Normally I use this column to write about in-character e-wrestling stuff, and that’s something I enjoy doing lot. But right now, for just this one entry, I have to go OOC. Just a lot on my mind, and maybe writing in a column might be the best way to sort all through this.
By now, everyone knows about the horrible things that happened in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday. Twenty first-graders are dead, along with six adults who perished trying to protect them. All at the hands of an insane madman who somehow thought the best way for him to take his own life was to take twenty-seven other people, including his mother, and little children, with him.
In a tragedy such as this, there’s always three things that happen. People first are horrified, which is fairly understandable. A parent’s worst nightmare is to outlive their child- especially when their child is so young. Twenty parent’s worst nightmares came true Friday. That’s horrible by any stretch of the imagination.
The second is to ask why. How the hell could something like this happen? Police are trying to piece together a motive, and I’m sure we’ll all try to grasp some attempt at wondering why a someone themselves to kill defenseless children. I don’t know specifics, nor am I going to try and guess any. The only thing I can say is in a broad term- that evil is alive in the world today. The person who did this was evil. Not “mentally-ill”, “not right in the head”, or any other term that gets thrown around when something like this happens. The creature (not even a man) who did this was evil. That’s the only explanation I have, and thats the only one that’s needed.
The third instinct we all have is to blame. Point fingers. Find something that we can all zero in on and say “IF IT WASN’T FOR THIS, IT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!”. I do it to. And after two days of thinking here’s my list of people and institutions who should be blamed for what happened.
1. The monster.
That’s it. Had it not been for this piece of shit, I wouldn’t be writing this, and, more importantly, there’d be twenty-seven more people alive in the world today.
You’ll notice who’s not on there. The mother. Society. The NRA. The media. Video Game companies. Athiests. Churches. Our mental health institutions. None of them pulled the trigger. None of them asked, or even wanted this to happen. One of those is dead because of this. The others, I promise you, are just as horrified as the rest of us, and sure as hell don’t deserve people screaming in their face “THIS IS YOUR FAULT!” Because it isn’t. So if you’re blaming any of the above, do us all a favor and kindly shut the fuck up, because you’re not helping matters one bit.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t take a look at everything, and see what along those lines could have been done better, and could be done better in the future, so that something like this could be prevented- or at least stopped once started.
And there comes the nine-hundred pound elephant in the room. The gun-control debate flared up a couple weeks ago, when another piece of shit who happened to play football decided to murder his girlfriend, then himself. It only intensified from there, thanks to another shooting at an Oregon mall. So it was already on the tips of many tongues when Newtown happened, which means we can expect a massive debate on the issue in the coming weeks, probably overshadowing even all the fiscal cliff posturing that’s going on.
So here’s the first thing I have to say about this. If your first thought concerning this tragedy was to gun control, whether “BAN GUNS NOW!” or “OMG, THEY’RE GONNA STEAL OUR GUNS!,” instead of to the victims and their families (many who probably didn’t even know their loved ones lay dead when you started your political diatribe)- shame on you. There’s time for debate after a tragedy, like, you know, maybe a few days afterwards, NOT WHILE THE DAMN THING IS STILL GOING ON. Whether or not twenty dead kids validates/invalidates your political position, and exploiting/defending said position should be the LAST thing on your fucking mind at that moment.
Hell, maybe even talking about it now, on the other side of the weekend, may be too soon. But like I said, maybe writing this all will be good for me, and, like it or not, this is going to spark a debate on the issue.
I’m someone who believes that the US Constitution was written by a bunch of pretty damn smart people. And the fact of the matter is, when they wrote that document 230 years ago, they did a pretty darn good job with it. One of the best things they did was adding the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the document, which allowed for all kinds of various freedoms (as well as putting an amendment system into place that enabled us to change the document as needed, such as giving equal rights to minorities, women, and lowering the voting age). The Constitution got a LOT of things right, far more than it got wrong.
The second amendment is included in the former. The right to bear arms has long been proudly touted as a symbol of American freedom. After all, the whole American Revolution started because British Troops rode out of Boston to confiscate the munitions of a colonial militia. Our Fathers recognized that barring citizens from owning weapons was a step on the road to tyranny, and they put measures into the law of the land to ensure that right would never bee taken away. A good thing too, considering guns were needed as both a source of food, and protection. Even during some of America’s bloodiest non-military moments (i.e. Bleeding Kansas), the rights of citizens to own guns was hardly in jeopardy.
"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good.” - George Washington
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."- Thomas Jefferson
"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
Obviously, times have changed. We no longer live in frontier times, and the weapons we hold have grown steadily more efficient, and, by extention, more dangerous. But should that truly make the second amendment obsolete? Should firearms be eliminated, or even restricted, because evil people can use them to slay innocents? Or is it because of that very reason that it’s even more necessary to have guns than ever? After all, what is a man who is stripped of his ability to protect himself or his family from someone wishing to harm them?
I personally do not own a gun, but I fully believe anyone who wishes to arm themselves has that right. Gun control advocates insist that weapons- particularily automatic one- are not needed. They say that even under times of attack, someone firing back would only add to the chaos and destruction, not help prevent it. And, more than anything, they use the ever touching “even if just one life is saved, wouldn’t it all be worth it?”
Except how many lives have been saved by citizens with firearms? http://www.akdart.com/gun3.html (special thanks to fellow FVSports poster DaCat for providing this link). provides several articles and studies (a note that some of the top links are obsolete), as well as numerous specific cases where a citizen with a firearm stopped a crime in progress. Guns are, like so many other things in this world, capable for being a tool for good or evil. Would a gun on the premises in Aurora or Newtown have stopped the shootings, or at least lowered the number of victims? I don’t know. I don’t know what it was like in that movie theater or school, and God willing, I never will. But there are other cases where they DID save innocent lives, and, like we’ve heard, isn’t one life worth it?
But just because gun owners should be allowed to keep their guns, that sure as hell doesn’t mean we oughtn’t take a step back once in a while and examine how we go about it. But knee jerkily passing a law- any law- is an absolute mistake, and will only hurt responsible, law-abiding gun owners, not the people we truly need to stop. If we look at this closely, and there IS something we can do to prevent this from happening again, then yes, we should take it. But- and this is a scary truth of society that will never go away- if someone desires to commit murder badly enough, they will do it, no matter what laws are in place. After all, “don’t murder anyone” is one of the most basic, essential laws of our society, so if you’re willing to violate that, what law isn’t going to stop you?
That’s not to say that there’s nothing we can do. Gun ownership is a right, and just as with any other right we have, exercising that right entails some responsibility. This is something that most conservatives tend to talk about a lot, after all. If you exercise your “right” to have sex with whoever you want, then you’re responsible for any pregnancy/diseases that are a consequence. We fully know and advocate that, so for a second, let’s flip it around on us.
Gun ownership is the same way. Owners have the responsibility to make sure their firearms are maintained, secure, and, above everything else- respected, by everyone in their family. And that means education, on the danger of guns, the value of human life, and how none of this situation should ever be taken lightly. This isn’t a one time deal to be mentioned in passing either, but something that needs to be ingrained into everyone over and over, so that there is no doubt the seriousness of the subject matter.
If anywhere the ball was dropped, it was probably this. I never knew Nancy Lanza, but from all accounts she seemed like a good, charitable person. But while she certainly exercised her right to own guns, it doesn’t seem like she fulfill all her responsibilities. Knowing full well her son’s mental state, she kept multiple guns in the house, and even took him to the firing range. In short, she taught him much about guns, but she was never able to convey that respect to him. It was a tragic combination, as she, and the rest of us, found out all too well.
