QCW Ruckus [s2e7 • November 18, 2022]

Last week on Ruckus: OnlyFitness pulled out a narrow win over the Hard Way then later on stomped out QCW Women’s World champion Autumn Powers and “Night Sky” Diana Spare • Super Avión lost to QCW World Tag Team champion “Dark Mirror” Bennett Carpenter when the referee missed Avion’s leg under the bottom rope, frustrating the luchador • Katsuji Ootsuka pinned “These Hands” Roy Fade to win a five person elimination main event that also included the Immortals and “the Voice of Freedom” Drake Tremble

The show kicked off with a pretape from Earlier Today, where QCW Women's World Champion Autumn Powers was having a backstage photoshoot and Julius Duquesne III was waiting for it to wrap up before he could interview her.  

Autumn was taking some poses looking fierce with the title when OnlyFitness came on the scene, none too pleased that they'd gotten cut out of Autumn's open challenge for the title last week.  A little back and forth went down between the three of them before the fight was on, OnlyFitness using the 2 on 1 advantage to drop Autumn with Karyn Tisch-Warren screeching that she didn't deserve to be champion.  Lolo Vuitton & Karyn were putting the boots to Autumn when suddenly "Night Sky" Diana Spare was on the scene to help Autumn in the fight.  The four women fought and destroyed what was left of the set before Team Teal could get both sides separated.  

OnlyFitness was shoved off closer to the locker room while JD3 was called over by Spare, who said she never liked the fitness Barbies and she damn sure liked them even less after they cost her her title shot last week.  There's two of them, so if the champ is fine with it, they'll kick some OnlyFitness ass tonight and maybe make them go crying back to Instagram.  Autumn had a wry grin on her face as she offered up a handshake before saying that she'd head the Commissioner's way and see if she couldn't make that happen for tonight.

Standard open rolled after that, followed by the pyrogasm and the sold out Arena welcoming you to another episode of Ruckus helmed by Steve Vandeblanche and S. Mark Starr.  They hyped up a Jupiter Jones defense of the World TV title and the fatal four way elimination match that's main eventing tonight before saying that not only had Autumn Powers gotten the match she wanted, but that it would kick things off tonight…

| • OnlyFitness (w/Scott Warren-Tisch) d. QCW Women’s World Champion Autumn Powers & “Night Sky” Diana Spare • | Despite facing off for the title last week, Powers and Spare worked well together for most of the match.  OnlyFitness got the upper hand on Spare and began to isolate her, then made their own luck when Scott Warren-Tisch tripped Autumn off the apron out of the referee's eyeline when Spare was trying to make a tag to save herself.   Scott was bragging to a ringside cameraman about how smart he was when Autumn dropped him from behind and starting beating the piss out of him – and while she did that, OnlyFitness put the finishing touches on the fight, drilling Diana with Only Finished This and getting the win while Lolo kept Autumn at bay.  ** ½

Clearly pleased over their victory, they gathered up Scott from the floor and flashed smiles and smirks over his head while the referee and Autumn checked on the discombobulated Spare. Starr made note of the fact that no matter how Autumn felt about them, OnlyFitness weren't going away and would probably earn one of them the title shot with continued wins.

TOTHEBACK~! where we see the three Game Changers sitting on a locker room benches each furiously scribbling on notepads. Tiki is gobbling handfuls of beef jerky and washing it down with coconut water Polynesian Physic Grog. 

BECKETT: Careful, Tiki. You don’t want to be too full for your match with Super Avión. 

AL: No such thing as too full for the Tiki God!

ASHLEY: That’s why we need to buy two turkeys for the Orphan Thanksgiving. 

BECKETT: I know you were talking about inviting Justine, but…

ASHLEY:  …I promise she won’t bring Dom. Plus, she made the most amazing cranberry sauce for the Forbidden Book Club dinner last year.

DEEP VOICE OFF CAMERA: Oh yeah, we remember that.

(the Game Changers look up from writing down guest lists and shopping lists to see the Hard Way standing over them)

AL: What are you doing here?

FIFITA: Couple things. Number one, we wanted to make sure you remembered to bring the belts with you for when we beat you tonight. 

(BECKETT points at the belts in their gym bags, then returns to their jotting down notes)

BECKETT: Anything else?

GOODISH: Yeah. Anybody got any nut allergies? I was going to make Walnut Blondies for Thanksgiving…

ASHLEY: Oooh Yum!

BECKETT: Sounds divine. But double the recipe.

AL: It’s my cheat day. Here’s more of the grog you ordered. 

FIFITA: Word. I’ll bring wine. 

BECKETT:  You can never have too much of that. Can’t wait to have you over to the new place…

(All five look up and see the camera)

BECKETT: I, uh, mean, HOW DARE!  YOU CAN WIIIIINE OVER LOSING 

FIFITA: CHEAT DAY?!  MORE LIKE BEAT DAY BECAUSE WE

ASHLEY: YOU'RE GONNA BE MASHED LIKE MY BABUSHKA'S POTATOES YOU

GOODISH: OH, I’LL BE SERVING POTATOES!  

AL: WE'RE GONNA SHOVE YOU IN THE AIR FRYER AND COOK YOU, YOU NO GOOD [whatever he said is getting bleeped³, made one censor run away crying and the other one just started drinking]

FOURTEEN SECONDS LATER

ASHLEY: horrified

BECKETT: aghast

FIFITA: definitely not laughing no sir SMOKE BOMB!

GOODISH: shaking his head & murmuring a series of NOs

AL: …too far?

EVERYONE ELSE: starts yelling at Al

GOODISH: …you don't say that kind of thing to a man who knows Cambodia first hand.  Just – no.  

BECKETT: No Internet for a week, Al.

(Fifita points and now is laughing again, this time at a chastened Al. the Hard Way exit stage left.  A few beats pass, then Ashley cocks her head)

ASHLEY: Do you think I should see if Diana wants to come too?

AL: Tell her to bring those yams everyone always talks about.. 

BECKETT & ASHLEY: PHRASING!!!

(the Game Changers laugh)

AL: …you were joking about the no Internet thing, right?

BECKETT: We'll see, Al.  We'll see.

AL: [BLEEEEEEEEEP]!

Back to the Arena, where the roof came off the dump as "Unscripted Violence" brought out the returning Mason "Razorblade" Savage to an S tier pop.  The former double champion looked steely eyed as he made his return to the ring after the beating he took (and dished out) during Mischief Night's dog collar match main event.  Savage stood on the buckles and allowed a slow nod to the crowd support before "Fly As Me" brought out "Dashing" Pierce Moore to ruin the feel good moment.

| • Mason “Razorblade” Savage d. “Dashing” Pierce Moore • | But the Quality Controllers would get another feel good moment a few moments after that when Razorblade got the victory.  Moore was more than game to take it right to Savage and gave him a few moments of concern but the former World Champion regained the upper hand and never gave it back, ultimately culminating in his still deadly Soul Crusher earning the comeback win. **

Razorblade got his hand raised – and then the lights cut out.

