TEAM EPICENTER: Dupree Cup Quarterfinal recap

[TH]

[We open with a shot of Jason Payne staring down Kevin Kasidy Kenwright on the big screen. Tom Holzerman stands in front.]

TH: The quarterfinal round. Four teams would enter, two would make their way to the semis where Message Board Entertainment and New Era of Wrestling await them. Who'd move on? We have highlights, plus big news on SuperShow II. Epicenter is... now.

[Cue up "Down" by Stone Temple Pilots.
Cut to BEAST thumping JOE AVERAGE with a powerbomb.
Cut to MR. AMAZING! assaulting D! with the Championship of Champions Belt.
Cut to KARINA WOLFENDEN delivering the Dual Halo to ADAM BENJAMIN.
Cut to ULYSIS SOLIAN staring down DANNY BOY VEGAS.

Cut to KARL BROWN hoisting the Merrit Trophy, then flash cut to D! with the Championship of Champions Belt across his waist.

Cut to: The Epicenter logo once more, fading into Tom Holzerman and Steve Murray at the Epicenter desk.]

TH: Hello everyone and welcome to Epicenter. I'm Tom Holzerman...

SM: And I'm Steve Murray. We have some big news on TEAM SuperShow II, but first, let's dive into the action, shall we?

[Cut to Murray in front of a NFW/LoC inset, close-up]

SM: These two teams kicked off the tournament in Group C, and they almost literally tore the house down. So much bad blood yet so little time to get it all properly boiled over. That will have to wait when Jason Payne and Derecho face off at SuperShow II. Until then, they're barred from touching each other. Still though, the hatred between NFW and LoC was palpable.

[Cut to Jason Payne and Kevin Kasidy Kenwright in the middle of the ring.]

SM V/O: Our first match featured the star of this tournament so far, Jason Payne, and the ruthlessly racist Triple K, and unfortunately for the fans, it wasn't much of a contest at all. They stare each other down, and Payne, the superstar who claims he's too hot for TEAM, raises his fist in the air. Black power? We can only assume he's not part of the Black Panthers but only trying to get inside of Kenwright's head here. HE attacks Payne, but Payne is ready for him, blocking his punch and shoving him back.

[Cut to Payne rolling out of the ring.]

SM V/O: Right thereafter, Payne rolls out of the ring and grabs something from underneath. He raises it up and puts it on... it's a dashiki and a traditional African cap. KKK is furious, so furious that he charges out of the ring and chases after Payne. Payne dodges him, and now Kenwright is furious. He grabs a chair and lunges at Payne, clocking him in the thigh, just grazing him. It didn't affect Payne, but it's enough to get the disqualification. Kenwright for his troubles receives a stiff clothesline from Payne, who's obviously skilled at those mind games.

[Cut to Ulysis Solian and Ryan Billows across the ring from Lone Wolf and WildStar.]

SM V/O: Another strange match that really wasn't even a match, Ryan Billows and Ulysis Solian against Lone Wolf and WildStar and right off the bat, Lone Wolf offers the LoC team the peace pipe. Both men look at Lone Wolf like he's nuts, and so does his partner. WildStar grabs the pipe forcibly out of Wolf's hands and plants it right between the eyes of Billows. The ref calls for the bell, but the action isn't over. Solian grabs WildStar and delivers the Burning Hammer. Billows recovers and nails Wolf with a clothesline. After two non-matches, this one's all tied up at one apiece.

[Cut to Nova and Derecho.]

SM V/O: And now, the only match that turned out to be a match, the Danger Zone Iron Man Match, thirty guaranteed minutes of action, and we had falls aplenty here. The first one came here. Nova setting up for a suplex but Derecho uses his weight to reverse into a suplex that he turns into a powerslam. Jackhammer and Nova's out for the first pinfall of the match.

[Cut to Nova running the ropes.]

SM V/O: The next fall also belonged to Derecho. After an Irish whip, Nova runs in and is greeted immediately with a tilt-a-whirl into a powerbomb. Some impressive power moves by Derecho here as he gets the second pinfall of the match.

[Cut to Derecho dragging Nova up by his long hair.]

SM V/O: Nova's not dead yet, as he steals a pinfall here, small package and now he's only down one pinfall.

[Cut to Derecho with Nova in a fireman's carry.]

SM V/O: Derecho though, he got pissed after that, and he just brutalized the Rising Star so much that this fireman carry gutbuster put Nova down for another pinfall.

[Cut to Nova with his neck caught between two twisted ropes.]

