AFTERSHOCK
Live from the Planet Dome
May 20th, 2001
Hosted by: David Deyo and Rick Richards

-To start Aftershock, Co-President Gary Gibbs came to the ring to address the jam-packed Planet Dome audience. Since this was the first Aftershock airing ever, he said that it was only appropriate that the beginning of something as big as the new Tag Team Tournamnet start tonight. Mr. Gibbs also made another announcement: that there would be a match at THROTTLE to decide an upcoming challenger for the Extreme Title. He didn't announce what the stipulations for the match would be, who would be involved, or when the match winner would get their title shot, but he promised that the match would be bloody!

-Before the night's matches started, Deyo and Richards looked at the bracket for the single-elimination Tag Team Tournament, explaining how the first round matches would be tonight on Aftershock, the second round would take place on the next show, Shockwave, and that the semi-finals would be aired on Throttle. After that, the two remaining teams would be fighting for the Tag Team Titles at NO VACANCY. They also talked a bit about the return of the Flying Muskrat and wondered what kind of shape he would be in after having been out of wrestling for so long.

<MATCH #1> ** Xander & Anya vs. Airborn & Underdogg ** Xander and Anya entered to new music: "The Fight Song" by Marilyn Manson. The match started off with Anya wrestling against Underdogg. Underdogg gained an early lead, but Anya countered with a DDT when Underdogg was going for a back body drop. Anya took control, but when she went to tag Xander, he seemed uninterested in tagging in. Anya went back to fighting Underdogg, taking him to the top rope for a fight that ended in Anya prevailing and hitting a hurricanrana on Underdogg from the top. Anya tagged in Xander, but all Xander did was hit Underdogg with a scoop slam before he tagged Anya back in. Anya went back in reluctantly, and executed a falling, reverse DDT on Underdogg, leading to a cover and a two-count. Anya sent Underdogg into the ropes to try to finish him off with a flying forearm, but Underdogg hit a blind tag on Airborn. Airborn took Anya by surprise with a missile dropkick and nearly got the three count. Airborn then controlled the pace of the match for a while, and was going to go for his second German suplex in a row, when Anya hit him with a low blow back kick. Anya pulled herself together and bulldogged Airborn, then she signalled for her "Deep Inside of You" frogsplash. She went to the top rope... but at that moment, Xander tapped Anya's foot to tag himself in. Perched on the top, Anya could only watch in bafflement as Xander set Airborn up and delivered his new finisher, the Hemmorhage. Xander covered Airborn for the easy three count.

* Winners: Xander and Anya *

-Afterward, Xander put his arms in the air and celebrated his win, all but ignoring Anya, who had done most of the work up until the end...

-After the match, we cut from the ring to a camera crew:

[Cutting away from the Planet Wrestling announce crew you viewers are treated to a shot of the Drunkaholic, wearing jean shorts and an "I 'heart' Canada" T-shirt that he has torn the sleeves off of, associating with some intoxicated wrestling fans in the halls of the Planet Dome. No, not in the backstage area, asshxles, but in the halls where fans can purchase some ridiculously overpriced junk food and cheaply constructed PW merchandise. There aren't a whole hell of a lot of people crowding the corridors, due to the show already having gotten underway, but the few that are there are living up to the "Camera = instant asshxle" stereotype. And that goes double for the good folks in the beer line, which the Drunkaholic is standing off to the side of. Everyone in line is yelling, screaming, and making ridiculous, alcohol induced faces, into the camera's lens. Drunk seems to fit right in as he joins in on the delinquency by throwing the sign of the devil the camera's way. After that, he quiets the rowdy gathering with a motion of his hand and begins to yell.]

Drunk - HEY! Despite being a professional wrestler in a world-renowned federation, I'm poorer than dirt these days, as I'm sure many of you great (Gives a patronizing thumbs up) fans know. Therefore I lack the proper funds needed to tie one on before my match tonight…

[The inebriated PW junkies begin to boo.]

Drunk (Holding up his hand to quiet them again) - I know, I know…it's a horrible situation. Now we can't have me wrestling sober tonight, can we?!

[Drunk smiles as the audience responds with a resounding 'NO!' Before he can so much as say another word the guy at the front of the line, an old burly looking biker type, kindly hands him a full cup. Drunk, feeling genuinely touched by this gentlemen's show of kindness, shakes the guy's hand and proceeds to pound the beverage down his gullet. The same process is repeated as the next person in line, a younger guy wearing a Drunkaholic T-shirt, happily donates a brewski for the cause. The troglodytes make more noise than ever as a chant of "Chug, Chug, Chug" breaks out on Drunk's third cup full of Rocky Mountain goodness. After killing it without stopping for a breather Drunk triumphantly holds the plastic cup to the air in a Statue of Liberty pose. He yells out "Thanks!", or rather a slightly buzzed version thereof, and then turns to walk further down the hall. With a slight stumble to his step he starts to half-assedly cut a promo.]

