Chapter View

What Has Gone Before: Thomas

What Has Gone Before: Hacker

Eighteen Years Ago: Men at Work

Eighteen Years Ago: Raindrops Keep Falling

Home, Team

What Has Gone Before: Eli Flair

Coming of Age

What Has Gone Before: Unified

The Lineup

GOLD RUSH:
Greensboro Ring

Center Ring: Old Friends

GOLD RUSH:
Presidential Ring

Center Ring: Upstaged

GOLD RUSH:
Title Shot Ring

GOLD RUSH:
United States Ring

Presidential Approval Ratings

GOLD RUSH:
Center Ring

Don't Stop Now




GOLD RUSH Challenge
Presidential Championship Ring

SEITZER: Thanks Billy. And we’re off!

IVY: They shouldn’t’ve waited for everyone to get into each ring to ring the bell. Literally everything is on the line in this match – a belt or a title shot – and the UNIFIED championship, and you’re gonna tell these guys they have to wait for it?

SEITZER: Well, CSWA mainstay Cameron Cruise certainly didn’t wait! He jumped right on Presidential Champion Jay Phoenix when the Champion was still getting into the ring!

IVY: This one is definitely going to be difficult to call. We’ve got eleven men in the ring, all fighting for the same prize. Jay Smash and Joey Melton trading right hands near the corner!

SEITZER: Jay Smash, known as ‘The Disease’ is a former EUWC and XOW World Champion, is no doubt looking to add CSWA gold to his impressive resume, and Joey Melton, of course, needs no introduction in a CSWA ring.

IVY: Phoenix with a reversal, and Jason Payne just took Cruise down with a clothesline! Payne with a forearm to the current Champion’s head!

SEITZER: Lawrence Stanley, former CSWA United States Champion, is locked up with John Doe, and he’s got Doe shoved into the corner!

IVY: That’s the weight – the leverage advantage. The bigger guys in this type of match have a distinct advantage over the little guys. By sheer force of strength, it’s a lot easier for Jay Smash to toss Tobias Stevens than the other way around—

SEITZER: Speaking of which, Jay Smash has Stevens’ body pressed over his head! We could see our first elimination—NO! Professor Tremendous just clipped his leg! Smash falls flat on his back and Stevens lands on top of him!

IVY: —but the smaller, lighter guys can get around that. They just have to be quick – like that.

SEITZER: Professor T and Tobias Stevens have Jay Smash up, and they’re pounding him with forearms!

IVY: Melton’s got the champ pressed into the corner!

SEITZER: Jay Smash with a double clothesline on Stevens and T! CAMERON CRUISE WITH A DROPKICK!

IVY: Where’d he come from?

SEITZER: Cruise was battling with Nate Redman on the other side of the ring, but abandoned his attack to go for Smash! T and Stevens are both up, and Joey Melton has grabbed hold of the self – proclaimed UNIFIED Champion!

IVY: Smash with a hand around Cruise’s neck, we could see Cammy chokeslammed right on out of this one!

SEITZER: It’s literally a madhouse in here and almost impossible to keep up with! Look, there’s Karl Brown with a series of chops to T’s chest—CRUISE WITH A KICK TO THE MIDSECTION! SUICIDE CLOTHESLINE!

IVY: Cruise held on! Jay Smash has been eliminated by the former Presidential Champion. Smash is out, Cruise is on the apron holding onto the ropes! Lawrence Stanley has him—Cruise with a shoulder to the ribs, and he rolls over the English Gent’s back to return to the ring! For all the abuse Cammy’s taken over the years, somewhere he’s learned to fight!

SEITZER: He’d better, he rolled over Stanley’s back to eat a kick to the jaw from Karl Brown!

IVY: The Unified Champion just reversed Joey’s choke, and he’s got the Arrogant One face first on the mat!

SEITZER: Professor Tremendous is not the Unified Champion, Ivy.

IVY: If it means Troy’s not considered the champion, I’ll take a little self–delusion, Rudy.

SEITZER: Melton with a reversal of his own, and he’s got Professor T up against the ropes! He’s trying to muscle the pretender out!

IVY: Chrissy?

SEITZER: Karl Brown with a bodyslam, and Lawrence Stanley with an elbowdrop onto Cruise!

