Issue #1
September 2020 (covering August 2020)
Cover Story: Drake Drevus title match vs Malik Hussein
Top Stories
-Austin City Limits no more?
-Dojo Women being promoted
-Haggard vs Masu Grudge Bout
Other Stuff
-Points Leaders
-September Preview
-Interview Corner
-Results
by Bob Hopper
Here in the great state of Texas where BBQ is king, the best pitmasters know that a great product takes time, care, and a whole lot of attention. When Lexicon relaunched the semi-folded E3 Wrestling earlier this year, there were questions abound as to how the promotion would proceed. Lexicon, who originally founded E3 Wrestling before selling it to Gary Gribble and then buying it back this year, was upfront with the press by saying E3 was going back to basics. What followed was the formation of a smaller roster, less shows on the calendar, and a commitment to the talent to give them a platform to prove themselves. Not a single title shot was promised, which left fans itching to see who would earn enough points (referring to the new points system introduced to E3) to cash in for a shot at the E3 Championship first. The burn has been slow, but it’s finally time to check the meat on the grill.
While not a big surprise, Drake Drevus has banked enough points to stamp his ticket into the main event of the first major event on the 2020 E3 schedule. In fact, E3 officials haven’t even announced an event yet, as they wanted to make sure they’d have a match of high enough calibur to present to the audience. So here we are, officially announcing the show, entitled Last Line of Defense. Let’s take a quick look at the card before analysis the E3 Championship Match:
Malik Hussein (1-2-0; 3pts) vs Drake Drevus (4-1-0; 31pts)
*Drake Drevus will lose 30pts once the match starts as payment for the title shot*
8-Man Elimination Tag - (No Cut Play; 6pts)
Brax Jonas (2-2-0; 8pts), Miko Sunseri (2-2-0; 8pts), Henio Flynn (2-3-0; 10pts), Fargo Mondt (2-2-0; 8pts)
Vs
Super Tiger IV (4-1-0; 23pts), Ed Ray (3-2-0; 13pts), Neeknow Coleman (2-2-0; 10pts), SERGE (2-2-0; 10pts)
Relegation Match - (10pts)
Iggy Sharpe (5-0-0; 27pts) vs Moose Manley (1-3-0; 3pts)
*If Sharpe defeats Manley, Sharpe will be promoted to the main roster, while Manley will be demoted to the Dojo*
8-Woman Elimination Tag - (No Cut Play; 6pts)
Lindsey Paro (2-1-0; 8pts), Shawnda LaRose (1-0-0; 3pts), Amie Stephens (2-1-0; 10pts), Dia (0-3-0; 0pts)
Vs
Jewel Lessard (2-2-0; 6pts), Delta Dyer (0-3-0; 0pts), Tibby Caskey (2-2-0; 12pts), Raven Lister (3-1-0; 10pts)
“We’re expecting both of those 8-person tags to run for at least 40 minutes, if not longer,” said one Official I spoke to. While this is likely true, one can’t help but notice the lack of other title matches and bouts with personal issues on the card - a result of being so early into the new point system.
Let’s look now at the E3 Championship match.
Malik Hussein enters this match as the E3 Champion. Hussein was champion when E3 folded in 2018, and it was decided, once he agreed to a contract, that Malik would continue to hold the title of E3 Champion for the reboot of the company. This angered some wrestlers, including Hell’s Knight himself, Drake Drevus. Drevus, a former two-time E3 Champion, himself, was very vocal to E3 staff about wanting a tournament to be held to crown a new champion. The idea was rejected, and Drevus had to put in more time and work to earn his shot; and he did just that. Drevus’s 4-1-0 record proved to everyone that the burly German still had what it took after a down year in 2018. More importantly, Drevus capitalized when it mattered, with three of his four wins coming as Main Events (which double the amount of points awarded for the match). Looking directly at the two competitors records, the easy money would be Drevus. However, don’t go putting down your money just yet! While Malik Hussein’s record shows a measly three points and a 33% win percentage, he’s only had one singles match (which he lost, but Drevus also has a singles loss on his record). It’s hard to tell if we’ve gotten a sufficient look at the champ.