So yeah, I know the gun debate is going to rage as a result of this. I know some will echo my view points, and some will echo the opposite. And I’m sure those in support of the second amendment will be callously accused of “not caring about the victims”. Which is bullshit, of course. We care, and every single one of us would have loved the opportunity to have stopped this sick bastard from doing what he did. Not wanting a knee-jerk law that will harm good, responsible people and be ignored by bad people doesn’t change that.
One thing that saddens me the most about this is that there will never be any justice for the children at Sandy Hook. The killer is dead, yes, but on his terms. He’ll never have to stand in court and face the families of those he murdered. In that effect, he was no different than a Hamas suicide bomber, or the al Quaeda operatives who flew planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. There was no exit strategy- they were expecting to die, and it was just a matter of how many people they took with them. That’s a scary thought- when you’re dealing with someone who’s willing to sacrifice their own life to spread evil, how can you prevent it?
People do that because they think they’ll gain something in death. For the terrorists, its a place in their sick version of paradise where they’ll be showered with virgins. For guys like the Newtown shooter, its something a little less concrete- they get notoriety. They become famous. Their picture is shown ad nauseum on every news organization. Do a quick exercise. Can you name either perpetrator of the Columbine Massacre? What about the Aurora Shootings? I’m sure by now you know the name of the Newtown shooter.
Now, off the top of your head, can you name a single one of their victims?
The number of people who can answer at least one of the first three questions, but can’t the fourth, is astronomical (and incudes me, sadly). When these happen, its the killers, not the victims, who go down in history. Which means, they end up getting exactly what they want. After all, infamy is better than obscurity, right?
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the true key to curtailing these trends of shootings.
There’s no law to pass here. I’m not advocating the restriction of the press, but any responsible news organization should do this. And that’s reward any mass shooter, whether they live or die in their crime, not with wall to wall coverage and pictures and publicity, but with eternal obscurity. Do not mention their names. Do not show their picture. Strip them of all identity. They’re simply a monster, a faceless animal who tore apart the innocent with their claws of evil, and is to be disposed of, never to be seen or thought about again, preferably in a nameless grave. Focus the coverage on those who truly deserve their lives to be known- the victims. Tell us who they were, what they were like. Show us THEIR pictures, even though seeing their smiling, innocent face is going to break our hearts.
Instead of their murderers, let the names of Kelly Fleming, Cassie Bernall, Alexander Boik, Veronica Moiser-Sullivan, Charlotte Bacon, Chase Kowalski, and Allison Wyatt be on our tongues, as we speak of lives taken too soon, of potential that was lost, of families with one less spot at the dinner table.
And most of all, just remember that, whether liberal, conservative, athiest, religious, libertarian, whatever, we’re all affected by this, and we’re all in the same boat here. We need to love, or at least respect each other. I know I’m guilty of this too... just earlier this week I made a joke about bombing “union thugs” in the wake of Michigan’s Right To Work act. That was shortsighted, and it took remembering what true horror and thugs are to make me realize what a stupid, selfish thing to say was, even in frustration.
We got a long way to go, everyone. And the time for us to take another step is upon us.
We just damn well better make sure we’re truly taking the right one before we take it.
Anyways, thanks for reading this, and hopefully I didn't piss all you off too much. Please stay tuned for the next post, which will be back in character, and likely as Pollaski-esque as I normally am.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
FAN POWER-X: December 11, 2012
Hey kids!
The votes are in and tallied, and the second ever FAN POWER-X (and first one with a corresponding column) is about to be revealed! Over 12,000 votes had been cast and tabulated by the FFW faithful (special thanks to accounting firm Feth, Hup, and Chartee for their assistance!). And now, the moment has come.
So here’s what you can expect to see in the column. As is done in most polls of this nature, 25 points are awarded for a first place vote, 24 for a second, all the way down to 1 point for a 25th place vote. As that’s quite a lot of points over a 12,000+ vote field (the #1 ranked wrestler took in over 300,000), so to simplify it, we put the totals in terms of percent of the maximum point a wrestler could receive (aka, everyone in the world gave them 1st place votes).
There’s one other rule- to be included in the fan rankings, wrestlers must get at least .5% of points possible, or an average of getting a 25th place vote at least once out of every eight ballots. It seems if you can’t muster that... well, sorry. Of course, those wrestlers are still included in MY Power X, so, in the order they were ranked on my own list, here are the 9 women who failed to qualify.
Note that there will be gaps here- such as #46. That’s because the 46th ranked wrestler on my list did meet the .5% threshold, and will be included in the fan rankings. Who is it? Well, read on!
#47- SARAH RICHARDSON (+3)
With the departures of Roxie Stevenson and Brianne Garza, the “Sarah Peek Award” passes to the Blonde Bombshell. Yes, kids, it’s okay to point and laugh.
#45- SOPHIA BLACK (+1)When I’m right, I’m right, eh? Like I said in the preview column, Sophia’s uncontrolled aggression was going to come back to cost her, and it did, as she had no choice but to tap out to Miss Demeanor.
#44- ALLISON WILLIAMS (+1)
Rumor has it she’s still smarting from the total asskicking Tara Thunder gave her at the start of the month. Now she has to tangle with the SSK?? This might not end well.
#43- CHRISTELLE GILLET (+1)
Speaking of still smarting, the French Connection has to be still steaming from the way she was betrayed at Firewall. But it won’t be until next year when she can do something about it.
#41- DANIELLE ARISU (=)
She didn’t take the pinfall (which somehow will still make her undefeated in some people’s eyes...) but coming up short in the Triple Threat at Anarchy has to be somewhat of a disappointment for Arisu.
#39- TABATHA BELMONT (-5)
Tabby-Cat’s gotta be hissing after her loss to Samara. Bad enough that the wily veteran dropped one to a rookie like that, but even worse that it was in a match that favored her- not to mention it coming to someone she so clearly despises.
#38- MELANIE AVILO (-3)
What has happened to the Season 5 Future Shock Champion? Mel hasn’t won a match since June 23, and found herself on the outside looking in at Anarchy.
#37- PENNY BUCHANAN (=)
2012 is not going to end on a happy note for the Pain Train in FFW. All she can do now is focus on the new year, and prepare to make it a year to remember.
#34- JO MCFARLANE (-5)
Jo was hardly out of sight during the month of November, appearing in four matches, but when it came time to vote, she apparently was out of mind of the voters. Her loss to Hayley and her absence from Anarchy could be notable factors, but still, this is probably the most notable snub of this edition of the fan rankings.
Sorry ladies, better luck next time!
Forty-two women DID get the .5% required to make the list this time. Of course, I can’t agree with all of them, but hey, the FFW Faithful will be the FFW Faithful. Let’s count them down!
===================================
#42- MISTY WHITMORE- 0.52% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 46th (+1)
Misty barely scraped out enough votes to make it onto this list, but it’s obvious this plucky young rookie is gaining over quite a few fans. Now to just capture that elusive first win...
#41- CLAIRE BLACK- 0.71% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 33rd (Returning)
You may have heard me say that Claire was hardly a deserving challenger for the TV title- and I stand by it. Compared to some of the resumes in this place that haven’t even sniffed that belt, it was just an odd choice. But it’s not the end of the world for her- she’s got a lot of potential, if she can just get some more experience against tougher competition.
#40- KATE STEELE- 1.27% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 40th (=)
Pure Adrenaline’s got a chance to get their first win as a tag team against “Club CK VIP” (LMAO @ that name). But Kara and Undine aren’t going to be easy for these young ladies.
