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Post by spaceman on May 22, 2012 16:48:09 GMT -5
This is such a phenomenal read from every aspect. As a casual LOW player, this is not only inspiring and entertaining, but it's also an introduction to other aspects of the game I would have never thought of trying or in some cases, even knew existed. Not to mention you're writing style and format is so polished I actually couldn't pull myself away from reading. I literally just now read this thread from start to finish.
Incredible approach to the game. Extraordinary presentation. I'll most certainly continue reading what hopes to be a long and prosperous wrestling career for Mr. Lincoln.
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Post by LWPD on May 22, 2012 19:06:52 GMT -5
This is such a phenomenal read from every aspect. As a casual LOW player, this is not only inspiring and entertaining, but it's also an introduction to other aspects of the game I would have never thought of trying or in some cases, even knew existed. Not to mention you're writing style and format is so polished I actually couldn't pull myself away from reading. I literally just now read this thread from start to finish. Incredible approach to the game. Extraordinary presentation. I'll most certainly continue reading what hopes to be a long and prosperous wrestling career for Mr. Lincoln. Thanks for the kind words misterbiceps. Very much appreciated!
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Post by LWPD on May 28, 2012 17:50:03 GMT -5
Dedicated to everyone whose past and/or present day sacrifices and service, make it possible for people like me, to enjoy a great hobby like this! Courtesy of newsbusters.org"Although there is great debate concerning its authenticity, President Abraham Lincoln is said to have sent the following to a Mrs. Lydia Bixby on the unfortunate occasion of her having lost her fifth son during the Civil War.
With great respect, this goes out to all that have served in our armed forces, and those that have lost loved ones fighting for everything most Americans take for granted."Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,-Abraham LincolnHonest Effort: The Trials of LincolnCreativeAfter a battle with the feared Killer Kowalski, the Honest One now steps front and center into the line of fire. It begins with a tag team elimination bout between Abraham Lincoln and Magnum T.A. against Al Snow and Konnan. Yet after the first pin or submission is scored, it becomes every man for himself, as the format changes into a Tirion Triple Threat Match. At the end of this Memorial Day spectacular, only one brave man will emerge as the victor!LEGENDSonline Series 1 Tour: Match 10 (Memorial Day Special Edition)
Abraham Lincoln & Magnum T.A. vs Al Snow & Konnan (Tag Team Elimination Bout)Play by PlayAt the bell, Abe and Snow kick things off for their respective teams. Al goes to work early with a slick neckbreaker. A whip into the turnbuckle sees Abe dodge a hard charging Snow, who falls hard to the concrete floor below. Lincoln follows him out, but Snow drills the ex-President in the head...with 'Head', drawing a strong warning from the referee. Back inside Konnan tags in, quickly hitting the 187 on the former President. The Cuban superstar goes for a deathjump, and hits pay dirt with a senton for a near fall. A Konnan powerbomb sees Abe barely lift his shoulder up. Snow tags back in and hits a huracanrana that rocks a weary Lincoln to his core. A cocky Snow looks to finish Abe off with a powerslam, but Lincoln rolls through, countering the move and making a much needed extended tag to Magnum T.A. A virtual house of fire, T.A. rocks Snow with a running forearm. An atomic drop leaves the Snowman melting. Magnum tosses Snow to the arena floor, but an eagle eyed ref prevents any damage on the outside from being done. Magnum mounts the second rope and connects with an elbow drop. T.A. signals, BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX...1,2,SAVE BY KONNAN! Abe tags back in, locking in an arm bar hold down, but Snow drapes his left leg over the ropes to force a break. Abe, a thinking man's wrestler, sly drags Snow to his side of the ring, then connects with bear hug and trip into a pin attempt...1,2,3! Lincoln gets the duke!
The winning team of Abraham Lincoln & Magnum T.A., along with Konnan, the sole surviving member of his team, advance to the Tirion Triple Threat Elimination Match.Abraham Lincoln vs Magnum T.A. vs Konnan (Tirion Triple Threat Match)Before the bell, Abe offers Magnum his hand in a show of sportsmanship, but Konnan, ever the schemer, clocks both men with a foreign object. With both men down, Konnan tosses Magnum out of the ring like a sack of garbage, as he then goes to work on the Honest One. A facebuster sitout plants Abe down hard. Konnan locks in TEQUILLA SUNRISE...but Lincoln shimmy slides his body to the ropes. The great lucha superstar then hits a brutal powerbomb for another near fall. A whip into the turnbuckle sees Abe fall hard to the arena. Before Konnan can react, a rested Magnum T.A. slides back in from behind, lashing into Konnan with a big splash. A series of dropkicks net a near fall. Magnum locks in the abdominal stretch, weakening the man from Miami. A running forearm rocks Konnan down hard. Konnan counters a backdrop, connecting with a hard elbow. Returning tit-for-tat, Magnum counters a huracanrana into a power bomb. A whip into the ropes sees Konnan crash head first into a bewildered Abraham Lincoln. After clearing his head from a double noggin knocker, a fired up Abe eyeballs Magnum face to face. After a tie up, the Honest One locks in a half nelson and crotch lift, followed by a brilliant flying mare that leaves T.A. stunned. Abe then goes to work with a waistlock takedown, followed by a LINCOLNCANRANA...1,2,NO! Bear hug and trip...Magnum lifts his shoulder up. Arm bar hold down...a Konnan stomp to the head breaks up the submission attempt. Konnan jawbones with the crowd in 'Spanglish', but his poppy-cocking allows Lincoln to regain the momentum. A full nelson sees Konnan struggle to make the ropes. Abe signals...THROAT LIFT SLAM...1,2,MAGNUM MAKES THE SAVE! With Konnan laying dead man style, Magnum focuses on Lincoln, locking in an abdominal stretch for an extended wear down. Lincoln wiggles out of a press slam attempt, and counters with a stiff right jab that floors Mr. Allen. A whip into the ropes sets the stage for a diving Konnan chop block from behind, which takes down both men at the knees. TEQUILLA SUNRISE ON LINCOLN...ROPE GRAB! A second TEQUILLA SUNRISE...SAVE BY MAGNUM! Magnum targets Konnan with a BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX...1,2,3! Konnan is eliminated.Abraham Lincoln vs Magnum T.A.There is no intermission, as the bell quickly sounds, signaling the start of this final fall. A high dropkick sends the former President over the top, crashing out hard to the arena floor. In a show of sportsmanship, T.A. does not pursue, allowing Lincoln to regain his bearings as he crawls back in. Once back in the ring, BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX...1,2,FOOT ON THE ROPES! Magnum then pulls Abe to the center of the ring and locks in an abdominal stretch, but the resilient Lincoln refuses to tap. Magnum signals...BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX AGAIN...1,2,3!
