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NDW Week 27 - Dawning of a New Era

Critic of the DawnPosted on 04/30/04 at 20:51:07

Wow.  Week 26 was great... but I wasn't too happy with how the contract renegotiations went.  I lost a few guys who I really would rather have kept under contract.  This will be addressed over the course of the coming card, however.  On the plus side, this week sees even more fresh new talent coming into NDW.  Hopefully it will be able to replace that which has been lost.

*****

Doug Basham & Insane Dragon vs. Chris Harris & a partner to be named

And... It's Jerry Lawler!  What the hell is Chris Harris doing with The King?  Couldn't he find anyone else?

Insane Dragon executes the Dragon Driver on Chris Harris.
Mike Sparks counts: One, two, three.
The crowd is going crazy.

The winners are Doug Basham and Insane Dragon. Time of match: 0:14:23

Number-One-Contenders-Match:
Doug Basham and Insane Dragon defeated Chris Harris and Jerry Lawler when
I. Dragon pinned C. Harris with the Dragon Driver in 0:14:23.
Rating: ***

How Chris Harris convinced Jerry Lawler to take the place of James Storm may never be fully known or understood.  What is clear, however, is that Lawler spent the majority of this match on the outside of the ring watching the other three wrestlers with an appraising eye.  Not surprisingly, since Lawler proved to be fairly unreliable as a partner Basham and Dragon defeated him and Chris Harris to remain top contenders for the Global Tag Team Titles.

(Lawler leisurely moves backstage to The Royal Court's dressing room, where
Prince Nana and The Undertaker can be seen.)

Jerry Lawler: Hi everybody!

Prince Nana: Good evening to you, King.  How did your reconaissance effort go?

Jerry Lawler: Man, it's worse than I thought.  Insane Dragon and Doug Basham
are really good together, which means they have at least a decent chance at
taking The Royal Court's Tag Team Titles!

The Undertaker: Jerry, perhaps you didn't notice, but Nana and Sabin have
already lost the Tag Team Titles.

Jerry Lawler: You think I don't know that?  Please.  I want you and Prince
Nana to get them back.  Working together as The Royal Court's main tag team,
the two of you would be unstoppable!  I even thought of a clever name.  The
Princes of Darkness!  Neat, huh?

Prince Nana: Er... yes.  Very nice, King...  May I talk to you for a moment
alone?

(Jerry Lawler nods, and The Undertaker leaves the room.)

Prince Nana: King, I would rather not team up with The Undertaker.  He makes me
nervous, and I can't help but worry that he isn't devoted to our cause.

Jerry Lawler: Relax Nana.  I'm here, and there's no way he'd go against me.  
Everything'll be just fine, and you two will get along great in time.  Just
give the big lug a chance!

The Future vs. A mystery team

And...  it's Julio Dinero with... A-Train?  That was unexpected!

Nick Patrick is sporting a dazed look but is back on the job.
Julio Dinero tags out to A-Train.
A-Train and Julio Dinero whip Chance Beckett into the ropes.
They hit Chance Beckett with a double fist to the midsection.
A-Train and Julio Dinero whip Chance Beckett into the ropes.
They hit Chance Beckett with a double clothesline.
Julio Dinero leaves the ring.
A-Train gets a chokehold on Chance Beckett.
Nick Patrick warns A-Train to let go.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, three.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, three.
A-Train hits a clothesline on Chance Beckett.
A-Train nails Chance Beckett with an armbar takedown.
A portion of the crowd is booing A-Train.
A-Train executes the Train Wreck on Chance Beckett.
A portion of the crowd is booing A-Train.
A-Train goes for the pin.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, Xavier doesn't make it in time... three.
A portion of the crowd is cheering A-Train.

