"Summer School"
Aug 23, 2024 17:10:53 GMT -5
Post by OrochiGeese on Aug 23, 2024 17:10:53 GMT -5
"The Randolph Report"
Event "Basic Training - Summer School"
Date Held: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Report Posted: Friday, August 23, 2024
Location: "Peter Venkman Memorial Arena" in Westchester, New York.
[John:] "Hello fans and welcome to the first true Universal Battle League event in over a year! As you all know by now, Ruby Moreno is the new owner of UBL. Undoubtedly you all feel some sort of way about that and even she would not begrudge you for that. That all said, I like her choice here. By featuring the wrestlers of the Basic Training program in the first event of her tenure, she is entrusting them to bring UBL properly into this new era.
Barton Miller, the Field Leader of this roster, was proud to accept this responsibility on their behalf. He is very happy with the progress this roster has shown. Whatever your thoughts on Ruby, no one can doubt the loyalty that Barton has shown to this promotion. Nor can anyone doubt the value of the Titles that he earned or his longevity here. In other words, Barton knows what it takes to be successful in this promotion. So if he believes this new crop of talent is ready for prime time, you better take him seriously: especially if you are on the roster."
*Barton Miller slowly walks onto the ramp to a huge ovation and is actually taken back by the reaction of the fans. He nods, trying to remain stoic, and marches down to the ring with a microphone in hand.*
[Barton:] "It feels good to be back! We're gonna let our matches talk for us in a few minutes but I just wanted to thank all of you for your continued support and patience. The world has continually changed for us these last few years, and I've had to repeatedly re-craft this program to forge our future. But when I say we're ready, it's cause no one knows the trajectory of a place more than the people who have plot its points. Naja can vouch for that, and so can all the vets sitting here ready to watch the future they helped build. That starts today. Anyone whose been watching our workouts knows we're primed. Tonight the world sees for itself. We're never done training, but we're done doing it in the shadows."
*Barton nods to a number of people in the crowd then walks backstage to cheers.*
[John:] "And folks, just in case you were curious - we have a number of UBL luminaries in the crowd tonight. Geese Walker is sitting in a luxury box, joined by Robin and Kyle. The audience seems rather wary of him, but he has every right to be here. This is his first public appearance in months, so it says a lot about his belief in this program and faith in the future of UBL. Jean Carter and Luke Kisiera are sitting in back of them and look incredibly happy to be attending.
Naja Mask, as a teacher in the program, is in thegorilla snake position peering out from behind the curtains.
Thunder Strike is sitting in the audience with Alicia Gordon. Robin and Alicia appear to be giving each other mildly dirty looks, but I'm somehow comforted by that normalcy.
Everyone is looking forward to watching what transpires tonight.
We are going to start with a match from Class 2 of the Basic Training roster. Tadaaki Solir will be facing Eddie Falcone.
Tadaaki was actually found by long time UBL wrestler and current security chief, Goro Yamashita. Goro trained Tadaaki as a boxer early in his career. The two reunited in 2020 and Tadaaki expressed his frustration with the limited ways he could express himself through boxing. Goro suggested that Tadaaki give pro wrestling a try and sent him to Barton. At that point, the Basic Training program had not started yet but Barton saw Tadaaki's potential. Barton thought that JET Hamada would be best suited to help Tadaaki early on. That is due to how JET successfully transitioned to pro wrestling from Judo. Barton knew JET had the mentality and experience to help Tadaaki acclimate to our sport as well.
JET Hamada started to train him as a wrestler and believed him to be a prodigy. Once the Basic Training program started, JET sent Tadaaki back to Barton. Tadaaki brings with him a base of very quick punches and kicks which he uses to keep his opponent at his preferred distance. This sets him up to score with devastating chops. His reach gives him an advantage over many of his competitors. Tadaaki also possesses incredible agility and an ease in twisting his body mid air. All three of his mentors have been most impressed by Tadaaki's maturity and poise. Tadaaki does not lose his cool and that is a talent which is sorely lacking in UBL. It's especially needed tonight given who his opponent is.
Eddie Falcone is best known as the lead singer and guitar player of the "Annihilators" - a popular hair metal band that seemed to have been spit out of a portal from the 1980's.. However, in spite of his over-the-top on-stage pageantry, Falcone can actually back up his bravado in the ring. The man spent years building a career as a mixed martial artist in some of the smaller, seedier promotions out west. He is adept at striking, submissions, and has far more grit than his feathery outfits suggest. He is also very talented at getting under his opponent's skin through his behavior: often choosing to 'headbang' within the confines of the match. Do not underestimate Falcone as there is a definite method to his madness, and likely a further madness lurking behind that method. I'm not just being coy here, the "Annihilators" literally have a song called "Madness behind the Method" which ended the "Method behind the Madness" album.
Let's get to the ring and see how the stoic Solir deals with the fretful Falcone.
Match 1 - Tadaaki Solir vs. Eddie Falcone
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "The match started off quite evenly before Solir took control with his agility and striking. You have to give credit to Eddie for staying in the match after a few impressive near falls by Solir, especially that flipping kick! Falcone hit with an unexpectedly quick STO into a painful arm submission. After almost reversing a frankensteiner for a pin, Falcone had full momentum. However, as I said before, Tadaaki does not lose his cool. He reassessed the situation, found an opening, and put Falcone down long enough to launch into the sky with an incredibly impressive Firebird Splash. This was an entertaining and competitive match. Falcone has a lot of bluster but can go in the ring. With the right focus and motivation, he could be a star here. And Solir is already one of the top contenders for "Head of Class 2" - I think he'll get a shot at it after tonight's victory."
Tadaaki Solir (O) [Firebird Splash - 14:41] (X) Eddie Falcone
[John:] "So let's talk a little about the structure of the Basic Training program to give some further context to the matches tonight. "Basic Training" originally began as a special intensive program for the most promising rookies on the Front Lines roster. That is still true. These wrestlers not only compete with each other, but have been taught and tested by "Field Leader" trainers with great skill such as Matt Rivers and Darius Korvin. Barton Miller, the former "Marauder," is the current Field Leader. Unlike previous Field Leaders, he does not wrestle to defend that Title. It just marks him as the head trainer and organizer of the program. The assistant trainer and referee for all of our matches is Randy Everett. We have four additional teachers that conduct daily classes which cover all of the elements of professional wrestling and provide tips for success in UBL. They are Naja Mask, Tetsu Gushiken, Goro Yamashita, and Wang Gom-Bu. The trainees have been split into two groups. Tonight, the title of "Head of the Class" for each class will be competed for in our two main events.
