Quality Arena | Parts Unknown, FL
Aired live on GRPL+ | February 16, 2024
It's a special super sized episode of Ruckus, thanks in part to our new friend Ig and Scoop Republic. St. Violence Day will feature the usual suspects (Steve, Carl, Duck) and an all star trios match with Golden Rule implications for the main event. But tonight would start off with a titles match…
1.. Savage Justice [c] v. the End Times (w/Summer Rose) for the Unified World Tag Team championships
…at least, that was the plan.
Using the championship prerogative, Savage Justice came out first to a big pop from the Quality Controllers. Still photos of them winning the belts at XXV accompanied their entrance.
Then the End Times and Summer Rose came out – and the Wonderful Ward Brothers jumped them in the concourse to trigger a massive brawl that went on for a while.
The match between Savage Justice and the End Times never happened
Summer tried to save her squad and got lawn darted into the wall, then the Wards beat the End Times until they weren't moving with their own THE END IS NIGH signs until they drew blood from both Danny Castle and Dr. Martin Williams. Quality Force Security eventually put themselves between the Wards and the unconscious End Times with the medical team on their heels. Savage Justice stood in the ring open mouthed and maybe looking a little perturbed, but the Wards looked blankly down at the End Times before looking at the tag champs. There was a tense moment in a staredown before the Wards let themselves be escorted to the back by QFS.
Anything next was going to be a complete tonal shift, so it was a minor shock to see S. Mark Starr pop up on the Qualitron 9004. Starr almost immediately threw the End Times under the bus, saying that the bigger travesty was his client (Jacques Krieger, pacing and skulking behind Starr) not getting a rematch for his World TV title. Fortunately, before he had to rush off to the med bay Commissioner Holmes gave his word - and since verbal contracts are binding, next week his client would do what no one else had been able to and drop Omar Littlefield to regain the World Television championship. In a week’s time it would be out with the freak and in with the new Era of Krieger. Starr and Krieger blipped off of the Tron before we went to Duck Eko in the ring to make the introductions for the next bout.
2. Jupiter Jones (w/the College Park Family) v. “Upper Class” Broderick Palmer II (wEvan O’Neill)
So here's something: Palmer II is a very good professional wrestler. It seems like a dumb thing to say given other members of his family tree have walked down the halls of QCW before, but against Mr. QCW he proved he was every bit what his nickname says.
The bell rang and Jones turned right into a spear, and “Upper Class” went up to the top rope, and flew off with a senton elbow drop before making a cover. Jones kicked out at 2 ½ but a jolt had definitely been sent throughout Quality Arena.
Palmer II questioned the count briefly before stomping away on the former World champion. After exchanging words with Evan O’Neill, Palmer continued the assault and cut off a Jupiter rallly with a Stun Gun that sent Jupiter to the canvas and rolling out of the ring.
On commentary, Carl Christensen wondered if he drank from the wrong punch bowl as BP2 continued to press his advantage even through a commercial break. Even Palmer's response to increasingly worried and louder *Let's go, Jupiter!” chants was to dodge a Jones attack and clothesline him from the ring.
Clearly feeling himself, Palmer II let out a whoop before hitting the ropes and flying out with a tope suicida. Unfortunately for him Jupiter suddenly sprung to life and smoked him like a brisket with a Bolt From Olympus that sent Palmer II into the fetal position.
Jones got back in the ring and went for the cover but Broderick kicked out at 2 ½. No matter: Jones took over from there and even busted out the old handspring elbow before calling for the end. Jupiter dropped Palmer II with another Bolt and hooked the leg…but Palmer II found it way to get his other foot on the bottom rope. Jones shook his head before setting himself up and firing again – Palmer II rolled him up and somehow got 2 ¾?! Fortunately, Jupiter almost immediately hit him with another Bolt and restored order to the universe.
Jupiter Jones d. Broderick Palmer II at 13:31
Jupiter got his hand raised by the ref but was looking down at Broderick the whole time with a slightly stunned look on his face. Evan O'Neill came in the ring post match to protect his boy from more at Jupiter's hand but Jupiter and the rest of Collipark left having proved their point. And Broderick proved one of his own, I guess.