#39- MARISSA KANE- 1.40% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 36th (+6)
Marissa certainly turned some heads with her big win over Shelbi-Lynn Carter and Danielle Arisu at Anarchy. Her decision to referee while training for her career looks like it’s starting to pay some dividends.
#38- APRIL EVANS- 1.78% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Well, some people got a bit excited here. Technically, April isn’t eligible for the Power X yet, considering she hasn’t had an official match yet, but you can’t deny her impressive victory in the finals of Season 8 of Future Shock. Don’t be surprised if she’s higher once she makes her official debut.
#37- SHELBI LYNN CARTER- 2.01% (-1)
Power-X Ranking: 42nd (+1)
Yes, Shelbi’s ranked higher than the woman who just pinned her. No I don’t exactly understand how that works either. But I know this... if she really wants to launch herself up the ladder, beating Sabra is a surefire way to do it.
#36- MISS DEMEANOR- 2.21% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 31st (+7)
Coming off her strong win over Sophia Black, Demeanor’s got some momentum starting to build some serious momentum, taking four out of five. Now she needs to get a stronger test.
#35- RORI MACKENZIE- 3.47% (-11)
Power-X Ranking: 26th (=)
That awkward moment when “stupid biased Pollaski” turns out to be actually ranking her significantly higher than the average FFW fan does.
#34- IGNIS- 4.69% (-8)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Iggy’s actually on a three-match winning streak, but as the last one came back in September, she’s not eligible to be on the Power X rankings at the moment. Still, the amount of interest in her here shows that people are dying to get her back into the ring.
#33- HAYLEY DARK- 5.28% (+2)
Power-X Ranking: 27th (=)
Considering how Hayley’s been treating her partner lately (and her history), could someone just smack a “does not play well with others” sticker on her?
#32- SOPHIE RICHARDS- 5.54% (-4)
Power-X Ranking: 28th (+2)
Sophie is a living testament to just how hard the Evolution Division is. The woman who was nearly invincible in the TV title picture is anything but at the next step up.
#31- MICKEY SCARBOROUGH- 6.99% (-1)
Power-X Ranking: 24th (=)
Now that the SF has joined Club CK, these are the TRUE VIP’s of that organization, whatever crap Kara and Undine are spewing be damned.
#30- RAQUEL FAIR- 7.07% (+6)
Power-X Ranking: 23rd (+2)
Although I personally would have preferred it if they had steered clear of that bastion of mediocrity. Still, they’re keeping me as their manager, which means we’re in for some good times :).
#29- STACEY ALLEN- 7.94% (-16)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Perhaps you know her better as Stacey Mackenzie. Another ineligible wrestler who received a significant amount of support from the fans. Stacey wrestles for the first time since October when she teams up with Spectra Fantasia in the Velocity Main Event.
#28- SUMMER- 8.15% (-13)
Power-X Ranking: 15th (-6)
Bravo to those who remembered the rules, and that Summer was still eligible for one final ranking, since she competed in the last cycle. Future endeavors and all that, but you can’t help but wonder what might have been for her.
#27- WENDY BRIESE- 9.01% (-23)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Well, don’t bloody look at me! *I* sure as hell didn’t vote for her! Maybe I should start putting up an eligibility list for this thing...
#26- TRINITY- 9.62% (-3)
Power-X Ranking: 25th (-3)
Trinity’s three match winning streak will be on the line at Velocity, as she tries to down her rival Serafina once and for all.
#25- SAMARA STEELE- 13.51% (+8)
Power-X Ranking: 35th (+4)
WOW! Look who’s turning heads here after a big win over Tabby! Of course, she may have OTHER attributes that might have garnered her a few votes... or maybe this could be the start of something huge.
#24- HANNA ELLIOT- 13.88% (+14)
Power-X Ranking: 32nd (+1)
Coming up short against Cade at Anarchy didn’t cost Hanna too much, as she made a significant leap up the fanpoll this time around. 2013 could be a big year for her if she avoids wilting.
#23- VANESSA CADE- 16.74% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 29th (+7)
Cade is finally starting to live up to her hype and potential, erasing the bugaboo of her debut loss to Hanna. She’s probably got a few more wins to go before she starts poking her face into any title pictures, but she’s getting there.
#22- KELLY MCGUFFIN- 17.96% (-3)
Power-X Ranking: 18th (-5)
Kelly asked me if she would be in the top 10 once she beat Jennifer Williams, which indicated she might have been a bit overconfident coming into the Chase for the Crown Finals. She’s good enough to get a title, but she’s going to have to step back and reevaluate things going forward.
#21- PAYTON ST. PIERRE- 18.12% (+18)
Power-X Ranking: 21st (+11)
Payton managed to make a fair jump, after weathering a beatdown by Buchanan to steal a win at the end. And she’s ranked higher than Sophie Richards. That’s gotta make her happy.
#20- ARABELLA BLACK- 18.42% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 30th (+1)
The highest ranking newcomer to the fanpoll, evidently her win in the Future Shock Cup won her some serious votes that the subsequent loss to Jodie Gray couldn’t take away. I think she’s got a little more ground than that, but she’s getting there.
#19- SERAFINA REYNOLDS- 22.91% (+1)
*NO SURRENDER CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 22nd (-1)Looks like that long-awaited title defense isn’t going to happen until 2013 for Serafina, which is good, because the line of credible challengers is stacking up. In the meantime, she absolutely HAS to beat Trinity, or she’s never going to forgive herself.
#18- CASEY ATHERTON- 27.35% (+4)
*UNITY CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 19th (+1)
Casey may have only gotten 18th in the fanpoll, but she did win the “Femme Fatale I’d most want to see in a skimpy Santa costume” poll I happened by the other day. So, um, yeah. Congrats.
#17- EMMA MACNAMARA- 27.76% (-7)
Power-X Ranking: 20th (-3)
It’s good to be in the Power Trip, since Emma sure as hell wouldn’t be going into the main event otherwise at this point. Luckily Team Adonis will be there to carry her, since she hasn’t won a singles match since May 26.
#16- SABRA NIKOLAYEV- 36.29% (=)
Power-X Ranking: 15th (+3)
It took a while, but Sabra has truly and utterly hit her stride in FFW. The last thing she’s going to want is for longtime rival SLC to screw that momentum up on Thursday.
#15- EILEEN AMARO- 35.84% (+2)
Power-X Ranking: 16th (-4)
It didn’t end the way she wanted it to, but Eileen still finishes the 2012 year with a VERY impressive 13 wins. The “One To Watch” lived up to her billing- we saw a lot of her, and for the most part, we liked what we saw.
#14- CAMILLA PAZZINI- 36.70% (=)
Power-X Ranking: 17th (-2)
Spectra Fantasia is obviously gearing themselves up for another run at the title, and hopefully this time Chunks can keep her ref abuse in check. Having sat out quite a bit lately, I bet she’s going to be busting some skulls come the main event of Velocity.
#13- JENNIFER WILLIAMS- 45.60% (+12)
Power-X Ranking: 12th (+16)
J-Will’s Chase-clinching victory ranks up there as one of the most impressive of Anarchy, and it finally stops her backslide. The question is, can she keep her feet on the ground, because if her head’s in the clouds when she faces Lightning, her balloon is going to be popped.
#12- STARLA MCCLOUD- 48.59% (-1)
*UNITY CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 13th (+3)
The matron of Team Adonis has been quiet lately, but that hardly makes her less dangerous. Still, we all know she hardly enjoys teaming with Casey. How’s she going to handle Emma being thrown in there too?
