Ringside…
Ben Hanson came down to the ring to welcome the SCCW fans to the new year, and thank them for their patience over the Christmas break. He then brought down Thunderbelly to congratulate him on defending the SCCW Championship at Christmas Bash. The Storm Bearer seemed in high spirits as he thanked the fans for their continued support…
Before Z appeared at the top of the aisle with a microphone in hand. The pair had a brief war of words regarding the finish of the triple threat match, with Z claiming that Thunderbelly wouldn’t have won without Caintigern’s help – but one on one Z knows the champion wouldn’t be any match for him! Hanson interrupted them both, reminding them that tonight they’ve got to be on the same page.
On that note, Z headed backstage, but not before making the belt gesture in Thunderbelly’s direction.
Tag Team Match
Ricky Vega & Charlie Blooms vs. Adam & Chino
The match was filled with fast paced action as Ricky & Charlie were determined to build on their success at the close of last year. But the former tag champions weren’t going down easily. Adam & Chino capitalized on the rookie mistakes their opponents made in the first few minutes; they managed to score a couple of nearfalls after Charlie got caught by a Chino Hills lawn dart, and an Adam Dragomirov apron belly to belly suplex. But nothing she couldn’t kick out of.
The Anti-Americans turned the tide in the fifth minute as Charlie dodged a corner attack from Chino, before countering with a rope hung neckbreaker. The pair worked together to try and wear Chino down; Ricky came close to ending it with his new tiger bomb in the seventh, but he could only get a two count. A backbreaker/diving leg drop combo followed a minute later, but still Chino stayed in this.
The frustration began to show on the faces of Charlie and Ricky as they tried more, only to see Charlie land an asai moonsault right across Chino’s knees! He managed to make the tag out before Charlie could, and in came Adam Dragomirov! Blooms found herself getting hit by a spinebuster before Ricky hit the ring, only to get dropped by a swinging Michinoku driver. Adam seemed to be in control for a few moments, but he was caught from behind by a Charlie low blow. The Anti-Americans looked set to finish Adam off when GBH’s music, “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid” started playing. Both members looked up the aisle to see where the champions were, as Adam hit Charlie with the Sitout Pumphandle Powerbomb! Chino took out Ricky as the referee counted the three!
Winners: Adam & Chino (10:25)
After the match, GBH appeared in the aisle with their titles. Miss Fortune and Harper Hill held the SCCW tag titles up high, drawing stares from all four of the competitors at ringside, before they headed backstage.
Backstage…
Noah Ortega is standing with Claire James, with his followers in tow. The interview is brief, and seems to focus on Ortega saying that the world has gone to hell in 2017, but now we’re in 2018 The Lost Generation has the power to change the world. To save themselves from the evils, and only one man can lead them to safety. And that man is Noah Ortega! The Lost follow their leader as he walks away, and the show cuts back to ringside.
Singles Match
Sammie Rósza vs. Marc Cosmos
Rósza showed that GBH cut throat attitude from the get-go as she attacked Cosmos while he made his entrance, trying to finish the match early as she turned Marc inside out with a rolling elbow in the second minute. But he kicked out at two.
Cosmos gained the advantage after blocking a hiptoss attempt in the fourth minute. He followed up with a basic series of attacks; suplexes, a bulldog, a DDT. Things looked set for Cosmos, but Sammie dodged a corner attack and Marc hit the turnbuckle chest first! The Sammycide (Triangle Knee Strike) followed, and Sammie nearly picked up the three count.
The seventh minute rolled around as Sammie charged in, looking for Sunny Side Up (Pop Up Flip Piledriver) – only for Marc to counter with a European uppercut in midair! Rósza fell to one knee, and Cosmos connected with the boma ye for the three count!
Winner: Marc Cosmos (6:18)
After the match, Cosmos took the microphone and proclaimed himself to be the future of SCCW, and the figurehead that this company deserves.
Backstage…
Backstage the camera shows Claire James, the intrepid interviewer taking a deep breath before checking her watch and shaking her head. She looks irritable, looking around her and down the hallways as if trying to see if someone is coming. Just as it looks like she’s about to cut elsewhere there’s a brief flash of light and a cloud of gold and silver glitter that cleared to reveal a blonde stood next to Claire, glitter settling in her hair. The interviewer managed to force a smile upon her face and introduced the new arrival as Steffi Sparkles, welcoming her to SCCW. The newcomer thanks her and grabs hold of the microphone as Claire tries to take it back, quickly wrenching it from her hand as she stepped towards the camera, telling the watching public that they she was really super excited to be there; to be a part of SCCW and that she couldn’t wait to step into the ring; to entertain them all and to give them all something to talk about.