We got another creepy sepia toned video highlighting a bunch of QCW wrestlers suffering and/or in pain, headlines of the Quality Arena fire, headlines of GRPL+ coming under FCC scrutiny in recent weeks, before the usual pair of voices urged us to repent or we would never be chosen. Four crosses flanking a big cross - an interlocking WG and a backwards G interlocking with a standard G.
Ahead of the next big fight, the announce told us that Pick Your Poison would return next week with Autumn Powers and Nazir el-Fadal competing, the one who wins quickest will get to set the stipulation for the Unified World championship fight at Golden Rule.
3. “The Fury” Jim Jaspers v. Prince Ootsuka in a street fight
The former Ambassador champions went after each other in a street fight thanks to Ootsuka's turn on the Proper Villains at the tail end of last year and borderline torture of Jaspers’ partner Richard Windsor a few weeks back.
Jaspers used his anger wisely early, diving from the crowd to take out Ootsuka as he made his entrance before beating him around ringside and sending him flying into the barricade and stairs.
The self proclaimed Prince crawled under the ring seemingly to get away from Old Jim but that was a ruse; Ootsuka came out swinging with a kendo stick and an Ohtani impersonation. Once he beat Jaspers down the former World Television champion added injury to injury by delivering an overhaul belly to belly suplex into the barricade that had the Quality Controllers gasping and groaning.
For someone who considers himself royalty, Ootsuka had no problems getting down and dirty by using a few weapons alongside some admittedly nice looking kicks and forearms. As Ootsuka prepared another kick, Jaspers rolled a bowling ball at his former partner. Ootsuka managed to sidestep that but it left him open to get smashed by trash can lids.
Jaspers mustered a rally and tied up Ootsuka in the ropes before wiping some of the blood off of above his forehead and smearing it across the Prince’s forehead before grabbing a kendo stick of his own. Ootsuka begged off - and Jaspers spit in his face before working him over with the kendo stick until he fell limply to the canvas.
Jaspers stepped on Ootsuka's back before signalling the last rites and lowering his knee pad. He raced past Ootsuka and bounced off the ropes to launch himself into Fury Road but when he leapt up to deliver it Ootsuka uppercutted him in the Union Jacks.
With Jaspers down, Ootsuka walloped him with a couple of chair shots to the back before diving on him and applying a cobra clutch. Jaspers’ blood started dripping down his face and onto Ootsuka's forearm as the Prince coiled around Jim with a body scissors.
Jim struggled but couldn't get free while Ootsuka sneered and told him to bow down. In the background you could see a figure in a hoodie jump the rail with a crutch before they and it were in the ring. Ootsuka soon found himself getting choked out by the crutch and let go of Jim to try and get it off his neck. The hood part of the hoodie dropped to reveal a wild eyed Richard Windsor, who beat Ootsuka until the crutch was mangled and busted over Ootsuka.
Ootsuka still tried to get after Windsor, crawling on the canvas and grabbing at his leg right before Jaspers slammed his face into the mat with Fury Road. Windsor smiled and backed into a corner as Jaspers slid a chair under Ootsuka's head. When Ootsuka groggily lifted his head up, Jaspers used a second Fury Road to slam Ootsuka's head into the chair then pinned him to take the victory.
“The Fury” Jim Jaspers d. Prince Ootsuka in a street fight at 14:43
We came back to Julius Duquesne III, who brought on Mean Season and the Unified World champion Autumn Powers. The Quality Controllers popped as the longtime friends stepped onto the set, exchanging hellos with Julius before he asked them where they were ahead of the six person main event tag tonight.
Both Gaia Green and Winter Wonderland reveled in being off the injured list, and especially about being able to take Pyotr Caviar down a peg last week. Tonight would be no different.
JD3 asked The Champ if she had a follow up to their words, and Autumn said last week Naz tried to humiliate her - next week he’d be picking her poison - but none of that had a damn thing to do with tonight. Tonight, her people had her back so she could focus on humiliating Naz twice as much as he did last week. He could call himself a boss all he wanted…but this title on her shoulder shows everyone in the wrestling world who's running things. Autumn walked off the set, the rest of Mean Season followed, and JD3 threw it to Duck for the next match.
