WZCW Magazine: Kingdom Come Edition (3rd Issue)

[Viola Moonlight]

(credit Dave)​

 

[Viola Moonlight]

(credit to: Google Images)

The End of Destiny: Blade Looking to Retire?

by Johnny Klamor​

Blade has been the top subject when it comes to discussions recently as many rumours have been floating around that he will be retiring from WZCW and professional wrestling. Many internet wrestling forums, as well as workers talking behind-the-scenes have been speculating multiple dates for his final swan song with Kingdom Come being the top guess as Blade has yet to be announced to appear at the big event after "failing" multiple times to earn himself a spot on the card. WZCW Magazine has yet to establish contact with the Son of Destiny about the rumours, rejecting any and all interviews heading into the PPV although he is still scheduled to participate in the "Kingdom Come Spectacular" Weekend where all WZCW superstars will be attending to promote the show. There have been a few reasons thrown around as to why one of WZCW's Top Stars has considered leaving such as nagging injuries or disapproving of the direction of the company but the most logical one that has surfaced is being mentally burned out from wrestling and wishes to take an extended break. There have been quite a number of stars in Blade's position who have quit due to this same reasoning in the hopes of finding themselves and the passion they once had for WZCW.

On the subject of retirement plans, there have been a couple of other names who have been thrown in the hat who are contemplating the same thing as Blade. One name that has been frequently mentioned over the past few weeks is current WZCW Tag Team Champion Austin Reynolds. Despite Reynolds coming out and blatantly admitting that he has no desire to leave the company as of this moment, it is being rumoured that once Runn Reynolds Runn lose the tag team titles, Austin is highly considering taking his leave from the company forever. However, both Blade's and Reynold's leaving the company are still speculation up till this point as nothing has been set in stone. We would like to say that if these instances are true, these two competitors will be missed due to their massive contributions to the business and WZCW Magazine would like to say thank you for entertaining us.

Aftershock General Manager Position Playing Musical Chairs?

by Mark Lemming​

When Ty Burna took over Chuck Myles position as the General Manager of Meltdown and used Myles as his personal assistant, Vance Bateman found a loophole agreement in their contract that removed Chuck from Ty's authority and became the Interim General Manager of the newly created show, Aftershock. The position was announced as a part-time role where Myles would only appear when the show required an executive to make drastic decisions, with most of his work being done behind-the-scenes. This position will remain part-time pending the outcome of Kingdom Come and wherever Ty's Apostles of Chaos seize WZCW under their authority. If so, Myles will continue to serve as the Aftershock General Manager until further notice. However, if the Apostles lose, Chuck is expected to take back his position as the Meltdown GM, leaving Aftershock to fend for itself once more. We caught up with Chuck for his thoughts on the matter:

"Although I haven't been as prominent as a GM as I was when I managed Meltdown, working as the head of Aftershock has been the type of break that I've needed to get myself back in the game. I feel mentally refreshed and recharged to take up the responsibilities required of me to take over the flagship show of WZCW once Celeste and her team remove the Apostles from existence. Initially I thought this was a horrible idea as all I wanted was to exit professional wrestling for relaxing on sunny beaches with a Pina Colada in both hands but I came to the realisation that without this business, I don't know what else I'd be doing. So it's safe to say, even if WZCW is plunged in eternal darkness, I'd rather be here working as an executive for the next 20 years over anything else."​

In the event that Chuck Myles leaves his position on Aftershock, the show will be left with a vacant General Managing position that will require filling. At that time, please be sure to check the "Careers" section of WZCW.com where a link will be posted on how to apply for the position.

Stop The Presses: New KC Additions

by Leon Kensworth​

Although Kingdom Come is less than a few days away, it does not mean that the official card is free from any last minute changes (as the card is always subject to change). WZCW has added two new matches to the card with both of them being title matches. The two title matches were set in stone once Ascension and Aftershock where over as Johnny Scumm and Ace Stevens both earned the right to face off against the "Elite X Champion" Triple X and the "Mayhem Champion" Stevenson Marquel, respectively. The latter of those two matches have also been added a new stipulation, replacing the regular "Mayhem Rules" contest to become what is known by both men as a "Brooklyn Brawl," a match very similar to the infamous Street Fight. The Elite X title match is likely to remain a standard rules contest. The WZCW vs. Apostles of Chaos tag team contest has finally been filled out as Steamboat Ricky, alongside Alex Bowen and James King, have returned to action to aid their respective teams in the match. Another last minute addition to the Kingdom Come weekend was the decision by Chuck Myles to host another episode of Aftershock prior to the PPV, allowing those who aren't on the official a card a chance to compete and warm up the crowd in Dallas... featuring a seven match card including superstar debuts and title shots.

Make sure to check out the Prediction's Panel where special guest John Constantine will be breaking down the event, picking his favourites to win.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Interview With a Madman

Hello this is Becky Serra with an ultra exclusive feature here in WZCW Magazine, a rare opportunity to interview the co owner of WZCW, the general manager of Meltdown, and the leaders of the Apostles of Chaos Ty Burna. It's no secret that Ty walks down a different path from everyone else, including refusing almost every interview ever requested of him. He has graciously (his words, not mine) decided to grant me the opportunity to interview him prior to arguably the biggest event of his career, two matches that decide the future of not only himself, but for his Apostles as well as WZCW as a whole. What followed is probably the most intense interview of my career and well, take a look.

Becky: Thank you for agreeing to meet me Mr. Burna.

Ty: It is my pleasure Ms. Serra. You should feel honored to be graced by my presence for such an interview.

Becky: I do appreciate the sentiment Mr. Burna.

Ty: Please, Ty is just fine.

Becky: Very well. Let's go back a bit first. At Unscripted you lost the WZCW World Heavyweight Title to Big Dave in the second ever Hell in a Cell match, ending your year long reign as champion. How much of an impact did that have on you, and was it the major influence on assembling the Apostles of Chaos?