With all that being said, the odds definitely favor the challenger, and unless Malik Hussein has been holding something back so far in 2020, then we might get our first title change of the season in under 10 minutes. Personally, I don’t think that’s likely to be the case. Yours truly believes that we’ll see an absolute donnybrook that will go 15-20 minutes, with Drake Drevus coming out on top and claiming his record-breaking (breaking his own record, by the way) third E3 Championship reign. Either way, we should be in for a good fight…
By Johnny Stevenson
Coming into the new season, perhaps the biggest spotlight was shining on two men from the E3 Dojo. Austin Uber and Austin Tayshus grew up a mere 30 miles from each other along Interstate 35 in Central Texas. The two both applied for the E3 Dojo with the intent of mainly being a team, known as the Austin City Limits, a play on the name of a musical event held in Austin, Texas every year. In fact, ACL was to be the ONLY established tag team on the Dojo roster to start the year. It was clear that Uber and Tayshus planned on making it to the main roster together. Now, things are much murkier than before.
ACL’s first match together was a successful one, defeating the temporary team of Roland Haggard and Hashira Masu, but ACL’s second outing was the beginning of the end for the team. Uber and Tayshus took on another temporary team of Iggy Sharpe & Nick Nohart. Austin Uber suffered a mild concussion during the match, which led to a loss off a Running DDT by Sharpe. After the match, Tayshus was livid with his friend and partner, berating him and leaving the ring without making sure Uber was okay. In the coming weeks, we tried to interview Tayshus and Uber to get their thoughts on what happened and if the team of Austin City Limits was salvageable, but that interview was interrupted by Sonny Driftwood, who attacked Austin Tayshus before we could get a clear answer. It was telling, however, that Uber did not help Tayshus fight off Driftwood and instead walked away.
By Marisol Gonzales
In a sharp turn for the women of the E3 Dojo, E3 officials have made the bold decision to promote every woman in the Dojo class. Effective immediately, Jewel Lessard, Tibby Caskey, Delta Dyer, and Raven Lister will all be members of the E3 Main Roster. They’ll join Lindsey Paro, Amie Stephens, Dia, and E3 Women’s Champion Shawnda LaRose to round out what was a thin Women’s Division.
“While some of the men in the Dojo might find this unfair, this mass-promotion was done out of necessity,” E3 Owner Lexicon was stated as saying. Lexicon continued, “Now, the Women’s Main Roster will be more compelling and easier to book, while the men get more opportunities in the Dojo. We see this as a win-win decision for all involved.”
When asked about the state of Women in the Dojo, Lexicon expounded by saying, “We plan to finish out the year with just the Men in the Dojo. Come next season, we’ll have a full roster of young Women ready to go. We need to populate the E3 Roster the right way, and it’s going to take some time to do it right.”
“It’s exactly what we needed. Honestly, we’re just kinda floundering with only 4 Women in the division. The competition is thin, the spotlight is dim, and I’m getting pretty bored having no one to defend my title against. Bring ‘em all up. Trial by fire.”
Others weren’t so welcoming. Amie Stephens, still young in her career, seemed to be playing the politics of the situation.
“This is an absolute travesty. To discredit the hard work put in by all the Women here on the Main Roster by granting those four a free pass diminishes not only the Division as a whole, but it also diminishes the credibility of E3 Wrestling. There have to be established processes in place. No one feels safe in an environment where the rules change every few weeks. It’s clear that leadership is lacking.”
Undoubtedly, reactions were mixed across the board, but one thing that is for certain is that this is a huge bonus for fans, as we’ll get to see fresher matchups and, hopefully, more Women’s Division action every show.
First Grudge Bout
By Johnny Stevenson
E3’s first Grudge Bout took place on the August 19th episode of the E3 Dojo, and it was a bout to remember. The all new match type is all about risk versus reward. The winner receives the typical amount of points one would normally get, and since a Grudge Bout is always scheduled as a Main Event, that amount is always quite high. The big stipulation here is that the loser will have the same amount of points taken away from their point total. This could send a top guy down to the bottom of the ladder with one loss. Hashira Masu found this out the hard way.
Hashira Masu and Roland Haggard have been linked together ever since the first episode of the Dojo, when they teamed up to face the team of Austin City Limits. Masu and Haggard lost that debut match, but the two looked good teaming together, and so it was thought that they might stay a team. In the following weeks, Hashira Masu attacked Van Mac during an interview segment, seemingly at random. It was eventually discovered that the attack had been instigated by Roland Haggard, as Haggard had fed Masu some bad information. Masu, not a native English speaker, took the bait.