After the match, Magnum helps Abe to his feet, and raises his hand in a show of respect. As if on cue, a local boyscout troop, special ringside guests of the promotion, then enter the ring, with the American flag in tow. Magnum lifts the flag high in the air, the audience breaks out into a seemingly spontaneous yet very loud USA chant, as Abe is captured on camera giving a salute to Old Glory. Fade to black! Booking The Honest OneA fun event overall. The tag elimination part rolled out smoothly. In the early stages, Abe was getting his ass handed to him by both Snow & Konnan. The magic of the digital dice eventually worked in his favor, allowing him to tag Magnum. Once in, T.A. took charge like a boss. When a card is on LD3, with fatigue rising and the opponent riding a wave of momentum, that's when you fully appreciate the value of having a down - 3 tag. Facing adversity, a wrestler equipped with the Hail Mary possibility of an escape from near defeat is so much better positioned than someone without it. For Al Snow, in his hour of darkness, the desperation defensive tag option wasn't there, and his fate, was to stare up at the ring lights!
The Tirion Triple Threat Match (reviewed below) was interesting. I'm not too big on this as a regular feature, but used once in a while I think it can be a good avenue to explore. I played this one elimination style (ie. Three Way Dance). To build an incentive into why it would be advantageous for a wrestler to make every conceivable effort to try to score the first elimination, I was going to give that person a 'get out of prison' fall, where they would have to lose double jeopardy style going into the one on one match. Otherwise, you have a Prisoner's dilemma, where the easiest way out for all involved is to just let the other two wear each other down. As things worked out, it wasn't a factor in the finish. Magnum went into beast mode, and took both falls home with authority.Tirion Triple Threat Match: The ChartThis is a five tier 1d6 chart with eighteen possible outcomes. Is triggered at the start of a match, in substitute of regular chart use, and when a wrestler rolls his pin. Can accommodate either a three way or Triple Threat tag match.
This is among the most multifaceted of the FG officially released charts. The match starts with a mandatory roll on the Brawl Chart. Subsequently, an odd/even 1d6 roll determines whether or not the regular charts are used, or the TTT charts takeover. A nice touch is the Tirion Pin Chart, which if triggered creates an automatic pin save with the third man taking over on various levels of offense. The original intent was for this to mimic WWF/E style of Triple Threat rules, where the first wrestler who scores a pin/submission wins outright. An elimination style match (where the first fall triggers a follow up fall) can just as easily be rolled out.
I like having this in my playbook as a once in a while option. The Tirion Triple Threat Match first appeared in the Champions of the Galaxy brand GWF 2108 set. It was later featured in Ringside Companion 2112 (which as of this writing is no longer being sold). If the LOW Ringside Companion is updated in the future, I'd strongly suggest incorporating this one into in. In the interim, the easiest path for LOW players to quickly get a hold of the TTT Chart would be as a standalone, which is sold in the online store as Tirion Triple Threat Match.Triple Threat Matches: The ConceptI'm not sure where or when the very first three way style of match originated. In the U.S., there are promotional results that show odd lot singles and tag matches dating as far back as the 1950s. The carnivals may have run them even way before then. Yet after a long slumber on the mainstream circuit, the early '90s brought the concept back into the spotlight. In early '93, Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer touted Jim Cornette as he began booking 'elimination street fight' three way (and four way) tag matches in Smokey Mountain Wrestling. In early '94, the Tod Gordon owned/Paul Heyman booked Eastern Championship Wrestling followed suit with the Three Way Dance singles format. WCW debuted the first of several versions of their Triangle match in late '94, while the WWF first began showcasing what they called Triple Threat matches at house shows in early '96. Among the various three way match concepts, there was variety in terms rules and formatting (ie. round robin/with one wrestler isolated in waiting, all wrestlers in at the same time, two men legal with a tag out trigger, pin saves triggering a DQ, elimination style finish, one fall to a finish, etc) yet the general idea was consistent: a set of three wrestlers/teams competing against each other under a single system. Today the idea is ubiquitous. Luckily, the Tirion Triple Threat Match Chart is open ended enough to accommodate all of the listed scenarios (and others you can probably invent on your own).