Ty: Perhaps, though as we seen briefly afterwards, Big Dave did not have the heart of a fighting champion and quickly lost his title. He got clumsy and it cost him. I would be lying to you Ms. Serra if I didn't say I went through a rather bad funk after that loss, including my rematch with David right after Unscripted. In the end though it drove me to get right back into position to take my title back.

Becky: And the formation of the Apostles?

Ty: I am not blind to that which goes around me. I saw the potential in Chris K.O. as well as James King. These two young men were not going to sit around and wait to be called off the bench. They jumped right in and grabbed the opportunity in front of them, just as I did when I first started, having to prove myself night in and night out. Who better then to shape their careers then the man who became Eurasian Champion in only his fourth match?

Becky: Clearly however you had something to gain from bringing together allies that had unquestioned faith in your words. Without the Apostles do you believe you would have survived the Lethal..

Ty: You forget who you are speaking to Serra! Yes, the Apostles were a major asset to me in the Lethal Lottery, but it was their own will to win the match itself. We all have our selfish wants and desires Becky, and my Apostles are no different. In the end I eliminated two of my most bitter rivals in Showtime Cougar and Big Dave. I did that, and I earned the opportunity I stand on the precipice of on my own!

Becky: But clearly you would have been outnumbered by other...

Ty: And who in the entire company would be capable of eliminating me? My drive and hunger to retain the World Title was far greater then the desire of everyone else in that ring. I took no shortcuts. I did not use my power as GM to give me a better position. I started at number seven, and I worked my way all the way to the end. Is that not the type of champion the people want? I earned my victory that night Ms. Serra, just as I have earned every victory. Whether I used my mind or my physical abilities to gain victory, it doesn't matter. A calculated strategy without getting my hands dirty, or an all out assault with my hands washing in the blood of my opponent. Every victory is earned, no matter the method I choose to use.

Becky: That is slightly disturbing Ty.

Ty: Is it so? Let me ask you a question Ms. Serra. If you stumble down the street and suddenly find a large amount of money in a rubber band, have you earned that money?

Becky: No, I wouldn't say I did.

Ty: Incorrect. You earned that money merely by being in the right place at the right time. Because someone was careless with their money, you profit from it. You earned it by pure luck and timing. Nothing more. Does this sound familiar to you? It should because it's how your wonderful World Champion Steven Kurtesy came to be holding the very belt I will soon wear again.

Becky: I don't follow you, he defeated Titus for the title, in fact you were the one that counted the pin.

Ty: Of course I did, yet how did that come about in the first place? Steven Kurtesy was no one, a former Crashin flunkie who had lucked into two prior world title matches, winning neither, and yet by nothing more then a spin of a wheel, he gets yet another opportunity, an opportunity that ended up in a no contest. I could have let the issue lie right then and there, but what kind of manager would I be to let such a mess be left uncleaned. And so I gave him yet another change, purely by my gracious nature. Titus could barely keep his fingertips on the title before letting it slip away. Steven was the recipient of that gift, and so, he earned the title, luck, and timing. Without Titus taking the belt from Barbosa, the situation wouldn't have been created, and two chances at the world title would have gone to someone else in all likelihood.

Becky: So do you feel Steven Kurtesy is nothing more then a paper champion.

Ty: I would have been inclined to agree to that, but Steven Kurtesy has shown more fight then even I had expected. Still, he does not have that definitive victory over me that I have over him.

Becky: You don't consider him pinning you in that tag match a couple weeks ago a definitive victory?

Ty: Steven Kurtesy is a tag team specialist, if you recall before Unscripted he and Big Dave were victorious over Mr. Baller and myself. Yet even in a match where he finally pins me, it is only after I voluntarily sacrifice myself to protect my Apostle. The proper strategy in that moment is obviously to tag in your partner, and yet I withdrew, satisfied with leaving Kurtesy with more questions then answers even in victory. Even in loss, I gain victory.

Becky: What is your strategy going into Kingdom Come?

Ty: There is no more strategy, it is all instinct when it comes to the main event of Kingdom Come. Any strategy you draw up, you can toss aside immediately. You become stronger, faster, your stamina increases, and your senses heightened. In the same breath, so does your opponent. They become the very best they can be, and then draw from an unseen well that pushes them past their limit. It really becomes a war of attrition. One mistake can end you, what normally puts an opponent away may not be enough that night, essential your usual is just not good enough. Showtime and I learned that lesson last year, and it is a lesson that Steven Kurtesy will learn once he steps foot on the stage itself.

Becky: That's surprisingly frank coming from you Ty.

Ty: I suppose the usual comments about the heightened stakes at Kingdom Come would be well suited for your article.

Becky: Right....Also at Kingdom Come your half of the company is on the line as your Apostles take on Team WZCW. How confident are you in your team going into that huge match?

Ty: Very confident. My Apostles have grown in leaps and bounds, and with the addition of a great warrior like Alex Bowen, I have no doubt that they will deliver to me the remaining half of WZCW that sits just outside my reach. Team WZCW is fragmented, their minds not set towards the one singular goal that my Apostles have. They will break easy, and once divided, the Apostles will pick them apart one by one.

Becky: I see. I'm sure that match will be an absolute war.

Ty: I'm sure it will be Ms. Serra.

Becky: Finally Ty, if I may, may we have your predictions for the rest of Kingdom Come?

Ty: If you must.

Becky: Triple X vs. Johnny Scumm.

Ty: Johnny Scumm is worthless. Triple X is just a slight notch above him. That said, Triple X has fought his demons and is winning, something I can come to appreciate. With facing an enemy like that every single moment, adversity is something he is familiar with and that should lead him to victory.

Becky: The Tag Team Titles.

Ty: Austin Reynolds has taken to tag team wrestling like no other, and his influence over Ricky Runn is something to applaud. This match is set to their skills and I see them retaining.

