| Overview |
|
Hello, my name is Daniel Brooks, "No Nonsense" Daniel Brooks. I tell it like I see it, and if you don't like it, deal with it! I'm the current editor here in the AWA, and I've been asked by our scumbag boss to do a bi-monthly report, aptly titled "AWA Coldfront". It's actually quite simple. I give you my views, and believe me, there will be no beating around the bush. It'll be the cold, hard truth. After I'm finished typing up the article, I sit down for a five minute interview with one of the AWA Superstars. This week's Spotlight is on the AWA Heavyweight Champion, and leader of the Brotherhood of the New Lights, HaZe. Other features that can be found in AWA Coldfront include my top five lists, my predictions for Outshined, my general feelings about recent happenings in the Association, and the Grape Vine, a compilation of rumors circulating throughout the industry. Well, the waiting is over. Get ready for Coldfront! |
| Angles, Feuds, and Whatnot |
|
In my professional opinion, this is the most intense I've seen the AWA since it's opening two months ago. Right now, there's nothing hotter on the market as far as independent federations go. The AWA is currently dominating the lower Eastern territory, and has nearly put the Southeast Wrestling Federation out of business. The expansion of the AWA is inevitable, how fast all depends on Richard Cormier and how he plays his cards. Let's take a look at the feuds, shall we? Almost every match at Outshined has some major heat behind it. I'd have to say the two biggest grudges at Oushined would have to be NyGhtMaRe vs. HaZe and James Nightbane vs. Machine. After two months of terrorizing the Brotherhood, NyGhtMaRe finally gets a chance to unload on the leader of the faction, Heavyweight Champion HaZe. If you ask me, it's only a matter of time before NyGhtMaRe takes out Cormier for good, and when that happens, the stable will crumble. As far as Nightbane and Machine are concerned, these former tag team partners, stablemates, AND Tag Team Champions are on bad terms to say the least. After Nightbane defected from the Brotherhood, effectively costing both himself and Machine the Tag Team Championships, the Brotherhood have been breathing down his neck. Now, Nightbane's in for the fight of his life against the man that feels no pain. The Super Bastardos Bros. have recaptured the Tag Team Championships for a second time, and come gametime, they'll be facing the only threat the AWA has to offer in the Tag Team division, an Army of Two. Suggs and Verboncour have really come into their own as of late, but I'm wondering how the Bastardos' recent actions against the Brotherhood will weigh into this match. In the AWA's first ever First Blaze match, arch rivals, as well as brothers, P.O.D. and Pyro-Maniac will be squaring off...in an attempt to light the other on fire! This ought to be an interesting, if not disgusting match. Rusty's been walked on ever since his arrival in the AWA, and well...A Damn Fine Man has continued to do so. Once Outshined is over, only one of them will remain in the AWA, and one of them will end up inside of a double-deep, double-wide casket. The last feud that I'll cover is a King of the Rungs Atlantic Championship match that will pit the Kill Devil Hills Daredevil against "Mr. Showtime" Pest. Both men are incredible performers inside the ring, especially when you throw a ladder into the mix. This match will finally decide who the true king of the ladder match is once and for all. Speaking of the Kill Devil Hills Daredevil, Mandrake appears to have lost his edge as of late. I don't expect him to hold onto his Atlantic Championship for much longer unless he does some soul searching and finds the "old Mandrake". He needs to quit worrying about the fans and worry about himself, otherwise, he'll be in a world of hurt. I've heard the rumors backstage firsthand, and all the "boys" seem to be talking about is the emminent return of one "Phenom" Billy Sadistic. It is unknown whether or not the free agent has signed a contract with the Association, but many believe he has, and will be returning this Monday at Outshined. If he does, in fact, make his debut at Outshined, it'll be interesting to see who he aligns himself with. The Super Bastardo Bros. are skating on thin ice right now, expecially after the stunt they pulled on Riptide earlier this week. Even though they're now the Tag Team Champions, I question their intelligence. Why would they do something so stupid as to photograph Richard Cormier in the buff while showering, as well as throw a hot cup of coffee on him with an important title defense coming up? The only thing that's going to accomplish is bringing the wrath of the entire Brotherhood down upon them. I'd be surprised if Cormier didn't have something in store for them at Outshined. |
