Once again, its time for wrestling manager and analyst Daniel Pollaski to go over the news, reviews, and previews of Femme Fatale Wrestling! All content is the sole opinion of the author and does not reflect the views of Femme Fatale Wrestling, its wrestlers, or administration. Or Wendy Briese, for that matter, so don’t go jumping her in the hallway if you get butthurt about this. Bitch.
The Power X’s inspirational thought of the week:
You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
You're frozen
When your heart's not open
You're so consumed with how much you get
You waste your time with hate and regret
You're broken
When your heart's not open
Mmmmmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmmmmm, we'd never be apart
Mmmmmm, give yourself to me
Mmmmmm, you hold the key
Now there's no point in placing the blame
And you should know I suffer the same
If I lose you
My heart will be broken
Love is a bird, she needs to fly
Let all the hurt inside of you die
You're frozen
When your heart's not open
- “Frozen” Madonna
Hey kids!
I think its fairly obvious that when it comes to Femme Fatale Wrestling, 2012 is going to ratchet things up considerably from what we saw in 2011. You’re looking at melee-filled brawls, iron-clad title defenses, returns, debuts, firings, rematches, grudge matches, staredowns, calling-out, factional divides, and manure filled dump trucks. And that’s just the first two shows!
And January is upon us, the bleakest, darkest, coldest month of the year (at least December has Christmas lights illuminating the dreary winter evenings). Reflects well upon the name of our next event doesn’t it? But
with fifteen matches on the dockett, every single title but one on the line (and a new one debuting), comboed with a Future Shock Ladder Match and several grudge matches, I guarantee you that things are going to get way hotter than the name implies!
RANKINGS!
Of course, no Power-X would be complete without starting off with some love to our Top 25. Two people dropped out due to inactivity (the tag team known as Cheers & Jeers; Elizabeth Showtime (last ranked 34th) and Allison Deas (33rd). Combo that with two debuts (although one ain’t gonna be around for long), and two returns, and our list once again swells, bulging up to a rather Rose Jenkins sized 47 wrestlers. Of course that means 22 who didn’t quite make the cut into the main body of the column, those being...
#47- CHRISTINE SMITH [NEW]
#46- SOPHIA BLACK [-3]
#45- CHARITY DEAS [=]
#44- DESTINY LOVEHEART [Returning, Last ranked 40th on November 2]
#43- TRACI LOVEHEART [+1]
#42- ALYSSA FOXWORTH [=]
#41- CHARLOTTE GAGE [-1]
#40- SARAH RICHARDSON [+1]
#39- STEPHANIE SULLIVAN [=]
#38- TABATHA BELMONT [=]
#37- KIMBERLY ARIES [-2]
#36- KASSANDRA [=]
#35- LIGHTNING [-4]
#34- ELIZABETH BLACKWELL [NEW]
#33- IGNIS [-3]
#32- JO MCFARLANE [-5]
#31- HANNA ELLIOT [-2]
#30- ALYSSON GARDNER [-6]
#29- REBBECCA VALENTINE [+3]
#28- HAYLEY DARK [-2]
#27- SUMMER [-5]
#26- ARIANNA MILLAR [-1] FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPION
Of these, expect the bottom two (Smith and Black) to be gone next time around. As far as the top 25 goes, don’t expect anything groundbreaking. There was a bit of shuffling, but nothing tremendously major in the rankings this week. In fact, the top 7 all remained firmly locked into place. There is, however, one huge mover, and we start with...
#25- LUMINA FERRARI [+12]
Oh my god, the little Guida lives! Ferrari’s been considered a lost cause for the better part of the last year, but when she made Summer tap, she got a lot of people (including yours truly) looking at her in a whole new light. Lumina’s now on her way to Cold Blooded, and she’s going to have a chance to become the first ever No Surrender Champion. That’s not going to be easy though- not with McCloud and Briese in the ring.
#24- ARABELLA DE ROSSI [+4]
Arabella helped contribute greatly to the Violent Femmes defeat of Amaro and Sanders, and its becoming more and more obvious that the ‘other’ Violent Femme is just as vicious as her partner. Still, Arabella’s sitting out of the ring at Cold Blooded, something that I dont’ think she minds. I have this sneaking feeling that we’ll be seeing her before the night is done, and I doubt the critics of the A-List are going to enjoy what transpires.
#23- CARA STONE [=]
I’m not one to normally give points for chutzpah, but Cara does earn some after her gutsy calling out of Colleen at Breaking Point on Saturday. Now that her target is set, now all that’s left for Cara to do is win the Future Shock Pick Your Poison Ladder Match (FSPYPLM). It won’t be an easy task, but save for actually beating Avilo, Cara has been explosive every step of the way thus far. There’s no reason to believe she won’t walk out with the briefcase.
#22- EMMA MCINTYRE [-1]
This might come as a surprise to some of you, but Emma Mac has not been in the ring since her losing effort against Queen Machine at Violent Night. That’s a long time to go without competing, and settling for being a ring announcer at New Years Retribution likely didn’t do her any favors. Luckily, she’s facing a blind girl at Cold Blooded. Even Emma Mac couldn’t screw THAT up, right?
#21- CRYSTAL HATE [-2]
Crystal’s developed a reuptation of being a break-in wrestler- an opponent for newcomers to test to see what they can do. That didn’t work out so well for Christine Smith, as “The Predator” was quickly turned into prey, and beaten so badly, she was deemed unacceptable talent-wise for FFW (which, given Charity Deas and the Lovehearts, says a LOT), and sent packing. For Hate, it’s Summertime, and the hope of getting another match against Sophie Richards for the Television title.
#20- RAVEN WICKED [-4]
Whether Raven is into pain and suffering or not, even she can’t be too thrilled with the result from Velocity, losing to Camilla again. This time, however, is a bit crippling, as it really sets Raven back in terms of contendership to the Ultraviolence title. Word on the street is that the division is going to be growing, and with Raven out of the picture for the time being, it could be a while before she’s competing for her favorite strap again.
#19- DESIRAE KAIN [-4]
*FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPION*
THe speedy Frenchwoman came out swinging against Sophie Richards, but the Champion proved to be a bit too much for Desirae to walk out holding double gold. It’s back to the basics for Desi- regroup with Arianna, and fend off a tough Bounce & Pounce team to leave Cold Blooded with the straps.
#18- SHANE SANDERS [-1]
Shane got held up by Arabella, which kept her from saving Eileen and ending with her team going down in defeat to the Violent Femmes. It’s a tough break, you know Shane wanted that one. But the big match is at CB, and it’s against the exact same person who tapped Eileen out- Colleen. Even with her victory over Col at Violent Night, it feels that Shane’s got more to prove here.
#17- QUEEN MACHINE [+1]
Like Emma, Jenny hasn’t been in the ring since their match at Violent Night, and like Emma, it’s probably not the best to be that rusty going into a PPV. Unlike Emma, she’s not facing a blind girl- she’s facing Kitty fuckin’ Stryfe, and if Queenie wants to bring the former Champion down and impress Alexander, she better get some WD-40 on her moving parts, or else she’s going to be leaving Cold-Blooded obsolete.
#16- KELLY MCGUFFIN [+4]
Kelly finally makes her long-awaited PPV debut, and she couldn’t have asked for a better match to do it with. Kelly’s made it very clear that she wants to be a part of the A-List, and fighting Jo McFarlane for the right is something she couldn’t have asked for better. Kelly already has a couple legs up on Jo- the most recent being the Sophia Black incident. Now all that’s left is for Kelly to rise up and take her rightful spot.
#15- EILEEN AMARO [-4]
This really isn’t the way Eileen was hoping to kick off 2012, tapping out to Colleen for the second time in her career. Worse, considering the high emotions running between Eileen, Colleen, and Colleen’s boyfriend Leander Apollo, Colleen hasn’t exactly been acting like the most gracious vicor either, Lording it over Eileen several times. A third crack at Col will be coming sooner or later, you can just feel it, but for now, Eileen is forced to be content to kick the crap out of Alyssa Foxworth instead.
