With a few days before Robot Santa comes hurtling down the chimney to announce the return of ChrismHanuKwan, tonight’s episode of War Zone is the last new programming of the year before the GWF presents KINGDOM COME. The GWF rounded out their card by announcing a few match on their website earlier in the week, but there is still some wok to be done. Tonight, we should see some kind of announcement as to what will happen with Disaster at the PPV, as well as further build for the giant Fatal Four Way Main Event. But what else do we have in store?
Let’s go to the ring….and hey, if you don’t know what to get me for ChrismHanuKwan, send cash!
Main StoryThe central theme of the night was a very direct build for the main event of Kingdom Come. The two “good guys” Endgame and Swarm were going to have to set aside their differences to take on the unified front of Switchblade and Anarchy.
Eclipse and Overtime were added to the mix because of their skirmish at the end of last week’s show.
War Zone started with Tom Filsinger standing in the ring alongside his ‘Inner Circle.’ He began by officially booking Overtime vs. Eclipse for the PPV. As OT put it, “Eclipse is a washed up old has-been who has no dayum right to stick his nose into mah business.”
Tom proceeded to cut a scathing promo about how determined he was to take the Universal Title off of Endgame. And that, even though he had the authority to do so, he would not strip Endgame of the belt: “I’m going to prove to you that I AM the better man, you sanctimonious fraud, by having one of my men take that tile off of you if it’s the last thing I do!”
Of course, he was also angry because Swarm had ruined his plans ad continues to be a thorn in his side and a hero to the fans: “Swarm, you masked freak, the only thing worse than Endgame as the face of MY company would be to have you walk out of KINGDOM COME as the Universal Champion. It won’t happen! As a matter of fact, if I have my way, you won’t even make it to KINGDOM COME Swarm. You’ll be watching from a hospital gurney!”
During the show, we got backstage segments where the Inner Circle psyched each other up, showing they were on the same page. But of course (IT’S BOOKING 101!) the good guys were most definitely not on the same page. They may not have even been on the same book. Swarm shoved both Eclipse and Endgame backstage and reminded the champ that there would be “no friends” in the main event of KINGDOM COME.
When the match started, this poor chemistry affected ‘our heroes’ right away. Swarm tagged himself in only to get caught with a big boot in the face by Anarchy, and Endgame missed several early defensive tags which might have turned things around. Strangely enough, the most impressive performance was put on by Eclipse, who delivered a sickening kick to Switchblade and then revered a turnbuckle charge and nearly kicked OT’s head off with a spinning back heel kick.
Eventually, Endgame was able to team up with Eclipse and send OT crashing to the mat with a double dropkick. Endgame delivered the ULTIMA LEAP and the crowd went wild, but Anarchy made the save and the match quickly deteriorated into a wild six man brawl. Overtime drilled Eclipse with a spear and the two men rolled out of the ring. Swarm and Endgame backdrop Anarchy out of the ring. Swarm tangles with Switchblade, and Endgame tries to get back to his corner, but stops to attack Anarchy, who has gotten his hands on a steel chair.
Still tangling, Switchblade manages to duck under a clothesline and send Swarm stumbling forward at the EXACT same time that Endgame yanks that chair out of Anarchy’s grasp. The move sends the chair sailing behind Endgame and directly into Swarm’s face!!! Swarm stumbles back and straight into Switchblade’s FAITH!!! 1..2..3!
With Swarm down on the ground, Anarchy slides into the ring and grabs Endgame from behind and delivers a GIANT choke slam!
As War Zone going off the air, Anarchy and Switchblade stand in the ring over the laid out bodies of Endgame and Swarm. With KINGDOM COME on it’s way, will one of these two men
finally take the Universal Title off of Endgame?
In Other Action--In a match that absolutely stole the show, ‘Sensational’ Sonny Owens successfully defended his title against the high-flying Tristan.
After the match, Tanck leaped out of the audience and slid under the ring and absolutely CRUSHED Owens with a clothesline from behind. Tanck then applied a full-nelson and viciously swung Owens around the ring. Tanck then applied the Show of Power. With Owens seemingly out on the mat, Tanck went outside to grab the IP title. Tanck climbed onto the ring apron…
AND OWENS LEAPED UP AND DELIVERED A PELE KICK THAT DROVE THE TITLE INTO TANCK’S FACE!!!The crowd went nuts as Tanck spilled out onto the ring floor. The two men jawed at each other as security broke up the skirmish.
