It’s Big Match Wednesday for Bobby Gunns, who needs a win to get back into top spot – and also snuff out Avalanche’s hopes of winning the block.
After yesterday’s quick win for Metehan, those plans for a tie at the top of block A were whittled down to just one route: two draws for Bobby Gunns (including against Metehan next week). Will the champion be able to withstand a rare three-match drawing streak? Avalanche has only met Bobby Gunns once before in singles action, and it led to a loss earlier this year at Dead End XIX as Gunns kept his unbeaten run in Hamburg running…
Once again, Anil Marik joined Dään Jokisch and Nico Schmidt at the expert’s panel, as they run down the current standings, then grill Anil about how he feels his coach will do today. Marik puts over Avalanche, and wishes he’ll win… but because of Gunns’ need, he picks a draw. Has he been in touch with Norman?
Before the match, Bobby Gunns is very upbeat and positive… until they bring up the Metehan match next week. Andy Jackson notes that a draw today would make next week interesting, but Gunns quickly shoots it down. As for Avalanche, he’s a little shocked at how Andy Jackson suggested the tournament “hasn’t gone well for him”, and instead turned it into a poke at Tassilo Jung’s performance. They turn the talk to the match today, with Avalanche needing to win to have any chance of finishing top… and Avalanche is more than ready for that challenge.
Catch Grand Prix 2020 – Block A: Bobby Gunns vs. Avalanche
Round 1: We’ve a measured start as Gunns went to work over Avalanche’s arm and wrist… but Avalanche manages to overpower Gunns and shove him down. A test of strength sees Avalanche force down Gunns, but the champion is right back on the arm, torquing the wrist before Avalanche reversed it. Gunns tries for a choke, but it doesn’t garner any fines, as he rolled free and dropkicked Avalanche… which barely moved the big man. Gunns gets sent into the ropes for a shoulder tackle, which knocks him down, as he winds down the clock.
Round 2: Like the first, we’ve a similarly slow start, as Avalanche’s side headlock is shoved off… with him charging through Gunns on the rebound. Gunns goes back to the left arm, throwing some uppercuts to it before some kicks in the corner. Gunns tries to charge at Avalanche, but he’s pushed away and squashed with a back senton, before he Beeled Gunns across the ring. We wash, rinse and repeat, as Bobby was picking up some frequent flyer miles before a slam and a big splash drew a two-count. Avalanche keeps Gunns in the corner, but an Irish whip offers an opening as Gunns kicks Avalanche down for another near-fall, before a Swish armbar attempt couldn’t be locked in as time ran out. Gunns didn’t let go of the hold quickly enough for referee Rainer Ringer’s liking, and gets a €20 fine for that…
Round 3: Avalanche is playing keepaway to start the round, but a kick to the leg breaks all that as Gunns goes back to the arm, stomping on the elbow and yanking the arm before he went back to the elbow. Avalanche gets a foot to the rope, but Gunns does the stomp anyway, which annoys the champion. A back elbow from Avalanche offered some hope, but Gunns keeps kicking the arm as Avalanche was knocked into the corner, with another kick and a running uppercut following. Avalanche reverses a whip, taking Gunns into the corner with a back body drop following on the rebound, before Avalanche broke out of another arm breaker attempt and tossed Gunns across the ring with a fallaway slam as time once again ran out.
Round 4: Avalanche was pacing at the interval, and with Gunns still on his back to start the round, he rushes in for a Dreissker bomb… but Gunns was playing possum, and kicks Avalanche in the ropes. He joins Avalanche in the ropes, but got thrown back before Gunns nailed a German superplex-like takedown. Avalanche shakes it off and hits a ripcord lariat for a near-fall, as the pair then descend into an exchange of elbows and uppercuts. Elbows batter Gunns into the corner, with another Irish whip following… but this time Gunns hits an elbow off the middle rope to take down the big man. Wash, rinse, repeat… but this time the uppercut bounces off of Avalanche, who comes back with a fallaway slam then a Dreissker bomb… and there’s the win! Avalanche stays alive as an overly-confident Gunns fell to defeat, and set up an interesting final week in the block.
Result: Avalanche pinned Bobby Gunns at 2:17 of Round 4 (***½)
So, all of your matches in block A matter next week: Cara Noir is expected to win over Hektor Invictus… Anil Marik should be an easy win for Avalanche given the rookie’s form… and of course now the Metehan/Gunns decider isn’t going to be the spot-fixing affair Norman Harras was planning on, as a simple win for Metehan means he’ll win regardless.
Post-match, Avalanche is told what needs to happen to make the Catch Grand Prix finals… and tells us that he wants to win the entire tournament. I’d hope so! There’s no interview from Bobby, which is rather interesting…
Standings, with eliminations
Block A
Metehan (4-1; 8pts)
Avalanche, Bobby Gunns, Cara Noir (3-1-1; 7pts) * Avalanche leads in tie-breakers
Fast Time Moodo (2-4; 4pts) * eliminated
Hektor Invictus (1-3-1; 3pts) * eliminated
Anil Marik (0-5; 0pts) * eliminated
Block B
Marius al-Ani (4-0; 8pts)
Senza Volto (4-1; 8pts)
Tristan Archer (3-1; 6pts)
Prince Ahura, Norman Harras, Emil Sitoci (1-3; 2pts) * eliminated
Vincent Heisenberg (1-4; 2pts) * eliminated
Disciplinary: €3425 of fines; twenty-four yellow cards and one red card.
Tomorrow, block B gets going as Norman Harras takes on Prince Ahura in the battle of the co-workers. Norman’s words, not ours!