There is one aspect to this program that is new. In 2020, Barton announced his goals for the updated Basic Training program. Due to the resulting excitement, more participants applied than the program could accommodate. Barton did not want to turn away many of the talented people, so he set up a secondary division called "Boot Camp" which is the "feeder" group for Basic Training. When an opening appears in the Basic Training roster, two of the top wrestlers on the Boot Camp roster will compete for it. The Boot camp roster competes amongst themselves and the Basic Training wrestlers in exhibition matches. They are encouraged to attend the classes put on by the teachers but do not get the personal attention that the Basic Training roster members get. The Boot Camp roster is incredibly hungry and all want to prove themselves worthy of the opportunity to progress to Basic Training.
It is against this backdrop that we introduce four Boot Camp wrestlers for the next match. Kaito Hiramatsu will be teaming with Sean Parker to face Denki Shibuya and Rojiro Rodriguez.
Kaito Hiramatsu is a long time karateka and only recently started training to be a professional wrestler. He started this journey at the "Severe Style" dojo in Kyoto, Japan which is run by Daigo Serizawa. He did not stay there long and came over to the UBL shortly afterward. He is a poised fighter and enthusiastic member of the roster that hopes to reach his peak here. All of the teachers and most of his competitors respect the character that he has shown.
Sean Parker is also very well liked amongst his peers and the teachers see a lot of potential in him. A life long fan of the sport, he grew up watching strong style pro wrestling. He is especially adept at kicks and submission holds. Sean lives to be challenged. The better the competition, the happier he is. He was initially scouted by Geyser, a veteran of our roster. Geyser also had a hand in Sean's early development in the ring and the two remain close.
Denki Shibuya is a former muay thai kickboxer who also started his pro wrestling training at the "Severe Style" dojo. Unlike Kaito, Denki has remained there. Out of all the wrestlers on the Boot Camp roster, Denki is the most disliked by his peers. He is brash, hot headed, and has a propensity for violence. He is also a gifted striker and puts his all into his matches. Denki is above all, a fierce competitor. However, his 'sharp edges' may be limiting his own advancement.
Rojiro Rodriquez is the newest recruit to the Boot Camp roster but has impressed all of the trainers in a short period of time. Hailing from Brazil, Rojiro has dabbled in both capoeira and Brazilian jiu-jutsu, but his true passion is lucha libre. Rojiro may be the most agile wrestler of anyone on the entire Front Lines roster. Only Tadaaki Solir, Sun Dragon, and Ryuji Bansho can lay competing claims to that title. Like Sebastian Blake, Rojiro is also a part time surfer, but he's not quite as laid back. A hint of a temper has flared in some of his matches which should make his team with Denji quite volatile.
This should be a very fast-paced match between these two teams."
Match 2 - Kaito Hiramatsu/Sean Parker vs. Denki Shibuya/Rojiro Rodriguez
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "What a turnaround! Kaito just barely survives a snug-looking Achilles lock by Denki long enough for Sean to break it up. Seconds later, Kaito uses one of his specialties on Denki: The Leg Clutch Driver!! Kaito showed poise in staying in the match and waiting for the right opportunity. And all four competitors got to demonstrate their skills and growth. I think the fans are looking forward to their futures! Any one of these four could be the next to make it onto the Basic Training roster."
Sean Parker/Kaito Hiramatsu (O) [Leg Clutch Driver - 22:25] (X) Denki Shibuya/Rojiro Rodriguez
[John:] "And now we have another match from Class 2 as Sun Dragon faces Manuel Gutierrez.
Sun Dragon won a special match during Third Dimension two years ago to join the Basic Training roster. He is a lucha libre wrestler who originally competed in Saturn Wrestling which is part of the IWW collective. In his short time here, he has impressed all of the trainers: particularly Naja Mask and Tetsu Gushiken. Sun Dragon is the smallest member of the Basic Training roster but makes up for it with his speed, technique, and resiliency. He's also very fond of unorthodox pinning and submission maneuvers that catch his opponents by surprise. Facing Sun Dragon requires complete concentration.
Manuel Gutierrez spent most of his adult life as a bouncer in night clubs around the northeast before being discovered by Kazuo "Chrome" Saji. And by "discovered," I mean Manny effortlessly bounced Saji's ass one night and kicked him to the curb. After sobering up, Saji was so impressed that he profusely apologized for his behavior and convinced Manny to train as a wrestler. Manny is the largest and most powerful member of the Basic Training wrestler but he's also surprisingly quick. Barton and Wang Gom-Bu have both been impressed with Manny's ability to gather momentum to add to his natural power. Manny is also one of the older wrestlers on this roster and his maturity has really shined through in comparison to some of the hot headed youngsters. I feel old just saying that.
We have a real clash of styles here so let's get to the ring and see whose wins out!"
Match 3 - Sun Dragon vs. Manuel Gutierrez
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "Manny is used to battling people in many unorthodox situations, but people don't tend to wrap up bouncers in close quarters like the way that Sun Dragon just did! That polvo de estrella pin came out of nowhere, flipped Manny over, turned him around, then covered him with powdered sugar. I was equally impressed by Sun Dragon's ability to kick out of Manny's massive backbreaker just a few minutes before that. That backbreaker has knocked out a few wrestlers during training matches. It even put some on the shelf for a few months. Maybe it's a testament to Sun Dragon's stretching and fitness regiment that he was able to withstand that and keep going. Manny also had a number of other attempts at winning this match but Sun rose to the occasion in front of the crowd and bright lights here tonight. To Manny's credit, he shook Sun Dragon's hand afterward."
Sun Dragon (O) [Polvo de Estrella pin - 15:54] (X) Manuel Gutierrez
[John:] "My notes say that we're about to be joined by Daigo Serizawa. I mentioned before that he's the owner and Sensei of the "Severe Style" dojo. I don't exactly know what he's going to talk about. Both Denki and Gerulf Sieger are members of his dojo and the Basic Training roster. During the, uh, unpleasantness last year, Daigo successfully defeated RYOMA in a non-televised exhibition match. I still can't really believe that though, but Ruby says she has the tape to prove it."
