NORTH AMERICAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT--FIRST ROUND:
Siouxnami vs. Murder Inc.
The opening strands of "Murder Inc." by Bruce Springsteen begin to play and
the fans jeer mildly as Terry "Hit Man" Haynes and Frank "The Assassin"
Spinelli step onto the runway. They ignore everything going on around
them, slap eachother five, and heads up the ring stairs before demaning a mic.
[GZ]
These men are consummate professionals. Without a doubt there isn't a more
experienced duo in the federation--they've been through the rigors of the
Summit, Road Warrior Cups, Slick Ric tournaments, the works.
[AB]
And despite their less than stellar attitudes they are a refreshing breath
of fresh air in that they beat you inside the ring by wrestling. Let's
hear what they have to say.
[Hitman]
You know Frank, I thought the Weapons of Last Resort had the
dumbest gimmick in the fed. Guess I was wrong.
[Assassin]
Bull, Horse, we're gonna tell you two freaks the same thing we
tell Japanese bums like Kenzake....
[Hitman]
...unreconstructed Southern rednecks like the Cut'n'Shoot
crowd and T.R. Parker...
[Assassin]
...south-of-the-border, still wet behind everything wannabes like
Militar de Furia....
[Hitman]
...and British losers like this Clay Evans clown.
[Assassin]
We had a war...
[Hitman]
...you lost...
[Both]
DEAL WITH IT!
(decent amount of boos with a smattering of cheers knowing who's coming out
next)
"Insane in the Brain" by Cypress Hill cuts on as red and orange lights
strike the runway. The heat is pretty intense except for a few cheers when
the EWC Light Heavyweight Champion Chris Monroe bursts through the
curtains. That dies down completely when Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse
appear on the runway and touch their fists high in the air. Monroe spins
and twirls with his men following behind.
[AB]
That is one unstable individual.
[GZ]
Or one master of mind games depending on how you look at it. Either way he
is the reigning champ.
[AB]
Um, Greg, Siouxnami is coming over here....
(Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse come over to the announcers' table and grab
the two extra headsets and snap them in half causing a huge burst of static)
[AB]
Argh! What was that all about?
[GZ]
Somebody doesn't want any guest-commentators at ringside tonight.
[AB]
When you're hated by an entire federation it must be fairly easy to become
paranoid. Of course having a 3 to 2 advantage has to make you feel better.
Now they're stepping onto the apron and into the ring. Seems we're about
ready to have our second match.
[GZ]
This is a tough one for me, I happen to respect both these teams--this is
going to be one to enjoy.
DING, DING, DING...
[AB]
Referee Ray Chapman telling each team to get one man onto the apron and it
looks like it's going to be Spinelli and Crazy Horse to start. Both men
stick out an arm to feel the other out, Spinelli grabs it and quickly
twists for an armbar. Now he's pulling down on that arm.
[GZ]
If Horse can't use his arms, then it doesn't matter how strong he is since
he won't be able to lift anyone off the mat. Of course, it'll take more
than a few seconds in an armbar to get to that point.
[AB]
Spinelli takes the arm and ducks behind Horse chickenwinging it and really
pushing up. Crazy Horse is trying to hit "The Assassin" with a back elbow
to break the hold but Spinelli's ducking it nicely.
[GZ]
Monroe is screaming at his man like a maniac and we've only just gotten
started. Lucky for him he's not fighting tonight or he wouldn't have any
energy left. It's like he wants to get in there and do the fighting for
his guys.
[AB]
Spinelli lets loose with a series of headbutts while that arm is still
trapped. Now he grabs the other arm and its hammerlocked--Crazy Horse does
NOT look happy. He's struggling to do something but he doesn't have his arms.
[GZ]
That's really astute Bishop, like we all couldn't see that.
[AB]
Horse with a desperation effort. He uses his size advantage to ram
Spinelli into the neutral corner but Spinell's not letting go. He does it
again and FINALLY Crazy Horse is free.
