Basic Training - July 2014

[OrochiGeese]

July 2014

Field Leader: Darius


Tonight represents both the best and the worst of pro wrestling. Our main event involves me defending my Field Leader Title against an extremely talented wrestler, NorthStarLion. I have been looking forward to this for a while after his incredible display against the NEXUS Champion, Joachim.

However, we start the night with a match made purely by manipulation. Destiny has given false hope to a man in need of taking time for self-reflection rather than being taunted with opportunities out of his reach. El Verde Fantasma has been on a losing streak and I fear that he was hand-picked by Ruby, specifically, to give Joachim an easier opponent. If Joachim can win within fifteen minutes, Destiny can add yet another member to our roster.

Let me make myself perfectly clear, I mean absolutely no disrespect to Verde. Every wrestler, from time to time, goes through a period of doubt after a rough series of matches. Verde was unable to win the series against Golden Tiger and has not had any other recent victories. I had noted a few months ago that he was one of the wrestlers in danger of being demoted to the general Front Lines roster if he did not win his series with Golden Tiger.

Maybe that was premature but by overreaching after his recent losses and taking this match, dangled in front of him like a worm in front of a fish, Verde has put himself and all of us in danger. it is no coincidence that Yoshiro and Verde were chosen given their recent vulnerable emotional states. While I am not surprised to see this from Ruby, I am disgusted at Joachim. Here is a man who seems to have some modicum of honor in the ring but often forgets himself when out of it. I do not doubt his ability as a wrestler, his matches and victories speak for themselves. I doubt him as the prophet that he claims to be. Until he can make proper decisions as to who to face, and stop getting suckered in by Ruby's manipulation, he will never truly walk a righteous path.

Let's just hope that his path requires at least fifteen minutes of walking tonight. If Verde has one thing going for him, it's his superior speed. While I would never advocate him running away from Joachim the entire match, he should be wary of the clock and use any evasion tactics necessary to keep himself north of the time limit. That is only fair, as we all know that Joachim will be wrestling harder from the ten to fifteen minute mark than after it. These Trial series matches are weighted like that and it's appropriate to take that into account.

Destiny already has gained the right to add one member, let's hope that doesn't turn into two as a result of this match.


Match 1: Match 1: El Verde Fantasma vs. Joachim (c)



Our next match is the first one on one encounter between Bones and newcomer, Wang Gom-Bu. They were in the ring together during the Rookie Battle Royale at Battle Formation 2013. What went from an ordinary 'every man for himself' scenario quickly escalated into vindictiveness after Wang used his "Unworthy" finisher on Bones. It was at this point that Wang was actually defeated by Lone Spacewolf, who took advantage of Wang's labored breathing. But rather than immediately face off with Wolf, the 'lone' opponent left in the match, Bones went after the already deflated Wang. And Bones did this at the cost of losing his focus on Lone, who then easily defeated the distracted Bones. Say what you want about Bones' high intensity, that is not debated, but he made a key mistake. The winner of that Battle Royale, provided it was a UBL wrestler, was going to get a guaranteed shot at my Title. Bones' rage against Wang, for doing nothing more than attempting to win the match via finisher, cost Bones a chance to become Champion. And it also raised the ire of both Wang and his manager, Archibald Snow. Any match against a man the size of Wang is going to be difficult to fight. But I would not want to be in there against an angry giant. Bones is an accomplished fighter who is skilled in just about every martial art and technique available, but this is going to be an uphill battle.


Match 2: Bones vs. Wang Gom-Bu


I very much enjoyed that match. Congratulations to both men for giving their best in the ring. I will grant, and expect, an equally entertaining rematch.  Regardless of the reasons this encountered happened, it did a lot for both men in climbing the ladder on this roster. 