There was a lot of noise in the darkness, and then some creepy…whistling?

Then the lights came on, and Razorblade was surrounded by the International Workrate Consortium.

The crowd and Savage barely had time to register the fact before all of them (except “the Wonderful” Rich Ward) began to put Savage into the mat.  Even for a badass former World Champion, 4 on 1 is no way to win a fight.  In short order, Savage was made to eat a Russian sickle from Pyotr Caviar and then a double team discus European uppercut/Mt. Everest German suplex combination from Jason the Terrible and Anton Stahl.  All four men grabbed a limb before tossing Razorblade up and letting him splatter against the mat to the horrified and angry gasps of the crowd.  Serge Batroc leaned against the ropes afterwards, then when Savage started stirring ran forward and dropped him with a PK.  As Anton got the mic from Enya Face, the announce noted that Razorblade’s loner nature left him open to something like this four on one attack from the returning IWC.  Stahl only had the microphone for a hot second before he passed it off to the leader Serge.  

"The French Assassin" looked cooly at the crowd, almost bemused before he stuck out the mic overhead, causing even more boos from the crowd.  Serge let them get their say in briefly before raising the microphone to his lips and sneering a "You're welcome!" before tossing the mic and smirking.  Rammstein's "Engel" came on over the PA (the source of the creepy whistling) and the Consortium left the ring to the jeers of the crowd and the shock of the announce.  As we went to commercials referees ran out to check on Razorblade, who was clearly hurting and pissed off as he tried to pull himself off the mat.

| • Jupiter Jones d. “Great American” Bobby Bash to retain the QCW World Televison championship 3️⃣ • | Bash came out of the gate hot with some power moves, and at one point we got a quick cutaway to the back to see Tremble and Holland rooting him on from the Red, White and True locker room ahead of Tremble's main event tonight.  Bobby had probably his best outing in QCW to date but it wasn't to be; Jones took over when he countered Bash's delayed Jackhammer with a sloppy but effective crucifix driver (!) then started breaking down the big man in sections.  It took a pair of Bolts From Olympus with a little over a minute left in the title time limit for the Triple Crown holder to wrap up the W. ** ½

Match replays started but ended up not finishing because we had to return to the ring where to the shock of no one ever, Bash was a sore loser who aligned himself with more of the same.  He, Holland and Tremble triple teamed Jupiter and it looked like they were setting him up for a devastating combo move when the crowd started lighting up.  The rest of Collipark (and Jane Doe!) came running out with steel chairs in hand to clear the ring.  Tremble and Holland were able to slither out before taking any damage, but Bobby Bash took the chair that Jane Doe offered him then got it Bolt From Olympused into his temple to the roars of the Quality Controllers.  Drake and Ted gathered up the loopy Bobby and started retreating to the back though not before they exchanged threats and snipes with the Family.  Once they were gone "B.O.B." came back on over the PA and the Family took to the buckles while Benjamin Valentino alternately clapped for them in the middle of the ring or encouraged the faithful to make a little more noise.

TOTHEBACK~!, where JD3 welcomed the challengers for the Unified World Tag Team championships tonight, the Hard Way to a good pop.  Goodish took the interview over, saying that there were no friends with gold on the line and that he was a little bit sorry that Ashley and Bennett would get whooped for Al's words, but they're beyond through with lying about who they are OR having tag title gold.  They're hungry and reborn…now the only thing left to do is regain championship gold.  He then semi sarcastically added that he hoped it wouldn't make Thanksgiving too awkward before leaving, and Fifita followed suit before a commercial break (including one from OnlyFitness where first time subscribers can get 50% off their first month in the next 48 hours by using the promo code AUTUMNISOVER).

| • “Tiki God” Al Buffett d. Super Avión • | More referee incompetence overshadowed another good TV match Avión was in.  On last week's show his loss to Bennett Carpenter shouldn't have happened because the referee missed the luchadore getting his boot under the bottom rope during a pinfall; this week that same referee made the count after Buffett hit a delayed avalanche urange on Avión but missed the aerialist grabbing the bottom rope with his hands starting at 2 ½.  To be fair the announce also missed this one until Avión flipped the eff out in the ring.  ** ½

The Game Changers celebrated their way to the back but in the ring a livid Avión was in the ref's face, then slid out of the ring and went to the announce and badgered then into giving him a replay of the finish.  When he saw it and it confirmed his suspicions he went Defcon, ripping off the facade and smashing the monitors before saying he didn't know why that pinche culero Holmes was screwing him over to protect his tag champs, but he was damn sure going to put a stop to it before stomping off to the back.  Announce then pivoted and we saw Nazir el-Fadal with the World Title over his shoulder getting miced up for his interview which would be coming up after commercials.

The announce obviously wasn't thrilled about what was to come, but brought on Naz for a satellite interview.  el-Fadal was quick to point out that the satellite interview was his idea, as the rabble didn't deserve to get him live in the Arena the same way poor Avión didn't deserve the treatment he's gotten the past couple weeks with the refs, but long before Elon was killing birds Scott Holmes was trying to kill the careers of anyone who wasn't one of his favorites, so Naz wasn't exactly shocked at seeing it.

Starr tried to ask a question but Naz talked over him, saying that he also wasn't exactly shocked that he would end up defending the World Title next week either, and went up a couple octaves in complaining that he didn't know who against!

Steve asked him about it and Naz did an angry bark of a laugh, saying that of course the only reason this was happening because he'd beaten everyone there was to beat and dropped Razorblade twice on his head in a month.  Naz then said there'd be a 20 person battle royale next week with the person dumb enough to win it getting to face him for the 13 Pounds in next week's main event and once he got done with that it was onto Season's Beatings where he'd bowl through another opponent - whether it was 2020, 2022, hell, 2922, QCW belonged to Nazir el-Fadal and it always would.

That drew an unexpected response: laughter from Starr, which visibly pissed off The Champ.  Starr allowed Naz was highly talented but that didn't make him bulletproof.  Did he really think he could come out on top next week against somebody that he couldn't prepare for, in his own words?

Naz scoffed and rolled his eyes before saying that he was ending the interview.  He wasn't the man to sit around listening to never was has beens who got gifted gold while he became the greatest superstar in QCW history - an elite wrestler who can make an impact and lay the smack down every Friday night and his resume's getting questioned by S. Mark Starr?  

