Waste-of-Time:
Welcome, everyone, to the Waste-of-Time, the least exciting pre-game show in sports entertainment! "Wasting My Time" by Jimmy Page is playing, as the intro rolls, and we're ready to kick it off here! We've got a great show for you tonight in Wrestlewar, and we've also got some not-so-great showings for you coming up here. We'll be running previews and B-level matches for the next hour, so if you've already ordered the pay-per-view, this is your chance to sit back, order up a pizza, and get yourself pumped for the biggest show of the year, Wrestlewar III! And if you haven't ordered the PPV, you can still do so now!
We've got a great show for you tonight, from the Calgary Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada! We've got a lot of great matches, intense rivalries, and thrilling battles coming up in the coming pay-per-view... but our opening match will be somewhat less than thrilling. We've got some more guests from Northern California Xtreme Championship Wrestling tonight... and "Here Comes The Sun" by the Beatles is now playing over the arena sound system. Here comes NCXCW wrestler "Two Scoops" Raisin Brandon, a scruffy, wrinkled man with a deep suntan. He's slapping the hands of the crowd, and generally trying to get them worked up... and he's got a microphone!? Who gave these B-level idiots permission to cut a promo on our show!?
R. Brandon: Hey, people!! If you don't know me, I'm Raisin Brandon, and I'm a balanced part of your complete wrestling match. Now, I'm facing Cop Johnson tonight... so, Cop Johnson, I'd just like to remind you right now that there's two scoops of California sun-ripened goodness in every ass-kicking I give out!!
Err... okay... whatever you say. The crowd doesn't know what to make of this guy... but "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle just hit the arena sound system, and here comes NCXCW's Cop Johnson! A fairly tall, burly, brawny fellow wearing a police uniform and carrying a nightstick, Cop Johnson is allegedly a law enforcement officer who was fired for needlessly battering criminals. He's stepping into the ring, and Brendan Powers is the referee! This bush-league nonsense begins now!
"Two Scoops" Raisin Brandon
vs.
Cop Johnson
The crowd has already tuned these two losers out, as the match begins. Raisin Brandon walks up to Cop Johnson and begins pelting him with a series of quick right hands... but Cop Johnson knocks him off his feet with a massive right hand. Raisin Brandon's starting to get up, but Cop Johnson just pummels him back down before he can get up. Cop Johnson grabs a handful of hair, and pulls him up... and he's picking him up by the throat, with both hands! He's just holding him there, and Raisin Brandon's kicking and squirming... and Raisin Brandon kicks him in the midsection! Cop Johnson isn't letting go... and Raisin Brandon kicks him again, and again, finally breaking the hold! Cop Johnson tries to knock Raisin Brandon down with a lariat... and Raisin Brandon ducks! Cop Johnson turns around, right into a dropkick! He's staggered, and Raisin Brandon gives him a second dropkick, taking him down!
Cop Johnson's getting up, and he's looking a little mad... but Raisin Brandon's going up to the top turnbuckle... and he comes off with a flying cross bodypress... but Cop Johnson caught him, and brings him crashing down in a powerslam! He hooks the leg, and Brendan Powers counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two and a half by Raisin Brandon. Cop Johnson continues the offense, nailing him with a series of elbowsmashes, then whipping him into the ropes... but Raisin Brandon ducks a clothesline, and comes off the other side... and takes Cop Johnson down with a leaping elbowsmash! Cop Johnson gets up, as Raisin Brandon hits the ropes again, coming off to hit... no, make that botch a swinging neckbreaker, which Cop Johnson sells anyway.
Cop Johnson gets up, and Raisin Brandon goes for a clothesline, but Cop Johnson ducks and hooks his waist, then gives him an atomic drop. But he doesn't release him... he gives him another one, then a third before releasing Raisin Brandon, who staggers forward, doing a Rick Rude-style oversell of the atomic drops, then collapses to the mat. With Raisin Brandon down, Cop Johnson decides to impress this restless crowd with... a camel clutch. Raisin Brandon squirms and struggles, crawling to the ropes... Brendan Powers is asking him if he wants to give up... he's still struggling, pulling himself closer... and eventually he makes the ropes!
Cop Johnson gets up, and picks Raisin Brandon up over his head... Gorilla Press! He has him up... and Raisin Brandon slides out behind him, and hooks him from behind... Russian legsweep! Cop Johnson's down, and Raisin Brandon scrambles to the top turnbuckle as he gets up. Cop Johnson turns around... right into a flying dropkick! That gets a small pop out of the crowd, and Raisin Brandon crawls across for the cover... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two and a half! Raisin Brandon starts going up to the top again... but Cop Johnson gets up, and shakes the ropes, causing Raisin Brandon to crotch himself on the turnbuckle. Cop Johnson's going up after him... he hooks him... superplex!! But Cop Johnson's not going for the cover... he pulls him up and hooks him for a vertical suplex. He lifts him up... and executes a Jackhammer! That's his finishing move; he calls it Excessive Force!! He goes for the cover, and Brendan Powers is there to make the count... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!! Cop Johnson wins!
Cop
Johnson pinned Raisin Brandon with the Excessive Force in
0:03:44.
Rating: 3/4*
Raisin Brandon is laid out, and Cop Johnson's reaching into his pocket, and pulling out handcuffs. He proceeds to handcuff Raisin Brandon, then retrieve his nightstick and beat him severely, as Raisin Brandon lets out pitiful, agonized screams, then heads backstage. Raisin Brandon continues to lie there on the mat, and one gets the impression that he's waiting for a stretcher job, or at least for trainers to come out and help him to the back, but instead David Page goes up to him and reminds him to hurry up and clear out of the ring.
Now it's time to take a look at some of the big matches that we'll be seeing tonight on Wrestlewar. One of the biggest may be Bret Hart's confrontation with Julian Page when they go one-on-one for the VCW Intercontinental Title. But much more than the VCW Intercontinental Title will be at stake here; some would even say that the legacy of Bret Hart's career is at stake. It all started when Bret Hart was interviewed by Stacey Lockman at Spontaneous Combustion late last year.
From Spontaneous Combustion 2000
Stacey Lockman and Bret Hart are sitting in an old-looking, comfortably furnished office. Wearing his hair tied back in a ponytail, with wire-rimmed sunglasses, a Calgary Hitmen jersey, and blue jeans, Bret Hart is easily recognizable, but he looks a little tired and unhappy.
S. Lockman: Bret... I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to sit down and talk to you, and ask you a few questions. I have to admit, given the way the wrestling business has treated you in the past, I was a little surprised that you decided to come and talk to me on VCW pay-per-view.
B. Hart: You know, you're absolutely right about this business. The only person I ever worked for in this business that was honest with me was my dad, Stu. To be perfectly honest with you, I doubt VCW's any exception. I've heard the locker room stories around here. But at the same time, you know, I don't want people to remember me just as the guy who got screwed at Survivor Series, or the guy who had a career-ending concussion against Goldberg... I want to come back, and make a legacy that I can be proud of.
S. Lockman: Speaking of coming back, and your concussion... how realistic is it that you could return to wrestling in an active role?
B. Hart: It's not unrealistic... but it's not real smart, either. One more good shot to the head could be it. So for me to wrestle someone like Sid, or Steiner... or put myself in any situation where I take stiff shots or head bumps... I'd be making a gamble every time I did that.
S. Lockman: So I suppose the idea of you coming to work for VCW is out, given our violent style.
B. Hart: No offense... I mean, I know this interview is airing on your show, but to be honest, even if I could, I don't think I'd want to. You guys... I'm just being honest here, but VCW embodies everything I've come to dislike about the wrestling business. Crazy spots and bumps that ruin the wrestler's knees before they're thirty, gratuitous cursing and violence, nudity just about every month, the Spanish Mafia controlling the books backstage and making a glass ceiling... it's everything that's wrong with wrestling, all in one place.
S. Lockman: Well, there are a lot of other great technical wrestlers here, too... Paul Canyon, Jacob Idol, Owen Addison... your father trained them all. Then there's Ken Collins, Neytron DelArmeggio, Tim Bell, Gabriel Black, and a lot of others too. I'm going to be honest with you... we were kind of hoping to see Bret Hart in VCW, at least on a limited basis, and our fans were too.
B. Hart: Since when have any of those guys except Gabriel held the VCW World Title? Or even the Intercontinental Title? You guys don't push technical wrestling here, you push naked women and crazy career-ending bumps. I've heard this same pitch before, from Eric Bischoff... yes, we respect wrestling ability here, come on in, we'll give you the world... but I've seen where somebody like me gets in VCW. Richard Tobian. I know you like to censor that name, and pretend he never existed, but he was a talented wrestler who didn't want to get involved in any sleazy angles, and by the end you had him ripping off your shirt and throwing you into a room with Hell's Bikers before he lost to your dad on the way out.
You know, I'm sure I could have a great match with any of those guys you mentioned. I respect all of them as athletes, and most of them as people, but the crap that surrounds it would keep it from being the kind of thing I could take pride in. You're the head booker's daughter, and I hope you're not offended or anything... but you push violence and sleaze ahead of talent just as much as the WWF or WCW, except in the cases of one or two guys. You've shown full frontal nudity on two pay-per-views, your main storyline involves a guy with a history of neck trouble taking sick neck bumps to put the fans on edge... what would you have me doing, taking hard chairshots to the head to get a pop from the crowd?
S. Lockman: I know your attitude on that... before you were released, I know that Vince Russo tried to turn your concussion into an angle, and you weren't happy about that.
B. Hart: Vince Russo did a lot of things I wasn't happy about. Look at Lance Storm, and what Vince Russo did with his match with Mike Awesome. He wanted me to come out and endorse that crap. The angle he tried to do with my concussion... he had me give this speech about Goldberg, hit him in the head with a shovel in the desert... trying to make the entire thing into one giant angle. I wish I hadn't gone along with it as much as I did. You know, everyone talks about how I make a big deal out of Survivor Series and not losing to Shawn Michaels, but just look at some of the crap I have gone along with.
S. Lockman: In terms of what happened after Survivor Series... you left for WCW with a lot of support from the fans after the Montreal incident, but you didn't quite achieve what you wanted there. What do you think the problem was?