Our next match involves the team of Tenshi and Lucha La Barba, affectionately known in most circles as "We Have Beards," facing Monty Niles and Larry Rixx, known as the "The Solar Surfers." Tenshi and La Barba have been the #1 Contenders to the Universal Battalion Championships since a particularly impressive victory against the Golden Pair last year. Ordinarily they would not have had to wait so long to get a Title shot but the NEXUS Title situation complicated matters. RYOMA, one half of the Battalion Champions, was involved in an intense rivalry with Corey O'Brian to decide the next #1 Contender to the NEXUS Championship. That rivalry is over, with Corey emerging as winner, and so RYOMA has vowed to return full time to his Tag Champion duties.

Tenshi and La Barba will be getting their Title shot during the summer, I have even lobbied for that encounter to occur on my Basic Training show, provided it is still my show. Regardless of who the Field Leader is by then, both Tenshi and La Barba have meant a lot to the Front Lines roster over the years. Tenshi is still technically on the Front Lines and La Barba's best match in UBL was against Matt Rivers for the Field Leader Title back in 2011. So I feel it is appropriate that they get their first Universal Battalion Title shot on the show featuring the roster that they have both shined on.

Of course, none of that means that they will win this match. In fact, their #1 contendership is not on the line here. If Solar Surfers were to win tonight, Tenshi and La Barba would still get their Title shot. But you'd have to imagine that the Surfers would be the immediate #1 contenders, no matter who the Champs are. So it would be a mistake for the Surfers, or the audience, to assume they are just a stop on the "We Have Beard Tour". Even a strong competitive showing can help a new team like the Surfers climb the ladder.

The Battalion division has grown very interesting over the past few months with new teams joining the fray, And with Sun & Moon poised for more frequent competition, every team should be wrestling each match as if it is their moment to get noticed. There are no throw-away matches or wrestlers in UBL. No one knew what to expect from La Barba and Tenshi wwhen they first joined the roster because of how mysterious they were. But they wrestled with motivation, skill, and heart, and climbed the ladder as a result. Let that be an example for everyone.


Match 3: We Have Beards vs. Solar Surfers


And now we come to the main event and perhaps the greatest challenge to my reign that I have faced yet. NorthStarLion almost defeated the NEXUS Champion, Joachim, during one of the Universal Access matches in the past few months. He didn't just survive past fifteen minutes, he wasn't just competitive. He almost won.  He almost defeated the current NEXUS Champion and that is no small task given who Joachim has beaten here.

Now, for those who are only familiar with NSL's career in UBL, they may have been surprised to see a rookie almost beat our top singles Champion. But for those who know NSL from FPCPP, this all made sense. It was but a year ago ago at FPCPP: Revenge when NSL won a very physical and personal cage match against his long time partner. That put aside a lot of people's concerns that NSL was only a 'good technical' wrestler. He is a great technical wrestler but he's also much more than that. He is one of the future main eventers in the UBL. The only question is when he will get there.

Tonight's match goes a long way to deciding that. If he defeats me and becomes the new Field Leader Champion, then he stays and does what I do. If i were to lose the Title to anyone, it would satisfy me to have him take my place. But if he defeats me and chooses not to take my position, or if I defeat him and am still impressed, he will be elevated to the NEXUS roster by the end of this week. NSL is very much in control of his immediate future tonight, win or lose.

The question is, am I a good enough technical and submission wrestler to take on his brand of hybrid style submissions and strikes? As an amateur wrestler, I have plenty of experience with mounted grappling, but NSL may have the most expertise as a ground fighter that I have ever faced. It is an honor to step in the ring and have a match like this, regardless of the outcome. And if I lose my Title tonight, it has been an honor to serve my role. Regardless of who walks out as winner tonight, I believe the fans are about to have their match of the night.


Field Leader Title


Match 4: NorthStarLion vs. Darius (c)



I will be issuing a report on the Basic Training roster within the next week. A lot of positions have opened up given the events of tonight and recent weeks. For those who have worked hard on the regular Front Lines roster in front of the UBL Live audience, you will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Basic Training program very soon. We also hope to bring you the next Basic Training this August.