FDSN Florida and Ruckus presents Coronation [s5RP4]

Broadcast live on FanDuel Sports Network Florida

• The show opened with a video package that took up the first couple of minutes that showed some Duquesne Classic history before focusing on this year's final four: Bonnie Agrippa, Hysteria's new leader looking to leverage her Dealer's Choice into joining the Triple Crown Club - Pyotr Caviar, the bruising Russian under former Classic winner Serge Batroc’s tutelage looking for his first taste of singles gold - Justice Davis, the suddenly inscrutable powder keg who's clearly been changed by his failed attempts to thwart the Chosen - and Nazir el-Fadal, possibly the most decorated superstar in QCW history who’s resume is only missing being a Classic winner on it.  At the end of tonight, one of them will be holding the Duquesne Cup and looking forward to the main event at Mayday Payday.  Tonight..is the Coronation.

• Purple and teal pyro exploded on the stage as a sold out Bojangles Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina raised up and got loud.  The big 3 of Steve, Carl and Duck were in their usual spots as Carl hyped the Last Stand match for the World Tag Team championships before Steve said that even on a supershow with limited commercial interruptions, there was no time to waste and that we’d kick things off with the semifinals of the Duquesne…

• 1. Pyotr Caviar (w/Serge Batroc) d. Nazir el-Fadal at 21:02 in a Duquesne Classic semifinal match Gotta assume matches like this are why FDSN Florida paid for Ruckus, as the Tracksuit Tsar and the Greatest Man Alive essentially had an AnniVersary level match with Caviar eventually notching the biggest win of his career so far (and he might be a couple hours away from the new biggest win at that).  As expected, Naz played a cat and mouse game with Caviar early given the fact that he was outweighed by nearly 80 pounds.  Having problems lifting Pyotr, Naz went a different route and tried a sleeper which was easily tossed off but opened the door to option C: cheating.  Foot stomps, eye rakes, closed fists, whatever it takes - and since it was against Caviar the crowd actually got behind Naz’s shortcuts.  But all that came to a halt when Naz tried to get Caviar up for a Saito suplex and ended up eating a jawbreaker of a Russian lariat that sent the former World champion between the middle and bottom rope to the floor.  Caviar asked the ref to check on his injured eye and rightfully complained about Naz’s shady ways - but on the floor Serge got revenge on Naz eliminating him from the Classic by grabbing el-Fadal by the back of the neck and head and throwing it into the steps before hiding under the ring.  

• The One Man Jihad was already in a bad way and to add injury to injury Caviar flew in out of nowhere and smashed Naz into the steps with a high octane running crossbody.  Pyotr was content to win by countout but Naz managed to flop back into the ring just after 9.  Pyotr then spent the next few minutes beating el-Fadal down but Naz didn't stay down for 3 no matter what the Tracksuit Tsar threw at him.  Naz fought back and actually rattled Caviar with a flurry of European uppercuts but Pyotr shook off a cross chop to the throat and hit another running crossbody for 2¾.  Pyotr continued pummelling Naz for a bit and hit a pop up European uppercut - but Naz kicked out at 2.9.  The crowd began chanting for Naz (still weird), while Serge yelled from the floor for Pyotr to end it.  Caviar had a sick grin as Naz staggered to his feet and turned around, then he flattened Naz out with a discus version of the Russian sickle.  The referee's hand came down two more times and as it went down for the third, Naz’s right hand shot out and grabbed the bottom rope.  Caviar had thought he won the match and was incensed when the ref informed him that he hadn't, to the point that the berating essentially led to Pyotr cornering the zebra.  If he’d been listening to Serge, he would've heard Naz coming up from behind him and leaping on his back to apply a sleeper.  It took a few seconds to get Naz off his back but when he missed another sickle Naz put the sleeper back on.  Caviar struggled more and ran backwards into the corner, but Naz didn't shake loose.  Caviar ran to another corner and repeated it; it loosened Naz’s grip but el-Fadal quickly moved hands into a cobra clutch.  Serge pounded the apron to keep Pyotr alert but the crowd started chanting NAZ! over it, and when Pyotr started to power out Naz hit a Lungblower to complete his Heat Check.  Caviar staggered away only for Naz to spin him around so he could drop him with the Hamrin Valley Driver to a big pop.  Caviar slowly got to his feet and Naz greeted him with another Hamrin Valley Driver and made a cover but it was Pyotr’s turn to kick out at 2¾.  Serge got on the apron but Naz blasted him with a leg lariat that sent Batroc flying into and off of the announce table.  el-Fadal turned around to blast Pyotr with one only to fall victim to the first ever pop up Russian sickle.  Even if that hadn't been enough to finish Naz off the following Hit My Music was, and it was Pyotr's trusty finisher that punched his ticket to the final that’ll close the show tonight.  No celebration for Caviar, who focused on helping Serge to the back and that left Naz in the ring to get a pretty sizeable ovation from the Bojangles crowd.  el-Fadal looked a little pissed and a lot in pain, but gave the crowd a small wave in recognition before gingerly making his way to the back.  Babyface Naz is weird as hell, but what isn't this year?

• 2. Justice Davis d. Bonnie Agrippa (w/Hysteria) at 11:29 in a Duquesne Classic semifinal match Agrippa is shockingly a one and done after losing to Davis, who's behaving more like a mechanical animal since his…whatever happened with the Chosen back in January.  Davis used his power to get the upper hand, and even used the fact that Hysteria was reluctant to interfere for a change to go after them out of nowhere and eventually wipe them all out with a cannonball from the top rope into the coven on the floor.  That did allow an opening for Bonnie to grab Justice and toss him into the dividing barrier a couple of times to gain control.  Bonnie got Justice back in the ring but within a couple of minutes Justice launched Hysteria's new leader across the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex.  That was the beginning of the end for Bonnie, who ate a chain of 3 JDDDTs before the Davis Driver sent Justice into the final and tonight's main event.  Crowd seemed to be more into this win than the one he notched over Ashley “THEE Influencer” Szabo last week even though you could see some fans feeling uneasy about it; as he has for the past few weeks Davis didn't even stick around to get his hand raised and walked silently to the back after getting the win.