"Interview over, rabble, and until I crush another one of your disposable heroes in a week's time, it has been your pleasure." el-Fadal uncoupled his mic, hoisted up his gold and walked offset, leaving Steve to complain about what a jerk he was and Starr to note that Naz didn't answer his question.  He had to know whoever wins the battle royale would be bringing the fight of their career to get the gold and end his and QCW's nightmare, so he would…well, probably would be rooting for the winner to shut Naz up once and for all.

| • the Game Changers [c] d. The Hard Way to retain the QCW Unified World Tag Team championships • | Probably the match of the night between the Unified champs and the former men's tag champs.  Given what went down earlier, it didn't stun to see things being tight right from the start, with a handshake between Szabo and Fifita leading to a staredown before the wrestling got underway.  

The opening chunk of the match went to the Hard Way, which caused Al Buffett to come out with a towel on his shoulder and still in gear to provide support for his stable mates.  Al's coaching seemed to work; Szabo caught Goodish with a drop toe hold onto the middle rope and snapped off a short range cannonball to the back of the neck before tagging out to Bennett Carpenter.  From there the Unified champs employed quick tags and quicker offense to wear down Goodish until he fought off a double team and landed a DDT/Flatliner combo before tagging out to Fifita.  John was the domicile ablaze and pretty soon was lighting up the champs.  The Hard Way took over the bout at this point and soon looked to seal the deal with the same move that'd gotten them championship gold before, but Ashley Szabo saved the day for the Changers by diving on the top rope as Fifita was flying off with his missile dropkick.  He did an awkward flight off the buckles and landed in a heap short of Goodish's Electric Chair, which Bennett quickly countered into a victory roll that barely kept him down for 3.  Run this back whenever you want, Holmes.  *** ½

Goodish questioned the ref about it in real time at the Arena, but those of us watching the replays on the broadcast at home saw that while it was barely a three count, it was a true three count.  The Hard Way looked almost sick in the ring when in a nice show of sportsmanship, the Game Changers extended their hands.  After a couple tension filled moments, the Hard Way shook then raised the Unified World Tag Team champions' hands before making the long walk to the back.  

As the Game Changers celebrated a night of wins on the turnbuckles before the fatal four way elimination main event, announce hyped up next week's Ruckus; it'll be called Black and Blue Friday and have limited commercial interruptions:

🌟 Jupiter Jones will make another defense of the World TV title as he tries to hit 10 🌟

🌟 Black and Blue Friday will kick off with a 20 person battle royale 🌟

🌟 Whoever wins the battle royale gets a shot at Nazir el-Fadal and the 13 Pounds of Gold in next week's main event 🌟

But before that main event happens, there's one to see tonight that also has contendership implications…

| | • the main event • | |

As Drake Tremble made his way to the ring, the announce said that they got word from the Commissioner's Office that these recent main event elimination matches on Ruckus were to determine a #1 contender for Season's Beatings.  In two weeks after three more elimination matches we'd find out who that man would be.

Next out was Katsuji Ootsuka; as he made his way to the ring slapping a few fans' hands a picture in picture rolled of him winning the fighting five way last week by pinning longtime rival "These Hands" Roy Fade.  

He and Tremble had just started circling each other when "Killed By Death" came on over the PA and the crowd roared to life over the arrival of the former tag champs the Immortals, and as they came out Starr noted that they were going to set the tenor of the match - if they stayed together, hard to imagine that Ootsuka or Tremble could fend them off, right? 

| • Katsuji Ootsuka d. “The Voice of Freedom” Drake Tremble in a fatal four way elimination contendership match (also surviving: the Immortals) • |

For obvious reasons a Tremble/Ootsuka alliance never came true - in fact, this was the shortest one of the elimination matches in large part due to Tremble's ego.  Drake spent the early part of the match trying to goad the Immortals into fighting Ootsuka for him, only to see Ootsuka try to strike the same deal with the former champs.  The Immortals polled the crowd, who voted for Tremble to catch a beatdown.  

Tremble tried to wheedle his way out of it, but soon found himself catching a 2 on 1 beatdown from Einherjar and The Revenant while Ootsuka looked on with a mix of joy and caution.  The crowd got bloodthirsty and Tremble ended up eating not one but three Red Right Hand chokeslams before the Immortals put Tremble through Death's Door.  They then slowly approached Ootsuka, who got his fists up – but then they gestured towards what was left of Tremble.  Ootsuka looked at them warily and then slowly stepped up to the top rope before flying off with Magical Sky and the crowd counted the three count along with the referee while the Immortals smiled evilly in the background.  Fun spectacle watching Tremble eat shit, but only a * match.

After the replays, Einherjar shoved the referee aside and then he and the Revenant raised up the Prince of Punishment's arms to the cheers of the Quality Controllers.  As the credit box came up to wrap up the last Ruckus before next week's limited commercial interruption edition, Einherjar and the Revenant looked over Ootsuka's head and exchanged wry grins - grins Ootsuka noticed, and suddenly looked very concerned about.  Catch you next week for Black and Blue Friday!

QCW Ruckus [s2e6 • November 11, 2022]

Last week on Ruckus: OnlyFitness cost Autumn Powers a win in the main event six person elimination match • Super Avión got his first QCW win by beating Ashley from the Game Changers • Nazir el-Fadal interrupted Jupiter Jones' Triple Crown ceremony but got told off by, of all people, Duck Eko; Jones celebrated further later on in the program by retaining the TV title over rival “Dashing” Pierce Moore

The show opened with a brief message from various QCW personalities thanking veterans for their service and sacrifices in a nice touch.

The show kicked off with a pretape from the Commissioner's Office, where Holmes announced that due to his ruining the Triple Crown ceremony last week, Duck Eko is serving a two week paid suspension and had already paid off both and a half dollars of his fine.  Julius Duquesne III will be doing the ring announcements tonight and Duck will return on the  Black Friday limited commercial interruption edition of Ruckus.  With that out of the way, Holmes thanked us for our time, wished the five competitors in the main event tonight good luck, and the pretape ended after that.

Show open rolled from there with the biggest change being Jupiter Jones in the cavalcade of champions that finishes the open, holding up both the Triple Crown trophy and the TV title at separate times.  

The Arena's sold out once again, we've got pyro to burn and Quality Controllers to get hyped.  Steve and Starr hyped up the fighting five way elimination match in the main event as well as Autumn Powers putting the QCW Women's World Championship on the line in an open challenge, but Ruckus would kick off with two contending teams in the tag division.

| • OnlyFitness (w/Scott Warren-Tisch) d. Science Fiction Double Feature • | The former #1 contenders got a very, very narrow win here over the resuscitated SFDF.  Jane Doe being back from injury has had her & her partner Cindy Monet hovering in title contention in both the women’s and tag divisions - aspirations held also by OnlyFitness, and thus they fought it out here.

