QCW Ruckus [s1e40 • August 12, 2022]

 Last week on Ruckus: "These Hands" Roy Fade cheated to beat Mason "Razorblade" Savage and regain the World TV title, having a handful of tights and his feet on the ropes • the Immortals kept their undefeated streak and the QCW World Tag Team championships over the entire International Workrate Consortium in a handicap match, only to end up having words and comparing belts with all of the Game Changers • To the surprise of everyone, Nazir el-Fadal refereed the main event and did so fairly, as Razorblade retained the World title over Serge Batroc and kept him from getting another World title shot in QCW, but after that Nazir's lust for his old belt was evident - not that The Champ cared much, and we ended with him staring down Naz while Naz stared at the belt

The opening stinger played to open the show; of note Roy Fade celebrating with the title has been inserted into the champions collage that ends up the run to

Pyro!

Quaranteers!

Announce!

"Pray For Me" opened up the show, and Roy Fade took his sweet ass time getting to the ring, routinely taunting the fans by putting the TV title almost within their reach then pulling it back to himself.  Once he got the mic from Duck, he sauntered into the ring and held up the title while laughing.  Once he spoke, he mentioned that he was in the hospital then going through rehab, watching Ruckus, everybody kissing Razorblade's ass, and it made him sick.  That's why he trained harder than ever - not just to come back, not just to get back the TV title, but to show all y'all their precious Razorblade was a man.  Not this Champ Champ B.S., not this conquering hero, a man.  And any man could get a These Hands sized ass whooping.  Fade tapped his title twice and was about to continue when a slightly accented voice said "ANY man?"

Everyone turned towards the entryway while Fade wondered who was fool enough to interrupt his celebration, and the crowd popped as "The Wonderful" Rich Ward came onto the ramp.  Rich said it'd been a crazy year for him, a crazy, crazy year.  But Roy was out here talking about comebacks?  His own brother knifed him in the back and he did the same rehab Roy did only he wasn't yapping his flap about it, he was just putting in the work. Ask Jason what that work looks like.  Ask the big Egyptian he beat last week and ask him about a work ethic that was going to cut his way right to the World TV title tonight.  Fade looked a little shocked in the ring but recovered quickly, and said that he could work with that.  He needed to get started on his path to 10 anyway and maybe take another title away from Razorblade.  But tonight this punk-ass white boy was going to get beat down so bad that he'd think it was his brother all over again…and wouldn't that just be Wonderful?

The crowd barely had time to gasp before Rich took off running down the ramp, causing Fade to flee the ring with his belt.  Rich got to an empty ring and ran to the closest turnbuckles to Fade and demanded he come back to the ring and fight.  Fade smack talked him from the crowd before leaving through the concourse.  The camera focused on Rich's narrow eyed glare towards where Fade left, announce hyping this title fight before some commercials and our first match of the evening:

| • "Dashing" Pierce Moore d. Jupiter Jones (w/Lucius Patton) • | No, you read that correctly.  Yes, there were shenanigans.

Three weeks ago, Moore shaded the rules to beat the former QCW Champion's partner, Lucius Patton, and he did so again here.  The difference this time was that Moore was clearly out of his league against Jones, who controlled almost all of the match until he went for the Bolt From Olympus.  Moore pulled the referee in front of it, and Jones barely pulled up on it - but that was all the opening Moore needed for his Fresh To Death cutter and the upset.  ** ½

Moore obnoxiously celebrated his win while a recovering Jones looked mortal for a change on the mat.  When Moore got in a couple of post match kicks in on Jones, Patton came in to put an end to that and send him packing, both men exchanging words before Sweet Lu went over to check on Jones, who seemed more chagrined than hurt.

While the screen was black, we heard soft yet feminine grunting, followed by the Quaranteers cheering and counting one, two, three.  Silence.  Grunting.  Cheering.  Pinfall.  Silence.  Grunting.  Cheering.  Pinfall.

Footage played from last week of Autumn Powers retaining the Women's World Championship over Karyn Tisch-Warren, who was doing the grunting and the obsessive rewatching while trying to set a land speed record on a stationary bike.  She rewatched the footage a couple of more times before another figure stepped into frame, and if the taught but shapely derriere in leopard print fit gear didn't give it away, then her words would.

"If you're serious about running this…then you need me."

Karyn Tisch-Warren looked up to see the former Women's World champion Lolo Vuitton in front of her and a slow smile spread across her face.

"I mean, I love Scott…but I could use someone to push me past my limits."

