EWC HONORS: 2021

[EWC]

EWC Honors Award Show
JAN 22ND 2022
(Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles California)
EWC Honors is an Annual EWC Awards and Hall of Fame ceremony where EWC Superstars are awarded for in-season performance as well as inductions to the Wrestling Hall of Fame. This year's event will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles California and will be hosted by Tom and Colin Hanks.

The Extreme Wrestling Corporation presents

EWC HONORS 2021
Brought to you by Under Armour, Sony and Dr. Pepper

LIVE from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles California

EWC HONORS 2021

January 22nd, 2022

Hosts: Tom and Colin Hanks

"Tonight" by Seether begins to blast on the PA system

Video footage detailing historic events over the EWC's twenty-four year history, from March 1997 all the way down to the four-day spectacle that was Wrestlefest XIX.

Images of previous EWC Champions and award winners are shown. 

This is followed by highlights of showcasing all the nominees for the night.

There's a real buzz all throughout the Microsoft Theater. 

Spotlights circle around the theater as the thousands of fans in the venue are shown in a wide angle shot. The camera then pans out showing a full-scale view of the jam-packed theater and zooms in on some of the celebrities inside the lounge area.

The lights begin to dim and there is a loud cheer as 2091 EWC Honors hosts Tom and Colin Hanks take to the stage

Tom Hanks: Hello everyone, and welcome to a night of celebration, a night of awards .. welcome to EWC Honors 2021!

The audience starts to cheer and chant

Tom Hanks: I'm Tom Hanks, and all rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. I got a really good nap in today, so I'm ready to go!

Tom chuckles at this, drawing some laughter from the crowd in the process.

Tom Hanks: All jokes aside, I'm here again this year with my son Colin, and we are excited to celebrate all the best, and in some cases worst, of the EWC from Season 22. Isn't that right, Colin?



Colin Hanks: You told me the bar was closed tonight, Dad. You know how nervous I get when I haven't had a screwdriver...

Tom: Haha, good one Colin .. adjusting his collar with a glare toward his son .. As you can see, Colin's just thrilled to be with us once again tonight. This is our second year hosting this show and we can't wait to show you all what is in store this evening! 

The audience laughs as Tom continues.

Tom: Before we head to the 25th anniversary of the EWC, we look back on all the moments and highlight the best of the best of Monday Night BRAWL, Friday Night RAMPAGE, PARAMOUNT WRESTLING, EWC PRIME, and the thrilling Pay-Per-View events of 2021.

Colin: Indeed, we have so much to look back on and so much to look forward to .. hold on .. I've just been handed a note .. I've been asked to acknowledge that THUNDER walked so that UNCHAINED and NEXTGEN could run.

If one listens closely, they can just about hear Hall of Fame inductee and former GM of THUNDER Dominic Sanders laughing his head off in the back, but our attention remains on Colin who just looks confused by the note he's read.

Colin: Well, alright then. We appreciate the work that was put into THUNDER this season, but as mentioned we look forward to two new brands kicking things off in the new season!

Tom: For now, though, we celebrate the best of an amazing Season 22 and look back fondly on a chaotic year. 

Colin: Without further ado, we'd like to introduce our first presenter of the evening .. Adam Driver!

The audience claps and cheers as Adam Driver takes to the stage.

Driver: Good evening everyone, it is, well .. an honor to be here at the EWC Honors show. We're starting things off with a slew of awards, as has become the norm,  in honor of various achievements of the season with awards named in honor of EWC Legends and Hall of Famers. We saw these individual awards introduced in 2019, and are proud to make note of these achievements for the third year in a row. 

Adam takes a moment as the crowd applauds, and then continues

Driver: We start with an award named for an EWC competitor who was known as one of the most dominant wrestlers in EWC history, setting the record for wins in a single season. Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the 2021 Memphis Reigns Award for Most Wins in a Season is .. Ace King, with 23 wins in 2021!

The fans in attendance begin to cheer wildly as the camera cuts to Ace King, who bows his head, remaining humble as he takes in the adulation of the crowd. The camera then cuts back to Adam. 

Driver: Our next award is named after a man that is often considered the definition of a Legend in the EWC, respected and even admired by many from the current roster as well as Hall of Famers. Known as one of the most polished and respected wrestlers of all time, he was a man with the best rookie season ever. He is the winner of multiple accolades, and a three time Undisputed Champion...and tonight, we honor his legacy once more. Ladies and gentlemen, the Ashton Drake Award for Most MVP Wins in a Season goes to ... Ace King, with 15 MVP wins for 2021!

This draws further applause from the crowd  as we cut back to Ace King, who has finally cracked a bit of a smile, before cutting back to Adam on stage.

Driver: Our next award is named after a former International Champion who spent a lot of time throughout his career in bettering himself, always looking for ways to improve. As such, we present the MadDawg Award for Most Improved Wrestler of the Season to...David Miller!

The camera cuts to a grateful Miler, who acknowledges the appreciation of the crowd, before cutting back to Adam.

Driver: Our next award is named after a man known as the most dominant hardcore wrestler of all time. He was often called the Tournament King, always at the top of his game when facing multiple opponents during the likes of the EWC Rumble and the King of the Cage in his heyday. Ladies and gentlemen, the Shadow Man Award for Most Multi-Person Wins in a Season is...a tie! Oddly appropriate, if you ask me. Congratulations to...Ace King and El Pablo, with 4 wins each for 2021!

The former EWC Tag Team Champions show some gratitude for the honor to the applause of the crowd before we cut back to Adam on stage.

Driver: Our next award is named after a two-time Undisputed Champion and Hall of Famer known as one of the most dominant champions in history. This man set the bar for all champions to follow, always ready to defend his titles and by proxy, his honor. In honor of his legacy, we announce the Xplode Award for Most Successful Championship Defenses in a Season, awarded to...Asriel Buzzard, with 11 title defenses for 2021!

Buzzard pays little mind to the applause from the crowd, but looks quite smug in receiving the honor as we cut back to Adam on stage.

Driver: The last of these awards is named after a man of many words. If he could find a microphone or a camera, he made sure he was heard. He never failed to have an opinion on anyone and everyone in the business, and made sure they knew about it. Holder of many titles, he knew how to tell it better than anyone else in his era, using every avenue available to him. As such, the Steve Bennett Award for Best Use of Fighter Talk in a Season goes to...Tyler Bradford!

The camera scans for Tyler Bradford for a moment, not finding him, before we cut back to Adam.

Driver: Congratulations to everyone who won these awards in the EWC Honors ceremony! In just a moment, we begin the rest of the awards for Season 21!

The audience applauds as Adam leaves the stage, before we cut to commercial.

Back from commercial, we see Danny Mac and Jason Statham chatting. The crowd applauds as we see our next presenter arriving to the stage, the returning John Boyega.

Boyega: Our next award is presented to one of the best up and coming superstars of the EWC. This season saw a number of newcomers rise to the occasion, but tonight we honor one that stood out above the rest. The nominees are...

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

- Tyler Bradford

- Narumi Tsutsumi

- Asriel Buzzard

- James Keaton

- "Headhuntress" Aiya

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Boyega: And the award goes to ... ASRIEL BUZZARD!

We get a video package highlighting the career of Asriel Buzzard this season, focusing on his impressive wins and run as both the inaugural HBO Broadcast Champion and  United States Champion before going back to Boyega on the stage, who is now joined by Buzzard

Asriel Buzzard: So, rookie of the year it is... Well, friend, it's not often that someone just weeks away from their 40th birthday is regarded as a rookie but here we are... I suppose I should thank some people for this but, you see, I don't feel that I owe that to anyone. Perhaps the only ones I should thank are those who have made the foolhardy decision to step between the ropes for me to knock them down this year...

To them, thank you.

To those opponents still to come, I look forward to our time together.

To everyone else, you're welcome.

And above all, For Eternal Glory.

The audience applauds in agreement as John steps away from the stage before we go to commercial.

We come back from commercial to see the Assistant General Manager of Brawl make his way to the stage, a smirk on the face of Timothy Kahrs as he approaches the podium.

Kahrs: Tonight we honor the best of the EWC, and with Mr. Connors currently dealing with...things...I've been asked to award the honor of BRAWL Wrestler of the Year. The red brand has seen quite a few changes to the roster, as noted in the nominees this year, but we are thrilled to give recognition of this great achievement. The nominees are...

BRAWL WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Xavier Reid

- King Flip

- Tyler Bradford

- Bosa

- Stitches

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Kahrs: And your winner for BRAWL Wrestler of the Year...XAVIER REID!

We get a video package highlighting the best of Xavier Reid in Season 22, including his apparent death grip on the International Championship. Applause from the audience brings us back to Kahrs and Reid on stage.

