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Post by LWPD on Nov 22, 2012 19:46:05 GMT -5
*As daunting as some of this country's current challenges may seem, looking back at history, there have been times when day to day events have been far worse, with brighter days realized ahead. Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday in the United States until the fall of 1863, when amid a violent and brutal Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring that the last Thursday in November would be a day of national thanksgiving. His official statement from that time is below: Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Online.org
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States A Proclamation
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
-Abraham Lincoln |
"I expect to maintain this contest until successful, or till I die, or am conquered, or my term expires, or Congress or the country forsakes me.”
-Abraham LincolnHonest Effort: The Trials of Lincoln Thanksgiving Holiday Special CreativeHearkening back to the golden days of Thanksgiving's wrestling past, Abraham Lincoln finds himself situated in a drumstick of a predicament! Tonight he is firmly entrenched in a Kronos style Champions of the Galaxy vs Legends of Wrestling All Star Challenge. This will be a two pronged event. In Tier 1, The Honest One will represent fellow LOW Brand All Stars: Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant as they take on the CotG Brand All Stars: Thantos (GWF 2087), Godsend (GWF 2115), Monolith (GWF 2126) & End of Days (GWF 2128) in a Gauntlet Challenge! Then he'll have to quickly catch his breath, because after a brief intermission, Tier 2 will see him step inside a steel cage, and stand shoulder to shoulder with his partners, as they take on their adversaries in an elimination style Survivor Cage Battle for ultimate brand bragging rights!
In addition to a winning team being crowned, an individual accolade will be on the line as well. Each step of the way, in both Tiers 1 & 2, every successful fall will score 2 points. The man with the most points at the end of the night, will win the Thanksgiving All Star MVP Trophy, as drawn by Werner Mueck! Who will win the historic first ever Trial of Lincoln Golden Turkey? Grab some turkey, pour some apple cider, read along and find out below!CotG vs LOW Thanksgiving All Star Challenge Tier 1: Gauntlet Match Abraham Lincoln, Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos, Godsend, Monolith & End of Days[/b] Gauntlet Rules:
i. Positioned in neutral team corners of four, all eight men stand ready at ringside.
ii. This will be a series of one on one single elimination, one fall to a finish matches. In the first fall, one man from each team begins. The losing wrestler exits the ring and returns to the locker room, while the winning wrestler remains active for the next fall. The team whose member has been eliminated sends in another man from their squad to represent them in the new fall. The Gauntlet sequence continues to run until all members of a given team have been eliminated.
iii. Throughout the event, the wrestler who scores a pinfall or submission gains 2 points toward the MVP Trophy Standings. Abraham Lincoln vs ThantosPlay by PlayAfter a feeling out process, Abe rocks Thantos hard with a clothesline off a turnbuckle whip. A bear hug and trip nets a two count. THROAT LIFT SLAM...1,2,NO! A whip into the ropes sees Thantos get the better of a double cross body block spot. A deathjump falling knee drop busts Abe open. After a sleeper, the Evil GameMaster drags Abe to the center of the ring and applies the MASTERLOCK...but Abe slowly struggles toward the ropes for a break. Thantos pursues relentlessly and follows with a brutal chop block. He again drags Lincoln to the center of the ring...a second MASTERLOCK...they say there is no greater love than a man who would lay down his life for his brothers, but in the face of agony, Abe taps out!Thantos nets 2 points, Abraham Lincoln is eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet______________________________________________________ Thantos vs Ed Strangler LewisAfter some back and forth action, the tables turn as Thantos connects with a hard running clothesline that sends Lewis crashing head first to the concrete floor. Back inside, the Evil GameMaster quickly secures the MASTERLOCK...Lewis gallantly struggles and somehow inches to the ropes! Feelingly wobbly, a visibly shaken Lewis stems the tide with a head scissors and leg drop. Lewis connects with a hard tackle off the turnbuckle. STRANGLER'S HEADLOCK...NO! Again...NO! Thantos counters a waistlock takedown with a hard fist to the face. In building up momentum, Thantos continues to do well by doing good. A wicked shoulder break seems to take the starch out of Lewis. Thantos pulls Lewis to the center of the ring...he then points at Andre & Thesz before signaling for the MASTERLOCK...in a lengthy struggle Lewis almost reverses, before finally tapping out! Thantos has 4 points, Ed Strangler Lewis is eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet_____________________________________________________ Thantos vs Lou TheszA lengthy stare down ensues as Lou looks to avenge his long time mentor. Thantos tries to get the jump on Lou with an eye rake, but LT weathers the storm and then puts the Evil GameMaster down with an airplane spin. A step over toehold facelock sees Thantos barely make the ropes. Lou's pace is methodical, with no wasted motion. A hammerlock seems to leave Thantos weakened, but he somehow drapes his foot under the rope. This time it's Lou who mockingly signals for the exit...THESZ PRESS...1,2,3!Lou Thesz scores 2 points, Thantos is eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet______________________________________________________ Lou Thesz vs GodsendWithout hesitation, Godsend charges Lou at the bell, but he gets sonned, quickly winding up on the losing end of the exchange. Thesz then whips Godsend into the turnbuckle and sends the demon flying ass over tea kettle with a slick running forearm smash. A double wristlock sees Godsend barely drape his foot over the rope to secure a break. Not here to piss in the wind, Lou looks for the pay window with a THESZ PRESS...1,2,3! Lou Thesz has 4 points, Godsend is eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet______________________________________________________ Lou Thesz vs MonolithMonolith pulls out all the stops early, including an armless airplane spin and Monolithic Slam. While a bit rattled, Lou plays the cards he's been dealt and deftly counters a body slam toss into a side salto. Lou slowly turns the tide with some sweet science, breaking Monolith down with a textbook hammerlock. A released powerbomb nets a 2 count. In a move that takes the thunder out of Monolith's sail, Thesz returns fire with an airplane spin of his own...1,2,NO! With the grace of a tiger, LT secures a double wrist lock, but Monolith slowly inches his left leg to the ropes. GRECO-ROMAN BACKDROP...1,2,NO! THESZ PRESS...1,2,3!Lou Thesz has 6 points, Monolith is eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet______________________________________________________ Lou Thesz vs End of DaysThe CotG squad is now down to one man, End of Days. Visibly showing signs of fatigue, Lou tries to send him into the ropes, but EOD makes a statement, taking Lou down hard with a kick to the head. A press slam drop takes the wind out of LT. EOD tosses Lou outside the ring, but Thesz hooks his left wrist and uses momentum to pull EOD out as well. EOD misses a running charge, slamming headfirst into the steel post. Back inside a step-over toehold facelock takes its toll on the big man. Lou locks in a Hammerlock for another near tap out. Released powerbomb...1,2,NO! A winded Lou can be seen breathing heavily through his mouth. A series of well timed dropkicks rock the man mountain, but don't take him out. A swing in momentum sees EOD power out of a rolling short arm scissors with a toss across the ring. A monster headbutt cuts Lou above the right eye. Gigantic neck snap...1,2,NO! Trajectory of Doom puts Lou down. One handed hanging chokeslam...1,2,NO! A bloody Lou ducks a giant palm strike and somehow hits the airplane spin...1,2,NO! A double wristlock sees EOD gradually shimmy slide half his body out of the ring to escape, but Lou locks on like a pitbull. Back inside another released powerbomb leaves EOD rattled. A crimson and fatigued LT again makes the mistake of trying to whip EOD into the turnbuckle, going down hard to a short arm clothesline. Another series of monstrous headbutts fully closes Lou's right eye as the ref considers stopping the match. End of Life...1,2,3!End of Days scores 2 points, Lou Thesz has been eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet______________________________________________________ End of Days vs Andre The GiantBoth squads now have their sole remaining members in the ring. This fall will decide the winners of the All Star Gauntlet! The very sight of these two behemoths standing face to face proves to be an awe-inspiring visual that merits a thousand cliches. ATG quickly shows he is one of only a handful of living men capable of successfully tossing EOD into the ropes, but an EOD shoulder tackle plants Andre face down and ass up! Fired up and perhaps a bit embarrassed, Andre no sells a giant palm strike, returning fire with a big boot to the face...1,2,3! A stunned EOD eats the pin!Andre The Giant scores 2 points, End of Days has been eliminated from the All Star Gauntlet!The Legends Team wins the All Star Gauntlet______________________________________________________ After the bell rings signifying the conclusion of the All Star Gauntlet, an inconsolable End of Days goes on a rampage! He starts destroying objects at ringside. He wrecks the time keeper's table. He knocks over the steel barricade. He throws a half-dozen chairs into the ring. The rest of the CotG All Star team try to get him to calm down, with Thantos finally breaking through by reminding him to focus on the Survivor Cage Battle, where he can gain his revenge.______________________________________________________ Thanksgiving MVP Award Mid-Point StandingsWrestler | Points | Lou Thesz | 6 | Thantos | 4 | Andre The Giant | 2 | End of Days | 2 | Abraham Lincoln | 0 | Ed Strangler Lewis | 0 | Godsend | 0 | Monolith | 0 |