IVY: Melton has T scooped, and he just dropped him over—Tremendous landed on the apron and he’s holding onto the ropes! Joey’s dropping his knee into his ribs, over and over, but T’s got the rope hooked! He’s not letting this opportunity get away from him lightly.

SEITZER: Karl Brown has Cruise up, and a right hand by Stanley!

IVY: T’s almost out… Melton’s really got him hangin’ by a thread, there! TREMENDOUS WITH A KICK TO MELTON’S ANKLES! He’s got the golden boy by the head! MELTON’S GONE!

SEITZER: I can’t believe it! Professor Tremendous just eliminated the first CSWA Champion Joey Melton!

IVY: Cruise with a kick to Stanley’s lower abdomen—

SEITZER: —His Extremely Lower abdomen!

IVY: Ain’t no DQ’s in this one.

SEITZER: And Stanley’s down!

IVY: Brown sends Cammy into the ropes… REVERSAL! TREMENDOUS DROPPED TO THE APRON AND PULLED THE ROPE DOWN! Karl Brown is eliminated!

SEITZER: Who gets credit for that one, Cruise, or Professor Tremendous?

IVY: I don’t think it matters right now, though my money would be on Tremendous.

SEITZER: Things have cleared out a little -- we’re down to eight men who can claim the CSWA Presidential Championship! There’s the current champion Jay Phoenix, former champion Cameron Cruise, former United States champion Lawrence Stanley—

IVY: —Is it just me, or is it ironic that the English Gent has been the United States champion?

SEITZER: I think it’s just you.

IVY: Sure.

SEITZER: There’s also self–proclaimed UNIFIED champion Professor Tremendous, John Doe, Tobias Stevens, Nate Redman, and Jason Payne still competing for this belt. Who’s your favorite, Ivy?

IVY: With the way Payne is currently laying those fists into the current champion’s face, I’m gonna have to go with the Dog of War. You?

SEITZER: I’m going to have to go with experience—

IVY: —Tremendous?

SEITZER: Stanley. The former United States champion has Cameron Cruise up, and a hard bodyslam to the mat! If he’d done that over the top rope he’d have scored a very significant elimination!

IVY: So he didn’t eliminate Cammy, but he’s your choice?

SEITZER: There’ve been many matches in the past where Lawrence Stanley could have easily come away as the CSWA World Champion… I’ve got to believe he has what it takes to take it here.

IVY: Nate Redman has John Doe off balance in the corner, we could see another elimination here!

SEITZER: The Raptor is a two–time former World Champion in various promotions, the CSWA Presidential title, not to mention the UNIFIED World Title, would certainly be another boon to his career!

IVY: Payne whipped Phoenix into the ropes, and Tobias Stevens with a drop toe hold! Nate Redman just abandoned his attacks on Doe to attack Phoenix! I think the current Champ has a target on his back, Rudy!

SEITZER: It’s certainly smart strategy. This is an over–the–top–rope Battle Royal match, which has eliminated the Champion’s Advantage of not having to beat his opponent -- but you’ve gotta believe there’s still something to be said for being the man that was able to knock the current titleholder out of contention.

IVY: This is very true. As it stands, Jay Phoenix is the Presidential Champion as long as he’s in this match. If he’s eliminated, we’re guaranteed a new champ. The lure of the prestige has got to be strong.

SEITZER: Redman with Phoenix up, and he and Payne are trying to force the Champ out of the ring! Phoenix has a deathgrip on the ropes, I don’t think he’ll go easily.

IVY: Course not. You don’t get gold in the CSWA by being a pushover.

SEITZER: Brigsby and Paige?

IVY: Shush.

SEITZER: Of course, the irony here is that you could eliminate the champ and still not end up with title… you have to be the last man standing! And the champ is in trouble -- Phoenix is almost out! He’s halfway over the ropes, but he’s hooked Redman around the waist with his ankles! Cameron Cruise with a knee to Tobias Stevens’ gut!

IVY: John Doe and Lawrence Stanley are circling… it might make more sense to them to try and get someone else out of the ring instead of beating on each other.

SEITZER: PROFESSOR TREMENDOUS WITH A HARD CLOTHESLINE TO THE BACK OF CRUISE’S HEAD!

