SMWA Iron Man Tournament - Match 1: "Bullfrog" Jean DuPuis vs "Daredevil" Ron Grayson

In the first of the six matches between four SMWA young lions to a) settle their four way feud and b) determine a number one contender for the North American belt at Thanksgiving Thunder, old foes Ron Grayson and Jean DuPuis locked up for what many expected to be the best encounter of the night.  Somebody should have told that to DuPuis before he hit a German suplex for the win in EIGHTEEN SECONDS!!!

SMWA Iron Man Tournament
Jean DuPuis pinned Ron Grayson after a German suplex in 0:00:18.
Rating: *1/4

Grayson was IRATE!!!  He cursed and swore and was much harder on himself than he usually is.  Obviously he wasn't just upset with the lost -- the fact that the loss came in eighteen seconds must have been weighing heavily on his mind.

Looking into the camera, Grayson screamed "NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY!!!"

Then, Daredevil just stormed off, a very unhappy young man. DuPuis was now 1-0, while Grayson was 0-1.  Each had two matches to go.

SMWA Iron Man Tournament - Match 2: "Jackhammer" Andrew Marshall vs "Deathblow" Akira Wan-Pai

Power vs the martial arts.  American work ethic vs Japanese discipline.  De-Facer vs Tetzuzanko.Marshall and Akira...an East vs West contest to the extreme.
    Marshall spent the first few minutes of the match avoiding the kicks and chops of Akira.  Eventually, Akira backed Marshall into a corner, hit him with some rapid palm blows and then went for a thrust kick to the head.  Marshall ducked, and Akira straddled the ropes as a result.  Marshall then took Akira top for a flying powerslam, and that was about it.
    Akira barely managed a kickout.  Marshall then put on a great power assault.  A reverse clothesline: two count.  A German suplex: two count.  A Jackhammer: two and half.  Akira was in tough, but was able to counter a Marshall lariat with a kick to the side of  the knee and locked on a stomach claw.
    Marshall was in tough to try and escape...it took him thirty seconds.  Akira then took over with his martial arts skills.  A Toka head slam had Marshall hitting the mat in a VERY unsafe position.  Akira measured each subsequent shot, leaving Marshall in a world of pain and with a bloody nose.  Locking on a choke sleeper, Akira was slowly dimming Marshall's lights.
    Marshall got to the ropes, forcing Akira to release the hold.  Then, out of nowhere, Marshall hit a DEVASTATING Exploder suplex which put both men down for an eight count.  Marshall was first up and the next move he hit was the DE-FACER!!!  The ref counted.
    1...
    2...
    NO!  Akira kicked out.  Unfazed, Marshall picked him up and whipped him into the turnbuckles.  Akira rebounded out and snapped Marshall's neck back with the Retankai double kick.  Marshall got up in a daze and tried to wrap his arms around Akira for a suplex.  Akira shrugged him off and hit the TETZUZANKO!  He went for the pin
    1..
    2..
    FOOT ON THE ROPES!!!
    As Marshall and Akira got to their feet, Chad Hillsman came to ringside.  Immediately, he grabbed the mic and started trash talking Akira, who was taken aback.  But he carried on.  Akira tried a spin kick on Marshall, who ducked and went for a belly-to-belly, which Akira countered with another stomach claw.  Before he could really lock the hold, Marshall planted an elbow in his eye.  As Akira fell, Marshall wrapped him up in a full nelson.  With Akira's arms and neck being shipped to different time zones, he tapped out.

SMWA Iron Man Tournament
Andrew Marshall made Akira Wan-Pai submit to a full nelson in 0:14:54.
Rating: ****1/2

Chad Hillsman left the ringside area, giving a little smirk to the fallen martial artist.  Looks like Hillsman has picked a target for his hatred.

