Tragic news for all the Masters/ Ryder/ Yoshi/ Primo and Baretta fans...

On the BWA Raw pre-show (linked) the past year of the promotion was recapped with particular focus being placed on the stable known as "The Aces of the Universe" and the rumours surrounding new talent joining the BWA most notably the UFC's Phil "CM Punk" Brooks who has further fueled speculation by letting it be known that he has front row tickets for tonights show.

The crowd seem really pumped tonight as the Pyros go off and we prepare for the start of the show but they almost blow the roof off the arena when this music hits and Memphis wrestling Icon Jerry "The King" Lawler comes out.

There had been a rumour circulating that he might show up tonight but nobody expected him to debut in the BWA by opening the show here and the resulting reception is overwhelming. Eventually the Jerry chants die down enough for him to get on the Mic

"Thank you, thank you.... you know this is one moment where it really couldn't be more true to say... It's good to be the king! In fact it's great, great to be here in my hometown of Memphis and great to be in my new home The BWA! a place where they are willing to let The King be The King and speak my mind on some issues ive been bottling up recently."

"Last year I competed and was the booker for a little known promotion called MNG productions... and I did one hell of a job even if I say so myself. Unfortunately once their road to Wrestlemania was gone and out of the way so was the chairman of that organization. He disappeared and left ol Jerry here holding the bag and I tell you that place was a mess, you know what im talking about don't ya Punk? Jerry points to CM Punk who is sat in the front row and whom headlined MNGs Wrestlemania last year. After a little smile Punk nods in agreement.

"I tell you backstage in that place there were more tragedies than shakespeare coulda come up with, hell he (pointing to Punk again) wouldn't have walked out if that place wasn't so F...f'd up. But now... now I have a chance to put that place behind me, here in the BWA The King will do what the king does best and thats put on one hell of a show for the fine people of Memphis!"

"O thats right, I'm in charge tonight...(the crowd are loving this)... I'm running the show here in the BWA now and you know what, I think to celebrate that fact we are going to have a World Heavyweight title match right here tonight in Memphis! The BWA World champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend his BWA World title against a living legend and a personal friend of mine... Jack Brisco!"

"And I'm not done yet because I have another surprise lined up for you fine people...

Just then we hear bellowing throughout the arena "It's time! It's time! It's Vader time!"

Announcer 1 (good old JD) : No it can't be!
Announcer 2 (BH): Is this Jerry's surprise ? another guy jumping ship from MNG?
#JD: My gawd it is, It's the Mastadon, Big Van Vader is here!

Vader makes his way down to the ring, enters and goes face to face with Lawler who looks like he didn't expect this at all. He then motions for Jerry to give him the microphone. Lawler seems to be asking him something, perhaps wondering what he's doing here but the beast of a man says nothing in return and just continues to demand the mic.

#BH: Be smart Jerry, give the man what he wants

It seems Lawler is thinking the same thing as he slowly hands it over and it looks like we are going to hear from Vader as after a few moments of contemplation he raises the mic up but then just as he looks ready to speak the deceptively quick big man spring into action cracking the microphone over Lawler's head. Jerry is sent stumbling backward but isn't out and turns to face his attacker but in doing so turns into a monstrous Lariat. The hometown boy is then the victim of a Vader Slam (Running powerslam) as the boos start to ring out throughout the arena. Unluckily for Lawler though public opinion does not sway Vader as he then ascends the turnbuckle before hitting a Moonsault so impressive the crowd is temporarily silenced. Boos quickly return though as Vader makes his way up the ramp and medical personnel are left to check on Lawler.

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First match: Jerry Brisco vs Julio Fantastico

On his way to the ring the younger Brisco brother stops to greet CM Punk. As he does he is attacked from behind by Senor fantastico.

Julio rolls him into the ring and continues the pre-match assault before catching Brisco in a roll-up pin almost immediately when the bell is rung to begin the match. Luckily he kicks out just before the 3 count and then slowly Jerry is able to recover from the heelish attack and perhaps as a result how dominant he is throughout the following match impresses more than you would expect from a match against a so called jobber . It also establishes the younger brisco as a face before as many might predict it is the Figure four leglock which results in his submission victory.

