Elite Pro Wrestling - a TNM-RG Rules Circuit

[jlamb]

As I get a little older I realize that, despite viewing demographics saying otherwise, WWE really isn't for me anymore. New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling have really captured my attention as they both are much more aligned with what I love about pro wrestling. So, I decided to take the guys who have reinvigorated my love for pro wrestling, The Elite, and build a TNM circuit around them. I've run booked and unbooked circuits but I will say I'm partial to the latter as I love when guys randomly interfere in matches, champions choose not to re-up their contracts, etc. so I decided to create Elite Pro Wrestling using the legendary Rick Garrard's TNM-RG ruleset. As a refresher:

BACKGROUND

Rick Garrard came up with some rules in early 2000 that were all the rage for awhile on the TNM
list. His idea was to do two things: simulate a small indy fed and do a circuit that could run
a large number of cards in a short amount of time. Rick used the Memphis territory and ran over
10 years worth of cards which can be found at garrard.8m.com/tnmrg/WELCOME.HTM His starting
roster was Jerry Lawler, Eddie Gilbert, Eric Embry, Jeff Jarrett, and PG-13 (Wolfie D & J.C. Ice).

SETUP

Select a starting roster. It needs to be four singles wrestlers and one tag team. Hire all to
52 cards. You will need three titles: a main singles title, a TV title, and tag team titles. If
you should happen to end up later with a large number of cruiserweights or female wrestlers, feel
free to add a title for those as needed. You'll be running run card a week with usually 5 or 6
matches per card. No supercards so a 52 card contract ends up being the same as a one year deal.

RUNNING THE CIRCUIT

On your first card, your four singles will face four mystery opponents and your tag team will face
a mystery team ("m" key gives you mystery opponents).

Within the next few weeks, you need to hold matches to decide your champions. You can decide
them however you want.

You can only hire people via the "m". When someone's contract is up, you may only rehire them for
6 cards. The original TNM-RG rules only allowed for resigning someone once but most people who
did these circuits would resign a wrestler as many times as they want (and that the wrestler is
willing).

When the year is up, its traditional to recap the year listing title reigns, Match-of-the-Year,
and such. As for your "mainstays" who got the 52 card contracts, you can rehire as many as you
want for 52 cards (if they are willing) or you can replace them with other wrestlers. Either way,
you need to go into each year with 4 singles wrestlers and a tag team signed for 52 cards.

I made a few small tweaks - I have a Heavyweight belt, tag team belts and six man belts to start and I've been signing my 'm' key guys to multiple 6 card contracts if I want to keep them and they're willing. Also, while there are no supercards there will be certain milestone weeks where stories culminate, gimmick matches happen, etc.. I don't plan on putting together in-depth write-ups but between the matches themselves and the post-show headlines from EPW.com you should be able to follow along. I'll gladly answer any questions if something needs to be clarified.

I ran a test version of this circuit a month or so ago and things went off the rails quickly. This time around I'm three months worth of cards in at the time of this writing and nothing too crazy has happened. Let's see if that changes as this circuit progresses!

[jlamb]

EPW Year 1 Roster
"Hangman" Adam Page - One year contract
Cody w/Brandi Rhodes - One year contract
Kenny Omega - One year contract
Marty Scurll - One year contract

The Young Bucks (Matt/Nick Jackson) - One year contract

All of these men will be facing mystery opponents - Page, Cody, Omega and Scurll in singles matches and The Young Bucks in a tag match - at EPW's inaugural show.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 1

Adam Page pinned Jay Briscoe after a German suplex in 0:11:05.
Rating: ***

Hiromu Takahashi pinned Kenny Omega after a double underhook piledriver in 0:08:40.
Rating: ***

A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) when Jungle Boy pinned M. Jackson after a small package in 0:13:27.
Rating: ***

Kota Ibushi pinned Marty Scurll with the Kamigoye in 0:09:08.
Rating: *** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Cody made Primo Colon submit to a figure-four leglock in 0:18:44.
Rating: *** 3/4
[Brandi Rhodes interfered against Primo Colon.]


EPW.com Headlines

- The Elite disappointed after going 2-3 on the night.

- Omega 'blindsided' by Kota Ibushi appearing in EPW.

- Fans shocked by Cody and Brandi Rhodes' actions.

- Primo Colon promptly quit to promotion after being cheated out of the main event.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 2

A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) when Luchasaurus pinned T. Beretta after a Burning Hammer in 0:18:29.
Rating: ****

Adam Page defeated Hiromu Takahashi by countout in 0:08:54.
Rating: ** 1/2

The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) when Uno defeated M. Jackson by
countout in 0:18:34.
Rating: ** 1/4

Kota Ibushi pinned Jay Briscoe after a dragon suplex in 0:06:40.
Rating: **** 1/4

Cody pinned Dustin Rhodes with the Cross Rhodes in 0:12:14.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Brandi Rhodes interfered against Dustin Rhodes.)


