of the crowd. He climbs up to the top turnbuckle slowly, as Tony Garcia gets up. Tony Garcia turns around... FLYING CROSS BODYPRESS!! That move won him the title, and it just took Tony Garcia down! David Wright Hubbard hooks a leg, and Brendan Powers counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THRE... SHOULDER UP!! At two and nine-tenths, Tony Garcia rolled a shoulder up... and that gets a little surprise from David Wright Hubbard. Tony Garcia's bleeding, battered, and weary, but he's still in this match!!
But he's not letting it stop him... he just pulls Tony Garcia up, and continues the abuse, backing him into the ropes with a series of hard right hands. He whips Tony Garcia into the other side... but no, Tony Garcia reverses, and runs into the ropes himself! He rushes David Wright Hubbard with a lariat... but David Wright Hubbard ducks, and Tony Garcia flattens Brendan Powers with his lariat! He turns around, and David Wright Hubbard launches a massive boot to his face... but Tony Garcia catches the foot, and brings him down in a dragon screw leg whip!! He rips off the kneebrace and chucks it out of the ring, then turns David Wright Hubbard over, and into a half Boston!! David Wright Hubbard's caught in the half Boston, in the middle of the ring... and his knee's no longer protected by that kneebrace! Tony Garcia's leaning back, putting on every bit of pressure he can muster... AND DAVID WRIGHT HUBBARD STARTS TAPPING OUT!! His knee must be destroyed by now, and after all this abuse, without the kneebrace, he just can't take it anymore!! Tony Garcia gets up, raising his hands in victory... then looks and sees that Brendan Powers is still down, and didn't register the submission.
Both David Wright Hubbard and Brendan Powers are down... and Tony Garcia turns to Rebecca Black! He's calling for his wooden axe handle! Rebecca Black gives it to him, and he takes aim as David Wright Hubbard begins to get up. He's drawing it back like a baseball player ready to hit one deep into the outfield... but he better do it quick, because Brendan Powers is starting to get up as well!! David Wright Hubbard turns around, just as Tony Garcia swings for his head... and he ducks!! Tony Garcia missed the swing, and David Wright Hubbard slugs him in the gut, then yanks the axe handle out of his grasp and draws it back... and he nails Tony Garcia right in the bloodied face with it! Tony Garcia goes down hard... but Brendan Powers saw that, and he's calling for the disqualification!! Tony Garcia just won this match via disqualification!!
Tony Garcia kicked out of the VCW World Champion's finishing move, he made him tap out, and he won the match... and after that night, many people were saying that Tony Garcia should be VCW World Champion... and the most vocal of them was Tony Garcia himself. But there were other challengers waiting in the wings, eager for their shot to succeed where Tony Garcia had failed and win the VCW World Title away from David Wright Hubbard... and one of them was "Macho Man" Randy Savage. When Tony Garcia requested a rematch, Randy Savage was quick to object, and the two men agreed to face each other to determine who really deserved the title shot.
From VCW 111:
T. Garcia: ... Everyone saw that I won that match, both technically and in spirit. Not only did I win by DQ, but you tapped out, David Wright Hubbard, and everyone saw it. And since I won that match, since I beat the VCW World Champion, and it's obvious I was screwed, I deserve another title shot. So at this next pay-per-view we've got coming up, No Quarter, I'm not asking for a rematch... I'm telling those pencil-pushers in the office that I'm gonna get a rematch, and I'm finally gonna get my title belt, whether anyone likes it or not!
The crowd boos... and those boos only continue when "Walk" by Pantera begins playing... and here comes "Macho Man" Randy Savage!! He steps out of the backstage area, carrying a microphone, and walks to the ring, climbing inside with the Black Plague. Tony Garcia doesn't look particularly happy at this interruption, but Randy Savage doesn't seem like he cares, as he raises the microphone to address Tony Garcia.
R. Savage: Brother, I've gotta give you credit for one thing... last night, David Wright Hubbard was a beaten man, yeah. You had that match won, and you won that match, and you should have won the title... but you didn't. And now it's my turn, yeah. Back at Blood and Thunder, I beat David Wright Hubbard while you were still laid up in rehab for your neck, and I never got my shot at the gold. So if anyone's getting a shot at the title at the next pay-per-view, brother, it's gonna be the Macho Man, and I'm gonna tear his fragile little carcass in two.
T. Garcia: Hold it, hold it, hold it. Listen, you bald-headed buzzard, you're just gonna have to wait your turn. I can appreciate that you're from the old school, just like me... but back when I was beating people half to death legit in smoke-filled pool halls and warehouses, you were running with Vince McMahon and his gang of circus clowns. Back when when I was breaking people's faces and ripping their arms and legs off, you were wearing some tinfoil crown or some pastel-colored cowboy costume, trying to call yourself macho looking like Hank Williams Jr. on an acid trip! And now that I got David Wright Hubbard weakened up and ready for the kill, I ain't letting you come in and steal it out from under me!