From a fan perspective, my all time favorite version was from EMLL circa 12/6/96 (El Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy 12/6/96, linked below). This was an inverted triangle of consequences, three tiers of matches with-in a single format. The first fall was a standard three way, the second fall, the loser of the first fall sat and the other two had a one on one. The final fall was a one on one between the two men who had each dropped a previous fall, with both men carrying a high end (ie. mask vs hair) match losing stipulation on their backs. Very comprehensive storytelling that's fun to try to replicate with the dice. For novelty sake, two other early 90s three way matches that may be worth tracking down would be i. the Cornette booked Morton & Gibson/Lane & Prichard/Fuller & Golden 'street fights' from SMW circa March/April '93 (not the highest quality wise, but fan cam exists) and ii. Pat Patterson's attempt at the idea with the first ever WWF Triple Threat (Bret Hart vs Undertaker vs Diesel) from the 2/20/96 Superstars taping.Different Styles of Three Way Match:Shane Douglas vs Terry Funk vs Sabu 2/5/94 (Three Way Dance)Goldust vs Owen Hart vs Triple H 6/23/97 (Triple Threat)Sting vs Vader vs Guardian Angel 9/18/94 (Triangular Match: Man In Waiting)Ric Flair vs Sting vs Lex Luger 12/27/95 (Triangle Match: Tag In/Out Version)www.dailymotion.com/video/x3anb1_sting-vs-ric-flair-vs-lex-luger-tri_sportwww.dailymotion.com/video/x3anhl_sting-vs-ric-flair-vs-lex-luger-tri_sportEl Hijo del Santo vs Negro Casas vs El Dandy 12/6/96 (Layered Consequences: Mask vs Hair vs Hair)Al Snow: The ManThe role of Al Snow is played by Allen Sarven. A longtime journeyman, Sarven broke into the business through Jim Lancaster, debuting in May 1982. By the mid 90s he had gained a reputation as an underrated talent, and was signed to the WWF in '95. There he worked at mid-card level for two years under the names Shinobi, Avatar and Leif Cassidy. Sarven's career seemed to be rejuvenated after a brief stint in Paul Heyman's ECW promotion, where he was pushed as Al Snow, with a mannequin head used as his prop. Not long after, Al Snow returned to the WWF and enjoyed a decade long run as an on air talent and off screen as a trainer. He remains a semi-active presence on the Indy scene, currently working for Dixie Carter's TNA Wrestling as an agent and developmental trainer.
From a fan perspective, I was never big on Al Snow. He is competent in the ring, but I never viewed him as spectacular. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the Heyman booked Al Snow/Head gimmick, but it was a fad, and he never really evolved beyond it. To his credit, the persistence and hard work eventually landed him a place in WWE as a reliable hand and loyal company man. In a very difficult industry, where many wash out worse off than where they started, Al carved out a respectable career.Al Snow vs Chris Benoit 2/4/95Avatar vs Isaac Yankem 2/3/96Shinobi vs Shawn Michaels 2/24/96Leif Cassidy vs Ahmed Johnson 8/3/97 Al Snow vs Roadkill 1/14/98Al Snow vs Shane Douglas 5/3/98Al Snow vs Road Dogg 1/4/99Al Snow Self-hardcore matchAl Snow: The CardHeight: 6'0 Weight: 235 lbs. Lima, OH At a Rahl of 26 (30), Al Snow comes in a bit stronger than I personally would have scored him. His L20 is handicap free, and his L30 carries a generous move - 3 Add 1 DQ. A lower tier static potency finisher rounds out an offense that surprisingly nets 13 points. Defensively, his L1D and LD2 are respectable, and he clocks in with only two total down - 3 designations. With reasonable tag skills, his L30 PIN 7 (4) and lower tier attributes bring him a bit back down to earth. All told, Al has the stats to overachieve against some of the sports more successful stars. Konnan: The ManThe role of Konnan was played by the Cuban born Carlos Moises aka Charles Ashenoff. Carlos and his family immigrated to Miami when he was a young. While growing up in what was said to be a challenging environment, he was arrested for being involved in gang violence. In an attempt to escape a poor life path, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years. A bodybuilder and boxer, upon returning to life as a civilian, he was recruited into the world of Mexican wrestling by John Roberts, training under Rey Misterio Sr. with a debut in 1986. As the masked Konnan El Barbaro, he became a huge superstar in EMLL, enjoying a run that lasted into the early 90s. Then without the mask, under the name Konnan, his popularity reached an even higher level in the AAA promotion, where he was a mainstream celebrity during the 1992-96 boom period. An enterprising businessman, Carlos had stints in the U.S. market, where he would prove to be an enterprising businessman, both inside and outside the ring. Using the dynamic of the flourishing popularity of lucha libre, mixed with his connections to non-English speaking Mexican talent, he used access and language barriers to his advantage, acting as a go-between in the recruitment of new talent. The appearance of WCW Nitro era wrestlers such as Rey Misterio Jr., Psicosis, La Parka, Juventud Guerra, etc was made possible by his assistance. After the end of WCW, Konnan transitioned between American and Mexican promotions. His health problems came to the forefront a few years ago, with public pleas seeking donations to assist with his medical expenses.
From a fan perspective, my views on Konnan are mixed. His early work when under the mask is worth tracking down. He had standout presence, strong mic skills and was super over with the audience. He was never a technical lucha marvel, but had an excellent grasp on ring psychology and connected with the audience. Any discussion of the top drawing wrestlers in Mexican wrestling over the last 30 years has to include his name. His later work in the U.S. was lazier, partly due to nagging injuries. Any attempt to assess his legacy has to include his role in helping to bring top level Mexican lucha talent into the U.S. market. Without hyperbole, his career made an impact on multiple levels.Konnan Vs Perro Aguayo (Mascara vs Cabellera) 3/22/91Konnan VS El Cobarde 7/4/92 (Cabellera vs Cabellera)Max Moon vs Duane Gill 9/1/92Konnan vs Cien Caras (Carrera vs Carrera) 4/30/93Konnan vs Jake Roberts 'Cabellera vs Cabellera' 5/27/94Konnan vs La Parka 5/25/98 Konnan vs Vampiro 7/19/99Konnan: The CardHeight: 5' 10 Weight: 250 lbs. Miami, FLArriba la raza! Konnan comes in at the lower end of LOW cards. A weak L1O & L2O collectively net only 5 points, yet a static potency finisher bumps him up a bit to 11 total points on offense. Defensively, he begins sliding off a cliff on L2D & L3D, with three total down - 3 designations and a lowly PIN 7 (4). Average man attributes connect with a surprising level of tag proficiency, as the man from Miami may find his calling if booked as part of a team.Magnum T.A.: The ManThe role of Magnum T.A. was played by Terry Allen. With a background in high school and collegiate wrestling, the 18 year old trained under Pete Robinson, debuting in 1977. After a few years of struggle, Terry received a push in Bill Watts Mid South promotion in '84 under the name Magnum T.A. A good looking youngster, he was pushed as a face, and quickly rose to the top of the card. His big break came when he signed later that year with the NWA's hottest territory, Jim Crockett Promotions. Booker Dusty Rhodes was a big believer in his potential as a future headliner, protecting him on television in short matches, and positioning him in the U.S. title picture. As either a champion or challenger, Magnum worked programs second from the top with Wahoo McDaniel, Kamala, Tully Blanchard and Nikita Koloff. Tragedy struck on October 14, 1986, when a car accident left the 27 year old superstar paralyzed on the right side of his body.
