Beyond the Horizon #17
September 26
Denver
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Good afternoon, Dear Readers, and welcome to SCW Apocalypse! We're here in the Mile High City and a fantastic show will take place later tonight.
First, I've been asked for post-Hurricane Ida updates regarding BlackOut Academy and New Horizon Shelter, so let me get to that. In good news, the shelter did not sustain significant damage. The building only lost a few roofing shingles and had one minor leak, which has been repaired. No women or children staying there were displaced, thanks to the two generators connected to the building.
BlackOut Academy however, did lose a portion of the roof, over the locker room area. This is why the Academy has been closed since the storm. CrescentCity Fitness only had water damage from rain coming in from the roof damage, and that was cleaned up and repaired rather quickly. The Academy upstairs though... we had to replace the section of roof that blew off, and redo the entire locker room area. The roof job is complete, and the locker room will be done in the next week or so. Classes will resume this Monday, and students are welcome to use the gym locker rooms downstairs until the Academy one is finished. I appreciate all of our students patience - and especially the help of those who volunteered with clean up - while we've been getting everything fixed. This experience truly put our motto into practice – Desire, Perspire, Acquire. If you want it, work hard for it, and you'll get it.
On that note, I want to give a special shout to my former student and now client, Spencer Pryce. He's worked hard for the last year at BOA and the payoff is an SCW contract, and an in-ring debut tonight at Apocalypse. I'm excited to be in his corner, and for the SCW Universe to finally get a chance to see what he's capable of.
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Alright! Apocalypse Card, let's go!
Marie Caedes vs. Derek Adonis
I've known Marie Caedes' parents for a long time. Her mother, Lynn Brewster, is the woman who signed me to my very first wrestling contract. Over the years she and I have been great friends and bitter rivals. No matter what terms we were on though, I always respected her, and especially her talent. Marie's father was a wrestler too, his career isn't as storied as Lynn's, but he was just as talented. If Marie carries even half of her parents skills.... she'll go far. I've seen some of her work since her debut and so far, I am impressed. She faces a unique challenge in Derek Adonis. He cam go when he puts his mind to it, and tonight I think he has something to prove. He didn't take kindly to Marie's words and he'll be coming hard for her. If Marie can keep focused and not let some of Derek's antics unnerve her, I think she can overcome.
Spencer Pryce vs. Katie Steward vs. Purity Pixie vs. Tsunami
There's a lot of moving parts to this one. Martin Howe and Tsunami have made quite a few enemies already since Tsunami's debut. Howe was looking to make a deal with Katie Steward. When she wasn't interested, he got... a little forceful. Pixie did her best to help. And of course there was the attack on Spencer rather than allowing him to debut in ring as planned. On paper this almost looks like a three on one, and in any other case I would say Tsunami was in trouble. But he is a very large, very strong, and very dangerous man. Despite the fact these three people all have reason to put him away, there's a very good chance that he'll blow through all of them and be standing tall at the end.
Kennedy Street, lich house (Lilith Morgan & KEZ) & Kimberly Williams vs. The Golden Boys (Adam Allocco & Bison Jones), Gianni “G” Money & Jessica Tremor
Eight person tag's are usually chaotic and hard to predict, and this one isn't any different. Personally I feel Kennedy Street deserved better booking after her Rise to Greatness win, but I'm not in charge. She'll do her best no matter what her match is. She teams with newcomers Lilith Morgan and KEZ, along with Kim Williams. It's a... unique team, to say the least. On the other side we have two other newcomers, Jessica Tremor and G Money, who have both been impressive thus far, teaming with the Golden Boys, who have been trying to regain their footing after losing the Tag Team Championships. Momentum seems to be on the side of Team Kennedy, but anything can happen in these kinds of matches so in my opinion this one could truly go either way. Momentum can shift on a dime with so many people and it's almost impossible to call.
SCW Adrenaline Championship
Crystal Zdunich vs. Konrad Raab vs. Holly Adams
Holly Adams became Adrenaline Champion at Rise to Greatness, beating out three other people. Now she defends against two. Konrad Raab has been on a path of rampage since aligning himself with Minerva and The Jackals, and getting better and more impatient every time he's in the ring. Crystal Zdunich... is a mystery. She doesn't say much, but her body of work shows she isn't out of place in a title match. I may regret this later, but I'm going to call for the upset with a Raab victory. Holly may be underestimating both of her opponents, as she tends to do, and it may cost her, with how motivated Raab is to bring another championship to the Jackals camp.