• We went to Steve Vandeblanche in the ring, who brought out Mason “Razorblade” Savage to a massive pop.  Dressed in street clothes, the World and National champion made his way down the stairs and through the concourse through the crowd who were busy losing their minds.  Razorblade joined Steve in the ring and shook his hand, made slightly hardér by the fact he had a belt draped over each shoulder.  Steve welcomed Razorblade and was in the middle of asking a question when the crowd’s “Champ Champ!” chants got too loud to ignore.  Razorblade waved them down and mentioned that he knew Charlotte was rowdy, but he had something important to say.  The crowd quieted and Razorblade said that as the new National champion he got to do with the belt what he wanted.  So not only would he be defending the National championship next week in an open challenge, not only was he opening up competition for the title to both genders, neither gender, whoever the hell wanted to come after the belt, sure…but if Ig was going to disappear the Crush championship then he was going to put the 10 Count on the National championship as well.  But before someone could even go cash in the National title after 10 wins he was going to hold onto it as long as he could; whoever came after it next week was going to leave disappointed and he was going to leave still double champion.

• He then pivoted, saying that while that covered the National championship in the future, he was going to focus on the World championship tonight.  Whoever was about to win the Duquesne, whether it was that human tank Pyotr or…Justice…he would be waiting for them at Mayday Payday and if he still had both belts, they could get a shot at both belts.  But he'd beaten Omar, Naz, and both of them at the same time so whoever won the Duquesne better realize they were in the ring with the gold standard of QCW and he was going to walk out with all the gold just like he did in Dublin.  In fact, he was going to be joining Steve on commentary for the main event to see who won the Duquesne and who he would bleed at Mayday Payday.   Steve then brought up Caviar being seen by Serge Batroc and others as the future of QCW, but obviously his…well…well, actually, nobody knew what his relationship with Justice Davis even was anymore.  Could The Double Champ provide any insight on what was going on there?  Razorblade fixed Steve with a state that cut off the questioning and things got awkward for a few seconds before Razorblade said that he'd see Steve and Carl later.  “Unscripted Violence” played as Razorblade headed to the back, while Carl wondered on commentary if Razorblade didn't know what the relationship with his former (?) partner was or if he just didn't want to say.

• 3. Orion d. Sohla Patel at 6:11 Sohla cut a prematch promo and said that nobody who covered their face could ever become the face of International Lotus or complete her Sohla Search; Orion showed they could give a rat’s ass and beat Sohla like a rented goalie in an extended squash.  A beautiful satellite DDT set up Orion’s Nebula for the win.  After replays we saw QCW’s cosmic superstar holding up a fan’s MALICÍA FEARS ORION sign while announce hyped the fact that rematch might be coming, hopefully sooner rather than later.

• We went from there TOTHEBACK~!, where the newcomers Sky’s the Limit were hyped about the eight man tag coming up, especially Tre Boyd who said that after his boys showed up and showed out last week it would be his turn to light QCW up and show them they would be the ones running things soon enough.  A female voice asked sarcastically “Y’ALL gone run things, huh?” and the newbies turned to see Shelley LaVey with a smirk on her face.  LaVey said her boys were on the way and said she knew a bit about Kam Ellis so she was looking forward to seeing Tre fly high tonight.  Shelley was cut off by an entering Lolo Vuitton, who blamed Shelley for their loss against Hysteria on Unleashed and said that if Ig hadn't just given her a rematch against Fiona Fogg next week she’d be whooping Shelley again right now.  Shelley took that as you might expect, and Sky’s the Limit looked on #respectfully but before things could break out into a brawl Beauty and the Beast Mode came on the scene and broke things up.  

• Lolo told LaVey to watch her back and told the men to watch her back before she left (Tre didn't need to be told twice).  Shelley shook off the confrontation and said that she’d settle things with Lolo down the line - this was about them going out, and who knows: maybe the Culture had room to grow.  Sky's the Limit looked split on the idea and Beauty and the Beast Mode didn't seem too enthused about the idea but “Dashing” Pierce Moore broke the tension by saying they had a match to win so let's go do it.  “Pray For Me” hit the PA and they all went out as a unit with Sky's Cooper twins bringing up the rear and playfully arguing between themselves if Lolo or Shelley had checked them out.

• 4. Beauty and the Beast Mode and Sky's the Limit (Tre Boyd and Kam Ellis (w/the Cooper Brothers and Shelley LaVey) d. the End Times and A World of Pain (w/the Chosen) at 8:16 A lot of moving parts in this eight man tag, highlighted by the fact that both sides had the obvious friction with their opponents but a bit with their partners as well.  For obvious reasons the punk rockers didn't get along well with the reformed, but after AWOP hit a combination wheelbarrow suplex/diving lariat on Moore then let the End Times go to work that eased the heel tension.  From the floor Goody Gardner and Drake Tremble preached the evangel to the Pain dyad while their acolytes went to work.  Things were going swimmingly for the heels until a sudden Fresh To Death on Danny Castle hit a reset button on the bout.  Both Castle and Moore crawled for their respective corners and Castle tagged in the bruising DeSade - but when Moore tried to tag in his partner “These Hands” Roy Fade, Tre Boyd from STL reached past and tagged himself in. 

• Then something unusual happened: for the last few minutes of the match, Tre Boyd essentially became the mayor of Charlotte.  He flew around the ring and had no problem repeatedly dropping DeSade and when Bob Osterberg tried to come to his partner's defense he got roughed up, too.  The End Times tried to save the day but Boyd laid them out, too, and when no heel could catch him Boyd zipped around the ring until he ran up the turnbuckles before turning around and laying them all out with a ropewalk Shooting Star Press style crossbody that had Charlotte going nuts.  The rest of the babyfaces cleared the heels from the ring while Boyd cinched up DeSade and hit him with a backflip Styles Clash (Carl’s “WHO IS THIS GUY?!” response spoke for a lot of us).  Boyd went up top and made the sign of the cross while rolling his eyes, then hit a picture perfect Spiral Tap that had announce and crowd alike counting the 3.  All the babyfaces raised hands midring after the win, with Beauty and the Beast giving a bit of side-eye while Sky's the Limit were clearly pumped…except for Tre, who had a “Of course I did that” look all over his face.  Steve raved about him on commentary, saying that as good as the Cooper twins were last week it looked like young Mr. Boyd might be even better.

