Groundhog Slay 2011

Groundhog Slay 2011 - February 25th, 2011 - WMW Arena in Cleveland, Ohio

How We Got Here

Writer: Various

Jack Gene - Well Fans, it's that time again.  Main event, time and this match couldn't get much bigger.  Former Great Lakes Champion and Hall of Famer Matrix.  Former 3 Time Great Lakes Champion Champion and many feel future Hall of Famer, Kronin.  Former Great Lakes Champion and another fighter many feel is a future Hall of Famer, Valora.  Newcomers to the major championship, Xavier Langston and Jasmine Lucky.  All of them fighting for the right to face the newly crowned Midwest Champion in the 2nd Annual Frostbite Brawl.

Bill Hughes - That's right.  This week one person will be removed from the title race, our next Graveyard Shift will see another person removed and the final 3 will face off against Scott Vyper in the Frostbite Brawl!

Jack Gene - And you gotta say that if the Champ wants any two people eliminated, it's got to be Valora and Kronin.  Not only are they likely the biggest threats to his title reign, but they both fought in the first Frostbite Brawl and Valora became the GLC in that brawl.

[After a few minutes, the 5 fighters separate from each other and backpedal, each scanning his or her opponents, looking for an opening.  Jasmine Lucky glances over at Valora and points to Kronin, yelling something.  Kronin laughs and eggs both women on, prompting Valora to shrug and head over to Jasmine Lucky, whipping her towards Kronin, spinning the female Lucky around twice to gain momentum and Jasmines executes a perfect dropkick to Kronin's knee, dropping him to a knee.  Kronin looks up in time to get sandwiched as Jasmine jumps to her feet and nails Kronin in the back of the head with a jumping, roundhouse kick at the same time Valora runs up and nails her Trouble in Paradise style kick.  Kronin Remains half standing, half to a knee for a second, a dazed look on his face before falling face first on the mat, Ric Flair style.  Jasmine celebrates and talks trash to Kronin, but her celebration is short lived as Xavier Langston jumps in and plants a massive foot dead center mass of Jasmine Lucky, sending her tumbling back and out of the ring to the floor. In the ring, Xavier Langston and Valora now stand face to face in the middle of the ring talking to each other.  Xavier leans in and whispers something to Valora that causes her to smirk and nod in agreement.  Without warning, Xavier Langston whips Valora towards Matrix at high speeds.  Matrix tries to defend himself but is too late as Valora reaches him and jumps up, planting both of her feet in his stomach before falling back and vaulting Matrix out of the corner with a monkey flip... right into another Leaping Yakuza kick from Xavier Langston.  Matrix crumples to the mat landing right next to Kronin as the crowd groans in pain at the move.  Valora jumps up to the top turnbuckle and leaps off, nailing a five star frogsplash on both Kronin and Matrix, Kronin taking the brunt of the impact, though.]

Jack Gene - My God!  Well, you didn't have to wait long for this match to get going, folks.  Valora is making a series of alliances, first working with Jasmine to take Kronin down, and now working with Xavier Langston to bring Matrix down with just a brutal combination there!

Bill Hughes - That move was so awesome, I'm going to steal one of Kronk's phrases and say it rocked several different kinds of awesome.  God, I feel all dirty and hippie like just saying it...