Drunk - That certainly hit the spot. Great fans here in PW, but a horrible, self-righteous bunch of pricks for wrestlers. And damn near every one of the lot seems to single me out as their enemy. And that's fine with me. I'm not too fond of you douche bags either. Frankly, it'll be my pleasure to crack each and every last one of you shxthead's skulls. Tonight it'll be Parker and Collins. And as I've just been informed, not too long from now and that hack drill sergeant with a dumb name will have a tattoo of my boot across his forehead. And Canadian Crippler, don't think I've forgotten "aboot" you, frostback. I've got something extra special in store for you sometime in the near future. You'll get your stiggin title shot (Short pause) and a steel-toed foot to your fuggin temple! Bank on it, Canuck!

[A rather rambunctious group of what looks to be four college students, evidenced by their "FSU" shirts, pass by. They're obviously intoxicated as they proceed to over-excitedly wish Drunk luck on his match. Drunk cracks a grin, throws the devil horns into the air, and continues on his merry little way.]

Drunk - Now where the bloody hell was I? I hate stopping mid-promo. It goes and takes away all my gotdam momentum.

[It takes Drunk's memory a moment to kick in, but after a second he snaps his fingers and continues with his ranting.]

Drunk - Then there's these two secretive fxcks…Wooderson and Bernstein… no. Ace and Gary, was it? Ah…the hell's it matter anyway? I'll fit one or the fuggin both of you into the schedule and before you know it you'll be eating your ignorant words. And hell, if there's anyone else in the locker room that wants to jump aboard the "Dethrone Drunkaholic" bandwagon go to the back of the line and take a friggin number. My secretary will be happy to set it up…er something like that.

[Feeling that the alcohol is now talking and he's begun to ramble Drunk shuts his mouth and heads over to a merchandise stand that is void of people, save for the vendor running the booth. Lining the table is commodities of every kind. Action figures, trading cards, magazines, Styrofoam fingers, and all that other shat they sell at these wrestling type events. Across the back wall, above the many boxes full of the "merch", are various T-shirts of Planet Wrestling superstars, and half-naked posters of Valentine, hanging from the otherwise drab wall. Drunk looks the merchandise over for about thirty seconds before speaking up.]

Drunk - How about you get me one of those plastic replica Trans World title belts… and uh… one of those Rudy Rudos luchador masks.

Vendor - Coming right up…

[The guy, a built dude in his mid-twenties, hurries over to some boxes and collects said pieces of merchandise.]

Vendor (Looking at Drunk over his shoulder) - What size on the mask?

[Drunk looks at the guy in shock, obviously not aware that masks come in more than one size.]

Vendor - Medium…large…what size?

Drunk - Um…do you have a size "big ass fxckin' head"?

Vendor (Laughs) - One extra large it is.

[The man walks back over and places the articles in front of Drunk.]

Vendor - That'll be thirty-five dollars.

[Drunk's jaw drops at the mention of that ridiculous sum.]

Drunk (Picking the belt and mask up off the table) - Hmm…well in that case I'll take a "Heartbeat of Canada" T-shirt too.

[The guy shoots Drunk an odd, untrusting look.]

Drunk - What's that look for, prick?! One can never have enough Jansen shirts!

[The moment the guy turns his back Drunk takes off like a bat out of fuggin hell, racing through the halls with his newly acquired "toys". Fade out.]

-Cut back to the ring for the next match.

<MATCH #2> ** Nine Inch Males vs. (mystery team #1) ** Deyo and Richards speculated about who the team of "Rosencrantz" & "Guildenstern" really was, but neither of them really knew who they could be. The Nine Inch Males arrived at the ring and waited for a moment... The crowd waited in anticipation before "Whatever" by Godsmack started playing, and the Canadian Crippler walked to the ring to a mix of boos, but mostly cheers from the fans. It would be the Crippler's first match since his near-fatal fall from a scaffold at the last edition of Throttle; he seemed to be in good shape. Crippler went to his corner. His music cut to "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zepplin. The crowd didn't know what to think... until Esquire walked out, and they all started booing him. Esquire hadn't been seen since the 2000 Battle for the Crown, but he looked as fit and cocky as ever as he approached the ring. Any questions about his partnership with Crippler would have to wait, though, because as soon as Esquire got to the ring, the Nine Inch Males' Peter Long knocked him off the apron with a punch, and John Wang started the match against Crippler. Crippler was stunned by Wang's attack, and the Nine Inch Male brought Crippler to the Males' corner and while the referee was distracted, the Males double-teamed Crippler. But Crippler fought back, knocking the Nine Inch Males' heads together, sending Long to the floor, allowing Crippler to make the tag to Esquire. Esquire entered the ring and speared Wang to the mat. Esquire would retain control, tagging Crippler in, who would eventually make a pinning attempt after a gutwrench powerbomb, but Peter Long made the save. Crippler would kick Wang while he was down, until Wang was in his own corner. Crippler dared Long to tag in. Long did, attacking Crippler fast and furiously with a series of punches and chops. Long then got Crippler in a side headlock, but Crippler escaped it with a suplex. He made a quick tag to Esquire, who ran over Long with a lariat. Long got up right away, and Crippler followed up with a clothesline of his own. While the referee was distracted with Wang, who wanted to get in and even the odds, Esquire and Crippler doubleteamed Long with a double powerbomb. Crippler exited the ring, and Esquire placed Long on the top turnbuckle, and hit the Money Talks superbrainbuster. He covered, but deliberately let the shoulder up. Crippler was tagged in, who hit his finisher, the Canadian Cracker, on Long. He taunted Wang, and Wang tried to interfere, but the ref was handling him and in the meantime, Esquire and Crippler hit a doubleteam spike brainbuster on Long. Esquire then took the fight to Wang and Crippler covered for the win.