#11- KATHERINE STRYFE- 54.30% (+10)
Power-X Ranking: 11th (+12)
Kat’s win over Summer breathed new life into her, and it’s showing- this is the highest ranking she’s held since April. Expect it to go even higher as she zeroes in on Crystal Williams and the Evolution Championship.
#10- CAROLINE DALLINS- 67.33% (-2)
Power-X Ranking: 4th (+1)
As you can see in the gap- the voters certainly had the top 10 well separated from the rest of the pack. No respect for poor Caroline, however, who, despite being the One To Watch for 2013, didnt’ quite get the respect she deserves on here.
#9- JODIE GRAY- 68.37% (+21)
Power-X Ranking: 10th (+9)
Yup, you read that correctly. Jodie jumped twenty-one spots in the last two months thanks to her 7 match winning streak. A second victory over Arabella’s given her a chance to really put herself against some top flight competition. Can she handle it?
#8- VALERIE LAMB- 70.52% (+4)
Power-X Ranking: 9th (-3)
Her bid to win the Femme For All came up just shy, but she’s going to get another chance to get an FFW title shot, and I’m hearing sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Spectra Fantasia rides again Thursday night!
#7- SCARLETT KINCAID- 75.12% (-5)
Power-X Ranking: 5th (-3)
Scarlett’s never been out of the Top 5 on the Power X, and she keeps it that way- although not so much with the fanpoll, as Scar was hit hard in the wake of her loss to Isabella. And believe me, no one is kicking herself harder than the Ragin’ Cajun.
#6- LIGHTNING- 76.24% (+1)
*TELEVISION CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 8th (=)
The Future Shock Rookie of the year is actually NOT the highest ranked Future Shock rookie. But she’s still on quite the run, and she still hasn’t been pinned or submitted. She better be careful though- Jennifer Williams has a tendency to do the improbable.
#5- CARA STONE- 83.27% (=)
*ULTRAVIOLENCE CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 6th (+1)
It was a long-overdue first defense, but it was a damn successful one for Cara, who mowed through Emma to retain her title. It’s hardly a good thing for her personally, but professionally, you can’t deny that her schism with Anders has brought out a much more aggressive side.
#4- TARA THUNDER- 83.52% (-1)
Power-X Ranking: 3rd (=)
The Femme Fatale of the Year is a well deserved title, even if Tara managed to never gain the top belt, she went 9-2-1 on the year. 2013 will likely be more of the same for her.
#3- CRYSTAL WILLIAMS- 84.28% (+3)
*EVOLUTION CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 7th (+7)
Crystal’s successful retention of the Evolution Championship has squarely landed her in the Show spot in the fanpoll, as even I’m starting to find myself warming back up to her. She’s proven the doubters wrong, but how will she handle things as the likely favorite when Kat Stryfe cashes in?
#2- COLLEEN- 92.18% (+16)
Power-X Ranking: 2nd (+2)
It took thirteen months, but Colleen has finally worked her way back to the #2 spot. The support she’s going to find going into Cold Blooded is going to be overwhelming- but so will be the pressure. It’s time for Colleen’s story of redemption to write its final chapter, so a new, much happier book can begin.
#1- ISABELLA PAZZINI- 98.64% (=)
*FFW CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 1st (=)
With over 80% of the first place votes, it’s safe to say that the FFW Faithful respect Isabella every bit as much as they hate her. But you can’t argue with her being #1. Not after winning that Hell in A Cell. Now all you can do is just hope that someone knocks her off.
And there you have it, kids! The second ever Fan Power-X! It was fun seeing what people thought of the talent of the best female wrestling promotion on Earth, and I can’t wait until we do it again after Cold Blooded.
In the meantime, be sure to watch Velocity Thursday night, with the awesome main event of Spectra Fantasia teaming with Stacey Allen against Team Adonis and Emma MacNamara. There will be (Power Trip) blood! Of course, the next Four corners isn’t going to be too far behind!
The votes are in and tallied, and the second ever FAN POWER-X (and first one with a corresponding column) is about to be revealed! Over 12,000 votes had been cast and tabulated by the FFW faithful (special thanks to accounting firm Feth, Hup, and Chartee for their assistance!). And now, the moment has come.
So here’s what you can expect to see in the column. As is done in most polls of this nature, 25 points are awarded for a first place vote, 24 for a second, all the way down to 1 point for a 25th place vote. As that’s quite a lot of points over a 12,000+ vote field (the #1 ranked wrestler took in over 300,000), so to simplify it, we put the totals in terms of percent of the maximum point a wrestler could receive (aka, everyone in the world gave them 1st place votes).
There’s one other rule- to be included in the fan rankings, wrestlers must get at least .5% of points possible, or an average of getting a 25th place vote at least once out of every eight ballots. It seems if you can’t muster that... well, sorry. Of course, those wrestlers are still included in MY Power X, so, in the order they were ranked on my own list, here are the 9 women who failed to qualify.
Note that there will be gaps here- such as #46. That’s because the 46th ranked wrestler on my list did meet the .5% threshold, and will be included in the fan rankings. Who is it? Well, read on!
#47- SARAH RICHARDSON (+3)
With the departures of Roxie Stevenson and Brianne Garza, the “Sarah Peek Award” passes to the Blonde Bombshell. Yes, kids, it’s okay to point and laugh.
#45- SOPHIA BLACK (+1)When I’m right, I’m right, eh? Like I said in the preview column, Sophia’s uncontrolled aggression was going to come back to cost her, and it did, as she had no choice but to tap out to Miss Demeanor.
#44- ALLISON WILLIAMS (+1)
Rumor has it she’s still smarting from the total asskicking Tara Thunder gave her at the start of the month. Now she has to tangle with the SSK?? This might not end well.
#43- CHRISTELLE GILLET (+1)
Speaking of still smarting, the French Connection has to be still steaming from the way she was betrayed at Firewall. But it won’t be until next year when she can do something about it.
#41- DANIELLE ARISU (=)
She didn’t take the pinfall (which somehow will still make her undefeated in some people’s eyes...) but coming up short in the Triple Threat at Anarchy has to be somewhat of a disappointment for Arisu.
#39- TABATHA BELMONT (-5)
Tabby-Cat’s gotta be hissing after her loss to Samara. Bad enough that the wily veteran dropped one to a rookie like that, but even worse that it was in a match that favored her- not to mention it coming to someone she so clearly despises.
#38- MELANIE AVILO (-3)
What has happened to the Season 5 Future Shock Champion? Mel hasn’t won a match since June 23, and found herself on the outside looking in at Anarchy.
#37- PENNY BUCHANAN (=)
2012 is not going to end on a happy note for the Pain Train in FFW. All she can do now is focus on the new year, and prepare to make it a year to remember.
#34- JO MCFARLANE (-5)
Jo was hardly out of sight during the month of November, appearing in four matches, but when it came time to vote, she apparently was out of mind of the voters. Her loss to Hayley and her absence from Anarchy could be notable factors, but still, this is probably the most notable snub of this edition of the fan rankings.
Sorry ladies, better luck next time!
Forty-two women DID get the .5% required to make the list this time. Of course, I can’t agree with all of them, but hey, the FFW Faithful will be the FFW Faithful. Let’s count them down!
===================================
#42- MISTY WHITMORE- 0.52% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 46th (+1)
Misty barely scraped out enough votes to make it onto this list, but it’s obvious this plucky young rookie is gaining over quite a few fans. Now to just capture that elusive first win...
