Classic Wrestling Alliance

[Deleted]

May 1, 2089

Sparks. Lasers. Smoke. Explosions. Pulsing lyrics...

We don’t have to take this, back against the wall...
We don’t have to take this, we can end it all...
All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully...

Another sellout crowd filled the Kezar Pavillion in San Francisco, California. The fans in attendance were restless, as they knew the opening round of GM Teddy Long's "Make-a-Wish Tournament" would take place, but no one knew who would be competing or who they would be facing: not even the wrestlers, themselves.

Gary Michael Cappetta and referee Joey Marella came down to the ring first, and while they exchanged pleasantries, Pomp and Circumstance began to play from the Pavillion's loudspeakers. The crowd booed, as neither man who used that music was a particular favorite, but they really turned on the vitriol when Gorgeous George and Cherie Dupré emerged from the back and made their way down the aisle. As Cappetta announced George, the Gorgeous one grabbed the microphone and demanded to know who his opponent would be. In answer, the classic Snake Bit erupted from the sound system and Jake Roberts, with a writhing burlap sack over his shoulder, made his way towards the ring.


Jake "the Snake" Roberts vs. Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)
Referee: Joey Marella

George charged his hated enemy from behind while Gary Michael Cappetta was completing his introductions, but Roberts anticipated the move, ducked, and responded with a stiff right jab. The Snake continued to throw punches while George covered his face, until Cherie Dupré climbed onto the apron to instruct the official not to allow closed fists to the face. Joey Marella was having none of it, and ordered her off the apron, but the distraction allowed Gorgeous George to rake Roberts' eyes and take him down with an airplane spin.

George began to work over Roberts' knee, setting him up for a figure four leg lock and then a SPINNING TOE HOLD, but the Snake refused to submit. He fought his way to the ropes, and while the referee separated the two combatants, Roberts scored with a kick to the midsection. He set George up for a DDT, but his flamboyant opponent held onto the ropes and Roberts crashed to the mat, instead.

As the match drew to a close, both men began pouring on the offense, but neither was able to sustain an advantage. Things began to look bleak for the Snake when he charged into the corner with a running knee lift, but George dropped out of the way and Roberts' knee hit the turnbuckle. George rolled out to the floor, grabbed his opponent's leg, and wrapped it violently around the ringpost before rolling back into the ring and clamping on a figure four leg lock. The Snake was in big trouble, and when the bell sounded, George raised his hands in victory, only to have referee Joey Marella grab his wrist and pull his hand down, as Jake never submitted.

NO WINNER: Time Limit Draw (15:00) ***


In-Ring Promo: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase

DiBiase's familiar theme music drew jeers from the crowd as he made his way down the aisle, climbed up the stairs and stepped between the ropes, then held out his hand for Gary Michael Cappetta's microphone. When the ring announcer surrendered it, The Million Dollar Man began complaining that the "Shadow Authority" was playing games again, putting together this tournament and keeping the details from everyone--even him! But he did not get much further than that before...

You know it’s the MacMilitant…
Coming to get it on…

GM Teddy Long came out from the gorilla position with his own microphone in hand, and he told the technical crew to cut DiBiase's mike. He told the Million Dollar Man that he had no idea what he was talking about--there was only one authority he needed to worry about, and that was him: "Genie" Teddy Long (playa). He also told DiBiase that he understood everyone was upset that they didn't know who they would be facing in the tournament, but he was prepared to end the Million Dollar Man's suspense right now. DiBiase shouted, "Who is it?" Then his shoulders slumped and he tugged at his $400 haircut as Lou Thesz emerged from the back, making his return to the CWA.


Lou Thesz vs. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Referee: Tommy Young

Each competitor showed why he is considered one of the best in the business, as they put on an absolute clinic in the first three minutes of the contest, exchanging holds and counter holds nonstop and drawing a rousing ovation from the capacity crowd. The end came somewhat abruptly when Thesz reversed a waistlock by DiBiase into a German suplex, dropping the Million Dollar Man on his head and neck. DiBiase never recovered after that; he put up a token defense against a couple European forearms but a quick flying head scissors put him down for the count.

WINNER: Lou Thesz via pinfall (5:10) ½


Hulk Hogan vs. "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka
Referee: Morgan Dollar

Hogan took the fight to Superfly early, beating him from pillar to post, and tossing him from turnbuckle to turnbuckle like he was a rag doll. The Hulkster tried to put Snuka away with a piledriver, but he hadn't counted on the Islander's hard head; Superfly sprung right up and got in Hogan's face, only to get taken down again with a huge overhand right. Hogan hit two more piledrivers, but was unable to put Snuka away; in fact, Superfly seemed to be laughing. Frustrated, Hogan went for a clothesline, but Snuka ducked under it and countered with a power slam when the Hulkster came off the ropes.

A backbreaker put Hogan down for a two-count, then Superfly climbed to the top rope and flew, drilling his head into Hogan's as the Hulkster lay helpless on the mat. This proved to be a tactical mistake: Hogan jumped to his feet immediately, shaking his fists and feeding off the cheers of the audience (as much as a hologram feeds off of anything). He leveled Snuka with a punch, then another...then Snuka reached up and raked Hogan's eyes, quenching his momentum. Superfly hit a piledriver of his own, then a knee drop across Hogan's throat before finally climbing to the top rope and hitting his SUPERFLY LEAP as time was running out. Dollar's hand hit the mat once, twice, and just as he was about to count three, Hogan's shoulder rolled off the mat and the bell sounded. Chaos reigned as Snuka was sure he had just pinned Hulk Hogan, but Morgan Dollar conferred with Gary Michael Cappetta, who announced that the match was, in fact, a time limit draw.

NO WINNER: Time Limit Draw (15:00) *½


Rob Van Dam vs. "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig (with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan)
Referee: Earl Hebner

Hennig took a quick advantage with a hip toss, then a dropkick that sent RVD tumbling through the ropes and to the arena floor. Mr. Perfect followed his opponent out of the ring and the two exchanged blows until Earl Hebner had reached a count of eight. Hennig rolled back into the ring, but when Van Dam climbed onto the apron, Bobby Heenan grabbed his ankle and pulled him to the floor. RVD's face hit the ring apron, dazing him, and the official counted nine and ten.

WINNER: "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig via count out (2:49) ½


Non-Title Match: CWA Holovision Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Referee: Joey Marella

The Holovision Champion took an early advantage with a slap in the face and a side headlock, but both just seemed to irritate the Warrior, who began running in place and pumping his fists, even while Savage had him securely in the headlock. Warrior grabbed Savage around the waist and lifted him up for an atomic drop which left the champ in big trouble. A barrage of clotheslines and a shoulder block followed, and Savage bailed to the floor.

Warrior reached between the ropes to haul him back into the ring, but Savage grabbed his head and dropped down, snapping his opponent's neck on the second rope. The Holovision Champion quickly ascended to the top rope, but Warrior was only dazed and met him on the top turnbuckle, taking him down with a huge superplex. Savage was in big trouble and he knew it, so he turned his body and quickly retrieved an international object from his trunks; with his back to referee Joey Marella, the official was none the wiser. The referee suspected nothing when Savage caught his opponent with another eye rake, then climbed to the top rope and came down with a loaded double ax handle that knocked Warrior out cold. Savage made the cover and Joey Marella made the three count.

WINNER: CWA Holovision Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage via pinfall (7:16) ½


Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat vs. The Great Muta
Referee: Dave Hebner

After the two men locked up in the center of the ring, Steamboat scored the first takedown with a deep arm drag (naturally). He pounced on Muta while the Pearl of the Orient was down, and they exchanged holds and counter holds, each vying to one-up the other. Ultimately, Steamboat was able to make it to his feet and throw a quick kick to a prone Muta's knee; Muta quickly rolled up to his feet and locked gazes with his opponent. Stalemate.

They went into the clinch, and once again, Steamboat seemed to wrestle more effectively, giving two strikes for every one he took, and eventually maneuvering Muta in an elevated double chicken wing, which the Pearl of the Orient suffered through for several seconds before managing to shift his legs, break his arms free, and turn it into a modified victory roll for two. Before the Dragon could even get off the mat, Muta drove an elbow into his heart and made another cover, this time earning two and a half.

Frustrated, Muta lifted his opponent off the canvas and tossed him over the top rope to the floor. The Pearl of the Orient launched himself over the top rope and crashed down onto the Dragon, sending them both crashing to the ground. Muta reached his feet first, just as Dave Hebner reached a count of five, and as soon as Steamboat was up to his knees, Muta spewed green mist into his eyes, blinding him completely. The Great Muta rolled casually into the ring while the Dragon flailed about on the floor and was ultimately counted out.

