WCW Empire 2007: The Next Chapter

Originally Posted by Death Dealer

Joe + Metallica = Win

Fantastic update Broski!

Thanks Dealer.

I don't even want to say how much time I spent debating the theme choice for Joe. The Metallica choice wouldn't be realistic from a financial cost perspective, but it just felt right in terms of the character.

Originally Posted by BackBone

Sweet update, loved the results from Hostile Intent, nice creativity as well. I have a feeling Joe and Punk aren't finished yet in their feud, you cannot end a feud with the final match being won by count out.

Nice update Papa.

Glad you enjoyed, BackBone. Joe and Punk aren't done. To be honest, its the kind of feud that may never be completely done. Not that they will be forever feuding - that gets boring - but simply that it can turn back into a feud at any given point.

Originally Posted by Wild Crippler

I smell a few things in the near future
-Danielson leaving the Horsemen because he doesn't like the party-hard, win-at-all-costs lifestyle they represent.
-Bank$ winning the US title with the assist of the Horsemen, turning the group as a whole heel and adding Bank$ to the Horsemen, since he fits the lifestyle better (that would make him the first black Horseman, I think).
-Punk continues to survive by the skin of this teeth, constantly talking himself up as if he is winning these matches without difficulty, sloooooowly turning heel.
-Danielson defeats AJ Styles, then goes onto challenge and defeat Punk for the World Title, his serious, no-frills, no-nonsense nature the perfect counterpoint to Punk's charismatic braggadocio.

-The Calgary Bulldogs lose the belts to Deuce N Domin....I mean "The Lords of Flatbush."

Not a bad shout, Crippler. Not quite what the books have planned... but not bad.

I just noticed something ironic. Swagger is using one of Hogan's earliest entrance themes.

Originally Posted by Kakarot

The reason for having WW3 at Clash was very interesting, really cool to see a WW3 at the event though and having Joe win was just the right choice to make. I enjoyed his stuff with Rhino prior to this, and never forgot about him when Joe's big match against Punk came about. I for one was satisfied with the ending to the match because this feuds got my interest.

I love that you made sure to include that Flair's promo was over the top and insane. Lol, Bank$ continuing to build up is great and his feud with Danielson was solid. Danielson & Styles are sure to get into it when Danielson finally does go for the Big Gold Belt. This stuff is very good.

Thanks Kakarot.

With regard to having WW3 come back that way, I've often read stuff - rumors, I guess - about Spike TV pushing TNA toward certain things. Impossible to know if its true and how much it happens, but its a thought that has always intrigued me. As fans, we don't always see all the forces that affect a promotion and its decisions. Its an idea I've wanted to explore. In truth, bringing back the WW3 match and turning it into a virtual Rumble clone feels a bit like a bastardization, but the 3-ring WW3 match was always a bloody mess. And while I tried to come up with a decent name for the match, it felt better to throw back to history a bit.

I'm having fun with a few of these feuds.

Originally Posted by Wild Crippler

I just noticed something ironic. Swagger is using one of Hogan's earliest entrance themes.

Ironic. And intentional

Originally Posted by KTK

Frankie Arion continued to wrestler regularly on Break Out... and he continued to lose.

haha

Some of those tag teams seem familiar...



Awesome update.

Figured you'd like those. Glad you enjoyed.

Regarding the next recap... Dunno if I'll be able to hold to the weekly schedule that I was managing for the first few. I don't have quite as much done for the April recap so still a fair bit of writing to do. Which wouldn't be problemetatic except that Mass Effect 3 just came out and they just released a new data update for Football Manager. So I could end up being a bit distracted. The next recap will arrive but I don't want to try to even guess as to when that will be.

I would like to thank you all, dear readers, for the votes in the Be the Booker of the Month contest for February. The continued support warms the cockles of my cold, cold, bitter heart.

That said, I am requesting some assistance. While working on the April 2007 recap, I've begun to debate a certain factor. So I figured I would throw it out there and get some feedback. The W1 "King of the Cruisers" tournament will take place in April. The previous editions have all been a single-elimination format. A tournament. New Japan's "Best of the Super Juniors" event has obviously been an inspiration, and it has used a league format in some versions, much as some of the tag leagues in Japan do. The competitors are broken up into blocks, with a points-based round robin taking place - something like 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw - and that leads to some type of final. The upside to the league structure is that it creates more opportunities for "dream matches" - given that the W1 is meant to be a showcase, that's a very appealing factor.. The downside is that it means more matches. The 2007 W1 has a field of 32 wrestlers, which is pretty much undoable for a league structure. But having a prelimary elimination round to cut it down to 16 would work. So here are the options I am looking at:

• Option A - keep the single-elimination format
• Option B - have a single preliminary round to cut the field to 16, then split it into four blocks of four wrestlers, who will each face each other once, with a win resulting in 3 points and a draw in 1 point. The winner of each block advance, with a semi final and then a final
• Option C - the same as Option B, but with two blocks of 8 wrestlers. The winner of each block then advance directly to a final.

So... If you were actually going to watch this, which option would you the wrestling fan prefer? Also curious if there is a reason for a given preference. Thanks

I'll go with option B. These are some of the best wrestlers in the world, right? The more I get to see them, the better. And any chance to educate American fans on different wrestling styles and broaden their horizons is always good stuff.

I say option B also. Best option you have by far!