Will Lexy agree?
Autumn Valentine vs. Ravyn Taylor???
This may or may not happen. If it does, it's clearly a personal vendetta being pushed by Ravyn onto Autumn, and there is no predicting the outcome of something personal. All I will predict... is that there will be a confrontation of sorts. Whether that's an argument, a brawl, or a real match.... I have no idea.
Tables Match
Shilo Valiant vs. Ace Marshall
Shilo Valiant has known knee troubles, going back to at least Rise to Greatness... and being as familiar as I am with those kinds of issues, I'd wager that it goes back even further than that, more than anyone really knows. That said, I think it's a big mistake for Shilo to have agreed to this match. It could quite literally be the end of his career. Shilo and I have never gotten along, but I hate to see anyone, even a rival, go through what I dealt with with my own knee injuries, surgeries, and eventual retirement. Ace Marshall though? I don't think he cares. It may be quite the opposite, in that he wants to end Shilo's career. But, he has been acting so erratic as of late that its hard to get a grasp on what Ace's motivations might be. One thing is for certain – he hates tables. I can see Ace doing everything in his power to avoid being put through one, up to and including completely destroying Shilo's knee, before ending the match in proper form to get the win.
Underground Rules
Jordan Majors vs. Nicole Kinneck vs. Brittany Lohan
Jordan Majors has been in so many Underground matches lately that I'm surprised and impressed that she hasn't taken any serious injury. Her luck could run out tonight. If Nicole Kinneck's alter Pro is who shows up for this triple threat, Jordan will have to keep her head on a swivel... because the other side of this triangle is Brittany Lohan. The woman is a beast, and when she wants to really let loose and throw down, she can be a monster. Brittany orchestrated all of this, she didn't want Jordan and Nicole to fight at all. Now the three of them have intertwining issues and I have a feeling someone is going to get hurt before it's all over. As for the winner? I'm going with Jordan. She's always been resilient. She's the true innocent party in this mess, and she'll have the biggest motivation to leave everything out there and stand tall.
Gavin Taylor vs. Ricky James
This one has been brewing for a long time. Ricky James once accused Gavin Taylor of not being a true American... which anyone who knows Gavin already knew. He's Canadian. As it turns out, Ricky is the actual non-American... which was always highly suspected anyway. He's come clean and is trying to turn a new leaf. Gavin though doesn't seem to be buying it. Both men are talented, Gavin is a former Adrenaline Champion. Both can claim victory if they focus rather than play games. This feels like a match where both will be focused, as they both have something to prove. I flipped a coin on this one as I couldn't decide. It landed heads, which says Gavin. *insert shrug emoji here *
Glory Braddock vs. Drake Hemingway
Glory Braddock has been part of a contingent of SCW Stars coming together to fight back against the Jackals. Each member of the brutal group has figurative blood on their hands, in some cases literal blood, in that they have injured multiple people on the roster, some of whom have not been able to return. Glory chose to make her stand against Drake Hemingway, seeming-right hand of Minerva and an imposing and formidable figure. Drake doesn't seem to have any personal vendetta's of his own, unlike fellow Jackals Minerva, Kandis, and Tommy Valentine. He's just fighting off those who are trying to stop their path of destruction through SCW. Glory has the experience upper hand, Drake has the size and strength advantage. All members of the Jackals are booked tonight so I'm not expecting any interference. If this goes straight up one on one.... it could come down to who makes the first mistake. Both are methodical, and mistakes are rare. Going purely on my gut here, I can see Drake making the first miscalculation, solely due to having many things on his mind concerning the Jackals other matches. If Glory can capitalize before he course corrects, she'll take it.