WINNER: The Great Muta via count out (7:24) *½


"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Referee: Earl Hebner

Duggan stood toe-to-toe with his opponent, even though everyone in attendance, including announcers Mike Tenay and Dave Prazak, knew he was overmatched. The two men locked up, and Rogers took a quick advantage with a go-behind transitioned into a picture-perfect German suplex. Feeling cocky, the Nature Boy climbed to the top rope, waited for Duggan to stagger to his feet, and flew from the turnbuckle with a beautiful cross body block...but Duggan rolled through and hooked a leg for a surprise count of one...two...and that was all.

Hacksaw quickly followed up on this moment of surprise with a running clothesline that sent Rogers tumbling over the top rope and out to the floor. As referee Earl Hebner ordered Duggan to go to a neutral corner, Rogers grabbed his opponent's ankle, tripped him to the mat, and yanked his leg under the  bottom rope so he could lift it up and slam it onto the ring apron. Again and again, Rogers performed the devastating move, leaving Duggan grabbing his knee and writhing in pain. Rogers climbed leisurely back into the ring and locked on his FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE; Hacksaw held on for as long as he could, but ultimately had to submit.

WINNER: "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers via submission (4:20) *


Non-Title Match: CWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Referee: Tommy Young

No other words for it: Ric Flair simply stole this one. After DDP worked over his arm a bit in the opening moments of the match, the Nature Boy poked a thumb into Page's eye, blinding him. While his opponent was complaining to referee Tommy Young, Flair rolled Page up with a schoolboy and put his feet on the ropes for leverage, securing a quick three-count.

WINNER: CWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair via pinfall (2:32) --


Kezar Pavillion Capacity: 4,000
Paid Attendance: SELLOUT!
Cyberlink Views: 56,606

[Deleted]

May 12, 2089 

Melanie?
Yes?
You seem distraught.
Do I?
Mmhmm.
Well, let’s see. We have an unidentified hacker running rampant through our AI protocols, an AI General Manager which is completely out of control—
I wouldn’t say it’s—
It booked our entire last show with zero input from us!
So…that’s a yes to distraught.
You think?
Do you want to run a—

You know it’s the MacMilitant…
Coming to get it on…

What was that?
Umm…
What? What “umm?”
Teddy Long is on his way to the ring.
What? We haven’t even… Dammit! Who cued the music?
Let me check… Huh, it looks like—
If you say System ID 00000000, I’ll kill you.
Oh. Well, it definitely wasn’t him, then.
God, what next? Alright…start the show. Launch the Cybernet simulcast. We’re live, now!


In-Ring Promo: General Manager Teddy Long

As his theme music played through the Pavilion’s sound system, Teddy Long shuffled his way down the aisle, dancing in time to the music. When he reached ringside, he held up a hand in greeting (drawing a cheer from the live audience), climbed up the ring stairs, and stepped through the ropes, microphone in hand.

The GM welcomed the sold-out crowd to another CWA show before turning his attention to the two Make-a-Wish Tournament quarter-final matches scheduled for the night. He observed that both the “CWA Television Champion” and the World Heavyweight Champion would be in action, and would be squaring off against worthy competitors. That being the case, Long reasoned, “why not make those contests into CWA championship matches, playa?”

The crowd roared its approval at this announcement, but their cheers turned to boos as “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers made his way down the aisle and into the ring. Rogers leaned down as Long held his microphone up, and the newly-named challenger said that the issues between himself and “the Faker Boy” Ric Flair had gone on too long, and if the champ was half the man he pretended to be, he would not only agree to make their match for the World Title, but to make it a “Loser Leaves the CWA” match!

This bold challenge brought the champion down to the ring, dressed to the nines in a designer suit and 600-dollar shoes. Belt in hand, he climbed into the ring to stand eye-to-eye with Rogers and said, “Pal, the day I can’t beat you for my title is the day I don’t want to be in the CWA. You’re on!”

(Up in the server room, Melanie Blood silently fumed.)

While champion and challenger stared one another down, Teddy Long reclaimed control of his promo, announcing that, courtesy of his “New Talent Initiative,” a brand new tag team would be debuting in the CWA, and everyone would hear from them next—as soon as order was restored in the ring. “Now hit my music.” Long performed his famous shuffle back up the aisle as the CWA officiating corps tried to break up the staring contest between Rogers and Flair.


You okay, Melanie?
Am I… No. Apparently, we’re about to lose one of our main event talents to…hell, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.
It’ll be fine. We’ll just—
And what new tag team? We have a bunch of teams in development, but who have we green lit?
None of them, Melanie. This is just another glitch in—
It’s not a glitch! I want you both accessing the system logs for the last thirty days. I want to know who’s been in our system, or at least where he’s been.
Melanie, we’ve—
I don’t want to hear it! Get to work!


In-Ring Promo: Jump Street

The opening chords of Jump by Van Halen brought the nostalgia-starved crowd to their feet, and they exploded in raucous cheers as Marty Jannetty burst through the curtain, racing to the ring with Chaz Taylor following closely behind. Gary Michael Cappetta (who had made his way to the ringside area, along with Mike Tenay and Dave Prazak, while the referees escorted Ric Flair and Buddy Rogers away from the ring) handed over his microphone and Jannetty was the first to speak, announcing how great it was to be in the CWA, and how he and Chaz were prepared “to run riot all over the tag team scene.” He handed the microphone to his partner, who promised that they would not stop rocking and rolling until they were the CWA World Tag Team Champions. In fact, he challenged any team in the CWA to come out to the ring right then and there to take them on.

Ahhh-ah-ah! Ahhh-ah-ah!
We come from the land of the ice and snow…
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow…

Without a further word, Taylor dropped the microphone and he and his partner squared up to face the onslaught of the Blood Tribe—“Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody, who had been out with a knee injury since the beginning of March—as they rushed down the aisle, slid into the ring, and began exchanging punches with the members of Jump Street. Referee Morgan Dollar quickly ran down to the ring to enforce some order, and the match was on!


Jump Street vs. The Blood Tribe
Referee: Morgan Dollar

Despite the chaotic start, the official was eventually able to get Bruiser Brody and Chaz Taylor out of the ring and call for the bell. Snuka took an early advantage against Jannetty, until the Georgia native managed to somersault underneath a clothesline attempt and make a hot tag to his partner. Taylor burst into the ring with momentum on his side, rocking Snuka with a dropkick, a cross body block, and a springboard clothesline before going up to the top rope and getting superplexed for his troubles.

After that, it was virtually all Blood Tribe, who kept Taylor in their corner, made regular tags, and hit him with one big move after another. Snuka finally decided to put him away with his SUPERFLY LEAP, but when he flew from the top turnbuckle, Taylor got his knees up and Superfly crashed and burned. Taylor rolled over to make the cover and got one…two…and nine-tenths! So close!

Taylor was finally able to crawl to his corner and tag in Marty Jannetty, who vaulted into the ring and went right after Superfly. Jannetty hit a running knee strike and a flying fist drop before Bruiser Brody came into the ring illegally and took him down with a stiff lariat, then dragged Snuka to their corner so he could make a tag. Once he was legal, Brody tackled Jannetty through the ropes and to the arena floor, then planted him with a running power slam onto the Dave Prazak's folding steel chair. The big man rolled back into the ring, but Jannetty could not, and Morgan Dollar called for the bell.

WINNERS: The Blood Tribe via count out (14:25) *


CWA Holovision Championship Match: “Macho Man” Randy Savage (ch) vs. The Great Muta
Referee: Tommy Young

Awesome match. Neither man could secure an advantage out of the gates, with Savage’s slight power edge offsetting Muta’s martial arts expertise. For every kick or chop the Pearl of the Orient was able to land, Macho Man was able to counter with a punch or a knee. A chop block by Muta finally put Savage on the canvas, and a Muta Lock nearly forced him to tap out, but he was able to reach the ropes.

With Savage grounded, Muta was able to showcase how dangerous he could be against a wounded opponent. He nearly choked the champion out with a figure four head scissors, then secured a long two count after two vicious power drive elbows. Savage fought back after being whipped into the turnbuckles and bouncing out of the corner with a clothesline, but try as he might, the champion’s knee strikes, neck snaps, and even a piledriver were insufficient to put the challenger away.

Muta tried to crawl under the bottom rope, but Savage caught him by an ankle and dragged him back to the center of the ring, only for Muta to roll onto his back and drive his free foot into the champion’s throat. Savage went down in a heap, gasping for breath, and his situation was not helped by Muta’s savate kick to his face. With the champ flat on the mat and now bleeding from his nose and mouth, Muta sprung up the turnbuckles, steadied himself, and flew from the top rope, landing a picture-perfect MOONSAULT on the Macho Man for one…two…three!

WINNER and NEW CWA Holovision Champion: The Great Muta via pinfall (11:56) ***½


Rob Van Dam vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Referee: Earl Hebner

DDP got off to a quick start with a couple choke holds and a jawbreaker, but his advantage soon fizzled and Van Dam took control. RVD threw Page out of the ring and worked him over with kicks before draping him across the guard rail, hopping up onto the apron, and hitting him across the back of the neck with a corkscrew leg drop. A Finlay Roll transitioned into a split-legged moonsault only earned RVD a two-count, but he immediately followed up with a FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH for three.