The match was an absolute brawl. It was evident that both men were fighting for their futures in (and out) of that ring. Both Masu and Haggard brought everything they had to the table, but it was Haggard that pulled out the win with his Pulling Piledriver. The win gave Haggard 16pts and a match in the Main Event the following week against Iggy Sharpe; the winner of that bout being the first person to have enough points for a Relegation Match (Sharpe won). For Masu, it sent him spiraling back down to the bottom of the roster, having only 4pts left over to show.
The effects were clear; a Grudge Bout is a costly investment in one’s future. We don’t know how many more Grudge Bouts we’re likely to see this season, but we’ll know that when one does come around, it’s a reason to get excited.
E3 LIVE! - Season 8, Episode 3 August 7th, 2020 SERGE def Miko Sunseri Via Double Rotation Moonsault @ 14:15 (5pts) Brax Jonas def Ronny Dugan Via Anaconda Vice @ 16:26 (5pts) *Dugan attacked Jonas after the match (+3gp) Shawnda LaRose & Lindsey Paro def Amie Stephens & Dia Via Fish Stretch Sleeper @ 44:05 (3pts) *Before the match, Paro &LaRose talked trash on Stephens & Dia (+1gp) Drake Drevus def Johnny Fab Via Rolling Lariat @ 13:26 (5pts) Ed Ray & Super Tiger IV def Henio Flynn & Michael Morris Via One Arm Backbreaker @ 19:46 (6pts) *After the match, Johnny Fab & SERGE show up on the ramp and taunt Ed Ray and Super Tiger IV (+2gp) ----------------------------------------------------- E3 LIVE! - Season 8, Episode 4 August 14th, 2020 Ronny Dugan def Moose Manley Via Emerald Flowsion @ 17:47 (5pts) *Moose attacked Dugan after the match (+3gp) Neeknow Coleman def Fargo Mondt Via Top Rope Rollup @ 16:56 (5pts) SERGE def Henio Flynn Via Double Rotation Moonsault @ 13:06 (5pts) *Both wrestlers shook hands before the match (-2gp) Miko Sunseri def Ed Ray Via Crown Knees (Ref Stoppage) @ 12:03 (5pts) *Before the match, Ed Ray extended his hand, showing respect for Sunseri (-1gp) Super Tiger def Brax Jonas Via Big Splash @ 15:01 (10pts) --------------------------------------------- E3 LIVE! - Season 8, Episode 5 August 21st, 2020 Fargo Mondt def Ed Ray Via Binding Suplex @ 10:30 (5pts) Neeknow Coleman def Ronny Dugan Via Shining High Kick @ 18:07 (5pts) *Before the match, both wrestlers got into a heated exchange and had to be separated, as the bell had yet to sound (+2gp) Johnny Fab def Malik Hussein (non-title) Via Fisherman Buster @ 20:44 (5pts) *Malik, impressed by Fab’s efforts, suggested tagging together at the next event. Fab accepted (-3gp) Drake Drevus & Michael Morris def Brax Jonas & Miko Sunseri (non-title) Via Super Freak Powerbomb @ 22:34 (6pts) *Both Drevus and Morris took some verbal jabs at The Backyard before the match (+3gp) ----------------------------------------------- E3 LIVE! - Season 8, Episode 6 August 29th, 2020 Henio Flynn def Moose Manley Via Corner to Center Running Elbow @ 15:44 (5pts) *Before the match, Henio Flynn got a huge reception from the crowd, making Moose visibly irritated (+2gp) *After the match, Moose yelled at the crowd in frustration (+1gp) Amie Stephens def Dia Via Pump Handle Driver @ 21:45 (5pts) Super Tiger & Ed Ray def Johnny Fab & Malik Hussein Via Super Kick @ 28:57 (4pts) Drake Drevus def Michael Morris Via Rolling Lariat @ 15:09 (10pts) | E3 Dojo - Season 8, Episode 4 August 12th, 2020 *INJURY NOTE: Austin Uber sitting out due to mild concussion* Austin Tayshus def Sonny Driftwood Via