(Editor's Note: Apologies for the slight delay. We had a writer unavoidably detained in real life. 
I've kept the wraparound very short in efforts of getting things up today.)
BUCKLEY: Hello wrestling fans, this is ESEN and this is the ULTRATITLE! We’re here with your recap of all the action that took place in Bracket 4 earlier tonight in Lowell, Massachusetts. These final sixteen matches end the marathon sixty-four match First Round of the ULTRATITLE Tournament. But with sixteen matches, there can only be sixteen winners in the hunt for the tournament championship. Tonight’s matches featured a cavalade of well-known superstars and newer faces.
The Paul Tsongas Arena has been a very special arena to New Frontier Wrestling, and tonight they got to see several wrestling superstars well known to them, including former NFW World Champion Joe The Plumber in his wrestling return here in the Tournament. Former UNIFIED Champion and current part-owner of the NFW, Troy Windham was also in action, seeing if he could avoid being a first-round knockout like some former champions so far. The man who shared the NFW TV Title with Joe the Plumber, Shawn Jessica Hart – the PHENOM, will make his ULTRATITLE debut against former CSWA janitor, Bob Praxis. The Deacon, Lane Cash, High Flyer – all well-known names to the crowd here, joined by returning names like Shamon and Kevin Powers. And tonight the crowd gets introduced to names like Freddie Sagawa, Kevin Hardaway, Eugene Dewey and so many others!
Tonight’s featured match pits two men against each other who know each other well but have never faced off in the ring – the man we call “Suicide” has many different names for himself, but Ulysis Solian faces off against Pat Gordon, Jr. tonight. Let’s get to the action!
FREDDIE SAGAWA vs. KEVIN HARDAWAY
Sagawa's manager, Cameron Lee Waubash, led the way for his charge to the ring, talking all the way. His quick gait nearly made the cameraman stumble backwards down the rampway, and he gave the poor worker a dismissive shove out of the way of his client.
Kevin Hardaway wasn't nearly as vocal but he was just as focused as Sagawa, heading to the ring with deadly intent.
These two high flying masters put on an aerial show that dazzled the audience from bell to bell. Neither man was able to hold the advantage, until Hardaway reversed a flying headscissors into a powerbomb that put Sagawa down to the mat. Hardaway was just as exhausted, and was looking to put his tough opponent away once and for all, and as he pulled Sagawa up, perhaps for Angelina's Crossing, the Koichi Cannibal made his move.
Sweep of the leg.
Wrench of the knee.
Kick to the head.
Single shot leap to the top.
Love Letters to Baba Yaga.
As quick as that, Freddie Sagawa was in the second round, leaving the fans, the referee, and his opponent to wonder, "was that a last push of energy, or did he just sucker Hardaway into going for his finish too early?"
We'd have to wait for the second round to know.
WINNER: FREDDIE SAGAWA (Love Letters to Baba Yaga, 24:22)
SHAWN JESSICA HART vs. "THE KING OF GUANO" OVERLORD BOB PRAXIS
There were some old - school CSWA fans in attendance who recognized the former Greensboro Champion - slash - instrument of revenge. Even though it was pretty obvious that Praxis' best days (if any) were behind him, and that his time working in the CS Enterprises training facility had dulled his active skills, the "POOPMAN!" chant was actually quite loud.
It didn't help. Hart dominated from bell to bell, and put the Poopman away with the Hart On modified diamond cutter.
...
Shawn Jessica Hart dispatched the Poopman with his Hart On.
That sounds wrong.
WINNER: SHAWN JESSICA HART (Hart On, 5:13)
HENRY DYLAN vs. “GOOD GOD” KEVIN POWERS
Henry Dylan and Kevin Powers gave a classic display of power wrestling, bringing their fans to their feet time and time again. Powers dominated early, much to the delight of the partisan crowd, but the years away from the ring seemed to take their toll as he was unable to fully capitalize.
Henry Dylan, however new he was to the sport, was an active participant and was quite adept at his own style of hold - counterhold. He nearly put the wily veteran away with the Stranglehold: his version of the Crossface Chicken Wing. Powers reversed with his free elbow and a backwards splash into the corner, and nearly pulled it out with a kick to the gut and a perfect setup for Dylan to Kiss the Canvas...
...except that Dylan hooked him around the head and instead of Kissing the Canvas, he rolled through with a perfect pinning combination, much to the shock of the crowd and, most of all, Kevin Powers himself.
WINNER: HENRY THOMAS DYLAN (Reversal rollup, 19:16)
"THE UNTAMED FURY" LUCIOUS STARR vs. SHAMON
Lucious Starr entered first to a chorus of boos - he didn't pay any attention to them and, quite the contrary, he waved to them like they were on their feet cheering his very existence.
No, the fan reaction started when Shamon entered the arena. The lights went down and "Billie Jean" played through the arena. A series of spotlights strobed down the entranceway, but all of them focused on SHAMON when he entered. The lights followed him down to the ring, lighting his way a split second before he stepped into its halo.
By the time he was in the ring, he had earned himself a standing ovation.
