Backstage Pass
By Ryan "Camel" Cuddihy
The Erik Draven situation is just starting to cool down, and another one crops up on the horizon. It's come to the Dirtsheet's attention that Venom has also left the NPWA on rather unpleasant terms with NPWA President Angela Chang. Unlike the Draven situation, however, this one was much more well publicized. I won't get into details here, they're easy to find if you look.
On the other side of... OK, it's not on the other side of anything, it's about 300 miles to the north. I am, of course, referring to the Muncie-based EWA. First, the releases... Nukeman and Phoenix Dark are no longer with the EWA. Nukeman wasn't happy with the creative aspect regarding his character, and Dark... well, I have no idea. The kid had potential.
This week's War was one not to be missed. If you missed it... well, you're an idiot. But that's why I'm here, isn't it? Let me go right into it and tell you about Wednesday Night War.
War doesn't even really begin to describe it, quite frankly. It doesn't quite grasp the right magnitude... it was more or less hell for everybody. Don't believe me? Read on.
~ CJ Cordial just got nailed by a car! They were going for Cash, but Cordial did his job right and knocked him out of the way... he's pretty banged up. I assume we'll get an update later, because it cuts pretty quickly.
~ Jack Daniels is out now, and he is pissed. He feels he's been the only one actually working in the last couple of weeks, and he's fed up with it... and the first person who's gonna know it is Raven! Daniels calls Raven out, and Raven comes back with a poignant fact: Daniels hasn't done much but lose since the EWA reopened. Daniels gets ready for a brawl, but Elektra threw a monkey wrench in there... her engagement ring! Daniels quickly stomped on it, and pronounced that she left him because of his money, and Raven quickly pointed out that Elektra was pregnant! Jeez... first Knight, now Elektra... That got Daniels pretty steamed.
~ The masked man that has been plaguing the EWA blindsides Erik Draven, but not with an attack... he spraypaints a message on Draven's SUV. The message? "Extinct." Commenting on Draven's age? C'mon, that's so... last month.
~ Chris Kage d. Nukeman in his final EWA match... and apparently, Nuke didn't want to be remembered for this EWA reign, cuz this match was a squash. After the match, though, was pretty memorable. The Latino Powers came out, beat on Nukeman, and executed a Foreign Policy on him. They went to shake hands with Kage, and BLINDSIDED him. They put him down with a Head Rush, took off their masks... it was Long Island Hardcore! Needless to say, they were not too happy with Kage, especially after his interference in the NPWA Title match on Monday. As they got ready to put him through a table, Sigel Phoenix entered the picture. He put them down with a Singapore cane, and even knocked Jared off the top rope... and through a table! He got on the stick for a second, and told Boden that his Hardcore Title wouldn't be around his waist for much longer, because he was going to go Down in... something. He never got to finish, because Kage was back up, and he blindsided Phoenix, and declared that HE would be the special referee for the match at Clash, and face the winner of said match. As he finished up, Boden blindsided both of them, knocking Kage down with the Hardcore Title, putting Phoenix down with a Vengeance Slam, and locked Chris Kage in the Wrath! After Phoenix kicked him off, Boden exited the ring, not taking an eye off either of them! Wow.
~ Duane Gates gets to his limo, and written on the side: "Expose." Gates is pissed, and declares that he'd fire whoever did this, and gets in the limo... as the seperating window rolls up, another word is written: "Exploit." Uh-oh... the masked man is after Gates as well, but what he'll expose and exploit, I don't know.
~ The Golden One d. Haywood Jublome to become #1 Contender to the IC Title. Haywood seemed on his game, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Golden One. A fine match, however, and one that could be parts of a highlight reel, but Jublome made a few mistakes that cost him the win. It happens.
~ Harding Cash discusses his bodyguard's condition with the EWA doctors, but they sneak attack him, and lay him out! So wait... they weren't REALLY doctors? Damn, I think I'm starting to get a cold, I was gonna see one of 'em.
~ Shawn Copeland d. Phoenix Dark. This should not shock anyone, considering Dark is no longer under EWA contract.
~ Harding Cash seems to have recovered a little, and he doesn't seem happy. He ties his boot, and the mirror is turned around by someone behind it... to reveal the words "Erase Ego." Cash is miffed, but he's gotta run. The masked man strikes again!
~ Jack Daniels d. KG. I never saw this coming! No offense to KG, but Jack Daniels needs to get his push back, and KG was the first to fall. A good match, though, I'll give them that.
~ Haywood Jublome comes to his locker room and stumbles onto yet another word... "Elude." He shrugs it off, and walks in to find "Exile" written on the wall. This one got his attention... he's confused, as are most of the folks at home, I'm sure.