4. Omar Littlefield [c] v. Super Avión for the GRPL+ World Television championship
Poor Avión got in a couple of high spots early on but when he went for a third Omar swatted him out of the air like a bug. From there, Littlefield served up another serving of squash that didn't end until he hit four Vader/Littlefield Bombs and the Face Eraser. Noticeable by his absence was Avión’s absence was his usual partner Crusazdo del Oro; nobody was there to scrape Avión up off of the canvas.
Omar Littlefield d, Super Avion at 4:13 to retain the GRPL+ World Television championship 4️⃣
After replays we saw Omar staring down the hard camera; Internet sleuths figured out the one thing he said was “Six left.” before leaving the ring and stomping to the back.
Speaking of the back, that's where we headed where Enya Face drew the short straw and had Team Batroc and Nazir el-Fadal for guests ahead of the main event.
Enya asked the black hats what their game plan was to take on Autumn and Mean Season. Serge let out a laugh and said she was surrounded by not only former champions but three men who would take gold sooner rather than later. Since the Wards actually did something right for a change, he and Pyotr were involving their rematch clause for next week where they would become the first ever two time Unified World Tag Team champions. As for their partner…well, he was more than capable of speaking for himself.
Naz gave Serge a small nod before saying that between XXV and last week, he’s dropped Autumn like a bad habit twice so the idea that she could embarrass him was a joke. What was going to happen tonight was that if Serge and Pyotr left him anything to beat on, he’d embarrass her and it'd keep happening again and again until she wasn't Unified champion and he was holding the Fifteen Pounds of Gold just to remind the rabble that he was Nazir el-Fadal - the Greatest Man Alive.
Naz left the set with Serge a couple steps behind him; Pyotr gave Enya a once over before saying “They in trouble tonight, sis.” before following his partners off set.
5. Crush champion “La Flor” Luz Cruz & Lolo Vuiton v. International Lotus (w/Scott Warren-Tisch)
Vuitton and then Cruz came out to pretty good pops, then headed down the ramp together. Carl joked that even when Luz skipped a week of defending her Crush championship she was in matches that were championship level. Right on cue, International Lotus came out as their usual unit led by the Women's World champion - Karyn Tisch-Warren.
Once the bell rang, Sohla Patel and Vuitton renewed hostilities with Sohla eventually taking Lolo's eyes. She tagged in Karyn, who went up top to throw a usual Lotus double team at her ex partner, but Lolo saw it coming and dodged it to leave Karyn to accidentally wipe out Sohla to the cheers of the crowd. Karyn checked on Sohla but that left her open to a rewind rana from Lolo and the Women's World champion ended up having to kick out at 2.
Surprisingly, most of the match played out in a similar fashion; Lolo and Luz worked pretty well as a team for their first fight together while Lotus had some uncharacteristic missteps including Sohla accidentally wiping out Karyn in a reversal of what happened in the opening moments. Patel’s frustration over the misstep led to Cruz burying a running knee in her back and sending her between the ropes and out to the floor.
KTW tried to get her hands on Luz but Cruz won the champion on champion violence battle and floored Karyn with a slingshot DDT. Luz followed up with her trademark triple jump moonsault – but the referee waved off her follow up pin attempt. Lolo came in and got the pin while Luz looked on confused.
Luz Cruz & Lolo Vuitton d. International Lotus at 12:05
Replays showed Lolo blind tagging herself in as Luz started her signature, something Cruz didn't notice before hitting the triple jump moonsault. Steve pointed out that now Lolo had pinned me Women's World champion after almost beating her for the belt. Back in live time, Luz looked a little upset while the referee raised her and Lolo's hands - and it's entirely possible that Lolo was looking a time of two at the Crush championship, though your mileage may vary.
Before the main event, Steve and Carl hyped up next week's Rucku, which s: looking pretty loaded, too
Pick Your Poison between Autumn Powers and Nazir el-Fadal
Omar Littlefield may eat someone literally in his defense of the World TV title
Luz Cruz, knocking on the door of 10, makes another Crush championship defense
And the Unified World Tag Team championships will be on the line barring throws off of the stage - it's Savage Justice v. Team Batroc II
Hey, speaking of Team Batroc, it's time for the St. Violence Day main event – a star studded trios match.