The match itself was a back - and - forth affair with Lucious Starr's ego short circuiting his efforts while he felt the need to pose after most of his hardest moves, and Shamon doing a little dance after each of his counters.
Finally, we saw a break in the see - saw. Starr ducked under a roundhouse punch and landed HADES FLAME on Shamon, but Shamon popped right back up and gave off a loud... I hesitate to call it a scream, but it was a loud sound that was like Shamon holding a high note.
I swear I heard glass shatter.
Starr fired some fists but they fell on deaf ears, and Shamon battled back, ultimately earning the full control of the match, and, once he was on it enough to go to the top for the THRILLER, a 360 splash, he had the entire crowd behind him.
The three was academic at that point, and everyone in the arena was completely in love with SHAMON.
WINNER: SHAMON (Thriller, 10:10)
“THE NATIVE ALL-AMERICAN AMERICAN” ALEXANDER HAYES VS. HIJO DE SOMBRA
To say this wasn’t a contest would be an understatement as from the opening bell Hayes was all over Sombra and just smothered him like a wet blanket. If there was a move of offense from Sombra that landed in this bout, this observer missed it. A desperation backdrop attempt was countered into a textbook Sunset Flip and Sombra was counted out by the ref to punch Hayes’ ticket to the round of 64.
WINNER: ALEXANDER HAYES (Sunset Flip > Pin) at 3:40
“SOUTHERN HERO” JETHRO HAYES VS. “THE GODFATHER” VINCENZO SAVONAROLA
While one Hayes dominated his opponent, another Hayes couldn’t do a thing to his opponent as Savonarola countered everything the Southern Hero had to throw at him and kept the big man off balance and reeling until he finally sunk in the Black Hand and drove Hayes to the mat and the ref counted his shoulders down while he was trapped in the claw hold.
WINNER: VINCENZO SAVONAROLA (Black Hand > Pin) at 5:13
LANE CASH vs. BONECRUSHER
Much like the previous two matches this one seemed to be over before it started with Lane Cash just imposing his will on a hapless Bonecrusher. Having the man at his mercy, Cash had many chances to get a pin on Bonecrusher but seemed content not to take then while sending a message to the rest of the ULTRATITLE field by dishing out a further beating to his opponent.
Bonecrusher was sent flying over the top rope to the floor and Cash went outside and put the boots to him, mocking and insulting his fallen opponent the whole time. When he went to whip Bonecrusher into the steel ring post, Bonecrusher reversed the move and Cash cracked his skull on the steel and crumpled to the mat! Bonecrusher dove into the ring and sweated out the longest ten seconds of his life and in what might be the biggest upset of the tournament, Bonecrusher advanced to the next round as Cash couldn’t get back into the ring by the ten count.
WINNER: BONECRUSHER (Whip into ring post > Count Out) at 4:29
DEACON vs. REZIN
Rezin had been quiet leading into this matchup, in many ways a departure for him, but as the bell rang, that silence disappeared.
Deacon moved forward to lock up. Rezin moved as if he were attempting the same but slipped beneath Deacon’s arms. Deacon turned. Rezin shook his head. Another attempted lock up yielded the same result, this time Rezin adding a barely perceptible smile to his still shaking head. Deacon charged forward. Rezin went beneath the top rope, forcing the ref to get between him and Deacon. The Mute Freak waited until Rezin got in the middle. Deacon went to lock up and Rezin did the same, shouting for Deacon to get away from between the ropes. Deacon broke away, storming into his corner where Chris Shepherd got up on the apron, the manager’s eyes studying Rezin. The ref called for both combatants to get in the center of the ring. Deacon went. Rezin complained. Loudly. Deacon went to the referee and shouted.
DEACON: When he ready fight, let me know.
Deacon turned from Rezin to go to the corner. It was his biggest mistake of the night. Rezin pounced like a hyena, tearing into Deacon. Backing the big Mute Freak into the corner, Rezin hit an array of chops and kicks. Deacon defended himself as best he could, at least until his mistake was revealed as a gambit, and one that didn’t cost him nearly as much as it cost Rezin. One heavy slap to Rezin’s chest echoed through the arena. Rezin fell backwards, tumbling end over end, but Deacon didn’t let up, picking Rezin up and tossing him into the ropes for a return that led to a monstrous back body drop, Rezin hitting the mat, bouncing up and into the ropes before somersaulting back down to the mat for a backwards roll. Rezin staggered to his feet and turned just as Deacon booted him in the midsection. Deacon hooked Rezin in and drove him down with the Altar Call (Crucifix Powerbomb).
WINNER: DEACON
“FORMERLY HIGH FLYING” JACK HARMEN vs. “THE MAIN ATTRACTION” TYLER BOYD
“Crazy Train” hit the personal announce system and the fans couldn’t help but pop loudly for one of the most well known names in the game. Harmen stood on the stage, staring down at the fans before jogging down to the ring.
Boyd’s music played twice before he came out, causing Flyer to wonder if Boyd would even bother showing at all. Boyd strutted like a peacock around the ring before stepping up the ring steps theatrically, wiping his feet on the apron. All the while, Harmen stood in the centre of the ring with his hands on his hips waiting for the 240+ pounder to make his way into the God damn ring.