#41- CLAIRE BLACK- 0.71% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 33rd (Returning)
You may have heard me say that Claire was hardly a deserving challenger for the TV title- and I stand by it. Compared to some of the resumes in this place that haven’t even sniffed that belt, it was just an odd choice. But it’s not the end of the world for her- she’s got a lot of potential, if she can just get some more experience against tougher competition.
#40- KATE STEELE- 1.27% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 40th (=)
Pure Adrenaline’s got a chance to get their first win as a tag team against “Club CK VIP” (LMAO @ that name). But Kara and Undine aren’t going to be easy for these young ladies.
#39- MARISSA KANE- 1.40% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 36th (+6)
Marissa certainly turned some heads with her big win over Shelbi-Lynn Carter and Danielle Arisu at Anarchy. Her decision to referee while training for her career looks like it’s starting to pay some dividends.
#38- APRIL EVANS- 1.78% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Well, some people got a bit excited here. Technically, April isn’t eligible for the Power X yet, considering she hasn’t had an official match yet, but you can’t deny her impressive victory in the finals of Season 8 of Future Shock. Don’t be surprised if she’s higher once she makes her official debut.
#37- SHELBI LYNN CARTER- 2.01% (-1)
Power-X Ranking: 42nd (+1)
Yes, Shelbi’s ranked higher than the woman who just pinned her. No I don’t exactly understand how that works either. But I know this... if she really wants to launch herself up the ladder, beating Sabra is a surefire way to do it.
#36- MISS DEMEANOR- 2.21% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 31st (+7)
Coming off her strong win over Sophia Black, Demeanor’s got some momentum starting to build some serious momentum, taking four out of five. Now she needs to get a stronger test.
#35- RORI MACKENZIE- 3.47% (-11)
Power-X Ranking: 26th (=)
That awkward moment when “stupid biased Pollaski” turns out to be actually ranking her significantly higher than the average FFW fan does.
#34- IGNIS- 4.69% (-8)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Iggy’s actually on a three-match winning streak, but as the last one came back in September, she’s not eligible to be on the Power X rankings at the moment. Still, the amount of interest in her here shows that people are dying to get her back into the ring.
#33- HAYLEY DARK- 5.28% (+2)
Power-X Ranking: 27th (=)
Considering how Hayley’s been treating her partner lately (and her history), could someone just smack a “does not play well with others” sticker on her?
#32- SOPHIE RICHARDS- 5.54% (-4)
Power-X Ranking: 28th (+2)
Sophie is a living testament to just how hard the Evolution Division is. The woman who was nearly invincible in the TV title picture is anything but at the next step up.
#31- MICKEY SCARBOROUGH- 6.99% (-1)
Power-X Ranking: 24th (=)
Now that the SF has joined Club CK, these are the TRUE VIP’s of that organization, whatever crap Kara and Undine are spewing be damned.
#30- RAQUEL FAIR- 7.07% (+6)
Power-X Ranking: 23rd (+2)
Although I personally would have preferred it if they had steered clear of that bastion of mediocrity. Still, they’re keeping me as their manager, which means we’re in for some good times :).
#29- STACEY ALLEN- 7.94% (-16)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Perhaps you know her better as Stacey Mackenzie. Another ineligible wrestler who received a significant amount of support from the fans. Stacey wrestles for the first time since October when she teams up with Spectra Fantasia in the Velocity Main Event.
#28- SUMMER- 8.15% (-13)
Power-X Ranking: 15th (-6)
Bravo to those who remembered the rules, and that Summer was still eligible for one final ranking, since she competed in the last cycle. Future endeavors and all that, but you can’t help but wonder what might have been for her.
#27- WENDY BRIESE- 9.01% (-23)
Power-X Ranking: Not Ranked
Well, don’t bloody look at me! *I* sure as hell didn’t vote for her! Maybe I should start putting up an eligibility list for this thing...
#26- TRINITY- 9.62% (-3)
Power-X Ranking: 25th (-3)
Trinity’s three match winning streak will be on the line at Velocity, as she tries to down her rival Serafina once and for all.
#25- SAMARA STEELE- 13.51% (+8)
Power-X Ranking: 35th (+4)
WOW! Look who’s turning heads here after a big win over Tabby! Of course, she may have OTHER attributes that might have garnered her a few votes... or maybe this could be the start of something huge.
#24- HANNA ELLIOT- 13.88% (+14)
Power-X Ranking: 32nd (+1)
Coming up short against Cade at Anarchy didn’t cost Hanna too much, as she made a significant leap up the fanpoll this time around. 2013 could be a big year for her if she avoids wilting.
#23- VANESSA CADE- 16.74% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 29th (+7)
Cade is finally starting to live up to her hype and potential, erasing the bugaboo of her debut loss to Hanna. She’s probably got a few more wins to go before she starts poking her face into any title pictures, but she’s getting there.
#22- KELLY MCGUFFIN- 17.96% (-3)
Power-X Ranking: 18th (-5)
Kelly asked me if she would be in the top 10 once she beat Jennifer Williams, which indicated she might have been a bit overconfident coming into the Chase for the Crown Finals. She’s good enough to get a title, but she’s going to have to step back and reevaluate things going forward.
#21- PAYTON ST. PIERRE- 18.12% (+18)
Power-X Ranking: 21st (+11)
Payton managed to make a fair jump, after weathering a beatdown by Buchanan to steal a win at the end. And she’s ranked higher than Sophie Richards. That’s gotta make her happy.
#20- ARABELLA BLACK- 18.42% (DNRV)
Power-X Ranking: 30th (+1)
The highest ranking newcomer to the fanpoll, evidently her win in the Future Shock Cup won her some serious votes that the subsequent loss to Jodie Gray couldn’t take away. I think she’s got a little more ground than that, but she’s getting there.
#19- SERAFINA REYNOLDS- 22.91% (+1)
*NO SURRENDER CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 22nd (-1)Looks like that long-awaited title defense isn’t going to happen until 2013 for Serafina, which is good, because the line of credible challengers is stacking up. In the meantime, she absolutely HAS to beat Trinity, or she’s never going to forgive herself.
#18- CASEY ATHERTON- 27.35% (+4)
*UNITY CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 19th (+1)
Casey may have only gotten 18th in the fanpoll, but she did win the “Femme Fatale I’d most want to see in a skimpy Santa costume” poll I happened by the other day. So, um, yeah. Congrats.
#17- EMMA MACNAMARA- 27.76% (-7)
Power-X Ranking: 20th (-3)
It’s good to be in the Power Trip, since Emma sure as hell wouldn’t be going into the main event otherwise at this point. Luckily Team Adonis will be there to carry her, since she hasn’t won a singles match since May 26.
#16- SABRA NIKOLAYEV- 36.29% (=)
Power-X Ranking: 15th (+3)
It took a while, but Sabra has truly and utterly hit her stride in FFW. The last thing she’s going to want is for longtime rival SLC to screw that momentum up on Thursday.
#15- EILEEN AMARO- 35.84% (+2)
Power-X Ranking: 16th (-4)
It didn’t end the way she wanted it to, but Eileen still finishes the 2012 year with a VERY impressive 13 wins. The “One To Watch” lived up to her billing- we saw a lot of her, and for the most part, we liked what we saw.
#14- CAMILLA PAZZINI- 36.70% (=)
Power-X Ranking: 17th (-2)
Spectra Fantasia is obviously gearing themselves up for another run at the title, and hopefully this time Chunks can keep her ref abuse in check. Having sat out quite a bit lately, I bet she’s going to be busting some skulls come the main event of Velocity.