SM V/O: And now Derecho making use of the no-break zone in the most twisted manner possible. He doesn't just want to beat Nova and NFW, he wants to kill them. He's got Nova's neck wrung between those ropes, holding his legs to heighten the effect. Nova has no choice but to tap out, but it's not over here. Derecho keeps his grip on Nova's legs, and the Rising Star looks ready to pass out. Referee Michael Ryan has no choice but to disqualify Derecho, and it sends the LoC Legacy Champion into a fit. Ring crew get Nova free from his choking situation and Derecho is just livid that he's only up by two instead of three because of the disqualification. Nova meanwhile is catching his breath and he rolls up Derecho to get another pinfall. Just like that, Nova is only down one.

[Cut to Nova with Derecho in a double underhook.]

SM V/O: Nova would take control of this match after that, but he couldn't get the tying pin on Derecho. Derecho tries to check into the Reversal Motel, but Nova shows him there's No Vacancy (double underhook Impaler DDT). The pin attempt comes up short, but Nova, right away, heads to the ropes... it's Control-Alt-1337 time (springboard moonsault to back elbow drop), but still, no pinfall.

[Cut to Nova behind Derecho.]

SM V/O: Nova even tried humiliation, here he is pantsing Derecho and spinning him around front with a clothesline. That, my friends, is what you call a Legendary De-Pantsing. I can almost hear Iron Duke going into a conniption about how the sanctity of wrestling is violated. No pinfall though, but Nova knows what the cure for that is...

[Cut to Nova with Derecho in a rear facelock.]

SM V/O: A little Bourbon for Breakfast (inverted Fisherman's buster). Finally, he gets the one, two, three and it's all tied up. But mind the clock, there's only two minutes left. The Rising Star has to work fast to get a leg up, so he goes for more Bourbon for Breakfast... this time though, Derecho has the move scouted and he uses his second wind to block it. Elbows to Nova's gut and then a clothesline that sends Nova right to the canvas.

[Cut to Derecho with Nova in position for the Vortex Powerbomb.]

SM V/O: Now, there's only thirty seconds left. Derecho looks to have this wrapped up looking to hit his signature Vortex Powerbomb. All of a sudden though, "Dogs of War" hits up on the PA and out in the aisle is Jason Payne. Only in professional wrestling will someone let himself get distracted from the task at hand as Derecho throws Nova down to jack at Payne. I guess Derecho is confident in taking this thing to overtime, but Nova isn't. With five seconds left, Nova surprises Derecho with a school boy roll up, one, two, three... and buzzer! Nova takes his fifth fall, which is one more than Derecho's four, and New Frontier Wrestling moves on. This doesn't set well with Derecho, as he shows some sore loser tendencies and nails Nova with the Vortex Powerbomb anyway. This causes Payne to come running down to the ring in aid of his fallen NFW brethren. Problem though. He can't touch Derecho under pain of expulsion from the Dupree Cup. He rushes the ring anyway and we have a face off.

[Cut to an angle of the face to face where you see the back of Derecho's head and the front of Payne's face.]

SM V/O: Of course, just because Derecho can't touch Payne doesn't mean the rest of LoC can't. From out of the back, here comes the cavalry, KKK, Solian and Billows, and they just blindside, I mean absolutely blindside Payne here. Derecho looks on at his machinations when from behind, he gets an unpleasant surprise. Snap reverse DDT from Nova and he's waving to the back. WildStar and Lone Wolf come running from the back and it's melee madness. Nova drives himself and Kenwright out of the ring with that clothesline, and the two tag teams make their way to the outside brawling, which leaves Derecho and Payne, once again, in the ring. They stare off, each one goading the other to throw the first punch. They're just jaw-jacking, really getting under each others' skins here. Derecho then says something that really makes Payne's face light up. Payne cocks his fist back but by this time, the roving band of referees and security is finally out from the back, breaking up the entire fracas. Payne so close to getting himself booted from the tournament, but thankfully, he can move on.

[Cut to Murray in the studio.]

SM: By virtue of their seed, NFW will face MBE in the semifinals, which means the winner of the A1E/NAPW match would get NEW. Tom?

[Cut to Holzerman with TEAM SuperShow II inset.]

TH: We announced last week that Jason Payne would be taking on Derecho at SuperShow II in a no-holds barred match. We also told you that the main event would feature Mr. Amazing and a partner of his choice taking on D! and a partner of his choice, with the winner choosing the stipulation for the Championship of Champions match at SuperShow III. Well, we lied to you. That tag match isn't the main event. It's the co-main event. What's the other match? It's going to be a giant, all-comers invitational battle royale to decide who gets to be the first to hold our second TEAM Championship, the Free For All Championship. This title will be defended only in all-comers battle royales, a chance for someone to prove that he's the king of the hill. No one has been confirmed for this match yet, but TEAM officials are certain it will attract folks from all over the globe. Of course, you can catch SuperShow II live from Austin, TX, on Alternative Sports Network on November 4th.