Boyd stepped through the ropes, still playing to the fans as he entered the ring. The referee called for the bell as Boyd smirked smugly. He turned around and walked right into the Locomotive. The boot on chin resonated against the pop of the fans and Harmen dropped on top, pulling the leg for what might have been one of the quickest victories in the tournament to date.
WINNER: JACK HARMEN (Locomotive, 0:11)
FELICIA HART vs. “THE AFTERMATH” JOHN MCDONOUGH
The bell sounded and McDonough charged forward to tie-up only to receive a slap in the face. Felicia took immediate control with some scragging before John took control with a short arm clothesline.
The Aftermath maintained control of the contest as Felicia continued to mount comebacks through swinging haymakers and even fluking a bulldog when McDonough didn’t turn around quick enough at one stage. She tried to put the nail in the coffin with a second rope fist drop which McDonough countered with an amazing arm drag on the in flight Hart sibling.
McDonough rose to the top rope and flew with great poise landing his trademark the Closure, a swan dive head butt that saw an egg immediately form on Felicia’s pretty little forehead. McDonough forced her back down to the canvas and hooked the leg for victory.
WINNER: JOHN MCDONOUGH (The Closure, 7:23)
TROY WINDHAM vs. EUGENE DEWEY
The eagerly anticipated contest between Troy Windham and Eugene Dewey got underway with a collar-and-elbow tie up and a side headlock from Windham. Shove to the ropes, kick to the belly, DDT and Windham had control early.
However giving up one hundred pounds to Dewey limited Windham’s offense somewhat and he had to rely heavily on using Dewey’s 300-pound frame against him using his speed and getting a near fall after West Texas lariat. Tugging on the top rope saw Dewey topple to the outside. The fans popped loudly when Troy climbed the ropes and leapt off the top with a clothesline. Applying a double chicken wing to Dewey, Windham felt the tides turn when Eugene simply fell backwards on top of him.
Action went back inside the ring with Dewey in control, with a running butt bump in one corner, a rope whip and a big splash into the other providing Dewey with a near fall. Dewey stalked Windham as he rose to his feet and applied the Trapezius claw only to find Troy slap on the Windham Claw and there was a claw stand-off in the center of the ring.
Fans tried to rally for their favorites but the claws seemed too much for both men who collapsed to their knees. Both rising, one double clothesline later and things had really slowed down a notch. Both men tried to raise the bar and take control but the other kept bringing them down. Windham took control with a Texas Bulldog and Dewey traded right back in front with front bear hug slam, neither man sneaking away.
Windham drove a boot into Dewey’s belly and attempted an F5 but to his chagrin, Dewey was able to utilize that 100-pound weight advantage to his favor and force his weight downward, driving Windham into the canvas and covering for a short two. Dewey rolled off, Troy bounced to his feet and charged toward the crouching Dewey who was seemingly trying to electrify himself.
Dewey never elevated in time and was shot in the face with an explosive kick. He bounded to his feet, spinning 180 degrees and the next thing he knew he was yet another victim to the Slackknife reverse neck breaker Windham was so famous for. The pinfall came quickly and peacefully as Windham stepped on into Round 2.
WINNER: TROY WINDHAM (Slackknife, 19:36)
KEVIN WATSON V. JAVID DONES
The bell sounded and started out with trading arm drags. A double dropkick saw boots hit boots and when snap mares rolled into snap mares the pair took a break for a moment to come up with a real game plan. They tied up centre stage and Dones took control with a hip toss followed by a knee drop.
Dones heaved Watson to his feet and began to put on a suplex clinic for the fans. Butterfly into side with a near fall before a delayed suplex and a really close two count. But Dones couldn’t quite get the job done. Applying a sleeper, Dones attempted to get the job done but Watson managed a few stiff elbows to Dones’ belly before hitting the ropes and capitalising with moonsault onto the standing Dones, driving him into the canvas for a near two.
With momentum on his side, Watson planted into the canvas, folding him like a concertina with a perfect overhead belly-to-back release suplex and then applied the Tap Out. Dones fought with all his might to keep alive in the contest but the application of the cobra clutch with the body scissors proved too much and he quit, giving Kevin Watson his advance into ULTRATITLE round 2.
WINNER: KEVIN WATSON (Tap Out, 7:59)
“THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE” AUGUST JOYCE vs. JOE THE PLUMBER
The former NFW World Champion entered the ring an undefeated superstar who hadn’t been in the ring in months. Facing him, a just slightly-younger slightly-smaller veteran in August Joyce, the former MWA Millennium Champion. Before the bell rung, standing just outside the ring it looked like Joyce was sending out a final tweet to his fans on his phone… only to be interrupted by a running somersault off the apron from JTP. Both men went down in a pile, with JTP on top trying to dig out Joyce’s eye with his right hand. Joyce was able to hammer JTP in the side of the head and get free, rolling into the ring. JTP went to follow, only to find he had rolled his ankle in the landing. Barely avoiding a count-out, JTP rolled inside the ring. As he got to his feet, Joyce hit a shin breaker that dropped the former NFW Champion. Cursing so loudly that the microphones picked it up, JTP tried to get to his feet unsuccessfully, finally using the ropes to pull himself up. But Joyce was in position, snap suplexing the Plumber into the middle of the ring.