Reid: So here we are again…it’s like we are caught living in Groundhog Day right…another year and another year where Xavier Reid is announced as Brawl’s Wrestler of the Year…and I know that can’t sit well with a lot of the people on the Red Brand…

Xavier nods as he looks at the Brawl Wrestler of the Year Trophy

Reid: And not just the roster right…this can’t sit well with our GM, who is scheduled to meet with me tonight after this show to discuss my contract…or my lack thereof…because see this…

Xavier holds up the trophy

Reid: This right here is a hell of a bargaining chip…see I’m the BEST he has on his Brand…or as my manager Tommy Love would say ‘The B.O.B.’...the Best of Brawl…

The camera cuts to Tommy Love sitting in the front row as he nods and smiles

Reid: Now I could stand out here and brag about this trophy…point out that tonight I did something that Cyrus Black never did or even Dominic Sanders…that I’m probably the first person to go back to back as Brawl Wrestler of the Year since Xplode or Drake but what’s the point right…there are plenty of people here in attendance that probably think I don’t deserve this or the championship I’m carrying around…

Tommy stands up and holds the International Championship over his head

Reid: But I could care less because see I’m done trying to please people and I’m done caring about what people around here think of me…you don’t like me…fine, that’s your issue…I’ve proven inside that ring that I’m deserving of my place in Brawl…that International Championship and this trophy here tonight…

Xavier pauses for a moment and then looks into the camera

Reid: And I’m more than deserving of the contract that should be in front of me right now…see I’ve noticed Jim Connors breaking the bank this off season…signing name after name to the Brawl Roster…remaking the Red Brand with newcomers like Dylan Jackson, Ace Sky, Caleb Scott…brought back Iggy Swango and then went out and signed the BEST Indy talent Prime had in Dio…and yet I’m still waiting for a contract…ok…

Xavier nods

Reid: Well I’ll take this trophy and when I look at it I’ll remind myself of the worth I have for Brawl even if our GM can’t see it…

Xavier looks at the trophy and then looks up as if he’s looking for someone…he finds that person and nods

Reid: Ace King…your words still ring in my ear...I can’t thank you enough for that slap in the face…I needed that and had it come from Tommy or anyone else close to me it might not have had the same affect on me…so thank you…I might not be standing here right now if it wasn’t for your words…so I’ll be ‘The B.O.B’…I’ll show you why I’m the Back to Back Brawl Wrestler of the Year…a fire has been lit under my ass ladies and gentlemen…you’ve all been warned…2022 WILL BE A STATEMENT YEAR so go ahead and engrave my name on the 2022 Brawl Wrestler of the Year trophy…

Xavier holds up the trophy and shakes it in the air to applause from the appreciative crowd. Moments later, Rampage GM Grizzly Duggan takes to the podium on stage. 

Duggan: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we're here to honor the best of Friday Night RAMPAGE with this award, after a season that saw many step up to represent the green brand. The nominees are...

RAMPAGE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Ace King

- Melody Malone

- Asriel Buzzard

- Samantha Hamilton

- Moxie

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Duggan: And the award goes to ... ACE KING!

The crowd applauds politely as ‘Ace of Spades’ pulses through the speakers. Former Undisputed Champion Ace King slowly rises from his seat, giving a nod to those around him as he does the button up on his jacket, looking unusually dapper in an all-black ensemble for the occasion. Ace makes his way up the steps, offers a polite handshake to Grizzly Duggan, then steps forward to the podium, the applause dying down as ‘Ace of Spades’ fades out.

Ace King: You know, it shouldn’t be a secret to anybody that I take great pride in being part of the Friday Night Rampage roster, so to be standing here again, as a three-time Rampage Wrestler of the Year… It never gets old, and it never will.

Ace pauses for a moment to cough off-mic, the crowd politely applauding with the break in the action.

Ace King: Whether you love him or hate him, Grizzly Duggan’s assembled one of the best rosters you’ll find anywhere in this sport we all love. Obviously, Sam has all the hardware right now, and you’ve got both Melody and Moxie having been Rumble winners back in September, Iggy and her championship pedigree which, sadly, has gone to Monday nights, not to mention Buzzard’s run before he flew the coop and turned orange… Whether it was Gage running amok, Burton ready to blindside folks at any opportunity, or anyone else who flew the green flag, there’s more to Friday Night Rampage than what meets the eye.

Again, Ace pauses to contemplate his next thought, and the crowd politely applauds.

Ace King: This spring may have seen the Best of Rampage Tournament… and Grizzly, if you’re listening, I want in next season…

The crowd buzzes at the declaration as Ace shrugs his shoulders; the camera pans to Duggan in the audience, nodding along in contemplation.

Ace King: …The Best of Rampage Tournament kicked off last year, but honestly? The best is yet to come on Friday nights, and I’m just happy to be part of it. Thank you.

Grizzly Duggan comes back forward as ‘Ace of Spades’ plays again, leading Ace to the backstage area as the feed cuts to commercial.

As we return from the break, the audience applauds at the sight of Paramount Wrestling General Manager Chris Brock standing at the podium to present an award. 

Chris Brock: Out of the shadow of the great Future Stars of Wrestling brand, this past year came the Pinnacle of Professional Wrestling, Paramount! We started the year with a unification match between then EWC Undisputed champion Stitches, and the last FSW champion Wes Walker, and it only got better from there. The CW Broadcast championship took a lot of spotlight throughout the year on the Orange brand, but there was also the X-Division championship, which stayed on Paramount all year, the historic run of the Southern Express as EWC World Tag Team Champions, the rise of names like Marcu$ $t. John as North American champion and James Keaton succeeding David Miller as the second ever CW Broadcast champion, Killjoy Ito finally climbing the mountain to not only win the rumble, but main event and win the EWC Undisputed championship at WrestleFest, marking two years in a row that a member of the Orange Brand accomplished such a feat. Without further ado, The nominees for Paramount Wrestling's wrestler of the year are: 

PARAMOUNT WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 

- David Miller

- Killjoy Ito

- Marcu$ $t. John

- Jordan Sharpe

- The Southern Express

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Chris Brock: And the winner is..... DAVID MILLER!

We cut to David Miller slowly rising from his seat and making the walk to the podium, somewhat surprised at winning this award. He walks up to the podium, looks a Chris Brock and then turns to address the crowd who are cheering for him.

Miller: I’m not known for being a humble guy. And tonight won’t be changing that. From the start of the season, I’ve made one thing, and one thing alone as clear as fucking crystal. That I would stand, always, at the forefront of Paramount. I would shoulder the burden of reputation. Of expectation. When Chris Brock took over the FSW, he had a vision. One he saw clear as day. And when he reached out to me, I didn’t hesitate. I stepped in, and I took it upon myself to give every drop of sweat and blood in my body to make that vision a reality. This award right here? Proves I’ve done that. And done it well enough to be recognized for my efforts. So thank you. But honored as I am, know that this trophy? This recognition? Changes nothing. All it means is that I’ll be right back on the front lines when the next season starts. Because I live, breathe, and bleed orange. And I’ll do so until I run fucking dry. #FollowOur Lead.

The former CW Broadcast and North American champion turns, looks at Brock as he is handed his award and then exits the stage.  Moments later, the General Manager of PRIME takes to the stage. 

Price: Tonight we look back on the best of the Indy circuit as presented through the lens of the PRIME brand. We saw some big and crazy moments on PRIME, including the return of the G1 tournament, as well as Maximum Carnage to crown a PRIME contender for the EWC Undisputed championship! Ther is a tremendous roster that looks to bring such moments on a regular basis, and they delivered. With that said, Here are the nominees for PRIME wrestler of the year... 

PRIME WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Narumi Tsutsumi

- Scorpio

- Dio

- Saidie Sharpe

- “Headhuntress” Aiya

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Price: And the award goes to ... DIO!

The camera cuts to a surprised Dio who quickly gets to his feet and up to the podium on stage. 

Dio: I’m shocked, truly, to be standing here receiving this award. When this season began, I didn’t expect to make waves in the G1. I didn’t expect to win the Indy championship at Stranglemania. I didn’t expect to go on to Night of Champions… and to have done it all under the Prime banner was such a huge honor. I’ll never forget the time I spent on “the indies”, and I’m grateful that you all believed me to be the benchmark of this brand this season.

He pauses and clears his throat a bit before continuing.

Dio: However, a superstar is only as good as the people around them. The people of Prime made me into what I am today, and made me into the Superstar they could all be proud of. Despite moving to Brawl for next season, I’ll always take part of Prime with me wherever I go, thanks to this. So thank you.

Dio turns to accept the award from Price as we cut to commercial.

We return to the 2021 EWC Honors Awards Show where Colin Hanks is waiting. 

Colin: Ladies and Gentlemen .. here to present the award for EWC Pay-Per-View Event of the Year .. Leonardo DiCaprio!

The fans cheer as Leo takes center stage.

Leo: The EWC is in the business of putting on amazing events throughout the year, setting the standard and raising expectations for what fans want to pay per view. What started with StrangleMania, has grown into Rumbles and Festivals. From shows like StrangleMania, Night of Champions, the Rumble, and WrestleFest showcasing the vast depth of talent to brand-exclusive events like Scars and Stripes and World Wide, showcasing the best of what each brand has to offer, the EWC once again had an amazing year of special occasions. Here are the nominees for Pay-Per-View Event of the Year in 2021 ..

PPV EVENT OF THE YEAR 

- WrestleFest XIX

- StrangleMania XVI

- EWC Rumble XVIII

- Night of Champions XVIII

- WrestleFest XVIII
- Legends of the Cage

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Leo: And the award goes to ... WRESTLEFEST XIX!

A big applause as we get a video package highlighting the best from the four-day extravaganza that was WrestleFest, culminating in the main event of the final evening for the Undisputed Championship. As the video wraps up, we return to the stage where Leo is standing by.

Leo: As you can see, WrestleFest XIX was an amazing event that really drove home just how amazing the talent in the EWC is. From championship bouts to grudge matches, to both of the Mac Invitational matches, and even the various festivities taking place in between, those four days were a true celebration of this great sport. Truly, a festival of wrestling. Congratulations to WrestleFest XIX on winning Pay-Per-View Event of the Year!

The audience applauds as we transition to the next award.

Leo: Our next award honors the war of sorts that between the four brands of the EWC. From competitors changing brands to a major battle in Parabellum, such competition was hot to see which brand reigned supreme! Let's look one more time at the brands involved in this award, for Brand of the Year in 2021..

BRAND OF THE YEAR

- BRAWL

- PARAMOUNT

- PRIME

- RAMPAGE

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Leo: And the award goes to ... PARAMOUNT!

The camera cuts to Chris Brock backstage, pumped as his brand is called out. He tries to hide his excitement as he rushes to the curtain, walking out onto the stage to a modest "PAR-A-MOUNT!" chant. He switches gears once through the curtain and calmly makes his way to the podium, shaking Leo's hand before speaking.