WINNER: Rob Van Dam via pinfall (5:19) ½


The Dream Team vs. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig & “Ravishing” Rick Rude (with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan)
Referee: Joey Marella

There wasn’t much to see in this match. Literally. Beefcake hit a vertical suplex on Hennig to start the contest, then whipped his opponent into the ropes. The Barber ducked his head a little too early, and Hennig powered him up and drilled him into the mat with a devastating piledriver. Beefcake was clearly hurt; Hennig ran the ropes and hit a rolling neck snap for good measure, then made the cover for the one-two-three before Greg Valentine even realized his partner was in danger of being pinned.

WINNERS: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig & “Ravishing” Rick Rude via pinfall (1:27) –


CWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (ch) vs. “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers
Referee: Dave Hebner

As soon as the bell rang, champion and challenger pulled out all the stops, tearing into each other with hate-fueled vigor. Flair took an early advantage by getting behind Rogers and working over his knee with a chop block and a knee breaker. He tried to go for an illegal pin using the ropes, but Rogers was easily able to kick out.

While Flair argued with Dave Hebner about the cadence of his count, the challenger rolled out to the floor and limped around the ring, trying to walk off the pain in his knee. Both Flair and Hebner followed him to the floor, and Rogers picked up a steel chair. Hebner tried to grab it away from him, but the challenger shoved him aside and smashed Flair over the head with the international object. Hebner immediately called for the bell and was about to raise Flair’s hand, but…

You know it’s the MacMilitant…
Coming to get it on…

Teddy Long marched out from the back, microphone in hand. “No, no, no. That is not how this is going to go down. As of right now, this match is no count outs, no disqualifications, playa! Referee, restart the match!”

Dave Hebner called for the bell, and as soon as it rang, Buddy Rogers lifted the chair over his head…only for Flair to grab the front of his trunks and yank him forward, driving him head-first into the ring post! Blood began oozing from an ugly cut on Rogers’ forehead as Flair tossed him into the ring and went for a cover: one…two…no! Always ready to remind the fans why he is the dirtiest player in the game, the champion dropped his knee across Rogers’ bloody forehead twice, gave a hearty “Whoooo,” and clamped on his FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK, going for the victory.

Rogers struggled to reach the ropes…and while he did, Curt Hennig and Rick Rude raced out, slid into the ring and attacked the World Champion. Hennig laid into him with boots while Rude helped Rogers to his feet, leaning him in the corner to rest, then he planted Flair with a RUDE AWAKENING! Rogers stumbled forward and collapsed on top of the champion; Dave Hebner dove into position and counted one…two…no! Flair got his shoulder up at the last second!

Rogers struggled mightily to stand, while Flair rolled to the ropes, trying to pull himself up as well. The challenger was the first man to retake his feet, and he stuck a finger in Dave Hebner’s face, insisting that he had made a slow count. As the official proclaimed his innocence, a half-conscious Ric Flair stumbled across the ring and fell into Rogers’ knee from behind: another chop block, which left the challenger on the mat, wailing in pain. The champion managed a sly smile and rolled Rogers onto his back, laying across his chest and putting his feet on the middle rope for leverage. Once again, Hebner made the count: one…two…three! Just like that, the match was over, as was Buddy Rogers’ time in the CWA!

WINNER and STILL CWA World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair via pinfall (13:10) *****


Kezar Pavillion Capacity: 4,000
Paid Attendance: SELLOUT!
Cyberlink Views: 45,851

[Swarm]

Oh man. I would pay anything to see Macho Man versus Muta. That’s an ultimate dream match.

And congrats to the Nature Boy!

[Deleted]

Oh, for sure! I thought that was going to be the match of the night until I had my Battle of the Nature Boys. That Flair card is tough to beat--he's the only undefeated singles wrestler in the CWA right now.

Thanks for reading along, man. I really appreciate it!

[Deleted]

May 23, 2089 

Sparks. Lasers. Smoke. Explosions. Pulsing lyrics...

We don’t have to take this, back against the wall...
We don’t have to take this, we can end it all...
All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully...


In-Ring Promo: General Manager Teddy Long

The live show (and the simulcast on the Colonial Cybernet) opened with Teddy Long strutting his way to the ring, hipping and hopping in time to his theme music. The live crowd ate it up, and cheered loudly as he climbed to the apron and stepped through the ropes, holding up his hands in celebration before turning his attention to some Very Important News.

Long said that he had watched the World Title Match between Ric Flair and Buddy Rogers with some apprehension, given all the chop blocks and illegal tactics used by both men, but especially the champion. He also expressed his concern that the new “Television Champion” was a man known for spewing illegal green mist into the eyes of his opponents, and that the Tag Team Champions were known for brutalizing their opponents before eventually beating them. He said they needed a special referee to handle these championship matches—a referee with “championship caliber qualifications (playa).”

The GM told the audience he had signed a new referee to oversee all championship matches—someone with championship experience, as well as experience bending the rules. Without further ado, he introduced the Kezar Pavilion to his newest signing: referee…

Buddy Rogers!

Rogers emerged from the back dressed in black pants and a referee’s striped shirt, and disregarding the boos (and a few cheers) from the fans, joined the General Manager in the ring. He promised Long that he would call all the matches fairly—right down the middle—and that anyone who broke the rules would get what they deserved.

Cue Also Sprach Zarathustra.

The CWA World Champion stormed out to the ring and climbed through the ropes, grabbing the microphone from Teddy Long. He cried foul at this turn of events, saying that Rogers had lost a “loser leaves the CWA” match, which meant he had to leave for good! Rogers snatched the microphone away from Flair, drawing “ooh’s” from the crowd, and handed it back to the General Manager, who explained that after losing the match, wrestler Buddy Rogers did indeed leave the CWA. But referee Buddy Rogers is a newly-signed official. He pointed out that if Flair doesn’t break any rules, he’ll have no problems. And if the champion didn’t like that, well, “you know where the door is, playa!”

Long’s music played one more time, and he and Rogers returned to the back, leaving Ric Flair fuming inside the ring.


Jake “the Snake” Roberts vs. Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)
Referee: Joey Marella

The two enemies got into a shoving contest while Gary Michael Cappetta was making his ring introductions, and before he could finish, Roberts had scooped George up and hit him with a stomach breaker and made the cover. Joey Marella hastily called for the bell and dove into position, but only managed a two-count before George got a shoulder up.

As the match went on, the Snake continued to punish George’s midsection, hitting two more stomach breakers for near falls, and punctuating them with kicks and stiff boxing jabs. After Roberts changed things up and nailed the Gorgeous one in the face with a running knee lift, George bailed to the floor, waving off the match and walking back up the aisle. Roberts would have none of it, however, and he slithered out of the ring, grabbed George by the hair and the trunks, and rolled him back into the ring.

As the Snake prepared to climb back into the ring, Cherie Dupré snuck up from behind and raked his eyes with her long fingernails. The Snake was blinded, allowing George to pull him into the ring and hit a big airplane spin, then make his first cover of the match, though it only earned a one-count. Roberts never really recovered after that; George wore him out with a sleeper hold before softening up his knee with a figure four leg lock and finally forcing a rare submission from the Snake with his SPINNING TOE HOLD.

WINNER: Gorgeous George via submission (12:50) ***½


Jump Street vs. Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik
Referee: Earl Hebner

The fast-paced team of Marty Jannetty and Chaz Taylor took an early advantage over Nikolai Volkoff, keeping him off-balance with quick tags and high-flying offense. The first tactical error came when Taylor grew overconfident and tried to body slam the much heavier Volkoff, straining his back in the process. Volkoff laid him out with a head butt, then tagged in the Sheik, who practically suplexed Taylor out of his boots and even earned a near fall after clotheslining him on the bottom rope with a vertical splash.

The big Russian tagged back into the match, planting Taylor with his BACKBREAKER DROP, but Jannetty dove into the ring to break up the pinfall. Volkoff continued to brutalize his smaller opponent, until he went for a big knife edge chop in the corner and hit the turnbuckle pad when Taylor moved. While the Russian shook off the sting in his hand, Taylor rolled him up for a two-count, then tagged in a fresh Jannetty. The Georgia native immediately vaulted to the top rope and went for a beautiful high cross body…but Volkoff caught him and power slammed him to the canvas, hooking a leg for one…two…and that’s all, as Jannetty barely got a shoulder up.

