SHOW RANKINGS: Breaking Point 10.26.31

THIS TENTACLE WAS CAUGHT SNEAKING BACKSTAGE 

Anytime you go to Japan, you want to put on a good show.  The Japanese are conossiours of wrestling, and are probably the most adept at telling  good match from a dud.  They're also some of the hardest to truly please.  So whenver FFW goes to Japan, well, the pressure's on to deliver. 

We did with flying colors, giving the Land of the Rising Sun an epic Trios match, a title change, and one hell of a brutal Pennyzirra beatdown.  

Anyways, the final tally for October's penultimate show?  Read on!

1. SUNNY KYOUN: The Little Korean That Could became the first person to do what no one had been able to accomplish in twelve matches: Pin Aimee Easter.  As a result the Witches Brew is looking more and more scary a challenger for the P&P Express.

2. IGNIS: Say what you will about her attitude, but her decision to go solo paid off grandly as Ignis captured her first ever FFW Singles title, and her third total.  She won't have much time to gloat, though, not with Gabrielle Crimson coming at her in a month. 

3. WENDY BRIESE: Briese wasn't in the trios match very long, but when she was, she was on fire.  Also helped clear the ring to set up Sunny's epic pinfall reversal. Wendy's tag experience finally paying off with her for some wins. 

4. CASEY ATHERTON: Anytime you take your first singles loss in 14 months, it sucks.  But Atherton's Five and a half month reign as FS Champ did wonders to establish the title, and while it never will have the prestige the Evolution, NS, and UV titles have, it's certainly become a division worth watching. 

5. STEPHANIE DALLINS: While Sunny got the glory, Steph certainly did her part too, holding her own with Lightning.  Two weeks can't come soon enough for the Brew. 

6. TARA THUNDER: Trios loss snaps a six-math winning streak for the No Surrender Champion, but hey, at least she's back in the ring!  

7. PENNY BUCHANAN: The Ultraviolence Champion is making it look easy, dispatching Sophia Black in brutal fashion through two tables.  Survival of the fittest is the Pain Train's mantra. 

8. LIGHTNING: For a bit there, Sparky seemed to be still in the Candi doldrums, but she snapped out of it.  Still, she's gotta be sick of being tossed around by Steph Dallins by this point. 

9. MADELYNE MCTAGGERT: Maddy induces a "When it rains, it pours" mentality to wrestling.  You're going along, just fine, and suddenly low blow, exposed turnbuckle, match over.  It's like shes the Oregon Ducks of cheating. 

10. METEORA: Where Maddy went for effectiveness,  the Rudos went for pure mass-production.  It's not often you watch an accomplished official like Melinda Davis be driven to tears. 

11. AIMEE EASTER: First time pinned?  CHeck.  Four match winning streak snapped?  Check.  Think she'll take it lying down?  Well, technically she did, but look for a far more fired up Easter when she defends against Witches Brew

12. STARDUST: I thought the Ass-Bomb thing was a joke.  Either way, Stardust's quick thinking saved the match for her team, and set up Meteora's win.

13. FREYA KANE: Poor Freya just can't catch a break, sitting at 0-3, with all of her losses coming by bullshit.  Considering Destiny Campbell is no saint herself, she needs to work on finding ways to get through it. 

14. TIFA HEAFY: Tifa needed confidence, and Michelle Taylor is a great way to get some.  Hopefully she can build off ofit, and maybe get some of that can-do attitude into her tag partner as well. 

15. LAURA STELE: It's not that Crystallized Steele got outwrestled.  It's that they got OUTCHEATED.  The Rudos took their bread and butter and stuffed it down their throats, and they didn't use the butter as lube.  That's gotta be more embarassing than any pinfall. 

16. SOPHIA BLACK: Four in a row now for Sophia, who's once promising run seems to be over.  Although to be fair, beating Penny is a tall order for anyone. 

17. CRYSTAL HATE: Laura's Rod of Sophistication apparently, well... HATES the Hate sisters, as both took the brunt of it quite fiercely.  I think the fans enjoyed it happening to Crystal more than they did Becka though. 

18. MICHELLE TAYLOR: TEN!

SHOW RANKINGS: Indomitable 10.22.13

OH MY GOD I'M LATE! 

So, yeah, sorry about how long it's taken to get these out.  Had to do the previews first.  After all, I can always do show rankings, right?  Previews have a time limit to them.  Expect Breaking Point's rankings sometime tomorrow morning. 