JTP tried to pull himself up by grabbing Joyce’s hair. As the referee focused on that, he nailed Joyce with a low blow that doubled over the People’s Choice. JTP dropped Joyce with a bionic elbow. As Joyce got up, Joe tried to back into the ropes and set up for a running Death Valley Driver, but his ankle gave out, delivering him perfectly into Joyce’s arms. Joyce powered JTP up over his head and then delivered him back to earth with the The Choice, this time a Canadian backbreaker piledriver.
WINNER: “THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE” AUGUST JOYCE
JEFFREY ROBERTS vs. DEMON
Similarly matches in age and size, the difference became one of skill. From the moment “Down With the Sickness” by Disturbed began to play, Jeffrey Roberts was in control. Demon tried to stand toe-to-toe early, but was quickly taken off guard with a dropkick out of nowhere right on the button. Demon tried to roll outside to gather himself, only to get a face full of Roberts with a dragon corkscrew plancha over the ropes.
Roberts rolled Demon back into the ring, ducking a slow clothesline and coming back across the ring with a knee right to the face of Demon. Roberts quickly went up to the top rope, coming down with a spectacular shooting star guillotine right down onto Demon’s throat. One. Two. Three.
WINNER: JEFFREY ROBERTS
KEN CLOVERLEAF vs. “LETHAL” LEX TAYLOR (j)
The catalyst of the former jWo tried to shake off the ring rust while “The Wind Below” by Rage Against The Machine played and the former A1E World Champion rolled into the ring with his shirt on proclaiming him a P.O.S. – Perfect Outstanding Superstar, of course. As Cloverleaf took his shirt off, Taylor went in for the kill hockey-style, taking his opponent down with a barrage of hammer blows to the head. Referee Ben Worthington tried to back up Taylor unsuccessfully, but created just enough distance for Cloverleaf to free himself from his shirt.
Taylor pulled Cloverleaf out of the corner and whipped him across for the ride, following with a clothesline against the turnbuckle. Taylor sent his opponent for the ride across the ring again, this time chest-first. But as Taylor came him for the kill, Cloverleaf floated over and let Lex hit the turnbuckle hard. Cloverleaf quickly rolled outside, grabbing Taylor’s legs and wrapping them around the ring post with a Figure 4! Worthington rolled outside to try and pull Cloverleaf’s legs away, then finally gave up and started a five-count. The shrewd former champion broke the hold, then rolled inside and put the Sharpshooter on his opponent. Less than 60 seconds later, Cloverleaf moved on to the second round via submission.
WINNER: KEN CLOVERLEAF
PAT GORDON, JR. vs. SUICIDE
Pat Gordon, Jr. entered the Tournament hoping to fulfill a dream of his father’s. To do so, he would have to make it by a man his father faced years ago. Gordon’s adoration of the man formerly called Suicide was evident as he entered the ring, but the man he faced wasn’t the Suicide of old. Instead, this man, Ulysis Solian, had himself introduced as “The Hound.” This “personality” of Solian’s was left off the leash early and it showed as The Hound ripped into Gordon early with a series of kicks that brought him to his knees, only able to get his hands up to try and protect his head.
With a quick headbutt to further daze Gordon, Jr., Suicide/The Hound sent the second generation star over his head with a gutwrench that drove the air from PGJr’s lungs. Somehow he found a way to nip up, only to get caught with a vicious Burning Knuckle spinning backfist. Rather than go for the cover, The Hound went for more punishment, taking Gordon off the ropes with a spinebuster that had the crowd gasping. PGJr continue to try and pull himself up, using Suicide as leverage, but quickly got turned upside down and decimated with a Suicidedriver.
Still eschewing the pin, The Hound forced Gordon to his feet and quickly went to lift him into a vertical suplex, only to be blocked by Gordon, who locked his leg around Solian’s instinctively. The Hound pushed Gordon away, knocking him into the ropes then charging in, but getting caught by an Irish Kiss headbutt from Gordon! PGJr seemed on some sort of brawl autopilot, headbutting Suicide again and then sending him not just into the corner, but the ring post!
Gordon charged in, catching Suicide with a waistlock suplex out of the corner. But as Gordon tried to wrap Suicide up with a cradle, he found himself locked in a triangle! Moments away from tapping, the great-grandson of Irish immigrants found the ropes, then delivered a vicious elbow as Suicide was forced to break. He still couldn’t gain control, as Solian’s vicious persona shook off the elbow and sent Gordon into the ropes for a gourdbuster. But PGJr slid through the legs of Suicide, getting to his feet behind the legend. Autopilot kicked in again as he hooked the leg and lifted Suicide in a belly to back suplex, only to turn it into the Sunday Morning Hangover (Omega Driver)! A three-count later, and the Hound was downed by his father’s son, Pat Gordon, Jr.