*We are joined by Daigo Serizawa who walks to the ring wearing a dark purple gi and holding a microphone.*
[Daigo:] "I thank Miss Moreno for allowing me this opportunity to address all of you. She has been very supportive in our interactions. We both have a reputation of being...difficult to negotiate with, but we share common ground as a result of how we both suffered at the hands of Cosmic K*I*D and Geese Walker.
*Daigo looks up at Geese Walker with no expression and none returned.*
[Daigo:] "I approached Cosmic K*I*D during his illegitimate reign with the request to free my students from his captivity. I successfully met the stipulation put in front of me and believed that we were in the clear. However, we were all gassed shortly afterward. This turned us into K*I*D's entertainment and, eventually, Geese's loyal subjects.
Upon being set free and learning what occurred, my reaction was harsh. My dojo and I had never suffered humiliation like this before. I came close to removing all my wrestlers from this program and initiating a lawsuit. However, I stood down because I gained renewed confidence in UBL upon hearing of Miss Moreno's purchase of it. Mr. Wingate was an accomplished and focused man, but the years of battling the absurdity that took place here clearly scuffed the shine out of his armor.
Miss Moreno is exactly the stern and resourceful owner that this place needs. However, I also believe that true leadership goes beyond authority. With all due respect to her cherished beliefs, I have valued the sanctity of competition as my own personal 'guiding light. I can attest to the fact that cultivating fierce rivalries with the right target goals leads to measurable achievements. It also reduces the likelihood that distractions arise from petty personal slights. This promotion has some of the best wrestlers in the world yet it constantly falls to pieces due to nefarious characters and grudges that won't stay buried. I believe that my dojo can help UBL rise to its highest potential. In return, I know that your wrestlers can help sharpen the skills and resolve of mine.
So my true purpose tonight is to challenge members on all levels of the UBL roster to a recurring series of events with my dojo. They will be called the "Austerity" series as a testament to how a renewed focus on discipline, sternness, and severity can lead your promotion to new heights. Let us usher in a vision of a competitive, no-nonsense future that will allow all of our wrestlers to prosper."
*Daigo bows to the audience, who is giving him quite a mixed reaction of cheers, boos, and "hmmms", then leaves the ring. While making his way up the ramp backstage, he makes quick eye contact with Thunder Strike and then Geese Walker before leaving.*
[John:] "I don't think Serizawa is wrong in describing the ghosts that haunt this place, but I don't know if I like his mindset. Discipline, sternness, severity, austerity? I know he has players in this game here, but I hope Ruby keeps him at arm's length when it comes to figuring out the actual values her UBL will embody. And for someone that's never run a major promotion, he's a little too arrogant in knowing what's best for us.
Regardless, it's time to get back into the action! We turn to a triple threat match with participants from Class 1. We're about to see Ryuji Bansho, Darryl Williamson, and Jeffrey Alpine do battle.
Ryuji Bansho is one of the earliest members of our Basic Training program. He and Gerulf may actually have been the first ones to sign up. Ryuji is also one of the quickest wrestlers on the roster who seems to have been born with an aversion of gravity. He also has a penchant for raising the bar as to what the human body is capable of. He is admittedly a show-off of the highest caliber, but not a particularly obnoxious one. In fact, he has already formed friendships with many of his classmates, including Sebastian Blake and Sun Dragon. Don't take his easygoing nature out of the ring for granted though. He becomes incredibly competitive once the bell rings.
Darryl "Duke" Williamson seems perpetually angry. A former All-American out of Michigan, The Duke blends together the toughness and techniques of his gridiron past with the experience and technical knowledge that he gained wrestling in Japan for five years. He's not just one of the strongest men on the Basic Training roster, but in UBL in general. His brutal backdrops are quickly becoming feared as are his punishing shoulder blocks. Most of all, he is just extraordinarily unpleasant. 'Snot rockets' should not be mistaken for a proper response to a handshake gesture.
Jeffery Alpine is also extraordinary, but I'm not sure if that's an adjective or a noun in his case. He comes to us from the Swiss Alps where he worked on his family's mountain goat farm. That is to say...a farm full of goats on a mountain. (Yes, they are also mountain goats but I'm not saying his family owns a mountain mountain goat farm. I'm just not saying it, folks.) Jeffery never wrestled a day in his life before joining our program but his work ethic is impressive. Although he is one of the shorter wrestlers on our roster, he is incredibly strong and uses his low center of gravity and stout physique to avoid being pushed around. He says this is a result of training with wily goats and I just can't question a comment like that.
Let's get to the match and see which one of these three can emerge victorious!
Match 4 - Ryuji Bansho vs. Darryl Williamson vs. Jeffrey Alpine
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "You have to admire the effort of all three men to not just gain victory, but make a name for themselves here in a crowded match. As for the finish, I think we can maybe chalk this one up to the inexperience of Jeffrey Alpine. When an angry, burly fellow like Darryl Williamson is about to choke someone else out, don't step in between them. This led to Alpine being put to sleep without having to count any of his beloved mountain goats."
Darryl Williamson (O) [Sleeper Hold - 35:32 ] (X) Jeffery Alpine (-) Ryuji Bansho
[John:] "We turn next to the two main events of the night which share a common theme. They will each crown a new "Head of Class" for the Basic Training program. In our first main event, we have Jared Omigawa and Gerulf Sieger from Class 1. These two have won the most exhibition matches and thoroughly impressed our trainers.
Jared Omigawa is an adherent to King's Road style and brings a Muay Thai styled striking prowess. His suplexes are feared along with his sharp elbow and knee strikes. He is also considered to be the most stoic member of the entire program. While not disliked like Darryl Williamson or Denki Shibuya, Jared has not made any friends here. He rarely socializes with the other students and just talks with the teachers. However, he has actually come to the aid of some of our Boot Camp wrestlers when Darryl has taken liberties with them in the ring. So while I don't see Jared as a "Jean Carter" personality type, he's certainly not a "Kurt Sanders" one. (Check our "UbbleFeed" social media page to see which OG-FPD personality you share!) Also of note, Jared was initially discovered and brought here by UBL and pro wrestling legend, Bak Fu. You can see Bak's influence in Jared's style and personality. Bak will also be on hand tonight to second him for this match.