--Encubus beat The Betrayer with COSMIC BIG BANG. After the match, The Troubleshooters tried to come out to the ring, but they were headed off at the pass by Bloodline who ran out wielding a steel chair. Encubus looked surprised. The ‘Shooters eventually stormed back up the ramp. Bloodline went into the ring. Encubus approached him as if to ask, “Are you ready?”
Bloodline looked out in the crowd. The crowd cheered.
Encubus offered his hand.
Bloodline hesitated
Yes…no…ye-…YESSSSSS!!!! Bloodline takes his hand! MEGA-POWER HANDSHAKE!!! MEGA-POWER HANDSHAKE!!!
The Angry Young Men are back!!!!!
--Payback cut a promo backstage saying that he was going to put the GWF on notice: HARDCORE was back. He was putting out an open challenge to any man, any where, to face him in a Hardcore Titan Death Match.
The first one to answer was Payback’s opponent from last week, Steele Freak. The two men had a wild battle that included Freak delivering a wicked bulldog on PB onto the ring-steps and Payback spearing Freak through a locker backstage. The match would eventually spill into the parking lot, through the catering area (where Freak took a cheesecake to the head) and back into the arena. Payback delivered a pumphandle slam onto the entrance ramp. And then, in a dazzling display of athleticism, ran up one of the holo-screens and delivered an EXVENGE!!!! Highly entertaining hardcore match.
--Kill Prey fought Anivar to a surprisingly short double DQ. After the match, KP was joined in the ring by The Colonizers. The three men challenged Anivar to a three-on-three match at KINGDOM COME. Anivar agreed and said that he had a partner in mind, and out came American Guy.
Kill Prey: “Ohhhhhh…that’s convenient. It’s too bad that Guy’s partner Minotaur got his skull bashed in last week. So who does he team up with next, Antwerp?”
Guy: “Kill PUKE…are you as stupid as you look?
Have you forgotten that I happen to have a partner who is one of the greatest tag wrestlers in the history of the GWF…a man who helped me win multiple Universal Tag Titles…come on out here…US MALE!!! (the crowd goes nuts) IT’S TIME FOR THE RETURN OF…STARS N STRIPES!!!!”
The crowd gives a nice pop for the announcement and it looks like Kill Prey will team up with The Colonizers to face Anivar and SNS at KINGDOM COME.
--Finally, in the latest chapter of the Disaster Storyline, Paralyze stormed into GWF owner Tom Filsinger’s office and actually tried to attack the owner this time. Commissioner Massif leaped into his path and Paralyze sent him crashing through a glass trophy case. Massif was busted open and his face was the proverbial ‘crimson mask.’ Tom Filsinger seemed incensed, and suspended Paralyze on the spot.
When the other Gladiators protested, Tom responded: “You meatheads wanted to get your hands on Disaster? Well this is your chance…Disaster come in here and choose your opponent for KINGDOM COME…”
Disaster walked into the office, his arms and legs moving stiffly, and looked around, seemingly confused.
Tom ordered Disaster to choose.
Disaster shook, stuttered, and then whipped out one massive hand and smashed Havoc in the face. Havoc responded with a clothesline attempt, but Disaster caught him in mid-air and delivered a nasty RAMPAGE that sent Havoc through a desk.
The office was trashed. And Disaster stood there perfectly still before looking into the camera and murmuring:
“HHHHHHHHEEEEEEEELLLLLPPPPpppp MMMEEEEeeeeeeeee….”
Over-all: The Disaster storyline is creepy and weird, but I’m not sure where they are going with this. Brainwashing? Permanent character change? Is this in response to the Darwin’s Legacy/Puma storylines in CPC? Also, it seems like they arre going to use Payback’s raw athletic ability to help give him a push with this new hardcore challenge angle. The main event and the IP title were very good and the PPV has been set up nicely, even with one less show than normal this month.
Quick ResultsKill Prey draw with Anivar via DQ *1/2
Encubus beat The Betrayer **
Payback beat Steele Freak in a Hardcore Titan Death Match ***
Sonny Owens beat Tristan ****
The Inner Circle beat Endgame, Swarm, and Eclipse ***