IVY: Cammy’s down! Phoenix has a death grip on Redman’s waist!

SEITZER: Tobias Stevens with a back attack! He’s trying to force the English Gent over the top, and John Doe is pushing just as hard!

IVY: Redman can’t get Phoenix off his waist, he’s… are you kidding?

SEITZER: Nate Redman – we’re not in the ring so I can’t speak for him, but it looks like Nate Redman is trying to implore Jason Payne to help him pry the Champ’s legs off him so they can get Phoenix to the floor. We’ve got three men trying to eliminate the champ, a former champ on the ropes thanks to Professor T, and two more circling right in the middle of the ring!

IVY: Tremendous almost has Cammy out!

SEITZER: NO! Cruise landed on the apron, and he’s got that bottom rope hooked for all he’s worth! PAYNE WITH A RIGHT HAND TO REDMAN! He’s got both men over the top!

IVY: Phoenix has that rope with a deathgrip, and Redman’s got Phoenix with the same!

SEITZER: Cruise landed on the apron, and he quickly pulls the bottom rope around him – he’s in for now. Tremendous still laying the boots to him, he wanted to eliminate the former Champion!

IVY: Payne’s still shoving, but we’re between a rock and a hard place on that side’a the ring. We’re at a ringside stalemate here, and nobody wants to move!

SEITZER: Someone’s gonna have to give eventually.

IVY: Where’s your money?

SEITZER: PAYNE WITH A KICK TO PHOENIX’S STOMACH! THE CHAMP FALLS!

IVY: Not all the way!

SEITZER: REDMAN IS OUT! PHOENIX LOST HIS GRIP ON THE APRON BUT PULLED REDMAN TO THE FLOOR!

IVY: But Jay Phoenix held onto the bottom rope as he fell forward, and his feet JUST missed the floor! I can’t believe it but the champ’s still in the match!

SEITZER: Not if Payne has anything to say about it! The Dog of War has just pulled the Presidential Champ to his feet and a right hand! Another! Jay Phoenix is—

IVY: He ducked it! Phoenix with a shoulder into Payne’s gut, and the champ is back inside! Greensboro cheering for the man with the gold!

SEITZER: We’re down to seven, but Professor T is still laying the boots to Cruise! There’s only so much punishment a body can take before you can just pick him up and toss him, Ivy. We’ve seen it many times before.

IVY: John Doe has Lawrence Stanley draped over the middle rope, and he’s alternating between forearms and chokes. Same token, Rudy – if you can’t breathe, you can’t fight.

SEITZER: Phoenix with a bodyslam on Jason Payne, and he’s over to John Doe, beating down the English Gent! They’re taking it to the former United States Champion, the man who has been just a few breaks removed from CSWA World Championship gold on numerous occasions!

IVY: A few breaks ain’t gettin’ there, Rudy. He could still be UNIFIED Champion tonight, but he’s not showin’ it at the moment.

SEITZER: Phoenix with a right hand to John Doe! There’s no friends in a Battle Royal, Ivy!

IVY: Good thing, too – cause that’s the kinda thing that ruins friendships.

SEITZER: Phoenix with a handful of Doe’s tights, and he’s over the top!

IVY: Turn around, ya bastard!

SEITZER: JAY PHOENIX OFF THE OPPOSITE ROPES! LAWRENCE STANLEY IS STILL DRAPED OVER THE MIDDLE ROPE! JOHN DOE SKINNED THE CAT AND WHIPPED HIMSELF BACK IN! KICK TO PHOENIX’ CHIN!

IVY: Take a breath, Rudy. Jay Phoenix tossed John Doe over the top, but Doe held on and swung the momentum into a vicious kick! Doe off the ropes again, and a clothesline just took him and Phoenix over the top! Jay Phoenix is OUT!

SEITZER: But John Doe held on!

IVY: There we have it, Rudy… we are guaranteed to see a new Presidential Champion tonight.

SEITZER: I’d have to say now, John Doe has the momentum, he has the chops to win it all here!

IVY: By ‘all’ do you mean the Presidential Title, or the UNIFIED Title? Or both?

SEITZER: You’re a real killjoy sometimes.

IVY: Love you too!