| Brooks' Rankings |
 1) HaZe 2) NyGhtMaRe 3) Mandrake 4) Corleone 5) James Nightbane  1) Mandrake 2) Pest 3) Corleone 4) Machine 5) Jerry Verboncour  1) Super Bastardo Bros. 2) Army of Two 3) NyGhtMaRe & Mandrake 4) The Folk 5) Cliff Anderson & Grendel |
| Predictions: Outshined (2-18-02) |
|
Corleone vs. Steve Zapf I predict that this will be a good, clean wrestling match. With the high-impact offense of Corleone, and the unpredictability of Steve Zapf, this should be the perfect match to kick off the evening. Corleone has been at the top of his game ever since entering the AWA, and I don't think Zapf has what it takes to put the Italian away. I say that Corleone takes this match, hands down. Orange, anyone? Casket Match: Rusty vs. A Damn Fine Man This is one of the matches on the card that I'm really looking forward to. Fans will finally see a Damn Fine Man step into the ring against his former high school coach, Rusty Ziset in what will be one hell of a showdown. It's do or die for both of these men, so they won't be holding anything back. Quite frankly, I don't think Rusty has a chance in hell of winning this match. I'm going with ADFM all the way. Gutter vs. Chameleon To be honest, there's really not much build up for this match. These two men are both fairly new to the AWA, and both men are noted for working their asses off in the ring. The winner of this match will climb the ladder and become that much closer to an Atlantic Championship title match. I think these two are equally matched, but I'm gonna have to go with the high flying ability of Chameleon to secure him the victory. King of the Rungs: Ladder Match: Mandrake vs. Pest This, by far, will be the most entertaining match of the night. Mandrake is one of the most well-rounded athletes to set foot in an AWA ring, and Pest is one of the most flambuoyant. Both of these gentlemen excell in the ladder match. Throw in the Atlantic Championship, and this match is taken to an all new level. It's readily apparent to not only the fans, but the other wrestlers in the locker room that Mandrake has lost his edge. If he doesn't nut up by Monday, Pest is gonna wipe the floor with him. It all depends on the Kill Devil Hill Daredevil's state of mind, and the Omen is fortelling nothing but pain and misery for the King of the Rungs. That's why I'm putting my money on Mr. Showtime. Pyro-Maniac vs. P.O.D. This will be a first for the Atlantic Wrestling Association. A First Blaze match, in which the goal is to set your opponent on fire. To me, the pick is simple. Pyro-Maniac is exactly what his name implies. It won't take long before he burns his own flesh and blood to a crisp. Pyro-Maniac is my choice. Tag Team Match: Super Bastardo Bros. vs. Army of Two This is a tough one. Under normal circumstances, I'd say that the Bastardos barely escape with their titles intact. However, these aren't normal circumstances. I'm willing to bet parts of my anatomy that the Brotherhood will be involved in this match one way or another. I'm predicting the demise of the Bastardos and the crowning of NEW Tag Team Champions. I'm picking the veterans, Army of Two. Machine vs. James Nightbane Oh boy! James Nightbane is in for a long, looong night. Anybody that's been watching Riptide can attest to Machine's toughness. He feels NO pain! To make matters worse, Nightbane has to take on the giant musclehead in a Hardcore match. There are no rules. I think this will be a one-sided affair which will end with Machine tearing Nightbane limb from limb before beating him into submission with his own arms. Machine's got this match in the bag. Standard Match: HaZe vs. NyGhtMaRe I don't expect to see much grappling in this match. We won't see any wristlocks or go-behinds. Just punching and kicking. NyGhtMaRe defied the odds by obtaining a Heavyweight Championship title shot, and now he looks to dismantle the Brotherhood of the New Lights once and for all by taking their most prized possession...the Heavyweight Title. It won't be easy, because lined up across from him is the reigning champ, the Enlightened One, HaZe. HaZe has really stepped his game up a notch as of late, and doesn't look to slow down anytime soon. This will be a war from the get-go, and I'm finding it very difficult to pick a winner here. NyGhtMaRe...HaZe...NyGhtMaRe...HaZe. I'm gonna go with my gut instinct on this one and pick HaZe to win this knockdown, dragout contest. |
| The Grapevine |
|