West Bronco vs ??? w/ Saul Masters

    West Bronco had already run through Saul Masters other two charges, The Texas Chainsaw Massochist and Nitro, in his quest to avenge the vicious burning of "Jumbo" Jack Flap.  Tonight, Saul Masters promised he'd have somebody who would take care of the cowboy from Arizona.
    Bronco came out first, ready to go.  Then, out came Masters.  Giving Bronco a quick glance, Masters grabbed the mic.
    "Alright, Bronco.  It seems obvious to me that you're ready to go.  Or, you at least think you are.  Right now, I'd like to introduce you to your opponent.  I've taken care of him since he was a child, when he parents decided he wasn't the perfect baby.  I raised as best as I could in a society that fears what is different, and even though he can't speak, he made it clear to me that he'd love nothing more than to anhillate you.  I call him by a different name, but you and everybody else from this day forward can call him...SKARZZ!!!"
    With that, the arena went dark, with the exception of a deep red strobe light.  A furious operato played over the PA system...and out came Skarzz.  He looked to be about seven feet tall, well over three hundred pounds.  He wore a full black costume, with the exception of his arms...which were hideously scarred and deformed.  His face was covered by a black leather mask with a red scar on the left eye.  THIS was what Bronco was up against.
    Looking a bit shocked, Bronco took the fight right to the big man.  But his blows had no effect.  Bronco was leveled with one stiff lariat.  A few elbowdrops were followed by a boot the jaw and then a big choke slam.  That was about it.

Skarzz pinned West Bronco after a choke slam in 0:01:13.
Rating: *1/4

        Pain & Agony then joined Skarzz in the ring and the three beat the living crap out of him.  Officials ushered Masters and his charges from the ring.

SMWA Iron Man Tournament - Match 3: "Bullfrog" Jean DuPuis vs "Jackhammer" Andrew Marshall

    Marshall had just come off a classic with Akira Wan-Pai and had probably broken his nose.  DuPuis had wrestled for eighteen seconds.  It wasn't hard to tell who had the advantage going in.  Marshall decided it was in his best interests to end this match as quickly as possible.
    Marshall nearly took the match with a German suplex VERY early on (which would have been ironic, as that's how DuPuis got Grayson in the opening match).  Marshall laid on the power early and hard, not wanting this match to go any longer than it had to.  But DuPuis was more than up to the task, playing hit and run, keeping Marshall off balance.  Marshall hit with a textbook belly-to-belly for a near fall, while DuPuis had Marshall screaming in agony in a figure four leglock.
    The match spilled outside, where Marshall floored DuPuis with a vertical suplex.  But a DuPuis kneelift sent Marshall headfirst into the ringpost, opening up his nose again.
    The rest of the match was all back and forth, neither man gaining a decisive edge.  Marshall hit with a stomachbreaker.  DuPuis countered a belly-to-belly with a DDT.  Marshall nearly got the pin with a reverse clothesline, but DuPuis countered another one with a beautiful flying grapevine move.  Releasing the hold, DuPuis then hooked on the reverse figure four.  Marshall barely got to the ropes.
    At this point, the match was no longer about wrestling -- it was a fight.  DuPuis and Marshall duked it out, the stronger Marshall taking control.
    As Marshall dominated, Ron Grayson made his way to the ring.  Apparently, he wanted to get a closer look at his next opponent.
    Front slam: two count.  Bulldog: two count.  Piledriver: TWO COUNT!!!  Getting impatient, Marshall decided he'd hit the De-Facer.  He went for the cover.
    1
    2
    GRAYSON PUTS DUPUIS' FOOT ON THE ROPES!!!
    Marshall got up and stared Grayson down.  He then turned his attention to DuPuis, who caught him with a dropkick to the midsection and a sunset flip.

Jean DuPuis pinned Andrew Marshall after a sunset flip in 0:21:40.
Rating: ***3/4

An enraged Marshall charged Grayson outside the ring and had to be restrained by officials.  Later on tonight, these two would meet one on one. As it stands, DuPuis is 2-0, Marshall is 1-1, and Grayson and Wan-Pai would wrestle next.

SMWA Iron Man Tournament - Match 4: "Daredevil" Ron Grayson vs "Deathblow" Akira Wan-Pai

Grayson had a very short walk to the ring for this one.  Akira, looking to redeem himself for his submission loss to Andrew Marshall earlier, wanted this win badly, realizing that going down in the tournament 0-2 wouldn't give him the title shot at Thanksgiving Thunder.

The opening minutes of this match were a clinic in how to counter the manouvers of you opponent.  Grayson avoided the lethal kicks and punches of Akira with his incredible speed, while Akira would brawl or wrestle his way out of any hold Grayson could put him in.  Flips, side steps and duck downs -- not a lot of wrestling, just a lot of making sure you didn't get hit.

The flurry of counters ended when Akira hit Grayson with the Toka slam and then locked on a Kata Hajime.  Grayson was close enough to the ropes to escape, but Akira was controlling the match.  Martial arts kicks, nerve holds, shots to the throat...Grayson couldn't make heads or tails of Akira's offense.  However, Akira misjudged one thrust kick, and Grayson connected with a spinning leg lariat that gave him control.

