Beyond the Horizon #13
October 18th
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Good afternoon, Dear Readers. I hope today finds you well, healthy, and excited for another great night of SCW action. Before I get into all things Under Attack, I do want to touch on a few other topics.
Firstly, today marks the twelve year anniversary of the death of one of my best friends, brother of Bree and my husband, Wyatt.... Heath Lancaster. He was killed in a car accident with a drunk driver, and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him at least once. Recently, a similar tragedy has affected SCW, with the accident and injury of Alistaire Allocco. The last update I read says authorities suspect a drunk driver was to blame. Alistaire is lucky to be alive, although he may have a long recovery ahead of him. I just wanted to take this moment to make a plea to everyone reading – I won't tell you not to drink, even though I have been sober over a year now I'm the last person who should lecture anyone on that. But, if you do drink.... please, please, don't get behind a wheel.
I'd also like to thank everyone who attended, watched, and/or donated for the Be Brave Conference Friday. It was our biggest event yet and I can't thank all of you enough for all of your support. I'm not naive enough to believe that Domestic Violence will ever be totally eradicated... but with awareness of how to recognize it, and how to help those in need, we can make it easier for those being abused to feel safe seeking help, to get help, and see that those responsible for it are served justice.
Just quickly, I'd like to wish a fast and full recovery to both David and Jason Helms. Like most, I do not know what David's issue is but I hope it's not career ending. Jason.... I have promised him I will let him update you all on his knee himself when he's ready to do so.
And finally, now that Bree Lancaster has made the news public herself, I'd like to congratulate her and Dom Teller on their engagement.
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October for SCW means Under Attack. And Under Attack means.... Elimination Chamber. I am no stranger to that structure, and I do not envy the six men and women who will compete inside of it later tonight. Unlike in previous years, this year's Chamber does not feature the World Championship. Instead, a chance to challenge for either the Adrenaline or Unites States Championship. It's a tough, brutal contest to win for such an opportunity, and I wish those six the best of luck. They are going to need it.
But, the Elimination Chamber is not the only match on the card, there are high stakes all night. Let's get to it, shall we?
World Tag League Match
Jay Gold & Holly Adams vs. Golden Boys
Quite honestly, I expect this to be a clusterfuck. On one side we have a team who doesn't get along in Jay Gold and Holly Adams, while Jay has had to endure the targeting of The Silent Majority. The duo even cost Jay and Holly their match last week against Sienna Swann and Bree Lancaster. On the other side, there's Adam Allocco's team with his buddy Bison, yet I can't imagine Adam will be in any kind of headspace for this considering what's happened to his son Alistaire. I feel this will break down very quickly and we may get a no contest draw.
World Tag League Match
Chris Cannon & Lucas Knight vs. Jordan Majors & Cookie Dreams
Jordan and Cookie are on a bit of a streak, picking up two wins and four points, last week notably against former Tag Champions Tommy Valentine and Kandis. Jordan has been talking lately how she feels she's been overlooked despite the big wins she's racked up, and I have to say I agree with her. If she and Cookie can pick up this victory where on paper they would be considered the underdogs.... I think it's time throw Jordan Majors' name into some title contention conversations. It won't be an easy task though, going up against a rejuvenated Chris Cannon and highly decorated Hall of Famer Lucas Knight. These two men are formidable opponents individually, together they're almost intimidating. Both Jordan and Cookie though have shown they are not easily intimidated. I'll give them the nod, I think they will continue to defy the odds and shatter expectations.
Chamber Match – Winner receives a US or Adrenaline Championship shot; Winner’s Choice
Peyton Rice vs. Christy Matthews vs. Jake Starr vs. Kandis vs. Aaron Blackbourne vs.
Crystal Zdunich
I touched on this above, but now it's time to dive deep. Peyton Rice suggested this match, she wanted to challenge herself and earn something in the process. She's had a bit of a tough time as of late, both personally and professionally, and I can definitely understand wanting to call her shot and turn things around. She's motivated and determined, and for anyone that can be an unstoppable combination.
Christy Matthews, Hall of Fame this year. Yet she seems to be never satisfied. She wants it all, and she doesn't want to have to work hard to get it. Unfortunately that kind of attitude in this type of match may get her eaten alive.
Jake Starr, no stranger to Chamber matches, he used a Trios contract a few years ago to challenge for every championship SCW offers, he not only survived but walked out with two of them. Fighting this one for a shot at his choice of two of them probably doesn't scare him one bit.
Kandis, here's a woman who has been very successful alongside her tag partner and boyfriend Tommy Valentine... yet on her own? Not so much. This could be her breakout moment, she'll want to get some attention of her own now that Tommy is in the spotlight and main event, and could be World Champion by the end of the night.
Aaron Blackbourne, this match almost seems like a respite after the oddity he was subjected to by Shilo Valiant. Always a contender and a threat for any championship, Aaron's first showing in a Chamber could be his biggest win yet.
And finally. Crystal Zdunich. A newcomer to SCW but very successful elsewhere, we really don't know what she is capable of in this environment. I wouldn't overlook her just because we don't know much about her yet.
My pick? I don't have one. Matches like these are by their nature unpredictable. You can go in with the best laid out gameplan in the world, and everything can change in seconds. I just hope that no one is seriously injured.
Jay Gold vs. Ricky James
The heat between these two was alluded to earlier, in reference to Jay's Tag League match. Here, the two will meet as Jay attempts to get payback for all of James' attacks and strong words. Jay is a proud man who has a good idea of what's right and wrong and he is fed up with all of this. Ricky James is a newcomer to SCW and he may not know what he has gotten himself into, picking a fight with the Hall of Famer. I'm picking Jay Gold for the win.