Claire attempted to retrieve her microphone only for Steffi to block her off and continue, telling the fans that she was her to climb the ladder; to become an SCCW legend and a star. She acknowledged that she wasn’t the finished article and still had a lot to learn but she promised - guaranteed - them all that the moment she got to step into that ring she’d be looking to make a huge splash and things would only get better from there. Again Claire tried to retrieve her microphone again only to have her hand slapped away by Steffi. “After all even rough diamonds Sparkle!” As she said it she tossed the microphone over her shoulder for Claire to catch and took two quick steps, causing the camera to get a close up of her white t-shirt with one word written in crystals across her breasts - “SPARKLES” - before cutting elsewhere.
Singles Match
Maurice Robinson vs. Noah Ortega
Throughout the match Ortega did whatever he could to remain out of grappling distance, trying to minimize the size advantage Maurice possessed. Using his strikes to keep Robinson at a safe distance, Noah kept the heavy set man down with basement dropkicks to the knees followed by a rolling elbow to the side of the head to score the first two count.
But the momentum shifted in the fourth minute when Robinson got knocked out through the ropes with a picture perfect dropkick. The suicide dive attempt that followed only served to allow Noah to get caught in midair in an impressive feat of strength, before getting driven back first into the apron. Robinson maintained the advantage for a couple of minutes, entertaining the fans with his dancing between hitting the basics. A belly-to-belly suplex scored him a two count, otherwise it was a series of clotheslines, suplexes, and hiptosses.
All seemed to be going his way until, in the ninth minute, one of The Lost grabbed his foot as Maurice hit the ropes. The referee didn’t see it, but the distraction proved enough for Noah to catch his opponent with "Lost Hope" (Springboard Roundhouse Kick) for the three count.
Winner: Noah Ortega (8:36)
After the match, Noah escaped to the outside to celebrate his victory as he instructed a couple of The Lost to attack Maurice. The two young men entered the ring and picked Maurice up to his feet, only to get caught by surprise as Robinson took the first one down with a belly to belly suplex! The second one got drilled with a running powerslam, and both men rolled to the outside as Maurice stood tall in the ring.
Maurice and Noah had a brief staredown, before Robinson got a pop from the crowd by flexing his biceps.
Backstage…
Blake Belladonna is standing with Claire James, re-avowing her interest in the Rising Star title even now Melody Marshall holds it instead of Murph B. The interview is interrupted, however, by the arrival of Goro Matsunaga. Despite his limited grasp of the English language, Goro does manage to wish his opponent good luck in their upcoming match…
Before Ben Hanson shows up. He says that both Blake and Goro have been impressive during their tenure here, and maybe both deserve a shot at Melody and her newly won title. That’s why he’s making this match a #1 contender’s match to the Rising Star title! Both competitors seem to like that, and wish each other good luck in the upcoming match as the show cuts elsewhere.
Backstage…
Coming backstage we see the regular goings on of staff and such running about to get things ready, nothing out of the ordinary. At least not at first. Moving through the halls we find a figure seated alone on top of one of the equipment boxes. Black hoodie over her clothes, hood up with her black and orange hair hanging down she stares at the camera. Her eyes briefly flick to those passing by only to always return to the camera, as if staring through it and not at it. This is Patience, one of the newest SCCW signees.
Not a word is spoken but those black lips curl into a little smile as she cocks her head to the side, almost bird-like. The lights give a little flicker and the camera turns as someone trips due to the weird semi-blackout. But when the camera comes back Patience is gone, only a black feather where she once sat.
#1 Contender to Rising Star Championship Match
Singles Match
Goro Matsunaga vs. Blake Belladonna
A harder hitting encounter than most people may have been expecting as the two hungry wrestlers fought tooth and nail for the prize on offer. But it was Goro who gained the upper hand early on. Using his size and strength to his advantage, the young lion used his stiff strikes to work Belladonna over in the corner, between suplexes. He even scored a nearfall after a series of rolling gutwrench suplexes.
But Belladonna fought through the onslaught and kicked out of several pin fall attempts. A big boot out of the corner gave her an opening, and Blake capitalized as she hit Goro with a belly to belly backbreaker. She kept up the attack, peppering Goro with stiff kicks and flying forearm strikes. A DDT in the seventh minute scored her a two count, but it wasn’t enough. Things went wrong shortly after when Blake attempted an ill-advised hurricanrana, only to get countered with a folding powerbomb for the two count.
The match ticked into the tenth minute as Blake ducked a clothesline, and dumped Goro over the top rope. She followed him outside, leaping off the apron with a double axhandle smash before the pair took off up the aisle. The referee had no choice but to start the count out as they brawled all the way up the aisle, disappearing behind the curtain shortly before the ten.
Winner: Double Countout (9:56)