Grayson wasn't about to slow down.  He connected with a belly-to-belly, a DDT, a frankensteiner -- the moves didn't seem to be affecting Akira at first, but they were taking their toll.  A big somersault splash nearly put Akira down for the three.

At this point, Chad Hillsman came down to ringside again.  Grayson went up top and tried to hit the Shooting Star legdrop, but Akira got out of the way, Grayson crashing to the mat. Akira went outside and, while Chad wasn't looking, floored him with a kick to the head. Upon coming back in to the ring, Akira was hit with a european uppercut and a leg lariat that sent him back to the outside.  As the referee admonished Grayson, Hillsman attacked Akira with a jumping DDT on the CONCRETE!!!  The ref turned around and saw Akira unconscious.  Hillsman was hiding under the ring.

Ron Grayson defeated Akira Wan-Pai by countout in 0:13:39.
Rating: ***

Grayson's next match was against Andrew Marshall.  Each of those two was now 1-1.  Akira would go on to try and be the spoiler for Jean DuPuis...but that's the most he could do at this point. In between matches, Hillsman left laughing.

Revenge Match: Judgment vs Ron S. Race w/Sarge X

    Ron S. Race, recently booted from the Doomsday Hunters, now tries to make his mark with the Platoon.  His first task...destroy the AWOL Judgement.  If he did, he was in.  If not...nothing.
    Race knew he had to make his mark early.  Immediately dumping Judgement outside, Race jumped on him with a plancha...and was driven to the ringpost.  Judgement rolled Race back in, but Ron S. was back up, nailing Judgement with a few dropkicks and managing to lock on the Figure Four Leglock.  Judgement was quick to break it.  Race went up top, but was nailed and left straddled on the top ropes.  Judgement hit the Death Penalty brainbuster and took the win.

Judgement pinned Ron S. Race with the Death Penalty in 0:01:32.
Rating: **1/2

Judgement left the ring....leaving Race along with the Sarge.  X proceeded to beat the hell out of Race, presumably ending his stint as a Platoon member.

Next, a brief conversation backstage with Alexander "The Grater" and the Scorpion.

Grater: "Haggar, I can't believe what a damn idiot you are.  That you thought for one second that Scorp was going to actually stand by you at Back Street Brawl?  Have you gone that damn senile?  It's simple, Mike --  you lost your chance back then, and there aint no way in hell you and that punk protege of yours are gonna take me and Scorp down!"

Scorpion: "I'm constantly amazed that you fell for my trick, Haggar.  It was good, but I figured you to have some degree of common sense.  I suppose not.  And since you failed to win the title the last time, I see you now have Slade aiding your quest.  How heroic.  How noble.  How utterly pathetic.  Mike, I promise you.  Your last title shot at was just that...your last title shot."

SMWA Television Title Match: King Rasta (c) w/Bobby the Monkey vs "Titan" Tim Redbury w/Sarge X

    We didn't even see the lock-up.  Judgement entered the ring, smashed Rasta in the back with a chair and cost Titan the match by DQ.  He then left ringside as fast as he could.

King Rasta defeated Titan Tim Redbury by disqualification in 0:00:17.
Rating: 3/4*
(King Rasta retained the SMWA Television Title)

SMWA Iron Man Tournament - Match 5: "Daredevil" Ron Grayson vs "Jackhammer" Andrew Marshall

    Andrew Marshall was just coming off a twenty-two minute loss to Jean DuPuis...a loss caused in part by Ron Grayson.  Marshall's nose was also broken as a result of his match with Akira earlier in the evening.  The big man from Philadelphia was obviously pissed, and was going to take it out of Daredevil's hide.
    Marshall beat the hell out of Grayson for the first five minutes of this match-up.  Kicks, punches, clotheslines and slams, Grayson just wasn't safe.  Outside, he recieved a chair to the back.  Inside, he nearly went down to a textbook power bomb.  It wasn't until Marshall swung too high on a lariat that Grayson reversed into a slingshot back suplex that the match became even.
    Grayson nearly took Marshall down with a sunset backslide.  A vertical suplex was countered by a cradle suplex from Marshall.  A Grayson DDT was countered with a backdrop, but Grayson managed to hook a sunset flip.  Marshall grabbed Grayson's throat and hung him out to dry.  Marshall then hit a backspin DDT, followed by the Exploder suplex.  A fist drop got a two count, as did a German suplex.  Marshall then charged Grayson, who side stepped, sending Marshall crashing outside.
    Grayson bounced off the ropes for a tope. He missed.  Marshall put him back in the ring.
    Marshall locked Grayson up for another German suplex, but Grayson hit a go behind and then nailed a massive backdrop driver!  Marshall was almost folded in half.  Grayson then hooked on a Scorpion Deathlock.  Marshall couldn't get to the ropes, and the pain was too much.  He passed out and the ref stopped the match.