Becky: Stevenson Marquel vs. Ace Stevens

Ty: The attitude of Ace Steven will take him far in this match. Marquel believes he knows something about the streets, he knows nothing. Stevens in a bloodbath.

Becky: Steven Holmes vs. Big Dave

Ty: Steven Holmes. There is not a doubt in my mind. Big Dave will falter in another big moment when the pressure is too much.

Becky: King for a Day.

Ty: John Constantine. He has the focus for this type of match, and the tenacity to compete in that chamber. I believe Rush will be a force to be reckoned with as well, but he will fall to the numbers at some point when they realize he is the biggest threat.

Becky: Saboteur vs. Saxton.

Ty: Who cares? I hope they both suffer over nothing.

Becky: Finally a match you personally made, Barbosa vs. Black Dragon, vs Showtime.

Ty: I think Black Dragon will find a way to sneak out with the Eurasian Title just as he has done in the past. That will be no surprise as Showtime and Barbosa will save that last gear for the second fall.

Becky: And the winner?

Ty: I already know the answer to that Becky, I'll let that one be a surprise.

Becky: Thank you for your time Ty.

Ty: My pleasure Becky.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Let me proudly re-introduce the Fantabulous Fifteen lists, making its way back from a few week hiatus from WZCW.com to debut on WZCW Magazine. It may or may not be a permanent fixture for WZCW Magazine to contain the F15 but this week, I have covered the last three lists as our beloved FunKay has been busy with his personal life. So, let's get the previous weeks out of the way (without any fancy graphics or descriptions) before we start with the pre-KC list. Here we go:

F15: (pre MD 72/AS 47/AF 8)

Spoiler

1. Ty Burna (1)
Master of Chaos

2. Matt Tastic (4)
3. Steven Holmes (5)

4. Steven Kurtesy (3)
World Heavyweight Champion

5. Black Dragon (2)
Eurasian Champion

6. Constantine (6)
7. “Showtime” Cougar (10)
8. Drake Callahan (12)
9. Barbosa (8)
10. Rush (9)
11. Mr. Baller (7)

12. Runn Reynolds Runn (13)
World Tag Team Champions

13. Triple X (14)
Elite X Champion

14. Mister Alhazred (11)
15. Chris K.O. (NEW)​

F15: (pre MD 73/AS 48/AF 9)

Spoiler

1. Matt Tastic (2)
2. Steven Kurtesy (4)
World Heavyweight Champion

3. Steven Holmes (3)
4. Black Dragon (5)
Eurasian Champion

5. Constantine (6)
6. Ty Burna (1)
Master of Chaos

7. Drake Callahan (8)
8. “Showtime” Cougar (7)
9. Runn Reynolds Runn (12)
World Tag Team Champions

10. Triple X (13)
Elite X Champion

11. Barbosa (9)
12. Celeste Crimson (NEW)
13. Strikeforce (NEW)
14. B.L.T (NEW)
15. Rush (9)​

And now, for this week's list:

1: Steven Kurtesy - World Heavyweight Champion (2)

Kurtesy has been on fire heading into Kingdom Come as he has already pinned his opponent for the event, Ty Burna, but also managed to secure victory against Team WZCW Leader, Celeste Crimson. Despite the amount of beatings he has endured (like the Gauntlet), it seems like nothing is going to slow down the champ's momentum and has gained the top spot this week for it.

2: Steven Holmes (3)

Holmes has been nothing but vicious on the road to Kingdom Come as, taking out every person in his path. He destroyed Armando Paradyse, almost indefinitely put out Big Dave and defeated the rookie team Strikeforce who were on a tag team hotstreak. These wins have secured him at the 2nd spot for the list.

3: Matt Tastic (1)

Despite Tastic won his match this week and has been on a hot streak, he drops down to the third position this week due to a technicality:

Spoiler

Gordito not submitting an RP

However, he is still considered the top contender for taking the KFAD briefcase at the PPV and some would say Tastic is only just tasting the prime of his career.

4: Constantine (5)

The political giant Constantine has been very impressive recently as he has slowly built up a head of steam not only in momentum but the popularity of the fans. He's won practically every match since the Lottery and looks to be a favourite to win the KFAD this year.

5: "Showtime" Cougar (8)

Although Dave's been floating around for the last few weeks with special referee duties and no-contests, he got a massive shoot up the ladder as he has taken down his oldest rival Ty Burna in singles competition this week, a much needed boost for his upcoming (& second) Two Falls match.

6: Drake Callahan (7)

WZCW's biggest brony still continues to creep up the ladder as he has picked up win after win on his quest for KFAD glory. He managed to beat three of his opponents at KC as well as Barbosa in singles competition.

7: Black Dragon - Eurasian Champion (4)

The Dragon has dropped quite a bit this week as he takes a loss against Mr. Baller in singles competition after having a good run by defeating Barbosa. Although the drop may seem a bit much for one loss but with the other wrestlers doing so well, this was the highest possible spot for the Eurasian champion this week.

8: Triple X - Elite X Champion (10)

The straight-edge superstar has been tearing through the competition, taking down every potential candidate who could have faced him for his title at Kingdom Come. He takes the 8th spot and doesn't look to be slowing down.

9: Apostles of Chaos (NEW)

Every member who will be competing on the Chaos team at Kingdom Come have collectively earned this spot as everyone defeated their opponents for the week, showcasing their true power as a unit together. The Forgotten Powers along with SHIT took down Titus and the Tag Champs whilst K.O. beat Big Dave and Bowen beat Everest.

10: Ty Burna - Master of Chaos (6)

Ty has dropped drastically for the couple of weeks as he has sustained losses to both the World Champion and the leader of Team WZCW, as well as his oldest rival and KCIII opponent, "Showtime" Cougar. This has caused him to go from 1 to 6 and now number 10.

11: Runn Reynolds Runn - World Tag Team Champions (6)

After being on a winning streak, even going as far as defending the tag titles successfully and making the history books, the RRR Express drop one position as they suffered a loss to members of Team Chaos this week.