B. Hart: They didn't know what they were doing. At Starrcade, they brought me in as a referee. They just signed the rightful World Champion, who was never actually conclusively beaten by Steve Austin or the Undertaker, and they don't even let me wrestle at Starrcade, you know? Then, both me and Ric Flair have heat with the NWO... but they have us feud with each other. They bring me in like I'm going to be the hero that saves WCW from the NWO, but all I do when I get there is feud with Ric Flair, who's not even in the NWO, over who's the best wrestler of all time.
S. Lockman: You haven't really found a niche since the Survivor Series incident, which is also about the time that wrestling really started to change. Honest answer to a hypothetical question... if you're able to return, do you think there's a place for you in today's wrestling world?
B. Hart: Yeah, but it'd take some work. I'm willing to compromise, but everyone else should meet me halfway. Some of the things going on these days just aren't what I think wrestling is about. You don't need all of this smut, and trash, and three-minute matches with punches and kicks and maybe a couple spots. I want to be cheered for my wrestling ability, not for having a valet with huge breasts or a fancy catchphrase.
S. Lockman: Well, Bret... they sure didn't give us very much time, and I'm sorry I couldn't sit down and talk to you longer... but I'm glad to have had even this much time to speak with you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I hope that we'll see you compete again, whether it's in VCW or not. You'll always be welcome here, whether it's for one more match or a full-time career. It's been a pleasure talking to you.
B. Hart: Well, the words "it'll never happen" don't mean much in professional wrestling anymore, and I could see myself here for maybe one match... just don't hold your breath. I've got a lot of thinking to do before I even decide whether I should ever set foot in a ring again.
S. Lockman: I understand, Bret. I'm sure I echo the sentiments of all of your fans when I say that we'll stand behind whatever decision you make. Thanks for talking to me.
B. Hart: No problem.
This interview, though it seemed to indicate that Bret Hart would have nothing to do with VCW, was actually the start of it all. A lot of people had been listening to what Bret Hart had to say, and one of them was Julian Page. The next night on VCW Monday Night Wrestling, he started his ongoing mockery of the career of Bret Hart.
From VCW 96:
...Yes, it's him... "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin plays over the arena sound system, and Julian Page comes out of... Good God, what is he doing!? Julian Page is dressed in Bret Hart's ring attire! Pink pants with a black and white fiery stripe down the sides, black tank top with pink hearts in the corner, and even the "HITMAN" leather jacket and pink sunglasses... he's dressed up as Bret Hart, and also wearing his VCW Intercontinental Title. And everyone thought his Hulk Hogan Halloween costume was bad... He seems a little sore as he walks to the ring, favoring his back, and rightfully so... he took a major butt-kicking last night in the War Games Match. He grabs a microphone.
J. Page: You know... I'm a little sore physically from getting beaten for nearly a half hour last night, but I'm not a sore loser. What happened happened, and bygones can be bygones. But one guy who is a sore loser... is Bret Hart. He decided to bitch to Stacey Lockman last night, and it was some of the most pathetic crying and snivelling I have ever seen. So much so, that I felt sorry for him. He's right... his legacy shouldn't end with the bitter old man that we saw last night. So Bret, I'm doing you a favor... I'm going to continue your legacy myself, since I'm a much better wrestler than you ever were anyway. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the excellence of execution, the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be... "The Hitman" Julian Page!!
Oh, PLEASE. This is just disrespectful and rude. I can't imagine he has the permission of the front office to do this. Who in the hell does Julian Page think he is!?
J. Page: Even though I don't like my home country of Canada, I can pretend to... I can smile and wave every time I go to that Godforsaken dump, and be the Canadian national hero that you were, Bret! So consider this my official face turn, and you people should be grateful... even though I think you're all a bunch of morons, I'm putting my personal feelings aside and becoming a hero you can look up to! And guess what, I've even got a new way to get over now...
Julian Page goes outside of the ring, and takes his sunglasses off... he's going over to a child in the front row...
J. Page: Here, kid, have some greasy, cheap plastic sunglasses.
Julian Page just handed the sunglasses to that young kid, and the kid just threw them right back at him! A loud chant of "WE WANT BRET!!" is going up in the audience. Julian Page looks a little annoyed as he moves on to another kid.
J. Page: Here, you take them. Go on, take them. Here, you hold onto them, and if you still have them at the end of the match, I'll give you twenty bucks. Come on, help me out here.
Well, that got them taken care of... the sunglasses are now given away, and Julian Page is climbing back into the ring as the crowd boos.
J. Page: Now, I know you're all jealous, but for just twelve bucks, you can get your own pair in the merchandise stands! Now... I'd like a little respect... everybody rise for the Canadian National Anthem!!
Here comes the Canadian National Anthem and... oh, for the love of... Julian Page is turning his back and putting his fingers in his ears! He's not listening or paying attention at all!!
But that wasn't the extent of his mockery of Bret Hart... he proceeded to steal some signature Bret Hart offense as well, mimicking Bret Hart's style and moveset in the ring, even stealing the Sharpshooter for use as his finishing move. And every week, the mockery continued...
From VCW 98:
J. Page: ...And I know some of you... as hard as this is to believe... don't appreciate my tribute to Bret Hart. But you see... me and Bret Hart are a lot alike. We're both Canadian national heroes... we're both great wrestlers, even though I'm a little better... and that's about it for how we're similar.
But we're different in a few ways too. For example, I haven't wasted my entire career bitching and complaining about something that happened in 1997 unlike Bret Hart. I haven't been in WCW getting my butt kicked by midcarders for the last three years, unlike Bret Hart. I'm not a pathetic shell of my former self, unlike Bret Hart. But that's the whole reason why I'm continuing his legacy... because Bret Hart has become a disgrace to himself. He's no longer a hero... he's just a bitter old man, and it's up to me to continue his legacy, because he can't cut it anymore.
So enough about Bret Hart. Out with the old, and in with the new... and the new excellence of execution, the new best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be is your reluctant hero... Julian "The Hitman" Page!!
From VCW 99:
J. Page: Once again, I invite you all to pay homage to me... the reluctant Canadian national hero... the real excellence of execution... the real best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be... "The Hitman" Julian Page!!
But Bret Hart had finally had enough of Julian Page's disgraceful mockery, and struck back after Julian Page had finished defeating Tim Bell with the Sharpshooter. Unfortunately, however, the numbers behind the Hammer of the Gods proved to be too great for him...
From VCW 101:
Julian Page holds the move for a few more seconds, then rolls Tim Bell out of the ring, where trainers come out to help him backstage. Now Julian Page has the Canadian flag, and he just took it off the post... and he's tearing it in half! Julian Page just tore the Canadian flag in half, and stuffs half of it down the front of his tights, and half of it down the back! How disrespectful can you get!?
Wait a second, who's that coming out of the crowd!? The crowd's going crazy, but that's not... IT IS!! Bret "The Hitman" Hart just came through the crowd, and now he's hopping the guardrail, and coming up behind Julian Page!! Julian Page turns around... AND BRET HART FLOORED HIM WITH A RIGHT HAND TO THE JAW!! Julian Page is down on the mat, begging off... and now Bret Hart's grabbing his legs! Bret Hart has Julian Page's legs, and he's putting on the Sharpshooter! Julian Page is in the Sharpshooter now, and he's tapping out! Bret Hart has finally come to seek revenge, and... and... uh-oh, here come Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon out of the back!
Jacob Idol enters the ring... and Bret Hart gets up, and starts nailing him with a series of punches! But Rob Solomon comes from behind, and Bret Hart turns around... right into a lariat from Rob Solomon! The crowd boos loudly as Jacob Idol and Rob Solomon put the boots to Bret Hart, then Julian Page gets up and grabs him by the hair... DDT!! Julian Page just drilled Bret Hart with the DDT, and now Rob Solomon's going up... KATANA LEGDROP!! Bret Hart just got destroyed in the middle of the ring by this three-on-one attack, but seconds earlier, Julian Page was tapping out in the Sharpshooter! The H.A.R.P. Squad is in to prevent any further attacks to Bret Hart, but Julian Page grabs a microphone as he and his two accomplices leave the ring.
J. Page: You see who the real Hitman is now!? Who's the real excellence of execution!? I'll tell you one thing, it's not that pathetic old man in the ring right there! See him!? That guy died at Survivor Series in Montreal! I expect a written apology faxed to me by noon tomorrow, Bret... or I'm dragging you out of retirement at Wrestlewar, and showing the whole world just how pathetic you've become!
That attack, and that challenge, came back to haunt Julian Page next week, as Bret Hart made his presence felt again, during a tag team match pitting Jacob Idol and Julian Page against the Heavy Metal Express...
From VCW 102:
Now Julian Page is getting back up, on shaky, wounded legs... and he gets the Sweet Chin Music from Lars Coverdale as well! And Lars is applying the Sharpshooter AGAIN!! Julian Page is down after the Sweet Chin Music, and I don't think he can make it all the way to the ropes again! But Jasmina Chastity's on the apron... she's distracting Jerry Rogers! Julian Page begins tapping out behind the referee's back, but Jasmina Chastity's distracting him!
And here comes Rob Solomon out of the backstage area, a little worse for wear after his grueling match with Tim Bell, but still carrying a hockey stick, with no good intent... but who's that coming up behind him!! It's BRET HART!! Bret Hart just came out behind Rob Solomon... and he clobbers him in the back of the head, and tosses him head-first into the guardrail! Bret Hart's coming to the ring... and he pulls Jasmina Chastity down off of the apron! She slaps him, but he just gives her a look that causes her to back away, then points into the ring, telling Jerry Rogers to turn around. Jerry Rogers turns around, and he sees Julian Page tapping out in the Sharpshooter!! Thanks to Bret Hart, Julian Page just got beaten by the move that he stole!!
Julian Page rolls out of the ring as the Sharpshooter is released, and collapses on the outside, where Jacob Idol and Jasmina Chastity head over to tend to him. Inside the ring, Marty Jannetty and Lars Coverdale celebrate briefly with Bret Hart, who demands a microphone.
B. Hart: You want to be the excellence of execution!? You want to be the Hitman!? You're in luck, because I've got one more match left in me. You've got this pay-per-view coming up on the fifth of February, called Wrestlewar... and if I'm not mistaken, they're planning to have it right in the middle of my backyard, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. All you have to do is show your gutless face at Wrestlewar, and we'll show everybody who the real Hitman really is!!