From a fan perspective, I was fortunate enough to see Magnum T.A. during his peak. He had the look of a superstar, good athleticism and an intense promo style. When I first learned of his accident, I was too young to fully understand that this man's career was over. I thought that in time he would recover or some type of future angle would lead to his return. Had things been different, there's no telling what he may have achieved. JCP obviously held him in high regard, and he could have easily been a major player in the WWF. For a man who was told he would never walk again, it's a testament to his strength of character that he found a way to go on, rehabilitating his health and living a successful life away from the spotlight. Terry Allen vs Nick Bockwinkel 1981Magnum T.A. vs Hacksaw Butch Reed 10/13/83Magnum T.A. vs Ric Flair 1985Magnum T.A. vs Tully Blanchard 11/28/85 (Steel Cage/I Quit)Magnum T.A. vs Nikita Koloff 8/17/86Magnum T.A.: The CardHeight: 6'3 Weight: 244 lbs. Chesapeake, VAA well balanced card, Magnum T.A. sports a high end L20 and a deadly +3 static potency finisher, on the road to 15 total points on offense. Defensively his L2D nets 7 points, coupled with an elite level PIN 5 (2). T.A. finishes off with mid range tag proficiency and average attributes. At a Rahl of 33 (37), on paper he's capable of cracking the outside of a Top 10...and with the luck of the dice, the sky could very well be the limit!Going ForwardAfter yet another grueling encounter with-in the confines of the LEGENDSonline Series 1 territory, Abraham Lincoln is nearing the end of his tour. With only four wrestlers left untouched on the roster, with the finish line in sight, the Honest One will not hold back on anything. Time will soon tell, if he walks away a fool, or a king!
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Post by LWPD on Jun 3, 2012 18:21:30 GMT -5
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts."-Abraham LincolnHonest Effort: The Trials of LincolnCreativeThe end is near, as Abraham Lincoln rounds the corner on the final four matches of his tour of LEGENDSonline Series 1. This time he goes back to the days of the Golden Age, a time when competitive sport-style matches took place at theaters and opera houses, as he takes on the Russian Lion George Hackenschmidt, in a Coliseum Death Match!LEGENDSonline Series 1 Tour: Match 11
Abraham Lincoln vs George Hackenschmidt 'Coliseum Death Match'Play by PlayBefore the match, Abe and Hack meet center ring, and shake hands in sportsman-like manner. At the bell, we are underway. Hackenschmidt quickly locks in a standing half nelson, but Lincoln deftly counters with a go behind and takedown. Abe whips Hack into the ropes, and connects with a running forearm smash. A double leg takedown attempt sees Hack counter with an over-under. Hack then rides with a standing switch and takedown. A picture perfect suplex takes its toll. Momentum continues to swing back and forth as both men put on a scientific clinic. A whip into the ropes sees Abe connect with a hard running knee lift to the head. Feeling confident, Lincoln again sends Hack into the ropes, but this time it sets up a simultaneous clothesline spots, leaving both men down and counting pink elephants. Hackenschmidt regains his feet first with a kneeling kip-up, and follows up with RUSSIAN BEAR HUG. Lincoln's energy is clearly sapped, but he refuses to tap. With Abe clutching his ribs in pain, Hack then floats over and locks in a keylock armbar, but Abe barely makes the ropes. A second keylock causes Abe to grimace in agony, but after an extensive struggle, his foot barely drapes the lower rope, forcing a break. A rag tagged Lincoln rolls to the outside for a breather, but Hack follows like white on rice. Hack scoops Lincoln up, violently powerslaming him on the concrete floor with authority. Showing little effort, Hackenschmidt then press slams Abe back into the ring for the kill. Hack signals to the crowd, and then locks in another RUSSIAN BEAR HUG...but a resilient Lincoln somehow hovers to the ropes after an extended struggle. Like a shark who smells blood, Hack connects with a bruising knee lift, followed by a well placed back suplex. Lincoln is clearly on queer street, driven only by pride and heart. Hack falls back into a twisting heel hook, but Abe barely makes the ropes. Out of frustration, the ex-President once again rolls out of the ring, hoping to regain his composure, but Hackenschmidt remains committed to an all out attack. Hack measures Lincoln, and then plants him down hard with a single leg pick up and slam on the concrete floor. With his right arm useless after the effects of multiple keylock armbars, Abe is unable to brace the impact, landing sickeningly on the back of his head. Hack backs away out of concern, as the ref goes to check on a motionless Lincoln. The official quickly makes the 'X' hand signal as the bell rings, the Honest One is unable to continue!Booking The Honest OneIf LOW players are looking for a legit vintage era bad ass, look no further, George Hackenschmidt is the Real McCoy! Once Hack settled into L30, Abe was knocked into a cocked-hat by a non-stop relentless assault. The Russian Lion kept landing his double finishers in rhythm with the dice. As an MMA/submission fan, I really like his moveset, which is loaded with technical wrestling and real world 'hooks' from the Golden Age of yesteryear. Abe held his own for a while, but inevitably started to fade as the cumulative damage kicked in. When the action shifted to the arena floor in the final sequence, Hack hit a thunderous slam, and that's when Abe's ball completely stopped rolling. Lights out! The Coliseum Death Match is a very high impact style of match, and on this night, George Hackenschmidt played the rules like a fiddle.Coliseum Death Match: The ChartThis is a 2d6 chart, with nine possible outcomes. Singles competition only, no disqualifications or count-outs. While outside interference isn't allowed, several run-in instances are incorporated into the outcomes. Chart use is triggered in substitute of the regular out of the ring chart. Finisher and pin scenarios add tokens in substitute of rolling for a finish. Match duration is automatically capped once a wrestler reaches ten fatigue tokens, and the finish can occur either in the ring or outside of it.