Ron Grayson made Andrew Marshall submit to a scorpion deathlock in 0:10:07.
Rating: ****1/4

    Grayson then taunted Marshall and kicked him a few times for good measure.  When Marshall woke up, he was damn pissed off.  Grayson had come out of the tournament 2-1, while Marshall was 1-2.  But I doubt their issue is settled.

SMWA Iron Man Tournament - Match 6: "Bullfrog" Jean DuPuis vs "Deathblow" Akira Wan-Pai

    DuPuis had the tournament won.  Even if he lost here, he would have beaten Grayson already, that being the tiebreaker.  Akira was out to play spoiler.  At 0-2, he was in no position to win anything.
    This match was slow, and not a great one to end it off.  DuPuis, knowing he had it all locked up, wrestled a flawless yet dull ground game.  Akira was still groggy from getting his head bounced off the floor earlier by Chad Hillsman.  There were very few risks and most of the match was just DuPuis controlling Akira on the mat.  However, a big thrust kick put Akira in the drivers seat...just as Chad Hillsman came down to ringside.
    Akira saw Hillsman, left the ring and chased him to the back.  The ref counted him out.

Jean DuPuis defeated Akira Wan-Pai by countout in 0:12:15.
Rating: *1/2

SMWA Iron Man Tournament (Final Standings)
================================
1. Jean DuPuis 15 ( 3: 0: 0)
2. Ron Grayson 10 ( 2: 1: 0)
3. Andrew Marshall 5 ( 1: 2: 0)
4. Akira Wan-Pai 0 ( 0: 3: 0)

Jean DuPuis will face Rick Clark or whoever the North American champion is at Thanksgiving Thunder.  Not a contreversy free night for him, but DuPuis wrestled excellently.

Tag Team Grudge Match: Norful and Extinct vs Rick Clark and Zangief

    Zangief had just come off of Back Street Brawl, where he was dumped by the Doomsday Hunters following a loss to Rick Clark.  Zangief wasn't in this match to make friends.  He wanted  revenge against the Hunters, and even though him and Clark were getting along fine, his main concern was tearing Extint and Norful apart.
    Extinct, still pissed that Clark left the Hunters voluntarily, wanted him dismantled in the worst way possible.  But he would also be keeping a close eye out on Norful, who had been botching DH matches ever since he lost the TV Title to King Rasta.  Norful, wrestling with a bad shoulder, was in the same position Zangief was in a month ago...he just didn't realize it.

    The bout started off with a big four way brawl, Zangief and Clark getting the definite advantage early on.  But Clark ended up in the wrong corner during the match and was overpowered by Extinct and Norful.  Clark, easily weakest of the four in terms of strength, wasn't allowed to use his speed or wrestle early on.  But the momentum changed when, outside, Clark cleaned house with a steel chair.  A tag to Zangief, and the momentum was on the side of the ex-DHers.
    There was some textbook double teaming from Clark and Zangief, with Clark using his speed and Zangief his power.  If this team lasts any amount of time, it could be one of the great one.  Zangief nearly drove Norful through the mat with a Tombstone...Extinct had to save him from being counted down.  Clark flew off the top with a big dropkick, getting another near fall that was interupted by Extinct.  A tag back out to Zangief...who was hit from out of NOWHERE with the BATTLE AXE KICK!!!
    Norful tagged in to Extinct, who then floored Zangief again with a double arm thrust to the throat.  With Zangief down, Extinct locked on his camel clutch...but Zangief wouldn't give. He was in the hold for over a minute, but would not give up.  Muscling his way up to his feet, Zangief snapped Extinct over and tagged Clark.  Extinct did the same to Norful.
    Norful entered and dominated Clark.  Punches, kicks, forearms - Norful was beating the North American champion into oblivion.  But Clark ducked one big roundhouse and hit a rolling cradle.