________________________________________________________ ***Intermission*** It's Up To You Promoter™ ________________________________________________________ CotG vs LOW Thanksgiving All Star Challenge Tier 2: Eight Man Survivor Cage Battle Abraham Lincoln, Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos, Godsend, Monolith & End of Days[/b] This will be a four on four survivor series style elimination cage match. If a man is pinned or submitted, he must leave the cage. The match will continue until an entire team has been defeated. Wrestlers will score 2 points for each elimination they effect, which will be carried forward into determining the All-Star MVP.First FallAbraham Lincoln, Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos, Godsend, Monolith & End of DaysThe ring slowly fills as all eight men enter the cage. The Legends squad comes in orderly and disciplined, with Abraham Lincoln stepping in for his team as if following a well designed game plan. On the other end of the ring, an angry CotG team seems to have a fit of early dissension with figuring out which wrestler should start. Not wasting an opportunity, at the bell a fired up Lincoln immediately laces into a distracted Godsend, sending him flying face first into the unforgiving steel cage. Abe then locks him up with a full nelson for a near tap out. Abe signals...THROAT LIFT SLAM...1,2,3!Abraham Lincoln nets 2 points, Godsend has been eliminated!______________________________________________________ Second FallAbraham Lincoln, Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos, Monolith & End of DaysWhile many hands can make for light work, too many cooks can often spoil the broth! In this case, Lincoln was so distracted in his moment of celebration, he doesn't see a focused Thantos coming. The Evil GameMaster wastes no time during the transition as he drills Lincoln with a Satanic Skull Smasher from behind. Moments later...running clothesline...1,2,3! Thantos gets in a groggy Abe's face after the count, holding up two fingers, rubbing in the painful fact he took Abe out twice in one night!Thantos has 6 points, Abraham Lincoln is eliminated!______________________________________________________ Third Fall
Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos, Monolith & End of DaysWe are now back to an even encounter at three on three. At the bell Ed Strangler Lewis steps in but Thantos swiftly greets him with a shot to the bread basket. An eye rake in the corner sets up a tag to Monolith. The big man goes for a body slam toss, but The Strangler swiftly counters with a double wristlock before transitioning into a STRANGLER'S HEADLOCK...End of Days makes the save. Lewis regroups, whip into the ropes, blind tag to Lou Thesz...THESZ PRESS..1,2,DIVING SAVE BY THANTOS! The Strangler sends the Evil GameMaster face first into the steel cage while Andre and EOD eye each other from across the ring. As the ref restores order, Lou signals again...THESZ PRESS...1,2,3!Lou Thesz has 8 points, Monolith is eliminated!______________________________________________________ Fourth Fall
Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos & End of DaysThe LOW Team now has a three on two advantage. Thantos begins to make his way into the ring, but End of Days pushes him to the side, knocking him square on his ass! After an intense stare down, EOD officially starts the fall for his team. EOD looks past Thesz and demands that Andre meet him center ring. Without hesitation ATG tags in. Here we go! Both men exchange fist and fire, with ATG edging out a slight advantage. Andre secures EOD in a long bear hug sequence, but EOD refuses to submit. A series of head butts by Andre bust EOD open. A double dose of butt bumps rock EOD, and then Andre brings the crowd to its feet with an amazing standing dropkick! Andre plays to the crowd as he rides a wave of momentum. A turnbuckle squash sets up a thunderous body slam...1,2,3! Andre The Giant has 4 points, End of Days is eliminated!______________________________________________________ Fifth Fall
Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos It takes a half dozen officials to restrain End of Days and finally remove him from ringside. After order is restored, we are underway. Sensing the immediacy of his predicament, a three on one disadvantage, Thantos aggressively lunges at Andre with an eye rake. A knee lift is swiftly countered by ATG who sends the Evil GameMaster down hard with a body slam. Tag to Lewis, who almost makes him tap to a double wristlock. A whip into the ropes sees Thantos counter a back drop attempt with a vicious piledriver. A hard face first rake across the steel cage sets up a textbook shoulder breaker, followed by a full power slam...1,2,3! Good night Strangler!Thantos has 8 points, Ed Strangler Lewis is eliminated!______________________________________________________ Sixth Fall