The Coliseum Death Match originally appeared in the Champions of the Galaxy set, GWF Revelations 2115. In storyline, the match was introduced by a debuting wrestler named Godsend. The action was fought at a Roman-type outdoor arena called the Coliseum of Great Evil, located on the planet Brymstone. A standard wrestling ring was situated in the center of the venue, with ringside seats removed, allowing ample space for the wrestlers to brawl on the arena floor. Other than the stated origin, the chart does not contain any sci-fi elements, making it LOW-only player compatible. In action, the chart is structured to encourage a battle that stays outside the ring, with five of the nine outcomes (55.5%) outright designating a follow up re-roll on the chart. Combined with the possibility of outside interference, and a token limit cap on the finish, you have the potential for a less than clean outcome. If you are booking a program where there's an ax to grind, you want a brawling style of match, and enjoy throwing intangibles into the mix, this one may have some appeal. The CDM chart can be purchased in the online store under the title Hunter's Prey Match/Coliseum Death Match.George Hackenschmidt: The ManGeorg Hackenschmidt (no 'e') was born in Estonia on August 1, 1877. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to physical culture, developing a stand out physique and setting records in numerous feats of strength. He is said to have innovated the Hack Squat (named after him) and popularized lifts such as the Bench Press. Georg's first brush with pro wrestling occurred at the age of 19, when a traveling band of wrestlers came to his town. A novice, he was defeated in a challenge match in September of 1896, but the incident piqued his interest. Two years later, he moved to St. Petersburg and trained under the instruction of the famed Dr. Vladislav von Krajewski. Going forward, he would win a multitude of wrestling championships and tournaments throughout Europe. His tours of England saw him work opera halls, music venues and theaters, where he emerged as a mainstream celebrity. On tour of America, he was finally defeated by Frank Gotch on April 3, 1908, verbally submitting two hours into the match. A controversial rematch on September 4, 1911 saw Gotch defeat Hack once again, this time in two straight falls. It was later rumored that Gotch had capitalized on a knee injury Hack suffered in training, the result of which was said to be Gotch's people paying off one of Hack's training partners. As the reality of his knee injury persisted, Hack retired from wrestling shortly thereafter. Still a worldwide celebrity and famous figure, he turned to intellectual pursuits, authoring several books and teaching Physical Education to members of the House of Lords. He passed away on February 19, 1968 at age 90.
From a fan perspective, Georg Hackenschmidt was way before my time. Everything I know of him is second hand and highly abstract. Evidence confirms that he was a famous mainstream celebrity, who was renowned throughout the wrestling industry as a huge box office draw, and he remained a respected icon of physical culture long after retiring from pro wrestling. His style was said to be Greco-Roman based, and he was encouraged by promoters to make his matches 'more entertaining' by carrying opponents unable to be competitive on their own merits. He mastered several styles, touring the world, and his popularity created an industry boom in the British Empire at the height of its power. When you get down to brass tacks, Hackenschmidt was a remarkable figure, whose legacy has stood the test of time.Worthwhile reads: The Russian Lion By Monte Saldo Published in Superman Magazine March 1932 George Hackenschmidt: The Russian Lion By David Gentle The Way to Live in Health & Physical Fitness PDF By George HackenschmidtGeorge Hackenschmidt: The Card Height: 6'0 Weight: 230 lbs. Dorpat, Estonia At Rahl Rating of 36 (36) this vintage era legend ranks among the upper tier of LOW cards. While his L10 & L2O only net a meager 3 points, double static potency finishers push his score up to a formidable 13. Hack shines on defense, with five defensive counters, three of which are COUNTER - 2, while sporting an elite PIN 5 (2). His attributes lean toward a power attack, netting a respectable 8 points. In a sign of the times, his tag proficiency is non-existent. Note that the Russian Lion was purposely designed with the absence of a L30 deathjump designation, as during his days, it wasn't a part of the wrestling landscape.Going ForwardAbraham Lincoln has but three matches left on his LEGENDSonline Series 1 Tour. His next encounter, will not be the stuff of jokes. Yet he who laughs last, will laugh the longest!
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Post by mwjergs on Jun 3, 2012 22:02:37 GMT -5
Very entertaining stuff sir.
I was a huge fan of the NWA back in the 80's and Magnum's accident derailed a would be superstar in the sport. I give credit to the booking of Dusty Rhodes who make a Nikita Koloff face turn seem authentic and created something out of an awful situation.
I always felt that Al Snow had loads of talent but could never get settled in a gimmick to really take off. I did enjoy his work as super hyper Leif Cassidy but as most his other gimmicks it never took off. His psycho ECW character made a lot of sense and gave him a long career.
Speaking of ECW that Triple threat match - Funk vs. Douglas vs. Sabu was my first introduction to the promotion in 1994. I purchased the tape at a local Indy show and it re-energized my interest in wrestling. I felt it was shame that all most remember about ECW is ultra-violence and tasteless angles. Pick out any card from ECW during 94-95 and you'll find the template used by both WCW and WWF to freshen their products for the masses. (with some tweaks of course)
Anyway. Keep the Trials of Lincoln coming.