• 5. The International Players [c, w/Collipark] d. A Cut Above (w/the All Starr Stable) to retain the QCW World Tag Team championships at 14:25 in a Last Stand match This ends a rivalry that goes back to last fall, one in which the Players went from challengers to champions again right before last Christmas.  That put Cut in chase mode, leading to Starr asking for one more chance at the belts last week with the Last Stand meaning they’d either become 2x champs like the Players did or they’d never be able to challenge for the belts again.  They fought with a sense of urgency from the outset and took control with a double flapjack on Lucius Patton.  2024’s Tag Team of the Year showed why they were the only unanimous Quality Award winners last year by cutting the ring in half and employing quick tags.  It looked like they were going to regain the belts with the same Final Cut that won them the championships but Patton countered with a hurancanrana to leave Broderick Palmer II to accidentally get splattered by Evan O'Neill.  With them down, that left Benjamin Valentino to get a hot tag and start putting meesters on keisters, but a distraction from Starr allowed Prince Ootsuka to land a cheapshot kick on Benjamin, who staggered into a flapjack DDT from ACA. 

• It looked like they were on their way to regaining the tag titles when the crowd's boos turned to cheers as Jacques Krieger ran down to get revenge on his former Stable and specifically the man who replaced him in the Prince.  Longtime rivals Ootsuka and Prince brawled on the floor and on the ramp while in the ring the Players used Jacques’ appearance to lay out Palmer II with a double Stun Gun.  The Players rallied, using O’Neill as an unwitting third man to use their offense on him to further debilitate “Upper Class” before taking Broderick down with the Playa Hata to continue their titles reign.

• After replays, Collipark was celebrating in the ring when Quality Force Security came out, followed by Interim Commissioner Ig de Catur.  Ig first congratulated the Players on another successful title defense, which got some boos and drew a deep sigh from him.  He noted the response and chalked it up to him decommissioning the Crush championship last week, which got more boos.  de Catur looked around Bojangles and shook his head, saying that it was a necessary move to get out the waste and cut down on the company's overhead, especially given how crazy the stock market had been lately.  Unfortunately - and he knew this was going to piss off a lot of people - that's why he was out here now.  Roster cuts were going to come and in order to make QCW’s bottom line better he had to start with the fattest and honestly most unnecessary deals.

• And that brought him to Jupiter Jones.

• Ig said a couple of nice things about what Jupiter meant to QCW before whinily explaining that the old administration had given Jones free reign.  But the reality is he’d gotten three shots at the National championship and lost them all, then when Ig tried to give him a soft landing on the Golden Rule preshow he lost again to Pyotr Caviar.  So between the contract and the losing streak, Ig regretfully…regretfully…had to come out here to inform Jupiter that he was fired.

• Bojangles was shocked into silence for a couple of seconds before a voice from the crowd yelled out “What the FUCK?!??!” - something that was quickly repeated by both Steve and Carl at the announce desk that got by the censors live - and chaos ensued from there.  Collipark lost their minds in the ring while Jupiter's head slumped into his chest and he shook it sadly - Steve, of all people, got bleeped a couple of times - the deafening boos for Ig’s announcement quickly turned into people throwing things at Ig on the stage, and after someone nearly connected with a wadded up program half of Quality Force quickly formed a circular barrier around de Catur so the lot of them could make tracks for the back and possibly a private jet back to Parts Unknown.  That left the other six security members to dodge incoming trash as they came to the ring to lead Jupiter out of it, despite the rest of Collipark reading them the riot act and Duck Eko playing an uneasy peacekeeper while Steve and Carl actually stood side by side with Collipark and angrily demanded answers.  The censored “BULLSHIT!” chants took over FDSN for almost two minutes straight, and it took Jupiter himself to try and calm things down in the ring.  Science Fiction Double Feature hugged him tight after what he said to them, Steve was crying after they talked, Carl looked like he was ready to fight like it was 1991 and the World Tag Team champions kept shaking their heads like it would wake them up from the nightmare.  Jupiter left the ring peacefully and began to make the long walk out of Charlotte, the booing and crying mostly giving way to thunderous “THANK YOU, JUPITER!” chants.  We saw Duck trying to talk Carl back from the ledge and try to recruit Steve to help him at the bottom of the ramp while at the top of it, Quality Force was getting an earful from Shelley LaVey and Benjamin Valentino; a couple of them clearly had their shoulders shrugged in a nod to the what-do-you-want-US-to-do-about-it? nature of the depressing and volatile nature of the situation.   But despite the chaos all around him, Jupiter remained calm.  He walked to one end of the ramp and bowed, clearly saying “Thank you.  I love you guys.” As he walked to the other end of the ramp to do it for that side of Bojangles, you could see multiple fans crying, some begging and pleading him not to leave.  Jones stood on the top of the ramp and took a long last look before pounding his fist to his heart and pointing all around at the crowd, then he took a deep sigh and went through the curtains with QFS and Collipark in tow.

• With the announce leaving things in radio silence for a bit, chyrons for things to come on 💫 next week's Ruckus 💫 played: Malicía Fernandez will take on Ashley “THEE Influencer” Szabo • we’ll find out where and when the next QCW PPV Mayday Payday is happening • and Razorblade will defend the QCW National Championship in an open challenge.

• We came back to see Steve and Carl on the ramp while a “WE WANT JUPITER!” chant drowned out whatever they - mostly Carl - were saying.  The crowd’s chant got drowned out by “Unscripted Violence” hitting the PA, and Mason “Razorblade” Savage coming out to call the main event.  He looked pissed, but then calmed down as he got to the announcers, only to get met by an incensed Carl, who pointed at the World title before pointing to the back and sputtering angrily some more.  Razorblade have a couple of slow nods while Carl shook his head and then stormed to the back, drawing a pop from the Charlotte crowd.  Steve looked back at the ring, then up the ramp and shook his head sadly.  He said something quickly to Razorblade, who's eyes went a little wide as Steve threw off his sport coat with the QCW logo on it and followed Carl through the curtains.  Razorblade looked back at him before heading down the ramp and sitting down at the empty announce table and putting a headset on.  After all, there was the small matter of finding out who would win the Duquesne Classic this year (though who'd blame you if you’d forgotten about it given what just happened to Jupiter)...