A-Train and Julio Dinero defeated The Future (Chance Beckett and Xavier) when
A-Train pinned Beckett with the Train Wreck in 0:18:40.
Rating: ** 3/4

Having been told they would face a mystery team handpicked by NDW management, The Future came to the ring for a nontitle contest.  Their opponents, A-Train and Julio Dinero, came as something of a surprise to most of the audience, as these two men have never teamed up before.  They proved quite nicely that A-Train's size and power complimented Dinero's brutality very effectively, however, and actually managed to get a rare win over The Future, which puts them into immediate contention for The Future's Tag Team Titles.

The Briscoe Brothers vs. a mystery team

You... look... so... Good to me!

The Briscoes are facing Billy And Chuck?  This should be... interesting.

Chuck Palumbo uses a shoulderbreaker on Jay Briscoe.
Chuck Palumbo goes for a roundhouse right, but Jay Briscoe counters it with
an armbreaker.
Jay Briscoe gives the sign for the J-Driller.
Jay Briscoe executes the J-Driller on Chuck Palumbo.
Jay Briscoe goes for the pin.
Mike Sparks counts: One, two, three.
Jay Briscoe is starting to get more cheers than boos.

The winners are The Briscoe Bros.. Time of match: 0:15:00

The Briscoe Bros. (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) defeated
Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo when J. Briscoe pinned C. Palumbo with the
J-Driller in 0:15:00.
Rating: ***
[Torrie Wilson interfered against Mark Briscoe.]

This is shaping up to be a night of huge surprises indeed!  The Briscoe Brothers came out not knowing who they would face, only to find themselves confronted by the notorious pairing of Billy and Chuck!  Billy and Chuck fought well, but they proved unable to overcome the seasoned duo of The Briscoe Brothers.  Despite this loss, Billy and Chuck should do well in NDW, providing they stay well away from their old gimmick...

(The camera pans in on Edge, who is lying in a hospital bed.  From the looks of
him, he's not in a lot of pain.)

Edge: I just thought I'd take this opportunity to tell everone that I'm going
to be just fine after Mark Briscoe's attack last week.  A few cuts and bruises
have never stopped me before, and I'll be damned if they will now.  Now that
I've had a bit of time to think, however, I've noticed something.  The Royal
Court is a nuisance, but there's a far worse factor inside of NDW today.  One
might almost call it a boil on the face of NDW.  Now I'm no doctor, but from
what I understand, the only way to get rid of a boil is to lance it.  And I
think I have just the Spear for the job.  So get ready, Hardy.  I'm watching
you.

"The Original X-T-C" Jimmy Rave vs. Sean O'Haire

Jimmy Rave executes the Running Forearm Smash on Sean O'Haire.
Earl Hebner counts: One, two, shoulder up.
Jimmy Rave whips Sean O'Haire into the ropes.
Jimmy Rave hits Sean O'Haire with an elbow.
Jimmy Rave is going for the cover.
Earl Hebner counts: One, two, kickout.
Jimmy Rave goes for a tiger suplex, but Sean O'Haire counters it with
a backward kick.
Sean O'Haire whips Jimmy Rave into the ropes.
Nidia pulls down the top rope.
Earl Hebner threatens Sean O'Haire with disqualification.
Sean O'Haire goes for a plancha, but Jimmy Rave moves out of the way.
Sean O'Haire is out cold.
Jimmy Rave throws Sean O'Haire back into the ring.
Jimmy Rave executes the Satellite Crossface on Sean O'Haire.
Sean O'Haire tries to escape the hold.
Sean O'Haire is inching his way towards the ropes.
Sean O'Haire is valiantly trying to break the hold.
Sean O'Haire tries to fight the pain.
Sean O'Haire submits after 30 seconds.
The crowd is on its feet cheering for Jimmy Rave.

The winner is Jimmy Rave. Time of match: 0:09:59

Jimmy Rave made Sean O'Haire submit to the Satellite Crossface in 0:09:59.
Rating: ****
[Nidia interfered against Jimmy Rave.]
(Slash no-showed.)

Jimmy Rave was supposed to be facing Slash again here this week, but prior comittments kept Slash away.  Therefore, Jimmy Rave faced Sean O'Haire in a very competitive and alltogether gripping match in which he showed just how versatile he is, putting on his second **** match in as many weeks, this time against an opponent he hadn't prepared for.  Rave got the victory with his devestating Sattelite Crossface.

"Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright vs. Funaki

Alex Wright executes a back heel kick on Funaki.
Alex Wright goes for a back heel kick, but Funaki counters it with a legsweep.
Funaki executes a dropkick to the face on Alex Wright.
Funaki executes a dropkick to the face on Alex Wright.
Alex Wright begs off.
Funaki throws Alex Wright out of the ring.
Funaki goes for a tope, but Alex Wright moves out of the way.
Funaki is out cold.
You can hear a few scattered fans booing Alex Wright.
Alex Wright throws Funaki back into the ring.
Alex Wright executes the Reverse Neckbreaker on Funaki.
You can hear a few scattered fans booing Alex Wright.
Alex Wright goes for the pin.
Charles Robinson counts: One, two, three.
A few fans are booing Alex Wright.

The winner is Alex Wright. Time of match: 0:09:11

Alex Wright pinned Funaki with the Reverse Neckbreaker in 0:09:11.
Rating: * 3/4

Alex Wright goes over Funaki convincingly here in an unremarkable match.  Wright seemed to have little trouble keeping up with his smaller opponent, and was able to grab the victory with relative ease after his brutal Reverse Neckbreaker.

Prince Nana vs. Chris "HAIL" Sabin

Chris Sabin goes for a punch, but Prince Nana reverses it.
Prince Nana goes for a powerslam, but Chris Sabin counters it with
a high cross body.
Charles Robinson counts: One, two, kickout.
Jerry Lawler throws Prince Nana a keyboard.
Prince Nana tries to use it, but Chris Sabin blocks the blow and
takes it away from him.
Chris Sabin hits Prince Nana with it and goes for the pin.
Charles Robinson counts: One, two, The Undertaker distracts Charles Robinson.
Charles Robinson disqualifies Prince Nana.
The chants for Chris Sabin are deafening.

The winner is Chris Sabin. Time of match: 0:02:02

Chris Sabin defeated Prince Nana by disqualification in 0:02:02.
Rating: * 3/4
[Jerry Lawler and The Undertaker interfered against Chris Sabin.]

Oh dear.  That didn't go well.  The Royal Court might not have defeated Chris Sabin, but they certainly did beat him down effectively after the match.  Within a minute, Sabin had been laid out, first by an Elevated DDT, then a Tombstone, and finally a Piledriver served as the exclamation point.  Just brutal.

Jamie Noble vs. Matt Hardy vs. "The Amazing" Red

Matt Hardy hits Jamie Noble with a low blow.
Matt Hardy tags out to Red.
Red hits a vertical suplex on Jamie Noble.
Red nails Jamie Noble with a roundhouse kick.
The crowd is giving Red a standing ovation.
Red executes the InfraRed on Jamie Noble.
The crowd is giving Red a standing ovation.
Red goes for the pin.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, Matt Hardy doesn't make it in time... three.
The crowd erupts.

The winner is Red. Time of match: 0:01:45

Triangle Match:
Red defeated Matt Hardy and Jamie Noble when Red pinned Noble with the InfraRed
in 0:01:45.
Rating: **

That didn't take long at all.  Jamie Noble went down fast to the InfreRed by The Amazing Red, who quickly bailed out of the ring before Hardy could get to him.  With no other handy targets, Hardy shrugged and hit Jamie Noble with a Twist of Fate for losing to somebody who wasn't named "Matt Hardy."

Deranged vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler

Deranged runs into the ropes.
Deranged hits a spinning headscissors into an armdrag on Jerry Lawler.
Deranged nails Jerry Lawler with a standing moonsault.
Rudy Charles counts: One, two, three.
The crowd is giving Deranged a standing ovation.