#14- CASEY ATHERTON [-1]
I don’t think winning by disqualification after having her head spiked into a title belt was exactly what Casey had in mind to keep her undefeated streak going, but there’s no doubt she’ll take it. Now for Casey is to prove once again that she’s the greatest Future Shock competitor ever, doing so by besting four other alumni in a ladder match at Cold Blooded.
#13- STARLA MCCLOUD [Returning- Last Ranked 8th on November 17th]
Well, Starla and Isabella didnt’ exactly settle anything the second time around, as the match denigraded quickly into an all-out brawl between the A-List and their opposition. Starla has a chance to make a much more definitive statement, when she goes for a rare second match in as many cycles and faces Wendy and Lumina for the No Surrender Championship.
#12- ROSE JENKINS [+2]
Let’s face it, even together, the Lovehearts (or Twisted Path 2.0, or Elite Threat, Christ they have more names than wins) aren’t exactly a threat. But Rose Jenkins gets points for the absolute, obvious, amazing, destructive, completely pwnzorage way she destroyed Traci and Destiny. But now its seriously put up or shut up time for Rose. There’s no more excuses- she has to beat Cammie at Cold Blooded, and get that Ultraviolence title.
#11- ISABELLA PAZZINI [-1]
Things at Velocity got too out of control for even someone like Isabella to handle, and it cost her a chance at victory over Starla. Still, Isabella could have made a much more dear payment- in the chaos, Starla was set to throw her off the stage, only for Isabella to be saved by Crystal Hilton. I’m sure Isabella will be sure to get a couple of thanks in while she’s taking it to Hilton at CB.
#10- KAITLYNN STRYFE [-1]
That was hardly Kitty’s finest performance, but then again, she didn’t exactly need it against the struggling Charlotte Gage, and she’s now collected the whole set of Danger Queens for her victory mantle. But up net is a match that means way more to Stryfe than ranking positionings or titles. Her marriage is ultimately in the hands of her and her husband, but Lord knows beating the hell out of Queen Machine isn’t going to hurt things.
#9- KATHERINE STRYFE [-1]
So... where in the World is Katherine Sandiego? It’s probably never a good thing when one of your main eventers goes missing right before a Pay-Per-View, but if Cody and Samantha ain’t freaking out about it, then why the hell should I? Besides, its not like the match is gonna be ruined if Stacey and Scarlett just face each other...
#8 SOPHIE RICHARDS [+2]
*FFW TELEVISION CHAMPION*
I say a lot of controversial shit here on the Power X, but here’s one thing I’m fairly certain isn’t going to be met with a lot of debate- Sophie has now established herself as the greatest champion on any level in FFW History. She just added Desirae Kain to her ever growing list of successful defenses, but the line in the TV division is never-ending, with more and more challengers lining up for a shot. Next up will be the winner between Crystal Hate and Summer- could be Sophie’s stiffest challenge yet!
#7- CRYSTAL HILTON [=]
Like I said, the change stops here, as the Top 7 all remain the same. Hilton played an interesting factor during the A-List/Mafia brawl at Velocity. Obviously, she didn’t exactly walk out wearing a Mackenzie Mafia t-shirt, but she emphatically (yet, nonviolently) stopped Starla from throwing Isabella off the stage. While there are several theory’s as to Hilton’s motives, I think you have to go with the obvious one: Crystal wants to do the deed herself on the twenty-eighth
#6- TARA THUNDER [=]
*FFW EVOLUTION CHAMPION*
Jesus, Hanna Elliot and Melanie Avilo? Is it just me or are Evolution Championship defenses getting a bit on the softer side? Either way, Tara’s second defense is awaiting her at Cold Blooded, as she draws the Future Shock 5 Champion. Not entirely confident that Tara can match Colleen’s epic six month reign, but the prognosis of Tara entering February with the belt is a good one.
#5- WENDY BRIESE [=]
To be fair, the contest had already gone to shit, and Starla did strike her first, but that is the first time I can remember Wendy actually interfering in an ongoing wrestling match. And she’s been strangely unapologetic too, which should say something about how badly she wants this No Surrender belt, something she’ll have to go through Starla to get.
#4- COLLEEN [=]
She’s baaaaaack! Two weeks after putting on a clinic and making Chris Strike tap in her hometown, Col did it again, choking out the always persistant Eileen Amaro at Breaking Point to keep the Violent Femmes undefeated. Anyone who accused Colleen of overlooking Shane Sanders the first time around can rest assured that is not going to be happening this time, if it even did to begin with.
#3- CAMILLA PAZZINI [=]
*FFW ULTRAVIOLENCE CHAMPION*
Camilla couldn’t help but get Rose’s goat one last time before Cold Blooded, and she did so coming out and brawling with the behemoth after her win over the Lovehearts/Twisted Path 2.0/Elite Threat. Then again, Rose didn’t exactly take it lying down, and confronted Cammie again later in the evening. The one thing I see here working against Chunks- she’s a natural troll. Is she going to focus more on beating ROse, or pissing her off?
#2- SCARLETT KINCAID
Scarlett’s has to still be fuming from her match against Johnny Moxie at NYR, and she’d be wise to use that irritation and invest it into her upcoming match. Of course, the other object of her ire recently, Kat Stryfe, is suddenly nowhere to be found. Should it turn into Scar and Stacey one on one, does that hurt or help Scar’s chances of being the first ever two-time FFW Champion?
#1- STACEY MACKENZIE
*FFW CHAMPION*
It’s an interesting tell that the members of OMGWTF are heading in opposite directions as Stacey heads into her first FFW Championship defense- her partner Tiffany is struggling over in SVW, something that Stace has to have noticed. It’s mentionable, because that sort of thing can lead to a strain in a partnership, which would lead to a distraction, something that Stacey can ill-afford right now. Either way, she’s going to have to be at her absolute best if she hopes to emerge from Cold Blooded 12-0.
And there you have it, kids! Expect for a HUGE shift in the power structure come next week. PPV’s tend to rattle the status quo significantly. Speaking of which...
INCOMING!
So, Cold Blooded is finally here. Fifteen matches featuring THIRTY-SEVEN wrestlers. That’s a lot of shit going down. So, no time to waste...
#22 EMMA MCINTYRE vs. ALLISON WRIGHT
What’s at Stake: Definitely a bit tougher than your average Charity Deas introduction match, this one should hold sway for both competitors. Allison (aka Allison #4) obviously will want to hit the ground running, while Emma McIntyre probably would like to display a bit more in-ring success than what she’s currently been having. That both of these girls were back in the old EWC should help sweeten the pot.
My Take: It shouldn’t be overlooked that Allison is blind, although that’s something I’ve been assured doesn’t impact her performance much. Still... I just can’t see it (no pun intended). That, and everyone knows that Emma has got to be hungry for a big PPV win, so I’d have to peg her as the favorite here.
#21 CRYSTAL HATE vs. #27 SUMMER
What’s at Stake: It hasn’t been officially announced, but all signs point to the winner of this one going on to face Sopie Richards for the TV title. Crystal’s already had a shot at Richards, but came up short, while Summer is taking this as a consolation prize after losing to Lumina Ferrari in the No Surrender qualifiers. Both girls could use a big win, although I’d say Summer’s probably backed up against the wall a bit more.
My Take: I’m not sure how Summer deals with pressure situations, but I know that Hate is pretty strong in the big matches, and she gave Sophie a hell of a fight last time. She wants to get back there, and while I see Summer putting up an amazing fight, and this turning out to be a potential show-stealer in the early goings, I think Hate will earn her rematch.
#34 ELIZABETH BLACKWELL vs. #38 TABATHA BELMONT
What’s at Stake: On the surface pitting a Future Shock washout against the most undeserving TV title contender since Michelle Taylor screams ‘throwaway match’, but this one could actually be pretty entertaining, given that Blackwell’s been dyking on Tabatha for the better part of the last two months, and the two have taken the phrase ‘sexual tension’ to the next level. Ooh la la!
