"Jack, I don't know where you've been all week. I don't know what you've been doing, outside of what I've seen in the ring. But I'm telling you right now - you get your ass into this ring right now, kid. We need to chat."

    Haggar stood and faced the back, waiting for Slade to make his way down to the ring. When Slade did appear, he looked just about as pissed off as Haggar. He entered the ring as if he was looking for a confrontation. And from the look in the eyes of Mike Haggar, he was about to get one.

    "Jack, you're out of control. Last week proved it. Now, I can understand you losing it at Back Street...even the night after. But last week, you went too far. It went beyond being pissed off, Jack. Damn it, Jack, you almost hit Jess with a chair. Is that what you wanted, huh? I understand Cody's got you upset, and I know you're pissed at me and Jess for this whole cloud of secrecy around Cody and New York. But you nearly hit my daughter. That's going too far, Jack."

    Jack was looking at the mat during this whole talk. His head didn't perk up until Jessica took the microphone.

    "Jack, you've scared the hell out of me the past few weeks. I've seen you want revenge before. I've seen you get mad at people. But they way you've been acting lately...I can't understand it, Jack. Frankly, it's the kind of behaviour I would expect from Cody, not from you."

    That got Jack's attention.

    "Jack, you've got to shape up."

    Jack face twisted and he motioned for the microphone. Jess gave it over.

    "Look, I know I've been acting a bit differently, okay? Yes, the Cody thing has gotten to me, and so has Simply the Best and all this crap you guys are carrying around from New York. I understand you don't think you can tell me, but that is the last thing on my mind right now."
    "Look, Jess...last week was an accident. If I had known it was you, you know I would never have pushed you. Hell, I dropped the chair. I wasn't going to hurt you, okay. It was a mistake. But when you start comparing me to Cody...Jess, what...what's happening here? Be level with me."

    Jess took the mic away from Jack. "Jack, it's nothing like that. I mean...Look, Jack Slade - I love you, okay. You know it, I know it. But you've been acting like a different person lately. I still love you, but there have been times I've had to take a step back. I'm worried, Jack. I don't want to have to keep on worrying."

    And then a voice was heard from the back.

    "Well, well, well. The replacement just got an ultimatum." It was Cody. "Jack, Jack, Jack..."

    Jessica still had the mic and wasn't having any of this. "Damn it, Cody, this doesn't concern you. What, I turned you down, now you have to make everybody's life hell? Is that it? No, don't answer. I don't want to hear one more word come out of your mouth. I've had enough, Cody - back the hell up."

    An assinine smirk crossed Cody's face, as if he was brushing off whatever Jess had said. He picked up his mic and kept on talking.

    "Well, Jack, gotta hand it to your girlfriend there. She did a pretty good job of fighting your fight for ya."

    It was all Jess could do to keep Jack from tearing down the aisle and slaughtering Cody right there.

    "That's right, hon. Hold him back, cause I will hurt him. Hell, you don't want to let somebody you love get hurt, do ya? Oh wait a second...you already did that. Back Street and beyond, Jess, when you let that ape behind you pummel me time after time. Not a nice way to treat the love of your life, is it, Jess?"

    Jess grabbed the mic again. "Cody, shut the hell up!"

    Cody smiled again and continued. "No, Jess. No, you had that chance. I'm past the point where I'm going to listen to you anymore. I'm not your whipped little puppy anymore - Jack has THAT job."

    And with that, Slade immediately tried to jump Cody. Both Haggar's were holding Jack back.

    Cody, loving it, began calling Jack. "Aw, whatsa matta, boy? What's wrong, puppy. Oh, poor puppy. That's right, you're a whipped little doggy, yes you are. Yes you are! Common, Jess, let him go. Loosen up the leash a bit. Here, boy! *whistle* Come on!"

    And Jack broke away from Jessica and Mike. But rather that attack Cody, he took a step back and snatched the mic off of the mat.

    "Simmons, I was gonna let this crap die, but you want to push it, so how about we settle this crap. You and me tonight, Simmons. I'll shut your ass up."

    Jack threw the mic down, but not before we could hear Mike Haggar utter an expletive, something very rare for him. Jess just turned and looked away.

    Cody smiled. "Hey, thought you'd never ask, Jack. See you tonight." And with that, Cody went backstage.

    Jack went to talk to Jessica, but Mike got the microphone first.

    "Damn it, Jack. You just let it happen again. Would you start thinking for half a second and stop listening to idiots like Cody."
    "Look, Jack. In two weeks, we have a big tag team match against Clark and Kent, okay. I need a partner who can keep his cool. Somebody who can go into that ring and think for one quarter of a second. Somebody I can trust. Can you tone it down for one night, Jack? Can you start thinking for just one night!?!"

    A look of shock and rage crossed Jack's face as he snatched the mic from Haggar's hand.