Lou Thesz & Andre The Giant vs Thantos We are now down to three, two men from LOW and one man from CotG. Never count your chickens before they are hatched! At the bell, Thesz and Thantos lock up. A Thantos running clothesline sends the back of Lou's head crashing hard into the cage. Wasting no time, Thantos drags LT to the center of the ring for the MASTERLOCK...after an extended struggle, Lou somehow makes the ropes. Thantos goes for a deathjump and hits a massive flying knee drop. Thantos signals for a second MASTERLOCK...they say all limitations are self-imposed, albeit true or false, Lou gradually passes out to the pain!Thantos has 10 points, Lou Thesz is eliminated!______________________________________________________ Final Fall
Andre The Giant vs ThantosWe are down to the final two men. Andre vs Thantos. LOW vs CotG. A visibly exhausted Evil GameMaster goes to whip ATG into the turnbuckle, but the big man reverses, sending Thantos flying head first into the steel cage. Andre with a big body slam...1,2,NO! Andre signals for the BIG SPLASH...1,2,3!Andre The Giant has 6 points, Thantos has been eliminated!
The team of Abraham Lincoln, Ed Strangler Lewis, Lou Thesz and Andre The Giant win the 2012 Thanksgiving CotG vs LOW All Star Challenge!_______________________________________________________________ Thanksgiving All Star MVP Final StandingsWrestler | Points | Thantos | 10 | Lou Thesz | 8 | Andre The Giant | 6 | End of Days | 2 | Abraham Lincoln | 2 | Ed Strangler Lewis | 0 | Godsend | 0 | Monolith | 0 |
Thantos wins the 2012 Thanksgiving CotG vs LOW All Star Challenge MVP Award! Thantos & Lou Thesz: Grudging Respect Artwork by Werner Mueck _______________________________________________________________ Booking The Honest OneWow, that was a lot of fun to play out. It always feels good to devise something out of thin air, go with your gut, play the game out, watch as random dice rolls slowly stitch it all together, and then end up with a finished product that's far better than you ever expected it to be in your mind's eye. That type of personal pay off is one of the hidden treasures of this game. It's why I still continue to play after all of these years. A very rewarding experience.
Abe was really thrown into deep waters with this one. There's no way to prepare for a randomly put together all star event, and on paper, he was out of his depth given the caliber of his competition. Like a proverbial good soldier, The Honest One proudly donned his top hat, strapped on his suspenders and then went down quickly in his Tier 1 gauntlet singles match against Thantos. To his credit, he stepped up his game in Tier 2, even securing a pinfall for his team inside the cage by downing Godsend! Yet before he knew it, the Evil GameMaster spoiled his party once again with an elimination. This is definitely a rivalry that I plan to explore more deeply when Abe tours GWF 2087 next year.
Any multifaceted event is bound to have its highs and lows, along with heroes and epic moments. The two confrontations between Andre The Giant and End of Days fit the later. Upon first sight, EOD wanted Andre, and truth be told, he ended up getting a bit more than he was anticipating. On this night, the dice were on Andre's side, leading to him scoring a quick and decisive pin in Tier 1, and then following up with an exclamation point squash victory in Tier 2. I didn't expect it going in, but EOD GOT OWNED, period, end of story! On the side of the heroic, there were amazing performances throughout the night by both Thantos and Lou Thesz. Sweet Lou single handedly carried the Legends team back from the brink during the Gauntlet, and in the process, he moved to the top of the early MVP point standings. Not to be outdone, Thantos was a stud in both tiers, and even in the face of a 3 on 1 disadvantage, he almost pulled his team to victory inside the cage, falling just short of the near impossible. In the end, Thantos clinched the hard won MVP Award, splitting a fall apiece with runner up Lou Thesz. The great artwork by Werner captured the magic of competitive spirit and a grudging respect earned through mutual adversity._______________________________________________________________ Thanksgiving Wrestling Specials/Multiple Tier EventsLooking back, I consider myself very fortunate to have grown up as a fan at a time when the holiday season coincided with big time wrestling events. Much like with NFL football, Turkey Day often meant something special for wrestling fans. Whether it was Jim Crockett Promotions running the original Starrcade, Georgia showcasing their annual tag tournament at the Omni, or Vince rolling out the Survivor Series, territories throughout the country would often book some form of rasslin' spectacular. For this holiday, I decided to go with an event that tied together some of my favorite memories from real wrestling past (as a kid I always looked forward to the original Turkey Day Survivor Series format) with a team/individual award structure.