The crowd explodes into cheers, but Julian Page isn't in any condition to respond... Jacob Idol and Jasmina Chastity are currently helping him backstage. Rob Solomon gets up, and retreats backstage with his teammates as well, as Bret Hart remains in the ring, with the crowd chanting "HITMAN" and cheering loudly.
But Julian Page didn't learn his lesson the first time. He's coming to Wrestlewar, and putting the VCW Intercontinental Title on the line against Bret Hart tonight, as he mentioned in one final parting shot to Bret Hart...
From VCW 104:
J. Page: You know... there have been a lot of people getting screwed in the wrestling world these days. You just saw Jacob Idol get screwed out of a victory by that lowlife stinking hyaena Gabriel Black... and it wasn't too long ago that I got screwed in a tag team match against the Heavy Metal Express by Bret "The Has-Been" Hart. Hey, even Bret himself knows a lot about being screwed... after all, all he does is bitch about it day after day after day after day... and I just wish he'd shut up. There's a new Hitman in town, a new wrestler to be the Canadian National Hero... even though I hate Canada... and the new excellence of execution... and that's me. And when Bret Hart interfered in my match like the scum of the earth that he is, Bret screwed Bret. Because now that I've got a match with him at Wrestlewar, I'm putting the VCW Intercontinental Title on the line, and I'm gonna wipe him out once and for all, because I'm the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be!!
Tonight, Bret "The Hitman" Hart will confront Julian Page one-on-one, with the VCW Intercontinental Title on the line. But the VCW Intercontinental Title almost takes a place of secondary importance in this match. If Bret Hart wins tonight, in a way he vindicates himself, and restores honor to the legacy that he's built as the Hitman over the course of his career. It's believed that he does not intend to remain in VCW, and that he will vacate the VCW Intercontinental Title should he win it tonight. But if Julian Page wins this match... then his ego will no doubt grow to even greater lengths, and there's no telling who can keep it in check.
Another match with a lot at question, with a lot on the line, is Falcon's confrontation with Lance Errington tonight. These two men have hated each other ever since the first VCW show in history, when Falcon defeated Lance Errington after nearly a half-hour of grueling action. Even then, in the earliest days of VCW, Lance Errington and Falcon had a strong hatred for each other...
From VCW 1:
Lance Errington draws a straight-razor from within his robe, and to the horror of Lady Erica Whitmore he draws a two-inch line down his chest. Beads of red blood form on it, and it begins trickling down his chest as the bleeding continues.
L. Errington: But as you can see, my blood's not blue, it's red, and I'm not afraid to spill as much of it as I have to in order to make everyone see that Lance Errington is the best thing going in VCW right now.
That's why I want Falcon, the VCW World Champion, to get down here and give me one more shot at the VCW World Title that he cheated me out of two weeks ago. Falcon, get down here and get ready to show that you deserve the title, cherry blossom... but I already know you don't, Falcon. You see, I'm the kind of man that makes things happen, but you're just the kind of man that things happen to.
"Not Responsible" by Deep Purple plays as Falcon emerges from the entrance way wearing the VCW World Title. Lance Errington is visibly upset; his cut begins bleeding slightly more intensely. Falcon walks to the ring, and stares directly at Lance Errington. Lance Errington, to his credit, doesn't back down an inch. The music fades out as Falcon holds up a microphone.
Falcon: You want a title shot. The VCW World Title is just a title, another twenty pounds of luggage for me to sneak through the metal detectors at airports, a big leather and gold belt. But the reason that I see you wanting it is because of the symbolism, the fact that it's a material icon of the respect of wrestling fans, promoters, and wrestlers around the world, and you want to have that respect. The problem is, Lance, that respect is something you earn, not something you own. Having this belt doesn't give you respect... being the VCW World Champion is what brings you respect.
L. Errington: Listen, cherry blossom, you're trying to confuse me out of my title shot and it isn't working. I walked all over the competition in front of me to get to the finals of that tournament, and even if David Wright Hubbard snuck a win by me last week, that doesn't prove anything, because I didn't want the Intercontinental Title. The Intercontinental Title is symbolic of being second best... the difference between you and me is that you want to be the best... but I know I'm the best, and I won't settle for second best.
Falcon: If all you want's the belt, go to a trophy shop and get your own made. Maybe you can beat me tonight... lightning has struck before... but having this belt won't make you the best. To be the best, you have to be the champion, and being the champion means more than wearing a gold belt, it means beating everyone that you fight, proving that you're the best, not saying that you're the best, and I don't think you can be the champion.
L. Errington: Save your deep thoughts for writing the sequel to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, because I came here to beat you in a match, not fall asleep hearing your philosophical nonsense. I am the best, and I'll prove it by walking over everybody in VCW, starting with you, tonight. After what I do to you tonight, that title won't be the VCW World Title... it will be the Falcon Memorial Title.
Even in the fledgling days of VCW, Falcon and Lance Errington had a strong dislike for one another, and that's never really changed much. But when they became common enemies of the Inquisition, after Falcon rescued Lady Erica Whitmore from the growing paranoia and insecurity of then-Inquisition leader Gabriel Black, they were able to form a temporary understanding; they were able to coexist and work together in several matches. But that all changed when Lance Errington took exception to some of Erica's new attitudes and actions after barging in on Falcon's interview time with Ziggy Adderloaf.
From VCW 101:
Falcon: ...I know Crimson now, and I know it won't happen three times. And that's how I know that I'm walking out of there with the title, bad back or no bad back.
Z. Adderloaf: Moving onto the Grave Digger, then. What makes you so sure that--
Lance Errington walks into the locker room, nudging Ziggy Adderloaf aside, and moves to stand in front of Lady Erica Whitmore.
L. Errington: There you are. I've been meaning to ask you about us. Do you think... wait, wait. What're you doing dressed like that, drinking cheap American beer!?
L.E. Whitmore: I'm sitting in while Ziggy interviews Falcon, that's what I'm doing. Listen... we can speak later. This isn't a good time. There's an interview taking place right now.
L. Errington: But... but Erica... listen to me. You're supposed to be a member of the American aristocracy, a lady of class and dignity, and here you are dressed like... like a filthy prostitute, drinking cheap American booze manufactured from fermented horse urine! What's gotten into you!?
L.E. Whitmore: Lance... speaking of horses... you can get down off the high horse, please. I'll dress as I like, drink what I like, and do what I like, thank you all the same.
Falcon: Yeah, if you think that's something, you should see the belly button ring. But hey, I can overlook the fact that you went psycho and tried to kill David Wright Hubbard and his wife... I mean, I did the same thing about a year back, so who am I to judge? I can even overlook the fact that you kind of hated my guts for a while back when I had the VCW World Title, because I know how it is. You get jealous sometimes. Anyway, a friend of Erica's is a friend of mine. Sit down, have some cheap American booze, and maybe you can throw in some of your expert insight on this interview.
Falcon's only making Lance Errington angrier, and he knows it; it's obvious that he's intentionally pushing his buttons.
L. Errington: First of all, unlike you, Erica would never intentionally drive a hole through her body to put in some tacky jewelry. And...
Lance Errington trails off as Lady Erica Whitmore raises her T-shirt slightly to expose a ring in her navel. Lance Errington stares in horror at it, as if he scarcely believes what he sees.
L.E. Whitmore: There's another one I could show you, but it's a bit private. I must request that they turn the cameras off first.
Lance Errington turns to Falcon, even angrier than before.
L. Errington: This is your doing, you filthy street punk! What sort of ideas have you been putting in her head!?
Falcon: You know... why don't you just mind your business? In case you can't tell, I'm under kind of a lot of pressure right now, and the last thing I need is some know-it-all like you bitching at me because Erica decided to do something without okaying it with the great and mighty Lance Errington first.
L. Errington: You've got a lot of nerve, you son of a bitch. You think you're under pressure? This'll cool your ass off!
Lance Errington grabs the beer out of Falcon's hand and sloshes it in his face. Falcon stands up, dripping with beer, and stares right into Lance's eyes. Lance Errington seems a little uncomfortable, and takes a step back, but Falcon matches it with a step forward.
Falcon: Listen, Lance... I may have a bad back, and I may have a match with Crimson later on tonight, but I don't back down from anybody. If you want to start trouble... go ahead and start it right now, and I'll finish it.
L. Errington: No... not in front of Erica. Listen, Erica, you have my sincerest apologies for this. I'll come to see you at a more convenient time.
Lance Errington steps back a few steps, hesitating slightly, then turns and leaves the room. Falcon just stares after him for several seconds, then turns to Ziggy.
Falcon: I think this interview's over.
Z. Adderloaf: Um... yeah. No problem. Thanks for your time.
But Lance Errington wasn't done for the evening by a long shot. He returned to see Lady Erica Whitmore later that evening, and he had more than just moral objections to Falcon on his mind...
From VCW 101:
L. Errington: Well, if you're going to listen to anyone, listen to me now. Erica, I know I've made many mistakes in the past, but things can still be like they were before. I've been gracious enough to forgive you for turning on me last year... I'm gracious enough to overlook all of your flaws, like your current undignified mode of dress and that dreadfully tacky jewelry you wear through a hole that's been driven through your body... so perhaps you can be gracious enough to honor me by accepting my proposal...
Lance Errington reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small black box, which he opens and presents to Erica as he gets down on one knee. Erica looks VERY uncomfortable.
L.E. Whitmore: Oh, Lance, for the love of God, don't--
L. Errington: Erica... my darling... will you--
Lance Errington is interrupted as Falcon opens the door, barging into the room.
Falcon: Hey, Erica, my match with Crimson's next. Come on, let's...
Falcon trails off as he sees what's going on in the room.
Falcon: Um... or I can just do this one alone. Sorry for interrupting, guys... and congratulations.
L.E. Whitmore: No, it's okay. You're not interrupting anything.
Falcon's eyes widen and his jaw hangs open in silence for a second; Lance Errington looks like he was just stabbed in the gut with a razor-sharp icicle.
Falcon: Um... are you sure?
Lady Erica Whitmore turns to look at Lance Errington, not Falcon, as she speaks next.
L.E. Whitmore: Yes, Falcon... I'm SURE.
