Results: CWL At The Dome, Saturday January 8th

In the aftermath of the shocking events of the New Year's Day show, the CWL crowd was uncertain of what to expect from the year's second show. Their questions were soon answered, and not in the way that they wanted. Jeff Nova, accompanied by Danny Patterson and the rest of Nova Corporation. Amidst a tide of boos and hurled missiles, Nova addressed the crowd again in his usual ranting style. For those who had seen the end of the New Year's Day show, the theme was much the same. The best wrestlers in the world are the wrestlers who get results, Mister Nova declared. Why, then, are the wrestlers who are willing to go to any lengths to achieve victory not those most respected? The wrestlers of Nova Corporation have one another's backs, and are not afraid to fly in the face of the rules if it gets a victory. Nova continued in this vein for some time, alternating abuse with demands for respect, until the crowd were worked into a veritable frenzy.

The boos turned to cheers, however, when the former champion, 'The British Samurai' Robert Brown, made his way to ringside. Despite having only had one week to recover from his vicious beating at the hands of Nova Corporation, Brown seemed fit and healthy. In a turn of events that has proved rare since the foundation of CWL, he called for a microphone to address the crowd and his opponents. His words were brief and to the point. Nova Corporation's actions were a slap in the face to everyone in this world who respects the sport of professional wrestling. For all the current champion's power, he had been forced to claim a victory by outside interference that could have been fairly won. For the sake of his honour, for the sake of the fans, and for the sake of the sport of professional wrestling itself, he wanted his rematch, and he wanted it tonight. "And before you say anything more, you weaselly little shit, I've got a guaranteed rematch clause in my contract. So, you know... suck it up." Needless to say, the crowd went wild.

As the new challenger for the Red Rose Championship left the ringside area, Nova Corporation remained for the first match of the evening, in which 'The Krakau Crippler' Pavel Vanszycha was to face Rolling Johnny Stones. As with every match in which the unconventional Stones has thus far wrestled, there was a notable clash of styles, which left the ultra-traditional Pole off-balance from the start. What pressed the advantage was the rockstar's often-underestimated command of ring psychology, as he played a hit-and-run game with his opponent that left Vanszycha unable to make full use of his impressive amateur skills. It was not to last, however, as Leo 'The Lion' Price of The Wigan Bulldogs was able to trip Stones up with the referee's attention distracted, allowing his stable-mate to regain control of the match. A series of skillful takedowns and transitional holds later, The Krakau Crippler was locked in, and Stones was forced to tap out.
Pavel Vanszycha defeated Rolling Johnny Stones

After the celebrating Nova Corporation had retired backstage, two wrestlers who had faced one another at the New Year's Day show teamed up as Jared Johnson and Eddie Robinson faced The Martin Brothers. The superior experience of the twins allowed them to bring their strong command of team tactics into play against opponents more used to singles competiton, but one on one the older duo were more than a match for the inexperienced Martins. Johnson and Robinson's double-team tactics seemed almost experimental in nature, and each man watched the other's performance closely as the match progressed. In the end Johnson was able to make Keith Martin submit with the Toronto Crossface to bring his team victory. Once again, the veteran Eddie Robinson raised the younger man's arm in a show of respect.
Eddie Robinson and Jared Johnson defeated The Martin Brothers

Once again, former champions entered the ring to the cheers of the crowd as Harder Better Faster Stronger took a moment to speak. Petey Barnes spoke as Menace glowered at the backstage entrance, daring anyone to show signs of foul play. Barnes' statement was short and to the point: The Wigan Bulldogs cheated, we want a rematch. You think you're worth those belts? You think you're the best? Well, however good you think you are, we were, are, and will always remain, Harder, Better... The crowd-pleasing catchphrase was sadly cut short by the entrance of The Wigan Bulldogs, flanked by the rest of Nova Corporation. Jeff Nova once again earned the crowd's wrath by opening his big mouth. After the irritating incident earlier in the show, he'd done some checking, and it seemed that Barnes and Menace hadn't quite been as savvy with their negotiations as Robert Brown - there were no guaranteed rematch clauses in their contracts, and the Bulldogs didn't have to do a damn thing for them. However, since they asked so nicely, they'd have a chance to earn their shot, rather than just demanding it. If Barnes and Menace could defeat Morgan and Price one-on-one, then they'd prove that they might just have what it took. If not, then you kids can kiss your hopes of championship gold goodbye.