12: B.L.T (14)

The apparent jobbers of WZCW have been showcasing their dominances and have removed their status of "talent enhancements" as they have been destroying the tag team competition, being the only team to have positive momentum heading into the tag title match at Kingdom Come.

13: Stevenson Marquel - Mayhem Champion (NEW)

Marquel has finally reached the F15 list due to his successful defences against Jason Armstrong, Armando Paradyse and Joseph Greaves, showing why he is truly the best at the Mayhem division.

14. Johnny Scumm (NEW)

Scumm has reached the F15 lists with his recent victories over Phoenix as well as making himself the Number One contender for the Elite X title by defeating Justin Cooper & Mick Overlast. The momentum is enough to garner him the 14th spot this week.

15. Mr. Baller (NEW)

His royal highness has surfaced on the list this round as he has picked up a huge victory heading into Kingdom Come by pinning the EurAsian champion, Black Dragon. This single victory was enough to kick Rush off the standings.

Also Being Talked About...

Anderson P. Styles, Daniel Dela Cruz, Rush & Ace Stevens

-------------------------------------------------

Summation of F15 (Pre-KC)

Spoiler

1. Steven Kurtesy (2)
World Heavyweight Champion

2. Steven Holmes (3)
3. Matt Tastic (1)
4. Constantine (5)
5. “Showtime” Cougar (8)
6. Drake Callahan (7)
7. Black Dragon (4)
Eurasian Champion

8. Triple X (10)
Elite X Champion

9. Apostles of Chaos (NEW)
10. Ty Burna (6)
Master of Chaos

11. Runn Reynolds Runn (9)
World Tag Team Champions

12. B.L.T (14)
13. Stevenson Marquel (NEW)
Mayhem Champion

14. Johnny Scumm (NEW)
15. Mr. Baller (NEW)
​

That's it for the lists this time around. If you have any objections or would like to talk about the lists, feel free to do so in the official list discussion thread stickied at the top of WZCW.com. Thanks guys.​

 

[Viola Moonlight]

(credit to: FalKon)

As per the last issue, in the spirit of the upcoming PPV I shall be doing this review on the Top 5 greatest moments of Kingdom Come. Now I know a lot of people were going to expect me to do a Top 8 or 10 list due to the amount of history and moments that have occurred during the event such as; Steven Holmes finally putting Doug Crashin out of commission; the Juggalo Death Match; the Mayhem Championship Scramble match; and even Big Will winning the title in the first ever main event of Kingdom Come... but none of these are as awesome as the definitive five moments that I was able to pick out from the last three KC's and are all in a league of their own. So, without further ado:

The 5 Greatest Kingdom Come Moments:

Disclaimer: each column that I will be producing for this magazine has undergone extensive review and research to make a plausible and fair conclusion, mixed with my own experiences watching as a fan. If you have any queries or opinions, you can send them to me and I will be sure to get back to you during the next issue detailing how incorrect you are.

5. KC III - KFAD Elimination Chamber
Big Dave wins + Barbosa's Near Death Experience

For some unknown reason, WZCW has failed to come up with a photograph of one of the biggest falls in the history of WZCW but I digress.

Let's start off the count at number 5 with a two for one situation: Big Dave was on a mission heading into this match and that was to finally get his chance at competing for the World Heavyweight title. Due to his long title run as Eurasian champion and rulings made by the General Managers, this was Dave's first time he ever had a chance at reaching the brass ring. His determinations levels were much higher than the rest of his competitors and it certainly proved it as Big Dave entered into the match, clearing house until it was down to himself and Barbosa... who he ended up defeating and finally gaining the King For a Day briefcase. It was an amazing moment for Big Dave and the audience as this was the match that turned Dave into the company's biggest faces and was considered at that point, the best wrestler in the world (apart from the World champion).

This is where the second part comes into play: the way Big Dave one this match could be considered along the likes of superhuman strength. The previous year, two men crashed and burned with the toll of the fall causing them to both lose... on this occasion, both men fell from a high place and one man instantly got up to continue the punishment. Big Dave delivered the Stamp of Authority from the top of the pod and crashed down into the canvas along with Barbosa. What happened next was something unseen as Dave gets to his feet almost immediately, picks up Barbosa and hits one more Stamp of Authority to seal the deal. Not only was this an amazing feat on Dave's part but the fact that Barbosa managed to survive such a hit and then take another without slipping into unconsciousness is simply un-heard of.

Despite the double-goodness of this moment, it only ranks as the fifth highest.

4. KC II - KFAD Elimination Chamber
The Blackened Fall

Seriously, do we have any exciting photos?

The Elimination Chamber at this time had already been viewed once so a lot of people expected this match to be a little more brutal than normal and the winner has always been celebrated as a true competitor and a moment like this would last forever... yet, this is not the reason why the 2nd Elimination Chamber has received a position on this list but how the winner got the pinfall victory... or should I say, double pinfall victory? In the closing moments of the match, both Ty Burna and Lars Reidar somehow found themselves battling on the top of one of the glass chambers or "pods," doing their best to not only take down their opponent but to not fall. Ty managed to find a way to not only put Lars in a Strait-jacket submission hold but performed his signature X-Plex off the top of the pod crashing down into the canvas below. A sixteen feet high drop is what both men endured and what allowed Corey Payne to capitalise and call himself the King For a Day. The crowd was whipped into a frenzy when this moment occurred and has been shown throughout every Kingdom Come promotional video because of the crowd reaction alone.

The most amazing part about this was that moments after the match ended, Lars Reidar sat up as well as Ty Burna being able move by himself... and later down the line, formed the most dominate tag team in WZCW history and the rivalry cultimated at Unscripted which featured the first ever Hell in a Cell match.

3. KC II - Blade vs. Rush
The Heart-stopper

This one I'm glad there aren't any pictures available.