Gerulf 'Snap' Sieger attempted to sign with the UBL many years ago. However, contractual negotiations fell through because he wanted to be on the main roster, be paid more money, and receive an immediate NEXUS Title shot. Suffice to say, he has not been the easiest to work with. However, any overestimation of his own worth may just be marginal because this man is truly gifted in the ring. Daigo Serizawa, who will be seconding him tonight, is extremely proud of Gerulf. He has even called him his best student and future successor. The reason for that is Gerulf excels at every quality that one needs to be a Champion. He is a brilliant tactician in the ring, an expert in savate strikes, highly proficient in submission holds, and knows just how to deliver a suplex to get maximum snap. Most of all, Gerulf is highly self-motivated and has an preternatural work ethic which he even uses to light a fire in his rivals. In his words, it's not worth facing a man at less than their best.
I don't particularly know what responsibilities the "Head of Class" will actually have for this program, but hopefully it's not just erasing the blackboard after Naja Mask's "lecturessss." Judging by the look in both Jared's and Gerulf's eyes, the position is highly coveted and is about to be fought for with everything they both have. That sounds like a definite win for us.
Match 5 - Jared Omigawa vs. Gerulf Sieger
Head of Class 1
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "I really thought Jared had this match won after that blistering shining wizard but he just couldn't will his body to make the cover. Gerulf's offense can seem understated. However, after fifteen minutes of getting peppered in the chest with chops and kicks, it can be hard to breathe and get up off of the mat. Many opponents think they have him beat only to discover their own energy and strength sapped from Gerulf's tactics. And having your sternum flattened by Gerulf diving both knees into your chest tends to end the match decisively."
Jared Omigawa (X) [Diving Double Knee Press - 18:56] (O) Gerulf Sieger
[John:] "I also have to note the exchange that occurred between Gerulf and Bak Fu on the outside. Gerulf attempted to kick Jared, but Jared dodged, and the kick accidentally landed on Bak instead. Bak immediately kicked back, causing Gerulf to lose his grip on Gerulf. I think it was a misunderstanding really, and there was no further escalation, but Gerulf seemed furious about it when he got back into the ring. Gerulf won, so I don't think the match will be reviewed or anyone formally punished, but this is the danger with having ring seconds. The reason we do allow them for the Basic Training roster is to provide them with extra supervision and motivation by their personal trainers.
It appears that Daigo is angry at Bak for what occurred but cooler heads are prevailing here. Daigo is leading Gerulf away from the ring, his hand held high in victory, but you can tell they are unhappy. Bak is not responding to them and is instead helping Jared get up and instilling words of wisdom.
Seriously, Gerulf got off easy. You kick Bak Fu and you're lucky to be walking home."
[John:] "Our second "Head of Class" match is between Sebastian Blake and Jorge Veneno of Class 2.
Sebastian Blake is an amateur wrestler turned surfer turned extreme sports drink hawker turned pro wrestler. Here's what you need to understand about this man. A fully dialed-in Sebastian Blake could make the main roster within a month and potentially have the best career of any pure wrestler we've ever had. His physical strength, explosive speed, and innate grappling abilities makes him a threat for anyone on the roster. The limiting factor with Sebastian is his focus and motivation. His love for surfing, lounging, and playing video games has prevented him from putting his full time and concentration into his training. It's made him into one of the most jovial and likeable wrestlers on the roster, but he's lost matches he shouldn't have due to making mistakes. He also has the tendency to randomly start surfing on a chair in the middle of a match. The fans seem to love it but you can see a vein pop out of Barton's head. In short, Sebastian has yet to be beaten handily by anyone other than himself. The question is what version of him will we get tonight.
In contrast, Jorge Veneno should immediately engender support due to being an overachiever. Not only is he the oldest on the Basic Training roster, but at 45 he's one of the oldest in the UBL. He was a small business man in the Dominican Republic and developed a love for pro wrestling late in life. What exactly brought him to the UBL to train is not entirely clear, but he has impressed everyone with his success so far. What he lacks in physical gifts compared to others, he makes up for in work ethic, determination, and focus. Up to this point, one would even possibly favor him to win this match over Sebastian...but there's just one more crucial aspect to Jorge's bag of tricks: shenanigans galore. The man cheats and cheats hard. When he's not cheating, he uses dirty tricks and assorted capers. It's refreshing to see someone try so hard at something that they get a late start at, but his methods leave much to criticism. What makes it even more frustrating is that he already possesses a strong understanding of technical wrestling. But he weaponizes it to further fuel his dirty tricks and shortcuts. What makes Jorge so dangerous in this match is his ability to take advantage of any mistakes that opponents make or momentary lapses of concentration. Jorge may be tailor made to defeat Sebastian Blake despite all of Blake's superior physical gifts.
Let's get to the match and see how his dynamic plays out.
Match 6 - Sebastian Blake vs. Jorge Veneno
Head of Class 2
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "The prospect of a Blake victory was certainly likely, but the way it went down was shocking to me. I have no idea how he managed to get back up and into the ring. Jorge spiked his head on the floor of the arena with that "Old Man and the Seaplex"! How Blake then fended off a low blow and endured an elevated boston crab a few minutes later further blows my mind. To Jorge's credit, he managed to shrug off Blake's "Wipe Out" right afterward, but I imagine that it didn't have the same oomph after Jorge's offense. Blake dug deep into his amaresu instincts to pull out this win, throwing Jorge with a takedown. Then his other instincts took hold, as Sebastian 'surfed' his way to victory with a step-up moonsault. I can't imagine Jorge loved tapping out to that one.
This was really quite a showcase of talent between these two men. While I can't praise Jorge for many of his decisions, he still took Sebastian to the limit here and almost escaped with victory. But the final moment of the night belongs to Sebastian Blake who becomes the second "Head of Class" for the program."
Sebastian Blake (O) [Back Splash Moonsault - 17:41] (X) Jorge Veneno
[John:] "We hope you enjoyed our first show back as the Basic Training roster moved us forward into the future. We'll be coming to you with the Continuum VI event very soon."