Anyways, Indomitable was every much as awesome as we had hoped, and we were treated to some absolutely amazing matches that saw a champion retain, a finalist in the Femme For All, a number one contender named, and an epic champion vs. champion contest that tore the house down. 

Maybe Wendy's right.  No Surrender rules, well, rule. 

Now let's see if I can tap out some show rankings. 


1. TARA THUNDER: It's only fitting that the No Surrender Champion get the top ranking of the No Surrender show, surviving a very game Eileen in a champion vs. champion match- and securing the first ever No Surrender win in such an interdivisional showdown. 

2. CAROLINE DALLINS: Caroline returned to the ring with a bang, surviving three other women to win the Chase, and get herself a rubber match against Tara at Anarchy.  No one is going to make the argument that she didn't earn her space now!

3. SCARLETT KINCAID: Scar's one win away from returning to fighting for the FFW Championship after capitalizing on Rebecka Hate.  Yes, you can hate her for taking advantage of Becky's injuries, but she's just doing what any smart wrestler would do. 

4. EILEEN AMARO: Of course I was underestimating Eileen's sub skills.  She's a veteran of Japan after all, and it's virtually impossible to survive that circuit without sub skills.   A valiant effort against Tara that is nothing to be ashamed of. 

5. MILEENA SAVAGE: In a way, I'm a bit disappointed that Mileena didn't win the chase.  It'd have been fun to watch her and Tara psychotically shriek at each other for the next month.  Still, the win over Gillet was a nice way to open the evening.

6. REBECKA HATE: Becky had a rough night, and it's going to make it all the more sweeter when she strangles Laura to death in a month or so.  Still, her dream of winning the Femme For All is over, at least for this year. 

7. LIGHTNING: The TV title match wasn't as bad as expected, which is like being grateful that two people survived a 757 nosing into a mountain.  I mean... a sleeper hold?  But still the TV champion, and able to move on to more erstwhile competition. 

8. STARLA MCCLOUD: Her return to the UV division did not go as planned, thanks to Caroline's house of fire return to the company.  Not all is well in McCloudland.  Starla has only won two of her last thirteen matches.  

9. CHRISTELLE GILLET: For being a Frog, Christelle sure is having problems finding a jumping off spot.  By current patterns, we'll see her next sometime in February. 

10. CANDI: There was no way in hell that she was going to catch Lightning napping a second time, and this time it was Sparky who put her to sleep.  Girl is fun to watch, but title material?  Nah-unh.  

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. 

INCOMING! Velocity 10.31.13

"I WANT TO PLAY... ANOTHER GAME.  I WANT TO PLAY... MONOPOLY.  OR SCRABBLE.  OR... BOGGLE!  YOU LIKE BOGGLE?  OKAY, FORGET BOGGLE.  WHAT ABOUT HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS? OKAY, FINE.  BUT LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING ELSE.  HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SEQUELS?  LOTS AND LOTS OF SEQUELS!" - HISHE: Saw

The World Tour is Over!

We're Going To Dallas!

ITS HALLOWEEN!

BEST SHOW EVER!

Maybe not ever, but it's a damn loaded card we're looking at for the first domestic normal show in about three months.  Which means less Jet Lag, more sleep, and no more Tokyo getting destroyed by Pennyzirra. 

Oh, and yes, for those of you wondering the show rankings are coming to for Indomitable and Breaking Point.  Writing was put off due to training to beatdown two detriments to society.  Mission accomplished, commence with the massive blog updates. 

TO THE CARD!

MICHELLE TAYLOR vs. EMI YAMAMOTO
The only way Michelle has any shot at this is if Emi is still too banged up from the Pride Ladder match. 
WINNER: And by banged up, I mean having her arm ripped out of her socket.  And a leg.  And maybe an eye to boot.  As Emi still seems to be her cute as a button normal self I'm pretty sure she takes her debut with grace and aplomb and not so much as a rope burn from Michelle. 

KANNA HAROSHI vs. CINDY WARREN
You think we'd have let Kanna make her debut in her home country, but thems the breaks.  Cindy's also making her debut, being a former nurse married to a doctor who both somehow managed to find time to learn to wrestle while at medical school.  My mom was a nurse too.  Apparently she wasted her life by signing up with an oncologist. 
WINNER: When it comes to the Steele/Warren family tree, the benefit of the doubt is not something you freely give.  Kate's awesome when she's not feeling sorry for herself.  Samara's decent.  Todd & Laura?  Yeah...  Then again, Kanna's not done much either, and DID lose to Hope fucking Osborne.  But she's Japanese, and we DO give them the benefit of the doubt.  It actually makes perfect sense if you think about it.  Kanna wins. 