I hate to put this on the list but when someone mentions Kingdom Come II, or the entire PPV in general, this is one of the moments that immediately pops into everyone's heads. The match was scheduled to be a one on one contest where the winner would gain a title shot at either of the mid-card titles and both men were pretty hot heading into the match. There was really nothing special that occurred during the match until we hit the end of the match. Rush finally had Blade where he wanted him, in an almost groggy state but to secure the victory he needed one final blow. Rush decided to go for his signature finisher, the Rushing Powerbomb, and nailed it successfully. The crowd was cheering on for Rush but something happened after the move. Rush didn't go for the pinfall and instead almost collapsed instantly, clutching his chest tightly. Blade pinned the fallen Rush to win the match and sneaked out quietly but what happened will never be forgotten by any fan. Paramedics, EMT's, referee, security... all rushed out to make sure Rush was safe and got him out of the ring ASAP. We were then informed that Rush had suffered a heart attack in the ring and at his age, no-one ever expected to see Rush compete again.

Although Rush came back during the Lottery and defeated Blade in a Last Man Standing rematch, continuing on to compete... the moment that everyone experienced is a feeling none of us would be willing to feel again. We almost lost a great man that day.

2. KC II - Titus vs. Everest (World Title)
The Dream Has Come True

I'm not even going to bother finding the correct picture now.

If there ever was a moment in Kingdom Come history that involved a feel-good story for not only the competitor but the audience that loved to follow them, it would be this. Titus, a man who has just won the Lottery, takes on his long-time rival, Everest, in what is considered to be the greatest match in their long lasting saga, a Pure Rules contest for the World title. Everest had been in dominating form, establishing himself as the best champion at that point in time and taking down everything in his path. A true dominate heel force that could not be stopped. Titus had sacrificed so much to get to the position he was in and at the time, he was considered the biggest face in the company. The two men fought valiantly in a match where Everest's skills would have the advantage but after a long battle, once the dust had settled, Titus had managed to defeat his foe and finally realise his dream of becoming World Champion, clutching the title within his grasp dearly as he celebrated with the fans. A lot of tears were shed that day and it couldn't have been a better moment.

There is really nothing other than to say that this was just a really awesome feel-good story and that coming from myself is saying something. It's something you have to experience for yourself by going back through the WZCW archives and re-living what happened. Truly an amazing story.

1. KC III - Ty Burna vs. "Showtime" Cougar (World Title)
The World Title... Retained?

Told you I stopped caring.

This was a hard choice putting this at one considering how Titus vs. Everest panned out but I placed this first because it had one quality about this match that no previous KC main event had. Showtime and Ty Burna have been through it all: fighting over the Mayhem title, the Eurasian title... nearly every single title in the business: these guys have had feud's over. They've been fighting each other for the sake of fighting... but when "Showtime" Cougar surprised everyone by winning the Lethal Lottery with Ty holding the World Title, everyone knew that this battle would be one of their best battles known to WZCW history and boy, did it get personal. Cougar, who was considered the sadistic fellow at this time whilst Ty started showing human-like caring traits, took Serafina from Ty and did everything he could to get into the mind of Ty Burna heading into the PPV. Although it worked, the match they had showed that Ty was still on his game and two men delivered a fantastic performance at Kingdom Come that ended up in something unseen: the World Champion retained his title against the Lethal Lottery winner. This was a shocking and defining moment in KC history that ended another chapter in one of the greatest WZCW rivalries. This win would help Ty continue his reign of dominance and clock his run as World champ at 1 year long.

This match was the reason people bought the Kingdom Come PPV: the company did its best to centre this rivalry around the entire show and it worked. An amazing match that provided a huge moment in history.

---------------------------------

That's my review for this week and I'm sure I'll get some complaints about this one. Biggest event with a lot of good moments in there so I'll expect my e-mail's to be flooded. I don't care because I had fun writing this one.​

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Thoughts: A Steven Kurtesy Interview
With Stacey Madison

Madison: You've read this correctly Magazine fans: this latest edition is so special we are presenting a second Superstar Spotlight as a bonus feature and what better way to add in all these extra goodies than by having an exclusive one-on-one interview with the WZCW World Heavyweight Champion, Professor Steven Kurtesy. Thank you for doing this on such a short notice.

Kurtesy: My pleasure Stace, any time. You seem much more happier than I normally recall.

Madison: It's because I get to have the awesome job of having this segment with you.

Kurtesy: Oh, okay... usually you're never excited to see me. Are you getting a raise or a promotion for doing this?

Madison: I think we should get straight to the interview and cut the small chat because we've got some questions the people out there in the WZCW Universe are looking for you to answer.

Kurtesy: Fire when ready, Stace.

Madison: Let's start off with something simple: how does it feel to be the World Heavyweight Champion at this current time (i.e. being able to say that you are walking into Kingdom Come as the champ)?

Kurtesy: It is the greatest feeling and privilege any competitor in this business can achieve. This is something everyone who competes in WZCW strives for every single day of their lives. If you're not here to win the World title then you shouldn't even be here. Words cannot describe how great it is to not only win but to succesfully defend this title. I mean, how many other stars in the history of this company can say that they have been a World Champion, let alone say that they are competing in a match for it at the grandest stage of them all? No matter what the outcome of the match will be, I will be able to always look back on this moment as a competitor and I can happily say that it was an honour to walk into the event as the Champ at the very least.

Madison: Let's rewind a bit and go back to when you first won the championship as there was a bit of controversy surrounding the actual win. During the Roulette rounds, the wheel of destiny decided that you and Titus would face for the title on Aftershock 3 when Titus was World Champion. After a draw however, Ty Burna booked the rematch with himself as the referee where you won the match. A lot of people have said that when you initially got that title shot, it was not a co-incidence. Care to explain?

Kurtesy: I've been asked this question a lot and I really have no way of answering this other than two things. My initial title shot came from a purely lucky draw. When the roulette announced I was facing Titus for the World Title...