Brock: Last year, this award went to Future Stars of Wrestling, and it was the first time the Orange brand had won such an honor. I stood on this stage then and made a bold prediction: That Paramount wrestling in its first season as a brand would win Brand of the Year... I am so glad that my mouth wrote a check that my roster could cash! 

The crowd laughs as Brock chuckles to himself briefly. 

Brock: This past year, we launched a new standard in EWC. We created a new workhorse championship in the CW Broadcast championship that set the bar for what a weekly championship could be, and then Brawl upped the ante with Bosa as their first FX Broadcast Champion. Not to be outdone, Rampage soared even higher with Asriel Buzzard having a record setting ELEVEN championship defenses as the first ever HBO Broadcast champion. Prime has all the prestige of the Television championship behind the now Showtime Broadcast championship, but it was The CW championship that was the talk of the company much of the year. What David Miller did with that belt is uncanny and combined with having the record breaking, HISTORY MAKING EWC World Tag Team Champions on the brand, having the EWC X-Division championship on the brand for the entire year, despite having three separate champions throughout 2021, having another winner of the Rumble, having representation in the Main Even of WrestleFest to fight for the EWC Undisputed championship AGAIN.. To walking away from the four day extravaganza with literally every piece of Gold that a brand can have.. It's been one hell of a year for The Pinnacle of Professional Wrestling. Once again, the roster of the Orange brand delivered! 

Brock lets a moment go by as some in the crowd give a quick cheer.

Brock: And in 2022... We're going to do it again because we are just getting started! I encourage you all to tune in on February 16th as season 2 of Paramount Wrestling debuts and we show the entire World that its time to "Follow Our Lead!"

Brock turns to accept the award from Leo before we cut to commercial.

We come back from commercial with applause from the audience at the sight of Kevin Hart at the podium with the Award for Match of the Year

Hart: Three years in a row baby! Kev got himself a streak going on this show! WE GOIN' STREAKIN' BABY! 

Kevin laughs along with the crowd. 

Hart: Okay, jokes aside for a minute, this award has a lot of prestige to it folks. When you talk about the best match of the year, you are talking about the best match in the greatest wrestling company on the planet, which makes it even bigger of a prize. These competitors gave it their all in the ring, and we shine a spotlight on the incredible effort they put in. The nominees for Match of the Year are...

MATCH OF THE YEAR

- The EWC Rumble Main Event at EWC Rumble XVIII

- Fatal Four-Way for EWC Undisputed Championship at WrestleFest XIX

- Insanity Cage at Night of Champions XVIII

- Stitches Vs Ito Vs King

- Rushin’ Roulette Vs Southern Express II at WrestleFest XIX

- Melody Malone Vs Asriel Buzzard at Scars and Stripes 2021

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Hart: And the award goes to ... THE INSANITY CAGE AT NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS XVIII 

The audience applauds as a video package plays, showing highlights of the match's namesake insanity leading up to the shocking win for Ace King, the first person to successfully retain the Undisputed Championship in this match. As the video comes to a close, we come back to Kevin on the stage.

Hart: Well that right there, folks, shows you just how crazy things can get in the EWC! All the singles champions vying to see who can truly become Undisputed Champion...and in the end, the champ himself retained! It's so crazy, it's so...insane...that the EWC has even decided moving forward that the title won't be on the line, but rather for a shot AT the title! That shows you what lengths these men and women went to to go after the prize, so congratulations to all involved!

The audience applauds once more as we move on to the next award.

Hart: Shifting gears for a second here, our next award honors a rivalry that went far beyond a single match, often taking place throughout most, if not the entire season. Battles were fought and wars waged this season, and these were particularly noteworthy. The nominees for Feud of the Year are...

FEUD OF THE YEAR

- Gideon Gage Vs Grizzly Duggan

- Brand Warfare – Build up to Parabellum

- Stitches vs Candy
- The Southern Express vs. Psych Ward

- Ace King Vs Stitches Vs Killjoy Ito

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Hart: And the award goes to .. oh, THIS is interesting ..  GIDEON GAGE VS GRIZZLY DUGGAN!!

Grizzly Duggan makes his way from the backstage area to accept the award, noticeably absent is Gideon Gage.

Grizzly Duggan: Feud of the year. Wasn't really sure how to accept this one. Gideon Gage made my year a living hell, and now suddenly there is an award for it. I choose to think of this as a thank you to me for putting Gage down, and a thank you to me for almost cutting his eyeball out of socket. From March to December, Gideon Gage ran rampant on Rampage, and it was thanks to the support of all of y'all that I was able to put him down for the good of the brand, for the good of the entire federation. I have heard Gideon will be sticking around and working Unchained this season, and I may have to head over to that brand and slap Gage around again. Who knows, maybe win feud of the year 2022!... But a big thanks to everyone who supported me and supported the Rampage brand as we dealt with Gideon Gage after a very rough year. Thank you.

Duggan turns to accept the award from Kevin Hart, who then remains at the podium to present the next award. 

Hart: Next up is an award that was not at last years show. A finishing move in wrestling is like an artist signing their art, it's that thing that makes it stand out from all the rest. This years nominees for Finishing Move of the year are:

FINISHING MOVE OF THE YEAR

- Ace King's Blackjack Bomb

- Melody Malone's Off With Their Head

- Scorpio's The Heel Turn
- The Southern Express's Goodnight (City)

- Killjoy Ito's Kettei-Da (Kill-Shot)

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Hart: And the award goes to... KILLJOY ITO'S KETTEI-DA!

The crowd cheers for the EWC Undisputed champion as he makes his way up to the podium, the EWC Undisputed championship proudly over his shoulder. Killjoy looks at the trophy on the podium and then looks out over the crowd. He nods and leans forward towards the microphone and then…

Love: Don’t worry Killjoy, I got you covered…

From behind the curtain walks "The Prodigal Son" Buddy Love, he puts the rest of the mini sandwich into his mouth and wipes his hands on his jacket as he walks up to Killjoy and picks up the trophy and looks at it.

Love: Finishing Move of the Year…and what a move it is right?…the Kettei-Da or in American the Kill-Shot, a running knee to the head of our opponent…it will make your head fuzzier than a date with my father…

Buddy pauses for laughter but it’s met with crickets.

Love: Ok, well Jimmy Lane fed me that joke so…anyways Killjoy is honored to have his finisher recognized as the Finishing Move of the Year, it has been his go to move since debuting here in the EWC and a move that has won him many championship…just not the one he holds now…

Buddy laughs to himself.

Love: But it’s going to be the move that keeps the Undisputed Championship over his shoulder for a long time to come. We look forward to showing the academy that they in fact made the right decision to award Killjoy this here trophy in the 2022 season as we use the Kettei-Da to knock off any and all opponents looking to become contenders and deliver one last KILL-SHOT to Ace King at this year’s StrangleMania…thank you and enjoy the rest of the show…

Buddy turns to Killjoy and smiles as he points at his client and the trophy and gives a pump of his fist, Kevin Hart shakes Killjoy's hand as they walk backstage before we cut to commercial.

We come back to commercial to see Tom Hanks at stage left.

Tom: Welcome back to the 2021 EWC Honors .. please welcome to the stage our next presenter .. Gordon Ramsay!

Gordon comes onto the stage to a big applause .. he nods his head at Tom before taking to the mic

Ramsay: Thank you Tom .. and thank you all! n my line of work, I have seen some insane shit take place, and this award honors such moments that showcased just how batshit crazy things can be in the EWC. I'm pretty sure I can say that, right? After all, the name of this award is the Holy Shit Moment of the Year .. the censors are telling me that will fly, so that's fucking good to know. The nominees are ...

HOLY SHIT MOMENT OF THE YEAR

- The ring breaking & 3 way finish at EWC Rumble XVIII

- Ace King retains EWC Undisputed Championship in Insanity Cage at Night of Champions XVIII

- Killjoy Ito becomes EWC Undisputed Champion at WrestleFest XIX – Night 4

- The Southern Express Record Tag Team reign ends at Rampage #492

- Gideon Gage invading Duggan’s home

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Cardi: And the award goes to ... Holy Shit ...  THE RING BREAKING AND 3-WAY FINISH AT EWC RUMBLE XVIII!!!

Moxie wastes little time in walking up to the microphone and accepting the trophy ahead of Ito and Malone who look on at his belligerence.

Moxie: Holy shit huh? That sounds about right, after all who else made history like we did eh? That night in Melbourne was special. So many stories leading up to the event. You had Killjoy’s redemption arc after coming so close the year before, Melody Malone becoming a rare multiple Rumble match winner, real stuff you can get behind. But the real story that came from that night was really quite moving, honestly it was something else. That was the night that the entire landscape of the EWC changed forever. That was the night that I did what I said I would do. At Friday Night Rampage 481 in South Carolina, I said I would shake up the pecking order in this place. Mission accomplished, even with those bozos behind me considered. But if you’re not convinced by me yet after the year I’ve had, just wait. 2022, nobody will be ready for Moxie.

The boos break out as Buddy Love smiles and pulls out a microphone from his jacket pocket

Love: WHOA, slow down there little buddy or I’ll have Ace King throw you back into Lake Erie…

This draws a few laughs from the sold out crowd inside Microsoft Theater.

Love: If anyone up here on this stage ‘shook up’ the pecking order around here it’s the man holding the Undisputed Championship and not this lucky charm. The truth is while this award is nice, the fact that all three of you won the Rumble due to the rope break was in fact the Holy BLANK moment of 2021 Killjoy was the only one to build on that moment at WrestleFest. He made the most of his Holy BLANK moment and while he’s happy to share the stage with you here now to remember that night and that moment he’s not going to be shackled to the two of you and linked to this moment…however…

Buddy walks up from behind and snatches the trophy out of the hands of Moxie, who was looking at Killjoy as Buddy spoke and runs to the front of the stage.

