-4/20/98-
Tonight started off with a big bang, as Commisioner Jack McCullough came down to ringside, just days after being choke-slammed by TV champion Skarzz at Slam Masters: Purgatory. Obviously upset, McCullough called Skarzz and Saul Masters down to the ring. He lambasted him for not only attacking King Rasta after the bell, but for assaulting referees, himself and destroying thousands of dollars of equipment around ringside. McCullough also didn't appreciate the interference of Skarzz in the cage match between Extinct and Saul Masters. With all of that in mind, McCullough told Skarzz and Masters that the TV Champ had to be a role model, and Skarzz wasn't...so he was STRIPPING HIM OF THE TV BELT. And a battle royal to fill the vacant title would be held.
Masters and Skarzz were visibly upset and, though they couldn't deny their post match antics, they both denied that it was Skarzz who interfered in the cage. Extinct, hearing this from the back, made his way down to the ring with Doomsday. He congratulated McCullough on his decision, and then asked Masters who DID interfere if it wasn't Skarzz.
"Damn good question!" A powerful, Grating voice was heard on the PA.
At the top of the ramp stood another Skarzz, but this one was talking into a mic with a voice SMWA fans knew all too well. The mask came off, and underneath was Alexander "The Grater". Grater confirmed that Extinct and Doomsday had secretly put him out a few months ago, and now it was payback time. He immediately challenged Doomsday to a match tonight.
Proton is a former SMWA Cruiserweight Champion returning from an injury.
There were a few highlights of note in this match. First, with Charles Slayer, Ron Grayson, and West Bronco, three of the Doomsday Hunters were represented and stood a good chance of winning. However, Slayer turned on his teammates, tossing them both.
Before Slayer tossed Grayson, Grayson and rival Andrew Marshall had a really good tilt in the ring. Good to know their one night as teammates didn't dull their hatred for each other.
Jack Slade, a favourite, was tossed early by Marshall, and Jerry Kent made sure to take a couple of extra seconds to taunt Slade.
Final four: Jerry Kent, Johnny Proton, Nord Fullstrom, Rick Clark.
Proton was out first, as he tried to take it to the big Norwiegan, Fullstrom, and got heaved over the ropes with a choke slam. Then, Nord got tossed as Rick Clark superkicked him out of his boots. So it was down to the veteran Kent and the up and coming Clark. It was a wild affair between the two of them, each man exchangig holds and punches. In the end, it was a miscue by Clark that cost him. He tried for a diving forearm smash, but Kent moved out of the way and tossed his tangled up opponent over the top.
Jerry Kent won a battle royal at 37:18
***1/4
(Jerry Kent won the SMWA TV Title.)
Highland Hell defeated Greed and Gluttony by DQ at 8:18
DUD
Highland Hell has proven to be an effective team, but not too exciting thus far. Tonight, against two of the surving Sins, they put forth a great brawl, but when excessive bitting by Glutt opened a huge cut on Hamish's head, the ref disqualified Greed and Gluttony. I'm sure there will be a rematch.
Naga Yajito defeated Teknos with a tiger driver at 8:04
***1/4
Good match. Lucha vs Japan, and it worked. While Naga attacked from the ground, Teknos put on a dizzying ariel display. The problem came when Teknos missed a missle dropkick from the top. Naga picked him up, caught him double underhook, and go the three count. Johnny Proton was at ringside and challenged Naga to a match at some time. Naga accepted.
Lovechild beat Rokuru with the abdominal stretch at 6:17
**1/4
Lovechild was still hurting from his vicious affair with Charles Slayer this saturday, so he was a bit limited in what he could do, while Rokuru has had trouble putting on good matches recently. It was a good ground match, with Lovechild finally getting the duke.
SMWA Tag Team Titles Match
SuperStars Inc. defeated The Dream Team by disqualification at 4:59
***3/4
Again, interference in the tag title match. This time, it was the Philadelphia X-Treme Machine who came down and attacked Sky and Stingray, who cost them their world title match a week ago. Another brawl ensued amongst the teams. There has to be a way to settle this.
Next up was a triangle match where rivals The Great Oni, Akira Wan-Pai, and North American champ Chad Hillsman would face off. But, to everybody's surprise, Oni and Akira came down to the ring together. Their plan, apparently, was to eliminated Hillsman.
Chad would have no part of it. He fought possibly the most briliant match of his career in what was essentially a handicap match. He also showed endurance we never thought he had. It all came down to the 25 minute mark, when out of nowhere, Hillman started a flurry against both men. Knocking Akira outside, he pinned Oni after a running forearm smash at 26:34...with Akira barely missing the save. As Oni and Akira argued, Chad scooped up Akira and delivered the Stars and Bars DVD for the pin in one of the most remarkable title defenses ever seen on Massacre.
SMWA North American Title Match:
Chad Hillsman deafeted The Great Oni and Akira Wan-Pai:
x Hillsman pinned Oni after a running forearm smash at 26:34
x Hillsman pinned Akira with the Stars and Bars at 26:57
***1/2
Oni and Akira then brawled on back to the dressing room.
It was nearly one year ago that Grater, wearing the Doomsday mask, defeated Mike Haggar for the world title. Since then, both he and the real Doomsday have gone on to a lot of success, both as members of the Doomsday Hunters. But Grater was out of that group now, so this was his chance to show he could do it on his own. Extinct and Doomsday didn't care if they did or didn't.
The match immediately spilled outside, where chairs, timekeeper bells and an old lady's cane were used as weapons. Getting back into the ring, Grater hit an incredibly moonsault (he is around 375), but Doomsday kicked out at one and nearly took Grater's head with a clothesline. The rest of the match was high impact after high impact, neither man giving.
Grater managed to snare Doomsday in the Doomsday Tornado when West Bronco came down and distracted Grater...not that it mattered, as Doomsday was getting right back up (!) Grater took a swing at Bronco as Extinct tossed Doomsday a piece of steel, which he nailed Grater with, and then hit the Armageddon for the pin. The Doomsday Hunters proceeded to destroy Grater, with nobody coming to his assistance.
Doomsday pinned Alexander "The Grater" with the Armagadeddon
**3/4
If Grater isn't dead, I wouldn't want to be the Doomsday Hunters.
NEXT WEEK
Big tag match as rivals Zangief and King Rasta team once more, this time
against Skarzz and Chad Hillsman. The question is, if Rasta and Zangief
couldn't beat Skarzz alone at Purgatory, how can they beat Skarzz and the
North American Champ?