SEITZER: Hold on folks, we’ve just gotten word that we have a decision regarding the runner-up in the Greensboro ring… Kevin “K-9” Watson is still taking a rest before heading into the center ring as the first man to challenge UNIFIED Champion Troy Windham – it looks like he’s decided to wait until there’s another challenger to distract Windham. And it sounds as if the controversy has been settled… Let’s cut back over to Stan Parsons and Billy Buckley!

PARSONS: Thanks Rudy and Ivy. We’re told that CSWA officials have finished reviewing the tape and are about to have the decision announced to the crowd!

(One of the referees goes over to the main announce booth and whispers something.)

RHUBARB JONES: (Overhead PA) Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been told that as a result of reviewing the action in the Greensboro ring, the officials have determined that the penultimate competitors hit the floor at the same time. They have thus ruled that both JA and Eron the Relentless will be joining new Greensboro Champion Kevin Watson in the center ring for a shot at Troy Windham and the UNIFIED World Champion!!

(Loud applause, which continues as JA and Eron are shown getting to their feet, still shaking the cobwebs out after being treated briefly by medical personnel.)

PARSONS: All three men are gonna get to go!

BUCKLEY JR: Not a bad decision, although I’ve had quite enough of FORMER champion JA.

PARSONS: The big story is the new Greensboro champion Kevin “K-9” Watson. Billy, I never thought I’d see the day.

BUCKLEY JR: Honestly, neither did I – but the man did his job and he did it well. You gotta hand it to him.

PARSONS: That’s it for us, fellas – Time to go get my front row seat for the center ring!

BUCKLEY JR: See ya!! Back to Rudy and Ivy!

SEITZER: Thanks gentlemen! The action here in the ring for the Presidential Championship continues. Jay Phoenix has been eliminated, guaranteeing that one of the six men still battling are going to walk away with gold. Just a reminder that thanks to U-62’s HD capability, you can watch all the action at once or focus on a specific ring by using the HD channels assigned by your cable company.

Lawrence Stanley finally off the ropes, he’s taken the brunt of the beating here tonight, and he’s spent the past few minutes continually having the air choked out of him.

IVY: Professor Tremendous heard you earlier, I think. He’s been pounding on Stanley constantly, and now he’s got the big Englishman up, trying to get the Gent over the top! Cammy and Doe are trading punches… no love lost there. And Jason Payne has Tobias Stevens wrapped up in the ropes! We’re just at the halfway point as far as entrants go—PAYNE LEFT STEVENS WRAPPED!

SEITZER: He’s entwined in the ropes pretty tightly, I think Payne could do well to try and incapacitate as many as he can that way, then he can pick and choose his spots!

IVY: The others should take heed of that. In my opinion, of what I know of the remaining wrestlers involved, Payne is the man to beat. The rest of’em should pool their talents and get him out as soon as they possibly can.

SEITZER: Payne thinking otherwise, maybe? He’s got Stanley halfway over the top along with Professor Tremendous, and we could see the English Gent go any second now!

IVY: Cammy whips Doe into the corner – STEVENS FREED! Cammy with a followup elbow to the face, and Tobias Stevens crossed behind him, and a dropkick to the mass of people on the other—STANLEY IS OUT! That dropkick was just the extra momentum Payne and Tremendous were missing!

SEITZER: Don’t look now, but Payne has just unloaded on Tremendous! The Dog of War with a hard shove to the face, and Tremendous is out! Stevens with a clothesline—PAYNE WITH A HOOK AND A HIPLOCK! In the span of sixty seconds we’ve seen three men eliminated, and two of them by Jason Payne!

IVY: Three out, just three left in!

SEITZER: I don’t think Cruise and Doe realize what Payne has done, they’re still locked up in the corner—PAYNE WITH A SHOULDERBLOCK! He just sandwiched both men in the corner!

IVY: Cammy was in the middle there, and he just collapsed to the mat!

SEITZER: Payne is in complete control here, Ivy! He grabs Doe by the back of the neck and pulls him out of the corner… whip into the ropes! PAYNE KILLER! John Doe is out!

IVY: Out cold, that is! Payne’s gotta lift him and toss him, and that’s all she wrote for John Doe! LOW BLOW BY CRUISE!

SEITZER: You just called him by his proper name.

IVY: Never mind that now! Cameron Cruise with Jason Payne in a half–crossface, and he’s shouting at Doe to get up! Payne’s straining up, he has a leverage disadvantage but his feet under him!

