"Universal Access"

[OrochiGeese]

Hello fans, this is John Randolph coming to you from the interwebs, as Jean Carter likes to call them.

Welcome to Universal Access, a blog for us to broadcast individual matches from the Front Lines roster. We are giving web-based fans access to matches that, up to last week, only local fans could watch.

Each update of this blog will include one stand-out match featuring members of these two groups:

- Basic Training: The rigorous, elite instructional program run by Field Leader Barton Miller that prepares wrestlers for long careers on the main roster.
- Boot Camp: The "feeder" group of rookies that competes for spots that open in the Basic Training program.

Every member of the Front Lines roster wants to eventually graduate to the NEXUS division. Universal Access matches allow wrestlers to attract a worldwide fanbase that can boost their confidence to perform even better.


P.S. Drake and Arthur said it would be acceptable if I occasionally posted additional matches from Live shows featuring Dimensional Stream talent as long as the rookies get their promised rate of coverage and I stay within my very modest bandwidth budget.

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #1: White Dragon vs. Tetsu Gushiken

White Dragon was one of the more popular and successful wrestlers in the original Front Lines. In fact, he was also one of the first to join that roster when UBL put out a call for new wrestlers in the middle of 2009. He is incredibly versatile and can be a threat in both singles and tag matches. Matt Rivers has always spoken highly of Dragon's abilities and work ethic.

Tetsu Gushiken has a journeyman vibe about him but we know he spent most of his time honing his skills in Japan. From what I have heard from Drake Yoshida, and from what he heard from Asako Matsuki, Tetsu has all the offensive tools to be a top player in this promotion and always keeps a cool head. This was actually Tetsu Gushiken's first match which took place two weeks ago.

The next Universal Access match will also feature Tetsu Gushiken as he takes on fellow rookie John Matthews in an encounter that will definitely get the attention of the fans and our Field Leader, Darius.

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #2: Big Jim vs. Thomas Mills

This may actually be the first time that Big Jim has ever received video coverage from the UBL. In the past, we were highly concerned that one of his bear rivals would follow him to the ring and we'd run into a number of legal complications resulting from international animal treaty regulations. (And these worries were from a promotion who sent wrestlers to the moon!) But due to the pre-recorded nature of Access matches, we were able to screen the entire arena for bears and found no offending parties. Although Jim's style is very unorthodox due to his training, he is a powerhouse that is quite difficult to get the better of.

Thomas Mills is sporting updated duds along with the start of a ponytail: a fashion choice rather controversial in an upper class family from whence he comes from. He's also been working out a lot in the UBL Dojo with both Darius and Matt Rivers. Matt is a contemporary of Thomas: the two being the first men to join the Front Lines roster in 2009. Apparently Thomas has put a lot more effort into his training than he ever has in the past. Gone are the lazy taunting and shortcut moves of questionable legality. He appears to be molding himself into a serious competitor, hoping to get accepted into the Basic Training program.

The next Universal Access match will feature Tetsu Gushiken against John Matthews. We were originally going to have that match last week and feature it today. However, Darius postponed it for a reason unbeknownst to me...but likely not bear-related.

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #3: Ralph "Pot Belly" Ferguson vs. Kurt "The Hurt" Sanders

Drake Yoshida took Kurt's allegations to heart about Yoshiro getting more in ring opportunities. As a result, this match was made to give Kurt a chance to train against someone 'rotund' like Yoshiro much as Yoshiro got to face Naja Mask, a dirty fighter like Kurt. Whether or not Pot Belly is what Kurt had in mind as an opponent remains an entertaining question.

Pot Belly may be the first wrestler to be unphased by Kurt's initial artillery of insults. The more Kurt mocked Ralph's body size, the more Ralph beamed with pride. Ralph even yelled out: "Yah keep tahkin bout mah bellah boy, wanna ruhb it?" which Kurt appeared to gag at. It seemed as if Ferguson was entirely immune to "the Hurt" until Kurt alleged that "beef pollonaise" (Pot Belly's wife's signature culinary apocalypse 'experiment') wasn't the best thing in the world. That got the job done.