[Valora scrambles over and covers Kronin.  John Law drops down and counts 1....2... but the pin is broken up by Xavier Langston and his kick to the head of Valora.  Xavier Langston then makes the cover on Kronin but that pin is broken up at 2 by Jasmine who hits a slingshot legdrop from outside.  Matrix, meanwhile, tries to get to his feet, using the ropes to help him.  Jasmine Lucky runs over and grabs Valora from behind, pulling Valora to her feet and trying for a reverse DDT but Valora blocks and counters it into a spinning neckbreaker.  Valora jumps up and play to the crowd and then quickly dodges the Who Shot Ya from Xavier Langston.  Valora jumps onto the ropes and springboards off the ropes trying for a hurrancanrana but Xavier catches her and turns, planting her with a powerbomb onto Jasmine Lucky. Kronin stands up while Xavier plays to the crowd.  He stands behind Xavier Langston with his arms crossed across his chest.  Langston eventually senses he's not alone and turns around trying to punch Kronin but Kronin catches the punch and nails Xavier with a big time right hand, before pulling Xavuer Langston back towards him and taking the man down with a short arm clothesline.  Kronin pulls Xavier Langston to his feet and whips him into the ropes and tries for a discus clothesline but Xavier stops short and dodges the Clothesline and nails Kronin with a boot to the gut.  He tries for a DDT, but Kronin drives him into the corner with a shoulder charge/tackle and begins hammering on Langston with right hands until Langston slumps down into a sitting position in the corner.  Kronin then turns and runs at Matrix knocking the man down with a clothesline.  He picks Matrix up and holds the man in place going for a vertical suplex but Xavier Langston comes out of the corner and takes Kronin down with a chop block.  Matrix falls right on top of Kronin and tries for a pinfall but Kronin kicks out after 1.]

Jack Gene - The former Great Lakes Champ trying to get the match going his way but Langston isn't done yet and took him down with a vicious chop block there.

Bill Hughes - There's way too much action to follow here!  My head hurts!

[The match continues on back and forth for a couple of minutes, no fighter having an advantage long before another fighter comes in to take advantage.  Eventually, Kronin stands in the middle of the ring while the four corners of the ring are each occupied by Matrix, Valora, Xavier, and Jasmine.]

Jack Gene - I would not want to be Kronin right now.  He is literally facing enemies on all sides of him.

Bill Hughes - This is great!  We're finally going to see the end of Kronin!

[Kronin stands in the center of the ring and calls his four opponents out, urging them to come at him and at once, all four do just that very thing.  Matrix reaches him first but Kronin sidesteps the attack and Matrix runs right into and through Jasmine, taking her down with a big time Clothesline.  Valora reaches Kronin next and jumps into the air but Kronin catches her and throws her towards Xavier Langston with a fallaway slam.  Langston leaps into the air, vaulting over where Valora hits the mat and turns it into a Who Shot Ya?  Sending Kronin staggering back into the ropes.  Xavier Langston charges in after Kronin and Kronin tries to backdrop Xavier Langston out onto the apron, but Xavier Langston lands on the outside apron.  He tries to send a kick Kronin's way but Kronin catches the kick and pulls Langston in, trying for a overhead T-bone Suplex to bring Langston back in the ring, but Langston catches the rope with his free foot to help him block the move.  He tries for another attack but both he and Kronin topple to the ground when Valora charges up and nails Kronin in the back of the head with a dropkick, sending him into Xavier, and sending both men to the floor at ringside.  Valora's turn as top fighter ends quickly, however when she turns around just in time to be lifted up by Matrix and planted onto the mat with the 180 Spinebuster that Matrix calls Cyberspace.  Matrix goes for the cover and nearly gets a three count before Valora kicks out.]

Jack Gene - That was the type of high level competition and wrestling excellence you've come to expect from Wrestling Midwest, fans!  Kronin stands tall against four attackers, but in the end the numbers game caught up with him and just in that exchange we saw momentum flow from Kronin to Xavier Langston back to Kronin to Valora and then to Matrix.

Bill Hughes - But I love it!  Let them all fight for the right to get their title shot! This is great!

[Matrix plays to the crowd and stomps on Valora, who rolls out to the floor just as Kronin whips Xavier into the ring.  Valora charges and takes Kronin down with a spear, hammering him with right hands as the crowd goes nuts.  In the ring, Jasmine Lucky comes up behind Matrix and kicks him in the groin from behind before spinning around and planting her foot in the back of Matrix's head, sending him face first to the mat.  Jasmine then moves towards Xavier Langston as he smirks and prepares for her, the two taking up fighting stances.]