6. Team Batroc & Nazir el-Fadal v. Mean Season & Autumn Powers
“Engel” brought out Team Batroc, looking stoic as usual; Naz entered to “Ready Or Not” and the biggest heat of the night. The black hats began to plot and scheme as “Mota” brought out all three women together, Autumn flanking her BFFs in Mean Season.
After a roschambo round, Gaia Green took the start of the match for the white hats; after a quick discussion el-Fadal took point for the baddies. The opening moments saw a spirited back and forth before the former World champion took control and took Green down with a Saiton suplex. As she held her head, Naz demanded that she tag out and gave him what he wanted. Winter Wonderland tagged in as Gaia left the ring.
Winter did better than Gaia did, but after she rattled Naz she went to the rope only to get distracted by Serge. She stared him down and flew off right into a Naz European uppercut. el-Fadal snuck up on her and planted her with the Nazquil.
But Naz didn't even bother making a cover, ignoring Serge's incredulous cries to pin her. Naz made a gesture to Autumn before throwing Winter at her, and that was enough – Autumn tagged in and flew at Naz with a double leg takedown and a flurry of punches. Autumn laid in forearms until Naz was backed up into a corner and then he wasn't because Autumn stomped him down until he was on his ass. The Quality Arena was rocking as Autumn had to be pulled off by the referee before laying in even more stomps. Powers got in Naz’s face and el-Fadal kicked her leg out from under her to send her flying into the turnbuckles. Naz scrambled away as Autumn bounced off the middle buckle, then got a sick grin on his face (does he have other grins?).
Powers staggered into a tilt-a-whirl Michinoku Driver that got Naz 2 ½. With Serge golf clapping from the apron, Naz powered Autumn into a corner and laid in European uppercuts for nearly half a minute, always breaking at 4 in the referee’s count. After that Naz smack talked The Champ until Autunn shut him up with a back elbow. Naz tried another corner charge but ate Autumn's licks as a result; Powers further put el-Fadal behind the 8 ball by leaping off and planting him with a tornado DDT.
Autumn used that opportunity to tag out, and Gaia flew into the ring to keep Naz from tagging out. Naz scoffed right before he ate a dropkick and to increasing cheers Gaia put Naz through his paces and had the former World champion dead to rights.
But she fucked too soon after sending Naz into the ropes, and el-Fadal cinched her up and drilled her with an Outsider's Edge. Naz made a cover, but Powers came in to make the save and more importantly drag Gaia towards their corner on the way out. Green rolled over until she was in safe harbor then Autumn tagged herself in.
Autumn picked Naz’s leg and ducked his enzuigiri before snatching him up in a German suplex, but Naz landed on his feet before cinching Autumn up for an attempted German of his own. Autumn landed on her feet again and rolled up Naz, leading to a series of near falls off of variants of rollups. They both got up in a standoff while the Controllers cheered.
Then Naz ruined the moment by stomping on Autumn's foot.
And that tiny opening was all Naz needed to drop The Champ with the Lightning Spiral he calls Nazquil.
el-Fadal saw his opening and crawled for the corner – only to watch Team Batroc nail on Jim by dropping off the apron. For the first and maybe only time, they got cheered in the Arena while the camera foub6 a departing Serge say *Zat was for last week, putain!”. He and Pyotr headed to the back while Naz fumed and spit at their backs. He pulled himself off of the mat and Gaia and Winter sent him right back down with a Total Elimination that popped the crowd.
After Autumn got up she tagged out, and Gaia and Winter hit a few more double team maneuvers on an increasingly helpless el-Fadal. They milked the crowd for a bit then tagged in Autumn. Powers got in the ring and got greeted by a (blurred out on TV) double middle finger from Naz. Autumn smirked and blew him a kiss…
…right before she delivered the Hazy Shade that put the #1 contender’s lights out for the night.
Autumn Powers & Mean Season d. Team Batroc & Nazir el-Fadal at 9:59
We got replays, mostly focused on Team Batroc's walkout, the Mean Season double teams and the Hazy Shade that ended things. Back live, Gaia and Winter were celebrating on the turnbuckles while Autumn stood over a barely stirring el-Fadal’s body hoisting the Fifteen Pounds of Gold over her head. Come on back to the Arena next Friday as QCW continues to bring the Ruckus.