The winner is Deranged. Time of match: 0:01:32

Deranged pinned Jerry Lawler after a standing moonsault in 0:01:32.
Rating: **

Another fast victory, this one by Deranged over Jerry "The King" Lawler.  Lawler was, naturally, furious, and he called out The Royal Court to assist him in yet another post-match beatdown.  Before he could, however, a voice boomed out over the PA system.

(A voice speaks over the PA system.)

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  Before we continue tonight's card, an
unfortunate matter has come to our attention.  It seems that a certain pair of
individuals have been actively conspiring to seriously injure another NDW
employee.  While we realize that competition in a sport as violent as wrestling
may sometimes result in injury, we feel that employing people who would
deliberately seek to seriously hurt others sets a very bad precedent.  
Therefore, as of midnight, we are terminating the contracts of Jerry "The King"
Lawler and Mark Briscoe.  Thank you for your patience.

Marcos vs. "The Prince of Darkness" The Undertaker

Marcos goes for a sleeperhold, but The Undertaker counters it with a back suplex
.
The Undertaker takes Marcos down with a bodyslam turnbuckle smash.
The Undertaker goes for a powerslam, but Marcos counters it with a lariat.
Marcos goes for a chokehold, but The Undertaker counters it with
a kick to the midsection.
The Undertaker nails Marcos with a roundhouse right.
The Undertaker nails Marcos with a DDT.
The decibel level in the building is unbelievable.
The Undertaker uses a power bomb on Marcos.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up.
The Undertaker runs into the ropes.
The Undertaker misses with a kick.
The Undertaker executes a flying clothesline on Marcos.
The Undertaker executes the Tombstone on Marcos.
The Undertaker goes for the pin.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, three.
The Undertaker is being booed out of the building.

The Undertaker pinned Marcos with the Tombstone in 0:13:41.
Rating: *** 1/2

No doubt shocked by what had just happened, The Undertaker seemed to be a bit off of his game.  As a result, Marcos got quite a bit of offense in against the big man, hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink before 'Taker finally scored with the Tombstone and put him away.

Your Main Event:
Chris Hero defends his Global Heavyweight Title in an open challenge!

And Xavier's music hits!  Xavier is making his way to the ring to face Hero!

Xavier hits Chris Hero with a vertical suplex.
Xavier hits Chris Hero with a dropkick.
Xavier executes the Running Forearm Smash on Chris Hero.
Xavier pulls the tights.
Earl Hebner counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up.
Xavier executes a high knee on Chris Hero.
Xavier nails Chris Hero with a high knee.
Xavier goes for a Northern Lights suplex, but Chris Hero blocks it.
Chris Hero hits Xavier with a kick to the midsection.
Chris Hero hits a series of forearm smashes on Xavier.
Chris Hero whips Xavier into the ropes.
Xavier hits Chris Hero with a shoulderblock.
Xavier executes a forearm to the back on Chris Hero.
Xavier executes a flying kneedrop on Chris Hero.
The arena is exploding in a chorus of boos.
Xavier gives the sign for the Kiss Your X Goodbye.
Xavier executes the Kiss Your X Goodbye on Chris Hero.
Numerous fans are using Xavier for target practice.
Xavier goes for the pin.
Earl Hebner counts: One, two, three.
The crowd is vociferously booing Xavier.

The winner is Xavier. Time of match: 0:13:35

Xavier pinned Chris Hero with the Kiss Your X Goodbye in 0:13:35.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Xavier won the Global Heavyweight Title.)

Here is your winner... and NEW Global Heavyweight Champion... Xavier!

Chris Hero once again called out anyone in the back who wanted a shot at his Global Heavyweight Title, but this time he got a real challenge, 1/2 of the Global Tag Team Champions, Xavier!  Xavier proved far more resiliant than many of Hero's past opponents, and when all was said and done, he was able to pick up the victory after an impressive match when Chris Hero Kissed His X Goodbye!

Of course, this means that for the first time ever, NDW has a double champion in Xavier, who holds both the Tag Team Titles with Chance Beckett and the Heavyweight Title.  That's a lot of gold.