Fitting that for a match that was a virtual coinflip the entire time it was happening that it got decided in the margins; the finish came down to Lolo Vuitton of OF against Jane from SFDF.  Jane looked to have Vuitton wrapped up and went for her Standard Finisher but Lolo slipped out the back, then a few moments later Lolo went for her Bloody Shoe but ended up getting countered into a rollup by Jane.  Both women exchanged rollups for the next half minute before Lolo sat down on a Jane sunset flip attempt and pinned her legs over her shoulders to barely keep her down for a three count.  ***

Jane didn’t seem to fully comprehend what had just happened to her in the ring even if her partner Cindy did, facepalming and looking exasperated while OF proudly crowed to the camera about their win, saying that they still were going to whip QCW into shape, pick up some championship gold along the way and in Lolo’s terms “look oh so fine” doing so.

From there the announce threw to a video package talking about the long, proud tradition of having December PPVs in the Greensboro Coliseum, and QCW joining that tradition next month with Season's Beatings.  

It'll be headlined by a World title match, and Season's Beatings itself will have a major announcement from the Commissioner's Office about QCW's 2023; Steve and Starr implored fans to make sure that they were following QCW on social media to get more updates on Season's Beatings.

Let Us Take You Back To Last Week where Super Avión got the first win of his QCW career over Ashley of the Unified World Tag Team champions the Game Changers.  Understandable that Avión would want to celebrate getting off of a lengthy schneid; equally understandable given their close knit nature was the fact that celebrating for that long over beating one of the Game Changers would cause another one of them to want to face off against him this week as a result, and here we are.

| • QCW Unified World Tag Team champion “Dark Mirror” Bennett Carpenter (w/the Game Changers) d. Super Avión • | The Avión win streak ends at 1, but it’s not entirely his fault.  

Hard fought, borderline stiff match for both segments that it lasted, Avión looking to impose his will on the smaller Carpenter and succeeding at it early only for the Dark Mirror to pick up on some of his tendencies after a few minutes and start rolling out counter offensives.  Carpenter fought off Aces High where Szabo couldn’t last week, and eventually had Avión in press slam position before throwing him up and catching him coming down with a Codebreaker.  Carpenter hooked a leg and the referee made a count – completely missing Avión’s far leg under the bottom rope after 2 and counting the 3.  ***

Carpenter and the other Changers celebrated their way up the ramp, while Avión read the zebra the riot act over missing his breaking the plain, and was trying to get the announce to put a replay up on the QualiTron 3000 when we went TOTHEBACK~!, where Enya Face brought on her guests: the Red, White and True, "Swamp Trash" Ted Holland and "the Voice of Freedom" Drake Tremble.  

The crowd booed as they came on, Holland shaking then kissing Enya's hand before the interview started.  Tremble was in high spirits: the Voice of Freedom was going to get another main event win tonight - Teddy was going to bring back the TV title and save it from that thug Jupiter Jones - and if Bobby Bash wanted to be a winner he'd join them.  But the ball was in his court.  Either way, the people should be learning from a couple of proud American winners instead of not shutting up when they were talking - Tremble apologized but ended the interview, leaving Holland behind to leer at Enya for a few seconds before receding into the darkness.

Back in the Arena, "Mota" by the Offspring brought out Autumn Powers to a sizeable pop.  As she slapped hands with a couple of fans on her way to the ring, the announce hyped her open challenge for the QCW Women's World title on the other side of a few commercials.

When we came back from the break the Autumn Powers chants were loud in the Arena, as QCW's longest reigning champ thanked the fans for their support once again. She laid out the open challenge for the uninitiated, but added she was making a couple of notable exceptions: OnlyFitness.  After what they did to her in last week's main event, they don't get a shot at this.  But if anyone else thought they were going to stop her after four straight months, they could come down to the ring and try it – they just better not whine and complain after they lose.

She handed off the mic to Duck and waited; a few beats went by with her waiting followed by an unfamiliar theme hitting the PA: Billie Eilish's "you should see me in a crown".  The crowd and Autumn looked towards the entryway but nobody appeared through the curtains…at least for a while.  

And then a buzz grew in the crowd and turned into a pop as out came "Night Sky" Diana Spare to fight for the gold.  Autumn looked at her with a raised eyebrow as the announce put over Spare winning the Cauldron of Chaos match at Mischief Night.  Spare confirmed she was making the challenge and said it was good to see Autumn, but it would be even better to get her first QCW title.  Despite the smack talking beforehand, they slapped hands after the bell.

| • Autumn Powers [c] NC "Night Sky" Diana Spare; Powers retains the QCW Women's World Championship • | A tight match that went back and forth for nearly 20 minutes befitting the first title fight of the evening.  Announce was loving it, as was the crowd and your intrepid reporter on his big screen.

Who wasn't loving it was, you guessed it, OnlyFitness, who waited until after Spare landed a superplex to rush the ring and swarm the both of them.  *** That's as high as I'm willing to go for a match without a finish, so hopefully they run it back and keep OF in the back next time.  

But that's next time.  This time both Lolo and Karyn got the upper hand with the sneak attack and thanks to some help from Scott Warren-Tisch dropped Autumn and Diana with hydroflask shots, then gave them both the Only Finished This and left them laying in the ring.  Former champion Lolo took special pleasure in grabbing her old title and draping it mockingly over Autumn's waist before OnlyFitness took their leave to major boos from the Quality Controllers as we went to commercials.

Once back, we got a lot of video footage of Atlantic City in black and white.  A gravelly voiceover talked about life being a gamble, and how growing up rough makes you put your head on a swivel…but once they've made it to QCW, it's going to be everyone else who's going to have problems keeping their heads on their shoulders.  “How’d I survive all this?  Just lucky, I guess…”  The word Krieger appeared briefly in bold, cursive letters before blowing away in the unseen breeze.

| • "Great American" Bobby Bash d. Atum Pharaoh • | HOSS FIGHT!  

And poor Atum, who got closer than he ever has been to a QCW victory but didn't manage to pull it off.  Bash looked better than he has in weeks, maybe months, and put Pharaoh away with a delayed Jackhammer. * ½ 

After replays, we saw Drake Tremble and Ted Holland with grins on their faces watching Bash celebrating his victory on a monitor; their matches will close out the show.

From there we went elsewhere INTHEBACK~!, as Enya Face welcomed the Unified World Tag Team Champions, the Game Changers.  The Quality Controllers popped for their favorite trio and Enya congratulated Beckett on their win earlier in the show, but when she went to ask them about Avión having his foot under the bottom rope, Carpenter trailed off.  They trailed off because the Hard Way were walking up to them.  