JO MCFARLANE vs. GABRIELLE CRIMSON
Okay, could we just shut up for a second about the "Gabrielle Crimson is undefeated in singles matches" bit?  She's had TWO.  Against April Evans and Michelle Taylor.  If we get past this one, we can start acting like it's something.
WINNER: That being said, this is a helluva match.  Jo's done very well since June, but Gabby's really yet to show what she fully can do.  I'm tentatively picking Jo cause, devil you know, but look for this one to steal the show. 

STACEY vs. SERAFINA DECARO
Oh good.  Dreamkiller's back, to once again annoy us with how 'perfect' she is, when she's already proven herself to be a spineless piece of shit with no redeeming qualities.  DeCaro's been treading water ever since she bid adeieu to the No Surrender division, but a win here can give serious traction. 
WINNER: As much as I hate to say it, these are the kind of matches Stacey feasts on.  If Serafina pulls the massive upset here, I will GLADLY eat my words, but Stacey's the pick. 

TAG TEAM 
PURE ADRENALINE (Misty Whitmore & Kate Steele) vs. THE MEANEST GIRLS (Madelyne McTaggert & Holly Adams)
So far the only way to beat the Mean Girls is not move when they swing a chair at you, but I don't think that's going to be very satisfying for Misty & Kate.  This is clearly the toughest test the Blondetourage has faced yet.  
WINNER: I love PA, but Kate's gone and gotten herself into a funk, and Misty better get her out of it and quick, or they're going to be vivisected.  Until someone can actually crack the Blondetourage code, I'm going with them.  Holly & Maddy win. 

FEMME FOR ALL-SEMIFINALS
CAMILLA PAZZINI vs. MIKA DEMIDOV
The last time I saw an Italian and a Russian in the ring together, they were singing opera, and sucked so badly a black hole opened up and swallowed their careers for nearly a decade.  But enough about Luciano & Helga
WINNER: There's a reason why Gray/Demidov was considered the dark horse bracket, and that reason is Chunks.  The only way I see Mika winning this is if she casts aside all her usual arrogance, and hopes for Chunks to have the same quality in droves.  Otherwise, it's going to be a long, disappointing, painful, and scary Halloween for the Russian. 

INCOMING! Breaking Point 10.26.13

WUN FOR YOUR RIFE!  ITS PENNYZIRRA!

Pennyzirra has arrived in Tokyo.  Panic ensues.  Japanese society as we know it collapses in a matter of hours.  Military and police are useless as the behemoth wades ashore and starts powerbombing skyscrapers into dust.  FFW executives vow never to hold the company picnic in Fukushima again, and wonder how they'll ever enlarge the Ultraviolence Belt to sufficient size. 

This is the last stop of the World Tour and we are delirious from lack of sleep and jet lag.  This is your preview of the insanity. 


TIFA HEAFY vs. MICHELLE TAYLOR 
After getting International Incident'ed at Sin & Sacrifice, it was clear Tifa needed a pick me up.  Cody Kincaid gives her a match with Taylor, because Cody Kincaid is secretly a dealer, and he's got that fix you need. It's always the ones you least suspect.
WINNER: If Tifa Heafy can't win this one, she SHOULD give up wrestling.

MADELYNE MCTAGGERT vs. FREYA KANE
Because the best thing to do to someone coming off a loss in a match against a pair of devious cheaters is to put her up against an even MORE sinister rulebreaker. 
WINNER: McTaggert.  By screwjob.  But you already knew this was coming. 

TAG MATCH 
CRYSTALLIZED STEELE (Crystal Hate & Laura Steele) vs. RUDO GALACTICA (Meteora & Stardust)
If Palpatine's right, and hate makes you stronger, than this match will turn the arena into the greatest Sith that ever lived.  Darth Eggdome cares not for your pleas of mercy, Jedi. 
WINNER:  Meteora & Stardust.  Not only are they capable of pissing the entire galaxy off, they're good enough to get some wins out of it.

NO DISQUALIFICATIONS
PENNY BUCHANAN vs. SOPHIA BLACK
And optimist would say that Sophia has a chance to earn an Ultraviolence shot.  A pessimist would say that Sophia's pretty much tied to the tracks here. A realist would point out that fatalties begin at about 16 Gs, so be a bit careful with the whiplash on that powerbomb, Penny
WINNER: Pain Train.  Sophia will manage to make her bleed though, and call this a moral victory. 