Event "Basic Training - Summer School"
Date Held: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Report Posted: Friday, August 23, 2024
Location: "Peter Venkman Memorial Arena" in Westchester, New York.
[John:] "Hello fans and welcome to the first true Universal Battle League event in over a year! As you all know by now, Ruby Moreno is the new owner of UBL. Undoubtedly you all feel some sort of way about that and even she would not begrudge you for that. That all said, I like her choice here. By featuring the wrestlers of the Basic Training program in the first event of her tenure, she is entrusting them to bring UBL properly into this new era.
Barton Miller, the Field Leader of this roster, was proud to accept this responsibility on their behalf. He is very happy with the progress this roster has shown. Whatever your thoughts on Ruby, no one can doubt the loyalty that Barton has shown to this promotion. Nor can anyone doubt the value of the Titles that he earned or his longevity here. In other words, Barton knows what it takes to be successful in this promotion. So if he believes this new crop of talent is ready for prime time, you better take him seriously: especially if you are on the roster."
*Barton Miller slowly walks onto the ramp to a huge ovation and is actually taken back by the reaction of the fans. He nods, trying to remain stoic, and marches down to the ring with a microphone in hand.*
[Barton:] "It feels good to be back! We're gonna let our matches talk for us in a few minutes but I just wanted to thank all of you for your continued support and patience. The world has continually changed for us these last few years, and I've had to repeatedly re-craft this program to forge our future. But when I say we're ready, it's cause no one knows the trajectory of a place more than the people who have plot its points. Naja can vouch for that, and so can all the vets sitting here ready to watch the future they helped build. That starts today. Anyone whose been watching our workouts knows we're primed. Tonight the world sees for itself. We're never done training, but we're done doing it in the shadows."
*Barton nods to a number of people in the crowd then walks backstage to cheers.*
[John:] "And folks, just in case you were curious - we have a number of UBL luminaries in the crowd tonight. Geese Walker is sitting in a luxury box, joined by Robin and Kyle. The audience seems rather wary of him, but he has every right to be here. This is his first public appearance in months, so it says a lot about his belief in this program and faith in the future of UBL. Jean Carter and Luke Kisiera are sitting in back of them and look incredibly happy to be attending.
Naja Mask, as a teacher in the program, is in the
Thunder Strike is sitting in the audience with Alicia Gordon. Robin and Alicia appear to be giving each other mildly dirty looks, but I'm somehow comforted by that normalcy.
Everyone is looking forward to watching what transpires tonight.
We are going to start with a match from Class 2 of the Basic Training roster. Tadaaki Solir will be facing Eddie Falcone.
Tadaaki was actually found by long time UBL wrestler and current security chief, Goro Yamashita. Goro trained Tadaaki as a boxer early in his career. The two reunited in 2020 and Tadaaki expressed his frustration with the limited ways he could express himself through boxing. Goro suggested that Tadaaki give pro wrestling a try and sent him to Barton. At that point, the Basic Training program had not started yet but Barton saw Tadaaki's potential. Barton thought that JET Hamada would be best suited to help Tadaaki early on. That is due to how JET successfully transitioned to pro wrestling from Judo. Barton knew JET had the mentality and experience to help Tadaaki acclimate to our sport as well.
JET Hamada started to train him as a wrestler and believed him to be a prodigy. Once the Basic Training program started, JET sent Tadaaki back to Barton. Tadaaki brings with him a base of very quick punches and kicks which he uses to keep his opponent at his preferred distance. This sets him up to score with devastating chops. His reach gives him an advantage over many of his competitors. Tadaaki also possesses incredible agility and an ease in twisting his body mid air. All three of his mentors have been most impressed by Tadaaki's maturity and poise. Tadaaki does not lose his cool and that is a talent which is sorely lacking in UBL. It's especially needed tonight given who his opponent is.
Eddie Falcone is best known as the lead singer and guitar player of the "Annihilators" - a popular hair metal band that seemed to have been spit out of a portal from the 1980's.. However, in spite of his over-the-top on-stage pageantry, Falcone can actually back up his bravado in the ring. The man spent years building a career as a mixed martial artist in some of the smaller, seedier promotions out west. He is adept at striking, submissions, and has far more grit than his feathery outfits suggest. He is also very talented at getting under his opponent's skin through his behavior: often choosing to 'headbang' within the confines of the match. Do not underestimate Falcone as there is a definite method to his madness, and likely a further madness lurking behind that method. I'm not just being coy here, the "Annihilators" literally have a song called "Madness behind the Method" which ended the "Method behind the Madness" album.
Let's get to the ring and see how the stoic Solir deals with the fretful Falcone.
Match 1 - Tadaaki Solir vs. Eddie Falcone
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "The match started off quite evenly before Solir took control with his agility and striking. You have to give credit to Eddie for staying in the match after a few impressive near falls by Solir, especially that flipping kick! Falcone hit with an unexpectedly quick STO into a painful arm submission. After almost reversing a frankensteiner for a pin, Falcone had full momentum. However, as I said before, Tadaaki does not lose his cool. He reassessed the situation, found an opening, and put Falcone down long enough to launch into the sky with an incredibly impressive Firebird Splash. This was an entertaining and competitive match. Falcone has a lot of bluster but can go in the ring. With the right focus and motivation, he could be a star here. And Solir is already one of the top contenders for "Head of Class 2" - I think he'll get a shot at it after tonight's victory."
Tadaaki Solir (O) [Firebird Splash - 14:41] (X) Eddie Falcone
[John:] "So let's talk a little about the structure of the Basic Training program to give some further context to the matches tonight. "Basic Training" originally began as a special intensive program for the most promising rookies on the Front Lines roster. That is still true. These wrestlers not only compete with each other, but have been taught and tested by "Field Leader" trainers with great skill such as Matt Rivers and Darius Korvin. Barton Miller, the former "Marauder," is the current Field Leader. Unlike previous Field Leaders, he does not wrestle to defend that Title. It just marks him as the head trainer and organizer of the program. The assistant trainer and referee for all of our matches is Randy Everett. We have four additional teachers that conduct daily classes which cover all of the elements of professional wrestling and provide tips for success in UBL. They are Naja Mask, Tetsu Gushiken, Goro Yamashita, and Wang Gom-Bu. The trainees have been split into two groups. Tonight, the title of "Head of the Class" for each class will be competed for in our two main events.