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Post by LWPD on Jun 4, 2012 19:08:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words mwjergs I was a huge fan of the NWA back in the 80's and Magnum's accident derailed a would be superstar in the sport. I give credit to the booking of Dusty Rhodes who make a Nikita Koloff face turn seem authentic and created something out of an awful situation. Born out of tragedy, the impromptu formation of the Superpowers was an example of Dusty booking at his best. The very creation of the 'Russian Nightmare' Nikita Koloff (a great character, born of a green talent) was itself a case of mastering the art of smoke and mirrors. To then turn the hated athlete from the USSR, into a man with complex political ideals, who was so moved out of respect for Magnum's accident, that he dedicated his career to his fallen American adversary, was heavy stuff for the time. For a while, Stardust seemed to have the Midas touch in monetizing the potential of young talent. JCP drew a ton of money in the mid to late 80s, if only they didn't spend more than they took in. A look back at Nikita's face turn. No flips or flops required. Simple stuff done well, generating strong crowd reactions, and ultimately leading to follow up shows that drew well at the gate! Dusty & Nikita Promo After Magnum T.A.'s Accident:Speaking of ECW that Triple threat match - Funk vs. Douglas vs. Sabu was my first introduction to the promotion in 1994. I purchased the tape at a local Indy show and it re-energized my interest in wrestling. I felt it was shame that all most remember about ECW is ultra-violence and tasteless angles. Pick out any card from ECW during 94-95 and you'll find the template used by both WCW and WWF to freshen their products for the masses. (with some tweaks of course) I agree wholeheartedly. Tod Gordon is a promoter who doesn't get the credit he deserves. Looking back, he truly helped to reinvigorate the business. I remember when Eastern Championship Wrestling used to run bars filled with 80 people at most. Yet only a few years later, he was successfully running on PPV. Gordon was a risk taker, who brought in talent that worked different styles of wrestling, and hired 'outside the box' thinkers like Eddie Gilbert and Paul Heyman to run creative. As the product became 'extreme', there was a complex underlying substance that created a cult-following. When Paul bought out the promotion from Tod, he took Gordon's concepts to another level. There are areas where the product and style of ECW can be fairly critiqued, but its influence on mainstream wrestling is undeniable.
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Post by LWPD on Jun 10, 2012 18:06:15 GMT -5
"My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure."-Abraham LincolnHonest Effort: The Trials of LincolnCreativeAbraham Lincoln has faced many interesting challenges up to this point, but perhaps none were as cunning and devious as his next opponent. Read along as The Honest One goes one on one with The Sensational Intelligent Destroyer, in the bizarre Hunter's Prey Match!LEGENDSonline Series 1 Tour: Match 12
Abraham Lincoln vs The Destroyer 'Hunter's Prey Match'Play by PlayAt the bell, Lincoln goes to work with some sweet science. A well executed double chicken wing and front facelock leaves The Destroyer shaking his head. With a hard whip into the ropes, Abe connects with a powerful shoulder block, leaving the masked man rattled. Riding a wave of momentum, the Honest One hits a waistlock takedown, followed by a Lincolncanrana, sending The Destroyer flopping over the top rope and onto the far left side of the safari net. As Lincoln rolls outside, The Destroyer deftly catapults him headfirst into the steel post. When the cobwebs clear, Abe rolls back inside, but The Destroyer greets him with a well timed deathjump falling elbow. A resilient Lincoln quickly counters an eye poke with a fantastic headlock throw, causing The Destroyer to stumble to the outside, but he luckily braces himself before falling into the center of the net. Back inside, a Lincoln arm bar hold down sees The Destroyer struggle to make the ropes. Abe connects with a spinning leg lariat, that once again causes The Destroyer to stumble ass over tea kettle to the outside, but he somehow regains his senses on the apron. Back inside, a grinding hammerlock takes its toll, but The Destroyer struggles into another forced break. Feeling his oats, The Honest One signals...THROAT LIFT SLAM...The Destroyer is rolled out of the ring and onto the safari net. Lincoln then hits an apron dive that sees both men roll toward the center of the net, barely escaping the trap in the middle. Ever so carefully, they brawl their way back into the ring. The Destroyer counters a hard charging Lincoln with a rope drop clothesline, and then follows up with a brutal single leg Boston crab. A Bombs Away then takes its toll on the ex-President. The Destroyer then jawbones with the ref, before going back to work with a series of handstand kneedrops. A whip into the turnbuckle is reversed by Abe who follows up with a powerful clothesline that leaves the masked man laying. The Honest One again goes to work with a hammerlock, as The Destroyer seems to have lost utility in his right arm. Smelling blood, Abe dumps The Destroyer over the top rope and into the safari net. The Destroyer lays motionless just outside of the middle for several moments, prompting Abe to roll to the outside to retrieve his fallen opponent...who it turns out was playing possum! In one fell swoop, The Destroyer pulls Abe into the center of the net while maneuvering himself to safety, the trap is instantly triggered as Abraham Lincoln is lifted high above the rafters, his body hanging upside inside the safari net. The Destroyer gets the duke!Booking The Honest OneThis was certainly unique. I don't know if he was sick, dealing with personal issues or perhaps nursing a stealth injury, but The Destroyer was off for most of this one. To his credit, Abe was on his game early and often. That said, the rules of the Hunter's Prey Match never seem to work to Lincoln's advantage. In the end, they did him in outright. Due to the chart being formatted as self determining, a wrestler who would normally be able to capitalize on pin/submission attempts, can instead be held to a standstill. Such was Abe's fate. The luck of the digital dice saw Abe landing on outcomes dictating re-rolls on L30, instead of rolling for a finish. As fate would have it, The Destroyer, who struggled for most of this match, hit a counter into a roll for finish on the HPM Chart, and then wound up hitting the pay window. A heartbreaking loss for the Honest One, who was hoisted high above the arena, upside down, inside a safari net. Strange days indeed! Nobody told me there'd be days like these Strange days indeed-John Lennon 'Nobody Told Me'Hunter's Prey Match: The ChartThis is a 2d6 chart with seven possible outcomes. No disqualifications, count outs or outside interference. Can accommodate both singles and tag matches. Use is triggered in place of rolling for pin/submissions, and in substitute of all out of the ring scenarios. The chart alone determines the finish.