Fifita apologized to Enya for interrupting the interview but noted that since they were keeping their talking to a minimum they’d cut to the chase: they got screwed over in the Challenge finals and beat OnlyFitness last week so if anyone was going to be getting the next shot at the tag titles, it’d be them.  Al Buffett stepped in front of Ashley and Bennett before asking the Hard Way what they were up to next week before extending his hand.  Goodish said they’d be getting reacquainted with title gold, while Carpenter gave a wry grin and said “....wellllll….you can try.”  The teams exchanged handshakes and glances full of uneasy subtext, but nothing physical happened and Enya threw it back to Julius to make the intros for the TV title semi-main event.

| • Jupiter Jones [c] d. "Swamp Trash" Ted Holland to retain the QCW World Television title 1️⃣ • | Holland got the shot here based on his recent wins since falling under Drake Tremble’s “tutelage”, and was also looking to put a beating on Jones after he took the TV title from Tremble at Mischief Night.  

Holland had Jones on the backfoot early due to his unhinged style, causing Jones to fight a little dirtier than usual in return.  The self proclaimed Swamp Trash got a bunch of nearfalls on Jones and seemed to have him pressed with only five minutes to go in the time limit for him to gain the belt and set up for his (Liger) Grouch Bomb, but when he ran forward with it Jones suddenly reversed the momentum with a snap sunset flip that drove Ted into the mat, and he couldn’t kick out until 3.3 with Jupiter’s legs properly over his shoulders in the winning pinfall.  ** ½ 

Holland complained to the referee afterwards so fervently that even Jupiter had to check with the zebra that he’d retained the title – and that was the exact moment Bobby Bash ran into the ring and laid him out with a running avalanche that flattened the future Hall of Famer.  Ted looked up at Bobby with an evil grin breaking out over his face, then they both stomped away at Jupiter to the boos of the crowd.  After this went on for a few beats, Lucius Patton ran down to ringside with a chair causing Bash & Holland to flee, but as Sweet Lu checked on his partner, Bash & Holland were all smiles as they walked up the ramp to Drake Tremble, who shook both their hands much to Holland’s delight.  All three men raised their interlocked arms while the crowd booed, the Red, White & True adding the powerhouse Bash to their growing ranks in trying to make QCW great again.

After that and before the main event, announce hyped up next week right now:

🌟 We'll hear from the QCW Women's World Champion, Autumn Powers 🌟

🌟 Jupiter Jones will make another defense of the QCW World Television title 🌟

🌟 And the titles fight made moments ago, with the QCW Unified World Tag Team championships on the line - the Game Changers go against the Hard Way 🌟

| | • the main event • | |

This was similar to the six person elimination fight that headlined last week less one Autumn Powers with the same rules: try not to lose.

The bell rang and chaos immediately broke out.  Again as with last week, too much going on here for a full recap, but you’ll find out all the major stuff.

| • Katsuji Ootsuka d. "These Hands" Roy Fade in a fighting five way elimination match (other survivors: Einherjar, the Revenant and "The Voice of Freedom" Drake Tremble) • |

Tremble tried to duck and hide, and almost stole pins off of both Ootsuka and Fade while they brought back their rivalry as one of the main thrulines of the fight.  It wasn’t that the former TV champions only fought each other, but when they had the opportunity both Katsuji and Roy would rather fight each other than any of the other participants.

This made sense, especially considering two of the other participants were the Immortals, who had sadistic fun teeing off on anyone who came their way.  In fact, the loudest buzz of the match might have come after they cleared the ring of the other three participants and exchanged wry grins.  The Quality Controllers got themselves hyped for Einherjar & the Revenant to exchange blows but first Katsuji, then Fade and then Tremble all interceded before it could happen, turning the match into an ad hoc 3 on 2 handicap fight.

That went on for a while until things broke down into more individual fights, and once that happened Tremble found himself on the run from the Immortals for most of the rest of it while the latest chapter in Fade/Ootsuka played out.  Fade looked to have things won and set up Ootsuka for the Decision only to have the Prince of Punishment leapfrog him at the last possible second before crumpling him with a basement rewind rana driver – the Magical Sky that followed put a button on the match, with the Immortals watching approvingly from the floor as Fade got pinned.  *** 

Tremble smiled on the ramp flanked by Bash & Holland, who were already exchanging words with the Immortals.  But as Fade recovered on the mat, it was Katsuji Ootsuka standing on the buckles and posing, making A Familiar Gesture around his waist while the announce speculated on which title he was referring to as the credits box came up and Ruckus came to an end.

 

QCW Ruckus [s2e5 • November 4, 2022]

Ruckus opened on Commissioner Holmes in the ring, in a tux, no less.  Gold bunting and draping hung off of the ropes while behind him in a corner there was a three-tiered trophy that due to table placement skied high above him and the top rope as well.  Standing next to Duck Eko, Commissioner Holmes said that this moment was a while in coming, but now that it’s here he couldn’t be more proud to be in this ring to start off what he hopes will become a QCW tradition for years and decades to come: the presentation of this (he gestured towards the trophy), the Triple Crown.

Even before Sunday night, the man he’s about to introduce established himself as THE QCW Legend, a man who won’t just end up in the QCW Hall of Fame but might have his own wing before it’s all said and done.  But what he did on Sunday wasn’t just another in a long list of accomplishments, didn’t just add another title to an already overstuffed trophy case, but further proved that the best fights, best wrestlers and best champions could be found right here in QCW.  Enough preamble, said the Commissioner, please welcome the first ever Triple Crown recipient and the NEW World Television Champion, Juuuuuuuuuuuuupiter Jooooonnnnnnnnessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

You maybe got to hear “B.O.B.” for two seconds before the standing O drowned it out, Steve & Starr also on their feet as the crowd hit a fever pitch upon seeing everyone in the College Park Family and satellite member Jane Doe come out ahead of Jones, who looked genuinely moved by the reaction of the crowd and took in the scene before swallowing deep and coming down to the ring.  Jones started coming up the stairs and took a pause, and that’s when the moment possibly got to him – the TV champ stood on the top stair, mouth quivering, and he put his hand over his mouth but he couldn’t help crying.  His Collipark buddies sort of stepped up behind and around him to check on him, maybe blocking it off from the camera, but eventually he got into the ring and shook hands with Duck and the Commish before gold confetti started falling on the Arena.  Steve talked quietly about how great a moment this was and how Jupiter deserved and earned every bit of the Triple Crown; you could tell this moment was solemn because Starr not only agreed but did so at a volume lower than 8.  