EPW.com Headlines:

- A Boy and His Dinosaur win spirited contest over debuting Best Friends.

- Hiromu Takahashi's reckless style costs him against 'Hangman' Page.

- Young Bucks start 0-2 after countout loss to debuting Dark Order.

- Dustin Rhodes answers Cody's open challenge; Brandi Rhodes once again plays part in finish of the match.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 3

The Hybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) defeated The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) when J. Evans pinned Uno with the 630 Senton in 0:13:04.
Rating: ** 1/2

Kota Ibushi defeated Hiromu Takahashi by disqualification in 0:12:52.
Rating: ** 3/4

Marty Scurll pinned TK O'Ryan with the Graduation in 0:17:13.
Rating: *** 1/2

No-Time-Limit-Match:
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson), Adam Page, Cody and Kenny Omega defeated Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta), A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) and Dustin Rhodes when K. Omega pinned Jungle Boy with the One-Winged Angel in 0:26:00.
Rating: ** 1/2
[Brandi Rhodes interfered against Chuck Taylor.]


EPW.com Headlines:

- The Elite score major victory in massive 10-man tag team main event.

- Brandi Rhodes continues to play major part in Cody's matches.

- One night, eight team tournament for EPW Tag Team Titles on tap for next week.

- Rumors abound that the Golden Lovers will reunite for a run at the gold.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 4

[Round 1]:
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) defeated
Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) when Akam pinned T. Beretta after
a powerslam in 0:14:23.
Rating: ** 3/4

[Round 1]:
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) defeated
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) when N. Jackson pinned Uno with the
450 Splash in 0:16:58.
Rating: *** 1/2

[Round 1]:
Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) defeated
The Hybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) when K. Omega pinned J. Evans after the
Golden Trigger in 0:14:33.
Rating: *** 1/4

[Round 1]:
A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated
Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham when Luchasaurus pinned J. Gresham with the
TombStoneAge Driver in 0:08:48.
Rating: ***

[Semi-Finals]:
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) defeated
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) when Akam pinned N. Jackson
after the Last Chapter in 0:15:14.
Rating: *** 1/4

[Semi-Finals]:
A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated
Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) when Luchasaurus pinned K. Omega
with the TombStoneAge Driver in 0:10:08.
Rating: ***

[Finals for the vacant EPW Tag Team Titles]:
A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) when Jungle Boy pinned Akam after
a lung blower in 0:06:44.
Rating: ** 1/4
(A Boy And His Dinosaur won the EPW Tag Team Titles.)


EPW.com Headlines:

- A Boy and His Dinosaur crowned inaugural tag team champions.

- Golden Lovers reunite for one night only but lose to eventual tournament winners.

- Debuting Authors of Pain make huge statement.

- RUMOR: Dustin Rhodes wanted to team with Cody but was shot down by his brother.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 5

The Hybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) and Hiromu Takahashi defeated
Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham and TK O'Ryan when H. Takahashi pinned O'Ryan
after a top-rope wheelbarrow Victory Roll in 0:11:39.
Rating: ** 1/2

Dustin Rhodes defeated Jay Briscoe by countout in 0:02:21.
Rating: * 1/4

Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) defeated
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) when C. Taylor pinned S. Grayson
after a spinning backbreaker in 0:14:40.
Rating: *** 1/2

Kenny Omega pinned Kota Ibushi with the One-Winged Angel in 0:11:21.
Rating: ****

A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) and
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) battled to a draw in 0:20:00.
Rating: * 1/2

(A Boy And His Dinosaur retained the EPW Tag Team Titles.)

EPW.com Headlines

- A Boy And His Dinosaur and Authors of Pain battle to time limit draw; the teams will meet again in the coming weeks.

- After teaming up for one night only, Kenny Omega scores a big victory over Kota Ibushi.

- The Hybrid2 and Hiromu Takahashi are now a unit known as The Bomb Squad.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 6

Cody pinned Jay Briscoe after a powerslam in 0:02:26.
Rating: ***

Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham defeated
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) when J. Gresham defeated
N. Jackson when N. Jackson passed out in an octopus hold in 0:12:04.
Rating: ***

The Elite (Adam Page, Kenny Omega and Marty Scurll) defeated
The Bomb Squad (Angelico, Hiromu Takahashi and Jack Evans) when K. Omega pinned
J. Evans with the One-Winged Angel in 0:09:47.
Rating: *** 1/4

Dustin Rhodes pinned TK O'Ryan with the Final Reckoning in 0:10:59.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Marty Scurll interfered against TK O'Ryan.]

The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) and The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar)
defeated Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) and A Boy And His Dinosaur
(Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) when Rezar pinned C. Taylor with the
Choke Slam in 0:25:23.
Rating: *** 1/2

EPW.com Headlines:

- Marty Scurll helps Dustin Rhodes win; wants to play peacemaker for The Rhodes' brothers.