[GZ]
The trick is for Horse to get the blood flowing in those arms as quickly as
possible. Of course, making a tag is the easy first step to doing that.
[AB]
Horse heading towards his corner to do just that but Spinelli is still on
his feet and he runs out of the corner and hits a running drop kick that
reroutes Crazy Horse. European uppercuts meet Horse as he tries to get
back up and he's backed towards Murder Inc.'s corner.
[GZ]
Monroe is going absolutely ballistic at ringside. He can't believe his two
juggernauts are being held in check like this. But you have to admire what
Murder Inc. is doing. They're keeping things at their pace and not letting
Siouxnami settle into any sort of groove.
[AB]
Tag made to Haynes. Spinelli twists that arm again as Haynes comes off the
top and drives an elbow right into it. Nothing fancy but it's effective.
[GZ]
Nothing at all by Siouxnami at this point. You have to think that Monroe
gave his team some sort of gameplan, they're jut having an impossible time
implementing it.
[AB]
Side kick to that injured right arm and now Haynes goes for another but
Crazy Horse catches the leg. Precarious position for Haynes but he gets
himself out of it with a snap enziguri that hits square in the back of the
head and sends him back to the mat.
[GZ]
Look at this, Monroe is trying to get the crowd to chant "Crazy Horse" but
instead they're all chanting "Jack Ass"--the ignorance of these fans amazes
me at times.
[AB]
Scoop slam on Crazy Horse and Haynes running to the ropes--HEY! Monroe
just swiped his leg out from under him and Haynes goes sprawling to the
mat. Chapman is over to question him but the damage has already been done.
Horse is up and he drops an elbow on Haynes only to realize that wasn't a
great idea.
[GZ]
That was instinct Bishop. Horse knew he needed to keep Haynes down but now
he's feeling that pain in that right arm. FINALLY, we get a tag to Sitting
Bull.
[AB]
Horse sends Haynes to the ropes, Bull drops down, Haynes jumps over him but
runs right into a big boot from Horse and that sends Haynes falling right
over Bull who rolls him up--only a one count. Haynes tries to get up but
he gets flattened by a from the knees clothesline by Bull.
[GZ]
Monroe is over with Horse trying to help him get that arm back into game
shape. I'm not exactly sure what he's going to do, but he sure is trying
hard.
[AB]
Haynes sent to the ropes and caught by the throat--chokesla-NO, he used a
chokeslam grip to toss Haynes into the air and then caught him in a side
slam on the way down. Bull stays right on top of Haynes and sends him back
to the ropes--he catches him from behind reverse sidewalk slam and now a
cover.
ONE..................
TWO.............innovative maneuvers by Sitting Bull...................
Spinelli in there with a boot to the back to break things up.
[GZ]
I think that was a mistake by Spinelli. Haynes definitely would have
kicked out at this point in the match and now Chapman has to turn his back
and usher him out.
[AB]
As if on cue, Crazy Horse steps into the ring to join Bull. Bull with a
gorilla press on Haynes and he tosses him out of it and into Horse's arms
for a falling powerbomb!!!
And just as Chapman turns around Horse gets back to the apron and Bull covers.
ONE...............
TWO..................the momentum has really swung thanks to Monroe...........
Haynes _just_ able to kick out.
(surprisingly that gets a mild pop)
[GZ]
I told you Spinelli was too rash before. Now is the time for Siouxnami to
show me they can sustain control of a match and really set the pace. For
much of their EWC tenure they may have caused damage but they haven't shown
much an ability to dictate pace and that is a very important skill to take
it to the next level.
[AB]
Bull looks to be going for a fisherman's suplex but he turns Haynes in
mid-air and drops him across his knee--they are obviously targeting the
back of the original "Hit Man." Sitting Bull drags Haynes into Siouxnami's
corner and tags back to Crazy Horse. But before Chapman can force him out
he runs to the other corner and shoulderblocks an unsuspecting Spinelli to
the floor.