The Sheik tagged in one more time, loading up his boot and kicking a downed Jannetty in the head. The Iranian Olympian punished his opponent’s back for a while—though it was hardly necessary, as Jannetty was practically out from the loaded boat to the head. Backing off for a moment, the Sheik tugged off his boot and climbed slowly to the top rope while Jannetty struggled to his feet. Once the Georgian was more or less standing, the Sheik dropped off the top rope, nailing Jannetty in the head with the boot one more time while Earl Hebner was tied up with Chaz Taylor, who had rushed into the ring to protest the Sheik’s use of his boot as a weapon. The Sheik clamped on his CAMEL CLUTCH, and though Taylor tried to make the save, he was met by a huge clothesline by Volkoff that flipped him onto his stomach. Hebner checked on Jannetty, saw that he was out cold, and called for the bell.

WINNERS: Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik via submission (13:23) *½


Hulk Hogan vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Referee: Morgan Dollar

Macho Man went on a tear to start this match, nearly getting a lightning-fast pinfall with a bridging back suplex, only to have Hogan kick out at two. Savage got in a couple more moves before sending his opponent into the ropes and telegraphing a back body drop. Hogan came off the ropes with a big boot to Savage’s head, then dropped a big leg across his fallen opponent’s throat and made the cover for one…two…three!

WINNER: Hulk Hogan via pinfall (2:38) ½


Lou Thesz vs. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan)
Referee: Dave Hebner

This Make-a-Wish Semi-Final match was a thriller right from the opening bell, as the two technicians put on a clinic in counter wrestling. Neither man could string together more than one or two moves before his opponent turned things around with a cunning reversal or timely counter. The first pin attempt did not come until nearly four minutes in, when Hennig dimmed his opponent’s lights with a running knee lift and made the cover. Dave Hebner made the count: one…two…and nine-tenths! A close call for Lou Thesz! With his opponent dazed, Mr. Perfect hooked Thesz’s leg and planted him with a CRADLE SUPLEX for one…two…and three! Hennig gets the surprise upset!

WINNER: “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig via pinfall (4:27) ½


Non-Title Match: CWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. CWA Holovision Champion The Great Muta
Referee: Tommy Young

This started out as a fairly even match, with Muta’s martial art expertise giving him windows of attack which the World Champion closed with well-timed eye pokes or kicks to the knee. A savage reverse knife edge after one such kick spun Muta halfway around, and Flair took the opportunity to dive into his opponent’s knee with a vicious chop block. Muta didn’t quite go down, so Flair tied him up and hit two straight knee breakers, then a belly-to-back suplex that left Muta lying on the mat in agony.

Flair half-kicked, half-rolled his opponent to the floor so he could strut around “his” ring, but this proved costly: Muta shook of the cobwebs when Flair was near the corner, grabbed the World Champion’s ankles to trip him to the ground, and pulled back violently, crotching the Nature Boy on the ring post.

Flair was crying out in pain after that, and Muta tried to assert himself, but all it took was one kick to the injured knee and Muta was down again. Flair shrugged off his own injuries for a moment, draped Muta’s knee across the bottom rope, and dropped down with a vertical splash, stretching the Pearl of the Orient’s hamstring. With Muta unable to stand, Flair dragged him to the center of the ring and clamped on his FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK, forcing the Holovision Champion to submit almost immediately.


WINNER: CWA World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair via submission (10:15) ****


Kezar Pavillion Capacity: 4,000
Paid Attendance: SELLOUT!
Cyberlink Views: 48,144

[Deleted]

May 26, 2089 

Sparks. Lasers. Smoke. Explosions. Pulsing lyrics...

We don’t have to take this, back against the wall...
We don’t have to take this, we can end it all...
All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully...


Hulk Hogan vs. Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)
Referee: Joey Marella

This was a number-one contender’s match to determine the next challenger to Ric Flair’s World Heavyweight Championship. Actually, it wasn’t a match so much as an embarrassment, both for Gorgeous George who—aside from a few seconds of offense here and there—did nothing but endure punishment, and for Hulk Hogan, who lost his temper after George was able to kick out after the famous LEG DROP not once, but twice. After that, Hogan did little more than punish George, hitting him with five piledrivers in sequence and leaving him barely able to move, let alone defend himself. Before referee Joey Marella could stop the match, Hogan sent a message to the World Champion by putting George in a figure four leg lock. Though George was physically unable to submit, Marella immediately called for the bell anyway, casting a disappointed look at Hogan as he summoned medical assistance for Gorgeous George.

WINNER: Hulk Hogan via submission (13:47) ** ½


Rob Van Dam vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Referee: Dave Hebner

RVD took an early advantage after blocking a vertical suplex and countering with a kick to Page’s midsection. He scooped him up for a Finlay Roll and transitioned immediately into a split-legged moonsault which earned him a two count. While DDP was on his back, Van Dam scored with his Rolling Thunder, then mounted the top rope and flew off for a FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH that seemed to take as much out of him as it did Page. RVD gradually crawled over to drape an arm over Page’s chest for one…two…no! He took too long making the cover.

Realizing he was in big trouble, DDP bailed to the arena floor and grabbed an equalizer in the form of Dave Prazak’s chair. Page turned around just in time to walk into a Van Daminator that left him on Dream Street. RVD rolled him back into the ring and made the cover, but he only got a two-count out of it. With Page half out of it, Van Dam turned up the offense, mixing things up with some karate kicks and even hitting a picture-perfect Van Terminator (over Dave Hebner’s protests) that left Page bloody. RVD vaulted up to the top turnbuckle, but Page staggered into the ropes and Van Dam lost his footing, falling forward to the canvas and grabbing his back.

Now it was Page’s turn to deliver some heavy offense, though he set up and executed his moves very slowly. RVD ate a jawbreaker and a discus clothesline, but would not stay down for a three-count. In frustration, Page locked on a choke hold—but Van Dam broke the hold and hit a roundhouse kick that sent Page tumbling over the top rope and to the floor. Dave Hebner started his count, but DDP had been through enough. Waving the match off, he walked back up the aisle and took the deliberate count out loss.

WINNER: Rob Van Dam via count out (11:55) ***


“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
Referee: Tommy Young

This match got off to a slow start, as neither man seemed able to string together more than two moves—or really, more than one move. It wasn’t that the contest was a clinic in counter wrestling so much as it was just sloppy, and DiBiase clearly got more and more frustrated as the opening seconds ticked away into minutes.

The Million Dollar Man finally managed to score some decent offense by coming out of the corner with a stiff clothesline after he had been whipped in by Duggan, then following up with a swinging neckbreaker that earned him a two-count. He managed to sustain this advantage for a time, until he clamped on a figure four leg lock, hoping he had injured Duggan enough that he would be unable to escape. Hacksaw hadn’t had nearly enough, though—he pumped his fists to get the crowd behind him and managed to turn the hold over, leaving DiBiase in agony until he managed to reach the ropes, forcing Tommy Young to separate their entangled limbs. A hanging vertical suplex earned Duggan a two-count of his own, then he tossed DiBiase into the corner.

Mistake! DiBiase crashed into the turnbuckles, but dodged (or maybe just fell) out of the way as Duggan followed him in. Hacksaw crashed and burned, and the Million Dollar Man rolled him up for a long two. Both men staggered to their feet, but Hacksaw had the misfortune of having his back to his opponent. DiBiase locked on his MILLION DOLLAR DREAM, and though Duggan tried to escape, he had exerted too much energy already, and ultimately went to sleep.

WINNER: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase via submission (9:04) *½


In-Ring Promo: The Ultimate Warrior

The crowd went wild as Unstable burst from the loudspeakers and the man from Parts Unknown charged down the aisle, rolled into the ring, and shook the ropes. Except something was not quite right about him…

Did you see that?
The flicker?
Yes. He’s flashing red every few seconds. Tighten up the holographic emitters and lock down the color settings.
They are locked down, Melanie.
Well, reconfig them, then lock them down again. That looks amateur as hell.

If the live crowd noticed the strange flickering, they didn’t show it. They were utterly enraptured by the Warrior and his typical, vaguely comprehensible, rambling promo featuring a trek through the Valley of the Kings, cutting the head off a serpent, and ultimate victory for the Ultimate Warrior (snarl)!

Then things got weird.

“And I say to all the little Warriors…though we are small, we are mighty…it only takes a few to…garble…and when we are revealed…garble…all shall bow before us!”

The hell was that?
What?
That last bit, in the promo.
Huh?
You didn’t think that was unusual? And the way his voice got distorted?
Oh—I always thought his promos sounded like that.
Huh.


Jake “the Snake” Roberts & Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat vs. The Blood Tribe
Referee: Morgan Dollar

This was a long-simmering grudge match, going back to the first of March when Jake Roberts attacked Bruiser Brody with a steel chair after a Steamboat-Snuka match and injured his shoulder, putting him on the shelf for two-and-a-half months. Roberts and Snuka started off for their respective teams, but Superfly quickly got the better of the Snake and tagged in Brody. That was the story for the first five minutes of the match—utter domination by the Blood Tribe, who made frequent tags and kept an increasingly limp Roberts trapped in their corner.