In a demonstration of both power and the will to succeed, Menace then faced down boxing prodigy Dwayne Dark. Though the former Tag Team Champion's skill in the ring is not to be denied, his advantage looked significantly slimmer in the face of the lightning hands of the former amateur boxer. Indeed, Dwayne Dark held his own with great aplomb, lashing out with incredible speed and precision to rain blows down on Menace's head and body. Menace's endurance was entirely equal to the challenge, however, and his retaliation was swift and brutal when it came. The two men hammered back and forth at one another for nearly fifteen minutes of highly competitive action, until Menace was able to counter a low swing with a stunning shot to the temple, followed by an Implant DDT for the win.
Menace defeated Dwayne Dark

Another callback to the New Year's Day show followed, as Kevin Jones, accompanied to the ring as always by the skanky lovely Bambi, took on one of the men he faced in four-way action seven days ago, Crusher Von Steinberg. It rapidly became clear that in the face of the blue-collar brawling and street-smarts of the Welshman, Von Steinberg's vaunted submission offence was not going to be enough to secure the victory. Though he tried with every throw, takedown and hold in his arsenal, the German simply could not keep the fan favourite down, as each time he battled out with fists, kicks and headbutts. After a shot mid-way through the match drew blood, Jones focussed his assault on his opponent's head, capitalising on any advantage he could take, as the European veteran grew increasingly irate. So angered was he at the injury he had sustained, Von Steinberg chose to sacrifice his chances at victory completely, blocking an attempted Powerbomb before kicking Kev squarely in the balls in clear view of the referee to take the disqualification loss.
Kevin Jones defeated Crusher Von Steinberg
(OOC Note: When it says that Crusher was getting pissed off when Kev kept hitting him in the head, it certainly didn't look fake. And that kick in the balls right at the end? That wasn't faked. Not at all. It took Jones several minutes to get backstage after the match. Not that it stopped him suggesting that Bambi 'kiss it better'.)

Finally, the Main Event arrived - 'The British Samurai' Robert Brown getting his first chance to make up for his humiliating defeat at the hands of 'The Tower Of London' Danny Patterson. It seemed an impossible task, entirely insurmountable. Even with all his years of experience, even with his incredible skills and great physical conditioning, at the last show Brown had been dominated from bell to bell by the incredible strength and seeming immunity to pain possessed by the new champion. However, Brown was to prove his critics entirely mistaken, as from the very outset he met Patterson with both skill and incredible fighting spirit. While 'The Tower Of London' displayed speed that might previously have been thought impossible, he was still unable to quite match the dexterity and agility of his challenger. The veteran played a dangerous game of hit-and-run, managing to avoid the worst of Patterson's offence by the skin of his teeth, slowly wearing down the giant's defences. Still, when faced with such raw power it only takes one mistake to suddenly turn things around, and the champion was more than ready to take advantage of any slips. A brief hesitation gave him a chance to swing a hard right hand sraight into Brown's face, and from then on it was all Patterson's show. Rather than go for a swift pinfall, he toyed with his rival, seeking to make another strong demonstration of power and demonstrate his superiority once and for all. A swift victory, however, requires swift action, and Brown was not so dazed by the beating he was taking that he could not take advantage of any opportunities to turn the tables himself. The crowd went wild when Brown was able with great dexterity to drop out of a suplex lift onto his feet and launch a swift kick to the back of Patterson's knees which drove the giant from his feet, something almost unheard of in CWL. However, as he prepared to take advantage of this and possibly create the shortest title reign in CWL history, the lights in the Dome went out completely. In the darkness, the video screen once again showed that same bizarre display: the flaming bird, and the caption 'The Phoenix Rises'. When the lights came back up, both competitors were back on their feet, but a third man had entered the ring. Perched on the top turnbuckle was a man in a mask, who promptly launched himself at Danny Patterson with a Missile Dropkick, flooring the champion in one blow and forcing the referee to disqualify Robert Brown.
'The Tower Of London' Danny Patterson defeated 'The British Samurai' Robert Brown for the CWL Red Rose Championship.

Though Robert Brown vacated the ring quickly, the masked man took the chance to continue his assault on Danny Patterson's prone form. As the rest of Nova Corporation rushed the ring he turned on them too, one by one dropping them to the floor with stiff punches and clotheslines. As he turned back, though, he found his original target ready and waiting to meet him. One chokeslam later, the mystery assailant was flat on his back in the middle of the ring and Nova Corporation were beating a hasty retreat to the back, their championship belts safely in hand. However, as they made their final exit, the masked man displayed one more surprise: he sprang straight back to his feet, showing no ill-effects from taking one of the deadliest moves in CWL! Though Nova Corporation made to rush the ring once more, the technical faults that seem to accompany their mysterious assailant once again won through, and when the lights came back on, he was gone.
(OOC Note: It's Joss Thompson, quite clearly. Same height, same build, same hair coming out of the back of the mask. It's a really cool mask, though.)