SCW Tag Team and United States Championships
Order of Chaos vs. The Jackass and Big Ass Connection
There's a lot to unpack here. There are clearly personal issues involved here, Kandis has made it very clear she is still angry about a House Show title switch that she claims was rigged, from nearly two years ago. Tommy Valentine backs her up. Lucas Knight and Christy Matthews have known each other a long time, they were at one point husband and wife. Now they've reformed their team Order of Chaos, after Christy had a change of heart and jumped into the Jackals vs SCW fray. She agreed to put her United States Championship on the line, so that The Connection would accept the OOC challenge for the Tag Team Championships. It's very similar to last years Rise to Greatness winner take all match, the Connection vs Frozen Hell. Tommy and Kandis lost that match, and it seems like they are taking a huge gamble in going into another match just like it. Same stakes – they are Tag Champs, and they want the US around one of their waists. It may not be as big of a gamble as it seems though. They have the experience advantage. Sure, Lucas and Christy teamed years ago, but they haven't as yet since reforming. They will have a huge learning curve to equal the fluidity of the Connection. Maybe it's like riding a bike and will all come back as soon as the bell rings. Or maybe – and I think more likely – the well oiled machinery of the Connection will be too much to overcome. As for who comes out United States Champion? Ask Tommy and Kandis. I'm willing to bet they've decided between themselves who will take it if and when it's clear the victory is theirs.
Battle for Tombstone
Chris Cannon vs. Minerva
In most cases, I typically lean towards Chris Cannon to be victorious. Just this year he's been World Champion and Tag Team Champion. He's highly skilled and usually able to keep a clear head no matter what is going on around him. The exception to that has been when dealing with Minerva. She's been playing mindgames and terrorizing the man for months, ever since attacking and injuring Peyton Rice, who was staying in his home. Chris has done everything he can to push back, deal with her attacks. But she pushes back harder. Paying a visit to a pregnant Sienna Swann, making thinly veiled threats.... Chris had no choice but to do what he did. Seek out Minerva's father, who is very disapproving of what she's doing with The Jackals. He's put everything on the line... their community, what Minvera considers her birthright. And Chris Cannon is wrapped up in all of this. I can only think that it was a huge mistake for Chris to get in the middle of a family dispute, especially one of this nature. Minerva has proven to go to drastic measures to get what she wants, seek revenge on those she feels wronged her. Imagine what she will do to secure what she feels is hers. I see no other outcome but Minerva winning. Hopefully Chris hasn't gotten himself into something he can't get out of.
Asher Hayes vs. Syren
Asher Hayes is still on this co-champion kick of his, despite the fact that Cid Turner is no longer World Champion. That aside, he and Syren have heat going back a long time. This new issue though stems from Cid and Syren facing each other at Rise to Greatness to determine who would get the next chance to challenge Selena Frost for the World Championship. Cid tried turning on the charm to distract Syren, at Asher's prodding. Syren played right along, making Cid think she was actually interested. It turned out to be a set up, and Asher was not pleased. So, here we are. Both Asher and Syren would love a chance to become World Champion. I don't think that is on the line here, but both may go into this fighting as if it were. When Asher has his head in the game he can beat anyone. The same can be said for Syren. The difference here though is that I don't think Asher has his head fully in the game, he's too focused on mindgames and, well... buffonery. Syren can and should be able to stay focused enough to win this one.
SCW World Championship
Cid Turner vs. Selena Frost
It's been a long time since we've seen Selena Frost compete at this level, and it's really caused her to flourish. Since becoming World Champion at Taking Hold of the Flame, she has been on a tear. In this Flame rematch, we'll see Cid Turner try to regain the championship he lost to her. Cid lost a step in his confidence since losing the title, yet over the last few weeks we've seen him start to get some of that back. His win at Rise to Greatness over Syren serves as proof. Can he keep that up and take the title back from Selena? My gut tells me no... Selena has been on another level and when she is in this mode there is almost no one who can stop her.
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And done! Agree? Disagree? I'd love to hear your comments. Please remember these are my personal thoughts based on what I see and my experience in the business. I am wrong just as often as I'm right and I'm almost never surprised when I am wrong. SCW is such a highly competitive environment that I believe there is truly no such thing as a shock or surprise victory. That's the great thing about Supreme Championship Wrestling... in most cases, it can be anyone's night to stand tall, and tonight's Apocalypse isn't any different. You won't want to miss it! Thanks for reading, and as always, be brave.
~ Amy Chastaine