- No-Count-Out Tag Team Title Match between AOP and A Boy And His Dinosaur set for next week.

- Injury Report: Chuck Taylor injured by AOP; expected to be out for several weeks.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 7

No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
Marty Scurll pinned TK O'Ryan with the Graduation in 0:10:51.
Rating: ** 3/4

Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham defeated The Hybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans)
when J. Gresham pinned Angelico after the Cornette Cutter in 0:12:44.
Rating: ** 3/4

Adam Page pinned Trent Beretta after a standing shooting star press in 0:15:13.
Rating: ** 1/2

Kota Ibushi pinned Jay Briscoe after an elevated power bomb in 0:09:16.
Rating: *** 1/2

No-Countout-Match:
A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) when Luchasaurus pinned Akam after a lariat in 0:22:16.
Rating: * 3/4
(A Boy And His Dinosaur retained the EPW Tag Team Titles.)


EPW.com Headlines

- Akam FIRED for assaulting referee Charles Robinson after main event title loss to A Boy And His Dinosaur.

- Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham make it know they want the next shot at EPW Tag Team Titles.

- Adam Page and Marty Scurll set to face The Dark Order next week.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 8

The Hybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) defeated War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe)
when J. Evans defeated Hanson by countout in 0:00:30.
Rating: DUD

Rezar pinned Jungle Boy with the Choke Slam in 0:07:31.
Rating: *** 1/2

TK O'Ryan pinned Dustin Rhodes after an over-the-shoulder reverse piledriver in
0:11:10.
Rating: *** 1/2

The Elite (Adam Page and Marty Scurll) defeated
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) when M. Scurll pinned S. Grayson
after the Orange Crush Bomb in 0:14:23.
Rating: *** 1/2

War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) and Primo Colon defeated
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) when Hanson pinned
K. Omega after a tiger driver in 0:05:24.
Rating: *

EPW.com Headlines:

- Primo Colon shocks fans by returning to EPW and aligning with the newly debuted War Raiders.

- Colon teases a fourth member of his group now known as Guerilla Unit

- TK O'Ryan and Dustin Rhodes set for rubber match next week.

- RUMOR: Best Friends no more? Chuck Taylor reportedly re-ups with EPW while Trent Beretta is on his way out.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 9

Chuck Taylor pinned Trent Beretta with the Awful Waffle in 0:16:03.
Rating: ****

The Bomb Squad (Angelico, Hiromu Takahashi and Jack Evans) and
A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) and Kota Ibushi
battled to a double countout in 0:07:42.
Rating: ** 1/2

Dustin Rhodes pinned TK O'Ryan with the Final Reckoning in 0:11:58.
Rating: *** 1/2

No-Time-Limit-Triangle Match:
The Elite (Adam Page and Marty Scurll) defeated
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) and Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham:
x J. Gresham beat Uno after the Cornette Cutter in 0:18:36
x M. Scurll beat J. Lethal via countout in 0:31:08
Rating: ** 1/2

No-Time-Limit-Match:
The Elite (Cody, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) defeated
Guerrilla Unit (Hanson, Primo Colon, Rezar and Rowe) when Cody pinned Rowe
with the Cross Rhodes in 0:18:51.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Brandi Rhodes interfered against Rowe.)


EPW.com Headlines:

- Lethal and Gresham demand a tag match with Page and Scurll after "cheap" countout loss.

- Rezar unveiled as fourth member of the newly formed Guerilla Unit.

- Cody and Brandi Rhodes once again use underhanded tactics to secure victory.

[jlamb]

EPW TV Year 1, Week 10

Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) defeated
Southern Gentlemen (Chuck Taylor and Jay Briscoe) when Loa pinned C. Taylor
after a flying headbutt in 0:16:24.
Rating: ****

Hiromu Takahashi pinned Dustin Rhodes with the Time Bomb in 0:07:28.
Rating: *** 3/4

A Boy And His Dinosaur (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) defeated
The Hybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) when Luchasaurus pinned Angelico with the
TombStoneAge Driver in 0:17:18.
Rating: *** 1/2

The Elite (Adam Page and Marty Scurll) defeated Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham
when A. Page pinned J. Gresham with the Rite of Passage in 0:17:02.
Rating: ** 1/4

Primo Colon pinned TK O'Ryan after a sunset flip in 0:14:18.
Rating: *** 1/4

Cody pinned Rowe with the Cross Rhodes in 0:10:13.
Rating: *** 3/4
[Nick Jackson interfered against Rowe.]


EPW.com Headlines:

- Guerrillas of Destiny successful in debut against newly formed team of Chuck Taylor and Jay Briscoe; immediately call out "fake" Guerrilla Unit.

- Adam Page and Marty Scurll next in line for shot at EPW Tag Titles.

- Nick Jackson helps Cody beat Rowe; sets up six man for next week.

- RUMOR: Jungle Boy exploring outside opportunities but will reportedly continue to defend tag belts with Luchasaurus.