Jack Gene - This has broken down now!  Kronin and Valora are brawling outside and that gives Matrix, Xavier and Jasmine a golden opportunity to end the match in the ring but WOW!!!

[The camera switches to an ESN sponsored replay that shows Xavier vaulting himself over the ropes and taking out Valora and Kronin on the outside of the ring.  The camera then switches back to real time with all three fighters pulling themselves up to their feet.  Valora comes right at Xavier, throwing a flurry of punches which Xavier defends by blocking, ducking and weaving through and then throws a kick to the side, nailing Kronin as he gets up.  The distraction allows Valora to nail Xavier with her vicious Aztec Double Elbow slash, which sends Xavier staggering backwards.  Valora starts to charge forward but Kronin cuts her off with a clothesline that turns her inside out and then he turns and catches Xavier with a boot to the gut.  Xavier tries to return the favor but Kronin catches the foot, pulls him in close and takes him to the floor with a T-Bone Suplex.  In the ring, Jasmine turns around and sees Matrix getting to his feet again.  She charges him but he springs forward and catches her, planting her with his Cyberspace 180 Spinebuster.  He then goes into the cover and John Law counts 1....2....3!  The bell rings and Xavier, Kronin and Valora look to the ring to see what's just happened.]

Wayne Inkster - Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the match....MATRIX!!!  Jasmine Lucky has been eliminated from the Midwest Championship race!

Brad Johnson - The WMW Arena, formerly the Cleveland Auditorium is a historical landmark in this city. And once again, it will be the crowning jewel of new life here in this wonderful city. After meeting with our Mayor, and meeting with the new group that will be building the Medical Mart next door, we have decided, because of the upcoming construction, it is in the best interest of everyone involved to postpone our next event until February 2011. Groundbreaking will begin later this month and with the Christmas and New Years right around the corner, it's time we take a step back and spend some time with our friends and family at home. So, from all of us here in Wrestling Midwest, Merry Christmas, and we'll see you next year.

Dave Deacon - Look, I don't want to cross the line here, because I know that ESN and WMW are basically walking hand in hand into the future, but my god, you sign a company and they immediately go on break? Seems a bit fishy. What exactly did we get ourselves into? And no one here is even talking about it. No one wants to even think about it. Why?

[The shot fades and changes to ESN Sports Update with Aiden Lynch on January 31st, 2011.]

Aiden Lynch - Wrestling Midwest, who took a brief hiatus over the holidays, are set to make an announcement later on today. They are expected to announce the first show of 2011, which is currently slated for sometime in February. In a brief statement, WMW Owner Brad Johnson said - quote "We are prepared to move into our future, not only in the Wrestling Industry but here in Cleveland, Ohio. We appreciate every one's patience and today, we will answer all of the rumors and questions about our future." End quote.

[The shot changes to show Brad Johnson standing in front of the construction outside of WMW Arena.]

Brad Johnson - Today is January 31st, 2011, and I'm standing outside the WMW arena as trucks continue to drive by carrying material, dirt, and workers to and from the site. So much excitement, and so much potential coming to this area. But, regardless of the good feelings, it has become obvious that WMW arena will not be in a position to seat the thousands of fans that WMW sees each and every event we hold here. So, we have worked with the city and the great people of the CSU Wolstein Center, just a few blocks away, and have come to an agreement. Wrestling Midwest's next event, which will come to you live on Friday, February 25th, 2011 will take place at the Wolstein Center. Join us. We'll see Divion Sadistik vs. Mystery Woman vs. Pirate Ninja in the finals of the hXc tournament, where the winner will fight Bob Wire for the Heartlands Championship.

We received so much great feedback about Jade vs. Eric Dillinger's Shoot Championship, that we have listened and have granted the wishes of many many fans. Jade vs. Dillinger 2 with the Shoot Championship on the line.