SEITZER: That’s what it’s come down to, this can only end with a two–on–one battle, and I think Cruise has the right idea with trying to double-team Payne! But will John Doe get up in time?

IVY: And if he does, will he help out Cruise, or Payne?

SEITZER: Payne dropped him with that Payne Killer.

IVY: Doe’s also guaranteed to make it into the center ring at this point with both Cruise and Payne trying to get his services.

SEITZER: That’s a good point, Ivy!

IVY: I know.

SEITZER: Doe has rolled over, and he’s on the ropes! Cruise looks like he’s leaning his entire body weight down onto Payne’s shoulders, but the Dog of War is still slowly rising!

IVY: That’s it for Cammy!

SEITZER: PAYNE BROKE THROUGH! He just shoved Cruise, back–first, into the turnbuckle! Elbow to the temple broke the hold, and Payne is bringing the pain to the Crippler! He’s up on the middle rope with those right hands!

IVY: Cruise is slumping. Doe is barely able to stand. Payne should get rid of Cammy while he’s got the—

SEITZER: JOHN DOE WITH A SLINGSHOT TO THE TOP ROPE AND AN ENZUIGIRI!

IVY: Too late.

SEITZER: Doe landed his foot into the side of Payne’s head—CRUISE SHOVES WITH ALL HIS MIGHT! JASON PAYNE IS OUT! JASON PAYNE IS OUT!

IVY: We’re looking right now, at the new CSWA Presidential Champion. And we may be looking at the next UNIFIED Champion! There’s only one more elimination to take place here tonight, but both Cameron Cruise and John Doe are headed to the middle ring to take care of Troy!

SEITZER: Doe took a nasty spill from the top rope, but he’s up and snaps Cruise out of the corner! John Doe under the top rope – smart move, that – and he’s up to the top turnbuckle! Cruise on his knees, and Doe off the top with a legdrop! Cruise is down again!

IVY: Forget the punishment, Johnny, just do it!

SEITZER: Doe sends Cruise off the ropes… Fist to the gut – DDT!

IVY: Wasting time!

SEITZER: Handful of hair, Doe pulls Cruise back up, and a right hand! He’s trying to force the Crippler out of the ring, but Cruise still has enough wits about him to lock his arm around the top rope! John Doe with a forearm! And another!

IVY: Cruise just hooked his ankles around Doe’s waist! What happens if they both go over? We’ve already seen it once tonight!

SEITZER: Doe pounding away on Cruise’s back and shoulders, he’s trying his best to shake the Crippler loose!

IVY: What’s that chucklehead doing now? Cruse has the middle rope hooked on the outside of the ring! He’s trying to pull himself over?

SEITZER: Doe nearly lost his footing! Another forearm! And another!

IVY: Cruise unlocked his ankles—

SEITZER: AND HOOKED DOE BY THE SHOULDERS! BOTH MEN TUMBLED OVER THE TOP ROPE!

IVY: NO THEY DIDN’T!

SEITZER: CAMERON CRUISE HELD ON! CAMERON CRUISE HELD ON! CAMERON CRUISE IS NOW A TWO–TIME CSWA PRESIDENTIAL CHAMPION!

IVY: Can we get Bilbo to cue the replay? I need to see this again!

SEITZER: Right there! Cruise hooked Doe and pulled both of them over the top rope, but the Crippler had a grip on that middle rope, he was able to keep his feet off the floor! Cameron Cruise is now the new, Two–Time CSWA Presidential Champion, but both he and John Doe have a date with Troy Windham in the center ring! JA, Eron the Relentless, and K-9, have already taken up residence!

IVY: But we can’t have any eliminations until the ring is full! We have a new Greensboro Champion, we have a new Presidential Champion, but we can’t have the finale until we have a United States Champion!

SEITZER: But first, the battle continues in the ring to determine who gets the rights to call in an automatic title shot for the UNIFIED Championship. We’re switching it over to John Simons and Manny Juarez in the Title Shot ring. You can still view the action in the US ring by switching to channel 514, or see both rings at the same time on channel 511! For the incomparable Ivy McGinnis, my name is Rudy Seitzer! Enjoy the rest of the show!