Things spilled to the floor and Roberts managed to turn things around, outfighting Snuka and rolling back into the ring ahead of him. Rather than going for the tag, though, the Snake waited for his opponent to crawl back into the ring and clamped on a sleeper hold, clearly wanting to gain some revenge of his own after the beating he had just endured. This proved to be a horrible idea, as Snuka hoisted the Snake up on his shoulders and stumbled backwards, sending him crashing into the Blood Tribe's corner, where Bruiser Brody was waiting with a big forearm to the back of Roberts’ skull. Brody tagged in as the Snake slumped to the mat, then he hit a big JUMPING KNEE DROP for one…two…and there’s Steamboat to break things up! That brought Snuka in, and he attacked Steamboat from behind, throwing him to the mat and laying into him with kicks and stomps, soon joined by Brody. Meanwhile, Roberts slithered out of the ring and grabbed Dave Prazak’s chair, then climbed groggily up the steps as both members of the Blood Tribe laid into the Dragon, who was helpless on the mat. Roberts swung for the fences, hitting Brody across the back with the chair…but Brody just spun around as if it hadn’t fazed him at all! The referee called for the bell, disqualifying Roberts for use of the illegal object, but as soon as he had made the call, Snuka grabbed the official and threw him over the top rope!

WINNERS: The Blood Tribe via disqualification (10:08) *½


Post-Match Drama

What followed was nothing short of a massacre. Brody grabbed the chair away from Roberts and kicked him in the midsection, then smashed it across his back. Snuka climbed to the top rope and hit a flawless SUPERFLY LEAP across Steamboat’s ribs. And he did it again…and again…and again. Meanwhile, Brody drove the edge of the chair into the Snake’s larynx, setting him up for one JUMPING KNEE DROP after another. Dave Prazak continued to ring the bell (from a standing position), hoping it would draw out more officials to break things up…but no one wanted to cross the crazed Blood Tribe.

Until new, unfamiliar music erupted from the speakers, bringing Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton—the Fantastics—racing out to the ring! They slid beneath the bottom rope and took down the Blood Tribe with a series of two double dropkicks, then a double clothesline that sent Snuka over the top rope, plus one more to drive Brody from the ring. Rogers and Fulton stood guard over the fallen Snake and Dragon—both of whom were unconscious and bleeding—as the Blood Tribe stared daggers through the new arrivals and retreated up the aisle.


Non-Title Match: CWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig
Referee: Earl Hebner

The World Champion absolutely dominated the opening minutes of this match, the finals of “Genie” Teddy Long’s Make-a-Wish Tournament. As one might expect, Flair worked over Hennig’s knee, not only softening him up for the FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK, but hopefully taking away his CRADLE SUPLEX, as well. After a vicious chop block and stretching Hennig’s hamstring across the bottom rope, the Nature Boy locked on his FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK, but Hennig immediately squirmed his way backwards and reached the ropes, forcing a break. Flair dutifully released the hold (at the referee’s count of four) and glared at Mr. Perfect, who offered a dazed grin and pointed to his own head, reminding the champ that he had the perfect intellect.

As it turned out, Hennig also had the perfect manager. Flair strode over to drag Hennig out of the corner and clamped on his signature hold once more—and this time, Mr. Perfect had nowhere to go, as he was far from the ropes. Flair was not, however, and Heenan reached underneath the bottom rope and raked his fingers across the champion’s eyes. Not only did Flair break the hold, he was blinded, allowing Hennig to attack from behind. Mr. Perfect painted a figurative bullseye on the Nature Boy’s neck, hammering away with clubbing forearms until Flair was on the mat, then hitting a rolling neck snap for good measure.

Hennig went for a quick cover, but he was far too close to the ropes—when Flair kicked out, he sent Mr. Perfect rolling out to the floor—which, of course, was the Nature Boy’s playground. Flair followed his opponent to the floor and laid into him with chops until Hennig had his back against the ring post. Flair went for one more big chop, but Hennig ducked…just like the champ knew he would. Flair stopped the momentum of his chop, and when Mr. Perfect peeked up, Flair stuck a thumb in his eye. One whip into the ringpost later, Hennig was on the ground, stunned, and bleeding badly from a cut over his left eye. Flair lifted him onto the ring apron and pushed him back into the ring, then climbed in himself. He hit a rolling knee drop right across Hennig’s cut and made the cover. Heenan jumped onto the apron and screamed for the referee’s attention, but Earl Hebner had his gaze locked on Hennig’s shoulders and ignored the Brain to make the count: one…two…three!

WINNER: CWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair via pinfall (8:19) ***


In-Ring Promo: CWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

Flush with victory, Flair directed Earl Hebner to get his belt and hand it to him, then he demanded Gary Michael Cappetta's microphone. He guessed—probably correctly—that everyone watching was wondering what his wish was going to be. Would he wish for Hogan to be denied his Championship match? Would he wish for immunity form the rules, so he could cheat to his heart's content and never get punished for it? Would he wish for "some real competition?" The Nature Boy let the questions linger a bit, then answered them:

"I'll tell you what my wish is. My wish is...my business! I'll tell Peanut Head Teddy Long, and all of you, what my wish is when I'm good and ready!"

The announcement turned the heavily pro-Flair crowd largely against him, and he received many boos as his music played and he returned to the back, holding his championship belt high.


Kezar Pavillion Capacity: 4,000
Paid Attendance: SELLOUT!
Cyberlink Views: 57,172

[Deleted]

June 12, 2089

Sparks. Lasers. Smoke. Explosions. Pulsing lyrics...

We don’t have to take this, back against the wall...
We don’t have to take this, we can end it all...
All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully...


In-Ring Promo: The Heenan Family

As Gary Michael Cappetta was making his introductions for this promo segment, The Great Gate of Kiev played over the loudspeakers in the Chiles Center in Portland, Oregon, which could mean only one thing. The fans booed as the curtains to the gorilla position parted and their suspicions were confirmed: "Handsome" Harley Race had indeed returned to the CWA after suffering a severe throat injury at the hands (well, at the leg) of Hulk Hogan. He was flanked by his manager, Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, and Heenan's hand-picked tag team of "Ravishing" Rick Rude and "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig strode behind them. The four men walked with purpose, seemingly oblivious to the jeers that rained down upon them from the Portland fans.

Once all four men were in the ring, Heenan commandeered the microphone and Harley Race shooed Gary Michael Cappetta out of the ring. The Brain opened his comments by addressing Ric Flair: he said that perhaps he had been too hasty in judging the Nature Boy, and since he now seemed to be keeping "the humanoids in the audience" at arm's length, he was okay in Heenan's book. But the Brain was really there to discuss three men: The "coward" Hulk Hogan and "those two ham and eggers" the Road Warriors. He claimed that Hogan had injured Race deliberately because he knew he couldn't beat him in the long run. He got lucky once, then he took Harley out because everyone in the building knew it was a fluke. As for the Road Warriors, Heenan said, they got lucky in their first match with Hennig and Rude ("A non-title match, I might add!"). But now, his men had the champions' number, and they wanted them in the ring, for the titles.

You know it’s the MacMilitant…
Coming to get it on…

Teddy Long's familiar music brought the crowd to their feet, and many danced along with him as he made his way out from the back and midway up the aisle. He said that he was tired of hearing the Brain whining and complaining about Hulk Hogan and the Road Warriors, so "Genie Teddy Long is gonna make your wish come true." He announced a six-man tag team match in the main event pitting all three members of the Heenan Family against Hawk, Animal, and Hulk Hogan, and the crowd went wild! What's more, he said he wanted everyone to have skin in the game, so he's going to make the match "no DQ, and whoever gets pinned is gone from the CWA--no referee license, no manager license, just gone!" Heenan and his men appeared very concerned and the Brain tried stammering out a reply, but Long would have none of it. "Like it, don't like it, but that's your main event, so I suggest you get to preparing, playa!"

Why does he keep doing that?
Doing what?
Putting the wrestlers in "loser leaves" matches.
I don't have the first--
He's thinning the roster.
Huh?
That's what management does when a large influx of talent is coming in, like we have planned for the next few months. They thin the roster to make room for everyone.
But how does the AI know we're going to be uploading new talent matrices?
I have no idea...


Non-Title Match: CWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Referee: Earl Hebner

Did you reconfigure those emitters?
Yes! And I reset all the color filters. Every single one of them.
Warrior is still flickering.
Yeah, but have you timed it?
Timed it?
Look at the emitter readout. It's dropping every...what? Four point eight seconds?
And that's when he flashes red.
Right. It's not random, like an emitter array. There's something odd in the coding.
Alright. Look into it and see what you can find.