And, in the main event, we've fast forwarded a bit on our original plan. Instead of continuing to eliminate fighters from this match, we're just going to have the match. Scott Vyper, in his first Midwest Championship defense, defends the title against Matrix, Kronin, Xavier Langston and Valora in the Frostbite Brawl.

February 25th, 2011 - Groundhog Slay 2011: The Early Spring. We'll see you there.

Sponsor Break

hXc Buildup

[We cut for a second time to the ESN set.]

Jeff Benedict - Many had entered, 3 remain, and one of those remaining will earn the right to face Bob Wire for the Heartlands Championship at the next WMW event. My name is Jeff Benedict and I'm here with Dave Deacon and Aiden Lynch here on ESN. You look at the 3 involved here tonight, and who walks out the winner?

Dave Deacon - First and foremost? The fans. This tournament has been nothing but classic from the day it was introduced to WMW programming. 3 are left, Divion Sadistik, Mystery Woman and Pirate Ninja. I think we've all pretty much had Sadistik a lock going into the finals, especially with his matches before the tournament, specifically in the Heartlands division. His match against Bob Wire, and you've got to expect him to give everything he has tonight to earn the shot against Wire. But,...

Louie Cwik Talks with Eric Dillinger

Jade Answers The Rumors

[The scene opens up in Jade's locker room. She sits on the bench her head in her hands.]

Jade - That was.... more difficult then I anticipated. I could always change my mind... no. I am committed to the path. I have more important things to tend to....

[Jade gathers up her things and slings her bag over her shoulder, heading to the locker room door, through it and makes her way to the stadium exit. She pauses as she walks through the doors, taking a final look back.]

Jade - Goodbye. Perhaps I will return someday... but I doubt it.

[With that, Jade leaves WMW just as she entered it. Quietly, with no pomp or circumstance, just the sound of the door closing behind her as she walks, alone, into the night.]

Sponsor Break

Scott Vyper (c) vs. Matrix vs. Kronin vs. Xavier Langston vs. Valora

[The camera switches to ringside where the Midwest Championship is hung above the ring.]














[Wayne Inkster leaves the ring as the Referee, John Law in the ring and Luna Pier by the penalty box get ready. As Law gives his instructions, Vyper and Kronin stand toe to toe, the two men trading heated words, until Law gets in-between them and forces them back. Finally, the bell rings and Valora and Vyper glance at each other, and just as the crowd gets fired up about the two of them trading blows, they nod to each other and Valora darts to the side and blindsides Matrix with a flurry of punches to him, before whipping him towards the center of the ring. Vyper,blindsides Langston with a clothesline and whips the man towards Matrix. Langston jumps and nails Matrix with a who shot ya and then runs and tries the same move on Valora, who ducks under the move and as Langston turns around, he gets nailed in the face with a pele kick from Valora. Langston stumbles backwards... right into Kronin who grabs him from behind and nails the man with a big time German suplex. Kronin then turns to Vyper and points at him, before pointing at Langston. Vyper smirks and nods, and as Langston gets up, Vyper grabs him from behind and nails him with a backdrop suplex. Vyper gets up and yells at Kronin that that is how you perform a suplex. Kronin looks unimpressed and picks Langston up, holding him for a vertical suplex, until Vyper kicks Kronin in the gut, causing Kronin to drop Langston face first on the mat while Vyper pulls Kronin up and drops him with a DDT.]

Bill laughs his ass off loving how Vyper has again outsmarted Kronin. Jack says Vyper is playing with fire and points out he is surprised that Valora and Vyper are working together. Bill says he is not surprised because of the long history of partnership between Vyper and Valora, and reminds Jack that Valora and Vyper in the past have been tag team of the month.