    "I can't believe you'd even ask...screw you, Mike."

    Slade threw down the mic and left the ring, shaking his head. Jess started to follow, but then back off. She waited until Jack was about half way down the aisle before she left the ring, giving her father a dirty look as she left. Mike jumped on the mic

    "Jack, that's not what I meant and you know it. Jack...damn it, Jack." And Haggar threw down the mic to go talk to Slade, who was already in the back.

    Cody and Slade will probably face off tonight, and Haggar will be defending his World Title against Ron Grayson, but that's not the story. The problems with Mike Haggar, Jessica Haggar and Jack Slade continue.

The Raiders (El Stingray & Ultimate Spider) vs Sky Entertainment  (Terry Sky & Lantern)

    At one time, El Stingray and Terry Sky formed one of the most dynamic, most exciting tag teams in the SMWA. But the days of SuperStars Inc. have long past, and now Stingray and Sky exist on opposite sides, Sky as the CEO of his group Sky Entertainment Ltd. and El Stingray as a member of the Raiders. And no love is lost.

    Lantern jumped both Stingray and Spider before they entered the ring, flooring both on the outside with a plancha. But the advantage of Sky Entertainment was short lived, as Spider and Stingray, possibly the two quickest wrestlers in the SMWA blitzed Lantern, hitting him with various high flying double team moves and repeatedly choping him down. Lantern made the tag out to Sky...who was across the ring from his former tag team partner.
    Stingray and Sky, two great wrestlers, didn't want to wrestle. They started slugging away, eventually spilling outside where both men tasted the ring steps and the guardrail. There was nothing pretty about the way these two were fighting and the brawl eventually ended with tags to the corners.
    Spider crawled circles around Lantern, flooring him with a missile dropkick and a springboard DDT. Spider locked on the Spider's web, but Sky broke the move by hitting Spider with a sliding kick into the ribs. Still, Lantern was in rough against the two Lucha speedsters...until the rest of Sky Entertainment came to ringside.
    But before Sky Entertainment could do anything, the Raiders made their way to ringside. In a repeat from last week's incident, Lantern left the ring and ran right in to Titan Tim, knocking Lantern off of his feet.
    The action on the inside continued. As the ref was distracted by the crowd on the outside, Lantern let loose some sort of flash in the face of El Stingray, blinding him. Lantern then took Stingray outside, laid him out on a table and hit a beautiful moonsault which took its toll on both men. Lantern rolled Stingray back into the ring and Dark Angel grabbed the attention of the referee. As Angel did this, Mauling Bear tossed the ring bell into the ring to Lantern...but the bell was intercepted by Ultimate Spider, who nailed Lantern over the head. Stingray caught him with a crucifix as he fell back.

The Raiders (El Stingray and Ultimate Spider) defeated Sky Entertainment Ltd. (Lantern and Terry Sky) when Stingray pinned Lantern after a crucifix in 0:18:24.
Rating: **** 3/4

    The Raiders left the ring as Sky Entertainment helped Lantern up. However, it wasn't time to leave just yet, as Ron Grayson was coming down to the ring. Looked like the Director of Personnel had something to say.

    "Okay, Boss, it's about time we did something here.  This idiot Mauling Bear missed that big throw and probably couldn't make one to save his life.  What, were you aiming for Spider's hand, Bear, or are you just that stupid.  And Lantern...last week, you hit me by accident.  Saturday, you drop a match to Teknos.  And this week, you let yourself get hit in the head with a ring bell.  For God sakes, Lantern, could you not see Spider coming.  I mean, he's short, but..."

    Sky, realizing his troops were getting angry, tried to take the mic from Grayson.  "Ron, come on."

    "Don't give me 'come on', Sky.  You brought me on as Director of Personnel, and THAT'S what I'm doing.  These guys need discipline, Terry.  We have to work together on this.  You think I want to be out here right now?  I got a World Title match coming up!!!  I'd rather be getting ready.  But I guess duty calls.  Look, we won't deal with this right now, but how's your schedule for a board meeting after the show."

    Sky looked at Grayson as if he was growing a second head.  But he decided it WAS better to do this in private.  "Fine, Ron.  We'll have a board meeting later on."

    And Sky Entertainment left the ring...Grayson leading the way, though everybody waited for Sky to leave before they made any move out of the ring.

    Grayson is taking his job seriously!

    Yes, it happened in the first round of the tournament.  However, due to several injuries incurred by Toughman quarterfinal winners West Bronco and Rod Emerson, the two men who earned the most points (and were able to compete after round one) have entered the tournament.  Those men are El Stingray and Akira Wan-Pai.  As a result, Akira Wan-Pai and Naga Yajito would meet again.
    Last round, Naga beat Akira by a mere five points, taking the match to the limit.  What would happen this time?