My Take; Other than that Wendy is going to be completely and utterly offended by this match, it’s tough to make a prediction. Tabatha’s got the experience, if not the accolades to show for it, while Blackwell seems hungrier. Ambition tends to beat experience around here, so I’m gonna give it to the succubus.
#30 ALYSSON GARDNER vs. #39 STEPHANIE SULLIVAN
What’s at Stake: Just pride here baby. This one goes back quite a bit, to a now defunct company called Ring of Beauty. I didn’t watch ROB (there’s a reason that company is now defunct), so I’m not sure on the details, but you can just tell that Aly and Steph don’t like each other from the way they glare at each other. Not pegging this as a show-stealer, but neither is it going to be a bathroom break.
My Take: Aly took a bad loss against Valentine, and she’s going to be hungry for redemption. Sullivan is a part-time wrestler who’s literally done nothing in FFW since joining five months ago, so this seems like a pretty cut and dry scenario. So while I will acknowledge the potential for another upset, I’m picking Gardner all the way here.
FFW NO-SURRENDER CHAMPIONSHIP, TRIPLE-THREAT
#5 WENDY BRIESE vs. #13 STARLA MCCLOUD vs. #25 LUMINA FERRARI
What’s at Stake: Only being the first no-surrender champion. Oh, and something about Wendy and Starla not really liking each other. And Lumina’s continued quest for redemption. Did I mention the FIRST INTRODUCTION OF A NEW FFW TITLE IN OVER A YEAR?
My Take: How the hell is this so damn low on the card? Anyways, the catch of the No-Surrender division is that you can only win matches by Submission only, which, given the time it can take to earn a submission victory, means a triple threat could make for a very interesting contest. Obviously, you know who I’m picking here, but it’s going to be a tough drive. You factor in Lumina’s ability to net a submission from out of the blue, along with the underlying A-List/Mafia feud (even though Wendy’s not officially a member of the Mackenzie Mafia), and this is going to be a very difficult match. Let’s just hope it stays a clean one.
FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
PINK, INC © (#19 DESIRAE KAIN & #26 ARIANNA MILLAR) vs. BOUNCE & POUNCE (#28 HAYLEY DARK & #33 IGNIS)
What’s at Stake: The tag belts are on the line, with out of the blue champions Pink Inc hoping to defend successfully against Bounce & Pounce, who have patiently waited for their shot ever since earning it back at the October Byte This!
My Take: There’s a lot of similarities here, given that both teams are extremely speedy. Both are also of the alpha-beta type with a dominant, more established wrestler (Kain/Dark) leading a less experienced but still potent partner (Millar/Ignis). Looking at it from that perspective, you gotta give the advantage to Pink Inc thanks to Kain’s leadership (hey, they beat The Flame, so I’m not questioning it). But looking at it from a pure team standpoint, I’d say B&P have the better chemistry. That puts this into toss-up category, but I wouldn’t be shocked if we see new Champions.
#15 EILEEN AMARO vs. #42 ALYSSA FOXWORTH
What’s at Stake: While the brewing war between the A-List and the Mackenzie Mafia is definitley an underlying factor, this goes back even further to the second Chase for the Crown, when Eileen and Alyssa were on the same team in the second round. They had Sarah Richardson beat and ready to be pinned, only for Alyssa to knock Eileen out, and take the honors for herself.
My Take; After a rough couple of months that saw poor Eileen lose to Kain in the Chase for the Crown, then be tapped out by Colleen again last week, she finally is going to have an opponent she can sink her teeth into. And I do mean that literally. Alyssa is going to be torn to shreds by the vengeful Tsunami.
PRISON OF PUNISHMENT
#16 KELLY MCGUFFIN vs. #32 JO MCFARLANE
What’s at Stake: Jo’s spot on the A-List is up for grabs here. After making the stupid mistake of wrestling (a hardcore match, no less) for another company, and becoming too injured to compete, Kelly stepped up to take over, and ran Sophia Black out of the company. Needless to say, Samantha was less than pleased by all of this, and as a reward to the helpful McGuffin, and a punishment to the foolish McFarlane, she set this up.
My Take: It could be argued that Samantha actually set this match up so that a member of her ‘elite’ cadre could actually get to claim a win at a PPV. Wendy has been adamant to me all week that Jo is way better than Kelly, but the fact is, when these two faced back in August, Kelly was the winner. Still, Jo is as adept at pulling a match out when she absolutely needs it as she is squandering the momentum in the aftermath. But I think the anything goes atmosphere favors the much more amoral Kelly, and we’ll be seeing a bit of turnover in the organization.
FUTURE SHOCK PICK YOUR POISON LADDER MATCH
#14 CASEY ATHERTON vs. #23 CARA STONE vs. #45 CHARITY DEAS vs. JENNIFER WILLIAMS vs. JODIE GRAY
What’s at Stake: These Pick-Your-Poison stipulations generally are just the spark people need to get their careers kicked off the ground, and considering that three of the women here are making their official FFW debuts, you can bet they’ll be trying to make a great first impression. Throw in Casey, who’s hellbent on claiming dominion over anything and everything Future Shock related, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
My Take: There’s a lot of ways to look at this. Casey and Charity were in one of these before, although Charity was so ineffective it wasn’t funny, and Casey turned out to be more of a spoiler than a threat. Cara and Jodie have proven they can get along, which could result in them taking everyone else out, and settling it beetween them (not like that ever works). Williams and Atherton are more adept at pissing people off, something that could backfire if all four girls gang up on one. This is a true pick-em, because literally anything can happen here (even a Charity win, which will make me cry). I’d peg Cara as the favorite, but as long as Alex Adonis is at ringside, it’s tough to count Casey out.
FFW ULTRAVIOLENCE CHAMPIONSHIP- LAST WOMAN STANDING
#3 CAMILLA PAZZINI © vs. #12 ROSE JENKINS
What’s at Stake: Obviously, the UV title, although the grudge between these two women go way deeper than any strap. Camilla’s done her best to piss Rose off at every turn, and she’s succeeded. Rose isn’t the kind of woman with a sense of humor, and the fact that Camilla has deftly kept ahead of her every step of the way has got to be grating on her nerves.
My Take: There will be blood. That’s about the surest thing you can bet on for this match. LWS matches can tend to turn into slugfests, which favor Rose, who’s about the only one in FFW who beats Chunks in the power department. But Camilla’s stayed ahead of Rose thus far throughout this tiff, and given how Pazzini against Colleen in a LWS, Rose is going to need to wrestle an almost perfect match if she hopes to become the champion.
#4 COLLEEN vs. #18 SHANE SANDERS
What’s at Stake: This is a rematch from Violent Night, when Shane shocked the world by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in FFW history. Colleen’s had this loss grate on her for the last two months, and she wants a rematch. Ultimately, I see the winner of this getting on the shortlist for the next FFW Championship contender.
My Take: First of all, Colleen’s jumping of Shane to announce her desire for a rematch was a definite bitch move, but at the same time, Sander’s revelation that she feels facing Colleen again to be beneath her is equally headscratching (just look at the rankings, if you need an explanation). Strangely enough, public perception almost puts the burden on Shane here- she needs to prove Violent Night wasn’t a fluke more than Colleen needs to prove that it was. Fluke or not, the last two matches Colleen has had has made me a believer- she’ll take this one.
FFW EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP
#6 TARA THUNDER © vs. MELANIE AVILO
What’s at Stake: The Evolution Championship. Tara makes her second defense, while Mel got her shot by winning the fifth season of Future Shock.
My Take: I hope Mel appreciates the opportunity she has here, being able to just waltz in and get a shot at the Evolution title- normally the road to that belt is a lot longer and more difficult. That being said, save for Raven, every single Future Shock winner thus far has successfully cashed in on her prize (Although, to be fair, Alyson Summers didn’t exactly set the bar high when she went after Sophia fucking Black.) The question will come down to Tara’s mindset- she’s at her best when she knows she’s beatable, otherwise we could have another Hanna Elliot incident. I don’t see Tara letting that happen. Not here.
