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Tank Quits EDW

In one of the more controversial events in EDW history, the man known as Tank Taylor appears to have disappeared from the company. The reasoning for this dates back to July 23rd, 2001.

On that day, EDW 1 took place. But while EDW was far and away the number one company, there was another prominent fed in the area. And its top dog was a man who would go on to have a huge impact on EDW, Tank Taylor. But at EDW1, Jayme Future and Kash Flow debuted, and, having hailed from the company Tank was working in, made comparisons between Tank and a man they had seen that day for the first time � �Ice Man � Scot Williams. The similarities were not hard to find � both used a spear, both used a piledriver, both had the same demeanour, same high impact style. The comparisons were made from day 1. As Tank�s company went under, he began to search a more prominent role in wrestling, and headed to EDW in 2002. He joined in early 2003, and was placed in the X Division � almost to keep the high flyers in line, more than anything. However, at X-1, Tank participated in the double elimination match for the X Title, and lost twice in a row, to Jayme Future and Kash Flow. These little known defeats are blemishes on his record. When he moved up to the main roster at EDW3, he put everything behind him � he attacked Jayme Future and KO Kid, and he defeated Virus for the EDW Title in his first EDW contest. A new top dog was on the scene. However, now that Tank and Scot were in the same company, the talks of a potential match were brewing. And both men knew it. On the following EDW3 show, Tank ran in during a triple threat match between Virus, KO Kid and Ice. He levelled Virus. Took out KO. But he didn�t lay a finger on Scot. Both men stared at each other, both almost trying to punk the other out. Neither man backed down. On this third show, Scot watched on intently as Tank defeated KO Kid. The dream was on its road to reality.

At EDW4, Tank Taylor added two more wins to his tally, defeating FX Lane and VERN on consecutive shows. However, it was what happened before the match with VERN that everyone was interested in. As Scot walked to the back, Tank�s music hit. The years of anticipation were about to come to a roaring head. As Scot watched Tank walk out with the title he never held, Tank Taylor walked straight past him without even making eye contact with Ice once. He didn�t acknowledge him. Was it mind games? Was it Tank�s attempt to show that this was his time, and, by not looking at his biggest threat, made it clear that he didn�t think much of EDW�s veteran? Who knows. But amidst all of the wait, after two years of speculation and anticipation, the match was on � at EDW4, Scot defeated Jayme Future in a 2 out of 3 falls match to become the number one contender to the EDW Title. Tank�s EDW Title. The match was on, and announced to take place at EDW5. Tank, by this time, has defeats over KO Kid, Virus, Jayme Future, FX Lane, VERN, and many more. On the main roster, he was undefeated. No sign of weakness. But the question was always asked � why did he never try to get Scot Williams? Surely a win over him would solidfy Tank as the number one guy, and cement him as EDW�s greatest champion. His hesitancy was questioned, but was dismissed as head games. But after the perception that Tank Vs. Ice would never happen for so long, people began to believe it. However, when the match was made, EDW was shot with a dose of reality. For Tank Taylor, a lethal dose.

The match was on. What captivated the audience about Scot Vs. Tank was that here were two guys who were the icons for so long in different areas for different reasons, and for the first time, two icons were to clash over the biggest prize in EDW. As EDW5 approached, both men began their preparation. Those close to Scot said that he was focusing harder on this match more than any other, feeling he had two things to prove � 1: that he could win the title he had never previously held in his 5+ years with the company, and 2: that he could beat the man everyone had compared him to, and looked at as the best. Tank also underwent a tremendous amount of preparation, but those close to him said that Tank wasn�t as into the match as expected. While he trained hard, he wasn�t consistent. As EDW5 was delayed twice, the anticipation built further. Finally, on February 13, 2004, the day had come. We would now see who, all along, was the better man. However, on this big night, Tank Taylor did not arrive at the arena. Fans were extremely disheartened, and many were livid that Tank did not fulfil his obligation. Moreso, they did not expect it from him � he was the undefeated, undisputed champion � he should have no reason not to show. Tank cited a personal reason for his absence, and told those in the company that he was determined to prove himself at EDW6. The match between Scot and Tank was again delayed. But at least this time, the was on for sure.

EDW6 came. Tank Taylor arrived at the building at 3:47pm, and Scot Williams arrived at 4:21pm. Their match was set for 5:00pm. As a last minute addition, Wreckage was added to the match by virtue of a victory over Virus earlier in the show. But people were watering their mouths to see Tank and Scot in the same ring. Jayme Future was the first to confirm Tank�s arrival at the building, followed by KO Kid and several others. Jayme sat in Tank�s locker room as he prepared for his title defence. �It was a very bizarre situation�, said Jayme, �you could definitely sense something was bothering him. Usually, he would sit on a chair, title in hand, and focus on his match, totally intense. But before EDW6, he was white in the face, and pacing back and forth. He wouldn�t settle. I know for a fact he wasn�t ill, because he and Scot had been medically cleared by the Princess Royal Hospital the day before. That was the first sign, really.�

As Jayme headed off for his X Gauntlet Match, he left Tank to focus. �I left for the ring at about quarter past four. When I was eliminated, I stuck around to watch the outcome. After that match was finished, it was main event time. I went to Tank�s locker room, expecting to find him sitting in his chair, doing some final preparation, but I couldn�t � the door was locked. It was out of the ordinary, but I put it down to him not wanting to be disturbed�. Jayme went to the main locker room, to watch the big match on the monitor. Mr. Edwards came out for his role as referee. Wreckage made his entrance. Ditto Scot. �When Scot�s music hit, I went back to Tank�s locker room, but the light was turned off. I expected I had just missed him, �cause he usually gets ready to go out right after the other guy steps through the curtain,� says Future, �so I headed out to the curtain to say good luck. As I walked to the curtain, I heard his theme music hit, so I suspected he�d gone to the ring, but as I got there, I looked out and noticed he wasn�t in the ring.� Confusion surrounded the arena, as Mr. Edwards went to the back looking for Tank. �Edwards came to the back, saw me, and asked �Where the fuck is Tank?� I said I didn�t know, and he replied �Check his locker room�. So I did.� Scot Williams, Wreckage, and EDW�s fans continued to sit in confusion, wondering where the seemingly indestructible champion was. �I was walking to his locker room, I heard the music cut off, then come back on. When I got to the locker I knocked, but got no answer. I opened the door, but the light was still off. I turned it on, and saw that Tank�s bags has gone, and so had virtually everything else. The only thing in the room was the EDW Title belt, lying on a steel chair. And that�s when I knew he had gone.�

�I didn�t know what to think, in all honesty. It was like a rush, you know, all these different thoughts. I took the belt from the chair to Edwards who was at the curtain, and told him what happened. He was livid, but to be honest, I was too confused and pissed off to really notice his thoughts.� And with that, the dream match was shattered. Edwards took the title to the ring, and announced his leaving. He made Scot Vs. Wreckage for the title, and if Tank wanted to participate, he could join. He never did. �What annoyed me more than anything I think was that here was a guy who had done what guys like me have wanted to for years, and took that responsibility, and dropped it, because he wasn�t man enough to be a champion�, said longtime friend Jayme Future. �He was thrust into a position in this company, where he was expected to be there for big matches and defend that title with honour, be an example for everyone else. But when it came right down to it, when it came time to face Scot, he turned his back on what was expected of him.�

Many in EDW question Tank�s reasoning for leaving. Not that he has given one � he hasn�t been seen since, but what makes a successful, dominant champion like Tank Taylor, turn from an invincible monster, to a coward?

�When you look at everything that happened with Tank in EDW, I think that he wanted to be the number one guy for sure. He wanted to be the man. He used his power and his strength to beat guys�he didn�t always beat guys easily at all, but he beat them. But when it came to Scot, I don�t think he thought he beat him. When you see him run out and beat up everyone else, and then not touch Scot, it makes you think that maybe this whole time he had doubts. Looking at how everything played out, I think it�s pretty safe to say that Tank never once thought he could beat Scot, one on one. That�s why he resorted to the mindgames approach, trying to beat him mentally. And when that didn�t work, instead of being a man and doing what he should do, he took the easy way out�, said Jayme.

�What really annoyed me was that he lied to my face about being at EDW5 and 6 to wrestle. I�ve known him a long time. He lied to me, to lied to EDW, he lied to everyone who ever believed in EDW being the best � EDW promised that match, Scot and Tank, and Tank had given his word to it. By doing what he did, he spits in the face of everyone who ever took a bump for EDW, he spits in the face of everyone who has worked damn hard to make EDW what it is, and he spits in the face of his predecessors � guys like Sharp, guys like me, guys like Boy Wonder, and guys like Wreckage, who have never held that EDW Title, and when he got it through the right circumstances, he doesn�t have it in him to defend it against a genuine threat.�

Ultimately, Scot Williams won the EDW Title that night. There is, of course, a story there. However, longtime EDW fans that wanted that match for as long as they did have been letdown � they will never know what Scot Vs. Tank would have been.

�He letdown the fans, he letdown me, he letdown EDW, and as far as I�m concerned, he�s not welcome to return at all. But I�ll tell you this, no matter what you think of Scot being the champion, as in how he got it, he is one of the guys who has been here since the beginning, and has probably seen guys like Tank come and go so often. Which may be why he targeted Tank � he knew all along what he was all about. It�s a shame nobody else saw it either. But it is guys like Scot, myself, KO Kid, and so on�we�ll continue to go out there and work at what we do, because we want to see EDW prosper. If Tank is not prepared to work for EDW, then he should have left, and he should stay home, because it�s guys like him that give companies such as ours a bad name�, says Jayme.

And, in evaulating his EDW career, one has to wonder if Tank's undefeated streak was one of the better laid plots in EDW history. On his debut, he took out KO Kid and Jayme Future, after both had been through a war. He beat Virus for the title, after he went through hell against Scot Williams. After the staredown with Scot, he didn't give him a title shot - that went to KO Kid, a man Tank had sneak attacked twice, and was not at 100%. If he really wanted to fight Scot, why not give him the shot? He beat VERN in his return match, where he still had ring rust, he underestimated FX Lane and was almost beaten. Yet this whole time, he came across as a monster. But he never once made any attempt to go out of his way and fight Scot one on one. He never touched him in the staredown, he never offered him a title match, he tried to ignore him when they passed each other at EDW4, and Ice only got a shot because he earned it. Tank never once thought he could beat Scot, and when it came time to face him, he proved that, by walking out.

In closing, whereas it now seems that Tank has taken his bags, and left with his tail between his legs, the final page on the book of Tank Taylor will read that the path of destruction he left in his wake was simply a well timed fa�ade, proven by an act of cowardice that showed his true colours.