Uh-oh... Randy Savage didn't appreciate that, and he has THAT look in his eyes again... this is about to get ugly! But Troy Black and the Grave Digger are standing at Tony Garcia's back, and Lorenzo Vasquez is circling around behind Randy Savage, preparing to strike from behind in the event that this gets violent. The Macho Man turns and paces for a few steps, wiping his brow and breathing in deeply, trying to control his notorious temper... and finally turns back to Tony Garcia, with his anger barely contained.
R. Savage: Listen, brother... you came really, really close to getting yourself hurt right here, right now. But instead... I got a better idea, yeah. You think you deserve a title shot... let's see you back that up, big man. Let's see you prove it, one-on-one, against the Macho Man, yeah. How about it, brother... you and me, one-on-one tonight, yeah. Winner gets the title shot at the pay-per-view.
T. Garcia: You're calling me out!? You want some of me? Bring it on, tough guy... I'll shut you up real quick. You just bring it on into the ring tonight, Slim Jim, and I'll snap into your brittle ass like you ain't never seen before.
R. Savage: Is that right? Well, brother, you've only got a couple hours before you find out just how wrong you are... because you're about to feel what it's like when the madness runs wild on you. OOOHHHH YEEEAAAHH!!
The match was made for that night, but David Wright Hubbard didn't like the fact that the future of his VCW World Title was being decided without him having any say in it. During the course of that match, he took it upon himself to add a little input of his own into the process that would determine the number one contender for his title.
From VCW 111:
Randy Savage kicks him in the groin, then grabs the wooden axe handle... and he nails him square in the head with it!! Tony Garcia goes down, and Randy Savage goes up to the top turnbuckle... FLYING ELBOWDROP!! Randy Savage covers Tony Garcia, and grabs Bobcat McGavin's hand and slaps it against the canvas three times, but that doesn't count! Bobcat McGavin has to make the count himself, and he's in no condition to do that!
But wait!! David Wright Hubbard just stepped out of the backstage area to a mixed reaction from the crowd, and he's walking down to the ring on a crutch! Randy Savage is busy trying to revive Bobcat McGavin, and doesn't notice as David Wright Hubbard climbs into the ring. David Wright Hubbard takes a two-handed grip on his crutch as Randy Savage starts to turn around... and he nails him with the crutch, knocking him to the mat!! Randy Savage is down, and David Wright Hubbard pulls him back up into a standing headscissors... POWER BOMB!! Randy Savage is laid out next to Tony Garcia, and David Wright Hubbard drapes each man's arm over the other's chest, then rolls out of the ring! He climbs over the guardrail, with difficulty, and starts escaping through the crowd! Bobcat McGavin's starting to stir, and he notices that Tony Garcia and Randy Savage are both covering each other... and he counts to three!! We've got a double pin!!
David Wright Hubbard's escaping through the crowd, but it would seem that the damage is done... there was no conclusive ending to this match, and Tony Garcia and Randy Savage are both laid out! The crowd's mostly cheering, though there are some boos as well. Rebecca Black stares in shock and screams insults after David Wright Hubbard, but even she seems to know better than to try to confront him! What does this mean for the number-one contender's spot? Will there be a rematch, or did Randy Savage and Tony Garcia just get screwed out of their possibility of getting a title shot?
The ending to that match was certainly steeped in controversy, and it seemed that David Wright Hubbard hoped to deprive both challengers of an opportunity to get the next shot at his title... but due to precedent regarding double pin rules in VCW, and pressure from the Black Plague's legal team, James Applebee was forced to make a ruling that didn't work to David Wright Hubbard's advantage, declaring both men eligible for a title shot at No Quarter in a Triple Threat Match. However, he tempered that ruling with an added factor of his own choosing...
From VCW 112:
J. Applebee: Greetings, VCW fans. As you may know, I'm VCW Commissioner James Applebee. Tonight, I have to address a few issues that have come up in the past few weeks in VCW. First and foremost among those issues is the question of who will receive a shot at David Wright Hubbard's VCW World Title at the next VCW pay-per-view event, No Quarter. Last night, Tony Garcia and "Macho Man" Randy Savage, two men who have to be considered top contenders for that title, battled for the shot. However, the match ended in a double pin, and the circumstances surrounding the ending of that match were, to say the least, highly controversial.