• 6. Justice Davis d. Pyotr Caviar (w/Serge Batroc) at 11:45 to win the final of the 2025 Duquesne Classic Razorblade was at the announce by himself for a few beats before Julius Duquesne III came out with the Cup in tow and put it on a pedestal at ringside.  JDIII sat down at the table and they both expressed shock over Jupiter’s firing before Pyotr then Justice came out.  Davis took the fight to Caviar right from the start and wobbled Pyotr, even knocking him down to a knee pretty early on.  Just as Razorblade was complimenting his fighting spirit Caviar dodged an attack ond then ran through JD with a sick Russian lariat to the back of the head.  Pyotr threw Justice around the ring a few times and inched closer to the Cup by nearly eclipsing Davis with a running crossbody for the match's first nearfall.   Pyotr continued the beating and started to dominate Davis – right up until Nazir el-Fadal popped up out of nowhere and clobbered Serge in the back with a chair.  Both Razorblade and Duquesne expressed shock at Naz's reappearance as el-Fadal continued beating Serge down with the chair.  Caviar shoved Davis down and left the ring, chasing Naz off and then chasing Naz, period.  The One Man Jihad sprinted to the back while things got worse for Caviar when he rounded a corner and Davis flew at him to take him down with a cannonball from off the apron.  

• Davis wasted no time and followed up with a tope suicida that drove Caviar's back into the retaining barrier.  Davis set up and hit a JDDDT that sent Caviar into the ramp before getting back in the ring to break up the count, then looked around at the crowd before going back out and planting Caviar with a second JDDDT on the ramp.  He got Caviar back in the ring at 8 before following in at 9 and covering for 2¾.  Caviar got up bleeding while Justice's gaze never wavered, he just went to the top rope.  He got his balance and threw caution to the wind, flying off with another cannonball that had the crowd roaring.  JD slowly pulled himself up with some of Pyotr’s blood on his back and looked in the direction of the Cup (or maybe Razorblade) before making almost a military turn and, seeing Pyotr on his knees, hit him with a basement JDDDT and another.  Davis didn't look like he felt how hard the arena was rocking, but Razorblade and Duquesne did as the battle of former tag champions ended when Justice hit the Davis Driver – rolled through – and won this year's Classic with a second Davis Driver dead center in the middle of the ring.

• Razorblade took a deep breath and told JD3 they had a job to do, so replays of the match’s big moments played on FDSN without commentary.  We went back to the ring live, where Duck Eko made the announcement that the winner of the match and the winner of the 2025 Duquesne Classic was Justice Davis, which got a loud, mostly positive if mixed reaction.  JD3 handed Davis the Cup, which Davis slowly accepted with a blank look on his face as if he’d forgotten he was even in the tournament.  Julius gave Justice congratulations and a couple of claps on the back before he left the ring.

• Savage Justice ruled the ring, Davis the new owner of the Duquesne Cup and, well, you know Razorblade already.  The Mayday Payday opponents faced off but Mason Savage gave Davis applause before offering a handshake.  Justice didn't look at it, or at Razorblade at all.  Instead he looked down on the canvas where Razorblade had set down the National and World championships and eyeballed them for a bit before turning around and leaving the ring with the Cup to a loud and now slightly negative reaction.  Razorblade watched Davis go up the ramp incredulously and we heard him go “Really?  REALLY!?” before gold and white pyro exploded on the stage and the Qualitron showed a chyron announcing JD as the Classic winner.  But Davis no sold everything and walked to the back holding the Cup like it was just a boring Friday night, leaving a clearly pissed off Razorblade shaking his head and grabbing his belts as Coronation came to a close.

Devil's Night PPV (Amway Center • Orlando, FL)

Preshow

1. Sohla Patel (w/Scott Warren-Tisch) d. Jane Doe
2. triple threat Omar Littlefield d. Cliff Foster (w/Blockhead Ferguson) and Gerry Greene (w/Ian Cook)

 

Main Card

• the International Players d. the End Times (w/Summer Rose)
• handicap UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Team Batroc [c] d. Prince and Proper (Au Revoir [Batroc springboard European uppercut x Caviar Mt. Everest German suplex] -> Caviar pinfall Ootsuka)
• the GRPL+ WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP "Superfine" Reggie Strong d. Jacques Krieger [c, w/S. Mark Starr] (Fine and Dandy -> pinfall) #AndNew
• Justice Davis d. Drake Tremble [w/the Red, White & True] (Davis Driver -> pinfall)
• champion vs. champion WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Crush champion Karyn Tisch-Warren (w/International Lotus) dtko. Cindy Monet [c, w/Jane Doe] (Patel belt shot -> Circuit Breaker -> Monet "rendered unconscious") #AndNew
• no DQ • Autumn's Last Stand UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Autumn Powers d. the Revenant [c] (trash can assisted Hazy Shade of Autumn -> pinfall) #AndNew

QCW Ruckus presents Razorblade Reigns • August 5, 2022

Last week on Ruckus: "These Hands" Roy Fade bested Katsuji Ootsuka to get a shot at the TV title in tonight's opener • the Immortals goaded the International Workrate Consortium into taking their handicap enhanced shot at the tag belts this week, then spooked them good by showing them a massive tombstone with the IWC being born and dying this year on it • Nazir el-Fadal posted a narrow win over Pyotr Caviar in the main event, then not only got stomped out by the Consortium but was the recipient of unlikely saves from Razorblade and the Immortals, the staple gunned  foursome clearing the ring of the IWC before engaging in their own multi-level staredowns that left the Immortals holding the ring…

We got a video package to kick off the show that served to take viewers old and new on a trip through the life and times of Mason "Razorblade" Savage in the Quarantine Era, going from being thought of as Mayhem's little buddy to proving himself as a main eventer as last year died down - finally capturing the World Title at Golden Rule then going on a dominant reign as champion before accepting Party Animal's title vs. title challenge for Cruel Summer last month and becoming the first double champion in QCW history by capturing the World TV title from Party –

– but this might be the swan song of the Champ Champ, as Roy Fade overcame 18 others and rival Katsuji Ootsuka to earn a shot at the TV title tonight - and the man Razorblade barely bested at Mayday Payday, Serge Batroc has gotten another crack at the World Heavyweight Championship.  With the IWC behind him, could this be Serge's night to bring the biggest prize in QCW to the Consortium's overflowing trophy case?  Can Fade ride his momentum into recapturing the TV title?  Will it only take one night to turn Savage from conquering hero to titleless zero?

