Sudden Death 2103-4 Overview: By David Morse
Feb 9, 2008 9:37:25 GMT -5
Post by LWPD on Feb 9, 2008 9:37:25 GMT -5
The following overview was contributed by Board Member David Morse. It offers very comprehensive coverage of the Sudden Death 2103-4 story arc. It's an excellent contribution to this forum.
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Sudden Death 2103-4
Credit David Morse
The years 2103 and 2104 marked the GWF’s second Sudden Death competition. Nine sets of teams went head-to-head for two years. In eight of the nine contests, the losers would be forced to banish a team member until 2107, while either Bishop Hell or Pulsar would be forced to retire permanently as a consequence of the No Fear/Lords of Fire feud. The most high-profile contest pitted Omega’s Champions of the Galaxy against Sam’s Stormtroopers, a team featuring Chaos and managed by Commander Sam, who had turned against the GWF hero team to battle Omega.
Sudden Death 2103-2104 Opponents:
Champions of the Galaxy vs. Sam’s Stormtroopers
Genesis and Wolf vs. The Colonizers of Scorpi
Krakan’s Hitmen vs. The Gladiators of Aethra
No Fear vs. The Lords of Fire
W. A. R. vs. The RocketMen
Fighting Titans vs. Masked Assassins
Savage Kingdom vs. Murderer’s Row
Flamboyance vs. The Pillars of Power
Jack of Diamonds vs. The Mad Jester
Sudden Death 2103 Game Edition
2103 Rookie Class:
Blazing Skull—Originally released as a part of the GWF Birthday Bash Edition, the malevolent Blazing Skull becomes an official member of the GWF in 2103. Blazing Skull’s head could sometimes burst into flame during a match, causing severe and sometimes life-threatening damage to his opponents. This innate ability of Blazing Skull caused some horrifying incidents while the Brymstone native competed part-time in the GWF in previous years, the worst of which led to the death of Crossfire in 2102. As a result, Blazing Skull is only allowed to wrestle in the GWF if he wears a skullcap that will dampen any fiery explosion from his head. However, the skullcap is not foolproof, and while his bursts of fire are no longer fatal, they could still cause serious injury. In 2103 Blazing Skull forms a tag team with Bishop Hell called “the Lords of Fire.” His finisher, BURNING TOUCH, is a painful claw hold.
Terminus—Brought to the GWF by Magnus Colby and Sonora Pelf, Terminus is a dominant wrestler and a champion in the Aran Wrestling Federation in the star system Ara. For his finisher, the HAMMERLOCK SLAM, Terminus catches his opponent in a hammerlock, lifts him into the air, and slams him to the mat, still holding onto the hammerlock while he pins the opponent’s shoulders.
Manslaughter—Manslaughter is brought to the GWF by Darkos. A very large young masked man hailing from parts unknown, this powerhouse is heralded by his manager as ushering in the “Second Reign of Assassin Greatness.” His finisher, SNAP CRACK POP, is a move for which Manslaughter picks up his opponent and rams him across his knee for a backbreaker, but then hangs onto the backbreaker and pushes the opponent’s body down on either side of his knee for a powerful submission finisher.
Brainstrom—Claiming to be a highly ranking university professor from the Reticulum system, Brainstorm is a sneaky and obnoxious wrestler who joins the RocketMen in 2103. His finisher, HITTING THE BOOKS, is typical of his tactics: Brainstorm drapes his opponent across the bottom rope and then distracts the referee while his “student assistant,” who always accompanies Brainstorm to ringside, smashes the opponent with a loaded textbook.
Zouave the Conqueror—Like Blazing Skull, Zouave was originally released as a part of the GWF Birthday Bash set but becomes an official GWF competitor in 2103. He joins the Masked Assassin team. Large, awkward, and slow-moving, Zouave has two finishers. The first is the DEMOLISHER, which is essentially a running power slam. The second is the CONQUEROR VICTORY RUN, for which Zouave ties his opponent’s arms in the ropes and then propels himself off the opposite ropes to clothesline his helpless opponent. However, intended victims often duck the clothesline or put up a boot to kick Zouave to the mat, so the finisher is minimally effective.
Other New Cards for 2103:
Jack of Diamonds—Jack gets a significant upgrade in 2103, becoming more agile and adding a second finisher in addition to the DIAMOND CUT. The BLACK DIAMOND is an elbow to the opponent’s head off the top turnbuckle.