[In the ring, Valora is waiting for Matrix to recover and as soon as he gets to his feet, Valora springs off the ropes and nails him with a dropkick that sends him staggering backwards into the ropes. Matrix uses the ropes to stop himself, but Valora slides under his legs, grabbing his leags and jerking them out from under him, sending him face first to the mat as she slides outside. She then hops up to the apron and slingshots herself over the ropes and tries for a slingshot leg drop, nailing Matrix. Langston, meanwhile, has rolled out of the ring as Vyper and Kronin trade punches before Vyper tries for a clothesline and misses, as Kronin cuts him off with a boot to the midsection and nails Vyper with a discus punch. Valora comes darting in, diving into the air for Kronin but he sidesteps her, sending her into the corner. As Valora bounces off the turnbuckle and stumbles backwards, dazed, Kronin grabs her from behind and takes her to the mat hard with a William Regal style backdrop suplex.]

Jack says the action is really starting to pick up and wonders if Matrix even knows where he is after that flurry from Valora. Bill says Matrix is lucky if he knows what planet he’s on. Jack makes a comment about Kronin taking charge now and Bill says to wait a minute and that will change.

[Langston pulls Matrix out to the floor with him and the two trade blows until Langston tries to whip Matrix into the steel steps, but Matrix reverses it, sending Langston into the steps with a resounding thud. The two men continue to brawl until Valora runs over and dives over the ropes, taking both men out with a suicide dive, all three wrestlers lying on the floor, spent after that move. Vyper and Kronin lockup in a collar and elbow tie up, both men struggling for superior position over each other. Kronin just starts to get things going his way when Vyper nails him with a kick to the groin, transitioning seamlessly into a DDT that plants Kronin on the mat. Vyper goes for the cover but gets only a 2 count.]

Jack points out that the action is really getting hard to follow with the fight spreading to all areas of the arena. Bill says that’s what’s fun about these kind of matches.

[Valora is the first to her feet outside and slowly enters the ring, as if planning out her next move. Langston slides in after her and spins her around, nailing her with a series of punches, sending Valora to the mat with a big clothesline. He then pulls Valora to her feet and yells in her face. Valora counter by kicking him in the groin and clenching her fist and nailing Langston with a punch that sends him to the ground like a ton of bricks. Valora grins as she adjusts the tape on her fist, the outline of brass knuckles just visible under the surface. Meanwhile, Vyper tries to lock in the Vyperlock on Kronin, who is busy trying to fight the move off, until Matrix slides into the ring and spins Vyper around, hitting him with a boot to the gut and then throwing Vyper over the top rope and out to the floor. Meanwhile, Langston staggers to his feet and Valora charges forward, jumping up and taking Langston down with a reverse STO, immediately locking her legs around his neck and locking in the infamous Koji Clutch submission hold. John Law checks and Langston, smartly taps out right away, to save his energy for later. Law signals the submission and Langston rolls out of the ring and makes his way to the penalty box.]

Jack points out that the match has had it’s first pinfall or submission and now the belt can be grabbed. He continues and speculates that now we should really see the match pick up. Bill points out that Valora is obviously setting her eyes on that belt and is looking to soften up her opponents before winning the match.

[In the ring, Matrix pulls Kronin to his feet and tries for a vertical suplex, but Kronin blocks it, lifting Matrix up as if for a vertical suplex but holds him in the air for about 10 seconds before taking him to the mat with his version of the Metal Meltdown, the crowd goes wild seeing one of their favorite finishing moves that Kronin has not used for some time and Kronin goes into the cover and gets the three count on Matrix, sending him to the penalty box as well. Kronin pops to his feet and celebrates, but is cut off by Vyper who spins him around and nails Kronin with a series of punches and whips him into the ropes. Valora, meanwhile, slides out of the ring and moves over to the penalty area, grabbing a ladder near it and then moving to the ring steps, carefully positioning the ladder to rest on the top of the turnbuckle and the top of the penalty area.]

Jack calls out Kronin’s sending Matrix to the penalty area as a big move, pointing out that Kronin, Valora, and Vyper now have 2 minutes to end the match before the two fighters can get back into it. Bill notes Valora constructing the bridge and says he has no idea what she’s planning but he’s sure it will be epic.