    Round One: Naga couldn't land a single punch all round, while Akira peppered Naga all throughout the round.  However, Naga hit Akira with two takedowns, including a surprising hiptoss.  The round ended with a tie of ten points.
    Round Two: Akira was one punch behind, and Naga put on a great wrestling display, taking Akira down twice, thus shutting Akira out and giving Naga a fifteen point lead.
    Round Three: Akira hits more punches, Naga nails a takedown.  The round ends with even points, but Naga is still fifteen ahead.
    Round Four: All punching.  Akira takes the round and closes the gap to ten points.
    Round Five: Akira kept up the punches, while Naga had trouble landing shots.  A takedown by Akira at twenty seconds tied the match up.  But Naga held tough and delivered two takedowns in the last fifteen seconds.  The result was a win on points.

SMWA Toughman Tournament - Quarterfinal Match
Naga Yajito pinned Akira Wan-Pai with a double leg cradle in 0:05:30.
Rating: ** 1/4

Final Scorecard
Points
Akira Wan-Pai    -    10     0     5     5    10    -    30
Naga Yajito         -   10    15     5     0    10    -    40

Knockdowns
Akira Wan-Pai    -      0      0     0     0     0    -     0
Naga Yajito         -      0      0     0     0     0    -     0

Naga Yajito defeats Akira Wan-Pai on points.

       History had again repeated itself, with Naga beating Akira on points...but history was about to repeat itself in the post match, too.
    On one half of the ring, a blinding light began to shine, making it almost impossible to see.  On the other side of the ring, a dark shadow crossed.  The light and the dark began to mix into one another as Akira Wan-Pai and Naga Yajito stood in the ring dumbfounded.  Finally, the two sides separated, and all we saw in the ring was Zists standing between Akira and Naga.  Naga and Akira looked at one another, bowed, and then each left the ring.  Zists left shortly after.

    What on earth just happened????

    Two shows in a row, the Scotsman and Hamish have had a chance to take the TV Title from around the waist of SMWA Television champion King Rasta.  Each time, the interference of Grant Redstone and Shadow Maxx ended up costing Hamish and the Scotsman the match.  Now, it was payback time.
    Highland Hell came to the ring first.  Grant Redstone came next.
    Shadow Maxx didn't come to the ring.
    Not wanting Redstone to compose himself and realize that his tag team partner hadn't shown up, Highland Hell attacked the big Aussie.
    The two Highlanders took the match right to Redstone, who couldn't counter the savage double teams of the two powerful Scotsmen.  Hamish poured on the strength, power bombing Redstone into oblivion, while Scotsman used his unorthodox, high-impact assault to keep Redstone off balance.
    But not for too long.  Redstone was able to mount a flurry against the two Scotsmen, flooring each man with a devastating T-bone suplex.  But as Redstone ran to the ropes, he was hit in the back with a chair...
    By King Rasta!!!
    Highland Hell was getting help from Rasta, whether they asked for it or not.  And, although Rasta must have been happy taking the chair to the back of Redstone, the big Rastafarian kept looking at Redstone's corner, perhaps wishing Shadow Maxx had shown up.
    Highland Hell kept up the double team on Redstone when the ringside area was graced by two more guests - Andrew Marshall and Rod Emerson, aka Steelworks.  Hamish was about to lay down a big splash on Redstone when Rod Emerson yanked Hamish's foot.
    Rasta, on the other side of the ring, didn't take kindly to this.  He threatened Emerson with a chair, but it was all for naught, as Redstone had regained the advantage.
    Redstone was succesfully brawling with both members of Highland Hell .  He leveled both men with lariats and hit each one with a backdrop, sending them to the outside.  And that's when Steelworks hit.
    Marshall took Hamish, Emerson the Scotsman.  As the ref was distracted by the brawl at ringside, Rasta came into the ring from the other side and waffled Redstone over the head with a chair.  But the ref was too busy counting Highland Hell out to notice.

Grant Redstone and Shadow Maxx defeated Highland Hell when Redstone defeated Hamish by countout in 0:15:01.
Rating: **

    Highland Hell and Steelworks brawled into the back and Rasta escaped into the audience.  Redstone got up, and then at the top of the ramp he saw a figure.
    His tag team partner!!!  Shadow Maxx!!! Maxx had shown up...after the match.
    Maxx disappeared into the back and a groggy Redstone followed him back.

    Gunloc, I faced your little buddy Hillsman a week ago.  Zangief took you down.  But sending in our allies to fight our battles is no way to fight a war.  Ve have a big card coming up called Proving Ground.  Vell, I'm going to challenge you to prove yourself, Gunloc.  Ze var of the Super Powers.  You and me, one on one.  Let's do it!!!

    Thus, the challenge from Biff is made.  Gunloc and Hillsman aren't in the building tonight, but they must be listening someplace.  I don't think we'll have to wait to long for a reply.