[GZ]
That's pissed off the "Assassin" and he's trying to get at Bull as Chapman
tries desperately to keep the men separated. Watch the ring, I'm sure this
was planned by Siouxnami.
[AB]
I'm afraid you're right Greg. Haynes is lifted into the air and he gets
reverse powerbombed across the top rope and here comes Monroe onto the
apron. He grabs Haynes' head and leaps to the floor...effectively a
diamond cutter onto the top rope!!!
(booooooooooooooooo!!!)
[GZ]
For a team with so much experience, a duo who have been through so many
wars, I am SHOCKED to see Murder Inc. let Siouxnami get so under their skin.
[AB]
Crazy Horse comes off the second rope with a leg drop and we've got another
cover.
ONE...............
TWO......................I think they've discovered that pacing you talked
about....
Spinelli in like a bullet and he's just blasting away at Horse!!!
[GZ]
And notice he's still kicking at that arm. Gotta give him credit, even in
a rage he's going after their targetted body part.
[AB]
Chapman tries to usher him out again but Sitting Bull comes into the ring
instead and things are about to get ugly. He charges right at Spinelli but
"The Assassin" ducks and Bull is back dropped over the top rope! Spinelli
right after him and he's ramming Bull into the ring apron and now Bull's
eating post.
[GZ]
Inside the ring Horse sees that Chapman is AGAIN distracted so he's calling
for Monroe again. Murder Inc. has effectively been fighting a handicap
match. The next few minutes in this match will be of the utmost importance
to both teams.
[AB]
On the floor Spinelli just sent Bull into the steel divider and now he
follows with a big clothesline. Now Spinelli sees Monroe yelling to Horse.
He grabs a chair and heads towards Monroe.
[GZ]
Chapman has finally turned to see what's going on and he's desperately
trying to regain some control in there.
[AB]
Monroe is on the apron but he is screaming at Spinelli. In the ring Crazy
Horse measures Haynes and comes charging for a flying shoulder tackle.
HAYNES DUCKS!!! Horse right into Monroe and he SAILS OFF THE APRON AND
RIGHT INTO A SPINELLI CHAIR SHOT!!!
(big pop for that sequence)
[GZ]
This time the chaos worked against Monroe and Siouxnami and things are only
getting worse as Chapman is ordering security to remove Monroe! And the
light heavyweight champ is still wobbly from that chair shot so he's not
able to put up much of a fight. You have got to wonder how this is going
to affect Siouxnami.
[AB]
Well Bull is back on the apron and he's livid, screaming and cursing at
Chapman.
[GZ]
He should try focusing on what's going on in the ring and alert his partner
that Haynes is almost in his corner. Horse turns but it's too late, Haynes
tags in to Frank Spinelli--and with Horse in there you have to think he's
going back after that arm.
[AB]
Spear nails Horse and Spinelli unloads with rights and lefts to the head.
Now he gets off him and is just viciously stomping away at his body. This
is one angry man. Horse yanked to his feet by that arm and he's stung with
rapid-fire knife edges to the chest. A single arm DDT follows and Spinelli
goes straight into cross-arm bar.
[GZ]
This is a good move by Spinelli. In addition to doing the obvious which is
reinjuring that arm, he's also grinding the pace back down AND buying
himself some time to cool down and refocus.
[AB]
Crazy Horse is able to force a break by reaching out and grabbing the
bottom rope but Spinelli is slow to break milking every second of that five
count.
[GZ]
That's why I like both teams, they do what they need to do to win.
[AB]
Spinelli tags back to Haynes as he puts Horse onto his shoulder. Horse's
arm is folded back and crushed courtesy of a Haynes powerslam and here
comes Haynes off the top with an elbow. Cover!
ONE..................
TWO.................excellent teamwork by the veterans.....................
Sitting Bull in to make the save but the elbow misses and hits Horse!!!
