Hammerlock TV
Episode #1
Broxbourne Civic Hall
Your commentary team is Adam Wheeler and Chris Freeman.
The show opened with NWA-UK Hammerlock ring announcer Steve Lytton declaring a
16-man tournament to crown a brand new NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Champion.
The participants were randomly drawn into four groups of four. Everyone in each
group would wrestle each other once, with points awarded dependant on the
outcome of each bout – three points for a victory, one for a draw and none for a
defeat. There is a fifteen minute time limit on each match in the group stage.
This random draw produced the following groups:
Group A:
Steve Bailey
Byson
Scottie Hero
Midnight Blue
Group B:
Cuthbert D. Fharquar
Bryan Campbell
Junior Jones
The Punisher
Group C:
Jason Prentice
Muerte de Antedicho
Ben Winter
Devon Ferrari
Group D:
Migraine
Luke Champion
Jawaid Kaleeq
Hiro Kakuhari
As commentators Adam Wheeler and Chris Freeman pondered some of the
mouth-watering encounters that would be witnessed over the coming weeks as a
result of this Champions League style draw, "Hey Man Nice Shot" by Filter began
to play over the P.A. system. That music signalled the arrival of "Shotgun"
Steve Bailey, appearing for his first round match-up with Byson. A former
stuntman, Bailey is a superb high flyer and has wrestled all over the world,
capturing the German Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship in 2001. He
holds a bitter grudge with the Great Sasuke, who injured him during the
Michinoku Pro World Masked Man Tournament in July 1999 and forced him to
withdraw. However, he defeated Sasuke in a Hammerlock ring in August 2001. His
opponent is Byson, a rugged brawler from California. Byson simply seems to enjoy
hurting people and has put many grapplers on the shelf with his devastating Bull
Rutt finishing manoeuvre.
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament Group A, Round 1]:
Steve Bailey defeated Byson via pinfall in 0:04:31.
Steve Bailey suffered a back injury. He will be out for approximately 2 cards.
Rating: ** 1/4
Match analysis:
This bout didn't last long, but it produced what will arguably be the biggest
shock of the tourney as Bailey was able to claim three precious points at the
expense of many experts' pick to take it all, Byson. Bailey appeared to injure
his back early as he landed awkwardly after a hard back suplex. Byson was
relentless in his attack, elbowdropping Bailey through a ringside table and then
scoring with the Bull Rutt on the floor. Remarkably, that wasn't enough to
finish Shotgun, who foiled another back suplex attempt with a tremendous
enzuigiri which knocked Byson silly. Bailey rammed Byson head first into the
ringpost, then simply rolled him back into the ring and pinned him, to the
amazement of everyone crammed inside the Broxbourne Civic Hall. Bailey quickly
exited the ring and retreated to the locker room, favouring his back but
determined to avoid the wrath of Byson, who took out his rage on a hapless
cameraman.
***Commerial break***
Backstage, "Picture Perfect" Jason Prentice, accompanied as always by the
stunning Linda O'Neil, was talking to Hammerlock Master of Ceremonies John
McDonald. Prentice, a former TV Champion, was a bit miffed that he had to enter
the gruelling Heavyweight Title Tournament and wanted the belt handed to him
instead as he felt he deserved it more than anyone. McDonald sarcastically told
Prentice that he agreed and would go and get the championship for him.
Unfamiliar with sarcasm, Prentice waited for him to do so, as Linda put her head
in her hands. McDonald warned Prentice about wasting his time and told him that
instead of whining, he should go and start preparing for his first group match
with Muerte de Antedicho on Saturday Fight Night. Prentice took Linda by the
hand and stormed off in a huff.
Next up in Group A of the tournament was a match-up between Scottie Hero and
Midnight Blue. Hero is a graduate of the Hammerlock wrestling school and trained
under the legendary Andre Baker and then later under Dino Scarlo. He is one of
the most proficient technical wrestlers in the United Kingdom right now.
Midnight Blue, on the other hand, has a background in adult entertainment.
However, he is extremely underrated and he captured the Hammerlock TV Title from
Jason Prentice back in September 2001.
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament Group A, Round 1]:
Midnight Blue and Scottie Hero battled to a double countout in 0:12:32.