Spoiler

...as well as announcing it as a LL qualifier match where the entire Roulette drawing was done by myself (FalKon)...

... there where some people in the back that thought it was very suspicious. I can tell you right now on record that I had absolutely nothing to do with rigging the Roulette, nor was the Roulette rigged. It was luck of the draw for everyone and I got the jackpot. Despite drawing against Titus, my second thing came to fruition with Ty, the last World Champion to successfully defend the title decided he wanted the belt to have a decent match and appointed a re-match. I scouted Titus well enough to earn myself the victory and after another defence against Barbosa, here I am today.

Madison: Speaking of your first title defence, you faced Barbosa at the Lottery in a Steel Cage match. Considering that you had a terrible record inside caged matches despite your experience and expertise, what made you finally escape that losing streak?

Kurtesy: It could be from the fact that I knew what type of competitor and person Barbosa was and how an environment such as a Cage would affect him or it could be also that I was riding high at that point. However, I think it comes down to the fact that the realisation finally hit me prior to the Lottery that I am the World Champion and that if I lose that title, I won't be seeing a re-match for a long time considering how the Lottery winner faces the World champion in one-on-one action. Everything became real to me that night and there was a thought process that told me that I needed to win... not because of my determination to continue reigning as the champ but to prevent Ty Burna from manipulating someone like Barbosa who has been controlled by many people in the past including myself (for a very brief period).

Madison: Although Barbosa has another chance of facing you for the title, you've now got the Master of Chaos to worry about. You and him have been at the helm of an intense feud featuring the Chaos and the defenders of WZCW and to say it hasn't been pretty is an understatement. How has this entire ordeal been for you: what goes on in your mind if someone were to ask you "how has this been"?

Kurtesy: I couldn't have been happier that Ty Burna won the Lethal Lottery to gain this championship opportunity against me at Kingdom Come. Not only would I consider him one of the greatest wrestlers of all time but facing him and defeating him at this point where he is trying to take the company over with Chaos, would be the last stop on my spiritual journey to remove whatever remains of my former self. If I can defeat Ty Burna and the Chaos from reigning supreme, then I will have achieve eternal inner peace. Unfortunately, I cannot be there for Celeste and her team when they take on the Apostles but I have high hopes that she will not give up... so this entire experience with Ty has had some ups and down but as long as I can walk out with the victory, it won't have all been for nothing.

Madison: So all you care about is the victory?

Kurtesy: That's not just my overall opinion: I'm not going to be one of those guys that say that I am going to go into this match and do whatever it takes to win. Well... in a way, I am but to say it like that would mean that I would take a DQ victory or a count-out in stride. No, I want to walk into this match with everything I have and give Ty my best game because I know that he will be doing the same and that is what he deserves as a competitor of his caliber. Despite the things he did, he held this World title for a year long reign. That's unprecedented! A guy like that deserves the greatest match in the history of our business and what better way to do than at Kingdom Come? Him and I are similar when it comes to our wrestling abilities as the both of us psychology, submissions and strikes as our main form of weaponry... so I expect this match to be no less than 5 stars and the fans are going to be in for a treat. Ty and I will make history with this match not from who wins but from what happens between the bells and I know Ty isn't going to let an opportunity like that go to waste.

Madison: I guess it's safe to say that there really isn't anything else to talk about as you'll apparently be doing everything else in the ring but before we part, I'd like to ask you one more question: If you could pick your next challenger, assuming you defeat Ty, who would it be?

Kurtesy: Well... that's a tough question. There are a lot of people I wish I had the chance to face such as Blade and Drake Callahan in singles action but the person at the top of my list would be Celeste Crimson. She's a tough competitor with the spirit of a God. We have a lot of respect for each other and I'd think we could tear down the house over the World title.

Madison: Pretty interesting... but that's all the time I've got. Thank you for your time Steven and good luck with your match.

Kurtesy: Wow, you're wishing me luck? That's also new but thanks Stace.

Madison: Don't push it.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Predictions Panel: Kingdom Come Edition

Welcome everyone to the Predictions Panel for the latest issue of WZCW Magazine. My name is "Smart" Mark Lemming and I am proud to introduce my special guest for this edition: John Constantine. However, due to both our busy schedules with myself being a prominent staff member in running the week long Kingdom Come fan access to hype the event and John preparing for his big match at the PPV, we won't be doing a live commentary as we did last time with myself and Alhazred. I do apologise with this but me trying to predict who is going to win at KC is going to bloody hard so we'll leave with an expert. So John, take it from here:

-------------------------------

Really, I think this match is too close to call. Both men are heading into this match with different ideals, motivations and levels of momentum. Steven Kurtesy has done a fine job of being WZCW Heavyweight Champion and that is beginning to show now. He is growing into the role after he surprisingly won the title a while back. He's certainly come a long way since carrying around Doug Crashin's bags for sure. He's become a fearsome Champion that has stood up to, probably, one of the most intimidating men on the entire roster.

And there you have the wildcard for the match: Ty Burna. Ty has control of some sort of dark arts and if he brings the entirety of his power to Kingdom Come, then he is going to be a huge challenge for the Champ, for sure, He has had a hard time lately though. Kurtesy seems to have did the impossible and got into Burna's head. I've been in the ring with Burna on a few occasions and let me tell you, that is hard to do. Kurtesy has as good a chance as any. But with The Apostles on hand to help out Ty, I just don't know what way this match is going to go.

All I do know is that this match is going to be remembered for a long time.

Power Trip Prediction: Undecided.

This match is a little surprise package for everyone, I guess. Triple X really had no right to beat Steven Holmes in the first place. But he managed to pull off the victory and the Elite X Championship has been proudly presented as his since then. Maybe Big Dave gave him a huge hand in winning it but he's kept it and that's the main thing.

