Once again the tag team action opened this CWL show, as Eddie Robinson and Jared Johnson looked to continue their recent winning streak. Their opponents, The Beasts From The East, having suffered recent losses, both in title competition and singles action, were looking to regain some momentum and hopefully make another challenge for the CWL Tag Team Championships. Though The Beast From The East have been perennial title contenders they found themselves faced with an unexpectedly great challenge as Johnson and Robinson worked together with a smoothness and fluidity normally reserved for teams active for years rather than weeks. Jared Johnson in particular acquitted himself in great style as he managed to not only survive the hard hitting onslaught of Sumo Sam but to slow down and counter the veterans precise striking game with his own technical offence.
Though the match was closely fought and competitive it became obvious as time went on that the fire displayed by the newer team was easily a match for the experience and precision of The Beasts From The East. The match came to a close as Jared Johnson was able to lock The Banzai Kid in the Toronto Crossface with Robinson managing to hold Sumo Sam at bay just long enough for the Banzai kid to tap out.
Eddie Robinson and Jared Johnson defeated The Beasts From The East.
As he and Jared Johnson celebrated their victory, Eddie Robinson rolled out of the ring and grabbed a Microphone to address the crowd. He praised his tag team partner's fighting spirit, passion for the business and technical prowess. He said that although he had never been part of a long-term tag team in this man he had found somebody who he could not only trust but absolutely and unreservedly respect. With his veteran savvy and Johnson's youth and fire it would only be a matter of time before they not only challenged for the CWL Tag Team Titles but won them. He concluded by saying that win or lose it was an honour to team with his young friend and that for those that set store by such things the pair would now be competing as The Blood Brothers.
Fan favourites went head to head next as perennial underdog Dwayne Dark faced off against the unconventional stylings of 'Rolling' Johnny Stones. The pair exchanged a handshake as the bell rang, something which set the tone for the rest of the match. For once Stones showed some hint of caution, taking care to stay out of arms' reach of Dark wherever possible, while Dark himself was similarly careful not to underestimate the speed and power that his opponent displayed. Though previously such a contest might have seemed one-sided, the young boxer seemed at last to have found his feet in the CWL ring, and even surprised his opponent by countering his offence with amateur-style holds as well as with his powerful striking game. In the end, however, the match came down to one moment, as Rolling Johnny Stones was a fraction too slow on his feet, allowing Dark to connect with a Dream Left Hook and cover for the count of three.
Dwayne Dark defeated Rolling Johnny Stones.
More tag team action followed in the CWL ring as the veterans of Nova Corporation faced the first ever CWL tag team champions, Harder Better Faster Stronger. Surprisingly, The Wigan Bulldogs were not accompanied to ringside by the rest of Nova Corporation. The veterans showed reluctance even to get into the ring, stalling until the referee threatened to throw the match out entirely and award victory to their opponents if they did not stand and compete. This reluctance continued throughout the match as despite Petey Barnes' and Menace's best attempts, The Bulldogs would not be pinned down, frequently going so far as to bail out of the ring entirely to catch their breath. The fan favourites grew increasingly frustrated by this behaviour, until eventually one retreat became one too many as Barnes launched himself at the cowering veterans in a suicide dive. This opened the floodgates and Menace joined him to turn the match into a brawl on the outside. Both sides only narrowly avoided being counted out, but the heat was on and Harder Better Faster Stronger were not about to let up any time soon. It seemed that youth and enthusiasm were to triumph once again over experience when it became clear what Nova Corporation's strategy truly was. With Menace in the ring, Pavel Vanszycha appeared out of the crowd and dragged Petey Barnes off the apron, staggering him with a volley of chops and punches before fleeing, with Barnes in hot pursuit, backstage. From that point it was a simple numbers game. Unable to tag out, Menace was beaten down, two on one, until finally Walter Morgan was able to put him away with the Wigan Wrench.
The Wigan Bulldogs defeated Harder Better Faster Stronger.
The sound of taiko drums heralded the arrival of the former CWL Red Rose Champion, 'The British Samurai' Robert Brown. Rather than addressing the crowd however, Brown turned his attention to the backstage area. He said that though they had had their differences in the past he understood entirely why Joss Thompson, now known as The Phoenix, wished his revenge against 'The Tower of London' Danny Patterson. The most important thing to any wrestler is their career, he said. The fact that Patterson nearly robbed The Phoenix of his was inexcusable. However, he said, he had one request to make. The one thing that Jeff Nova and Danny Patterson had been chasing since the very start of CWL was the CWL Red Rose Championship. As someone who had previously held said Championship himself, he was sure that The Phoenix would understand how important this title was. While revenge was all very well, one of the things that would hurt 'The Tower of London' the most was the loss of both his winning streak and his precious championship belt. That loss could not be achieved if The Phoenix handed him yet more victories by assaulting him in his title matches. Brown's request was simple; "Whatever it is you're planning to do, save it until after the match is over. As long as I can stand up and compete fairly, win or lose, in front of this crowd, it doesn't matter to me. That's all I want." The crowd's reaction was mixed as they awaited The Phoenix's reply. They did not have to wait long, as the masked Thompson also made his way to the ring. Brown and The Phoenix faced down for along moment before The Phoenix finally spoke. He and Brown had fought one another many times, he said. Their rivalry had made CWL into the success it is today and he knew just how hard Brown would fight when both his pride and the Red Rose Championship were on the line. If anyone else could beat 'The Tower of London', one on one, face to face, he knew that man was Robert Brown. As the crowd's reaction grew louder, The Phoenix made his final statement. For the respect that Brown had shown him, he would take this one match off. But once that match was done, Danny Patterson was his, and god help anyone who got between him and his revenge.