Rating: ** 3/4
Match analysis:
This match was anything but pretty, an all-out brawl from start to finish. The
highlight of this twelve and a half minute donnybrook was Hero's magnificent
plancha onto Blue on the outside. However, the bout never returned to the ring
as both combatants used anything that wasn't nailed down to inflict pain on one
another. Eventually, both men were counted out. Blue and Hero were visibly
frustrated after the bell, as although they had just collected a point apiece,
Steve Bailey was now out in front in group A.
***Commercial break***
Back from commercials and the attention switched to Group B. Cuthbert D.
Fharquar Esquire was in the ring, along with his burly butler Jeeves, awaiting
his first group match. Born into an extremely upper class and wealthy family
situated in Park Lane, London, Fharquar is the personification of “snob”. His
belief that his money and upbringing makes him better than everyone else is
sickening, but Fharquar is one of the most talented mat tacticians on the
roster. His opponent, "Blue Chipper" Bryan Campbell, is the son of legendary
British grappler “Hellraiser” Max Campbell. Campbell adopts a more refined style
than his father and loves to use several takedown and submission variations. He
can also take to the air if required. Both these men are not liked by the fans,
leaving the crowd inside the Broxbourne Civil Hall uncertain over who to root
for.
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament Group B, Round 1]:
Cuthbert D. Fharquar and Bryan Campbell battled to a draw in 0:15:00.
Rating: **
Match analysis:
A draw was perhaps a fair result, but it will be Cuthbert Fharquar who will feel
the most hard done by. Campbell's nose was bleeding within the opening few
minutes of the contest, possibly broken as a consequence of Fharquar's stiff
European uppercuts. The Blue Chipper turned the tide with a DDT on the floor.
Fharquar came back into it and after his somersault slam only produced a two
count from referee Alex Fletcher, Fharquar snapped and threw the official from
the ring! Substitute referee Stuart Barnes ran in to take control. Campbell came
close to picking up three points with a nice flying cross body press, while
Fharquar almost made Campbell tap to the Stretch Plum. With seconds remaining,
Fharquar planted Campbell with his Silver Spoon cradle piledriver, but there was
only enough time for a one count to be made! Fharquar was devastated, as he
clearly had the match won but his petulance early in the contest may have cost
him. Both men gain a point each.
***Commercial break***
Steve Bailey was backstage being attended to by the medical staff. He was
clearly in agony, with pain etched across his face. It certainly didn't look
good for Shotgun.
The final encounter in Group B and indeed on this episode of Hammerlock TV saw
"International Bright Young Thing" Junior Jones take on the intimidating
Punisher. Jones is notorious for causing a number of shocks and upsets in the
past but surely he had no chance against the fearsome behemoth from New York
City. The Punisher used to wrestle in Hammerlock under the ring name "Smashmouth"
before being repackaged as the no-nonsense former United States Marine turned
professional vigilante. He possesses the hardest right hand in Hammerlock and
broke his unlucky opponent’s jaw in his first ever professional match!
[NWA-UK Hammerlock Heavyweight Title Tournament Group B, Round 1]:
The Punisher pinned Junior Jones after a T-Bone Suplex in 0:07:11.
Rating: *** 3/4
Match analysis:
The result of this match was never in any doubt, but the Punisher delighted the
crowd by dragging it out for as long as possible. Jones did well to avoid being
put through a table with Total Punishment, but the International Bright Young
Thing eventually did get wood with a belly-to-belly suplex straight through the
hardware. Jones kicked out of a brutal T-Bone suplex, which seemed to infuriate
the Punisher. The Punisher cleared the announcers' desk and sent Jones through
it with Total Punishment, before laying Jones out on the floor with the same
move! With the crowd going crazy, The Punisher scored with a low blow and put
Jones out of his misery with a second T-Bone suplex. After that performance,
it's difficult to see who on earth will be able to stop The Punisher en route to
the Heavyweight Championship.
Circuit information:
In some late breaking news, Steve Bailey's back injury is so severe that he has
had to withdraw from the tournament. Bailey just has no luck at all, as this is
the second high profile tournament of his career that he has had to pull out of
due to injury. An announcement will be made on how this affects Group A in due
course.
Cuthbert D. Fharquar has been fined £500 for brutalising official Alex Fletcher
in his first group match. Small change for the aristocratic snob.
Group standings after round 1…
Group A:
Steve Bailey 3
Midnight Blue 1
Scottie Hero 1
Byson 0
Group B:
The Punisher 3
Cuthbert D. Fharquar 1
Bryan Campbell 1
Junior Jones 0
Join us this week for Saturday Fight Night, where Groups C and D will commence!
Till then, so long everybody!!!