FUTURE SHOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
CASEY ATHERTON (C) vs. IGNIS
Atherton and Ignis remind me of the feud between the Uesugi and the Takeda during the Sengoku period.  Just when you think the two sides were going to actually make it a year without killing each other, someone throws a shiny gold belt out there and LOL JK MURDER TIME!
WINNER: Casey has been fantastic as the Future Shock Champion, but after Ignis' amazing performance in Wales, it's tough to see her slowing down.  New Champion, in what should be another classic match between these two. 

TRIOS!
WENDY BRIESE & WITCHES BREW (Stephanie Dallins & Sunny Kyoun) vs. TARA THUNDER & OF POETS AND PROPHETS (Aimee Easter & Lightning)
There are seven championships in FFW.  Four of them are represented in this match.  Casey, Eileen & Penny aren't cool enough for this match?  They're going to form their own match!  With a tree fort and passwords and you won't be allowed in it because YOU SUCK Lightning you unabashed belt hog! 
WINNER: Briese went to Tampa early to meet with the Brew, so obviusly they'll be on the same page come showtime.  Something about Thunder and Easter/Lightning suggests a clash of personalities.  Wendybrew wins.

SHOW RANKINGS: Velocity 10.17.13

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE MEANT WHEN WE SAID WE HAD A KILLER WALES SHOW LINED UP! 

Velocity wasn't quite as impactful as the completely loaded Breaking Point before it, thanks to a match being cancelled due to Of Poets & Prophets being scared shitless of Witches Brew.  But the Cardiffians left happy, especially after a spectacular performance by the three hometown heroes. And no sheep were harmed either.  That's always a plus. 

Anyways, Show Rankings Ahoy! 


1. EILEEN AMARO- Whatever tarnish her crowning moment of awesome from May had, Eileen polished it off and then some, with a slightly less epic, but far more decisive victory to retain her title. 

2. MIKA DEMIDOV- Surprisingly quick and easy victory over Jodie Gray where she didn't even have to cheat!  But she's going to need a better trick than that to survive the incoming Camilla Pazzini in the Semifinals. 

3. ALYSSON GARDNER- Survived a tough, brutal contest over a very game Kate Steele, emerging in victory with a quick thinking counter from the top of a turnbuckle.  

4. IGNIS- All the Leavenworth sisters are Welsh, but Iggy seemed to take it the heart the most, wrestling a damn near perfect homecoming match and giving her a massive win over Elemental Fury! 

5. KATE STEELE- Disappointing loss for "Li'l Miss Ultraviolence", but it hardly sets her back any.  Her rematch is secure, and whether it's against Penny or Alysson, it's going to be a fun match to watch. 

6. NICOLE KNIGHT- Note: Do not make Nicole Knight bleed.  Ever.  Snaps a three game winning streak, albeit by disqualification.  Still, the fact that she has SOME win over the Blondetourage has to be encouraging, with her set to take on the other member of the Blondetourage at Anarchy. 

7. LIGHTNING- A busy night for Sparky, as she got to warm up on an unsuspecting Witches Brew team, then got into the groove in the Trios match, having her winning streak extended to four matches. 

8. HOLLY ADAMS- Holly took her first loss in FFW, but probably didn't feel like much a loser after that number she did on poor Nic's back.  Then again, she and Madelyne were running rather quickly for their lives towards the end there. 

9. UNDINE- Undine ability to atler a match from a non-legal position cannot be underlooked.  She wasn't in the ring all that long, but her distractions and mind games with the members of Sudden Impact may have been the turning point. 

10. KINSEY DECARO- Kins was all over the damn place, flying through the air, and was the likely MVP of Sudden Impact.  But she got stuck outside courtesy of Undine, and couldn't make the save. 

11. CLAIRE BLACK- Claire's got power, to be sure.  But with her arsenal limited to strikes, she's going to find herself in a lot of positions where she can't properly help her partners.  And she needs to work on her temper- falling to goading always backfires, especially with crafty opponents like the Leavenworths.

12. SERAFINA DECARO- 'Fina had some very strong moments in the Trios match, but ultimately got caught with Ignis' Combustion, and that was the end of her.  

13. KATHERINE STRYFE- Disappointing for Kat, that all her ballyhoo turned into a big bag of nothing.  I don't think she can even begin to comprehend how badly she has set herself back these past couple of months by shooting her mouth off. 

14. JODIE GRAY- Unlike Mika, Jodie had the advantage of getting a warmup match against newcomer Nancy Dietz.  Instead, she complained about the opportunity for a dry run, didn't take it seriously enough, and the result ends in a double disaster, and Jodie's out of the Femme For All.