~ Harding Cash d. Bazooka Joe. This was a scary match... Bazooka Joe looked more like Bazooka Ho, cuz he went down fast and hard. He's much better than that, but I guess we know Harding was pissed, huh? Of course, the ending was much better... because NOTHING came in and attacked Joe! Wait, no, it wasn't NOTHING after all, it was his brother-in-law, Alexander Haven! Haven has made his presence known tonight, in an interesting way, but one wonders about copyright infringement in this case.
~ Jack Daniels goes for his umpteenth bottle of Ol' No. 7 of the night, and finds it marked with the words "End Euphoria." The masked man isn't leaving anyone out tonight.
~ The Butcher d. Sigel Phoenix to become the #1 contender to the IC Title. I'm upset about this and not at the same time... Sigel was not up to his normal self tonight in this one, or in his promo this week. However, the Butcher is proving himself more and more with each match... and this one may be the one to take him up the card.
~ The masked man strikes again, this time defacing the Hardcore Title once again with the word "Earn." The question is... has Sean Boden earned the Hardcore Title? Some would say he has, but I guess our masked man is not one of them.
~ Erik Draven d. Haywood Jublome to become #1 Contender to the World Title. And damn, he got screwed this time... his foot on the rope, but the ref didn't see it. Just like those damn refs... it makes one wonder... does Duane Gates have something against Jublome? It's a thought.
~ Harding Cash is not happy about what went down earlier in the evening. He's pissed, in fact... and he letes President Gates know. After spewing out slang that most people haven't heard in decades, he asks for a security team at COTC. And who can blame him? Someone wants him beaten, and not just in a match.
~ Sean Boden d. Raven in the Main Event... GOD DAMN. I never saw this coming, I must tell you... even with Boden's brilliant promo work this week (and I'm not the only one saying that... after all, I've always thought that way about his work), I still did not see this man upending the EWA World Champ. And it was a hell of a match... I don't think I can do it justice in this write-up. And even still, after the match, Raven flipped and beat him senseless, but DAMN. Damn damn damn. After Raven left the ring, the masked man finally made his final appearance, as "Enough" was displayed on the Jumbotron... and in the ring! E-NUFF HAS RETURNED TO THE EWA! After beating on Sean Boden, they simply faded out of the show! Nuff didn't say word one! Another DAMN.
Well, there's the show. I haven't said enough about it, but I really can't say anything more than I have without repeating myself and sounding stupid. But what I will tell you is the card for the 14th Clash of the Champions!
~ KG opens up the show against newcomer Jeffrey Sabastion-Lincoln Parks V. Now THAT'S a mouthful. If his talent is anywhere near as big as his name, KG is in for a rough ride.
~ Bazooka Joe locks up with Haywood Jublome. Should be a good match, both men need this to get back up in the rankings.
~ The Butcher and the Golden One face off for the Intercontinental Title. The Golden One is a legend, and he's gotten off to a good start here, but the Butcher is a hot talent right now... it'll be tough to call.
~ Jack Daniels takes on Shawn Copeland. Copeland disposed of Phoenix Dark rather quickly this week, but that's all he's done so far... Daniels, on the other hand, hasn't done much more, other than disposing of KG this week. Again, both need this to propel them higher than they have been so far.
~ Chris Kage fights the returning E-Nuff in what will probably be the toughest match of his career. I meant Kage's. Nuff is not someone to trifle with, but Kage has been on a hot streak as of late... oh wait, that's not Chris Kage, it's Jose Martinez, right... and I'm the Bishop of Rockville Center.
~ Harding Cash goes up against Alexander Haven. This could very well be a show stealer, as both these men have both worked together and against each other in the past. There's still a rivalry here from the Rebellion back in the NYSWF, let's see what comes of it.
~ Sean Boden and Sigel Phoenix do battle for the EWA Hardcore Title inside the steel cage... only way to win is over the top. Of course, with Chris Kage on the inside as special referee, that could be tough. What makes it tougher, you ask? How about Erik Nuff on the outside as another referee? I thought so. Watch this match.
~ Erik Draven and Raven fight over the EWA Heavyweight Title in the Main Event. Draven's been on a roll since returning to the EWA, although he may have lost some momentum after leaving the NPWA. At the same time, Raven's had an undefeated streak, up until this week's War. Either way, it will prove to be a worthy way to close out the show.
So there you have it. I'm off until Monday, when I'll have the NYSWF's Revelations weekend, and all the juicy tidbits that come with it. See you then, same bat time, same bat channel.
Camel out.