In front of a raucous crowd former New Zealand Heavyweight Champion Jonnie Juice claimed the right to face H-Flame at KPW Eruption on July 21st. The right didn’t come easily however as Jonnie had to overcome 7 other of KPW’s top stars in an over the top rope battle royal.
The match began fast and furious with the ‘every man for himself’ mentality coming into play from the get go as everyone paired off except Jonnie who began pulling people apart and forming his own plan. Once everyone was onside Jonnie set them all on the biggest man in the battle royal, Jeremiah. The big man wasn’t going to be put down easily however and fought with all his might but in the end the 7 on 1 odds proved too much and Jeremiah became the first eliminated.
Now down to 7 everyone paired off leaving Jonnie the odd man out. Being the resourceful competitor he is Jonnie resorted to hanging out on the top rope and let everyone else do the work. Work was indeed what they did as Inferno, Buck, Creed, D Money and The Ram were all eliminated in short order.
With only Max Damage left standing in his way Jonnie Juice came out swinging and originally over whelmed the massive youngster with lightning quick offence, including a beautiful corner splash. The youngster was not to be denied however and fired back with a massive slam and a suplex.
Then it was time for Jonnie to meet the turnbuckle as Max sent him in the hard way. Jonnie tried to fight it and while he failed he was able to dodge a charging Damage and send him into the opposite turnbuckle. The Team Pretty leader was quick to follow up and sent Damage back across the ring and set off full force for his target.
Max was playing possum however and Jonnie got a taste of the wrecking machines shoe leather. Hollie had obviously seen enough and tried to get herself into the action. Before she could do that however Charlie Roberts pulled her off the apron and the 2 got into a heated confrontation. While the 2 were arguing, Hollies teammate, Jessie made her way round to the other side of the ring and waited. When Jonnie was able to reverse an attempted Irish whip by Damage Jessie was perfectly placed to pull the top rope down behind Roberts’s back which sent the young behemoth out to the floor to give the Team Pretty leader the win.
Earlier in the night H-Flame made it clear on the Bushwhacker Shack segment that he did not care who won as he was confident he would be the one walking out of Eruption with the KPW Heavyweight title. His interview with New Zealand legend Butch Miller was cut short however by the man they call Buck. Buck wasn’t in a mood for talking and after degrading Butch went straight to attacking the number 1 contender. The 2 men brawled all over the arena before Max Damage hit the ring to save his friend H-Flame. After the 2 men were separated H-Flame offered Buck a match later in the night.
The match was brutal with both men spending more time outside the ring than in and making liberal use of the referee’s 10 count. After beating each other near senseless Buck was able to grab his boots and began beating on H-Flame as both men were counted out. That wasn’t enough for Buck however and he kept beating on a defenseless H-Flame until the locker room emptied to help separate the 2. Max Damage had obviously seen enough and laid down a challenge to Buck for July 21st and Eruption.
Drunko wasn’t having a good night, stumbling out to the ring with a half empty bottle of tequila and complaining that he lost his job. Things didn’t get much better for him with the alcohol obviously affecting his wrestling skill. The older and more experienced Diablo finally put an end to his misery with a vicious DDT.
In a re match between longtime rivals Creed looked to gain retribution for The Ram screwing him over at Storm Warning. Creed seemed to have the match well in hand and victory was in sight until D Money made his way to ringside. Money made his way to the apron and got into another argument with Charlie Roberts as Jeremiah slid into the ring and held Creed for Ram to blast him with a powder of some kind. Creed was able to blow the powder back in Creed’s face and nail a scissors kick. When Roberts turned round he looked set to give Creed victory until he noticed Ram’s face and the bag of white powder in the ring and promptly disqualified Creed again.
Inferno not only had to combat the presence of Team Pretty but an injured shoulder he suffered at Storm Warning. The longtime rivals went at it hammer and tong for as long as possible and Inferno looked set to get a long overdue win with the Afterburner Chokeslam but his shoulder stopped him. So he went to his Cinder lock (Texas Clover Leaf) but Team Pretty again made their presence felt getting on the apron. The distraction was enough for Inferno to break the hold and as he did Jonnie was quick to slip in with a roll up for 3.
The young powerhouse looked to crowd support to help him overcome the cocky challenger in D Money. Despite a strong showing from Money and several back and forth exchanges Damage was able to hoist his foe up for his patented Damage Gauge (Jackhammer) for the academic 3 count.
The mysterious new superstar El Condor drew the worst possible luck in taking on Jeremiah in his KPW debut. Despite the luchador throwing everything he had at the man mountain it would prove futile as Jeremiah dropped him with his patented spin out gut buster.
In a match made on the Bushwhacker Shack both men tore into each other to try and cripple the other. With the majority of the action taking place on the outside neither man could gain an advantage. So naturally Buck gained one with the assistance of the ring post. As the referee used up his 10 count Buck grabbed his boots and proceeded to beat H- Flame mercilessly until the locker room emptied to separate the 2.
Jonnie Juice def. Buck, Max Damage, Creed, D Money, Ram, Inferno and Jeremiah in a Battle Royal for the Number 2 Contenders spot.
The main event did not take long to break down and as predicted it was every man for himself. With neither man giving anyone else a second chance the eliminations came fast and furious until only 2 men were left. With Jonnie Juice and Max Damage left in the ring it was the numbers of Team Pretty that made the difference and it was Jessie who pulled the rope down that sent Max flying outside and Jonnie onto Eruption to face H-Flame.
Courtesy of NZPWI