Well, folks, let's get to the rumors, shall we? I spend a lot of time backstage during the events, and I've been on the road with most of these guys at one time or another. Some of these rumors come from trustable sources, while others are from experiencing the situations firsthand. Billy Sadistic/James Nightbane: The AWA has been buzzing ever since the supposed signing of Billy Sadistic. Now, I'm not really sure whether or not the Phenom has signed a contract with the Association, but I can tell you this much: Sadistic was backstage at the last Riptide, and he was seen conversing with one James Nightbane for most of his stay. Being a free agent, showing up backstage at televised cards is a good way to get your face seen by management. Whether the Carnivore of Hardcore plans on signing a contract is unknown, but anything is possible at this point. New Title: The rumor was brought up a few weeks ago, and now it's been confirmed. The AWA Committee does indeed have a new championship in the works, and it's set to make it's debut at next month's SuperCard. Details are unknown as to what type of gimmick the belt will carry, or even it's name. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Willis Clayton: Willis Clayton, a promising under-carder, was injured during the AWA first Riptide, and he's been out ever since. Due to a vicious attack by AWA Superstar Kris Kartier A.K.A. NyGhtMaRe, Clayton has been on the shelf with cracked ribs, a badly broken leg, and deep tissue damage to his throat. His throat and ribs have healed nicely, but his leg is still in a cast. If all goes well, Clayton will be able to return to action in a little over three months. Atlantic Arena: The appeal of the AWA continues to spread by the day as fans cannot resist the over the top action that takes place at each show. Cormier is said to be turning in a nice profit at each show, and in turn, is looking to expand the Atlantic Arena. After Outshined, Cormier has hired a construction crew to add an upper deck onto the arena, adding approximately 5,300 more seats to the arena. This will surely make the monthly SuperCards much more electrifying! Mandrake/Richard Cormier: While walking around backstage as of late, it seems that Mandrake has taken a liking to AWA owner Richard Cormier. Despite alligations, Mandrake still denies his association with Cormier, but how does he explain his sudden raise in pay, or his frequent trips to Cormier's office? This peculiar behavior has been noted by not only myself, but a few other AWA Superstars...who also happen to smell of baby oil... Cormier's T.V. Network: Ever since Cormier's last television deal went sour, thanks to NyGhtMaRe, Cormier has seriously been considering starting up his own small broadcasting station that would reach homes all over the Eastern region of the United States. If Cormier does, in fact, start up his own network, he'll be able to reach a larger number of fans, increasing the AWA's growing fan base tenfold. More details coming soon. |
| Spotlight: HaZe |
|
[The camera fades in as Daniel Brooks is taking a seat in a red, leather chair behind a large, wooden desk. Brooks pulls a sheet of paper with writing on it from inside his jacket and lays it on the table as HaZe walks into the room from the opposite side and seats himself directly across from Brooks. HaZe lays his Heavyweight Championship on the table, along with his Book of the New Lights. Brooks, a good-sized African-American, straightens his tie, then looks at the camera.] Daniel Brooks:: Hello, fans, and HaZe, and welcome to the AWA's first ever Spotlight. Tonight, I'll be asking HaZe a few questions about his opinions on current happenings involving himself and the rest of the AWA. So, ladies and gents, sit back and enjoy as I prepare to pick HaZe's brain. [The shot switches to a camera directly behind the bald Brooks' left shoulder so that it's aimed right at the Enlightened One, who has a calm, collected look on his face. Brooks peers down at his cheat sheet, then shoots off his first question.] Daniel Brooks:: Okay, HaZe, it's no secret that you were once a drug addict. How did you get onto the path of righteousness? HaZe:: Well, Daniel, I really try not to think about my life before Enlightenment, it is a dark period during my life. What I do remember during that time is that I was at my house when these two guys broke down my door and threw me in their car. I asked who they were and they said they worked for "New Lights Rehabilitation." They blindfolded me and we rode for awhile, then we stopped and they took me to a room, removed my blindfold, and put some sort of helmet with wires on it on my head. After that I can not remember what happened. I was in a dark room surrounded by people who called themselves "The Elders." I do remember seeing a few people. I remember Ms. Lippey being there and there was a black lady with a thick Jamican accent saying "Call me now!" Remember that really messed up part in Willy Wonka, where they are in that boat and Willy starts singing really scary and they see those disturbing images? Well, that's what it was like for me. When