Gunslinger presents L1

[Gunslinger]

L1 will feature four three-man teams competing against each other for the Fighting Spirit Cup in a round robin tournament. Points will be awarded for clean wins. Getting disqualified will deduct a point from the team's standings. Winning or defending the L-1 Fighting Spirit Crown is worth an additional point.

L1 will run in three phases of six three-match cards each. At the end of phase three, the Fighting Spirit Cup will be awarded. Phase 1 will begin once the L1 Fighting Spirit Crown tournament is over.

Let the qualifying rounds of the Fighting Spirit Crown tournament begin...

[Gunslinger]

L1 preseason series
Episode 1 - Qualifiers:
It was announced that the four team captains, Antonio Inoki, Strangler Lewis, Rikidozan, and the Destroyer, will meet the winners of tonight's matches next week. Once the L1 Fighting Spirit Crown is awarded, the team rosters will be announced.

Angelo Mosca vs. Brent Albright:
Mosca battered and bruised Albright in the opening minutes. Albright recovered and hit the Exploder suplex and the 6-1-Knee for a near fall. Mosca left the ring and slammed Albright into the table. Once they were back in the ring, Albright regained control and hit the half nelson suplex for a near fall. Mosca recovered and took the match to the outside once again. The action returned to the ring. Mosca whipped Albright into the buckles. Albright got his knees up and then clamped the Crowbar on the dazed Mosca for the win.


Dan Severn vs. Dick Hutton:
Severn and Hutton were very evenly matched. Severn made a fateful mistake and Hutton struck hard, wearing Severn down with repeated Abdominal Stretches and Oklhoma Siderolls before getting the submission via the Abdominal Stretch.

Erick Stevens vs. Frank Gotch:
Stevens attacked Gotch with ferocity and brought the crowd back to life. Stevens got a near fall with the Choo Choo splash and another with the Doctor Bomb. Gotch bounced back and attacked Steven's legs, using the knee bar and the Gotch Toe Hold but Stevens wouldn't submit. Finally, Gotch dragged Stevens to the center of the ring and locked on the Gotch Toe Hold for the submission.

George Hackenschmidt vs. Steve Williams:
The two strongest men in the federation locked up and hit hard. Though Williams had the strength advantage, Hackenschmidt seemed to be craftier. Hackenschmidt wore down Williams and got the win with the Russian Bear Hug to advance.

next episode - first round matches:

• Strangler Lewis vs. Brent Albright
  
• Antonio Inoki vs. Dick Hutton
  
• Rikidozan vs. Frank Gotch
  
• The Destroyer vs. George Hackenschmidt
  

[toasterboy]

Awesome! Can't wait to see how it all plays out!

[Gunslinger]

L1 preseason series
Episode 2 - Opening round of the L1 Fighting Spirit Crown tournament:
Strangler Lewis vs. Brent Albright:
This match was a test of endurance for both men. Lewis focuses his attacks on Albright's arm with the double wristlock in an effort to neutralize Albright's finish hold, the Crowbar. Albright, on the other hand, worked on Lewis's neck and shoulders with his arsenal of suplexes. Both men grew frustrated, neither able to hold the advantage for long. The match spilled to the floor twice and the referee nearly lost control. Albright got a near fall with the sharpshooter before locking on the Crowbar for the surprise win.

Antonio Inoki vs. Dick Hutton:
Hutton started strong, even managing to lock the Abdominal Stretch on Inoki. Inoki fought back, hitting Hutton with two Enzuigiri's and clamping on the Octopus Hold. Still, Hutton fought back. Inoki managed to get the win after a turning a sunset flip into the the Bow and Arrow for the submission.

Rikidozan vs. Frank Gotch:
Rikidozan and Frank Gotch fought a heated match. Gotch pitted his submission mastery against Rikidozan's vicious strikes. Gotch clamped on the Gotch Toe Hold twice but Rikidozan was twice able to get to the ropes. Rikidozan took control when Gotch tossed him to the floor in frustration and began battering Gotch mercilessly with barrages of Thunderous Chops. Finally, when Gotch seemed to be out on his feet, Rikidozan hit the Hiplock for the win.

The Destroyer vs. George Hackenschmidt:
The Destroyer fought hard but was no match for the Russian Lion. Hackenschmidt picked apart The Destroyers defenses before forcing him to submit to several applications of the Russian Bear Hug.

Next episode:

• Brent Albright vs. Antonio Inoki
  
• Rikidozan vs. George Hackenschmidt
  
• The L1 Fighting Spirit Crown is awarded
  

[Gunslinger]

L1 preseason series
Episode 3 - Second round and finals of the L1 Fighting Spirit Crown tournament:
Brent Albright vs. Antonio Inoki:
Albright, the sentimental crowd favorite, took the fight to Inoki right away. Inoki bounced back from a barrage of suplexes and scored a near fall with his belly to back suplex. Albright took a beating and came back with a near fall via the sharpshooter. Inoki got to the ropes and mounted his own comeback, hitting another belly to back suplex and two Enzuigiris before making Albright submit to the Octopus Hold. Inoki shook Albright's hand after the match.

Rikidozan vs. George Hackenschmidt:
The Russian Lion put up a good fight but did little better than his arch-nemesis Frank Gotch. Hackenschmidt was bleeding from Rikidozan's chopping onslaught before being knocked into unconsciousness via the Thunderous Chops.