Love: I accept this trophy on everyone up here on this stage’s behalf…

Malone: Don’t ever try to speak on my behalf. You don’t have the vocabulary for it.

Melody grabs higher on the award above Buddy’s hand, giving him a glare.

Malone: What happened at the Rumble was certainly a ‘holy shit’ moment because neither of you should have been in the ring long enough to have survived for that rope to break. Besides, the award isn’t for what happened AFTER that… its for the moment itself. A moment that, without my repeating as a 2 time Rumble champion, wouldn’t have had half of the luster that it does tonight. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking this to add it to MY collection..

Malone yanks on the award, trying to pry it from Buddy’s grasp but Moxie is quick to step in and get his hand on the trophy as well. After a brief scuffle, Malone stumbles back and realizes she’s holding a shard of the trophy in her hand. Both Moxie and Buddy look down and realize they too are each holding only part of the trophy. The camera focuses back on Gordon Ramsey as the show continues. 

Ramsay: Our next award showcases how difficult it is to be so good that people hate you for it. Imagine that, winning an award for being hated. I can't imagine what that looks like. Anyways .. out of everyone nominated, one can lay claim to being the most loathed. The nominees for Most Hated Wrestler of the Year are...

MOST HATED WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Scorpio

- Eddie Dozier

- Tyler Bradford

- Gideon Gage
- Melody Malone

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Ramsay: And the award goes to .. oh boy, we have a TIE here folks ... TYLER BRADFORD AND GIDEON GAGE!

Ramsay:  As we already know, Gideon Gage is not in attendance tonight and I am being told that neither is FX Broadcast champion Tyler Bradford. I got a note here that Tyler Bradford wants you all to know that Ace King is a coward .. but at least Ace has the balls to show up to this shindig. Therefore, I will accept this award on the behalf of Sabotage's tie. I would say good job lads, but this is not something to aspire to so fuck off with the lot of you! 

The audience laughs and cheers as we go to commercial.

We come back from commercial to see Paul Rudd on stage, ready to present the next award.

Rudd: Our next award highlights the competitors in the EWC that earned the adulation of audiences everywhere, proving they are the Most Loved Wrestler of the Year. You love to see it. The nominees are...

MOST LOVED WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Ace King
- Saidie Sharpe
- Narumi Tsutsumi

- Candy

- Gabrielle Visconty

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Rudd: And the award goes to ... ACE KING!

Once again, ‘Ace of Spades’ rips through the Microsoft Theater, and the crowd cheers. However, when the camera cuts to the seat Ace was previously sitting in, it’s found to be empty. The audience starts looking around confused, wondering where the award recipient is.

As his song kicks into the guitar solo, Ace finally emerges, slightly dumbfounded as to what’s going on. The crowd finally notices him and starts applauding as he makes his way back toward his seat, only to be ushered onto the stage by a member of the security team. Only as he makes his way up the stage does he notice the giant graphic on the screen, though he’s still dumbstruck as to what he’s seeing as he greets Rudd, then looks at the trophy in disbelief before ‘Ace of Spades’ finally fades out.

‘The Gambler’ is silent for a moment as he looks at the trophy and its inscription once more before leaning into the microphone.

Ace King: Good God, not even a piss break is safe anymore.

The disbelief is still evident in Ace’s expression as the crowd has a good laugh at his expense before eventually transitioning to applause. ‘The Gambler’ simply shrugs his shoulders as he takes yet another look at his award before suddenly turning a bit worried as he looks out at the audience.

Ace King: I made sure to wash my hands, though, so we’re good. No pulling a Tommy here for me.

Again, the crowd laughs as Ace shakes his head.

Ace King: But yes, as you’ve probably guessed, this definitely isn’t one I expected to be accepting, because despite who I am and where I’m from, I’m not the guy who actively seeks attention, you know? It’s cliche, but I just worry about what’s happening in the ring, and if you guys happen to like it, that’s a cherry on top since I know I'm not for everyone… In saying that, while it’s certainly a surprise, I do appreciate being considered this year's Most Loved wrestler, so again, I say thank you, and enjoy the rest of the night.

Rudd comes back forward as ‘Ace of Spades’ plays again, leading Ace to the backstage area with his second award of the night.

Holland: Well boys, we finally made it! From making the biggest motion picture of 2021 to being on this stage, presenting an award for EWC Honors! 

Garfield: You could even say that we are having a... swinging time right now. 

Maguire: Really Andrew? No one wants to hear Spider-Man humor, especially not from my replacement. 

The crowd laughs at Toby's joke. 

Holland: Guys, guys... We're not here to bicker tonight, we are hear to talk about being part of a team... Specifically a tag team. 

Garfield: That's right Tom we are. Being part of a successful team means knowing exactly what is going on at all times with your opponents AND your partner. 

Maguire: And then if your really good at it, it's about finding success through that chaos. in 2021, EWC saw a resurgence of the tag team division unlike any before it! 

Holland: This next award looks at fellow duos that showed off great chemistry to be successful in the tag team division, with some very strong contenders.

Garfield: Just like the three of us, they had to go through hell to bring something to the masses that they never even knew they wanted. 

Maguire: And the nominees are...

TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR

- The Southern Express

- Rushin’ Roulette

- Sabotage
- Halo Syndicate

- Senshi of the Blade

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Holland: And the award goes to The Record Breaking, History Making .. THE SOUTHERN EXPRESS!

Bobby, Jimmy and their manager Bunny Love all make their way to the stage, the EWC World Tag Team championship belts over each of Bunny's shoulders. Bobby Rose and Jimmy Lane look out over the crowd as they take their seats

Rose: I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say that this award means everything to Jimmy and I…

Jimmy nods as he looks at the trophy.

Lane: We’ve made no secret of the fact that tag team wrestling is all that we do, we aren’t chasing anything other than tag team glory…

Rose: When we signed here in the EWC back in 2020 our goal was to have one more run, one more moment in the sun and we accomplished that when we won these tag team championships from DSR Vol 2 at Parabellum but it turned out that our ‘moment’ lasted a bit longer than even we dreamed of…

Lane: 445 days as EWC Tag Team Champions of the World, we went from wanting one more run to making history and redefining tag team wrestling here in the EWC…that will be our legacy here…

Rose: And this season was an amazing season for Jimmy and I, 20 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw with 13 show MVP’s…

Lane: 6-0-1 on the ppvs with 4 MVP’s…

Rose: And the teams we beat along the way this season, well it was an amazing 2021 for The Southern Express but it was that 1 loss that we want to be remembered for…see there is no shame in losing to Ace King and El Pablo…

Lane: They are decorated champions here in the EWC and first ballot Hall of Famers…

Rose: We could have handed them these championships and sailed off into the sunset knowing the tag team championships would be in good hands but…

Lane: We also knew we’d be handing them this award as well…

Rose: We wanted one more crack at them at WrestleFest and we knew to beat them we’d have to up our game…take it to a level we hadn’t gone in a long LONG time…

Lane: A level we weren’t sure we could go anymore if we are being honest here tonight…

Rose: We knew it would be our last shot, do or die and we got the win…we took back these championships and all but locked down this award so to Ace and Pablo who are sitting out there tonight…thank you…

Lane: Thank you for pushing us, for giving us the kick in the ass we needed to close out a historic year…

Rose: We accept this award here tonight and ask that you applaud all the tag teams here in the EWC along with us because you all have helped raise the bar here in the EWC in terms of tag team wrestling…

Lane: The EWC isn’t just known for the best singles wrestlers in the business anymore…

Rose: We also have the best damn tag team division in the game and that’s because of ALL OF US…so…

Bobby and Jimmy grab the trophy and raise it into the air.

Rose: TO ALL OF US!!!

Lane: DRINKS ON PRESIDENT MAC TONIGHT!!!

Bobby and Jimmy smiles in their tuxedos as the camera cuts back to our presenters. 

Garfield: And now we turn our attention to the Mary Jane Watson's of the World to our Peter Parkers.

Macguire: That's right up next is Manager of the Year. Here are the nominees...

MANAGER/VALET OF THE YEAR

- Tommy Love 

- Bunny Love
- Buddy Love
- Crème de la Crème

- Rory Hyland

- Carley California

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Holland: And the award goes to .. BUNNY LOVE!

Bunny hasn't even gotten off stage yet before she stops dead in her tracks and turns. She mouths "ME?!?!" before she scurries back to the podium, taking a few breaths to collect her thoughts. Bunny looks out over the audience and then down at the trophy in her hands

Love: The last name of Love has had a long history of being a manager in this business. The majority of the people here tonight inside the Microsoft Theater or watching at home tonight have been offended by my father directly or by his actions. You say the name Tommy Love and you get a reaction…mostly negative and that’s what I came into the EWC with…a last name and a reputation handed down by my father Tommy Love however…

Bunny looks out at her father who looks a little annoyed being beaten out for this award by his daughter

Love: But you say the name Love to any wrestling fan and they know the name…for better or worse they know the name and that’s because my father paved the path for myself and my brother Buddy…

Bunny motions to her brother Buddy who’s not really paying attention and is playing Wordle on his phone

Love: I walked into the EWC in 2020 and let’s be honest…nobody took me seriously and rightfully so, I was handed this job by my father and Bobby and Jimmy only took me on as a manager to keep the tale of them and my father ‘crossing swords’ one night in Atlanta a secrete…the famous ‘Atlanta Incident’ yet what people didn’t understand was I was taking this seriously…it was my only career opportunity but more so this was in my blood…my father Tommy and my mother Maria made this business their life and it was my life also. I promised Bobby and Jimmy that night in Croatia that they could count on me like they counted on my father for so many years…and I wouldn’t steal from them and look at what we have accomplished in less than two years…

Bunny looks at Bobby and Jimmy and smiles

Love: Two Time EWC Tag Team Champions, we re-wrote the tag team record books here in the EWC, most days as champions, most defenses as champions…we have beaten the best of the best here in the EWC, the best tag teams they have to offer and some of the best singles champions the EWC has to offer. This past season, what we accomplished, could and should go down in the record books as the most successful season ANY tag team has ever had and I was thrilled to be standing ringside as Bobby and Jimmy’s manager.