There is one aspect to this program that is new. In 2020, Barton announced his goals for the updated Basic Training program. Due to the resulting excitement, more participants applied than the program could accommodate. Barton did not want to turn away many of the talented people, so he set up a secondary division called "Boot Camp" which is the "feeder" group for Basic Training. When an opening appears in the Basic Training roster, two of the top wrestlers on the Boot Camp roster will compete for it. The Boot camp roster competes amongst themselves and the Basic Training wrestlers in exhibition matches. They are encouraged to attend the classes put on by the teachers but do not get the personal attention that the Basic Training roster members get. The Boot Camp roster is incredibly hungry and all want to prove themselves worthy of the opportunity to progress to Basic Training.
It is against this backdrop that we introduce four Boot Camp wrestlers for the next match. Kaito Hiramatsu will be teaming with Sean Parker to face Denki Shibuya and Rojiro Rodriguez.
Kaito Hiramatsu is a long time karateka and only recently started training to be a professional wrestler. He started this journey at the "Severe Style" dojo in Kyoto, Japan which is run by Daigo Serizawa. He did not stay there long and came over to the UBL shortly afterward. He is a poised fighter and enthusiastic member of the roster that hopes to reach his peak here. All of the teachers and most of his competitors respect the character that he has shown.
Sean Parker is also very well liked amongst his peers and the teachers see a lot of potential in him. A life long fan of the sport, he grew up watching strong style pro wrestling. He is especially adept at kicks and submission holds. Sean lives to be challenged. The better the competition, the happier he is. He was initially scouted by Geyser, a veteran of our roster. Geyser also had a hand in Sean's early development in the ring and the two remain close.
Denki Shibuya is a former muay thai kickboxer who also started his pro wrestling training at the "Severe Style" dojo. Unlike Kaito, Denki has remained there. Out of all the wrestlers on the Boot Camp roster, Denki is the most disliked by his peers. He is brash, hot headed, and has a propensity for violence. He is also a gifted striker and puts his all into his matches. Denki is above all, a fierce competitor. However, his 'sharp edges' may be limiting his own advancement.
Rojiro Rodriquez is the newest recruit to the Boot Camp roster but has impressed all of the trainers in a short period of time. Hailing from Brazil, Rojiro has dabbled in both capoeira and Brazilian jiu-jutsu, but his true passion is lucha libre. Rojiro may be the most agile wrestler of anyone on the entire Front Lines roster. Only Tadaaki Solir, Sun Dragon, and Ryuji Bansho can lay competing claims to that title. Like Sebastian Blake, Rojiro is also a part time surfer, but he's not quite as laid back. A hint of a temper has flared in some of his matches which should make his team with Denji quite volatile.
This should be a very fast-paced match between these two teams."
Match 2 - Kaito Hiramatsu/Sean Parker vs. Denki Shibuya/Rojiro Rodriguez
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "What a turnaround! Kaito just barely survives a snug-looking Achilles lock by Denki long enough for Sean to break it up. Seconds later, Kaito uses one of his specialties on Denki: The Leg Clutch Driver!! Kaito showed poise in staying in the match and waiting for the right opportunity. And all four competitors got to demonstrate their skills and growth. I think the fans are looking forward to their futures! Any one of these four could be the next to make it onto the Basic Training roster."
Sean Parker/Kaito Hiramatsu (O) [Leg Clutch Driver - 22:25] (X) Denki Shibuya/Rojiro Rodriguez
[John:] "And now we have another match from Class 2 as Sun Dragon faces Manuel Gutierrez.
Sun Dragon won a special match during Third Dimension two years ago to join the Basic Training roster. He is a lucha libre wrestler who originally competed in Saturn Wrestling which is part of the IWW collective. In his short time here, he has impressed all of the trainers: particularly Naja Mask and Tetsu Gushiken. Sun Dragon is the smallest member of the Basic Training roster but makes up for it with his speed, technique, and resiliency. He's also very fond of unorthodox pinning and submission maneuvers that catch his opponents by surprise. Facing Sun Dragon requires complete concentration.
Manuel Gutierrez spent most of his adult life as a bouncer in night clubs around the northeast before being discovered by Kazuo "Chrome" Saji. And by "discovered," I mean Manny effortlessly bounced Saji's ass one night and kicked him to the curb. After sobering up, Saji was so impressed that he profusely apologized for his behavior and convinced Manny to train as a wrestler. Manny is the largest and most powerful member of the Basic Training wrestler but he's also surprisingly quick. Barton and Wang Gom-Bu have both been impressed with Manny's ability to gather momentum to add to his natural power. Manny is also one of the older wrestlers on this roster and his maturity has really shined through in comparison to some of the hot headed youngsters. I feel old just saying that.
We have a real clash of styles here so let's get to the ring and see whose wins out!"
Match 3 - Sun Dragon vs. Manuel Gutierrez
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "Manny is used to battling people in many unorthodox situations, but people don't tend to wrap up bouncers in close quarters like the way that Sun Dragon just did! That polvo de estrella pin came out of nowhere, flipped Manny over, turned him around, then covered him with powdered sugar. I was equally impressed by Sun Dragon's ability to kick out of Manny's massive backbreaker just a few minutes before that. That backbreaker has knocked out a few wrestlers during training matches. It even put some on the shelf for a few months. Maybe it's a testament to Sun Dragon's stretching and fitness regiment that he was able to withstand that and keep going. Manny also had a number of other attempts at winning this match but Sun rose to the occasion in front of the crowd and bright lights here tonight. To Manny's credit, he shook Sun Dragon's hand afterward."
Sun Dragon (O) [Polvo de Estrella pin - 15:54] (X) Manuel Gutierrez
[John:] "My notes say that we're about to be joined by Daigo Serizawa. I mentioned before that he's the owner and Sensei of the "Severe Style" dojo. I don't exactly know what he's going to talk about. Both Denki and Gerulf Sieger are members of his dojo and the Basic Training roster. During the, uh, unpleasantness last year, Daigo successfully defeated RYOMA in a non-televised exhibition match. I still can't really believe that though, but Ruby says she has the tape to prove it."