The next Universal Access match will feature Tetsu Gushiken against John Matthews. We were originally going to have that match like twice already but Access Matches (like beef pollonnaise) are a rare delicacy to begin with. Let's not push our luck!

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #4: John Matthews vs. Tetsu Gushiken

This match is a result of the triple threat rookie showcase at the September Circuit Show. Wang Gom-Bu won that match but many feel as if John Matthews got robbed. Tetsu Gushiken will also get another chance to either win or directly lose this match, unlike last time where his taking of Matthews finisher allowed Wang to creep up behind John and club him down for the win.

Putting aside the complications of the past match, the real reason to watch this new encounter is to see two of the most promising rookies on the UBL Front Lines face each other. Neither man has said much, or anything, since their respective debuts here and really don't seem the talkative type. it's possible that they, pardon the cliche, do their talking in the ring. But one reason they each may be silent is because John Matthews has had problems with crowd hecklers and no one is really sure if Tetsu speaks English...or Japanese for that matter, as he literally has not said a word since joining here. Not to be critical though. In fact, after certain people outside of UBL talked a little too much this past week about our Champion, maybe silence is truly golden.


The next Universal Access match will feature the debut of Eóghan O'Doneill. He will be facing the returning Chester Willoughby who is getting a try out match to see what progress he has made since he was last in UBL. You are right to not be optimistic.

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #5: Eóghan O'Doneill vs. Chester Willoughby

Chester was on the original UBL Front Lines roster but was not invited back to compete when we moved to England. Given that Chester is from England (England of 1420, but still England), that was seen as a huge insult to him. Apparently he has been training very hard to prove that he has improved. This is a try-out match for him to return to the Front Lines roster.

Eoghan is a family oriented man who is just starting out in this business. From everything we have heard about him, he is a pleasant breath of fresh air from many of our recent acquisitions. Hopefully he can prove that nice guys don't finish last. He has a degree of toughness and also appears to be a fan of the legendary Mitsuhara Misawa. He certainly came to the right place given the "Emperor's Road" theme that UBL still retains despite no longer being under the ownership of the man who coined that term.


The next Universal Access match will feature the debuts of two new wrestlers: Gordon Knotts and THRASH Ogawa. Gordon seems to be a hard nosed grappler whereas THRASH seems like the love child of violence and spite. Happy trails!

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #6: Gordon Knotts vs. THRASH Ogawa

We have another dueling debuts situation tonight as Gordon Knotts takes on THRASH Ogawa.

Gordon Knotts is still sending in his biographical information but we did not want administrative red tape to delay his in ring debut. He seems like a good guy from the few discussions I had with him. Nice attire too!

THRASH is surprisingly well known to many UBL fans despite having not set foot in the ring yet. He's been called the "most angry man of October" which is a big deal given the number of frustrated people who regularly feel under the weather around this time.

The next Universal Access match will feature NorthStarLion taking on the rookie Tetsu Gushiken. This encounter was said to steal the show at last week's Live event due to the submission prowess of both men. We look forward to bringing it to you!


- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #7: NorthStarLion vs. Tetsu Gushiken

Happy 10 Year Anniversary to OG-FPD! Although some of us were surprised that there was no formal Anniversary Show this year, Battle Formation certainly provided the high quality matches, Title changes, and important moments that we are used to seeing this time of year.

Furthermore, Arthur decided to hold this next match LIVE tonight, saying how the level of submission expertise possessed by both men mirrors the emphasis on grappling that certain top OG-FPD wrestlers once demonstrated all those years ago.

NorthStarLion is coming off a disappointing early elimination at Battle Formation but has since shown his motivation to turn his fortune around here. He will be going against a rookie with a lot of momentum and fan support: Tetsu Gushiken. While both men focus on submissions, even sharing certain maneuvers, NSL has more experience applying his style in the professional wrestling ring. And while both men are looking to make a name for themselves here, their immediate goals are different. NSL is vying for a shot at the Field Leader and Tetsu hopes to be the next one offered a spot on the Basic Training roster. A victory here would help either of their causes, as well as earning the satisfaction of winning on this date.