INCOMING! Indomitable 10.22.13

-.-. --- -. --. .-. .- - ..- .-.. .- - .. --- -. ... / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .

You know, just once I'd like to see someone trapped in a submission hold tap out using Morse Code.  I fully understand that those who are tapping out are generally in an excrutiating amount of pain and not exactly in any position to think clearly, but it'd still be pretty funny to send one last defiant message to your opponent, even as you concede the match. 

Anyways, if you like submissions, then this is the show for you, as you'll watch no fewer than six women tapping out on live national television from the Staples Center.  We've done quite a few of these specials before, but this has to be by far the most loaded of the lot.  I mean, an entire Chase For the Crown, a Femme For All Semifinal, a Title match, and a Champion vs. Champion showdown, all under submission rules? 

Yes please!

And again, just a reminder that every single match is a submission rules match.  No pinfalls. As such, I'm listing each wrestlers record for tapouts vs. times tapped out, dating back to December 2011. 


FEMME FOR ALL SEMIFINAL
SCARLETT KINCAID vs. REBECKA HATE
Kincaid Submission Record: 2-0
Hate Submission Record: 0-1
When a Femme For All Final Four match CURTAIN JERKS the evening, you know you have a loaded card.    
WINNER: Even if it were a normal match, I'd say Becky was dealing with a hell of an uphill battle.  Asking her to figure out how to make a woman like Scarlett tap on a weeks notice is just too much.  Scar to the finals. 


CHASE FOR THE CROWN- SEMIFINAL
MILEENA SAVAGE vs. CHRISTELLE GILLET
Savage Submission Record: 1-1
Gillet Submission Record: 2-0
The scariest thing in this match is that if you put these two women together, you get a Quebecois, and I wouldn't really wish that on anyone. 
WINNER: Mileena Savage.  Christelle is just too infrequent and inconsistent, and while that does give her a bit of an unknown advantage, Mileena strikes me as someone about to explode.  Not to mention with Dante Knox around, things can get out of hand rather quickly. 

CHASE FOR THE CROWN- SEMIFINAL 
STARLA MCCLOUD vs. CAROLINE DALLINS
McCloud Submission Record: 0-1
Dallins Submission Record: 8-5
Just a couple of caveats here- I don't count Starla's bullshit 'phantom tapout' win over Wendy here, and Dallins record DOES include all falls in her 4-3 Ironman loss to Tara in her final match before her injury.  This being a semifinal is actually a shame, as I think these are clearly the two best women in the chase.  It's a bummer only one can go. 
WINNER: Caroline in what will probably end up being the match of the night.  Starla's dangerous in any format, but Caroline's going to be riding a huge wave of emotion in her first match back. 

TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP 
LIGHTNING (C) vs. CANDI 
Lightning Submission Record: 0-0
Candi Submission Record: 0-1
This match is going to be a train wreck.  I don't see Candi having the mental discipline to really know any submission moves, and Lighting flat out abhors the discipline.  In  a night full of what should be technical classics, this could be an eyesore. 
WINNER: Yeah, Candi won the first match, but I just don't see lightning (HA!) striking twice here. Surely she can figure out an ankle lock or something, but I see Lightning SOMEHOW getting the win. 

CHASE FOR THE CROWN FINALS- GUEST REFEREE:  WENDY BRIESE
PREDICTED: MILEENA SAVAGE vs. CAROLINE DALLINS
Briese Submission Record: 7-2 (not counting Tapoutgate) 
Figured I'd just throw that out there for trivia purposes.  Obviously you could also have Gillet or McCloud in this match, and a Mileena vs. Savage final would be entertaining just to see how Refwendy would handle it.  
WINNER: The Dallins/McCloud winner is going to be a HUGE favorite going into the final, as both Mileena and Christelle have had trouble stringing wins together.  That should be Caroline, who will make history on her first active night back in the company, and set up the long awaited third match in her rivalry with Tara Thunder at Anarchy. 

TARA THUNDER vs. EILEEN AMARO
Thunder Submission Record: 10-5
Amaro Submission Record: 0-1
As before, the record includes the Dallins/Thunder ironwoman match, and does not include Amaro's victory over Kat Stryfe, because, as we've all been reminded countless times, Kat never really quit.  As such, this might not be a champion vs. champion match after the I Quit match at Velocity, but who really cares?  Two of the best, most consistent wrestlers FFW has are squaring off in a showcase!
WINNER: I love Eily to death, but this match is right up Tara's alley, and while I can totally see Amaro working her magic and scraping out a win, my money's on Thunder.  Only two people have ever made Tara Thunder tap out in FFW, and Eileen does not have nearly the skills in the discipline to make it happen.  Expect a tough, hard fought, entertaining match, but when push comes to shove, and someone has to tap, that's probably going to be Eily.  