The champ champ says everyone bleeds, but all title reigns bleed out.

The Arena's sold out, the Quaranteers are loud and proud, and an absolute baptism of golden pyro went off to welcome us to this two hour special episode of Ruckus with limited commercial interruptions.   A PPV worthy show with four title matches on the docket this evening, but since he's doing double duty and this thing's named after him, let's get Mason out to blow the roof off the dump.

"Unscripted Violence" brought out the man himself, but only with the World TV title around his waist for the opener (we will see the Twelve Pounds of Gold before the evening's over). Savage's face could best be described as steely as he headed to the ring, Steve wondering how he would fare in two title matches against opponents with such different styles.  Barely had he finished lifting the TV title overhead when “Pray For Me” brought out the #1 contender & former TV champ “These Hands” Roy Fade, looking confident after throwing a flurry of punches at the camera on the way to the ring.  The referee had to stand between them while Duck made the announcements for the title match, and then we were underway...

| • "These Hands" Roy Fade d. Mason "Razorblade" Savage [c] to win the QCW World Television title • |

Upset alert!

Not a gigantic one, but one nevertheless.

It was interesting in the early going seeing how evenly matched they were: Razorblade’s fought himself to the top of the heap and Fade is a Golden Gloves alum, so this was less catch as catch can and more catch this fist with your face.  Razorblade started tuning up Roy with some stiff forearm shots as well and halfway through seemed to have things in hand and went for the Soul Crusher; Fade managed to get himself free and made a great counter into an avalanche Russian legsweep that had both men down and put the match on his side of the scale.  While both men were rocked until late in the count, Fade got up from it first and went for the Decision seeing Savage down.  Mason dodged it at the last second and the impact sent Fade’s neck into the middle rope, which caused a nasty spill that sent him to the floor and bought Savage more time.  The champ came back in earnest, picking up some more near falls (one seeing Fade having to grab a rope with his hands to save the match).  He again went for the Soul Crusher while Fade fought him off, then he went crashing to the canvas hard solo.  Seeing his opportunity, Fade got himself untangled from the ropes then schoolboyed Razorblade, then had the tights, then put his feet on the middle rope for good measure.

The referee missed all three of those things while making the three, and the crowd was livid when the bell was rung.  *** ½

Fade celebrated his shady victory, and we would find out through replays that it was even shadier since while struggling in the Soul Crusher, Fade had filched some brass knucks from the top turnbuckle and used them to counter and lay out Razorblade, who was only starting to come to as Fade posed on the buckles yelling at anyone who’d listen about how he’d come back badder than ever and had his belt back to prove it to all the doubters.  The referee, seeing Razorblade trying to make it backstage while obviously loopy helped the former champ to the back while announce had the reaction that you might expect, Starr noting that Fade now had QCW’s golden ticket in his hands - with enough defenses, that might not be the only time he beats Razorblade for a title.  Steve’s grumbling was cut off when we went

TOTHEBACK~!, where Enya Face was standing by with Scott Warren-Tisch and more importantly Karyn Tisch-Warren ahead of her title shot tonight.  Enya asked her what her mindset was going in, and she said that she felt it in the Arena when she and Pookie came in - change is in the air.  Everyone thought Razorblade couldn't be beaten?  Well, he just was, and everyone would watch the same thing happen to their precious Autumn before the night was over.  Her husband gave her love, OnlyFitness and its burgeoning family of products gave her drive, and the Commissioner gave her the opportunity.  So tonight she was going to do what she did best: hit a bunch of backbreakers until the thing that snapped was Autumn's title reign - then this place would have a Women's World champion worth celebrating.  She walked off confidently, and Scott gave Enya a once over before dropping a completely delusional "fattie!" in her direction, scoffing and leaving to catch up with his wife.

| • "the Wonderful" Rich Ward d. Atum Pharaoh • | The big Egyptian gave Rich fits, but the more experienced Ward was able to stick and move to an extent until he could bring his offense to the forefront and eventually get the duke with his Wonderful Cutter that shook the ring upon impact.  **

After getting his hand raised, Rich uncharacteristically walked over to a camera and said something that we couldn't pick up at home, then he turned more directly to the camera and said that if his rotten little turd of a brother was pissed that he lost the War of the Wards, wait, just wait until big brother was the first one of them to earn QCW singles gold.  "The countdown's on, Jason.  And you know me better than anyone else: if I'm saying it, it's not if…it's when." Rich goosed the crowd for a bigger pop by jumping up to the middle rope & making The Familiar Gesture around his waist.

The announce was reviewing Rich’s win, and wondering which title Rich was going for when suddenly a familiar voice cut off the proceedings.

“People, people, people, QCW is better than this.”

And out sans Arcarsenal strolled Nazir el-Fadal to a monster mixed reaction, one that would only get louder as he said he’d gotten to the Arena late but just in time to see Fade pinch the TV title off of Razorblade.  Naz being Naz, of course, he didn’t care about Razorblade losing…but he cared how he lost.  Ever since last October…(you could almost see him reliving the moment in his eyes as they hardened) ever since last October, he fought for titles, but he did it to show off his skills.  Skills that once flattened Roy Fade FOR the TV title, for those who’d forgotten.  And the thing about Naz was that as much as the rabble reviled him, they respected the skills.  The more astute out there amongst them realized that in both his major title victories to date in QCW, he’d won cleanly.  Fought hard.  Maybe not entirely always fairly, but just to get the advantages and opportunities competitors that paled to him got handed on a silver platter by a British butler.  So maybe he was too late to do something about the TV title, but he could do something about the World title.  