Falcon: Uh... okay, then... let's go, I guess.
Falcon turns and leaves, and Erica looks at Lance once again with one last flicker of uncertainty, then follows him out of the room. Lance Errington remains on his knees for a second, and he takes the ring out of the black box, then takes it out and flings it out the open door. His face slowly transforms into an angry snarl, as his fist tightens around the black box that formerly contained it, until the box is crushed in his hand.
That incident may have been what sent Lance Errington over the deep end. Now thouroughly convinced that Falcon was brainwashing Lady Erica Whitmore, he took immediate action in the following match.
From VCW 101:
Crimson takes a swing at him, but Falcon ducks... Crimson turns around... AND FALCON SUPERKICKS THE CHAIR INTO HIS FACE!! Crimson is down, and Falcon hooks the leg! Crimson's not moving... if the referee can recover, we've got a new VCW World Champion!! And the referee's starting to stir!
Uh-oh... Lance Errington's coming out of the backstage area, and he's got a pipe wrench! The groggy referee counts... but only gets to two before Lance Errington pulls him out and clocks him with the pipe wrench! Damn it!! Lance Errington slides into the ring, and Falcon's looking up... but Lance Errington nails him with the wrench! Falcon is laid out as well, and busted wide open, and Lance Errington begins flailing away at his injured back with the pipe wrench! He's gone nuts! Erica's in the ring now, and she grabs his arm from behind... and he turns and nails her with the pipe wrench!! A look of horror spreads across Lance's face as he realizes what he's just done, and he looks down at Erica's fallen body... she's bleeding heavily as well. Lance Errington throws down the wrench and buries his face in his hands for a second, then turns and begins flagging down a medical crew.
Lance Errington seemed truly shaken at what he'd done, and it almost seemed like maybe the consequences of his actions had convinced him of the folly of his attack. But that wasn't the case... it just drove his mind further from the grip of reality, as his comments next week showed us.
From VCW 102:
Now Lance Errington is calling for a microphone... and he gets one.
L. Errington: I'd like to take a moment to talk about what happened during the tapings for last week's show. Specifically, what happened to Lady Erica Whitmore. I didn't mean to hit her in the head with a wrench last week... but in my defense, it probably wasn't too smart for her to grab my arm in the first place. She's done a lot of things that aren't very smart lately... hanging around with that piece of human garbage, Falcon... driving a hole through her navel to put some tacky, gaudy jewelry there... and now grabbing my arm while I was attacking Falcon, which I was doing for her own good. But even though she caused me a great deal of grief and mental anguish by making me accidentally hit her, even though she made me feel like a completely horrible person for striking that beautiful face of hers... I forgive her. Erica... I know you're watching and listening, darling... and I forgive you.
WHAT!? Lance should be asking Erica to forgive HIM, after attacking Falcon with the pipe wrench and accidentally laying her out as well. The crowd's booing loudly, and a chant of "ASSHOLE" begins for him and quickly grows in volume.
L. Errington: Oh, no... not me. You've got the wrong guy. I'm not the asshole here. I've already forgiven her. You want to know who the asshole is... it's Falcon. He's been poisoning Erica's mind against me. I had gone down on my knee, asking her to marry me, and I could see the answer in her eyes... I KNEW that we'd soon be united in blissful harmony. But then Falcon walks in, and just by being there... just by being a bad influence, he pressures her into leaving me hanging there. Falcon's just a lecherous punk, poisoning Erica's mind and violating her body, and if he'd have the guts to come out here right now, I'd whip his sorry ass!!
Oh, please... Lance Errington knows damn well that Falcon spent last night in a hospital, and is currently recovering at home, after the beating he took from the Grave Digger when he challenged for the SMCW Triple Crown World Title. That challenge has no weight behind it whatsoever.
L. Errington: But I guess that won't happen. Falcon's not even going to come out and face me like a man. And I'd recommend that he never does, because the instant me and him cross paths, I'm wiping him off the face of VCW once and for all. And Erica... I haven't forgotten about you either... and there's still time for you to reconsider. After I destroy Falcon once and for all, and wipe out his mind control over you... you're coming back to me, my beautiful princess.
Lance Errington seemed to be as out-of-touch with reality as he could be... but was that really the case, or did he know something that everybody else didn't? The issue of trust came up when Falcon spoke to Erica before a match that night, where he would team with David Wright Hubbard and Scott Hall to face Lance Errington, the Macho Man, and VCW World Champion Crimson.
From VCW 103:
Falcon: Yeah, but he did intentionally hit me. I guess that's what I'm getting at. You and him... maybe I'm wrong, but there's still something there. Maybe not much, but there's something. But I'll tell you up from... he ruined the first title shot I've gotten in months, and hit both of us with a wrench, intentionally or not... and I'm going to make him wish he hadn't.
L.E. Whitmore: If you're worried that I'd start... taking up for Lance, don't be. As far as I'm concerned, he earned every bit of what you might do to him. Even though he didn't mean to strike me with that wrench, he did strike you... and you're my friend. I can't approve of that.
Falcon: I wouldn't make such a big deal of it... but you're the only one I've got left. Jeff's gone, Brian went crazy and hurt his neck, and Melissa... well, let's just say I'm not welcome with her little... clique anymore. God, I hate to sound like Troy, but... given the past, I need to know I can trust you.
L.E. Whitmore: Of course... you can absolutely trust me.
Falcon: Okay. That's all I needed to hear.
Were Falcon's concerns well-founded? Lady Erica Whitmore does have a history of turning on somebody close to her unexpectedly... she came to Troy Black for help, only to betray him to Lance Errington... and she even betrayed Lance Errington to Gabriel Black at Deck the Halls '99. So, could she be trusted that night? What would happen later in the evening did more to raise the question than to answer it.
From VCW 103:
Falcon's waiting on him as he gets up... and nails Lance Errington with a superkick, sending him to the mat. He covers and hooks a leg... and gets two and nine-tenths!! Falcon runs and jumps off the ropes, going for another Falconsault, but Lance Errington gets his knees up!
All four of their partners continue brawling at ringside, and Jerry Rogers is currently making a futile attempt to tell them all to get back to their proper corners, ignoring the two legal men in the ring like a complete idiot. Both Falcon and Lance Errington are getting up slowly... and Lady Erica Whitmore's up on the apron!! She reaches into her pocket... and pulls out brass knuckles! She throws them to Falcon... but he didn't seem like he was expecting them, and just watches in surprise as they sail past him... into the grasp of Lance Errington!! Falcon turns around... and Lance Errington nails him right between the eyes with the brass knuckles!! Falcon goes down, and Lance Errington stuffs the knuckles into his tights and blows Erica a kiss, then goes for the pin. And Jerry Rogers is turning around... no, not like this!! He counts three!!
Was that an accident, or an intentional act by Lady Erica Whitmore to help Lance Errington earn a victory? It certainly earned a lot of suspicion, not just from Falcon, but from Falcon's tag team partner in the following week's main event, Troy Black, who has felt first-hand what it's like to be betrayed by Lady Erica Whitmore once before.
From VCW 104:
Z. Adderloaf: Well, this is it, guys. Time for the main event. What are your thoughts as you prepare for your match with Tony Garcia and Lance Errington?
T. Black: My thoughts are that it isn't going to be a problem. You know Falcon and I just don't like each other... but I think that we hate Tony Garcia and Lance Errington just a little bit more. The only thing I'm worried about...
Troy Black stops, turning to look directly at Lady Erica Whitmore.
T. Black: ... is YOU. I don't know if you're on Falcon's side or Lance's side, and ordinarily, I wouldn't care. But let me give you a little advice. You already stabbed me in the back once... and if you do it again, you'd better make sure I'm not able to get up and come after you for a long time. Do you understand me?
Falcon steps in between Troy Black and Lady Erica Whitmore.
Falcon: Troy, don't start all this paranoid crap again. We can trust Erica. What happened last week with the brass knuckles was an accident. ... Right, Erica?
L.E. Whitmore: Of course. I... thought you might need them. After all, he kicked out of the superkick and the Falconsault...
Falcon: Well... just keep in mind that tonight, I don't need them. I want you there in my corner tonight... but I don't want you to get physically involved. It's me that Lance Errington has the problem with, and I'll take care of him personally.
L.E. Whitmore: Of course. I won't get involved in the match tonight. You have my word.
Despite her word, and perhaps her intentions, she ended up getting involved in that match in a major way. An outside observer could easily say that it wasn't her fault, but was it really a plan, or just the crafty mind of Lance Errington at work, taking advantage of existing distrust?
From VCW 104:
Falcon's at a loss for what to do to put Tony Garcia away... but on the outside of the ring, Troy Black's beginning to recover... and Rebecca Black comes from behind and gives him a low blow, and Lance Errington throws him head-first into the steel steps!! Back in the ring, Falcon's sizing up Tony Garcia for the superkick again as he gets up... and Lance Errington grabs Lady Erica Whitmore, and tosses her into the ring behind Falcon!! She gets up and staggers back into Falcon... and Falcon turns around, surprised to see her, then begins telling her to get out of the ring. Lady Erica Whitmore's trying to explain what happened... but Tony Garcia grabs Falcon from behind, and picks him up... TORTURE RACK!! Falcon's in the Torture Rack, and now Lance Errington grabs Erica's feet and pulls her out of the ring, then grabs her by the head and pulls her in for a big kiss, as she struggles against his embrace... and inside the ring, Falcon has no choice but to submit!! Tony Garcia and Lance Errington win!!
Now, going into Wrestlewar, Falcon is faced with a match with Lance Errington, who believes that he has corrupted Lady Erica Whitmore's mind, and seeks to end his influences on her once and for all. But he also has to wonder... has this all been mind games by Lance and Erica? Are they setting him up for Lance Errington to finally emerge from their epic rivalry with the upper hand? Or is Lady Erica Whitmore innocent, having been framed by the manipulative ways of Lance Errington? Having to wrestle a combatant like Lance Errington is hard enough... but having to do it without knowing if you can trust the woman in your corner is even more daunting.
We're going to give you a brief respite from all of the shilling and plugging matches, in order to actually showcase some wrestling action! Once again, we've got some NCXCW wrestlers ready to appear and wrestle a match for our viewing benefit. Nightengale, the leader of an NCXCW faction known as the Army of Darkness, will wrestle tonight alongside his minions, the Dark Reaper and John Skull, against NCXCW World Champion Johnny Stagger, and the NCXCW World Tag Team Champions, the Gordon Brothers, Eddie and Dustin Gordon.