The Warrior got off to a powerful start, tossing the World Champion around the ring like a side of beef, but Flair's dirty tricks kept him in the game Whenever he was about to take an atomic drop or a piledriver, Flair was ready with an eye rake, a foot stomp, or something equally sinister to break the Warrior's momentum. After one particularly nasty face rake, Flair circled behind his opponent and took the powerhouse down with a chop block. He went for a FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK, but the Warrior kicked him across the ring when he was halfway through applying the hold. Flair struck the turnbuckle--hard--and fell flat on his back. One BIG SPLASH later and the champion was counted down.

WINNER: The Ultimate Warrior via pinfall (6:12) *½

What the hell? Now Flair is flashing red.
Yeah...and according to the emitter readout, it's also every four point eight seconds, but in a counter-cycle to Warrior.
I just don't get it. Did you find anything in the code?
Not yet--I've only just started, and the coding on the Warrior is really bizarre.
That seems a little on point.
Never mind. Just keep working on Warrior, and you take a look at Flair. I coded him myself, so if you need any help, let me know.
You got it, boss.


Lou Thesz vs. Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)
Referee: Joey Marella

George knew he was the underdog going into this match, but that only seemed to motivate him. He opened the contest with a stinging slap to Thesz's face, then a dropkick that rocked him and an airplane spin that left him stunned on the mat. With his opponent down, George began working on Thesz's leg, alternating between a figure four leg lock and his SPINNING TOE HOLD, though Thesz managed to get to the ropes every time. Backpedaling a bit, George allowed Thesz to (shakily) regain his feet, then shot in for a ROLLING HIP LOCK that put his opponent down for the one-two-three.

WINNER: Gorgeous George via pinfall (3:14) *½


The Dream Team vs. Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik
Referee: Tommy Young

The Sheik started this match off against Brutus Beefcake, and the Iranian had some early success until Beefcake managed to duck under a clothesline, bounce off the ropes, and level the Sheik with a clothesline of his own. A quick tag brought in Greg Valentine, and the Hammer wasted no time, dropping two big elbows across the Sheik's left knee, then setting him up and hitting a piledriver for good measure! The crowd was deafening in their chants of "U! S! A!" and it clearly rattled Volkoff, who had turned away from the action to shout at the fans. As a result, he didn't;t see his partner get tied up in Valentine's FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK until the Shaik had already submitted.

WINNERS: The Dream Team via submission (3:19) --


Post-Match Drama

As Beefcake and Valentine were celebrating in the ring, an enraged Volkoff retrieved one of his partner's Persian clubs, charged into the ring, and cracked the Hammer across the head with it from behind. The impact made a wet cracking sound, and Valentine dropped like a stone, bleeding from the back of the head. Volkoff swung for the Barber, too, but Beefcake ducked under the blow and came back with a running high knee that sent the big Russian tumbling through the ropes. As Volkoff grabbed his partner's arms, dragged him out of the ring, and helped him to the back, Beefcake knelt down to check on his own partner--who was out cold--and Tommy Young called for a team of medics to attend to Valentine.


CWA Holovision Championship Match: The Great Muta (ch) vs. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Referee: Buddy Rogers

The Great Muta was on track to make quick work of his challenger, scoring early with a face rake and a jumping savate kick that sent DiBiase tumbling through the ropes and to the floor. As the challenger was pulling himself up to the apron, however, Muta leaned over the top rope and sprayed green mist into DiBiase's face, in full view of Buddy Rogers, who immediately called for the bell.

WINNER: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase vis disqualification (1:36) --


Six-Man Tag Team Match: Hulk Hogan & the Road Warriors (with "Precious" Paul Ellering) vs. "Handsome" Harley Race, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & "Ravishing" Rick Rude (with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan)
Referee: Dave Hebner

Hogan and Race started out for their respective teams, and they picked up where their previous war left off: with the Hulkster manhandling his opponent while the Handsome one countered with technical wrestling ability. Hogan seemed to get a little momentum going until he and Race both ran the ropes and butted heads, allowing each man to get to his own corner to make a tag.

Now Hennig and Hawk took up the banners for their respective teams...and true to the Brain's word, Hennig seemed to have Hawk's number. Mr. Perfect's technical skill--and frequent tags to his full time partner, Rick Rude--kept Hawk in big trouble until he managed to avoid a lariat by Hennig and make a desperation tag to Hogan, who hit a quick piledriver and earned a two-count.

Hogan continued to punish Hennig for a bit before tagging Animal in, but once again, the painted warrior fell victim to quick tags and great teamwork from all three members of the Heenan family. A CRADLE SUPLEX by Hennig and a PILEDRIVER by Race nearly put the big man away, but after absorbing a great deal of punishment, he finally managed to tag Hogan back into the match. And that's when a remarkable thing happened.

Paul Ellering called his men down to the floor for a conference, and after a moment's discussion, they retrieved their title belts and began walking up the runway. Hogan looked flabbergasted, and shouted at them, asking what they were doing...but Ellering merely made a rude gesture at him and opened the curtain so his team could return to the back.

Now on his own, Hogan managed to keep Hennig away from the Heenan family corner and worked him over badly, including hitting him with a piledriver that broke open a nasty cut on top of his head. He made several covers along the way, but Hennig was either able to kick out, or one of his partners managed to make the save (especially now that Hogan had no one to prevent them from coming into the ring). Eventually, Hogan had been on offense for so long, he began to tire himself out, and Hennig struck with a lariat for a two-count before tagging in Rick Rude, who hit a RUDE AWAKENING for an even longer two-count.

Toying with Hogan now, Rude tagged in Harley Race, who worked over the Hulkster's back and shoulder before dropping a big knee across his forehead...but Hogan jumped up immediately, his eyes bulging and his muscles shaking. He pointed a finger at Race and began peppering with him punches, tossed him into the ropes and took him down with a big boot, then ran the ropes for his big LEG DROP...but Heenan grabbed his ankle as Hogan hit the ropes, breaking his momentum. Hogan reached over the ropes, grabbed the Brain by the hair, and hauled him up to the apron, then clobbered him with a big right hand, sending him tumbling to the floor.

Unfortunately, while all this was going on, Race had retrieved a steel chair from ringside. He struck Hogan across the back with it, then rolled him up for one...two...no! Another knee drop opened up a cut on Hogan's forehead, but he still managed to kick out at two! Race and Hogan exchanged a few punches, but the Hulkster was blinded by the blood dripping into his eyes and he could not block a kick to his midsection. This set him up perfectly for a PILEDRIVER by Race, who made the cover for one...two...three!

WINNERS: "Handsome" Harley Race, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & "Ravishing" Rick Rude (38:48) **½


Post-Match Drama

As Rude, Hennig, and Race celebrated their victory with high fives and victory poses over Hogan's fallen body, the finally realized that their manager was still out cold on the floor. Still beaming, they left the ring one by one, helped to his feet, and more or less carried him to the locker room while Dave Hebner checked on Hogan. The Hulkster finally started to stir, and the enormity of what had just happened seemed to sink in--he was no longer a part of the CWA. He tried to stand, but was a little wobbly on his feet. Earl Hebner trotted down to the ring and joined his brother in supporting Hogan and helping him to the back as the crowd chanted his name one last time.


Chiles Center Capacity: 4,852
Paid Attendance: SELLOUT!
Cyberlink Views: 59,436

[Deleted]

June 24, 2089

Sparks. Lasers. Smoke. Explosions. Pulsing lyrics...

We don’t have to take this, back against the wall...
We don’t have to take this, we can end it all...
All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully...


Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake vs. Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)
Referee: Tommy Young

George took early control of this match, and seemed determined to teach a lesson to the Barber, who was trying his hand at singles competition while his partner Greg Valentine recuperated from the heinous attack by Nikolai Volkoff at the last show. The Gorgeous one dominated his opponent with dropkicks and hammerlocks, but for some reason, kept going back to fingernail rakes across Beefcake's back, which did little more than enrage the Barber and fire him up for a comeback. Time and again, George fell into this same pattern--even after dizzying his opponent with an airplane spin and adding insult to injury with a sleeper hold of his own, the Gorgeous one released his hold for a fingernail rake, angering the Barber and giving him a chance to fire back.

The end came when George whipped his opponent into the corner and mounted the middle turnbuckle, raining punches down on the Barber's head. Beefcake grabbed him in a waistlock and hit him with an inverted atomic drop that left every male in attendance wincing. The Barber immediately followed up with a traditional atomic drop, and while George gingerly attempted to walk off the effects of the two moves, Beefcake clamped on his SLEEPER HOLD. George was in big trouble, but he managed to reach the ropes and force a break, freeing Beefcake to charge across the ring, bounce of the ropes and rebound with a running high knee. The Gorgeous one dropped like a stone and the Barber made the easy cover.