Lolo gave a low chuckle before saying "Oh, you know me, girl.  I'll work that ass out!"  Vuitton got on the stationary bike next to Karyn and they both started pedaling faster, grunting gleefully as they worked out harder and a thousand fanfics were launched.

OnlyFitness

Where stretching is an absolute must.

Let Us Take You Back To Last Week, where the handicap World Tag Team titles match started off with the Immortals delivering a conchairto that more or less took Pyotr Caviar off the board for the fight, which got us singles action tonight - him one on one against Einherjar.  The rest of the IWC were banned from ringside while the Revenant didn't show up, probably due to his match with Naz later on tonight.

Caviar and Einherjar dished out some restaurant quality strikes and European Strong Style for the better part of ten minutes, but Einherjar couldn't keep Caviar down for more than a two count and Caviar couldn't keep Einherjar down for three, either.  Both men ended up fighting to the floor, where the hatred spilled over in a chair duel that the referee couldn't control, and she ended up throwing the whole match out (I'm assuming this was a no contest instead of a double countout but I could be wrong).

| • Pyotr Caviar no contest Einherjar • |

Crowd didn't like that much and neither did the participants, as Caviar couldn't score a bounce back win for the Consortium, who Einherjar and the Immortals don't fully have in their rear view yet.  Refereee came out to get between the two men, though it took the Consortium coming out to lead a peeved Caviar to the back.

We were "treated" to another Freedom Watch with Drake Tremble, who amongst his usual spiel threw in some back patting over his winning streak, a streak he was going to continue next week.  He'd clear QCW of every masked wrestler it had and send them back to where they came from - then it would be title time.  

| • The Game Changers d. The Forbidden Book Club (w/Diana Spare) • | Intergender trios action followed Tremble, with Al joining the Women’s World Tag Team champions to battle their longtime rivals in the FBC.  Of note was Spare being put on the outside possibly due to her possibly costing the Club the titles rematch a couple of weeks ago.  This was pretty much a 50/50 affair and even almost went three segments, but when the Club started getting into trouble, out went the lights.

When they came back on four red throbbing lights later, out were Fated to Become Champions, smiling evilly at the end of the ramp as Spare cackled.  It looked like Toddzilla and Roberto VillaLobos were about to climb into the ring when suddenly they got taken down from the apron and suddenly found themselves fighting the Hard Way.  The crowd popped as the former Club disciples, seemingly having finally broken the spell of the FBC took it to the men who took their places.  Meanwhile in the ring, Al Buffett got the hot tag and cleared Club house, eventually managing to secure the win for his squad by planting Nancy Crowley with his Inner Strength delayed avalanche uranage.  ** ½ 

Post match, it seemed like the fight was going to continue, and it did for a while, but this time the Club disappeared after pulling the lights out, ceding the ring for the babyfaces to celebrate in, with Bennett Carpenter mentioning on their way out that they weren’t scared of zombies, so they were going Immortals Hunting.  

Of course, that fed directly to a video package featuring the Immortals talking about the upcoming PPV next month, AnIIversary.  Einherjar mentioned that walking the earth as they did, the days tended to melt together into a dull blur unless there were victims to be had.  In his low rumble, the Revenant added that this time last year they had yet to set foot in QCW; now they stood here the best tag team in the world with the belts to prove it.  Einherjar resumed, and noted that no one - not the Consortium, the Family, or the men they beat the Hard Way upon arriving had been able to stop them, because mere mortals couldn't.  So congratulations to QCW - they could have the biggest, fanciest party they wanted and baptize the building in gold until you could see the Arena from space…so long as Holmes brought them some more victims.  The Revenant said that wasn't a threat, but a promise, then added a sinister "Trust us." before his red right hand engulfed the camera.

Before the night’s tite match, Duck went over the rules before introductions: Rich Ward has 15 minutes to win the title; after the fifteen minute mark he has an additional five minutes to beat Fade; if twenty minutes go by with no decision, then Ward gets a 20-minute time limit rematch next week.  

| • "These Hands" Roy Fade d. "The Wonderful" Rich Ward to retain the QCW World Television title [1️⃣] • | 

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to gain the belt here.

Rich usually runs a little cooler in the ring, but Fade's comments to kick off the show meant that Rich left the holds in the back, almost getting DQed three times in the opening five minutes.  Starr pointed out on commentary that while Rich was holding his own, it might not be sound to get in a brawl with a Golden Gloves winner, and moments after that Fade baited Ward in a chase around the ring before he suddenly turned and drilled Ward with a lariat, then threw him into the steps before trying to win it by countout.

