- Who Will Win at NC-17?| Total Votes: 101 |
In 2000, the very first NC-17 hit the airwaves in the Cyber Wrestling Union. Steven Caldera brought back CWU legend "Blockbuster" Kurt Richards to challenge the new champion, Badger Benandanti, for the World Title. Despite the odds being stacked against him, Badger retained the title and held it until the company closed its doors a few weeks later.
In 2001, Octavian was in the middle of one of the most dominant runs in wrestling history. At Devil's Night he had become the first GCW Champion to survive a Pay-Per-View defense, but at NC-17 a rematch with Tristain Mayhem in a steel cage seemed to be his swan song. But Octavian once again proved to be a master manipulator, forcing Mayhem's own wife to turn against him. Octavian left with his reign in tact and held the belt for another month.
GCW closed in 2002, and NC-17 lay dormant for some time. GCW reopened in 2005 and NC-17 once again resurfaced as the premier event in professional wrestling. In the interim, it appeared that the event may have been too big for a challenger to hope to emerge victorious.
But in 2005 LeStatt Knight, who had obliterated Octavian's hallowed record, met Michael Stevens in the final of their three epic meetings. In the main event at NC-17, Stevens delivered three inferno DDTs to finally finish Knight off and capture the belt.
Knight recaptured the belt in 2006 and returned to the main event as champion. This time he defended against Lia Ambrosi and Dawn MacFarlane, and once again Knight fell short. Ambrosi won the title and Knight went home with an 0-2 record at the year's biggest event.
The following year Ambrosi entered as champion, but found herself on the opposite end of the decision. Ambrosi was pinned by Vivica J. Valentine and once again the champion fell short.
During GCW's second age, the World Champion has not fared well at the company's biggest show. LeStatt Knight is arguably GCW's biggest icon, but he has had two opportunities to buck the trend and fell short on both occasions. Knight has since redeemed himself by winning at NC-17 2007 over an up-and-coming Jay Terror, but when the title is on the line, Knight has failed.
At NC-17 2008, one of these trends will end.
Jordan White is faced with this staggering statistic, a grim reality that he must confront if he wants his reign to continue. White not only has the challenge of facing one of his greatest opponents but is fighting three years of bad luck.
Perhaps making the challenge all the more daunting is the fact that Knight may never be more motivated than he is now. A man whose mindblowing resume continues to grow, Knight wants to say he's done it all in GCW. And he very nearly has; he added a Dangerous Games victory to the list last month. But for Knight, the NC-17 goose-egg haunts him yearly. This match may represent Knight's last chance to leave NC-17 with the World Heavyweight Championship in his possession.
The Knight-White feud is bursting with history and will continue to grow in intensity as the big night approaches. But underlying their personal rivalry is a wealth of history working against each of them. Not only will each man be fighting against his opponent, he'll be fighting against the vast importance of the NC-17 main event. The match is highlighted by the biggest spotlight in wrestling, and this year's spotlight will be brighter than ever before. That means the history of this match will inevitably affect the outcome of the Knight-White duel.
For Knight, this match is about redemption and bringing his legendary career full-circle. For White, this match is about proving that he is a cut above those who have come before him. But for both men, this match is about cementing a legacy. The NC-17 main event is, more than any other match, burned into the memories of every wrestling fan for years to come. No event in professional wrestling is so important to the history of a company. And those who have competed in the match are always remembered.
For the victors that memory is one of unsurpassed glory. For the losers it is one of opportunity brutally wrenched away. For LeStatt Knight, it is the lone blemish on his unrivaled record. For Jordan White, it is an opportunity to reach for a higher level. Either way, someone's legacy will be forever written by the outcome of this contest.
The NC-17 main event made Badger Benandanti and Octavian members of the Hall of Fame. It is the single highlight of the career of Michael Stevens that was tragically cut short, but nonetheless sparks a heated Hall of Fame debate. It launched the careers of Lia Ambrosi and Vivica J. Valentine, both surefire Hall of Fame members. The implication is clear: win the World Title at NC-17 and you are immediately among the greatest of all time.
LeStatt Knight is already in the Hall of Fame, but to complete a career that would put him on a plane of his own he needs to win this match. Jordan White has the opportunity to reach the Hall of Fame, but needs his reign to continue. There is much more than the World Title on the line at NC-17 in Phoenix.
This match is the key to wrestling immortality.