[Vyper, chooses now as his time to strike and heads over, offering to help Valora set up the ladder before slamming it into Valora’s face sending her to the floor as he jumps onto the ropes and shouts down at her that it’s nothing personal but he’s keeping his belt and she can have it when he’s done with it. Vyper then takes the ladder and sets it up in the middle of the ring, climbing up the ladder making his way towards the belt. Kronin sees this and climbs up the otherside of the ladder, meeting Vyper with punches and slamming his face off the top of the ladder before reaching up for the belt himself. Kronin just gets his hand on the belt before Vyper cuts him off with a punch to the face and then dives, taking Kronin and himself back to the mat with a diving clothesline.]

Jack points out that Vyper turning on Valora was inevitable due to his obsession with being WMW Midwest champ. Bill cuts him off and says that to be champ is what it’s all about and that Valora would have done the same thing in Vyper’s position. Jack agrees with that and points out there is a minute and a half left before Matrix and Langston re enter.

[Kronin rolls out to the floor to regroup after being taken down from the top of the ladder. Valora hops up onto the ring apron and runs along, jumping off trying for a hurrancanrana on Kronin but he catches her and half powerbombs half throws her into and through the plexiglass door to the penalty area. Langston and Matrix immediately begin beating down Valora as soon as she enters. Kronin looks on and nods to himself as he turns and enters the ring as Luna Pier tries to break up the brawl in the box and check on Valora.]

Jack points out that he can’t believe what just happened and suggests that maybe Kronin decided to take Lilly’s advice after all as putting Valora through that door was, in Jack’s view, unnecessarily violent and could have seriously injured Valora. Bill points out that Lilly seems to be the only smart one in the team and Kronin should listen to her more often and says that he is confident that Valora will pay Kronin back for the move. Jack points out there is now 1 minute left before Langston and Matrix return.

[In the ring, Vyper has his hands on the belt and is pulling it, trying to unhook it when Kronin shove the ladder down, pulling Vyper up as he hits the mat and takes him down into a crippler crossface move. Vyper doesn’t panic and begins to move his body to get a rope break. Meanwhile, in the penalty box, Matrix holds Valora up and Langston nails her with a very short and powerful Who Shot Ya, sending her into Matrix and both of them into the wall. In the ring, Vyper has finally got his foot in the ropes and Kronin breaks the hold and looks back to make sure Valora hasn’t gotten out of the penalty box yet. Vyper takes advantage of the distraction and nails Kronin with a low blow, he then gets up and hits a German suplex on Kronin, suplexing him right onto the ladder, causing Kronin to cry out in pain. Vyper then jumps up to the turnbuckle and dives off, nailing Kronin with an elbow drop, pinning Kronin on the ladder and getting a count of about 2 and 2/3s before Kronin barely kicks out. Vyper is stunned and yells for the ref to count faster.]

Jack points out that he can’t believe Kronin kicked out from that. He points to this as a potential turning point in the match. Bill says that John Law needs to learn how to count right, that Kronin was definitely out for the three count. Jack says that Law’s count was fine and that in 30 seconds, Langston and Matrix rejoin the fray.

[Valora hits Matrix with a mule kick low blow and then hops up and nails Langston with a trouble in paradise kick before climbing out of the penalty area, her body bleeding from various cuts and gets to her feet, an enraged look in her eyes as she charges into the ring and to the top turnbuckle. Vyper, meanwhile slams Kronin’s head into the ladder and pins him, both men once more on the ladder. Valora jumps off the top turnbuckle onto both men with her Aztec moonsault, breaking up the pinfall, as all three roll off the ladder, holding various parts of their body in obvious pain. Valora rolls out of the ring, laughing even as she clutches her ribs in pain, grabbing a second ladder and once again moving up to set the ladder up as a walkway from the penalty area to the top turnbuckle.]

Jack points out that this match has been incredible, with no clear dominant wrestler, but that if someone wants to end the match before Matrix and Langston return, they are just about out of time. Bill shouts for Valora to end the match quickly.