WINNER: PAT GORDON, JR.
I've kept the wraparound very short in efforts of getting things up today.)BUCKLEY: Hello wrestling fans, this is ESEN and this is the ULTRATITLE! We’re here with your recap of all the action that took place in Bracket 4 earlier tonight in Lowell, Massachusetts. These final sixteen matches end the marathon sixty-four match First Round of the ULTRATITLE Tournament. But with sixteen matches, there can only be sixteen winners in the hunt for the tournament championship. Tonight’s matches featured a cavalade of well-known superstars and newer faces.
The Paul Tsongas Arena has been a very special arena to New Frontier Wrestling, and tonight they got to see several wrestling superstars well known to them, including former NFW World Champion Joe The Plumber in his wrestling return here in the Tournament. Former UNIFIED Champion and current part-owner of the NFW, Troy Windham was also in action, seeing if he could avoid being a first-round knockout like some former champions so far. The man who shared the NFW TV Title with Joe the Plumber, Shawn Jessica Hart – the PHENOM, will make his ULTRATITLE debut against former CSWA janitor, Bob Praxis. The Deacon, Lane Cash, High Flyer – all well-known names to the crowd here, joined by returning names like Shamon and Kevin Powers. And tonight the crowd gets introduced to names like Freddie Sagawa, Kevin Hardaway, Eugene Dewey and so many others!
Tonight’s featured match pits two men against each other who know each other well but have never faced off in the ring – the man we call “Suicide” has many different names for himself, but Ulysis Solian faces off against Pat Gordon, Jr. tonight. Let’s get to the action!
FREDDIE SAGAWA vs. KEVIN HARDAWAY
Sagawa's manager, Cameron Lee Waubash, led the way for his charge to the ring, talking all the way. His quick gait nearly made the cameraman stumble backwards down the rampway, and he gave the poor worker a dismissive shove out of the way of his client.
Kevin Hardaway wasn't nearly as vocal but he was just as focused as Sagawa, heading to the ring with deadly intent.
These two high flying masters put on an aerial show that dazzled the audience from bell to bell. Neither man was able to hold the advantage, until Hardaway reversed a flying headscissors into a powerbomb that put Sagawa down to the mat. Hardaway was just as exhausted, and was looking to put his tough opponent away once and for all, and as he pulled Sagawa up, perhaps for Angelina's Crossing, the Koichi Cannibal made his move.
Sweep of the leg.
Wrench of the knee.
Kick to the head.
Single shot leap to the top.
Love Letters to Baba Yaga.
As quick as that, Freddie Sagawa was in the second round, leaving the fans, the referee, and his opponent to wonder, "was that a last push of energy, or did he just sucker Hardaway into going for his finish too early?"
We'd have to wait for the second round to know.
WINNER: FREDDIE SAGAWA (Love Letters to Baba Yaga, 24:22)
SHAWN JESSICA HART vs. "THE KING OF GUANO" OVERLORD BOB PRAXIS
There were some old - school CSWA fans in attendance who recognized the former Greensboro Champion - slash - instrument of revenge. Even though it was pretty obvious that Praxis' best days (if any) were behind him, and that his time working in the CS Enterprises training facility had dulled his active skills, the "POOPMAN!" chant was actually quite loud.
It didn't help. Hart dominated from bell to bell, and put the Poopman away with the Hart On modified diamond cutter.
...
Shawn Jessica Hart dispatched the Poopman with his Hart On.
That sounds wrong.
WINNER: SHAWN JESSICA HART (Hart On, 5:13)
HENRY DYLAN vs. “GOOD GOD” KEVIN POWERS
Henry Dylan and Kevin Powers gave a classic display of power wrestling, bringing their fans to their feet time and time again. Powers dominated early, much to the delight of the partisan crowd, but the years away from the ring seemed to take their toll as he was unable to fully capitalize.
Henry Dylan, however new he was to the sport, was an active participant and was quite adept at his own style of hold - counterhold. He nearly put the wily veteran away with the Stranglehold: his version of the Crossface Chicken Wing. Powers reversed with his free elbow and a backwards splash into the corner, and nearly pulled it out with a kick to the gut and a perfect setup for Dylan to Kiss the Canvas...
...except that Dylan hooked him around the head and instead of Kissing the Canvas, he rolled through with a perfect pinning combination, much to the shock of the crowd and, most of all, Kevin Powers himself.
WINNER: HENRY THOMAS DYLAN (Reversal rollup, 19:16)
"THE UNTAMED FURY" LUCIOUS STARR vs. SHAMON
Lucious Starr entered first to a chorus of boos - he didn't pay any attention to them and, quite the contrary, he waved to them like they were on their feet cheering his very existence.
No, the fan reaction started when Shamon entered the arena. The lights went down and "Billie Jean" played through the arena. A series of spotlights strobed down the entranceway, but all of them focused on SHAMON when he entered. The lights followed him down to the ring, lighting his way a split second before he stepped into its halo.
By the time he was in the ring, he had earned himself a standing ovation.