* Winners: The Canadian Crippler and Esquire *

-After the bell, Crippler and Esquire continued to punish Peter Long with a brutal double-team assault, ending in a second spike brainbuster on the Nine Inch Male. Officials intervened, but Crippler and Esquire had done what they set out to do, and left looking satisfied.

-With the match over, the shot cut to the backstage area, where the camera was on Rudy Rudos as he was strolling through the halls:

[We see Rudy Rudos, walking down a hallway in the backstage area...]

Rudy - Oooh so Excited...[squirms a bit] Got Chills...

[He walks past Darrel "the Barrel" Farrel.]

Rudy - Hey, Darrel!

[Rudos picks up a steel chair as Darrel turns and he cracks Farrel in the forehead with it. Farrel goes down, not knowing what hit him. The shot cuts back to the announcers' table.]

-Dave Deyo commented on the senseless brutality of what Rudos just did, wondering what Rudy has against Farrel, and he commented on how he'll be fined for his actions.

<MATCH #3> ** Ken Jansen & Sean Swanson vs. The American Way ** Truth and Justice of The American Way stood in the ring and saluted a video of a flapping American flag on the PlanetTron as tonight's guest singer to perform the "Star-Spangled Banner" was introduced... none other than movie "star" Pauly Shore. He belted out a rousing "Oh, say can you see" and was about to go on to "By the dawn's early light" when the anthem was cut off and replaced with a new track: a swankly remixed version of Dope's "Debonair". Sean Swanson entered the arena and immediately swatted at Pauly Shore with his Canadian flag, sending the poor bastard racing into the crowd, screaming. Swanson went to the ring and stood in his corner. Then Ken Jansen and Valentine made their entrance to their own music and joined Swanson in the ring. The American Way's Justice went on the offensive right at the bell by rushing the Canadians, but Swanson dodged and Justice hit the corner. Swanson and Jansen punched and kicked him to the mat. Truth tried to help his partner, but the referee held him back. Jansen used the distraction to choke Justice with the Canadian flag while Swanson pounded him. Jansen finally stepped out to the apron as Swanson took control. He hit a series of suplexes on Justice, then brought him to his corner and tagged to Jansen. Jansen set Justice against the turnbuckles and ran in with a dropkick, then turned and taunted Truth, the other American Way member. Jansen schooled him with technical takedowns, then hit a fisherman buster, and he and Swanson dropped him in a spike piledriver. Swanson tagged in and taunted Truth, then applied an inverted STF on Justice. Jansen hit the helpless Justice with a sliding dropkick to the head. Swanson let him go and mocked him as he tried to crawl to his own corner, then dragged Justice back to the Canadians' end of the ring...

[Deyo gets word that there's something going on in the back. The shot cuts to it. We see Rudy Rudos walking through the hallway of the lockerroom area of the Planet Dome... He sees a door that's slightly ajar and eases it open.]

woman's voice - That was quick. What did you get me? --

[The camera peeks in to see Rudy Rudos standing behind Anya, who's got her foot propped up on a bench as she unlaces her boot. Out of nowhwere, Rudos rifles her in the back of the head with a big punch. Anya drops like a sack of wet cement. Rudos looks down at Anya, and the shot cuts back to the match in progress...]