Rich stumbled back in at seven, but the damage had been done and after swarming him with kicks and ground and pound sessions, Fade was firmly in control.  Rich got in a couple of tight nearfalls, at one point dodging the Decision and countering into a rollup with a press pinfall that Fade got out of by the skin of his teeth.  Rich went for the Wonderful Cutter to snatch the belt, but Fade countered with a rear naked choke to buy himself time.  Rich got free then got taken off his feet by a massive chop block, then Fade leveled him with the Decision that got him the dub.  *** ½

Fade greedily snatched his title back from the ref before doing the same taunt to Rich that he'd done to the Quaranteers earlier, then ran to some buckles to pose with the belt.  Despite the boos, Fade's smile almost took up half the ring as he slapped the belt two times before yelling down at the camera "One down!  Nine to go! Y'all GOTSTA respect These Hands!  I'm champ for a reason!"

We went from the TV champ in the ring to a video package as we caught up to the former World TV champion, Party Animal.  He wasn't at the Arena because he was criss crossing the country on his Claws Across America tour!  Before completely devolving into an ad for White Claw we saw Party kicking it in his beautiful RV (the Clawmobile, obviously) as it sped into Atlanta.  P.A. popped up in some ATL locales signing autographs, and trying to take the sting out of some chicken wings with his hard seltzer of choice.  Party said he'd be bringing the party to his fans all over the US this summer, so keep your eyes peeled for the Clawmobile - you don't know where it'll turn up next.  

Let Us Take You Back To Last Week, where Nazir el-Fadal found out from Commissioner Holmes the price of his getting to guest referee the World title match between Razorblade and Serge Batroc would be going one on one with the Revenant right about nowish.  Naz hesitated before he took the deal, but take it he did.

| • the Revenant d. Nazir el-Fadal • |

Mayhaps he shouldn't've.

It wasn't that Naz didn't get in any offense, but the Rev was able to shrug most of it off; now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not even sure Naz got a 2 ½ off of the big man.  As Starr pointed out from the desk, Naz had an experience advantage on Pyotr Caviar a couple of weeks ago and eventually managed to exploit an opening to barely snag a win, but a man of the Revenant's size and experience was a different animal entirely.

Failing to gain much ground with his usual offense, Naz went to his usual Plan B: cheating.

[Insert DJ Khaled quote here.]

The Rev got angry at the eye pokes and eye rakes, then caught Naz coming off the ropes and threw him so high in the air that the only thing missing was a stewardesses and way too many crying kids before he went splut on the canvas to the roars of the Quaranteers.  Playtime being officially over, the Rev made the familiar signal with his red right hand, then goozled and chokeslammed Naz down with authority.  Naz was barely moving before the Rev stood over him, smiled evilly, snatched him up off the mat just so he could chokeslam him again, and that's what got him the win.

But the referee couldn't even try to raise the Rev's hand before he was back in Naz's face about trying to screw him out of a win, getting bleeped once (the ring mic also caught "little pissant", amongst other love notes).  The Rev started grounding and pounding Naz, who eventually even ran out of the strength to try to cover up.  The referee pleaded with the Rev to stop the beating, so he did.

Until he turned around and planted Naz with a third chokeslam, Naz flopping about as bad as Morbius.  It got the ovation of the night and a sick grin spun out across the tag champ's face as he prepared another goozle, only to be cut off by the referee being essentially forced to save Naz, much to the boos of the crowd.  The Rev set Naz down and then piefaced the poor zebra ¾ of the way across the ring, nearly sending him from it.  The referee stood up slowly, then turned to Duck and spoke quietly.

Then Duck informed us that due to laying his hands on an official, the Revenant had been disqualified and therefore by reverse decision, the winner was Nazir el-Fadal.

The entire Arena jeered that, and some "Bullshit!" chants got bleeped out on the broadcast.

| • Nazir el-Fadal d. the Revenant (reverse decision) • |

Murder danced in the Revenant's eyes as he cornered the hapless ref, and before he could get out a word he was goozled and standing chokeslammed into the recovering Naz, sending both men flat to the canvas.  Eyes narrow and almost black now, the Revenant grabbed the ref in a goozle and walked him around the ring before chokeslamming him onto Naz, who feebly, hilariously tapped out as Starr bellowed "As the kids say, HANG THAT [BLEEP] IN THE LOUVRE!" That yell had barely died down when the "One more time!" chants got a second, bigger wind, causing the Rev to pause on his way out of the ring to look back at his victims.  He then came back to the center of the ring and pointed at the ref, which got a pop…but not as big as the pop he got when he pointed at Naz.  He checked it with the crowd a couple more times, but the verdict was in and Naz soon found himself falling victim to the same delayed chokeslam that had levelled the ref, Starr literally jumping up on the table to give a one man standing O that matched a lot of the Quaranteers' response in the bleachers.  