UBL will return in January with the first Circuit show of the new year, followed shortly by Basic Training!

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Access Match #8: Tsaoring Chou vs. Canada Doug

And we're back with the first Access match of the new year!

Tsaoring Chou makes his video debut after a series of every exciting UBL Live matches against fellow rookie talent recently signed to the Front Lines roster. Chou has already gained quite a fan following due to his high risk style and respectful demeanor. He has yet to formally introduce himself to the fans but I believe that oversight is due entirely to humility based on the conversations that I have had with him.

Doug of the Canada Brothers is just trying to gain some kind of momentum for his embattled team. Ever since the loss of Canada Meg (now known as Megan Williams) to Destiny, these brothers from the north just can't seem to get any type of traction beyond the unfortunate type that one finds them in during their numerous hospital visits. Doug is hoping for two things: One, that the fans recognize that it's him and not his brothers Bob or Dave. And two, that his veteran, technical status can pose trouble for a young, upstart rookie with a lot of enthusiasm.

I think he may have a better shot with the former than the latter.


The next big show for the UBL is March Basic Training where Darius will defend his Field Leader Title against Algernon LeBlanc!

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

UBL is bringing out the biggest guns for this edition of Universal Access. Boy do we ever have a huge match for you! For those wondering just how "fighting" of a Champion Joachim could be, you have your answer. Not only is Joachim going to be constantly defending his NEXUS Title on Circuit shows and PPVs, he's also going to be extending his "Destiny Trial Series" to Universal Access matches!

That's right, this marks the first Championship ever defended in an Access match!

For those who are not yet clear on the rules: there are four possible outcomes in Destiny Trial Series matches.

1 - If Joachim wins the match in under 15 minutes, the UBL will be forced to sign to its roster any Destiny member of his choice.
2 - If Joachim wins the match in 15-20 minutes, then he will retain his Title (as he will above) but with no roster addition.
3 - If there is a Time Limit Draw or some type of double count-out/disqualification, Joachim will likely grant his opponent a rematch.
4 - If Joachim loses this match, then well ... I gotta be honest, I have no clue.

These are not officially sanctioned UBL NEXUS Title matches. It has been Joachim's prerogative to offer more matches than the customary "One Title defense per month" that previous NEXUS Champions have. From what he said at the January Circuit Show, any match of his while he holds the Title is a Championship match. I do think Arthur Wingate has allowed the Title to change hands in these matches. But I really don't know what would happen if Joachim actually does lose and then has a change of heart about relinquishing his Title. Well, I know he'd lose a ton of credibility but beyond that I don't think Wingate would strip him of the title. Is Joachim dangling a fake carrot full of empty promises to UBL wrestlers in the interest of getting Destiny roster members added? His confidence would suggest that he doesn't even conceive of losing so the carrot may not be fake, just non-existent.

We'll deal with the philosophical and nutritional implications of fake carrots at another time. Let's get to our match!


Access Match #9: NorthStarLion vs. Joachim

NorthStarLion is coming off a decisive win against Tetsu Gushiken from a few months ago. But far more importantly than that, he has recently built up a ton of momentum in the FPCPP. At their recent REVENGE PPV, NSL defeated a very tough opponent in a grudge match. That victory has caught the notice of many in the UBL who believe that NSL is 'destined' for great things here. I know that Ruby Moreno has kept a close eye on the FPCPP and perhaps that is why Joachim chose NSL as his opponent tonight.

It seems silly to even need to mention what Joachim has done, but I'll probably get yelled at if I don't. He is coming off the biggest year of his career, having defeated Matt Rivers for the NEXUS Championship at Battle Formation and then successfully defended it against the returning Jason Hyde at the January Circuit Show. After the way Joachim came out of nowhere to call into question Rivers' entire credibility, only to then at least partially back it up by defeating him, a lot of people are very concerned as to what it will take to bring the NEXUS Championship back to UBL. And they are equally concerned as to what will happen if they keep trying and failing in a way that new Destiny members will join.