    After Biff's statement, Major Force came to the ring.  Grater grabbed the mic.

    "Ya know, Doomsday.  Seems every time you an' me try and have a tilt, some clown gets in the way.  First it was Bronco, then Clepto, and now Ghost.  Hey, Casper, I'm talkin' to you.  You here, spooky???  Well, if you are, let's answer the old question of whether Ghosts got damn balls or not.  You and me, Ghost.  Right here, right now, TONIGHT!!!"

    Grater stood in the ring, and then the lights dimmed.  Skarzz and Saul Masters stepped outside as Ghost came down to the ring.  He was battered.  He was bruised.  He was ready.

    Grater wasn't about to stand for Ghost costing him a match against Doomsday last week.  Ghost wasn't about to care.

    Grater was all over Ghost from the beginning.  Ghost's injuries had slowed him sufficiently, and Grater was taking advantage.  When Grater spilled outside, Ghost took a brief advantage with a springboard senton, but Grater came back quickly, driving Ghost back first into the ringpost and then hitting him with a spinebuster slam on the floor.
    Grater rolled Ghost into the ring, and Ghost took the advantage.  As Grater entered the ring, Ghost nailed him with a DDT, putting big Al on the mat.  Ghost was able to put together a flurry and got a VERY near fall with a crucifix.  Ghost then went for another DDT.
    Grater merely heaved Ghost over the top ropes and continued the assault.  Ghost had a lot of trouble getting something going against his much larger opponent.
    Back in the ring, Ghost was again almost able to mount another offensive.  He hit Grater with a wicked Northern Lights bomb and then tried to follow up with a sommersault legdrop.  Grater rolled out of the way, picked Ghost up and leveled him with a devastating power bomb.
    1
    2...
    NO!!! Ghost kicked out.  But Grater was undaunted.  He climbed up the top ropes and hit Ghost with a beautiful moonsault.  But, again, Ghost kicked out at two.
    Smelling the opportunity to go for the kill, Grater picked Ghost up, spun him around and dropped him on his head with the Doomsday Tornado.  Grater went for his final pinfall.
    1
    2...
    NO!!!  NO!!! NO!!!  Ghost kicked out.  Somehow, some way, Ghost kicked out!  Grater was as shocked as anybody else.  But, undaunted, he climbed the turnbuckles and delivered a thunderous elbowdrop....
    ...which would have really hurt Ghost if he hadn't moved.  But he did.  Ghost got to his feet, kicked Grater in the stomach and hit the Final Breath.  The ref got down and counted.
    1.
    2...
    3!!!

Ghost pinned Alexander "The Grater" with the Final Breath in 0:13:53.
Rating: **** 1/4

    HOW DID GHOST DO IT!!!  He wins again!!!  My God!!!
    However, the victory would  be short lived.  The Philadelphia X-Treme Machine charged to the ring and double teamed Skarzz on the outside.  This paved the way for Doomsday, who rushed the ring and assaulted both Ghost and Grater.  But he didn't have long, as Skarzz took down both members of the PXM with choke slams.  Skarzz stormed the ring and tossed Doomsday over the top ropes.
    The Doomsday Hunters left laughing.  Major Force left shortly after.  Ghost was the last to go.  But not before he grabbed the microphone.

    "What is it, Extinct?  No confidence left in the big man?  I already beat him at Back Street Brawl, and if you need me to PROVE that I can do it again, I don't think there's any better place than next Saturday.  Doomsday vs Ghost II, next Saturday at Proving Ground.  I've thrown out the challenge, Extinct.  If you know what's good for you, you'll accept."

    And with that, Ghost left through the crowd.

    Speaking of next Saturday, the announce crew was handed a note.  Gunloc had called the studios and accepted Biff Slamkovich's challenge.  So, at Proving Ground, it will be The Battle of the Super Powers, with the two principles squaring off.  It will be Gunloc vs Biff Slamkovich.  Wow!!!

    Clepto was impressive in the battle royal held on Saturday. The same battle royal Clark eliminated himself early from, feeling he didn't have to prove his top contendership to anybody.  But, if you're going to be a top contender, you have to wrestle matches.  So, with that in mind, it would be the Clown vs Tricky.

    Clepto took an early lead, again using his high impact, low tech offense to confound Clark early on.  A big superkick almost put Clark away, as did a Niagara Driver.  But it was too early, and Clark had way too much gas left in the tank.
    Clark was able to hit and run for much of the match, dazzling Clepto with the mat skills that the Clown simply lacked.  But Clepto still had the edge.  He dropped Clark with a backdrop driver and went up top to deliver a flying frankenstiener.
    Clark saw the move coming and countered it with a big power bomb.  Picking the Clown up, Clark floored him with the Sky-Driver.  That was all.

Rick Clark pinned Clepto the Clown with the Sky-Driver in 0:07:24.
Rating: ****