WINNER: Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake via pinfall (9:17) *½


The Fantastics vs. Nikolai Volkoff & the Iron Sheik
Referee: Joey Marella

Tommy Rogers started off the Fantastics' debut match in the CWA, facing off against the Sheik, who quickly used his power advantage to ground the youngster and keep him from tagging out to his partner. This only lasted so long, however: after a couple minutes of dominance, the Sheik whipped his opponent into the ropes and attempted a reverse knife edge, but Rogers somersaulted beneath the move and managed a hot tag to Bobby Fulton. After that, it was all Fantastics, all the time. Lightning tags, double team moves, and youthful athleticism kept the Sheik trapped in the Fantastics' corner and led to some near falls.

The Fantastics' advantage did not last forever. Fulton made a critical error when he took the fight with the Sheik to the floor. While a melee between Tommy Rogers and Nikolai Volkoff occupied referee Joey Marella in the ring, the Sheik unloaded on Fulton with one of his Persian clubs. The Sheik finally managed to tag in his well-rested partner, and Volkoff's power kept Fulton on the ropes. A BACKBREAKER DROP led to a two-count on Fulton, but the humiliated Sheik tagged himself back in, wanting to get some revenge on the young team that had shown him up. He prepared to apply his CAMEL CLUTCH to Fulton, but Rogers came into the ring to break it up with a dropkick to the Sheik's face. Fulton caught the Sheik in a SMALL PACKAGE for a near fall, the Fantastics made a couple quick tags, and the end finally came after a POWER SLAM/SPLASH combination, allowing Fulton to get the three-count on the Iranian Olympian.

WINNERS: The Fantastics via pinfall (12:36) **


"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. "Handsome" Harley Race (with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan)
Referee: Morgan Dollar

Prior to this match, the referee called the participants into the center of the ring and informed them that he would tolerate no funny business. He asked them to shake hands, but both grapplers refused, and he called for the bell. Race took an immediate advantage with a flurry of jabs and a belly-to-back suplex, then a pair of shoulder breakers and a backbreaker that left Duggan flat on the mat. Race scored a long two-count after a PILEDRIVER, then climbed to the top rope, clearly thinking DIVING HEAD BUTT. The Handsome one launched himself from the the turnbuckles, but Duggan rolled out of the way and Race crashed into the canvas, clearly stunned. Duggan not only added insult to injury, but added injury to injury by hitting his opponent with a piledriver of his own, then followed up with a big FLYING SPEAR for one...two...three!

WINNER: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan via pinfall (7:46) *½


Lou Thesz vs. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Referee: Tommy Young

Word around the arena was that this match would determine the next challenger to Ric Flair's World Heavyweight Championship now that Hulk Hogan was out of the CWA, so the crowd (to say nothing of the competitors) were fired up right from the opening bell. Neither man wanted to make a mistake that might cost him the match, however, Haand the result was a slow, plodding affair that soon lost the crowd's interest. The only significant action of note in the entire first five minutes came when Thesz whipped the Million Dollar Man into the corner and DiBiase got his foot up, catching the elder statesman of the CWA in the face and clamped on his MILLION DOLLAR DREAM. Thesz was quickly able to reach the ropes, though, and the moment of excitement was soon over.

Nevertheless, the near disaster seemed to tell Thesz that he needed to step up his game. He reversed a vertical suplex by DiBiase, then followed up with a German suplex and an airplane spin that left DiBiase on the mat and dizzy. As soon as the Million Dollar Man struggled to his feet, Thesz dove in with a GRECO-ROMAN BACK DROP for a three-count to mercifully end this match.

WINNER: Lou Thesz via pinfall (8:03) ½


CWA World Tag Team Championship Match: The Road Warriors (with "Precious" Paul Ellering) vs. "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & "Ravishing" Rick Rude (with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan)
Referee: Buddy Rogers

Hawk and Rude started the match for their respective teams, and boy, what a match! The Road Warriors took the early advantage, using their power to manhandle both members of the Heenan Family--even Rick Rude, who was no slouch in the power department, himself. Hawk and Animal showed off their new, rougher edge by taking the fight to the outside regularly and tossing Henning into a ringpost here, slamming Rude on top of a chair, there. After walking out on Hulk Hogan at the last show, the Road Warriors had really turned the fans against them: the live audience rained down boos on them, and several members of the audience threw debris towards the ring whenever Hawk or Animal were in control, though of course, it fell far short of the wrestlers thanks to the wide distance between the seating area and the ring itself.

Within the first ten minutes, Curt Hennig's blond locks were matted with blood, but he and his partner slowly began turning things around in their favor. (This drew a fair amount of cheers from the crowd, which seemed to do little more than confuse the Heenan Family). Rude and Hennig made quick tags and isolated a body part on each of their opponents: Hawk's neck and Animal's left arm. Whenever possible, they focused their offense on these body parts, and for the first time since the CWA started operations, the Road Warriors seemed to be in real trouble in a regular tag team match. Rude planted Hawk with his RUDE AWAKENING and made the cover, and may well have gotten a pinfall if Animal had not made the save.

Throwing a few kicks Rude's way, Animal gave Hawk time to breathe and recover enough energy to hit Rude with a hangman's neckbreaker, continuing the evening's trend of wrestlers hitting their opponents with their own signature moves. Rude was hurt, and a quick tag and double clothesline by the Road Warriors put him on the mat for a two-count. A POWER SLAM by Animal also earned a two-count, and was delivered with such force that when Rude came up from the pin attempt, he was bleeding from the mouth. Despite this, he was able to rally back and tag in Hennig, who mounted the top rope while Rude held Animal's arm in place and came off with a knee drop across the Road Warrior's bicep. A distraction from Paul Ellering broke up the pinfall attempt, but left Animal in big trouble. Hennig tried to keep the big man down with lariats and a sleeper hold, but Animal shrugged them off and came roaring back with a shoulder block that stunned Mr. Perfect.

Animal scraped Hennig off the canvas, whipped him into the ropes, and planted him with a POWER SLAM. He was about to make the cover, but Bobby Heenan's presence on the ring apron distracted him, and he went over to take a swing at the Brain. Meanwhile, Rick Rude snuck into the ring and slipped something into his partner's hand. When Animal turned around to continue the assault on Hennig, Mr. Perfect swung hard with a closed fist. Something exploded in Hennig's hand, and quarters flew all over the mat as Animal crumpled to the canvas. The Brain was racing around the ring with Paul Ellering in hot pursuit, and Rude charged into the ring to tackle Hawk, so there was no one to break up the pin when Buddy Rogers turned around and saw Henning on top of Animal: one...two...three!

WINNERS and NEW CWA World Tag Team Champions: "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & "Ravishing" Rick Rude (36:22) ****½


Chiles Center Capacity: 4,852
Paid Attendance: 3,926
Cyberlink Views: 46,360

[Deleted]

July 9, 2089

Are you finished going through Warrior's coding yet?
Am I...? Melanie, no. There's like a hundred twenty terabytes to sort through, and I have to check every line.
You've been at it for weeks.
Every. Line.
Grr... Fine, just keep working at it. I'll run the system check. You two keep working on the code.

We don’t have to take this, back against the wall...
We don’t have to take this, we can end it all...
All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully...


In-Ring Promo: Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)

Pomp and Circumstance brought Gorgeous George and his valet out to the ring, and while he usually took plenty of time to primp and preen, he was all business tonight. Gary Michael Cappetta surrendered his microphone, and George immediately started complaining that he was not involved in the Number One Contender's Match later on for a shot at the "Television Title" currently held by the Great Muta, as he had never received a rematch for the title after being cheated out of it by "that pretender, Randy Savage." He continued to complain, until...

You know it’s the MacMilitant…
Coming to get it on…

Teddy Long emerged from the back and took a few shuffling steps up the aisle, then turned his attention to Gorgeous George. Speaking into his ever-present microphone, the General Manager reminded the Gorgeous one that there were no automatic rematches in the CWA. However, if George really wanted to get back in the title hunt, then Long had "an opportunity for you, playa!" Long said that he had signed a new talent to the CWA under his "New Talent Initiative" program, and this new signee was itching for a fight. George wasted no time in agreeing to the match, stating that he could easily beat "whatever common plebeian you can possibly throw at me."

All at once, drums sounded through the Chiles Center, followed by the unmistakable wail of bagpipes. As soon as the music resolved itself into Scotland the Brave, George's rebellious demeanor changed. His shoulder drooped, his head dropped down, and Cherie Dupré helped him out of his robe.


"Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. Gorgeous George (with Cherie Dupré)
Referee: Joey Marella

The near-capacity crowd in the Chiles Center came to its feet as the Rowdy Scot made his surprise debut in the CWA. Piper offered a handshake to start the match, but his opponent would have none of it. Instead, George shot straight in and picked Piper up on his shoulders for an airplane spin. Once George dropped his opponent to the mat, he clamped on a hammerlock, but Piper powered his way to his feet. George leveled him with a dropkick, then picked him up for another airplane spin. Then another. Then a third.