Winner: Jerry Brisco

Backstage Segment:
Mike McGuirk is backstage with Jesse Ventura whose opinion he seeks on Jerry Lawler supposedly being in charge of BWA Raw. Ventura questions what exactly one would call being in control if someone could claim that is what they just saw from the Memphis native adding that he had heard a rumor that the powers that be actually wanted him for the job but knew he would see it as merely a stepping stone to a higher office. McGuirk moves past that though and onto Ventura's own recent controversy and how it has effected how he interacts with he BWA universe.

Ventura's response may have raised some eyesbrows though:
" You know what Mike, I would rather be uncomfortable with the truth than to be lied to in comfort. That's just my nature. There might be a god-damned media conspiracy against me cos I sued the American Sniper but you know what... I Won. I was right and that means that with the star f*ckers in the BWA universe it won't change a damn thing as now they can justify cheering me cos the reason i'm here in Memphis tonight is simple... beating some trash and then geting some Ass!

McGuirk shakes his head disapprovingly as "The Body" walks away

#BH: Do you believe the balls on that man?
#JD: Yeah I think i'd reverse the order if I was him considering the standard of women he usually picks up!
#BH: Beating some ass and getting some t... wait no I mean his comments about The American Hero whose family he sued
#JD: Shhhh here he comes

Jesse "The Body" Ventura vs Localo Joberino

*As Ventura makes his entrance the announcers reference how he has recently been taking a fan out of the audience after his matches to "Celebrate with backstage" and question how much self respect these ladies must have*

The Body makes short work of the local wrestler and after a few big clotheslines, then finishes him off with his Body Breaker Inverted bearhug.

Winner: Jesse Ventura

Ventura then proceeds to act like he has just won the world title, over celebrating his victory and as they have the last few weeks since these antics first began the crowd give him a very mixed reaction with ever increasing boos. Despite that it doesn't take him long to find a attractive young blonde lady wearing a CM Punk shirt who is willing to join his celebration backstage. "You'll do" is what he is heard to exclaim before lifting her over the barricade squeezing the young ladies backside as he does.

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Backstage Segment

Sean Mooney interviews Yasuhiro Kojima asking him about how Nakamura has been acting a little odd recently and if he knows how to approach such an erratic opponent. Kojima reminds everyone that he is the man who trained Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and The Great Mutoh. He says that they are all household names but Kojima...nobody knows who the hell he is! tonight though he says that will all change and if Nakamura acts even half as erratic in the ring as he has out of it recently then he will exploit itand that beating Nakamura will just be his first step on the road to the top.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Yasuhiro Kojima

If the WHC main event is to top this one it will have some way to go with both fighters pulling out their A game in this match up with Kojima in particular impressing the crowd at first. It was After a full 20mins of back and forth action when the crowd had well and truly gotten into it that He (Kojima) locked in his famed Japanese sleeper hold. It looks like Nakamura is fading and eventually after almost a minute in the hold half of which he spent trying to fight out of it his eyes close and his body posture seems to suggest he's out. The ref raises his hand as the camera zooms in close on him, 1 - arm drops near limp, 2 - The same again is this one over, then as the ref raises his hand for a third time his Nakamura's eyes shoot open wide but with his eyeballs rolled (undertaker like) back so all you can see is white. This image along with the fact that he starts chanting in Japanese sends the ref stumbling back in shock as if he has seen a ghost.

The refs reaction along with seeing a close up of Nakamuras face on the Titantron also causes Kojima to release the sleeper and step back aghast at what he sees. This was a mistake as seemingly the second he is freed from the hold Nakamuras weird trance like state reverts back to normality and he slingshots himself of the rope before hitting a hugely impressive one leg dropkick to his opponent. Everyone is stunned but Nakamura seems 100% in the moment and as Kojima tries to rise back to his feet he is caught by the Boma Ye Knee strike. 1-2-3!

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

After the match when Kojima finally comes around and gets to a knee...BOOM!...another Boma Ya Knee strike is delivered sending him crashing to the mat and causing many in the arena to fear for his health. Nakamura though is just laughing Maniacally in ring until he suddenly stops and turns his attention back to his fallen countryman. He places one hand on either side of his head and lifts him up by the head. Then while holding him in this position he goes face to face with him and then just like earlier he rolls his eyes back into his head and starts chanting in Japanese.

A moment later he drops him back to the mat and starts stumbling around a little disorientated himself before heading over to one of the corners where a young Japanese boy hands him a little bag from which he produces an electric razor. He grabs Kojima's head and quickly shaves off big portions of his hair while shouting "I am your lord!" in between some Japanese. Eventually extra referees and security forcefully separate Nakamura from Kojima but as they help the latter to the back Nakamura (who is being held at ringside until his opponent is safely gone) continues to shout the same bilingual phrases at him.