If Scott Holmes didn’t want history to repeat himself, then he had to do something unprecedented, and Naz did too.  But what made Naz Naz and Holmes Holmes was that he stepped up, met, and surpassed every big moment, and would put another one up on the board tonight.  If Razorblade was going to go against Serge with the World Title on the line, then he wanted to be the special guest referee.  Naz laid down the mic on the ramp and headed to the back while the announce had a monster mixed reaction of their own, still trying to figure out what Naz was up to.  It sounded like Steve was still in disbelief over Naz’s bizarre code of ethics but was almost sure it had to be a front with Naz involved, and Starr of course upbraided Steve for how naive he was – Nazir el-Fadal has been the same arrogant pot-stirring spotlight hungry asshole he’s always been, and Steve should know better than these people, who should know better to think that Naz is doing anything anywhere EV ER out of the goodness of his shriveled little black heart.  Steve threw to commercials, saying that they’d be back in 90 seconds with the second title match of the evening next!

| • Autumn Powers d. "the First Lady of Fitness" Karyn Tisch-Warren (w/Scott Warren-Tisch) to retain the QCW Women's World Championship • | The Notorious KTW is recently back from injury and still hoping to get to the pinnacle of the division as she had in Crush before QCW absorbed it last winter.  Smarmy beau in tow, Karyn hoped that her shot at the title would be successful, but she couldn’t quite pull it off here.

KTW was able to hit Autumn with several impressive looking backbreakers but an oddity in the match changed the shape of it after both women felled each other with near synchronous Yakuza kicks: the appearance of Summer Rose, who neither woman had any love for (in addition to her imploded friendship with Autumn, Summer gave Karyn the injury she’s just now returning from and did it by using her hold against her).  Summer merely smiled evilly and circled the ring for the rest of the contest, at one point threatening Scott apparently just for shits and gigs.  Summer appearing seemed to rattle Karyn and (heh) power up Autumn, who quickly turned the tide with a series of impactful maneuvers using her strength advantage, and an especially crisp tilt a whirl slam gave the champion the opening she needed to drill Tisch-Warren with the Hazy Shade of Autumn and put another successful title retention in the books. ** ½

Autumn was getting her hand raised while Summer shoved Duck aside and snatched a chair before sliding into the ring with it – then Autumn drilled it into her head with another Hazy Shade that sent Summer flying between the middle and bottom rope to the floor to a huge pop for the Quaranteers, Autumn yelling out victoriously over two bodies.  Rose needed to use the ring apron to pull herself up and we would quickly see why afterwards, as she was bleeding from the head off the Shade’s impact.  Rose staggered to the back, weakly pointing a finger at Autumn, who was standing on the turnbuckle roaring at her ex-bestie that QCW wasn’t big enough for the both of them and she’d flush Summer’s career away if she had to.  

TOTHEBACK~!, where Nazir el-Fadal was…pacing.  You could see a myriad of conflicting emotions on his face before he knocked on the door of Commissioner Holmes, who let him in and then almost immediately seemed to regret it.  He offered Naz a chair, who declined and opted to sit on the windowsill facing Holmes.  Both men stared at each other for a bit before Holmes asked Naz what he was playing at; Naz responded that since Razorblade was the only honest man in QCW besides him, he didn’t need to play any games, and he meant what he said: he wanted to ref the main event.  

Holmes asked him why he would want to do a thing like that, and Naz smirked and said “Ratings.”, which got a surprisingly decent pop.  Naz further elaborated that he would be calling things down the middle – his shot at the title was secured, and since he feared no man he was going to ruin Holmes’ precious AnIIversary by becoming the first ever two-time World Champion in QCW despite his protests and trying to keep him from the title.  So who he took the belt off of didn’t matter to him, but he would say this: people said everything they ever wanted to about him, but when he won belts around here, he did it clean, in the middle.  Twice at that, and Allah willing September would bring a third charm.  He might not like or even respect Holmes but after all the work he’s done in the past year to make the singles titles mean something, those belts are nearly sa-cred to him.  So Holmes could put his fears to bed if he gave him the ref gig for the night; Nazir el-Fadal would do the stripes proud.   He then pivoted, saying he was shocked Serge got another shot at the World Title when he had failed at Mayday Payday and come up short in the gauntlet for the TV title a few months ago.  Serge was an elite tag wrestler, but when he went for singles gold, he simply didn’t have the pedigree of a…of, well, a Nazir el-Fadal.  Holmes sarcastically asked if Naz wanted to horn into Serge’s spot, or given it being Naz, making it a three way dance or triple threat for the belt tonight.  Naz demurred, saying that he’d been working all year for a straight up one on one shot at the World Title that somehow only Razorblade was willing to give out, and wouldn’t have if he was just Holmes’ puppet.  But Serge has had plenty of chances, and after tonight, if Naz counted him down for the three, maybe he didn’t get another shot.  

Holmes and Naz locked eyes, both scanning the other, neither yielding.  Holmes said he would think about that and take it under advisement, then noted that he was going to let Naz be ref in the main tonight…and possibly making this Serge’s last shot at a title Naz was obsessed over, which meant that he would be doing multiple favors for the biggest pain in his ass, so if Naz was going to be getting things, than the Commish would be getting something out of Naz in return.  Naz sighed and had a “Well, should’ve expected that” look on his face before asking Holmes what he wanted, and Holmes said he wanted Naz in a match next week.  Naz asked him why, and Holmes smirked at him and said “Ratings.” to a bigger pop.  Naz asked if he was going to have the run the gauntlet, or be in a cage, or…but Holmes cut him off, saying that since Naz was such a precious commodity, he just wanted him in a straight up one on one singles match since the integrity of the ring was so crucial to Mr. el-Fadal.  Naz got chesty at that, saying that he’d beaten everyone there was to beat one on one and he feared no one on the roster, so whoever Holmes was feeding him would find out Jihad Time was always right on time.  Holmes chortled, then apologized, saying that while Naz’s record was impressive, there was someone on the roster he hadn’t beaten.