<MATCH #3> ** Ken Jansen & Sean Swanson vs. The American Way ** (continued) David Deyo and Rick Richards commented on how cheap an attack Rudos had just done, and wondered what his motivation for the night's attacks could possibly be. Meanwhile, Swanson was trying to set Justice up for a German suplex, but Justice fought back with elbows, then hit him with a forearm and broke away to tag in Truth. Truth went to work on Swanson and sent him to the ropes, but Swanson came back with a hard clothesline. He lifted Truth up for the Canadian Impact and Jansen connected with a missile dropkick to Truth's face to send him down. Swanson covered for 2 but broke the pin himself in order to inflict more damage. Swanson delivered the snap back suplex to Truth, then tagged out to Jansen. Jansen went to the top rope and signaled for the Heartstopper. But behind him, unseen by Jansen and Swanson, Lt. Jonathan Paine hopped over the guardrail in civilian clothes. He dragged Truth out of harm's way just as Jansen jumped, making him miss his finisher and jar his knee. Outside, Valentine charged Paine and clotheslined him over the rail, where he was surrounded by security who escorted him away. Valentine then threw Truth back into the ring. Jansen was trying to shake some pain out of his leg, when Justice tried to enter the ring and attack him -- but Swanson ducked between the ropes and speared him down. Jansen and Swanson set up both Truth and Justice on the mat, then both Canadians went to opposite corners and climbed to the top rope. Simultaneous Jansen Heartstopper on Truth and Swanson kamikaze headbutt on Justice, and both members of The American Way were pinned at once.

* Winners: Ken Jansen & Sean Swanson *

-After the bell, Jansen and Swanson laid Truth and Justice side by side and draped the Canadian flag over them. Jansen and Valentine left to their music. Swanson waited in a corner of the ring, then his new music hit, and he exited as well.

[The shot cuts to the back. We se a man running into the catering area... where he finds Xander getting some post-match food. He runs up to him.]

Man [out of breath] - X...X..Xander... An..An...

Xander - Yeah what? This is really an inappropriate time for an autograph.

Man - No... It's... it's Anya.. she's... she's..

Xander - She's what? Hungry? I know that...

Man - No.. listen.. Someone... attacked.. her a little while ago.... in the lockerroom..

Xander - What?! Ah hell...

[Xander drops the food and runs off... Shot cuts back to ringside.]

-Dave Deyo remarked that Xander would not be happy when he learned who was behind the attack on Anya. Rick Richards agreed, saying that it could leave Xander without a partner to win his tag matches for him. Dave did a spit-take as the next competitors came to the ring...

<MATCH #4> ** Trigonometry vs. James Morgan & Seldeenia ** The Trigonometry trio came to ringside and Sine and Tangent entered the ring while Cosine stayed on the floor. Then "Like a Rhinestone Cowboy" by James Last hit, interrupted by the sound of a needle scratching, then cutting to Alice Cooper's "School's Out" -- and James Morgan and Seldeenia came out with a cooler full of beer. Shaking up the bottles, they sprayed the aisleside fans with frothy foam as they danced their way to the ring. Morgan started off with Sine. They locked up and Morgan sent him to the ropes, then caught him with a clothesline to stagger him. He worked Sine over with kicks, and took him down with a swinging neckbreaker. A tag out to Seldeenia, who parted Sine's legs and dropped a leg to the groin. Sine painfully rolled to his corner and tagged to Tangent. Tangent rushed Seldeenia with a flying forearm, but Seldeenia dropped low to duck it and Tangent hit the mat. As the Trigonometry member got to his feet, Seldeenia snuck in behind and took him down again with a schoolboy roll-up for 1. Tangent got up, and Seldeenia rolled over his hip with a sunset flip for 2. Tangent up once again, and Seldeenia hit him with a low blow, which resulted in a stern warning from the referee. Seldeenia threw Tangent to her corner and tagged Morgan. Morgan grabbed him by the head and delivered a jump-swinging DDT, then went to the top rope and hit a flying legdrop. He covered for 2. Morgan whipped him to the ropes and charged with a spinning crescent kick, but Tangent rolled under it and quickly tagged his partner in. At the same time, Cosine reached into the ring and tripped up Morgan. The distraction allowed Sine and Tangent to double-team Morgan with a double clothesline, followed by a double elbowdrop to the chest. The Trig duo stood and taunted Morgan... but a missile dropkick from Seldeenia sent Tangent stumbling to the ropes and falling to the outside. Sine stomped Seldeenia on the canvas, ignoring the referee's warnings... and then Morgan spun him around by the shoulder and hit a standing hurricanrana. Morgan and Seldeenia set Tangent up and delivered their patented Spike DDT in the middle of the ring. Morgan hooked the leg and covered Tangent for the win.

* Winners: James Morgan & Seldeenia *

- Once again, we cut to the backstage area...

[Cameras are in Anya's lockerroom where the medics are attending to her, just then Xander blasts in and shoves everyone out of the way. Anya is still unconscious from the blow.]

Xander - Who did this?! WHO THE HELL IS RESPONSIBLE!

Bystander #1 - We don't know, we just found her like this..

Xander - What the Hell are any of you good for anyway?...

Bystander #2 - I'm not sure, but --

Xander - I'm not sure either!

Bystander #2 - No, I mean, I think it was --

Xander - I *know* who it was!... those damned Angelkillers!!

Bystander #2 - Sir, it was --

Xander - Ha!! It was! I knew it!!!

[Xander storms off... Cut to ringside.]