Holmes handed off the trophy to Jones, who looked at it as if it had seven eyes and three tentacles.  Maybe he was looking at the fact only one name was on the trophy, because he almost bobbled it out of his hands when the pyro went off on the stage.  Jones being a pro’s pro, he recovered quickly and proudly held up the trophy before setting it back down on the table.  After exchanging a handshake with Duck, who hugged him, Jones cleared his throat loudly a couple of times and quietly said “Thank you” a couple more times.  He said that in nearly 15 years of having the honor of being a professional wrestler nothing could come close to this moment.  When he first began lacing up the boots – 

– Arcarsenal.  NOW, of all goddamn times.

Honestly, the only person who took this without going into the red was Jupiter himself, who just hung his head and shook it slowly like a disappointed dad.  

Out came the World Champion, Nazir el-Fadal.  He moved slowly and seemed to have added a massive forehead bandage to his wardrobe, but the man holding the 13 Pounds of Gold is the same as ever.  Naz waved down the crowd, saying that if the rabble listened, they might learn something.  He’s been a fan of Jupiter for years, and had the privilege of going to the mat with him a few times including a few weeks ago.  So he was out here to celebrate Jupiter the same as everyone else and congratulate him on this beautiful ceremony.

“Too bad it’s a fraud.”

…

Naz started to go into the spiel that he was the first holder of the Triple Crown but didn’t get five seconds in before being cut off by a “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” that, surprisingly, didn’t come from the Commissioner.

It somehow came from Duck.

He looked surprised that the microphone was in his hand, and he looked at Commissioner Holmes for a second, but then he turned back towards the ramp and opened up a six-pack of verbal whoop ass on Naz, saying that there was finally something that wasn’t about him, and here he fu–freaking was trying to make it about him.  Just like he did at AnIIversary, at Mischief Night, hell, at this point Duck hopes some of the rumors are true just so he never has to see Naz’s stupid little grins ever again, a line which got a roar from the crowd.  But Duck barrelled right through it, saying that that all was one thing, but for him to interrupt Jupiter during this ceremony was beyond the pale and if he could fight Naz himself right now, he would.  But he’s already done too much and probably going to get suspended for this, so in that case he was going to make it count:

“Go [BLEEP] yourself, Naz.”

Friends, I’ve heard pops, POPS, and Road Warriors pops.   This ran closer to the latter, a Duck! chant starting (of all things!) in the Arena.

“And when you get done [BLEEP]ing yourself, go [BLEEP] off somewhere and let Jupiter receive his award if you’re such a great champion.”

Naz stared at Duck from the ramp as if he had seven eyes and three tentacles, then threw his microphone in the air and limped off to the back, causing another standing O and string of Duck! chants.  I’m sure Commissioner Holmes is smiling about an unrelated joke that he heard recently that amuses him so.  Duck apologized to everyone about his outburst, but both Holmes and Jones were Good Guys about it, and Jupiter eventually picked up his speech.

He thanked Duck for having his back to the roar of the crowd.  He thanked Holmes specifically and the Holmes family in general for making QCW a welcome place for a Jones, then touched upon his time in Japan and (I came to find out from online forums after the show) thanked his fans in Japan in Japanese, saying it was a great honor to learn the craft in such a rich environment for pro wrestling.  

He thanked the rest of the Family for picking him up last year after he was down and didn’t know what to do next, or where to go – they took him in with open arms and made him feel like he belonged until he felt like he belonged, and whether it was Jane and Cindy trying to teach him new dances, Lucius sparring with him and showing him new moves, or Benjamin…Jones got choked up again, addressing his former partner and current manager, saying that if there were a way for two men to share this he would with Benny, because Benny saved his ass when he came back from Japan and gave him a couch to crash on, kept telling him to stay and fight when he wanted to give up and stay in bed, always, always, even right now, had his back.  He didn’t have the words to express how much that meant to him.

Jupiter saved his final words for his late father, joking that for most of his life as a kid all he heard was how important it was for him to get a degree, to stay in school and not end up like his dad; after an…”uninspiring” year at UGA, Dad told him he might as well go to wrestling school because real school would beat him 5-0 in a best of 3 falls match.  He smiled telling his Dad’s old joke once again, and talked about his dad supporting him quietly from the shadows not only for the rest of his career but the rest of his life.  It got very quiet in the Arena here; all you could hear were some light cries and sniffles, a couple of coughs.  Jupiter said that when he started off in the business, he didn’t want to get where he was because of his dad, he wanted to earn it and keep the Jones family legacy intact, add to it.  And in the shadow of this trophy, and this accomplishment…well, it doesn’t mean he’s made it - hell, he’s gotta get out of this suit and tie and defend his belt in about an hour…but he’s made something of himself, and he’s got the right people around him and for him, and with that in his pocket he can buy the world.  He thanked everyone for their time and set down the mic on the podium to another standing O, he & Holmes hugging briefly before the Family came into the ring and all hugged Jupiter, setting off another round of chants and the in-ring scene gently fading to black.

The open rolled from there, but when it ended the card began: 

| • "the Wonderful" Rich Ward d. "Great American" Bobby Bash • | Our first in ring action of the night welcomed back Rich Ward from his nuptials and his honeymoon, and Holmes was kind enough to give him a softish landing in the form of a match with the perennial light counter, Bash.  The bigger Bash did put a minor hurt on Rich with some of his power moves, but Rich turned the match in his favor for good by countering a powerbomb attempt and coming down with the Wonder Cutter; the match ended right afterwards when Rich ran off two sets of ropes to build momentum for a running start to execute the second Wonder Cutter to secure his return victory to decent cheering.  **

After replays, Ward saluted the crowd before heading to the back.  As Bash was slowly recovering, a familiar voice started calling out to him before asking how could a great American lose to a – a – hell, he could barely say it – Canadian?!  The curtains parted, but Ted Holland kept holding them open until Drake Tremble came through them to a nega ovation.  Drake pointed out that Bobby's been a great American in QCW for years, but he couuuuuld be better.  Take Ted, for example: Ted started following his lead, hasn't lost since, he's going to stomp out another foreign menace later on tonight.  That's what happens when you listen to the Voice of Freedom, success.  And if Bobby Boy follows his heart, he'll know he should be fighting alongside the Red, While and True.  After inviting the big man to think about it, Tremble and Holland left.  And left an impression, because Bobby was clearly thinking about it as the night's first commercial breaks started.