#BH: Wow... I really don't know what to say about that and it takes a lot to leave me speechless
#JD: Well lets see what a very special member of the BWA universe in attendance here tonight thought of all that then
#BH: Good idea, Josh, have you got him Josh?

Josh Matthews: So Punk, can you tell me your thought on what you just witnessed?

CM Punk: "That was intense... I mean normally I'd tell you this has nothing to do with me and to focus on the product but what can I say... some of that was a little familiar."

Josh: "What do you mean? I've never seen anything like that before

Punk: Really? great wrestler, thinks he is a god, shaving heads in the ring... I mean im flattered and all but

Josh: Are you trying to say that Nakamura was copying what you did previously?

Punk: well I'm not sure if thats how I would phra...

Just then the interview is interrupted by none other than Shinsuke Nakamura who pushes Josh out of the way to get to Punk but the security who had been ushering him up the aisle quickly (the moment he gets physical with the interviewer) get between them. There is a brief stare down as Punk seems to laugh off Nakamura while asking him "Yeah and what?" before suddenly Nakamura's head lunges forward and he spits right onto Punks face! after a moment of shock the security is called into action to keep Punk from jumping the barricade and more appear on the scene to force Nakamura who is now once again laughing like a crazy person into the back.


#BH: Dear god have you ever seen anything like this
#JD: Never, that is just, thats so...
#BH: We want to apologize to everyone watching BWA superstars don't usually act like that. I don't know what has gotten into that young man
#JD: He really has not been himself for some time now but that...


Backstage segment

Todd Grisham interviews BWA Tag Team Champions Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa and first asks them about what they just witnessed from the former "Ace of The Universe" Shinsuke Nakamura. They emphasize that he is indeed not associated with them anymore and that it was erratic behavior like that which lead to their parting ways but that if they can help him get back on the right track in anyway they would be more than happy to. They talk about how those actions and those they witnessed from Big Van Vader earlier tonight were distasteful to them and that they are all about respect. To show that as BWA tag team champions they are challenging any tag team in all of pro-wrestling who want to challenge them for their titles to come to Raw next week and do so face to face. Whomever will show them that respect will be granted a title match at Wrestlepalooza!

#BH: Big News there, our first Wrestlepalooza PPV match should be made next week!
#JD: That's huge news right there, the champs putting the gold on the line on the grandest stage of them all
#BH: Speaking of the champs, here they come right now

Mitsuharu Misawa w/Kenta Kobashi vs Steve Duncan

Misawa seems to be making fairly easy work of the local man Duncan in this bout and to be honest there is little surprise there, Stacy Keibler coming out to ringside though surprises (and pleases ) the audience and BH who she sits next to as she joins commentary. She explains that she is scouting talent and although Misawa does impress especially with a Vertical suplex sitout side powerslam for the 3 count pin. She apparently doesn't seem to see him as the next face of the company which she says she knows under her management her next client will become. Therefore her search will continue.

Winner: Mitsuharu Misawa

Backstage Segment

Kevin Kelly interviews Shinsuke Nakamura about his actions earlier tonight. Stood beside them is Nakamura's opponent from tonights match Yasuhiro Kojima and it seems he has had his new hairdo finished as he now sports a Nakamura-esque partially shaved look. Nakamura is swaying from side to side when Kelly asks him if he would like to apologize to the BWA universe and to CM Punk for his actions tonight eliciting a sudden stop and a look of disdain before he starts screaming その小さな雌犬に謝罪...

A few seconds after his rant finishes Nakamura grabs the Mic off the interviewer and gives it to Kojima before giving him an order in Japanese 今それを言う!

Kojima: "Nakamura says (Nakamura screams something), My Lord says that nobody should be talking about CM Punk. He says that what you witnessed out there tonight was only the start and for that ummm (Nakamura:あく!) Piece of scum to suggest he was imitating anyone else sickens him.