PARKING LOT BRAWL
#7 CRYSTAL HILTON vs. #12 ISABELLA PAZZINI
What’s at Stake: Pride, for the most part, although this is probably also an unofficial eliminator in determining the next challenger to the FFW Championship. This one’s turned ugly though, thanks to Hilton’s attacks on Isabella’s sister-in-law and friends. It culiminated in a bizarre incident at Velocity, when Crystal stopped Starla McCloud from chucking Isabella off the stage.
My Take: This one may end up being the match of the night. The no-rules atmosphere plays to both women’s stregnth, although it probably favors Isabella a bit more. We’ve seen how brutal Isabella can get when someone’s pissed her off, and I think she’s had enough of the Rose Goddess/Witch/Hagraven. Hilton’s due for a whuppin, and Izzy is just the person to do it.
GUEST REFEREE: ALEXANDER STRYFE
#10 KAITLYNN STRYFE vs. #17 QUEEN MACHINE
What’s at Stake: Officially, just pride. Although the fact that Queen Machine has been very vocal about stealing Kaitlynn’s husband for herself has stirred the pot just a bit. This match may not determine who gets Stryfe, but considering how personal it’s gotten, the winner of this one is going to be making the loser look as bad in Alexander’s eyes as she possibly can.
My Take: Ultimately, though, I could look at this scientifically, and see who actually is the better wrestler, but this one’s a lot easier to predict: The winner of this match will be whoever Alexander Stryfe wants it to be, and after what I just saw at Breaking Point, I’m not entirely 100% sure that one will be Kitty.
FFW CHAMPIONSHIP- TRIPLE THREAT
#1 STACEY MACKENZIE © vs. #2 SCARLETT KINCAID vs. #9 KATHERINE STRYFE
What’s at Stake: The biggest band (of gold) in the land! The grandmammy of them all. The FFW Championship. If it were to change hands, the new champion (either Scar or Kat) will have the distinction of being the first ever two-time champion. This is also Stryfe’s rematch with Stacey, and the clumination of a months-long Twitter snipe-fest between Kincaid and Stryfe. And Stacey is trying to keep her undefeated streak alive. Am I missing anything?
My Take: Stryfe seems to step it up when no one is giving her a chance, and considering that no one actually knows if she’s gonna even be there, I’d say that’s a pretty slim chance from the general population. But before we hand the title to Stryfe, also keep in mind how hungry Scarlett’s been to get back here, fighting back from that injury to get here. And of course, Stacey is ostensibly unbeatable. Ultimately thought, I think that Scarlett’s sense of will and ambition is going to favor her, and she’s going to start 2012 the same way she spent a good chunk of 2011: on top of the world.
You think that preview was a doozy? Wait til the actual fuckin’ show!
AWARDS!
Had a tough time getting a volunteer to do awards for some reason this week- everyone seemed to not be up for it or something :(. But there was one person who was “Simply Better”, and gave me some of her very valuable time to type this up. And yes, I am indeed speaking of our current FFW Champion, “The Simply Better Dreamkiller”, Stacey Mackenzie!
Match of the Week
Sophie Richards vs. Desirae Kain
This was just the standout for me; two Future Shock Champions going all out to be the Television Champion. A great technical classic, in a two week cycle which has primarily seen nothing but extreme violence and absolute chaos. This was a stellar effort by both women, but once again, Sophie Richards came out on top, as she always seems to these days. I’d better keep an eye on her... it may not be long before she starts coming after my FFW Championship.
I couldn’t agree more on this one. I got to call this from ringside, and I was every bit as captivated as the fans were. Not sure if I’m about to stick Sophie on that top level just yet, but she’s a dangerous competitor everywhere she goes. But don’t rule out Kain yet either. That loss wasn’t the end for her, and she’ll be back in that picture sooner than you’d think. Anyways, runners up:
- Ferrari vs. Summer (The other match this past cycle with major title implications, Ferrari and Summer battled it out for that last No Surrender spot. It was a phenomenal back and forth classic, won by Lumina in what is considered by many to be an upset)
- McGuffin vs. Black (To quote the great Statler and Waldorf: It was stupid! It was pointless! It was obvious! It was... SHORT! I LOVED IT!)
Winner of the Week
Rebbecca Valentine
Coming off an awesome win at New Year’s Retribution (against me & Tiff, no less), Becca’s celebrations were cut short due to her partner’s mysterious disappearance. But Becca managed to turn it all around, and pick out a huge singles win over Alysson Gardner. This was the perfect time for her to grab the spotlight, and show she can get the job done solo, and I think she did just that. Maybe there’re a future for her as well, outside of being “Kat’s partner”.
Rebbecca Valentine... winner... in the same sentence? 2012 is getting way too many signs of the end of the world for my taste.
- Starla McCloud (yes, her match against Izzy was a no-contest, but there was no denying that Pazzini was getting the upper hand before Adonis interfered, and everything then went to pot, saving McCloud from the asskicking she very much had coming. That’s going to change come Cold Blooded, of course)
- Lumina Ferrari (Where the fuck was THAT for the last ten months?)
Loser of the Week
Raven Wicked
Well, after the fairy tale nearly six months ago now, the bubble has finally burst for Raven. Three straight defeats to Camilla, and she’s out of her favourite playground, the Ultraviolence Championship hunt. And it all looked so promising when she pulled off that huge upset victory back at Unstoppable. It’ll be interesting to see what Raven does now. My vote goes with more abuse of Alvin Shepherd.
I would totally be okay with the creation of an “Aubsing Alvin Shepherd” title, just to keep Raven happy.
- Alysson Gardner (On the flipside of Becca’s big win is this crushing upset of a defeat. Gardner was likely headed for a TV contendership until that one. Won’t say she’s out of it yet, though. She just needs to get back on the horse.)
- Charity Deas (yeah, Charity is always a loser, but seriously. Blackwell could have gotten up, had dinner, found Tabatha Belmont, fucked her twice, and been back in the ring in time before Charity leaped)
Douchebag of the Week
Whitley Mercer
I guess I decided to take this award literally, huh? Seeing as she’ll probably need a douche bag to cleanse her... well, you get the idea. Hehehe. Truth is, Whitley totally punked out and humiliated poor Dani on Velocity, in amazing douchebag fashion. You just don’t pick on people who can’t defend themselves. Then, she came back for MORE this week... but thanks to a certain cuddly manager, she found herself “up shit creek” without a paddle! I guess it was a “crap” day for her, and when asked what she was going to do to Dani in retaliation, she said she was going to “sewer”. Geez. That outfit is gonna be ruined... but it serves the bitch right!
Hehehehehehe... read on Stacey. Read on.
- Jo McFarlane (This just pisses me off, because I had JUST written in a column about how Jo had shaken doubts about her commitment, and then she has to go and get herself injured wrestling for some shitty regional company. And right before a match she had been hand-picked for by our boss too. Priorities, Jo. Fucking priorities.)
- Alex Adonis (Consider him the FFW’s version of Gavrilo Princip. But do you think he had a fucking clue he knew what he was starting when he tried fucking up the Pazzini/McCloud match? Well, he started a war. Guess which side is gonna end it.)
Once again, a special thanks for our Champion for the awards, and the best of luck to you at Cold Blooded!
MEME OF THE WEEK!
We’ve got a double feature here. First, well, one that’s very near and dear to my heart:
The Power X’s inspirational thought of the week:
You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
You're frozen
When your heart's not open
You're so consumed with how much you get
You waste your time with hate and regret
You're broken
When your heart's not open
Mmmmmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmmmmm, we'd never be apart
Mmmmmm, give yourself to me
Mmmmmm, you hold the key
Now there's no point in placing the blame
And you should know I suffer the same
If I lose you
My heart will be broken
Love is a bird, she needs to fly
Let all the hurt inside of you die
You're frozen
When your heart's not open
- “Frozen” Madonna
Hey kids!