Running Knee @ 19:00 (4pts) *Tayshus was impressed by Driftwood’s effort (-1gp) Roland Haggard def Van Mac Via Spinning Arm Slam @ 14:14 (4pts) *Van Mac talked trash on Haggard before the match (+1gp) *Van Mac yelled at the crowd out of frustration after the loss (+1gp) 3-Way Elimination Match Raven Lister def Jewel Lessard & Tibby Caskey Via Anaconda Vice @ 27:07 (4pts) Interview Segment Hashira Masu introduces his new US Ambassador, Darnarius Jackson. Roland Haggard interrupts and challenges Masu to a Grudge Bout. Against Jackson’s advice, Masu accepts (+2gp) Iggy Sharpe def Nick Nohart Via Cobra Claw @ 15:33 (8pts) ------------------------------------------------ E3 Dojo - Season 8, Episode 5 August 19th, 2020 Iggy Sharpe def Sonny Driftwood Via Cobra Claw @ 15:12 (4pts) *Before the match, Iggy talked trash about Sonny’s winless record (+1gp) *After the match, Sonny offered a handshake, which Iggy accepted before laying in a cheapshot on Sonny (+3gp) Nick Nohart def Van Mac Via Scrapbuster @ 8:47 (4pts) *Before the match, Van Mac got on the microphone and made fun of Nohart (+3gp) Interview Segment -E3 Officials asked Austin Tayshus about the future of his tag team with Austin Uber (Austin City Limits), but Tayshus was attacked by Sonny Driftwood before he could answer (+3gp) Grudge Bout Roland Haggard def Hashira Masu Via Pulling Piledriver @ 13:24 (8pts) *Masu yelled at the crowd in frustration after the match (+1gp) -------------------------------------------- E3 Dojo - Season 8, Episode 6 August 26th, 2020 Austin Uber & Hashira Masu def Van Mac & Sonny Driftwood Via Double Arm German Suplex @ 32:01 (2pts) Nick Nohart def Austin Tayshus Via Ushigoroshi @ 17:39 (4pts) Iggy Sharpe def Roland Haggard Via Running DDT @ 14:55 (8pts) *Before the match, Roland Haggard spent some time bragging about himself (+2gp) *After the match, Haggard suggested that he and Iggy team up at the next event, but Iggy sharply declined (+1gp) ----------------------------------------------- |
Drake Drevus - 31pts - (4-1-0)
Super Tiger IV - 23pts - (4-1-0)
Michael Morris - 21pts - (3-2-0)
Ed Ray - 13pts - (3-2-0)
Neeknow Coleman - 10pts - (2-2-0)
SERGE - 10pts - (2-2-0)
Henio Flynn - 10pts - (2-3-0)
Brax Jonas - 8pts - (2-2-0) - E3 Tag Team Champion
Miko Sunseri - 8pts - (2-2-0) - E3 Tag Team Champion
Fargo Mondt - 8pts - (2-2-0)
Ronny Dugan - 5pts - (1-3-0)
Johnny Fab - 5pts - (1-4-0)
Malik Hussein - 3pts - (1-2-0) - E3 Champion
Moose Manley - 3pts - (1-3-0)
MAIN ROSTER - WOMEN
Tibby Caskey - 12pts - (2-2-0)
Raven Lister - 10pts - (3-1-0)
Amie Stephens - 10pts - (2-1-0)
Lindsey Paro - 8pts - (2-1-0)
Jewel Lessard - 6pts - (2-2-0)
Shawnda LaRose - 3pts - (1-0-0) - E3 Women’s Champion
Dia - 0pts - (0-3-0)
Delta Dyer - 0pts - (0-3-0)
DOJO ROSTER - MEN
Iggy Sharpe - 27pts - (5-0-0)
Nick Nohart - 16pts - (4-1-0)
Roland Haggard - 16pts - (3-3-0)
Austin Tayshus - 8pts - (2-3-0)
Hashira Masu - 6pts - (3-2-0)
Austin Uber - 6pts - (2-2-0)
Van Mac - 4pts - (1-4-0)
Sonny Driftwood - 0pts - (0-5-0)
By Bob Hopper (Main Roster) and Johnny Stevenson (Dojo)
Main Roster Preview
Many would say that the Dojo has been the more exciting show to watch every week between that and the Main Roster, and that would be hard to argue. The young lions fighting for a top spot have come out swinging, and E3 has some extremely promising talent lined up for the future. However, the Main Roster is just warming up, and September is going to see the E3 kick into a higher gear.