Following his defeat, Chris Hero grabbed a microphone and announced to the crowd that due to a family crisis, he had no choice but to depart from NDW.  Perhaps if things are resolved, he might be able to return someday, but for the time being, we had seen the last of him.

After a moment, he was joined by Jerry Lawler, Mark Briscoe, and (surprisingly to many) Jamie Noble, who all stood together in the NDW ring one last time as the crowd broke out into a "Please Don't Go!" chant as the show closed.

Card rating: ** 3/4

Match of the Evening: Xavier vs. Chris Hero

This truly *was* the dawning of a new era.  With Jamie Noble, Mark Briscoe, Jerry Lawler and Chris Hero all departing, things will be very different in the future.  As the excellent main event along with great matches by workers like Jimmy Rave and The Undertaker showed, however, this new era should be at least as good as the old.

Next week is our first step into that era, and thus it should be a true event.

Edge, Chris Sabin and Deranged will team up together to face The Undertaker, Prince Nana and Alex Wright in a 6-man tag team return match from Time's Up.  Both Jerry Lawler and Chris Hero are gone, and Sabin and Undertaker have switched sides, but that shouldn't hurt the intensity of the match any.

Jimmy Rave and Slash will put aside their differences next week to take on the dangerous new duo of A-Train and Julio Dinero.  Dinero and Train showed how impressive they could be this week by going over the Tag Team Champions, but Rave and Slash are both excellent workers capable of anything.

Finally, The Future will defend their Tag Team gold against the top contenders - Doug Basham and Insane Dragon.  Basham and Dragon have showed just how effective they can be together by defeating The Victors, so The Future will have to be very careful not to underestimate this new duo.

It should be a great night of wrestling.  See you then.  Good night.

*****

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
Rick GarrardPosted on 05/01/04 at 01:37:54

ah the ever fun contract time  :)

Lawler and Harris?  somebody's got some 'splainin' to do!  Lawler... is gonna get a tombstone at some point.  :)  and it's gonna be a mark out moment!

ATrain and Dinero!  They could be a formidable contender indeed!

the debut of Chuckabilly!  YES!  What a GREAT tag team!  :)  things in the NDW tag team division are starting to get REAL interesting will the influx of talent on this card.

Edge sets his sights on Hardy!  Guaranteed high spot mayhem when Edge gets healthy!

It's a shame Slash no showed.  But it looks like Rave has what it takes in NDW.

Poor Sabin.  Funny that Taker cost the Court a match though.  

Hardy is a thug.. plain and simple... a bitter thug.

THE VOICE has spoken.. no more Briscoe or The King!  WOW!   THAT's BIG NEWS!

Xavier the NEW champ!  and first double champ of NDW!  gotta love open contracts.

were the four of them the NDW Kliq?  hmm.... wonder what the future will hold?  ;)

next week's card is a real crackerjack!
Critic of the DawnPosted on 05/01/04 at 02:39:02

The funny thing is that Lawler had only just declined to resign his contract and was wrestling his final card, but TNM brought him in as a mystery wrestler.  I was very tempted to resign him on the spot because of how central he was as a major heel, but since I had already decided to publically fire him later in the show, it didn't fly.  Sorry Jerry.  I'm sure we'll see him again at the Royal Rumble Thingy.

A-Train and Dinero were next on the long list of random wrestlers that I had come up with.  They've got virtually nothing in common, but they managed to whomp the Tag Team Champs in their very first match, so I'm quite pleased with their abilities.

I groaned when Billy and Chuck came in, and as sad is it might be, I'm going to keep them away from the whole gay gimmick.  They've already admitted they were faking on national television, after all, so it'd just be odd if I ignored that.  I expect some heels might bring up old memories to get under their skin, however.

Edge and Hardy have faced each other once or twice before, but never with any storyline behind it.  With the Royal Court occupied with the loss of their leader, Edge should have plenty of time to concentrate on a new foe.  It should be interesting to see how Hardy responds to Edge's provocations.  He strikes me as a slightly less subtle guy than Lawler, so I expect he'll try the direct approach rather than trying to get people to do his dirty work for him.