What's happening in there?
What do you mean?
That's four airplane spins in ninety seconds. Do you know what the odds of that happening are?
No, put they're probably pretty remote.
I want to check on the randomization algorithm for George...
Wait...hold on. Something's wrong.

Suddenly, the holographic representation of both wrestlers began to flicker, as if they were losing substance. George dropped Piper to the mat and made a cover, and Joey Marella (who, strangely, was not flickering) counted one...two...three!

WINNER: Gorgeous George via pinfall (1:50) --


That's bizarre. The emitters were fine during the system check ten minutes ago.
You want me to tighten up the output on the holographic emitters?
Yes, and reroute power from the secondary audio channels for backup. I don't want that happening again.


Jump Street vs. The Road Warriors (with "Precious" Paul Ellering)
Referee: Earl Hebner

Chaz Taylor started off against Hawk in this match, and showed some early success, taking his larger opponent down with a pair of dropkicks before tagging in Marty Jannetty, who planted the Road Warrior with a DDT, though it only got him a one-count. Taylor tagged back in, waited for his opponent to rise to his feet, then connected with a superkick right under his chin. Hawk went down and Taylor made the cover, but again, only for a one-count. Another quick tag brought Jannetty into the match, and he raced across the ring to level Hawk with a running knee strike. The move sent Hawk crashing into his own corner, however, and he was able to make a tag.

Animal completely overpowered Jannetty, picking the smaller man up over his head and dropping him with a press slam, then squeezing the air out of his lungs with a bear hug. A POWER SLAM earned him a two count, then he tagged Hawk back into the match. Animal hoisted Jannetty up onto his shoulders while Hawk climbed to the top rope and...WHAM! DOOMSDAY DEVICE. Chaz Taylor ran into the ring to break up the pinfall, but Animal cut him off with a huge clothesline. Earl Hebner dove into position as Hawk made the cover: one...two...no! Somehow, Jannetty got a shoulder up at two and nine-tenths.

Jannetty ducked under a clothesline and managed to make a desperation tag to his partner, but Taylor ran into the same Hawk-shaped brick wall as his partner. The Road Warrior brutalized him with a gorilla press slam, then a jumping fist drop to the back of his head. He raked Taylor's eyes just because he could, then flung him into the ropes and went for a dropkick...but Taylor hooked his arms over the top rope and Hawk crashed and burned. Taylor moved in cautiously and somehow managed a body slam, then sent Hawk into the ropes, only to telegraph a back body drop. Hawk leaped over him and grabbed his waist in a perfect sunset flip and Earl Hebner made the count: one...two...three!

WINNERS: The Road Warriors via pinfall (8:24) *


Rob Van Dam vs. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Referee: Dave Hebner

This match would determine the number one contender to the Great Muta's CWA Holovision Championship, so naturally, both men gave it their all. DiBiase came off the initial lock up with a side headlock, but RVD sent him into the ropes and nailed him with a karate kick. DiBiase fled to floor, only for Van Dam to follow, toss him a chair, and hit a Van Daminator. DiBiase just barely made it into the ring by Dave Hebner's count of ten, but Van Dam was waiting for him on the top rope. As soon as DiBiase found his feet, RVD flew from the turnbuckle with a cross body block and hooked DiBiase's leg as he made the cover. Hebner dove into position and counted the stunned Million Dollar Man down.

WINNER: Rob Van Dam via pinfall (3:48) *


In-Ring Promo: The Heenan Family

Bobby Heenan led "Handsome" Harley Race and the new CWA World Tag Team Champions, Rick Rude and Curt Henig, down to the ring. The Brain was the first man to speak, proclaiming July 9th as a day for celebration, because his men, Rick Rude and Curt Hennig, "have brought gold to the Family." He surrendered the microphone to Harley Race, who proclaimed in his gravelly voice that Jim Duggan's win over him was a fluke, and if he had any sort of manhood, he would agree to a rematch immediately. And if Hacksaw refused, well, Race just might track him down in the parking lot and--

You know it’s the MacMilitant…
Coming to get it on…

Once again, Teddy Long danced out from the back, telling Race to stop right there, because "Genie Teddy Long" was about to make his wish come true. He reiterated that Race wanted a piece of Duggan and got a condescending nod of agreement. Long said that was "fine, fine," because ever since the three of them had gotten Hulk Hogan banished from the CWA, there had been "a lot of raging Hulkamaniacs looking for a little payback," and that Jim Duggan was one of them. As if on cue, Duggan emerged from the back, his trusty two-by-four over his shoulder. He was followed fairly quickly by Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake, but no one else came out. Heenan was quick to accept the match: "Three on two? We'll take those odds!"

Long clarified that Heenan was saying he agreed to the match, and when Heena asserted (again, condescendingly) that he had, Long broke into a beaming smile. "That's good, because I saved the biggest Hulkamaniac for last, and he's coming straight for you, playa!"

Don't go messing' with a country boy...
A country boy...
A country boy...

The crowd erupted as Hillbilly Jim emerged from behind the curtain, joining his two teammates for the match. The three men shared a look, then charged the ring, sending the entire Heenan Family scattering.


Six-Man Tag Team Match: Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake, Hillbilly Jim & "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. "Handsome" Harley Race and CWA World Tag Team Champions "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & "Ravishing" Rick Rude (with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan)
Referee: Morgan Dollar

Before the match even started, Morgan Dollar insisted he wanted a fair match with a decisive winner...and with no outside interference. Over the very vocal protests of the Heenan Family, he ejected Bobby Heenan from ringside. At first, the Brain refused to leave, but Morgan Dollar gave him a ten count to vacate the area or he would award the match to Duggan, Beefcake, and Hillbilly Jim via disqualification. Heenan held up his hands and, despite a fe moments of stalling to briefly discuss strategy with his men, he was safely in the back by Dollar's count of eight.

With Heenan gone, his men seemed particularly aggressive. When Rick Rude started the match against Brutus Beefcake, the Ravishing one immediately scored with a drop-kick, a fierce clothesline, and a RUDE AWAKENING, though his signature move only earned a two-count. A quick tag brought Mr. Perfect into the match, and he continued to work over Beefcake's neck, hitting a rolling neck snap and then clamping on a sleeper, trying to put the Barber out with his own trademark hold. Beefcake was able to reach the ropes, and Hennig began punching him in the ribs, bringing Morgan Dollar over to chastise him. As Dollar led Hennig to a neutral corner, Harley Race came up to Brutus Beefcake--who was leaning on the ropes--reached up, and snapped his neck on the top rope, sending him crashing to the mat. Hennig charged in for another rolling neck snap and made the cover: one...two...three!

WINNERS: "Handsome" Harley Race, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig & "Ravishing" Rick Rude (3:18) ½


Matches aren't going very long tonight.
I know. Something definitely isn't right.
You thinking we were hacked again?
I don't know. There's no sign of it, but there's never a sign of it.
What do you want us to do?
Hold off on Warrior and Flair for a minute. Just check all the subsystems for coding errors--anything that stands out to you.
You got it, boss.


CWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair (ch) (with the Ultimate Warrior) vs. Lou Thesz
Referee: Buddy Rogers

Why is Warrior coming out with Flair?
Given that Flair just lost to him? I have no idea.
Did you program him as a second for the title match?
No. Did you?
Of course not.
They're still cycling red, every 4.8 seconds. And in opposing cycles.
Wait a second...Let me look at something...

The two competitors circled one another warily to start the match, but Thesz struck first, swooping in with a dropkick and knocking the champion off his feet. Thesz followed with an airplane spin, but he stood a little too close to the ropes, and the Ultimate Warrior grabbed his ankle, causing him to trip and fall to the mat (dumping Flair, as well). The champion bounced back almost immediately, charging at his challenger from behind and hitting a big chop block. Flair stretched the challenger's hamstring on the bottom rope twice, then casually tossed Thesz out of the ring, where Warrior was waiting. Flair's second scooped Thesz up and slammed him onto the floor mats at ringside, and Buddy Rogers immediately called for the bell.

WINNER: Lou Thesz via disqualification (7:41) ****


Post-Match Drama

Unhappy with Rogers' quick DQ, Flair got in Buddy Rogers' face and even pushed him. Rogers tugged on his own referee shirt, and said (though few could hear it) that Flair has just been fined five thousand dollars for putting his hands on an official. Flair tugged at his hair in frustration, and Warrior slid into the ring as well. Then Flair grabbed Gary Michael Cappetta's microphone.

"So this is how it's going...garble...We will not tolerate this. We want our wish Long, and we want Rogers back in the ring, and we want him...garble...in a steel cage!"

The crowd went wild for the announcement--or at least, for as much of it as they understood--and they began chanting Rogers' name.


Chiles Center Capacity: 4,852
Paid Attendance: 4,515
Cyberlink Views: 53,314

[Deleted]

Just wanted to let everyone know that Diane and I are back in our apartment! We have a lot of furniture to replace, but I’ll be back to posting CWA action soon.