Sleeze—The wrestler formerly known as Metalhead changes his name to Sleeze and the name of his successful tag team with Grunge from Generation X to X-Termination. He and Grunge have also added a new tag team finisher, the HEADBANGER’S BALL, for which Sleeze puts the opponent on his shoulders and falls forward, clotheslining the opponent in the top rope, while Grunge follows up with a top rope elbow. Sleeze also still uses his old METALHEAD MAULER singles finisher.
Maleph—Maleph is the highest ranking “anti-official” in the chaotic Brymstone society. He comes to the GWF as Blazing Skull’s manager. His main purpose, both at home and in the GWF, is to incite disorder. He does not wrestle.
Commando Sam—Commander Sam has turned against the hero team, renamed himself Commando Sam, and joined forces with Chaos. This extreme change of attitude seems to be somehow connected to Sam’s relationship with Mesmer, but no one has yet explained this connection. Sam has a new look and a more aggressive attitude. He does not wrestle.
Thantos—The legendary Thantos has retired from wrestling and will now manage the tag team No Fear (Pulsar and Archon) in their feud with Bishop Hell and Blazing Skull.
Other Major GWF News and Stories in 2103:
Crossfire killed in the ring by Blazing Skull: The rookie from Centaurus, Crossfire, died in the ring during a match on Brymstone after a fiery explosion from the head of his opponent, Blazing Skull. Commissioner Grogan immediately banned Blazing Skull from the GWF, but Archon, crossfire’s tag team partner, petitioned to have Skull reinstated so that he could get revenge.
Mandrill defeats Ram in slave match and forces Ram to become bodyguard for the Colonizers. (Note: This new role is reflected on Ram’s special edition card, which is not included with the Sudden Death 2103 set.)
Morpheus loses the Megatournament in 2101 and 2102 and is banned from the GWF.
Mayhem leaves the Gladiator team after an argument with Vengeance and becomes an independent wrestler.
The Colby/Pelf Corporation chooses not to participate in Sudden Death but will continue to compete in the GWF.
Justice turns away from the GWF heroes and joins Sam’s Stormtroopers. (Note: This change is reflected on the “Dark Justice” special edition card, which is not included with the Sudden Death 2103 set.)
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Sudden Death 2103-4
Credit David Morse
The years 2103 and 2104 marked the GWF’s second Sudden Death competition. Nine sets of teams went head-to-head for two years. In eight of the nine contests, the losers would be forced to banish a team member until 2107, while either Bishop Hell or Pulsar would be forced to retire permanently as a consequence of the No Fear/Lords of Fire feud. The most high-profile contest pitted Omega’s Champions of the Galaxy against Sam’s Stormtroopers, a team featuring Chaos and managed by Commander Sam, who had turned against the GWF hero team to battle Omega.
Sudden Death 2103-2104 Opponents:
Champions of the Galaxy vs. Sam’s Stormtroopers
Genesis and Wolf vs. The Colonizers of Scorpi
Krakan’s Hitmen vs. The Gladiators of Aethra
No Fear vs. The Lords of Fire
W. A. R. vs. The RocketMen
Fighting Titans vs. Masked Assassins
Savage Kingdom vs. Murderer’s Row
Flamboyance vs. The Pillars of Power
Jack of Diamonds vs. The Mad Jester
Sudden Death 2103 Game Edition
2103 Rookie Class:
Blazing Skull—Originally released as a part of the GWF Birthday Bash Edition, the malevolent Blazing Skull becomes an official member of the GWF in 2103. Blazing Skull’s head could sometimes burst into flame during a match, causing severe and sometimes life-threatening damage to his opponents. This innate ability of Blazing Skull caused some horrifying incidents while the Brymstone native competed part-time in the GWF in previous years, the worst of which led to the death of Crossfire in 2102. As a result, Blazing Skull is only allowed to wrestle in the GWF if he wears a skullcap that will dampen any fiery explosion from his head. However, the skullcap is not foolproof, and while his bursts of fire are no longer fatal, they could still cause serious injury. In 2103 Blazing Skull forms a tag team with Bishop Hell called “the Lords of Fire.” His finisher, BURNING TOUCH, is a painful claw hold.
