Post by Lord Hastings on Oct 10, 2013 8:49:21 GMT -5
The Battlegrind
By Pierre Le Fondre
In my years of writing for Grappling World, it is always with great anticipation that I look forward to this time of year. In fact, the first event I ever covered was the 2009 GIW Battleground event. I remember it as though it was yesterday. Travis Roberts, the dominant champion, extending his record-setting reign with another big defense. Donovan Hastings, the rising star, conquers the Battleground cell and sets his date with destiny. Our belief was that we were entering into a new golden age for the industry, with these two as the centerpieces.
Fast forward four years, and reality has played out quite differently. Travis Roberts has been largely absent from UGWC. Donovan Hastings has been largely irrelevant. In fact, it is entirely possible that the best view of the future of the industry came not in the main events of that 2009 event, but in the undercard, in the form of a victory for Salem, the man known today as Cypress Morgan.
For one of these individuals, the man who would be Lord, the 2013 Battleground event may well represent his final opportunity. In a modern UGWC headlined by the likes of the Money Maker, the One Man Wrecking Crew, the Drunken Buzzsaw, even the Teutonic Terror, do we still need the TWiSTeD? Do we even care?
We cheered when Donovan Hastings first defeated Travis Roberts at Horizons to capture the Global Heavyweight Championship. We were proud when he defended not only the championship but the pride of an entire promotion against Raenius and Dirge. Then the UGWC era started it, and with it, one man’s decline into oblivion.
Hastings has lost time and again in big match situations, to the likes of Phrixus Deimos, Declan Prescott, Jet Somers, Alex Kiseragi, Tyvola, and Moss Edwards. This year alone, he has lost to Zane Scott in the Global Challenge, and again to Zane at In Your Hands. Are we expected to believe that somehow the third time will be the charm for a broken down has-been who is facing the hottest star in the industry today?
There was a day when there was no bigger fan of “The Lord of Pain” than I, but now the Lord has given way to the Personification. Beyond a doubt, Hastings believes that this is his redemption story, that he will return as the conquering hero and capture the World Heavyweight Championship for a record third time, and defend it once again at Horizons.
The rest of us look forward to Scott versus Stein.
Donovan closes the laptop, and slowly his chair turns to face the window, as he gazes out into the darkness.
Cradled in his arms, a baby coos.
By Pierre Le Fondre
In my years of writing for Grappling World, it is always with great anticipation that I look forward to this time of year. In fact, the first event I ever covered was the 2009 GIW Battleground event. I remember it as though it was yesterday. Travis Roberts, the dominant champion, extending his record-setting reign with another big defense. Donovan Hastings, the rising star, conquers the Battleground cell and sets his date with destiny. Our belief was that we were entering into a new golden age for the industry, with these two as the centerpieces.
Fast forward four years, and reality has played out quite differently. Travis Roberts has been largely absent from UGWC. Donovan Hastings has been largely irrelevant. In fact, it is entirely possible that the best view of the future of the industry came not in the main events of that 2009 event, but in the undercard, in the form of a victory for Salem, the man known today as Cypress Morgan.
For one of these individuals, the man who would be Lord, the 2013 Battleground event may well represent his final opportunity. In a modern UGWC headlined by the likes of the Money Maker, the One Man Wrecking Crew, the Drunken Buzzsaw, even the Teutonic Terror, do we still need the TWiSTeD? Do we even care?
We cheered when Donovan Hastings first defeated Travis Roberts at Horizons to capture the Global Heavyweight Championship. We were proud when he defended not only the championship but the pride of an entire promotion against Raenius and Dirge. Then the UGWC era started it, and with it, one man’s decline into oblivion.
Hastings has lost time and again in big match situations, to the likes of Phrixus Deimos, Declan Prescott, Jet Somers, Alex Kiseragi, Tyvola, and Moss Edwards. This year alone, he has lost to Zane Scott in the Global Challenge, and again to Zane at In Your Hands. Are we expected to believe that somehow the third time will be the charm for a broken down has-been who is facing the hottest star in the industry today?
There was a day when there was no bigger fan of “The Lord of Pain” than I, but now the Lord has given way to the Personification. Beyond a doubt, Hastings believes that this is his redemption story, that he will return as the conquering hero and capture the World Heavyweight Championship for a record third time, and defend it once again at Horizons.
The rest of us look forward to Scott versus Stein.
~
Donovan closes the laptop, and slowly his chair turns to face the window, as he gazes out into the darkness.
Cradled in his arms, a baby coos.
2013, '18, '23 
2013 
Good luck!!