She nods at them

Love: I wouldn’t be standing here tonight if it wasn’t for you two…for you two giving me the shot and making me a part of The Southern Express so thank you…

Bobby and Jimmy get to their feet applauding their manager and are joined by Xavier Reid and Jamie Love while Tommy and Samantha Hamilton remain seated

Love: Last season we one this award as a family, The Love’s and this award sits on my fathers mantle because he said ‘well we won as a family because of my hard work’ and refused to share the trophy with us but tonight…this baby is going home with me so dad…SUCK IT!!! There is a new Love atop the best manager in the wrestling business!!!

Bunny holds up the trophy as the camera cuts away to commercial

We return from commercial to a round of applause as Tyler Perry approaches the podium, ready to present the next award.

Perry: Our next award highlights just a few of the men vying for the spot of alpha male in the EWC. Each of our nominees made a big statement throughout the season, whether it was claiming championships or Rumble victories, and throughout it all they showed exactly what made them stand out. The nominees for Male Wrestler of the Year are ..

MALE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Ace King

- David Miller

- Killjoy Ito
- Asriel Buzzard

- Jordan Sharpe

- Scorpio

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Perry: And the award goes to ... ACE KING!

Yet again, ‘Ace of Spades’ tears through the Microsoft Theater as Ace, actually in his seat this time around, stands up and does up his jacket, warmly thanking those seated around him before he turns and trundles up the steps to the stage, briefly acknowledging Tyler Perry before accepting the trophy and adjusting the microphone at the podium.

Ace King: Man oh man, you guys must be sick of me talking by now. At this point, I might have to talk the producers into giving me a co-hosting credit.

The crowd laughs as Ace meekly acknowledges them before leaning into the microphone again.

Ace King: But seriously, in these situations, I typically don’t have much to say, as I prefer to let my work in the ring do the talking, but this one is pretty cool. You see the other five guys nominated in this category tonight, and it’s no wonder it’s a dogfight every single night we step through the ropes, top to bottom.

There’s polite applause from the Microsoft Theater crowd, which Ace allows to continue for a few seconds before gesturing for them to calm down again.

Ace King: But in taking this Honor tonight, I’d like to think it’s more of a recognition of being a better overall man as opposed to just being a better male wrestler, and this season, there’s one person in particular to thank for that.

The crowd goes silent as Ace looks around the theater until finally finding his target.

Ace King: El Pablo, EEPZ, Mr. Five-Star… Whatever you want to call him, I call him my best friend. You probably don’t realize it, but you helped me have fun with this business again, and so this is every bit as much yours as it is mine. Thank you, my friend, and once again, thank you all for this.

‘Ace of Spades’ picks up where it left off as ‘The Gambler’ is led off the stage once again, the crowd applauding as Ace and Tyler make way for the next presenter.

Katy: Our next award shines a light on the top women of the EWC, a company that stands out in the business for providing opportunities that other promotions would shy away from. These nominees exemplify the talent that we have in the EWC, setting a high standard for the rest of professional wrestling to follow .. The nominees for Female Wrestler of the Year are...

FEMALE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

- Melody Malone

- Narumi Tsutsumi

- Samantha Hamilton

- Saidie Sharpe
- “Headhuntress” Aiya

- Nevaeh

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Katy: And the award goes to ... MELODY MALONE!

Melody graciously makes her way up to the stage, nodding to Katy before approaching the podium. 

Malone: Female of the Year? I mean.. What else can I say?

She chuckles, turning the award over in her hand.

Malone: Three years running, I’ve won this award and I’ve done it with grace, persistence, and without equal. Coming into this season I was already heralded as one of the best women to ever lace them up in the EWC, and after what I accomplished this past season? No one else on any roster comes close. But make no mistake.. I’m not done yet, and I’m not going to be satisfied until my name is etched on every single plaque across this stage. Place your bets now, because next season? This name is going to be everywhere.

Mel turns to Katy and bows quickly before exiting the stage as the next presenter comes out. It's Leonardo DiCaprio again!

Leo: A rivalry between the brands this season led to some heated words between the General Managers throughout the year, but I would also like to think it brought out the best in each of their abilities to put on amazing shows for the EWC Nation.  With that said, let's look at the GMs and see who takes this award this season!

GM OF THE YEAR

- Jim Connors

- Grizzly Duggan

- Chris Brock

- Victor Price

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Leo: And the award goes to... GM CHRIS BROCK!

The camera cuts to Chris Brock, who is now in the crowd sitting next to his wife. The smile on his face tells the whole story. He is genuinely happy right now. he gets out of his seat and approaches the stage, stopping to shake a few congratulatory hands along the way. he takes a huge breath before approaching the podium. 

Brock: I swear at times, I get more mic time now than I did when I was still wrestling! 

The crowd laughs.

Brock: In all seriousness, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, this means so much to me. My job as General Manager is to wrangle this group of crazy wrestlers and put them into combat every show in order to entertain, and we sure as hell did that in 2021! Ladder matches, X-Division matches, THE home of the Tag team division for most of the year, the North American championship proudly defended, and we fought of the invasion of Brawl. I am proud to be the man leading the charge behind the scenes for the Orange brand and I will continue to wear that badge proudly. The friendly battle for that moniker of "The New Flagship" is fought in the trenches every time an EWC show is put on and I am so honored to be contributing to helping the Orange brand win that war. in 2022... I am looking to set the bar even higher and I welcome you all to come along for the ride. Thank you!  

Brock holds the award up high as the crowd cheers and the camera cuts to commercial.

Colin: Welcome back to the 2021 EWC Honors Awards Show .. and boy it's been a real blast tonight, ain't that right Dad?

Tom: Colin, we've talked about this last year .. 

Colin: Right, sorry .. what a show it's been so far, hasn't it .. Mr. Hanks? 

Tom: It sure has, Colin .. and the hits just keep on coming. Please welcome to the stage our next presenter, a man that knows a lot about winning ..

Colin: Wait, I don't think Charlie Sheen even answered our calls this year ..

Tom: Haha, good one Colin .. shaking his head .. ladies and gentlemen, give it up for .. Brad Pitt!

A big pop for Brad Pitt as he makes his way to the podium

Pitt: Hello ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor to be here at the EWC Honors .. ha, got y'all with the same joke as last year! Ha ha, anyway .. this next award looks at those who had the true heart of a champion this season, overcoming many obstacles along the way. In a season where title defenses were especially tough to pull off, the winner of this award truly deserves to be known as Champion of the Year. The nominees are ..

CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

- Ace King

- David Miller

- The Southern Express
- Asriel Buzzard
- Melody Malone
- Xavier Reid

- Scorpio

- Bosa

- Tyler Bradford

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Pitt: And the award goes to ... THE SOUTHERN EXPRESS!

The camera shows Bobby, Jimmy and Bunny getting up from their seats, Love and Rose stumbling a bit as the booze they have already started consuming is obviously kicking in. The three make their way to the stage and podium, somehow without falling over.

Rose: Wow…I have to admit this was a bit unexpected and we have no speech written up for this…so we will have to wing it…

Lane: But winging it is what we do best just ask your moms…

Jimmy smiles, clearing stalling to allow Bobby to gather himself.

Rose: If my math is correct we were tag team champions for 301 of the 365 days in 2020…

Lane: And while we could talk about those 64 days and how not being champions during that time pushed us to win the tag team championships back from Rustin Roulette I think it best to talk about the 301 days as we are accepting the award for Champions of the Year…

Rose: Now I know it’s easy in this business to just award this trophy to the man or woman who held the company's top championship the longest in that year…

Lane: Nobody would have raised an eyebrow had Ace King been announced as Champions of the Year…he was an incredible Undisputed Champion this season…

Rose: It took stones to put you Tag Team Champions up here right now and to point at us and say ‘these two were the champions of the year’...these two old men are the best champions of the EWC in 2021…

Lane: Some might think you were drunk or got into our pill bag but…

Jimmy shrugs and draws laughs from the crowd.

Rose: But we had an amazing year when you peel back the paper and look at it…it started off when we beat Stitches X Nevaeh at Paramount #002…Stitches, the then Undisputed Champion…

Lane: But he wouldn’t be the first Undisputed Champion we beat this season…

Rose: Three times we beat the reigning Undisputed Champion along with beating the International Champion twice…

Lane: Hi Xavier and Gabi…

Jimmy waves at Xavier and looks around for Gabi.

Rose: The X-Division four times along with the FX and HBO Broadcast Champions…

Lane: We beat 7 out of the 10 Champions holding belts right now in 2021…

Rose: We nearly had the PERFECT YEAR in 2021 and someone recently asked us what else we have to prove in this business?

Lane: Other than winning that damn tag team tournament…

Rose: And it got Jimmy and I thinking…how do we one up the 2021 season…

Lane: And we came up with…

Rose: We can’t…sure I know people will say ‘go perfect guys’ but let’s be realistic…

Lane: Our 2021 Season should be celebrated not held up to try to beat…

Rose: So we were going to wait until the start of the season to announce this but seeing as we are standing here holding the 2021 Champions of the Year Trophy it seems like the perfect time…

Lane: Yeah, tonight is a celebration and we want this announcement to be a celebration and not something sad…

Rose: So…the 2022 Season will be our last year in the business…

Lane: We are hanging up these boots at the end of 2022…WrestleFest will be our final match not just in the EWC but in the business…

There is a shocked silence in the Microsoft Theater.