A murmur of assent comes from the crowd, but they're not quite sure what to think, not knowing where Commissioner Applebee's going with this.
J. Applebee: The legal advisors of the Black Plague have sent me a memo, reminding me that by the precident set in the case of the Chris Champlain-Tim Bell double-pin on May tenth, in 1999, both men participating in a match where a double pin takes place have won that match. Furthermore, they have suggested to me that in light of that fact, and in light of the fact that David Wright Hubbard sought to interfere in their match for his own ends, that the appropriate thing to do would be to name both Tony Garcia and "Macho Man" Randy Savage as number-one contenders to the VCW World Title, and declare that David Wright Hubbard will defend the title in a Triple Threat Match against Randy Savage and Tony Garcia at No Quarter. And I agree with them... to a point.
The crowd gives a mixed response, many of them booing. That's not a popular line of thinking, though it is grounded in some acceptable reasons.
J. Applebee: However, I feel there are other circumstances that should be considered. Not the least of which is my belief that David Wright Hubbard's actions last week in interfering in that match were the actions of a man who has been provoked by intimidation tactics and outright gang assault to the point where he is no longer able to stand by and let his enemies take shots at him. Furthermore, I believe that given the chance, Randy Savage and Tony Garcia would form a temporary alliance to perhaps severely injure David Wright Hubbard in a match like that, and at the very least would seek to make him a non-issue in the match before fighting over who will pick up the pieces... and to my mind, that would not be acceptable. There should be another element in that match, an element that would neutralize the possibility that Randy Savage and Tony Garcia might conspire to work together.
What I have done, therefore, is to select the names of the rest of the top ten contenders for the VCW World Title, and work from there to select a fourth element for that match. There are eight others. For obvious reasons, Troy Black, Lorenzo Vasquez, and Crimson are not acceptable choices, leaving us five. Lance Errington is a long-time enemy of David Wright Hubbard, and likely to conspire with Tony Garcia and Randy Savage, so I've ruled him out as well. That leaves us with four... Julian Page, Johnny Smiles, Ken Collins, and Falcon. And of those four men, I feel that the correct choice is the one who hates the Black Plague and Randy Savage above all others, who would not allow them to enact a conspiracy against David Wright Hubbard in this match. And I feel that that one is Falcon.
The crowd gives a mixed reaction for that, and a sizable "WE WANT JOHNNY!" chant mingles with a "COLLINS" chant... but nobody's chanting for Julian Page, not surprisingly.
J. Applebee: Therefore, at No Quarter, the main event of the evening will be a Quadruple Threat Match for the VCW World Title, set for one fall with a sixty minute time limit. And it will be David Wright Hubbard defending the VCW World Title against Tony Garcia, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and, should he be healthy enough to compete at that time, Falcon! ... But in the event that Falcon cannot compete that night, a replacement will be chosen to fill his place in the match.
The addition of Falcon to that match was meant to temper the effect of allowing Tony Garcia and "Macho Man" Randy Savage to compete in the same match with David Wright Hubbard, which would almost certainly result in a two-on-one beating, given the hatred both of those two men have for the VCW World Champion. However, as he confided to Melissa DelArmeggio, David Wright Hubbard didn't see things that way at all.
From VCW 113:
D.W. Hubbard: The way I see it, they all think they're gonna take me down at No Quarter in that Quadruple Threat Match. And if they do, I'm gonna make damn sure I cause as much chaos as I can on my way down.
M. DelArmeggio: Don't worry about the Quadruple Threat Match. When it comes down to it, you've shown you can take either Randy Savage or Tony Garcia... and Falcon'll be there, too.
D.W. Hubbard: Yeah, and that damn well makes everything better. The only reason that I'm glad knowing Falcon's in the mix is because I know he has a bad back, and I can take him out with a quick power bomb.
Melissa DelArmeggio shoots an angry glare at David Wright Hubbard.
M. DelArmeggio: Think about this for a second. Tony Garcia and Randy Savage may not like each other, but they have one thing in common... they hate you. They hate you so much that you can't count on them turning on each other. Falcon might just be the only thing standing between you and a handicap match.
D.W. Hubbard: If they want to come at me two-on-one, they can go ahead and try. I know that Falcon's your friend or something, but me and him spent a few months beating the ever-loving hell out of each other a year or so ago, and that kind of bad blood just doesn't go away. I know he doesn't like me, and I damn well know I don't like him. Come on... are you gonna try to tell me that he wouldn't turn around and stick me for a shot at the title?
Melissa starts to open her mouth to protest, then sighs and lowers her head, running her fingers up her forehead and through her hair.