-Rick Richards and David Deyo commented on the misunderstanding of the situation, how Rudy Rudos, and not the AngelKillers were responsible for the sneak attack on Anya.

<MATCH #5> ** Dr. Troy Howard & Hank Albert vs. The AngelKillers ** Dr. Troy Howard came out first, then put his arm in the air and pointed to the entranceway as a noticeably thinner Hank Albert emerged. Albert's trimmer (though still considerably rotund) physique earned him a warm reception as the team walked to the ring. Then the AngelKillers, accompanied by Marcus Draknor, stepped out and headed down the ramp.

-Just then, Dave Deyo and Rick Richards got word that Xander was still searching in the back...

[We cut to backstage, where Xander is kicking the AngelKillers' locker room door. Officials are trying to restrain him, but a stiff shot busts the door open and Xander rushes in. The room is empty. He spins and glares at the officials.]

Xander - Where are they?!

Official #1 - Settle down, man, settle down --

Xander - [Grabbing him by the collar] Where did they go?!

Official #2 - Control yourself! They're not here!

Xander - Wait... I know! [Pushes past the striped shirts] Get out of my way!!

[He runs off down the hall. Cut back to the ring.]

<MATCH #5> ** Dr. Troy Howard & Hank Albert vs. The AngelKillers ** (continued) The match was just starting, with Kamakize squaring off with Howard. Takahashi hit him with a series of chops, then took him down with a suplex. Takahashi applied a Boston crab, but Albert came in and broke it up. Kama tagged to Draven and they whipped Howard to the ropes, hit him with a double roundhouse kick. Takahashi left the ring as Ravenger backed Howard into the corner with closed right hands. Draven set him up on the top rope and delivered a superplex, covering for 2. He rolled Howard on his front and locked on a camel clutch. Albert entered the ring again to make the save. Draven stood Dr. Howard up as Takahashi came off the top rope with a flying shoulderblock. Kama tagged in and went to the top again, vaulting off with a moonsault for 2. Takahashi hit a Frankensteiner that sent Howard rolling to his corner, where Hank Albert tagged in. He bowled Takahashi down with a clothesline, then intercepted Ravenger coming in with a boot to the midsection. Albert knocked the AngelKillers' heads together, then threw Kamakize into the corner and choked him with a boot. He scooped Takahashi up and slammed him hard, then went for a legdrop, but Takahashi rolled out of the way. Kama dropped elbows to Albert's legs, then twisted Albert's foot with a spinning toe hold. Takahashi tagged in Ravenger and they both battered Albert's legs with stomps. Draven hauled Albert up and gave him a low dropkick, making Albert's knee collapse. Ravenger went behind and bulldogged him to the mat. Draven tagged Takahashi, and they stood poised to attack as Albert struggled to his feet, his leg wobbly and weak. The AngelKillers connected with a double superkick to the jaw that laid Albert flat. Ravenger ran to knock Howard off the apron as Kama dropped down for the pin.

* Winners: The AngelKillers *

-Immediately after the bell, Xander ran down the ramp with a monkeywrench in his hand and knocked down Marcus Draknor with a hard shot to the head. That drew Kama and Ravenger outside, where they brawled fists-to-wrench with the furious Xander. Xander got in a good hit on Takahashi, but Ravenger hit a glancing RavengerKick that knocked Xander against the railing. Security mobbed the ringside area and eventually managed to separate them.

-Dave Deyo and Rick Richards commented that Xander had tried to get revenge on the wrong people tonight, but after all the history between himself and the AngelKillers, he hardly needed a reason to attack them anyhow. Rick wondered aloud how far Xander would go to punish Kama and Ravenger -- or Rudos, once Xander discovered who had really attacked Anya.

-Then the announcers were informed that they were about to hear a few words from a participant scheduled to compete later on tonight...

[The PlanetTron cuts to a lockerroom, where we see Tommy Glide, holding his mic, standing next to "The Gold Dragon" Kevin Peterson.] Glide - What a night this has been. We have seen very intense action here, and it can only get more intense when "The Gold Dragon" Kevin Peterson, who is standing next to me now, faces off with a mystery partner against Slasher and The Icon, two great prospects. [faces towards Kevin Peterson] "The Gold Dragon", are you prepared to take on your opponents tonight? Peterson - Of course I am, Tommy. I have trained for this match, and learn everything I can learn about my opponents. I don't know how well they prepared, but I know I'm prepared for whatever they have in their arsenal. Glide - One more question. Fans have been wondering and making guesses at who your mystery partner could be tonight, along with I and everyone in Planet Wrestling. Can you please tell us who your mystery opponent will be? Peterson - Now, Tommy, if I announced my mystery partner right now, it wouldn't be a mystery now, would it? [Kevin cracks a smile.] Besides, I like making surprises, but I'll tell you what. I'll give you a clue. Once his music plays, and his name is announced, there will be a CHILL running down the spines of our opponents. ["The Gold Dragon" walks out of view. Cut back to Richards and Deyo at ringside.]