And he didn’t think even the almighty Nazir el-Fadal could find a way to beat THE REVENANT. 

Huge roar from the crowd as Naz leaned back in a little bit of shock.  Holmes offered that if Naz was too scared, he could just use one of the senior referees tonight for the main and there was no shame in backing down from a fight wi–Naz cut him off and asked again if the terms were that he’d ref the main tonight and have to deal with the Rev next week.  Holmes concurred.  Naz hopped up off the windowsill, peered at Holmes as if he’d never seen him before, then offered a handshake.  Holmes looked at Naz as if he’d never seen him before, waited a couple of beats, then took it.  Naz went to leave, but stopped at the door on the way out before casting a look back at Holmes and offering up a small smile.

“If there’s anything I’ve proven to you over the past couple of years, it’s that I can handle a main event.”  Holmes went to say something, but Naz walked through and shut the door behind him, then looked a little agog (probably over having to figure out a game plan for the Rev next week) before you could see his face briefly settle, then the wheels start turning.  el-Fadal went off down the hall, and we went back to the ring.

| • "the Voice of Freedom" Drake Tremble d. Caballero Verde • | Former three time QCW champion and proud anti masker Tremble has made his return not just to make QCW Great Again but to try and humble any foreign wrestlers.  Having set his sights on the luchadores, Tremble made it 2 for two against the Caballeros, though Verde threw a scare into him with a couple of nearfalls.  But Tremble survived, used his power advantage and put things away with his Truth Bomb (because what else would you call a backbreaker driver?). **

Backstage to a place we’d never been before: the referee’s locker room (doesn’t look to be too much bigger than a closet, but yunno), where Nazir el-Fadal was taking the stares in kind as he asked for a large, something to show off his biceps.  Well, maybe a medium…and then he was spun around and face to face with the International Workrate Consortium.  You could see the alert meter go up on a couple of the zebras in the background as Jason the Terrible upbraided Naz, asking him why he was getting involved in their affairs especially when they had the tag team titles to win coming up next.  Nazir said the blame for that rested with their boy Serge, who he tried to talk some sense into a few weeks ago when he was teeing off on Razorblade post-match and didn’t listen.  So he had to make an example of Young Pyotr, something that caused a crowd pop, Caviar to seethe and get in Naz’s face, and Naz to grin wryly.  Naz looked up and noted that Pytor looked a lot different last week when he was on his back for the three count, and Caviar lunged at Naz and the refs and the Consortium had to play uneasy peacemaker to stop a brawl from breaking out.  After the testiness settled a bit, it was Serge who got in Naz’s face, saying if he was pulling one of his schemes, so be it – but it would not be at his expense, or the Consortium’s.  If he tried any of his typical American garbage the Consortium would put him in the ICU.  Naz’s response was two-fold: to call himself an extraordinary American that was garbage free, and in the immortal words of the Commissioner “If you lose this, don’t come crying to me about it afterwards.”  Hey, that reminded Naz, speaking of immortal: he’d ask what they wanted on their tombstone, but it was already made.  Serge turned redder than a third of the French flag as Jason got back in Naz’s face and said this wasn’t over.  Naz nodded at the youngster with a Jennifer Lawrence GIF on his face as the Consortium slowly left the locker room and headed to the ring.  Naz shook his head as they retreated, then turned back around to try and get a loaner shirt.

The semi main event bowed after that with the Consortium coming out in almost a diamond formation - big Pyotr in the front, Jason the Terrible & Anton Stahl behind him, and a couple paces behind them Serge Batroc, which piqued the interest of the announce with him in the main event next in possibly his last shot at the World title.  Starr pointed out that it might take him two straight matches & under an hour to do what Razorblade accomplished in becoming a double champion, and the Consortium might have all the titles and power going forward in QCW.

Lights off.

“Killed By Death”.

In the darkness, only one thing played on the Quarantron: footage of the mass grave the Immortals made for them last week while wind pushed some leaves across it.

Lights on with a side of screaming Duck.

THWACK!  THWACK!

And an undead conchairto later, goodnight, Pyotr Caviar!

The Tracksuit Tsar became one with the canvas as everyone in the Arena freaked the eff out in a multitude of directions, Einherjar putting the bad mouth on Caviar before getting swarmed by Jason the Terrible and Anton Stahl - with the Revenant and Serge throwing hands, the ref had no choice but to call for the bell.  It took a while to settle the match down into a straight one on one as the match was handicap but not tornado, Starr noting that it was pretty brilliant of the champs to take out the IWC’s biggest threat before the bell could ring, but they were still at a 3-2 deficit. 

| • the Immortals [c] d. the International Workrate Consortium in a handicap match to retain the QCW World Tag Team championships • |

Yet the champs stayed the champs.

Despite ultimately coming out on top it took everything they had in them to prevail, as even with Caviar taken out for most of the match the Consortium used their advantage to isolate Einherjar on their side of the ring, employing tags so quick that at one point Steve compared them to a revolving door as Anton, Jason and Serge kept handing off punishment to a teammate.  At one point Einherjar started fighting all three of them to try to get out of their corner, somehow managed to do so, and then got absolutely floored by a monster Russian sickle from the big Ruskie.  That was enough for the Revenant, who vaulted into the ring and gave Caviar a taste of his own medicine with a huge pump knee strike that sent the Russian flying to the floor.  The Rev started to try to drag Einherjar towards their corner so he could make the tag, then got waylaid by the rest of the Consortium.

Then something unexpected happened.

“New Born” by Muse came on over the speakers, and flanked by their Tiki God out came the Women’s World Tag Team Champions, the Game Changers.  The Consortium looked up at the runway when they should have been looking at their opponent, as the Rev took advantage of the moment to do the drag and tag, then started putting the Consortium’s meesters on their keesters, clearing house and chokeslamming all of them with his Red Right Hand, getting the biggest pop for getting Caviar up and planting him with a ring rattler.  Serge got a running start and charged him as best he could once he recovered, but he walked right into a vicious uraken from Einherjar that cut him off.