On that note, here's hoping that NSL wins a quick match or loses a long one, at least for UBL's sake!


The next big show for the UBL is still the March Basic Training where Darius will defend his Field Leader Title against Algernon LeBlanc!

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Welcome back fans, we have yet another Destiny Trial Series match for you tonight.


Access Match #10: Yoshiro vs. Joachim


I already introduced Joachim to the Access fans during our last match. All I need to say is read my last entry and add one to get the information you need. Yoshiro is coming off a particularly brutal knock out victory over Kurt Sanders from the March Basic Training show. We don't exactly know his state of mind but we do know the potential of his strength. Could this Trial series end early as a result of injury to Joachim? Or is Yoshiro in a state of remorse that will prevent him from giving his all tonight? Or...maybe neither of those possibilities occur and we just have a fairly standard match!

Our next match (provided Joachim survives this one) will involve El Verde Fantasma challenging Joachim as part of the Trial series.

- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Welcome back fans! We know that our international distribution has slowed down as of late but the events at the arena have been hotter than ever. Many wrestlers in the Front Lines division are jockeying for a spot in the Basic Training program!


Access Match #11: Thomas Mills vs. Tetsu Gushiken


Thomas Mills has been showing an entirely new side to himself recently. They say a new haircut and wardrobe can change a man! But, in this case, I think he has finally discovered his passion for professional wrestling. Thomas claims that Matt Rivers is the one who helped him find it and so he is wrestling every match in honor of Matt until he is found. Kind of hard to root against the guy now, eh?

Tetsu Gushiken is one of the most promising rookies on the roster. He has only been here for a few months but rumor has it that he is near the top of a short list that Darius has been compiling to fill the next Basic Training opening. His natural talent is unquestionable but he is still having some difficulty transitioning to pro wrestling from his Japanese shoot submission style.


- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Welcome back for a VERY unexpected match!  The Destiny Trial Series was to continue tonight with El Verde Fantasma being the next victim opponent for Joachim. But I was told at the last minute that match has been rescheduled to be on the July Basic Training show. Joachim, your NEXUS Champion, will still be defending his Title tonight but he'll be doing it against none other than former multi-time Battalion Champion and UBL veteran, Naja Mask.


Access Match #12: Naja Mask vs. Joachim


Naja wrestled at this month's Circuit Show but I thought it was for one match only at the request of Marauder. For Naja to get another match, and a Title one, at that, suggests that perhaps Naja is back here for the long haul. Certainly he won't be leaving if he wins tonight! Since Joachim approves all of his opponents for the Trial series in advance, this was obviously not a surprise to him. But I can't say that I, or most of the locker room, expected this.

Joachim is about to face someone that does not adhere to the same sense of honor that he does. A snake doesn't follow a straight path, after all, and certainly not one guided by light.  Naja has had a career rebirth in the Azteca Pro promotion and he's looking to have that success carry over here.  He recently used the Ace of Azteca Title Belt to knock out the Champion, The Chon.  And I bet he would love nothing more than to walk away with the NEXUS Title belt tonight.  Can the snake cause Joachim to get kicked out of the UBL Garden of Eden? Or is Joachim's blood impervious to venom?


We'll be back in a few weeks with what I can only imagine will be another Trial Series surprise!


- John Randolph

[OrochiGeese]

Universal Access matches have returned. We use the arenas that host each show of the Base 10 Tour as a home base throughout the month. During that time we train there and put on matches for the local fans until the next stop on the tour. A few matches are video taped for international distribution. Tonight this match was the main event of a small show in the same arena as the February 11 show.


Access Match #13: Tetsu Gushiken vs. Rambui Jones


- Matt Rivers

[OrochiGeese]

This match was the opener for the show that took place the night after the March 16th "Base 10" show. Tsaoring Chou was recently placed into the Basic Training program and White Dragon is a UBL veteran who is on the general Front Lines roster.


Access Match #14: Tsaoring Chou vs. White Dragon


- Matt Rivers