-Deyo and Richards speculate as to who Peterson's partner could be, dropping such names as Kevin Hall, Blizzard and "Sycophant" Sid as returning to the ring to possibly be Peterson's partner.

<MATCH #6> ** eXtreme & Mike Phillips vs. (mystery team #2) ** With the unlikely pairing of eXtreme and Phillips standing in wait inside the ring, "Natural Born Killahs" by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube pounded over the sound system. The mystery opponents revealed themselves -- announced as the Hardcore Hoods, they were the same men who had launched assaults on Nemisis on two separate occasions. The larger guy, loaded down with an assortment of weapons: Homie G. The smaller, serious-looking guy: Showtime. Edward Nesbit followed them to the ring. Once at ringside, the referee seized all of Homie G's implements of destruction before he would allow the team to compete. Homie offered Phillips a handshake in good faith, then kicked "The Screw" in the crotch and mocked him as Phillips doubled over in pain. Homie followed up with a pumphandle slam and an early cover for only 1. Homie went for a falling fist, but Phillips rolled away. Phillips attacked Homie G with punches and kicks, forcing him into the corner, then went to tag eXtreme. Unbeknownst to anyone, Homie pulled something out of his tights and hid it in his hand. eXtreme moved in on Homie and started to work him over -- and then Homie popped him in the face with the object, staggering him. Homie hit him several more times before discarding the object (revealed to be brass knuckles) and tagging Showtime. Homie lifted eXtreme up in a reverse powerbomb, and Showtime dropped on him on the way down with a guillotine legdrop -- a move called "Eat the Street". Showtime covered for 2. He brought eXtreme to his feet and delivered an enzuigiri, then went to the top and hit a senton bomb for 2. Showtime backed eXtreme into the corner with European uppercuts, but eXtreme returned with hard forearms, and reversed positions. He caught Showtime with a side headlock, then ran up the turnbuckles and sprang off with a swinging bulldog. eXtreme made the tag to Phillips, who stood Showtime up in the corner and thrust his shoulder repeatedly into the midsection. He hit a piledriver and covered Showtime for 2. Homie G tried to slip inside and help his partner, but the ref intervened, and Mike Phillips' power kept Showtime confined to one end of the ring. Then Phillips set him up for the Twisting Shiv, but in mid-lift Showtime somehow slipped out of his grasp and applied an armbar -- then hit the Rocker Dropper to put Phillips down. Showtime hurried to make the hot tag to Homie. eXtreme jumped in to intercept him, but Homie mowed him down with a clothesline. He also caught Phillips just getting to his feet and hit an inverted atomic drop. That set Phillips up for Homie to lift him in a flapjack and Showtime to drive him down with a sitdown facecrusher -- the Canadian Skull Wrecker. Homie went to cover Phillips, and eXtreme was moving to break it up... but Showtime used his own partner's back as a springboard to jump and catch eXtreme with the Deimoscanrana. Homie kept Phillips pinned for the 1-2-3.

* Winners: The Hardcore Hoods *

-Dave Deyo and Rick Richards commented that it would be interesting to see what happens when the Hardcore Hoods meet the AngelKillers in the quarter-finals at Shockwave. Rick reminded Dave that Homie G and Showtime's involvement had helped Kama and Ravenger defeat Nemisis in a scaffold match.

<MATCH #7> ** Vince Parker & Brian Collins vs. Rudy Rudos & Drunkaholic ** Parker and Collins were already in the ring when Rudos came out and walked down the ramp. Then Drunkaholic made his entrance to new music: "Stupid Canadians" by NOFX. He was wearing the plastic replica TW belt he'd stolen earlier (an aisleside camera caught him saying he'd "forgotten" to bring the real belt), and the large Rudy Rudos luchador mask. Before getting in the ring, he pulled off the mask and slipped it over the head of a young kid sitting in the front row, which made for a fairly comical scene, as the pook kid had trouble finding the eye and mouth holes in the oversized mask. Rudos and Drunk kicked things off with a two-on-two attack on Parker and Collins. They stunned Parker and knocked him out of the ring with a double clothesline, then Drunk whipped Collins toward Rudos, who took him out with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Drunk finally went to his corner to make it one-on-one. Rudos hit a snap suplex, set up Collins in the corner and delivered a tornado DDT. Tag to Drunk, who went to work with stomps to Collins' head. Drunkaholic brought him to his feet and hit a flurry of headbutts to the temples of Collins. He bounced the Irishman off the ropes and slammed him with a spinebuster. Holding onto the legs, Drunk began spinning Collins in a giant swing, finally letting him fall in Rudy's corner. Rudos tagged in, laughed as Collins dizzily tried to stand upright, then caught him from behind with a reverse DDT. Cover for 2. Rudos applied a Boston crab, but Parker broke it up. Rudos chased Parker to his corner and threw him over the top rope... and then Collins moved in from behind and hooked Rudos' arms for a backslide, only getting 1. Collins put Rudos down with a lariat, then tagged Parker. Parker and Collins hit Rudos with a double dropkick, and Parker took over with a scoop slam. Parker went to the top rope and jumped with a flying elbowdrop, but hit nothing but mat as Rudos slipped out of the way. Rudos tagged Drunkaholic in, and they ganged up on Parker with a double suplex. Drunk rushed into Collins' corner and gave him a palm to the nose, sending Brian to the floor and drawing a warning from the ref. Meanwhile, Rudos called for someone to throw him a chair -- and on cue, one flew into the ring from somewhere in the crowd. Rudos cracked it over Parker's head. Then he set the chair on the mat and laid Parker facedown on it. Rudy went to the top rope and hit a guillotine legdrop to the back of Parker's head. Distracted by Drunk and Collins (now bleeding from the nose), the referee saw none of it. Rudos approached the ref and admonished him for not paying attention to the match. At that point, Drunk went behind the referee's back and over to Parker. He slid the chair out from under his face, then leaned it across the back of his head. Drunk to the top, and he jumped on the chair with the Joykiller. Drunk tossed the crumpled chair out of the ring as Rudos spun the ref around and shouted at him to get back to work. Rudos snapped Collins' head on the top rope as Drunk covered Parker for the win.