Back from the break, and Super Avión was already in the ring and in the referee’s face when Muse’s “New Born” came on over the PA, and the crowd roared upon seeing the Unified World Tag Team champions the Game Changers out even in full force for an increasingly rare singles bout of theirs.  

| • Super Avión d. QCW Unified World Tag Team champion Ashley Szabo (w/the Game Changers) • | Shocker here as Avión got his first QCW W and did so clean in the middle to boot; he took some shortcuts and shaded the rules a couple of times, but used his power advantage to help stymie THEE Influencer early on and that set up his lucha libre arsenal.  Ashley managed to get off a press slam of her own and went up for the Smash That Subscribe Button, but Avión got an arm underneath her before she could fly off and shoved her into the ringpost.  Knocked for a loop, she was easy prey for his Aces High avalanche crucifix slam, and before Al or Bennett could even think of sliding in the ring to stop it Avión lodged the 3.  ** ½

An ebullient Avión jumped around the ring afterwards and even picked up the referee and spun him around in celebration, though he did bail out of the ring when the rest of the Game Changers came in to check on Ashley.  Holding up his index finger and talking rapidly in Spanish to the camera, Avión finally might be a little less whiny and aggrieved after his first win…depending on how long it takes him to get his second.

With the Triple Crown ceremony shuffling around the usual running times for a Ruckus, we got the Mischief Night recap package that would usually kick off the show here.  Good luck beating the Hot 8 Brass Band’s “Ghost Town” cover for the next PPV theme; after stills of “Dashing” Pierce Moor celebrating his win over “the Iron Dwarf” John Arneson and the Proper Villains doing the same after toppling A World Of Pain, we started getting some brief video clips from the main card:

⚜️ Fated To Become Champions ruling the ring ahead of Ragnarok Rules • the Hard Way coming out in black and orange for a change before the Immortals rose from a couple of the nearly dozen graves at the ramp’s apex • Erik Norville and Einherjar exchanging blows on the ramp, nearly taking out some fans in the front row - Toddzilla eating a Red Right Hand, then Death’s Door, then being buried alive • the Immortals and the Hard Way exchanging fist bumps while the FBC looked despondent ⚜️ the Forbidden Book Club looking to right the ship in the next match • a new look Diana Spare coming out with the Sound of Thunder and going right after her former cohorts • Bonnie Agrippa nearly winning the Cauldron of Chaos trios match while the stip was a ladder match, only for Bettie Rokker to springboard in with a flying shoulderblock that sent them both flying and Bonnie from halfway up • Shelley La Vey hitting a Fallen Angel splash off the ladder onto Val Curry, the Shieldmaiden • Spare finally laying out LaVey, then shaving her hair during the hair v. hair portion of the rotating stips match to win it for the white hats • more FBC despondence, the Sound of Thunder and especially Diana Spare celebrating the win over their longtime rivals ⚜️ OnlyFitness coming to the ring in matching robes with Scott Warren-Tisch hyping them up • the Alohatties welcoming the Unified World Tag Team Champions the Game Changers and Al Buffett slapping a couple of their hands • Lolo Vuitton muscling Ashley Szabo around the ring and dusting off her hands after a fallaway slam • Al on the floor barking out orders • Bennett Carpenter stopping Karyn Tisch-Warren in her tracks with a step up enzuigiri • Scott on the floor barking out orders of his own - Scott trying to get involved, but fumbling the hydroflask at the key moment, followed by Carpenter succeeding where he failed and drilling Tisch-Warren between the eyes with it for the shady win • something the OnlyFitness family made sure to complain about • the Game Changers remained too busy laughing at the tables turning and retaining their belts ⚜️ the South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dog Marching Band hitting “Bombs Over Baghdad” to bring out Jupiter Jones alongside the rest of Collipark • Ted Holland looking menacing behind Drake Tremble, showing off the TV title to everyone in the Lakefront Arena • Tremble getting the upper hand on eternal rival Jones and laughing about it • the crowd chanting Jupiter! when he was eating the worst of it • Jones crying out in pain, but coming up from underneath and fighting back • Holland trying to get involved after a nearfall, only for Benjamin Valentino to pull him off the apron and drop him with a bling ring enhanced punch • this part you know already, Jupiter hitting the Bolt From Olympus to win the TV title and the Triple Crown • everybody losing their mind • Starr crying a little, and he wasn’t the only one • yellow, purple and gold confetti falling as a tearful Jones stood on the buckles holding up three fingers on one hand and the TV title in the air with the other while the rest of Collipark celebrated in the ring and the sold out crowd chanted “You deserve it!” ⚜️ Jane Doe and Autumn Powers shaking hands before their semi main for the Women’s World Title • Doe getting the upper hand on Powers early but remaining blank faced about it, which gave Autumn a few looks of worry • Doe doing a crab walk that backs the confounded champ into the corner • Powers escaping trouble by slipping Jane’s finisher and countering into a DDT • Powers psyching herself up • Autumn eventually putting a bow on things with the Hazy Shade to continue the longest title reign in QCW ⚜️ Mason Savage coming out from the crowd and looked serious as a heart attack • an irate Nazir el-Fadal going after Duck Eko for what he felt was an inferior intro, only for Savage to get the jump on him as a result • Naz cheapshotting Mason and busting him open with some of the studs in the collar before he put it on himself • blood working for Savage like Popeye’s spinach, as he started gaining the upper hand on Naz • Savage getting back what he lost and busting Naz open, now all the footage is in black and white • both men bleeding, waving the other on • both men falling in slo mo at different times • both men struggling to their feet • Naz wrapping up the chain connecting the collars around his fist and drilling Savage with a jaw shot • then the WMDDT • Duck actually stormed out rather than announce it • fans jeering • Savage reeling • Starr shaking his head • but a bloodied Naz, using the corner to prop him up, slowly raising two fingers in the air with one hand and holding the World Title tight to his chest with the other…

🎶 too much fighting on the dance FLOOR! 🎶 ⚜️

| • "Swamp Trash" Ted Holland d. Atum Pharaoh • | Pharaoh keeps getting reps but ultimately had no answer for the wild Holland, who didn't just throw in bites and eye rakes with the ropes but managed to heft Atum up for a winning Truth Bomb.  ** Holland shook hands with the referee post match and Tremble came out to raise his hand again at the top of the ramp.

From QCWAnon TOTHEBACK~!, where OnlyFitness were dour about losing their titles opportunity Sunday night and were loudly complaining about it as they headed to the Commissioner’s office.  But before they could see him, somebody walked out of the office, and the crowd popped upon seeing the QCW Women’s World Champion Autumn Powers out through the door.  Already salty, the fitnessistas wondered what Powers was doing; The Champ retorted that she was getting another main event tonight in a six-person elimination match with some former champions - the sort of main events you get when you win your title matches.  Powers gave a brief chuckle and said she had to go get ready, parting the OF sea and heading back towards her locker, but despite all the possible flavor combinations the OnlyFitness trio was salty watching her depart.  After that settled down, it turned out they forgot why they were going to Holmes’ office, and they all looked back where Autumn had departed the minute earlier with petulant looks on all three of their faces.

| • Jupiter Jones d. "Dashing" Pierce Moore to retain the QCW World Television title 1️⃣ • | Moore shocked the world when he beat Jones in one of his first matches in QCW; that loss established Moore for us but more importantly seemed to be the catalyst for the recent roll Jones has been on, not dropping a singles match since and getting the TV title & Triple Crown in one fell swoop on Sunday night.