(big pop for the miscue as the fans are trying to find anything to cheer for)
[GZ]
Without Monroe at ringside Siouxnami seems to have lost their focus. They
just don't seem to be anywhere near as sharp as they were earlier.
[AB]
Spinelli back in with a double axehandle to the back of Sitting Bull.
Haynes joins him and Murder Inc. with a double slingshot suplex. Now they
grab Crazy Horse and hit a double side russian leg sweep.
[GZ]
Murder Inc. really turning it up a notch and showing the kind of intensity
that had been lacking recently and made many wonder if they were in their
last days.
[AB]
Spinelli unceremoniously tosses Sitting Bull to the floor and goes after
him. Spinelli goes for a german suplex on the floor but Bull with a kick
downstairs and now a DDT onto the floor!!!
[GZ]
I realize Murder Inc. needed to get this back to two men in the ring to end
the match but I have to question if continuing the fight on the floor was
the way to go at it. As we just saw, that is definitely where Siouxnami is
more comfortable.
[AB]
Inside the ring, Haynes just got caught with a thumb to eye from Crazy
Horse and now a spinning back fist. Horse keeping it up as he goes for a
belly to back suplex, Haynes able to flip over, Horse spins around and is
dropped by a sacrifice clothesline and now a knee is dropped onto the right
arm. Bull sees this and heads back towards the ring but he's caught by a
Spinelli leg clip.
[GZ]
No matter what they try, Siouxnami cannot regain control of this match. I
can only imagine how enraged Chris Monroe is in the back. I mentioned this
in the last match, but Siouxnami is also going to be at less than 100% when
they face BOC in a falls count anywhere match on this week's Lord of the
Rings.
[AB]
Spinelli has a boston crab locked on on the arena floor...certainly unusual.
[GZ]
Actually it's a great move by the "Assassin." Not only does it keep
Sitting Bull from getting back to the ring to help Crazy Horse, but it does
it in a style that Murder Inc. is comfortable with--WRESTLING.
[AB]
Terry Haynes is on the top rope, he's waiting for Crazy Horse to get up.
"RUB-OUT" MISSILE DROP KICK RIGHT ON THAT INJURED ARM!!! Horse goes flying
into the corner and as he bounces out Haynes rolls him up!!!
ONE.........................
TWO........................he used Horse's momentum against him
there............
THREE!!!
DING, DING, DING...
********************************
**Winners: Murder Inc., 11:04**
********************************
[AB]
And Murder Inc. advances on to the second round to face their old nemeses
Beyond Our Control in a match that should be incredibly intense.
[GZ]
That is IF Beyond Our Control can survive their match with Siouxnami.
Provided Crazy Horse's arm is okay I think BOC is in big trouble. Not only
will Siouxnami be looking to regain some momentum BUT they're fighting two
men who will go right at the big men and that's a better fit than trying to
combat the technical skill of Murder Inc.
[AB]
True, but Beyond Our Control are the masters of mayhem so if there's anyone
ready to take out Siouxnami in a match with almost no rules, it's those
two. Before our next match let's take this commercial break.
=====
EWC wrestler Sidi al Nassir is standing in the corner of the ring,
testing the ropes, jogging in place, and psyching himself up for
a match. Ready, he turns to face the other corner and the camera
pans to show what he sees as well. In the opposite corner, in full
three-point stance, is a man dressed in a complete Cleveland
Browns football uniform, including helmet and pads. The bell
rings to begin the match and the football player explodes out of his
stance to completely level al Nassir with a viscious tackle. The man
in the football uniform then jumps up and begins celebrating, finally
stopping at mid-ring and removing his helmet to reveal "Crazy" Jay
Gillette with his face painted orange except for a brown streak right
down the middle. He spikes the helmet in mid-ring and begins to
howl to the fans in celebration when the camera freeze-frames and
large white block letters are super-imposed over the screen reading:
MUST BE FOOTBALL SEASON
=====