M. DelArmeggio: I wish I could say that and make myself believe it. I don't know. I'm not sure I know about anything anymore. I thought I could trust Troy before this all happened, and now I'm not sure about trusting anybody. I guess I see your point... you can't just put yourself in Falcon's hands.
D.W. Hubbard: No... I don't intend to do that. And I don't need to. I'll tell you one thing right now... when I get in a fight, that fight ain't over until I win it. It don't matter what my opponent thinks. And this little thing with Tony Garcia and Randy Savage... it's not over until I win. Regardless of what they think about it. Regardless of what Falcon thinks about it.
David Wright Hubbard's distrust of Falcon was confirmed to be prudent a week later, when a taped interview from Falcon arrived in time for the next edition of Monday Night Wrestling. He made it clear that he's out to win the title when he steps into the ring at No Quarter, no matter who he has to beat in order to get it.
From VCW 114:
Falcon: It seems like everyone's just looking at me as the guy that Applebee put in there so that Tony Garcia and the Macho Man don't gang up on Cowboy Dave. Maybe that's what people think, but I'll tell you something else. I've had my run-ins with David Wright Hubbard, Tony Garcia, and the Macho Man... and if you check the records, I won most of those fights. I'm a former VCW World Champion. I know I've taken my fair share of brutal beatdowns, but I've given out a few, too. So you can look at me and see the guy that they threw in to save David Wright Hubbard from a two-on-one beatdown... but the way I see it, I'm the best athlete and the best fighter going into that ring.
As far as my back... yeah, it's a little stiff in the mornings, but it's feeling pretty strong these days. Hell, all those nagging little injuries that I used to think of as a fact of life on the road... I'm not feeling them any more. When I step in the ring at No Quarter, you're not getting the cripple who dragged himself into the ring at the Big Fight to get slaughtered by Troy Black for the sake of a girl who couldn't care if he lived or died these days... you're getting the guy who walked into the VCW Arena for the first time back in '98, who went through Dean Sanders, Gabriel Black, David Wright Hubbard, and Lance Errington all in one night, and walked out of there with the VCW World Title. It's been a while since VCW has seen me at full strength, looking out for number one... but I think at No Quarter, you're all in for a big surprise.
"Macho Man" Randy Savage hadn't been quite as vocal about the VCW World Title situation and his role in it as some of the others, but later that night we heard directly from him that he expects to walk out of the ring tonight with the VCW World Title.
From VCW 114:
"Macho Man" Randy Savage turns to Crimson and nods, but his eyes still have a certain glimmer of intensity to them as he meets Crimson's casual glance.
R. Savage: Brother, that's the way it's gotta be and I'm thinking that's the way it is, yeah... because I'm walking out of No Quarter with the VCW World Title. I showed everybody at Blood and Thunder that I can beat David Wright Hubbard... and before that cowboy stuck his nose in my business three weeks ago, Tony Garcia was a beaten man too, yeah. And Falcon... if these people think that a long-haired punk with a bad back is gonna stand between the Macho Man and the VCW World Title, they're making a really, really big mistake, yeah. And after I get my title, it's just like you said, brother... you're the first one in line to get a shot at it.
One week later, with the tension continuing to mount for the title match, we heard from Tony Garcia one more time, as he promised that this time, he'd win the title that slipped through his fingers at the Big Fight and dethrone David Wright Hubbard.
From VCW 115:
T. Garcia: Six days, people... six days until I dethrone that worthless champion David Wright Hubbard and take the title that I richly deserve. I made him tap out, twice... I beat that man within an inch of his life, and I'm prepared to mess some people up at No Quarter to take what's rightfully mine. If I end up beating "Macho Man" Randy Savage... well, I got some respect for the man because he comes from the old days, even if he was part of McMahon's sideshow. If I beat Falcon... I never did like that punk, and I'll be happy to snap his ass like a twig. But if I beat David Wright Hubbard... that's what I've been waiting for. That's what I really want. I want that son of a bitch to look himself in the mirror the next morning, and recognize that he just got his ass royally whipped by Tony Garcia, the baddest man on the planet and the new VCW World Champion. Six days, cowboy... six days, and I'm gonna kick your ass and take my title home!!
Those six days have come and gone, and No Quarter is now upon us. In our main event for the evening, David Wright Hubbard will defend the VCW World Title against Falcon, Tony Garcia, and "Macho Man" Randy Savage in a Quadruple Threat Match! Can David Wright Hubbard hang onto the title against three opponents in one night!? And if not, who will rise to the occasion and walk away with the VCW World Title? Those are the questions we have as the evening draws closer to an end, and the questions that will be answered with tonight's main event! Make sure you join us for No Quarter, live on pay-per-view... coming up right now!!
Click here for the first part of No Quarter!