Given the previous set of matches between them, it was no surprise to see several counters and a couple of counters of counters.  With five minutes left before the time limit expired it seemed like if anyone was going to win, it might have been Moore, who ducked a Bolt From Olympus and surprised Jones with a subsequent victory roll that came within a half a second of living up to its name.  However, Jupiter proved his bonafides yet again when he caught Moore’s Fresh To Death cutter and countered that out into a lifting reverse DDT that drove most of the air out of the Dashing One’s sails, and a successful Bolt From Olympus took care of the rest in Jones’ first title defense – no one’s gotten to 10 since Party Animal back in the early days of the summer. ***

After that TV title fight, announce put over Jones' continuing career renaissance before providing an injury update on a former TV champion and the former World Champion: Mason "Razorblade" Savage.  Stills from Mischief Night showed, and then switched into black and white once blood came to the surface.  The dog collar match took a lot out of both participants and Naz's shot across the jaw with a chain that set up his winning WMDDT didn't help.  In addition to the obvious blood loss, Savage suffered anemia and had to get 17 stitches onto a couple of cuts.  The good news for Savage is that he passed concussion protocol earlier in the week and should be back in action in a couple of weeks time, though what's up next for the former double champion is anyone's guess.

Let Us Take You Back To Two Weeks Ago where OnlyFitness used their signature hydroflask to steal a victory from the Hard Way and with it, the Unified Contenders Challenge (they lost their titles shot at the PPV, whereas the Hard Way were part of the winning team in the crazy-ass Ragnarok Rules opener).  

Given that ending it doesn’t shock to find out that the Hard Way petitioned Commissioner Holmes for and got a rematch here in the semi main tonight.  Both teams probably have eyes on the Game Changers, but the rematch saw them go at each other with gusto for nearly three segments.  It looked like things were going to end the way they did in the UCC finals, but this time the ref recovered from the accidental shot they took from THW’s Fifita faster, and caught Scott Warren-Tisch rearing back to get involved with the hydroflask.  The referee ejected Scott to the joy of the white hats and the anger of the ladies, and when Scott was too busy complaining about getting caught to get going, the former champions got a running start and gave him a double clothesline over and out to the roar of the crowd.  With Scott taken out of the equation, the Hard Way kept rolling until Karyn found herself on the wrong end of their Down To Earth (the latest name of their perennial finisher), and the former champions got a measure of revenge.  ** 1/2

| • the Hard Way d. OnlyFitness (w/Scott Warren-Tisch) • |

OnlyFitness fumed in the ring as the Hard Way had small grins heading up the rampway.  Before the unique main event got underway, the announce hyped up next week's Ruckus and focused on the two title fights that'll anchor it:

🌟 Jupiter Jones will make another defense of the World TV title, this time against the disquieting "Swamp Trash" Ted Holland 🌟

🌟 And not just a title defense, but next week will see QCW's longest reigning champion Autumn Powers put the Women's World Championship on the line in an open challenge; who'll answer the call and will they have an answer to keep Autumn's reign from extending into the winter? 🌟

| | • the main event • | |

As "Pray For Me" brought out "These Hands" Roy Fade, announce hyped up the unusual nature of the main event, a six person single elimination match featuring some of the brightest stars in QCW.  Unsurprisingly, on Fade's heels out came Katsuji Ootsuka, another former TV champion who's rivalry with Fade has been a linchpin of QCW's 2022; this match is the first time they're sharing a ring in about a month since their MOTYC last man standing brawl for the TV title.  

The referee had to step between them, and while they jawjacked suddenly the lights went out.  

"Killed By Death".

The crowd roared and the announce freaked out - a third of this six pack were the former QCW World Tag Team champions the Immortals, and their dark grins told the tale: even if they got ganged up on 2 to 1, this was the sort of fight they ceased to live for.  Fade and Ootsuka didn't suddenly star in a mismatched buddies comedy but they damn sure accurately perceived the threats incoming, and it didn't stop with the Immortals.

"Mota" by the Offspring hit the system and the QCW Women's World Champion Autumn Powers came out to a huge pop, belt shining off of a shoulder as she took the lone available corner and awaited the arrival of the final person in the main: sadly for us, it was "the Voice of Freedom" Drake Tremble, Ted Holland kissing his ass all the way down the ramp.  

Once the bell rang, Fade and Ootsuka immediately picked up where they left off, leaving the Immortals fighting against the avoidant Tremble and the focused Powers.

| • "The Voice of Freedom" Drake Tremble (w/"Swamp Trash" Ted Holland) d. Autumn Powers in a six pack single elimination challenge (other survivors: Einherjar, "These Hands" Roy Fade, Katsuji Ootsuka and the Revenant) • |

No way to give a full accounting of events without remaking Infinite Jest, but highlights ran as follows:

• Even now, Fade isn't willing to let the rivalry with Ootsuka die: he's the one he fought against the most during the match and he kept Tremble from being pinned after a Magical Sky connected

• Ootsuka's still not fully healed though he is down to kinesiology tape on his ribs and back 

• Since this was single elimination the Immortals worked well together as a unit, able to win or draw in individual fights as well as use Fade and Tremble's infighting against them when the black hats tried to unify.  Most interestingly, the biggest reactions from the crowd during the match came from them clearing out the field and looking like they were going to face off before the field got their revenge on them and their face off with the ad hoc team of Powers and Ootsuka

• At one point with Einherjar recovering on the outside, the Revenant took the finishers of the other four participants in a row…but Einherjar pulled him from the ring at 2 ⅞ and saved his partner

• It looked like Powers was going to have things won after she connected with the Hazy Shade on Fade, but a distraction by the incoming Scott Warren-Tisch set up Autumn getting pulled to the floor

• Guess by who?

• Lolo & Karyn slammed Autumn into the floor with Only Finished This, then threw her back into the ring…where the previously laid out Tremble crawled over and got an arm across her, Ted Holland alerting the ref to make what turned out to be the winning pinfall.  *** ½

The crowd joined decent people everywhere in booing the outcome as a wobbly Tremble seemed pleasantly surprised to be getting his arms raised by Holland and the referee.  The zebra then bent down to check on Autumn, who was holding her jaw and glaring up the ramp at the departing and taunting OnlyFitness.  Lolo threw in a “Who’s the loser now?” as they left, Team Teal separating Ootsuka and Fade while the Immortals eyed Tremble, who suddenly remembered he left the stove open and the door on.  With those moving parts still doing so, the credits box came up and put a bow on the show after a last look at the scurrying Tremble & Holland.