Scumm, on the other hand, only made the card a few weeks ago and he is right in with a shot of winning one of the most rewarding Championships in the company. He's certainly come on a lot since his, only recent, début. I remember meeting him in the locker room after a match and he seemed a long way from the man that he is now. He definitely has a fighting chance going into this match... Which is something that I would never have dreamt about saying that night I met him for the first time.

Power Trip Prediction: Scumm has a chance to come away with the victory but I can't see past Triple X here.

The great thing about this match is the stipulation. A Brooklyn Street Fight is that anything goes. And when you consider that this match is for the Mayhem Championship, that seems perfectly just. This match is going to be an absolute bloodbath, there is no doubt in my mind.

I haven't managed to get in the ring with either of these two men before and that probably says more about their positions within the company. They have only been here for a few rounds and they are already fighting for gold on the biggest stage of them. Something that I have never been able to say before. Truly, this is a testament to their skill. Putting themselves through Hell to get the Mayhem Championship doesn't sound like my cup of tea but it obviously means something to these guys.

Power Trip Prediction: In the end though, I'm going to have to go with the Champ here. Getting the belt is the easy part and keeping it will be the challenge. Marquel seems to want to keep that Championship around his waist. I think he's got enough in the tank to do that.

I honestly believe that this is the biggest match on the card. Forget your main event between Ty Burna and Steven Kurtesy. This is the match that is going to shape WZCW for the near future. The Apostles have their orders and Ty Burna will be looking on with a keen eye as his chosen 5 wrestlers go toe-to-toe with 4 men and 1 woman, who will not stand by and allow WZCW to fall into the hands of decay.

Celeste has assembled some great wrestlers and they need to be. They are going head to head with 5 dangerous men who act on the whim of the Master of Chaos. They have proven to be such a dominant force in WZCW for such a long time and I have had my own tussles with some of them. They are strong and are working towards a goal that can be achieved. They look to destroy WZCW and re-build it in the image of Ty Burna. Team WZCW will have to match that drive and make sure that they are up to the challenge.

Power Trip Prediction: This is going to go right down to the wire, especially with it being an elimination match. I have to believe that team WZCW, the team that we are all counting on, can rise to the challenge and beat the Apostles once and for all.

Strikeforce really took Steven Holmes and I to the limit last week. At some points in the match, I was sure that they were going to go over myself and Holmes. In the end it took the use of brass knuckles to finally put them down for the count. Nevertheless, Strikeforce have accomplished so much in the short space of time that they have been around. They seem to be the team that is heading into Kingdom Come IV with the most momentum. Which is surprising given that Runn Reynolds Runn are the Champions they will be facing.

And then you have the Tag Champions. Two of the closest men to ever form a tag team and be successful. You can see that Ricky Runn has learned so much from Austin Reynolds. In fact, it was only last year that Austin was beating me at Kingdom Come III. I know how much Austin can give on the biggest stage of them all. He is going to stop at nothing to keep his titles. He is fiercely competitive and those titles mean the world to him and Ricky Runn.

But TLT are something of an outsider. In fact, their zany antics are something new to me. I haven't seen a tag team have so much fun in... Ever. I honestly think that they have something that the other teams lack. They have the Devil May Care nature that this match is going to require. No one fancies them going into this thing and they've got nothing to lose. The world is at their feet and I'm sure that they'll know that.

Power Trip Prediction: I fancy TLT in this match. Their personalties are off-the-wall enough that I think they hold the advantage going in. Whether they'll be able to walk after the match is another question altogether.

This is a match that I know is going to live long in the memory of WZCW loyal fans. In fact, it is a match that I have been so connected to that it frightens me somewhat. Even since Steven Holmes and I put Big Dave out of commission a while back, both he and Steven Holmes have changed completely. Steven seems to have snapped, he is unwell. I close my eyes at night and hear the maniacal laugh of his droning on inside my thoughts. I see his evil eyes staring a hole in my eternal soul. The win over Big Dave is all he cares about. And even more than that, destroying Big Dave seems like the only thing that is important to him at present.

Big Dave, however, is a former World Champion. He may have lost the Championship and some of his momentum since then but make no mistake, he is a Hell of a warrior. He looked me dead in the eye for the KFAD spot and we brought the house down with a great match. He has the heart of a lion and he wont let anything that Steven Holmes does get inside his head. He;s bean beaten to the point of breaking by The Elite and I think that is going to be the telling thing in this match.

Power Trip Prediction: Big Dave is a fierce warrior, I don't doubt that. But Steven Holmes is a dangerous animal right now. He will take no prisoners and Big Dave may just be finished for good at Kingdom Come. I have to go with Holmes on this one.

People are saying that I, John Constantine, am the favourite for this match. Whilst I would love to believe that there is such a thing as a favourite for this match, I don't think it is possible to name one person. Everyone seems to have been on an absolute roll when heading towards Kingdom Come. Rush has proven that his heart attack is a thing of the past and he's been on a tear since his return. I have teamed with Matt Tastic on a few opportunities and I know just how special a talent he is. He definitely has what it takes to win the match.

Brad Bomb and Mr. Baller have some momentum too. I keep hearing that Mr. Baller is going to come full circle at Kingdom Come. It wasn't long ago that he was pinning someone at the Lethal Lottery and now he has the chance to hold the KFAD briefcase. That's a huge transformation. And Bomb has teamed with a veteran in Rush for the past few weeks. He has learned from the best. He has seen all of us in the ring and I'll bet that he has been taking it all in. He knows his way around a wrestling ring and that might be telling.

And then you have Drake Callahan. Truth be told, I am worried that Drake Callahan is going to cement his return inside the Chambers. Callahan is a mercurial talent and someone that I think is going to have an excellent showing inside the cage. I don't know what it is but he just seems to have what it takes. He seems to have a quality about him, inside the ring and out.