I woke up, I was told I was a new and better person and I was to teach the world of Enlightenment. I then wrote my Book of the New Lights, on sale now for $34.95 at www.enlightenment.com and the AWA ShopZone, and began spreading my message. I thought the AWA looked like the best place to start. [Brooks nods his head, then looks down at his piece of paper for his next question.] Daniel Brooks:: HaZe, tell me, how does it feel coming from rock bottom all the way up to the cream of the crop...the AWA Heavyweight Champion? HaZe:: It feels great, it just goes to show you exactly how amazing Enlightenment really is. If it wasn't for Enlightenment, I would still be in Greenup Cou...I mean, I would be in a bad situation. Daniel Brooks:: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold the phone, HaZe, did you just say "Greenup County"? Isn't that where the Bastardos' are from? [HaZe's face turns red and it's obvious that he's somewhat embarassed.] HaZe:: Yes it is, and yes I was born in Greenup County, and Plaz and Loki... [The Enlightened One pauses for a second, then takes a deep breath.] HaZe:: ...are my cousins. It is something I am not proud of and I try to avoid the subject, especially when I see how lost they are. Life is like that sometimes, and even though they are family, they will endure the consequences of rejecting Enlightenment just like everyone else. [HaZe gets an upset, almost angered look on his face.] HaZe:: Can we please change the subject? [Brooks quickly nods as he checks the next question on his paper.] Daniel Brooks:: There are several talented Superstars in the AWA, but in your opinion, which ones would you consider the biggest threats to your title? [HaZe ponders for a second before answering.] HaZe:: Well, Mandrake is a good competitor, but I think he is worried more about goats and their body parts than he is about turning his life around. The Bastardos are good at sneaking, stealing and taking offensive pictures, but that's about it. I respect what Army of Two did for our country, and I am amazed by some of their war stories in Vietnam, but that will not save them from Enlightenment. I will say I am very impressed with a Damn Fine Man, he has potential. Basically though, nobody can come close to me. I am the AWA. I am the way. Daniel Brooks:: Whoa, you didn't even mention NyGhtMaRe, Kris Kartier in there. You do realize you're facing him in two days at Outshined, right? HaZe:: Of course I do, but honestly, he's no threat to me whatsoever. At Outshined, our match won't even be close. It'll be a give and take match, with me giving a beating, and him taking it. That's all I've gotta say about that. Next question? [Brooks lets out a sigh as he looks back to his sheet of paper filled with questions.] Daniel Brooks:: In the beginning, there were doubters. People that said,"HaZe will never make it." Now, you're the top dog in the AWA. You're currently 9-1, the best record in the AWA, and you're the reigning Heavyweight Champion. Is there anybody you'd like to thank? HaZe:: I definitely want to thank the Elders for showing me the light and selecting me as the leader to spread the word of Enlightenment. And, of course, I have to thank the man himself, Mr. Richard Cormier! He was a wise man before Enlightenment, but know that he's seen the light, he's finally putting that wisdom to good use! I also thank my brothers in the...uh...Brotherhood, for also seeing the light. Daniel Brooks:: Okay, HaZe, we're almost out of time, so here's the last question. It deals with your highly successful book, the Book of the New Lights. It's held the #1 spot on the AWA ShopZone since it's arrival. I've read the book, and to be honest, it didn't enlighten me at all. Quite frankly, I think it's a bunch of crap, and I think you're just taking advantage of the gullible teenagers that buy into your garbage. It's just a bunch of cult mumbo-jumbo, and that leads me to this question: Are you still using illegal substances? HaZe:: Well, Daniel, I respect your honesty and I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but... [HaZe reaches over the table and punches Brooks in the mouth, hitting him with such force that the chair tips over backwards and Daniel lands on the floor hard. HaZe stands and walks around the table, then simply stares at Brooks. He lifts Brooks off the ground and bodyslams him on the concrete before hopping up onto the table. Security tries to intervene, but it's too late as HaZe comes off the table with a 450 Splash. He grabs the pen out of Brooks' coat pocket and signs his Book of the New Lights, then places it on Daniel's chest.] HaZe:: I wanted Reece to interview me anyways... [HaZe slowly turns, grabs his belt, and walks out of the room as the men check on Daniel Brooks' condition. Fade to black.] |