*We are joined by Daigo Serizawa who walks to the ring wearing a dark purple gi and holding a microphone.*
[Daigo:] "I thank Miss Moreno for allowing me this opportunity to address all of you. She has been very supportive in our interactions. We both have a reputation of being...difficult to negotiate with, but we share common ground as a result of how we both suffered at the hands of Cosmic K*I*D and Geese Walker.
*Daigo looks up at Geese Walker with no expression and none returned.*
[Daigo:] "I approached Cosmic K*I*D during his illegitimate reign with the request to free my students from his captivity. I successfully met the stipulation put in front of me and believed that we were in the clear. However, we were all gassed shortly afterward. This turned us into K*I*D's entertainment and, eventually, Geese's loyal subjects.
Upon being set free and learning what occurred, my reaction was harsh. My dojo and I had never suffered humiliation like this before. I came close to removing all my wrestlers from this program and initiating a lawsuit. However, I stood down because I gained renewed confidence in UBL upon hearing of Miss Moreno's purchase of it. Mr. Wingate was an accomplished and focused man, but the years of battling the absurdity that took place here clearly scuffed the shine out of his armor.
Miss Moreno is exactly the stern and resourceful owner that this place needs. However, I also believe that true leadership goes beyond authority. With all due respect to her cherished beliefs, I have valued the sanctity of competition as my own personal 'guiding light. I can attest to the fact that cultivating fierce rivalries with the right target goals leads to measurable achievements. It also reduces the likelihood that distractions arise from petty personal slights. This promotion has some of the best wrestlers in the world yet it constantly falls to pieces due to nefarious characters and grudges that won't stay buried. I believe that my dojo can help UBL rise to its highest potential. In return, I know that your wrestlers can help sharpen the skills and resolve of mine.
So my true purpose tonight is to challenge members on all levels of the UBL roster to a recurring series of events with my dojo. They will be called the "Austerity" series as a testament to how a renewed focus on discipline, sternness, and severity can lead your promotion to new heights. Let us usher in a vision of a competitive, no-nonsense future that will allow all of our wrestlers to prosper."
*Daigo bows to the audience, who is giving him quite a mixed reaction of cheers, boos, and "hmmms", then leaves the ring. While making his way up the ramp backstage, he makes quick eye contact with Thunder Strike and then Geese Walker before leaving.*
[John:] "I don't think Serizawa is wrong in describing the ghosts that haunt this place, but I don't know if I like his mindset. Discipline, sternness, severity, austerity? I know he has players in this game here, but I hope Ruby keeps him at arm's length when it comes to figuring out the actual values her UBL will embody. And for someone that's never run a major promotion, he's a little too arrogant in knowing what's best for us.
Regardless, it's time to get back into the action! We turn to a triple threat match with participants from Class 1. We're about to see Ryuji Bansho, Darryl Williamson, and Jeffrey Alpine do battle.
Ryuji Bansho is one of the earliest members of our Basic Training program. He and Gerulf may actually have been the first ones to sign up. Ryuji is also one of the quickest wrestlers on the roster who seems to have been born with an aversion of gravity. He also has a penchant for raising the bar as to what the human body is capable of. He is admittedly a show-off of the highest caliber, but not a particularly obnoxious one. In fact, he has already formed friendships with many of his classmates, including Sebastian Blake and Sun Dragon. Don't take his easygoing nature out of the ring for granted though. He becomes incredibly competitive once the bell rings.
Darryl "Duke" Williamson seems perpetually angry. A former All-American out of Michigan, The Duke blends together the toughness and techniques of his gridiron past with the experience and technical knowledge that he gained wrestling in Japan for five years. He's not just one of the strongest men on the Basic Training roster, but in UBL in general. His brutal backdrops are quickly becoming feared as are his punishing shoulder blocks. Most of all, he is just extraordinarily unpleasant. 'Snot rockets' should not be mistaken for a proper response to a handshake gesture.
Jeffery Alpine is also extraordinary, but I'm not sure if that's an adjective or a noun in his case. He comes to us from the Swiss Alps where he worked on his family's mountain goat farm. That is to say...a farm full of goats on a mountain. (Yes, they are also mountain goats but I'm not saying his family owns a mountain mountain goat farm. I'm just not saying it, folks.) Jeffery never wrestled a day in his life before joining our program but his work ethic is impressive. Although he is one of the shorter wrestlers on our roster, he is incredibly strong and uses his low center of gravity and stout physique to avoid being pushed around. He says this is a result of training with wily goats and I just can't question a comment like that.
Let's get to the match and see which one of these three can emerge victorious!
Match 4 - Ryuji Bansho vs. Darryl Williamson vs. Jeffrey Alpine
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "You have to admire the effort of all three men to not just gain victory, but make a name for themselves here in a crowded match. As for the finish, I think we can maybe chalk this one up to the inexperience of Jeffrey Alpine. When an angry, burly fellow like Darryl Williamson is about to choke someone else out, don't step in between them. This led to Alpine being put to sleep without having to count any of his beloved mountain goats."
Darryl Williamson (O) [Sleeper Hold - 35:32 ] (X) Jeffery Alpine (-) Ryuji Bansho
[John:] "We turn next to the two main events of the night which share a common theme. They will each crown a new "Head of Class" for the Basic Training program. In our first main event, we have Jared Omigawa and Gerulf Sieger from Class 1. These two have won the most exhibition matches and thoroughly impressed our trainers.
Jared Omigawa is an adherent to King's Road style and brings a Muay Thai styled striking prowess. His suplexes are feared along with his sharp elbow and knee strikes. He is also considered to be the most stoic member of the entire program. While not disliked like Darryl Williamson or Denki Shibuya, Jared has not made any friends here. He rarely socializes with the other students and just talks with the teachers. However, he has actually come to the aid of some of our Boot Camp wrestlers when Darryl has taken liberties with them in the ring. So while I don't see Jared as a "Jean Carter" personality type, he's certainly not a "Kurt Sanders" one. (Check our "UbbleFeed" social media page to see which OG-FPD personality you share!) Also of note, Jared was initially discovered and brought here by UBL and pro wrestling legend, Bak Fu. You can see Bak's influence in Jared's style and personality. Bak will also be on hand tonight to second him for this match.