[Cue up Led Zeppelin, "No Quarter." Cut to James Irish and Lloyd Rees grappling.]

SM V/O: Stick around, we've still got one more meet to highlight for you on this abbreviated version of Epicenter. A1E battles NAPW. Who'd move on for the right to face New Era? Stick around.

[Cut to a commercial for Fox's 'Til Death... because we haven't already seen enough commercials for this stupid show.]

 

[TH]

[Fade back into the studio to Tom Holzerman with an A1E/NAPW inset.]

TH: A1E and NAPW, they may not have had the hatred for each other like LoC and NFW did, but believe me, they aren't going to be sending cards to each other at Christmas either. Lord knows that many of Team A1E don't see eye to eye with Mr. Amazing, and many on Team NAPW don't particularly like the Champion of Champions D!, but when fed pride is on the line, well, you get the picture. The main event for SuperShows II and III playing out in some form now?

[Cut to James Irish and Lloyd Rees grappling.]

TH V/O: The Mad Genius and the Lemondrop Kid got us started in this match, and Irish eyes were smiling early. Collar and elbow tie up segueing right into Headbanger's Ball (Al Snow's trapping headbutts), a move James looks for late hit early. Big momentum gainer early.

[Cut to James with Rees in a front facelock.]

TH V/O: They also call Irish the master of the DDT. Here's a regular one here.

[Cut to James running the ropes.]

TH V/O: A jump-swinging variant here...

[Cut to James on the second turnbuckle.]

TH V/O: And a leaping one from the second here. He covers, but only two.

[Cut to Rees behind James.]

TH V/O: The Lemondrop Kid showing he can throw a few DDTs around. Here's something he calls the DDT from the Green, a jumping reverse variant.

[Cut to Rees running the ropes with Irish on the canvas.]

TH V/O: ANd here, his manager may be named Salty, but this is all Fresh Water Flippage (springboard corkscrew) here.

[Cut to Rees on the top rope.]

TH V/O: And now, it's time for a flight from Air Newfoundland. Your pilot is Lloyd Rees and he sticks the landing. Frogsplash and a beaut, but that's still not enough to put the Mad Genius away.

[Cut to Rees with Irish in the Texas cloverleaf.]

TH V/O: The Lance Cove Leglock. Irish is no stranger to that move, only from a different person and a different name. Because of that experience though, he's able to inch to the ropes.

[Cut to James on the top rope.]

TH V/O: Rees now wants to put this away. He's got Irish set up for his Wabana Buster (super brainbuster), but before he can grab Irish back, the Mad Genius gives Rees a good shove. He gets his bearings quickly and then leaps. Somersault leg drop, known to us better as the Funk Numbah 49. Irish covers, pins and A1E is up one match to nil in this meet.

[Cut to Troy Douglas running the ropes.]

TH V/O: Next up was our tag affair, Troy Douglas and Andrew Gilkison vs. The New and Improved... well, if I say the last part of that, I might get sued, but I can assure you, Kyle Robert and Bruce Richards are better than those hacks in Stamford. It wouldn't look that way right now though, because Megatron just floors Roberts with that lariat.

[Cut to Douglas with Roberts in a Canadian backbreaker.]

TH V/O: Douglas wouldn't stop there. Now he's giving Richards a taste of home, Canadian backbreaker followed up by the obligatory jump impact part.

[Cut to Douglas Irish-whipping Roberts.]

TH V/O: Here's where the match would start to turn around for the NAPW Tag Champs. Douglas whips Roberts off the ropes. Richards blind tags in, then Roberts ducks Megatron's clothesline and the big Beast train comes in, leveling Douglas right to the canvas. Douglas crawls over to the corner and makes a tag himself, but Gilkison rushes in and is met with a big boot to the face.

[Cut to Richards with Gilkison in a military press.]

TH V/O: Look at the power of Bruce Richards here. He's got Andy, who's no lightweight, up in that gorilla press and just tosses him over the top rope. If this were lucha libre, then Richards would be disqualified one of his falls and Douglas would be the legal man, but this is neither here nor there, and the Gilkinator is just in a world of hurt.

[Cut to Roberts whipping Gilkison off the ropes.]

TH V/O: Now it's The Stylin' One's turn and here he nails Gilkison off the Irish whip with a high dropkick right to his face.