Terminus—Brought to the GWF by Magnus Colby and Sonora Pelf, Terminus is a dominant wrestler and a champion in the Aran Wrestling Federation in the star system Ara. For his finisher, the HAMMERLOCK SLAM, Terminus catches his opponent in a hammerlock, lifts him into the air, and slams him to the mat, still holding onto the hammerlock while he pins the opponent’s shoulders.
Manslaughter—Manslaughter is brought to the GWF by Darkos. A very large young masked man hailing from parts unknown, this powerhouse is heralded by his manager as ushering in the “Second Reign of Assassin Greatness.” His finisher, SNAP CRACK POP, is a move for which Manslaughter picks up his opponent and rams him across his knee for a backbreaker, but then hangs onto the backbreaker and pushes the opponent’s body down on either side of his knee for a powerful submission finisher.
Brainstrom—Claiming to be a highly ranking university professor from the Reticulum system, Brainstorm is a sneaky and obnoxious wrestler who joins the RocketMen in 2103. His finisher, HITTING THE BOOKS, is typical of his tactics: Brainstorm drapes his opponent across the bottom rope and then distracts the referee while his “student assistant,” who always accompanies Brainstorm to ringside, smashes the opponent with a loaded textbook.
Zouave the Conqueror—Like Blazing Skull, Zouave was originally released as a part of the GWF Birthday Bash set but becomes an official GWF competitor in 2103. He joins the Masked Assassin team. Large, awkward, and slow-moving, Zouave has two finishers. The first is the DEMOLISHER, which is essentially a running power slam. The second is the CONQUEROR VICTORY RUN, for which Zouave ties his opponent’s arms in the ropes and then propels himself off the opposite ropes to clothesline his helpless opponent. However, intended victims often duck the clothesline or put up a boot to kick Zouave to the mat, so the finisher is minimally effective.
Other New Cards for 2103:
Jack of Diamonds—Jack gets a significant upgrade in 2103, becoming more agile and adding a second finisher in addition to the DIAMOND CUT. The BLACK DIAMOND is an elbow to the opponent’s head off the top turnbuckle.
Sleeze—The wrestler formerly known as Metalhead changes his name to Sleeze and the name of his successful tag team with Grunge from Generation X to X-Termination. He and Grunge have also added a new tag team finisher, the HEADBANGER’S BALL, for which Sleeze puts the opponent on his shoulders and falls forward, clotheslining the opponent in the top rope, while Grunge follows up with a top rope elbow. Sleeze also still uses his old METALHEAD MAULER singles finisher.
Maleph—Maleph is the highest ranking “anti-official” in the chaotic Brymstone society. He comes to the GWF as Blazing Skull’s manager. His main purpose, both at home and in the GWF, is to incite disorder. He does not wrestle.
Commando Sam—Commander Sam has turned against the hero team, renamed himself Commando Sam, and joined forces with Chaos. This extreme change of attitude seems to be somehow connected to Sam’s relationship with Mesmer, but no one has yet explained this connection. Sam has a new look and a more aggressive attitude. He does not wrestle.
Thantos—The legendary Thantos has retired from wrestling and will now manage the tag team No Fear (Pulsar and Archon) in their feud with Bishop Hell and Blazing Skull.
Other Major GWF News and Stories in 2103:
Crossfire killed in the ring by Blazing Skull: The rookie from Centaurus, Crossfire, died in the ring during a match on Brymstone after a fiery explosion from the head of his opponent, Blazing Skull. Commissioner Grogan immediately banned Blazing Skull from the GWF, but Archon, crossfire’s tag team partner, petitioned to have Skull reinstated so that he could get revenge.
Mandrill defeats Ram in slave match and forces Ram to become bodyguard for the Colonizers. (Note: This new role is reflected on Ram’s special edition card, which is not included with the Sudden Death 2103 set.)
Morpheus loses the Megatournament in 2101 and 2102 and is banned from the GWF.
Mayhem leaves the Gladiator team after an argument with Vengeance and becomes an independent wrestler.
The Colby/Pelf Corporation chooses not to participate in Sudden Death but will continue to compete in the GWF.
Justice turns away from the GWF heroes and joins Sam’s Stormtroopers. (Note: This change is reflected on the “Dark Justice” special edition card, which is not included with the Sudden Death 2103 set.)