* Winners: Rudy Rudos & Drunkaholic *

-Rick and Dave remarked that even Vince Parker's invincibility and Brian Collins' egomania couldn't stop Rudos and Drunkaholic tonight. Deyo said that the next match was the final first-round match in the tag team tournament, and was anxious to find out who would be Kevin Peterson's mystery partner. Richards added that he was looking forward to seeing Slasher in action again as well.

<MATCH #8> ** Slasher & The Icon vs. Kevin Peterson & (mystery partner) ** Slasher and The Icon were the first men to arrive, and they got a nice pop from the crowd. Kevin Peterson came out next to a strong response, and waited by the curtain for his mystery partner. The audience buzzed in anticipation at who would emerge next... And when "It's My Life" hit, they knew they weren't disappointed -- as Matt Michaels walked out onto the ramp to an unbelievable ovation. He gave Peterson a high five, and they proceeded down the aisle to the ring. Michaels and Peterson were barely between the ropes when Slasher charged them. He shoulderblocked Michaels to the apron, then dragged Peterson inside by the head. Slasher elbowed him in the head a few times, then put on a front facelock, but Peterson countered with an armbar takedown. He rolled to Slasher's legs and put on an anklelock. Slasher grabbed the ropes for the break. Peterson whipped him to the ropes but Slasher reversed it. Peterson ducked a clothesline and hit a belly-to-back suplex. Peterson continued to dominate the match with his strong technical skill, focusing on the head and neck, until Slasher thumbed him in the eye. Peterson was whipped into Slasher's corner, where Icon tagged in. Icon worked him over against the turnbuckles, then lifted him for a falcon arrow -- but Peterson dropped behind him and hit a German suplex, for a 2-count. Icon rushed him, and Peterson threw a jumping karate kick to knock him down. Then Peterson tagged in Michaels, who attacked Icon with a flurry of takedowns. Michaels hit a spinebuster, then went to the top for a splash, but missed as The Icon moved out of the way. Icon dropped a leg to Michael's neck, then tagged Slasher back in. Slasher caught Michaels with a swinging neckbreaker, then brought him to his feet and went for a powerbomb, but Michaels countered with a back body drop. Michaels tagged Peterson back in. Peterson went to the top rope and delivered a missile dropkick to Slasher, then stood him up and jumped for a hurricanrana -- but Slasher countered with a powerbomb, covering for 2. Slasher whipped him against the ropes and caught him with a big boot to the midsection. He then hooked Peterson's head for the Knife's Edge, but Peterson swung his legs up and scissored Slasher's head, and took him down with a spinning heascissors. Peterson quickly applied the Dragonfire, as Michaels ran to block Icon from making the save, and Slasher tapped out.

* Winners: Kevin Peterson & Matt Michaels *

-Rick Richards commented on Peterson's dominant performance tonight and how far the "Gold Dragon" might go in the tournament if he kept it up. Dave Deyo added that, with the first round officially over, we now knew how the quarter-finals at Shockwave would look. The brackets appeared on-screen as follows:

-Xander & Anya vs. Canadian Crippler & Esquire -Ken Jansen & Sean Swanson vs. James Morgan & Seldeenia -The AngelKillers vs. The Hardcore Hoods -RRudy Rudos & Drunkaholic vs. Kevin Peterson & Matt Michaels

-Then it was time for the final match of the night, and Rick said he was excited to see the return of The Flying Muskrat. Dave added that the fans were excited about it too, but the Muskrat would have his work cut out for him with "Sublime" Sandis Arlington, one of PW's hot new prospects. Rick countered by pointing out that, with the Muskrat weighing in at close to 500 pounds, it was more likely to be Arlington who had his work cut out for him...