I think its fairly obvious that when it comes to Femme Fatale Wrestling, 2012 is going to ratchet things up considerably from what we saw in 2011. You’re looking at melee-filled brawls, iron-clad title defenses, returns, debuts, firings, rematches, grudge matches, staredowns, calling-out, factional divides, and manure filled dump trucks. And that’s just the first two shows!
And January is upon us, the bleakest, darkest, coldest month of the year (at least December has Christmas lights illuminating the dreary winter evenings). Reflects well upon the name of our next event doesn’t it? But
with fifteen matches on the dockett, every single title but one on the line (and a new one debuting), comboed with a Future Shock Ladder Match and several grudge matches, I guarantee you that things are going to get way hotter than the name implies!
RANKINGS!
Of course, no Power-X would be complete without starting off with some love to our Top 25. Two people dropped out due to inactivity (the tag team known as Cheers & Jeers; Elizabeth Showtime (last ranked 34th) and Allison Deas (33rd). Combo that with two debuts (although one ain’t gonna be around for long), and two returns, and our list once again swells, bulging up to a rather Rose Jenkins sized 47 wrestlers. Of course that means 22 who didn’t quite make the cut into the main body of the column, those being...
#47- CHRISTINE SMITH [NEW]
#46- SOPHIA BLACK [-3]
#45- CHARITY DEAS [=]
#44- DESTINY LOVEHEART [Returning, Last ranked 40th on November 2]
#43- TRACI LOVEHEART [+1]
#42- ALYSSA FOXWORTH [=]
#41- CHARLOTTE GAGE [-1]
#40- SARAH RICHARDSON [+1]
#39- STEPHANIE SULLIVAN [=]
#38- TABATHA BELMONT [=]
#37- KIMBERLY ARIES [-2]
#36- KASSANDRA [=]
#35- LIGHTNING [-4]
#34- ELIZABETH BLACKWELL [NEW]
#33- IGNIS [-3]
#32- JO MCFARLANE [-5]
#31- HANNA ELLIOT [-2]
#30- ALYSSON GARDNER [-6]
#29- REBBECCA VALENTINE [+3]
#28- HAYLEY DARK [-2]
#27- SUMMER [-5]
#26- ARIANNA MILLAR [-1] FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPION
Of these, expect the bottom two (Smith and Black) to be gone next time around. As far as the top 25 goes, don’t expect anything groundbreaking. There was a bit of shuffling, but nothing tremendously major in the rankings this week. In fact, the top 7 all remained firmly locked into place. There is, however, one huge mover, and we start with...
#25- LUMINA FERRARI [+12]
Oh my god, the little Guida lives! Ferrari’s been considered a lost cause for the better part of the last year, but when she made Summer tap, she got a lot of people (including yours truly) looking at her in a whole new light. Lumina’s now on her way to Cold Blooded, and she’s going to have a chance to become the first ever No Surrender Champion. That’s not going to be easy though- not with McCloud and Briese in the ring.
#24- ARABELLA DE ROSSI [+4]
Arabella helped contribute greatly to the Violent Femmes defeat of Amaro and Sanders, and its becoming more and more obvious that the ‘other’ Violent Femme is just as vicious as her partner. Still, Arabella’s sitting out of the ring at Cold Blooded, something that I dont’ think she minds. I have this sneaking feeling that we’ll be seeing her before the night is done, and I doubt the critics of the A-List are going to enjoy what transpires.
#23- CARA STONE [=]
I’m not one to normally give points for chutzpah, but Cara does earn some after her gutsy calling out of Colleen at Breaking Point on Saturday. Now that her target is set, now all that’s left for Cara to do is win the Future Shock Pick Your Poison Ladder Match (FSPYPLM). It won’t be an easy task, but save for actually beating Avilo, Cara has been explosive every step of the way thus far. There’s no reason to believe she won’t walk out with the briefcase.
#22- EMMA MCINTYRE [-1]
This might come as a surprise to some of you, but Emma Mac has not been in the ring since her losing effort against Queen Machine at Violent Night. That’s a long time to go without competing, and settling for being a ring announcer at New Years Retribution likely didn’t do her any favors. Luckily, she’s facing a blind girl at Cold Blooded. Even Emma Mac couldn’t screw THAT up, right?
#21- CRYSTAL HATE [-2]
Crystal’s developed a reuptation of being a break-in wrestler- an opponent for newcomers to test to see what they can do. That didn’t work out so well for Christine Smith, as “The Predator” was quickly turned into prey, and beaten so badly, she was deemed unacceptable talent-wise for FFW (which, given Charity Deas and the Lovehearts, says a LOT), and sent packing. For Hate, it’s Summertime, and the hope of getting another match against Sophie Richards for the Television title.
#20- RAVEN WICKED [-4]
Whether Raven is into pain and suffering or not, even she can’t be too thrilled with the result from Velocity, losing to Camilla again. This time, however, is a bit crippling, as it really sets Raven back in terms of contendership to the Ultraviolence title. Word on the street is that the division is going to be growing, and with Raven out of the picture for the time being, it could be a while before she’s competing for her favorite strap again.
#19- DESIRAE KAIN [-4]
*FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPION*
THe speedy Frenchwoman came out swinging against Sophie Richards, but the Champion proved to be a bit too much for Desirae to walk out holding double gold. It’s back to the basics for Desi- regroup with Arianna, and fend off a tough Bounce & Pounce team to leave Cold Blooded with the straps.
#18- SHANE SANDERS [-1]
Shane got held up by Arabella, which kept her from saving Eileen and ending with her team going down in defeat to the Violent Femmes. It’s a tough break, you know Shane wanted that one. But the big match is at CB, and it’s against the exact same person who tapped Eileen out- Colleen. Even with her victory over Col at Violent Night, it feels that Shane’s got more to prove here.
#17- QUEEN MACHINE [+1]
Like Emma, Jenny hasn’t been in the ring since their match at Violent Night, and like Emma, it’s probably not the best to be that rusty going into a PPV. Unlike Emma, she’s not facing a blind girl- she’s facing Kitty fuckin’ Stryfe, and if Queenie wants to bring the former Champion down and impress Alexander, she better get some WD-40 on her moving parts, or else she’s going to be leaving Cold-Blooded obsolete.
#16- KELLY MCGUFFIN [+4]
Kelly finally makes her long-awaited PPV debut, and she couldn’t have asked for a better match to do it with. Kelly’s made it very clear that she wants to be a part of the A-List, and fighting Jo McFarlane for the right is something she couldn’t have asked for better. Kelly already has a couple legs up on Jo- the most recent being the Sophia Black incident. Now all that’s left is for Kelly to rise up and take her rightful spot.
#15- EILEEN AMARO [-4]
This really isn’t the way Eileen was hoping to kick off 2012, tapping out to Colleen for the second time in her career. Worse, considering the high emotions running between Eileen, Colleen, and Colleen’s boyfriend Leander Apollo, Colleen hasn’t exactly been acting like the most gracious vicor either, Lording it over Eileen several times. A third crack at Col will be coming sooner or later, you can just feel it, but for now, Eileen is forced to be content to kick the crap out of Alyssa Foxworth instead.
#14- CASEY ATHERTON [-1]
I don’t think winning by disqualification after having her head spiked into a title belt was exactly what Casey had in mind to keep her undefeated streak going, but there’s no doubt she’ll take it. Now for Casey is to prove once again that she’s the greatest Future Shock competitor ever, doing so by besting four other alumni in a ladder match at Cold Blooded.
#13- STARLA MCCLOUD [Returning- Last Ranked 8th on November 17th]
Well, Starla and Isabella didnt’ exactly settle anything the second time around, as the match denigraded quickly into an all-out brawl between the A-List and their opposition. Starla has a chance to make a much more definitive statement, when she goes for a rare second match in as many cycles and faces Wendy and Lumina for the No Surrender Championship.