With Serge and Pyotr out of sorts, it was Jason & Anton vs. the tag champs.  The tag champs won, eventually putting Jason through Death’s Door as the Game Changers came down to ringside.  A three count later, and the Immortals, somewhat surprisingly, had kept their undefeated streak alive.  *** ½

The ring and ringside were littered with Consortium bodies (one of whom was up next in the main event) for the Game Changers to maneuver around as they continued the night of surprises by getting in the ring – and getting in the faces of both the Immortals.  The crowd started buzzing and then cheering as Beckett Carpenter looked over them both, then held up her share of the titles, Ashley quickly following suit.  With smiles too far to be considered friendly, the Immortals held up their own tag titles, and suddenly both sets of tag champs were exchanging words, probably recipes or something.  

Queue Cee Dub chants were rocking the Arena before we went TOTHEBACK~! one last time tonight with Enya Face out to welcome the QCW World Heavyweight Champion, Mason "Razorblade" Savage!  That got the roar of the night, and The Champ came upon the scene with his eyes clearly searching the backstage area.  Enya Face started to ask about him losing the TV title earlier but Razorblade started running off before she could finish the question, and it took a couple beats for them to catch up to Razorblade…

…who had just caught up to Naz.  Razorblade pointed his finger in Naz's face, saying he'd already had a crappy night and if Naz tried to make it worse by screwing him out of the World Title, forget AnIIversary, Naz wouldn't live to see Sunday morning.  Naz smiled and said that was real wise, threatening the ref right before the match.  He went to turn to the ring as Arcarsenal started to play over the PA, but Razorblade grabbed Naz by the shoulder and spun him around.  Razorblade again pointed his finger at Naz, and Naz swatted it away before almost hissing to let him do his job tonight and that he didn't need to screw Razorblade over tonight when he could beat him at AnIIversary…unless, of course, it was Serge's reign he was going to end come next month.  Naz smiled evilly and looked at Razorblade before saying "One way or another, everything that's mine comes due in time." Razorblade started to reiterate that if Naz screwed him over and helped Serge out tonight - but Naz was already heading through the curtain to ref.

There were a couple moments of silence, and then Razorblade got bleeped.  Bow howdy, did he get bleeped.

As Naz was finally coming out in the stripes, the announce brought you next week's hype tonight:

🌟 Still pissed off about the loss of the Women's World Tag Team championships, the Forbidden Book Club look for revenge in trios action against their rivals, the Game Changers 🌟 

🌟 Roy Fade has planned a celebration to mark his being the first two time TV champ, but he's also going to have to defend that belt 🌟

🌟 And since we're about to see him in zebra stripes for the main event, Nazir el-Fadal had to accept the Commissioner's deal – it's entirely possible that he won't make it to AnIIversary after the monstrous half of the World Tag Team champions the Revenant gets done with him 🌟

"Unscripted Violence" came on over the PA and Razorblade marched to the ring, already seething and getting right back in Naz's face as Serge and the Consortium recovered.   Honestly, Razorblade spent most of Duck's introductions pacing.  Serge spent them freaking out once it was announced it was a Last Stand match where he would officially never get another shot at the World title if he failed in his chance here.  And in the background, Nazir el-Fadal's face betrayed nothing.  To his credit he patted both men down before the match and found nothing, though both match participants had words for him.

| • Mason "Razorblade" Savage d. Serge Batroc to retain the QCW World Heavyweight Championship (special guest referee Nazir el-Fadal; by losing this Last Stand match, Serge can no longer compete for the QCW World Heavyweight Championship • |

Naz…actually reffed it down the middle, which is just going to bring up a bunch more questions.  He also kicked out the other members of the Consortium in the first third of the match after Serge had gotten the upper hand and dumped Razorblade to the outside.  (The other IWCers were circling The Champ but hadn't actually laid hands on him, thus making them even more livid when they got ejected.)

Serge was obviously rattled by this and got in Naz's face for the next couple of minutes afterwards, Starr wondering how he was living in a world where Nazir el-Fadal got to judge the morality of other people.  As the match went on, Serge got a slight upper hand and dusted Razorblade with a rolling European uppercut that set up the Arc de Triomphe.  But not only did Savage get a toe to the ropes, Naz spotted it and broke off his count.  

That got Serge back in his face, but Naz angrily kicked at the ropes and told Serge to get back to the match.  Serge did but despite his best efforts, couldn't find a way back to the Arc while Razorblade caught up to then surpassed the Frenchman, Razorblade putting a button on the proceedings by countering an Arc attempt by landing on his feet and knocking Batroc loopy with an enzui rolling forearm smash that set up the Valhalla of QCW finishers, the Soul Crusher.  Naz slid into position on the oinfall and made a fair count, because as we all know by now the Soul Crusher is bulletproof.  

Razorblade let out a loud, wordless growl of satisfaction over retaining the World title and gaining a split on the evening as Naz called for the bell and asked for the belt.  Wordlessly, Serge disgustedly took off his wrist tape and threw it off as he started the long titleless walk to the back.  The Consortium seemed to be wondering whether to go after their rivals in the ring or catch up to Serge but eventually chose the latter, Razorblade! chants rocking the Arena.

Duck handed the title over to Naz, who suddenly stood unmoving in the corner of the ring with his old belt.  It clearly had a hypnotic effect on the One Man Jihad, el-Fadal staring down at it and gently caressing some of the jewels he'd put into it before the HEY! hit the fan, and Naz wheeled around to see Razorblade standing there with his arms outstretched on the corner of WTF and Gimme It.  Naz shook his head, and actually seemed to apologize a couple of times (?!) before handing Savage the World title and moving them closer to the center of the ring before raising his hand and announcing him as the winner.

But while Naz was facing the crowd, Razorblade was glaring him down the entire time.  After a few beats, Naz seemed to realize what was going on and slowly turned his gaze to Razorblade.

That didn't last long, as Naz's nose quickly twitched as his eyes lingered on the World Heavyweight championship, Razorblade getting furious and raising it in the air and Naz's leer at it never breaking as the announce went into overdrive hyping up them for the Twelve Pounds at AnIIversary from the Arena next month when the credits span started to take us off the air until next Friday.