<MATCH #9> ** Sandis Arlington vs. The Flying Muskrat ** Arlington and his manager Damien Persons were first to the ring, Arlington looking somewhat preoccupied as he stood in his corner, ignoring the boos from the crowd. Then The Flying Muskrat made his entrance, accompanied by Willy the Whale Harpooner, and the fans gave him a warm reception to show their appreciation at his comeback -- although Muskrat scowled at anyone who tried to slap his hand. Once in the ring, Muskrat approached Arlington in his corner and stared him down. Arlington gazed coolly back at him, unperturbed. Muskrat threw a punch, but Arlington ducked it and slipped out of the corner. Arlington started attacking Muskrat's legs with kicks, until a back elbow caught him in the chin and made him back off. Muskrat beat down on him with hard punches, and Arlington returned with some stiff ones of his own... and then Muskrat gouged him in the eye to gain the advantage. Muskrat clamped his hands around Arlington's throat and powered him into the corner, choking him there a moment, then throwing him back out with a choke toss. Arlington recovered and returned fire with closed fists to Muskrat's jaw, then backed into the ropes and bounced off with a charging forearm. Arlington knocked Muskrat against the turnbuckles, then delivered repetitive kicks to the midsection and legs to wear him down into a seated position. Muskrat came back with a blatant low blow, and Arlington staggered away in pain -- only to have Muskrat rake him across the back, then hit a sidewalk slam. Muskrat lifted him up and gave him a vertical suplex, floating over to cover for 1. Muskrat hauled Arlington up and crushed him with a bearhug... but Arlington raked the eyes to break it up. Arlington quickly went to the corner and delivered a flying kneesmash from the second rope, taking Muskrat down. Arlington covered for 1. He applied a Boston crab on Muskrat, but couldn't hold him as the big man dragged himself to the ropes for the break. Arlington went for a whip, reversed by Muskrat, who caught him coming back with a grip on the throat -- and dropped him with a chokeslam. Muskraat hooked the leg but only got 2. He brought Arlington to his feet again and hooked him in a front facelock. Arlington twisted out of it and put him on the canvas with an armdrag takedown, then immediately dropped a leg across the shoulder. Arlington clamped on a cobra clutch on the mat. Muskrat tried to regain his footing, but could only get on one knee. Then Arlington changed his positon and gave him a belly-to-back suplex. Arlington went to the top rope and went for a moonsault, but Muskrat somehow rolled away and Arlington hit nothing but mat. He suddenly grabbed his knee and grimaced, seeming to be in intense pain. Muskrat, regaining his senses, saw this and put him in a figure-four leglock to add more damage to the knee. Arlington wouldn't submit, but he was in clear agony. Muskrat released the hold and brought Arlington to a standing position. Arlington couldn't put any weight on his injured knee, but he went on the offensive with desperate right hands -- until Muskrat kicked him in the groin, making him double over and almost collapse. Ignoring the referee's admonishments, Muskrat heaved Arlington upside down and hit the Hickory Nutcracker. He hooked the injured leg and made the cover as the referee counted 1-2-3.

* Winner: The Flying Muskrat *

-After the match, Arlington tried to stand, but his knee wouldn't support him at all. His manager, Damien Persons, called for some assistance, and finally a pair of PW officials arrived to help Arlington to the back. Meanwhile, The Flying Muskrat climbed the turnbuckles and told the cheering fans, "You all are nutty as a fruitcake!"

-Rick Richards noted that Arlington had likely re-injured his knee, badly by all indications, and it had led to his downfall tonight. Dave Deyo agreed, but added that it had given The Flying Muskrat the opportunity to come out on top in his return match.

-Finally, Dave and Rick thanked the fans for watching tonight's event, and left the viewers with a reminder not to miss the next stellar episode of Shockwave, featuring the second round of tag team tournament matches, an Extreme Title defense by Zed Logan, and much, much more!

CREDITS:

-Intro/Gibbs announcement: Rob Michaud
-Match #1 & #2: Rob Michaud
-Matches #3 through #9: Ken Hildebrand
> -Drunkaholic in-card flash: Matt (Drunkahollic's handler... dude, what's your last name?...)
-Backstage segment w/ Rudos & Farrel: JJoe (Rudos' handler)
-Backstage segment w/ Rudos & Anya: Robb Michaud
-Backstage segments w/ Xander: Elmo Brown ((Xander's handler)/ Rob Michaud/ Ken Hildebrand
-Peterson in-card flash: Nick Corvello (Petterson's handler)
-Wrap-up: Ken Hildebrand
-General editing and filler: Rob Michaud &aamp; Ken Hildebrand