This match was originally introduced in the Champions of the Galaxy set, GWF Revelations 2115. A veteran wrestler named The Bounty Hunter used this as a measure of whether or not an aspiring recruit was worthy of joining his team, Thrill of the Chase. It was also used in special challenge matches against a rival faction called The AniMen. The format has safari nets spread across all four corners of the outside of the ring, with attachments that ascend to the ceiling of the arena. The objective is to knock the opponent into the center of the net, which will then spring a trap, enclosing the opponent, and lifting him high up into the air like a captured animal. There are no sci-fi elements listed in the outcomes, making this LOW-player friendly. The concept is a bit wacky with outcomes that are largely focused on the payoff of the gimmick, which in the end leads to a spectacular visual. If you want something out of the ordinary, with a finish that's not normally seen, this may be a good add to your booking playbook. The HPM Chart is available as a standalone purchase under the title Hunter's Prey Match/Coliseum Death Match.The Destroyer: The ManThe role of The Destroyer was played by Dick Beyer. A college football player and wrestler at Syracuse University, Beyer earned a Masters Degree in Education, before entering the business in 1953. Originally performing without the mask , from 53-61, Beyer split his time between wrestling in the Syracuse/Buffalo area, working as an assistant coach for the SU football team and fulfilling Army Reserve duty. In 1962, promoter Jules Strongbow of the Los Angeles based WWA promotion booked Beyer to turn heel, giving birth to the masked The Destroyer gimmick. Using the figure four leglock as a finisher, his career ascended to new heights. In Japan, he became a top level star. In the Minneapolis area, he would maintain use of the mask, but be billed as Dr. X. Doing this permitted him to work programs where he would ultimately have his mask removed, while still protecting his identity under The Destroyer moniker. When Giant Baba created the upstart All Japan promotion, he signed The Destroyer to a six year exclusive running from '73-9. The Destroyer was booked as the perennial PWF United States Champion, in addition to becoming a late night television personality. Beyer slowly transitioned into semi-retirement by '84 and hung up the boots for good in '93.
From a fan perspective, while his prime era work as Dr. X and main event runs in the WWA are largely lost to time, a surprising amount of Beyer's matches in All Japan remain preserved and accessible. From what I have been fortunate enough to see, he was an outstanding performer. The Destroyer mixed comedy with athleticism, was a master ring general who could adapt to the preferences of crowds around the world. As a face, heel or somewhat in between, he produced unique matches with all different styles of wrestlers. Included in the links below is a classic with Rikidozan (2/2/63), two from his series with Mil Mascaras (4/17/74) & (3/11/77), and a compare & contrast with Shoei 'Giant' Baba, first as a JWA headliner (3/5/69) and later as the main event/owner of All Japan (11/12/72). My other 'must see' recommendations for hardcore fans of The Destroyer include bouts with Toyonobori (2/26/65), Antonio Inoki (5/19/71) and Mil (10/09/73). Ironically, because Japan did a much better job of preserving its wrestling content from the 60s-70s, American fans who make an effort are more likely to come across the work of The Destroyer, than they are to find the matches of other stars from the era who wrestled right here in the U.S.Dick Beyer vs Bob Stanley 1957The Destroyer vs Rikidozan 2/2/63Dr. X vs Verne Gagne 8/31/68The Destroyer vs Giant Baba 3/5/69The Destroyer vs Giant Baba 11/12/72The Destroyer vs Mil Mascaras 4/17/74The Destroyer vs Abdullah The Butcher 4/27/74The Destroyer vs Great Kusatsu 12/9/75The Destroyer vs Mil Mascaras 3/11/77The Destroyer vs Gino Brito 4/81The Destroyer: The CardHeight: 5'10 Weight: 230 lbs. Parts Unknown At a Rahl Rating of 33 (37) the masked man from Parts Unknown clocks in amid the upper range of LOW cards. A master ring general, The Destroyer is handicap free on L1O & L2O, and then steps up his game on L30, with a move - 3 add 1 and static potency finisher, netting 11 total points. His defense sports a total of four reversals, two designated as COUNTER - 2, along with an elite PIN 5 (2). His attributes rack up an impressive 9 points, and a small helping of tag proficiency yields versatility. All told, The Destroyer should prove to be a formidable challenge to opponents at all levels. Going ForwardAll but two matches remain on schedule as Abraham Lincoln's tour of the LEGENDSonline Series 1 territory grinds toward a close. Until next time...
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Post by LWPD on Jun 17, 2012 18:04:34 GMT -5
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy."