Luxury Suite Brawl
Vengeance (Kim Williams & Jessica Lasiewicz) vs. Blake Mason
Everything about this to me seems asinine. Blake Mason should be competeing for championships, or in the Chamber to earn a shot at one, not fighting in a handicap situation outside of a ring, at he whim of Katya D, who clearly has a vendetta against Blake. Look, I know he's done some pretty unsavory things in his past, some of them to me. But he's also a changed man, he's made amends for those things where he could, and Katya to me seems to be living in the past. Enter Kim Williams and her half-sister Jessica Lasiewicz, two women who are notoriously... unstable, at best. In a wrestling ring I would give Blake the edge even in a 2 on 1 situation, he is that skilled both technically and in power attacks. But outside a ring? Where these two can grab and use anything not nailed down against him? Blake is no stranger to using weapons but he may be overwhelmed here.
Special Challenge Match
Unsanctioned Match
Datura vs. Alioth Starre
Datura is a skilled and formidable fighter. Alioth Starre, I admit I know absolutely nothing about. They have some grudge from outside SCW and they want to settle it here. I understand that the match is Unsanctioned because Datura wanted the ban on piledrivers lifted. I expect to see at least one, that's my prediction here.
Owen Cruze vs. Matt Hodges
These two agreed to face each other at Apocalypse, but it was turned into a fatal fourway which also included Bree Lancaster and Ace Marshall. Matt Hodges picked up that victory, pinning Marshall. Nothing was settled between him and Owen, however. So now we see the one on one match that thesee two wanted for Apocalypse. Both men have been calling their shot, wanting a chance to become World Champion. Owen is young and motivated and hungry. Matt is working with a bum knee, petty, and perhaps a little resentful. It's a definite clash of styles, both extremely proficient at their preferred technique. If Matt can keep his knee protected, he can win this. If not.... Owen can easily pick it apart and stand tall.
SCW Adrenaline Championship
Gavin Taylor vs. Glory Braddock
Gavin Taylor earned this opportunity at Rise to Greatness weekend, winning a contenders match on the pre-show. Glory Braddock has had a successful year thus far, even if she did fail to capture the World Championship from David Helms following cashing in her Trios contract. Tonight she defends the Adrenaline Championship for the first time since defeating Peyton Rice at Rise to Greatness. Gavin was personally insulted by Glory's Trios use, claiming she was ducking him. Whether or not that was true, tonight the two meet. Gavin has his annoying moments, but he has waited long enough for his shot and I have no doubt he will employ any and every tactic he can think of to get his hands on the Adrenaline Championship again. Glory though is a veteran, a teacher of prospective wrestlers, and no stranger to the use of less than legal tactics herself. She will likely anticipate Gavin's tactics and have a counter for it all. I see no title change here.
SCW United States Championship
Xander Valentine vs. Selena Frost
It seems like these two just can't quit each other. Everyone remembers when Xander targeted Selena and her family, even her fans. His erratic and violent behavior is what brought about the decree that if he strikes someone outside of a sanctioned match first, he will be suspended. He's been through some battles recently, including the battle royal he won to earn this title match, and hard-hittimg bouts with former World Champion David Helms and current World Championship challenger Tommy Valentine. Tommy attacked him from behind, but the man is almost impervious to pain and injury and I can't imagine that shot will have any effect here tonight. Selena became United States Champion before Rise to Greatness, the winner of a tournament put into place after Bree Lancaster vacated the championship. Selena has since pulled double duty as both US and Tag Champion, after she and Regan Street became Tag Champions at Rise to Greatness that also saw the United States Championship on the line. This was the only time Selena has defended the championship until tonight. Xander is an angry man who wants to take out everyone who stood in his way of teaming with Regan Street. He's already beaten Tommy Valentine and may be responsible for David Helms' undisclosed injury. Selena is next. She's a tough fighter, has a never say die attitude... but I am predicting a Xander Valentine victory here. He's a man on a mission and so far has been unstoppable.
SCW World Championship
Bree Lancaster vs. Tommy Valentine
Due to David Helms' injury and subsequent abdication of the World Championship that he defeated Bree Lancaster for, this match went from a Three Way Dance that was scheduled to include all three of them, to this... a one on one fight for the vacant championship. Katya called it an Interim Championship, both Bree and Tommy though have considered it otherwise. For weeks, the two of them seemed to be on the same page making deals about title shots to each other, dependent on who got first crack at David and won. None of that matters tonight, as David Helms is out of the equation. Bree made that crystal clear last week when she Classified Tommy right after Katya's announcement conforming this match. Additionally, this isn't the first time Bree and Tommy will fight this year, they clashed right after Rise to Greatness, a hard fought match that was foiled when Matt Hodges attacked Bree and KO'd her, allowing Tommy to get the pinfall. It's unclear whether or not Tommy saw Hodges, but this will be a rematch of a different sort, and one that I and a lot of people hope will have no interference. Both feel they deserve the title, both are angry at the way things have gone down, both wanted to get David in the ring again and now they won't, at least not in the foreseeable future. It's hard to decide where the edge will be and who gets it, but going with my gut here... I will give it to Bree. Tommy has been through the ringer lately, at the hands of Xander Valentine, a tough schedule in the Tag League, and Bree's attack last week that aggravated his ribs. She knows how to pick her opponents apart, and I think she'll pull it off. Not that Tommy isn't good enough, not that he can't beat Bree – in fact I won't be surprised in the slightest if he does – but that's just my gut feeling.
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There it is, Dear Readers, my thoughts and predictions for tonight's Under Attack presented by SCW. I am in attendance in Atlanta and I'm looking forward to all the action. I know I always say this but it's true every time.... you won't want to miss this event. my email and DM's are open for questions. And as always.... be brave.
~ Amy Chastaine