##### ###### ### ########## ########## ########## #### ## ########## ########## ########## #### # #### ######## ##### ##### #### ## ##### #### #### #### #### ### #### #### #### #### ############# ######### #### #### ########### ######### #### #### #### #### #### ######### ######### ### #### #### ######### ######### ### ## #### ######## ######## ## # #### =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ## =-=-=-= H + O + T + L + I + N + E #1-900-325-IIWF =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 27 April 1997 ----------------------------------------------- [click] --------------------------- OPTION #1: The Dross Report --------------------------- Howdy, folks, and thanks for calling the IIWF Hotline. You've reached the Dross Report update for Sunday 27 April, 1997. I'm Tim Dross, and we're coming off the back of one of the most hectic and chaotic IIWF Saturday Nights in the history of this great promotion. We saw match after match end in questionable circumstances -- and among the most controversial results were the victories for the Prophets of Rage and the Subway Psycho, who defeated the Harlequins and Chris Quigley respectively. We have new United States Tag Team Champions, thanks to the misguided attempt by Becky LaRue to assist the Harlequins. The Harlequins were rocked by the loss of the US tag belts, a loss which came after Tragedy had given a vitriolic interview in LaRue's Lair. He expressed his displeasure at the ban on all ringside personnel enforced by the IIWF President after the controversial new rulings on valets and managers, and claimed that he could no longer control brother Chaos on his own. The deaths of Derek and Shadoe Rage, he said, would be on the conscience of the IIWF President. When it came to the match, we certainly saw chaos reign. The Harlequins attempted to save their titles by getting themselves disqualified, but the referee ruled that the match had not begun, and ordered it to continue. And what a match it was -- neither team was willing to budge one inch in the battle for the titles, which have become hot potatoes since their introduction at Ring Wars III. The Prophets, who scored the victory after nailing Tragedy across the face with his own steel mask, tossed into the ring by Becky LaRue, are the third team to hold the titles in just over a month. Apparently, Harlequin Tragedy is making strong demands for a rematch against the Prophets, but executives are keen that the Harlequins should first answer the challenge of Cold Spell, who are now joint top contenders for the tag titles along with Night Patrol, who get their opportunity at the World tag titles in less than two weeks at Birthday Bash. Thus, it is my understanding that on next Saturday night's live show, the Harlequins will face Cold Spell, with the winning team going on to face the Prophets of Rage at Birthday Bash for the United States tag titles. Tragedy is also rumoured to be in negotiations to have his status as a singles competitor restored. You'll remember that late last year, Tragedy was number one contender for the IIWF Cruiserweight Championship, and he has set himself the challenge of being the first man to hold both singles and tag gold in the IIWF. Whether or not executives are willing to allow him to compete in the singles ranks once more remains to be seen, but I'll keep you posted. It was quite a night for the Syndicate in the Coliseum, too. We saw Brian Lau welcome the IIWF World Tag Team titles back into the Syndicate fold, but not in the way expected. It is known that the manager of Pain Inc., Mr. Mic, has been calling Brian Lau every day since Team Brutality fell apart a few weeks ago in an effort to join forces with the one stable in the IIWF that has enjoyed lasting success. With the exception of the US tag belts, the Syndicate now holds or has held every title in the IIWF -- and Lau has now asked the Dark Disciples, the team who were defeated by Pain Inc. in questionable circumstances to lose the World tag titles in the first place, to go after the US belts. While fans may be excited by the chaos promised by a Dark Disciples vs. Prophets of Rage match, I wouldn't hold my breath for that match. Even the most casual observer couldn't have failed to notice just how angry Don McQueen was with Lau for not consulting him on the introduction of Pain Inc. to the Syndicate. I can't see how the Syndicate can function as an effective unit given the tension that undoubtedly exists between Pain Inc. and the Disciples -- the Syndicate could blow itself apart from the inside. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pain Inc. and the Disciples facing off in the ring again very soon -- but not as stablemates. Meanwhile, Casey James and Tiger Claw had a busy night, as both men interfered in the incredible match between Chris Quigley and Subway Psycho, their respective opponents at Birthday Bash. In a breathtaking display of arrogance, the Syndicate members opportunistically laid out both athletes and then tossed a coin to decide which man would gain the victory. As it happened, James and Claw rolled the Psycho on top of Quigley, and it was the subway dweller who took the victory. Never in my time in this sport have I seen a display that so fundamentally flouts every concept of fair play and athleticism. All I can say is that Chris Quigley was more than a little bent out of shape after the events of last night, and he is more determined than ever to give Casey James the wrestling lesson of his life at Birthday Bash. The Subway Psycho is likewise itching to get his hands on Tiger Claw -- although the stipulations of their match have yet to be finalised. Claw wants a taped fist match, while the Psycho merely wants to put Claw in a steel cage and beat him up for three quarters of an hour. It seems likely, however, that the match will simply be a regular cage match. Months ago, the Psycho challenged Claw to one more match in which nobody could interfere, to finally determine just who is the better competitor. We may finally see that match at Birthday Bash. The match between Brody Thunder and Mad Dog Watkins last night was an incredible brawl, the likes of which we've not seen since the Toronto Tower and Falls Count Anywhere matches at Ring Wars III. It was hoped that last night's match would be the final encounter between Thunder and Watkins, but yet again, the result was inconclusive, with the two men brawling out of the ring, into the crowd, and out into the lobby of the IIWF Coliseum. As the show went off the air, the two men were brawling around -- and through -- the concessions stand. But that wasn't the end of it. Despite the efforts of a security team at full force, Thunder and Watkins managed to do three thousand dollars' worth of damage to the lobby area, and IIWF officials are said to be seething. I hear that both Watkins and Thunder will be fined heavily -- and we're talking five figures here, folks. However, I don't think that a fine is going to keep these two athletes apart, and the word from the front office is that Thunder and Watkins will clash one more time at Birthday Bash, in the originally-scheduled no-disqualification, no-countout match. What a war that's going to be! Speaking of wars, we're also likely to see a war between Steve Kowalski and Joe Petrow at the Bash. Last night, those two athletes, along with Cruiserweight Champion the White Phoenix, clashed twice, each time with wild results. Petrow -- who sent up my broadcast colleague and tag team partner, Steve Roberts, in fine style -- defeated the Cell, about whom more in a moment, but not without both Kowalski interfering. Somewhat surprisingly, the Phoenix actually seemed to come to Petrow's aid, but "Sychosys" was clearly distrustful of the Cruiserweight Champion. Later in the night, the White Phoenix defeated Dirt Dog Unique Allah, but again, not without both Petrow and Kowalski having a hand in the action. More curiously, Native American Nightwing was also at ringside for that match, and after he prevented Medusa Rage from interfering, he has become a target for the Dirt Dog. Nonetheless, the Phoenix survived to defend his title another day, and he will defend that title next Saturday Night against none other than Steve Kowalski, who, despite the questionable nature of his claim to eligibility of contention in the cruiser division, could take the title into his "Birthday Bash" match against Petrow in just thirteen days. It is with sadness that I report the departure of one of the IIWF's veteran competitors: the Cell, formerly the Venusian Death Cell, has been pulled from the IIWF by Oak, the leader of the mysterious cult which also sucked in Domination, who walked out of the IIWF last week. The Cell was accompanied down to the ring last night by at least half a dozen "cloakers", which didn't sit well with the head of the IIWF Special Concerns Committee, Poutine Janois, who came down and banished the "cloakers" back to the locker room for the second time in four days. Backstage after the Cell's defeat, tensions flared, and in a highly uncharacteristic display of fury, the cult's leader, Oak, got into a shouting match with Poutine Janois, which ended with the issue of an ultimatum by Oak: "Either you allow my followers to be at ringside, or I'm taking the Cell out of the IIWF for good!" To which Janois replied in no uncertain terms that if that was the way Oak wanted it, he could take the Cell and leave right then and there. Oak produced the Cell's contract, shredded it right in front of Janois, and stormed out of the Coliseum, taking his entourage with him. I understand the IIWF President will be meeting with Janois on Monday morning to discuss the nature of the incident, but at this stage, it is not expected that the Cell will return to the IIWF. The IIWF is nearly one year old, folks. On May 7, the world's premier wrestling organisation will be celebrating its first anniversary in fine style, with the long-awaited opening of the IIWF's Hall of Fame. IIWF superstars past and present will attend a gala dinner held at a luxury hotel here in downtown Portland, held in honour of the select few who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. Although the IIWF executive committee is still considering the merit of a number of possible inductees, it