#12- ROSE JENKINS [+2]
Let’s face it, even together, the Lovehearts (or Twisted Path 2.0, or Elite Threat, Christ they have more names than wins) aren’t exactly a threat. But Rose Jenkins gets points for the absolute, obvious, amazing, destructive, completely pwnzorage way she destroyed Traci and Destiny. But now its seriously put up or shut up time for Rose. There’s no more excuses- she has to beat Cammie at Cold Blooded, and get that Ultraviolence title.
#11- ISABELLA PAZZINI [-1]
Things at Velocity got too out of control for even someone like Isabella to handle, and it cost her a chance at victory over Starla. Still, Isabella could have made a much more dear payment- in the chaos, Starla was set to throw her off the stage, only for Isabella to be saved by Crystal Hilton. I’m sure Isabella will be sure to get a couple of thanks in while she’s taking it to Hilton at CB.
#10- KAITLYNN STRYFE [-1]
That was hardly Kitty’s finest performance, but then again, she didn’t exactly need it against the struggling Charlotte Gage, and she’s now collected the whole set of Danger Queens for her victory mantle. But up net is a match that means way more to Stryfe than ranking positionings or titles. Her marriage is ultimately in the hands of her and her husband, but Lord knows beating the hell out of Queen Machine isn’t going to hurt things.
#9- KATHERINE STRYFE [-1]
So... where in the World is Katherine Sandiego? It’s probably never a good thing when one of your main eventers goes missing right before a Pay-Per-View, but if Cody and Samantha ain’t freaking out about it, then why the hell should I? Besides, its not like the match is gonna be ruined if Stacey and Scarlett just face each other...
#8 SOPHIE RICHARDS [+2]
*FFW TELEVISION CHAMPION*
I say a lot of controversial shit here on the Power X, but here’s one thing I’m fairly certain isn’t going to be met with a lot of debate- Sophie has now established herself as the greatest champion on any level in FFW History. She just added Desirae Kain to her ever growing list of successful defenses, but the line in the TV division is never-ending, with more and more challengers lining up for a shot. Next up will be the winner between Crystal Hate and Summer- could be Sophie’s stiffest challenge yet!
#7- CRYSTAL HILTON [=]
Like I said, the change stops here, as the Top 7 all remain the same. Hilton played an interesting factor during the A-List/Mafia brawl at Velocity. Obviously, she didn’t exactly walk out wearing a Mackenzie Mafia t-shirt, but she emphatically (yet, nonviolently) stopped Starla from throwing Isabella off the stage. While there are several theory’s as to Hilton’s motives, I think you have to go with the obvious one: Crystal wants to do the deed herself on the twenty-eighth
#6- TARA THUNDER [=]
*FFW EVOLUTION CHAMPION*
Jesus, Hanna Elliot and Melanie Avilo? Is it just me or are Evolution Championship defenses getting a bit on the softer side? Either way, Tara’s second defense is awaiting her at Cold Blooded, as she draws the Future Shock 5 Champion. Not entirely confident that Tara can match Colleen’s epic six month reign, but the prognosis of Tara entering February with the belt is a good one.
#5- WENDY BRIESE [=]
To be fair, the contest had already gone to shit, and Starla did strike her first, but that is the first time I can remember Wendy actually interfering in an ongoing wrestling match. And she’s been strangely unapologetic too, which should say something about how badly she wants this No Surrender belt, something she’ll have to go through Starla to get.
#4- COLLEEN [=]
She’s baaaaaack! Two weeks after putting on a clinic and making Chris Strike tap in her hometown, Col did it again, choking out the always persistant Eileen Amaro at Breaking Point to keep the Violent Femmes undefeated. Anyone who accused Colleen of overlooking Shane Sanders the first time around can rest assured that is not going to be happening this time, if it even did to begin with.
#3- CAMILLA PAZZINI [=]
*FFW ULTRAVIOLENCE CHAMPION*
Camilla couldn’t help but get Rose’s goat one last time before Cold Blooded, and she did so coming out and brawling with the behemoth after her win over the Lovehearts/Twisted Path 2.0/Elite Threat. Then again, Rose didn’t exactly take it lying down, and confronted Cammie again later in the evening. The one thing I see here working against Chunks- she’s a natural troll. Is she going to focus more on beating ROse, or pissing her off?
#2- SCARLETT KINCAID
Scarlett’s has to still be fuming from her match against Johnny Moxie at NYR, and she’d be wise to use that irritation and invest it into her upcoming match. Of course, the other object of her ire recently, Kat Stryfe, is suddenly nowhere to be found. Should it turn into Scar and Stacey one on one, does that hurt or help Scar’s chances of being the first ever two-time FFW Champion?
#1- STACEY MACKENZIE
*FFW CHAMPION*
It’s an interesting tell that the members of OMGWTF are heading in opposite directions as Stacey heads into her first FFW Championship defense- her partner Tiffany is struggling over in SVW, something that Stace has to have noticed. It’s mentionable, because that sort of thing can lead to a strain in a partnership, which would lead to a distraction, something that Stacey can ill-afford right now. Either way, she’s going to have to be at her absolute best if she hopes to emerge from Cold Blooded 12-0.
And there you have it, kids! Expect for a HUGE shift in the power structure come next week. PPV’s tend to rattle the status quo significantly. Speaking of which...
INCOMING!
So, Cold Blooded is finally here. Fifteen matches featuring THIRTY-SEVEN wrestlers. That’s a lot of shit going down. So, no time to waste...
#22 EMMA MCINTYRE vs. ALLISON WRIGHT
What’s at Stake: Definitely a bit tougher than your average Charity Deas introduction match, this one should hold sway for both competitors. Allison (aka Allison #4) obviously will want to hit the ground running, while Emma McIntyre probably would like to display a bit more in-ring success than what she’s currently been having. That both of these girls were back in the old EWC should help sweeten the pot.
My Take: It shouldn’t be overlooked that Allison is blind, although that’s something I’ve been assured doesn’t impact her performance much. Still... I just can’t see it (no pun intended). That, and everyone knows that Emma has got to be hungry for a big PPV win, so I’d have to peg her as the favorite here.
#21 CRYSTAL HATE vs. #27 SUMMER
What’s at Stake: It hasn’t been officially announced, but all signs point to the winner of this one going on to face Sopie Richards for the TV title. Crystal’s already had a shot at Richards, but came up short, while Summer is taking this as a consolation prize after losing to Lumina Ferrari in the No Surrender qualifiers. Both girls could use a big win, although I’d say Summer’s probably backed up against the wall a bit more.
My Take: I’m not sure how Summer deals with pressure situations, but I know that Hate is pretty strong in the big matches, and she gave Sophie a hell of a fight last time. She wants to get back there, and while I see Summer putting up an amazing fight, and this turning out to be a potential show-stealer in the early goings, I think Hate will earn her rematch.
#34 ELIZABETH BLACKWELL vs. #38 TABATHA BELMONT
What’s at Stake: On the surface pitting a Future Shock washout against the most undeserving TV title contender since Michelle Taylor screams ‘throwaway match’, but this one could actually be pretty entertaining, given that Blackwell’s been dyking on Tabatha for the better part of the last two months, and the two have taken the phrase ‘sexual tension’ to the next level. Ooh la la!
My Take; Other than that Wendy is going to be completely and utterly offended by this match, it’s tough to make a prediction. Tabatha’s got the experience, if not the accolades to show for it, while Blackwell seems hungrier. Ambition tends to beat experience around here, so I’m gonna give it to the succubus.
#30 ALYSSON GARDNER vs. #39 STEPHANIE SULLIVAN
What’s at Stake: Just pride here baby. This one goes back quite a bit, to a now defunct company called Ring of Beauty. I didn’t watch ROB (there’s a reason that company is now defunct), so I’m not sure on the details, but you can just tell that Aly and Steph don’t like each other from the way they glare at each other. Not pegging this as a show-stealer, but neither is it going to be a bathroom break.
