Norman Harras and Tristan Archer look to get their first points in the Catch Grand Prix as they clash in block B action.
We’re back to the Steffy, to rock the world once again, with Dään, Nico and Marius. Dään points out Marius’ correct prediction yesterday, but al-Ani keeps spreading that rumour that Senza Volto is him under a mask. I mean, Marius has covered up his arms this week…
Marius wants to pick Archer to win today because he’s in better shape… but that loss to Vincent Heisenberg is souring him. Nico starts to throw some shade in Marius’ way as al-Ani was talking down the roster, before Marius cracked wise, using one of Metehan’s lines to joke about Norman Harras. Woof.
Backstage, Andy Jackson’s with Tristan Archer… he’s still stinging from that loss last week, but promises to get back in it. He’s got plans for Norman Harras – one is to distract him with dog food, but the more likely one is to “fight like a man.” They bring up Marius al-Ani’s comments, which seems to lead to a challenge for the pair later on.
As for Norman, he still doesn’t want to have his introduction of anything. Norman is annoyed at being disqualified last week, calling it a learning experience rather than a loss. Ooh, it’s like training! He mocks Archer for losing to Heisenberg last week, and then it’s to the ring!
Catch Grand Prix 2020 – Block B: Norman Harras vs. Tristan Archer
Of course Norman gets cat-called. I mean dog-called… and he still doesn’t want his name or introduction. A real big fan of his own music!
Round 1: Archer’s rocking the straps on his singlet like how Sha Samuels does suspenders… we get going with a chorus of “who let the dog’s out?”, which winds up Norman something rotten. A lock-up from Archer ends in the corner before Harras looked to go to work on the wrist of the Frenchman… but he’s tripped down and covered for a two-count. Returning, Harras goes for the leg, but Archer rolls him down into a keylock, albeit right by the ropes for a quick break. A standing switch allows Archer to hit a back elbow, before clotheslining Archer to the outside ahead of a tope. Harras gets rolled back in, then gets thrown into the buckles for a kick, before a springboard lungblower led to a near-fall, as Harras ended up eating a clothesline and a bulldog out of the corner as time runs out. I see what they did there!
Round 2: Archer comes out swinging, boxing Harras into the corner, but there’s a switcharound as Norman tries to fight back, only to get caught with some elbows. He recovers to haul Archer over the top rope to the apron, before he suplexed Archer back in for a two-count. Harras keeps Archer down, charging into him with a knee to the ribs for a near-fall, before a side headlock wrenched Archer down to the mat. Archer fights back to his feet, hitting a Pele kick before Harras tripped him down again. There’s an elbow drop for a two-count, before a tie-up ends in the corner, as Harras hits a diving European uppercut for just a one-count. Stomps keep Archer down, before a suplex dropped him as time runs out.
Round 3: Harras went for another uppercut at the bell, but got caught with a backslide… he kicks out, but gets charged into the corner for shoulder tackles, which Harras caught as he looked for a front chancery. Except Archer counters with a Northern Lights, then rolled through it into a Falcon arrow for a near-fall. Archer looks to finish off Harras, but gets pushed into the ropes, returning with a knee to the face before Harras knocked him into the corner for a running front kick. And then Norman ran into a discus lariat, before a tombstone gutbuster got the win. Decent enough, but Harras’ canine-related trauma is really getting to him.
Result: Tristan Archer pinned Norman Harras at 2:02 of Round 3 (***)
Post-match, Archer looked ahead to his match with Prince Ahura next week – noting that he’s lost too much and he needs to build a record. Backstage, Dään is with Norman Harras, who took the positives out of not being disqualified this week. Next week, Norman has Marius al-Ani… and of course, Norman’s plan is to win.
Your standings…
Block A
Avalanche, Hektor Invictus (1-0-1; 3pts)
Bobby Gunns, Cara Noir (1-0; 2pts)
Metehan (1-1; 2pts)
Anil Marik, Fast Time Moodo (0-2; 0pts)
Block B
Senza Volto (2-0; 4pts)
Marius al-Ani, Vincent Heisenberg (1-0; 2pts)
Tristan Archer (1-1; 2pts)
Prince Ahura (0-0; 0pts)
Norman Harras, Emil Sitoci (0-2; 0pts)
Disciplinary: €1185 of fines; seven yellow cards and one red card.
So… you can buy both the new PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X with the amount of fines generated so far. At this rate they may be able to get a few games too for the end-of-tournament party!
Tomorrow, the second week wraps up with Prince Ahura taking on Vincent Heisenberg, as it’s still early days in the inaugural Catch Grand Prix!