The match itself was a back - and - forth affair with Lucious Starr's ego short circuiting his efforts while he felt the need to pose after most of his hardest moves, and Shamon doing a little dance after each of his counters.
Finally, we saw a break in the see - saw. Starr ducked under a roundhouse punch and landed HADES FLAME on Shamon, but Shamon popped right back up and gave off a loud... I hesitate to call it a scream, but it was a loud sound that was like Shamon holding a high note.
I swear I heard glass shatter.
Starr fired some fists but they fell on deaf ears, and Shamon battled back, ultimately earning the full control of the match, and, once he was on it enough to go to the top for the THRILLER, a 360 splash, he had the entire crowd behind him.
The three was academic at that point, and everyone in the arena was completely in love with SHAMON.
WINNER: SHAMON (Thriller, 10:10)
“THE NATIVE ALL-AMERICAN AMERICAN” ALEXANDER HAYES VS. HIJO DE SOMBRA
To say this wasn’t a contest would be an understatement as from the opening bell Hayes was all over Sombra and just smothered him like a wet blanket. If there was a move of offense from Sombra that landed in this bout, this observer missed it. A desperation backdrop attempt was countered into a textbook Sunset Flip and Sombra was counted out by the ref to punch Hayes’ ticket to the round of 64.
WINNER: ALEXANDER HAYES (Sunset Flip > Pin) at 3:40
“SOUTHERN HERO” JETHRO HAYES VS. “THE GODFATHER” VINCENZO SAVONAROLA
While one Hayes dominated his opponent, another Hayes couldn’t do a thing to his opponent as Savonarola countered everything the Southern Hero had to throw at him and kept the big man off balance and reeling until he finally sunk in the Black Hand and drove Hayes to the mat and the ref counted his shoulders down while he was trapped in the claw hold.
WINNER: VINCENZO SAVONAROLA (Black Hand > Pin) at 5:13
LANE CASH vs. BONECRUSHER
Much like the previous two matches this one seemed to be over before it started with Lane Cash just imposing his will on a hapless Bonecrusher. Having the man at his mercy, Cash had many chances to get a pin on Bonecrusher but seemed content not to take then while sending a message to the rest of the ULTRATITLE field by dishing out a further beating to his opponent.
Bonecrusher was sent flying over the top rope to the floor and Cash went outside and put the boots to him, mocking and insulting his fallen opponent the whole time. When he went to whip Bonecrusher into the steel ring post, Bonecrusher reversed the move and Cash cracked his skull on the steel and crumpled to the mat! Bonecrusher dove into the ring and sweated out the longest ten seconds of his life and in what might be the biggest upset of the tournament, Bonecrusher advanced to the next round as Cash couldn’t get back into the ring by the ten count.
WINNER: BONECRUSHER (Whip into ring post > Count Out) at 4:29
DEACON vs. REZIN
Rezin had been quiet leading into this matchup, in many ways a departure for him, but as the bell rang, that silence disappeared.
Deacon moved forward to lock up. Rezin moved as if he were attempting the same but slipped beneath Deacon’s arms. Deacon turned. Rezin shook his head. Another attempted lock up yielded the same result, this time Rezin adding a barely perceptible smile to his still shaking head. Deacon charged forward. Rezin went beneath the top rope, forcing the ref to get between him and Deacon. The Mute Freak waited until Rezin got in the middle. Deacon went to lock up and Rezin did the same, shouting for Deacon to get away from between the ropes. Deacon broke away, storming into his corner where Chris Shepherd got up on the apron, the manager’s eyes studying Rezin. The ref called for both combatants to get in the center of the ring. Deacon went. Rezin complained. Loudly. Deacon went to the referee and shouted.
DEACON: When he ready fight, let me know.
Deacon turned from Rezin to go to the corner. It was his biggest mistake of the night. Rezin pounced like a hyena, tearing into Deacon. Backing the big Mute Freak into the corner, Rezin hit an array of chops and kicks. Deacon defended himself as best he could, at least until his mistake was revealed as a gambit, and one that didn’t cost him nearly as much as it cost Rezin. One heavy slap to Rezin’s chest echoed through the arena. Rezin fell backwards, tumbling end over end, but Deacon didn’t let up, picking Rezin up and tossing him into the ropes for a return that led to a monstrous back body drop, Rezin hitting the mat, bouncing up and into the ropes before somersaulting back down to the mat for a backwards roll. Rezin staggered to his feet and turned just as Deacon booted him in the midsection. Deacon hooked Rezin in and drove him down with the Altar Call (Crucifix Powerbomb).
WINNER: DEACON
“FORMERLY HIGH FLYING” JACK HARMEN vs. “THE MAIN ATTRACTION” TYLER BOYD
“Crazy Train” hit the personal announce system and the fans couldn’t help but pop loudly for one of the most well known names in the game. Harmen stood on the stage, staring down at the fans before jogging down to the ring.
Boyd’s music played twice before he came out, causing Flyer to wonder if Boyd would even bother showing at all. Boyd strutted like a peacock around the ring before stepping up the ring steps theatrically, wiping his feet on the apron. All the while, Harmen stood in the centre of the ring with his hands on his hips waiting for the 240+ pounder to make his way into the God damn ring.
