Post by gwa on Aug 27, 2015 15:09:45 GMT -5
Off the Top Rope.
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Global Wrestling Alliance.
Where is Chris Craven? The Curious Case of Hunter Storms
If there's one word to describe Hunter Storms, it is this: conflicted.
The first ever second generation GWA World Champion began Season 23 in impressive fashion, achieving Iron Man status by outlasting his rivals in the Riot in the Ring. He immediately forged an alliance with the rookie Chris Craven, who had experience elsewhere but sought guidance in the challenging GWA style.
It was a partnership that excited us, one that benefited both competitors immensely. For Chris Craven, it was an opportunity to work with a strong veteran in what appeared to grant him instant frontrunner status for the illustrious Rookie of the Year trophy. For Hunter Storms, it was a chance to reinvigorate a career that lay dormant since his GWA World Title win at Thunderdome 2013.
Then life happened.
On the season premiere of Tuesday Night Spotlight, Hunter Storms was injured by the Killjoy. Badly. He was the first in a string of kills that would transform The Killer from hated villain to badass monster in the eyes of the fans. Given the severity of the injury and Hunter's own track record, many believed we would not see him again before the season's end.
Instead, he delivered what was undoubtedly the most emotional speech in the history of GWA Uncut, promising to prove his worth by fighting back and refusing to let the disheartening loss keep him down. It was a decicedly poignant moment that would give goosebumps to even the most hardened Blog Talk Radio listener.
While Hunter Storms was rehabbing, he continued to make appearances on Spotlight and Showcase, standing in the corner of Chris Craven. Though Craven himself was not injured, he suffered two singles defeats: one at the hands of Hall of Famer Mike Lio, and another to fellow newcomer Johnny Kage (now known as Johnny3tears). The second match was notable because Chris Craven did have his opponent beaten but made the mistake of rolling him up rather than finishing him off with the Craven DDT.
It was a rookie mistake, but Chris Craven is a rookie. That is expected to happen. A tough loss or two does not spell armageddon, as Hunter Storms tried to impress upon us. Most notably, GWA World Champion Brewer ended his rookie campaign 0-4 before winning the Season 19 Riot, and well -- the rest is history. But despite Hunter Storm's own 0-4 start this season to accompany his injury, it was Chris Craven who disappeared.
And Hunter Storms has looked lost ever since. He turned to the Pain Syndikate, a stable of past and present World Champions who claim to be held down by the machine. When asked about his decision on Uncut, he could not offer much of an explanation. At Global Meltdown, the suddenly unpopular Hunter Storms gave fans only half of what they wanted: he was destroyed by The Killer again, but he tapped out before any real damage could be done. Even Brewer looked confused at ringside. Was this a wiser Hunter Storms or someone uncomfortable with the position he assumed?
This past week, our question may have been answered.
Hunter Storms and Dexter Point won the GWA World Tag Team Titles on Showcase, and Hunter subsequently used the title belt Dexter handed him to help him put Doomtrain away on Spotlight. After the match, Chris reemerged. But it wasn't Craven. It was was Maverick.
Enter Chris Maverick, the only Shadow who hasn't done anything to endear himself to the viewing audience. The Killer has sick submissions. Apokalupsis has sound arguments against Mike Lio. Armageddon has free beer. Chris Maverick has a big mouth and shoddy attendance. And when he decided to grace us with his presence Tuesday, attempting to further humiliate his mortal enemy Doomtrain, who came to 400 pounder from Whitefish, Montana's aid? Hunter Storms himself.
This was not a move out of the Pain Syndikate's playbook. If the Shadow stuck in Season 22 wants to ambush the machine's favorite son, why stand in his way? There is something going on inside Hunter Storms' head. The Hunter Storms who drinks Brewer's Kool Aid and the Hunter Storms who saves Doomtrain are two different people. The man is torn. Perhaps it's time for Chris Craven to return from hiatus and talk some sense into his friend.
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Global Wrestling Alliance.
Where is Chris Craven? The Curious Case of Hunter Storms
If there's one word to describe Hunter Storms, it is this: conflicted.
The first ever second generation GWA World Champion began Season 23 in impressive fashion, achieving Iron Man status by outlasting his rivals in the Riot in the Ring. He immediately forged an alliance with the rookie Chris Craven, who had experience elsewhere but sought guidance in the challenging GWA style.
It was a partnership that excited us, one that benefited both competitors immensely. For Chris Craven, it was an opportunity to work with a strong veteran in what appeared to grant him instant frontrunner status for the illustrious Rookie of the Year trophy. For Hunter Storms, it was a chance to reinvigorate a career that lay dormant since his GWA World Title win at Thunderdome 2013.
Then life happened.
On the season premiere of Tuesday Night Spotlight, Hunter Storms was injured by the Killjoy. Badly. He was the first in a string of kills that would transform The Killer from hated villain to badass monster in the eyes of the fans. Given the severity of the injury and Hunter's own track record, many believed we would not see him again before the season's end.
Instead, he delivered what was undoubtedly the most emotional speech in the history of GWA Uncut, promising to prove his worth by fighting back and refusing to let the disheartening loss keep him down. It was a decicedly poignant moment that would give goosebumps to even the most hardened Blog Talk Radio listener.
While Hunter Storms was rehabbing, he continued to make appearances on Spotlight and Showcase, standing in the corner of Chris Craven. Though Craven himself was not injured, he suffered two singles defeats: one at the hands of Hall of Famer Mike Lio, and another to fellow newcomer Johnny Kage (now known as Johnny3tears). The second match was notable because Chris Craven did have his opponent beaten but made the mistake of rolling him up rather than finishing him off with the Craven DDT.
It was a rookie mistake, but Chris Craven is a rookie. That is expected to happen. A tough loss or two does not spell armageddon, as Hunter Storms tried to impress upon us. Most notably, GWA World Champion Brewer ended his rookie campaign 0-4 before winning the Season 19 Riot, and well -- the rest is history. But despite Hunter Storm's own 0-4 start this season to accompany his injury, it was Chris Craven who disappeared.
And Hunter Storms has looked lost ever since. He turned to the Pain Syndikate, a stable of past and present World Champions who claim to be held down by the machine. When asked about his decision on Uncut, he could not offer much of an explanation. At Global Meltdown, the suddenly unpopular Hunter Storms gave fans only half of what they wanted: he was destroyed by The Killer again, but he tapped out before any real damage could be done. Even Brewer looked confused at ringside. Was this a wiser Hunter Storms or someone uncomfortable with the position he assumed?
This past week, our question may have been answered.
Hunter Storms and Dexter Point won the GWA World Tag Team Titles on Showcase, and Hunter subsequently used the title belt Dexter handed him to help him put Doomtrain away on Spotlight. After the match, Chris reemerged. But it wasn't Craven. It was was Maverick.
Enter Chris Maverick, the only Shadow who hasn't done anything to endear himself to the viewing audience. The Killer has sick submissions. Apokalupsis has sound arguments against Mike Lio. Armageddon has free beer. Chris Maverick has a big mouth and shoddy attendance. And when he decided to grace us with his presence Tuesday, attempting to further humiliate his mortal enemy Doomtrain, who came to 400 pounder from Whitefish, Montana's aid? Hunter Storms himself.
This was not a move out of the Pain Syndikate's playbook. If the Shadow stuck in Season 22 wants to ambush the machine's favorite son, why stand in his way? There is something going on inside Hunter Storms' head. The Hunter Storms who drinks Brewer's Kool Aid and the Hunter Storms who saves Doomtrain are two different people. The man is torn. Perhaps it's time for Chris Craven to return from hiatus and talk some sense into his friend.