Rick Clark and Zangief beat Norful and Extinct when Clark pinned Norful after a rolling reverse cradle in 0:14:24.
Rating: ***1/4

Clark and Zangief, done for the night, left the ring...and left Extinct alone with Norful.  The big viking was as shocked as Extinct was angry.  Extinct slapped the big Scandinavian, who was less than impressed with that gesture.  But before Norful could do any damage, the Philadelphia X-Treme Machine came to their bosses' rescue.  The three left Norful laying.

A quick stop backstage to Mike Haggar and Jack Slade.

Slade: "Pathetic, eh, Scorp?  Why?  Cause I'm not a back-stabbing, lying, manipulating son-of-a-bitch like a certain masked asshole in the other dressing room?  Pal, I'll show you just how "pathetic" I am in that ring tonight.  Expect it to be easy, guys...I like seeing people when they're surprised."

Haggar: "I'll admit it, Scorp.  You manipulated me, I fell for it and it cost me big time.  But there's no more wool over my eyes now.  If I got to beat you two up tonight to get another shot at Grater's belt, then I've got absolutely no problem with that.  You screwed me once, fellas.  It's not going to happen tonight."

MAIN EVENT: Mike Haggar and  Jack Slade vs Alexander "The Grater" and The Scorpion w/Extinct
(If Haggar & Slade win, Haggar gets a shot at Grater's SMWA World Title)

    A little over a month ago, Jack Slade and Mike Haggar were on opposite sides...and that's when Haggar realized what had happened to him, that Scorpion had manipulated him and turned him against his own goals, his own friends and his own self.  That night, Haggar re-united with his former partner.  That would not happen tonight.
    Slade and Grater started the match off.  Slade, looking unusually fierce, took the fight right to Big Al, peppering him with dropkicks, forearms and a lariat which brought the big man to the ground.  Slade went up top for a flying cross body press and hit it.
    And he was caught and powerslammed down to the mat.  Grater made the tag to Scorpion, but Slade still had enough wits to get the tag to Haggar.
    And with Scorpion and Haggar in the ring together, the building errupted.
    There was no hesitation.  These two hated rivals tore right into each other in one hell of a brawl.  Haggar took control, leveling Scorpion many a time.  Remembering it was a tag team match, Haggar kept up quick tags with Slade.  The two hit a devastating back suplex/flying splash combo that nearly put Scorpion down...nearly.
    Haggar whipped Scorp into the corner, but recieved a handstand kick to the jaw.  Scorp tagged to Grater, and the two most hated men in the SMWA controlled the match.  Scorpion hit Haggar with a Russian legsweep, while Grater came crashing off the middle ropes with an elbowdrop.  Scorp then hit with a Samoan drop followed by a beautiful flying headbutt.
    1
    2
    KICKOUT!!!
    Haggar was still with us, but needed the tag.  Grater got in the ring and took Haggar down with a vicious waistlock suplex.  Climbing up the ropes, Grater was going for a moonsault.
    He jumped.  He flipped.  He missed!!!  Haggar rolled out of the way and managed a tag in to Slade.
    Slade took the fight right to both men, not even allowing Grater to tag.  "The Cruncher" was all over this match and dominated both wrestlers.  He floored Scorpion with a leg lariat, hit Grater with the Concussion Bomb bulldog, and for good measure hit a baseball slide on Extinct outside.  This brought the PXM to ringside again.
    Haggar had rejoined the fray in the ring, taking on Scorpion.  Haggar and Scorp spilled outside, the ref trying to break them up. Slade had Grater in position for the Spiked DDT...but Slash Battle ran into the ring and attacked Slade!  Slade fought off Battle, but not before Crash Burnz threw a pair of brass knucks to Grater.
    Grater nailed Slade in the back of the head and went for the pin.

    1
    2
    3!!!

Alexander "The Grater" and The Scorpion beat Jack Slade and Mike Haggar when Grater pinned Slade after hitting him with a foreign object in 0:20:46.
Rating: ****

Grater left the ring with the PXM and Scorpion escaped with them soon after.  Slade was helped to his feet by Jessica Haggar in the ring.  When he regained his senses and saw Mike Haggar standing across the ring from him, Slade nearly broke down.  He had just been pinned.  HE had cost Haggar a rematch with Grater.  Haggar, though, always the good guy, walked over to his friend, shook his hand and they embraced. A touching moment, but it didn't really erase the bitter taste left in the crowd's mouth.  Grater and Haggar would never wrestle for the World Title again.  That was a bitter pill to swallow.