In terms of game play, the Gauntlet sequence was fairly easy to run. I wanted to incorporate an advantage for the fresh man heading in against the winning wrestler, so I added an 'expended effort' token to the surviving wrestler at the start of each new fall. In execution, fatigue tokens did run high in Tier 1 (it doesn't take too many MASTERLOCKS to put a wrestler in the danger zone) so for practical purposes, I cut the effects in half going into the Tier 2 Survivor Cage (ie. a wrestler with 6 tokens went in with 3). The cage match itself was fairly standard, with 'into cage - 3' replacing 'out of the ring'. With the stakes (brand pride) being so high, I didn't cap pin save attempts, but tied the effort to an odd/even roll (ie. odd: pin save attempted, roll for save/even: no effort made). The scoring system/MVP component was a fun way to add a supplementary 'game with-in a game' element. I've always been a big fan of layering storylines, and all it took was paying attention to the outcomes. I liked not only having combined effort bringing about a winning team, but also an individual achievement that stood out amid the chaos. Plus it provided substance behind the serious/wacky Werner drawn visual payoff. YMMV_______________________________________________________________ Odds & EndsHere are some general posting tips that may be of practical use to some reader...somewhere in time.
* For those who enjoy using fonts and colors beyond Proboards default selections, here are two lists which may come in handy:
Proboards Compatible Color List
Code (remove spaces): [ color = TEXTCOLOR ]text text text[ /COLOR ]
Proboards Compatible Font List
Code (remove spaces): [ font = FONTName ]text text text[ /font ]
* For those who want to quickly create multiple column/row tables, this generator is customizable and fairly easy to use:
Proboards Table Generator
* Commissioning Werner Mueck: if you are looking to bring any FG game related idea to life, whether it be for a bootleg card, artwork for your Fed or anything that requires the skill of a professional artist, I would highly recommend seeking out a quote from Werner. He's very easy to work with, and never fails to produce beyond expectation. The simplest point of contact would be via PM.______________________________________________________________ Ed Strangler Lewis: The ManBorn Robert Friedrich in 1891, the future Ed Lewis would broke into the business in 1905 at the astounding age of fourteen. His ring name was said to be in tribute to his resemblance of the original 'Strangler' Evan Lewis. He primarily toured Europe from 1910-15, where he is credited with inventing the sleeper hold, a cross between a carotid choke and side headlock. When he returned to the US, he was not only reputed as an international star, but as a legit 'hooker' (a wrestler who was capable of imposing his will on his opponents, and dictating the outcome of his matches). Established promoters feared booking him, fearing he was capable of winning at will and taking over the direction of their business. Seeing opportunity, wrestler/visionary Toots Mondt and businessman Billy Sandow combined with Lewis to form the famed Gold Dust Trio. In essence, Mondt and Sandow promoted a new style of professional wrestling, which entailed packaged wrestling shows with shorter scripted matches that featured more visually entertaining moves (ie. monkey flips, dropkicks, head scissor takedowns, etc). Since matches were made shorter, the excess time was filled by booking more matches per show, along with creative support in the form of theatrical storylines. Ed Strangler Lewis was used as both a headlining champion, and a policeman, who could 'legit defeat' anyone who wasn't conforming to the creative/business will of Mondt and Sandow. At its peak, the Gold Dust Trio had over 500 wrestlers under contract, changing the face of what wrestling was forever. A successful draw at the box office, and lead figure backstage, Lewis in time would suffer vision problems. He semi-retired in '35 before retiring for good in '48 at age 57. A revered figure in the industry, he passed away in August of '66 at age 75.
