FUTURE SHOCK THERAPY: Episode 12.1 Preview

WELL, CRAP

Future Shock Season Douze is a go-go, and once again, Future Shock Therapy is going to give you everything you need to know about wrestling's favorite talent scouting contest.  Season 11 was, lets face it, a mess, with all kinds of weird eliminations, no shows, Lana Star, and a barbaric match that was just too brutal for television. 

Season 12 seems to be the antithesis of 11.  First of all, back to six wrestlers we go, the original starting number.  Second of all, no gimmicks this time.  Just normal Future Shock rules, winner goes on to face the Future Shock Champion (who may or may not be Ignis at that point).  

Third, the LONG AWAITED rule that the winner of a wrestling challenge gets automatic immunity has been put in place, which not only makes the matches more important, but also takes away the obvious voting choice, which will disperse the votes among the runner ups and make things MUCH more interesting.  And fourth, unlike Marla Lee of last season, there really isn't a clear cut favorite for this year. 

I was planning on doing a Season Preview Bit, but the weekend I was going to was the weekend UW played Arizona State, and after that travesty  there was no way in hell I was going to touch something as expensive and irreplaceable as my laptop.  So before we get going here, a bit of preseason rankings, so to speak. 


1. LILLY SHEFFIELD- Some women get Future Shock, some don't, but Lilly has gotten it the best, I think.  You see, the competition doesn't start Friday.  It started a month ago, at least.  And Lilly has figured that out better than anyone in the season.  She has given herself the best exposure, and, being associated with the likes of Sudden Impact and her brother Ryan, she likely brings a strong training pedigree as well.  That makes her the early favorite in my book. 

2. RHEA LASKARIS- Think Samara Steele in a toga, although with a significantly meaner streak and a less obnoxious boyfriend.  Rhea's trying to establish herself as the Powerhouse of the season, which worked well for the last non-gimmick season we had (Evans).  She does however, come of as quite unlikeable, and could easily succumb to the "Nessa Wall Effect" 

3. ADIRA RIDDICK- I'll be honest, I'm basing this entirely on her look and style, which I like.  We haven't seen any physical element of her yet, but she sounds like a solid all-rounder, which is actually rare in the highly specialized FFW.  

4. REIHA LAINE- Yeah.  Reiha and Rhea.  That won't be confusing at all, but anyways... Reiha just looks... fun.  And being fun is going to get her some fan votes, should she require them.  Then again, she may be subjected to TOO much fun.  I mean, how drunk do you have to be to get the tramp stamp tattooed on your FRONT? 

5. HOPE OSBORNE- The SVW transfer is probably second only to Lilly Sheffield in exposure, but her issue is.. not all of it is good.  Her tweetfests with Freya Kane have absolutely zero substance to them, and make her seem completely oblivious to everything else transpiring around her, and that's going to turn some fans off.  She does have her performance at Ground Zero to help her, when she survived and got the pin on Kanna.  She's got heart and definitely raw talent, if she can just work on the presentation. 

6. ANA BARBOSA- The forgotten one, and that is NEVER good when you're trying to out-vote four other women.  Ana is the only particpant in Season 12 to not do an interview, and has no Twitter to my knowledge.  Which means she's starting dead stopped on Friday while the rest of the field has a varying degree head start.  Remember when I said Future Shock started a month ago?  Ana did not learn that lesson. 


Obviously these rankings are going to change after the first competition when we see them in the ring.  Speaking of which, first challenge is the good ol' Staggered Entrance OTR.  And we already know the first two women out- Rhea and Hope.  That actually evens the field a bit, as they KNOW they have their work cut out for them.  Guarantee you stamina training will be in full effect in both camps this week.  

THE FAVORITE: I was going to say Rhea Laskaris, as when you're dealing with six by and large blank slates for an OTR, you tend to find that picking the powerhouse works.  But that draw number... an eight minute fatigue handicap is going to be tough to overcome.  Hope's in the same predictament.  Of the remaining four, its a crapshoot between Riddick/Laine/Sheffield, but, like I said before, Lilly's training pedigree is just too much to ignore.  Look for Lilly to pick up some immunity here. 

THE HOT SEAT: Ana Barbosa, and it's not even close.  Like I said earlier, Season 12 started a month ago, and every other single girl has worked towards building a reputation with the fans but the Brazillian.  Ana needs to DAZZLE in the opener to not just survive the first vote, but put herself in the mix to keep suriving as the field narrows.  Honestly, for her, it might just be win or go home.