[Cut to Roberts with Gilkie over his shoulder.]

TH V/O: Finally, Roberts ends this match with the Emerald Fusion. Richards rushes in to make the countersave on Douglas' save attempt, and NAPW knots this one up at one apiece.

[Cut to Ravager and Big Dog, circling each other.]

TH V/O: Now, for all the marbles, the "I Quit" match, Big Dog and Ravager. Strange that Big Dog would select this given that Ravager's the better submissions wrestler, but here we go nonetheless. Collar and elbow tie-up, and Ravager gets the early advantage with a smile on his face, love in his heart and a knee to Big Dog's gut. He takes off off the ropes and nails Dog with a running double axehandle.

[Cut to Dog with Ravager in the corner.]

TH V/O: Dog wouldn't be down for too long though. Here he is, driving those soup bones right into the gut of NAPW's first ever Provincial Champion.

[Cut to Ravager with Dog in a Dragon sleeper.]

TH V/O: Now we get into the good stuff. First submission attempt, and it's a Dragon sleeper. Ravager, screaming at referee Monet Samuel to shove the mic in Dog's face. Samuel asks if he quits and...

BD: NO!

[Cut to Dog with Ravager in a regular sleeperhold.]

TH V/O: Dog bounces right back with a simpler version of the sleeper. Unlike the first attempt by Ravager, Dog doesn't demand the mic be shoved in Ravager's face. Ravager, however, uses some leverage to shove the much heavier Big Dog back into the turnbuckle, breaking the hold.

[Cut to Ravager with a legscissor on Dog's head.]

TH V/O: This move is dangerously close to being homoerotic, but the balls aren't anywhere near the mouth here. Instead, the legs are just wrapped tightly around Dog's neck and Ravager's squeezing for air here. Dog still won't quit, though.

[Cut to Ravager with Dog in a move akin to a spinning toe hold with an inverted facelock.]

TH V/O: Ravager with his signature submission, the Garrotte, right here on one of the greatest A1E Champions ever. He's just about to make Dog say I quit, but he gets his big paw onto the bottom rope. Ravager is livid and gets right in Monet Samuel's face. For what, I don't know, beacuse nothing about that could be even remotely construed as shady. Dog takes advantage of this by turning Ravager around and socking him across the face.

[Cut to Dog with Ravager in the Boston crab.]

TH V/O: Here, Dog again with a simple but effective submission. Ravager looks like he's in abject pain, but he still won't say those two magic words. The Silent Assassin gets into the ropes himself.

[Cut to Dog with Ravager over his shoulder.]

TH V/O: Big Dog just about ready to deliver his Dog Pound (running powerslam), but Ravager slips off his shoulders and lands behind him. Dog runs chest-first into the ropes and staggers back. Ravager takes full advantage by kicking Dog right in the back of his head. Big Dog drops like a ton of bricks and Ravager pounces immediately, hooking in a Dragon sleeper/camel clutch hybrid. He's got the hold locked in, right in the middle of the ring. Nowhere for Dog to go, nothing for Dog to do but say I quit, or is there? Samuel's got the mic to his mouth, Dog utters the word I, but almost like a stroke of divine intervention, Ravager's forearm slips into Dog's mouth, and the Dog takes advantage the only way he knows how to, by taking a bite out of the NAPW star's arm. Ravager breaks the hold and jumps up and down, holding his arm. Thankfully, the skin wasn't broken so no rabies shot was needed, but Ravager's pride certainly was. Dog slowly to his feet and Ravager jumps in with a punch that Dog blocks. He scoops Ravager up and there's the Dog Pound he was looking for.

[Cut to Dog with Ravager in a camel clutch with his knee sticking into Rav's back.]

TH V/O: And once again, it's a simple submission hold, the camel clutch, only modified to put extra pressure on that back. Ravager is so close to the ropes here, trying to get in, but Dog pulls him back. Finally, Samuel puts the microphone in his face...

RAVAGER: I... I... I QUIT!

Half the arena explodes, and the other half, Albertan faithful and the NAPW underdog squad deflates as their team goes home. A1E, however, will be advancing. They face NEW in the semifinals. NAPW has nothing to be ashamed of. They took A1E to the limit and they'll go home with their pride.

[Cut back to the studio.]

SM: Alright, that'll do it for us.

TH: Yep, make sure you join us for the semifinal action as MBE takes on NFW and A1E battles NEW. But until then, I'm Tom Holzerman. For Steve Murray, goodnight everyone.

[Fade to the TEAM logo.]