Rose: We will hopefully kick off The Southern Express Farewell Tour at Brawl #578 and we will take this season to say goodbye to the fans and the business we love…

Lane: Plus all the ladies we’ve loved along the way…

Rose: This season was the GREATEST season in Jimmy and my careers, ending with THIS award…there is no better time to say goodbye, the 2021 Champions of the Year, are you kidding me…it’s never going to get any better than it is right now…

Lane: So come out and join us this season as we say goodbye and help us celebrate an incredible career that spanned over 5 decades…

Rose: We proudly accept this award tonight as your Champions of the Year and look forward to stepping into that ring one more time with each and every one of you…

Bobby and Jimmy raise the trophy and wave to the pack crowd. We cut back to Brad Pitt who is ready to present the next award. 

Pitt: The final award of the evening is quite possibly, the biggest of them all. Superstar of the year is an award that brings with it a certain air of respect. You are being told that you are quite possibly, the best in the World. Here are the nominees for Superstar of the Year. 

SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR

- Ace King
- David Miller
- The Southern Express
- Asriel Buzzard
- Melody Malone
- Xavier Reid
- Killjoy Ito
- Scorpio
- Samantha Hamilton


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Pitt: And the award goes to..... ACE KING!!!!

Once again, ‘Ace of Spades’ roars through the Microsoft Theater, eliciting a proper cheer from those in attendance and getting a muted fist pump out of ‘The Gambler’ as he stands, making the effort to acknowledge those around him, unable to keep a straight face as he makes his way back up the steps.

He pauses for a quick chat with Brad Pitt, then looks down at the award one more time before stepping forward to the microphone, pausing to absorb what’s become a standing ovation in the building. Ace puts a hand up to try and get them to settle, and they eventually do as he sets his trophy on the podium, the silence building up

Ace King: I…

He hardly gets the first word out before he pauses again, trying to keep it together as the Microsoft Theater audience waits intently.

Ace King: …I never saw this happening in my dreams.

‘The Gambler’ tightly grips onto his new trophy, the crowd again applauding as he breathes to regain his composure.

Ace King: I know I’ve said this many times before, but when I signed in 2016, I had no idea what would become of my career. You could have told me I would have flamed out in a few matches and I wouldn’t have batted an eye, because I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into. You could tell me none of this is actually happening, and I’d believe you.

There’s a polite smattering of applause as Ace briefly pauses, acknowledging it with a nod before continuing on.

Ace King: I’ve always taken pride in being consistent above all else, and these kinds of awards were always secondary… but I’ve also been consistent saying that, if you don’t want to be the best, this isn’t the business for you. So, even though I just finished saying I never saw this happening in my dreams, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t dream of this moment one day happening.

The crowd continues to hang on every word Ace says, still holding the Superstar of the Year trophy tight.

Ace King: I’ve definitely had really good years where I’ve been nominated for this, but for any number of reasons, it always seemed like there was someone better. If we’d had them in 2017, Drake was the surefire vote, God rest him, but whether it was Candy in 2018, Cyrus Black in 2019, Jordan Sharpe last season, it always felt like somebody was one step ahead… Eventually, being in that conversation so many times, you can’t help but wonder if it’s ever going to happen.

The crowd remains silent as Ace pauses, this time battling harder than before to keep his emotions in check, though a single tear escapes and rolls down his cheek. The audience applauds as he wipes his face dry, exhaling hard as he’s finally ready to continue.

Ace King: It only gets harder as you go along, because not only does your shelf life get shorter, the talent coming up around and behind us just keeps getting better and better with time. Seriously, look at the other nominees in this category. Every last one of them could dominate here or anywhere else in this industry and it wouldn’t be a surprise, so to stand before you as the Superstar of the Year… It’s been a long time coming, but it makes it that much sweeter now. We’d be here all night if I referenced everybody in person, so thank you to everyone who worked with me, pushed me, believed me, or especially doubted me. You all had a role in me getting here today, and I’m grateful for all the experiences along the way. Everything tonight has been amazing, and quite honestly, a bit overwhelming… but now, it’s on to 2022 and pushing even harder. Thank you all for everything, and enjoy the rest of your night!

Ace takes in the praise from those in attendance as the camera slowly fades to commercial. 

We come back from commercial to see Mr. Late Night himself, former host of EWC Honors, Jimmy Fallon. 

Jimmy Fallon: Hello everyone, I am thrilled to be here tonight for what we have in store next. Every year at the EWC Honors show we hold an induction ceremony for new members of the EWC Hall of Fame .. and this year, it is an honor and a privilege to welcome to the stage at this time .. Ace King! 

‘Ace of Spades’ growls through the Microsoft Theater as ‘The Gambler’ comes out from backstage, casually interacting with Jimmy Fallon as he steps up to the podium once again.

Ace King: You know, there’s a common phrase you hear in this business we’ve all given our lives to: Respect the Past, Embrace the Future. Let me tell you, from a character and competitive perspective, not many embody that sentiment quite like Griffin Hawkins.

The crowd applauds the opening comments politely, though a number are focused on Ace as he continues speaking.

Ace King: If you look through the annals of EWC’s 25-year, 23-season history, you won’t find many who can match the list of accolades Griffin’s posted. Former International Champion, former United States Champion, and the longest Television or Broadcast Championship reign in the history of this company…

The crowd cheers a lot louder in reference to Griffin’s signature accomplishments, with Ace nodding and clapping along accordingly.

Ace King: Those accomplishments I just mentioned? Those are amazing, and they stand on their own. However, what made Griffin Hawkins stand out is the way in which he went about his business, unapologetically himself with a song in his heart… Probably a heavy metal jam, if we’re being honest… and God knows what was in his head.

The crowd laughs as the feed cuts to Hawkins backstage, watching a monitor with a smirk on his face as Ace turns his head toward the backstage entrance.

Ace King: Love ya, buddy. Anyway, a year ago, I stood on this stage and told you a tale of how Luke Wolfe was the Friday Night Rampage standardbearer when I first came to EWC all those years ago, but in saying that, there was, of course, another at that time… and that’s the man I’m talking about right now. See, Griffin was in the middle of that 491-day reign as the Television Champion I mentioned earlier and the central protagonist in trying to take down Anarchy ‘16, where I was the new kid on the block. Little did I know we’d face off so quickly, but that took us to Calgary, Alberta… Veterans Day 2016, to be precise, and I had an industry veteran in my sights.

I think we earned each other’s respect that night, setting the stage for a friendship down the line, and we’ve only gotten closer with time. I never got to properly thank him for that, because while he wasn’t exactly a mentor of mine, I think the best thing I can about Griffin Hawkins is that, whether it’s in his band, as a father, or as a wrestler, the man just gets it, so it was a pleasure to watch how he carried himself.

Ace pauses to take a drink, the crowd applauding to fill in the silence before Ace is good to go again.

Ace King: But then came what was arguably Griffin’s greatest moment in EWC: Winning the United States Championship inside Rage in the Cage at Wrestlefest XIV in Manila, taking it from a fellow Hall of Famer in Luke Wolfe with yours truly also there. Just as he’s always done, he threw everything he had into it, and he damn well earned it after chasing it for so long.

The loudest applause yet as a photo montage of Hawkins’ United States Championship victory plays behind Ace. who nods along with the deserved praise before stepping back to the microphone.

Ace King: We all know and love him as The Rock Soldier, but there’s one thing you need to know about him, and it defines who he is as a man: He, just like all of us, reported directly to you, the fans, and he took that so seriously, embracing it in a way so few are capable of doing. Even in the most serious of situations, he found a way to grind through it without ever changing his ways, and he was always ready to stick up for a friend and to stand up to authority, as Michael Saint found out throughout 2016 and 2017… And yet, no matter how intense things got in the ring, the Griffin Hawkins you see outside the ring, often around these very streets of Los Angeles, is exactly the kind of person you’d want him to be, because being a great wrestler is always second to him in the name of being an even better family man to his wife, Taylor, and his three children.

The crowd claps loudly as Ace peers out over the podium, where he sees the rest of the Hawkins family sitting front-row.

Ace King: It might be early for Sophie, or even Braden to understand this, but their dad was, and still is, damn good when he steps through the ropes. In Griffin Hawkins, you have a guy you can count on to shred his way through the ring, and regardless of what happened from bell to bell, he was guaranteed to have the fans behind him every step of the way, and he loves every minute of it. Griff’s always marched to the beat of his own drummer in this business, sometimes literally thanks to his Devilition boys, and it’s taken him to some pretty amazing places in his career. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

Ace moves out of the way of the screen on the stage, where a highlight pack of some of Griffin Hawkins’ biggest EWC moments play to a Devilition backing track. Some of Griffin's biggest moments are shown here, including big title victories. The montage ends, and Ace comes back to the microphone, applauding heartily along with the rest of the crowd.

Ace King: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my distinct privilege to officially introduce the newest member of the EWC Hall of Fame… THE ROCK SOLDIER… THE JUKEBOX HERO… GRIFFINNNNNN… HAWWWWWWWKINSSSSSSS!!!

The crowd cheers as"Made in Hell" by Rob Halford blasts in. Griffin gets up from his chair as he smiles at the people cheering him on, taking in the positive reaction as he gets up from the table and makes his way towards the stage where Ace King is waiting, clapping for his longtime friend and rival. He shakes his hand before the two exchange a hug. He steps up to the podium as the music comes to an end.

Griffin Hawkins: ..first of all I'd like to thank the academy..oh wait, wrong show.

The crowd begins to laugh in response.