#13- JENNIFER WILLIAMS- 45.60% (+12)
Power-X Ranking: 12th (+16)
J-Will’s Chase-clinching victory ranks up there as one of the most impressive of Anarchy, and it finally stops her backslide. The question is, can she keep her feet on the ground, because if her head’s in the clouds when she faces Lightning, her balloon is going to be popped.
#12- STARLA MCCLOUD- 48.59% (-1)
*UNITY CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 13th (+3)
The matron of Team Adonis has been quiet lately, but that hardly makes her less dangerous. Still, we all know she hardly enjoys teaming with Casey. How’s she going to handle Emma being thrown in there too?
#11- KATHERINE STRYFE- 54.30% (+10)
Power-X Ranking: 11th (+12)
Kat’s win over Summer breathed new life into her, and it’s showing- this is the highest ranking she’s held since April. Expect it to go even higher as she zeroes in on Crystal Williams and the Evolution Championship.
#10- CAROLINE DALLINS- 67.33% (-2)
Power-X Ranking: 4th (+1)
As you can see in the gap- the voters certainly had the top 10 well separated from the rest of the pack. No respect for poor Caroline, however, who, despite being the One To Watch for 2013, didnt’ quite get the respect she deserves on here.
#9- JODIE GRAY- 68.37% (+21)
Power-X Ranking: 10th (+9)
Yup, you read that correctly. Jodie jumped twenty-one spots in the last two months thanks to her 7 match winning streak. A second victory over Arabella’s given her a chance to really put herself against some top flight competition. Can she handle it?
#8- VALERIE LAMB- 70.52% (+4)
Power-X Ranking: 9th (-3)
Her bid to win the Femme For All came up just shy, but she’s going to get another chance to get an FFW title shot, and I’m hearing sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Spectra Fantasia rides again Thursday night!
#7- SCARLETT KINCAID- 75.12% (-5)
Power-X Ranking: 5th (-3)
Scarlett’s never been out of the Top 5 on the Power X, and she keeps it that way- although not so much with the fanpoll, as Scar was hit hard in the wake of her loss to Isabella. And believe me, no one is kicking herself harder than the Ragin’ Cajun.
#6- LIGHTNING- 76.24% (+1)
*TELEVISION CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 8th (=)
The Future Shock Rookie of the year is actually NOT the highest ranked Future Shock rookie. But she’s still on quite the run, and she still hasn’t been pinned or submitted. She better be careful though- Jennifer Williams has a tendency to do the improbable.
#5- CARA STONE- 83.27% (=)
*ULTRAVIOLENCE CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 6th (+1)
It was a long-overdue first defense, but it was a damn successful one for Cara, who mowed through Emma to retain her title. It’s hardly a good thing for her personally, but professionally, you can’t deny that her schism with Anders has brought out a much more aggressive side.
#4- TARA THUNDER- 83.52% (-1)
Power-X Ranking: 3rd (=)
The Femme Fatale of the Year is a well deserved title, even if Tara managed to never gain the top belt, she went 9-2-1 on the year. 2013 will likely be more of the same for her.
#3- CRYSTAL WILLIAMS- 84.28% (+3)
*EVOLUTION CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 7th (+7)
Crystal’s successful retention of the Evolution Championship has squarely landed her in the Show spot in the fanpoll, as even I’m starting to find myself warming back up to her. She’s proven the doubters wrong, but how will she handle things as the likely favorite when Kat Stryfe cashes in?
#2- COLLEEN- 92.18% (+16)
Power-X Ranking: 2nd (+2)
It took thirteen months, but Colleen has finally worked her way back to the #2 spot. The support she’s going to find going into Cold Blooded is going to be overwhelming- but so will be the pressure. It’s time for Colleen’s story of redemption to write its final chapter, so a new, much happier book can begin.
#1- ISABELLA PAZZINI- 98.64% (=)
*FFW CHAMPION*
Power-X Ranking: 1st (=)
With over 80% of the first place votes, it’s safe to say that the FFW Faithful respect Isabella every bit as much as they hate her. But you can’t argue with her being #1. Not after winning that Hell in A Cell. Now all you can do is just hope that someone knocks her off.
And there you have it, kids! The second ever Fan Power-X! It was fun seeing what people thought of the talent of the best female wrestling promotion on Earth, and I can’t wait until we do it again after Cold Blooded.
In the meantime, be sure to watch Velocity Thursday night, with the awesome main event of Spectra Fantasia teaming with Stacey Allen against Team Adonis and Emma MacNamara. There will be (Power Trip) blood! Of course, the next Four corners isn’t going to be too far behind!
Monday, December 10, 2012
AWARDS: November 2012
So, as you might have noticed over the past month or so, the Power X has been changing formats, and one of those formats is moving the awards from "of the week" to "of the month". Like the employee of the month award, except far more witty and enjoyable.
Anyways, for the inagural edition of the NEW FFW Awards... I give to you renowned wrestling school instructor, not to mention brother of resurgent FFW Star Katherine Stryfe.... LIAM ALEXANDER!
MATCH OF THE MONTH: Colleen vs. Valerie Lamb (Anarchy)
This month had a ton of great matches and having to choose just one was a very tough choice for me but in the interest of fairness and the fact that I don’t believe in ‘ties’ I have the very envious choice of picking the one match I felt topped it all this month and it is probably not what you are all thinking. My match of the month is Valerie vs. Colleen in the FFA finals. Never was a match so important as both ladies had a point to prove as neither of them have ever been a top level Champion in their entire career and to be facing off against one another for the chance to challenge for the FFW Championship you could just sense the tension in the air. Both ladies went out there and wrestled their hearts out and it showed. There was not much more you could ask for in a match and I was honored to have got to watch it.
Can't really argue with this pick. One of the more gut-wrenching emotional matches (yet one laden with respect) you'll ever see. Anyways... RUNNERS UP!
- Sabra Nikolayev vs. Eileen Amaro (Breaking Point 11-10) IMO, one of the biggest upsets of the month, but it didn't come easily for Sabra, as Eileen put up a hell of a fight. I don't see how anyone is going to object to the prospect of a rematch.
- Isabella Pazzini vs. Scarlett Kincaid (Anarchy) Was the result the way we wanted it to go? No. But you can't deny that this was a pretty epic, near-trainwreck-in-a-good way kind of match that was worthy of a finale between these two.
WINNER OF THE MONTH: Colleen
This was much easier for me to choose and it goes with my match of the month, Colleen is my winner of the month hands down, there is no denying this and I’d like to see anyone try to. She has gone from never knowing if she’d ever wrestle for FFW again to now becoming the number one contender for the FFW Championship. She had no easy road to get there either in the FFA tournament from Sarah to Camilla and ending it against Valerie. Colleen has earned her chance and she earned this winner of the month award.
Can't really argue with this as well. The turnaround Colleen had from clinic to championship is nothing short of epic. Now can she get the job done against Isabella? Yup. And fuck you, that's why
- Crystal HilWilliamston: Ladder matches are hard to win. So are three-way matches. So imagine how tough it'd be to win a three-way ladder match. Now imagine doing it twice, against the same two talented opponents in a two month span. You have to respect that.
- Jodie Gray: What started as a four match winning streak has been extended to seven, and Jodie's win over Arabella has to be considered her best performance yet. Some girls just look better under a black hat, and Jodie sure is one of them.