"Enter Sandman" by Metallica begins playing over the arena sound system, and a good portion of the crowd pops, expecting ECW's Sandman... but they're disappointed to find out that it's only the Army of Darkness. Nightengale is a man with long brown hair and penetrating grey eyes, dressed in a battered black silk dress shirt and blue jeans; John Skull is the burly, bald guy in wearing sunglasses, ripped jeans, and a leather jacket; and the Dark Reaper has short, black hair, and is dressed in black robes, with a black singlet underneath. They're accompanied by Nightengale's valet, Divinity... a pretty young woman in a short white dress, with wild eyes and a strange smile on her face that reveal her to be utterly mad. They come to the ring... ...and Nightengale grabs a microphone!? WHAT is with these B-team nobodies thinking they can cut a promo on VCW airtime!?
Nightengale: The darkness continues to spread, sweeping out over the globe like a gust of wind blowing over fields of wheat. Tonight, the Army of Darkness invades Canada for the first time, and we show ourselves for the first time on national television. The dark claws of paradoxical fear and desire are even now reaching out, wounding you as they rake across your flesh, yet pulling you in, ever closer, to your own delightful forbidden worlds. So what are you afraid of? Are you afraid of death? Are you afraid of becoming inhuman, of losing all of your morals and virtues that you claim make you better than us? Or are you afraid that you might like it? Let yourself come to the darkness... learn to love the darkness... and you will enjoy it when she scratches her nails down your back as you clutch her in an eternal embrace.
Err... okay. Sure thing, buddy. Is it a requirement that all NCXCW workers must either have a stupid gimmick or be totally off their gourd? "Have A Drink On Me" by AC/DC kicks on over the arena sound system, and here comes Johnny Stagger and the Gordon Brothers! Johnny Stagger is a tall, lean, scruffy man with long dirty blond hair, wearing a fisherman's hat and a brown leather jacket, in addition to black trunks and the NCXCW World Title. He already looks inebriated, and the bottle of whiskey he's carrying to the ring looks about half empty. The Gordon Brothers are a pair of well-built young men with brown hair, though Eddie's hair is worn long, and Dustin's cut short in a Lance Storm-style crew cut, and each of them wears a yellow singlet and one of the NCXCW World Tag Team Title belts. At least they're not getting anywhere near the microphones... they're hitting the ring immediately for a match! Jerry Rogers is in the ring to officiate, as we bring you more minor-league goodness from NCXCW!
Army of Darkness (Nightengale, John Skull, & The Dark Reaper)
vs.
Johnny Stagger & Gordon Brothers
Eddie Gordon's starting this match off against John Skull. John Skull rushes in... and Eddie Gordon takes him down with an armdrag takedown! Not one to learn his lesson the first time, John Skull gets up and charges again... right into a drop toe-hold. He gets up and rushes in yet again, into a dropkick, and now Eddie Gordon's going after him as he gets up! He gives him a kick to the midsection, followed by a snap suplex to the mat, and John Skull is down! Eddie Gordon picks him up and goes behind him, into a waistlock... and gives him a HUGE German suplex! The crowd pops for that, and Eddie Gordon gets up, playing to the crowd, and gets a mild response.
He makes the tag to his brother Dustin Gordon, as John Skull starts to get up, and they pick him up, and give him a big double vertical suplex. Dustin Gordon hits a series of elbowsmashes on John Skull, then gives him a fallaway slam. He backs him into the corner, and gives him a few kneelifts... but John Skull retaliates with a massive right hand, staggering him back, then floors him with a headbutt! John Skull picks Dustin Gordon up, and gives him a slow reverse neckbreaker, then makes the tag to the Dark Reaper.
The Dark Reaper explodes onto Dustin Gordon with a series of lightning-fast kicks, staggering him back into the ropes, then knocks him out over the top rope with a stiff spin kick! And he's running off the opposite side... and he jumps up and springs off the top rope, diving out with a springboard cross bodypress... but Dustin Gordon moves, and the Dark Reaper wipes out on the guardrail! Dustin Gordon takes the Dark Reaper head-first into the steel steps, then rams him head-first into the ringpost, before rolling him back into the ring. He makes the tag, and here comes Johnny Stagger!
Johnny Stagger steps in as the Dark Reaper gets to his feet, and nails him with a series of jabs. He winds up for a big punch... then turns and staggers around the ring a little bit before turning and nailing the Dark Reaper with a massive right hand! The Dark Reaper is down, and Johnny Stagger quickly picks him up and whips him into the ropes again, nailing him with a spinebuster when he comes off. With the Dark Reaper planted in the middle of the ring, Johnny Stagger stumbles around the ring drunkenly, then turns and falls down, seemingly at random, but in just the right way to drive his head into the Dark Reaper's abdomen. As the Dark Reaper convulses on the mat, Johnny Stagger makes the tag again to Dustin Gordon.
Dustin Gordon comes in and whips the Dark Reaper into the ropes, catching him with a Hotshot as he comes off the other side. He goes up to the top turnbuckle as the Dark Reaper pulls himself to his feet... and he goes for a flying clothesline, but the Dark Reaper ducks! Dustin Gordon wipes out on the mat, and starts to pull himself back up... but the Dark Reaper pivots and nails him with a leg lariat, then tags in Nightengale. Nightengale immediately goes up to the top turnbuckle, as Dustin Gordon starts to get up... and Nightengale nails him with a flying axehandle, sending him right back down!
Dustin Gordon's down, and Nightengale grabs his leg and drops a couple elbows into it, then hooks on a Texas Cloverleaf. Dustin Gordon tries to fight his way out of it... he's crawling to the ropes... and after a considerable effort, he makes it. Nightengale savagely stomps and kicks at the leg a few more times, then tries to pull him back into the center of the ring by the leg... but Dustin Gordon gets up with the other leg! Nightengale still has one of his legs... enzuigiri!! Dustin Gordon just clipped Nightengale with an enzuigiri, and now both men are down! Nightengale begins getting to his feet... but Dustin Gordon makes the tag to Johnny Stagger!
Nightengale looks up, just in time to take a series of right hands to the face from Johnny Stagger. He gets whipped into the ropes, and turned inside-out by a lariat as he comes off. Johnny Stagger hooks on a full nelson... and it's a full nelson slam, on Nightengale!! Nightengale once again tries to pull himself up... but Johnny Stagger takes him down with a kneebreaker, then picks him up and gives him a second one! Pulling himself up on a somewhat weakened leg, Nightengale gets up... just in time to get caught in a belly-to-belly suplex! Now Johnny Stagger is hooking his leg... and he puts on a variation of a half Boston! That's his move, the Ninety-Proof Leglock!! Nightengale is squirming, trying to get to the ropes... and John Skull's in the ring to break up the hold!
Eddie and Dustin Gordon also enter the ring, as does the Dark Reaper, and the match quickly degenerates to a wild six-man brawl. The illegal men eventually end up brawling on the outside of the ring, with Jerry Rogers making a futile attempt to retain order. In the ring, Johnny Stagger runs into the ropes... but Divinity trips him on the outside!! He gets up... and Nightengale hooks him... Elevated DDT, Gangrel-style! That's his finishing move! He crawls across for the cover, and Jerry Rogers turns to count... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THR... Kickout at two and three-quarters! Nightengale hooks him for another Elevated DDT... but Johnny Stagger gives him a low blow! Jerry Rogers is admonishing him, but Johnny Stagger's ignoring him, and crawling to his corner... he's got the whiskey bottle!! He grabs it, and quickly chugs its contents... and now his eyes just flashed open! He's getting back to his feet! He beats his chest and roars to the crowd, then turns to Nightengale, who's just starting to get up!
Nightengale throws a few punches into the face of Johnny Stagger, but he just ignores them, then drives home a few massive right hands of his own and whips Nightengale into the ropes... and nails him with a big boot when he comes off! Nightengale gets up, but Johnny Stagger puts him in a standing headscissors... power bomb!! Nightengale is laid out... and Johnny Stagger's slapping on the Ninety-Proof Leglock again! Everyone else is brawling outside of the ring, and Nightengale's trapped in the middle of the ring... but Divinity has the glass whiskey bottle! She enters the ring... and smashes it over Johnny Stagger's head!! She quickly rolls out of the ring, giggling insanely, as Johnny Stagger releases the hold and collapses to the mat. Jerry Rogers, ever the intelligent one, stares around at the broken glass all over the ring, and notices that Johnny Stagger suddenly collapsed and is currently busted wide open, but doesn't put two and two together... and Nightengale's crawling across him for the pin! Jerry Rogers goes down to count... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!! This match is over!
The
Army of Darkness (John Skull, Nightengale, and The Dark Reaper)
defeated Johnny Stagger and The Gordon Brothers when Nightengale
defeated Stagger via pinfall in 0:08:38.
Rating: ** 1/2
Actually... for B-level indy nonsense, that wasn't all that bad; it was better than last month's garbage with Jockey Oldcastle, anyway. The Army of Darkness is retreating backstage, helping Nightengale up and aiding him in getting out of the ring, while the Gordon Brothers come in to check on Johnny Stagger, who's still down. They help him get up and get backstage as well, as ring crew members come in to clean up all the broken glass around here.
One of the most intense, emotion-filled matches coming up tonight on Wrestlewar is the meeting between Troy Black and Gabriel Black, and Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez. Troy Black has been a target of other members of his family for a long time here in VCW, but tonight he unites with his brother against two friends of the family, led by his sister, Rebecca Black. The current direction of this rivalry started with a commitment several months ago...
From VCW 83:
G. Black: 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. I took for granted how valuable you were as a friend to me and my family. I never want to make that mistake again. Please, take this opportunity, and take the title away from Troy at Survival of the Fittest.
T. Garcia: You want me to win the title from Troy? Why, so I can hand the title over to you the next night?
G. Black: No... you win the title, not for me, but for yourself. And just like you stood by me when I was champion, I'll stand by you. You've beaten Troy before. Remember Wrestlewar? And I know that you can do it again. All you have to do is step up and take the opportunity. It's yours. I want to see you wearing the VCW World Title around your waist, and I want to see it off of Troy. This isn't for me... this isn't about me. This is about you and Troy.