Jimmy Rave has impressed the hell out of me, and it looks like he'd be a great replacement for Jamie Noble... unfortunately, he declined to sign a longterm contract with NDW, so next week is his last show.  Shame.  Everything he's touched has turned to gold.

It's quite possible that Sabin deserves everything he got.  Even I don't know whether he's been playing Edge and The Royal Court against each other, or whether he was just deluded by Lawler.  But after turning his back on two allies within a few months, he's not high on The Royal Court's favorite person list.

As for Hardy... well, he's just upset that he still hasn't gotten his rematch, and is raising as much hell as he can until he gets it.  Of course, what with Edge's involvement in him, he should be able to channel that anger to a slightly more productive pursuit - beating the tar out of Edge.

Losing Briscoe wasn't a big deal.  Losing Jamie Noble stung a bit.  Losing Jerry Lawler was just plain painful.  And losing Chris Hero was terrible, because I've put so much into building him as a main event player, and I feel like he was just beginning to fit the position.  The Contract Renegotiations were the only unpleasant bit of Week 26's card.  Everything else was golden.  While my roster has been replenished a bit by the new talent, Losing Noble and Hero took away 2 of my 5 top workers.  And most of my new guys aren't up to snuff.  Rave is, but he's not sticking around.  Argh!

I'm just happy that it was Xavier.  Since I knew Hero was leaving, I did one of the few instances of booking that I do and ensured that the challenger would walk away with the belt.  Luckily that challenger was someone credible like Xavier instead of Funaki.  I love Sho Funaki to death, but he's not Global Heavyweight Champion material at this point.  Xavier, on the other hand, while he generally hasn't been at the top of the card, has won the vast majority of his matches.  So he strikes me as a better choice.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
TecmoNickPosted on 05/01/04 at 08:33:58

This card was the most eventful yet.  Those damn contract negotiations...

I liked Noble, but it didn't seem like he was going to get a real push with all the other talent stepping up.  Too bad Rave can't stay longer, he was quickly becoming a favortie.

I like the addition of Billy and Chuck, but A-Train and Julio doesn't seem right.  That one will take a while before I can adjust.

With Hero leaving, I think it's time Hardy climbs his way back up the ladder.  But a Hardy/Edge fued is going to make for some classic matches.  

Hate to see Lawler go, where does the Court go from here?
Critic of the DawnPosted on 05/01/04 at 09:02:21

Noble was my "go to" guy.  When I needed a good match dragged out of someone, I went to Noble.  He had a ****1/4 match against Insane Dragon, fergodsake!  While he probably would have remained in the Tag Team ranks for a while, I feel like a Heavyweight Title Reign for him might have been inevitable if he hadn't left so soon.  Like I said, Rave impressed the hell out of me... and now he's leaving.  Already.  I had him penciled in to fill Noble's spot as my new "go to" guy, but now I guess I need to find somebody else.

A-Train & Julio is a very random pairing, but they've already convinced me that they're worthwhile through their sheer dominance in the Tag Team division.  A-Train is the biggest guy on the roster now weightwise (at 350 compared to 305 for 'Taker), and he and Dinero seem to work exceptionally well together.  Give them some time.  They'll prove themselves.

Edge is easily my top babyface.  Putting Hardy opposite to him just shows how much confidence I have in Matt.  Both of these guys could easily hold the title, but Edge has been too preoccupied to try to get a shot, and Hardy and Xavier are both top heels, so that's not a match that I'm in a rush to promote.  When someone takes the Title off of Xavier, Hardy will be near the front of the line of those getting shots, I'm sure.

With Lawler gone, The Royal Court is back down to 2 members: The Undertaker and Prince Nana.  Furthermore, the present power structure isn't that clear.  Prince Nana is the senior member, and was overtly The King's second in command.  But The Undertaker gives Nana the willies, and 'Taker isn't much of a follower.  So before the Court can try to recover, they need to sort out who's in charge.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"