From a fan perspective, Ed Strangler Lewis wrestled and lived way before my time, and surviving footage of his work remains few and far between. As a kid I had read the old story about Lewis perfecting his Strangler Headlock through use of the famed Alex Baumann built headlock machine. I respect his historical place in the industry, but anything I try to add at this point would just be abstracting from other abstractions, and wouldn't do him justice. I included a few links of possible interest on his life and legacy below.Ed "Strangler" Lewis: Facts within a Myth By Steve YoheNational Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling By Tim HornbakerEd "Strangler" Lewis Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame BioEd Strangler Lewis vs Dick Shikat 6/9/32Ed Strangler Lewis vs Marin Plestina 4/2/30Ed Strangler Lewis vs Jim Browning 1933Documentary: The Unreal Story Of Professional WrestlingEd Strangler Lewis: The CardAt a Rahl Rating of 36 (36) Ed Strangler Lewis is a deceptively strong card. His offensive attack is buttressed by an 11 point L30, including three invincible finisher designations. His defense is among the elite, with 5 counters in total and a PIN 5 (2). His attributes show nary a weakness, clocking in at a respectable 9 points. While not one for tag competition, the Strangler is sure to be a threat given any singles terrain.
Ed Strangler Lewis is available in Legends Vintage in cardstock form, in Promoter Online Issue 22 in PDF form (with alternate artwork by Werner Mueck) and in LEGENDSonline 2 in digital form.End of Days: The CharacterStanding 7'4 473 lbs, this imposing figure from Ground Zero is said to have been 'formed' by top scientists who were intent on spreading the radical Black Death agenda. This rookie monster made his debut in GWF Black Death 2128 and is equipped with several unique card mechanics, including the BEHEMOTH SPEAR finisher (a running spear) on level 1 offense, and UNLIMITED POWER (military press toss into power slam) on L3O.End of Days (2128): The CardThis one is a ground breaker on several fronts. EOD is the first card to sport an invincible finisher on two distinct levels (L10 and L3O). Offense alone nets 30 points. Defensively EOD has a total of six counters, all but one of which place him on L2O. His L3D is top tier, with only one 'down - 3', a 'dazed - 1' and an elite PIN 4 (1). His attributes set a new standard for power ratings (-6) which is further supplemented by an automatic chart counter against wrestlers with Pw -3 and weaker. While not equipped for tag wrestling, End of Days would probably do well in most handicap scenarios. Much like the Andre The Giant LE, I would strongly recommend this as a must own card for everyone who plays any brand of FG product.
End of Days is available in GWF Black Death 2128 in cardstock form and in COTGonline in digital form. Godsend (2115): The CharacterStanding 6'4 and 261 lbs, this charismatic demon from the Fifth Realm was an impact player immediately upon his debut in GWF Revelations 2115. As the leader of villain supergroup the Fourth Realm, and later the Serpents of Evil, he was a lead figure during the wacky and controversial Cosmic Battle storyline. After that wound up and New Beginnings shook up the GWF roster, a new Godsend 2120 card was eventually incorporated into the aCe brand storylines. Always intriguing, an argument can be made that Godsend's full potential was never fully realized. In this rookie card, his finisher is THE REALM ETERNAL (face first slam).Godsend: The CardAt a Rahl Rating of 48 (49) Godsend carries main event level potential. His high powered offense includes a L1O 'move -3' and a knock out L3O sequence that sports two move - 3 designations, a move - 3 add 1 and a powerful +3 potency invincible finisher. A don't bring me down style defense includes five counters and the vaunted PIN 4 (1). Rich attributes round things out, with no weaknesses to be found. Tag skills are lacking, but the likelihood of singles stardom will give peace a chance for demon lovers everywhere.