When Gabriel Black later made peace with Troy, many fans thought it was a great moment in VCW history. Tony Garcia, however, thought it was an act of betrayal, and he made his feelings known.
From VCW 98:
T. Garcia: Gabriel... I've stood by your family for years. I stood by Sean Black, I stood by his children... for my entire life, I've been at the side of this family. Even when you wanted to dress me up in a hood and call me the Torturer, did I complain!? No, I stayed right by your side. Even when you nearly broke my neck, putting me out of action for several months, then you came crawling back, begging me to take the VCW World Title away from Troy... I stayed by your side. Because you promised me that it was my turn. I was the one who was going to get the titles and the recognition. You told me that it wasn't going to be Gabriel Black and his sidekick Tony Garcia anymore, it'd be Tony Garcia, on top of the world, with the help of his good friend Gabriel Black. You promised me that it was my turn, Gabriel... you promised.
And then... after I help you, after I do everything humanly possible to defeat Troy, after I go along with all of your plans, what happens? I lose my opportunity to get shots at the VCW World Title. And 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 you lied, Gabriel. All the sudden you and Troy are best friends, and it couldn't matter less if I kicked over and died. And when I'm laid up on all kinds of painkillers, nursing a headache that's even bigger than your big head, all I see is you coming out and kissing Troy's ass. You never mentioned me at all, Gabriel, not once... so I come to the arena, maybe to talk it over with you or something. But what do I see when I get there!? You've got your own sister, Rebecca, up for the Destiny Driver! You cold-hearted son of a bitch, this is your sister! This is the same little girl that I used to give piggy-back rides and play games with when I came by your house to see your father, and you're about to break her neck. So I came in, and I stopped you. Because not only did you not keep your promise to me, but you were going to hurt Rebecca... and I couldn't let you do that.
Maybe Tony Garcia hasn't been paying attention for the last five or ten years of her life, but Rebecca Black isn't exactly a sweet, innocent little girl anymore. The crowd's booing, and Tony Garcia stops, pacing in the ring for a moment, before he goes on.
T. Garcia: 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.
And meanwhile, Lorenzo Vasquez was extending a challenge to Troy Black, hoping to do what Gabriel Black couldn't do... and with a little help from Crimson, the unthinkable happened.
From VCW 98:
Now Lorenzo Vasquez just kicked the chair into the middle of the ring... he hauls Troy Black up from behind, and hooks his arms... he's not going to... TIGER SUPLEX ON THE CHAIR!! Troy Black's skull just crashed into the steel chair with a horrible sound, and he HAS to be out cold!! Lorenzo Vasquez holds the bridge for the pin... and gets three!! Lorenzo Vasquez just defeated Troy Black!!
Though Troy Black would avenge that loss next week, the problems for he and Gabriel were just beginning. When Gabriel Black faced Tony Garcia, a moment of mercy had a very deadly price for him...
From Deck the Halls 2000:
Gabriel Black nails Tony Garcia with a few more elbowsmashes to the back of the neck, then hauls him to his feet. He steps to the side, and with some obvious difficulty due to his weakened back, he lifts Tony Garcia with a gutwrench... into position for the Destiny Driver!! Gabriel Black has Tony Garcia in position for the Destiny Driver, and if Tony Garcia doesn't make a miraculous escape, this match... and possibly his career... will be over!! But Gabriel Black's hesitating... and his face softens a little. He doesn't seem to want to give Tony Garcia the Destiny Driver... and instead he shifts his grip on him, and brings him down with a powerslam. The crowd boos, Gabriel hooks the leg, and Linda Peterson counts... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two and a half by Tony Garcia.
Gabriel Black really doesn't seem to know what to do here. He stands over Tony Garcia's fallen body, at a loss for what to do to put him away without seriously hurting him, and Tony Garcia's starting to get up. Gabriel Black runs into the ropes, and gives him a dropkick to the knee, causing his leg to buckle under him and collapsing him to the canvas. He grabs Tony Garcia's legs, and he's applying a figure-four leglock... but with no prior setup for the hold, it's not likely he can get a submission here. Tony Garcia's struggling, but he still has a lot of strength left in his massive legs... and now Rebecca Black's up on the apron, next to the wooden axe handle! She's distracting Linda Peterson... and while Linda Peterson's not watching, she just kicked the wooden axe handle into the ring! From within the figure-four, Tony Garcia grabs the wooden axe handle, then sits up and nails Gabriel Black in the head with it!
Gabriel Black is down, and the figure-four is broken. Tony Garcia gets up with the wooden axe handle, and hauls Gabriel to his feet too. He draws back the axe handle, preparing to swing it like a baseball bat... AND HE JUST MURDERED GABRIEL BLACK!! Gabriel Black just took a massive blow square to the head with the wooden axe handle, and he crumples to the mat like a corpse, which he may very well be! Tony Garcia quickly chucks the wooden axe handle out of the ring as Linda Peterson turns around, alerted by the sickening sound of wood against bone, but she doesn't see any incriminating evidence. Gabriel Black is completely laid out... he may be seriously injured here. At least he's breathing, thank God, but he's bleeding heavily from a hideous, bloody knot on the side of his head. Tony Garcia plants a foot on his chest, but before she counts the pin, Linda Peterson's asking him what happened to Gabriel... and Tony Garcia's pantomiming a spinning elbowsmash. Linda Peterson seems to buy it... and I've got a certain bridge I'd like to sell her, but now she's counting the pin. This is academic... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!!
But the plans of Tony Garcia, Rebecca Black, and Lorenzo Vasquez weren't done there. Unknown to all of us, Rebecca Black had enlisted a new ally to aid her in the battle against Troy and Gabriel Black, and he made a BIG impact in the main event of Deck the Halls...
From Deck the Halls 2000:
But who's that coming to the ring!? A man in a leather jacket with cutoff jeans, and black dreadlocks... that's not even a VCW wrestler, that's Strahd, from Slam Masters Championship Wrestling!! But what the hell's he doing out here!? Troy Black covers Crimson, who is laid out, not even moving a muscle... and Strahd slides into the ring! Troy Black notices the movement, and gets up, but Strahd gives him a swift kick to the midsection, then grabs his head... EVENFLOW!! Strahd just took Troy Black down with an Evenflow DDT, leaving a bloody spot on the mat where his head hit the canvas... and now he's picking him up... and he gives him a second Evenflow!! The crowd is exploding into deafening boos and raining garbage down on the ring, and Strahd leaves the ring and begins heading backstage. His work here is done... and Crimson's beginning to stir! Linda Peterson comes charging out of the backstage area, no doubt to replace Jerry Rogers, who obviously will NOT be getting up to continue his duties as referee after that sickening lariat. Linda Peterson slides into the ring... and Crimson drapes an arm across the body of Troy Black! Linda Peterson's going to count... whose perverted idea of justice is this!?!? She had to see Strahd leaving the ring! Crimson should be disqualified!! She's counting anyway... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!! Damn it, that son of a bitch Strahd just handed Crimson the World Title!! Troy Black had this match won... he had slain the monster known as Crimson... but thanks to Strahd, he's no longer the champion!!
After Deck the Halls, Gabriel Black was temporarily put out of commission for a few weeks, and Troy Black was embroiled in a vicious feud with Crimson. But at Inner Fury, the VCW/SMCW interpromotional pay-per-view event, Troy Black struck back, exacting vengance for his loss at Deck the Halls.
From Inner Fury:
Rebecca Black comes over to check on Strahd... so Troy Black takes a running start, and takes out both Troy and Rebecca with a Plancha! Troy grabs Strahd, and rolls him back into the ring. Troy drags Strahd over to where the chair is lying... kick to the midsection... Double Arm DDT onto the chair! Troy Black climbs to the top rope... BLACK DAGGER! NO! Strahd got a foot up! Troy tried to give Strahd the Black Dagger, but ended up jumping right onto Strahd's foot! Strahd picks Troy off the mat... EVENFLOW DDT ONTO THE STEEL CHAIR! ONE!!... TWO!! ... KICKOUT! WHAT? TROY JUST KICKED OUT OF THE EVENFLOW DDT! Strahd is absolutely furious! What's Strahd doing now... Strahd sets Troy Black up on the top turnbuckle... he lifts him into a fireman's carry... he's going to kill Troy for once and for all with a Top Rope Death Valley Driver! NO! Troy counters with a Crucifix, sending both men crashing down off the top rope! ONE!! ... TWO!! ... THREE!!!!! TROY WINS! TROY WINS!
Things seemed to pick up just a little more for Troy and Gabriel Black when Gabriel returned from his minor head injury at the hands of Tony Garcia. This time, mercy wasn't part of his agenda...
From VCW 103:
Z. Adderloaf: Well, I was kind of wanting to get your comments. You're facing Dick Douglas today... and we also know that the man who nearly crushed your skull at Deck the Halls, Tony Garcia, is--
G. Black: Tony Garcia, yes. Allow me to explain... I didn't wish to make the same mistake twice. Until that moment, I thought of him as my friend... and I refused to give him the Destiny Driver at Deck the Halls. But when he tried to crush my skull... opened that huge slash on the side of my head... that spawned a new feeling in my heart... for he had committed the sin of betrayal, and after I was reduced to a fallen heap on the mat, I knew that I had to punish him. Tony Garcia is strong, powerful... he's a veritable leviathan of a man... but I'm Gabriel Black. I'm the son of "Superstar" Sean Black. He rendered my show of mercy into the act of a fool. But as you'll soon find out... as Tony Garcia himself will soon find out... I'm nobody's fool.
Gabriel Black steps in closer to Ziggy Adderloaf, and puts a fist to his heart, over the "Fallen Angel" T-shirt.
G. Black: Gabriel Black... is NOBODY's fool.
Gabriel Black had his mind focused on Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez, and he was ready for another confrontation. But on the other side, just when it seemed Troy Black had almost settled his issues with Strahd and Crimson, Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez struck again...