Hawkins: But seriously....wow, I never thought I'd get here. Sure, I've accomplished a lot in EWC and out of EWC...but I have never been a hall of famer. I look back on EWC as one of the best times of my career...I fought the best in the industry. Luke Wolfe...Ace King..the late Ashton Drake...God rest his soul. And whether I won or lost...the EWC fans and the stars backstage let me know that I am appreciated. I look back on my time in this organization and I must say I have done a lot. Longest running TV Champion in this company's history, I shaved Michael Saint bald, going on to capture the International Title and the United States Title...I even kicked Living Dead Karl's ass and ran him out of EWC. And now I take my place in history as a Hall of Famer for the first time in my career. But of course, a lot of my success I have had here..and will have in other organizations, I owe it to the fans.

The crowd cheers.

Hawkins: Course...one thing that is missing from this list of EWC accomplishments. One thing I've never been is the Undisputed Champion....

The crowd suddenly breaks out in "One More Match" chant which rings loud in the room. He smiles before continuing.

Hawkins: ...you'll never know if that will happen. Until then, I want to thank everyone who supported me in EWC and outside EWC. This honor is just as much yours as it is mine, thank you!

The crowd cheers as he leaves the stage. shaking Jimmy Fallon's hand as Jimmy steps up for the next Hall of Fame induction. 

Fallon: Up next, we have a group that has been through quite a few battles in their day, earning a reputation for themselves in the process. It is my honor to bring up to the stage right now, Rev and Gladiator.. The Sedition!!!

We cut to a video package highlighting the biggest moments of The Sedition's career, before Rev and Gladiator slowly make their way out on stage as the crowd cheers loudly for them. Rev is first to come to the podium.

Rev: Greetings ladies and gentlemen of the United Nations. At this moment our troops are preparing to launch a deadly swarm of microscopic nanobots that will target the DNA of every world leader in the Northern hemisphere, spreading through them and their loved ones invisibly. We come to you today to demand 4.5 billion dollars and the release of our brothers in arms held prisoner around the world.....

A stage hand approaches Rev and whispers in his ear.

Rev: What? The Hall of Fame? Totally got my days mixed up. Please ignore what you just heard. So, uh..... Gladiator. The Hall of Fame again.

Gladiator: Ah yes, the hall of fame. The place that recognizes the kind of heroes like me who have stood shoulder to shoulder with General Washington on the field of battle. The kind of heroes like me fixed their bayonets and charged the rebel soldiers who wanted to see their fellow man in chains. The kind of heroes like me who charged the enemy trenches in World War 1. The kind of heroes like me who snuck into the Nazi bunker and crammed tablets of cyanide down their throats to stage a suicide so they wouldn’t look like martyrs. And the kind of heroes like me who escaped the jungle prison cells of the Viet Kong where they were forced to live in puddles of their own blood and urine, wondering every day they woke if it would be their last, hoping, just hoping they may see their loved ones again…

Gladiator falls into a momentary daze and then smiles.

Gladiator: I am that kind of hero, so thank you for inducting me into the national war hall of fame.

The same stage hand whispers in Gladiator’s ear.

Gladiator: No, I think I would remember being a wrestler.

The stage hand whispers again.

Gladiator: The EWC! Right, the good old EWC. I know all about the EWC. Rev, tell these good people about the EWC.

Gladiator scratches his head trying to figure out what EWC means as Rev clears his throat.

Rev: Over 20 years ago there was a dream. A dream to create a safe place where young wrestlers could compete, collaborate, and forge friendships without any fear of harassment, without any fear of bullying, without any fear of behind-the-scenes corruption that had plagued so many other wrestling companies before it. We in The Sedition knew that if a place like that existed, it was our place to destroy it from the inside out. We would like to thank all those early competitors who allowed us to execute our sadistic and cruel brand of harassment, bullying and behind the scenes corruption on them. Blazed, Ian Hensley, Diablos, FBI...... uh..... wasn't there a Steve? Maybe it was Greg........ For some reason the name Milton comes to mind. Yeah, there must have been a Milton at some point. Whatever. The important thing is that I didn’t imagine some of you.

Gladiator snaps his finger and smirks, finally remembering.

Gladiator: Steve Bennet! I remember him. Big N Sync fan. Rev and I watched in disgust as this place settled into a place of peace and tranquility. We agreed that it must end. That’s when a new dream was born. A dream to destroy all that was good about the EWC. A dream to haunt the dreams of every competitor who dared to step through the curtains. A dream to win their titles and manipulate the system to hold them longer than we ever should have. That dream was called The Sedition!

Rev: It always took a special kind of crazy to belong in our group The Sedition. Only freaks such as Apollo, Mr. Mahoney, Deadeye Proteus, Dr. Amy Rosen, and the one and only Marty Jannetty were sick and twisted enough to be part of our family. We would love to share this induction with each and every one of you, but sadly we're just too darn selfish. And if any of you petition to be inducted along with us, we will release a swarm of deadly microscopic nanobots that will target the DNA of all of you and your loved ones. Love you guys!

Gladiator: pfft… Mr Mahoney, that limey loving freak. I don’t remember getting to vote on that one Rev.

Gladiator glares at Rev and Rev shrugs.

Gladiator: Nevertheless we all know that Rev and I were the blackened heart and dark soul of The Sedition. It started with us and a goal to take over the EWC. A goal we accomplished when President Mac in what must have been a drug induced fit, handed us the reins as General Managers of Friday Night Rampage. Our rein of terror started in the ring and ended in the front office. That’s why I am better than that stupid hairpiece wearing Mr. Mahoney.

Rev: Lastly, we would like to personally thank President Mac, who took a chance on two clinically insane individuals and gave them a platform to spread their message of violence and insurrection to the young and impressionable masses of the world. We have genuinely loved every minute of disrupting your system. And as I suspect this Hall of Fame invitation was nothing more than an attempt to get us in a room for the FBI to apprehend us, I would just like to take this opportunity to say that the day is mine! You’ll never take us alive!

Rev and Gladiator each pull out a small handheld device and toss it on the floor. Two clouds of smoke explode on stage to cover their sneaky exits. However, after 10 seconds and a few coughs from the front row, the clouds start to dissipate, revealing Rev and Gladiator still fumbling around, each motioning in opposite directions

Gladiator: No, I told you we enter stage right and exit stage left.

Rev: Your left or my left? Uh oh. They can see us again.

Gladiator: Ahhh! Let's get out of here!

The fans cheer as Gladiator and Rev waive before leaving the stage. Jimmy Fallon comes back to the stage. 

Fallon: At this time, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to bring to the stage the Queen of EWC... Melody Malone!!

There are a few cheers, most notably from members of America's Most Hated in attendance, but mostly there is polite clapping as The Queen of EWC makes her way out and to the podium.

Malone: In my short time in this industry, I’ve learned there are three types of people. There are the people you love… the people you hate…. And the people you love to hate. And I don’t think anyone embodies all three of those quite like Dominic Sanders. Whether he was International champion, teaming up with Ace King as a tag team champion, or standing tall as the Undisputed champion, no matter where you stood on Dominic in the ring, you couldn’t deny his talent.

There are a few boos intermixed with the applause as Melody continues.

Malone: But even greater than his talent in the ring, was the talent this man had in bringing out the best in everyone he came in contact with. Even before his win at the Rumble in the Bronx, people were sizing themselves up against Dominic Sanders. And once he won the Rumble? There was no stopping him… I still remember being thrown out of that ring in 2018, watching the people left in the match and knowing I was watching something special. I just didn’t know at that time just how special what I was witnessing was. Because Dominic wasn’t just a poster child for success in the EWC, but he was the perfect example of someone overcoming losing absolutely everything and getting back on their feet and continuing to shine in spite of it all.

Malone: I can’t even begin to imagine what the trek back to the top of the mountain meant for Dominic, but for the rest of us who were graced to watch it? It was an undeniable phoenix. The man won the Rumble in the Bronx, went on to Wrestlefest to beat Candy for the Undisputed championship and throughout that championship reign? He wasn’t just the measuring stick. People didn’t want to be Dominic because he was champion. People wanted to be Dominic because he stood for every underdog story that anyone ever thought they would be. They watched him and wanted to overcome everything he did. They wanted that story, even though I doubt many could ever survive what he went through to get to that point. The wrestling industry is littered in men who got halfway through the hardships Dominic survived, who never saw the light at the end of the tunnel. But he did.

Melody pauses as the crowd applauds, giving a slight nod to their appreciation.

Malone: It wasn’t just the light at the end of the tunnel for Dominic through. It wasn’t just his own success he had his eyes on, but he had his eyes on everyone else around him. He always saw something in everyone. He saw what Ace King needed to become the Undisputed champion. He saw what men like Scorpio and Cyrus could do and held that close to his chest until he needed to break those cards out. His talent in the ring to see through people was brilliant. But beyond that, he was an invaluable mentor for a mouthy young talent like me. He didn’t need to invite me into America’s Most Hated. He didn’t need to provide me any kind of guidance, he had enough on his plate as it was, but he saw something in me.

Her voice cracks and she pauses, taking a breath to regain her composure.

Malone: There’s something indescribable about a man who’s lost everything, who still somehow makes people feel like they’re family. For the last year and a half of his career, I watched this man give everything to the EWC. Whether that meant being thrown off of a train to Glasgow at World Wide, or competing at Scars and Stripes with a broken arm… uhm, I’m sure Iggy still sends her regards…

The crowd laughs as Mel grimaces at the thought of Iggy and the crowbar she took to Dominic’s plastered arm

Malone: Or even somehow convincing your brand new wife that you needed to be competing at Wrestlefest the day after your wedding against Cyrus… The mark that Dominic has left on EWC and truly all of the wrestling industry will be felt for generations. And if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll be fortunate enough to witness it when his son steps into the squared circle too. But until then… it’s my honor to introduce to you all, six time EWC champion, EWC Rumble winner, my best friend, and your newest EWC Hall of Famer… DOMINIC SANDERS!

The crowd is on their feet and cheering as the former International, Undisputed, Tag team and Indy champion makes his stroll onto the stage and to the podium.