He then looks at Nakamura who screams 最初の犠牲者! before saying "CM Punk will be the first victim"

#BH: What in the world does that mean?
#JD: I have no idea but I wouldn't want to mess with that nutjob!
#BH: Well I am sure the boys on the post show will have a lot to say about that but for now we have a blockbuster main event to get to

A back and forth match that would be worthy of its place main eventing any PPV let alone the season premier of BWA comes to a close as Brisco hits a sweet vertical suplex and then uncharacteristically goes up top for his diving crossbody but at the last second the champion rolls out of the way. Jack lands hard on his chest which he seemed to injure earlier in the match after a dive (by Tanahashi) through the ring ropes lead to him colliding with the ringside barricade. Tanahashi without missing a beat then ascended the turnbuckle himself and hit his High Fly Flow Frog splash again this causes huge pain to the challengers abdomen and perhaps spotting this Tanahashi decided not to go for the pin but instead locks in a cloverleaf submission which Mascaras eventually taps out to.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi
That was one hell of a match up but a deserved winner has emerged and Jack Brisco seems unashamed of pointing out he was beaten by the better man on the night and a man who deserves his respect. The two shake hands before Brisco exits the ring leaving the champ in the ring to play us out on his air guitar!

The crowd have been getting used to see this unique celebration to end PPVs in recent times but on Raw it is a rarity and they are seemingly playing along with him until

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THE LIGHTS GO OUT----

The Arena is plunged into total darkness initially and then as what almost sounds like the Godzilla March plays as a thick smoke fills the arena. This makes it so that absolutely nothing is visible even to those at ringside.

Eventually the lights return and when the smoke disperses the fans and announcers are shocked to see that both Jack Brisco on the entrance ramp and Tanahashi in the ring are lying unconscious and bloodied. Gerry Brisco comes running out to check on his brother while Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa head straight for the ring to make sure the champ is ok.

Who caused this? Nobody else is anywhere to be seen!

Hopefully you can find out next week and find out, Why did Vader attack Lawler? what repercussions will Nakamura face for his actions and words aimed at CM Punk? All this and so much more to find out so make sure to join us next week on BWA Raw when we will also find out who will fact the BWA tag team champions at Wrestlepalooza!

The UFC is in the house!

CM Punk, Ronda Rousey, Dan Severn promo

Vader vs The Shiek vs Abdullah The Butcher w/Lawler on commentary

Misawa w/Kobashi vs Jack Brisco w/Gerry, lil bro fights back - Gerry Brisco snaps

Winners: Mitsuharu Misawa

Ventura retorts
Pat Patterson w/Ronda Rousey vs Jesse Ventura
Gorgeous George w/Stacy (fawning all over him) cut a scathing promo on Pat Pat

Tanahashi vs Nakamura w/CM Punk on commentary

Samoa Joe vs Kenta Kobashi II

This match will set the tone for tonights PPV. It's USA vs Japan, UFC vs Pro Wrestling, Punks Buddy vs Nakamura's follower and thats before we talk about the men themselves that will kick off this PPV. Severn a 2 time NWA world champion and former UFC superfight champion wants to prove himself to everyone in Pro Wrestling whom he believes don't hold him in as high a regard as he deserves. Kojima similarly is enraged that American audiences don't recognise his greatness and believes that beating the man from the UFC is a perfect way start proving to them that he is second only to Nakamura in terms of greatness.

The 1st ever Intercontinental champion Pat Patterson recently came out and coming out as a gay man in the professional wrestling industry is not the easiest thing to do but it sure was a huge weight off his shoulders. Combined with the fact that he recently signed a BWA contract Pat has spoken about how this is the happiest he has ever been. He thought nothing could improve things but then when Jerry Lawler told him he would get a chance at Wrestlepalooza V to once again hold the IC title there was only one thing he thought could make it better and that was if his opponent was the man he idolized... Gorgeous George.

The old saying rings true with this one though you really should never meet your heroes because as Patterson would tell you, you'll only be dissapointed. George along with his manager, the long legged beauty Stacy Kiebler have arrogantly ran down Patterson and don't seem to care what kind of heat their homophobic slurs cause. They are sure the IC title is coming their way and thats all that matters to them

The Brisco Brothers were a highly successful team, amassing over twenty tag team championships over the course of thirteen years together and Gerry Brisco thought it would be the same when they both came to the BWA. Unfortunately though it wasn't long before he found himself back in a familiar place... In big brother Jack's shadow. Jack Brisco is a former world champion and has often been described as probably the greatest champion of the 20th century and yet in singles action it just hasn't clicked in the BWA for him. Loses against main event players like Shinsuke Nakamura Samoa Joe and Hiroshi Tanahashi have...

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Now that the preview of the main show is over we go live to the arena for the pre-show main event

Winner: The Audience