SHOW RANKINGS: Breaking Point 10.12.13

THE DUTCH: RUINING YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS SINCE 1648

Stop #7 of the World tour took us to lovely Belfast, where we had fallout from Sin & Sacrifice.  New Champions were presented, some scores were settled.  Things got a bit disturbing, I got fired, and Tara Thunder retained her championship in a scintillating match that finished in a heartbreaker for the challenger. 

All in all, slightly above average on your usual FFW craziness scale.  Show rankings?  Yup.

1. TARA THUNDER- Believe it or not, that was just Tara's first defense of her title, and she made it a good one, fending off a VERY tough Stephanie Sullivan to retain.  Tara's finally getting busy again- she'll be in action at Indomitable and again at the next Breaking Point. 

2. CAMILLA PAZZINI- Another top-level talent that seems so underutilized, Chunks hit it big with an out-of-nowhere spear on Samara Steele to put her into the Semifinals of the FFA, where she'll face Gray/Demidov

3. REBECKA HATE- One of the biggest upsets in FFA history, downing former Champion Emma in epic piledriver fashion.  Becky don't have much time to gloat, though.  She's gotta get ready for the Semifinals, and Indomitable.  

4. STEPHANIE SULLIVAN- You have to feel for Steph.  She clearly wanted that belt, and damn near got it, but Tara was just too tough.  They say third time's a charm, and you Steph will be getting another crack at the NS belt before you know it. 

5. NANCY DIETZ- Well, how about that?  Famous for being Colby Morrison's punching bag in SVW, Nancy upset Jodie to put the FFW locker room on notice.  I'd like to see her a bit more frequently before getting too excited, but 2-0 is a nice start. 

6. SAMARA STEELE- Samara went from certain victory to having her intestines liquified in approximately 0.7 seconds, but such is the way of the wrestling.  Out of the FFA with a six match losing streak snapped, Samara will be looking to rebound the next time she hits the ring. 

7. LOLLIPOP- You can't ask for much better a debut than that.  The first Season 11 Alum into the ring is the first to pick up a good win, cracking both Ashley Whitmore and her boyfriend. 

8. EMMA MACNAMARA- The disappointments are piling up for Emma, who saw her hope at a UV title disappear at Sin & Sacrifice, then an early exit from the Femme For All in what can only be considered a massive upset.  Back to the drawing board for the Hitgirl. 

9. ARABELLA BLACK- Just three words:  Arabella.  Owns.  Canada.  Of her four consecutive wins dating back to April, all but one has been over Mileena Savage.  Chainsaw Lollipop seems like a contender.

10. MILEENA SAVAGE- One thing Mileena WON'T be thankful for today is her inability to beat Arabella Black.  Mileena's going to be going into LA and Indomitable hoping to erase some bad memories. 

11. CANDI- A triumphant return to the ring after being injured at the hands of Destiny Campbell back in August.  Can she be ready for the showdown against Lightning in a week? 

12. JODIE GRAY- This is a bad, bad week for Jodie Gray to let off the gas, as one of the biggest matches of her career looms on Thursday.  But if she looks the way she did against Nancy Dietz... Mika won't even need to cheat to beat her!  (She still might.  A hobby's a hobby, after all)

13. ASHLEY WHITMORE- You'd think in having your first match in seven months, you'd be a little more prepared to hit the ring.  Ashley looked lost, and getting picked apart by Lollipop, despite her boyfriend interfering... that's just embarassing. 

14. TARYN ROBINSON- No bueno for Taryn,, who clearly regressed from her debut to her second match.  At 0-2, she's got some tough thinking to do about how she wants to go forward.  I still think she can make it, but it's got to be better. 

INCOMING! Velocity 10.17.13 Preview

ALRIGHT, WE'LL CALL IT A DRAW AND THE CHAMPION RETAINS ON A DRAW!

The Black Knight.  A paragon of evil and soullessness with a bad attitude who refused to acknowledge when he was beaten, pushing his stubborness to a ridiculous point where he became only a subject to be laughed at. 

But more on that later. 