Godsend is available in GWF Revelations 2115 in cardstock form and can be 'unlocked' in digital form through COTGonline aCe 2120 Reinforcement.Lou Thesz: The ManBorn Lajos Tiza in 1916, the man who would go on to fame under the ring name Lou Thesz broke into the business at the tender age of 16. In his formative years he learned under the tutelage of such greats as George Tragos and Ad Santel. In 1936 he was taken under the wing of the legendary Ed Strangler Lewis, who managed and groomed him to take his spot as the lead force in the industry. At age 21 Lou would become the youngest NWA World Champion in history. A skilled hooker, he was capable of dictating his match outcomes at will. With the birth of the television age, Lou would become one of the most watched men in America through appearances on the DuMont Network. With a career that spanned decades, he was a universally respected figure. Lou wrestled his last match in December of 1990, and passed away in April of 2002 at age 86. RIP
From a fan perspective, I first learned of Lou by way of the Apter mags. There was a monthly feature (I think it was The Wrestler) where notable industry figures would make commentary on a given contemporary star of the month. Lou (or the ghost writer acting in his name) always stressed the importance of 'scientific wrestling', and repeated this mantra so often it still remains stuck in my memory decades later! I wasn't capable of fully appreciating his accomplishments until years later. In fact one of the first pieces of information I came across that better educated me to understanding Lou's significance was a Catch Wrestling supplement put out by Tony Cecchine. In time, I became better informed about the context of his career and gained access to surviving footage of his prime years. Without question, he was one of the all time greats. He had a quiet charisma that was backed up more by substance than style. The laudatory compliments of his contemporaries world wide speaks volumes.NY Times Obituary Lou Thesz, 86, Skilled Pro Wrestler, DiesHooker : An Authentic Wrestler's Adventures Inside the Bizarre World of Professional Wrestling By Lou TheszLou Thesz vs Mighty Atlas 3/30/51Lou Thesz vs Walter Palmer 10/1/51Lou Thesz vs Verne Gagne 1/25/52Lou Thesz vs Wild Bill Longson 6/17/52Lou Thesz vs Tom Rice 8/14/54Lou Thesz vs Don Leo Jonathan 2/26/55Lou Thesz vs Hans Schmidt 1/27/56Lou Thesz vs Rikidozan 10/13/57Lou Thesz vs Antonino Rocca 5/10/63Lou Thesz vs Gene Kiniski 4/14/67Lou Thesz/Vince McMahon/Tuesday Night Titans Interview 6/26/84Lou Thesz: The CardAt a Rahl Rating of 55 (58) this is statistically among the best cards in all of LOW. Lou brings forth a clean your clock offense, with seven 'move - 3' designations and two invincible finishers, netting 26 points in total. Defensively LT is very hard to weigh down, sporting five defensive counters, only one 'down - 3' and an elite PIN 5 (2). Sharp attributes net another 12 points, and he even shows a shade of tag proficiency. Without hyperbole, this is one the highest end FG cards ever produced, for a figure well deserving of the honor.
Lou Thesz is available in Legends Ten in cardstock form and in LEGENDSonline 4 in digital form.Monolith (2126): The CharacterStanding 7'1 402 lbs, this colossus from Andromeda 13 burst upon the scene in GWF Subversion 2121 with huge impact. Immediately a star, two sci-fi factors played up his uniqueness: i. undergoing the vaunted Aethran Cleansing ritual (which is said to be forbidden to non-Aethrans) and ii. talk of having been genetically altered. In this, his third card, Monolith is stacked with two finishers, I BREAK YOU (an over the shoulder backbreaker) and CATASTROPHE (top rope shooting star press). Monolith: The CardThis is the third version of Monolith, and while a slight downgrade from the two predecessors, stands as a very powerful card. Offensively its a case of show me the money from the start to finish. L1O alone clocks in with 7 points, L2O brings forth three 'move - 3' designations, and L3O carries two finishers, the first is low potency invincible, the second is a powerhouse 2d6 hit/miss +5 potency with a heavily weighted success probability. Defensively, this card is loaded with 'dazed - 1' designations, especially in pivotal spots, two on L2D and a rare single spot on L3D. On the back end his attributes clock in at an impressive 15, with a rare Pw-5 and an elite cage rating. While not one for partners, he's sure to be an imposing figure on any singles scene.
This version of Monolith is available in GWF Council of War 2126 in cardstock form and through COTGonline in digital form.______________________________________________________________ Going ForwardIt was a real treat to find the time to play this special event out. I have to 'thank' the consequences of the Sandy Frankenstorm that hit my area, which took the market down for a few days, and thus freed up some surprise leisure time. Abe's next full tour (GWF 2087) is still set to launch sometime in 2013, but you never know if another holiday special may pop up in the interim. Best wishes to all for a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon One Love So when the Man comes there will be no no doom One Song Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation-Bob Marley 'One Love'
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