LOSER OF THE MONTH: Scarlett Kincaid
Scarlett Kincaide is my loser of the month just for the sheer fact that she had everything set in her favor going into hell in the cell. No bias referee, no bullshit excuses, and the chance to take Isabella out of title contention should she had won the match... she had it all and she just choked on this. How could you go into a match where you had everything practically in your favor and still lose? You want to know how? You went up against Isabella Pazzini that’s how. Having been in the ring with Isabella in the past, I know the lengths this woman is willing to go to win matches and it seemed to me that Scarlett just didn’t get that. Scarlett enjoy looking on the outside for a change, just recharge those batteries and here is a little tip, Scar... learn to never take an opponent for granted.
I don't think Scar really took Bella for granted here, just came up short when she couldn't really afford to. But again, I can't argue with the awarding.
- Eileen Amaro: I mentioned this in the four corners that her day was going to come sooner or later. But to miss out on her second chance at the Evolution Championship (not to mention her upset loss to Sabra earlier in the month), that's just a heartbreaker. Chin up, Eily. You'll get your due. Trust me on this.
- Kelly McGuffin: Despite coming up just short in her first attempt to claim the belt against Summer, it was eight months before Kelly could even sniff a chance to get another TV title shot. Unfortunately for Kel... that's not going to happen after all, as it was taken from her in the Chase for the Crown finals thanks to an upset by Jennifer Williams.
DOUCHEBAG OF THE MONTH: Seth Star
This was not as tough as many would believe as there were a lot of scumbag moves done this month. But for me I give the douchebag of the month award to Seth Star. This man has taken a loveable girl like Jodie Gray and turned her into a monster that just cannot be stopped it seems... but that’s not the real reason for this award. He’s winning it because of his actions in Jodie’s matches as of late and just his overall smarmy attitude. He believes he’s better than everyone else and he believes that Jodie Gray is top shit and cant be touched. Can you get any more douchebag than that?
Not sure if he was the most heinous this month... but dear god, he at least deserves a lifetime achievement award.
- Payton St. Pierre: Of course. But if you want a laugh, check out the video on YouTube that syncs up the end of the match with the theme from Jaws. Even Penny is going to have to chuckle at that... right before she puts her fist through a window.
- Lightning: Because anyone who can beat Payton St. Pierre to the punch on partner-screwing deserves to be here. Even if she did just save the TV division from one the least deserving title contenders ever (There, I said it).
Once again, a special thanks to Liam Alexander for his insights! Stay tuned in the next couple of days for the second-ever FAN POWER X!
Monday, December 3, 2012
FOUR CORNERS: Anarchy
Four observations coming out of the latest FFW PPV- Anarchy!
1. THE BIG WINNER OF THE NIGHT IS... COLLEEN?
There were a lot of winners at Anarchy. Fourteen of them to be exact. And four of them got to take home shiny gold belts that they won. Actually, they all got to take home the shiny gold belts they came in with, since a single title belt didn't change hands last Saturday. Colleen's not one of them. All she's got is a CHANCE at a shiny belt. So why is she the big winner?
Because, whether or not Colleen wants to admit it, Anarchy could not have played out any better for her, cemented when Isabella Pazzini pinned Scarlett Kincaid forty-five minutes later in that Hell in A Cell. This isn't to say that Isabella's going to be easier to beat than Scarlett, or anything like that. Any doubts on whether or not Isabella is the legitimate champion of this company was erased last night. Isabella's going to be as difficult a challenge that Harmon's ever faced.
But this story, from the moment Colleen came back from her rehab-induced hiatus, was redemption for her. Redemption both inside the ring, and out, and so far the story has gone well. She's gained back the respect of many of her peers, and she's undefeated since her return.
Is there a better setup to a final chapter in this story than what's being written? Colleen came back to uncertainty. She's now the #1 contender to the title, less than two months away from her chance to ascend to the top of the mountain. And she's got a chance to do it against the most hated woman in FFW history- Isabella Pazzini. You want to talk redemption? From the gutter to the stars? That's it right there.
All Colleen has to do is finish the job at Cold Blooded.
2. EILEEN AMARO WILL HOLD A BELT IN 2013
There may be no one coming out of Anarchy more disappointed than Eileen Amaro. The winningest FFW Wrestler of 2012 had her second opportunity to become the Evolution Champion, and again she came up short, with Crystal Williams managing to retain her belt.
Start the boobirds, right? Choke Artist. Can't win the Big One. Paper tiger.
Screw that.
Eileen's one of the brightest and most consistent stars on this roster, and she's in a flat-out dead heat with Caroline Dallins as the best wrestler on this roster to have never held gold. She's going to get another chance, and she's going to claim it. That's one prediction for the new year I have no qualms about making.
3. THE PAIN TRAIN CAN ONLY BLAME HERSELF FOR BEING DERAILED
This was painful to watch. Of anyone on the roster who deserved to kick the ever loving shit out of her opponent, it was Penny Buchanan. And, for the most part, she did rather well, whipping (literally!) Payton St. Pierre from pillar to post. And then, in the end, she blew the victory because...
...
...
Hang on. I'm trying to muster up the pain-tolerance to say this.
...
Payton St. Pierre outsmarted her.
I've always said that PSP isn't much outside of bullshit tricks, and that match hardly proved me wrong. But all you need for a trick to work is for your opponent (or the referee) to fall for it. And (more cringe)... following Penny around as she hit the turnbuckles, then spiking her before she could get a fourth was a pretty good trick. Payton set the bait... waited, and the moment that bobber went under, she started reeling.
Obviously, there should be a rematch here, and we'll all get what we want to see- the Pain Train running over PSP. But until that day arrives, Penny has to seethe that Payton was truly the one that got away.
4. STEPPING BACK WAS THE BEST THING KAT STRYFE EVER DID
Ever since she lost the FFW Championship to Stacey Mackenzie a year ago, to say Stryfe has been in a slump would be... well, an understatement. Tough loss after tough loss wracked Stryfe- two attempts to regain the title foiled by Mackenzie. Then her loss to Scarlett to knock her out of the Scramble. Then her loss to Camilla in the Femme For All. It was obvious to anyone with any sense- Kat wasn't going to look at the FFW Championship anytime soon. So she dropped down into the Evolution division. And as they say.. boom goes the dynamite.
That was flat out Kat's best performance in a goddamn year. Hell, maybe longer- I'd almost say she was more solid against Summer than she was against Kitty. THAT was the Katherine Stryfe I'd been waiting to see since I came to FFW, and she came out in flying colors, and got herself a shot at Crystal Williams and her Evolution Championship. I wouldn't bet against Kat in that match. Hell, some might say she'd actually be the favorite in that contest- at least depending on the stipulations. Either way, Katherine Stryfe is finally right where she belongs, and she's showing it.
That's not to say that Stryfe is never going to see the FFW Championship again. There's a lot to be said in stepping away, finding a chance to improve yourself, and coming back more invigorated. It worked for Colleen, and it's working for Kat, who didn't even need to leave the company, just change her targets. And it means that when Kat finally DOES move back up, she's going to be more dangerous than ever.
But for now, put Crystal Williams firmly on notice. The Beautiful Nightmare is coming for her.
Alright everyone, now's your chance to be heard. For the second time ever, the FFW Fan voting is a-go. Rank your top 25, and send it to my FFW Email Account (OOC: PM it to Pollaski). I'll add it up, and post the rankings next week. If you've ever bitched about the rankings (and so many of you have), this is YOUR chance to be heard!