Antonio Inoki vs. Rikidozan:
The battle of teacher vs. student was a brutal one. Both men stung each other with devastating strikes. Rikidozan scored two near falls with Hiplocks. Inoki nearly knocked his mentor out with two Enzuigiris. Rikidozan finally got the win with the Piledriver to be awarded the first Fighting Spirit Crown championship.

Team Rosters:
Rikidozan, George Hackenschmidt, and Brent Albright
The Destroyer, Frank Gotch, and Angelo Mosca
Antonio Inoki, Dan Severn, and Erick Stevens
Strangler Lewis, Steve Williams, and Dick Hutton

next episode - Phase 1 begins:

• Angelo Mosca vs. Erick Stevens
  
• The Destroyer vs. Antonio Inoki
  
• Frank Gotch vs. Dan Severn
  

[jasonjaconetti]

A good showing by Albright, especially looking at the other top talent involved. Good job, as usual.

[Gunslinger]

L1 Fighting Spirit Cup
Phase 1:
Day 1:
Angelo Mosca vs. Erick Stevens:
Mosca battered the youngster but Stevens would not admit defeat. He battled back and pinned Big Nasty with the Doctor Bomb.

The Destroyer vs. Antonio Inoki:
Inoki took over from the opening bell and never let up. He worked on The Destroyer's neck and shoulders with the Octopus before pinning him following a brutal Enzuigiri.

Frank Gotch vs. Dan Severn:
Gotch showed why many consider him the best wrestler in the world. He worked on Severn's knees with the Rolling Knee Bar before making Severn submit to the crossface and armbar.

Day 2:
Brent Albright vs. Dick Hutton:
Albright and Hutton twisted each other into knots but neither man would submit. Albright was able to overcome Hutton's offense long enough to hit the 6-1-Knee for the win. After the match Hutton and Albright shoot hands.

George Hackenschmidt vs. Steve Williams:
In a rematch from the Fighting Spirit Crown tournament, these two bulls pummelled each other viciously. Williams took the advantage after a lariat and got the win with the Oklahoma stampede.

Rikidozan vs. Strangler Lewis - Fighting Spirit Crown:
Lewis's usual wear down tactics were ineffective against the fury of Rikidozan's brutal strikes. Rikidozan bloodied Lewis with Thunderous Chops before pinning him following a hiplock.

Day 3:
Dick Hutton vs. Erick Stevens:
Stevens took the fight to Hutton but Hutton's technical ability and strength adantage were too much for the ounger. Hutton forced Steens to submit to the abdominal stretch.

Steve Williams vs. Dan Severn:
Severn tried to out-wrestling Williams but his strength advantage was too much to overcome. Williams go the win with the football tackle.

Strangler Lewis vs. Antonio Inoki:
This match went 30 minutes, exhausting both the competitors and the crowd. Lewis managed to make Inoki submit to the Strangler's Headlock to end the grueling encounter.

Day 4:
Brent Albright vs. Erick Stevens:
This battle of the young lions stole the show. Although Albright withstood four Doctor Bombs, Stevens managed to put him away with the Choo-Choo splash.

George Hackenschmidt vs. Dan Severn:
Hackenschmidt bulldozed Severn from the opening bell, winning with the Russian Bear Hug.

Rikidozan vs. Antonio Inoki - Fighting Spirit Crown:
Inoki and Rikidozan punished each other with brutal strikes but neither man could hold the advantage for long. Rikidozan eventually put Inoki down with the piledriver and knocked him senseless with the Thunderous chops for the win.


Day 5:
Dick Hutton vs. Angelo Mosca:
Hutton wowed the crowd by out-wrestling Mosca and not backing down when Mosca resorted to brawling tactics. Hutton put the big man away with his punishing Abdominal Stretch.

Steve Williams vs. Frank Gotch:
The crowd came alive for this battle of differing styles, the wrestling ability of Gotch vs. the power game of Williams. Gotch just couldn't overcome William's strength advantage and was nearly knocked unconscious by the football tackle Williams used to gain the victory.

Strangler Lewis vs The Destroyer:
Lewis's usual tactic of waiting for his opponent to make a mistake served him well. The Destroyer missed a leap from the top and Lewis wore him down and put him away with the Strangler's Headlocks.


Day 6:
Brent Albright vs. Angelo Mosca:
Mosca batted and bruised Albright but once again, Albright rebounded and wore Mosca down with the Crowbar and his arsenal of suplexes. Albright used the Half Nelson Suplex to put Big Nasty down for the count.

George Hackenschmidt vs. Frank Gotch:
Hackenschmidt and his hated rival wrestled a fast-paced match with neither man able to hold the advantage for long. Hackenschmidt whipped Gotch into the ropes, enabling Gotch to take the advantage. Gotch got the submission win with the Gotch Toe Hold.

Rikidozan vs The Destryer - Fighting Spirit Crown:
The Destroyer started strong but Rikidozan quickly turned the match around with his vicious strikes. The Destroyer regained the advantage but couldn't make Rikidozan submit to the Figure Four. Finally, the Destroyer gave Rikidozan a brutal Sensational Suplex for the win AND the Fighting Spirit Crown.

Standings at the end of phase 1:
Destroyer - 4
Antonio Inoki - 3
Rikidozan - 7
Strangler Lewis - 7