The fans erupted with joy as Kevin Jones made his way to the ring, hoping to settle once and for all his rivalry with Crusher Von Steinberg. The pair exchanged heated words and the first punch was thrown before the bell even rang. What followed was a furious back and forth brawl as Jones brought every bit of his power and fighting spirit to bear in an attempt to counter Von Steinberg's technical expertise. Von Steinberg seemed overwhelmed by Jones' attacks, barely lifting a finger to defend himself except for to counter against Jones more powerful moves. In the end, all he could do was delay the inevitable, as Jones, fired up by the cheers of the crowd and the encouragement of the
Kevin Jones defeated Crusher Von Steinberg.
[OOC: This is probably the most effort the CWL crowd has ever seen Kevin Jones make with a match, so the fact that Crusher was blatantly aiming to make him look as bad as possible was kind of a shame. He sabotaged all of Kev's big moves, refused to make any kind of effort himself, and when the match was over just got up and walked off like nothing had happened.]
The crowd was tense with anticipation for the third and potentially final championship match between 'The British Samurai' Robert Brown and 'The Tower of London' Danny Patterson. As the bell rang it became clear that Brown was adopting a different strategy, as rather than moving to engage the giant and attempting to use speed against him, Brown instead backed off, inviting the champion to take the initiative. Caution won out over aggression in the mind of 'The Tower of London' as the match began slowly, doubtless the challenger's attention all along. Brown had quick counters ready for the first few moves Patterson attempted, and each time, after landing his riposte, backed off and invited the champion to continue. It soon became clear, however, that this attempt to wear down the Red Rose Champion was not being as successful as might be hoped. Though Patterson seemed surprised by the blows that Robert Brown landed he was not stunned, staggered or even slowed down by their impact. It soon became clear that the matche's slow pace was only serving to prolong the inevitable. Patterson quickly got wise to Brown's strategy and began to pick up the pace significantly, using his new-found speed to chase down his challenger and to continue his punishing assault. Swiftly Brown's resilience was worn down as he found it more and more difficult to counter the champion's offence, fighting more to evade the worst of the damage than to inflict any of his own. The dismay of the crowd was palpable as with each passing minute it seemed less and less likely that their hero would mount a comeback. Then, with five minutes before the time limit, something unexpected happened. The action in the ring paused as The Phoenix made his way out to the ringside area. Patterson turned his attention away from his challenger to meet this new threat as the masked man reached into the crowd and grabbed an unoccupied chair. Jeff Nova was beside himself at ringside calling for the referee to disqualify Brown even before interference had begun. Rather than launching an attack, however, The Phoenix simply set up the chair at ringside and sat down to watch the match, politely motioning for the action to continue. The distraction almost proved fatal for the Red Rose Champion as before he could turn around Brown slammed into his knees from behind with a stinging chop block before locking in the Samurai Stretch. The crowd were on their feet, hoping to see the end of Patterson's winning streak, as well as the end of his first Championship reign. Joy soon turned to despair, though, as with a mighty heave Patterson not only broke the hold and almost threw Brown out of the ring entirely. As 'The British Samurai' regained his feet the champion was waiting for him. A giant chokeslam followed and both the pin and the end of Brown's Championship hopes were at that point merely academic.
'The Tower Of London' Danny Patterson defeated 'The British Samurai' Robert Brown for the CWL Red Rose Championship.
Before the final bell had even rung the Champion's attention had immediately refocussed on his enemy waiting at ringside. Jeff Nova joined his client in the ring, cane in hand, and issued dire threats as the Tower of London simply beckoned for the masked man to approach. The Phoenix, however, chose not to oblige. Instead, blithely ignoring his nemesis in the ring, he made his way around to the departing challenger, picking up a microphone as he went. To the delight of the crowd, The Phoenix shook Robert Brown's hand and congratulated him on a solid match and a near success. Turning back to the ring he at last addressed Patterson and Nova. "You know what?" he said. "I think I'll give you a pass for now. But this is your notice. Brown's had his turn and now it's mine. You can rest assured that the next time you face The Phoenix in this ring, nothing will be able to save you."