Power Trip Prediction: Whilst I would love to say that I am confident in heading into this match, I can't proclaim myself the winner. No one knows what is going to go on inside the chamber. All that I can predict for certain is that the fans are going to be the overall winners. Because I'm going to give it everything I have in me. The same goes for everyone else in this match.

In the back, I have heard so many people say that this match is going to be the least serious match of the Kingdom Come IV card. I tend to differ greatly with that assumption. The way these guys relationship has gone south in such a rapid space of time leaves me in no doubt that there is no love lost between them.

They may be two of the more eccentric personalities in WZCW but make no mistake, they are as serious about winning as I am. Neither man wants to go to Kingdom Come and walk away a loser. Especially when you consider who they are facing. I have a feeling that the fans that line the Kingdom Come aisles will be left in awe of how serious this match will be. They don't call it a grudge match for nothing and both of these guys can certainly hold a grudge.

I certainly think that this match is going to be the surprise match of Kingdom Come. Both guys can wrestle, this much is abundantly true. They have the talents to back up their talk and out-there personalities. They will both give it their all and only one man will claim victory. I, for one, cannot wait to see how this one ends up.

Power Trip Prediction: I feel as though it is a cliché to state that "anything can happen in this match”. But, sincerely, anything can and will. Both of these guys do a lot of talking and it is going to be a harrowing experience when the talking stops and the wrestling begins. I have to take Saxton in this one though. He seems to have more going on... You know... Up top.

This match is going to send shock waves throughout WZCW, much like the elimination multi-man match will. Not only are we going to crown a new number one contender to the World Heavyweight Champion but we are also going to see if Black Dragon has what it takes to keep his EurAsian Championship in his hands against all of the odds.

I think the most important thing in this match, is pacing yourself and thinking about which one you would rather win. A smart man would put all of his efforts into one pinfall or the other. Beat someone early and you have yourself a shiny EurAsian Championship to hold onto. You don't even need to try and win the second fall and you could come out of Kingdom Come as a winner still.

But these three guys want it all. Much like The Power Trip, they are going to give everything to the match that could possibly shape their futures in this business. All 4 of them want to be the EurAsian Champion and the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Champion. In all honesty, I don't know how anyone is going to separate them all.The three men involved are going to go through Hell for their desired prize. I don't think anyone is really prepared for how much of an assault this match is going to be from the start.

Power Trip Prediction: Although Black Dragon is the only one with something to lose in this match and that determination is going to carry him through this match, he's definitely leaving with something. All of that fight in him will count for something... It has to. I've been in the ring with Showtime and he is a fearsome competitor. I see Showtime grabbing a pin somewhere in the match. I think he will likely take the EurAsian Championship and Barbosa will pick up the number one contender spot. He's been a World Champion and he wants it back, I can see it. If Dragon loses the first fall, you could see his game plan completely collapse. There are too many variables. It would be a fool that calls this match with any certainty.

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A big thank you for John Constantine taking the time out to help us with this Predictions Panel. Again, the both of us apologise for the lack of live commentary but this is the week of the biggest event in our history... so let's get our popcorn ready, invite around your friends and watch the excitement as it heads our way!

Oh... and Aftershock of course! Can't forget about that show...​

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Kingdom Come Stats​

General:

• No KFAD winner has cashed in their own briefcase
• Eurasian title has never been successfully defended at the PPV
• The Tag Team titles have always been contested in Triple Threat situations
• A “heel” has never walked out as the World champion, the KFAD winner
• A “face” has never walked out as the Eurasian champion
• The quickest match in Kingdom Come history clocks at 56 seconds: Ben Legend vs. Gus for the Elite X title (don't ask me for the longest match...)

Player:

• Everest is the only competitor to compete at all four Kingdom Come PPV's.
• Armando Paradyse is the only competitor to not be on the Kingdom Come card for the second consecutive year as an active wrestler
• Titus and Everest will be competing in the same match for the third year in a row
• Ty Burna will be competing in his second World title match/Kingdom Come main event (first wrestler in history)
• Big Dave has never lost at Kingdom Come
• Barbosa, Constantine, the Forgotten Powers, Gordito, Matt Tastic, Mr. Baller, Showtime & Steven Holmes have never won at Kingdom Come
• Matt Tastic is the only KFAD competitor to have experienced the caged environment before.
• Ace Stevens, Action Saxton, Black Dragon, BLT, Celeste Crimson, Chris K.O, Drake Callahan, Johnny Scumm, Ricky Runn, Saboteur, SHIT, Stevenson Marquel, Strikeforce & Triple X will all be making their Kingdom Come debut.

Random:

• Eurasian title has been defended in every Two Fall match
• Showtime has competed in every Two Fall match

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Magazine Prize​

Considering how big Kingdom Come is this year for both us members of creative and you guys making RP's, I think it might be just easier if this edition's magazine prize goes to the person who gets the most correct guesses for the Prediction's Thread. That thing hasn't got many hits at all recently and I think this might be the thing that could bump up the views/posts in general. So basically, all you need to do is predict who will win every match on the Kingdom Come card. The person who gets the most correct wins the prize. You can vote on the Aftershock matches if you wish but it will not affect your score in any way as we are only interested in who you think will win at Kingdom Come.

Showtime has posted up the official Predictions list and I will monitor it. Once the event is over, the next time I'm online I will PM the winner. Remember, all that counts is to win is guessing the winners of the match correctly (all other questions are for fun). Alright... thanks guys.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Who Did What:

Dave

• Magazine Cover
• KC Graphics
• Predictions Panel

Ty Burna

• Interview With a Madman

FalKon

• Headlines
• Top 5 KC Moments
• Fantabolous 15
• Steven Kurtesy Interview
• Stats & Trivia
• Magazine Prize

Hope you enjoy this edition of WZCW Magazine. It took a lot of work and we would love if you could let us know how we did and give us feedback. Any suggestions to add? Even if it is just rep, we'd be cool with that.

Next is Aftershock and then onto Kingdom Come.