New grappler downs Killer Kibler
...
The 2001 Wrasslin' Single Elimination tournament commenced
with a nice mix of managers, old and young, veteran and novice.
As in previous years, each manager selected three grapplers from
a list supplied by the GM, Charlie Kibler, who was returning
to duty after several years' absence. Visibly absent was Dan
Dolan Jr., who was involved in a concurrent event.
As usual the first round (of 13 matches) lasted the longest.
One of the first to fall, in a stunning upset, was Tim Dolan
the reigning champion - whose three wrasslers (Tyler J., Manly
Mike & Tricky Dicky) were beat by those of Jeremy Billones
(managing the Whammer, the Block Buster and Dirty Sally). Another
casualty of the first round was Paul Weintraub (last
year's GM), who was bested in a long, hard fought match by his
replacement GM, yours truly.
Thirteen managers remained after the first round matches had
ended. As luck would have it, one of the winners felt compelled
to drop out in order to play in another event, leaving an even
12. Advancing into the second round were several "old grapplers",
such as Dan Dolan and Ray Stakenas II, as well as a healthy smattering
of younger players, and some less-experienced ones,
such as Lee Cohen, who had just learned the fundamentals of the
game the previous evening. This round also featured many exciting
matches, and a few upsets, such as when the ring fighters of
the venerable Dan Dolan (Ali, Tyler and the Serpent) were bested
by those of Vince Collura. Six managers were eligible to advance
to the 3rd round. Once again, however, a competing event claimed
another casualty, as one of the winners opted to give up his
chance for the title to play in another tourney. This resulted
in a bye being awarded to Ray Stakenas II. Ray thus waited ringside
as rookie manager Lee Cohen faced off against Mr. Collura, and
GM Kibler's stable of uglies commenced to grapple with Devin
Flawd's trio.
In an unforgettable match, Flying Phil (Kibler's initial grappler
to enter the ring and a recognized "sacrifice") bested,
one after the other, all three of manager Flawd's hapless ringers
- first Dirty Sally, then Kimono Lizard, and finally (and most
incredibly of all), The Whammer. Throughout the round, little
ol' Flying Phil must've used every trick in the book (er, that
is, card in the deck). That match was over so quickly, in fact,
that the Cohen-Collura game had seemingly barely begun. Rather
than take a bye into the final, Kibler sat down opposite the
waiting Mr. Stakenas II who was itchin' for a trip into the final.
Perhaps Ray also figured that Kibler's incredible cards from
the previous round would desert his opponent? NOT! Kibler's Flying
Phil again came on strong, quickly dispatching the first Stakenas'
wrassler. Flying Phil then flew into the cheap seats, allowing
Kibler's second wrassler, the Mastermind, some of the glory as
he polished off Ray's last two contestants, including the indomitable
"Champ". For the second time in a row, the GM's biggest
big ugly, The Cyclops, did not even get a chance to deliver any
Nutcrackers. Meanwhile the Collura-Cohen match had ended with
Mr. Cohen advancing. This set up a showdown between the veteran
GM (who claims to have played hundreds of matches as tester,
even before the game had been released), and novice manager Lee
Cohen - who had just been taught the game the night before. However,
what better teachers than "The Dolan Gang"? They obviously
had tutored their student well, as he now was set to play in
the coveted Wrasslin' SE Championship match!
The title round witnessed
Kibler's Flying Phil quickly succumbing to Cohen's first up,
sneaky ol' Dirty Sally. Kibler's Mastermind then stepped onto
the mat, intent on dirtying up Ms. Sally a bit. But it was not
to be, as she weaved and dodged, getting herself out of jam after
jam, and eventually mastered the Mastermind. Kibler, now sensing
that the great cards that he
had earlier had finally "gone south", brought in his
final wrassler, the brutish Cyclops. This brawny monster, fresh
and rarin' to go after seeing no action in the previous two rounds,
soon managed to pummel the ailing Sally into submission - but
not without getting his one eye blackened. Cohen's Block Buster
then climbed into the ring for some serious grapplin', leaving
his backup, the Champ, waiting ringside. Hold after vicious hold
were applied, and many blocks used, but when the final bell rang
Kibler's mighty Cyclops had fallen and Lee Cohen's stable of
wrassler's - Dirty Sally, the Block Buster and the Champ - victoriously
entered the ring, arm in arm, to claim the 2001 Championship!
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