Boyd stepped through the ropes, still playing to the fans as he entered the ring. The referee called for the bell as Boyd smirked smugly. He turned around and walked right into the Locomotive. The boot on chin resonated against the pop of the fans and Harmen dropped on top, pulling the leg for what might have been one of the quickest victories in the tournament to date.
WINNER: JACK HARMEN (Locomotive, 0:11)
FELICIA HART vs. “THE AFTERMATH” JOHN MCDONOUGH
The bell sounded and McDonough charged forward to tie-up only to receive a slap in the face. Felicia took immediate control with some scragging before John took control with a short arm clothesline.
The Aftermath maintained control of the contest as Felicia continued to mount comebacks through swinging haymakers and even fluking a bulldog when McDonough didn’t turn around quick enough at one stage. She tried to put the nail in the coffin with a second rope fist drop which McDonough countered with an amazing arm drag on the in flight Hart sibling.
McDonough rose to the top rope and flew with great poise landing his trademark the Closure, a swan dive head butt that saw an egg immediately form on Felicia’s pretty little forehead. McDonough forced her back down to the canvas and hooked the leg for victory.
WINNER: JOHN MCDONOUGH (The Closure, 7:23)
TROY WINDHAM vs. EUGENE DEWEY
The eagerly anticipated contest between Troy Windham and Eugene Dewey got underway with a collar-and-elbow tie up and a side headlock from Windham. Shove to the ropes, kick to the belly, DDT and Windham had control early.
However giving up one hundred pounds to Dewey limited Windham’s offense somewhat and he had to rely heavily on using Dewey’s 300-pound frame against him using his speed and getting a near fall after West Texas lariat. Tugging on the top rope saw Dewey topple to the outside. The fans popped loudly when Troy climbed the ropes and leapt off the top with a clothesline. Applying a double chicken wing to Dewey, Windham felt the tides turn when Eugene simply fell backwards on top of him.
Action went back inside the ring with Dewey in control, with a running butt bump in one corner, a rope whip and a big splash into the other providing Dewey with a near fall. Dewey stalked Windham as he rose to his feet and applied the Trapezius claw only to find Troy slap on the Windham Claw and there was a claw stand-off in the center of the ring.
Fans tried to rally for their favorites but the claws seemed too much for both men who collapsed to their knees. Both rising, one double clothesline later and things had really slowed down a notch. Both men tried to raise the bar and take control but the other kept bringing them down. Windham took control with a Texas Bulldog and Dewey traded right back in front with front bear hug slam, neither man sneaking away.
Windham drove a boot into Dewey’s belly and attempted an F5 but to his chagrin, Dewey was able to utilize that 100-pound weight advantage to his favor and force his weight downward, driving Windham into the canvas and covering for a short two. Dewey rolled off, Troy bounced to his feet and charged toward the crouching Dewey who was seemingly trying to electrify himself.
Dewey never elevated in time and was shot in the face with an explosive kick. He bounded to his feet, spinning 180 degrees and the next thing he knew he was yet another victim to the Slackknife reverse neck breaker Windham was so famous for. The pinfall came quickly and peacefully as Windham stepped on into Round 2.
WINNER: TROY WINDHAM (Slackknife, 19:36)
KEVIN WATSON V. JAVID DONES
The bell sounded and started out with trading arm drags. A double dropkick saw boots hit boots and when snap mares rolled into snap mares the pair took a break for a moment to come up with a real game plan. They tied up centre stage and Dones took control with a hip toss followed by a knee drop.
Dones heaved Watson to his feet and began to put on a suplex clinic for the fans. Butterfly into side with a near fall before a delayed suplex and a really close two count. But Dones couldn’t quite get the job done. Applying a sleeper, Dones attempted to get the job done but Watson managed a few stiff elbows to Dones’ belly before hitting the ropes and capitalising with moonsault onto the standing Dones, driving him into the canvas for a near two.
With momentum on his side, Watson planted into the canvas, folding him like a concertina with a perfect overhead belly-to-back release suplex and then applied the Tap Out. Dones fought with all his might to keep alive in the contest but the application of the cobra clutch with the body scissors proved too much and he quit, giving Kevin Watson his advance into ULTRATITLE round 2.
WINNER: KEVIN WATSON (Tap Out, 7:59)
“THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE” AUGUST JOYCE vs. JOE THE PLUMBER
The former NFW World Champion entered the ring an undefeated superstar who hadn’t been in the ring in months. Facing him, a just slightly-younger slightly-smaller veteran in August Joyce, the former MWA Millennium Champion. Before the bell rung, standing just outside the ring it looked like Joyce was sending out a final tweet to his fans on his phone… only to be interrupted by a running somersault off the apron from JTP. Both men went down in a pile, with JTP on top trying to dig out Joyce’s eye with his right hand. Joyce was able to hammer JTP in the side of the head and get free, rolling into the ring. JTP went to follow, only to find he had rolled his ankle in the landing. Barely avoiding a count-out, JTP rolled inside the ring. As he got to his feet, Joyce hit a shin breaker that dropped the former NFW Champion. Cursing so loudly that the microphones picked it up, JTP tried to get to his feet unsuccessfully, finally using the ropes to pull himself up. But Joyce was in position, snap suplexing the Plumber into the middle of the ring.