(OOC: Like before all votes will be confidential. Ballot statistics will be released, but I won't say who voted for who)
In the meantime, expect the monthly awards this week (done by someone, looking for volunteers!), and Pollaski's 2012 END OF YEAR AWARDS BALLOT!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
ANARCHY PREVIEW: Black vs. Gray
WHAT'S AT STAKE
You mean other than being a BATTLE OF THE COLORS? Honestly, congratulations to everyone who shelled out ten bucks for Firewall I a couple months ago, because all you needed to do was wait eight weeks, and you'd get three of the SAME DAMN MATCHES, plus a shitload more, for only thirty bucks more. Can't really complain, though, considering all three matches were pretty good the first time, and look to be even better the second time around. Anyways, last time, Jodie beat Arabella for win number two in her now-six match streak.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Seriously, is there a way for both of these girls to get beaten up? I mean, Jodie's turned from the dorky nerd girl to something completely different- and not all that likeable. It's like she turned into some female version of Kyle Busch. So yeah, I'd WANT to root for her opponent, except she's some vegan hippie who doesn't like killing animals. Here's a tidbit, kid. ANIMALS WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO BE KILLED AND EATEN! I mean, does she get all pissy when a lion eats an antelope? Then why can't a human eat a bunny, other than the fact bunnies just don't taste very good. Eh, screw it. I vote for the bipolar vegan hippie.
- Terrence Thompson
POLLASKI'S PICK
Vegas has Jodie as the favorite here, and it's not really hard to see why- six match winning streak plus a head to head win from back in September. But that might not be the smartest money to lay down. That loss was the only one Arabella's suffered in her last five matches, and she's on serious momentum at the moment, having just ran over Payton St. Pierre, Jo McFarlane, and Casey Atherton to take the Future Shock Cup. Not to mention Arabella's got the vengeance factor, not to mention she's probably more sick of Jodie's attitude than the average person by this point. So it's on that basis that I have to pick against the odds here.
WINNER: Arabella Black.
Friday, November 23, 2012
ANARCHY PREVIEW: Pazzini vs. Kincaid
WHATS AT STAKE
Of course, the FFW Championship, but it goes beyond that. This is the last match. Whoever loses, there is no rematch clause. In fact, whoever loses may never challenge for the FFW Championship again as long as the other holds it. Despite several clashes over the past year and a half, neither woman hold a clean, noncontroversial one-on-one victory over the other. Theoretically, that's going to happen this time. Of course, this being pro-wrestling and there being a guest referee, that might just be a pipe dream.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
It is appropriate that the smartest contributor to this column be granted the opportunity to discuss the most important match on the card. This one, however, is academic. Excuse the pun. Scarlett Kincaid is an excellent wrestler. Scarlett Kincaid is an excellent fighter. Scarlett Kincaid is an excellent PR story. The young hard-working waitress who made something of herself through a cinderella story. She has conquered again and again...but not tonight. Tonight, the final page is written in the story of this truly epic war. I want you all to pay attention to that last word: war. Wars are not won on heart and nice stories. Battles, yes. But not wars. Wars are won with strategy. The smarter side always wins, and time and time again, Isabella Pazzini has proven to be smarter than Scarlett. There is no question about that. Isabella Pazzini will enter one of the most dangerous matches in this game and will walk out still champion of this company because, quite frankly, there is nothing holding her back. No rules. No shackles. Her mind is able to run free. Scarlett Kincaid will be outmatched. It’s as simple as that, and the rightful FFW Champion will remain so.
- Aimee Easter
POLLASKI'S PICK
NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! The problem is that everyone around here seems to forget one simple thing- Scarlett is not timid. She's got a temper, she's got a firey side, and dear god, if she needs it, she's got a mean streak. And, we saw how far she was willing to go the last time she was in a Hell in A Cell, and this is a far more important match than the last one. Even more important- Scarlett's a year older, and year more mature. That means she's not going to risk throwing everything away for an exclamation point. She's going to wrestle smart. She's going to wrestle well, and unless Alicia interjects herself in such a bullshit fashion- she's going to become the first LEGITIMATE three-time FFW Champion.
WINNER: Scarlett Kincaid
ANARCHY PREVIEW: Williams vs. Amaro vs. Richards
WHATS AT STAKE
They say the definition of insanity is trying the same thing again, yet expecting different results. But a little insanity is a good thing now and again, especially if it's going to yield a match every bit as entertaining as the first one at Firewall I was. Of course, the Evolution Championship is on the line, which Crystal Williams is defending, and Eileen and Sophie chasing.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Of all the so-called "gimmick matches", the ladder match is my favorite. The premise is so simple, but the strategy is so complicated, and it's risky without stepping into the realm of gratuitous (at least, normally). It's also a match that Crystal Williams excels in- by her claim, she's never lost a ladder match, and that includes her victory at Firewall. It'd be tempting to pick her, again, but I know Eileen, and I know how badly she wants to win this, and get that title around her waist. I don't mean any disrespect to Crystal or Sophie, and I know it's a bit biased, but I really, truly believe this is Eileen's moment. She's the winningest wrestler in FFW in 2012, and she deserves that belt. It's her time to shine!
- Wendy Briese
POLLASKI'S PICK
You COULD say that because Crystal won this match the first time, she's just as likely to take the do-over, but there's a reason you do do-overs- you think the result is going to be different the second time. And with Williams being the previous winner, the chances the other two will view her as the biggest threat is greater. Which means from the getgo, Crystal could be dealing with both Eileen and Sophie, and while I can't see that alliance being all that long-lived (or even enthusiastic), it will take it's toll. I love Eileen, and like Wendy said, it'd be a damn shame if she exits 2012 without a title win. But there's something about Sophie that shines in big matches, and she's got a devious streak, so I have a feeling she's going to blindside Eileen just as poor Eily's at the cusp of finally doing it. So it's with great reluctance that I pick...
WINNER: Sophie Richards.
ANARCHY PREVIEW: Steele vs. Belmont
WHATS AT STAKE
For this one, pretty much just pride. This shit actually started over in SVW, when both Tabatha and Samara were going after Rebeckah Hate's TNA title, and sort of ended up getting in each other's way. That hot mess has spilled over here, where the girls can throw it down without Hate to play third-wheel, or any rules to burden down the action, either!
EXPERT ANALYSIS
So FFW nabs a sort-off spin-off from FFW and makes some good money out of it. Not that I can blame them for it in the slightest, especially when the original thing over in SVW didn't actually involve Tabatha to start with. She just, somehow ended up in there. And it worked out for Tabatha, since she's now a champion over there. But that's another story. But I figured I'd fill in for those that don't know, and there'll be a few of them. Anyway. as far as FFW goes, this may end up being a one-off. It's a pick 'em, really. Samara did get off a slow start, losing to Candace Orikuma, who was later demolished in two straight matches. But she's bounced back since, beating Crystal Hate and Shelbi Lynn. Neither of whom are easy opponents (trust me on this, been there, done that with both. Didn't end well.) But Tabby? Tabby's easily had the more difficult opponents, and come out on top in most of them, including wins over Kara Harrington. But in saying that, Tabby's really only had tim to sit and stew about...whatever Tabby stews about. With Tabatha's history, knocking her off would be brilliant for Samara. And honestly? I'd love to see her do it.
Pick - Samara Steele
- Jo McFarlane
POLLASKI'S PICK
I think she meant to say "spin-off from SVW" there, but Jo says a lot of things that make you go "hmm" (God, that was an awesome song). The fact is, you can paint it anyway you want, but Samara is still a rookie, and while she's pulled off wins over Hate and Carter, she still is prone to making mistakes in that ring. Tabatha's not standing with the best record, but she's flat out got more experience, especially in brutal matches such as this. I think that experience will ultimately pay off.
WINNER: Tabatha Belmont
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