Did you know that Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed in Wales?  Well, most of it was filmed in Scotland, but that opening scene?  That's Kidwelly Castle.  So, as usual, Wales gets about two minutes of exposure compared to the rest of the UK, but hey, we're here to give the land of the impronouncable double-L's its day in the sun.  CARDIFF AHOY!

HOLLY ADAMS vs. NICOLE WHITMORE
Who wants some S&S fallout?  Nicole does, after Holly fed her far more than the Daily Recommended Allowance of Steel Chair.  Remember, Nicky- you face one member of the Blondetourage, you face all of them. 
WINNER: Nicole.  Because she's not an idiot, will have Misty in Caroline in her corner, and the result will be a crowd-rousing upset to get the night started. 

NO DISQUALIFICATIONS
ALYSSON GARDNER vs. KATE STEELE
How fucking loaded is this card when an anything goes match between the outgoing UV champion and the #1 contender is only the second match on the card?  I almost don't care who wins here, just sit back and watch the show. 
WINNER: Alysson.  I have to pick someone, right?  And Kate's post-title match funk could bear ill for her. 

AIMEE EASTER vs. STEPHANIE DALLINS
Who wants to bet that Sunny would rather be in this match instead, considering it was her skull cracked by Aimee's briefcase.  Steph gets the nod instead, but either way, the Brew can send a message. 
WINNER: I love Steph to death, but it's going to take a lot to be the first one to pick up that pinfall on Easter, and I just don't see her doing it. Aimee. 

FEMME FOR ALL QUARTERFINALS
JODIE GRAY vs. MIKA DEMIDOV
It's kind of funny that this is considered the "Dark Horse" bracket when Jodie's actually the second-highest ranked participant in the tournament.  Mika's fifth, for those of you counting. 
WINNER: Mika in a mild upset.  I'd say Jodie's easily the better wrestler, but this match is going to come down who can screw the other first.  You don't get much better in screwing people than Mikalea Demidov. 

TRIOS!
ELEMENTAL FURY (Ignis, Lightning & Undine) vs. SUDDEN IMPACT (Claire Black, Kinsey DeCaro, Serafina DeCaro)
OMG THIS IS LIKE THE RED MAGIC BURN DECK IVE ALWAYS DREAMED OF!  FIRE!  LIGHTNING!  SUDDEN IMPACT DOES ONE DAMAGE PER CARD IN YOUR OPPONENTS HAND!  WTF IS UNDINE DOING HERE GET OUT WATER SUCKS IN MTG.
WINNER: Should be a great kick off to the trios divvie- sisters vs. sisters-in-law (and best friend).  I wanna say the Leavenworths here, but there could still be some bad blood remaining, particularly between Iggy and Diney.  KO/TO was starting to gel, and throwing Kinsey in there should only make things better. SI makes history. 


EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP- I QUIT MATCH
EILEEN AMARO (C) vs. KATHERINE STRYFE 
So exactly what was Kat going to do back in May?  Bleed on her?  And why the hell did it take her four months to start this whole "I didn't really quit" bullshit?  Was she that afraid of being embarassed in the Femme For All again? 
WINNER: Honestly, do you really think Eileen is going to lose this after Kat's gone and pissed on the biggest win of her career?  Yeah, me neither. 

FUTURE SHOCK THERAPY: Season 11 Roundup

WHAT A SHOCKING ENDING TO THE SEASON!

Well, that was easily the most brutal match in FFW history. 

Couldn't really expect anything else from the Ultraviolence season, I suppose.  We knew someone was going to get hurt, and boy did we get it, as Lana Star was basically barbecued against the cage by Marla Lee's Dead Enders (close enough to them, at least).  Marla picked up the pin, Velvet Raven fought off her goons and revealed herself to be Natalya Demidov.  A suitably chaotic and violent ending to a chaotic and violent season. 

So, now what? 

Here's a look back at the Eleventh Season participants, and what's their outlook for their post-FS Careers. 


EIGHTH PLACE: FIONA O'DALEIGH
The fourteenth WillCorp employee to join FFW (or at least it seems like it), the WEATHER GIRL of WillCorp (?!) had very little of a splash in the Future Shock Season.  She had limited time in the opening tables match, which kills you when the votes dispersed over eight people.  Out of sight, out of mind, out of Future Shock.  

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: Very Low
Fiona didn't connect with the fans at all, and largely disappeared after her elimination.  With Todd & Jenny Williams both out of WillCorp, her job might be in jeopardy there too.  It's highly doubtful we'll ever see Fiona again. 