JTP tried to pull himself up by grabbing Joyce’s hair. As the referee focused on that, he nailed Joyce with a low blow that doubled over the People’s Choice. JTP dropped Joyce with a bionic elbow. As Joyce got up, Joe tried to back into the ropes and set up for a running Death Valley Driver, but his ankle gave out, delivering him perfectly into Joyce’s arms. Joyce powered JTP up over his head and then delivered him back to earth with the The Choice, this time a Canadian backbreaker piledriver.
WINNER: “THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE” AUGUST JOYCE
JEFFREY ROBERTS vs. DEMON
Similarly matches in age and size, the difference became one of skill. From the moment “Down With the Sickness” by Disturbed began to play, Jeffrey Roberts was in control. Demon tried to stand toe-to-toe early, but was quickly taken off guard with a dropkick out of nowhere right on the button. Demon tried to roll outside to gather himself, only to get a face full of Roberts with a dragon corkscrew plancha over the ropes.
Roberts rolled Demon back into the ring, ducking a slow clothesline and coming back across the ring with a knee right to the face of Demon. Roberts quickly went up to the top rope, coming down with a spectacular shooting star guillotine right down onto Demon’s throat. One. Two. Three.
WINNER: JEFFREY ROBERTS
KEN CLOVERLEAF vs. “LETHAL” LEX TAYLOR (j)
The catalyst of the former jWo tried to shake off the ring rust while “The Wind Below” by Rage Against The Machine played and the former A1E World Champion rolled into the ring with his shirt on proclaiming him a P.O.S. – Perfect Outstanding Superstar, of course. As Cloverleaf took his shirt off, Taylor went in for the kill hockey-style, taking his opponent down with a barrage of hammer blows to the head. Referee Ben Worthington tried to back up Taylor unsuccessfully, but created just enough distance for Cloverleaf to free himself from his shirt.
Taylor pulled Cloverleaf out of the corner and whipped him across for the ride, following with a clothesline against the turnbuckle. Taylor sent his opponent for the ride across the ring again, this time chest-first. But as Taylor came him for the kill, Cloverleaf floated over and let Lex hit the turnbuckle hard. Cloverleaf quickly rolled outside, grabbing Taylor’s legs and wrapping them around the ring post with a Figure 4! Worthington rolled outside to try and pull Cloverleaf’s legs away, then finally gave up and started a five-count. The shrewd former champion broke the hold, then rolled inside and put the Sharpshooter on his opponent. Less than 60 seconds later, Cloverleaf moved on to the second round via submission.
WINNER: KEN CLOVERLEAF
PAT GORDON, JR. vs. SUICIDE
Pat Gordon, Jr. entered the Tournament hoping to fulfill a dream of his father’s. To do so, he would have to make it by a man his father faced years ago. Gordon’s adoration of the man formerly called Suicide was evident as he entered the ring, but the man he faced wasn’t the Suicide of old. Instead, this man, Ulysis Solian, had himself introduced as “The Hound.” This “personality” of Solian’s was left off the leash early and it showed as The Hound ripped into Gordon early with a series of kicks that brought him to his knees, only able to get his hands up to try and protect his head.
With a quick headbutt to further daze Gordon, Jr., Suicide/The Hound sent the second generation star over his head with a gutwrench that drove the air from PGJr’s lungs. Somehow he found a way to nip up, only to get caught with a vicious Burning Knuckle spinning backfist. Rather than go for the cover, The Hound went for more punishment, taking Gordon off the ropes with a spinebuster that had the crowd gasping. PGJr continue to try and pull himself up, using Suicide as leverage, but quickly got turned upside down and decimated with a Suicidedriver.
Still eschewing the pin, The Hound forced Gordon to his feet and quickly went to lift him into a vertical suplex, only to be blocked by Gordon, who locked his leg around Solian’s instinctively. The Hound pushed Gordon away, knocking him into the ropes then charging in, but getting caught by an Irish Kiss headbutt from Gordon! PGJr seemed on some sort of brawl autopilot, headbutting Suicide again and then sending him not just into the corner, but the ring post!
Gordon charged in, catching Suicide with a waistlock suplex out of the corner. But as Gordon tried to wrap Suicide up with a cradle, he found himself locked in a triangle! Moments away from tapping, the great-grandson of Irish immigrants found the ropes, then delivered a vicious elbow as Suicide was forced to break. He still couldn’t gain control, as Solian’s vicious persona shook off the elbow and sent Gordon into the ropes for a gourdbuster. But PGJr slid through the legs of Suicide, getting to his feet behind the legend. Autopilot kicked in again as he hooked the leg and lifted Suicide in a belly to back suplex, only to turn it into the Sunday Morning Hangover (Omega Driver)! A three-count later, and the Hound was downed by his father’s son, Pat Gordon, Jr.
WINNER: PAT GORDON, JR.