From VCW 103:
The camera angle shifts as Troy Black walks out of the locker room, revealing the fallen form of Dick Douglas, who was evidently waylaid in the hallway by Troy Black. Troy begins walking down the hall, but suddenly Tony Garcia springs from behind a stack of boxes, coming up from behind Troy, and nailing him in the back with the wooden axe handle. Tony Garcia begins flailing away at Troy Black with the axe handle, beating the hell out of him with the axe handle. Lorenzo Vasquez also runs up on the scene, carrying a chair, and begins driving the edge of it down repeatedly into the back of his neck. They just stand there and nail him with their weapons for over a minute, like machines programmed only to attack, then Lorenzo throws down the chair onto the fallen, destroyed form of Troy Black. Tony Garcia lays in one last good blow to the back with the axe handle, then looks down and spits on him.
T. Garcia: Yeah, that's right, Troy. What goes around comes around. You just remember that.
With that, tension had reached the breaking point, and there was no way that this was going to end without a huge explosion in the middle of the ring. We found out the details when later that night, the challenge was officially made by Gabriel Black for this match at Wrestlewar.
From VCW 103:
G. Black: Tony Garcia... Lorenzo Vasquez... after what you did to Troy tonight, I feel it's appropriate that I bring you a message. As Troy was being taken away for medical examination, he told me of an idea... and I like his idea. With your obsessions of ridding VCW of both of us, and your pretenses of defending the honor of our father, "Superstar" Sean Black... we're extending a challenge to you. At Wrestlewar... the two of you, my father's old friend and his prized student... against myself and Troy... the sons of my father. And you'll soon discover that this isn't about defending the legacy of the past... it's about the future... and the future isn't big enough for all of us.
With that challenge, the match was made, and Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez will face Troy Black and Gabriel Black, two brothers who have been ostracized by the rest of the family circle. So much is at stake in this match tonight. The physical well-being of the men involved, the bad blood that has been brewing for years, and the legacy of the name of the man who has been a mentor of sorts to all four of these men, "Superstar" Sean Black, will all be contested tonight. Can Gabriel and Troy Black finally defeat Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez, and with them the accusations of false promises and unworthiness to their name? Or will Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez destroy Troy and Gabriel Black, on their way to dominating VCW just as Tony Garcia dominated the NCWA many years ago alongside Sean Black? This match should be one to watch for sure.
But when it comes to big matches, none are bigger tonight than the main event, where VCW's two most feared powerhouse brawlers, Crimson and David Wright Hubbard, will collide with the VCW World Title on the line. Like many of the rivalries tonight, David Wright Hubbard and Crimson have a long-standing dislike of one another, tracing all the way back to a time whne Crimson was a bodyguard for Jessica Judd, who David Wright Hubbard had attacked to get to Gabriel Black.
From VCW 37:
Crimson: But that's not all. David Wright Hubbard just got here tonight, and that's good as far as I'm concerned, because I'm not the kind of man who wants to say somethin' behind his back. I want to say this to his face. Two weeks ago, he started poundin' on Jessica's ass in order to to try to get Gabriel Black out there, and he did it when I wasn't around to stop him. Now, I don't have any problem with him wantin' to kick Gabriel Black's ass, that's fine with me. But he didn't have to slap Jessica around like that, it's not like he proved anything when he beat her up, and even though I'm not her bodyguard anymore, I'm still pissed off about that.
So, if David Wright Hubbard has the balls to pick on someone his own size, I'll beat the hell out of him next week.
But even then, David Wright Hubbard was never one to back down from a fight, and he made sure to let Crimson know that the feeling was mutual, later on that night.
From VCW 37:
D.W. Hubbard: I heard Crimson come out here earlier and threaten to kick my ass for what I did to that stupid bimbo Jessica Judd a little while ago, and to be honest, I don't like it. He looks big, and he talks big, but if he thinks he's such a big shot, I want him to just try and take me on and kick my ass. I don't know about him, but I ain't doing anything next week, so that would be a perfect time for me to beat the living hell out of him if he can fit a visit to the emergency room in his schedule.
As it happened, the Inquisition took the opportunity presented by their first match to attack both men and beat the hell out of them, which temporarily took the focus off of their rivalry, as each man turned his sights to the Inquisition. But their paths would cross again. The night after losing his first match, and his Blood and Thunder title shot, to Troy Black, Crimson went on a never-ending rampage that he would call the Homicide Road Tour.
From VCW 71:
Crimson: Bottom line, I'm not some stupid redneck who everyone can tell what to do anymore. I'm doing what I want to do, and if you don't like it, I don't care. And if what I want to do just happens to be kicking your ass, tough shit. I've got a new agenda now. It's something I call the Homicide Road Tour. From now on, everywhere I go, someone ends up as roadkill. You get in my way, your ass gets added to the body count. I'll end up the VCW World Champion by being the only guy left standing in VCW. And I'm starting tonight with these chickenshit jackasses who screwed me around.
The Wrecking Crew were the first victims that night, but next week, David Wright Hubbard stood up and took exception to Crimson's change in attitude, making a statement that would start an intense rivalry between the two men.
From VCW 72:
D.W. Hubbard: But right now, I want to talk about last week. Last week, Crimson decided to go on a little rampage. He got a hair up his ass after Troy Black kicked his ass at Disaster Area, and now he's jumping people from behind and running with Hell's Bikers. That doesn't impress me any. To tell the truth, I'm getting the idea that Crimson ain't nothing but a sore loser and a big coward. A few weeks ago, Crimson was the guy who was going to take the VCW World Title from Gabriel Black. Now, he's just the biggest chickenshit asshole in VCW!!
The crowd cheers loudly.
D.W. Hubbard: Listen, Crimson. I ain't doing anything tonight. And if you want a fight, if you think you can take me on face to face, without your new buddies jumping in to save your ass, I'll get in the ring with you and beat the living hell out of you. Everyone who saw Disaster Area knows that Troy Black can beat you, and everyone who saw me win the Intercontinental Title a few months ago knows I can beat Troy. So just to sum up this whole thing logically, you're getting your ass beat tonight, you son of a bitch!!
Crimson's response to the challenge sealed the deal, and an epic rivalry between two of the toughest, most powerful men in VCW was born when Crimson and David Wright Hubbard confronted each other that night.
From VCW 72:
Crimson: But I ain't gonna do that. All you people have to do is sit your fat asses down and watch the brutality that's about to take place in a couple seconds. You see, David Wright Hubbard called me out earlier tonight. And unless I'm not mistaken, he's your boy. He's from right here in Texas.
The crowd cheers.
Crimson: Shut the hell up. See, I don't like Texas. I've got a little competition going on with Texas. Unless you're as stupid as you look, you people all probably know that Texas holds the record for executing more people a year than any place else in America. You execute a couple hundred people a year or something like that.
The crowd cheers again.
Crimson: Well, maybe you understand now. Texas only gets a couple hundred people a year... I can top that. See, by the end of this year, the Homicide Road Tour is gonna rack up a body count bigger than this bullshit state ever could. It just so happens that your boy, David Wright Hubbard, is the next victim. They say everything's bigger in Texas... well, I got news for you. I'm bigger than David Wright Hubbard. And tonight, his name brings me one step closer to racking up the biggest body count in history for the Homicide Road Tour.
Crimson and David Wright Hubbard met that night in an epic battle, but Hell's Bikers intervened, and they dished out a massive beating to David Wright Hubbard. Over the next several weeks, the trend continued... David Wright Hubbard and Crimson continued their battles, but never met one-on-one, though Crimson did defeat David Wright Hubbard with the Chokeslam to win their match at Gang Wars 2000. A collision between these two powerhouse brawlers seemed inevitable, however... until Crimson injured his knee. David Wright Hubbard was forced to move on to facing Crimson's ally, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, in Crimson's stead, though he did go on to win the Survival of the Fittest Tournament. But Crimson returned a few months later, and there was one name that was foremost in his mind...
From VCW 96:
Crimson: But there's one more thing, the most important name on my hit list. And that's David Wright Hubbard. See, I can wait for Troy Black. But I ain't waiting for David Wright Hubbard. I know he's in the building. Last night, he won the War Games Match, and I have to give him credit... but if you lock me in a cage with all the members of both teams, I could take every last one of them... so I ain't too impressed.
See, Dave... I've already been waiting too damn long. You've got a reputation for being the most dangerous, the most deadly son of a bitch in this company... and you don't deserve it. If you've got the balls, come on out tonight, and you're gonna be the deadest son of a bitch in this company after I tear you apart in this ring, boy. You're the next stop for the Homicide Road Tour, so either you can accept this match and get ready to die later tonight, or you can hide backstage, and I'll come looking for your punk ass. Choose your poison, and one way or the other, take a good long time enjoying your last few precious minutes of life.
Crimson went on to destroy David Wright Hubbard in a match that night, but it was largely thanks to a pre-match attack by Lance Errington. The two men still hadn't met on fair terms, and though Crimson went on to face Troy Black and win the VCW World Title, and David Wright Hubbard went on to face Lance Errington at Deck the Halls, everybody knew that the last word hadn't been said in their battles. Once he won the title, Crimson was vocal about his plans for the man who was now his challenger at Wrestlewar...
From This Tuesday In Toronto:
Crimson: David Wright Hubbard... you're my challenger at Wrestlewar now, huh? Well, that works out just fine for me. Because last Saturday, you could barely handle Lance Errington. Lance FUCKING Errington. What the hell was that!? I guarantee you, you put me in a ring with Lance Errington, and I'll have the son of a bitch squashed like a bug in under five minutes. Maybe it had a little something to do with the fact that I slipped him a wrench after he threw your ugly-ass wife off the ramp...
It was Crimson!! Crimson was the one who handed Lance Errington the wrench that he used to nearly take David Wright Hubbard out and win the match! Crimson's animosity for David Wright Hubbard is well-established, but who would have thought that he was this dedicated to seeing harm come his way?
Crimson: See, I didn't give a damn about none of the issues that happened in that match. I don't care if Lance was pissed off because Erica got her little face cut up, or that you were pissed off because your nasty old bat of a wife nearly got killed... as far as I'm concerned, women ain't got no place in the life of a man like me except bent over my bed getting fucked every night. But what I did care about was seeing you get your ass beat. Yeah, you won the match... but sit up in your hospital bed and look at yourself, you pathetic bastard. You got the crap kicked out of you by Lance Errington. And if he can beat your ass, just think what I can do, you cowboy wannabe faggot.