While Naz was being scraped off the mat and the Rev stomped to the back ignoring the roaring crowd, the announce provided a rundown on some of what's to come on next week's Ruckus (once Starr was talked into sitting down again):

🌟 Roy Fade will be making another defense of the World Television title, this time against the "Tiki God" Al Buffett - can big Al overcome These Hands and bring some more championship gold to the Game Changers or is Fade's second reign going to keep on rolling? 🌟

🌟 They confirmed the online rumors that there will be a big announcement from the Commissioner's office (the last one introduced the Ambassadors Trios championships, so something major is coming down the pike - new title(s)?  Did they secure a network's bag? New signee? Something else?  🌟

🌟 And an eight man elimination tag will headline the show, but you're not going to believe one of the squads.

We all know and tolerate the International Workrate Consortium - hell, they're about to main event once again in trios action - but their opponents next week?  

The World Champion, Razorblade.

The World Tag Team champions, the Immortals.

And…brace yourself for the fourth man:

Nazir el-Fadal.  🌟

Understandably, the announce freaked out over Naz being in the match before Starr let out a loud, booming laugh and said maybe Holmes was getting over on Naz.  He would have to participate in the match since it was elimination rules, and one of his partners was the guy who just beat his ass, and the other two partners would also like to beat Naz's ass, not to be confused with his opponents who – get this – also wanted to beat Naz's ass.  Naz got two things from Holmes, and Holmes set him up to get two king sized beatings in consecutive weeks!  Steve said that that was crazy talk, but was uncharacteristically quiet when Starr fired back an "Is it?"

More trios action was featured in the main event, as the last fight of the night featured the suddenly suffering International Workrate Consortium taking on long time rivals in the Proper Villains and the World Heavyweight Champion, Razorblade, who wasted no time in taunting Serge about never being able to hold the Twelve Pounds of Gold after beating him last week.  The referee had to keep all six men separated before the bell, things already testy as you might expect.

With Caviar holding an ice pack to his jaw on the floor, the Consortium actually banded together and showed some of the teamwork that'd gotten them the Ambassadors Trios championships earlier in the summer, routinely being able to punish former teammate "the Proper King" Richard Windsor and stay ahead of the brawling style of "the Fury" Jim Jaspers.   Managing to keep the World champ on the outside looking in, down the stretch it looked like they would be able to put them away when Jason the Terrible and Anton Stahl combined offense for a second rope Blockbuster into a Mt. Everest German that required Savage to jump in and make the save.  That was all that was needed for the previously threatened Pier 6 to pop off in earnest, Quaranteers cheering hard as everyone threw shots at their opponents.  The referee started to get involved to get the legal men out and keep the legal ones in (Stahl and Windsor).  Seeing his opportunity, Caviar flung off the ice pack and slid into the ring so he could sickle Windsor's head off but the veteran Brit managed to matador him into almost taking poor Anton's head off before Jaspers lowered the top rope and sent Pyotr to the floor.  Razorblade and Old Jim formed a protective wall that Serge nor Jason could get through, and a three count later victory was secured for the good guys.  ***

| • Razorblade and the Proper Villains d. the International Workrate Consortium (w/Pyotr Caviar) • |

Razorblade and Jaspers took the win in stride, but upon notching probably the biggest victory of his QCW career, Windsor was in full celebration mode having bested his ex blokes, jumping into the arms of his tag partner and letting some very uncharacteristic middle fingers fly in the Consortium's faces.  Not content to stop there, Windsor ran into the ninth row of the crowd where some Quaranteers holding a British flag was and let them give him a beer, which he gradually downed to the amusement of Jaspers and Savage, who soon joined him in the Arena, all three men celebrating with a post fight pint (or in Jaspers' case, three).

Meanwhile, back in the ring, Serge glared at the rest of the Consortium.  Anton and Jason were in the middle of apologies when Serge slapped both of them with the same backhand and turned to curse out Pyotr on the floor in French before disgustedly ripping off his wrist tape, throwing his elbow pads at his subordinates and stomping to the back, Steve speculating that the past month of failure wasn't sitting well with Batroc but Starr pointed out that they had to come together for the big eight man elimination main event next week.  Ruckus faded to black with the Consortium in disarray and Razorblade and Windsor firing up the faithful's Queue Cee Dub chants while Jim was looking for a Quaranteer to volunteer a fourth pint.

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.