-Abraham LincolnHonest Effort: The Trials of LincolnCreativeLike the last remaining grains of sand in an hour glass, Abraham Lincoln's time in the LEGENDSonline 1 Series Territory is nearing its end. Coming off a heart breaking & somewhat humiliating loss, where he ended up trapped inside a safari net, hanging upside down from high above from the rafters of a nameless arena, The Honest One now prepares to meet a wrestler modeled after a Japanese children's animation character, the Original Tiger Mask. The question of the day: Can Abe bounce back, bear down and get the job done?LEGENDSonline Series 1 Tour: Match 13
Abraham Lincoln vs Tiger MaskPlay by PlayBefore the match, Lincoln & Tiger Mask shake hands center ring, drawing a standing ovation from a friendly crowd. At the bell, we are underway. Collar and elbow, Abe goes for a front facelock, but the lightning quick masked man counters. Ever resourceful, Abe slips out of a body slam and counter with a waistlock takedown. A whip into the ropes sees TM cartwheel away from a back body drop attempt, connecting with a swift kick to Abe's head. TM then hits a crowd pleasing jumping spin kick that baffles the Honest One. The camera pans as mask gimmick merch wearing children cheer a rolling senton splash. TM signals...TIGER SUPLEX...1,2, NO! Tiger Mask climbs to the top rope, but Abe meets him on the top turnbuckle, a struggle ensues, with Lincoln gaining momentum and then lays the hammer down with a thunderous top rope superplex. Abe wastes no time...THROAT LIFT SLAM...1,2,3! Lincoln scores the duke!Booking The Honest OneAfter a string of tough outings, lady luck finally smiled once again on the dapper ex-President. The action started fast and furious, with an exchange of quick counters and reversals leading to a stalemate. A quick word of friendly advice to LEGENDSonline players using Tiger Mask, to access his special alternate 2d6 out of the ring chart, click the 'Stats' column on the far left of his Game Table card. The mechanic is listed as part of his card, but has to be rolled apart form the regular 'Ring' feature. As things turned out, the chart wasn't a factor here. What did make a strong impression, was the weakness inherent in TM's low potency finisher (0). It capped his offensive rally with a whimper. Abe somehow thwarted Sayama's deathjump attempt, and then took it home early with a finisher of his own! Tiger Mask: The ManThe role of the original Tiger Mask was played by Satoru Sayama. With a prior background in Judo, the erstwhile Sayama debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling at age 19 in May '76. Trained by the legendary Karl Gotch and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, there was an underlying intensity to his approach in the ring. While a standout athlete, Sayama's prospects were initially limited by his diminutive size. As was standard with NJPW's approach to developing young talent, the promotion sent him overseas to gain experience abroad. After successfully working tours of the UK and Mexico, a now seasoned Sayama was brought back to New Japan in '81. He was selected to work a masked gimmick based on an anime character called Tiger Mask. From the get-go, the character proved popular with children, and his work rate impressed even the harshest of critics, who were resistant to the gimmick but lauded his performances in the ring. Wrestling at a fast athletic pace with lighter competitors, he helped to revolutionize the junior heavyweight division. His tours of the US as a special attraction were vaunted, and he would go on to win versions of both the NWA and WWWF World Junior Heavyweight titles simultaneously. While still at the top of his game, a combination of injuries and politics caused Sayama to sour on the wrestling business, leading him to retire from the sport (and permanently from the role of Tiger Mask) in August '83.
From a fan perspective, I consider the viewing of the Original Tiger Mask's body of work a 'must' for those who enjoy studying the evolution of the sport. His early matches in Mexico can be difficult to track down, but preserved footage from his time in World of Sport (as Sammy Lee, a 'cousin' of Bruce Lee) and his NJPW are abundant. In many ways he was well ahead of his time, combining the acrobatics of lucha libre, with simulated martial arts strikes and solid submission work. Linked below from his series with Dynamite Kid is the debut of the TM gimmick (5/1/81) along with a highly acclaimed match circa 4/23/83. Other matches with top flight talents such as Bret Hart, Jim Breaks, Black Tiger and Fishman help to further illustrate just how deep and diverse his talents stood. As it doesn't relate to the LOW card, I won't touch too deeply on Sayama's career after retiring the Tiger Mask gimmick, but needless to say he was a pivotal figure, at times controversial, who made a lasting impact on the industry.Sammy Lee vs Sid Cooper 10/11/80Sammy Lee vs Johnny England 2/14/81Tiger Mask vs Dynamite Kid 5/1/81 Sammy Lee vs Jim Breaks 7/15/81Tiger Mask vs Halcon 78 1/15/82Tiger Mask vs Bret Hart 7/30/82Tiger Mask vs Chris Adams 9/17/82Tiger Mask vs Les Thornton 10/22/82Tiger Mask vs Black Tiger 2/7/83Tiger Mask vs Dynamite Kid 4/23/83Tiger Mask vs Fishman 6/12/83Tiger Mask: The CardHeight: 5'7 Weight: 210 lbs. Yamaguchi, Japan At a Rahl Rating of 26 (29), Tiger Mask scores arguably on the low side given his legacy. His offense clocks in at 10 total points, including an L30 that carries a zero potency static finisher. Included on his out of the ring designation is an optional 2d6 chart with five staggered outcomes. His defense suffers from the dreaded L2D down - 3 listing, netting 7 points in total. Rounding things out, TM is attribute rich in terms of agility (included a very rare -5), weak on power (+2) and brings forth a touch of tag proficiency. As things stand, this junior heavyweight legend may need a bit of help from the dice to find the pay window.
*Note that in the cardstock version of LOW titled Legends International, alternate bold stats are included for a higher level Tiger Mask, intended for use in Junior Heavyweight competition. Hopefully this different version will be made available to LEGENDSonline players in a future update. In the interim, that card scores as follows:At a Rahl Rating of 41 (44), this is more in line with Sayama's legacy. Offensive changes net 15 total points, including an additional 'move - 3' designation on L20, and an upgraded finisher potency (from 0 to +3). Defensively the card clocks in at a strong 15 points off of an additional 'COUNTER - 1', the absence of a L2D 'down - 3' and an upgraded pin (from 6 (3) to 4 (1)). His attributes also gain a slight upgrade, while tag proficiency remains the same. Hopefully this alternate version of TM makes its way to the Game Table with the next LEGENDSonline update.Going ForwardThe Alpha and Omega, all things that begin, must eventually come to an end. So it is with Abraham Lincoln's time in LEGENDSonline Series 1. Join us next time in our season finale, as The Honest One challenges the sole remaining member of the Bobby Heenan Family, Harley Race, in his territorial swan song!
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Post by TTX on Jun 17, 2012 20:15:14 GMT -5
Nice to see Honest Abe picking up another win. I don't think he'll beat Race but I've enjoyed the bookings.
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Post by LWPD on Jun 18, 2012 19:30:07 GMT -5
Nice to see Honest Abe picking up another win. I don't think he'll beat Race but I've enjoyed the bookings. I'm looking forward to reviewing Harley Race (The Man and The Card) in the season finale. One of my all time favorites!
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