So bring your little title shot, bring your fucked up knee, and most importantly bring your punk ass to Wrestlewar, because just like I already did twice before, I'm gonna beat your ass. When I'm done with you, you'll be sitting in a wheelchair, sitting behind the counter at some gay bar in Texas serving drinks. I'm gonna destroy you, you dumb son of a bitch, just like I did to Troy Black and everyone else in VCW. The Homicide Road Tour is making a big stop at Wrestlewar just for you, and I'm gonna Chokeslam your ass into the ground so hard that you'll already be six feet under, and all they have to do is set down the tombstone, and write on it... "Here lies David Wright Hubbard, the sorry bastard who thought he was hard and got his ass beat by Crimson."
But David Wright Hubbard didn't let those words go uncontested...
From This Tuesday In Toronto:
Hold it, "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath is playing now, and this can't be... it is!! David Wright Hubbard just stepped out of the backstage area, walking with a crutch! He's standing at the top of the ramp, staring down Crimson and his teammates and allies, and he's leaning on a crutch! With the other hand, he raises a microphone, waiting for the crowd's cheers to die down before he speaks.
D.W. Hubbard: There's only one person you owe a title shot to, and that's me, you big piece of shit. You think you got lucky when you screwed Troy Black out of that title? That's not the case, you damn idiot, and let me tell you why. See, I've got a title shot for Wrestlewar, and I've been meaning to kick your big ass from day one... and come Wrestlewar, you're gonna be wishing it was Troy Black in there, not you. Now, I give Lance Errington all the credit in the world... he's a mean, ruthless, son of a bitch, but Michelle took bumps like that for ten years in Japan, and if you think she's not getting back up from that, you ain't thinking straight. And me... if you think Lance Errington kicked my ass last Saturday, then you won't even have words to describe what I do to your big ass at Wrestlewar.
For the next few weeks, Crimson was preoccupied with Troy Black, as their feud from Deck the Halls 2000 raged on. But David Wright Hubbard hadn't forgotten about Crimson by a long shot, and he let him know about it...
From VCW 102:
D.W. Hubbard: ...I'm gonna talk about Crimson for just a little bit. You've seen him getting over on Troy Black these past few weeks, screwing him around... but that's not gonna work with me. I'll give Troy Black all the credit in the world... he's a talented young athlete and all that good hogwash, but he's not David Wright Hubbard. Just like Crimson, I'm an ass-kicker from the old school. Troy Black knows how to wrestle... but I know how to survive. Crimson knows better than to bust into my locker room and start talking shit, because I'd knock him on his ass. Putting aside the fact that taking a shovel upside my head wouldn't do a damn thing but dent up a perfectly good shovel, Crimson knows that I've been up and down some of the exact same roads he has. He knows I've got eyes in the back of my head and fists and feet in places God never meant them to be. And he also knows that when I get in the ring with him at Wrestlewar, I'm probably gonna be the man who whips his ass.
Crimson... you can hide behind the Macho Man and Lance Errington, and I might not whip your ass tonight... but you know that Wrestlewar's coming. And whether you like it or not, whether or not the office boys like it, whether or not any of these hundred-pound weenies sitting at their little keyboards, typing up the dirt sheets, like it or not... you know that at Wrestlewar, I'm beating your ass, and walking out of there with the VCW World Title. And there's not a damn thing on the face of this planet that'll stop me.
With Troy Black feuding with Tony Garcia and Lorenzo Vasquez, Crimson once again turned his attention back to David Wright Hubbard in the coming weeks, telling everyone just what he thought of their match at Wrestlewar.
From VCW 105:
Crimson: Now, what I want to talk about... David Wright Hubbard. He thinks that just because he's an ass-kicker from the old ways, like me, he can take this title off of me at Wrestlewar. Well, that ain't how it's gonna happen. I've been waiting for this match for a while now, because everybody's always said David Wright Hubbard's the biggest, baddest, most dangerous man in VCW... but you might just notice they don't say that no more. I'm the biggest dog in this pack now, and when I beat David Wright Hubbard's ass at Wrestlewar, it's just a little formality. Everybody with a fucking brain in their head already knows that VCW belongs to me... and giving David Wright Hubbard the beating of his miserable life is just a little job that I haven't gotten around to yet.
David Wright Hubbard... look at you, you piece of shit. You're getting your ass beat by Lance Errington and Rob Solomon. Do you see me getting my ass beat by a couple skinny little pantywaists like them? You're limping around with your bad knee all the time... maybe you don't remember, but I beat the living shit out of a man when my knee was so messed up doctors said I shouldn't even be able to walk. And now even those fat, pathetic pussies in the crowd that boo your sorry ass know you're full of shit. You've got all these skinny little geeks on the Internet talking shit about you.... ... And then you got these people asking if you deserve your title shot at Wrestlewar... well, let me put it to you this way, motherfucker. When I get my hands around you, you're gonna get EXACTLY what you deserve.
David Wright Hubbard, facing a Gauntlet Match later that night, still had his mind on Crimson, and had a response for Crimson's words.
From VCW 105:
D.W. Hubbard: And just a little bit ago tonight, Crimson was sitting backstage, trying to act like a badass. He's saying I'm just a little formality he hasn't gotten around to, and that I'm gonna get what I deserve at Wrestlewar. Well, that's how I see it too. I'll be happy to get him in the ring and formally beat his ass. As far as getting what I deserve... well, what I'm gonna get at Wrestlewar is the VCW World Title, and what Crimson's gonna get is my fist in his face and my foot in his ass. Crimson don't have to like it, the dirt sheet writers don't have to like it, and none of you have to like it... but it's just the way it is. I'm whipping his ass, I'm taking that title, and that's all there is to it.
But now the time for talking is over. Now, the two most destructive forces in VCW will collide, for the VCW World Title. One man walks out as the champion... the other may not walk out at all. It's a confrontation more than one year in the making... it's a meeting of two unstoppable powerhouse brawlers, for the biggest prize in VCW. David Wright Hubbard takes on Crimson, one-on-one, for the VCW World Title! It's coming up, on Wrestlewar! Don't miss a minute of this amazing match, or any of the other great matches tonight! Make sure you're tuned in, because Wrestlewar III, the biggest event of the year, is about to begin!! But first, just to give you a few more minutes to order this great event, one more match awaits us on the Waste-of-Time! The combatants, along with referee Linda Peterson, are already in the ring... and tonight, Russel "The Muscle" Taylor does battle with the Super Giant Ninja, one more time!! This match begins now!
Russel "The Muscle" Taylor
vs.
The Super Giant Ninja
Russel Taylor charges at the Super Giant Ninja immediately, and rocks him with a big clothesline, as the match starts. He hits the ropes again, and connects with another clothesline, staggering the Ninja... and he runs in for a third one... but catches a kick to the face... well, actually a kick about seven inches away from his face, but he still goes down! The Super Giant Ninja picks him up and takes control, laying in some weak-looking forearm smashes to Russel's back, then picks him up in a Gorilla Press! He has him up... and he tosses him straight down to the canvas! Russel Taylor begins to get up, but the Ninja nails him in the chest with another kick, but loses his balance and falls over after executing the kick!
The Ninja gets up first anyway, and backs Russel Taylor into the corner, then proceeds to give him a series of pathetic-looking chops to the chest. It's safe to say that Bass Rogers and Ken Collins are laughing uncontrollably backstage at this, as the Super Giant Ninja lays in some pathetic chest chops. Russel Taylor staggers out of the corner, and the Ninja actually manages to hit a snap mare without botching it, then follows it up with a legdrop! He hooks the leg, and Linda Peterson goes for the count... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two and a half by Russel Taylor!
The Super Giant Ninja picks Russel "The Muscle" Taylor up again... and he puts him down with a big bodyslam! Now he's going up to the top turnbuckle. He's taking FOREVER... at least twenty seconds pass before he makes it. But he's up... and he's going for the Katana Legdrop!! But Russel Taylor rolls out of the way, and the Ninja lands on his back! He didn't even get all the way over on the somersault for the legdrop!! Russel Taylor crawls across him and goes for the pin... ONE!! ... TWO!! ... Kickout at two and a half by the Super Giant Ninja!
The Super Giant Ninja's getting up, but Russel Taylor hits the ropes, and rocks him with a big clothesline! The Ninja staggers, and Russel hits a second clothesline, staggering him more! Russel goes for a third... the Ninja tries for a kick, but Russel stops short! The Ninja's kick misses by a good three or four feet, and this time Russel Taylor doesn't sell it! The Ninja is off-balance after missing that kick... and Russel Taylor runs over him with a big clothesline!!
Russel Taylor appears to have this match well in hand... but someone's coming out of the crowd!! Two someones, actually... are these a pair of disgruntled fans? No, wait, they look familiar... that's Brujah Justicar and Desmond LaRouche, who were last seen in SMCW!! What the hell are they doing!? They slide into the ring... and Desmond quickly hits an Ace Crusher on Russel "The Muscle" Taylor! And now Brujah has the Super Giant Ninja in a standing headscissors... oh, there's no way in hell... POWER BOMB!!! Brujah Justicar just hit the Super Giant Ninja with a massive power bomb, and he's laid out as well! How in the HELL did Brujah do that!? Desmond LaRouche grabs a microphone...
D. LaRouche: The first shots have been fired. Prepare for a war.
What in the hell did that mean!? Brujah Justicar and Desmond LaRouche are leaving the ring and heading backstage, as the crowd stares in shock, but what did Desmond mean by that!? Is this the setup for another conflict between VCW and SMCW!? They're not sticking around to explain, at any rate... they're heading backstage. Russel Taylor and the Super Giant Ninja are both laid out, and this match will go down as a no-contest at the time of interference.
Russel
Taylor and The Super Giant Ninja battled to a no-contest in
0:03:43.
Rating: -**
On that rather bizarre note, the Waste-of-Time is drawing to a close! Make sure you don't miss the greatest pay-per-view event of the year! Tonight, you'll see the most highly-anticipated, intense matches in VCW, finally brought before your eyes in VCW's biggest pay-per-view of the year, Wrestlewar! The waiting is over now... and now, VCW is proud to present Wrestlewar III, live on pay-per-view!!!
Wasted enough of your time yet? The actual Pay-Per-View is about to start.