is my understanding that only two, or possibly three, competitors will be selected, and one of those is sure to be the "Outlaw" J.W. Hardin, possibly the most dominant force the IIWF has ever seen. Tributes from IIWF superstars and other close friends and luminaries are expected at the event, and I'll be there, along with "Soundbite" Steve Roberts, to give you a special presentation of the ceremony on Wednesday 7 May, preempting our usual War Room broadcast. I'll have more news on the Hall of Fame ceremony next week, folks. Steve Roberts' regular option will return next week -- apparently, he simply couldn't be bothered to give his thoughts this week. But for now, this is Tim Dross, saying: so long, and thanks for calling. ----------------------- OPTION #2: Can We Talk? ----------------------- Hi there, everybody. I'm Larry Morton, and as usual, I've been trailing the IIWF superstars over the past week to get their thoughts on a topical question. This week's poser: WHO IS THE MOST UNDER-RATED WRESTLER IN THE IIWF? HIGHWAYMAN: "There are a lot of _over-rated_ wrestlers in the IIWF like Byron, Verhoeven, Brody etc.  Modesty should forbid me voting myself as the most under-rated wrestler, but the evidence just mounts and mounts; with wins over Sandman, Tiger Claw, Serge and Cell, and Creed wouldn't be on his current run of wins if the CEO hadn't interfered in our match. Yes, given an unbiased chioce I would vote for me!" "SYCHOSYS" JOE PETROW: "Joe Petrow.  There are people out there who actually think they can beat him!" TONY STARKS: "Me." CREED: "Used to be me. Maybe it still is.  Think people startin' to get the idea now, though.  I gotta pick two guys.  One would be the Dog. Not Watkins, everybody knows that guy can go -- I mean the Dirt Dog.  You see that Seven Tables match?  Damn, that boy and Petrow are wrong, you know what I'm sayin'?  And the other guy'd be the Highwayman.  Don't care if he dead or not.  Been in the ring with him -- man is strong for real. He's one to watch out for." STEVE "SOUNDBITE" ROBERTS: "Easy, that would be Chris Quigley.  What?  Underrated?  Sorry, thought you said something else.  Well, that would have to be "The Outlaw" J.W. Hardin!  You ever see him get title shots anymore?  What the hell is wrong with you people?  He'd Cattle Buster DDT your ass back to the paleolithic era, you ungrateful sons of..." DUNCAN MACBETH: "Tha's th' easiest question in th' world t' answer -- I AM! But dinnae worry, 'cause tha' goin' t' change, an' change SOON, mark me!" MARTY WARNETT: "Gotta be Bret, oops, Chris Quigley ..." THE HARLEQUINS: Comedy: It's definitly Tragedy! Chaos: Big brother for sure. Melody: Should hold a singles AND a tag belt. Tragedy: I would tend to disagree. Chris Herforth is a worthy competitor, his time is due. THE SYNDICATE: Casey James: Nobody. Everyone who deserves the attention gets it. That is to say that I'm champ, and I deserve it. Tiger Claw: Not me. I'm apparently overrated. Brian Lau: What kind of question is that? Let me put it this way. Anyone who deserves to be heralded is in the Syndicate, and they're all rated fairly well. Everyone else can go jump off a bridge for all I care... Although there have been some people who have underrated my skills in the ring... The Coroner, for example. "SPOTLIGHT" BILLY SHAKESPEARE: "Without doubt, Mr. Damage.  But I think that has been changing. But, alas, he is not yet ready for the 'Spotlight'." MAD DOG WATKINS: "Gotta be the Dirt Dog.  The old saying "you can't judge a book by its cover" definitely applies to DDUA.  He's as tough as they come, even if he smells like Brass Monkey most of the time." "QUICKSTRIKE" CHRIS QUIGLEY: "I am.  Seems like I'm the only one around here who knows just how good I am.  Although Casey James will be able to tell you that after the Birthday Bash." W & W EXPRESS: Wayne: How 'bout the most under-rated team? Watson: That would be us of course.  The Express is the Dark Horse team of the IIWF. RONNIE PARIS: "Well, I hope someone brings up my name, but I honestly think, despite my differences with the guy, that it's Luke Steele. He gets no respect, but I can tell you he's got a helluva lot of talent. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a lot of other things to think about..." MR. MIC, manager of Pain Inc.: "Probably Brody Thunder. Everyone thinks they can beat the big man but I got news for ya -- YOU CAN'T!" THE AGE OF THE RAGE: Prophets of Rage: [together] The Dirt Dog Unique Allah. Unique Allah: Awww, I never got nominated for nuthin' in my life!  Y'all's beautiful!  I love those guys.  Most underrated!  That's me.  In high school I was voted most likely to be a bum.  Ha, shows you how wrong... aw, shut the camera off, muhfuh! [click] +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I * I * W * F =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ | President: Daniel Spreadbury | Vice-President: Steve Owens | | univ0322@sable.ox.ac.uk | sowens@admin.presby.edu | | iiwf@sisko.demon.co.uk | IIWFadmin@aol.com | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.sisko.demon.co.uk -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+