Gerulf 'Snap' Sieger attempted to sign with the UBL many years ago. However, contractual negotiations fell through because he wanted to be on the main roster, be paid more money, and receive an immediate NEXUS Title shot. Suffice to say, he has not been the easiest to work with. However, any overestimation of his own worth may just be marginal because this man is truly gifted in the ring. Daigo Serizawa, who will be seconding him tonight, is extremely proud of Gerulf. He has even called him his best student and future successor. The reason for that is Gerulf excels at every quality that one needs to be a Champion. He is a brilliant tactician in the ring, an expert in savate strikes, highly proficient in submission holds, and knows just how to deliver a suplex to get maximum snap. Most of all, Gerulf is highly self-motivated and has an preternatural work ethic which he even uses to light a fire in his rivals. In his words, it's not worth facing a man at less than their best.
I don't particularly know what responsibilities the "Head of Class" will actually have for this program, but hopefully it's not just erasing the blackboard after Naja Mask's "lecturessss." Judging by the look in both Jared's and Gerulf's eyes, the position is highly coveted and is about to be fought for with everything they both have. That sounds like a definite win for us.
Match 5 - Jared Omigawa vs. Gerulf Sieger
Head of Class 1
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "I really thought Jared had this match won after that blistering shining wizard but he just couldn't will his body to make the cover. Gerulf's offense can seem understated. However, after fifteen minutes of getting peppered in the chest with chops and kicks, it can be hard to breathe and get up off of the mat. Many opponents think they have him beat only to discover their own energy and strength sapped from Gerulf's tactics. And having your sternum flattened by Gerulf diving both knees into your chest tends to end the match decisively."
Jared Omigawa (X) [Diving Double Knee Press - 18:56] (O) Gerulf Sieger
[John:] "I also have to note the exchange that occurred between Gerulf and Bak Fu on the outside. Gerulf attempted to kick Jared, but Jared dodged, and the kick accidentally landed on Bak instead. Bak immediately kicked back, causing Gerulf to lose his grip on Gerulf. I think it was a misunderstanding really, and there was no further escalation, but Gerulf seemed furious about it when he got back into the ring. Gerulf won, so I don't think the match will be reviewed or anyone formally punished, but this is the danger with having ring seconds. The reason we do allow them for the Basic Training roster is to provide them with extra supervision and motivation by their personal trainers.
It appears that Daigo is angry at Bak for what occurred but cooler heads are prevailing here. Daigo is leading Gerulf away from the ring, his hand held high in victory, but you can tell they are unhappy. Bak is not responding to them and is instead helping Jared get up and instilling words of wisdom.
Seriously, Gerulf got off easy. You kick Bak Fu and you're lucky to be walking home."
[John:] "Our second "Head of Class" match is between Sebastian Blake and Jorge Veneno of Class 2.
Sebastian Blake is an amateur wrestler turned surfer turned extreme sports drink hawker turned pro wrestler. Here's what you need to understand about this man. A fully dialed-in Sebastian Blake could make the main roster within a month and potentially have the best career of any pure wrestler we've ever had. His physical strength, explosive speed, and innate grappling abilities makes him a threat for anyone on the roster. The limiting factor with Sebastian is his focus and motivation. His love for surfing, lounging, and playing video games has prevented him from putting his full time and concentration into his training. It's made him into one of the most jovial and likeable wrestlers on the roster, but he's lost matches he shouldn't have due to making mistakes. He also has the tendency to randomly start surfing on a chair in the middle of a match. The fans seem to love it but you can see a vein pop out of Barton's head. In short, Sebastian has yet to be beaten handily by anyone other than himself. The question is what version of him will we get tonight.
In contrast, Jorge Veneno should immediately engender support due to being an overachiever. Not only is he the oldest on the Basic Training roster, but at 45 he's one of the oldest in the UBL. He was a small business man in the Dominican Republic and developed a love for pro wrestling late in life. What exactly brought him to the UBL to train is not entirely clear, but he has impressed everyone with his success so far. What he lacks in physical gifts compared to others, he makes up for in work ethic, determination, and focus. Up to this point, one would even possibly favor him to win this match over Sebastian...but there's just one more crucial aspect to Jorge's bag of tricks: shenanigans galore. The man cheats and cheats hard. When he's not cheating, he uses dirty tricks and assorted capers. It's refreshing to see someone try so hard at something that they get a late start at, but his methods leave much to criticism. What makes it even more frustrating is that he already possesses a strong understanding of technical wrestling. But he weaponizes it to further fuel his dirty tricks and shortcuts. What makes Jorge so dangerous in this match is his ability to take advantage of any mistakes that opponents make or momentary lapses of concentration. Jorge may be tailor made to defeat Sebastian Blake despite all of Blake's superior physical gifts.
Let's get to the match and see how his dynamic plays out.
Match 6 - Sebastian Blake vs. Jorge Veneno
Head of Class 2
*POST MATCH SPOILERS*
[John:] "The prospect of a Blake victory was certainly likely, but the way it went down was shocking to me. I have no idea how he managed to get back up and into the ring. Jorge spiked his head on the floor of the arena with that "Old Man and the Seaplex"! How Blake then fended off a low blow and endured an elevated boston crab a few minutes later further blows my mind. To Jorge's credit, he managed to shrug off Blake's "Wipe Out" right afterward, but I imagine that it didn't have the same oomph after Jorge's offense. Blake dug deep into his amaresu instincts to pull out this win, throwing Jorge with a takedown. Then his other instincts took hold, as Sebastian 'surfed' his way to victory with a step-up moonsault. I can't imagine Jorge loved tapping out to that one.
This was really quite a showcase of talent between these two men. While I can't praise Jorge for many of his decisions, he still took Sebastian to the limit here and almost escaped with victory. But the final moment of the night belongs to Sebastian Blake who becomes the second "Head of Class" for the program."
Sebastian Blake (O) [Back Splash Moonsault - 17:41] (X) Jorge Veneno
[John:] "We hope you enjoyed our first show back as the Basic Training roster moved us forward into the future. We'll be coming to you with the Continuum VI event very soon."