Sanders: Wow. That response was amazing... Melody, thank you so much. I'll get back to you later, ma'am! You know, this is a moment I never thought I would find myself in. Back in the late 90s when I started this journey, I saw myself as a mega-star in the making. That was quickly squashed, as I was proven to be just a punk kid. And a punk kid who turned into everyone's punching bag. I had minimal success in this business and then, ultimately, I quit. I left the business for a decade, sitting at home and never even batting an eye about it until late 2016. 

When I made that decision to return to the business in 2016, I trained harder than ever. I acted as if this was my first time in the business. Sure, I was thirty-two at the time. That's a pretty damn old rookie. I tried my hand in the business by signing with another company. And if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be where I am today. I saw success quickly over there before suffering a knee injury. And, while I was on the shelf recovering, I decided it was time to move up to the big boys. So I signed with the EWC at the beginning of 2018.

Looking back at my time in the EWC, I never expected to be a Hall-of-Famer. I never imagined being up on this stage in this capacity. Even the beginning of my time here was tumultuous. I started off with Rob Garcia whippin' my butt all over the place. Now, we know he was a pretty good wrestler, so there's no shame in that. But the immediate doubt crept into my head. Then I began a bit of a feud with fellow inductee, Griffin Hawkins. And I truly believe that THAT is when my career took off. Griff and I had such good chemistry inside that ring, no matter how much we got under each other's skin. But if it wasn't for the back-and-forth that we had that year, I never would have been in this position. So, as much as it pains me to say... Thank you, Griffin.

After that, I did something that changed the direction of my career forever. I attacked NSFW. They trusted me and they forgot the golden rule: don't trust anybody. But it was that moment that changed the scope of my career forever. So, for that, I thank you Mike McGuire and John Bishop Church.

America's Most Hated was born... and not the one that we all know now. Most people forget the group that became Draco Lazarus, Rob Garcia, and Dominic Sanders. THE OGs! But those guys quickly left, especially after I beat Candy and became the Undisputed Champion in the EWC. I guess they couldn't handle being in my shadow. But America's Most Hated evolved. And it became the most dominant faction in the EWC. Melody Malone, Iggy Swango, Dominic Sanders, and Cora Whittaker-Sanders. Whether anyone would like to admit it or not, we left our mark on this business from day one. And even when men like Clay Byrd and Cyrus Black became a part of America's Most Hated, it was the foundation of the group that really left its mark on this business.

All of that aside, there are plenty of people who I would genuinely like to thank tonight. First, I would like to thank Cyrus Black. The man tested me over and over and over. I had a hard time beating him until that final match that we had at WrestleFest in 2020. I was able to overcome my demons, so to speak, and defeated the undefeatable. But we also became friends. We became partners as a part of America's Most Hated. And, with you at my side, I became a Hall-of-Famer. Cyrus, thank you very much.

Then there is Ace King. Ace is a guy that I struggled to beat time and time again. But when we became partners, we immediately won the Tag Team Championships. While we didn't have a successful defense, it was a small part of my impending Hall-of-Fame career. Television Championship, International Championship, Undisputed Championship, and Tag Team Championships. I accomplished more than most do in this business, and you were a huge part of it. So Ace King... thank you.

Clay Byrd... you were a man that came into America's Most Hated... and left... and came... and left. I have you to thank for that revolving door keeping the air fresh within the EWC. Every time you came back it was a breath of fresh air! But you also made me a better wrestler because of your grit and tenacity. Although we never did anything as a tag team, you became one of my best friends in this business. Thank you, Clay.

Iggy Swango... when I offered that Prince guitar to you and you became a part of America's Most Hated, that changed the scope of the wrestling world. No one ever expected the two of us to become a team. But, when we did, we lit the world on fire. And it helped lead you to become a part of one of the greatest tag teams this place has ever seen in Dream Sound Revolution Part Two. We made each other better and, for that, I thank you. 

Melody Malone... at the beginning of this, I said I would get back to you. You've become my best friend in this business. We only faced off one-on-one once and it was a damn good match! But really... you're a future Hall-of-Famer. There is no denying that. When I needed someone, you were there. You said some incredible things about me earlier and I am extremely humbled by your words. I am so honored to have been by your side for the last couple of years. Even though we had an epic Tag Team Championship match against each other, we've always been the best of friends. Thank you, Melody. Thank you for helping to elevate my career into Hall-of-Fame status.

President Mac. You signed me with a busted up knee back in the spring of 2018 and you saw potential in me to be what I have become. You put me in a position that I never thought I would be in. Prior to the EWC, I was just a guy in another fed that no one had heard of. When I became a part of the EWC, I became a staple. Thank you for seeing in me what no one else saw.

And finally... Cora Whittaker-Sanders. When Hannah and Michael Sanders passed away in the summer of 2017 in that tragic accident, I never thought I would see love again. I never thought I would be anything more than what I was when I quit the game. But you came along. And when you came along, it made me stronger than I have ever been. The only reason I won the Rumble in 2018 was because I had a strong supporting cast. You. So, Cora, thank you. You deserve this Hall-of-Fame honor as much as I do.

To the EWC fans, whether you booed me or cheered me, you fueled my desire to be in this ring. And I have so much gratitude for all of you. Thank you, fans. Thank you, friends. And thank you, EWC!

Jimmy waits for Dominic to finish taking in the praise from the crowd before her slowly walks off stage with Melody. Jimmy then comes back to the podium. 

Fallon: Our final Inductee needs no hype, no introduction other than to say that he is without a doubt deserving of this honor. From the hot headed wrestlers he started as to the Tag Team Champion that he became, to the commentator of Friday Night Rampage we all came to love to now the General Manager of The green brand, he has done it all and seen it all. Ladies and gentlemen..... GRIZZZZLY DUGGAN!!!!

The crowd cheers as Grizzly Duggan walks out to the microphone.

Grizzly Duggan: 1545 days ago to the date, I made my debut for the Extreme Wrestling Corporation. October 30th, 2017 at UNCENSORED 2017. I faced Takeshi Kanki, Robbie Rayder, Erin Gordon and Jeremiah Kelsey in a fatal five way beds of weapons match, and in my debut I was severely bloodied and concussed. And some new joins complain they got it rough with their debuts today, ha. There wasn't any GAMBIT then, and to further put into perspective the landscape of the time... a few hours after I debuted, Ace King won the United States Championship and started his record setting run. Things were a bit different then than they are today. I was bright-eyed and hungry, ready to take this company by storm. That obviously means I lost my debut when Kelsey pinned Kanki. It's just a shame JereBear never quite took off isn't it?

The crowd laughs again, Duggan lets them laugh and clap a minute before starting back up.

Duggan: If you told me 1545 days ago that I'd be a hall of famer in the 2021 class, I'd have told you no shit. I am Grizzly God-Damn Duggan, I'll be a 15x World Champ!

The crowd cheers.

Duggan: Now, to the dismay of younger me. That is not the case, but I stand here among the elite regardless looking back at my run in the company. I went from a nobody working the midcard trying to get my spot, to a staple of the tag division and a World Tag Team Champion with my best friend Carlos. MUCHO GRANDE! had memorable feuds with Rob Garcia and Morgan Darkwater, The Limit and of course NSFW. But all good things must come to an end and MUCHO GRANDE! phased out for Carlos to spread his wings as a singles star while I phased out of wrestling due to brain damage. I retired due to concussions, and to my surprise the EWC let me come on as a commentator for the Rampage brand. Commentary provided a new insight to this company I never thought about and opened the door for me to take over the brand.

There is a round of a applause and a RAMPAGE chant.

Duggan: Thank you, thank you. And we've got so much more to come for the brand. I think this year might be our best year yet, and I aim for this to be my best year yet. I feel I have grown as a person thanks to the EWC, and I hope to see that growth continue. I have made some great friends along the way, from Jordan Sharpe to Ace King. I have made powerful enemies from Scorpio to Gideon Gage. Everything I have done, every experience I have had, they have grown me. From getting run down by Melody Malone and co for not having the proper snacks in catering to Tommy Love passed out in the locker-room. I have faced the smallest of stars in Jamie Love, I have faced the biggest of threats in dealing with businessmen about money. These are experiences I never would have gotten if not for the EWC, and these are experiences I treasure.

There is another round of applause.

Duggan: Again, I am incredibly humbled and honored to have been chosen for the Hall of Fame, to have my achievements immortalized among an elite few, it's an honor. I hope to do the HoF proud, I hope to do the EWC proud, I hope to do Rampage proud as I continue my journey. I am not a spring chicken, I probably have a total of three matches left at one match a year. But I am not going anywhere any time soon, because I am still Grizzly God-Damn Duggan! Thank you again, and here's to another 1545 days in this company.

The crowd cheers and claps as Grizzly Duggan walks off stage slowly, taking in the moment. "Tonight" by Seether rounds things out as we fade to black...

---

END SCREEN

© THE EXTREME WRESTLING CORPORATION 2021

...

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Tyler Bradford & Gideon Gage (TIE) 

MOST LOVED WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 

Ace King 

TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR 

The Southern Express

MANAGER/VALET OF THE YEAR 

Bunny Love


GM OF THE YEAR
Chris Brock

MALE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 

Ace King 

FEMALE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 

Melody Malone 

CHAMPION OF THE YEAR 

The Southern Express 

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 

Ace King


OOC PERSON OF THE YEAR
Danny Mac


MATCH WRITER OF THE YEAR
Esyel aka Sam Hamilton


PODCASTER OF THE YEAR
Danny Mac: “Mac At Night”


SHOWRUNNER OF THE YEAR
Chris Brock


STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Darren
...


HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 INDUCTIONS (TO BE INDUCTED IN 2023)
Chris Brock
Crazyman
Blade
BDC

© THE EXTREME WRESTLING CORPORATION 2022