My Take: Aly took a bad loss against Valentine, and she’s going to be hungry for redemption. Sullivan is a part-time wrestler who’s literally done nothing in FFW since joining five months ago, so this seems like a pretty cut and dry scenario. So while I will acknowledge the potential for another upset, I’m picking Gardner all the way here.
FFW NO-SURRENDER CHAMPIONSHIP, TRIPLE-THREAT
#5 WENDY BRIESE vs. #13 STARLA MCCLOUD vs. #25 LUMINA FERRARI
What’s at Stake: Only being the first no-surrender champion. Oh, and something about Wendy and Starla not really liking each other. And Lumina’s continued quest for redemption. Did I mention the FIRST INTRODUCTION OF A NEW FFW TITLE IN OVER A YEAR?
My Take: How the hell is this so damn low on the card? Anyways, the catch of the No-Surrender division is that you can only win matches by Submission only, which, given the time it can take to earn a submission victory, means a triple threat could make for a very interesting contest. Obviously, you know who I’m picking here, but it’s going to be a tough drive. You factor in Lumina’s ability to net a submission from out of the blue, along with the underlying A-List/Mafia feud (even though Wendy’s not officially a member of the Mackenzie Mafia), and this is going to be a very difficult match. Let’s just hope it stays a clean one.
FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
PINK, INC © (#19 DESIRAE KAIN & #26 ARIANNA MILLAR) vs. BOUNCE & POUNCE (#28 HAYLEY DARK & #33 IGNIS)
What’s at Stake: The tag belts are on the line, with out of the blue champions Pink Inc hoping to defend successfully against Bounce & Pounce, who have patiently waited for their shot ever since earning it back at the October Byte This!
My Take: There’s a lot of similarities here, given that both teams are extremely speedy. Both are also of the alpha-beta type with a dominant, more established wrestler (Kain/Dark) leading a less experienced but still potent partner (Millar/Ignis). Looking at it from that perspective, you gotta give the advantage to Pink Inc thanks to Kain’s leadership (hey, they beat The Flame, so I’m not questioning it). But looking at it from a pure team standpoint, I’d say B&P have the better chemistry. That puts this into toss-up category, but I wouldn’t be shocked if we see new Champions.
#15 EILEEN AMARO vs. #42 ALYSSA FOXWORTH
What’s at Stake: While the brewing war between the A-List and the Mackenzie Mafia is definitley an underlying factor, this goes back even further to the second Chase for the Crown, when Eileen and Alyssa were on the same team in the second round. They had Sarah Richardson beat and ready to be pinned, only for Alyssa to knock Eileen out, and take the honors for herself.
My Take; After a rough couple of months that saw poor Eileen lose to Kain in the Chase for the Crown, then be tapped out by Colleen again last week, she finally is going to have an opponent she can sink her teeth into. And I do mean that literally. Alyssa is going to be torn to shreds by the vengeful Tsunami.
PRISON OF PUNISHMENT
#16 KELLY MCGUFFIN vs. #32 JO MCFARLANE
What’s at Stake: Jo’s spot on the A-List is up for grabs here. After making the stupid mistake of wrestling (a hardcore match, no less) for another company, and becoming too injured to compete, Kelly stepped up to take over, and ran Sophia Black out of the company. Needless to say, Samantha was less than pleased by all of this, and as a reward to the helpful McGuffin, and a punishment to the foolish McFarlane, she set this up.
My Take: It could be argued that Samantha actually set this match up so that a member of her ‘elite’ cadre could actually get to claim a win at a PPV. Wendy has been adamant to me all week that Jo is way better than Kelly, but the fact is, when these two faced back in August, Kelly was the winner. Still, Jo is as adept at pulling a match out when she absolutely needs it as she is squandering the momentum in the aftermath. But I think the anything goes atmosphere favors the much more amoral Kelly, and we’ll be seeing a bit of turnover in the organization.
FUTURE SHOCK PICK YOUR POISON LADDER MATCH
#14 CASEY ATHERTON vs. #23 CARA STONE vs. #45 CHARITY DEAS vs. JENNIFER WILLIAMS vs. JODIE GRAY
What’s at Stake: These Pick-Your-Poison stipulations generally are just the spark people need to get their careers kicked off the ground, and considering that three of the women here are making their official FFW debuts, you can bet they’ll be trying to make a great first impression. Throw in Casey, who’s hellbent on claiming dominion over anything and everything Future Shock related, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
My Take: There’s a lot of ways to look at this. Casey and Charity were in one of these before, although Charity was so ineffective it wasn’t funny, and Casey turned out to be more of a spoiler than a threat. Cara and Jodie have proven they can get along, which could result in them taking everyone else out, and settling it beetween them (not like that ever works). Williams and Atherton are more adept at pissing people off, something that could backfire if all four girls gang up on one. This is a true pick-em, because literally anything can happen here (even a Charity win, which will make me cry). I’d peg Cara as the favorite, but as long as Alex Adonis is at ringside, it’s tough to count Casey out.
FFW ULTRAVIOLENCE CHAMPIONSHIP- LAST WOMAN STANDING
#3 CAMILLA PAZZINI © vs. #12 ROSE JENKINS
What’s at Stake: Obviously, the UV title, although the grudge between these two women go way deeper than any strap. Camilla’s done her best to piss Rose off at every turn, and she’s succeeded. Rose isn’t the kind of woman with a sense of humor, and the fact that Camilla has deftly kept ahead of her every step of the way has got to be grating on her nerves.
My Take: There will be blood. That’s about the surest thing you can bet on for this match. LWS matches can tend to turn into slugfests, which favor Rose, who’s about the only one in FFW who beats Chunks in the power department. But Camilla’s stayed ahead of Rose thus far throughout this tiff, and given how Pazzini against Colleen in a LWS, Rose is going to need to wrestle an almost perfect match if she hopes to become the champion.
#4 COLLEEN vs. #18 SHANE SANDERS
What’s at Stake: This is a rematch from Violent Night, when Shane shocked the world by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in FFW history. Colleen’s had this loss grate on her for the last two months, and she wants a rematch. Ultimately, I see the winner of this getting on the shortlist for the next FFW Championship contender.
My Take: First of all, Colleen’s jumping of Shane to announce her desire for a rematch was a definite bitch move, but at the same time, Sander’s revelation that she feels facing Colleen again to be beneath her is equally headscratching (just look at the rankings, if you need an explanation). Strangely enough, public perception almost puts the burden on Shane here- she needs to prove Violent Night wasn’t a fluke more than Colleen needs to prove that it was. Fluke or not, the last two matches Colleen has had has made me a believer- she’ll take this one.
FFW EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP
#6 TARA THUNDER © vs. MELANIE AVILO
What’s at Stake: The Evolution Championship. Tara makes her second defense, while Mel got her shot by winning the fifth season of Future Shock.
My Take: I hope Mel appreciates the opportunity she has here, being able to just waltz in and get a shot at the Evolution title- normally the road to that belt is a lot longer and more difficult. That being said, save for Raven, every single Future Shock winner thus far has successfully cashed in on her prize (Although, to be fair, Alyson Summers didn’t exactly set the bar high when she went after Sophia fucking Black.) The question will come down to Tara’s mindset- she’s at her best when she knows she’s beatable, otherwise we could have another Hanna Elliot incident. I don’t see Tara letting that happen. Not here.
PARKING LOT BRAWL
#7 CRYSTAL HILTON vs. #12 ISABELLA PAZZINI
What’s at Stake: Pride, for the most part, although this is probably also an unofficial eliminator in determining the next challenger to the FFW Championship. This one’s turned ugly though, thanks to Hilton’s attacks on Isabella’s sister-in-law and friends. It culiminated in a bizarre incident at Velocity, when Crystal stopped Starla McCloud from chucking Isabella off the stage.