We start with our first Big Event of Season 8: Last Line of Defense. We’ll see our first E3 Championship match and some explosive 8-man tag action. (see coverage of the E3 Championship match above). While that event is technically happening in August (August 30th to be exact), that will be a huge piece falling into place for everyone on the Main Roster. Will Malik Hussein still be the man to chase, or will Drake Drevus take back the throne as the King of E3? We’ll also see our first Relegation Match. If Iggy Sharpe can defeat Moose Manley, we’ll have a fresh face on the Main Roster scene, and Sharpe is a known friend of The Backyard. Will we see the birth of a new, dominant faction?
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for the whole month, September is going to be a special month for another reason. The E3 Booking Committee has decided to officially make September “Qualifying Month.” What this means is that through September 25th, the top three ranked men and the top ranked woman will receive title matches at the September 27th Big Event. This event will be called Gambit for the Gold. For example, just picking some random names, if Henio Flynn is ranked #1, he will receive an E3 Championship match. If Super Tiger IV is ranked #2 and Neeknow Coleman is ranked #3, then those two will team up for an E3 Tag Team Championship match. All of these title shots will be free of charge, which means the winning wrestlers won’t have to spend a single point from their banks, as they normally would. If one of the champions is ranked in any of the winning spots, they will be ignored and the winner will be the next non-title-holder in line.
Just when you thought the stakes had been raised with the new point system, in September, every match will mean that much more.
Dojo Preivew
The E3 Dojo was shaken to its core when it was announced that all the women from the Dojo were being promoted to the Main Roster, immediately. This means two things: firstly, it means that the men will get more opportunities per show. As it was, there would usually be two men or two women left off of each show due to time. Now, every man should be booked on every show, going forward. Secondly, this leaves some room open for new applicants to the Dojo. Allowing four new applicants would put us back in the scenario of possibly leaving people off each show, but two new applicants could be just the right amount. This could be a chance for the Dojo to bolster their tag division, as the tag ranks could definitely use some established teams, especially after the apparent break-up of the Austin City Limits team.
Outside of that, we’re possibly looking at the Dojo losing Iggy Sharpe to the Main Roster if he can defeat Moose Manley at Last Line of Defense. Iggy has been dominant, with a 5-0 record and a bad attitude along the way to keep him on top. Moose Manley would be an entirely different dynamic. While Moose is not a veteran on the level of a Drake Drevus, he’s got more experience than anyone else in the Dojo. Would he jump right into the singles mix, or would he take a youngster under his wing?
September holds a lot of possibilities for the Dojo, and we’re all excited to see how things continue to shape up for E3’s developmental system.
“A lot of folks look at him and they’re in fear. They think he’s a demon or some shit. They think he’s inhuman. To me, he’s just a character. I’ve seen scarier folks than him living on my street. He can bring whatever he wants to this fight… I’ll match him step for step, shot for shot.”
-E3 Champion Malik Hussein on his upcoming match with Drake Drevus
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“I picked him ‘cause he sucks, point blank.”
-Iggy Sharpe on choosing Moose Manley as his Relegation Match opponent at Last Line of Defense
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“On one hand, I’m excited for the next generation of E3 Women to get an amazing opportunity like this. On the other hand, the traditional part of me can’t wait to welcome them in the ring with some old fashioned Paro family wrestling holds.”
-Former E3 Women’s Champion Lindsey Paro on the promotion of the Dojo Women to the Main Roster
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“I know what his problem is. I don’t agree with it, but what can I do? I can’t force him to understand the situation. Maybe he does understand the situation and wants to go separate ways. Cold feet or something. Whatever it is, it’s not going to stop me from working my way up the ladder.”
-Austin Uber on his former partner Austin Tayshus and their possible reconciliation
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“Accepting the Grudge Bout was a mistake. I’ve guaranteed Hashira’s backers in Japan that mistakes like that will no longer happen.”
-Hashira Masu’s US Ambassador Darnarius Jackson on allowing Masu to accept Roland Haggard’s Grudge Bout challenge