SEVENTH PLACE: HELGA
A former Opera Singer (and my former client), and a late-arrival to the season, Helga stunned everyone when she won the opening tables match challenge, came in second for dodge ball- then promptly was voted off.  Helga ranks up there with the worst in terms of attitude, expecting the world, despite having done little to earn it. 

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: None
With one last screaming tantrum, Helga waddled off into the sunset to take her prima donna bitch-face somewhere else.  She's burned her bridges here, and will likely not be welcomed back. 


SIXTH PLACE: KANNA HAROSHI 
A Japanese import with a barbed wire baseball bat, Kanna's was initially considered a top three contender.  However, she foolishly tried cutting a flight to LA a bit close, missed it, and missed a show, getting eliminated in that fashion. 

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: Medium-Low 
Kanna's got two strikes against her already: her aformentioned no-show and her involvement with the teeth-gratingly irritating Beauty and the Beasts  over in SVW (she's the... uh... 'beauty').  At this point, there's very little to separate her from the rest of the pack in the UV division.  She's got the strength and brutality to do so, but whether or not it actually happens remains to be seen. 

FIFTH PLACE: LEAH O'QUINN
Leah was... deaf.  That was pretty much the most that was revealed about her for much of the season, as we saw very little insight into the woman outside of her disability.  A last-ditch attempt didn't work too well, as Leah revealed she was a very competent speaker despite her disability (good!), but full of self-pity and entitlement that the fans should just vote for her because it would hurt her feelings if they didn't (uh.. not good).  Needless to say, that didn't work, and one post-elim temper tantrum later, Leah was gone. 

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: None
Like Helga, Leah pretty much burned her bridges with a post-elimination tantrum on Twitter, when she basically declared FFW and the fans didn't deserve her.  Considering the voting patterns, the fans agreed. FFW's too flushed with talent to want Leah and her rotten attitude back. 


FOURTH PLACE: LOLLIPOP
Lollipop never won a challenge, but God did she come close.  Setting herself apart with a blast of enthusiasm and sadistic giggling (not to mention the willingness to sacrifice her manager), Lollipop did well in both challenges and the voting.  But being jumped by *cough*Velvet Raven*cough* kept her from answering the bell in the cage match, and she was eliminated thusly.

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: Medium-High 
Lollipop will be the first Season 11 participant to appear in the ring, when she teams with fellow FS Alumni Arabella Black to form Chainsaw Lollipop at Breaking Point.  Not entirely sure if that's the best way to go- the tag division is loaded, but Lollipop's exuberance and vitality is going to carry her far.  I can see her picking up a title sometime down the road. 

THIRD PLACE: LANA STAR
Lana Star somehow managed to coast through the season, finishing last in nearly every challenge, but being bumped to the next challenge by either fans or disqualifications.   That didn't help her in the Thunderdome, where Lana was clearly a third wheel, and a sitting duck to be destroyed when the Dead Enders came in and fried her, setting up Marla to win the season. 

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: Very Low
It was clear that Lana was in over her head from the getgo, and if you're in over your head in a rookie competition, that's not going to go well in the main roster.  No word yet on whether Lana plans to join, but for her own good, she'd best stay away. 


SECOND PLACE: VELVET RAVEN
Velvet started horrendously, and was the first woman out of the first competition.  But she battled back, winning episodes three and five, and putting herself into the finals, and clearly being the season's most improved participant.  After the Thunderdome, it was revealed that Velvet's really Nataly Demidov, and credit to Mark Horton for realizing that, because even I had no clue, considering Natalya may have had one match in FFW (my records are coming up blank). 

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: Medium
It's tough to tell with Velvet/Natalya, considering she's going to be unmasked in FFW, and that's historically made a bigger difference than you'd think.  My votes out on her, but if she can keep the same focus she had as Velvet Raven, and- more importantly- the same upside Velvet ended up exhibiting, she can make a name for herself. 

CHAMPION: MARLA LEE
The favorite going in turned out to be the winner.  Marla's gamesmanship and disguises frustrated her opponents and confused the hell out of the announcers.  She's brutal, scary intelligent, and overall, able to connect with the fans and garner votes despite being a complete bitch.  The only doubt was whether or not Marla could win in a match, and she proved that as well (even if she did get all the help in the world)

FFW SUCCESS PROGNOSIS: High
Marla's got the look and attitude to be a megastar in FFW, to be sure.  The only question remaining is the extent of her wrestling ability- she's not going to be able to hire her brother's rejects to bail her out every match.  But there's enough there to suggest that she will be a challenge when she contends for the UV title, and perhaps even for more than that a year or two down the road.