My Take: This one may end up being the match of the night. The no-rules atmosphere plays to both women’s stregnth, although it probably favors Isabella a bit more. We’ve seen how brutal Isabella can get when someone’s pissed her off, and I think she’s had enough of the Rose Goddess/Witch/Hagraven. Hilton’s due for a whuppin, and Izzy is just the person to do it.
GUEST REFEREE: ALEXANDER STRYFE
#10 KAITLYNN STRYFE vs. #17 QUEEN MACHINE
What’s at Stake: Officially, just pride. Although the fact that Queen Machine has been very vocal about stealing Kaitlynn’s husband for herself has stirred the pot just a bit. This match may not determine who gets Stryfe, but considering how personal it’s gotten, the winner of this one is going to be making the loser look as bad in Alexander’s eyes as she possibly can.
My Take: Ultimately, though, I could look at this scientifically, and see who actually is the better wrestler, but this one’s a lot easier to predict: The winner of this match will be whoever Alexander Stryfe wants it to be, and after what I just saw at Breaking Point, I’m not entirely 100% sure that one will be Kitty.
FFW CHAMPIONSHIP- TRIPLE THREAT
#1 STACEY MACKENZIE © vs. #2 SCARLETT KINCAID vs. #9 KATHERINE STRYFE
What’s at Stake: The biggest band (of gold) in the land! The grandmammy of them all. The FFW Championship. If it were to change hands, the new champion (either Scar or Kat) will have the distinction of being the first ever two-time champion. This is also Stryfe’s rematch with Stacey, and the clumination of a months-long Twitter snipe-fest between Kincaid and Stryfe. And Stacey is trying to keep her undefeated streak alive. Am I missing anything?
My Take: Stryfe seems to step it up when no one is giving her a chance, and considering that no one actually knows if she’s gonna even be there, I’d say that’s a pretty slim chance from the general population. But before we hand the title to Stryfe, also keep in mind how hungry Scarlett’s been to get back here, fighting back from that injury to get here. And of course, Stacey is ostensibly unbeatable. Ultimately thought, I think that Scarlett’s sense of will and ambition is going to favor her, and she’s going to start 2012 the same way she spent a good chunk of 2011: on top of the world.
You think that preview was a doozy? Wait til the actual fuckin’ show!
AWARDS!
Had a tough time getting a volunteer to do awards for some reason this week- everyone seemed to not be up for it or something :(. But there was one person who was “Simply Better”, and gave me some of her very valuable time to type this up. And yes, I am indeed speaking of our current FFW Champion, “The Simply Better Dreamkiller”, Stacey Mackenzie!
Match of the Week
Sophie Richards vs. Desirae Kain
This was just the standout for me; two Future Shock Champions going all out to be the Television Champion. A great technical classic, in a two week cycle which has primarily seen nothing but extreme violence and absolute chaos. This was a stellar effort by both women, but once again, Sophie Richards came out on top, as she always seems to these days. I’d better keep an eye on her... it may not be long before she starts coming after my FFW Championship.
I couldn’t agree more on this one. I got to call this from ringside, and I was every bit as captivated as the fans were. Not sure if I’m about to stick Sophie on that top level just yet, but she’s a dangerous competitor everywhere she goes. But don’t rule out Kain yet either. That loss wasn’t the end for her, and she’ll be back in that picture sooner than you’d think. Anyways, runners up:
- Ferrari vs. Summer (The other match this past cycle with major title implications, Ferrari and Summer battled it out for that last No Surrender spot. It was a phenomenal back and forth classic, won by Lumina in what is considered by many to be an upset)
- McGuffin vs. Black (To quote the great Statler and Waldorf: It was stupid! It was pointless! It was obvious! It was... SHORT! I LOVED IT!)
Winner of the Week
Rebbecca Valentine
Coming off an awesome win at New Year’s Retribution (against me & Tiff, no less), Becca’s celebrations were cut short due to her partner’s mysterious disappearance. But Becca managed to turn it all around, and pick out a huge singles win over Alysson Gardner. This was the perfect time for her to grab the spotlight, and show she can get the job done solo, and I think she did just that. Maybe there’re a future for her as well, outside of being “Kat’s partner”.
Rebbecca Valentine... winner... in the same sentence? 2012 is getting way too many signs of the end of the world for my taste.
- Starla McCloud (yes, her match against Izzy was a no-contest, but there was no denying that Pazzini was getting the upper hand before Adonis interfered, and everything then went to pot, saving McCloud from the asskicking she very much had coming. That’s going to change come Cold Blooded, of course)
- Lumina Ferrari (Where the fuck was THAT for the last ten months?)
Loser of the Week
Raven Wicked
Well, after the fairy tale nearly six months ago now, the bubble has finally burst for Raven. Three straight defeats to Camilla, and she’s out of her favourite playground, the Ultraviolence Championship hunt. And it all looked so promising when she pulled off that huge upset victory back at Unstoppable. It’ll be interesting to see what Raven does now. My vote goes with more abuse of Alvin Shepherd.
I would totally be okay with the creation of an “Aubsing Alvin Shepherd” title, just to keep Raven happy.
- Alysson Gardner (On the flipside of Becca’s big win is this crushing upset of a defeat. Gardner was likely headed for a TV contendership until that one. Won’t say she’s out of it yet, though. She just needs to get back on the horse.)
- Charity Deas (yeah, Charity is always a loser, but seriously. Blackwell could have gotten up, had dinner, found Tabatha Belmont, fucked her twice, and been back in the ring in time before Charity leaped)
Douchebag of the Week
Whitley Mercer
I guess I decided to take this award literally, huh? Seeing as she’ll probably need a douche bag to cleanse her... well, you get the idea. Hehehe. Truth is, Whitley totally punked out and humiliated poor Dani on Velocity, in amazing douchebag fashion. You just don’t pick on people who can’t defend themselves. Then, she came back for MORE this week... but thanks to a certain cuddly manager, she found herself “up shit creek” without a paddle! I guess it was a “crap” day for her, and when asked what she was going to do to Dani in retaliation, she said she was going to “sewer”. Geez. That outfit is gonna be ruined... but it serves the bitch right!
Hehehehehehe... read on Stacey. Read on.
- Jo McFarlane (This just pisses me off, because I had JUST written in a column about how Jo had shaken doubts about her commitment, and then she has to go and get herself injured wrestling for some shitty regional company. And right before a match she had been hand-picked for by our boss too. Priorities, Jo. Fucking priorities.)
- Alex Adonis (Consider him the FFW’s version of Gavrilo Princip. But do you think he had a fucking clue he knew what he was starting when he tried fucking up the Pazzini/McCloud match? Well, he started a war. Guess which side is gonna end it.)
Once again, a special thanks for our Champion for the awards, and the best of luck to you at Cold Blooded!
MEME OF THE WEEK!
We’ve got a double feature here. First, well, one that’s very near and dear to my heart:
On a side note, yeah, I’m more than happy with the way this turned out. Whitley was playing with fire when she attacked me, but the moment she started fucking with Dani, who hadn’t done a damn thing to anyone and deserved nothing, I knew something had to be done. And I’ve made it clear before, and I will again. If Ms. Mason receives any more negative attention from Shitley Mercer, you can bet what I’ve done to her so far is going to look like a lighthearted prank. And that’s not including the beatdown I’m gonna give that bitch in a couple of weeks, the day after Cold Blooded (which Whitley couldn’t even get a fucking match on), in fact.
And here’s another one, stemming from a little Twittertantrum today courtesy of one Rose Goddess
Anyways, thanks for reading the first 2012 installment of the Power X! I’ll be back in a couple of weeks as we sort through the Cold Blooded fall out, as well as a good look at the upcoming Speedweeks Byte This!
Until then... POLLA OUT!!
Daniel Pollaski is an independent wrestling columnist, SVW wrestler, and the manager of FFW star Wendy Briese. He would also like to remind everyone that this week’s Inspiration-giver will be playing the halftime of the Super Bowl. If she’s smart, she will not do this song. Or anything from the Ray of Light album. Seriously. *shudder*
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